Chapter 16 : Who’s the Fool Now?

“What the hell?” 

All eyes snapped to the uninvited guest who’d just barged in. 

“Who’s this punk?” 

“If you wandered in by mistake, get lost. Now.” 

The room’s occupants threw sharp words at the newcomer, but the man in the dazzling orange shirt merely shoved his hands into his pockets and scanned the room with a casual sweep of his eyes. 

“First time in a place like this. Looks… interesting.” 

“What’s this guy blabbering about?”

“Hey, I’m warning you nicely—leave.” 

Despite their threats, the man didn’t flinch.

The thugs’ faces twisted with irritation, their words growing harsher, but he seemed utterly unfazed. 

“Wow! Never seen people like this up close before.” 

If anything, he looked more intrigued. 

Is this guy completely clueless?

I thought. 

The overly enthusiastic intruder was none other than Jiwon, my same-age friend. 

“Ugh, this guy doesn’t get it, does he?” 

One of the thugs across from me, apparently out of patience, stood up. 

He’d be better off staying put. 

I was more worried for the thug than for Jiwon, who’d waltzed in alone. 

“Hey… you, old man.” 

Jiwon pointed at the thug gripping my hair. 

“Old man? Who’re you calling an old man?!” 

“Old man, you’d better let go of that right now.” 

The playful grin on Jiwon’s face vanished, replaced by a dead-serious expression.

The thug flinched slightly at his words. 

“What’re you talking about, you little—! Do you even know who I am?” 

Not wanting to seem intimidated, the thug raised his voice even louder. 

“And you think you’ll walk away unscathed if you knew who I am?”

Jiwon shot back coolly. 

“Wha—what?!” 

“Let go.” 

Overwhelmed by Jiwon’s intensity, the thug finally released my hair. 

Freed, I stood up, brushing myself off. 

“You okay?”

Jiwon asked. 

“It hurts.” 

He reached out, smoothing my disheveled hair with a gentle hand. 

“I didn’t think you’d show up. How’d you get here?” 

“I was gonna tell you I’m coming back to Korea next month, but someone hung up on me after a little teasing.” 

“Oh… did I?” 

As we chatted naturally, Jiwon’s gaze shifted to Hyungcheol. 

“Let’s see here… 500,000 won a day for ‘protection,’ and if you don’t pay monthly, a 45% interest rate?” 

It was less a contract and more a loan shark’s receipt. 

“I thought this was an acting agency, but looks like they’re running a side hustle in extortion.” 

For a rookie actor with meager pay and scarce gigs, it was a death sentence. 

“And what’s this? If unpaid debts exceed a certain amount, a ‘body forfeiture agreement’? What, are they trafficking people too?” 

The back of the contract revealed an even uglier truth. 

No wonder they didn’t want me to read it before signing. 

“What?” 

Jinseok, apparently unaware of this clause, shot up from his seat, eyes wide with shock. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“What are you talking about?! It’s all nonsense. Body forfeiture? Ridiculous!”

Hyungcheol protested, sounding aggrieved. 

But his face betrayed more fear than innocence, as if he dreaded his secret being exposed. 

“There’s clear evidence right here. You think you can play dumb and not feel a shred of guilt?” Jiwon pressed. 

“Evidence? There’s some misunderstanding—” 

“Hey, the game’s already up. You think you can smooth this over?” 

The head thug stepped forward, shielding Hyungcheol. 

“Fine, let’s just get this signed and done with.” 

I almost laughed.

Did they really think I was that naive, still trying to intimidate me? 

“Do I look like the kind of idiot who’d just say, ‘Yes, sir,’ and sign?” 

“Look at this guy, talking big!” 

“Sign it while we’re being nice, or I can’t help you anymore.” 

“Help? Who’s helping who here?” 

I tore the contract in half right in front of them. 

“Hey! This guy’s got no sense of the situation!” 

Hyungcheol shouted as the shredded contract fell to the floor. 

“No, it’s you who doesn’t get the situation.” 

As soon as I spoke, the door swung open, and a group of people stormed in, surrounding Jiwon and me protectively. 

“What the—?!” 

The thugs froze, caught off guard by the sudden intrusion. 

“If you don’t get the situation, we’ll make it clear.”

Jiwon clutched his arm, feigning pain with exaggerated theatrics.

“Ow, my arm! That old man hit me—think it’s broken?” 

It was a terrible performance, but it didn’t matter. 

“When did I hit you?!” 

“Oh, my arm! This is bad—it hurts way too much!” 

“I didn’t touch you! You all saw, I didn’t lay a finger on him!” 

The thug’s protests echoed uselessly.

Jiwon’s bodyguards glared at him like they were ready to tear him apart. 

“Handle it.” 

“Wait, hold on—” 

“I didn’t do anything, I swear!” 

Jiwon’s bodyguards, understanding his order perfectly, dragged Hyungcheol and the thugs out of the room.

Only Jinseok, Jiwon, and I remained. 

“What just happened?” 

Jinseok collapsed to the floor, unable to process the whirlwind of events. 

“Exactly what you saw. They’re working with gangsters to trick aspiring actors into signing exploitative contracts.” 

“Goddamn… that bastard.” 

“Some kids are forced to beg their parents for money. Others, who don’t even have that option…” 

Jiwon trailed off, and Jinseok nodded faintly, as if he understood without needing the rest. 

“I knew they were making dirty money, but I didn’t think they’d stoop this low.” 

Jinseok’s shock was palpable, and I didn’t know what to say to him. 

“All I wanted was to act. That’s it. Just… to act.” 

Tears rolled down Jinseok’s cheeks, dripping onto the floor. 

He began to sob audibly. 

In just one year, he’s turned into complete trash. 

It hit me how a single year could utterly transform a person. 

Jinseok showed no signs of calming down, so Jiwon and I quietly left the room to give him time. 

“Why watch dramas? This is way more dramatic,” Jiwon said the moment the door closed. 

“I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Nice timing, though.” 

I’d sensed something was off before entering the room and asked Jiwon for help.

I hadn’t expected him to show up in person, though. 

“I was born with a knack for timing. You know, like a genius of perfect moments.” 

“Uh-huh, sure. Very impressive.” 

Normally, I’d have roasted him, but since he’d done well today, I let it slide with a smile. 

“Oh, by the way, can I ask for one favor?” 

“What?” 

“I want to meet that guy.” 

“Who?” 

“Kim Hyungcheol.” 

It was time to tell my story. 

***

At some abandoned construction site, Hyungcheol sat tied to a chair. 

“This look suits you better,” I said. 

He was a mess, clearly having gone through something rough. 

“You bastard! What did you do? After all I did for you, you dare?!” 

He thrashed as soon as he saw me, but the chair only rattled uselessly. 

“All you did? You mean that slave contract with a body forfeiture clause?” 

“You don’t get it. That’s just how this industry works.” 

His shamelessness was almost impressive. 

“You’re really sticking to that nonsense?” 

“I thought it was too good to be true, you coming to me. You planned this from the start, didn’t you?” 

Hyungcheol finally caught on to my intentions. 

“Good thing you figured it out. I was worried you’d stay clueless.” 

“I thought you were just some dumb kid, but you were playing dumb.” 

“Thanks to someone who fell for it, this was easier than I expected.” 

It wrapped up faster than I’d hoped. 

“Who are you? One of the kids who signed those contracts?” 

“Nope.” 

“Then… it’s Kim Taehwan, isn’t it?” 

He spat out Taehwan’s name with a curse.

I knew their trust was paper-thin, but this confirmed it. 

“I knew that bastard would stab me in the back someday!” 

“Sorry, not him either.” 

“Then who—?” 

“Jung Jaehyun.” 

At the mention of Jaehyun’s name, Hyungcheol’s eyes widened. 

“What did you just say?” 

“Jung Jaehyun.” 

“Jaehyun?” 

“You didn’t forget, did you? You, of all people, shouldn’t.” 

His eyes filled with terror at those three syllables. 

“You’re scared stiff by a name, yet you did what you did? You had the nerve?” 

“I don’t know anything about that!” 

For someone claiming ignorance, he was trembling like a leaf. 

“Really? You can say that with a straight face?” 

“I just did what I was told!” 

His acting was so pitiful it could’ve fooled someone into thinking he was the victim.

Not me, though. 

“So you gave false testimony because you were told to?” 

I knew why he’d been able to swagger around, even starting a company. 

“False testimony? No way! Why would I do that?” 

“There are dozens of articles mentioning ‘Manager K’ testifying about drugs. And I know there’s only one Manager K among the staff.” 

“I don’t care! Even if I told the truth, it’s not like the dead come back!” 

Realizing his lies wouldn’t hold, he spewed thoughtless words. 

“After everything your boss did for you…” 

When senior managers berated him for screwing up, it was the boss who shielded him, saying it was okay because he was new. 

“I don’t know why he died!” 

“You don’t know, yet you gave false testimony? You thought I’d buy that?” 

“Fine, think about it in jail. Taehwan will be thrilled—he won’t need to silence you.” 

“Wait, wait! I just said a few words because they told me to! The real bad stuff was Han Jungwoo!” 

Desperate, Hyungcheol thru Jungwoo’s name out. 

“He kept asking for money, and then, right after that day, he suddenly turned into a saint. Something’s up, right?” 

“Oh?” 

“They were even together that day! I had nothing to do with Jaehyun’s death, I swear!” 

I gave a faint, bitter smile. 

“I know.” 

“What…?” 

“I said, I know.” 

I was the dog who saw everything that day. 

But knowing didn’t mean I’d forgive Hyungcheol for his lies that drove my boss to social ruin. 

I’ve waited so long for this moment. 

Ever since I became human, I’d been waiting. 

“Who… are you?” 

Hyungcheol’s face crumpled as he asked. 

“Jaehyun had no family, nothing, he said.” 

That’s why it was so easy for you, wasn’t it? No one to call out your lies. 

“Jung Hyunjae. Ring a bell?” 

“Hyunjae? Hyunjae? Hyunjae…” 

He repeated my name over and over. 

“You should’ve been more careful about what you threw away.” 

At my words, Hyungcheol’s face twisted with horror.