Chapter 17 : Trash to the Bin

“Maybe…” 

There was only one thing Hyungcheol had discarded that day: Jaehyun’s dog. 

Is he saying he’s Jaehyun’s dog? 

It was hard to believe, yet at this moment, it was the only explanation that made sense. 

“What kind of nonsense is this?” 

How could a dog become human? It defied all logic. 

“No way… Are you seriously that mutt?” 

As he listened, Hyungcheol studied Hyunjae’s face, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if the dog’s features flickered before him.

Brown hair, round eyes… No, that’s impossible. 

“You’re lying, aren’t you? Who are you? You think I’d buy such a ridiculous story?” 

Confusion gripped him briefly, but he quickly steadied his thoughts. 

This is some kind of prank. 

Someone must be toying with him, exploiting his doubts about Jaehyun’s death to scare him with absurd lies. 

“Who put you up to this, you bastard? Who is it? Come out now!” 

“You were a bit slow back then, and you’re still slow now. Believe what you want.” 

Hyunjae brushed his hands together, as if he’d said all he needed to. 

“I don’t care if you don’t remember. But never forget the name ‘Jung Jaehyun.’ Keep regretting, keep repenting—until the day you die.” 

Hyunjae’s eyes, once thought to be gentle, now burned with venom, sending a chill down Hyungcheol’s spine. 

This guy’s completely unhinged…! 

Regret surged through him, bitter as a poisoned apple he’d unknowingly swallowed, but it was already too late. 

“Think about that moment every single day and let regret consume you. Oh, and this belongs to its rightful owner, so I’ll be taking it.” 

Hyunjae unclasped Jaehyun’s watch from his wrist and pocketed it.

Then, with an eerie smile, he looked at Hyungcheol. 

“Now, it’s time for the trash to go back to the bin.” 

Hyungcheol’s mind went blank.

Those words didn’t sound like a mere taunt. 

“What?” 

“Let’s never meet again.” 

Hyunjae slipped the watch into his pocket and strode toward the door. 

“Hey, you lunatic! You bastard!” 

The door slammed shut, leaving only Hyungcheol’s shouts echoing through the abandoned construction site. 

***

Outside, Jiwon was waiting for me. 

“Done talking?” 

“Yeah, thanks. It went perfectly.” 

Hyungcheol’s battered face, bruised and broken, was a sight to savor. 

“Those guys are pros at this sort of thing. And today’s the last day he’ll set foot on land.” 

“You’re really sending him there?” 

“Of course. I don’t joke about stuff like this.” 

I’d told Jiwon I hoped Hyungcheol would learn some remorse, and he’d promptly arranged a shrimp boat. 

“My brother says it’s the fastest way to reform someone.” 

“Oh.” 

“What, not impressed?” 

“No, it’s perfect.” 

If Hyungcheol sold others out, it was only fair he endured the same pain. 

“If my brother says it’ll work, it will.” 

“I don’t know much else, but if your brother says so, I believe it. By the way, where’s your driver?” 

Jiwon’s usual chauffeur, always trailing him, was oddly absent today. 

“That’s because I drove myself.” 

Jiwon pulled out a car key, pressed a button with a flourish, and a sleek sports car beside us roared to life. 

“No way you’re driving that thing, right?” 

“Isn’t it gorgeous? I bought it last year, and it’s finally here!” 

“Hold on, I need to call my uncle and tell him I won’t be back today.” 

This wasn’t happening.

I could handle anything, but not that car. 

“What call? Come on!” 

Jiwon grabbed my hand, pulling me along with confident strides. 

“No way! I’m not getting in! You failed your license test three times!” 

Having gone to driving school together, I knew his skills—or lack thereof—all too well. 

I’ve still got a truckload of people to get back at. I can’t die yet. 

I resisted, pulling back with all my might. 

“The state says I’m cleared to drive. What’s the problem?” 

“I’m not getting in!” 

“Tch, I saved your life today. You owe me one.” 

What kind of otherworldly logic was this? 

“Who repays a life saved with their own life?!” 

I fought to stay put, but somehow, I ended up crumpled in the passenger seat like discarded luggage. 

“Save me…” 

Jiwon, oblivious to my despair, gleefully started the engine. 

***

A week later, the long night behind us, Jinseok came to meet me in my neighborhood. 

“I didn’t expect you to come all the way here…” 

We met at the same café where I’d confronted Hyungcheol. 

“I was so caught up last time, I didn’t get to thank you properly.” 

“No need. The bad guy got what he deserved.” 

Hyungcheol’s crimes had come to light, and, fearing retribution, he’d vanished. 

Though in reality, he was probably adrift in the middle of the ocean. 

“The debts got sorted out, right?” 

“Yeah, those loan sharks skipped town too, but luckily they left the contracts behind, so it’s all settled.” 

The mess had been cleaned up without harming others. 

“To think that guy was that much of a scumbag… He wasn’t like that when we were at DreamN together.” 

The ripple effect of our boss’s death seemed to have touched many lives. 

“They say power reveals a person’s true nature.” 

“Yeah, that’s true.” 

“Are you looking for another company, sunbae?” 

With the CEO gone and the scandal irreparable, the company was shutting down, leaving Jinseok and me free agents. 

“Nah, I quit acting.” 

“What? You’re quitting?” 

After enduring all that, he was giving up acting now? 

“Honestly, if I haven’t made it after all this, I should’ve quit ages ago. I was just stubborn.” 

That didn’t sound right. Objectively, Jinseok’s acting was solid. 

“It’s just that you haven’t found the right role yet. I like your acting.” 

“Even if it’s just flattery, thanks. But why don’t you try acting?” 

Jinseok turned the tables, suggesting I take up acting. 

“Me?” 

“Do you know who Han Jungwoo hates the most?” 

His words instantly piqued my interest. 

“You don’t actually like Han Jungwoo—you despise him, don’t you?” 

“How’d you know?” 

I thought I’d hidden it well, but Jinseok seemed to see right through me. 

“When you talk about someone you like, you don’t glare like you’re ready to kill.” 

“Oh…” 

I thought I’d managed my expressions, but while I’d fooled Hyungcheol, I couldn’t deceive Jinseok, an acting major. 

“Do you know who Han Jungwoo hates the most?” 

My ears perked up at Jinseok’s words. 

“With his dramas and movies hitting it big back-to-back, his ego’s through the roof.” 

Jinseok raised his hands as high as they could go. 

“No idea why, but everything he touches turns to gold.” 

Glory Day had crossed ten million viewers, and his latest drama had smashed 28% ratings, earning massive popularity. 

Though I’d only recently learned that drama was one I’d picked for the boss. 

“And right now, DreamN’s top priority is…” 

Jinseok paused for effect. 

“Killing the competition.” 

“Killing the competition?” 

“What’s that mean?” 

“You know he’s nearing military service age, right?” 

Military service. 

The inevitable hurdle for male Korean celebrities. 

“His agency’s trying to get him exempted, but just in case, they’re taking out every rival in sight.” 

Instead of working harder himself, he’s scheming to tear others down.

Classic Han Jungwoo. 

“I think you’ve got potential.” 

“For what?” 

“What do you think? Acting!” 

“Acting? Me, an actor?” 

No one had ever suggested I act with such seriousness, and it threw me off. 

“You should take on that rival. If Han Jungwoo sees you succeeding while he’s stuck in the army, he’d be sick with envy.” 

The thought of Han Jungwoo writhing in jealousy was undeniably tempting. 

“Really?” 

“For some reason, he can’t stand people who rise from nothing.” 

I think I know why. 

The boss was exactly that kind of person.

Han Jungwoo couldn’t stomach someone he saw as beneath him surpassing him. 

“So if you want to screw over Han Jungwoo, become an actor.” 

I was already fed up with him hogging the boss’s spotlight. 

“But could I actually do it?” 

I’d only ever critiqued others’ acting, never tried it myself. 

“You’re born to be a star. Don’t waste that face—act.” 

Jinseok’s words sparked a thought. 

Could I do it like the boss did? 

Acting was the boss’s domain. He looked joyful, fulfilled, and… sincere when he acted. 

But all those thoughts crumbled at the mention of Han Jungwoo’s name. 

Jung Hyunjae, what are you hesitating for?

You have to do this. 

To reclaim the boss’s place from him, I’d chase him to hell if I had to. 

“Acting has this incredible pull once you try it.” 

Jinseok’s face, as he spoke of acting, was heavy with lingering attachment. 

“That’s all from me. Thanks.” 

Jinseok extended his hand for a final farewell. 

“Bad guys deserve punishment.” 

“I saw the photos you sent. Felt like a weight lifted off my chest.” 

I’d shared the proof shots Jiwon sent me with Jinseok. 

Hyungcheol’s gaunt cheeks, unwashed for a week, and soulless eyes—if I hadn’t been told it was him, I wouldn’t have recognized him. 

“Glad it helped, even a little.” 

“Tell your friend thanks too. Oh, what does he do, by the way?” 

Jinseok was curious about Jiwon. 

“Oh, him?” 

With his army of bodyguards and the power to send Hyungcheol to a shrimp boat, it was no wonder Jinseok was intrigued. 

“He’s just a rich unemployed guy.” 

Jiwon and I had no connection originally.

A fourth-generation chaebol vacationing at a countryside villa and a guy living in a rundown animal hospital had no reason to cross paths. 

If not for that incident, we’d never have met. 

“Unemployed?” 

“Yeah.” 

“The most enviable guy in the world.” 

Jinseok let out a soft laugh at the word “unemployed” and stood to leave. 

***

After Jinseok left, I stepped out of the café. 

So, how do you become an actor?

Last time, Hyungcheol was the obstacle, but now that he was gone, I had no idea where to start. 

“How to become an actor… No, audition for an agency.” 

As I searched on my way to the hospital, a black car suddenly pulled up beside me. 

“Huh? Argh!” 

I froze, staring at the car.

The passenger window rolled down, and someone grabbed me from behind.