Chapter 24 : The Price of Betrayal

“Damn it, how did he end up here?”

As soon as Gongjun spotted Hyungyu—his former agency’s CEO—he quickly ducked into a corner of the set.

“Just a moment. I just need to talk to Jun for a bit, I won’t get in the way of filming.”

“We’re in the middle of a shoot. It’d be better to speak with him later.”

“This is really urgent.”

“Please, just this once. I haven’t been able to get in touch with him.”

While Gongjun watched anxiously from his hiding spot, Hyungyu kept arguing with the staff.

“You said the company would take care of everything cleanly.”

“Hell… I didn’t think I’d have to track you all the way here. Just hold on a sec.”

Gongjun’s manager, visibly flustered, quickly stepped away to make a call.

“How could he just leave without cleaning up his mess?”

Gongjun couldn’t help but feel bitter toward his manager, who had abandoned him in the face of trouble.

But he kept quiet, afraid that speaking up might blow his cover.

“Ah, seriously. Just go away…”

“What are you doing?”

It was Hyunjae who spotted the crouching Gongjun.

“Just go away.”

There were no cameras rolling at the moment, so Gongjun snapped back bluntly.

Hyunjae didn’t seem to mind his tone.

“I think I know who that guy is.”

“What?”

“I was there too, remember? Don’t you?”

Hyunjae recognized Hyungyu immediately.

It was a face burned into his memory from that shocking moment.

“Be quiet.”

Gongjun gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice.

But to Hyunjae, that only made things more amusing.

“We know why you’re here. So please calm down.”

“Sigh… seriously.”

“Let’s step outside and talk.”

The youngest assistant director finally managed to calm Hyungyu down and started escorting him off set.

“Phew… I was nervous for a second.”

Just as Gongjun sighed in relief, Hyunjae curled one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“Jun! I think someone’s here looking for you?”

With everyone curious and whispering about Hyungyu, Hyunjae’s voice stood out and instantly drew everyone’s attention—including Hyungyu and the assistant director.

“You!”

There was no use hiding now.

If he tried, he’d only make himself look guilty.

Gongjun had no choice but to step out and approach Hyungyu.

“…You bastard. We’ll talk later.”

Even in the middle of all the attention, Hyungyu didn’t forget to leave a warning.

“Let’s talk outside.”

“We’ll resume filming in about ten minutes.”

A staff member extended the break after watching the two leave.

“I never thought you’d actually be here.”

They moved to a quiet corner outside the set, and it was Hyungyu who spoke first.

“I thought you’d never do this to me… How could you?”

He paused in between words, as if trying to suppress his anger.

“I’m sorry. But still, how could you show up here like this? This is my first shoot!”

His apology was short, but his irritation stretched long.

“You knew this would make things worse for me. Did you come just to mess with me?”

“You think I care about that? My actor suddenly disappears, leaving only a contract termination notice. You think I’d just let that go?”

Hyungyu shot back, undeterred.

“Anyway, anything about the contract, take it up with the agency. I’m not involved.”

Trying to wash his hands of the matter, Gongjun tried to draw a line.

But that only drained the last of Hyungyu’s lingering sentiment.

“So I treated you well and you thought I was just a sucker? You think I wouldn’t know what you’re up to after all my years in this industry?”

At first, Hyungyu had tried to understand. It made sense that Gongjun would prefer a bigger agency over a smaller one.

“I really misjudged you.”

If Gongjun had simply apologized and said he’d panicked and made a mistake, Hyungyu would’ve been upset—but he would’ve let it go.

But not with this attitude.

“You think you’re smart for making a clever switch at just the right time?”

Gongjun flinched inside.

That was exactly what he’d been thinking.

“You probably think everyone else is stupid and you’re the only one with brains. But guess what? There are people way smarter than you in this business!”

Hyungyu’s voice rose before he caught himself.

Even getting angry at someone like this felt like a waste.

“When people get greedy beyond their means, they always pay the price. Sins don’t stay hidden forever.”

“Are you seriously cursing me right now?”

To Gongjun, it sounded like a curse.

He figured Hyungyu was just bitter that he’d left and immediately landed a major role.

“Sorry, but I don’t think your curse is going to work on me.”

Gongjun was determined to use this role as a stepping stone and move straight into lead roles.

Even if it wasn’t a massive production, he was confident he could land a Monday-Tuesday drama lead next.

“You think this is a curse? This is a warning. A final gift.”

Hyungyu turned his back, clearly done with the conversation.

“Just wait. It won’t be long before you realize what I meant.”

He left with those parting words, and Gongjun finally let out a breath of relief.

“Phew… at least that didn’t drag on too long.”

He’d been worried Hyungyu would cling and cause a scene, but it ended faster than expected.

“He came all the way here just to spit that nonsense? Doesn’t he have anything better to do?”

Gongjun spat on the ground and plastered on a smile as he headed back to the set like nothing happened.

Once the two disappeared, the staff remaining on set began whispering.

“That was him, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, I thought it was weird. He wasn’t with MS during the audition, and then suddenly he was.”

“Right? But I didn’t think he’d jump ship like that.”

It wasn’t hard to piece together what had happened from their conversations.

‘So that’s why my role suddenly changed overnight?’

Apparently, Gongjun had betrayed that guy, switched agencies, and snatched up the role.

“First day of filming and it’s already a mess.”

“Oh, come on. If he cared about that, would he have stabbed the guy in the back?”

“True. I’d bet my arm he walks in smiling like nothing happened.”

“What good is your arm? Just buy coffee if you lose.”

The camera crew were betting on how shamelessly Gongjun would return, while the assistant directors gossiped about Hyungyu.

“Still, that CEO’s got some serious connections. He’s known for his loyalty, too.”

“He’s famous?”

“Well, maybe you don’t know. He was Yoo Hyera’s manager. Stayed with her until she retired.”

“No way! Seriously?”

Yoo Hyera.

I knew who she was too.

A legendary figure in the Korean entertainment world.

She dominated the late 2000s, and everything she touched turned into a trend.

“She was doing so well until she suddenly retired after getting married. But before that, she was at the top of her game.”

“To think someone like her got betrayed by some rookie… I’d be furious too.”

The more I listened to the staff’s chatter, the more one thought echoed in my mind.

“He’s perfect for me.”

I’d been looking for an agency, but it wasn’t as easy as I’d thought.

Scammy vibes, exploitative environments, companies that looked like they were on the verge of collapse—finding a decent mid-sized agency was harder than expected.

“Maybe I should talk to him?”

If he’d been Yoo Hyera’s manager, his capabilities were proven.

And the way he had barged into the audition hall for his actor’s sake—that had left an impression.

“Um, excuse me, I’m really sorry, but I need to use the restroom. My stomach hurts.”

I clutched my lower abdomen and made my case, and a staff member nodded understandingly.

“It looks like things over there will take a while anyway. Go ahead.”

“Thank you!”

I quickly slipped out of the set and scanned the area, looking for Hyungyu.

It didn’t take long to spot him talking to Gongjun.

“Sins don’t stay hidden forever. And if you get greedy beyond your limits, you’ll be repaid in kind.”

I had expected at least some yelling—if not a full-blown fight—but Hyungyu remained calm.

He was definitely an adult.

“Just wait. It won’t be long before you understand what I mean.”

He didn’t waste time on pointless bickering. He turned and walked away cleanly.

“That idiot clearly didn’t get it.”

If Gongjun had been capable of understanding that message, he wouldn’t have done something so stupid in the first place.

“Excuse me! Wait a second!”

I followed him toward the parking lot and called out to him.

“Were you talking to me?”

Hyungyu looked around, making sure I was addressing him.

“Yes.”

“You need something from me?”

“I’m Jung Hyunjae.”

“Oh, right. You’re the kid who went to the wrong audition, right?”

He remembered me from our brief meeting—his sharp eye was impressive.

“I like him even more now.”

“So, what is it?”

“I’m looking for an agency.”

No need for fluff. I got straight to the point.

“And?”

Short as he was, he folded his arms and looked up at me.

His stature didn’t matter—he still seemed to hold the upper hand.

“I want to join your agency.”

No hesitation. I blurted it out. I was sure I wouldn’t find a better fit than him.

“Hah… You’re a funny one.”

He let out a small laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Didn’t you just see someone leaving my agency because he didn’t like it?”

“I saw.”

“And you still want to join?”

“Yes.”

I answered without missing a beat. He looked me up and down.

“You’re really something.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but the shoot’s about to start, so if you could—”

I had told them I was going to the restroom, and by now Gongjun had probably returned to the set. I was in a rush.

“Here.”

Hyungyu pulled out a business card from his inner jacket pocket and handed it to me.

“Go on. A rookie shouldn’t be late to a shoot.”

“I’ll contact you after filming.”

I shoved the card into my uniform pants pocket and dashed back to the set.

“It’s been a while since I’ve met someone that straightforward.”

Hyungyu slid into the driver’s seat and reached for the ignition, then hesitated.

He let his hand fall and reclined his seat instead.

“What a funny kid.”

He lay back and closed his eyes.

There had been a brief commotion, but filming wrapped up without further trouble.

“Hyung, let’s go.”

As soon as filming ended, Gongjun gave a quick farewell to the director, grabbed his manager, and bolted.

“Must be embarrassed, huh?”

He might’ve tried to act like nothing happened, but the look in the staff’s eyes had changed. He couldn’t have missed that.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Hey, Donghyeok. You’re getting a ride with the staff car, right?”

“Yes!”

The set was in a remote location, so catching a ride with the staff was the only way out.

“There should be a car in the parking lot. Go grab a seat quickly. If it’s full, you’ll have to wait for the next one.”

At the staff member’s words, I quickly changed clothes and headed toward the parking lot.

“I can’t be late.”

The last train was on my mind, so I hurried to the lot—and there, I found someone I hadn’t expected to see.