The negotiations went quite smoothly.
“In that case, how much are you thinking for the initial volume?”
Deputy Manager Hwang Young-sik asked with a voice full of expectation. I had been feeling it for a while now, but he was the one unexpectedly taking the lead in this meeting.
“…”
As evidence, Department Manager Jang Hak-soo stepped back once the negotiations actually began to progress.
‘Are they planning to give him all the credit?’
Watching that scene brought something to mind.
‘Come to think of it, those two look alike.’
The same surname, Hwang. An appearance similar to President Hwang Hye-gyeong sitting next to him. Even the department manager who was inexplicably subservient to a mere deputy. The answer was clear.
‘They’re siblings.’
If it was a suspicion before, it was a certainty now.
‘If he’s a member of the royal family who needs to be promoted soon, they need to build up plausible justification and achievements for him. If they just promote him randomly, people might accept it on the surface, but it’s a perfect recipe for backstabbing rumors.’
Anyway, that was none of my business.
“Since it’s our first transaction, should we start by supplying about 1 ton of blueberries?”
General blueberries are currently around 70 million won per ton based on wholesale prices. For the record, Sekyung guaranteed our farm at least five times that price.
“Isn’t 1 ton too little?”
Immediately after, Deputy Manager Hwang Young-sik questioned it. To be fair, compared to Sekyung, it was less than one-tenth of the volume.
“As I said repeatedly, it’s our first transaction. Shouldn’t we gradually increase the volume after a certain level of mutual trust is established? From Shinhwa Department Store’s perspective, you’ll also need to verify the quality of our crops.”
“Even so, the down payment alone is 1 billion won. If you happen to stop trading after only supplying the initial volume…”
My thoughts remained the same.
‘Why should I care?’
I never asked for 1 billion won. They were the ones who jumped the gun and bet first because they were desperate. However, at that moment, President Hwang Hye-gyeong, who had been quiet, intervened.
“Let’s do that.”
“!? No… President!?”
“However, could you also specify in the contract the promise of full cooperation in the cultivation process that you mentioned earlier? If you do that, our people will do their best to assist so that your farm’s supply volume can increase.”
It seemed like she was trying to be clever. Actually, this was something I wanted to ask for myself.
‘Is there even such a thing as a special cultivation method at our farm?’
There wasn’t.
‘Then what is the reason crops grow so well here?’
It was entirely thanks to the Snowflakes.
‘Is there any reason to refuse this proposal?’
There couldn’t be.
“Of course. I’ll even specify it as a ‘period.’ In exchange, you must help with everything I request support for.”
“Of course. That’s what true ‘cooperation’ is.”
“Give me the contract.”
Soon, Department Manager Jang Hak-soo, who had finished the revisions on the spot using a laptop, announced that he had sent the email to me. These days, contracts can be easily completed via electronic signature.
*Scroll.*
I quickly dragged the screen down. Looking through it, the content was perfect. The part about Article 9 and that manual or whatever was completely deleted. Instead, a clause for up to 1 year of cooperation (which was just a provision of free labor) was included. Naturally, there were no other poison pills.
“I will sign it within this week as soon as I finish the review.”
“Thank you!”
I gave a beaming smile to the bowing Deputy Manager Hwang Young-sik. I’m the one who should be thankful, you sucker… no, customer.
‘More than that, that strange look from earlier has been bothering me.’
Immediately after, I quietly stared at President Hwang Hye-gyeong. As if she noticed my gaze, she spoke.
“The phone call the other day was quite impressive. I never dreamed you’d be such a young and handsome CEO.”
At times like this, some lip service was necessary on my part too.
“Since the president came in person, I was able to review the contract positively.”
“Oh. Really?”
“Of course.”
After all, she had promised such full support.
‘I got 1 billion won in free money and gained precious labor to help prepare for the winter.’
Wasn’t this truly killing two birds with one stone? Catching a crawfish while cleaning a ditch? Sweeping the yard and finding a coin? Eating the pheasant and the egg?
***
Inside the car returning to the company.
“We really hooked a sucker.”
Deputy Manager Hwang Young-sik smiled broadly.
“As soon as we extract the technology, I’ll submit a proposal to operate the department store’s own direct farm. Please give it a positive review, President.”
“Don’t get cocky and just submit the official paperwork properly.”
“Ah, of course!”
Regardless of whether Department Manager Jang Hak-soo was sitting in the passenger seat, Hwang Young-sik conversed naturally with the president. It was as if he wanted to show off that dynamic on purpose.
“More than that, President.”
At that moment, the secretary holding the steering wheel spoke cautiously.
“Should we stop by Tongyeong?”
“Ah, the filming set for *The Time the Moon Sets*?”
As if she just remembered, President Hwang Hye-gyeong let out a chuckle.
“We’re good on that. From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing more to see.”
“What? Why… President?”
To her brother’s question, President Hwang Hye-gyeong gave a meaningful smile.
“It seems like a problem occurred with an actor who has a fairly important role.”
“A problem? What is it? Did they do drugs? Or did they get edited out for drunk driving? Or maybe they hit rock bottom for dating a minor?”
Well, it would have been perfect if the release itself was overturned by that kind of issue.
‘But one actor being ruined to the point of being unusable is also a serious enough risk.’
***
The next morning.
I informed my business partner, who happened to arrive, about the contract without delay.
“What!? You signed a contract with Shinhwa Department Store?”
President Han Yu-jin, who had stopped by on her way to visit *The Time the Moon Sets* filming set, was immediately shocked. Looking back, misunderstandings between people often occurred because things that needed to be said weren’t. So, I explained everything without adding or subtracting anything.
“…And so, on the condition of receiving a 1 billion won down payment and free labor, I decided to supply only a small amount of blueberries.”
“Um, if it’s a small amount, how much exactly…?”
President Han Yu-jin, who looked anxious, couldn’t help but ask.
“1 ton.”
“Ah!”
Her expression, which had been darkening, brightened instantly.
“CEO. You aren’t upset with us for some reason, are you?”
“Not at all.”
“Not even a little bit?”
“If I had such feelings in the first place, I don’t think I would have even given you this explanation.”
“Ahem.”
The conversation between the two of us stopped at the sudden sound of a cough.
“Grandfather!”
It was Chairman Han Seung-ho, who was just going out to play Go with my father.
“I heard you were here, but I didn’t see you, so I came to take a look.”
“I-I’m sorry. I was going to go greet you right away…”
“I’m not saying this to scold you.”
Chairman Han Seung-ho suddenly spoke with a serious expression.
“Yu-jin. Do you remember what I told you before?”
“!”
“What looks good to you is bound to look good to everyone else.”
Leaving only those words, the chairman vanished like a mountain sage.
“…CEO.”
President Han Yu-jin, who had been frozen in a daze, finally spoke.
“Let’s write a new contract.”
“Pardon?”
She seemed to have forgotten about the visit to the filming set. President Han Yu-jin immediately took a seat. Her quick-witted secretary promptly returned with a laptop.
“First, we will also increase our down payment to 1 billion won, and if you need additional personnel, please tell me right away. Even if we don’t write this part in the contract, I will consider it an investment for my partner and actively support you. Of course, for free!”
“…”
This time, my mouth hung open slightly.
‘This… it feels like the value of our farm keeps rising unintentionally.’
***
“Manager Han.”
Chairman Han Seung-ho, who was heading toward the pavilion, quietly called out.
“Yes, Chairman.”
“It seems my granddaughter has become quite desperate, so we need to hurry things along. Is the matter I requested before still far off?”
“Actually, the location has been roughly identified.”
“!”
Chairman Han Seung-ho’s body trembled slightly.
“The location has been identified? Is that true?”
“Yes. I was planning to report to you soon after identifying the exact house number…”
If it was this far, it was practically as good as having narrowed it down to the building.
“Where is it?”
“The lawyer entered through Manila International Airport and hid in the Clark Freeport Zone, about 80 kilometers north of the capital.”
“Was there a reason to set up a hideout specifically there?”
“Yes. Clark was formerly a US military base. Because of that, foreign residents are relatively common, and there are many casinos, golf courses, and leisure towns, making it much easier to disguise oneself as a businessman.”
“Naturally, he must have a forged identity active locally. At that rate, he probably intended to live there for the rest of his life.”
“I’ve even confirmed that he possesses a forged passport.”
Chairman Han Seung-ho nodded.
“Bring him in as soon as you have the chance. I don’t care how much money it costs.”
“Understood, Chairman.”
***
On the same day, Shin Hye-seo and Min Ha-ru were in Tongyeong. Min Ha-ru’s manager, Kim Jin-soo, took charge of the driving. And…
“…Isn’t this more serious than what we heard?”
“I think so too.”
“Hmm… it looks that way to my eyes, too.”
This was the consistent assessment from the three who had watched the filming all morning.
“How many NGs did actor Jo Woo-sun alone make just this morning?”
“It feels like at least ten times, maybe more…”
“Right? It feels like he can’t focus on his acting at all.”
Just then, taking advantage of a break, the lead actress Jeong Do-hee approached.
“Hye-seo!”
“Sister!”
The two laughed as they warmly held hands.
“How long has it been?”
“I’m here too, Senior!”
At Min Ha-ru’s greeting, Jeong Do-hee made a look as if she were seeing a cute niece.
“Hello to Ha-ru too!”
“Hello!”
“…I want to keep greeting you with such a bright face, but the atmosphere here is a bit of a mess, isn’t it?”
At that moment, Jeong Do-hee’s face quickly darkened. For the record, the other lead actor, Lee Do-hyun, hadn’t even been able to come over to say hello. Even though he was acquainted with the two. Of course, the reason was clear.
“Since they are debut classmates, Do-hyun is doing his best to care for him one-on-one by his side, but…”
“What is the problem with Woo-sun?”
“It seems like a method acting hangover.”
Since she had already made the diagnosis, the answer flowed from Jeong Do-hee’s mouth without hesitation. It meant a state where one was so immersed in a previous role that they still couldn’t escape its influence.
“Come to think of it, Woo-sun’s previous role was definitely…”
” *Shanghai*! He played the role of a Japanese official who oppressed independence activists. I really enjoyed that movie too.”
Min Ha-ru followed up on Shin Hye-seo’s words. At the same time, both of their faces became serious.
“I remember there were quite a few brutal scenes in it too.”
“And given the timing, he basically joined *The Time the Moon Sets* with almost no break after filming that movie.”
“That couldn’t be helped. The director is so thorough that he was determined to film the frozen river seen in the poster of *Shanghai* without CGI, but because of global warming, the river froze later than in previous years…”
Shin Hye-seo couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Jo… Actor Jo Woo-sun!!!!”
“!”
The bomb they had been fearing finally exploded.