Chapter 19

Chapter 19

At the auction house in Namhang, the sound of boat bells and the auctioneers chant mingled to create a peculiar harmony. Tens of tons of fish pass through this place every day. Middlemen eye each other and call out prices with hand gestures, while retailers buy the fish that the middlemen have won in the auction and head to their respective businesses. Today, I found myself at this auction house early in the morning.

Hey, mister! I made way for you last time, didnt I? Didnt you promise to make it up to me next time? Theres still some room in our box today; if I lose this one, Ill be disappointed!

Yeongguk, alright! Enough, youre making my ears bleed!

No, seriously. Please help me out today.

Fine, I wont compete with you. You know fish quality so well. When you grow up, you should be an auctioneer!

No way, Ill be a government official earning a stable pension!

You really drive me crazy, you know that? Still, thanks to you, Namhang Market is thriving these days!

It was common for voices to be raised when discussing the quality of the fish. It was not because of any malicious intent but rather because the view was obstructed by the ice preserving the fish. Usually, middlemen would deliver the fish directly to the auction alley, but I often visited the auction house in the early morning. They say, The early bird catches the worm, and this was a similar principle.

Come and get some hot coffee!

I prepared mixed coffee for my close auctioneer friends and middlemen. Of course, I didnt buy it with my own money. It was distributed at the rest area in the market, but most auctioneers and middlemen were too busy buying and selling fish to even think about making coffee. By scoring points like this, I got a better chance of getting hold of fish with better quality.

Yeongguk, arent you going to school today?Reêad latest novels at noov/e/l/bin(.)com

Who would go to school on the weekend? I have nothing to do.

Quit school and join this business! Ill make sure you get a good wage!

With the auction over, seagulls swoop down and peck at the discarded fish scraps. Street cats, usually enemies of the seagulls, team up with them in search of leftover fish. People pretend not to see them, likely knowing everyone was just trying to survive.

Hey, eat this. Its better for your body.

I secretly threw a fish at a kitten-sized cat. At first, it seemed cautious but soon picked up the fish in its mouth and ran to the other side of the wharf. I worried it might get injured while running, but surprisingly, it even had the leisure to wink at me before disappearing. I was just about to leave when I heard an unexpected voice.

Jang Yeongguk?

I turned my head to the voice, and there stood a familiar figure. A middle-aged man dressed in a neat suit who seemed vaguely familiar. Who was he? Where had I seen him before? As I tilted my head, the man handed me a business card, and suddenly, I remembered.

Arent you the president of Park Suyeongs agency?

Yes, Im glad you remember me, Yeongguk! I was actually worried about how I would find you in this vast market, but when I asked around, all the merchants seemed to know you very well.

But why me?

The filming had ended long ago, and there was still about a week left until the drama aired. I wondered why the man would come looking for me in such a situation. We briefly saw each other at the restaurant and didnt even get a chance to exchange proper greetings, surrounded by the film crew. I didnt think much of it then, but his words a moment later made my heart tremble.

Jang Yeongguk, do you want to act again?

Kim Seonghwan stared at the empty seat, wondering to whom he had been talking. The small stature and shaggy hair clearly belonged to a boy, but his speech was as mature as an adults. Was he really a middle school student? The rich aroma of ssanghwa tea hung heavily in the air.

* * *

There were generally three types of entertainment agency CEOs: swindlers, businessmen, or artists. Kim Seonghwan, the CEO of Songwon Entertainment, was closer to being an artist. He didnt know that back in the fish market, but he could tell after meeting him face-to-face and hearing his name. Moreover, he had heard quite a few stories about him in his past life.

So, he went missing after all.

In his past life, when he was still a bit part actor, a scandal shook the broadcasting world. The news was that the CEO of Songwon Entertainment had been imprisoned for embezzling funds. It turned out later that it was his business partner who embezzled, but the partner had already fled overseas. So, all the blame fell on Kim Seonghwan.

The losses were so enormous that Songwon Entertainment, which had some big-name actors on board, almost went bankrupt. Although he was known for his good character and had several people offering him help, Kim Seonghwan refused all of it. After that, no one knew what had happened. One day he disappeared without a trace. There were rumors that he was homeless near XX Station, but no concrete information existed. Back then, there were only rumors.

Look what we have here! Fresh, delicious fish! Take a look and try one before you leave!

Even while attracting customers, the last image of him lingered in the boys mind. He was known to be kind-hearted. Even when speaking casually to the boy, he always respectfully addressed him. Though the boy was tempted to interfere, how could he explain something that would happen in the future? Moreover, since he had spoken so harshly, it was unlikely that Kim Seonghwan would seek the boy out again.

Wow, you really have a good eye! How do you manage to pick out only the best fish? And every time I see you, you look younger and younger.

Really? The delicious fish here is the reason I came. Youre the best when it comes to service, so be more generous.

Of course, service is a must for you! Ive added plenty, so make sure to come back again next time!

Being a child actor was a curse. It meant that the value of their acting was not worth the investment. Even if a child actor were to sign an exclusive contract, the contract fee would basically be nonexistent. Theres very little revenue an agency could make from a child actor. For a child actor to grow into a credible adult actor was incredibly rare.

In that situation, the boy rattled off unbelievable contract terms. While he could have been considered insane, it was well played from the boys perspective. The obsession of an artist was unparalleled. To shake him off, the boy had no choice but to speak harshly.

Jang, Ill clean up the display. You go ahead and rest. I told you to rest on weekends too.

Lost in his thoughts, the day flew by in the blink of an eye. However, it seemed the boys mind and body had moved independently. Not a single fish remained unsold on the display. Despite his mothers objections, the boy tidied up the display neatly.

Im a healthy son, so you dont need to worry. I wont be able to help much on my school days. So, at least on weekends, please let me take care of things.

While the boy was neatly stacking the fish display under the night sky, he suddenly felt someones gaze. When he raised his head, Kim Seonghwan stood holding a small bag he had somehow acquired.

Yeongguk!

CEO?

In that bewildering moment, Kim Seonghwan greeted the boys mother first. She was surprised to learn that he was the CEO of actress Park Suyeongs company. She wondered why on earth he would come all the way to Yeongdo. Then, the bag loudly landed on top of the fish display.

Ill meet the conditions the Yeongguk wants! I was going to transfer the money to your account, but cash seems better, considering youre running a business, right?

Huh.

What an unyielding man his persistence was on the level of a bulls tendon.

[1] Its a herbal tea.