Chapter 159:
The secretary was taken aback. Throughout the time serving the vice president, the secretary had never seen the vice president bowing to anyone.
Moreover, to personally go and apologize to someone. It was indeed surprising.
This must mean that the situation is more serious than it seems.
Having come to this conclusion, the secretary nodded.
"Understood. Is there anything else I should prepare?"
"Well no, I'll handle everything else. Please make sure the journalists don't hear anything other than that I went to apologize to Director Katahiro. There's nothing good for them to pick up on from the situation."
"Yes."
The secretary nodded, understanding the instructions.
At that moment, the gate for arrivals opened.
***
The first day of filming for "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World."
As if they had been coordinating for a long time, the staff efficiently moved around the set, creating a bustling atmosphere.
Even though this was a project being filmed in Japan, most of the staff were Korean, and some were familiar faces from previous projects, making the adjustment quite smooth.
I wonder if those rumors are true.
Among the staff preparing for the shoot, I overheard a conversation: "Vice President Toho came to the director's hotel yesterday and apologized, didn't he?" I was curious to know more details, but considering it was right before the shoot and not directly related to my concerns, I chose not to ask Ha Jun about it.
Actors have their own matters, and staff have theirs.
Well judging by the fact that there was an apology, it seems to have been resolved.
Setting aside miscellaneous thoughts, I opened the script. Just like how flipping through a book before an exam brings peace of mind, reading the script before shooting helped calm my nerves.
"5 minutes until the shoot!"
A staff member shouted. Looking at their face, I recognized them as the same staff member who called the shooting time during .
Maybe it's time to start getting ready. As I stood up from the folding chair, Ha Jun, who had been watching me from behind, spoke.
"Ac, Actor!"
"Yes?"
"D, don't be nervous, just do what you always do!"
Even though I wasn't particularly nervous about acting, Ha Jun seemed so tense that his words were shaky.
His demeanor was like that of a rookie manager,' and I couldn't help but smile unintentionally.
"Haha, yes. I'll do my best as usual."
"Yes! That's all you need to do. Fighting!"
With a different kind of encouragement from Manager Jang Sunho, I headed towards the center of the studio.
Today, we're shooting the scene of the protagonist, Yuu Shirozaki, attending his parents' funeral. The family and relatives console Yuu, who is struggling with the sudden death of his parents.
Up to this point, it's a common and gentle scene that can be seen anywhere.
The protagonist discovers that the people he trusted the most planned to take advantage of his parents' wealth. Soon, he finds out that the accident involving his parents was a scheme orchestrated by those culprits. Shocked by this revelation, the protagonist
As I was recalling the overall scene, something happened.
"1 minute before shooting!"
With a louder voice than before, the staff announced. The movements of the staff became even faster at the sound.
A moment later, a studio with an atmosphere believable for an actual funeral was created.
Behind the camera and monitor, Katahiro looked at me with a serious gaze.
Even for someone with experience, the first shoot seemed to be a nerve-wracking experience for him.
On the other hand, other staff members seemed quite expectant, sparkling eyes fixed on me. In the midst of the scene, Inoue, who doesn't appear in this particular scene, subtly peeked out among the staff, her eyes gleaming.
"Ready, action!"
The first cue from Director Katahiro resonated. As the actors, who had been frozen, began to move in unison according to the script, the perspective changed.
This is'
It was a funeral home similar to the one I saw in the studio a while ago, shockingly similar. The only difference was that people's attire was slightly more formal.
In the foreground, Tadano could be seen.
Looking blankly at the bright smiles of his parents in the photo, Tadano seemed frozen in shock from the sudden loss of his parents.
Someone approached Tadano and asked,
"Are you okay?"
Tadano slowly raised his head to look at the person who spoke to him. Then, he stood up and politely greeted me,
"Ah Uncle, have you arrived? I'm sorry; I should have gone out."
"Never mind that. First, let's greet my brother and then have a conversation."
"Sure."
After offering chrysanthemums in front of the deceased's portrait, the uncle sat down next to Tadano. Tadano still seemed to have no focus in his eyes.
"I was going to come yesterday, but I got caught up. Did you manage to get some sleep?"
"Yes. I managed to close my eyes for a moment."
"Alright. I don't know if these words will help, but the one who's alive has to keep on living. Even if it's just thinking about your parents who went first."
""
"I'm sorry to say this, but a lawyer wanted to meet briefly. He said your father was in the middle of a project, and you're designated as the proxy. Your signature is needed."
Even as he spoke, the uncle wore an embarrassed expression. Despite that, Tadano forced a smile and said,
"It's okay. There are things that need to be done. Originally, I was supposed to be the proxy, but your father elevated you, so that's how it is."
"Yeah."
"Is the lawyer outside now?"
"Yeah. He came in with me earlier, so he should be outside. He said he couldn't bring himself to work in front of my deceased brother."
"I understand. Please wait for a moment."
"Sure."
Tadano weakly rose from his seat and went outside. As he did, mourners gazed at him, each uttering a few words.
Suddenly losing parents like this
The boss was truly a great person.
Even so, Tadano will manage to overcome this. He was a top student at Dongkyung University Law School.
A genius since childhood. Passed the preliminary exam for the judicial examination in his first year of enrollment.
I heard he plans to take the judicial exam next year. If he passes, he'll inherit the entire estate Today will be sad, but his life will be happy from now on.
What about the person who caused the accident?
Apparently, they're missing. It was a hit-and-run, so it's probably difficult to catch them.
Words of sympathy, envy, and occasionally mixed emotions. Among them, there were even some words that should not have been spoken at a funeral, but Tadano didn't pay them any mind. He simply hoped for this moment to pass.
*' Where is Attorney Katsuke?'*
As Tadano sighed and looked around, someone at the entrance waved slightly. It was Attorney Katsuke.
Katsuke bowed deeply to Tadano as he approached.
"I should apologize for discussing business right in front of your parents's final journey. I'm sorry, young master."
"No, Attorney. So, what kind of documents do I need to sign?"
"This."
Handing over what seemed to be a considerably thick stack of documents, Katsuke explained,
"It's nothing special, just dealing with overdue payments from the opposing party. Also, various contract documents regarding minor details."
"Yes."
Tadano, physically and mentally exhausted, unhesitatingly brought the pen to the signature line.
*' Wait. Overdue payments?'*
*'My father, who repeatedly emphasized the importance of money in any situation, could he have fallen behind on payments?'*
When Tadano was young, he learned about work beside his father. Since entering university, he even went out alone for business as a part-time employee. His father imparted various wisdom about business, with the most frequent being about money.'
"Tadano, no matter the situation, you must never delay in receiving money. Money must always be handled as promised."
"Understood."
"Yes. And remember one more thing. Relationships, whether family, friends or any connection, can crumble in the face of money."
"Then, shouldn't I avoid making deals with anyone? If any relationship can crumble in the face of money"
"That would be the most comfortable way. But you can't live like that, can you? So, never let anyone feel bitter about money from the start. Not even a single yen."
"No matter how close the relationship, it fades in the face of money. So, don't make anyone unhappy with money Is that right?"
"Yes. Never forget."
*' Could my father, who repeated this advice hundreds, even thousands of times, have fallen behind on payments?'*
It couldn't be. In the past few years of working with his father, there had never been a single argument over money with business partners.
It felt uneasy. Somewhere, he could almost hear his departed father's shout, "Wake up, you scoundrel!"
*' But'*
Tadano glanced subtly at Katsuke. A family-like lawyer known since childhood. They were genuinely close, and he couldn't imagine such a person doing something bad to him.
As Tadano hesitated to sign with the pen in hand, Katsuke cautiously asked,
"Is there a problem?"
" The contract has been double-checked by me several times, so there should be no problem. I understand you're going through a difficult time, and I don't want to bother you further."
A friendly and concerned voice, a voice that raised no suspicion.
But.
*' Wouldn't it be okay to check just once?'*
If there was any doubt, even the slightest, it had to be checked.
Tadano began reading the first page of the contract. Despite the overwhelming grief from losing his mother and father, he was so tired and exhausted that he could barely drink water. Still, this seemed like something he had to do.
"Young master? You don't need to check it so thoroughly"
With a slightly trembling voice and a graceful smile, Katsuke spoke to Tadano. Tadano, without responding, silently continued to read through the contract.
After a while of scrutinizing the contract.
Phew.
He let out a sigh of relief.
*' Seems like there's no issue. Maybe I misunderstood things needlessly?'*
But then.
"?"
At that moment.
""
Around the last page of the contract, Tadano's hand stopped. After carefully reading each character of the same clause, he couldn't look at Katsuke, and with a trembling voice, he spoke.
"Attorney."
""
"Has my father ever caused any dissatisfaction with you and my uncle involving money?"
It was a momentary reaction of less than a second, but Tadano could tell he had hit Katsuke right on the mark.
A brief silence flowed between them.
Tadano spoke with a heavy voice.
"This contract, the last clause. It seems like a provision cleverly giving all of my father's assets to you and my uncle Why would you include such a clause?"
""
"Why would you put such a provision in this contract?"
His voice was filled with betrayal, disbelief in the harsh reality, and anger.
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