I Don’t Want to Play Villains Anymore - Chapter 48
Talk Show
“Huuh… It’s chaotic. Chaotic.”
A chapter in the legendary childhood of Baek Ha-neul, who dominated the era. Sakkkeo Entertainment.
The young manager, Seong Jeong-hoon, couldn’t even sleep properly amidst the overwhelming influx of events rolling in like waves.
The starting point for all this chaos, of course, was Haneul’s return.
Her acting shone even in high school dramas.
And the only one unique visual that was blooming and transforming.
Baek Ha-neul was currently the brightest star in the entertainment industry.
“Looks like the inside is clearly visible. My goodness.”
Among them was P, a rarely seen producer within the agency.
They were begging for Haneul to talk to them, asking for negotiations and connections.
“Are you aiming for our Haneul? She’s definitely going to be sent to a well-verified place… right?”
Seong Jeong-hoon stared at the raindrops tapping against the window, gritting his teeth.
Baek Ha-neul.
The savior who revived the struggling agency, a precious child.
There were times when even Seong Jeong-hoon found it difficult to figure out how to treat this child.
The so-called laws of the entertainment world were what Seong Jeong-hoon despised the most.
Using, consuming, and throwing away talent. He loathed it.
Perhaps that’s why, every time he faced Baek Ha-neul, a subtle conflict would arise deep within his heart.
Seong Jeong-hoon smiled coldly as he watched the raindrops.
‘…They’re such materialists.’
But right now, messages from materialists were piling up endlessly on his phone.
[Hello, Manager. This is OTV’s Producer Shin Young-jun. I believe Baek Ha-neul is an extraordinary actress. We would love to have her as the female lead in our new drama, “At the End of the Wave.”]
Seong Jeong-hoon glared at the screen with cold eyes before deleting the message. Blocking these contacts had become second nature.
[Greetings, Sakkkeo Entertainment! This is Producer Lee Do-hwan from Taek Seob. I apologize for not being able to attend the recent events. We are preparing a special youth drama, and I don’t think it will succeed unless Baek Ha-neul is involved.]
Seong Jeong-hoon bit his lip.
It was frustrating how they were now acting desperate, as if they hadn’t existed until yesterday.
He opened the last message.
[Hey, Jeong-hoon. How have you been? Do you remember me? It’s Choi Min-woo from the same class in college. Our agency is producing a drama, and could you introduce us to your Baek Ha-neul? Let’s grab a meal sometime. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. I’ll be waiting for your call.]
“…Choi Min-woo…?”
The invitation from a college acquaintance whose memory was faint was the most absurd among all the messages.
How could someone transition so naturally to “Let’s just eat together”? If it weren’t for Haneul, he likely would have never remembered that face.
Seong Jeong-hoon slammed his phone down and let out a deep sigh.
“Seriously, are all the people around here like this…?”
He stepped away from the window for a moment, quietly resting his body on the desk, looking at the sky. The city outside, blurred by the rain, was shaking like glamorous decorations in a stream of water.
Before Haneul arrived, Sakkkeo Entertainment was just a small agency that barely existed.
A typical small-scale planning company that was on the brink of collapse.
But now, Sakkkeo Entertainment was a symbol of new possibilities.
And at its center, there was Baek Ha-neul.
A protective instinct toward Haneul surged strongly within Seong Jeong-hoon’s heart.
“Haneul… will never be wasted like that.”
Seong Jeong-hoon vowed to himself.
Haneul was not just a famous child actor. She was the ideal that Seong Jeong-hoon himself had once dreamed of.
A real actress who never looks solely at money or popularity when choosing projects.
A talent that upholds dignity. He wanted to create that kind of talent.
No, he wanted to shine even brighter because she was that kind of talent.
At that moment, a soft knock sounded at the door.
“Manager. Can I come in?”
“Uh, come in.”
As the door opened, Assistant Manager Seo entered, showing wide eyes through his glasses.
He was holding a cellphone.
“What’s going on?”
“Um… you know the director Gong Mu-heon…”
That name was mentioned.
“Yeah.”
Seong Jeong-hoon’s Shin Sound suddenly froze.
Gong Mu-heon. The one who caused controversy by using Haneul as a child antagonist.
“He came back… he wants to work with Haneul again.”
“That crazy b*stard…!”
Seong Jeong-hoon slammed the desk without realizing it. Assistant Manager Seo flinched, surprised.
“Is this industry ever-ending? What is that b*stard thinking?”
Seo Joo-han carefully looked into Seong Jeong-hoon’s eyes.
“Should we decline…?”
“Of course, we should decline. That b*stard probably wants to ruin Haneul again.”
Seong Jeong-hoon’s Shin Sound was trembling.
Worry, anxiety, and the instinct to protect. All his emotions were tangled.
After taking a moment to breathe, he spoke lowly.
“Don’t tell Haneul that b*stard is here.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
After Assistant Manager Seo quietly left the office, Seong Jeong-hoon walked back to the window.
The rain was pouring down harder.
He took a breath amidst the sound of rain.
“Haneul, I will protect you. Truly.”
Seong Jeong-hoon took a moment to look at his reflection in the window.
A shabby, tired, stubborn face.
Yet, there was one thing he was resolute about.
He would never allow Baek Ha-neul to be hurt.
With that determination in mind, he picked up his ringing phone and sent a cold message.
[I’m sorry. Our Haneul is currently choosing projects. Please do not reach out again unless it’s a verified and good project.]
As he sent that brief message, he felt a strange tension rising within him.
The cold worry and the warm sense of responsibility mixed in his heart.
And he smiled slightly.
“Haneul, don’t worry. I won’t let you become prey to those materialists.”
The sound of rain outside grew louder, turning rough, as if it were completely swallowing the city.
At that moment.
[Our Haneul: Manager. Do I have any invitations?]
“Ah.”
It was eerie how Haneul would always know when an invitation came.
“Um… What should I do, Assistant Manager Seo?”
“It might be better to tell her the truth…”
But Haneul was fundamentally polite and an unpredictable child. If she unexpectedly embraced a good proposal for the agency…
“Ugh… Is there no way around this…”
[Seong Jeong-hoon: Actually, you see…]
[Our Haneul: I think I should start appearing on variety shows.]
Ah.
Seong Jeong-hoon hit his forehead, exclaiming in frustration.
[Seong Jeong-hoon: Of course, there have been numerous offers, but didn’t you say you weren’t going to do variety shows?]
[Our Haneul: Shows like “Ukuwiwa,” where it’s calm and not too stimulating, I like.]
“…This is interesting. I just received an invitation from Ukuwiwa.”
Ukuwiwa.
A well-known quiz program hosted by Woo Jae-sook and his friend Joo Se-han, recognized as one of the top variety shows in South Korea.
Originally, it featured participants on the street, but now it leaned more toward celebrity-focused specials.
[Seong Jeong-hoon: It just came in, do you want to go?]
[Our Haneul: Really? That sounds great.]
“…Hmm. It seems the level of excitement is a tad low.”
It wasn’t something he could tell her about invitations that came in from previous lives.
Seong Jeong-hoon remained sleepless that day, worrying whether he had burdened Haneul.
.
.
.
The studio was neat and tidy.
Stainless steel and matte tiles, with glossy marble appropriately mixed into the setting.
The intentionally placed white table and classic tabletop displayed that “Ukuwiwa” was not just a simple variety show, but an interview program.
“Ah, today…”
As Woo Jae-sook opened his mouth, the lighting focused on him.
“Honestly, I’m a bit excited.”
“You’re excited? Who’s coming?”
Joo Se-han teased him with his shoulder, as always. His habit of speaking fast when too excited was evident as he curiously inquired.
“This guest… is something else.”
Woo Jae-sook smirked, only raising one side of his mouth.
“If I say the name, the excitement ends there.”
“What? Come on! Then what kind of famous talent is it?”
“Famous, yes. But not just any famous talent; it’s one that people misunderstand as overrated.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“It’s the most poetic statement I’ve ever made in my life—just now.”
Joo Se-han raised his eyebrows, feeling embarrassed.
The camera quietly zoomed in on Woo Jae-sook’s taciturn expressions. He took a sip of coffee before carefully opening his mouth.
“I interviewed that talent when she was in elementary school.”
“What?! When?”
“So, um… she was just a promising child actor.”
A brief silence engulfed the room.
“And now?”
“Now, she’s just… a scary child.”
The camera staff chuckled lightly at this remark, and the atmosphere among the staff brightened.
Joo Se-han narrowed his eyes, organizing his questions as he scanned the laptop before asking.
“…But who is it? At least give us a hint.”
Woo Jae-sook looked at the camera. More specifically, at the ‘viewers’ behind the camera.
“…There’s a talent who’s been quiet for a while suddenly uprooting everything just with their presence. Without saying a word, everything changes just because that person shows up.”
“…What? Hyung, you’re getting too sentimental.”
“This isn’t sentimentality; it’s realism. Realism.”
Woo Jae-sook raised one corner of his mouth again.
“Just let me say one thing. Silver-haired.”
“……”
There’s only one entertainer with silver hair in South Korea.
Joo Se-han’s face stiffened.
The staff felt the same way.
As soon as those words were uttered,
The lights subtly—very subtly—started to adjust.
It was a warm-up to spotlight Haneul.
And softly, music began to play.
Controlled strings. A low, heavy bass setting the tone.
A discordant mix of anticipation and excitement, just like the atmosphere.
And—
The production crew gave a careful signal.
‘Ready to enter.’
Woo Jae-sook nodded, and Joo Se-han tightly closed his eyes.
Then the screen transitioned smoothly.
On a black background, one caption appeared.
Today, we will meet a talent once deemed “an extraordinary story.”
The screen darkened.
The sound of a door opening.
The click of heels.
Unhurried, quiet, and cautious footsteps.
And the camera slowly panned up.
Knees, waist, a school uniform shining.
And—
Ah, the gaze locking with the camera.
The bright, clear eyes meeting with the audience beyond the lens.
A girl whose visuals had already reached the peak.
No one said anything, yet.
Yet, everyone recognized instantly that moment.
“…Hello.”
That distinctive, slightly low and refined tone.
The lights finally poured down on her entirely.
And a subtitle appeared at the bottom of the screen.
Actress, Baek Ha-neul.
Only then did the music conclude.