AFB CH 05

Chapter 05

The wind blew again.

Maybe because it was winter wind, my head suddenly felt dizzy.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t the first time I had felt something like this.

Back when I was a rookie actor, I experienced something similar after going a whole week without sleeping.

‘But I slept well last night.’

<Chanran. You must have forgotten. The only thing you’ve had since waking up is a glass of water.>

Ah.

Now that I thought about it, after fixing my cracked head, cleaning the house, and negotiating with my president grandfather, I hadn’t eaten anything.

Still, this body was fragile.

Missing a few meals wouldn’t kill someone.

‘Hmm… is there anything to eat at home?’

No.

There wasn’t.

But I had a magic card now.

Smiling widely at the fresh credit cards I had just received, I looked around.

Between the shiny buildings in the city, I spotted a convenience store.

I stared at it.

It was just an ordinary convenience store.

But for some reason, I suddenly felt like going inside.

‘Strange. Why do I feel like this?’

Before I could think further, my head spun again and the beauty mark near my eye trembled.

I touched the spot and sighed softly.

‘Let’s drink something first.’

So I entered the convenience store and started choosing something to eat.

Then—

<Chanran.>

‘What is it, Fairy of the Starting Point?’

What?

I narrowed my eyes.

All I saw in front of me was a tuna-mayo triangle kimbap.

Was that my destiny?

Ah.

So that’s what it meant.

Holding the triangle kimbap, I blinked.

What is this?

‘Destiny in a convenience store? That’s kind of funny.’

‘Hmm… was there someone like that in my life?’

To reach the peak of glory, you need selection and focus.

I chose popularity.

And I focused on it.

I had some close people, but overall my relationships were wide and shallow.

Was there really someone I needed to meet again in another body?

‘Doesn’t seem like a big deal.’

Ignoring the fairy’s complaint, I picked up a triangle kimbap and a drink.

Then—

I heard a familiar voice.

“Excuse me, student.”

I blinked.

I couldn’t believe it.

“That triangle kimbap is buy-one-get-one. I had it for lunch today, so I know. Ah—before that, I’m not a weird person…”

Slowly, I turned my head.

“Student, have you ever thought about becoming an actor? I saw you over there and couldn’t take my eyes off you. Here’s my business card. Please don’t look at me like that. I’m not a pyramid scheme or cult member, I swear!”

Round eyes blinked.

Ridiculously enough—

I knew this person.

‘Han Jeongsik.’

The man who had been my manager for ten years.

“Would you consider contacting me if you’re interested? I’m a CEO. Well… a CEO of a newly established company.”

What should I say…

“Do you know Kim Seojin? He’s a rising actor like a shooting star. I brought him out of my previous agency. He’s appearing in a drama right now—just a minor role though. Ah… between us, running a startup is really hard. Big agencies squeeze you dry. But I’m pretty capable, so I still manage to get him schedules. Though he enlisted in the army yesterday.”

He still talked a lot.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Yeah.

Han Jeongsik.

Round eyes, round body.

Everything about him looked so round that he seemed like he could roll away.

“For real though, I’ve got a good eye for talent. I really think you should become an actor. Do you already have an agency? You’re not an idol trainee, right? Your body’s slim, so I thought maybe…”

Two years isn’t long or short.

But after working with him, I knew something.

Han Jeongsik talked a lot.

But he was an incredibly good person.

‘That’s why he didn’t live long.’

Han Jeongsik died instead of me.

A falling stage light hit him.

It was a really terrible death.

<See? It’s destiny, Chanran. You dared doubt me. Reflect on your ignorance.>

‘Yeah… this time you’re right.’

One of the few genuinely good people I met in my previous life.

I stared at Han Jeongsik silently.

It felt strange seeing him speak, breathe, and move.

Because the last image I remembered of him—

was his blood-covered body lying still.

“Student? Why are you staring at me so intensely without saying anything?”

“Jeongsik hyung.”

“Huh?”

I even remembered his funeral.

Little Jiwoo crying.

Mrs. Juhui standing there in shock.

Because he was such a good person, the funeral had been filled with people.

Did he know how much I regretted everything back then?

Thinking about it made my head spin again.

Maybe because of that, my strength suddenly disappeared.

As I lost my balance, Han Jeongsik quickly supported me.

Leaning on him, I whispered softly.

“This time… push me away…”

“Huh?”

My vision faded.

Between the fading consciousness, I whispered again.

“Don’t die.”

Han Jeongsik shouted something, but I couldn’t hear it clearly.

And just like that—

I lost consciousness in the convenience store.

***

I had been a cosmic-level superstar.

Wherever I went, people knew me.

Almost every project I worked on became a huge hit.

As my popularity soared, my value kept rising.

Everyone wanted me.

I climbed very high.

But that didn’t mean my life was worth someone else dying for.

Still…

Jeongsik hyung was a good person.

That’s probably why he threw himself forward without thinking about getting hurt.

Even if it hadn’t been me.

‘Still… he shouldn’t have died because of me.’

I still clearly remembered Jiwoo’s young face.

And Mrs. Juhui’s face.

I always felt sorry for them.

They lost a good father and husband because of me.

‘No matter how much compensation I gave, it was never enough.’

But Mrs. Juhui refused everything I offered.

Even when I begged her to accept it, she firmly shook her head.

Good people tend to be surrounded by other good people.

‘So I gave it anyway.’

How old was Jiwoo the last time I saw her?

I think she was wearing a school uniform.

I let out a long breath.

There was a blurry light.

Groaning softly, I blinked.

My vision hadn’t focused yet, but I could hear noise.

“Wife, I’m sorry. The kid suddenly collapsed. I couldn’t just leave him there. I brought him to the emergency room. Okay, okay. I’ll come soon. The kid should wake up soon. But Juhui, this kid is incredibly handsome. He’s glowing. I think he’s the most handsome person I’ve ever seen.”

It was Han Jeongsik’s voice.

The voice I had forgotten.

“Honestly, he probably already has an agency. Someone like this couldn’t possibly be unknown. I know, I know. I want to go home quickly too. But the kid’s parents aren’t answering the phone.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’ll take him home once he wakes up. But why are you telling me to come quickly? You say it’s something I’ll like? Wife… did you win the lottery or something?”

I slowly sat up.

“Oh! The kid woke up. See you later. Love you and respect you, my dear wife.”

Han Jeongsik hurriedly hung up the phone.

I quietly took a deep breath.

I could roughly understand the situation.

‘Emergency room.’

An IV line was attached to my arm.

Noise filled the room.

Jeongsik hyung must have brought me here after I collapsed.

“Are you okay? They said you’re malnourished. Honestly, you look like the youngest son of a wealthy family. Don’t they feed you at home?”

Glancing at the IV, I smiled.

“I just had some things going on and couldn’t eat for a few days. Did you bring me here? Thank you.”

“I couldn’t just leave a collapsed kid behind. That’s not the kind of person Han Jeongsik is.”

I already knew that.

“I don’t think I needed the IV…”

“That stuff is expensive. Just take it. But your parents aren’t answering the phone. They must be worried.”

“They usually don’t answer. They probably aren’t worried either. Oh, the hospital bill is the issue, right?”

I immediately pulled out one of the cards from my pocket.

“It’s fine. I’ll pay with this.”

As I got up to pay, Han Jeongsik hurriedly stopped me.

“That’s not urgent. I already paid it. Wait… your parents usually don’t answer?”

Han Jeongsik stared at me for a moment before trailing off.

“Well… I guess there must be some circumstances.”

You’re still the same, aren’t you?

I smiled softly.

“You said you’re a CEO?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. A startup though.”

I knew his future.

He would bravely start a company.

But soon after, it would fail, and he would return to being a manager.

‘I never expected to meet him during his CEO days.’

This was perfect timing.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“I want to become an actor. Please make me an actor.”

Let’s do this again, Jeongsik hyung.

“I don’t have an agency. I’m free. Bring a contract tomorrow. My parents can’t be contacted, but I have a guardian. I’ll have them check it and sign.”

“Huh?”

“Just in case, I don’t need a signing bonus. Let’s count the hospital bill as that instead, Jeongsik hyung.”

Han Jeongsik couldn’t say anything.

Meanwhile, I pulled out my smartphone, searched something briefly, and put it away.

“Let’s go now. This looks like a nutrition IV anyway. I’ll just eat food.”

Right then, a doctor approached.

Since the emergency room was short on beds, the doctor didn’t even try to stop my discharge.

Han Jeongsik looked confused.

“Kid… if you treat it that easily… Actually, it’s good that it’s easy, but being a celebrity is hard. If you’re doing it just because you want to see yourself on TV, you’ll regret it. You need to be prepared.”

“Yes. I know it’s not easy.”

“And my company is really small right now. The office is basically a semi-basement. Actually, a friend rented it to me cheaply.”

“That’s how startups are. It’s fine.”

The discharge process finished quickly.

Following behind me, Han Jeongsik spoke again.

“You might be shocked when you see it. It’s pretty rough.”

“I told you it’s fine. Just prepare to get busy.”

“Huh?”

I smirked and lightly slapped his shoulder.

“I don’t need a signing bonus. But there’s one condition.”

“Huh?”

“There’s a famous cake shop nearby. I’ll buy you an expensive cake from there. Take it home.”