Chapter 112…
Changing Up the Image
“…Why do they go overseas and make it feel like a traditional marketplace?”
┖ “I mean, I get Woo Soo-han doing that, but what’s with Oh Ju-hwan?”
┖ “He’s been influenced…”
┖ “Honestly, it’s better than those idols who keep trying to maintain a perfect image. Don’t you see how that raw vibe is trending again now?”
┖ “They should just do a duet. They fit so well together, lol.”
┖ “Big upvote, lol.”
┖ “Super agree, lolol.”
“Is that… a compliment?”
“Uh-huh.”
When I asked an expert about the online comments, all I got was a buffering silence.
Even Director Park seemed stumped. Maybe this was a first for him.
“…Or maybe not?”
“Well, there’s one good thing.”
“Oh?”
“Even if you took a dump on the street, people would just shrug it off.”
“…So you’re saying if you’re famous enough, people cheer even when you take a dump?”
I think I’ve heard that somewhere before!
I brightened up and replied cheerfully, but Director Park just shook his head with the firmness of a stone Buddha.
“You’ve just built an image as the kind of guy who would do that.”
“…”
That… sounds deep somehow.
“Think of it like a ‘quirky 4D personality’ kind of image…”
Even so, he looked troubled.
“This might affect what kind of movie or drama roles you can get.”
“Uh… right.”
“Casting often follows the image, you know.”
“So if I change it now…”
“Too late.”
“Maybe a total image makeover…”
“I said it’s too late.”
Man. Why does he sound like he’s delivering a terminal diagnosis?
After thinking for a bit, Director Park turned his head slightly and said,
“Let’s just broaden your image. Make it like, ‘this guy can pull off anything.’”
“A jack of all trades?”
“Something like that.”
So basically… go even crazier?
“Which means, let’s do variety shows.”
“Again?”
“‘Again’? Do you even realize how many offers you’re getting from variety shows right now? I’ve been rejecting them all so you can focus on acting!”
“Why reject them? That’s money! I’m trying to get rich here!”
Director Park clicked his tongue, then suddenly asked:
“If you eat just anything when you’re hungry?”
“You get full?”
“…No, you get a stomachache.”
“Better than starving. You’ve never starved to the point of thinking you might die, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
This guy’s never even gone hungry.
I’d rather eat something spoiled and sit in a subway restroom battling for my life.
Why? Because at least then, something came in, so something comes out.
While I’m struggling in there, I can think, “At least I ate something, that’s why this is happening,” and feel alive.
If you just lie down starving, people won’t notice you’re dead until flies start buzzing around.
You think I’m joking?
Does that sound like a joke?
“Anyway, you said you want to succeed as an actor.”
“Uh… yeah?”
I do enjoy variety shows, but acting—this is really my thing.
Like I said before, it feels like I’m living lives I never got to live before.
It makes me feel alive.
“That’s why you should be selective with variety shows. And that’s where this comes in.”
“Oh… so what’s the next one?”
“I debated a lot over this one.”
“Is it hard?”
He looked at me quietly, then suddenly shuddered.
“Why? Is it another haunted house experience?”
“No. I’m never taking those again.”
“Then what?”
“Sigh…”
He let out a deep sigh, then said firmly,
“This time, you absolutely must not get possessed.”
“Excuse me?”
What the heck, it’s not even a haunted house.
“It’s… a show called My Precious Doggo.”
“…”
“This episode’s about taking care of puppies.”
“Uh…”
“So don’t turn into a dog this time.”
He even took a small step back.
That was the leg I clung to last time. Must’ve traumatized him.
“That was traumatic for me too! Have you ever clung to someone’s leg sober?”
“Isn’t that even more impressive? How’d you do that sober?”
“I was sober, but my mind was that of a dog! Do you have any idea how I felt?!”
“…Sorry.”
Why does he keep provoking me!
Ever since that day, I’ll catch a whiff of food—then realize there’s no restaurant nearby!
I can smell things from kilometers away!
My hearing’s insane too—if a guy on the street says, “Oh, that guy’s good-looking,”
I can also hear the girl replying, “Nah, my Jakki’s hotter!” from across the road!
“You have no idea how much I suffered from those side effects…”
“I said I’m sorry! Just don’t get possessed this time, okay?”
“I won’t! And do you think animal spirits are that common anyway?”
“Fine. Then we’ll do this one?”
“I haven’t even gone near animals lately… but why are we doing this show again?”
“Cute image boosters are usually cooking, animals, or babies.”
“So why not cooking or babies?”
That made me curious.
Maybe I preferred those because of my last trauma.
“For cooking… you’d probably say everything tastes good.”
“Hmm.”
Can’t deny that.
“As for babies, unless it’s a parenting show, there aren’t many around these days. But if something similar comes up, I’ll try to get it.”
“Sigh.”
I couldn’t help but sigh.
Guess I’ve lived a life with fewer and fewer choices…
Chairman Yang Mansik frowned deeply as he read the papers Secretary Yoo handed him.
“This many?”
“…Yes, sir.”
Baeksan Group had an enormous number of employees.
Just BS Electronics alone had over 100,000.
With that many people, incidents and accidents were inevitable.
Even accounting for accidental deaths outside the company,
the numbers on the papers were… not small.
“Among them… six were suicides or presumed suicides.”
Since the company renamed itself BS Electronics ten years ago,
there had been a five-year period back when it was still Baeksan Electronics—
and six suicides during that time.
There were also twenty-one deaths from illness
and fifteen from vehicle or other accidents.
“Any of them controversial cases?”
“Six, sir. Four work-related negligence, one embezzlement, and one demotion due to other reasons.”
Chairman Yang sighed as he flipped through the reports.
There had been embezzlement, excessive entertainment from subcontractors,
and even internal connection issues.
“Have you confirmed all related parties?”
“Some already left the company, so it’ll take time.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s been ten to fifteen years.”
That was a long time.
Some of them must’ve taken early retirement.
“Check everyone—those involved and not involved. Even rumors.
And… call in the vice chairman.”
“The vice chairman, sir?”
“Yes. It’s time we review our internal welfare policies.
Also, compile recent accident data too. This is… too much.”
He used to think accidents were inevitable in big companies,
but ever since meeting Woo Soo-han and learning about souls,
his view had changed.
He realized how much resentment could linger—and what harm it could cause.
At the very least, his company shouldn’t be a source of that kind of injustice.
“Understood.”
Secretary Yoo smiled faintly and bowed,
as if understanding the chairman’s thoughts.
“No more shameful business.”
He could already hear Woo Soo-han’s nagging voice echoing in his head.
“…”
I smell something.
Something familiar—no, get a grip.
“Do you like animals?”
“Yes… I do.”
Almost slipped there.
Truth is, the animals I like are cows, pigs, and chickens—
the edible kind.
But saying that out loud here would get me canceled for life.
Better tread carefully.
“C’mon, what kind of answer is that?”
“Sorry, I’m just nervous.”
“…You joking with me?”
This guy…
The main MC here was comedian Kyung-woo,
a living legend who’s survived in the industry well past sixty.
Still, calling someone a joker the first time you meet them?
“That’s not your image at all!”
“I’m really curious—what is my image?”
“Uh…”
“A beggar?”
“…No, that’s not what I meant—”
“Grimy?”
“…I’m sorry! First Video Star sends one, now it’s my turn, huh?!”
The staff burst out laughing.
Then actress and regular guest Shin Nara chimed in.
She’s the one who’d actually recommended me for this show.
I wonder if she’s gotten over that human bone trauma from Real or Fake.
“You’ve lasted long enough.”
“Don’t! I’m planning to last forever!”
He deflected again.
I was genuinely curious though.
“…Answer me!”
“I said I’m sorry!”
Apologizing instead of answering—classic.
Then Nara-noona added,
“Jonathan says he’s struggling because of you.”
“Why?”
“He said the ‘assassin-comedy’ torch has passed to you.”
Everyone burst out laughing again.
Guess I just scored another moment on camera.
Heh, maybe I really am a celebrity now.
“You’re fearless—you wouldn’t even flinch if the Grim Reaper showed up on set.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant? That’s fine then.
Honestly, the reason I hesitated earlier was… I’m not that good with dogs or cats.”
“Why not?”
Everyone leaned in.
Well, can’t avoid it now.
I’ve been trying not to bring up the “beggar” days, but here we go.
“When I’d reach out to pet a cute dog on the street, it’d look at me like I was some kind of kidnapper.”
“Why—ah!”
“I mean, do you think beggars eat everything? If I reach out to a cute pup, they act like I’m about to eat it!”
“That’s… well, hygiene?”
“…Huh?”
Not wrong, actually.
“That too. And sometimes strays would steal the food I hid away,
so yeah—it could be a survival threat.”
“True, stray cats dig through garbage too.”
“Exactly! But if you try to chase them away—”
“It’s self-defense, right?”
I shook my head.
This guy really doesn’t get it.
“They call it animal abuse.
Next thing you know, someone’s filming you,
you’re viral on the internet,
then the district office gets a complaint saying you’re dangerous,
and you get kicked out while you’re asleep.”
“Ah…”
“Honestly, on the streets, sometimes a stray dog or cat’s treated better than a human beggar.”
Their eyes went misty.
Wasn’t aiming for that, though.
Better redirect.
“Still, some people do take care of strays. Dogs, cats—they get lonely.”
“Ah, I see!”
Thankfully, Nara-noona helped steer it smoothly.
I even spotted Director Park off to the side,
breathing a sigh of relief.
Though seriously—why’s he standing there watching me like that?
It’s making me nervous…
