"But why?"

Becoming the director of a commercial film wasn't an opportunity that came to just anyone. First, there had to be a good script. Then they needed a production company that liked the script, along with investors and a distributor ready to support it.

Yet here we were, offering him all of those difficult conditions already solved and even giving him the director's seat that filmmakers dream about—and he was refusing.

I simply couldn't understand it. Managing Director Lee Eun-Joo was also taken aback for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and continued persuading him while holding out the tablet.

"Maybe it's because you haven't seen the contract terms yet. Why don't you look at the contract first?"

Lee Eun-Joo, the managing director of LT Entertainment, was practically at the level of a president at a mid-sized distribution company. Yet even though someone like her was personally showing him the contract on a tablet, Choi Ong-Lip simply shook his head without even glancing at the screen.

"I'm sorry. No matter what the conditions are... it would be difficult for me to take on the director role."

I had never even imagined he would refuse an offer to become a director.

Just then, Assistant Director Lee Han-Jong snickered and spoke again. "That guy Choi Ong-Lip? He's never leaving this set."

'Never leaving the set?'

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"That guy is planning to re-enroll as a fourth-year student at Seoul National University of the Arts this coming semester. But here's the problem. The required major course is taught by Director Jin. In other words, if he walks away from this set, his graduation is finished that very day."

Director Jin Sung-Ryul, who was producing Headbutt Boy, was also currently a professor at Seoul National University of the Arts. And the course he was teaching there, Film Production Field Practice, was a required course for the major. A required course meant something you absolutely had to take in order to graduate.

In other words, if Choi Ong-Lip wanted to graduate, he couldn't afford to fall out of favor with Jin Sung-Ryul.

At that moment, Choi Ong-Lip spoke with an apologetic expression. "Mr. Jung. Ms. Lee. I'm truly grateful for the offer, but... I really have to graduate this time."

I couldn't understand it at all and asked again, "Even if you graduate, you're going to direct films anyway, aren't you? Why are you so fixated on the diploma?"

In the film industry, success at the box office mattered far more than academic background. Since he was already a fourth-year student, it would only take half a semester or a year to finish. While it was a little unfortunate that he couldn't graduate, it was nothing compared to the opportunity to debut as a director.

Lee Eun-Joo nodded and backed me up. "Do you really need to graduate while enduring threats like that? Once you become a successful director, no one cares about your academic background. Or you could always re-enroll later and graduate then."

"I'm sorry... I can't do that."

Judging by how Choi Ong-Lip was holding himself back, it was clear there was something more behind it.

Just as I was about to ask why, Lee Han-Jong spoke first again. "Chief Jung, why make things painful? His parents' lifelong wish is for their son to bring home a college diploma. He's putting himself through all this trouble just to be a good son."

"What?"

"On top of that, his mother hasn't been feeling well lately, so he promised he'd put a graduation cap on her by the end of this year. So Chief Jung, don't try to tempt him."

Hearing that he needed to graduate to fulfill his parents' wish left me speechless for a moment.

'So that was the reason.'

Just then, Lee Han-Jong crossed a line he never should have crossed. "Well, I guess to people who only graduated elementary school and spent their whole lives selling vegetables, a college diploma probably does look impressive. I wonder if they'll frame it and worship it like some sacred relic once he gets it."

Hearing Lee Han-Jong mock his parents, something in Choi Ong-Lip snapped.

"You bastard! Shut that mouth! What's wrong with my parents' wish!"

Clenching his fist, Choi Ong-Lip lunged at Lee Han-Jong, who was twice his size. But just by the way he held his fist, it was obvious he had never hit anyone before.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Lee Han-Jong simply covered his face with both arms, and Choi Ong-Lip failed to land a single proper punch to his face, only hitting his shoulders and head instead.

At that moment, Lee Eun-Joo grabbed my arm and shouted, "Mr. Jung! Please stop them!"

She knew I had trained before, so she was asking me to intervene.

However, I shook my head. "Let's wait a moment."

If it had been anything else, I would have stopped them the moment fists were raised. But since Lee Han-Jong had insulted his parents, I had no intention of stopping Choi Ong-Lip until he vented his anger. And more importantly, I already had a way to resolve the situation.

Right then, Lee Han-Jong shoved both arms forward and pushed Choi Ong-Lip in the chest.

"Damn it! Are you pushing your luck? Do I look like some idiot to you?"

Thud.

Choi Ong-Lip stumbled backward and fell onto the ground. Breathing heavily, Choi Ong-Lip trembled. Still, it looked like he had thrown enough punches to release his anger.

Then it was my turn.

At that moment, Lee Han-Jong fumed and pulled his phone out of his pocket. "You bastard, Choi Ong-Lip. How dare you attack an assistant director like me? Everything's on the security camera. I'll make sure you end up behind bars."

Lee Han-Jong quickly tried to dial 112[1].

At that exact moment, I pulled out my own phone and shouted, "Think carefully. I've been recording since earlier."

A little while ago, I had slipped my phone into my pocket just in case after filming Lee Han-Jong hitting Choi Ong-Lip on the cheek. So everything Lee Han-Jong had said afterward had been recorded as well.

"W-What?"

"So think about it carefully. If you report this to the police, I'll upload the recording online. Still want to do it?"

Lee Han-Jong, who had been trembling with rage, slowly lowered his phone. "Damn it..."

Then suddenly, a woman's voice came from Lee Han-Jong's phone.

-Hello? Did you just make a prank call? Did you swear at us?

Apparently he had dialed 112 and even pressed call without realizing it. Startled, Lee Han-Jong quickly hung up.

Click.

'Oops. If you hang up like that, it's basically guaranteed you'll get fined for a prank call.'

Lee Han-Jong really did know how to dig his own grave.

***

I helped Choi Ong-Lip to his feet as tears welled in his eyes.

"Thank you for helping me," said Choi Ong-Lip.

"It's nothing. But do you really have to graduate this time?"

"Yes. My mother's health keeps getting worse... I don't think I'll have another chance if not this year."

So this was his last act of filial duty while his mother was still alive. It was no wonder he was willing to give up the opportunity he had always dreamed of. Now I finally understood how he felt.

In that case, I would have to use another solution.

"I'll make sure you can graduate somehow. So please direct our film."

Choi Ong-Lip wiped his tears with his arm and replied, "How? If I leave the set, Mr. Jin will never forgive me."

"That's..."

I was about to explain the method. Just then, I heard someone shouting.

"Leaving the set? Who said you could?"

At the sharp voice, I turned my head. Standing there was the massive figure of Jin Sung-Ryul, glaring at me.

At that moment, Lee Han-Jong hurried over and started reporting. "Mr. Jin! Chief Jung is trying to take that bastard Ong-Lip away from the set!"

"I heard, you punk." After snapping in irritation, Jin Sung-Ryul strode straight toward me. "Hey, Chief Jung. If Ong-Lip leaves this set, do you think I'll let that bastard graduate? He's getting an F. An F, no matter what!"

Jin Sung-Ryul, now thirty-six, was a film professor at Seoul National University of the Arts who taught major courses. And he was openly saying he would give Choi Ong-Lip an F so he couldn't complete the required course.

Since Jin Sung-Ryul's class was Film Production Field Practice, a course that combined theory and hands-on work, there was no way to avoid failing if the fieldwork evaluation was graded poorly.

Nevertheless, I just snorted. "No. You'll have to let him graduate."

Jin Sung-Ryul looked at me as if I were ridiculous. "You must think you can act like this because LT Entertainment is backing you. But our school isn't influenced by LT Entertainment!"

"Who said anything about relying on LT Entertainment?"

I immediately raised my phone and placed a call on the speaker. After a few rings, the voice of an elderly man came through.

-Oh~ Chief Jung. What brings you to call? Is Mr. Chairman doing well?

The voice coming through the speakerphone belonged to Bok Han-Joong, the president of Seoul National University of the Arts.

The moment he heard it, Jin Sung-Ryul's mocking expression vanished.

"H-How do you know the president..."

Pretending not to notice, I continued the call.

"Yes, he's doing well."

-That's good to hear.

"But I had something I wanted to ask you."

-Go ahead.

"Have you perhaps heard anything about Professor Jin from the film department abusing his authority?"

-Abusing his authority? What do you mean?

At that moment, Jin Sung-Ryul hurriedly shouted from beside me. "P-President! This is Professor Jin Sung-Ryul speaking."

-Oh! Professor Jin is there too?

"Yes. I think Chief Jung may have misunderstood something, so I'll call you back later after I speak with him privately."

After saying that, Jin Sung-Ryul reached out and tried to snatch my phone. However, there was no way those slow hands were catching me.

Whoosh.

I quickly stepped back and continued speaking.

"There is a directing staff member on this set who plans to return to school as a fourth-year student this coming semester. However, Mr. Jin is threatening that if he doesn't obey him on set, he'll be given an automatic F in his major course. Meaning he won't be able to graduate."

-What... did you say? In this day and age someone is doing something like that? What if the school's reputation gets damaged!

"And that's not all. He's making people work on set without contracts."

-Is that true?

"Yes. I was originally considering reporting this to a broadcasting station, but because of my connection with you, sir, I decided to contact you directly."

-A broadcasting station? Wait, Chief Jung. Just hold on a moment!

Bok Han-Joong hurriedly stopped me and then shouted loudly at Jin Sung-Ryul. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

-Professor Jin! What kind of era do you think we live in to still be working like that?

"Sir! I'll call you back later, so let's talk then!"

-No. Let's talk now, Professor Jin. Did you really threaten him? And you didn't even pay the staff properly?

Jin Sung-Ryul frowned and sighed. "Sir. When you're working on a film set, things like that happen sometimes. And when the movie does well later, they'll be compensated generously."

-What did you just say? Did you say 'things like that happen sometimes'?

"Yes. You may have spent your whole life as a scholar and might not know this, but that's just how the field works!"

At Jin Sung-Ryul's absurd reasoning, Bok Han-Joong lowered his voice and spoke coldly.

-It seems people like you are exactly why the corruption in the film industry never disappears, Professor Jin.

"Corruption?"

-Is it not?

"..."

-You're right that I don't know the field very well. But even so, someone working in education should never follow such bad practices.

"It's not a bad practice—it's just the way things are done! Once the movie succeeds, we pay everyone back!"

-And what if the movie fails? Then it just sounds like you're planning to take all their money and run.

"..."

-It seems you lack the basic sense required to teach students. So... let's cancel your classes for the second semester. That required major course will be assigned to another professor.

"Sir! Are you seriously saying that right now?"

-Oh, and we'll also conduct an internal audit. If what was just said turns out to be true, you can forget about being appointed as a full professor next year.

Realizing the noose around his neck was tightening, Jin Sung-Ryul began to panic.

"If you fire me unfairly like this, I won't stay quiet either!"

-Feel free to try. It sounds like you've broken quite a few laws yourself. Aren't you already violating labor laws? Should I report that?

At Bok Han-Joong's sharp words, Jin Sung-Ryul's mouth snapped shut. When Jin Sung-Ryul said nothing more, Bok Han-Joong spoke to me again.

-And Chief Jung. If something like this happens again, call me directly. I owe you a big favor this time.

"Anytime. Then let's have a meal together soon."

-I'd like that.

"Take care, sir."

Click.

The moment the call ended, I smiled faintly and looked at Jin Sung-Ryul and Lee Han-Jong.

Lee Han-Jong had also been giving special lectures at the Seoul National University of the Arts while hoping to secure a position as an assistant professor. But since Jin Sung-Ryul's reappointment had just gone up in smoke, Lee Han-Jong's chances of becoming an assistant professor disappeared along with it.

Both of their faces had turned pale.

***

While Jin Sung-Ryul and Lee Han-Jong stood there in a daze, Lee Eun-Joo walked over to Choi Ong-Lip and handed him the tablet.

"First, take a look at the terms in the contract and the script."

Choi Ong-Lip's eyes widened. "Ah, I know about this project. If it's this one, then I absolutely have to do it."

Fortunately, he had already read the script for Diet KING.

"That's good to hear. Then do you like the contract terms?"

The contract Lee Eun-Joo presented listed a directing fee of 250 million won, a ten percent share of the film's net profit, and various forms of support.

"Isn't this too generous for a debut director?"

Lee Eun-Joo smiled brightly. "It just means we have high expectations. The directing skill you showed in Firefly before—we're hoping to see it again."

Choi Ong-Lip picked up the tablet pen to sign. Just then, he glanced at us cautiously and spoke. "Um... if possible, could you reduce my share of the profits a bit and make sure the staff who work with me at least receive minimum wage?"

Lee Eun-Joo shrugged. "At LT Entertainment, every staff member signs a standard contract, so don't worry. Even if someone works with us for just one day, we sign a contract. You can check the details in Clause 23, Paragraph 2."

Choi Ong-Lip quickly checked the clause on the tablet, and his face lit up. "Thank you."

Excited, he picked up the pen and signed the electronic contract on the tablet.

Scratch, scratch.

The sound of the stylus gliding across the screen was crisp and satisfying.

At that moment, three members of the directing staff from Headbutt Boy hesitantly approached us.

"Um... Ong-Lip hyung."

"Ong-Lip."

"Mr. Ong-Lip."

Choi Ong-Lip turned his head. "Yeah?"

"Could you take us with you too?"

"Yeah! If you're directing, you'll need staff, right? Please take us along!"

Choi Ong-Lip had essentially been running the set like an assistant director in place of Lee Han-Jong. Maybe that was why the directing staff were now saying they wanted to follow him.

Choi Ong-Lip looked at us with a flustered expression.

I grinned and answered, "That's great. We were short on staff anyway. Mr. Ong-Lip—no, Mr. Director—you can decide."

Lee Eun-Joo also raised her voice excitedly. After all, this meant we could return the favor for CK stealing our staff first.

"The directing staff should be people the director wants to work with. If you work with people you already have good chemistry with, the results will be better too."

"Really?"

"Yes."

With a delighted expression, Choi Ong-Lip grabbed the hands of the directing staff. "Alright. Let's all go together."

Just then, something completely unexpected happened. Jung Joo-Sung, the lighting director who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly shouted that he wanted to come along as well.

"Ong-Lip! Can our lighting team come too?"

Choi Ong-Lip blinked in surprise. "You too, Mr. Jung?"

"Damn it. My guys haven't even signed contracts and haven't been paid either. We're barely scraping by! Take us in!"

However, that was only the beginning. Oh Yung-Sung, the prop team leader standing near the crane; the production staff sweating as they fixed the set door; the sound staff carrying audio equipment, and everyone else stopped what they were doing and shouted.

"Ong-Lip! Just pay me two million won a month and I'll do anything you say. Take me too!"

"Take me too! Come on!"

"Please take us with you!"

"No—just take all of us!"

At that moment, Jin Sung-Ryul and Lee Han-Jong, who had only just started recovering from the shock of losing the professorship, turned pale all over again. If this many staff members walked out, Headbutt Boy might collapse entirely as a film.

Things had grown far bigger than expected, but the enemy's misfortune was my happiness. In that case, there was only one thing I needed to do now.

'Maybe I should just sweep up the entire staff while I'm at it.'

1. This is Korea's emergency number directly to the police for reporting crimes, accidents, or safety threats ☜