"Director Lee, leave these matters to me and Hoon-jung. I'll notify you when we're ready."
"Good, thank you."
Handing off the miscellaneous tasks to Bong Joon-ho and Park Hoon-jung, Lee Jin-woo settled into a folding chair, closing his eyes to rest.
In the darkness behind his lids, invisible subtitles gradually sharpened.
Generous Reward: Devoted service deserves a generous reward. Please select one reward to bestow upon the servant.
Reward 1: Endorsement deal with a second-tier brand.
Reward 2: Body optimization.
Reward 3: Conceive new life.
Reward 4: Physical and mental pleasure.
Reward 5: Twins.
Seeing the reward list again, Lee Jin-woo still felt like questioning reality.
The others aside, what was with conceive new life and twins?
Those counted as rewards?!
Calming down, he began to sense the underlying logic.
Given his personality and South Korea's traditions, if a woman bore his child…
Even if she couldn't climb the social ladder, the child would be recognized as part of the family.
The mother, elevated by the child, might not become official, but she'd receive ample resources and financial compensation, plus his deliberate care.
A worry-free second half of life was a given.
Achieving a class leap, entering high society, wouldn't be hard.
And twins? Even more so…
"Aish, what am I thinking!" Opening his eyes, he slapped his head.
This had nothing to do with him. He was practically a kid himself—why would he want kids?
No way he'd pick those two rewards.
The others…
Select Reward 1, confirm.
"Director Lee, the actors are ready. We can start."
South Korea holds its own opening ceremonies—offering tables, tributes, and wine vessels are set up.
A mat is spread before the table, and crew members take turns kneeling, hands clasped with thumbs crossed, bowing in respect.
More elaborate ceremonies involve full kowtows or toasting rituals…
Simpler ones? Just a group photo of the main crew.
Rooted in his Chinese heritage, Lee Jin-woo kept New World's ceremony balanced.
Offering table, tributes, kneeling on a mat.
By tradition, the producer, director, and screenwriter go first.
The producer leads, with the director and screenwriter flanking.
For Jin-woo, the mat held just him, alone.
"Bong Joon-ho, Park Hoon-jung, join me."
With them, the table didn't look so empty.
Thumbs crossed, palms stacked, kneeling… bowing…
Three times, and the ritual was done.
Leaving others to pay respects, Jin-woo discussed shooting details with Bong Joon-ho.
Park Hoon-jung, like a scribe, jotted down their ideas.
"Director Lee, those storyboard sketches—you drew them yourself, right?"
Bong Joon-ho's gaze held a hint of unspoken admiration.
The storyboards were flawless.
He'd never imagined someone would present film storyboards in a manga style.
Seeing them, vivid images formed in his mind.
In that moment, the movie came alive in his head.
It felt immersive, like stepping into the script's reality.
"Yes, Bong Joon-ho-ssi, you've never seen this before?"
"Never."
"I thought someone must've done it already."
Bong's puzzlement turned to a wry smile.
From a later perspective, everything seems simple.
Just this, then that—so easy, anyone could do it.
The sky's always been there, eternal.
But before the first person dared to conquer it, no one dreamed humans could soar like birds.
Jin-woo's sketches opened a new door for Bong.
"Director Lee…"
"Min-sik hyung, welcome."
Choi Min-sik and the main cast finished their bows. The veteran led them to meet the director.
Lee Ja-sung, Ding Qing, Lee Jung-joo…
Sole supremacy, Jung-joo!
"Director, please guide us."
In private, Lee Jung-joo shed his "sole supremacy" arrogance, proving the humblest of the group.
Smiling, Jin-woo shook hands, then waved to the distance. "So-hee, Joo-bin, over here."
"Han So-hee, Lee Joo-bin, my company's newcomers, playing Lee Shin-woo and Ja-sung's wife."
"Anyeonghaseyo, sunbaenim, please guide us."
Han So-hee and Lee Joo-bin bowed respectfully to the veterans.
"Nice to meet you. I'm jealous of these young ones, having a director like you to guide them," one said.
"Back in our day, we had only ourselves… So, cherish this chance to learn from the director."
Their words were laced with praise for Jin-woo.
"Jung-jae hyung, these are industry legends. Teach them well… Girls, observe the seniors. Even a fraction of their skill will last you a lifetime."
The latter was for Han So-hee and Lee Joo-bin, who nodded obediently.
"Director, you're too kind…"
Choi Min-sik laughed, turning back. "You heard him. We've got to bring our A-game, or how can we call ourselves seniors?"
"Ne, hyung." The others nodded warmly.
The ceremony went smoothly, and Jin-woo lacked the typical third-gen chaebol arrogance.
His sincerity shone through.
For industry veterans who'd endured decades, his understated humility was genuine.
That's why Choi Min-sik and the others were so warm.
In this twisted world, respect from a chaebol heir was a rare honor.
They'd faced too much mockery, disdain, and scorn from the elite.
But this kind of respect?
A first.
"Hyung, is Director Lee really a chaebol?"
As they prepared, Lee Jung-jae caught up to Choi Min-sik.
"You think that's something to joke about?"
"No, hyung, just…"
Lee Jung-jae meant he didn't act like a chaebol heir.
"Chairman Sun Kyung-sik is his uncle. What do you think?"
"Whoa, incredible…" Lee Jung-jae hesitated, then asked, "Hyung, not Samsung Lee, right?"
"How would I know?" Choi's smile faded, his tone serious. "Don't dig into things you shouldn't. His kindness doesn't mean others are the same."
"True, outliers are rare because they're few." Hwang Jung-min chimed in, ending the topic.
Some things were better left unknown. Missteps could cause trouble.
Still, Samsung Lee seemed unlikely.
The Seoul Lees, the top chaebol, were under constant scrutiny.
Gossip like a "bastard son" wouldn't escape the tabloids' dog-like noses.
Other chaebols wouldn't miss a chance to shame Samsung.
So, maybe Jeonju Lee…?
"Lee Ja-sung is conflicted, torn between black and white. This hesitation shapes his contradiction. In darkness, yearning for light's salvation, yet pushed deeper by the light he trusts…
Until he resolves to cut off unrealistic hopes, choosing to become chairman."
"Director, here…"
Lee Jung-jae pointed to the dock warehouse scene. "As Ding Qing's second-in-command, the martial enforcer, sweating constantly when he risks exposure—doesn't that seem…"
"Timid?" Jin-woo preempted his concern.
Seeing Jung-jae nod, he smiled. "That timidity makes him real. When you've done something wrong, and your closest person finds out—or is about to—what do you do? Plan to eliminate them or what if you can't? Normal people feel guilty first."
"Lee Ja-sung sweats from that guilt. His biggest fear isn't anything else but how his bond with Ding Qing will change, what path their brotherhood will take…
At that moment, that's the answer he most urgently seeks."
His vivid storyboard sketches grew more lifelike with his explanation.
As Lee Jung-jae left, enlightened, Han So-hee and Lee Joo-bin, who'd been waiting, rushed forward.
"President…"
"Call me Director here."
Jin-woo adopted a strict, professional demeanor.
Private leniency was fine, but work demanded discipline. The two mustn't mix.
"Yes, Director." Han So-hee switched roles instantly.
Their relationship was simple—president and employee.
Now, director and actor, still hierarchical, posed no conflict.
But Lee Joo-bin, closer to him, felt a slight discomfort.
She quickly adjusted, forcing a smile. "Director."
Jin-woo frowned, hiding his displeasure. "What's the issue?"
Lee Joo-bin's professionalism needed work. Mixing emotions with business was foolish.
He'd talk to her privately later.
"Joo-bin doesn't know how to play the wife."
Han So-hee pushed Joo-bin forward.
Joo-bin blinked, confused. Wasn't So-hee the one who wanted to talk to oppa?
She just wanted to confirm her role's direction. So-hee was the lead.
Why was it flipped now?
"…"
Jin-woo was equally baffled. Honestly, the wife was a prop.
If any role in this film was a flower vase, Ja-sung's wife fit the bill.
Her purpose was to highlight Ja-sung's tough spot, the police's ruthlessness.
She deepened audience empathy, justifying his shift from dark to light.
(End of Chapter)