"Huh? What the hell is that?"
Where his face should've been, smoke just billowed and swirled like mist.He was talking animatedly about something, but not a single word reached Muyeong's ears.
"That's a new one."
Smoke coming straight out of his mouth.
Muyeong watched him warily — but his chopsticks didn't stop moving.Whatever that was, meat was still meat. He kept chewing, eyes fixed on Park Cheol-moon.
"…so if you sign with us, we'll push you as much as we can. Let's make it big, yeah?"
Apparently, Park thought Muyeong was paying attention. His voice rose with excitement, though his face — swallowed by smoke — was completely hidden.
"Right. Uh, can I order rice?"
When he finished talking, Muyeong leaned over to the team leader and asked casually.A perfectly dry response.
"Huh? Of course. You must be starving, huh?"
CEO Jo Mi-yeong, who was sipping her soju, waved to the staff.
"Auntie! One bowl of rice here, please!"
"You're at that age when you need to eat a lot. Go ahead — today's the day the boss's wallet cries. You want some to-go later?"
The team leader patted his back warmly.Muyeong just kept eating, nonstop, steady like a machine.Across from him, Park Cheol-moon silently sipped his soju.
"Ugh. This is uncomfortable."
Sharing a table with a human smoke machine wasn't exactly pleasant.Not seeing his face only made it worse.He started thinking of an escape plan—
"Muyeong! Come have a drink with us!"
The director and production crew waved a bottle of soju.Perfect timing!
"Alright! Coming!"
He grabbed the bowl of rice the waitress had just brought and stood up.
"Go ahead, make the rounds," the team leader said with a smile. "Everyone missed you. They're saying things went well because you set the tone right from the start."
"Thank God!"
"Thank you!"
Muyeong bowed deeply and moved away.Watching his back, the team leader muttered quietly.
"See? Told you he's not interested in signing with anyone. You're just making him uncomfortable."
"But he looked interested when we mentioned the signing bonus. C'mon, how much are you thinking, senior?"
Park Cheol-moon just smiled quietly.Though Muyeong couldn't see through the smoke, that smile never left his lips.
"We'll make a serious offer."
That face — far more striking in person.That acting — unforgettable even from a single project.A complete, ready-made talent with little to polish.And above all—
"He's got something unique."
Call it conviction — a kind of self-assured presence.Most aspiring actors tried desperately to please him.But look at Muyeong.
"He's got his own color. That's individuality."
He had backbone.A quiet but firm I go my own way energy.Confidence born of skill — and in this industry, those were the ones who lasted.
"You've totally fallen for him, huh?"
"I like him. For real."
"Think you can sign him?"
"When have I ever failed to land someone I set my sights on?"
Park Cheol-moon was infamous for his persistence — and for good reason.With a track record of success, he wasn't about to let a sure thing slip away.
"If he signs, throw a few of my people into your project, yeah?"
Jo Mi-yeong rested her chin on her hand, pouring another drink.They clinked glasses, laughing.Across from them, the team leader clicked his tongue internally.
"Kid doesn't look like he's even considering it."
Meanwhile, Muyeong was moving from table to table, laughing and joking with the staff — like a nephew surrounded by doting uncles.
The director suddenly grabbed a spoon like a microphone and began singing.
"Ahhh— hateful lover—"
"Boo! What is that, so old-fashioned!"
"Where have you goooone—!"
"Wow, Muyeong! You know that song?"
As jeers rained down, Muyeong joined in with an exaggerated chorus, making everyone burst out laughing.Between sizzling meat and waves of laughter, the room was filled with warmth, alcohol, and relief after all their hard work.
Later that Night
"Taxi!"
It was nearly dawn when the party finally wrapped up.A few sober ones made sure everyone got home safely — including the team leader and Muyeong.
"Man, I'm exhausted. You okay, kid?"
"Yep. I didn't drink much — this is all meat belly."
He patted his slightly swollen stomach and grinned.Still, he seemed a bit too giggly — maybe a little tipsy after all.The team leader checked his watch. It was already past 3 a.m.
"You heading back to the dorm?"
"Mm, no. The curfew's over — the doors are locked. I've got somewhere nearby I can go, though."
Even if he'd barely drunk, he couldn't show up at Junho's smelling like alcohol.He decided to walk to BV Academy instead — he could greet his teacher in the morning too.
"Bit awkward earlier, huh?"
"What do you mean?"
The team leader lit a cigarette.
"Manager Park Cheol-moon."
While Muyeong was busy eating and joking, the CEO and manager had left early — saying wrap parties were best left to the staff.Before leaving, though, Park had said something strangely suggestive: 'Let's meet again soon.'
"It's fine. He meant well, and he made me an offer. No big deal."
True, the black smoke had been unsettling… but as long as he didn't get involved, it wasn't his problem.
The team leader exhaled a cloud of smoke and asked quietly,
"Any thought of joining Sealing Actors?"
"No."
He nearly choked.That answer came without even a second's hesitation.Muyeong blinked innocently.
"Why not? They're a solid company."
"Maybe so, but…"
The man's ominous, that's why.
Who the hell breathes out smoke like that?
He swallowed the thought and answered vaguely.
"I just don't want to sign with someone whose face I don't even know."
Honestly, aside from the brief greeting at the start, he hadn't seen the man's face once. Couldn't even remember it.The team leader chuckled.
"Ha… you kill me, kid."
"Oh, another taxi! Team leader, go ahead."
"Alright. You be careful. And hey, thanks again for today. Let's talk if you want in on the next project, yeah?"
Muyeong smiled and waved as he left.The street was quiet, the faint buzz of alcohol making the night feel like his own private stage.
"Oho!"
Ahead, the BV Academy building shimmered under streetlights, its windows dusted with glowing pollen-like particles — like starlight spilling from the sky.
Yeah. This is it.
It was like the stifling smoke had been cleansed from his eyes.
Creaaak—
"Teacher, are you awake?"
A dim light leaked from the window.Muyeong called softly.
"Oh! What the— Muyeong?"
"Teacher, teacher! What's up?"
Oseok, too, was having his own little drinking session with someone.A table cluttered with instant noodles and half-empty snack bags — classic late-night fare.He grinned when he saw Muyeong walk in.
"Look who it is! What are you doing out at this hour?"
"I just finished a web drama wrap-up party nearby. Thought I'd sneak in and crash here for the night…"
"Ha! You're all grown up now, huh? I still remember you drinking soda with your pork belly! If you're tired, go crash in the practice room. Or you want some ramyeon first?"
Muyeong plopped down next to him. Across the table sat a man in thick glasses and a checkered shirt — the kind who practically radiated nerd energy.
"Hey, Kyungmin, this is the kid I told you about — Ha Muyeong. I said he's killer at acting, remember? The Seoul City MeTube promo web drama."
"Ohh, you're that guy? Nice to meet you. I'm Go Kyungmin."
"He's my junior from college," Oseok added, laughing. "Stopped by after a while, so we're catching up. And what's with the formal talk? Loosen up, loosen up! Hahaha!"
Kyungmin reached out his hand, and though he clearly looked older, Muyeong returned the handshake politely.
And the moment their hands met—
"…Huh?"
Muyeong caught sight of soft pollen-like sparkles drifting from Kyungmin's fingertips.He'd thought those lights always came from the BV Academy itself, but no — it started from this man.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing. You've got quite a firm grip, that's all."
"Guess that's from years of manual labor. Haha."
Kyungmin chuckled sheepishly, and Oseok jumped back in.
"He's had it rough, you know. They say no actor's life is easy, but damn, this guy's really been through it. What, ten years now?"
After graduation, Kyungmin had scraped by in the theater scene — earning barely two million won a year, driven purely by passion for acting.But reality was a wall too high and too hard to break through.
"He couldn't hold out anymore and quit. There's probably no job he hasn't tried, right?"
Kyungmin just laughed quietly and nodded.
"Yeah, I did construction, harvested cabbages and radishes in Gangwon-do… ah, come on, hyung, don't start that story again. It's embarrassing."
"What's embarrassing about it? I think it's amazing! You're nuts — in the best way!"
…Right. Oseok was clearly tipsy. He praised Kyungmin with all the enthusiasm of a drunk uncle.Meanwhile, Muyeong chewed dried squid and watched the two.
"This lunatic saved up money from rolling around in radish fields just to come back to acting. Crazy, huh? If it were me, I'd have sworn off this business forever."
A man who loved acting but wasn't chosen — all he could do was step back and watch others shine.Oseok, too, was the same.Once an actor, now a teacher.
"Do you teach at the Academy?"
"Me? Nah," Kyungmin shook his head. "I'm not qualified to teach anyone. I work as a manager at BigWin Entertainment."
"BigWin… Entertainment?"
"You probably haven't heard of it. We've only got two actors signed. Tiny place. But since I used to act, the actors say it's a great environment for script practice. Haha."
"Yeah… I really haven't heard of it."
Still, Muyeong looked intrigued — the pollen shining faintly around Kyungmin made him seem somehow bright, almost serene. Maybe it felt that way because of the suffocating smog he'd seen earlier that night.
"Come to think of it," Oseok said, tapping his beer can, "did you ever decide on an agency?"
When multiple offers had come in before, Muyeong had sought advice from both Junho and Oseok.
"I told you, Bright Entertainment seemed decent. Still talking to them?"
"Yeah. Got another business card today — from Sealing Actors."
"Sealing Actors? Ha! Forget what I said — Sealing's way better than Bright! They've got deep pockets. Damn, Muyeong, you're doing great. Look at you, our top-tier student! The other advanced class kids barely keep in touch after college, but you— you're killing it!"
Bora was busy preparing for her new drama, and as for Yuchan and the others — no news.But no news was probably good news.
"By the way, Manager," Muyeong said suddenly, turning toward Kyungmin.He wasn't sure what to call him, so he settled on the title naturally.
"Yes?" Kyungmin raised an eyebrow, smiling gently.
"Does BigWin Entertainment take new actors?"
"Huh? Oh— sure, we're always open, but honestly, we're nothing fancy." He laughed. "Why? Want me to give you a card?"
He meant it as a joke.Why would a hot new rookie courted by Sealing Actors bother with his tiny agency?They couldn't even afford a proper signing bonus.
But to his shock—
Muyeong nodded right away, hands held out expectantly.
"Yes!"
"…Pardon?"
"Your card, please. I'd like to have one."
Pure, unfiltered sincerity lit up Muyeong's smile.It was the expression of someone who had finally found something — or someone — he'd been looking for.
Kyungmin just froze, mouth slightly open.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
What on earth just happened?