22-28

EP. 28 # 2. (Actress Soo-rim) - A Lifetime Gamble (7)

"Huh-hat! Hah-hah-hat!! Look at that stunned face!! I didn't know our Limi could make such an expression!!"

The former chairman of STB looks down at me, laughing. His wrinkled face with crescent-shaped eyes was disgusting.

"I don't like livestock without human rights; it feels like bestiality."

"Yes, I understand. Yes."

"But Limi is different. She was the first woman to defy me. So, I wanted to savor her, even if she's just a livestock. And now, she's standing on two legs and wearing women's clothes, which is just wonderful!"

"I'm glad you like it, sir. I'm happy too."

"I underestimated the talent I gave you. If I knew you had such abilities, I would have nurtured you more."

"I'm sorry to have caused trouble, sir."

"Huh-hat!! You're even humble! No, no! It's not like that! Being able to sit next to me again, that's what I call ability!! Huh-hat!! Hah-hah-hah-hat!!"

The chairman laughs with great pleasure, and my brother joins him.

"Brother, is this a joke? Tell me it's a joke. I'm scared...I'm really scared."

"Soo-rim, our agency needs to survive too. You've made things difficult for us."

The trouble I caused...it was when I was sexually harassed by that perverted guy and got him fired as the STB chairman.

"I did something wrong, but he was the one who did wrong first! He harassed me!"

"Hey, Soo-rim! Watch your language!"

"Hey, CEO! Stop it! Listen to me for a moment."

As my brother tries to press the button on the electric shock remote, the former chairman stops him.

"How can you do this?! Soon, I'll regain my human rights and compensate for the damage I've caused you!"

"Hmm, our Limi who took drugs...her dreams are so shallow."

"I didn't take drugs! Park Sang-moon did it! He gave me a sleeping pill and administered the drug! If I find evidence, I can return to my career!"

"Huh-hat?! What are you talking about, Limi? Didn't the CEO tell you the news?"

The former chairman, now referred to as "Goomoon," finds something on his phone and shows it to me.

[Park Sang-moon committed suicide. A will was found, stating he was despairing over forcing someone to take drugs.]

"What...?"

"He was suspected of giving you drugs, but what can we do now? He committed suicide, feeling guilty about giving you drugs."

"Brother, what is this?! You said you were going to investigate..."

"I'm sorry. If I hadn't said that, you wouldn't be here."

My body went limp.

Everything was over. My hope was gone.

There were only three people involved in the drug incident: me, Joo-yeon, and Park Sang-moon. Joo-yeon wouldn't do such a thing, so the culprit had to be Park Sang-moon. But...he committed suicide?

"That's impossible! Something's wrong! He wouldn't commit suicide!"

"This is an article from the SB newspaper. It's true."

"How could this happen...?"

"So, accept your life as a livestock quietly. The CEO won't touch you. Jun-seong is a thorough businessman. Instead, you'll have to do the entertainment you didn't do when you had human rights all at once."

Entertainment...it means sexual entertainment.

The rumors of sexual entertainment in the entertainment industry were true. To succeed, you need to be chosen by powerful PDs or directors. But the abilities of actors are standardized. It's because they were all selected as prodigies from a young age and went through fierce competition.

For someone like me who doesn't have exceptional talent, it's inevitable that I'd have to entertain.

Once, Joo-yeon came to me crying. The CEO had forced her to offer sexual favors.

[Brother, what did you tell Joo-yeon to do?!]

[Soo-rim, why are you doing this again? Are you trying to ruin our agency?!]

[From now on, there will be no more sexual entertainment in our agency!]

[Soo-rim, are you crazy?! Are you trying to starve us all to death?!]

[I'll handle the business! Without paying bribes! I have connections with directors.]

I didn't have much power, but I had good relationships with capable directors. They were successful and influential, so I was confident.

[Do you really think that will work? No way!]

[Just watch!]

I made a bold statement and started doing business. I didn't want to help the actresses in our agency who looked down on me, but I had to for Joo-yeon's sake.

I utilized my connections with directors. They were willing to help because we had supported each other during tough times.

As a result, our agency's sales decreased, but the actors' recognition improved significantly.

"You've reduced our sales drastically. You need to make up for it now."

"I already did! I increased their recognition!"

"The recognition of unsellable products is useless."

But there are many people who are impressed by you. Thanks to your high standards, you can now entertain them properly.

So...did my brother spend 2 billion won on me not for my sake, but to sell me to this guy? Was it to cater to his perverted tastes that he made me walk on two legs and wear normal women's clothes?

"Brother, how could you do this to me? How much money have I earned for you?"

My strong resolve crumbled, and tears streamed down my face.

"It can't be helped. Now, just accept your life and serve the chairman well."

"I...I won't do it!!"

I remembered there was a steak knife on the table and quickly grabbed it.

"What...what are you doing?!"

"I'd rather die than offer sexual favors to him! A life worse than a dog or pig is not worth living!!"

The chairman was at a loss, staring at my brother without saying a word. I wouldn't give my first time to such an incompetent, bald, and useless pig.

"Soo-rim, calm down."

"I don't look like I can calm down, do I?!"

"This button will subdue you immediately."

My brother shows me the electric shock remote control, but I was prepared.

"I know! I once did a stunt in the water and almost had an accident. I can withstand a shock to my neck!"

"Soo-rim..."

The electric shock device falls to the ground, and my brother kneels down.

"Please, Soo-rim, help me."

Now, it's about appealing to emotions. I won't accept such tactics. It's just a trick to get through this crisis.

I'll die. A life without dreams or hope is meaningless. Everything fell apart before it could be achieved.

The hope of climbing back up is gone. I'll never have human rights again. I'll spend my life entertaining and end it that way. Maybe being sold to a madam and becoming a hostess would be a better life.

But before I die, I'll express all my resentment.

"You helped me, didn't you?! What haven't I done for you?! I brought in millions of viewers! I sold the actresses in our agency who couldn't sell themselves! I did my best for those who looked down on me! How much more do I need to help you?!"

"But you took drugs and caused me more trouble."

"Don't you trust me?! Why would I take drugs?! I didn't! I didn't!!"

"If you can't prove the truth, it's considered a lie."

"I don't know!! But I didn't do it!! I didn't!!"

I vented my anger and let out all the tears I had held back. Since I'm going to die anyway, there's no need to hold back.

"How much money have I earned for you?! How could you sell me like this?! You're making me so miserable! Why are you doing this to me?!"

"It's all about money. You don't know how much the letter of recommendation I wrote for you is worth."

"Why are you bringing up the letter of recommendation here?! It was your right anyway!!"

"You're naive. It was bought. A small agency head wouldn't have the power to write a recommendation letter for a top university. It cost 10 billion won, with you as collateral at an annual interest rate of 30%."

My body turned into ice.

"10...billion?!!"

My head went blank. The letter of recommendation I received...was bought? For 10 billion won...at an annual interest rate of 30%?

"How could you be so crazy, brother?! How could you spend that much when I might not even succeed?"

"I didn't want to miss the opportunity. I was sure you would succeed and bring me a lot of money. But your pride was as big as your talent, and you were so picky about your projects that we're still in the red."

It was a series of shocks. I had no idea my brother believed in me so much. He gambled his entire life on me, someone who wasn't even that special.

"But...how could you do something so crazy...?"

"Soo-rim was always more amazing than I expected. That's why I couldn't help but believe in you."

My brother's voice, almost crying, shook my heart.

I thought I was successful because of my own abilities, but it wasn't just that.

It was because of my brother's sacrifice.