NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

When Yeon-woo called the number written on the back of the business card, the secretarial office answered and said they would send a car to where Yeon-woo was currently located.

The background check on Chairman Seo Tae-kwang had been conducted steadily and discreetly since their first meeting.

During the additional filming for the National Defense and Veterans Affairs Month commemorative CF last time, he had learned that there was some trouble with certain military generals regarding the defense industry corruption issue.

After that, he and Han Hae-woon dug quite deeply, but they found out that the Lee Han Group not only had no connection with Baek Sol, but was actually on quite bad terms with them.

‘A leaky bucket at home can’t be intact outside.’

How could the generals who had been receiving bribes from Baek Sol refuse the well-seasoned meat of ‘defense industry corruption’?

The military generals who had been continuously fed bribes by Baek Sol to control the military factions were the main culprits in the defense industry corruption case, and as a result, they naturally became at odds with the Lee Han Group, which had been harmed by it.

‘Chairman Seo Tae-kwang doesn’t seem like a person who would speak with two tongues, but…’

Even if he refused the request, there wouldn’t be a problem with the operation, and since they were on completely opposite sides regarding military-related issues, at least there was no chance of information leaking to Baek Sol’s side.

After waiting for a moment, a car arrived to pick up Yeon-woo.

The car sent by Chairman Seo drove for quite a while with Yeon-woo on board, arriving at an elegant private villa near Seongsan.

As Yeon-woo got out of the car, the security guard he had seen last time approached.

“Hello. It’s you from last time.”

“It’s been a while, actor. The chairman is waiting for you.”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Yeon-woo followed the security guard into the villa.

Passing through the middle door, surprisingly, a living room decorated exactly like the house in Pyeongchang-dong appeared.

Sensing Yeon-woo’s change in expression, the security guard spoke quietly as they walked.

“The chairman wants to feel like he’s at home wherever he is, so the structure is identical.”

“I see.”

However, unlike the house in Pyeongchang-dong, the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was not a lawn, but the sea.

The security guard knocked on the door that appeared to be the study.

Knock knock—.

“Mr. Chairman. The guest has arrived.”

Then he carefully opened the door and politely gestured inside with both hands to Yeon-woo.

“Please go in.”

Yeon-woo gave a slight bow and stepped inside.

The room had bookshelves and a desk with an antique interior, a floor-to-ceiling window filling one wall, and two rocking chairs placed in the middle of the room facing the sea.

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang, who had been sitting at the desk in the study, approached with a smile.

“It’s been a while.”

Seeing Chairman Seo Tae-kwang approach with an outstretched hand, Yeon-woo smiled.

“Have you been well, sir?”

“What could be new with an old man like me? It just gets harder every year that passes. Haha.”

After shaking hands, Seo Tae-kwang pointed to the rocking chairs, offering a seat.

“Have a seat.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seated in the rocking chair facing the sea, Chairman Seo Tae-kwang looked at Yeon-woo and continued speaking.

“That chair used to be where my granddaughter sat.”

“I noticed last time too, you seem to have a good relationship with your granddaughter.”

“Good relationship? She got married and now I don’t even see her nose. Ah, it’s quite lonely.”

Then, looking at the sea, he spoke again.

“I thought you had thrown away my business card. But you remembered?”

“It’s a precious opportunity, so I couldn’t use it carelessly.”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang laughed heartily at Yeon-woo’s answer.

“Now, don’t you not particularly need my help? When I saw you last time, you were just like a boy, but now you’ve become a young man.”

He wasn’t talking about outward appearance.

Reading Chairman Seo Tae-kwang’s intention of speaking about Ryu Yeon-woo’s growth as an actor, Yeon-woo shook his head.

“I’ve had some success due to luck, but I think of it as a temporary streak of good fortune.”

“Haha. A young fellow being so modest. Well then, what is it you want to ask me?”

At that, Yeon-woo looked at Chairman Seo Tae-kwang.

“It’s related to LN Media.”

“Hmm, LN Media… I heard that the person who scouted you stepped down from the CEO position.”

Yeon-woo tilted his head at the unexpected remark.

While LN Media might have considerable influence in the entertainment industry, from the Lee Han Group’s perspective, it was a tiny company that barely registered.

It was surprising that he knew about the internal affairs of such a company.

“Sir, have you always been interested in our company?”

Seo Tae-kwang shook his head.

“I’m not like that old man Kwon from CT Group, why would I be interested in a movie-making company? It’s not your company I’m interested in, it’s you. You’re our group’s model, aren’t you?”

He was referring to Chairman Kwon Jin-seop of CT Group.

Unlike CT Group, which had fully entered the culture industry, the Lee Han Group had no connection to it at all.

He was only interested in Ryu Yeon-woo because the Lee Han Group’s image had actually improved greatly since he became their advertising model.

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang had been interested in Ryu Yeon-woo even before he became this successful, so he felt even more affection for the young man Ryu Yeon-woo, feeling as if he had some foresight for recognizing his potential.

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang continued speaking.

“A request related to the company… It’s not asking to reinstate the CEO position, I suppose. What’s the favor? Don’t beat around the bush, tell me.”

“I was hoping you could show just a brief movement as if Lee Han Group was trying to acquire LN Media.”

At the unexpected words, Chairman Seo Tae-kwang looked at Yeon-woo.

“A movement as if trying to acquire LN Media… You’re asking to stir up public opinion for a moment, aren’t you?”

As expected, the chairman immediately understood Yeon-woo’s words.

Yeon-woo nodded and was about to provide additional explanation when Chairman Seo Tae-kwang spoke first.

“Is that all you need?”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang looked at Yeon-woo without even asking the reason for his request.

And Yeon-woo, reading that look, nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright. I’ll do that for you. Then with that, you’ve used your business card.”

“Of course.”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang’s eyes curved into a smile once again.

“Have you eaten?”

“I came on an empty stomach, knowing you’d treat me to something delicious like last time.”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang laughed heartily at Yeon-woo’s response.

“You’re quite amusing, young man.”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang pressed the bell on the table and said,

“Send in the prepared meal. We’ll eat while looking at the sea with this young man.”

– Yes, Mr. Chairman.

The study door opened, and the staff entered.

They brought a table and chairs to the front of the glass window overlooking the sea and began setting up the food.

“Come, let’s eat.”

“Yes, sir.”

As they sat down, there was samgyetang, just like the hospitality he had received last time.

“You must be destined for good fortune. Our chef was planning to make a chicken dish today, and when your call came, I told him to boil it.”

Even though samgyetang wasn’t such a rare dish anymore with the increasing number of Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants, Yeon-woo smiled, understanding Chairman Seo Tae-kwang’s intention to treat his guest.

After all, in our culture, isn’t serving a hen the highest form of hospitality for an honored guest?

“I’ll enjoy it, thank you.”

While dining with Chairman Seo Tae-kwang, they didn’t discuss LN Media any further, instead mainly talking about the Berlin Film Festival and experiences in LA.

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang nodded and smiled as if listening to his grandchild’s stories.

Then, looking at Yeon-woo, he asked,

“By the way, do you know why I’m helping you?”

At first, Yeon-woo thought it was a gesture of gratitude for improving the company’s image.

He also believed that since the chairman had promised to help once if anyone brought his business card, a person of Chairman Seo Tae-kwang’s stature couldn’t go back on his word.

But after today’s conversation, it seemed there was more to it than that.

After pondering for a moment, Yeon-woo shook his head.

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s because of your eyes. When I look at you, I’m reminded of myself. Ah, I don’t mean your delicate features, of course.”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang laughed once, then gazed at Yeon-woo’s face before continuing.

“My father, who spent his entire life farming in the countryside, was swindled by some good-for-nothing and lost a few acres of rice paddy that were everything to him. But I was glad about it. Because it meant I couldn’t just follow my father and farm in the countryside; I had to go out into the wider world and make money.”

“So that’s when you came to the city and started your business.”

Chairman Seo Tae-kwang quietly nodded at Yeon-woo’s words.

“When I look into your eyes, I’m reminded of myself back then. Eyes that see crisis as opportunity and relish it. I don’t know what your request to me is for, but it seems like you’re trying to turn a crisis into an opportunity, so I agreed.”

Yeon-woo looked at Chairman Seo Tae-kwang and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, sir.”

Seeing Yeon-woo like this, Chairman Seo Tae-kwang chuckled.

“Well, that’s enough of that. Let’s pick up our spoons again.”

===

**

===

Meanwhile, CEO Kim Joo-seong clutched his head due to the constantly ringing doorbell.

“Why aren’t the agents outside blocking these kinds of things?”

Holding his throbbing head, he headed towards the entrance.

Ding-dong─.

As he opened the front door, a man immediately spoke with a disgruntled voice.

“Ah, Sir! Why aren’t you opening the door?”

“Team Leader Jung. I’m not the CEO anymore.”

The one ringing Kim Joo-seong’s doorbell was Team Leader Jung Hyuk.

At this, Jung Hyuk also smiled faintly.

“Yes. I’m not a team leader anymore either. I resigned.”

Kim Joo-seong stared blankly at Jung Hyuk’s words.

“Why?”

“Just because.”

Kim Joo-seong scratched his head and then opened the door wide.

Then, he made eye contact with Agent Lee Gyu-jin, who was peeking out from the emergency staircase behind Jung Hyuk.

When Kim Joo-seong nodded to indicate it was okay, Lee Gyu-jin retreated back into the emergency staircase.

Then, stepping aside, he said to Jung Hyuk,

“Come in for now.”

“Yes, sir!”

As Jung Hyuk entered the house, Kim Joo-seong walked to the sofa and plopped down.

“How could you resign without a plan, Hyeok-ah?”

Jung Hyuk grinned awkwardly at Kim Joo-seong calling him by name instead of ‘Team Leader Jung’.

“…Perhaps, may I call you hyung as well?”

“No.”

At the sharp rejection, Jung Hyuk laughed briefly before taking out an envelope from his pocket.

“What’s this?”

“Yeon-woo asked me to deliver this to you, sir.”

“…Yeon-woo?”

Surprised by the unexpected news, Kim Joo-seong received the envelope and opened it.

Inside was a letter.

As Kim Joo-seong read the contents, he frowned, scratched his head, read with a serious expression, and then suddenly chuckled.

“What does it say? I was dying of curiosity.”

Kim Joo-seong looked up at Jung Hyuk’s words.

“Didn’t you read what’s inside?”

“It was sent to you, sir. Why would I read it?”

Kim Joo-seong nodded.

That was the kind of person Jung Hyuk was.

A person who had always been steadfast and honest, which is why he had kept him by his side as his right-hand man for so long.

After staring at the letter and contemplating for a while, Kim Joo-seong let out a deep sigh and looked at Jung Hyuk.

“Hyuk.”

“Yes.”

“Want to try being a CEO? The CEO of a new company.”

“…Pardon?”

The letter from Yeon-woo contained a proposal for establishing a new company.

It suggested that Ryu Yeon-woo and Kim Joo-seong would jointly invest, with Jung Hyuk hired as a professional manager.

Kim Joo-seong chuckled as he saw the company name written at the bottom of the letter.

“Hmm, ‘New Star Media’… It sounds a bit corny, but it’s not bad.”