Chapter 156: There's More Than Just Apples in the Apple Orchard (2)
After taking away the soju bottle Lee Hyung-Moon had swung, I checked on Lee Haru's condition.
"Yes. I'm... okay." Lee Haru replied.
A wave of heat surged within me as I looked at Lee Haru. Faint bruises all over his body peeked through the thin fabric of his clothes, and he was too short even though he was 16—the same age as Sae-Ri.
'This must probably be due to malnutrition,' I thought to myself.
Come to think of it, Lee Haru was slightly under 170cm tall even in my past life. His distinct features and good looks had allowed him to become an actor, but every director who cast him had felt something was missing. They lamented that if he had been just 5cm taller, he could have taken on twice as many roles.
"Don't worry anymore. I'm here for you," I assured Lee Haru.
Realizing he couldn't overpower me, Lee Hyung-Moon began to resort to verbal threats.
"Hey! Who do you think you are to interfere in someone else's family matters? Do you have a death wish? Let go of me!" Lee Hyung-Moon barked back.
"It doesn't matter who I am. Just be aware that I'm calling the police," I said calmly.
I had started the voice recorder on my phone before entering as loud noises could be heard from the outside.
Domestic violence could be reported by a third party, but it often ended inconclusively. However, possessing a recording could at least provide evidence to temporarily remove Lee Haru from his father's custody.
By reporting Park Hyung-Moon to the police and contacting welfare services, it might be possible to temporarily revoke Park Hyung-Moon's parental rights.
And in that time, I would find a way to recruit Lee Haru.
Unable to physically overcome me, Lee Hyung-Moon tried to grab Lee Haru again.
"Hey! Lee Haru, get your ass over here!"
Lee Haru flinched, curling up into a ball and hiding behind me. Judging by the current situation, I had to act immediately.
"Don't worry, Haru," I assured him.
As I pulled out my phone to call the police, Lee Hyung-Moon scoffed.
"Ha ha ha, you're going to report me? Go ahead! The local chief is my drinking buddy! I'd like to see you try!"
"Is that so? I understand. Let's do as you say, then."
I was about to call the police, but I couldn't press the call button because of the heavy weight I felt on my right arm.
Lee Haru was holding onto my arm and stopping me.
"Don't do it."
Fear filled Lee Haru's eyes.
'But why?' I wondered.
I couldn't understand why he would try to protect a father who was being so abusive toward him.
But at that moment, I remembered my friends from the orphanage days. I recalled those kids who had fled their parents' violence to the orphanage would cry at night, longing for their mom and dad.
Only then could I realize why Lee Haru was acting this way. Even if life was hellish, children instinctively depended on and needed their parents.
A surge of emotion suddenly welled up inside me as thoughts ran through my head.
'Such a disgusting man is still considered a parent in this poor kid's eyes...'
In my past life, Lee Haru had run away only after graduating high school. No matter how much he despised his father, he hadn't yet mustered the courage to leave him behind.
But I couldn't just stand by and let this abuse continue.
"Haru, don't worry. Let's go to Seoul together. I'll make you a celebrity," I said.
"A celebrity? Me...?" Haru replied with a puzzled look.
"Yes. You know I'm Sae-Ri's talent agent, right? Our company always welcomes talent like you."
A glimmer of hope began to appear in Lee Haru's eyes.
At that moment, Lee Hyung-Moon's expression suddenly changed.
"Wait a minute. Are you that talent agent who came from Seoul?"
"Yes."
Lee Hyung-Moon's face lit up and he sat down on the floor with his legs crossed.
"What are you doing? Come and sit down here," urged Lee Hyung-Moon.
"What are you doing right now?" I questioned.
"Ke he he. I'm trying to do some business here. I said sit down," replied Lee Hyung-Moon.
I couldn't understand what he was thinking but decided to give it a listen. After all, Lee Hyung-Moon was Lee Haru's legal guardian.
I reluctantly sat down as Lee Hyung-Moon suggested.
As soon as I sat down, Lee Hyung-Moon made an audacious suggestion.
"If Haru becomes a celebrity, how much are you willing to pay us? There's a contract fee, isn't there? You must need my permission since Haru is still a minor."
Lee Haru's head dropped upon hearing his father trying to sell him off like an object.
But Lee Hyung-Moon only looked at Lee Haru with a cold expression.
"What is it? You said you hate me, didn't you? The feeling is mutual. I can't stand another day looking at your face that looks exactly like your mother, so let's take this opportunity to go our separate ways."
Every single word coming out of Lee Hyung-Moon's mouth was poking Lee Haru's heart like sharp needles.
I didn't want to give money to such a scumbag like Lee Hyung-Moon, but that was the easiest way to separate Lee Haru from him. Unless Lee Hyung-Moon gave up Lee Haru's custody, signing a contract with a minor absolutely required their parent's permission.
"Are you going to let him go as long as we pay?" I asked.
Lee Hyung-Moon nodded with a bright expression. "Yes. All you need to do is pay up. Ke ke ke."
"How much do you need?"
"Hmm. 20 million won? No, let's make it 30 million won! If you give me 30 million won, I'll go ahead and sign the contract right away."
After nodding in agreement I asked the trembling Lee Haru if he was sure about becoming a celebrity. But Lee Haru, whose face was white beyond pale, couldn't answer. He was likely shocked to see how his father was so willing to abandon him for money.
I carefully grabbed Lee Haru's shaking hand and reassured him.
"Haru, come with me to Seoul. Sae-Ri is in our company as well. I'll send you to the same middle school Sae-Ri is attending."
"..."
Lee Haru was still having a difficult time snapping back to reality. After all, 16 was a young age to be alone in this world.
But Lee Haru mustered the courage as I continued to assure him with warm words.
"Are you suggesting this out of pity?" Lee Haru asked.
"Pity? No way. I have a knack for scouting future talents like you. You can ask Sae-Ri about it," I replied confidently.
Lee Hyung-Moon, sitting on the opposite side of me, snorted. But I ignored him and continued to persuade Lee Haru.
I reached my hand to wipe off the tears streaming down Lee Haru's face.
"I'll become your talent agent, so let's do this together. Okay?"
Lee Haru gripped my hand tightly. "Okay..."
Holding Lee Haru's hand firmly, I told Lee Hyung-Moon, "I'll give you 30 million won right away. By the way, the contract term will be for five years. If you were to terminate the contract within that period, the penalty would be fivefold. Is that alright with you?"
"If you're trying to deceive me right now..." Lee Hyung-Moon said in a low tone.
"I'm not deceiving you. Do you think the company takes contracts as a joke? I'll even have a lawyer notarize the contract for you," I replied sternly.
"Alright, just bring the contract. I'll give you the kid right away."
I wanted to include a clause in the contract prohibiting him from approaching Lee Haru, but such a clause wouldn't likely be allowed between a father and son.
So the contract was the priority for now. Preventing him from approaching Lee Haru would be the next step.
As I was about to call Kang Ji-Yung, Lee Hyung-Moon hummed to himself and made a phone call.
"Hey, Kim. Deliver me a jug of makgeolli. What? You want money? The outstanding balance? Fine, just come on over. Come and take it."
After hanging up, he stretched out his hand and pointed at me.
"Hey, you. Pay for the outstanding balance for me."
"How much is it?"
"About 200 thousand won, I think?"
'Such shameless trash,' I thought to myself as I seethed with anger.
But I opened my wallet and handed him 300 thousand won from the emergency fund. At this moment, playing along with him was the easiest way to secure the contract.
Swoosh!
Lee Hyung-Moon snatched the money and grinned.
"He he he he. This isn't included in the contract money, right?"
Without responding, I took Lee Haru and stepped out into the yard.
"Haru, wait here for a moment. I need to make a call."
"Okay."
I let go of Lee Haru's hand for a moment and called Kang Ji-Yung to explain the situation here.
Shortly after, Kang Ji-Yung's troubled voice came through the phone.
-Assistant Manager Jung. If you're bringing the kid out of pity, it will be difficult for Hoop Entertainment to sign the contract. I can help personally, but...you know how things are right now, don't you? Giving you preferential treatment like this could shake your position, especially after the Golden Road incident.
Kang Ji-Yung explained that the repercussions of the Golden Road incident were still lingering. After a moment of contemplation, I suggested a solution.
"What if I become a team lead?"
-Excuse me?
"If I become a team lead as you suggested, then I would have the right to recruit actors for the team. Right?"
-That's true. But...
There was a moment of hesitation in Kang Ji-Yung's voice.
I had 30 million won with me right now, which was enough for the deal, and Lee Haru could live with me in my one-room apartment. But right now, Lee Haru needed more than just a place to stretch his legs and sleep—he needed a place to entrust his future.
That was something I couldn't immediately provide.
"As promised, I will expedite the recruitment of Mr. Park Eun-Sung. This kid has the potential to be a great actor. I don't want to miss out on him, Ms. Kang."
After a heavy sigh, Kang Ji-Yung finally agreed.
-Alright. I don't know what you see in him, but I'll trust you this time. I'll have Team Lead Kwak handle the contract.
"Please make it as quick as possible. I'd like to take him with me when I go back to Seoul."
-Mr. Kwak will send a lawyer to Sae-Ri's house. Send me the address via text.
"Thank you, Ms. Kang."
Lee Haru, who had been listening to the phone call, visibly brightened up.
'It must feel like a dream to him to leave the place where he was born and raised.'
"Let's stay at Sae-Ri's house until the lawyer arrives."
But the door burst open at that moment.
"Hey! Who said you could take him? If you take him before signing the contract, I'll report it as a kidnapping!"
Lee Hyung-Moon's words were technically correct, so I had no choice but to send Lee Haru's address to Kwak Moo-Hyuk and wait for the lawyer.
That's when the front door creaked open and an angry voice filled the room.
"Hyung-Moon, you wretch!!!"
Sae-Ri's grandfather, Kim Pan-Seok, strode in with a red cane followed by Sae-Ri's grandmother Lee Yung-Sook and Sae-Ri herself.
With the arrival of Kim Pan-Seok, Lee Hyung-Moon's bravado faltered as he stuttered, "Ah, um. Mr. Kim, what brings you here today...?"
"I heard everything from outside! Don't you dare act familiar with me ever again, you rascal!" Kim Pan-Seok yelled.
"No, there seems to be some misunderstanding..."
"Misunderstanding? Did you just say misunderstanding, you wretch? Selling your child for money as a father!"
"Mr. Kim, it's not like that."
Lee Hyung-Moon tried to defend himself, but Kim Pan-Seok had no intention of listening and began a loud reprimand.
"I tried to understand you since your wife disappeared and you were heartbroken, but have you been taking out your frustration on Haru, that young poor child?"
"Ah, Mr Kim, that's because that brat...didn't do the chores I asked..."
That's when it happened. Kim Pan-Seok shouted, "Ha!" and started swinging the solid oak cane he had fetched.
Thwack, thwack!
I flinched and thought to myself, 'Yikes. That must hurt.'
The cane repeatedly struck Lee Hyung-Moon's body.
Thwack!
"Ack! Mr. Kim, please, stop! Ahh!"
"You bastard! Unworthy of being a father! Even if you die from this beating, it's well deserved, you scoundrel!" Kim Pan-Seok roared.
As Kim Pan-Seok continued to beat him, Lee Hyung-Moon fled to a corner of the room.
Watching the scene, Sae-Ri's grandmother clicked her tongue and approached Lee Haru.
"Haru, are you alright?"
"Gr-grandma..."
"You should've talked to me if things were this bad."
Tears welled up in the eyes of Sae-Ri's grandmother as she caressed Lee Haru's face. A deep sigh escaped her lips.
"I should have taken better care of you. How will I face your grandmother after death? I'm sorry, Haru. Forgive me for being so ignorant."
Lee Haru shook his head. "No, it's not like that. I'm really okay."
Sae-Ri's grandmother nodded and patted Lee Haru's back as she comforted him.
"Don't worry about anything anymore. We'll make sure your father will never be able to bother you again."
After comforting Lee Haru, Lee Yung-Sook spoke to Kim Pan-Seok.
"Honey, give him a good thrashing."
But the exhausted Kim Pan-Seok stopped the beating and gasped for breath.
"Yes, I should. Huff, huff. I've gotten old and weak. Ask the kids to come. We'll take back everything he owes us and banish him from the village."
At that moment, Lee Hyung-Moon began to beg on his knees.
"M-Mr. Kim, I was wrong. Please, anything but that..."
Seeing Lee Hyung-Moon afraid of Kim Pan-Seok, a sudden idea came to mind on how to protect Lee Haru's incomplete management contract.
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