Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

Chapter 55 The Old Place, Someone Swallowed Their Words

January 5th, Sunday, 6 PM.

When Su Yu arrived at the barbecue restaurant, Shirley was already there. Her usual spot, by the window at the back. She wasn't wearing a coat today, just a black turtleneck sweater, her hair loose, and light makeup. The grill in front of her was already hot, the pork belly sizzling on the griddle, oil splattering everywhere.

"You're right on time." Shirley looked up at him. "I thought you'd be late."

"I never break my promises."

Su Yu sat down. The waiter brought over two glasses of soju. Shirley picked up one and took a sip first.

"You've lost weight," she said, looking at him. "Have you been staying up late these past few days?"

"fine."

"You're lying. Those dark circles under your eyes make you look like you've been punched twice."

Su Yu didn't reply. He picked up the tongs and flipped the meat. One side of the pork belly was already golden brown, and when he flipped it over, the other side was still sizzling with oil. The sizzling sound filled the silence between the two of them.

"I've finished watching the first episode." Shirley put down her glass. "In the scene where she jumps off the building, that one glance back—did you have the editor cut it by 0.3 seconds?"

"You noticed?"

"I told you I checked it three times." She stared at the meat on the baking tray. "The first time I thought it was too fast, the second time I thought it was just right, and the third time I thought it should be this short. You were right."

Su Yu placed the grilled meat into her bowl. "Eat more. You've lost weight recently."

Shirley looked down at the meat in her bowl, her lips twitching slightly. "You can care about people too?"

"I always will. It's just inconvenient for some people."

Her chopsticks paused for a moment. She didn't reply. She picked up a piece of meat, dipped it in sauce, and put it in her mouth. She chewed very slowly.

The two ate in silence for a while. The meat on the grill was changed once, the pork belly replaced with beef short ribs. They drank two glasses of soju, and when the third glass was poured, Shirley spoke up.

"Oppa".

"Um."

"You and Chae Soo-bin... are together?"

Su Yu paused for a moment while picking up the meat with her chopsticks. Then she continued picking up more and putting it into her bowl.

"Um."

Shirley stared at the piece of meat in the bowl for a few seconds. Then she picked it up and ate it.

"She's a good person," she said. "She's serious about acting and down-to-earth. It's just that she's sometimes a little slow on the uptake; she can't quite keep up with what you're saying."

"She doesn't need to connect. She just needs to listen."

Shirley put down her chopsticks. "You're quite lenient with her."

"I'm forgiving of you too."

"It's different." She picked up her glass and took a big gulp. "You're lenient with her. But with me, you're...polite."

Su Yu didn't speak. The noise of the barbecue restaurant created a barrier between the two of them. People at the next table were playing drinking games, and waiters were walking back and forth with trays, oil splattering from the grill with a sizzling sound.

"Oppa".

"Um."

"You weren't like this to me before."

Su Yu put down the clips and looked at her. The light shone on her face, casting the shadow of her eyelashes on her cheekbones. Her eyes were bright, but not the kind of bright that comes from joy; it was the kind of bright that comes from restraint.

"The past is the past."

"You used to save oden for me at the convenience store. You would remember that I don't eat cilantro. You would text me when I was practicing late and say, 'Stop practicing, go home.'"

"Now too."

"It's different now. Now you leave oden for everyone. You remember what everyone doesn't eat. You message everyone saying, 'Stop practicing, go home.'" She paused. "You treat me the same way you treat everyone else."

Su Yu was silent for a few seconds. "Shirley."

"Um."

"You want me to be different?"

She stared at him. Something was churning in her eyes, like boiling water, bubbling and bubbling, but the lid remained closed.

"I hope..." She lowered her head, swallowing her words. She picked up her glass and finished it. "It's nothing. I was just joking."

Su Yu didn't press further. He knew what she had swallowed back.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the barbecue was finished. Shirley paid the bill, and Su Yu wanted to pay, but she wouldn't let him.

"I'll treat you. I said I'd treat you, so I will."

"You said you'd treat me last time, but I ended up paying."

"That was last time. This time it's for real." She handed the card to the waiter, then turned to look at him, "Oppa."

"Um."

"Take me to the bus stop."

The two walked out of the barbecue restaurant. The night breeze was cool, making her hair flutter. She hunched her shoulders and put her hands in her pockets. Su Yu walked on the right, without saying a word. The streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them, one leaning to the left and the other to the right, never quite meeting.

"Oppa".

"Um."

Will you keep writing?

"meeting."

"Write until you can't write anymore?"

"Write until I die."

She laughed. "Then what will happen to your show if you die?"

"Someone else is continuing the writing."

"Who?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "I don't know. Maybe not."

"Then you'd better live a long time." She turned to look at him, "at least until Cai Xiubin wins the grand prize."

Su Yu's lips twitched slightly. "Okay. I'll try my best."

She walked to the bus stop. The last bus was leaving in three minutes. Shirley stood under the sign, watching the distant headlights.

"Oppa".

"Um."

"From now on... don't stay up late."

"understood."

"I know you won't do it. It's always the same."

Su Yu didn't reply. The car arrived. Shirley got on, swiped her card, and sat down in the last row by the window. The window rolled down, and she leaned out.

"Goodbye, Oppa."

"goodbye."

The car door closed. The taillights blended into the traffic, turned a corner, and disappeared.

Su Yu stood there and lit a cigarette. The smoke dissipated quickly in the night wind.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Shirley.

Oppa, I've remembered everything you said today.

Su Yu looked at the line of text. [Which sentence?]

"I never break my promises."

He didn't reply. He put out his cigarette and walked towards the semi-basement.

At nine o'clock in the evening, Su Yu returned to the semi-basement.

He pushed open the door and went inside; water was still dripping from the ceiling. Drip, drip. He lay down on the bed and took out his phone. There was an unread message from Cai Xiubin.

Oppa, you're back from dinner?

Su Yu replied: 【Mm.】

How was the meal?

It's alright. The meat was overcooked.

Is she in a good mood?

Su Yu looked at the line of text: 【Not bad.】

Cai Xiubin was silent for a moment. Then she posted another message: 【Oppa.】

【Um. 】

Did you talk to her about us today?

[I already said so.]

What was her reaction?

Su Yu thought for a moment. She typed a few words: "[She said you're a good person. You're serious about acting and down-to-earth.]"

That's all?

【Um. 】

Cai Xiubin sent a smiley face. Then another message came: "So she's not angry?"

【No.】

【That's good. 】

Su Yu didn't reply. After a while, she sent another voice message. Su Yu opened it, and her voice was hesitant: "Oppa, when you were having dinner with her, did you ever...regret it?"

Su Yu stared at the screen and typed a few words: "No. Not at all."

She sent a smiley face. Then she sent another message: "Goodnight, Oppa."

Su Yu replied with two words: "Good night."

January 6th, Monday, 7:00 AM.

When Su Yu arrived at the company, Cai Xiubin was already sitting by the window. Today she was wearing a red sweater, her hair was tied in a bun, and she looked very energetic.

"Why are you dressed so festively today?" Su Yu put her backpack on the table.

"New year, new look. My mom says wearing red is lucky."

"Then your luck this year should be pretty good."

"Thank you for your kind words." She stood up, walked up to him, and said, "Oppa."

"Um."

"You had dinner with Shirley yesterday, did she say anything?"

"What did you say?"

"Well..." she bit her lip, "did she say she still likes you?"

Su Yu looked at her. "No."

"real?"

"Really. She said you're a good person."

Chae Soo-bin lowered her head. "Oppa."

"Um."

"I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

"I didn't put you in a difficult position."

"But she..."

Su Yu reached out and cupped her face in his hands. "I'll handle her affairs. Your affairs are about acting well. Don't overthink it."

She stared at him for a few seconds and nodded.

In the afternoon, Shirley sent me a message.

Oppa, don't take what I said yesterday to heart.

Su Yu replied: [What did you say?]

[It's just... what I meant by you being polite to me.]

I didn't take it to heart.

【That's good. 】

【Um. 】

She posted another message: "Oppa, can we still be friends?"

Su Yu looked at the line of text: 【Yes.】

That's fine then. You don't need to treat me to a meal, my friend. You can treat me next time.

Su Yu smiled. "Okay. My treat."

Don't make me pay again.

I won't let you pay. I'll treat you. I mean what I say.

She sent a smiley face. Su Yu put her phone in her pocket.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window. Cai Xiubin was reading a script by the window, muttering to herself. The sunlight shone on her face, making her red sweater appear even redder.

Su Yu leaned against the table, looking at her.