Flaws in a contract (part-1)

By dinnertime, Sungjun returned home. The dining hall was lively, filled with the chatter of his siblings and the clinking of cutlery against plates. As he entered, everyone turned to him in surprise.

"Oh? You actually joined us for dinner?" Mingsu smirked as he poured himself a glass of water. "That's unexpected."

Sungjun shrugged and took his seat. "What? Can't I have a meal with my own family?"

Before anyone could respond, Sae-ri leaned forward with a knowing smile. "Well, we just expected you would already have dinner with your date. Did it not go well, perhaps? Or did you go to some luxury restaurant and have a fancy dinner?"

Sungjun blinked. "My what?"

Sae-ri crossed her arms. "Don't play dumb. The steward told me everything. You took a shower, dressed up all nice, and left the house looking suspiciously fresh. If that wasn't for a date, then what was it for?"

Sungjun let out a short laugh. "You got it all wrong." He shook his head. "I just went out to save an old high school friend."

Sae-ri raised a brow. "A high school friend?"

"Yeah. We met again about a week ago. He got into a drunk fight with another drunk guy and ended up in a cell. I just went to the police station to settle things with the other party and get him out. That's all."

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then Jiyeon let out a deep sigh and turned to Sae-ri. "See, Aunt? I told you."

Sungjun blinked. "Told her what?"

Jiyeon looked at him and said. "That it's impossible for you to date someone, even after meeting them a dozen times. Much less go on a date after the second meeting." She shook her head with a sigh of disappointment.

Sungjun furrowed his brows, clearly confused. "Wait… second meeting? What are you even talking about?"

*

Five days passed by in the blink of an eye.

Not much is changed for anyone except for Sungjun.

Since he already had a Russian driving license, he visited Incheon DLEO (Driver's license examination office), submitted the documents such as ARC, visa, existing original license, photos, then wrote a 20-question written test, paid 25000 KRW exchange fee.

The very next day, he got the new Korean Class 1 license. Sae-ri didn't have much to do either, apart from a YouTube guest appearance in a personal channel belonging to a celebrity, she spent much time in the sword training and the old Silla dialect practice.

Other than that, the children of the later billionaire all received their credit cards according to the will of their late father. And they will soon have to take the positions of directors at their charitable trust, following the will too.

On the present day;

Sangwoo adjusted his suit jacket as he led Sae-ri and Sungjun toward a private seating area in a cafe. Three men were already waiting there—a legal affairs representative, the film's executive producer, and the casting director—each with a cup of coffee in front of them. Laptops were open, notes scattered across the table, indicating that the meeting was already well underway.

Sungjun, wearing a simple black mask and a cap, followed behind silently. He wasn't here to participate anyway—just to observe.

"Sae-ri-ssi, Manager Sangwoo," the casting director greeted, standing up briefly before gesturing for them to sit. He outrightly ignored Sungjun's presence. Well, such is the life of a road manager. Sungjun didn't care either way. He calmly stood behind his sister.

They exchanged pleasantries, and soon, the discussion resumed. Manager Sangwoo had already handled most of the negotiations. He had spent the past weeks running back and forth, ironing out details and relaying updates to Sae-ri. Today was just a formality—a final signing.

The executive producer scrolled through the contract on his tablet. "Everything is as per the agreements made. If you have any final concerns, now's the time."

Sae-ri nodded, crossing her arms. "I have one last clause I want to add. Absolutely no kiss scenes."

A beat of silence followed.

The casting director exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Sae-ri-ssi, I understand your concern. But Queen Jinseong is a historical figure. Records indicate she was not only indulgent in luxuries but also had many lovers while abusing her power. Her character is complex, and omitting those aspects will feel inauthentic."

The executive producer chimed in, choosing his words carefully. "We're not asking for passionate or intimate scenes. Just a couple of soft kisses. If you're uncomfortable, we can use a body double."

Sae-ri's expression remained firm. "I am not just married; I am a mother. I understand historical accuracy, but this can be portrayed differently. You can adjust the script, change those moments to hugs, or use camera angles to make it seem like a kiss scene, but I forbid any actual kiss scene."

The room fell silent again. The director tapped his fingers on the table, his lips pursed in thought. Eventually, he sighed, waving a hand in surrender.

"Fine. No kiss scenes."

The legal affairs representative, Oh Yejoon, immediately turned to his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as he edited the contract. Within minutes, he looked up.

"Clause added. I've sent it to your manager's email."

Sangwoo pulled out his phone, refreshing his inbox. A notification popped up, and he clicked it open. "Got it. Everything seems in order." He placed the tablet in front of Sae-ri. "You can sign now."

Sae-ri reached for the S-pen, her fingers hovering over the screen. But just before she could sign, she hesitated. Her gaze shifted toward Sungjun. "Do you want to check it over first?"

The attention in the room suddenly shifted.

Sungjun, who had been quietly observing, now found himself the center of attention. The three men at the table looked at him curiously.

The executive producer raised an eyebrow. "You… have a legal background?"

Sungjun, of course, never attended law school. His supposed role as a legal consultant for Egmor Group in Russia had been nothing but a fabricated identity—a convenient cover for the mafia operations he ran. But he had Neo, his Quantum AGI assistant, to make up for what he lacked in formal education.

Thinking quickly, Sungjun shrugged nonchalantly. "If she wants me to, I'll take a look."

Sae-ri nodded and slid the tablet toward him.

All eyes were on him now as Sungjun took his seat.

Sungjun leaned back in his chair, the tablet resting in his palm as his masked face remained unreadable. His eyes skimmed through the contract, fingers subtly tapping against the screen.

"Neo, scan the document and point out the flaws," he murmured under his breath.

An instant later, his AI assistant processed the entire 16-page document within seconds. Though Sungjun appeared to be reading through each clause carefully, the real information was already being relayed to his brain.

A half-minute passed before he lowered his mask slightly, just enough to reveal his lips. His tone remained neutral, almost casual.

"There are some issues I'd like clarification on."

A quiet tension settled over the table as they heard his words.

Sae-ri and Manager Sangwoo exchanged glances, confused by the unexpected remark. The three men on the other side of the table—the legal affairs representative, the executive producer, and the casting director—straightened in their seats, their expressions shifting from polite professionalism to mild concern.

"Issues?" The legal representative, Oh Yejoon, asked cautiously.