Page 21 of Public Image, Private Heart (K-Drama Love Story #1)

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Ji-yong

T he thought of Yumi enduring harassment at work was unbearable. My protective instincts kicked in, and I knew I had to act. Seeking legal counsel was the most logical step.

I started making calls, reaching out to lawyers I knew, or whose reputation was impeccable in handling such cases. The entertainment industry was a complex web, and I needed someone who understood its nuances and could navigate the legal complexities effectively.

Mr. Park picked up the phone at the third ring. He is also one of my father’s friend, so the call was a mix between casual and formal consultation. After a quick small talk, I explained the situation quickly to him without divulging the names.

“So, to clarify, your girlfriend is alleging that she has experienced sexual harassment from her co-star?”

“Yes, it’s a difficult situation. She’s been through a lot, and I want to protect her.” I murmured while pacing back and forth in my trailer during the break of shooting day.

“She needs to gather as much evidence as possible. Any witnesses, messages, or recordings could be crucial. It’s also important to document everything from now on.”

There was a brief pause. I knew she didn’t have any evidence yet. “I understand. She might not have any proof at this stage and has been hesitant to involve others, fearing repercussions,” I said.

“That’s understandable,” Mr. Kim replied on the other end of the line. “But it’s essential to have a clear timeline of events. We also need to assess the potential risks and benefits of going public.”

Going public? I thought, feeling uncertain. “I’m worried about the impact on her career. She’s just starting to gain recognition.”

“That’s a valid concern. We need to consider all options, including mediation, negotiation, or legal action. For now, let’s focus on gathering evidence and building a strong case.”

Mr. Park sighed deeply before continuing, “But Ji-yong, you should know that this will be a long and difficult battle. With a high-profile celebrity involved, the public might be divided. Some might even think that your girlfriend could be using this situation to defame him.”

My heart sank. “But my girlfriend is the victim here. She’s up against someone more powerful—a predatory man who poses a threat to her and the industry!” I raised my voice in frustration.

“I understand, Ji-yong, but unfortunately, the law isn’t always as clear-cut as that,” he said with a small chuckle that only fueled my frustration. “If it were, my profession wouldn’t be necessary.”

With a sigh, I relented. “Fine. Thank you, Mr. Park. I’ll contact you again when we have more solid evidence.”

I paced restlessly in my trailer, trying to clear my head. A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “May I?” Min-hee asked, hesitating at the doorway.

She looked uncomfortable, her eyes darting between us. “Listen, about the photo... I’m sorry,” she began.

The photo. Of course. I had seen it online, and it looked even worse out of context. The image of her straddling my lap, with her hands thrown around me, was damning. But that wasn’t what was occupying my mind today.

I shrugged, overwhelmed with too many thoughts. “It’s fine. These things happen,” I said. Then, a thought struck me. “But the photo didn’t come from you or anyone you know, did it?”

She hesitated before answering, “No, not from me, of course. I was almost unconscious, remember?” She looked puzzled. “Who could it be...” She nervously bit her nails.

Here we were, caught in a web of fabricated evidence. I had done nothing wrong, yet the photo painted a different story. Yumi, on the other hand, was a victim of harassment with no concrete proof.

“We should convince our agencies to issue a public statement denying any off-screen relationship... or whatever the photo seems to suggest,” I said, trying to make an ally of her. But she seemed startled by my suggestion.

“Are you kidding me?” she croaked, looking furious. “How could we possibly explain that situation without damaging my reputation?” She shot me an incredulous look. “Don’t you think it’s better to just ignore it? The rumors will die down soon enough.”

“Well, maybe you should have thought twice before doing something that could damage your reputation,” I replied, my tone colder than I intended.

“Look, I’ve got a lot on my mind right now, and I can’t handle everything at once.

I talked with my agent, and they’re still deciding whether to issue a statement about that photo.

I think we should. It’s not just your reputation on the line; it’s mine too.

” I gave her a frustrated look. “And let’s not forget, this has taken a toll on my relationship as well. ”

Min-hee tilted her head, clearly puzzled by my remark about my relationship. She murmured something about thinking it over before leaving my trailer, looking both confounded and somewhat guilty.

The day dragged on, hot and humid. Later that evening, after some hesitation, I decided to seek advice from my agent. After all, they had seen and solved almost everything in the showbiz industry. I headed to Mrs. Lee’s office after wrapping up. It was already 8 PM, yet her office was still lit up.

“Come in,” I heard her voice from behind the door. I opened it and stepped inside. Her office always had a cold and unwelcoming vibe.

She peeked over her laptop, looks intrigued when she saw me.

“Ji-yong, what brings you here? Is it about the photo scandal? We’ve decided not to make a joint statement with Min-hee’s agent and just leave it be,” she said, getting straight to the point.

“But I’ve received calls from companies scheduled to feature you in their next commercials.

They’re concerned about how this photo might affect your image and might reconsider their offers.

However, I must say, Min-hee’s image is the one that’s more at risk.

” She gnawed her lower lip, clearly worried about how this gossip could impact our upcoming drama.

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation.

At least I had an answer to my first problem.

“It’s not about that... but let’s get back to it later,” I started, trying to shift the conversation.

“There’s something else I need to talk to you about.

I have a... friend. She’s a fellow celebrity, and she’s dealing with a really difficult situation on set. ”

I hesitated again, unsure how much detail I should divulge.

She raised her eyebrows, clearly not expecting this from me. “Then why didn’t your ‘friend’ go to her own agency for advice? What business do we have with this ‘friend’ of yours?"

I sighed; Mrs. Lee could sense trouble from a mile away. “Fine, actually I’ve started seeing her, and it really bothers me that she’s facing this issue at her shooting location. She already reached out to her agency, and they’ve taken initial steps, but the problem persists.”

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she calculated the potential impact: Will this relationship affect Ji-yong’s image and marketability? What about the drama and the brand sponsorship requests?

“Who is this person?” Mrs. Lee asked with her no-nonsense attitude. Having worked with her for the past eight years, I trusted her to act in my best interest.

“It’s... Han Yumi,” I finally relented.

I heard her sigh deeply and rub her temples, bracing herself for the headache.

“She’s currently filming with Ryan Kim, isn’t she? For a romantic drama. I can’t remember the title, but I know the director.”

I nodded to confirm. “Ryan is apparently not as professional as he seems. He’s a predator; he harassed Yumi and...”

“Ji-yong, how serious is your relationship with Yumi?” Mrs. Lee cut me off.

“What?” I was caught off guard by the question. “Well, I’d say it’s pretty serious. For starters, I have no intention of stopping seeing her.”

Mrs. Lee rubbed her temples again. “Listen, Ji-yong... you do know that actors have a very short career window.” She clasped her hands as if saying a silent prayer before continuing, “A sexual harassment accusation against one of the most prolific celebrities in the industry is one of the most damaging issues for a celebrity’s career.

I’ve seen many actors and actresses who couldn’t survive such rumors, and I suggest you stay away from this. ”

Shocked by her cold response, I couldn’t immediately reply. “What...?” was all I could manage to say again. I felt like a broken record.

She nodded to confirm. “You are in the prime of your career. You’re young, with a lot ahead of you. Just... forget her for a while, and then you can continue seeing her later when things have died down, alright?” she added in a softer tone, as if trying to negotiate with me.

I gave her a cold look. “So there’s absolutely nothing you can do, not even a suggestion? Your advice is just... stay away from her?”

“Han Yumi... I don’t know how she could recover from this if it goes public. And if you choose to get involved, it would be us against Ryan’s agency and his entire network. It could damage your image as well, Ji-yong. Please...”

“Then announce it to the public for all I care!” I roared. “How could it be her fault? She’s the one who was harassed. Why should she be the one to pay the price for this?” Frustration surged within me. Although Mrs. Lee and I had shared many years working together, today she was being impossible.

This conversation left a bad taste in my mouth.

It felt like no one was genuinely on our side—neither Mrs. Lee nor Mr. Park, the lawyer, provided any practical solutions.

At that moment, it felt as if the world was profoundly unjust, particularly for women.

It felt like actors were just pawns and moneymakers in the showbiz industry, with little regard for us as human beings.

Sensing that I wasn’t going to make any headway with her on Yumi’s issue, at least for now, I decided to shift the conversation before preparing to leave.

“Handle the situation with the photo of Min-hee and me, or I will,” I said, my tone firm and uncompromising.

I could see the gears turning in Mrs. Lee’s mind—she knew that my position as a top revenue-generating star gave me considerable leverage.

I left Mrs. Lee’s office feeling exasperated and disillusioned.

As I drove home, a whirlwind of options raced through my mind.

Should I publicly announce my relationship with Yumi to make Ryan think twice about messing with her?

Or would it be better to offer her 300 million won to walk away from the production?

While it might seem extreme, I couldn’t help but take a certain satisfaction in imagining the production team’s reaction—panicked and scrambling to recast Yumi, reshoot scenes, and redo edits in post-production, resulting in significant financial and time losses for them. I smirked at the thought.

But Yumi would most likely disagree, and even if she did agree, she’d probably feel perpetually indebted to me, which could further destabilize our already fragile relationship.

I tried to recall Ryan’s other films and dramas. A quick online search provided a list of his works and cast members. I reviewed the names one by one and began making notes to reach out to other female celebrities who had worked with him and whom I knew personally.

I glanced at the clock—it was almost midnight. I sent a message to Yumi to see if she was already home. I needed to be there for her, I thought.

Once I received her confirmation, I made myself drive to her place.

She greeted me with a faint smile. She looked weary, her eyes shadowed by dark circles beneath them.

I quickly checked in with her, asking if anything else had happened at work that was bothering her. She shrugged and said nothing significant had occurred with Ryan; for the first time, they had different shooting schedules for different scenes.

A wave of relief washed over me. At least she was safe—for now.

“But I have to keep working with Ryan next week,” she sighed, burying herself deeper into my embrace on her bed.

“Don’t worry, Yumi. I have a plan, and I’ll personally make sure he never bothers you again,” I vowed, my jaw clenched in determination.