Chapter 147
Actually, I had received a text from Ha Sangdo that morning.
He said he had seen the articles about yesterday’s gala screening and congratulated me on the successful premiere.
He also asked if I wanted to have lunch with him and Donnelly two days later.
I had already been planning to call Ha Sangdo today and somehow find out where they were meeting Reid Hayes.
So the fact that he contacted me first was nothing but convenient.
Before heading to the press conference, I used his text as an excuse to call him.
Then, while talking about our lunch plans two days later, I carefully steered the conversation until I managed to learn where he would be meeting Reid Hayes tonight.
After that, I invited Gil Boyoung to dinner at that same restaurant under the excuse that she was leaving Cannes tomorrow.
My plan was simple.
I would pretend it was a coincidence and somehow insert myself into the meeting where they were seeing Reid Hayes.
But Baek Seonghan had completely misunderstood the situation and thought I was secretly going on a date with Gil Boyoung.
Well, compared to everything else going on right now, PD Baek misunderstanding me is nothing.
4:50 p.m.
The final Cannes screening of Kingdom of Crime, the public screening, came to an end.
Once again, the audience gave us a standing ovation that lasted close to ten minutes.
Compared to yesterday, Song Jaehyun looked much more composed as he bowed to the audience.
Even after the screening ended, we had to spend quite a while dealing with reporters asking for interviews before we could finally leave the theater.
Once outside, I checked the time.
It was almost six.
Ha Sangdo and Reid Hayes were meeting at 6:30 p.m.
The location was the lounge restaurant at the Carlton Hotel.
During the Cannes Film Festival, the Carlton was frequently used by Hollywood studios and global corporations.
I parted ways with the others and hurried toward the hotel.
When I arrived, Gil Boyoung was already waiting near the entrance.
She was wearing a light beige dress and looked much brighter than usual.
“Noona, have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here too.”
We headed into the lounge restaurant.
Elegant interior décor.
Soft lighting.
And through the windows, a clear view of the Mediterranean sunset.
“Wow... this place is really beautiful.”
A middle-aged waiter in a bow tie greeted us.
When I told him I had a reservation under the name Min Kibaek, he guided us toward a table in the middle of the main hall.
I had deliberately requested a central table when making the reservation.
From there, I could easily see people walking through the restaurant and keep an eye on the other tables.
“Huh? We couldn’t get a window seat?”
Gil Boyoung sounded a little disappointed.
I answered quickly.
“Ah, well... apparently all the window seats were already reserved. Ahem.”
“I see.”
We sat down and opened the menus.
I asked,
“By the way, what time are you leaving tomorrow?”
“Eight in the morning. We’re leaving Cannes for Nice then.”
“That early?”
“I was thinking of seeing you off.”
“Forget it.”
Gil Boyoung waved her hand.
“You don’t need to see me off.”
Then she smiled.
“More importantly, your movie is seriously blowing up.”
“I saw the articles this morning and almost couldn’t believe it.”
“That’s all thanks to you, noona.”
I said sincerely.
“If you hadn’t introduced me to Director Jean Dumont, things probably wouldn’t have gone this far.”
“Come on.”
She shook her head.
“The movie was good. That’s why.”
While we were talking, I noticed a group entering through the restaurant entrance.
Ha Sangdo.
Michael R. Donnelly.
And several white men who looked to be in their fifties.
Among them, I immediately recognized Reid Hayes, CEO of Network Flex.
I had seen his photograph in newspaper articles before my regression.
He’s finally here.
Reid Hayes.
The man who had started with a DVD-by-mail rental service, laid the foundations for the modern streaming business, and would eventually become one of the most powerful figures in the global OTT era.
Before my regression, Reid Hayes had expanded simultaneously into more than 130 countries in 2016.
Starting in 2017, Network Flex began investing in Korean original productions.
And by the 2020s, the company was pouring astronomical amounts of money into Korean content while dominating the global OTT market.
But right now...
It was 2013.
Three years before he would truly recognize the potential of Korean content.
I slowly steadied my breathing and began waiting for the right moment.
The waiter led their group to a table near the windows.
Fortunately, I could see their table clearly from where I was sitting.
I need to get the timing right...
I deliberately ate as slowly as possible.
And even while chatting with Gil Boyoung, I continued watching Ha Sangdo’s group carefully.
They drank wine while having what looked like a serious conversation.
About forty minutes passed.
Then Ha Sangdo stood and headed toward the restroom.
Now.
“Noona, I’m going to the restroom for a minute.”
“Sure.”
I immediately got up and headed in the same direction.
And finally, I ran into Ha Sangdo near the restroom.
“CEO Min?”
He looked genuinely surprised.
“Huh? Hello.”
I approached with a pleasantly shocked expression.
“I never expected to see you somewhere like this. Hahaha.”
Then I casually asked,
“What brings you here?”
“I have a meeting tonight.”
Ha Sangdo frowned slightly.
“I think I told you I was having a meeting here today, didn’t I?”
“Ah... did you?”
I pretended not to remember.
“My memory’s a little... ahem.”
Then I smiled.
“Anyway, I guess we really do have some kind of connection.”
“To run into each other again like this by coincidence...”
“Seriously. Hahaha.”
Then I probed carefully.
“By the way, is Mr. Donnelly here too?”
“If he is, I’d like to at least say hello.”
Ha Sangdo hesitated.
Damn.
Is this awkward because it’s a business meeting?
I quickly backed off.
“Ah, if it’s an inconvenient situation, that’s completely fine.”
“I just thought it would be polite to greet him.”
I deliberately sounded disappointed and watched his expression.
Ha Sangdo thought for a moment.
Then he seemed to decide that a brief greeting wouldn’t hurt.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Come say hello.”
“Michael was actually very interested after seeing the articles about Kingdom of Crime today.”
“Let’s go.”
Ha Sangdo began leading me toward their table.
I quietly sighed in relief.
Even if he had refused, I would have found another excuse and forced my way into their orbit somehow.
