Top Management Chapter 210-212

Chapter 210: To Reach for the Stars, or to Become One (2)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

"Err, uh, err, maybe not?"

The actress poked the actor next to her.

"Isn't he that person?"

"What? Who?"

"Jung Sunwoo!"

My name was suddenly mentioned. It was too loud to consider it a whisper.

The theatre company members, who were examining Chief Lee Kyojin and wondering if he was one of those common scammers, quickly turned to look at me. Thinking this would be fast, I took off my gla.s.ses and hat. I even took off the university jacket I used for my disguise. This was a bit of a shame. I felt younger with it.

"h.e.l.lo."

"Ah, yes, h.e.l.lo…!"

The theatre members greeted me back before simultaneously reacting like they were on cue. I have become used this after my face became known, but it was strange considering it was actual actors reacting this way.

A few more sociable members approached us.

"What a surprise! You really came regarding an audition?"

"Wow, you shocked me. I was 80% sure that this was a scam!"

"It's for City Jungle, right? Mr. Nam Joyoon and Ms. Lee Songha as the leads. The film being made by SBE Film! I saw an announcement for supporting and minor roles on the community site, so I was thinking about sending in my profile or not."

Chief Lee Kyojin, who retreated back at some point, crossed his arms.

"… It seems there is no need for any further explanation. This gives me a strange sense of shame."

"Same here."

Kim Hyunsup, who was leaning on one foot, tapped Nam Joyoon's arm.

"Just take off your mask and hat. There's no point since no one can recognize you."

Nam Joyoon took off his hat and mask as if he had been waiting for those words. The theatre members reacted even more loudly than before. Sort of like an idol holding a fan meeting? Their reaction was so cheerful and positive that it was strange.

"The story behind you two is quite famous in our industry."

"A story where an unknown actor meets a manager and they both support each other and succeed. It's romantic. I really hope you do well, Mr. Nam Joyoon. That way, people like us who threw away their lives to chase their dreams can continue with hope!"

"Park Hyejae! You become a film scene-stealer next year and get married!"

Following this mood, we ended up in a snack stall. After a round of drinks, the theatre members became even rowdier. The captain of the group placed his arm around Park Hyejae, who was drinking with a complicated face.

"This b.a.s.t.a.r.d hasn't been able to get married for three years due to his to-be in-laws' refusal. That they couldn't give their daughter to a guy who can barely make ends meet acting in a small theatre company."

"Stop it. That's not something to brag about."

Park Hyejae looked at me and Chief Lee Kyojin before asking,

"What kind of role is it? Is it a minor one?"

"It's a supporting role. There are a lot of lines, and it's a very important role."

"All casting directors seem to say that though."

Park Hyejae said bitterly at Chief Lee Kyojin's reply. The theatre members chimed in.

"When we have high hopes that it's a good role and go, there really are a lot of weird ones."

"I was tricked by a casting director and auditioned for an erotic film."

"Why are you all so negative? There was one time when I was introduced to a really good role. I pa.s.sed the audition and attended a reading session, but they told me to leave after casting an actor that was more famous than me. b.a.s.t.a.r.ds."

"Tons of movies and dramas come out every quarter, so why aren't there any roles for me?!"

"I guess it's like how there are apartments everywhere, you can't afford one."

The theatre members' lives were all dramatic. Dramas that kept twirling down with no end in sight. Nam Joyoon and Kim Hyunsup joined in. Nam Joyoon's life's hards.h.i.+ps didn't lose out to anyone. His life was a hardcore drama.

Sitting with Park Hyejae, we talked to his agency and scheduled an audition date.

He didn't seem to have much hope for it.

"We saw hundreds of profile pictures again and again, and you stood out to us."

He stopped his gla.s.s halfway at my words.

"Your acting skills were better than expected, and I could visualize the film scene in my head as I saw the play. Although you'll be confirmed after an official audition, I'll cheer for you."

Park Hyejae's neck reddened.

The theatre members gave him 'energy' by shoving more boilermakers down his throat.

We met multiple actors since that day.

Some were recommended by Chief Lee Kyojin, and others stood out to me. Their charisma and skills were diverse. There were cases where I thought, 'that person's the one,' when I saw them act, and other times when I experienced shock and horror.

There were a lot more of the latter. A lot more.

"It's because he's nervous!"

The director of an acting school clung to Chief Lee Kyojin's waist.

Chief Lee Kyojin snorted.

"Rather than being nervous, she was unbelievably confident. It's like she not even reading off actual literature but a children's book. Why did Director Yoon recommend someone like her?"

"It's because I haven't been learning for long."

The female high schooler, whose terrible performance rivaled Im Seoyoung, defended herself.

"I wasn't fully prepared for the audition. If you give me some more time to practice, I'm confident I can act as good as Lee Songha unni! Also, to be honest, my face is better. She seems to benefit from the camera."

"Yes, she had the looks! Her face doesn't lose out…!"

The director stopped talking.

Lee Songha, who was standing there completely disguised as a film company employee, took off her hat. Her tied up hair fell loosely. After taking off her mask, her face was completely unveiled. The blankly staring director and high schooler shrunk back.

Chief Lee Kyojin came over and said,

"Sorry, it seems that the director who recommended her to me is her relative or received something. That guy… What a loss of face after bringing Ms. Lee Songha all the way over here."

"Rather, I think the student who acted as her counterpart was good. She had a good image too."

"… You thought so too?"

Our gazes turned. The female student who played as the counterpart was sitting in a corner watching us. While eating a triangle kimbap. The next moment, she was coughing excessively after receiving Chief Lee Kyojin's business card and an audition offer.

"You're the ones who called for a replacement driver, correct? Where's your car?"

A man in his mid-twenties. His face had scars like he had been in fights. His punk-vibe face was quite good-looking, but his hoa.r.s.e, glum voice was particularly impressive.

Chief Lee Kyojin chewed on a fry as he said,

"We didn't bring a car."

"… Are you kidding? Then why did you call for a replacement driver?"

"Because we wanted to talk to you about an audition."

The actor, who dazedly sat down in front of us, began pouring his heart about how s.h.i.+tty life was for having to chase auditions by day and work as a replacement driver at night.

"If I get a minor role, I get fired from part-time jobs where I have to be available at all times. I can endure all other things, but food is really… It makes me distressed. Sorry, but could I have a fry?"

After showing off his impromptu acting skills full of sincerity, he received Chief Lee Kyojin and my business cards and left.

Clinking our gla.s.ses, I said,

"There really are a lot of talented unknown actors."

"This is still only the tip of the iceberg. I realized this while working in this industry, but if you want to become a star, you need both luck and opportunity."

Chief Lee Kyojin drank.

"This project, I think its casting luck is quite good. Good acting skills are different from being suited for the role, but quite a few actors caught my eye. I was worried at first since they said that we would have to cast lesser-known actors."

"We decided to purposely fill our cast with new faces. To look refres.h.i.+ng."

"It's a risk. It can go one way or another."

I recalled the actors I met over the past few days as I drank.

If I didn't bring SBE Film into the picture, there would have been no way Chief Lee Kyojin became the casting director. Meaning that the supporting role candidates I met these past few days were very likely to have had no relations.h.i.+p with City Jungle in the original future.

It wasn't just the casting.

Director Oh Hyunkyung and the project producer were working hard trying to bring on skilled staff, like cameramen and audio directors. If things go well, the resulted would be different from the original future.

After veering from the path my future showed me, I stopped seeing any visions.

Also, the present was constantly being changed.

At a fast rate, like a tire rolling downhill.

The panel was put up in an area that was a mess for a while due to construction.

W&U Management Business Department Team 4.

It was across from the PR Team's office on the fifth floor. I saw the team leader's office beside the company desks and part.i.tions. I carefully opened the door. The office with a large desk and seats for guests was still empty.

I sat down on a chair and looked around this unfamiliar s.p.a.ce.

Office.

I mumbled in a quiet voice. I felt a strange sensation rise up within me from my toes. Although it was small compared to the office my future self had, it was the first personal office I received.

Noises came in through my partly-opened door. Chief Lee Bongjoon and Chief Sung Uimin, as well as other members of the team, were unpacking their things. We decided early on to hold a get-together tonight. Moving day. It was a day worth celebrating.

"Team 4 Leader, when are you going to show us around?"

While I was lost in my emotions, the Team 3 Leader and Kim Hyunjo suddenly walked in holding a box of tissues and a palm-sized cactus. The Team 3 Leader looked around with an investigative eye.

"Isn't your view better than mine? It also gets a lot of sunlight. How odd."

"What is?"

"After you clashed with the CEO, there were rumors that your office would be moved to the bas.e.m.e.nt. That's why there were many people coveting this office. Anyways, don't make yourself a nameplate just yet since you don't know how things will unfold."

Kim Hyunjo's eyes narrowed.

"Are you cursing him? Didn't the CEO move past it after saying that he would be waiting for the results?"

"It could be that he hasn't had much time to pay attention to him because he's focused on other things."

Like the Team 3 Leader said, CEO Baek Hansung and the director rarely showed up at the company these days. They were busy going to China and the US. Seeing as they frequented Los Angeles, it looked like they were working on trying to get a foothold in Hollywood.

"There are agency and contract problems as well. Also, problems with investors. They probably have a lot of things to handle right now."

The Team 3 Leader clicked his tongue before changing the subject.

"How's City Jungle? Are things going well? Articles about you pop up regularly."

"We'll start filming as soon as we finish auditioning. Songha and Joyoon hyung are busy training with a martial artist director and coordinating with each other. Any moment now."

"You can't turn back anymore. You better succeed."

"That's right. The timing will be the worst if you fail."

Just then, the door burst open.

Then Chief Lee Bongjoon stuck his head in.

"Uh, can you come out and watch the TV?"

Employees were already crowding around the large TV in the lounge.

It was airing a show that briefed people on gossip in the entertainment world like tabloids. I saw people coming out of the airport through the shaking camera. Security guards, managers, staff, and actors completely disguised with sungla.s.ses and hats.

They were all W&U actors who knocked on the door to Hollywood.

The panelists were making a fuss.

"This is a hot video we just received. Their official return date was tomorrow, right? What do you think is the reason for the actors to secretly return early?"

-Of course, it's to avoid media attention. There were a lot of fans hoping the actors would make a glorious return after becoming world stars, but in the end, they ended up returning with embarra.s.sing results.

The screen replayed the actors' backs. Their past interview clips and pictures appeared on the screen in the middle. The way the edited the picture of actors waving their hands as they left confidently and their current return felt almost malicious.

The employees' gazes alternated between the TV and their phones as they murmured,

"The company was supposed to not tell anyone and have them return quietly, so how did they know?"

"Oh, wow. There are tons of articles."

"Although we expected the media to cause a commotion, they just can't wait to get their hands on it, can they?"

I checked articles on my phone. Provocative headlines already messily filled the news column. There were two key phrases.

Despair of Entering Hollywood. Embarra.s.sing Return.

There were a few W&U actors who tried to become world stars. There were only three who didn't fall off and held on. There were even actors who were considered at the top of the country amongst them. These were actors who made you think that they could work in the US with their skillset.

As the company poured money to promote them, they appeared on quite a few Hollywood works. They also poured tons of money into promotional activities in the country whenever a film or a drama pilot was released.

Appearing on blockbusters with budgets of hundreds of millions of US dollars. Coordination with famous Hollywood actors.

However, the results were always below our expectations.

-Entering Hollywood's market was W&U's internal project.

-To be exact, it was CEO Baek Hansung's project.

-I heard that they poured an enormous amount of money in the US market, so this failure likely hurts a lot. What do you think they'll do from now on?

-W&U's PR Team commented about how this was just them taking a breather.

-That's just a public comment. I heard that their contract with a major Hollywood agency, which caused a lot of buzz when it was first announced, ended. I think it's fine to say that this is actually them pulling out from the US market?

-It just shows how hard it is to get your foot in the door in Hollywood. How sad.

Despite their words, the panelists were talking excitedly. They criticized CEO Baek Hansung's failure and negatively predicted actors' activity here having lost some of their fame in the country now. Reporters quickly proceeded to publish Asian actors who entered Hollywood.

Chief Lee Bongjoon was astonished.

"They went with the thoughts of starting with nothing and ended up suffering for it. Their futures will be tough. We did well by not going."

"I think Joowon's interested in Hollywood though."

Chief Sung Uimin made a complicated expression.

"Don't worry. Considering the situation, the company will probably put entering the US market on hold for a few years. Also, which actor doesn't want to become a world star? Heck, I want to too."

"You too?"

"Of course, how about Songha?"

Chief Lee Bongjoon turned to ask me.

"Songha lived overseas so she's good at English. Is she not interested in Hollywood?"

"I don't know. Songha never mentioned the US."

Suddenly, I recalled the future vision I saw a long time ago.

The future where Lee Songha filmed a secret audition tape. Apparently, a casting director put her on the audition list after learning about her through her role as an interpreter on Cat Guardian Ghost. They also said they didn't know what the t.i.tle was, who was the director, and what role it was for.

I wondered if that might have been a Hollywood project.

She had yet to receive a secret audition proposal until now.

The future had either yet to come or it completely disappeared through the b.u.t.terfly effect of me changing the present. It was one of the two.

This time, Chief Sung Uimin asked,

"How about you, Team Leader Jung? Are you interested in Hollywood?"

"… Hollywood, huh?"

I shrugged.

"I am interested, of course."

The conversation between panelists entered my ears.

-Will failing to enter the US market affect W&U's domestic position?

-What's funny about that is, while W&U was wasting away in Hollywood, things have been going very well for them in the domestic and Chinese market. Their celebrities' alb.u.ms or projects have done extremely well.

-It was great. They've been on a streak since early this year.

-Above all, Mr. Jung Sunwoo firmly building up his image as 'never failing' played a huge role. Any W&U fully took that image in. They've been on a roll domestically that we didn't notice their failure in the US. Until now.

-This, it seems that a lot hangs on Mr. Jung Sunwoo's next project.

My photo appeared on the screen for reference.

An employee ran up the stairs.

"The Team 1 Leader and actors arrived below!"

The people around me murmured. The employee gulped before adding,

"The mood is really terrible."

/ /

Chapter 211: To Reach for the Stars, or to Become One (3)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

The elevator went up from the bas.e.m.e.nt.

As we pa.s.sed the third floor, I heard people gulp around me. I thought that we would go directly to the CEO's office, but the elevator stopped on the fourth floor. And people poured in.

"Water! Someone get me some ice!"

"Dokyung, get it together!"

That moment, I wondered if I was in an ambulance instead of an elevator. Two managers held both arms of a woman who had collapsed like a corpse. They were pretty much dragging her in. Her disheveled, curly, red hair shook.

"Let go of the bottle! Get it together!"

"I'll only be able to get it together once I drink some!"

Lee Dokyung shouted while holding the neck of a bottle. It was vodka.

They definitely looked fine at the airport.

It wasn't only Lee Dokyung. The other actors were wrecks as well. Yoon Sangah was wailing while tears and snot ran down her face. Jang Yohan was puffing smoke with a pale face. Managers and staff were doing their best to comfort them.

It was a mess. If someone saw this, they would this they were at a rehab center than an entertainment agency.

Lee Dokyung, who finally lost her bottle of vodka, flailed about.

"Give it back! Give it back!"

She fell on the floor and ended up just lying on it. She wasn't an actress. She was completely wasted.

"Move."

A man in his early forties wearing a suit with no tie pushed others out the way as he approached.

He was the Team 1 Leader, whom I had greeted only on occasion. He received the bottle of vodka from a manager and downed it instantly. Then he filled with ice water an employee brought over and handed it to Lee Dokyung.

"Here. Now bring them up."

Lee Dokyung was dragged off by the managers.

Soon, the Team 1 Leader s.n.a.t.c.hed the cigarettes from Jang Yohan's lips and gestured with his chin. Another manager took Jang Yohan away. The only one left was Yoon Sangah. He approached the now sobbing Yoon Sangah. Taking a drag, he said,

"Stop crying. It's not like we didn't expect the press's reactions."

"Team leader, I-I can't breathe. Let me go to the washroom and calm down."

"Okay."

Yoon Sangah was brought downstairs by her manager. The lounge finally became quiet. Belatedly coming to their senses, employee rushed to greet the Team 1 Leader. He nodded while walking towards me. No, not to me, but the trashcan behind me.

After throwing the cigarette b.u.t.t in the trash, he said to the Team 3 Leader,

"How have you been?"

"It's been fine here."

 The Team 3 Leader evasively replied. The Team 3 Leader suddenly smiled before turning to me.

"I heard about your news of your success, but I couldn't congratulate you. Shall we have drinks some time?"

"That'd be great."

Nodding, the Team 1 Leader went upstairs.

The lounge was chaotic after the storm had pa.s.sed. Everyone was busy trying to predict what was going on in the CEO's office. I went up to the fifth floor. The PR Team was on the battlefield. Team Leader Park and her employees were shouting into their phones.

I went into my office and turned on my computer. The actors' names were all over the real-time search rankings. Especially Lee Dokyung. She was an actor who stood at the peak in the country before going to the US, so people's reactions were more heated.

It looked like it'll be noisy for the next few days.

While I was reading articles, my door suddenly burst open. This time, it was Chief Lee Bongjoon.

"Uh, I think you should go downstairs."

"Did Team 1 go down?"

"Only the actors. But Lee Dokyung, right now…"

"Did she flop on the floor again?"

"No, she got in a fight."

In a fight?"

"With who?"

"With Son Chaeyoung."

… What the heck was this all of a sudden?

She should be busy with drama shoots these days.

"They are downstairs?"

"Lee Dokyung and her don't get along."

"Is there anyone Son Chaeyoung gets along with?"

"Like very bad. Lee Dokyung flaunted a ton about how she was going to Hollywood."

I tried to imagine Lee Dokyung, who caused a fuss while holding a bottle of vodka, and Son Chaeyoung together.

Then I gave up. It lowered my blood sugar.

When I went back down, there really was an incredible mess.

"Screw off! Did you come to mock me?!"

"No, I came to watch."

Son Chaeyoung said while munching on donuts instead of popcorn. Her face was overflowing with vigor.

"I was about to explode because of how tight the shooting schedule was, but seeing your face washed all my stress away. Do you even remember the last time you had a tight schedule?"

"Hey! I heard your drama flopped too! So you lost your commercials too!"

"… I keep getting projects. Ah, do you want a minor role in my drama?"

"You crazy b.i.t.c.h, you keep-!"

The managers tried to hold Lee Dokyung back as she tried to rush at Son Chaeyoung while wielding the vodka bottle. It was far from enough. The other employees retreated back like there was a contagious disease.

Chief Lee Bongjoon poked my side.

"Shouldn't you stop Son Chaeyoung?"

"Me?"

"You guys are close enough to exchange donuts."

That was a deal.

"The acting Team 2 Leader will probably stop her."

I said, looking in the direction of the vending machines. Chief Jo Byunghwan, who was the acting team leader in place of the Team 2 Leader, was shouting at someone. Ah, it was Chief Lee Janghyun. He at least looked human when he went around looking for ripe persimmons, but now he was about to croak.

"The company's already in turmoil. How could you bring Son Chaeyoung here?"

"She went straight here after seeing the news on TV. How could I have stopped her?"

"What? Stopping her is your job, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

"Then fire me."

Chief Jo Byunghwan yelled while pointing at him.

Chief Lee Bongjoon, who was watching, clicked his tongue.

"That team is becoming crazier every pa.s.sing day. But Lee Janghyun, wasn't he lingering around, wanting to manage Songha? He's been quiet recently. I don't think he's the type to give up easily."

"ah, I made a promise, so I let him fill in for me once."

"And?"

"He said that Son Chaeyoung was better than Songha and left."

Chief Lee Bongjoon's expression turned odd. His lips opened as if to say something, but a grim voice sounded out from the stairs.

"Why is it so noisy?"

The Team 1 Leader came down from the stair landing. The murmuring employees shut their mouths. Son Chaeyoung and Lee Dokyung stopped what they were doing and looked over at him. The Team 1 Leader looked around the lounge as he asked,

"Where's Sangah?"

"Chief No, who followed her, isn't picking up. We sent a road manager to look for them."

A Team 1 employee, who I wasn't familiar with, replied. At the same time, someone added while stuttering,

"Uh, Yoon-Yoon Sangah's over there though?"

"Where?"

"Over there."

His finger pointed to the TV. Everyone's gazes gathered there. The flat screen still played the entertainment gossip program. And Yoon Sangah was among them.

Surrounded by reporters and holding onto an interview mic.

-Then you're saying that your agency pressured you into going to the US?

-Yes, I personally thought it was too early to go to Hollywood, but the CEO and team leader were quite persistent. I couldn't refuse their proposal. I only did what they told me to do for the past few years in the US.

Oh my G.o.d.

The scuffle between Son Chaeyoung and Lee Dokyung wasn't the problem.

Yoon Sangah was dropping bombs on live TV.

-And when you mentioned you were forced to act in a nude scene…

-I received a casting offer for a new US cable channel TV show, and the role only had nude and s.e.x scenes. I told them that I couldn't do it multiple times, but they said I had to if I wanted to raise my popularity…

Miserable tears poured from Yoon Sangah's eyes. The camera zoomed in on her wet eyes.

-Then you must have a grudge on your agency.

-Yes, it's because of them, that my life as an actor is ruined.

Yoon Sangah wailed again. Her cries echoed throughout the lounge. Everyone simply looked at the TV with dumbstruck expressions. The PR Team on the fifth floor screamed indecipherable swears.

"… I guess she still thinks she's in Hollywood."

The Team 1 Leader said from behind. He frowned as he waved his hands.

"Contact the legal team."

"Ah, yes!"

The Team 1 employee quickly acted after receiving his orders.

The Team 1 Leader disappeared into his office, and the employees, finally coming to their senses, caused an uproar.

Chief Lee Bongjoon blankly mumbled,

I guess we won't be able to hold a get-together today."

"… I guess so."

The legal and PR team acted quickly to settle the matter. They sent out articles explaining the situation. This wasn't an incident we wanted to drag on since Yoon Sangah's interview was quite far from the truth.

The W&U denouncing public quickly turned their gaze at Yoon Sangah.

However, separate from the truth, W&U and Yoon Sangah continued to be mentioned in articles and by the public. W&U received a strong blow to their image after failing to enter the US market, while Yoon Sangah became known to have been afflicted with 'Hollywood' disease.

If Yoon Sangah wanted to gain popularity through incidents like in Hollywood gossip girls, then she definitely succeeded.

Well, unlike Hollywood, one couldn't live off gossip.

CEO Baek Hansung and the Team 1 Leader wouldn't stop with just an explanation.

Anyways, while the company was busying putting out fires, things were progress quickly on my side. We continued auditioning for City Jungle, and my spot amongst judges constantly became newsworthy.

These were crazy days for various reasons.

However, there was a day where my idle thoughts were completely washed away.

Reading.

Whenever I saw Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon act in the bas.e.m.e.nt, I became absorbed by it like I was on drugs. It was to the point where I forgot whether they were practicing or if it was real. Scenes that made me tense as I read them swallowed me whole when I watched them.

I finally took a deep breath after seeing the last scene.

It was already well into the night when I checked the time.

"Let's stop here for today."

I handed the two of them water and towels. Lee Songha ignored my hand and stood up. Her shoulders and back moved flexibly like an animal's beneath her sweat-soaked t-s.h.i.+rt. This was the result of the fitness trainer and martial artist director.

"I'm going to wash my face to recover."

She said in a monotone voice before leaving the practice room.

This was something we experienced every time. It took a while before Lee Songha returned to her normal self after completely immersing herself in her role. She was like this for every project she worked on, but it seemed to take a particularly long time with City Jungle.

"Amazing."

Nam Joyoon said while catching his breath.

"Songha?"

"I could match her back during Alive, but I can't keep up with her this time."

Bringing his head back, he covered his face with a towel. His shoulders and chest heaved.

Maybe it was because he was on a strict diet to make the paper-weak figure of an artist, but his already impoverished and faint appearance grew even fainter.

"I'm worried that I will be too behind. I need to at least act the part of the lead."

"No need to worry. You're doing great."

"Then that's a relief."

Nam Joyoon said with a quiet laugh.

"I still wonder why you picked me. Especially when I'm reading with Songha. I don't think I'll be able to act like her even if my life depended on it."

"I received some sort of revelation that Songha must act."

To be honest, I saw the future.

"And I was shocked for different reasons when I met you. You were totally my type."

Nam Joyoon laughed at the joke at the end.

"Also… you hold a special meaning to me."

I mumbled before changing the subject.

"I saw a ton of actors while holding auditions, and there really were a lot of people who were great at acting. However, I didn't receive any revelation, like with Songha, nor was as shocked as when I saw you. I guess my preferences are high cla.s.s."

"Oppa, your preferences are what? What's high cla.s.s?"

Lee Songha came back with water still dripping. She had come with hurried steps.

Her immersed role was completely gone, and she was Lee Songha from head to toe.

Soon, laughs warmed the practice room.

Fall was really short.

Winter was even shorter. Spring seriously pa.s.sed in a breeze.

At some point, we were finally approaching summer again.

/ /

Chapter 212: Management Business Division Team 4 Leader (1)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

W&U Entertainment.

Cautious gazes glanced inside the office.

"He's not here today again. Maybe it isn't this team?"

"They said it is Team 4. Maybe he's inside the team leader's office?"

"No one's there. The door was closed all lunch."

Youths who looked to be in middle school or high school were gathered behind the stairs as they whispered to each other. They all had pretty faces, likely having heard compliments that they should be celebrities.

With their consecutive success with Blackout and Neptune, the strategic planning team and the Management Team 3 decided to create a more robust in-house system and were holding auditions. These youths were trainees who made the final cut.

"I heard that you're guaranteed to succeed if that team leader says so. It's true."

"I heard the same thing. Compliments! He has to compliment you. Song Inho oppa said in an interview that he blew up after the team leader told him he thought he'd do well!"

"Oh, I saw him just once in the elevator, but I couldn't say hi because I was so scared."

"What are you doing over there?"

The trainees became fl.u.s.tered at the sudden question. Seeing the slender woman with her arms crossed, the trainees whispered, "PR Team Leader" to each other. Then they greeted her with loud voices.

"Who are you looking for here? Team 3 is downstairs?"

"That's… We still aren't too familiar with the building."

A young man wearing his school uniform, who seemed to be the oldest in the group, took the lead to make an excuse. The other trainees nodded quickly. Seeing this, Team Leader Park quietly asked,

"Maybe you came to see celebrities? Actors? They don't usually come here though."

"Pardon? No, that's not it…"

"Then did you come to see Team Leader Jung Sunwoo?"

Flinching, the trainees quickly lowered their heads.

Team Leader Park giggled, understanding their reason.

"Then you've waited for nothing. Team Leader Jung's taking the rare break right now."

A woman with short hair like a boy touched the logo on the panel then continued walking. A mean undid his necktie and shoved it in his pocket before following her in a leisurely manner. They were walking up the stairs from W&U's bas.e.m.e.nt.

"I heard the compet.i.tion was fierce since a lot of people applied to Team 4, but I guess we got the prize. To be honest, if it wasn't for getting into Team 4, I would have seriously considered whether to accept the offer or not. I applied here because of Team Leader Jung Sunwoo."

The woman glanced at him when he said that.

"Why? Are you his fan?"

"My goal is to become a star manager. He's a good role model."

The woman burst out laughing when she saw him say that with a beaming smile.

On the other side, they heard music and the shouts of a trainer. Saying that it might be Neptune, the man went over only to come back disappointed. They were trainees. Walking around the halls, they encountered other trainees. After walking past the recording and production studios, they finally saw the offices.

The man spoke in a quiet voice,

"The company is huge, but there aren't a lot of people here. Do they have flexible work arrangements?"

"They are probably working away from the office."

"I don't see many celebrities either."

They looked around the lounge and the outdoor smoking area with a garden before entering the office with the 'Team 4' panel on it. There were more empty chairs than occupied ones. Only a few employees were on their phones or computers working.

The two of them greeted the employees before looking around the office.

If it wasn't for the schedule board, posters of affiliated celebrities' works, pictures of celebrities holding their film and TV awards, and stacks of Pretty Girls and Neptune's alb.u.ms, one would think this was just a normal office.

"It seems this is Team 4's lineup for the second half of the year?"

The man murmured as he looked at the ownerless desk. The planner filled for 12 months had fully organized the overwhelming schedule for the second half of the year.

The day Seo Jijoon's Korean-Chinese-j.a.panese joint film would be done filming, the broadcasting schedule of Song Inho's PBS drama and the release date of his independent film, and the day Im Joowon starts filming. The man examined these schedules before lowering his voice,

"Oh, City Jungle!"

Placing his finger on the planner, the man's eyes s.h.i.+ned.

The project had finished filming and was now in the finis.h.i.+ng stages of production. It initially became a hot topic due to Jung Sunwoo, Lee Songha, and the crowdfunding announcement. Now, even after half a year had pa.s.sed, it was still newsworthy.

"A lot of entertainment reporters are chattering about this. Will Midas's Hand work again or not. Although there are other projects by other actors in Team 4, they only focus on City Jungle."

"Because people are curious about the results."

"There are a lot of people who are waiting for it to be released. Additionally, many are talking about how much they are going to invest. Some who are interested in the drama are hoping it completely flops…"

The chatting man suddenly straightened his back. Then he bowed like a new recruit. The woman also bowed her head in greeting. Lee Kwanwoo, who they had met once before, was walking into the office. The once known romanticist of W&U, his face looked much more irritated from being overworked.

"Did you have a look around? How is it?"

"I think it's still a little awkward since it's my first day to work."

Lee Kwanwoo's drooped eyes narrowed at the man's sociable response.

"Ah, I went around on set on my first day so I had no opportunity to be awkward. I even remember seeing a th.o.r.n.y path with a devil playing his bugle to welcome me."

His calm recollection made the new recruits flinch their shoulders.

"I think Team Leader Jung said that he came to work at 3 am and immediately went to Neptune's music broadcast schedule."

"Ah! I read that in an article. He was able to meet Knet's Producer Go Joontae and get Neptune on Next K-Star that day. While reading the article, my heart raced so much that I wanted to rush on to the scene."

"Then shall we go?"

Lee Kwanwoo made a strange smile before taking the lead. The two new managers quickly followed.

After they disappeared, the employees, who had seemingly been concentrating on their work, simultaneously raised their heads like meercats.

"One month for the guy, and three months for the girl."

"I give that guy a week."

"You really don't think he'll even last a week? When his heart raced?"

"Whether his heart raced or exploded, we need to see how he works. You know the road manager that was recently hired into Team 2? He seemed pretty good, but he sent a message saying that he was quitting after two days."

"That team's a bit rougher than ours. Compared to them, our team is quite harmonious. The celebrities we are managing are easily to manage for their level in general. Also, working with Team Leader Jung is…"

The office became quiet.

My phone vibrated. After checking the contents, I placed my phone back in my pocket.

It must have rained last night as the wind was moist. I filled a worn bowl with feed and opened the lock to the chicken coop. The chicken coop my father and brother made over the weekend did seem quite legit.

As soon as I stepped in, the chickens caused a ruckus. I remember my father started raising three or four chicks, but they reproduced so fast that there were around twenty large chickens. I did hear that my father would go in any time, whether it was day and night, to feed them.

At this rate, it'll become a chicken farm.

While I was filling their food trough, Gyeoul{1}, who was refilling their water tank, said,

"Uncle, there's a girl named Lee Seolin in my cla.s.s. Her dream is becoming a girl group idol."

"Really?"

"She auditioned to become a W&U trainee this time, but she was contacted that she was rejected at the first stage. She came over to me crying, asking me to talk to you. So, about that, can you call her once?"

Oh, my G.o.d. I didn't think that I would receive audition requests from my own niece.

I looked at her round, earnest eyes before saying,

"Gyeoul, life is…"

"Can't you tell her to stop dreaming?"

"What?"

"She's really mean. Not long ago, she was bullying my friends, and now, she clings to me, telling me that she's going to become a girl group idol. Hah, so annoying. Can't you tell her to stop dreaming, wash her feet and sleep? Huh? Please?"

She grumbled while brus.h.i.+ng her short hair over her ear. It seemed like it was only yesterday when she was childish and immature, but when did she start talking about s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g others over with such finesse? This was a great stride.

When I stared at her in a new light, she blinked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was just thinking that you've grown. It seems you all can have 1 chicken each."

"Well, that's life. You're thirty this year. Dozen eggs!"

She said as she giggled, holding eggs hens had laid.

Thirty. Ah, that's right. I'll be thirty this year.

I felt a bit off earlier this year, but I had completely forgotten about this with all the work I had to deal with. It wasn't like there was a big difference between twenty-nine and thirty besides the first digit changing. Looking back, I simply felt like I lived a busy life in my late twenties.

"There's bird p.o.o.p on the eggs."

"Eww!"

Gyeoul quickly pa.s.sed the eggs to me.

"Uncle! Uncle! We caught worms!"

"Eww, so gross! But they're huge! Oh, but so gross!"

The remaining quadruplets rushed over. They must have dug up the worms in the wet mud as their clothes were caked in it. Kaeul was carrying a bowl of worms in front of him. I thought they would only have two or three, but it was wriggling with them. They deserved to be proud.

"Where did you catch so many of them?"

"The plum grove over there! Grandpa told us where we could catch a lot of them."

"Eww, catching them was so gross!"

"Why were you catching them when they are so gross?"

"To give to the chicks! It's nutritious. They are pitiful for only eating feed all the time!"

I don't know about that. I didn't think they really need any more nutrition.

The quadruplets entered the area specially fenced out for the chicks in the chicken coop before dropping the bowl of worms. Having discovered the special meal, the almost fully-grown chickens rushed out with their beaks pointed. The quadruplets screamed as they rushed out.

"Uncle! What the heck are they? Where are the chicks?"

"They are the chicks."

"They aren't chicks, they're chickens! They fit in the palm of my hand when I saw them last month?! Their feathers were soft and warm. They were real chicks!"

"They grew that big after eating feed all day. Pitifully."

"… Grandma said that they were still babies!"

"Of course, she was lying."

It was getting hard to fool them as they developed, but they were completely tricked this time. Seeing their devastated faces, like they had seen their country fall, I laughed. It felt like all my built-up stress was being washed away.

I took a few eggs and returned home. They were already chatting and having a laugh at how the quadruplets were fooled.

We had chicken noodle soup for lunch.{2} We also had fried some eggs to make it a meal. I bit into some ripe plums for dessert. Their sour juice spread in my mouth. With the fan blowing at me while I ate plums, this was heaven.

My mother poked a piece of plum with her fork as she mumbled,

"How long has it been since we gathered like this besides holidays?"

"We came quite often. It's just hard to see Sunwoo's face."

"Sunwoo, are you eating well? Don't skip meals. Make sure you're eating. You need to take care of yourself at your age."

"Thirty is still considered young these days."

"Actual young folks don't say that. The plums at the back are tasty, do you want to take a few boxes home? Your brother already ate two boxes."

"We cleared them as soon as we opened them. I keep craving sour things these days."

Everyone became quiet at my sister-in-law's words. Scared eyes glanced at her flat stomach, and they finally became relieved when she waved her hands in denial and laughed. After becoming pregnant with quadruplets, pregnancies were a sensitive subject in our family.

"Sunwoo."

My father avoided the piece of plum my mother gave him as he spoke,

"When are you going back?"

"I should be going soon."

My mother joined in,

"When will you come back once you leave today? You're coming for Thanksgiving, right?"

"Yup, I'll try to take as much time off as I can."

"Stop pestering him and let him be. His work is important, especially now that he's a team leader."

My mother sulked at my father's words.

"And is family not important? I can't even see my son besides on holidays."

"Go to the chicken coop and see how big the chicks have gotten. Just think of them as family."

My mother wielded her fork once more. The piece of plum eventually made it into my father's mouth. Seeing my father scrunch up from the sourness, I suddenly remembered what my brother told me.

That our father has been lonely since recovering his health.

It was also why he began growing chicks.

"I'll visit often."

When I said this while looking at my parents, my father coughed.

"Then tell us before you come. I'll grab a chicken and cook chicken soup.{3}"

"You're going to cook them even though you said to think of them as family? It looks like you still care about your son more."

My mother snorted. My brother and sister-in-law laughed as well.

I leisurely leaned against the sofa. I looked at my family gathered around me and the quadruplets watching an entertainment show on TV before staring at the slow, tranquil countryside outside the window.

My break was over.

I entered the grey building in Cheongdam-dong.

Having returned to work after a few days, it was still busy as ever and filled with life. My heart began to beat faster. My belly grew hot.

"Team leader, the City Jungle marketing agency wants a meeting with you!"

"The company in charge of handling the crowdfunding is also causing a fuss, asking a ton of questions…!"

"Joowon! They say his film shoots are going to be delayed in China! He has a commercial shoot immediately though. They're saying that they can't delay either, so what should we do?"

My employees rushed over and reported as though they had been waiting for me.

"Why is there such a fuss as soon as I arrive?"

"Uh, can I add to that?"

Someone came over. It was Chief Lee Bongjoon, who had been going to and from China and j.a.pan these days. While greeting him, I placed my bag on my desk when another employee rushed in while holding his phone.

"Team leader, there's trouble on set and they are looking for you! The road manager says he can't take it any longer!"

"Again?"

The employee nodded. Chief Lee Bongjoon chuckled.

"Son Chaeyoung? She's the same as ever, huh?"

"No, it's Songha."

The employee replied with a sigh.

Taken aback, Chief Lee Bongjoon blinked his eyes.

"Lee Songha? What about her?"

{1} Just a reminder - Bom, Yeoleum, Kaeul, and Gyeoul are the names of Jung Sunwoo's quadruplet nephews and nieces. They are also the seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

{2} Not the Western version - 닭국수

{3} Similar to 닭국수 without the noodles - 백숙

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