Chapter 201: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (7)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

Whose work is it?

The point brought up by Team Leader Park hung in my mind the entire night.

As much as it was confirmed to be a hit, I wanted to show, not just the female lead, but the other lead to my actors. However, there was only one role and multiple people who came to mind.

An actor’s future could hinge on a single project.

Who should I give a project guaranteed to be hit and who should I give a project likely to be a success? This was a consideration that I had never encountered back when I was only managing Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon. If there were other choices, I wouldn’t have to think this hard.

However… Who was the actor originally picked to star in City Jungle in the future?

I buried the thought that crept up my mind.

First, it was more urgent to focus on what I know what could be.

I needed to handle the matter of ownership of the City Jungle scenario. I clearly laid out what I had to do. I created a straight path that would lead me to the future I wanted.

Also, before taking my first step, what I had been waiting for finally opened.

*

“Team leader.”

Lee Taehee gave a longing look toward the Team 3 Leader.

“No way.”

“Just one glass. Just to ease the nerves.”

“Ease your nerves with beer or something. This isn’t alcohol you open for any occasion.”

The Team 3 Leader, who was sitting in the living room sofa, hugged his glass bottle even harder. A moderately thick root was submerged in a long, slender bottle. This was the wild ginseng alcohol he had gifted Neptune every time they made some big accomplishment.

“This is the real deal. When I dug it up, I resolved myself to not open the bottle unless something incredible happened. I’ll only open it if your songs line up on the music charts.”

The girls’ expressions became lukewarm when they heard him.

Line up on the charts.

It referred to when the tracks of an influential singer’s comeback album swept through the charts. There were even cases where boy groups with huge fandoms and great artists known for their hit songs had their tracks fill the top ranks for the charts.

This was too difficult for us to dare dream about.

Internally, we would consider it a great success if at least three songs made it to the top of the charts. After a long discussion with the A&R Team about Lee Taehee’s songs, we decided to go with a triple title track album. We spread our promotional marketing between them and even filmed three music videos, so I was inwardly hoping that all three would make it onto the first page.

“You’re going to take it back if we don’t get a line up? Aren’t you being too cruel?”

Im Seoyoung said with a face like she was looking at a scoundrel. A few voices chimed in.

“He brought it over, but he’s hesitant to give it to us.”

“Hyung, is that really wild ginseng? It looks like a bellflower root.”

The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Everyone was trying their best not to get their hopes up. Our goal was being a moderate success or something. Still, they kept looking at me for a while now, so my cheek muscles were about to spasm from maintaining my smile.

There were a lot of people who would be frightened if my expression didn’t look good.

I took out a can of beer from the fridge. Pulling the tab, I looked around the living room. Lee Kwanwoo was tirelessly refreshing the page on the laptop on top of the table. Neptune, the Team 3 Leader, and Kim Hyunjo were forcefully releasing their tensions while glancing in Lee Kwanwoo’s direction.

And, while all this was going on, Lee Songha was holding onto the script and scenario.

“What are you doing?”

“I am thinking about my next project.”

“You can think about that in a situation like this?”

Lee Songha nodded seriously. Her eyes looked like they were looking at a hit list than projects.

“I’m going to find a good project, so just wait.”

“Hmm, that’s fine and all, but the album’s out now.”

Lee Songha hastily got up when she heard me. Immediately, an ear-piercing scream echoed in the living room. Someone was screaming while pointing their finger at their laptop screen. Someone else was screaming while waving their phone. Everyone’s reaction was to scream.

I shook my beer can amidst their screams and sincerely laughed.

The Team 3 Leader didn’t hesitate to open the wild ginseng wine.

The top three places on the music chart were all Neptune’s songs.

*

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“No way. It’s very comfortable.”

How could sitting in a Rolls Royce be uncomfortable?

“Because you keep sighing.”

“I’m not sighing because I’m uncomfortable. It’s out of admiration because of how incredible the car is.”

To be honest, my body was comfortable, but my mind wasn’t.

Son Chaeyoung’s uncomfortable words and the problems with the Team 2 Leader tangled in my head. This was despite the fact that Lee Songha explained how there was no problem with CEO Baek Hansung and CEO Baek Hansung had never mentioned the matter with the Team 2 Leader since then.

Encountering him was uncomfortable.

“Should I buy you one?”

“Pardon?”

“The car.”

CEO Baek Hansung said lightly. Like he was giving out a piece of rice cake.

Coughs erupted from my throat. It was a very enticing rice cake, but I didn’t want it since it would be a headache to digest. It felt like I was taking out an extravagant loan.

While I rejected his offer by saying that I loved and would continue to love the minivan I was driving now, the Rolls Royce arrived at our destination.

“I will lead you to the reserved room.”

We followed a Korean restaurant employee over an arched stone bridge. Fancy carps the size of my forearm leisurely swam in the pool below. A willow grew above it, completing the picturesque scene. Beyond the garden was a traditional Korean tiled rooftop.

It was so extravagant that it could be called a palace than a restaurant. I had gone to many hotel restaurants, which I would never go to if I had to pay out of my own pocket, due to work, but the view here was the best. It was a bit of a waste to use it only as a restaurant.

“What are you thinking about to make that expression?”

“I was thinking that we could sponsor this place for a historical film set.”

CEO Baek Hansung chuckled in a low voice.

“There’ll be many opportunities for you to come here from now on. This place has quite a few regulars.”

He said whilst gesturing with his chin. Other guests were coming out the other side.

They were older men. Most of their faces were familiar.

“Do you know any of the faces there?”

“I recognize most of them.”

Since I had seen them in interview articles.

The CEO of World B Pictures Korea, a movie production and distribution company. The director of the large entertainment, SoNaMoo. Besides them were executives, like CEOs and directors, from large and small management companies.

They seemed to have recognized CEO Baek Hansung as their pace quickened as they approached us.

“I thought I was mistaken, but have you come to nourish your health during these dog days?”

“It seems you’ve already eaten and are on your way out.”

“It would have great if we ate together. The timing wasn’t good.”

Even though the scales were different, they were all people who represented their respective companies. I didn’t know what they were thinking inside, but they acted in a very friendly manner to CEO Baek Hansung. There were even a few who seemed to have a hard time approaching him.

This was enough to show CEO Baek Hansung’s influence in our industry.

After greeting them, CEO Baek Hansung placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Ah, this is Team Leader Jung Sunwoo.”

As soon as I greeted them, intrigued gazes landed on me.

“Of course, we know you. You are famous in our management industry.”

“I hear it’s because of you that W&U’s image has been great these days.”

“Th-that Neptune! People are talking about how great their songs are. Congratulations.”

It seemed they had a few drinks while nourishing their bodies as their reactions were a bit exaggerated.

I matched their ill-mannered remarks while thanking them. They say that you improve the more you do it. I seemed to have learned the ways of the world while working as it was easier to talk to people.

“It would be great if I had someone like you working for me. If you have any thoughts of moving, contact me at any time. Don’t worry about CEO Baek Hansung. Our company is growing so if you join now, you’ll be one of our early employees. Our employee benefits are decent too.”

Although I didn’t know how great their benefits were, reading the mood, I didn’t think they were.

Everyone’s expressions became awkward when they heard the new management company CEO’s words. They glanced at CEO Baek Hansung, who was talking to the World B Pictures Korea CEO.CEO Baek Hansung’s gaze met eyes as he glossed over it with a laugh. Like he had heard a light joke.

Soon, people treated the remark as a joke.

“You need to make dibs based on the person!”

“Can you even make dibs on CEO Baek’s person? Especially a junior he personally brought here to nourish his health?”

While it was said in a joking manner, there seemed to be a meaning behind those jokes.

We separated after saying our farewells. Behind us, the new management company CEO’s voice was carried by the wind.

“Can’t I make a joke?”

“You need to watch the mood before you do. Team Leader Lee Jangyeob…”

The Team 2 Leader?

I tried to listen in on them, but their voices quickly grew distant.

“You worked hard making Neptune’s official album a success.”

CEO Baek Hansung commented after we had finished half the samgyetang^{1}.

“The girls, the Team 3 Leader, and Chief Kim Hyunjo worked harder than me. As well as other employees.”

It was all Lee Taehee’s work that the title track ended up so good. It was the Team 3 Leader and Kim Hyunjo, who took the lead by saying that Lee Taehee’s songs were great when I was uncertain of their success. The album was only complete with the collective hard work of the employees, including the A&R producer and PR Teams.

“That’s a good comment”

CEO Baek Hansung nodded as he said,

“I was thinking about talking to the PR Team and setting up a personal interview for you. What do you think?”

“A personal interview?”

“You talk about Neptune’s album on behalf of the company. And about your next projects. Voices wondering how you’ve written a success story with no failures have even reached my ears. There are a lot of reporters who bluntly ask about you.”

He said as though he was enjoying himself.

I saw a few as well. Reporters who were more interested in my first project as a team leader and which actors would join it over Neptune’s new songs. It seemed like the entertaining rumors of Midas’s Hand were growing exaggerated.

“It’ll get messy once reporters publish assumptions on what project you’ll pick. Wouldn’t it be better for you to do an interview before then? But you’ll have to first decide on what your next project will be.”

His leisurely voice pushed my back forward.

“There is a project I am considering serious. It’ll…”

“City Jungle?”

My chopsticks slipped from the plate.

“I told you there are no secrets in this industry.”

CEO Baek Hansung lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“You should forget about the project and look for a new one.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve read a lot of scenarios. There will probably be some projects you’ve singled out. Discuss with the other chiefs and pick out around five projects. If you bring them to the next meeting, we should be able to pick one out, don’t you think?”

Wait.

“When you say forget about City Jungle…”

“Exactly as I said. I don’t think it is suitable for your next project.”

He said firmly. Only then did what CEO Baek Hansung said organize in my head. Yeah, I knew that there were many who would oppose City Jungle if I brought it up. It looked shabby compared to the other promising works.

I would have to persuade them eventually.

I put down my chopsticks and wet my throat with cold water.

“Although it isn’t an eye-catching project, the scenario is good.”

“Yeah, I read it.”

He read it?

“I was curious because it was something you were interested in.”

“Then… Did you not like the scenario? Although it doesn’t meet the trends, it definitely is an entertaining project within its genre. Its production may seem uncertain, but once the cast is decided, there will be investors lining up, so there will be no concern it will be killed off due to a lack of investments.”

It would proceed even smoother if I used my fame.

“I think that it has the highest potential for success amongst all the scenarios I have considered as my next project. I had thought that I couldn’t lose Cat Guardian Ghost when I read it, and I get the same feeling from this.”

While I was trying to persuade him, CEO Baek Hansung calmly looked at me with a smiling face. He occasionally tapped the table with his fingertips as though he was reacting to my words. After a good while, he nodded his head.

“The scenario wasn’t bad. Like you said, it isn’t what’s trending these days, but noir works are rare in the country and it’ll be good to widen our actors’ spectrum with its charming characters. It is worth taking the risk if the actor is willing.”

CEO Baek Hansung continued to speak positively about it. He seemed like he was going to allow it, so his next words were more dumbfounding.

“Still, look for another project.”

His voice and expression were still gentle, but his voice was firm.

What was going on?

Did his trust in my judgment hit rock bottom because of rumors that I had a panic disorder? Or was he unhappy that I rejected Telepath, which he had personally mentioned?

While I thinking with a confused mind, CEO Baek Hansung tried to comfort me,

“If you really don’t want to lose out on City Jungle, then hand it over to another team’s chief.”

“… Another team? Why do I have to do that?”

I couldn’t understand it at all.

Why was it not okay if I wanted to do it, but okay for some other chief?

“You’re in a situation where you should be stopping at nothing to find a project that will be a success. I’m just saying there’s no need to pick a project with high risk.”

“What…”

He smiled.

“Because, Team Leader Jung, you cannot fail.”

^{1} Chicken soup with ginseng and other medicinal ingredients. Considered a very nourishing dish.