Two years earlier.
When rumors spread that Jo So-hee, who had just reached adulthood, was looking for an agency, the industry went into an uproar.
At the time, Jo So-hee was an acting prodigy who had swept the Youth Awards from all three major broadcasting networks.
People said that if she could establish herself as an adult actor, she would become the best actress in South Korea.
In fact, all five of South Korea's largest agencies, including Wooju Entertainment, as well as every fairly well-known agency, pursued her.
Even after the companies that knew they had no chance withdrew, the competition stood at 20 to 1.
As the recruitment war intensified, Wooju Entertainment also found itself agonizing over the matter.
They judged that rising star Jo So-hee was unlikely to choose Wooju Entertainment, with its somewhat old-fashioned image.
But Division Director Kang Young-jin thought differently.
"There are actors like Jo So-hee in Hollywood as well. Their very existence is special. They don't respond to a little money."
"If you bring Jo So-hee in, Division Director Kang, we'll give you a special performance bonus."
"No. Instead of money, I want full authority."
"Full authority?"
"I'm asking for the authority to make every decision related to Actress Jo So-hee. I don't want to become someone who goes back on his word."
"Do we really have to sign Jo So-hee at that cost?"
"Jo So-hee isn't merely an actress it would be nice to sign. She's an actress we must secure."
"So you're certain Jo So-hee will succeed?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'll trust your judgment, Division Director Kang. Proceed that way."
After receiving full authority from the company, Division Director Kang Young-jin went to see Jo So-hee in person and settled the matter with her.
"You've probably heard the rumors, but I truly hate being interfered with."
"Keep working as you have been, Ms. So-hee. The broad framework won't change. Just think of it as carrying one more large umbrella called Wooju Entertainment."
"And I can't work with people who make me uncomfortable."
"Don't worry. We'll tailor everything to you so you can work comfortably, Ms. So-hee."
"What if there's no one I like?"
"Then we'll have to bring someone in through headhunting, won't we?"
"What if I choose you, Division Director?"
"Ha ha. It would be an honor."
While everyone else treated Jo So-hee as a set of numbers, Division Director Kang Young-jin approached her sincerely.
And by promising to accommodate Jo So-hee as much as possible, he secured her signature on the contract.
After signing her, Division Director Kang Young-jin did his utmost to keep his promise to Jo So-hee.
He assembled a dedicated team for her.
He did not force her to accept schedules she disliked.
Conversely, he made certain that every project Jo So-hee wanted came to fruition.
He did not even shy away from serving as Jo So-hee's manager himself.
During the intervals as Jo So-hee went through 10 managers.
He followed Jo So-hee's schedule until a new manager could be found.
That process earned him the nickname "icon of self-sacrifice."
But Division Director Kang Young-jin himself never wanted to care for Jo So-hee directly again.
If he could, he would rather return to the time before he first spoke to her.
'She singled out Park Geon-ho, so she'll refuse if I put another manager with her. Then she'll torment me again. Last time, I promised my wife it would be the last time. If I take charge of So-hee again, I might get thrown out of my own house.'
Once his thoughts reached the need to protect the domestic peace he had worked so hard to create, Division Director Kang Young-jin made his decision.
If someone had to make the sacrifice.
It seemed best for a capable rookie manager with no family of his own, and whom Jo So-hee liked, to take the bullet.
"Let's do that."
"......What?"
"I'm saying I'll do as you want, Manager Park Geon-ho."
"Are you...... serious?"
"In return, you'll have to do your best as well, Manager Park Geon-ho. If So-hee asks me to replace her manager...... You know what happens then?"
Division Director Kang Young-jin looked Park Geon-ho straight in the eye.
His goodwill toward giving a rookie manager a chance to grow had ended.
Now that things had come to this, Park Geon-ho absolutely had to prove his ability.
Park Geon-ho answered with a confident expression.
"That won't happen."
Somehow, he had ended up taking charge of Jo So-hee earlier than before.
But for Park Geon-ho, caring for Jo So-hee was merely part of everyday life.
3
"Hey! Park Geon-ho!"
The moment he stepped out of the division director's office, Team Leader Han Sang-woo beckoned to him from some distance away.
"Why?"
"Why? Because Y has a long tail. Why did the Division Director call you? What did he say?"
"He praised me for doing a good job yesterday."
"Really? And?"
"He said the disciplinary action had been canceled......."
"Whew, what a relief. Do you know how much I worried about that......."
"......And he told me to take care of Actress Jo So-hee for the time being."
"......What? Take care of who?"
"Actress Jo So-hee."
"The Jo So-hee I know?"
"Is there another actress in our company who uses the name Jo So-hee?"
There were several artists who used So-hee as a stage name.
But within Wooju Entertainment, only one artist worked under her real name, Jo So-hee.
And that actress belonged to Team 5, which Team Leader Han Sang-woo led.
"Wait. Just wait a moment."
Team Leader Han Sang-woo, who had worn a blank expression for a moment, raised his palm.
Then he rolled his eyes around for a long while before speaking with a grave expression.
"Are they telling you to take the hint and quit?"
"Quit what?"
"Hey! Ten managers from Teams 1 and 2 with more experience than you have already dropped out. How are you supposed to manage her?"
"We won't know until I try."
"So? What did you say?"
"What else could I say? If the higher-ups give me an order, I have to follow it."
"At a time like that, you should've said you needed to think about it!"
"Weren't you the one who told me not to get ahead of myself when I'm only a rookie?"
"Good grief! You all-talk bastard. When are you going to grow up?"
Team Leader Han Sang-woo was frustrated with Park Geon-ho.
Jo So-hee was quite literally a poisoned chalice.
Ten managers had rushed in to take charge of a top-star-level actress only to fall flat on their faces.
And they were assigning that Jo So-hee to a rookie who had only recently graduated from road-manager duties?
This was no different from killing someone with a borrowed knife.
'Yeah. This is the normal reaction.'
As a 13-year veteran expert on Jo So-hee, he might have felt hurt.
But Park Geon-ho calmly accepted Team Leader Han Sang-woo's concern.
To someone who did not know about his regression, Jo So-hee and a rookie manager were by no means a fitting combination.
Park Geon-ho also wanted to avoid getting entangled with Jo So-hee early if possible.
He had even made up his mind to quit the company and start over if necessary.
But when Division Director Kang Young-jin, of all people, extended a hand, he could not reject it.
'He was the man who even resigned to protect Jo So-hee and me.'
A few years later, when the secret surrounding Jo So-hee's birth came to light.
Division Director Kang Young-jin stood against the executives who wanted to make Jo So-hee a scapegoat and protected her to the very end.
As a result, Jo So-hee was able to leave the company without paying a contract penalty and make a fresh start.
What if Division Director Kang Young-jin had not stepped forward then?
Jo So-hee would have been mired in a legal dispute for some time.
Naturally, she would have faded from the public eye.
'Of course, knowing Jo So-hee, she would've clawed her way back up somehow. But it would've been hard for me. The company tried to destroy me along with Jo So-hee.'
Even after establishing SH Entertainment, he had received a great deal of help from Division Director Kang Young-jin.
Was that why?
He found himself wanting to repay at least some of what he owed Division Director Kang Young-jin.
"Whew....... Anyway, let's go eat."
"All of a sudden?"
"What do you mean, all of a sudden? It's almost 12. You said your disciplinary action was lifted, right?"
"I'm not particularly hungry."
"What was that, punk? Koreans run on rice. Stop complaining and follow me. Lunch is on me today."
It would obviously be the company cafeteria.
Still, Team Leader Han Sang-woo seemed to be acting that way because he felt guilty, so Park Geon-ho pretended to give in and followed him.
But then.
DING!
The elevator that had swiftly ascended came to a stop, and its doors opened.
Of all people, Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan burst out.
"Oh, Deputy Division Director!"
Team Leader Han Sang-woo reflexively approached him and bowed at the waist.
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan's gaze, which had been moving toward Team Leader Han Sang-woo, shifted to the tall rookie manager.
"What? What are you doing here?"
"......Pardon?"
"Didn't you hear that you were under suspension?"
"Ah, well......."
Team Leader Han Sang-woo had no idea what to do in front of Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan, whose eyes were shooting lasers.
Seeing Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan's reaction made him worry that perhaps the disciplinary action had not been lifted after all.
Just then, the doors of the elevator beside them opened, and a relief pitcher appeared.
"Oh! Found you."
The owner of the distinctive voice that drilled into their ears was Jo So-hee.
Someone even Division Director Kang Young-jin could not handle.
Wooju Entertainment's greatest loose cannon(?).
And Jo So-hee.
Absolutely despised Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan.
Even the most haughty top star would at least smile and offer a greeting upon meeting someone of deputy-division-director rank, but Jo So-hee was different.
Swoosh.
She naturally let Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan's gaze slide past her, then smiled at Park Geon-ho and spoke.
"Let's go."
"What? Ah, yes."
Being tormented by Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan vs. going with Jo So-hee, whom he barely knew yet.
It was a balance game that warranted some thought.
But his cunning body naturally leaned toward Jo So-hee.
Team Leader Han Sang-woo read the room and began making excuses.
"Ah, yes. Ms. Jo So-hee said she was looking for him."
"Why? What for?"
"Well, I don't really......."
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan's gaze passed over Jo So-hee and settled on Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju.
Any other manager would have approached him and at least explained what was going on.
But like actress, like manager, Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju merely dipped her head before getting back into the elevator she had ridden up and disappearing.
"This damn company has no respect for hierarchy!"
"Y-yes, that's true."
"Team Leader Han, get Jo So-hee under control! How long are you going to let her act like that?"
"Ah, yes, sir. I'll try."
"Try, my ass......."
After venting his anger on the innocent Team Leader Han Sang-woo, Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan stormed back to his seat.
Yesterday, a rookie had caused trouble however he pleased.
Today, Jo So-hee had gotten under his skin.
"Is Team 5 the problem?"
As he sat in his chair and tried to cool his anger for a moment, an employee approached.
"Um, Division Director."
"I'm not hungry, so go eat without me."
"No, that isn't it......."
"......?"
"The Division Director wants to see you."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Now?"
"......Yes."
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan checked the clock on the wall.
12:05.
Five minutes had passed since the lunch hour began.
If they had made an appointment in advance, that would be one thing, but Division Director Kang Young-jin summoning him at this hour did not seem like a good sign.
"Fuck. What is it this time?"
Not knowing what he was about to be chewed out over, Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan quickly reviewed the recent schedules of each team.
But the name that actually came out of Division Director Kang Young-jin's mouth was Park Geon-ho.
"Park Geon-ho......?"
"The guy you disciplined as soon as you came in this morning, Deputy Division Director."
"Ah, if it's about that matter, I was going to call the rental company around tomorrow......."
"Call who?"
"The rental company. I discussed it with the Legal Team as well, and they said we could hold the company responsible for inadequate on-site management."
"So? You're going to dump the responsibility on them?"
"Isn't it absurd to pay 10 million won because a lens was slightly damaged?"
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan protested.
Han Do-hoon's fee for this commercial was 120 million won.
The profit-sharing ratio specified in the contract was 3:7.
After taxes and expenses were deducted from the company's 36 million won share, less than 30 million won remained.
Losing 10 million won out of that would be a devastating blow.
But Division Director Kang Young-jin calculated things differently from Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan, who came from the Finance Team.
"Didn't we take out insurance for situations like this?"
"You told me to reduce operating expenses last time, so I reduced the scope of the insurance coverage."
"Meaning Team 5 was excluded?"
"Yes. Other than Jo So-hee, Team 5......."
"Actress Jo So-hee."
"Ah, yes. Other than Actress Jo So-hee, Team 5 has no actors worth insuring."
"Sigh. How much money did that save?"
"About 15 million won."
One could think they were still 5 million won ahead after saving 15 million won in premiums and suffering a loss of 10 million won.
But as they moved into the second quarter, could they guarantee that no further accidents would occur during the roughly nine months remaining?
And once this fact became known, what would they do about the sense of deprivation felt by the artists and employees excluded from coverage, as well as the resulting increase in work fatigue?