The next morning.
Jo So-hee arrived at the company looking as beautiful as ever, and Park Geon-ho handed her a proposal.
"What's this?"
"Exactly what it looks like."
"You want me to enter a marathon?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Read it first, and then we'll talk."
Jo So-hee let out a soft sigh and opened the proposal.
Then her eyes widened at the title on the first page.
Someone Tried to Use You.
"Who?"
"If you read it......."
"Just tell me."
"Shall I?"
Park Geon-ho sat Jo So-hee down and carefully explained the current situation at the Love for Children with Heart Disease Association.
Had he explained it verbally from the start, she would have listened halfheartedly.
But with her nerves on edge, Jo So-hee accurately identified the heart of the rather long backstory.
"So this is a fight over control of the foundation?"
"Yes."
"And I've been dragged into the middle of it?"
"Correct."
"Now I'm suddenly pissed off?"
When Jo So-hee reacted exactly as he wanted, Park Geon-ho eagerly played along.
"I was angry too. So I was going to blow the whole thing up. But I realized that if I responded emotionally, you would be the one who suffered."
"I don't mind being criticized a little."
"I do. Someone criticizing the actor I manage? I hate that."
"......!"
"I still thought a little criticism would be better than putting you through all that trouble, but I decided this wouldn't end with a little criticism."
"......?"
"Please look at page four."
Jo So-hee did as Park Geon-ho instructed and turned two more pages.
What Will Happen If You Refuse the Marathon?
When she turned another page, bold words caught her eye.
1. The public may question the sincerity of your acting.
2. You will be breaking your promise to children with heart disease.
3. The resulting loss of trust may cause problems with advertising contracts.
4. It may negatively affect the success of your next project.
"Hmm......."
Watching Jo So-hee groan at length, Park Geon-ho swallowed his laughter.
He had lived as Jo So-hee's dedicated manager for thirteen years.
On workdays, they were together from morning until night.
Even on his days off, he had spent his life with Jo So-hee to the point that he only felt settled after talking to her on the phone.
That made it perfectly clear which points had caught her attention.
Most people would have groaned at number three or four, but Jo So-hee was different.
Number one had probably struck a nerve.
And her gaze must have stopped at number two.
Numbers three and four probably hadn't even registered.
As expected, Jo So-hee challenged him on number one.
"Why would they question my sincerity?"
"Because your acting was too good."
"......?"
"Director Yoon Ji-hyeon, whom I mentioned earlier, actually had no intention of providing additional funding to the foundation. She judged it too badly damaged for her to intervene. But then she saw <Our Year>."
"Go on."
"This is just my opinion, but Director Yoon Ji-hyeon probably didn't fully understand her father, Chairman Yoon Tae-jun, either. Donating money and establishing a foundation for an aunt who died before she was even born? She may have understood it intellectually, but it wouldn't have touched her heart. Then she watched a drama and noticed an extraordinarily beautiful actress. At first, she probably watched because she was thinking, How could someone be that beautiful? Then she became absorbed in the character and began to empathize with the protagonist's circumstances. Watching the protagonist give up everything and move to the countryside to fulfill a younger sibling's dying wish as they succumbed to heart disease may even have helped her understand her late father."
"......."
"I heard Director Yoon Ji-hyeon said your acting was like a work of art. We'd have to ask her what she meant exactly, but she's a gallery director, isn't she? I think it was probably the highest praise. That's how good your acting was. You must have moved not only Director Yoon Ji-hyeon, but countless viewers who had experienced similar pain. But what do you think will happen if they use media spin because you didn't enter the marathon?"
"I understand what you mean."
"The second point is the same. The Love for Children with Heart Disease Association kept bringing up that article. They want you to prove the resolution you expressed to children with heart disease and the public. Of course, you've already proved it through your passionate performance. I looked into it and heard that more people began donating after watching the drama. But what will happen if you refuse simply because you don't feel like participating?"
"So in the end, I have to take responsibility for what I said."
Jo So-hee grumbled quietly.
She had visited the heart disease center with good intentions.
And she had said in an interview that she wanted to help the children out of genuine goodwill.
But she realized once again that even those things could be exploited.
"Shall we look at the next page?"
Jo So-hee turned the page again.
What Will Happen If You Enter the Marathon?
Once again, the large sheet of A4 paper contained nothing but the title.
What had he written this time?
Jo So-hee cautiously turned the page.
The previous section had only gone up to number four, but this one had a full eight items.
1. You can become a true celebrity who personally keeps her promise to children with heart disease!
2. You can soften the perception that you're an actor who cares about nothing but her scripts!
3. Entering the marathon will give you a wholesome and healthy image!
4. As the public grows fonder of you, you'll receive more advertising offers with better contract terms!
5. You can expect a positive response if you're cast in a medical drama later!
6. That Summer will come up in conversation again and earn you extra credit at the year-end awards!
7. You can land a blow on the people who tried to use you!
8. Your manager will be happy because you won't be criticized!
After skimming the list, Jo So-hee pressed her lips tightly together.
Then she spoke with a prim expression.
"What's with all the exclamation marks?"
"Emphasis?"
"Sigh. Seriously. You made this to tease me, didn't you?"
"It wouldn't be any fun if it were too stiff."
"Don't do this again. I don't like fooling around."
"I'll keep that in mind."
After becoming close to Jo So-hee, Writer Woo Yeon-hee had once described her.
She looked as though she wouldn't bleed a drop even if pricked with a needle, yet she was far too kindhearted.
Jo So-hee claimed she would never do anything she disliked.
But how could anyone live doing only what they wanted?
Park Geon-ho tried the method he had used every time that happened, and fortunately, it worked.
"But what are you going to do about number seven?"
"Exactly what it says. There's an old saying about making porridge only to feed it to a dog, right?"
"Am I the porridge?"
"What Chairman Park Sang-do wants is an image of himself making the marathon a success. You'll be the prettiest model in that picture."
"Tsk."
"But what will happen if you take Director Yoon Ji-hyeon's hand?"
"What will happen?"
"Let me explain it differently. I worked hard to support you. Thanks to that, you won an award at the end of the year. But during your acceptance speech, you left me out entirely and only thanked the CEO."
"I wouldn't do that."
"I know. But if you did, what would people think?"
"They'd think I won the award thanks to the CEO?"
"Yes. That's how we're going to land the blow."
"Is that possible?"
"We have to make it possible. That's my job."
Anyone could follow a given schedule.
But a true manager had to be able to dig a well in the desert for the artist under his care.
2
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan had left his seat as soon as Jo So-hee appeared. The moment she disappeared, he returned to the office as if he had been waiting.
"Where did Park Geon-ho go?"
"He went out with Actress Jo."
"He must be having the time of his life. The time of his life."
After sitting down, Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan summoned Team 5 Leader Han Sang-woo, whom he considered an easy target.
"Team Leader Han. Aren't you going to keep Park Geon-ho under control?"
"What do you mean by control......?"
"Are you asking me that right now?"
"I've already received the handover for Actor Han Do-hoon. The handover document has been uploaded to Wooju Space, and I'll be in charge of him for the time being."
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan had also reviewed the handover document Park Geon-ho uploaded.
Ordinarily, three or four pages would have been enough, so the defiant ten-page document irritated him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything to criticize.
"You think uploading one report is all it takes? Is that what a handover is?"
"Are you telling me to receive the handover directly from Manager Park Geon-ho?"
"You need to receive what you need! You don't know everything about Actor Han Do-hoon, do you?"
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan berated Team Leader Han Sang-woo.
It was a problem that Park Geon-ho had simply uploaded a handover document and vacated his position once he was put in charge of Jo So-hee.
But he pointed out that Team Leader Han Sang-woo's failure to rein Park Geon-ho in properly was a problem too.
However, Team Leader Han Sang-woo had a clear reason for not receiving a separate handover.
"I'm sorry, Deputy Division Director, but I was the first person at Wooju Entertainment to manage Actor Han Do-hoon."
"......What?"
"When Actor Han Do-hoon's manager resigned at the beginning of the year, I handed him over to Manager Park Geon-ho. It's only been about three months since then."
"......Is that right?"
"And Actress Jo So-hee is under the Division Director's direct supervision. I don't think it's my place to interfere."
Team Leader Han Sang-woo finally spoke his mind for once.
Park Geon-ho was currently assigned to Jo So-hee's team in place of Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju.
And Division Director Kang Young-jin personally oversaw Jo So-hee's dedicated team.
In other words, until Park Geon-ho's assignment as Jo So-hee's dedicated manager ended, his direct superior was Division Director Kang Young-jin, not Team Leader Han Sang-woo.
But Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan continued making unreasonable demands.
"What are you talking about? Doesn't Park Geon-ho belong to Team 5?"
"Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju belonged to Team 5 as well."
"How dare you compare some rookie to Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju?"
"Then please settle the chain of command clearly, Deputy Division Director."
"Am I a traffic cop? Why are you asking me to direct traffic? Can't a team leader even handle that much?"
"If you'd rather not, I'll ask the Division Director myself."
"What......!"
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan was momentarily speechless.
Someone who normally groveled whenever ordered around was suddenly digging in his heels, and Jo Yeong-chan couldn't believe it.
But Team Leader Han Sang-woo wasn't a fool.
'If you want to drive Geon-ho out, do it yourself. Don't dirty someone else's hands.'
Many employees had been delighted when Park Geon-ho, who had been disciplined by Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan, received a commendation from the Division Director and became Jo So-hee's dedicated manager.
"So the Division Director sided with a rookie instead of the Deputy Division Director?"
"That's what it amounts to. I heard the Deputy Division Director got summoned to the Division Director's Office and chewed out too."
"There's no way the Deputy Division Director's pride will let this go. Will the rookie be all right?"
"Won't he be? He manages Jo So-hee."
"True. Even the Deputy Division Director can't do anything to Jo So-hee, can he?"
"Even the Division Director walks on eggshells around her. What could the Deputy Division Director possibly do? If he messes with Jo So-hee and she gets pissed off and threatens to leave, the Deputy Division Director will be the first one fired, won't he?"
There was no way Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan didn't know what the other employees knew.
But he wasn't the type to hold himself back, so he had to be tormenting Han Sang-woo because he was an easy target.
When Team Leader Han Sang-woo refused to comply meekly, Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan changed the subject.
"What happened with the Reve meeting?"
"Manager Park Geon-ho handled it well in your place, Deputy Division Director."
"Are you sure he handled it well?"
"I heard he plans to report directly to the Division Director about it."
"I assigned the job, so why is he reporting to the Division Director?"
"I'll tell him to report to you separately as well, Deputy Division Director."
"That's not what I mean!"
"You weren't here that day, Deputy Division Director, so I imagine he couldn't report to you."
"Then he should have done it today! How did you train that rookie, anyway?"
Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan lost his temper, but once again, he had picked the wrong target.
The person responsible for training the new managers this time had been none other than Team 1 Leader Yoo Hye-eun.
Besides, the Reve meeting had been a matter of Park Geon-ho cleaning up the shit Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan had left behind.
Taking issue with it would be like spitting in his own face.
"Anyway, keep Park Geon-ho under control. If Park Geon-ho causes an incident, you will be held responsible, Team Leader Han!"
With nothing meaningful left to say, Deputy Division Director Jo Yeong-chan resorted to an obvious threat.
Team Leader Han Sang-woo gave a perfunctory bow and returned to his seat.
Then Team 5 manager Kang In-gyu called Team Leader Han Sang-woo outside.