4
"There's a place like this near the office?"
About two years later.
Team Leader Han Sang-woo had said that after following him home and insisting on another drink.
Dream Officetel was located a ten-minute walk from Wooju Entertainment's new headquarters.
Not many people knew about it because it was tucked away on a backstreet in the commercial district, a little farther in from the restaurant alley.
Thanks to that, however, he could save more than 500,000 won a month on rent, including maintenance fees.
"Still, I'm glad I didn't go all the way back to my road-manager days."
After graduating from high school and before enlisting, he had briefly worked as a road manager at a place called KX Media.
He had traveled all over the country with a trot singer who was supposedly an acquaintance of the CEO.
Remembering only the good parts of those days, he had applied to Wooju Entertainment after completing his military service.
Then, after two years of living like a slave, he had finally become a full-fledged manager at the start of this year.
His monthly pay as a road manager had been about two million won after taxes.
It was miserly compared to what other agencies paid, but he had endured it because he wanted to work at a large company if possible.
Even after becoming a full-fledged manager, his salary had not changed dramatically.
"Was it about 2.8 million after deductions?"
Right before his regression, he had earned over 20 million won a month in base salary alone, excluding incentives, so his pay had been reduced to one-tenth of what it was.
Once he passed the shops preparing to open and crossed two streets, he reached the real Gangnam.
After walking for another ten minutes or so, he saw his destination, Damwol.
"Do you have a reservation?"
When he entered, an employee asked with an awkward smile.
"Wooju Entertainment should have made a reservation for noon."
"One moment, please. Ah, yes. I've confirmed the reservation. May I have your name?"
"Park Geon-ho."
"Yes, that's right. We received a call a little while ago."
As befitted an upscale Korean restaurant in the heart of Gangnam, Damwol operated strictly by reservation.
He had planned to call Team Leader Han Sang-woo if they needed to verify his identity.
It seemed Team Leader Han Sang-woo had called ahead first.
'He's more thoughtful than he looks.'
An employee guided him into a private room.
The space, large enough for around ten people to dine in, was empty.
The current time was 11:35.
If Writer Woo Yeon-hee disliked Jo So-hee, she would probably arrive exactly on time.
Just then, BZZZT, his phone vibrated again.
The caller was Team Leader Han Sang-woo.
"Yes, this is Park Geon-ho."
-Where are you?
"I've arrived at Damwol."
-Really? What about Writer Woo Yeon-hee?
"No one's here yet."
-Then I'll send you an article.......
"If it's the article about Kim Hye-rin, I've already seen it."
-What? Already?
"More importantly, what is the company's position?"
The other end of the line went silent.
He probably had not expected a guy who had ducked out to change his clothes and missed a schedule to have already grasped the situation.
-Don't get cocky. Just do what you're told.
"Then tell me exactly what I'm supposed to do. You didn't send me here just to chat with Writer Woo Yeon-hee, did you?"
-Huh, look at this punk. What makes you so confident? Did you call Actor Han Do-hoon?
"I contacted him and apologized. So, Team Leader, please tell me only about this matter. We don't have much time left."
The other end of the line fell silent again.
He seemed to be debating whether he could trust a guy who had only just become a full-fledged manager.
So Park Geon-ho took the initiative.
"If Writer Woo Yeon-hee finds out Jo So-hee isn't coming, she'll use it as an excuse to overturn the casting. So give me a justification."
-A justification?
"A justification for making Writer Woo Yeon-hee wait."
-Sigh. Fuck. I don't know either. The division director says everything's already settled, but I don't know why they're suddenly doing this.
Team Leader Han Sang-woo spoke as if he were venting.
From the sound of it, he still had not properly grasped the power struggle between Blue Media and SBX and Mountain Pictures.
"So we have to secure the contract, right?"
-Of course! The article's already out!
"What if Writer Woo Yeon-hee objects? Do we back down then? Or should we at least aim for a different role?"
-A different role! Are you kidding? This is Jo So-hee we're talking about! If Jo So-hee isn't the lead, who would be?
"What if Writer Woo Yeon-hee insists on working with Kim Hye-rin to the end? Will the division director come then?"
-Hey, you punk! Is the division director your friend? Who are you to order him around?
"Then give me a clear answer. What am I supposed to do when I don't have the authority?"
-You're driving me crazy. Seriously.
Team Leader Han Sang-woo had every reason to be going crazy.
Ordinarily, Jo So-hee should have been managed by Team 1 or Team 2.
Those teams specialized in top stars, so they had plenty of experience and manpower.
However, Jo So-hee had moved to Team 5 at the start of this year after a blowup with the leader of Team 1.
And she had brought an outside manager with her.
For Team Leader Han Sang-woo, who had managed only mild-mannered, obedient actors like Han Do-hoon until now, the situation was bound to give him a splitting headache.
"Jo So-hee does want this drama, right?"
-Of course! Jo So-hee chose it herself.
"It wasn't recommended by the Strategic Planning Team?"
-If it had been, do you think she would've agreed to do a drama by Writer Woo Yeon-hee?
Jo So-hee's antis claimed that she had slighted Writer Woo Yeon-hee first, but both sides had actually been at fault.
Writer Woo Yeon-hee had first disparaged Jo So-hee's fame and acting ability in a private conversation.
After hearing the rumor, Jo So-hee had rejected Writer Woo Yeon-hee's drama.
Writer Woo Yeon-hee might not like Jo So-hee.
But Jo So-hee must not have wanted to work with Woo Yeon-hee either.
The fact that she had chosen this drama anyway meant she liked the project itself.
'Once she decides she wants to play a character, she can't stand not getting the role.'
What mattered here was the specific point that had hooked Jo So-hee.
Had she seen the drama's commercial potential?
Or was it the female lead?
Or perhaps the supporting female lead?
He needed to know something if he was going to stall Writer Woo Yeon-hee, but it did not seem likely that Team Leader Han Sang-woo could give him the answer.
"Team Leader, just leave this to me."
-What?
"You don't have an answer either, do you? I'll handle it somehow."
-Hey! What can you possibly handle?
"First, I'll call Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju and confirm Jo So-hee's position."
-And then?
"If Jo So-hee absolutely insists on the lead role, I'll cling to Writer Woo Yeon-hee's trouser leg and stall for time. That's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it?"
That was precisely the role Team Leader Han Sang-woo had originally wanted him to play.
The head of Wooju Entertainment's Actor Division could not personally step in just because no one had shown up for a casting meeting.
He had hoped a low-ranking manager would take the fall and simply stall until Jo So-hee arrived.
But after hearing the confidence in Park Geon-ho's voice, Team Leader Han Sang-woo changed his mind.
-What if she says she won't appear in the drama?
"Then we should have an amicable meal and leave it at that. We're not going to boycott Writer Woo Yeon-hee's dramas with every actor in our agency forever, are we?"
-......Are you confident?
"I'll do my best. And if I need your help, I'll contact you again."
-Sigh....... Fine. Go ahead and try.
After a moment of deliberation, Team Leader Han Sang-woo gave his permission, and Park Geon-ho called Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju again.
-Yes, this is Ahn Hye-ju.
"Deputy Team Leader, this is Park Geon-ho."
-Ah, yes. Geon-ho.
"I'm at Damwol in the team leader's place right now. I have a few questions before I meet the writer. Do you have a moment to talk?"
-You're there, Geon-ho?
"I'm sorry, but I don't have much time."
-Sigh. So what do you want to know?
Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju's voice turned irritable.
She sounded incredulous that they had entrusted a newly hired manager with handling a schedule Jo So-hee had missed.
But this was no time to let emotions take priority.
"I heard Jo So-hee personally chose First Skin."
-That's right. She picked it after reading the script.
"I want to know exactly why. And which role she wants."
A short while later.
Deputy Team Leader Ahn Hye-ju calmly explained what Jo So-hee was thinking.
And exactly three minutes after that.
SLIDE.
The door opened, and Writer Woo Yeon-hee entered.
5
"Interesting."
Ahn Hye-ju smirked after ending the call.
The Park Geon-ho she had passed at the office always seemed slippery, so she had never expected to have a conversation like that with him.
Just then, the hospital room door opened, and Jo So-hee stepped out.
"Are you feeling a little better now?"
"Yeah. Sorry, unnie."
"Don't be sorry. Of course I was going to help."
"But what happened with the meeting?"
"It looks like the company sent someone...... Let's go for now. Even if we're late, you should at least show your face."
"We should, right?"
"Won't people whisper that Kim Hye-rin beat you if you don't go? Even if you're going to reject it, you should be the one doing the rejecting. That's Jo So-hee."
"Whew....... Fine."
At the moment Jo So-hee and Ahn Hye-ju left the hospital.
Writer Woo Yeon-hee, who had arrived exactly on time, was shown inside by an employee.
"Is everyone here?"
"One gentleman has arrived."
"Only one?"
For a moment, the expressions of Writer Woo Yeon-hee and the people accompanying her diverged.
CP Yang Do-hyeon looked as if he had expected as much.
Writer Woo Yeon-hee said nothing, but her displeasure was obvious.
Production Director So I-hyeon, who had casually asked the employee, realized the mistake a moment too late.
'This is a disaster.'
They had expected Jo So-hee to be angry about the unauthorized article announcing Kim Hye-rin, but she had not even arrived yet.
There was no point in holding the meeting like this.
Then the young man who had been keeping the table alone changed the mood.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Park Geon-ho, a manager with Team 5 at Wooju Entertainment."
The most important part of a first meeting was the first impression.
And people said that 93 percent of a first impression was determined by nonverbal factors.
Rather than rising awkwardly and merely dipping his head, Park Geon-ho stood straight and bowed politely, a little deeper than 90 degrees.
He bowed so deeply that even someone who had arrived exactly on time might feel slightly apologetic, and Writer Woo Yeon-hee's expression subtly relaxed.
"I'm Woo Yeon-hee."
"I'm a fan, Writer Woo."
The courteous line that followed was good too.
Too much fuss would have seemed insincere.
Too restrained a delivery would not have gotten through to her, but he met her gaze and added the words naturally, making the corners of Writer Woo Yeon-hee's mouth rise slightly.
"But where is Jo So-hee?"
"I was informed that unavoidable circumstances will delay her by about an hour. I sincerely apologize that I am attending to you in her place."
He smoothly cleared the final hurdle as well.
Making a stale excuse that she was almost there or had been held up by an accident on the way would only make things worse.
But if he admitted the truth and asked for their understanding, it would be difficult for Writer Woo Yeon-hee or even CP Yang Do-hyeon to simply overturn the entire arrangement.
Of course, CP Yang Do-hyeon did not stay quiet.
"What exactly are these unavoidable circumstances?"
"I understand that it concerns Jo So-hee's personal affairs. After today's meeting, Jo So-hee will explain the circumstances to the writer personally."
"Are you saying you can't tell us?"
"I'm only her manager, so I don't know all the details. But a manager cannot carelessly broadcast an artist's personal affairs, can he?"
"Hmm......."
After stepping in only to gain nothing, CP Yang Do-hyeon looked at Production Director So I-hyeon.
Production Director So I-hyeon smiled and brought the situation under control.
"Why don't we start with introductions? Hello. I'm So I-hyeon from Blue Media. Here's my business card."
"Thank you. Let me introduce myself again. I'm Park Geon-ho, a manager with Team 5."
"You're a fan of Writer Woo Yeon-hee, so you must know her well. The gentleman seated beside her is CP Yang Do-hyeon of SBX."
"I'm Yang Do-hyeon."
"Park Geon-ho."
Park Geon-ho took three business cards from the card case in his trouser pocket and handed them out one by one.
Wooju Entertainment
Actor Division, Team 5 Manager
Park Geon-ho.
The younger employees complained that the business cards looked old-fashioned.
But this was a reward he had earned after working himself like a dog for two years as a road manager.
And this tacky logo and design encapsulated Wooju Entertainment's history and stature.