At the same time, the management team meeting at Kkumdongsan Entertainment, where Go Hyeonsu was signed, was just about to wrap up.
Department Head Yoon Donghui organized the documents on his desk.
"If there are no further suggestions, we'll conclude today's meeting here."
"Department Head."
Lee Jinmuk raised his hand.
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
"There's an actor I'd like to recommend to our agency."
"Who?"
"I'll show you the materials."
Yoon Donghui nodded and extended his hand, pointing to the podium.
Lee Jinmuk, having stepped up, plugged a USB into the computer connected to the projector.
Soon, a PPT file containing Kang Hajun's profile appeared on the screen.
Lee Jinmuk had put it together himself.
The profile photo was one Kang Hajun had unilaterally sent to Lee Jinmuk around this time last year.
Lee Jinmuk had dismissed it back then, never imagining it would be used like this.
"Isn't that actor Go Hyeonsu's friend?"
"I think so."
Several employees who recognized Kang Hajun's face pretended they knew all about him.
"But why him?"
However, most were skeptical.
Among the employees who had been at Kkumdongsan Entertainment for a long time, almost no one didn't know Kang Hajun.
It had already been seven years since Go Hyeonsu had moved from a child actor-exclusive agency to this company.
There had been a hiatus in between due to military service, but through all that time, Kang Hajun had been like a spiritual pillar to Go Hyeonsu.
In the early days of the contract, unaware of this fact, they had even prevented Kang Hajun from being brought to the filming set.
They had been worried he might negatively affect Go Hyeonsu's image.
But whenever they did so, Go Hyeonsu invariably made major mistakes.
After that, the agency had stopped forcibly separating the two.
"I know they still spend plenty of time together as it is, but do we really have to sign him to a contract too? What is there to gain from some guy who just leeches off Go Hyeonsu and does extra work? Why would we take a loss like that? Frankly, it's not like he has enough value to justify making Go Hyeonsu shoulder all that burden."
The team leader cast a displeased gaze.
Lee Jinmuk felt his blood boil at the dismissive remark but forcibly suppressed it.
Because he hadn't taken the floor to talk about Go Hyeonsu.
"What do you mean by that?"
Yoon Donghui asked the team leader.
He had only been scouted to Kkumdongsan Entertainment a few months prior, so he didn't know the ins and outs of the agency.
"You know actor Go Hyeonsu, right? There's a kid he relies on way too much."
The team leader waved his hand as if it was nothing.
"Let's start by watching the video I've prepared."
Lee Jinmuk judged that if things continued like this, no one would listen to his opinion.
He quickly took control of the atmosphere and played the video attached to the PPT.
[Chairman Choi. That's not how this works.]
[Wh-what…..]
[A man of your learning shouldn't speak with a forked tongue. I heard you started your business with my grandfather's money……]
The video was a portion of the drama
The employees, who had been sitting with 'Why is he showing us that?' expressions, simultaneously turned to shock.
"What, the loan shark was Mr. Kang Hajun!? I totally didn't recognize him!"
"I was trying to find out which agency he was from because of that scene! I couldn't find anything because there was no information on him! I thought he was from some academy or cafe background?"
"He acts that well; why has he only done extra work until now?"
All sorts of questions flew at Lee Jinmuk.
But they were soon cut off by the team leader.
"Making a fuss over acting well in one bit part. Who knows if it was all just a fluke? Anyone can do minor roles because the screen time is short."
"Not just anyone can pull off such a perfect psychopath in that short screen time. Moreover, the loan shark was originally a two-scene minor role. His screen time increased because the internal evaluation was good. The viewer response was also tremendously explosive. He's an actor well worth investing in."
Lee Jinmuk refuted.
"How can you be so sure?"
"He also recently entered filming for a new drama. As the lead of a mini-series confirmed to be scheduled on Hot TV. It will probably air around early December."
"What? Go Hyeonsu? I'm the team leader, and I haven't heard a thing about him appearing in any drama?"
"I'm talking about Kang Hajun, not Hyeonsu. He even beat the Hot TV president's nephew, who had already been pre-selected for the lead role at the audition. Once it airs and people find out he's an unattached actor, offers will come in from everywhere. We need to secure him first."
Yoon Donghui, who had been watching the proceedings with his arms crossed, furrowed his brows.
"So what you're saying now is that for years, you've been neglecting talent right in front of your eyes without even recognizing it?"
In that moment, the employees felt chills run down their spines.
Yoon Donghui had maintained a low profile while adapting to the company.
From him, a momentum they had never felt before was now emanating.
"Manager Lee Jinmuk?"
"Y-yes."
"Find out when that friend Kang Hajun has a day off from filming and report to me. Hand over that PPT file as well."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
Yoon Donghui was the first to leave the meeting room.
"Did you see his eyes change? Totally terrifying."
"I thought he was a talentless guy who'd only snagged the department head position by flashing Manager Ahn Dongjin's resume, but I guess he really does have something after all."
"Well, if he didn't have anything, he couldn't have built up that kind of resume in the first place. His charisma is no joke."
The employees soothed their startled hearts.
**
A break during filming.
Returning to the car and checking his phone, there were two missed calls from Lee Jinmuk.
It was late at night.
"What's going on?"
I tilted my head in puzzlement.
If it wasn't about Go Hyeonsu, there was no reason for Lee Jinmuk to contact me; Go Hyeonsu had been on break preparing for auditions for his next project since
Above all, if there was something going on, Go Hyeonsu would handle it directly; it was rare for Lee Jinmuk to reach out in his place.
I immediately called Lee Jinmuk back and was bewildered upon hearing his business.
"You're suddenly telling me to have a meeting with Kkumdongsan Entertainment?"
As time had passed, I had thought Lee Jinmuk's interest in me had naturally subsided.
But it seemed that wasn't the case.
Or perhaps, upon hearing the news that I had passed the audition as the lead of a mini-series, his greed had welled up again.
—I recommended casting you during the meeting earlier.
"Without even giving me a heads-up?"
—You're the lead now, so your filming schedule will be packed. It'll be tough handling everything alone. Following managers around might seem like nothing, but when you actually have to do it all yourself, it's no joke? As an unattached lead, people will subtly look down on you.
"Not at all."
Other than Jeong Hwansik's lingering glances being annoying, there was nothing uncomfortable.
—Hey, don't be so firm about it. I'm not telling you to stamp a contract right this second. You know? Just do it as a favor to me and meet our department head once. He's personally making time for you.
Lee Jinmuk's voice, which had been saying pleading words, suddenly brightened.
—Oh, right! I didn't mention this. Our department head is a former manager of actor Ahn Dongjin, you know? This kind of opportunity is absolutely rare.
"Whose manager did you say he was?"
I asked back without thinking.
—See, I knew it. You're intrigued too, right? I'll send the number right away, so save it. Make sure you answer when he calls! You said you don't have filming the day after tomorrow, right? He'll probably contact you around tomorrow. Well, I'll hang up now~
"What? No, hyung, wait……"
Lee Jinmuk, who had suddenly spat out words like rapid fire, ended the call before I could say anything.
Soon, a text message arrived.
'Contact.vcf. Department Head Yoon Donghui'
"Sigh."
I let out a sigh.
"……So Donghui transferred to Kkumdongsan after I died. No wonder I found it strange that someone was parachuted into TPJ."
It would have been absolutely impossible if Yoon Donghui had been there.
He was the type to work with unwavering convictions.
"He had looked quite haggard."
I remembered Yoon Donghui, whom I had met at the cinema a few months ago.
"Well, it's not hard to just meet once."
There was no way I'd be swept up by old sentiments and rashly sign a contract.
My resolve to join an agency with a definite will to take care of me remained unchanged.
I decided to simply think of it as going to meet a dear former colleague for a cup of coffee.
Even though he wouldn't be able to recognize me.
I once again saved Yoon Donghui's unchanged phone number into my phone.
**
The next day.
The filming schedule went awry from the morning.
They had received word that Jeong Hwansik had been rushed to the emergency room with indigestion only thirty minutes before the first shot.
—I'm truly sorry. I received the call from the hospital at dawn myself and was in a panic.
"Yes, well. It can't be helped. I'll let the PD know for now."
The casting director, who had been on the call with the manager, gauged PD Min Useok's mood with a regretful face.
PD Min Useok spoke quietly.
"Then ask what time he'll be here."
"It's not that he can't come to the set at all today, right? Around what time do you think he'll arrive?"
—Ah…… his condition is quite poor, so it's a bit difficult to give a definite answer……
The manager trailed off.
PD Min Useok sighed and nodded.
"Yes, then please contact us when he's discharged. Please tell him to take care of his health."
The casting director, having conveyed the customary greetings, hung up.
"……What should we do?"
"What do you mean what should we do? We have to push it back. Directing team, assemble!"
PD Min Useok, having gathered the assistant directors, began putting their heads together over the cue sheet.
On the other side, the waiting staff members whispered amongst themselves.
"Does it make sense to be hospitalized all day for indigestion? Is he faking it?"
"At his age, why would he fake illness?"
"What does age have to do with not wanting to work? It's all the same."
"Oh, come on, surely not."
But none of them were truly certain that Jeong Hwansik was faking illness.
Not knowing that it was indeed the truth.
"Hyungnim, what are you really trying to pull? If the company finds out, I'm the one who gets ruined."
Jeong Hwansik's manager, having finished the call with the casting director, stamped his feet anxiously.
"Is a man with such small guts of any use?"
"If having guts is what makes a man, I wouldn't be stuck in this job. No, what the hell is the reason you're blowing off filming to meet the Hot TV president! Are you trying to lobby or something? Let's say you actually pull it off. What on earth for?"
"How dare you utter such uncultured words?"
Jeong Hwansik clicked his tongue.
"Hyungnim, please! You need to maintain your dignity."
"Ugh, you're noisy. If you're going to be like that, just leave. I'll handle things myself."
"If you must, at least do the morning shoot before going. Your appointment is in the afternoon, isn't it?"
At his manager's urging, Jeong Hwansik scoffed inwardly.
'What's the point of shooting? If the lead changes, all those takes will be scrapped anyway.'
He was convinced that the Hot TV president would take his side.
'There's another reason why your nephew didn't become the lead.'
He had said just that one sentence, and without a second's hesitation, the president had invited him to his office.
No doubt, it was his victory.