Chapter 119: A Never-ending Cycle, Whether That’s Power Dynamics or Psychological Warfare (1)
TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir
A hurricane had landed. A gigantic one.
“Wow! Big news! Did you read the article published by Star Search?”
“The one where Park Dojin was caught smoking drugs by the paparazzi? Who hasn’t seen that? The photo evidence was absolute.”
Two women chatted while getting on the elevator. It wasn’t strange. Park Dojin’s drug scandal swept through the country and abroad as soon as it was published. It was a hot topic online and offline.
“There was something about a police investigation. Do you think he’ll go to jail?”
“There’s a huge fuss about it in China. He’s completely doomed with this scandal. I bet he would have to pay tens of billions of won in damages once he’s cut from national and international advertisements.”
“We were almost pulled into it too. The Content Department was planning on signing him for a new proj-“
The whispering woman stopped talking once she glanced at me.
She tilted her head as she looked at me. Her expression showed that she saw me from somewhere.
Were sunglasses no longer enough? Did I have to wear surgical masks and hats like celebrities?
The elevator soon arrived on the eighth floor. I checked the panel that read ‘Well-Made Production Content Production Department’ and got off. As expected of a place that had been directly hit by a hurricane, everyone was unbelievably busy.
I looked around when I heard a voice.
“Excuse me, I came to meet Director Sung. To show him our rookies.”
A female employee sighed when she heard the glasses-wearing man in his late thirties then she said,
“Do you have an appointment?”
“That’s not it, but I couldn’t get in contact with him because he’s so busy. I came over to say hello since I’ve also done a project with Director Sung in the past. If you just give me ten minutes, I just want to show him our rookies’ profiles.”
“If you leave me your contact information, I’ll pass it onto him. He currently can’t meet anyone because he’s busy dealing with an internal matter. He even canceled all the meetings he had scheduled today.”
The speaking employee glanced at me.
“And what is the purpose for your visit?”
“I also came to see Director Sung, but I’ll schedule another date then.”
I was about to turn back when the employee’s eyes widened as she said,
“Excuse me! Please wait! Are you Jung-“
“Chief Jung!”
A loud voice erupted behind me. When I turned around, Director Sung, the marketing lead, and a few other employees were making their way towards me. The black beneath their eyes showed they were firmly struggling with the Park Dojin scandal.
Director Sung placed his hand on my back.
“You should have called me when you were downstairs! Then I would have sent someone.”
“Ah, I just came up because you were in the middle of a call.”
“I was calming our Chinese investors. Let’s not stay standing and go over to our meeting room.”
He gestured with his hand and led the way.
“Director Sung, I was in AAP Entertainment in the past…“
The glasses-wearing man hurriedly introduced himself.
“I came to introduce you to the rookies I’ve been taking care of for Royal Family. Ten minutes, no, if you just give me five minutes-“
“Sorry. I’m too busy right now.”
Director Sung said while clicking his tongue. A male employee next to him joined in,
“Since the directing team casts for minor roles and extras, if you give us their profiles, I’ll send them there. If the directing team finds anyone they like, they’ll contact you.”
The glasses-wearing man clung and attempted to ask Director Sung to lend him a bit of his time a few more times, but he handed the file containing the profiles to the male employee in the end.
“It’s okay if it’s a minor role with no dialogue. Please!”
The man bowed deeply.
I coincidentally met his gaze. When I greeted him, a deep valley appeared between his brows. He looked at me for a moment with mixed emotions before greeting me as well. Then he turned around and left.
“Now, now, come in.”
When I entered a large meeting room, Director Sung personally pulled out a chair for me.
Director Sung, the marketing lead, and the other Well-Made Production employees sat across from me. All had smiling faces. Director Sung shook his head as he grasped my hand.
“I am truly indebted to you. If we cast Park Dojin, broadcasted the drama, and the scandal broke out then, we would have all been screwed. I was scared to death. Just thinking about it makes my vision go black.”
His stumpy fingers tap on the back of my hand.
“From now on, while we’re proceeding with the project, let me know anytime if you need anything. I will consider you as my number 1 priority.”
I made a wry smile inwardly. I smirked just thinking about how Director Sung would have treated me if I didn’t tell him about Park Dojin’s scandal in advance.
It probably wouldn’t be much different from the glasses-wearing man from before. No, since I was useful as a way of promotion, I probably would have been treated better than that. Anyways, every day in this industry was a rollercoaster.
Though it wasn’t like I wasn’t aware of that.
I smiled as I said,
“Then, without refusing, should we talk?”
“Then I’ll consider that you consent to adjusting the schedule like so.”
“Yes, don’t worry about it.”
Seeing the readily nodding Director Sung, I said,
“Right, I also heard you were accepting demo tracks for the OST.”
“We’ve almost received a hundred songs already. We need to pick good songs if we’re going to line them up on the music charts.”
“Did you decide on your lineup of singers?”
“Not yet. We want to cast talented singers…”
He trailed off, seemingly having understood my intentions.
I took out a USB drive from my bag and handed it to him.
“She’s Lee Taehee, the leader of Neptune. She’s really great at singing.”
“Ah, I heard Satellite. The one that’s been stuck at first on the music charts for weeks now.”
“Taehee’s the one who wrote and composed that song. I thought it would be difficult for you to properly judge her singing talent because Neptune songs are divided into different parts so I added a few solo cover songs Taehee sang.”
Director Sung licked his lips as he received the USB drive.
“I think it’ll be great for marketing since she’s in the same group as Ms. Songha.”
“It’s a waste to use her only for marketing. I’m not so stubborn as to ask you to give a track to someone without talent. Whoever the album lineup consists of, she won’t drag you down. Listen to it with the music director and contact me if you’re interested.”
I said smoothly. Director Sung’s complexion brightened. Since he owed me a huge favor, he’d probably give me a track if I pushed him, but there was no reason to reduce his debt with this.
Since the mood was positive, after setting things up like this, I was confident everything else would fall into place with her talent.
“Okay, let’s do that. I have a lot of trust in your words.”
Director Sung said while laughing.
I suddenly heard a vibration. The employees, who had been listening to Director Sung and my conversation, read the mood as they quickly checked their phones. I took out my phone to check whether it was mine as well.
“Sorry, it’s mine.”
The marketing lead apologized.
That moment, there was another phone vibrated. And another, phones vibrated here and there. The phone in my hand was vibrating as well.
“What is it? Did something happen?”
“Oh my god. A scandal. Another scandal broke out!”
The marketing lead, who was the first to check, shouted.
Director Sung was surprised like someone sick of scandals.
“A scandal? Why? Did Park Dojin do something else?”
“No, it’s not Park Dojin. Oh my god. What’s this? I thought that Park Dojin’s scandal would be the biggest one this year.”
“Why? A different scandal broke out? Who is it?”
The marketing lead glanced at me.
I soon understood what scandal this woman was referring to.
“Sung Dowon.”
As expected.
When I checked my phone, I was contacted by Reporter Park Woojeong, Kim Hyunjo, and a few others. When I checked the attached URL Kim Hyunjo sent me, it was an article with the word ‘Exclusive’ in huge letters in its headline.
It mentioned Sung Dowon’s dirty private life, one where he secretly attends sex parties and acted perverted. It also clearly summarized his problems with Pure Star, his previous company.
Jung Hyesung, that woman. She was quick to investigate.
Let’s see. I had confirmed that his exclusive contract with W&U had long since been dissolved. No one knew that I had figured out Sung Dowon’s secret, and obviously, they wouldn’t know that I made a deal with the paparazzi.
Though the quick-witted CEO Baek Hansung did linger in my mind…
While thinking this, I received a call. It was Jung Hyesung. I excused myself from Director Sung, who was murmuring while reading the article, and exited the meeting room. I immediately answered the phone.
“It’s Jung Sunwoo.”
-The article’s been published.
“Yes, I saw it.”
I swallowed my urge to say that I didn’t expect it to be released so soon.
-Even though you said it was a time bomb that could explode at any time, I didn’t know it would explode this quickly. Did you leak this information to them as well?
“Pardon?”
-That article. It was G-Today who broke the news.
What did she say?
I quickly checked the article. The site address and the press mentioned in the author line wasn’t DM Media. There wasn’t any mention of Star Search either.
It was G-Today. The publication where Reporter Park Woojeong worked.
-I was curious if you leaked the information to that rookie reporter.
“That’s not true.”
I clearly said.
Did the new break out because it was naturally time to like in the original future?
Director Park from the future didn’t mention that the scandal was published by her publication. Then did the future change? Why? If it changed, I assumed it was definitely because of Jung Hyesung. Why was it G-Today all of a sudden?
-Since it’s already done, I’ll take my hands off Sung Dowon’s matter.
Jung Hyesung said in a mumbling voice.
“It seems that I gave you information that was too close to its expiry date.”
-It wasn’t a bad deal. We confirmed that your information is real and that it was even a huge deal. Let’s help each other from now on. I want to be one of your ‘friends with good hearing’.
“I’d be happy too.”
Especially being friends with a reporter, more so if she was a member of the paparazzi that took quick actions.
After hanging up, I called Reporter Park Woojeong this time.
When I brought up Sung Dowon, Reporter Park Woojeong was restless as she said.
-I would have let you know if I knew about it ahead of time, but this isn’t something we personally cover. It suddenly landed on our director’s hands today and was immediately sent to the desk. I only read it after it was released.
“Really?”
-Yes, it’s true!
After exchanging a few more words, I hung up.
I heard people murmuring. When I looked around, people were talking about Sung Dowon with surprised faces in the meeting room and even the office through the hallway.
I rolled my phone in my hand a few times.
Then I brushed away all the thoughts that filled my head.
When and how didn’t matter. What would have inevitably gotten out had simply been published.
*
“But can Ms. Songha really not fit it in her schedule? If possible, as a regular member.”
Maybe it was because she was fully dressed up and in full makeup for the script reading session, but the producer couldn’t take his eyes off Lee Songha.
“Sorry. Her schedule is packed until later this year.”
I said while wetting my lips with coffee. The americano from the coffee shop inside the PBS broadcasting station was horrible. If it wasn’t for the fact that the producer had bought it, I wouldn’t even put my lips on it.
“On top of that, Songha specializes in acting and performances. To put her as a regular member in a talk show panel is a bit.”
“But why? I saw the entertainment shows she was in when they aired and she seemed fine?”
“She was just a guest and it worked out because the producers edited her parts well. She’ll run out of material if she became a regular on a talk show.”
Lee Songha glanced at me from the side while chewing on a gummy worm. Her expression showed that she was confident in entertainment and even culture programs, but in an internal meeting, we decided to have her abstain from TV appearances as much as we could.
This was a world where they caught every single word people say and criticize them for it.
It was uneasy to have Lee Songha be a regular member of a talk show.
“Entertainment shows are Seoyoung’s specialty. If you put her with LJ, their chemistry is very good. Since they watch your show every week, they’ll adjust well too.”
“Then let’s try an episode with the two of them as guests and decide whether to cast them as regulars after that. Also, there’s a segment where they call celebrities they are close with, will they be able to call some high-level celebrities?”
High-level celebrities? Though Seo Jijoon told me to use him once whenever we needed him, it was waste to use him for this.
“I’ll ask Mr. Im Joowon. They’ve been on an entertainment show together so they are familiar with each other.”
“Im Joowon’s good. He went to W&U, correct? He’s even working on Ms. Songha’s project.”
I glanced at my watch while replying. It was already 10:30 am.
I told the recruit who was sipping hot chocolate at the table next to us,
“Lee Kwanwoo, take Songha up first.”
“There’s still some time left, should we go already?”
“Yeah. Since she’s a rookie, it’s best to be early. Veteran actors could arrive early as well. Go up early, Songha. I’ll come after the meeting.”
“Okay, oppa. I’ll save you a spot.”
Lee Songha took her gummy worms and got up.
When the two left the coffee shop, the producer licked his lips in pity.
“She was a delight to my eyes. There’s a Royal Family script reading today, right?”
“Yes. A script reading and a ritual{1}.”
Since the big Chinese investors continued to cause a commotion because of Park Dojin’s scandal, we had to push the schedule forward. Apparently, there would be a poster shoot in China in two days after the script reading and ritual today.
“The four leads are Ms. Songha, Im Joowon, Yoon Taekyung, and Seo Eunkyo? The cast is incredible. But it really is best for Ms. Songha to go up early. Before she gets scolded. You have to be especially careful of Seo Eunkyo.”
“I heard a few things while looking into it, but is it that bad?”
The producer was astonished at my question.
“Are you serious? She appeared on my program as a guest before, and I really had a hard time. Her fierce temper is no joke. She probably took down a few of her juniors.”
Well, Lee Songha was someone who even threw a cake at Son Chaeyoung. Since she became used to dealing with the crazy bitch at home without intending to, I didn’t think she’d be shocked or discouraged by other actresses picking a fight with her.
The producer continued with a meaningful expression,
“That’s the trait of actors. ‘I need to stand out the most.’ Especially since Ms. Songha became an instant star from an unknown rookie, she’ll probably be jealous of her as well. She’s probably waiting for a chance to take her down a notch from the start.”
I was a bit worried. Should I have gone up with her even if we were a little late?
Let’s finish up this casting matter in ten minutes and go up.
Nothing would happen in only ten minutes, right?
{1} A shamanistic ritual for good luck.
TL/N: Side note, the paparazzi woman’s name was changed to ‘Jung Hyeyoung’ in the raws. I kept it ‘Jung Hyesung’ for the sake of consistency. Please let me know if I accidentally write ‘Jung Hyeyoung’.
