Top Management

Lee Songha walked towards me.

Leaning against the car, she spoke.

"Sorry. I was worried because the atmosphere seemed a bit off."

"Did you hear?"

"I barely heard any sound. The soundproofing is better than I thought."

Still, some words reached my ears.

Words that stirred up my insides so much that I could barely resist the urge to get into the car.

"Are you okay?"

"Actually, I'm fine now."

Her voice was calmer than I expected.

"You see a lot of families like that in the news or dramas. Fighting over money, filing lawsuits, families worse than enemies. But I'm not like that. It's like biting ten fingers and finding one that hurts less..."

Lee Songha said, stretching out her hand.

"I'm that finger. The one that hurts less."

Suddenly, I remembered the late autumn when I first met Lee Songha.

When she became a fixed cast member on Next K-Star. I vividly remember her pulling out her phone several times, hoping for her family's call, only to find no messages.

How long has it been since I've seen her like that?

Since when did Lee Songha stop waiting for her family's call? How much hope and disappointment must have passed until she turned around with such a nonchalant face?

As I tried to calm my stifled heart, Lee Songha asked.

"Would you like to have dinner together at home?"

"Dinner?"

"My sisters were planning to go out today but had to cancel."

I glanced at Lee Songha. Even though she said it was nothing, somehow she seemed a bit down. Considering the accumulated stress, it wouldn't hurt to have a change of mood while enjoying some delicious food.

"Why not."

"Really?"

"Yeah. What should we get?"

Suddenly, Lee Songha laughed out loud. Her steps became lighter.

As we exchanged trivial conversations, we walked together for the first time in a while.

*

After having dinner with Neptune's kids, I visited my brother's house for the first time in a while. Since my sister-in-law was on a business trip, my brother was going through a rough time dealing with the quadruplets alone.

After handing out two pizzas to the kids, I finally sat facing my brother.

"I heard you met the actors' families today. Did everything go well?"

"One side went well. The other... well, I endured it."

My brother handed me a can of beer with a puzzled look.

"Do you remember ever feeling discriminated against at home?"

"Discriminated? By whom? By you?"

"Yeah."

Taking off my glasses and resting them on the sofa armrest, my brother muttered.

"I don't think so. If anything, it should be you, right? Suddenly being burdened with the kids when they were dropped off like that. Our parents couldn't pay much attention to you either. I still feel guilty about that."

"It's nothing. It was like a natural disaster."

The taste was bitter. After finishing a can of beer, I changed the subject.

"By the way, when are Mom and Dad coming up?"

"Why?"

"I thought it would be nice if they came up around that time so we could all have a meal together with your wife and kids. I know a good restaurant. We could have a meal and then maybe go to the department store."

"A department store?"

"Yeah, you know how it goes in dramas. Families go to the department store and buy a set of clothes each. I thought it was cheesy, but after experiencing it today, I understand why it's such a common scene in dramas. It just feels good."

While watching Nam Joyoon, who was choosing clothes with much more enthusiasm than usual, I thought.

"You have to spend money to enjoy."

"Then let's just take Mom and Dad. Kids' clothes are so expensive these days. If we pick out one set each at the department store, you'll go bankrupt."

"Don't worry. I received a huge incentive this time. And I also made some personal investments in City Jungle."

My brother's eyes widened.

"You invested?"

Yeah.

I'm thinking about where to move since the house prices seem to be coming up.

"So don't worry..."

I was interrupted by a phone call from an unknown number.

"Excuse me, hello?"

-Is this Director Jung Sunwoo's phone?

It was a woman's voice. Unfamiliar yet oddly familiar.

A journalist? Or maybe a fan?

"Yes, who's this?"

-This is Kang Jiaan.

Kang Jiaan? The one who received the UBS Acting Award last year?

"I'm sorry for calling you out of the blue. I got your number from an acquaintance..."

"No, it's okay. What can I do for you?"

-It's not about anything else, but it's been a few months since I left my agency. There were some differences in opinions. I've been working alone, but it's been tough, so I'm looking into a new company. I've been hearing a lot about Director Jung and..."

Since City Jungle's success, these kinds of contacts have increased significantly.

Still, Kang Jiaan's stature was rare. A versatile actor famous for sweeping awards with every project.

As I recalled Kang Jiaan's filmography in my mind.

-So, what I'm saying is, do you have any thoughts about going independent?

"...Yes?"

- I want to work with Director Jung, but I don't think my style matches well with W&U. If you have any thoughts about going independent, please let me know.

The call ended with a request to contact her if I had any thoughts about going independent.

"You've really made it. You're not staying still."

My brother asked lightly if he heard the content.

"But really, no thoughts about going independent?"

Independent, huh.

Investors, business partners, people who approach me with smiling faces, coaxing and pushing me. How many of them, among those who seek the Midas touch rather than Jung Sunwoo's, would still stand by me even after my failure? Are there any?

"How much have I earned now, and how many people are attached to my team? They all say this and that."

"Well... that's how it is."

"And if I were to start a company myself, there would be too much to worry about. Even if I get investment and start, there would be interference left and right. Then, would that still be my company? Right now, I'm not thinking about it."

As I said that, the phone vibrated again in my hand.

I thought it might be Kang Ji-an with some urgent matter, but it wasn't. The name of Baek Hansung, the CEO, was displayed on the screen. Of all times, why now? Rubbing my suddenly chilly neck, I answered the call.

"Yes, sir."

- How about Monday afternoon for a meeting? If you're not busy, I'd like to have a chat.

"That's fine. What time should I come?"

-No, not at the office. How about meeting at my place after work?

...At his place?

*

Finally, it was Monday morning.

After spending the weekend at home reviewing the screenplay, my neck and shoulders felt stiff. Clearly, the office chair was more comfortable. Should I buy the same one?

I cracked three eggs into the frying pan and scrambled them, when the doorbell rang.

Checking my phone, it was from the PR team. Damn it.

If the PR team calls in the morning, it's usually about some incident. Either a celebrity got involved in an incident, had an accident, or caused one. Either way, it's all a mess.

"Yes, Team Leader Park."

- Have you seen the article that just came out?

I searched through the entertainment news on my tablet, nestled in the corner of the sofa.

"No, what's going on?"

My nerves tensed up. Living in a world where things change a dozen times overnight is truly hard on the heart.

There's no headline about W&U for now. No familiar names either.

What's going on?

- There's an article about the casting of Kwon Inju.

"That's who... Oh, the actor who played the ex-boyfriend in Eden Hill?"

- Yes, that actor has been cast in Stranger.

I hadn't expected such news, so I slapped my cheek in disbelief.

It's not a dream.

"So, is this real? Stranger?"

- Well, we haven't been able to reach the agency yet.

"Anyway, I got it. We'll hold off on sending the press release until things quiet down a bit."

"Press release?"

Relieved, I approached the frying pan. The eggs had turned into a gruesome mess. I turned off the induction stove and slumped onto the sofa.

"You scared me thinking something happened."

- Why, were you worried someone got into an accident? There's nothing for your team to worry about. Your guys don't drink and drive, gamble, or have public relationships. Oh, but Mr. Juwon needs to be careful. He's too into social media.

I looked up the article that Team Leader Park mentioned.

The actor Kwon Inju had been cast in a significant supporting role in the movie Stranger, according to an unconfirmed speculative article. It was spreading like wildfire.

Quite the buzz. Stranger is a franchise that has been churning out sequels since its first release over a decade ago, breaking box office records. It has a considerable fanbase domestically as well.

While there have been Korean actors appearing in Hollywood blockbusters before, it's rare for them to have a substantial role. Even rarer for it to be a commercial success. And even if it does happen, it's usually a one-time thing.

I looked at Kwon Inju smiling innocently in the photo.

"So, is this real? Stranger?"

- Well, I don't know. The agency hasn't been in touch.

"Anyway, got it. We'll wait until things calm down to send out the press release."

- Okay. And...

Team Leader Park hesitated for a moment before continuing.

- The journalists will start talking about Neptune's contract renewal soon.

"Contract renewal? Neptune still has two years left on their contract, right?"

- Only two years left. And there's been talk about it for a while. Once the contract expires, it'll be difficult for Neptune to maintain the group, whether they disband altogether or just Songha leaves, or however it goes.

"I thought it would be quiet until the end of this year."

- But Songha is too prominent.

Contract renewal.

Just thinking about the reporters buzzing around made my ears itch.

Was Baek Hansung suddenly suggesting meeting at his place because of this?

I hung up and sank into thought. Amidst the chaos in my mind, I suddenly remembered something Itaehui had said a while ago. Since Songha is far ahead on her own, we can't let ourselves fall too far behind, even if we can't catch up.

"..."

And then, out of the blue, something came to mind.

After thinking for about ten seconds, I called Itaehui.

"What's up in the morning? What happened?"

Itaehui asked with a groggy voice, as if she had just woken up.

"No. There's a movie set to be released during this year's Christmas season. Let It Snow."

- ...What?

Let It Snow. A high school romantic comedy.

Out of the seven foreign films imported by World Art Pictures, it's expected to be the highest-grossing film domestically, surpassing even Hollywood blockbusters.

Whether the soundtrack work is already finished or still in progress, and how to approach it if it's still ongoing, everything is up in the air. I should check if Itaehui has the capacity to handle it and also get the company's opinion.

Even though it's uncertain whether Let It Snow will succeed only domestically or become a global hit.

Still.

"Itaehui. This is a bit out of the blue, but..."

- What is it?

"Would you like to create a carol?"

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