Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Company Loyalty
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“Good work.”
“Oh dear, Actress Jeong Gyeowol, you've worked hard yourself.”
The PD who'd been eyeing me with distaste was now gazing at me warmly, like I was his own daughter.
First came the obsessive, manic glint in his eyes after my scene wrapped, and now this paternal affection leaking through.
This might be a little overwhelming.
Whatever the PD's expression, the meeting with the drama production team had wrapped up successfully.
Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin said he had some coordination left with the PD, so we exchanged farewells and stepped out of the office.
But...
“Um... could I maybe get an autograph...?”
“Ah, sure, of course.”
The office staff were waiting for me like baby birds with their beaks open for food, paper and pens at the ready.
A few stayed glued to their seats, faces twisted in clear disapproval.
They had the vibe of the baby birds' bosses.
If they got chewed out by their superiors over this, they'd just have to deal with it.
That was the weight of office life.
‘KS Entertainment was the same way. Why do all these people who must see celebrities all the time act like this?’
Wasn't there some unspoken rule in agencies and production companies against openly begging for autographs at work?
I was a total no-name newbie who hadn't even hit the screen yet.
So why were they shattering that rule just to snag my signature?
...I'd felt it ever since guys on the street tried hitting on me for my number, but apparently I had this aura that made me seem like an easy mark.
Still, their cute, orderly queue was so endearing I couldn't help but smirk.
It was pure enough to make me feel bad for comparing it to street pickups.
Mid-signing and photo ops, the office door swung open.
“...Junseung, you heading to action school or what?”
“Ah... Y-yeah, going now!”
The commotion must've drawn him out—Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin called to Manager Yoo Jun-seung with utter disbelief.
“Ah! Everyone! Sorry, but our actress has a packed schedule! Gotta wrap it here, apologies!”
“J-just one more shot!”
“No can do! Gotta hit the road now!”
He was acting like we'd get hit with a massive penalty if we were late to Seoul Action School.
Halfway through signing, Manager Yoo Jun-seung grabbed me and dragged me off.
I hopped in the car feeling like I'd just been kidnapped, and we peeled out.
“...See? Wouldn't it have been smarter to wait and roll out together? You could've knocked out those signatures, killed some time, and they'd have been out in a flash.”
I felt bad for the folks who'd queued up without getting their autographs.
And leaving Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin behind solo nagged at me a bit.
But the manager shook his head hard, like what was I even saying, and kept going.
“...The executive manager? No way. He probably saw it as his golden ticket to wrap up quick and head home, so he shooed us out first, right? Yeah?”
Was he trying to buddy up now?
Manager Yoo Jun-seung's speech had taken on this weird vibe.
‘I told him to drop the formalities, but... this is pushing it.’
Pick a lane—casual or polite.
Just one.
It was making my ears itch just listening.
And it felt way more awkward than straight talk.
But he was trying to get closer in his own way... so I'd grit my teeth through the awkward half-formal mishmash.
It'd smooth out with time.
“I figured he'd head straight to action school after the meeting...”
“...N-no way he'd do that? Nah? Hope not!”
He kept muttering denials, but he looked uneasy too.
Finally, he cracked: “Ah... shoulda given him a lift! Argh!”
Looked like my words had gotten to him after all.
Our manager, so green at office politics—bailing like this just 'cause his boss and mentor said go first? Not a good look.
I might skate by, but you? Rough road ahead.
But... come to think of it, I hadn't suggested we all go together either.
‘...’
Damn... should've at least said let's ride as a group.
Truth was, I was just as bad at this social stuff.
Our duo's future looked bumpy as hell.
‘My future looked bumpy as hell.’
We rolled up to action school, and boom—right back to getting drilled.
Shouldn't daily workouts make it easier to push through bit by bit?
Why did mine feel harder every single day?
“...Feels like the point isn't exercise—it's just torturing me. Right? My imagination?”
“Oh... you're sharper than I thought.”
Action Director Bae Gi-young was an old-timer in the industry—senior enough to be a grand mentor—so I’d begged him to drop the formalities like he did with his other students. He finally gave in.
“Once drama shoots start, stamina's gonna tank—how about dialing back the workouts a tad?”
“Nope. No dice. Cut the crap and keep training. You're resting just by yapping. It's obvious.”
“...Roger.”
Damn, caught red-handed.
Before, if I asked for a breather, he'd grant a little.
Now? Zero breaks.
Had to sneak them like this.
Told him to loosen up, and now he's too loose?
Might need to rebuild some professional distance.
Stretching, jump rope, footwork, weaving and rolling, then anaerobic conditioning.
After that, “techniques”: jabs, straights, hooks, uppers.
Showy boxing was all about flair, he said—demoed with huge, exaggerated swings...
His fist was a blur, and the whooshes sounded just like the “tch-” “chit-” noises I'd made shadowboxing at home.
I'd never been one to show off before, and I sure as hell wouldn't start now.
Out of nowhere, Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin showed up, schooling Manager Yoo Jun-seung on the basics.
Would've been nice if those two trained beside me... but nah, “handover duties” was their perfect out.
‘But... he really isn't planning to throw me in a tournament, is he?’
Seoul Action School was legit famous.
Actors prepped action scenes here all the time.
I'd spotted plenty while training.
As industry bottom-feeder, I'd always dash over first with greetings.
They were weirdly timid, though—now we just nod and do our own thing.
Anyway, they did workouts, boxing drills, etc., but nothing like my grind.
How intense was mine?
Newbie actors heading over to greet me assumed I was a school stuntwoman.
Hobbyist students straight-up thought I was a coach—went to the desk claiming they trained under me.
Stamina-wise, massive gains.
But the speed? Weirdly fast.
Muscle growth quicker than back when I was a guy.
Recovery too.
If I kept hammering anaerobics for months, someone'd ask if I was juicing.
‘...TS Beam perk or something.’
If word got out, some black-ops group might carve me up for study. Better stay low-key.
“...No clue what you're mulling, but skip cooldown? You're staying for night session. Up for it?”
“Doing it now! Cooldown time! I love cooldowns!”
No more daydreams. Locked in on training.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The office meeting was definitely yesterday.
Unless I'd blacked out mid-workout and lost days to coma or amnesia—yep, yesterday for sure.
But...
[Script reading's in two days?]
[(Photo) Yeah, spot's here.]
Reading in two days.
Manager was still doing that goofy half-formal thing, but that wasn't the point.
No one had breathed a word to me. And I hadn't asked anyone.
Whose screw-up was this? Whatever—too late to point fingers.
Text felt too clunky; I dialed.
“...Wasn't a peep about this yesterday.”
“Executive Manager lost it—production only passed it today. Supposed to mention at yesterday's meeting, but your acting blew their minds... They just hashed contracts, no signing from you, so cancellable anytime. Manager said he'd cover, so they slacked on the details.”
“Argh! Cancel what cancel! Hold on!”
Yanked the phone from my ear, yanked open the calendar—phew, no Atelier shoots.
Never dreamed the reading would drop this sudden.
Kim Gyu-jin had ripped them a new one for me...
Might've squeezed better terms our way.
‘Eh, that'll do.’
Past life flashbacks: even if reading was in an hour—“On my way!” No complaints.
Hell, rookies like me rarely even got called for readings.
Point is.
That's rookie life. No-name life.
Snafus like this? Chuckle it off—“Happens.”
No harm to me, no hit to the company.
Hell, now PD, screenwriter, and production owed us big.
Ammo to wield against a shark like CEO Kim Seul-ong anytime.
I was a 5 mil contract, 9.5 settlement actress.
If it helped the company? This was nothing.
Straight-up hiccup.
Even if it stung my pride, I'd tank it for the team.
‘CEO, you reading my mind?’
Hope he clocks my loyalty.