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I took Choi Go-eun and Manager Choi Cheol to a high-end Japanese restaurant in Gangnam. Since it was a meeting, we went into the private room I had booked in advance, and Director Na Jun-hu was already looking over the script when he got to his feet.
"Ah, you've arrived, Chief Manager Kwon?"
At his words, I smiled and answered, "I'm not a chief manager, Director Na."
"Pardon? Then..."
"It's a little awkward to say it myself, but I was promoted to team leader a few days ago."
Director Na Jun-hu's eyes widened. Choi Go-eun, sitting beside him, shot me a stunned look.
"Wow... Chief Manager, do you really have to make it that obvious? That was genuinely embarrassing."
I ignored Choi Go-eun's grumbling with great effort.
Watching the two of us, Director Na Jun-hu let out a delighted laugh.
"Haha, that's my mistake. Then I should be calling you Team Leader Kwon now?"
"Call me whatever is comfortable for you, Director."
"Your title changed, so I should use the proper one. Congratulations on the promotion, Team Leader Kwon."
I took my seat as I accepted Director Na Jun-hu's congratulations. After exchanging a light greeting with Park Ho, Director Na Jun-hu turned his head and looked at Choi Go-eun.
"Hello, Actor Choi. This is the first time we've met since the Busan International Film Festival, isn't it?"
Choi Go-eun answered with a slightly tense expression. "Yes. Have you been well, Director?"
"I've been fine. I've been working on the screenplay, and I also served as an awards presenter at Baeksang... Ah! I ran into Team Leader Kwon at Baeksang too, did you hear about that?"
Director Na Jun-hu brought up one topic after another in a gentle voice. He seemed to be trying to ease Choi Go-eun's nerves.
Maybe it worked. Choi Go-eun, who had looked tense at the title of Two Billion Tickets, relaxed her face and started asking questions of her own.
Watching them over a sip of barley tea, I muttered, "Mr. Park Ho."
Park Ho, who was more nervous than anyone else at the table, jumped and answered, "Y-Yes? Team Leader?"
"Keep today in mind. From now on, you'll be going to meetings with Actor Choi Go-eun in my place."
"!"
Park Ho's eyes went wide.
"U-Um... you're saying I should do that, sir?"
"I can't keep coming along to every meeting forever, can I? Starting with the next schedule, you'll need to take the lead on this kind of thing."
"..."
At my words, Park Ho's shoulders trembled with tension.
He still gets nervous the moment meetings come up.
I wondered if I should give him a little more time, but then I shook my head.
After becoming team leader, even if only temporarily, work had begun flooding in at a completely different level from when I had been a chief manager.
In that situation, I couldn't keep dragging Park Ho and Choi Cheol along to every meeting forever.
By now, Park Ho and Choi Cheol need to carry their own weight, just like Lee Ye-ji.
One thing was fortunate: Park Ho was tense, but he wasn't short on passion. Smiling as I watched Manager Park Ho pull out a notebook from somewhere and start jotting things down furiously, I turned my head again.
Choi Go-eun and Director Na Jun-hu were chatting in a pleasantly lively way.
After watching for the right opening, I casually asked when their conversation paused, "Um, Director?"
"Yes, Team Leader Kwon?"
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm so curious I can't help myself."
I leaned forward.
"While you're talking with Actor Choi Go-eun, would you mind showing me a little of the new script?"
At my words, Director Na Jun-hu burst out laughing.
"Oh dear, I should have shown it to you first and completely forgot. I'm sorry, Team Leader Kwon."
Director Na Jun-hu started rummaging through the bag placed beside his seat. A moment later, a fairly thick synopsis and script appeared in his hands.
"It's only a working title for now, but the title I've been thinking of is Love in May."
Love in May...
He had said the next project was a romance, and the title already gave off a distinctly romantic feeling.
"Please read it slowly and tell me what you think, Team Leader Kwon."
I carefully opened the script and synopsis Director Na Jun-hu handed me.
Choi Go-eun, sitting beside me, kept glancing between my face and the script with curious eyes.
But my whole attention was already fixed on the director's new screenplay, and I had no room to spare.
First page.
First sentence.
Within it, one line caught my eye.
"It was a love that deserved condemnation."
A love that deserved condemnation. What on earth did that mean?
My eyes moved to the next sentence.
And so I kept turning over each word, reading the script on and on for a long time.
A low breath escaped me.
"It's a love story between a teacher and a student."
Director Na Jun-hu nodded. "Yes, that's right. More precisely, a professor and a student... though I suppose you could also call it a teacher and student romance. So, what do you think, Team Leader Kwon?"
Director Na Jun-hu asked with a confident expression. "I put a lot of thought into this script. Does it look all right to you?"
Did it look all right? No, the question was whether I could even call it just all right.
Since joining the company, I had read dozens of scripts and screenplays. My instincts were telling me something now.
This is going to hit.
Director Na Jun-hu's new project, Love in May, was the most polished script I had read in a long time.
A teacher-student romance is one of the most frequently used themes among love stories.
So at first glance, Love in May could have been a dull story. If a story had been used that many times already, that also meant there were plenty of substitutes for it.
But Director Na Jun-hu transformed that stale premise into something charming with his trademark witty dialogue and vivid characters.
The conflict of a professor falling in love with a student.
An instinctive pull that overrode social decorum, honor, and status.
Despite being a romance film, the tension I usually only felt in thrillers or horror films kept pounding at my heart as I read on.
It had been so long since I had seen a script of this quality that, for a moment, I forgot I was in a meeting and found myself admiring it purely as a reader.
Of course, it wasn't without flaws.
"Director."
"Yes, Team Leader Kwon."
"I really like the screenplay, but..."
I trailed off and tilted my head.
"Did you intentionally leave the ending scene blank?"
"Well..."
Director Na Jun-hu shrugged.
"To be honest, I haven't decided on the ending yet."
Huh?
He had written a script of this quality and still hadn't decided on the ending?
Director Na Jun-hu clicked his tongue and explained, "I'm torn between an open ending, a closed ending, a sad ending, or a happy one... Any ending would work, really, but the script came out so well that I've gotten greedy, so I've left the ending unfinished for now."
Ah, so he'd fallen prey to the so-called "my writing sucks" sickness?
"Still, you do have some kind of ending in mind, right?"
"Of course. Think of it as being undecided among several options I've already settled on."
At the same time, Director Na Jun-hu asked in an offhand tone, "The protagonist, Kim Yeoreum, was created with Actor Choi Go-eun in mind... How does she seem to you, Team Leader Kwon?"
How did she seem? Excellent.
A character with a lively personality, sharp banter, and the youth and energy of someone in her twenties.
The image of Kim Yeoreum fit Choi Go-eun perfectly.
"You didn't just think of Actor Choi Go-eun for no reason, did you, Director? The character matches her image too well."
"Haha, really? That's a relief. I put a lot of thought into it, but hearing that her image comes through so clearly..."
Director Na Jun-hu smiled with obvious satisfaction at my answer.
Watching him, I thought, Is there any reason to hesitate in a situation like this?
The work, the role, and the actor all fit together perfectly. Even the director did.
According to the Future Text Messages, there would be an investment problem with Director Na Jun-hu's next project, but even that could become another opportunity for me.
After sorting out my thoughts, I made the offer immediately.
"If Actor Choi Go-eun is willing, I definitely want to take this project."
"!"
Director Na Jun-hu's eyes widened.
Apparently he hadn't expected me to make an offer so quickly; interest flickered in his gaze.
At that moment, Choi Go-eun, who had been listening quietly, tapped my shoulder.
"Hey, Chief Manager."
"Not chief manager. Team leader."
"...T-Then, Team Leader? Shouldn't I read the script too?"
Her words made a good idea flash through my head.
"Actor Choi."
"Yes?"
"Since you're reading the script anyway, why don't we try a read-through too?"
At my suggestion, Director Na Jun-hu's eyes widened once more. Choi Go-eun scratched her cheek and asked back, "Right now?"
"Yes. You can do it, can't you?"
"...Well, sure, I can."
Choi Go-eun gave a brisk nod.
"Can I read the script first?"
"Yes. Once you've read it all, let's try the first scene."
Choi Go-eun opened the script and lowered her head.
Seeing her like that, the interest flickering in Director Na Jun-hu's eyes burned even brighter.
A little later, Choi Go-eun lifted her eyes from the script and said to me, "Should we start, Team Leader?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
Choi Go-eun opened her mouth.
"May, the border between spring and summer."
Her voice was a shade higher than usual.
Because of that, her fresh, lively tone carried a surprising warmth.
Not winter, but the border between spring and summer.
Like the coziness of a season resting somewhere in between.
"At the end of that season, I met this person."
With the line, Choi Go-eun's eyes and expression fell in love.
Director Na Jun-hu, watching the read-through, slowly let his mouth fall open.
As I watched him, laughter stirred inside me.
"My first love, the most lovely man in my life."
What was it, really, when a director fell in love with an actor?
The moment an actor perfectly embodied the role the director had created, the director usually fell in love with the actor.
And right now, one director was falling head over heels for one actress's performance.
"I believe that love is fate."
The double-billion-ticket director had fallen completely for a rookie actress.
Maybe it was because of Choi Go-eun's read-through. My meeting with Director Na Jun-hu ended on a positive note.
"Thank you for all your hard work, Team Leader Kwon."
"Thank you for traveling all this way, Director."
"I'll draft the contract and send it over right away."
The next day after the meeting ended, not even a full day had passed before the contract from Director Na Jun-hu's agency arrived, and when I saw it, I was startled.
"Why are the terms so good?"
For a rookie actress, the signing fee he offered was substantial.
Thirty million won... Isn't that about what most established actors get for leading an independent film?
When I thought about how Multicultural had only had a budget of thirty million won, I could feel just how large Choi Go-eun's signing fee really was.
As the corner of my mouth lifted, the 4th Team Leader, who had been heading somewhere, stopped walking and said, "Hey, temporary 6th Team Leader."
"...?"
"The Head of Department called all the team leaders, so you'd better hurry."
At his words, I raised my eyebrows and quickly started walking as I asked, "What is this sudden summons from the Head of Department, 4th Team Leader?"
"I just heard about it while I was coming in this morning, so I don't know the details. Honestly, a call from your boss first thing in the morning? What kind of nonsense is that?"
The 4th Team Leader got into the elevator with me and said, "But Team Leader Kwon, I saw your face a minute ago and you looked downright pleased. Something good happen?"
"Ah, yesterday's meeting ended well."
"Meeting with who?"
"Director Na Jun-hu."
The 4th Team Leader stared at me with his mouth hanging open.
"W-What? Director Na Jun-hu? You mean the one I know?"
"If you mean the director who's made two films with ten million admissions each, then yes."
"...You signed a contract for his next project?"
"Yes, but it's not a commercial film. It's an independent film."
"..."
The 4th Team Leader looked at me as though I were some strange life-form.
"If it's Director Na Jun-hu, then even an indie film is a big deal. Why are you talking about it so casually?"
"Oh? Really?"
"Wow, have you gotten so successful lately that you've turned arrogant?"
Hmm.
Had I answered that arrogantly?
At that moment, the 4th Team Leader tapped my shoulder and said, "Team Leader Kwon, I thought your luck only lasted through last year. Are you telling me it's still going this year too?"
"If that were true, I'd have no complaints."
"If that luck comes through again, I think I'll have to work under you."
"Sorry, I only hire selectively, 4th Team Leader."
By the time I finished talking with the 4th Team Leader, we had arrived in front of the Head of Department's office. The 4th Team Leader knocked lightly and said, "Head of Department, the 4th Team Leader and temporary 6th Team Leader are here."
"Ah, come in."
When we opened the door and went inside, every team leader except the two of us was already gathered.
1st Team Leader Park Chan-ho. 2nd Team Leader Ho Jun-ho. Temporary 3rd Team Leader Lee Jae-min. 5th Team Leader Ma Seok-du.
The 4th Team Leader and I gave a light greeting to Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon, exchanged nods with the other team leaders, and sat down carefully.
Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon, seated in the place of honor, looked steadily at the six team leaders gathered in one place before opening the meeting in a light tone.
"You must all be tired, being called in first thing in the morning."
1st Team Leader spoke first. "It's not even our regular meeting day. Is something wrong, Head of Department?"
"Oh dear, 1st Team Leader. Aren't you going straight for the point a little too quickly?"
With that, Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon burst out laughing.
Watching him, I tilted my head.
Why does Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon look so cheerful?
Had something good happened?
Just then, Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon leaned forward.
"The year-end review that had been delayed because of the expansion in team leader positions."
"!"
"The results came out this morning. Looking at the review scores, I could see how hard our management team leaders and managers worked last year."
The eyes of every team leader, starting with the 1st, widened.
While they were doing that, Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon rose to his feet and handed each team leader a document.
Only then did my mind fully catch up. My Adam's apple bobbed hard.
The year-end review scores are out.
The results of all the hard running around I did over the course of last year were contained in those documents.
With careful eyes, I slowly read through the papers Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon had handed me.
A little later, after checking the results for each team over the past year, I lifted my head.
With a strange expression, I looked at Team Leader Ma Seok-du.
By then, the other team leaders who had checked the review results were also looking at the 5th Team Leader.
The only one who still couldn't take his eyes off the document let out a belated exclamation.
"...Huh?"
Team Leader Ma Seok-du's reaction looked almost broken.
Watching that, I thought to myself, The 5th Team has been dead last every year, right?
Probably.
At least as far as I knew, Brother Seok-du's 5th Team had finished in last place every single time.
Even with Lee Ha-eun in that team, they were still perpetual last place. No wonder Brother Seok-du had been burning up inside.
From the outside he looked more like a back-alley thug than a manager, but Brother Seok-du was the kind of man whose insides were pure soft-hearted girlhood.
Whether anyone else knew it or not, he must have been through a lot alone.
And then he had shaken all of that off from the first day of the new year.
The 5th Team had recorded second place in performance over the past year.
Excluding the 1st Team, which was basically the face of Baekhak, they had become the team with the highest sales last year.
And the man leading that team let out a belated sigh.
"...Ah."
Team Leader Ma Seok-du lowered his head. His face couldn't be seen because of it, but I didn't need to see it to know what expression he was wearing, and before I realized it, a grin spread across my own face.
Then Head of Department Park Yu-hyeon tapped Team Leader Ma Seok-du's shoulder and said, "You worked hard, Team Leader Ma."
There was no elaborate congratulations. Just those simple words: you worked hard. But right now, that one sentence was probably worth more to Brother Seok-du than a hundred others.
Because of that, Team Leader Ma Seok-du couldn't easily part his lips and hesitated.
But no one rushed him.
Team Leader Ma Seok-du was, in a way, the mascot of the management division.
Being an employee everyone loved was, in a different sense, harder than simply being an employee who was good at his job.
The team leaders, myself included, quietly waited and let the moment breathe as the man loved by everyone received recognition for the first time.
And a little later, Team Leader Ma Seok-du answered in a voice slightly thick with tears.
"Thank you, Head of Department."
With Team Leader Ma Seok-du looking as though he might burst into tears at any moment, gentle smiles spread across the faces of everyone gathered in the Head of Department's office, myself included.
"I'll work even harder from now on. Thank you."
The cheerful rebellion of the forever-last 5th Team had begun.