Weekend Reset
It was the weekend.
A future message had come flying in.
But this time, there were two of them, not one.
Two future events that hadn’t even happened yet had flown in.
Affair? An occult film?
The provocative words stirred my interest.
But my head, in contrast, looked like it had no intention of moving.
The fatigue that had piled up over the past few days of incidents and accidents had finally burst after my meeting with Representative Baek.
I thought about it for a moment, then turned off my smartphone.
Let’s rest.
I’d run too hard.
Right now, I needed a break.
Fortunately, tomorrow was Saturday.
I got off work early and slept deeply.
I lazed around without even washing my face, then binged the dramas and films I’d fallen behind on.
By the time my body had started to feel stiff, I got up from bed and went to the neighborhood bathhouse.
I soaked myself in the sauna and sweated out everything I had, and my dull skin felt like it had come back to life.
After spending two full days doing nothing but eating and sleeping, I could feel both my body and mind recharging.
“Good.”
Now it was time to work again.
I grabbed the steering wheel and headed for Sangam Training Center.
***
To.Any’s mid-check was coming up soon, so instead of Baekhak headquarters, I drove to Sangam Training Center.
Still breathing in the cool summer air, I found myself humming without realizing it.
“Hmm-hmm~ hmm~.”
It really seemed like people needed to rest when they rested.
After a full weekend off, I felt so good that I felt almost too good.
“It’s exhausting to have to work off the rest you’ve had, but... can’t be helped.”
Future messages, To.Any’s mid-check, and the bet with Representative Baek...
A lot of things had already ended, but a lot of things had also begun.
It felt like I should probably sort everything out once, while I had the chance.
“What’s the most urgent thing? The future message?”
There were two future messages this time.
And the first one was surprisingly hinting at an affair.
So a male actor Baekhak brought in cheated with a married woman...
Two faces surfaced naturally in my mind.
“Seo Tae-jun, Choi Su-hyeon.”
Seo Tae-jun, the Romance Prince.
Choi Su-hyeon, the rising star everyone in Chungmuro was talking about.
Those were the only two actors Baekhak had brought in recently.
Without meaning to, I scratched my chin.
“Tsk... that scales things up a bit.”
I didn’t know about Choi Su-hyeon, but if Seo Tae-jun, the one called the Romance Prince, had an affair...
Then the fallout from this incident would rival what happened with Director Kim Jang-hun.
Because the Romance Prince would become the Affair Prince.
The problem was that Team 5 looked ready to inherit that possible bomb called Seo Tae-jun.
Team 5’s leader, Seok-du hyung, was doing everything he could to bring Seo Tae-jun over.
“The bigger problem is that they were planning to dump that possible bomb on me.”
That made it important to confirm that Seo Tae-jun was not, in fact, the Affair Prince...
But for whatever capricious reason, the future message had sent only the headline, not the full article.
Thanks to that, I couldn’t tell whether the affair involved Seo Tae-jun or Choi Su-hyeon.
In that case, I’ll probably have to go check it myself.
After some thought, I nodded.
“For now, I’ll put the affair matter on hold.”
It wasn’t something I could check immediately anyway.
There was no need to rush.
That naturally brought the second future message to mind.
“An occult film pulling 5 million...”
If the first future message was a troublesome issue, the second was an interesting one.
An occult film, 5 million viewers.
That was a remarkable number in the current market.
And on top of that, the fact that an occult film crossed 5 million viewers is genuinely astonishing.
The problem was that, here too, all I got was the headline, so I had no idea what the film title was.
Still, it was better than the affair message.
I had at least a route to check the screenplay side right away.
I dug through my phone contacts and called Seok-du hyung.
“Seok-du hyung.”
[“Yeah, our Kwon Sil-jang.”]
“Among the scripts that have been circulating lately, is there anything in the occult genre?”
Seok-du hyung asked, sounding confused.
[“That’s a fine thing to look for, but why occult all of a sudden?”]
“I watched The Exorcist and The Conjuring yesterday while I was off.”
At my casual excuse, Seok-du hyung let out a suspicious laugh.
[“What, are you already looking for a script to use with actor Seo Tae-jun?”]
Hmm.
That was still unknown, wasn’t it?
Seo Tae-jun might not be the Romance Prince at all, but the Affair Prince.
[“Hey, hey, even so, why occult? Do you really think occult films will sell in this market?”]
“I’m just looking. If you have time, gather some occult scripts for me.”
[“Jeez. Sometimes I think you’re the team leader, not me.”]
“I’m hanging up.”
After ending the call, I fell back into thought.
All right, the future messages were done...
That left To.Any’s mid-check?
Because issues had been popping up one after another, I hadn’t been able to make it to Sangam Training Center, but when I’d spoken with Director Choi Jeong-eun on the phone, the work didn’t seem to be slowing down.
She said the parts distribution was almost finished and the album structure was being reorganized around a double title track...
Once next week’s interim inspection with Director Park Yu-hyeon was over, there wasn’t much left to touch on To.Any’s side.
Maybe I should focus a little more on the debut showcase... and then just meet with the music show PDs to sort out the schedule?
While the iron was hot, I might as well strike.
Once the training center work was done, stopping by the broadcasting station didn’t sound bad either.
I sorted through everything and nodded.
“Doable.”
Maybe it was because I’d rested well over the weekend and was in a more positive frame of mind.
The situation was a little tangled, but I didn’t feel bothered or irritated.
If anything, just thinking about the results after these incidents were over made my anticipation swell.
“Let’s just run on this tension until To.Any’s debut.”
I shrugged and got out of the car.
I headed for the 24-hour cafe I always visited whenever I came to Sangam Training Center.
I kept the order simple with an Americano, then asked for a few salt bread rolls for a snack.
While waiting for the takeout, I idly scrolled through my smartphone and suddenly thought of Queen of Joseon.
“...”
In the short silence, a fleeting thought passed through my head.
After scratching my head once, I searched for Queen of Joseon.
Episode 6 viewership: 16.5%.
Peak viewership: 17.4%.
The peak rating had dipped, but the average rating had gone up again.
Maybe because this episode was a buildup episode?
The comments suggested as much.
The fans’ reactions weren’t bad.
On the contrary, they seemed to be looking forward to the next episode.
At that moment, I suddenly became curious.
“How far will it go?”
Representative Baek had predicted 20 percent.
I had predicted 25 percent.
And if the current trend kept up...
“25 percent really does look possible.”
It seemed closer to my prediction than Representative Baek’s.
***
It was a small thing.
But once a person started thinking positively, even a tiny thing could feel good for no reason.
Did my prediction beat Representative Baek’s?
That prediction from the legendary Baek Ji-won?
I muttered like an idiot about what normally I would never have said, then headed for Studio 3.
A thing so black it looked like a human form waved at me.
“... You’re here. Chief Manager Kwon?”
It was Director Choi Jeong-eun, with her dark circles hanging all the way down to her jaw.
“Are you all right?”
“No. I’m not all right.”
“I brought some coffee. Have it while you work, Director Choi.”
Director Choi Jeong-eun began sucking at the coffee I handed her like a baby.
While she did that, a familiar voice came from inside the recording room.
“Oh! Chief Manager!”
It was the To.Any members, who had started wearing short sleeves as the weather turned hotter.
My mouth curled up without me realizing it.
“You’re working hard on the rerecording?”
“Yes. We got an okay sign from the director right away today.”
Ga-eul, who answered for the group, widened her eyes a little.
“...But, Chief Manager.”
“Yes?”
“Is something good happening?”
“Hm?”
“...You seem kind of sparkly today.”
At Ga-eul’s words, my eyes widened slightly.
...What?
Could a weekend sauna really show that much?
Then Director Choi Jeong-eun, who’d been downing coffee like it was life itself, shouted out.
“Oh! Is that why you’re in such a good mood, Chief Manager Kwon?”
“Huh?”
“Queen of Joseon is going absolutely crazy right now, isn’t it! Aren’t you in a good mood because of actress Lee Ha-eun?”
The To.Any girls’ eyes went wide.
“.....What?”
“.........Huh?”
“............Really?”
A low silence fell over the recording room.
“...............”
Regaining my senses too late, I hurriedly made an excuse.
“Ah, I was her manager, but it was just a brief stop along the way...”
To.Any came rushing in all at once.
“Whaaaaaaat!!”
“D-Director, Chief Manager!!! I’m a huge Lee Ha-eun fan!”
“You were really Lee Ha-eun’s former manager?”
“Woooow... Actress Lee Ha-eun is really that pretty?”
“I-I saw the article! Lee Ha-eun’s former manager’s name was... Kwon Chan!”
“Chief Manager... you were actress Lee Ha-eun’s former manager...”
“Amazing...”
The questions poured in without a pause.
Without thinking, I let out a heavy sigh.
Director Choi Jeong-eun, why would you bring up something useless like that... seriously.
Was it because Queen of Joseon was doing so well?
These days, wherever I went, questions like that came pouring down on me.
Was Lee Ha-eun really that pretty?
Was her temper really that foul?
Were you happy these days because of Lee Ha-eun?
Well, it was true that I’d benefited from Lee Ha-eun, but if I was being honest, I didn’t really want to bring it up.
That’s why I’d deliberately kept it from the To.Any girls...
But Director Choi Jeong-eun had ruined everything.
Looking at the mood, I can’t just let this pass.
What was I supposed to do now?
Just when the situation had become a little awkward, Ga-eul raised her hand.
“...Isn’t the Chief Manager an amazing person?”
“?”
“If you’re in charge of someone like actress Lee Ha-eun, you have to be a really capable manager, right?”
It was just a simple line.
And yet, surprisingly, that simple line changed the atmosphere.
“Oh.....?”
The To.Any girls’ eyes went round.
“Oh... yeah, I guess that does make sense.”
“That sounds right.”
“Our manager used to manage the Queen of Joseon...?”
Director Choi Jeong-eun added from the side, “No matter how you look at it, he never really had the vibe of an ordinary chief manager. But girls, do you know something?”
“What is it, Director?”
“Chief Manager Kwon is younger than me!”
“...What? Really!?”
“I was shocked when I heard it too. How is that atmosphere twenty-eight years old?”
The subject naturally changed.
I blinked like an idiot, then turned to look at Ga-eul.
Ga-eul, who had been working hard to steer the conversation away, happened to look back at me at the same moment.
And then Ga-eul...
smiled like a puppy.
-Thump.
My chest actually sank.
That wasn’t just a figure of speech.
Is she an angel?
No, maybe she really was.
Seeing her smile so prettily, she had to be an angel.
Feeling my chest warm up, I muttered, “Yeah. Autumn really is the best season.”
Her stage name was Ga-eul.
Even her name was the best kind of autumn.
***
After the commotion settled down, we began a brief meeting with Director Choi Jeong-eun.
“It’s going smoothly.”
Director Choi Jeong-eun said while sipping at her coffee.
“It’s going so smoothly that... I get the feeling something’s going to blow up at the very end?”
That meant things were going well.
In fact, Director Choi Jeong-eun had produced remarkable results.
She’d changed the album structure to a double title track in less than a month.
Director Choi Jeong-eun isn’t just full of passion. She’s got real ability too.
Someone like that was fine, even if her personality was a little prickly.
I nodded, then got around to the reason I’d come to the center today.
“Director Park Yu-hyeon will be coming to the center next week.”
Director Choi Jeong-eun’s eyes twitched.
“...For the mid-check, right?”
“Yes. So please keep the girls well on track, Director.”
Director Choi Jeong-eun nodded cautiously.
“My paycheck’s on the line too, so I’d better keep them on track. Man... I’m not getting off work this week either.”
When the meeting ended, rookie road manager Lee Ye-ji appeared at just the right moment.
I took out the corporate card I’d gotten from Seok-du hyung.
“Get something tasty for the girls and Director Choi Jeong-eun.”
“Oh! Thank you! But what about you, Chief Manager?”
“I’d like to eat with you too, but I’ve got a lot to do.”
“The girls keep saying they want to eat with you sometime...”
“Next time, I’ll definitely clear out time. Sorry.”
After handing over the card as well, it felt like everything I needed to do at the training center was done.
I got straight in the car and headed for SBC Broadcasting Station.
Before long, I could see idol fans occupying the space in front of the station.
“Ah, I’m hungry. Should we go get lunch?”
“Are you crazy? We don’t know when the oppas will come, so what do you mean, lunch?”
“Ooh! There’s a van over there! Isn’t that Hi-Teen?”
“Kyaaa! Oppa! Look over here!”
Wow.
This place hadn’t changed at all.
Fans gathered to watch the music show stage.
Photo-hunters with huge cameras firing off shots nonstop.
Entertainment reporters who hadn’t yet built up much career experience were scribbling in their notebooks.
My heart started thumping a little at the sight of the field I’d returned to after so long.
Screech-!
I parked in the underground lot and headed not for the broadcasting station, but for a nearby cafe.
“One mint chocolate latte and one iced Americano... ah, and pack up a few macarons too, please.”
After placing the order, I checked the time.
1:00 p.m.
It was time for lunch, and time for something sweet.
Perfect timing, isn’t it?
Today felt like everything was going smoothly.
Without realizing it, I let my lips curl slightly and headed for SBC Broadcasting Station.
“April still hasn’t arrived!?”
“No, how is it okay that there’s still a team that hasn’t finished their pre-recording yet?”
“Call Double A’s manager now!”
“Did Director Kame go out to smoke again? Where the hell is he!”
I passed through the corridor full of shouting and shrieking and reached the music show set.
Far ahead, a man in his early thirties with shaggy hair and a sharp expression was flipping through a script.
“Ha... these bastards are unbelievable, seriously. Hey! You can beg me all you want! There’s a fixed slot quota, so how am I supposed to change that on my own? Beg as much as you want, I’m not letting you on! So stop pestering me!”
Wow... SBC music show PD Choi Ho-cheol.
He still hadn’t lost that temper, huh?
Seeing him line up rookie road managers and beat them over the head verbally, he actually seemed even fiercer than before.
I picked up the takeout coffee and macaron set and walked silently toward PD Choi.
“PD Choi.”
“Jeez, you scared me!”
Choi Ho-cheol jerked his head around irritably.
“Who is th...”
His eyes widened when they met mine.
“...Oh? Isn’t that our Kwon Star!”
The music show PD who had been chewing out managers like a dog cracking its teeth just a moment ago broke into a broad smile.