The First Shot Across the Bow
Baekhak.
I instinctively pulled Lee Ha-eun toward me. Her eyes flew wide open, and the next moment she was in my arms.
Keeping her there, I pushed her behind my back and whispered, "Hide behind me."
"..."
She didn’t answer. Instead, her breath, warm and shallow, brushed the nape of my neck.
Just as the last traces of alcohol were draining out of my body, the voice I’d heard a moment ago called my name again.
"Manager Kwon! Where are you?"
Seo Tae-jun, the other lead in Black Bride.
The tension that had been crawling up my spine eased.
So he still doesn't know where I am.
Then he must not have seen what had just happened, either. I let out a breath of relief and called back too late, "I'm out here smoking, Seo Tae-jun."
A moment later, Seo Tae-jun shot back, sounding offended. "What kind of smoker are you when you're drunk?"
"I'll be there in a second. Wait there."
After that shameless lie, I tried to turn and walk away. Lee Ha-eun caught hold of my finger and tugged.
Startled, I looked back. Her face was flushed bright red.
"Kwon Chan."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
My shoulders jolted hard.
"Y-yes?"
Lee Ha-eun stared at me with bloodshot eyes and whispered again, "Thank you, Kwon Chan."
I held my breath.
Her tone was completely unlike her usual self.
And her expression was strangely shy.
At that moment, my heart started hammering.
Lee Ha-eun of all people is thanking me?
I was genuinely shocked. Beneath that shock, something hot and unfamiliar began to simmer deep in my chest. I forced the feeling down and answered, "It's nothing. I'm your manager, that's all."
"Really? So you protected me because you're my manager?"
"Yes. Because I'm your manager."
Lee Ha-eun didn’t reply. She only looked at me quietly, a self-assured smile curling at the corners of her mouth. I averted my eyes from hers and stood up.
"Looks like he didn't see us, thankfully. Come out slowly."
With that, I turned away. Far off at the entrance to the barbecue restaurant, Seo Tae-jun was standing there at an angle, looking irritated.
"What kind of smoker are you when you're slurring your words from drinking?"
I let out a short breath at his grumbling and answered, "Didn't you know that drinking and smoking is one of a smoker's greatest pleasures?"
"Unbelievable. Seriously, ridiculous."
"More importantly, why did you come out, Seo Tae-jun?"
"Because a drunk person went outside alone, so I followed to make sure you were okay."
I gave a small laugh.
"Don't worry. I'm sober now."
Seo Tae-jun tilted his head. "Sober?"
"Yes. I'm perfectly fine."
"Doesn't look like it."
His gaze narrowed.
"Manager Kwon, your face is completely red."
My face was red? I reflexively touched my cheek and flinched.
"..."
He was right. My face was hot, hotter than I expected. In my mind, Lee Ha-eun's self-satisfied smile flashed back at me.
So that's why she smiled like that, huh?
Once I understood the situation, another laugh slipped out of me. Seo Tae-jun cocked his head.
"What? Why are you laughing all of a sudden, Manager Kwon?"
"I wonder. Why did I laugh?"
"...You're really sober, right?"
"Hmm. Maybe not quite yet."
"Jeez. How are you in sales when you can't handle alcohol this badly?"
"Good question. I didn't even know I was this bad with liquor."
"Are you going back in to drink more?"
At Seo Tae-jun's question, I turned my head and quietly looked in the direction I'd just come from.
"No. I think I'm going to go in and sleep."
A small smile lifted the corner of my mouth.
"I'm not in my right mind right now. I'm heading back to the lodging first."
***
The next day.
I dragged myself up from bed looking like a ghost and muttered, "Alcohol is the devil."
Ah...
What on earth had I done last night?
I got drunk and made that embarrassing face at Lee Ha-eun.
And not only that...
I thought that woman was adorable?
The rising shame made me cover my face with both hands.
"I'm going crazy."
I was seriously thinking I needed to quit drinking.
If not that, then I should never drink when I was meeting Lee Ha-eun.
Letting out a long sigh, I headed straight for Seoul.
But on the way, Lee Ha-eun's face kept floating back into my mind.
"This is seriously insane."
What was this?
Had I somehow become addicted to Lee Ha-eun without realizing it?
Like rain soaking through fabric, my heart and mind seemed to have slowly seeped into her before I knew it.
Because of that, I couldn't focus on work, so I handled only the bare minimum before leaving early and sleeping. When I woke up from what felt like unconsciousness, it was the next day.
Thanks to sleeping soundly all day, I felt excellent both mentally and physically.
And, thankfully, Lee Ha-eun, who had tormented me all day the day before, didn't even cross my mind for a while.
With a slight lift at the corner of my mouth, I went into the company, only to find a summons waiting from Seok-du hyung. I walked over to his desk, where two large men who looked like former members of a wrestling club were standing guard beside him like bodyguards.
"?"
I blinked in a daze, and Seok-du hyung turned to me.
"Oh, you're here. These are the two new road managers. For the record, they're my college juniors."
Coming back to my senses, I asked, "...Seok-du hyung, were you really in that line of work, like the rumors say?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"No, I mean, are these two really your college juniors?"
"They're juniors from the security department, idiot."
"Oh, really?"
I nodded, and the two new road managers standing next to Seok-du hyung shouted in booming voices.
"Nice to meet you, senior! I'm Choi Cheol!"
"Nice to meet you, senior! I'm Park Ho!"
Of course they were juniors of a guy like Seok-du hyung. Even their voices were as loud as if they'd swallowed a furnace pipe.
I dipped my head slightly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kwon Chan from Team 5."
When I held out my hand, Choi Cheol and Park Ho shook it, unable to hide their nerves.
Seok-du hyung flipped through a stack of papers and explained, "I've already handled all the HR paperwork, so you take care of the training, Chan. Since they're from the security department and got preliminary training from HR already, they should be easy to teach. If they don't listen, tell me right away."
The security department was, next to arts management, one of the most manager-oriented tracks there was.
So they have the basics, at least.
Nodding, I led the two new road managers to an empty meeting room.
Once we were seated, I crossed my legs and said, "You're Choi Cheol, and you're Park Ho?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"You're both 26, right? You got hired straight out of college?"
"Yes, that's correct! Please speak comfortably, Manager Kwon!"
"Ah, I don't drop formal speech in work relationships."
"Ah, understood!"
"This is your first time doing this kind of work, right?"
"Yes! But I've done security for idols before!"
The awkward phrasing that came out of Choi Cheol's mouth made a laugh slip from me.
Idols, huh? What country are you from?
At my reaction, both men's shoulders twitched nervously.
Watching them quietly, I muttered to myself, "Brings back memories."
When I first joined the company, I used to jump at every word and every change of expression from my senior too.
I rubbed my chin and thought it over.
How should I train these two?
It didn't take long before I came up with the right approach.
When they're tense and their heads are spinning, moving their bodies is best.
And conveniently, I had a fitting schedule lined up for the afternoon.
I stood up.
"Get ready."
"...Yes?"
"Pack your things lightly and come with me. I have a meeting this afternoon, and we'll start training by observing that."
The eyes of the shoulder duo widened.
"Uh, a meeting... what kind of meeting is it?"
I answered lightly, "A meeting with a TAN variety show PD."
Their eyes went even wider.
"A variety show department PD, you mean?"
"Yes. So go grab what you need and come out right away. We're leaving for the TAN variety department now."
All right, shall we put these two new recruits, who might end up on my team, through their paces?
"We're going to be extremely busy today, so keep your heads straight. If you so much as look away, I'll chew you out, Seok-du hyung's juniors or not."
***
TAN Variety Department.
In a sleek, neatly arranged meeting room at the integrated broadcasting station, PD Hwang Deok-gu let out a derisive snort.
"Jo PD, isn't this ridiculous?"
"Huh? What do you mean, all of a sudden?"
"No, that Baekhak manager, Kwon something. He already knows our team leader made first contact, and now he's dragging this out? Isn't that ridiculous?"
Jo PD blinked, then answered a beat late. "Hmm, it does seem a little ridiculous, PD Hwang."
"Right? Hah... honestly. As if PD authority hasn't already shrunk enough, and even now this?"
PD Hwang Deok-gu, the overall producer of K-Singer-Songwriter, suddenly rolled up his sleeves and flexed both arms.
"How's this? Pretty good, right?"
"Uh... what's?"
"My biceps."
"Ah, yes, they look great!"
"Really? Enough to knock that arrogant Baekhak manager down a peg?"
"Yes, absolutely, PD Hwang!"
PD Hwang Deok-gu nodded in satisfaction.
"Then I need to establish dominance from the start. So when is this Manager Kwon supposed to arrive?"
"He's scheduled to arrive in ten minutes!"
Before Jo PD had even finished speaking, the meeting room door opened. The two men flinched and turned their heads. A man with a cool, sharp face was looking at them steadily.
PD Hwang Deok-gu stood up. "Manager Kwon?"
"Ah, yes. Are you PD Hwang Deok-gu?"
"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kwon Chan smiled and handed over his business card. After receiving it, PD Hwang gestured to a seat.
"Please have a seat first, Manager Kwon."
Kwon Chan sat down without a word. Across from him, PD Hwang sank into the chair and narrowed his eyes.
He's awfully relaxed.
His expression, his face, even his entire air were all calm.
Manager Kwon was even leisurely looking around TAN's meeting room like it was his own office.
Baekhak manager or not, was that really the attitude a rookie girl group manager should have?
PD Hwang let out a silent scoff and made a decision.
Let's see how long he stays relaxed.
Just as he was about to bring up casting, Kwon Chan raised a hand.
"Ah, by the way, PD Hwang?"
"?"
"Would it be possible for two people to observe?"
PD Hwang blinked, then asked belatedly, "Observe? Observe what for?"
"I just brought in two new hires today, and we're doing a bit of training while they look around the site. If it's all right with you, could they sit in on the meeting?"
PD Hwang frowned.
"You're saying you want to bring outside personnel into the meeting?"
Kwon Chan gave an awkward smile and lowered his head slightly. "They're Baekhak people, and they're under me, so there's no risk of anything leaking out."
"..."
"I'd appreciate it. They're just in today and a little shy, so I don't want to leave them standing awkwardly outside."
The corners of PD Hwang's eyes lifted slightly.
Good. That's how you should come in. Heh...
Pretending to be reluctantly charitable, PD Hwang gave his permission.
"Then, yes... well. If they're people you vouch for, I suppose it's fine."
"Thank you."
Kwon Chan smiled faintly and called toward the door. "Come in."
At Kwon Chan's call, the shoulder duo opened the meeting room door and stepped inside.
PD Hwang's mouth slowly fell open.
"...Ma-Manager Kwon?"
"Yes?"
"These two are the new managers who started today?"
Kwon Chan grinned. "Yes. Is there a problem?"
"..."
"Ah, Choi Cheol, Park Ho. Say hello. This is TAN's PD Hwang Deok-gu."
At Kwon Chan's words, Choi Cheol and Park Ho, who had been standing expressionless until then, bowed their heads.
"Nice to meet you, PD Hwang."
"I'm rookie road manager Park Ho."
At the weight of their greeting, PD Hwang Deok-gu's neck, which had been held stiffly upright, finally became polite.
Uh... what?
No, these shoulder guys...
They're really managers?
Startled, PD Hwang quietly put his rolled-up sleeves back down where they belonged.
In the meantime, Kwon Chan, seated with his legs crossed and looking completely at ease, said, "Shall we get started, PD Hwang?"
***
PD Hwang Deok-gu, who had been staring down at me with all the confidence in the world, suddenly became respectful.
His abrupt shift in attitude made me tilt my head without thinking, but I couldn't afford idle thoughts before an important meeting, so I focused on the matter at hand.
The key issues in this meeting are securing Park Ga-eul's screen time and preventing the malicious editing that survival shows love so much.
Unlike a one-off appearance, a survival show eats up at least six months once someone is cast.
Half a year is a very long time for a rookie girl group. If Ga-eul couldn't secure enough screen time, it wouldn't just hurt her; it would seriously damage the entire group.
But pressing for screen time this early would be overkill.
Survival show screen time ultimately depends on the contestant's own charm. Even if I pressured PD Hwang into guaranteeing exposure, the audience wouldn't accept it if Ga-eul herself couldn't deliver on-screen.
So I decided to take flesh and leave the bone.
"I'd like at least a minimum guaranteed amount of screen time, PD Hwang."
The goal of this meeting was to use the minimum amount as bait and block off the devil's edit.
While PD Hwang glanced nervously at the shoulder duo standing behind me, he answered cautiously, "Given the nature of survival shows, I can't guarantee exact screen time, Manager Kwon."
"Still, surely you can give me some answer with your authority as a PD?"
PD Hwang gave a troubled expression. "As I'm sure you know, in a survival show, screen time is determined by performance on site."
It was the answer I'd expected. But I made sure to look dissatisfied, clearly unhappy with it. I needed to make the next proposal hit harder.
"Then could I at least take a look at the edited version in advance?"
PD Hwang's eyebrow twitched as he watched my expression.
"Are you saying you want prior censorship?"
In the expression that had lost some of its earlier momentum, I could see a stubbornness that wasn't willing to back down.
No point in poking a producer's pride.
So I naturally stepped back and protected that pride for him.
"It's just that a survival show can get the devil's edit treatment, so I wanted at least a heads-up."
PD Hwang's stiff expression loosened a little.
"If you edit like that these days, people explode. There are so many survival shows now that if you edit maliciously, viewers absolutely lose their minds."
I shifted the conversation slightly.
"I know that, but from my side I can't help being extra careful. You know how intense idol fans can be, right, PD?"
"Of course I know. But really, you don't need to worry. If this were an idol competition, maybe, but this is a singer-songwriter competition. There won't be any reason to edit maliciously."
At PD Hwang's words, I moved in for the main point.
"This is where trust comes in."
"Right. But, well, I can't exactly pull my heart out and show it to you, so this is awkward."
All right. Now for the real point.
My body leaned forward.
"I want to trust you, PD, but our company is taking a pretty firm stance."
PD Hwang's eyes widened. "...Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Ga-eul is a star Baekhak is raising with full force."
"!"
"If you look up the articles, you'll see it. After Youth Travel hit number one, Baekhak pushed out so many promotional articles that there are probably at least a hundred."
PD Hwang's expression soured. I didn't miss the opening and kept the momentum of the conversation going.
"If Ga-eul appears on a survival show and runs into trouble not because of her own mistakes but because of malicious editing..."
My voice dropped sharply.
"...there could be problems in the business relationship between TAN and Baekhak."
PD Hwang was startled. "Uh, uh... what are you saying, Manager Kwon?"
"Exactly what I said."
The turf war between a giant agency and a broadcaster. I brought up that delicate issue as lightly as if I were tapping the table.
"If one of Baekhak's next-generation stars, someone we're raising carefully, gets her image ruined because of a devil edit, wouldn't that put Baekhak in a difficult position?"
At my words, PD Hwang's face stiffened with surprise and confusion.