Busan International Film Festival

By the time I’d thrown myself into work without a second thought, a month had already slipped by.

The heat that had lingered even after September finally faded with the falling leaves, and the world’s colors shifted from green to red and gold.

Autumn had arrived.

"Time really does fly."

But the pace of my life was even faster than that.

So much had changed, and so much was still changing.

There had been a time when I’d been too out of breath to keep up, but now, for reasons I couldn’t quite name, I felt at ease.

Have I grown?

It seemed that way.

With a small ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠laugh, I turned my body around.

"Might as well get going."

Today was my first meeting.

The first meeting held under the name of Kwon Chan, Team 5 of Baekhak Management.

***

Before I went into the meeting room, I checked my appearance.

After fixing my messy hair and straightening my clothes, I opened the door to the meeting room I’d reserved in advance.

"Oh, Chief Manager, you’re here?"

Jeon Hyeong-u, Team 5’s road manager of three years and, for now, also Lee Ha-eun’s road manager, greeted me warmly.

"Hyeong-u, you must be busy. I didn’t pull you away from anything, did I?"

"I am busy, but this is our first meeting in name as well as in fact. I couldn’t skip it."

"It’s not a meeting. It’s just a meeting."

"Come on, you’re going to be a team leader anyway, so calling it a meeting is right! In that spirit, can I say I’m on Chief Manager’s side starting today?"

He really was an experienced road manager. He knew exactly how to butter people up.

I shook my head and let my eyes sweep across the room.

Lee Ye-ji, To.Any’s road manager, with her round glasses.

Park Ho, one of the shoulder-doubling pair handling Choi Go-eun.

Choi Cheol, Seo Tae-jun’s new manager.

The three of them were looking at me with tense expressions.

Only then did it really hit me.

So I really am the Chief Manager now.

After spending nearly half a year running from one set to another, there were times when I honestly couldn’t tell whether my current title was road manager or Chief Manager.

But today, with my road managers gathered under me for this first meeting, it finally sank in.

So this is what the world looks like from the Chief Manager’s eye level.

A faint thrill rose somewhere deep in my chest.

After letting out a light breath, I spoke.

"This is the first time we’ve all met like this, right? Have you introduced yourselves already?"

The team members slowly nodded.

I tapped the desk lightly and said, "I’ve gathered busy people, so let’s get straight to it."

I handed out the file I’d prepared in advance to the four road managers.

"It’s our first meeting, but nothing fancy. This is just a place to check routine reports and the current schedules for the entertainers you’re in charge of."

The four road managers took the files I’d prepared and read them carefully.

A moment later, one by one, they looked up from the pages.

My gaze moved to Jeon Hyeong-u, the road manager with the most experience.

"Then let’s start the briefing with you, Hyeong-u."

"Should I stand up, Chief Manager?"

"No, sit down. Just speak a little louder."

"Yes, understood."

Jeon Hyeong-u cleared his throat once and began briefing me on Lee Ha-eun’s schedule and current status.

"There haven’t been any major changes to Lee Ha-eun’s schedule because of the group lodging shoot. However, the Black Bride lodging shoot is scheduled to wrap up in two days."

"So from there, she’ll start balancing outside schedules as well?"

"Yes. Starting with the Éclat d’Or launch party hosted by Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam, she’ll begin handling outside schedules."

"If it’s a launch party for Éclat d’Or, we should be careful about the dress code. Did you organize the sponsored options?"

"Yes, I organized... I mean, I sorted them neatly and passed them on to Lee Ha-eun."

After thinking for a moment, I gave him a further instruction.

"If she chooses for herself, she’ll definitely insist on a dark-toned dress."

"A dark-toned dress?"

"Yeah. That seems to be her taste, but I talked to the stylist before, and they said lighter colors suit Lee Ha-eun’s complexion better than darker ones. Hyeong-u, talk her into it and recommend a lighter-toned dress this time."

Jeon Hyeong-u’s eyes widened.

"...Uh, me?"

"Of course you. You’re Lee Ha-eun’s manager."

"...Can I borrow the Chief Manager’s name?"

Before I knew it, I laughed.

"Does borrowing my name make it easier to persuade her?"

"Wouldn’t the odds be better than borrowing my own name?"

"Fine. Use my name if you have to and get Lee Ha-eun into a light-toned dress."

"Yes, sir, Chief Manager!"

After confirming Lee Ha-eun’s situation through Hyeong-u’s report, I turned my head.

I saw the three rookie road managers, ears pricked, listening closely to the earlier briefing.

After a moment’s thought, I decided to go in order of experience.

"Ye-ji."

"Y-Yes...? Chief Manager?"

"How about you give the briefing?"

Lee Ye-ji answered with a slightly tense expression.

"Yes, understood!"

"Your voice sounds good right now."

"Thank you! I’ll start the briefing! First, To.Any’s first full-length album is nearing completion. We’re planning a small mini-concert, and there’s a meeting scheduled with the relevant parties next week!"

My eyes widened slightly.

So To.Any’s first full album is already in its final stage?

Come to think of it, it had already been more than four months since their full debut. For idols who released a new song, an average promotion period of three months wasn’t anything unusual.

After a brief consideration, I gave Lee Ye-ji additional instructions.

"Set up a meeting with Director Choi Jeong-eun and start drafting concepts for this goodbye mini-concert."

"Yes, understood!"

"And the meeting with the people involved? Ye-ji, you should go to that one."

Lee Ye-ji’s eyes widened.

"...Me? I’m going to the meeting with the relevant parties?"

"Yes. It’s time for you to build some hands-on experience too, isn’t it?"

"!"

"It’s just a coordination meeting, so it won’t be that hard. It’s not a place where they demand things; it’s a place where they talk things through. You can handle that, right, Ye-ji?"

At my question, Lee Ye-ji swallowed hard and answered.

"U-Um... yes! I’ll give it a try, Chief Manager!"

"Good. Is that the end of the group schedule?"

"There are some additional outside events lined up, but for now the only major schedule next week is the mini-concert!"

"Then what about individual member activities?"

With her nerves easing a little, Lee Ye-ji explained, "There are some small YouTube and Shorts shoots scheduled, and as for individual member schedules, Seol Chae-i has a Daon brand model advertisement meeting!"

At that, I stroked my chin.

Daon brand model advertisement, huh...

Thanks to Lee Ye-ji’s efforts, To.Any had secured sponsorship from Daon.

And apparently the publicity effect had been good enough that Daon had now proposed a main brand model campaign.

The model they’re looking at is To.Any’s youngest member, Seol Chae-i.

The flow I’d seen in the future text message was continuing exactly as before.

That meant next week’s Daon meeting was important.

Given Seol Chae-i’s current recognition, that Daon brand model campaign could fall apart at any time.

Even if things seemed to be moving along the expected path, I couldn’t afford to relax.

I’d seen too many futures change because of one trivial choice.

In that sense, this Daon meeting was something I should personally attend, not Ye-ji.

"I’ll take Seol Chae-i to the Daon meeting next week, Ye-ji."

"Yes, understood!"

"Good. Let’s wrap To.Any up for now..."

I trailed off and looked at Park Ho and Choi Cheol, the rookie road managers who were both visibly tense.

"Choi Cheol, how about you give the briefing?"

Choi Cheol shot to his feet, looking extremely nervous.

"I’ll begin the briefing!"

Seo Tae-jun’s manager, Choi Cheol, gave his report in a booming voice that suited his massive build.

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly at the sight.

Not bad.

Park Ho and Choi Cheol, who’d worried me quite a bit, were adapting better than I expected.

They’re diligent, and they do exactly what I tell them to do.

They weren’t as flexible as Ye-ji, but I liked their earnestness and stubborn reliability in their own way.

I nodded and gave a short clap.

"You’re better at briefing than I expected, Choi Cheol."

"Thank you, sir!"

"There don’t seem to be any major changes, so please take good care of Seo Tae-jun and make sure he can focus solely on the Black Bride shoot."

"Understood, Chief Manager!"

My gaze moved to the last remaining manager.

Park Ho, Choi Go-eun’s manager, stood up as if he’d been waiting for his turn.

"I, I’ll start the brief...!"

"Ah, that’s fine, Park Ho."

"...Pardon?"

"I’ll hear your briefing separately later."

Park Ho blinked like an idiot and sat back down.

In contrast, I stood up and lightly tapped the whiteboard to gather everyone’s attention.

"You all know the year’s end is coming, right?"

At my casual question, Jeon Hyeong-u nodded.

"There are only about two months left, aren’t there?"

"That’s right. In two months, it’ll be the new year, and these remaining two months will decide how we close out this year’s performance."

I raised my voice slightly to draw the team in.

"In this third quarter, our Team 5 secured second place in performance, so we have a real shot at finishing second again in the year-end total settlement."

"!"

"If we get second place, you know there’s a bonus party, right? So let’s all work just a little harder."

The corners of my mouth lifted faintly.

"Team 5’s Chief Manager Choi has almost wrapped up all outside activities, so we’re the only variable left for Team 5."

"!"

"If Team 5 wants to aim for second place in performance, then it means we have to deliver. So let’s put in just two more months of effort."

When I’d been a road manager, my own individual results mattered most.

But now that I was Chief Manager, it was the road managers under me who had to produce the numbers.

From that changed position, I stirred the ambitions of my team.

"Let’s make such shocking results that Team 5 sweeps the year-end bonus and performance payout."

At my words, a hunger for reward flickered in my team members’ eyes.

With a satisfied smile, I declared, "Meeting adjourned. Good work, everyone."

***

After finishing the first meeting without a hitch, I met Park Ho alone and brought up the next matter casually.

"Park Ho, get ready."

"...Pardon?"

"We’re going down to Busan tomorrow, so book a shop near Seomyeon and arrange the lodging too."

"Eeeh?? Busan all of a sudden, Chief Manager?"

At that, I shrugged.

"You’re Choi Go-eun’s manager and you still didn’t know?"

"...?"

"Choi Go-eun has been nominated for the Best New Actress award at this year’s Busan International Film Festival."

"!"

"We also need to fit a dress for Choi Go-eun, so let’s call her in today and look around some dress shops together. Since no ad or sponsorship deal has come in yet, I guess I’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way and run around on foot for a while."

Park Ho’s mouth slowly fell open.

"G-Go-eun got nominated for Best New Actress!?"

Along with Park Ho’s shout, the next morning I headed down to Busan with the Multicultural production team and Choi Go-eun.

After unpacking at the hotel and taking a little break, a call came in.

It was Kwon Hyun-bin, who had accepted my advice and was currently on a break.

"Ah, Actor Kwon. Resting well?"

"What? A problem all of a sudden?"

My eyes widened.

"Oh? Then are you going to attend the Busan International Film Festival, Kwon Hyun-bin?"

"..."

At Kwon Hyun-bin’s question, my expression soured.

Look at this.

Korean Wave star Kwon Hyun-bin was coming to the Busan International Film Festival?

I fell into thought at this unexpected twist.

Should I even send Kwon Hyun-bin to the Busan International Film Festival right now?

More than anything else, Kwon Hyun-bin’s condition mattered most.

Fortunately, though, after taking my advice and starting to rest, his condition had improved quite a bit.

It’s not like he’s recovered enough to jump into a project yet, but if it’s just the Busan International Film Festival?

He wouldn’t be standing onstage at an awards ceremony, just attending. In that case, it probably wouldn’t wreck his condition.

And if Kwon Hyun-bin and Director Na Jun-hu are on good terms, then I can’t exactly reject the offer blindly either.

After making my decision, I answered, "It doesn’t sound bad. If you’re okay with it, let’s make the first schedule the Busan International Film Festival."

"Just bring your body down here. I’ll prepare everything else. Oh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right, Actor Kwon?"

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly.

"If you’re okay with it, there’s a favor I’d like to ask. What do you think?"

***

The day before the Busan International Film Festival opened, a post went up on Kwon Hyun-bin’s official Instagram account, which was managed by Baekhak.

The first official schedule for Kwon Hyun-bin, the Korean Wave star who had moved to Baekhak.

Fans of Kwon Hyun-bin were shocked and left comments at once.

At the announcement of the Korean Wave star’s appearance, the 13 million fans who followed Kwon Hyun-bin’s Instagram account began to stir.

***

On the day of the Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony.

The area around the opening ceremony entrance and red carpet was packed with cheers and a storm of flashbulbs.

"Whoa! That’s Actor Cha Seon-ho over there!"

"Oh my God! He’s so handsome!"

"I need pictures, I need pictures!"

"Hey! Don’t push! I can’t see the people in front of me!"

"Actor Kim Deuk-seon! I’m a real fan! I’ve been a fan for ten years! Could I get your autograph once?"

Every time an actor appeared, the crowd erupted.

The media and reporters who had claimed their spots early kept hammering their shutters without pause.

Seo Ji-hun, a reporter from TP Entertainment, watched the chaos that looked like Jagalchi Market at its worst and clicked his tongue.

"This is insane. Absolutely insane."

His junior reporter, Kim, cried out in admiration.

"It wasn’t this bad last year... why are there so many people this year?"

"Because that actor’s coming."

"Huh? Who?"

"Na Jun-hu’s muse, Kwon Hyun-bin!"

Kim’s eyes went wide.

"What! That Korean Wave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠star Kwon Hyun-bin is coming?"

"Why is a rookie so slow on the uptake?"

"Isn’t your information just insanely fast, Team Lead Seo?"

"Oh, come on. There was a promotional post sitting right there on Kwon Hyun-bin’s Instagram account. What does that have to do with being a source?"

Kim scratched his head.

"When did that get posted?"

"Let it go. Just let it go. Hah."

"So our target is Kwon Hyun-bin?"

"Of course. Looking at this scene and you still don’t get it?"

Seo pointed at the endless crowd.

"Half the people gathered here came to see Kwon Hyun-bin. We have to go after him no matter what."

"But won’t the other reporters be going after Actor Kwon too, Team Lead?"

"They will. That’s why we ditch the small fry and go all in on Kwon Hyun-bin."

Seo Ji-hun lifted the corner of his mouth.

"Whoever gets an interview with Kwon Hyun-bin wins this Busan International Film Festival, period."

With that, a shout burst out beside him.

"Holy crap, huge—!"

That cry was like a flare.

The signal that turned a market street into a battlefield.

"No way!"

"It’s really Kwon Hyun-bin!"

"Eeeeeek! Oppa Hyun-bin!"

"Look over here, oppa!!"

"I love you! Oppa, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠please, just one autograph!!"

"Wow, so damn handsome. Insane. Ridiculously handsome!"

The screams of the fans and the flashes of the cameras swept over the red carpet.

Out of that chaos stepped Korean Wave star Kwon Hyun-bin from a black van.

With his usual indifferent expression, he raised a hand toward the barrage of camera flashes.

Seo Ji-hun’s eyes glittered as he watched the scene.

"Kwon Hyun-bin’s here! All right, move in... huh?"

His eyes widened.

The Korean Wave star who had drawn everyone’s attention just by appearing was, to his surprise, escorting another actor out of the same van.

Who’s that?

A girl in a mini dress in the red-wine color family.

Seo Ji-hun had seen just about every celebrity there was, but the face of the actor holding Kwon Hyun-bin’s hand was one he’d never seen before.

The reporter’s expression turned sour.

"What is this? Kwon Hyun-bin is escorting some unknown actress?"

"She’s my actress."

"?"

A familiar voice rang out all of a sudden.

Seo Ji-hun flinched and turned his head.

"...Huh? Chief Manager Kwon!"

Busan, seagulls, film.

And a top star and an unknown actress.

Set against that backdrop, Baekhak’s manager had appeared.

Seo Ji-hun widened his eyes and said, "Don’t tell me... Kwon Hyun-bin is the actor you manage, Chief Manager Kwon?"

At the reporter’s question, the true lead of the festival wore a faint smile.