How Did He Know?
I hurried through my morning routine and headed straight to headquarters.
The moment I got out of the car, I ran to the management office on the third floor.
Manager Ma, who’d been pacing around in a fit of nerves, spotted me and shouted, "Manager Kwon!"
"Where’s Director Na Jun-hu, Manager Ma?"
"Over there, Meeting Room Three! Hurry!"
At Seok-du hyung’s words, I quickened my pace again.
The management staff who had been watching me whispered in surprise.
"Again... Manager Kwon..."
"Wow, this time it’s Director Na Jun-hu..."
"Something must’ve happened..."
Under normal circumstances, I would’ve smirked at the gossip. Not today.
When I reached Meeting Room Three, I caught my breath and knocked.
"This is Manager Kwon. May I come in, Director Park?"
An answer came immediately.
"Come in, Manager Kwon."
When I opened the door and stepped inside, Director Na Jun-hu, who’d been talking with Director Park Yu-hyeon, rose from his seat to greet me.
"Ah, Manager Kwon."
"Hello, Director Na. Have you been well?"
"Haha, a director without a project might as well be unemployed. Have you been well, Manager Kwon?"
After exchanging a brief greeting with Director Na, I turned my head.
Director Park was looking at me with a strange expression.
Director Park Yu-hyeon of all people looks like he has a lot to say.
As the confusion in my head settled, I found my footing again.
I gave a light bow and said, "I’m sorry, Director. I took a half day this morning, so I’m a little late."
"No, it’s fine. I heard you worked late into the night yesterday. But... Manager Kwon?"
"Yes, Director."
"...Let’s talk about that after I finish my meeting with Director Na. We’ll continue in my office."
Director Park turned back and wrapped up the remaining conversation with Director Na.
"Now that Manager Kwon is here, I should be going. Director Na."
"I may have dropped by so suddenly that I’ve inconvenienced you, Director Park."
"Haha, whatever do you mean? We’ve shared more than enough drinks together. You’re always welcome to drop by."
After Director Park left the meeting room, Director Na Jun-hu looked at me with an awkward smile.
"I seem to have put you in a difficult position by showing up this early in the morning, Manager Kwon."
"Not at all, Director Na. On the contrary, it’s an honor that you came all the way here in person."
"Honestly, I should have called ahead. I got suddenly obsessed with something and just barged in here like this..."
Trailing off, Director Na bowed his head and apologized.
Watching him, I thought, Director Na Jun-hu is far more decent than I expected.
Most directors at his level wouldn’t lower their heads to anyone that easily, even if they were in the wrong.
Meanwhile, Director Na took his seat and carefully got to the point.
"I came because I had something I wanted to ask you, Manager Kwon."
"Of course, Director Na. Please, go ahead."
"I came because I’d like to cast one of the actors you manage in my next project."
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
"You mean actress Choi Go-eun?"
Director Na jumped slightly and asked, "Huh? How did you know, Manager Kwon?"
How did I know?
Because the Future Text Message I’d received this morning told me so.
But I couldn’t say that out loud.
So I let a natural excuse slip from my mouth.
"I saw you talking with actress Choi Go-eun at the Busan International Film Festival last time, so I had a hunch."
"...Ah, did I make it that obvious?"
"To be frank, there were hearts practically dripping out of your eyes."
Director Na burst into a stifled laugh.
"Well, I guess my hand has already been exposed."
Even after saying that, his expression remained perfectly at ease.
"Then let me ask directly. Has actress Choi Go-eun already lined up her next project, Manager Kwon?"
"No, not yet. She doesn’t have anything scheduled."
"Ah! That’s a relief. Then perhaps..."
Director Na leaned forward.
"Could I cast actress Choi Go-eun in my next project?"
At his proposal, I stroked my chin and thought it over.
This is unfolding exactly the way the Future Text Message said it would.
Maybe that’s why.
The meeting with a director who carried the weight of a two-time ten-million-viewer hit behind his name didn’t feel nearly as heavy as it should have.
Now that I’d found my balance, I asked slowly, "Has your next project been fully decided, Director Na?"
"Well, to be honest, I’ve only finished shaping the concept."
"...Then the screenplay isn’t written yet?"
Director Na gave an ambiguous smile.
"Haha, strange, isn’t it? A director trying to cast an actor before there’s even a script."
Honestly, it was a little strange.
Usually, the screenplay came first and the casting followed.
Still, for someone of Director Na Jun-hu’s caliber, even this unusual approach made sense.
"Other directors develop the script first and cast afterward, but I do the opposite. I start writing after I see the actor."
For a director who’d already made two billion-won hits, this odd way of working probably wasn’t impossible at all.
"I’m planning a film with actress Choi Go-eun as the sole lead. It’s a genre I haven’t tried before, so it should be an interesting project in many ways. That’s why I wanted to ask if you could check actress Choi’s intentions for me, Manager Kwon."
At Director Na’s request, I fell into thought for a moment.
His name value is tempting...
But trusting the name alone and accepting the offer would have been far too risky.
This isn’t the age of owning films anymore. It’s the age of consuming them.
Even a director with two ten-million-viewer hits behind him had no guarantee that his next work would succeed.
And yet the Future Text Message I’d received that morning had already told me the result of Director Na’s next project.
Director Na Jun-hu’s next film fails.
But not because the script was bad.
His next project, an independent film, wouldn’t even make it to release because of an investment problem.
Director Na added an explanation in the meantime.
"For reference, the scale of the film isn’t all that big—"
"You’re talking about an independent film, aren’t you?"
"!"
Director Na’s eyes widened as he asked, "...How did you know, Manager Kwon? That my next project would be an independent film?"
"I just had a feeling."
At my answer, the two-time ten-million-viewer director’s expression turned strange.
"You had the same insight about actress Choi Go-eun earlier too. You certainly have a remarkable instinct."
"I do hear that often."
"Hmm... So what about the casting?"
With a faint smile, I answered, "Actress Choi Go-eun is the type who places a lot of importance on the script."
Director Na’s reputation was tempting.
But once I realized there was an investment issue involved, I had no intention of signing anything rashly.
I need to test the waters first.
I dangled just enough possibility to keep him interested, like bait in front of the Director Na Jun-hu who had come all the way to Baekhak headquarters that morning because of actress Choi Go-eun.
"I’d love to work with Director Na, but since the actor is the type to value the script, I think it’d be better to discuss the casting after the screenplay comes out."
"So you’re saying she looks at the script before the name value."
"Yes. I’m sorry, Director."
"Not at all. If anything, I like that better."
Director Na smiled with obvious satisfaction.
"These days, actors tend to care more about things like production budgets or the names of their co-stars, so it feels good to meet an actor who still focuses on the script after all this time."
"When the time comes to decide on my next project, I’ll make my decision after looking at your screenplay, Director Na."
"Understood. It’s a pity, but I think even that answer is enough for now."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After ending the meeting with Director Na on a positive note, I headed straight to the director’s office.
"Director, this is Manager Kwon."
"Come in, Manager Kwon."
I opened the door and stepped inside.
Director Park, who had been working through a stack of documents, lifted his head and asked, "Did your meeting with Director Na Jun-hu go well, Manager Kwon?"
"Yes, it went smoothly, Director."
Director Park took off the glasses he’d been wearing and said, "I heard Director Na came because of casting for his next project. Is that right?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"He seems to be trying to cast actor Kwon Hyeon-bin. Since the two of them were even personally invited to the Busan International Film Festival, I assume project talk came up then."
Director Park Yu-hyeon spoke with certainty.
So I carefully pushed back.
"No, Director."
"Yes? What do you mean?"
"He came about casting actress Choi Go-eun, not actor Kwon Hyeon-bin."
Director Park’s eyes widened.
"...Not Kwon Hyeon-bin, but actress Choi Go-eun?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"If you mean Choi Go-eun, do you mean the actress who won the New Actress Award at this year’s Busan International Film Festival?"
"Yes, that’s right."
At my answer, Director Park tilted his head.
"Hmm... I’m having a hard time following. That Director Na Jun-hu came here to cast actress Choi Go-eun, and not Kwon Hyeon-bin."
"Director Na saw actress Choi Go-eun in a very favorable light at the Busan International Film Festival."
"I see? Still, the fact that he came to the company in person just to cast a rookie actress in a supporting role rather than a lead..."
At Director Park’s murmur, I found myself pushing back again.
"Ah, it’s not a supporting role. It’s the lead, Director."
"Yes?"
"Director Na is thinking of actress Choi Go-eun as the lead for his next project."
"!"
Director Park’s pupils dilated.
"Is that really true, Manager Kwon?"
"That’s what I was told."
At my answer, Director Park Yu-hyeon fell silent.
Watching him, I couldn’t help laughing inwardly.
This is entertaining.
Director Park Yu-hyeon himself wasn’t managing his expression very well as he looked back at me.
"This sounds like it’s going to be a long conversation."
Only belatedly regaining his composure, Director Park rose from his seat and offered me one.
"Sit down and let’s talk."
Once I was seated, Director Park personally made coffee and handed it to me.
After CEO Baek Ji-won’s coffee, now I get to taste coffee made by Director Park too.
If I had to compare them, Director Park’s coffee was a little better.
Then Director Park suddenly asked, "Could it be that Director Na’s next project is not a commercial film?"
My eyes widened.
"No, it’s not a commercial film. It’s an independent film."
"Ah, so that’s it. Well, even if he likes the actress, he’s not someone who’d ignore ticket power. That makes sense."
At his words, I shook my head in admiration.
Director Park really is something else.
His ability to infer the situation was exactly what you’d expect from Baekhak’s director.
Meanwhile, Director Park Yu-hyeon crossed one leg over the other and said, "Interesting. Director Na Jun-hu’s next project being an indie film."
"He said he wanted to try something new."
"He’s always had a strong sense of challenge. If it’s an independent film made by Director Na, it’ll help actress Choi Go-eun’s filmography too, so that’s not a bad thing."
Director Park leaned forward.
"So what contract conditions did you agree on?"
He clearly thought I’d accepted the offer.
That was the moment I had to push back yet again.
"I haven’t accepted it yet."
"...What?"
"The script isn’t finished, so I put Director Na’s proposal on hold."
"......"
After being pushed back three times, Director Park Yu-hyeon’s expression turned awkward.
"...Are you saying you rejected Director Na’s offer, Manager Kwon?"
"Not rejected. It’s on hold, Director."
"A-and the reason for putting it on hold?"
Calmly, I explained the conversation I’d just had with Director Na.
"Since the screenplay still isn’t complete, I put the casting offer on hold. Even if it’s Director Na’s next project, going in without seeing the script first felt too risky, and since Director Na had such strong interest in actress Choi Go-eun that he came to headquarters himself, I decided there was no need to rush into a contract."
Director Park asked slowly, "So you put Director Na’s proposal on hold?"
"Yes, that’s correct, Director."
"Hmm. Today, it seems all of my predictions are off."
"..."
"Still, the reason makes sense, so I can’t really argue with it."
Director Park burst into a quiet laugh.
"Still, for this one, you need to bring back a definite result. You’re confident, right, Manager Kwon?"
"Yes, Director."
"Good. Then let’s move past this one."
Director Park handed me a script.
"Actor Kwon Hyeon-bin has received an offer for his next project."
"!"
Startled, I lowered my head and looked at the script Director Park had handed me.
The Backstreet Police
The tacky title jumped out at me.
Suppressing the interest plain on my face, I opened the script Director Park had given me.
Meanwhile, Director Park began to explain.
"It’s a Wednesday-Thursday drama produced by KBN, and it’s a fairly large-scale project. The pure production budget is 40 billion won, and it’s scheduled for simultaneous distribution on Netflix. The chief producer is PD Ho Chan-gi, a veteran from KBN..."
Director Park paused and smiled.
"The script was written by writer Lee Na-yoon. You know her, right, Manager Kwon? The writer who wrote The Heir to a Chaebol Family. It’s written by one of the most successful writers working right now, so the script quality is excellent."
My eyes widened.
A script written by Lee Na-yoon?
One of the current top three powerhouse writers.
A star writer whose scripts became massive hits one after another had, astonishingly, written The Backstreet Police.
That’s a much bigger project than I expected.
If I had to compare it, it was on the level of Queen of Joseon.
Then Director Park said to me, "Manager Kwon, persuade actor Kwon Hyeon-bin and push The Backstreet Police as his next project. This is a chance that’d be a shame to miss."
At his words, I answered slowly, "Yes, understood, Director. But..."
Letting my voice trail off, I casually tossed out the bait.
"I’ll do my best to persuade him, but now that I’ve managed actor Kwon Hyeon-bin for a bit, his standards for choosing projects are pretty strict, so I may not be able to get a definite yes."
Director Park nodded.
"Well, after talking with him, it does seem like actor Kwon Hyeon-bin is very careful about choosing projects. Still, Manager Kwon."
Director Park spoke with firm confidence.
"For a project of this scale, actor Kwon Hyeon-bin will accept it. At this point, it’d be too good an opportunity for him to pass up."
At that, I thought to myself, Too good an opportunity?
Really...
If Director Park knew the ratings for The Backstreet Police, could he still say that?
The Backstreet Police, this year’s most anticipated project and a script by Lee Na-yoon.
This work would become the biggest flop of the year.
Not just a flop, either, but a disaster so bad it would scrape the bottom of the ratings scale with a decimal-point viewership number.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After finishing my meeting with Director Park Yu-hyeon, I went up to the rooftop and lit a cigarette.
"Man, it’s a mess from the moment the day starts."
The meeting with Director Na Jun-hu, the discussion with Director Park Yu-hyeon, and the three Future Text Messages that had arrived that morning.
It had been a full-blown storm from dawn.
Still, the results I’d gotten out of this chaotic morning weren’t bad at all.
In fact...
"They’re much better than I expected."
I turned on my smartphone and checked the Future Text Messages from this morning again.
This time, maybe because three future sources had arrived at once, the way they were delivered had changed too.
They came as recordings instead of articles.
I moved my thumb and played the first recording.
- "I never expected this. I didn’t think a company at the level of Big Shot Distribution would cause investment problems."
The first recording sent by the Future Text Message was related to Director Na Jun-hu.
- "Wow... that’s genuinely creepy. Who knew The Backstreet Police would flop this hard? A decimal-point rating? Does that even make sense?"
The second recording was about The Backstreet Police, the project Director Park had just proposed.
Resting my chin in my hand, I muttered, "I’m on a roll, aren’t I?"
Coincidence, or fate?
Of the three sources the Future Text Message had sent me, I’d already dealt with two of them by this morning.
I put Director Na Jun-hu’s next project on hold, and I dodged a 40-billion-won landmine.
Now only the third recording remained.
I moved my finger and tapped the file to play the audio.
- "Things are moving smoothly. I’ve already put pressure on the managers over at Baekhak, so we should have results soon."
Hearing the words from the third recording, a thin smile curved my mouth.
"So there was a rat hiding inside the company?"
And not just any rat, either. A huge one, crouched in the dark while preparing to sell out its own people to a rival company.