Chapter 92
New Era.
MBN executive office.
Director Kang paced the room with an anxious look on his face.
"Haa... damn it. Should I have gone myself?"
But then again, a director had his pride. It was a little awkward for him to meet directly with a chief manager, not even a team leader.
But that chief manager was handling actor Kwon Hyeon-bin...
Who was Kwon Hyeon-bin?
He was one of the current top three male actors, one of the few who could hold the living room remote hostage the moment he appeared on screen, and one of the few whose short videos could even pull in the MZ generation if they went viral.
For an actor like that, shouldn’t he have set the director’s pride aside for a while?
"Ugh... should I have just swallowed my pride and negotiated in person?"
Director Kang was biting his lip, regretting his decision, when the office door burst open.
Normally, he would have snapped at anyone rude enough to barge in without knocking, but this wasn’t the time.
The one who had entered without knocking was Ho PD, the chief producer of The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor.
"Ho PD!"
"Y-yes, Director!"
"W-what happened with the meeting?"
"...For now."
Ho PD swallowed once, visibly working his throat.
"It ended on a pretty good note."
Director Kang’s mouth slowly fell open.
"Really? Then the actor Kwon Hyeon-bin signed?"
"Not yet."
"...What? You said it ended on a good note. Then why didn’t he sign?"
Ho PD fidgeted and spoke carefully.
"Baekhak came back with an additional condition..."
Director Kang’s eyes widened.
Additional condition?
His mind started racing.
Kwon Hyeon-bin’s appearance fee going up, rights to interfere in the drama production, conditions tied to commercials or sponsorships... the usual finicky demands top agencies and famous actors often made flashed through his head.
His expression hardened.
"...Did Baekhak ask for a higher fee for actor Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
"No, not that."
"Then did they demand a stake that would let them interfere with the production?"
"That wasn’t it either."
The rigid look on Director Kang’s face shifted into confusion.
"Then what the hell did they ask for?"
"Well... they requested overseas rights and an additional guarantee."
"What? Overseas rights and an additional guarantee?"
Director Kang was thrown completely off guard by the unexpected request.
No, what the hell do they mean by overseas rights and an additional guarantee out of nowhere?
The overseas market was big, sure, but the data there was murky compared to the domestic market.
So for Baekhak to ask for overseas rights and an additional guarantee was a rather strange demand.
Then Ho PD asked cautiously, "What should we do, Director? If we can agree on this part, actor Kwon Hyeon-bin says he'll officially confirm his appearance in The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor."
"!"
Director Kang gasped in surprise.
"R-really, that's it? Nothing else?"
"Surprisingly... nothing else."
"They won't come back later and say something different, will they?"
"Once the contract is stamped, how could they say anything else?"
Director Kang’s expression turned serious.
At the same time, he began weighing the fixed audience Kwon Hyeon-bin would bring against overseas rights and the extra guaranteed revenue.
He didn’t have to think long.
...If I let this go, I’d be an idiot.
To get Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin for nothing more than overseas rights and an additional guarantee?
This was an opportunity he absolutely could not miss.
But in this business, getting a slice of someone else’s pie was never that easy.
After thinking it over, Director Kang muttered in a cautious voice, "Tell them we’ll add extra benefits on top of those conditions."
Ho PD’s eyes widened.
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Where in this business do you get anything for free? Baekhak wouldn’t have stepped back without a reason."
Ho PD nodded slowly.
"W-well, that’s true... I guess? They must have data to back up those conditions."
"Exactly. So let’s raise the offer from the start, so they can’t complain later."
Director Kang declared firmly, "Tell the chief manager in charge that we’ll give actor Kwon Hyeon-bin treatment worthy of his market value, even if it isn’t quite Backstreet Police."
***
The "A" salon in Cheongdam-dong, where Baekhak had signed an exclusive contract.
For the first time in a while, I was sitting in a salon chair instead of a sofa, getting my hair done when Ho PD called.
-Chief Manager Kwon, I’ve finished talking with the director!
"Ah, what did he say?"
-He accepted the conditions, and on top of that, he said he’d match actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s market rate!
My eyes widened.
"What? Actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s market rate would be at least 300 million won."
-The director said that since Baekhak was already making concessions, it was only right to go that far.
This time, my mouth actually fell open.
What... is happening here?
They were going to add his market rate, overseas guarantee fees, and rights revenue on top of that?
If this is true, how much money are we even making from this project?
Just Kwon Hyeon-bin’s appearance fee alone was at least 4 billion won.
If the Japanese market reacted the way we expected, we could hope for even more.
And if the project hits big, then commercials and sponsorships on top of that...
My throat moved before I even realized it.
I can’t even estimate it. How much are we going to make off this one?
Honestly, I had been told that even taking only half of Kwon Hyeon-bin’s market rate would still be a decent contract, so why had the story suddenly turned like this?
After mulling it over, I soon thought, ...I don’t know what Director Kang is thinking, but if it’s like this, is there any reason to hesitate?
There wasn’t.
Once I made up my mind, I answered immediately, "Let’s sign it."
-!
"We’ve both stepped back a little for each other, so there doesn’t seem to be any reason to drag this out."
At that, Ho PD answered with excitement in his voice.
-I’ll tell the director right away, Chief Manager Kwon!
"Yes. Then I’ll contact you again later, Ho PD."
Even after I hung up, the corners of my mouth stayed lifted.
The stylist noticed and asked, "Chief Manager Kwon, looks like you got some good news?"
"...Ah, was it that obvious?"
"You haven’t let your mouth drop once since you got the call. Was it really that good?"
"Mm... yes. It was the kind of news that feels like winning the lottery."
The stylist burst out laughing.
"Wow, that good?"
"Yes. But, stylist, are you done with my hair?"
"Yes. Want to take a look in the mirror?"
I looked into the salon mirror people called the mirror of truth.
My hair was tidied, my face was powdered, and the result looked unfamiliar.
Even so, my features were still pretty rough, but the final result wasn’t bad.
For all I care, this is good enough to stand anywhere without shame.
The contract negotiation was going well, and my face was in top condition.
Today almost felt like everything was sliding into place.
With a small grin, I stood up from my seat, only to freeze a second later.
Kwon Hyeon-bin, who had already finished his hair and makeup, was standing behind me with a halo-like glow.
"Why do you have to show up right at this moment, Mr. Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
"What do you mean, Chief Manager Kwon?"
"Forget it. What would someone like you know about my feelings anyway?"
"?"
Kwon Hyeon-bin tilted his head.
Watching him in silence, I belatedly broke into a laugh.
"Sorry, I was talking nonsense. Anyway, now that the hair’s done, let’s get moving."
After leaving the makeup room, I put Kwon Hyeon-bin into the black limousine we had reserved in advance and said, "The red carpet’s main character can’t be late, can he?"
***
After sending Kwon Hyeon-bin off in the limousine, I headed out separately in my own car.
There’s still an hour until the Baeksang Arts Awards start.
But considering how congested the roads would be on award-show day, it was better to arrive early. After making that judgment, I called the publicity team leader.
"Team Leader, this is Chief Manager Kwon."
-Ah, Chief Manager Kwon! Has actor Kwon Hyeon-bin left yet?
"Yes, but his red carpet entry slot is toward the back, so you’ll probably have to wait a bit."
-Waiting a bit is fine! But how’s actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s face today? Is it divine as always?
"Kwon Hyeon-bin isn’t Jesus or anything. Divine, really... Ah, but my own face is fine."
The publicity team leader was horrified.
-I wasn’t asking about that!
"Why not? You could show me a little interest too."
-How much better can a face that wasn’t that handsome to begin with possibly get if it does get handsome?
"Wow, that hurts."
-Stop saying useless things and call me again when you get there! Got it?
After hanging up with the publicity team leader, I sorted out my plan in my head.
"Once I get there, I’ll check Kwon Hyeon-bin’s seating arrangement, coordinate article upload timing with the publicity team..."
Because this was an actor with real weight attending the awards, there was a lot more to manage than when Choi Go-eun had gone.
I was feeling the tension of that hectic situation, and my lips had gone slightly dry, when my smartphone rang again.
"Hello?"
-Chief Manager Kwon?
"Yes, Chief Manager Kwon speaking."
-I called you before, but I guess you didn’t save my number?
Did I not save the number? As I thought about it, my eyes slowly widened.
Headhunter?
With that memory surfacing, the unfamiliar voice became familiar. In the meantime, the headhunter went on speaking.
-I think I gave you enough of an introduction last time, so I’ll get straight to the point this time.
The headhunter made his offer.
-SAG has rated Chief Manager Kwon as a very talented asset. To be specific...
My eyebrow twitched.
-On top of the conditions I mentioned last time, we’re prepared to offer additional incentives and a bonus.
"Additional incentives and a bonus?"
-Yes. If you move together with the entertainers you currently manage, we’re offering a bonus signing fee of 200 million won.
"..."
-Of course, that bonus is for you personally. Separate negotiations will be held with the entertainers who come over with you.
The headhunter made the offer with confidence.
-What do you think? For a middle-sized entertainment company, this is a pretty serious offer, about on the level of a team leader or head of department. Tempting, isn’t it?
At his words, a tired little snort escaped my lips.
I’m busy enough already, and now this is annoying.
I had no intention of moving.
At least not until I finished the work I was handling now.
But when calls like this kept coming in, the company side would inevitably start entertaining pointless suspicions.
I was already swamped, and I didn’t want to create any more of that irritating mess.
Was my refusal the first time I got this call not strong enough?
Even though I had made my rejection perfectly clear, it seemed the headhunter still hadn’t accepted it.
I cleared my throat and spoke slowly.
"Listen, Mr. Headhunter? No, you said you weren’t a headhunter, so I’ll just call you 'you.'"
-Pardon?
"I don’t know how you got my number and keep calling me, but I have no intention of changing companies."
I made my wording as forceful as possible.
I wanted to make sure this situation would never happen again.
"Trying to move me and my entertainers together for only 200 million won is a little too opportunistic, don’t you think?"
-!
"I didn’t want to speak harshly on a good day, but you keep calling me out of nowhere without any manners, so you’re making me talk like this."
The corner of my mouth twisted.
"Don’t call again. I have no intention of going to any agency other than Baekhak."
***
Kim Deok-pal, the head of the headhunting division, set down his phone after the call ended and let out a dry laugh.
"Ha, this Chief Manager Kwon guy. He hung up on us?"
"What did he say when he hung up, Deok-pal?"
"He said trying to move him and his entertainer for only 200 million won was too damn opportunistic."
At Kim Deok-pal’s explanation, Kim Hae-chan, the team leader of Baekhak’s Team 3, burst out laughing.
"Wow, Chief Manager Kwon really said it like that?"
"No, are you laughing? Even if he’s just a Baekhak chief manager, that still pisses me off."
Kim Deok-pal’s face crumpled in irritation. Watching that, Team Leader Kim Hae-chan smiled pleasantly and said, "Easy, easy. Relax, Deok-pal."
Team Leader Kim Hae-chan slid a single sheet of paper across the table.
Kim Deok-pal, still annoyed, took it with a tilt of his head.
"What’s this?"
"The list of entertainers Chief Manager Kwon is currently handling."
Kim Deok-pal unfolded the document Kim Hae-chan had handed him.
After a moment, a high-pitched sound leaked out of his mouth.
"...What the hell is this?"
"Surprised?"
"Baekhak’s flagship star, Lee Ha-eun... Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin, the Romance Prince Seo Tae-jun? And To.Any... isn’t this Baekhak’s last girl group?"
"That’s right. It’s the first and last girl group, so CEO Baek pays a lot of attention to them."
Kim Deok-pal held his breath.
"You’re telling me Chief Manager Kwon handles entertainers like these all by himself?"
"Hard to believe, right?"
"Huh... Chief Manager Kwon. Are you trying to raise him as President Park Yu-hyeon’s successor? Isn’t this a bit too much favoritism?"
"So don’t get angry. Keep contacting Chief Manager Kwon. If we can pull him over..."
Kim Hae-chan’s voice, which had been trailing off, grew calmer and more relaxed.
"Then there’s a chance even one of the people on this list will come over to our side. If that happens, wouldn’t it let us really slam Baekhak’s pride?"
"Pride... yeah, that’s true. But what if..."
Kim Deok-pal’s voice trembled slightly.
"If we could bring over just Baekhak’s flagship, Lee Ha-eun... wouldn’t that be basically stealing the Baekhak brand itself? Heh heh."
"Exactly. So keep sweet-talking him. Raise the conditions hard too. Ah, and this is..."
As Kim Hae-chan was about to hand over another document he had prepared in advance, his smartphone on the table rang.
When he checked the caller, Kim Hae-chan’s eyes widened.
Kim Deok-pal, seated opposite him, tilted his head.
"Who is it that changes your face like that, Team Leader Kim Hae-chan?"
"Shh!"
"...?"
Kim Hae-chan swallowed dryly.
After a moment of heavy breathing, he moved his trembling hand and pressed the answer button.
"Yes, Representative."
At that, Kim Deok-pal’s eyes flew wide open.
Meanwhile, Kim Hae-chan’s expression hardened dangerously as he barely managed to continue.
"This is Team 3 Manager Kim Hae-chan. I’ve received your call."
Then, from the other end of the line, a husky middle-aged voice flowed through the receiver.
"Team 3 Manager, where are you right now?"
At CEO Baek’s sudden question, fear and shock flashed across Kim Hae-chan’s eyes.