Running Away Here Means It’s Over, Doesn’t It?
"If I run away from here, isn't it all over?"
As I watched the awards ceremony from the audience with the PR team leader, my eyes widened.
"I was able to stand here thanks to Manager Kwon. Once again, I’d like to thank my manager, Manager Kwon."
Kwon Hyeon-bin, the first winner to be called up.
My name came out in his acceptance speech.
And not just in passing...
It was said pretty grandly.
Seriously, why go that far for me, Kwon Hyeon-bin?
I could guess why he’d said it, more or less, but hearing those words from Kwon Hyeon-bin, who was usually so impassive, made my face heat up for no good reason.
Then the PR team leader beside me looked at me with a baffled expression and said, "Huh? What was that just now? Manager Kwon, what did you do to make actor Kwon Hyeon-bin say something like that?"
Keeping my expression in place, I answered, "I guess I managed him well."
"Managed him well enough for actor Kwon Hyeon-bin to say that?"
"I must have managed him exceptionally well."
"Look at you. You know you’re smiling like a real schemer right now, Manager Kwon?"
"If I’m getting lip service like this, what am I supposed to do, cry?"
The PR team leader narrowed her eyes and watched me. Under that sharp glare, I quickly stood up.
"All right, Team Leader, let’s move."
"Why are you dodging the question all of a sudden, our Manager Kwon?"
"I’m not dodging anything. Can’t you see actor Kwon Hyeon-bin heading to the interview zone?"
The Baeksang Arts Awards had only just begun, but the moment for me and my actor was already over.
So now it was time to wrap things up properly.
"It’s time for the Baekhak PR team to step in, isn’t it? Are you just going to stay here? Hurry up and join Kwon Hyeon-bin so we can take photos and get the article out."
***
I led the PR team leader toward the back of the stage. Kwon Hyeon-bin had arrived first and was standing around in the interview zone. I walked quickly up to him.
"Kwon Hyeon-bin."
"Ah, Manager Kwon."
I tapped his shoulder and asked teasingly, "What was that speech just now?"
Kwon Hyeon-bin tilted his head with that usual blank expression of his.
"What do you mean?"
"You say something like that and then act like you don’t know what I’m talking about?"
A faint, dry smile touched Kwon Hyeon-bin’s lips.
"Well. I thought it was a perfectly ordinary acceptance speech."
Wow. Look at this guy.
Was Kwon Hyeon-bin always this shameless?
Just then, the PR team leader, who had belatedly brought over the camera, shouted with a bright face, "Oh my! Actor Kwon! Congratulations on your Popularity Award!"
"Thank you. But who..."
"Ah! I’m the Baekhak PR team leader. This is our first time meeting, isn’t it? Hehe!"
With a coy smile, the PR team leader crossed her legs and fidgeted them side to side.
At the sight of that, I was so dumbfounded that I gave her a quick rebuke. "Team Leader, did your leg cramp up or something? Why are you twisting them like pretzels?"
Without saying a word, the PR team leader smacked my arm repeatedly.
"Our Manager Kwon always has a mouth on him, doesn’t he?"
"Out of nowhere? What did I even do?"
As we were bickering, the Baeksang interview crew approached with a camera and microphone.
The PR team leader and I naturally took a step back, and a woman in her early twenties who looked every inch the celebrity flashed a brilliant smile and greeted Kwon Hyeon-bin.
"Hello, actor Kwon Hyeon-bin! I’m field reporter and MC Lee Shi-na!"
Kwon Hyeon-bin replied in an indifferent voice, "Yes, hello, Ms. Lee Shi-na."
"Congratulations on winning the Popularity Award! So, um... would you possibly be available for a quick interview? It’s a making-of interview with all the winners participating!"
"Yes, that’s fine."
At Kwon Hyeon-bin’s permission, the interview filming began.
The Hallyu star calmly repeated the Popularity Award acceptance speech he had given at the ceremony.
"Lastly, I’d like to dedicate this award to Manager Kwon."
The PR team leader beside me suddenly whipped her head around and stared at me.
I tried to meet that look with shameless calm, but MC Lee Shi-na, who was conducting the interview, was also staring at me now.
Lee Shi-na asked carefully, "Are you perhaps actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s manager?"
The PR team leader answered for me. "Yes! He’s actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s manager."
"Ah! I see! Then perhaps, Manager..."
Lee Shi-na trailed off, her eyes sparkling as she made a suggestion.
"Would you maybe be able to do a short interview?"
My eyes went wide.
"Me, all of a sudden?"
"Yes! I just checked the social media response, and the fans seem really curious about you, Manager Kwon!"
Kwon Hyeon-bin’s fans were curious about me?
"It’s the first time actor Kwon Hyeon-bin has thanked someone by name like this at an awards ceremony, so it’s becoming a bit of a hot topic!"
After explaining the situation, Lee Shi-na clasped her hands together and asked me earnestly, "So, would a short interview be possible? It would look really good if actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s manager appeared right after his acceptance speech!"
Her suggestion left me at a loss.
The intent is good, but isn’t this a little sudden?
Was my inner thought written all over my face?
Lee Shi-na hurriedly tried again. "Really, it’ll only take about ten seconds! You can just give a brief thank-you, Manager!"
I fell into thought for a moment.
Ten seconds... I guess that should be fine?
I was a little reluctant to have my face put out there, but on reflection, it was already a face that had been put out there once before.
After making up my mind and slowly nodding, Lee Shi-na handed me the microphone as if she’d been waiting for exactly that.
At that moment, a plausible picture formed in my mind.
Millions of viewers watching Baeksang.
If even a fraction of them saw this interview, wouldn’t that mean an opportunity to spread my interview to hundreds of thousands of viewers?
Just as I was thinking that the mental image wasn’t bad at all, Lee Shi-na asked me, "Actor Kwon Hyeon-bin thanked you in his acceptance speech after winning the Popularity Award today. If you had one thing to say to actor Kwon Hyeon-bin, what would it be?"
After finishing my deliberation, my mouth slowly opened.
"First, I’d like to congratulate actor Kwon Hyeon-bin on winning the Popularity Award, and..."
An unplanned answer slipped out in response to a question that had been agreed upon in advance.
"And I’d also like to ask for your interest in actor Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project, The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor, which will be starting soon."
A surprise announcement of the Hallyu star’s next project.
At the bombshell I’d just dropped, Lee Shi-na, the PR team leader, and even Kwon Hyeon-bin all stared at me in shock.
***
MBN drama department director’s office.
Director Kang’s shoulders trembled as he listened to the obnoxious voice of SBC drama department director Kim over the phone.
"Haha, Director Kang! I guess I’ve been on a bit of a lucky streak lately. The moment writer Lee Na-yoon finished her new script, she called me. She said she absolutely wanted this project to be done at SBC!"
"..."
"What was I supposed to do once writer Lee Na-yoon handed us the script? I scraped together every last bit of money and gave the project full support! The male lead is a little disappointing, but I’ve already cast Kim Yoon-kyung for the female lead! You know Kim Yoon-kyung, that Greater China star, right?"
Director Kim continued bragging in a self-satisfied voice.
"I never thought an actress like Kim Yoon-kyung would be the one to contact me first, haha! This is why you use a star writer!"
Director Kang swallowed his boiling irritation and replied, "...Is that why you called me first thing in the morning, Director Kim?"
"Oh-ho, are your feathers a little ruffled?"
"Your bragging is so obvious it’s annoying."
"Hey now, Director Kang! Why would I brag to you? I’m just letting you know, so you don’t come storming into next year’s second-quarter drama and get yourself beaten into pulp!"
Director Kang shot back without backing down. "And yet, how embarrassing for you."
"Hm? What’s that supposed to mean?"
"It seems I’m not the only one with good luck. That Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin has decided to join my second-quarter drama next year."
"!"
At Director Kang’s words, Director Kim blurted out in shock.
"W-what? Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin is joining your network’s drama?"
"My, my. With information moving that slowly, how do you even do a director’s job, Director Kim?"
"..."
"If Kim Yoon-kyung is a Greater China superstar, let’s see... Kwon Hyeon-bin would be an Asia superstar, I suppose? Anyway, that Kwon Hyeon-bin has decided to join our drama next year in the second quarter."
Only after recovering his senses did Director Kim ask back in a suspicious voice.
"Did you already sign the contract? Or is this just a preliminary agreement?"
"Oh, come on. What preliminary agreement? Do you think I’m on the same level as you?"
"...So what, you’re saying you’re going to take a shot at it with Kwon Hyeon-bin as your ace?"
"Why, getting scared? If you’re scared, then just drop dead."
"W-what do you mean, scared...? How old are you, and that’s the way you talk, Director Kang!"
"Look who’s suddenly pretending to be proper! Honestly, you are scared, aren’t you? If a 40-billion-won drama crashes and burns, you’re completely done for!"
Director Kim snapped irritably, "Fine! You’re saying you want to take this all the way, then!"
"Yeah, let’s see you take it all the way!"
"Ha! You can’t even take advantage of an opportunity when it’s handed to you. Starting today, the promotional campaign for Backstreet Police begins, so watch closely! Watch what kind of drama the market actually wants right now!"
With that, Director Kim hung up.
Director Kang tossed the smartphone in his hand onto the sofa and muttered, "Damn it, that obnoxious bastard."
His luck had been rotten from the morning.
Of all people, he’d had to listen to Director Kim’s bragging at the worst possible time.
Still, I landed one back thanks to Kwon Hyeon-bin.
If not for Kwon Hyeon-bin, it would have been truly miserable.
He would have had to sit there and quietly endure that obnoxious boast from Director Kim.
After letting out a long sigh, Director Kang cooled the heat building from the call.
Once he had calmed down, he picked up his smartphone again.
"But what kind of drama is it that they’re already pushing promotion this hard?"
There was still plenty of time before next year’s second quarter, and Director Kim’s theatrics were truly something else.
He was grumbling with his mouth, but under the uneasy pressure of a 40-billion-won drama, Director Kang started searching entertainment news.
And a moment later, his eyes went wide as he checked the ranking list for entertainment articles.
"Huh...?"
He barely caught his breath before immediately calling Director Kim back.
"Hey, Director Kim."
Director Kang’s shoulders began to tremble with exhilaration.
"That Backstreet Police project you were bragging about isn’t even showing up in the rankings. What happened?"
Director Kang burst out laughing.
"Instead, the article about our galaxy-level superstar, Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project, has taken the number one spot in the real-time rankings?"
***
The Baeksang Arts Awards were over.
Best Actor went to actor Park Woo-seok, who had more than thirty years of acting experience, while Best Supporting Actress went to actor Kim Nam-hee, who had already been recognized at Cannes, and both walked away with trophies.
But there was someone else who drew the biggest attention at this year’s Baeksang.
It was none other than Hallyu star Kwon Hyeon-bin.
All attention converged on news of his next project.
From first to fifth place in the real-time entertainment news rankings, every slot was taken up by news related to Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project.
On top of that, the video teasing Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project, which came out of my interview, received explosive reactions as well.
The Baeksang making-of interview video surpassed 300,000 views in just twenty-four hours and climbed to second place in NutTube’s trending issue rankings.
The PR team leader muttered with a complicated expression, "What on earth is going on? We went to Baeksang and came back with free promotion for Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project?"
...At that, I was a little dumbfounded too.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected the reaction to be this hot.
No way. Did one little spur-of-the-moment interview really have this much impact?
For a throwaway interview based on a moment’s wit, far too much attention was being poured onto Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project.
Then the PR team leader suddenly snapped her head toward me and asked, "Manager Kwon, are you going to become a star at this rate?"
My expression turned blank.
"What do you mean?"
"No, think about it! Has there ever been a case where a manager made one interview and shot up to second place on NutTube’s trending list?"
At the PR team leader’s explanation, I finally understood the context and let out a belated snort of laughter.
"Read the comments, Team Leader."
I pointed at the interview video that had already passed 300,000 views.
"Do you see my name anywhere in this video?"
"...Huh? Not even once?"
"Right. The fans care that Kwon Hyeon-bin has a next project. Why would they care about me?"
After hearing me out, the PR team leader hesitated for a moment, then pointed at a few comments.
"Still, look, there are comments about you here too!"
At that, I casually looked into the comment window as well.
Well, there was a little of it.
But if I admitted that here, the PR team leader would definitely tease me, so I pretended not to notice and got up from my seat.
"I’m heading out."
"What? Where are you going all of a sudden?"
"An outside schedule."
"What about the promotional article for actor Kwon Hyeon-bin?"
"The issue has already blown up, so Team Leader, please stir the fire properly."
The PR team leader grinned. "Okay! I’ll just add a spoon to the table you’ve already set, Manager Kwon!"
Leaving the PR team leader’s dependable answer behind, I slipped out of the Baekhak headquarters.
On the drive to the SBC production studio, my phone rang.
"Director Kang?"
Surprisingly, the caller was Director Kang, the head of MBN’s drama department.
Composing myself, I quickly answered the call. "Yes, Director. I’ve got your call."
Director Kang’s cheerful voice came through the smartphone. "Ah, Manager Kwon! Is this a good time to talk?"
"I’m driving, but a brief call is fine, Director Kang."
Director Kang couldn’t hide his delight. "I was really surprised when I saw today’s article. I had no idea you’d promote Kwon Hyeon-bin’s next project so brilliantly!"
A smile spread across my own lips as well.
"I’m glad it helped."
"Haha, it didn’t just help, it gave us a huge boost. Baekhak’s PR team really is on another level! I never thought they’d handle promotion like that!"
Director Kang paused for a moment, then made a suggestion.
"So, I was thinking of handing over the promotion and marketing for The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor to Baekhak entirely."
At that surprise proposal, I jerked slightly and hurriedly asked, "You mean you’d give our side the promotional marketing authority?"
"Haha, it’s common knowledge in this industry that Baekhak’s PR team works well, and since we’re moving toward the same goal anyway, wouldn’t it make for a good partnership?"
At Director Kang’s words, my mind started turning fast.
If they handed us promotional authority, we could push the promotion centered on Kwon Hyeon-bin even harder.
After making my judgment, I answered at once, "If you’d trust us with it, we’d be more than grateful, Director."
"Is that so? Then let’s discuss the details separately! Oh, and..."
Director Kang added with confidence, "Thanks to today’s issue, the board is also looking at The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor very positively."
"That means..."
"I think we’ll be able to secure a bit more production budget for The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor."
"!"
"Of course, we still need to keep an eye on CF rates and investment conditions, but there’s a strong chance that more money will be allocated than originally planned!"
Without meaning to, I held my breath.
...Not just promotional authority, but a bigger budget too?
What is this? Why is the whole scale suddenly getting bigger?
It was hard to keep up with the abrupt turn of events.
Fortunately, even in that situation, my mouth worked just fine.
"Then it’s our turn to receive your help, Director."
"Haha, if you trust me, I’ll do my best to persuade the board!"
"Then I’d appreciate that, Director Kang."
After ending my call with Director Kang, I let out a breath.
Only then did the reality of the situation begin to sink in slowly.
"This all happened because of that interview?"
How could one interview expand the playing field this much?
In particular, the budget increase for The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor felt like an unexpected gift I’d never even imagined.
If a drama that’s already breaking out overseas also gets a healthy budget?
Maybe...
Even the domestic response, which should have been underwhelming in the original timeline, might rise as well.
After all, one of the biggest factors determining a drama’s success in this era was production cost.
Letting out a pleased, disbelieving laugh, I muttered slowly, "At this rate, maybe I can relax a little about Kwon Hyeon-bin and The Wise Life of a Namhae Intern Doctor until we get to the script reading?"
The momentum was good from the very start.
So, then, all that was left was to carry this momentum over to To.Any too?
The filming was finally starting.
The K-Singer-Songwriter competition variety program with Park Ga-eul, the leader of To.Any, participating in it.
The lineup was more glamorous than I’d expected, and the fans were already placing huge expectations on it.
If this variety shoot ended without trouble, it looked like I’d be able to wrap up the year’s final harvest successfully.
With a faint smile, I got out of the car and was about to head toward the TAN production studio where the first K-Singer-Songwriter shoot was being held when the smartphone in my pocket suddenly rang again and again.
New future texts poured in like a sudden downpour.
---