The Two of Them Leaving the President's Office
The two left the president's office and headed toward the lounge.
Lee Hui-yeong handed Deok-su a beverage, gripping the warm can coffee with both hands.
"The president's offer wasn't entirely bad from your perspective, Deok-su."
Deok-su paused with the can halfway to his lips.
"Is that so important? Seven thousand dollars is plenty I can manage on my own..."
"With your abilities, you could definitely do it... but I'm a little disappointed. The JMT drama production team is quite capable too..."
"It means getting seven thousand per episode while also having to do mandatory activities for an artist you don't like. I hate it, but it would bother the Signature fans. I'd feel guilty toward Gang-hyeok too."
It was true that Deok-su had trained more than most current trainees.
In the early days after becoming Kim Deok-su, he had practiced singing and dancing alongside acting, but only acting showed real progress.
His joints felt like they were filled with foreign objects when dancing, and his voice and emotions stayed flat when singing.
Acting was possible, but singing and dancing were different.
Lee Hui-yeong sighed and shook her head.
"You're right. Still, seven thousand per episode is a big amount. So..."
She sounded a little disappointed.
"Do you mean that...?"
After that, the two went to the practice room with cheerful hearts.
After Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong left, President Kang Sang-mi pressed the phone on the desk.
"Director Gang and Director Min, come up here."
In less than five minutes, Director Gang Ha-seong and Director Min Du-jin entered.
Both looked startled by the sudden summons.
'I guess Kim Deok-su did something.'
Director Min Du-jin calmly looked around.
He had already received a report that Kim Deok-su had gone upstairs while Lee Hui-yeong was meeting the president.
Timing-wise, it looked like something important and difficult was about to come up.
Director Gang Ha-seong, who had come up with them, asked cautiously.
"What is it, President?"
"I have something I want to discuss with the two of you. Kim Deok-su isn't listening to what we say... Is it because he simply doesn't want to do Signature, or does he want to make the contract more favorable? I can't read his mind."
The president's lips curled up menacingly.
Director Gang Ha-seong said,
"What's the problem? Just follow the company's usual policy."
"Make him lose his image and fire him, or tame him?"
"Even so, recently the Signature kids have been getting cocky... or acting arrogant. It seems we need to show a lesson to these up-and-coming ones."
The conversation was strangely circling around something.
Unlike usual, Director Min Du-jin simply listened to the two without saying anything.
'...The president's obsession with Signature is pretty bad. Of course, the thing you want is something you must get.'
That obsession had become the driving force behind building JMT, but it was unfortunate for Kim Deok-su personally.
"Director Min, you haven't said much today."
"It's not easy to say it. In the end, is it really that hard to keep the entire Signature together?"
"That's right. It's difficult for now, but I won't let him get away with it. Since he's acting so well in the drama, he must be showing off his shoulders a bit. Soon he'll snap out of it."
Director Min Du-jin asked again.
"The president isn't just telling you to do something, right? I want to know the details."
"A 100-billion-won drama produced by the JMT drama production team, seven thousand per episode."
"100 billion? That's a blockbuster. But was there a secret project being run by the production team? As far as I know, it's been about overseas distribution..."
"She didn't specify the timing... I guess we'll find out someday. Anyway, that's settled. Director Min, do you have any good ideas?"
Director Min Du-jin closed his mouth.
The role, seven thousand per episode... it was all just talk.
In the end, Deok-su had won by rejecting it.
'Did you reject it knowing this would happen? Or was it just a coincidence? Kim Deok-su is really...'
Director Min Du-jin, who had been thinking, said,
"Looking at Kim Deok-su's actions, he doesn't seem to rely on the company much. At first when I booked the schedule, the company name might have worked, but now... at best he just takes lessons or uses the facilities... in the end, those are all costs deducted when settling accounts."
"So, what's the conclusion? Make him rely on this side and control him?"
"I think people like Kim Deok-su need to be persuaded. For now..."
Before he finished speaking, President Kang Sang-mi turned her gaze to Director Gang Ha-seong.
"Director Gang. You heard, right? Persuade him."
"Yes, President. I'll definitely persuade him to return to Signature activities."
Director Min Du-jin was calm.
'...His persuasion methods are obvious, but not dirty. I wonder if Kim Deok-su will fall for such shallow tricks...'
Starting the day after President Kang Sang-mi met with him, Deok-su's schedule became busier than ever.
From various photo shoots to CFs, interviews, variety shows, radio... he slept in the car while doing all of them.
"I have to go to the hospital. I'd rather sleep more..."
"No. The doctor said you need to come out more."
Lee Hui-yeong accepted Deok-su's grumbling as if she were used to it.
No matter how full the schedule was, she made sure he went to the hospital on time.
Thanks to those efforts and the crazy schedule, Deok-su was slowly shedding his character.
"Deep flavor of cheese. Enjoy together. Mozzarella Strong Burger!"
"Cut. Deok-su, you have a voice. Can you make it a bit lighter? Like an idol feel..."
Accepting the CF director's demands, Deok-su continued filming.
Director Seo Yoon-bin, who specialized in music videos and CFs, was quite strict.
Thanks to that, Deok-su had to eat the mozzarella strong burger he was advertising constantly.
"...Are you okay?"
Lee Hui-yeong watched Deok-su, who was trying to get up again after taking digestive pills, with concern.
Several empty digestive pill bottles were already rolling around nearby.
"The hamburger is tasty. I'll eat one more."
"...No thanks."
Seeing Deok-su smile brightly on purpose, Lee Hui-yeong felt a pang in her heart.
Doing food CFs, such processes were natural enough.
It wasn't easy to make hundreds of millions in a day.
"...For now, I won't eat hamburgers."
"Me neither. No corokes sandwiches at all."
Park Hyeon-woo added, and Mun A-rim nodded.
After a short break, Deok-su went back into the frame.
As filming continued, Director Seo Yoon-bin asked Deok-su for more.
In the end, it was demands to eat the hamburger more deliciously and express it better.
'The director is really tough. How many is this?'
'Here we go again. It's not something any celebrity would do. Wow, again...'
Advertisers like AE Im Young-hye and Division Head Lee Seok-han, and other staff, were just as surprised by Deok-su's appetite. They already knew his capacity was full.
Still, Deok-su didn't spit it out or just pretend to eat.
"Cut."
With Director Seo Yoon-bin, Deok-su checked the monitor.
The monitor showed himself eating the new menu with the energy of a food reviewer, not to be outdone.
"...As expected, the first cut was the best. Let's go with this."
"..."
Director Seo Yoon-bin's words annoyed him slightly, but he didn't show it.
Using the first cut after a tough shoot wasn't a daily occurrence.
Even after CF filming ended, Deok-su's schedule continued.
This time, it was radio recording, or rather, another schedule before that.
"Hello, Mr. L'Vyu. This is reporter Seo Ji-an from Central Entertainment. Thank you for taking the time."
Reporter Seo Ji-an sat across from Deok-su, who had just arrived, at the cafe in the radio station lobby.
Before the recording, it was an interview using the break time.
"I would love to stay longer, but I have a schedule. Next time..."
"It's appreciated anyway. Shall we start?"
Reporter Seo Ji-an pressed play on the recorder and listened.
"You are known as a great fashionista among L'Vyu fans, but... recently you only wear outfits from one maker, right? Is there a reason?"
"Ah, Menclothing? The clothes are pretty, right?"
When Deok-su held up the clothing brand, Reporter Seo Ji-an hesitated.
"The ad... is difficult..."
Deok-su scratched his neck awkwardly.
"Hahaha. Sorry. Cut it appropriately. Still, it's the place that first offered sponsorship to me, so I wanted to brag."
"Is it loyalty rather than style?"
"No, not at all. My stylist says she used comfortable material and highlighted the points well. This is just a plain white shirt and black jeans with spandex. The shirt has..."
"It really is pretty... Oh my. I'm being talked back to. I think the company where Mr. L'Vyu is a model would be great. The model is even promoting the product in the interview..."
Reporter Seo Ji-an summarized the content and continued with questions.
"...This time, the NBS drama 'The University Is Over' ended with 35.1%. Continuing as the second villain from last work, you exceeded 30% viewership. Can you share your thoughts?"
"Thanks to everyone, the actors, staff, director, and writer. I just added a spoon."
"That 'adding a spoon' expression is really interesting. It's not easy to succeed twice in a row as Jung Dong-ho and Han Seo-won, villains. At this point, you could be called a villain specialist. Is there any secret to your villain acting?"
Deok-su smiled and crossed his legs the other way.
"The secret... I didn't do anything particularly well. I just received a lot of help from all over. Han Seo-won's job is as an entrance exam coordinator, right?"
"Yes. I found that out through drama for the first time."
"I did too. So I investigated the job first. And..."
As the interview continued, Reporter Seo Ji-an's fingers typing rapidly became more open.
Within the stories of receiving help, the amount of effort Deok-su had put into character analysis was evident.
While the interview continued, Lee Hui-yeong pointed to Deok-su's wrist.
It was the signal that they had to leave soon.
"...How much effort Mr. L'Vyu has put in for one character... I understand. Now among fans, actor Kim Deok-su is more familiar than Signature L'Vyu. Ah, is this L'Vyu?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Personally, the name Deok-su feels more familiar. Then, please tell me about actor Kim Deok-su's plans."
"Whether villain, lead, supporting... it doesn't matter. If there's a good role and script, I'll go anywhere. Looking forward to working together. Thank you."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Reporter Seo Ji-an shook hands with Deok-su.
The time was short, but the content was rich and satisfying.
Just as Deok-su was about to leave, she clapped her hands as if remembering something.
"Um, Mr. L'Vyu. Sorry, can I get just one selfie?"
With Reporter Seo Ji-an looking happy at the selfie, Deok-su immediately went up for the recording.
At the JMT fitness room, Ryu Min-hye held Deok-su's waist while he did pull-ups.
Deok-su's back was sweaty, but the things Ryu Min-hye knew by heart.
Still, there was something she couldn't endure.
"Deep flavor of cheese. Enjoy together. Mozzarella Strong Burger!"
The Pasdelly CF flowing from the TV made her mouth water.
Whether because of the model or company strategy, Pasdelly was blasting ads.
"If I eat all that cheese, my blood vessels..."
"Why are you advertising that? You're Satan?"
"Apparently, even Satan is getting fired a lot these days because of people. Those poor kids."
Deok-su sparred with Ryu Min-hye while exercising.
After finishing the workout, Ryu Min-hye said with a bitter face as they entered the shower room.
"It seems today is the last one. It's a shame."
Deok-su's eyes narrowed sharply.
"What do you mean by that? Last one?"
"Actually, it's obvious. But, it's tough. At JMT... I got scolded for having short experience. I told them I would find a personal trainer at a trainer company for you..."
"Hui-yeong said that? No way. Hui-yeong wouldn't do that."
"It's the head of the general affairs team... Deok-su!"
Before he finished speaking, Deok-su rushed to the general affairs team.
The people in the general affairs team were dumbfounded by Deok-su's sudden appearance.
"Who is it? The one who banned Min-hye from entering?"
When Deok-su spoke, the person sitting at the highest place stood up relaxed.
It was General Affairs Team Head Oh Jin-hyeok.
He offered Deok-su a seat and calmly explained the situation.
"...Deok-su needs a more professional trainer at this point. Using a personal trainer with short experience isn't good..."
"The company originally tolerated actors using personal trainers, right? Anyway, I understand it's coming out of the money I receive. I won't change trainers."
"Still, it's Director Gang's instruction..."
"I'll take it as received."
As Deok-su was about to stand up, Team Head Oh said,
"That's... difficult."
"Team head."
"We also have Director Gang's instruction... Sorry."
Deok-su headed back to where Director Gang Ha-seong was.
Ignoring the secretary trying to stop him, Deok-su slammed open the director's office door.
"Hey! What are you doing? You just got popular and now you're acting like a leading man?"
"Enough. Why are you changing my trainer on your own?"
"Ah, I thought it was nothing..."
Director Gang Ha-seong's smirk made Deok-su's eyes flare up.
"I decide my own people. Director Gang, it's not something you can say."
"You refuse even though you offered a better one? Why, because you're getting popular again, you think you're the director or whatever?"
"Don't speak carelessly. I clearly said no."
"Yes. Do what you want. If it's no good, it's no good."
Deok-su smirked at Director Gang Ha-seong, picked up his phone.
"Team Leader Jung Rak? Hello. This is Kim Deok-su. Ah, yes. I wanted to see you today..."
Director Gang Ha-seong hurriedly cut off Deok-su's call.
Jung Rak was the flagship team leader manager at The Sun Entertainment, the same four big entertainment agencies.
Other small companies didn't matter, but if The Sun moved, things would change.
"Heh. Why so angry? Okay. For celebrities, will is the most important. Secretly."
Deok-su, having obtained approval, glared at Director Gang Ha-seong and turned away.
'Sure enough, he doesn't look happy that I'm leaving.'
Feeling that he had gained a new weapon, Deok-su's lips curled up unseen.