[Untitled Chapter]
Sigh... If it weren't for the president, I'd just...
Watching Deok-su sip his coffee without a care, Secretary Lee Hui-yeong found himself unconsciously clenching his teeth.
If only his temper would let him, he would have torn up the renewal contract and shown him the door right then.
But who the hell was this Signature?
The guy even knew that fact and was juggling the tightrope like a street clown.
“Deok-su, you're a man, aren't you? Let's give it our all and call it a day at this point. Leave the rest to Team Leader Oh. I'll handle his disciplinary report myself...”
“I heard your instructions, but the responsibility falls on Team Leader Oh, doesn't it?”
“That—”
This idiot was as persistent as Min Du-jin.
The headache in Director Kang Ha-seong's temples was unbearable.
If people would just play nice, this wouldn't be an issue. Why the endless arguing?
“I understand your meaning regarding the misunderstanding. Still, my team member almost got suddenly dismissed... we can't just let that slide.”
“...Ha. So what are you going to do about it? You're not going to touch them for the next five days? No-touch! Isn't that enough?”
“Please offer your sincere apology, Director. Personally.”
“Hey, you bastard!”
Director Kang Ha-seong shot to his feet.
In the end, he'd had to bow his head to an ex-trainee.
But Deok-su calmly raised his phone, and Director Kang Ha-seong ground his teeth before reluctantly nodding.
“...A meeting would be awkward. A phone call will do.”
“I understand the director's dignity is at stake. Agreed.”
Soon Deok-su dialed Ryu Min-hye and handed the phone to Director Kang Ha-seong.
“Director Kang wants to say something.”
“Eh? Suddenly what—”
Director Kang Ha-seong closed his eyes tightly and opened his mouth.
“...I am Director Kang Ha-seong of the Idol Planning Division.”
“...Ah! Yes! Good morning, Director!”
“I called you to tell you to stop appearing today... there was a misunderstanding in the team. As director, I must apologize. Never again... will such a thing happen.”
“...Ah, no. It's fine, Director. I'm all right.”
Ryu Min-hye's voice, tight with suppressed energy, nearly made Deok-su laugh out loud.
It was the complete opposite of her usual bright tone.
After the call ended, a mix of pity and relief for the person on the other end, Deok-su stood up.
“Then I'll take my leave.”
“Kim Deok-su. Today's schedule...”
Deok-su waved it off with a calm nod and stepped out into the hallway.
Bang!
At the same moment, Director Kang Ha-seong hurled a file at the closed door.
“Kim Deok-su...! This bastard... even the president and everything...! I should bury him here in the dirt.”
Suppressing his fury, Director Kang Ha-seong picked up his phone.
“...This is a reporter. I'm JMT Director Kang Ha-seong. Hey. How are you? I heard you're looking for fresh story angles lately?”
Although Deok-su never spoke the words himself, the fact that Director Kang Ha-seong had personally apologized to Ryu Min-hye spread through the entire company like wildfire in seconds.
A single arrogant person bowing to a mere staff member created ripples across the board.
“...Ryu Min-hye personally received the apology?”
“No. Kim Deok-su barged into the director's office and demanded it. All the secretaries heard.”
“Kim Deok-su has that kind of integrity? I didn't realize he was so capable.”
“What are you talking about? You haven't seen the team working with him, have you? He's always on top of everything, takes care of everyone, and never loses his temper... this incident was all predicted.”
“I want to work with Kim Deok-su too. Now he even has character... there's nothing he lacks.”
No one in JMT doubted anymore that Kim Deok-su had truly changed.
The people who once feared or avoided him had long since faded away.
“Sorry to interrupt your busy schedule.”
“It's nothing. Just a quick selfie. Smile!”
Requests for autographs and selfies poured in from the staff.
Deok-su responded to each one as naturally as if he were addressing fans.
Of course, Deok-su's stock price skyrocketed among the employees.
“...Mr. Deok-su, you're here for the corporate card approval, right? Just stamp here. I've already taken care of everything.”
“Ah... thank you, senior.”
Thanks to Deok-su, his team members also benefited.
They handled their tasks faster and were freed from all paperwork.
Of course, not everyone was happy about it.
“Human, what the hell were you thinking? That Director Kang is such a cheapskate...”
Ryu Min-hye slapped Deok-su's back and raised her voice.
At the time she had been surprised by the phone call and accepted the apology on the spot, but she worried about the future.
Of course, Deok-su remained unfazed.
“That's his problem.”
“Oppa, don't fight like the kids now... ow.”
Deok-su gently pushed Ryu Min-hye's forehead with one finger.
“Because you keep losing to those kinds of people, they get bolder. When he first stepped on you, you should have fought back harder. Otherwise you'll get stepped on more later.”
“I know all that. Still... I don't want to block your path for my sake. You know how huge JMT is. Director Kang is already a division head.”
Among the four major agencies, JMT Entertainment was the leading one.
It not only managed countless idols and actors but also produced films and dramas, a true entertainment giant.
“If I become truly impossible, none of that will matter.”
“Oppa, just...”
While the two of them were talking behind an invisible wall, the door to the practice room opened and Lee Hui-yeong entered.
“Oppa. It's time.”
Deok-su slipped on his coat, and Ryu Min-hye let out a sigh.
“Schedule again today? Manager Lee's constant running around isn't a joke. You haven't rested properly after finishing your dramas.”
“I'm fine, really.”
Deok-su patted her shoulder and headed out.
Today Park Hyeon-woo was off, so Lee Hui-yeong took the wheel.
“You driving? Long time no see.”
“Yeah. I used to enjoy it when Hyeon-woo drove. But for now I'll have to.”
Lee Hui-yeong's words made Deok-su smile bitterly.
“Taking Hyeon-woo with me would be... no.”
“I'd love to take him, but from Hyeon-woo's perspective, staying here is better. We're a startup, and this is a big corporation... still, it's a shame.”
“I wish we could go together... oh, it's complicated. What about Ari unnie?”
“I'll ask Ari unnie. I don't know how she'll react...”
They had only moved together as a team recently, but a bond had formed.
Thinking about leaving made his heart complicated.
But Deok-su straightened it.
His filmography as an actor had grown, even if small.
He was now confident that with enough effort he could break free from President Kang Sang-mi's pressure.
After a long drive, Lee Hui-yeong's eyes sharpened in the rearview mirror.
“Oppa, do you see that car?”
The car she pointed to was the black one known as the National Car.
Ordinary except for the heavily tinted windows.
“Science 6, right? Why?”
“...Not that. It's been following us since earlier. It looks like a stalker.”
Lee Hui-yeong pressed the accelerator, but Deok-su calmly raised both hands behind his head.
“Just drive normally.”
“But...”
“As long as you don't give them anything to write about, it's fine. Do you think I have any useful material right now?”
Reporters had trailed him for days before.
They eventually gave up and left.
At a red light, Lee Hui-yeong spoke.
“It seems it's because of your renewal. Should we just ignore them? Maybe twist some wild rumor about switching agencies...”
“Noise marketing. It could even raise my value.”
Deok-su shrugged.
Renewal-related contacts had already flooded in.
If the article came out, Deok-su's value would skyrocket.
“Let's keep going.”
Following Deok-su's lead, Lee Hui-yeong gripped the wheel again.
“No story angle at all...”
Reporter Jeon Woongi muttered while watching Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong.
After Director Kang Ha-seong's promise of a story, he had followed them without hesitation... but nothing had come of it.
Instead, he had wasted precious gas chasing Kim Deok-su.
“...I should try linking them somehow.”
Jeon Woongi shook his head after muttering.
Even from afar, they looked like an attractive celebrity and manager pair.
But linking a manager and celebrity in a scandal was taboo for reporters.
Their source was the management side... and a manager boycott would follow.
“...Ugh! Where are they going now!”
Jeon Woongi stuffed a bread in his mouth and hurried into the car, flooring the accelerator.
It was already dawn when Deok-su finally returned home.
Jung-mi had unpacked boxes in the living room.
“Deok-su. What is all this?”
Wagyu sets, red ginseng, fruit, and various rare items filled the boxes.
Gifts from agencies.
Even sleepy Lee Hui-yeong's eyes widened.
Deok-su examined the recipient tags on the gifts.
“Kum Cloud and Bnetz. First time seeing this place... summer and winter?”
“It's an agency run by a former Bnetz staff. Small but quite stable, I heard.”
The reason for the gifts needed no explanation.
“Deok-su. This one...”
“For the renewal, I suppose.”
Before Deok-su finished, Jung-mi set the boxes down.
“Don't feel burdened by these. Mom wants you to decide things your own way.”
Deok-su felt his chest tighten.
She trusted him.
He wanted to do even better.
“I'll work harder. I already have plans.”
Jung-mi patted his head.
He was no longer the son who only made her worry.
She would simply support him in becoming successful.
The next day, before his schedule, Deok-su stopped by the company.
Lee Hui-yeong had errands nearby, so he waited.
While casually wandering the lobby, he met a familiar face.
“Min-ji. Heading to a schedule so early?”
Strong Min-ji, makeup-free, high-fived Deok-su and offered a weak smile.
“Huu... Hello, brother-in-law...”
“You look tired. What kept you up?”
“Nihaha... I stayed up all night for three days straight. Total exhaustion. But...”
Min-ji's eyes suddenly brightened as she stepped closer.
“Oppa. You said you'd quit, right?”
“Huh? Quit? Suddenly...”
“I heard everything. The president got his proposal kicked out from under his feet. For a drama that pays seven thousand per episode...”
Deok-su scratched his cheek awkwardly.
He had never told anyone he was leaving.
How had the rumor spread?
“I haven't announced it yet. The script for the drama isn't even ready.”
“Right? So you're staying? Makes sense. Your anti-fans are almost gone now. The company will push you harder. No need to struggle later!”
The image of a junior on the verge of tears trying to stop him stunned Deok-su.
A junior trying to dissuade him from leaving was a happy thing.
The conversation naturally turned to contracts.
“...A seven-year contract. About two years left.”
“You started so young too.”
“I debuted at eighteen... average for an idol. As for renewal like yours, it's like a story from another world. So let's keep working together for a long time.”
The talk circled back, and Deok-su could only smile awkwardly.
Still, a savior appeared.
Lee Hui-yeong rushed into the lobby in a panic.
She was out of breath, face tight with worry.
“Haa, haa... O, Oppa! Do... do you have your passport?”
“Passport? At home. Why suddenly?”
Min-ji tilted her head at the word.
Lee Hui-yeong continued, panting.
“Haa, haa... Oppa. You remember Director Seung-woo Han?”
“The Turnshine MV director, right? Speak slowly. Why is he involved?”
“Oppa, he recommended you... so you have to go to China later. For the MV of singer Ryu Haoran...”
“A singer with over twenty million fans.”
The number twenty million froze both Deok-su and Min-ji.