[Title Unchanged]
“KIM JUNSUNG that guy—why him of all people······! He’s causing all sorts of trouble just because he’s dating at the station!”
The head of the music chart show, PD Gami-rae, roared at the top of her lungs.
It made sense that her heart was fluttering in the presence of so many handsome men and beautiful women at the music broadcast.
But Kim Junsung had crossed every line.
After hanging up the call, Shin-yeong, the AD, spoke up.
“······For now, I’ve contacted Kim Deok-su’s manager. He said he’ll get back to us later······.”
“Shin-yeong, does Kim Deok-su actually agree? If he doesn’t, we’ll go with That Sun.”
PD Gami-rae slammed her cigarette into her mouth, leaving a red lipstick smudge on the filter.
The AD, Shin-yeong, also sucked in some nicotine but responded politely, hands clasped together.
“Honestly, it’s not bad······. Everyone’s talking about how Kim Deok-su is completely obsessed with acting lately.”
“That’s actually a good thing. If Kim Deok-su turns us down, then Cho Yu-ri is out too. That jerk Kim Junsung—why is he chasing after Cho Yu-ri?”
PD Gami-rae extinguished the cigarette she’d smoked all the way to the filter and lit another one.
The junior who helped her light it made her smile just a little bit brighter.
Seeing her chance, the junior asked her question.
“PD Jang, That Sun is really sensitive about dating scandals, isn’t she?”
“If she weren’t, she wouldn’t have earned the nickname That Sun herself. She won’t even give you her phone number even if your drama hits number one. Who knows what she’s really like······.
Anyway, That Sun really gave it to them. Those MCs who cause trouble······.”
“True, Kim Deok-su—at least there’s no risk of a scandal there······.”
“This time we played nice with That Sun’s sensibilities. If they pull a boycott······.
No matter who the owner is, it gets tiring. Kim Deok-su has to be cast. Got it?”
“Yes, senior.”
After finishing her second cigarette, PD Gami-rae tilted her head.
“Shin-yeong. If it’s Kim Deok-su, then it’s really fine, right? When we shot the kiss scene, he was amazing······.”
“Senior, that’s work.”
The junior had to put up with her senior’s worry for a long time.
Lee Hui-yeong, who had suggested the MC position to Deok-su, returned to the office.
Alone now, Deok-su had set the script aside and was lost in thought.
‘Music chart MC is something top stars always go through······.’
It wasn’t a lie that ambition didn’t exist within him.
But he couldn’t just agree without thinking things through.
It would help improve his image, yet right now a drama was being offered.
‘Can I take on both at once?’
If he got greedy and ended up losing both, there would be nothing to show for it.
In the end, Deok-su decided to seek advice from his mentor, Kim Hyeok-jung.
Kim Hyeok-jung, who was working in his office at Juwon University, welcomed Deok-su with open arms.
Hyeok-jung crossed his arms and smiled lightly after hearing Deok-su’s worry.
“······A happy kind of worry, I see.”
“It’s happy now, but if I can’t handle it, it becomes unhappiness. I······.”
“Wait a second. Who knows you best?”
“Me? No, Hui-yeong······.”
Deok-su clapped his hands, and Hyeok-jung shrugged his shoulders.
“If this manager proposed it, she must have thought you could handle it. At least the manager I know wouldn’t push an artist just because of ambition.”
“······I hadn’t thought that far.”
“The manager who endured company pressure for you and still managed to fit in all the singer schedules. That alone makes it clear.”
With his mentor’s advice added, Deok-su gradually felt more confident.
Back at DH Entertainment, it was right after Hui-yeong and Yun Chae-gyeong’s conversation had wrapped up.
Hui-yeong said, “······For now, Chae-gyeong has signed a trainee contract with us.”
“Trainee? Was there even a trainee for actors? Don’t tell me she’s a singer?”
Deok-su looked puzzled, and Yun Chae-gyeong replied, “Since I already got the stamp, I want to learn hard no matter what. I’ll come to work twice a week like the CEO said and start from the basics.”
“If you have any questions, ask me. I’m still learning too······. I’ll count on you, Chae-gyeong.”
“Please speak comfortably, senior. Or should I call you oppa?”
Deok-su welcomed the new trainee.
Two days later, a meeting was held at the OBC broadcasting station for the music chart show.
“A meeting doesn’t mean Hyun-woo has to come along too, right?”
Deok-su asked, and Hui-yeong shook her head.
“Hyun-woo has to learn quickly too. Even if I’m handling the oppa, a new trainee has joined. Hyun-woo, did you prepare everything I asked?”
“Yes, senior.”
Park Hyun-woo pointed at the notebook on the back seat.
Upon arriving at the OBC station, Park Hyun-woo pulled out a notebook from his bag.
After applying for temporary access, Hui-yeong pointed toward the front gate of the new building.
“They probably won’t explain it separately at the station. On recording days, come down the side entrance, not the underground, and walk over here.”
“The music chart show road I’ve only heard about?”
“Yes. You have to walk alone after getting off. I’ll be in the lobby first. Since you’ll have to reach the lobby by yourself, stay on high alert.
Hyun-woo, hurry up and park the car and come in after me. Both of us need to be tense. Who knows what will happen if a crowd gathers.”
Park Hyun-woo nodded with a tense face.
After that, the three of them received their temporary access cards.
While waiting in the meeting room for a moment, PD Gami-rae and AD Shin-yeong rushed in hurriedly.
They looked as if they had just woken up, with their hair tousled everywhere.
“Sorry. You came early. I was just taking a short nap in the dorm······.”
“No, no. If I had known you were sleeping, I would have come more relaxed.”
After a moment of surprise, once they entered the meeting, their eyes were filled with energy.
“First, thank you for accepting our proposal, L’Vyu.”
“No, thank you. By the way, since it’s my first time as MC, I’ll probably make mistakes······. That’s what worries me.”
“It’s your first time, so making mistakes is unavoidable, but we’ve considered it. More importantly······.”
PD Gami-rae gave a signal, and AD Shin-yeong handed over the contract.
While Deok-su and Hui-yeong were reviewing the contract, something caught their eye.
“······If any trouble arises that requires you to withdraw from the show, it’s compensation for interfering with the broadcast. It’s only a clause attached to ads, though.”
After hearing Hui-yeong’s words, PD Gami-rae sighed along with it.
“We didn’t expect to have contracts like this. It’s probably because of the previous issue.”
“I heard that Kim Junsung was leaving for health reasons······. Is it true that Kim Junsung was chasing after Cho Yu-ri?”
“That ‘is it true’ is correct.”
Hui-yeong covered her face, and Deok-su let out a sigh.
In the end, they learned that the broadcasting station had even chosen Cho Yu-ri despite everything.
Deok-su now understood why he had received the casting offer.
Even while causing trouble, there had never been a woman or a scandal in his history.
Hui-yeong said, “······For now, I understand the situation. But this kind of one-sided contract doesn’t feel good. It feels like they’re forcing trust.”
“Sorry. We were ordered to do at least this much from the upper management······. If there’s anything you want, we can provide it. An increased appearance fee, or······.”
When Hui-yeong smiled victoriously, Deok-su stepped forward.
“It’s fine. PD, can I have a pen?”
Hui-yeong’s eyes widened in surprise, but Deok-su gave her a knowing look that said to trust him.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and stepped back.
Meanwhile, PD Gami-rae’s tired expression brightened noticeably.
“Thank you. We also dislike these kinds of contracts. In fact, it’s pretty much coercion······.”
“This is the first place that offered me a hand. How is PD Jo Hyung-doing?”
“That’s right, I worked with senior Jo on a drama. I enjoyed watching My Hwarang a lot······. Senior was really sorry about that at the time. Since today’s a location shoot, I wish we could have met on set, but it’s a shame.”
Deok-su immediately signed and stood up from his seat.
PD Gami-rae’s attitude had become much more respectful.
“I feel like I owe you and Deok-su. I won’t forget today’s work.”
“Please make my drawing look pretty.”
“Of course, of course!”
On the way back from the broadcasting station, Hui-yeong looked at Deok-su and said, “You did well today. How much do you think the music chart appearance fee will be? It’s better to just write off the debt. Hyun-woo, did you see?”
“Ah, yes. But, oppa, the part in My Hwarang wasn’t cast by writer Na Mi-yeong? This PD doesn’t even have a say in casting and instead······.”
“Our Hyun-woo is still far away. What do you think the PD will say to senior Jo PD?”
“Ah······.”
“The PD’s job starts with ‘go’ and ends with ‘go.’ Senior Jo PD can’t speak the truth straight up. He’ll feel even more sorry about us? It’ll make it easier to get favors later? So casting, or casting······. Hehe.”
A slight madness flashed in Hui-yeong’s eyes, and Park Hyun-woo offered an awkward smile.
The fact that Deok-su had been cast was reported in the news within a day.
“Yes, yes, reporter. Please take care. Oh, of course. Then······.”
Hui-yeong’s efforts to get the article published were tearful.
Unlike before, since Deok-su wasn’t causing scandals as a JMT employee, the reporters reacted very stingily to even a single related article.
But using the know-how she learned from the management team’s Ha Yeong-hyeon deputy, Hui-yeong somehow managed to pull articles from the reporters.
“Hyun-woo, you watch too. You’ll have to do this from now on.”
Park Hyun-woo recorded Hui-yeong’s teachings in his notebook.
Her efforts were expressed in the articles as positive reactions.
—Did you all read the article? My oppa Deok-su became the music chart MC!
—Yu-yu······. I’m sorry my oppa left Signature, but as MC! This single ray of hope is hereTT TT
—We’re recruiting location staff. We’ll be there with signs at 8 AM.
—I’ll be there at 6 AM. I couldn’t go to the airport, but I will go to the music chart show!
Deok-su’s fan club Ruby also burned with excitement.
Deok-su had kept a low profile.
This kind of opportunity to meet him publicly was precious to the fans.
Once the schedule was confirmed, Mun A-rim also measured Deok-su’s size and hummed a tune.
“I’ll have to pay back the bill too. This time, leave it to me, noona. Understood?”
“Of course. The clothes are noona’s specialty anyway. Ah, but the sponsorship······.”
“Menclothing? Don’t worry. Noona will handle the sponsorship herself.”
Once the schedule was set, the team members began to move in an orderly fashion.
‘······Ussah, the atmosphere feels good.’
Yun Chae-gyeong, who came to the company twice a week, was also beginning to melt into the atmosphere.
Two days before the music broadcast, Deok-su received a call from CP Lee Young-san of That Sun.
“······An audition? Me?”
“Suddenly sorry, Deok-su. I narrowed it down to the final three candidates, but I or writer Cho······. I just can’t get a feel for it. If you help, it will make it much easier to cast. I know you’re busy, but I’m truly sorry.”
CP Lee Young-san apologized repeatedly.
It was actually rude to suddenly contact a busy actor and ask him to come.
But since he had still made the call, it showed how urgent it was.
“What time should I come by?”
After the call ended, Deok-su prepared simply and headed to the production company with Park Hyun-woo.
“Oppa, so I’m going to watch the audition screening?”
“Just to match the lines and check.”
“It seems like they want to hear oppa’s opinion there······.”
Upon arriving at the production company, three men were sitting in front of the audition hall, looking tense.
Deok-su exchanged glances with them and entered the audition hall.
Lee Young-san CP, writer Cho Yu-ri, and production company president Hwang In-sik were already engaged in lively conversation.
“Come in quickly! Our Deok-su.”
President Hwang In-sik looked at Deok-su with eyes full of love, as if he would die from cuteness.
Ever since they received the investment, his love for Deok-su had become even more intense.
Deok-su felt burdened but bowed his waist in greeting instead.
Lee Young-san CP shook his head back and forth and said, “You can just think while matching these lines. Ignore that old man.”
“Hah, seriously. Oppa. It’s embarrassing······.”
When the old man called Hwang-san rattled on, light laughter flowed from inside.
Deok-su signaled to writer Cho Yu-ri, and she also bowed her head.
It was a gesture of wanting to do well.
After a brief preparation time, people entered.
The audition participants each had their own unique image.
Participant number one was short but sturdy-built, while number two had a slender build.
Participant number three had an easygoing impression to match his large height.
While reading the script one more time, Deok-su gathered his resolve once more.
In the drama, Im Hae-seong and Gwak Jun communicate only through their voices.
The participants also turned around to breathe life into the voices with Deok-su.
First, it was participant number one.
“······I think it’s about time to give up. Sorry.”
“······Mr. Hae-seong. In your side, you’re probably looking at a few faded photos of this person, right?”
“Mr. Gwak Joon. What does that······.”
“Those photos until yesterday were of a person!”
The restrained voice of participant number one burst out and echoed through the audition hall.
‘Average. I can strongly feel anger in my stoic voice.’
Next was participant number two.
“Those photos······ until yesterday were of a person!”
Smoother and calmer than participant number one’s passionate voice.
It sounded good to listen to, but Deok-su shook his head.
‘There’s a lack of reaction. It feels more like someone acting out a memorized line rather than actually conversing.’
Finally, it was participant number three’s turn.
Just like before, when Deok-su began the lines, he continued calmly.
“······I think it’s about time to give up. Sorry.”
“······Mr. Hae-seong. In your side, you’re probably looking at a few faded photos of this person, right?”
The moment his words ended, Deok-su felt a current flowing through him.
“Wait, just a second.”
Deok-su, without realizing it, stood up and raised his hand.