Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Promotions and Shenanigans
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When the Director, who had been called ‘Mom’ or ‘Mother’ by the CEO on numerous occasions, showed a hint of anger, the CEO quickly changed the subject.
“I—I got sidetracked again. Where were we?”
“That Min-jun was trying to refuse his appointment as director.”
“Ah, right, right! Let’s just hear what Director Min-jun has to say.”
With sincerity and respect, I bowed a full ninety degrees.
“I am well aware that my appointment as director is symbolic, a way to promote the company through my appearance on the show. I will strive to meet your expectations. However, considering my professional experience, it’s also true that this position is overwhelming for me. Therefore, I’ve decided not to receive a base salary and will only accept incentives.”
“Ooooh.”
At the mention of no base salary, the expressions of the employees who held even the slightest complaint completely softened.
“Only my title will change; the work I do will remain the same, so I hope you will all see me without prejudice. I will also lend a hand through good contract terms and event management to ensure JD Enter has a warm and prosperous year-end.”
“Woooah!”
The staff cheered at the mention of money, and the Director let out a small laugh. Family or not, a job that pays well is king.
“Now, there’s more. Now that we’ve grown, our workload has increased a lot. I was originally planning to announce this around the end of the year when we move to the new office building, but I might as well do it today. Manager Ji Byung-wook. Come on up.”
Suddenly called upon, Manager Ji’s large eyes widened.
“Me?”
Manager Ji stood awkwardly next to the CEO.
“Manager Ji Byung-wook has worked so hard for our company since the very beginning.”
“Yes!”
Sensing something was about to happen, the employees answered energetically.
“Manager Ji will now be the Executive Director of Production.”
“Woooah!”
Every employee in the office rose to their feet at once, erupting in applause and cheers.
“Me?”
Manager Ji just blinked, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Executive Director of Production, Ji Byung-wook. Please continue to work hard for our JD.”
“Woooah!”
“Of course, I know that many others besides Executive Director Ji Byung-wook have worked hard for our company. We’re planning major promotions and welfare improvements to coincide with the office move, so let’s all give it our best until the end of the year.”
“Director Ji, please say a few words.”
Director Lee Sun said with a smile, and Director Ji, still looking dazed, gave his thoughts.
“I believe that in a few years, our JD will become a major cultural content conglomerate like SJ or KGM. In that respect, I think the position of Executive Director of Production is incredibly significant right now. I want to thank all of you for laying the groundwork for our company's resurgence, as well as Director Lee Sun and CEO Park Jae-yong. And I especially want to thank Director Min-jun, the very person who started as a mere roadie but, with his outstanding wit and keen eye, pulled us out of capital impairment and led us to generate massive profits.”
With even Director Ji attributing the success to me, no one could possibly complain about my appointment as director anymore.
After the simple introductions, Manager Ji, now Director Ji, pulled me out into the hallway.
“Thank you, Director Min-jun.”
Why did the word ‘director’ feel so awkward? But the sincere gratitude on his face replaced my embarrassment with a sense of pride.
“I look forward to working with you, Executive Director.”
“Puhahat! I’ll treat you to something big.”
“Yes, sir. I’m heading out for Answer’s schedule now. We have to split into two teams this afternoon.”
“Right, right. Two gigs, nice.”
Director Ji, in high spirits, went back into the office with a wide smile.
* * *
-Min-jun: I got here first. I’ll be waiting at the cafe. Let me know when you arrive.
-Yoo-jun: The usual spot where the managers hang out, right?
-Min-jun: Yep.
“Here’s your coffee!”
The female employee, who had been working at the cafe for nearly a year, greeted me cheerfully.
I took my coffee and found a quiet seat. Following the 9-member boy group ‘Nine One,’ I reviewed a new song proposal that had come in. My time was limited, so I had to be selective and give songs only to those who were a sure thing.
“Team Leader Min-jun!”
“Ah… Safety’s manager?”
“Ah! Thank you for remembering me! Everyone, come over here.”
At the manager’s call, three unfamiliar people flocked over. They were clearly rookie roadies.
Safety’s manager introduced me.
“The legendary—”
*The legendary final debut member of Fire Emblem?*
“The legendary girl group debut manager.”
*Ugh.*
“Wow! Hello!”
“I’ve seen you a lot in videos.”
“I respect you, Answer’s manager.”
It suddenly felt hot in here.
I nodded in response to their recognition.
“As expected of a pro manager, you must understand all of your team’s choreography, right?”
“Is that even a question? To be honest, I thought you danced better than Answer.”
“How are your dance lines prettier than a girl group’s? I was truly amazed.”
They seemed genuinely impressed, so I couldn’t even show my displeasure. Just when I thought I’d forgotten, the memory of that day always came back to haunt me.
“That’s not all. You know the point membership card incident.”
“I saw on the news earlier that the CEO and executives got arrested. Was that Answer’s manager?”
“Yep. They said he sniffed it out as soon as the advertising offer came in and reported them. The contract fee was pretty hefty, too.”
“Wow! Amazing! And they were a company collaborating with a tier-one financial institution!”
“Ah! So that’s the one Answer rejected that went to Your Girl instead?”
The atmosphere suddenly turned into one of praise for me. Many eyes in the cafe turned our way.
I turned off my phone screen, which I had been reviewing. Back in my rookie roadie days, I too had mingled with other managers, picking up various know-how and information, and building connections. If you receive, you must also give back.
“There’s more. When the malicious rumors about Answer spread, and what else? The Smile Ice Cream contract fee! He took it in stocks instead of cash and blew it up several times over.”
“Woooah! I want to be a cool chief manager like that, too.”
Just then, Choi Yoo-jun’s voice cut in.
“Hyung!”
“Aah! Oppa!”
Choi Yoo-jun and the Answer members rushed toward me as if to tackle me in a hug.
“Calm down, calm down! What’s all this?”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
Choi Yoo-jun, the first to arrive, gave me a military salute.
“Why are you being so dramatic in a crowded place?”
“Oppa, I heard you became a director!”
Seul-bi said with a goofy grin, and the attention of the managers and many others around us became focused on our group.
“Woooow! A director!”
“He’s a legend.”
“C-Congratulations.”
The dazed managers looked up at me in awe.
I needed to get out of here. Fast.
“I have to go for a schedule. I’ll treat you all next time if I get the chance.”
“Ooh! Work hard today!”
“Fighting! You’re my role model!”
“The director from Fire Emblem who debuted in a girl group. You’re so cool!”
The time it took to leave the cafe felt incredibly long.
“Wow, Hyung! Seriously, congratulations! Wow, a director?”
Yi-na shook her head at Choi Yoo-jun’s exaggerated reaction.
“Hmph. Yoo-jun oppa, we should call him Director-nim now.”
“Ah! You’re right. Director of the Rookie Development Team!”
“Stop it, already.”
“Aw, why! I’m so proud right now!”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
The Answer members and Choi Yoo-jun paid no mind to the broadcast station staff they passed. Seeing them so happy, as if it were their own achievement, made me feel proud.
“But.”
Ro-si, who had been joyful just a moment ago, spoke up with a nervous expression.
“Does this mean you won’t be coming to schedules with us anymore, Director-nim?”
“Ah! Seriously, Yoo-jun oppa can’t handle us on his own.”
At Ro-si’s words, even Seul-bi’s expression changed as she spoke.
“No, that’s not it. The director position is symbolic. It’s because I have to appear on an audition program. My job will be the same.”
“Phew.”
“And just call me what you always have. ‘Director’ sounds weird.”
A sense of relief washed over the Answer members’ faces.
The radio recording began.
-As promised, we have Answer with us today.
“Ask us a question! We are Answer. Hello!”
-Huh? You all seem especially fired up today. Did something good happen?
“Yes! Our manager got promoted to director!”
-Hmm? You don’t mean the manager from Fire Emblem who debuted as a member of the girl group Answer?
“Ahahaha! That’s right. That’s him.”
-Wow! A director? That young manager? Wow, let’s give him a round of applause, everyone! Congratulations!
“Woooah!”
Everyone in the studio looked at me with surprised and fascinated expressions, clapping their hands. I covered my eyes. Why did the girl group debut scene keep getting mentioned just when I was about to forget it?
-Ah, more importantly, I saw you got first place on the music show. Congratulations!
“Thank you!”
-It seems you really didn’t know you were going to win. A mess of tears and snot.
“Ah. That wasn’t really snot. It was tears!”
Ro-si, whose nose had started running while she was rapping, must have felt called out. She would have been fine if she had just stayed quiet.
-I didn’t say anything specific.
“Ah, I’m sorry…”
The other Answer members looked at Ro-si and shook their heads.
“Hey, what!”
Her face flushed, Ro-si grabbed Seul-bi’s arm, trying to hide her embarrassment.
-But if water is flowing from your nose, isn’t that snot?
“Hmph!”
-Ah, I’m just kidding, just kidding. There aren’t any viewers who don’t know those were tears, right?
“Yeees!”
-Ro-si, you look so cute with your face all red.
-Thinking about it again, I'm rewatching the snot rap.
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I think I saw a bubble pop out of her nose, but I must be mistaken, right?
-A face that can even forgive snot lol
Today’s comic relief was Ro-si. Someone always has to make a sacrifice for an entertaining program.
I checked the progress of the main quest.
[The ‘Desire’ quest is in progress.]
You possess the qualities of an outstanding producer. Use your talent to produce your own group.
Objective:
-Rank #1 on the 3 major music streaming sites: 3/3 (Complete)
-Tube Subscribers: 2,010,345/50,000,000 (Incomplete)
Reward: ‘Grant a Wish’
Penalty for Failure: Game Over
Time Remaining: 15,960:35:22
I thought we were achieving good results, but we had only just reached 2 million out of 50 million.
While raising Answer was important, it seemed that the company itself and my relationships with others both inside and outside the company would also be crucial.
There was still a long way to go. It would work out somehow.
-At this point, I’m curious why the members of Answer, who are so charming, didn’t become popular at the time of their debut. Is it possible for you to perform your debut song today?
“Hmm, shall we?”
Seol-ah answered so brightly that I wondered if she was the same person who used to hate their debut song for being too clingy.
Soon, the choreography and song began, with Seol-ah and Ro-si, and Seul-bi and Yi-na paired up.
♪♬
*Today is the third day I’m meeting you*
*Will we meet again tomorrow, this thing between us*
*Know my impatient heart, you fool*
♪♬
Since they were singing into dynamic microphones taken from their stands, the choreography was kept as simple as possible.
♪♬
*Should I make the first move, ooh-ah, ooh-ah*
♪♬
It was time to transition to the sexy part of the song.
♪♬
*Hot, hot, my heart wants you.*
♪♬
Suddenly, Yi-na lay down on the floor as if riding a bicycle, gently holding her skirt down as she crossed her feet below her knees, lowering and raising them.
…What is she doing?
The action itself was lively and natural, but I couldn’t bear to watch the sight of her sleek legs crossing over each other.
-Puhahat!
“Puhahaha!”
At Yi-na’s comedic coquetry, the entire production staff, including the DJ, writer, and PD, both inside and outside the studio, slammed their desks in laughter.
-Ack, what’s with her all of a sudden!
-Why the sudden leg flaunt?
-LOL, that’s a performance CEO Park Jae-yong would love.
Startled by Yi-na’s sudden action, Ro-si grabbed onto Yi-na’s skirt, and Seul-bi blocked the camera’s view.
Seol-ah tried to pull Yi-na’s arm to get her back into formation, but Yi-na was bursting with laughter, as if she found the current situation hilarious.
-Shin Yi-na is on another level
-She's possessed lol
-Unni, save your concept!! No!!
Our Yi-na, what am I going to do with her?
Her talent for stirring the pot was growing more intense.