Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: First Encounters at the Station
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The KVM Broadcasting Station Director's Office.
Station Director Lee Joo-won was looking at a screen with a dozen or so people.
“I see a lot of things that need to be canceled.”
A few bureau chiefs and CPs flinched.
Station Director Lee Joo-won swiped quickly through the pages on his tablet.
“Aren't we relying too much on joint projects without any original content?”
“……”
“…Five from the entertainment department, four from drama, two from radio… they've taken over all the prime programs, haven't they? At this rate, are you going to start co-producing with agencies in the news department too?”
The meeting attendees glanced at each other.
It was a situation where everyone was waiting for someone else to step up and take the heat.
In the end, a CP from the drama department spoke up.
“That was in accordance with the previous director's policy to save on planning and production costs while securing a minimum viewership rating...”
“So, has our station's situation improved at all over the past few years?”
The drama department CP, who had mustered the courage to speak, clamped his mouth shut.
“Let's start making some original content now. Joint projects are fine, but let's not do any shady business behind the scenes.”
Uncomfortable expressions appeared on the faces of many attendees.
“Even if we do joint projects, we need to prepare lineups with real talent or those that can generate buzz. In this day and age, should we really be hearing people say they can't get into a drama because of an idol's terrible acting?”
The people from the drama department let out small sighs.
“The entertainment department is no different. Even if you can't discover talent who are good at ad-libbing, you shouldn't make it obvious it's scripted, right? Viewers are more discerning than ever; are you really going to break their immersion like that? It's 'reality' in name only.”
No one could argue any further against Station Director Lee Joo-won's harsh criticism, which came from the perspective of an avid viewer.
“What era are we in? You're not still accepting bribes and entertainment behind the scenes like in the old days, are you?”
“……”
“If I catch you, I won't let it slide. Securing transparency comes first, even if it tarnishes the station's image for a while. The world has changed.”
This was an aggressive side of Station Director Lee Joo-won, unlike the one who had welcomed the people from JD Enter after hearing Min-jun and Seol-ah's song.
“…However, due to the nature of our job, we have so many industry connections that drinking parties are unavoidable.”
“Did I say you can't have drinks with your pork belly? I'm saying don't go to some shady, dark place to drink and fool around.”
The PD who flinched at the director's mild rebuke was Hwang Beom-seok, the PD in charge of ‘Best Idol’ and the one who had been rude to CEO Park Jae-yong.
“That's all for today's meeting. Director Kim, please stay behind.”
While a career woman in her forties wearing a navy two-piece suit moved closer to the station director, everyone else filed out.
“The decline in TV ratings is unavoidable, I suppose?”
Station Director Lee Joo-won had switched from his arrogant and charismatic demeanor from moments ago to a more friendly one.
“Young people have Tube and video games, after all.”
Station Director Lee Joo-won clicked his tongue and opened Tube on his tablet.
The algorithm, accustomed to his usual searches related to entertainment shows, led him to someone's interview.
“Fire Emblem's hidden member? What a load of clickbait.”
Station Director Lee Joo-won chuckled and was about to scroll down.
“Wait a moment. Isn't that the guy you said you liked back then?”
“…That's right! The guy from the LP bar.”
The two of them switched the tablet to full-screen mode and watched the interview intently.
Min-jun's past, including the story of why he couldn't debut with Fire Emblem, came pouring out.
“Hah, wow. So that's the kind of guy he was? …What a shame.”
“I agree. He's a good singer and has great visuals.”
“Even a man can see he's handsome, so he must look even better to the opposite sex, right?”
Director Kim smiled in affirmation at Station Director Lee Joo-won's words.
“Speaking of which, hasn't the preliminary meeting for that program happened yet? Or has it already?”
“No, it's tomorrow.”
“I hope they get some good footage.”
“Oh, you, Director.”
Smiling faintly, Station Director Lee Joo-won began searching for other things.
His eyes showed a different kind of interest, one separate from his work.
* * *
“Hehehe.”
“What's got you grinning from ear to ear?”
Choi Yoo-jun proudly held up the ID card he'd been issued, keeping it perfectly level.
“It's a broadcasting station.”
“You've probably been here as part of a studio audience, haven't you?”
“How can you compare that to just trailing behind the staff to sit in a designated seat?”
“Yoo-jun oppa is so cute.”
Seol-ah chuckled at Yi-na's comment.
“But isn't it like a dream that we're going to be on 'Best Idol'?”
As Yi-na spoke with a wide smile, Seul-bi suddenly snapped to attention.
“One round of thanks for Timjang-nim Min-jun, locked and loaded. Thank you!”
“Thank you!”
“Eek-heehee.”
Seul-bi and Yi-na gave clumsy salutes and laughed as if they were having fun.
“But are we really okay looking like this? Even our manager came in a suit.”
Ro-si pointed to her face with a worried expression. It seemed she was bothered by not having full makeup on.
“Ahem. You're more than beautiful enough, Artist Ro-si!”
“Thank you. But I think I heard that it's considered impolite not to wear makeup in Korea.”
Despite Choi Yoo-jun's words, Ro-si still spoke with a worried tone.
“It's not like you just rolled out of bed. You look fine. Doing full makeup every day is not only tiring but also too expensive to manage.”
Hearing my words, a smiling Seol-ah wrapped an arm around Ro-si's waist and said, “When you go on variety shows, there are times you have to show your bare face depending on the situation, so this might even help the writers with their storyboards. Sometimes, people look so different without makeup it's shocking.”
“I... am one of those people.”
“Oh, my... this girl is hilarious.”
Seol-ah gave Ro-si's bottom a few gentle pats with a motherly smile.
Among all existing girl groups, are there even three teams as naturally beautiful as Answer?
“I'm not just saying this because I'm your manager, but I think you artists are the most beautiful in the world!”
“Pfft!”
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at Choi Yoo-jun's shamelessness.
It's true our members are top-tier among girl groups, but actresses are in another league entirely.
Actresses have this indescribable, lofty charm. It's like how Yi-na might have a prettier face, but she can't quite match Ro-si's aura.
“Ahahaha. Yoo-jun oppa, you're so shameless it's insane.”
“Keep your voice down.”
As people in the station turned to look at the sound of Yi-na's laughter, Seol-ah pulled her by the arm.
“…But I guess our manager thinks differently. You were just scoffing, weren't you?”
Seul-bi said, looking deeply hurt.
“What are you talking about? I sincerely believe you're the most beautiful girl group.”
*Except for the actresses, of course.*
* * *
*Screeeech.*
A black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter from SJ Enter screeched to a halt at a traffic light.
“Ah, fuck!”
The members of the rookie girl group Your Girl, who were inside the van, cursed.
Among them was Mi-ji, one of Answer's original members.
Siljang Jang Jin-gu frowned as he checked the time on his phone.
“This bastard sucks at driving. We're late because of you. You wanna take responsibility for the preliminary meeting today?”
“It was a red light...”
The road manager at the wheel said, trying to suppress his boiling anger.
“How long has it been since the yellow light turned off? Can you hit 100 kilometers per hour the second it turns green? Do you just take off the moment you step on the gas?!”
“……”
Faced with Siljang Jang Jin-gu openly encouraging reckless driving, the powerless road manager could only let out a small sigh.
*‘He's blaming me, the nerve. He'd throw a fit if we got a ticket.’*
The road manager felt wronged, as they were late because Your Girl and Siljang Jang had gotten into a dispute with a senior group from another agency.
In truth, Siljang Jang Jin-gu had been in a foul mood every day recently. It all started when that pushover trainee, Min-jun, left the company.
*‘Why did that damn pushover, who used to follow me around like a dog, suddenly get so hostile? Did he figure something out?’*
He was so enraged by the way Min-jun had ignored him when they ran into each other at the station recently that he couldn't even sleep.
After arriving at the station, Jang Jin-gu and Your Girl headed to the location for the preliminary meeting.
“Timjang Jang—no, you're a Siljang now, right? What are we supposed to do if you're an hour late?”
“I'm sorry, PD-nim Hwang.”
“It's almost time for Answer's meeting.”
“Answer? Why is JD Enter here...?”
“They were added to the lineup recently.”
Siljang Jang Jin-gu, who had been scowling, put on a sycophantic smile again.
“Isn't your daughter's birthday coming up soon, PD-nim Hwang? I was a bit late because I was mulling something over. I have something to discuss with you about that, if we could step outside for a moment...”
“Hey, who asked you to worry about my daughter? What do you want to talk about?”
“It'll only take a minute.”
“Honestly... Writer Choi, go ahead and start the interview.”
His mood quickly softened, and PD Hwang Beom-seok followed him out, feigning reluctance.
Watching the two of them leave, the head writer, Choi Mi-ri, shook her head.
* * *
“Hey. I'm gonna go do some 'business,' so don't screw up.”
“Yes. Go on in, Siljang-nim.”
The road manager said with a subtly sarcastic tone.
“I'm not going in, you brat.”
Siljang Jang came down to the lobby, searching on his phone for a few hours of personal entertainment.
Just then, the sound of Answer and Choi Yoo-jun's chatter reached his ears.
He saw Min-jun standing before him, dressed in a suit like a Siljang.
Siljang Jang, who was in a good mood after finishing some sort of deal a moment ago, spoke cheerfully.
“Well, well, look who it is. Isn't it Timjang-nim Min-jun again after just a few days? All dressed up in a suit, playing Siljang?”
Min-jun decided he couldn't show any sign of being intimidated by Siljang Jang, whom he might run into often at the station from now on.
[Trait 'Military Spirit' Activated]
[Trait 'Charisma Lv. 2' Activated]
Siljang Jang's body flinched at the heavy shift in Min-jun's aura.
“I suppose you're here for a Fire Emblem schedule?”
“No?”
Siljang Jang was angry at himself for being flustered by Min-jun's question.
It was because there were many eyes watching.
“Well, it's none of my business, so have a good day.”
“Y-You, I've let you get away with too much!”
Resisting Min-jun's mysterious aura, Siljang Jang reached out to grab him by the collar.
But Min-jun calmly dodged, as if he knew exactly where Siljang Jang's hand was headed.
Embarrassed by his miss, Siljang Jang needlessly fiddled with his wristwatch.
The Answer members had turned pale at the sudden confrontation.
“…Keep acting so cocky, huh?”
“I guess you're too ignorant to know anything about business.”
As Min-jun walked past Siljang Jang, ignoring him completely, Choi Yoo-jun and the members hurried over.
“Hyung, were you in the special forces? How did you dodge that?”
“…Oppa, you seem like a different person.”
Choi Yoo-jun and Yi-na said at the same time.
The other members still looked dazed by the situation that had passed in an instant.
“Oppa, you're so nice to other people, why do you suddenly become so scary?”
Even Seul-bi, who usually had a strong personality, asked with a surprised look on her face.
“I don't treat trash like human beings.”
“Ah…”
At Min-jun's words, everyone nodded in agreement.
They were reminded of Timjang Park, Answer's former manager, who fell into the category of trash he was talking about.
“Whoa. An angel to angels, a devil to devils! Respect.”
“I wish all the men in the world were like you, Oppa.”
At Yi-na's words, her eyes shining, Seul-bi opened her mouth to say something but then closed it.
* * *
*Knock, knock.*
When they knocked on the door of Entertainment Production Team 2, the location for the preliminary meeting, a man in his twenties who gave off the strong vibe of a rookie AD opened it.
“We're Answer, here for the preliminary meeting.”
“Ah... come on in for now.”
The room was already packed with writers, a PD, and five other girls.
“Hello, we're Answer…”
The end of the Answer members' greeting trailed off awkwardly. Their eyes were fixed on the original member, Mi-ji.
*How long has it been since she left? How could she have already debuted with another group?*
They had expected it, but they couldn't help but think it was impressive in its own way.
“Didn't I tell you last time? For preliminary meetings, at least a Siljang-level manager needs to be here. You think wearing a suit makes you one? Are you looking down on me right now?”
The PD clearly expressed his foul mood.
I held out my newly printed Timjang business card to the PD and said, “Last time, PD-nim, you said, 'If a Siljang can't make it, at least a Timjang should come?' So I, the Timjang, am here. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Huh? Even the successful SJ sent a Siljang... How old are you?”
Having run out of things to say, the PD started needlessly picking a fight.
Choi Yoo-jun's body tensed up.
“Why does that matter…?”
“Choi Yoo-jun!”
Choi Yoo-jun, his ears turning red, froze.
The PD looked at Choi Yoo-jun in disbelief.
“Wow... Do you think this broadcasting station is a joke?”
“I'm sorry. He's new and doesn't know any better.”
“Hey, if you have any sense, you'll wait outside. It's crowded in here anyway.”
I could clearly feel that we were being given some kind of handicap.
*Could he have some connection to Jang Jin-gu, whom we just ran into?*
But causing a scene here wouldn't help Answer one bit.
I grabbed Choi Yoo-jun, who I could feel bristling beside me, and led him outside.
In any case, the preliminary meeting was an interview to plan the members' screen time and roles based on their talents, so a manager wasn't strictly necessary.
“What the hell is this? I saw on the ID cards that the other group's manager is in there! Are they discriminating against us?”
*This kid has a sharp eye. He saw that in such a short time?*
“Still, how can a rookie on his first day at a station talk to a PD like that? You want to ruin the artists' future?”
“But... he was being so rude to you, hyung, it pissed me off.”
“……”
When I didn't say anything, Choi Yoo-jun's bravado quickly deflated.
“I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on.”
Still, a part of me felt refreshed.
Because what he said was what I wanted to say, too.
“So, are we just going to stand here until it's over?”
I had scolded Choi Yoo-jun, but in truth, it wasn't as if I wasn't angry myself.
[Trait 'Sixth Sense' Activated]
Perhaps because of my strong desire, a vision began to appear clearly.
“If you take a hit, you have to give one back.”
“With what?”
“Go downstairs and buy coffee for Station Director Lee Joo-won and Director Kim Soo-yeon, the kind they like.”
“The station director, who?”
“Ask the cafe staff; they'll know.”
Blinking, Choi Yoo-jun made a note on his phone.
This might be the perfect opportunity to use the 'Let's be friends (A)' item I got as a reward from reporter Shin Dong-min's quest.
*I'm glad I wore a suit.*