Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: New Connections
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I arrived at the bar whose address CP Kim Soo-yeon had sent.
It was a rooftop space with soft, warm lighting.
“Welcome.”
“Hello.”
As I looked around, the bartender spoke again.
“Would you be Min-jun?”
When I nodded, a male staff member approached and led me to my seat.
A red curtain was pulled aside, revealing a pinkish glow that contrasted with the colors outside.
“Welcome.”
“Good evening, Director. Chief Producer.”
In the cozy space, where the outside view was perfectly visible through a large glass window, a man in his late twenties whom I'd never seen before sat with a straight posture, in addition to the two of them.
“Say hello. This is PD Im Ji-hoon. And this is Min-jun from JD Enter.”
“Ah…”
For a moment, a flicker of contempt passed through PD Im Ji-hoon's eyes.
He seemed to see me as a common merchant who would do anything for money.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, PD Im Ji-hoon. I'm in charge of JD Enter's girl group, Answer.”
I straightened my back and greeted him politely, but not obsequiously.
“A pleasure. I haven't had my directorial debut yet.”
As he confidently introduced himself and extended his hand, I could see intelligence and passion in PD Im Ji-hoon's eyes.
He might be prejudiced, but he didn't seem like the type to act wrongly.
As we shook hands, my third eye activated, and I saw the prejudices PD Im Ji-hoon held.
A sense of betrayal, self-loathing, and even disgust.
I could understand why he had looked me over with such contempt.
He was a man who had never experienced a single joyful or good thing while working in the drama department.
“Have a drink, everyone.”
Director Lee Joo-won offered a bottle of high-end whiskey.
“This isn't on the company card, so drink up without any pressure.”
I wondered if he meant the opposite, but he wasn't that kind of person.
“Thank you. I'll gladly have some.”
“Ice?”
“Yes, please.”
CP Kim Soo-yeon placed an ice ball, slightly smaller than a tennis ball, into my glass.
“What is it?”
“I've never seen ice like this before.”
“Hahaha.”
The Director and the CP let out good-natured laughs.
It wasn't a laugh of ridicule, but one that seemed somewhat pleased.
When I poured the whiskey from the Director over the ice ball, it felt like a round, icy celestial body in the center of the universe.
The cool liquor went down with a tingle in my throat. Despite the high alcohol content, the aftertaste was so clean it was surprising.
It felt like you'd sober up faster with expensive whiskey, even if the proof was the same.
As we drank, the small talk began.
“And then, at that bar, this male-female duo starts singing. My favorite song, no less.”
“I was so surprised, too. I never imagined there'd be such a fantastic duo there.”
“Right? We naturally thought they were two singers, so we were stunned to find out one was a manager.”
The Director and the CP looked very pleased as they described the day they first met me to PD Im Ji-hoon.
“But then it turns out the manager was an original member of Fire Emblem? How about that.”
At CP Kim Soo-yeon's words, a look of surprise briefly crossed PD Im Ji-hoon's face.
“I did think he didn't have the look of a manager.”
“Right? When you think of a manager, you picture a bulky guy who can throw his weight around.”
Director Lee Joo-won cheerfully picked up on PD Im Ji-hoon's comment.
“Still, isn't a man with a good build and broad shoulders like Min-jun the real deal?”
“Well, well. Manager Kim, that sounds suspicious.”
The Director said with a suggestive look in response to the CP's words.
“Director. You know that kind of joke can be considered sexual harassment these days, right?”
“Hahaha. My bad, my bad.”
“I'm fine with it, but I'm reminding you in case you make a mistake with another employee.”
“As if I'd make a joke like that to anyone but you, Manager Kim. You know that.”
Perhaps because of the several rounds of drinks, the Director's group spent a good while on trivial chatter before the atmosphere turned serious.
“We're planning to make a pilot based on the idea you pitched before, Min-jun.”
“Does that mean PD Im Ji-hoon… will be planning the pilot?”
I'd heard it was proper etiquette not to use honorifics for a subordinate in front of a superior, so I hesitated for a moment. But I decided it was better to seem ignorant than arrogant.
“Yes. That's why I called you here, so you and our PD Im could get acquainted.”
“Thank you, Director. It's an honor far greater than I deserve, as a low-level employee from a struggling agency.”
“Hahaha. That may be true for now, but I see both you and PD Im as people who will achieve great things.”
The Director had subtly dropped the formal speech, but I was grateful for the show of friendliness.
A brief silence fell, and it was the perfect opportunity to address what was clearly bothering PD Im Ji-hoon.
“I hear the life of a PD is incredibly tough.”
“Pardon?”
PD Im Ji-hoon looked at me as if my comment came out of nowhere.
“Seniors stealing ideas from talented juniors and feigning ignorance, tossing them difficult editing work like they're doing them a favor, only to criticize the results.”
“…”
“And people with no qualifications pushing their way in, relying on their company's influence or connections.”
“…You know a lot about it?”
“We have eyes and ears, too. I just wish it were a world where truly talented and exceptional people could succeed.”
“Well, isn't it the same in any workplace?”
PD Im Ji-hoon gave a bitter smile.
Is that all the reaction I get?
A needless sense of competitiveness flared up in me, and I also gave a bitter smile.
The Director and the CP watched us both with curious smiles before speaking.
“We've got a reliable PD, so now we just need to find a talented writer. PD Im, do you know any writers skilled in variety shows or human dramas?”
“We've been away from the field for so long, we have no way of checking ourselves. There must be some promising junior writers out there.”
The CP added, following the Director.
“I'm just barely catching up with how the broadcast station runs now.”
“Hahaha. So humble.”
The way he lowered himself without a moment's hesitation made me feel once again that he was no ordinary man.
If he became an ally, he would be a great help.
***
“Are we really allowed to be here? We got in so much trouble last time…”
“How many times are you going to ask? It's fine! It's gonna be super fun!”
The long line at the club's entrance stood in stark contrast to the anxious look in Ro-si's eyes and the breathless anticipation in Seul-bi's.
“That was a different club. I know an unni who works here, so it's fine. She's a famous DJ.”
“I feel like the Director is going to hate this.”
“That was because I went alone. Now you and Yoo-jun Oppa are here too.”
“That's right. You have the strongest road manager in existence right here!”
Choi Yoo-jun thumped his chest as he spoke, and Seul-bi snickered.
“That title is more fitting for Min-jun Oppa.”
“Of course, no one can surpass the Timjang-nim. Still, you can trust me. I will perfectly escort our artists.”
His body was on the slender side, as expected of a former trainee, but Choi Yoo-jun's eyes shone with confidence.
At the entrance, a woman was arguing with a large bouncer.
“I just stepped out for a phone call!”
“Let me see your wristband… Look at this. The band's been re-taped.”
“What are you talking about!”
“Why are you trying to get in with someone else's band? Get out, now.”
“What do you think you're doing! Let go of me!”
“If you keep this up, we'll sue you for obstruction of business.”
A female bouncer standing behind the male one grabbed the woman's wrist and pulled her away.
Ro-si watched the other club-goers entering in their flashy outfits, then looked down at the padded jacket and jeans she and Seul-bi were wearing.
“If we get turned away at the door…”
“Pfft! Sorry… there's no way that'll happen.”
Choi Yoo-jun couldn't hold back his laughter at Ro-si's words.
“Don't worry. This unni will take care of everything.”
“That's right. People who are confident in their bodies wear skinny jeans! …Or not? …I dunno…”
“…”
“We can put the jackets in a locker, or I can hold them.”
As Ro-si and Seul-bi gave him a strange look, Choi Yoo-jun said with an embarrassed smile.
“What if our group's reputation gets worse?”
“Ugh! Do you know how often celebrity seonbae-nims come here? And besides, I wish we'd get known for something, even if it's this!”
“…Really?”
“I'm telling you!”
Seul-bi, who had only been to a club once in her life, grabbed Ro-si's arm and said confidently.
“Hey, you three?”
“Yes!”
“Booo!”
“Hey, hey! These people are guests, guests.”
A promoter pointed them out from the middle of the line, and complaints erupted from the people waiting.
***
♪♬ Boom boom bidi-bip boom boom bidi-bip ♪♬
Ji-yoo, from SJ Enter's popular girl group Savage Girls, was on a one-person stage set up amidst the massive crowd.
“Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo!”
The crowd cheered wildly for her as she gripped a pole and danced seductively to the music.
DJ Choi Yoo-kyung was reminded of her own dirty and bitter past, but she adjusted the synth to make Ji-yoo burn even brighter.
Ji-yoo of Savage Girls danced with even more fire, as if to bring every man to his knees.
Her throat growing parched from the intense movements, Ji-yoo stepped down from the stage and climbed the stairs to an upstairs room.
She gave a cynical smile at the gazes of the men who were sneaking glances at her legs.
As she reached the upper floor, a man in his thirties approached her with a bright face. Ji-yoo looked him up and down and scoffed.
“Ji-yoo-ssi, I'm a huge fan…”
“Not interested.”
The man let out a disbelieving laugh at Ji-yoo's words, which were not just cold but arrogant.
It was a completely different image from the nice girl she portrayed on TV.
Ji-yoo entered the room.
Inside were three people, men and women, drinking in relaxed postures.
“Fucking clueless bastard, talking to me and shit.”
Ji-yoo grumbled and sat down roughly.
“Just ignore them. But don't you ever get tired?”
a boy group member said, his eyes hazy and smug from the alcohol.
“When I shake it for them, their eyes get all fucking red, you know? It's so damn fun to watch.”
“Ugh, hey! You sound like the bigger pervert. Ke-keuk.”
“You think you're any different?”
“Pfft! Wanna bet?”
“Beer.”
Ji-yoo raised her glass, and it was filled.
***
♪♬ Beep-beep boom-boom be-bidi-bip-bip boom-boom ♪♬
A low-frequency vibration that tickled the skin filled the club, and people moved their bodies, lost in their own excitement.
Ro-si, caught in the wave of countless people, wore an expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.
But the powerful music and the smell of sweat and perfume radiating from the heat of the crowd strangely excited Ro-si's heart as Seul-bi pulled her along.
Seul-bi squeezed through the narrow gaps between people, making her way toward Choi Yoo-kyung, who was DJing.
The men who tried to talk to Ro-si and Seul-bi all turned away with bitter smiles.
It was because Choi Yoo-jun, sticking close behind them, was waving his hand, gesturing for them to get lost.
“Unni!”
When Seul-bi, now right in front of the DJ stage, waved her hand, the pink-haired Choi Yoo-kyung showed her delight with a facial expression.
But the moment she spotted her younger brother, Choi Yoo-jun, she shook her head from side to side.
“What the.”
His bewildered mumble was drowned out by the massive sound of the music, inaudible even to himself.
Seul-bi winked at the hesitant Ro-si and started doing the Zero Two dance.
For some reason, Ro-si felt a lump form in her throat at the sight.
She suddenly remembered the words she couldn't say to Seul-bi at her recent birthday party.
Ro-si, her eyes moist, moved her lips toward Seul-bi, who was dancing coquettishly.
‘Thank you.’
Seul-bi beamed, showing both her upper and lower teeth.
‘I'm thankful, too.’
Ro-si wiped her tears with her hand and began to move her body in earnest, trying to match Seul-bi.
The two of them gradually fell into the rhythm and excitement.
[Group Trait 'Resolute Mindset (B)' 2/4 Lv Activated]