Gathering
While LN Media's stock plummeted day after day, Representative Kim Ju-seong left his house for the first time in a long while.
Settling into the car Jeong Hyeok was driving, Kim Ju-seong punched the address Yeon-woo had given him into the navigation and they set off toward their destination.
"Mokhwa Building? What kind of place is this?"
"Who knows. We'll find out when we get there."
Stopped at a red light, Jeong Hyeok glanced over at Kim Ju-seong.
"When I first met Actor Ryu, I thought he was bold enough — but still green about how the world works."
It had been Kim Ju-seong who assigned Team Leader Jeong Hyeok to Yeon-woo after the young actor read the screenplay for Master Plan and declared he absolutely had to do the project. Yeon-woo's resolve had been so unshakable that Kim Ju-seong had no choice but to at least try to arrange a meeting, attaching Jeong Hyeok — who had extensive connections in the film industry — for that purpose. No one had expected him to walk out of that meeting with the lead role in a Park Chan-hong film.
Kim Ju-seong snorted a quiet laugh and shook his head.
"When I first met that kid, he was still in high school. Of course, I never once doubted he'd succeed as an actor."
"But you didn't see this coming, did you?"
Kim Ju-seong nodded quietly at Jeong Hyeok's words.
"And I certainly never imagined we'd end up in the same boat under a name that isn't LN."
While Kim Ju-seong rode toward Mokhwa Building in Jeong Hyeok's car, Yeon-woo had already arrived out front.
"Actor, where exactly is this place?"
Yeon-woo smiled at Kim Min-su's question.
"Min-su hyung, Ye-eun noona. Did you two happen to see the article about me not renewing with LN?"
Both of them nodded.
"So right now, I'd like to formally extend you both a scouting offer."
The words had barely left Yeon-woo's mouth before Kim Min-su spoke up.
"I'll follow you no matter which agency you go to, Actor."
In truth, Kim Min-su had already made up his mind the moment he saw the article. If Yeon-woo hadn't brought it up, Min-su would have been the one asking first.
"In all my years working in this industry, I don't think I'll ever meet someone like you again. So I was planning to follow you no matter what."
Yeon-woo smiled at that. Then Lee Ye-eun raised her hand.
"I'm not even a full-time LN employee anyway — just a contracted freelancer. Obviously I'm in!"
Yeon-woo nodded at the two of them and opened the car door.
"Thank you for accepting."
"Come on, we're a team. But why are we here?"
At Lee Ye-eun's question, Yeon-woo pointed to the building outside.
"Shall we head in? To your new workplace."
"This building?"
Kim Min-su and Lee Ye-eun climbed out of the car and followed Yeon-woo inside.
Aside from a bakery operating on the first floor, the entire building had originally been vacant, and everything above was Yeon-woo's to use — which was why a security door had been installed at the entrance leading to the elevators.
Beep.
He tapped a security card, the door unlocked, and Yeon-woo stepped inside with the ease of long familiarity.
Kim Min-su and Lee Ye-eun trailed after him, glancing around, until they spotted the floor directory of tenant companies posted beside the elevator.
"Mirae Platform Consulting, Saebyeol Media, Saebyeol Entertainment…"
Hearing Lee Ye-eun murmur the names, Kim Min-su immediately understood where they were.
"Saebyeol — Actor, is this…?"
As a manager, how could Kim Min-su not know his own client's schedule? Of course he knew that the theater troupe Yeon-woo had founded was called Saebyeol.
Reading the look on Min-su's face, Yeon-woo nodded.
"That's right. I founded Saebyeol Media and Saebyeol Entertainment."
In truth, Mirae Platform Consulting on the upper floors was his as well — and the building itself was effectively Yeon-woo's property. But that was neither here nor there.
Ding.
The elevator arrived. The group stepped in, and Yeon-woo pressed the button for the fourth floor, where Saebyeol Entertainment was located.
"Ah, so you're running it as a one-person agency?"
Successful celebrities sometimes set up personal one-person agencies once they decide they can manage their schedules without a major company — using them as a channel for appearance fees and tax accounting. But Yeon-woo shook his head.
"No. I've always been the type to see things through once I start. I intend to make this the best agency there is."
Ding.
The elevator doors opened on the fourth floor, revealing a lobby far more luxurious than anything visible from outside.
"Whoa. This is seriously luxe. It looks just like a hotel lobby."
Yeon-woo smiled at Lee Ye-eun's reaction.
"Our company has money."
Just then, someone walked out from the inner offices.
"Wh— Team Leader Yoon Mi-yeon?"
Yoon Mi-yeon adjusted her glasses and looked at Kim Min-su and Lee Ye-eun, whose eyes had gone round with shock.
"Welcome."
Yeon-woo introduced her to the two of them.
"She's not a team leader anymore — she's an executive director. Our company's Executive Director Yoon Mi-yeon."
Yoon Mi-yeon gave a wry little laugh.
"Thanks to Actor Ryu, I've been on the fast track."
At that moment, Yeon-woo's phone buzzed.
"Ah, looks like the other two have arrived. Team Leader Kim Min-su, Team Leader Lee Ye-eun — why don't you look around the office for a bit?"
"Excuse me? Team leader?"
"What are you talking about? Team leader?"
Yeon-woo looked at them as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Team Leader Kim Min-su of the Management Team, and Team Leader Lee Ye-eun of the Stylist Team. Of course. We brought in valuable people."
With a bright smile, Yeon-woo stepped into the elevator and rode down.
Kim Min-su and Lee Ye-eun were left standing there, dazed by the sudden upheaval. From behind them, Executive Director Yoon called out.
"What are you doing? Team leaders. Aren't you going to tour the company?"
Meanwhile, downstairs, Yeon-woo spotted Kim Ju-seong and Jeong Hyeok standing in front of the building, looking up at it.
Bzzzt.
His phone vibrated. Checking it, he found a message from Han Hae-un.
Yeon-woo nodded at the message.
From the moment Kim Ju-seong left his house, operatives had shadowed him, reverse-tracing every possible surveillance route all the way here. Calling the two of them to the company building had partly been about meeting before things officially began — but it had also been a way to check whether Baeksol was still watching Kim Ju-seong.
Yeon-woo stepped out through the security door and waved to Kim Ju-seong and Jeong Hyeok.
"Over here!"
Spotting him, the two men approached the building.
"Representative. Team Leader."
They both laughed awkwardly at Yeon-woo's greeting.
"I'm not a representative anymore. Just an old man."
"I quit being a team leader, and suddenly Yeon-woo's making me a CEO, I hear?"
Yeon-woo smiled at Jeong Hyeok's words.
"Everyone's already here. Shall we head up?"
The two men tilted their heads.
"Everyone? Who else is there besides us?"
Everyone was seated around the large conference room at Saebyeol Entertainment.
Looking at the faces gathered there, it was clear that essentially all of LN Entertainment's core personnel had assembled in one place.
Lee Ye-eun scratched her head as she glanced around.
"It feels incredibly small and incredibly strong at the same time."
"You're telling me."
Jeong Hyeok nodded at her assessment.
Kim Ju-seong, the major shareholder who had put up half the capital alongside Yeon-woo, spoke up.
"Representative Jeong Hyeok should say a few words."
At the title of "Representative," Jeong Hyeok scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"Ah, um… what am I supposed to say at a time like this?"
He looked to Kim Ju-seong for help, but the older man merely smiled and offered no advice. Jeong Hyeok surveyed the room, wrestling with what to say, then opened his mouth.
"Though we're starting out modestly like this… wait, are we?"
Looking around, he took in the unmistakably luxurious interior. The furniture alone radiated expensive self-importance from every polished surface. Modest was not the word that came to mind. Jeong Hyeok scratched his head again.
"Ahem. Still, we only have one signed celebrity so far — Actor Ryu — and we are starting small, so…"
Then he thought about it again, and that wasn't quite right either.
Even now, the internet portals were flooded in real time with articles speculating about which agency Ryu Yeon-woo would move to. He had become an actor with that kind of presence. No matter how he sliced it, "small but strong" was the right description.
No — strong didn't even cover it. He was too strong.
But Yeon-woo checked a message on his phone and shook his head — ready to dispute the "small" part as well.
"Representative Jeong. The part about me being the only signed celebrity is about to stop being true."
"Excuse me?"
Riiing—
Jeong Hyeok's phone started ringing.
"Ah, I meant to put it on vibrate…"
"No, go ahead and take it. I'm sure it's important."
At Yeon-woo's words, Jeong Hyeok lifted his phone and checked the caller.
"Hmm?"
He answered.
"Yes, Actor Son."
A few exchanges later, his eyes went wide.
"What? You're transferring to Saebyeol Entertainment?"
Son Jin-uk was the one who had personally stepped in to help process Yeon-woo's contract back when he was still deliberating over agencies after debuting in Summer's Closet. If Yeon-woo's contract period was expiring, that meant Son Jin-uk's — who had entered LN alongside him — was expiring too.
"Yes, yes, understood. I'll set a date soon and get back to you."
Hanging up, Representative Jeong Hyeok looked at Yeon-woo.
"Son Jin-uk just…"
Then his phone rang again.
"Hmm? Unknown number."
Yeon-woo gestured for him to answer. Jeong Hyeok tilted his head and picked up once more.
"Yes, this is Jeong Hyeok. What? Seo Ji-eun?"
And after that, the calls kept pouring in — one after another, people saying they wanted to join Saebyeol Entertainment.
Starting with Son Jin-uk and Seo Ji-eun, then Han Byeol and Jeong Su-yeon — who had filmed White Blood without a fixed agency — and even Jeong Cheol-min. Han So-hyun, who still had a little time left on her current contract, was scheduled to join next year as well.
Everyone in the room stared at Yeon-woo with dazed expressions. Having overheard the calls, every employee of Saebyeol Entertainment was now in on the information.
"How on earth did Actor Ryu build this kind of rapport with so many other actors…?"
"Hmm. Beats me."
If every actor who'd just called actually came aboard, the caliber of Saebyeol's roster might surpass even LN at its peak.
Yeon-woo grinned.
"Either way, this is hardly a modest start. Looks like our company is going to need to hire a lot of staff. With this many signed actors, you'll need to put your capabilities to full use."
There would be open recruitment, of course — but with Jeong Hyeok's network, they'd have capable talent lined up in no time.
Meanwhile, LN Media and its subsidiary LN Entertainment — stripped of their core personnel en masse — were plunged into a severe staffing crisis.
They had no choice but to merge with Plus10 Entertainment, which Baeksol already owned. In the process, a number of employees were caught in restructuring and laid off.
Gong Min-jeong, who ran the Woo's account under the nickname "YeonwooBabyUjuju," was on that list.
"Ugh, suddenly unemployed!"
Gong Min-jeong clutched her head as she pulled up job-search sites. In truth, as Plus10's business had steadily declined, the company had been overstaffed relative to the actual workload, so she'd been somewhat prepared.
"Still, I've got a decent résumé. How hard can it be to find something? Let's look!"
Reigniting her determination, Gong Min-jeong started combing through the listings.
"Hmm? Saebyeol Entertainment? A startup?"
Having worked in the industry, Gong Min-jeong knew virtually every entertainment company worth knowing. But Saebyeol Entertainment was a name she'd never heard.
"If what's written here is accurate, the working conditions and salary are top-tier…?"
A flicker of worry that it might be some shady outfit crossed her mind — but she decided to send in her résumé anyway.