Chapter 277
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: The Eye of the Storm
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“Team Leader An!”
Just as An Daho and Seojun were leaving the practice room to head to the first-floor conference room, an employee from Team 2 came running toward them. It seemed the lobby receptionist had informed not only An Daho but also the Team 2 office since it concerned Seojun.
As the employee from Team 2, who had rushed over, stood beside him, An Daho asked.
“Is there a producer named Park Gyumin at MBS?”
“Yes. He's a producer at MBS, and he's set to make his debut alongside Producer Gong Huichan.”
The lobby staff had already confirmed that Park Gyumin was with MBS, but An Daho checked again. It wasn't unheard of for people to show up with fake IDs. Even if their target wasn't Hollywood actor Lee Seojun, this was still the home of incredible artists like Brown Black, White, and Red Crown.
“If you say 'alongside'... are you talking about the four-episode drama?”
“Yes. He joined the company at the same time as Producer Gong Huichan and is scheduled to direct the thriller part of this four-episode drama.”
All sorts of information was rapidly gathering on the Team 2 employee's BananaTalk. The other members of Team 2 had set aside their work to quickly contact various sources and find out about Producer Park Gyumin, who had shown up unannounced.
The Team 2 employee, reading the rapidly scrolling BananaTalk messages, relayed the new information to An Daho, who was walking ahead.
'Oh.'
Seojun was impressed by the professionalism of the manager and the employee. He'd never seen them like this when they worked with him; it seemed this was how they operated when he wasn't looking.
'Daho Hyung definitely moves like he's not even there when he's with me.'
But that didn't mean he wasn't supportive. He took care of everything in advance and stepped back to observe the situation without disturbing the film crew or actors—a truly great manager.
Seojun smiled warmly and trotted after An Daho.
“First, his reputation among other producers is good. They say he gets his work done on time and is diligent. But...”
“But?”
At An Daho's question, the Team 2 employee read from the BananaTalk messages. Seojun, who was following behind, perked up his ears.
“His reputation among assistant directors and staff is not so good. It's especially bad with extras and child actors.”
“...I see.”
Someone who kisses up to their superiors and treats their subordinates poorly.
It was a type of person one could easily encounter in the professional world, but the inclusion of child actors made it a bit different. An Daho frowned and nodded.
“And he has a shoot tomorrow.”
“...A shoot?”
Seojun, who had followed An Daho and the Team 2 employee into the elevator, asked. The employee nodded and spoke.
“Yeah. The project he's debuting with starts filming tomorrow. The staff and actors have already been cast, so I don't know why he's here. It doesn't seem like he came to cast you, Seojun.”
“I wonder. Why did he come?”
An Daho and Seojun tilted their heads in confusion.
Ding.
The elevator arrived on the first floor. As they stepped out, An Daho said to Seojun.
“Seojun, you stay here.”
“Can't I go in with you?”
“We don't know what he's here for, so no. I'll listen and tell you about it.”
If it was good news, that was one thing, but if it was bad news, he planned to filter it appropriately before telling Seojun. Seeing An Daho's serious expression, Seojun nodded.
“Then I'll be in the basement practice room.”
“...Don't startle the trainees too much.”
“It's fine. I heard all five of them go to our school. I'll just think of it as making friends in advance.”
An Daho thought of the Mirinae Arts High freshmen and current students in the basement practice room, smiled faintly, and nodded.
While the trainees erupted in scream-like cheers as Seojun headed to the basement practice room, the atmosphere in the conference room where An Daho and Producer Park Gyumin sat was heavy.
“I'm An Daho, actor Lee Seojun's manager.”
“I'm Park Gyumin, a producer from the MBS drama department.”
After a brief introduction, the two sat down.
An Daho studied Producer Park Gyumin. For someone who had barged in unannounced, Park Gyumin's attitude was quite confident, which made An Daho's gaze turn cold, but he quickly put on a smile and asked.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I heard that actor Lee Seojun will be appearing in one of our station's dramas.”
An Daho didn't let on that he knew about Park Gyumin and responded appropriately to the producer's words.
“Ah, yes. That's the plan. It seems you're aware of it, Producer.”
“Yes. But when I found out, I was so dumbfounded that I had to come see you.”
Producer Park Gyumin shook his head as if in disbelief.
“Our actor Lee Seojun in a mere four-episode drama! It should be twenty-four episodes. If you entrust it to me, I can make it a 24-episode, or at least a 16-episode, miniseries. It's his first drama appearance in seven years; he should be on screen for longer!”
“Hmm. Sixteen episodes, you say?”
Judging An Daho's reaction to be positive, Producer Park Gyumin continued.
“Besides, he'll be an adult soon, so he needs a proper image change, don't you think? A drama with mass appeal will be more helpful in changing public perception than a movie that only a niche audience will see. We need to start preparing now. Aren't there many child actors who fail to transition to adult roles because their child image sticks with them? Ah, of course, I'm not saying that's the case with actor Lee Seojun.”
The corner of An Daho's smiling eye twitched.
“I also heard his role is the male lead's younger version. Not even the main role, but a child counterpart... Does it make sense for an actor like Lee Seojun, who has always played the lead, to take on a child role? I wonder who chose that. I can speak to the writer and have them revise it to a different character for you.”
Lee Seojun himself had chosen it.
'If they add another character, they'd have to rewrite the whole script, wouldn't they?'
After a moment of thought, An Daho spoke.
“Wouldn't that delay the April broadcast?”
“The filming can be done quickly.”
At Producer Park Gyumin's words, An Daho nodded but didn't give a specific answer.
However, An Daho's inner thoughts were quite different from his non-reactive exterior.
He didn't like the dismissive tone of 'filming can be...' or the word 'quickly.' It was probably because of his actor, who loved filming more than anything.
An Daho's assessment of Park Gyumin plummeted.
“Then what about Producer Gong Huichan, who is currently in charge of the drama?”
“Is it the first time a drama has been overturned? If the higher-ups say to change it, it changes. I'll be better than Producer Gong Huichan. I've already got it all planned out. If actor Lee Seojun appears, I'll make sure he looks amazing.”
“I see.”
He rambled on about this and that, but his objective was singular.
An Daho played along appropriately and then sent Producer Park Gyumin on his way. Seeing Lee Seojun's manager, who never lost his smile for a moment, Producer Park Gyumin somehow got a good feeling.
Seojun, who had just come up to the first floor after laughing and chatting with the older trainees in the basement practice room, saw the seemingly happy back of Producer Park Gyumin and asked An Daho.
“What did he come for?”
“Hmm.”
An Daho's smile deepened.
“It seems you've become the eye of the storm, Seojun.”
The eye of the storm was as peaceful as ever, but everything around it was in an uproar.
An Daho explained Park Gyumin's scheme to the bewildered Seojun.
“He wants to direct 'Spring' himself.”
Spring was the working title of the drama Producer Gong Huichan was directing and Seojun was starring in. Seojun blinked.
“Didn't you say that producer had a shoot he was working on?”
“But you're not in that one, Seojun. Imagine how amazing it would be for his debut project to star you. That's why he's planning to steal Producer Gong's spot, it seems.”
Seojun frowned at An Daho's words.
“Can he just change it like that?”
“In this situation, you're the one with the power, Seojun. If you say you prefer Producer Park Gyumin over Producer Gong Huichan, who wouldn't listen? Especially since they're just debuting producers, not famous ones with a long career.”
An Daho's smile grew wider.
“On top of that, he thinks the station would be happy to extend a four-episode drama to twenty-four, and that you'd be happy with the increased screen time.”
Understanding the situation, Seojun turned to look at An Daho.
Daho Hyung. He was smiling, but it didn't seem to be a smile of joy or pleasure. He had never seen Daho Hyung look like this before.
“As if our Seojun is at a level where he'd decide based on mere screen time. Offering to graciously extend it to sixteen episodes? The viewers would go wild even if our Seojun appeared in just one scene. And an image change? Does he think Seojun isn't capable of that? Why is he so careless about the most important thing, the filming? And the way he's been subtly looking down on Seojun since earlier... I don't think it's just my imagination...”
Seojun blinked, watching An Daho mutter in a low voice.
'Daho Hyung. Is he angry?'
It was the first time he'd seen him like this, so it felt both unfamiliar and fascinating.
* * *
After returning from Cocoa Entertainment, Producer Park Gyumin asked the CP for the synopsis of 'Spring'. Assistant Director Choi Hyunwoo, who saw this, informed Producer Gong Huichan. His trauma resurfacing, Producer Gong Huichan tried to calm his trembling heart and called Producer Park Gyumin to the emergency exit.
“This works out perfectly. You do the thriller you were preparing, and I'll do this.”
Producer Park Gyumin, who had been boasting about his visit to Cocoa Entertainment, smirked and waved the 'Spring' synopsis.
Listening in secret to the shocking conversation, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo slapped their foreheads. So this was Kim Danbi's curse this time.
'Don't you say another word from now on.'
'...Okay.'
Kim Danbi reflected on her actions. From now on, she wouldn't dare open her mouth about having a hunch or anything of the sort.
Meanwhile, Producer Park Gyumin continued talking.
“The actors and staff are all set according to your list, so you can start filming right away. Wow, Gong Huichan. You'll have an easy shoot thanks to me. Oh, and I heard the script for the first episode is done, right? Hand it over. I need to prepare for filming too. Give me the writer's number as well.”
Producer Gong Huichan, who had been trying to calm himself by taking deep breaths, finally exploded.
“You son of a bitch!”
Even Producer Gong Huichan, the pushover who always thought it was best to be agreeable, couldn't help but get angry this time.
Producer Park Gyumin, whose collar was grabbed, scowled and tried to pry off Producer Gong Huichan's hand, but the emotionally charged Gong Huichan was stronger.
Cursing as his collar was grabbed, Park Gyumin said.
“It's because you're incompetent that you cast Lee Seojun and could only manage a four-episode drama. And a child role? Lee Seojun as a child actor? Hah. People on the street would laugh. You should have persuaded the actor to take a different role.”
“So you barge into Cocoa Entertainment?!”
“Barge in? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?”
At Producer Park Gyumin's words, the eavesdropping assistant director, Kim Danbi, clutched the back of her neck. Choi Hyunwoo did his best to calm her down.
“It's called showing dedication. Dedication. If I show this much effort and extend the drama from four episodes to sixteen—no, twenty-four—it's good for the actor and the station, isn't it?”
“You think anything that comes out of your mouth is a valid point...!”
Producer Gong Huichan ground his teeth.
“Look. Lee Seojun's manager even said he'd think about it. It's his first drama in seven years, so twenty-four episodes is much better than four. A sudden drop in status to a four-episode drama would be bad for his image, too.”
“Are you crazy?! What status does actor Lee Seojun have to drop from!”
Gong Huichan stared at Park Gyumin as if he were a madman. Just what kind of image did this guy have of actor Lee Seojun in his head?
Producer Park Gyumin, having pried off the hand of the dumbfounded and weakened Producer Gong Huichan, straightened his collar and said.
“Lee Seojun has been a great actor until now. But he's about to become an adult. Don't you know that child actors who fail to change their image are finished?”
Ugh.
At Producer Park Gyumin's words, Producer Gong Huichan clutched the back of his neck.
“How many child actors who were called geniuses have disappeared? You think Lee Seojun will be any different? He only has a few years left until he's an adult. We have to film before the novelty of him being a Hollywood actor wears off.”
Park Gyumin believed that Lee Seojun would not succeed as an adult actor. Seeing the expression on Park Gyumin's face, who was confident in his prediction, the furious Gong Huichan was simply flabbergasted.
“...You lunatic.”
Leaving Park Gyumin in the stairwell, Gong Huichan returned to his desk and decided to find a solution. The fact that Lee Seojun's manager had shown a positive reaction made him even more anxious.
'Should I go to Cocoa Entertainment too? No. It feels like it would be a bad idea if I went as well... Then should I ask the writer to pass a message through writer So Eunjin? But what if Park Gyumin really does take over.'
As expected.
I should have punched that lunatic.
Unlike Producer Gong Huichan, who was agonizing over the situation, Producer Park Gyumin, who had postponed his own shoot for a few days, was carefree. If he could bring in Lee Seojun and create a 24-episode drama, he would become a hero in the drama department, and a path of success would unfold before him.
It was then.
“GONG HUICHAAAN!! PARK GYUMIIIN!!”
The director's roar echoed through the MBS drama department office.
Producer Gong Huichan, who was tearing his hair out trying to find a solution, and Producer Park Gyumin, who was reading the synopsis for 'Spring', reflexively shot up from their seats.
“What in the world did you do!”
The director, his face red with rage, yelled with all his might. Every employee in the office flinched.
“Lee Seojun said he's not doing it-!!”
At the shocking news, everyone in the office held their breath. It felt as if their hearts had stopped. The pupils of Producer Gong Huichan and Producer Park Gyumin trembled.
“Get up to my office right now!!”
At the thunderous voice, assistant directors Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo swallowed nervously.
It seemed Producer Park Gyumin's madness wasn't the end of Kim Danbi's curse.
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