Action 5. Are You Crazy?
Han Sung-hoon, the CEO who had received the report, tilted his head.
"Silence?"
"Yes. CE Do wants to maintain the current standoff through silence."
Han Sung-hoon tapped his desk at Gong Seok-jun's words as headquarters manager.
It was an unexpected proposal.
Which sparked his interest.
Not in the marketing approach, but in the person behind it.
"If we stay silent, what do you think they'll do?"
"Just as CE Do predicted, right? After all, there's no need for Young Per Al—a 16-episode show—to pick a fight."
"What about you, Team Leader Jeong?"
"Yes. I think SBX sees the advantage in staying quiet. I agree with CE Do."
"Not because it means less work for the marketing team?"
"Huh? Should we scrap all marketing then? CE Do said to keep marketing going, just don't respond to the current issue."
"No, sorry."
The headquarters manager burst out laughing at the two's banter.
The three founding members shared a pretty relaxed vibe during informal chats, away from official meetings.
"So, shall we proceed like this?"
After a brief silence, Han Sung-hoon nodded.
"Yeah, why not. He started the first marketing push, so let's trust him to see it through."
"Got it."
"Team Leader Jeong, keep monitoring public opinion and toss in some fuel if it starts dying down."
"Feels weird. I'd basically be siding with them and trash-talking CE Do."
"Didn't you have some gripes with CE Do? You came complaining to me when I gave marketing full authority."
"It vanished quick—he's too handsome."
As the meeting wrapped up, small talk flowed.
Gong Seok-jun spoke up with admiration.
"Do Hyun-woo, that guy's a real genius, isn't he? How does he come up with stuff like this?"
"Right? He has a knack for seeing what others miss."
"From how he handles marketing and issues, it feels like he can read people's desires."
"That's the core of drama."
"Once Gongbeomche wraps, should we consider promoting him to full CE?"
"Can't really."
The manager shrugged.
"Yeah, his experience is a bit light. Needs one more project—"
"No, it's because of a promise."
"A promise?"
"I promised to promote him to CE after Gongbeomche."
"For real? When?"
As Gong Seok-jun's eyes widened, Team Leader Jeong Sun-young chimed in.
"I'd vote yes even if former CE Do switched to marketing full-time."
"Because he's handsome?"
"That's a big point. But Manager, weren't you supposed to treat the Gongbeomche team to dinner today?"
"...Got ditched."
"Pardon?"
"Ditched. It was supposed to be Korean beef..."
Jeong Sun-young's eyes went wide.
"Ditched? You invited him and Do Hyun-woo just bailed?"
"He had a meeting with RCE Kim Seong-tae and D.P's Yoon CEO. How do I hold him? When I suggested dinner, he acted like a puppy desperate to poop—I asked and freaked out."
"Whoa..."
Jeong Sun-young stuck out her tongue.
"Ditching the manager to meet the Korea branch head and D.P CEO? He's really a rookie?"
"Networking's a skill too."
Jeong Sun-young shrugged at Han Sung-hoon's words.
"That's why you got ditched?"
"Team Leader Jeong..."
"Guess he didn't see you as networking material."
"CEO..."
After a light chuckle, Han Sung-hoon spoke.
"Manager. Our incentives are team-based, right?"
"Yes."
"What about for F.E.M projects?"
"Uh..."
They'd had solo mandate projects before.
But none had turned enough profit for incentives.
"Theoretically, the Gongbeomche team could be separate... but won't it hurt morale?"
The best was max incentives for assistant CEs, reflect it in performance reviews, and sweeten salary negotiations.
Then Han Sung-hoon's voice cut in.
"CL Team 4."
"Pardon?"
"Just fold the Gongbeomche team into Team 4."
"You're not saying make Do Hyun-woo a senior, right? That doesn't make sense, CEO."
"Of course not."
Han Sung-hoon laughed.
"But we can give him senior-level work."
Right after work, I hopped into hyung Sung Tae-chang's car headed for the D.P office.
"You trying to die? For real?"
"Whoa, the branch head abusing his position to intimidate."
"Who ignored my calls all day? On release day, no less?"
"I was sleeping."
"Look at that shameless face. I thought you'd been in a car wreck!"
I got an earful from Sung Tae-chang hyung on the way.
Well, I'd worry too if roles were reversed.
But meek apologies don't fit our long history.
He'd play shameless too if switched.
"Then you should've come yourself."
"I was on a Busan trip!"
"You've changed."
"You wanna see how much?"
By the time our banter ended, we were there.
Whispers hit as soon as we entered the office.
"Do Hyun-woo?"
"Saw Gongbeomche? Good casting."
"He had talent elsewhere."
"Wasted time, though."
"We'd have it easier if he'd switched sooner."
I smirked at the barbed "praise."
"Smirking? I'm pissed."
"What's it matter? Not wrong."
Without that "waste," I wouldn't be here now.
"Payback day will come."
"Oh? You think like that now?"
"Watch out, hyung. I'll pay you back for sure."
"What'd I do?"
"Your face is the problem."
"...Pissing me off?"
The CEO's office was close.
Opening the door, Yoon CEO greeted us with a beaming smile.
"You punks—feels even better seeing you here after so long?"
"How've you been?"
"You've done better. Grand slam, huh?"
"You watched the drama?"
"Did. Got why Hyun-woo said the budget didn't match. The acting... ugh. Sit first."
As we sat on the sofa, Yoon CEO turned serious.
"But Hyun-woo."
"Yes."
"Mind if I complain a bit?"
"Of course. You can say anything to me."
"Then..."
I figured it'd be about Kim Ra-un.
"Our child actors' profiles were out of order?"
"Profiles?"
"Surfer Ent kid was top?"
That was because it was Hyun-tae...
"I'll fix it right away. Obviously Korea's top prestige agency D.P goes first—the person in charge must've slipped."
"Right?"
"Probably Sung Tae-hyung wrote it."
"You crazy bastard. Would the branch head write actor profiles?"
"Good at dodging."
"You two never change. So when do our kids appear? Felt bad missing them till Episode 2."
"Decent screen time from 3 to 7."
"Ah, we should've done Hyun-tae."
"D.P's prestige kids were too classy for Hyun-tae."
"I know, punk."
Yoon CEO raved about how fun Gongbeomche was after that.
Sharp analysis too.
Except insisting I should've played Hyun-tae.
"Public opinion war's entertaining too? Sorry, but we're Team Ra-un. Got it?"
"Of course."
Sung Tae-chang cut in.
"Ditching our kids now?"
"Ugly guy asks ugly questions."
"Why keep calling me ugly?"
"You look it. Kinda spicy?"
"Spicy how?"
"Like mala tang."
"...!"
Laughter exploded.
Yoon CEO's unbeatable with words.
Odd to joke with him amid the Young Per Al opinion war.
But our bond makes even that feel normal.
After laughing it off, I got to the point.
"CEO. Actually came with a proposal."
"Proposal? What?"
"Temporary management for Gongbeomche actors without agencies—handle it at D.P."
"Temporary?"
"Yes. Casting calls pouring in."
Yoon CEO raised a brow, intrigued.
"Why us? Charity?"
"Uh? Guess I'll shop other agencies then?"
"Do Hyun-woo, sly fox now?"
"All learned from you."
We grinned at each other.
Win-win really.
D.P gets cheap talent scouting.
Once they taste D.P's system, it'll be first choice.
These actors suffered at small agencies.
They'll feel the big-league difference.
For me, fills my expertise gaps.
I don't know makeup, variety priorities, or interview filters.
"How much authority? We schedule too?"
"All of it."
"Nice. Ads okay?"
"Already?"
"Gotta start now to time with finale."
"Talk to actors. Weird if they refuse ad deals."
"OK!"
"Fair play though?"
"Duh. I'd force contracts on your actors?"
Classic Yoon CEO.
"CEO, love you."
"Now? Third divorce timing?"
"...That's..."
Yoon CEO cackled and handed over his smartphone.
"OK'd it, but actors have malicious edits circulating. Gotta take those down first."
"Edits?"
Snatching it in surprise,
"AI's a menace these days. Mashing actors' faces like this—useless."
"CEO."
"Yeah?"
"This isn't edited..."
Saw it in the group chat earlier.
Faces puffy, hair like bird's nests, oily wild actor mugs.
But on SNS?
No actor posted this, right?
CEO edged away from me.
"Uh, can we decide contracts after seeing the real deal?"
Successful meeting done, we left the CEO's office.
Planned dinner with Yoon CEO, but he had evening plans.
Manager Ko's out on errands too.
Probably just me and Sung Tae-hyung for dinner...
What're you doing?
"What. Why you slinking?"
"Hyun-woo..."
"Yeah?"
"Do I look like mala tang...?"
"More jjambbong. The spicy kind."
"Spicy... means big face?"
"Aigoo, why this."
Dragging sulky Sung Tae-hyung out, eyes met oncoming pair.
"......"
"......"
Familiar faces.
Kim Ra-un and Manager Jang Gi-un.