Proof of Permanence
An eerie silence lingered in the office after Do Hyun-woo left.
It made sense. Anyone could see that Han Sung-hoon's real target had been Do Hyun-woo.
He'd chatted with the seniors from Teams 2 and 3, sure, but in the end, the one he'd taken away was Do Hyun-woo.
The quiet naturally gave way to gossip.
Team 2 from CL was especially heated.
Team 3 at least had hopes that Gongbeomche would boost their annual performance, but to Team 2, it was just a rival.
That's when Joo Young-hoon stood up, clicking his tongue.
"Listen to that keyboard clacking. Jealous much?"
"...No, sir."
"Shouldn't we be celebrating? Our company's all about results, no matter the rank."
The Team 2 leader bristled.
"Senior from Team 3? You talking to our team right now?"
"Not talking to anyone specific. It's just facts."
"Mind your own team's business."
"Fine. Let's do that."
Joo Young-hoon grabbed his smokes and headed to the rooftop, averting his gaze.
As he exhaled smoke, his thoughts deepened.
Do Hyun-woo...
He could admit what deserved admitting.
The Youngperal mess was luck, sure, but crafting a hit? That was Do Hyun-woo's skill.
A tool worth using.
The problem was Kim Seong-tae.
He couldn't stomach that smug face lighting up if Do Hyun-woo succeeded.
What to do...
Embrace him for the performance boost?
Or ditch him to screw over Kim Seong-tae?
Do Hyun-woo might be thrilled about Gongbeomche's success, but climbing higher meant greater risk of a fall.
As a mere assistant CE, there'd been no way to touch him. Now? Easy.
Still...
Maybe give him a shot.
He could always keep him close and dump him when convenient.
The acrid smoke dispersed into the air.
"Loved the variety show. It was fun."
"That thing..."
He started grumbling as he took the coffee, then caught himself.
Must be the habit from venting to Sung Tae-chang, Seo Jae-yeon, and the Gongbeomche actors all morning.
Second one-on-one with the CEO, and he was getting too comfy. Snap out of it.
"...Embarrassing that you saw it."
But Han Sung-hoon wrinkled his nose and burst out laughing.
What's his deal?
Damn. He'd recreated the meme in real life.
Was he doomed to never live it down?
"You weren't trying to be funny, were you?"
"Absolutely not."
"Even if it's awkward, it's not a bad thing. This is show business."
Han Sung-hoon downed his coffee, wiped the grin away, and got down to it.
"You pulled it off. That crazy stunt."
"Got pretty lucky."
"Luck's a skill. Especially in this industry."
He set down his cup and tossed out casually,
"Incentives will be paid. Combining the assistant and lead CE shares."
"Pardon?"
Even the lead CE's cut?
What did that mean exactly?
Would they fully detach Gongbeomche from Team 3's performance?
Or count it for Team 3's annual but give him the full lead share?
The answer was the former.
"Gongbeomche won't count toward Team 3's performance."
Admin for incentives? No issue.
Easier with just him and Chae Seo-hee on the team.
Team 3's reaction, though...
He and Chae Seo-hee were Team 3 staff handling an outside gig, but now all the performance credit funneled straight to them.
Team 3 lost manpower and a slice of the annual pie.
As those thoughts swirled, Han Sung-hoon stared him down and asked,
"Feeling the pressure?"
He nearly nodded on reflex, then paused.
A CEO pulling an employee aside for incentive talk? Odd.
Meant another agenda...
Whatever it was, if he were Han Sung-hoon, he wouldn't want to hear, "It's burdensome. The team helped so much."
He made up his mind and spoke.
"Honestly? Not really."
"Why's that?"
"Gongbeomche was a contest entry we had to do anyway."
If Teams 1 or 2 skipped assigning a CE, it'd dump on Team 3.
"You looked worried, though."
"Figured it'd make things awkward going forward."
Was he some saint feeling sorry for Team 3?
Before success, all he remembered was their backbiting.
He worried about Team 3 because their thoughts were obvious—and it'd suck.
Because...
"I've come to really love this CE job."
He'd always liked it, but Gongbeomche's win amplified it.
The thrill of a buried script shining because of him.
No-name actors beaming under that glow.
Viewers delighted by their work.
An addiction you couldn't grasp without living it.
"That just now? Perfect for office politics. A hundred points."
Could come off as sucking up.
Before he could explain, Han beat him to it.
"Do CE, you'll convert to full CE next month. Unprecedented promotion, but your acting background proved its synergy."
"Thank you."
As expected.
Would that put him above Chae Seo-hee?
How many years had she been at it?
"And you'll transfer to Team 4."
"Sorry?"
"Planning to launch Team 4 within two months."
Team 4?
"Team 4's senior..."
"Doesn't concern you, Do CE. Don't ask."
"My apologies."
"We had a deal, remember? Succeed with your plan, and you lead the next one."
"You did say that."
Clear answer, complicated thoughts.
He hadn't known Han long, but one thing was sure.
The man kept his word.
His own experience, employee tales, even Yoon Dae-ri's stories confirmed it.
Not a total softie, but no liar.
That made it weirder.
Team 3 was Joo Young-hoon's turf; F.E.M there was no biggie.
One F.E.M from an assistant CE challenging a senior's authority? Nah.
But a new Team 4? Different story.
New senior leading, and him popping up as lead on a project?
Even interim, it'd undermine the senior's authority.
"You'll need something for that."
"Something...?"
"Next project."
After Gongbeomche?
"I know it's soon, but you can't lead a new team's project empty-handed."
"Can't lead without a next one?"
"Of course you can. That was your Gongbeomche reward."
"Then..."
"Lead role stands, but you'll stay with Team 3. No project in hand."
Han Sung-hoon's affable smile suddenly looked sharper.
A checkmate.
Taking lead CE incentives, then leading another from Team 3?
Joo Young-hoon wouldn't sit idle.
Now fully aware his successes meant zilch to the senior.
He'd have to build a drama from bare dirt...
Tough.
Gongbeomche was mostly him and Chae Seo-hee, but they'd leaned on Team 3's infrastructure.
Art, sound directors—from Team 3's network.
Not malice, of course.
Promotion. Incentives. Kept promise.
Pure goodwill.
But that goodwill forced his hand.
Han had to know his thoughts, yet asked coolly,
"How long you been working here, Do CE?"
"Just shy of eight months."
"Eight months? You've seen plenty of scripts and pitches by now."
Plenty, yeah.
Assistant CEs' bread-and-butter: first-pass on the flood of incoming scripts.
"Nothing caught your eye?"
"A few."
"Sounds like you had a next-project vibe."
"Nah. The ones I liked got snatched by other CEs."
"Then you'll need to find a new one."
"I'll look."
"Curious what you'll pick."
As he rose to leave, a question hit him.
Maybe petty rebellion.
"What if that one succeeds too?"
"Proof."
Proof?
"Proof it's not temporary."