Lunchtime Gossip and Teaser Frenzy
SSK's lunchtime.
The CEs who had finished their meals were chatting idly over coffee when talk turned to Team 4.
"Team 4's CEs aren't coming in this afternoon, right?"
"Yeah. They had a company dinner last night, so everyone's taking the morning off."
"They're still running without a senior?"
"Anyone new coming in before At Your Fingertips drops would just make things awkward."
"I heard Do Hyun-woo's basically acting like the senior already? Even No Jae-wook and Kwon Cheol listen to him."
"Isn't No Jae-wook older?"
"No way Do Hyun-woo actually becomes senior, right?"
"That doesn't make sense. Even if At Your Fingertips goes global hit, no."
"Yeah, true."
The casual chat starting with Team 4 naturally shifted to their projects.
"Do Hyun-woo must be under insane pressure. Self-produced with a 10 billion budget."
"He pulled in some funding himself, so production costs are probably closer to 12 billion."
"Either way, if it flops, that's a 10 billion loss for the company. I'd be too tense to sleep."
"Sleep? If it tanks big, he could get fired. No way he'd land a job elsewhere either."
At that moment, a CE with horn-rimmed glasses snorted derisively.
"Pressure my ass. You think a guy like that would pick an idol MV director and cast some no-name in the third lead? That bastard's nuts."
"Yeah, fair."
"Criminal Community was a gamble anyway, but why snag Jeon So-ra and make such a fuss?"
"He's just picking people he can control easily. Word from set was the same. Do Hyun-woo handled directing too."
"He did the directing? For real?"
"You didn't hear? Everyone was talking about it. Director got approval from Do Hyun-woo on shots. Later, even the actors only listened to him."
"Damn, the guy's a maniac."
Then a CL Team 3 member chimed in.
"Our team lead's crazy too, though. He was on set every single day from midway through."
"True. Yeah. Didn't even bring an assistant CE."
"Ko Hak-soo was sensitive about it, I guess."
"Ko Hak-soo trashed Do Hyun-woo hard. They got some bad blood?"
"Directors are all power-trippers. Probably stings his pride competing with a B-list actor."
The horn-rimmed glasses guy asked,
"Which one's gonna do better?"
"Oxygen Supremacy, probably? Set was a mess, but they say the final product turned out good."
"Rumors say At Your Fingertips is solid too. Actors were happy."
"But it's Hong Hee-young's script with Tae-woong."
"Tae-woong's a heavy hitter."
"Enflicks has early momentum to compete, but Oxygen Supremacy takes it in the end, right?"
I showed up to work...
"You're on vacation."
They told me to go home.
"I'm on vacation?"
"Yeah."
"I haven't used any leave."
"It's just vacation. Paid. So please, get out."
The division head sighed.
"Hyun-woo, you're doing it wrong."
"Pardon?"
"Criminal Community was small-scale, rushed schedule—not your fault. You called the shots."
"Right."
"But At Your Fingertips is big, tight timeline, and you're handling oversight, set, comms—all solo? I figured you'd use your CEs and assistants."
"It's easier alone sometimes..."
"Hey! They need experience to grow. You hogging everything isn't always best. Delegating properly is a skill too."
"I used Yoon Hyun-sol well."
"You parked him at the writer's office. That's delegating?"
"No other juniors. Kwon Cheol CE and No Jae-wook CE aren't subordinates."
"...Same rank or not, you gotta know when to lead."
This didn't make sense.
Same rank and role—how do you "lead" that?
"Even if we're same rank, I'd make you work for me."
"That feels forced."
"Anyway, it's wrong. Who handles everything solo? Climb a big mountain, then rest. You'll burn out."
Touching words, but...
Only possible because the drama wrapped.
"Vacation starts today. Three days—no company visits, not even to piss."
"What about Director Lim..."
"Hey! He's editing scenes. What help you got?"
Then he chewed me out as a workaholic for a while.
Ridiculous.
A salaried worker gets scolded for working.
I left the division head's office and headed to Team 4.
"Why the long face?"
I relayed what happened, and Chae Seo-hee clicked her tongue.
"Not a wrong word."
"Yeah, Do CE overdoes it."
"Watching from the side is suffocating."
Kwon Cheol and No Jae-wook joined in.
"Hyun-woo, lost your original mindset?"
"Me?"
"Remember scouting our fixed supporting cast? You said once drama ends, you'd crash on your bed and show it who's boss."
"Oh, right."
Back then, I desperately wanted ten minutes on my studio bed.
But not now?
"On set too. What oversight CE haunts every day? That's assistant work."
"You're the one who said no slacking..."
"Whatever! Pack and go."
Packing up, I wondered what to do.
Call Sung Tae-chang hyung for drinks?
Too early for off-hours.
Then Yoon Hyun-sol crept up.
"As an SSK CE, advice—no, counsel?"
CE counseling me?
Yoon Hyun-sol to me?
Felt like Seo Jae-yeon lecturing manners, but I nodded.
"Shoot."
"Hit a PC bang first."
"PC bang?"
"Think. Our drama's gonna smash. Game industry press will swarm: What charm did TOOL have? Why pick it? You're like, 'I never played TOOL!' Traitor, they say. Traitor."
His scolding tone was off, but...
Spot on.
"Noted."
Heading out, awkward vibe hit.
What to call it.
Feeling like a bad kid?
PC bang after almost ten years...
Like a coffee shop or restaurant.
Spotless.
Sat, signed up, booted PC—couldn't find TOOL anywhere.
"TOOL got reserved seats?"
"Huh? What's Tool?"
"Game, like ROR."
"Not sure on uninstalled games... Download it."
Counter guy's words—downloading TOOL, but it kept stalling.
Frustrated, switched PC bangs. This one had it.
Finally logging in, motivation surged.
No pro league for TOOL, but they invited amateur pros for clean in-game shots.
Saw their plays, watched actors learn.
I could do well too, right?
Climb ranks, good promo.
Ah, ask Reporter Mun.
Tutorial done, game on...
Betrayed.
"This wasn't the game world I envisioned..."
Guy next to me stared weird.
To soothe TOOL wounds, soju with Sung Tae-chang hyung after ages.
"Hey, I'm hurt."
"What."
"Feels like my stake in your life shrunk."
"Who didn't fund? Oxygen Supremacy promo traitor."
"Dude, how much I pushed At Your Fingertips!"
"Traitor."
"Why keep calling traitor? Got betrayed?"
"...Yeah."
"By who?"
"Romance."
"...?"
Drinking nonsense soju, I asked,
"Tvic these days?"
"Same. Pray Oxygen Supremacy succeeds. First time exec handles marketing himself."
"Ethics committee had execs and managing director? They tight with Joo Young-hoon?"
"Not sure, but buddies. Still meet for wine."
Pondered, then,
"Hyung, curious now—what'd Ko Hak-soo do back then?"
Jang Gi-un took over post-Sung Tae-chang quit, but he might know.
"Suddenly now?"
"Ran into Jae-hyeok hyung at preview. Started shit outta nowhere. Time to know."
"Not directly involved, so details fuzzy... Remember that scandal?"
"Scandal?"
"One Jang Gi-un leaked for your role."
"Drunk driving."
"Right. Kim Tae-seong's DUI."
Shocked myself.
Kim Tae-seong felt foreign.
Back then, so sorry to actor Kim Tae-seong.
Jang would've leaked anyway, but he was my manager.
Searched after—no news.
Forgetting his name...
"Kim Tae-seong didn't wanna drive, but Ko Hak-soo forced. 'Waste on designated driver.'"
"Driver fee? Drove Ko Hak-soo's car?"
"Yeah. Media touched it. Framed as actor sucking up to director."
Twistier than I thought.
Figured dirty money mess.
"No dashcam?"
"Dunno details. Jang controlled? Only he gained."
"Control police? No bribes."
"Know that ghost? Maybe did."
"Nah, manager bribing cops?"
"That's his dirty genius."
True.
"Joo Young-hoon? Why ousted from Tvic oversight."
"Really wanna hear?"
"Why?"
"Involves private actor story. Ruined his life."
Pondered, shook head.
"Pass then."
Sung Tae-chang eyed me.
"Hope you beat Oxygen Supremacy."
Time flew.
While I slaved post-prod with Director Yeom, Korea hit sudden fever.
The President I Made syndrome.
Jae-hyeok hyung's drama global smash.
Especially morale-boosting: Pulled North American boomers to screens, K-drama skeptics.
Enflicks stock soared—no hype needed.
Huge plus for me.
Enflicks buzzing "K-dramas deliver." Public interest up.
Perfect timing.
No overshadow if next; two months till At Your Fingertips.
Viewers finish President, crave next—our launch.
Thanks to it, witnessed Jae-hyeok hyung strutting before Seo Jae-yeon.
Too busy for face-time; group chat.
Full summer, At Your Fingertips post-prod wrapped.
That day.
Oxygen Supremacy teaser dropped—two weeks ahead on Tvic.
Reactions exploded.