Deep Night Schemes
A deep night. A rooftop bar where the full moon shone brightly beyond the railing. Clink, clink. He filled two glasses on the outdoor table. Thud. Do Yoon-seop, CEO of DK Entertainment, set the bottle down on the table. Instead of downing his drink right away, he glanced at his watch, waiting for the owner of the empty seat across from him.
A moment later, a man with a bag slung over his shoulder appeared. More precisely, a suspicious figure whose face was mostly concealed by a black hat and black mask.
"·········Sorry, sir. I'm late."
"Mm."
Do Yoon-seop nodded and gestured toward the seat across the outdoor table. The man bowed at the waist, took off his bag, and sat down.
"Wet your whistle first."
"Yes, thank you."
After removing his mask, the man clinked his glass against the one Do Yoon-seop had raised and politely turned his head to down the drink. Gulp, gulp. Without asking questions, he toasted and drank immediately upon arrival—it seemed like this was how things usually went between them.
Thud. With a satisfied ahh, he set his glass on the table. Do Yoon-seop's question pierced the man's ear.
"Any tails?"
"None."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"No signs they noticed at all?"
"Not a hint."
"Positive?"
"Sir, you don't need to worry about a thing. If any traces are left, I've set it up so rival broadcasters take the blame. And even in the worst case, your name won't come out of my mouth. Just like always."
"·········Good."
Tap, tap. At Do Yoon-seop's signal on the table, the man got straight to business.
Document envelopes from his bag. Shuffle. Do Yoon-seop picked up one of the envelopes scattered across the table. He tore open the tightly sealed flap, and photos spilled out.
Flip. As Do Yoon-seop picked up one photo, the man continued.
"Nice shots, right? The woman next to him—she's not his wife."
"Hm."
"The lobby said nothing was up, and he played it so clean in interviews, so I figured he was spotless... but turns out not quite."
The photo captured a variety PD kissing a woman in the passenger seat of a car.
In other words... SBS PD Kim Bok-hyeon.
...The man in charge of directing Your Heart Can Be Heard, where DK Entertainment actor Lee Tae-gyu would start recording tomorrow afternoon. A photo of his 'less-than-honest' indiscretion.
"Had my doubts, so I tailed him all the way to Incheon and barely got it. He's been in the industry forever—wary as any celeb. Sneaks around like a pro, so opportunities were scarce."
"If you barely got it..."
Do Yoon-seop smirked at the man's complaint about the difficulty.
"No one else has this yet, right?"
"Guaranteed."
"Okay, so these are the only evidence."
Nodding at the thought of nabbing PD Kim Bok-hyeon's weakness, he flipped through the photos on the table one by one before speaking again.
"Who's the other one?"
"Still confirming that."
"Figure out if it's a long-term affair or just a recent fling. That changes how we can use it."
"Got it."
"Alright, and this?"
Do Yoon-seop nodded toward the remaining envelopes.
"These are tax-related docs first off."
"Tax evasion? Does a PD have that kind of cash?"
"Not big-time, but he set up a few shell companies in his name and fiddled around. SBC has anti-moonlighting clauses too."
"Not fatal, but... tax stuff's good leverage even for small fries."
"Yes. And..."
The man nodded and held up another envelope.
"His in-laws' real estate and business stocks turned up some dirt too."
"That thing you mentioned before?"
"Yes."
"Not special in this industry, though."
Exploiting info imbalances for perks wasn't rare among reporters and PDs. Not exactly legal, but they found ways. Usually taking hush money to kill stories or slipping in backdoor ads without being too obvious...
"······Still enough to send him crashing down."
Do Yoon-seop smiled in satisfaction. It came together neatly.
"He's flush from his wife's family support, so no money worries. Uses that to play the upright pro PD on air while cheating on his wife."
"Solid source?"
"Yeah. Don't even need to air it—just leak to the in-laws, and he'll implode."
PD Kim Bok-hyeon's downfall scenario.
"·········Good."
Do Yoon-seop gathered the documents, finally flashing a satisfied smile. The safety net was complete. For Tae-gyu on PD Kim Bok-hyeon's new variety show—which looked like a double-edged sword—he now had leverage to flip the edit entirely if Tae-gyu ever slipped up on camera.
"Good work."
"Thank you."
The man bowed, taking the thick envelope of cash Do Yoon-seop offered. Then, as if it just occurred to him, he spoke up.
"By the way, no more digging on Daeil Entertainment beyond what you said?"
"Money short lately?"
"Not that, but."
"Stick to orders for now."
Daeil Entertainment. The industry giant number one—and the target Do Yoon-seop was gunning for, no holds barred.
"We need to bulk up more first."
Do Yoon-seop's eyes sharpened.
He'd already tasted it this time. Pressuring the famously independent Yoon Chang-ho into an audition for Ji Kyung-ho. Honestly, without Daeil, it wouldn't have gone so cleanly without backlash.
But.
"We'll grow faster than expected. Plenty of time to clash head-on then."
"Faster growth means..."
"Lee Tae-gyu."
A pleased smile lingered on Do Yoon-seop's lips as he thought of him.
"Kwang-woo's movie will bring steady cash, and if Tae-gyu grabs Best Actor at Cannes, we're golden. Once the buzz hits about top value and name, the company explodes."
"Cannes... you sure?"
"100%."
"I don't know films well, but you said it's a rom-com this time."
"Genre doesn't matter."
Do Yoon-seop scoffed.
He knew. Even 'light' rom-coms became art with master directors and actors.
How to Prepare the Perfect Best Man Speech, invited to Cannes, was a rom-com about a guy notified of a break by his girlfriend who then handles wedding best man duties.
The timeless classic Notting Hill was a rom-com about a humble bookseller falling for a global star.
And above all, Punch-Drunk Love—Paul Thomas Anderson's Palme d'Or winner—was a rom-com at heart, albeit twisty.
Thus, Do Yoon-seop had no doubts about Lee Tae-gyu's success alongside Yoon Chang-ho, famed for minting 'Cannes king/queen' stars.
Of course.
"I know Yoon Chang-ho's big, but... you said digesting his direction needs top-tier acting. Does this Lee Tae-gyu guy really have it?"
"Hahaha."
Do Yoon-seop, well aware Tae-gyu could snag international awards without Yoon Chang-ho's help, dismissed it outright.
"That guy's a monster."
He added with genuine admiration.
"·········His name will echo through Korean film history forever."
- Cut! That's a wrap!
Yoon Chang-ho called the final cut of the day.
- Aigoo, everyone worked late—great job!
As he set down the megaphone with a tired face, Ikseon-dong's filming zone erupted in lively noise.
"Great work!"
"Hey, clear those cables! Not taking 'em?"
"Grab the cameras first!"
"We still got time—tell the onlookers nicely to back off! Everything's permitted, so make it clear!"
"Aigoo, boss—thanks for cooperating!"
"Third AD! Where's the third AD!"
Amid the bustling crew and staff.
"Great work today! See you next time!"
Lee Tae-gyu bowed here and there, greeting people.
As he turned toward Jang Team Leader.
"Huh."
He spotted Seol A-yoon lingering awkwardly nearby.
"Ah, great work!"
"You too, Tae-gyu."
"Rest well—see you!"
"That's it?"
"Pardon?"
"Ha, whatever—see ya?"
"?"
"Straight up, you're not my type yet. I fall for honest guys."
"?"
She chuckled oddly and walked off with her managers. Glancing back slyly as she went.
Tae-gyu watched her.
"·········What's with her?"
Jang Team Leader sidled up at some point and spoke.
"As expected."
"Pardon?"
Tae-gyu nodded slowly.
"Seems she's holding onto the shoot emotions."
"Whoa."
"Top stars are different, huh."
Definitely.
After a break earlier, post-chat with Yoon Chang-ho, Seol A-yoon's 'Yu Hye-mi' vibe had shifted completely.
To put it felt-wise.
Before: Yu Hye-mi laced with slight embarrassment, bafflement toward a man seeing her as just a woman—not a superstar—and a subtle confidence.
'Adjusting the character that finely in no time...'
Tae-gyu recalled the role that fit her suspiciously perfectly.
'She's damn good.'
Impressive, sure.
But 'still...'
Honestly, disappointing.
What he wanted from Seol A-yoon.
I.e., that beautiful dokkaebi fire glimpsed once during Hoshi-jeol filming—he hadn't seen it today.
To avoid odd expressions being spotted, he'd covered his face with both hands during her solo scenes, observing.
'...Filming's just starting.'
Plenty of chances during the shoot. With resolve to see that dokkaebi fire again, he clenched his fist.
"·········They say shadows make cats look like tigers."
"Pardon?"
Jang Team Leader spoke.
"Means you hold your own, Tae-gyu."
Encouraging his actor, firming resolve while eyeing the departing top star's back.
"No, really—in my eyes, strip the 'top actress' shadow, and you're way better."
"That's..."
"Dead serious."
He meant it.
In all his time at DK Entertainment, Jang Team Leader had never seen an actor 'do it right' like Tae-gyu. Skill aside, the pro mindset toward roles moved hearts just watching.
And with popularity skyrocketing, still humble like debut days?
'This guy's the real deal.'
In an industry where celebs judge and ignore based on status.
'He'll go all the way.'
Despite the stoic vibe, Tae-gyu brimmed with humanity more than anyone. Jang Team Leader resolved.
'And I'll back him through anything.'
To reach entertainment's peak together.
'·········?'
Next day. Cold sweat beaded on Jang Team Leader's forehead watching the variety recording outside the studio.
'...What’s with the intensity.'
Exactly 30 minutes into Your Heart Can Be Heard taping.
"So."
It was a question lobbed at the broadcaster famous for posting late-night SNS messages.
"Did you do drugs, or not?"