Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Lobby Negotiation
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The quiet lobby of the VBS broadcasting station.
In the cafe inside, two middle-aged men sat facing each other.
Nice to meet you, sunbae-nim.
Kim Sanho PD gave a polite bow to the man in his forties sitting across from him.
The man was Nam Jinyong.
He was a top PD in the drama department of VBS, one of the three major broadcast channels.
And he was the father of the child actor Nam Yeonsu, who was called a genius.
Though it wasnt officially announced that Nam Yeonsu was his son, everyone in the industry knew it.
Kim Sanho had received a call from Han Siu just yesterday.
It was three days after their meeting.
The content of the call from Han Siu was a hint that a really fun broadcast was coming up soon.
He had let that slip in the interview without realizing...
Whether Han Siu had done it on purpose or not, Kim Sanho had a gut feeling.
This was his chance.
He immediately contacted the Entertainment Hotline team and told them it was fine to air Han Sius interview from today as is on the broadcast.
Since it was hot info, Entertainment Hotline jumped on it right away.
The broadcast aired immediately.
It had been planned to go out alongside the finale of The Cactus Flower Has Bloomed, so it drew a ton of attention.
Yes, Kim Sanho PD-nim. Ive heard your name. By the way... I heard I passed along my thoughts through your Park Haesu CP, but I didnt expect you to come all the way here.
He was beating around the bush, but it boiled down to leave nicely.
There was also a nuance of why come if you didnt get the hint?
The smile on Nam Jinyongs face was ice-cold.
Such a pain...
Nam Jinyong glanced down at his wristwatch.
The guy had gotten lucky with some outdated docu or whatever hitting big last quarter, so even the front desk hadnt turned Kim Sanho away.
Planning to wrap this up quick and send him off, Nam Jinyong gave Kim Sanho a cursory once-over.
Nam Jinyong disliked Kim Sanho.
The type who veered off the industry textbook when he could just do it by the book, trying to add personality.
Exactly the kind of PD Nam Jinyong couldnt stand.
If hed been under me, I wouldnt have let him strut around like this... Cable guys are all the same problem.
Seeing Nam Jinyong tsk quietly with Kim Sanho right there, Kim Sanho flashed a practiced business smile.
Kim Sanho knew all about Nam Jinyong too.
He could guess the man wasnt exactly thrilled to see him.
Even in his forties, he was infamous for being more stuck-up than most.
Still only in his early forties, yet hed made a name among PDs as the ultimate representative of the old guard.
I came rushing over mid-edit. Would be great if you could get to the point quick.
Checking his wristwatch again, Nam Jinyong openly showed his annoyance.
Sorry, sunbae-nim.
What?
Oh dear, you havent heard yet, have you?
Watching Nam Jinyongs expression change, Kim Sanho rummaged in the laptop bag beside him and pulled out his notebook.
You mustve been too busy editing to catch the articles. I figured as much, so I came prepared!
He opened the laptop, and several articles popped up on the screen.
Cactus Brothers ChemContinuing in Kim Sanho PDs New Variety Show?!
Hot Child Star Han Siu, Nam Yeonsu Lining Up for LSBs New Variety... High Chance
This is all...
The moment he confirmed the screen, Nam Jinyong uncrossed his arms and quickly skimmed the articles.
One article even included a snippet from Han Sius Entertainment Hotline interview.
So good to be with Yeonsu hyung! Super excited! Please look forward to it lots!
Hed already locked it in and was promoting it.
Nam Jinyong scowled as hard as he could and read the comments.
The comments were flooded with fans hyped for the two kids.
-Wow already so cute lololol
-Cactus ended and I was sad, thisll heal me
-Guess they got close on the drama set, cute baby cute baby max cute?
-Must watch live
1st: Han Siu Nam Yeonsu variety
2nd: Kim Sanho new variety
3rd: The Cactus Flower Has Bloomed finale ratings
4th: Han Siu interview
.
.
.
And that wasnt all.
They were already climbing the real-time search rankings.
It had blown up big, perfectly timed with the The Cactus Flower Has Bloomed finale airing yesterday.
...
While Nam Jinyong was speechless at the unexpected situation, two PDs happened to pass by the table where the pair sat and stopped in their tracks.
Huh, sunbae-nim?!
Nam PD-nim, youre here? And with... oh, isnt that Kim Sanho PD-nim?
Haha, thats me. Hello.
They seemed to be Nam Jinyongs juniors, and seeing him with Kim Sanho, they assumed the mornings article was legit.
They lit up at the news of Nam Jinyongs son joining a new variety and offered congratulations.
Yeonsu was so cute. Hes doing it with Siu, right?
Since Nam Yeonsu being Nam Jinyongs son was officially a secret, the juniors whispered it to him.
Nam Jinyong couldnt even say no and just gave an awkward haha...
Yeonsud benefit from a healing show like that. Great experience. Way better than other varieties.
Yeonsus been nonstop with dramas too. Kim PD-nim, youll take good care of him, right?
Of course. Haha.
While responding to the other PDs, Kim Sanho subtly checked Nam Jinyongs reaction.
He was forcing a smile and couldnt bring himself to deny it outright.
Seeing that, Kim Sanho cheered inwardly.
Old guard of old guards!
The ultimate boomer Nam Jinyong prized his reputation and image above all.
The vibe here wasnt right for a flat denial, so he was keeping quiet for now.
Kim Sanho PD-nims casting skills are no joke. We gotta learn from that.
Thanks. Ill shoot my heart out.
In the meantime, Kim Sanho had smoothly turned Nam Yeonsus appearance into a done deal.
With bright faces yelling fighting! nonstop, the two junior PDs finally left.
Once they were gone, Nam Jinyong finally scowled.
What the hell is this? Spreading baseless crap without even consulting us... You know youd have no defense in a lawsuit?
Hehe, lawsuit? No need to get so fierce. Its just a six-year-old slipping up... Im embarrassed too. Haha.
Kim Sanho played it off like what scary talk, trying to brush past the situation.
At Kim Sanhos sly attempt to dodge, Nam Jinyong finally blew up and started raising his voice.
A slip-up? You call this...!
Right then, another station staffer in the cafe spotted them and came over with a friendly greeting.
Huh? Kim Sanho?
Oh, long time no see, Shin PD-nim.
Ah, youre here to see Nam Jinyong PD-nim. You two meeting updoes that mean...?
As expected.
Station rumors spread faster than a red rabbit.
Thought so! That articles real! Ill definitely tune in. Nam PD-nim! Congrats!
Uh, yeah...
More congrats poured in, and Nam Jinyongs mouth seemed to twitch.
Watching it all, Kim Sanho swallowed a laugh inside.
Then Ill head out first. Looking forward to your show, Kim PD-nim.
Yes, thank you.
Even the upbeat staffer who greeted them brightly vanished, leaving Nam Jinyong to bury his face in his hands, expression twisted.
He stayed like that for a moment, organizing his thoughts, then lifted his head.
His revealed face was distorted like a demons, terrifying.
Lets see the planning doc.
For a split second, Kim Sanho clenched his fist in secret.
See the planning?
That was as good as approving Nam Yeonsus participation.
Nam Jinyong wasnt the type to carelessly back out now and risk hurting his son.
However,
Whys he scarier than our station chief demanding the planning...
Kim Sanho felt like he was going for approval.
Even though it was already greenlit at LSB.
Yes, of course.
As he grabbed the planning doc from the bag hed pulled the laptop from, Nam Jinyong said coolly,
Im warning youno harm comes to Yeonsu. He has to be the center, of course.
Hoo. So scary.
What?!
Nothing, Father-nim. Of course. Here, the planning doc.
Nam Jinyong, now in protector mode for his cast.
Instead of the stiff sunbae-nim, Kim Sanho switched to Father-nim with a slippery smile and handed over the planning doc.
Nam Jinyong took the binder with a bug-sucking face, reluctantly.
Sius got it good. UK on someone elses dime?
Ung, awesome.
Haha, that happy?
You bet!
I was so thrilled my legs were swinging nonstop.
Right now, I was sitting in Kim Sangcheols theater owner office with Uncle.
Yeonsu hyung called me yesterday too. Said hes so so happy were both confirmed. He was excited for almost an hour straight.
Wow, you two are really close.
Yup. They were stuck together the whole shoot.
Haa... It wasnt easy.
I shook my head hard, insisting it was tough, but Kim Sangcheol and Uncle just laughed it off as cute.
No, you guys.
You can laugh like that cause you didnt see excited Nam Yeonsu.
For real.
An excited Nam Yeonsu can talk nonstop for a full hour.
Siu-ya, its my first time in the UK. Gotta see all the plays, right? You been? Oh right, gotta get a passport. You have one, Siu? What should we eat first? Heard UKs Indian currys good... Wait, isnt that Indian food? Whys it famous in the UK?
Id just gotten the confirmation call myselfhow was I supposed to answer where all wed go?
And I couldnt spit out UK place names from my past life either.
How do you even say you wanna visit the Battenberg estate!
We gotta hit the British Museum and London Bridge. And, and... what was that garden called? Co- something Garden.
Covent Garden?
Yeah! Gotta go there too, and...
Hee, sounds fun. I wanna go already.
Listening to Nam Yeonsu excitedly list everywhere wed go, I exhausted myself pretending I knew zilch about the UK.
Haha, child actors are already short on talent, so its great Sius got a good friend.
Ung, I like Yeonsu hyung.
The kids sweet.
Pure with no malicejust a bit timid from growing up under a strict dad.
I planned to teach him how to live without watching his back on this trip.
Lost in my own plans for the trip when Kim Sangcheols voice came.
Alright then. Shall we sort out the schedule now?