Top Management - Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Chapter 201: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (7)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

Whose work is it?

The point brought up by Team Leader Park hung in my mind the entire night .

As much as it was confirmed to be a hit, I wanted to show, not just the female lead, but the other lead to my actors . However, there was only one role and multiple people who came to mind .

An actor’s future could hinge on a single project .

Who should I give a project guaranteed to be hit and who should I give a project likely to be a success? This was a consideration that I had never encountered back when I was only managing Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon . If there were other choices, I wouldn’t have to think this hard .

However… Who was the actor originally picked to star in City Jungle in the future?

I buried the thought that crept up my mind .

First, it was more urgent to focus on what I know what could be .

I needed to handle the matter of ownership of the City Jungle scenario . I clearly laid out what I had to do . I created a straight path that would lead me to the future I wanted .

Also, before taking my first step, what I had been waiting for finally opened .

*

“Team leader . ”

Lee Taehee gave a longing look toward the Team 3 Leader .

“No way . ”

“Just one glass . Just to ease the nerves . ”

“Ease your nerves with beer or something . This isn’t alcohol you open for any occasion . ”

The Team 3 Leader, who was sitting in the living room sofa, hugged his glass bottle even harder . A moderately thick root was submerged in a long, slender bottle . This was the wild ginseng alcohol he had gifted Neptune every time they made some big accomplishment .

“This is the real deal . When I dug it up, I resolved myself to not open the bottle unless something incredible happened . I’ll only open it if your songs line up on the music charts . ”

The girls’ expressions became lukewarm when they heard him .

Line up on the charts .

It referred to when the tracks of an influential singer’s comeback album swept through the charts . There were even cases where boy groups with huge fandoms and great artists known for their hit songs had their tracks fill the top ranks for the charts .

This was too difficult for us to dare dream about .

Internally, we would consider it a great success if at least three songs made it to the top of the charts . After a long discussion with the A&R Team about Lee Taehee’s songs, we decided to go with a triple title track album . We spread our promotional marketing between them and even filmed three music videos, so I was inwardly hoping that all three would make it onto the first page .

“You’re going to take it back if we don’t get a line up? Aren’t you being too cruel?”

Im Seoyoung said with a face like she was looking at a scoundrel . A few voices chimed in .

“He brought it over, but he’s hesitant to give it to us . ”

“Hyung, is that really wild ginseng? It looks like a bellflower root . ”

The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment . Everyone was trying their best not to get their hopes up . Our goal was being a moderate success or something . Still, they kept looking at me for a while now, so my cheek muscles were about to spasm from maintaining my smile .

There were a lot of people who would be frightened if my expression didn’t look good .

I took out a can of beer from the fridge . Pulling the tab, I looked around the living room . Lee Kwanwoo was tirelessly refreshing the page on the laptop on top of the table . Neptune, the Team 3 Leader, and Kim Hyunjo were forcefully releasing their tensions while glancing in Lee Kwanwoo’s direction .

And, while all this was going on, Lee Songha was holding onto the script and scenario .

“What are you doing?”

“I am thinking about my next project . ”

“You can think about that in a situation like this?”

Lee Songha nodded seriously . Her eyes looked like they were looking at a hit list than projects .

“I’m going to find a good project, so just wait . ”

“Hmm, that’s fine and all, but the album’s out now . ”

Lee Songha hastily got up when she heard me . Immediately, an ear-piercing scream echoed in the living room . Someone was screaming while pointing their finger at their laptop screen . Someone else was screaming while waving their phone . Everyone’s reaction was to scream .

I shook my beer can amidst their screams and sincerely laughed .

The Team 3 Leader didn’t hesitate to open the wild ginseng wine .

The top three places on the music chart were all Neptune’s songs .

*

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“No way . It’s very comfortable . ”

How could sitting in a Rolls Royce be uncomfortable?

“Because you keep sighing . ”

“I’m not sighing because I’m uncomfortable . It’s out of admiration because of how incredible the car is . ”

To be honest, my body was comfortable, but my mind wasn’t .

Son Chaeyoung’s uncomfortable words and the problems with the Team 2 Leader tangled in my head . This was despite the fact that Lee Songha explained how there was no problem with CEO Baek Hansung and CEO Baek Hansung had never mentioned the matter with the Team 2 Leader since then .

Encountering him was uncomfortable .

“Should I buy you one?”

“Pardon?”

“The car . ”

CEO Baek Hansung said lightly . Like he was giving out a piece of rice cake .

Coughs erupted from my throat . It was a very enticing rice cake, but I didn’t want it since it would be a headache to digest . It felt like I was taking out an extravagant loan .

While I rejected his offer by saying that I loved and would continue to love the minivan I was driving now, the Rolls Royce arrived at our destination .

“I will lead you to the reserved room . ”

We followed a Korean restaurant employee over an arched stone bridge . Fancy carps the size of my forearm leisurely swam in the pool below . A willow grew above it, completing the picturesque scene . Beyond the garden was a traditional Korean tiled rooftop .

It was so extravagant that it could be called a palace than a restaurant . I had gone to many hotel restaurants, which I would never go to if I had to pay out of my own pocket, due to work, but the view here was the best . It was a bit of a waste to use it only as a restaurant .

“What are you thinking about to make that expression?”

“I was thinking that we could sponsor this place for a historical film set . ”

CEO Baek Hansung chuckled in a low voice .

“There’ll be many opportunities for you to come here from now on . This place has quite a few regulars . ”

He said whilst gesturing with his chin . Other guests were coming out the other side .

They were older men . Most of their faces were familiar .

“Do you know any of the faces there?”

“I recognize most of them . ”

Since I had seen them in interview articles .

The CEO of World B Pictures Korea, a movie production and distribution company . The director of the large entertainment, SoNaMoo . Besides them were executives, like CEOs and directors, from large and small management companies .

They seemed to have recognized CEO Baek Hansung as their pace quickened as they approached us .

“I thought I was mistaken, but have you come to nourish your health during these dog days?”

“It seems you’ve already eaten and are on your way out . ”

“It would have great if we ate together . The timing wasn’t good . ”

Even though the scales were different, they were all people who represented their respective companies . I didn’t know what they were thinking inside, but they acted in a very friendly manner to CEO Baek Hansung . There were even a few who seemed to have a hard time approaching him .

This was enough to show CEO Baek Hansung’s influence in our industry .

After greeting them, CEO Baek Hansung placed his hand on my shoulder .

“Ah, this is Team Leader Jung Sunwoo . ”

As soon as I greeted them, intrigued gazes landed on me .

“Of course, we know you . You are famous in our management industry . ”

“I hear it’s because of you that W&U’s image has been great these days . ”

“Th-that Neptune! People are talking about how great their songs are . Congratulations . ”

It seemed they had a few drinks while nourishing their bodies as their reactions were a bit exaggerated .

I matched their ill-mannered remarks while thanking them . They say that you improve the more you do it . I seemed to have learned the ways of the world while working as it was easier to talk to people .

“It would be great if I had someone like you working for me . If you have any thoughts of moving, contact me at any time . Don’t worry about CEO Baek Hansung . Our company is growing so if you join now, you’ll be one of our early employees . Our employee benefits are decent too . ”

Although I didn’t know how great their benefits were, reading the mood, I didn’t think they were .

Everyone’s expressions became awkward when they heard the new management company CEO’s words . They glanced at CEO Baek Hansung, who was talking to the World B Pictures Korea CEO . CEO Baek Hansung’s gaze met eyes as he glossed over it with a laugh . Like he had heard a light joke .

Soon, people treated the remark as a joke .

“You need to make dibs based on the person!”

“Can you even make dibs on CEO Baek’s person? Especially a junior he personally brought here to nourish his health?”

While it was said in a joking manner, there seemed to be a meaning behind those jokes .

We separated after saying our farewells . Behind us, the new management company CEO’s voice was carried by the wind .

“Can’t I make a joke?”

“You need to watch the mood before you do . Team Leader Lee Jangyeob…”

The Team 2 Leader?

I tried to listen in on them, but their voices quickly grew distant .

“You worked hard making Neptune’s official album a success . ”

CEO Baek Hansung commented after we had finished half the samgyetang{1} .

“The girls, the Team 3 Leader, and Chief Kim Hyunjo worked harder than me . As well as other employees . ”

It was all Lee Taehee’s work that the title track ended up so good . It was the Team 3 Leader and Kim Hyunjo, who took the lead by saying that Lee Taehee’s songs were great when I was uncertain of their success . The album was only complete with the collective hard work of the employees, including the A&R producer and PR Teams .

“That’s a good comment”

CEO Baek Hansung nodded as he said,

“I was thinking about talking to the PR Team and setting up a personal interview for you . What do you think?”

“A personal interview?”

“You talk about Neptune’s album on behalf of the company . And about your next projects . Voices wondering how you’ve written a success story with no failures have even reached my ears . There are a lot of reporters who bluntly ask about you . ”

He said as though he was enjoying himself .

I saw a few as well . Reporters who were more interested in my first project as a team leader and which actors would join it over Neptune’s new songs . It seemed like the entertaining rumors of Midas’s Hand were growing exaggerated .

“It’ll get messy once reporters publish assumptions on what project you’ll pick . Wouldn’t it be better for you to do an interview before then? But you’ll have to first decide on what your next project will be . ”

His leisurely voice pushed my back forward .

“There is a project I am considering serious . It’ll…”

“City Jungle?”

My chopsticks slipped from the plate .

“I told you there are no secrets in this industry . ”

 CEO Baek Hansung lightly shrugged his shoulders .

“You should forget about the project and look for a new one . ”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve read a lot of scenarios . There will probably be some projects you’ve singled out . Discuss with the other chiefs and pick out around five projects . If you bring them to the next meeting, we should be able to pick one out, don’t you think?”

Wait .

“When you say forget about City Jungle…”

“Exactly as I said . I don’t think it is suitable for your next project . ”

He said firmly . Only then did what CEO Baek Hansung said organize in my head . Yeah, I knew that there were many who would oppose City Jungle if I brought it up . It looked shabby compared to the other promising works .

I would have to persuade them eventually .

I put down my chopsticks and wet my throat with cold water .

“Although it isn’t an eye-catching project, the scenario is good . ”

“Yeah, I read it . ”

He read it?

“I was curious because it was something you were interested in . ”

“Then… Did you not like the scenario? Although it doesn’t meet the trends, it definitely is an entertaining project within its genre . Its production may seem uncertain, but once the cast is decided, there will be investors lining up, so there will be no concern it will be killed off due to a lack of investments . ”

It would proceed even smoother if I used my fame .

“I think that it has the highest potential for success amongst all the scenarios I have considered as my next project . I had thought that I couldn’t lose Cat Guardian Ghost when I read it, and I get the same feeling from this . ”

While I was trying to persuade him, CEO Baek Hansung calmly looked at me with a smiling face . He occasionally tapped the table with his fingertips as though he was reacting to my words . After a good while, he nodded his head .

“The scenario wasn’t bad . Like you said, it isn’t what’s trending these days, but noir works are rare in the country and it’ll be good to widen our actors’ spectrum with its charming characters . It is worth taking the risk if the actor is willing . ”

CEO Baek Hansung continued to speak positively about it . He seemed like he was going to allow it, so his next words were more dumbfounding .

“Still, look for another project . ”

His voice and expression were still gentle, but his voice was firm .

What was going on?

Did his trust in my judgment hit rock bottom because of rumors that I had a panic disorder? Or was he unhappy that I rejected Telepath, which he had personally mentioned?

While I thinking with a confused mind, CEO Baek Hansung tried to comfort me,

“If you really don’t want to lose out on City Jungle, then hand it over to another team’s chief . ”

“… Another team? Why do I have to do that?”

I couldn’t understand it at all .

Why was it not okay if I wanted to do it, but okay for some other chief?

“You’re in a situation where you should be stopping at nothing to find a project that will be a success . I’m just saying there’s no need to pick a project with high risk . ”

“What…”

He smiled .

“Because, Team Leader Jung, you cannot fail . ”

{1} Chicken soup with ginseng and other medicinal ingredients . Considered a very nourishing dish .