Top Management Chapter 190-191

Chapter 190: A Way that Suited Me (2)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

The Han River was completely red. The Team 2 Leader looked at the river from a half-opened car window. Perhaps it was the sunset or the wine he had during the meeting, but his face was flushed. Above his beard, his lips formed a crescent.

Chief Jo Byunghwan sitting in the driver's seat said with a laugh,

"It's been a while since you've been in such a good mood, team leader."

"Been a while? Have I ever not been in a good mood?"

It hadn't been long since the Team 2 Leader had been frowning everywhere he went. Also, it was Chief Jo Byunghwan, whose tongue had worn down from trying to find ways to cheer him up. His expression was bitter.

"Well, I mean, you look to be in a better mood than usual."

"Maybe it's because I don't see Jung Sunwoo?"

The Team 2 Leader revealed his thoughts. Chief Jo Byunghwan received his words out of habit.

"He was so frightened after one incident with Lee Songha's family once, and he's shirked back since then. If he was going to lower his tail so easily, I don't know why he barged into your office. He looked like he was about to start a fight."

"Start a fight?"

The Team 2 Leader snorted as he leisurely said,

"How can he start a fight when he has no guts? That b.a.s.t.a.r.d, unlike his appearance, he spares himself. The company treasures him, calling him 'Lucky Charm', and the public lifts him up as 'Midas's Hand'. Do you think he's ever partic.i.p.ated in a battle of wits?"

"Still, he did decisively handle the matter about Nam Joyoon and Director Park in the past."

Chief Jo Byunghwan recalled the past.

"I heard he made the press move against him and ripped the contract in front of him."

"Maybe he thought Director Park was a pushover."

As if he was a little drunk, the Team 2 Leader opened the window even wider. Then he muttered at the wild wind,

"He probably has his suspicions about me telling the director to remove Nam Joyoon. But all he did was talk big, no action. There's no need to worry about him."

The Team 2 Leader laughed for a while.

"I have no reason to be stressed now that he's quieted down. My enteritis is all better. Inho's debut is going well. Jijoon made me worry by not picking a project, but he set up a project proposal meeting on his own."

"I know, right? I was worried that Jijoon would become like Chaeyoung, but seeing as he set up his own meeting, I guess he does plan on working. Did he like the project? Director s...o...b..unghwe and Writer Jo Eunhye are leading this project, right?"

"That's right. When was the meeting again?"

"Let's see. It's at 8, so it should be starting soon."

"Let's visit."

"Pardon?"

Chief Jo Byunghwan's eyes widened.

"You are personally going to visit? Chief Lee Bongjoon said that this was a casual meeting with the CEO of the subcontracting company and the director and writer to listen to the project proposal details. If you go there, our side might seem too aggressive."

"There's no need to be there the whole meeting, I'm just saying we can at least say hi. There was also the issue with Chaeyoung."

"The issue with Chaeyoung?"

The Team 2 Leader clicked his tongue as he replied,

"I received Director Seo's proposal to persuade Chaeyoung. The writer had picked out Yoon Jungah as the female lead, so they weren't handing these proposals to actresses, but I got one by bringing Chaeyoung up. However, she rejected it without so much as a glance."

"Ah, so Director Seo might have a grudge."

"That's why I'm going to visit and settle the matter."

The car headed back to where they came from. The meeting was going to be at Yeouido, which was close. While they were parking the car at the restaurant, Chief Jo Byunghwan called Chief Lee Bongjoon.

"Uh, aren't you Team Leader Lee at W&U?"

The two halted in their steps. Someone was approaching them with a pleased expression from the counter. It was a middle-aged man, whose dizzying patterns on his shirt left quite an impression. A UBS Broadcast Company employee card hung from his neck.

The Team 2 Leader and Chief Jo Byunghwan went over with welcoming faces.

"You've come too, General Manager Shin?"

"I just came to visit since it was right in front of our broadcasting company."

"I came to visit because I happened to be in the area. It was good that I came."

The general manager brought up a pleasant topic.

"I heard that you're busy raising that rookie. Song Inho? Rumors have spread that he's quite the actor."

"It's only the start."

The Team 2 Leader's smile thickened.

"If this movie's a success, he should make his TV debut too. Once Seo Jijoon signs onto Director Seo's project, I should ask Director Seo to create a good supporting role for Song Inho. He won't feel as pressured if he works on the same project as his sunbae. The mood on set will be good too."

Maybe it was because Seo Jijoon was on the line, but the general manager's att.i.tude was very friendly. His voice dripped with sweet honey. Noticing the Team 2 Leader was reacting positively, the general manager took another step. Right on a landmine.

"Like how Mr. Seo Jijoon and Ms. Lee Songha on Cat Guardian Ghost. What do you think?"

"… I think I'll have to discuss it with Jijoon."

The Team 2 Leader laughed a little late. Unlike before, his eyes were no longer smiling. At that moment, the employee who was guiding them stopped in front of a private room. Even though the door was closed, they could hear loud noises coming from inside.

"Oh wow, it seems the mood inside is good."

The general manager laughed as he opened the door wide. The people sitting around the table got up and greeted the general manager. There were the CEO of AA Studio, a subcontract production company, and his employees. Director s...o...b..unghwe and Writer Jo Eunhye. As well as Seo Jijoon and Chief Lee Bongjoon.

The AA Studio CEO hurried came over and greeted them but was surprised when he saw the Team 2 Leader.

"Team Leader Lee! I had thought that only the general manager would be coming. How did you end up coming together?"

"If we knew that you were coming, we would have prepared you a seat…"

"We-we'll leave."

A few AA Studio employees hastily stood up from their seats.

"Uh, team leader. Why…"

Chief Lee Bongjoon was even more fl.u.s.tered. He stuttered while holding his fork in the air.

However, the Team 2 Leader's gaze was fixated on one person. His smile has quickly faded since entering the room as he only looked at that person. It was the same for Chief Jo Byunghwan. He even rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.

People tried to start a conversation, but the Team 2 Leader ignored them and walked over.

To the person slowly wiping his mouth with a napkin next to Seo Jijoon.

"h.e.l.lo, Team 2 Leader."

"… Jung Sunwoo. What are you doing here?"

The Team 2 Leader asked, having barely managed to dial back his voice.

Jung Sunwoo calmly said,

"I'm working."

Chief Jo Byunghwan and Chief Lee Bongjoon gulped at the same time. They even retreated a step like they were running away from a time bomb. However, UBS's general manager and the others approached with puzzled expressions.

An AA Studio employee cautiously joined in,

"We were in the middle of discussing the scenario with Team Leader Jung. Uh, Team Leader Jung, do you happen to have other appointments? If you need to go, we can hurry up…"

"No, I don't have any other appointments. We can take our time."

Jung Sunwoo shook his head. Hearing their exchange, a thick vein on the Team 2 Leader's forehead squirmed. The knuckles of his clenched fist turned red. Having made a calm face, he said,

"Let's talk outside."

The Team 2 Leader's hurried steps stopped. They were in front of the washroom a bit away from the private room. He didn't seem to have the composure to go in as he turned his blood-red gaze. His angry voice, which he suppressed in front of others, finally exploded.

"What are you doing!"

"I'm working. As you can see."

Jung Sunwoo shrugged nonchalantly.

"Why are you at Jijoon's meeting?! Without my permission!"

Having lost his patience, the Team 2 Leader grabbed Jung Sunwoo by his collar. Chief Jo Byunghwan and Chief Lee Bongjoon, who had been quickly following after them, retreated seeing this. Then they looked around as though they were checking for watching eyes.

"You said you wanted to talk."

Clicking his tongue, Jung Sunwoo pried the Team 2 Leader's hands off him.

"I didn't come for Mr. Jijoon's meeting."

"What? Then who-!"

"He came with me."

A voice suddenly cut in.

Wiping her hands with a paper towel, Son Chaeyoung walked over from the women's washroom.

The Team 2 Leader's mouth gaped like something was caught in his throat. It was worse than when he discovered Jung Sunwoo next to Seo Jijoon. If he had been taken aback and furious before, he was now in doubt. His mind was on the verge of escaping reality.

He simply blinked like he was seeing someone who shouldn't be here.

Then he blankly asked,

"Chaeyoung, why are you here?"

Son Chaeyoung said,

"Then go tell them. That Son Chaeyoung will do another project."

She clinked her gla.s.s of juice with mine. Then she added,

"But me thinking about doing a project and actually choosing one is different. I don't do projects I don't like."

"Even though you said you weren't going to do any, you still looked through a lot of projects. Did any of them catch your eye?"

As though she thought of something, Son Chaeyoung's eyes turned into crescent moons.

"Do you know Director s...o...b..unghwe?"

"I do."

There were a few famous directors in broadcast companies' drama departments, and Director s...o...b..unghwe at UBS was well-known for his beautiful cinematography. He shot a 20-part mini-series like it was a film. There was nothing more to say about his directing abilities.

"I like Director Seo's directing. He's preparing his new project right now. I saw the proposal, and it was quite good."

I probably paid careful attention to it if it was Director s...o...b..unghwe's new project.

But I had no recollection of seeing it.

"The writer was thinking of Yoon Jungah as the female lead."

Ah, was that why they didn't hand out the proposals?

"The Team 2 Leader persuaded Director Seo, saying that I would do it, and brought it over. What about you?"

Son Chaeyoung leisurely propped her chin up and smiled,

"Can you get me that?"

-Ah… If only you had contacted us a bit earlier.

Director s...o...b..unghwe's voice on the other side of the call sighed with regret.

I quickly churned my mind. They might have already confirmed Yoon Jungah as their female lead because some time had pa.s.sed since the Team 2 Leader showed Director s...o...b..unghwe's proposal to Son Chaeyoung.

If they had already cast her, then I would have looked for a different project.

Probably. Most likely.

However, the situation turned in a different direction.

-We're about to lose the timeslot for that project right now. Our attempts at casting our leads went belly-up.

I quickly acted. The one who was producing the project was AA Studio, a subcontract production company, instead of UBS. I went over after receiving their address, and it was a company situated in a worn building with a single sign.

It was incomparably inferior to Well-Made Production and SBE Film, which I had visited quite often recently. The inside was even messier than Pan Production, which had been a budding production company at the time.

Stacks of paper, crumpled paper cups, and half-eaten jjamppong{1} bowls were scattered here and there. The employees all had their heads against their desks. It was so poor that I had to double-take and check the sign before entering.

A lanky man walked over. The pink neck pillow resembled a lizard coiled around his neck.

"What is the reason for your visit?"

"I wanted to discuss casting."

"Who?"

"Ms. Son Chaeyoung."

He stopped mid-yawn and stared at my face. Then he stiffened.

The employees jolted to their feet like corpses crawling out their graves. In a blink of an eye, a table was cleared, and they brought over freshly brewed coffee in a normal paper cup. They also brought over their project proposal. I read the synopsis and list of characters before raising my head.

Across from me sat the lizard, I mean, the man who introduced himself as the CEO.

I ignored the gazes fixed on me as I asked,

"I heard that the casting for Director s...o...b..unghwe flopped."

"Ah, that."

The CEO glanced at me before gloomily saying,

"We dug our own graves. We had already made a verbal agreement with Ms. Yoon Jungah, but Team Leader Lee from W&U took a proposal last time. That Ms. Son Chaeyoung liked Director Seo's directing and wished to see the proposal."

His voice was mixed with guilt and frustration.

"Then Ms. Son Chaeyoung replied, saying that she wasn't ready to do it, but UBS suggested we wait a little. That they would like Ms. Son Chaeyoung to do it over Ms. Yoon Jungah. To be honest, as a company, it was enticing."

The CEO ruffled his hair, almost to the point of ripping it out.

I could understand the broadcast and production companies' view. Although Yoon Jungah was a solo female lead material, Son Chaeyoung outshined her. If they also added licensing it to China, the scales tipped towards Son Chaeyoung.

"Why Ms. Son Chaeyoung took a long break. Since it was about time for her to return and we didn't hear of any other projects she was interested, we futilely decided to wait a little longer. However, Ms. Yoon Jungah got wind of it."

"Ah."

"We got rejected. Though it was understandable."

It was normal for a production company to approach multiple actors, but they had nothing to say if they were caught stalling after a verbal agreement with one actor for another one. Celebrities were people who lived and died with their pride.

"The male lead we were in talks with was in the same company as Ms. Yoon Jungah, so we were rejected by both of them. We hastily tried to cast new people, but UBS put the project on hold. There is a project from another production company that had already cast their lead, and they might hand over our timeslot to them. Our production time is quite tight."

The CEO looked at me with desperate eyes as he spoke.

I could easily tell what he wanted to hear, so I decided not to waste any more time and said,

"It's not like you've completely lost your timeslot, right?"

"Yes, not yet. But it's only a matter of time at this rate. We might even lose it today."

"Even if Ms. Son Chaeyoung is interested in this project?"

The clouds over the CEO's face were completely swept away. The employees, who had been glancing at me from around the office, gathered around me. Their eyes were burning with pa.s.sion as though they saw an opportunity to revive this almost dead project. Putting their heads together, they discussed,

"If we tell them that we are in talks with Ms. Son Chaeyoung, then I think we'll be able to persuade UBS."

"Tell UBS that we'll set up a meeting with Ms. Son Chaeyoung right away so that we can stall for time."

"But the other company says they can start filming tomorrow. The UBS director hates filming during broadcasts, so he might just hand it over to whoever is ready to go. We need to show that we're ready right away…"

"Then what if we bring up a male lead for the time beings? That we are in talks with someone. If we stall for time, we can just say that talks broke down and cast some other actor."

"And who can we ask right now? It's not a supporting role but the lead. Do you have an actor you're close with?"

I watched the noisily discussing people before saying,

"If a meal just for show… How about Mr. Seo Jijoon?"

As though someone had pressed the 'mute' b.u.t.ton, sound completely stopped. Someone's head bounced up and down. A few employees turned back at me. Seeing their expressions, it seemed I didn't have to wait for their answer.

I spoke with a bright smile,

"Then let's arrange a meeting."

The Team 2 Leader's gaze alternated between Son Chaeyoung and me.

With the most dazed expression I've seen in years, he asked,

"Chaeyoung, why are you here?"

Son Chaeyoung gestured at me with her chin and smiled.

"I followed my manager."

{1} Jjamppong - Korean spicy noodle soup.

/ /

Chapter 191: A Way that Suited Me (3)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

"Manager?"

The Team 2 Leader wheezed heavily. His face was still in disbelief.

"Why is this guy your manager?!"

"I need to call him that at least temporarily. He's the one who set up this meeting."

Son Chaeyoung replied as she walked over to me. The Team 2 Leader s.n.a.t.c.hed her arm.

"Meeting? What meeting?!"

"Director s...o...b..unghwe's new project."

"You…!"

The Team 2 Leader's faced reddened even more. I felt like I might get burnt if I touched him.

I spectated whilst thinking these leisurely thoughts.

"You said you weren't going to do a project! You said you had no intention of doing another project even if someone clung to you and begged!"

"I changed my mind."

"What?"

"I'm saying I was persuaded."

Son Chaeyoung brushed the Team 2 Leader's hand off her and tapped my arm.

"He does a good job."

Then she smiled brightly. While her smile seemed to be at the epitome of innocence, but to me, it looked like her smile could ruin an entire country. However, regardless of what I thought inwardly, I made a similar smile.

Since we decided to use each other, I needed to dance to her tune.

It was easy to smile because there was something to smile at.

The Team 2 Leader's entire body trembled. If me being with Seo Jijoon was stabbing him in the back, me being with Son Chaeyoung was hacking the back of his neck with an ax. His wooden neck was chopped off as it crashed to the ground.

Then Son Chaeyoung continued to slowly saw at him.

"If there's someone who does a good job, then that's who I'll work with. Isn't that right, team leader?"

Son Chaeyoung said casually before turning around.

"I'm going in first. If there's any unsettled business, handle it amongst yourselves."

"Chaeyoung!"

"Someone might hear you, team leader."

She grew distant without looking back. Chief Lee Bongjoon stuck to the wall to make way. Chief Jo, a nervous wreck, chased after her and tried to talk to her, but he didn't last more than a few steps. The Team 2 Leader returned to his senses once Son Chaeyoung's footsteps could no longer be heard.

His unbridled anger poured down at me.

"And you still-!"

"What did I do wrong?"

I asked, tilting my head.

"Wasn't I a.s.signed to persuade Ms. Son Chaeyoung? I remember you saying good luck to me. Hmm, it seems to be going well."

On the surface.

"Or is it because of Mr. Jijoon?"

"… Did you drag Jijoon to this meeting?"

"I didn't drag him here. I asked him. Mr. Jijoon came because he owed me a favor."

To be honest, I didn't really need to ask Seo Jijoon. But I still decided to call him. It wasn't for the AA Studio employees, who were jumping up and down, or because I wanted to show off my friendship with Seo Jijoon.

It was only because I wanted to see the Team 2 Leader make that face.

"Ah, you did say you found it unpleasant when I loitered around Mr. Jijoon."

I felt so wronged by being falsely accused of backstabbing that I felt I would only feel less wronged by doing this. I was expectant of what kind of face the Team 2 Leader would make when he heard I was in a meeting with Son Chaeyoung and Seo Jijoon.

I thought that I would feel refreshed like drinking a cool soda.

"But."

I was wrong. It felt much better."

"Thinking about it, I was wondering why I needed to concern myself with all that."

"What?"

"So I don't plan to."

I added in an almost whispering voice before smiling.

The Team 2 Leader glared angrily at me. My flesh tingled like it was being burnt. His gaze was more vicious than ever. To be honest, his gaze was pleasant. It was dangerous, but it gave me a thrilling feeling.

Something similar to people who do extreme sports feel when standing on the edge of a cliff.

"Are you saying that while sober?"

"I'm sober. Rather, it looks like you've had a drink."

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you're completely audacious. Just because you were able to persuade Chaeyoung's fickle mind, you think you can look down on me?"

The Team 2 Leader's face gave off a chill.

"Do you think you can handle the aftermath?"

It sounded like a threat that he would do everything in his power to screw me over from today onwards.

Of course, I was prepared to do everything I could to screw him over as well.

I smiled brightly as I asked back,

"How about you, team leader?"

"Then goodbye."

"Yes, team leader. Please take care of us."

The AA Studio CEO held my hand and bowed multiple times. Since the CEO was acting like this, his employees' heads bowed like a wave. My waist became sore from the amount of bowing I did.

"I will discuss it with Ms. Son Chaeyoung and contact you as fast as possible."

I turned around after sending them off when the CEO grabbed my arm again.

"Team leader! Team Leader Jung. Uh, team leader."

He kept calling me by the position I hadn't yet gotten used to.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Seo Jijoon, I guess it'll be difficult to sign him too?"

He looked like he was on the verge of asking me that question throughout the meeting. It seemed his desire overpowered his hesitation. Well, the CEO wasn't the only one. The writer and director looked at Seo Jijoon and Son Chaeyoung like they were seeing a masterpiece, and the UBS general manager's smile hung up to his ears.

"I'm not managing Mr. Jijoon, but I'll ask him."

"He's an actor who came to a meeting the day you asked, who could I ask if not you? As long as it can happen, we will try to agree to the signing fee and all conditions the actor may have if possible. Please. Please talk about the project in a positive light."

I barely managed to send off the CEO, who tried to go for another two rounds. I had thought I had gotten used to dealing with persistent people from all the love calls Lee Songha receives, but this wasn't being persistent, it was begging.

After sending the AA Studio employees off, I went back inside the restaurant. It was noisy at the front. Seo Jijoon was signing autographs for the restaurant employees. They probably saw a lot of celebrities because they were located in front of a broadcast company, but they glanced at his face and body as their faces flushed, regardless of what s.e.x they were.

As soon as I walked over, Chief Lee Bongjoon grabbed my arm.

"Hey, are you all right?"

"About what?"

"About what? Hey, I knew you would clash with the team leader one day or another, but I never thought it would be a head-on collision like this. Do your guts get an upgrade when you become a team leader? You didn't even press the brakes when you collided."

Chief Lee Bongjoon said, astonished.

"The team leader will be a pain if you get on his bad side. Your life might get messed up if you're not careful."

"I had already gotten on his bad side long ago. This is better than just testing him."

Seo Jijoon even took pictures with the employees before coming over. When they broke out in sighs behind him, he waved at them. The employees couldn't approach and simply watched while stamping their feet from a distance.

"Scary b.a.s.t.a.r.d. How can you give fan service at a time like this?"

"Hyung, fan service is like speed dial. It just comes on as soon as I press it."

Seo Jijoon put his arm around Chief Lee Bongjoon's shoulder.

"Where do I poke for it to come on? Let me have some service too."

Chief Lee Bongjoon poked Seo Jijoon's side and arm. Seo Jijoon laughed. He had kept a smile on when he suddenly met the Team 2 Leader before too.

"Thank you for coming out today. It was a sudden request."

"I told you I'd pay it off with my body. You can use me whenever you need me."

Seo Jijoon said while his eyes curved into a smile.

"I was wondering when you would let me repay you."

I stared at Seo Jijoon. I wiped my lips twice before asking,

"Should we go have another drink? We can talk too."

Seo Jijoon readily nodded his head. He headed over with Chief Lee Bongjoon while scratching his stomach.

The now near empty private room was quiet. Son Chaeyoung sat alone at the empty table while reading the proposal. She looked over as though she had been waiting for the door to open yet frowned as soon as she saw Seo Jijoon.

A strange mood hung in the room. I entered and closed the door behind me.

A chief ran up the stairs like he was fleeing from something.

"Is a ghost chasing you from below?"

"No, Son Chaeyoung."

The chiefs who were on their way down turned around. To the Team 2 employees, who had suffered thanks to her, Son Chaeyoung wasn't a ghost but a disaster. One where an emergency alert had to be raised when she appeared.

"Why is she here?"

"Did she come to see the team leader? Since the CEO has already arrived, she might be here to see him."

"Do you think she came to see them? Probably came to stir up a storm."

A few Team 2 chiefs and road managers gathered at the fourth-floor lounge like they were seeking refuge. If they loitered around Son Chaeyoung, they would become perfect targets for Son Chaeyoung. Whether that her flipping out at them unexpectedly or being unfortunate enough to be a.s.signed to manage her.

"What is it? Did something happen in Team 2?"

The Team 3 Leader yawned as he walked out of his office. He was with Kim Hyunjo and Lee Kwanwoo.

One of the refugees replied,

"No, we just heard that Son Chaeyoung was downstairs."

"And here I thought something happened. How can you not manage a single actor that you have to hide in a group? Is she the plague?"

The Team 3 Leader chuckled as he inserted coins in the vending machine. His chuckles rubbed the Team 2 chiefs the wrong way. Once the Team 3 Leader bought coffee and went back to his office, the Team 2 chiefs expressed their dissatisfaction at Kim Hyunjo and Lee Kwanwoo, who remained.

"It seems the Team 3 Leader has forgotten because there hadn't been any progress but isn't Jung Sunwoo the one who should be managing Son Chaeyoung?"

The chief with the most experience ridiculed,

"I wonder what he's doing?"

Jealousy, envy, and dislike flashed in his eyes.

With him as the start, the others began to join in.

"Isn't he just counting the days after giving up? He can't give a favorable impression if he quits immediately after telling the CEO he could do it."

"Screw that. Rather than a favorable impression, I heard he annoyed Son Chaeyoung even more."

"There are many outside our company who think that Jung Sunwoo is Son Chaeyoung's new chief."

"I think Lee Janghyun is setting up her schedule. Jung Sunwoo's just taking all the credit."

Someone mumbled that they wished Son Chaeyoung stirred up a storm over there. It was mixed with malicious expectations. Others commented on how he would probably grab the CEO's legs and beg to quit after experiencing that.

Although they were whispering to each other, it wasn't so quiet that Kim Hyunjo and Lee Kwanwoo couldn't hear them. Kim Hyunjo frowned deeply. Even Lee Kwanwoo, who had an innocent appearance with his slightly drooping eyes, creased his brows.

Kim Hyunjo uncrossed his arms and approached the Team 2 chiefs.

"Shouldn't you watch what you say? He's a team leader now."

"Well, he needs to act like one to be one."

An experienced chief grumbled when the elevator opened. The people who looked over out of habit became shocked like they were hit by a bolt out of the blue. It was the human disaster they had tried to avoid, Son Chaeyoung.

Why did she come to the fourth floor instead of the Team 2 Leader or the CEO's office? Did she come to the lounge to rest? Did they come to the wrong refugee shelter? The Team 2 chiefs and road managers hastily exchanged quiet glances.

However, it was for naught. Son Chaeyoung wasn't interested in them. Holding a short box in her arms, she took a look around the office. Then she walked over to Kim Hyunjo.

"Where is he?"

"… Who? Sunwoo?"

"Who else would I be here for?"

Son Chaeyoung said indifferently. Lee Kwanwoo quickly made a call when Kim Hyunjo gave him a look. Son Chaeyoung sat alone at a table in the lounge until Jung Sunwoo, who had been sleeping in the sleeping quarters, arrived.

Kim Hyunjo and Lee Kwanwoo were sitting in the table next to her with dazed expressions. Even the Team 3 Leader had come out of his office.

The Team 2 chiefs, who had been about to quietly leave, sat their b.u.t.ts back down. Their gazes alternated between Son Chaeyoung and the elevator doors. They looked like they couldn't wait to see what they would talk about, no, what would happen once they met.

A few quickly took out their phones and told their colleagues the news. Their phones vibrated continuously with replies.

Soon, the number displayed on the elevators' display panel stopped at four.

Jung Sunwoo got off while brushing his ruffled hair. He looked around with still drowsy eyes before going over to Son Chaeyoung. He then sat down in front of her.

"Why did you come so early? We still have some time before the meeting with the CEO."

"I'm not going in there. You just go in and talk."

"If you aren't going to the meeting, why did you come?"

"I wanted to give you something."

Their conversation with extremely normal. However, it wasn't to the people spectating. It was stranger because it was normal. The sight in front of them was more surreal than one where scripts and swears were hurled.

The people's eyes concentrated as they tried to find the hidden trap.

Son Chaeyoung pushed the boxes placed on the table over to Jung Sunwoo. Jung Sunwoo opened the box with an odd look. At the same time, the others discovered something even weirder than a trap. Inside the box was an a.s.sortment of donuts, covered in chocolate and syrup.

"What is this?"

Jung Sunwoo asked as he stared down at the box.

"I bought one because I thought of you. For you to eat."

"You came to give me this?"

He observed her with a gaze that read, 'Are you high?'

Son Chaeyoung smiled brightly as she replied,

"I'm the type to takes care of my people."

A silent tsunami swept the lounge. It seemed someone had dropped their coffee as sounds of water splattering on the floor could be heard. While the Team 2 chiefs sat there at a loss for words, their phones continuously vibrated.

Requests for what was going on, what kind of storm Son Chaeyoung was stirring, and even for live details poured in.

Soon, the dazed Team 2 chiefs went back to the second floor with stunned expressions.

With a donut in one hand.

Jung Sunwoo succeeded in persuading Son Chaeyoung. Son Chaeyoung brought over donuts. And the phrase 'my people' came out of Son Chaeyoung's mouth. The rumors spread like wildfire to the bas.e.m.e.nt and even up to the CEO's office.

This issue set the company in an uproar.

As soon as Son Chaeyoung made her decision, everything proceeded rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, we had multiple meetings with AA Studio, and UBS. Although we hadn't yet signed, UBS released an articled about how Son Chaeyoung was positively examining a UBS drama for her return.

However, Son Chaeyoung's article didn't garner as much attention as they antic.i.p.ated. It would be the same even if it wasn't Son Chaeyoung. At some point, social media, online communities, and entertainment reporters shifted their attention to one place.

The newly released Love Again.

And the new actor, Song Inho.

A wave that no one antic.i.p.ated surged.

/ /