Top Management

Chapter 226

At some point, this was bound to happen.

There are entertainers who set roots in a company, but there are many who leave as soon as their contracts end. Someday, I might see someone I consider family leave too.

Then, I shook off the messy thoughts and said, Ill take care of Mr. Joowons photos.

I approached a table draped with an exotic canopy curtain. In contrast to the noisy Neptune and Prettygirl members, this side was quietly emptying their glasses.

Why is it so quiet here? Are you shy?

Ah, hyung! Manager!

Song Inho struggled to his feet, his neck flushed with how much he had drunk. The sight of a drunken Song Inho crawling on the floor of my office apartment flashed through my mind.

Stop drinking.

Me? Im fine now?

Youre not fine. Give it here.

With a flick of my hand, Song Inho grumbled as he handed over his glass.

It just got quiet here. You seem tired, hyung.

Seo Jijoon, languidly stretched out, pointed in one direction. Nam Joyoon was half-closing his eyes, resting his arm on the sofas armrest.

The atmosphere was particularly tough to breach today.

He must be trying his best to stay awake.

It must be exhausting, especially since it was his first time being so busy with a schedule, and his body had shrunk considerably to fit the role in City Jungle. Now that his busy schedule was over, it was time to re-plan his diet.

Looking for his manager, Kim Hyunsup, I said, We should head in soon. Oh, and Mr. Joowon, make sure to send the photos you took today to the PR team before posting them on SNS, just in case.

Got it. Manager, lets take a photo together.

Im Joowon got up, holding a beer bottle and a phone. He too had drunk quite a bit. His pale eyes were deeply soaked in alcohol. Due to the dim lighting, or maybe because he was naturally sensitive, his features seemed even more delicate.

As I took his bottle away and snapped a few photos.

Manager.

Seo Jijoon, who was watching, spoke up.

Shall I get you a car?

A car?

Suddenly, why?

Thanks to City Jungle, I struck gold.

Ah. Right.

Seo Jijoon had invested 500 million won in City Jungle.

Hey, you should buy me even a mini car.

Director Lee Bongjoon came running over.

Youre driving my car anyway, hyung.

But is your car and my car the same?

My car is your car. Why are you even distinguishing between yours and mine?

Hey, thats!

Okay, pick whatever you want.

After chattering with Director Lee Bongjoon for a while, Seo Jijoon turned back to me.

And manager. From now on, if the work is good, Ill take any genre or role.

Why did you suddenly change your mind?

Tired of playing roles like a second-generation chaebol or a boss in a suit, he had been rejecting every role that came his way.

I regretted it after watching City Jungle.

Regret?

I should have shown that I wanted it too.

Seo Jijoon looked back at Nam Joyoon as he spoke.

I actually wanted it.

You said you werent interested before?

That was just because the mood was almost set, and I was pretending to be generous.

He shrugged lightly.

If Seo Jijoon had been more proactive, it might have been different. Even if Director Oh Hyunkyung had picked Nam Joyoon for casting, the production company and investment distribution company might have leaned towards Seo Jijoon.

If it had been a situation where two of my actors were competing for the same role.

I wanted to do City Jungle too.

Song Inho, his speech slurred, chimed in.

I wanted a supporting role so I even looked for auditions, but Director Oh Hyunkyung immediately rejected me.

Why?

At Seo Jijoons question, Song Inho scratched his chin, embarrassed.

My face, it stands out too much.

Ah. Too handsome?

Seo Jijoon teased Song Inho playfully as he chuckled.

Meanwhile, Im Joowon, clutching a beer bottle, said,

Theres someone here whos won an award in Cannes, someone who won a newcomer award with their debut work, and a Hallyu star who struck rich with wise investments. Im the only one with nothing. Manager, Im the most desperate, me.

He staggered, pounding on his chest like a child. His face petulantly showing that he was in a bad mood.

Then

 he suddenly looked at me.

If theres a good work, I can really do well too.

His voice was still soaked in alcohol, but his eyes were blazing with thirst.

"I was talking about the drama audition I secured. I'm preparing with the lesson teacher, but it feels like somethings lacking. I heard that when Lee Songha was preparing for her first audition, the team leader had reviewed the script with her..."

"Oh, let's do a reading then."

Upon hearing the ready agreement, Jeong Jaei's face finally relaxed into a smile.

"Thank you."

"Its only natural."

As he mentally flipped through his calendar to find a day to spare, he said to Lee Taehui.

"Taehui, let's meet next week too. We'll talk about the album."

Im Seoyoung slammed her cup down on the table and exaggeratedly jutted her chin.

"Spend lots on the album! Dont skimp! We've worked like oxen this year and made a lot of money!"

"Yeah, that moneys all going out. Next year we'll even hold a concert."

No sooner had he mentioned the concert than Im Seoyoung screamed. Her eyes widened with fervor, and the previously slumped Lee Taehui suddenly looked human again.

"Hey! LJ!"

Im Seoyoung charged like a dump truck, crashing into LJ.

"We're holding a concert!"

"...I almost dropped my phone!"

LJ snapped back, anger fleeting as he looked down at the clamoring Im Seoyoung, shaking his head slowly. Her grip caused him to sway back and forth.

Lee Taehui, who had quickly emptied his glass, spoke up.

"But if were preparing a new album and a concert together, Songha..."

His gaze lowered to the sleeping Lee Songha, mixed with concern.

"We'll try to keep the schedule manageable. Dont worry."

"She doesnt show it even if its tough... And since returning from Cannes, she seems a bit different."

"Different?"

"She seems more serious. And somewhat unfamiliar."

His long fingers rubbed against an empty glass.

"So, team leader, I think we need to start running too. Even if we can't catch up to Songha, we shouldn't fall too far behind."

With that, Lee Taehui gave a helpless smile.

A suitable sense of responsibility and pressure can indeed become fuel.

The shadow-like desire and expectations that follow my gaze seem to stack up steadily. I can keep climbing with this. To greater success and more glory.

I took a deep breath. A gentle breeze blew in from somewhere.

Even the fatigue felt pleasantly refreshing tonight.

***

The mood was winding down.

Nam Joyoon was the first to leave, and Song Inho, who lived with his parents, started to sneak glances before being dragged away by his manager.

Seo Jijoon rubbed his neck tiredly.

"Shall we head out too?"

As he turned to look for Manager Lee Bongjoon,

Im Joowon blurted out unexpectedly.

"But you should have asked for it, right?"

"Huh?"

"You seemed interested in 'City Jungle.' Why didnt you just ask for it?"

Ah, and Seo Jijoon chuckled lightly.

"When I looked at the scenario, the casting was already confirmed. So, I gave up. I heard that the director had even sent a personal handwritten letter to Mr. Nam Joyoon."

"If you had said you wanted it, the situation might have changed."

"I didnt want to snatch it away from someone else."

"Really? I heard some flashy rumors about your former team leader, Manager Lee Jangyeop, when you worked with him."

Im Joowon laughed with a snicker.

"That's a work that W&U has meticulously nurtured. It seems he thrived on a path cleared of obstacles, walking only on a carpet of flowers laid down for him. Now that hes risen, he doesnt want to snatch away others' opportunities?"

"...So, he's grown that much, and now he doesnt want to act that way anymore."

Seo Jijoon's smile faded.

Im Joowon smiled again.

"Life must be easy for you, overflowing with leisure. While others are desperately scrambling."

"Im Joowon, it seems you're quite drunk."

"Im not drunk."

"Ah... is that so?"

Seo Jijoon stood up from the sofa, moving so close to Im Joowon that his legs touched his knees as he looked down. Startled, Im Joowon slightly shrugged his shoulders and met his gaze.

"So, you're picking a fight with me while sober?"

***

Lee Songha was nodding off on the sofa, gradually leaning sideways. Lee Taehui quickly caught her from falling and set her upright again.

"Songha, wake up. Lets go home."

"Where is this...?"

"Shes not in her right mind. Just leave her, Ill carry her."

LJ clicked his tongue, while Im Seoyoung lifted sofa cushions, checking for any left items, causing a commotion.

When Lee Songha blinked

 her stiff eyes awake,

"Um... senior."

Jeong Jaei approached cautiously.

"Could I possibly borrow a drama script just for a moment?"

"A script?"

"I have a drama audition, and my lesson teacher said it would be good to see how you analyzed the script. If its alright..."

"Its fine."

Lee Songha quickly agreed, then added,

"If you need any more help."

"No, thank you! I just need to keep practicing, and not get nervous at the audition. Fortunately, the team leader agreed to look over the reading..."

Lee Songha hesitated.

"When?"

***

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I'm telling you, its true! I saw his face while checking the tickets. I was really surprised."

The cinema employee whispered excitedly. A late-arriving colleague asked with a puzzled face.

"Whats up? What happened?"

"Theres someone wearing a hat in Theater 9, Row J. Thats Son Chaeyoung."

The employee's eyes widened.

"Son Chaeyoung? The actor?"

"Yeah. Amazing, right?"

"You sure you saw right?"

"How could there be two people with that face in the world?"

Theater 9 was showing 'City Jungle.'

Son Chaeyoung sat alone in the back row corner seat, legs crossed, arms folded. For two hours, she watched Lee Songha's face, Lee Songha's voice, Lee Songha's acting on the screen.

"..."

As the movie ended and the auditorium emptied, the melancholic insert song accompanied the long credits rolling up. She remained, gazing indifferently at the screen.

As if ready to submerge into it.

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