Top Management Chapter 143-144

Chapter 143: Spring, the Season of Harvest (4)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

His wobbling head pressed against the beer bottle.

"Seeing Seo Jijoon sunbae and Chief Lee stick together like that!"

"Made you envious?"

"That's right! I was so envious I felt like I would cry. I feel like I'm suffocating whenever I go meet the team leader. My team leader. Than my homeroom teacher in my last year of high school!"

"Your team leader is scarier?"

"How do you know me so well? Can you hear my thoughts?"

"Yeah."

Since you've been saying the same thing over and over again.

Looking at the time, it was getting late. It had already been an hour since Song Inho has been crawling around on my rug. He's even started rolling on it now. I couldn't even get off my sofa with him flailing his long limbs around.

Song Inho rolled over to me and grabbed my ankle.

He looked up at me like a puppy and mumbled,

"I wish you were my manager."

Something surged inside me.

I barely managed to contain it.

I shook him off, but he came back and held my ankle again like it was a lifeline. I stood still as I watched him go on and on about me being his manager in a teary voice.

It felt like a trial whenever I saw him.

It started ever since he handed me the independent film scenario that day.

Looking back, I had struggled with temptation so much that it was a wonder that I could hold back. My throat felt like it was burning. I had thought about taking it for myself countless times.

Since he was also filming the movie the Team 2 Leader had got for him, it was unknown which movie Song Inho got an award for, but the independent film had seemed like an unscratched lotto ticket at that time.

If I wasn't so cautious that I might stray onto the wrong path and become a piece of trash…

If I hadn't become confident in Nam Joyoon and Lee Songha's success after seeing them try so hard.

I might have s.n.a.t.c.hed that scenario away. I was that tempted.

After overcoming the temptation of the scenario, I was now tempted in the actor known as Song Inho.

The result of which was in front of me right now. I lured him in. I made it so that he would say, 'I wish hyung was my manager,' out of his own volition.

I was waiting for the right moment. If I wanted, I could do it right now.

I could s.n.a.t.c.h the actor, Song Inho, from the Team 2 Leader.

However, a thought kept crossing my mind.

Song Inho was troubled because of the Team 2 Leader. And the fact that the Team 2 Leader acted against Nam Joyoon in the shadows. The strained relations.h.i.+p between the Team 2 Leader and me. What would I think if I didn't have these circ.u.mstances that enhanced my temptation?

Would I still be able to s.n.a.t.c.h Song Inho for myself?

"Hyung, I have a shoot tomorrow…"

"I'll wake you up early so sleep. Don't throw up after rolling around everywhere."

"I want to work with you."

Soon.

I unconsciously mumbled just as my doorbell rang.

I wasn't expecting anyone. I pushed Song Inho to the side and opened the door.

The first thing I saw was a helmet. A helmet the size of a rice cooker that race car drivers would wear. Seeing that the person's leather pants wrapped around their long, slender legs, it was a woman. Her gloved hand was holding an almost bursting convenience store bag.

The woman held the bag out. Bottles clinked inside.

"It's a bribe."

The moment I thought her voice was familiar, she flipped up her helmet visor.

Lee Taehee's exhausted face was revealed underneath.

"Did you come alone? How did you get here?"

"I rode the scooter."

Lee Taehee said while shaking her helmet.

"Scooter?"

"It's Seoyoung's. I made sure to be careful of any reporters along the way. I even disguised myself with LJ's clothes."

"No, reporters aside, it's good that you came here in one piece."

Truly.

I led Lee Taehee to the sofa and asked,

"If you needed something, you should have called. And what's all this alcohol? Bribe?"

"I have a request."

Lee Taehee fumbled through her leather pants.

Then she stopped.

"What's that?"

Her gaze was locked on a curtain on the other side of the living room.

To be precise, her gaze was locked onto Song Inho's feet, which were poking out from beneath the curtain.

And here I thought he went to the bathroom.

"A thief?"

"No. What are you doing in there?"

I pulled the curtain aside, and Song Inho slowly walked out.

"I thought the team leader had come to take me away."

"Are you some runaway slave?"

When I thought about the Team 2 Leader bursting into my home, I felt nauseous with no need for alcohol.

As soon as he came out of the curtain, Song Inho got on his knees and greeted Lee Taehee before rolling around again. Lee Taehee just stared at him.

"Him being here is a secret. The situation is a bit complicated."

"Okay. And me being here is a secret as well. Especially to Songha."

"Yeah, okay. What is it you wanted to request?"

Lee Taehee handed me a USB drive.

"These are the songs I've been working on until now."

"The one for the full alb.u.m?"

"Yes. I made three songs, but I wanted you to listen to them first."

While I was setting up my laptop, Lee Taehee placed the alcohol she had bought on top of the table. Then she cracked open a rice wine once I told her I would drive her home.

Song Inho followed suit by bringing an empty beer bottle to his lips. What a sight.

I inserted the USB drive. While I looked for the files, I asked,

"If it was a request like this, you could have asked me anytime. Why did you come alone at night?"

"The girls and even the company employees are all waiting for me to finish my songs. Once they are handed over to the Audio and Recording Team and are approved, we'll start preparing for the alb.u.m right away. That's why I wanted to hide it."

Lee Taehee calmly replied.

"If you don't like it after listening to them, I wish you would remove them from the alb.u.m."

"What?"

I turned around before playing her songs.

Lee Taehee wiped her mouth after gulping down the rice wine.

"Neptune is fine right now. But I don't know if it'll continue to be fine in the future."

"Did you hear some bad rumors?"

It has now been four years since Neptune debuted, and there were a lot of discussions about what to do amongst the people up top. Lee Taehee, Im Seoyoung, and LJ were all working hard to find their place, but Lee Songha was just too far ahead.

It was unfortunate, but at some point, some people began calling them 'Lee Songha's group'.

"There's a limit to a one-man team. Even teams that are like family to each other break up due to issues or business. That might happen to us if our next alb.u.m flops. It needs to be a success, but I don't know if that'll be the case with my songs. So…"

Lee Taehee looked at me with eyes full of trust.

Her gaze fell heavily on my shoulders.

"I hoped that you could listen to them first. To see how they are."

"I think this song will be a hit. It's the best song I've heard in my life!"

Song Inho admired when I played the first song.

"This, this is the song of my life. It's so good!"

Song Inho danced like an inflatable tube dancer with a beer bottle in hand when he heard the second song.

On the third song, he teared up and began shouting Lee Taehee's name. Even with such a devoted fan, Lee Taehee didn't take her eyes off me while holding the rice wine bottle like she was going to crush it.

Once the songs ended, the living room became silent.

Lee Taehee waited a moment before asking,

"How were they?"

"Hmm, let me wash my face first. Let's talk once I clear up my mind."

I entered the bathroom with Lee Taehee's gaze still fixated on me.

I turned on the faucet and walked in circled.

I had no idea which song would be successful.

To be honest, I had some confidence beforehand since Royal Family and Alive were heading towards success through my own judgment, not from seeing the future. I had thought that I had a decent discerning eye now.

d.a.m.n it. I didn't know which of the three songs was the best.

Thinking back, I was confident that Satellite would take first place because I had seen the future.

What should I say to her?

Should I tell her I didn't know?

Although her gaze was full of firm belief, without a hint from the future, I was no different from one of those fortune tellers. The Audio and Recording Team, who were experts at this stuff, and the Team 3 Leader would know much more about this than me.

The music director was the one who rightly predicted Lee Taehee's Royal Family OST would be a success.

First, I should let Kim Hyunjo and other employees listen to her songs first…

But, even if Lee Taehee's songs were chosen in the end, if the alb.u.m flops…

Lee Taehee's concerns weren't completely unfounded.

Lee Songha was definitely pulling Neptune up, but if the difference between her and the other members continued to grow like this, there was a likely chance some conflict would break out, whether it was within the team or in their fandom.

Team 3 had multiple meetings regarding this exact issue. How could we make Neptune a more robust team? How could we increase the other members' presence in the group, instead of it becoming 'Lee Songha's group'?

There was no doubt that their full alb.u.m would either greatly improve or degrade their current situation.

I would have no other qualms if I could see the future at a time like this.

I held onto the cold sink and looked in the mirror. I saw a frowning face.

I hadn't seen a future for Royal Family or Alive either.

Can't you help me just this once?

The tap closed. Lee Taehee and Song Inho, who were both staring at the bathroom with bottles in hand, held their breaths. However, the tap began flowing again. They let out their breaths and exchanged glances.

"Umm, sunbae."

"Me?"

Song Inho nodded his head in a big motion as he said,

"If the chief, I mean, hyung says they aren't good, then are you really going to give up on them? It must have been hard to produce three songs."

"The success of the alb.u.m is more important."

Lee Taehee replied without hesitation.

Song Inho opened and closed his mouth before mumbling,

"Amazing. You must really trust him a lot."

"His judgment has never been wrong when making important decisions."

"Well, since you've seen him work all along. I'll also think something will be a success if he says it will. I showed him an independent film scenario before, and at that time, he said…"

Song Inho stood up, a little tilted, as he attempted to imitate him,

"It looks really good to me. Enough that I want to steal it."

"Ah."

"Then he said that he would help out whenever I came upon any difficulties while filming. That's why I've been coming here in secret. My team leader hates him. It'll be a big problem if he finds out. But if I just stay there, I feel like I'm going to suffocate-!"

Song Inho suddenly got up and flopped onto the sofa.

So abruptly that Lee Taehee flinched.

He s.n.a.t.c.hed the cus.h.i.+on Lee Taehee was leaning against and hugged it tightly.

"I'm envious of Neptune sunbaes and Nam Joyoon sunbae, who joined the company recently. I'm envious of all of you. I wish hyung was my manager too. I can't even call him my manager!"

Song Inho shouted while rolling on the rug.

His eyes, which burned with fighting spirit, became teary again.

Seeing this strange sight, Lee Taehee laughed a little.

"If Songha learns about this, she'll order a ton of late night snacks."

"Pardon?"

"No, you just made me think of someone."

Lee Taehee pointed to the bottles placed on the table.

"Stop crying and have a drink."

"You too, sunbae."

Soon, two bottles clinked together.

"I hope we get to work together sometime. With oppa."

"I hope so too. Though it's an empty dream. It won't happen anyways."

Song Inho said with one hand holding the cus.h.i.+on and the other holding the bottle.

"Hyung is a chief, and the team leader is a team leader."

"You seem very busy these days, chief."

A man with an easygoing appearance said as he entered carrying coffee.

"You must have no time now that both the movie and drama are huge hits"

"I can always make time for you no matter how busy I am."

He was Producer Choi Hongsun, who cast Im Seoyoung and LJ as regular cast members on an IBC entertainment program. Familiar producers, production a.s.sistants, and writers entered the meeting room behind him.

I received my cup of coffee while examining their expressions.

They had suddenly called me saying that they needed to meet me urgently so I was worried the girls were being kicked off, but that didn't seem to be the case seeing as they weren't avoiding my gaze.

What a relief.

I would have had a tough time thinking about what to do if it was the worst case scenario.

"But what was the important thing you wanted to discuss?"

"Ah, that. It's about our spring restructuring."

I almost poured steaming coffee down my throat.

Something felt off. Why was he bringing that up?

Was the program getting canceled? No, it wasn't like their ratings were bad.

Were they changing their members?

"Will something change during the restructuring?"

"Something has to. Even though our program is constantly getting good ratings, we aren't very topical. The director keeps bringing that point up as well."

After seeing my expression, the producer quickly added,

"Ah, Seoyoung and LJ are really doing a good job. The other members are doing their best for the program as well, but we just aren't trendy. It's all because the production team's plans are lacking."

He was being long-winded.

The way the staff glanced at me made me feel uneasy.

I thought about a few terms I could add in case they wanted to boot Im Seoyoung and LJ.

"That's why we plan on changing the format and trying a long-term project."

"… A long-term project?"

The producer's dark face abruptly leaned forward.

"And we were wondering if you could lend a hand with that."

/ /

Chapter 144: Spring, the Season of Harvest (5)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

It was great that they weren't going to kick them off the show.

But an entertainment show, huh?

The two entertainment shows I appeared on briefly crossed my mind. My throat began to burn. Should I say it's like having a stress disorder after a trauma? Those experiences, especially the last one, left a lasting impression on my mind.

I drank my coffee with a sour expression when Producer Choi tried to calm my worries by saying,

"It's not a talk show. There aren't any missions or games like PBS's 'From Now On, We're'. If we were planning something like that, we wouldn't call it a long-term project."

It was neither a game or talk show?

"Then what…"

"Writer Hw.a.n.g, the project proposal please!"

The main writer handed him the proposal as if she had been waiting for his signal.

'Good Friends'

The large program logo was the first thing to catch my eye.

Then the subt.i.tle below it.

"Web drama collab?"

"Yes, there have been all sorts of collaborative projects in the entertainment industry until now. Chef + Food Eating collaboration, collaborations with sports stars, a collaboration with singers for a concert. These all come up from time to time."

"That's true."

"That's why we want to try a web drama collaboration."

Turning over the t.i.tle page, the proposal was neatly organized into their objectives, methodology, details, and examples. I could immediately tell this wasn't something they suddenly came up with overnight. The producer supplemented my reading with explanations as I flipped through the proposal.

"The members will personally create their own one-episode web drama, and it'll even be uploaded onto the Web."

"The members will create their own?"

"Ah, of course, they have to ask professionals for help for things like directing, filming, and editing. We also plan on having them ask actors to make cameo appearances as well."

The producer's eyes particularly s.h.i.+ned when he mentioned cameo appearances.

Producer Choi continued,

"Our members are made up of comedians, idols, musical actors, and others so they'll be able to partic.i.p.ate in the web drama in various ways. They may take up actual roles after learning a few things from actors making cameo appearances or even since the OST."

That was true. If it was a success.

I took my eyes off the proposal and asked,

"So why do you need me, a manager, for this project?"

Did they want me to ask Lee Songha or other W&U actors to make cameo appearances?

As soon as I thought this, the main writer replied with a smile,

"We wanted to ask you to make a cameo appearance."

"For Songha?"

"No, you, Chief Jung."

I could sort of guess what kind of face I was making right now seeing as a crack appeared in the main writer's smile.

"It's a joke. Just a joke."

"… It is, isn't it? I was surprised there."

"Same here."

The main writer awkwardly placed her hand on her chest.

"It seems you really hate that idea. And here I was thinking that you had some aspirations to act."

"None at all."

"Ah, I just a.s.sumed due to your enthusiastic performance with Ms. Son Chaeyoung during the first episode of Royal Family."

"I had a hard time because of that. I can't drink c.o.c.ktails since that incident."

The reactions from appearing on an entertainment show and a drama were completely different.

After it aired, I received so many call and texts from my family, relatives, and even those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds I call friends. It also spread online. Sometimes, a screenshot or GIF would suddenly appear when I'm monitoring Neptune on the internet. Every time I saw it, it felt like s.p.a.ce and time was crumbling.

I couldn't do it again.

"We plan on allowing viewers to submit their own scenarios."

Producer Choi went back to the point.

"The viewers?"

"We think it'll increase our chances at becoming trendy if viewer partic.i.p.ation increases. We plan on inviting viewers to submit their own one-episode scenarios then showing them to our members and professionals to decide which ones to do."

The main writer blinked in an exaggerated fas.h.i.+on and added,

"Would you help us with deciding?"

"Royal Family pa.s.sed 20% ratings!"

A hand slammed onto the table. The bottles on top shook dangerously.

"d.a.m.n it, I wrote 30 articles on this already! I'm sick and tired of it."

"Alive for me! I have to break down news releases their marketing team provides us into multiple articles. I sick and tired of it too."

"Are you trying to hold a candle to the sun? There are still people writing articles about it here."

A reporter with sunken cheeks said. He was tapping nonstop on his laptop on his lap. The other reporters who had gathered in the street vendor to exchange information secretly took glances at his screen.

"You're not writing an exclusive, right? Let's not screw each other over now."

"What exclusive? I'm just copy-pasting Alive's press release. Looking on social media, it seems someone was a complete scene-stealer, but I didn't have the time to investigate so I'm just writing down the review from the screening. I have to write one about Royal Family after this. G.o.d d.a.m.n it."

"Everyone seems to be writing about the same thing, huh?"

"This just shows how incredible Royal Family and Alive are."

A female reporter said while gnawing on a piece of stir-fried cartilage.

"And Lee Songha, who has her hands in both projects, is really amazing."

"No, that's not it."

A thin man replied, pausing from writing his article.

"The truly amazing person is Chief Jung Sunwoo. He's the one who chose both of them."

This was an interesting topic for the reporters.

The table instantly became noisy.

"Let's see. First, it's a fact that Next K-Star had such stellar ratings that it became a seasonal show."

"Nothing more to say about Cat Guardian Ghost."

"He also made Neptune's mini-alb.u.m a hit. By pus.h.i.+ng for Lee Taehee's song to boot."

"Ah, even entertainment shows. The New Year's special and 'Now, We're'. Both jumped up the real-time rankings when it aired. I almost rubbed my fingerprints off writing articles that time."

"Im Seoyoung and LJ's entertainment show is also doing better than average."

"Royal Family is a meghit. Alive is now a matter of whether or not ten million people will see it. There were probably a ton of reporters ready to knock him down a peg if either one of them flopped, but they can't say anything now."

Every time someone made a point, the reporters made exhausted faces.

"Incredible. He's had no failures so far."

"Just what's his secret? I'm so curious!"

"I actually looked into it a little."

A female reporter with thick makeup joined in. Everyone's gazes landed on her.

"I normally don't believe in superst.i.tions, but I went to see a shaman to write an article about Chief Jung. He said that Chief Jung is definitely a head shaman. Apparently, it hasn't been long since he's been blessed so he has contact with the G.o.ds or something?"

"Did you actually put that in an article?"

"I did. And people called me a 'trash journalist' for it."

The other reporters chuckled.

"If he could see what projects will be a success, then why would he work in this industry? He would go straight to Hollywood. W&U have been sending actors to Hollywood, but they've been getting nowhere for years."

"But then what is his secret? Is it really luck? Or he has a disgustingly sharp eye for things?"

"But whether it's luck or skill, how does he cope with all this pressure?"

The thin man said with a frown.

"Since they've seen the results with their own eyes, W&U must at least hear his opinion on things. As for Neptune, they must have complete trust in him."

"Probably?"

"There are also a lot of people who blindly have high hopes, calling him 'Midas's Hand', and conversely, there are a ton of people waiting for him to fail. d.a.m.n it, if I was him, I probably won't even be able to go to the bathroom from all the pressure."

"Especially now I bet. Because of Neptune's next full alb.u.m."

The female reporter said while rubbing her lips.

"From what I know, Neptune's fandom is at a critical state."

"Neptune! Hey, is Neptune on standby?"

The producer grabbed a floor director and asked after coming out of the broadcasting van.

"Yes, everyone's on standby except for Lee Songha."

"How can you forget about Lee Songha! She's the highlight! A ton of people are going to be watching the live broadcast because we wrote her name in huge letters in the preview, and people gathering in the square right now have been chanting Lee Songha's name! It'll be a huge problem if she's not there!"

"They said that they'll come here right away as soon as they arrive in Incheon Airport. They didn't get a wink of sleep due to their schedule in China and are coming here without rest…"

"Why did the writers set such a tight schedule?"

"It's because we barely managed to get even this when Neptune's company kept refusing. Still, the director was really happy that we were able to get Neptune, Lee Songha on the list."

"Ah, d.a.m.n it. Call them again and ask how much longer they'll take!"

After the producer and floor director went their separate ways, a university student with a buzz cut moved from behind the broadcasting van. The place was bustling with people holding cameras and cheering items. They were fans waiting to see the singers.

The student with the buzz cut joined the group of Neptune fans on the side.

"I heard on the way here, but Songha is apparently coming here without sleeping due to her schedule in China."

These words were like adding fuel to a fire.

"She must have it tough going back and forth from China, she should take a break from Neptune."

"Excuse me, Songha's a member of Neptune."

A few Neptune fans and Lee Songha's personal fans glared at each other.

The quarrel soon heated up.

"No, to be honest, what help is Neptune to Songha?"

"You can't say that! Neptune members are taking losses by letting Songha do her own thing. If not, they probably have appeared in many events and their alb.u.m might already be out. Their next alb.u.m keeps getting pushed back because of Songha!"

"Why are you trying to blame it all on her? Lee Taehee still hasn't finished her song!"

"Also, the other members are the ones who urgently need the alb.u.m, it doesn't matter to Songha. She'll have a lot of work to do if they start recording and practicing ch.o.r.eography. If the alb.u.m flops, then she'll have wasted her precious time and effort!"

"That's right. It's better if she stars in a drama or movie in that time!"

"I'm speechless. Are you saying she should go do her own thing regardless of being in a team or not?"

"If you think Songha is interfering with Neptune, then you should complain to W&U! Ask them to take Songha out of Neptune!"

"Are you joking? The members are getting along fine so why are you telling them to take out Songha?"

"How do you know if they are getting along well or not?"

"I can tell they are close just by the photos they upload on the official social media accounts."

"Those photos are for the media. It could be that Songha wants to leave, but the other members aren't letting her! They live together, and Songha is the youngest out of them. How do you know she's not being mistreated?!"

"Hey! How dare you make a.s.sumptions with no evidence! Are you done talking?"

"I'm not done! I have tons to say!"

They started flinging curses at each other in the end. While both sides were fighting intensely, other fans were clicking their tongue a few steps away. They held planet-shaped cheer sticks and huge cameras. They were the first-generation Tritons, Neptune's official fan club.

A large, athletic man mumbled,

"What a s.h.i.+tstorm."

"I know, right? It seems there are more crazies than usual because this is an outdoor performance."

A woman with a little baby fat left on her cheeks nodded.

Another member asked with a dazed face,

"Why are they acting like that? It's been a while since I've come out due to exams so it's hard to adjust."

"It's my first time seeing any of them. Why did such an aggravating crowd stick to Neptune?"

"SonghEating{1} unni, are they part of our fandom?"

"They are new members who came on thanks to Royal Family."

SonghEating, who was a devoted fan, sighed.

"Neptune's fanbase grew as Songha's personal fanbase grew, but as the fanbase grows so do the number of haters. They are more like haters than fans. There are a quite a few people squabbling on the official page so the mood's a bit off these days."

"Umm, but…"

A man wearing horn-rimmed gla.s.ses said with an uneasy expression,

"Our members don't really have a bad relations.h.i.+p or anything, right?"

"I'm also worried there might be trouble because Songha suddenly became so popular on her own."

"The fandom will become stable once their alb.u.m comes out and they are performing as a group again."

SonghEating still glanced at the fighting people.

One person shouted in a fit of anger,

"If you want to kick Lee Songha out of the group, then do it! But you need to leave Chief Jung Sunwoo behind!"

"Chief Jung is Songha's manager!"

"What a joke! He's been Neptune's manager from the start!"

"Then let's split it 50-50!"

As the commotion grew even louder, a writer rushed over with a security guard.

"Why is it so loud here?"

"I think they are Neptune's fans?"

"It'll be a problem if they are like that until the live broadcast. We should call Neptune's man!"

"Ms. Writer!"

SonghEating quickly came over.

"I'm from Neptune's fan club. I'm very sorry for the loud commotion, but it'll quiet down soon!"

"It'll quiet down?"

The writer and security guard looked over at the same time. The fight was only intensifying. It looked like it might become physical as even fans and regular people around them started to take notice.

"I don't think they'll quiet down?"

"No! If you wait a little longer, they'll quiet down like a school bell ring- Oh!"

SonghEating, who had been calmly explaining, suddenly brightened.

"Chief Jung has arrived!"

A white minivan was entering the square's parking lot.

{1} The nickname of the woman with a little baby fat left on her cheeks. Mentioned in a couple chapters previously.

/ /