Chapter 159 (1/2)

Chapter 159: Celebrities Live Off their Image (2)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

{TL/N: I guess I should say this chapter gets a little dark.}

”I sincerely apologize for this embarra.s.sing incident.”

I was waiting for General Manager Jo in the lobby of IBC.

Producer Choi Byungsoo quietly sat across from me and apologized,

”Still, I hope you would understand that I tried hard to persuade General Manager Hw.a.n.g…”

Oh, really?

I barely managed not to snort.

Although he was apologizing, it was all an act. His true thoughts were 'Since I've apologized like this, let's just forget about what happened in the past. You're going to keep doing Good Friends anyways. Since we're on the same boat, let's just quickly make up and row together.'

That was true if we only thought about the business side of things.

It wasn't like I could act rashly because I didn't like him when IBC was working hard on the reality TV show. I also had to appear on Good Friends' long-term project because a verbal contract was still a contract.

Punching in all the numbers, it would be best to erase Producer Choi's faults and make him pay more attention to our girls. So I should make a sour look right now but accept his apology at the right opportunity.

I knew this, but…

”Chief, since you're already here, why don't we discuss our long-term project…”

This man was too detestable to just gloss over his actions.

”I don't think I can right now. I came to meet with General Manager Jo. We decided to meet once he was finished with his meeting with the director.”

”Pardon? General Manager Jo is in the director's office right now?”

Why was he surprised?

”Yes, he went to discuss the reality TV show's timeslot.”

”General Manager Hw.a.n.g also went to the director's office not too long ago.”

What?

”I'll take Good Friends out so you can go in there.”

The director of the Entertainment Department said.

Before General Manager Jo could reply, General Manager Hw.a.n.g jumped up.

”You're going to take it out? Didn't you say that you were going to trust Producer Choi a bit longer during the restructuring meeting? He's been working hard preparing for the long-term project proposal he showed you! If you do this now, then…!”

”Who said we're ending it? Since the format is going to change, just publicly say that we are preparing for Season 2 and tell the staff and cast members to wait. During that time, we'll air the reality TV show.”

General Manager Hw.a.n.g's shocked demeanor calmed slightly.

”Understood, then I'll tell Producer Choi to prepare for the next season…”

”I told you to tell him to wait.”

The director cut him off.

”It'll depend on how Yoo Sooyoung makes the reality TV show. If it's good, we're going to change out Good Friends' main producer.”

General Manager Hw.a.n.g stiffened like he was struck by lightning.

General Manager Jo was also surprised.

”You're going to hand it over to Producer Yoo?”

”You said that she had good ratings in the Doc.u.mentary Department.”

”It's not like her skill is going anywhere.”

”Are entertainment shows and doc.u.mentaries the same? Director! Yoo Sooyoung hasn't had an entertainment show for three years! She must have lost her touch from caring for her baby and leisurely filming doc.u.mentaries, so how can we suddenly a.s.sign a regular program to her?!”

”What's sudden? I told you we'll see her results.”

The director frowned.

Loud noises continued for a while inside the director's office.

Then, not long after, the two general managers got on the phone as soon as they left the office.

Carbonation rose up inside me. It swept through my frustration like a tsunami.

General Manager Jo's words on the phone were as sweet as a heavenly trumpet. My lips curled on their own. On the other hand, Producer Choi, who was sitting across from me, looked like he was about to drown. I could hear General Manager Hw.a.n.g's shouts from here.

My heart rate quickened as I took in the sight.

Was this a mental o.r.g.a.s.m?

I hung up after we decided to talk details in his office. Then I stood up without any hesitation. Producer Choi Byungsoo, who was still on the phone, staggered up with his hand outstretched, as though he was trying to grab me.

I lightly shook his hand before letting go.

I tried to make my bright smile seem sad as I said,

”I guess we'll have to delay our meeting.”

”Wait, Chief Jung. General manager, wait, chief, umm…!”

”General Manager Jo is urgently looking for me right now, so I'll see you next time.”

Though I didn't know whether there would be a next time.

How long had it been since things had gone so smoothly?

When something was resolved, another problem arose. When two concerns were settled, two more would pop up. These would occur on the daily, but now I was calm like I had finally achieved inner peace.

Yeah, there need to be times like this in life.

My life had been too eventful until now.

Alive quickly exceeded ten million viewers and was competing for the record. After Nam Joyoon had a photo shoot and did an interview, he was becoming known as one of the talented rookies recognized by Chungmuro{1}.

Good. It was very good.

Royal Family's ratings exceeded 35%. It was Lee Songha's debut onto the public network so there were rumors PBS was considering which award to give her at the award ceremony. The majority thought she had the rookie award in the bag.

It was hard for things to be better than this.

All that was left was Neptune's official alb.u.m and Pretty Girls' single project.

Maybe it was because I was immersed in my inner peace, but I didn't think that we would fail.

This thought was further reinforced once we started filming the reality TV show.

Neptune and Pretty Girls' goldfish's first meeting. The day Neptune showed the goldfish around W&U's practice room and recording studio like museum curators.

Producer Yoo Sooyoung grinned when she saw the goldfish following them like elementary schoolers. She was blinding. Within the few days of returning to entertainment shows, she started to s.h.i.+ne.

”I think we can edit Pretty Girls' screen time with our feet.”{2}

”That's a compliment, right?”

”They are young, cute, and sad. If we can maintain that image, there's nothing more we need to do. The viewers will support them, hoping they become popular. If we promote the idea that the viewers need to stay interested in Pretty Girls and that listening to their new song is important, then they'll also have the mindset that they're helping Pretty Girls succeed.”

Producer Yoo Sooyoung said as though she was predicting the future.

”Then what about Neptune?”

Pretty Girls were important, but Neptune members' image was also important. Since we decided to roll up our sleeves and work together, our goal was to increase each member's image in a positive light as best we could.

”Neptune is already popular, so it's important we decided how we proceed.”

Producer Yoo Sooyoung suddenly called a production a.s.sistant over.

”How was Neptune when you met them in person?”

”They are pretty.”

The male production a.s.sistant gave her two thumbs up.

”Besides that.”

”Uh, besides that?”

The production a.s.sistant glanced at me, so I nodded at him with a smile. I was indicating that he didn't need to feel any pressure, but he seemed to feel even more pressure. Anyways, it seemed he was more scared of Producer Yoo Sooyoung than me, so he said,

”It looks like they are aware of the viewers' reactions so it seems they are holding back?”

Holding back?

”But, since Neptune is already popular unlike Pretty Girls, it's normal for them to worry about their image. They can't help but be cautious. Only Im Seoyoung looked like a fish in water? She didn't seem to be overly concerned by the cameras and acted very naturally.”