ALL NOVEL Chapter 249
Certainly, here’s the translation:
"I’ve lived rather decently. I worried that I might end up being someone who frequents the prosecutor's office in the future, so I deliberately tried to be mindful of each of my actions, except when someone picked a fight with me. Even in front of those who were full of themselves, I mostly kept a smiling face. I thought, if not a white egret, let’s at least not turn into a crow."
"So the label that's stuck to me now, is it that I'm a pushover, an easy target?"
“This doesn’t seem workable.”
“Pardon?”
I said facing the main producer, “The program format doesn't really suit the kids, and our schedule is too tight. Neptune has a packed plan from the second half of this year to the next, so it's impossible to join a regular program.”
“Uh…”
The main producer stumbled over his words and glanced at the director.
It seems like this guy bragged about securing Neptune without a worry. I don’t care if it’s embarrassing for him in front of the juniors and writers.
“Ah. The atmosphere between GTBN and us is indeed good. Director, why would you try to ruin it?”
“...What?”
“How will we handle it if the content creators can’t grasp the context? Being dragged around like a spectacle and even getting threatened, I tried something similar. If it was uncomfortable to hear…”
“Hey! Who is this insolent brat?”
“You haven’t heard about my reputation, have you? There are rumors that I’m unlucky, unpleasant, and rude.”
“...!”
Director Jeon Jong-ho’s face turned red as he kicked his chair and stood up.
The main producer quickly grabbed onto the director’s arm.
“Director! Please, hold on!”
“What’s there to hold! This brat right now!”
“Hold on, Director! What are you all looking at? Get out, everyone out!”
The main producer shooed the dumbfounded staff and writers out of the meeting room. I also stood up.
I waited, in case the director decided to grab me by the collar, but seeing him only waving his arm weakly held by the frail main producer, it didn’t seem like it would escalate to physical violence.
That’s a bit disappointing.
I thought I might as well claim self-defense at this point.
“Well, I'll be leaving then.”
“Hey, let go!”
“Not sure when we’ll meet again, but I hope we can have a more productive conversation next time. It’s a waste of time otherwise.”
“Let go! Hey! Where are you going!”
I left the meeting room. The people who had been kicked out hadn’t gone far and were still nearby, buzzing with conversation. They were startled to see me.
“Goodbye.”
“Ah, take care.”
I swiftly left the variety department.
It felt good to have said what I wanted.
On my way back to the waiting room, a woman suddenly joined me.
It was an entertainment reporter I had seen around. She seemed to be here to cover a group appearing in a music show, holding someone’s autographed album in her hand.
“Director Jung, fancy meeting you here?”
“Hello.”
After a formal greeting, she immediately launched into a question.
“I heard you went to the IBC Drama Department? That day, ‘Doctor 25 Hours’ was canceled. I was having a drink with the producer in charge and heard something interesting.”
“...”
“They said you had foreseen the cancellation of ‘Doctor 25 Hours’ and had leaked the information. So, it’s certain that Jung Sun-woo’s list isn’t a hit list. It might as well be a blacklist?”
“...”
“I wrote a novel based on what I heard. What if it really is a blacklist? I’d understand why you vehemently deny the rumors.”
“...”
“You know who I am. I won’t even mention your name in my articles. So, no comment, or if you think my novel sounds plausible, just blink once.”
“Oh, something’s in my eye.”
I rubbed my eye and blinked about five times.
I walked on, leaving the astounded reporter behind.
***
Seo-young sipped on her straw, taking a gulp of Zero Cola, then suddenly blinked rapidly, choked, and grabbed her throat while gasping for air.
"Water, gah, ack, water!"
"She really does bring it upon herself, seriously."
Eljay, panting as if he was about to throw up his lungs, handed a bottle of water to the gasping Seo-young. She hurriedly drank and finally stopped coughing. With a flushed face, she continued to wheeze and glanced around the corner of the waiting room.
Song-ha was entrusting her hair to a staff member while seated in front of a mirror.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Seo-young poked Eljay in the ribs vigorously.
Then, in a voice lowered enough so Song-ha wouldn’t hear, she whispered excitedly.
"I just remembered! That crazy girl from this area, isn’t that Chaeyoung? Sun-woo oppa showed us before, remember?"
"Everyone knows that, you idiot," Eljay said, looking at her as if she was the dumbest thing on earth.
"Can't believe you forgot all that fuss you made before. It seems even Director Lee doesn’t remember. It’s unlike him to be this disorganized; maybe his brain is overloaded?"
"So, everyone knew except me? Even Song-ha?"
"Don't you think?"
Seo-young glanced again at Song-ha.
"I thought she was just tired, but she’s actually in a low mood, isn’t she? Why didn’t you ask Sun-woo oppa earlier why Chaeyoung called him?"
"Why bother Song-ha about it?"
"She’s still traumatized! We should be asking for her! Why would Chaeyoung contact him? They're not on the same team or working together. Maybe they’ve been in touch privately? Could it be that they’ve gotten... closer?"
As Seo-young nervously muttered, Eljay responded nonchalantly.
"Just leave it. It seems Song-ha is gearing up for something."
"What?"
"I don’t know if the trauma is still there or not, but even if it is, Song-ha can now match Chaeyoung blow for blow, can't she?"
Eljay then placed his left hand in front and punched his right fist into it.
"Maybe it’s time for a showdown."
***
The recording went as scheduled.
After having bumped into a director, I warned the team to be prepared, just in case today’s recording faced any issues.
But nothing happened.
Throughout the recording, the PD, the writer, and the responsible CP were incredibly kind.
After entrusting Neptune's matters to Lee Kwanwoo, I headed to the company.
And went straight to the CEO’s office. I had called ahead, and upon entering, I saw the division head and CEO Baek Hansung sitting together.
“What did you say to that director?”
“I didn’t curse.”
The division head looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it.
The way he looked at me was something.
It was like he was looking at a troubled kid who had just caused trouble outside, and it was unfair.
“But they started it, saying the kids are washed up and threatening me with a fun-less future if we didn’t accept their shoddy proposal. I held back as much as I could.”
“Held back and?”
“Well, I didn’t curse, did I?”
“That’s your brag?”
The division head sighed heavily, a look of annoyance on his face.
“It looks like you’re going to be famous for your bad temper.”
“Most people already think so. I’m not a celebrity who gets cut from commercials over character issues, so I might as well live as the guy with a bad temper.”
“...Alright. You’ve been under a lot of stress lately.”
What am I going to do with this guy?
Unlike the division head who looked at me with worry.
CEO Baek Hansung had been unusually relaxed. He looked as if he had heard some good news, even appearing joyful.
He said with a smile in his eyes.
“Well done.”
“...Sir?”
The division head turned to CEO Baek Hansung abruptly.
“Why? Manager Jung isn’t the type to lose his sense of judgment. If he thinks he can handle it, he should say what he wants.”
“He might end up saying things he shouldn’t.”
CEO Baek Hansung tilted his head slightly.
“Is there something he shouldn’t say? There are people you shouldn’t say things to.”
“No…”
The division head sighed again as he looked back and forth between me and CEO Baek Hansung.
Seeing this, I chimed in.
“Ah, we should start managing public opinion.”
“Public opinion? How are you going to manage that?”
***
[Director Lee Chang-in’s ‘Accomplice’ casting confirmed with Seo Jijoon and Lim Joowon in the lead roles]
[Seo Jijoon, Lim Joowon, and actress Jung Sunwoo in the same movie? ‘Accomplice’]
A dull weekday afternoon.
News of the movie casting dropped.
Fans eagerly awaiting news of Seo Jijoon and Lim Joowon's next projects, and those intrigued by the article for whatever reason, quickly spread it across SNS and forums.
Shortly after.
Two entertainment reporters, faces obscured, appeared on a YouTube channel known for gossip, ‘Entertainment Husband and Wife.’
“Hello, I’m Reporter A from Entertainment Husband and Wife.”
“Hello, I’m Reporter B.”
“There have been a lot of questions about the Jung Sunwoo list, haven’t there? Lots of comments too. So we decided to talk about it today, although unfortunately, we couldn’t interview Manager Jung Sunwoo. We ask for your understanding.”
“We really tried to get the interview, but it was all rejected. These days, even we find it hard to see his face.”
“Now, to the main topic. The most common question was this: is the Jung Sunwoo list real?”
“There’s been weird talk among reporters for a while now.”
“Right.”
“It’s weird, isn’t it? That none of Manager Jung Sunwoo’s actors are on the blockbuster list he supposedly made.”
“It’s weird. Not just one work, but four.”
“And now, the truth has come out?”
“It has. If you look up articles, you’ll find the newly confirmed casting for ‘Accomplice’.”
“Do you know how many of Manager Jung Sunwoo’s actors are in this movie?”
“Three.”
“That’s right. He got both top lead roles, and not just that, but he also placed an actress named Jung Jae-yi from the girl group Pretty Girl.”
“Well, the production company says they auditioned.”
“Still. He placed three of his actors in one movie. What does that mean?”
“This movie is bound to be a hit, that’s what it means.”
“At least that’s what you can say if Jung Sunwoo picked it, right? If the Jung Sunwoo list was real, such a project would have been on it.”
“So, the conclusion of Entertainment Husband and Wife is, the Jung Sunwoo list is definitely a rumor.”
“No.”
“What?”
“The Jung Sunwoo list being a blockbuster list is definitely a rumor.”
“What are you saying? Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Just for fun,
you know ‘Hong Gil-dong’ failed, right?”
“It did.”
“And ‘Doctor 25 Hours’ is now canceled, you know? So at this point, with half of the list busted, I’m just really curious.”
“What about?”
“What will happen to the other two?”
In the YouTube video,
A reporter, shown only from the neck down, raised his hands and said.
“Isn’t it scarier if all the works on the list fail, rather than succeed?”
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