Chapter 180:

Chapter 180:

"Wow... CP-nim, is this for real? KL Entertainment manipulated everything to bring down Kang Jinseok's reputation just so that KL Entertainment's name could come up?"

BDD Broadcasting Station Editing Room.

A member of the "I Want to Know That" team exclaimed while looking at the monitor. What he was watching was a video edited by CP Jung Woncheol, summarizing the entire story of KL Entertainment creating and spreading rumors about Kang Jinseok.

Jung Woncheol paused the video at intervals and said, "I found out while making this that KL Entertainment doesn't just dislike Kang Jinseok casually. Rumor has it that there's even a Kang Jinseok curse doll in President Lee Youngkyung's office."

"Really?"

"Really. But seeing them go to this extent makes me think it might be true."

"But CP-nim, are you going to release this as it is? If we release this, we'll never be able to work with KL Entertainment or any entertainment industry professionals. Variety show PDs and drama PDs might never make a sound with us."

When the team member spoke, Jung Woncheol glanced at him. His expression toward the team members was full of contempt.

"Hey, it's been a long time since our station worked with KL Entertainment. What nonsense is this now?"

"Is that so?"

"Is that so? What nonsense. Since KL Entertainment messed with our drama department after their stunt with Director Kim's work, we haven't used a single KL Entertainment actor in our dramas."

"Oh, right. I remember that. But what about the variety show side?"

"It's the same there. Oh, the news department will make some noise. They couldn't release the first exclusive report, so they'll make sure to make a fuss."

As the team members spoke under Jung Woncheol's not-so-subtle criticism, they were engrossed in a conversation for a while. During their discussion, Jung Woncheol's mobile phone rang.

"Who... Oops."

As soon as Jung Woncheol checked the caller ID on the screen, he straightened up and politely answered the phone.

"Yes, Prosecutor. it's Jung Woncheol speaking. What? Ah... verification, right? There shouldn't be a problem, but we're still in the middle of the operation. Oh, really? You've arrived? I'll come down right away."

"?"

The team member looked at Jung Woncheol with a puzzled expression. It was the first time he had seen Jung Woncheol answer a call with such formality.

After a while, when Jung Woncheol finished the call, the team member asked, "Hyungnim, why did you answer the phone so cautiously?"

"Prosecutor Lee Minyoung."

"Hyungnim, what crime did you commit?"

"...Committing a crime? No such thing. She's someone helping us."

"What is Prosecutor Lee helping with?"

When the team member asked with a curious expression, Jung Woncheol stood up and vaguely replied, "There's something like that, kid. Don't ask too much. It's dangerous."

***

After the release of "The Most Painful Predestined Relationship in the World," I was leading a busier life than ever.

Mostly due to appearances on variety shows and shooting commercials.

The ad I was shooting today was for ‘Hermes.'

"As expected... Actor Kang Jinseok has a unique... feeling. Even if you just take a shot... it turns out well. Just like that feeling... I'll shoot the next product as well."

Photographer Yang Chihoon spoke with his characteristic slow tone. I had felt this before, but it was hard to tell whether he was genuinely pleased with the calm tone or not.

When Yang Chihoon took the pose he had informed me of, flashes went off incessantly. Unlike before, I had become quite familiar with such flashes now.

"Ten minutes. No, Well take a fifteen-minute break... and then do it again."

After a while of continuous shooting, Yang Chihoon set the camera down on the desk and said. Upon which, the staff members who were quietly assisting in the shoot shouted.

"We'll take a break!"

"How many more products do we have to shoot?"

At my words, Jang Sunho made a hesitant expression with a soft sound. Then he nodded and said with a careful voice, "I'll talk to the coordinator about it."

"Oh, no, you don't have to do that."

Before I could finish speaking, Jang Sunho was already discussing something with the employee next to Yang Chihoon. It was hard to hear because of the distance. Besides, they were speaking in English or French, some foreign language, so even if I could hear, I wouldn't understand.

I continued to feel uneasy, wondering if I had brought up unnecessary complications.

However, at that moment, unexpectedly, Jang Sunho quickly came up to me.

"Uh, what happened?"

"If you agree not to use other brands for the next four years and use our new products for free, we'll gift as many as you want."

"...?"

His unexpected proposal left me looking somewhat foolish. Seeing my confused expression, Jang Sunho calmly continued to explain.

"It's a suggestion considering that you're likely to become much more famous in the future. Since you might enter Hollywood soon, it could be a good investment for them."

"That's... I mean, Hollywood? Me?"

Surprised, I asked, and Jang Sunho paused for a moment, then casually said, "It was a saying that with your talent, you could enter Hollywood anytime."

Although Jang Sunho spoke casually as usual, there was an awkwardness in his words, as if he was hiding something from me.

Just as I was about to inquire about it, he quickly approached me.

"We're starting the shoot again! Kang Jinseok, please get ready!"

***

KL Entertainment, Actor 2's office.

All the directors' heads, except for director 1, were gathered for a meeting.

"Do you all know that Kang Jinseok shot a ‘Hermes' ad?"

When Director 2 asked, Director 3, as if asking why she was asking the obvious, replied somewhat sarcastically.

"Is there anyone who doesn't know? It's all over social media that the ‘luxury actor wearing luxury' is causing a sensation. But why?"

"I think it's a good opportunity for us."

"A good opportunity?"

"Yeah. It's a hot topic on social media, and we can write articles about it. Before the start of exposing Kang Jinseok, we could tactfully release a few articles, maybe stir up the reporters to move in our favor."

The director 4, sitting next to the director 3, asked, "What kind of tactful articles are you talking about?"

"You know those types. Articles criticizing celebrities who shoot luxury ads or wear expensive clothes, raise the prices of those brands. How about something like, ‘Kang Jinseok, the modest youth, turns out to be addicted to luxury?'"

"Ah, I see."

Director 4 nodded. However, with a somewhat hesitant attitude, he spoke in a skeptical tone.

"But do we really need to do that? Anyway, once ‘Kang Jinseok's exposure' begins, he's likely to fall."

"I told you. It's a kind of ‘practice' for our journalists before the real ‘Kang Jinseok's exposure.' We have nothing to lose, so why not try it once?"

The Directors generally nodded in agreement with the words of the Director 2. Seeing this, she added one more reason.

"Also, we need to see how OS Entertainment responds to negative articles about their actors. We should see in advance. Once the ‘Kang Jinseok's exposure' starts in earnest, we'll be fighting Gene and OS Entertainment like crazy. We need to analyze their strength in advance."

"Why bother with an analysis of strength? We have around 50 reporters on our side. Will they even stand a chance against us?"

"Well, being thorough won't hurt."

"Yeah, that's true."

As Director 3 spoke in agreement, Director 2 shook her phone and said, "Shall we start the preliminary skirmish lightly?"