Chapter 112: Winter After Spring? (1)

Chapter 112: Winter After Spring? (1)

On April 30th, a special bonus was issued to all employees of Singer Division 2 in recognition of their contributions to the success of Cherry Blossom's latest album.

Of course, I was also selected to receive a bonus. But the amount deposited was significantly larger than expected.

[Bonus Deposit: 30 million won]

[Total Balance in Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho's Account: 57,382,320 won]

"What? One, two, three zeros...oh my goodness."

My account balance more than doubled in an instant. However, I eventually had to make a call to confirm, given the substantial amount of 30 million won after taxes. After all, the amount was several times more than any previous bonus I had received.

"Ms. Kang, it seems like the bonus amount deposited is excessively high. And I see that the taxes haven't been deducted either."

-No, your bonus has been deposited correctly. President Kang has specifically instructed us to handle the taxes in advance.

Kang Ji-Yung explained the substantial bonus and deduction of the taxes were all carried out under the directives of Kang Gam-Chan.

While working as a talent agent, there were occasions when one had to navigate activities that tread the line between legality and illegality. This could involve managing under-the-table payments or handling expenses related to entertainment that fall into a gray area.

Minor infractions could simply be covered with corporate cards or listed as operational expenses. However, the problem arose when the line was ambiguous and became blurred. Typically, cash was used during those times to avoid leaving a trail.

According to Kang Ji-Yung, Kang Gam-Chan had instructed her to reward me generously with a substantial bonus under the guise of helping Cherry Blossom with their album production and success.

-And there will be appropriate rewards for your performance in the future as well. So don't hesitate to use the funds for things you can't charge to the corporate card. If it's not enough, contact me directly.

At that moment, I felt truly supported, like I was part of Kang Gam-Chan’s inner circle.

"Thank you, Ms. Kang."

-Don’t mention it. It’s all thanks to you that Cherry Blossom managed to reach first place. Oh, and my dad wanted me to convey that he's proud of you.

My face flushed with Kang Ji-Yung's continuous praise and a part of my heart swelled with pride.

"By the way, how is President Kang doing? Can I call him?"

-He's already left the country. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Kang Gam-Chan was currently en route over the Pacific, heading to undergo surgery performed by one of the leading neurosurgeons in the United States.

"I see. Then I'll pray for a successful surgery."

-Thank you, Assistant Manager Jung.

It was almost 10 p.m. after hanging up the call.

As I packed up my belongings in the office before leaving, I gathered my thoughts. With Kang Gam-Chan, our protective barrier, gone, the employees with backgrounds from the Seoul National University of the Arts would likely become more aggressive.

But within ten minutes of gathering my thoughts, Team Lead Ju Ho-Sung from Actor Division 3 visited Division 2.

Wearing a hoodie and a sporty haircut, Ju Ho-Sung greeted everyone warmly with his characteristic kind smile. "Oh my, you're all working late."

Ju Ho-Sung handed out macaron sets and 1-liter coffee bottles to the employees working overtime.

"Thank you, Mr. Ju."

"Wow! Cheese macarons? Mr. Ju, you have great taste!"

Tired from working late, the staff warmly welcomed Ju Ho-Sung as they were grateful for the sweet treats he brought.

"Ha ha ha. It’s my pleasure. I'll bring more next time, so I hope we can keep a good relationship."

Unfortunately, I was the only person who knew that beneath Ju Ho-Sung's kind-looking face lay a devilish nature—he was a two-faced sociopath.

In my past life, Ju Ho-Sung's nickname was 'Mr. Troubleshooter,’ meaning that everything went smoothly when it went through Ju Ho-Sung. It implied he was skilled in both his work and social maneuvering.

Ju Ho-Sung made his rounds greeting everyone before coming over to my desk. With a grin, he extended his hand to me.

"Assistant Manager Jung, I heard that you are the ace of Actor Division 2. My chief said there's a lot I could learn from you. We didn't get to properly introduce ourselves last time in the president's office, did we?"

I managed to keep my composure and shook his hand. "Ace is an overwhelming title. I'm the one who should be seeking guidance from you, Mr. Ju."

Ju Ho-Sung laughed heartily. "I might be higher in rank, but you’re the sunbae here, Assistant Manager Jung. Anyway, let's get along well from now on."

Then, Ju Ho-Sung looked around the surroundings after shaking hands with me.

"Where might Mr. Gu be right now~? Ah, is that the chief's office over there?"

He hummed as if he owned the place. Ju Ho-Sung then entered the chief's office, and soon a burst of laughter came out of the office.

I couldn't hear their conversation, but it was clear that Ju Ho-Sung was someone to keep an eye on. Unlike Kim Dong-Soo who easily clashed with others, Ju Ho-Sung had the ability to quickly gain favor and become close to people, making him a more challenging opponent in some ways.

Kim Myung-Hak's face turned beet red at Choi Sung-Eun’s sharp words. It was unheard of for a novice author to throw such a tantrum, even if they held the upper hand.

Just as Kim Myung-Hak was about to burst into anger, Kim Sung-Woon held him back. He was furious as well, but preventing the derailment of a drama fluctuating around 15% viewership was the priority at the moment.

After all, a failed drama would only tarnish the network's reputation, not the writer.

Kim Sung-Woon stammered and continued.

"I'll... step down."

"PD Kim!" Kim Myung-Hak shouted.

"I’m okay. Please choose a director you prefer and ensure a smooth conclusion, Ms. Choi."

Kim Sung-Woon bowed to Kim Myung-Hak and Choi Sung-Eun. Though seething with frustration internally, he felt powerless. He then left Choi Sung-Eun behind and exited the meeting room.

"PD Kim! Wait a moment!"

Despite Kim Myung-Hak's urgent call from behind, Kim Sung-Woon didn't stop.

The drama department's ADs and staff in the hallway were also visibly upset because firing the director of a drama cruising at 15% viewership ratings was unprecedented for them too. Although everyone knew writers could be unreasonable at times, this was too much.

Kim Sung-Woon forced a smile to assure everyone he was fine and trudged toward the emergency stairs.

Click, click!

Trying to soothe his sour mood, he struggled to light a cigarette with his nearly empty lighter.

"Phew."

The white smoke swirled and dispersed into the air. As a gust of cold wind swept away the cigarette smoke, a sense of emptiness overcame him. Being fired from his debut work was something he never anticipated.

"Damn it. This sucks."

Kim Sung-Woon cursed his misfortune and directed his anger toward the innocent night sky. Then, an idea struck him which prompted him to pull out his phone.

Click.

As always, the person on the other end answered with a bright voice.

-Hello? Mr. Kim?

"Yes, Assistant Manager Jung. Do you remember our promise to meet up again? Is it possible to meet today?"

Jung Yoon-Ho readily agreed.

***

After receiving the call from Kim Sung-Woon, I asked Jung Sang-Bong to look after Yoo-Jin and headed to the meeting venue.

When I entered a makgeolli bar near MBS, I found Kim Sung-Woon waiting and drinking alone. The table was set with makgeolli, seafood pancakes, and steaming beef pancakes.

After a brief greeting, Kim Sung-Woon shared his current plight with a hollow laugh.

"I've been fired."

"Pardon? What do you mean? This is so sudden."

Kim Sung-Woon explained that his clash with the writer led to his removal from Moonlight Starpour and downed a bowl of makgeolli in one shot.

"It's embarrassing to tell you what happened, but honestly, I feel relieved. Writer Choi Sung-Eun was truly unbearable," Kim Sung-Woon ranted.

I nodded since it was indeed impressive that he had managed to work with Choi Sung-Eun, who was known for her difficult personality and staunchly author-centric views, until now.

"How far did you manage to edit?"

"Up to episode 10. The drama department will handle the rest, I suppose."

This meant Blue Sky could potentially dominate from episode 11 onwards. With Choi Sung-Eun at the helm, a messy outcome was almost guaranteed.

As we continued to drink, Kim Sung-Woon revealed the reason for wanting to meet.

"You're aware of the drama, In the Name of God, which is scheduled for July, right?"

"Yes. That’s Yoo-Jin’s next drama to appear on, and...wait...no way. Don't tell me...?"

"Yes. I've just been confirmed as the main PD. I was having a drink while waiting for you to arrive when the company called me."

‘Kim Sung-Woon has been appointed as the main PD for Yoo-Jin's upcoming drama, In the Name of God?’

The future had changed once again.