Chapter 210: Set Up

Chapter 210: Set Up

Actors affiliated with Hoop Entertainment rarely changed their managing division, because if they were to express dissatisfaction with a talent agent, they would be assigned a different one within the same division.

However, this didn't mean they couldn't switch divisions altogether.

For actors who were profitable merely by their association, the company usually made concessions.

In the case of top-tier actors like Sung Ho-Jun, he could easily request to change his managing division as he wished.

'Of course, I need to become indispensable to Sung Ho-Jun for that to happen,' I thought.

But that was something I was confident in. After all, I knew everything about Sung Ho-Jun's future through my planner.

Lee Gi-Cheol burst into a hearty laugh as he began to support Kim Dong-Soo.

"Ha ha ha! It's been a while since Chief Kim hit a home run. If a big fish like Sung Ho-Jun joins our company, we'd welcome him with both arms. Maybe we should even throw a welcome party!"

Kang Ji-Yung nodded in agreement. "We should. Let's have Actor Division 3 plan it."

Lee Gi-Cheol smirked. "Ha ha ha. It's been a while since the Director Kang and I thought alike. This is excellent. Ah, yes. if only every day could be like today."

Kim Dong-Soo gladly accepted the suggestion. "Then we in Actor Division 3 will modestly prepare a party to welcome the actor. I'll report back as soon as the other two actors are also confirmed to join our company."

"Got it."

Only then did Kim Dong-Soo look at me smugly with a satisfied expression.

"Alright then. Team Lead Jung, let's go back to Haru and discuss how much we're going to push him. Continue the briefing, will you?"

Hiding my intent to recruit Sung Ho-Jun, I continued the briefing.

I nodded. "Yes, Mr. Kim."

As we discussed how to push Haru forward, Actor Division 3's faces brightened as they were unaware of what was to come.

****

Gu Seong-Cheol spoke with a troubled expression in Kang Ji-Yung's office. "Director Kang, if two more actors of Sung Ho-Jun's caliber were to join, it'd probably be Choi Sung-Rak or Park Hee-Tae, right? Their contracts are up soon."

A list of top stars nearing contract renewal was a staple for any sizable company.

Kang Ji-Yung's expression turned grave as she thoroughly reviewed the candidate list.

"That seems very likely. Chief Kim wouldn't be so confident otherwise," Kang Ji-Yung remarked.

"Well, we can't just sit back and watch. Shouldn't we expand our recruitment efforts?" Gu Seong-Cheol asked with a concerned look on his face.

Kang Ji-Yung let out a deep sigh. "Sunbae, Actor Division 2 has almost exhausted its budget bringing in Mr. Park Eun-Sung and Mr. Jang Jun-Hyuk."

"W-well, yes, I know that. That's why I suggest we might need to dip into next year's budget a bit early..." Gu Seong-Cheol said with hesitation.

But Kang Ji-Yung shook her head decisively. "Let's not rush into doing anything. Just one mistake is enough to give Director Lee Gi-Cheol an excuse to criticize us."

Gu Seong-Cheol leaned back on the sofa helplessly. "Sigh. Just when I thought our division was making headway, here comes a big snag."

Yet I couldn't help but smile despite the serious conversation.

"Why are you smiling like that, Team Lead Jung?" Gu Seong-Cheol asked with a frown.

"Oh, I just thought Chief Kim seemed a bit desperate," I replied.

Gu Seong-Cheol scratched his head. "Chief Kim looked desperate? What do you mean?"

"Chief Kim Dong-Soo would scoff at anything related to Actor Division 2 until now. Didn't he?" I elaborated.

"Well, that may be, but..."

"But this time, he seemed to be bragging to us as if to show off."

In my past life, Gu Seong-Cheol would always return from team lead-level meetings red-faced because Kim Dong-Soo, a junior far behind in experience, often outperformed him in terms of results.

For that reason, the talent agents of Actor Division 2 avoided talking to Gu Seong-Cheol on days when there was a meeting for team leads and above.

At that moment, Kang Ji-Yung burst out laughing. "True. After all, Actor Division 2 is now strong enough to compete with Division 3. Mr. Jang Jun-Hyuk's return to activity will ensure we don't fall behind."

Gu Seong-Cheol scratched his head in disbelief. "They say you can't remember being a tadpole once you're a frog... I guess that's me. Ha ha."

The mood lightened as Gu Seong-Cheol laughed.

I smiled and said, "Well, I should get going now. I need to prepare for tomorrow's acting sessions and there's a lot to arrange."

At that moment, Kang Ji-Yung asked me. "Hold on. How's the preparation for Miss Kang Ha-Na going?"

"The song preparation is complete and we only need to shoot the music video now. We're currently looking for an editor for our MeTube channel," I updated.

"Seems like everything is progressing well there too. But I heard the budget has been tight lately. You're spending only 30 million won for the music video?" Kang Ji-Yung asked.

I nodded. "Yes, but that should be sufficient. We are intentionally shooting with a low budget."

Even in my past life, Kang Ha-Na's low-budget video had become a hit. Therefore I had instructed the staff to shoot the music video in a way that maximized that feel.

"Got it. I'm sure you will handle it well, Team Lead Jung, but please double-check to make sure nothing is missing."

"Yes, Ms. Kang."

"Got it. I’ll meet with Yung-Jun often and set something up."

"Okay. But this stays between us, okay?"

Lee Yung-Jin nodded. "Of course."

But in the midst of talking with Lee Yung-Jin, I realized he was surprisingly well-connected in the industry.

"By the way, it looks like you’ve got quite the network. How many talent agents gather at these bowling meetups?" I asked.

Lee Yung-Jin thought for a second and replied, "It varies, but sometimes up to 30 people. It’s more of a drinking session under the guise of bowling. Oh, and I also attend pool and cycling groups."

"What?" I uttered in surprise.

"Why are you so surprised? I’ve been going for a while now."

To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. It was hard enough with just the talent agent duties, let alone having time for such gatherings.

An idea came to my mind. "Then do you think you could also get information on Choi Sung-Rak and Park Hee-Tae?"

"Should be possible," Lee Yung-Jin replied casually.

Seeing Lee Yung-Jin’s confident demeanor reminded me of his mother—Mrs. Yoo Jin-Sil, the queen of insurance sales in Gangnam.

Lee Yung-Jin’s personality surely came from his mother as did his negotiation skills.

"But you know this can’t be settled with just a bowl of eel rice, right?" Lee Yung-Jin said with a smirk.

"Huh?"

"You aren’t planning to exploit me for free, are you? This is considered extra work and overtime," Lee Yung-Jin lamented.

"Then what do you suggest?" I asked.

"You need to make an offer. That way, I’d be motivated to move."

Lee Yung-Jin hinted that he wanted me to treat him to something tasty.

"...Pork ribs?" I suggested.

Lee Yung-Jin frowned. "Wow, that's really cheap of you. I'm not doing it!"

Lee Yung-Jin stomped his feet and threw a tantrum like a mischievous five-year-old in a supermarket as he leaned back in his chair, shaking his arms and legs.

Regardless of who was at fault, I felt an urge to give him a noogie. But I managed to resist the devil's temptation and exclaimed.

"Hanwoo?" I suggested it again.

Suddenly, Lee Yung-Jin straightened up and looked at me.

"Deal!" Lee Yung-Jin exclaimed.

'At this rate, I might end up supporting all the Hanwoo farms in South Korea,' I remarked inwardly.

It seemed like hanging around with Do Ran-Hee made everyone have the habit of mentioning Hanwoo.

But getting the scoop from talent agents was a significant gain in itself.

"Don’t hang around Do Ran-Hee anymore!" I exclaimed.

However, Lee Yung-Jin just grinned and didn’t respond.

***

On the spread-out floor seating in front of the third-floor rooftop room, we celebrated Haru’s confirmed role in Master of Mukbang alongside Jung In-Ji, Yoo-Jin, and Miso while cooking seafood pancakes.

"Congratulations, Haru!"

"Haru is a lead actor now, huh?"

"Congrats, Haru oppa!"

Ever since moving in, the usual gathering place had been the living room on the first floor when a TV was needed. But otherwise, it was always the third floor.

Haru bowed his head as if he was shy. "Thank you. I'll do my best."

"I'll definitely watch it live."

We continued the celebration as we shared seafood pancakes and cola cider amid cheers.

But at that moment, Miso clapped her hands and exclaimed while eating the seafood pancake, "Uncle Yoon-Ho! When will you get me on a Mukbang show?"

Previously, Miso had shifted her interest to appearing on a Mukbang show after requesting to be on a drawing TV program. But the appointment fell through because the producer at the time decided to feature his own daughter instead.

Thankfully, Lee Ji-Yeon had secured the role of Cheongmyung for Miso, so she hadn't mentioned the Mukbang show again. But it seemed like Miso had managed to recall it again.

'As expected of Miso. She has such a good memory,' I observed silently.

"Uncle Yoon-Ho, I even bought spoons and chopsticks to go on Mukbang!" Miso exclaimed.

'She bought spoons and chopsticks for a Mukbang?' I wondered.

The moment Miso looked at me with hopeful eyes, I started to sweat without realizing it.

That's when someone who could solve this situation flashed into my mind.