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Chapter 169: Team Lead Promotion (2)

[Date: December 12, 2020]

-07:30 a.m. <Schedule Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule: Golden Road Forest Salon, S-Class Setting.)

-05:30 p.m. <Schedule Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule: Golden Road Comeback Stage Preparation. Request AD for a pre-sound check.)

As I flipped through the planner, I noticed that all schedules related to Golden Road had vanished, not just for this year, but also for the next and even the year after.

It was clear that recruiting Eun Ji-Yoo to my team was the reason all the schedules disappeared. Ironically, the backbone of Golden Road turned out to be Eun Ji-Yoo.

\'This makes sense. Golden Road would have fallen a long time ago without Ji-Yoo noona.\' I thought to myself.

I burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it.

“What’s so funny, Mr. Jung?” Eun Ji-Yoo asked.

It didn\'t take long for Eun Ji-Yoo to come out dragging a big pink suitcase, perhaps because she had already packed it in preparation for the trip to Japan.

“Oh, no. It\'s nothing. Let’s go.”

My successful recruitment of Eun Ji-Yoo suggested we wouldn’t have to worry about Golden Road for a while. I was just trying to form my team, but it turned out I had dropped another bomb on Kim Dong-Soo.

“Unnie, please! Don’t go!” Yoon Ji-Hee pleaded.

\'Waving at a departed bus won\'t bring it back, Yoon Ji-Hee.\' I commented inwardly.

Leaving Yoon Ji-Hee, who kept calling out Eun Ji-Yoo’s name, we immediately left the dormitory.

***

There had been some reshuffling at Hoop Entertainment for the Actor and Singer Divisions:

Actor Division 1 moved to the third floor.

Actor Division 2 and Singer Division 2 moved to the fourth floor.

Actor Division 3 and Singer Division 1 moved to the fifth floor.

And the remaining management teams gathered on the sixth floor.

As Team Jung was formed, there had recently been lots of talks behind the scenes at the company. Such was only natural because the company had grouped everyone by their lines except for Actor Division 1 and the management team.

Team Jung quickly settled into the partitioned office located by the window on the fourth floor.

As soon as I finished cleaning and sat down, someone\'s head popped up over the left partition.

“It’s simply honorable that you called me to join Team Jung."

Do Ran-Hee, who originally belonged to Singer Division 1, clasped her hands to her forehead in a half bow.

After Chief Park Han-Cheol retired, she had been pleading with me to take her in because she was terrified of being labeled an internal whistleblower. Although I had already planned to take her in, I accepted her plea nonchalantly. After all, it was always the desperate one who was vulnerable.

Eun Ji-Yoo reached out her hand to Do Ran-Hee and said, “Ran-Hee, we got this. Let’s do well together.”

“You know it, Miss Eun!” Do Ran-Hee replied cheerfully.

“And you need to really listen to Mr. Jung. Okay?” Eun Ji-Yoo urged her.

“He he. I already promised to live as Mr. Jung’s pet. Right, Mr. Jung?"

Do Ran-Hee winked and waited for my acknowledgment, but I didn’t want to.

\'I’m on Eun Ji-Yoo’s side.

“Whatever. Go down to the recording studio now and take care of the people there. Everyone’s foregoing meals and sleep to work, so your first task is to manage their meals and well being. Can you do that?” I instructed.

“Of course. That’s easy.” Do Ran-Hee replied.

“It won\'t be as easy as you think. They don’t even eat or sleep well while working,” I added.

"Don\'t worry. Despite how I may appear, I\'m the eldest of five siblings. At least the people in the recording studio communicate unlike them," said Do Ran-Hee confidently.

Do Ran-Hee flexed her forearm and boasted about her muscle strength, explaining that handling a few recording studio hermits should be no problem compared to taking care of her younger brothers who never listened.

As Do Ran-Hee packed her belongings and got up, Eun Ji-Yoo also stood up.

"Ran-Hee, let me come with you. I should at least say hello to them."

"Okay, unnie."

Things quietened down a bit when Do Ran-Hee and Eun Ji-Yoo linked arms and disappeared.

To my right at my desk were the talent agents managing the actors. I had to choose assistant manager-level staff to help Jung Sang-Bong in managing the other actors. However, I specifically chose Lee Yung-Jin, my colleague who got hired at the same time as I was.

He was just an ordinary employee, not an assistant manager. However, I appreciated his agreeable nature. Dealing with people was a significant aspect of the job and possessing a non-disagreeable personality was a valuable skill in its own right.

I approached him and said, "Yung-Jin. If you\'re not busy, let\'s go meet Assistant Manager Yang So-Ri together."

Lee Yung-Jin treated me with a level of respect to the extent that people said he was a changed man. "Understood, Mr. Jung!"

We headed for the emergency stairs to fetch Yang So-Ri from the third floor. Then as soon as the door to the stairwell closed, I stopped Lee Yung-Jin and asked, "Hey. What\'s with the sudden change?"

"What do you mean, Mr. Jung?"

"Cut it out. It\'s giving me goosebumps."

Lee Yung-Jin glanced around nervously before speaking. "May I speak informally with you?"

"Yeah. Let\'s be casual when it\'s just the two of us. It\'s too uncomfortable otherwise."

Lee Yung-Jin sighed as he looked around cautiously. "Sigh. You can say that only because you have no idea what\'s going on. Everyone\'s eyeing me and trying to catch my faults. It\'s suffocating, man."

"They\'re trying to find your faults? Why?"

"Because I\'m not an assistant manager but a regular employee."

"So? What does that have to do with them trying to find your faults?"

"Are you serious? Everyone is talking behind my back saying that I\'d get promoted for the vacant assistant manager position!" Lee Yung-Jin explained.

"That\'s ridiculous. Who says you\'ll get promoted so easily just like that?" I asked.

"That\'s what I\'m saying." Lee Yung-Jin chimed in.

Then, he suddenly looked at me sharply and added, "Wait, that sounds weird. Hey! I work really hard. Are you telling me you won’t promote me even with all my hard work?"

Lee Yung-Jin pouted and looked at me, prompting me to quickly change my words.

"Of course I will. You surely deserve to be promoted. Anyway, how did you respond to them?"

Lee Yung-Jin cleared his throat and spoke. "I said if they\'re jealous, they should also find a capable friend."

I let out a chuckle. "What? Ha ha ha."

Lee Yung-Jin might be cautious and timid, but sometimes he really knew how to make an impact.

"Alright. Yung-Jin, I\'ll take responsibility and get you the assistant manager position this year. I’ll push your performance." I assured him.

Lee Yung-Jin smiled brightly. "I\'ll give it all I\'ve got, Mr. Jung!"

I smiled inwardly as I watched Lee Yung-Jin point toward the stairs of the third-floor emergency exit. Saying I\'d push his performance meant I was going to give him enough work to justify it.

I felt a bit sorry for Lee Yung-Jin looking happier than ever. After all, I\'d have to work him to death to get him that assistant manager position this year.

\'There’s no such thing as a free lunch, Yung-Jin.\' I silently remarked.

***

The recruitment of Assistant Manager Yang So-Ri, who would be responsible for Team Jung\'s makeup, turned out to be much easier than anticipated.

This was thanks to having constantly contacted and entrusted her with creating a special makeup mask for Yoo-Jin to play the role of an elder.

"Thank you for agreeing to come to my team so readily," I said.

"Not at all. I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to you, Mr. Jung, I don’t need to change jobs." Yang So-Ri replied.

I let out a sigh of relief as she explained she had been considering a move to a film\'s special effects team. If I hadn\'t had my past life\'s memories to help me, I might have lost her to another industry.

"By the way, could I check on the mask you’ve been working on?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. It\'s almost finished. There are just a few more details to add for completion. Would you like to take a look?"

Yang So-Ri looked around the surroundings and took me to the makeup room.

The moment I saw the mask hidden in the corner of the makeup room, I was awestruck. It was a translucent mask made of a special material used in Hollywood and you could fool anyone about your age just by wearing it.

It perfectly depicted liver spots and wrinkles, and even had fine hairs to make it look like real human skin. The texture of the skin felt so real that I was shocked to think she had made the mask all by herself.

\'The power of a true enthusiast is indeed great.\'

As I checked the mask, Yang So-Ri looked at me with a worried expression and asked, "It seems to have turned out as you described, but do you think it’s good enough?"

When I asked why she doubted herself, an absurd answer came back.

She answered there was a rumor circulating in Hoop Entertainment that being average wouldn’t cut it to join Team Jung. She further elaborated and explained people had been saying she\'d have to be prepared to work day and night to keep up with a rising star who got promoted to a team lead in just his second year.

"I\'ve been so stressed out that I\'ve been reading the scripts and preparing even harder," said Yang So-Ri.

Despite being a ridiculous rumor far from the truth, I chose to remain silent, considering the positive result it produced.

"The result is beyond expectations. I will prepare a separate workspace for you from now on, so you can work there," I told Yang So-Ri.

"Phew. That’s a relief."

"While we\'re at it, let’s move your desk to Team Jung today."

"Yes, Mr. Jung."

Yang So-Ri’s skills in special effects makeup as well as regular makeup were among the top in Korea. So by respecting her hobbies, I could ensure that the makeup of the actors I managed would remain top-tier.

"Anyway, I\'ll do my best!" Yang So-Ri exclaimed.

"Just keep doing what you\'re doing."

Now all we needed was a stylist to complete Team Jung’s basic team composition.

Hoop Entertainment was set to split in about two and a half years, and the company’s IPO was also planned around then.

I needed to keep moving, busier than ever, preparing for the crucial battle ahead. Of course, constantly sabotaging Lee Gi-Cheol and Kim Dong-Soo was also part of the job.

Now that my team was formed, the real game was just beginning.

\'Kim Dong-Soo, whatever you do, you won\'t have a chance as long as I\'m here.\' I thought hard to myself.

***

In the meeting room of Actor Division 2, the members of Team Jung were preparing for their first meeting.

Seated around me were Lee Yung-Jin and Jung Sang-Bong who managed actors, Eun Ji-Yoo and Do Ran-Hee who managed singers, and Yang So-Ri who was in charge of makeup.

Lee Tae-Poong\'s talent agent, Lee Dae-Ho, couldn’t attend as he was on-site.

"Mr. Jung. Please give us your word."

Since Lee Yung-Jin had set the stage, I cleared my throat and spoke. "Eh. Firstly, my plan is to promote everyone here faster than anyone else."

"Ha ha ha. Sounds like you’re planning to work us to death." Lee Yung-Jin chuckled.

But perhaps because no one laughed out loud, Lee Yung-Jin stopped laughing and looked anxious.

"Um, I was just joking. It\'s not true, is it? Mr. Jung?" Lee Yung-Jin asked.

"Just work twice as hard, Mr. Yung-Jin. Then you’ll be an assistant manager by the end of the year." I replied.

Lee Yung-Jin\'s face turned pale. "Tw-twice as hard?"

Do Ran-Hee laughed and comforted Lee Yung-Jin. "Yung-Jin oppa, Actor Division 3 is cutting down staff because Ju Yung-In left and they have less work. But we don’t have to worry about that. Isn’t that much better?"

Lee Yung-Jin shook his head. "You. I\'ll remember those words."

"Yes, please do~."

I quickly broke up the chatter. "Alright, alright. Let\'s stop the chit-chat and start the meeting."

As the meeting started, we began by assessing the situation of the celebrities in Team Jung. Lee Yung-Jin started briefing us on the status and revenues of our actors.

"Firstly, Miss Jung Yoo-Jin is the core of our team. Blue Sky has aired up to episode 23 and is soon concluding."

"How many commercials does she have currently?" I asked.

Lee Yung-Jin answered, "She has six commercials currently."

"What about the appearance fee and the expected revenue for this year?"

"The fee per episode for her upcoming drama In the Name of God is set at 10 million won. And the total expected revenue, conservatively estimated, is around 1.5 billion won."

Do Ran-Hee exclaimed in admiration as Lee Yung-Jin continued detailing Yoo-Jin\'s achievements. "Wow~ that\'s no joke."

Encouraged, Lee Yung-Jin continued his report with a shrug.

"Mr. Lee Tae-Poong has just started filming for Beyond the Boundary, but he doesn\'t have any commercials yet. And since it\'s a running guarantee contract, this year\'s revenue is unpredictable."

"Set Mr. Lee Tae-Poong\'s revenue forecast at 500 million won. We expect 300 million won from movie revenues and he should land about two commercials by the end of the year."

Lee Yung-Jin looked surprised. "But Mr. Jung, to reach 300 million won with a running guarantee, we\'d need almost ten million audiences!"

"Mrs. Pyo from Choi Sung-Moon Film has predicted we can reach ten million audiences in two months."

"Mrs. Pyo, as in Chief Pyo Eun-Mi?"

Hearing the prediction from Pyo Eun-Mi, renowned in the industry for her computer-based calculations, Lee Yung-Jin\'s expression brightened.

"I\'ll make the adjustments. And currently, Miss Jung Miso is set to appear in In the Name of God as a child actor. She has two commercials, and her per-episode fee is set at 1 million won. Her expected revenue this year is around 200 million won," Lee Yung-Jin continued to report.

Do Ran-Hee looked incredulous. "Wow. How can a child actress earn that much?"

"You have no idea. That\'s only because Mr. Jung filtered the ads to that extent; it could be more if we pushed it." Lee Yung-Jin explained.

The discouraged Do Ran-Hee crouched her shoulders. "Oh, my. I feel a bit sad. Our earnings don\'t even compare."

After all, the only singer we had apart from Cherry Blossom was Kang Ha-Na, who was just beginning her career.

"Ran-Hee, there\'s no need to worry. Ha-Na will make a big splash, just you watch." I reassured her.

"I really hope so," muttered Do Ran-Hee.

I reassured the worried Do Ran-Hee as I brought up the management of the singers.

"As you all know, we\'ll soon be releasing Miss Kang Ha-Na\'s music through MeTube."

Everyone\'s attention turned to me as I spoke.

"Anyone who hasn\'t heard Ha-Na\'s compositions should do so after the meeting. And Assistant Manager Eun, please prepare for the release with the publicity team."

Eun Ji-Yoo asked about the timeline. "By when?"

"Please have everything ready to upload within three weeks," I replied.

It was earlier than in my past life, but we had to accelerate the debut schedule to align with the upcoming joint concert with Kim Jong-Hoon at the end of the year.

Eun Ji-Yoo nodded. "Three weeks, okay. Then I need to talk to the publicity team right away."

"Yes. And oh, just so you know in advance, Assistant Manager Kim Mi-Hye from the publicity team will be assigned exclusively to our team from now on."

Eun Ji-Yoo looked surprised. "We have... our own dedicated publicity staff? But we\'re a team, not a division."

"Ms. Kang has given us full support."

Everyone\'s faces registered shock. Having a dedicated publicity staff was usually something only the entire division had.

Stunned by the shocking news, Lee Yung-Jin stammered and asked, "M-Mr. Jung. Is this really okay? Our team is already smaller in scale and revenue by more than half compared to other teams."

Seeing the surprised team members, I laid out the goal for Team Jung.

"It\'s fine. We have one and a half years before the end of next year to be promoted to a full division as promised with Ms. Kang."

Everyone\'s faces turned to expressions of astonishment, as being promoted to a division meant I would soon become a Chief.