Chapter 58 (1/2)

Chapter 58: Begin Filming (1)

TL: emptycube

-Tell me.

CEO said without hesitation.

Although the thought that I should talk with Kim Hyunjo or the team 3 leader first briefly crossed my mind, I had already set my mind.

I never knew CEO Baek Hansung would personally call me.

Let's act first and report later. If I talk to Kim Hyunjo tomorrow. Hmm. I guess I'd get the same look I've received a few times.

The 'he's crazy' look.

I relaxed and calmed myself down with my mother's ginger honey tea before saying,

”About what you said last time. If Cat Guardian Ghost is a success, to tell you then…”

-Ah.

A low laugh.

Was it because he was the CEO? Why couldn't I even listen to his laughter comfortably?

-It looks like you found something you wanted?

As carefully as possible, I talked about Son Chaeyoung, Teacher s.h.i.+m Kyungtaek, and Lee Songha. It seemed he had already heard this from the team 3 leader as he also seemed to know the whole story.

While I was seriously setting things up for my final words, CEO Baek Hansung indicated he was listening with short replies.

After I expressed everything I could, I said,

”Rather than a spoken apology… I'd like if she paid the appropriate price.”

-How odd.

”Pardon?”

The voice from the other end continued.

-When I listen to you talk, it feels like you are certain the drama will do well.

”Th-that's because it's a good drama. I believe that it will definitely be a success.”

Good. That seemed natural.

-Okay. Then try making it a success. I'll think about the price.

I clenched my fist.

Teacher s.h.i.+m Kyungtaek's overbearing face and Son Chaeyoung's mocking face appeared in front of me. I thought I'd have trouble sleeping after seeing those two poor excuses for human beings today, but my mind became calm at last.

Then I suddenly recalled CEO Baek Hansung's motive for calling me.

”What you wanted to ask me was…”

Just what did he have to ask me?

While spinning my head and thinking of different circ.u.mstances, I heard a relaxed voice.

-That drama. How do you think it'll do in China?

”Pardon?”

-I'm asking a lucky person to guess.

Beijing, China.

In the living room of the glamorous suite room lavished in red, CEO Baek Hansung, who was leaning against a s.p.a.cious sofa, said a few more words before hanging up. He tossed his phone to the side of the sofa and threw his head back.

”CEO, we need to go down in twenty minutes.”

The director entered the living room and sat on the sofa. His exhaustion due to the busy schedule was clearly evident on his face. Although they were on the same schedule, he looked twice as exhausted as CEO Baek Hansung.

”But who did you call for so long? Was it the team 3 leader again?”

CEO Baek Hansung, who was lost in thought with his eyes closed, curled his lips into a smile.

”No, Jung Sunwoo.”

”Who? Jung Sunwoo… Jung Sun- The team 3 Luck t.o.s.s.e.r?”

When the director became puzzled, CEO Baek Hansung's smile grew even more apparent.

”There was something I wanted to ask him.”

”Just what did you have to ask him… Ah, the problem regarding Chaeyoung and Songha?”

”There's that too. I asked him to guess what the reaction of Cat Guardian Ghost would be in China.”

Taken aback, the director said exasperatingly,

”… He's not some sort of shaman. At this rate, we might have to pay him a commission.”

While sitting on the sofa and looking through the thick folder he had brought, the director asked,

”So what did he say.”

CEO Baek Hansung paused for a moment. As if out of habit, his white, long finger tapped on the sofa.

”He said he thinks it'll be good.”

”Oh, I wish it does. But, while it's true that his ability is extraordinary at times, I don't know about his senses. The reason why he rejected Dowon when he asked him to be his manager, it seemed that he later said he got a bad vibe.”

”… Really?”

His finger stopped in midair.

CEO Baek Hansung straightened his relaxed posture. He brushed back his tangled hair and narrowed his eyes. His eyes s.h.i.+ned as if he found a good source of entertainment.

”He said he got a bad vibe from Sung Dowon?”

”Well, it was probably a joke.”

”Quite odd…”

Then the director said to the quietly mumbling CEO,

”Ah, there's one more. I heard this from the PR team. Well, they told me this was also said as a joke.”

”Hmm?”

”Mermaid out of Water, he said he got a bad vibe about that too.”

This time, CEO Baek Hansung tilted his head.

”Now that's unexpected.”

”That's why I'm not sure about his senses. It might just be his habit.”

The director changed the subject.

”But, did Luck t.o.s.s.e.r say anything about the problem regarding Son Chaeyoung?”

”Ah. We decided to talk about it again in January.”

”January? Why…”

”The two dramas start broadcasting that time.”

CEO Baek Hansung's tone was mixed with interest and an odd feeling.

”What does that have to do with…”

The director cut his words short when he saw the CEO lost in thought.

After around 10 minutes had pa.s.sed, CEO Baek Hansung stretched as his muscles inside his thin s.h.i.+rt showed their vigor. After ridding himself of exhaustion, he stretched out his hand.

”The portfolios?”

”Ah, I did prepare them as you told me to.”

The director took out a few portfolios from the folder he was holding.

”Everyone else's image isn't really good enough to replace Dowon… The advertisers want a high-cla.s.s, refined image. Jijoon is the closest to what they are looking for, but he's not well-known in China.”

CEO Baek Hansung received the portfolios and wordlessly flipped through them. The director scratched his half-balding head and asked in a quiet voice, even though they were the only two there,

”But… Why are you trying to replace Dowon? The advertisers chose Dowon, and since they've clearly experienced the effects of marketing with a star, they will try not to let him go.”

CEO Baek Hansung stared at Sung Dowon's portfolio in his hand. Sung Dowon's profile picture was of him, barefooted in a white dress s.h.i.+rt, lying down on a sandy beach with a smile. It was the cool, elegant smile that made him a popular Hallyu{1} star.

”We need to clean up the uncontrollable bomb.”

CEO Baek Hansung closed the portfolio and tossed it below the sofa.

Looking at this, the director subtly licked his lips and said,

”What about Chaeyoung? Apparently, the advertisers had wanted to keep Dowon and replace Chaeyoung with a new face, but they stopped once Mermaid out of Water received heated reactions in China.”

”Really?”

”Although Korea is in a frenzy about Cat Guardian Ghost, the reactions for Mermaid out of Water is pretty good here. Well, since it's to the point where the copyrights for this unreleased drama sold for $1.7 million.”

After rubbing his chin multiple times, CEO Baek Hansung placed Seo Jijoon's portfolio on the table. Then pushed Son Chaeyoung's portfolio, which was next to it, aside and replaced it with a thin, paltry portfolio.

It was Lee Songha.