Top Management

TM Chapter 142

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

“Hey, it looks like the Alive screening is over.”

The people lined up for the snack bar turned their gazes. Noises began leaking from the silent Alive screening theatre. If they could hear noisy shouts outside, then they could guess how much a commotion there was inside. A man who paid for his popcorn brought his girlfriend over to the theatre entrance.

“Let’s see the people leaving. I’m curious.”

“Can you tell from the people leaving?”

“You can tell whether a movie was fun or boring from the audience’s reaction!”

Other people followed suit and began glancing at the entrance, even the employees popping popcorn and pouring drinks. A Korean blockbuster that was praised by reviewers and others in the industry, the amount of interest in Alive was quite high.

“I bet my hand that the audience didn’t like it.”

A man wearing glasses said while grabbing some popcorn from his friend.

“Reviewers said it was good so who are you to say that it’s bad?”

“That’s the problem. Reviewers hyped it up too much. The audience must have watched it expecting a Hollywood zombie movie, but that means they’ll be 100% disappointed. You need to watch it thinking, ‘This is good for a Korean movie.”

“Alive also had a huge budget though?”

“What are they going to do with 30 billion won? Hollywood blockbusters spend hundreds of billion won.”

“Uh, then they might actually be disa-“

He was cut off by the commotion. Viewers poured out from the theatre entrance.

Those waiting outside examined their faces. It was strange. There was some with serious expressions and others with despondent expressions. Either way, it was clear that there was a lot to talk about regarding this movie. The viewers began chatting with each other.

“I checked my phone three times at the end. To check the time.”

“Me too! I was wondering when it would end.”

Was the movie boring?

The people around them perked their ears.

“I checked thinking only an hour had passed but it was almost over. I thought I was seeing things.”

“The last 30 minutes passed by like it was three minutes. 150 minutes just passed by like that!”

“Crazy. I already want to go back in and watch it all over again. Is this normal?”

“I thought the same as soon as it ended. I need to watch it again!”

The people eavesdropping on their conversation exchanged looks.

“… They seem to like it?”

“Cut your hand off, man.”

The man who bet his hand that the viewers wouldn’t like it coughed.

With an incredibly curious expression, he mumbled,

“How did they make the movie for people to react like this?”

Nam Joyoon’s family was amongst the mass exodus of Alive viewers. They didn’t say a word even though the movie had ended. With dazed expressions, they simply walked while staring at the backs of people in front of them as though they were firmly entranced by something.

Suddenly, Nam Joyoon’s father looked beside him. Women were chatting.

“Who is it? Does his name not appear? Search for ‘Alive’s crazy bastard’.”

“Hold on. I’m searching… Huh, it looks like other people who watched the movie are looking too. There are posts wondering who the crazy bastard who threw the kid is.”

“Heeey! It’s here! Under movie information, Nam Joyoon!”

The moment she shouted his name, Nam Joyoon’s family flinched. Light returned to their dazed eyes.

“His profile picture looks completely normal? His ‘crazy guy’ acting in the movie was amazing though.”

“Ahh, he’s a villain yet I was completely absorbed whenever he appeared on screen. His voice was great too. Ah, it looks like he’s the one reviewers have been calling the scene-stealer and new menu item. His first appearance was so thrilling it made my heart race.”

“It’s my first time seeing him. Was he in plays before?”

“I bet he’ll become popular with this, right?”

Hiccup.

A strange noise cut in. Intermixed with suppressed sobs.

Nam Joyoon’s father turned around.

“Dear, are you crying?”

Nam Joyoon’s mother shook her lowered head. However, the hiccups were undoubtedly coming from her. When gazes began to gather on her, she hastily wiped her eyes with her sleeves.

“Are you seeing things? Who’s crying?”

“You are! You said I wasn’t acting my age before. Joyoon, your mother is crying!”

“Am not! My eyes are just dry from staring at the screen for so long!”

His mother slapped his father’s back. Yet, despite her words, her eyes were pooling with tears. Nam Joyoon, who was throwing out the popcorn and sodas, came over with widened eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Fine, of course, I am.”

When she nodded, the tears pooling in her eyes fell. That was the start. Her dripping tears began to flow like a faucet. Her suppressed sobs and hiccups were mixed in as well. Nam Joyoon’s teasing father was so shocked he shut his mouth. However, the one who was most surprised by this was the person herself.

“Ah, why am I like this all of a sudden?!”

She tried keeping her eyes open and even covering them with her palms. They were futile attempts.

A couple standing in front of the entrance mumbled,

“I think the movie is sad. That person’s sobbing.”

“What the heck? Is it like a melodrama? I can’t watch movies that make you cry. Should we not watch it?”

It seemed Nam Joyoon’s mother heard this even while trying to stop her tears as she hurriedly waved her hands.

“No, this isn’t a sad movie. You can watch it. Please watch it.”

“That’s right. There are almost no sad parts.”

The women who were talking about Nam Joyoon supported her claim.

They were about to throw out their popcorn and perfectly fine napkins when someone asked,

“Those napkins. If you’re not going to use them, could I…”

“Ah, yes! Here you go.”

One of the women turned around to hand it to the person.

Then her eyes met…

The same face she saw on the screen and profile picture.

“Huh?”

“Yes?”

The woman’s eyes bulged. At the same time, she screamed so loudly that the viewers, who continued to walk only looking in front of them, stopped in their steps from the surprise.

“Hey, are you crazy? Why are you-!”

Her friend’s mouth gaped when she saw Nam Joyoon’s face. Her trembling fingers repeatedly pointed at him. It only took a moment for the other viewers to recognize his face as well. A huge commotion erupted at the theatre entrance.

“Hey, hey, it’s him, right? The crazy bastard, I mean, man who threw the kid in the movie?”

“Why is the actor… here? Huh? The heck?”

“Oh my god! Did he come to see the movie with his family? Sh-should I ask for an autograph?”

People began to gather around Nam Joyoon’s family. However, they hesitated, not rushing over to him. It wasn’t because he was a celebrity. It was because his cruel character in the movie was still fresh in their minds.

This was only for a moment.

People began to rush towards Nam Joyoon like a swarm of zombies.

*

“Please rest here in the staff room before leaving through the emergency exit.”

“Thank you for helping us, Mr. Manager.”

Jung Sunwoo said while brushing his sweat-soaked hair aside.

The cinema manager looked at his bare face with awe before hastily waving his hands.

“This is protocol when actors come to greet people on stage. But…”

The manager revealed what was in his hands. It was Alive’s poster.

“If it’s okay, could I ask for an autograph…”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

“If it’s okay, could we take a picture…”

The manager left in a happy mood after receiving Nam Joyoon’s autograph and taking a picture with him. Only Jung Sunwoo and Nam Joyoon’s family remained in the room. They were all trying to catch their breaths.

Nam Joyoon’s family slumped down with dazed expressions like people that were pushed away during a 50% surprise sale event. His female cousin’s hair, whose small figure was buried among the swarms of people, was a complete mess, and his mother’s tears were no longer seen.

The first one to regain his senses was Nam Joyoon’s male cousin.

“Wow, WOW, What the heck! Just what’s going on? Is this a dream?”

Soon, Nam Joyoon’s aunt and uncle joined in,

“Oh my god. I don’t even remember what happened in the movie. I just remember Joyoon’s face.”

“Is Joyoon going to be famous now? Brother-in-law and sister-in-law, it looks like you don’t need to worry any longer!”

“If he becomes famous, then will he appear on morning dramas?”

“Not morning dramas, entertainment shows! Oppa might appear on entertainment shows! He might even hold fan meetings! If Joyoon oppa becomes famous, what should I do?”

“What do you need to do if hyung’s the one becoming famous?”

“Photos of celebrities’ families pop up on the internet too! Should I get double-eyelid surgery?”

“What a joke.”

“Brother-in-law! Should we set up another date with father-in-law and mother-in-law and the others? Joyoon appeared a lot so we should all go watch it together!”

Nam Joyoon’s parents slowly came to their senses once their relatives began chatting excitedly.

Nam Joyoon’s father slapped his knee as he shouted,

“That’s it! Let’s buy a hundred tickets!”

“You can’t show mother and father. They might faint from shock if they watch it.”

“That’s true. I was also frightened when Joyoon threw that child.”

“Uhhuh, hyung really looked insane. You were scarier than the zombies.”

His family chattered on while holding him. The person in question, Nam Joyoon, was silent, yet the faces around him were dyed red in excitement. Nam Joyoon’s father’s shoulders hopped up and down like a drunk’s.

Jung Sunwoo leaned against the door and watched.

Nam Joyoon’s mother carefully approached him. Her gaze was filled with gratefulness before the movie began, but she now looked like she was looking at her benefactor. Blinking her still teary eyes, his mother said,

“I forgot to ask with all the commotion before, but you are…”

“I am Jung Sunwoo. Please feel free to speak casually.”

A smile hung on his cold face.

“Okay, then, are you Joyoon’s manager?”

Immediately, his female cousin joined in.

“Aunty, this oppa is Lee Songha’s manager-!”

“I am.”

Jung Sunwoo replied while his gaze met Nam Joyoon’s, who was surrounded by his family.

“I am hyung’s manager.”

The commotion continued even as they went down the emergency exit. Nam Joyoon’s family was already planning their fourth movie watching event. At this rate, they would hand out movie tickets like wedding invitations.

Someone placed their hand on Jung Sunwoo’s shoulder.

It was Nam Joyoon.

“Thank you. For making this all happen.”

It was a quiet voice, but Nam Joyoon’s always plain face clearly looked moved.

“Why are you acting like it’s all over? This is only the beginning.”

Jung Sunwoo said while putting on his sunglasses again.

“It’s going to get even crazier from now on. To the point where today’s experience isn’t even a preview. First, I’m trying to work out a good contract for you. Ah, I am thinking about having you do an interview or appear on an entertainment show, but if there’s anything you don’t like, then let me kno-“

“Just let me know. What I have to do.”

He said,

“I’ll do anything you tell me to.”

Jung Sunwoo stopped in his steps.

“… You can’t say that so lightly, hyung. You don’t know what I’ll tell you to do in the future.”

“Anything is fine.”

“What if I got you some weird entertainment program?”

Jung Sunwoo’s said as his lips curled into a crooked smile. It wasn’t clear if he was joking or not.

However, Nam Joyoon smiled faintly as he walked ahead of him. Then he joined his noisy family.

Jung Sunwoon began walking again.

A strange smile hung on his lips.

*

-The unknown actor, Mr. Nam Joyoon, who appeared on Alive. Is he from your company, team leader?

The voice on the other end seemed disappointed.

-If you had such a good rookie, you should have let me know. Everyone’s clamoring to find a fresh face since this face looks like that one. Team leader, did Mr. Nam Joyoon in talks with other projects for his next work?

The Team 2 Leader calmly ended his phone call with the director. Then he threw his phone. His phone smashed into the wall with a loud crash before rolling on the floor. Waiting in the side, Chief Jo held his breath.

“This is the third one today.”

“Pardon?”

“This is the third call asking about Nam Joyoon today! If they are calling me, then the PR Team must be swamped with them!”

The Team 2 Leader swore as he slumped into his chair.

Chief Jo watched his expression as he said,

“He’s just a passing breeze. You know how people overreact.”

“Because people are so loud, talking about Nam Joyoon this, Nam Joyoon that. They look at me like I’m blind. I can’t even go outside the office because it’s so embarrassing!”

“Once Inho’s movie is released, no one will doubt your eye. His project will undoubtedly be a success, but he’s a natural when you see him acting on set.”

The Team 2 Leader frowned slightly at the mention of Song Inho’s name.

“Of course. I’m the one who picked him.”

“Director Yoon didn’t seem happy because we pushed out the actor already confirmed for Inho’s part at first, but now he can’t help but acknowledge his skills.”

“I’m going to make Inho a top star for sure. So much that Nam Joyoon can’t even compare to him. You watch out for Inho too. Dowon became like that because he couldn’t control his lower half, and Chaeyoung causes a fuss whenever she’s bored. Jijoon used to be obedient before, but now he won’t listen to a word I say. We need to keep Inho on the right path from the beginning.”

“I’ll keep an eye out.”

The Team 2 Leader let out an unpleasant sigh.

“But how’s it going with Nam Joyoon’s contract?”

“Jung Sunwoo and the Team 3 Leader seem to be discussing conditions in the director’s office. It seems Jung Sunwoo considers Nam Joyoon as his actor?”

“… That bastard, is he doing is own work properly to be working on other things?”

The Team 2 Leader said, raising his brow.

“That is… Lee Songha’s popularity is rising thanks to her drama and movie.”

“How about Neptune?”

“Neptune? Lee Taehee’s doing well since the drama OST became a hit. Their previous mini-album was a double jackpot so the Audio & Recording Team wants her to write the title track for their next album. Im Seoyoung and LJ are appearing on shows. Although they are a hot topic, their ratings seem to be good.”

“No matter how good his luck is, there’s no way everyone under him is doing well. Investigate in detail. Check if there really aren’t any problems!”

The Team 2 Leader with an insidious look.

Someone hastily knocked on his door and entered. It was Song Inho. Anyone would admire his looks after being carefully taken care of over the past few months. However, his previously youthful, clear eyes were now gloomy like a swamp.

“Team leader, I think my schedule for tomorrow has changed sudden?”

“The independent film schedule?”

The Team 2 Leader frowned.

“I told them to change it because Director Yoon wanted to move his schedule to tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow’s supposed to be a location shoot. It’s a place that they had a hard time getting so if we can’t shoot it-!”

“I told Chief Jo to adjust the independent film’s schedule so you don’t have to worry and just focus on tomorrow’s shoot.”

“They keep facing setbacks because of me, yet again-!”

“Song Inho. This is why I told you not to do the independent film.”

“Team leader!”

Song Inho sounded desperate. He looked at Chief Jo, asking for help, but Chief Jo simply shook his head as if saying the team leader’s words were correct. The Team 2 Leader, who had clicked his tongue in displeasure, attempted to console him.

“Do you know how hard it was to get you cast in Director Yoon’s project? Can’t you see which one is more important? If I didn’t see potential in you, I wouldn’t be here saying all this! How can I leave someone destined for higher heights be held back by something like this?”

The Team 2 Leader added in a resolute voice,

“Just do as you’re told. Then I’ll give you a brilliant debut with you winning the rookie award!”

Seo Jijoon and Chief Lee Bongjoon leisure walked down the hall with a thick scenario in their hands.

“Hyung, how about we show this scenario to Chief Jung?”

Chief Lee Bongjoon frowned.

“You bastard, don’t you trust me?”

“No, it’s not like I don’t trust you, just…”

“I already showed him. We decided to talk after he reads it.”

Chief Lee Bongjoon said while sticking out his belly.

Moved, Seo Jijoon wrapped his arm around Chief Lee Bongjoon’s round shoulders.

“Ah, really. What would I have done if you weren’t my manager? Without you, I’m trash. You know that, right?”

“Don’t just say that, mention me in your interviews.”

Cracking up, they arrived at the Team 2 Leader’s office

A frustrated shout erupted from the office. It was the Team 2 Leader. Chief Lee Bongjoon quickly took his hand off the knob and backed away. Seo Jijoon did the same. They exchanged glances, agreeing that now was not the time, and turned around.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Song Inho left with a stiff face.

“… Hello, sunbae. Chief Lee.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Song Inho momentarily looked at Seo Jijoon and Chief Lee Bongjoon then bowed and left. His handsome figure seemed to falter for some reason. Chief Lee Bongjoon clicked his tongue in pity.

“It seems they fought again. I wonder if they might push him over the edge at this rate.”

“Makes me think of the past. I might have been depressed without you back when I was a rookie. But it seems the team leader is more hysteric than usual. Is he experiencing menopause?”

“It’s because of Chief Jung. There’s a lot hanging on their battle. There are quite a few actors in the company who are interested in him since everything he works on is a success. It makes sense since a manager who gets you hits is the best for actors. The team leader must be annoyed by this as well.”

Chief Lee Bongjoon glanced at the shut door.

“In my opinion, this is the calm before the storm. I bet they’ll properly duke it out soon?”

“The team leader and Chief Jung? No matter how great things are going for Chief Jung, will it even be a fight? Just look at the number of actors the team leader had brought on. Chief Jung can’t compare to his influence.”

Seo Jijoon rubbed his sharp chin.

“Well, I guess I should at least take Chief Jung’s side.”

“I don’t know about that. I might have thought the same as you in the past…”

Chief Lee Bongjoon crossed his arms and continued,

“The more I see Jung Sunwoo, the more I feel like he’s not some pushover either.”

*

Song Inho brought his phone to his ear again. It still continued to only ring.

Placing his phone down, he continued to walk down the hallway. Each step seemed heavy like he had just got out of the water. After arriving in front of the door, he raised his hand. He hesitated for a moment before ringing the doorbell.

Like his phone, there was no answer.

Song Inho leaned against the wall and slumped down.

Just then, the door creaked open.

A man who had a towel over his wet hair as though he had just gotten out of a shower looked out. Song Inho jumped to his feet as soon as he saw him. His tears, which he held back by biting his lips, began to fall.

“Chief… Hyung… I feel like I’m suffocating.”

Jung Sunwoo patted Song Inho’s trembling shoulders.

Song Inho collapsed into his embrace.