Competent or Incompetent (9)

{Whoop! Second chapter of the week!}

"The little seedling learned to scheme from W&U."

General Manager Hwang snorted when he heard about the call with Jung Sunwoo.

Producer Choi nervously paced back and forth.

"I asked around and there really are a few production companies and networks interested in the reality TV show. Even PBS."

"Of course, since it's a good idea."

"What do we do if Chief Jung Sunwoo really takes the proposal to some other network? The director will be angry if the show is a success after going to a different network despite them having come to us first."

"You really are timid. How can someone like you be a producer?"

General Manager Hwang gave Producer Choi an unpleasant look.

"How many years of experience do you have for you to be played as a fool by some seedling?"

"I'm not being played. There just always an 'if'. I'm just worried things might actually fall through. Isn't it better to keep our conditions moderate and going into production? Once it goes into production, we'll have the upper hand again…"

"I don't know. I don't feel like letting them off. I'm too disgusted by his actions."

General Manager Hwang's lips became crooked.

"This guy is thinking lightly of me, a public network general manager, because cable networks and subcontract production companies are treating him well. That's why he's trying to get a deal with us while acting like he might go to a different network. He's too wet behind the ears for that."

Looking at the article on his phone, he added,

"The sudden article. That guy might be acting after releasing it himself."

"I looked into it, and it seems like some high schooler posted it on social media."

"It's not hard masking the origin of a source. It'll spread so long as it gets passed along a couple times. Anyways, I don't plan on letting him go. Him insisting like this will only be momentary. Even if his scheme might work at other networks, he won't fool me."

General Manager Hwang waved his hand.

"But what if Chief Jung is unsatisfied and is ready to pull Seoyoung and LJ off the show."

Producer Choi said with a gulp.

"What if he decides to cancel his appearance on Good Friends' long-term project and simply goes to a different network?"

"He can do that if he has the guts."

General Manager Hwang said coldly.

"The guts to turn his back on an entire network."

"Pardon?"

"If he does as you said, then I'm going straight to the director. You know that the director hates rude brats like him. He has a bad temper."

Chuckling, General Manager Hwang continued,

"Do you think he'll like it if I tell him that a W&U chief took his celebrities out of our show because he was cranky, and he only baited us with the proposal before passing it over to another network?"

"But we are the ones who brought up kicking them off the show if he doesn't listen."

"I just need to talk to the director. An arm always leans inward."

General Manager Hwang, who smoothly glossed things over, gestured to Producer Choi.

A cunning smile hung on his lips.

"Tell Jung Sunwoo, that bastard, exactly what I told you."

"Exactly?"

"Then he'll come to us with his head bowed."

Producer Choi blinked at General Manager's confident attitude.

"Why?"

"He does have the rank to blow things up any further. It's not like W&U is some mom and pop shop. They have tons of employees and celebrities. Do you think they'll clash against a network because one of their employees is cranky? I bet their company would be against his actions first. Also, you said he was only a temporary team leader."

"Yes, he became a temporary team leader after being assigned this project."

"Then he'll definitely want to handle things on his own. If this escalates up to our director, do you think the W&U CEO won't interfere? Then he's just admitting he doesn't have the ability to hit at the negotiations table."

Producer Choi was in awe at those words. His worries were cleanly swept off his mind.

General Manager Hwang leisurely crossed his legs as he said,

"You need to break in these bastards that don't know their place."

*

-This could really become a big incident if this reaches our director.

Producer Choi sighed.

-I'll try to soothe General Manager Hwang's anger a little, so please just bow your head once this time. If this tug-o-war continues, it won't end with just you and our general manager. It could escalate to a problem between W&U and IBC.

"… That can't happen."

Jung Sunwoo replied while rubbing his dry lips.

Producer Choi's voice clearly became brighter. They ended the call after saying they would get in touch after an internal discussion.

A silence hung in the meeting room. Chief Lee Taeshin soothed his parched throat with his lukewarm coffee. The emotions that surged during Jung Sunwoo's call with Producer Choi Byungsoo had no intention of calming down.

A threat saying they would crush them with power if he didn't do as they said. The way that an influential producer and general manager of a public network worked was beyond shameless.

Chief Lee Taeshin gave Jung Sunwoo a worried look.

There was no doubt his mind was complicated with the blatant pressure they were weighing on him. Jung Sunwoo was expressionlessly looking at his coffee cup. His arms and legs were crossed. He looked like a coiled snake.

Soon, he made a bitter smile as he said,

"This wouldn't have happened if it was the team leader or the CEO instead of me, right?"

"Probably not."

Team Leader Park nodded.

"Still, there's no need for you to feel bad. It's rare for someone with little experience like you to be assigned such a big project. General Manager Hwang, that man, probably felt disregarded when you went over with the proposal by yourself. People like him really care about positions."

Team Leader Park patted his shoulder. Then she lightly asked,

"What now? Do you want to ask the CEO for help? I bet it'll be cleanly settled then."

Chief Lee Taeshin gulped.

"No."

Jung Sunwoo's lips rose in a crooked manner.

"Let's wait a little longer. I took out an insurance."

"An insurance…?"

Chief Lee Taeshin asked with a perplexed expression.

Jung Sunwoo smiled faintly as he replied,

"I thought this would happen, so I had drinks until early morning. With a director I know."

"A d-director?"

*

IBC's Drama Department.

The director roughly undid his necktie as he entered. The noisy drama director and production assistants quickly shut their mouths. He looked around with his big, bright eyes on his way to his office.

"Why are there so many people in the office sitting on their asses? Do none of you have a film shoot? You need to be filming one more scene instead of twiddling your thumbs if you want to make a great hit! PBS's Royal Family is about to exceed 25% in ratings, yet are you not jealous?"

After shouting, he entered his office.

Two men followed after him. They were Director Moon, who had been doing well in his career before flopping a mini-series and was preparing for his next project with gnashed teeth, and the chief producer, General Manager Kim. The director burned with rage when he saw Director Moon.

"Moon Hyesung, did you cast a lead?"

"No."

"Don't even ask for a timeslot until you get a top star male and female lead."

"I have something I want to say about that. I can't stand it any longer."

Director Moon said with a grim face.

The director blinked at his serious mood.

"What can't you stand?"

"As you said, I want to cast top stars as the leads. I want to get ratings like Royal Family! That's why I earnestly beg actors and their managers and send them fruit baskets. But what's the point if the Entertainment Department messes it all up?!"

"What?"

"I don't care if the Entertainment Department abuse their power over agencies, but they shouldn't let that negatively affect us. Do we try to cast actors multiple times because we have no pride?"

Furious, Director Moon grumbled,

"I should have been an Entertainment producer instead. I'm just wasting my hard work trying to make dramas…"

"Why is he suddenly acting like this?"

The director looked at General Manager Kim with perplexed eyes. The general manager clicked his tongue and said,

"He was in progress with a potential candidate, but it was all foiled by the Entertainment Department. Our employees are quite unsatisfied because of incidents like this."

Director Moon poked General Manager Kim as if he was urging him to go on.

General Manager Kim added,

"Even if the Entertainment and Drama Departments are divided, we are still part of IBC. Agencies don't look at us favorably when they are screwed over by them. Why is it that we have to clean up their mess all the time?"

The conversation went on for about ten more minutes.

Sighing, the director waved his hand.

"Okay, I got it. I'll talk it over with their director so that this doesn't happen again if possible."

Having obtained a satisfactory answer, Director Moon and General Manager Kim left the office.

Director Moon said in a quiet voice,

"Thank you for your help, general manager."

"Even without you bringing it up, this was a problem we needed to discuss. Also, tell me honestly, what did you gain from W&U's Jung Sunwoo?"

"Why would I gain something?"

The general manager snorted.

"You said you guys drank until early morning. Aren't you helping him out like this because you've gained something? If it's something good, tell me."

"We didn't talk about much. We simply drank together. After a few drinks, Chief Jung was complaining about he would in such a difficult situation. That's why I decided to help him out a little."

Director Moon licked his dry lips and continued,

"We need to look at the future. It's not like I'm going to only make one project and Chief Jung is going to be a chief forever."

"What?"

"That guy is a temporary team leader at W&U. He was a road manager two years ago, became a chief last year, and a temporary team leader this year. Who knows where he'll be next year? I'm just trying to get on good terms with him by helping him out when he's in a tough spot."

Director Moon made a meaningful smile.

"Yeah, but you did gain something, right?"

"N-no I didn't!"

*

IBC's Entertainment director was a cold, temperamental person.

He nodded after glancing through the reality TV show proposal with W&U's logo on it.

"Others will be attracted to this. It's fun. We must do it."

General Manager Hwang's expression brightened.

"The proposal is good, but the key is Jung Sunwoo. He's a hot topic right now, and his image is still fresh since he hasn't appeared on many shows. There's a ton we can benefit by putting him on our shows. I'm taming him right now so-"

"Tell General Manager Jo to come."

"Pardon?"

"General Manager Jo."

General Manager Hwang made a flustered expression. He grabbed an employee outside and relayed the order. General Manager Jo entered the office within five minutes.

Half his hair was already grey, and he wore glasses and had defined wrinkles around his eyes. Overall, he had a scholarly appearance, but red sauce stain on his chin and clothes made him look ten years younger.

General Manager Hwang frowned as they weren't close despite being colleagues.

"Why do you have all that muck on you when you're coming to meet the director?"

"Ah, this? I ate a bit of the tteok-bokki a few of the writers ordered as a snack."

General Manager Jo scratched his head.

The director handed him the proposal.

"Take this."

"It's a proposal?"

"Try to restart discussions with the agency."

"Director! Just what-!"

General Manager Hwang shot up from his seat after belatedly understanding the situation.

The director told him,

"Take your hands off this project."

"Pardon?"

"Let go of this project."

General Manager Hwang blankly opened andclosed his mouth.

{1} Acommon dish with stir-fried rice cakes in spicy sauce.