Chapter 64: Lunar New Year Release
"How's the election going?"
"Latest team survey: 63% support."
Sook Min-soo handed him a glass of amber liquid. He swirled it under his nose, chuckling. "Whiskey? Since when'd you switch tastes?"
She sipped, wincing. "They like this."
"Those old fogeys?"
He raised his glass, smirking. "They don't like the drink, but what it represents—Westernized, high-class."
"Exactly." She bit her lip, flashing a cute smile.
"Forget those fossils. They're outdated." He toasted forward, grinning boldly. "The future's yours."
"Ours, in the end…" Her wrist flicked, letting the tumbler fall to the soft carpet.
Whiskey soaked it.
She lunged forward, hands on the bed's edge, one knee up, like a fierce leopardess, crawling seductively.
"It's all yours." Legs wrapping his steel waist, she arched back, undoing her hair bun.
Long hair flowed, warm yellow light filtering through, blurring his vision.
The beauty before him seemed dreamlike, an invader from another dimension.
Leaning forward, silky hair brushed his chest, tickling him with restless itch.
Warm, moist breath at his ear, a ethereal call: "Jin-woo-ssi, love me~"
…
A subversive, wild night.
He saw how captivating a woman brimming with ambition could be.
Her confidence, heat, and madness nearly set her ablaze.
Ambition's Call: An ambitious fox struggles in confusion. Abandon it, or heed the heart's call, betting everything.
Task completion: 175%. Calculating rewards.
Reward granted: Quad-drive engine.
PS: Kidneys are a man's strongest engine. Quad-drive is every man's dream.
Waking, Jin-woo felt the change.
Now, he understood.
Four powerful kidneys…
He brimmed with endless energy.
Huff, huff~
Five hundred push-ups in one go, and he still had juice.
This felt… freaking awesome.
Showering, he searched his phone.
Four kidneys were rare but not unheard of, a congenital condition.
If healthy, no treatment was needed.
He had no worries—system magic was old hat.
Posing bodybuilder-style in the mirror, his chiseled muscles were mythic, flawless.
"Nice~" Shaking water from his hair, letting it fall loose.
He headed to the living room, where sounds came.
The bedroom's muddy sheets were already cleaned.
In the living room, Sook Min-soo was polished.
Beige slacks, pale blue shirt, and blazer gleamed, hair impeccably neat.
Sharp, approachable, commanding. "Should I congratulate Assemblywoman Sook early?"
"Mm." She nodded, her polite elegance flawless.
What a waste as a lawyer!
"Ready? I'm running late." Linking his arm, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Win today's district, and no one could stop her.
She'd enter Congress with a perfect record, launching a new chapter.
"Let's go!" Grabbing his coat, slinging it over his shoulder, right hand in pocket, he strode out.
New World's final scene was due to wrap.
The Lunar New Year box office was always a bloodbath.
Without absolute pull or supreme confidence, you'd dodge it.
When setting the wrap date, Sun Kyung-sik discussed release timing.
As a rookie director, even with Choi Min-sik's box-office draw and an all-star male cast, dodging the fiercest battle was wise.
For anyone…
But Jin-woo disagreed, insisting on Lunar New Year for his "debut stage."
"40 billion investment, half for promotion, with Choi Min-sik, Lee Jung-jae, Hwang Jung-min, Park Sung-woong.
Uncle, if I don't dare bet with this, am I too pathetic?"
Sun, cornered by his words, grudgingly agreed, but with conditions.
If the box office flopped, CJ's losses would be covered first.
"Deal." Gripping Sun's hand, Jin-woo's quick agreement stunned him.
It sparked rare guilt in Sun.
He'd grown fond of Jin-woo, their bond familial.
Knowing a flop would wipe Jin-woo out, yet seeing his bright, understanding smile, how could Sun not like him?
"Jin-woo, Uncle will fight for max screenings and profits."
Shaking his shoulder, Sun resolved to go all-in.
He'd push New World to the top, no matter who objected.
CJ owned Korea's largest theater chain. As the film's biggest investor and distributor, Sun had to go hard.
Normally, investors prioritize proven directors and scripts for key slots.
A rookie aiming for Lunar New Year?
Arrogant or a joke. If a joke, it's hilarious.
But Sun aimed to make it real.
Not from emotion or fleeting guilt—those don't sway a businessman.
The script, crew feedback, Bong Joon-ho and Park Hoon-jung's praise, cast performance, internal screenings, market surveys…
A mature businessman never banks on "luck."
Every success has its inevitability.
Sun was such a man, but he'd hesitated, unsure if New World was worth breaking rules.
Sticking to norms was old-school but safe…
Great pioneers aren't successful businessmen. He was a businessman, not chasing greatness—profit was king.
Jin-woo's resolve tipped the scales.
"This time, let's make history." Gazing at the boundless blue sky, Sun rediscovered youthful ambition.
"Youth is great, haha…"
Deciding to fight for Lunar New Year, he amped up promotion and leaked the news.
Two distinct trailers hit audiences through different channels.
The rush hit the cast hardest.
A single poster took four hours.
Post-shoot, the three leads worked four extra hours to nail a shot Jin-woo approved.
No one complained.
His perfectionism and high standards were old news.
Off-set, he was kind, but at work, a ruthless perfectionist.
No flaws allowed, and no fool challenged his authority.
If you couldn't read the room, you wouldn't pass a big company's hiring.
Chief Kang, outwardly just with a glossy face, was shadowed.
Ding Qing, with a smug smile and shades-hidden eyes, had a "bright" forehead.
Lee Ja-sung, sinking into darkness, half-lit, half-shadowed, cold, leaning toward Ding Qing.
The story hid in that poster.
"Great work." The three, standing four hours, bowed to the busy crew.
Their attitude warmed hearts.
Grumbling crew members smiled wearily again.
"Wrap! A few more hard days, then I'm treating everyone to a feast."
"Ne, long live Director!"
Busy times flew.
Focused, Jin-woo lost track of time.
When the final cut appeared, cheers of "It's done!" hit, and he realized Lunar New Year was five days away.
The crew worked non-stop, and others kept pace.
Zy+ couldn't help with channels or promotion but handled schedules and accompanied actors to events.
The crew had held promo meet-and-greets across Korea.
Led by Bong Joon-ho, with lighter roles—Lee Jung-joo (Park Sung-woong), the go teacher (Han So-hee), and Ja-sung's wife (Lee Joo-bin)—they practically lived in cars, at events or en route.
Leads squeezed in time, rushing from shoots to promos, back overnight for filming.
Sun Kyung-sik didn't slack. New World was a top CJ project.
He led a dedicated team, fending off endless calls and lobbying. CJ's theaters weren't just for them.
Balancing ties, his strong push for New World ruffled feathers.
Without him, they wouldn't have secured 27% of premiere screenings.
(End of Chapter)