Chapter 025
Who would have known that Bonnie Brown, who had once been Google's masseuse, had also written a great life-changing story with just one percent of stock?
‘But is it really okay for me to get this right?
Or should I intentionally get it wrong?
Or should I surprise him by accurately predicting the exact number of viewers?’
In truth, this bet was easier for me than eating cold porridge.
I wasn't bad at studying either, but when it came to movies, I was practically a walking encyclopedia.
I could memorize what year a movie was made, who starred in it, who directed it, how well it performed at the time, its ratings, and even the one-line reviews from famous critics.
“So, if I lose the bet, what do I have to give you?
I don't really have anything...”
“Hmm... I don't know yet.
I'll tell you after I win the bet.
Don't worry.
I won't ask for anything unreasonable.
Hahaha.”
“All right.
Either way, there is no way I'll lose this bet.”
“Oh, really?
You're quite confident.”
And so, the bet was made.
There were a total of five Korean movies scheduled to be released in April.
Excluding one movie that was closer to an independent film, there were four major movies.
The two movies scheduled to open on April 1 had already attracted a lot of attention since their production was announced because they were directed by famous directors.
They were Kim Jae-hoon's Bitter Life and Ryu Sung-hwa's Fist Laughs.
The other two movies, scheduled to be released in the middle and at the end of April, were directed by relatively unknown directors.
One was a comedy called Station Front Attraction, while the other was a romantic drama called Macho Dancer.
According to my memories, the movie that took first place at the box office this time wasn't a highly anticipated movie from a famous director.
It was Macho Dancer.
Director Han Taesung and I each wrote down our predicted box-office rankings on a piece of paper.
<1st: Macho Dancer, 2nd: Fist Laughs, 3rd: Bitter Life, 4th: Station Front Attraction>
<1st: Fist Laughs, 2nd: Bitter Life, 3rd: Macho Dancer, 4th: Station Front Attraction>
Unlike me, who put Macho Dancer in first place and Fist Laughs in second, CEO Han Taesung had put Fist Laughs in first and Bitter Life in second.
Even though this was only a prediction, Baek Seonghan and Cha Seungjun tilted their heads in confusion at my completely different prediction.
“Are you saying Macho Dancer will be the biggest hit?
You, of all people, who don't even watch romance movies?”
Cha Seungjun looked at me as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
“Romance isn't really my taste, that's true.
But not everyone is like me...
Besides, April and May are spring months, and they're also months when families tend to spend time together.
No matter how famous the actors are or how highly anticipated the movie is, a brutal noir movie about people killing each other will have a hard time succeeding as much as expected.
Maybe it would work in autumn...”
“I agree with Gibaek for the same reason.
I don't think the noir will do as well as expected, even though it's Kim Jae-hoon's movie.”
Han Taesung hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“But... even so, putting Macho Dancer in first place is a little unexpected to me.
Anyway, fine.
A bet only works when we have different opinions.
Let's wait two months and see the result.”
“Yes.
I'm looking forward to it too.”
After talking with CEO Han Taesung for a few more minutes, we left his office.
Baek Seonghan told us that Director Park Junbeom would finish assembling the directing department within this month, so the production department would officially start working next month.
“Then... did we pass the interview?”
“Hahaha.
Of course you passed.”
“I wish we could have dinner together, but I have another schedule.
Before you start work, let's sign the contracts and have a proper drink together!”
“Yes!
I'll look forward to it.”
Cha Seungjun eagerly answered at the mention of having a proper drink.
We left the office of Big Pictures and waited for the elevator.
While waiting, Cha Seungjun kept exchanging messages with someone.
“Hey, Gibaek.
Boyoung got tickets to a VIP premiere for a movie Hyunbin used to appear in and asked me to go with her.
She also asked me to see if you have time.”
‘W-Wait a second.
What is going on here?
Why did Boyoung noona contact Cha Seungjun instead of me?’
My mind suddenly became complicated.
“Hyung...
Have you been personally keeping in touch with Boyoung noona...?”
I casually tried to probe him.
Cha Seungjun chuckled.
“Oh?
Are you jealous right now?”
“Jealous?
What are you talking about...
Ahem.”
“So, are you going to the premiere or not?”
“I'm going!”
‘Ha...
The atmosphere at the wrap party had definitely been good...
She even told me how grateful she was...
Come to think of it, she didn't even reply to my message the next day asking if she got home safely...
What the hell is going on?
Did I do something wrong?’
“So you're saying the CEO was the one who challenged them to a bet first?
And it was with production staff who had only come for their first interview today?”
On the rooftop of the Big Pictures building, Choi Moonho, the team leader of Production Team 1, stared at Baek Seonghan with a bewildered expression as he smoked while looking down at Gangnam's skyline.
“Yes.
But is that really so surprising?”
Baek Seonghan asked back, apparently unable to understand Choi Moonho's reaction.
Choi Moonho tossed his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it under his shoe.
“Seriously, Baek.
Why are you so clueless?
That bet might look like a joke, but the CEO doesn't make bets with just anyone.”
Come to think of it, Baek Seonghan had seen CEO Han Taesung make bets with Choi Moonho before.
