Chapter 81

Chapter 81

“You came to work early, Gi-baek.”

Kim Eun-kyung greeted me calmly, almost as if we had simply parted yesterday and were meeting again today.

“Ah, yes. Team Leader...”

For a moment, I didn't know what I should call her anymore, so my words trailed off.

Seeing my reaction, Kim Eun-kyung gave a small grin.

“For now, let's go to my office and talk.”

“Ah, yes...”

“Executive Director, I'll prepare your coffee. The others haven't arrived yet.”

“That's fine with me. I'd appreciate it. Please do that, Team Leader Joo.”

Wait. Team Leader Joo?

Then did Joo Han-young become the planning team's leader? What about Oh Sang-min? Ah, since the planning team has been divided into two, maybe Oh Sang-min is in charge of the other one?

The sudden changes left me confused once again.

Still, I focused all my attention on adapting to the situation as quickly as possible.

“You must have been surprised by how much the office has changed.”

With the coffee Joo Han-young had brought sitting between us, Kim Eun-kyung, who was now an Executive Director, spoke with a smile.

“Ah, yes...”

“We weren't originally planning to restructure the company this way, but things just happened to turn out like this.”

Kim Eun-kyung began explaining what had happened.

As I had suggested, CEO Han Tae-sung had decided to prepare for the coming changes in the video media market.

He created a drama production team and aggressively began expanding into the drama industry, even recruiting a capable drama director.

However, during that process, something unexpected happened.

Producer Uhm Ji-yeon from Production Team 2 and Oh Sang-min from the planning team both left the company.

Later, they discovered that the two had already been preparing to resign together and establish a new company.

“Wait, since when were those two close enough to start a company together?”

“Exactly...”

Whatever the reason, once things had reached that point, CEO Han Tae-sung decided to use the opportunity to carry out an aggressive restructuring aimed at improving the company's future prospects.

As a result, the company was divided into two major divisions.

The Film Business Division.

And the Drama Business Division.

Each division would have its own planning team and production team.

“So you've basically reduced the size of the film business.”

“Well... like you said, Gi-baek, the film industry has continued to decline. And once investment shrank, there haven't been any real signs of it recovering...”

Given the situation, the company decided that now was the right time to scale down its film business.

“Currently, Joo Han-young is the team leader of Planning Team 1 under the Film Business Division. The team leader position for Planning Team 2 under the Drama Business Division hasn't been decided yet.”

Hearing Kim Eun-kyung's explanation, my mind immediately started racing.

Then does that mean I'll be working under Joo Han-young for now?

That makes things a little complicated...

Actually, I had been planning from the beginning to ask to transfer to the drama planning team.

If I wanted to keep up with the coming era of comprehensive programming channels and global OTT platforms, I needed to start learning the overall system and practical work of the drama industry now.

But looking at the current situation, the drama planning team didn't even have a team leader yet.

At the same time, it felt awkward for me to suddenly say that I wanted to join that team.

Still... working under Joo Han-young feels a little uncomfortable too.

Just imagining Joo Han-young becoming my direct superior made me uneasy.

Neither Joo Han-young nor Oh Sang-min had ever openly shown it, but I knew they had been unhappy about someone like me, with little education, being parachuted into the planning team.

But given the situation, there's nothing I can do.

I'll work under Joo Han-young for now, then request a transfer to the drama planning team when the opportunity comes.

While I was thinking that, Kim Eun-kyung continued speaking.

“So starting today, Gi-baek, you'll be the team leader of Planning Team 2, the drama planning team.”

“Ah, yes... Planning Team 2...”

I froze.

“Wait.”

I stared at her.

“Did you just say Planning Team 2?”

“Yes. I said you'll be the team leader of Planning Team 2.”

As if making sure I hadn't misheard her, Kim Eun-kyung repeated every word clearly.

For a moment, my mind went completely blank.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

Her question snapped me back to reality.

My brain immediately started working at full speed.

Before returning to the past, I had barely worked in the drama industry.

No.

Until the so-called OTT era arrived, I hardly even watched dramas.

And now she wasn't merely asking me to become an ordinary team member.

She wanted me to lead the entire team?

The unexpected offer frightened me.

But at the same time...

I wanted it like crazy.

It was true that I had little direct experience with dramas.

Even so, I had worked in a related industry for more than twenty years.

Just the knowledge I'd picked up during that time was enormous.

If I ignored my fear and simply followed my ambition, this wasn't something impossible.

Right.

This is an opportunity.

I just have to do it.

No.

This is an opportunity I absolutely have to take!

Just then, Kim Eun-kyung spoke again while watching me think.

“I suppose it's a lot of pressure.”

I stayed silent for a moment before slowly answering.

“I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel pressured.”

I looked directly at her.

“But... I'll do it.”

“I'm the one who told the CEO that we should expand into dramas in the first place. So I'll take responsibility and do it.”

Seeing my serious expression, Kim Eun-kyung smiled in satisfaction.

“I thought you'd accept.”

She continued.

“And you don't need to feel too pressured. The drama director we recently recruited said he could handle almost everything himself, including helping you.”

What does that mean?

The drama director said he'd even cover for me?

I couldn't immediately understand what she meant, but I decided not to question it for now.

My head was already complicated enough.

I didn't want to make it even worse.

“Then how far along are we with the drama side?”

I quickly switched to work mode.

“It sounds like you've already finished recruiting the director. But considering the planning team is only being formed now, does that mean the writer hasn't been decided yet?”

“Ah, we finalized the contract with the director not long ago.”

Kim Eun-kyung continued.

“His name is Won Se-chang. Have you ever heard of him?”

“Ah, I'm sorry. I don't know much about dramas...”

Director Won Se-chang was forty-three years old.

At the age of twenty-seven, he passed the notoriously difficult broadcasting company entrance examination and joined MBS.

He spent his first three years in the entertainment department.

After that, he worked for around ten years in the drama department, building up extensive experience as a director.

He had directed six dramas as the main producer.

His earlier dramas hadn't achieved particularly impressive ratings, so he didn't attract much attention at first.

But the two dramas he had produced beginning four years ago had both become massive hits.

His reputation as a director skyrocketed after that.

“Have you seen a drama called The Man Holding Flowers? It aired last year.”

“I know the title, but I don't really watch dramas. Was that Director Won's work?”

“Yes. Apparently, its highest viewer rating reached thirty-six percent.”

After the drama became a huge success, several outside production companies, including Big Picture, tried to recruit him.

In the end, Won Se-chang chose to join Big Picture.

“You know Writer Hong Yeon-hee, right?”

“Of course.”

I nodded.

“She's a master of romantic comedies.”

“Exactly.”

Kim Eun-kyung continued.

“Apparently, even before Director Won signed with us, he had already been discussing his next project with Writer Hong Yeon-hee.”

She smiled.

“For us, it's like getting two birds with one stone.”

“Then has the project already been created?”

“There's already a proposal. Take your time and look through it, Team Leader Min.”

The moment I heard that the project proposal already existed, I suddenly felt impatient.

“Then has the contract with Writer Hong been finalized too?”

I leaned forward slightly.

“We should hurry and build the team first.”

“No.”

Kim Eun-kyung shook her head.

“The writer's contract hasn't been signed yet, so there's no need to rush.”

According to her, Writer Hong Yeon-hee's father had passed away around a month ago.

She had been overwhelmed by everything surrounding the funeral and its aftermath, so the company hadn't even met her personally yet.

“Director Won said he'd arrange a formal meeting after Writer Hong has had some time to recover emotionally.”

Kim Eun-kyung continued.

“We'll discuss the contract again then.”

“Ah, I see...”

“In any case, Director Won Se-chang is a veteran in the drama industry. You'll have plenty to learn from him, Team Leader Min.”

“Yes. I'll work hard.”

“Good.”

Kim Eun-kyung nodded approvingly.

“And I think it would be better if you personally selected the employees who will work under you.”

She thought for a moment.

“Hiring around two people should probably be enough...”

While speaking, Kim Eun-kyung checked the time.

Then she stood up.

“He should be at work by now.”

She looked at me.

“I think it would be best for you to meet the director first.”

The nervousness I had barely managed to suppress came rushing back.

It was my first day back at work after completing my military service.

I hadn't even been at the office for an hour yet.

And already, one shocking thing after another was happening.

Even with my mind in chaos, I forced myself to calm down once again.

Right.

What's the big deal?

I'll just give it a shot!

The elevator stopped on the ninth floor.

The doors slid open.

However, just as Kim Eun-kyung was about to step out, she hesitated for a moment and turned toward me.

“Ah, by the way, Gi-baek...”

“Yes?”

“There's one thing I should tell you about Director Won...”

“Please go ahead.”

Kim Eun-kyung seemed unsure how to phrase it.

“I'm not sure how this will sound, but Director Won is...”

She paused.

“How should I put it...?”

“He's kind of... frivolous.”

Frivolous?

I couldn't immediately understand what exactly she meant by that.

“Ah, just keep it in mind.”

Kim Eun-kyung quickly brushed it aside.

“Shall we go?”

With an unconcerned expression, she stepped out of the elevator.

The ninth-floor office was divided by a low partition running through the center of the room.

On one side was the film production team.

On the other was the drama production team.

Has nobody arrived yet?

I looked around the empty office.

Then I heard voices coming from the pantry.

“Really? Jo Min-jae was dating Seo Joo-hyun?”

“I'm telling you, it's true. They might have fooled everyone else, but they couldn't fool me.”

The other voice continued excitedly.

“Back when we worked on a drama together, those two were flirting whenever they got the chance. I honestly couldn't believe nobody else noticed.”

Manager Choi Sun-hwa and an unfamiliar man walked out of the pantry, each holding a cup of coffee.

They were so busy talking that they didn't notice us at first.

Then Choi Sun-hwa spotted Executive Director Kim Eun-kyung and quickly approached.

“Oh? Executive Director, you're here?”

After greeting her, Choi Sun-hwa noticed me standing behind Kim Eun-kyung.

Her eyes widened.

Then she shouted happily without even realizing it.

“Whoa! Min Gi-baek! How long has it been?!”

“Yes, Manager. Have you been doing well?”

Even while exchanging greetings with Choi Sun-hwa, my attention kept drifting toward the unfamiliar man standing beside her.

One look was enough.

I immediately realized who he was.

The drama director.

Won Se-chang.