***
"Wow. This coffee tastes amazing."
"Have you ever considered becoming a barista?"
"Hey, quit your job as a talent agent and open a cafe with me!"
Team Lead Oh Duk-Gu, Ju Yung-Hoon, and Park In-Ki from Division 2 were sipping the coffee I handed out at the long table in the meeting room and smiling.
Perhaps it was because the lower-ranked staff had gone out on schedules, I was the only junior staff there. Although I felt a bit out of place, I gradually got used to the atmosphere of the meeting as it progressed.
Following the reports by Ju Yung-Hoon and Park In-Ki, Oh Duk Gu continued his report.
"...So, in addition to episodes 23 and 24, we've also received additional screen time for episode 22, which is scheduled for filming today."
"Huh? The revised scripts are for three episodes in total? Didn't you say only episodes 23 and 24 were revised?"
"That was the case, but we received additional revisions for episode 22 as well this morning."
Writer Lee Ji-Yeon had eventually revised even the script of episode 22 so that Yoo-Jin could star in the drama all the way till its last episode. Hence, because of all these script revisions, Yoo-JIn got up early to practice her acting this morning.
"Oh wow. It seems like Ms. Lee Ji-Yeon really likes Yoo-Jin."
"Yes, sir. Thanks to Yoon-Ho's hard work on set, it seems like Ms. Lee Ji-Yeon has taken a liking to Yoo-Jin."
Gu Seong Cheol smiled and opened his mouth.
"That's right. I heard that Yoon-Ho has been doing great lately. So? How is it? How does it feel to be in charge of someone for the first time?"
"It feels good. I've been managing fine, sir."
"Keep up the good work. If you continue to do well, you might be exclusively assigned to Yoo-Jin."
Usually for the second year newbies, they had to attend to other celebrities' schedules when their main assigned celebrity's schedule was over. However, exclusively managing Yoo-Jin also meant that I would have more time to assist the members of Faithful whom I would meet in the future. Of course, this was contingent on my continued success.
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it. But which actress lost the most screen time with Yoo-Jin receiving more lines?"
"It's Park Eun-Bin."
"Park Eun-Bin from Petite More? That brat?"
Park Eun-Bin, who lost screen time to Jung Yoo-Jin, was the leader of Petite More, a top-tier girl group in their fifth year since debut. She was currently fully backed by the second biggest agency in the industry, TK Entertainment, and started her acting career this year.
However, she was a textbook example of what a terrible actress was. With a deep sigh, Gu Seong-Cheol warned Oh Duk-Gu.
"Team Lead Oh, be careful not to clash with that brat on set. Pay special attention to those from TK Entertainment. Okay?"
"Yes, sir. Well understood. Don't worry."
"Alright. Both of you, keep up the good work. Oh, and Yoon-Ho—make sure Yoo-Jin doesn't get bullied by other actors on set."
"Yes, sir."
toward the end of the meeting, Gu Seong-Cheol said something utterly unexpected.
"Also, let's increase Yoo-Jin's acting lesson hours. If Ms. Lee Ji-Yeon is showing this much interest in Yoo-Jin, we should also be paying more attention to her acting."
Actor Choi Hyun-Min, managed by Team Lead Ju Yung-Hoon of Division 2, was a veteran supporting actor and coach with twelve years of experience.
Unfortunately, everyone had been thinking that the improvement in Yoo-Jin's acting was all thanks to Choi Hyun-Min. I had initially planned to suggest cutting down on Yoo-Jin's acting lesson hours after a period of time, but I couldn't wait any longer.
Even if it meant receiving criticism, I had to step up right now.
"Yoon-Ho. Starting tomorrow, come to the company for lessons when Yoo-Jin doesn't have a schedule and…"
"That won't work, sir."
I interrupted Gu Seong-Cheol in a firm manner, causing all eyes in the meeting room to fixate on me.
Gu Seong-Cheol frowned and opened his mouth.
"What do you mean 'that won't work?' Why not?"
"Yoo-Jin is better off practicing on her own than receiving lessons, sir."
Oh Duk-Gu lightly tugged on the sleeve of my suit, signaling me not to cause an unnecessary scene.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
I knew very well that even if Gu Seong-Cheol was usually amiable, he was unstoppable when angered. But I couldn't let Yoo-JIn, who had just started to bloom, be crushed by an evil plan. Getting a trash coach like Choi Hyun-Min to give Yoo-Jin acting lessons at a crucial time like this was nothing short of destroying her career.
Sitting across from me, Ju Yung-Hoon, who was known for his gentle demeanor, also wore a stern expression.
"Did something happen to you this morning? What's up with the sudden change?"
Under the stiff gaze of everyone in the meeting room, I began to argue that Yoo-Jin's acting had surpassed the level where she needed lessons.
***
While I was on my way to pick up Yoo-Jin after the meeting, Oh Duk-Gu scolded me non-stop in the car.
"Are you…are you out of your mind?"
"No, sir. I'm in my right mind."
"You are driving me nuts. Why have you suddenly changed like this?"
The atmosphere had turned tense earlier in the meeting when I insisted that Yoo-Jin no longer needed acting lessons. In response, Gu Seong-Cheol proposed an alternative solution.
He said taking the initiative and actively looking out for my assigned talent was a good attitude. However, he said he couldn't accept my opinion without any tangible evidence to back it up considering the good reputation of Choi Hyun-Min. Therefore I was told to deliver performances that met expectations if I wanted to get Yoo-Jin out of her lessons.
At the very least, I had to ensure that the company heard about Yoo-Jin's good acting on set.
He also warned that I would be removed from exclusively managing Yoo-Jin and reassigned elsewhere if they were ever to hear someone say her acting was bad. Gu Seong-Cheol was famous for keeping his word and walking the talk, so I knew his words were not empty threats.
I repeatedly urged Oh Duk-Gu, who was sitting in the passenger seat, to keep mum about this.
"Mr. Oh. Please don't say anything about this to Yoo-Jin. If she finds out, she might be unnecessarily worried and it might affect her acting."
Oh Duk-Gu let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"Sigh. I just don't get it. I don't know what you see in Yoo-Jin…after all, how well can a newbie who just started acting really do? Ugh! Whatever. Do as you wish!"
"You'll understand what I mean when you see Yoo-Jin on set yourself."
"Fine, fine, It's your career on the line, so who am I to stop you?"
Although he spoke gruffly, his expression was filled with concern. After all, this sunbae was a good person.
***
"Scene 269 of Episode 22. Ready~ Action!"
Upon arriving at the set, I heard PD Park's voice through the loudspeaker. The staff continued to film according to the cue sheet which was based on the revised script for Episode 22.
However, an unexpected problem arose—even though the filming for Episode 22 had started, the viewership ratings for Episode 22 of the Morning Takes Off that was to be broadcast on the 24th remained unchanged in my planner.
[Everyday V10]
[Date: December 24th, 2019]
-10:00 PM Episode 22 Monitoring. Viewership Rating: 19.5%
Thanks to Ms. Lee Ji-Yeon's fondness for Yoo-Jin, she had revised the scripts for not only Episodes 23 and 24, but also Episode 22. As a result, the amount of Yoo-Jin's screen time had increased significantly. However, the viewership ratings showed no change, not even by 0.1%.
The fact that the schedule in the planner was still the same meant the future remained the same. I couldn't understand how this was happening, especially given the high-stakes situation where I had confidently staked my career in front of Gu Seong-Cheol.
'Why is the viewership rating still the same!?'