Genius Manager Who Hears Voices - Chapter 12



Only Noblemtl

Episode 12

“Rumors? What rumors? What is it related to this time?”

Working at an advertising agency, you get to hear a lot of news related to the entertainment industry.

This is because trust, faith, and image are considered very important in advertising, so they are very careful about who they hire.

Not only do they have to meticulously research celebrities who have to be used as models, but in some cases, they even have to meticulously research and organize the director of photography and staff.

Because of this, it was inevitable that a lot of talk about people would circulate.

“It’s not related to us. It was about some MBS drama, and there were some rumors going around about the PD. But even I was a bit shocked when I heard it.”

Yang Won-ho asked absentmindedly, his mouth full of lamb skewers.

“Why, what’s going on? What, the PD is paired up with an actress or something? So he cast a complete stranger as the lead actor?”

Im Eun-ha reacted with surprise, her eyes wide open at Yang Won-ho’s words.

Then he covered his mouth with one hand and asked.

“Huh, how did you know, Manager? Did you hear that too? I just overheard Kang Se-ra’s personal staff talking in the corner.”

Let’s say that what he said carelessly was true, but this time, Yang Won-ho showed a more surprised reaction.

“What, really? I was just rambling… … ?”

“Wow, Manager. Shouldn’t you be out here eating lamb skewers? Shouldn’t you be going somewhere to receive divine revelation? What about the power of foresight?”

“I heard it too and thought, ‘Oh, no way.’ but it seems like it’s already spread quite a bit on that side. Originally, actress Chun Si-eun was supposed to be cast for that role, but after all the auditions, the PD suddenly changed the lead actress. Of all people, the one who put Chun Si-eun in that role was an unknown actor whose name wasn’t even known.”

Kim Seok-hwan asked, putting down the glass of water he was holding.

“You broke Cheon Si-eun? Wow, that’s a bit shocking. Cheon Si-eun wouldn’t deserve that kind of treatment. Didn’t she win the grand prize last year?”

“Yes. I received that and went to the movie side, but it didn’t work out well, so I think I came back to dramas this time. It seems like things suddenly fell through when the production company and contract details were all discussed, because the PD in charge was completely obsessed with another actor.”

Heeseong quietly listened to the group’s conversation and kept changing the direction of the lamb skewers so they wouldn’t burn.

“Hmm. But why did the rumor go that way? It’s not common, but it does happen sometimes, right? There have been quite a few movies that became huge hits with that kind of casting.”

“Manager Kim, that’s because it’s a movie. If you do that in a drama, there’s chaos. Sponsorships and production support are all based on the lead actor, but it’s a completely different concept from a movie where you invest in the director. The demand for advertising per episode would just drop.”

“But if you’re pushing ahead with it, then it must be because you have some belief in it. The PD in charge isn’t a complete beginner either.”

Im Eun-ha let out a short breath and replied to Kim Seok-hwan’s words.

“It’s a rookie. He’s a PD who’s just enlisted. That’s why I think actress Chun Si-eun’s agency’s pride is hurt even more. I don’t know if the rumor is true or not.”

“… … Oh, really? So you’re a rookie?”

Even if he is a new PD, he has to work as an assistant director for at least 4 or 5 years before he gets the chance, so the expression ‘rookie’ is not really appropriate.

Although they may lack directing experience, they were more knowledgeable than anyone else about the situation on set and the overall process of producing and distributing the entire drama.

Unlike directors who get at least a few hours of sleep during filming, the life of an assistant director is nothing short of a living hell.

So, it is clear that there will be discernment and the repercussions of the decision can be easily predicted.

So does that make the rumors more credible?

“If that’s the case, then he’s really lacking. Still, he must have gotten to that position because he went to a good university and was known for being smart, but he’s already been rumored to be dating a new actor before he even enlisted. What’s this? No matter who he becomes, his image will be ruined.”

“Oh, sir. You too. The expression ‘Jo Jin-da’ is a bit much.”

“Then what, it ended nicely, is that how it should be? It’s all a joke, that’s it. Rumors spread so quickly and are so scary in this world.”

but.

There was no need to discuss how quickly rumors spread, as four people who had never even been near the broadcasting station were discussing rumors circulating within MBS at a dinner like this.

Rumors spread everywhere, but especially so in this world.

The entertainment industry is a place where rumors can kill you, and sometimes even revive you.

“So who is that PD, Eunha? If he’s just enlisting, is he a name we’ve never heard of before?”

Im Eun-ha slowly nodded in response to Kim Seok-hwan’s question.

“Yes. It was my first time hearing about you, PD Kim Jae-han. I heard that the writer of that drama is also debuting with this production?”

But at that moment.

As soon as the three letters of Im Eun-ha’s name came out of her mouth, Hee-sung raised his head and looked at her.

Even without that, there was a face that kept coming to my mind because it was the MBS drama department, and that name just came out of Im Eun-ha’s mouth.

For the first time, Heeseong opened his mouth and asked.

“Did you just say PD Kim Jae-han? From the MBS drama department?”

“Yes, that’s right. Kang Se-ra’s personal staff said something like that earlier. I think the writer’s name was ‘Lee A-ra’?”

Of course, they could be people with the same name, but since that’s not common, I thought I should check.

Up until now, I thought it was someone else’s business and just listened to it while flipping lamb skewers.

Heeseong briefly asked for the group’s understanding and then left the store.

Then I started looking for his number, with which I had been in contact until recently and which contained recent message history.

After a few rings, the other person’s voice was soon heard.

“Hey, it’s me. Is it okay to talk now?”

-Oh, I’m sitting alone in the conference room. It’s okay.

“It’s nothing else, but I have something to ask you. Hyung, could you… … .”

At that moment, the person on the other end of the phone let out a sigh-filled voice, cutting off Heeseong who was trying to continue speaking.

-No, do you have time now? I was already feeling frustrated and was planning on leaving work early. If you don’t mind, let’s grab a beer nearby.

Judging from the tone of voice and the mood of the call, I had an ominous feeling.

That’s because I had a feeling that the person my teammates had been talking about until just a moment ago might really be the one on the phone.

Heeseong checked the table of team members clinking glasses and spoke into the receiver.

“Then I’ll see you in an hour. I’m not far from there, by the way.”

***

As always, the dinner with team members ended with the first round.

Their unspoken rule was to keep weekday dinners simple and to the end, unless the next day was a weekend.

Because the purpose was more to relieve stress by having a late dinner rather than drinking.

After parting ways with his teammates, Heeseong took a taxi to Mapo-gu and arrived in front of an officetel after a 20-minute ride.

Hee-sung entered the shared entrance password that was given to him via text message and arrived on the 8th floor a short while later.

As soon as I rang the doorbell in front of room 803, a man opened the front door and appeared.

“Oh, you’re here? Come in.”

Since it was a place he often visited when he worked at Line Planning, Heeseong also naturally walked there.

He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, took two cans of beer out of the fridge, placed them on a pre-set table, and sat down.

“Have a seat. I heard you came from a company dinner, so I just brought out a few snacks.”

“What about you, brother? Have you eaten dinner?”

“This is dinner, right? It’s not like you’ll die if you skip a meal.”

A person who was always positive about everything now has a self-deprecating tone, as if he has become a cynic.

Seeing Kim Jae-han like that, Im Eun-ha’s story from earlier began to come back to my mind more strongly.

“Hyung, are you going to do a drama this time? After you cleared your assistant director position?”

Heeseong and Kim Jaehan grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same middle and high school.

The last time I spoke to him was about a month ago, and until then I had heard nothing about it.

That day, since they had only exchanged opinions on whether or not they would attend a friend’s wedding, Heeseong had not said anything else about his own whereabouts.

In response to Heeseong’s question, Kim Jaehan asked back how he knew.

“Where did you hear that? Did I ever tell you that?”

“That’s not important. Is that PD that’s currently rumored to be having an affair with an actress, hyung? Is there anyone else in the MBS drama department with the same name as hyung?”

Kim Jae-han’s expression suddenly crumpled at the story Hee-sung brought up.

Instead of answering, he pursed his lips, let out a ragged breath, opened the can of beer, and poured it into his mouth.

“Whew… … It’s already spread that far? Seriously, I know rumors spread quickly in this place, but you guys are really going too far. Spreading such ridiculous rumors all the way to the advertising sector.”

Since the person involved said it was a rumor, it seems like it wasn’t true.

I knew Kim Jae-han better than anyone else, so I thought it would definitely happen.

Heeseong opened his lips to ask the whole story.

“What the hell is going on? I heard that there was an actress who was originally supposed to be cast, but my brother said he would replace her with someone else after auditioning her. But that actress was completely unknown, so that’s why the rumors started going around. Is that true?”

In response to Heeseong’s question, Kim Jaehan slowly nodded after finishing the rest of his beer.

“Oh, that’s right. My mind completely changed after the audition. But what’s a final decision? Can’t it change at any time before signing the contract? We didn’t even have a meeting beforehand, and we even talked about choosing fairly through auditions. After the audition, wasn’t it the production company and Chun Si-eun who drank kimchi stew?”

“Audition? So did actress Cheon Si-eun also audition? It wasn’t a confirmed situation?”

“Oh, that’s right. From the beginning, we had an agreement with writer Lee Ara to select all roles through auditions, and I relayed that to Chun Si-eun. That’s why she readily agreed.”

“hmm.”

“I really wanted to select fairly through auditions, but Cheon Si-eun’s side thought it was just a formality, something for show. And then later they started making up ridiculous rumors.”

“Then did actress Cheon Si-eun create that rumor? Something about the rumor of an affair?”

“I don’t know where that rumor came from. I’m on the verge of depression right now because of that. The writer calls me every day, crying and making a scene. I must be so stressed out that every time I pull my hair out, a handful comes out. Phew.”

Since he was a good student since he was young and always said that he would become a drama PD, I thought there must be a reason for that.

However, I wondered if there was any reason to be so stubborn and suffer from rumors and stress like this.

It’s nothing more than a debut work.

The lead role is going to be played by Cheon Si-eun, but I wonder if the new actress chosen through audition could be given a different role.

Hee-sung asked Kim Jae-han, wondering what kind of actor he was that would endure such rumors and push forward.

“What kind of actor are you? Are you so good at acting?”

Genius Manager Who Hears Voices