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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Can't Exactly Ask to Sleep Together
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Yeongin had a hectic morning, filled with external appointments, meetings, and conferences, finally catching a breather around 2:30 PM. Of course, that didn't mean she had nothing left to do.
Yeongin was checking movie audition schedules when she suddenly got up and walked over to Haeyun's desk.
"The video for the non-contact audition with the assigned script—is it ready yet? Why haven't you sent it?"
Haeyun looked up, her eyes hollow.
"Oh, I'll send it right now."
Haeyun hastily clicked on a folder located right in the center of her computer's desktop.
"And Jiyu's new profile photos?"
"Ah, I'll check if they've arrived."
Yeongin carefully observed Haeyun's face, which, unlike usual, seemed to be missing a screw.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
Haeyun looked up, her expression on the verge of tears.
"Team Leader, Minso is driving me crazy. She says the emotional shock is too great and she can't film."
"Still?"
"It's getting worse."
"Then tell her to drop out."
"...What?"
"I'll talk to her. Call her and put me on."
Haeyun immediately called the actress she was in charge of and handed the phone to Yeongin.
"Minso, this is Chae Yeongin."
"What is it?"
Her voice was quite sharp.
"I heard you're having trouble continuing with the filming."
"Wouldn't you be having trouble if you were me, Team Leader? How can I act properly after seeing articles about my terrible acting? You can't even stop one measly article like that! What exactly do you people do?!"
"Unless it's a special case, we only find out about articles once they've been uploaded."
"Then you should have taken it down immediately. I'm paying you a cut of my earnings to do things like that."
"We asked the reporter to take it down, but it didn't work out."
"You probably didn't try hard enough."
"..."
Yeongin swallowed the words that had risen to her throat.
Honestly, she had felt embarrassed even asking the reporter to take the article down.
Why? Because there wasn't a single false word in it from beginning to end.
"Where did you dig up such a crappy drama to put me in this situation?"
She decided she would no longer tolerate complaints that crossed the line.
"Don't you remember Haeyun and I tried to dissuade you when you insisted on doing this drama, Minso? We said your vocalization wasn't suitable for historical dramas, and it would be better to try later. Surely you haven't forgotten that."
"If you couldn't stop me completely, then just shut up."
"I apologize for not being able to stop you completely."
Yeongin apologized calmly. But she couldn't keep her mouth shut.
"Are you really not going to film?"
"No, I'm not. Or rather, I can't."
"Then we'll proceed with your withdrawal from the project."
"Withdrawal? Are you out of your mind? We've already filmed episode 7, and two episodes have aired!"
"You said you couldn't film. Is there any other way?"
"As if the director would allow that."
Sarcasm and derision simultaneously pounded against her eardrums.
"I'll take responsibility and handle it. I've cleaned up after an actor who dropped out mid-broadcast once before, so I think I can do an even better job the second time around."
"..."
"The legal team will contact you soon regarding the penalty fee. Don't turn off your phone."
"Penalty fee?"
"So you weren't planning on taking any responsibility?"
"Team Leader, are you really going to do this? You know I'm having a hard time right now, do you really have to go this far?"
Her voice was so deflated, it was hard to believe she was the same person who had just been screaming moments ago. However, Yeongin had no intention of pretending to give in.
"I'm just doing what you want, Minso. We prioritize our actors' wishes, after all."
"..."
"I'll contact you again after I've met with the director. Please rest."
Yeongin hung up the phone and handed it back to Haeyun.
"You need to know your place before you stretch your legs. This isn't the first or second time; don't humor her ridiculous tantrums."
"But I couldn't just let the filming fall through..."
Her mumbling lasted only a moment before Haeyun's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"By the way, Team Leader. Is Minso really dropping out?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"But you said you'd done it once before and could do an even better job the second time..."
"I probably could do a better job, but I don't want to. I'm tired."
Haeyun chuckled, watching Yeongin shake her head.
"She'll call soon. Pacify her well."
"Yes, Team Leader."
"If anything like this happens again, just pass it straight to me. I'll play the villain."
"No, thanks."
"No thanks?"
"I'll try handling it myself now. You already have a ruthless image, Team Leader; we can't solidify it any further."
Yeongin played along with the half-joking, half-serious remark.
"I have a ruthless image?"
"Yes."
Haeyun's nod was quite emphatic.
"Half right, then. I don't have tears."
It was an undeniable fact, as she hadn't shed a single tear even after breaking up with the first man she had ever loved.
Yeongin, having responded casually, glanced at the wall clock.
"Look how late it's gotten already. I'm off to the strategy meeting."
"Go ahead."
Returning to her seat, Yeongin gathered her tablet PC and cell phone, then left the office. But someone was leaning against the wall next to the office door.
"Sweetie."
It was Hyeonsim, the Team Leader of Management Team 2.
"Surely you know that managing the mental state of your assigned actors is part of a manager's job, right?"
Hyeonsim wore a relaxed smile, yet made no effort to hide her intention to lecture. She clearly intended to remind Yeongin that even though they were both team leaders, they were not on the same level.
"How could I not know?"
"Then why aren't you doing it?"
At Yeongin's calm response, Hyeonsim's tone sharpened slightly in irritation. The smile that had lingered on her lips had vanished.
"Why do you assume I didn't? I did."
"Did you do your best?"
"Yes."
"..."
Yeongin's answer was firm, yet gentle. If Yeongin had flared up, Hyeonsim might have been able to counter, but since she didn't, Hyeonsim found it awkward to pick another fight.
"Thank you for your concern."
"Hyesung, which is barely bigger than a corner store, and SL will be different in many ways. If there's anything you don't know, feel free to ask anytime."
"Okay."
Immediately after Hyeonsim finished asserting her dominance and swept away, Haeyun's grumbling voice came from behind her.
"Anyone listening would think our Team Leader is just an intern..."
Hyeonsim was notorious among the staff for strutting around as if her assigned actor's popularity was her own. Lately, thanks to Huiran's popularity, she had been particularly puffed up.
"A newcomer is still a newcomer, though."
Yeongin recalled Hyeonsim, who, on the day they first introduced themselves, had asked her age and then immediately dropped formalities, saying, 'I'm two years older than you,' and she smiled.
"Why is she especially like that toward you, Team Leader?"
Even though only three days had passed since she returned from overseas filming, the absurd quibbles Hyeonsim had picked couldn't be counted on one hand.
"Guess she just doesn't like me."
Yeongin's expression was quite calm.
Perhaps because she was accustomed to being disliked, she could simply accept it if someone didn't like her. She didn't want to strive to make a good impression or to be loved by others. She figured she only needed to keep people around who didn't require such effort.
For example...
"I'll be late."
Yeongin quickly erased the face of the man who had first come to mind and hurried in the direction Hyeonsim had gone.
As expected, Hyeonsim was standing by the elevator.
Both their destinations were the same: the large conference room on the 3rd floor.
In 10 minutes, a strategy meeting was scheduled to begin, which all section chiefs and above were required to attend.
After a brief wait, the elevator descending from above arrived on the 5th floor.
Yeongin followed Hyeonsim into the elevator. Inside, two people stood side by side.
It was Seonghyeok and Huiran.
"Hello, CEO."
Hyeonsim greeted Seonghyeok brightly, then offered Huiran only a slight smile. Knowing that Huiran had gone up to the CEO's office, she wasn't at all curious why the two were descending together.
Huiran was the only actress attending the strategy meeting.
Yesterday, before deciding on her contract renewal through Hyeonsim, Huiran had conveyed her wish to attend the strategy meeting where the mid-to-long-term vision would be announced, and Seonghyeok had accepted. This was why the two were now heading down to the 3rd floor together.
Yeongin merely gave them a silent nod, then turned and stood by the door.
Yeongin also knew that Huiran would be attending the strategy meeting, thanks to Hyeonsim's bragging yesterday.
It was at that moment that a gentle voice broke the silence.
"CEO, if you're free today, let's have dinner together. Please treat me to something delicious."
Just as the elevator arrived on the 3rd floor, Yeongin exited so hastily it was as if someone had pushed her.
She was displeased with herself for straining her ears to hear Seonghyeok's reply. There was no reason whatsoever why a CEO couldn't have dinner with an actress from his own agency, yet she found herself secretly hoping he would decline, and she didn't like that about herself.
Don't mind it. Don't mind it.
Yeongin repeated the mantra to herself, as if casting a spell, and entered the large conference room, taking a seat. A moment later, Huiran and Hyeonsim entered one after the other. Seonghyeok was nowhere to be seen.
Why isn't he coming in?
Just then, a message arrived.
It was the exact same message Huiran had sent Seonghyeok earlier. This meant that their dinner had not materialized, and furthermore, that Seonghyeok had declined.
She had been constantly worried about what Seonghyeok might have replied, but now, finally, her mind was at ease.
Yeongin quickly glanced around and typed her reply.
She didn't want to flat-out refuse, nor could she agree, so she'd grumbled like a complaint, only to receive an absurd reply.
What was she going to do with this man?
Yeongin let out a sigh mixed with a laugh. A few seconds later, another message arrived.
She checked the message and looked up to see Seonghyeok entering the conference room.
His face was perfectly composed, as if he had never said anything suggestive.
He sat in the chairman's seat and surveyed the room with a controlled expression. His eyes lingered on Yeongin for a moment longer.
Exactly 3 o'clock.
Seonghyeok announced the opening of the meeting.
"The meeting will now begin."
