Chapter 108

Chapter 108

I exchanged a glance with Kim Eunkyung, who was carefully watching Jung Wonki’s expression, signaling that I would handle the talking.

Then I spoke without hesitation.

“Since you asked us directly, we’ll answer directly as well. We heard that if Joongwang Daily is selected for a general programming channel, you’ve already been chosen to become a division director there.”

For a moment, Jung Wonki’s brows narrowed.

Then, as if he had roughly understood the situation, he spoke again.

“Ha... rumors really do spread fast. The channel hasn’t even been approved yet. How could anyone already be appointed to something that doesn’t exist? Hahaha.”

Then he gave us a strange smile.

“But if you asked to meet me because you wanted to get in line early, do you really think one bowl of jajangmyeon is enough?”

Kim Eunkyung and I immediately looked at each other.

We couldn’t tell whether he was joking or being serious.

Seeing our reactions, Jung Wonki gave a small grin.

“I’m joking. Just joking. Hahaha.”

Then he continued.

“So Big Picture is planning to expand into broadcasting this time?”

Unlike before, there was something faintly dismissive in Jung Wonki’s eyes.

Even so, Kim Eunkyung remained polite.

“Yes. We’re expanding into drama production. We recently produced a drama as well.”

She smiled.

“Have you perhaps heard of the MBS drama The Woman’s Garden, which recently finished airing?”

“Ah, that one... Writer Hong Yeonhee’s drama.”

Jung Wonki nodded.

“My wife was completely obsessed with it.”

His voice was dry, as if he was only saying it to be polite.

Still, Kim Eunkyung tried to continue the conversation.

“Oh, really? I’m glad she enjoyed it.”

But that was the end of it.

Jung Wonki simply kept eating his jajangmyeon without saying anything else.

I could see nervousness appearing on Kim Eunkyung’s face as she watched him.

She probably realized that it would be difficult to open up the conversation like this.

At this rate, we really were going to finish our jajangmyeon and leave without accomplishing anything.

So I decided I had to do something.

“The successful production companies won’t work with you.”

Jung Wonki froze with noodles halfway into his mouth.

He stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“What did you say?”

“Even if Joongwang Daily is selected for a general programming channel, production companies that currently supply dramas to terrestrial broadcasters won’t easily provide dramas to your channel.”

Jung Wonki blinked at my completely unexpected words.

Then his brows quickly tightened.

Kim Eunkyung was equally startled.

“Team Leader Min, why are you suddenly saying something like that...?”

“I’m worried.”

I continued calmly.

“If your channel is selected, you’ll immediately have to prepare for launch. And to launch a broadcasting station, you’ll need enough programs to fill the schedule.”

“Since your parent company is a newspaper, you’ll probably be able to handle news, current affairs, and educational programs on your own.”

I looked directly at Jung Wonki.

“But what about variety shows and dramas?”

Jung Wonki looked displeased.

“I think you’re worrying far too much about something that has nothing to do with you.”

“Ah, I apologize if that offended you.”

I continued without backing down.

“But I believe that’s the reality you’ll face. Of course, things might be different if you offer an enormous amount of money.”

Jung Wonki’s voice rose.

“What exactly are you trying to do here?! We haven’t even been selected yet, and you’re already trying to discourage us?”

“I’m not trying to discourage you.”

My gaze didn’t waver.

“Like you said, you haven’t even been selected yet.”

“I’m only saying this because you seem to think we came here asking for favors, and I want to make it clear that we didn’t.”

Faced with my steady expression, Jung Wonki seemed to realize that his own attitude had been somewhat excessive.

His anger slowly faded.

“Fine.”

He leaned back.

“If you didn’t come here asking for a favor, then why are you here?”

“To make a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

“We’re not asking you to hand us a drama if you get selected. We’re proposing that we make dramas together.”

My calm answer left Jung Wonki momentarily embarrassed.

He hesitated.

“Then... did you at least bring a proposal?”

I opened the bag I had brought and placed a proposal document on the table.

My team and I had been working on it for months, developing ideas specifically for this moment.

“We prepared a proposal for dramas that terrestrial broadcasters can’t easily make.”

I pushed the document toward him.

“We want to create dramas with elements that clearly separate a general programming channel from terrestrial television and attract viewers because of that difference.”

“Of course, I assume you’ll receive proposals from other production companies too and compare them before making your decision.”

Jung Wonki casually began flipping through the document.

But almost immediately, surprise appeared in his eyes.

The proposal contained detailed analysis of the various public reactions and circumstances a newly launched general programming channel was likely to face.

It also included several possible directions and concepts for dramas designed around those circumstances.

Only then did Jung Wonki seem to let go of his suspicion.

His expression became slightly awkward as he looked at me.

“Our company is basically still a newcomer when it comes to dramas, so yes, it’s true that we came before the general programming channels were officially selected.”

I continued.

“But I hope you’ll see that as desperation to survive, not an attempt to gain special treatment.”

Perhaps the phrase desperation to survive reached him.

A faint smile appeared on Jung Wonki’s face.

I continued.

“And if we really came here to ask for favors, we would’ve waited until after the channel was officially approved.”

I glanced at the jajangmyeon in front of us.

“Like you said earlier, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here eating jajangmyeon either.”

Jung Wonki listened silently from beginning to end.

Then he slowly nodded.

“Yes. I understand what you mean now.”

He looked down at the proposal again.

“If we are selected for a general programming channel, I’ll review this proposal carefully.”

“Thank you.”

The heavy tension that had been pressing down on the room only moments earlier had disappeared.

Jung Wonki looked at his bowl and spoke lightly.

“Still, I told you. Jajangmyeon isn’t very good if you leave it sitting around. It’s already gone soggy.”

I smiled.

“Even expensive hotel jajangmyeon gets soggy, apparently.”

Jung Wonki laughed.

And with that, our meal came to an end.

The arrow had already left the bow.

Now all I could do was wait and see whether it hit the target.

Christmas lights sparkled inside Bearded Man’s Music Salon, which had finally regained its lively atmosphere after a long time.

Using the year-end gathering as an excuse, all of us had gathered together for the first time in ages.

With Christmas carols selected by the bearded owner playing in the background, we raised our glasses and happily sat shoulder to shoulder.

“Come to think of it, I think the last time all of us gathered like this was when Kibaek went to the military.”

“Was it? We still meet separately pretty often, but yeah, it’s been a long time since all of us were together.”

“Now that you mention it, this really is exactly the same group that gathered before Kibaek enlisted. Hahaha.”

Moon Changsoo, Song Jaehyun, and Moon Hyunbin exchanged comments.

“It’s not exactly the same group.”

Ma Sanghee looked slightly disappointed.

“Boyoung isn’t here.”

“Ah! Come to think of it, it’s already been a year since Boyoung went to Japan.”

“Seriously. I wonder if she’s lonely by herself on a day like this...”

Cha Seungjoon and Baek Seonghan also seemed to miss Gil Boyoung.

The mood became slightly heavy because of her absence.

So I quickly stepped in.

“Oh, I talked to her briefly before coming here.”

Everyone looked at me.

“She said she’s having a Christmas party with the people from the agency she met over there. She sounded like she was having the time of her life, so you really don’t need to worry about her.”

“Ah, really...? Ahem.”

“Well, as long as Boyoung is enjoying herself, that’s what matters. Ahem.”

Cha Seungjoon and Baek Seonghan smiled awkwardly.

Their concern suddenly looked a little embarrassing.

Exactly one year ago today, I had watched a late-night movie with Gil Boyoung.

On our way back, she had repeatedly breathed white clouds into the cold night air.

Then she told me she might be leaving for Japan soon.

“Japan? All of a sudden?”

“It’s not exactly sudden.”

She smiled.

“About two months ago, a Japanese agency sent a casting proposal to Starlight.”

“There’s a director named Kasewa who’s been getting a lot of attention in Japan lately. He needed a Korean actress.”

She shrugged.

“It’s not like he specifically asked for me, but... I thought I wanted to give it a try.”

“Ah...”

Her unexpected words left me unsure what to say.

After thinking for a moment, I cautiously asked,

“Noona... is working in Korea still uncomfortable for you because of what happened before?”

I deliberately referred to the incident involving Gil Boyoung and the CEO of her former agency simply as what happened before.

Then I watched her expression.

Before I enlisted, Gil Boyoung had actively started working again.

She performed in theater and even made cameo appearances in films.

However, compared with the career she had before my regression, the amount of work she was doing had fallen significantly.

“I can’t honestly say that has nothing to do with it.”

Gil Boyoung gave a faint smile.

“No matter what the reason was, people aren’t going to think well of an actress who visited adult entertainment establishments when she was a teenager.”

She had gone to auditions with motivation.

But no one wanted to cast her.

“Well, I guess saying no one wanted me isn’t completely true.”

She laughed.

“A little while ago, someone openly offered me an adults-only movie. Hohoho.”

“What director was that?!”

My voice rose before I could stop myself.

“Wait, CEO Ma actually let someone bring something like that to you?!”

“No, no. It wasn’t like that.”

She waved her hands.

“A new manager was the one who mentioned it. Actually, CEO Ma seriously chewed him out over it.”

“Ha... seriously...”

I was too upset to say anything else.

Seeing my expression, Gil Boyoung seemed to deliberately brighten the mood.

“Oh~ look at our Kibaek.”

She grinned teasingly.

“You’ve become a real man now. You even know how to get angry. Hohoho.”

Then she smiled brightly.

“Anyway, I’m going to use this chance to try entering the global market.”

“You know me.”

She raised her chin proudly.

“This noona is far too talented to act only in Korea. Don’t you agree?”

Seeing her laugh as though nothing bothered her made my heart ache.

But I quickly lowered my gaze.

I didn’t want her to misunderstand my feelings as pity.

Then I realized what I should do for her.

I raised my eyes again and smiled.

“You’re right, noona.”

She looked at me.

“You’re too good an actress to stay inside a small place like Korea forever.”

I sincerely supported Gil Boyoung.

After moving to Japan, she filmed a movie there and continued auditioning for Japanese dramas.

She was steadily continuing her career as an actress in Japan.

Time passed once again.

One day before the start of 2011, the results of the general programming channel selection process were announced.

Just as in my previous life, four channels were approved, including Joongwang Media’s YTBS.

From the very beginning of the new year, newspapers and television were filled with stories about the new general programming channels.

Public reaction was mostly indifferent or negative.

There were accusations of preferential treatment.

There were even discussions about constitutional lawsuits over concerns regarding political bias.

Negative articles poured out as well.

Some reports claimed that each new general programming channel had spent nearly 150 billion won on broadcasting equipment for launch.

Most of that equipment had apparently been purchased from Japan, which led to criticism that Japanese companies were the only ones profiting.

“Just as you predicted, Team Leader Min... everything is unfolding that way.”

CEO Han Taesung had no idea that all of this came from the knowledge I possessed as a regressor.

To him, it was simply another example of my incredible foresight.

Not long afterward, I heard that Jung Wonki, formerly a team leader at Joongwang Media Network, had officially been appointed as a division director at YTBS.

Once in the position, Jung Wonki began recruiting talent from the drama and entertainment industries.

But I wasn’t sitting around waiting for him to call me.

I had plenty of other work to do.

“This Episode 10 script is really good.”

I looked down at the pages in front of me.

“Even though I already knew there was going to be a twist, actually reading it in script form gave me chills.”