The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 79
The final viewership rating for the pilot variety show "Ddumhan Kim-e Bakssang" was 4.2%.
Nowadays, most variety shows falter around 3%, and even long-running programs over ten years old struggle to reach 10%. For a pilot show to hit this level is already enough to be called a huge hit.
KBC Entertainment Department —
"Please lift me up. We exceeded 3%."
PD Shin Dong-ho smiled knowingly and said.
“There’s even better news than that. The director’s summoning us, so go see him.”
Oh Myung-geun, the executive producer, pointed toward the director’s office.
“Ugh, what good news could that be? If I go there, they’ll probably eat me alive.”
“Why you?”
“They’ll probably tell me we overspent on the budget.”
Director Jang Tae-ho is very strict about the use of production funds.
“But you don’t look worried at all. You can praise the good ratings.”
“Hah, have you ever seen the director praise us? If I don’t get scolded, that’s a win.”
“Yeah. Anyway, go on. I’ve clearly told you.”
Office of the Director —
“The fact that the pilot broke 4% is the first time in two years, right? Good work.”
“Thank you...”
PD Shin was surprised, expecting a harsh reprimand.
Because he knew that Director Jang was extremely stingy with such praise.
“I like the contestants who fit the concept perfectly. Park Seung-ho, Min A-young... But how did you find out about Red Blossem and Manager Shin Joo-won?”
“Well, um...”
PD Shin explained how he came to cast Red Blossem and Shin Joo-won.
They were introduced to him while searching for talented celebrities who can cook well.
They also fit the concept of the program, which involves band members, so it worked out.
While investigating Red Blossem, he learned about Shin Joo-won.
He’s the first-rate producer who has been boosting the group together with Cha So-yeon recently.
He was especially moved by the interview videos on the official channels.
“I was able to cast someone even more famous than Red Blossem, with the title of 'Managerial Legend,' which fits the program's concept perfectly. Thanks to this, A-young was able to make her comeback, so it was a good decision.”
“Manager Shin Joo-won even helped Min A-young return?”
No matter how he did it, Min A-young decided to act again in just two days.
He trusted Shin Joo-won so much that he stuck closely by his side, and they decided on Fine Entertainment—the agency Shin Joo-won belongs to.
“I’ve been watching A-young for quite a long time, and it’s the first time I’ve seen someone follow a person so faithfully. She treats him like a salvation, like he’s her lifeline.”
The three members who appeared also said they trusted and followed Shin Joo-won no matter what he said.
Even an outsider could see they had a relationship beyond just their group and manager.
“Spending a few days with Joo-won, I realized he’s a really good person. Not just kind and friendly, but someone I can trust, share everything with, and want to consult when something happens. I’ve met many people working in this field, but someone like Joo-won, who truly touches your heart, is the first.”
Tae-ho Jang thought this was the highest compliment about character.
Usually, broadcasting PDs tend to be cynical about human relationships, but if someone like that gives such praise, there’s no need to look further.
“Can I see that video you mentioned earlier? I want to watch it too.”
Shin Dong-ho showed him the Red Blossem channel on MuhTube.
After Shin Dong-ho left, Tae-ho Jang scrolled through the videos on the channel.
The running time of the videos featuring Joo-won wasn’t that long.
An hour later —
Tae-ho Jang took his gaze off the screen, his face blank.
The video had finished playing, but Joo-won’s voice still echoed in his ears.
“…I wanted to become an actor, but I couldn’t do the acting. So I chose to be a manager. I wanted to find someone who’s good at acting and singing, and help them shine.”
“There’s no need for such a big officetel just for living alone... More than me…”
As Shin Dong-ho said, he was a young man who wanted to help others shine.
‘So that’s why he’s so incredibly talented. I knew he wouldn’t waste such ability.’
He thought he was no different from the saints he’d seen in sacred texts.
He was deeply ashamed of trying to put a price on Shin Joo-won’s goodwill.
‘Should I call him the saint again?’
Tae-ho Jang’s favorability (+trust) for Shin Joo-won increased several times.
On the way to the entertainment department to meet PD Shin Dong-ho.
He agreed to meet to fulfill his promise to appear on Red Blossem’s show.
Even just a guest spot to promote the mini-album was more than enough for him.
He didn’t have connections with other variety PDs, so Shin Dong-ho was his only lifeline right now.
As he walked down the corridor, someone was approaching from the other side.
It was the man he’d met in the meeting room after arguing with the PD on Music Bank.
He probably hadn’t seen his face clearly because he’d come out after a quarrel with the PD.
He thought there was no need to pretend to recognize him and just tried to pass by.
‘A prophet’s blessing.’
Time paused.
The surroundings shimmered, and a completely different space seeped in.
Chairman Park Beom-jun and Director Yoon Sang-hoon sat on a sofa.
It was the chairman’s office at Fine Entertainment.
“That’s a shame. It was the perfect size for the pilot.”
“Exactly. I was planning to put Red Blossem, A-young, and Joo-won here and leave it to them.”
‘He’s trusting me?’
A laptop was placed in front of Chairman Park.
The screen displayed only harsh words from portal articles.
Congressman, sexual favors, sponsorship, girl group S, suicide...
“Only the dead one is pitiful. But do you think this will really be uncovered?”
“The PR team checked, and apparently, a four-term congressman was involved in the sponsorship. The girl just recently graduated from high school.”
“Isn’t he a damn psycho?”
“He’s definitely crazy, but a crazy man with power. It’ll be hard to uncover. The Kim Hak-ui case took nine years, after all. In the end, it was found to be not guilty.”
“So this is the end of it?”
“The girl group situation is like that, and the manager who arranged it is reportedly missing. Kaia and the actors will go their own ways soon enough. They even spent gang money, so they won’t just stay quiet.”
Several business cards lay on the table in front of them.
All had the same logo and title image.
‘Can’t really see it clearly.’
He tried to see what was written, but the surrounding scenery suddenly returned to normal.
The man approaching from the opposite side suddenly stopped and looked at me intently.
“Are you, by any chance, the manager of Red Blossem?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He shook hands with a bright smile.
“Wow, I can’t believe I’m meeting someone so famous here. Nice to meet you.”
“Yes, likewise. But... who are you?”
“Oh my… look at me. Sorry about that.”
He took out a business card from his pocket.
When he received it, the design was exactly the same as the one Shin Joo-won’s declared sacred gift had shown.
[Mirenae Entertainment CEO, Lee Dae-hwan]
“Lee Dae-hwan from Mirenae Entertainment. You’ve probably never heard of the company, right?”
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Who would know a small company with just a girl group? Ah, I saw that Kai just joined your company recently. You know Kai, right?”
He’s a singer-songwriter from a well-known boy group.
“Recently, we signed a contract with your company. I heard it was really tough when Kai was debuting through SN, wow.”
He then looked at my face with an embarrassed expression.
“Honestly, I don’t have anything to do with Joo-won, and I might have just said weird stuff. Sorry about that.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“I’m a big fan of Joo-won myself. Watching his interview videos, I thought how great it would be if a manager like him was by our kids’ side. Let’s meet outside sometime when you have the chance. I have a lot I want to ask Joo-won.”
He handed me his business card before heading out to meet PD Shin Dong-ho.
Most likely, it’s a girl group with a member who committed suicide.
Hearing the chairman and director’s conversation, it seemed the company was trying to acquire this place.
But then, a scandal involving sex scandals with politicians erupted and, for some reason, one of the girl group members committed suicide.
The manager said he arranged it, but there’s no guarantee the CEO wasn’t involved.
‘If the sacred gift of prophecy showed me, it means there’s someone I can save.’
[It could be a hint to find the person you need to save. You won’t be saving the two people in that company, though.]
That’s true.
If I were to save the chairman and the director, I would have done it long ago.
First, I need to look into Mirenae Entertainment.