I Became the CEO of an Idol Company in a Game Chapter 41

<Episode 41>

 

“Pffft!”

In the end, the water burst out of my mouth. Luckily, I managed to turn my head quickly…  otherwise it would have splashed all over the food.

“Are you okay?”

Kang Woojin asked as he handed me a tissue.

“…What you just said, that was a joke, right?”

I took the tissue and wiped my mouth.

Please, let it be a joke. I prayed desperately inside.

“Is it really that surprising?”

“Yes.”

Who wouldn’t be surprised hearing something like that?

Kang Woojin was an A-list actor.

Even if he merely hinted that he was looking for an agency, offers would pour in from everywhere.

“Our company doesn’t have the money to offer you a signing bonus. Spade Joker’s album did well this time, but that money needs to go into the next album. So… we don’t have the funds. We can’t invest in you.”

I wasn’t deeply familiar with the acting industry, but I had seen articles saying that actors receive contracts worth hundreds of millions of won depending on their popularity.

But considering Ramos Entertainment’s capital, hundreds of millions was out of the question… heck, even tens of millions wasn’t feasible.

“I don’t need a signing bonus. I already have plenty of money.”

Kang Woojin shrugged.

I already knew he was wealthy.

How could I not?

Every drama and film he starred in was a hit.

“Didn’t I tell you last time? That I wanted to recommend an actor to you?”

He had said that.

But I never imagined he meant himself.

Anyone in my position would’ve thought the same. There was no way Kang Woojin would choose a company with zero actors under it.

‘I thought he meant recommending a junior actor. If word gets out that Kang Woojin is transferring to Ramos Entertainment, a lot of agencies will lose their minds.’

“I also told you last time… our company has no experience managing actors.”

“You did. But you also said it’d be fine once a system is in place.”

This was starting to feel like wordplay.

“So you’re really saying you want to join Ramos Entertainment?”

“Yes. You can just acquire my company as it is. No conditions. Please take me in.”

Kang Woojin rested his chin on his hand and looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“Ha…”

“Why are you sighing? Any other company would welcome me with open arms. It’s me… Kang Woojin. Action, romance master Kang Woojin.”

“Yes. As you said, any other company would.”

With just Kang Woojin alone, a company’s scale would change drastically. Who would refuse?

‘But not me.’

If things went wrong again, I’d have to start over from scratch with Spade Joker, just like before.

‘What if I neglect Spade Joker while trying to manage Kang Woojin, and everything collapses? Who takes responsibility for that?’

“But not our company. We can’t welcome you.”

“…Do you dislike me that much?”

“It’s not that.”

I didn’t dislike him.

“Then what is it?”

“I can already see that I won’t be able to handle it. I don’t have an eye for scripts, I’ve never managed an actor before, and I don’t even know how that side of the industry works. It’s not like growing alongside a rookie… how could I possibly take on a star like you? It’s absurd. And this concerns your entire career.”

“It’s not as hard as you think. When scripts come in, I review everything myself. The company just has to make the final decision. I don’t do much variety shows anyway… just a few for promotions, so there’s no need to arrange much.”

Kang Woojin began listing reasons why he would be easy to manage.

“My team is already complete… my manager and stylist are with me. No need to hire new people. You know I handled all the work myself while running a one-man agency, right?”

I did know that, but my head was too cluttered to respond.

“Even after joining Ramos Entertainment, I’ll handle most things the same way. You’d have to struggle a lot if you start with rookies, but with me, you won’t. And these days, idols often transition into acting, right? With me around, wouldn’t that path be properly paved?”

“If you’re going to handle everything yourself, then there’s no reason for you to join my company, is there?”

“No. It’s different.”

He shook his head.

I couldn’t understand why he was so determined to join Ramos Entertainment, even while saying he’d handle everything himself.

“In any case, you’d still be behind me as the final decision-maker. That makes a difference. And seeing you work even on your day off for Spade Joker, I trust you.”

“You trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say you saw how I used to run the company?”

“I did. But you’re not like that anymore. And honestly, since you almost ran the company into the ground once, you probably won’t make the same mistake again.”

He said it with a bright smile… delivering a perfectly sharp blow.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline.”

“What?! Why?! A gift is walking right into your hands, and you’re refusing it?”

“Kang Woojin. Listen carefully.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s say you wake up one day and suddenly there’s 10 billion won in your bank account. Would you use it?”

“Of course. It’s free money.”

“What if it came from an illegal source? What if using it brings trouble? What if it even puts you in danger? If you still use it recklessly, then you’ve clearly never run a business.”

“That’s not what I am! I’m handsome, I act well, my personal life is clean, and I can compose too!”

Kang Woojin crossed his arms into an X, strongly denying it.

“I’m saying that to me, this feels just as risky.”

“You’re being too much.”

“The food’s getting cold. Let’s eat first.”

While we talked, the food had gone cold.

It seemed better to fill our stomachs first and continue afterward, so I picked up my chopsticks.

‘Now that I think about it, I’m starving.’

Lunch had just been a quick boxed meal during filming, and now, with Kang Woojin’s sudden declaration, my head felt dizzy… it was like no matter how much I ate, I couldn’t shake the hunger.

Kang Woojin looked like he still wanted to argue, but seeing me focused entirely on eating, he pouted slightly before reluctantly picking up his chopsticks.

“The food’s good, right?”

“Yes.”

His tone was sulky, but I ignored it and continued eating.

Before long, the plates were gradually emptied.

“CEO.”

“Yes.”

“You’re done eating now, right?”

“I think so.”

“Then let’s continue our discussion.”

He brought the topic back again.

“Do we really have to continue this?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would I keep bringing it up?”

Even if I kept refusing, it didn’t seem like he’d give up.

“…Then let’s do this. I need some time to think. Please give me some time.”

I decided to take a step back.

“How much time?”

“One month.”

“What? A whole month?”

Kang Woojin crossed his arms and glared at me, his whole body protesting that it was too long.

“I need to focus on Spade Joker right now. And you saw our company building on YouTube, right? There isn’t even space for an office. We barely managed to set up a composer’s studio in the basement where trainees practice.”

His arms loosened slightly. That seemed to work.

But his expression quickly hardened again.

“I’ve thought about it. You’re just saying you’ll think about it, but you’ll end up rejecting me anyway.”

He hit the nail right on the head.

Asking for time was just an excuse. If this continued, the conversation would never end today.

After a month, I planned to politely refuse and recommend a more suitable agency.

“That’s not true.”

“Do you really think someone as firm as you will change your mind after just a month? Who do you think I am? I’m not that naive… I’ve been in this industry for years.”

I was completely speechless.

Seeing that, Kang Woojin smirked.

“Well, fine. I’ll give you a month. But in return, I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

“You have to accept it no matter what. No backing out. If you refuse, I’m going straight to a reporter.”

He was completely unreasonable.

“Tell me the condition first.”

“Promise first. Otherwise, I’ll follow you around all day and annoy you.”

“…Fine. I promise. I’ll accept it no matter what. So please drop that last part.”

At my answer, Kang Woojin beamed with satisfaction.

“For one month, let me come to your company as if I work there.”

“…What? Come to work?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of ridiculous condition is that?”

Someone would definitely see Kang Woojin coming and going from our company.

And the moment even a single speculative article came out, there’d be no turning back.

Somehow… it felt like I had completely fallen into his trap.