<Episode 80>
“CEO… will this really be okay?”
As soon as I arrived at work in the morning, an employee in charge of producing in-house content came into the CEO’s office, showed me the music video behind-the-scenes video, and asked.
“There won’t be a problem.”
“Just in case, shouldn’t we send the video to actor Kang Woojin and get his permission?”
“It’s fine.”
From what I saw, there wasn’t even the slightest part that could cause an issue. After all, it didn’t even show half of Kang Woojin’s real personality.
Besides, if we asked Kang Woojin, he would definitely hesitate.
‘It’s obvious without even seeing it.’
“Then… we’ll trust you and upload it?”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
Only then did the employee seem reassured, nodding before leaving the office.
‘Now, shall I get back to my own work?’
I focused on my tasks while reviewing documents.
I could see with my own eyes that the company was gradually stabilizing.
When I had first regressed, the work system had been a mess, but now it had become quite organized.
‘This would be the perfect time to move to a new office building and expand the company.’
Unfortunately, I had to hold back.
Relocating the office right now would be too much of a burden.
Although Spade Joker had grown enough to generate stable income, we were in the middle of launching Florence, and Spade Joker would soon have to enter a rest period.
‘They should get some rest after this round of promotions.’
The real question was whether Florence would generate the expected profits after launch.
‘Still… starting from the fifth iteration, it hasn’t gone into the red.’
Even so, I couldn’t relax. There were always variables.
On top of that, the Florence group created this time had different members from the previous iterations.
So I couldn’t let my guard down.
‘Still…’
It wouldn’t hurt to at least check if there were any buildings nearby worth moving into.
‘We definitely need more staff.’
If we had to manage Florence on top of everything else in the current situation, the employees wouldn’t be able to keep up physically.
Moreover, although the practice rooms and office were in the same building, there were other companies’ offices in between, which caused all sorts of inconveniences. It’s not like we were the only ones using the building’s elevator, either.
Even if it were a small building, I wanted a place that Ramos Entertainment could use entirely on its own.
‘I’ll check little by little whenever I have time.’
Knock, knock.
“Yes.”
Soon, Han Suseok entered.
“CEO.”
“Yeah.”
“I was going to tell you yesterday, but I forgot because of the advertisement.”
“What is it?”
“You were right. Spade has given up copying Spade Joker members’ outfits and is now wearing a different concept.”
“Right. They didn’t have a choice. I heard that a luxury brand registered the copyright for that check pattern.”
I felt good, thinking I had landed a solid blow on Joo Youngjoon.
‘And that guy probably has no idea I’m secretly working to pull A-Pen away.’
If A-Pen, their only cash cow, disappeared, Joo Youngjoon’s company would become extremely unstable.
‘Yeah. I should’ve done this earlier.’
It felt like a decade-old blockage in my chest had finally cleared.
***
[What? Can Kang Woojin make expressions like this and talk like this? His usual impression is completely different. He smiles a lot in front of us too, but this feels totally different. He suddenly feels so gentle that I was really shocked. Even when he smiled before, it felt cold. How should I put it… It’s like seeing an identical twin version of Kang Woojin?]
↳I was so shocked. My mouth still hasn’t closed.
↳I think this is the first time I’ve seen Woojin like this.
↳Thank you, Ramos Entertainment. I’ve been a fan for 5 years, and this is seriously the first time I’ve seen this side of him.
↳This is so fascinating.
Kang Woojin’s fans were in an uproar.
The behind-the-scenes video of Spade Joker’s music video had been released, and in that video, Kang Woojin looked very relaxed, unlike his usual self, which was the reason.
[Wow. It looks like Woojin oppa is really close with CEO John Raid Lombardi. No, but how did he become close with our oppa? He’s not an easy person. There’s basically no one in the entertainment industry close to him. Other than the people running his current company with him, doesn’t he keep his distance from everyone?]
↳Other than the manager and stylist he started with, he didn’t keep anyone close. When filming projects, he wasn’t isolated from other actors, but it was really just professional-level interaction.
↳That CEO is dangerous. He’s completely charmed our oppa.
↳He really did charm him, though???
↳↳Yeah, this is definitely a charm.
[On the other hand, this thought also comes to mind. In this harsh entertainment industry, Kang Woojin needed someone he could open up to, but it wasn’t easy for him to find that kind of person. Especially since his image was fixed as a cold city man. Then he met someone he could open up to, and now he’s showing that comfortable side even in front of the camera.]
↳If you didn’t know who they were talking about, this sounds like a romance drama plot.
↳↳Right?
↳LOL, is it just me, or is this conversation suddenly going in a weird direction?
↳It makes me think Woojin must’ve been very lonely all this time.
[Why are Kang Woojin’s eyes so warm when he looks at the Spade Joker members? My heart is literally melting. This is not okay. No, how should I say it? It was even more heart-fluttering than the gaze he showed in his deep melodrama roles. There was real affection in it. Affection and… admiration? Woojin said it himself: “The members are really close with each other. That kind of bond lasts a lifetime, doesn’t it? They went through hardships together.” It feels like Woojin needed that kind of lifelong bond.]
↳That gaze is criminal.
↳His first disciples, huh.
↳I replayed that part several times.
↳That gaze is full of affection.
↳↳It made me want to become a Spade Joker member.
↳I rewatched it after seeing someone mention admiration, and yeah… it’s true. You can see admiration in his eyes.
Thanks to this, the views on Spade Joker’s music video behind-the-scenes video were rising nonstop.
***
Kang Woojin spent busy days preparing for filming.
But it was the most enjoyable time he had had in a long while.
The character “Hansoo” suited him perfectly.
Especially since, unlike usual, he didn’t have to attend action school or anything like that, there was no physical burden.
“You seem to be in a good mood?”
His manager asked as Kang Woojin hummed while looking through the script.
“Yeah. I can finally stand in front of the camera as my true self now.”
At Kang Woojin’s answer, the corners of his manager’s mouth dropped.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
“Even if the CEO said so, I should’ve been on your side. And even after we started a one-man agency, I kept opposing it. I said that if you suddenly revealed your true self, the career you built up would collapse. I told you to hold on until our company stabilized.”
The manager spoke calmly, sincerely.
“But I think I was wrong.”
“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
Kang Woojin just smiled awkwardly, seemingly unused to seeing his manager like that.
“I feel bad. It feels like I kept you locked up….”
“No, hey. That’s not something you need to apologize for. And honestly, I’m grateful you followed me this far. Though I still regret that you didn’t agree to become the CEO.”
The manager looked at him in disbelief.
“You want to say that in this kind of mood?”
“Yeah. It’s actually a pretty important issue for me.”
“Seriously… you can’t stay serious for long.”
“I’m being very serious right now.”
At Kang Woojin’s response, the manager let out a small laugh.
“Anyway, it’s nice to see you’ve become brighter after meeting CEO John Raid Lombardi.”
“I think so too. That’s why someday, I want to join that company.”
“He said he doesn’t manage actors.”
“Do you think that’ll stay that way? Spade Joker members shot a film-style music video this time, right? At least one of them will probably end up acting.”
He still hadn’t given up on becoming an actor under Ramos Entertainment.
“Huh? Woojin.”
The manager, who had absentmindedly checked his phone, called his name.
“What?”
“Didn’t you get a message from CEO John Raid Lombardi?”
“What message?”
“No, I mean… things are blowing up right now.”
Kang Woojin tossed aside the script and snatched the phone from his manager’s hand.
It wasn’t like he had caused any trouble, but in the entertainment industry, smoke could rise even without a fire.
“…Huh?”
And he froze at a development he had never imagined.
“What did you say at the music video shoot with the Spade Joker members?”
“I mean… I just had a casual conversation with CEO John Raid Lombardi.”
Bzzzz.
Kang Woojin’s phone vibrated.
“Check it.”
“Yeah.”
A message had arrived. The sender was John Raid Lombardi.
[We included some of the scenes of our conversation in the music video behind-the-scenes video. We’ve cut out all parts related to your former agency, so you don’t need to worry. Since you also uploaded my photo on your SNS without permission, I trust you’ll let this slide.]
After reading the message, a smile spread across Kang Woojin’s face.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s not be CEOs. Both of us. Instead, let’s join Ramos Entertainment. I think that’d be better.”
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