The Road to Glory Chapter 217 - [Side Story] Chapter 19. The SSS-Class Hero Makes an Appearance

“PD Na, I think my show will get a good time slot.”

PD Na Hyejoo closed her laptop and wearily brushed her hair back behind her ears. When she turned around, her senior was grinning.

“Here, senior. What do you think about this? To cheer you up.”

Senior Kyung patted her shoulder and handed her a canned coffee.

PD Na Hyejoo looked at the canned coffee and smirked.

It was a canned coffee being sold as a 1+1 deal at the convenience store below the broadcasting station.

He was trying to score points with something like that, teasing her.

As if stealing her idea wasn’t enough.

Gazes flew from here and there.

Thanks to him running his mouth everywhere, there wasn’t anyone in the broadcasting station who didn’t know. Actually, it had spread outside the station too.

PD Hwang, who sat next to PD Na Hyejoo in the same department, glared at PD Kyung.

“Hey, what gives you the right to harass your junior like this?”

“Harass? When? Is giving coffee harassment? PD Na. Isn’t the world too rigid? Even this counts as workplace harassment. Why don’t you try reporting it?”

PD Hwang clicked his tongue in amazement.

PD Hwang, who was PD Kyung’s colleague, remembered what he was like as a rookie.

He wasn’t like this at first, but when did he become this way?

“You stole your junior’s program and now what? You should be ashamed.”

Although he hadn’t lived the most ethical life, at least he had never done something as petty as stealing someone else’s idea, especially a close junior’s idea.

At those words, silence fell over the office.

No one thought to stop him as they stared at PD Kyung.

How would he react?

When people do something wrong, it usually goes two ways.

Either they get nervous and try to avoid the situation.

Or-.

“Ha.”

PD Kyung let out a small laugh.

Tilting his head back and rubbing his forehead,

He spread both arms and looked at PD Hwang and PD Na Hyejoo.

“I stole it? When? Did PD Na’s program ever have a production presentation?”

“Hey.”

“Oh, is this about that insignificant idea?”

PD Kyung burst out laughing.

“No, since when do ideas have owners? Is there a name tag on it? Huh? Did you stick a label on the idea? With Na Hyejoo written nicely on it. Tell me, PD Na. Is that really true? If so, I’ll admit it. But it’s not, right? I was thinking about it too. I just didn’t say anything, but I have so many ideas. Want to see my idea notebook?”

PD Kyung pulled out a notebook from his chest.

And showed it off proudly.

The words ‘Genius Mentor-Mentee Program’ were written.

Below it said ‘Mentor – Must be a current singer with teaching experience’

And ‘Need to review among …, Kim Sunchul’.

“…”

“See? Nothing to say, right? Because it’s my idea? Look at the date too. October 26, 2022. I’ve had this idea for ten years.”

PD Kyung’s notebook was a 2033 Starbucks frequency reward item. She remembered him forcing himself to drink mission drinks to fill up 17 stamps for winter last year…

However, PD Na Hyejoo didn’t want to engage in any more pointless arguments. She had a lot to focus on for the new program.

Especially what she was putting the most effort into was the list of cast members who would become mentors for Gyeowool.

Although Mr. Halo said he would read the proposal, there was a high chance he wouldn’t accept. PD Na Hyejoo was just grateful for making the connection and didn’t expect any luck. She tended to be unlucky.

From small prizes to even the senior she met at the broadcasting station turning out like this.

“Besides, PD Na is doing a new program. What’s the problem?”

When neither of them said anything, PD Kyung continued as if proving his point.

PD Na was about to say something after holding back for so long.

If the phone hadn’t rung.

Along with it, a message arrived.

[Writer Do Minhee: Urgent, discussing SSS-class casting, come to Meeting Room 1]

‘If it’s SSS-class.’

“Hey, your senior is talking-“

“Could it be!”

Ignoring whatever her senior was saying, PD Na jumped up and rushed out of the office.

#

A large van pulls into the parking lot of the Sangam building.

Reporters who were there to capture celebrities arriving for work tried to figure out whose van it was by looking at the license plate.

It seemed both unfamiliar yet very familiar.

The reporters raised their cameras, waiting for whoever would come out.

And inside the van.

“Are you really going in person?”

“Yes.”

The boy noticed deep confusion appearing on his manager’s face.

“If not today, I don’t think I’ll be able to see them.”

“Who? You’ll see the PD and production staff plenty during filming.”

“That’s true.”

“?”

The boy smiled meaningfully.

The manager felt ominous but couldn’t stop the boy.

Go ahead and blame him for not fulfilling his role as a manager.

Still, from their first few conversations when meeting Halo, the manager realized he was dealing with someone above his level, and even now was being swept along.

The fortunate thing was that for a star, Halo wasn’t an arrogant or morally problematic boss. Though occasionally willful, it was only troublesome for himself, he had never tried to willfully control others. Just that he got swept up…

‘Oh, isn’t that the same thing?’

Before the manager who still couldn’t decide if Halo was a good boss or not could do anything, Halo opened the van door.

A black-haired boy in a coat steps out of the van.

Since an unusual cold snap had hit from mid-March, the wind was like blades. The reporters with cameras wiped their noses and briefly paused when they saw who entered their frame.

The sunlight that had been hidden by clouds settled between them.

The boy walked into the sunlight, turned his head toward them, and…

“Good morning.”

Greeted them familiarly as if they knew each other.

“H-h-hey, it’s Halo…!”

Someone’s shout after coming to their senses.

“Why is Halo here?”

“Just take pictures first. My god, I can’t believe Halo is here.”

“Halo-ssi, what brings you to the broadcasting station?”

“Halo-ssi, I’ve been enjoying your music.”

“Is this a fan meeting?! …Good morning, Halo-ssi. Have you eaten?”

Click click click.

Cameras and flashes went off like crazy.

In what seemed like either a fan signing or press conference, Halo calmly opened his mouth.

“You could say I came to fulfill a childhood dream.”

“?”

And sign a contract while I’m at it.

Halo swallowed the latter part as his eyes rolled around.

“And to meet someone troublesome?”

“What?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Just write it down for now.

As expected of geniuses, they’re different.

click

It was just another morning in Sangam.

#

Broadcasting station employees are usually indifferent to celebrities.

They saw them often, and after seeing various sides of them, the interest and affection they had as rookies would hit rock bottom.

So even when celebrities showed up at the station, they would usually just ignore it. There was no reason to whisper about who came since they were probably there for a program anyway.

Of course, there might be people lurking around trying to cast them, but who does face-to-face casting these days? They do it through the company.

Face-to-face with celebrities

‘Apocalypse shows are trending these days. How about escaping from a zombie desert island? Haha.’ ‘Hoho then will you be the zombie, PD?’

‘Are you interested?’ ‘I just want to kill you well~.’ Cases of bringing up casting were rare.

However, even broadcasting station people have special celebrities.

For example, when Hollywood actors visit Korea, exceptional things can happen. Even someone with extreme views that all celebrities should disappear from Earth could become a shy fan, or whisper in group chats about who came.

And now.

“Uh, Halo?”

“Did they say Halo?”

“It’s really The Sun.”

“The Halo I know?”

“Gasp, really…”

People stopped in their tracks and quickly pulled out their phones.

People looking down from the second floor.

Those chatting in the lobby turned to look.

At the boy crossing the lobby.

Though not a Hollywood actor, he was a star as rare as one.

He was so hard to see in the broadcasting world that people who worked in broadcasting could be divided into those who had met Halo and those who hadn’t, and the current Halo was different.

South Korea’s, no, Asia’s first Grammy winner

A musical genius whose albums at that age were even more unbelievable than the Grammy.

There were many Halo fans within the broadcasting station, and actually, there probably wasn’t anyone here who hadn’t heard Halo’s music. Even those who don’t listen to pop or Korean songs would have heard it as background music in shows.

And above all, the broadcasting station wouldn’t turn down the currently most valuable star. They’re probably rushing down from above right now.

The young star receiving countless gazes looked around. Just then, a broadcasting station employee rushed up to Halo.

“Halo-ssi?!”

“Hello.”

People watched to see who was talking to Halo.

Some might be embarrassed by the attention, but Writer Do Minhee was not.

Rather, she wanted to show off.

Who they had managed to get.

She still couldn’t believe this person, who no one else had been able to get, was coming to their program. However, seeing him come this far, it must be real.

Writer Do Minhee suppressed her trembling feelings and guided him to the meeting room.

When the elevator doors they boarded clicked shut, whispers erupted in the lobby.

“Did you see just now? Who was that?”

“I think I’ve seen that writer in the Culture Department.”

“Why is the Culture Department meeting with Halo? Isn’t that Variety?”

“Is it?”

“Could Halo be joining a program?”

“Why else would he come here?”

“This is huge. Our director was going on about Halo. He’ll go crazy if he finds out.”

“Breaking.news.breaking.news. Ha.lo.variety.show.appearance.”

In contrast, the corridor leading to the Culture Department meeting room that Writer Do Minhee guided them to was quiet.

“I didn’t expect you to come here. Thank you for coming.”

He was a special-class cast member.

One who would determine the fate of their program.

No, not just its fate. They could make that annoying person eat his words, and with this level of guest, both scheduling and ratings were guaranteed.

It was her first time with such a special-class cast member, so her hands and feet were trembling.

What if she said something wrong and irritated the artist?

What if his mind changed?

“The meeting room is quite far, isn’t it?”

How did they design this broadcasting station?

Writer Do Minhee worried what if his legs were hurting.

But they just had to turn this corner…

“PD Na, how’s the guest casting going?”

The annoying person’s voice was heard.

When Writer Do Minhee stopped, Halo stopped too.

Peeking around the corner, the annoying person was standing with his back turned while PD Na Hyejoo was in front of the meeting room.

“But PD Na. The planning proposal is all good except the guest casting looks difficult. No, it’s a bit off from recent trends. Stars are so picky these days. Actually, I was quite surprised when I saw it too.”

Halo could immediately tell who this person was.

From Writer Do Minhee’s reaction and PD Na being mentioned.

“Let me give some feedback, our broadcasting station isn’t a public institution. We’re not some welfare company or CESCO, the idea of fixing up old countryside is a bit… And what’s with the music? Teaching those countryside bumpkins?”

This guy looked through our proposal again.

When Writer Do Minhee was about to step forward, Halo stopped her.

“…Think about it, what celebrity would go there? Well, those rolling at the bottom might beg to be on the program, but would viewers watch that?”

Then he took a step forward.

With raised corners of his mouth.

The annoying person, PD Kyung, was too busy lecturing to notice someone approaching from behind.

“I didn’t want to say this either, but the director’s eye… doesn’t look too good. Ah, Director! Did you have lunch?”

Instead, he greeted the Current Affairs Director coming towards them from afar. The Variety Deputy Director was beside him too. They probably had lunch together. PD Kyung knew why they had lunch together.

Meanwhile, PD Na Hyejoo’s eyes flew open when she spotted Halo. Her bad mood crumbled like a sand castle, and at this moment, light poured into the world.

Hearing PD Kyung’s greeting, the Current Affairs Director raised his hand to greet back but discovered the figure behind him. The Variety Director brightened and spread both arms.

PD Kyung was slightly taken aback when the two directors showed great delight, but he had no doubt they were coming towards him. After all, he was close with the Current Affairs Director, and had even heard that his show might get scheduled after the popular Saturday variety show.

“Director, I was telling PD Na-“

“Halo-ssi?”

“Halo-ssi, it’s been a while.”

The two directors brushed past PD Kyung and called out to Halo.

The Variety Director expressed joy about their brief encounter in the corridor long ago, while the Current Affairs Director chided him about how long ago that was. First of all, both were especially pleased as PDs in charge of programs before being directors.

“What brings you here?”

“I never thought I’d see Halo-ssi in the building.”

“What have you been up to lately?”

“…Halo? Halo?”

PD Kyung belatedly recognized who was behind him.

“Halo-ssi, are you interested in any programs? Seems like you came to meet someone.”

“Ah.”

Halo smiled faintly.

“I came to beg to be put in a program.”

“Huh? Beg?”

“No one would make Halo-ssi beg! Which program do you want to join?”

The two directors looked at him in confusion.

With Halo’s current value, any show would ask him to appear, so what did he mean by begging? They wondered.

Only PD Kyung alternated looking between PD Na Hyejoo and Halo with a ‘surely not’ expression.

-Think about it, what celebrity would go there? Well, those rolling at the bottom might beg to be on the program, but would viewers watch that?

Because those were his words.

Did he hear? Was he mocking that? No way.

This kid had no reason to mock him.

Shouldn’t have had a reason.

“I became interested in PD Na Hyejoo’s program.”

“!”

“PD Na’s program?”

The director seemed confused about what program PD Na was doing.

That’s when PD Kyung spoke first.

“That program about going to the countryside to teach kids and improve the countryside, Director. The one you said you couldn’t tell if it was broadcasting or welfare-“

Halo laughed at those words and replied.

“I thought that would be interesting. The proposal where you can’t tell if it’s broadcasting or welfare. Though the previous proposal wasn’t bad, I preferred this one more so…”

As PD Kyung was about to say that proposal hadn’t even been approved yet, someone elbowed him. No, beyond elbowing, they pushed him aside and took his spot.

“Ah, the proposal I thought had a good idea!”

It was the Culture and Current Affairs Director.

“I like that kind of thing. When you can’t tell if it’s broadcasting or reality. That’s the kind of program that suits our department! Viewers don’t really like things that are too broadcast-like anymore.”

PD Kyung’s eyes bulged.

Paying no attention, the director gently patted PD Na Hyejoo’s shoulder.

“Do you know how much I cherish our PD Na? She has an uncanny ability to meet people’s needs these days. I was having lunch with this friend because I really wanted to support PD Na’s program.”

At those words, the Variety Director’s eyes grew round.

“The slot you wanted after ‘Running Man’… so the junior you cherished was PD Na?”

“That’s right.”

“Wait a minute, Director, you promised to give my program that slot-“

The scheduling slot after the popular variety show ‘Running Man’.

That position, which he had perfectly secured by even having lunch with the Variety Department to avoid hard feelings, was originally reserved for PD Kyung’s program.

When that spot was about to be instantly taken away, PD Kyung tried to urgently cut in. The director’s eyebrow twitched, but he was blinded by the scheduling he thought was his.

Finally, the director briefly asked Halo’s pardon before coldly speaking.

“No, PD Kyung. Since when does scheduling have your spot or my spot? Did you stick a label on the scheduling?”

“D-Director.”

“My spot, he says.”

The director who said that smirked.

“By the way, what is PD Kyung doing here?”

“Pardon?”

“Instead of preparing for that new program you said you wanted to do so badly. Don’t mess around and work hard. What have you done well to be playing around?”

“!”

PD Kyung’s face turned pale.

It was the first time the director, who had never mentioned his actions before, had mocked him.

“We need to discuss the program with our PD Na, so PD Kyung, you may go.”

Going from ‘our’ PD Kyung to just PD Kyung happened in an instant.

“But Director-“

“By the way, Halo-ssi. There’s something bothering me – nobody actually told you to ‘come beg to be put in the program,’ right?”

“No way, who would say such a thing to Halo-ssi?”

Though the Variety Director added that it was absurd, no one missed PD Kyung’s reaction as he pressed his lips tight.

They were all people who had survived long in the broadcasting station.

If they lacked perception, they wouldn’t have risen to these positions.

Halo responded with just a subtle smile instead of replying.

In a place where everyone was smiling, PD Kyung slowly vacated his spot.

“So you came in person today to talk about PD Na Hyejoo’s proposal?”

Just how much did he like it?

The Variety Director showed his curiosity.

“Can you tell me what the proposal is about? It seems decided. From what I heard, going to the countryside to improve it and teach kids? Wait a minute, that’s variety show material. PD Na, interested in joining the Variety Department?”

“Are you trying to steal my cherished junior right in front of me?”

Though they thought it was ambiguous at first, it was different if Halo was joining. Coming to our department instead of the Variety Department.

PD Na Hyejoo who secured Halo and her proposal couldn’t look more beautiful.

“This won’t do, we might lose our PD Na at this rate. Let’s go quickly.”

“No, can’t we join the discussion?”

“Why should we discuss?”

“Halo-ssi, then we’ll see you next time.”

The Culture Director bickered with the Variety Director as they tactfully started walking their way. Halfway through, he even gave PD Na a thumbs up.

And so three people were left there.

Two broadcasters with awkward expressions and one star.

“Wow, that was quite a moment. Broadcasting stations are savage. Congratulations, PD Na. On becoming the director’s ‘our PD’.”

From the director’s attitude to scheduling, everything changed because of one star’s presence. Is this what reality is like?

Writer Do Minhee patted PD Na Hyejoo’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, PD Na Hyejoo couldn’t say anything out of embarrassment. Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, it felt like she had shown something unseemly.

That’s when Halo spoke.

“Now that we’ve vanquished the villain, shall we return to our main business?”