Chapter 117: New Year (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Two actresses came face to face at MEG Entertainment. One was Moon Ji-a, the top of the top actresses, saved by Kang Jae-ha. The other was Yoon Da-yeon, who had shed her washed-up status thanks to Kang Jae-ha.

The two actresses were cut from different cloth, but they shared one thing in common, the fact that both had been saved by Kang Jae-ha.

Thanks to that common thread, they had become part of the same MEG Entertainment family.

But that didn't erase their past. It was as if the sound of sparks crackling could be heard where the two actresses' gazes met.

"......"

"......"

That was how cold and prickly the looks they exchanged were. The MEG Entertainment staff nearby, CEO Park Ja-hee included, swallowed nervously. But no one dared to butt in.

Then Moon Ji-a spoke first.

"Ending up in the same agency as you, Da-yeon... live long enough and you really do see everything."

Yoon Da-yeon shrugged, unfazed, and replied.

"If you don't like it, why not go somewhere else while you still can?"

"I already signed the contract. How could I?"

"Then grit your teeth and tough it out."

"Not really? You don't get under my skin enough for me to have to tough anything out, Da-yeon."

"Same here. You're just unpleasant to look at, that's all."

"Oh my, so we do agree on something?"

Barbed words flew back and forth before the two actresses fell silent again. Almost in unison, they muttered inwardly.

'We really don't get along, her and me.'

'We don't mix. We seriously don't mix.'

And yet, starting with Moon Ji-a,

'Hah. If it weren't for General Manager Kim Ha-jae......'

even Yoon Da-yeon found herself thinking of Kang Jae-ha.

'Who knew that General Manager Kim Ha-jae would go and scoop her up, of all people.'

The two actresses showed no sign of ever warming up to each other, but in the entertainment industry, joining a project alongside someone unbearable was commonplace. There were even cases of exes starring in the same production.

Yoon Da-yeon and Moon Ji-a had seen it all until they were sick of it.

Above all, both had plenty of industry experience under their belts, and both were professionals.

Soon, Yoon Da-yeon let out a small sigh and spoke.

"Well, since it's come to this, let's try to adjust. What else can we do? Not that I like it."

Moon Ji-a nodded as if she'd been thinking the same thing.

"Right. When we run into each other, we say hello, even if our faces sour. Deal?"

"Deal."

The two actresses had barely managed to find common ground.

The next day.

Inside a large van speeding down the road were the members of the girl group 'Seriel'. They all looked worked up about something. And no wonder. Their comeback had launched straight into a string of smash hits.

"Whoa! Look! Our music video passed 10 million views!!"

"Oooh!"

"No way, this is the first time we've hit 10 million views this fast?!"

"We've hit 10 million before, but it still tastes so sweet!!"

The 'Seriel' members, on the move to their next schedule, had barely slept, yet their spirits were through the roof. The momentum of this smash hit must have left them intoxicated.

"The articles keep pouring out too!"

"Some of it's the company seeding coverage, but the start's been so hot the press seems genuinely interested??"

"Of course they're interested! We've held No. 1 for two weeks straight!!"

Then one member brought up the Composer 'Rina'.

"Composer 'Rina', the one who wrote our songs, is getting a ton of attention too."

"Oh, right. She's showing up in articles a lot. People kept asking about her in the Music Show waiting room earlier."

"I got a bunch of messages too, asking who this Composer 'Rina' is."

While the members chattered away, Seriel's leader Ra Yoon was looking down at her phone. As the leader, she was monitoring the response to their Comeback. One of the members called to her gently.

"Yoon."

Only then did Ra Yoon raise her head.

"Hm?"

"Hey, shouldn't we thank Jae-ha oppa?"

"Ah."

This smash hit owed something to the name recognition and standing 'Seriel' had built up over the years, sure, but it was also a picture only made possible because Kang Jae-ha had given them the songs. And the quality of those songs had been remarkable, at that.

The 'Seriel' members knew this full well.

"Whatever happened in the past, this time we did get Jae-ha oppa's help. That much is true."

Soon, Ra Yoon let out a small sigh.

'It's true. That man is the one who brought us this hit.'

Hating was one thing, but Ra Yoon was the type to acknowledge what deserved acknowledging.

'A thank-you is nothing hard. Fine, let's do what needs doing.'

Her mind made up, Ra Yoon spoke to the members as their leader.

"Alright, everyone reach out to him on your own."

"Okay!"

"Got it."

The 'Seriel' members all picked up their phones, Ra Yoon included. She was about to send Jae-ha a brief message when she paused. Maybe she should show a bit more sincerity? After some deliberation, she clicked her tongue and picked out a rather expensive gift. Ra Yoon chose a luxury present and sent it to Kang Jae-ha, a thank-you note included.

-Thanks!

At this hour.

Kang Jae-ha could be found in a practice room inside Leon. His expression was rather indifferent. A fairly intense beat was pounding through the practice room.

-♬♪

The 'Kisera' members danced their Choreography passionately to the beat. Jae-ha was checking on the state of the rebuilt 'Kisera'. Just then, the phone in his pocket let out several short buzzes.

'Hm?'

He checked to find thank-you messages from the 'Seriel' members. Kang Jae-ha skimmed through them, then let out a small laugh at Ra Yoon's gift at the end.

'Cute, this one.'

It was an extremely short thank-you, but for someone as proud as Ra Yoon, it clearly showed she'd done her best in her own way. Lowering his phone, Kang Jae-ha thought about 'Seriel'.

'At this rate, they'll hold No. 1 for at least a few more weeks.'

Seriel's continued success meant success for Kang Jae-ha. It raised Choi Ri-na's standing and lined Jae-ha's pockets nicely.

'Keep up the good work, girls.'

Then Kang Jae-ha turned his gaze back to the 'Kisera' members syncing their moves in front of him. For the record, Kisera's progress was on the fast side.

The two chosen songs were titled 'BBlink!' and 'Starlight Error'.

Recording was underway on both of Choi Ri-na's compositions, and with the Choreography finished, practice was in full swing. On top of that, all their various training was underway, and even the music video director had been booked.

Just then.

-Swish.

Someone stepped into the practice room where Kang Jae-ha and 'Kisera' were. It was CEO Han Tae-sung in a full suit. He gestured for the startled 'Kisera' members to keep going, and then,

"Hm."

arms crossed, he watched the rebuilt 'Kisera' for a while. Their eyes, their energy, their aura, and so on. After a few dozen seconds, CEO Han Tae-sung murmured inwardly.

'Good. Far better than before.'

He glanced at Kang Jae-ha, sitting beside him with a dry look in his eyes.

'Handing this over to him was the right answer after all.'

In a low tone, CEO Han Tae-sung asked Jae-ha.

"'Kisera', when can you have them ready to show?"

Eyes still fixed on the 'Kisera' members, Kang Jae-ha answered casually.

"Hard to say. I'd guess they can launch in the first half of next year."

After that.

Time melted away. Before anyone knew it, November ended and December began. Year's end. When the year winds down, every corner of the entertainment industry gets frantically busy. Broadcasters schedule year-end specials, and it's the season when events and award shows of every kind come flooding in.

The same went for Kang Jae-ha.

Jae-ha grew even busier, and the projects he'd touched moved steadily forward. The same went for 'MEG', of course. 'MEG' had bulked up considerably, and with its hands in so many projects and people, there was no such thing as a break.

In the meantime, Jae-ha received December's Pension of 700 million won, along with a 'Deja Vu' that reeked of money.

'Fattening my pockets is always welcome.'

Meanwhile, the master director Yu Gil-tae, the subject of the Media Play run over MEG's Solo Investment, made his move. Or to be precise, his new film 'Mask of Murder' did.

Yoon Da-yeon stepped into a huge conference room.

The great hall was packed with countless top actors and A-listers, and even more staff had crowded in. Lee Chan-hoo, seated proudly as the Solo Investment backer, caught the eye. Yoon Da-yeon swallowed without letting it show.

-Swish.

commanding every gaze in the room, Director Yu Gil-tae made his entrance.

"Alright, let's begin."

A few days after that.

Ha Yeon-ji handed Commander Kang Jae-ha a list.

"Commander, the list of Press Outlets to acquire is all sorted!"

Meaning she'd finished narrowing down the Press Outlets to buy. Kang Jae-ha nodded and skimmed the list Ha Yeon-ji handed over. He gave his answer the next day.

"Set up meetings with these."

The Subordinates involved in the Press Outlet acquisition were Ha Yeon-ji and Cha Chung-hyeon. And, of course, a masked Kang Jae-ha.

It was roughly two weeks later that Kang Jae-ha officially bought the Press Outlet.

"Ha Yeon-ji, keep the remaining reporters if you can, and if there are reporters worth scouting, scout them."

"Yes, Commander! Ahh, me, a Press Outlet CEO and Editor-in-Chief! It feels so strange."

"Run it well. You're the face of 'MEG'."

"Yes! I'll work myself to the bone!"

Ha Yeon-ji, now in charge of MEG's Press Outlet, was bursting with fighting spirit, and Kang Jae-ha decided on a name for the outlet he'd acquired.

"Let's call it 'News M', we can't slap MEG on a Press Outlet too."

The acquired Press Outlet's name was decided as 'News M'. With the Press Outlet included, MEG's Subsidiaries now numbered six in total. And of course, Kang Jae-ha had no intention of stopping there.

At the same time.

A great shout rang out across a filming set.

"Cuuut!!! OOOOK! Great work, everyone!"

It was Director Baek Jeong-ha. In other words, this was the 'One-Act Drama Project' set. When she clapped, the dozens of staff and actors on site joined in.

"Great work, everyone!!"

"Thank you all for your hard work!"

Soon, the bald Executive Director Heo Seong-jin beside Director Baek Jeong-ha smiled.

"Wonderful work, Director-nim."

"Oh, please. Season 2 is still left, and we've only just wrapped filming."

That's right. Filming had just wrapped on all three episodes making up Season 1 of the One-Act Drama Project's six works. That said, Oh Jong-man, An Ji-hee, and Yoon Da-yeon weren't on this set. They had already finished their shoots.

Then a chuckling Executive Director Heo.

"Still, what deserves celebrating deserves celebrating. How long will Post-production (editing) take?"

"As you've seen, we ran filming and editing practically in parallel."

"Yes, and thanks to that, Director-nim, your dark circles have sunk down to your chin."

"I'm fine. It won't kill me. Anyway... editing, two months at the longest?"

Director Baek Jeong-ha's expression suddenly turned serious, and she murmured.

"You can go ahead and start soon. The matter with Writer Oh Jong-man."

End of December.

While award shows of every kind ran rampant, Director Baek Jeong-ha, having wrapped Season 1 of the 'One-Act Drama Project', holed herself up in the editing room. She didn't emerge for weeks on end, and that stayed true even as December ended and the new year dawned.

And the moment January 2021 arrived, Kang Jae-ha turned to the newly acquired 'News M'. That is, he instructed Ha Yeon-ji to drop their first Scoop.

"Ha Yeon-ji, the Oh Jong-man matter I told you about. Time to throw it out there."

Before long, 'News M' released its first exclusive article to the world.

《[Exclusive] Actor Oh Jong-man, Missing for Years, Returns with the 'One-Act Drama Project'!》

Oh Jong-man, whose setup Kang Jae-ha had engineered, the snowball of the 'One-Act Drama Project'. It had been set in motion. It didn't take long for the public to pounce.

-Whaaaaaaaaaat

-Huh;; Didn't Oh Jong-man hit rock bottom over sexual harassment or sexual assault or something??

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Netflix is really laundering him clean

-What's this about sexual assault??

-Nah, it wasn't sexual assault, it was sexual harassment, and he was cleared of charges

-He was cleared? Wow, didn't know that

-Oh Jong-man hit rock bottom over assault and sexual harassment, yeah

-There they go again, slipping back in. Must be nice being a celebrity

-He was CLEARED, you morons. At least know what you're hating on before you hate

The response was blazing hot, and an absolute mudpit all the same.

*****

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