Chapter 159: Everyday (1)

Chapter 159: Everyday (1)

I was promoted to assistant manager within my first year, and now, in my second year, I had taken on the role of team lead.

Although an entire calendar year had passed, it essentially only took me four months to be promoted to team lead. Despite the anticipated opposition from the Suhyaejong line, Kang Ji-Yung was nothing but confident.

"The team lead appointment will be issued in three days, just so you know," Kang Ji-Yung said.

"What are you going to do about Mr. Lee Gi-Cheol's side?" I asked.

"I'll handle that," Gu Seong-Cheol said.

He encouraged me with a more serious expression than usual, saying this was just the beginning.

"It won't be easy. I'll support you as much as I can, but you'll be responsible for your team's operations from now on..." Gu Seong-Cheong added.

Then we discussed the Jung Team I would be in charge of.

"After discussing with Mr. Gu, we've decided that the Jung Team will need special management."

The Jung Team was tasked with the management of both actors and singers. However, Cherry Blossom was to be co-managed with the current team lead, Han Myung-Ho.

Gu Seong-Cheol looked worried, perhaps because he was concerned about me suddenly managing so many employees and actors with little experience.

"Are you sure you got this, Yoon-Ho?" Gu Seong-Cheol asked with a concerned expression.

Gu Seong-Cheol didn't know how capable I was. But in my past life, I was the one who managed the top stars of Top Entertainment and filled in for Kim Dong-Soo, who only attended entertainment events.

Starting as an assistant manager and climbing up to vice president, the internal power struggles and battles with rival companies I faced could easily fill more than ten books.

I flashed a confident smile at Gu Seong-Cheol.

"Don't worry, Mr. Gu."

Kang Ji-Yung smiled and chided Gu Seong-Cheol. "Mr. Gu, don't tell me you don't trust Mr. Yoon-Ho?"

"Of course I do. I am well aware that he's sharp with his work. But the scope of the job is broad and mistakes are bound to happen. And when they do, the Suhyaejong line will be ready to pounce on him."

I grinned and retorted, "I'd like to see them try. They'll just wear out their own teeth."

Gu Seong-Cheol playfully raised his fist. "Hey, don't just brush it off. I'm serious here."

I sarcastically took a step back in a playful response. Seeing Gu Seong-Cheol's smile, I thought about how important giving good reactions were in social interactions.

Then we moved on to discussing team member composition.

Currently, I managed four actors: Yoo-Jin, Miso, Lee Tae-Poong, and Haru.

With Lee Dae-Ho and Jung Sang-Bong already on board as actors' talent agents, we were able to add one more assistant manager to the team.

On the singer's side, we needed to hire a new assistant manager and a junior staff member from scratch. Hearing this, I immediately requested for Assistant Manager Eun Ji-Yoo from Singer Division 1.

With Golden Road on hiatus, it was the perfect time to bring her over.

I voiced my opinion, "I'd like to bring Assistant Manager Eun from Singer Division 1 to the Jung Team."

"Assistant Manager Eun, as in Miss Eun Ji-Yoo from Singer Division 1?" Kang Ji-Yung asked.

"Yes," I replied.

Kang Ji-Yung nodded. "Alright. We'll make the transfer if she agrees."

We decided to hire a stylist later and focus on finalizing the rough outline of the team for now.

I thanked Kang Ji-Yung with a smile, "Thank you so much, Ms. Kang."

As the meeting continued, we discussed accommodation options for Haru. Similar to other major entertainment companies, Hoop Entertainment not only provided accommodations for minors coming from the provinces but also acted as their legal guardians.

Since I was acting as Haru's guardian, it was only natural we lived together.

I thought for a moment and said, "I'd prefer to find an accommodation near Yoo-Jin's place. Being far away could make it inconvenient to manage her schedules."

"Hm. That area is cheaper, so we might be able to get a bigger place," Gu Seong-Cheol replied.

Gu Seong-Cheol said a three-room apartment would be fine and instructed me to choose the place myself.

"Understood. And Ms. Kang, some apples will be delivered to the company soon. Please share them with the staff," I informed Kang Ji-Yung.

"A box of apples?"

"Yes, Sae-Ri's grandfather said he would send about 50 boxes of quality Fuji apples."

Kang Ji-Yung's eyes widened in surprise. "Fifty boxes of apples? Do you know how expensive apples are these days? How could we accept so many?"

"I tried to refuse but there was no stopping him. He said he had to get rid of the extra apples anyway."

Sae-Ri's family owned an orchard so expansive that their land and orchards stretched as far as the eye could see.

Gu Seong-Cheol made a lighthearted comment. "You've brought back both apples and people from the apple orchard."

I responded to Gu Seong-Cheol's comment with a light smile.

"I'll be taking my leave then," I replied.

As I was about to leave, Kang Ji-Yung stopped me and brought up something unexpected.

"Ah, before you go out, have a talk with Mr. Jung Soo-Hyuk. He will be of great help in handling various matters in the future."

Cozy indeed. The space was so small that our legs could easily touch if we sat across from each other with a table between us.

"You'll be living with me when we move. Like it or not, we'll be together until you graduate from high school," I said.

Haru beamed as if that was good news. "Okay."

"And from now on, call me hyung. I don't like being called uncle or Mr. Jung," I said in response.

Haru responded energetically. "Okay, hyung!"

I thought to myself, 'Coming to Seoul where he knows no one but Sae-Ri must have been daunting.'

And with Sae-Ri being busy, it would be hard even to see her. So I started by changing how we addressed each other, reassuring Haru repeatedly. Given that Haru was practically abandoned by his parents, I made an effort to provide him with unwavering trust.

Just like my mother, Sister Mikaela, had done for me.

The next morning, the scent of warm rice filled my nose as soon as I woke up. To my surprise, a small table that we used as a dining table was neatly set with freshly cooked white rice, soybean paste stew, rolled omelet, and several side dishes.

"What's all this?" I asked with widened eyes.

"Oh, I just made some dishes with what you had in the fridge. Please try it," Haru replied with a broad smile.

Haru had woken up 30 minutes earlier to prepare breakfast.

I looked at all the food and said, "You didn't have to wait for me. You can eat first next time."

"I wanted to eat with you, hyung."

It seemed I was more tired than I thought, having slept so deeply that I didn't notice Haru preparing the meal in our small one-room apartment.

I nodded and said, "But really. Go ahead and eat first next time, okay?"

"No, that's okay. We should eat together. Anyway, hyung. Go wash up before eating."

"Alright, I'll be quick."

After a quick wash, I sat down at the table.

"Let's eat."

I scooped some steaming stew into Haru's bowl and then tried some myself. Expecting nothing special from a meal prepared by a teenager, I was surprisingly impressed by the taste.

"Woah, this is really good!" I exclaimed.

"Really?"

"Yes, it tastes amazing. You could sell this. Seriously," I said while taking a few more sips of the stew.

Haru beamed, pleased with the compliment. For a moment, I wondered if I should support him to be a chef instead of an actor.

"Hehe. I'm glad you like it, hyung."

"But you don't have to prepare meals like this in the future. That's what talent agents are for."

"No, I can do it."

"Fine, but just for the time being. Okay? Once you start getting schedules and lessons, you won't have time for housework."

"Okay, I understand."

"Alright then. Let's eat."

I topped my white rice with a slice of the yellow omelet and took a bite.

'Wow. Just wow.' I exclaimed inwardly.

The sweet omelet was incredibly fluffy and soft and melted in my mouth effortlessly.

I was so impressed by his cooking. 'Is this ice cream or an omelet?'

Amazed once again by Haru's culinary skills, an idea struck me as I continued to eat.

"Haru, I'm thinking it might be good to move up your debut. Would that be okay with you?"

"When would it be?"

"Next month."

Haru froze while holding his spoon in mid-air.

***

In my past life, Haru had made his name by playing a young lead in MBS's drama The Lion's Agony.

However, The Lion's Agony wouldn't start production until three years later and I had to choose a different project for him. But the moment I witnessed Haru's cooking skills, a suitable show came to mind.

[Everyday V10]

[Date: July 3, 2020]

-05:20 p.m. Master of Mukbang Woo Sung-Chan's audition.

Woo Sung-Chan from Actor Division 3, whom Kim Dong-Soo was training, was set to be the star of Master of Mukbang.

But my plan was to replace him with Haru. After all, Woo Sung-Chan had a serious issue that would disqualify him.