Engrossed in a hectic schedule of field work, meetings, and conferences since morning, Young In was finally able to catch her breath around 2:30 PM. Of course, this didn’t mean she had nothing left to do.

Young In, who was checking the movie audition schedule, got up from her seat and went to Hae Yoon’s desk.

“What about the designated script video to send for the non-face-to-face audition? Why haven’t you sent it yet?”

Hae Yoon’s eyes were hollow as she looked up.

“Ah, I’ll send it right now.”

Hae Yoon hastily clicked on a folder in the center of her computer desktop.

“What about Ji Yoo’s newly taken profile pictures?”

“Ah, I’ll check if they’ve arrived.”

Young In closely observed Hae Yoon’s face, which seemed unlike her usual self, as if a screw had come loose.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Hae Yoon looked up with an expression on the verge of tears.

“Team leader, I’m going crazy because of Min So. She says she can’t film due to the psychological shock being too great.”

“Is she still like that?”

“It’s getting worse.”

“Then tell her to drop out.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll talk to her, so call her and put me on.”

Hae Yoon immediately called her assigned actor and handed the phone to Young In.

“Min So, this is Chae Young In.”

-What’s the matter?

Her voice was quite sharp.

“I heard you’re having trouble continuing with the filming.”

-Wouldn’t you find it difficult if you were in my position? How can I act properly after seeing articles about my poor acting! What are you people doing if you can’t even block one stupid article!

“Except in special cases, we can only know once the articles are uploaded.”

-Then you should have taken it down immediately. Isn’t that what I’m paying you for with my hard-earned money?

“We tried asking the reporter, but it didn’t work out.”

-You probably didn’t try hard enough.

“…”

Young In suppressed the words that rose to the tip of her tongue.

Honestly, she felt embarrassed even while asking the reporter to take down the article.

Why? Because there wasn’t a single incorrect statement from beginning to end.

-Where did you dig up this trashy drama to put me in this state?

She decided it was time to stop entertaining these excessive complaints.

“Don’t you remember when Hae Yoon and I tried to dissuade you when you said you really wanted to do this drama? We said your vocalization doesn’t suit historical dramas, and that it would be better to try later. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

-If you couldn’t stop me until the end, keep your mouth shut.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stop you until the end.”

Young In apologized calmly. But she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“Are you really not going to film?”

-I won’t. No, I can’t.

“Then I’ll proceed with your departure from the project.”

-Departure? Are you in your right mind? We’ve already filmed up to episode 7 and aired 2 episodes?

“You said you can’t film. Is there any other option?”

-As if the director would allow that.

Sarcasm and mockery simultaneously struck her eardrums.

“I’ll take responsibility and handle it. Since I’ve dealt with the aftermath of an actor leaving mid-broadcast once, I think I can do it better the second time.”

-…

“The legal team will contact you soon about the penalty fee. Don’t turn off your phone.”

-Penalty fee?

“Did you think you could avoid all responsibility?”

-Team leader, are you really going to do this? You know I’m struggling right now, do you have to go this far?

Her voice was so deflated it was hard to believe it was the same person who had been yelling moments ago. However, Young In had no intention of pretending to give in here.

“I’m just doing what Min So wants. We prioritize the actor’s wishes above all else.”

-…

“I’ll contact you again after meeting with the director. Get some rest.”

Young In hung up and returned the mobile phone to Hae Yoon.

“You should know your limits. It’s not the first or second time, don’t indulge unreasonable tantrums anymore.”

“But we can’t have her miss filming…”

Mumbling for a moment, Hae Yoon’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“But, team leader. Is Min So really leaving the project?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“You said you could do it better the second time…”

“I could do it better, but I don’t want to. It’s tiring.”

Hae Yoon giggled as she watched Young In shaking her head.

“She’ll call soon. Comfort her well.”

“Yes, team leader.”

“If something like this happens again, pass it straight to me. I’ll take on the villain role.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to?”

“I’ll handle it myself from now on. You already have an image of being heartless, we can’t let that solidify further.”

Young In played along with the half-joking, half-serious remark.

“Do I have an image of being heartless?”

“Yes.”

Hae Yoon’s nod was quite vigorous.

“Half right. I don’t have tears.”

It was an undeniable fact, as she hadn’t cried even once after breaking up with the first man she liked.

Young In’s gaze, which had calmly retorted, turned to the wall clock.

“It’s already this late. I’ll go to the strategy meeting and come back.”

“Have a good meeting.”

Young In returned to her seat, gathered her tablet PC and mobile phone, and left the office. But someone was leaning against the wall next to the office door.

“Honey.”

It was Hyun Shim, the team leader of Management Team 2.

“You don’t possibly not know that managing the actors’ mental state is also part of a manager’s job, do you?”

Hyun Shim didn’t hide her intention to give advice at all while maintaining a relaxed smile. She was determined to clearly remind her that even though they were both team leaders, she and Young In were on different levels.

“How could I not know?”

“Then why don’t you do it?”

Hyun Shim’s tone became a bit sharper in response to the calm reply. The smile that had been playing on her lips had already disappeared.

“Why do you think I didn’t do it? I did.”

“Did you do your best?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Young In’s answer was firm yet gentle. Since she didn’t react angrily and lash out, Hyun Shim found it awkward to keep picking a fight.

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Hyesung, which is just a small shop, and SL will be different in many ways. If there’s anything you don’t know, feel free to ask anytime.”

“Yes.”

Right after Hyun Shim left, still throwing her weight around until the end, Hae Yoon’s disgruntled voice was heard from behind.

“Anyone listening would think our team leader is just an intern or something…”

Hyun Shim was notorious among the staff for being arrogant, as if the popularity of the actors she managed was her own. These days, she had her shoulders up thanks to Hee Ran’s popularity.

“A newbie is a newbie.”

Young In smiled, recalling how Hyun Shim had asked for her age when they first introduced themselves and immediately started speaking informally, saying, “I’m two years older than you.”

“I wonder why she’s especially like that towards you, team leader?”

Although it had only been three days since she returned from an overseas shoot, the number of unreasonable complaints she had already made couldn’t be counted on one hand.

“I guess she doesn’t like me, that’s all.”

Young In’s expression was quite peaceful.

Perhaps because she was used to being disliked, she could just shrug it off when someone didn’t like her. She didn’t want to try hard to be liked or loved by others. She could just keep people around who didn’t require such efforts.

For example…

“I’ll be late.”

Young In hurriedly erased the face of the man who came to mind first and quickly moved in the direction Hyun Shim had gone.

As expected, Hyun Shim was in front of the elevator.

Their destinations were the same. The large conference room on the 3rd floor.

In 10 minutes, a strategy meeting that all managers and above were required to attend would begin.

After waiting for a moment, the elevator coming down from above arrived at the 5th floor.

Young In followed Hyun Shim into the elevator. Two people were standing side by side inside the elevator.

It was Sung Hyuk and Hee Ran.

“Hello, CEO.”

Hyun Shim greeted Sung Hyuk brightly, then only gave a slight smile to Hee Ran. Knowing that Hee Ran had gone up to the CEO’s office, she wasn’t at all surprised to see them coming down together.

Hee Ran was the only actor attending the strategy meeting.

Yesterday, through Hyun Shim, she had expressed her wish to Sung Hyuk to attend the strategy meeting where the mid to long-term vision would be presented before deciding on her contract renewal, and he had accepted. That was why the two were now going down to the 3rd floor together.

Young In only bowed slightly to the two and turned to stand in front of the door.

Young In also knew that Hee Ran would be attending the strategy meeting, thanks to Hyun Shim’s boastful mention yesterday.

It was at that moment that a soft voice broke the silence.

“CEO, if you’re free today, let’s have dinner together. Treat me to something delicious.”

Just then, as the elevator arrived at the 3rd floor, Young In rushed out of the elevator as if someone had pushed her.

It was because she disliked herself for pricking up her ears to hear how Sung Hyuk would respond. Even though there was absolutely no reason why the CEO couldn’t have dinner with one of the company’s actors, she inwardly hoped he would refuse.

Don’t mind it. Don’t mind it.

Young In entered the conference room, repeating this like a mantra, and took her seat. A moment later, Hee Ran and Hyun Shim entered one after another. Sung Hyuk was nowhere to be seen.

Why isn’t he coming in?

Just then, a message arrived.

It was the exact same thing Hee Ran had just said to Sung Hyuk. It meant their dinner plans hadn’t been made, and furthermore, that Sung Hyuk had refused.

She had been constantly wondering how Sung Hyuk had answered, but now she finally felt at ease.

Young In glanced around once and typed out a message.

Not wanting to flatly refuse but unable to agree either, she wrote back in a whining tone, to which a bewildering reply came: