Chapter 4 – Starting the Update

At the 7th floor of the Mokdong SBC Broadcasting Station, in the Entertainment Department.

Dongsu had almost stopped coming to the Entertainment Department after being demoted to the Review Department.

When he was accused of embezzling production funds and faced all kinds of contempt, he had given up on his dreams...

'I won't come back to the Entertainment Department again!'

...that's what he thought.

But when he almost died in the recent fire accident, he regretted running away from his dreams and living a pitiful life, and made a resolution.

'Whether it turns out well or not, I'll charge towards my dreams like a mad dog!'

'It just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?'

'It's a habit. A habit!'

Dongsu slightly lifted the brim of his cap and looked around the Entertainment Department.

Most of the desks were empty.

'Nothing has changed.'

They weren't absent; most of them were either on location or in the editing room.

PDs don't sit at their desks all day.

Dongsu put his hands in his pockets and headed towards Entertainment Team 3.

At that moment, he heard a burst of laughter.

"Haha! Really? Mijin is coming to say hello? Hahaha! It's been a while since Mijin came! Ah! Is Rina doing well? Is Rina busy? Is she sick? Well, there's nothing we can do. Okay! We'll see each other there!"

A thin, lanky man entered the Entertainment Department.

He had a face that seemed extremely neurotic...

Dongsu's expression darkened.

'Gongsucheol...'

The main PD of 'Live Popular Music' and the one who had mocked and belittled Dongsu the most when he was accused of embezzling production funds.

Dongsu and Gongsucheol were like oil and water.

Gohwan said,

'You're right.'

At that moment, an information window appeared next to Gongsucheol.

Name: Gongsucheol / Gender: Male / Age: 43 / Occupation: PD

'Did you hack the personal information of the broadcasting station employees too?'

'Is this a problem? If I get caught...'

'...Even monkeys fall from trees. Be careful.'

At that moment,

"What? Why are you here?"

Gongsucheol, who had just finished his phone call, approached.

Dongsu relaxed his expression and greeted with a smile.

"Senior, hello."

"Hello? Bullshit... I can't be happy seeing you!"

"Haha, then why did you come here if you're just going to leave?"

"What? You little... Are you trying to provoke me?"

"I'm just stating the facts."

"You little... You still haven't come to your senses and are acting arrogant. You little... Daechul begged so much that I was going to let the fire incident slide... Right now...!"

Dongsu slightly lifted the brim of his cap.

"Right now what? Are you going to convene a disciplinary committee?"

"Yeah! You little...!"

Dongsu spoke calmly.

"Go ahead."

"What?"

"Then I'll also be referred to the disciplinary committee."

"..."

"You, Senior, for accepting dirty bribes from talent agencies!"

"What, what the hell are you saying!?"

Gongsucheol flinched, and Dongsu smiled.

"Just now, on the phone with Mijin and Rina. They're members of Cutie Girls, right?"

"..."

'Cutie Girls' is the representative girl group of a small agency called Daejeom Entertainment.

They've been active for three years...

They're an underground idol group with no popularity and no significant achievements.

Dongsu knows the members' names because his nephews are fans of Cutie Girls.

Gongsucheol shouted in excitement.

"You little... Who told you to eavesdrop on someone else's phone call!?"

"Eavesdrop? You were talking so openly. Do you have nothing to be proud of? You're boasting about accepting bribes."

"Ugh..."

The three major broadcasting stations each have their representative music shows.

KBC 'Music Dunk'

MBS 'Music Journey'

SBC 'Popular Music'

Among these, SBC 'Popular Music' does not fully disclose its ranking calculation method.

So, there's a rumor.

'The number one spot on Popular Music is decided by the main PD.'

And this isn't just a rumor...

'It's true.'

Dongsu glared at Gongsucheol with intensity.

'Probably the talent agency of Cutie Girls is trying to curry favor with Gongsucheol.'

Holding gifts in both hands.

If they don't do this, Gongsucheol won't pay attention to Cutie Girls' performances and will likely place them at the bottom of the rankings.

At that moment, Gohwan asked,

'You used to be an assistant director on 'Popular Music'.'

Gongsucheol waved his finger.

"You little... Who said I accept bribes! It was just a courtesy call!"

"Haha, do you think I became an idiot just because I was demoted to the Review Department? Senior, stop making nonsense and..."

Dongsu grabbed his finger and said,

"Stop waving your finger!"

"You little...!"

At that moment,

The hacking began.

At an incredibly fast speed!

Gongsucheol roughly shook his finger.

"Let go! You little...!"

Dongsu released his finger and checked the information window.

Name: Gongsucheol / Gender: Male / Age: 43 / Occupation: PD

Occupation 2: Junior / Special Skill 1: Tightrope Walking / Special Skill 2: Camera Operation / Special Skill 3: Insulting / Condition: → (Ginseng is highly effective for improving condition!)

Today's Thought: 'Thursday at 7 PM, at Loft House with Choi Mijin...'

To view additional information, acquire data.

Dongsu thought without showing it.

'What's today's thought?'

'You can see thoughts...? This is amazing!'

Dongsu chuckled at Gohwan's explanation.

Gongsucheol scowled and shouted.

"You little... Mocking your senior!?"

Just as he was about to grab Dongsu by the collar,

"Hey! Kang Dongsu! I called you a while ago! What are you doing!?"

A loud voice echoed.

There stood a middle-aged man in a stylish suit, Kim Minjae CP.

Gongsucheol looked displeased.

"Kim CP..."

"Good morning, Gongsu PD!"

"Uh... Yeah..."

Kim Minjae and Gongsucheol are classmates, but Kim Minjae was recognized for his abilities and became a CP a few years ago.

So their relationship is a bit awkward...

Usually, when Kim Minjae appears, Gongsucheol avoids the situation.

"Gongsu PD, if you're not busy, can I take Dongsu with me?"

"That...?"

I want to hit Dongsu right now...

'If it weren't for Kim Minjae...!'

Gongsucheol bit his lip and nodded.

"...Alright."

"Haha! Thanks! Kang Dongsu! Follow me!"

"Yes, Kim CP."

Dongsu didn't even greet Gongsucheol and followed Kim Minjae to the small conference room.

Gongsucheol glared at Dongsu and muttered.

"Damn...!"

= = = = = = =

CP Kim Minjae sighed deeply as he sat down in the small conference room.

"Getting into a fight as soon as you arrive? Why did you provoke Gongsucheol?"

"Gongsu PD started it."

"Just ignore it... Anyway, Gongsu PD is your senior. If he starts trouble, avoid it!"

"I can't just let it go when he starts it. Haha."

"Don't laugh! What did you do right...?"

Dongsu sat across from Kim Minjae and asked,

"Why did you call me? Is there something to review?"

"No."

"Then...?"

"Do you want to take charge of a program?"

Dongsu blinked and asked in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's currently airing."

Dongsu looked stunned.

'Me, in charge of an ongoing program? Is this a dream?'

He regained his composure at Gohwan's words and slowly spoke.

"I'd be happy to... What is it?"

"What is what?"

"You wouldn't give me a proper program. What show is it?"

Kim Minjae chuckled and said,

"You're perceptive, aren't you?"

"Stop beating around the bush. What is it?"

"'Living with Puppies!'"

"..."

'Gohwan... I already know without you explaining.'

In the Review Department, he had to watch all SBC broadcasts.

So he had seen 'Living with Puppies!'

When KBC's 'Dogs Are Nice' became popular, 'Living with Puppies!' was planned and initially had good ratings...

- The cast changes, but the content is similar.

- The writers don't write scripts; they just use copy-paste.

- A work that starts strong but ends weakly.

- It's all about the celebrities, not the puppies.

- With an animal entertainment title, why is it so bad?

Viewer complaints piled up every week, and when MBS launched 'Butler, Feed the Pets' at the same time slot...

'A complete failure.'

But...

'You want me to take charge of this?'

Kim Minjae crossed his arms and asked,

"Why? Don't you want to?"

Don't I want to?

Of course not!

"No. I'll do it."

"Oh, quick decision? Are you sure you can handle it?"

"..."

I know it's a poisoned chalice.

'If it ends next month, I won't have many episodes to produce.'

It's hard to turn things around.

With the ratings in shambles, the PD and writers must have had major conflicts, and the staff morale must be terrible.

In reality, I'm stepping in as a losing pitcher. But...

'If I can return to the Entertainment Department...'

Even if it's a rotten rope...

'I have to grab it!'

Dongsu nodded and said,

"Yes, I can handle it. 'Living with Puppies!', I'll do it."

Kim Minjae smiled and said,

"Then pack your things and come right away!"

Thus, the mad dog Kang Dongsu returned to the Entertainment Department!

= = = = = = =

Dongsu recalled what CP Kim Minjae had said as he headed to the 'Living with Puppies!' team meeting room.

'The main PD has moved to an external production company... The assistant director has moved to another team... The writers are in hiding... The only one left is a junior who has been with the company for three months...'

"What a mess."

At that moment, Gohwan asked,

"Of course. How can you make a show when the production team is in chaos?"

"Hey, do you think a show is made just by putting celebrities in front of the camera? It's all the writers' scripts and the production team's hard work that create the show."

"No show is complete just by putting celebrities in front of the camera!"

"What?"

At that moment, he arrived at the 'Living with Puppies!' team meeting room.

Dongsu, not bothered by Gohwan's silence, entered the meeting room.

On the small meeting room wall, there was a 'Living with Puppies!' poster, and on the whiteboard, various ideas were written in neat handwriting.

On the long table, scripts and planning documents were neatly organized.

'For a failed program, the meeting room is surprisingly tidy? Huh?'

In the corner of the meeting room, a woman with a cap was dozing off in a chair.

'Who is she?'

He checked the information window that appeared next to her.

Name: Park Jihye / Gender: Female / Age: 26 / Occupation: PD

'Ah, she's the junior.'

The only remaining member of the 'Living with Puppies!' production team, as CP Kim Minjae had mentioned.

Dongsu was considering whether to wake the junior when Gohwan, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke.

'What kind of update is this all of a sudden?'

'What?'

At that moment, the world turned yellow and became dizzy.

"Ugh!"

Dongsu almost fell but held onto the table to steady himself.

This caused a creaking sound...

"Umm..."

Junior PD Park Jihye woke up from her sleep.

She rubbed her eyes and looked at Dongsu blankly, asking,

"...Who are you?"

At that moment,

The Ensemble System update was completed.

Dongsu scowled and said to Gohwan,

'You should at least give a warning before doing this!'

'Damn! Ask before you do it! Ask before you do it!'

Then, looking at Park Jihye with a puzzled expression,

"I'm PD Kang Dongsu."

He greeted her warmly. Park Jihye blinked and then said,

"Mad dog...?"

What, hey!?