Chapter 10

All-Round Entertainment Life Bible Chapter 10 (10/280)

***

‘Good, good.’

The face in the mirror was beaming.

I didn’t particularly try to smile, but the corners of my mouth naturally curled upward.

‘Praise makes even a whale dance.’

I’m exactly like that.

Whenever I receive recognition for something trivial, I always feel grateful for having the chance to come back.

‘Let’s do our best until the end.’

It was already 1:50 PM.

Since the journalists were almost done entering, it was time to head to the venue.

‘Hm?’

As I hurried out of the restroom, I saw Kim Han-sung arguing with a man in front of the talent studio.

‘Leather jacket, jeans… sneakers. Camera and laptop. A journalist, maybe? Or a fan?’

“I’m here in place of our senior, who couldn’t make it today!”

“But you need to show us your business card. Verify it with the card or connect us with your media outlet to enter!”

“…Ah. I’m still an intern, so I don’t have a business card…”

As I walked closer to assess the situation, my steps froze when I saw the man’s face.

– …At least show some respect if you don’t want to be a scumbag.

He looked much younger than when I saw his graying hair, but his distinctive low voice was familiar.

“Mr. Kim Ho-young, the journalist?”

My sudden intervention made Kim Han-sung’s expression crumple.

And,

“…Do you know me?”

Of course, I do.

Kim Ho-young, the future head of RealFact. Nice to see you again.

“Of course. I’m Jeon Cheon from JWN Media’s 1st team.”

Everyone has their time.

Kim Ho-young, the head of the photo and video department at RealFact.

I remember he was a twenty-five-year veteran just before my regression.

If that’s the case, he must have been a journalist for at least five years, yet he’s an intern now.

“I’ve seen you at events before.”

A look of recognition appeared on Kim Ho-young’s face.

‘Hmm, not sure, but we must have met at some event recently.’

This industry is small.

If this isn’t his first event, we must have crossed paths somewhere.

“I have a good eye. Please come inside.”

“Hey, Jeon Cheon!”

“Please take care of the publicity table. After the entry is done, close the door and let people in until 2:10. We need to pass the microphones to the journalists.”

I gently pushed Kim Han-sung, who was about to say something, and ignored his sour expression, smiling at Kim Ho-young.

“Let’s go.”

Then, Kim Ho-young, who had been standing awkwardly, slowly followed me into the hall.

“This is the first time I’m formally introducing myself. As I mentioned, I’m Jeon Cheon from JWN Media’s Communication 1st team.”

I took a business card from my pocket and handed it to him, and Kim Ho-young smiled awkwardly.

Ah, you said you don’t have a business card.

“I don’t have a business card yet…”

“Ah, I know you, Mr. Kim. Oh! Before you leave after the event, please give me your contact information.”

“My contact information…?”

“To send you a text message about future events.”

Before he could get more uncomfortable, I changed the subject with a dismissive tone.

Kim Ho-young’s face showed genuine gratitude.

‘Just offering to send a text message…’

A chuckle escaped me as I remembered his composed demeanor when he was the head of RealFact.

‘Who’s his mentor?’

It seemed he had a tough time as an intern.

‘But, where does he work now?’

RealFact didn’t even exist yet.

I subtly glanced down and saw a camera bag with the blue logo of ‘TopStarNews’.

“You can’t sit in the front row for the photographers. It’s already full.”

Before I finished, Kim Ho-young’s face fell.

Thinking he might be in trouble, I quickly whispered to him.

“Instead, do you see the two empty seats in the third row? They were originally reserved for us, but you can sit there. The stage is small, so it should be a good spot. Just don’t stand up, as there are journalists on either side.”

He opened his mouth wide in surprise and repeatedly thanked me as I led him to his seat. I moved to the edge of the hall and grabbed two microphones, including the one for Kim Han-sung.

It was time to get to work.

***

‘As they say, the body remembers.’

It was my first press conference after the regression, so I was a bit nervous, but the event went smoothly without any issues.

While Yoo Hee-jin was leading the Lions to shoot additional promotional videos, I looked around the hall as the journalists started to leave.

‘Still working, huh.’

I saw Kim Ho-young frantically editing photos among the journalists who were writing their articles.

He was the only remaining photographer.

‘Still the same.’

The official photo session for the press conference usually lasts about ten minutes after the start.

While it’s possible to take photos during interviews, capturing good shots from the constantly talking and moving actors is no easy task.

‘Actually, taking a few photos at the beginning and using them is fine…’

Unlike video journalists who need to capture the entire event or interview-focused journalists, photographers often leave after ten minutes of taking photos.

‘But he’s editing and uploading all of them…’

It’s not something just being diligent can achieve.

As I watched the back of Kim Ho-young’s head, thinking how impressive he was, Lee Hong-ju, who had approached me, nudged me.

“Is that journalist yours?”

“Huh?”

“Is that journalist your pick?”

Every publicity officer, whether from a broadcasting station or an agency, spends time and money to build a good relationship with journalists who suit their taste.

To sell a product well, word of mouth is as important as the quality of the product itself, and journalists are the starting point of that word of mouth.

“Yeah, I’m trying to get closer. How did you know?”

“Kim Han-sung said you let in a suspicious man who claimed to be an intern?”

‘Damn, he really…’

Though we’re handling ‘Your Home’ together, I didn’t really plan to rely on him outside of the event.

So, I thought I’d just ignore it.

‘But, I need to clear this up once and for all.’

“But… it’s not an interview, it’s a photographer… surprising, isn’t it?”

It’s understandable to be surprised.

In reality, broadcasting station publicity officers rarely interact with photographers.

‘They just need to guide them at official events like press conferences or wrap parties.’

Ultimately, whether they become friends or enemies, publicity officers usually build a history with interview journalists.

‘But, I won’t be doing publicity forever.’

If I want to move to management, it’s good to know a photographer or two.

And Kim Ho-young…

“He doesn’t look young, but he’s an intern?”

“Yes, but his photos are great. I thought it would be good to build a relationship early… and…”

As I added more explanations to his repeated questions, Lee Hong-ju nodded and opened his wallet.

‘Company card?’

“Are you going to eat with that journalist? Take it.”

“Ah, it’s fine. It’s not a company dinner. It’s just personal…”

“What’s fine? As I’ve said before, when you eat with a journalist under the JWN name, you use the company card.”

Lee Hong-ju handed me the card, saying, “Our team’s card is meant for such occasions.”

“Try to win him over and make him your ally.”

“Thank you.”

“Sure. When Yoo Da-ri comes, I’ll greet the Lions and go up. When the journalists leave, you can go home.”

After seeing Lee Hong-ju off, I approached Kim Ho-young, who was already packing up his laptop.

“Mr. Kim, are you done uploading the photos?”

“Ah! Yes, thank you. Thanks to you, I managed to upload them safely.”

“That’s good. How about having dinner with me?”

“Ah… sure…”

Rumble-

Kim Ho-young, holding his laptop and camera bag in both hands, laughed awkwardly.

***

A beer house near Hapjeong Station.

As soon as the hunger subsided, Kim Ho-young’s face turned red from a few glasses of soju.

“No! If you had the schedule, you should have told me earlier! Or at least put my name on the list! I’m really upset…”

Someone once said,

To get close quickly, alcohol is the best.

About an hour after we sat down, Kim Ho-young, who had allowed me to call him by his first name, started to open up after two hours.

‘He must have had a tough time…’

A twenty-five-year veteran.

Kim Ho-young, the top dog in the photo and video department at RealFact.

Thinking that even he had such a time, a sense of empathy slowly rose within me.

I remembered the days before my regression when I struggled to maintain my mental state in the broadcasting industry.

“But, why do you want to get close to me? I’m just an intern…”

Kim Ho-young’s voice grew quieter, as if he was about to dig a hole and hide.

‘Of course, knowing the future is a big advantage…’

I couldn’t understand how he had wasted five years, but watching him handle the Lions’ photos, I thought his path wouldn’t change much from the past.

“Because I love photography.”

Kim Ho-young, who never settles for mediocre shots, was first recognized by the fans of celebrities.

While he didn’t post exclusive photos quickly, his high-quality photos became famous, creating a new demand.

‘It was quite a sensation in this industry.’

It took less than a year for StarSHOT, where Kim Ho-young worked before RealFact, to rise from a minor entertainment department to a mainstream one.

‘While RealFact is more appealing to me…’

But that’s a distant future.

It’s not something to worry about now.

“Everyone focuses on posting photos quickly to claim exclusivity. But your photos are different. I saw it today. You edited and uploaded every single photo, even the last one.”

Kim Ho-young’s eyes welled up when I said this.

‘What? Is he like this?’

He seemed grateful that his efforts were recognized.

But after a moment, he sighed deeply and hunched his shoulders.

“…But what’s the point these days?”

“Why? Celebrities check the names of the journalists who take good photos.”

“But it’s also about speed… I’m not familiar with this. Adjusting the stage lighting is really difficult. My mentor told me to practice, but how can I practice when the event is the real thing?”

As I thought about how to comfort Kim Ho-young, who was lamenting, a lightbulb went off in my head.

‘Stage, celebrities, lighting…’

‘…!’

A brilliant idea popped into my head.

‘Will this work?’

“Bro, do you want me to introduce you to a place where you can practice photography?”

“I don’t know what you’re suggesting… I don’t need to photograph nature or landscapes. I need to photograph a stage.”

“Come on, I know. Stage, actors, lighting. If you have all three and can legally take photos, wouldn’t that be great? Posting them might be a problem, though.”

Kim Ho-young, intrigued, leaned forward in his chair and whispered.

“Is there such a place? Posting them isn’t a problem. It’s for practice. I won’t post them without permission. I can even hand over the hard drive.”

“Lighting might be a bit challenging. It’s not like the front lights at a press conference… it’s usually dark.”

“Where exactly?”

“Bro, …do you like performances?”

As I waited for Kim Ho-young’s answer, I subtly took out my phone under the table.

‘What’s this guy doing?’

I ignored the constant messages from my senior and smiled at Kim Ho-young.

‘Bro will practice photography, and So-hwa will…’

One shot, two kills.

My mind started to race.

.

.

.

“Hey, be careful, be careful!”

“Bro!! See you on the weekend! I’ll call you!!”

Ha, this guy’s voice gets louder when he’s drunk.

“Mr. Kim, please take care. Bro, be careful on your way home.”

“Hey-!”

After sending the drunk Kim Ho-young off in a taxi, I took out my phone to add our weekend plans to my calendar, but an alarm went off.

The only sound my phone makes.

‘Entertainment Life Bible.’

I switched the phone to my left hand and carefully tapped [Yes].

I couldn’t relax, fearing I might accidentally tap [No].

‘This time… hmm…?’

“Oh…”

Yoon Mi-jung’s participation.

It was a welcome piece of news.

A part of my heart that had been uneasy felt relieved.

‘Sure enough, she agreed.’

After recommending Yoon Mi-jung, I had a long think.

If I left things as they were, the past might repeat itself, but I was worried that my involvement might ruin things.

When I heard from assistant director Kwak Seung-yeon that “Ms. Yoon has seen the email but hasn’t responded yet,” my stomach tightened.

‘Thank goodness.’

By the way, does the ‘Entertainment Life Bible’ just tell me things like this?

My participation in ‘Your Home’ and the need to help Park So-hwa…

Both were directly related to my active involvement.

Compared to those, this was just a piece of information.

‘…Well, good news is good news.’

As I thought about recording the patterns of the ‘Entertainment Life Bible,’

Beep-

Beep-

‘What’s going on…?’

“Yes, PD.”

– Hello, this is Kwak Seung-yeon. Can I talk to you for a moment?

“Yes, of course. What’s up?”

– It’s about the casting of Ms. Yoon Mi-jung.

‘Finally!’

“Did it go well with Ms. Yoon? Is she joining our drama…?”

– Ah