Chapter 61

Villain Only Acting Chapter 61

The Suspicious Professor (1)

Despite being caught meeting with other production teams, he remains calm.

It means he was prepared for this from the beginning.

Yang Joon-gyu knew that no matter how much he pressured, it wouldn't change anything.

"How much are you offering?"

"What do you plan to do with that, Chief?"

He deliberately emphasized the title "Chief."

"Are you sulking? Are you sulking?"

"It's not me who's sulking, but you, Chief. Oh, and soon Director will be sulking too."

"Damn. How can you do this? 18 billion won is not a small amount. You should think about how to persuade Kim Sang-hee with that money."

"Both you and I know that Kim Sang-hee isn't someone who can be persuaded, and I'm not sure about Director. He hasn't been involved in practical work for a long time."

Yang Joon-gyu changed his tone to a more gentle one and tried to persuade him.

"It's not a romance. It's a historical drama. A historical drama that eats up a lot of money and starts with a penalty because we can't even properly insert product placements."

"It's a fusion historical drama. If I just say historical drama, they might misunderstand it as a traditional one."

"Whether it's fusion or trendy, it's only a 20-episode series at most, right? You know that historical dramas need to build up slowly and take a long time to be profitable."

"The combination of Kim Sang-hee and Jung Seo-hoon is different. It will attract a lot of young viewers from the start. I guarantee it."

"That's why we're offering 18 billion won. It's not a small amount. If other broadcasting stations' historical drama production teams knew, they'd revolt. We believe we can make a great hit with that much money."

"Then, tell them to work hard. Whether it's Kim Sang-hee, Jung Seo-hoon, or me, Jang Seung-won, anyone can make it if they just give money. Why do we need PDs, writers, and actors?"

"Brat. Trying to avoid saying anything, huh?"

Perhaps because his throat was dry, Yang Joon-gyu gulped down his beer.

"I understand your position."

"I know."

"Even Director understands your position."

"I'm not sure about that."

"Seung-won. The budget department says they can't go above 18 billion won per episode. What should we do?"

"They probably didn't just say that. What else is there?"

"..."

"Come on, just spill it all at once. Don't tease me one by one. It's like unwrapping a gift; you need to do it all at once for the patient to prepare mentally."

"What mental preparation? Just stop overthinking, please."

Another gulp of beer.

"They offered 300 billion won for the right to simulcast. The only condition is that the series must be at least 16 episodes."

"Are you crazy? 300 billion won? Who's name is 300 billion? They're offering 300 billion won for just the simulcast rights?"

"Of course, it's on the condition that streaming starts 30 to 60 minutes after our broadcast ends."

"Damn, even so. Wow, fuck. I really can't compete with those American kids."

"There are other offers too."

Jang Seung-won's smile, as if hiding something interesting, made Yang Joon-gyu even more frustrated.

"Hey! Just spill it all at once, don't tease me one by one!"

"If we give them exclusive rights, they'll offer 30 billion won per episode. Up to 30 episodes, which means 900 billion won guaranteed."

"Are you serious? 900 billion won for a historical drama?"

"Kim Sang-hee's new historical drama is a hit. It got 30% on cable. How much do you think it would have gotten on terrestrial TV?"

Actually, it was 29.9%, but Yang Joon-gyu knew he shouldn't nitpick here.

"It's a new historical drama by a writer who has hit four consecutive times. They said yes without even reading the script."

"..."

"That was their initial offer. I thought about our station and brought back the condition you mentioned earlier."

"..."

"Oh, really? I'm sorry. I didn't know that, and I... I..."

"Is it too much to ask for you to stop mentioning Hageum-sang in front of such a PD, Chief?"

"I'm sorry, I really am."

Yang Joon-gyu desperately tried to think.

The difference in conditions is too significant. Comparing them is foolish.

"I'm also struggling with this. Should we hand it over completely to NetPrime for 900 billion won, or should we get 300 billion won in investment support and split it between our station and NetPrime? But how can I do this? I have to run with a beast's heart, don't I?"

"Hey, I'm sorry, just stop. Keep it on hold. I'll try to negotiate with Director. But... ."

After coating his dry throat with the lukewarm beer, Yang Joon-gyu continued.

"What if you get the 900 billion won offer? What would you do? Think about going independent?"

"Am I crazy? I can only control a few shooting scenes; I can't run a business. I'm also too sensitive to handle stressful receptions or sales."

"True. That's why I'm struggling in front of my subordinate. If I were a buyer, I wouldn't hesitate."

"But if I handle a contract of this size, offers from production companies will flood in. I'm starting to think that life in a public company is getting boring, and working for a private production company or broadcasting station might not be so bad."

"Whoa, calm down. People don't just talk about public companies for no reason. There are reasons why everyone wants to work in a public company."

Yang Joon-gyu, feeling anxious, licked his lips and lowered his voice.

"Have you talked to Kim Sang-hee?"

"Not yet."

"Good. Just keep quiet for a bit. I'll talk to Director... ."

"I plan to tell her everything at once, including the deal you bring back. I don't want to stress her out multiple times. She needs to focus on the script, right?"

Yang Joon-gyu muttered, exhausted.

"You're not giving in at all... ."

"By staying here, I'm already giving in, right, Joon-gyu?"

***

The director, after receiving the report, said without changing his expression.

"I also want to give Jang PD what he wants. But what can I do when the people with the money are interfering?"

"Isn't it most realistic to go with a joint production with NetPrime, Director?"

"I think so too."

"The budget department will have nothing to say. They offered less money and expected us to get external investment. They've been pressuring us to do it on our own if we don't have the money."

"Normally, they shouldn't have anything to say. Got it. Let's push in that direction."

Yang Joon-gyu returned to the office, relieved.

Now, all that's left is for the director to give a clear answer and to deliver the good news to Jang Seung-won, the subordinate with a beast's heart.

And about 2 hours later...

-Yang Chief, I'm really sorry.

"Director? You're not joking, right? Really not joking."

-I'm on my way out of the production department head's office. It's a mess.

"What? Why?"

-It seems the pressure came from the vice president. They want to proceed with 18 billion won per episode. Damn. Do they think it's the 1980s? Do they think KBC can bully everyone just because it's a historical drama?

"This isn't a fish we've caught and kept in the pond. It's a sea bream that we're trying to lure with bait."

-The head of the production department already thinks it's a fish that's been filleted. I don't know what to do anymore. Just let Seung-won do what he wants.

Yang Joon-gyu couldn't bring himself to call Jang Seung-won.

***

A sleek Volvo drove through the campus of Korea University and stopped in front of the engineering building.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a sharp suit got out.

His physique was so rare on this campus that students and faculty passing by glanced at him.

The middle-aged man entered the building with familiar steps.

<Professor Yi Sejong>

The middle-aged man knocked lightly on the door of the professor's office, and a voice invited him in.

Inside, Professor Yi Sejong, whose head was covered with white hair, looked up and stood up with a welcoming expression.

"Dr. Jung. What brings you here without even a call?"

"Just passing by and thought I'd drop in."

"Unreliable friend. If you were in Korea, you should have visited earlier. What have you been up to all this time?"

"I've been busy with my family. Understand, please. Seo-hoon suddenly started doing something unusual, so I couldn't focus on anything else."

"I understand, I understand. Come, sit down."

Sitting across from each other at a low table, they caught up on old times.

Although it had been quite a while since they last met, their conversation flowed as if they had just parted yesterday.

"The boy has changed. He's completely grown up."

"I noticed that too. He wasn't like this before he went to the military. He's so calm and mature that I thought Dr. Jung was standing in front of me."

"He could act a bit more like a kid. Like Seul. It was hard to raise him because he never asked for much when he was young, but now he's ready to get married."

"He's an excellent lab leader. He can control the lab atmosphere regardless of his age."

They exchanged pleasantries about their sons and students...

"Have you seen the movie Seo-hoon starred in that grossed 13 million?"

"Not yet. I only reserved the DVD. I'll watch it when I have time."

"You might not see it until you're in your coffin. The screening is over, and it's hard to find now. But my son did a great job acting. You should definitely watch both his drama and the movie."

"Got it, got it. I heard he's taking on another drama. Any other news?"

"It seems the scheduling is confirmed, but it might be canceled. Is that how it always goes in that industry?"

"Confirmed but canceled? That's not even a wild swing. What are you talking about?"

"Maybe a null swing. Hahaha."

"Dr. Jung, these days, kids look at you strangely if you make such jokes."

"What did you expect after you set it up?"

They both chuckled for a moment, then returned to the original topic.

"I heard the issue is the production budget, and the broadcasting station hasn't approved it."

"Is that so?"

Behind the thick white hair and glasses, his eyes sparkled unusually brightly.

"The production budget is the problem?"