Chapter 63: Blend (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The staff from the Japanese production company that had pitched a casting offer to An Ji-hee, now that she'd landed back in Korea. They were trying to reach An Ji-hee. More precisely, the manager whose contact info they'd been given. In other words, Kang Jae-ha.

But.

"He's not picking up."

For some reason, Jae-ha wasn't answering the phone. It felt less like he was ignoring them on purpose and more like something must have come up, and one of the staff, a woman in glasses, said something in Japanese.

"It's morning, so he might be in a meeting. For now, leave a message."

"Understood."

Soon they made their way out of the airport, and before climbing into the van they'd reserved in advance from Japan, the woman in glasses spoke to her team.

"Let's head to the lodging first."

Then she ran back through their schedule for the next few days in Korea.

"First we lock down the meeting with An Ji-hee, then arrange the meetings with the other actors around that."

"If we could get a positive result from the An Ji-hee meeting, that'd be ideal."

"I feel the same. We sent offers to other actors besides An Ji-hee just in case, but she's still the one I want most."

Their conversation finished, they boarded the van.

Meanwhile, at the same hour. Leon Entertainment's parking lot.

A familiar face was sitting inside a white van parked in the lot. Yoon Da-yeon, her makeup light since it was before her schedule, and Kang Jae-ha, who let out a small sigh as he looked at her.

"Why so cloak-and-dagger, asking to meet in a car? We could just talk in the meeting room upstairs."

"Ah!"

Da-yeon flared up, then abruptly dropped her voice.

"It's a little awkward to talk about upstairs, okay? I'm worried someone might overhear. You could just let it slide, but no, you've always got to nitpick."

"I was just asking."

Da-yeon shot Jae-ha a quick glare, then shook her head with a look that said I give up, and Jae-ha opened his mouth.

"So, what did you want to say?"

"I met Director Yu Gil-tae yesterday."

"I know. I heard you confirmed you'd take the role."

"Yeah. That's right. I did it just like you said. Agreed to the role, but we'll handle the official contract after November."

"Good work."

"......"

Maybe because compliments were rare from him? Kang Jae-ha's simple "good work" pleased Yoon Da-yeon more than she'd expected. At the same time, she felt strangely jerked around.

'I kind of feel like I'm being trained, here.'

Setting aside the feeling for now, Da-yeon went on.

"Ahem, anyway! I also told Director Yu Gil-tae that I might be switching agencies. More to the point, you know the investment firm 'MEG'? They've apparently agreed to be the solo investor on Director Yu Gil-tae's new project. Isn't that wild?? Solo investment, in this day and age."

It was something he already knew. No, he was the very Commander who'd set that whole scheme in motion, but Kang Jae-ha naturally played dumb.

"That is wild."

"...I always say this, but put some soul into it. No, seriously, that's the whole reaction?"

"It's unusual, sure, but nothing to be that shocked about. With enough money, anything's possible."

"Still! 'MEG' is brand new, isn't it? Sure, the short 'Condensation' and 'House of the Daytime Moon' blew up one after another, but even so, solo investment on a master director's new project? If word of this gets out to the market, the whole market's going to be in an uproar, I'm telling you??"

"It probably will."

"Ugh, so boring. Talking to you makes me feel like an idiot for being all shocked, and I hate it."

Da-yeon let out a long sigh and changed the subject.

"Anyway, the reason I brought up 'MEG' isn't just that the solo investment surprised me, it's because a place called 'MEG Entertainment' sent me a contract offer. The investment firm 'MEG', and 'MEG Ent'. These are absolutely the same place, right."

"Sounds like it. A subsidiary."

"When on earth did they open an agency?"

"CEO Lee Chan-hoo, when I talked to him, seemed to have considerable capital. When money's overflowing, expansion happens fast too."

"There's a fair number of places that reached out, 'MEG Ent'. included. Which one should I meet? You said you'd recommend. And keep steering my direction too."

Kang Jae-ha gazed at Yoon Da-yeon for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Even if you move from Leon to somewhere else, I'll reach out separately. Call me whenever you want, whenever it's convenient. I'll keep steering your direction, just like I promised."

"......"

"And the agency. Take meetings with the places I mentioned, 'MEG Ent'. included, and pick whichever one you like."

"I sent you a summary of the agencies that contacted me, didn't I? Which one looks best to you?"

"If possible, avoid the big ones. An agency that can give Yoon Da-yeon its full attention. 'MEG Ent'. would be fine too, since there's a connection there. The Director Yu Gil-tae project keeping that connection going is a plus."

"...Got it. I'll meet with the places you pick, 'MEG Ent'. included."

Yoon Da-yeon swept back her long, straight hair. A nice scent drifted off her, and she let out a small breath as she spoke.

"Hah, now that this moment's actually arrived, I'm a little nervous. Maybe because it's been so long?"

Kang Jae-ha had been planning to meet Yoon Da-yeon himself,

"Nervous? That's not like you."

With a different face, of course.

After that.

Around this time, quite a few changes had come over 'MEG'. First, office staff were hired to handle the miscellaneous work. Thanks to that, the headcount at 'MEG' grew considerably. That said, the hired office staff only did simple tasks; they weren't deeply involved in 'MEG'.

On top of that, partitions were installed, giving the place a far more office-like atmosphere than before.

And by signing a lease on the empty office next door, Kang Jae-ha grew 'MEG' even bigger. The new space was set up as a conference room. Conference room in name only, really; in practice it was a space for the Commander, Kang Jae-ha, and his Subordinates to talk.

In any case, 'MEG' had now shed at least a little of its startup vibe.

It had to, and going forward the expansion would happen even faster.

There were already writers and directors signed to the two subsidiaries, and the slate of projects in the works was steadily growing.

Meanwhile, in the film world, 'House of the Daytime Moon' kept building momentum.

《'House of the Daytime Moon' Sets Another Record as a Domestic Animated Film! Audience Count Tops 5 Million!/ Photo》

《[MovieTalk] 'House of the Daytime Moon' Crosses 5 Million Viewers, Now Eyeing 6 Million》

Now in its fourth week of release, 'House of the Daytime Moon' had passed five million viewers. It was already heading toward six million, and while its momentum had naturally cooled compared to the early days, it was still red-hot. In the film world, it was nothing but talk of 'House of the Daytime Moon'.

"Whoa, 'House of the Daytime Moon' broke five million?"

"Right? Somebody's about to throw a serious money party."

"Obviously! It's like buying at the bottom and selling at the very top."

In other words, Kang Jae-ha's wallet was getting even fatter. The profits had sailed past 10 billion won, well into the 15 billion range.

《'House of the Daytime Moon', the Miracle of Domestic Animated Film... How High Will the Final Audience Count Climb?》

The domestic animation market was already shifting tectonically because of 'House of the Daytime Moon', and across the film world and beyond, Director Hong Man-seop's name was stamped in bold.

《[IssuePick] Director Hong Man-seop, Who Birthed the 'House of the Daytime Moon' Miracle: "I Want to Show Korean Animated Film to the World"》

And that wasn't all. As 'House of the Daytime Moon' became a box office hit, a certain newborn investment firm surged even higher across the film industry.

"You ever hear of 'MEG'?"

"Ah, yeah, I know it. The main investor on 'House of the Daytime Moon'?"

"Right, but you know that short film that took the Triple Crown in the shorts category at BIFF? 'Condensation'. Turns out 'MEG' invested in that one too?"

"Huh, didn't know that."

Where else would it be? It was 'MEG'.

"That investment firm 'MEG', I keep hearing about it lately."

"No surprise. Word's all over that they're the main investor on 'House of the Daytime Moon'."

"They cracked a niche market wide open, and 'House of the Daytime Moon' shot their name recognition up fast. But there's barely any info on them."

"Maybe some rich young master opened it for kicks, and the first project he picked just happened to be a smash?"

"Hmm, could be. Anyway, I'm curious where they'll invest next."

"Think the luck'll hold? They might grab one flop and vanish without a trace."

With things the way they were, Director Hong Man-seop was naturally flooded with meeting requests. Investment offers and the like. It meant money had at last started circulating, to some degree, even in Korea's barren animation market, but the thick-browed Director Hong Man-seop didn't accept a single one of those meetings.

"Director, you really have no intention of meeting with anyone?"

"That's right. Because there's a place I have to meet first."

Even while basking in the joy of 'House of the Daytime Moon's success, Director Hong Man-seop was clearheaded in his own way, deliberately ignoring the countless meeting requests as he waited for someone.

Kang Jae-ha, who had been waiting for this moment, gave Lee Chan-hoo his order.

"Go meet Director Hong Man-seop soon."

Right after, Lee Chan-hoo reached out to Director Hong Man-seop, and the instant the number appeared on his screen, Director Hong Man-seop's eyes went wide.

"...Finally."

It was a call from the savior who had rescued him, and 'House of the Daytime Moon'. Director Hong Man-seop and Lee Chan-hoo met at 'Cheong-yeon Studio' on the morning of the 19th.

The moment he saw Director Hong Man-seop, Lee Chan-hoo broke into a smile.

"I've said it plenty of times already, but congratulations once again, Director."

"Please, it's nothing. None of this would've happened without 'MEG'. I'm just relieved I could repay such generous investment."

"Repay? Nonsense. We both win here. The results turned out well, fortunately. And in any case, it's been proven that your 'House of the Daytime Moon', your craft, lands with the public."

Smiling, Lee Chan-hoo delivered the message the Commander had instructed.

"It's obvious people are going to be swarming you from every direction these days. Director, do you happen to have a next project in mind, something like 'House of the Daytime Moon 2'? If you do, I'd like to invest in that one too."

"Oh!"

Startled, Director Hong Man-seop immediately pulled out a bundle of papers he'd brought along. It was a screenplay.

"It's not 'House of the Daytime Moon 2', but I actually have a screenplay I was meaning to show you!"

"Oh, is that so?"

Director Hong Man-seop held the screenplay out to Lee Chan-hoo. On the cover, the title hung proudly.

-'Moonless Village'

Morning of the 21st, Leon Entertainment.

From early morning, a meeting of Leon Entertainment's executives was held in the main conference room. Director-level and team-leader-level personnel filled the seats, and at their head, naturally, sat CEO Han Tae-sung.

Several agenda items were thrown out, and CEO Han Tae-sung, dressed in a crisp suit, simply listened in silence.

"......"

Following the matter of the single album for the girl group 'Seriel', which included Ra Yoon, the New Talent Development Team and the management team raised the subject of Leon's other girl group.

The mood abruptly turned grim.

"...Next is the 'Kisera' matter. Looking at the results since their debut... I think we'll need to give some thought to their next promotions."

Listening, CEO Han Tae-sung answered in an even tone.

"'Kisera', they've racked up quite a loss, haven't they?"

"Yes...... their numbers are a bit poor."

'Kisera' was the rookie girl group Leon Entertainment had debuted right after 'Seriel'. They'd put a fair amount of muscle into preparing and launching them, and "poor numbers" was putting it kindly. Frankly, calling it a flop wouldn't be off the mark.

That's how dismal the results were.

Well, with rookie idols pouring out practically every other day these days, failed girl groups and boy groups were a dime a dozen. So agencies of all kinds cut their losses the moment a prepared idol flopped.

Leon Entertainment was no different.

The standing of Korean idols was rising overseas, in Japan and elsewhere, but the market was growing just as ruthless in turn. Even fairly well-known idols were routinely left to rot if a new album got a lukewarm response.

In any case, Leon's 'Kisera', who'd debuted with a single, had flopped.

So being discarded was a foregone conclusion.

Drag it out for a while, and when the time came, send them to Team 4 and order the contracts terminated. This was the sequence the director-level executives all had in mind. Preparing another album was pointless at this level. The original CEO Han Tae-sung was the type to cut them loose without hesitation, too.

That's how it had always been.

But.

"Considering the losses, leaving them to rot or shutting it down is the right call, but, hmm."

For some reason, CEO Han Tae-sung didn't immediately order them to scrap 'Kisera'. Instead, his face was sunk in thought, chin propped on his hand. As a result, the main conference room fell thick with silence. While everyone was busy reading CEO Han Tae-sung's expression, he, after a brief pause, opened his mouth.

"About 'Kisera'."

Right now he was thinking of Kang Jae-ha, who'd handed 'Seriel' a song a few days earlier.

"What if we put Kang Jae-ha in charge of rebuilding 'Kisera'?"

*****

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