Top Management

TM Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Chief Jung, Your Actors are a bit (3)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

A rotten arm shot out.

This was only the start. Zombies poured out from the building entrance.

Zombies even jumped off the roof and through the shattered windows.

The party of survivors narrowly got in a delivery truck. The tires spun in place against the shattered concrete. Dust filled the air. The tsunami of zombies charged at the survivors.

"What are you doing?! Drive!"

"Quickly, quickly! At this rate, we're all going to fucking die!"

Shouts, screams, and the roars of zombies jumbled together.

"It's quite a sight, isn't it?"

The production producer said with a bright smile.

"It's difficult to see something like this in a film from our country."

The group of people in suits stretched their necks out to watch the monitor. They were from corporations that had or were planning to invest in Alive as well as sales reps that exported Korean content overseas.

"It's really thrilling. It'll be amazing to see this on the big screen."

"Right? It'll be quite a sight seeing this after they've added music and retouched the scene."

"The zombies look realistic. It really shows a lot of money went into this."

"I was worried because it would release at the same time as Hollywood blockbusters, but this might be worth competing against them."

Positive comments continued. The production producer was all smiled as he said,

"The cast is top-notch and so is their chemistry."

The monitor displayed the party of survivors fighting desperately against the zombies.

The marketing employee from SBE Film, Kang Minjeong, added,

"It's only possible to cast such actors because it's Director Choi Sungwon's scenario. You can't cast a lineup like this just by waving money at them. You know that, right?"

"There's nothing more to say about the actors. They are all top stars."

"They also sell a ton of tickets."

"I hope the movie poster is a full shot of the cast. Making sure their faces are visible."

The production producer and marketing team employee smiled at the scent of money.

*

After the long escape scene was over and while the investment team was meeting the party of suits, the production producer stepped back and wiped off his smile.

"… They've opened their pockets, right?"

Kang Minjeong chewed on her red lips.

"Yes, their reaction isn't bad, but it's not as much as we expected."

"Ah, damn it."

The producer pulled his curly hair.

"The CEO told us to knock their socks off!"

"It seems they expected this much. I thought that seeing the shoot would push us beyond expectations, but I didn't expect their reactions to be lukewarm from seeing around 100 people dressed up as zombies. With this sort of reaction, it'll be difficult to squeeze more investments from them."

"Is there some other way? We pretty much have no other way to get money than this."

"What we can show them… What did you say the next scene was?"

"Scenes 24 and 25. It has Lee Kihwan and Lee Songha as well as the appearance of an unknown actor."

The production producer replied. A complicated sigh followed after.

Kang Minjeong quickly flipped through the scenario she had held under her arm.

Soon, she too sighed.

"Damn it."

"I know."

"The unknown actor appearing in this scene, it's him, right?"

"That's right. The rookie Chief Jung Sunwoo brought on."

Kang Minjeong closed the scenario and asked,

"That actor, what is he doing right now?"

*

The minivan's doors were wide open.

A strange mood hung in the air.

Lee Songha was staring at the passenger seat with eyes dripping with longing. To be precise, she was looking at Nam Joyoon, who was sitting in the passenger seat. To be even more precise, she was looking at the lunch box in his hands.

Under her uncomfortable gaze, Nam Joyoon had a difficult expression.

He handed her his lunch box.

"Would you like some?"

"No, I don't steal other people's food."

She refused with a sorrowful face.

Nam Joyoon's lunch box was filled with thick grilled short rib patties and side dishes. There was even a fried egg on top of the perfectly-cooked multi-grain rice.

Lee Songha looked down at her unique lunch box.

It had pieces of chicken breast and greens around it with no dressing. She had been eating this for the past two months. Tormented by it, Lee Songha secretly asked,

"Then should we trade a single bite? Two of my chicken breasts for a quarter of the short rib patty…!"

"You can just eat it. I can't eat all of it anyways."

Lee Songha held her breath back.

"You can't eat all of this? How can you not eat all of this?"

"Not eating much has become a habit of mine."

Nam Joyoon said while scratching his neck.

Lee Songha looked at him. Her wary gaze had completely disappeared, instead, she looked like she was looking at a comrade whom she would even share half a bean with.

"Hey, you can't!"

Her stylist quickly intercepted just before her chopsticks touched a patty.

"Songha, I'm going to tattle on Chief Jung. Hurry up and eat your food."

"This isn't food."

Lee Songha grumbled in a gloomy voice.

"This is feed. Dogs eat better than this."

"I heard that Chief Jung got up early in the morning to personally make it for you."

Lee Songha's eyes widened.

"If you're not going to eat it, pass it here. Let's have a taste."

"It's mine!"

Lee Songha hastily took possession of her lunch box.

Her stylist giggled. Then she whispered to Nam Joyoon,

"I'm letting you know now because the two of them had a scandal, but you can consider Lee Songha as more of a fanatic."

"A fanatic?"

"She has this pseudo-religion she believes in. Call the Church of Jung Sunwoo."

Nam Joyoon cracked a smile.

Just then, Lee Songha, who had been gazing at her lunchbox like it was a treasure box, blinked. She had been staring down at her lunchbox like she was going to wolf it down, yet she suddenly put her chopsticks down.

"What? Why? Are you not going to eat it?"

Lee Songha smiled happily as she replied,

"If I touch it, the heart will be destroyed."

"Heart? Where's the heart?"

"Look closely. From here to here. A heart."

Her fingers outlined a crooked circle. It was the shape of the veggies surrounding the pieces of chicken breasts. The stylist examined her lunch box with a strange expression before looking at Nam Joyoon.

'Does that look like a heart to you?' She asked with her gaze.

Nam Joyoon shook his head.

"How is it? Does it taste okay?"

Jung Sunwoo asked as he suddenly got in the minivan.

Lee Songha was surprised, and because of it, the lunch box in her hands lurched. Lee Songha quickly looked back down at her lunch box before she despaired like a person who had lost her country.

"Ah, she kills me!"

The stylist rolled over laughing.

A faint smile hung on Nam Joyoon's lips as well.

Only Jung Sunwoo looked at them with lost eyes.

*

"… Chief Jung Sunwoo's actors."

Kim Minjeong said as she looked at the white minivan in the distance.

"Don't even have a sliver of tension."

"I know, right? They are the only ones that seem like they're on a picnic."

The production producer agreed with a dispirited laugh.

"Considering they are about to do an emotional scene, they are excessively easygoing."

"Even if we give Lee Songha a pass since she's the type to get in character quickly, that rookie, Nam Joyoon… What gall… On his first day to boot."

Kim Minjeong clicked her tongue as she came to a decision.

"I'll bring the investors somewhere else."

"Pardon? Still, it'll be difficult to convince the investors with-"

"The next scene is one that could be almost completely edited out depending on the shoot. If we disappoint them by showing a rookie we're not confident in, it's worse than not showing them the shoot."

Kim Minjeong resolutely said,

"It's better not to show the investors the next scene."

"Can't we watch the next scene before we leave?"

Kim Minjeong's smile crumbled at one of the people from an investment company's question.

"Team leader, there isn't much to see in the next scene."

"I heard that, but I'm still curious."

It wasn't just one person. Other people were curious as well.

Kim Minjeong barely managed to smooth out her frown as she asked,

"What… are you curious about?"

"The actors aren't leaving after finishing their shoot."

"Sorry?"

"They are apparently going to leave after seeing this scene?"

Kim Minjeong and the production producer hastily turned around.

'Starcraft' vans[1], as well as other vans, were still parked despite their actors having finished filming for the day. The two also saw actors gathered behind the director's chair, talking with Director Choi Sungwon.

Their expression crumbled.

Scene 24 was an inside shoot.

A monitor reflected Lee Songha and Nam Joyoon, who were checking positions. The actors who were done filming for the day were sitting in the chairs with their names on the back as they looked at the monitor. Each of them had a bag of chips in their hand.

"He looks different from what I expected reading the script."

"Since Lee Songha leaves a strong impression from head to toe, I thought he'd be similar. But he looks normal."

"Obviously, people like Lee Songha aren't common."

Director Choi Sungwon chuckled when he heard them discussing like middle-aged women at a laundromat.

"Why are you all like this? Putting pressure on him."

"We're going to leave after checking the beginning. We just want to see how he is."

"Let us see. Little old me wants to feel some thrills."

The actors said as they planted their butts in their seats.

A few steps away, the investors whispered,

"Nam Joyoon? I thought I'd know his face even if his name was unfamiliar, but it's my first time seeing him."

"His role also has quite a few lines. Isn't his popularity too low?"

"Right? There are much better actors I know…"

"Let's talk to SBE Film after the shoot…"

Their voices were tinged with dissatisfaction. The production producer and Kang Minjeong, who overheard their conversation, let out frustrated sighs. Looking around, Kang Minjeong went to a man standing with his arms crossed.

"Chief Jung, there are a lot of people watching."

"That seems true."

Chief Jung Sunwoo nodded.

"We aren't worried about Ms. Lee Songha. We already know she's great at acting and have seen how hard she worked preparing for her role. However, we are a bit worried about Mr. Nam Joyoon."

Kim Minjeong's eyes narrowed.

"Can we believe in him?"

"They both worked hard for their roles."

He said with a meaningful smile.

"So please believe in them."

Gazes with various thoughts focused on the monitor.

Just then, the slate smacked together.

*

The living room was a mess.

A child flopped on the floor sniffled. The female high schooler Lee Yeonwoo checked up on the child with quick glances. She did this while her hands moved all the objects blocking the way to the bathroom.

A man's faint voice seeped out from behind the slightly opened door.

[… This was the only place to hide because the front door was broken.]

[At first, I thought people trapped a monster in here from the sounds. How could people leave someone here alone…]

[I couldn't ask them to bring me along when even the lives of perfectly healthy people were at risk.]

The weak voice gradually gained strength.

[It was bearable. It's a bathroom so there's a toilet, water from the sink, and they left some food for me.]

Soon, the objects in front of the bathroom door were completely cleared. Just as Lee Yeonwoo stretched her hand out to grab the doorknob, the door flung open. Lee Yeonwoo retreated in surprise. The man, who she had been talking to just now, was standing at the entrance.

[I thought I'd die like this.]

The man smiled brightly like someone who had been rescued from hell.

The hallway was quiet thanks to all the zombies having gone outside.

Lee Yeonwoo took the lead. She held the child with one arm and hung a bag with foods like instant noodles and canned hams and other necessities.

A man limped behind her. He too was carrying a heavy bag.

What broke the silence was when they discovered someone approaching them from across the hall.

[Mister!]

[Oh, Yeonwoo! Why are you- Did you remain as well?]

Jang Taeyoung, a well-built man in his thirties, came over with a surprised look.

A young woman stuck behind him with slumped shoulders.

[I escaped with Jinjoo, but we ended up having to hide. How about you?]

[I found a few other survivors on the higher levels so I came to save them.]

[I also found one. Here-]

Jang Taeyoung abruptly turned his gaze.

The hand tightly gripping his clothes fell away. The woman, who had followed behind him as though she would be in trouble if she didn't keep up, stood still with a pale-white face. As if she saw something terrifying.

[Th-that person…! It's him! The crazy guy I told you about!]

Her trembling finger pointed at the man standing behind Lee Yeonwoo.

[He killed people! We trapped him…!]

The moment the flustered Jang Taeyoung hesitated and the moment the man's lips curled upward, Lee Yeonwoo acted as quick as lightning. She threw the bag she was carrying and ran with just the child. She managed to take five steps by the time the man caught up and pulled her long hair. She let out a suppressed groan.

[I wasn't crazy.]

The man said, seeing their shocked faces.

[Some things are inevitable in situations like this. That was all.]

[Yeonwoo! You bastard! Let her go!]

Jang Taeyoung finally overcame his shock and began running towards him.

The man flung his bag. It smashed through the window in the hallway, and shards of glass fell. Lee Yeongwoo crouched her body. Seeing this, Jang Taeyoung stopped for a moment.

The man snatched the child away from Lee Yeonwoo.

"Urrk. Urrk."

The child's frightened cries leaked from his mouth.

Grabbing the child by his collar and sitting on the window sill, the man said.

[After being trapped in that cramped, damp, and dark place for so long… I feel like I might actually be crazy now. I feel suffocated like I'm still in there.]

He didn't look angry.

He wasn't threatening or mocking them. At a glance, the man's expression seemed no different from before. He seemed calm like this was just a normal day. However, something was different. His voice, eyes, everything about him felt disturbing.

The young woman, who had taken a few steps back, turned around and fled.

The man looked outside the open window and mumbled.

[How long will it take to go down to the first floor? Will 30 seconds do?]

[What?]

[I'm throwing in 30 seconds. If you're quick, you should be able to catch him.]

[Just what are you!]

[One, two, three…]

The man began to count.

When he reached seven, Lee Yeonwoo, who struggled as her hair was tightly held by the man, shouted.

[Go! Mister, go quickly!]

[Damn it!]

Jang Taeyoung, who was hesitant, unsure whether he should charge at the man or run down, turned around with a distorted expression on his face. His footsteps quickly grew distant. The only ones remaining in the hallway was Lee Yeonwoo, the man, and the crying child with snot dripping from his nose.

The man counted past 20.

Lee Yeonwoo charged at him, clung to him, and even pleaded, but he didn't react to any of them. The man finally reached 30. And still, Jang Taeyoung hadn't come out of the building yet.

The man said as if this was troublesome.

[He runs slower than I expected.]

[Don't do it. Wait, please wait a litt-!]

Before Lee Yeonwoo could finish her words, he tossed the distressed, crying child out the window.

*

The marketing team employee, Kang Minjeong, took a few steps back.

Only then did she take in her surroundings.

The vision widened, and she heard someone gulp.

She slowly moved her eyes.

Director Choi Sungwon was looking at the monitor with shining eyes. The crinkling sounds of chip bags had stopped long ago. Even the actors who were talking with each other had shut their mouths.

It was the same for the investors.

They all looked entranced as they stared at the monitor like an audience staring at the screen in a dark theatre.

Within this seemingly black and white scene, the only one moving was Chief Jung Sunwoo.

He observed people's reactions.

Kang Minjeong exhaled the breath she had been holding.

"Chief, about Mr. Nam Joyoon."

"Yes."

"I wish he didn't have any interviews with reporters before the movie releases."

He looked back at her.

"…Interviews?"

"We are going to remove him from marketing material as well, and we won't put him in the trailer either."

Slowly, Chief Jung Sunwoo's lips curled upwards.

Kang Minjeong gulped before saying,

"That actor, I wish the audience met him for the first time on the big screen."

[1] No relation to the game. A company that modifies Chevrolet Express vans that are commonly used by Korean celebrities.