NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
“Alright, let’s finish up. Those who signed up for study hall can head out, the rest of you hurry home. I know it’s tough being a senior, but hang in there!”
With the new homeroom teacher’s encouragement, I slung my bag over my shoulder and left the classroom.
It had been a few days since I signed the exclusive contract with Brotherhood Planning.
In the meantime, I had only practiced vocals and dance vaguely through YouTube.
‘By the way, the boss asked to meet today. Should I call first?’
Just so you know, there wasn’t a single friend around me when I left the classroom.
And you know what? It’s probably because of my cold impression that no one approached me.
I had been so busy working part-time that I didn’t have time to meet friends… Moreover, since I was a guy in my past life, fitting in at an all-girls school was not easy.
There were a few girls who approached me based on my appearance, but I steered clear of those types.
So I found myself walking alone outside the building, heading toward the playground while dialing the boss.
Ring ring…
“Hello.”
[Oh, right.]
“Yes, Boss. You wanted to meet today, right? Where should I go?”
[You don’t really need to come.]
“…What?”
[I’m already here.]
“……?”
I felt like I didn’t understand what was going on, and at the same time, I noticed some commotion at the main gate.
“What the… Who are those guys…?”
“Scary…”
I turned to see where the voice of a frightened girl came from, and I gritted my teeth.
“Hey, big brother. They’re coming out.”
“Ye-rin, over here!”
Kang Hyung-man in a black suit and sunglasses waved at me from the front of a sleek black sedan, along with his subordinate.
As Kang Hyung-man waved to greet me, the gazes of the surrounding high school girls turned toward me.
“Looks like they’re here to pick that girl up…!”
“Wow, she’s so pretty… Who is she?”
“Isn’t she Ye-rin from the third year? She’s famous! Guys from the boys’ school come in groups just to see her!”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
Whisper whisper.
Feeling the overwhelming stares, I blushed and looked down.
Among them, I could hear comments like this too.
“But aren’t those guys her bodyguards?”
“There’s a rumor she’s the daughter of a mafia. It was true?”
“No wonder they seem so scary. She always has that expressionless, cold look.”
Not knowing what else I might hear, I hurried over to Kang Hyung-man.
“…Boss, there was no need for you to come all the way to school…”
“Is that so? Sorry, I didn’t have time.”
“It’s okay, but thank you for coming.”
“Alright, no time to waste. Get in.”
I slid into the back right seat while the boss sat in the back left. The subordinate took the driver’s seat.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
“Sure.”
As the luxurious sedan, which was a bit out of place for a school, left the gate and headed out, Kang Hyung-man spoke to me.
“Have you finished up with your part-time job?”
“Ah… Yes. I’ve talked everything out nicely.”
Suddenly, the bosses had shown reluctance when I mentioned quitting my part-time job, but they ended up letting me go without any issues.
“By the way, I forgot to mention why I asked to meet today. We are currently heading to the broadcasting station.”
“…Huh?”
Hearing Kang Hyung-man’s words, I couldn’t help but panic.
Already going to the broadcasting station…? I heard there was just over a month until the first recording day!
Noticing my expression, Kang Hyung-man continued to explain.
“I heard there’s something called a pre-shoot or something. They said it’s just a simple interview, so there’s no need to be nervous.”
“Ah…”
Kang Hyung-man said there was no need to be nervous, but just the thought of filming made me feel tense.
“……”
As I sat in silence, Kang Hyung-man observed me and casually handed me something. It was a warm Americano.
“Don’t worry too much. We’ll be right next to you during the filming.”
“Ah… Yes. Thank you.”
With that, I took a sip of the Americano, feeling my tension ease a bit.
Why did I feel like this? I arrived at the broadcasting station with that inexplicable sense of comfort.
As I got out of the car and headed inside for the pre-shoot, I could feel the attention of others gradually shifting toward us.
Two gangsters and one pretty girl—that’s a peculiar combo, so I guess it’s expected.
Feeling those gazes made the anxiety I thought I had subdued flare up again.
It intensified the more I entered the broadcasting station.
“Over there. The production team is waiting….”
“Um, boss, can I stop by the restroom first?”
Whether it was due to nervousness or the coffee I drank in the car, I started to feel the need to go, and when I pointed to the restroom, Kang Hyung-man nodded.
“Sure, I’ll go in ahead. Take your time.”
“Yes, I will.”
Seeing Kang Hyung-man enter, I headed to the restroom.
I thought I’d relax a bit before going in.
“Ah, should I wash my face?”
Nothing beats washing your face to relax.
I approached the sink and turned on the water.
“Ah… I’m gonna die.”
‘Na Ah Ah’—the main PD, Shin Gi-hyun, let out a groan as he slumped back in his chair and turned to the junior writer beside him.
“I haven’t slept in days, this is so tough… Where’s today’s meeting?”
“We’ve wrapped up with the major agencies. Today is, you know, that place.”
“That place? Ah… that place.”
The agency the ‘Na Ah Ah’ production team referred to as ‘that place’ was a single new agency.
Out of necessity, they had to allocate a spot due to the sponsor’s influence.
Just the thought of it stirred frustration in PD Shin’s mind.
How hard had the production team worked to successfully launch ‘Na Ah Ah’?
Especially focusing on the roster of participants.
They meticulously selected not only the aces who would shine on the show but also potential rising stars and veterans who could be used as villains.
And now, they had to include a girl with no information because of nepotism.
Frustrated, PD Shin clicked his tongue and even asked the junior writer.
“What was the name of that agency again? It sounded really cheesy.”
“That one? Um… Ah, it’s Brotherhood Planning. The name was Brotherhood Planning.”
“…Brotherhood Planning? Why’s the name like this? It sounds like a name made up by 90s gangsters.”
“Yeah, the naming sense is definitely off. What should we do for the interview questions, high, medium, or low?”
“Who cares, go with low. Do we have nothing prepared for the high?”
The thorough production team had categorized pre-shoot interview questions into high, medium, and low.
With complaints about nepotism and a lack of expectations toward the new agency, the ‘Na Ah Ah’ team pulled out the low-grade questions.
And when it was time for the meeting…
Knock knock.
“We’re from Brotherhood Planning.”
“Eeeh, come in.”
It wasn’t a major agency but a new one, so PD Shin thought there was no need to be polite, sitting casually as he awaited their arrival.
But then…
“Nice to meet you.”
“……? Oh, yes…! Oh, welcome!”
As soon as he saw the newcomers, he automatically stood up.
Massive figures in black suits. One was bald with a scar on his face.
‘What the… F*. Are they actually gangsters?’
Because they genuinely looked like gangsters.
Whoooosh.
No matter how experienced the production team at the broadcasting station was, they had primal instincts.
The presence of the two gangsters from Brotherhood Planning seemed to chill the temperature in the meeting room.
“We are these people. Here’s our business cards.”
“Ah, yes.”
The cards felt rough and thick, somehow giving the impression they might be stained with blood.
As I nervously accepted the cards and took my seat, the Brotherhood Planning guys sat down too.
In the icy atmosphere, PD Shin slowly read the business cards.
‘One is President Kang Hyung-man… and the bald guy next to him is Manager Han Sang-gu… hmm?’
Then…
“By the way, why are just the two of you here? There was supposed to be a trainee with you….”
I suddenly remembered something and asked, still clueless about the fear I felt.
“Oh, they went to the bathroom for a bit. They’ll be here soon.”
“Ah, I see.”
‘Definitely, with these two around, anyone would feel the urge every thirty minutes.’
Understanding the trainee’s situation, PD Shin nodded, and Kang Hyung-man looked into his eyes and spoke slowly.
“More than that, before our kid comes in, I have one request…”
“Ah, yes. Go ahead.”
“Our kid seems a bit nervous since it’s their first time in a place like this… I hope you can be gentle and friendly with them. You understand what I mean?”
“…Ah, yes. Of course, I will make sure to do that.”
Although Kang Hyung-man spoke politely, there was an unshakeable pressure that made PD Shin nod quickly.
Not nodding would probably lead him to a barrel.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“…Yes, haha. Of course… It’s our job to ensure the comfort of the participants…”
After forcing a smile onto his face…
“……”
“……”
Once again, a cold silence filled the meeting room.
‘Damn it, I just wish someone would take these gangster guys out of here.’
The anticipation toward the Brotherhood Planning trainee had long since flown away.
PD Shin was desperately wishing for this suffocating meeting to conclude as soon as possible.
Then, at that moment…
Creeeak.
“Sorry for being late!”
The door opened once again…
“……!”
“……!!”
This time, the shock that swept through PD Shin and the other production staff was the exact opposite of when the two gangsters from Brotherhood Planning had come in.
“Hello. I am Ha Ye-rin from Brotherhood Planning…”
“……”
A cold and aloof girl with an elegant demeanor.
Dressed in a neat school uniform with a demure posture, and flanked by bodyguards, she resembled a daughter of a wealthy family.
Plus, the drop of water on her chin gave her an inexplicable grace.
So astonishingly beautiful… Wait… Water?
As PD Shin stared at Ha Ye-rin’s face, he realized something odd and immediately asked.
“Uh, did you say Ye-rin? Did you wash your face before coming in?”
“Yes? Ah, yeah, I was nervous, so I just did it in the restroom out front.”
That meant Ha Ye-rin’s face was makeup-free right now.
‘To look like that without any makeup…?’
At that moment, an alarm went off in PD Shin’s head, a sharp instinct honed over years of being a PD.
As soon as he felt it, he discreetly turned to his junior writer and whispered.
“Change the interview category. No, is there a super-high level we can use?”
He was convinced that whether good or bad, this girl before him was a key player in making ‘Na Ah Ah’ a success.