Return of the Genius PD

“That’s why it doesn’t feel real yet.”

“We can use that as band funds. The members will be happy too,” he said with a laugh.

Soon, Ji-won asked, “When do you think the official album will be released?”

“Hmm… probably in about half a year.”

Half a year would coincide with the broadcast timing of .

Ji-won had already selected Hollins’ songs to use in the drama: and .

Both songs would amplify the emotional flow of .

The miraculous debut album of Hollins—a band already drawing public attention—would release simultaneously with the broadcast of . This synergy would greatly benefit both parties.

Ji-won fumbled in his arms and pulled out a document.

“Well then, if you could sign this loyalty oath…”

“I don’t have a signature yet. Would a thumbprint be okay?” Kim Jin-young asked, his face innocent.

Ji-won burst out laughing. “No, why would you sign something I just called a loyalty oath!”

Kim Jin-young smiled brightly. “If it’s something you ask for, hyung, I’d sign even a body abandonment waiver.”

“I’m kidding. I don’t want to get arrested yet.”

Ji-won explained the document again. “I’m starting work on my next drama, and this is the synopsis. I’d like to use Hollins’ songs if you like it after looking it over.”

Kim Jin-young hastily replied, “Hyung, why did you bring such a thing? Just tell me which songs you want.”

Ji-won turned serious. “That won’t do. Carefully reviewing money-related documents is basic adulting.”

“I think my duty to my benefactor comes before being an adult.”

“Oh geez.”

Ji-won shook his head and changed the subject. “By the way… what’s your dream, Jin-young?”

Kim Jin-young looked up briefly, thinking, then answered, “My dream was to become a rock star. To get invited to massive festivals like England’s ‘Glastonbury’ or the legendary ‘Woodstock’.”

He made a gesture as if looking into the distance. “This is the backstage of an outdoor venue with 100,000 people packed together. No matter how far I look, I can’t see the end of the crowd waiting for us.”

Kim Jin-young’s eyes lit up as he imagined the 100,000 spectators before him. “We take a deep breath and make a grand entrance onto the stage. Having that soul-stirring experience of hearing the cheers as we enter.”

He smiled brightly, clearly enjoying just the imagination of it. “That’s what I’d call my ultimate happiness circuit. Haha, pretty far-fetched, right?”

Kim Jin-young wiped his nose. “Now it’s nothing special. Just releasing one well-received album. That’s enough.”

“Can’t live on dreams alone,” he said, scratching his head.

Despite already being a successful OST composer, he was Kim Jin-young, the unknown indie band leader who hadn’t yet realized this fact.

Ji-won smiled back warmly. He liked this young musician, still untainted by the world, sincere and full of passion. Watching him brought back memories of his younger self. Wasn’t the college student Do Ji-won, who dreamed of becoming a director, just like this?

Ji-won met Kim Jin-young’s eyes. “You’ll definitely succeed, Jin-young. I know it.”

Although Hollins achieved great success in his previous life, he couldn’t clearly remember if Jin-young’s dream had come true. Given that he couldn’t remember, the probability was likely low.

But

What if they could advance the timing of success by about ten years?

Kim Jin-young’s dream, which he called far-fetched, might not be impossible after all.

Ji-won placed his hand over Kim Jin-young’s. “So, please don’t give up on your dream. Cherish it.”

Kim Jin-young’s eyes grew moist. “Hyung…”

Suddenly, Kim Jin-young jumped up from his seat. “I think I should definitely put my thumbprint on that loyalty oath from earlier! Please make one!”

“That ship has sailed. We don’t even have ink.”

“Then, I’ll write it in blood!”

* * *

At the same time, Choi Won-jae opened the meeting room door and entered. Director Ko Dong-guk greeted him with a bright smile.

“Oh, Representative Choi came earlier than the appointment time.”

“Yet you were here even earlier.”

“What else would an old man have to do? Just need to keep my seat warm.”

“Hehe, as the head of JTVN’s Drama Department, you must be busy.”

Won-jae sat down and spoke. “How was the script?”

Director Ko smiled gently. “I wondered if it was the same writer. Handling a completely different genre in a completely different way.”

“But there must have been one common point.”

Director Ko’s eyes sparkled. “The grip! Only that incredible grip was identical to ‘Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju’!”

He shook his head. “If they’re this good at such a different genre too, what are other writers supposed to eat? I’m already curious about their third work.”

His face was full of smiles. “Wonder what genre they’ll surprise us with this time.”

Won-jae smiled and replied, “Whatever they do, Writer Kyukyu won’t disappoint.”

Then his eyes sparkled. “Since you liked it… shall we get to the main point?”

Director Ko held up three fingers. “Three thousand per episode, no conditions like running guarantees. How’s that?”

Won-jae’s eyes narrowed. Not a bad condition. Actually, close to quite good. While their first work was a hit, Writer Kyukyu still had no follow-up data. Yet they were offering an amount that even top-tier established writers receive.

However,

Writer Kyukyu was currently like a storm that hadn’t appeared in the drama world for a long time. What would happen if they distributed the script for their next work, , to various broadcasting stations and production companies?

Probably.

From the perspective of competing companies desperate to secure star writers, they might offer shocking conditions. While simultaneously trying to poach them from JTVN. If they could bring them to their broadcasting station, it would be worth paying extra.

Won-jae spoke calmly. “That’s about what I expected.”

“Is that so?”

“Other broadcasting companies that contacted us offered about that much.”

“Wasn’t that before seeing the script?”

“After seeing it, the amount might go up, but it won’t go down.”

“Okay then, four thousand.”

Director Ko coolly held up another finger. Won-jae stared blankly at Director Ko’s surprising negotiation.

“Still not interested? Then five thousand.”

Finally, his remaining thumb unfolded. Won-jae smiled bitterly.

“You’re being mischievous. You were thinking of five thousand from the start, weren’t you?”

“It’s not fun if I start with the highest amount. You enjoy it more when we start low and go up.”

Director Ko hinted, “Don’t misunderstand, my maximum was originally four thousand.”

Then he smiled, his face full of wrinkles. “It’s an advance investment. Just understand my sincerity in looking at our relationship long-term.”

Won-jae laughed softly and replied, “Alright. That’s enough for me to have grounds to reject other offers.”

“Haha, Representative Choi has such a refreshing personality.”

“But there’s one condition.”

“Speak freely.”

Won-jae met his eyes briefly before speaking. “Please include PD Do Ji-won in .”

Surprised by the unexpected condition, Director Ko asked, “Do Ji-won?”

“Yes, Writer Kyukyu wants it. Seems they were impressed during the Ham In-ju project.”

Director Ko nodded. He already knew that Ji-won had handled communication with Writer Kyukyu.

Won-jae added with a smile, “They said PD Do Ji-won catches their intentions incredibly well. Almost unbelievably so.”

“So,” Won-jae said, giving Director Ko a meaningful look, “they hope to work together on as well.”

It made sense. After all, no one would understand their intentions as well as themselves. However, Director Ko, unaware of this fact…

“Hehe…”

His wrinkled eyes curved into crescents, and his mouth corners followed, rising up as if he’d just heard praise about his own child.

“That happened? Hmm… Our Ji-won is quite clever.”

He answered immediately. “If Writer Kyukyu wants it, of course we should provide.”

There was no reason to change a combination that already worked well together. Rather, it was admirable that Ji-won had earned Writer Kyukyu’s favor. A partner with good chemistry becomes a reason to work together on the next project too. Moreover, wasn’t Ji-won already internally decided to join Production Team 4?

Director Ko answered with a smile. “Tell them not to worry about that part.”

Then he casually brought up, “By the way… When might additional scripts be coming?”

Won-jae said with a smile, “You won’t have to worry about script schedules. You’ve already seen how smoothly everything came out up to the conclusion, right?”

Director Ko’s upper body shot forward. “You mean Ham In-ju wasn’t pre-completed scripts?”

Won-jae just smiled. “I’ll contact you as soon as the scripts come in.”

Director Ko extended his hand. “I’ll contact you again once the director is decided.”

Won-jae accepted the handshake with a smile. “Looking forward to working with you again, Director.”

* * *

At the same time, in the JTVN President’s office.

President Jeon Nam-hoe, who had just entered his office, loosened his tie. Thanks to back-to-back meetings since morning, he had no time to contemplate alone until now.

“Hmm…”

The faces of employees who attended the recent meeting flashed by.

‘Even nodding along to old men’s predictable words is getting tiresome.’

Perhaps because he had run an advertising company in the United States? He always found the rigid thinking typical of Korean large corporations questionable.

Then.

Among the boring executives, one delicate face came to mind. That guy who said crazy things that didn’t match his appearance.

‘Do Ji-won, huh.’

President Jeon Nam-hoe’s gaze wandered across his desk before landing on a spaceship model.

Tok, tok—

His hand lightly brushed the model.

Though he couldn’t remember who gave it as a gift… once completed, wasn’t its silhouette quite impressive? Thanks to that, it had occupied a corner of his desk for a while.

“I’ll personally take the megaphone and hit 20%, 30% ratings in succession. If I hit three in a row like that, the problem will be solved.”

A laugh escaped President Jeon Nam-hoe’s lips.

“Crazy bastard. Kekek.”

Then his hand roughly struck the spaceship model.

Crash—

The model collapsed with the impact. President Jeon Nam-hoe calmly watched as what was once a spaceship crumbled.

Has there ever been a subordinate who spoke to him like this? Probably the first time in Korea.

Usually, there are two types of drinking personalities related to speech and behavior.

Those who consistently spout meaningless nonsense…

And those whose hidden true feelings emerge with the help of alcohol.

From his perspective, Do Ji-won belonged to the latter. Regardless of whether his words were true, that guy sincerely believed it.

‘I don’t know where such confidence comes from but…’

A strange guy. The force that burst out right after being provoked was quite fierce. A guy who strangely raises expectations.

“Invest in me.”

Clearly crazy talk but… Something about it made him want to play along? If given the building blocks he wanted, how big could he grow?

He became curious.

Of course, once opened, the box might reveal nothing but a grotesque creation – all bulk with no proper foundation.

Interest flickered across his face. Once the real succession race began in earnest, he wouldn’t have the luxury for such diversions.

And he wasn’t one to shy away from taking risks. Who knew? The boy might turn out to be like one of those mythical creatures who repay their benefactors.

“Kekek.”

He swept the pile of blocks over the edge of his desk with the back of his hand.

Tuduk, tuduk, tududuk—

What were parts of a spaceship moments ago bounced around on the floor. It felt like he’d found a toy he wanted to assemble after a long time.

Then he picked up the phone and said, “Tell those two to come up to the president’s office now.”