Chapter 58
When Doyun entered the office, he saw Lee Beom-un coming down from the second-floor stairs, humming a tune.
‘What’s got him in such a good mood?’
Doyun gave him a slight nod in greeting.
“Director, it’s nice to see you here.”
“What? You came back to Seoul? I thought you’d be staying in Jeongdongjin. You’ve got to shoot the bridge scene, joke around with the police and military unit quarters—there’s plenty to do over there, isn’t there?”
Despite Lee Beom-un’s provocation, Doyun remained calm and responded evenly.
“I haven’t finalized a contract with the company handling the editing yet.”
“The director already decided to sign with Miracle, and you went against it. That’s pretty bold of you.”
“I understand that the decision was made by the CEO.”
“Well, that decision’s been reversed. Just keep that in mind.”
“……”
“Anyway, good job. Let’s try not to run into each other too often from now on, yeah?”
When Lee Beom-un tried to place a hand on his shoulder, Doyun smoothly stepped back to avoid it.
Letting a superior pat one’s shoulder was a gesture of encouragement, but it wasn’t something Doyun could accept.
However, he couldn’t just ignore the sharp thorns hidden in Beom-un’s words.
“May I ask what you mean by ‘let’s not run into each other’?”
“What do you think it means? It means we won’t have any reason to talk anymore.”
“……”
“You came to see CEO Jeong, right? Ask him yourself. I’m busy.”
Lee Beom-un strutted out of the office, leaving Doyun behind.
Doyun then headed to the CEO’s office, where he was met with an absurd statement from Jeong Woon-young.
“There’s this assistant director, Hyun Woosik, who’s set to make his debut with a short drama this fall. Beom-un wants to have him gain experience by working on the production. The director has already approved it.”
“Another assistant director?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Avoiding Doyun’s gaze, Jeong Woon-young crossed his legs and wet his dry lips before continuing.
“For now, just assist Writer Han with the script. It looks like the new assistant director will be taking over your producer responsibilities alongside Beom-un.”
So that was why Beom-un had said they wouldn’t be crossing paths anymore.
Even though he had somewhat expected this, Doyun still felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
“So, if that’s what Director Lee wants, my name will be removed from A Summer’s Cantabile’s credits as the planning producer? And Hyun Woosik will take my place?”
“…The director is the one who decides the credits… so I suppose that’s how it will turn out? I’d have to talk to him, but… this kind of thing is… well…”
When Doyun narrowed his eyes as if to ask, ‘What exactly are you saying?’ Jeong Woon-young scrunched his brows in annoyance.
“You should’ve treated the director better. This happened because you didn’t show him enough respect.”
“……”
“Still, since you worked hard…”
Jeong Woon-young hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
“Your planning producer salary will only be paid until the end of this month. But hey, you’ve already been paid quite a bit, so don’t be too upset.”
“……”
“I’d love to pay you everything I promised, but, you know, there’s the issue of fairness…”
As he listened to Jeong Woon-young ramble on, Doyun felt disgusted and lowered his gaze.
He had set the table, and now Beom-un was trying to steal the food off it.
And Jeong Woon-young? He was just thrilled that he didn’t have to pay for the effort that went into preparing the meal.
‘Which one of them is worse?’
No need to think too hard about it.
They were both just as bad.
“I understand. In that case…”
“……”
“Let’s renegotiate my contract.”
“A contract?”
Having lost money every time he signed a contract, Jeong Woon-young instinctively tensed up, ready to refuse.
But Doyun threw out a completely unexpected proposal.
“I’ll step down from my planning producer role and return to my original position. In exchange, I’d like one additional month’s salary, considering the OST pricing adjustments I made.”
One month’s salary was 2.5 million won. Adding one extra month would bring it to 5 million won.
Compared to what Doyun had contributed, it was a small sum.
‘Just look at how much sponsorship I secured.’
Even without bringing it up, Doyun’s efforts had reduced production costs and increased sponsorship revenue, making it difficult for Jeong Woon-young to outright refuse.
“From this moment on, I’ll only assist Writer Han and focus on the Jeongdongjin filming. However…”
Doyun lifted his gaze and looked Jeong Woon-young in the eye.
“If you ask me to do anything beyond that, I’d like to be officially contracted as a production producer.”
“A… production producer?”
The executive producer position was already set to have Jeong Woon-young’s name on it.
Vying for that spot wasn’t just ambitious—it was crazy.
Under normal circumstances, he would’ve yelled at Doyun for being too bold.
But right now, they had already brought in Hyun Woosik for free.
‘We already have three assistant directors and two directors. It’s not like we need Kim Doyun anymore.’
Running the numbers in his head, Jeong Woon-young saw no downside.
“Fine. Let’s do that. Hahaha.”
“Shall we negotiate the salary as well? Normally, a well-known production producer earns in the tens of millions per month. But since the production is already underway, I’ll settle for 10 million won a month.”
“A-a month?! 10 million? Hahaha. Sure, why not?”
Since there was no way that money would ever be paid, Jeong Woon-young easily agreed.
But Doyun pushed the conversation further, insisting they draft a provisional contract.
‘How could I trust someone who doesn’t even keep his own words?’
Every time he opened his mouth, he would talk about working together on the next project.
He claimed he’d always support his own employees.
Yet, he had done nothing to stop Beom-un from pushing Doyun out.
And now, he was happy just because he thought he’d saved on planning producer salary.
“What’s wrong? Let’s write up the contract,” Doyun pressed.
***
After signing the contract with Jeong Woon-young, Doyun stepped out of the CEO’s office when he heard a familiar voice.
“Kim PD, I heard you got fired?”
It was Oh Soon-gi.
After angering Jeong Woon-young over sponsorship issues, Oh Soon-gi had been given a three-month pay cut.
Since then, every time he saw Doyun, he had been glaring at him.
But as always, Doyun simply walked past him.
Talking to someone like him was a waste of time.
“The CEO didn’t tell you? The director brought in his own guy to take over as PD. You should’ve known your place. After working yourself to the bone, you didn’t even get to keep your profile credit.”
At those words, Doyun stopped in his tracks.
His eyes turned cold as he looked at Oh Soon-gi.
“Congratulations..”
When Doyun congratulated him instead of retaliating, Oh Soon-gi’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wh-what? Congratulations?”
After all the insults he had thrown, he hadn’t expected this response.
“Do I have anything to be congratulated for?”
“It seems you’ll have to find a new job soon, so I was offering my congratulations in advance.”
“What nonsense is that?! Why would I leave? You’re the one who’s getting fired!”
Oh Soon-gi shouted, drawing the attention of the other employees.
Doyun didn’t mind the attention.
‘People love watching underdogs take down tyrannical bosses, don’t they?’
Leaning against a desk, he looked at Oh Soon-gi.
“The drama you’re producing won’t get any sponsorships. Do you think the CEO will tolerate that? I don’t think you’ll last here without switching jobs.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?! Are you saying companies won’t sponsor a drama I’m producing?!”
‘Bingo.’
Doyun shrugged.
“I’ve heard that every time a sponsorship meeting is held, some drama producers demand free products or money. So I heard they’re planning to blacklist such unethical PDs from the industry entirely…”
“Wait, hold on! Let’s talk about this over a smoke break, huh?”
Oh Soon-gi, now sweating, tried to put on a desperate smile.
“I don’t smoke.”
“Then let’s at least grab a coffee—my treat!”
“I’m too busy to waste time on idle chatter during work hours.”
Doyun brushed past Oh Soon-gi and headed out of the office.
“W-wait! Kim PD, you’re not seriously putting my name on a blacklist and sharing it with sponsors, are you?!”
Oh Soon-gi ran after him, blocking his path.
“You should try living with a little common sense.”
“Wh-what? Common sense?”
Oh Soon-gi blinked, clearly not understanding what Doyun meant.
“If you’re incompetent, at least be diligent or kind. If not that, at least show some remorse.”
“……”
“I went out of my way to recover lost sponsorships, and you couldn’t even say a simple ‘thank you.’ Do you think that’s common sense?”
“T-that’s…”
Oh Soon-gi lowered his head and fumbled for words.
“Forget the excuses. If you get an offer elsewhere, just take it. I plan to start clearing out the things that get in my way from now on.”
“W-when do you expect me to leave…?”
“Figure it out on your own. Take your time.”
If he didn’t put in the effort, Doyun would ensure his career ended immediately.
***
“Cut!”
A loud voice echoed in front of a university café.
It was Director Jang Sang-gu of Team B.
Since the extras playing Jeon Sera’s friends had escaped into the café to avoid the heat, Jang Sang-gu reviewed the footage they had just filmed.
It wasn’t a crucial scene and would likely be cut in editing, but he still furrowed his brows as he examined the footage.
He wore a bucket hat, cooling sleeves on his arms, and a wet towel around his neck, but he was already drenched in sweat.
“Director Jang, you’re working hard.”
“Huh? Kim PD, what brings you here?”
Jang Sang-gu looked visibly surprised, as if he had heard the news that Doyun had been pushed out of the project.
“Have a cold sports drink first. If you take a short break, the staff will have time to enjoy some ice cream.”
Doyun had filled a large icebox with ice and had practically raided a nearby convenience store’s freezer for frozen treats.
‘This is a small gift for Director Jang and Team B, who suffered because of my power struggle with Lee Beom-un.’
Jang Sang-gu had gone all the way to Jeongdongjin for filming, but Lee Beom-un had suddenly changed the schedule, forcing him to return to Seoul.
Not only had he overturned Doyun’s carefully planned schedule, but he had also changed almost all outdoor shooting locations.
Jeongdongjin was the only location he couldn’t change—because they had already filmed some parts there, and even Lee Beom-un couldn’t undo that.
Jang Sang-gu had traveled back from Jeongdongjin at dawn, so he hadn’t even had time to shower or sleep before starting the shoot at the university café.
Not just Jang Sang-gu, but the entire staff and cast were thrown off by the sudden schedule changes.
Seo Dongjin had even messaged Doyun about how chaotic things had become.
“You must be frustrated right now, yet here you are looking after me. That’s impressive, Kim PD.”
“I just bought some ice cream.”
When Doyun opened the icebox, Jang Sang-gu’s eyes widened.
“Wow, when you said ice cream, I thought you’d bring cones. But of course, Kim PD knows what’s up.”
Of course. He had been working in the field for years.
Doyun smiled slightly.
The staff preferred frozen juice bars or ice pops over cone ice cream.
Since they had to handle equipment, getting sticky residue on their hands would be a hassle.
“Kim PD, you may seem like a newbie at first glance, but your instincts are like a veteran’s. Sometimes, I feel like I should use honorifics with you.”
Jang Sang-gu, who was always quick to pick up on things, observed Doyun keenly, his eyes gleaming.
—
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