K-Producer C53 Not interested

Jae-hoon took Byul-ho's hand, his grip perhaps a bit firmer than necessary. "Likewise. So, Byul-ho-ssi, what kind of 'business' are you and Min-ji involved in?"

Byul-ho maintained his composure, his voice steady as he responded, "My group, Ascend, is endorsing Min-ji's family company. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Jae-hoon's eyes narrowed slightly, his grip on Byul-ho's hand lingering a moment too long before releasing. "Is that so?" he said, his tone carefully neutral.

Min-ji, perhaps sensing the underlying tension, quickly jumped in. "That's right. Byul-ho's group has been a great help in promoting my mother's new fashion line. They've really boosted our visibility in the market."

Jae-hoon leaned back slightly, his gaze flickering between Min-ji and Byul-ho. "I see. I hadn't realized your mother's company was involved in the entertainment industry, Min-ji."

Min-ji smiled, her tone light but with a hint of pride. "It's a recent development. Byul-ho's company has been instrumental in helping us branch out."

Byul-ho nodded, adding, "It's been a productive partnership for both sides."

Jae-hoon's expression remained unreadable, but there was a subtle shift in his posture. "Well, that's... interesting," he said, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and something else - perhaps a touch of skepticism. "I'd love to hear more about this venture sometime, Min-ji."

As the conversation continued, Byul-ho observed Jae-hoon's behavior with a mix of amusement and strategic interest. The jealousy was obvious, at least to him, though Min-ji seemed oblivious. But Byul-ho's mind was already working on a different angle. Jae-hoon's Samsung connection could be valuable in the future, despite his personal reservations about the company.

When Min-ji and Seul-gi departed, leaving Byul-ho and Jae-hoon alone, the atmosphere shifted noticeably.

Byul-ho's eyes flickered to Jae-hoon's uniform, noting its distinct style. "That's not our school's uniform, is it? Where do you attend?"

Jae-hoon straightened, a hint of pride in his voice. "Seoul Foreign School. It's quite selective."

Byul-ho nodded, impressed despite himself. "That's a prestigious institution."

Jae-hoon opened his mouth, clearly about to say something, his expression a mix of warning and possessiveness as he said, "Listen, I'll warn you, touch-" but Byul-ho cut in smoothly.

"Listen, Jae-hoon-ssi," he said, his tone casual but firm. "I think there's been a misunderstanding. I have no romantic interest in Min-ji. Our relationship is purely business."

Jae-hoon blinked, caught off guard by Byul-ho's directness. "I... what?"

Byul-ho continued, a small smile playing on his lips. "You don't need to worry about me 'touching' Min-ji or whatever you were about to say. She's a valuable business partner, nothing more."

For a moment, Jae-hoon looked flustered, his earlier bravado faltering. Then, slowly, his posture relaxed. "Oh. I see."

Byul-ho extended his hand again, this time more warmly. "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. How about we start over?"

Jae-hoon hesitated for a second before taking Byul-ho's hand, his grip noticeably less aggressive than before. "Yeah... maybe we should."

As they shook hands, Byul-ho couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction.

***

Later that afternoon, Byul-ho arrived at the Golden-Star Entertainment building, his mind already shifting gears from school drama to business matters. He made his way to the conference room where five candidates were waiting, each hoping to become Ascend's manager.

As he entered, the candidates stood, bowing respectfully. Byul-ho nodded in acknowledgment, taking his seat at the head of the table.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice calm and professional despite his youthful appearance. "As you know, Ascend is at a critical point in their career. We need a manager who can guide them through the challenges ahead."

He turned to the first candidate, a man in his mid-thirties with a neatly pressed suit. "Roh Sang-Ook-ssi, you've worked with idol groups before. Tell me about a difficult situation you've handled."

As Sang-Ook began to speak about navigating a scandal involving a trainee, Byul-ho listened intently, jotting down notes.

The interviews continued, each candidate bringing different experiences to the table. One had a background in music production, another in public relations. A younger candidate, barely older than Byul-ho himself, spoke passionately about new social media strategies.

Throughout the process, Byul-ho kept reminding himself of the year - 2009. The industry was different now than in his memories of the future. He needed someone who could navigate the current landscape while being open to innovative ideas.

As the last interview concluded, Byul-ho leaned back in his chair, reviewing his notes.

"Thank you all for your time," he said, standing. "I'll be in touch with my decision soon."

As the candidates filed out, Byul-ho remained in the room, mulling over his options.

***

The following morning, Byul-ho gathered the Ascend members in the company's main meeting room. Beside him stood a man in his late thirties with a calm demeanor and sharp eyes.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Roh Sang-ook. He'll be Ascend's main manager from now on," Byul-ho announced.

Sang-ook bowed respectfully to the group. "I look forward to working with you all."

Byul-ho then introduced the rest of the management team:

Won Yun-Hee, a bright-eyed woman in her early thirties, as the group's publicist

Jong Hyuk, a former dancer turned coordinator, to handle schedules and logistics

Don Dae-Ho, a soft-spoken but shrewd negotiator, as the group's legal advisor

Gyo Kwang-Sun, a tech-savvy recent graduate, to manage social media and online presence

The Ascend members greeted their new team. Jae-sung stepped forward to shake hands with each manager.

Once introductions were complete, Byul-ho turned to Sang-ook. "Now, let's discuss the upcoming music video production for 'Love Sentence'."

Sang-ook nodded, pulling out a files. "I've reviewed the song and have some initial concepts. We should aim for a retro-modern fusion to match the track's vibe."

Byul-ho smiled approvingly. "Exactly what I was thinking. We'll need to move quickly to capitalize on the song's current popularity."

As they delved into discussions about locations, costumes, and choreography, Byul-ho felt a weight lift off his shoulders. With this competent team in place, he could focus on the bigger picture while ensuring Ascend received the dedicated attention they needed.

***

Two days later, the set for Ascend's "Love Sentence" music video was a hive of activity. Stylists fussed over the members' hair and makeup, while crew members adjusted lighting and checked camera angles.

Byul-ho arrived on set mid-morning, observing the controlled chaos with a sense of pride. He spotted Sang-ook near the director, deep in discussion about a particular scene.

As Byul-ho approached, Sang-ook turned, bowing slightly. "Byul-ho-ssi, good morning."

Byul-ho nodded, his eyes scanning the set. "How's everything progressing?"

"Smoothly," Sang-ook replied. "We're actually slightly ahead of schedule."

Byul-ho allowed himself a small smile. "Any issues I should be aware of?"

They discussed a few minor concerns - a slight disagreement over costuming, a potential schedule conflict for one of the outdoor shoots. Byul-ho listened attentively, offering suggestions where needed.

After about an hour, satisfied that things were under control, Byul-ho prepared to leave. He placed a hand on Sang-ook's shoulder. "You've got this. I trust your judgment. Call me if anything major comes up."

Sang-ook nodded, a look of determination in his eyes. "Of course, sir. We won't let you down."

As Byul-ho headed back to his car, he glanced back at the set. It was strange not being directly involved in every decision, but he knew it was necessary for the company's growth.

Back at the office, Byul-ho immersed himself in contracts, financial reports, and strategy meetings. Every so often, his phone would buzz with an update from Sang-ook, but for the most part, he focused on the myriad other aspects of running Golden-Star Entertainment.