CEO Ha Seo-hwan. The man who founded GN Entertainnt and elevated it to beco one of the nation’s top three agencies, and a figure who is undoubtedly ntioned when people talk about legends in the entertainnt industry.
Because of that, it's only natural that he holds imnse power within the company. On top of that, he wields considerable influence across the entertainnt industry as a whole. These days, GN Entertainnt might have a poor public image and unimpressive performance, but regardless, GN Entertainnt is still one of the country’s leading major production companies.
A face-to-face encounter with such a legendary figure.
Kang Rojun looked at CEO Ha Seo-hwan standing in front of him with a mixture of tension and curiosity. The tension wasn’t so much because he was intimidated by the man, but more because it was his first ti ever seeing a CEO of a major company in real life, and that felt incredibly unfamiliar.
'Sothing about his aura is impressive, or should I say? Dignified?'
He had seen him a few tis in articles and heard about him from the mbers, but seeing him in person now made him feel even more colossal. Like a massive mountain suddenly appearing before him.
‘I thought he’d be super blunt and difficult, but he’s more gentlemanly than I expected?’
He was completely different from the gruff older n Rojun had encountered in the past. He didn’t know, honestly, Kang Rojun wasn’t in a position to evaluate CEO Ha Seo-hwan right now. That aura, that energy, that weight, he was experiencing all of it for the first ti.
Anyway.
‘I don’t know, damn. Just take the hand.’
Rojun took CEO Ha Seo-hwan’s extended hand. For so reason, Kang Rojun’s voice ca out deeper than usual.
“I’m Rojun, it’s a pleasure to et you.”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan gave a faint smile and slowly shook hands. Even in that mont, he looked straight into Rojun’s eyes. He was seeing sothing, but it was impossible to tell what.
‘Pressure? Intensity? Anyway, this is what they call a heavyweight.’
Would “grabbing soone with a gaze” be the right expression? In contrast, CEO Ha Seo-hwan kept a calm smile on his face.
"You're handso."
“Huh?”
“Rojun-ssi, you’re several tis more handso than you looked on screen.”
“Ah.”
"Thank you once again."
CEO Ha Seo-hwan maintained formal speech while exchanging greetings with Rojun, and after letting go of his hand, he imdiately turned his attention to the next in line, Si-hoo. Si-hoo, stiff with nervousness, took CEO Ha Seo-hwan’s hand.
“Ah, h-h-h-hello!!”
“Nice to et you. You look much cleaner in person. Your image, I an.”
“Th-th-thank you!”
Next was Kang-min.
“You have a unique appearance. I think you’d get a good response overseas as well as dostically.”
Then finally, the youngest, Do-kyung.
“You’ve got a raw image, I see that as a positive.”
After shaking hands with each of them individually, CEO Ha Seo-hwan gestured for them to sit down.
-Swish.
He took a seat across from the four. Even as he sat, his gaze slowly swept across them. Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung all exceeded his expectations, but his eyes kept returning to Kang Rojun.
‘He’s composed. I can sense self-esteem in his posture and attitude. That face, of course, helps, but there’s sothing oddly detached about him too. Intriguing.’
Even for CEO Ha Seo-hwan, who had discovered and worked with countless stars, Rojun felt like a new category.
‘Now I understand why people call him a disruptor of the ecosystem.’
Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung all clearly showed potential for stardom. But Kang Rojun had sothing indescribable. What was it? As CEO Ha Seo-hwan pondered briefly, he opened his mouth again.
“It’s pretty late, isn’t it? I’m sorry.”
Si-hoo quickly shook his head and responded imdiately.
“Ah, no! It’s fine!”
“I was feeling impatient. Honestly, I thought you all would choose EY or Big Star.”
“Ah- well.”
Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung were visibly nervous. Scanning the three, CEO Ha Seo-hwan locked eyes with Kang Rojun once again.
‘Judging from the atmosphere, this kid looks like he’s going to give the real answer.’
He asked Rojun, who was sitting calmly.
“What did you see in our GN?”
In other words, why did you choose our GN? His tone wasn’t accusatory but rather curious. Soon, the other three’s eyes were fixed on Kang Rojun, and his answer was surprisingly simple.
“I didn’t see anything.”
“...You didn’t see anything?”
Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung’s eyes widened. Regardless, Kang Rojun continued speaking.
"Yes. Rather than choosing because I saw sothing... I just felt like you'd stake your lives on it if we went there."
Hearing this, the secretary who had accompanied CEO Ha Seo-hwan briefly furrowed his brow. In contrast, the heavyweight across from Kang Rojun curved his lips into an even wider smile.
“Our GN.”
“Yes.”
“You’re saying that if you joined GN, which currently has a declining public image, we'll work as if our life depended on it.”
“Sothing like that.”
"Other agencies would do the sa for you, wouldn't they? Whether EY or Big Star."
"I don't think it would be exactly the sa. There's a difference in desperation."
“......”
After looking at Rojun for a few seconds, CEO Ha Seo-hwan readily acknowledged it.
“That’s right, desperation is one of the biggest motivators.”
Desperation. Kang Rojun also knew that feeling very well. There were countless days in the past when he clasped his hands and prayed, saying, “Please let be able to work today.”
‘That sounded pretty convincing, didn’t it??’
But honestly, the reason for this decision had more to do with the power of ‘AI Automation’ than with desperation. Since he couldn’t say that out loud, he just pieced together so decent-sounding words, and the response turned out okay. anwhile, Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung stared at Kang Rojun, jaws dropping on the inside.
‘Wow- Rojun’s guts... pulling off a villain mont even in front of the CEO.’
‘Crazy, Rojun-hyung.’
‘His vibe’s insane. Truly a leader.’
Changing the subject, CEO Ha Seo-hwan briefly laid out the plan going forward. He spent about 10 minutes on the briefing and didn’t forget the final promise.
“We’ll stake our lives on this.”
A short while later.
After finishing the eting with the four final winners, CEO Ha Seo-hwan got into the waiting car. The car imdiately pulled out. Although it was already past midnight.
“......”
There was still a spark of energy on CEO Ha Seo-hwan’s face as he looked out the window. Watching his expression through the rearview mirror, the secretary in the passenger seat cautiously asked a question.
“...How was it, CEO-nim?”
With his legs crossed and his gaze still fixed on the window, CEO Ha Seo-hwan spoke.
“That’s not the kind of insight soone that age should have.”
“Pardon??”
"I'm talking about that kid Rojun."
“Ah. Honestly, I thought he was a little arrogant.”
“He should be. If he’s too smooth, he’s boring. Idols need to have a bit of rough edge.”
“......What if that edge turns into trouble?”
CEO Ha Seo-hwan let out a soft laugh.
“I don’t know why, but that kid understands desperation.”
“You sensed it?”
“Yeah. The scent of it. With that face, with that talent, what would he have to be desperate about?”
Recalling his earlier eting with Kang Rojun,
“Si-hoo, Kang-min, Do-kyung. They all have potential and star quality. But Rojun. That kid is sothing else.”
He ca to a conclusion.
“Enough to shake and collapse the foundation of the current idol market.”
Later.
After parting ways with CEO Ha Seo-hwan, Si-hoo, Kang-min, and Do-kyung showered Rojun with thumbs-ups.
"No seriously hyung, that was insane."
“Right?! How the hell do you stay that chill in front of CEO Ha Seo-hwan??”
“I... was so nervous I stuttered and everything. Share so of that with us, Rojun-ah.”
“Hyung, give so too. That nerve to tell a CEO to stake everything on you.”
“Wow- I flinched when Rojun-hyung said that. Did you see the face of the guy who ca with the CEO?”
“I saw, I saw. He was glaring at Rojun-hyung.”
Kang Rojun thought, ‘Is this really sothing to go wild over?’ Sure, saying he wasn’t nervous would be a lie, but that was just at the start, and surprisingly, as he kept talking, he started feeling more and more at ease.
“The CEO asked, so I just answered. That’s it.”
“Not just anyone could do that, though!”
In any case, the four, including Rojun, returned not to their dorm but to the hall where the at party was still going strong. Fortunately, the staff were still fully in party mode. The mbers sat back down. Kang Rojun rubbed his hands together, reigniting his fighting spirit.
‘I’m going to eat until I burst tonight, for real.’
By the next morning, Saturday, the dia and public were completely dominated by 'Produce That 100!' News portals, online communities, social dia, you na it. Articles dropped by the second, reporting on the final episode that aired last night and the massive viewership ratings that once again hit new highs for both 'Produce That 100!' and 'Rental Lover'.
《[Viewership Ratings] ‘Produce That 100!’ and ‘Rental Lover’ End With Record-Breaking Ratings》
Beyond simply talking about the content, various topics flooded in. But what attracted the most attention was.
《Rojun, Si-hoo, Kang-min, Do-kyung, Why Did They Choose ‘GN Entertainnt’?》
It was the final winners’ choice. Naturally, many articles tried to stir conflict as well.
《[Today’s Issue] EY Entertainnt and Big Star Entertainnt, Ranked 1st and 2nd in Viewer Votes, Lose Out, Winner Is GN Entertainnt》
Fans were also endlessly debating, “Why GN Entertainnt of all places?” More than ever, the communities were on fire. 'Produce That 100!' had officially ended yesterday, but judging by the intensity of the discussions, it hardly felt over. Still, quite a few fans were facing reality.
-Whether it's GN or anywhere, I don’t careㅠㅠㅜㅠJust hurry up and get the boys ready for debut!!
-I’m already dizzy....Can’t believe 'Produce That 100!' is over....How long do we have to wait for their debut?
-I’m going crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋIt only ended yesterday and I’m already having withdrawal symptoms.
-I'll endure while watching Youtube.....
-GN!! Now that you’ve taken the boys in, prepare properly and debut them right!!!
By Sunday, a day later, this atmosphere had intensified several tis over. Around lunchti, the 'Produce That 100!' team began withdrawing from the campus. Staff mbers collected the small caras and other equipnt set up all around. It was the natural course of things, since the show had ended.
“......The pullout is super fast.”
“So we’re really the only ones left now?”
“Apparently not. I heard a few staff are staying behind.”
Kang Rojun and the mbers remaining on campus were technically free, but they couldn’t help feeling a bit of emptiness. Still, they had to accept it. The authority over these four had now transferred from 'Produce That 100!' to GN Entertainnt.
“Now that it’s happening, it really feels like ‘Produce That 100!’ is over.”
“But still, this is way too rushed-”
"It's also because it's almost the end of the year so they're hurrying, PD-nim said that."
“Oh, right, awards shows and all that. Does the broadcast world get even busier at the end of the year?”
“There are all the reorganizations, too. A bloodbath, apparently.”
“Scary as hell.”
Listening to this, Kang Rojun felt ti was flying damn fast.
‘Is it already the year-end??’
It was November 22. In a week, December would begin. As the others said, once year-end arrived, the entire entertainnt industry, including broadcasters and agencies, would go into full gear. Even GN Entertainnt’s CEO Ha Seo-hwan had ntioned it. In fact, the three major national broadcasters were already preparing for their annual awards ceremonies.
And so, Sunday passed, and the workweek began again.
As soon as Monday arrived, following the staff withdrawal at the 'Produce That 100!' campus.
“Hyungs, I’m heading out first.”
The final winners began moving too. As PD Woo Han-suk had said, it was a ti for rest and reset, so they were going ho. The period was about a week. The youngest, Do-kyung, left first, followed by Kang-min.
“My mom’s here! ssage , okay?”
Now only Kang Rojun and Si-hoo remained on campus. The two sat side by side in the lounge. Of course, Si-hoo had already packed his bags. He was waiting for his parents to arrive. For so reason, baby-perm Si-hoo glanced at Kang Rojun.
“......Rojun-ah.”
He spoke with difficulty.
“Why haven’t you packed your stuff??”
The reason Si-hoo was hesitant was simple. Rojun hadn’t packed. He was wearing his usual athletic wear and even had his hairband on. Rojun shrugged indifferently.
“I’m planning to stay here.”
“Huh?? You’re not going ho?”
“Yeah. It’s a hassle going back and forth.”
It wasn’t a lie. But Kang Rojun didn’t bother saying the deeper reason.
‘Even if I go ho, no one’s there. It’s just more comfortable staying here. Everything I need is already here.’
A house with no one to welco him was just desolate. And since he had already brought almost everything he needed to the campus, there was nothing to swap out. If he went ho, he’d probably just lie around scratching his stomach, eating ramyeon. The campus, with its practice rooms and environnt, was far better.
Not that Kang Rojun felt sad or anything.
“Go ho, don’t mind .”
“......Yeah.”
Si-hoo sensed sothing but didn’t say anything.
‘Should I ask him to co eat at our house? No......Would that be awkward?’
Noticing the look in his eyes, Rojun smiled with his eyes.
“After you co back, just listen to the song I’m working on. I probably won't be able to finish it though."
“Yeah, yeah! Okay!”
Just then, Si-hoo’s phone rang. Judging by the call, his parents had arrived. As he packed up his things, Kang Rojun also stood up. The two left the lounge together.
“Oh, right, Rojun-ah.”
Then Si-hoo paused.
“Yesterday, when we were talking about year-end awards at the networks, I thought of sothing. There’ll be tons of super famous people gathered, but-”
Looking back at Kang Rojun, he voiced what ca to mind.
“Wouldn’t you be invited too? You’re the writer of ‘Rental Lover’."
*****
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