IJLMT 45

Chapter 45

Shhhhk—

The pork belly sizzled golden-brown on the grill. The outer edges, browned to perfection, looked crispy at a glance, while the cross-section revealed a juicy interior.

In the corner of the grill, kimchi was frying in the oil that had dripped from the fatty pork.

The doneness of the meat, the timing of the kimchi—everything was perfect. Yet, my hands fidgeted nervously. The reason? Lee Jong-muk was the one grilling the meat.

I reached for the tongs, but Jong-muk didn’t yield. “I used to work part-time at a barbecue restaurant for two years. In the entertainment industry, you won’t find anyone who grills meat better than me,” he said.

“Go ahead, Hyun-jae. It’s at its best right now.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t you think we’re a bit closer now? Why do you still seem stiff?”

Is it because he’s the CEO and I’m the employee?

“Do you still think of our relationship as CEO and employee?”

Caught right on the spot.

“Hyun-jae, we’re partners. I’d like you to think of it that way. Honestly, today’s goal is for us to drop the formalities and become like siblings.”
“Haha… You can speak casually anytime, CEO.”
“It’s more important that you speak casually. Can’t you call me ‘hyung’?”
“Uh… um…”

Isn’t he a bit old to call him that? I think Jong-muk is 51.

“Hmm, the best way to get closer is, of course, pork belly and soju on payday. Let’s have a drink.”

Saying that, Jong-muk lifted his glass. It had been a long time since I drank alcohol. Seems like it was the same for him.

I started to get a sense of what kind of person Jong-muk is. He’s sharp and calculating. He doesn’t make decisions without careful thought, even for small things.

Even now, isn’t that the case? Not a fancy restaurant, just pork belly and soju. Timed on payday. I could feel he had a plan: “Get closer to Hyun-jae” and execute it perfectly.

Seeing that, I thought: people often say, “I don’t like someone because they’re calculating,” but that seems inaccurate. How could you dislike someone who’s carefully trying to get closer to you? You only dislike it if they have some sinister motive.

Jong-muk probably targeted payday because he knew it would be hard for me to refuse.

Today, an absurdly unexpected amount appeared in my account:

[₩1,239,965,024 — JM Co., Ltd.]

I was momentarily stunned when I saw the deposit. It had been only three months since I switched to a managerial position. This was my third paycheck.

Honestly, I had high expectations this time. My salary had increased to 150 million won annually after becoming team leader, which meant a monthly net income over 9 million won. Just a quarter ago, 2.6 million barely skimmed my account—life sure changes fast.

But this… this was on a different scale entirely. 1.2 billion won? I won 1.5 billion from the lottery once, and now the company deposited 1.2 billion into my account.

“Yes, this is Team Leader Hyun-jae. I’m sorry to ask again on payday, but this deposit…”

The HR staff answered with a smile.

[“We anticipated this, so we sent the documents via email as well.”]
“Thank you.”
[“Thank us! We’re grateful! We look forward to your continued success, Team Leader Hyun-jae!”]

Why are they so friendly even though I essentially just worked?

Checking the email, I saw the deposit was based on the contract I signed when changing roles. Every three months, performance bonuses are paid proportional to the revenue from Nova Girls…

‘That’s 1.2 billion?’

Honestly, I hadn’t paid much attention to the performance bonus clause at first. The formula was too complicated—percentages depending on music revenue, merchandise revenue, etc.

I never imagined this clause would result in such a windfall. If it keeps going this way, it’s like hitting the lottery every three months.

If I got 1.2 billion, imagine how much Nova Girls got.

Mina: Hyun-jae oppa! Our salary seems off.
Mina: Isn’t this… the thing? You know, the computer glitch thing?
Nari: Mina, are you talking about a bug?

I explained based on the HR performance bonus breakdown, clarifying it wasn’t a bug, and showing how their efforts earned the company that much.

Hayoung: Your fortune app said you were a winged tiger, but now it seems insufficient.
Hayoung: Not just a tiger… a golden tiger?
Mina: Diamond tiger!
Hayoung: No, Mina. Diamonds have fallen in price due to better synthetic diamonds. Gold is best.
Mina: Oh really? Then golden tiger again!
Nari: Dad finally acknowledged it. Persuasion really is about money.
Hayoung: I won’t tell yet. Need to reveal it more dramatically.
Dabin: Getting a lot of money is nice, but I like that the company profited because of us even more.
Dabin: Thank you, Hyun-jae oppa. We won’t let it go to our heads—we’ll keep working hard.

That was just before going to the pork belly place with Jong-muk.

“Hyun-jae, why are you working?”

Jong-muk asked.

“You used to be hesitant about being team leader, but now you’re very proactive. What changed?”

I swallowed my bite and answered.

“Hmm… I thought I needed to become stronger. Otherwise, I couldn’t step in when an artist under my care was in trouble.”
“So it was really because of Lim Yujoo? The whole Pale Moon Gate, dragging La Do Re Mi, politicians, and businessmen through hell?”
“…That was the trigger.”
“Didn’t you worry about wasting all the money you worked so hard to earn?”
“Not really. Is spending money such a huge deal? Having money is nice, but being able to spend it freely isn’t the best thing either.”

I remembered the anger I felt toward Tina Greny.

“Huh!”

Jong-muk’s eyes widened.

“You’re 27, right? Not some second-life scenario?”
“Haha… of course not.”

He clinked his glass with mine and downed the soju.

“Many people don’t understand why money is good. They talk about buying houses, cars, etc., but even if you do all that, tens of billions barely scratches the surface. What about hundreds of billions? Thousands? Why would that money be good?”

Jong-muk’s face reddened; he seemed slightly tipsy. Same here.

“Money is freedom. Power and authority. Charm. When I left the orphanage and lived on part-time jobs, people didn’t just see me as poor—they saw me as dangerous, twisted. Even strangers. Now it’s completely different.”

Jong-muk had been an orphan? I didn’t know that. His past was never public.

“Originally, I thought becoming closer to you would make the company bigger, but now I genuinely want to get closer to you regardless of the company.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know how someone like you appeared before me. Even a brief conversation leaves a strong impression. Always does. Hmm… this is…”

He stroked his chin, lost in thought, then perked up excitedly.

“I think everyone in the company should talk to you. Everyone should have the 3-team vibe! We could hold workshops in rotation. You’d give the lectures.”
“Lectures? To new employees?”
“No! Everyone, including the directors, should attend.”
“They won’t like a junior lecturing a senior.”
“Ehei, I saw it. The directors secretly mimic your voice.”

Mimicry? What?

“Then, what should the lectures be about?”
“Anything! Everyone probably has a ton of questions for you. Answering them alone would be enough. How’s that?”
“If that’s the case… fine.”

As soon as I agreed, Jong-muk started making calls.

“Uh, Director Kim. It’s me.”

“Crazy bastard Jung Sun-woo, finally pulled off something big, huh?”

In the break room, colleague Lee Jung-hoon patted Sun-woo on the shoulder.

“I didn’t pull it off—it was an anonymous collaborator.”
“Who is this anonymous collaborator to have all those materials? Are you even Korean? Not tied to a foreign intelligence agency, right?”
“Nope.”

People know: “Hyun-jae knew about the Pale Moon Gate but sided with Lim Yujoo against Park Bong-won.” They don’t know: “Hyun-jae orchestrated it all with complete evidence.” Why keep it secret? Because Hyun-jae didn’t want it revealed.

How would the public view Hyun-jae if they knew? A hero exposing Pale Moon Gate—wouldn’t they say, “Hyun-jae for Congress!”?

Right now, the Baekje Ilbo was obsessed with the “anonymous collaborator.”

“But you’ve got no mercy. Taking down Kim Man-ho was one thing, but Jung-goo Han too?”
“So what? They committed the same crime, one gets reported, the other doesn’t.”
“True, but I’d have spared him.”

Baekje Ilbo is an MBM TV affiliate. MBM TV’s CEO is Han Jong-soo. Feel familiar? Han Jong-soo is Jung-goo Han’s brother.

“Director said you did well?”
“Manager will grind his teeth over this.”
“Who cares?”

Manager Choi Min-ki is a classic parachute hire, connected to Han Jong-soo.

Regardless, Sun-woo can’t be touched—he broke a story shaking all of Korea. Any HR punishment would cause chaos. Performance must be rewarded, so Sun-woo’s salary and rank rose.

He was offered to return to politics but refused—his interest was in entertainment.

[Lim Yujoo dominates 2nd singing contest with overwhelming votes!]
[Lim Yujoo – Hyun-jae chemistry noted, like a fresh sibling duo]

Sun-woo wrote the article. Comments read:

L Usually skip to singing scenes, but now I watch whenever these two appear.
L Don’t fully understand Hyun-jae, but what he says sticks—makes sense somehow.
L Just want to watch them play all day ㅠㅠ Vlog, please? ㅠㅠㅠ

‘Indeed.’

Having avenged his father’s enemy, Sun-woo’s remaining feeling was curiosity. Who exactly is Hyun-jae? Boosting Nova Girls, collaborating with Lim Yujoo… the surface stuff. Sun-woo had personal intel:

Shin Woo-jin’s acting suddenly improved? He’s finally listening to others. Changed managers, changed himself.
Seo Yun-woo’s confident, action acting is impressive. Says his manager distracts him, but actually it’s incredible.

All those managers were part of 3-team, hired by Hyun-jae himself. Curious, isn’t it?

In media appearances, Hyun-jae seems gentle and kind. But do people really know his ability?

Tracing his actions: putting Nova Girls on a 4,000-seat stage, refusing Seolhwa CF, sending them to UN events, shooting Sekhmet promotion, getting reluctant Lim Yujoo to appear on “Gagasu,” and dominating the stage with perfect advice. Not one misstep. Even the Pale Moon move with Sun-woo!

‘Information, judgment, execution… all beyond imagination. Yet he’s not just a monster—he’s highly principled.’

He chose Sun-woo as the “knife” to pierce Pale Moon. Sun-woo’s chest burned.

‘No knife sharper than mine. He knew that. Even if I laugh foolishly, he sees through me.’

Sun-woo wanted to write about Hyun-jae—highlighting the lesser-known, yet impressive work. A thank-you for settling his grievance.

“Reporter Jeong.”

Manager Choi Min-ki called him out, frowning.

“Write a preview for ‘Island Village Doctor Jo Myeong-gil’ airing next week.”
“I’m sorry. I planned to cover another drama airing the same day.”
“What?”
“Gordius Game.”

Choi frowned.

“Why pick that hipster? The advertiser from Island Village Doctor Jo Myeong-gil needs a favorable piece.”
“I know. That advertiser also connects to Han Jong-soo—Choi Min-ki.”
“This isn’t the new advertiser. Gordius Game airs next week too, someone has to cover it.”
“Skip it! Focus on Island Village Doctor.”

Preview decisions shouldn’t be fought over. The manager is just picking a fight.

“What if you ignore the biggest hit? Won’t people say we lack judgment?”
“What? Lack judgment? I never said you lack judgment.”
“You ignored the biggest hit, Gordius Game—lacking judgment, that’s what I said.”

Choi’s breathing grew harsh.

“No matter how Jang Hyung-gun stars, a hipster is a hipster. Excited over one scoop, fine. I’ll write Island Village Doctor preview myself.”

Managers rarely write articles directly—he had a motive.

“But if Gordius Game flops and Island Village Doctor succeeds? Responsibility falls on you. I don’t need rogue team members acting on irrational reasons.”

Sun-woo thought:

‘He really dislikes me.’

But he was certain Hyun-jae was right. Even if something went wrong, he had already avenged his father. Fired? He’d just do part-time work.

“What if the opposite happens? Gordius Game is a hit? Isn’t it a problem if the entertainment team fails to recognize a hit?”

The office froze. The manager’s face flushed red.

Island Village Doctor — First Broadcast

Mingyu couldn’t sleep. In an hour, “Gordius Game” Episode 1 would stream on MidiPlus.

Island Village Doctor Episode 1… was fun.

‘Yes, fun. Hmm, that’s enjoyable enough.’

The lead actor’s performance was slightly lacking. Lead Kim Hyung-ki, formerly an idol, played a disheartened, disillusioned doctor. But in Episode 1, he seemed annoyed and overly resentful. The frustration should have passed.

But the director must know this too. Probably thought it was acceptable. Other elements were well-executed, and Hyung-ki has devoted fans.

Time passed; it hit midnight. Mingyu started watching MidiPlus.