Shin PD graduated from Korea’s top university with a major in broadcasting and entered a major broadcasting station as a variety show PD instead of a reporter, unlike other colleagues.
At that time, the competition for variety show PDs was hundreds to one.
With a good background and great abilities, the young Shin PD was commonly referred to as an elite.
However, unlike other elites who were cautious, Shin PD sought bigger thrills in broadcasting.
He would expose participants’ flaws or edit extreme behaviors to showcase on-air, acting like a complete wild card.
This certainly didn’t sit well with other broadcasting elites, and ultimately, disillusioned with the main network, Shin PD was scouted and moved to a cable station.
When Shin PD resigned from the main network, a senior offered him some advice.
“Run around setting fires like that, and one day, that blaze will engulf you.”
Back then, Shin PD thought the elite senior was just being an old fogey.
But why now…
Why is that senior’s advice popping into his mind at this moment?
Swallowing hard, Shin PD answered the call from the director.
“Yes, Director, I’m answering…”
[Hey, you crazy bastard! What the hell are you doing!!]
“……”
As soon as he picked up the phone, Shin PD had to worry about his eardrum.
With a piercing voice, he grimaced but politely replied to the director.
“Director… please calm down…”
[Calm down my ass! You can’t even manage one trainee, and look at the mess we’re in! What are we gonna do about the media tearing us apart?!]
“…First, regarding this exposure, we have no legal issues; the problem lies with them for breaching the contract. …By addressing this, we can reduce the backlash against us.”
[Reduce backlash? Ha! Let’s just set that aside. But what about the SAV issue? I just got a call from the SAV rep!]
“Why are they calling now….”
Shin PD flinched at the next statement.
[They’re cutting off all supply of their idols and entertainers to our station!]
“……!”
In fact, all top-class idols in South Korea were coming from the big three agencies.
But one of them, SAV, is cutting off their supply…?
This was a story that could only be fatal for the broadcasting station.
‘Is this all because of one trainee…!’
It wasn’t just about protecting one trainee.
It was about setting a precedent, so they wouldn’t keep bowing down to the broadcasting stations in the future.
The reason SAV was making a strong stand was because of this.
Shin PD, usually quick to catch on, found himself unable to think clearly.
[If this news hits the media, it’ll also affect the stock price at headquarters. What are we gonna do, you bastard! Huh?!]
“……”
Exposure, worsening public opinion, SAV cutting off their supply, and stock price drops…
With the pressure mounting to an unbearable level, Shin PD froze.
Seeing Shin PD’s state, the director clicked his tongue and said.
[Hah… what a pathetic guy. I’ll handle the SAV side. You manage the viewer’s opinions. And that what’s her name… the SAV trainee!]
“Are you talking about Seo Yoo-jin…?”
[Yeah, her! You better take care of her yourself! Got it?]
“…Yes, understood.”
[Ah, damn it. HQ is calling again. You report to me every three hours and hang up now…]
“Umm, Director…”
Unable to hang up like this, Shin PD mustered up the courage to ask the director at the last moment.
“What about my deputy director appointment…?”
[…….]
He knew in his head that this was a question that shouldn’t be asked right now. His heart was driving him.
And the result was…
[Shin Ji-cheon PD, are you kidding with me right now?]
…It was indeed disastrous.
[Is that what you need to say in this situation? The whole station is reeling because of you, and you care more about your promotion? Huh?!]
With the director’s response colder than ever, and hotter than ever, Shin PD quickly bowed his head in shame.
“I’m, I’m sorry…! Director, I just…”
[Hoo… the reason I considered you for the deputy director position is that you have great results, and you’re even my junior from school. But you know yourself, right? Honestly, you’re lacking in age and experience for such a role.]
“……I understand.”
[But, how can I recommend you at the executive meeting like this? Huh?]
“…….”
[Forget about the deputy director this time. You handle this Na Ah Ah situation well, and if things calm down, we can talk about it again. Don’t hang up.]
Clink.
With that call, the conversation with the director ended.
Thud.
Still standing, Shin PD, who had been answering the call, collapsed into the chair as soon as it ended.
His face, drained of color, was ghostly pale.
‘Run around setting fires like that, and one day, that blaze will engulf you.’
That young Shin PD was now old enough to be called an old fogey himself.
Now, he understood the meaning of that senior’s words.
Other elites hadn’t done things the way he did because they couldn’t; it was because Shin PD’s methods were too risky. They created enemies everywhere, and falling once made it hard to get back up.
It wasn’t a method suitable for those looking to long-term run and achieve greatness.
That’s why they avoided it in the first place.
‘Shit.’
Shin PD only realized it after the fire he had lit burned across his path.
“…Senior.”
“……”
“What did the director say? How should we handle this?”
Taking a moment to think, Shin PD answered the junior’s question.
“…Let’s scrap the plan to bury Seo Yoo-jin completely and create the warmest atmosphere possible.”
“…Yes, understood.”
“…Let’s plan episode 7 of Na Ah Ah as a family-themed special, invite the participants’ families and film support videos. Make it as warm as possible…”
“Yes, we will do that.”
Swipe.
Sudden inspiration struck Shin PD, who was known for his cunning. The junior nodded along, but the next words from Shin PD made him flinch.
“And… post an apology notice on all our Na Ah Ah SNS accounts. Acknowledge all the malicious editing we did in episode 5 and apologize.”
“……What?!!”
Typically, Shin PD was far from heartfelt apologies and was more about self-preservation.
His junior couldn’t help but be astonished by Shin PD’s sudden change in attitude.
“Senior, an apology notice? What do you mean…?”
“The thing is… we definitely went too far this time… Let’s use this opportunity to change our style going forward…”
As Shin PD uttered those words, he mumbled something incomprehensible.
“…Right, it’s not too late. I can still do things like the other seniors and colleagues… If I do that, I can rise again.”
Shin PD’s life wasn’t completely ruined by this incident.
He had merely stumbled; if he brushed himself off and started to run securely like the others, he could reach his destination someday.
But what Shin PD overlooked was that people don’t change easily.
He lived his life teetering between high risk and high return.
Having lived a rapid, adrenaline-fueled life, how could he suddenly live like other elites now?
“It’s alright… I can just go back now…”
Repeating that to himself, Shin PD tried to hypnotize himself, but… having stumbled so greatly, he felt more impatient than ever.
And this would…
Eventually lead him to make the most dangerous choice of his life.
“……”
“……”
After seeing the Na Ah Ah exposure post in the community, Seo Yoo-jin and I blinked in surprise.
I then glanced at the poster’s name and asked Seo Yoo-jin.
“Lee Yeo-reum… she was in your team during the last competition, right?”
“…Yes, that’s right. We weren’t close, so why did she…?”
Lee Yeo-reum…
As I repeated the name, I finally remembered who she was.
‘She was the one who trained for 12 years…’
She was a participant who received a C rating in the ranking evaluation for lacking star quality, despite being a trainee for 12 years.
I remember how she looked at me enviously when I received an A rating after just one month as a trainee.
I thought she simply faded into the background since then, presuming she was introverted, but she dropped a huge bombshell like this…
It was a moment that truly reminded me that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Swipe.
Suddenly, Seo Yoo-jin reached for the tablet, and I grabbed her wrist, asking.
“…Yoo-jin, what are you doing?”
“…Checking the comments. I want to see people’s reactions.”
“…Aren’t you going to regret it?”
“……”
At my question, Seo Yoo-jin hesitated for a moment before…
nod.
She eventually nodded.
“…Alright, let’s look at it together.”
So we, with trembling hands, checked people’s reactions together.
[Oh, damn it! Didn’t I tell you to stay neutral?]
[What do we do ㅠㅠ Yoo-jin must be completely hurt.]
[I always believed in you from the start.]
[Wow, she must have suffered so much. It’s all those production team bastards’ fault for dragging her through the mud.]
[What? Our Hye-jung was originally an A rank, but got slammed? No wonder!!]
[Ugh… seeing people switch opinions so easily makes me nauseous.]
The public’s opinion had shifted significantly in favor of Seo Yoo-jin.
Most comments expressed apologies for doubting her or that they believed in her all along.
Of course, among them were…
[Ah, haha, could smoke come out of a chimney without fire? LOL]
[Yeah~ Still rude is still rude~ I’m gonna keep bashing her!]
Though there were still many comments criticizing Seo Yoo-jin, compared to the past where all comments were directed at her, this was a major improvement.
“Yoo-jin! The reactions are looking good. I’m really relieved…”
As I let out a sigh of relief and turned my head…
Drip.
“…Yoo-jin.”
Seo Yoo-jin was silently shedding tears.
I embraced her, stroking her head as I whispered.
“…I don’t know how this will sound, but can we delay that withdrawal for a bit?”
“……!”
“You said you came to Na Ah Ah because you wanted to be an idol. And now… the situation doesn’t seem too bad.”
“…….”
Brush, brush.
Seo Yoo-jin received my gentle strokes for a long moment before mumbling softly.
“…I’ll stay.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll stay in Na Ah Ah….”
And when she looked up, there was…
“I’m going to stay in Na Ah Ah, and I’ll definitely debut with you.”
“…….”
“I will definitely become an idol here.”
…Her eyes encapsulated a resolve and fierceness that was incomparable to the other participants I had seen.
Seeing her biting her lip, I felt a sense of pride and said.
“Alright, let’s debut together.”
Though there were some commotions, Seo Yoo-jin set sail again, heading towards debut.
Now that public opinion had somewhat shifted, all that was left was to prove her skill in the upcoming stage.
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