Peninsula: From a supporting actor to the best actor in Chungmuro

Chapter 250: A Rain of Red Envelopes, a Turbulent System, and the Approaching Battleground

The moment Kang Jae-hoon and Kim Dae-won stepped into the front hall.

All the noise from typing and copying documents suddenly stopped.

All the staff—from assistants to post-production colorists—rose from their workstations in unison.

In the solemn atmosphere.

Whispers travel silently like electricity:
"Even more profound than the outlines seen on television..."

"Really only 26 years old? I was still gathering dust in the copy room when I was 26..."

"I heard that 'Muse' only has a one-week grace period for its core layer... Will my social security be interrupted in June?"

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon walked steadily through the passageway between the workstations.

His gaze swept over the tense clenched fists, the tightly pursed lips, and the undercurrent of anxiety clearly visible in the depths of their eyes under the fluorescent light.

He walked to the center of the office area, stopped, and nodded slightly.

"Hello everyone, I am Kang Jae-hoon."

Scattered applause tentatively broke out, but soon it gathered into a chorus.

Kang Jae-hoon pressed his hand down.

"From today on—"

He turned sideways, raising his hand to point to the brand-new, clean lines of the logo on the wall:

"The name Muse Production, along with all the conventions it represented, has come to an end. The new name on the wall, Next Scene Film, is the new beginning for all of us."

A brief moment of silence.

“I bought this place not because Muse did a bad job.”

"Quite the opposite."

"It is precisely because I have personally witnessed the meticulous execution and collaborative resilience honed by everyone in an A-level project like 'The Prosecutor's Chronicle' that this invaluable experience, built up with film and hard drives, is the most solid and indispensable foundation of our company right now."

Some people unconsciously straightened their backs.

"but--"

Kang Jae-hoon's voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"Our goal is far more than just staying at the downstream end of the industry chain and becoming an outstanding subcontractor!"

"We want to incubate IPs that can stand on solid ground! We want to polish scripts that bear the unique soul of 'Next Scene'! We want to produce works that can lead trends and define the market!"

His gaze was intense, sweeping over the faces that were filled with shock and disbelief:
"Therefore, please focus on your work and concentrate on your talents."

Every word was clear and resounding.

"The positions and salary standards of all original employees will remain unchanged! This is the bottom line!"

A promise.

Like a thunderclap, it shattered the pervasive unease.

Soft breathing and the sound of a chair being moved rang out, a sign of relaxation after a heavy burden had been lifted.

Kang Jae-hoon's lips curved into a captivating smile.

"I not only need your experience and hard work, but I also look forward to your creativity igniting in this new world! Together, let's create the next truly groundbreaking 'phenomenal' drama! Let the whole peninsula follow us—waiting for the next scene!"

The applause roared again!

This time, it's even fuller and hotter!

He turned to the side and pushed Jin Dayuan to the front.

"This is Director Jin Dayuan, my old partner."

"The company's future expansion will include artist management, some production coordination work, and..."

Kang Jae-hoon deliberately dragged out the last syllable, glancing at Kim Dae-won, whose face was tense:
"He is responsible for the arduous task of ensuring I don't sign up for variety shows indiscriminately and that I don't oversleep during press conferences."

Jin Dayuan quickly stepped forward, instinctively wanting to bow at a 90-degree angle—a professional habit deeply ingrained in his being as a broker.

As a result, his waist sagged.

Only then did I suddenly realize the change in my identity.

He forced himself to stand up straight, trying to force a serious expression, but his facial muscles looked somewhat stiff.

"Ahem, hello everyone, I'm Jin Dayuan..."

Kang Jae-hoon added timely support to extinguish the fire:

"In addition, to ensure transparency and professionalism in the company's financial operations, the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer will officially assume his post tomorrow. We hope everyone will fully support the CFO's work."

Finished.

His gaze swept over several core members of the original MUSE team, naming them:

"Team Leader Park, Supervisor Lee, and a few others from the project team, we'll have a meeting in the small conference room in ten minutes."

……

In a small conference room.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is a constant flow of traffic in the Gangnam district.

Several key figures from the original MUSE management team sat around a long table.

Kang Jae-hoon placed his hands flat on the table and got straight to the point:
“Everyone here is a veteran of the production line, with far more practical experience than I am as a newcomer. In terms of specific project production processes and team management, you are the experts, and I am the student.”

The key members looked at each other in bewilderment.

No one answered.

"Therefore, the company's daily production and operations will continue as usual, and the processes will remain unchanged."

"I will not give unqualified advice to experts. I have full confidence in your professional competence and judgment."

"My job is to secure the best budgets for everyone, find promising scripts, integrate top industry resources, and remove obstacles so that you can create without any worries."

Several veteran employees in the production department exchanged glances unconsciously.

They anticipated the first three moves a new official would make.

Perhaps it was high pressure, or perhaps it was empty promises, but what I didn't expect was this low-key approach that was almost "delegating power."

The previously tense shoulders gradually relaxed.

"President..."

Park, the team leader in charge of post-production, hesitated before speaking, his tone less polite and more substantive than before:
"With your words of reassurance, we are relieved. The production department will definitely provide full cooperation."

"Yes."

Director Li, who was in charge of on-site coordination, also chimed in:
"To be honest, we were worried before that you were approaching this from an actor's perspective... but now it seems we were overthinking it. Being able to focus on the project is what we want most."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded, his long, slender fingers tapping lightly twice on the conference table.
"The Board of Directors will coordinate with everyone on specific matters later. That's all for today, everyone go ahead and get back to work."

As soon as the executives left the meeting room, Kang Jae-hoon raised an eyebrow at Kim Dae-won.

The tacit understanding from years of working together allowed Jin Dayuan to immediately grasp the situation. He rushed to the center of the office area, grabbed a folder, and slammed it onto the printer.

"Ahem! Attention, colleagues!"

Kim Dae-won shouted at the top of his lungs, startling the employees who were peeking into the president's office.

"To celebrate the new beginning of 'Next Scene,' President Kang specifically instructed me to announce two things!"

He paused for three seconds on purpose.

The announcement was made only after everyone had craned their necks:
"First! Every employee present today, regardless of rank, will receive a signing bonus of 100 million Korean won! Please come directly to the finance office to collect your bonus before leaving get off work!"

The office erupted in chaos.

The new intern spilled coffee, and no one cared that the brown liquid was splashed on the storyboard.

"What?! One million?!"

"Oh my god! The president is so handsome!"

Taking advantage of the heat, Jin Dayuan extended his second finger and continued shouting:
"Secondly! For the company's first self-developed project, regardless of size, a separate project bonus pool will be established in advance! Rewards will be given based on final market performance and project profits, with no upper limit!"

"Whaaaaaah——!!"

"Long live the president!!"

"Next Scene! Fighting!!"

Several young employees excitedly threw the script drafts at the ceiling, the pages scattering like fireworks.

The girls in the post-production team hugged each other and screamed, making the glass curtain wall vibrate.

Kang Jae-hoon pushed open the door and stepped out amidst the commotion.

He leaned against the door frame with one hand in his pocket.

—Employee morale can sometimes be that simple.

……

The next day.

As the morning light gilded the glass doors of "Next Scene," the receptionist was secretly using her phone calculator to figure out how many Starbucks cups she could buy with her red envelope.

Next to the coffee machine in the break room.

Three or four employees surrounded the finance department intern, pressing him with questions:

Is the prize pool truly unlimited?

Nine o'clock sharp.

The elevator dinged, breaking the noise.

The moment the new CFO, Yin Jingxi, stepped into the office area, her high heels collided with the marble floor with a crisp sound like a bullet being chambered.

Good morning, Director Yin!

The receptionist hurriedly got up, knocking over the vase filled with baby's breath.

Yin Jingxi's gaze swept over the water droplets rolling off the petals:

“Article 5 of Chapter 3 of the ‘Detailed Rules for Administrative Expenditure’, procurement number C-17 of the company.”

“The budget for a single decorative item shall not exceed 50,000 Korean won.”

The entire office area froze instantly.

Yin Jingxi turned and walked towards the finance office, the hem of her suit skirt drawing a neat arc.

She pulled out the expenditure list approved the previous night, her fingertip pointing to a line where the ink was still wet:
"A 63 million won bonus for employees? Who approved it?"

The assistant added in a low voice:

"It was announced by the president himself yesterday..."

10:03.

The warmth in the small meeting room was suddenly cut off.

The moment Yin Jingxi pushed open the door, the projector light traced a cold blue crack on her glasses. Team Leader Jin, who was presenting the PPT, bobbed his Adam's apple twice, and the red dot of the laser pointer trembled slightly as it stuck on the "Estimated Production Costs" bar chart.

"President Jiang, I need to interrupt for a moment."

Kang Jae-hoon frowned slightly, but quickly put on a polite smile:

"Director Yin, we're starting a project..."

"This issue cannot be addressed later."

The silence was crushed by high heels.

Yoon Jung-hee slammed the document on the table. Kang Jae-hoon noticed that her nails were trimmed more precisely than the figures on a financial statement, with coral nail polish covering just half a millimeter of her fingertips.

"Regarding your 'employee signing bonus' expenditure yesterday without any procedures, the total amount is 63 million Korean won."

"I formally reject this."

Kang Jae-hoon: ? ? ?

He almost thought he heard wrong.

"Director Yin, this is what I announced publicly yesterday! It was to stabilize morale and boost spirits!"

What are you doing?
The new official's first act of making trouble has ironically backfired on himself.

"President."

Yin Jingxi remained unyielding, her gaze behind her glasses cold and almost ruthless:
"Rules are established to be followed, not to be broken by exceptions. Your actions, at best, are a management oversight; at worst, they plant a time bomb for the company's future tax audits and financial compliance."

"Because it does not comply with any payroll system regulations and cannot be included in cost deductions, it will be considered a suspicious transaction during tax audits."

"More importantly, it sets a terrible precedent—today you can give out bonuses because of 'morale,' and tomorrow you can approve budgets because of 'mood'! President, do you want a workshop that relies on emotional management, or a modern enterprise that operates on systems?"

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

and so.

Yesterday he was smugly calling himself a "wise president who gave out red envelopes," but today, on a professional level, he has become a "vicious boss who caused everyone to have to refund money."
The conference room, which had just been buzzing with excitement over the project blueprint, was now completely silent.

The red dot on the laser pointer in Team Leader Jin's hand froze on the screen, like a period with nowhere to escape.

Several key members lowered their heads, pretending to study their notebooks.

Just when the atmosphere reached freezing point and Kang Jae-hoon was on the verge of social death.

Yin Jingxi spoke again, her tone slightly softened:

"However, the president's original intention to encourage the team and boost morale was good."

“My solution is: we will formally establish this 63 million Korean won as a ‘Special Incentive Pool for the Launch of the Company’s First Self-Developed Project.’ All existing employees will automatically become beneficiaries. Once the company’s first self-developed project is officially approved internally, this money will be distributed to everyone as the first project bonus in a legal and compliant manner.”

"..."

Turn around.

Kang Jae-hoon's emotions were like those of someone riding a rollercoaster, experiencing a rapid plunge followed by a sudden ascent:

What if the project falls through?

"Then this money will become a personal gift from you. The personal income tax rate is 40%, so we suggest you prepare cash in advance."

A moment of silence.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly chuckled:
"As expected of someone recommended by his master's wife."

He signed his name in cursive script in the approval column.

Before you throw cold water on me next time—

We'll hand you a towel first.

A gust of wind was stirred up when Yoon Jung-hee took the documents:

"After all, it's more dignified to manage a company with wet hair than to go bankrupt and be liquidated."

The moment the door closed, Kang Jae-hoon loosened his tie.

Jin Dayuan leaned in and whispered:

"This woman is more terrifying than a tax bureau overdue payment notice..."

"But she saved us 60 million."

Kang Jae-hoon looked out the glass wall—Yoon Jung-hee was pointing at the receptionist's earring and saying something, and the girl hurriedly took off the Swarovski crystal and stuffed it into the drawer.

Look back.

Kang Jae-hoon tapped his fingers on the table.

"continue."

The focus of the meeting returned to normal.

What theme should I choose for my first self-made project?
The conservatives spoke first:
"President, to be on the safe side, we must start with crime action films, which are what we do best! The market is mature, the team is skilled, and a steady approach will reduce the risks!"

The trendsetter immediately retorted:
"A solid fanbase means a low ceiling! Everyone's watching 'Descendants of the Sun' right now! We should make an urban romantic comedy! Small investment, quick returns, and the easiest way to create stars!"

The sycophantic manager looked around, rubbing his hands together and smiling obsequiously.
"President, you have excellent vision and extraordinary insight! You make the decision! We'll follow your lead!"

Kang Jae-hoon rubbed his throbbing temples vigorously.

He felt he wasn't deciding the company's fate.

It was more like listening to old ladies arguing over three cents worth of cabbage at a market.

"Om - hum -"

The phone vibrated for the third time in my pocket.

He finally came up with an excuse to peek.

[Bae Suzy]: Kang Jae-hoon! I only heard about such a big thing as starting a company from the news??

[Bae Suzy]: [Judy glaring angrily.jpg]
[Bae Suzy]: Confess! Did you ask Im Yoona for the start-up capital?

Kang Jae-hoon felt a chill run down his spine.

It’s over.

He could almost picture Bae Suzy rushing over with a knife in her hand.

Fingers flew across the virtual keyboard:

[Kang Jae-hoon]: Ahh! It's the lottery! I won the Leicester City lottery!
[Kang Jae-hoon]: [Lottery screenshot.jpg]
[Kang Jae-hoon]: Really! I bought it myself!

What does the president think?

Kim Dae-won suddenly asked a question.

Kang Jae-hoon's hand trembled, and Bae Suzy's new message popped up at that moment:

[Bae Suzy]: Does the boss's wife need to be there for the opening? ^_^
"Ahem... Hmm, where were we? Um... about the possibility of type fusion, let's continue."

The group exchanged glances, about to speak again—

"Ding-a-ling-ding-a-ling--"

This is a special ringtone for cross-border video calls.

All eyes were once again on the room.

Kang Jae-hoon acted decisively, abruptly standing up:
"The meeting is on a ten-minute break! Team Leader Park, please elaborate on the cost accounting for that crime romance... uh, I mean, crime action film you just mentioned!"

Before the blinds closed with a "whoosh".

The last thing everyone saw was him quickly scratching his hair.

Jin Dayuan quickly forced a dry laugh at the employees in the room, whose expressions varied and whose inner gossip was burning brightly:
"Everyone, take a break, take a break... The president is so busy, so incredibly busy!"

……

The moment the video call connects.

Yoona's clean and natural face filled the screen.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly clutched his chest and staggered backward.

This was a classic scene from their collaboration on "Himalaya," which should have elicited a coy laugh and a comment like "That's too exaggerated."

But this time.

Lin Yoona's long eyelashes didn't even tremble; she watched him finish his performance with a calm and unwavering expression.

"To create such a commotion without making a sound. Our President Jiang is truly remarkable."

The corners of the lips should curve at a standard 15 degrees.

"The move was so fast, the funding came in one go... It seems they've found a very 'reliable' partner?"

Kang Jae-hoon instantly understood her gentle judgment.

In Lim Yoon-a's mind.

She roughly knew how much Kang Jae-hoon could earn from filming a few dramas and doing a few endorsements.

A "partner" capable of providing nearly 10 billion Korean won at once.

Besides Bae Suzy, it's also Lim Yoon-a.

Kang Jae-hoon suddenly found her roundabout and probing behavior quite endearing.

"It is indeed very reliable..."

He paused deliberately, pleased to see the corners of her mouth stiffen slightly:

"Reliable beyond imagination—it's all thanks to luck with this partner."

"luck?"

When he showed the lottery screenshot for the third time, Lim Yoona burst out laughing.

That carefully maintained sense of alienation vanished instantly.

Wow! Kang Jae-hoon, what kind of lucky charm do you have?!

She laughed heartily.

I am genuinely happy for his good fortune.

That subtle probing just now seems so superfluous and endearing.

Kang Jae-hoon seized the opportunity to claim credit:
"Therefore, Lin's investment acumen remains top-notch; it's just that this time the market has introduced an unpredictable variable."

Im Yoona understood his implied meaning and gave him a playful glare.
"Stop being so vain! ...But congratulations, my darling."

This form of address subtly warmed up the atmosphere.

Kang Jae-hoon then asked her about the food she ate in China.

Im Yoona immediately wrinkled her nose and acted cute:
"I don't enjoy my food without you~"

Just then, Jin Dayuan pushed open the door: "President, everyone..."

The words stuck in his throat—he saw Kang Jae-hoon grinning foolishly at his phone screen.

"You go ahead with your work, I'll go and keep them calm."

Jin Dayuan rolled his eyes and left.

Yoona quickly suppressed her smile: "In a meeting?"

"Ah."

"Then hurry up and go. When is the opening ceremony scheduled? I'll adjust my schedule."

The smile on Kang Jae-hoon's face froze instantly.

Just a few minutes ago.

Bae Suzy decisively reserved the owner's seat on Kakao...

just now.

Yoona has announced that she will be present at the event in person.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could only force a stiff smile that looked worse than crying as he looked at the still gentle and smiling Lim Yoona on the screen.

The screen goes dark.

The image reflected a face of despair on Kang Jae-hoon's face, a face that seemed to say, "My life is over."

(End of this chapter)