Chapter 133: Studio (1)
Considering Manager Oh's warning...
"Hello, Almond! Please, come over here first!"
"Please standby for a moment!"
"Almond, right? We're the 3D team! Did you listen to the explanation already?"
The studio's atmosphere was very positive.
Everyone looked so bright and friendly that Manager Oh felt overwhelmed. What happened? However, it didn't seem like Manager Oh was lying.
'It does seem like it's busier because of me.'
There was an overwhelming number of people attached to Sang-Hyeon. Not only the 3D team that Manager Oh told him about, but also the makeup team was with him to reduce the time.
While everyone else received their makeup in the cosmetic station in the lobby, Sang-Hyeon received it surrounded by computers and holograms.
"We're going to check your bio code first."
To his left, they checked his fingerprint, eye color, and hair as they opened up his bio code. On his right, they were designing Sang-Hyeon's 3D character in real time.
"Alright, close your eyes."
In front of him was the makeup team.
"But, does this guy really need makeup? He's so good-looking."
The soft brush touches followed the generic voice of a makeup artist.
"Almond, let's turn around for a moment. Alright, over here."
This was the 3D team's request. They were cautious because the makeup team had to reposition, but they turned around with Sang-Hyeon without a hint of concern. It felt like the makeup artist was painting in the air. Although, he did worry if it was going well...
'Wow... that's crazy.'
'Why did a person like that only appear now?'
'Did he live under a rock?'
Judging by the assistant's reactions, it seemed it was going well.
***
Manager Oh was confused as well.
'Hm? This is different from what I expected. Supervisor Koh told me...'
Supervisor Koh Joon-Seok called him earlier, angrily telling him to deal with the studio's atmosphere alone. He complained and blamed Manager Oh for adding Almond last minute. He was warning him ahead of time that they would get revenge using the studio's atmosphere. Manager Oh was annoyed with how he talked, but couldn't say anything back. Until the shoot was over, Supervisor Koh had the authority.
If the studio's atmosphere was negative, the models were the ones affected by it. And the individual who led the atmosphere was the supervisor, which meant the supervisor had authority for the time being.
But the studio's atmosphere was fine. Instead, it seemed lively.
Manager Oh approached Supervisor Koh and asked him, "What happened? You called me all angry, but things seem fine?"
"Well... I ran back and forth. I redid the plans as well. Everything they're doing over there? We just came up with it. It turned out better this way."
Supervisor Koh wasn't the type of person to put effort into his work. Manager Oh suspiciously stared at Supervisor Koh's expression.
"... Really? What's gotten into you? You're usually a lazy bum."
"Because it's important."
"It wasn't important earlier, but now it is?"
"..."
"So there is something?" Manager Oh smiled.
"Sigh..."
Supervisor Koh didn't want to say anything. He just wanted to move past it.
"Hey, Manager Oh. You seem like you gained some weight?"
Dammit, it was the manager in charge.
"Hey there! You look good! I heard you won the amateur golf tournament the other day."
"Ahahaha!?You heard about that already?"
"Anyone who golfs knows already! I need to golf more so I lose weight."
"That's your charm."
Manager Oh greeted the manager happily. It was obvious what he'd ask now.
"Supervisor Koh looks like he's in great condition today! He's running around getting things done. Earlier today, he was ready to roast me alive."
It sounded like he was complimenting him, but he was curious about what was happening.
"Ah..."
The manager in charge glanced at Supervisor Koh for a moment. They met eyes and he signaled him?‘NO,’?but it was ineffective.
"Don't you know about the trending search?"
"Trending search?" Manager Oh glanced at Supervisor Koh. "... I didn't hear anything about that."
Supervisor Koh looked away with a frown, but the manager persisted.
"Wow. You didn't tell him about it?"
"I-I just met him."
"You're so petty," the manager lightly scolded the supervisor and told Manager Oh about the incident.
Manager Oh and Supervisor Koh didn't know because they had been busy since the morning, but one of the staff found out on LIL Pro that Lazy Soldier was 9th in the top searches.
Manager Oh's widened.
'What the…?'
"This is all thanks to Almond the streamer! The one who's here today..."
Almond and the way he ended streams...
Manager Oh was shocked to hear everything. It wasn't an act. He was genuinely shocked.
'What’s with our luck?!'
Manager Oh was familiar with Almond's personality and knew this was all a coincidence. He knew Almond just left the stream because he had no choice. That was his character, but he got lucky again. Although he did deserve some credit for changing his name to LazySoldier. That small act resulted in this.
Luck came to those who were ready. This was a prime example of that.
‘It seems like some people have all the luck, but what does that have to do with Supervisor Koh acting all nice…’
The supervisor wasn't the type of person to act nice just because they reached trending searches. Koh Joon-Seok wasn't a diligent worker at all.
The manager in charge explained, "I just got back from reporting it to Director Park." He whispered to Manager Oh, "He's an older fellow, so he loves it when we reach the top searches."
"Ah..."
"He ordered us directly to put Almond in all the shoots. Not to leave him out at all."
By contract, it was a given to have Almond in all the shoots. This was just a way of the director reiterating to give him special care. And why was Supervisor Koh so reactive to his commands?
It was obvious.
'Supervisor Koh probably has some ties with Director Park for a promotion. How long is he going to be an assistant manager?'
Supervisor was a temporary title. Originally, he was just an assistant manager.
Manager Oh knew well that Supervisor Koh was on Director Park's side. As a result, he bowed down to any words from Director Park.
“Pfft,” Manager Oh couldn't help but laugh.
Supervisor Koh had been acting all cold and mighty this morning, but the situation changed in a couple of hours.
"Well, that's what happened. Good luck. We're lucky to have this happen at the start of the project. It's a good thing, right? I'll just be an old man distracting everyone if I’m here, so I'll get out of the way. See you."
The manager in charge left. Only Manager Oh and Supervisor Koh awkwardly remained.
Manager Oh approached him and put a hand on his shoulder, "Wow. Can't believe this happened."
Tap, tap.
He tapped on Supervisor Koh’s shoulder as if he was treating someone under him.
"Seems like you'll have to execute this well."
Supervisor Koh couldn't respond to Manager Oh's smile. Manager Oh wasn't wrong because he did have to execute this well.
***
Was it because Manager Oh bent Supervisor Koh's will? The studio's photoshoot went very well.
Of course, that was from the perspective of the models. They were like a car going through an automatic car wash where everything was ready for them.
They had to follow commands, make poses, and move around. Instead, the staff was hard at work. All the staff behind the camera were fanning themselves despite it being the middle of winter.
"Phew. I'm dying."
"This is a lot of work..."
They were given the sacred break time.
"Let's take a break for a bit."
They weren't sure if it'd be five or ten minutes of break time. Since their supervisor advised them not to complain, they gathered quietly in a corner and complained quietly.
"Hey, can't we turn off the heater?"
"Didn't you see what Miho was wearing? The supervisor will go apeshit on us, telling us don't you think Miho will freeze to death?"
The staff was hot, but they couldn't turn the heat down since Miho was wearing an exposed outfit.
"Sigh... I'm hot even in a t-shirt."
"It's cause we're running around. Miho just has to stand still."
The staff was hot because they had to run around under the lights.
Ju-Hyeok suddenly returned with a huge box after leaving earlier.
Creak…?
A big man carrying a box followed him as well.
"Ah, yes. Over here. Thank you."
"Phew.?Yes yes. Have a good one!"
Slam!
He placed down a box of drinks.
"I bought some drinks. Have some before you work."
The staff's heads turned around.
"Wow!"
"Wow! Thank you!"
"Oh no, you didn't have to..."
Supervisor Koh also approached the box of refreshing drinks, happy to see them.
"Haha, I had nothing to do because everything was so well done. Here, have a drink."
All the staff came thanks to their break.
"Oh? It's almond milk."
"It's my first time drinking this."
"There's a power potion as well!"
"Woah, did you get almond milk because you're Almond's manager? Hahaha!"
"I'm going to try out the almond milk. I hear it's low in calories."
"You're worrying about calories now of all times? I'm going to drink the sports drink power potion before I die."
Mumble. Mumble.
The staff gathered around and started talking, naturally creating a positive atmosphere. A small event recovered their moods.
'Wow, they really know how to get things done.'
Supervisor Koh stared at them as he took out an almond milk. The manager and streamer were lucky, but he had to admit they got things done.
Supervisor Koh was forcing the workers to act nicely to them and didn't actually think very fondly of them.
'Almond milk...'
It didn’t occur to the supervisor, but the staff's heads were likely filled with the word almond now. If it were a different drink, the manager would've shined more than the manager. However, it looked like the manager wanted Almond to be remembered instead of him.
The supervisor’s gaze naturally turned to Almond.
"He’s in the position of power."
Almond was gulping down his drink as Supervisor Koh stared at him dumbfoundedly.
'... Why are you drinking that?!'
He assumed Almond would be drinking almond milk.
***
Their break was over.
"Woah!?It's an actor! An actor! I made it!"
"Hey, I'm the one who made it. A chibi Almond."
Almond's makeup and his?Lazy Soldier character were simultaneously complete.
"Alright, take a look and see how the character is."
Inside the screen was Almond's mini character walking around. The character was simplified, but strangely looked similar to Sang-Hyeon. It wasn't just because the water pouch he carried around looked like an Almond. It looked like Sang-Hyeon.
"It captures the most identifiable features of the bio code and makes it. That's why you're good-looking even though it's very tiny."
"Ah..."
"Now, we can finally go into the shoot!"
It seemed like a long time had passed.
'It's only been two hours?'
The shoot was just beginning. The studio's white lights brightly shone towards Miho and Bubblegum posing for the camera. They were quite skilled.
Miho looked perfect just standing still. She was also skilled in looking at the camera from the right angles since she was a model. She was like a fashion magazine walking around.
Bubblegum made all sorts of faces that made the staff laugh.
'... Can I do that?'
He would be fine if it were a simple interview, but being a model was very awkward for Sang-Hyeon. What could he do? He already decided to do it.
'I'll probably get better as I do it.'
Almond emptied his head.
"Almond! If you're ready, please come over here!"