— Reality show? Jihong and Yoon exclaimed at the same time.

— Yes, "Together with the enemy", remember? Where managers and stars work together, relax under the lens of the camera," explained the head of the group Lee.

"Oh, I watch that show a lot," Yoon added.

"And you, Mr. Jeong?" she asked.

"No, no, I know.

"Now it is the most popular," the head of the group added, correctly placing the accents.

"Kwon Jae-kyung was invited there?" Manager Yun was surprised, but immediately remembered. "Although... The appearance of athletes on it is not uncommon.

— That's right. They are almost regular guests. According to the screenwriter, the audience's reaction to athletes is even better than to artists.

"Well, the artists have already revealed all their secrets, nothing new," added Manager Yun.

"Yes, athletes are less visible on the screen, so their participation seems fresher," Ms. Lee confirmed, and then turned to Jihong.

"I don't know, too unexpectedly," Jihon replied a little confused. "If Kwon Jae-kyung agrees, then only his daily training will be in the frame. What is the beauty of this for reality?

"Oh, Jihong, you don't understand anything," Mr. Yoon slapped him on the shoulder. "That's the beauty of it: athletes who train! Especially if it's a swimmer like Kwon Jaekyung. Do you think people watch TV shows to see him dancing or singing? No, they are waiting for him in swimming trunks, as well as prominent muscles and sculpted abs!

Manager Yun nodded, and Ms. Li confirmed, "They only want to film swimming.

Hearing this frank demand, Jihong couldn't help but laugh.

"Modern reality shows are a mirror of society's desires," someone once said.

He could not have imagined that society was so eager to admire the pumped-up body of a male swimmer.

"In any case, we'll think about it. To be honest, I think this is a great opportunity," the head of the group concluded.

"Yes, neither do I," Manager Yun continued. "Now is the time for him to participate. In addition, I had read the other episodes, and everything was in perfect order. No unnecessary hype.

"Yes, Kwon Jaekyung is a completely non-public person. In truth, his reputation as a "bad guy" was formed precisely because of the lack of information about him, after all, the same happened with artists who led a fairly closed lifestyle, and as a result, they were known as "rude" and "arrogant," Lee noted.

"Well, yes, and when they start doing documentaries or shows and expose their other qualities, their image immediately changes," Yoon added.

"I don't know, I think it's too late to reassemble the image of Kwon Jaekyung," Jihong said, still smiling.

Mrs. Li, unable to resist an indifferent tone, tapped on the table, showing her irritation: "Do you think that image is only 'rude' or 'not rude'?" We have a chance to show people how hard he trains, how he gives 100 percent to succeed.

"Well, yes," Jihon involuntarily muttered under such a confident onslaught.

Yoon, noticing that Lee had caught on Jihon, began to persuade him: "Well! A great opportunity! You're complaining that people don't know about Kwon Jaekyung's hard work. And he was even angry at the popular opinion that he got everything too easily. So prove the opposite.

"It's not so easy to get a gold medal!" We need to show it. Then the evil commentators will no longer be able to be indignant, saying that he achieves everything without making an effort! The head of the group added fuel to the fire.

His colleagues, well aware of the fact that Jihong constantly praised Kwon Jae-kyung for his diligence and talent, skillfully spurred him on.

Gradually, Jihon's defenses weakened. He thought that this might indeed be a good opportunity. Especially since there is still time before Oliver's arrival...

Seeing how he slacked, Manager Yun and Manager Lee began to persistently tell him about the advantages. In the end, Jihong gave up: "Yes, after all, this is a very good chance. What about Minu? Will he go on the air normally?

To Jihon's question, Mrs. Li widened her eyes in surprise: "What does he have to do with it?"

"What do you mean?" Jihon asked warily. – We are talking about filming a manager and an athlete. I thought they were in the studio together...

Suddenly sniffing out what they were getting at, Jihong exclaimed, "Did you hope that I would fit into such a thing?!"

"No, no, no," Jihong got up from his chair without waiting for Mrs. Li to say. "I'm not going."

"Stop, Jung Ji-hong!" Please wait! In a panic, the group leader, grabbing his arm, put him back down. "I haven't said anything yet. Why are you doing this?

"You just didn't mean to say anything," Jihon retorted.

"Well, yes, the atmosphere wasn't conducive to...," Mr. Yun said.

Lee frowned, shushing him to shut up, and turned to Jihon again, "Yes, I originally considered your candidacy. Well, you're closer to Jaekyung than Min. In addition, it will look wonderful on the screen, not fake, right?

"Jaekyung is quite close to Minwoo," Jihong objected.

"But not so much... Only with you he behaves like this... Haven't you noticed how his expression softens when he sees you? You know everything! If you're going to go to television, then show this cute side," Mrs. Lee began to openly press, finding herself in a difficult situation.

Jihon, although he understood what she was getting at, still did not plan to give in: "I don't want to. Let Minu go. In addition, Jaekyung is cute with him as well. He just loves to grumble, but he does whatever it takes.

"What?" What are you talking about? She added, frowning. "Only with you he is like that...

"Not exactly," Jihon persisted. "He's kind, but a little unsociable, but definitely not evil.

"No, it's not true," she persisted.

Yun also quietly supported Miss Lee, "Jihong, you're wrong.

— ... In general, send Mina.

Jihon wasn't going to bend. And he gave a number of arguments, they say, with Min there will be more interesting moments than with him.

To which Mrs. Li, sighing heavily, eventually broke down: "Okay, with Ming... Not bad either. He's a good guy and has a good sense of humor, so he can do it.

She sighed all the time, actively demonstrating how sorry she was that Jihon would not go. But Yoon at this moment pointed out what everyone had overlooked: "Yes, Min Woo is clear, but will Kwon Jaekyung agree?"

—…

—…

A heavy silence hung in the room. For a few seconds, no one dared to break it, everyone looked at each other. Finally, Mrs. Lee said in a serious tone, "Mr. Jeong, try to persuade him.

After thinking for a while, Jihong replied, "Oh, it's going to be difficult.

— What do you mean by "difficult"? she exclaimed, nervously stamping on the spot.

Feeling a little embarrassed by his refusals, Jihon hesitated. But he couldn't do anything about himself: he knew that Jaekyung, even if he didn't want to, would still accept the offer because of his request.

«Well, since you have chosen, then it is necessary. You think that I should go, so be it." "He's done that many times before, agreeing to do things he doesn't like.

Participating in a reality TV show is voluntary, and Jihong didn't want to manipulate or force it.

"My "yes" is more like "no, I don't mind." I don't mind him going, but I'm not sure if it's necessary," Jihon explained briefly. — In any case, I am not participating. And persuading is the duty of screenwriters and editors. Let them seduce him themselves.

"Yes, that's their job," Manager Yun confirmed, giggling.

Glaring angrily at her colleague, Mrs. Li said, "Okay, that's their problem. But they need to communicate, so convince him to go to the meeting. Can you handle this?"

She suddenly looked at Jihong as if if he refused, he would have to quit. And then open his own company with Kwon Jaekyung.

But Jihong was not going to jeopardize his career because of him. And, quickly straightening up, he said in a resolute voice, depicting the importance of the situation, as if he were facing an impossible mission: "Good. I don't know how, but I will definitely arrange everything.

However, it was a matter of time to do this. Since the negotiations will take place on the fourth floor of their own office. He doesn't even need to let the stubborn person in on the details, it is enough just to ask him to drop by the company after the evening training.

He felt a little ashamed of his act. After all, under the pretext of having dinner together, he lured Jaekyung to the office. But as an excuse for himself, he used the fact that they would still pop into the restaurant after all the business.

The meeting was scheduled for six in the evening. Jihon went up to the fourth floor five minutes before the meeting. But he did not enter the office immediately, but first taxied into the smoking room, which was located nearby. He wanted to get at least a drop of nicotine.

But someone was already in the smoking room. A man in shabby jeans and a bomber jacket was clearly not their employee. I wonder why he came here?

The guy, hearing the sound of the door opening, turned. At the same moment, their eyes met, and both exclaimed at the same time, "Huh?"