Inyop fell into indescribable delight: "I was right! I told you you got along just fine! There is always a special bond between athletes!

"Aha, yes, there's something that unites only them," Team Leader Lee said, not missing the opportunity to insert her two cents. – We have a lot of former athletes working in our company. And they understand their wards perfectly, since they themselves were in their place.

She deftly used the situation to advertise the agency.

At one point, absorbed in the observation, it suddenly dawned on Mr. Nam: "By the way, you kind of went to the same pool, in Ilsan, right?

"Wow... Really? Choi Areng gasped.

"Yes, Mr. Chung was a professional swimmer at that time..." That was about ten years ago.

"Wow! So Kwon Jaekyung was just a child then?

"Probably," Mr. Nam replied, smiling, but then froze, muttering something under his breath: "Wait a second...

"What's wrong?"

"Well, nothing, I just remembered something," he evaded, glancing meaningfully at Jihon.

Resigned to his hard fate, Jihon did not even try to contradict them, smiling stiffly, absentmindedly staring at the ceiling and twirling a ballpoint pen forgotten by someone in his hands.

"It will be great if you take part!" And then we will include your old photos and recordings from the competitions... Imagine, "the legendary handsome swimmer"! The screenwriter did not calm down.

"Exactly, exactly! Inyop exclaimed.

"And you can also film how you and Kwon Jaekyung compete!" And if he wins, then we will arrange Yaja Time [1]!

"Oh, let's go to the very pool in the city of Ilsan, where they trained together!" Inyop mumbled. – The idea is this: Kwon Jaekyung seems to return to his roots before the Olympics.

"Brilliant!" Choi Areng admired.

Inyop, rubbing his palms contentedly, smiled radiantly at the main character: "Well, how do you like it, Kwon Jaekyung? We came up with a great idea, right? We will visit the pool, compete with Jung Ji-hong, and if you win, then Yaja Time will be!

Apparently, he believed that for an athlete accustomed to strict discipline, such a legal opportunity to violate the chain of command would seem tempting. I'm so naïve.

"On Jaekyong, this kind of lure won't work." Suppressing the expletive curses and a slight tremor on his fingertips, Jihon glared disapprovingly at his old friend.

"If he agrees, so do I. Jaekyung said.

— …

To which Inyop let out a victory cry. And the screenwriter, breaking into a smile, exclaimed: "Mr. Jeong! What do you say to this?

Instead of answering, Jihong, throwing the pen, quietly turned to the stubborn man: "Kwon Jaekyung. Or more precisely, Jaekyung-hyun.

To which the guy looked at him questioningly. However, Jihong continued in the calmest and most polite tone, "Do you really want to spend Yaja Time with me?" Then let's do it right here and now, hyung.

"And please don't go to the show." He added in his mind, sending him mute SOS signals.

Either Jaekyung did not understand the hint, or just pretended to be a fool is not clear.

In response, he only chuckled quietly and muttered, "What are you talking about?"

And then, looking into his eyes full of despair, he said insinuatingly: "I'm not interested in that, Jihon-ah.

"What a petty...?!!" - Most of all, Jihon was confused not by the fact that the impudent man so naturally switched to informal speech, but by the way his own name "Jihon-ah" sounded. The guy deliberately spoke lower and quieter, and this made the address completely different: embarrassing and awkward.

Flushing heavily, Jihong realized that he had fallen into his own trap. And then he turned away to hide the bright blush on his cheeks.

"I think Mr. Kwon Jaekyung is very interested.

"In any case, this is all I have been waiting for for ten years!

"Oh, it's going to be a bomb!"

People clapped their hands and laughed. And the team leader Lee and manager Nam had even more fun than the TV people.

"Mr. Jeong, what is it?" The screenwriter asked with a smile again, as if out of politeness. Although the outcome was already predetermined.

Speechless, Jihong lowered his head sadly, causing Ms. Li to seize the initiative.

"What difference does it make what he thinks?" She said in a peremptory tone. "If Kwon Jaekyung has expressed a desire, then so be it!" Mr. Nam, how did you talk about our Mina when we discussed his possible appearance?

To which his colleague, turning up his nose even more, mimicked himself: "Well, even if he doesn't want to, there's nothing he can do. If the company orders to participate, then you will have to.

"You also lied to me about not getting along with Jaekyung!" Inyop was indignant, as soon as he crossed the threshold of the smoking room.

"Why not?" Jihon snapped and exhaled a puff of smoke, feigning despondency.

"Hey, boy, what's that clumsy lie?" Obviously, you will be exposed in one or two. Inyop asked, slapping his friend on the back. "You're just out of the loop, buddy!" Our show is a real cannon, and the ratings are crazy! Both you and your agency will be at the top of search queries! And then, you see, other offers will pour in. A debut on television, so to speak! What's more, with Kwon Jaekyung, you will appear in the advertisement together! I promise, everything will be at the highest level! Of course, I will present Kwon Jaekyung stunningly, but I will not forget about you, I will find your best photos from the competition!

Inyop was enthusiastic about the bright prospects, but Jihong did not share his enthusiasm at all. On the contrary, it seemed to him that he was in a hopeless situation.

However, you can't sulk forever either. The decision has been made, and further objections will only harm the reputation of the agency. Since there is nothing you can do, then it remains to put up with it and relax, and also get the most out of what is happening.

"In the end, everything is for the best. After all, I will be able to control the process," Jihon persuaded himself, trying to think positively as always.

"All right," he said. "But there are two conditions. Firstly, do not interfere with training and no provocative editing.

Inyop stared at him with a silent question, "Are you serious?"

But Jihon, not paying attention, bent his line: "We will not go to Ilsan. Only training in Gwacheon. And no entertaining inserts, don't even hope. I'm ready to put up with some of the director's moves, but if you don't like the source, then we won't duplicate anything.

"You're planning to release a documentary, aren't you?" Inyop was taken aback.

— Exactly. I agreed, because I hoped that it would be like a film that would show Kwon Jae-kyung's preparation for the Olympics in the colors of the public.

In truth, they had already received a lot of such offers. Everyone wanted to capture the process of preparation for the Olympic Games.

"I would have said so right away! Inyop was indignant.

"They've been working on the documentary for almost a year," Jihon explained. "And here it's only a couple of shooting days.

"Wow! Impressed by his friend's pressure, Inyop stared at him with undisguised amazement. — So you plan to use us as an advertising platform to the fullest?

— And why do celebrities come to your shows? Jihon retorted. — Isn't it for PR?

"Well... In general, yes," the guy drawled in confusion.

"Well... And so do we. What's wrong with that? If you are not satisfied, then we will close this topic forever. Jihong spread his hands, feigning indifference.

"Stunned... And you've changed a lot.

"Of course," he said impassively, and took a puff. "I'm an office plankton now, not a carefree student.

Grinning, Inyop backtracked: "Okay, okay, I understood. This was our main condition even before we contacted the agency. We're not suicidal to ruin Kwon Jaekyung's reputation. We'll be eaten to pieces, because of this. So the main focus will be on the training process.

"That's nice.

"Okay, but we can't build a set exclusively on training! Inyop threw up his hands. "We have an entertainment show!" Well, let's say thirty minutes... Okay. But you need to somehow dilute the video sequence, add something funny, interesting, open the hero from new and unexpected sides. Shoving only shots where he runs or lifts the barbell is an absolutely dead number! The audience will bite us! And this will not add reputation points to Kwon Jae-kyung: they will think, they say, he is a star.

"So you yourself say that he should not be distracted! Jihon remarked reasonably.

"They'll bite anyway," Inyop groaned. "Spectators are capricious people, you can't please them. Our producers and screenwriters have already worn out all their nerves.

Jihon, like no one else, understood his comrade's torment. He knew perfectly well how difficult it is sometimes to please everyone.

After thinking about it, Jihong shook off the ashes and said, "If you give me a camera, I can capture some exciting moments.

"Good idea!" This will make Kwon Jaekyung look more natural. And what do you want to film? Inyop was wary. "The way he watches movies or listens to music is too banal.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to film nonsense.

"Well, that's right. After all, you are an experienced filmmaker, it was not for nothing that you were a member of the university club!

Inyop nodded contentedly, and then looked at his friend hopefully, "So what did you come up with?"

"You'll see."

Jihong had already brought the cigarette to his mouth when he suddenly lowered his hand and exhaled, "Well... I have an idea... for a couple of cute scenes.

"What's there, what's there?" Don't bother!

"How Kwon Jae-kyung eats ice cream. Jihong blurted out impassively, which made Inyop's eyes almost pop up on his forehead.

"What?"

"Ice cream," Jihon repeated. "He has lunch at McDonald's almost every day and always takes it there.

Until recently, Inyop, who had been listening with his mouth open, suddenly slumped and said quietly, almost in a whisper: "And what's the matter... Cute?

"Like what?" Jihon was genuinely surprised. "Just imagine. As this cabinet with an absolutely serious face is thinking about whether to take chocolate or strawberry flavor today. Isn't it charming?

To which the dumbfounded Inyop replied: "Yes, he eats sweets because of physical exertion! With such a complexion, he needs to eat everything that is not nailed down - from snacks to dessert, and it does not hurt to even chew a plate. Swimmers need to consume seven to eight thousand calories a day: rice, hamburgers, meat, pizza. And even if they eat ice cream for a snack, there is nothing surprising, funny, and, especially, cute about it."

Inyop looked at Jihong as if he were insane. His expression was so serious that Jihong felt the blood rush to his face. He suddenly realized how ridiculous he looked in his enthusiasm.

Fortunately, Inyop, who has been in the industry for several years, decided that he has a common professional deformation when you think: "My wards are the cutest and most beautiful. How can they not be popular? The problem is that society doesn't see their charm."

But still he rudely interrupted this "homegrown director": "Are you his father or mother?" Although Jaekyung's parents won't say the same about him either.

After a long reprimand, Inyop finally said decisively: "No, that won't do. In this state, I can't trust you with a camera. We will do everything ourselves. We will try not to interfere with training and, if possible, not to insist on an interview.

And then he added:

"But you haven't forgotten, have you?" Half of the screen time is reserved for the manager.

— …

"So, if Kwon Jaekyung refuses to be interviewed, then you'll have to work for two. And if we don't get enough material, then you will also fill in the gaps," Inyop finished with a snide smile. "We look forward to a fruitful cooperation, Mr. Jung Jihong.

Jihon smoked silently, looking at his shoes. His mood was worse than ever.

[1] Yaja Time's "야자타임" is purely Korean fun in corporate culture. The younger ones become older for a couple of minutes, and vice versa. This is the time when the rules of subordination between seniors and juniors are abolished. This usually takes place in informal settings, such as parties, friendships, or other events where participants can socialize freely, regardless of age or status. I don't know how to adapt it into Russian, so I decided to leave it that way.