Chapter 33: SUB Entertainment & MOON Entertainment
by GideonClick. He shut down the power.
“If you ever do something like this again without my prior consent, be prepared to receive a lawsuit.”
He added, a strange smile playing on his lips as if he found the whole situation amusing. “Six years ago, Do Ji gave you our company’s phone number, didn’t he?”
Is that what he’s curious about right now? I can’t keep up with this man’s train of thought.
“Is the answer to that question important right now?”
“It is. If you had contacted me back then, maybe you wouldn’t have had such a long hiatus.”
Jubin didn’t read much into his words. “The hiatus was my choice. Even if I went back to the past, I still wouldn’t have contacted you.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
His words of regret sounded like a complete lie. Still unable to fully grasp his intentions, Jubin held back his reply, afraid of saying something he might regret.
“If you’d contacted me then, without forgetting, Do Zion wouldn’t be giving me such a hard time right now. He’s been a real headache lately.”
From Jubin’s perspective, it looked like CEO Park Ji-bun was the one tormenting Zion. He couldn’t understand why the man claimed the opposite.
What am I missing? Confused, Jubin’s mind raced.
“Do Zion has been going out on dates with someone lately. Since you two are close, could you tell him to be more careful not to get caught?”
The subtle threat beneath his words made Jubin’s skin crawl.
“He’s not a child. I’m sure he can handle himself.”
Just then, CEO Moon Woo-jin returned after seeing their guest out. He swallowed hard, having sensed the invisible tension crackling between Cha Jubin and CEO Park Ji-bun.
“…Why is the atmosphere like this…?”
The tension eased slightly when CEO Moon Woo-jin stepped in to mediate, but Jubin still had no desire to renew his contract with SUB Entertainment.
However, the merger terms made the renewal mandatory. Worse, his new residence was a company benefit; if he didn’t sign the contract, CEO Moon would have to pay for it out of his own pocket.
Jubin could just pay the amount himself if necessary, but he doubted CEO Moon would let him. Either way, he was completely backed into a corner.
Jubin presented a detailed clause stating the company would not interfere in his private life. SUB Entertainment countered, demanding he seek prior approval for any serious relationship with the intent of marriage. They even threatened him, warning him not to engage in any casual flings in the first place.
“I won’t get involved in any high-risk relationships from the moment I sign this contract. I’m not planning on dating or getting married, so please leave this decision entirely to me.”
“Dating and marriage can lead to scandals that negatively impact the project,” CEO Park Ji-bun countered. “The company has to consider every possible scenario.”
The gap between Jubin, who saw this as a matter of trust, and CEO Park Ji-bun, who was worried about the company’s image, was immense.
“That’s a response you take after a loss has occurred,” Jubin shot back. “Not a preventive measure you implement beforehand. Are you seriously going to censor every single minor incident?”
“Whether it’s a minor incident or a full-blown scandal—we won’t know until it happens.”
The tension between Cha Jubin and CEO Park Ji-bun crackled, escalating into a high-stakes confrontation.
CEO Moon Woo-jin, who had been listening in silence to their relentless back-and-forth, finally roared.
“Enough!”
Silence fell instantly.
Jubin stared at CEO Moon Woo-jin in shock, and CEO Park Ji-bun turned his head, his expression equally stunned.
“Let’s settle this,” Moon Woo-jin said, his voice calm as all eyes fixed on him. The tension in the room finally began to ease.
“If actor Cha Jubin causes any significant loss to SUB Entertainment due to dating or marriage issues during the contract period, MOON Entertainment will take full legal responsibility.”
“CEO Moon, what are you saying?” Jubin exclaimed, horrified.
Moon Woo-jin gestured for Jubin to stay quiet and continued his explanation.
“There have been no issues during the six years he has worked with me. I, as his CEO, will personally guarantee the next five years of his contract.”
This was CEO Moon Woo-jin’s way of saying, Don’t touch my person.
CEO Park Ji-bun, who had been listening with one leg crossed, let a smile spread across his lips as the conversation turned in his favor.
“By the way, just so you know, our company has a strict policy against in-house dating.”
“You don’t need to emphasize that. I won’t be dating anyone,” Jubin drew a clear line.
“Is that so?” CEO Park added with a smile, looking like a man who had just gotten everything he wanted. “Fine. I’ll double the signing bonus.”
What? Even CEO Moon Woo-jin seemed to have not predicted this turn of events, his eyes meeting Cha Jubin’s in surprise.
“If CEO Moon guarantees it, there’s nothing more to think about,” Park continued.
Is this really how this is supposed to go? Jubin felt this wasn’t a decision he should be making on the spot.
Yet, CEO Moon Woo-jin spoke with an unprecedented, unwavering gaze.
“Let’s sign the contract, Jubin.”
“What…?”
Is this for real?
An absurd contract had just been sealed.
Late at night, under a steady rain, Jubin stood alone in the SUB Entertainment parking lot, waiting for CEO Moon Woo-jin.
Normally, he would have killed time with a cigarette, but today, he was munching on brownies Zion had made for him.
A moment later, a luxury foreign car pulled up. It wasn’t CEO Moon’s usual vehicle, so Jubin kept his head down, not recognizing it.
“Yeon-a, get in!”
The passenger window rolled down, and there sat the man who usually preferred a casual style, now looking sharp in a full suit.
“CEO?”
Startled, Jubin climbed into the passenger seat, his eyes wide with surprise. “Whose car is this?”
“I borrowed it from my brother-in-law,” Moon Woo-jin replied. “Didn’t want to be outshone.”
Jubin gave a faint, amused smile as if to say you’re unbelievable, then buckled his seatbelt.
Tonight was the company dinner—a joint celebration with the executives and actors from both SUB and MOON Entertainment.
CEO Moon Woo-jin hummed a cheerful tune, his focus on the road broken only by a satisfied glance at Jubin.
“How do you like the sponsored outfit? Looks good, right?”
The brand had insisted on sponsoring Jubin the moment his casting for Leaf on the Snow was finalized.
“It looks even better because it suits you so well.”
“…Thank you for everything, CEO.”
Cha Jubin’s lips quirked into a shy smile. He had always been a sucker for genuine praise and thoughtful gestures.
“I’ve told your new manager to start on the day of the first table read.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Jubin found himself admiring CEO Moon Woo-jin’s appearance today, especially with his hair styled half-up.
“Your hair looks great today,” Jubin added, offering a casual compliment to the CEO, who looked impeccably sharp in his suit.
“It’s just a shame I have to dress up like this to deal with CEO Park,” Moon Woo-jin sighed.
Jubin wondered why he had gone through the trouble of signing such an unfair contract.
“Why… did you sign a personal guarantee?” Jubin asked, his voice tinged with bitterness and guilt. “You didn’t have to go that far…”
“That bastard Park Ji-bun has been foul-mouthed and calculating since high school,” Moon Woo-jin explained. “He’s got no manners, but he never betrays a contract.”
“You two… know each other?” Jubin asked, surprised.
Moon Woo-jin shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “He was a year ahead of me in high school. Back then, he was a total bully—the kind of kid who ran the school. His family was rich, too, so even the teachers trembled at the mention of Park Ji-bun.”
Jubin wondered why CEO Moon Woo-jin had agreed to become a subsidiary label, knowing full well CEO Park Ji-bun’s past and his still-abrasive personality.
He could have just started his own company.
“…Why did you agree to the merger?”
“Because I’d never have the guts to grow a company the way CEO Park does, not in a million years.”
CEO Moon Woo-jin had worked harder than anyone else for the sake of his company. He poured so much love into it that it was hard to tell who was the CEO and who was the general manager. When a manager flaked out, he even volunteered to be the road manager himself.
Jubin knew that no other entertainment CEO would ever go that far, but he also knew that Moon Woo-jin’s honest approach didn’t always work. The world was far colder than anyone could imagine.
“I would’ve stayed with your company until the end, even if the merger hadn’t happened.”
CEO Moon Woo-jin spoke with a bittersweet smile.
“That’s what made me feel so bad for you.”
“…What?” Jubin asked, startled.
“I worried that my own limitations were holding my people back from swimming in a bigger ocean.”
His words struck a chord in Jubin’s heart. The reason he had trusted CEO Moon and stayed with MOON Entertainment until the very end was because the man was so genuinely good.
Of course, he’s so good-natured that the company is barely holding itself together…
“I should have gotten you a manager sooner. I’m sorry.”
“You hired me a diligent and kind manager, though. That’s more than enough.”
“I can’t promise to do it myself like I used to. I don’t even have enough time to breathe these days.”
Jubin burst out laughing at his joke. Sharing Zion’s brownies while finally opening up to CEO Moon Woo-jin made the moment feel truly special.
Before he knew it, the hotel came into view.
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