Just out of the conference room at Seoul Broadcasting, the director of the cultural department let out a long sigh. With his face pale, he had a cold sweat on his back.

“Phew, he’s driving me crazy. How come I’m in this miserable position?”

The situation was much more serious than he thought. The president openly announced that he would fire all the relevant people if they could not resolve the issue successfully. Among them was the director, of course.

Catching his breath, the director came back to his office.

How can I appease Hyunwoo?

He needed to know why Hyunwoo was so upset first.

It was simple. Kwon recklessly touched on Hyunwoo’s lover. Though he gave the direction to Kwon, he didn’t expect Kwon to act recklessly.

Anyhow someone should be responsible for what happened.

The director let out a sigh.

Phew, I have no other choice but to punish him, though he was my right-hand man. He might as well have a hard time for the time being.

He called Producer Kwon.

Kwon rushed to him quickly. Just like an opportunist, Kwon was already well aware of the serious atmosphere dominating the whole building of Seoul Broadcasting, caused by none other than himself.

When he entered the director’s office, Kwon tried to read his mind.

The director looked gloomy, trying not to meet Kwon’s eyes.

After some heavy silence the director opened his mouth,

“Let me reassign you to a position in our provincial office. Just stay there for one year.”

Kwon made a slight frown, though he expected some sort of discipline.

Bowing deeply to him, Kwon said, “I’m sorry that I’ve worried you. Anyway, let me restrain myself and wait for your next direction.”

“Yeah, stay there for the time being. If I can solve this problem well, let me bring you back here as soon as possible. You know how much I value you, right?”

“Yes, sir. Just like I’ve been relying on you up to now, I’ll continue to do so.”

On the same day, the director called him, Kwon was reassigned to the local branch of Seoul Broadcasting in Chongju City, his hometown.

But Kwon’s punishment was not the final solution. Only when Hyunwoo reversed his decision and gave his program about Ani & Funny back to Seoul Broadcasting could the director report to the president that the pending issue was solved completely.

The director called Hyunwoo again.

After several rings, Hyunwoo answered his phone.

“Hello?”

“Congratulations! I see the music video Temptation is all the rage these days. Yu Zuung is at an all-time high in terms of popularity. Looks like Ani & Funny is growing really fast.”

“Thanks.”

Hyunwoo responded curtly, suggesting that he didn’t want to talk with him.

The director sincerely apologized.

“I’m really sorry about what Producer Kwon did to you. Let me offer an apology to you on behalf of Seoul Broadcasting.”

“I don’t accept your verbal apology.”

Hyunwoo’s attitude was chilly enough to make the director feel anger.

Controlling his anger, though, he continued to soothe Hyunwoo.

“I took the necessary action by punishing Kwon. He acted recklessly. So, he was reassigned to a post in a provincial city as of today. So, please calm down.”

Hyunwoo didn’t respond, though.

The director felt as if he was being ignored by Hyunwoo.

He persistently tried to persuade Hyunwoo.

“Please give us your original program proposal about Ani & Funny. I think if you maintain a good relationship with Seoul Broadcasting, you won’t lose anything, right?”

“I already suffered losses. And I am not satisfied with your disciplinary action like that. I don’t have any intention to change my decision to let Korean Broadcasting make a special program about Ani & Funny.

“How can we satisfy you to reverse your decision then? As the director of the cultural department of Seoul Broadcasting, I think I have abased myself before you like this. Don’t you think that is enough?”

“Well, I am not so sure. The thing is my impression of Seoul Broadcasting remains bad.”

Hyunwoo didn’t waver at all as if he took his position in stride.

It was meaningless for the director to continue the dialogue with Hyunwoo.

After the call, the director threw away the phone set and burst into anger.

“How can this guy have such an inelastic mind? Does he really want to take me?”

Hyunwoo’s face hardened after the call.

In fact, he was a bit tense when he talked to the director. He knew it was not a good idea to fall out with a major broadcasting company like Seoul Broadcasting.

But he could not move as the director wanted him to. As the fight began, he needed to have it out with him.

On the other hand, Hyunwoo trusted Song Lim and his colleagues now rebelling against Kwon and the director.

He was convinced that both of them could be expelled from the broadcasting circles completely.

***

Duyoung Jang, Hyunwoo’s father, was still stuck in his research office. He was absorbed in doing research on green oil for over four months now.

By now, he must have been pretty exhausted, but he was still on the research as if he found a ray of hope.

Hyunwoo let out a sigh.

I wish he wouldn’t hurt his health.

Fortunately, his father kept the promise to Hyunwoo. He didn’t skip meals and went to sleep at a regular time. Above all, his wife didn’t worry that much about his health, which was a big reassurance to Hyunwoo.

It was already dark outside.

Hyunwoo went back to Ani & Funny office and had dinner with them.

And then he headed for Seoul, timed with Yu Zuung’s last schedule of the day.

He arrived at her studio a bit earlier, which was full of her fragrance.

A little later she came back.

“Oh, you’re in already, president.”

“Just call me brother when you are with me alone.”

“Got it, brother. Hoho,” she replied with a bright smile.

He felt her so lovely at that moment. While he was looking at her, he felt some strong sexual desire arousing in his heart.

Unable to stand it, he hugged her all of a sudden.

“Ooops, let me wash my body first.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I had lots of sweat today.”

“I like to smell it.”

“Not me, brother!”

Yu Zuung began to whine, but very briefly. Then she became silent. When Hyunwoo unbuttoned her clothes and groped her body, she now actively responded to his moves.

It was only three days ago that he had sex with her, but he missed her so much that he felt he couldn’t wait much longer.

If he could have his way, he wanted to come to her every day and hug her. But she was too busy to be around him.

But the problem was how she could take the time out for him in the future.

‘Temptation’ was gaining more and more popularity in America, in particular.

Though it was popular partly because the song itself was good to hear, the real reason for her soaring popularity was because of her stunning beauty.

Thanks to that, she was flooded with requests for TV appearances in the US market.

She would be able to wrap up her tight schedule in about one week in Korea.

The time had come for her to push into the US market.

In that case, it would be more difficult for Hyunwoo to see her.

But he couldn’t shorten her schedule because of that. Though Yu Zuung was physically tired, she felt pretty happy about her popularity. He had to accept the reality for the sake of Yu Zuung.

Soyun, the only dancer whose face was still veiled, also bothered him.

Only several months at most. Let me hang in there until then. I can fly to America if need be.

Hyunwoo made love to Yu Zuung that night, burning with sexual appetite. As it would be difficult to see her after the week was over, he wanted to give her all the love he could.

Around noon the next day, Yu Zuung waved at Hyunwoo and said, “Bye for now!”

“Okay. Hang in there even if you feel tired.”

After parting with her at her studio, he went down to Ansan.

The day after he met her, he always felt sluggish. He wanted to go back home and have a sound rest if he could have his way.

Then, he again missed Yu Zuung.

She must miss me very much, too.

With a happy smile, he headed for the Ani & Funny office.

At that moment, he heard someone calling him from behind.

“President Hyunwoo Jang!”

Hyunwoo turned his head to that direction.

There was a luxury sedan in the back, with a middle-aged gentleman standing beside it.

“Who are you?”

At his question, the gentleman walked up to him and held out his hand.

“My name is Ingol Pae, director of the cultural department of Seoul Broadcasting.”