Legendary Superstar

Minjae sat across from Donghyun in the meeting room of their agency. The room might be big, but it felt suffocating as the heavy air surrounded inside.

Today, it wasn't just Donghyun, Chanhyuk, and Minjae in the room. They were with Lee Inhyuk, the head of the marketing department of Flex Entertainment.

The company had spent a lot on the project, so they had to do anything to save it. If that means pulling up their connections, then they will make it happen.

Everyone's faces were unreadable, but Minjae could feel the weight of their gazes.

"Alright, let's get straight to the point," Chanhyuk began. There was seriousness in his voice, knowing that this day wasn't just like any other day. He might be kind and ongoing, especially with people under him, but he can also get very serious if the situation calls for it.

"Vortex Jihyun's teaser dropped at the worst possible time for us. His agency executed their release flawlessly and so suddenly. No one expected it, so I'm sure everyone is suffering just like us."

"I agree. MLK Entertainment was really unpredictable on this one," Inhyuk added, his tone calmer but equally firm as Chanhyuk. "They prepared a full-scale campaign. Interviews, promotional posters, social media blitzes. They had it all ready to go. We weren't prepared for this."

Donghyun also leaned forward. With his experience in the industry, he also had something to say.

"I didn't expect them to be that aggressive, especially considering Jihyun's status as an idol. But they're clearly pushing him hard as an actor."

"Of course, they are," Chanhyuk said, his eyes narrowing. "It's their golden goose we're talking about. Kwon Jihyun is their biggest name. They're not going to half-ass his transition to acting."

"So what do we do now?" Minjae asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Well, your teaser is still getting attention. But the issue is, it's all being overshadowed by Jihyun's one. The majority of the comments are comparisons, and we don't want you to be seen as just some underdog actor competing against him. We need to change the narrative." Lee Inhyuk uttered as he placed his hands together.

"What do you suggest, then?" Donghyun asked with much curiosity.

Donghyun have a few ideas on his minds, but most of it would be staying low for the meantime and let the hype about Jihyun die first.

"Well, we definitely need to establish Minjae's identity, one that would make him different from Jihyun." Chanhyuk's fingers tapped against the table as he spoke.

"Well, Jihyun is an idol making his acting debut. His fame is working for him, but it's also his weakest point."

"That's true. His fame is built around his idol persona," Minjae had to agree to it. He sighed and remembered a few cases wherein an idol would transition to the acting industry.

Those cases are mostly 50-50. Either they get praised well and receive more recognition, or they get trashed because of their poor acting skills.

"People are curious about Jihyun's acting debut, but there's also a lot of skepticism. They're expecting him to be good at this. And most of his supporters right now are his fans, not genuine drama enthusiasts.

"Meanwhile," Lee Inhyuk added as his gaze went to Minjae.

"Minjae is already known as an actor. His foundation may not be as glamorous as his, but he still gained a small popularity over the past months"

"We can't compete with his popularity, that's for sure." Chanhyuk continued, his fingers still tapping rhythmically against the table.

"But we can compete with quality. Right now, Jihyun's project is going wild. Flashy promotions, expensive teasers, and celebrity endorsements. It's a typical idol launch."

"I agree. We can't beat them at their own game," Donghyun admitted.

"So you're suggesting that we do this the other way?" Minjae asked. Thinking of it, it was definitely a genius move.

"Yes," Chanhyuk uttered with determination in his eyes.

"But, Before we do anything, we have to be smart about the timing, Hyung. Anything we put out now is just going to be buried under the noise." Minjae sighed. He didn't want them to just waste more efforts and resources when it wouldn't do them any good.

"Exactly." Chanhyuk nodded firmly. "We'll keep your profile low for a few days. Let them ride out the hype. Right now, everyone's comparing you to Jihyun because your teaser was released so close to his. It's fresh in their minds, and they're using you as a measuring stick."

"Yes." Inhyuk agreed. "Otherwise just like what Minjae said, no matter what we release, it'll just end up being seen as a desperate attempt to catch up. We need to make them look at Minjae differently."

"Fortunately we've got something coming up that can help," Insuk's eyes were now fixed on Minjae. "Your guest appearance on 3 Days and 2 Nights. I've got a call that confirms that it's airing next week."

"That's right." Chanh Yuk's eyes lit up. "That's something we can use to our advantage. The show has a solid audience, and your episode was pretty well-received by the crew during filming, right?"

"Yeah. It was fun, and I think the chemistry with the other guests went well." Minjae nodded.

"Good." Chanhyuk's eyes became hopeful at the mention of it.

"So here's the plan. We let the storm surrounding Jihyun's teaser calm down. In the meantime, we need to prepare our content. Then, once Minjae's episode, we'll capitalize on that exposure."

Flex Entertainment was one of the top agencies in South Korea for a reason. They were blessed with good workers, who were smart enough to think about strategies.

"I know it's a risk," Inhyuk admitted. There was really a risk in what they were doing right now. The worst case was for Minjae to be completely forgotten by the people.

"But considering how things are right now, it's probably our best shot."

"Alright," Minjae said, his voice was steady. "Let's do it. I'll make sure the effort we're putting in is worth it."

Minjae was also determined to give it a shot.

"Good." Chanhyuk leaned back in his chair, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. "Then let's move forward with the plan."