From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 279: Bait ?

The second take went smoothly.

The scene played out almost exactly the same as before only tighter, sharper. Jin-hee’s fear was more controlled this time, her desperation more restrained, as if she already knew how the moment would end but still fought against it. The camera caught every tremor in her hands, every hesitation in Young-guk’s eyes.

When it ended, Dayo didn’t hesitate.

"Cut."

He watched the monitor for a few seconds, replaying the final moments in his head.

Then he nodded once.

"That’s good," he said. "We’ll use that."

Min-ji exhaled, relief washing over her face. A few crew members clapped lightly.

"Good job, Min-ji," someone said.

"Well done."

Dayo looked up from the monitor. "Good work," he added calmly. "You handled it well."

Min-ji bowed slightly. "Thank you, Director."

Dayo straightened and clapped his hands once.

"Alright," he said. "That’s all for today."

There was a brief pause—then murmurs.

"Really?"

"That’s a wrap?"

Dayo nodded. "Yes. Even with how intense today was, everyone did well good job you all."

He looked around at the cast and crew, his expression easing slightly.

"So I’ve decided that since you all did amazingtoday."

People leaned in.

"I’m treating everyone to dinner."

For a second, there was silence.

Then—

"What?"

"Wait, seriously?"

"Dinner?"

Dayo smiled faintly. "Yes. Cast, crew, and extras."

That was all it took.

Cheers broke out.

"Director Dayo is the best!"

"Let’s go!"

"Did you hear that? Extras too!"

Dayo raised a hand. "Relax. Just get ready. We’ll head out shortly."

"All hail Director Dayo."

"All hail Director Dayo."

"All hail Director Dayo."

The whole crew and cast were hailing Dayo and bowing donw like the old ways of the Asian people.

Dayo saw this and became speechless at his crew and cast.

He played along and sat down while waving his hand down.

this made the whole scene burst into complete laughter.

The set buzzed with excitement as people began packing up, changing out of costumes, laughing more freely than they had all day. The heaviness of the scenes they’d filmed slowly lifted.

No one noticed the cameras across the street.

The reporters had already gathered.

By the time the cast and crew arrived at the restaurant, the place was already sealed off.

It was one of the most expensive restaurants in the district.

Dayo had booked the entire venue.

When the staff confirmed it, even the producers exchanged looks.

"All bills are on me," Dayo said simply. "Order whatever you want."

The reaction was instant disbelief.

"This place is crazy expensive."

"Are you sure?"

"Director, this is too much—"

Dayo waved it off. "Eat well."

Dayo waved Jang-wook over and whispered something into his ears.

Jang-wook leaned closer to him.

"You’re really shameless," he muttered. "You know that, right?"

Dayo glanced at him. "You’re still here, aren’t you?"

Jang-wook scoffed. "You’re baiting them."

Dayo took a sip of water. "Of course."

Jang-wook stood up and made a call to a reporter friend.

And the message was simple he should try to repair Dayo’s reputation with the news of him taking his crew and cast out including the extras to dinner.

Around them, phones were already out. Photos. Short videos. Laughing crew members. Extras smiling nervously as they took pictures of food they never imagined they’d eat.

Outside, reporters captured everything.

It didn’t take long.

Within an hour, the clips were online.

*Director change after scene of bullying an actor and treats them*

Director Dayo is beloved by the crew and he treats them to dinner*

*Director Dayo booked an entire luxury restaurant for his cast, crew, AND extras.*

"This is the same director people are calling a bully?"

"That restaurant is insanely expensive. Who is this guy?"

The comments exploded.

Some were impressed.

Some were confused.

Some were suspicious.

"This feels like damage control."

"You can’t buy character."

"So now he’s pretending to be nice?"

Others pushed back.

"You don’t treat extras like this if you’re a monster."

"Bullies don’t behave like this."

"Y’all switch up too fast."

For a few hours, the narrative shifted.

The hostility dulled.

Dayo’s image softened—just a little.

And somewhere else, someone noticed.

—

The office was quiet.

Too quiet.

This is VIREX building

The boss sat behind his desk, eyes locked on the screen as the footage replayed again and again.

The laughter, smile and praise of Dayo’s crew and the media towards Dayo.

His assistant stood stiffly in front of him.

"Sir," the assistant said carefully, "people are starting to believe him."

The man’s jaw tightened.

"They’re saying he invited everyone," the assistant continued. "Even the extras. Public opinion is... shifting."

The man leaned back slowly.

"So?" he said.

The assistant hesitated. "If this continues, the story loses power and the story has been long since we release the footage and it has already lost it hype."

The man laughed—low, humorless.

"Then bring it back."

The assistant swallowed. "You mean—"

"Yes," the man cut in. "That video."

"But sir, people are already questioning its authenticity—"

"I don’t care."

The man stood up.

"Post it again. Push it harder. New angles. New captions. Stir the pot."

He turned back to the screen.

"If he wants to clean his image," he said coldly, "then we remind everyone what they think they saw."

The assistant nodded slowly. "Understood."

—

The video resurfaced that night.

This time, it spread faster.

More captions.

More outrage.

The fire reignited.

"Nice dinners don’t erase abuse."

"This is textbook manipulation."

"So money fixes everything now?"

The comment sections turned into warzones.

Defenders.

Critics.

Spectators.

The controversy doubled in intensity.

And at the center of it all—

Dayo watched calmly.

Jang-wook stood beside him, phone in hand.

"They took the bait," he said quietly.

Dayo nodded.

"Good."

Jang-wook glanced at him. "You’re really letting this run until the end?"

"Yes."

The movie was almost done.

Only a few scenes left.

And he didn’t want to waste his money on promotions at least not now but he can allwo some to do it for him.

Dayo looked at the screen, watching the numbers climb.

"They’re panicking," he said. "That means we’re close."

Jang-wook exhaled slowly.

"And when it blows up?"

Dayo’s eyes darkened slightly.

"Then," he said, "we finish it."

Outside, the internet raged.

Inside, Dayo waited.

The game wasn’t over—

It was just entering its final stage.

And all that remain was the result.