JTBS Drama Department.
Manager Jung Saerom visited, accompanied by an employee.
The Head of the Drama Production Department, Bang Hyungtae, closed the script and opened his mouth.
"Where on earth did you discover a writer like this?"
"I can only say that it was by chance."
"Manager Jung, you don't just have skill, you have luck on your side too."
"I suppose so."
Saerom's eye for scripts was exceptional.
"You recognized this after reading only the first part?"
"Yes. Well..."
Director Bang, who had seen countless scripts, was also on the fence after reading just the first part.
But after reading all three parts that were currently out, he acknowledged that it was a very good work.
"We were short on writers lately anyway. This is great."
"Actually, I offered an exclusive contract, but he refused."
"Ah... that's a shame."
"He just needs to show a good performance with this project."
"Ahem, how much of a production budget are you trying to secure that you're already laying the groundwork..."
"Director Bang."
Saerom continued in a serious tone.
"Director Sung Kihoon. He just finished a project last week, didn't he?"
"Ah... Director Sung? He said he wanted to rest for a bit..."
"It's not that you don't want to assign him, is it?"
"Hey, don't say something so disappointing..."
"A good project needs a skilled director."
Soon, Director Bang spoke as if he were in a bit of a predicament.
"You know that man doesn't usually do rookie writers' projects."
"I'll be the one to persuade him. Just give me your permission."
"...Alright. If Director Sung says okay, then I have no objections."
In truth, Director Bang Hyungtae was a bit reluctant to attach the ace of the JTBS drama department to a rookie writer.
It was true that there were no good projects at the moment, but there was always a "what if."
The drama market was a jungle where a hit project could drop out of nowhere.
'Director Sung with a rookie writer? Would that man be crazy enough to take such a gamble?'
He admitted the work was good, but there was a limit to a rookie writer.
These days, viewers decide whether to watch a drama after seeing the writer's name first.
There was no way a director like Sung, with a line of star writers waiting for him, would do something to tarnish his own career.
"Look, instead of that, how about we have two young bloods join forces? This is a good chance to give Yoochun an opportunity to debut..."
"Director Bang, I've just been told that Director Sung has given his permission."
"Wh-what!?"
"As it happens, the employee who came with me has a personal acquaintance with Director Sung."
"..."
"My, what a coincidence. I guess I really am lucky."
Saerom maintained a smile even as she spoke so slyly.
'I've been had...!'
He had been playing on a board she had set up from the very beginning.
With the situation having turned out like this, his position was too ambiguous to even get angry.
"Instead, I'll receive the production budget after seeing the ratings for the first six episodes."
"I-is that alright?"
"Of course. I despise production companies that leech off production costs without delivering results."
"Ah... haha. R-right, let's do that. Then."
She takes one thing and gives another.
From the broadcasting station's perspective, determining the budget based on performance was a huge benefit.
In this situation, it was now awkward for him to interfere with who she used as a director.
"Director Bang, shall we get going for today then?"
"Right. Let's do that."
Having judged that there was nothing left to gain, Saerom stood up from her seat without hesitation.
On the table in the director's office she had left, only the three-part script remained.
"...That woman has no human warmth."
To be honest, the work she brought, despite its childish title, had a strangely compelling aspect to it.
If it hadn't, he wouldn't have been dragged around by a production company like this today.
In Korea, the influence of broadcasting stations still far surpassed that of entertainment agencies or production companies.
"I don't know about anything else, but that kid, Ji Seongho, is guaranteed to become a star."
Even if the drama failed, the character would surely remain.
He felt like he understood why Tempest Entertainment was pushing so hard.
"Oh, so that's why the female lead was so worried. Then what about scene 34 in Part 2? You wrote that she had a gloomy expression there. Why was that?"
I don't know either. Please stop asking.
'A question murderer...'
The time with my first love, Semi, was precious.
But this was really going too far, for seventeen's sake.
"Semi-ssi. You've been asking questions for two hours straight. My throat is starting to hurt..."
"Oh, just a moment! I'll go buy some throat lozenges!"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
Tap-tap-tap-tap—
Was she even aware of the fact that she was a popular girl group member?
To be heading to a convenience store without even a hat, just because it was near the company.
"I guess it's okay since she goes there often."
There were roughly 100 scenes in one part, and the female lead appeared in at least 40 of them.
She asked about three questions per scene, so that was a total of over 200 questions.
"It's normal for my throat to hurt."
No, in the first place, this script was nothing more than me transcribing a drama I had seen.
Moreover, when I touched the unknown light, my expressive and descriptive abilities became far superior.
"I'm just a viewer too!"
Honestly, I had hoped that meeting Semi might give me some hints about my ability.
I had only ever written in Writer Lee Minjoo's studio all this time.
I haven't actually encountered that many celebrities.
Perhaps seeing Semi was just one of many independent variables.
Rumble—
At that moment, someone opened the door of the empty break room and entered.
"Hello. My name is Miryung."
"Ah, yes."
The leader of Purple Girls, Miryung.
Along with Jae-eun, she was one of the two members in the group who had succeeded in acting.
"What brings you here..."
"I heard from the other writers I just met."
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
"That you caused a rampage in Writer Lee Minjoo's studio before you left."
"..."
Her tone was polite, but the content of the conversation was very uncomfortable.
"...So?"
"I'm very sorry. But please don't shake up our youngest member."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Yesterday, Semi spent the whole day reading only your script."
"Is that so."
Good for her.
"That's why I'm more anxious. It's not a work that can be produced anyway."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because..."
In place of Miryung, who couldn't finish her sentence, I spoke first.
"Because I'm on Writer Lee Minjoo's bad side?"
"...Yes."
"Miryung-ssi, that's not the reason dramas don't get produced."
"Pardon?"
"Most of the time, it's because the work isn't good enough to want to produce."
"Th-that may be a part of it, but..."
I asked Miryung, who was dragging out her words, in a calm tone.
"Have you, by any chance, read my script?"
"Ah, no."
"Then, Miryung-ssi, you made that judgment without even seeing what my work is like?"
"..."
I could roughly guess her intentions for coming here.
The whole group was scheduled to make a cameo in Writer Lee Minjoo's work.
The first reason would be fear that I might mess up their schedule.
And the second reason,
"Are you afraid that I'll get Semi blacklisted? By Writer Lee Minjoo."
"Th-that... Yes. That's right."
It was a reason worth worrying about as a leader.
It was proof of just how powerful a star writer was in the drama scene.
'So the rumors of discord within the group were just gossip. To see her worry about the youngest like this.'
I was about to tell her that we were just starting the production stage.
But before I could, Semi entered the empty break room and spoke.
"Writer-nim, here are the throat lozen... Miryung unni?"
"Ah, yes. Semi-ya."
Semi, with her small face, expressed a small question.
At this, Miryung hurriedly made an excuse.
"We were just talking about the writer's work."
"Huh? What about it?"
"Well, you know... I said that if possible, I'd like to appear in it too. A supporting role would be great, or even a minor role."
"Wow, really? I would love that!"
It seemed she had spoken rashly, confident that it would never be produced anyway.
Tiring—
However, the notification sound from my smartphone easily put an end to her worries.
It was a fresh text message that had just arrived from Manager Jung Saerom.
［A meeting with the JTBS director has been set up. I'll attach the detailed information and schedule in a file.］
The two Purple Girls members stared at my smiling face with puzzled expressions.
"Miryung-ssi, you'll have to keep your word from just now."
"Pardon?"
"You said you'd appear in my work. A supporting role or a minor role would be great."
"What do you mean by that...?"
"It seems my work will be produced at JTBS."
Of course, the official programming would only be confirmed after casting.
But I wanted to make a childish boast to the two in front of me.
In particular, Semi's eyes widened and she asked back as if she couldn't believe it.
"Writer-nim! Really?"
"Yes."
"KYAAAAAAH!"
She hugged Miryung, who was next to her, and jumped around innocently.
'Ah, why not me...?'
How great would it have been if Miryung hadn't come in.
From now on, when I have happy news for Semi, I'll have to make sure to tell her only when we're alone.
Soon after, I opened the file sent by Manager Jung Saerom and checked the detailed schedule.
'Ji Seongho is coming to the first meeting with the director?'
Well, that kind of thing probably happens from time to time, but to me, it was taken in a different sense.
"Semi-ssi."
"Yes, Writer-nim."
"A meeting with the director has been scheduled."
"Ah, really? Then we're really producing..."
"Let's go to the meeting together."
"Uh... is it okay for me to go?"
"Of course."
Is there a rule that only Tempest Entertainment can bring their actors?
It would be better to firmly lock in Semi's appearance.
'They probably never thought I'd be able to do the casting on my own.'
They might have judged that I would give up if they just delayed things a bit.
However, in the work I envision, the actress Semi is indispensable.
No matter who else you bring, there is no other actress who suits the female lead role.
"I'll talk to my manager first."
"Yes, Semi-ssi."
Soon, the two members left the room together.
Just before leaving, Miryung stared at me with a strange expression.
"There's still one more mountain to climb."
In fact, Semi was just the beginning.
Compared to Im Jaejun, she was on easy mode.
Thanks to that, I relayed the news of Semi's joint attendance to Manager Jung with a relaxed heart.
Of course, a reply would come, but I was planning to coolly ignore it.
"Ah, I need to go write Part 4 now. If I'm any later, it's going to get really hectic."
I needed to go with plenty of time to spare, especially since I had to write on my phone.
Rumble—
I opened the break room door and stepped outside, only to find an unexpected person waiting for me.
"Oh Hyunsik...?"
"Ah, I happened to overhear from outside."
"Really?"
"Congratulations. Are you really getting a project made?"
Why is this bastard's congratulations so disgusting?
If Hyoju hadn't told me, I would have foolishly taken it as sincere again.
Envy. Jealousy. Anger. Resentment.
Now that I looked, Oh Hyunsik's blazing eyes held clear emotions.
The past years when I thought of this kind of bastard as a close colleague felt like such a waste.
"Thanks. For congratulating me."
"Be careful. If the writer finds out, she might try to interfere."
The cat is worrying about the mouse.
"Hyunsik."
"Uh, yeah?"
"You can do it too."
"...What?"
A crack appeared in the expression Hyunsik had been maintaining.
"You have talent too, so you'll be able to debut. Keep it up."
"Ah... uh. Right. Thanks."
Pat.
I lightly tapped Hyunsik's shoulder as if I were a person who truly cared for a colleague and walked past him.
His face was noticeably stiff.
The corner of his mouth was twitching slightly.
Seeing a side of him I hadn't seen before was, in its own way, an interesting experience.
'Lee Minjoo...'
In the broadcasting world, a star writer had power almost on par with a department head.
Perhaps she would launch a proper sabotage operation before we even began.
The only fortunate thing was that she was currently in the middle of a project, so she wouldn't have the time to be distracted.
And since I, who was in charge of half the script, was gone, that would be even more so.
"Ms. Lee Minjoo... don't cross the line."
If you want to ruin someone else's life, you have to be willing to risk your own.
Suddenly, I remembered the audio file containing the verbal abuse she had hurled at me before I left.
It wouldn't be enough to shake the position of a star writer, but it might be enough to shake her mentality.
"She's the type of person who can't keep her cool even after hearing just a few curse words."
She's a person who curses others out, yet is not prepared to be cursed at herself.