"Finally, it's all written."
It was only up to Part 3, but it felt like today was the most relaxed writing session I'd had.
Just then, as if he had been waiting for me to finish my work, a man approached.
"Writer Kim, I've brought the new contract."
"Who..."
"I've brought the contract on behalf of Manager Jung."
It included a clause stating they would be as considerate as possible with the lead casting and another stating that PPL would not affect the script.
"As the initial contract payment, ten million won for two episodes will be paid. You should be able to receive it within two business days."
I signed the revised contract the employee handed me and gave him my account number.
Thanks to that, it finally started to feel real that my work was becoming a drama.
Although the casting process and the competition for a programming slot still remained.
It felt like if things continued this way, it would smoothly proceed to production.
In reality, it was the best possible contract I could have secured as a rookie writer.
"I have to succeed."
"Pardon?"
"Let's make this project a success."
"Ah, yes! Of course, Writer-nim."
Soon after, I sent the Part 3 script to the employee's email and got up from my seat.
"We'll arrange a meeting with a director soon."
"Yes. Please take care of it."
Before leaving the Tempest Entertainment building, I returned the temporary pass.
In its place, I was proudly issued a permanent pass.
I even greeted the massive bro on my way out cheerfully.
My standing when I came in versus when I left was worlds apart.
"I'm glad the contract went well."
I shared this happy news in the family group chat, which has only four members.
Not to my useless sister, but to my beloved parents.
［Kim Jinwoo: I signed a 16-episode contract. I think we'll probably be filming a drama soon.］
My father cleanly read and ignored it, but my mother replied right away.
Tiring—
［Mom: Go, my son! Mom believes in you ^^］
"...She doesn't believe me."
Seeing that the reaction was lukewarm even when I told the truth.
Just how much of an unfilial son have I been all this time?
Tiring—
Immediately, a message from my sister followed.
［Heejung: You're insane ㅡㅡ Are you at an age where you can get scammed?］
"Argh, and this is my sister...!"
As expected, between blood siblings, comfort is a waste and sympathy is a luxury.
After seeing her get yelled at in the theater company, I was going to be nice to her just for today, but.
［Kim Jinwoo: ㅗㅗㅗ］ ［Kim Jinwoo: Ah, my mistake ㅎㅎ］ ［Heejung: fkn idiot］
The sight of one apologizing for a small mistake, and the consideration of the other to point it out.
Having been raised so strictly at home, our sibling bond is extraordinary.
That same evening, it was only after seeing the contract that Heejung accepted reality...
"NO WAY!!!!"
"Right. You may not believe it, but this is the difference between your level and mine."
Heejung muttered to herself as if she couldn't believe it.
"My... my Seongho oppa, of all things, in your stupid project...!"
"That 'stupid' is your oppa. Ji Seongho is someone else's kid."
"Don't call my oppa stupid!"
"My oppa? The 'my oppa' you're talking about, is that your actual brother, or Seongho oppa?"
"Of course, it's Seongho oppa, you bastard!"
As expected, our Heejung may have no manners, but she's a good person.
Such a warm heart, to love another family's child more than her own brother.
"Whatever. I'm going to go revise the script..."
"Wa-wait! An autograph from Ji Seongho! Then I'll believe you."
Her heart is warm, but she has no conscience.
"Hmm, okay! As your older brother, that much is... 50,000 won."
"Huh?"
Considering what happened at the theater, I was planning to do her a favor.
But this was an unavoidable, desperate measure to teach her that there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"An autograph is 50,000 won. If he records a video message cheering for Kim Heejung, it's 100,000 won."
"Argh, and this is my brother...!"
"Your brother is Ji Seongho."
"...I'll take the 100,000 won one."
"Yes, suck—, I mean, customer."
A successful transaction. This is the creative economy.
I bought Im Jaejun's number for 50,000 won, but I sold Ji Seongho for 100,000 won, so it's a huge profit.
I hope our Heejung, if she was in a bad mood from being yelled at in the theater, finds solace in this paid service.
Tiring—
At that moment, a message came from an unknown number.
But looking at the content, it was more malicious than a phishing scam.
[ This is Purple Girls' Semi. I'd like to meet and talk. ]
"There's a limit to prank messages."
How dare they insult my first love.
If they had lied and said they were a broadcasting station employee, I would have forgiven them with just a wrist.
Soon, I made a call with the intention of teaching the girl group impersonator the solemnity of the law.
Ring, ring, ring—
"Hey, you son of a bitch! If you're Semi, then I'm Sam."
-...Is this the writer?
I'm screwed. The voice is familiar.
It's very similar to my Semi.
"...is a line I want to add. But it would be difficult to pass the review board, right?"
-Just now, you said Semi...
"Right. I'm thinking about changing the main character's name to Semi."
-Ah, I see.
She believes this?
-Writer-nim, would it be possible to meet?
"Are you really the Purple Girls' Semi...?"
-Yes. That's right. Hehe.
I'm so glad I became a writer.
I'm so glad I was born.
"What time would be good..."
-I think I'm free around lunchtime tomorrow.
"Where should we meet?"
-I'll come to you, Writer-nim.
"Oh no, I should go to you, Actor-nim."
If this person is truly the Semi I know, I can die today with no regrets.
It was at that very moment.
Ding-dong—
With a familiar notification sound in my head, the next writing location was decided.
[Content: The Chaebol Heir is a Pure-hearted Macho, Part 4] [Genre: Romance, Chaebol] [Location: Rainbow Entertainment Building 1st Floor Lobby] [Time Limit: 24 hours] [※ Bronze Promotion: 110-110101-1011(Virtual Account, W Bank)] [※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 10,000,000 won]
"Rainbow Entertainment... that's Purple Girls' agency."
This time, the time allotted was much more generous compared to before.
I had my doubts, but there was nothing bad about having more time.
Soon after, I sent a message to Semi.
［Semi-ssi, I will go to the Rainbow building around lunchtime tomorrow.］
Come to think of it, this ability only manifested after I saw Semi.
Perhaps I was destined to meet her at Rainbow Entertainment from the very beginning.
"As expected, the location is definitely not random."
The next morning.
Thanks to the consideration of the Purple Girls' manager, I was able to enter the agency easily.
It seemed Semi-nim had given them a heads-up in advance.
"Our Semi-ssi is so kind-hearted."
I came about two hours early to write Part 4.
Coincidentally, Semi also had a prior engagement about two hours before our meeting time.
However, when I found the halo of light, I was so dumbfounded that I could only stand there blankly for a while.
"Well, damn, this really crosses the line."
It was a variable I had never even considered before.
A chuckle escaped my lips as I saw the halo of light floating in the sky, just barely out of reach of my head.
Compared to today, the system's ability had been quite writer-friendly until now.
"So I'm supposed to write standing up... Is this why they gave me so much time?"
It was obviously at a height where I couldn't use a laptop.
I had no choice but to write the script on my smartphone.
Unless I bring a 2-meter-tall chair into someone else's company lobby.
Not only have I never written a script on a phone before, but it was self-evident that it would take much more time.
"This actually makes the time tight."
I hurriedly started writing the script on my phone.
The floating light slowly seeped into my head, gradually injecting the memory.
However, the system was particularly unhelpful today.
"A helicopter scene in just the 4th episode..."
A scene where the main male lead makes a cool entrance in front of the female lead who is in danger.
Given the situation, the helicopter scene wasn't awkward or felt like a waste of money, but.
"Realistically, it seems difficult to write this as is."
There's a saying Writer Lee Minjoo always used to say.
That it's not the writer's or director's job to worry about production costs while making a drama.
Of course, that wasn't something a rookie writer like me could say.
"I'll just transcribe it for now and revise it later."
If I proposed flying a helicopter in a melodrama, neither the broadcasting station nor the production company would be pleased.
To be honest, even I wasn't confident, so I was a little anxious.
Should I say I can't fully trust the system yet?
As a 6-year assistant writer, it was certain that this was an objectively very good script.
But no matter how outstanding the quality, the world is full of scripts that never get produced.
The hundreds of works that pour into contests prove this clearly.
It was then.
"Jinwoo oppa!"
I turned around at the sound of someone calling me.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
"Oppa, have you been well? It's only been a few days, but..."
"Hwang Hyoju. Have you been well?"
Until a while ago, she was a friend I spent more time with every day than my own family.
A comrade-in-arms who shared the hard labor in Writer Lee Minjoo's studio.
She was of a different caliber from the weak ones who would run away in less than a month.
The fact that she had endured in that hellish place for half a year was enough to acknowledge her grit.
She was pretty enough if she just took off her glasses.
But in the few days I hadn't seen her, she must have suffered so much that fist-sized dark circles had taken root on both sides of her eyes.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Hyoju."
"Well... actually, I stopped by because of the Purple Girls' cameo appearance."
"Ah, the main dancer, right? Jae-eun-ssi."
"No. All the members."
"...What?"
I felt like I had been hit hard on the head with a blunt object.
"All the members" naturally meant that Semi was included.
"Oppa, that's not what's important right now."
"What are you talking about?"
"I just found out today. The person who removed you from the co-writing credit for this project."
"..."
"There was someone else who instigated Writer Lee Minjoo! It was Oh Hyunsik..."
At that very moment, someone's voice was heard from a distance.
"Hey, Kim Jinwoo—! Fancy seeing you here."
In the distance, Oh Hyunsik was slowly approaching from the entrance of the Rainbow Entertainment building.
"...Thanks for telling me, Hyoju."
"Don't mention it."
"In return, when I succeed later, I'll hire you as my assistant writer. At double the salary."
"Sigh, I wish that would happen."
I stared at my approaching former junior with a cynical gaze.
'Oh Hyunsik, that bastard...'
I had a feeling something was off about him, but I had dismissed it as just his personality.
We were the same age, and I had simply treated him according to his years of experience.
But hearing Hyoju's words, Oh Hyunsik's past words and actions flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
Perhaps, if it weren't for her, I might have never known for the rest of my life.
We wrote together every day, yet he was doing shady things behind my back all this time.
Behind the slowly approaching Oh Hyunsik, women as beautiful as fairies approached with him.
All five members of Purple Girls, including Semi, were following behind him.
Oh Hyunsik, walking confidently with his shoulders puffed up and an arrogant expression on his face.
'Then, what Semi said about having a schedule before me was...'
Today was already tiring because the system was causing a lot of trouble.
Unlike yesterday, it was a very eventful day, but not in a good way.
Step, step—
"Jinwoo, what's going on? What brings you here?"
As they say, you only see as much as you know.
His friendly greeting, pretending not to know anything, was utterly fake.
It felt like I had finally identified the strange awkwardness that had been bothering me.
"I'm here because I have business."
"Oh, reaaally? As you can see, I'm a bit busy. Buy me a drink later."
"You son of a..."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing. Right, let's definitely see each other next time."
The Purple Girls members all had their eyes wide, as if trying to figure out who I was.
Among them, I made eye contact with Semi and deeply contemplated whether I should tell her who I was.
We were going to see each other again in a little while anyway, so should I really make things awkward by speaking up now?
Oh Hyunsik's next action solved my dilemma.
"Members, this person worked with us in our studio..."
"My name is Kim Jinwoo, Semi-ssi."
I deliberately called out one person's name as I introduced myself.
The surprised expressions of the Purple Girls members, and Oh Hyunsik.
Soon, Semi smiled and greeted me warmly.
"I really wanted to meet you, Writer-nim. You're here early."
"Yes, it just happened that way."
"Hmm, then... we can talk for longer. Hehe."
At Semi's words, Oh Hyunsik was startled and opened his mouth.
"W-we have a concept meeting right now..."
"I don't think I need to be there. Am I wrong?"
"No, what are you..."
Soon after, Semi grabbed my collar and led me towards an empty break room inside the building.
I glanced back, and Oh Hyunsik's expression was rotten like an old egg.
"Semi-ssi, is this okay?"
"Of course. My manager oppa gave his permission."
Semi was already beautiful, but in real life, she shone like a goddess.