Rainbow Entertainment Building, 1st Floor Lobby.
[Time Limit: 2 minutes 12 seconds]
"Phew, that was incredibly hard."
I completed Part 4 while checking the remaining time in real-time.
After the helicopter scene, the sub-male lead watches the main couple.
It was the starting gun signaling the beginning of the love triangle in earnest.
The magic of arriving in the morning and having it become evening.
If I hadn't brought a portable battery, a disaster would have occurred.
"Writing a whole part on a phone is something no one should do. My hands are all numb."
Today's script writing was, in a word, of hellish difficulty.
For one, because I was writing on a smartphone, there were too many typos.
I'll fix the typos at home, and just check the content a little more here...
At that moment, a sweet voice was heard from my side.
"Writer-nim! You were still here?"
"Ah, Semi-ssi."
"Did you wait because you wanted to be with me?"
"Hmm, something like that."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Semi looked at me with a playful expression.
Just then, the sound of her manager calling was heard from a distance.
"You should go."
"Aww, I wanted to stay a little longer..."
"I'll send you Part 4 when I'm done."
"Really? To me first?"
"Yes. First."
Her gentle smile was downright lethal.
Her hair, like ebony, was still glossy.
Her eyes, nose, and lips were gathered harmoniously on her small face.
As a true fan, I just wished this moment could last forever.
"You promised! Ah, your smartphone!"
"Ye... yes?"
"Save it."
Semi gave me her personal number and walked away.
Tiring—
At that moment, a notification rang on my smartphone.
"Oh, Semi-ssi? ...No, did the money come in?"
The first contract payment of ten million won for two parts.
It wasn't that I had no income as an assistant writer, but it was only about 1.2 million won a month.
With that level of income, it was tight just to contribute to living expenses, but my fortune had certainly improved.
'This must all be thanks to the system's ability...'
Ten million won was enough to upgrade to the Bronze tier.
But for now, contributing to my family's living expenses came first.
When I was hired as Lee Minjoo's assistant, all I had ever bought them was a single pair of cheap pajamas.
I sent a quick message to my sister and headed to the department store.
But then, the notification sound appeared as always, ringing in my head.
Ding-dong—
The moment I saw the new writing location, I froze.
[Content: The Chaebol Heir is a Pure-hearted Macho, Part 5] [Genre: Romance, Chaebol] [Location: Purple Girls' Dance Practice Room] [Time Limit: 1 day 6 hours] [※ Bronze Promotion: 110-110101-1011(Virtual Account, W Bank)] [※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 10,000,000 won]
"...Purple Girls' dance practice room? Is this possible?"
Besides Semi, won't they all hate me?
It seemed a singularity had occurred in the system.
I returned home with an uneasy feeling.
After receiving the contract payment, I subtly bragged to Heejung via message.
Thanks to that, my family all gathered for a small debut celebration party.
"Kim Heejung. Where did you get the money to buy a cake?"
"I earn money at the theater company too, you know?"
"Do you even make minimum wage?"
"Jeez."
"Here, this is a gift. It's makeup."
When I asked via message, Semi had kindly explained everything, from the brand to the product name.
Thanks to her, just by looking at Heejung's expression upon receiving the gift, I could tell she was quite happy.
"Wow, what's with the great gift sense? Oppa, did you get a girlfriend?"
"Semi-ssi picked it out."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"It's true."
Even my stoic father said a word of "good work," which made my heart feel full.
But as soon as I left my family and returned to my room, I was brought back to reality.
"How on earth do I get into the Purple Girls' dance practice room?"
Looking at the location, something felt severely off.
If the system's goal was to screw me over, it had succeeded 100%.
"29 hours left..."
I continued to talk with Semi via message, trying to find a way.
Like a hyena eyeing rotten meat, I was just looking for an excuse to visit the practice room.
Tiring—
After exchanging a few messages, I was able to confirm the Purple Girls' schedule for the next day.
［I have to practice choreography with the unnis all day tomorrow.... ㅠㅠ］
"Ugh, the timing is shitty too."
［Is that before the drama schedule?］ ［I'll try talking to them］
I omitted the part about it being my schedule, not hers.
［I'll print out Part 4 and bring it with me］ ［What? Part 4 is already out?］
I could just ignore the other members and write the script in a corner.
Or couldn't I just take Semi to a corner and pretend to be practicing acting?
"The more you rush, the more you should take a detour."
With the mindset of taking it slow, I sent a message.
［Let's have a cup of coffee tomorrow］ ［???］
If I send any more, it'll seem like I'm being clingy, so I should stop here.
"Ah, so this is that script."
Director Sung Kihoon, who had returned home after working late again today.
Now that his project was finished, he desperately wanted to rest for a while.
"Hah... to think I'd be taking on a rookie writer's project."
In truth, he was in a position where he had to accept it whether he liked it or not.
He had received help from Tempest Entertainment during the production stage of his previous work.
Of course, they couldn't interfere with how diligently he directed the project, but.
He was confident he could make even a rookie writer's work into a masterpiece by just filming it adequately.
"Well, I should at least look at the synopsis."
Director Sung lay in bed, fidgeting as he opened the script.
A work with a title of a common rom-com chaebol drama that he didn't even feel the need to look at.
「The Chaebol Heir is a Pure-hearted Macho, Part 1」
However, the moment he saw the first scene, he felt a strange sense of dissonance.
"Why are the descriptions so detailed?"
This was overstepping one's authority.
It had crossed the line from a writer's hand into a director's territory.
"My goodness, is this a joke?"
At first, he thought it was just a sense of foreignness coming from the detailed descriptions.
Or perhaps, the audacity of a rookie writer ignoring a director's vision.
However, this was not a work that could be summed up by simply saying the expressive power was good.
Soon, Director Sung identified the source of that subtle feeling.
"This person... is a former director?"
How could someone write a script like this without even seeing the visualized drama?
The many star writers he had encountered over the years didn't write like this.
Even if they were an actual former director, they couldn't write a script to this extent.
Or, if their imagination was as extreme as an author like Werber.
Maybe it would be possible to film a whole drama in one's head beforehand.
"Heh, is this the realm of a genius?"
At some point, Director Sung Kihoon had straightened his back and was sitting upright, reading the text.
A work that only needed to be filmed exactly as it was written in the script.
A complete scenario that left no room for a director to intervene.
If anything, his pride was hurt because there was nothing for him to do.
He had heard it was a rookie writer; what kind of person wrote a script like this?
"Wow, this is absurd."
He quickly read through the four-part script, imagining the scenes.
As he read, the drama was drawn out in Director Sung's mind.
Usually, it was routine to revise and edit a script countless times during drama production.
But with this script, he questioned what scenes could be modified and how to improve the quality.
In particular, the helicopter scene in the latest part was the pinnacle of perfection.
"This person... is a complete monster!"
A writer who was a former director, wasn't that an ecosystem-disturbing species?
And if he wasn't a former director, then it would be an even more unbelievable talent.
Director Sung opened the front page of the script and checked the writer's name.
"Kim Jinwoo? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere..."
The next morning.
I frowned upon receiving a message from Manager Jung early in the morning.
It was to inform me that the director for this project had been finalized.
"Ah, why did it have to be Director Sung Kihoon? His personality is fucking awful."
Most rookie writers disappear like the wind after producing one project.
On the other hand, a director affiliated with a broadcasting station often directs the next project even if the previous one fails.
Thanks to that, a director's authority in the drama scene was bound to be strong.
So how much more would it be for Director Sung, who had long since risen to the ranks of a star director?
A devil's talent.
The number of actors Director Sung had made cry their eyes out on set was countless.
He was fine normally, but his personality would turn fiery once a project started.
It was clear that if there were conflicts of opinion during the casting stage, he would start by throwing curses.
I was planning to push for both Semi and Im Jaejun, but seeing my opponent, I didn't have the courage.
"At Tempest Entertainment... should I say they do their job too well?"
A top-class star producer scouted by JTBS with a nine-figure salary.
A director who normally would have no business working with a rookie writer was attached to me.
"I wonder if he'll even remember my name."
In the past, I had first seen Director Sung Kihoon while filming Writer Lee Minjoo's drama.
There was no way Director Sung would remember me, who was the youngest of Lee Minjoo's assistant writers at the time.
My opponent was a devil-like person who wouldn't hesitate to fight even with a star writer.
Worse, I couldn't even imagine what kind of demands he would make on a rookie writer like me.
The more my script is changed, the higher the probability that the quality of the work will drop.
In fact, the person I needed was a director who would faithfully film according to my script.
A director with strong opinions like Sung might actually be poison to me.
Tiring—
［Writer-nim, what time should we meet today?］
I had made an appointment since I had to write at the Purple Girls' dorm today.
It seemed I would have to do other work at the same time.
Ring, ring, ring—
I called Semi.
-Writer-nim! You called me in the morning?
Undeterred by her sweet, affectionate voice, I spoke firmly.
Thinking about being torn apart by Director Sung Kihoon, I had to raise her to be strong starting now.
"Please prepare a short acting piece by 11 AM today. It's homework."
-S-suddenly?
"Yes. In front of me, it's nothing. Because the director is Director Sung Kihoon."
-Who is that...
"The director who filmed 'The Prince's Deviation' and 'Dawn of the Empire.' You don't know him?"
-Ah, so that's who he is...
Semi's short acting career showed here.
If she had known even a little about industry news, she would have recalled his notoriety first.
"You know the girl group-turned-actress Hyesun... who ran away to America while filming a drama?"
-Ah, yes. Of course, I know.
"She ran away because she was scared of Director Sung."
-...Wasn't it to see her family?
"Why would you go to America to see your family in the middle of filming a drama?"
It was an industry secret that most of the staff at the time didn't know.
It was also the incident that caused the rift between Writer Lee Minjoo and Director Sung Kihoon.
-Um... will I be okay?
"You won't be, that's why I'm going. Show me what you practice in front of me today."
-Ah, yes! Then where should we meet?
Good. That was very natural.
"The Purple Girls' dance practice room."
-Ah... we have a separate acting lesson room.
"You can think of acting as an extension of dancing."
-Yes, Writer-nim!
It was nonsense that had no logic even as I said it.
But the angelic Semi agreed to my words unconditionally.
Soon after, I got the manager's permission and headed to Rainbow Entertainment.
It was the first time I was made to write in the same place two days in a row.
The first time the system activated was also after seeing Semi's face.
[Time Limit: 19 hours 51 minutes 11 seconds]
There was plenty of time, so I comfortably entered the agency door, where the manager came out to greet me.
However, seeing his gloomy expression, I felt anxious as if something had gone wrong.
"Um... I'm so sorry, what should I do?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Semi, I think it will be difficult for her to do the drama."
"..."
No matter how popular an idol she was, she couldn't become the lead of a 16-episode drama without any acting experience.
In other words, it was a hard-to-miss opportunity not just for me, but for Semi as well.
"What's the reason?"
"It seems this project's production and programming haven't been confirmed yet... and also..."
Before the hesitating manager could open his mouth, I spoke first.
"Writer Lee Minjoo, is that right?"
"Ah, well... yes."
"What did she say?"
"She said she would cast Semi as a major supporting character in her next project, so she shouldn't do Writer Kim's project..."
"Do you think she'll keep that promise?"
I couldn't understand how they could accept such an absurd condition.
Moreover, she was a woman who had already broken her promise to me as easily as flipping a spoon.
"Semi was so happy lately, so I was really happy too..."
"..."
"It was our CEO's decision."
"I would like to meet the CEO in person."
"R-right now? He's with Writer Lee Minjoo."
Her own project must be in full swing, she must have nothing better to do.
"It's even better if the three of us meet. Please relay my message. That I request an audience."
"Well... hah, yes. Please wait a moment."
I looked at the back of the receding manager and called someone.
Ring, ring, ring—
-Yes, this is Manager Jung Saerom.
"Manager Jung, are you busy?"
-No. Go ahead.
"I have a favor to ask."
-...What is it?
A moment later, watching the manager approach from a distance, I thought.
'Lee Minjoo, do you still see me as your assistant writer?'
Comments
Ike Report In real life, I think it was Han Ye-seul who ran away to America while filming a drama?