A high-end Korean restaurant near the JTBS broadcasting station.
A restaurant where no secret stories would ever leak out.
Jung Saerom had arrived early with a few employees and was waiting.
An employee next to her cautiously opened his mouth.
"Manager Jung, about the audition... will it really be okay?"
"Yes. You can just leave it be."
Next to her, Ji Seongho, who was also present, added a word.
"The writer is a total genius. I think we can just trust him."
"...Please, just be quiet in front of the director."
"Boo, you only pick on me."
They were putting a lot of effort into this project, yet the casting was so reckless.
If it were up to Jung Saerom's usual style, she would never have approved, but this time it didn't matter.
'Director Sung Kihoon will cut them himself.'
With a clear villain present, there was no need for her to create trouble with the writer.
Usually, he was a director who would complain about not wanting to work.
But once a project started, he was a person who became more immersed than anyone else.
A female idol with unverified acting skills?
A male rookie actor who popped out of nowhere?
Director Sung was not a person who would acknowledge such existences.
A moment later,
as scheduled, Writer Kim Jinwoo arrived at the meeting place.
With him were Semi and her manager.
"Hello! My name is Semi."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jung Saerom."
Even as she greeted her, Saerom quickly scanned Semi.
She was checking how well her character matched the female lead in the work.
'Visually, there are no flaws.'
Beyond being pretty, she was a perfect fit for the role of 'Cha Yejoo,' the female lead in the work who has a 2% deficiency.
Her tone, her demeanor, even the way she walked matched the image she had imagined.
"Writer Kim, did you get home alright yesterday?"
"Yes. And you, Manager-nim?"
"Me? I was hectically busy."
She omitted the words 'because of you.'
In the middle of exchanging various stories about the project.
Director Sung Kihoon arrived, exactly on time.
Scrape—
As soon as Director Sung entered, he glanced around the room.
"Are you Writer Kim?"
"Ah, yes."
Saerom swallowed hard and looked at the director.
He had brought actors dangling along to the very first meeting.
She had even thought about how to respond if he started spewing curses.
"Huh, I didn't expect the writer to be so young."
"???"
It was so different from the reaction she had expected from Director Sung.
'Huh? That's not how he usually is.'
The employees who had come with Saerom also looked at the director with bewildered expressions.
"I enjoyed the work. I think I've seen it up to Part 4 three times in the last few days."
"Ah... yes. Thank you for viewing it favorably."
"Such modesty."
With the situation turning out like this, it was Saerom herself who had failed to properly recognize the value of the work.
'It's definitely a good work, but...'
For Director Sung, who had worked with star writers numerous times, to react like that.
And wasn't he someone who wouldn't even glance at a rookie writer's work?
'Was there a part of the work that I missed? Something that only Director Sung can see...'
Soon, Sung Kihoon casually threw a question at Kim Jinwoo.
"Do you have any directing experience?"
"No. I was an assistant writer for about 6 years..."
"No. Not as a writer, directing experience."
"I have none."
"Not even in a school club or something...?"
"None at all."
"...That's a great talent."
High praise from Director Sung Kihoon.
In that moment, the perspective of the people who had until now only seen the 'fun' of the work changed.
That's how much weight a compliment from Director Sung Kihoon carried in the drama scene.
I watched Director Sung's reaction, bewildered.
'What's up with this guy? Why is he like this?'
I thought maybe his personality had softened in the time I hadn't seen him.
But seeing Manager Jung's surprised expression, it seemed that wasn't the case.
Sure enough, she cautiously opened her mouth.
"Director-nim, I didn't know you had this kind of personality."
"Me? What kind of personality do I usually have?"
"..."
Why can't you just say he's a rude bastard.
Director Sung didn't even glance at Semi or Ji Seongho and continued to praise me.
I had come prepared to be cursed out, so this reaction was rather flustering.
"Um, about the casting..."
"Let's take our time and think about that part from now on."
"Ah, so Semi and actor Ji Seongho are fixed, and just the main male lead...?"
"Hmm, let's see."
Damn it, of course.
I thought the atmosphere was going too well.
"Ji Seongho-ssi is a proven actor, but I'm not sure about Semi-ssi."
"I believe she fits the image of the female lead I have in mind the most."
"Ahem..."
Seeing that he wasn't rejecting her outright, I saw a high possibility.
At that moment, Ji Seongho, after a quick glance, opened his mouth.
"Director-nim, Semi-ssi and I prepared an impromptu act together. Would it be okay to show you?"
I wanted to cheer at Seongho's nice assist.
But Manager Jung Saerom frowned at his sudden action.
"Is there any meaning in showing a scene you've practiced beforehand?"
However, the director's answer was simply cold.
In the chilly atmosphere, Semi cautiously raised her hand.
"Um..."
With everyone's eyes focused on her, she began to speak.
"If you pick a scene from the script, I will act out that part."
Semi, suddenly acting on impulse.
Why would she say that when she had only practiced one scene all day yesterday?
'Ah, why...!'
It wasn't that I didn't trust Semi, but I couldn't help but feel anxious.
If she bombed here, the lead casting for this project was completely over.
"Can you show us here? Let's go with the female lead's monologue from Part 1, scene 43."
Director Sung was already looking at Semi with intrigued eyes.
It seemed my strong recommendation had piqued his curiosity.
'Ah...'
The die was already cast.
The only thing I could do was pray to God.
Semi thought for a moment about the scene Director Sung had casually picked and began to get into character.
Without any preparation time, her eyes instantly transformed into 'Cha Yejoo.'
"It's not just my family..."
A scene from Part 1 where Cha Yejoo talks with her family.
Her father, who became a vegetable after a car accident, and her younger brother, who went missing.
A situation where the family was ruined, and seizure notices were plastered on all the furniture.
It was a scene that highlighted the female lead calmly accepting her tragic circumstances.
"So..."
At that moment, a single tear dropped from Semi's eye.
It's amazing that she could cry in less than 5 seconds, but.
'As if sad...'
In the drama I had seen, Cha Yejoo's eyes had welled up with moisture.
However, in the script, I had clearly only written that she murmured as if she were sad.
How many times must she have read the script to be able to get into character so quickly?
'From now on, I'll have to answer all her questions, no matter how many she asks.'
The situation of suddenly acting might have been unfamiliar, but there was no awkwardness at all.
Her acting was so natural that it diluted much of the awkward atmosphere.
Soon, Semi finished the 3-minute act and smiled gently again.
In the short silence, Ji Seongho clapped like a seal and praised her.
"Wow, Semi-ssi! You're acting even better than yesterday!"
"N-no. It's just that this project is such a good fit for me... hehe."
Semi glanced at me and smiled.
'I wondered if a poor role would suit someone with those looks.'
I reflected on myself for having doubted Semi for a moment.
At the same time, my resolve to cast Im Jaejun in the main male lead role grew stronger.
"I enjoyed the performance. Your eye for talent is amazing, Writer-nim."
"Ahaha..."
Director Sung sent a gentle gaze and continued speaking.
Seeing Manager Jung Saerom's expression, it seemed her thoughts weren't much different.
"Honestly, I didn't think this project was that important."
"..."
"But now, my thoughts have changed a little."
"Then..."
"Let's do well."
I took the hand Director Sung offered for a handshake.
"Director-nim, please trust me on the main male lead role as well."
"Hmm, who on earth do you have in mind..."
"Let's discover a rookie actor who shines like a jewel at the audition."
"..."
Hearing my words, Director Sung asked back with a serious expression.
"Have you ever seen a rookie take the lead role in a drama?"
"Let's make history."
"Well, I wonder..."
"Director-nim, if you've seen my work, you'll know. We need a new face."
Like Im Jaejun.
"Hmm... if we include rookies, the audition hall will be crowded."
Grin—
A smile spread across my face as I heard Director Sung accept my proposal.
On the other hand, a sigh escaped from the mouths of the production company staff, including Manager Jung.
It was understandable, as the most important thing in securing investment is the lead actor.
"The audition... let's prepare for it."
Manager Jung reluctantly agreed with a blank expression.
A short while later, I arrived at the Tempest Entertainment building.
Manager Jung Saerom, who was so busy, had disappeared in a flash.
I was going to go with her, but I didn't even have a chance to ask.
"Everyone's expression is a bit cold, except for Manager Jung."
It was natural for there to be people who were discontent with the audition.
It was a fact that their workload had increased because they had met the wrong rookie writer.
"Well, it can't be helped."
Soon, I went to the 1st-floor cafe in the Tempest building to write the script.
A place filled with memories of meeting Ji Seongho and signing the contract with Manager Jung.
'The cafe employee has changed. It was a man last time.'
Just as I was about to open my mouth to order a cup of coffee.
I felt a heart-pounding sensation I had experienced once before.
'When I first saw Semi...!'
That was the day the system had activated for the first time.
Ding-dong—
[A new actor has been discovered.] [Duplicate writing is not possible at the current tier.]
The unknown language roamed inside my head.
Looking at the person slowly again, her pure charm stood out.
She was pretty, but more than that, she possessed her own unique individuality.
A necessary virtue for an actor, in addition to acting skills.
"Sir...?"
The employee called out to me, who had been standing there blankly for a while.
"Ah... actress Kim Hyunji."
"Pardoon?"
"No, I mean, Ms. Kim Hyunji."
I saw the name tag on her uniform and started rambling.
The other person seemed a bit flustered, but I continued my question without minding.
"Are you, by any chance, an actress?"
"Ah, I'm an aspiring actress, but..."
"Could I possibly get your number?"
I've met quite a few actors in my life.
The ability probably doesn't activate commonly.
'It's also the first time since I met Semi.'
So, I asked for her number just in case.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Ah, no, it's not like that..."
At that moment, a woman who was waiting next to me to order spoke softly.
"A so-called writer hitting on a company employee..."
I turned my head towards the voice.
It was the actress I had encountered in Manager Jung's office recently.
"Ms. Yeo Minseo."
"Yes, yes. Writer Kim."
"I think your words are a bit out of line."
"Well, I wonder. I just stated a fact."
She was a person who got on my nerves from the moment we first met.
An actress with a charming look and proven acting skills, but a prickly personality.
"I asked for the contact information of a talented actress."
"My, you can tell talent just by looking at a face?"
"That's..."
"Why didn't you just become a casting director instead of a writer? It's a natural gift."
"Oh, that's a good idea too."
"What?"
"Thank you for letting me know."
I bowed my head deeply to express my gratitude.
"Ah, and by the way..."
I gave a slight smile to Yeo Minseo, who was huffing with a sour expression, and opened my mouth.
"I'm not interested in you. I asked Ms. Kim Hyunji, not you. Why is an unrelated person making a fuss?"
Soon, I ignored Yeo Minseo and turned back to my seat, turning on my laptop.
I could feel her intensely angry gaze on me from one side.
Can't a writer ask for an aspiring actress's number?
Even if, for the sake of argument, I had asked for her number because I was interested.
It's not a pleasant feeling to have someone intrude on such a private area.
"By the way..."
I feel strange, as if I've discovered a new function in the system.
Maybe there are more system functions that I haven't found yet.
A moment later, I discovered another function of the system.
A condition so simple that it was strange I hadn't found it before.