Press Conference, Staff Waiting Room.
This would probably be the only official event for me as a writer today.
To think a day would come when I'd receive professional makeup like this.
"I'm a little nervous."
Next to me, the lead actors were looking at me with curious eyes.
Im Jaejun, Ji Seongho, and Semi.
It feels like I'm at a zoo.
Semi, perhaps wanting to break the mood, spoke to me.
"You're very handsome, Writer-nim."
"Don't lie."
"It's true..."
It feels like a group of beautiful people have gathered to bully a civilian.
Ji Seongho, who was next to them, had to add a word.
"Semi-ya, don't do that on purpose. You're making the writer uncomfortable."
"Umm..."
You're the worst. Soon, all the actors disappeared to get their outfits ready. However, this time, an unexpected person appeared.
"Hello."
At that moment, a strange man spoke to me from behind.
'Lee Soohun?'
An entertainer already treated as a top-tier MC, active on various broadcasts.
A former comedian who could handle his role without ups and downs anywhere.
"Originally, Shinchul was supposed to come, but I came as a substitute. Since we're from the same agency..."
"Ah, an even greater person has come as a substitute."
Is this a successful enhancement?
"Actually, I also saw your script, and it was fun."
"Wow, really? Thank you."
At that moment, someone called for the MC from behind.
"Well then, I'll be going first..."
I felt a sense of regret as I watched the disappearing Lee Soohun.
He wasn't an actor, but I should have still asked for his number.
It's one of the ways to survive in this industry where connections are skills.
"No, it's fine. As long as I write well, that's enough."
In truth, the reason I was so concerned with connections was because of 'that' woman.
Writer Lee Minjoo.
It seems she thought someone like me had no chance of succeeding.
If she hadn't, she might have put pressure on JTBS long ago.
Or maybe,
"Was the threat with the recording effective last time?"
Lee Minjoo wasn't one to be broken by just that.
But looking at her mentality alone, she wasn't that strong of a person.
"Reporter Kim, how could you do this to me?"
-Wr-writer-nim, I absolutely can't touch that project.
"So what's the reason!"
-Hah... if a spark flies onto me after I say it...
"Do you really want to see me go crazy?"
-...
Lee Minjoo lost her temper, hounding reporter Kim Sungtae.
She couldn't stand by and watch "Pure-hearted Macho" air so smoothly.
Reporter Kim, who had received countless favors from her over the years.
Hadn't he been the first to get exclusive interviews and project information?
Soon, the reporter let out a deep sigh and spoke cautiously.
-Look, you absolutely cannot say anywhere that I told you this.
"What on earth are you trying to say..."
-Cheonseong Group.
"...What?"
Reporter Kim had suddenly brought up the name of a major conglomerate out of the blue.
-If you follow the line of investors for that project, it reaches all the way to the top of Cheonseong Group.
"This is crazy...! Does that make any sense?"
There's common sense in investment, and there are weight classes in production.
It would be absurd even for a blockbuster fantasy movie, let alone a 16-episode melodrama.
-Anyway, I've told you.
"..."
Click.
The other person hung up before Lee Minjoo could even answer.
"Kim Jinwoo... was he a chaebol?"
Soon, Lee Minjoo shook her head.
She knew his financial situation inside and out.
It was more rational to suspect Tempest Entertainment.
Since it was a company that had grown into a production house with investment from Cheonseong Group.
However, the question that remained was,
"Why would Tempest bother?"
What did it matter to them if a single project by a rookie writer failed or not?
And for that matter, what was Cheonseong Group lacking that they would invest in a cable drama?
"...You're lucky, Kim Jinwoo."
In any case, the probability of this project succeeding was extremely slim.
A competitor clearly existed, and the viewers also have discerning eyes.
Just because they were both airing 16-episode dramas didn't mean they were on the same level.
Wasn't this a world where you had to succeed with at least three projects to be acknowledged as a star writer?
Thinking that, she felt at ease.
"A major corporation is involved, so if I mess with it, I'll be the only one to lose."
Soon, Lee Minjoo lost interest in him and focused on her own script.
To be honest, her viewership ratings had been slowly declining since the first broadcast, so she had a lot on her mind.
When Saerom returned to her seat, the press conference had already begun.
Reporters and critics, pouring out applause after watching the short trailer.
Looking at their expressions, it seemed the trailer was quite good.
A moment later, the MC began to pour questions onto the leads on stage.
"Semi-ssi, I heard that your role in this drama is as natural as wearing clothes that fit you perfectly."
"What? Ah... I guess it's because I read the script a lot."
Semi looked at writer Kim Jinwoo on the opposite side of the stage and blushed.
"How much do you read the script?"
"Um... I read the script whenever I get stressed."
"Haha. That's a good habit. I hope you're not getting too much stress while working on this project."
"Ah, no! Everyone is really good to me!"
"Oh, then among them, is there anyone in particular who...?"
"The writer."
At Semi's remark, everyone's gaze turned to Kim Jinwoo.
"Ah, we just practice the script together sometimes..."
Even Writer Kim seemed flustered by the sudden attention.
At the MC's following questions, the other lead actors, as if they had planned it, all pointed to Kim Jinwoo.
The answer to almost every question ended with Writer Kim.
"My, the director must be upset. If everyone likes the writer this much."
"I am fine."
"Haha, I guess it's because it hasn't been long since you started filming with the actors."
"It's because the script is that good."
"Ah..."
The stoic Director Sung Kihoon didn't seem to show much emotion.
If anything, the MC fiercely defended him, trying to paint him in a good light.
Actor Im Jaejun was a given, and even Ji Seongho was busy praising writer Kim Jinwoo.
The reporters were now so curious that they had no choice but to focus on writer Kim Jinwoo.
"Hmm, I think we'll have to skip this question."
Jung Saerom let out a chuckle at the MC's reaction.
The next question was about Director Sung being called a devil director.
If that question came out now, the atmosphere would probably become very awkward.
Everyone is praising only Writer Kim, so how could he ask if the director is scary?
'Ah, come to think of it...'
Suddenly, the script writer Kim Jinwoo had given her came to mind.
She immediately went over to where Team Leader Byun was standing and asked.
"Team Leader Byun, have you seen the script I gave you earlier?"
"Ah, Manager-nim. Well..."
"Hmm...?"
Seeing Team Leader Byun's reaction, it was unusual.
One of the few employees to whom Saerom entrusted project selection.
If he reacted like this, it would be one of two things.
A huge hit or a total flop.
Either he was hesitating because the work was so amazing.
Or he couldn't bring himself to say harsh words out of consideration for Writer Kim.
"Just speak comfortably."
"Well, please read it first. It would be better to tell you after that."
"What on earth is it like..."
Fliiiip—
Saerom opened the first page and checked the script.
「The Regressor Who Erases Memories」
It was definitely a different genre from "Pure-hearted Macho."
To call it a simple romance drama, it stimulated a sad emotion.
A man who lives as a neighbor to his family, who doesn't remember him.
The loneliness of no one recognizing him was unraveled calmly.
A new drama script, structured as solidly as a movie.
To think that a person who wrote melodramas would suddenly switch genres like this.
"This work is..."
It was different from the cleanly refined script shown in "Pure-hearted Macho."
But the charm was alive with just the development and story alone.
Soon, Saerom glanced up at the stage.
The MC was in the middle of a conversation with the actors.
'Writer Kim Jinwoo.'
Whatever the case, she seemed certain that he was having a great impact on Tempest.
Soon after, Team Leader Byun, who was watching her from the side, spoke cautiously.
"Manager-nim, signing with writer Kim Jinwoo was the best choice of the year."
"I agree."
In other words, not signing an exclusive contract early on might have been the worst choice.
"...Excuse me, about the sub-female lead of this project."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"How about actress Yeo Minseo?"
"Hmm, would Minseo want to play a sub-female lead?"
In fact, the main female lead didn't play a significant role in Part 1.
If anything, it was a fact that the presence of the sub-female protagonist stood out more.
"Because the character is good. I'll talk to actress Yeo Minseo."
"Well, we'll have to hear the opinions of the writer and the new director."
"Ah, of course."
"Hmm... I understand for now."
Just then, on stage, the MC was asking Kim Jinwoo a question.
"Yes. Then we'll continue to ask writer Kim Jinwoo."
"Yes."
Perhaps thanks to the actors' interest, he was being asked a lot of questions.
"As a rookie writer, you debuted at once without going through a contest."
"Yes. That's right. I was lucky."
"You've debuted after 6 years of hard work, could we hear your thoughts?"
"My thoughts... well, of course, I'm happy. Who gets an opportunity like this?"
It was true.
Countless aspiring writers hit the wall of talent and fall.
Among those works, the number of scripts that are produced into dramas was as small as the number of broadcasting stations.
"However, I was able to get this project produced especially because I met a certain person."
"Oh! Really? Who might that be?"
"Well."
Writer Kim Jinwoo, smiling slightly and making eye contact with Saerom.
Only one person came to his mind.
'It's Semi, who helped me discover the system.'
Jinwoo was thinking of Semi in his heart.
But unfortunately, there was no way Manager Jung Saerom could know that fact.
"You must be so proud, Manager-nim."
"Well, I suppose..."
Team Leader Byun praised Saerom from the side.
The fact that she had met Writer Kim by chance at a cafe.
It wasn't exactly a secret among the Tempest employees.
'I'll acknowledge it today.'
Maybe it was because he was wearing makeup like a celebrity, or maybe it was because she had seen an amazing work.
Today's writer Kim Jinwoo... looked just a little bit cool.
In any case, his work was also a part of him.
Although the press conference was over, many problems still remained.
How he would write the second work, and who the new male protagonist would be.
Whether Director Sung Kihoon could direct the drama I saw in the system perfectly.
And above all,
I couldn't get a grip on anything because of the worry about whether the first work would succeed.
And so, time flew by like an arrow.
"Finally, today's the day. The first broadcast."
There isn't much time left for writing the second work either.
To be honest, I thought about going back once.
But what's more important is the success of this project.
I stuck by Director Sung Kihoon's side, comparing it to the drama I had seen and giving advice on the composition and background.
'Director Sung-nim was a much better person than I thought.'
In a way, it could be seen as encroaching on the director's territory.
But it was an interference that was possible because he viewed me very favorably.
No, if anything, I was grateful that he took it as a good opinion rather than overstepping.
Thanks to him, we churned out scenes that were almost identical to the drama I had seen in the system.
"Oppa, come out, quick—!"
Heejung called out to me in a loud voice from the living room.
Creeeak—
My parents, my sister, and me, a family of four.
For the first time in a long while, the busy family had gathered in one place.
"Is it time already?"
"There are two or three commercials left."
"Ugh... I'm nervous."
My heart was pounding like crazy, as if it were about to pop out.
My mother, after checking my appearance, offered warm comfort.
"You've done well so far. Don't be too obsessed with the ratings."
"...Yes."
The production company and the broadcasting station would think differently. Swallowing the words that didn't need to be said, I fixed my gaze on the TV. The production team at the station must all be gathered together by now. I had said I would watch with my family in case I couldn't control my expression.
Tiring, tiring—
The moment the drama started, the group chat with only a few production staff members began to explode.
［Ahhh I'm so nervousssㅏㅏㅏ］ ［I'll post the minute-by-minute ratings right away］ ［Let's grab the ratings before we go up against MBS next week ㅎㅎ］ ［I wish you could have watched with us at the station, Writer-nim ㅠㅠ］ ［It's starting ㄷㄷ］
I had joined the chat room without much thought since it was only young people.
But looking at the atmosphere, it doesn't suit me, so I think it's better to leave at an appropriate time.
Tiring, tiring—
'Hmm, I get it, so let me just watch the drama.'
Soon after, the drama began, starting with the opening cut.
"Directed by Sung Kihoon, Written by Kim Jinwoo"
How much had I strived to engrave my three-syllable name on the first scene of a drama.
As if in a dream, the past 6 years flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
At that moment, someone in the group chat registered the minute-by-minute viewership rating chart as a notice.
Honestly, what's more important to us than the content of the drama is the score.
With trembling hands, I cautiously checked the data.