Jung Saerom stared intently at me, her gaze fixed.
"Actress Kim Hyunji... you do understand the implications, don't you?"
"Yes. If you ask for the reason, it's the same as with 'Pure-hearted Macho'."
"Are you suggesting we hold another audition?"
"Ah, that's..."
Of course, it would be difficult.
In Im Jaejun's case, he was an actor without an agency, but Kim Hyunji is now officially under Tempest Entertainment.
If they were to cast Kim Hyunji as the lead, Tempest would have to bear the full responsibility.
They would have no excuse if they were accused of using their company's backing to land a lead role.
"I trust you, Writer Kim Jinwoo."
"Manager-nim!!!"
Yeo Minseo shouted, but Saerom cleanly ignored her and spoke to me.
"I mean that I trust you simply because you've proven yourself with results."
"Thank you..."
"However."
Saerom cut me off with an emotionless voice.
"I'm not saying I'll confirm Hyunji as the protagonist of the next project yet."
"Pardon...?"
"Even if you don't work with us on your next project, there's nothing I can do about it."
"..."
"I cannot do anything that would cause a loss to the company. That's the nature of my position. The position I hold."
"Hmm... is there no way?"
Without Manager Jung Saerom's permission, it would be impossible to cast Kim Hyunji as the lead.
Actress Kim is, after all, under Tempest, and has no connection to me.
"Once more of the script is ready, let's talk again then."
"Ah... that would be better."
"Just bring me up to Part 4."
"I understand."
The last scene of the first part of the new work is where the female lead gets into a car accident.
I'm the only one who can think of Kim Hyunji from that one scene.
Soon, Saerom spoke to Yeo Minseo in front of me.
"Minseo-ya, just give up on this project and..."
"No. I don't care."
"What?"
"I'll do it. The sub-female lead. Whether it's Kim Hyunji or whoever, I'll just beat them with my acting."
This person's confidence pierces the heavens.
It's even scarier because she seems to mean it.
Soon after, Yeo Minseo stared intently into my eyes and threw a question.
"You won't refuse, of course?"
"Well, I suppose..."
"As expected..."
"Of course, I refuse."
"What?"
Why would I ruin a project over one actor?
"It would ruin the balance. Isn't that basic?"
"..."
Yeo Minseo bit her lip hard, her pride wounded.
It must be frustrating to be rejected by a rookie writer like me.
"You'll regret what you did today!"
"I wonder."
It seems like she's the one who's going to regret it.
Soon, Yeo Minseo shot up and left the room.
The remaining Manager Jung let out a small sigh and spoke.
"Did you really have to say it like that?"
"Hey, it's uncomfortable for both of us if there are lingering feelings."
"...Are you sure that's the real reason?"
"Probably?"
I think it's about time I get up and leave too.
"Where are you going?"
"To find my real actress."
"???"
Finally, it was time to take care of the homework I had been putting off.
A residential area where houses were packed tightly together.
It was in the metropolitan area, but on high ground, so I climbed stairs after stairs.
"Bareum Entertainment... this is beyond just a mess."
A dilapidated house.
A fence covered in spiderwebs.
A gate that hadn't been oiled.
Creeeak—
Worse, there was no lock, so anyone could enter.
"Is this really the right place?"
I had found it by searching the internet, but I wasn't sure if I had come to the right place.
The stacks of soju bottles in the inner yard caught my eye.
No matter how hard I tried to look at it without prejudice, this was too much.
I don't know if I can trust an actor from an agency like this.
Step, step—
"Anyone home?"
It seemed to have once been a fine traditional Korean-style house.
Now, at a glance, it was no different from a shabby, abandoned house.
At that moment, someone responded from inside.
"Who are you?"
A man wearing shabby clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed in who knows how long.
He stared at me with hollow eyes and disheveled hair.
"...Is this Bareum Entertainment?"
"So what if it is?"
Why the informal speech?
"I'd like to speak with CEO Kang Cheoljoong."
"That's me."
Argh, seriously.
"Please don't speak so informally. Can we talk for a bit..."
"You're the one who trespassed into someone else's house first."
"...That's true."
My bad.
Vroooom—
At that moment, the sound of a two-wheeled vehicle was heard from outside.
I felt dizzy when I saw the person who opened the door and entered.
'Kang Jun...'
He wasn't an exact match, but it was enough to recognize him at a glance.
It was enough to confirm that he was the actor.
"Uncle? Who is that person..."
Kang Jun, calling the beggar CEO "uncle."
Seeing that they even have the same surname, it seems he really is his paternal uncle.
"Um... are you by any chance here to collect a debt?"
He walked over, taking off a helmet with a logo on it, as if he had just finished a delivery job.
A strange hostility was felt in his gaze and tone.
"That remark just now... you're saying it to a loan shark, right?"
"Th-then who are you..."
This is a mess.
"The writer of 'Pure-hearted Macho'."
"What? What do you mean by that..."
"..."
I was staring at them with a sullen expression.
Soon, surprise spread across their faces.
In particular, CEO Kang was so surprised that he stuttered severely.
"W-w-what...? R-really, the writer of 'Pure-hearted Macho'!?"
"It's a relief. That you're at least keeping your ears open to the outside world."
"Um, Writer-nim. Please, come inside..."
It doesn't look like there's anywhere to sit inside either.
A moment later,
at least some instant coffee in a paper cup was prepared.
He had a few neatly stored, perhaps for guests.
"You can get them at the community center. Hahat."
"Please... can you just not say things like that?"
"Ah, um. Writer-nim, what brings you to such a humble place..."
CEO Kang Cheoljoong, cautiously breaking the ice while breaking out in a cold sweat.
Looking at his eyes, it seemed he was expecting something.
This is like magic.
The moment I saw his eyes, the words "I want to cast Kang Jun" got stuck in my throat.
Creeeak—
However, the gate opened once again, and an unexpected guest entered.
Is this place a public square or something? What's with the open gate?
"Phew, hyungnim. Is this the right place?"
"Ah, this place is a killer to get to every time."
Just as I was seriously contemplating cutting ties with Kang Jun, the real loan sharks appeared.
"Hey, hey, Bareum. When are you guys gonna get rid of that junk motorcycle?"
"I know, right. If you just sell that, you could pay off a month's worth of interest."
A man with a rough face and a clipped ear swaggered in.
The face of the big-built bro who followed behind him with his shoulders squared was familiar.
'I thought he was a desk worker, but he does fieldwork too.'
The first one who entered, the one with the clipped ear, spoke to me in a fierce tone.
"What's this? A new actor or something?"
"No, it's not like that..."
However, the big guy who followed behind tilted his head and said.
"Wait a minute. I've seen that face before."
"Um... we meet again. Haha."
"Who the hell are you?"
Your words are a bit harsh, hyungnim.
"I'm the one who's leaving right now. Haha!"
"What did you say?"
"Goodbye!"
The beggar CEO and Kang Jun stared at me with dumbfounded faces.
Perhaps they thought we had gotten close in that short time, as their eyes were glistening with moisture.
Soon, I shook off their gazes and walked out the gate.
I'm craving a cigarette. I quit in the army.
"This is a bit frustrating."
If it had been a super pretty and nice actress, I would have helped somehow.
But seeing them so miserable together, uncle and nephew, it's a perfect setup for cutting ties.
"Phew..."
Still, Kang Jun's acting is amazing.
The protagonist in "The Regressor Who Erases Memories," who lives swallowing his sorrow after being forgotten by his family.
With a reality this harsh, there's no way he can't pull off a pitiful, emotional performance in the drama.
"He's going to be a total method actor."
If his next work just hits it big, he'll be able to pay off his debts and renovate this shabby house.
"Should I just close my eyes and help him just this once?"
With someone else's money, not mine.
"You want me to... lend them money?"
"No. You have to be more precise."
"So, you want me to lend money to them?"
"That's the correct answer."
"...Why should I."
Saerom looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
'If she asks why, I have nothing to say.'
Behind me, the two country bumpkins were looking around restlessly.
The Kang family, whom I had barely managed to bring here after getting permission from the big-built bros.
They were so curious, peeking into every nook and cranny of the office.
The overwhelming embarrassment made me want to tie the two of them together and throw them into the Han River.
"If I had to give a reason... is it because Kang Jun is the male lead of the next project?"
At that moment, Saerom's eyes widened and she looked at actor Kang Jun.
Then, after thinking deeply about something, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Hmm... then let's do this."
"Pardon?"
Soon, Saerom smiled slightly and continued.
"I will help after our side has independently evaluated actor Kang Jun."
"Oh... then you'll pay off all the debt?"
"Yes. And I'm thinking of acquiring Bareum Entertainment."
"Acquiring?"
I heard CEO Kang and Kang Jun gasp.
Ah, was that me?
"Yes. I will acquire Bareum. Isn't that what you want, CEO Kang?"
"Ah..."
Well, that's much better than clinging to a collapsing agency.
"Yes, it would be an honor for me! I look forward to working with you!"
CEO Kang shouted loudly and bowed his head, and Saerom slowly parted her lips.
"However..."
An agency with only one nephew as an actor and a mountain of debt.
Considering Tempest's size, it was an absorption, not an acquisition.
Click, clack—
Soon, Saerom took out a file folder from a cabinet.
She pushed a new contract in front of me and said.
"Put yourself up as collateral."
"Ah, so this is a slave contract?"
"Hmm, I don't think there are any slaves who receive a salary of 150 million won."
"...You have a lot of money."
A 5-year exclusive contract with the treatment of a semi-star writer.
The salary was the base, and the amount received per project was separate.
If you include incentives and assistant writer support.
"What is the collateral for?"
"Of course, it's collateral for the success of the next project."
"Ratings again?"
"Of course."
"...So if my next work fails, I have to sign the exclusive contract?"
"Yes."
To give a failed writer a salary of 150 million won.Does this person do business by digging up the ground?
"If you agree to my terms, actor Kang Jun will be under Tempest from now on, but..."
"Yes. And...?"
"The authority over actor Kang Jun will be with you, Writer Kim Jinwoo."
"Even the profits?"
"Yes. Excluding the costs invested by the company. It will be paid as an additional incentive and stock options."
"...Will that be okay?"
"Of course."
This is almost like a stock, isn't it?
And a stock whose price is guaranteed to rise.
I don't know if it's because it was a failed agency, but was acquiring a company this easy?
'More than anything...'
Was Manager Jung Saerom in a position to make such a decision on her own? On the surface, it looked like a merger, but the reality was different. It was a statement that she would invest not in Bareum Entertainment, but solely in me. To make a decision on her own without even hearing the CEO's opinion. At this point, she wasn't just a key figure in the company, she was basically the owner.
In truth, from my perspective, I had nothing to lose.
If we assume my next project succeeds.
'Low risk, high return.'
The more Kang Jun grows, the more my influence within Tempest will rise.
I might even be able to grow to be a major shareholder here.
On the other hand, Tempest would be able to tie me down regardless of the success of my next project.
If it succeeds, by using Kang Jun, and if it fails, through the exclusive contract.
I didn't know she would go to such lengths to hold onto me.
"Hmm..."
Manager Jung Saerom stared intently into my eyes.
"Why? Are you not satisfied with the conditions?"
"Ah, no. It's not that..."
When Saerom smiled slightly, the two men couldn't take their eyes off her.
'Ah, I'm having a reality check.'
Do I have to make a sacrifice for those two?No, rather than a sacrifice, I should just think about the work.If I cut ties with Kang Jun, what tasks will I have to bear? First, I have to find a male protagonist suitable for the next work. The deadline for Part 1 is in about three days, so by the day after tomorrow.
'Impossible.'
And if I use up the actor change ticket on Kang Jun like this.
Even if there's an actor who causes a controversy later, I won't be able to arbitrarily remove them.
"Let's sign the contract right away."
"Alright."
The proposal from the brightly smiling Manager Jung might be a poisoned chalice.