JTBS "Pure-hearted Macho" Set.
"Alright, we're rolling!"
It was the weekend, but the staff were moving busily.
Though they didn't say it, most of them were thinking about the showdown that was just around the corner.
Because tomorrow, they had to face off against MBS's blockbuster, "Shoot the Sun."
"Unni, you're here?"
Semi ran to Miryung and snuggled into her arms.
"Yeah. It's my minor role filming day today."
"Just for today?"
"Ah... it's only one scene."
In truth, the circumstances under which Miryung got the role were very unusual.
Words she had spoken in passing to writer Kim Jinwoo had become a seed.
Back then, she had told him not to shake up Semi because it seemed unlikely the project would be produced.
So she had said that if the drama was filmed, she would appear in it, whether as a minor role or anything else.
Seeing the staff bustling around like this, it had been a very hasty mistake.
'Looking at it now, even a minor role will remain on my resume.'
An impactful minor role in a successful drama was actually helpful for an acting career.
Although it was one scene, unlike an extra, she had a lot of lines, and the focus was on her.
Jae-eun was one thing, but seeing Semi also establish herself as an actress made her proud as an older sister.
'Is it thanks to Writer Kim Jinwoo?'
Recently, with the success of the drama and the OST, Purple Girls' overall schedule was on the rise.
It was the first time they had so many schedules during a non-promotional period like this.
All the members, including herself, were focused on their individual activities.
Tiring—
At that moment, her manager sent a personal message regarding her schedule.
"KBC? Ah, the variety show... right, I was supposed to film that."
She had heard that a certain director who had left SBC after hitting it big with a project had cast her.
A great director, and her first solo variety show appearance, filled her with a strange sense of anticipation.
At that moment, Semi, who was listening from the side, asked.
"Unni, where are you going today?"
"The KBC broadcasting station."
"Oh, oh? I just talked with the writer today."
"The writer?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing..."
At that moment, the makeup team hurriedly called for Miryung.
"Semi-ya, I'm going to get ready. Good luck with the shoot!"
"Okay, unni."
After Miryung left, Semi murmured softly.
"...The writer said he was going to KBC today too. I wish I could go instead of unni."
Because I might run into him by chance. She was disappointed because she hadn't had a chance to see him lately. While she was thinking about it, Semi picked up her phone and sent a message.
［Writer-nim! Miryung unni is also going to the KBC station today.］
Just as she was hoping for a slightly faster reply today.
Tiring—
［Really? I should say hello if I see her by chance ㅎㅎ］
"Awesome."
It was rare to get such an instant reply.
She was about to tap out a reply on her smartphone.
But just then, the assistant director called out to Semi in a loud voice.
"Semi-ssi, we're going to the next scene!"
"Ah, yes..."
Reluctantly, Semi had to put down her smartphone.
A moment later,
the three lead actors, having finished filming, gathered in one place and talked.
"What is all this? I never thought 'Pure-hearted Macho' would be such a hit..."
"It feels like a dream these days."
"It's all thanks to the writer."
Semi was on her smartphone, half-listening to Jaejun and Seongho's conversation.
However, she couldn't possibly ignore the conversation that followed.
"Ah, but did you hear? I heard Writer Kim Jinwoo properly rejected her."
"Actress Yeo Minseo? I know. She seemed very angry today too."
Semi's eyes widened, and she perked up her ears.
"...Keep talking."
"Huh?"
"Hurry up and tell me. Why the writer?"
At her urging, Ji Seongho opened his mouth.
"Ah... this isn't certain. The rumor is that Minseo noona was rejected..."
"For what role?"
"The writer's new project's sub-female lead."
"Really...? Then it must be a vacant spot?"
"You, you're going to do it? You're abandoning 'Pure-hearted Macho'!?"
"What are you talking about? It doesn't have to be me."
"???"
Semi smiled slightly and thought.
'It would be the best if one of the unnis did it.'
Because then it seemed they could continue to live as comfortably as they were now.
KBC, which had been struggling in the drama market recently.
They were targeting a niche market with historical epics or melodramas.
But in terms of freshness or public appeal, they were always far behind MBS and SBC.
As a public broadcasting station, they had to stay away from provocative material or makjang dramas.
They had to bear a certain burden for artistic or work quality rather than commercial success.
"Pure-hearted Macho' is doing really well these days."
"I know, right. The drama was really well-produced."
The head of KBC's drama production department, Joo Taehong.
He was having a conversation with the head of the variety department.
"This, aside from being on cable, the quality of the work is considerable."
"How great would it have been if it had come out on our station? It would have started with at least a 10% rating. We would have pushed it like crazy too..."
"Is there any point in such hypotheticals?"
"It's just a figure of speech."
Soon, Director Joo asked the head of the variety department.
"Aren't you trying to ride the Purple Girls coin too? I heard you're starting a 4-part variety show."
"Hey, I'm not that kind of person. I'm doing it because the freelance director is good."
"A director? Who is it?"
"You'll be surprised when you hear."
"Who is it...?"
"Song Gwonsu."
"...The Song Gwonsu that I know?"
"That's right."
Soon, Director Joo swallowed hard and asked.
"We've been losing talented directors one after another..... is there no way?"
"Wake up. Who would want to film a drama with Director Song?"
"Ah..."
Since he was a director who had quit after a huge fight with SBC.
No writer would want to work with him.
"Hah... if we outsourced to Director Song, we could produce something amazing."
"The problem is that no writer will be attached. Unless you're planning to pick a fight with SBC."
"Ah, ah..."
Director Joo smacked his lips in disappointment.
"Is there no way...? I would really nurture that project like my own."
"I'll try talking to him. But... can you do me one favor?"
"Hmm...?"
"I need a filler for a 2-part pilot. Just cast a few actors for me."
"That's nothing."
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Kim Jinwoo was opening his laptop at a cafe located in the same building as them.
I think I would be happy if the environment for writing a script was always as good as today.
"It's just so clean and nice."
Thud—
Soon, I received the cup of coffee I ordered, placed it on the table, and entrusted my body to the halo of light.
As always, the memory of the second part was embedded in my mind, and the drama unfolded.
"So this was the story."
Clack-clack, clack-clack-clack—
「The Regressor Who Erases Memories, Part 2」
In the end, the protagonist saves the female lead from the hit-and-run.
Screeeech—! The hit-and-run vehicle grazed past the female protagonist and fled. -Give me your number. I'll be sure to repay you. -No need to be thankful. You won't remember anyway. -Pardon? -If I don't save you, it means I lost my family for nothing. -???
After that, the protagonist uses his regression ability without brakes.
Because the family he had lived with as a next-door neighbor for 5 years no longer remembers him.
For a while, the two live, having forgotten each other's existence.
But at a chance meeting, the woman greeted the man.
"So this is why this woman was the protagonist."
The reason why Kim Hyunji's role, which appeared in only one scene in Part 1, was the main heroine.
She was the only person who remembered the protagonist fully, without erasing him from her memory.
-Y-you... you really remember my face? -Of course, I remember. It hasn't been that long. -No, I definitely regressed after that...? -What should I do? I'm a little busy... -Wa-wait a minute! I still have more to say!
"Oh, this is fun."
Soon, the female protagonist is guided by a secretary to a mansion.
The setup is that she is the illegitimate child secretly raised by the chairman of one of the country's leading conglomerates.
The relationship between the capable man and the chaebol woman was reversed in an instant.
Now, the male lead had to find the female lead, and the female lead avoided the male lead every time she saw him.
And the foreshadowing revealed in the final scene of Part 2.
"It wasn't a hit-and-run..."
A scene where the female protagonist's half-siblings berate their gangster-turned-secretary.
It was a secret struggle within the chaebol family to assassinate the illegitimate child the chairman had brought in.
"This is so freaking fun. Bring me the next part. Now."
In this part, Kim Hyunji's charm was fully revealed.
It was on a different level from simply being pretty or beautiful.
Because it matched the image of a luxurious yet tragic heroine.
"See, I picked a good protagonist."
Thud—
I was about to close my laptop and get up from my seat.
But I spotted two men and a woman sitting in a corner of the cafe.
A pair of them had familiar faces.
The leader of Purple Girls, Miryung, and the Purple Girls' manager.
"I should at least say hello."
I'm already involved with Purple Girls in many ways, starting with the music.
No, just looking at Miryung alone, she's appearing in a minor role in "Pure-hearted Macho."
Step, step—
"Um, hello?"
"Oh, oh? Writer-nim!"
Miryung stood up in surprise.
"Hmm, and you are...?"
A middle-aged man, excluding the manager, spoke to me.
"I'm writer Kim Jinwoo. I wrote the screenplay for 'Pure-hearted Macho'."
"Ah! I'm enjoying it. I'm director Song Gwonsu. I'm filming a variety show with Miryung-ssi."
Huh, why is that name so familiar?
"Don't tell me... SBC's Director Song...?"
"Yes. Though it's been a while since I quit."
To meet the legendary director here.
"To Draw a Star!! I binge-watched it three times from the beginning."
"Ahaha. Is that so? Thank you."
A work that swept more than 10 awards at SBC that year.
A masterpiece that dispelled a disappointing script and acting controversies with its insane directing skills.
"I respect you, Director-nim."
"Respect is too much. I'm just a person who can't even film a drama anymore even if I want to."
"What? Hey, what are you talking about... with skills like that..."
"If you work with me, you'll be completely blacklisted by SBC."
"Ah..."
"It's a one-off variety show, but KBC gave me a job."
"..."
Director Song, who had quit after just half a year since his debut, unable to stand the company life.
In other words, he was a classic one-hit wonder whose first drama had become his last work.
'Director Song in a variety show...'
The way of directing dramas and variety shows is very different.
It feels like they're wasting talent by bringing a star drama director here.
Just as there are emotional songs and funky songs in music, the genres are completely different.
"Writer-nim, what you're holding in your hand... is that by any chance a script?"
"What? Ah, yes!"
I let out an embarrassed laugh, holding the first part of my next project's script.
"A new work already... I'm looking forward to it."
"Um, if it's not too much trouble, would you be able to take a look?"
I was curious how it would look in the eyes of a 'real' genius, not a fake like me.
"Oh, of course. I really enjoyed 'Pure-hearted Macho' too."
Soon, Miryung came over and grabbed the sleeve of me, who was still standing there blankly.
For a moment, the memory of Semi grabbing my collar came to mind, and a smile leaked out.
"Writer-nim, please sit here."
"Yes, Miryung-ssi."
Ding-dong—
At that moment, the system's notification sound in my head.
[An actor with 78% compatibility with the role has been discovered.] [Do you want to register this actor for the role of 'Shim Yoojin'? (Y/N)]
"Huh...?"
The sub-female protagonist role that Yeo Minseo had wanted so much.
Perhaps because the actor pool had expanded after I raised my tier, the system reacted easily.
I glanced to the side, and of course, the halo of light was still there.
[Time Limit: 12 hours 50 minutes 59 seconds]
'Let's register her for now. I have a change ticket anyway.'
The system would cover the low compatibility rate.
Miryung was more than worth considering as a first-choice candidate.
"Um..."
At that moment, I felt the gazes of people looking at me with curiosity.
In particular, I took a seat, leaving behind Miryung who was sending a strange gaze.
"Ah, I'll show you the script first."
Soon, Director Song began to read the script with a serious expression.
I was curious how the genius director would evaluate my work.