CEO Jang Kyungjoon of Rainbow Entertainment was spending his days in happiness.
Because with one very small choice, he had gained a greater profit than anything else.
He wondered if this was what it meant to be sitting on a cushion of money.
The synergy effect of "Pure-hearted Macho"'s success and its OST charting.
The massive rise of Purple Girls immediately led to an increase in the company's value.
Hadn't the new term 'Purple Girls Coin' even appeared online?
Suddenly, he recalled the day he had faced both writer Kim Jinwoo and writer Lee Minjoo.
"What would have happened if I had chosen writer Lee Minjoo that day?"
At the time, writer Lee Minjoo had offered a sub-lead role.
But now, her drama was struggling to stay in the 10% range.
If, by any chance, he had taken writer Lee Minjoo's hand.
He would have almost traded a goose that lays golden eggs for a second-place lottery ticket.
BEEEEEP──
At that moment, a call came from the secretarial team on the landline.
"Yeah. What is it?"
-CEO-nim, Writer Kim has arrived.
"Writer Kim? Y-you mean, Writer Kim Jinwoo?"
-Yes. But his attire is...
"Uh, tell him to come in right away!"
-Yes. Understood.
A moment later, Jinwoo appeared in the CEO's office.
But his attire, as the secretary had said, was unusual.
"Ah... Wr-writer-nim?"
"Yes."
A backpack and a hiking hat, and even socks that covered his entire calves.
His shoes were also work boots that looked like combat boots.
"Writer-nim... are you going somewhere today?"
"Yes. To Busan, for research."
"Ah... you're working hard."
The CEO was flustered as he looked at Jinwoo's stern face.
'Did our kids do something wrong?'
They were in Japan for their schedule, so they would have barely had a chance to run into him.
"I'll get straight to the point."
"Yes. Please speak."
Ah, the time has finally come. He had been wondering if giving a monetary gift was proper etiquette or, conversely, improper. Perhaps because he was young, it seemed he had come to receive it so directly.
"It's been a while since I started writing my next project."
"What? Why that, all of a sudden...?"
"Let's do the next project together."
Everyone who needed to know already knew.
The fact that writer Kim Jinwoo and director Song Gwonsu had teamed up.
The CEO swallowed hard and waited for the next words.
"Miryung-ssi, is she busy these days?"
"What? Miryung?"
Soon after, Kim Jinwoo contacted Director Song.
And as soon as he had finished casting Miryung, he left for Busan.
One month later,
a month had already passed since writer Kim Jinwoo had left for Busan.
He would contact them once in a while, but it was common for him to be out of touch for a week at a time.
"Are all writers like this?"
Suddenly saying he has to go to an island to write.
Or asking for help because he's going to write at someone else's company.
"Phew..."
Saerom reviewed the script up to Part 10 that Jinwoo had sent.
Each and every part was a clean screenplay, free of unnecessary frills.
Knock, knock—
"Come in."
Manager Jung immediately threw a question to Team Leader Byun, who had come in response to her call.
"Team Leader Byun, there won't be any problems with the first broadcast of 'Pure-hearted Macho' in Japan today, right?"
"No! It will be broadcast on Fuji TV as scheduled."
Saerom had chosen Japan as the first country for overseas rights export.
She had directly contacted Fuji TV, which mainly broadcasts Hallyu dramas, and secured the contract.
'When on earth did the manager make connections in Japan...?'
Team Leader Byun Hyukjoo looked at Saerom with a newfound sense of respect.
Because this type of melodrama had always been popular in that country.
They expected it to be at least a moderate hit in Japan.
"Is Netflix still just testing the waters?"
"Yes. We're in constant contact, but their demands are a bit excessive... so it's been sluggish."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"...They keep bringing up the fact that we pre-contracted with the Japanese side."
"If it seems too difficult, let me know. I'll try contacting them myself."
Team Leader Byun paused for a moment and then continued.
"Um... on the other hand, it seems we can get a very good deal with Disney+."
"That's too much of a gamble. For now, let's prioritize Netflix."
"Yes, Manager-nim."
Bzzzzt—
At that moment, the PD of the KBC variety show pilot program contacted Saerom.
"Yes. PD Lee, this is Manager Jung Saerom."
-Um, we've already started filming. I was just calling to see if there are any additional actors.
"It's three people: Kang Jun, Kim Hyunji, and Miryung-ssi."
-Ah... Director Song mentioned that a few more might be added.
"For now, we'll go with the three main protagonists, and I'll let you know if there are any additions."
-Yes. Then I'll proceed with that understanding.
All the preparations were already complete.
Perhaps because two of KBC's key figures were involved, the production of the 2-part variety show was instantaneous.
Kang Jun, a former high school child actor.
Kim Hyunji, a rookie actress with no prior experience.
Miryung, the leader of Purple Girls and a 4th-year actress.
"Um... can a hit project really come out of that combination?"
Saerom slowly answered Team Leader Byun's question.
"In this industry, if you succeed, it's thanks to the writer and director, and if you fail, it's the production company's fault."
"Ah..."
"For now, focus on the pilot observational variety show."
"Yes! Um, but there is one problem..."
"A problem?"
Team Leader Byun relayed the conversation he had with the SBC variety department staff without omitting anything.
"The other actors are fine. But actor Kang Jun is a bit..."
"Yes. Why?"
"These days, all actor Kang Jun does is stay at the acting academy or the company."
"...You mean there's nothing to film?"
"Yes. Even the rookie actress, Ms. Kim Hyunji, has a lot to film because she meets with various glamorous friends."
"..."
The core of this drama is, in the end, Kang Jun.
Isn't the title itself 'The Regressor Who Erases Memories'?
"Where is that academy? The one actor Kang Jun attends."
"Ah! I believe he attends an affiliate academy of ours."
"Then..."
Jung Saerom thought deeply for a moment and then opened her mouth.
"Let's just rent out the academy for the entire day today."
"What? Ah..."
"Please ask the students for their understanding in advance."
"They are all aspiring actors, so they will probably welcome it."
Appearing on a major broadcast TV channel was not an easy opportunity.
"Then I'll proceed with that understa..."
"I'll go myself."
"Y-you, Manager-nim?"
Although it was an affiliate academy, Manager Jung had never visited in person.
"I've never stopped by before. Let's take this opportunity to have a look."
"I've really seen all sorts of crazy bastards in my life."
"You're used to it by now."
Is there another lunatic besides me who would say they want to write in the middle of the ocean?
Worse, I had battled nausea and tapped away at my laptop on the boat.
"2% of battery remaining."
"Ah, damn it, the battery!!!"
I'm almost done, I have to finish Part 11 today.If they tell me to come out on the boat again tomorrow, I might really feel like killing myself.
"Here, I brought it. A power bank."
"Ooh!!!"
"I don't want to come out again tomorrow either."
"Nice shot, mister."
It was a two-week, long-term mission.
A journey of finding the 'studio' that shone brightly when it was moderately dark and writing.
Swoooosh—
The boat rocked once again with the waves.
"Argh, seriously."
A crime thriller drama that continues from Part 6 to Part 11.
With this part, the Busan dark organizations are completely wiped out.
It took a little long for a 24-hour regressor.
But since the limit of his ability had been foreshadowed through the nosebleed.
"Well, the romance is making progress too."
The protagonist maintained a fairly close relationship with the female lead.
More than anything, the female lead had also completely figured out the male lead's ability.
-Stop regressing now! -I can't. -What if I forget you too because of it! -...You were saved, thanks to it.
The finishing touches on Part 11 continue.
The male lead, who has infiltrated as the female lead's secretary, declares war on the chaebol family.
In terms of assets alone, he was not inferior to the chaebol chairman.
Clack, CLACK—!
"It's done!!!!"
Send me back to land, quick. Please. Soon, the captain turned the boat and headed for the pier. Just thinking about the seasickness I had suffered for the past few days.
"Ah, it's hard. I feel like I'm going to die."
"Such a young punk, whining."
"..."
Perhaps because I thought it was over, the boat ride back was also an ordeal.
However, the mister asked a question with an indifferent expression.
"If you're a drama writer, you must have written some works I'd know."
"It's called 'Pure-hearted Macho,' it's doing well these days."
"What's that? Write something like 'Sandglass'."
"..."
A moment later, I expressed my gratitude to the mister and handed him a tip.
"Writer fellow, let me know if you come down to Busan again."
"I'll think about it."
Please let that not happen.
Swish—
I took my smartphone out of my pocket.
The calls I couldn't receive at sea came flooding in.
"I've wrapped up the Busan organization arc in Part 11. So I can go up to Seoul now, right?"
If you tell me to come here again, I'll really kill you.
Ring, ring, ring—
-Hello.
"Manager-nim, it's me."
-Phew... it's been a while since you've called.
"So it has. The air in Busan is nice."
Saerom paused for a moment and then continued.
-Wow, I want to live like Kim Jinwoo for just one day, without a care in the world.
"Oh! Then I'm the only one who profits...?"
-You wanna die?
"Ah, no."
-No, there was a fly next to me. I was talking to the fly.
"...In this weather?"
-Yes.
Surely that fly wasn't me?
"Hmm, I'll be heading up to Seoul soon anyway."
-That's good. We're in the middle of filming the pilot program.
"'Pure-hearted Macho' is...?"
-It's been a long time since its ratings far surpassed MBS's.
"Oh, that's good. Then I'll see you when I get up there."
-Yes. Do that.
Click.
As soon as I hung up, I went to the "Pure-hearted Macho" community.
『(Notice) 15% Viewership Rating Achievement Event!』 『(Notice) Collecting donations for a food truck for the production team on the last day of filming.』 『(Notice) Collection of still cuts』
This isn't the D&C gallery I knew.
"Ah... so it's being directly managed by the Tempest official fan cafe."
A systematic system controlled by administrators dispatched from the fan cafe.
The moment a curse or a random post was uploaded, it was cut with the sharpness of a knife.
"To think the fans are even sending a food truck gift."
On the other hand, 'Shoot the Sun' was barely maintaining the 10% range.
Since it had faltered from the start, in a way, it was a natural course of events.
A moment later,
I took the KTX train and headed for Seoul.
Bzzzzt—
I was in the middle of a nap when a phone call woke me up.
"Ugh, hello."
-Hyungnim, are you busy?
Im Jaejun, who had grown up and now called me hyung instead of writer.
"I was busy just now. Not anymore."
-Pardon?
"You woke me up."
-Ah... s-sorry.
"No, it's fine. What's up?"
Jaejun apologized again and then continued.
-I'm going to be filming a commercial. It's in a short drama format.
"Oh, really? Congratulations."
-Ahaha, but I was wondering if you could possibly write the script.
"A commercial script?"
-Yes! I thought it would be polite to ask you directly.
Am I really writing a script with just my own skills for the first time in a long time?
"What's the pay?"
-It will probably be considerable!
"You, you punk, are a good younger brother."
Let's be brothers for life, you bastard.
"Hmm, what's with the camera?"
Heejung only noticed the KBC variety show filming team after she arrived at the academy.
For some reason, the atmosphere at the academy today was very charged.
Soon, Kang Jun slowly approached Heejung and spoke.
"Heejung-ah, what are you doing?"
"Hmm, is it some special day today?"
"...You didn't know?"
"Huh? What?"
"The KBC variety show came to film today."
"A variety show, suddenly?"
"Not so suddenly."
No wonder people had put in extra effort to dress up today.
Wearing accessories they wouldn't normally wear just to appear on a major broadcast station.
"Actually, they came to film me. I'm filming a daily life variety show."
"Huh? Who are you?"
"Well... I'm going to be in a 16-episode drama on KBC."
"Huh, really? Why didn't you say so?"
"Hmm..."
Kang Jun looked in one direction and said.
"See that person over there?"
"Who?"
"The person standing over there."
"Oh, a really pretty unni!?"
But for some reason, her face was familiar.
There's no way she wouldn't remember someone that pretty.
"She's the manager at our agency. Tempest Entertainment."
"OMG, you were with Tempest? Why didn't you say so?"
"You didn't ask."
Heejung stared intently at the woman who was talking with the production team.
A beauty with looks more stunning than an actress, in a suit that suited her well.
Click, clack—
Soon, the goddess-like woman slowly walked over.
She opened her lips with a gentle smile.
"Actor Kang Jun, who is this person...?"
Heejung was certain upon seeing Saerom's face.
That she had definitely seen this person before.
'The person I saw as oppa's profile picture when he messaged me...'
She was too beautiful to be contained in a small photo.
Just by standing still, an unapproachable aura was felt.
"Umm, Manager Jung Saerom...?"
"Pardon? How do you know my name?"
"Well, my oppa seems to be very clo... no, seems to know you a little."
"Your oppa... who is your oppa?"
Receiving the gazes of Saerom and Kang Jun, Heejung managed to open her mouth with difficulty.
"Writer Kim Jinwoo."