Chapter 8 – Alright, Let's Begin!

1:00 AM, SBC Editing Room.

Park Ji-hye woke up and looked around with dazed eyes.

'I must have fallen asleep while editing...’

- Thud

The blanket she had been using fell to the floor.

Seeing this, she...

‘Could it be that PD Kang...’

She suddenly snapped to attention.

To be caught dozing off twice!

‘Ugh...’

At that moment, Dong-su entered the editing room.

"Rookie, did you sleep well?"

"PD Kang, I'm sorry. I... I..."

"It's okay to doze off when you're tired. Come on, let's go."

"Go where...?"

Dong-su smiled and said,

"For a late-night snack!"

"A late-night snack...?"

The two arrived at a 24-hour sundae stew restaurant near SBC.

Dong-su asked her as she set up the water and utensils.

"Did you let your parents know you'd be working late?"

"It's fine. I live on my own."

"Really? You moved out early."

"Yes."

"Still, you should keep in touch with your parents."

Park Ji-hye looked at him for a moment, then smiled gently and replied,

"Yes."

Just then, the sundae stew arrived.

Dong-su said,

"Let's eat."

"Yes!"

Dong-su added some shrimp paste and seasonings to taste.

Park Ji-hye alternated her gaze between Dong-su and the sundae stew, then slowly reached for the shrimp paste with her spoon.

However, her spoon paused in front of the shrimp paste.

"......"

She looked very hesitant.

Dong-su, who was about to eat, noticed her and asked,

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I was wondering what this is..."

"......You don't know what shrimp paste is?"

"Oh, this is shrimp paste..."

"Is this your first time seeing shrimp paste? Have you never had sundae stew before?"

"......Yes."

Dong-su looked at her curiously and said,

"Didn't your senior editor buy you sundae stew? That guy must be a real scrooge."

"I usually bring my own lunch... I always eat alone."

"Lunch? Even during filming?"

"Yes..."

"Why? Are you on a diet?"

"No, that's not it..."

Park Ji-hye trailed off.

Dong-su, guessing there was some reason behind it, said,

"Living alone and bringing your own lunch... You're quite diligent."

"Ahaha, well..."

Park Ji-hye looked a bit uncomfortable, but Dong-su, not taking it too seriously, pointed to the shrimp paste.

"Add a little if the stew smells gamey. You don't have to if you don't want to."

"Ah, yes..."

"Add seasonings if you like it spicy."

"I see..."

Park Ji-hye nodded as if she had just learned something important.

Dong-su chuckled and said,

"Go ahead and eat."

"Yes!"

Park Ji-hye checked the seasoning of the stew and, with a tense expression, added a little shrimp paste.

Dong-su watched her for a moment before starting to eat.

They ate in silence for a while.

As they were finishing, Dong-su said,

"I'll have the subtitles for the preview ready by morning. Hand them over to the subtitling department in the afternoon."

"Yes!"

"Think about how to shoot the remaining two episodes. We'll have a meeting tomorrow."

"Understood!"

"And I've scheduled a meeting with the writers for tomorrow."

"Already found them?"

"Not yet... We need to meet and decide."

"Yes!"

Park Ji-hye looked very pleased, her face showing her affection for 'Living with Puppies!'

Dong-su stared at her for a moment,

"Finish eating and go home."

"Huh? But..."

"Come on, resting is part of the job. If you overwork yourself and collapse, the rest of us will suffer!"

"I'm fine. I have good stamina!"

"Enough, get some rest and come in around lunchtime. I'll let CP Kim know."

"But..."

"Hey!"

"......Yes..."

They finished paying and left the restaurant.

Dong-su, with a toothpick in his mouth, asked,

"Where do you live?"

"Yongsan."

"Did you bring a car?"

"No."

"Are you also a BMW (Bus, Metro, Walking) person?"

"No, I'm a Ferrari..."

Park Ji-hye started to answer naturally but then hesitated, looking at Dong-su's reaction.

Dong-su misinterpreted her reaction.

"Haha, was my dad joke too much? It was pretty cool at first!"

She thought it was a relief and replied naturally,

"No! It's funny!"

"Rookie, you're drooling on your lips!"

Park Ji-hye stifled a laugh as she looked at Dong-su.

At that moment, Dong-su checked the time,

"The buses to Yongsan must be gone. Is there a late-night bus?"

"Ah! It's fine. I can take a taxi!"

Dong-su took out 50,000 won from his wallet and handed it to her.

"Take a taxi with this."

"Really? It's fine! I have money..."

"Newbies don't have money. Take it!"

"......"

"Quickly! My arm hurts!"

"Yes, thank you..."

"Alright, go home safely. See you at lunch!"

Dong-su walked towards the broadcasting station.

Park Ji-hye watched him for a moment, then looked at the 50,000 won in her hand.

She made a strange expression, then took out a fancy wallet and carefully put the money inside.

She then called someone on her smartphone.

"Where are you waiting? Yes? I'm in front of a 24-hour sundae stew restaurant. Yes, I'll wait."

After the call ended...

She looked in the direction Dong-su had disappeared, smiling faintly.

= = = = = = =

Early morning, in a bathroom at SBC.

Dong-su was brushing his teeth and rubbing his neck.

After staying up all night editing,

'I feel alive.'

Dong-su chuckled.

Gahon asked,

'I don't know! I don't know anything! I'm just happy!'

Dong-su said in a serious voice,

"People can be happy even when they're in the worst condition."

Dong-su chuckled and thought,

"Well, collect more data. You might figure it out."

He walked down the hallway, thinking,

"The rough editing is almost done. I just need to add the subtitles. I have to choose a writer today!"

Then he saw two familiar people chatting in a corner of the hallway.

'Those two... They're the 'Dotori' rookies, right?'

The rookie writer and the rookie assistant director.

They were laughing and chatting.

Dong-su thought about greeting them, but...

"Is it true that Writer Im is going on a blind date?"

He paused when he heard Im Hye-suk mentioned.

The rookie writer then answered in a bright voice,

"Yes! She even took a day off today! She even booked a salon!"

"Wow! Who's the blind date with?"

"Seems to be a lawyer..."

"Wow! A professional! I hope it goes well!"

"Right? Right?"

Dong-su immediately took out his smartphone.

And...

└Dong-su: Writer Im, good luck! Let's eat noodles next year!

└Writer Im: OK! Thanks!

Dong-su chuckled and walked past the 'Dotori' rookies towards the editing room.

'I just need to touch up the lunch appointment scene!'

= = = = = = =

Around lunchtime.

Dong-su met with Writer Park Jun-man first.

They had lunch together and talked...

"Two episodes and then the finale? Oh, is there a next project...?"

"There are no plans yet."

"......I see."

Writer Park Jun-man seemed to want a longer series, but Dong-su couldn't give a definite answer.

After all, Dong-su might return to the review department after finishing this project.

"Thank you for the meal. I'll think about it and get back to you."

"Yes, take care."

He said he would think about it, but Dong-su had already made up his mind.

'Park Jun-man won't work.'

Next was Writer Han Se-hee.

She arrived thirty minutes late without any prior notice.

"I was in a traffic accident on the way..."

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"It wasn't me, but someone else on the road."

"......?"

"I've never seen a traffic accident before. I was watching and got late."

"......"

She was quite unique.

Dong-su felt increasingly uncomfortable as they talked.

'I don't think I'll match with Writer Han Se-hee.'

Dong-su decided to give up on recruiting her.

The last meeting was with Writer Yoon Hae-yan.

They agreed to meet at a cafe in Yeouido.

Yoon Hae-yan had a name that matched her appearance—she had very fair skin.

Her eyes were sharp, giving her a slightly fierce look, but...

"Hello, I'm Yoon Hae-yan. I've heard a lot about you from PD Park. Nice to meet you."

Her voice was very soft, and her tone was gentle.

Dong-su naturally extended his hand for a handshake.

"I've heard a lot from my senior, Park Dae-chul. Nice to meet you, I'm Dong-su."

"Ahaha, I'm a bit scared to hear what was said."

She smiled warmly and shook his hand.

Then...

The hacking began.

A bit slower than when he was a nurse.

When the hacking reached 7%, the handshake ended.

"Please sit down. What would you like to drink...?"

"I'll go order!"

"No, I'll get it."

"Um... Then... I'll have an Americano. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

While ordering, he glanced at Yoon Hae-yan's information window.

『Name: Yoon Hae-yan / Gender: Female / Age: 31 / Occupation: Writer』

『Skill 1: Voice Imitation / Skill 2: Exploration』

'Voice imitation? Exploration?'

He suddenly remembered what PD Park Dae-chul had said.

'Writer Hae-yan, when she sets her mind to finding something, she always finds it. She was a big help on 'I Want to Know That!''

It must be due to her 'Exploration' skill.

Dong-su ordered two Americanos while thinking about various things.

"Let me bring them to the table!"

He returned to the table with the server's words.

They chatted about various things while waiting for the coffee.

Dong-su thought about Yoon Hae-yan,

'She listens carefully to what others say.'

He understood why PD Park Dae-chul had said he missed Writer Hae-yan after having a fight with Writer Im Hye-suk.

As they drank their coffee, Dong-su got to the point.

"Writer Yoon, would you consider being the main writer for our program?"

"Um... I'd like to help if I can, but... I'm not confident with variety shows."

Yoon Hae-yan had started as a scriptwriter for 'I Want to Know That!' and had worked on nature observation documentaries ever since.

She said she didn't know much about comedy or trends in variety shows.

Hearing this, Dong-su thought, 'What should I do...?'

Then Yoon Hae-yan said apologetically,

"I might just be a burden..."

At that moment,

-Ding

A notification window appeared.

『Yoon Hae-yan's Ensemble Score has been updated.』

'Updated?'

『Yoon Hae-yan's Ensemble Information』

【Hacking Rate: 7%】

【Ensemble Score: 91 (A Grade)】

【Error Rate: ±1%】

【Detailed Abilities: (Available at 10% Hacking Rate)】

"......!"

The score was incredibly high.

Dong-su, trying not to show his surprise, calmly asked Gahon,

'Gahon, what's going on?'

Writer Yoon Hae-yan was easy to talk to and had a good vibe.

Moreover, an A grade...

'I don't blindly trust the Ensemble Score, but...'

Dong-su thought for a moment, then made up his mind and said,

"Writer! Don't worry about comedy! It's not that important."

"But..."

"Please, help me with my program!"

"I'd like to help, but..."

"Please!"

"It might not be helpful..."

"Please!!"

"PD Kang..."

"Please!!!"

"......"

After Dong-su's desperate recruitment pitch, finally...

"Alright, I'll accept PD's offer!"

Writer Yoon Hae-yan joined the 'Living with Puppies!' team!

Dong-su smiled broadly and said,

"Writer Yoon, let's go to the broadcasting station right away!"

"Right now?"

"Yes! We don't have time! We're starting the meeting today!"

"Wait a moment! I need to get my laptop..."

"There are plenty of computers at the station! Haha!"

Dong-su, thinking about the bewildered Writer Yoon Hae-yan, headed to SBC.

'Alright, let's begin!'

My dream!