Chapter 12

JTBS Broadcasting Station.

Director Bang Hyung-tae, the head of the drama production department, was sweating it out with Director Sung.

“Director Sung… Are you really going to do it?”

“Yes. I have to. I already agreed.”

The money paid for Director Sung’s fee alone amounts to hundreds of millions of won every year.

It wasn’t as if he had scouted an expensive newcomer writer just to give him a cheap project.

“I heard you caused a commotion at Min-ju’s studio and left….”

“Hmm, is that so? I like it even more….”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant…!”

For a moment, he had overlooked the fact that the relationship between Director Sung Gihun and Writer Min-ju was bad.

“Is it because of the contract with Tempest Entertainment? I can handle that….”

“No. That’s a secondary issue now.”

What was the reason for the usually cool and rational Director Sung to be so fixated on this particular project?

It made his stomach churn even more because a good project seemed to be coming up soon.

“Director Sung, you know that Writer Jo Yoo-yeon’s work ended recently, right? We’re contacting her these days….”

“Is that so.”

“No, it’s just… Hehe.”

Director Sung chuckled and asked Bang.

“Director, do you think I took on this project just to take it easy and rest?”

“No, I definitely don’t think that.”

“This time, my instincts are spot on. You know I have good instincts, right?”

It was a confidence he didn’t even show when shooting so-called blockbuster works.

It would have been much better if such instincts came when working with a star writer.

“Are Directors Jung and Ma taking a break these days?”

“What?”

“It’s been a while since we worked together.”

“No….”

The top cinematographer and lighting director of JTBS.

There was no one who didn’t know their skills among the actors they had worked with.

With their combination, even an ordinary girl group member could transform into a visual center.

How much more would actresses who looked stunning even in selfies shine?

He wondered if it was really right to invest so much in a newcomer writer.

“Come on, don’t look so serious.”

“Director Sung, if this fails, you’ll lose all the reputation you’ve built up.”

“Hmm, is that so? But I’ve made a lot of money for JTBS, haven’t I?”

“Ah… It’s just a figure of speech. Hehe.”

Director Sung listened to the manager’s words and continued.

“I’ll count on you for the scheduling.”

“That’s not something I can do….”

“You’ll have a lot of influence, especially with a project that’s causing so much noise.”

“There are people who know that….”

Click—

Director Sung smiled again and left.

The manager shook his head as he watched Director Sung leave.

A person who never bends to others’ opinions.

While there was a glimmer of hope from Director Sung’s proactive attitude, the penalty of being a newcomer writer loomed heavily.

“Phew, MBS seems to be about to announce a blockbuster.”

It was a pre-produced drama, so it could be scheduled at any time.

No one knew when it would be dropped into the deadly scheduling time slot, a nuclear weapon.

Other broadcasting stations were waiting for MBS to drop the bomb.

If the schedules overlapped, even Director Sung would be doomed.

“I feel uneasy.”

* * *

I finished the fifth episode and checked Se-mi and Ji-sung-ho’s acting again.

In particular, I pointed out the differences compared to the scenes I had seen in the drama.

Se-mi’s acting, chosen by the system, was excellent, and Ji-sung-ho’s acting was also at a remarkable level.

“You’re both acting geniuses…!”

“Was Se-mi always this good at acting?”

“No, she just fits this role perfectly.”

Even Yuna, who had joined us, was busy watching along with the other three members.

“If you keep it up like this, there won’t be any problems in front of the director tomorrow.”

“Wow… Finally, we’re recognized!”

Ji-sung-ho lay on the floor of the practice room, looking exhausted.

It was understandable, as I had made them repeat a single scene dozens of times.

“Good job, Writer.”

“Se-mi, you did a great job too.”

“Um, Writer.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing….”

Se-mi’s shoulders drooped like a lost puppy.

She looked so cute that I wanted to save a screenshot of her.

“Are you worried about tomorrow?”

“A little….”

“Just do it like today.”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

She showed a lively expression again.

Indeed, being a Se-mi fan seems to be a good choice.

A little while later,

Ji-sung-ho’s manager arrived at Rainbow Entertainment.

“Writer, you have an appointment with the manager today….”

“Yes, I heard.”

“I’ll take you there.”

“Ah, then can I ask you for a favor?”

On the way to Tempest Entertainment, I talked with Ji-sung-ho.

The conversation mainly revolved around the overall story.

“Writer, how does the story go up to the 16th episode?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve only written up to the 5th episode….”

Ji-sung-ho’s tone became awkward at the unconventional answer.

“You only plan a couple of episodes at a time….”

“No, I’ve written up to the 5th episode.”

“Really? The 5th episode is already out? You were writing the 3rd episode just a few days ago….”

“I write whenever I get an idea.”

According to the system’s prompts.

“But the quality… Writer, you really seem like a genius.”

“It could look that way, I guess.”

If I were in Ji-sung-ho’s position, I would have thought the same.

If I had seen a writer produce such works almost daily.

I might have felt the wall of talent and fallen into despair.

* * *

“Manager, why was I cut?”

“Min-seo, you shouldn’t use the term ‘cut’ for an actress.”

“Who is Se-mi to be put in my place? It’s really frustrating.”

“Sigh… The writer chose her directly.”

Tempest Entertainment’s Jeong Saerom’s office.

An actress raised her voice and confronted Manager Jeong.

“Is she being sponsored or something?”

“Yeo Min-seo, can’t you watch your words?”

“….”

If Tempest was grooming a male actor, it would be Ji-sung-ho, and for a female actor, it would be Yeo Min-seo.

“You’re being too pampered. Is this your living room?”

“… I’m sorry.”

“Get out.”

Manager Jeong, unusually cold, dismissed her.

Knock, knock—

At that moment,

“Manager, Writer Kim Jin-woo is here.”

The secretary’s voice came from outside the door.

The secretary brought Jin-woo in after getting Saerom’s approval.

Zap—

Instantly, Yeo Min-seo glared intensely at Kim Jin-woo.

“What.”

“What!”

“What is it.”

“Move!”

Jin-woo looked bewildered as he watched Yeo Min-seo leave.

“Is she usually that fierce?”

Saerom sighed and greeted Jin-woo.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

“The lead role in our next project was originally meant for Min-seo.”

“Oh….”

“Moreover, she was really looking forward to your work after reading it.”

“That’s great.”

“Yes?”

“No, I mean, thank you for today.”

Thanks to borrowing Ji-sung-ho, things went well.

As always, Jin-woo was in her debt.

“No, I sent him because he said it was fine.”

“Still, it helped.”

Soon, Saerom cautiously asked about Jin-woo’s visit.

“Since we’ll see each other at the meeting with the director tomorrow, why are you here….”

“That’s why.”

“Yes.”

“I want to finalize something before then.”

“Is it about casting?”

“Something like that.”

“Something like….”

Talking with Writer Kim Jin-woo always felt like going around in circles.

This time, he resolved to be more direct.

“If it’s about Se-mi, you don’t need to say anything. The director will decide.”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then…?”

“Hold auditions.”

“Oh, I’m considering auditions for supporting roles. Especially for a specific role….”

“The role of Cheon Ji-ho.”

“… That’s the lead role.”

In movies, new stars are sometimes born by beating thousands of competitors.

However, how many dramas in the world cast their main male lead through auditions?

“Let’s try it once.”

“No, are you serious! Phew….”

It was impossible in the already competitive drama market.

Jeong Saerom barely held back a harsh word and replied.

“Of course, the auditions will be our production company’s responsibility, right?”

“Hmm, will it be?”

“Mr. Kim….”

“???”

“No, Writer Kim. It seems you don’t know much about dramas….”

“I do. Dramas.”

Jin-woo was well aware that holding auditions in the drama market was not an easy choice.

He had rolled forward and backward under a nasty-tempered writer for the past six years.

‘This way, there won’t be any backtalk.’

External factors of the drama were beyond Kim Jin-woo’s control.

Forcing someone like Im Jae-joon into the role could ruin the image and the drama.

“I’ve thought about it carefully.”

“Sigh… Okay, let’s say I agree.”

“Then what?”

“Do you think Director Sung Gihun will approve?”

“Oh, that….”

Saerom smiled brightly, as if she had found a breakthrough.

“If Director Sung approves, we can discuss it again then.”

* * *

The way home felt heavy.

My parents were busy, so my younger sister greeted me.

“Brother, you came home late.”

“Yeah. You were still up?”

Thud—

Hye-jeong looked at me as I sat on the sofa.

“Oh, right. I shot the video letter for Ji-sung-ho today. I’ll send it to you.”

“… Brother, you look tired today. Are you okay?”

She usually doesn’t worry about me like this.

I must have looked particularly gloomy today.

“Um… It’s hard trying to cast the two actors I chose.”

I knew drama production wasn’t easy.

Casting was just the beginning.

It was already exhausting trying to cast the two leads.

At least as the main writer, I had the leeway to give my opinion.

If I were still an assistant writer, I would have quit long ago.

Hye-jeong patted my back without a word.

“That’s my wallet.”

“Oh, right.”

“…”

Today, the family is happy.

“Anyway, thanks for the video for our Ji-sung-ho.”

“Yeah. He’s not your brother. Acknowledge the genes.”

My sister didn’t even listen to me and went straight to her room.

“I set the schedule too tight.”

First, I had to prepare for the meeting with the director tomorrow.

Especially, I needed to finalize the casting of Se-mi and the auditions.

“I’ll start with what I can do right now.”

I needed to review the first episode and the fifth episode script I wrote today.

“Even though I wrote it, I need to analyze it.”

Since I had already seen the drama, I could review it in one night.

It didn’t make sense to say the script wasn’t well memorized, as it came from the writer’s mind.

Ding—

Then, the notification sound appeared again, indicating a new writing location.

【Content: Heir of the Chaebol, Episode 6】

【Genre: Romance, Chaebol】

【Location: Tempest Entertainment 1st Floor Cafe】

【Time Limit: 24 hours】

【※ Bronze Upgrade: 110-110101-1011 (Virtual Account, W Bank)】

【※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 10,000,000 won】

“First time at the same location.”

With 24 hours, there was plenty of time.