Chapter 15

"Mountains are mountains, and water is water..."

Swish—

Creak, creak—

Waves crashing against the breakwater and seagulls crossing the blue sky.

How have I been living in a city full of smoke all this time?

"Uncle Baek, are you really leaving today?"

"Kid, call me hyung, not ajusshi."

"But you look like an ajusshi."

The son of the guesthouse owner where I've been staying for the past few days.

I think I heard his name three times, but I forgot it.

"And I'm not an unemployed person, I'm a writer."

"What's a writer?"

"How many times have you asked that?"

I feel like I've already told you ten times.

Since it's the last time, I'll give you a special eye-level education.

"Do you know the group Purple Girls?"

"No."

"Ji Sung-ho, do you know him? An actor. A hot guy. Tall."

"Never heard of him. Oh, I know Giapjeonja Loreca!"

".... Loreca and I are friends."

"Wow, amazing! Uncle, you're awesome!"

"Yeah. I know."

The scripts I endured and wrote.

I've been going up and down Hallasan in a hurry, so my feet have no rest.

In just two weeks, I've been running around with sore feet, writing like a madman.

"It's been really tough."

Up to 12 episodes, a series of scripts spanning six parts.

In between, the love line progressed steadily, and the outline was set.

The buildup of the wealthy family's characters was solidly established.

Now, all that's left is to explode the soda and wrap up the love line.

If I can wrap it up well, I think I can secure a solid audience base.

Ding—

I turned on my smartphone, which I had sealed away for a long time.

"What are all these calls?"

From Sem, Jung Saerom, Director Sung, and Actor Im.

I called the person who called most recently.

-Oh! Mr. Kim!

"Yes. Manager Jung. Anyone would think a war had broken out..."

-So, where are you now!?

"Jeju Island."

-...Don't joke around.

"Really."

The seagull calls and the sound of the waves will prove it.

-Um... Do you know the final audition is in just two hours?

"Of course. I'll take a flight and head to Seoul around then."

-You're saying that now...!

"Oh, what can I do? The plane is about to take off."

-You just said you'd take it in two hours!

"I'll be there soon. See you in Seoul. Bye!"

Click.

"Seems like they need me more than I thought."

I feel like I'm really needed. It's very satisfying.

A sense of achievement I've never felt in six years as an assistant writer.

With the smartphone on, I indulged in the benefits of civilization I hadn't enjoyed.

"Wow, so much has happened in the entertainment industry over the past two weeks."

Various incidents plastered the news section of the portal site.

One dating rumor, one drunk driving case, a major drama lineup.

"Major drama... MBS blockbuster?"

《MBS Blockbuster Drama 'Shooting the Sun' Confirmed to Air in Two Months!》

Numerous journalists copied and pasted the content to proliferate the news.

The comments below were filled with expectations.

"Wow, the dramas competing with this one are going to be in trouble."

A faint comfort to my poor friends.

If it airs in two months, at least it won't compete with mine.

It will take at least six months for my work to air.

"I need to go to the airport and see if there's a faster flight."

I soon moved back to the guesthouse to pack my bags.

But when it came time to part, the kid was making a sad face.

When I gave him ten thousand won as pocket money, he was immediately comforted.

"Get me a signed picture of Giapjeonja Loreca later!"

"Sure. I'll try."

* * *

Tempest Entertainment, basement 1st floor conference room.

"Manager, everything is ready."

"Already?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, no."

Two hours had passed, but Mr. Kim was nowhere to be seen.

'Should I be relieved that at least he answered the call...?'

Chuckle—

Thinking of Kim Jin-woo made me laugh for no reason.

Why do I have to take care of him like a mother?

"Manager?"

"Hmm, no."

The temporary seating filled the basement 1st floor.

Production staff were busy moving around the stage set up at the front.

"Director Sung, you're here?"

"It's been a while, Manager Jung."

Director Sung looked around, searching for someone.

It seemed he was looking for Mr. Kim, so Saerom spoke up.

"He might be a bit late. Mr. Kim Jin-woo is currently—"

That's when it happened.

"Looking for me?"

Everyone's attention focused on the voice coming from behind.

"Mr. Kim! Where have you been all this time...!"

Kim Jin-woo, who was showing up for the first time in two weeks.

But his appearance was far from normal.

His half-torn jeans and large backpack made him look like someone who had just been rescued from a disaster.

"What's with your appearance!"

"I was told to come right away. My flight time was also approaching."

At that moment, a production staff member on stage asked in a loud voice.

"Director, it's time to start. Should I tell the first actor to get ready?"

"No! Let's start right away."

Following Director Sung's instructions, the production staff headed to the actors' waiting room.

"Mr. Kim, did you go to Jeju Island alone to scout locations? Is that right?"

"Ooh, almost that."

Hearing Director Sung's words, Jin-woo readily agreed.

Saerom, looking puzzled, spoke to him.

"Mr. Kim, can we talk after the audition?"

".... Can't it wait?"

"No!"

A moment later,

The first actor was called to the stage.

"Let's start with actor Lee Chang-soo!"

One of the twenty who made it to the final audition.

More than half, no, most of them, didn't need a meaningful interview.

"Ah, hello... I'm actor Lee Chang-soo!"

The interviewee, severely nervous, stuttered.

Without a significant impact, he wouldn't even get a glance.

If he made even a small mistake like actor Lee Chang-soo in front of us.

Beep—

Director Sung, holding the microphone, opened his mouth.

"Stop. Good job."

"Ah, yes. Yes!"

Being cut off mid-performance meant he was practically eliminated.

After eight participants, the ninth one.

"The next participant is from a theater troupe."

"Ooh, can we expect something this time?"

With the introduction by the production staff, the ninth participant entered.

"Hello, I'm Jo Kang-hyun!"

Hearing his introduction, Manager Jung asked a question.

"You've been doing theater in Daehak-ro for a long time?"

"Yes, about eight years."

"Since you were twenty?"

"Yes. I feel like I've been running for today."

Jo Kang-hyun, who had been doing theater in Daehak-ro for eight years.

However, his skills were far below expectations.

In the end, Jin-woo cut him off in the middle of his performance.

"Really, have you been acting for eight years?"

Hearing Jin-woo's harsh criticism, the participant's expression stiffened.

* * *

Starting with my evaluation, Manager Jung and Director Sung added their comments.

"For a role that needs to show an arrogant and haughty tycoon... how should I put it."

"It seems you don't understand the character."

"Right. The excessive gestures are especially annoying."

The participant, hearing the harsh criticism, exploded.

".... I haven't even shown half of my acting skills."

Oh, how did he pass the first round with such skills?

I glanced at Saerom next to me, and our eyes met.

She shrugged, as if to say she didn't know.

Indeed, the reality is that there are not enough talented actors.

The participant, frowning, tried to leave without saying goodbye.

But he looked familiar, so I quickly stopped him.

"Wait a moment."

"Yes?"

"Are you from the Jang Gae-ra troupe?"

"Ah... Yes, that's right."

The participant, tense because the first critic called him, answered.

'Jo Kang-hyun. Jo Kang-hyun... '

Right. I thought he looked familiar. He was one of the seniors who egged on my brother when he was being cursed out.

Jo, what are you doing here? It's ridiculous.

Especially, to come here and try for the main male lead in my drama.

If he were a good actor, it would be different.

But with such skills and a broken personality, there's no hope.

"Mr. Jo Kang-hyun."

"Yes?"

"A drama producer I know went to Daehak-ro recently to see a play called Good Choice."

"T-That's the play our troupe is doing..."

If I humiliate him publicly here, he won't bully his juniors again.

"Yes. Thanks to that, the Jang Gae-ra troupe is famous among drama producers."

"....?"

"When the producer visited the troupe, did they happen to drop by the waiting room to see if there were any good actors?"

"T-That didn't happen..."

"They said you cursed and bullied your juniors. They mentioned that the seniors in the troupe have issues with their character."

"...."

"Mr. Jo Kang-hyun... you're not one of those seniors, are you?"

Feeling the uncomfortable gazes of the people, Jo Kang-hyun hurriedly fled.

If he does it again after this, he's not human.

"Mr. Kim, who is this drama producer you know...?"

I smiled at Saerom's question.

"There's no such person."

* * *

A moment later, the final participant finally stepped onto the stage.

"Hello, I'm Im Jae-jun. Nice to meet you."

Who discovered him? He's solid.

He looks like he can act really well.

I looked at Im Jae-jun with the same pride as if he were my own brother.

"From his appearance, he seems to have a good feel."

"His eyes are deep and captivating."

"He has a solid build and a wide range of expressions."

"Let's see his acting first before we evaluate."

Jae-jun, who I recommended, received a lot of attention.

"Mr. Kim praised him so much. Let's see how good he is."

"I'm looking forward to it. I need to focus."

Why are they doing this?

Director Sung and Manager Jung, who were killing the actor's spirit.

If they said that, even Al Pacino wouldn't make it.

At that moment, Im Jae-jun murmured softly.

"Can you even handle it?"

It was a line from the revised script I gave him, for the character Cheon Ji-ho in the first episode.

A scene where he shows off his arrogant and haughty personality.

"In that money, you can't even buy one pillar of my house."

His ability to immerse himself in the role instantly.

His delivery, like a rapper, hitting the ear.

The atmosphere fitting a tycoon.

The heart to digest cringeworthy lines with confidence.

Finally, it proved that my eyes were not wrong.

At first, people looked at him with squinted eyes, but soon they were captivated by Im Jae-jun.

They all knew what kind of character Cheon Ji-ho was from my script.

After a while, Im Jae-jun finished his 20-minute performance.

He looked at me directly without avoiding my gaze.

His soft, curved eyes showed a firm will.

With his full makeup, he looked as handsome as an idol who gets daily care.

As Im Jae-jun finished his last line, a silence fell among the judges.

Then, after a very short moment, the praise flowed like a flood.

"Just a pure macho guy, isn't he?"

"How much must he have practiced to deliver each syllable so perfectly?"

"He doesn't seem like a rookie actor."

Hearing the judges' comments, it was clear that everyone agreed.

Director Sung, with a satisfied expression.

Manager Jung, looking at me with surprised eyes.

'Unanimous.'

If there are no surprises, the casting is confirmed.

But right then, a staff member rushed to the judges' table.

He whispered something to Director Sung.

'Huh? What is it?'

A tense feeling dominated my mind.

Seeing Director Sung's serious expression made it even more intense.

"I'll inform Director Bang."

What, what is it?

Without any explanation, Director Sung disappeared in an instant.

Then, Manager Jung, who received the information from the staff, paused for a moment and spoke to me.

"Actor Kim Min-hyuk was taken to the emergency room."

"Really...?"

The lead actor of the JTBS drama scheduled to air in two months.

"Could it be...?"

"Yes. It seems our drama will be scheduled to air sooner than expected."

"So, we have to air the first episode in two months?"

How can we do that in just two months...

'Wait, hold on.'

What was the news I saw in Jeju?

MBS's most anticipated drama of the first half, 'Shooting the Sun'...!

The blockbuster drama scheduled to air on MBS in two months.

With only a one-week difference, it will be a direct competitor in the same time slot.

".... The shooting schedule will be very tight."

"Is that the most important thing?"

She was right.

The problem isn't just the tight shooting schedule.

"No one will invest in our drama."

The drama industry is a market driven by capitalism.

No investor will sponsor a drama that can't even recover advertising costs.

Especially, with a strong competitor and our drama featuring rookie actors.

'This is really bad.'

Manager Jung looked at me for a while.

Then, with a determined expression, she said firmly.

"Mr. Kim, just write. I'll make the drama, no matter what."

I could see the burning will in her eyes.