Chapter 19

Script reading on set.

This is the first official schedule and the day I will introduce myself to the public.

The production team set up cameras everywhere and filmed the main and supporting actors.

"Nice to meet you. I'm writer Kim Jin-woo."

"Oh, yes! Please take care of me."

"Hey, actor Shin Jo-hoon. Didn't you get a nephew recently?"

"What? How did you know that?"

"Haha. Since you're my actor, I should naturally know, right?"

Actor Shin's eyes widened.

He probably thought that, as a newcomer, everyone would naturally not know him.

Ding Dong─

'Great!'

【An actor who fits the role 82% has been found.】

【Do you want to register this actor as 'Oh Ji-seok'? (Y/N)】

I shook hands with almost all the actors for about 5 seconds each, exchanging pleasantries.

Due to the condition that the actor must fit the role at least 80%, Shin was the only one.

Still, thanks to this, I could estimate another limitation of the system.

'It only applies to actors with short careers….!'

There was a common point between Jisung-ho, Se-mi, and Jai-jun.

At most, they were newcomers who debuted within 2 to 3 years.

The reason it didn't apply to actor Choi Man-ho was probably because of this.

'This is why…. I need to level up.'

A moment later, the assistant director announced the start of the script reading.

"Hello, I'm director Sung Ki-hoon. This time…."

After Director Sung finished his brief remarks, everyone's attention turned to me.

Starting with the lead actors, including newcomers and experienced actors.

"I'm writer Kim Jin-woo. I don't have much to say, but…. I just hope you stay true to the script."

No ad-libbing for the sacred script given by the system.

Of course, if it were a groundbreaking joke that would go down in drama history, I would acknowledge it.

The self-introductions of the main and supporting actors followed.

The eyes of some actors, including Se-mi and Jai-jun, gleamed.

They were determined to show something today.

A subtle tension flowed among some of the actors.

Especially, people were busy glancing at controversial newcomer Jai-jun.

His good looks exceeded expectations, and people's reactions were intense.

Next, Jisung-ho introduced himself.

"Hello! I'm Jisung-ho, playing the role of Seo Hyung-min! I respect actor Choi Man-ho!"

"Hahaha."

He lightened the mood without being overly familiar.

A moment later,

Director Sung finally announced the start of the script reading.

The assistant director explained the situation and background, starting the session.

"Scene 1 of Part 1. Cheon Seong-ho gets into a sports car and nervously takes off his watch."

As Jai-jun opened his mouth to deliver his first line,

Everyone swallowed hard and watched him.

* * *

'Wow, he's doing really well!'

Se-mi was proud of how hard she had worked.

She had read the script so much that it was worn out, except for dance practice time.

Each page was filled with pencil notes and highlighter marks.

However,

'What, Jai-jun…. What happened in between?'

Why didn't she notice his skills when they shot the web drama together?

Everyone on set was watching him and marveling at his acting skills.

Even actor Choi Man-ho looked surprised. What more explanation was needed?

'I can…. I can do it too.'

The first scene, where they meet in the lobby of a hotel in Jeju.

Jai-jun, still maintaining his emotional tone, spoke.

"Hey over there! Call the parking attendant and have the car ready."

"I, I'm not a staff member…. Ah!"

Despite practicing hundreds of times, how could she make such a crucial mistake?

"Hey, hey! Where are you going? What, that guy!?"

It was over.

Pushed by Jai-jun's presence, she ended up making a big mistake.

Her intonation was off, and her timing was wrong.

She tried to regain her composure and fix everything, but it was too late.

The nightmare was just beginning.

"I, I'm not a staff member…. Ah, no! This, this is an expensive car…!"

Once she made a mistake, she panicked and couldn't speak properly.

Her awkward tone didn't improve.

The more she tried to speak naturally, the more she felt like she was sinking into a quagmire.

"Ahem."

Senior Choi Man-ho's fake cough sounded like thunder.

From that moment, the momentum rapidly collapsed.

'What, what do I do…'

Her frazzled mind couldn't come back no matter what.

One mistake led to another, creating a chain reaction.

Not knowing what to do, she bowed her head and just read the script.

In contrast, when Jai-jun delivered his lines, everyone on set gasped in admiration.

The closer her turn came, the more she feared the sighs of disappointment.

'This next scene is my turn…'

Her turn came again.

She desperately wished someone would stop this moment.

She was too afraid to go through another painful time.

Then, a familiar voice cleared the air.

"Let's take a 30-minute break and start again."

Hearing writer Kim Jin-woo's voice, she looked up.

His expression, not even glancing at her, made her face turn red with shame.

She felt desperate, knowing that she was the cause of this situation.

How much were people mocking her in their minds?

How disappointed was writer Kim Jin-woo with her?

She rushed out of the room.

"Ultimately…. I messed everything up…."

She practiced for 12 hours every day.

Except for dance practice, she practiced every day.

She could proudly say she worked harder than anyone.

In the end, a single tear rolled down her reddened eyes.

"Se-mi…. Are you okay?"

"No."

It was her manager's voice.

How could she look okay?

"Here, don't be too upset…."

"I want to be alone."

"Ah, okay! I'll be nearby, so make sure to contact me! Got it?"

"…."

The pounding of her heart, which couldn't be described by the word 'nervous.'

This trembling began after reading a one-line comment.

-Se-mi will grab the rookie writer by the hair and slam him to the ground lol

The interview video of actor Choi Man-ho, uploaded to YouTube in the morning.

The moment she saw the comment, Se-mi's confidence plummeted.

She had always ignored vulgar or abusive comments.

For some reason, this comment couldn't be brushed off easily.

She was afraid that her actions would cause writer Kim Jin-woo's first work to fail.

"I really worked hard…."

She didn't want to harm writer Kim Jin-woo, who had believed in her.

It would be better if her talentless career faced problems.

Then, slow footsteps approached.

"I said I want to be alone…. Mr. Writer…?"

"Se-mi, can I sit next to you?"

"…."

She couldn't refuse.

'Se-mi is so different from her usual self.'

Her desire and passion for acting were unmatched.

But she was crushed by excessive pressure and couldn't show her true abilities.

"Why are you so down?"

"I'm sorry…."

"No, that's not what I mean."

"…."

Kim Jin-woo paused before continuing.

"Se-mi, do you know why I wrote this drama?"

"Yes….?"

"It's all thanks to you."

His sudden confession left Se-mi bewildered.

"From the beginning, you were the main character of this drama."

"Ah…. But I might ruin it…."

"Maybe. Honestly, I don't mind if you ruin it, Se-mi."

"What? What do you mean…."

She expected a warm encouragement.

But his words were strangely unusual.

"I don't care if everyone else is cut. As long as you stay, I'll continue this drama."

"…."

"If you weren't cast, I wouldn't have done this drama. Or, I couldn't have done it, probably."

"Ah…."

"This drama is just a stage for Se-mi."

Jin-woo spoke to Se-mi with a calm expression.

He stated the obvious without any pretense.

His serious face showed no hint of insincerity.

"Mr. Writer, I feel better now."

"Really?"

"Yes. As long as you believe in me, that's enough."

"That's a given."

"Then it's settled. I won't worry about others."

Se-mi regained her usual bright smile.

* * *

The actors and production team gathered back at the script reading.

Director Sung glanced at me and nodded.

"We'll start again from Scene 39 of Part 1."

Se-mi's expression was full of energy, unlike before.

Some people looked at her with disapproving eyes.

'She's like this, so she doesn't lose her momentum.'

Supporting actors who sneered at her mistakes, as if they knew it would happen.

They had preconceived notions about her, a former idol group member whose acting skills were unverified.

But fortunately, Se-mi didn't care about their gazes.

She was just her usual self, occasionally glancing at me.

A moment later,

Se-mi's turn came again.

Reacting strongly to Jai-jun's lines.

"I need you to pay for my car repairs right away."

"You're playing around."

"What, what do you mean?"

"You acted however you wanted when you handed over the car keys, and now what?"

"You…. You're making a mistake right now?"

"The mistake is on your part!"

Se-mi's response, not backing down to Jai-jun.

The Se-mi I saw in the drama was Cha Ye-ju, and Cha Ye-ju was Se-mi.

'Wow. I'm impressed.'

Se-mi's charm shone through in the following lines.

Each time she glanced at me, her skills seemed to improve.

By the end,

It felt like the true protagonist of the romantic drama was Se-mi, not Jai-jun.

Anyone who saw her today wouldn't mention her idol background.

"Hehe, to stand out among young actors, I need to work hard."

The actors laughed at Choi Man-ho's joke.

Among them, Jisung-ho seized the opportunity to speak.

"Sir, how can you say that?"

"Then, are you going to fit in with me?"

"Of course. Isn't that obvious?"

At that moment, Choi Man-ho smiled as if he had been waiting for this.

"Then, do you want to join me and Director Park for drinks tonight?"

"What? That, that's a bit…."

"Sounds great?"

"Yes. It sounds great…. But Jai-jun also wants to come?"

Jisung-ho, like a leech, pulled Jai-jun into the uncomfortable situation.

"Me? Well…. But Mr. Writer…."

"Me too! If Mr. Writer comes, I'll come too!"

In the end, all the lead actors, including Jai-jun and Se-mi, attended.

'Jisung-ho, you sly one.'

Not only that, but I and Director Sung were also dragged into the drinking session.

That evening, a photo was uploaded to Choi Man-ho's SNS account.

Choi Man-ho used a word that didn't match his age, drawing attention.

[Thanks to our lead actors, I'm going to be on a bus ㅎㅎ]

Comments with various opinions flooded Choi Man-ho's SNS account.

-It's really a bus? A village bus ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-They say Jai-jun's acting was amazing during the script reading

-That's true. From the middle, Se-mi was even better ㄹㅇ

-Where did you learn such words, sir? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

A photo of the cast and crew of the romantic drama.

A moment in time that would become legendary.

It was a day less than three weeks before the first shoot.

* * *

"I feel like I'm going to die."

How much did I drink yesterday?

Honestly, I don't even remember how I got home.

Creak─

I opened the door and walked to the sofa like a zombie and collapsed.

My younger sister, already sitting on the sofa, looked at me with pity.

"Brother, how much did you drink?"

"About two bottles. No, maybe three…."

"What? Your limit is one bottle!"

"Ugh. I feel like I'm going to die."

"Sigh…. I made some hangover soup, so just eat it."

"Did you make it?"

"Yes."

Well, it was worth raising her.

Sometimes, my younger sister is better than my busy parents.

Ding Dong─

At that moment, the system notification rang in my head.

【Content: Heir of a Chaebol, Part 14】

【Genre: Romance, Chaebol】

【Location: Randomly assigned within JTBS Broadcasting Station】

【Time Limit: 10 days】

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

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

I muttered to myself, forgetting that my younger sister was there.

"Random….? Is this for real?"

Does it make sense to have a random assignment within a broadcasting station?

How can I possibly cover the entire station in 10 days?

The 10-day time limit felt too short.