Chapter 20

A meaningless week had passed.

For a whole week, I had mastered all the facilities within the broadcasting station.

I even knew the types of bread that came into the convenience store.

"Mr. Jang PD, can you buy me a mocha bread from the convenience store?"

"Excuse me?"

"Yes?"

"Mocha bread only comes in the afternoon, so have a chocolate bread."

"??? "

During the past week, I had checked all the public facilities except for private offices and executive rooms.

Especially, I had visited every corner of the drama department.

I think I have checked all the places allowed by the temporary pass given by the broadcasting station.

'This system is really crazy.'

Such a brute-force method was no longer meaningful.

Even with the help of Director Sung, I had visited the director's office.

"Is it really not a private office?"

I've been to all the other public facilities besides the drama department, and it didn't show up.

I couldn't have missed it, as the white light was clearly visible even in broad daylight.

If not, maybe it's in the personal office of a senior executive.

"Ah, that's really ridiculous."

If someone told me to go to the CEO's office?

How would I get in and write?

"Should I give up for the first time…?"

At that moment, a small commotion arose in the spacious broadcasting station lobby.

Someone entered my field of vision, sitting quietly on one side.

"Ji Sung-ho?"

New. I've seen all the actors here.

He looked good from the outside, and his presence was strong.

At that moment, he noticed me and slowly walked over.

"Writer, what are you doing here?"

Ji Sung-ho spoke to me with a smile, and his familiar manager was with him.

"Just spacing out."

"Huh?"

The mocha bread enthusiast, who had been watching from the side, looked at me with wide, surprised eyes.

He thought I was just a local unemployed thug, but now I was showing off my connection with a rising star.

"Mr. Sung-ho, what brings you here…?"

"I'm on my way to meet Writer Lee Soo-yeon for a variety show appearance."

Variety shows are good.

If it's Writer Lee Soo-yeon, it's probably for the "Neighbor's Big Brother" show.

I hope you can do a great job promoting the drama.

"Writer Lee Soo-yeon will be happy."

She likes male idols and actors a lot.

"Would you like to come with me?"

"I don't really need to… go. I'll go twice."

There might be a ray of hope in the variety department, not the drama department.

There are places I can't enter on my own.

"Are you meeting in the director's office?"

"No, but…"

"Please ask Writer Lee Soo-yeon."

"Huh? Suddenly?"

"Hehe, everything has an order. Reporting to the director first is the right thing to do."

"But I'm not even confirmed for the show…."

Zap─

Seeing my unusually firm attitude, Ji Sung-ho reluctantly nodded.

"Ah… I shouldn't have met you."

"I can hear everything."

"…."

Hmm, maybe there is a way?

If I use my connections to enter all the offices.

'But when will I finish?'

* * *

Writer Lee Soo-yeon frowned and looked at me.

She was probably only thinking about meeting Ji Sung-ho.

"Um, why did you bring this person…?"

"Ah, that's…"

Before Ji Sung-ho could explain, I spoke up.

"Writer, aren't you trying to cast Ji Sung-ho for a drama special?"

"It's not a drama special, but Ji Sung-ho will appear alone."

Her firm response left me speechless.

"I thought you were casting him for drama promotion…?"

"At first, I was."

"Huh?"

"The original concept was to cast all three lead actors."

I was just testing the waters, but she readily agreed, and I was grateful.

"Jae-joon doesn't have a schedule anyway."

"Semi is unavailable due to group activities."

"Oh, Semi…"

Fine.

It would be good if the drama could be promoted on the same broadcasting station's variety show.

"Well, I'm sure Sung-ho will promote it himself, so don't worry…."

"Should I talk to her?"

"???"

"Talk to Semi?"

"Ah, it won't work even if you do…."

I know.

It wouldn't work.

In fact, I had sent a message to the manager but then decided to retract it because it seemed inappropriate to ask again when she couldn't come due to group activities.

But then,

"It worked?"

"Indeed."

Writer Lee Soo-yeon looked puzzled at the news she received from Rainbow Entertainment.

"The actors seem to trust and follow Writer Kim a lot."

"Ahaha, not really."

At that moment, the producer of "Neighbor's Big Brother" approached and spoke.

"Hello, Writer! I'm PD Jang Jae-hoon."

"Ah, hello."

"Haha, I was struggling with casting, but you solved it easily…."

"I just asked, that's all."

"By the way, I heard Semi is on her way here."

"Here, personally?"

How is this so fast?

It seems she really wanted to do the variety show, as she came as soon as she heard the news.

Previously, the group activities were probably cut by Rainbow Entertainment.

"Since you've helped so much, I can do the drama promotion…."

"No, you can help."

"Huh?"

"PD Jin can help me."

"???"

The place we entered was none other than the office of Han Yeong-ok, a first-generation star PD who had made a name in the variety department.

The personal office of a female PD who had left a mark in the variety world with her unique sensibility.

'…Here it is.'

The noble grace of the system that I couldn't find for a week.

How long have I been looking for it, and it shows up now?

The absurd location of the variety department director's office.

It looks like a trick to make me eat shit, but since the system is the boss and I'm the subordinate, I just have to write.

In the awkward atmosphere, the person who broke the silence was the variety department director.

"Writer Kim, what brings you here…?"

At least she recognized me, which was a relief.

"Director Han Yeong-ok, I'm a huge fan."

"Huh?"

"I watch 'Going Out,' 'Radio Star,' and 'Us Only' every day and became a die-hard fan of PD Han."

"…Ah, I see."

She seemed to have left out the part of "What do you want?"

"Wait a moment."

"???"

Director Han looked bewildered at my sudden action of opening my laptop.

Ji Sung-ho, PD Jin, and Writer Lee, who were watching from the side, felt the same way.

Tap, tap─

The drama was already running in my head.

I already had the entire 14th episode "memorized," but just having the memory wouldn't produce a good script.

"Please ignore me and have a comfortable conversation."

"Director, Director, what's going on…?"

PD Jang Jae-hoon nervously explained.

"We were trying to cast a guest for our show, and Writer Kim helped us with the casting."

"…So?"

"I thought we could discuss the casting together… hahaha."

"Hmm…."

She spoke to PD Jang Jae-hoon in a serious tone.

"PD Jin, if we cast Semi, what about the original guests?"

"Ah, yes! We plan to air them in the next episode!"

"Is that so? Actress Yeo Min-seo has a bit of a temper."

Yeo Min-seo?

I paused typing at the familiar name.

"Actress Yeo will understand. As a fellow Tempest member, drama promotion should come first, right?"

I don't think so.

The actress I met for the first time in Manager Jung Saerom's office.

I remember she was very upset about losing the lead role to Semi.

'She even started a fight at the Tempest cafe.'

If her variety show filming is delayed by a week for drama promotion, she might not take it well.

'Whatever.'

Now that Jae-joon is also in Tempest Entertainment.

With Ji Sung-ho and Jae-joon, the two lead actors, it's normal for them to understand.

"By the way…."

Director Han slightly turned her head to look at me.

Tap, tap, tap─

She watched as I started writing the 14th episode in the unfamiliar environment.

"Writer, what are you writing so enthusiastically?"

"The script."

What's the point of lying while writing so openly?

"Writer! How can you write a script here…!"

"I'm sorry. I suddenly got inspired."

Tap, tap, tap─

PD Jin tried to stop me, but I had no intention of stopping.

"You're an interesting person."

Director Han looked at me like a child who had found an interesting toy.

She seemed to have lost interest in guest casting and broadcast scheduling.

* * *

About 30 minutes earlier,

Semi checked a slightly strange message from Writer Kim Jin-woo.

Not strange, but rather silly messages from him.

"Hmm, Writer Kim… What's this message?"

"Bro, what did you just say?"

"Huh? Nothing."

"No, you just said Writer Kim."

"Ah… He just sent some meaningless messages."

"Show me, show me."

[Deleted message.]

[Deleted message.]

[Deleted message.]

Semi looked at the deleted messages from Writer Kim Jin-woo on the smartphone handed to her by her manager.

Ding, ding, ding─

Semi immediately called Jin-woo.

-Oh, yes. Manager, it's nothing….

"Writer, it's me."

-Semi?

"Yes! How was your week?"

-Well, I….

'First time since the script reading…'

I wanted to contact him so much but didn't want to disturb him.

During this time, I focused on acting to gain his recognition.

But now that I've received a message from him first.

Hearing his voice after a long time was healing.

"What was the content of the deleted messages? You could have sent them to me directly."

-Oh, it's nothing… It's about the "Neighbor's Big Brother" casting.

"Huh?"

-The variety writer asked me to ask you again… But don't worry. I'll handle it….

"I'll do it."

-Oh, no. If it affects your group activities….

"No, I want to do it. I want to."

It was probably for drama promotion.

It's more effective for the lead actors to promote together.

With her kind nature, it must have been hard for her to ask directly.

"Are you at the variety department now?"

-Yes, but….

"I'll come right away. Wait for me!"

-Yes?

"I'll get ready and come!"

-Oh, yes. Sure. Then….

Click.

"Ah, I still have more to say."

Even though she hung up quickly, the aftertaste of his voice lingered.

It seems Writer Kim Jin-woo also had a lot to say.

"Semi… Are you really going to be on 'Neighbor's Big Brother'?"

"Ah, yes! The drama is the most important thing."

"That's true, but we already discussed and decided this. Changing it suddenly…."

"Well, I'll talk to the others. You talk to the CEO."

"Ah… Right. The CEO actually supported the idea of appearing on the variety show."

Honestly, I've been a bit negligent with group activities recently.

Once the serious filming starts, group activities will definitely take a back seat.

There will be times when other schedules will suddenly come up.

'I feel bad for the others…'

Especially since the cameo in Writer Lee Min-ju's work didn't work out.

Jae-eun's disappointment was immense.

'I should buy some tteokbokki and bring it to her later.'

For now,

"Bro, let's go to JTBS Broadcasting Station."

"Not to the practice room?"

"No. We need to confirm the appearance right away."

"Ah, right. Let's go and talk about it."

"Thanks. Hehe."

Among the past week, Semi's expression was brighter than ever.