Chapter 21

Semi immediately headed to the Variety Department Director's office as soon as she arrived at the broadcasting station.

Knock, knock—

"Come in."

Upon hearing the Variety Department Director's words and entering, she found several familiar faces.

Jaejun and Jisunho, who had been called in regarding the "Knowing Neighborhood Big Brother" casting.

And,

"Writer?"

"Ah, Miss Semi, you're here?"

"Yes…."

Writer Kim Jin-woo greeted Semi once and then refocused on his laptop.

'Why is the guest casting being handled in the director's office…'

This is something that should be resolved by the writers and directors.

Today, it seemed that the Variety Department Director was unusually involved.

"I hope this drama goes well."

"Ah, yes! Thank you!"

"Think of us as one big JTBS family, and feel free to visit the Variety Department often."

"Yes!"

Director Han Yeong-ok was wrapping things up with some kind words.

Jaejun and Jisunho responded together to her words.

Tap, tap, tap—

However, Writer Kim showed no intention of getting up.

'Now that I think about it, the writer was like this last time too…'

Reflecting on it now, he always acted this way.

Once he got an idea, he would always write on the spot.

I vaguely thought that he was probably in that state right now.

"Um, we should get up…."

Director Jin Jae-hoon tried to say something to Writer Kim.

Semi quickly interjected and continued the conversation with Director Jin.

"Um, just a moment…."

"???"

"Is my appearance already confirmed?"

"No. Let's go out and see if we can work out the conditions."

"Um…."

It seemed that Writer Kim Jin-woo wanted to write here.

Already, the others were giving hints that it was time to get up.

Soon, a heavy silence fell over the director's office.

"…By any chance, are you interested in casting male idols?"

"Out of the blue?"

Writer Kim Jin-woo is usually so engrossed.

Once he focuses, he doesn't even hear the sounds around him.

"Which male idol…."

"Ah, I'm a bit close with the members of Red Sun!"

"Really? That, that means…."

"I can help with the casting."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. But I have a favor to ask…."

The top boy group from Rainbow Entertainment.

Both Director Jin and Director Han showed interest.

"Um, the writer seems to want to write…. Should we talk among ourselves first?"

"Ah, that's…."

Director Jin subtly checked Director Han's reaction.

Director Han smiled and asked Semi.

"Is the Red Sun casting definite?"

"I'll try my best."

"No. I want a definite answer, not just an effort."

"…I'll talk to them today."

"Well, let's discuss it outside."

Director Han seemed to be giving in to Semi.

"The writer seems busy, so let him write."

In the end, Jin-woo was left alone in the Variety Department Director's office to write.

Tap, tap, tap—

The only sound in the room was the gentle tapping of the laptop.

Jin-woo was so engrossed that he forgot he was alone.

* * *

The final stretch of the 16-episode drama.

"The story is almost over at this point."

The pure macho hero rescues Cha Ye-ju, who was kidnapped by the villain.

In the end, the villain loses his highly capable right-hand man.

He leaves a short but intense impression.

"The actor I registered in advance for the script reading."

By registering the actor at the most impactful scene,

The system accurately recreated his face and voice.

He could deliver the most realistic performance of a villain.

Moreover, aside from his appearance,

His lines and actions also strangely overlapped with the actor himself.

The terrifying aura in his eyes at the last moment.

He exits the scene, perfectly embodying the archetype of a villain.

The story concludes with a typical prison ending.

Semi, Jisunho, and Jaejun will show 100% of their skills.

"Actor Shin Jo-hoon might also break out of obscurity with this opportunity."

After that, the protagonist's father, Chairman Cheon, is greatly angered.

His son has been taken to the hospital unconscious.

"Although I couldn't register Mr. Choi…."

Mr. Choi's acting was already nearly perfect without the system.

"Really, I must be blessed."

What are the chances of meeting such good actors in my first drama?

Not only the three lead actors but each supporting actor shone brightly.

What a tremendous stroke of luck.

In the final scene of Episode 14, the male protagonist wakes up in the hospital.

-Thank goodness. I'm sorry I couldn't help.

-Just being by my side is helping.

Soon, Semi and Jaejun's first kiss scene concludes Episode 14….

Halt—

"Kiss scene?"

With Semi and Jaejun?

This could be omitted.

"Let's preserve the system for now…."

I can always change it later.

I'll write it as is and revise it later.

"Haahh—"

After finishing the script for Episode 14, I yawned widely and looked around.

I was alone in the Variety Department Director's office.

"What happened?"

I was so engrossed from the middle that I didn't even notice my surroundings.

It took about four hours from the time I opened my laptop.

The quiet surroundings made it feel like I set a new record.

"How long have I been alone?"

I remember about an hour, so I must have been alone for about three hours.

* * *

"What did you just say?"

"The variety show schedule has been pushed back by a week…."

"No, before that."

"Because of the drama promotion…."

"…. Have I been too nice lately?"

"…."

Yuminseo looked at her manager with a bewildered expression.

"Who are you managing?"

"Uh, of course, I'm managing you, Yuminseo…."

"Then you should have argued! You should have fought!!!"

The manager couldn't say a word to Yuminseo, who was shouting.

"Why should I change my schedule for that drama?"

"That, that's…."

"I'll talk to Director Jung myself."

"No, it's better to let it go…. Director Jung's mood is like ice these days."

"Am I supposed to be in a flower garden!? Am I the only one in spring?"

"Sorry, I'll try to…."

"Get out."

"Yuminseo…."

"Get out, I said?"

Watching the manager leave, she calmed her anger.

"Have I been too quiet lately?"

With my popularity and career, I should be the lead in any drama.

How did I end up being pushed aside by a drama with two newcomers?

"Writer Kim Jin-woo…."

Everything started to change subtly from the moment he arrived.

It felt like the brakes were put on by a company that always pushed me.

"I admit the script is good, but what's the point?"

If I held a contest under the name Tempest, hundreds of good works would pour in.

Why is Director Jung Sa-rom so obsessed with Writer Kim Jin-woo?

"Purple Girls Semi? It's not even funny, really."

An idol starting as the lead in a 16-episode drama is the same.

I've never seen a case where pushing someone like that leads to success.

"I'll keep an eye on both of them. I'll see how well they do."

* * *

I finished writing the script and confidently left the director's office.

However, when I stepped outside, people's gazes felt a bit strange.

Crazy about writing.

How great a work is he planning to write?

Rude kid.

People were looking at me with such gazes.

They don't seem to recognize the noble spirit of an artist.

'This is too much, even among fellow artists.'

When I reached the first floor lobby of the broadcasting station, Semi smiled and waved.

Her welcoming smile lifted my slightly downcast mood.

"Writer—!"

Semi called out loudly and ran over.

As the center of a well-known idol group, people around her glanced at her.

Fortunately, we were inside the broadcasting station; otherwise, it might have led to strange misunderstandings.

"Writer, did you finish the script?"

"Yes. Sorry about earlier. I was writing…."

"No! It's okay. Did the writing go well?"

"Yes. Up to Episode 14."

"Wow, already Episode 14…?"

I felt bad lying to Semi, so I told her the truth.

"Director Jung Sa-rom only knows I've written up to Episode 12, so it's a secret."

"Secret….? Just between us!?"

"Ah…. Yeah, that's right."

"I'll definitely keep it."

Thinking of it, I sent her the script saved in my chat.

Ding—

"I'll send you up to Episode 14, so read it at your place."

"At my place? I want to go over it with you now."

Seeing her dejected look, I couldn't just let it go.

"Okay. Let's practice once. You have a schedule tomorrow, right?"

"That's not a problem…."

"Ah! Wait, wait a moment!"

"Yes?"

Thinking about it, there was a scene in today's portion,

"There's a kiss scene too."

"???"

There's a saying, isn't there?

Practice like it's the real thing, and the real thing will be like practice.

* * *

It failed.

I didn't expect my manager to watch with wide eyes.

"Still, I find practicing the script with you, Writer, the most comfortable."

"Can't the other members join in?"

"They, they do…."

Semi suddenly blushed.

She bowed her head and continued.

"But it's different with you, who wrote the script."

Hearing this, I felt a pang of conscience.

Even if I say the system did half and I did half,

It's still true that it went through my hands.

"Thank you, Miss Semi."

"Yes? Why?"

"Just…. Because you've changed my life."

"Yes? That's true for me too…."

The first love image I felt when we first met has faded,

But Semi is still the most precious actor to me.

"By the way, Miss Semi. You seem to be smiling more lately?"

"Me?"

"Yes."

Her face was filled with smiles throughout the script practice.

"When I first met you, you seemed a bit gloomy."

"Ah…."

Maybe because the pure macho heroine always smiles.

She's already preparing for method acting.

Ding—

At that moment, I received a message from Director Jung Sa-rom.

'Ah, right. Today is the day the manuscript fee comes in.'

Excitedly, I checked the chat.

[Writer, your second manuscript fee has been deposited. It's for Episodes 3 to 12. Please check.]

"Then…. 50 million won!"

"Yes?"

"With this money…!"

Seeing Semi's puzzled look, I smiled widely.

"Bronze, go!!!"

"Yes….? Oh, you like games, Writer."

I immediately checked my smartphone and saw the money deposited into the account.

The phrase that always piqued my curiosity when the system activated.

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

【※ Deposit Amount: 10 million won / 10 million won】

Curious about what would happen after promotion, I quickly deposited the money.

Ding—

【You have been promoted to Bronze.】

【The range of actors affected by the system will increase.】

【The probability of writing two or more consecutive works will increase.】

【You will receive additional benefits.】

I expected the range of actors to increase,

But the increased probability of writing two or more consecutive works was new.

Not only that,

"Details?"

What additional benefits were given?