Chapter 23

* * *

*Tap, tap, tap*—

The thought of this being the final episode made my endorphins surge.

The final villain would meet his end in court, around the last part of Chapter 15.

Chapter 16 wrapped up the series with a generally healing and happy conclusion.

Thanks to this, the final episode was filled with various elements.

"An energy drink after exercise? Nothing beats a ginseng drink for health."

"Hmm, driving such a short distance? Let's go by electric scooter instead."

"Receiving reports from the secretary while sitting in a massage chair is the golden rule."

Now that I look back, there's no end to finding spots to insert product placements.

If I try to force them in, I could probably cram them all into a single episode.

"It's done!"

I burned the midnight oil.

The script, now out of my hands, was the director's and actors' responsibility.

There was almost nothing left for me to do.

At best, I could choose a location as similar as possible to what I saw in the drama.

Just then, I turned my head at a voice from beside me.

"The ending really suits me."

"Oh, you're still here?"

"Yes, but not the whole time."

From a distance of 30 cm, the scent of Jeong Saerom's perfume tickled my nose.

I thought I had become immune to women's appearances thanks to Sem.

"You really kept your promise to finish within three weeks."

"Well, promises are meant to be kept."

"Oh, really?"

"…I shouldn't be the one to say this, given how often I'm late."

The corners of Jeong's mouth slightly curled up, adding an unnecessary comment.

I had been writing day and night; it would be nice if she understood.

Soon, Saerom, with her eyes fixed on the laptop, moved her delicate lips.

"By the way, Seongho gets a sad ending."

"Hmm, yes, but…"

"That's great."

"Really?"

"It means both the audience and the actors will be satisfied."

Of course, the base is a happy ending.

"But… some scenes are a bit strange, aren't they?"

"Which ones?"

Saerom pointed out the specific scenes where she had precisely inserted the product placements.

"The protagonist receives reports while sitting in a massage chair?"

"We need to make money. To get the protagonist a helicopter, for example."

"…"

Perhaps because it was the first time someone agreed with her, Saerom was speechless.

If it brings in money, why is she reacting like this?

All the product placements were carefully calculated.

"Getting a cola shot from a girl group? Can you handle that?"

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, so…"

"Then I'll change it to Zero Cola. Thanks."

"…"

At first, I had an obsession with not deviating from the system.

'But now that I've reached Bronze level, I feel more at ease.'

The system is a thorough part of my abilities and a crucial means to success.

Inserting product placements in the final episode to cover production costs is a win.

Putting them at the end won't harm the work's quality or cause viewer attrition.

"Have you finished reading? How will you leave the show?"

"???"

Now that the script is complete, I should use my actor change right once.

"Manager, where is Jaejun?"

"Ah, actor Jaejun? He just visited the office after location scouting…"

"…Wait, don't go home yet. I'll come by one more time."

I need to check the drama content again.

* * *

It was an incredible experience.

The phenomenon of new memories replacing old ones.

A transcendent power that modern medicine couldn't explain.

"The protagonist has changed."

The system indicated that actor Jaejun's suitability for the main character, Cheon Jihoo, was 97%.

Thus, the character's face, actions, and manner of speaking subtly changed in the drama.

From a common plastic surgery handsome man.

"The lead actor can be changed too."

Although I didn't find any clues for leveling up, I feel like I've achieved something greater.

*Beep, beep*—

Just then, Heejeong opened the front door and came in.

"You're here?"

"Yeah."

My slightly tired-looking younger sister.

I stopped her as she was about to enter her room.

"Heejeong, how's life in the theater group?"

"Out of the blue?"

"Yeah, just asking."

"Hmm…"

The last time I saw a senior at an audition, I didn't pretend to know him.

"It's good now. Seniors don't interfere unnecessarily…"

"…Really?"

"Ah, not that they were bad. They've just become nicer."

"That's good."

*Thud*—

Heejeong, embarrassed, blushed and entered her room.

I need to succeed with a few more projects to take proper revenge on those on my hit list.

If I forget my enemies just because of this, the ancestors of the Kim family will be angry.

"The script is complete, and my family is peaceful…"

Now, there's only one thing left.

The drama's filming and success.

The system's value can only be proven through ratings.

It took six years to get here.

The time of enduring the oppression of writer Minju.

Only one step remains to taste the sweet fruit.

I entered my room and repeatedly revised the script while reading it through.

* * *

Time passed, and the first day of filming arrived.

From location scouting to title shooting, and even a ritual to wish for a hit.

It was a busy schedule after a long time.

"Finally, we've made it here."

The script had been revised only a few times.

I wanted to add more product placements, but Manager Jeong strongly opposed.

"Usually, production companies welcome more placements…"

Clearly, they said they were making the drama to make money, but now their stance is reversed.

At the JTBS broadcasting station's pure macho set.

The production team bustled around for the first shooting.

"Everyone has worked hard."

I stopped by a convenience store to pick up snacks for the staff.

Despite being a new writer, my earnings far surpass those of the staff.

I earned 80 million won in less than half a year for just one work.

This is the moment I've been waiting for, enduring the time as an assistant writer.

On the other hand, if my debut work fails, it will be a blow from which I can't recover.

"Director Sung…"

He's busy.

Even though he's just sitting in a metal chair, people come and go one by one.

Lighting director, cinematographer, prop team, costume team, and even managers of main and supporting actors.

I entered the set with a heavy load in both hands.

On one side, a large whiteboard was filled with various numbers.

At first, I thought it was related to the shooting schedule.

"First episode ratings bet? No one skips this."

A number that makes broadcasters and sponsors cry or laugh.

Ratings will clearly divide the effectiveness of advertisements.

*Bet deposit account number: 483402-…*

*Choi Manho 3% 1 million won*

*Assistant Director Woo Hyungmin—*

*Makeup Team Yeo Mijin—*

*Sem 5% 100,000 won*

*Jaejun 2% 50,000 won*

*Ji Seongho 0.53% 200,000 won*

"…Ji Seongho, you scoundrel."

Trying to make some money by betting on 0.5%?

Most others bet on 2%.

The success standard for cable TV is around 3%.

The media praises a first episode rating of 1% as a good start.

Realistically, it's hard to expect a high first episode rating due to the new actors.

Especially since, after the first broadcast, the show will face strong competition from MBS.

"Ah, it's bleak."

The busy people around me glanced at me.

Among them, an assistant director who recognized me made eye contact.

"Oh? Hello, writer!"

Only then did the people around me greet me.

Outside, I'm just a new writer.

But in this project, I'm almost on par with the director.

"Writer, what are you doing here…"

Sung's junior, the assistant director, cautiously asked.

"I bought some snacks."

"What are you bringing such things…"

One of the production team members quickly approached and took the black envelope from my hand.

"I feel like I'm in the way."

"No, no, what are you saying…"

But he seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere.

"Go ahead."

"Ah, yes! Writer."

The passionate staff working for the project.

The actors waiting for hours for a single scene.

I was grateful to all of them.

A little later,

Some actors were waiting to shoot the first scene.

It was Choi Manho's turn to act.

The actors take turns shooting scenes.

The next scene was for supporting actors called "teachers."

Perhaps because the main actors are all new.

'Sem is probably getting her makeup done.'

She will likely wait in the waiting room until she's called.

Many new actors don't have such conditions.

*Tap, tap*—

"Oh…? Hello, writer."

I approached an actor crouched in a corner, reading the script.

A new actor waiting to shoot a single scene in Chapter 6.

"Actor Shin Joohun, how much longer do you have to wait today?"

"Ah, about five hours…"

The only actor registered in the system besides the main actors.

In the drama I saw in the system, his villainous performance was very impressive.

He doesn't have the face of a lead actor, but he has a high probability of becoming a top-notch supporting actor.

"Actor Shin, do you have an agency?"

"Ah, not yet."

"How long have you been acting?"

"Debuted in an independent film, currently about 2.5 years…"

It seems the system's range is up to about 3 years of experience.

Perhaps it has expanded a bit since reaching Bronze level.

"By the way, what about Tempest?"

"Really?"

"I can't guarantee it, but try an audition."

"But it's not the open audition period…"

"Don't worry, I'll let them know in advance."

"Really, for me?"

"Of course. You have talent."

"Thank you, writer!"

The impact isn't noticeable in the early stages, but his acting improves in Chapter 14.

By then, they will likely judge that my judgment was accurate.

I felt grateful to the casting director who recommended him.

The Tempest cafe employee who gave me a chance…

"Actor Yuminseo."

I wonder if actor Kim Hyunji, who was at the cafe, is doing well.

I heard she was cast through Manager Jeong.

* * *

At that moment, Kim Hyunji was returning to the company after an interview.

"Hyunji."

"Yes, sister."

A seasoned employee of Tempest, the agency, as a manager for a new actor.

It's evidence that the company is paying a lot of attention to Kim Hyunji.

"Since we're near the JTBS broadcasting station, do you want to greet the seniors?"

"Come to think of it, today is the first shooting day for Pure Macho."

"I heard from Ji Seongho's manager that writer Kim Jinwoo is also there."

"Ah…"

"Uncomfortable?"

"No, not at all!"

There was a rumor spread by actress Yuminseo.

That writer Kim Jinwoo asked for Kim Hyunji's number and was rejected.

But now, people only praise his judgment.

The trainers highly value actor Kim Hyunji's star potential.

"We should go. Two of our agency's actors are in the show."

"Sure, let's go."

But as they got closer to the broadcasting station, Hyunji's heart began to race.

Writer Kim Jinwoo, who brought her incredible luck.

Thanks to him, she was living a dream-like life.

She blushed, remembering her rude behavior when they first met.

'I need to apologize properly.'

A little later,

Kim Hyunji arrived at the JTBS broadcasting station's Pure Macho set.

Someone was watching her from a distance.

*Thump*—

The phenomenon Kim Jinwoo felt when he first met Sem.

The moment he saw her on the set, a new work came to mind.

"Memory-erasing regression…"

The title of his second work.