Chapter 27

The embodiment of capitalism.

A market that ranks people and evaluates them with numbers.

At least for today, I felt as if I stood at the top of this world.

Even though I am still a rookie writer.

A 5% viewership rating on a cable channel carries significant meaning.

A moment later,

I entered the drama department, receiving the gazes of everyone.

I’m not sure if the phrase “returning in glory” is appropriate for this situation.

Anyway, the image of a stubborn rookie writer had vanished like it was washed away.

As I passed by, the PDs threw in congratulatory words.

"Congratulations, writer! When can we have a drink?"

"Is it true that you’re writing your next work…?"

"Hey, if it’s okay, could I have your phone number…?"

PDs and assistant directors, whose faces I knew but whose names I didn’t, greeted me.

I smiled and received their greetings, but I didn’t know anyone there.

‘Well, famous people don’t act like this.’

Thinking back to when I was an assistant writer, it feels a bit bitter.

There was a time when an assistant director didn’t answer my call, so I had to visit the broadcasting station.

Now, everyone is eager to build connections and hand out business cards.

Especially, one PD was persistently following me.

Not as much as Director Sung, but Director Lee Chan-young, who debuted around the same time.

"Writer, the actors you chose this time are really good."

"Ah, really?"

"Yes, yes. Could you just take a look at their profiles?"

"Hmm… I’ve only been on two broadcasts so far."

"Come on, the rumor that you’re writing a new work is already out."

Gee, there’s no privacy in this town.

Thud, thud—

Since Director Sung is also coming here,

I thought it would be fine for a moment.

"Hey… this person."

"Yes? Ah… Barum Entertainment. I told you not to be so pushy."

Thank you for being so pushy.

‘Found it!’

The protagonist of my next work…!

A small photo amidst the scattered files.

I stopped the PD who was about to clear the files and asked,

"PD, who is this man?"

"Huh? Ahaha, just a failed company."

"…Barum Entertainment?"

"Yes. What Barum?"

Numerous actors' portfolios were laid out on the table.

Though subtly different, he was clearly the male protagonist of my next work.

"Can I have this profile if you don’t need it?"

"Huh? Ah, sure."

"I’ll definitely thank you later."

"Huh? No, don’t do that. The actor I’m contacting…."

Swoosh—

Ignoring the director, I slowly scanned the actor's profile.

'Kang Jun.'

His face had changed a lot over five years, but now I remembered.

Once, he was a child actor known as a genius actor.

He’s still acting, I see?

He debuted as a high school student five years ago but took a forced break after a few works.

The fans who remained are probably all gone by now.

‘Was this person the one who visited that loan office?’

The story of Barum Entertainment's sudden downfall was a well-known anecdote in the industry.

If they had to ask an actor to borrow money, it must have been a complete disaster.

I stored the information about Barum Entertainment and Kang Jun in my mind.

"Writer, about this actor…."

While pondering how to shake off the director who was babbling beside me,

Director Sung, who had approached at some point, solved the problem with a single word.

"PD, the chief has something to say to the writer."

"Ah, r-really?"

I smiled bitterly at the director, who was disappointed.

"Writer, the chief is calling you. Let's go together."

"Ah, sure."

* * *

Who benefits the most from the success of a drama?

The writer who gains wealth and fame?

The actors who rise to stardom?

The investment and production companies that make money from money?

Tempest Entertainment secured all three elements in this drama.

They signed a contract with writer Kim Jin-woo and, as the agency of the two male leads, also served as the production company.

"I didn't expect it to be this successful."

Although the drama market is unpredictable,

a so-called 'blockbuster' is a matter of fate.

A drama that has just started and already achieved a 5% viewership rating.

It has already surpassed MBS's highly anticipated work.

Now, they should be the ones to fear the presence of a pure macho.

If a blockbuster with numerous top stars flops,

"I can't even imagine being in their shoes."

In fact, the competition hasn't even properly started yet.

But it's definitely advantageous to have already secured the audience.

At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.

Knock, knock—

"Come in."

"Director, I'm here for your approval."

"Ah, Team Leader Byun."

Sae-rom, who had just seen the documents from her subordinate, frowned.

"About this… How many schedules do Jae-joon and Sung-ho have?"

"Five variety shows and seven radio appearances in two days. Advertisements are also starting to come in."

"…"

Team Leader Byun, excited, picked out the CFs.

"First, about the advertisements, we can take about four or five that won't damage their image…."

"Cancel all the schedules."

"Wh-what? What do you mean…?"

Sae-rom spoke firmly.

"No additional schedules until the filming is over."

"Director, you should row when the tide is high! If the ratings drop during this time…!"

"Can you take responsibility if there's a controversy about acting skills during the drama?"

"Ah, no. That’s…."

She was usually warm to her employees, but once her opinion was set, she was colder than anyone.

Or rather, there were few times when her opinion differed significantly from her one-in-a-hundred employees.

"Focus on this work first. At least until the filming is over."

"Ah… Yes, I understand."

The remaining time until the last filming of this work is about a month.

Jae-joon and Sung-ho are just budding sprouts.

If they get star disease from the advertisements that come in after just two broadcasts,

Even though they are not the type to do so, it's the agency's role to prepare for any possible risks.

"About the actress Yoo Min-seo…."

"Ah, writer Kim's next work?"

"Yes!"

Sae-rom paused for a moment before speaking.

"I'm meeting the writer today, so I'll talk to him."

"Yes, I understand."

* * *

If there was someone who most hoped for the failure of Kim Jin-woo's debut work,

it would be writer Lee Min-ju, and the second would be….

"Is this a country?"

A certain actress muttered in complaint.

It was a result that completely overturned the common sense she had known.

How could a drama with two rookie actors as leads achieve a 5% rating?

"How is this possible?"

Yoo Min-seo checked the ratings table again, which she had seen multiple times.

Writer Kim Jin-woo, with whom she always clashed.

Although she didn't like him, she couldn't deny his scripts.

Especially, the past pure macho.

"A character who regresses and erases their memory…."

Yoo Min-seo had been reading the script of that work recently.

The female lead who gets into a car accident in the last scene was not the one.

"The role of a financial advisor."

A character who starts with a deep connection to the male lead.

A secondary female lead who manages the male lead's assets, which are deleted when he regresses.

She also doesn't know the man's face or name, but precisely because of this, she doesn't forget him.

You can't forget someone you don't know.

A tragic woman who admires an anonymous genius investor but can't approach him.

Having only played roles as a chaebol or an entertainer, it seemed like it was time for a new acting transformation.

However, there was one thing that bothered her.

"Why is this role a secondary female lead? It hurts my pride."

If the writer hadn't insisted that the one-scene role of the female lead who gets into a car accident was the main female lead,

she could have accepted the role of the financial advisor more easily.

"Well, it's fine. If a top actress like Jeon Ji-yeon or Song Hye-jun plays the main female lead."

With that level of casting, there would be no reason for her pride to be hurt.

"Will the ratings of Pure Macho continue to rise?"

The higher the writer's status, the harder it is for the actor to stand out.

At this rate, she would have to bow every time she gives an opinion for the next work.

Still, starting next week, it will go head-to-head with MBS's 'Shooting the Sun.'

"Hmm… just fail moderately."

Just enough for the next work to be produced smoothly.

While thinking this, she waited for Director Jung Sae-rom to call her.

A moment later,

As soon as Kim Jin-woo saw Yoo Min-seo's face, he said,

* * *

"I don't like it."

I came to see actress Kim Hyun-ji, so why is he here?

In the office of Tempest Entertainment's Director Jung Sae-rom.

Before I arrived, a familiar actress was already sitting there.

"Yoo Min-seo."

"Writer, please use the proper title."

"…"

What else should I add?

I just don't want to call her by name.

Anyway, the fact that Yoo Min-seo is sitting here for a discussion about the next work means

"Are you considering her for the lead role in this work? I'm sorry, but…."

"No."

"Huh? Then…?"

To her surprise, she was considering the secondary female lead, not the main lead.

Although it was an unexpected answer, my opinion remained unchanged.

"Um, you want the secondary lead role?"

"…Yes."

"That won't work either."

"…"

Yoo Min-seo looked like she wanted to storm out immediately.

But the fact that she was still sitting suggested that she was interested in the role.

'If Yoo Min-seo says she wants the secondary lead…'

I should naturally welcome her with open arms.

If Kim Hyun-ji wasn't the lead in this drama,

Would I think the same way about a junior from the same agency being the main lead?

It would be more comfortable to use a well-behaved and obedient rookie.

Of course, it's a spoiled complaint.

Maybe it's just my ego.

Confidence in the system of bringing a hit with rookie actors.

There was a common belief that attracting viewers in the first episode depended on the actor's popularity.

But 'The Heir of a Chaebol is a Pure Macho' beautifully shattered that outdated formula.

Even the critics who had given negative reviews were now all praising it.

"Hmm…."

At that moment, Director Jung Sae-rom sighed and spoke.

"Are you two fighting in front of me?"

"I don't fight. I don't know about the actress."

"Such…."

Sae-rom stared at me intently and asked,

"Writer, do you hate Min-seo out of personal feelings?"

"Me? No way. Why would I hate the actress?"

"Then I don't understand. Min-seo is more than capable of being the lead."

"Well…."

If it weren't for Director Jung, 'Pure Macho' might not have been produced.

It would have been lucky to be made as a web drama on Nertube, let alone JTBS.

It might have been rejected from an unpopular contest because it didn't match the judges' tastes.

'If only Yoo Min-seo wasn't here, I could have said it easily…'

Director Jung Sae-rom, with an unchanged expression, continued.

"Be honest. Then I won't cast you two in the same work."

Her flat tone made me hesitate to answer positively.

I just… didn't want to disappoint Director Jung.

So, I answered honestly as she suggested.

"The main female lead for this work is already decided."

Actually, there was no reason not to tell Director Jung.

She was the one who trusted and cast rookie actors as leads.

"…Like Se-mi or Jae-joon?"

"Yes."

"Who are they?"

Jung Sae-rom and Yoo Min-seo looked at me in silence.

Receiving the gazes of both women, I didn't know what to do.

"Kim Hyun-ji."

"Are you kidding?"

A curse word slipped out of Yoo Min-seo's mouth.

'Geez, how much kimchi soup are you drinking?'

Without even considering the possibility of giving a role.