Chapter 29

Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul.

My second work's first studio.

"Hmm, I didn't expect you to pay off the debt all at once?"

"I always keep my promises."

Tap, tap-tap─

I was typing away on my laptop in the same building I had visited before.

"But what are you doing now?"

"Brother, didn't Barum Entertainment pay off all the debt thanks to me?"

".... So what?"

"Then, am I not a customer?"

"Um, maybe?"

"I'll be here for just two hours."

"...."

I almost asked for a cup of coffee.

Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap─

The familiar taste of the system, which I hadn't felt in a long time.

While typing, I felt as comfortable as if I had returned home.

'Joon's acting is top-notch.'

His natural dialogue delivery was like wearing a perfectly fitting suit.

He flaunted the wealth he had accumulated using his regression ability.

At the same time, he showed the loneliness of being forgotten by others.

It took two hours to revise the already written script.

Soon, I finished the first part and left Geumcheon Building.

Jang, the CEO of Barum Entertainment, was waiting outside.

His eyes looked as if he was seeing a savior.

"How much business did you have to expand to owe 300 million won?"

"I got scammed a bit…."

It was a boast.

"Now, the loan sharks won't come after you anymore."

"Mr. Writer, thank you so much!"

"Why are you thanking me?"

"Uh, because you paid off the debt…."

"What are you talking about?"

"???"

It seemed Jang was under some misunderstanding, and I needed to correct it.

"The interest rate is the legal maximum, 24% per year. Compared to the loan sharks, I'm an angel."

"You mean you didn't pay it off…."

Holding the debt fulfillment document in one hand, I said,

"Of course, you have to pay it back. I've already guaranteed the next work."

"Ah…."

"From today, I'm the creditor, and you're the debtor."

"…. Are you a devil?"

"What did you just say…?"

"Ah, no."

Now, Joon is my actor.

Not just an actor in my work, but really my actor.

Although he belongs to Tempest, he will be the one to grow my influence within the company.

"Mr. Kang Cheol-jung, start coming to the Tempest office from tomorrow. We need to earn money."

"Me?"

"Didn't you hear from Team Leader Byun? You're now part of Tempest."

"…. What do you mean?"

The once successful CEO of Barum Entertainment had fallen to a mere manager.

Honestly, if you can't even manage to avoid 300 million won in debt without gambling, your business skills are trash.

"You look better as a manager than a CEO."

* * *

A few days later, at the Purple Girls' dormitory.

"Unnie Mireung! Didn't you say you would have a small role in Pure Macho?"

"Yes, that's right. The shooting is tomorrow."

"I can't wait to see it. Hehe."

Reimi smiled and continued.

"I feel so happy these days."

"…. That's a bit harsh on Seemi, though."

Seemi hadn't returned to the dormitory due to her late-night schedule.

Even though her variety show was about to air soon.

Beep, beep-beep─

At that moment, Seemi came in through the front door.

"Seemi!"

"Uh-huh."

She entered the house, exhausted, and collapsed on the sofa.

"Are you okay?"

"Ugh."

Seemi made a sound that was hard to distinguish between a response and a groan.

The members playfully pressed and massaged her body.

Then, Seemi smiled and said,

"It's almost time for Knowing Brother, right?"

"Yes, you're in it. But the CEO must have given you a break to watch the show, right?"

"No, it was postponed to tomorrow."

"…."

Unlike Tempest, Rainbow Entertainment packed Seemi's schedule to the brim.

A little while later,

The members gathered to watch the variety show.

"Sure enough, Sung-ho is really cool."

"Personally, I like Jae-joon."

When it was Seemi's turn, an MC asked a question.

-Is this your first leading role?

-Yes.

-Who do you think of the most right now?

-The writer.

-Huh?

-Well, I practiced the script the most with the writer….

At that moment, one of the MCs, Lee Su-hoon, quickly covered up.

-Actually, I hosted the press conference, and all the actors are big fans of the writer.

-What's going on? I'm so envious. What's his name…?

-Yes, his name is Kim Jin-woo.

Seemi blushed, remembering the conversation she had during the recording.

"Hmm, the editing is a bit strange, isn't it?"

"Yeah, the other actors also like the writer."

"Exactly. Anyone watching would think Seemi is the only one with a crush."

The members commented, but Seemi kept staring at her phone.

"Still no read…."

The message she sent to Kim Jin-woo four hours ago still hadn't been read.

She had sent it during a rare break in her busy schedule.

[Writer! Please monitor Knowing Brother today! Definitely! ㅎㅎ]

* * *

The next day,

[Is the Female Lead of Pure Macho, Seemi, in Love with the Writer?]

From morning, numerous reporters flooded with clickbait articles.

Of course, if you read the articles, they were just comedy bits from the variety show.

"Are they crazy?"

After all, netizens only read the headlines.

Half of them don't even read the content before commenting.

-Writer scumbag

-Kim Jin-woo, die

-Seemi, please don't ㅠㅠ

-You trolls, read the article ㅋㅋㅋ

In fact, her phone was still buzzing with messages and calls.

While many were congratulatory or encouraging, most were trying to poach or solicit her.

"At least it's been a few days, so it's better than before…."

While checking her messages, she found one from Seemi.

Lately, she had been so busy with Barum Entertainment and new actors that she hadn't paid attention.

"I feel bad."

She probably didn't expect a reply, but I still felt guilty.

I decided to apologize and send her a link to the rerun of the variety show.

At that moment, a shadow approached, making me jump.

"Brother, are you chatting with Seemi?"

"Hey, do you want to die? Who's watching?"

"I didn't watch, but I saw."

"…. Go away."

Ding─

At that moment, I received a call from Manager Jung.

[Writer, if you have time today, can you come to the office?]

"Good timing."

I was planning to visit Tempest to meet Manager Kang Cheol-jung.

"Oh, are you going to the office? Is she pretty?"

"Damn."

"Your profile picture is cute. Just go for it!"

"…."

Today, my sister had me in her sights.

Swoosh─

She kept talking until the last moment.

"What is it? Where are you going?"

"To the office."

"To meet that woman?"

"Yeah."

"Good luck!"

Just before leaving, I said to my sister,

"Should I refund your acting school and buy you a Melona on the way back?"

"…. I'm sorry for being cheeky."

"Behave."

"Got it! Take care!"

A little while later,

In the Strategy and Planning Department of Tempest Entertainment.

Manager Jung sighed deeply and said to me,

"Castings for this work are not easy."

"I agree."

With Kim Hyun-ji, Joon, and the role that Yeo Min-seo had been eyeing.

Filling the casting board was not an easy task.

Especially since the director's opinion is even more important than the writer's.

I thought to myself,

'If possible, let's go with a director who listens to me.'

Someone who doesn't mind my interference in casting and directing.

It didn't matter if they weren't a star director like Sung Ki-hoon.

"Manager Jung, my next work…."

Ding─

At that moment, Saerom checked her phone.

"Writer, you have a meeting with Director Cha from SBC."

"Really?"

"Director Cha Chung-heon. He's famous, you know."

"…."

Why so fast?

We could take it a bit slower.

"…. It's SBC, isn't it?"

"I know. It's said that he has a bad relationship with Writer Lee Min-ju."

"…."

"But I thought it was a good opportunity."

"True. It's a terrestrial channel, after all."

SBC is the main base and frequent haunt of Writer Lee Min-ju.

Her works are currently on a downward trend.

It felt strange, as I once considered them my own.

'Comfortable…'

This is why children need good parents.

Just look at CEO Jung Gi-tae of Tempest Entertainment, the son of the chairman of Cheon Sung Group.

Born with a silver spoon, he has a capable person like Manager Jung to earn money for him.

"Huh? What's that look in your eyes?"

"No, nothing."

"Are you worried about Writer Lee Min-ju?"

"Well, a little…."

"Trust me. She won't be involved in your next work."

"I trust you, but…."

I knew Director Cha Chung-heon of SBC.

A famous producer, as well-known as Director Sung Ki-hoon.

And even more of a perfectionist and authoritarian.

"Well, we should meet him first."

"Writer, if you don't like him, we can still look for someone else…."

"No, it's fine. You went through a lot to arrange this."

"…."

I would have to meet him and see.

* * *

In my opinion, Kang Cheol-jung needs a strong support system to do his job well.

He's more of a manager type, not a CEO.

When Barum Entertainment was doing well, the actor management and external affairs ran smoothly.

But after the co-CEO, who handled the overall management, passed away, the company took a big hit.

'The person who died then…'

Was Manager Kang's older brother and Actor Joon's father.

Creak─

As I opened the door, Kang Cheol-jung greeted me with a smile.

"Ah, Writer Kim!"

"Yes, I'm a bit late."

In the small studio provided by Tempest Entertainment.

Manager Kang looked uneasy and fidgeted.

"From now on, you only need to take care of Actor Joon. For the details, ask Team Leader Byun."

"Ah…. Yes."

"How did you manage to keep the agency running all this time?"

"By going around broadcasting stations and production companies, distributing profiles, and…."

I remembered the dozens of profiles I had seen at JTBS.

Among the many profiles piled up,

"Those get thrown away."

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, I picked up the profiles that JTBS threw away."

"Ah…."

I said to Manager Kang, who looked devastated.

"Do you want to make Actor Joon a star?"

"Of course!"

"Then, from now on, focus only on his acting practice."

"Yes, sir."

Creak─

At that moment, Joon entered with a bitter smile.

"…. Is it okay for me to come in?"

At that moment, the system activated again.

Ding-dong─

The system often activates randomly, but

it's more likely to activate when I encounter the main character.

[Content: The Memory Eraser 2nd Part]

[Genre: Time Loop, Romance, Crime Thriller]

[Location: KBC Piscuji Cafe, Main Broadcasting Station]

[Time Limit: 18 hours]

[※ Silver Upgrade: 110-110101-1011 (Virtual Account, W Bank)]

[※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 100 million won]

"Manager Kang Cheol-jung."

"Yes?"

It seemed Manager Kang had been going around all the broadcasting stations.

"Have you ever gone around the stations with Actor Joon?"

"Yes, we often went together and introduced him…."

How many times must he have been laughed at by industry insiders?

They probably mocked the failed agency behind his back.

"I'll go to the broadcasting station. Find an acting teacher for Actor Joon."

"Yes! Leave it to me!"

Under the protection of Tempest, Manager Kang might be able to show his former skills.

After all, he was once a successful CEO of Barum Entertainment.

Then, I headed to KBC Broadcasting Station.

I couldn't have imagined then

that I would meet my life-changing director thanks to the system.