Chapter 3

"Damn brat! I can't get over it even after two days."

Author Im Joo thought about the assistant who had stormed out of the studio not long ago.

Now, he was a talent who could be called a veteran without any shortcomings.

Even as a young writer, he had been arrogant enough to throw a script he hadn't even read in front of everyone.

It was the first time in six years that an assistant had worked with him, and his head was still ringing.

Therefore, his anger towards the bastard who had sworn and left only grew.

"You know this industry is small, right?"

With the bad rumors spread, it would be impossible for him to become an assistant to another famous writer.

Im Joo knew his skills better than anyone else.

While the immersion was not bad, the dialogue was too flashy and always needed revision.

In other words, he didn't have the skills to win a contest and was destined to remain an assistant forever.

After all, he didn't have the ability to rise on his own.

Even if he wanted to take revenge, there was no proper opportunity to do so.

"You brought this upon yourself."

He had even considered promoting him to a co-writer for the next work, recognizing his efforts.

Now, he was receiving high praise for his best form.

His ratings were soaring, and he was firmly established as a top-tier writer.

There was no reason for the broadcasting station to have a falling out with him.

That guy would never show his face in this industry again.

Knock, knock—

"Mr. Writer."

At that moment, an assistant knocked and called out to Im Joo.

"Come in."

Creak—

Soon, assistant Oh Hyun-sik entered. He was the most trusted friend after Kim Jin-woo.

"I contacted the Purple Girls. Jae-eun agreed to do a cameo…."

"Is that so?"

Jae-eun of the Purple Girls had already worked with Im Joo.

She had been re-evaluated as an idol actor when she played a supporting lead.

She probably found it hard to refuse Im Joo's request.

Oh Hyun-sik, wanting to flatter, asked a bit exaggeratedly.

"Should I ask the entire Purple Girls to appear? To repay you, they should do at least that much."

"Hehe. Sure. Give it a try."

"Got it! I'll call them right away."

As Hyun-sik turned to leave, he paused and continued.

"About the Kim Jin-woo incident… I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"Because I told you several times to remove Jin-woo's name from this work. If not for that, he wouldn't have…."

"No, thanks to you, I got to know his true nature. I almost had to work with such a creepy guy, you know?"

"Ah, um. Got it. Then…."

Creak—

A sinister smile appeared on Hyun-sik's lips as he turned.

With Kim Jin-woo gone, Oh Hyun-sik had risen to become the de facto leader of the studio.

He had just passed on the task assigned by the writer to another assistant.

"Junior, ask if the entire Purple Girls can do a cameo."

"Ah, got it."

"If you can't get it, we'll both have to drink the Han River. Got it?"

"Got it! Got it!"

"Just kidding. Kid. Hehe."

The atmosphere was clearly different from when Kim Jin-woo was around.

Other assistants frowned but didn't say a word.

* * *

【Time Limit: 5 hours 12 minutes 22 seconds】

After waiting for about two hours,

Now, there was roughly 5 hours left.

"I wish you knew I was watching…."

I wish you would just disappear right away. Please.

I ended up watching a woman like a stalker.

She didn't turn her head for even a second, focusing only on her work.

Although I was willing to pay 50,000 won to get a seat,

I got stuck at the entrance with the Mercedes key and just chewed on the straw.

"Still, she's incredibly beautiful."

I know the names of most celebrities, but I've never seen anyone like her.

Her neat brown hair suited her suit.

Her flawless skin, as if regularly maintained by a professional.

The harmony of her eyes, nose, and mouth exuded an aura that was hard to approach.

She was a beauty that you wouldn't see in real life.

Since we were near a broadcasting station, it wasn't strange to think she was a celebrity.

"But if she's a celebrity…."

Seeing her so focused on her work, it didn't seem like she was one.

Just then, she stretched and relaxed her body.

I quickly turned my gaze away like a child caught doing something bad.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I got up and looked around the store.

When I slowly looked back at her, she was already buried in her documents.

"Hmm…."

At that moment, a collection of signed frames hanging on one side of the store caught my eye.

The coffee shop, known for its cleanliness,

seemed to have differentiated itself because it was near a broadcasting station.

Among them,

［I enjoyed the coffee. Hope you do well! - Purple Girls Se-mi］

Se-mi and other members of the Purple Girls had their signatures hanging.

"Maybe the location wasn't completely random…."

The previous and current locations are close but completely different.

If I had to guess, it could be related to a specific actor.

It might be deeply connected to the content or story of the drama.

It could be a place like where Se-mi visited, or perhaps,

"…The drama starts in Jeju Island. Surely they won't ask me to go to Jeju Island, right?"

Frankly, if it was a drama about a wealthy family and they asked me to write in the chairman's study, I'd be out.

Or in the doghouse of a wealthy family…

"Ah, if that's the case, I'll just write it myself."

I subtly turned and looked at the 'glowing' seat.

However, she had left her belongings and gone, probably to the bathroom.

"Hmm, let's go see."

If the light starts absorbing, it might follow me even if I leave the seat.

Since the other person doesn't seem to be backing down, I need to be confident.

An amateur who hesitates doesn't belong in this seat.

Thud—

I acted as if I had always been sitting there.

I heard sighs from the surrounding men but ignored them.

As soon as I sat in front of the woman, a white light started absorbing into my head.

At the same time, a video automatically played in my head, just like yesterday.

I immediately tried to get up and leave the seat.

'Damn.'

The absorbed light had already stayed in the seat, piercing through my head.

【Time Limit: 4 hours 47 minutes 13 seconds】

With less than 5 hours left,

I couldn't wait forever.

［Tempest Entertainment, Manager Jeong Se-rom］

Some of the scattered files contained information about her.

'Tempest Entertainment…'

A large company that has produced many artists.

They mainly managed actors rather than singers,

and I heard they recently expanded into drama production.

'Ah, I don't know.'

I sat back down and took out my laptop.

The video was automatically playing in my head again.

I started typing naturally, as if I had always been sitting there.

There was no need to rewind the video by 10 seconds.

As long as the time limit remained, the memory of the video would not be deleted.

The white light stored in my head lingered for a while.

It seemed that the light I absorbed acted like a film.

Just like yesterday, I could type while watching the video without any delay.

At that moment,

"What are you doing?"

A woman's voice, soft but firm.

Finally, the inevitable happened.

I kept typing without stopping and answered calmly.

"Manager Jeong Se-rom."

"…Yes? Do you know me?"

"Of course. That's why I'm sitting here."

The drama in my head was still interesting,

but the difficulty of writing increased as the dialogue I spoke mixed with the story.

"Who are you…?"

"Strategic Planning Department of Tempest Entertainment, right?"

I took a gamble, subtly covering the name on the file.

I hoped it would work.

"Ah, yes. That's right…."

'Really?'

I was so focused on what to say next that I stopped typing and seriously considered it.

But she responded, easing my worries.

"Did you come from JTBS Broadcasting Station…?"

"Ah, yes! It's almost the same."

"Um, almost… But even so, I don't understand how you could come 5 hours early."

If 5 hours passed, the time limit would end, and she even had an appointment then.

Hearing her, I felt I had made the right decision to sit down boldly.

"It just happened. So, let's talk about work."

Since it came to this, I had to be shameless.

A con artist falls to the level of a third-rate one the moment they show tension.

I kept typing while talking to her.

Thanks to my ability or the system, the writing flowed smoothly.

I felt like an android, my hands moving automatically.

"But what have you been doing on the laptop…?"

She leaned in to peek at my laptop.

Despite the beautiful woman getting closer, I felt suffocated.

"Really sorry, but it's confidential. I can't show it… Sorry."

"Ah, okay."

She pouted, looking like a sulking person.

A cute contrast to her cold, career woman appearance.

Beautiful people are still beautiful even when they pout.

'Wow… Why isn't this person an actor?'

I thought I was immune to beautiful women in this industry.

But I was momentarily lost in her diverse expressions.

"Then, show me the script first."

"Script?"

"…Are you really from JTBS Broadcasting Station?"

"Of course. Just a moment…."

I pretended to be crazy and handed over the first part of my work.

'Thankfully, I put the printed script in my bag to read.'

Fortunately, I survived thanks to the script printed by Hee-jung yesterday.

My useless sister for 24 years finally proved her worth.

"Wow, this is so blank. I've never seen a script with nothing written on the first page. Who's the writer?"

"There is. Such a person."

"…But you don't look like you know anyone."

"Excuse me?"

"Ah, never mind."

I kept typing on my laptop.

She picked up the script I handed her and grabbed her car key.

"The script we prepared is being brought by an employee."

"Ah, then…."

"Since we have time, I'll go get it slowly. Can you hold my seat for a while?"

"…Thank you very much."

"???"

Manager Jeong Se-rom left with a puzzled look.

The hidden mission I had to complete before she returned.

I wrote frantically, not even caring about typos.

The script was written based on the 'memory' in my head.

A typical romance drama targeting 20s and 30s female viewers.

It was a drama where two lead male characters competed for one lead female character.

In the second part I was writing, the supporting male character's role was particularly prominent.

'I need to pay attention to the casting of the supporting male character.'

The supporting male character in the video had an ordinary appearance.

Actually, except for the lead male and female characters, most of the characters had similar, unremarkable appearances.

Their charm didn't match their looks.

They were clearly well-groomed, but it felt like they had had plastic surgery.

It seemed like the casting was intentionally done with ordinary-looking men and women.

It would be hard to accept if this transcendent system had such a flaw.

'Maybe anyone would do.'

Thud, thud—

Finally, I finished writing the second part of the script.

I quickly packed my laptop, worried that the seat owner might return.

"I'm sorry for the deception, Jeong Se-rom."

Feeling a bit guilty just standing up, I searched my bag to leave a note.

I found a post-it and a pencil and scribbled a message.

［I sat well and am leaving. Good luck!］

I left the note and carefully got up to leave the seat.