Chapter 30

At the JTBS Pure Macho set.

"Alright, we're going to shoot!"

Even though it was the weekend, the staff were bustling about.

Though they didn't say it out loud, most of them were thinking about the upcoming showdown.

They had to face off against MBS's blockbuster 'Shooting the Sun' tomorrow.

"Big sister, you're here?"

Semi ran up to Mireung and nestled into her embrace.

"Yeah. I have an extra role to shoot today."

"Only today?"

"Ah... I only have one scene."

In fact, the reason Mireung got the role was quite unique.

A casual comment she made to writer Kim Jin-woo had taken root.

At the time, she had told him not to sway Semi, as it seemed the production would be difficult.

So, she had said that if the drama were to be filmed, she would appear in it, even as an extra.

Seeing the busy staff members now, she realized it was a hasty mistake.

'Now I see, even an extra role will leave a mark on my career.'

A memorable extra role in a successful drama could actually help her acting career.

Even though it was just one scene, unlike an extra, she had a lot of lines and the focus was on her.

Jae-eun and Semi's progress as actors made her proud as an older sister.

'Thanks to writer Kim Jin-woo.'

Recently, with the success of the drama and its OST, Purple Girls' overall schedule had been increasing.

This was the first time they had so many schedules during a non-activity period.

Including herself, all the members were focusing on their individual activities.

Ding─

At that moment, the manager sent a personal message about the schedule.

"KBC? Oh, a variety show... We agreed to film it."

She had heard that a director who had left SBC after a hit production had offered her a role.

It was a prestigious director, and it was her first solo variety show, so she was filled with a strange sense of anticipation.

At that moment, Semi, who had been listening, asked,

"Big sister, where are you going today?"

"KBC Broadcasting Station."

"Eh, eh? I texted the writer today."

"Writer?"

"Ah, no…."

Just then, the makeup team urgently called for Mireung.

"Semi, I'm going to set up. Do well with the filming!"

"Okay. Big sister."

As Mireung left, Semi muttered softly,

"…The writer is also going to KBC today. I wish I could go instead of big sister."

She might run into him by chance.

She was disappointed because she hadn't seen him in a while.

Thinking of this, Semi picked up her phone and sent a text.

[Writer! Mireung big sister is also going to KBC Broadcasting Station today.]

Hoping for a quick reply, she waited.

Ding─

[Really? If I see her by chance, I'll have to say hello ㅎㅎ]

"Wow."

Receiving such a quick reply was rare.

Just as she was about to send a response, the assistant director called out loudly.

"Semi, we're moving to the next scene!"

"Ah, yes…."

Reluctantly, Semi put down her phone.

A little later,

The three lead actors, having finished filming, gathered to chat.

"What's going on? I didn't expect Pure Macho to be such a hit…."

"It feels like a dream these days."

"It's all thanks to the writer."

Semi, half-listening to Jae-joon and Sung-ho's conversation, was on her phone.

However, the next part of their conversation was impossible to ignore.

"Hey, did you hear? Writer Kim Jin-woo really let someone have it."

"About actor Yeo Min-seo? I heard she was really upset today."

Semi's eyes widened as she listened intently.

"…Go on."

"Huh?"

"Quickly, tell me. Why did the writer do it?"

Under her urging, Ji-sung-ho spoke.

"Ah… It's not confirmed. But apparently, Min-seo was let go…."

"From what role?"

"The writer's new work, the secondary female lead."

"Really…? So it's open now?"

"Are you… going to take it? Abandon Pure Macho!?"

"What are you talking about? I don't necessarily have to do it."

"???"

Semi smiled slightly and thought,

'If one of the sisters gets it, that would be best.'

That way, they could continue to get along as they do now.

* * *

KBC, which has been dominating the drama market recently.

Even though they have been targeting niche markets with historical dramas and melodramas,

they have always been overshadowed by MBS and SBC in terms of freshness and popularity.

As a public broadcaster, they had to avoid sensational or melodramatic content.

They had to carry the burden of focusing on quality and artistry over commercial success.

"These days, Pure Macho is really doing well."

"Indeed. They say the drama was cast very well."

Joo Tae-hong, the head of KBC's drama production department, was talking to the head of the variety department.

"It's quite good, even for a cable channel."

"Wouldn't it have been great if it had come from our station? It would have started with at least a 10% rating. We would have promoted it heavily…."

"Is that kind of speculation meaningful?"

"It's just a thought."

Soon, Joo asked the variety head,

"Are you trying to cash in on Purple Girls? I heard you're doing a four-part variety show."

"Ha, I'm not that kind of person. I'm doing it because the freelance director is good."

"Director? Who is he?"

"You'll be surprised."

"Who is he…?"

"Song Gwan-soo."

"…The Song Gwan-soo I know?"

"Yes."

Joo swallowed hard and asked,

"Even though many talented directors have left… how can it not work?"

"Snap out of it. Who would want to work with Director Song after his fight with SBC?"

"Ah…."

Given his conflict with SBC,

no writer would want to work with him.

"Ha… If we could get Director Song to do a freelance job, he could really bring out the best in the project."

"The problem is that no writer will attach themselves to it. Unless you're willing to feud with SBC."

"Ah, ah…."

Joo sighed regretfully.

"How can it not work…? I really want to nurture this project."

"I'll talk to him. But… can you do me a favor?"

"Hmm…?"

"I need a two-part pilot. Can you cast a few actors for me?"

"Sure, no problem."

Meanwhile, at the same time,

Kim Jin-woo was in a cafe in the same building, opening his laptop.

* * *

Every time I have a good environment to write a script, I feel so happy.

"Really clean and nice."

Thud─

He placed the ordered coffee on the table and basked in the light.

The memory of the second part was firmly etched in his mind, and the drama unfolded.

"Ah, so this is what it's about."

Tap, tap, tap─

[The Memory Erasing Reincarnator 2]

In the end, the protagonist saves the female lead from a hit-and-run.

Screech─!

The hit-and-run vehicle narrowly missed the female lead and sped away.

-Please give me your number. I'll definitely thank you.

-You don't need to. You won't remember anyway.

-What?

-If I don't save you, losing my family would be meaningless.

-???

From then on, the protagonist abuses his reincarnation ability without hesitation.

The family he lived with for five years as a neighbor no longer remembers him.

For a while, the two live forgetting each other's existence.

When they meet by chance, the woman greets the man.

"So this is why this woman was the protagonist."

The reason why Kim Hyun-ji, who only appeared in one scene in the first part, is the main heroine.

She is the only one who remembers the protagonist completely, without erasing his memory.

-You… really remember my face?

-Of course I do. How long has it been?

-But, I definitely reincarnated after that…?

-What can I do? I've been busy….

-Hold on! I still have something to say!

"Interesting…"

The female lead is guided by her secretary to a mansion.

The setting is that she is an illegitimate child secretly raised by the chairman of a major domestic conglomerate.

The capable man and the heiress quickly reverse their roles.

Now, the male lead must find the female lead, and the female lead avoids the male lead whenever she sees him.

And the big reveal at the end of the second part.

"It wasn't a hit-and-run…."

The scene where the female lead's half-siblings scold a gangster secretary.

It was a power struggle within the conglomerate to assassinate the illegitimate child brought in by the chairman.

"Amazing. Bring the next episode. Right now."

In this episode, Kim Hyun-ji's charm was clearly revealed.

It was a different level from just being pretty or beautiful.

It fit the image of a high-class but tragic heroine.

"See, you chose the right protagonist."

Thud─

Just as he was about to close his laptop and stand up,

he noticed two men and a woman sitting at a table in the cafe.

The couple were familiar faces.

Mireung, the leader of Purple Girls, and the Purple Girls' manager.

"I should greet them."

After all, he had been involved with Purple Girls from their music.

Not to mention, Mireung appeared as an extra in Pure Macho.

Thud, thud─

"Excuse me, hello?"

"Ah, ah? Writer!"

Mireung was surprised and stood up.

"Hmm, and you are…?"

The middle-aged man, excluding the manager, spoke to me.

"I'm writer Kim Jin-woo. I wrote the script for Pure Macho."

"Ah! I'm enjoying it. I'm Director Song Gwan-soo. I'm filming a variety show with Mireung."

Why does this name sound so familiar?

"Could it be… Director Song from SBC…?"

"Yes. I left a while ago."

Meeting a legendary director here.

"Drawing the Stars!! I binge-watched it from the beginning."

"Ahaha. Is that so? Thank you."

That year, the work that swept over 10 awards at SBC.

A masterpiece that silenced debates over the script and acting with its brilliant direction.

"I respect you, Director."

"Respect? I can't even make dramas anymore."

"What? No, how can you say that… with such talent…."

"If I work with you, I'll be completely blacklisted by SBC."

"Ah…."

"Even though it's a one-off variety show, KBC offered me work."

"…."

Director Song, who couldn't endure company life and quit six months after his debut.

In other words, his first drama became his last, a typical one-hit wonder.

'Director Song doing a variety show…'

The directing styles of dramas and variety shows are very different.

It feels like a waste of talent to bring in a drama star director.

Just as there are emotional and funky songs in music, the genres are completely different.

"Writer, what you're holding… is it a script?"

"Huh? Ah, yes!"

I held the script for the next part, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Already working on the next project… I'm looking forward to it."

"Um, would you mind if I showed it to you?"

I was curious to see how a 'real' genius would view it, unlike me.

"Of course. I really enjoyed Pure Macho."

Mireung approached and grabbed my sleeve, still standing there blankly.

Suddenly, I remembered the moment Semi grabbed my collar, and a smile escaped me.

"Writer, please sit here."

"Yes, Mireung."

Ding─

At that moment, the system notification sounded in my head.

[An actor who fits the role 78% has been found.]

[Would you like to register this actor for the role of 'Sim Yoo-jin'? (Y/N)]

"Huh…?"

The secondary female lead role that Yeo Min-seo had so desperately wanted.

With the increased level and expanded pool of actors, the system responded easily.

Turning my head slightly, the light was still there.

[Time limit: 12 hours 50 minutes 59 seconds]

'Let's register it. I can change it later.'

Even with a low match rate, the system will cover it.

Mireung is worth considering as the top candidate.

"Um…."

At that moment, I felt curious gazes from the others.

Especially, Mireung's strange look as she sat down.

"Ah, let me show you the script first."

Soon, Director Song began reading the script with a serious expression.

I was curious to see how the genius director would evaluate my work.