Chapter 51

MBS Broadcasting Drama Department.

Director Ko Hyun-rae was looking at the script sent by Kim Jin-woo, pondering.

"Who exactly is this Kim Jin-woo writer?"

He had seen him by chance at the broadcasting station's cafe a while ago, but he never thought he would actually contact him.

"Overseas Sales Team 3, Kim Na-yeon"

"At first, when I received it, I thought, 'What is this all about?'..."

But after reading it in one go, he was the one who took the initiative to contact the other party.

There is a commonality in all of Kim Jin-woo's works.

The scripts are concise and can be filmed directly.

And, as a director, the room for interpretation is extremely limited.

"Where has this monster writer been hiding all this time..."

He read it without much expectation, thinking it was just another typical corporate drama based on the title.

But the moment he saw the three-part work, he felt a glimmer of confidence.

"This work... it will definitely take off."

He gave meaning to the smallest actions of the characters, depicting their psychology.

His skill in revealing inner thoughts without using words, dialogue, or monologues is top-notch.

What about his metaphorical expression style?

The way he compared contracts to fishing was jaw-dropping.

He naturally unfolded the entire process of throwing bait and catching fish through the dialogue of a manager-level character.

"Excuse me... Director."

At that moment, a production staff member approached and called out to Director Ko.

"The head of the department is looking for you."

"Oh, really? It seems the meeting is finally over."

Creak—

Director Ko straightened his bent back and slowly walked over to knock on the department head's office door.

"Come in."

He opened the door and slowly entered.

In fact, the reason the department head called him was obvious.

"Director Ko, are you really going to do this?"

"Yes. What reason could there be not to? Right now, there's a rumor that Tempest has secured Yoo Seol-a."

"... Director Ko, do you have no pride?"

Just a short while ago, he had set the stage with a blockbuster, only to be utterly defeated by a pure macho drama.

"Head of the department, where is the pride in doing good work? If the work is good, I'll do it. And these days, I'm desperate to work with Kim Jin-woo."

"... That's just your opinion."

The department head pointed to the sky with his finger.

"The higher-ups prioritize pride over money."

"Hmm..."

The department head then turned his gaze and picked up the script.

He had read it several times over the past day.

"It's not particularly stimulating... but I keep being drawn to it."

A drama based on an emotional office setting, with all comedic elements removed.

A hyper-realistic office drama that has never succeeded since a certain cable channel's "Intern."

"Can you do a PT presentation?"

"Me?"

"Not the CEO, but the department head will be there."

"Of course. I'll do it."

The quick-witted Director Ko immediately caught on to how much effort the department head had put in.

It was a chance to show his worth before the higher-ups cut him off.

"Work with Kim Jin-woo... and do your best."

"Of course."

"Honestly, I can't do much more for you."

"That's enough. Head of the department."

Director Ko smiled and stood up.

"Then I'll go."

"Okay."

The department head watched Director Ko Ko Hyun-rae walk away and picked up the script again.

"Hmm... I can't quite gauge it."

The genre itself isn't bad.

Actually, it's a good one for an office drama.

But it's not a chaebol drama, has no melodramatic elements, and lacks even a single comedic scene.

It's far from the formula for box office success, so it's understandable to have doubts.

"But it's also intriguing."

* * *

- Let's discuss the details when we meet.

"Yes, Director Ko."

- Alright, then.

Click.

A PT presentation all of a sudden? What does that even mean?

I only did a few in college.

"I shouldn't have mentioned it to Manager Jeong."

If I bow and the MBS scheduling fails, I'll be in big trouble.

I should send a correction message.

While sending a message to Manager Jeong on my smartphone,

Creak—

The door to the workroom opened, and Hwang Hyo-ju entered, humming a tune.

She seemed to have something to say, but I brought up my matter first.

"Hyo-ju, I need you to prepare some materials."

"Wow, finally!?"

"I need you to create a presentation based on my script."

"Ah."

Hyo-ju smiled confidently.

"That's my specialty. I was called the PT goddess."

"... The PT goddesses I know are all freeloaders."

"Hey! I aced all my presentations in school."

"Did you eat them all?"

"No, I didn't."

"Really?"

"Yep!"

She's good at everything except writing scripts.

"Anyway, it's a good thing."

"What kind of presentation is it?"

"A department-level scheduling meeting. I think Director Ko and I will be presenting."

"Will you be okay?"

"What's not to be okay? We have God on our side."

"True, that's right."

Hyo-ju immediately started looking for presentation materials.

Soon, a calm and soft-themed sample PT was created.

"That was quick."

"Of course. I only did this after eating."

"We need to emphasize the casting of Yoo Seol-a."

"Got it. Oh!"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Hyo-ju seemed to have remembered something and spoke to me.

"By the way, I just got a call from an assistant director."

"An assistant director?"

"Yes. They said you should visit KBC today."

"Really?"

"Yes. They want you to come with the schedule for Kim Hyun-ji's shoot."

"With Kim Hyun-ji?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... I guess it's time to visit."

Come to think of it, I also gave gifts during the shooting of the pure macho drama.

I should give gifts to the staff this time too.

Since the first episode started with a 20% rating, a huge success.

"If I give small gifts, I might get criticized."

I should give a gift card worth 100,000 won to each person.

It will cost 10 million won in total, but I can't be called a cheapskate by the public broadcasting station staff.

I then took out my smartphone and called Kim Hyun-ji's manager.

Ring—

- Hello, Mr. Kim?

"Yes. Manager, where is Kim Hyun-ji? I'll come with the shoot later..."

- Oh, I'm out right now.

"Really?"

- Yes. I think Hyun-ji is probably resting in the 4th-floor lounge right now.

"Ah, I see."

- Yes. See you later.

"Yes."

Click.

The 4th-floor lounge where actors of all genders take a break and sometimes nap.

It can be crowded, but sometimes it's empty.

"Bro, I saw Kim Hyun-ji earlier."

"Really?"

"Yes. She was wearing a blue dress."

"She's in the lounge."

"Yes. I saw her on the 4th floor."

I should visit and match the time soon.

"Hyo-ju, let's work on the PT together until tomorrow."

"Yes. I'll just outline it for now."

"Okay. Thanks!"

"I'm glad I finally have something to do."

"Hmm..."

Actually, working here is pretty sweet.

You're probably the most comfortable in the entire Tempest Entertainment.

* * *

Manager Jeong Saerom was lost in thought after reading the message from Jin-woo.

[Breaking News] MBS is still undecided! Struggling with the choice of the next work... Shocking real story!?

"Has he finally gone crazy?"

I've known him since the club days.

He's not in his right mind these days.

Knock, knock—

At that moment, a knock came from outside the office door.

"Come in."

In response to Saerom's words, a woman in a fancy outfit slowly entered.

She was wearing a bright blue short dress.

'Oh? Today, Hyun-ji and I are wearing similar outfits...'

She didn't say it out loud.

Given the other person's strong sense of pride.

"Min-seo, it's been a while. Would you like to sit down for a moment?"

"Yes, Manager."

Yeo Min-seo sat on the sofa, maintaining a haughty posture.

"How are the works?"

"They're all not bad, but nothing particularly caught my eye."

"Even if you had to choose one?"

"Overseas Sales Team 3, Kim Na-yeon."

"Ah, as expected..."

"Everything else is fine."

"..."

... She hasn't read it, has she?

Anyone can see that this work is the best.

"Do you still hate Mr. Kim Jin-woo?"

"Why would I? He's the one who hates me."

"Whatever... Just choose carefully."

"Yes. I haven't read it yet because I've been busy. I'll read it today."

"Do you have a schedule today?"

"Yes. I have three more hours to rest in the lounge."

"Got it."

Click, click—

Manager Jeong stopped Min-seo, who was about to leave in her heels.

"Are you going there this weekend?"

"Yes, of course. It's tomorrow."

"Even though you've done a lot of charity work."

"It's different."

"Got it."

Volunteering at a center in Seoul.

She visited for image rehabilitation a few years ago and has been going every week since then.

Creak, thud—

The door closed, and Saerom muttered to herself.

"If Min-seo could be a bit warmer when talking..."

If she could just tone down her sharp tone, it would be so much better.

Her cold image hides her kind nature.

"People will understand someday."

In the entertainment industry, bad deeds make better headlines than good deeds.

But consistency always deserves respect.

* * *

The 4th-floor lounge created by Tempest Entertainment for the actors to rest.

When I opened the door, the only person in sight was one person sleeping on a desk.

"Kim Hyun-ji?"

She was wearing a blue dress, as Hyo-ju had said.

She was fast asleep, her head covered with a blanket.

The regular breathing sounds made me hesitate whether to wake her up or not.

"Ms. Kim, it's time for the shoot."

She showed no signs of waking up, so I gently pushed her shoulder.

I should have called her manager if I knew she would be sleeping so deeply.

"Hey..."

Ding—

"Uh...?"

Suddenly, the system notification sound went off.

【A 99% suitable actor for the role has been found.】

【Do you want to register this actor as 'Min Ye-rin'? (Y/N)】

"99% match!?"

The role of a strict but loveless woman.

One of the four new employees in the next work.

But the system wasn't done yet.

Ding—

【A 'Perfect Character!' mission has been discovered.】

【Registering the role will immediately complete the hidden mission.】

"Perfect Character...?"

99% match is practically the highest.

I can't not register it when the system says this.

Ding—

【The 'Perfect Character!' mission has been completed.】

【Completing the hidden mission grants a benefit.】

【You have earned 1 point of Benefit Enhancement.】

"I had no choice but to register it..."

Ms. Kim Hyun-ji is in the middle of a drama shoot, so it's a bit of a problem.

Maybe I should ask to delay the production of the next work.

Creak—

At that moment, the door opened, and a voice came from behind.

"Mr. Writer...?"

It was Kim Hyun-ji's voice.

I turned to confirm her face.

She was clearly sleeping in front of me... why is she coming from there?

Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?

What is this... it's scary.

"I heard from my manager that we're going to the shoot together..."

"Ah, yes, but... wait, then who is this...?"

Rustle—

The woman who was Kim Hyun-ji a moment ago stirred and got up.

"Ugh, it's noisy."

"Huh...?"

"What, what!?"

The woman was startled to see my face as soon as she woke up.

I swallowed hard and spoke to the woman in front of me.

"I'm Kim Jin-woo."

"... I get it, can you just step back a bit?"

"Ah..."

It was actress Yeo Min-seo, wearing the same color dress as Kim Hyun-ji.

I stepped back slightly and stared at her.

Did she have a nightmare?

Why is her face so red?

"... Is there something on my face...?"

"No, not really."

But it is. Embarrassment.

Yeo Min-seo, looking embarrassed, rubbed her mouth and stood up.

Then, she bowed deeply and quickly walked out.

Click, click—

"Hmm..."

This is a big problem.

I got carried away with the hidden mission and registered her without thinking.

Ding—

The system then activated again, revealing a new location.

【Content: Overseas Sales Team 3, Kim Na-yeon, Part 4】

【Genre: Office, Company, Ensemble】

【Location: Gwanak Regional Center, Central Welfare Hall】

【Time Limit: 18 hours per day】

【※ Gold Upgrade: 110-110101-1011 (Virtual Account, W Bank)】

【※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 500 million won】

"What is this random location?"

Right now, the important thing is not the writing location but Yeo Min-seo.

Honestly, it was best not to cast her in the previous work.

The success of the reincarnator was clearly due to Purple Girls' Miling.

"What can I do? I'll try, and if it doesn't work out..."

I'll have to use the benefit points to delete it.

The fact that our relationship was strained from the first meeting was a big factor.

I heard she's usually prickly and causes trouble everywhere.

"Well, this is all my karma."

I should have been a bit warmer to her.

Gwanak Welfare Center... Maybe I'll go for a hike and clear my mind.