Chapter 53

Xiaoming opened the materials sent by Xiaozhu on his smartphone.

".... Are you kidding me?"

What's with the Bonobono background?

How did you change the Korean background?

A 20-page document filled with all sorts of emojis.

Readability? Who cares, the text is crammed with brick font.

"Wow…."

He decided to patiently read through the content slowly.

The problem wasn't the lack of materials, but there was nothing wrong with having too much.

"The content isn't bad, though."

But just as he was about to focus, an emoji would pop up, showing its immense presence.

Tap, tap—

He immediately sent a message to Xiaozhu.

[Delete pages 4 to 9]

[Leave only the key points for the actors' descriptions]

[Reduce the content on pages 14-17 by half]

[Remove all unnecessary emojis ;;;]

Ding—

Xiaozhu replied immediately.

[Okay]

"Phew, you answered well."

Before heading to the studio, he sent another message.

[Remove that damn Bonobono too]

"Should understand now, right?"

Ding—

[OK]

".... Doesn't seem like it. But whatever, I'll be there soon anyway."

A short while later, at Tempest Entertainment.

As soon as he arrived at the studio, he checked the materials.

"Xiaozhu, you didn't delete the emoji on the eighth page?"

"That's very natural…."

".... Delete it."

"Pretty?…"

"Delete it."

"Got it."

He gathered his scattered thoughts and checked the materials.

<Yoo Seol-a: Queen of Emotional Acting. Possible participation in OST. Based on her popularity….>

<Ki Hyun-su: Attractive public image. Puppy-like character….>

"Let's just revise this and send it to Manager Jung. He'll take care of it."

"Got it, bro."

He had heard that Manager Jung had already set up a meeting with Rainbow Entertainment for actor Ki Hyun-su.

Director Gao had also welcomed the idea positively.

"Bro, but the other two characters haven't been cast yet?"

"I'll talk to Director Gao today."

"Didn't you usually decide all the roles yourself?"

"I did….?"

"Yep, your nickname is 'Caster.'"

"???"

"Casting Hitler."

"That nickname…. you just made it up, right?"

"Nope."

Out of the four lead actors, Yeo Min-seo was still on hold.

And for the other muscular male character.

"The supporting female lead, I have someone in mind…."

"Oh, really?"

I do, but it probably won't work out.

"Let's think about the second supporting male lead after the drama meeting."

"Where do I find a muscular and gentle-looking person?"

"Hmm…. Maybe we can find one."

* * *

Ding, ding—

Near the MBS Broadcasting Station, at a certain café.

Kang Jun arrived at the café, the meeting place, and looked for someone.

"Bang! Here I am!"

He called out the two-syllable name, shortening it.

"…. Hyejeong, weren't we supposed to meet alone?"

"Yeah, but this is my friend. He's your fan."

Lee Jin-ho, with a burly build but an innocent look, said,

"Senior! I'm your fan!"

"Ah, I get it, be quiet…. Please."

His loud voice drew stares from people around.

Even with sunglasses and a mask, there was a chance someone might recognize him.

"Here, a gift."

Kang Jun tossed the gift down.

"What's this?"

"Designer socks."

"…. That's unique? I've never received a designer gift before."

"Ah, um…. It's a light gift."

"Thanks!"

Hyejeong sincerely appreciated the designer socks.

The three of them had plenty to talk about, thanks to their shared interest in acting.

Especially, they naturally got to know each other better.

"Really, Hyejeong senior, you're my brother…."

"What? He's just my brother."

"Wow…. Your romantic macho and regression roles are both huge hits now."

"Ah, stop it. Don't say that."

"Your romantic macho is top three on Disney Play! It might hit number one soon!?"

"Who uses Disney Play besides Netflix?"

"I do! It's almost half the price."

Lee Jin-ho, despite his burly build, was excited.

"Senior, I respect you!"

"Because of my brother?"

"No, not that…."

"Let's go eat."

Lee Jin-ho, who had been waving his hands, cautiously spoke up.

"Um… can we stop by the MBS Broadcasting Station before eating?"

Hyejeong looked at Lee Jin-ho with a serious expression.

"Why there suddenly?"

"It's right in front…."

Lee Jin-ho smiled bitterly and lifted what he was holding.

"It's my father's lunch box. My mother asked me to bring it."

"Ah…."

Hyejeong nodded in understanding.

Lee Jin-ho's father was a famous actor and currently a radio host.

"Perfect timing. I wanted to see the MBS Broadcasting Station anyway."

"Ah, then let's go together, senior."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course."

Kang Jun, who had to go there for a schedule, smiled wryly.

* * *

A cozy home for a woman living alone.

A woman sighed in admiration while watching a drama.

"Wow…. Mi-ryung….!"

Yeo Min-seo was rewatching the first episode of "The Regressor Who Erases Memories."

She had tried not to watch it, but with everyone talking about it, she couldn't help it.

"I don't want to admit it, but…."

She suited the role better than herself.

Just the atmosphere made it feel like the role was made for her.

She could tell how much practice had gone into every expression and gesture.

"…. I hope it fails by the third episode."

She cursed habitually and slumped onto the sofa.

Then, she picked up a script that was carelessly piled on the side of the sofa.

"Overseas Sales Team 3, Kim Na-yeon, Part 1"

"Damn."

She put it back and picked up another script.

"No, wait…."

If she avoided it, it would look like she was deliberately avoiding it.

She hadn't done anything wrong, so why should she avoid the script?

Yeo Min-seo straightened up and picked up the script.

Suddenly, she remembered what writer Kim Jin-woo had said at the center.

He had said that reading it once might reveal a good role.

"…. I'll read it just once."

Usually, a writer's third work is considered their breakthrough.

Many writers run out of interesting material by their second work.

That's why the "star writer" title is often given around the third work.

It's an extremely rare occurrence, even for top stars.

Swish—

She opened the first page and read the script, comparing it to Kim Jin-woo's previous works.

"The atmosphere…. is very different?"

It's not as lively as a romantic macho, nor as fresh as a regression.

He's attempting a genre that's almost like a gambling emotional office drama.

"Does he not know, or is he being bold…."

It took less than 10 minutes.

For Yeo Min-seo to get absorbed in Kim Jin-woo's work again.

"Ugh, feeding sweet potatoes here? I'll choke to death."

She strangely empathized with the character.

A character who is efficient at work but suffers from bad rumors.

A character who is terrible at love but is under extreme stress due to strange rumors.

"Phew, so pitiful."

It felt like she was looking at someone.

Someone who is terrible at love but excels at work.

And whose image is ruined by rumors that are the opposite of reality.

Yeo Min-seo put the script down on the table and stood up.

"…. This is me!?"

This was practically a defamation of her reputation.

A short while later,

Yeo Min-seo called Manager Jung Sa-rom.

Ring, ring—

"Hello."

-Yeah. Min-seo, what's up?

"Just, nothing. Just."

-???

"Are you free for a bit today?"

-Of course, sure.

"Okay, I'll come over then."

Click.

She had called and made an appointment without realizing it.

Whether writer Kim Jin-woo would accept was another matter.

"Am I an actor who can't help it…."

After being rejected twice, she was shamelessly approaching for a third time.

Soon, actress Yeo Min-seo started getting dressed in a hurry.

* * *

MBS Broadcasting Station, Lobby.

On the way back after a meeting with Director Gao Xianlai.

"The system is still silent."

We finished up to Part 4 at the Guanak Welfare Center.

It's about time for the next part to appear.

"Should I visit actor Yoo Seol-a? Or Yeo Min…. Hmm."

I planned to casually ask Manager Jung soon.

But honestly, the chances don't seem high.

Just as I was about to leave the MBS lobby,

I suddenly came face to face with someone entering the lobby.

"What, you?"

"Bro?"

I never expected to see Hyejeong here.

"I have something to do…."

Is the guy next to him a bodyguard?

Surely not a potential boyfriend from a club?

"I came to watch the radio recording today."

"Radio?"

"Mr. Lee Hyung-gon…. His son. This is—"

Suddenly, the muscular guy next to him shouted loudly.

"Hello!"

His voice is like a general's.

"Hello."

"Mr. Kim Jin-woo, I'm a fan!"

"Ah…. Yes."

"I've heard a lot about you from Hyejeong senior."

"Senior?"

"Ah, yes! I'm a new member of the Jang Gye-rae Theater Company!"

That means he's either a current actor or an aspiring actor.

A valuable talent, definitely someone to shake hands with.

Besides, I was looking for a muscular character anyway.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Jin-woo."

Honestly, I didn't have high expectations when I asked for a handshake.

Ding—

"Is this working?"

[A 76% match for the role has been found.]

[Do you want to register this actor for the role of 'So Sang-hoon'? (Y/N)]

It's not a high match, but it's something.

At least, physically, he matches the protagonist in the drama.

"Actor, what's your name again?"

Hyejeong looked at me with a serious expression, noticing my sudden change in attitude.

"What are you doing?"

"What?"

"Anyone would think you're trying to poach our ace from the Jang Gye-rae Theater Company."

"…. Is it still not bankrupt?"

"It's not!"

After registering actor Lee Jin-ho's number, I watched them leave from a distance.

"Good, right?"

* * *

Ring, ring—

As soon as I got home, I called Manager Jung.

-Hello. Writer?

"Manager Jung, weren't you bored without any new actors recently?"

-…. It's better without. Why are you so anxious?

"Just, you were bored."

-I wasn't bored.

"…. Okay."

Manager Jung was silent for a while.

-…. Anyway, can we meet briefly tomorrow?

"Yes? Ah, yes."

-Is it okay if Min-seo comes too?

Oh! Did he finally take the bait?

"Sure."

-Okay, let's meet tomorrow then.

Click.

"If this happens…. We already have all the lead actors."

Of course, they haven't been officially cast yet.

I've carefully selected four lead actors to my taste.

"Now, if the system appears, it will be perfect…."

Ding—

"Exactly as I said…?"

At that moment, the system activated and announced a new writing location.

[Content: Overseas Sales Team 3, Kim Na-yeon, Part 5]

[Genre: Office, Company, Ensemble]

[Location: Hanoi, Vietnam, Ba Vi National Park]

[Time Limit: 8 days 5 hours]

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

[※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 500 million won]

"Vietnam…."

This day has finally come.

I was always prepared mentally.

I knew it would happen eventually, so I accepted it calmly.

I just sent a message to someone on my smartphone.

Tap, tap—

[Xiaozhu, do you have a passport?]

[If not, let's get one now]

We're comrades.

We'll die together if we have to.