Chapter 6

The white light that had been in the room penetrated my mind.

The opening scene of the third part began with the female lead working at her part-time job.

It was obvious from the group of loan sharks standing to one side with a nonchalant attitude.

"Sure enough, K-dramas are all Cinderella stories."

There had been a scene in the previous content where the protagonist found out about the female lead's part-time job location.

Naturally, the male lead would appear and save the day.

"…But that's not the case?"

The person who came to find the female lead while she was working was the secondary male lead.

They exchanged banter in his characteristic playful tone.

The female lead's scolding, unaware that he was a wealthy businessman, was the funny point.

The secondary male lead's lines felt a bit too exaggerated.

For the first time, I wondered if I should modify the lines.

I paused the drama and muttered the lines.

"You really can't do without me, can you?"

The secondary male lead, throwing the line playfully.

It was an incredibly cheesy line.

"Hmm, does that work?"

Just as the cliché villains were about to approach the female lead.

The secondary male lead twisted one of their wrists and dragged him out.

A scene where he exerted his power in a place the female lead couldn't see.

A turning point where the puppy-like secondary male lead showed his hidden charm.

"Sure enough, he's one of the top two."

If he already has this much presence, the protagonist might be overshadowed.

If Im Jae-jun doesn't act properly, he'll definitely be overshadowed.

"Our younger brother, let's do our best."

As a viewer and writer, I continued writing, now fully immersed in the drama.

Ding—

At that moment, a man and a woman entered the cafe.

"Hmm."

I quickly lowered my head to avoid their sight.

A beautiful couple, both of whom I knew.

The woman, Jung Sae-rom, who had pretended not to know me when I had scammed her before.

And the actor, Ji Sung-ho, who had helped me enter the cafe today.

They passed the entrance and headed to the counter.

I turned my back to them and quickly left the cafe.

Leaving all my belongings on the table.

"Ah, damn it… I just wanted to avoid that woman."

Pretending to be a JTBS employee as a new writer isn't something that can be easily overlooked.

Of all the places, it had to be the location for Tempest Entertainment.

"I've written about half of it, and I have about 7 hours left… still plenty of time."

Writing always affects my health.

Thanks to the temporary entry pass made by actor Ji Sung-ho, I could re-enter anytime.

It shouldn't be a problem to leave for a few hours.

"How far is it from here to Daehak-ro?"

Ji Hye-jung's theater isn't that far from here.

As a writer, I haven't even seen my sister's workplace.

I calculated the time it would take to get from here to Daehak-ro.

"Thirty minutes. Maybe I'll go see her."

* * *

Jung Sae-rom followed Ji Sung-ho with a visibly tired expression.

She soon approached the lively actor who had entered the cafe and spoke to him.

"You never do this. Why are we having a script meeting at a cafe today?"

"Hmm, I can't see him. Where did he go?"

"Who?"

"Today, I became friends with a writer. A real connection!"

"A writer?"

Sung-ho, who had been looking around the cafe, said to Sae-rom.

"Don't be surprised. It's none other than Im Joo-won, the writer…."

"I, Im Joo-won, the writer!?"

If it's a close relationship with the hottest writer these days, it's understandable to be this excited.

"…An assistant writer who worked in his studio for 6 years."

"Oh, really? That's a great connection."

Sung-ho, the actor, was wandering around, desperately looking for someone.

Sae-rom smiled and looked at Sung-ho's back.

'That must be the charm of this actor.'

While it might be annoying to be in a caring position, it's probably because of this that he has fans and star quality.

"I can't entrust this to anyone else."

Since Tempest Entertainment only deals with quiet actors, his behavior of wandering around like this is already quite attention-grabbing.

As a rising star, he's even personally contacting potential projects.

"I found him!"

Sung-ho looked around the spot where a bag and a laptop were placed.

The items were left on an empty seat.

"What are you doing at someone else's seat?"

"No, it's a friend I met today. I'm sure I saw this bag earlier."

Sung-ho pointed to the bag.

"Then you should call him."

"I don't have his number. Ha ha."

"Then he's not your friend… Ah, never mind."

Sung-ho sat down next to the laptop without permission.

He tapped the table, urging the other to sit down.

"Phew…"

Sae-rom sat down and placed four scripts on the table.

"Read them one by one and choose. Any of these will be above average."

"Well, I trust you, Manager Jung."

"Choose carefully."

"Understood."

She then subtly took out a single copy of a script that was left on the table.

It was an unknown first part script she had obtained through a bizarre route not long ago.

"Oh, what's this? What's 'Pure Macho' about? Hee hee."

"Ah, this is… Well, a love-hate work? Don't worry about it."

"What is it?"

"Quick. Read it."

"Understood."

Sae-rom opened the script, which she had read dozens of times.

A mere first part script, with an unknown author, a mysterious scenario.

She had memorized all the lines from reading it so many times.

"Oh, this is interesting."

"Really? Which one out of the four… No, you really!"

Sae-rom slightly raised her head, and Sung-ho, unable to wait, was looking at the laptop of the friend he had met today.

"Ji Sung-ho, where did you learn to touch other people's belongings?"

Sae-rom finally couldn't hold back and spoke with anger.

However, Sung-ho's response was out of the ordinary.

"Um… What was the title of the script you were holding just now?"

"Why are you looking at someone else's laptop! Sit down quickly, or I'll really get angry."

"No, it was 'Pure Macho'! The title is the same as what's being written on this laptop."

"…What?"

Sae-rom slowly, very slowly, walked to the laptop.

She swallowed and carefully checked the file name.

「The Heir is a Pure Macho 3rd Part」

"…What kind of person is this writer friend of yours?"

* * *

"Oh, our Hye-jung succeeded."

I only knew she was an extra, but seeing her face on the promotional poster, it seems she has a significant role.

Seeing her fully made-up and smiling, I felt proud as her older brother.

"Wait a bit. I'll definitely get you a part as a donut shop part-timer in our drama."

It's a big deal for an actor like Hye-jung to get such a role.

I picked up the pamphlet on the table under the large poster and bought a ticket for my sister's performance, then entered the theater.

"Seeing her face before the performance might affect her performance…"

I'll go see her to encourage her to be strong.

Actually, I might leave during the performance depending on the situation, so I booked a seat at the back.

I slowly walked to the actors' waiting room at the back of the theater.

Since it's a small theater, there were no staff to stop me.

However,

"Are you crazy? Can't you see the dust on the props?"

"I'm sorry."

"Damn, you're getting complacent. Just because you're in your second year, does that mean you can slack off?"

"…I'm sorry."

Someone continued to berate a woman, who kept apologizing.

The problem was that the voice of the one apologizing was strangely familiar.

Swoosh—

I slightly lifted the curtain and checked the situation inside.

"Kim Hye-jung! Clean up the theater by yourself today. Got it?"

"…Yes, I understand."

It's not like it's a military unit from the 1980s, but the actors were maintaining a strange discipline.

"Damn, were you just trying to provoke me?"

"No, no!"

I never thought that always showing a bright face would lead to such treatment.

Even though we fight every day, seeing her being bullied made me furious.

"Hey, who's there! If you come in here…."

At that moment, someone noticed me and spoke.

Tap tap tap—

Afraid that my sister might see me, I quickly left the spot.

If she found out, it might affect her.

I don't want to scratch her self-esteem.

"Ha, ha… I'm so angry."

In the middle of Daehak-ro, I caught my breath and thought.

Hye-jung, who fights with me every day, is always there to support me when I'm really struggling.

When I was suffering at the hands of Im Joo-won, my sister was a great source of strength for me.

After all, she's the only family I have besides my parents.

"I remember all your faces. Bastards."

I slowly took out the pamphlet from my pocket.

Not just the ones who bullied her, but even the ones who stood by and the ones who laughed.

I compared their faces and recorded them in my smartphone as a hit list.

Not only was Hye-jung being bullied, but her friends who were bullied with her were also noted.

"Wait and see. If this work goes well…."

I can't give my precious work to my sister, but I can take revenge on the seniors who bully her.

I'll have to pretend not to know for a while.

If Hye-jung finds out I saw this, it might be hard for her to bear.

"Who dares to bully my sister?"

My sister will only be allowed to criticize me.

* * *

Will I write well when I'm angry?

Most writers would probably say no.

Except for me.

"To be honest, I'm more like a translator than a writer."

I used the temporary entry pass to re-enter Tempest Entertainment.

When I returned to my seat, only a few people were in the cafe.

It was a quiet afternoon, and the staff seemed to be working.

I feel like I'll write really well with this mindset.

I want a scene where I'm burning with revenge.

I have less than half the volume left, but plenty of time.

"Hmm, let's finish the third part."

Since there's still time, the light is still there.

I sat down in front of the seat that was shining with a glossy light.

I unlocked the black laptop screen, which was in screen saver mode.

There was a message I hadn't seen before in the part I was writing.

A greeting in large, red 50-point font.

［Hi, Kim Jin-woo?］

Shiver—

"What the hell."

Someone touched my laptop.

It's fine since all files are automatically backed up.

Ding—

"Mr. Kim Jin-woo, we meet again?"

The cafe door opened, and someone headed straight for me, who was sitting at a table near the entrance.

A woman so beautiful that she could be an actress.

Jung Sae-rom, the manager, appeared as if she had been waiting for me.

I was prepared for some exposure since I entered the cafe.

"Indeed. But how do you know my name…?"

"Didn't you leave your ID when you got the temporary entry pass?"

Behind Jung Sae-rom, actor Ji Sung-ho smiled awkwardly.

'Traitor! We were a team until I returned the temporary pass…!'

I have a good idea who played with my laptop.

It probably wasn't Jung Sae-rom.

Her expression was meaningful, but I couldn't tell if she was angry or pleased.

"Can I sit in front for a moment?"

"…Sure."

"Thank you."

I just stared at the softly smiling Jung Sae-rom.

Her attitude was surprisingly polite for someone dealing with a scammer.