Chapter 64

Joo Sang Media.

One of the production companies that wields tremendous influence in the drama industry.

I had received a call to meet before going to Japan a while ago.

When it became difficult to postpone any longer, I finally set up an appointment and visited Joo Sang Media.

“Manager Jung Saerom is also a major investor, so she seems quite cautious.”

There's nothing good about upsetting a big investor.

We really need a lot of capital for the overseas location shooting for this drama.

“Mr. Kim Jin-woo?”

“Yes.”

“I will guide you this way.”

Following the courteous staff, I was quickly escorted to the representative's office.

“Oh, Mr. Kim, you're here?”

As soon as I entered the representative's office, Joo Sang-chul, the representative, grabbed my hand and spoke.

The difference between the rumors I heard in the industry and the reality was stark.

‘It's normal for people to treat others differently based on their status…’

Someone who always sees writers as tools.

Someone who views actors as machines that bring in money.

Most of all, someone who will cut ties and even sue without hesitation if they don't like the way you look.

While they are always welcome as investors, I was not at all attracted to them as a drama production company.

“Mr. Kim, please have a seat over here.”

“Yes, Representative.”

Joo Representative revealed his true colors almost immediately after a few words.

After briefly discussing the overseas sales team, he immediately brought up the next project.

“The Tempest offered a certain amount, but I can give you 10%... no, 20% more.”

“Representative.”

“Yes.”

“I plan to work with The Tempest for the time being. I'm sorry.”

“I understand. Still, I hope we can continue to have a good relationship.”

“Well, I think it would be fine to talk to the production company about it.”

“So, about that….”

Joo Representative drew out his words and paused.

“I was thinking of giving a small helping hand with the supporting cast for this project.”

“Really?”

“I heard you're having trouble casting a character at the manager level, right?”

“Oh, yes.”

“What about Mr. Lee Kyung-yun?”

A top actor who moves between films and dramas, exuding charisma.

An acting powerhouse who is in no way inferior to Mr. Choi Man-ho.

“I would be truly grateful.”

“Haha, I'll give it a try.”

“Thank you.”

Just as I was about to get up after a light conversation, I suddenly remembered that the other party was a former actor.

“Representative, I was a fan when you were acting.”

“Oh… I still have the same passion for acting. Haha.”

“I heard you take good care of actors, so I guess that passion is still there.”

“Yes, I still have the urge to act sometimes.”

I looked at him for a moment, then thought of a role of a similar age and used the benefit 'pre-investigation.'

I was thinking of upgrading this recently acquired benefit with enhancement points, so I tried it out.

【Using pre-investigation (Lv 1) based on the user's will.】

【The actor matches the role of 'Choi Sung-woo' by 4%.】

I had a hunch, and it turned out as expected.

It wasn't just about skills, appearance, or acting style.

Given that a famous former actor had a lower match rate than an aspiring actor, it seemed he had no interest in acting.

‘Or maybe it’s something else.’

I couldn't pinpoint it exactly yet.

“Representative, I'll see you again next time.”

“Sure.”

For a moment, Joo Representative's eyes seemed to sparkle strangely.

Then, I politely bowed and left the office.

* * *

A conference room at MBS Broadcasting Station.

With a major investor on board and a top-tier supporting actor cast, Director Na Ji-soo smiled and said to me,

“I never thought we'd cast Mr. Lee Kyung-yun!”

“Haha, we were lucky.”

“Most of the other roles are almost filled….”

At that moment, Manager Jung, who was listening, chimed in,

“Now we just need to coordinate the overseas shooting schedule.”

As soon as she said that, everyone's eyes turned to me.

It was time to finalize the overseas schedule.

‘First, we have three overseas shoots confirmed up to episode 11…’

The drama is now entering its latter half.

It doesn't seem like there will be any more overseas shoots at this point.

“Japan, Vietnam, and….”

People looked at me with tense expressions.

No one welcomes a lot of overseas shoots.

It just extends the shooting period and increases production costs.

Director Ko Hyun-rae cautiously asked,

“Do we really have to go to Dubai?”

“Director Na Ji-soo will understand my deeper intentions.”

“????”

What, no?

Am I the only one being serious again?

“Let's confirm the overseas schedule for three locations for now.”

“…. I'll proceed with that in mind.”

With Manager Jung's response, the overseas schedule was set.

I was surprised that no one suggested changing the script.

‘Is this what it feels like to be recognized?’

To be honest, I scheduled too many overseas shoots.

If the system sets another overseas shoot, I'll have to edit the script myself.

“Let's wrap up today's meeting. I'll announce the next meeting in the group chat.”

“Everyone, good job!”

After the meeting, Manager Jung Saerom approached me and said,

“Mr. Kim, I've reserved a restaurant near KBC for the weekend.”

“Really? Oh… the wrap party.”

“It's your second completed drama. Congratulations.”

“Ahaha, time flies.”

Unfortunately, we didn't break the 30% barrier, but we consistently maintained 25%.

It will likely be considered a successful work among KBC dramas.

As my second work was nearing its end,

Journalists began to flood with articles about the new project.

* * *

《MBS and Kim Jin-woo's collaboration! What kind of work is the next project, "Overseas Sales Team 3: Kim Na-yeon"?》

《Yoo Seol-a, Ki Hyun-su, Yeo Min-seo, Lee Kyung-yun! What's the story behind this star-studded cast?》

《Following TVM's "Intern," an emotional office drama. Can Kim Na-yeon become the second Jang Gae?》

“Overdoing it again.”

Maybe because I appeared on TV briefly at the Baeksang Arts Awards recently,

My name started showing up in internet articles.

“Bro!”

At that moment, Hee-jeong knocked on my room door and called me.

I answered as she entered.

“What is it?”

“Where's my hat?”

“What hat?”

“The hat I lent you.”

“Oh, the black baseball cap? … I threw it away.”

“What? That's our theater group's hat!”

I gave it to Yoo Seol-a.

“Really threw it away?”

“Yes. I'll buy you a new one next time.”

She's my actor now until my drama ends.

She can't be recognized if she goes to the hospital alone.

But I can't just ask for a hat back….

‘Wait a minute.’

Thinking about it, it feels a bit off.

“Hey, Hee-jeong!”

“Yeah?”

I stopped her as she was about to leave and continued,

“Is that the Jang Gae theater group's hat?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Does it have your theater group's logo or name on it?”

“Of course it does.”

“…. This is bad.”

I think I need to ask for it back.

“…. Why didn't you tell me earlier?”

“What? When I suggested you wear a snapback, you just took the hat.”

“True.”

“But why are you asking me now?”

“Fair point.”

You're right. It's my fault.

Hee-jeong also appeared on a pilot program recently.

If it's revealed that it's their theater group's hat later,

《Yoo Seol-a! Why did she wear the hat of Kim Jin-woo's sister's theater group? A mysterious pink aura between them!》

I can imagine what the tabloids would say.

It's vivid in my mind.

“What should I do?”

I picked up my smartphone and found her number.

Tap, tap—

［It's a hat I really cherish, so…］

This sounds a bit too much.

I can't say it's a keepsake from my grandmother.

“…. This won't work.”

She won't wear a cheap hat like that anyway.

Why would Yoo Seol-a wear it?

* * *

“Bro… I mean, Team Leader. What's today's schedule?”

“Oh, Seol-a. Well, there's a radio appearance.”

“Really?”

“It's on MBS….”

“…. Okay. Drive carefully.”

“Sure.”

Team Leader, who was driving in place of the recently discharged manager.

It's a bit awkward for someone who usually works in the office to be on the road.

‘The script reading is really not far off now.’

With the new drama articles out, we'll soon start shooting.

I have no intention of taking it lightly.

“Seol-a.”

“Yes?”

“But what's with the hat? I haven't seen it before.”

“Oh…. I sometimes wear a hat for the radio.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Team Leader glanced at the rearview mirror and continued,

“But there's some writing on the side of the hat, isn't there?”

“Huh?”

Hearing that, she took off the hat and checked the text.

It was a size that was hard to notice without careful observation.

［Jang Gae forever］

“Jang Gae….? The protagonist of TVM Intern, right?”

“Oh, our drama is like the female version of that.”

“….”

Kim Na-yeon…. Jang Gae….

‘Did he have this custom-made for me…?’

To become a Jang Gae-like Kim Na-yeon!

“Wow….”

I felt grateful to the writer, but also a wave of pressure to do better.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

There's always a reason for such kindness.

“I need to do well.”

“Huh?”

“I'll do well in this drama.”

“Of course. Seol-a, you'll do great.”

Yoo Seol-a firmly resolved not to disappoint Jin-woo.

* * *

On the way to the final episode shoot at KBC Broadcasting Station,

I asked Hyo-ju, who was driving,

“Hyo-ju, how do you find the content up to episode 11?”

“It's interesting?”

“Really?”

“Yes. It seems there are no more overseas shoots. Just domestic locations.”

“Hmm….”

The three episodes I wrote at Tempest Entertainment.

I spent a lot of time in the lounge writing the script.

“Well, we've already been abroad enough.”

“But I'm a bit worried about the sauna scene in episode 11.”

“Why?”

“It's not easy to act cool with a towel on.”

“Mr. Lee Kyung-yun is a god of acting. It's doable.”

“….”

Squeak—

“We're here.”

The final shoot for “The Memory Erasing Reincarnator.”

As soon as we arrived, the staff warmly welcomed me.

“Mr. Kim! You're here?”

“Good job, everyone! Mr. Kim!”

The staff did all the hard work.

It feels awkward to hear such praise while I'm writing a new drama.

“Yes. Hello.”

I greeted everyone one by one and headed to Director Song Gwan-soo.

“Mr. Kim, it's been a while.”

“Yes, Director. You did an amazing job.”

“You did an amazing job…. The script was so vivid, it felt like I was writing it based on a drama I had already seen.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It was a first for me.”

“Ahaha.”

A star director really has a different touch.

“I'll go check on the actors.”

“Sure.”

I moved to find Kang Jun.

He was just finishing the final shoot and resting.

“Jun, good job.”

“Oh, sir. Good job.”

Even though I canceled all other schedules,

With both “The Memory Erasing Reincarnator” and “Camcorder,” shooting two projects simultaneously,

“You hardly slept, right?”

“Yes. Well. Haha.”

I feel like a tyrannical producer who pushes actors around.

“Good job.”

“Yes.”

A short while later, at a nearby reserved restaurant.

The wrap party felt like another shooting set.

The cameramen from KBC were filming diligently, not missing a moment.

Among them, the director saw my face and said,

“Haha. Mr. Kim! You're here?”

“Hello, Director.”

The person who supported me by filming a pilot variety show.

While I can't say it was solely due to his support, it was a significant help.

“I knew you'd be this successful from the start.”

“Thank you.”

“We should work with KBC again.”

“Haha, I'm always welcome.”

As I turned to go back to my seat,

I was drawn to the people entering the restaurant.

“Manager?”

Manager Jung Saerom and the actors from Tempest Entertainment were approaching.

It seems they brought other actors for the wrap party.

Ding-dong—

As I stared at the approaching Manager Jung, the system suddenly activated.

【Content: Overseas Sales Team 3: Kim Na-yeon, Episode 12】

【Genre: Office, Company, Ensemble】

【Location: Spa near Gangnam Station, 'Spa Sibva'】

【Time Limit: 1 day】

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

【※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 30 billion won】

“Is the sauna name real?”

Did a Russian person open it?

Manager Jung, who approached me, spoke.

“I'm a bit late.”

“Manager.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever seen a writer writing a script in a sauna?”

“…. Are you drunk?”

“No. I think I'll see one soon.”

“There's no such crazy person in the world.”

I think that crazy person is me.