Chapter 65

Near Gangnam Station, Spasiba Jjimjilbang.

I visited the destination with Jin-ho, who had become more casual with me during a drinking session.

If only yesterday's after-work party had ended sooner, I could have come here a couple of hours earlier.

But I still have some time to spare.

"Hyung."

"Yeah."

"Why did you bring the plastic sheet…?"

"Just in case."

"???"

Following Jae-joon and Jun, I had become close with the actor who joined us yesterday.

Since Hee-jeong is a junior in the theater, I also wanted to take care of her.

"Since we're at the jjimjilbang, I'll treat you to some seaweed soup."

"Thank you, hyung."

Korea is really a great country.

'It's a hundred times better than going overseas.'

If I can just endure four more episodes, it'll be over.

No matter what the next project is, it can't be more difficult than this one.

"Let's write quickly and go home early."

"Huh?"

"Ah, I plan to write here today. If you get bored, you can leave first."

"No, no! I'll wait."

"It might take some time."

"I'm fine, hyung. It's been a while since I've been to a jjimjilbang, so I'm enjoying it."

"Really?"

"Yep!"

Then, after finishing the bath, we started exploring.

Even if it's called a jjimjilbang, it's probably just a bathhouse or a sauna, right?

I expected the system's taste to be this bad.

'There doesn't seem to be anything in the bath.'

I was worried if I had to write in the water.

"There's nothing in the bath no matter how much I look…."

I repeatedly opened and checked various sauna doors.

The light emitted by the system was always noticeable, so I thought I could find it quickly.

"What if it's in a staff-only area…?"

"Hyung, what are you looking for…?"

Jin-ho, who had been following me, couldn't hold back and asked.

"I've looked everywhere, but why isn't it here?"

"…What exactly is missing?"

"A good place to write!"

"Huh?"

"Wait a minute."

Suddenly, I realized there was a place I hadn't been to yet.

"Could it be…?"

A place I naturally skipped, thinking it wouldn't be there.

Thud, thud—

I slowly walked over and checked the only place I hadn't been to.

"Really…?"

[Penguin ROOM]

In front of the door was a small igloo and a roughly drawn penguin.

Even just slightly gripping the wooden door handle, the inside was clearly visible.

The only place that held frost, apart from the warm sauna.

A place that welcomed me with a cold chill that made me not want to step in.

Creak—

The door opened, and I confirmed the existence of a faint light beyond the ice room.

"…You really chose a good spot. Seriously."

"???"

Jin-ho stared at me, who was swearing, and said.

"…Should we go somewhere else?"

"It's not for you."

"Huh? Ah, okay!"

I opened the double doors and went inside.

The cool air, which I hadn't felt outside, filled my lungs deeply.

"Hmm…."

[Time Limit: 8 hours 5 minutes 21 seconds]

It would be fortunate if I don't catch a cold.

* * *

Knock, knock—

"Manager, it's Byun Hyuk-ju."

"Come in."

Byun Team Leader opened the door after hearing Sa-rom's response.

"I've brought the overseas schedule."

"Thank you."

Sa-rom checked the documents brought by Byun Team Leader and spoke.

"Actress Yu Seol-a is going to Japan, Yeo Min-seo to Dubai, and Actor Ki Hyun-su to Vietnam."

Although their overseas shooting schedules were different,

"Everyone except Actor Lee Jin-ho."

"Yes, that's right."

Among the lead actors, only Lee Jin-ho doesn't have an overseas schedule.

Conceptually, his main conflict is the difficulty he faces due to the after-work party.

"Manager."

"Yes?"

"The affiliated academy says that Actor Lee Jin-ho's acting skills have grown remarkably…."

"Really?"

"Yes. Even Director Gam, who was initially concerned, now nods in agreement."

"…It's because of Writer Kim Jin-woo's choice."

To have better insight than a renowned casting director in the industry.

Even without considering his innate talent for writing scripts, it was a talent that could sustain him for life.

"Please continue to coordinate the overseas schedules. Since they're going to multiple countries, make it as efficient as possible."

"Yes, Manager."

"Now, the script reading is coming up soon, right?"

"Yes. I heard that Yeo Min-seo is deeply immersed in the script these days."

"…Min-seo is always sincere about acting."

After the report, as Byun Team Leader was about to leave, Sa-rom called him back.

"Wait a moment. I want to have a meeting with Actor Lee Jin-ho. What's his schedule today?"

"Ah, that… Shit…."

"…What?"

"I heard he's going to Spasiba Jjimjilbang."

"…."

"Since he got close to Writer Kim Jin-woo yesterday, they're going to the sauna together…."

"Actor Lee Jin-ho should be more careful now."

Manager Jeong looked incredulous and shook his head.

"…No. I understand. Don't worry about it and go do your work."

She took her eyes off the departing Byun Team Leader and habitually massaged her face.

"What did the writer say to me yesterday…?"

Yes, I remember.

He probably said something like this:

-Have you ever seen a writer writing a script in a bathhouse?

It felt a bit intense.

* * *

I once heard a senior from the theater talk about Writer Kim Jin-woo.

-My brother? He's crazy. He can't even compare to me. Ah! That doesn't mean I'm crazy.

According to Senior Kim Hee-jeong, he was even more problematic than her.

But from last night's drinking session, he seemed like a very kind and good older brother.

He was far from the typical prickly personality of a writer and was rather friendly and cheerful.

That's what I thought.

Until yesterday.

[Sleeping Room Zzz]

Jin-ho took a sip of sikhye and slowly peeled a hot stone egg while observing him.

Tap, tap—

In a corner of the jjimjilbang sleeping room, the sound of typing on a laptop echoed.

Since it was daytime and no one was around, it wasn't bothering anyone.

'Why is he writing a script in a jjimjilbang…?'

Sure, I can understand that if I give it a hundred concessions.

He might be the type who writes immediately when inspiration strikes.

But, a few hours had passed.

"Jin-ho."

"Yes, hyung."

"Should I really say this?"

"Huh?"

"Can you get me a hot pack?"

"???"

It's June.

"Also, a blanket…."

"…."

"Please, I really don't have time."

"…Yes, hyung."

"Really, thank you, bro."

Tap, tap—

I left, leaving the writer hyung, who was focusing on writing the script.

I went to the nearby 'Daitta' mart to get a hot pack and a blanket.

"Where did he go?"

I opened the sauna doors one by one to find the writer.

"Where did he go…."

[Penguin ROOM]

I suddenly saw the ice room and remembered the earlier incident, so I headed there.

Creak—

When I opened the door and went in,

"Why did you take so long…."

"…?"

"S, your fingers…."

"H, here's the hot pack!"

"Thanks."

It seemed his lips were frozen, making it hard for him to speak.

I immediately covered him with a blanket, but something felt off.

'Why…'

Why was he writing the script, moving his fingers that were so stiff they wouldn't even bend?

"I don't have time."

"…."

"I should have come two hours earlier."

"…."

"I thought I could handle the sauna…."

"…."

Tap, thud—

'Why are you enduring this?'

Despite the noticeably slower typing speed, he didn't stop and continued to move his hands.

As if he couldn't write again if he didn't do it today.

"…Should I get more hot packs?"

"Ugh. Thanks."

The person in the penguin room, covered in a blanket and rubbing the hot pack, continued writing.

Soon, Jin-ho muttered to himself as he left the penguin room.

"…Senior Kim Hee-jeong is normal."

Maybe because he's a genius writer, he's definitely not an ordinary person.

* * *

The next day,

Hee-jeong placed a cold towel on my forehead, looking at me like a pitiful creature.

It seems like she's doing it because my mom forced her to.

"Achoo—!"

"…Even dogs don't catch a cold in June, you know?"

"I'm not a dog."

"Rather, it would be better if you were a dog…. Anyway, Jin-ho called earlier."

"What did he say?"

"He got some seaweed soup and paid for the jjimjilbang three times?"

"Ah. I should have paid twice."

"It's fine. I paid for it."

"Oh, good job, bro."

My sister shook her head and left the room.

Thinking about it, the system is really malicious.

Did it give me an indirect experience of Alaska?

Is this some kind of training?

To make me stronger and write better?

"If that's the case, it's a failure."

It feels like my lifespan has shortened by about three months in just one day.

The cold that penetrated my lungs will stay with me until I die.

Buzz—

At that moment, Hyo-ju called.

"Hello."

-Bro, how are you feeling?

"I'm sick but fine."

-Um, a June cold….

"Stop!"

-Okay.

Then, Hyo-ju cautiously brought up the matter.

-By the way, I received the 12th episode script yesterday.

"Uh-huh."

-Why are there so many typos?

"…That's actually pretty good."

-No, compared to before….

I interrupted Hyo-ju and recalled the upcoming schedule.

"…Our script reading is on the weekend, right?"

-Yes! It's on Sunday.

"I'm planning to be sick until then."

-What?

"I won't be able to go to the office for a while, so keep that in mind."

-Yes! I understand. I'll call if anything comes up!

"Okay."

Click.

I'll spend the whole day in bed today.

Thinking that, I buried my face in the pillow.

Ding—

Why do messages always come when I want to rest?

I picked up my phone and saw a message from someone unexpected.

[Hang in there, my heart! Abalone porridge, three times the truffle!]

[Manager Jeong has sent you a gift and a message.]

"Oh… I didn't live that recklessly."

[Get well soon]

Seeing the message from Manager Jeong, a smile naturally formed on my face.

Ding—

[You need to work]

"…Take my cold."

* * *

Disney Play Asia Branch.

A woman was on a call with someone.

-If those are the conditions, it's not impossible.

"I'm glad. I put a lot of thought into choosing the director."

-To be honest, with those conditions, there are other talented people who could….

"No. Other directors don't speak Korean."

-Um….?

"You're a Korean-American, like me."

Joseph Lee.

According to industry experts, he's a master who ranks in the top 100 in Hollywood every year.

It wasn't just his talent, but there was a specific reason Angela went to great lengths to recruit him.

"I have a writer I want to introduce to you, who is in Korea."

-Is he that great?

"Yes. All three of his works I've seen were amazing."

-How great, exactly?

"I'm confident that if we cast global actors, it would have been a hit in Hollywood."

-Haha.

The word 'confident' was never to be used in the market.

Especially, being confident of success in Hollywood was even more taboo.

If the person on the other end wasn't a senior at Disney Play, she might have hung up without listening further.

-Your words make me really look forward to it.

"You can look forward to it."

-Then, I'll see you soon.

"Yes, Director."

Click.

Angela put her phone down and tapped the table.

No matter what, she wanted to secure Kim Jin-woo's next work.

"An author of that caliber would never be swayed by money."

That's why she recruited a renowned director from Hollywood.

One who could speak Korean.

"With this level of preparation… wouldn't Writer Kim Jin-woo want to work with us on Tempest?"

Of course, she had other projects prepared in case of rejection.

But she really wanted to work with him this time.

On her desk were the first and second episodes of "Overseas Sales Team 3 Kim Na-yeon," which she somehow obtained.

Swish—

Although she had already read them, she picked up the script and flipped to the first page again.

"Hmm. This work is also very interesting."

However, there was one thing Angela didn't know.

The amount of money she spent like water to recruit a master director.

A cash-strapped Kim Jin-woo could have been easily tempted by that amount.

* * *

Time passed, and the script reading day approached.

Even on the way to the script reading, Hyo-ju asked worriedly,

"Are you really okay?"

"Uh-huh."

Apart from feeling a bit dazed.

"Just hold your position. If you need anything, just tell me."

"Thank you."

Although my body still ached, it seemed I hadn't fully recovered from the cold.

But this is one of the few important schedules, so I can't miss it.

When I arrived at the location, Actor Lee Kyung-yun was already there waiting.

"Hello, sir."

"Nice to see you. I'm the lonely gambler, Lee Kyung-yun. Ha-ha."

"…."

He was even more lonely than I thought.

The casting was so impressive that just seeing the actors arriving one by one was dazzling.

I checked the lineup of supporting actors, including Actor Lee Kyung-yun.

"Wow, if this drama fails, Tempest Entertainment will go bankrupt, right?"

"Of course it can't fail! I have nowhere else to go."

Hyo-ju's words made me chuckle, even though I was sick.

Although I didn't come here to vent my frustration like I did with Writer Yi Min-ju.

Then, the lead actors entered one by one.

Among them, I slowly approached Actress Yu Seol-a.

"Actress Yu Seol-a."

"Yes."

"Am I seeing things because I'm dizzy?"

"Huh?"

"Um… you're wearing a… hat…."

"Ah! I didn't expect you to make a custom one for me! Hehe."

"???"

"I'll be a Kim Na-yeon like the wind, just like you want!"

What are you talking about?

Just being a Kim Na-yeon like Kim Na-yeon is enough.

'Hmm, I feel dizzy…'

It doesn't seem to be just because of the cold.