Chapter 68

Tempest Entertainment.

I was dragged into the director's office like a student being called to the principal's office.

Knock, knock—

"Come in."

"Yes."

When I heard Director Jeong's voice, I opened the door.

Squeak, squeak—

She seemed to be writing something on a piece of paper, then looked up and stared at me.

At the same time, a heavy silence settled over the small office.

"Did you write well in Dubai?"

"Yes, the air was good there."

"The desert?"

"…."

"Even after coming back, you've been holed up at home."

"Um, I've been writing the script…. Haha."

I used the script as a universal shield, but it was the truth.

"Ha…. I see. Your face is quite tanned."

"… I have a feeling I know who sent those photos."

"Oh, your younger sibling asked me not to tell, so please keep it a secret."

"…."

She was supposed to keep it from me.

Then, she slowly approached and handed me something.

In her hand was what looked like a cosmetic product.

"Here. Sunscreen, use it every day."

"But my face is already tanned…."

"If you had told me earlier, I could have said something…. No, it's fine. Just use it from now on. Every day."

"Yes."

A company that cares about its writers' faces.

"Are you aware that the press conference for the next work is this weekend?"

"Ah…."

I should have paid attention.

Writers are the face of the drama, after all.

"This is already your third work with us."

"Indeed."

"And once again, you're preparing for the fourth work while the press conference is coming up."

"???"

"Yes, you're already preparing for your fourth work."

"Ah…. Yes, that's how it turned out. Haha."

I'm almost the only writer who finishes the entire script before the new work starts.

There might be others if I look hard enough, but it's extremely rare for a drama to go into production like this every time.

"Actor Ji Sung-ho is currently on a regional schedule, so he won't be in Seoul for a while."

"Is that so?"

Director Jeong Saerom, who mentioned Ji Sung-ho, who wasn't even there.

Before I went to Dubai, I clearly announced the lead of the next work in front of her.

"Is Ji Sung-ho okay for the lead role in the next work?"

"Yes?"

"He might be a bit light for the lead…. And his personality is a bit light…."

"Um…."

You've really grown a lot in that time.

'After all, I'm even casting Yoo Seol-a as the lead…'

When I first wrote a drama, having an actor like Ji Sung-ho would have been too much.

Now, there's a slight sense of disappointment that he's not the lead.

"Director, it's precisely because it's Ji Sung-ho that the role is possible."

"…. Is that so?"

"Probably."

I don't know yet either.

"Anyway, I have to go to the MBS set today. I'll be leaving now."

"Sure. Don't be late for the press conference."

"Yes, I will."

Then, as I stood up, Director Jeong added one more thing.

"You've lost a lot of weight…."

"Yes?"

"You look thinner."

"…. I haven't been eating well."

Director Jeong Saerom chuckled at my words.

* * *

A little while later,

On my way to the MBS Broadcasting Station set for "Overseas Sales Team 3 Kim Na-yeon."

I felt guilty for not visiting the set during the first shoot, so I brought some gifts.

"Hyoeju, how about up to episode 15?"

"Bro, you're getting better with each episode."

"Huh?"

"The last three episodes are so vivid, it's like watching a real drama."

"Really?"

"Yes! The detailed descriptions and the sheer volume of content are impressive."

To me, a large amount of content in the script means a high level of completion.

On the other hand, the room for interpretation by the actors and director is extremely limited.

"You've wrapped up all the plot points without a single unnecessary line. Some parts only made sense after reading them three times!"

"That's good. I put a lot of effort into this work."

Especially, my body suffered a lot.

"It's completely interesting!"

"Well, anyway, I hope this drama does well."

"Of course, it will! Who else would fly out of the country to write the overseas part of a drama?"

"…."

Is she teasing me?

"That's how much effort you put in."

"Whoohoo."

"Ah! But while you were in Dubai, a video of you was uploaded to Nertube."

"Really? A video of me?"

"Yes, check it out."

Seeing Hyoeju's mischievous smile, I got a bad feeling and searched for my name on Nertube.

Tap, tap—

[Kim Jin-woo]

Several videos, including the Baeksang Arts Awards, appeared.

"Kim Jin-woo, let's find out more about him! Fact check!"

"Semee? Jai-joon? Kang Jun? There's a mastermind behind the discovery of this year's top superstars!?"

"Things to know before watching 'Overseas Sales Team 3 Kim Na-yeon'"

Even the videos with silly titles had a decent number of views.

However, the video at the top of the list was:

"2 weeks ago

5,641,756 views

130,000 likes, 800 dislikes

6,700 comments"

I was speechless at the number of views.

"True to your name."

Then, I checked the top comments.

Most were about the anticipation for the drama and praise for Yoo Seol-a, but:

"Maybe because you appeared with Yoo Seol-a…. I got a lot of hate comments too."

"Ah, but there are people defending you too…?"

"Defending?"

I slowly read the top comments, as Hyoeju suggested.

- I really don't like seeing Yoo Seol-a and Kim Jin-woo sitting together.

- Your girlfriend probably doesn't like sitting with you either.

- Who is Kim Jin-woo, a nobody? ;;

- He's a pure romantic and a time-traveling writer. ;;

- I heard he was just a nobody six months ago. He's come a long way, hasn't he? It's easy to make money. ^^

- Why are you hating on Writer Kim Jin-woo? He's such a good person. Honestly, what did my brother do to you? -_-

- You mean the writer himself?

- Kim Jin-woo, hurry up and come back.

As Hyoeju said, someone was defending me, but:

"Wait, there's only one person defending me?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"But the ID…."

[HHJoo_98]

I turned to look at Hyoeju, who was pretending to be innocent.

"Hyoeju, are you born in 1998?"

"Huh? You know that, so…?"

"…. Don't you have anything to do these days?"

"No, not really."

"Um, why don't you try writing a new work? I'll read it."

"Really?"

"Sure."

Thanks to the system, my standards have become quite high, and I think my ability to read scripts is at a critic's level.

* * *

At one of the sets of MBS Broadcasting Station.

Yoo Seol-a, who was acting under the direction of Director Ko Hyun-rae.

The staff stopped what they were doing and were engrossed in her performance.

She had reached the peak as an actress, not just as a singer.

"Wow…. I just got goosebumps."

"This is what method acting is…."

"How can one person have so much talent?"

"The world is inherently unfair."

Director Ko, with a satisfied smile, gave the okay sign without any NGs.

"Okay, cut! Good job!"

Yoo Seol-a remained immersed in her role for a while after hearing the director's words.

Her manager took care of her and they left the set together.

A little while later, she arrived at the actors' waiting room.

"Good job, Yoo Seol-a."

"Ah, Ki Hyun-su. Thank you."

Ki Hyun-su, though he didn't use informal language, was the most comfortable actor on the set.

He was already in touch with Remy from Purple Girls, who was also from Rainbow Entertainment.

On the other hand, Yeo Min-seo seemed to have a wall that made her hard to approach.

And Lee Jin-ho still found her too intimidating.

Tap, tap, tap—

However, Ki Hyun-su wasn't the only one in the waiting room.

I turned my head towards the sound of typing on a laptop.

"Huh? Writer Kim Jin-woo?"

Hyun-su smiled wryly and said to Yoo Seol-a.

"He just arrived…. He was greeting the staff and is now writing a script over there."

"Really?"

"Ah, I'll be going now. It's my turn next…."

"Okay! See you later."

From the stylist to the makeup artist, to the main and supporting actors.

It was a noisy space with various people bustling about.

Right now, she was the only one, but people would come and go.

I couldn't understand why he was writing a script in such a place.

Tap, tap—

The sound of low-heeled shoes, the kind an office worker might wear.

Yoo Seol-a deliberately made noise as she approached him.

"Writer! I watched the last episode of Camcosa Season 2…. Um."

She stopped talking when she saw how deeply he was immersed in his work.

The waiting room, which was empty of people, was filled with the sound of the laptop keys.

Yoo Seol-a leaned against the table and observed him closely.

'…. We have something in common.'

When she got deeply involved in something, she wouldn't hear anything around her.

Some people might call such a person a genius, but she had a different view.

He was just enjoying the moment, so much that he didn't hear the surrounding noise.

Music, acting, and composing, the reason she could get so deeply involved in a moment was the same.

She glanced at the script he was writing.

'Final episode?'

A realistic office genre about employees giving presentations.

Even though he seemed to have no work experience, how could he write so vividly without any reference?

Seol-a looked at Jin-woo with renewed interest.

"Huh? Ah, Yoo actress."

He suddenly looked up, perhaps because she was staring at him so openly.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…."

"I saw your performance just now. It was great."

"Thank you…."

Yoo Seol-a felt a bit embarrassed for being caught peeking and changed the subject.

"Writer, are you aware that the press conference is this weekend?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then, do you have any expected questions…?"

"Expected questions?"

"Last time, you gave us a list of expected questions for the drama…."

"Ahaha. Just answer naturally."

"Really? Okay?"

"Yes."

Jin-woo's casual smile made her feel at ease.

Apart from the company family, he might be the most natural person in the industry.

"Ah, Writer, wait a moment."

"???"

Yoo Seol-a took something out of her bag in the corner of the waiting room.

"Since you gave me a hat, I brought something to return the favor."

"Yes, thank you. But this is…."

"A poetry book. It's a book that inspires me a lot when I write lyrics."

"Um…."

"It might help you come up with good lines…."

"Thank you. I'll read it."

"Ah…. Yes!"

Indeed, Writer Kim Jin-woo had a lot in common with her.

Seeing him smile and open the poetry book, she felt a connection.

On the other hand, Jin-woo was thinking something completely different.

'Damn, I have homework now.'

I was worried that it would be awkward if he asked me about the content later.

* * *

A few days later, on the day of the press conference for "Overseas Sales Team 3 Kim Na-yeon."

Ji Sung-ho, having finished his regional schedule, got into a van.

"Well, I'm finally going to meet the respected writer."

During this time, Writer Kim Jin-woo had become the writer Ji Sung-ho most admired.

His heart still raced from the bombshell he dropped before going to Dubai.

"What kind of work will it be….!"

He was good at both heart-pounding romances and flashy action.

It was like waiting for an unscratched lottery ticket.

Ji Sung-ho, feeling happy, looked out the window.

Whoosh—

"Ah! You scared me!"

His manager suddenly appeared at the window and stuck his face in.

He calmed his racing heart after seeing the manager's face up close.

Creak—

The door opened, and the manager playfully teased Ji Sung-ho.

"You always fall for it. Your reactions are so good. Let's do a summer special variety show."

"Damn, no way. I hate that."

It was a joke he often played on the easily scared Ji Sung-ho.

This was possible because they were so close.

"Ha. I remember that. You once played a prank on Writer Kim Jin-woo's laptop at the Tempest Entertainment cafe."

"…. It was successful."

It was a story that was often retold at the company.

"Now, if you touch Writer Kim Jin-woo's work, there would be chaos. I didn't do a good thing back then, but…."

"Right. You can't do that now."

Despite being easily scared himself, he enjoyed scaring others.

Ji Sung-ho and his manager had a lot in common in this regard.

"Our writer has become such a star writer."

He remembered the first time he met Writer Kim Jin-woo.

It was only half a year ago when he found him loitering in front of Tempest Entertainment.

The influence to make stars like Jai-joon and Kang Jun.

He had already received the pick from such a star writer twice.

"Turns out I'm just that good, right? Maybe I'm a hidden gem…!"

According to the casting director, Team Leader Gam, of Tempest Entertainment,

Writer Kim Jin-woo's casting skills were probably the best in the country.

"Right, that's not it."

"…. Okay."

The two had a casual conversation as they headed to the press conference.

Ji Sung-ho wasn't part of the cast of "Overseas Sales Team 3 Kim Na-yeon," but

he was there to show his face as a company family member and to participate in the after-party.

"Are you aware that you'll be meeting Director Joseph Lee soon?"

"Right. I'm looking forward to it."

"Be polite."

"Ha, when have I ever been impolite?"

"…. Some people think you can be impolite sometimes."

"Wow, shocking!?"

He didn't know that.

* * *

At the press conference for "Overseas Sales Team 3 Kim Na-yeon."

Director Ko Hyun-rae, myself, and the four actors took turns answering questions from the host.

"Next, Writer Kim Jin-woo. Do you have any questions for you?"

"Yes."

"During this work, what were the good and bad points?"

It was an unexpected question, so I was a bit taken aback.

But I quickly composed myself and chose my answer.

"Um…. The good point was meeting precious actors."

It wasn't a bad answer, considering it was off the cuff.

Actress Yoo Seol-a smiled and reacted to my words.

"And the bad point…. Losing my health?"

"Ha. You have a good sense of humor."

It's true, though.

I feel wronged, somehow.

The host continued to ask me questions.

"Writer, I heard from a Tempest Production staff member…."

"Yes?"

"That you always start thinking about a new work around this time. Is that true?"

"Maybe."

"Ha. Is it a secret?"

"Not really…."

At that moment, a man walked in from a distance and stood next to Director Jeong Saerom.

Actor Ji Sung-ho, who was standing there, waved at me from a distance.

Thump—

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for, the start of a new work.

The host's questions sounded like TV static from a distance.

"O! So, do you already have the next work in mind…?"

Ding—

I haven't thought about it.

I've decided what to write now.

'But….'

[Title: Korean Horror Streamer Part 1]

[Genre: Horror, Thriller, Internet Broadcasting, Episode]

[Location: Tonggok Elementary School (randomly selected)]

[Time Limit: 14 days]

[※ Platinum Upgrade: 110-110101-1011 (virtual account, W Bank)]

[※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 30 billion won]

No matter how I think about it, this doesn't seem right.

"Horror…."

"Yes?"

Moreover, Tonggok Elementary School…. It's near my grandparents' house.

And it's an abandoned school that no one has attended for the past ten years.

"Ha, ha, ha, I can't watch scary things."

Damn.