Chapter 110: Even a crying child stops crying.

The hallway was silent for a while.

Even Kim Yi-seo seemed utterly bewildered for the moment.

She hadn’t imagined the visitor would be Director Yusaku.

It was the staff who broke the silence first.

The sound of murmuring quickly spread.

“Isn’t he the director who was invited to the short film festival?”

“He’s a Japanese master, quite famous in Korea too. He mixes the tastes of both sides moderately. He directed ‘Sometimes, By Chance,’ I think.”

“Ah! So he’s that director! Wow!”

As more people started recognizing Director Yusaku, Kim Yi-seo’s confusion deepened.

Sua felt the same way.

‘Oh? Found the person who broke my trophy.’

However, Director Yusaku wasn’t alone.

Beside him was a man who looked like an assistant, and the interpreter she had seen before.

Director Yusaku showed his respects first.

“I’m leaving the country tomorrow, so I had to visit today. If you say no, I’ll leave. I know this is impolite.”

The interpreter beside him translated his words in real-time.

Kim Yi-seo glanced at her watch several times, pondering.

“Not at all. Director Yusaku’s visit is actually an honor. But we have a very important schedule today. Would it be alright if we talk for about an hour only?”

“Yes. That is sufficient.”

“Alright. Then let’s see… Hey there….”

Kim Yi-seo quickly gestured towards the staff.

It meant to prepare a reception area quickly.

The staff understood immediately and sprang into action.

Kim Yi-seo gave a faint smile.

“Director Yusaku, may I ask why you visited?”

“That is, of course…”

Instead of answering, Director Yusaku looked at Sua.

Those who followed his gaze belatedly wore expressions of disbelief.

But Director Yusaku nodded as if confirming their suspicions.

“It’s none other than Sua. It’s solely because of Sua.”

Sua’s eyes widened.

“You came because of me?”

“Yes. Today’s conversation revolves around Sua.”

Meanwhile, the interpreter didn’t translate the conversation between Sua and Director Yusaku.

Having met at the awards ceremony before, he knew Sua’s Japanese skills were excellent.

Sua continued speaking in fluent Japanese.

“What is this all of a sudden…”

“There’s no need to be nervous. It’s a simple proposal.”

Gradually, surprise began to spread across the faces of the nearby staff.

Indeed, her pronunciation had been praised as announcer-level.

Just then, Kim Yi-seo gently nudged Sua’s side.

“Sua, I want to hear too. Please translate as well.”

“Understood.”

Sua nodded confidently.

It was then that Director Yusaku spoke again.

“Sua’s presence at the film festival was impressive.”

Sua immediately began real-time translation, and the director continued.

“If I were to discuss the shock I felt back then, I could talk all day, but since your time is limited today…”

Everyone’s admiration for Sua’s translation skills grew.

“Today, I must get straight to the point. An hour should be enough. Thank you for agreeing.”

Around that time, the staff returned.

It was also a signal that the reception area was ready to welcome the distinguished guest.

The proposal began so abruptly.

…..

Thud.

Director Yusaku carefully placed his teacup down.

“My, this is quite the treatment for an uninvited guest.”

Sua almost blurted out ‘I agree’ before clamping her mouth shut.

Habits are truly frightening.

“Most importantly, it’s wonderful that we can communicate without an interpreter. Today’s conversation won’t take long.”

“I agree.”

Sua nodded. Sua agreed.

Currently, they were sitting facing each other, two on each side, in the reception area.

Kim Yi-seo and Sua, and Director Yusaku and his assistant.

The interpreter wasn’t needed and didn’t enter.

“The advantage of being able to communicate is enormous. Especially in this industry. The world a director tries to express is delicate, and even one wrongly conveyed word can cause a huge divergence.”

“That’s right.”

“I feel sorry for breaking the trophy before. Also, my admiration for Sua remains unchanged. So much so that my assistant and I found it strange that Sua made a short film.”

“Mhm.”

Sua no longer felt guilty reacting with sounds like ‘Mmm, Ah, Eh’.

So what! I’m already a lost cause anyway!

Suddenly, Yusaku asked.

“Sua, having experienced both countries, you know well that Korea and Japan have similar yet different charms, right?”

“Yes.”

But in this atmosphere, she couldn’t say she hadn’t been there.

Sua cleverly deflected the question. Sua was clever.

“I’m very interested in Japan too.”

Mostly through games and anime, perhaps.

Just then, Kim Yi-seo interjected.

Perhaps due to the lack of time, a hint of impatience flickered across her face.

“Director, you mentioned you visited because of Sua. May I ask for the detailed reason?”

“Ah, I apologize. Let me get straight to the proposal.”

Director Yusaku’s expression turned quite serious.

“Sua, please lead our war.”

“What?”

Sua asked back reflexively.

‘War? War? What is this, suddenly?’

Then, Director Yusaku burst into laughter.

“Of course, it’s not a real war. To put it plainly, I’m requesting your participation in my project.”

“Ah.”

Sua inwardly sighed in relief. Phew.

“My goal is to break the mold of Japanese noir, and achieving this requires a challenge. However, it must succeed. Failure will only end in ridicule.”

“What kind of challenge are you planning?”

Sua thought. ‘Are we going to stage a protest or something?’

“First, please look at this. Assistant.”

At that, the director’s assistant took out a large tablet and displayed a poster on the screen.

Sua recognized it instantly.

“It looks like a poster announcing a contest.”

“That’s correct. I was in charge of judging the winning entry, and the winner has been decided. It’s a very risky yet good work.”

“Um, it would be great if you could elaborate.”

As Sua tilted her head.

“I couldn’t bring the script today, but it’s quite a challenging noir. The role for Sua would be a Yakuza.”

Director Yusaku continued calmly.

“It’s so challenging that there’s currently immense backlash. Competing noir films have gone into production vowing to crush it, and it will likely be torn apart for some time.”

“…If there’s that much opposition from those around, isn’t it just a bad project? Maybe there’s a problem somewhere.”

“Indeed. But this can be turned into a winning script.”

Sparks flew from Director Yusaku’s eyes.

“If Sua participates, it will work. Then this script can definitely break the mold of Japanese noir. Assistant, show her!”

While the assistant fiddled with the tablet, Sua relayed what she heard to Kim Yi-seo.

‘He wants to cast me.’

Afterward, the assistant launched a drawing program.

“…That’s my photo?”

Sua muttered.

During the profile photoshoot, besides the passport-like photo, she had taken several full-body shots.

On the tablet, one of those photos, where Sua was sitting on the floor, was loaded.

‘What are they trying to do?’ She couldn’t even guess.

“From now on, we will show you the image we envisioned for Sua. It will help you consider the proposal.”

Swish, swish—

Right after, the pen started moving.

“Ah.”

Sua immediately realized what he was trying to do.

He began overlaying various drawings onto Sua’s body.

As if showing a preview of Sua in costume right here.

He was so skilled that the work didn’t take long.

“This is the look, how is it?”

The director beside him nodded, looking satisfied.

“This is it! It was blurry when I only pictured it in my head, but seeing it worked out like this makes it clear. Indeed, this role cannot be done by anyone other than Sua! Absolutely!”

“…”

Sua, on the other hand, was shocked.

‘This role can only be done by me? A role like this?’

The result before her eyes was profoundly shocking.

Tattoos and cigarettes were basic; her chest was barely covered only at the ends with bandages, making the exposure quite severe, and most importantly, she looked incredibly scary.

‘This seems too harsh…’

Sua scratched her head.

“The image is too different from me, and the makeup seems like it would be difficult…”

However, Sua’s words were cut short.

Because Kim Yi-seo chimed in just then.

“This looks good.”

There was considerable force in the CEO’s voice.

“There’s practically no makeup involved, is there? It’s almost using Sua as she is. Her impression is similar to reality too.”

“…?”

‘CEO, what are you talking about?’

Sua quietly observed her surroundings.

Hmm, she was the only interpreter here.

Sua quickly adopted a serious expression and parted her lips.

“The CEO says she’ll need to think about it first.”

“Pardon?”

“Yes, yes? Why?”

Was it the thief feeling his own foot burning? That was Sua right now.

“Really? Did CEO Kim Yi-seo say that?”

“Ah, um, uhm…”

“Perhaps the difference in sentiment between Korea and Japan is the reason.”

“Excuse me?”

“In Japan, someone looking like this would be called a yokai or an oni. They are feared so much that crying children will stop crying. People would believe Sua was born solely for this role.”

“…”

“I don’t know how it’s perceived in Korea, but at least in Japan, it will be called a perfect fit. You don’t need to worry at all.”

Sua felt utterly dismal again.

“…Yes. Well, I’ll think about it for now.”

Sua pouted.

Of course, it wasn’t just because she was pouting that she declined.

The fact that she hadn’t checked the script’s rating yet was also a huge reason.

Right, that’s why she said she’d think about it. Really…

Director Yusaku seemed satisfied just with that.

“Understood. There’s no need to answer right away.”

With that, everyone stood up from their seats.

After coming out into the hallway, Director Yusaku began discussing something with his assistant, and Kim Yi-seo approached Sua.

“Sua, what happened?”

“It’s a casting offer, but I said I’d think about it. The drama hasn’t aired yet, and I need to discuss it with you, CEO.”

[ Because she’s pouting. ]

She ignored the special ability’s comment.

“He wants to cast Sua, right? Hmm, then…”

Kim Yi-seo’s mind raced.

‘Entering the Japanese market itself is a huge deal, but Sua would want the best treatment. It’s not impossible. There’s a way to captivate a master director.’

Having finished her thoughts, the CEO lifted her head.

“Director Yusaku.”

When Director Yusaku’s gaze turned towards them.

“Would you like to accompany us for a moment?”

Kim Yi-seo said with a faint smile.

“Sua’s drama is about to air right now.”