episode_0153

“CEO-nim, I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy. I should have asked if you were available to talk first, but I was flustered.”

That was the first thing PD Kang Hyun-sung said.

‘Hyun-sung-ssi seems to be in a very good mood.’

Kim Iseo distinctly sensed it.

The PD’s tone was currently excited with joy. Easy to read, and it seemed the other party had no intention of hiding it in the first place.

‘This means he didn’t call with bad news.’

Reaching that thought, Kim Iseo also relaxed. No bad news would be exchanged in this call.

“What did you call about?”

“The pet special variety show that was uploaded yesterday is the number one trending video! Did you happen to see it?”

“Of course. Articles are coming out, how could I not know?”

“It’s all thanks to Sua-ssi and Yeon-ju-ssi who did such a great job! I should have a company dinner with the staff today. Thank you.”

“No, it’s thanks to you, PD-nim, for putting so much effort into shaping the characters. I’m more grateful.”

They may appear to be simply buttering each other up, but Kim Iseo isn’t someone who would fail to notice the subtle nuances here.

‘It feels like he’s overly trying to please me.’

They weren’t on bad terms originally, but even considering that, PD Kang Hyun-sung was much more affable than usual.

And Kim Iseo knew what that meant.

‘He wants something from me. I’m sure of it.’

At the same time, she was confident that she was the one in control of this call.

PD Kang Hyun-sung opened his mouth again.

“We hit the jackpot with the first video, so now I’m afraid to upload the next one. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this excited.”

“Come on, the next one will do even better. But…”

Kim Iseo went straight to the point.

“…It sounds like you have something else you want to say?”

“Oh dear, was it that obvious?”

PD Kang Hyun-sung chuckled, seemingly embarrassed.

“Actually, I’ve already finished planning the next variety show.”

“When you say the next variety show?”

“It’s an outline called ‘Star Summit Meeting,’ and I’d like Sua-ssi to take on the main role. I’ll tell you in advance, it will absolutely not damage her image.”

“…!”

Kim Iseo clenched her fist.

The thing she desired had finally come to her on its own two feet. PD Kang Hyun-sung had set his sights on Sua as the main for his next variety show. Could there be better news than this as a CEO!

But on the outside, she didn’t show her emotions.

“That’s something I’ll have to listen to in detail before making a decision.”

“Of course! When would a meeting be possible?”

In reality, it would be possible even today…

Kim Iseo barely managed to restrain herself.

“…It won’t be possible until in two weeks. Is that alright?”

Pushing and pulling is essential. This was the right thing to do. So that Sua could get an even bigger advantage.

◈◈◈◈◈

Hong Yeji’s house.

Hong Yeji was lying on the sofa again today. Right now, she was scrolling through the phone screen with her finger.

Huh? What is she doing?

‘What should I eat?’

That was Hong Yeji’s biggest concern at this hour. She ate tteokbokki yesterday, and mala tang isn’t an appealing option right now. Should she go for pizza today…?

Then, she suddenly made eye contact with Sawako.

“…”

A moment of silence.

The two weren’t close enough to easily speak to each other, and thanks to that, their thoughts crossed in the air.

‘That’s right. Should I ask Sawako what to order?’

‘She’s looking at a script on her phone even during her break.’

That was when it happened.

─♩♪♬

Hong Yeji’s phone rang.

“…”

Immediately, Hong Yeji narrowed her brows. It was because the caller was a Nexplits representative. She was reluctant to answer the call.

“Hoo.”

But how could she not answer it? She eventually did.

“Hello.”

“Writer Hong, are you available to talk for a moment?”

“Yes. I am.”

“Then I’ll get straight to the point. I’m curious if you’ve found a production team. Time is getting short…”

Hong Yeji pondered for a moment what to answer.

She could make an excuse to buy time, or she could demand an outrageous production team. However.

‘In the end, none of that worked.’

These days, Hong Yeji was in a state of considerable anxiety. What should she say? It felt like her intentions weren’t being conveyed even if she slightly twisted her words? Therefore, today, honesty was the key to victory.

“I haven’t found one.”

“You haven’t found one?”

“Yes.”

Hong Yeji affirmed resolutely.

“Actually, I never intended to find a production team from the start.”

“…Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

“Because I thought you’d understand on your own. But now I know I made a mistake. It’s my fault for not saying it clearly. I won’t be getting a production team.”

“Hmmmm.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry again.”

“Yes, yes. Well, I understand.”

Hong Yeji felt something strange around this point.

It was because there was no displeasure in the other party’s voice at all. It was strange. What is it? Isn’t he angry?

“…Are you understanding right away?”

“Of course. Actually, the higher-ups were talking about it too.”

“That means…”

“A writer’s job is to write, not to find a production team, right? You’re already busy with writing the script, so it would be too much to find one yourself.”

Hong Yeji’s movements froze.

“Huh?”

“Tsk. We weren’t perceptive enough. You meant for us to find one for you, but with a higher level than the Nexplits production team. Yes. Well, we’ll do that for you. Writer-nim, just focus on completing the script.”

“T-that’s not…”

“I’ll contact you when the production team is confirmed.”

The call ended with that, and Hong Yeji made no further movements or sounds. Like a stone statue.

Meanwhile, Sawako, who had secretly turned on a translator app and was listening to Hong Yeji’s words, clenched her fist tightly.

‘…I want to have that kind of courage too.’

The girl, overshadowed by her mother, harbored a small spark in her heart. It seemed she had learned another thing.

◈◈◈◈◈

The next day.

The Nexplits Korea branch conference room.

[Title Undecided]

Among the many conference room doors, that’s what was written on the paper attached to the door of the largest conference room.

Yes, they were having a meeting about Hong Yeji’s work.

“The writer-nim’s mother is attending in her place again today.”

As the Nexplits team leader opened his mouth, writer Lee Geumsuk responded with an embarrassed smile. She was attending in Hong Yeji’s place.

“Yeji originally has a style of seeing things through once she’s focused. She’s probably very busy since it’s the final stages of writing the script.”

“It would be nice if she came even just once.”

“Well, she’ll probably appear with a script that’s worth that much. One way or another, Yeji is still an inexperienced rookie. I’d appreciate it if you considered me her spokesperson.”

Then, the team leader nodded quietly.

From the start, his expression wasn’t dark either. It was because there was an abundance of good news to discuss from now on.

“First of all… Sua-ssi is really doing well these days, isn’t she?”

“Special Task Force 808 was a big hit, and she even appeared on a variety show. Plus, she’s shooting a pictorial soon. I think this year might be Sua-yang’s summer.”

“Now that I think about it, Seo Jeong-ssi was the model for Jog Korea’s spring special, wasn’t she? What a coincidence.”

“That’s right. It’s like the two leads of Yeji’s work are taking turns killing it. It’s good for us.”

The Nexplits representatives laughed and added a word each.

“Sua-ssi is unexpected, isn’t she? I thought she was only scary, but she has a surprisingly human side. A spoonful of cuteness.”

“But is that her real personality? Or is it a script for the variety show? Does writer Lee Geumsuk know the truth?”

“Oh, that’s a secret.”

Writer Lee Geumsuk playfully brushed it off and continued.

“Anyway, thanks to Sua’s activities on the variety show, Yeji’s work is probably benefiting from the trickle-down effect, right?”

“Of course. There are a lot of people who are looking forward to what work Sua-ssi will be participating in.”

“Hmm, so promotion won’t be a problem.”

Writer Lee Geumsuk pondered for a moment before continuing.

“Are you still in contact with overseas Nexplits? I’m curious how much the specific production cost will be.”

“We don’t know the exact amount either, we’ve only heard that the scale is huge. It seems that Nexplits headquarters has quite high expectations right now.”

The team leader excitedly continued.

“Nexplits has established itself properly in Japan, so if it succeeds in Korea as well, it’ll be an Asia two-hit, won’t it? That’s why they’re planning to put some effort into the flagship work.”

“But team leader-nim, I’m a little confused.”

Writer Lee Geumsuk tilted her head.

“The Japanese Nexplits flagship work wasn’t pushed that much, right? Why are they pushing ours?”

“There’s a high possibility that writer Hong’s script had an influence. I think they thought it matched their purpose.”

“Purpose?”

“Yes. Nexplits is a different OTT format than the existing ones, right? In other words, the way terrestrial channels broadcast 14 to 25 episodes feels too long.”

“Yes. Please continue.”

“So, they were contemplating dramas with about 8 episodes as a ‘Nexplits Original,’ and then they saw writer Hong’s script. And they thought, ‘Oh? This is good for making in that format?’”

“Ah…”

Writer Lee Geumsuk nodded.

“It seems Yeji studied the platform and wrote the script. I thought she was just writing, but.”

“That’s what I’m saying. The higher-ups are happy that she’s writing a script tailored to Nexplits.”

After that, a story that would make the person in question jump in surprise continued for a while, and suddenly the team leader’s expression slightly hardened.

“However, the problem is from now on…”

He took a sip of coffee for no reason.

“We still haven’t found a production team. She’s saying she won’t use the Nexplits production team.”

Writer Lee Geumsuk clicked her tongue.

“I also asked Choi Heewon PD if I could help, but she won’t accept it. Her intentions are very firm. She’s saying she won’t use them even if their name value is high if the genre is different.”

“Yes. We think so too. In the end, I think she’s indirectly requesting us to find a production team that’s both high-level and fits the work, but that’s the problem.”

The team leader sighed deeply.

“…It’s too hard to find.”

There was silence after that, and the sound of sighs filled the conference room for a while. It was because everyone was out of ideas.

However.

“Wait.”

The darker it is, the more you crave light. Soon, a light bulb went on inside writer Lee Geumsuk’s head.

“Sua-yang is the lead of this work, right?”

“Yes. That’s right?”

“Sua-yang has signed a contract with the ‘Crescendo from Tomorrow’ production team. The work of the master director Go Taemin. It seems that she has a lot of gratitude towards Sua, so I’m sure she’ll help.”

“Ah, director Go Taemin…!”

The team leader’s eyes sparkled at the great name, but he soon realized that something was wrong and calmed down. Like a quickly heated pot cooling down quickly.

Soon, he tilted his head and asked.

“…Isn’t director Go Taemin busy? He also has the filming of ‘Crescendo from Tomorrow’ that you just mentioned.”

“Hey, it’s not about bringing in director Go Taemin.”

Writer Lee Geumsuk smiled.

“Director Go Taemin has a great gathering.”

Yes, that was the existence of the gathering ‘The Right Path.’

.

.

.

.

.

Shortly after, the call was made immediately.

“Ahem.”

And director Go Taemin’s reply was.

“Leave it to me. I’ll gather everyone up.”