Chapter 118: Ahahaha─!

“Ahahaha─!”

Starcatch Headquarters.

Saengji – Kim Sun-ah felt her head pounding again today.

“Team Leader Kim Sun-ah! What should we write!”

“This is huge bait! We can’t miss this!”

The employees clamored from all directions.

It was only natural.

Writing an article about the Lee Suan-Lee Sua dating rumors right now would undoubtedly bring in explosive view counts.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Kim Sun-ah also wanted to rush over and write the article immediately.

…Yes, if only Lee Sua wasn’t her friend.

[ Sua Mobile Unit ]

[ Saengji : Sua, can you talk right now? ]

[ Saengji : No, even if you can’t, please pick up. ]

[ Saengji : It’s really urgent! ]

[ Saengji : You said you weren’t dating! ]

The employees looked only at Kim Sun-ah with anxious expressions, but the person in question, Sua, wasn’t responding.

It was impossible to demand they not cover related articles.

To push that hard, one needed to be at least a department head.

Sun-ah was still just a team leader.

“Team Leader, other companies are already pumping out articles like crazy.”

“Honestly, even if we don’t confirm they’re dating, just discussing the possibility should be fine, right?”

“That’s right. We can just issue a correction once the agency’s official statement comes out.”

But just then.

Bbiririk─

A phone began to ring out of the blue.

Kim Sun-ah let out a deep sigh and picked up the receiver.

Her head felt like it was about to explode, but that meant she had to answer the phone even more.

You never knew what information might drop.

– “Yes. This is Team Leader Kim Sun-ah from Starcatch.”

– “This is Kim Yi-seo from Mystic.”

– “Ah yes, CEO Kim of Mystic. What can I do for you…”

However, Kim Sun-ah couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Huh?”

She was simply very surprised.

“C-CEO?”

At Kim Sun-ah’s words, the employees held their breath.

With the Lee Suan-Lee Sua dating rumors just starting to spread, there was nothing more significant than a direct call from the CEO.

Everyone strained their ears.

Many predictions flashed through Kim Sun-ah’s mind.

‘We haven’t released any articles yet. Are they going to give Starcatch the official statement? That would be helpful.’

However.

Soon, Kim Sun-ah was surprised once again.

– “I was hoping Starcatch could fan the flames a bit.”

Because Kim Yi-seo said something far beyond Kim Sun-ah’s expectations.

---

A little later.

A meeting room set up in a corner of a high-end cafe.

Several people were already seated.

Their faces were filled with obvious anticipation.

“I’m here. Am I too late?”

And when finally, a woman appeared.

“Not at all! Writer Park Yumi!”

“Writer Park Yumi! We’ve been waiting!”

Everyone shot up from their seats and showed utmost courtesy.

Their tension was caused by Writer Park Yumi in the first place.

“It’s been a while since you were in Korea, right? Are you happy to be back?”

“Eh, I was only physically away; I kept up with the news. Lots of interesting things have been happening in the Korean industry.”

“It’s quite noisy these days. So, I heard you came back after completing a spectacular script abroad?”

“That’s right. The chaebol drama I showed you before. That’s the one.”

When Writer Park Yumi spoke in a relaxed tone, everyone else seemed to bow and scrape, and understandably so.

Park Yumi was one of the few writers who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lee Geum-sook in terms of status.

“That Lee Geum-sook really likes broadcasting stations, but I’m different.”

Park Yumi slowly opened her mouth.

“Overseas, Netflix is really taking off. It’ll land in Korea soon enough, and I thought it would be best to get a head start. I want to venture into that area.”

“Of course! You’ve already succeeded as much as you can with broadcast dramas! It’s time to step onto a new stage. Thank you so much for choosing us as your partners on this journey!”

The person in charge bowed his head once more.

Park Yumi shrugged.

“Lee Geum-sook must have her head held high right now. Special Task Force 808 was a real hit, wasn’t it? It was quite fun. If I had my way, I’d want to compete in the same time slot.”

She then chuckled.

“I’ll have to postpone it. I see great potential in Netflix. Getting my foot in the door there comes first.”

“Absolutely! The potential is enormous! Isn’t this a challenge aimed at the entire world stage! Besides, the script you sent us was solid! It felt like the essence of a chaebol drama!”

“Don’t flatter me too much.”

“I mean it! Let’s start talking about production! The staff is practically all secured, and once we finish casting, we can really pick up the pace.”

“Casting…”

“Yes. Do you happen to have any actress in mind? We’ve already secured all the male actors as discussed in the last meeting.”

The person in charge smiled.

He patted the shoulder of the man sitting next to him a couple of times, making a thudding sound.

“Alternatively, you can entrust the casting to this guy and focus on the script. He’s a very useful casting director. He’s the one who found all the brilliant supporting actors for your previous

work, Writer Park Yumi.”

“There was an actor I liked.”

Writer Park Yumi took a document out of her bag.

It was a male actor’s profile.

“Ah, if it’s this guy…!”

“Kim Yuhan from Special Task Force 808.”

It was Kim Yuhan’s profile.

Kim Yuhan’s profile picture showed him with black hair.

Moreover, his jawline and eyes seemed to have undergone very slight retouching.

“This guy’s acting is quite good.”

“That’s right. The atmosphere suggests he’s a lock for the rookie award.”

“I really like him, but it’s a shame the male casting is already finished. It would have been nice if he appeared a little sooner.”

“Tell me about it. But we can’t just kick out actors who’ve already signed contracts…”

“So, about the actress.”

Writer Park Yumi took out another sheet.

It was the rookie with pure white hair, Lee Sua.

The person in charge reacted immediately.

“Ah? Isn’t she the one who won an award at the short film festival recently?”

“That’s right. I liked her too.”

“Hmm, would that be alright? The dating rumor with Suan-ssi just broke. Of course, we’ll have to wait for the agency’s official statement, but still.”

“No.”

Writer Park Yumi firmly shook her head.

“I’ll use her even if she has a record.”

Everyone was greatly surprised.

It was that radical of a statement.

“She has the look I absolutely need for my chaebol drama, and her acting is good in its own right. Above all, she’s from overseas.”

“From overseas? Ah, I think I saw the Japanese video.”

“There are rumors she’s good at other languages too, which is welcome either way. Our goal is to test the waters with international reactions through Netflix. Including someone from

overseas gives us a huge advantage.”

“True, her image fits perfectly.”

Everyone nodded.

“The type who looks like she’d set herself on fire if you splashed water on her face.”

“The type who looks like she’d slap you three times if you slapped her once.”

“The type who looks like she’d strangle someone with a pearl necklace.”

It was then that the person in charge rubbed his chin.

“Come to think of it, I believe Director Kim Jun-ki, who’s fallen from grace now, also tried to cast Sua-ssi for similar reasons. I heard he was rejected quite firmly.”

“Comparing me to that trash is unpleasant.”

Writer Park Yumi scoffed.

“That guy makes chaebol dramas because he wants to touch women’s behinds; I’m a writer who has dedicated everything to this genre.”

“Right, that’s true. I’ll go cast her right away.”

The person in charge nodded.

“She doesn’t seem to be doing anything since the short film festival, and with your name value, Writer, it should be smooth sailing. As an actress, she’d naturally be eager for international exposure.”

“Of course.”

Writer Park Yumi nodded as well.

“If she participates in my work, she won’t even envy real chaebols.”

---

At the same time, in Writer Lee Geum-sook’s workshop.

Tadadadak─!

The sound of typing on a laptop filled the space.

Assistant writer Hong Yeji was hard at work.

Watching her, everyone else whispered.

“Yeji is so cool…”

“How does her concentration never break?”

“I really want to be like that…”

Meanwhile, on Hong Yeji’s actual laptop screen.

[ fckfckfckfckf*ck…. ]

It was filled entirely with curses.

Hong Yeji suddenly reflected on her past.

‘How on earth did my life end up like this?’

It started with a friend’s coaxing.

─ “Really? We can order as much delivery food as we want?”

When she actually went, it was Writer Lee Geum-sook’s workshop.

In exchange for eating delivery food, she ended up proofreading for typos.

Okay, that part was fine.

A super sweet part-time job.

She could think of it that way.

However.

─ “Yeji. You look really sharp when you work. From now on, help with research and error checking too. I’ll pay you separately. Where have you been all this time?”

When she came to her senses, she had become a real assistant writer.

Even this was okay.

It felt like a job she could quit anytime.

But then.

─ “Yeji. Did you change this part?”

─ “Ah, pardon?”

After also being tasked with drafting initial scripts, the problem occurred one day when she dozed off and accidentally changed the content.

Dealing with so many stories, she had jumbled them up and written something mixed up.

It had been a very important drama script.

Yeji had braced herself to be slapped that day.

But.

─ “Yeji! This is quite good!”

─ “Pardon?”

From that point on, there was no turning back, and before she knew it, she was in her current situation.

Now she had even risen to a position overseeing the other assistant writers.

Why on earth?

‘My dream isn’t to be a writer…’

Of course, Hong Yeji didn’t have a clear goal in life, but it definitely wasn’t being a writer.

It didn’t suit her aptitude at all.

Therefore, the wish Hong Yeji currently held was.

[ I wanna go home I wanna quit everyone get lost please….]

So today was the day she planned to quit.

She had even prepared a strategy to quit.

A perfect one at that.

Just then, Writer Lee Geum-sook appeared in the workshop.

“Our praiseworthy Yeji. Were you writing again?”

“Yes. I’ve finished.”

“You sound just like a machine answering. So reliable. Yeji, at least you won’t become an indecisive writer.”

“Thank you.”

“Come to think of it, you resemble Sua-yang a bit. You’re solid and handle work impeccably.”

“…That’s incredibly unfair to Sua-ssi.”

It wasn’t modesty; it was sincere.

‘That woman is just insanely strong as a person! Her skills are actually amazing too! I’m just lucky. The world is wrong. Why am I being treated like this?’

At the same time, she reaffirmed her resolve internally.

‘Yes, today’s the day I quit. Definitely.’

Writer Lee Geum-sook asked.

“Yeji, shall we take a look at the finished script? I gave you a big opportunity. You must have worked hard on it, right?”

“Of course. Please take a look.”

“I’m looking forward to it. That Netflix thing or whatever is supposedly landing in Korea soon, and I hope my protégé sweeps it. Yeji can do it.”

However, Hong Yeji inwardly smiled wickedly.

‘Go ahead and read it. You won’t be able to resist kicking me out. I filled it with content that no sane person could watch.’

How much time had passed?

Soon, the expressions of Lee Geum-sook and the other writers turned strange.

After a long while, Lee Geum-sook spoke.

“Yeji.”

“Yes.”

“What is this?”

“It’s the script I poured all my effort into.”

“An ordinary office worker male lead goes to a mansion to marry the youngest daughter of a chaebol family?”

“That is correct.”

“Okay up to here. It’s fine up to here, but…”

Soon, Writer Lee Geum-sook’s expression became dumbfounded.

“…Why is there suddenly a rap battle? Why does the male lead use this to persuade his parents-in-law? And the parents-in-law even win?”

“Because it absolutely must be that way.”

Meanwhile, the faces of the other assistant writers grew paler.

“Um, Writer Lee. I think you need to see the latter part too…”

“Why?”

“After much hardship, they succeed in getting married, but the youngest chaebol daughter suddenly awakens a status window. The ability to strengthen people.”

“Status window? What status window?”

“She uses her entire fortune to strengthen her husband and child, but it fails and they explode. So she sets off on a journey to restore them. Carrying just one sword…”

“…?”

Silence.

“…”

There was only silence.

The workshop had suddenly become quiet.

Hong Yeji burst out laughing internally.

‘Perfect. My writing career ends with this.’

However.

Something unexpected happened.

“Hmm, since it’s aimed at the international stage, maybe this kind of attempt could work? It seems quite challenging, in a way…”

“What’s certain is that it’s content we could never have imagined. It seems like a script only Yeji could write.”

“Should we give it a shot, just trust our gut?”

“…?”

Hong Yeji was dumbfounded.

At the same time, cold sweat started trickling down. They were going into production with this kind of script?

That absolutely could not happen.

Of course, no one would likely agree to participate in such a work, but if someone did, what a nuisance it would be to the production team.

Hong Yeji just wanted to quit her job.

Writer Lee Geum-sook patted Hong Yeji’s shoulder.

“Our directions are too different, so there’s nothing I can teach you. I can only offer my support. Yeji.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Still, let’s try producing it. Netflix actually approached us first. To successfully land in Korea, it’s good to have a few Korean works launch simultaneously.”

“This, this script? Production?”

Her hands were in her pockets, otherwise, they would be visibly trembling. Hong Yeji racked her brain frantically.

Just then, Writer Lee Geum-sook asked.

“With Netflix’s support, the production budget is incredibly generous. Is there any actor you want? We can probably cast anyone regardless of their fee. Wow, our Yeji hit the jackpot. Getting

to choose actors for her very first work.”

At that moment, a lightbulb went off in Hong Yeji’s head.

“Lee Sua, Lee Sua, Lee Sua.”

She desperately muttered just one name.

“Lee Sua, Lee Sua.”

“Sua?”

“Yes. Sua-ssi. I won’t do it unless it’s Sua-ssi.”

Only then could Hong Yeji feel relieved.

‘Yes, Sua-ssi is famous for having good judgment, right?’

A single ray of light in the darkness. She had finally found the answer.

‘There’s no way she’ll accept my work. She’ll probably tear the script to shreds in front of everyone. Then I’ll pretend to be devastated and quit my writing career. Perfect.’

Voices of dissuasion poured out from the side.

“Yeji, Sua-ssi might be a bit…”

“She’s been so busy lately…”

“Besides, isn’t she incredibly picky? She’s probably too strong an actress for someone just debuting like you to handle.”

“No!”

Hong Yeji’s eyes blazed.

“It has to be Sua-ssi. Otherwise, I won’t do it.”

In the end, Writer Lee Geum-sook nodded.

“I like the attitude of not doing it unless it’s the actor you’ve set your sights on. To become a great writer, you need that kind of ambition. But the opponent is quite formidable. The chances of casting her are slim…”

She sighed deeply and patted Hong Yeji’s shoulder.

“…Still, I’ll bring it up. Alright.”

---

Later, after returning home.

“Kyaaahahaha─!”

Hong Yeji started jumping around like crazy.

Finally, freedom.

She was so excited she even did a somersault on her bed.

“Freedom! I’m free now!”

There was only one day left until Lee Sua made her decision.