episode_0118

Starcatch Headquarters.

Saengji – Kim Seon-ah had a headache again today.

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

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

The staff were clamoring from all directions.

It’s only natural. If they wrote an article about Lee Su-an and Lee Su-a’s dating rumors now, they’d get explosive views.

A golden opportunity.

Kim Seon-ah also wanted to rush over and write an article.

…If only Lee Su-a wasn’t her friend.

[Sua Squad]

[Saengji: Su-a, can I reach you now?]

[Saengji: No, just pick up the phone.]

[Saengji: It’s really urgent!]

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

The staff were looking at Kim Seon-ah with pleading expressions, but Su-a, the person in question, wasn’t answering.

It’s also difficult to ban coverage of related articles. You’d have to be at least a department head to push that hard. Seon-ah is still just a team leader.

“Team leader, other companies are already writing a lot about it.”

“Honestly, even if we don’t confirm that they’re dating, wouldn’t it be okay to just discuss the possibility?”

“That’s right. We’ll issue a correction when the agency’s official statement comes out.”

But then.

Bbiririk─

The phone started ringing out of nowhere.

Kim Seon-ah sighed deeply and picked up the receiver.

Her head felt like it was going to explode, but the more it did, the more she had to answer the phone. You never know what kind of information might come your way.

“Hello. This is Kim Seon-ah, team leader at Starcatch.”

“This is Kim I-seo from Mystic.”

“Yes, yes, CEO Kim from Mystic. What’s this about…”

But Kim Seon-ah couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Huh?”

She was just very surprised.

“Ce, CEO?”

At Kim Seon-ah’s words, the staff held their breath.

Now that Lee Su-an and Lee Su-a’s dating rumors were just starting to spread, nothing could be more significant than a direct call from the CEO.

Everyone pricked up their ears to the extreme.

Many expectations flashed through Kim I-seo’s mind.

‘We haven’t published any articles yet. Are they going to give Starcatch their official statement? That’s kind of them.’

However.

Soon, Kim Seon-ah was surprised once again.

“I was hoping Starcatch would stir up some trouble.”

Because she said something that was far from Kim I-seo’s expectations.

◈◈◈◈◈

A little later.

A conference room set up on one side of a fancy cafe. Several people were already seated. Their faces were full of obvious signs of tension.

“I’m here. Am I too late?”

And when one woman finally appeared.

“No, not at all! Writer Park Yu-mi!”

“Writer Park Yu-mi! We’ve been waiting for you!”

Everyone jumped up from their seats and politely paid their respects. In the first place, their tension was caused by Writer Park Yu-mi.

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

“Hey, I was just out of the country, but I’ve been keeping up with the news. A lot of interesting things have been happening in the Korean industry one way or another.”

“It’s been very noisy these days. So, I heard you came back with a fantastic script you finished overseas?”

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

When Writer Park Yu-mi said it in a comfortable tone, everyone was in a subservient mood, and for good reason. Park Yu-mi was one of the few writers who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Lee Geum-suk when it came to status.

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

Park Yu-mi slowly opened her mouth.

“Netflix is spreading everywhere overseas. It won’t be long before it lands in Korea, and I think it’s better to preemptively secure a position. I want to try advancing in that direction.”

“Of course! You’ve already succeeded as much as you can with broadcast dramas! It’s time to move on to a new stage. We’re so grateful that you chose us as your companion on that journey!”

The chief manager bowed his head once again.

Park Yu-mi shrugged her shoulders.

“Lee Geum-suk must be feeling really smug right now. Special Task Force 808, it was a proper hit, right? It was fun, I must admit. If I could, I’d like to compete against it in the same time slot.”

She burst out laughing soon after.

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

“Of course! The potential is enormous! In the first place, it’s a challenge to expand to the entire world as a stage! And the script you sent us was solid! It feels like the essence of a chaebol story!”

“Don’t praise me too much.”

“I mean it! Let’s start talking about production! The staff has practically already been found, and if we finish the casting, we can make progress quickly.”

“Casting…”

“Yes. Do you have any actresses you have your eye on? We’ve already finished casting all the male actors as per the last meeting.”

The chief manager smiled. He tapped the man sitting next to him on the shoulder a couple of times, making a thudding sound.

“Or you can entrust the casting to this guy and focus on the script. He’s a very useful casting director. He’s the guy who found all the excellent supporting actors for Writer Park Yu-mi’s last work.”

“There was an actor I liked, though.”

Writer Park Yu-mi took out a document from her bag.

It was a male actor’s profile.

“Ah, this guy…”

“Kim Yu-han from Special Task Force 808.”

It was Lee Su-an’s profile.

Lee Su-an’s profile picture was black-haired. Furthermore, his jawline and eyes were very slightly retouched.

“This guy’s acting is pretty good.”

“That’s right. He’s practically guaranteed to win the Rookie Award.”

“I really like him, but it’s a shame since the male actor has already been cast. I wish he had appeared a little earlier.”

“You’re telling me. But we can’t just kick out actors who have already signed contracts now…”

“So, about the actress side…”

Writer Park Yu-mi took out another sheet.

It was the rookie with snow-white hair, Lee Su-a.

The chief manager reacted immediately.

“Ah? This is the girl who won an award at the short film festival this time around, right?”

“That’s right. I liked this friend too.”

“Hmm, would it be okay? There’s a dating rumor going around with Su-an-ssi, you know. Of course, we’ll have to wait for the agency’s official statement, but…”

“No.”

Writer Park Yu-mi shook her head firmly.

“I’ll use this friend even if she has a criminal record.”

Everyone was very surprised. Because it was such a radical statement.

“She has the mask that’s absolutely necessary for my chaebol story, and she’s good at acting. Above all, she’s from overseas.”

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

“There are rumors that she’s good at other languages as well, which is welcome either way. Our goal is to gauge overseas reactions with Netflix. It’ll be very advantageous to have someone from overseas.”

“I guess, the image is a perfect fit.”

Everyone nodded.

“A feeling that if you splashed water on her face, her body would catch fire.”

“A feeling that if you slapped her once on the cheek, she’d hit you three times.”

“A feeling that she’d strangle you with a pearl necklace.”

It was then that the chief manager rubbed his chin.

“Come to think of it, I think Director Kim Jun-ki, who has now fallen from grace, also tried to cast Su-a-ssi for similar reasons. I think he was very resolutely rejected.”

“It’s unpleasant to compare me to that trash.”

Writer Park Yu-mi scoffed.

“That guy’s making a chaebol story because he wants to touch a woman’s butt, and I’m a writer who’s dedicated everything to this genre.”

“You’re right, I guess. I’ll go get her cast right away.”

The chief manager nodded.

“It seems like she’s not doing anything right now after the short film festival, but since you’re a famous writer, it’ll be a piece of cake. As an actress, she’d naturally be greedy to advance overseas.”

“Of course.”

Writer Park Yu-mi also nodded.

“If you participate in my work, you won’t even envy real chaebols, okay?”

◈◈◈◈◈

At the same time, Writer Lee Geum-suk’s studio.

Tadadadak─!

The sound of typing on a laptop filled the space.

Assistant writer Hong Ye-ji was working hard.

Everyone was whispering as they watched her.

“Ye-ji unnie is so cool…”

“How can she maintain her concentration without breaking it even once?”

“I really want to be like that…”

Meanwhile, on Hong Ye-ji’s laptop.

[FucksFucksFucksFucksFucksFucks….]

Only curses were being written.

Hong Ye-ji suddenly looked back on her past.

‘How on earth did my life become like this?’

It started with a friend’s persuasion.

─Really? It’s okay to order delivery food as much as you want?

When she actually went, it was Writer Lee Geum-suk’s studio. In exchange for eating delivery food, she was put in charge of correcting typos.

Well, up to that point, it was okay.

A honey-sweet part-time job.

That’s what she thought.

But.

─Ye-ji, you seem very capable when you work. From now on, help me with research and error checking as well. I’ll give you extra money separately. Where have you been until now?

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

Even this was okay.

Because it felt like a job she could quit at any time.

But.

─Ye-ji. Did you change this content?

─Ah, yes?

After she was put in charge of writing script drafts, the problem was that she accidentally changed the content one day while dozing off. Because she was dealing with so many stories, she mixed them up and wrote them.

It was a very important drama script.

Ye-ji was prepared to be slapped that day. But.

─Ye-ji! This is good!

─Yes?

From about that point on, it became irreversible, and when she came to her senses, she was in the current situation. Now she’s even risen to a position where she manages the assistant writers. Why on earth.

‘My dream isn’t to be a writer…’

Of course, Hong Ye-ji didn’t have a clear goal in life, but at least it wasn’t to be a writer.

It doesn’t suit her aptitude at all.

Therefore, what Hong Ye-ji wants right now is.

[I want to go home I want to quit get out of here please….]

So today, she was planning to quit her job. At the same time, she even prepared a strategy to quit.

And a very perfect one at that.

Just then, Writer Lee Geum-suk appeared in the studio.

“Our amazing Ye-ji. Were you writing again?”

“Yes. I’ve finished it.”

“You sound like a machine answering. It’s so admirable. At least Ye-ji won’t become an indecisive writer.”

“Thank you.”

“Come to think of it, you seem to resemble Su-a-yang. You’re a strong person and you do your work amazingly well.”

“…It’s an enormous inconvenience to Su-a-ssi.”

It wasn’t humility, but sincerity.

‘That woman is crazy strong herself! 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 determination in her heart.

‘That’s right, I’m going to quit today. For sure.’

Writer Lee Geum-suk asked.

“Ye-ji, shall we take a look at the script you finished? I gave you a big opportunity. Of course you wrote it diligently, right?”

“Of course. Take a look.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Netflix or whatever it is is coming to Korea soon, and I hope my disciple will sweep it away. Ye-ji can do it.”

In reality, Hong Ye-ji was wearing a wicked smile inside.

‘Go ahead and read it. You won’t be able to stand it without kicking me out. I wrote only content that no one in their right mind could see.’

How much time had passed?

Soon, Lee Geum-suk and the other writers’ expressions became strange.

After a long time, Lee Geum-suk opened her mouth.

“Ye-ji.”

“Yes.”

“What is this?”

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

“The male protagonist, who’s a regular office worker, goes to the chaebol’s mansion to marry the youngest daughter?”

“That’s right.”

“Up to here, it’s okay. Up to here, it’s okay, but…”

Soon, Writer Lee Geum-suk’s expression became blank.

“…Why is there a rap battle all of a sudden? Why is the male protagonist using this to persuade his in-laws? The in-laws even win?”

“It’s because it absolutely has to be that way.”

Meanwhile, the other assistant writers’ faces became even paler.

“Um, writer Lee. I think you should look at the later part…”

“Why?”

“He succeeds in marrying after hardship, but the youngest daughter of the chaebol suddenly awakens a status window. The ability to strengthen people.”

“Status window? What status window?”

“She strengthens her husband and child with all her pre-marriage assets, but she fails and they explode. So she goes on a journey to restore them. With a sword in her hand…”

“…?”

Silence.

“….”

There was only silence.

The studio had become quiet before she knew it.

Hong Ye-ji burst into laughter inside.

‘Good. My life as a writer is over with this.’

However.

Something unexpected happened.

“Hmm, since it’s targeting the overseas stage, maybe this kind of attempt could work? It seems somewhat challenging…”

“What’s certain is that it’s content that we can’t even imagine. It’s probably a script that only Ye-ji can write.”

“Should we try it, just for the heck of it?”

“…?”

Hong Ye-ji was dumbfounded.

At the same time, cold sweat started streaming down her back. They’re going to start production with a script like this?

That can’t happen.

Of course, no one would want to participate in a work like this, but if there were, what a nuisance it would be to the production team.

Hong Ye-ji just wants to quit her job.

Writer Lee Geum-suk patted Hong Ye-ji on the shoulder.

“Our directions are too different, so there’s nothing I can teach you. All I can do is support you. Ye-ji.”

“Yes, yes?”

“But let’s try to produce it once. In the first place, Netflix made the proposal first. To successfully land in Korea, it’s good to have a few Korean works come out at the same time.”

“This, this script? Production?”

Her hands were trembling, although they were in her pockets. She desperately racked her brains.

Just then, Writer Lee Geum-suk asked.

“The production costs are huge because it’s supported by Netflix. Is there an actor you want? You can try to use them all regardless of their appearance fees. Wow, our Ye-ji hit the jackpot. You get to choose the actors from your first work.”

Then, a lightbulb went off in Hong Ye-ji’s head.

“Lee Su-a, Lee Su-a, Lee Su-a.”

She desperately muttered only one name.

“Lee Su-a, Lee Su-a.”

“Su-a?”

“Yes. Su-a-ssi. I won’t do it if it’s not Su-a-ssi.”

Only then could Hong Ye-ji feel relieved.

‘That’s right, Su-a-ssi is famous for having good judgment?’

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

‘There’s no way she’ll accept my work. She’ll tear up the script in front of everyone. Then I’ll pretend to be devastated and quit my life as a writer. Perfect.’

Voices poured out from the side, trying to dissuade her.

“Ye-ji, Su-a-ssi is a bit…”

“She’s been too busy lately too…”

“Besides, she’s very picky, right? In reality, she’s an actor who’s too strong for you, who’s just about to debut, to handle.”

“No way!”

Hong Ye-ji’s eyes flashed with fire.

“I won’t do it if it’s not Su-a-ssi. I won’t do it if it’s not.”

In the end, Writer Lee Geum-suk nodded.

“I like the attitude of not doing it if it’s not an actor you’ve marked. You have to have that much ambition to become a great writer. But the opponent is so strong. The probability of casting her is slim…”

She sighed deeply and patted Hong Ye-ji on the shoulder.

“…But I’ll mention it once. Okay.”

.

.

.

After that, after returning home.

“Kkya-ha-ha-!”

Hong Ye-ji started jumping around like crazy.

She’s finally free.

She was so excited that she even did somersaults on the bed.

“I’m free! I’m free now!”

One day until she’s chosen by Su-a.