episode_0118

In the bustling district of Shin-do City, in front of a multiplex cinema.

This place was already a popular spot bustling with people even on weekdays, but today the crowd seemed even larger.

Partly because it was a Saturday, but looking at the banners attached to the exterior walls of the multiplex building, the answer was clear.

– Movie ‘Rider Alone’ Premiere and Cast Meet-and-Greet. October XX, 7 PM. Theater 5.

Below the poster of the newly released movie, the information about the premiere was listed.

Thinking about it, the premiere tickets had already been distributed through a lottery system, and the visit of the anticipated actors was usually accompanied by security personnel guiding them in and out cautiously, so it was strange to see such a grand promotion on the exterior walls.

This was all part of the marketing strategy to increase the revenue of the multiplex, to put it nicely, it was marketing. To put it bluntly, it was a business tactic.

Even if just one person came in after seeing that banner and bought something, it would be a profit for the multiplex.

Engrossed in such unnecessary thoughts while looking at the poster, the writer Lee Young-woo lowered his gaze and observed the people around him.

“Sigh. Getting nervous.”

He straightened his clothes once again, checking for any irregularities.

Of course, he had checked himself over a dozen times before leaving home, so it was meaningless to do it again, but it was just a behavior to find psychological comfort.

When his son once said to him, “Dad, do you really know you look like a bachelor who’s late to the game?” he was a bit shocked, but he convinced himself that he was just maintaining his manners.

Isn’t there a certain minimum standard of appearance that a member of society should have? Maintaining this level of dignity with my social status, that’s the kind of minimum standard I should keep, he thought.

So, even if his son said strange things like, “Dad, do you really have feelings for that lady?” or questioned, “Then why don’t you dress up when you go out to meet the female PDs?” (which was a very sensible question), he was confident.

“Hmm, my mouth feels dry, maybe I should get some coffee…”

He checked the time by lifting his wrist. 4:40 PM. They had agreed to meet at the multiplex at 5 PM, but he felt obligated not to make the other person wait, so he arrived early and even finished parking, yet he found himself waiting like this with 30 minutes to spare.

Although he could have just relaxed and come later, he couldn’t easily make a decision, worried that she might come and not find him while he was away.

As he was fidgeting with his feet, unable to decide what to do.

“Oh, Writer Lee Young-woo?”

A voice calling out to him from somewhere.

He looked around to see a familiar face.

It was Kim Si-on, the director who was one of the main figures in the movie premiere. The person he had to come all the way here for, and the one he had to ask to accompany him. A colleague with whom he had worked on a piece that he both cherished and despised the most.

“Oh, you made it. I thought you wouldn’t come even after sending the ticket.”

In fact, this wasn’t the first time he had received premiere tickets. A colleague who once shared similar dreams and aspirations, but they drifted apart chasing different paths – he pursued romance, while she chased reality.

As a result, Kim Sion, who chased after reality, established his own position in the movie industry, becoming known as the director who never failed, even if success eluded him, and earning the nickname of the promised mid-tier director. Naturally, he acquired wealth and was now considered a different person from the one who had chosen romance. Yes, we often call this success, and indeed, he was a successful person.

A shameless profiteer, a traitor who sold his soul for money. At one point, he thought of himself that way. Of course, as much as Lee Young-woo himself thought so, the other side might also think of him as a person like dust piled on an old, musty book. But as much as his talent was real, how nice would it have been if he had used that talent a little more to dream with himself. He still thought about it.

But they had already made their choices, and those choices had become a deep chasm between the two of them.

“It’s perfect timing, isn’t it?”

He had always declined his invitations with the excuse of prior engagements. What made him come this time with newfound courage?

In truth, he didn’t expect him to come this time either. If Jeong Do-yeon hadn’t shown interest in the premiere tickets and asked about it.

“Haha. It’s good. Anyway, thank you for coming.”

Instead of exchanging formal greetings with each other, Lee Young-woo turned his head and asked.

“But who’s that person over there…?”

The figure standing next to Kim Sion since earlier. With large sunglasses covering their identity, it was a vaguely familiar face.

Kim Sion was already a married man, and Lee Young-woo knew his wife, but the woman he knew as Kim Sion’s wife was different in height, face, and overall atmosphere. In other words, it was a different woman, not his wife.

Well, she could be an industry insider related to the premiere, so it was premature to judge, but considering Kim Sion’s glamorous history with women, it was a situation that couldn’t be easily dismissed.

Sure enough, Kim Sion raised his shoulders arrogantly and introduced her with a haughty expression.

“Oh, you know the writer too, right? This is Goeun-ah. She’s an actress who appeared in my work this time. Her filmography is still short, but she’s a promising actress.”

Her face did look somewhat familiar. He had seen her in some works as an extra or in minor roles. But if a mid-tier director like Kim Sion was seen with a new, fresh-faced actress, the intentions were clear. It was undoubtedly a repulsive situation for him, who still couldn’t forget his estranged wife.

Lee Young-woo suppressed the rising contempt calmly, smiled as a socialite, and took out a business card, offering it to Goeun-ah.

“Haha, nice to meet you, Miss Eun-ah. I’ve seen you on TV or on screen occasionally, but seeing you in person, you look even more impressive.”

Goeun-ah took Lee Young-woo’s business card, looked at it front and back, and let out a sarcastic chuckle.

“Well, thank you.”

Certainly, as a rising star, her face was incredibly beautiful, but it seemed that her personality didn’t match. To begin with, a person who had just started to gain attention was trying to establish herself next to a director by trembling and relying on external factors rather than her skills. Lee Young-woo felt bad as if he had been insulted. At least he still believed that an actor’s skills were more important than the agency’s marketing or connections.

Well. The actress chasing after opportunities, shamelessly showing off a look that seemed to say, ‘I’m with this young and pretty girl because I’m so talented.’ And Kim Sion, who made a show of himself, meeting each other was truly a perfect match.

“By the way, why did the writer come so early? There’s still over two hours left.”

Looking at the time, it was 4:50. It was almost time to go up…

At that moment, someone walked out of the entrance of the multiplex. In a white shirt with blue jeans, a mini bag on one side, even with a very simple outfit, she had a beauty that was impossible to ignore.

Well, it wasn’t like a scene from a movie where people would part like the Red Sea and praise her beauty as she walked by. But from afar, it was clear that everyone, regardless of age or gender, couldn’t help but glance at her as she passed by.

As Lee Young-woo silently looked at a certain place, Kim Si-on, who was waiting for his response, and Go Eun-ah standing next to him, also turned their heads following Lee Young-woo’s gaze.

And then.

“Wow, who is that? Did someone who sent an invitation have such a person?”

Still, he was the director in charge of the movie. He might have been given an invitation by the company, or he might just be a regular person, but no matter what, he couldn’t have missed a person with that level of looks. He was used to being praised for important figures in the company.

So if he didn’t know her, she was probably just a regular person or an influencer who came to the preview.

Anyway, Kim Si-on felt that if she were to appear in the next work, she wouldn’t hesitate to put her in the lead role.

Above all, that figure.

Currently, next to Kim Si-on was Go Eun-ah. With her, he could confidently walk in front of other men, but when he saw that woman in the distance, he felt a stiffness in a different place rather than his shoulders.

-Ouch!

Kim Si-on suddenly turned to the side at the pain he felt in his arm. Go Eun-ah looked at him with a cold expression.

“Ahem, Eun-ah. As a director, now as part of my duties, I have to… talk about various actors or aspiring actors….”

Trying to calm Go Eun-ah’s tormented attitude, he picked up various words that didn’t make sense. While trying to look at her face once again, she was seen coming towards them. And with a very bright expression.

“Huh, that’s right. Being in the entertainment industry and not knowing the face of Kim Si-on is like saying you don’t want to be famous.”

He didn’t realize that there was a discrepancy between his perceived recognition and actual recognition. Anyway, the approaching woman was so. It was only natural that she was here to get to know him and leave a lasting impression. Then he would use dignified and noble language to show his depth.

Look, this is the depth of a person like me, director Kim Si-on.

Then maybe tonight. He didn’t know if he could relieve the muscle pain that was bothering him right now.

-Squeak, squeak.

She had come right next to him. He stopped justifying himself to Go Eun-ah and began to speak with a somewhat solemn weight, thinking that he was more dignified.

“Yes, that’s right. I am the master, Director Kim Si-on…”

“What? So pompous. Oh! Author! You were here! I thought you were inside and looked for you for a long time. I should have called. It’s hot, let’s go inside quickly. You’re sweating.”

With that, she grabbed Lee Young-woo’s wrist, then disappeared abruptly.

What is this? What’s going on?

Could it be that I was rejected?

Self-proclaimed master Kim Si-on. Getting rejected by a rookie actress (or not)!