“Ah... Writer Yook...”
PD Joo’s expression changed the moment he saw the unexpected guest.
She was the type who would openly challenge even him if she believed he was in the wrong. If the unpredictable writer ended up offending Moon Yu-seok, the producer’s position would become extremely uncomfortable... perhaps even dangerous.
But contrary to his expectations, she said:
“Director Moon.”
Then she bowed deeply.
“You’ve helped us in many ways, and I understand that we’re not in a position to be ungrateful. However, while Bohyung is not a lead role, he is a pivotal character who drives the story forward. It’s not that your actor lacks ability, but as you saw yourself, we found someone who fits the role perfectly. You even went out of your way to bring in Mr. Baek Seunghyo, so I believe you also want this production to succeed as much as we do.”
Moon Yu-seok chuckled at her formal tone.
People called her eccentric, but she surprisingly understood when she needed to take a proper stance.
After watching ‘that performance,’ he had no intention of pushing the matter any further. It was the PD who had presumptuously overstepped.
“So, what exactly are you asking?”
“I respectfully ask for your understanding this once.”
PD Joo stared at her in shock.
“I appreciate your honesty. So, does that mean writer Yook owes me a favor?”
“...Yes.”
Yu-seok smiled in satisfaction.
Yook Mi-young was a young writer who had debuted with three consecutive hit dramas. She was bound to become even more valuable in the future.
He had secured a favor from someone with that much potential, and since he already intended to contact ‘that actor’ anyway, it was killing two birds with one stone.
Not a bad deal at all.
He had been busy with post-production dubbing work, and immediately afterward he had thrown himself into preparing his profile and attending auditions.
Only then did Yoomyeong finally step outside to take a short break.
It was late August. The sunlight was still harsh, with no sign of the heat easing.
His footsteps naturally led him toward Daehangno.
He had plans to meet an aspiring writer who had recently settled there as an intern.
“Yoomyeong!”
“Jun-ho!”
Yoomyeong had been cooling off inside a KFC when a familiar face walked in.
“Did the movie finish filming well?”
“Yeah.”
“When’s it coming out?”
“I’m not sure about the distribution schedule, but probably around the end of the year. How did the performance go?”
“Good. The script changed a lot, but the ‘transformation’ scene is still in it, hehe.”
Jun-ho spoke with a mixture of embarrassment and pride.
Yoomyeong thought people really did shine brightest when they were doing what they loved. Woo Jun-ho, his friend even in his previous life, looked far more energetic and alive now.
He wondered whether he looked the same way to Jun-ho.
“Instead of staying here, want to come by the theater with me? Senior Seon-ha told me to bring you.”
“Really? Am I allowed to go?”
Following Jun-ho, Yoomyeong headed to Comet Theater.
It was one of the few theater companies in the country with its own dedicated venue, and deservedly so, considering it was currently regarded as the best theater troupe in Korea.
“Oh, Yoomyeong!”
“Hello, senior.”
“You look even better on camera. Do I need to star in a movie too if I want to look as radiant as you?”
“You’re already beautiful enough.”
They exchanged greetings mixed with light teasing and flattery.
Yoomyeong had grown curious after hearing about how Seon-ha had cross-dressed to play Richard in ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’
“Do you plan on returning to theater after the movie? You’re perfect for the stage.”
“Well, after you watch the movie, you might say film is my true calling.”
“Oh? Listen to this arrogant little brat. Doesn’t he sound just like Hansung?”
“Just kidding. But I’m waiting on the results of an audition right now.”
“Oh... What genre?”
“A drama.”
“A drama?”
Seon-ha’s voice instantly brightened with excitement.
“I love dramas. Who’s starring in it?”
“Well, I haven’t passed yet... but I heard the leads are Baek Seunghyo and Cha Harin.”
“Baek Seunghyo? Can you get me his autograph?”
Her face flushed red like an excited teenage fan.
“You’re a fan? Haha.”
“Yes. He’s already doing well now, but he’s going to become even bigger later. He’s charming, and he’s good at acting too. I need to get his autograph before he becomes a top star.”
Lee Seon-ha’s instincts were sharp.
Baek Seunghyo, now in his late twenties, was destined to rise into the ranks of top actors in his thirties. He would eventually become the signature actor of Good Entertainment.
Yoomyeong wondered whether he, too, had received the ‘rumored’ offer.
“Well, of course. I changed clothes and went back.”
{Hahaha. Seriously, the more I think about it, the funnier it gets. You’re incredible.}
“Thank you.”
Three days later, he received a call from the casting director. After briefly giving him some feedback, she said:
{Let’s do our best together.}
“Pardon?”
{I didn’t expect you to get selected, but your talent completely surpassed expectations. Congratulations.}
Those words made Yoomyeong’s heart race.
Every time a new audition notice appeared, he had sent out hundreds of profiles, yet he had rarely even been invited to audition.
And on the rare occasions he managed to audition for a minor role, he had never once received a favorable response. Even when he passed, all he got was a generic notification message.
Let’s do our best together.
Come work with us.
Let’s meet again next time.
Even now, words like those still made his heart flutter.
Despite spending so long in the industry, he had hardly ever heard them.
{The first script reading is in two weeks, and filming will begin in mid-September, about a week after that. Normally your agency would handle all of this, but since you don’t currently have one, I’ll explain everything personally.}
After that, her explanation — somewhere between a formal briefing and casual chatter — continued for quite a while.
{The drama originally scheduled for next year got moved up suddenly, so only the synopsis and the opening episodes are finished. Whenever your parts are ready, I’ll send them by email immediately so you can review them and memorize your lines in advance.}
Since production was still in its early stages...
{As you already know, the leads are Baek Seunghyo and Cha Harin. Lee Kyu-seong is the second male lead, and Jung Junhee is the second female lead. Those four have the largest roles, but your role is significant too. You’ll appear in almost every episode, so please try to focus exclusively on this project if possible.}
And naturally, there was the schedule.
{Broadcast is scheduled for early December. Even if filming starts smoothly in mid-September, we only have around two and a half months. Ideally we’d like to complete at least six episodes before airing begins, but honestly, schedules like that are always delayed. Do you have a car? There’ll be a lot of unpredictable call times. We’ll also need to coordinate with the styling team regarding your wardrobe and hairstyle concepts.}
There was also the need to establish the character’s styling concept.
“I know someone who can help with styling. I’ll ask whether they’re available.”
{That would be great. If they can help, please leave their contact information with me. You’ll also need to sign a contract... Anyway, it may be difficult handling everything alone. Do you have plans to join an agency? Managing things by yourself will become hard, especially if you become more popular.}
And then there was the matter of an agency.
“Yes, I’m considering it. I’ll keep you updated.”
{Alright, please do. Take care of yourself.}
With that, the call ended.
Holding the business card Yu-seok had given him, Yoomyeong pondered for a while before finally making a call.
As impeccably dressed as ever, the man gestured for Yoomyeong to sit down.
They were inside a private room at an upscale Japanese restaurant. By the time Yoomyeong arrived, the dishes had already been beautifully prepared.
“Really? I thought you’d contact me first.”
“I didn’t have your number, Mr. Shin Yoomyeong.”
“You probably found it already anyway.”
“Haha, you’re sharp. You’re right, I did. But if I contacted you first, the negotiation would become too one-sided, wouldn’t it?”
With a cryptic smile, Yu-seok picked up a bottle of liquor.
The ivory-colored flask tilted elegantly, and Yoomyeong raised the glass before him with both hands and politely accepted the drink.
“I enjoyed that day.”
“You watched my audition. What did you think?”
“Exactly what I said — it was enjoyable. It’s rare for an actor to make me feel pure enjoyment rather than simply thinking they’re skilled.”
“That doesn’t sound much like a compliment...”
“It’s an enormous compliment. I told you already — I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”
He emptied his shot glass, then picked up a slice of fish from the carefully arranged sashimi platter decorated with a phoenix motif.
“Eat. The sashimi here is pretty decent for Seoul.”
At his invitation, Yoomyeong picked up a translucent slice of fugu sashimi with his chopsticks. Had he ever tasted it before?
The thin yet firm flesh trembled slightly in his mouth before yielding beneath his teeth.
“How long have you been acting?”
“Well... if you mean actual acting experience, then you probably already know the answer. But if you mean how long I’ve practiced in my head and imagined scenes by myself, then it’s been a very long time.”
Yu-seok looked momentarily surprised by the answer.
“Then why didn’t you start acting before college? Did your parents object?”
“No, there were just some... ‘circumstances’ that made it impossible. It’s difficult to explain in detail...”
“Circumstances, huh... Now I’m curious.”
The word seemed to remind Yu-seok of something as he took another sip of alcohol.
“So those ‘circumstances’ are resolved now?”
“For now, yes.”
“If you decided to become an actor so long ago, why didn’t you audition for agencies?”
“Because those circumstances... are only resolved ‘for now.’”
“...What does that mean?”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to act freely, so I want to enjoy it and act as much as possible while I can. But if I join an agency, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» they’ll probably tie me down with restrictions.”
Yoomyeong answered honestly, sincerely wanting to win the man over.
Yu-seok looked puzzled.
“Are you sick or something?”
“No.”
“Then I really don’t understand. Is it some secret about your birth?”
“Haha, no.”
He didn’t appear to be lying, yet he also seemed like someone who wouldn’t answer no matter how much pressure was applied.
Yu-seok quietly observed him across the table, while Yoomyeong met his gaze calmly.
“To be honest, I treat this business as a hobby.”
Yoomyeong knew he wasn’t bluffing.
After all, it was connected to the scandal that would erupt roughly ten years later.
“And I have another hobby I enjoy even more.”
Yu-seok opened a card holder and pulled out a distinctly colored business card from an inner pocket.
The moment Yoomyeong saw it, his heart skipped a beat. So the rumors were true?
“When all you have is money, you end up wasting it recklessly from a young age. Changing watches and cars only entertained me briefly, and eventually even spending money on women became boring.”
He casually set the card down, then smoothly slid it across the table with two fingers.
“So I searched for a different hobby. If I’m going to spend money, it might as well be both entertaining and profitable.”
[CEO of Bad Entertainment, Moon Yu-seok]
The black business card, embossed with shimmering gold lettering, resembled a devil’s temptation.
“Don’t misunderstand because of the company name. My standards for ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are based solely on whether something benefits me.”
