Chapter 952: Moment of Choice
"Because no matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find a child who could play Yoon Kkot-Nim. That's why I left this script sitting around all this time," said Writer Lee Ji-Yeon.
I couldn't understand what she meant, so I immediately asked back, "There are so many child actors out there. What do you mean there's no one who can play her?"
Just gathering the child actors attending acting academies in Seoul would probably amount to thousands. And among them, every academy would have at least one or two talented kids.
However, Lee Ji-Yeon firmly shook her head. "A child whose guilt over causing her parents' deaths has seeped into her bones. A child who's suffering enough already, only to be blamed by others for killing her parents. A child who wants to die from guilt, but whose legs no longer move. A child who gets called a cripple because of it. How many child actors do you think could properly perform a role filled with this much pain while sitting in a wheelchair?"
Lee Ji-Yeon wasn't looking for an ordinary child actor. What she wanted was a special child actor with a presence that could rival adult performers. In other words, despite their age, she wanted a real actor.
Only then did I finally understand why Lee Ji-Yeon's script had been changed before the regression, and why the major character Yoon Kkot-Nim had faded into irrelevance. It was because Yoon Sung-Hee, the child actress once praised as a genius, had been unable to carry the role, forcing them to rewrite the script.
But at the same time, I realized something else. The fact that Lee Ji-Yeon was finally bringing out a script she had buried all this time meant she had found an actress capable of playing Yoon Kkot-Nim.
'And that probably means...'
"Are you thinking of casting Miso as Yoon Kkot-Nim?" I asked.
Lee Ji-Yeon smiled softly and nodded. "Yes. Last time, during the filming of Haze, after watching her acting scene where she was dying inside the jar, I became certain. If it's Miso, she can truly bring Yoon Kkot-Nim to life."
I had thought she brought out the daily drama script because of Writer Nam Jong-Ok, but that had merely been the trigger. The real reason this project had come out five years earlier than before the regression was because Miso existed.
Still, there were several problems. Yoon Kkot-Nim was a far more complicated character than any role Miso had taken before. And because she had to perform while using a wheelchair, the acting difficulty itself was on another level entirely.
On top of that, in the early part of the drama, Yoon Kkot-Nim was also a character viewers would end up criticizing harshly. Because of that, I hesitated to recommend the role carelessly.
When she noticed my hesitation, Lee Ji-Yeon tilted her head and asked, "Why? Is the character bad? There are barely any child roles with this much importance. She's practically the third lead of the drama."
"It's not because the character is bad. If anything, the character feels too alive, and that's what worries me."
"You're worried because she feels too alive?"
"Even if she's not a villain, this is the kind of role where the better the acting is, the more hate she'll receive from viewers, isn't it? I'm worried Miso will end up getting attacked."
Yoon Kkot-Nim was a character who lashed out with extreme aggression because of her guilt over her parents' deaths and the people pointing fingers at her. She rarely admitted fault easily and constantly hurled cruel words at others. Which meant the better Miso performed, the more likely viewers would end up hating her.
Lee Ji-Yeon reassured me. "Only until episode thirty. After that, she'll become more loved than anyone else in the drama."
"What do you mean?"
"The protagonists of this drama are Yoon Na-Ra and Oh Haeng-Bok. They're the narrative leads. But the one who begins and ends the story is Yoon Kkot-Nim. At the center of the family's healing through reconciliation and forgiveness will be Yoon Kkot-Nim. So let me promise you this. By the time this drama ends, Yoon Kkot-Nim will be loved by every single viewer."
If that was true, then it meant a completely different storyline was prepared compared to the version before the regression, where Yoon Kkot-Nim faded into the background.
"Yoon-Ho. For my drama to be complete, I absolutely need Miso. So couldn't you just endure the first thirty episodes? Do you think I'd let Miso be endlessly criticized by viewers when I care about her this much?"
Even before the regression, I had never seen Lee Ji-Yeon cling to someone like this. And now she was personally pleading for an appearance.
"Let me say this clearly. This role will become a defining performance in Miso's acting career."
If Lee Ji-Yeon was going this far, then I needed to seriously consider it positively. Still, the final decision wasn't mine to make.
I said, "I understand. I'll explain your thoughts to Yoo-Jin as best as I can. And Yoo-Jin is coming up to Seoul tomorrow, so why don't you meet her and talk again then?"
Realizing that was practically permission already, Lee Ji-Yeon smiled softly. "Okay."
Then a sudden concern crossed my mind, and I asked, "But... Mrs. Lee. What if people still hate Miso even after episode thirty?"
That was when Lee Ji-Yeon grinned and answered in a booming voice. "I'm Lee Ji-Yeon!"
It was a guarantee from the godmother of the drama industry. There was no answer more convincing than that.
Just as I was about to say I understood, she lowered her voice and added something meaningful. "And... Kkot-Nim is basically me. So I would never leave her hated like that. I promise."
At that moment, my mind went blank.
'Yoon Kkot-Nim is her? Then does that mean Yoon Kkot-Nim's character is based on Lee Ji-Yeon's own life?'
Since Lee Ji-Yeon had never once spoken publicly about her personal life or family matters, even I knew almost nothing about her past or family. I was left speechless by the unexpected revelation, but Lee Ji-Yeon simply smiled and reassured me.
"Anyway, Yoon-Ho, you don't need to worry."
If anything, I had even more questions now. However, I couldn't invade Lee Ji-Yeon's privacy just to satisfy my curiosity. So I buried my questions and bowed my head.
"Understood, Mrs. Lee."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes. And I'll only distribute the first ten episodes to each entertainment company and announce auditions for next week."
"Okay. Do that."
I bowed politely and stood up.
But just as I reached the front entrance, Lee Ji-Yeon suddenly spoke. "Oh, and tomorrow, I have a gift for you."
"A gift?"
"You'll know when you come tomorrow. It's a gift to celebrate becoming my talent agent."
No matter how much I asked after that, Lee Ji-Yeon only smiled mysteriously without answering.
'Seriously, what is she trying to give me?'
***
After leaving Lee Ji-Yeon's house, I sent the script to Yoo-Jin through Kk Talk and explained the situation. Then, just as I arrived at the company parking lot, Yoo-Jin called me through video chat.
[Video Call: Jung Yoo-Jin]
For some reason, Yoo-Jin's hair was completely disheveled. The collar of her clothes was stretched out, and one of the buttons had been torn off. She was even breathing heavily as if she had just fought with someone.
Startled, I raised my voice. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
Yoo-Jin relaxed her expression and answered.
-Oh, we just filmed a fight scene.
'Ah...'
I figured they must have been filming the early part of She Was Beautiful.
"Yoo-Jin. I tell you this every time, but stop scaring me during video calls, okay?"
-Tch. Then where's the fun in that?
'Jung Yoo-Jin, did you do that on purpose?'
Since Yoo-Jin had been staying alone in Gyeongju for so long, it seemed her mischievous streak had gotten worse. Seeing the dumbfounded look on my face, Yoo-Jin grinned before changing the subject.
-Oh, right. Oppa. I read the script. You said Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon personally guaranteed it, right?
"Yeah. The beginning will be rough, but she said she'll turn the character into someone viewers end up loving."
Yoo-Jin fell into deep thought for a moment before staring straight at me.
-What do you think, oppa?
'Is the conclusion that she wants my opinion?'
"It might become the role of Miso's lifetime."
Yoo-Jin smiled brightly again.
-Come on, then what's there to worry about? It's the ultimate combo. Writer Lee Ji-Yeon's pick plus Jung Yoon-Ho's pick.
"So that's how it works...?"
Yoo-Jin answered without hesitation.
-Yep. Oppa, then send the script to Miso~ I'm busy, so bye~
Yoo-Jin answered breezily and went right back to filming. Well, it made sense. She hadn't seen the future the way I had. They said ignorance was bliss, and maybe that really was true.
Anyway, I immediately sent the Land of Happiness script to Miso.
[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: Miso, here's Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon's script. She wants you to play the role of Yoon Kkot-Nim, so give it a read. (Attached File: Land of Happiness_Draft through Episode 30.hwp)]
The moment I sent the Kk Talk message, Miso instantly replied.
[Miso Angel❤: Yay! It's a script! Uncle Yoon-Ho, you're the besttt! (^0^)/]
Seeing how wildly excited Miso was made me think I had probably worried for nothing.
'Yeah, Miso. Let's make this the role of your life.'
***
Inside the living room of a luxury mansion in Pyeongchang-dong, Nam Jong-Ok, the queen of daily dramas, was reading through the tablet containing the script up to episode ten that Drama Department Director Pyo Eun-Jong had brought over. It was the ten-episode script that Pyo Eun-Jong had received from Jung Yoon-Ho immediately after leaving Lee Ji-Yeon's house.
Then, while deeply immersed in the script, Nam Jong-Ok's hands began trembling. Unlike herself, who only wrote over-the-top melodramas, this was a traditional drama filled with joy, sorrow, anger, and happiness, yet it was still entertaining.
"This is driving me crazy... What exactly can't she do...?"
Pyo Eun-Jong cautiously asked, "Mrs. Nam, you don't need to feel so upset. No matter what, aren't you still the queen of daily dramas? Besides, the time slots don't overlap, so it shouldn't affect you that much."
SBC's daily drama aired from 7:20 p.m. to 8 p.m. And Nam Jong-Ok's KBC 1TV daily drama aired from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. That was why he said the broadcasts didn't overlap, but Nam Jong-Ok immediately snapped back. Even if the time slots were different, daily dramas aired back-to-back every day, making comparisons inevitable. It was especially because daily drama viewers often switched channels to watch competing dramas after one ended.
Nam Jong-Ok knew that better than anyone, which was exactly why she couldn't help becoming sensitive about it.
"Wait a second. Are you saying I'd lose to Lee Ji-Yeon in daily dramas?"
Pyo Eun-Jong flinched and answered, "Of course not."
For some reason, Pyo Eun-Jong's attitude was bothering Nam Jong-Ok today. Just yesterday, he had said he trusted her completely no matter what she did, but ever since meeting Lee Ji-Yeon, the way he treated her had subtly changed.
"Then what's with you? Don't tell me you're acting all superior because KBC paid the assistant writers instead of making me do it?"
Pyo Eun-Jong averted his gaze as he replied, "No, that's not it. Anyway... I should head back to the station now, so I'll get going."
The reason Pyo Eun-Jong had come here was to show Nam Jong-Ok the competing drama as quickly as possible and come up with countermeasures. That was why he had even changed his route to the station and come all the way to Pyeongchang-dong. But after being treated this coldly, he only felt like he had come for nothing.
At that moment, Nam Jong-Ok suddenly smiled brightly as if she had discovered something. "Director Pyo. I don't think you need to worry anymore."
"Why... do you say that?"
Nam Jong-Ok smiled faintly. "This drama won't be able to air as it is."
"What? Why? The script looked pretty solid... no, I mean, it looked decent enough."
"Lee Ji-Yeon made a mistake. The core of the story requires a child actress for Yoon Kkot-Nim, but there's nobody who can play this role."
"That can't be true. Why wouldn't there be a child actress?"
"Hah, Director Pyo. Didn't you read the script? A seven-year-old acting in a wheelchair while handling emotions this complicated? It's impossible. No, it can't be done!"
Pyo Eun-Jong asked with doubtful eyes. "What if Chief Jung uses Miso?"
"Even Miso won't work."
"What?"
"You think wheelchair acting is easy?"
"Can't she just sit in it and act?"
"Seriously, are you even listening? Director Pyo. Stand over there and try walking while pretending you don't have a left arm."
Pyo Eun-Jong couldn't understand why she was making him do this. But in this world, the writer was king, and Nam Jong-Ok was exactly the type to throw a fit and threaten to scrap the entire project if things didn't go her way, so he reluctantly obeyed.
Pyo Eun-Jong let his left arm hang limp and shuffled forward. After taking five steps, he thought it wasn't hard at all.
That was when Nam Jong-Ok spoke. "See? You can't do it."
"I'm sorry?"
"That walk just now was completely normal. Someone who truly doesn't have a left arm walks completely differently. Their center of balance changes entirely."
"Ah..."
"It's the same for someone who can't use one eye. Their sense of depth disappears, so their movements become subtly different too."
"How do you know all that?"
"Seriously. Just because I'm a trashy soap-opera melodrama writer, you think my eyes are trash too? Huh?"
"I'm... sorry."
"Anyway, even if you explain and teach it, normal people can never fully act this out. Even adult actors move their legs reflexively when playing wheelchair roles. That's why they sometimes literally tie their legs down with invisible strings while acting in wheelchairs... and now you're saying a child actor is going to pull that off? Absolutely not! This isn't a role for a child actor. This is a character written with an adult actor's level of skill in mind!"
"Still, if they compromise a little..."
Nam Jong-Ok snorted."Compromise? Who would? Lee Ji-Yeon? Director Pyo, don't you know how much of a perfectionist she is? Do you really think she'd let acting she doesn't like slide with that nasty personality of hers?"
"If it's Writer Lee Ji-Yeon, then no, she definitely wouldn't."
"Exactly. Honestly, I'm a handful myself, but Lee Ji-Yeon's just as bad as I am. Especially when it comes to dramas, she never compromises. Even if it's Miso, if she can't do it, Lee Ji-Yeon will tear her apart. Then when things don't work out, she'll rewrite the script. The drama itself might even get delayed."
Knowing Lee Ji-Yeon's personality, Pyo Eun-Jong nodded.
'Still...Yours feels worse though.'
That thought briefly crossed his mind, but at the same time, he finally began to feel a glimmer of hope.
Growing slightly more cheerful, Pyo Eun-Jong smiled as he moved to leave. "Then that's a relief. I'll head back to the station now."
That was when Nam Jong-Ok suddenly asked, "But Director Pyo."
"Yes, Mrs. Nam."
"How much is Lee Ji-Yeon getting paid?"
Cold sweat ran down Pyo Eun-Jong's back. Lee Ji-Yeon's fee for the daily drama was a staggering 40 million won per episode. And she even had option clauses attached. Compared to Nam Jong-Ok's 15 million won, it was well over double.
He had no idea what kind of disaster would happen if he told her directly, so he shamelessly changed the subject.
"Oh, I walked out after saying I wouldn't do it anymore, so I don't know the details."
Nam Jong-Ok looked at him suspiciously. "If Chief Jung got involved, then they definitely raised it a lot, didn't they?"
"Who knows...?"
At that moment, they heard a sound.
Click.
The front door of Nam Jong-Ok's house opened, and a woman came rushing in while holding her phone.
"Mrs. Nam! An article just came out saying Writer Lee Ji-Yeon's getting over 30 million per episode. That's why I told you we should partner with HK!"
Startled, Pyo Eun-Jong turned toward the entrance. The woman who had entered through the front door was Director Hong Ah-Yoon of HK Entertainment.
"Director Hong, what brings you here...?"
"Me? I'm here to recruit our writer, of course, Mr. Pyo"
Hong Ah-Yoon gave a small bow before speaking to Nam Jong-Ok. "Mrs. Nam, the longer you delay, the more you'll lose out. Hurry and join us. If you do, I'll personally make sure your fee gets renegotiated to over 30 million."
"Really? Even though I've already signed the contract?" asked Nam Jong-Ok.
"Yes."
"Okay. Then from now on, I'm with HK."
Then, Hong Ah-Yoon looked toward Pyo Eun-Jong and shrugged. "You heard her, Mr. Pyo. Right?"
Pyo Eun-Jong frowned. "Come on, she already stamped the contract. Renegotiating the fee now is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Do you not want HK Inc. advertisements? If you include all our subsidiaries, that's over a hundred companies."
Pyo Eun-Jong swallowed hard. If HK Inc. advertisements came in, KBC could also easily raise the production budget. Even so, he still didn't like the idea of a writer's fee skyrocketing without reason. He was just about to say they could raise it if she brought in overseas pre-sales like Jung Yoon-Ho had done.
Just then, Hong Ah-Yoon pulled out a thick white envelope from her bag and placed it on the table.
"This is a small token of sincerity, Mr. Pyo."
The moment Pyo Eun-Jong saw the thick envelope, a bright smile began spreading across his face. "This really shouldn't happen, but..."
Seeing Pyo Eun-Jong's attitude change in an instant, Nam Jong-Ok snorted in amusement. "Director Pyo. Match my fee to 30 million. And let's slowly crush Ji-Yeon's drama together, alright?"
Pyo Eun-Jong immediately answered obediently, "Yes, Mrs. Nam!"
That was when Hong Ah-Yoon added, "HK will help too. We have some separate preparations underway as well."
A smile spread across Pyo Eun-Jong's face.
And just like that, an alliance of trashy melodrama writers was being formed against the Jung Yoon-Ho and Lee Ji-Yeon alliance.
***
The moment I returned to the company, we officially announced the recruitment of Lee Ji-Yeon and Writer Kim Soll-Ip. President Kang Gam-Chan, along with the chiefs and team leads, gathered together and began celebrating the massive achievement I had accomplished.
Then, as if they had been waiting for it, SBC immediately started releasing articles as well.
[Hoop Entertainment Announces Recruitment of Writer Lee Ji-Yeon, the Godmother of the Drama Industry!]
[Writer Kim Soll-Ip, the Rising Star Writer Behind Blue Sky, Joins Hands with Hoop Entertainment.]
[Writer Lee Ji-Yeon's First Daily Drama Land of Happiness to Premiere on SBC in Late May!]
[Advertising Completely Sold Out Before Broadcast Even Begins! Corporations Move Quickly for Writer Lee Ji-Yeon's Masterpiece.]
...
Favorable article after another continued appearing on the large LCD monitor inside the conference room. Still, far more articles were pouring out than I had expected to the point where the entire entertainment section of the portal sites was practically plastered with them.
Just as I found it strange, Kang Gam-Chan burst into hearty laughter. "Writer Lee Ji-Yeon joining Hoop Entertainment. Hahaha. I never thought I'd live long enough to see this!"
Everyone clapped and cheered.
That was when PR Team Lead Sung Min-Suk urgently shouted while looking at his phone. "Sir! Our stock price... it's skyrocketing like crazy! It already broke 130 thousand won and is heading toward 140 thousand! At this rate, it could break 150 thousand and hit the upper limit before the market closes today!"
It was past 11 a.m. on Friday morning. As Hoop Entertainment's stock surged upward, the price that had been stuck around 120 thousand won for so long finally began climbing rapidly. And as if on cue, articles started flooding out at nearly ten times the normal volume wven though the PR department hadn't touched anything.
"Wow, this is insane."
"At this rate, is the stock seriously going to hit two hundred thousand won?"
Everyone was getting wildly excited, but a chill slowly ran down my spine. Because if my prediction was correct, this wasn't good news for Hoop Entertainment.
It was an attack.
'Ghost. That bastard has appeared again.'
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