Chapter 39: What Are You Doing Here?
"What are you going to do if Ms. Kim gets upset and decides to scrap this drama and switch over to KBC or MBS? You all never want to see me again, is that it, huh?"
As Jung Sam-Ryong reprimanded them, beads of cold sweat formed on the heads of the production company executives as they bowed their heads.
The power held by a broadcasting company's CP was indeed absolute—and this was especially true for someone like Jung Sam-Ryong, a candidate for the next station director. Falling out of favor with him could not only jeopardize future dramas but also sour relations with SBC entirely.
Jo Eung-Gu bowed his head hastily. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jung. Ms. Kim, we made a mistake."
Cha Soo-Yeon also quickly stood up and bowed. "I'll take responsibility and step down from this drama.”
Cha Soo-Yeon tried to cover for everyone at her level. Although the production portion might face some issues, it could still proceed if they replaced Cha Soo-Yeon with someone else. After all, what was more pressing at the moment was to appease the CP, especially since he had the authority over the scheduling of future dramas.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming more tense, Kim Soll-Ip, who had been silent until then, stepped forward.
"May I say something?"
"Sigh. I'm too embarrassed to face Ms. Kim now."
Jung Sam-Ryong had set the stage for Kim Soll-Ip to speak up.
Kim Soll-Ip started to speak and assert her position as a writer.
“Mr. Jo, Ms. Cha. Wouldn't it be better not to embarrass each other like this?"
The heads of the Blue Dragon staff dropped even lower.
Kim Soll-Ip took a deep breath before continuing. "I've spent five years at the broadcasting station under Ms. Lee. Just know that if you treat me like a novice, I have other plans in mind."
The 'Ms. Lee' she referred to was undoubtedly the renowned Writer Lee Ji-Yeon. When Kim Soll-Ip glanced sharply at the Blue Dragon production team, the staff shivered.
Then, Kim Soll-Ip took a deep breath and forced a smile. "That's all I have to say. And Mr. Jung, please relax. I'm not going anywhere. I chose SBC because of you, after all. What would that make me if you keep getting upset like this?”
Her change in expression to a brighter one was followed by Jung Sam-Ryong's agreement.
"Hahaha. I appreciate your understanding."
With Jung Sam-Ryong's laughter, Jo Eung-Gu and Cha Soo-Yeon finally relaxed. Only then did the staff of Blue Dragon realize that Kim Soll-Ip was not someone to be taken lightly.
"Oh, and Ms. Cha."
"Yes? Yes, Ms. Kim?"
"There’s no need for you to step down. I know your capabilities," said Kim Soll-Ip.
Cha Soo-Yeon bowed repeatedly at Kim Soll-Ip’s generosity. She had once underestimated Kim Soll-Ip for being too young and looked down on her, but that was no longer the case.
"Thank you, Ms. Kim."
Kim Soll-Ip displayed her control of the situation, a skill she had learned from Lee Ji-Yeon.
"So, the role of Twilight is decided, right?"
"Of course. Can I bring the two actresses back in?"
"Yes, please do that."
With Kim Soll-Ip's permission, Cha Soo-Yeon quickly sent the staff to bring the two actresses back.
***
"Thank you so much. I will give it all I’ve got for this role."
Kim Soll-Ip and Jung Sam-Ryong gave a warm smile when Yoo-Jin bowed.
Cha Soo-Yeon's polite apology followed. "Miss Jin-Hee, you did very well too. It's a pity that you didn’t get the role today but hopefully, we'll have a chance to work together in the future."
At that moment, Park Jin-Hee tightly bit her lips and suddenly made an unexpected statement. "Ms. Cha, Mr. Jo. I must be in this drama!"
“Huh?”
“Pardon?”
“What is she talking about?”
All the staff members who were in the midst of gathering the documents on the table stopped and made surprised expressions upon seeing tears well up in Park Jin-Hee’s big eyes.
"This audition is my last chance. If I don't get a role in this drama, I'll retire."
‘Wait, what? Is she actually using this tactic here?’
I had seen her use this tactic to get a role in my previous life when Park Jin-Hee was with Top Entertainment. However, I never knew she had been employing this tactic this early on.
Jung Sam-Ryong, who had known Park Jin-Hee since her child actress days, seemed to be falling for her act.
"What? Jin-Hee! What do you mean you’ll retire? What are you talking about all of a sudden?" he exclaimed with a perplexed expression.
Park Jin-hee sobbed with tears now falling from her eyes. "I've been trying hard to shed my child actress image for the past three years. But if I fail this time, I'll have no other choice."
The judges were visibly flustered by Park Jin-Hee’s sudden outburst, but it was unlikely to affect the decision to give Yoo-Jin the role because Jung Sam-Ryong was a reasonable man.
Cha Soo-Yeon quietly observed the situation and suggested a compromise. "Ms. Kim, Miss Jin-Hee's acting was pretty good as well. So how about offering her the role of the third daughter?"
Everyone's attention shifted to Cha Soo-Yeon.
‘Casting Park Jin-Hee for third daughter Kim Autumn’s role? But Autumn is the character that clashes the most with Kim Twilight who will be played by Yoo-Jin.’
But Jung Sam-Ryong seemed to find Cha Soo-Yeon’s idea quite plausible.
"That's not a bad idea. Miss Jin-Hee's acting is impressive, after all."
Soon, Jo Eung-Gu began to nod in agreement.
As a result, Kim Soll-Ip seemed to be considering the suggestion.
"...There are 15 applicants who applied for the role of the third sister, Autumn—so I can’t just give her the role. If she passes the audition fairly, I won’t object. But Autumn is a character that’s completely different from the second sister, Twilight. Is that okay?"
The third sister, Autumn, was quite a rebellious character.
But Park Jin-Hee nodded continuously, grateful for the opportunity.
"Yes, I'm fine with it. I'll do my best. Thank you! Thank you."
Her repeated thanks prompted Jung Sam-Ryong to gesture for her to calm down. "Hey, you didn’t get the role yet! You still need to pass the audition," he reminded Park Jin-Hee.
Park Jin-Hee wiped her tears away. "I'm confident I will pass the audition."
Jung Sam-Ryong acknowledged her confidence. "Yes, I know your abilities, Miss Jin-Hee."
Cha Soo-Yeon also let out a sigh of relief at the thought of not having to return the money they had received from Ace Entertainment.
Although I was concerned about Park Jin-Hee staying in the drama, at least her acting wasn't infuriating like Park Eun-Bin's. In this unpredictable industry, it was sometimes better to work with someone you know.
'Well, I guess I can tolerate Park Jin-Hee.'
After all, not every role could be filled with the ideal candidate I wanted. This compromise was satisfactory. Besides, Park Jin-Hee could still lose the role of Autumn to Choi Eun-Woo, the actress who played the role of Autumn in my past life.
With the situation resolved, Cha Soo-Yeon announced the schedule for the first script reading.
"Mr. Jung. I'll send you a text about it later, but the first script reading is next week on the 15th, at 3 PM. Please don't forget."
"Well understood, Ms. Cha!"
Having secured the role of Twilight on her own, Yoo-Jin’s first audition was a significant feat and a resounding success.
***
In the meantime, a tense meeting between the chiefs was escalating in the manager director’s office at Hoop Entertainment.
"Mr. Kim! Are you joking right now?"
The unfazed Kim Dong-Soo shrugged his shoulders with a sly expression despite Kang Ji-Yung’s shout. "Joking? No way. Yung-In made the decision herself after reading Ms. Kim Soll-Ip's script. Oh, and of course I tried to dissuade her. But what can I do when the actress insists?"
“Then what is going to happen to Wind, Cloud, Moon that Miss Ju Yung-In was originally supposed to appear in?”
“I took care of that already. I apologized to Writer Choi Sora and PD Park Jun-Ki. I also sent them an apology gift so there is no need to worry. Actually, Ms. Choi even said it’s better this way since she dislikes Yung-In to begin with.”
When Kim Dong-Soo finished speaking, Gu Seong-Cheol instantly burst into anger. “Chief Kim, are you kidding me right now? What do you mean there’s no need to worry? Even if the writer lets it slide, SBC might think otherwise! The role was confirmed and the reporters already know about it as well! And why the same broadcasting station, huh?”
Park Sang-Yung from Actor Division 1 nodded in agreement as he understood the severity of a confirmed lead actress suddenly dropping out of a scheduled drama.
“Hold on. We should be talking to Yung-In about this. Where is she right now?”
“She already went to the audition site.”
“Today...? But Yoo-Jin is there right now. Wait. Did you do this on purpose?”
When Gu Seong-Cheol accused Kim Dong-Soo, he feigned innocence. “Hey, Chief Gu. Don’t be too harsh now. I told you I didn’t do anything.”
“Even so, you should’ve told us in advance if she was applying for the same drama! What would the production company think of us?”
“Don’t you remember the managing director telling us to operate the divisions independently of each other? She said it was Mr. Kang’s special instruction. Isn’t that right, Ms. Kang?”
Kang Ji-Yung massaged her temples to ease her headache. As Kim Dong-Soo had a point, she had no choice but to contain her anger.
***
I calmed Yoo-Jin, who was ecstatic from passing the audition, down and headed to the parking lot.
"Yes, Mr. Gu. The audition ended successfully."
-Were there any issues?
There were many issues, but I replied that there were none since the outcome was good. However, Gu Seong-Cheol's voice sounded grim for some reason.
-Well...Yoon-Ho. We have a problem.
I could hear Gu Seong-Cheol’s sigh over the phone.
"What's the problem?"
-Ju Yung-In ditched her confirmed lead role and went there instead.
"There? You mean here?"
-Yes. She wants to audition for the lead role.
I was so dumbfounded that I was speechless. For Ju Yung-In to recklessly ditch a lead role she had already secured was like declaring that she would never work with that drama's production team ever again.
'Why would she choose our drama at the risk of causing such a scandal?'
Just then, Ju Yung-In's Binz Sprinter entered the underground parking lot.
"She's entering the parking lot right now."
-Don’t make a fuss but just treat her as an actress from another company. Make sure to explain the situation to Yoo-Jin as well.
"Okay, Mr. Gu."
After parking her Binz Sprinter, Ju Yung-In, who was impeccably dressed in a tailored school uniform for the lead role, stepped out of the car.
Kang Myung-Gil followed her out and asked about the audition. "Have you guys finished already?"
"Yes, Mr. Kang."
"And the result?"
"She got the role."
"Well, a writer's recommendation is like a pass without an exam."
It was disheartening that he didn't congratulate a fellow company actress who passed the audition but made a snide remark instead.
‘I don’t think I’ll ever like him.’
"I thought so too. But when we got here, they made Yoo-Jin compete against Park Jin-Hee from Ace Entertainment. Luckily, Yoo-Jin surpassed her in the audition and earned her role."
Kang Myung-Gil seemed slightly taken aback. "I-is that so?"
Then, Ju Yung-In, who had been listening to our conversation, came closer and greeted me first.
"We meet again, Mr. Jung."
‘Why is she acting so friendly?’
Unlike before, she even made eye contact. This was unusual for Ju Yung-In, who typically ignored those she deemed beneath her.
"Ah, yes. Sorry for any past inconvenience."
She even smiled slightly as I responded.
‘Why is she behaving so oddly? I’m getting scared.’
Normally, she wouldn't even speak to anyone below a team lead.
"Hello, sunbae-nim," Yoo-Jin greeted and bowed her head.
"Congratulations on getting the role. I have my audition today too. Ah, I'm auditioning for the lead role. It would be nice to be in the same drama together, wouldn’t it?"
Ju Yung-In's bright smile seemed utterly unnatural and awkward.
"Let's go, Yung-In. It's almost time for your audition."
"Alright then, we'll get going."
I immediately opened my planner as soon as the two left.
[Everyday V10]
[Date: March 2, 2020]
-7:50 PM SBC <Deleted Schedule>
(Deleted Schedule: <Wind, Cloud, Moon> Monitoring. Viewership ratings 6.5%. Starring Ju Yung-In.)
As expected, Ju Yung-In's original schedule had been deleted. Wind, Cloud, Moon was a fusion historical drama written by the rising Writer Choi Sora and PD Park Jun-Ki. However, it would end with disappointing viewership ratings of 13% due to historical inaccuracies and inadequate production budgets.
It would also be the point where Ju Yung-In, who had always picked popular dramas to appear in, stumbled a bit. But now, that future had changed. Although Ju Yung-In was reckless, she rarely took such risks in her work.
Although I was curious why Ju Yung-In had made this odd decision, I was more concerned about Yoo-Jin’s state of mind. As soon as Ju Yung-In and Kang Myung-Gil disappeared, Yoo-Jin sighed deeply.
"Sigh."
"What is it?"
"It’s hard whenever I see that sunbae."
"Ju Yung-In? Why?"
Yoo-Jin hesitated, unsure whether to tell me or not.
"I'm not asking you to tattle but I’m just trying to understand the situation. So feel free to tell me."
Yoo-Jin stuck out her tongue slightly. "You are totally telling me to tattle.”
"Hmm. Anyway, tell me. What did she do to you?"
I couldn't ignore this as the future was changing.
"Well... if I don’t tell you, who would I tell?"
Upon my insistence, Yoo-Jin finally opened her mouth to explain. "Yung-In sunbae always yelled at me every time she saw me, saying it would be better for me to leave the company."
"What? Tell me more about it."
Yoo-Jin started to tell me what happened between her and Ju Yung-In in the past.
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