Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Drama Meeting
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That night, as my left arm tingled uncomfortably, two script files arrived from Manager.
Psychometry Her, a supernatural investigation drama, and Wisdom Tooth, a rom-com.
The former would have me playing a profiler who flies in from America to assist with investigations.
The latter required me to portray the male lead's fiancée, the girl he's crushing on with the female lead.
As an actress, there was no role I couldn't take on.
In my past life, I'd done a minor gay role that involved a kiss scene with another man.
And during my brief stint in a theater troupe, I'd played a transgender character.
To be accurate, as long as it wasn't straight-up AV-level, I could handle even bed scenes...
But right now, without even glancing at the scripts, I wanted to pick the former.
'...I didn't realize my instincts would reject it this strongly.'
Choosing Wisdom Tooth meant performing an intense kiss scene in a flashback with the male lead, followed by a scene of lying down in bed.
Even so... a kiss scene and a semi-bed scene felt a bit much.
There was no nudity—it was just kissing before cutting away as we lay down on the bed—but my instincts were screaming at me to absolutely refuse.
I'd been so focused on checking the files that I only noticed the text from Manager late.
[They say Wisdom Tooth isn't highly recommended even within the company. Too much image drain. But they were instructed to show all incoming scripts to actress Jeong Gyeowol, so I'm sending them over.]
Whew... I see.
'So that's why they offered such groundbreaking contract terms—for stuff like this.'
My view of KS Entertainment swung wildly from object of worship to third-rate thug agency and back.
But KS Entertainment was still my light, my salt, my love.
[I read them, and I think the former is better. Great script, great role.]
[Got it, I'll pass it on. Get some good rest, Actress!]
[No need to be so formal. We're family who'll be together from now on—treat me casually.]
[Uh... Is that okay?]
Yoo Jun-seung was born in '04, a year older than me.
Compared to Jeong Gyeowol born in '95, he was much younger... but.
Right now, I was Jeong Gyeowol born in '05—a total newbie that even a fresh-out-of-college social rookie like Yoo Jun-seung had to manage.
[Yeah, treat me like a dongsaeng.]
[...Like a hyung?]
[Ah, it's just easier for me to call you oppa. If it's uncomfortable, should I stick to Manager?]
He probably wouldn't ask me to call him oppa, right?
If he did, we'd be unable to exchange even a single word starting tomorrow.
Sister from the old Joseon era could maybe work somehow since it was used for superiors regardless of gender, but oppa? I'd die before saying it.
Unless I was acting as an actress, I'd probably never utter it in my lifetime.
[No way! Hyung is great! Feels friendly. Oh, just got a text from the company—they're scheduling a meeting with the PD tomorrow. 11 a.m., does that work?]
[Yes! Thank you!]
Manager was still using formal speech.
Telling him to be casual meant dropping the formalities, but.
Of course, for someone he'd just met—and a company actress at that—it wouldn't feel natural right away.
Time would sort it out.
Meeting tomorrow... Guess I'd have to memorize the Psychometry Her script all night.
I went to the convenience store and printed it out.
Not many people knew, but they had unmanned multifunction printers these days.
The world... had... really... improved...!!!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We arrived at Dreamscape Studio in Mapo-gu.
Jeong Gyeowol tried to head in alone while Manager parked the car, but Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin insisted they all go together and held her back.
Jeong Gyeowol, perhaps misunderstanding something, nodded with a warm, appreciative gaze.
'...Taking care of the junior? What a kind company.'
Manager Yoo Jun-seung was thinking something similar.
'...Parked alone would feel lonely, so he's being considerate toward me... Hngh! Sunbaenim!'
Regardless of their misunderstandings, Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin was feeling a headache coming on.
KS Entertainment had pushed a rookie actress with zero filmography into the role.
Misunderstandings and rumors were already swirling at the production company.
If word spread in the industry, it could seriously damage Jeong Gyeowol's image.
'CEO Kim Seul-ong isn't the type to overlook this...'
He wondered if they were forcing things too hard.
Given the situation, he worried Jeong Gyeowol might face hurtful incidents if she went up to the office alone.
That's why he'd grabbed her.
When an actress was a rookie, the way people treated her depended on whether her accompanying manager was road-level, team leader, or executive level.
Exaggerating a bit, it was the difference between showing up to a business meeting in sweats or a suit.
Jeong Gyeowol and Manager Yoo hadn't thought that far.
'Actresses don't need to know this political stuff. But Jun-seung... When am I gonna teach him everything... Aigoo, my head...'
Yoo Jun-seung finished parking with his amateur skills, and they all headed in together.
In the lobby, they ran into an associate director slurping coffee on the move.
He looked quite flustered upon recognizing Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin's face.
"Uh? What brings the Executive Manager here...?"
"What do you mean? I'm here for my actress's meeting. Introduce yourselves. This is our company's treasure, actress Jeong Gyeowol. Actress, this is the associate director handling this drama we're joining."
"Ah... Nice to meet you. I'm Jang Hyo-shin. Looking forward to working with you."
"Nice to meet you too. Looking forward to it."
Since Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin had introduced her by steamrolling the associate director and elevating Jeong Gyeowol, she didn't even need to state her name.
Everyone exchanged haha-hoho laughs in a warm greeting scene.
But Jeong Gyeowol felt chills creeping up her spine.
'Uwaaa... What's this, already scary. No cola for me today either...'
It was the ruthless world of business.
Among those present, only Manager Yoo Jun-seung felt at ease.
'Oh, our executive manager's clout works everywhere. Jackpot.'
Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin grabbed the associate director who was trying to slip away after a cursory greeting.
"Hyo-shin, since we bumped into you, mind guiding us? Been a while, so I'm not sure where everything is."
"Ah, sure. This way."
The group followed the associate director's guidance to the office.
The staff inside looked flustered—the associate director who'd gone early to grab coffee had returned with an actress in tow.
They'd been preparing to humble the rookie actress.
But with the associate director showing up together—and Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin no less—the plan fell apart.
In truth, even that had been anticipated by Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin, which is why he'd sent the associate director ahead to guide them.
By now, the production side should get the hint.
All of Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin's actions sent a clear message: KS Entertainment cares this much about Jeong Gyeowol, so don't try anything funny.
Jeong Gyeowol's group exchanged light greetings with the office staff and headed to the meeting room as guided.
"Hello. I'm Jeong Gyeowol. Nice to work with you."
"Ah, yeah, just sit anywhere."
The PD responded curtly to the greeting, then raised his voice toward Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin.
"Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin? What, bringing executive level backup just to slot in one supporting role? How much of a pissing contest do you need?"
"Long time no see, PD Choi. It's not a pissing contest... I barely talked the CEO out of coming himself and came instead. Should I call the CEO now?"
"...Why would CEO Kim come here? Such a bluff..."
He said that, but PD Choi's tone had softened from before.
Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin had every PD, every AD, every writer filed away in his head—exactly how to handle each one.
PD Choi Jin-yong was the type weak to power, buckling under pressure.
Borrowing the CEO's name should keep him quiet for a while.
"I'll just observe from the side, so talk with our actress."
Executive level comes all the way here, then bows out of the discussion?
Not just pushing her in—what's the angle?
The PD and screenwriter both turned to stare at Jeong Gyeowol.
It was like sitting on a bed of nails.
'...Why is everyone looking at me like that...'
PD Choi across from her leaned forward toward Jeong Gyeowol.
"Don't mind Kim Executive—he's always like this. Have you read the script by any chance?"
"Ah... Yes. I memorized it all."
"...I see."
KS Entertainment had strong-armed them into giving up the Helena role just last night.
Helena wasn't even a minor role—it was supporting. And it wasn't a partial script; it went up to near the finale.
Yet she'd memorized it all. Even for a rookie's boldness, that was over the top.
They'd planned to embarrass her and put KS Entertainment in their debt.
So without dragging it out, they cut straight to it.
"Then... Could you do your most memorable scene, short version?"
"Sure."
For Jeong Gyeowol, this was actually better.
She could feel them lobbing hidden daggers in their words.
As the subject, she couldn't just spectate comfortably.
All she wanted was to show her acting quick and escape.
And so.
Without elaborate setup, without gathering emotions or any prep, like flicking a switch—her acting burst forth.
"First case. Victim Kwak Doo-pal, 63. Murder by blunt force. Weapon was a common brick from the street."
A soft mid-low register for a woman. Tuned to 190Hz—the pitch said to inspire the most trust—for the performance.
Yet delivered slowly, calmly.
Diction perfect too.
She could've been an announcer right away.
The entire office flinched as Jeong Gyeowol switched her expression, gestures, and voice in an instant, without warning.
Regardless.
As if visualizing the case in her head, Jeong Gyeowol rolled her eyes up and to the left, starting to tap the desk with her index fingernail.