Chapter 18
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 018
Chapter Title: Emergency Meeting
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Lunchtime.
An emergency meeting was called in one of the conference rooms at SBC Broadcasting Station.
The weekend drama Blaze.
[Narrative drama passing down the will of the past, Blaze]
[Drama set against the independence movement, Blaze—what will its ending be?]
[Blaze hits record high of 16.4% ratings! Tops its time slot! All eyes are on whether Cheon Ji-hee, the writer hailed as a guaranteed hitmaker, can carry that momentum to the end...]
With interest and anticipation running hot for the drama, this meeting was about the ending scene that would cap it all off.
"Seok PD."
Cheon Ji-hee called out to Seok PD firmly.
"Writer Cheon... No, um..."
Seok PD, on the other hand, was sweating bullets, his face a mask of utter distress.
It was because the writer had suddenly demanded a casting change.
"I'm hooked."
Of course, he understood that the final scene was a crucial one demanding extra care...
"But shooting's tomorrow?!"
"Yeah."
This was about replacing an already-cast actor with someone else—on the eve of the actual shoot, no less.
Seok PD's head throbbed.
But Cheon Ji-hee showed no signs of backing down.
And he couldn't just brush her off easily.
Sure, as SBC's star writer, she wielded considerable influence.
But the biggest factor was her uncompromising stance on her work.
Especially since every time her opinions were adopted, the dramas succeeded.
In Seok PD's view, Cheon Ji-hee had sharper instincts than most PDs. Her dramas didn't succeed by chance.
"Seok PD, you know me. This isn't just stubbornness."
"Yeah... I know."
"I can't stand watching a project I've nurtured like my own child flop at the end. Please, I'm begging you."
Ugh. Seok PD swallowed bitter tears inwardly.
What on earth had captivated her about that actor?
Shin Yi-han.
Honestly, Seok PD barely knew the newbie.
With Blaze airing and wrapping up shoots lately, he'd been too swamped to hear more than rumors.
The maknae PD's little brother... Shin I-rim's? Yeah, that rang a bell.
Thanks to Shin I-rim bragging about her brother nonstop, everyone knew he was supposedly a great actor.
Though whether that praise was biased sisterly love, who could say.
Anyway.
"I'm dead serious. Okay?"
Under Cheon Ji-hee's relentless pleading, Seok PD had to admit he'd eventually cave.
"But... what about the original actor?"
Not without some whining first, though.
No helping it. Their agency had serious pull.
"Dunno."
"Come on, Writer...!"
"Let's give that role to Actor Shin Yi-han first. As for the other guy..."
But Cheon Ji-hee hadn't thought that far ahead either.
"Stick him in as a silent fellow revolutionary or something."
"Writer, that's a bit..."
"Or promise him a role in the next drama."
"You think... he'll buy that? We don't even know when the next one's coming."
"Well, if he doesn't believe it, what can we do."
"......"
In the end, Cheon Ji-hee opted to bulldoze through with sheer audacity.
Seok PD rubbed his dry face, while Cheon Ji-hee shrugged.
No, really, I won't forget to make it up to him later, promise.
Cheon Ji-hee meant it about compensating him somehow.
"Honestly, if you'd seen that kid's acting with me today, you'd be on my side too, Seok PD."
Of course, plenty of people around would push back...
How could anyone watch it and hold out?
They couldn't.
"Ah."
Then it hit Cheon Ji-hee. Why not have them come watch?
"Right. Tell him to come by and see Actor Shin Yi-han's performance. He won't be able to deny it."
It was a bit forceful, but once they saw it, they couldn't argue it wasn't better.
"Deny or not... he's gonna be pissed."
Seok PD shook his head.
Writer... that might be going too far.
"But Seok PD."
"Yes?"
"You're being extra nitpicky today, huh?"
"Ah."
Seok PD flinched at the sharpened glint in Cheon Ji-hee's eyes and blurted out desperately.
"H-hey! Nitpicky? I was just saying! Of course I'm on your side, Writer Cheon!"
"My side?"
"Totally!"
"Right? Thought so. So you're thinking the same as me, yeah?"
"Haha...?"
Cheon Ji-hee pounced on his slip.
"Okay! Then contact those two first!"
She steamrolled ahead and wrapped up the meeting swiftly.
"I'll handle the fallout! For real."
Better her suffering later than getting chewed out by the other side!
Besides, Cheon Ji-hee wasn't just charging blindly.
It went beyond liking Shin Yi-han's acting.
She'd gotten that feeling.
The rare gut sense of incoming success...!
Around the same time.
It was right after wrapping the ocean scene for Brilliant Sky.
After a grueling dawn shoot, they were back in Seoul, and it was already lunchtime.
With the schedule done for the day, Shin Yi-han headed to a restaurant with his sister, Shin I-rim.
A jjajangmyeon spot near SBC Broadcasting Station.
"Oh, right. I got my pay this time. I'm buying."
Shin Yi-han held up his card confidently.
Fresh earnings from shooting Brilliant Sky.
Money he'd normally get much later, but thanks to PD Kim Geun-tae pulling strings, it came quick.
Felt pretty solid, honestly.
He hadn't brought it up on purpose before.
Going from star writer with no money worries to broke aspiring actor overnight.
No part-time gigs anymore... rent... snacks handed out everywhere...
Disaster nearly struck. Yeah.
But today was different.
Yi-han grinned at his beefed-up balance.
"Sis, order whatever you want."
He teasingly shoved the menu at her.
"Hey."
Shin I-rim rolled her eyes like it was ridiculous.
"What're you on about? Why're you paying."
"Huh...? Why not? I got money."
"Nah. No need."
Snatch! She swiped his card.
"......?"
Then Shin I-rim casually raised the card she'd gotten from PD Kim Geun-tae at the shoot earlier.
"PD gave me his personal card to treat you to something nice. Free meal."
"Whoa."
Shin Yi-han's eyes went wide at his sister's words.
Didn't expect that level of care.
PD Kim Geun-tae had already shooed them off early, saying the ocean scene wrapped sooner than expected.
'Whoa! Look at our actor's pale lips! Can't send you home alone!'
'I-rim! Don't bother with the gear—just head out!'
Ultimately, a way of saying to look after his brother.
'Take Actor Yi-han for a good meal and let him rest!'
Which got his sister off early too.
"Boss! Jjajangmyeon and jjampong!"
Yi-han ordered freely, pumped.
"And a small tangsuyuk too!"
Might as well go big since it was on the PD's card—
"Hold up. Little bro. What do you think you're doing?"
He froze at his sister's icy tone.
Ah. Tangsuyuk was too much?
"Small? Make it large!"
Oh.
"No, leftovers we can take home. Boss! Large tangsuyuk and kanpiao shrimp too!"
Yi-han gave his sister a thumbs-up at her order.
Soon, sweet jjajangmyeon aroma and spicy jjampong scents wafted from the kitchen.
"Man, smells insane."
Food arrived quick; Yi-han grabbed his chopsticks eagerly.
Mouth watering already.
Back when he'd just returned, even steak at group dinners didn't hit like this.
Clearly adapting to his 20s body. Appetite surging.
Slurp! He shoveled in a big bite of jjajangmyeon.
Sweet onions and black bean pork exploded with umami.
Tastes twice as good after nearly drowning in the sea.
He popped in some crispy kanpiao shrimp stir-fried in chili sauce.
Crunch! Tasted amazing after so long. Sweet and spicy perfection.
Only issue.
- Ring ring ring!
His sister, inhaling jjampong right across, had to set her chopsticks down regretfully.
"Who is it? I'm eating."
Shin I-rim checked her phone, annoyed.
- PD Seok Dong-hwi
"Huh. Seok PD?"
Her eyes widened. Totally unexpected.
Why's Senior Seok calling me...?
Seok PD had been perpetually slammed since she joined, so no real overlap. Super suspicious.
"Yes! This is Shin I-rim."
She picked up anyway.
"Yes, uh-huh! ...What?"
The call dragged on.
"Yeah, sure. Yes, yes."
Yi-han tilted his head watching her expressions shift wildly.
Wonder what that's about.
Munch, crunch. He nibbled tangsuyuk, waiting.
Hope it's not calling her back to work.
She'd toughed out the dawn shoot too. Felt bad.
Soon she was telling the caller she'd head over ASAP. Yi-han shook his head.
Maknae PD life ain't easy.
But.
Turned out she wasn't the only one heading back.
"Yi-han."
Click. The call ended, and Shin I-rim said with a hint of surprise.
"We gotta head back to the station."
Something came up, huh?
"You know the drama Blaze that's airing now, right?"
And it was good news, apparently.
"Just got the call—Writer Cheon Ji-hee wants you for the finale ending."
"Uh...?"
Caught Yi-han off guard, though.
Blaze? Writer Cheon Ji-hee's drama?
Zero warning. Shooting nearly wrapped, and this drops?
Blaze was the star writer's hit smashing ratings records. No reason for them to eye an unknown.
Especially that ending scene.
The one that blew up.
Not in a good way, sadly.
Thanks to that actor's drunk hit-and-run scandal.
Turning a crowning flourish into a drunken disgrace.
TOP Enter's office.
When good news hits one side, bad news strikes the other.
This was the guy originally cast for that finale scene.
"What...?!"
Idol Ryu Gi-on twisted his face.
"What'd you say? I'm... I'm out?!"
His voice rose.
The angelic face from moments ago? Gone. Pure demon now.
"How the hell did you handle this that the PD's saying that crap?"
The manager squeezed his eyes shut against Ryu Gi-on's tirade.
"Manager! This make any sense? Huh?!"
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Gi-on."
"Calm? Do I look calm?!"
Ryu Gi-on was livid.
"I bragged to my girlfriend about this! Ruining my image like what the—ugh."
The more he thought, the less it made sense.
"What about day after tomorrow? I invited all my friends for shoot behind-the-scenes!"
He ruffled his hair. What am I supposed to do now?!
"Gi-on, sit first. Let's talk sitting."
The manager hurriedly sat him down.
Then rubbed his forehead, brain churning.
Been uneasy since that call from Seok PD.
Honestly... kid bombed the test shoot bad...
But actually getting cut? Most awkward spot ever.
Practice runs weren't half bad, at least.
He got cast for a reason. Good reactions in other stuff; solid for an idol.
But facts didn't change.
Especially with this terminal-celeb-syndrome idol in front of him.
The boss's nephew, to boot.
Had to do something.
"Gi-on."
The manager forced a smile.
"If you're that set on it."
They'd canceled on him unilaterally anyway. Could indulge this much.
"Tomorrow, hit the set as planned."
"For real?"
If this blocked the recast somehow, it was a win.
"Obviously. What're they gonna do if we push?"
Worst case, rack up a favor from bigshot Cheon Ji-hee. Might slip their actors into her next project easy.
Net positive, calculation-wise. Kid was just a pain in the ass.
"Think about it, Gi-on. Your face on camera? Picture-perfect."
Manager kept pitching.
"Your expressions are killer. Director and writer'll fall for it instantly."
"True."
"Your fans'll lose it. Buzz-wise, we win for sure. They can't just scrap it after shooting."
Ryu Gi-on's scowl was easing.
"Fine, I'll call back and say we're shooting no matter what. Got it?"
"...Yeah, tell 'em straight. Using some no-name hack's a straight path to tanking the drama."
The manager nodded vigorously at his sulky tone.
"Right. That's it. My acting and looks are leagues better. They're all nuts."
Swallowing the manager's words hook, line, and sinker, Ryu Gi-on smirked satisfied.
He had his pride, after all.
From idol trainee scarfing music show wins daily to topping charts—never lost once.
Acting would be no different.
No way he'd lose.
Ah, but the next day. Ryu Gi-on was in for the worst experience of his life, just as the manager hoped.
Without so much as a coherent word.
The End