Chapter 78
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 078
Chapter Title: Reaping What You Sow (1)
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It was just one night.
- Kim Hwa-wook drugs.
Those two words began to quietly and rapidly spread among the actors.
"Crazy?! Crazy...!"
It was only natural that the actors connected to him would lose their minds.
That bastard Kim Hwa-wook—his speech had always been a bit rough. Ack!
"N-No, Nabi. Watch your mouth."
"We almost got totally screwed just now—how am I supposed to watch my mouth?!"
She was an actress whose casting was all but confirmed, even if it was just a verbal agreement for now.
Yu Nabi.
A top trending actress, riding high with flashy looks matched by equally dazzling acting chops.
She was set to play the spoiled youngest daughter of a wealthy family in this one too, fully intending to chew the scenery as a proper sub-villain.
But this news had Yu Nabi completely freaked out.
Even if she did love to party in real life...
"This is not it!"
Yu Nabi swept her hair back with fingers glittering in nail art.
She'd been so careful about stuff like this!
"Drugs are going too far!"
Of course, one person getting nabbed meant everyone around them got suspected too.
Especially if her agency got tangled up with drugs again...
"...No way in hell."
The fallout would be massive, no question.
The agency had already been thrown into chaos once before.
True or not, the public would lap it up all over again.
Dragging everyone down with guilt by association—Yu Nabi seems suspicious too, right? Her eyes always looked a little off—must be this! and so on!
"Contract signing tomorrow. Wow."
Ugh! Yu Nabi rubbed her arms against the chills crawling up her skin.
Having been through a brutal witch hunt once already only made it worse.
If she hadn't known ahead of time, her image would've taken a massive hit.
...No clue how it'd blown up right now, though.
"Park Mu-gang, what would've happened if you hadn't told me?!"
Yu Nabi jabbed a finger at Park Mu-gang, plopped down right in front of her.
Being from the same agency meant the news hit fast.
"Yeah. Good thing my bro's a social desk reporter."
Park Mu-gang shrugged, looking smug as hell.
"Grateful, right?"
He was getting on her nerves strutting around solo, but damn if she wasn't honestly thankful.
They bickered nonstop usually, but times like this? Rock solid.
"Yeah! Thanks!"
Yu Nabi owned it coolly and nodded.
"I'll treat you big-time later!"
You gotta repay a solid properly, yeah? she said, sinking into the sofa.
"Honestly, you think reading this is enough thanks?"
On the desk in front of the sofa sat the scenario Park Mu-gang had shoved at her earlier.
His words: repayment—read this.
Yu Nabi wasn't satisfied.
"Whatever, just read it."
Park Mu-gang said it like he was doing her a favor.
"Read this, and you'll wanna treat me even better."
"......?"
The hell? Big talk.
Yu Nabi snorted, snatching up the scenario.
- Tamra.
She started flipping through without much thought.
Like handing over a scenario's gonna make me wanna treat you better.
Exactly one hour later.
Yu Nabi shot to her feet.
"Wh-what the hell is this?! Where'd you get it?!"
For her, it was the rotten drug lifeline vanishing—and a golden one dropping in its place.
"No way! Park Mu-gang, what do you want?! Name it—what do I gotta do?!"
The genuine urge to treat him right had hit.
And around the same time, Shin Yi-han had sent scripts to more places.
This time, one of the confirmed leads for Sin City 4.
Actor Choi Man-cheol.
Juniors shrank from his mere silent presence alone.
His acting caliber put him in the top five of 50-something male actors—a true heavyweight.
His agency's vibe? Pure ice rink.
"Hey, keep it quiet..."
"Huh?"
Fl inch. With Choi Man-cheol holed up in the president's office, staff couldn't help eyeing each other.
"Wh-what? Bro pissed or something?"
A latecomer asked, picking up on the off vibe.
"Totally furious."
Kim Hwa-wook director did drugs. Hardcore.
Explanation: simple.
"What?! Then the movie?"
"If it's tanked, it's tanked hard."
"Actors tight with their staff are getting dragged in for questioning too."
The fallout wasn't simple.
Neither was Choi Man-cheol's rage.
"Kim Hwa-wook. Stabbed me in the back like this?"
He swallowed quiet fury, fists shaking.
"Gave up everything else for this."
Choi Man-cheol said, scrubbing his dry face over and over.
Passed primo synopses to juniors, picked City of Sin alone.
"No idea what to do with that prick."
Quiet rage hits hardest.
Agency prez sweated buckets.
"Man-cheol hyung."
Thank god for the good news. Whew.
"C-calm down."
Prez slid over a scenario, savior-style—a fresh movie script from that morning.
"Read it myself. Figured you'd dig it, so brought it straight."
"......"
Choi Man-cheol glanced up.
Hah.
Sigh escaped on reflex.
Reading like this? Even gems'd taste like ash.
Sudden what.
"Shin Yi-han actor's the lead."
Follow-up hooked him enough not to bail.
"Shin Yi-han?"
Lately, one standout junior? That'd be him.
Murder's Delusion and Innocent Boy.
Just two flicks seen—plenty to get it.
Acting that crushed you through the screen...
Had him shivering after ages.
Choi Man-cheol's appetite spiked.
"P.S., Innocent Boy writer's script."
Innocent Boy too...?
Th-this ain't normal.
Expectations skyrocketed.
"I'll check it."
Curiosity had Choi Man-cheol cracking it open.
"...Hold up."
Subject matter tanked his interest cold.
"Joseon zombie flick?"
Shin Yi-han... thought he had project eye.
Miss this time maybe.
Head tilted.
"Aw, just skim it. Light! Synopsis at least!"
"Fine, fine."
Sheesh.
Prez's ass-kissing won—content check incoming.
Soon, floored.
Meant synopsis only.
Page. Page.
Turned smooth, unaware.
Suddenly: end.
"......?"
Wh-what.
Time already...
Choi Man-cheol panicked-checked clock. Lost track.
Binged breathless.
And this.
Fun.
Dead serious fun.
Crumpled mug long smoothed bright.
Ages since script gripped him so.
"Kim prez. Holding out on gems like this."
Eyes gleamed. Voice pitched up natural.
"Dragging in City of Sin crap."
Not some begged-for role.
"This is..."
Finally—a project itching to dive into!
"Gotta make 'em let me on...!"
It hadn't even been a few hours since Shin Yi-han sent scripts to the actors.
"Huh."
Ding! Ding! Two emails hit Red Film.
Kwak Hoon tilted his head.
"Yi-han?"
Weird enough to ping Shin Yi-han direct.
"We send yesterday maybe?"
"Nah? This morning."
"Yeah?"
But check this.
Kwak Hoon showed Shin Yi-han the screen.
"Replies already? That quick after sending?"
"What? Already?"
Kwak Hoon blanked. Shin Yi-han looked shocked too.
"Wh-what? Rejections?"
Kwak Hoon spooked.
Subject lines? No clue accept/decline.
Speed screamed no time—pass.
Busy actors, schedules locked? Hiatus mode?!
Honestly, Yi-han said try sending—so they did.
Kwak Hoon? High-caliber targets, no sure thing.
Script slaps, sure—but him? Tiny film company director. Too small. Rejection? Fair.
"So what they say?"
"Uh... y'see."
Shin Yi-han prompted—Kwak Hoon clicked late.
Tension thick.
"Huh."
Reading deeper, mouth agape city.
"Yu Nabi loves it."
And.
"Choi Man-cheol too—says he's in, no question...?"
Kwak Hoon's eyes bugged.
"?!"
Choi Man-cheol? Inevitable freak.
"Hold on."
Re-checks galore. Same.
"Wh-why's this real...?!"
Kwak Hoon buzzed hard.
Blue Dragon sweeper accepted zip!
Heart thumped wild.
Even so—famous names this fast? Nah...
Plus Choi lead dropped full script slays review.
"Yi-han! Look! Choi Man-cheol—'so fun'!"
Kwak Hoon lost it.
Shin Yi-han, email buddy? Shocked solid.
'Real accepts.'
This instant.
Bold as hell.
Under day? Zero debate.
Actor greenlit post-read.
Instant yes? Buddies or legend director tier.
'Huge W.'
Shin Yi-han inner cheered.
Script confidence? Expected wins.
Not this snap.
Better still.
Prime talent snag.
And pain level for Kim Hwa-wook?
'Movie he tried tanking—with his handpicked cast.'
Neck snap city.
Shin Yi-han smirked auto.
"Huh?"
More wins today, looks like.
"Gasp! Yi-han!"
Timing perfection.
Kwak Hoon portal-surfed casual—film world bomb eyed.
'Even this quick.'
Ding-! Ding! Ding!
Phone lit with Park Mu-gang texts.
— Whoa lmao search news quick.
— Social desk's straight fire rn!
Shin Yi-han's eyes slid to Kwak Hoon's search hits.
[Popular series ‘City of Sin’ director Kim Hwa-wook emergency arrested on drug distribution and habitual assault charges]
[Shock! Drug scandal Kim Hwa-wook—what now for movie ‘City of Sin 4’ production?!]
[Behind Kim Hwa-wook’s flashy filmography, the real City of Sin exposed: drugs and staff assaults!]
Drugs and assaults.
Blew sky-high proper.
Previous life pace? Bewildering fast.
Originally? Mid-Sin City shoot bomb.
Bound to anyway.
Timing? Full forward.
Previous life diff.
One thing.
'My casting reject.'
Plus—that sparked Kim Hwa-wook yanking our crew?
"Kwak director. Come to think."
Shin Yi-han queried hunch.
"Know who met our staff? Director unlikely hands-on."
"Huh? Their assistant director? Why?"
Boom—certainty locked.
On that AD's thin patience fuse.
'My no might've lit it.'
Yeah. Hothead Kim Hwa-wook cleanup? Who else.
[‘Couldn’t hold back—exploded’ Kim Hwa-wook director’s assistant director spills everything?!]
[Kim Hwa-wook director: Undeniable evidence?! Tied to entertainment drug ring...]
Assistant director.
Whistleblower AD.
Blind to evidence hoard, Kim Hwa-wook raged wild.
Never saw this coming.