Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Is the Writer Omnipotent?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There are actors like that.
The moment they dive into a role, their previous self vanishes, replaced entirely by the character from the story.
Actors like these were sometimes made, but more often than not, they were born that way.
‘She was born with it.’
Lee Ye-eun fell into the latter category.
Genius.
The word fit her perfectly.
Right up until the cue to start, she had been your average early twenties woman.
Shy, entranced by Gabriel’s handsome face.
Just an utterly ordinary girl.
But as soon as the cue came.
Her eyes, her aura—everything transformed into a medieval noblewoman.
Even her slightest gesture exuded elegance.
‘And above all, she didn’t tremble when looking at Gabriel.’
That alone was enough to pass her.
Impressed by her performance, they continued with the rest of the audition.
* * *
All the schedules had wrapped up.
The staff gathered for a meeting.
“Let’s start with the most important role, Lena.”
Oh Young-tae spoke up first.
“I think Lee Ye-eun would be perfect for Lena. She’s got that foreign vibe thanks to her mixed heritage, and more importantly, her chemistry with Gabriel was spot on.”
Kim Dae-sik picked up the thread.
“I agree. Her presence and acting were both great. And her sync with Gabriel was the best by far.”
The other staff members chimed in with their thoughts.
Everyone gave Lee Ye-eun high marks.
Tae-seong felt the same.
She was a pearl in the mud.
Her talent hadn’t fully bloomed yet, but she had the potential to become a great actress.
Working with a talent like that was something any director would jump at.
“Then let’s lock in Lee Ye-eun for Lena. I’ll handle the talks with her agency.”
“Yes.”
“JU Entertainment really has some gems.”
Tae-seong glanced at Kim Dae-sik at his comment.
“You know JU Entertainment?”
“Huh? You didn’t know, Director? They’re pretty big in the industry. Tons of famous drama actors. In terms of scale, they’re one of the top players in Korea.”
“I see.”
It didn’t matter what agency she was with.
If she came to audition, she must want the role.
“Then, next role...”
The meeting continued.
* * *
The next day.
Tae-seong met with Lee Kyung-jin, section chief at JU Entertainment.
“I’d like Lee Ye-eun for the role of Lena.”
“Ah...”
Lee Kyung-jin was a mild-mannered man.
He fiddled with his round glasses, his face troubled.
The pupils visible through the lenses trembled, betraying his anxiety.
“Is there a problem?”
“It’s not that, but... due to personal circumstances, Ye-eun won’t be able to take the role.”
An unexpected response.
“She auditioned yesterday, and now personal issues make it impossible overnight?”
“Yes... that’s how it is.”
Lee Kyung-jin dabbed at the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief.
It wasn’t from the heat.
He was hiding something.
The problem was, Tae-seong had no idea what.
“We have plenty of great actors at our agency. Especially Jeong Ji-yeon here—she’s amazing.”
He pulled out his smartphone and showed a photo of another actress.
She was pretty.
Some surgery, sure, but nothing deal-breaking.
But looks weren’t the point.
They’d already decided on Lee Ye-eun for Lena.
Letting go without knowing the real reason felt like a waste.
Plus, the guy was clearly hiding something.
“Could I know what her personal circumstances are?”
“Ah... sorry, that’s private...”
“Hmm. Got it.”
Tae-seong stood up.
Lee Kyung-jin, caught off guard and half-rising awkwardly, asked hurriedly.
“When’s the audition for Ji-yeon...?”
“I’ll think it over and get back to you.”
“She’s a fantastic actress! Director!”
As Tae-seong turned and left the café, Lee Kyung-jin’s desperate shout followed him.
Ignoring the pleading voice, Tae-seong pulled out his phone and made a call.
“Yes, Representative-nim. It’s been a while. Got a moment?”
[Haha! For you, anytime! I’ll come to you!]
“No need. I’m in Gangnam for business anyway. I’ll stop by the office.”
[Sure! I’ll be waiting!]
He hung up after hearing Choi Woo-jong’s usual hearty reply.
His steps turned toward the CY Entertainment office.
* * *
“JU Entertainment?”
Choi Woo-jong squinted as he set down his coffee, repeating the name.
Hostility was plain on his face.
“Yeah. You know them?”
“Of course. That’s where I worked before starting CY.”
“Ah.”
Now he knew why it rang a bell.
Park Eun-bi’s old agency, and Choi Woo-jong’s former workplace.
The two had split off to found CY.
He’d heard it hadn’t been smooth sailing.
“It’s a real cesspool. They don’t treat their artists like artists. Just money-making tools.”
“I see.”
“One of their actors auditioned?”
“Yeah. Lee Ye-eun.”
“Lee Ye-eun... That mixed girl, right?”
“That’s her. You know her?”
“I cast her myself. She was doing theater in high school, and her instincts were killer.”
“I agree. Real talent.”
“Haha! As expected from you. You spotted it right away. She’d nail any role.”
“Yeah, I think so too, but...”
Tae-seong gave a quick rundown of events.
After hearing it all, Choi Woo-jong pondered for a moment before speaking.
“That’s weird. If she auditioned, the agency must’ve been on board internally.”
“That’s what I thought. But overnight, attitude change. And her manager acted off.”
“Who’s the manager?”
“Lee Kyung-jin, section chief.”
“Kyung-jin, huh... I’ll look into it.”
“Sorry to trouble you.”
“No big deal. I owe you more than once or twice. This is nothing.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“I’ll dig and get back to you soon.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Tae-seong returned to the office.
He’d been running around all day, but he wasn’t tired.
Sipping coffee, he organized his thoughts.
‘Could cast someone else, but finding an actress who gels with Gabriel is the issue.’
Gabriel was too damn handsome.
Never imagined it’d backfire like this.
Handsome guys were a dime a dozen, after all.
‘Being an angel is the problem here.’
Gabriel had his powers sealed and descended to the mortal world.
But his innate qualities didn’t vanish.
Everyone who saw him felt drawn to him.
Regardless of gender.
Now, imagine acting as lovers with Gabriel at close range, breathing in sync?
Only a few could handle that.
‘And that manager’s reaction bugs me.’
Lee Kyung-jin’s behavior wasn’t normal.
He was hiding something.
Didn’t matter what, exactly—a thorn in the throat itched worst.
Then his phone rang.
Choi Woo-jong.
“Yes, Representative-nim.”
[Writer-nim, free tonight?]
“Yes, I’m good.”
[I’ll come to you, then.]
“Yes.”
His voice was off.
Somber, laced with anger—something was up.
And he wanted to meet again that evening, despite seeing each other earlier.
This could be serious.
* * *
Tae-seong’s hunch was spot on.
“So, they pressured Lee Ye-eun into sexual favors. She refused, and they retaliated by canceling all her schedules.”
“Yes.”
Tap-!
Tae-seong drummed his fingers on the table.
A habit when he was pissed.
Since returning to his first life.
Nothing had truly irked him.
A long life had made his thinking flexible.
He saw others’ like or dislike as their own affair.
Snatching opportunities for one’s success? Just life.
Worlds changed, eras too—same story.
But this was another level.
“You didn’t know, Representative-nim?”
“Huh?”
“When you worked at JU Entertainment, did you know about the sexual favors?”
Choi Woo-jong’s face hardened.
He’d been an insider there.
Even if not top brass, it wouldn’t be odd if he knew.
“Embarrassing, but no.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They have a separate division for the dirty stuff. Found out about the actor trading by accident. That’s when I quit and went independent.”
Choi Woo-jong laid it all out.
Hiding in a spot like this would just breed misunderstandings.
Tae-seong drummed the table again as he listened.
“What happens if an actor refuses the company’s demands?”
“Depends on their status. Big names, they can’t touch. Rookies...”
“They might not even debut.”
“Yes.”
Plenty of entertainers.
From top-tier to bottom, thousands.
Add aspiring ones?
Astronomical numbers.
Dumping one wouldn’t hurt the company.
But Tae-seong wasn’t like that.
If he hadn’t known, fine—but now? No sitting idle.
“Representative-nim, mind if I ask a favor?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Could you scout Lee Ye-eun?”
“I’d love to, but... she’s under contract. JU’s standard terms lock her in for five more years.”
“What penalties if she jumps ship?”
“They’d demand compensation for all investments so far. No regular person could afford it.”
Choi Woo-jong was right.
Penalties in the hundreds of millions.
Too much for anyone normal.
He pondered, then spoke.
“Can’t just let it slide, though. Got it—I’ll handle it. Worst case, we cover the penalty and bring her over.”
“CY Entertainment would?”
Unexpected again.
“Yeah. Company’s stable enough for that. And Ye-eun’s got star potential. Can’t let filth bury her.”
Choi Woo-jong had quit JU in disgust over their actor trading.
That’s why he could make this call.
Even if the speed surprised Tae-seong.
“I’ll help however I can.”
Tae-seong had no intention of standing by either.