Storm
Storm.
Two future texts had arrived.
My heartbeat started to pick up.
I thought I had gotten used to the future texts by now, but apparently I hadn’t.
The cold tension running down the back of my neck made even the midsummer heat fade from awareness for a moment.
In that state, I slowly read the article the future text had sent me.
A moment later, I let out a hollow laugh without meaning to.
"Hollywood?"
What was this supposed to be now?
"...A Korean actress won Best Actress at the Oscars?"
I frowned.
This makes no sense.
The Academy Awards.
The most famous film award ceremony in the world.
According to the future text, a Korean actress had won Best Actress at a film festival in the world.
Even if it is a future text, that’s hard to believe.
The whole world was shouting against racial discrimination.
And yet Hollywood still had white supremacy clinging to it.
At the Academy Awards, the flower of Hollywood, a Korean actress taking home Best Actress...
No matter how hard I tried to picture it, I couldn’t see it at all.
Rubbing my chin slowly, I shifted my gaze to check the article’s publication date.
My eyes flew open.
"What? Ten years from now?"
Wasn’t that a bit too far into the future to send me?
But if it’s ten years from now...
Could a Korean actress winning Best Actress at the Academy Awards really happen?
Suddenly, I remembered a joke I’d heard in the army.
It had been a pointless little joke about how by the time I was discharged, cars would be flying through the sky.
I’d heard that while serving, and it had been five years since discharge.
Surprisingly, that stupid joke had become reality.
There were flying air taxis in Paris, France, apparently.
"...Still, I can’t imagine a Korean actor winning Best Actress at the Academy Awards."
While I was thinking it over, I changed direction.
Worrying now about something that would happen ten years later was inefficient.
I read the second future article.
"An actress winning a rookie award at the Busan International Film Festival?"
Not as wild as Hollywood, but this was interesting in its own way.
I checked the publication date of the second article.
"The first is ten years from now, and the second is this year?"
Wasn’t that gap a little too wide?
Then are these two futures related...
I couldn’t be sure.
But one thing seemed clear.
Unlike the first future text, the second one felt realistic.
Every year, newcomers won awards at the Busan International Film Festival.
"The actress’s name is Choi Go-eun."
It was a name I’d never heard before.
Is she still unknown?
Or maybe it was a stage name.
Maybe she hadn’t even debuted yet.
There was no way to guess what kind of actress Choi Go-eun was from the name alone.
When I finished thinking, I flopped down onto a bench.
When I looked up, the sky was packed with dark clouds.
"...Storm, huh."
Come to think of it, they’d said a typhoon with rain and wind was coming today.
"My situation’s a storm too."
If I let my guard down even for a second, it felt like the fierce winds would sweep me away.
Things around me were moving that quickly, that relentlessly.
Lee Ha-eun’s change in attitude.
The future texts, my wager with Chairman Baek, the five-million-ticket occult script, the lottery winnings.
And now Hollywood and a Busan International Film Festival rookie had both barged in as well.
There was so much going on that my stomach had turned a little nauseous.
It was the kind of feeling that made me think if I slipped once, I’d fall off a cliff with no bottom in sight.
But...
I felt pressure, yes. I wasn’t afraid.
In fact, this insane situation was exciting as hell.
"I really have lost it."
Now I could tell for sure.
My nervous system had broken after I won the lottery.
Instead of feeling danger when the stimulation crossed my threshold, I just kept pumping out dopamine without a break.
Still... yeah.
If I got scared and ran in this situation, I’d end up with nothing at all.
"Might be better to enjoy it instead."
If I couldn’t run away, then I’d have to force my way through.
At that moment, one path came into view.
Lee Ha-eun, Black Bride, the Romance Prince Seo Tae-jun.
It was a way to turn the most urgent problems that had landed in my lap into opportunities.
To do that...
I first needed to bring these incidents under my control.
When I finished thinking it through, I moved immediately.
"Team Leader Choi. Let’s have dinner tomorrow."
It was time to rein in the events running wild on their own.
And the first target was the five-million-ticket occult film Black Bride.
***
The occult master director, Park Jun-seo, asked Team Leader Choi in an excited voice, "Is it really true that actress Lee Ha-eun has been cast?"
"No, seriously, it is!"
Team Leader Choi from Blue Pine Production made a bold promise. "You didn’t see Chief Manager Kwon’s face that day, Director Park! He was completely hooked, I’m telling you!"
"...Really?"
"Damn right, really! The manager in charge of Lee Ha-eun took one look at the Black Bride script and his eyes practically spun around! If we sweet-talk it right, it feels like we could pull out another actor besides Lee Ha-eun too, heh..."
At Team Leader Choi’s exaggerated excitement, Director Park Jun-seo was left speechless.
...Is this really true? That Lee Ha-eun is going to be in my film?
Why would someone as huge as Lee Ha-eun want to appear in a minor film like this?
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.
But if Team Leader Choi was telling the truth...
One thing was certain.
The visuals of Lee Ha-eun playing Seo Rin-bi in Black Bride would have insane synchronization.
After all, the character Seo Rin-bi was born from Lee Ha-eun as the model!
If that story was true, this would be a jackpot for me, wouldn’t it?
The corners of Director Park’s mouth loosened into a grin.
...If this conversation goes well today, I really ought to give Team Leader Choi something big.
Let’s see.
That bastard Team Leader Choi loved alcohol, didn’t he?
I had a bottle of premium liquor worth five million won that I’d received at the last film festival. I could give him that as a gift...
Just then, the sliding door of the private room they’d arranged as their meeting place opened.
"Ah, sorry. Traffic was bad, so I’m a little late."
Kwon Chan, Chief Manager of Baekhak Team 5.
The man said to be Lee Ha-eun’s former manager appeared with a smile on his face.
Team Leader Choi practically bounced in his seat. "Late? What do you mean, late! We just got here too. Come on, sit down, Chief Manager Kwon!"
Kwon Chan sat across from Director Park.
"This is..."
"Ah, I’m Park Jun-seo, the director who wrote the Black Bride script."
"I’ve heard a lot about you, but this is the first time we’ve met, Director Park Jun-seo. I’m Kwon Chan, Chief Manager of Baekhak Management Team 5."
Kwon Chan took a business card from his wallet and handed it to Director Park.
After receiving it, Director Park glanced sideways at Kwon Chan.
He looks mature.
Not in the sense of looking older, but in the weight of the atmosphere he carried.
He hadn’t heard the man was that old, but he had a very distinctive aura.
Well, if he’d become a chief manager at that age, it would be strange if he came off as light.
Meanwhile, Team Leader Choi was trying to liven things up. "All right, all right! Even Mount Geumgang is best seen after a meal! Let’s eat first and talk while we do it!"
As Team Leader Choi put beef on the grill, he asked, "Chief Manager Kwon. Want a drink?"
"Ah, I’ll pass today."
"Why? You need soju with meat!"
"The last time I drank and read a script, I felt like I was going to die."
Kwon Chan declined Team Leader Choi’s offer politely, then changed the subject.
"Before we eat, would it be all right if I took a look at the Black Bride script, Director?"
"Ah, of course."
Director Park handed over the script he’d brought.
Kwon Chan set down the chopsticks he’d been holding and opened the script he’d received.
- Rustle.
A strange silence settled over the room.
The only sound was Kwon Chan turning the pages of the script.
Team Leader Choi and Director Park’s eyes stayed fixed on him and refused to move.
How long had it been like that?
In the end, Team Leader Choi couldn’t hold out and asked, "Well, Chief Manager Kwon?"
"I’ll tell you after I finish."
"!"
Team Leader Choi clicked his tongue, looking awkward.
Director Park beside him had his eyes wide open.
It’s not just the atmosphere that’s heavy. The man himself is heavy too.
Look at this guy.
And for a manager, the way he approached a script was strangely off.
His concentration is no joke.
In Kwon Chan’s eyes as he read, sparks seemed to fly the way they would when a top actor read a script.
Just as Director Park was beginning to take interest in him, Kwon Chan finally spoke.
"It’s good."
"!"
"The story flows much more smoothly than before, and the final twist is a lot cleaner too."
Director Park’s expression turned sheepish.
Why did praise from a manager somehow make him feel awkward?
Meanwhile, Team Leader Choi burst out again. "Heh... so that’s good, right?"
"What are you talking about, Team Leader Choi?"
"What do you mean, what? The thing we talked about while drinking last time! Lee Ha-eun’s been cast, right?"
The smile on Kwon Chan’s lips vanished.
Director Park, who had been watching Kwon Chan closely, gave a violent little jolt.
...Huh? What? So it was already decided?
That Chief Manager Kwon, that man.
As soon as Lee Ha-eun came up, the atmosphere had suddenly turned cold.
But the excited Team Leader Choi didn’t notice any of Kwon Chan’s change in expression.
"I’ll make sure the terms are more than fair, so let’s get the meeting set up quickly! Once Lee Ha-eun signs, the other actors will come in right away too, so before the script reading day, the articles should be rolling out everywhere..."
"Team Leader Choi."
"Hm? What is it, Chief Manager Kwon?"
"You’re crossing a line."
"!"
Shocked, Team Leader Choi shut his mouth.
Then Kwon Chan put down the script he’d been holding and said, "When did I ever say Lee Ha-eun had been cast?"
"W-wait? I thought it was already decided between us?"
"I said I’d send the script around to the actors I manage. I never said that meant Lee Ha-eun."
"!"
"This is troublesome. News that a project has been finalized is a risk for an actress at Lee Ha-eun’s level. You weren’t out there running your mouth somewhere, were you?"
Startled, Team Leader Choi waved his hands. "No, no! I didn’t tell anyone! The only other person who knows is Director Park here!"
Kwon Chan’s gaze shifted.
Director Park, who had been quietly watching the exchange, jolted and answered, "I didn’t say anything to anyone either."
Kwon Chan rose, having stirred the room in an instant.
"I’ll step out to use the restroom."
"A, all right! Go ahead!"
Once Kwon Chan had left the room, Director Park shouted at Team Leader Choi, "You idiot, you said Lee Ha-eun was confirmed!"
"N-no... I said it felt like it was confirmed..."
"And here I was a fool for believing this bastard. But still..."
Director Park trailed off, then glared.
"Chief Manager Kwon, that guy, is he really a chief manager? What’s with that atmosphere?"
"He is a chief manager. Actually, he was just promoted..."
"A rookie chief manager who just got promoted?"
"He is a little different today..."
"He doesn’t know a damn thing, either, dammit..."
Director Park muttered through clenched teeth.
"You keep your mouth shut from now on, Team Leader Choi."
"..."
"If we’re not careful, we might not even make back our costs, so don’t you dare say a word. Got it?"
Team Leader Choi nodded in silence.
Suddenly irritated, Director Park snatched one of the pieces of meat Team Leader Choi had been grilling and stuffed it into his own mouth.
Then the door opened, and Kwon Chan returned.
"..."
A low, heavy tension settled over the room.
Team Leader Choi and Director Park swallowed hard enough to visibly bob their throats.
Back at his seat, Kwon Chan slowly spoke.
"I’d appreciate it if you kept this conversation quiet."
"!"
"I think I’ve explained enough, so I won’t say any more. Then..."
Kwon Chan let the end of the sentence hang, then smiled brightly.
"Shall we go back to the casting discussion?"
***
He was definitely on edge.
Normally, I wouldn’t have reacted this strongly to Team Leader Choi’s bluster.
But...
Thanks to my not-so-normal behavior, the initiative in the negotiation had shifted to my side.
The evidence was the way Team Leader Choi and Director Park were both looking at me, slightly cowed.
I loosened the nerves that had been pulled tight and took control of the mood.
"Shall we go back to the casting discussion?"
Director Park spoke carefully. "By casting, do you mean you’re considering other characters besides the lead, Seo Rin-bi?"
"Yes. I told Team Leader Choi, didn’t I? Didn’t he pass that on?"
Director Park snapped his gaze toward him.
Team Leader Choi, silently grilling meat, jumped and answered, "I-I told you! Baekhak wanted both leads! We talked about simultaneous production too!"
...
He didn’t sound confident in his excuse, so our Team Leader Choi clearly hadn’t actually brought this up with Director Park.
Meanwhile, Director Park’s face had turned red with frustration as he let out a heavy sigh.
"It seems... the message wasn’t passed along properly."
Unlike before, Director Park was now taking the conversation seriously.
"Then Baekhak wants not only Seo Rin-bi, the lead role, but also Kang Ji-hoo?"
"For now, yes."
"...Do you already have an actor in mind?"
I answered with the lightest tone I could manage.
"I’m thinking of actor Seo Tae-jun for now."
"!"
Director Park asked in surprise, "Seo Tae-jun, the Romance Prince?"
"Yes."
"...Doesn’t feel like the right fit for the role."
Director Park muttered loudly to himself.
It was obvious he was saying it for my benefit.
Is this what it means to survive more than ten years in this business?
Well.
If a director at that level could see his own meal ticket stolen right in front of his eyes, there would be a problem with that too.
I smiled faintly as I answered.
"I agree if you’re talking about image, but in terms of acting ability, I think Seo Tae-jun is more than capable of handling Kang Ji-hoo, Director."
Director Park nodded.
"That’s true. Seo Tae-jun does have plenty of acting experience."
"So the issue is the image?"
"Well, to be honest, yes. As you know, Chief Manager Kwon, this business runs on image."
Director Park pushed his point hard.
"Of course, at Seo Tae-jun’s level, his image carries weight either way, but the genre is occult, so it’s tricky. The atmosphere of the work matters more than anything, and Seo Tae-jun’s image... does have a somewhat light side to it."
I nodded.
"Then let’s do this, Director Park."
"How...?"
"I’ll pass the script to Seo Tae-jun and arrange another meeting."
"Are you saying you want to hold an audition?"
I gave a small snort of laughter.
"Wouldn’t it look strange if an actor of Seo Tae-jun’s level were auditioning?"
"!"
"Let’s just meet casually and have him show us the work he’s prepared. That should make things less burdensome for you too."
Director Park’s mouth fell open a little.
His expression seemed to say, This guy’s got some nerve.
"Well, that much is fine. It wouldn’t bother me either."
"I’ll speak to Seo Tae-jun within the week and get back to you. Ah, right."
With the tongs, I dropped a well-cooked piece of meat onto Director Park’s plate.
"Would it be possible to hold off a little on confirming Seo Rin-bi for the lead?"
Director Park tilted his head. "Huh? Seo Rin-bi?"
"Yes. Nothing’s set in stone yet, but I think it’s fine to give the timing a little more thought."
Director Park’s eyes widened.
The desire hidden in that expression made my chest itch with excitement.
"You never know..."
I let the words trail off and dropped the first dab of paint onto the picture I was about to draw from here on out.
"Actress Lee Ha-eun might choose Black Bride as her next project."
Of course, this was only the base layer.
The real plan would start from here.
***
At that same time, in the chairman’s office at Baekhak Entertainment.
Chairman Baek, gazing out at the Seoul nightscape wrapped in darkness, opened his mouth.
"What do you think, Park-beon?"
"I think it was a reasonable decision."
Director Park Yu-hyeon said this as he decanted one of the finest wines from Bordeaux, France, a Château Margaux.
"By cutting off Team Leader Kim Seong-hun of Team 1, we were able to put a stop to the malicious rumors circulating inside the company about actress Lee Ha-eun, and it also injected some tension back into the management department. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to feel disappointed."
Chairman Baek gave a soft laugh.
"No, not that."
"...Then?"
"Ha-eun’s next project."
"!"
Chairman Baek turned his head slowly.
"What do you think about Ha-eun turning down the Hollywood Universal offer, Park-beon?"