The Script and the Meeting
The word “lead” had stirred a momentary spark of greed, but Kim Deok-su quickly calmed his mind.
“I’d like to read the script first, please.”
“Ah, I’m in a hurry… I’m sorry. I’ll send it right away.”
“No, no. Just being offered this script already means the world to me.”
After hanging up, Kim Deok-su studied the script Cho Yu-ri had sent.
Lee Hui-yeong had been about to scold him for not putting things back in their places when she saw him reading. She quietly slipped out of the room instead.
“The Sign… That was the one I saw before. The special prize winner of the Xtnn contest… where…?”
Looking at the script, he saw a circle around the name “Lim Haeseong” and the name Kim Deok-su written underneath.
“The elite cop who believes only in evidence… The brother who was framed, sent to prison, given life, and then took his own life… I’d want to trust people, but it’s hard. The outsider detective who keeps investigating alone even after becoming a cop…”
Cho Yu-ri’s script was so sweet it felt like honey. He read it in one breath.
The plot hurtled toward its climax, yet the characters who drew a razor-thin line between good and evil still felt vividly alive.
“This is good.”
The more he read, the stronger the greed grew inside him.
How much time had passed?
Kim Deok-su closed the script and called Lee Hui-yeong and Park Hyeon-woo.
Lee Hui-yeong listened to the whole story, then opened her mouth after a long hesitation.
“Xtnn is a broadcasting company that specializes in genre dramas, right? A rookie writer like Cho Yu-ri… Who’s the PD?”
“The CP is Lee Young-san, and the PD is Yoo Jung-an.”
“Both of them are veterans of the industry. A veteran directing a script from a greenhorn writer? The content must be pretty special.”
Even Park Hyeon-woo, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“Does that mean they’re really confident about the work?”
“It sure does. Lee Young-san CP was a PD people knew well at NBS.”
“Yoo Jung-an PD was famous at OBC too, wasn’t he? They say he has an excellent eye for video and unbelievable charisma. ‘Hope’s Sun’ and ‘Round Game’ both get praised for their visuals.”
Lee Hui-yeong looked at Park Hyeon-woo with admiration.
“Exactly. Hyeon-woo, you’ve been studying a lot.”
“It’s all thanks to you, senior.”
The casual compliment made Kim Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong laugh out loud.
Kim Deok-su stretched his arms and said,
“If the two of you are okay with just the work… then…”
“That’s right. But we can’t forget this is his first project after leaving his agency.”
It was a bucket of cold water on the heated mood.
Still, Lee Hui-yeong continued seriously, ignoring it.
“There’s no need to rush. There are plenty of other works coming. There’s no shortage of leads…”
“I don’t like it.”
Kim Deok-su shook his head with a sigh.
After leaving the agency, he had turned down every serious offer. There had been works from major production companies, cable channels, web dramas—everything.
Park Hyeon-woo said,
“It’s a shame. There were even a few leads among them…”
“What can I do? I just don’t like them.”
“By the way, hearing that you’re taking on a rookie writer’s script after clearing your schedule must have raised quite a few eyebrows.”
Lee Hui-yeong shrugged.
In drama, the writer was the most important person by far.
Investors and viewers wanted proven writers, and greenhorns had to fight uphill.
“Let’s meet the writer first and decide.”
Kim Deok-su loved the work, but he put the decision on hold.
Lee Hui-yeong and Park Hyeon-woo had valid points.
The next day, Kim Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong met Cho Yu-ri at a cafe in Hongdae.
“I came early, but… I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long?”
“Not at all, writer-nim. Your face has improved so much.”
“Thank you. Oh, today I’m paying.”
Cho Yu-ri’s face held an ease he had never seen before.
“It seems money really can make a person. Before, even when I liked someone, there was always this driven look…”
Kim Deok-su felt the same way.
They chatted over coffee and a slice of cheesecake.
Cho Yu-ri smiled brightly and spoke.
“Honestly, Mr. Kim Deok-su is my benefactor. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have submitted that script to the contest.”
“The work was that good. My honest impression.”
“Do you remember? I said it was too mainstream. But Mr. Kim said it was really fun and I couldn’t stop focusing on the setting and characters.”
“I was just giving my honest thoughts. The writer has talent.”
Cho Yu-ri shook her head.
“Thanks to you, I got into the contest. No matter what anyone says, the first person to recognize my work is you. I thought you’d definitely turn me down at the audition…”
“Back then, anyone would have thought so. By the way, you’re wearing a lot of makeup.”
“It’s worth it for Mr. Kim Deok-su. I want to keep my promise and work properly with you. I hope you’ll take the lead role of Lim Haeseong. Oh, I’m not trying to force you onto you. If you don’t like it…”
While Kim Deok-su was still considering, Lee Hui-yeong stepped in.
“Writer, I hate to ask, but have you signed a contract with the production company?”
“Not at all. I’ve only signed for this work so far. The company already offered, but I wanted to see results first before deciding.”
“You’re very professional.”
“I learned it from you, writer-nim. This industry is all about results. Oh, your agency is DH Entertainment, right? If they make an offer, I’ll consider it positively.”
Cho Yu-ri smiled calmly, and Lee Hui-yeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
She was a drama writer. For a writer, the strongest weapon was a script accepted by a production company. She had been desperate to secure many.
As the one chasing her dream of becoming a general entertainment company, greed burned inside her.
But greed didn’t mean she could do whatever she wanted.
“We’re grateful that you look kindly on us, but… unfortunately we don’t have the capacity to take care of you yet. Oh, I’m not saying I dislike you.”
“It’s probably difficult right now since you haven’t settled yet. Still…”
Cho Yu-ri looked at Kim Deok-su, paused, then continued.
“If it’s Mr. Kim Deok-su’s agency, I can wait.”
Lee Hui-yeong was stunned.
This was still a new agency that hadn’t even established itself. Why were they being so proactive? She was curious.
Kim Deok-su was curious too.
“Mr. Kim Deok-su noticed my work first. Is that enough of a reason?”
Lee Hui-yeong shrugged and left the answer to Kim Deok-su.
“Eventually someone will notice it. Let’s first make this work a success, then we can talk about it later. We’ll need to prepare before accepting Mr. Yoo.”
“Yes.”
Two days later, the meeting was set.
Kim Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong headed to the production company Neora Life in Sadang-dong.
Inside the conference room, Xtnn staffers and several investors were already gathered.
The atmosphere was tense.
“The writer wanted us to give the lead to Mr. Kim Deok-su, but… it’s tricky…”
Lee Young-san CP and the investors shared the same concern.
“If Mr. Kim Deok-su appears as the villain…”
“It would make me feel much better. The main villain is Jeong Gyeong-su, right? I’d feel safer with that kind of actor.”
The investment officer from Hana Bank, Oh Dae-hee, set the script down and stroked his chin.
Hana Bank, which invested the most capital, was one of the biggest players in the investment world.
It was hard for a production company to ignore the words of such a major investor.
Cho Yu-ri, who had exchanged glances with Kim Deok-su, turned to the investors and clicked on the PPT.
“I know Mr. Kim Deok-su has the image of a specialist in playing villains. But that’s because you don’t know Mr. Kim Deok-su well. This is what he looked like when he played a pure love interest in a Chinese music video. Watch and tell me.”
A large screen played the music video Kim Deok-su had filmed in China.
He looked at Heo Jae-chi, who was trying to push him away, with eyes filled with deep sorrow.
As soon as the video ended, Oh Dae-hee’s mouth curved into a smile.
“See? If an actor who can act like that can show off his charm in another way, it’s even more attractive. A villain specialist who acts so well should be used for his purpose, not… misused in some random place. That’s my point, writer-nim.”
The gap between the investors and Cho Yu-ri didn’t close.
The directors stayed neutral while Cho Yu-ri gradually lost ground.
The investors had clearly prepared to push her aside.
Kim Deok-su raised his hand and said,
“I understand why the investors don’t trust me.”
“Ah, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. It’s not that Mr. Kim Deok-su doesn’t appeal to me— it’s the role… We really want to do well, that’s why we’re here.”
The Hana Bank investment officer quickly waved his hand.
He wasn’t trying to kick Kim Deok-su out; he wanted to change the role. So he had to be careful.
The investors huddled together.
‘Isn’t the camera test coming soon anyway?’
‘We have to line up with Heo Yun-ah too. No matter how you look at it, it’s the villain role…’
Anyway, the camera test was scheduled after the lead actress arrived.
Kim Deok-su added one more thing.
“I’ll show you. Why I’m suitable for the lead.”
The investors began to murmur.
Most were negative.
They trusted data more than simple emotion.
At that moment, one person raised their hand.
“……Huh, that’s interesting. Let’s hear it out.”
When Kim Deok-su saw who had raised their hand late, his eyes widened.
“M-Mr. Min?”
“Nice to meet you, but the seats make it a little awkward. Anyway, I’m an investor too.”
Lee Hui-yeong was equally stunned.
The investors kept consulting.
Finally, the representative Oh Dae-hee spoke.
“……He’ll be here soon too. Right, writer?”
“Yes. For now…”
About twenty minutes passed.
The door opened and a woman entered.
“Wow—I didn’t know so many people would be here.”
She was the top actress Heo Yun-ah.
A top-class actress who had been active long before Kim Deok-su entered the industry.
Lee Hui-yeong’s tongue clicked.
‘The lead actress is Heo Yun-ah. Mr. Kim Deok-su’s directors have excellent taste.’
Heo Yun-ah’s return to drama was after seven years. It was difficult if the work wasn’t good.
Unlike when dealing with Cho Yu-ri, the investors were more cautious with Heo Yun-ah.
Heo Yun-ah smiled when she saw Kim Deok-su.
“My, who is this? The lead is Mr. Kim Deok-su?”
“Nice to meet you, senior.”
“Nice to meet you too. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Mr. Kim Deok-su.”
The first meeting between the two leads was surprisingly smooth.
But the production company president Hwang In-sik dumped cold water on the mood without thinking.
“Yun-ah, sorry to bother you right after you arrived, but could you stand for a moment? I want to start rolling the cameras.”
“President Hwang, you’ve become even more cheeky. It’s been seven years. The first line is already a camera roll? Where do I go?”
Soon cameras were set up. The investors, directors, and Cho Yu-ri crowded around the monitor.
Inside the frame were Kim Deok-su and Heo Yun-ah.
“Mr. Kim Deok-su, your face is really small. Could you come out a little more?”
“Senior’s skin is so bright it hurts my eyes.”
“Oh? You can speak nicely too.”
Heo Yun-ah showed off her veteran aura and ran through the camera test.
Kim Deok-su posed next to her.
“……As expected of people who manage well. Good visuals.”
“Few actresses manage like you, Yun-ah. But why is Mr. Kim Deok-su’s face so small?”
“The proportions are perfect. With that outfit… it fits.”
As the short test continued, the investors’ opinions began to shift.
But doubt still lingered in their hearts.
Kim Deok-su, who had been reading the room, said,
“Senior, sorry, but could I try one line?”
“A line? Ah… Mr. Kim Deok-su, you really have a solid type. I like it.”
Under the mix of investors’ worries and expectations, the two began reading the script and matching lines.