Chapter 98
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Melody Burns
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The thrill has worn off, so let's head back.
Melody Burns.
Model and top actress.
The fact that her surname, Burns, matched one of America's massive retail conglomerates, 'Burns,' was no coincidence whatsoever.
In other words, she was a third-generation chaebol heir.
Of course, Melody's own looks and talents were exceptional as well.
It was a poorly kept secret that Dwight Burns, the chairman of the Burns Group—who was pushing eighty this year and still sharp as ever—had a particular soft spot for his granddaughter Melody.
Riding on her grandfather's influence, Melody was carving out an astonishing career in Hollywood, the dreamland of actors everywhere.
From her debut film, where she landed the lead in a teen romance comedy as the innocent yet stunning blonde queen bee and became the ideal type for American teenagers.
She then dove into a wide range of genres, turning every project she touched into a smash hit, propelling her straight into the ranks of top actresses.
And Melody was only twenty-three.
Her future was blindingly bright, with countless production companies showering her—the box-office guarantee—with love calls.
"And yet they dare to trash me and slot a monkey into my spot?"
Ding-.
The elevator halted on the fifth floor.
The doors slid open to both sides, gradually revealing the view.
The first thing that caught her eye as the fifth-floor doors parted was the poster for Paranormal, the show currently in production at CMTV.
The poster featured a stylish shot against a dark backdrop: Jennifer Weisz and Katherine Trammell back-to-back.
"Hmph."
Melody Burns snorted and stepped forward.
Click, clack-.
"M-Melody Burns?"
The people passing through the fifth-floor hallway froze at the sight of her. One male staffer snapped out of it and approached her.
"What brings you here? Can I help with anything?"
Melody quickly scanned the approaching staffer from head to toe.
Spotting the name tag around his neck, she said,
"Scott. Nice name. Pleased to meet you, Scott."
The man's body stiffened like ice at the clear ring of Melody's voice. She leaned in close and asked,
"I heard the director and leads are having a meeting today. Any idea where?"
"Uh, w-well..."
Melody's fingers had already brushed softly against his name tag.
"I'd be so grateful if you told me, Scott?"
"Uh, um..."
The staffer hemmed and hawed, but Melody caught his gaze flicking unconsciously in a certain direction. She flicked his name tag with her finger and said,
"Thanks, Scott. See you around."
Without lingering a second more, Melody strode off in the exact direction he'd glanced.
It was none other than the room at the end of the hallway.
Click, clack-.
Melody barged into what she presumed was the Paranormal team's office and strode confidently down the hall until she spotted the door to the conference room.
Through the square window, she made out the director—Steven or Simpson or whatever—and a woman glowing so brightly she lit up the surroundings.
"Jennifer Weisz."
Melody pronounced her name slowly, as if chewing it over.
In terms of looks or talent, Jennifer Weisz was the only real rival Melody acknowledged.
"What's got her so delighted?"
Through the glass, Jennifer was leaning toward someone.
She couldn't see who, but Jennifer and this person were connected by thin wires that looked like wired earbuds.
"What the... is that?"
Flushed cheeks, earlobes red like they'd been kissed by a cool breeze. Intense eyes locked on someone without a single blink.
'It's like...'
She looked like she was in love.
Melody, who knew plenty about her rival, was thrown by this unfamiliar side of Jennifer.
Click-.
She took another step toward the window.
Now she could finally see the person connected to Jennifer by the earbud wire.
"......"
A warm blank expression?
It seemed expressionless, yet somehow warm—probably due to the gentle glow in his eyes.
This East Asian man, too handsome for simple words like "good-looking," had his gaze angled downward as he nodded slightly.
As if feeling the rhythm.
"Who the hell..."
Melody muttered without thinking, then shook her head to clear it.
How stupid—who else could it be?
The Eastern actor who'd stolen her spot.
"What was his name again...?"
She couldn't remember. Until this very moment, his name had been utterly irrelevant to her.
"Ha..."
Melody rubbed her temple, closed her eyes, then opened them and lifted her head.
"Not bad-looking for a monkey bastard...?"
Melody took in the pair for a moment longer, then turned and headed back the way she'd come.
Click-clack-.
Just then, the emergency exit door swung open, and the annoying entourage she'd ditched downstairs came chasing after her.
"M-Miss?"
The suited man looked baffled at Melody returning. She passed him with a quiet whisper.
"Don't worry, I didn't do anything. The thrill's worn off, so let's go. Or should I say... my interest is piqued now?"
The short track, running about three to four minutes, was nearing its end.
I smiled lightly as the final guitar loop faded out slowly.
'What a lucky day.'
I hadn't tried too hard, figuring I shouldn't get greedy.
I already had an overwhelming list of talents compared to anyone else.
I was confident that just progressing steadily, without stumbling, would let me claim anything I wanted.
And yet.
'Melody Burns.'
Jennifer alone had already triggered a dopamine explosion, but now another unexpected talent bonanza had walked right into my view.
Melody Burns.
I had no idea why she was here.
But she was one of North America's hottest stars, and I got a look at her first talent.
[Melody Burns]
- Currently Covetable Talent: Tenacious Focus (A)
⤷ Primary Condition: Make secret contact with 'Melody Burns'.
⤷ Secondary Condition: Fulfill the primary condition first.
It was a new type of talent.
'Focus,' but it somehow felt more like 'obsession' in context.
A slightly unsettling talent, but more than that, Melody's face at the window lingered in my mind.
'Maybe even S-rank.'
She had the potential for at least A+, possibly S-rank looks.
As I drifted into thought,
"What do you think? Too peppy?"
Jennifer was shoving her face in mine, asking for feedback.
I shook off the reverie and looked at her beside me.
"It's crisp and upbeat without dragging—love it. I'd listen again, but—"
I turned from Jennifer to Annie, who waited with an awkward expression.
"Someone's waiting."
The massive set for Paranormal, sweeping North America with its popularity.
The atmosphere here felt a bit more chaotic than the Korean shoots I'd experienced.
For one, as an episodic drama, it featured a ton of actors.
From bit players who appeared in one episode and vanished, to background extras who flashed by for a split second within an episode.
In Korea, even those actors were managed by agencies, keeping things orderly. Here, even actors with decent roles often showed up solo.
Unlike Korea, where agencies scouted, trained, and handled everything for actors, U.S. law didn't allow one manager to cover all duties.
Actors here typically hired agents instead of personal managers.
Agents just brokered between actors and studios—actors had to build skills and hunt projects themselves.
Which explained why...
"You're so charming. Drinks after wrap tonight?"
The vibe was more freewheeling, you could say.
A fairly attractive bit-part actress approached during break and hit on me like this.
Not subtly either—she flashed her cleavage while throwing overt glances.
"Haha, I've got plans."
"Hmph. Your loss."
I laughed and stepped back firmly; she snorted and walked off.
Once she was out of sight,
I turned back to Jennifer prepping her shoot.
She was tapping the floor, checking her marks as she paced.
[Jennifer Weisz]
- Subordination Level: 16%
- Currently Covetable Talent: Innate Vocal Flexibility (A+)
⤷ Primary Condition: Observe 'Jennifer Weisz' acting for 5+ hours. (1.2/5)
⤷ Secondary Condition: Fulfill the primary condition first.
⤷ Tertiary Condition: Fulfill the secondary condition first.
It was progressing slowly, but...
The process of coveting Jennifer's talent continued steadily.