The Battle Attire
“Got it!”
I had secured an audition opportunity for Yeon Hee-jae in The Great Garand. Ji Hae-beom participating in the auditions meant one thing: his casting as the male lead was a done deal.
Just as expected, Ji Hae-beom's agency promptly posted the casting board news naming him as Ki Tae-seok of The Great Garand.
“If Ji Hae-beom's side locks in their confirmation, the female lead spot will follow soon enough…!”
My prediction didn't miss the mark. Investors flocked at the news of Ji Hae-beom's involvement, and with basic viewership ratings now guaranteed, Eun Baek-hap's camp — apparently worried about losing the female lead role — scrambled to push out articles of their own.
Once the male and female lead casting confirmations hit the news, the fastest to spring into action was Ki Joo-ye's agency.
Like the article about me before, they only described her as being in the running — but the level of effort behind it was on another scale entirely.
They've prepared a lot.
Because Ki Joo-ye had years of data accumulated from her idol career. She was on a whole different plane from someone like me, with barely any material to draw on. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they'd dug up every single photo of her looking pure and innocent.
(Ki Joo-ye's photo wall shot.jpg)
(Han Yeo-reum's Good Market scene screenshot.jpg)
Between Ki Joo-ye and Han Yeo-reum, who fits the role better? Personally I say 1
Just from the photo selection, you could tell. This was a post written by Ki Joo-ye's agency.
“And the reactions are going exactly the way they want.”
If I had to summarize the reaction to me, it went like this:
Her intense image is burned so deeply into everyone's brains that she doesn't fit a first love.
“People really don't know how to look at a person.”
I dragged the mirror beside me over. Anyone could see I was first-love material, no? A face people couldn't help falling for at first glance? Han Yeo-reum, the girl whose heart would flutter the moment you met her eyes?
“Isn't this just going to get me picked the second I walk into the audition room?”
Facing the reflection in the mirror, I tilted my head slightly. Seen this way, first love. Seen that way, also first love.
“…As long as nobody sabotages the audition, Yeon Hee-jae is mine for the taking.”
But maybe it was because of what Do Gyeo-ul had said at the awards ceremony — no matter how hard I tried to stay calm, my heart kept beating with an anxious, uneasy throb.
“Entertain me.”
Even in posts comparing me and Ki Joo-ye, Do Gyeo-ul's name appeared time and again.
Do Gyeo-ul. What if she pulled strings again, behind the scenes? Just as I'd called in Yoon Hyun-jo to move Ji Hae-beom, Do Gyeo-ul could call on someone of her own to…
“Hey.”
“Ah! You scared me.”
The rising dread was abruptly cut off. Han Tae-yang barged into my room, gripping a large box in both hands.
By the way, what's with this kid?
“Hey? Did you just say hey to me?”
“Delivery came.”
Apparently sensing my sour mood, Tae-yang dropped the box and bolted. A wide ribbon was tied around the enormous box.
“Who sent this?”
Well, no point wondering — I tore into it. The moment I untied the ribbon and lifted the lid, I found clothes laid out with meticulous care inside, along with a note.
What was inside was a cape, white as snow. A pear tree had been engraved into its golden buttons.
“…This looks like something Yeon Hee-jae would wear.”
Yes. Yeon Hee-jae. The Yeon Hee-jae in my head snapped into vivid focus. At the bottom of the box sat Hee-jae's shoes as well.
A neatly rounded toe. Black leather dress shoes polished to a gleaming shine.
The note was scrawled in a hasty hand, but the message of encouragement was unmistakable.
This is your battle attire. Wear it, and win.
— Ryu Risa
—While the OTT platform 'Netholics' enjoys explosive popularity in Japan, a full-blown Korean Wave is sweeping the country. Its leading star, who last year captured the hearts of the entire Korean nation and demonstrated what commentators are calling the 'Do Gyeo-ul effect'…
After devouring Canada as its spearhead and chewing through Latin America and Europe, Netholics had chosen Japan as its first Asian market. And the drama that held the number one spot, never letting go since Netholics launched in Japan, was none other than Beyond the Closed Door — starring Do Gyeo-ul.
The locals' explosive passion showed no sign of cooling. It was the moment where that legendary loyalty of the Japanese fan base shone brightest.
Every time you logged into Netholics, there was Do Gyeo-ul, front and center on the main screen. Thanks to that, a brand-new nickname for Do Gyeo-ul was born in Japan.
The Woman of Netholics.
The nickname spread like wildfire, reaching Korea in no time.
(Netholics screenshot.jpg)
Mrs. Owner, bring it down
Riding the crest of that surging popularity, articles about Do Gyeo-ul's challenge to a proper historical drama appeared in record time.
Barely had the casting board gone up before Do Gyeo-ul's name was popping up everywhere. Every time she appeared at the airport, 'Do Gyeo-ul airport fashion' trended as a related search term.
“Aigoo, honestly, Do Gyeo-ul would've been perfect as young Eun Baek-hap.”
“Should've made this show a year earlier. If it had come right after The Great Garand premiered and right when Beyond the Closed Door exploded, imagine the chain reaction.”
Everyone on the The Great Garand team chimed in as they watched Do Gyeo-ul's face on the news screen — everyone except Director Ja, who was boring holes into the screenplay.
“Director, we got another call from an investor. They're asking why not just skip the auditions? Even Ji Hae-beom would probably listen to you, they said…”
“That's right. We looked over the writer's revised script, and honestly, it doesn't seem like Myeong Je-ha can carry it alone.”
Director Ja kept his eyes on the screenplay. That was when it happened. Bang — the door swung open. The KBC Drama Bureau Director had arrived.
“Director Ja! Let's just go classic on this. Have the auditions for Ji Hae-beom's sake, stroke his ego, and then just go with Ki Joo-ye. Hm? Anyone in their right mind would pick Ki Joo-ye — you're not seriously going to push for Han Yeo-reum all by yourself, are you? Right?”
Director Ja didn't look up from the screenplay. The Bureau Director crossed the room, planted himself in front of Director Ja, and pressed his case.
“Come on, let's ride the Do Gyeo-ul Hallyu wave ourselves. If The Great Garand goes to Netholics, it's guaranteed to perform. Ki Joo-ye has a Japanese fan base too, doesn't she? Hm?”
“…”
“What's the point of acting well? In this business, image is everything. And the writer revised the script, didn't she? This whole thing now hinges on Myeong Je-ha's performance — the female lead's younger self is…”
At that, Director Ja, who had been listening to the Bureau Director's tirade, shot up from his seat, screenplay still in hand. The conference room fell silent for a moment.
“I've made my decision.”
“…Which is…?”
As always, Director Ja said only what he wanted to say.
“Lunch is Samseon Jjamppong.”
“What?”
“At Samseonggak, right out front.”
Leaving the gaping Bureau Director behind, Director Ja strode out of the room with measured steps. The production PD, who had been nervously watching, quietly trailed after him.
“Director, so in the end you're pushing for Han Yeo-reum…?”
“I'm not pushing anyone. I'm deciding after I see the auditions, aren't I?”
Director Ja answered offhandedly, as if to say, why on earth would you even ask that.
“By the way, what did Master Geum Bit-gang say? I really want her on board.”
“No answer yet, sir.”
“I seeee? Hmm…”
“Director, that's the revised screenplay, right?”
When the production PD asked, Director Ja unfolded the pages he'd been holding. The scene that had been lightly touched up from the original screenplay was something the writer had sent over just days ago.