Why Hesitate to Set Sail When the Southeast Wind Blows (2)

Kang Min had built up quite the network.

Most of the people who'd shown their faces at the two specials were intensely interested in his next project, and a good chunk of them were slyly gauging if they could somehow squeeze in.

It's a masterpiece...! A chance to shove it in the faces of those snobs who dismissed commercial directors...!

Choi Bong-man, the 10-million-view director.

If it's his next work, and they properly cast Min as the lead, we could make something way better...!

Baek Chae-i, the rising writer.

Hmm, no matter what he does, he'll need a solid mid-tier actor, right? I'm not dead yet.

Yi Hoon, the legend of the acting world.

I could drag all the kids in and have them sing too.

Me too...

The two leads from King and Sovereign.

If possible...

The fuming hamster.

Kuh...! I passed it! I got past the special without drawing attention! I'm free now, you damn bastards!!!

Even the stuntman who was Kang Min's best friend.

Anyway, amid all those lists, Han Ye-seul was in the category that couldn't even dream of it.

Not because she wasn't disappointed, but because she flat-out lacked the confidence to muscle into the ring with those big-shot bidders yelling "Me! I'll bid!"

"This is bullshit, it's a scam..."

10-million directors.

Baeksang Arts Awards regulars.

Even ones nominated at overseas film festivals—

Looking at the flood of love calls pouring into Kang Min by the day, Han Ye-seul sank into gloom.

She'd gained some name value lately herself. But she was nowhere near that league.

The joyful three weeks faded, and she had to face reality.

Where should I go now...

Of course, she wasn't without options.

MBS was already slyly shoving a contract under her nose like "Just plant your stake here." Big outsourcing production companies, TVM, SBC broadcasters, even her old home KBC were peeking out with a "Hate me but come back once more." She could just pick one after cursing them out on the way.

But at the same time, none felt like a place she'd easily adapt to.

That was the lesson from the past three weeks.

Kang Min set the bar way too high.

She sighed involuntarily.

What could she do? The brief detour was fun, but that was it. Back to the grind.

Han Ye-seul thought that way, quietly shelving her dream of becoming "genius director Han Ye-seul, horrifying Kim Cheol (three major film fest sweeps), astounding Yi Hyun-seok (two-time Oscar winner), and bringing tears to Kwak Tae-young (from 20 million to 30 million views)."

Until the next day, when Kang Min barged in out of nowhere.

"Let's go together, PD Han!"

"Of course...!"

As expected of actor Kang Min! He came to save me!

"And this is the writer!"

"......Pardon?"

That feeling of being touched shattered instantly.

Han Ye-seul blinked, staring at the dazed young man with a "I've been caught too" expression.

A face she'd never seen before.

Meant he was a newbie.

"Uh..."

"I'm Yoo Ji-min!"

"Ah, hello."

...Well, he was shaking so much anyone could tell he was green.

Han Ye-seul barely swallowed the "Are you insane?" bubbling up. Even director Choi Bong-man was kowtowing— what was this total rookie?

Spinning a roulette on random proposals would beat this—!

No, calm down. Calm...

Han Ye-seul took a deep breath, grabbing the scenario Kang Min handed her.

A guy like Kang Min wouldn't do something thoughtless. Like that Baek Chae-i writer. Maybe he'd scouted someone even better from somewhere.

...It's decent, but just that.

No.

The scenario was a standard loop story. The twist of dying and regressing like Edge of Tomorrow was unique for visuals, but it was cliché everywhere else.

Solid fundamentals, sure—good enough for a contest pick. But nowhere near worth shoving aside those insane proposals.

In this absurd situation, Han Ye-seul clutched her head.

Finally mustering the last of her patience, she sent the fledgling writer out and exploded.

"What are you thinking?!"

"Hm."

"Straight talk: it's not bad! But actor Kang... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠damn it, for Kang Min's next project, it's way short! You know how high expectations are, right?!"

Han Ye-seul knew how fickle the public was. She'd felt it painfully in the recent Black Forest fiasco.

Kang Min was skyrocketing off King and Sovereign and Unbelievable, but fame and envy go hand in hand. Show anything less than his reputation, and they'd tear him apart.

Working with S-grades like Choi Bong-man was smart. High success odds, and someone to blame if it flopped.

But if Kang Min cooked up a new plan and it was just okay? Ratings would plummet.

Let alone—

"You seen MinLove lately?! They're in bliss heaven dragging in every famous director, PD, Kim Cheol, Yi Hyun-seok! Splash this on top? Fans would riot first..."

"S-sorry, but how do you know about my fan cafe? I just found out it exists."

"...That's not the point!"

Han Ye-seul's eyes flicked up-left for 0.2 seconds, then back.

"Anyway, rethink it. This is really not it...!"

She tried desperately to persuade him.

It was pity for a talented actor, gratitude to the benefactor who'd peeled off her shell.

What if it failed? Too risky.

But Kang Min was unflappable.

"No way it'll fail."

"What gives you that confidence...!"

"You've got PD Han."

"......Pardon?"

Han Ye-seul froze.

Kang Min continued, utterly earnest.

"I think I can pull off this scenario brilliantly. But I could pick it without hesitation because of you, PD Han."

"No, that's..."

"People say I did something amazing in Unbelievable, but that's not true. You made it all happen."

"I, uh? That's..."

"I'm not betting on myself. I'm betting on you, PD Han. Please help."

"Tha, uh, I—"

His eyes burned fierce.

A expression she'd never seen. Han Ye-seul spaced out.

After mumbling "Tha" "Uh" "I" forever, she snapped to, shaking her head wildly. No way she'd fall for this, not like Hitler era!

She bit her lip, lifted her eyes defiantly.

Time to say no firmly...!

And their eyes met—

"Screw it, let's do it!"

"As expected of PD Han!"

This isn't what I meant...!!!

Back home, Han Ye-seul screamed, pummeling pillows wildly.

The next day, she barely recovered, returned loaded with issues.

"I-I thought about it. Huge problem making this drama!"

"I'm all ears."

"Biggest: protagonist dies every time. Not normal."

"Exactly."

Kang Min sighed in agreement for some reason.

With buy-in, Han Ye-seul ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gained courage.

"Anyway, death scenes need special effects. Stabbed, sliced—lead's deaths demand prosthetics, effects, or it's awkward. Not like Unbelievable where death ends it."

"Hm... true."

"So planning needs a VFX director first. But everyone's booked."

True story.

King and Sovereign's mega-hit sparked sageuk booms with massive battles everywhere. CG and SFX were must-haves, so pros were slammed.

Absurd to Han Ye-seul who'd seen King and Sovereign's shoestring budget, but reality.

"Cough, so even decent ones are booked a year out..."

"No one free?"

"Y-yeah. None."

"Not one?"

"Tha..."

Under intense gaze, Han Ye-seul reluctantly named her most trusted one.

Reason: Proven top talent, but he'd never join this project.

Kang Min tilted his head.

"Why?"

"Holds a grudge. Against me and Kang Min."

"?"

"A massive one."

Kang Min was inwardly baffled.

Han Ye-seul maybe, but him? Always polite, listening— who could grudge that?

But meeting the guy, he got it.

"What brings you here, Han Ye-seul! You Ottoman Empire nemesis...!!"

"Right?"

"Hm..."

There was one.

One of the countless small fry crushed in the insane whale fight between Black Forest and King and Sovereign, a program legendary for "ratings unmeasurable."

Back then, bearded director Shim Yoo-hyeon ignored ratings. True fans would get it.

But people cared anyway.

Specifically, the network.

"Uh, director Shim Yoo-hyeon. About that Ottoman thing next ep..."

"Ah, yes! It's killer! Episode 5 dives into Mimar Sinan proper? Şehzade, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Süleymaniye— all in!"

"We agreed last week."

"...Pardon?"

Despair.

Then rage—

He was core at a top VFX firm, ace ad director too.

But his true love: history. Ottoman Empire Architectural Styles was its pinnacle.

And it ended before the meat.

How...

How could this...!

"But we did four eps..."

"But! Imagine Crusades cut before Saladin's Jerusalem! Italian unification at Villafranca! Romance of the Three Kingdoms at Guandu! That's Mimar Sinan!!"

Well, Three Kingdoms does exist like that.

Anyway, cafe met Shim Yoo-hyeon snorted fury, no room for talk. His bulk added intimidation.

"Hm."

Han Ye-seul tsked "Who cares about kebabs," inwardly smirking. Kang Min couldn't sway this mess.

Naive.

Kang Min firmly grabbed the stubborn beard's hand.

"Kuh...!"

He looked sympathetic, shared pain.

"I know the agony of passions blocked. Can't apologize, but I regret it."

"Hm... hm?"

Beard faltered under momentum.

Forgot anger, hemmed awkwardly.

But still refused.

"N-not excuses, but I'm booked. PSA ads..."

"PSA?"

"Impulsively said yes. Budget's tight—no actors, even staff hard. Might solo it, takes time."

"Hm, what's it about?"

"Four. First: hiking."

"Hm?"

Ad word triggered ambassador PTSD; Kang Min's eyes lit.

Shim Yoo-hyeon sighed.

"Seoraksan alone—people die in no-go zones. Nationwide huge. Ad to stop it, on this budget?"

"Climbing accidents."

Kang Min smiled.

To Han Ye-seul, it was a smug "Fufufu" or "Heh."

Ominous.

"So, actor dies in all four PSAs?"

"Hm? Yeah, but..."

"I'll star. In return, formal contract with us, director Shim?"

"What?"

Shim Yoo-hyeon fake-laughed.

"Look, actor Kang. Budgetless, remember? First shoot alone three-four days—"

"Two hours enough."

"?"

"Trust me."

And exactly two days passed.

Time for the unstoppable PSA to drop.

...And fishing scams to rage across the world.

Two months since King and Sovereign ended and Unbelievable retooling began.

All Kang Min dramas done; now wait for next.

Actors' routines: short wait 1 year, long 2. Why fewer actors ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than idols...

Used to waiting—

All resigned.

Then shocking news.

Unknown fiend flooded fan cafe, screaming hype.

As usual, comments piled; Choi Ra-hee fumbled to play the teaser (?).

And covered her mouth.

It's real!

Kang Min.

On screen, desperately climbing treacherous trail!

Cold sweat beading forehead, faint terror in cursing mouth.

Even watching, chills hit.

No one but Kang Min!

Choi Ra-hee swallowed, glued to screen.

Kang Min wandered the path.

Shivering, scanning around—same spot. Phone: no signal. Wandering wastes stamina.

Staggering.

Darkness falls, anxiety mounts.

But gravity from tightening expression, not facts.

How—

How to—

Shaking, he steps. No choice.

But wrong move.

Slower steps, draining strength.

Jaw finally quivers.

And,

Man finally slips.

Instant goosebumps from horrific wail.

Desperate denial.

Screen blacks.

What next? Swallows involuntarily.

Masterpiece.

Another masterpiece ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠begins!

All eyes glued in hype.

And—

Long silence.

No reaction.

What.

What did I just see—

But confusion brief.

Soon rage exploded.

MinLove plunged into chaos, Choi Ra-hee kicked desk, Forest Service ate undeserved flak; fiends fished other communities too.

Screams everywhere, a day full of whoppers.

But sadly, the baiting was just starting.

...Perps oblivious.

Rage-burnt Shim Yoo-hyeon forgot Ottoman grudge in two days...

"My god! How in one day...!"

"Haha, how's that, director Shim!"

"Thanks! Deal's a deal, I'll join! No— let me on the project! I was fool!"

"Haha, no rush! Three left!"

"Right you are! Totally! Trust you alone, actor Kang!"

"......"

Han Ye-seul, freshly promoted MinLove hardcore.

She stared blankly at flaming boards, speechless, hands over eyes.