Chapter 43
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Casting Headaches
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"Casting actors is this damn tough? Come on."
Lee Sung-hoon, president of Byeokjo-mok Pictures, smacked his lips and grumbled. The employee standing beside him looked tense as hell and scolded him.
"President! Watch your mouth. What if Seo Ji-hye suddenly shows up?"
At that, Lee Sung-hoon froze, clamping his mouth shut. But only for a moment.
Seo Ji-hye had sent her assistant that morning to check on progress. She probably wouldn't barge in out of nowhere. She hated coming to the office anyway.
With that in mind, he puffed out his chest and bellowed confidently.
"Ah! Can't I speak freely in my own company? Honestly, her standards are way too picky!"
"Oh? Sorry for being so picky?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the door flew open, and in walked Seo Ji-hye.
"W-Writer Seo?"
"What's with the stuttering, President Lee? Got something to hide?"
"H-Hide? Haha! Nothing like that."
Speak of the devil.
His face drained of color, but Lee Sung-hoon forced a smile and guided her to the comfy sofa like it was no big deal.
In the meantime, the employee zipped over with coffee at light speed.
"Writer! Your coffee!"
"Good, thanks."
Seo Ji-hye crossed her legs like she owned the place, leaned back on the sofa, and leisurely brought the white paper cup to her lips.
Slurp.
The only sound in the office was her sipping coffee.
Lee Sung-hoon, who'd just badmouthed her, darted his eyes around nervously and asked.
"So, Writer, what brings you here?"
He desperately swallowed the part about her already getting the morning report.
"Why? Can't I drop by? Is that it?"
"N-No way! Not at all!"
"Well, you'd have to badmouth my pickiness behind my back, right?"
"Aigoo! No, no! I meant the actors these days are picky! Not you, Writer. Right?"
The employee, catching the president's pointed glance, jumped in with a shaky voice.
"Y-Yeah! Actors are super picky lately. Totally!"
Seo Ji-hye burst out laughing at their desperate excuses.
"I know you too well, President Lee. If you're gonna gripe, do it to my face. Don't sneak around."
"Aish! As if I'd dare badmouth you!"
It was obvious flattery, but she didn't mind. That was President Lee Sung-hoon's charm.
Her mood lifted, she softened her icy glare and said.
"Even if they're picky, step it up this time. My last work boosted you, didn't it?"
"Of course, of course."
"But why haven't you moved offices? This place is filthy."
She swiped her index finger across the empty desk and scowled at the dust.
Byeokjo-mok Pictures made solid dramas and listened well, but this was their one flaw.
"Where would the money come from? It all goes to production! Gotta prep properly for better shows."
His quick response made her nod approvingly.
"True. That's why I'm working with you again. Got it?"
"Absolutely! It's an honor, Writer!"
"Anyway, this drama's key is the clashing emotions between two protagonists who just don't get each other. So, only top-notch actors who can act. Got it?"
Lee Sung-hoon nodded so vigorously his head nearly fell off.
He shoved down any retort about her never once saying acting skills could be mediocre.
"Ji-yeon said the female lead casting hasn't budged at all?"
"Well, there's just so many new dramas starting up these days..."
"I'm Seo Ji-hye. Don't you know?"
"Aigo! Of course! But no solid actors meet your standards."
"Why not? Off the top of my head, slackers like Park Min-ha, Ha Yu-young, Son Ye-eun come to mind. Want more?"
Her glare was downright ferocious, and Lee Sung-hoon felt cold sweat trickling down his back.
'Who doesn't know that? That's why we can't book them.'
With Seo Ji-hye's style, once filming started, she'd work them mercilessly regardless of fame.
And if their character analysis or immersion fell short even slightly, they'd never work with her again.
Sure, other writers existed, so their careers wouldn't tank.
But drama fans knew the unspoken truth, and the reputation hit would be obvious.
Actors were already playing it safe.
'Poisoned chalice... a bit dramatic?'
Then the office phone rang. The employee picked up quietly to avoid interrupting.
"Yes, Byeokjo-mok Pictures. How can I help? Pardon?"
Following protocol perfectly, the employee suddenly raised her voice in surprise, then craned her neck like a meerkat.
"P-President? You should take this."
"Tell them to call back. I'm talking with the writer."
"No, it's..."
Lee Sung-hoon frowned at her hesitation.
Seo Ji-hye hated interruptions during talks. She knew that.
He was about to mutter under his breath when the employee's next words stopped him cold.
"Pida Entertainment."
The answer was aimed at Seo Ji-hye.
"Oh, Park Min-ha's agency?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Hey! You should've said so right away!"
Lee Sung-hoon shot to his feet.
Rumor had it Park Min-ha bailed on a project she was negotiating. Was this for them?
"Ah! Hold on, connecting you to the president... Pardon?"
The employee froze as Lee Sung-hoon rushed over for the phone.
'Now what?'
Both Seo Ji-hye and Lee Sung-hoon stared at her.
And then.
"Um... it's not Park Min-ha. They say it's about Lee Do-jun."
"Lee Do-jun?"
Three creases formed between Seo Ji-hye's brows.
"Who's that?"
Time really flew by.
At first, music shows and events felt novel and nerve-wracking from start to finish.
Now they were kinda routine.
"Buckle up tight."
The one thing I still wasn't used to? Schedules alone with Kim Han-soo.
We hadn't done any one-on-ones since the radio gig.
"Here too? I'll die."
"You sound pretty chill."
Maybe because we'd spent time together, it felt easier than at first.
He still used formal speech with us, but hey, he did that with everyone.
"Feeling okay? Speak up if anything's off."
"You holding up, Team Leader?"
"Ha, haha... I'm fine."
...Those dark circles in the rearview were pitch black.
I'd always thought he looked tired, but in the dim car, he resembled blanched spinach.
Idols weren't the only ones worn out by packed schedules. Tagging along everywhere and hustling for gigs, he was probably twice, three times more beat than us.
He looked even more haggard and thinner than when we met. Not my imagination.
"Warm up your throat on the way, and review the script one last time."
"Got it."
The car pulled away smoothly.
Right. Today was the audition for Seo Ji-hye's Oh, My Cat.
Music shows were one thing, but auditions were a whole different beast. My heart pounded even though we were still far out.
To calm down, I checked my status window on a whim.
Coins were stacking up nicely. Honestly, enough that I didn't need to post daily on Goodstar.
Likes kept rolling in on old pics anyway.
Come to think of it, I barely checked the status window or time lately. No item use either.
'Still, gotta use one today, right?'
The role wasn't huge, but Seo Ji-hye was personally judging since she cared so much about this project.
The company said not to stress, just show my skills. If anything, that ramped up my anxiety.
The acting they knew was item-boosted. So I had to hit that level to pass.
One coin was no biggie now. I'd stocked up last time.
'At this point, shouldn't they add other items? Time limits suck—max a week. Make it monthly at least.'
Or toss in talents beyond guitar?'
Yeah, like that's gonna get a reply...
Talent 'Four-Leaf Clover' activates!
Jackpot! Your luck has exploded!
"Huh?"
BEEEEEEP!
Before I could finish the thought, a horn blared like it would shatter my eardrums.
And then.
BOOM!
"Guh!"
A massive impact rocked the car. The seatbelt dug into me painfully, and my vision spun wildly.
The world went black in an instant.
"...Ugh."
Did I black out briefly?
I opened my eyes. Still in the car. But now my head pointed at the ground.
'G-Gotta get out...'
I fumbled for the seatbelt instinctively and crawled out awkwardly.
"Ugh..."
Bright sunlight stabbed my eyelids. Standing up, I glanced back—the car was flipped 180 degrees.
What the hell happened?
Dazed by the sudden chaos, a twitching brown hand entered my view.
"...Huh?"
I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Same thing. Kim Han-soo was still in the driver's seat.
Damn it!
"Team Leader!"
I yanked open the driver's door. Kim Han-soo, seatbelt on, cracked his eyes with a faint groan.
"Ugh... Do-jun?"
"You with me?"
Slap.
Just in case, I smacked his cheek. He reacted sharply.
"I'm fine! Don't hit!"
"Good."
Then—BOOM! Another crash echoed.
Looking toward the noise, the road was a multi-car pileup mess.
"Get out quick."
Staying here screamed danger.
I dragged Kim Han-soo from the driver's seat and hustled to the shoulder.
'Insane.'
Just a few steps, and my legs wobbled. A car crash out of nowhere.
"Yes. Multi-vehicle collision here."
Amid it all, Kim Han-soo had snapped to and was calling 119 and 112. Guy was impressive in his own way.
Hanging up, he scanned me head to toe.
"Do-jun, you okay?"
"Obviously. I got out first."
Legs still shaky from shock, though.
I rolled my arms, flexed my legs—no pain yet. Kim Han-soo sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness."
"What happened?"
KABOOM!
A roar dwarfed the earlier crashes.
Turning instinctively, I saw white smoke billowing from an overturned bus.
Some folks scrambled out, but others remained inside.
"Holy shit..."
Smoke already? What if it blows before ambulances arrive?
My body moved faster than my brain.
Pat-pat.
"H-Hey? Do-jun!"
I ignored Kim Han-soo's call and sprinted toward the smoking bus.