Chapter 272
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: A Stolen Script
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"Daho hyung."
"Hm?"
An Daho, who was sipping the warm citron tea Seojun had given him, looked up at the call.
Seojun, sitting in the living room and staring blankly out the blue window, seemed unusually serene today for some reason.
'Is his mind troubled now that he's becoming a high school student?'
Although he hadn't enrolled yet, having graduated from middle school made him a high schooler for all intents and purposes.
'With only three years left until he's an adult, and college entrance exams on the horizon, it's understandable that his mind would be in a complex place. But Seojun will likely continue acting even as an adult, so it's not like he needs to worry about his career path, right?'
The image transformation that often served as a stumbling block for child actors transitioning into adult roles was no concern for someone with Seojun's acting skills. Nor did he have to worry about finding projects, with scripts continuously flowing in from both Hollywood and Korea.
If anything, Cocoa Entertainment's Team 2 was more worried about the explosive influx of projects that would come when Seojun became an adult in three years. After all, the range of roles available to an adult actor was far wider than that for a minor.
'Or could it be that the teenage rebellion phase he skipped in middle school has finally arrived?'
It was highly unlikely for Seojun, who had already experienced a form of puberty beyond human imagination, to go through it now. But An Daho, unaware of this fact, unknowingly straightened his posture and waited for Seojun to speak.
He was confident he could answer any question well, having studied adolescent psychology in advance.
Do not be flustered by any absurd questions.
Answer with sincerity.
Acknowledge that he is no longer a child but an individual.
An Daho recalled the sentences from the book and waited for Seojun to open his mouth.
"How do you think they created the search function?"
"...Huh?"
Just as he'd expected.
The thought process of an adolescent was impossible to follow.
Still, An Daho tried to keep up, wracking his brain.
"Are you trying to build a search engine or something? But that would be tough for you to do alone, Seojun. Are you going to work on it with your friends?"
"You're right. It would be difficult alone."
The library had been painstakingly created by past lives who possessed master-level abilities. Not just one, but several of them had poured their hearts and souls into it. For Seojun, who had just opened the advanced-level library, creating something new within the Library of Life was impossible.
'I did try, though...'
Last night.
Seojun had found and read a book containing an advanced-level search ability. He had tried to use it, but it didn't work at all.
*Crackle, crackle.*
Seojun let out a dry laugh as he recalled how the ability, which had spread out in all directions to find the search term he commanded, had shattered to pieces upon hitting the library's bookshelves. It seemed he was fated to search for and read books one by one until he opened the master-level library.
'But even if I do open the master-level library, I'm not sure I'll be able to create something like a search function...'
The 'Lee Seojun' of this life didn't know the first thing about magic and possessed no special abilities other than acting. Could he really change the Library of Life just by opening the master-level library? He had a strong feeling it would be impossible.
'...Right. At least I got a desk and a chair.'
It was much better than the hard floor.
*Hehehe.*
Seeing Seojun laugh while staring off into the distance, An Daho spoke.
"Should I look into an academy for you?"
"It's okay. I was just curious how the search engines I use so often were made. You just type in a word and it finds everything for you. Thinking about it, it seemed really convenient."
An Daho was half-convinced by Seojun's explanation. Only half, though, which meant he would be looking up well-regarded academies as soon as he got back.
With that in mind, An Daho took out a synopsis and a script from the box he'd brought. He didn't like seeing Seojun looking so detached and blank.
"Shall we start reading some scripts?"
The scripts were placed on the table.
Seeing more projects than usual, Seojun's face lit up. An Daho smiled back at Seojun's radiant expression. As expected, scripts were the best way to blow away Seojun's worries and stress.
"Are these for today?"
"Yep. A lot came in since it's vacation. There are many plays, too."
"What's this?"
Seojun tilted his head at a book list that was behind the list of offers for variety show appearances. As the title suggested, it listed book titles, brief summaries, authors' names, and publishers.
"These have really picked up since the 'Mirror' play was uploaded. They're asking you to make a play out of their book if you like it. They said they'll give you the copyright for the play, of course, and the publisher will cover the production costs."
"Ah. For promotion."
"Exactly. They figure the money they'll make from your promotion will be more than what they spend."
"Hmm."
Seojun scanned the book list. From books he had read to ones he'd never seen before, it was filled with a variety of genres.
"There are old books and brand-new releases."
"I see."
An Daho kept his mouth shut, seeing no need to tell Seojun that they had already filtered out publishers with controversies like chart manipulation or poor treatment of authors, as well as authors with plagiarism issues.
"But I'm not really drawn to adaptations."
"Do whatever you like, Seojun."
Putting down the book list, Seojun turned his attention back to the scripts and synopses.
As Seojun picked up a synopsis and began to read, An Daho also took out his phone to check the entertainment news.
*Flip, flip.* The sound of a page turning filled the air.
As always, the living room was peaceful and quiet.
***
[MBS Monday-Tuesday Drama, Viewership Rating of 1.8%!]
- M-Corp is doomed lol
- They were on the verge of ruin even if the ratings went up from 2%, but they dropped instead.
- 1.8%. Is this a cable channel?
= Isn't that the national anthem rating?
= The national anthem rating is about 0.3% lol. Still a ways to go.
= It'll probably get there by the final episode as it keeps dropping.
[MBS, 4-Part Drama Scheduled for April!]
[MBS, Debut Projects for Two PDs!]
[MBS, Can They Raise Their Ratings!]
***
"Wow. What's the point of putting out articles? There's no reaction."
"I know, right? How can there not be a single 'first!' or any comment at all?"
Assistant directors Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo grumbled as they left the cafe on the first floor of the MBS building, looking at the articles on their phones. Kim Danbi sighed and shoved her phone into her pocket.
Kim Danbi looked up at the sky. The sky, which was somehow turning dull and cloudy, seemed to reflect the future of MBS.
"My intuition is screaming."
"What?"
At Kim Danbi's words, Choi Hyunwoo, who was walking ahead, stopped in his tracks. He waited with a tense expression for her to continue.
Her intuition, honed from her years working as an assistant director, was blaring warning signals today. Kim Danbi spoke with a serious face.
"I had this exact feeling when the lead actor got into an accident. Or when the writer's script file got deleted."
Kim Danbi shuddered.
"I don't know what it is, but I feel like something big is about to happen. And in a very bad way!"
At those words, Choi Hyunwoo let out a sigh of relief. Then he scoffed at Kim Danbi's serious expression.
"Your intuition is crap."
"No, it's not!"
Despite Kim Danbi's protest, Choi Hyunwoo shrugged and continued.
"The lead actor's accident was a minor fender-bender, so filming went on, albeit a little late, and the writer's script had a backup file."
Furthermore, the scenes filmed on the day Kim Danbi had mistaken the call time became some of the drama's most acclaimed moments, and the episode with the miraculously saved backup script received rave reviews from viewers.
"If anything, accidents happened when you said you had a good feeling."
Choi Hyunwoo listed the 'accidents' on his fingers.
"We had to reshoot because the supporting actor got fired for a DUI, then we had to reshoot again because the finished version was accidentally replaced with the first draft. And remember when a perfectly stable light fixture fell and broke, costing us a whole day of filming?"
It wasn't Kim Danbi's fault, but trouble always seemed to strike whenever she said things felt good. It had gotten to the point where the PDs she worked with would beg her to stop saying such things.
"But it feels really bad today!"
"Yeah, yeah. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket."
Choi Hyunwoo let her words go in one ear and out the other as he started walking again. Kim Danbi followed behind him, shouting.
A moment later.
"What's he going to say when I tell him it's a project I've had my eye on for a long time? That I stole the script off his desk and signed the contract first? Like anyone would believe that."
"But that bastard does have a good eye for scripts."
"He'll find something on his own."
Hearing Park Mingyu's voice from the emergency stairwell, Choi Hyunwoo whispered quietly.
"...You should become a psychic."
Normally, she would have preened, saying 'See, I was right!', but even with her colleague's awe, Kim Danbi could only stare blankly at the emergency stairwell. She had never imagined that her bad feeling would be directed at her respected senior, Gong Heechan.
***
A bustling barbecue restaurant.
*Tssssss,* the sound of meat hitting the hot grill filled the air.
"Isn't he insane!"
Grinding her teeth, Kim Danbi forcefully twisted the cap off a soju bottle. Then, she downed the soju on an empty stomach.
"Haha."
"This is no time for 'haha'!"
"Senior Gong. Still, this time seems... no, it seems very wrong."
With even Choi Hyunwoo chiming in, Gong Heechan could only manage a bitter laugh.
"How could he just snatch the script you chose, Senior!"
"How did you find out?"
"Senior Park has always had a loose tongue. He was talking loudly in the emergency exit. I don't know who he was on the phone with, though."
Kim Danbi nodded at Choi Hyunwoo's words. If they hadn't taken the emergency exit to delay going back up, they would have never known.
"What happened?"
"Well."
Gong Heechan recalled the morning's events.
"When I went to see the writer this morning, she said she'd already signed a contract with Mingyu. It seems they signed it last night."
"What did Senior Park say?"
"Hmm. He said he'd known about it for a long time."
"And you believe that?"
"Hmm... No, I don't."
At first, he thought it was truly a coincidence. He figured that since it was a good project, Park Mingyu must have had his eye on it too.
But Gong Heechan's profession required him to be sensitive to people's emotions. It was a job where he couldn't afford to miss a single flicker in an actor's eyes.
So, it wasn't that difficult for Gong Heechan to read Park Mingyu's expression and gaze. The "what are you gonna do about it" look in Park Mingyu's eyes made Gong Heechan wonder if he had been living his life too kindly.
Kim Danbi chewed on a piece of pork belly as if it were Park Mingyu.
"Why are you just taking this?"
"It seems he's already told the CP, and since Mingyu contacted the writer first, I have no proof that I chose it first."
Gong Heechan was just as frustrated, but he didn't want to show it in front of his juniors, so he just laughed. It was already irreversible, and there was no evidence anyway. His stomach churning, Gong Heechan drank his soju. Seeing his crestfallen state, Kim Danbi raised her hand high.
"We'll be your witnesses!"
"Can you leave me out of it?"
At Choi Hyunwoo's words, Kim Danbi, who was downing her soju, shouted.
"Traitor!"
"Right. And you're an idiot."
"You're on Senior Park's side?! Ugh. I don't even want to call him senior anymore!"
"Perfect. You can just call him PD-nim from now on."
"Like hell I will!"
"Alright, alright. Both of you drink some water and calm down."
While Gong Heechan gave them both water, Choi Hyunwoo, having coolly downed a glass of cold water, spoke calmly.
"Is this the first or second time an idea or script has been stolen around here? Assistant writers get their ideas stolen by head writers, and assistant directors do all the work while the PD gets all the credit."
"But still..."
"Besides, this situation is even harder to prove. It's just two PDs who happened to be thinking of the same script, and one of them signed a contract first. To everyone else, it'll just look like you were unlucky, Senior. You'd be lucky if they don't blame you for not signing the contract sooner."
"Ugh. I should have recorded him earlier!"
Gong Heechan chuckled at Kim Danbi's words. Still, thanks to Kim Danbi, who was fuming on his behalf, he felt the tightness in his chest loosen a bit.
"The most urgent thing is the script, then."
"Right. I've been asking around, but besides one-act plays or full-length series, it's hard to find a four-part script."
"Let's pick a project that's better than the one Senior Park took!"
"It's not like I can make that happen just by wanting it."
He could recognize a good project, but even Gong Heechan couldn't predict how successful it would be. The project Park Mingyu had stolen was truly excellent. It was perfect for a four-part series, and its unique premise was sure to capture viewers' interest.
His stomach burned again. Downing another glass of soju, Gong Heechan said with a sigh.
"That was the best among the four-part dramas. I don't know if I can find something better."
At Gong Heechan's words, Choi Hyunwoo spoke up.
"What about shortening a full-length series?"
"Or wouldn't it be okay to expand a one-act play into four parts?"
Gong Heechan nodded at his juniors' suggestions.
"Should I widen the search, then?"
"We'll help you look! We'll crush Senior Park with the ratings! Justice must be served! Down with Park Mingyu!"
"Is this some shonen manga? As if beating him in the ratings will make us win."
Gong Heechan looked fondly at his two bickering juniors when he felt a vibration in his pocket and took out his phone.
> Heard you're looking for a debut project?
It was a text from the lighting director of a drama they had worked on together in the past.