Chapter 275
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 275
Chapter Title: A Star Falls
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A few hours earlier.
“Please, come in!”
Writer Yoo Cheonga guided the three of them inside.
PD Gong Heechan and assistant directors Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo looked around the studio with curiosity.
“So this is Writer Seo Eunjin’s studio.”
“I’ve been to other writers’ studios, but this one feels like a café.”
“There are drinks and snacks, too. Help yourselves.”
At Writer Yoo Cheonga’s words, the two assistant directors’ eyes lit up.
PD Gong Heechan, who had been looking around the studio, spoke.
“But are you sure it’s alright for us to use it?”
“Yes. The writer said she has no immediate plans for her next project, so the studio will be empty for a while. She thought it would be better for someone to use it than to leave it vacant.”
Writer Yoo Cheonga showed them around the studio.
The three of them scurried after her.
“This is the writer’s room, and this is the room we assistant writers use. And this is the conference room we’ll be using.”
On one side of the conference room was a large whiteboard, on which a character relationship chart for the drama was written, seemingly prepared in advance by Yoo Cheonga.
PD Gong Heechan looked around the conference room and smiled in satisfaction.
“This is great.”
They could have used a conference room at MBS, but those were also in short supply, forcing them to hold meetings in the corner of an open office or at the café on the first floor.
Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo also nodded their heads repeatedly, their faces beaming with joy.
It was the perfect place—quiet, clean, and stocked with snacks.
“Shall we start today’s meeting then?”
At PD Gong Heechan’s words, the three sat down and spread the materials they had brought onto the table.
Each holding a copy of the completed script for episode one by Yoo Cheonga, they began the meeting, starting from the very first scene.
Not just the person in charge, PD Gong Heechan, but also the assistant directors Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo, asked various questions to draw out the scenes from Writer Yoo Cheonga’s mind exactly as she envisioned them.
Yoo Cheonga answered after careful thought.
Some questions were easy to answer, while others required a bit of reflection.
Still, thanks to having participated in meetings with Writer Seo Eunjin and PD Choi Minsung, she found it easy to put her thoughts into words.
“Alright, that’s it for episode one. When do you think episode two will be ready?”
“I’m about halfway through it now. I think it should be finished the day after tomorrow.”
As they were deep in their meeting, someone’s phone rang.
“You should turn your phone off during meetings.”
“Uh… I think that’s your phone, sir.”
At Choi Hyunwoo’s words, PD Gong Heechan flinched.
As Choi Hyunwoo had said, the ringtone echoing through the conference room belonged to PD Gong Heechan.
Only then realizing it was his phone, PD Gong Heechan hurriedly took it out. For some reason, Writer Yoo Cheonga also looked flustered with a startled expression.
Seeing the two of them, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo tilted their heads.
PD Gong Heechan gave an awkward smile under the gazes of his two juniors and looked at his phone.
Hmm.
“…It’s a 070 number.”
“Insurance.”
“Isn’t that for a loan?”
Whether it was insurance or a loan, PD Gong Heechan had no intention of checking and ended the call.
Phew.
PD Gong Heechan and Writer Yoo Cheonga sighed at the same time.
Then, they looked at each other in surprise.
Seeing the writer and director exchange awkward glances, Kim Danbi smiled knowingly.
“I have a really good intuition.”
“You have a terrible intuition.”
“What do you mean? I was right last time!”
“…”
Choi Hyunwoo fell silent at the valid point.
Kim Danbi was about to shrug at the quiet Choi Hyunwoo but then realized that her intuition was about PD Gong Heechan and let her shoulders slump.
For once, she wished her intuition was terrible.
The meeting, which had been briefly interrupted, resumed.
Choi Hyunwoo, who was taking notes on the decisions made in the meeting, asked PD Gong Heechan.
“We need to assemble the staff. Do you have a director of photography in mind? We should probably contact them soon.”
“Hmm.”
PD Gong Heechan stroked his chin.
The director of photography he wanted to work with had gone to Park Mingyu’s team.
Knowing this, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo quietly observed his expression.
Whenever Park Mingyu’s name came up, a faint shadow would cross his face, but now, there wasn’t even a hint of one.
It seemed Writer Yoo Cheonga’s project was good enough to make him forget about the one he had lost.
The two assistant directors’ eyes met, and they grinned.
“I have a director in mind, but he specializes in thrillers. I think I need to reconsider.”
“That’s right. We can’t just sprinkle thriller elements into a romance.”
“We need to create a flowery backdrop. If it feels ominous for no reason, the viewers will be suspicious until the very end.”
Writer Yoo Cheonga, who had seen a screenshot from a drama the PD had shown her, also nodded.
It seemed this director of photography should stick to thrillers.
“Then, the cinemato…”
Once again, a ringtone sounded.
It was the same one as before. PD Gong Heechan’s phone.
Instead of switching it to vibrate, PD Gong Heechan and Writer Yoo Cheonga stared at the phone screen like a bolt of lightning, causing Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo to blink.
It seemed they were waiting for an important call they couldn’t miss.
With the ringtone as their background music, PD Gong Heechan and Writer Yoo Cheonga looked at the phone screen and their shoulders slumped.
“031…”
“Spam.”
“A loan ad.”
At the assistant directors’ words, PD Gong Heechan sighed and turned his phone face down.
The interrupted meeting started again.
Choi Hyunwoo asked Writer Yoo Cheonga.
“We need to scout for a filming location. Did you have a specific high school in mind as a model?”
“Ah, there was a school that helped me when I was conceptualizing… but it doesn’t have to be that one.”
Choi Hyunwoo and Kim Danbi’s faces lit up.
It was better to have a model than to conceptualize a setting from scratch.
“Even if we can’t secure that exact school, it will help us find a similar location. If all else fails, we can at least take pictures of it.”
Writer Yoo Cheonga told them the name of the high school she had used as a model.
“The uniforms at that school are pretty, too.”
“Hmm. True, there’s no need to design new ones for a four-episode drama. I’ll print out pictures of the uniforms. Sir, please check them.”
“Alright.”
While Choi Hyunwoo used the printer and computer in the corner of the conference room to print the photos, Kim Danbi spoke.
“Then we need to cast the actors. Do you have anyone in mind?”
It seemed Choi Hyunwoo was in charge of locations and props, while Kim Danbi was handling the casting.
“I have a list of candidates the writer and I discussed.”
PD Gong Heechan spread out a stack of papers he had on one side of the table.
From photos of child actors to adult actors, they were the candidates for the characters in the drama.
Kim Danbi’s face brightened.
“Oh, nice. We just need to start making the calls!”
As she checked the candidate actors for each character, Kim Danbi tilted her head.
“Sir. The child actor for the male lead is missing.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Just then, someone’s phone rang.
Since it was the third time, everyone reflexively looked at PD Gong Heechan, but the ringtone was different.
Writer Yoo Cheonga, who had unconsciously looked at the PD, realized it was her own ringtone and awkwardly took out her phone with a smile.
“That’s my phone.”
Unlike PD Gong Heechan’s calls, it wasn’t for a loan or insurance.
[Writer-nim]
It was a call from Writer Seo Eunjin.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Yoo Cheonga stepped out of the conference room to take the call.
“Hello, Writer-nim?”
- Cheonga. A shooting star granted your wish.
“…Pardon?”
Hearing the sudden, incomprehensible words, Writer Yoo Cheonga stood there blankly as Seo Eunjin’s laughter came through the phone.
- I’m talking about how to pluck a star from the sky.
“Ye-es.”
- The star just has to fall into your hands. Like a shooting star.
“What does that…?”
Why the sudden talk of stars from the sky? Shooting stars?
As Yoo Cheonga blinked, not understanding the meaning, a lightning bolt struck her mind.
Her conversation with Writer Seo Eunjin from five days ago flashed before her eyes like a vivid video.
- I talked with PD Gong about it too. Casting actor Lee Seojun is about as likely as plucking a star from the sky, so if we don't hear back within a week, we're going to send offers to other child actors right away.
…!!
Writer Yoo Cheonga’s jaw dropped.
As likely as plucking a star from the sky.
And a shooting star that fell into her hand.
Goosebumps traveled from the tips of her toes up her back. It felt like every hair on her head was standing on end.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
Her vision filled with a sparkling light, and her mind went blank.
Writer Seo Eunjin’s cheerful laughter sounded like heavenly bells.
- Seojun wants to be in your drama.
The star that shone most beautifully from the highest point in the sky had fallen to Yoo Cheonga.
- I was surprised too. I never thought Seojun would want to play a child role.
Uh, so… really?
Yoo Cheonga’s thoughts couldn’t form words.
She was so shocked that she had even forgotten to breathe.
As if time had stopped, Yoo Cheonga couldn’t move a muscle and just listened to Seo Eunjin’s story.
- I didn’t tell you, but I got a call from Cocoa Entertainment’s Team 2 a few days ago. They asked if I knew a writer named Yoo Cheonga who was debuting at MBS. I told them you were my assistant writer, but that probably didn't influence his decision. Cocoa Entertainment's Team 2 doesn't tell Seojun that kind of information.
No. She didn’t know if she was actually listening or if the words were just flowing past her.
- Let PD Gong Heechan know, too.
At the familiar name, Yoo Cheonga snapped back to her senses.
Her already dropped jaw opened even wider. Her chest felt so full it was churning. Her eyes grew hot. Her body started to tremble.
- I told Seojun I’d let you know. There will be a lot to do. You have to sign a contract with Seojun. Set the filming dates. The offers coming in from all over… Cheonga? Yoo Cheonga?
“Yaaaaaah!”
Writer Yoo Cheonga’s cheer echoed throughout the studio.
Could this be the face of the happiest person in the world?
Though she looked on the verge of tears, the emotion of pure joy was palpable.
Hearing the noise from outside, PD Gong Heechan opened the conference room door and came out.
He found Yoo Cheonga jumping up and down, cheering wildly.
- Okay. I’ll call you later.
“Yaaaaaah!”
- She’s not even listening anymore.
Unaware that Seo Eunjin had hung up with a small laugh, Yoo Cheonga was approached by PD Gong Heechan.
“Writer-nim?”
“Waaaaah!! PD-nim! PD-nim!”
Seeing Yoo Cheonga in a state of complete excitement, PD Gong Heechan instinctively took a couple of steps back.
Yoo Cheonga followed him.
She giggled, her eyes gleaming.
“PD-nim! Big news! Big news!”
Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo, who were peeking through the open conference room door, also strained to hear.
They had only known her for three days, but they had never seen Yoo Cheonga this excited.
“He’s doing it! He’s doing our drama!”
For a moment, PD Gong Heechan tilted his head at her statement, which lacked a subject, before an exclamation mark appeared above his head.
PD Gong Heechan’s eyes slowly began to widen. At the same time, his jaw started to drop.
He was so shocked his body trembled.
Seeing Yoo Cheonga just giggling and PD Gong Heechan looking dazed, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo, who knew nothing, grew anxious.
“What on earth is going on?”
“What’s the big news?”
As Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo grabbed PD Gong Heechan’s arm and clothes, shaking him, the PD finally regained his senses and moved his lips, eventually speaking.
His voice was filled with a joy that surged from the depths of his being.
“You know the child actor for our male lead?”
“Yes.”
“I think we’ve cast him. Right, Writer Yoo?”
“Yes! I just got a call from Writer Seo!”
PD Gong Heechan didn’t know why the contact came through Writer Seo Eunjin instead of his number listed on the synopsis, but he grinned at Yoo Cheonga’s words.
Hahahaha.
The laughter of PD Gong Heechan and Writer Yoo Cheonga filled the studio.
“The suspense is killing me! What is it already?!”
“Lee Seojun.”
“Pardon?”
At the familiar yet strange name, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo blinked.
“The male lead’s child part. Actor Lee Seojun is doing it.”
“Uh… Lee Seojun?”
They heard it with their ears, but their minds couldn't process it.
Choi Hyunwoo said hesitantly.
“Was there a child actor named Lee Seojun?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of one…”
If there were a child actor with the same name as the Hollywood actor Lee Seojun, it would have been in the news, but they had no memory of seeing such an article.
It was a form of denial, perhaps. PD Gong Heechan laughed at the two assistant directors who were desperately trying to find another answer despite the obvious one before them.
Well, it was hard to believe. He himself felt like he was in a dream.
“I mean the actor Lee Seojun who won an Academy Award.”
…Wait, what is he talking about?
Finally understanding after PD Gong Heechan’s confirmation, Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo let out a scream that could have brought the studio down.
“Are you crazy?! Why is *that* Lee Seojun showing up here?!”
“This is for the male lead’s child role! Not the male lead, the child role!”
“I don’t know why he’s doing it either. I guess our Writer Yoo’s work was just that good.”
PD Gong Heechan and Yoo Cheonga chuckled. Seeing them, it seemed to be true.
Kim Danbi and Choi Hyunwoo’s jaws dropped. Goosebumps had already broken out all over their arms.
“So actor Lee Seojun is really going to be in our drama?!”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“This is insane. Insane! Writer Yoo, you’re amazing!”
“Hahahaha. This drama is going to be a hit!”
“We’re having beef tonight! Beef!”
A loud cheer erupted.
* * *
Too excited to work after the unbelievable news, the four decided to have an early dinner.
As Kim Danbi suggested, they decided on beef and headed to a nearby barbecue restaurant.
The employee who brought their side dishes tilted her head at the sight of the four people who had been grinning from the moment they walked in.
Choi Hyunwoo, who was chuckling as he placed the fine-looking beef on the grill, opened his mouth.
“Kim Danbi.”
“Yeah?”
“I guess your intuition really is terrible.”
Ordinarily, Kim Danbi would have been angry at Choi Hyunwoo’s words, but now she nodded with a face full of smiles.
“I know, right? I said I had a bad feeling, but things turned out amazing.”
“Exactly. You can’t even compare that project and that actor.”
“Hahahaha. I have a good feeling about this! I think our drama is going to be a huge hit!”
At Kim Danbi’s words, Choi Hyunwoo and PD Gong Heechan unconsciously dropped their chopsticks.
Startled by her own words, Kim Danbi covered her mouth.
Only Writer Yoo Cheonga, who didn’t know about Kim Danbi’s curse, tilted her head.
“…Oh, dear God.”
Not just the three of them, but also Writer Yoo Cheonga, who had heard the story from PD Gong Heechan.
The four of them sat before a grill laden with beef, their hands clasped in prayer, drawing curious stares from the other customers around them.
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