Why Am I Here?
The SJ Entertainment conference room looked exactly the same as it had ten years ago. A long rectangular iron table. Stacks of scripts piled in the corner and posters plastered on the walls. Looking closely, they were all posters from Ahn Jong-hoon's works.
"This is the SJ management team. Regarding our actor Ahn Jong-hoon's casting this time..."
"Yes, President. Actor Ahn Jong-hoon is scheduled for tomorrow's premiere screening at 8 p.m."
Through the window, the sounds of the management team staff bustling with work filtered in. Even Team Leader Choi Yo-han, clutching the phone with a troubled expression, was visible beyond the glass.
Thud.
"Am I really back in the past?"
Woojin muttered in a daze as he sank back into his chair.
The memory of the mysterious old woman giving him the diary in exchange for pulling her cart, leading him to the white room, pressing the enigmatic button, and learning truths he hadn't known in the past—it was all crystal clear. But...
"No way this makes sense."
No matter how vivid the memories!
No matter how desperately he'd wished to return to the past and pressed that button!
"There's no way anyone could actually go back ten years!"
Maybe he'd just had a vivid dream from being drunk. Who could immediately accept something this unreal?
Woojin-ah.
In the midst of his confusion, a memory from ten years ago—today—suddenly surfaced. The moment SJ Entertainment President Ahn Seung-jun had last called his name.
You know, you weren't expecting talk of renewal or anything like that, right?
The agency he'd been with for three years, yet never once cared for him. On the very day his contract ended, President Ahn had unceremoniously said goodbye.
Now he knew the truth: the agency had never intended to promote him in the first place. He was just a "nameless actor with real talent" who could pass auditions—a disposable "kingmaker" for Ahn Jong-hoon. Nothing more, nothing less.
Bzzz.
That was when it happened. A faint light suddenly emanated from the jacket Woojin was wearing.
This... this is?
He pulled the item from his inner pocket: a leather diary with a reddish glow. The one from the mysterious old woman.
The light faded quickly as he opened the diary. Inside were only blank pages, devoid of any records.
I definitely wrote my 500th audition log in here...
It was like those memories had vanished. Though logical thinking eluded him in this situation, Woojin had no choice but to accept the undeniable fact: He had really returned to ten years ago.
Thinking calmly, Actually, isn't this a good thing?
He'd come back with all his memories intact—no losses. From 35 back to 25, his perspective on life had broadened, and he knew far more about the industry as an actor than he had back then.
I won't be a fool who just takes it lying down anymore.
Rrring.
Then, his phone rang. Woojin pulled it from his pocket. Seeing the early-model smartphone he'd used back then hit home once more that he was truly in the past.
"Hello?"
Woojin-ah. Where are you?
The caller was his management handler and closest friend at the agency, his same-age peer Hong Seong-o.
"Me? In the conference room."
Okay. Be right there.
The call ended abruptly, and moments later...
"Took me forever to find you. Practicing again?"
Seong-o entered the room with a friendly grin.
"What practice?"
"You always practice alone in here. From morning till evening."
"Did I? Yeah, I guess."
Recalling his routine during those three years at SJ, it had been the same every day. On non-audition days, he'd come to the office and read scripts until evening—that was his only schedule. Back then, he'd taken pride in working harder than anyone, enjoying it. But in reality, it had all been a waste of time for Ahn Jong-hoon's benefit.
He'd been so naive back then... No, just a complete idiot.
"Dude, you said you barely slept for that audition the day before yesterday, and you're still out of it."
"Audition?"
"You went to Director Kim's audition the day before yesterday. Don't you remember?"
He had no recollection. How could he remember every detail from ten years ago?
Seong-o picked up Woojin's diary and said,
"You still using this? Fell asleep here writing your audition log?"
"Uh, yeah... something like that."
"You're incredible, Baek Woojin. I've never seen an actor work as hard as you."
"Gotta put in extra effort. This industry's that tough to succeed in."
At Woojin's words, Seong-o set the diary down on the table and continued,
"Saw this article in the morning paper, by the way. Check it out."
"Nah, what's it say?"
"Here."
Seong-o handed over the clipped newspaper article.
"Over 20,000 people reported entertainment income to tax authorities last year. Talk about the juicy peach with no pit. Sigh."
"How desperate must she have been to take her own life..."
Knowing that pain better than anyone, Woojin felt only pity. His grip tightened unconsciously on the article.
"Yeah. Anyway, Woojin-ah, your chance will come. I really believe you'll make it."
Woojin nodded at Seong-o's words.
"Yeah. I have to."
That's why he'd returned to the past.
"Hang in there a bit longer. I'll let you know the second I hear of anything good."
"Thanks. Oh, why'd you come looking for me?"
"Right. The president said to come up. By 11."
"Ah... Got it."
"It's been forever since he called for you personally, huh? Audition results must be out already. Gotta be good news."
Seong-o patted Woojin's shoulder with hopeful eyes. But Woojin, already knowing why, just gave a wry smile.
"Hope it really goes well this time. Anyway, I'll text you later."
With that, Seong-o left the room, and 30 minutes from now, Woojin checked his watch and silently waited for 11.
"Woojin-ah."
The man calling Woojin's name was etched vividly in his memory—an unforgettable figure.
"Yes."
Woojin stared straight at the middle-aged man sitting across from him.
He was the head of SJ Entertainment: President Ahn Seung-jun.
"You know."
As President Ahn opened his mouth, Woojin's gaze shifted from his face to the table. A teacup sat before him. But nothing in front of Woojin.
After using him up and stabbing him in the back, not even a glass of water at the end. Total discard after using.
Woojin swallowed a bitter laugh and kept a poker face.
President Ahn continued without even glancing at him, as if he didn't exist.
"Surely..."
"You weren't hoping for renewal or anything like that?"
Woojin cut him off with a smile. He already knew what was coming.
Only then did President Ahn's eyes turn to Woojin's face.
"President."
A word he hadn't uttered since January 15, 2010, when his three-year contract ended. Calling him now, back in the past, felt strangely nostalgic yet uncomfortable—what was this emotion?
"Speak."
President Ahn responded with a face full of discomfort, his brow furrowed deeply.
"I know everything."
"What?"
"The roles I landed. You gave them all to Jong-hoon behind my back."
Though rage boiled up, Woojin stayed calm.
"The betrayal was indescribable. I doubt I'll ever get hit in the back that hard again."
"You little shit, who do you think you're talking to..."
"I get wanting to promote your son, but this is too much."
Woojin said with a cold smile.
"This bastard..."
President Ahn's face flushed red instantly, his authoritative and bullying nature on full display.
"Now that Jong-hoon's risen off my roles, you're tossing me out? Convenient that it's contract expiration day."
"What the hell do you want?!"
"Now that I know, I just wanted to ask. What did you think of me? What was I to you?"
"What?"
President Ahn shot back with a twisted face. He unleashed without hesitation.
"What were you? Talented enough, but no money-maker."
"......"
"We're not some top agency—why keep a guy like you forever?"
Bam!
President Ahn slammed the armrest and spat,
"Took in a rookie with no filmography to give you audition experience, and you don't even appreciate it? How dare you get cocky?"
His hand trembled with rage. Woojin stared straight at the fearsome atmosphere he created. Seeing his true face brought an odd sense of calm.
"More honest than I thought."
President Ahn's jowls quivered at Woojin's words. Highly agitated, his neck flushed red too.
"Do you even know who you're talking to like that?!"
He bellowed, ready to hurl the ashtray nearby. But Woojin stood indifferently, looking down at him with cold eyes.
Straight on.
"President."
His voice was sharp yet low.
"I'll show you."
"What?"
"That your judgment was wrong."
"You insolent little..."
As the furious president shot up,
"When that time comes, you'll regret kicking me out right now."
Woojin turned toward the door. No need to hear his reply.
As he opened it to leave, he threw one last line over his shoulder.
"Farewell."
Bang.
President Ahn's curses echoed behind Woojin as he stormed out. But he never looked back.
He just walked the corridor ahead.
Step, step.
This wasn't the Baek Woojin who, on January 15, 2010, had slunk away silently.
I'll become Korea's top actor, no matter what.
He bit his lip, vowing inwardly.
And at that moment,
Bzzz.
As if responding to his resolve, a faint light flickered from his chest. Its source: the diary with the red cover that had returned to the past with him.