Goro-sseu! The Victorious Fist Clench
Gu Jeong-hwan clenched his fist so subtly no one would notice. He broke into a victorious smile.
'Good kid.'
Cheon Yoo-seong had passed. The guy had an eye for talent. He'd known it ever since the holidays, when the gifts and texts arrived without fail every year.
And so, as Gu Jeong-hwan wore that proud expression...
"Hey... you... you're serious?"
"Yes."
"Even after seeing your screen time?!"
"If it means the audience gets even greater impact, then sacrificing my footage is no issue at all. I've never once forgotten that feeling while making films all these years."
"What?"
"I'm not yet at your level, sunbae-nim... but I've resolved to sacrifice for the good of the entire industry, beyond just myself. In front of art that will go down in Korean film history, does my screen time really matter that much?"
"Yoo-seong-ah."
"Ah, I overstepped. Sorry."
"No, that's not—"
Seol A-yoon grimaced in frustration. She pressed a hand to her forehead and continued.
"...Why are you doing this? You know screen time isn't just an actor's issue. Leads and supporting roles have different contracts from the start. It's all been settled with the agencies. I'm trying to wrap this up smoothly without drama, but this? No way."
And she was right. Among A-list actors, even whose name went first on the billing could spark fierce backroom battles between agencies. Hoshi-jeol was no different. Cheon Yoo-seong had yielded gracefully, but normally, with dual leads like this, the production team would sweat bullets mediating between them.
"Yes, you're absolutely right, sunbae-nim."
"Exactly!"
"I agree. Since it's a dual-lead film, the footage is already split. Boosting Tae-gyu hyung-nim's share by cutting ours would break our mutual agreement."
"Right?!"
"But... I'm sorry."
"?!"
Seeing Seol A-yoon's baffled look...
"Logically, I know you're right... but why does my heart keep pulling this way...?"
"?"
"After watching the footage, I started understanding why you had to direct it this way. I know it's not right, but after seeing Tae-gyu hyung-nim's acting... haa, I must be an idiot."
"Hey, hey."
"I'm going crazy. I know you're right, I know it... but can we really keep this masterpiece to ourselves? That divine acting?"
Cheon Yoo-seong clawed at his hair in frustration. It was a masterful play—siding with neither, turning no one into an enemy. He agreed rationally with Seol A-yoon's logic, but Lee Tae-gyu's performance tore at his heart, driving this fool to madness...
And right then—a perfect toss into the void.
"If we can share this emotion with the audience, my footage doesn't matter... but you're right too, sunbae-nim. Ha! I'm really sorry, but if the director steps up on the company and contract issues, I could talk to my agency... ah, I don't know anymore."
The opportunist slyly backed off, lobbing a "someone—anyone—pick this up" line into the air.
Clap... clap... clap...
Director Gu caught it. Gu Jeong-hwan smacked his hands together, tongue clicking in admiration.
"Wow."
Genuine emotion shone on his face.
"I thought I'd cast well, but this level? If you're both okay with it, agency and contract stuff? I'll handle it on my end, no question."
He had no choice. It proved how extraordinary his creation was. Even the "Nation's Little Brother" was willing to step back for it.
Clap... clap... clap...
The other investors watching—a rare sight in Korean cinema, a lead actor yielding footage—began clapping slowly too.
"Didn't think he was more than just the nation's little bro..."
"He's different now. Matured."
"Nation's mentor, that's what."
"Grown up from child roles, huh? Real deal."
"I told you. He's Korean cinema's rising star."
"Yep."
Nods rippled through the execs as the applause swelled.
Clap... clap... clap... clap... clap... clap...
Thus, the opportunist had steered the mood into warm harmony.
"Ha, haha..."
Seol A-yoon let out a hollow laugh, clenching her fist tight. Actors overstepping might look bad... but wrong was wrong. With resolve etched on her face—
"Director—"
"Hold on."
Then Tae-gyu slowly raised his hand.
"...!"
The opportunist, who'd been eyeing the gap sharply, jumped back in.
"So what about you, hyung-nim? This setup seems fine."
"Not sure."
"Huh?"
"I thought I was supporting... is this okay?"
Tae-gyu tilted his head. He wasn't an idiot. His emotions were faint, but he knew the ropes.
"My footage is way more than expected. Feels like I'm screwing you and A-yoon-ssi over."
"Uh."
Cheon Yoo-seong, who'd assumed more footage meant pure joy, rolled his eyes quick, picking his words—
Whoosh—!
Something hot surged in Seol A-yoon.
"T-Tae-gyu-ssi, you think so too?"
"Yes."
"I was too embarrassed to ask you directly—"
"No need. A-yoon-ssi is right."
"Ah..."
"Leads and supports aren't divided for nothing. Ultimately it's the director's call... but considering your opinion would be good."
She stared at him, emotions swelling. She'd never imagined it. In what felt like a solo battlefield, a sturdy ally appeared—cheering the very guy asking to cut her footage.
"Tae-gyu-ssi, I—"
As Seol A-yoon's lips parted slowly—
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Gu Jeong-hwan clapped louder than before, voice trembling.
"Wow. Tae-gyu-ssi, you always shatter my expectations."
"Pardon?"
"You really won't? We don't have to go this way."
"Yes, really—"
"No need to hold back. In this industry, with that talent, humility's optional."
"No, it's not humility."
It's really fine.
"Kya, sticking to supporting then? Cool, so cool."
No... I was supporting...
"Eyes turning elsewhere is natural, but considering the seniors too."
Gu Jeong-hwan muttered to himself, admiring Tae-gyu.
"Got it. I feel you. Going that route, huh? Yeah, it might ruffle feathers. I didn't think of that. You've got a point, Tae-gyu-ssi."
He crossed his arms, pondering long.
"...Okay."
He scanned Seol A-yoon, Cheon Yoo-seong, and Lee Tae-gyu in turn, nodding slowly.
"I'll revise it. Into a version everyone loves. I'll stake my life on it."
A strangely uneasy smile crossed his face.
At the same time, in the SBC Content Headquarters director's office, pure joy erupted.
"Kuhahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Heh heh heh."
Director Hwang, Manager Nam, and PD Ji. One reason for their glee: SBC Drama Division—suspension on hold!
They'd saved their nest after all. Many factors played in, but the biggest? Monster City's triumph.
Not just spring viewership—over 20% was solid, but not that dramatic.
The real shift started overseas.
After SBC's Overseas Division moved, Monster City exported via Netflix rocketed up global charts by May's end.
1st - ばけもの 都会 (Japan)
1st - Monster City (UK)
1º - Monstruo Ciudad (Spain)
Top 5 in Germany, France, Italy, and more!
SBC's top brass had no choice but to acknowledge the Drama Division's value.
"Good work, Ji PD."
"PDs prove it with numbers. Thanks to you. Tough job."
"Haha, no biggie."
Ji Cheol-geun rubbed his nose at the sky-high praise from his seniors, mumbling bashfully.
"Luck with the writer and actors."
Success revealed it. His old inferiority complex stemmed from his own frustrations.
"Especially those two."
Now, he could cheer someone sincerely. Han Joo-hyuk and Lee Tae-gyu. They'd reignited his passion and delivered results—he owed them big.
"Honestly, without them, not sure we'd—"
"We know, man."
Director Hwang and Manager Nam agreed.
"Just push 'em hard."
"Probably out by dinner."
They'd use SBC News to hype Han Joo-hyuk and Lee Tae-gyu's next moves.
Not mere loyalty. Promoting Monster City stars boosted untapped markets too.
Especially Lee Tae-gyu—post-short film, cult fave in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, stealing Han Joo-hyuk's main-screen thunder in Asia.
Thus, next-project buzz spread online.
Not just Tae-gyu's next—media eyed his follow-up with Han Joo-hyuk too.
Model Detective 3 shoot day arrived.
A massive outdoor studio in Gyeonggi-do. With box-office millions locked, huge investment meant a sprawling cityscape set somewhere here.
"Hm."
A man in a mask and deep-brimmed cap.
"Perfect."
Grinning under the mask, the middle-aged man vaulted swiftly between walls.
Master Director Yang Yong-chan.
On set, he was the playful type—like Spielberg or Tarantino. "Greats keep a boy's heart" fit him perfectly.
His pranks mostly targeted his daughter, honed over 1-2 years? Nah, lifelong.
Meaning? He'd slunk through the shadiest spots of this faux city undetected, 50m from his goal.
'Korean studios still lag Hollywood.'
He prided himself unmatched in stealth among world directors. Now...
Hot-hot-hot—
His goal, skulking like a NIS agent through the studio: one thing.
'Yang Se-hee, you rascal.'
Yang Se-hee. Catch her startled reaction on set. Show the industry titan dad. He'd kept his visit secret from actors—staff knew, so no biggie if caught.
'...She'll freak seeing Dad.'
DK Ent wanted a meet, but meh, not priority.
"Heh heh heh heh."
One thing mattered: prank the daughter—
She was in sight. Timing her shock from afar—
"...What the hell."
"Wah!"
Yang Yong-chan flopped in shock. A man gripped his shoulder from behind.
'...How?'
No presence felt? Looking up, a silhouette backlit by sun loomed.
"What're you doing here."
"Ah, well..."
The intimidation was no joke.
Gulp.
Yang Yong-chan swallowed dryly, mouth opening—
"Why skulking here, peeking at actresses."
"Ah."
Easy to misread. Fair enough—masked, hatted, lurking in the corner, eyeing actors. Suspicious as hell.
But.
"Stalker or what?"
"Haha. Nonsense. I'm actually invited, just pushing the surprise."
"Surprise, huh."
"I'm actually—eh, gotta show ya."
Yang Yong-chan chuckled leisurely, raising arm to unmask—
Thud.
Something fell from his pocket. Director's viewfinder. A director's monocular scope.
"......"
"......"
Silence hung.
"Haha, I get it. Misunderstanding potential, but it's not—"
"Come out."
"I'm actually—hey!"
"I said come out!"
The man flashed detective glare, grabbing the director's collar.
In other words.
"I ain't handing scum like you to the police."
Overly righteous Lee Tae-gyu—
"I'll just beat the—"