The Hundred Billion Web Drama
Han Seoah again. "With money... tteokchil?"
"Yeah."
"No, seriously, what the hell are you trying to make?"
"That's what we're gonna talk about from now on. Let me start with what the production company wants."
Normally, this would've been CEO Mingyu hyung's job, but when the equipment glitched, his eyes rolled back and he stormed off to yell at the supplier. I couldn't just hold these two hostage until he got back, so I was acting CEO for the day.
"Everyone knows web dramas—thinking 4 to 6 episodes. Each around 15 minutes runtime. We'll make an official company channel on Mutube and release it there."
"An hour to an hour and a half total... that's basically one mini-series episode. Soi, remember that one-act play you wrote for that contest? Think about two-thirds of that."
Moon Soi nodded, so she seemed to have a grasp on the scale.
"And PD Yoon. You know Prom Jenny, right? That music drama that blew up a couple years back."
"Of course. SBC aired it. But why bring it up all of a sudden...?"
"Got hooked on their OST. Let's do the same—put in three or four tracks and release it as a mini-album."
Prom Jenny's songs fit the drama like a glove. When the male lead pulled some total nerd shit, the lyrics and vocals nailed the comedy perfectly. Hell, people even joked there was a third lead: the OST.
"Heh, a promo drama with an OST... CEO's quietly scaling this up."
"I've got a composer in mind—I'll talk to them and get back to you. Now, about the cast..."
I glanced at the writer and paused. Bringing up actors before even knowing the story was kinda rude to her.
"Sorry, Writer Moon. I know it's shitty to talk actors without knowing the plot. But there are two actresses I really want."
"I-It's... fine. Go ahead."
"One's a rookie we're grooming. No credits yet, but I'll vouch for her acting chops. Of course, PD, you can audition her if you want."
"If the CEO says so... Fine. Who's the other one?"
"Kang Bora leads."
"Ah, Kang Bo—what? Who'd you say?"
Their eyes went wide enough to worry me. Yoon PD especially—mouth agape, speechless for a solid minute.
"Th-that... the Kang Bora I know? Cannes Best Actress...?"
"Yep. She's already on board. Her agency's the only hurdle—I'll handle that."
"No, CEO. Kang Bora in a promo drama? Do you know her appearance fee?"
"Speaking of fees—this is budgeted at 100 billion won."
—Thud!
Yoon PD slipped right off his chair. Must've been shocked.
"Urgh... This is nuts. CEO, you sure you didn't miss a digit? 10 billion's already insane for a web drama!"
Fair reaction. 100 billion was mid-tier 16-episode mini-series territory.
"Under two hours total, mini-album OST, Bora starring, 100 billion budget... What the hell are you making?"
I looked at them dead serious.
"So make it big. SF? Launch a damn starship, blow up a few planets. Romance? World tour for the leads. Historical? Build epic sets and shoot."
Meant it as encouragement, but it lit a fire under these artists. Their eyes sparkled like I was some cult leader.
"Grr... If the CEO says so... Soi! Let's make something real!"
...And so began the 100-billion-won money pit.
Two days later, I got a call from Bora noona at the office and rushed to JH Entertainment's building.
"Talked to Seoah, but she called it bullshit, burst into tears, and bolted. Better if you handle it yourself."
Seoah dropped out of school for idol life, bouncing between company and dorm for years. Post-debut, her manager and chief handled everything—so even if she ran off crying, she had nowhere to go.
Plus, a top-tier girl group member wandering unprotected? Reckless, but not suicide-stupid.
Probably bawling in an empty practice room or dorm bathroom.
Called Clover Day's chief—she wasn't at the dorm. Company it was.
I swept from the idol floors down, level by level. Couldn't risk Park Hyungpil's goons spotting me and stirring shit. Had to find her fast.
Basement level—trainees clustered mid-hallway, whispering. One spotted me and bowed politely. Post-sparring with Hwang Sanggu chief, everyone knew me.
"What's up?"
"Uh... Tried entering the practice room, but Seoah unnie's in the corner..."
End-of-hall room: Seoah huddled knees-to-chest, sniffling. Deer limbs curled tight—like a sad pose doll.
"Han Seoah."
"Eek!"
Shrunk like she'd seen the grim reaper, head buried in the corner. Whiny kid hating timeout vibes.
"Darling's here—won't look?"
"Don't call me that! I won't accept it. People can't just change!"
"Then why'd Bora noona accept? Hypnosis?"
Finally peeked, eyes wide.
"...Did you really?"
Aigoo, this airhead.
"Hell no! I'm the real Song Jinho—that's why noona bought it."
Thought her innocent brain would be easier than noona's. Nope.
"Showed noona everything over two days. Want that? Ask away—stuff only we know. I'll prove it."
Eyes narrowed, pondering. Her brain overloads fast—worrisome.
"...How'd we meet?"
"You stopped me in the 4th-floor hall for an autograph. Still got it?"
Seoah pulled up her phone album—my signature, saved as image.
"Not enough. Before 'darling,' what'd you call me?"
"Jalppa. Short for 'hot manager oppa.' I scolded you daily on pronunciation."
Her face twisted like a headache ad model.
"Hiiing... Still not enough... not enough..."
Haa, overload on two questions?
I sat by slumped Seoah, waiting for her brain to cool.
"Can't believe Bora unnie bought it."
"Made it undeniable. Met her somewhere only we know..."
"Somewhere only you two?"
Shit, shouldn't have mentioned that.
"Where?!"
"Exists."
"Spill or I'll call unnie!"
That'd end me.
"Y'know... first place we slept together..."
Lightbulb flickered over her head. Why the fantasy?
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Where darling and I first slept!"
Grabbed bolting Seoah, slapped on nearby mask and cap. Straight out? Tomorrow's tabloids flooded with Seoah headlines.
Remember the beer hall... but...
Post-monthly eval, dragged depressed Seoah to beer hall—Asmodeus's scheme led to nearby love motel, claimed her virginity.
Four years ago—fuzzy now.
Led her to the old beer hall. Nice vibe—I'd been with Mingyu hyung. Easy find.
"This the beer hall..."
"Yeah. Close by, came here first—memory hazy."
"You don't remember our first spot? But Bora unnie's fine?!"
"Hers was a famous hotel. Yours? Random search motel. Compare apples."
"Knew it—pervy fake-CEO darling, waaah~"
Bickering with Seoah, another spot caught my eye.
"That pharmacy, right?"
"Huh?"
"Where you ran for bandages."
Her eyes bulged. No one else'd know that drunken mishap.
"Th-this... impossible..."
"Quiet—follow. Almost got it."
Up from pharmacy—model alley entrance. End of alley: the motel, her first time. Thank god.
...Thank god my ass.
"This it?"
Building where motel should've been: gutted, demolition signs everywhere.
"Building's trashed—no entry. But spot's right."
Seoah couldn't deny it. Motel gone. Stared blankly at demo site, mumbling.
"...What'd you do?"
"Do?"
"With unnie—first spot meetup, what?"
Man-woman hotel? What else?
"Old stories... ate something, then..."
"Did it, right?"
Here we go.
"Right? Talked, ate... not just that."
"You know—why ask?"
"Eek!"
Teeth-grinding audible. Deny earlier, now pissed?
Shaking shoulders calmed; steely resolve glare.
"Maybe-darling CEO."
"Yeah."
"Me too."
"......"
"Somewhere way better than unnie's—I'll do it too!"