Chapter 82
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Jirisan Elf Production Meeting
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"I've read all of your works, Writer-nim. Of course, I've kept up with the drama too. Congratulations on breaking 40% ratings."
That's right. The Youngest Son of the Gangster House had finally become a drama powerhouse. Sara had called yesterday, going on and on about how huge the gap was between 30% and 40%.
"Thank you."
Sara brought over some coffee as she spoke.
"I invested in that play last year, you see. That's when I got to know Director Byeon. The director's passion is something else."
She cut straight to the chase.
"I wanted to produce Jirisan Elf like a movie every single episode."
Thank goodness. It wasn't a king crab party.
"It'll cost more in production, but the visuals and color palette can change everything depending on the directing. So I asked Director Byeon to take it on."
Director Byeon picked up the thread.
"If you give me the chance, I'll make it beautiful."
Beautiful... Elves called for that, but with the chaebol family storyline coming into play, he'd need to balance the tones carefully. He had to know that without being told, right?
The two went back and forth.
"We're aiming for a different vibe from The Youngest Son of the Gangster House. Think of it as targeting overseas markets—that might make it easier to understand. It wasn't bad, but this one will hook anyone from any country just on the visuals alone."
"Casting is key. No matter how great the script, the actors' faces are what sell it."
"That's why we're all here today."
"What's your timeline?"
"Right after casting wraps, we shoot."
"Tight schedule."
Sara glanced at Director Byeon with a smile.
"You can start adapting right away, right?"
"...Was the king crab our last supper?"
He said it, but he didn't seem opposed. She was already a 40% ratings writer now. Sure, it was based on source material, but her name was on the drama.
Sara laughed.
"If we start auditions next week, we'll find our gems in a few rounds. I've already spread the word to every agency, academy, and university in Korea. We'll advertise on major portals too."
I raised my hand.
"Sixteen episodes?"
"Yes. But if it gets the same killer response as this one, we could extend it a bit."
"Depends on who plays the lead."
An elf, no less. Foreign viewers had to buy it too, and it was tricky thinking about how East Asians came across to Westerners.
"Child roles aren't too bad—plenty of cute kids out there. The adult leads are the issue, though. They need translucent skin, androgynous charm. We asked for early twenties, but acting chops matter, so we'll pool our efforts. Stay true to the source while adapting crisply."
Tough. Real tough.
It was one thing in a novel, but one actor covering the protagonist from age seven to twenty-four? Impossible.
We couldn't film over years like Harry Potter. No budget for that.
"CG is a must for seamless aging. How far can it cover?"
Director Byeon answered my question.
"Varies by age. Kids change drastically even in a year or two. A high schooler could pass for adult, but no toddler turns teen."
I clasped my hands and bowed to Director Byeon.
"Sorry."
"No worries. I'll do my best."
Casting and adaptation. Those two would make or break it.
Director Byeon stood and walked toward the audience seats, standing under the lights.
"First time with drama, but I'll treat every episode like a film. I want to capture this stage's passion fully. You probably don't know how much sweat has fallen here. Every time I see it, I think..."
He smiled at me.
"A project worthy of pouring everything into will come along."
The king crab was delicious. Not quite on par with the convenience store ramen and kimbap from last year after time-traveling back, but I got why people shelled out for it.
Did I overdo it, though? I wouldn't touch the stuff for six months.
With Jirisan Elf greenlit for drama, my steps back to the goshiwon felt featherlight.
Sara was special. Dramas didn't usually come together this easily.
I changed clothes, brewed coffee, and returned to my room.
"Hey, Ye-jin. Work went well. Let's go to auditions together once the date's set next week. Rest up."
After neatly reporting to our Executive Director, the official workday was done.
But I didn't separate work from life.
I still stared at the monitor, wrote novels when energy allowed, and scoured for 'attached writers' when beat. I'd found my favorite No. 7, but it wasn't over.
1, 7, 8, 11, 21.
Including me, just five so far. If that Team Leader bastard didn't stop, the numbers would keep climbing.
'Someone else might be there right now.'
I knew better than anyone how horrific, how agonizing it was. I'd thought of dying every day. Without the others, I wouldn't have lasted ten years.
Well, minus No. 13.
"......"
It was 9 p.m.
Got lost in focus, and hours flew. If Sara had caught me, I'd be drinking now, but she'd begged off for tomorrow's big meeting.
Bzzz.
"......?"
No one messaged this late.
"Huh?"
[Sorry it's late! Mind if I ask one quick thing?]
Sure, anytime.
[What do men want to do with women they like?]
This felt like déjà vu. We'd talked about this before.
[No one around to ask?]
[Yeah. Got grandparents I see often, but no close guys. Was that rude?]
No way.
[It's fine.]
I leaned back in my chair, got comfy, and replied.
[Probably the same for guys and girls. Dates look pretty similar.]
[I get that much... but I mean stuff guys want even more.]
[Planning some 19+ scenes?]
[Absolutely not!]
"......Haha......!"
I burst out laughing like a madman in my empty room. I could tell what she was agonizing over.
[It's a novel, the intro, so no need for explicit stuff. If rain starts, he shields her with his body... brushes against her and freezes up. Readers will get it. That's your skill as a writer.]
[Shielding from rain? Nice!]
[Common cliché. We go further. He's a knight, so shield as an umbrella. Fits the fantasy vibe perfectly.]
[Shield like an umbrella!]
[Exactly.]
This quick thinking came from reading and writing tons. Lock yourself in a room for ten years doing just this. Anyone would get good.
[Wow! My dilemma solved just like that! You're amazing!]
We chatted for a good while. Texts between us, but it stirred old memories.
We'd always messaged back then. I was the guy most comfortable with it.
[I stay up late anyway. Message anytime.]
[Really?]
[Of course. You're my writer.]
Yeah. You're my writer.
Lee Myung-han, fresh off academy student life and now a full PD, visited the Happiness Goshiwon for the first time today.
"President, Team Leaders, writers, goshiwon elders, proofreading and editing staff... anything else?"
"Cha Team Leader's daughter. She comes by often, learning webtoon assisting."
"Ah! Sorry."
Ye-jin had been rattling them off in the car, but even she thought the family had grown a lot.
"No need to apologize."
Myung-han aimed to be a writer anyway, so who knew how long he'd PD, but he got paid to work, so he had to learn the ropes.
"DM's out too."
"Oh right!"
Myung-han would only hit the academy for classes now, otherwise basing at the goshiwon.
He'd already finished two volumes, no need for the creative studio. Time to revise relentlessly.
"President's drama hit 42%, huh."
The drama kept thriving week by week. A slight climb after 40%, but not dropping? Impressive.
"Must be swamped."
"Want me to look at your manuscript?"
"How'd you know?"
"Try off-hours. She draws hard lines between work and personal—no meddling otherwise."
"Ooooh!"
"But remember."
"Listening."
"Bug the President, and I'll cut you."
"......"
Myung-han flinched, scratched his head.
"Hahaha! Got it!"
"Good. I'm serious."
No joke, apparently. Seeing the glint in her clear eyes, Myung-han awkwardly looked out the window.
The car passed the subway station, hit the uphill. A few narrow alleys later, the building appeared.
『Happiness Goshiwon』
Honestly...
'Why that......'
Why live in a goshiwon when you're Korea's top-earning writer?
"......Happy?"
Writer himself, so the pun slipped out.
"Judge for yourself."
Ye-jin replied dryly, pulling into the lot.
Someone was already parked.
"Director! Hello!"
"Nice to see you. Early bird?"
"Yes! Couldn't sit still!"
Ex-military vibe—crisp moves, sharp speech.
"First time! I'm Yi Bin! Yi surname, Bin first name! Single syllable!"
"Hey. Lee Myung-han here. Starting today."
"Me too! Nice to work with!"
Myung-han was older, but not by much—they'd click fast.
"Lots of creators, so keep quiet inside."
Click. Click.
Her heels headed in; they shut up and followed.
She pointed out residents on floors one through three, then rooftop for lunch.
Down to the practice room, assigned their rooms. Some uncles left for out-of-town sites, openings for them.
"Myung-han, you'll work here. Cha Team Leader's coming soon—learn from him."
"Got it!"
"Bin, try various jobs for now, find your fit."
"Yes!"
Company growth meant constant manpower shortages. Couldn't hire randos to ruin the vibe, so Ye-jin trained newbies.
Door opened mid-explanation. Both jumped up.
"Hello, President!"
"We'll give our all! President!"
Ye-jin startled at the shouts too, but a amused voice returned.
"Am I interrupting?"
Ye-jin beamed.
"No."
Yi Bin stood dumbfounded like a fool watching her—first time seeing Executive Director Go Ye-jin smile like that.
'Pretty.'
"Something warm?"
Her voice was worlds softer now.
"Sure."
"One sec."
Ye-jin bustled off.
Gulp.
Yi Bin stared at the President sitting opposite, swallowing nervously.
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