"I'll read it."
"Think of it positively. It is the third lead, but it is a role too good to miss."
I focused on the sound echoing from behind the wall. Soon it came clear.
"Even so, I'm not sure it's right for me to take this role."
"It is a work that is bound to do well. Read it calmly first. Then let's talk more."
"Yes. I'll read it with my mind on the work alone. It would be best if we talked again."
The voice I was hearing was all too familiar.
The person who opened the door of the CEO's office, came out, and swept back her fallen hair was, sure enough, Seo Yu-jin. As befitted a former fairy, Seo Yu-jin was giving off her own light in the gloomy hallway.
Since turning to acting, Seo Yu-jin has left her fans wishing for more, unable to rise above supporting roles despite her popularity from her Piani days and her steady acting.
It's a good thing that the Seo Yu-jin of this world belongs to Yong Ent and is the subject of my quest. I wanted to find out what problem Seo Yu-jin has.
In that case, it'll be easier if Seo Yu-jin is aware that I exist. And if I can go so far as to create a chance to meet and talk with her privately in one stroke, that would be adding flowers to brocade.
Having timed it, I came out of the break room. My hand lightly bumped the back of Seo Yu-jin, who was walking backward in the narrow hallway to say goodbye to CEO Park Nam-yong and Jo Du-hwan, still inside the office.
Coffee sloshed over the rim of my cup and spilled onto the floor in a gush. When Seo Yu-jin, startled by the sudden turn, lost her grip on the script, it dropped onto the spilled coffee just as planned.
"Oh, oh?"
While Seo Yu-jin was flustered, I smoothly fished the script out. Blotchy coffee stains had already soaked into its cover.
"Hey, you punk, Lee San-woo!"
Jo Du-hwan, having shouted at me, quickly checked Seo Yu-jin's expression.
"Are you all right? The kid's barely been here any time at all and he's already causing accidents."
"You're not hurt? Is your hand all right?"
"I'm fine."
If anything, it was Seo Yu-jin who worried about me, in a bright, clear voice. The fans' sales pitch about her good character must have been true.
"I must have startled you, coming out so suddenly."
"I'm sorry. I'll get another copy of the script and bring it to your home myself."
"I will call the production company and ask for one more copy of the script. I will have it passed along through Dong-jun."
It was CEO Park, who'd appeared behind them. CEO Park's imposing build and large, fierce-eyed features gave off a strong, intimidating presence. At CEO Park's dignified words, Jo Du-hwan stepped aside.
"No, CEO. Only the cover got wet. Would a script by Writer Ok be ruined by this much? It looks like the manager I've just met has warded off his bad luck with this, doesn't it? If things go well for you from now on, please say it's because of me."
At Seo Yu-jin's words, Du-hwan and CEO Park laughed heartily together.
My plan thrown off, I looked down at the script in my hand. Its surface had soaked up the coffee and was a complete mess, but the title, 'Racing Heart', was clear.
'Racing Heart'. Writer Ok Su-hyeon.
'Racing Heart' was the signature kimchi stew of Writer Ok Su-hyeon, master of romantic comedy.
This work by Writer Ok Su-hyeon, known as the country's top name in rom-coms, deals with a triangle romance among the female lead, a soccer player, the male lead, her coach, and the second male lead, the club owner.
But despite its glittering cast, it's remembered as Writer Ok Su-hyeon's flop. In particular, with its product placement scenes clattering along frightfully, the work had to take the criticism that it was one giant advertisement.
Why was that? Why did Writer Ok Su-hyeon stumble on this one?
'Ah!'
Writer Son said she spent over 15 years under Ok Su-hyeon.
Son Yu-rim, the assistant writer who would have handled all the product placement, has now gone independent. Ok Su-hyeon wouldn't have clicked with the new assistant writer.
What was the work that beat Ok Su-hyeon back then?
"I'm telling you, our senior here just doesn't know how to get angry. Lee San-woo. First time meeting our senior, right? Greet her properly."
"Hello. I'm Lee San-woo."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Seo Yu-jin. CEO, Dong-jun has the car pulled out and is waiting downstairs, so I'll head down now."
"All right, read the script carefully and get in touch. And tell Dong-jun to go straight home after. Let's go inside."
"Yeah, Dong-jun. I'm coming down now. I kept you waiting a long time. Sorry."
When the elevator carrying Seo Yu-jin, who was talking warmly on the phone with Dong-jun, rattled its way down, Jo Du-hwan headed for the CEO's office with CEO Park and gestured for me to follow.
That 'Racing Heart' doesn't give Seo Yu-jin her role of a lifetime is something the me of the previous world knew, and something this world's system spoiled as well.
But at this point, when Seo Yu-jin's next work is already all but decided, why have I, who am in charge of Chae-eun, been given a quest to find a part that suits Seo Yu-jin?
For now, to succeed at Seo Yu-jin's quest, it seemed I'd first have to deal with Dong-jun, Seo Yu-jin's manager, who'd gotten in my way just by existing.
I had to find a way to approach Seo Yu-jin, step by step.
***
Sitting in the CEO's office facing CEO Park and Jo Du-hwan, I gave a brief report on how things had gone on set today.
CEO Park and Jo Du-hwan seemed a little surprised.
"Chae-eun has a line?"
"Yes. It's one line, but it'll go in. She got a lot of shots, too. They'll probably be cut in at the climax, so it should have impact."
"It wasn't that kind of role in the script at all, so how?"
"Chae-eun worked hard."
"Don't gloss over it. Tell it like it happened, in detail."
When Jo Du-hwan pressed me again, I explained what had happened today in a little more detail.
"Chae-eun understood the lead's feelings perfectly, I found."
I nodded slowly, picturing Chae-eun with her pupils tightening in front of the method-acting bullies. It was the rage and humiliation that rise in a situation where you want to beat them all down but, for all sorts of reasons, have to hold back and endure.
"And the feelings of a character watching a scene of violence, too. She'd think it was absurd, and maybe even laughable, but she knew exactly how you have to act if you aren't going to resolve the situation yourself."
The look on Chae-eun's face while I was dealing with the bullies was almost too good to keep to myself.
"Chae-eun had come with the script memorized cold. Her immersion was very good throughout the shoot, too. And the writer in particular was extremely pleased with Chae-eun's acting."
"...CEO."
When Jo Du-hwan called to CEO Park meaningfully, CEO Park, who'd been listening without a word, slowly nodded.
"The newcomers seem to work well together. There are times when beginners' luck pools."
"Hey, for a stone that rolled in, you've got a talent for rolling?"
Jo Du-hwan had a truly obnoxious way of giving praise. CEO Park was clearly praising me too, yet something about their reaction was lukewarm.
Even hearing that one of their own performers had done well on set, they showed no sign of being very pleased.
"Crash, bang! I thought you two bumblers, Chae-eun and Lee San-woo, would go and wreak havoc, but you actually got some work done?"
He talked as if the one-act drama set they'd sent Chae-eun and me to today had been some kind of testing ground.
"A new member has joined the family, and there is no time for a staff dinner."
"That's all right."
"Right now the company is too swamped setting up a new work to come up for air. I would like you to understand."
CEO Park took a wallet from inside his jacket and held out a card.
"From now on, use that for Chae-eun's running expenses. As for what you spent today, put in a claim. I am sorry we cannot eat together, so buy yourself something good with it."
It was a company card. With my eyes fixed on the first corporate card I'd ever been given, I nodded.
"Hey, keep your receipts. What's Chae-eun's next schedule?"
"Her part of the one-act drama shoot is done. If you share her other schedules with me, I'll take care of them."
"There aren't any. You have to find them."
"Sorry?"
"A schedule to Chae-eun's taste. You, her manager, have to go and find it, I'm saying."
I'm supposed to find it? What's this, a hidden-camera prank on the new guy? CEO?
"I will be watching how you do from here on."
When even CEO Park looked at me with a serious face, my phone's alert went off.
Ding!
With a look of disbelief, I took out my phone and checked the text message.
[Sub-Quest Triggered: Land a Schedule for Chae-eun]
[Quest Details: Give Chae-eun a part to her taste]
[Reward: Negotiation +1]
It was wording that spelled out the reality that a manager who had only just joined and didn't even have business cards had to land the schedules, too.
"Is there anything else you want to know?"
"When will Chae-eun's car be coming? She seemed to be waiting for it."
Pfft. Jo Du-hwan hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth and swallowed a laugh.
He's laughing......?
I still don't know whether this world's Jo Du-hwan is a total scumbag like in the previous world or not. So why has he been so obnoxious this whole time? Is it a rejection response engraved in my DNA?
"A car comes once she lands a regular role. For now, you're in charge of her, so work hard at it."
"......."
There it is again. The feeling of being tested. In that case, I have no choice but to gladly take them up on it.
To flatten Jo Du-hwan's nose, settling Chae-eun's quest comes first.
***
Gil Sang-ik, silver-rimmed glasses perched on his face, gulped down his iced latte with gusto.
"You must have been very thirsty."
"Yes. I came straight here from an assignment."
Gil Sang-ik is an intern reporter who joined Daily Entertainment Issue just over a month ago. Today he'd been to the press conference for the KBC drama 'Love in Bloom'.
'Love in Bloom' is a drama set against the sea, about a mysterious maritime incident and the love of divers. It boasts a dazzling lineup with its ensemble cast.
But the reason this drama remains so vivid in my memory lies elsewhere.
Hae-chan and Gong Seol-rin, the top actors carrying the story of the couple in their 20s, were struck by a motorboat propeller while scuba diving and badly injured.
As a result, the drama came to an end after just 8 episodes on air.
In particular, when it came out that the motorboat's engine had been running while the actors were scuba diving, criticism boiled over at a set run on such a tight schedule.
Among my screenshots, too, the articles capturing how serious things were at the time remained intact.
[Exclusive] Scuba Diving Accident on 'Love in Bloom' Set, All Filming Halted
Hae-chan and Gong Seol-rin in Boat Collision on 'Love in Bloom', '8 Weeks to Recover'
These articles may be something that won't happen in this world. Even if the accident occurs as fated, it's in a place I have no connection to. And yet.
Ding! My phone's alert went off.
[Bonus Quest Triggered: Stop the Accident on 'Love in Bloom'!]
[Quest Details: Prevent the accident that occurs on the set of 'Love in Bloom']
[Reward: Random]
"......."
No, why me? The quests' blessings had no end, and I was dumbfounded.
Just then, ding! One more message arrived on top of the phone screen I was looking at.
[Bonus Quest Penalty: None]
With a Bonus Quest, I was given a choice about whether to carry it out. If I prevent a horrific injury, it gives me a random reward, but that's up to me?
"Hah."
I'd just given a hollow laugh, exasperated by a quest that seemed to be toying with me.
"Is there something fun on your phone?"
Gil Sang-ik stuck his head right out over my phone.
What a fright.
To me, Gil Sang-ik is familiar to the point of being tiresome, but for Gil Sang-ik, today would be his first time meeting me.
Gil Sang-ik really is an easygoing, friendly one. Was this exactly what got Sang-ik promoted to team leader over me, someone from his own year?
I casually put my phone down and looked at Sang-ik.
"You went to 'Love in Bloom', right? I read your article while I was waiting, Reporter Gil."
Sang-ik's expression turned smug in a hurry.
"Yes. I landed the main spot."
Cute bastard. He's smug about getting one line of an article onto the entertainment page.
"What are they saying the set is like on 'Love in Bloom'? Shooting at sea can't be easy."
"As it happens, they say the weather affects them so much that when it's good, they cram the shooting into a single day. I heard it's incredibly tight."
Just as I thought.
But for me, a Yong Ent intern and the one in charge of Chae-eun, Chae-eun's schedule comes first.
Only once I finish Chae-eun's quest will I have time to settle Seo Yu-jin's quest, and maybe the 'Love in Bloom' quest as well.
"I'm in charge of a rookie actress, you see. Chae-eun, Yong Ent's rising hope. She's appearing in a KBC one-act drama this time."
I sent Chae-eun's profile to Sang-ik's phone. Sang-ik zoomed in close on Chae-eun's face in the profile he'd received and studied it as he asked.
"Then shall we do an interview with us? She's the lead, right?"
"She's the lead, all right. Once the one-act drama is released, she'll be the lead of the hottest issue going."