Chapter 24: I’ll Take Another Project.

Rustle, rustle—

In the quiet, still room, the only sound breaking the silence was the occasional flipping of a page.

Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju were reading the script of Sword.

“Weren’t you saying you wouldn’t do it?”

“I’m just reading the script, that’s all.”

“Then why did you underline Haryeong’s lines?”

“Ugh, shut up. Just mind your own business, will you?”

As the two were exchanging their usual banter, their heads turned simultaneously toward the door. Someone else had arrived.

“Hmm, it’s heavier than I thought.”

It was a girl—a petite young woman murmuring as she struggled to carry a tall stack of documents.

Her face was barely visible above the pile, but somehow, she managed to place the stack neatly on the table.

Wiping the sweat off her brow, she let out a relieved sigh.

“Phew, I was worried I might drop it.”

Only then did her full appearance come into view.

She had soft, wheat-colored hair pinned back with two oversized hair clips.

Her expressionless eyes sparkled like gems. Despite her youthful face, which could have easily passed for that of a middle schooler, her outfit told a completely different story—something a professor or a detective might wear.

It was as if she had raided her father’s wardrobe and thrown on clothes far too large for her petite frame.

“Well, look at this. The two of you are finally getting along, reading the script together. Have you finally realized how childish your sibling-like bickering is?”

Her voice carried a tone of maturity that clashed with her youthful appearance.

“…Getting along? That’s a low-quality joke.”

“Representative, please stop talking nonsense the moment you walk in.”

Both Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il retorted simultaneously.

The woman, referred to as “Representative,” simply shook her head.

Surprisingly, this small woman was none other than Kim Lee-seo, the head of Mystic Entertainment, and the one managing both Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju.

“Your remarks are quite inappropriate for someone speaking to their representative. Restrain yourselves.”

The exchange felt less like professional conversation and more like playful banter among friends.

But for the trio at Mystic Entertainment, this was nothing out of the ordinary.

It was simply a typical day in their small agency of just three people: Kim Sun-il, Seo Yeon-ju, and their representative, Kim Lee-seo.

Despite their vastly different personalities, the three had developed a family-like bond, given their tiny team and shared dedication to their work.

“Alright, enough of that. Let’s focus for a moment.”

Kim Lee-seo tapped the tall stack of documents on the table, her face brimming with pride.

“I’ve put together a schedule draft for next year. It includes everything—commercials, films, dramas, variety shows. I’ve carefully selected only the best opportunities. Go ahead and pick what suits you.”

“Hmm, Representative, while these look great…” Seo Yeon-ju began, adjusting her hairband.

“Have you heard of the short film Sword?”

“…Oh? Are you doubting my competence as your representative? Of course, I know about it. How could I not? It’s that ill-fated project, isn’t it?”

Kim Lee-seo smirked slightly and tilted her chin upward.

She placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, standing tall with exaggerated confidence.

She looked like some sort of flying squirrel, ready to glide.

“I personally hold Director Park Jun in high regard, but the situation is just too bad, so I had to exclude it. I can’t throw my precious actors into a pit of fire.”

Her confident voice continued.

“…You might be worried that I’ve brought landmines, but I assure you, there is nothing like that here. I’m speaking with the responsibility of my position as representative.”

Then Kim Sun-il spoke.

“Seo Yeon-ju and I, we’re doing it. Just so you know.”

“Yes. Take your time to review it. Once you’ve made a decision…”

However, Kim Lee-seo’s words were abruptly cut off.

It seemed as though something had caught in her throat, causing her to stop speaking.

She blinked a few times.

A moment of silence passed.

Soon, her body, once like a flying squirrel, slowly curled up.

“…What did you say?”

A moment later.

Kim Lee-seo, the representative, was lying on the floor with her eyes tightly shut. Her hands were respectfully placed on her chest, as if in a pose resembling a mummy.

“Did I not treat you well all this time? I see… that must be it. So, this is how you betray me…”

Her murmurs were pitiful.

She looked like the dying matchstick girl from the fairy tale.

“It’s a relief that humans can die. Then I won’t have to watch my actors throw themselves into hell. I’m planning to die. Please don’t stop me.”

“Tell me when it’s all over. Focus on the script.”

At Kim Sun-il’s words, Kim Lee-seo’s body jerked.

“Really, this is too much.”

“You’re not a little kid, stop making such a scene.”

“I’m not a little kid!”

Representative Kim Lee-seo shouted angrily, like a thunderstruck squirrel.

Anyway, Kim Sun-il’s provocation had worked. The representative, who had been lying motionless, suddenly sat up straight.

“You’re all still very busy. Besides, Sword is already a dead project, so once you express your intent to participate, articles will start flooding the news.”

Her plea sounded sincere.

“Once the articles are out, it’s hard to take them back. If the articles come out and you back out, it’ll be embarrassing, and things will get really complicated.”

At that moment, Seo Yeon-ju spoke up.

“You still have to do it. The one playing the role of Wi Ji-hye is amazing.”

“You should at least tell me who’s playing the role.”

“You won’t know even if I tell you their name.”

“…Are you kidding me? You’re trying to convince me now?”

“But there’s one thing I can tell you for sure.”

Seo Yeon-ju spoke with confidence, narrowing her eyes.

“That person, they landed the role of Kim Yuhan in Special Task Force 808.”

“…?”

Kim Yuhan from Special Task Force 808.

Even Kim Lee-seo, who usually had an expressionless face, couldn’t help but show interest in the bait.

However, soon a question struck her from behind.

Kim Lee-seo tilted her head slightly.

“…The role of Wi Ji-hye is for a woman, and the role of Kim Yuhan is for a man. Did I miss something, or is my understanding just fundamentally wrong?”

Then, Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju continued their explanation.

“Our first meeting was about ‘how I became an actor.’”

“I declared that I would quit suddenly because acting was just a hobby.”

The first meeting, the sudden decision to quit, the process of being cast for the drama, the lukewarm reaction, and her bold actions, despite being a newcomer…

As they explained, there were quite a few details.

The two revealed that Lee Sua had no experience, no agency, and was a complete newcomer.

“…That’s what happened,” Seo Yeon-ju nodded, finishing the explanation.

Silence followed.

For quite a while, there was nothing but silence.

Eventually, Kim Lee-seo’s bewildered gaze turned towards the two actors.

“You want me to believe this?”

But soon she shook her head by herself.

“No, no, that wouldn’t make sense. There’s no reason for you to lie. But…”

Representative Kim Lee-seo shifted her focus.

“…A rookie like that, still without an agency?”

Meanwhile, Lee Sua was still on the phone with Park Jun today.

Perhaps she felt a deep sense of gratitude for landing the role of Wi Ji-hye.

Park Jun was eager to inform her about even the smallest details and would call to report any changes, like a grad student.

Of course, from Sua’s perspective, it wasn’t an unpleasant experience.

She didn’t mind being treated like royalty, and since they weren’t meeting in person, there was no pressure.

‘If we were meeting in person, it would be hard to do the facial expressions right.’

But on the phone, all she had to do was lower her voice a little. It was easy.

Sua repeated to herself.

Image management, image management…

She worked hard at acting, but she was a woman who wasn’t easy to get close to personally. If someone tried to harm her, she’d bite back like a mad dog. A charismatic woman who earned respect…

Sua kept these thoughts in mind as she spoke.

“…What’s the matter today?”

Her voice, now calm and steady, was slowly becoming more composed.

She nervously fiddled with the ears of a bunny doll.

It helped calm her mind, and she felt like her voice came out better when she did this.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve been contacting you too much lately. Has it been uncomfortable? Should I just send reports from now on?”

“Not at all. Besides, why make a report for something like this…”

“I have to do everything for you, Sua. Everything.”

Park Jun emphasized seriously as he continued.

“Sua, the story I’m going to tell you today is simple. You’re like me, so I’m sure you’ll understand.”

“Like you?”

“Yes. People like us, once we become obsessed with something, there’s no compromise or concession. We need to see it through to the end, no matter what. Even if the opponent is ourselves! Don’t you think so?”

Sua briefly reflected on her past.

Even when playing games, she would quickly press the surrender button…

“For me, it’s about artistry. I know that popularity can give you comfort, but I can’t compromise. After all, I chose the director’s path to be recognized for my artistry.”

“I see.”

Sua nodded in acknowledgment.

It was a story she couldn’t quite understand, but still, something made her nod.

It was the change in the special offer.

[Short film ‘Sword’]

‧ Enough elements to implement.

‧ Experience completed / Level 1.

How long has it been since I cheered for a level 1.5? Now it’s actually level 1. For Sua, it was a huge surprise.

‘Isn’t level just about the ratings?’

There were many possible reasons she could guess.

Is it because the director’s passion is burning? Or maybe because Yang Ha-rin is out, so there’s no one to fight with me? Either way, it must be in my favor.

‘I’ll have to look into this later.’

Even while Sua was lost in thought, Park Jun’s passionate speech continued.

“My film ‘Sword’ isn’t aimed at popular commercial success. It’s a work made to win awards.”

“Win awards?”

“Yes. Therefore, we are targeting the Busan International Short Film Festival.”

“Busan International Short Film Festival…?”

For a moment, Sua unconsciously gripped the ears of the bunny doll tightly. International? Does that mean all the films from around the world will be there?

“Yes. The Busan International Short Film Festival is the biggest in our country, right? Though, you probably know that better than I do.”

She learned something new.

She only knew Haeundae in Busan…

“Of course, we won’t be aiming for the international competition section. Given the situation, our plan is to target the Korean competition section first.”

“Aha.”

So, we won’t be competing with films from all over the world. The tension eased slightly.

“Winning would be the best, but honestly, just making it to the finals is already a huge achievement. That alone can be a stepping stone to challenge for the international section, and it counts as a major credential when applying for Korean awards.”

“That makes sense.”

In reality, she didn’t understand it at all.

‘So, if we just make it to the finals, it’s worth it, right?’

That’s what Park Jun said. Just making it to the finals would add a solid line to her filmography.

“Then, reaching the finals must be tough, right?”

“It seems so. I heard this year, they gathered some prestigious judges, and their standards are very high. They evaluate the acting in great detail, for example, overseas—”

Park Jun’s explanation continued for quite a while, and Sua listened attentively.

After all, Sua only had one thing to say.

The rating for the short film ‘Sword’ is continuing to rise!

“I think Director Park just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.”

Yes, even if she didn’t know all the details, Director Park was doing very well.

However.

After that, there was a long silence.

What happened? Did the call drop?

As Sua turned the volume on her phone up to the max, she heard a loud voice.

“Sua!”

“Ugh!”

The loud sound hit her ears.

Sua trembled as if she had been electrocuted. In that moment, she quickly snatched the phone out of the air, just as it slipped from her hand.

“Ugh, w-what’s going on?”

“I’m really touched! I’ll keep working hard! The grace of choosing my work over other luxurious projects! I’ll make sure to repay you!”

It’s just that ‘Sword’ had the highest rating!

Sua hugged the bunny doll tightly with her legs as she spoke.

“…Please, don’t shout.”

Her heart hurt. Her heart…

In the CT Enter representative’s office.

“Director Park, have you finally lost your mind?”

A sneer played at the representative’s lips.

The reason was simple. Park Jun’s team for the short film ‘Sword’ had posted a casting call, and they had just discovered it.

“Director, you really have a lot of attachment to this project, huh? Now you’re even looking through sites to recruit rookies? Seems like you’re desperate to save it.”

“Maybe he mistook it for a part-time job ad.”

Yang Ha-rin chimed in with a cynical tone.

She was sitting on the sofa again today, her gaze fixed on her phone. Her hands were busily indulging in posts related to her.

“How good of actors do you think will come from there? They’ll probably make some college club-level film.”

“Exactly.”

Of course, CT Enter’s response didn’t stop at mockery.

[How did Park Jun fall so far?]

[Short film ‘Sword’… now even posting public casting calls?]

They were meticulously tearing apart every action Park Jun took, and they weren’t going to stop until the project completely crumbled.

“But, Representative…”

Yang Ha-rin spoke up at that moment.

“This is strange.”

“What’s strange?”

Ha-rin opened the casting post on her phone and showed it to the representative.

“This announcement.”

“It’s just a normal casting call, isn’t it?”

“Look closely. It doesn’t mention casting for the role of Wi Ji-hye.”

“Hmm?”

The representative’s eyebrows twitched.

“I, who was playing the role of Wi Ji-hye, have dropped out. So, Director Park inevitably needs to cast for the Wi Ji-hye role…”

“It’s not being cast, so that means…”

The representative reacted as if he had just realized something.

“…You’ve already cast someone. Could it be that he paired up with that newbie, Lee Sua, or whatever her name is? Is he completely out of his mind?”

A brief silence followed.

The silence was, in fact, an affirmation. There was no other possibility.

“This guy’s completely lost it.”

Soon, the representative of CT Enter shook his shoulders with a grim expression.

The situation where he was struggling to save the project and the situation where Lee Sua was cast as the lead. The difference was as vast as the sky and the earth.

…Couldn’t someone see this as Yang Ha-rin being replaced by a mere rookie?

The representative ground his teeth.

He would need to pressure them on who they cast instead of Yang Ha-rin. It would drive them mad. The actors would be nervous and act terribly.

“No more articles about me. I won’t be able to do anything.”

But Ha-rin remained silent.

“What’s the matter, Ha-rin? Is this not enough? Should I look into something else?”

“…No, wait a second.”

However, she raised her hand slightly as if something had come to mind.

She then made a confident expression, as if she had made up her mind, and gave a small shake of her head.

“I don’t think it’s necessary. Instead, let’s leave Director Park to produce the short film.”

“What? So you want us to just sit back and watch?”

“Of course not.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“I’ll participate in another project. A short film festival.”