Chapter 26: I’ll Be Back

The interview room was in chaos.

The situation was already bad, and now there were two more interviewees added.

In fact, this alone was enough to cheer, but the shock that everyone needed to absorb didn’t end here.

The identities of the newcomers were Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il.

The room fell silent as no one had predicted this turn of events.

Shouting in surprise is only possible when you’re moderately surprised, but what unfolded in front of everyone now was a surprise of another level.

Everyone’s eyes widened as they scrambled to understand the situation.

In the end, it was Seo Yeon-ju who broke the silence again.

“…Sua, you’re the only one who isn’t reacting? You’re not surprised?”

She directed a comment towards Lee Sua.

Immediately, all eyes shifted to Sua.

Her expression was close to flawless, without a hint of surprise.

In fact, her gaze wasn’t even directed at Kim Sun-il or Seo Yeon-ju. It was still fixed on the interviewee who was performing.

This caused confusion and surprise to bubble up from all around.

‘Her concentration doesn’t break even in this situation. It’s extraordinary.’

‘Is she not at all surprised by Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju?’

‘She’s a woman I’m seeing for the first time today, but she’s really something.’

Of course, the actual situation was different for the person in question.

‘Ouch.’

Sua winced, feeling the pain from accidentally biting her tongue, and mumbled.

To say she was unresponsive wasn’t entirely accurate. In fact, her current state was more like being “petrified” or “frozen.”

…She was so shocked that she had actually frozen up.

The reason she kept her eyes on the interviewee?

It was because she couldn’t even bring herself to look at the two actors who had suddenly appeared. She might have jumped in shock if she had.

‘What in the world is going on?’

The situation with “Geum” was not looking good, so it was hard to understand. Would such high-profile actors voluntarily jump into the fire?

Wondering if Park Jun had any answers, she turned to look at him, but saw nothing of value. He too was sitting there with a blank expression.

‘Could this be what they meant by a top-tier script?’

If Sua’s guess was correct, it meant that the script’s rating could change depending on the actors involved, which was an important factor.

‘Well, whatever. It’s still a good thing for me…?’

She couldn’t understand it at all, but it was certainly beneficial. As Sua was trying to recover from the confusion in her mind, she heard a voice.

“I was hoping to finally see you surprised, but instead of being shocked, you’re not even welcoming.”

Sua thought to herself, Not at all.

She was surprised, and was more than happy to see them. She had been struggling with the fact that there were no candidates for the role of Haryeong among the interviewees, so how could she not be glad?

“Do you not like me, Sua?”

Seo Yeon-ju asked playfully, smiling gently.

Sua only stiffened further, nervous and careful with her words. She was worried about making a mistake, especially since she had bought a rabbit doll for Seo Yeon-ju’s card…

“No, welcome.”

“Now that you say that, I’m kind of scared, you know?”

Seo Yeon-ju smiled more brightly, and Sua found herself thinking about many things. Like, Did she report that incident to the police?

But Sua quickly snapped back to her senses. Ah, no need to think about that. The important thing now is completing the work with the value of a top-tier script.

“…You’re interested in the role of Haryeong?”

“Of course. Why? Ah, I get it.”

Seo Yeon-ju shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

“You think I won’t be able to pull it off, huh? Should I be auditioning right in front of you, Sua?”

Her playful confidence didn’t come across as arrogant at all. Instead, her bright and lively demeanor blended seamlessly with her purity. At least, that’s how it felt to Sua.

‘Seo Yeon-ju should definitely be cast. Is there any doubt about that…’

She’s pretty. She acts well. She has a great personality.

There was no reason to reject her, and it would be impossible for Sua to act as the interviewer and turn her down. Seo Yeon-ju was already a proven actor.

Sua nodded.

“You can take the role of Haryeong. But you should be prepared.”

Since the investment and other matters were unresolved, the warning was meant to indicate that the project could fall apart. However, it seemed to have been interpreted differently.

A spark seemed to flicker in Seo Yeon-ju’s eyes.

“Of course. I’m not about to be easily overshadowed by a rookie. Rather, I hope Sua is prepared for this.”

…It seemed like something else had been provoked.

As Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il continued to blend into the atmosphere, Son Jia, the spy sent from CT Enter, still hadn’t picked up her phone.

…What on earth is going on here?

The appearances of Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju were shocking, but surprisingly, everyone had adjusted to it fairly quickly. However, there was one thing that still baffled Son Jia.

Lee Sua. The new rookie she hadn’t even known about.

‘Since Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il arrived, they’ve only been paying attention to Lee Sua.’

‘“Geum” is definitely Director Park Jun’s project, yet after Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il entered, they’ve only been looking at Sua, as if all the decision-making power rests with that rookie.’

That alone could be understandable. After all, there are many reasons behind things in this world. But what Son Jia found most incomprehensible was Lee Sua’s attitude.

‘What, treating Seo Yeon-ju like some aspiring actress?’

Even though Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju had arrived, there was no sign of any warm reception. If anything, she seemed uncomfortable with the commotion, looking more displeased than welcoming.

…Her expression seemed as though she could even cut Seo Yeon-ju from the project.

‘This is giving me a headache. How should I report this? No, I should just report it as it is. But would they even believe it if I do?’

While Son Jia was still confused, Park Jun spoke up.

“Ah, well, Yeon-ju, Sun-il, there aren’t any chairs left. Please, sit here for now…”

Despite his flustered words, Park Jun still used formal language. Even though they were speaking casually, he knew how to keep the professional and personal separate.

He even stood up to create space for Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il to sit, and the other interviewees behaved similarly.

It was like an instinctive reaction when seeing famous people.

However, Kim Sun-il shook his head.

“I’m fine as a supporting role, and Seo Yeon-ju is Haryeong. This is enough.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it, but I’m still so shocked. Just like that, all of a sudden? What is this all about?”

“Well, actually…”

Seo Yeon-ju opened her mouth.

“I didn’t come here just because I like the script.”

“…Then, why did you come?”

“Well, I’m not sure. What could the reason be?”

Seo Yeon-ju responded playfully, rolling her eyes and locking gazes with Sua at the same time.

She stared at Sua intently.

Sua felt a chill.

Me? She came because of me? No, that can’t be.

Meanwhile, Kim Sun-il placed a stack of scripts in front of Park Jun.

“Anyway, I didn’t come here just for fun. Look at this part. Seo Yeon-ju even underlined it in the script.”

“…Are you crazy? Why are you taking someone else’s script? Oh, by the way, it’s almost time to go. Director, we’ve delivered everything.”

Seo Yeon-ju waved her hand.

“Then, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

With those words, they left. Park Jun, still holding his bewildered head, had to continue with the interviews.

What was interesting was that after they left, the atmosphere of the interviews changed completely. It was like the world had turned upside down.

“Truly, if you are going to pass, please cut my head off.”

“That’s impossible!”

Before, everyone looked like they regretted coming here, but now it was very different.

Actors continued their performances, desperately pleading for their selection, as though they were heroic warriors saving the world from an evil king.

Watching all of this, Sua couldn’t help but feel it. The power of a famous actor’s name was incredibly strong. It was impressive.

And then, a little later, finally.

When the interviews ended and only the two of them were left.

“Sua! Sua!”

Park Jun immediately leaned in toward Sua.

“Unbelievable! How did this happen? Did you have a hand in this, Sua?”

Sua remained silent. What did she know to answer?

It was then that Park Jun’s phone rang.

“Yes. Hello? This is an unknown number, who is this?”

Soon, Park Jun widened his eyes and stood up.

“Ah? Is this the CEO Kim Yi-seo from Mystic Enter? Ah, I know! Yeon-ju and Sun-il’s agency. Yes, is there something you need…?”

The call continued.

“Yes, feel free to speak. I’m listening.”

The call lasted quite a while, during which Park Jun occasionally glanced at Sua. As if Sua’s presence was the subject of the conversation.

Then, at some point.

“Excuse me?”

He suddenly collapsed. Not in his chair, but onto the floor.

“…”

“…You’re saying you’ll cover the full investment?”

He muttered, as though his soul had left his body.

The next morning.

Even though Sua had woken up, she hadn’t gotten out of bed yet. She absentmindedly toyed with the rabbit doll’s ears, feeling a strange, complex emotion.

She felt mixed emotions—happy, yet curious, and just… overwhelmed.

First, she tried to recall what had happened yesterday.

‘What is this? Everything got solved at once.’

The short film “The Sword” had many problems.

How would they gather investors? What about the actors?

But all of those problems were suddenly solved at once.

The representative from Mystic appeared out of nowhere, resolving every doubt and question.

“…What’s going on?”

After thinking for a moment, Sua decided to let go of these thoughts.

There were things she couldn’t know right now, and it would only be a waste of time to dwell on them.

That’s right, it was much more important to think about what she needed to do moving forward.

She now had the chance to work on a top-tier script, and not just one, but two.

Just thinking about the tasks ahead made her feel a sense of happiness.

“Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju. Somehow, we ended up working on both projects together.”

She muttered to herself, still amazed. Was this for real?

Suddenly, thoughts of her friend, the entertainment reporter, crossed her mind.

What would she think if she found out that Sua was working with those two actors? Would she make a huge fuss, calling it a scoop? Maybe she’d get promoted quickly.

Should I reach out to her after a long time?

“No, no matter how I think about it, that’s not a good idea.”

She quickly slapped her palm to her face.

Tap, tap, tap. No time for unnecessary excitement. Do I really have the time to be meddling in other people’s business right now?

“Lee Sua, this isn’t the time to be meddling. It’s time to focus on not being seen as an annoying newcomer…”

For Sua, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but if it led to failure, that would be a disaster.

She needed to use this chance to build a solid foundation for future success.

And for that, there was only one thing to focus on:

“Acting!”

Acting skills were the key.

Only acting mattered.

“Do my best. Do my best…”

Sua repeated it to herself as she checked the package that had arrived at her door.

Finally, the script for Kim Yuhan’s role had arrived.

…The box is pretty big?

Maybe it was the reason for the protective packaging, but the weight was also substantial.

Whoooosh—!

After opening the package with a cutter knife, the distinct smell of paper filled the air, tickling her nose.

There were five scripts staring up at her.

“…Is it normal for a drama to have this many scripts?”

As she took them out one by one, she found a note from the writer.

[Just in case, I’ve sent all of them to Sua. You only need to read the final version, but if you have time, try reading the others as well. I want to see the answers you find on camera.]

What were the other scripts besides the final version? And what did the writer mean by “try to find your answer”?

Sua tilted her head for a moment, but after activating her special ability, she understood what the writer, Lee Geum-sook, meant.

[Special Forces Unit 808 Final Version]

[Special Forces Unit 808 Kim Yuhan A Option]

[Special Forces Unit 808 Kim Yuhan B Option]

“Ah, so that’s what she meant by sending everything.”

Even Sua, who struggled with assembling Lego pieces, understood this time!

From the start, Kim Yuhan’s role was one that had nothing confirmed.

In the end, it seemed that they had given Sua the discretion.

The idea was probably to read through it and choose what she thought was most suitable.

Usually, it would take an actor a long time to go through everything…

“…Does it really matter? I have special privileges, after all.”

Once the thought crossed her mind, a rosy image spread in her head.

She imagined herself performing perfectly in front of the camera, the director giving an emotional thumbs-up.

Sua would gracefully sweep her hair back, and everyone would hold her hands, begging, “Please take me, please take my wealth.”

No, wait—what am I doing?

Sua stopped her thoughts, her face turning red.

“Ahem.”

She cleared her throat, then quietly entered the special area’s phone booth. She decided to focus on practicing properly.

[Special Forces Unit 808 Final Version]

• Implementation elements sufficient
  Experience completed/Level 1
  001 – Kim Yuhan
  002 – Lee Kang-chul
  003 – Ha Yoon-jin…

Sua dialed. This time, she chose 002.

She had decided to familiarize herself with all the scripts, but that didn’t mean she was only going to experience Kim Yuhan’s role.

She planned to experience every character’s perspective. Learning how Kim Yuhan is seen through others’ eyes would be helpful too.

Ssss—!

Sua focused on the script experience, even skipping meals.

No, actually, it would be more accurate to say she forgot she was even hungry.

The experience turned out to be more fun than she expected.

Three days later.

The excitement of diving into her first project and the fun of experiencing the scripts.

The combination of these two factors kept Sua immersed in script experiences for three days, and she finally went out for the first time in a while. It was because Park Jun had called her.

The destination was a cafe with a rather eerie interior, but the dim lighting didn’t feel oppressive. It was because Park Jun was smiling so brightly.

“Sua! Over here!”

Park Jun waved his hand, looking far more dashing than before. He was also laughing much more frequently than she had seen him do in the past.

Sua understood why he was so joyful. After all, he had finally gotten the chance to create the project he had longed for.

However.

What Sua couldn’t understand was this:

“Sua, thank you so much. The reason my project was able to secure investment is all thanks to you.”

Park Jun credited Sua for securing the investment.

Of course, Sua couldn’t understand and blinked in confusion.

“Wait, didn’t you say Mystic Entertainment was the one investing?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Park Jun nodded happily, which only made it even more puzzling to Sua.

Mystic Entertainment? I have no idea.

The representative of Mystic Entertainment? Of course, I don’t know who they are.

“The representative from the agency seems very interested in you, Sua. Not only did they allow the participation of both actors, but they also promised to invest the funds. Thanks to that, everything is—”

So why are they interested in me?

After that, Park Jun excitedly continued talking.

He mentioned that thanks to the fame of Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il, other roles were easily introduced, and that Mystic Entertainment helped secure a good film company…

…I don’t know. I really don’t. Sua just nodded her head.

How much time passed after that?

Tap.

Park Jun placed several film photographs on the desk.

Inside the square frames were dense forests with tall trees, which seemed rather eerie to Sua.

“This is a cypress forest located in Wanju, Jeonbuk. We’ll probably be filming our movie here.”

“I see.”

“Actually, just the fact that I’m telling you about the filming location is overwhelming. I thought it was all going to fall apart…”

“…It’s lucky the shares weren’t sold.”

Sua spoke honestly, and Director Park grinned.

“Yeah, that’s true. And this is all thanks to you, Sua.”

After that, Sua received thanks several times, was handed the script, and was also briefed on the schedule.

“We’re aiming to wrap things up quickly. We’re starting filming in two weeks and plan to finish it all in that week.”

When she received the exact dates, she felt a wave of emotions. She was also nervous. The realization that she would be standing in front of the camera hit her strongly.

While signing the contract, Sua briefly said, “I’ll do my best.”

She meant it.

Time passed swiftly.

“What did you say? Hey, are you serious, Imma? Son Jia. Are you really saying this?”

After receiving the report from Son Jia at CT Entertainment:

[Seungji: I’m so busy, I’m dying…]

[Seungji: Ugh, where’s the scoop? 😭]

[Deer: Who wants to play a game?]

[Monkeying: Breaking news, breaking news]

[Yang Ha-rin is going to the Short Film Festival!!!] Monkeying:

[Monkeying: It’s a work by Director Jo E-shin, I heard?]

It was a typical noisy group chat.

[Unstored number]

[It’s Kim Yi-seo, the representative of Mystic Entertainment. I hope we can meet briefly and talk.] Sua,

And there was contact from the representative of Mystic Entertainment.

[Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il start the mock filming for ‘Special Forces Unit 808.’]

[Seo Yeon-ju… How prepared is she for the mock filming? Just as usual.]

[The mysterious Kim Yuhan—Will he join the mock filming?]

[Refused to cover the mock filming. What are they hiding that’s so big?]

Articles continued to pour in, albeit sporadically.

“Oops.”

Ignoring all of that, Sua put on her shoes from the shoe rack. She took a deep breath while looking at herself in the mirror beside her.

“Whooo…”

Finally, the time had come.

The day of the mock filming for Special Forces Unit 808.

“I’ll be back.”

After hugging her rabbit doll tightly, Sua left her house.

She had finished experiencing all the scripts and all the roles.