Chapter 49: Ah? If it’s that scene, then probably…

The video call between Kim Yi-seo and Lee Sua continued.

“…It’s excellent,” was Kim Yi-seo’s immediate reaction after confirming Sua’s appearance. The two conversed while facing each other through the screen.

“Sua, you mean you shot in this exact look?”

“Yes.”

“And this was all your idea?”

Sua nodded, and Kim Yi-seo swallowed her admiration.

“Impressive. Truly impressive.”

Though it was vastly different from the styling Kim Yi-seo had envisioned, the result was undeniably remarkable. In fact, it far exceeded her expectations.

“The lack of an artificial, overdone feel is great. It’s not excessive, and most importantly, it looks natural. This approach will minimize any initial resistance.”

With that thought, Kim Yi-seo carefully observed Sua’s appearance again.

Since the styling had just been undone, some strands of hair stood out unevenly, and her white hair gave off a rough texture overall. Despite that, her distinct features remained striking.

“The feeling of an unfinished piece full of potential… It makes you want to refine and perfect it. That must have been the intention.”

People admire finished works, but they dream when they see the potential of something incomplete. They naturally want to be part of the process of bringing it to completion.

To Kim Yi-seo, Sua’s current look perfectly captured this concept. If even someone with her keen eye could sense it, others would undoubtedly feel the same.

“Sua, you worked hard. You did well,” she said, offering the highest praise she could muster.

Feeling good, the CEO continued.

“By the way, I informed them that you won’t audition for Director Kim Jun-ki’s film. Seo Yeon-ju must have raised a fuss, though. They were practically begging you to at least make an appearance.”

Only then did Sua recall Kim Jun-ki’s movie, Life is All About Money. Oh, right. That existed.

Forgetting about a Class 6 movie was common sense anyway.

“Thank you,” Sua responded briefly.

She was grateful not only to Kim Yi-seo for handling things efficiently but also, oddly, to the mediocre script of Life is All About Money.

After all, it helped her realize the true potential of her privilege and even hone her piano skills and music theory.

“Is my personality changing because of this privilege?” Sua wondered, reflecting on how she’d recently been feeling notably more mature.

It was then that Kim Yi-seo resumed speaking.

“Well, I turned them down with what I thought was the best explanation. I said that as a rookie, you’re focused solely on Special Task Force 808 for now.”

“That sounds like a good enough reason.”

“Good enough? Absolutely. Imagine if I told them your heart wasn’t stirred by their project… They’d have flipped out completely.”

Kim Yi-seo winced at the mere thought of such a confrontation.

“Of course, even with the softened explanation, they’re probably fuming. Director Kim Jun-ki is known for holding grudges. I had a conflict with him once before during discussions about Seo Yeon-ju’s role.”

“He sounds exhausting to deal with.”

“He’s more concerned about saving face than logic. He thinks rookies like you must attend his auditions no matter what. Using younger people’s terms, he’s a classic ‘boomer.'”

Sua merely nodded.

Grudges? Honestly, they didn’t even feel like a penalty to her.

It’s better to endure the repercussions than to fully immerse oneself in a Class 6 film, no matter how you think about it.

That’s right, Sua. Smart choice.

“Just showing up feels odd. It’s like prioritizing attendance over acting. I want to give my best every time.”

Sua was inwardly surprised. Look at that—I’ve changed a bit, haven’t I? I can say things like this so easily now, unlike before.

“I like that attitude of yours, Sua. Besides, if you happened to get accepted, it would only make things harder to back out of later. For now, we just have to deal with the awkwardness with Director Kim Jun-ki’s circle.”

“Understood.”

As Kim Yi-seo quietly observed Sua’s reaction, she thought to herself, She’s not even fazed by the idea of falling out with a renowned director. Is it sheer bravery, or does she have a plan?

Knowing Sua, Yi-seo leaned toward the latter.

For a moment, she imagined Sua building her own team and achieving various milestones, but she quickly dismissed the thought. That’s a story for another time.

The conclusion was clear: what’s done is done.

And most importantly, Yi-seo believed in Sua.

“Sua, do you remember what you told me before?”

“What are you referring to?”

“You said that instead of working on Director Kim Jun-ki’s project, you’d focus on finding works that truly excite you and give it your all.”

“I remember.”

“Good. Then just take your time proving it to me. Someday, you’ll make me feel that trusting you entirely was the right decision.”

It was at that moment that Yi-seo’s phone received a message.

One benefit of using wireless earphones during a video call was that she didn’t have to hold the phone to her ear, allowing her to check the message without interrupting her conversation with Sua.

[Sender: Director Park Jun]
▷ Mystic CEO, I see that you’re on a call, so I’m leaving this message instead. Please check when you can.

Director Park Jun? Isn’t he the one who made the short film “The Sword”?

With no reason to delay, Yi-seo immediately typed a reply.

I’m available to check now. Please go ahead.

▷ How have you been? I’m reaching out after hearing that Sua joined Mystic. Congratulations on the excellent contract.

Thank you. Is that the only reason for your message, or is there more?

▷ Not at all. If possible, could you prepare a dress for Sua? I believe there might be an occasion for it soon.

…A dress?

Yi-seo tilted her head slightly in confusion.

Whether for filming or an event, dresses in the entertainment industry were among the priciest pieces of clothing. Such a request wasn’t made lightly, hence the question mark in her mind.

▷ I’m currently editing The Sword, and it’s turning out to be something special. I know this might sound premature, but I think it might make it to the finals.

Busan International Short Film Festival?

▷ Yes, that’s correct.

Whether The Sword actually made it to the finals or not, Yi-seo couldn’t help but feel pleased by the message.

Director Park Jun had been on a downward spiral recently, his confidence hitting rock bottom. But now, he’s so satisfied with his work that he’s reaching out like this? How much did he like the footage?

It was Sua who had likely brought about this change in Director Park Jun, and since Sua was now part of Mystic Entertainment, it was understandable why Kim Yi-seo felt pleased. There was no reason to decline the request either, especially with her mood uplifted.

“I’ll pick something beautiful.”

▷ “Thank you! Since I’ve made such a request to you, I’ll make sure to give it my absolute best, leaving no room for regrets!”

“Director.”

Sua’s voice came through just then. Kim Yi-seo quickly diverted her gaze from the phone screen and refocused on the call.

“Oh, Sua. I’m sorry, I had an urgent message to check.”

“It’s okay. By the way, could you check if there’s a script related to music? It doesn’t have to revolve around music entirely; even a role that involves music would be fine.”

“…Music?”

Kim Yi-seo tilted her head in curiosity.

As always, it was an unexpected suggestion.

“What’s brought this up all of a sudden?”

Sua paused to think before replying.

“Well, I’ve always had a lot of hobbies, haven’t I?”

Meanwhile, at the Special Task Force 808 filming studio.

With less than a week left until the main shoot, everyone on set was bustling with energy and urgency.

Writer Lee Geum-sook was typing away on her laptop, syncing with the on-site atmosphere, while staff members rushed back and forth, following directions. Leading this whirlwind of activity was PD Choi Hee-won, moving tirelessly as if her shoes’ soles might wear out.

“For this scene, I think it’d be better to use a water cannon. It’s a crime scene, after all, so having the area drenched with rain softly falling would create the right mood.”

“Yes, I agree. A wet ground also gives us the bonus of having the police siren lights reflect beautifully on it. That’ll add a great touch.”

“As expected, you understand exactly what I mean. Now that we’ve gone over everything, could you gather the camera crew for a separate briefing? Let’s review it again as a team.”

“Understood!”

This wasn’t just about the passion of the production team. Even Kim Sun-il could be seen meticulously checking the movements and setups throughout the site.

Staff members murmured as they watched him.

“Sun-il is incredibly diligent.”

“He’s always cared deeply about this project. Even during casting, he paid attention to every detail. Honestly, I didn’t think he’d be that invested at first, but now I can see he deserves the praise. That’s pure dedication.”

And it wasn’t just Kim Sun-il. Park Do-hee, Hwang Myeong-pil, and other actors also appeared on set to practice their performances. Their reasoning was clear—they wanted to match their acting to the environment.

For the production team, it was both a joy and a surprise. After all, filming locations were rarely this welcoming. Most were bleak and downright chilling.

“In 30 minutes, we’ll do another status check! I’m taking a short break now, and I suggest everyone else take it easy and rest occasionally too!”

After shouting this out, PD Choi Hee-won walked over to writer Lee Geum-sook, who stretched her arms, signaling she was ready for a break as well.

“My body feels stiff. I’m exhausted.”

“How’s the script coming along?”

“This is as far as I can go with my current skills. I’ll need to watch the actors’ performances to tweak the rest. Their acting will guide the final adjustments.”

“You’re saying things that’ll make the actors shed tears of blood.”

“If you want to join my project, you should at least be prepared for this much.”

For a while, Lee Geum-sook and PD Choi Hee-won chatted casually, but soon, neither of them spoke a word. It wasn’t due to awkwardness—they were simply too drained to keep talking. Both were utterly exhausted.

And then it happened.

“Well, it seems Sua…”

“…Really? A project by Director Kim Jun-ki?”

Lee Geum-sook and Choi Hee-won perked up. Normally, they wouldn’t care about idle chatter, but anything involving Sua piqued their interest without fail.

Unable to resist their curiosity, they moved closer and asked, “Were you talking about Sua? I want to hear this too.”

“Oh, well…”

Everyone exchanged glances, hesitating to speak.

“Are you serious? You all know I’m interested in Sua as well.”

“No, it’s nothing, or maybe it is something? Have you heard about Director Kim Jun-ki’s new project?”

“Is Money Everything in Life? Of course, I know about it.”

“Well, word has it that Sua turned down the audition for that project.”

“…What?”

Lee Geum-sook and Choi Hee-won blinked in unison.

“She wasn’t rejected—she rejected it? Director Kim Jun-ki’s project? Where is this even coming from?”

“There’s a manager under Director Kim named Seo Jae-woo. Apparently, he got a harsh dressing-down. The rumor started when he got drunk at a gathering and complained about it. He swore it was a secret, but, well, this industry doesn’t do secrets, right? That’s why the story spread.”

Someone leaking information while drunk wasn’t surprising—it happened often in this ruthless industry. People would even be forced to drink to extract information.

But what truly shocked writer Lee Geum-sook and PD Choi Hee-won was the fact that Sua had turned down a project by Director Kim Jun-ki.

Looking at each other, they remarked, “Wasn’t Director Kim planning to lower the age rating to 15 for this project? It seemed manageable. Why didn’t she take it?”

“…Exactly. Plus, the schedule is set for the latter half of this year. It wouldn’t have conflicted with Sua’s commitments.”

As they turned for an explanation, Park Do-hee merely shrugged her shoulders.

“She said she wants to focus on her current project. That’s how she declined.”

Park Do-hee gestured with her chin toward the actors gathered nearby.

“That’s why so many actors are here today. If Sua, who’s the lead and an excellent actress, gave up a masterpiece to focus on this project, we can’t slack off either.”

Of course, this was a huge misunderstanding of Sua’s intentions, but it was enough to deeply move Lee Geum-sook and Choi Hee-won.

Both thought the same thing simultaneously.

…She gave up such a good opportunity? For the sake of our project?

After distancing themselves from the chatting actors, writer Lee Geum-sook and PD Choi Hee-won exchanged glances and murmured, “I’m touched. Sua cares about our project that much.”

“But Sua’s personality isn’t one to act purely out of sentimentality, is it? Just think back to the contract negotiations. It likely means something didn’t align with her calculations…”

PD Choi Hee-won seemed to have an idea as she spoke.

“Do you think she might have sensed something?”

“Sensed something?”

“Yes. Like, Special Task Force 808 and The Sword succeed, but Director Kim Jun-ki’s new project encounters some kind of trouble or something…”

“Come on, that’s ridiculous. She’s not some fortune teller.”

“You’re right, I feel silly for even saying that.”

Both shook their heads simultaneously.

If something like that actually happened, it would send chills down their spines. But why did it seem oddly believable when it came to Lee Sua?

At that moment, they were interrupted.

“PD! PD Choi Heewon!”

The film’s sound director was running toward PD Choi Heewon.

However, this time felt different from usual. Normally, he’d just run over, but now he was holding a phone, running as though he had to hand it over urgently.

“What’s the matter?”

The sound director, not even bothering to wipe his sweat, replied, “Here, PD, it’s… well…”

“Calm down and speak. What’s going on?”

“I think you should take this call first.”

The urgency in the sound director’s demeanor was unusual. This piqued PD Choi Heewon’s curiosity as he hesitantly took the phone.

“Hello, this is PD Choi Heewon.”

“Yes, it’s me, Director Ko Tae-min.”

“Director Ko Tae-min? Wait, Ko Tae-min? The Director Ko Tae-min?”

PD Choi Heewon’s usually stoic expression turned wide-eyed in surprise.

“I was chatting here and there with your team, and I thought this was something worth discussing directly with you, so I asked to be put through. I hope I’m not interrupting the sound team’s busy schedule with this request.”

“Of course not! Please feel free to speak.”

PD Choi Heewon straightened up, taking a formal tone.

It was only natural. Director Ko Tae-min was a highly esteemed figure. To PD Choi Heewon’s knowledge, Ko Tae-min even chaired a group that included renowned directors like Kim Jun-ki and Park Jun.

“I heard your main shoot starts in five days?”

“Yes, that’s correct. We’re all pushing forward like mad. I’ve heard that you’re working on a music-focused film project yourself.”

“Indeed. While discussing with some sound directors, I heard some exciting things. Apparently, the composer working on your background score is especially passionate. It made me curious about the atmosphere on set. I want to see for myself what kind of energy inspires that level of dedication.”

“When you say you’re curious about the atmosphere…”

“Yes. I’d like to visit your set and take a look.”

“Oh, that won’t be an issue at all. Please come!”

PD Choi Heewon agreed enthusiastically.

It was common for high-profile directors or actors to visit other sets, and having someone like Ko Tae-min visit would be an honor.

And then, he added something unexpected.

“And Park Do-hee, she’s part of your cast, right?”

“Do-hee? Yes, she’s here.”

Director Ko Tae-min brought up something surprising.

“Do-hee actually auditioned for one of my projects before. Her performance was a bit ambiguous, so I kept her on hold. But I’ve been hearing recently that she did exceptionally well in that mock shoot for Special Task Force 808. Apparently, it was amazing?”

“Ah? That scene must have been with Sua…”

“I heard it was the performance of a lifetime. I’d like to see it myself.”