Chapter 10: The Second Work. (1)
Stepping out of the van in front of a towering building, Kim Si-woo stared up at it in a daze.
“What are you doing? Not coming in?” Shim Ji-young called out.
Snapping out of it, Kim Si-woo looked at her, confused about why he was even there.
“Why are we here…?”
“Why? To sign a contract.”
“A contract?”
Caught off guard by the word, Kim Si-woo quickly regained his composure.
“You mean for the script I wrote?”
“Yup, your script. Gotta stamp it before anyone else snatches it.”
“Oh…”
At that moment, he had no idea how fired up Shim Ji-young was—or what changes her enthusiasm would bring.
Inside, the building’s lavish interior lived up to the reputation of a top agency for successful actors. As Kim Si-woo glanced at the framed photos of actors and their projects lining the walls, a question popped into his mind.
“Where’s your picture, noona?”
“Me? Over there.”
She pointed to a corner where a single, modest profile photo hung.
“Oh…”
Realizing his mistake, Kim Si-woo let out a small sigh, but Shim Ji-young responded with a confident smile.
“Don’t worry. Soon my picture will be up there, big and bold.”
Assuming she meant Revenger’s success, Kim Si-woo followed her lead. Until they reached the elevator, Shim Ji-young was greeted by countless people—agency staff, cleaning crew, actors, and their managers—all of whom she returned with a bright smile.
“You’re pretty popular, huh?” Kim Si-woo remarked.
“Of course. I mean, look at my stunning beauty,” she teased.
But Kim Si-woo knew it was her kind nature that drew people to her. They took the elevator to the eighth floor, where a meeting room was already filled with people waiting.
“Everyone’s here?” Shim Ji-young asked.
“Shim, what’s this about? You didn’t even tell us why you called us here,” one person said.
“I’m going to make a movie.”
“A movie? Didn’t you just wrap one?”
Her sudden announcement, after lamenting about finishing a film two months ago, left everyone stunned.
“Not that one. I got a new script.”
“What? From where?”
“Right here.”
Shim Ji-young pushed Kim Si-woo forward.
“This is the writer who wrote it.”
“Uh… haha, hi. I’m Kim Si-woo.”
- Hello…
The group exchanged awkward greetings, then quickly searched for Kim Si-woo on their phones, assuming someone Shim Ji-young brought in so boldly must have an impressive resume. But finding no information, they looked back at him.
“Is… Kim Si-woo a pen name?”
“No, it’s my real name.”
“Oh… one moment.”
The president of Triple Actors sent Kim Si-woo out of the room before raising his voice.
“Shim Ji-young! Are you out of your mind?”
He’d sent Kim Si-woo out for his sake, but the glass walls were too thin to block the conversation, and Kim Si-woo heard everything.
“No, I’m perfectly sane, sunbaenim,” Shim Ji-young shot back.
“Ugh… what have you dragged in this time?”
As the president rubbed his forehead, others in the room chimed in.
“Come on, Shim, take a step back this time. We barely got approval for Revenger.”
“What’s wrong with an actor auditioning for a role they want? How’s that bad for my image?”
“With your reputation, auditioning for a supporting role is…”
Shim Ji-young’s face darkened at their words.
“Sigh… how about just reading the script first?”
“Are you serious? I know you’ve had bad luck with projects, so I pushed more commercials your way. Do you have to do this?”
“Sunbaenim!” Shim Ji-young exploded.
“When did I ever ask for commercials? I’m an actor! I want to act, not shoot ads!”
“Ji-young, that’s not what I meant…”
“Then just read the script!”
“…”
Unable to resist her plea, the president took the script she handed him.
“God, who’s going to tame your stubbornness? Everyone, clear out. I’ll read this, and we’ll meet again later.”
At his command, the room emptied, and Shim Ji-young brought Kim Si-woo back inside.
“Si-woo, I’m sorry. I dragged you here, and…”
“It’s fine. I get it. This is a business, after all. They can’t just jump in blindly.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
While the president reviewed the script, Shim Ji-young took Kim Si-woo to the fifth floor, where the agency’s cafeteria was located.
“Let’s eat. You haven’t eaten, right?”
“Yeah… I came straight from waking up.”
“Our company has great food. The president said the worst part of being an actor was going hungry, so he provides free meals for all our actors and staff.”
“Sounds like a good boss.”
“That’s why I signed with them. He may not be the most skilled, but he’s got a good heart.”
Shim Ji-young, speaking ambiguously, grabbed a tray and skillfully loaded it with side dishes.
While eating, Shim Ji-young scanned the cafeteria, searching for someone, then turned to Kim Si-woo.
“Si-woo, what about that guy? Perfect for a villain, right?”
“Hm… not bad.”
“He may not look it, but he was top of his class in acting at university.”
“Oh… okay.”
For some reason, Shim Ji-young kept promoting her agency’s actors.
“What’s with the lukewarm reaction?” she asked.
“No, I just don’t get why you’re bringing this up.”
“Well…” Shim Ji-young hesitated, embarrassed to admit her intentions outright.
“I mean… I just want our agency’s actors to…”
“What?”
When Kim Si-woo, unable to hear her soft voice, asked again, she smacked his shoulder.
“I’m saying, use a lot of our agency’s actors for this movie! Got it?”
“Oh… do whatever you want. You’re the lead—would you really pick bad actors and ruin it?”
“…”
Surprised by his nonchalant trust, Shim Ji-young stared at him as he casually ate, visibly moved.
***
Meanwhile, upstairs, the president of Triple Actors was flipping through the script at breakneck speed.
“What is this?”
He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a revenge story, trendy yet fresh, with a plot that felt like a foreign film. The quality was unbelievable for a rookie writer.
“Sigh…”
Halfway through, he was already convinced. This project wouldn’t flop. Knowing how desperately Shim Ji-young had yearned for a breakout role, she’d likely handpick the director and actors herself, fulfilling her long-held dream.
“If I’d known, I would’ve read it earlier. But who says ‘yes, let’s make it’ when an unknown rookie writer is brought in out of nowhere?”
The president rubbed his head, regretting how he’d treated Kim Si-woo.
‘He won’t back out because he’s offended, right?’
‘If he does, Ji-young won’t let it slide…’
‘When are they coming back?’
An hour later, Shim Ji-young, fueled by coffee, and Kim Si-woo, sipping fruit juice, returned to the meeting room.
“So? Made a decision? If you say no even after reading it, I’m out of this agency. If your judgment’s that bad, there’s no reason for me to stay.”
“Don’t say that. My head’s already pounding.”
Shim Ji-young smiled, sensing his words meant approval.
‘Even sunbaenim can’t say no to a script like this, especially knowing how much I’ve wanted this.’
“Wait, I’ll call everyone back.”
“Okay.”
She grinned at Kim Si-woo, who shrugged. Soon, the same group reassembled.
“President, you’re really going through with this?”
“What choice do I have? The actor wants it, and honestly, the script’s good.”
The president issued quick orders.
“First, pull a list of production companies.”
- Yes, sir.
As the staff scrambled, Shim Ji-young handed Kim Si-woo a contract from the agency’s lawyer.
“Read it. Ask if anything’s unclear.”
The contract was straightforward: the script, titled ‘Don’t Forget’, could only be used with Shim Ji-young as the lead. Kim Si-woo retained all other rights, and in exchange, Shim Ji-young would pay him 300 million won.
Kim Si-woo rubbed his eyes three times, rereading the contract. The 300 million won, even if the film wasn’t made, was a massive incentive.
‘Is this the power of an actress? How much do top-tier actors make?’
He wasn’t the only one shocked.
“Why 300 million?!” the president exclaimed.
“Because it’s worth it,” Shim Ji-young replied.
“Ugh… I’ll never understand you.”
Resigned, the others let her have her way, and Shim Ji-young, finally getting what she wanted, smiled triumphantly. She then turned to Kim Si-woo, who was still fixated on the 300 million.
“Any directors or actors in mind?”
Kim Si-woo, who only knew how to write and had no industry connections, shook his head. Shim Ji-young, expecting this, suggested they attend key meetings together to build his network.
“That sounds like a hassle,” he grumbled.
He just wanted to sleep at home. But her offer to connect him with directors and actors was a thoughtful gesture he couldn’t outright dismiss.
“No way. You’re sticking with me starting today.”
“What?”
“We’ll start with this meeting.”
“No, just do whatever you want. I’m going home—”
“Nope.”
Thus, ‘Don’t Forget’ officially kicked into gear.
***
The next evening, every actor at Triple Actors received a copy of the script, and those interested began preparing for auditions.
Meanwhile, Kim Si-woo, dragged somewhere yet again, glared at Shim Ji-young with a face full of complaints.
“Where are we going now? I’m exhausted.”
“Then take a quick nap.”
“Fine.”
As if waiting for permission, Kim Si-woo reclined his seat and dozed off. Watching him, Shim Ji-young smiled, as if hiding something…