Chapter 17: The Struggles of a Writer. (3)
Waking up after a deep sleep, Kim Si-woo scratched his bedhead and sat at his desk. He stared at the stack of actor profiles, deep in thought.
“I made some choices last night, but looking at them now, I’m second-guessing myself.”
Thankfully, Han Seung-jin had told him not to worry about budget constraints, which made the process easier. Still, Kim Si-woo wanted actors who fit his vision of the characters, even if they were unknowns.
“First, let’s set this one aside.”
The first profile he excluded was Jung Se-yeon’s. She had everything—fame, acting skill, and a perfect fit for the character. The only issue was her fee, but since Han Seung-jin said not to worry, her casting was a no-brainer.
With Jung Se-yeon sorted, Kim Si-woo turned to the remaining roles with a serious expression.
- Son, come eat!
“Coming.”
He headed to the living room for lunch: beef bulgogi. Prepared by his mother to welcome her hard-working son home… or so he thought.
“Wow, this is so good! I was craving bulgogi yesterday,” his mother exclaimed, devouring it like a whirlwind.
‘…She didn’t make this for me. She just wanted to eat it herself.’
After lunch, Kim Si-woo returned to his room and resumed studying the profiles.
“This one’s a great actor, but their image doesn’t match. This one fits the image perfectly but lacks acting skill… If only they could combine.”
Unable to decide, he called Shim Ji-young.
“Hello?”
- What’s up? You calling me for once?
“I’ve got a question.”
- Ask away.
He explained his dilemma: an actor with great skill but the wrong image versus one with the perfect image but weaker acting. Shim Ji-young gave a surprisingly Simple answer.
- Pick the one who’s hungrier.
“Hungrier?”
- Yeah, desperate people work harder on set and try to fit the vibe. Like Kim Ji-hyun was, though who knows how she’ll change. Sometimes, hungry actors suddenly improve their skills or transform their image. Not always, but it happens. And don’t stress too much. You wrote this script—you know better than anyone who fits. Trust your gut. Fighting!
“You’re right. Thanks for the advice.”
After the call, Kim Si-woo recalled her words and started searching the actors online. The internet provided a wealth of information, helping him make decisions. Some actors were just unlucky, others had scandals, and some had no clear reason for obscurity. One actor he’d been considering had a criminal record.
“Ugh… disqualified.”
A DUI conviction, which to Kim Si-woo was as bad as murder, ruled them out.
“No amount of hunger covers that.”
He double-checked to ensure he wasn’t overly swayed by desperation. This was a job, after all—they were professionals, not amateurs. Skill had to come first, with hunger as a secondary factor. Shim Ji-young’s advice and his online research were invaluable. By the end of the day, he finalized his choices and compiled the audition results.
“Time to send this to President Han.”
[Audition Results List]
He attached the file and sent it. Ten minutes later, a reply came.
[Confirmed.]
Relieved, Kim Si-woo collapsed onto his bed, ready for real rest.
***
The next morning, Kim Si-woo had planned to sleep in.
Bzzz.
He wanted to sleep in.
Bzzz.
His inconsiderate phone was buzzing relentlessly early in the morning.
“Argh! Who is it?!”
Kicking off his blanket, he grabbed the phone and calmed down when he saw the caller’s name.
“Hello?”
- Is this Kim Si-woo?
“Yes.”
- This is Lee Hae-soo from Blue Law Firm. The lawsuits you requested have been filed.
It was the lawyer from Blue Law Firm calling bright and early.
“Thank you.”
- Would you like us to handle meetings or contact with the defendants?
“If that’s okay with you.”
- Got it! We’ll take care of it. I’ll reach out if there’s anything new.
“Alright, thanks.”
After hanging up, his hopes of sleeping in were dashed.
‘Guess I’m awake now…’
“Alright, time for some gaming.”
With no friends free on a weekday morning, he fired up his computer. Being a writer hadn’t changed his lifestyle much—it felt like being unemployed again after cashing a paycheck.
‘Like a jobless guy who just got paid.’
But less than an hour in, he quit the game.
“Boring. So boring. Time to eat and shower.”
Gaming, eating, showering—his routine was identical to his unemployed days.
‘Am I doing this right?’
Despite his recent hustle, compared to office workers slaving away five or six days a week, he still felt like a slacker. The longer he went without working, the more a creeping sense of urgency settled in his mind.
After finishing his meal and shower, Kim Si-woo returned to his room and sat at his computer, opening the document file again.
“Might as well write something.”
To shake off his growing anxiety, he started typing.
As the premiere of Revenger approached, public anticipation was sky-high. The production company had invested heavily in promotion, with actors appearing nonstop on TV and YouTube. Shim Ji-young and Kim Ji-hyun were no exceptions.
“I can’t believe I was drinking with celebrities not long ago,” Kim Si-woo mused.
Kim Ji-hyun, in particular, was gaining attention. Her relentless effort on every show solidified her image as a hardworking rookie, earning her public favor.
“Ji-young noona seemed annoyed about her… Do women see her differently?”
Since rejecting Kim Ji-hyun for ‘Don’t Forget’, they hadn’t spoken. She was upset about the rejection, but Kim Si-woo didn’t think much of it.
‘No good comes from a female actor constantly contacting a male writer.’
‘It’d only spark a scandal.’
He saw no need to stay in touch. Her beauty might’ve flustered him, but he didn’t feel any rational urge to get closer. If anything, he felt a sense of distance, and since he had no Intention of using her, there was no reason to call.
Unaware of his indifference, Kim Ji-hyun, on set, was fuming.
“Kim Si-woo… not even a single text?”
She’d always initiated contact, and his silence bruised her pride. Despite being a rookie, she was an actress. For a rookie writer to ignore her like this felt insulting. But complaints required free time, which she didn’t have.
- Ji-hyun, we’re starting the shoot!
“Yes!” she replied, bottling up her frustration as she stewed over Kim Si-woo.
***
The day of Revenger’s premiere arrived. As the writer of a highly anticipated film, Kim Si-woo’s phone buzzed incessantly.
“I’m too tired today… Yeah, thanks for your hard work,” he said, declining yet another invitation.
Bzzz.
“Sigh… should I just turn off my phone?”
But a call came from someone outside the film industry.
“Lawyer?”
He quickly answered, and Lee Hae-soo’s voice came through.
- Hello, Kim Si-woo. The defendants are begging to meet you. I recommend hearing them out. What do you think?
“Alright, I’ll meet them. Can we do it at your firm with you present?”
- Of course.
Lee Hae-soo shared her schedule, saying any time worked.
“Even tonight?”
- Yes, that’s fine.
Kim Si-woo scheduled it for that evening, partly to dodge other commitments.
“Thank you. See you tonight.”
With the meeting set, he rejected all other calls.
That evening, dressed casually, he arrived at Blue Law Firm and headed to the 10th-floor meeting room. There, Lee Hae-soo, in a sharp suit, sat with several people—presumably the trolls.
“Hello,” Kim Si-woo greeted.
“Welcome, client,” Lee Hae-soo replied.
“Are these all the defendants?”
“Yes. Some chose to accept punishment, and others couldn’t come due to scheduling.”
“I see. Shall we start?”
Taking a seat, Kim Si-woo began.
“Starting from the left, tell me why you wrote the comments and what they said.”
The first, a middle-aged woman, stood, her voice trembling.
“I’m so sorry. I lost my senses due to parenting stress. Please show mercy just this once—I’ll never write hate comments again.”
“What did you write?”
She hesitated, and Lee Hae-soo read the comment aloud.
“You bastard, think you’re hot stuff because you’re a writer? Why’d you change the script just because a good actor gave input? Brainless rookie? Idiot? Didn’t your parents swap you with another kid at birth?”
“Haha… rejected,” Kim Si-woo said.
The first woman’s plea was denied. He had no intention of settling anyway.
“Next, please.”
The second was a burly man.
“I… wrote it thoughtlessly after reading an article. And, uh, I went a bit far with family insults. Please forgive me just this once.”
“Family insults?”
Lee Hae-soo read the comment, which was viciously personal.
“Rejected.”
“No! Please, I’m preparing for the police exam. A fine would ruin me…”
“Then why write hate comments? A law student should know better. Tsk tsk. Give it up.”
One by one, he heard their reasons and comments—minors, housewives, exam-takers, all of them. Kim Si-woo refused to settle with any. The defendants and Lee Hae-soo looked at him, puzzled by his firmness. Then, with a smile, he spoke.
“But I’ll give you one chance. Want to hear it?”