Chapter 21: Actors’ Hotspot = Rookie Writer’s House (1)
Bzzz.
Kim Si-woo was lounging, watching funny videos on his phone, when the screen switched to an incoming call.
[Lovely Ji-young Noona]
“Maybe I should change it to ‘Annoying Ji-young Noona’…” he muttered.
Despite the hassle, he knew she cared about him and had helped him a lot, so he answered.
“Hello?”
- Come downstairs.
“What? Where?”
- Where else? I’m at your place. Get down here.
“What?!”
It was 10 p.m., not morning.
“It’s… 10 at night.”
- You said to come to your house. My schedule just freed up—what was I supposed to do?
“Fine… give me a sec.”
- Hurry up, king.
“…”
Click.
Grumbling at Shim Ji-young’s cheeky tone, Kim Si-woo dragged himself up and headed to the door.
“Mom, I’m stepping out for a bit.”
“Okay, be safe.”
His mother didn’t bat an eye at him leaving late. In the past, she’d have scolded him for going out to drink instead of job-hunting. But now, with 200 million won in his account, things were different.
In a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, he shuffled to the first floor, spotting the familiar black van.
Knock knock knock.
The door slid open, revealing Shim Ji-young engrossed in a script. She looked up with a warm smile.
“You’re here! Shall we head to your place?”
“What?”
As she started to get up, Kim Si-woo stopped her.
“Why my house?”
“Wanna do it in the van?”
“Do what?”
“Acting practice.”
“…”
Practicing in a lit van would draw every neighbor’s eyes, and a café would be even worse. With no desire to be gawked at, Kim Si-woo called his mother.
“Mom, can I bring a guest over?”
- Who’s coming at this hour?!
Her shout echoed through the phone. No one would be thrilled about late-night visitors.
“Shim Ji-young, the actor.”
- …
Three seconds of silence.
- Who?
“Shim Ji-young.”
- Why is she coming to our house?
“No clue.”
His mother was speechless. She knew her son was working in film, but bringing home a star like Shim Ji-young was beyond imagination.
“So, is it okay? If not, we’ll go somewhere else.”
- Uh… give me 10 minutes.
Click.
The call ended abruptly. Kim Si-woo looked at Shim Ji-young.
“You heard her. Ten minutes.”
“This is… kind of rude, huh?” she said.
“If you know that, maybe—”
“I’ll just owe you one today.”
Shim Ji-young decided to brazen it out.
Ten minutes later, she grabbed a designer shopping bag—clearly prepared—and followed Kim Si-woo to his house.
Beep beep beep beep.
Kim Si-woo punched in the door code and entered.
“I’m back,” he called.
His mother rushed out.
“Oh my… hello!” she said, flustered.
“Hello, ma’am. Sorry for the late visit. I need Si-woo’s help with something,” Shim Ji-young said politely.
“No, no, make yourself at home! Stay as long as you like.”
“This is a small token of my appreciation,” Shim Ji-young said, handing over the designer bag.
Kim Si-woo’s mother’s hands trembled as she accepted it. She’d worn gold jewelry but never owned luxury goods.
“T-Thank you. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The two headed to Kim Si-woo’s room, where his mother inspected the gift.
“A… bag?”
It was a recognizable luxury brand worth millions of won.
“Oh no, this won’t do! Actors must be hungry—do we have fruit?”
She muttered, suddenly bustling about.
Meanwhile, Kim Si-woo flopped onto his bed.
“What an honor to have such a distinguished guest in my humble abode,” he said sarcastically.
Shim Ji-young ignored his quip, scanning the room.
“You clean this place, right?”
“When it gets too dirty.”
Her brow furrowed at his cluttered desk, but the rest of the room was tidy and odor-free.
“Sigh… you need to clean that desk. Anyway, can you review my acting?”
She wanted feedback on three parts Director Park Woong-deok had criticized.
“An actor asking a writer for acting advice… Are you really an actor, noona?”
“There’s no age or job when it comes to learning. If it helps, you learn.”
“Fine…”
Shim Ji-young took a deep breath and performed.
Once… twice… three times…
After Shim Ji-young finished performing the three scenes Director Park Woong-deok had criticized, Kim Si-woo watched silently.
“How was it?” she asked.
“You did great.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. What else do you want me to say? You were good.”
“No, I mean, any weak spots, awkward moments, or advice?”
“Nope.”
Shim Ji-young stared into his eyes, unconvinced.
“You’re just saying that because you’re too lazy, aren’t you?”
“What? No way,”
He protested, but his evasive gaze betrayed him.
“I’m serious! Tell me!” she pressed.
As she cornered him, Kim Si-woo finally raised his hands in surrender.
“Fine…”
He began slowly, “You’re putting in too much force.”
“Force? Isn’t that natural? Her daughter died—of course she’s angry.”
“No, it’s not just anger. Have you heard of the five stages of grief? You need to look beyond revenge.”
“The five stages of grief? Beyond revenge?”
Seeing her confusion, Kim Si-woo explained. The five stages—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance—describe the emotional process after a loss, like a terminal diagnosis, a lawsuit, heartbreak, or a child’s death. In the script, Han Ye-ri, Shim Ji-young’s character, experiences these stages after her daughter Han Seul-gi’s death. Initially, she denies it, unable to believe the daughter who smiled that morning is gone. Then, she unleashes rage at the world and people responsible. Next, she bargains, pleading with doctors and even God to bring her daughter back. When that fails, she sinks into depression, haunted by her daughter’s absence. Finally, accepting the loss, Han Ye-ri becomes eerily calm, realizing what she must do: seek revenge.
Shim Ji-young visualized each scene as Kim Si-woo described Han Ye-ri’s journey. The script only hinted at these moments, and only a writer like him could uncover such subtle background details. For once, the seemingly clueless Kim Si-woo seemed like an expert, and she was impressed.
He continued, “And beyond revenge… it’s like when manga characters shout their attack names. If you know an attack’s coming, you prepare. Nobody just takes a hit. If you’re truly out for revenge, you don’t announce it—you hide your emotions, suppress them, until you succeed.”
“Man, I’m glad I came,” Shim Ji-young said, resolute.
“I’ll come back tomorrow with it prepared.”
“Tomorrow? Let’s just wrap this up today.”
“I just learned something new. I need a day to apply it to my acting.”
As they bickered about her return, they left the room, greeted by the pungent aroma of kimchi stew. Kim Si-woo’s mother, apron on, approached.
“Leaving already? Stay for dinner.”
“Oh, yes! I’m starving. Thank you, ma’am,” Shim Ji-young said eagerly.
She devoured the kimchi stew, praising it endlessly. Kim Si-woo watched, amazed.
‘Mom’s cooking isn’t even that great… That’s some top-tier acting.’
“By the way, ma’am, can I visit again sometime?” Shim Ji-young asked.
“Of course! Come anytime.”
Over dinner, she secured permission to return, laying the groundwork.
‘Who’d say no to a celebrity visiting? Should I move?’ Kim Si-woo thought.
Unaware of his concerns, his mother was thrilled.
“Could I… maybe get a photo? I’ve never met a celebrity before,” she asked shyly.
“Absolutely, ma’am. I’ll take a hundred if you want,” Shim Ji-young replied, posing for photos and signing autographs before leaving.
“Thanks to you, I got to meet a celebrity,” his mother said. “Ji-young’s really nice.”
“…”
Kim Si-woo, stunned, was praised for bringing a star home in the middle of the night.
***
The next day at noon, his phone buzzed, waking him from a late sleep.
“Hello?” he mumbled.
- What? Were you sleeping?
“Yeah…”
- Get up! I’m outside your house.
“…”
- Hello? Get up! Now! Se-yeon and the others are here too.
Kim Si-woo thrashed in bed, yelling, “Argh! Just leave me alone!”
- Hurry up.
Click.
Beep… beep… beep…
After washing his face and brushing his teeth, he stepped outside to find a black van, a white van, and a gray van parked.
“So many… Is this normal for actors?”
Oblivious to his own oddity, he found the actors strange.
“You’re here!”
Shim Ji-young called, stepping out of the van. Other actors, including Jung Se-yeon, followed, approaching him.
“Haha, Writer, could you give me some pointers today?” one asked.
“Honestly, I need it more—I have way more lines,” another chimed in.
“Guys, why are you coming to me? I’m a writer, not an acting coach,” Kim Si-woo protested.
His explanations fell on deaf ears. Shim Ji-young and Jung Se-yeon’s visits were proof of his skill. The actors believed they needed his help to keep up in this film.
Seeing their eager eyes, Kim Si-woo sighed.
“Fine… let’s play rock-paper-scissors.”