Chapter 84: Round Two (5)
“I’m not trying to just dump you into another company… I just think you’d become even more famous if—”
–It’s fine. Anyway, I need to look over the commercial script…
“Oh… right. Sorry for calling when you’re busy.”
Somehow finishing the call, Si-woo was left rubbing his temples.
Hong Soo-yeon was still cold toward him, and he had no idea how to fix it.
How am I supposed to resolve this…? Who could I even ask…?
After hanging up, Si-woo dialed Shim Ji-young.
“Hello?”
–What’s up? You’re calling me first? That’s new.
“It’s just… I think Soo-yeon is upset, but I have no clue how to deal with it.”
–What? How did that even happen?
“Well… that is…”
Si-woo explained how he had been suggesting she move to a bigger agency, and Shim Ji-young immediately shot back.
–Isn’t Soo-yeon the girl you personally brought in?
“…Yes. That’s true.”
–Hah… I’d be upset too. She trusted you, left Busan, came all the way here at twenty… and now you’re suddenly telling her to leave for another company? To her it probably feels like you’re throwing her away.
“No, I just thought a professional company would take care of her better than I—”
–That’s your perspective. Soo-yeon still needs someone to lean on. She acts mature, but she’s only twenty.
Unlike with Kim Ji-hyun, this time Si-woo was the one getting scolded.
–Anyway, apologize.
“…Huh? Oh. Right…”
–And wait.
“…How long?”
–Until she stops being angry.
“…Ah.”
–And buy her something delicious.
For some reason, Si-woo had a bad feeling this time—
Soo-yeon’s resentment felt like it was going to last a while.
“Okay… I get it.”
–Wait!
Just as he was about to hang up, Ji-young hurriedly stopped him.
“What now?”
–So, what about your next project?
“My next project?”
–Don’t tell me you forgot the drinking bet at the pension? Director Park Woong-deok said whoever wins gets to work with you next.
“He said it was a tie. That’s what Director Park told me.”
–What? I won. I definitely won.
Shim Ji-young insisted she had beaten Kim Ji-hyun and began talking as if she already had the role locked in.
“Well… I was planning to rest after this drama anyway. At least three months.”
–Three months!? Why would you rest for three months? You need to make money!
“…I’m at a point where I can live fine even if I stop working.”
–Already?
“I mean… I don’t buy designer stuff. As long as I have a house, a car, and a computer, I don’t really spend anything.”
–You’re no fun.
She grumbled, but Si-woo brushed it aside.
“Anyway, I’ll ask Ji-hyun about it too.”
–What? Why ask her?
Shim Ji-young panicked the moment he mentioned checking with Kim Ji-hyun.
“Why? Did you lie about winning?”
–NO! Ask! Go ahead!
“Alright. I’ll ask her and call you later.”
–…Fine.
Hearing her reluctant reply, Si-woo ended the call and fell into thought.
From Soo-yeon’s point of view, he had been a huge benefactor.
But she was so mature for her age that he had completely forgotten she was still only twenty.
He assumed she would choose a bigger company that could boost her career—
But instead, she chose him and the small Siwoo Film team.
Hmm… So is that it? Am I the first adult she feels she can rely on?
Despite how annoying it was, Si-woo forced himself to think from her perspective.
He had no choice but to use his brain this time.
A few days later, Si-woo called Kim Ji-hyun and heard the exact same thing from her.
She claimed she had beaten Shim Ji-young and asked if she could be in his next project.
“But… didn’t you and I talk about something already?”
–Ah… right.
Then I’ll just follow whatever you want, Writer-nim…
At Si-woo’s words, Kim Ji-hyun’s confidence dropped from 100 to 0 instantly.
It was the past coming back to bite her for what she had done before.
“But Ji-young noona said she won, though.”
–What? I definitely saw her pass out before me.
“So… who am I supposed to believe? Director Park Woong-deok said it was a draw.”
–No! I really won!
With Shim Ji-young and Kim Ji-hyun both insisting on their victory, Si-woo scratched his head.
“Anyway, I get it. But I’m planning to rest for a while… I’ll tell you again in about three months.”
–Okay, Writer-nim.
But you at least have time for a meal during your break, right?
“…Huh?”
–I’ll call you soon. Ppyong~
Kim Ji-hyun hung up with the strange little sound effect.
***
The next day
Si-woo headed to the CF set where Hong Soo-yeon was filming.
“Alright! Everyone come out and grab a coffee.”
As the CF director called everyone out, a coffee truck decorated with Hong Soo-yeon’s banner was waiting outside.
And beside it, stood Kim Si-woo.
“Oh my, Writer Kim Si-woo? I’ve heard so much about you. Congratulations on your movie’s huge success. Thank you for the coffee as well.”
“Is Soo-yeon doing okay? I was a bit worried, so I came to check on her. I hope I’m not causing trouble…”
“No, not at all! She’s doing wonderfully. And trouble? Never. It’s an honor to have you here.”
The CF director and even the advertiser hovered around him, trying to start a conversation.
“Oppa?”
A familiar voice came from afar.
“Soo-yeon!”
Si-woo waved, and Soo-yeon approached with an embarrassed expression, head slightly lowered.
“Why did you come without telling me first, Writer-nim?”
Just minutes ago she called him oppa, but now she was back to calling him Writer-nim.
“I just… wanted to see if you were doing well. I was worried.”
“O-oh… really?”
Seeing that she seemed much less angry than before, Si-woo felt relieved.
“So, did anything uncomfortable happen today?”
“No. Everyone treats me very well.”
“That’s good. And about the thing from last time… I think I was too inconsiderate. I’m sorry.”
As Shim Ji-young had advised, Si-woo apologized sincerely.
“Then I can keep staying with Siwoo Film, right?”
“Yes. If you want to stay, you can stay as long as you like.”
At that, Soo-yeon brightened noticeably, picked up a strawberry smoothie, and turned back toward the set.
“Then I’ll go prepare for the next shoot.”
“Yeah.”
After she left, Si-woo spent some time chatting with the advertiser—mostly about sponsoring his drama or YouTube content.
They were clearly trying to latch onto him however they could.
But since Si-woo wasn’t really interested, he just nodded along and slipped away.
With his relationship with Soo-yeon patched up, he felt much lighter.
He should have been able to relax…
***
Later — At the CBS drama meeting
“…Excuse me, who are you?”
During a CBS drama meeting, a man Si-woo didn’t recognize suddenly entered, fell to his knees, and bowed his head.
“Hey! Don’t do that here. Who let this man into the meeting room? Get him out. Call security!”
Kim Jin-man ordered the staff to escort him out, and they moved to help him up.
But the man desperately clung to Si-woo.
“Please, Writer-nim… Just ten minutes—no, even five minutes is fine. Please hear me out.”
The man was none other than…
Choi Do-hyun’s manager.
But since Si-woo had no way of knowing that he was Choi Do-hyun’s manager, he decided to calm the situation first and told him he would listen.
“I’ll hear you out after the meeting. For now, please wait outside.”
“Really? You really will listen to me?”
“Yes. I said I’ll listen. Just wait outside for now.”
“Alright.”
Once Si-woo promised to listen later, the man finally let go of Si-woo’s pant leg, got up, and left the room.
“Haah… Let’s hurry and continue the meeting.”
Si-woo felt an unpleasant premonition—like he had just gotten himself tangled in something troublesome. Kim Jin-man noticed and rushed the meeting along.
“Then the script reading date will be…”
The meeting proceeded quickly, but none of the content stuck in Si-woo’s mind.
“We’ll end the meeting here.”
“Great work, everyone.”
When Si-woo stood up, Kim Jin-man came over.
“Shall I go with you, Writer-nim?”
“…Sure.”
When they stepped outside the meeting room, the man from earlier—Choi Do-hyun’s manager—was waiting.
“Haah… Let’s go talk. Someone bring three coffees to the small meeting room.”
“Yes, CP.”
Following Kim Jin-man, the three of them entered a small conference room.
“So who are you, and why did you come looking for me? And in such a rude manner, at that?”
No matter how urgent the matter was, there were procedures.
Unless someone’s life was at stake, barging into a broadcast headquarters meeting was unthinkable.
What could possibly be so important that a stranger would interrupt a broadcasting meeting—completely derailing it? Both Jin-man and Si-woo were curious.
“I… My name is Baek Seung-heon. I’m Choi Do-hyun’s manager.”
“….”
Hearing that he was Do-hyun’s manager, Si-woo’s expression stiffened.
And then, beside him, Kim Jin-man shot up from his seat and shouted.
“Choi Do-hyun’s manager? Did you just say you’re his manager?! Huh?!”
It was the first time for him.
Not an actor, not an agency president—a manager barging into a broadcasting station’s meeting room and interrupting a conference?
In the old days, something like this would have blown up into a huge scandal.
“God… Broadcasting stations really aren’t what they used to be. What a joke…”
Even if TV viewership had dropped due to streaming and the internet, CBS was still one of the top three most powerful networks in Korea.
“What, did that bastard Do-hyun fuck things up so badly that he sent his manager to beg for cleanup?”
“Don’t call my actor a bastard.”
To Si-woo, it was laughable—this manager daring to talk back to a CP of CBS.
Under normal circumstances, Si-woo would’ve tried to smooth things over.
But not this time.
This was the moment he’d been waiting for—confronting the people tied to Choi Do-hyun.
“CP-nim, please calm down. Let’s at least hear him out.”
“…Fine. Writer-nim.”
Jin-man forced himself to calm down and sat again. Si-woo looked at Baek Seung-heon, signaling him to speak.
“I… First of all, I want to apologize. Writer Kim Si-woo, I’m sorry. As his manager, I should have taken better care of Do-hyun. This is all my fault. I’ll personally visit Ha Seung-woo and Park Jun-ho to apologize to them as well.”
“….”
Si-woo stared at him emotionlessly, so Baek continued speaking.
“So please… just the others… Could you allow the other actors to continue their careers?”
Baek explained that not only Choi Do-hyun but all the actors under K-Actors had lost more than half their work offers.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Well… Writer-nim said you wouldn’t work with anyone associated with Do-hyun, so…”
“And again, why bring that to me? Maybe those casting directors just don’t like K-Actors’ people. That’s all.”
But Si-woo had zero intention of reconsidering.
“Writer-nim, please…”
“And honestly, hearing this from the manager and not the person himself? It just irritates me more. I’ve heard enough. Can I go now?”
Si-woo stood up, and Baek grabbed his wrist.
“W-wait—”
“Let go.”
At Si-woo’s cold voice, Baek immediately released his grip.
“I’m sorry…”
After Si-woo and Jin-man left, Baek Seung-heon remained in the small meeting room alone—still unwilling to give up.
‘If he at least listens to Do-hyun’s side of the story… maybe he might change his mind?’