Chapter 44 (1/2)
Chapter 44: Is it a miscasting? Or a divine move? (5)
TL: emptycube
The director scratched his half-bald head. His gaze fell on the Cat Guardian Ghost script.
”This project, you said Luck t.o.s.s.e.r brought it in, right?”
”Yes. I don't know where he heard that this project was good, but he brought it in all by himself.”
Said the team 3 leader, smiling brightly.
”Now, really. He keeps switching back and forth between Lucky Charm and Luck t.o.s.s.e.r.”
”I'm telling you he has an admirable quality to him when he works.”
Unlike the team 3 leader, whose face was glowing, the team 2 leader, who was sitting on the other side, frowned deeply. He even took deep breaths, as if calming his surging rage, whenever he heard the name 'Luck t.o.s.s.e.r'.
”Well, that's that. I received a call from the CEO…”
Everyone who had gathered in the room, especially Seo Jijoon, looked towards the director, urging him to continue.
”He said to go on with the contract.”
Seo Jijoon and his manager Lee Bongjoon high-fived each other under the table.
The team 2 leader repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, seemingly unable to accept this, but in the end, he simply sighed. Since the actor himself said he wanted to do it and since the CEO decided as well, nothing would change even if he continued to oppose it.
”Let's first set the goal to be over 5% viewers.h.i.+p ratings. Well. Even if it doesn't, it won't be bad for Jijoon's filmography. You often hear that your acting spectrum is too narrow. Which is why only similar roles are offered to you.”
”That's right. I'm bored to death of the same dignified roles.”
”You will receive different roles after you do this.”
”That's when things work out well, if things don't, then it might only shatter the luxurious image we worked hard to create. Also, if characters become weird because she's a new writer…”
When the team 2 leader was mumbling in a half-unsatisfied, half-worrying tone,
Someone knocked the door, almost smas.h.i.+ng it, before entering. It was Son Chaeyoung with fiery eyes. She gave half-hearted greetings to the director and team leaders then immediately went to Seo Jijoon.
”Is it true you are going to appear on a cable drama in January? In a romantic comedy?”
”News spread quickly. Where did you hear that?”
Seo Jijoon replied while crossing his legs in a relaxed manner.
”Is it true? Are you trying to screw me over? Don't you know I'm doing a drama then too?”
”What's wrong with that? It's not like they air on the same day at the same time anyways.”
”Why doesn't it matter! If you and I appear at the same time, and even on dramas with similar genres, the company will divide its promotion strategy! It's already not enough to become a hot topic in the beginning when they only focus their efforts on one!”
”What kind of fresh garbage is this? Are you the only actor in our company?”
”If you were going to do a winter drama, you should have joined my project instead!”
”I'd rather go serve mandatory military service than film a romantic comedy with you.”
When the two actors were growling at each other, Chief Jo, who was Son Chaeyoung's manager, held her back.
”Chaeyoung, the director's here, so end it there and sit down. Huh? Sit and talk.”
Son Chaeyoung, who had been fuming, flinched as she turned her head. The director, who was sitting in the seat of honor, was enjoying his milk tea as he watched the two quarrel, even snickering as though he found a dispute at this level adorable.
”Director, I'm serious!”
At Son Chaeyoung's protest, the director waved his hand with a 'Whoops'.
”The company will promote the two of you the best we can so don't worry. No, it's the three of you.”
He turned towards the team 3 leader.
”You said Songha is confirmed as well, right?”
”Yes. It's confirmed that Songha will join as well. Now that you mention it, I was on a phone call with the CEO of Pan Production before I got here, and he praised her, saying he was surprised at how good her acting was.”
”Really? Considering that they called a day after her audition, it seems they really got a good impression of her.”
”Who?”
Son Chaeyoung frowned.
”Who's joining?”
”Lee Songha from Neptune, we originally wanted her to act, but she quit once.”
The team 3 leader glanced at Son Chaeyoung and said,
”That teacher, s.h.i.+m Jungtaek, is fishy no matter how much I think about it. To say such harsh words to someone who's good at acting… If it wasn't for Luck t.o.s.s.e.r seeing her potential, persuading her and bringing over a drama, we would have buried her talent without knowing.”
”Tsk, it looks like we can't entrust any of our recruits to that man. You keep looking into it.”
Listening to their conversation, Son Chaeyoung said in a calmer tone than before,
”Why do you only blame teacher? She might have been bad at acting in front of him.”
”It's no use if he grills them so much that they get traumatized.”
”Teacher probably did it for her sake. How many times must he have seen people mess up their lives by pursuing acting even though they are bad at it? He probably thought that if they are at the level where they should just give up, then they should as early as possible.”
When he heard Son Chaeyoung continuously take the acting teacher's side, the team 3 leader raised his eyebrows.
And, on the other side, the team 2 leader had an uncomfortable expression.
After the meeting ended, the team 2 leader grabbed Son Chaeyoung, who was about to leave.
He looked around and carefully asked,
”Chaeyoung. Don't tell me you got the teacher to…”
”No.”
Son Chaeyoung cut him off. Then she said in a slightly rigid expression,
”I don't do that anymore. I only made that mistake once in the past because things weren't working out and I was so uneasy. Team leader knows as well. That I couldn't even sleep without sleeping pills that time.”
”Of course, I know. That was why I covered it up and moved on. But this time…”
”I really didn't do it. That was so long ago.”
”Are you sure?”
”I swear on it. I haven't even seen that Lee Songha or whatever's face.”
Son Chaeyoung smiled as she shook her head. The team 2 leader finally let out a sigh.
”Okay. I only asked out of concern.”
”You don't have to worry.”
Son Chaeyoung crossed her arms and changed the topic.
”But the person who brought that cable drama, is he that person from before? The tall Neptune manager who was such a turn-off?”
”Yeah. That guy.”
The team 2 leader nodded his head with a troubled expression.
”Seo Jijoon got the script because of him… Haa, I don't know why this guy, who hasn't even been in the company for long, is constantly being an eyesore.”
”He's beginning to be an eyesore to me too.”
”You're busy preparing for your drama so don't worry about useless things. I'm already waiting for a chance to take him down a notch.”
Son Chaeyoung twisted her red lips.
”He left pouring cold water on my project, but could only grab a cable drama, from a new writer to boot… Now, really. What insight. I'm curious what viewers.h.i.+p ratings that drama will get now.”
Thud.
When I told Lee Songha the news confirming she was cast for the role, she dropped the ice cream she was eating. See as she dropped something she was eating, this meant she was extremely surprised. Worried she might pick it back up, I threw out the ice cream and turned around to see Lee Songha still standing there with a blank expression.
The other girls were creating a fuss in her stead.