Sua froze.
No matter how composed she appeared on the surface, in truth, she was merely broken. Anyone would feel this way when presented with such excellent conditions.
“Um, this… right now, well…”
“300 million won per episode. How about that?”
How about that? Suddenly, Saeng-ji’s voice rang in her ears.
─Why should such a newcomer receive money?
Expect no rewards. That was the advice of a current entertainment journalist. And so, Sua had long since let go of all ambition.
‘How much did I earn from a month of working as a kitchen assistant? Wait, what’s there even to compare? I earned much less than this.’
The amount already written down was 300. Adding another 100 million won meant securing 400 million won per episode. It was an incredibly generous offer, unprecedented in Sua’s life.
“…”
Sua quietly propped her chin with one hand and covered her mouth, hiding the corners that kept curving upward.
Meanwhile, Producer Choi Hee-won and the production coordinator exchanged quiet glances and covertly conversed via text messages. The reason was Sua’s rather serious-looking face.
● Apparently, this doesn’t seem to fully appeal to her either.
● But giving more would strain the production costs…
● Let’s fix the amount at this level and try negotiating by promising additional conditions. How about that?
● That seems to be the way. Any precautions?
● As you can see, she’s fierce. Don’t provoke her.
The production coordinator let out a forced laugh.
“Don’t provoke her? Have I ever been cautious with rookies?” However, what truly amazed him was how reasonable it felt. Somewhere along the way, he had come to understand.
‘She’s certainly different from regular rookies, her face and demeanor both are unique.’
The production coordinator cautiously began the conversation.
“Firstly, Sua, do you know the treatment other rookies receive?”
“I don’t really know.”
A shark doesn’t know the world of minnows, and there’s no need for it to. The production coordinator reaffirmed this, acknowledging that this negotiation wouldn’t be easy.
“Of course, Sua, you’re different from other rookies. But this is the consideration we’ve made for that point. Would you mind if I explained each point?”
“Yes, please do.”
Sua’s eyes sparkled.
They were going to explain why they would give her 400 million won per episode. Who wouldn’t be excited? She prepared to listen attentively.
Of course, to Sua, the production coordinator heard her words as something like “Well, try me.” And that gleam in her eyes was also a kind of threat…
The production coordinator cleared his throat a couple of times.
“It may look like just a flat 400 million won per episode, but in reality, it’s different. You need to understand the potential of the Kim Yu-han character.”
“Potential?”
“Isn’t it true that the Kim Yu-han role has no fixed amount of screen time or number of shoots? This is because the writer is drafting the story from scratch.”
He fiddled with his mustache as he continued.
“If Sua’s Kim Yu-han turns out well, naturally, the lines, shooting hours, and appearances will increase. Of course, the money Sua earns will also rise.”
Sua nodded.
‘In short, it’s a performance-based system.’
In the past, such a structure might have been frightening, but now it felt quite welcome to Sua. Added bonuses and efforts combined wouldn’t be too bad.
Suddenly, she thought of something.
“…But, is the money sufficient?”
Sua asked.
If they spent this much on her, a rookie, was it really okay? It was a result of the inquiries Sua had made. If too much money is spent on casting, it lowers the quality in other areas…
Immediately, there was a sudden reaction.
“Huh!”
“Ha!”
Choi Hee-won and the production coordinator laughed while looking at each other.
“Coordinator, did you hear that? Sua is asking if it’s okay to strip everything and take it all.”
“Indeed. We’ve received a proper lesson from the rookie.”
Sua was utterly baffled.
“What a nonsensical…”
“Sua, it’s fine.”
The production coordinator nodded.
“If Sua does her part, the drama’s profit will be enormous. So, it’s good for us too. Let’s try our best to create a win-win situation.”
“…”
“Ah, the contents of the contract are entirely confidential. There’s an industry standard for that. Plus, there are people who don’t appreciate extraordinary examples, and Sua’s existence itself is still a secret.”
Sua obediently nodded like a baby bird. With them willing to offer 400 million won per episode, was there anything too difficult?
Later, the signing process went smoothly. Truthfully, Sua’s signature was more like a doodle of a rabbit’s face, so she only wrote the three letters of her name, just in case.
Once the contract was finalized, the production coordinator smiled.
“Thank you. How do you feel?”
Sua paused briefly in thought.
Choosing her words carefully and ultimately delivering a candid review.
“…Honestly, I’m a little disoriented. I feel out of place.”
The faces of Choi Hee-won and the coordinator stiffened.
●●●●
Later, Sua was dragged to a barbecue restaurant.
The occasion was a celebration. With the prolonged halt in the drama production now resolved, a celebration was inevitable. Privately, Sua thought, wouldn’t it be more conscientious to just have the meat to go?
“…”
But as soon as she arrived, she had to bite her tongue.
Having come prepared to inhale the meat like a vacuum cleaner, all thoughts of hunger disappeared the moment her feet touched the ground. The sight before her was simply too grand.
‘Wait, is this even a barbecue restaurant? Isn’t it more like a historical drama set?’
The long wall was impressive enough, but the interior was on an entirely different level. A meticulously maintained garden and an elegant hanok greeted her. All of it was today’s venue for the special gathering of the “Special Mobile Squad 808” production team.
At that moment, Sua felt someone approaching.
“Is it Sua? Wow, the real person is much more impressive.”
“…Who are you?”
“Ah, I’m the casting director.”
Above his nose, a pair of glasses were perched, on a thin man.
“Ho ho, I can’t wait to see how you will handle the role of Kim Yu-han.”
Though all compliments, his expression kept twitching subtly. Sua understood what these kinds of faces meant: people full of things they want to say but probing the situation cautiously.
“There’s something you want to say to me, right?”
“…”
And then the casting director’s face suddenly revealed he’d been caught in the act as he sighed, acknowledging her point.
“…Sua’s eye is sharp indeed. Actually, observing expressions, it doesn’t look like the negotiation process went very smoothly.”
“Really?”
‘I came back fully satisfied and thought everything went well?’
“There’s no need to deny it. The faces of Director Choi Hee-won and the producer were stiff, weren’t they? Therefore, I decided to have a conversation with Sua even if it’s insufficient.”
“…”
“Though I don’t know what amount Sua hoped for, I still hope for your understanding. While I don’t know many other things, I know that this is the first time the production team has been this concerned with a rookie.”
Sua realized there was some kind of misunderstanding. In other words, the casting director thought she was disheartened and had come to console her.
“Don’t worry. I’m satisfied with this.”
“Yes? Didn’t the negotiation end badly? Both Sua and Director Choi PD’s and the producer’s expressions were quite…”
“…I don’t know about that part either. I’ve always looked like this.”
Instead, Sua felt terrified by the casting director’s words.
Were those two upset? Did I make any mistakes? Oh, maybe because I asked for too much money? I need to act hard…
Amidst such thoughts,
“I apologize for my excessive chatter driven by anxiety. We’ve finally launched the production after much difficulty, so I’d like the atmosphere to remain joyful. Please enjoy today’s gathering to the fullest.”
The casting director broke the silence with a smile, which was unexpectedly warm despite his thin, sharp features.
Afterwards, the party began in earnest.
‘Ugh, is this where I’m supposed to be…?’
Indeed, the ways of the wealthy were different. Not only did they rent out such a luxurious barbecue place entirely, but they even had a microphone prepared. To Sua, it was another world entirely.
Amazing. Both the barbecue restaurant and the situation and atmosphere were new.
“Good evening!” “Well met!” “Fighting Special Mobile Squad 808!”
The thunderous voices of the personnel arrived, and Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo, distinct from others, also made their entrance. The restaurant, which had initially felt too large, was filled in a flash.
‘Am I sitting here too obviously?’
Sua worried. Am I sitting like a meerkat in the open, just poking my head around uselessly in this situation?
‘…No, I can’t let that happen. I’m going to be a cool actor.’
Finally, she found a solution—just keep her eyes on the grilling plate.
“…”
Amid this quiet spell, someone approached her to start a conversation. It was the previous production coordinator.
“The offer might burden Sua, but the work is progressing tightly. As the script is finalized, we’ll send it over to you.”
“Yes.”
“The broadcast this year is our goal, but the schedule is tight, so it’s moving forward like a speeding truck without brakes. Thankfully, we’ve already gathered all the staff…”
Sua’s ears hurt. She nodded her head.
“I perfectly understand.”
Truthfully, she hadn’t comprehended a single word. It’s complicated when you’re talking so much. Just tell me what I need to do…
“Since there’s no manager or coordinator yet, it might be tough, but this issue will be resolved once a management agency is established. With Sua’s skills, offers will soon flood in. And—”
“Hold on, hold on.”
Sua eventually interrupted his words.
“…Just tell me what I need to do.”
“Ho ho ho, if you just perform well, that’s all we need!”
“…”
After hearing the conclusion, Sua felt even more empty. Why didn’t you say that from the start? This simple content…
No? Is it my fault for being so foolish?
Then,
“—Alright, everyone, please pay attention.”
The amplified voice boomed throughout the restaurant. The speaker was writer Lee Geum-sook, who had seized the microphone.
“—I’m writer Lee Geum-sook. To be honest, I never expected this script to move into production, but looks like the opportunity came. I promise to write it wholeheartedly. Looking forward to working with you.”
The clapping sound slowly spread.
Next came Director Choi Hee-won.
“—I’ll put a lot of effort into the direction. For those who will appear in front of the camera, I promise to capture moments worthy of pride. Looking forward to working with you.”
A solid commitment, confidence. Sua could feel those things in his words. He was so firm.
And then came Seo Yeon-joo.
“—I’m Seo Yeon-joo. I’ll do my best.”
Next was Kim Sun-il, who didn’t even take the microphone, apparently not wanting to touch the one already passed around.
An unexpected event occurred in the following moment.
“…Huh?”
Without realizing it, Sua muttered. The microphone had been passed into her hands. Apparently, she was the only one who hadn’t anticipated this. Everyone else treated it as a given.
Whispers spread around.
“That’s the one who got the Kim Yu-han role, right?”
“Is she really a rookie? The vibe is something else…”
“The face is no joke.”
Sua barely managed to stabilize her trembling body, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Thankfully, she hadn’t eaten any meat yet.
At that moment, Seo Yeon-joo approached and tipped her off.
“Sua, just say whatever comes to mind comfortably. Filming for a drama is like becoming family over time. Think of it as talking to family.”
She even smiled warmly.
Sua rotated her sore tongue inside her mouth, pondering what to say. What would be appropriate to say?
…No, for a rookie, there’s a predetermined line. I’ll work hard even in places where I won’t be noticed. Something like that.
Finally, Sua’s lips parted.
“—I’ll try not to attract attention.”
The brief silence.
“Did she… really…”
And then Director Choi Hee-won’s reaction started.
“Does she mean everyone else except herself should not be seen?”
“How incredible of feats is she planning to show?”
“The guts! Even against Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il?”
“…This is interesting.”
Responses erupted from all corners. None of them were what Sua had intended.
Clap clap clap clap—!
Soon, thunderous applause arose.
“The rookie spirit is incredible! I actually like this!”
“Let’s all fight together!”
“Hahaha! This party’s already getting fun!”
Sua felt inexplicably wronged.
“…”
Clap clap…
“Haha…. Hahaha….”
She eventually started laughing and clapping along. She had realized she couldn’t go against this enormous flow, no matter what she thought or said.
‘…I guess I don’t know. Let’s enjoy it. Enjoy.’
Time passed quickly thereafter.
The rumor that “Special Mobile Squad 808” had restarted production spread rapidly, and because of this, everyone was abuzz.
“Wait, wasn’t I preparing for the Kim Yu-han audition?”
“Really! What kind of guy got it?”
First and foremost, it was naturally a huge topic of conversation among male actors. The opportunity to be part of a collaboration between this writer and Director Choi Hee-won had vanished before their very eyes.
Of course, journalists were no exception.
“Gah! Why didn’t anyone get a scoop on this? We’re late again! I’m so frustrated!”
Because the news of the production’s resumption itself was astonishing, naturally, the identity of the actor who had secured the Kim Yu-han role garnered significant attention.
“Can’t we at least have information about the actor in the Kim Yu-han role? Is there no leaked information yet?”
“Not a single clue. It seems like they’re trying to keep it a complete secret.”
“That’s your job, to dig up such secrets! It’s a top-tier actor, obviously, given it’s the Kim Yu-han role! Investigate the top echelons!”
However, there was no way for information to leak.
The drama production executives had thoroughly concealed the identity of the Kim Yu-han actor, and the staff who didn’t attend the gathering only knew that Kim Yu-han had been cast. With no information, there was nothing they could share.
As a result, the public’s curiosity doubled.
[Special Mobile Squad 808… At Least a Top-tier Actor as the Main]
[One Word from Writer Lee Geum-sook: “I’m Confident.”]
[The Confidence of the Production Team: Kim Yu-han Will Be Perfect]
Additionally, unanswered questions inevitably lead to speculation.
[Who is Kim Yu-han? Which Male Actor Got the Role?]
[A List of Top 10 Male Actors Who Haven’t Been Seen Lately]
[A Compilation of Actors Who Might Fit the Role of Kim Yu-han]
Almost every male actor was dragged into the gossip. Naturally. After all, Kim Yu-han was inherently a male role.
Rookie reporter Kim Sun-a frowned.
“Ugh, my head… With Kim Yu-han being a role that even seasoned actors debated over, who the hell managed to secure it?”
Kim Sun-a longed for an exclusive scoop. In the world of entertainment journalism, the more scoops you brought, the better your treatment and status became.
…But could she? No matter how she thought about it, even guessing seemed impossible.
She sighed deeply and tapped on her phone. Being a rookie entertainment journalist was truly a tough job.
[From Saeng-ji: Kids, I’ll be busy for a while.]
[From Saeng-ji: I’ll work hard and come back soon.]
Just, Sun-a was genuinely curious.
“Who is the actor playing Kim Yu-han? Really, who is it…?”
