Mystic Entertainment’s representative office.
Director Kim I-seo explained in turn the main contents of the contract and the points of attention that Mystic’s affiliates should bear in mind. But Su-a was already practicing endless techniques with her sword.
Su-a casually glanced at Kim Sun-il during the explanation.
‘…Yes. Definitely. He doesn’t seem to dislike me.’
Even Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il hadn’t received such treatment on their first contract, yet they showed neither surprise nor envy. Instead, they warmly welcomed Su-a.
‘Good condition, good atmosphere, Mystic is the best.’
Su-a, who had tried every possible part-time job in search of her true calling, realized that dealing with people was more challenging than the jobs themselves. The presence of someone unpleasant could make even simple tasks hard.
Thinking about it, Mystic felt quite cozy. It was like she had started off on the right foot since entering the entertainment industry.
While Su-a was feeling satisfied with her decision, Director Kim I-seo completed her explanation and quietly looked at Su-a.
“For now, that’s all. Su-a, Mystic will do its very best for you.”
While saying this, Kim I-seo handed over the contract again.
What’s this? Didn’t she already sign it?
However, this time it was slightly different. Kim I-seo clearly pointed out where Su-a should sign with her finger.
Ah, I see, it’s here.
She barely managed to stop her face from turning red. Su-a’s embarrassed.
“Please do so.”
Su-a signed again as if nothing happened.
Until then, Kim I-seo, who had never shown a significant change in expression, finally reacted. She smiled.
“Thank you. Let’s be a positive inspiration to each other.”
Kim I-seo grabbed Su-a’s hand with both of hers and shook it up and down several times.
Su-a wondered for a moment if it was okay to think that the president was cute. On the other hand, the sense of belonging to a talent agency felt quite novel.
Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il also had something to say.
“Finally, we’re family with Su-a. Take care of us from now on.”
“Well done. Our next schedule is packed. Let’s move.”
“You really. How about saying something warm before leaving? You were the most excited to hear that Su-a was joining…”
Facing the well-bonded Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il, Su-a casually waved her hand.
It only hit her then—wow, she was now in the same agency as these highly esteemed actors.
…Ah, and there was one more thing after joining the agency.
Su-a decided to ask about it immediately.
“President.”
“Yes. Mystic’s Su-a.”
Kim I-seo emphasized the name Mystic.
“Does the agency help me with various tasks?”
“Of course. My promise to do my best isn’t a lie.”
“Then…”
Su-a showed her mobile phone.
“Please handle these for me.”
She was slightly concerned that she might come off as presumptuous but decided to push forward. After all, she had signed a legitimate contract. As an agency’s talent, she was entitled to make these requests, right?
Anyway, this was why she sought an agency in the first place. Yes, exactly.
Meanwhile, Kim I-seo was struck with a big shock.
[Unread Messages: 31]
[CF Audition Schedule Guidance!]
[Hello. This is Director Lee Yeon-hwa who assisted your treatment today. I’m looking for a model…]
[It’s Bara Actors Studio. Please contact us when you have time.]
“Expected it, but…this many?”
While it was easy to predict that Su-a would be popular, the extent of it was astonishing. Isn’t this nearly phone-breaking levels? As Kim I-seo stared at them in a daze, Su-a said,
“I can’t manage all this.”
“…”
Kim I-seo swallowed.
Right now, Su-a’s popularity among industry insiders is unprecedented, and her attitude towards the entertainment world is shockingly bold.
Normal agencies don’t start working immediately. Announcing that Su-a is now with Mystic comes first, then the work follows.
But what about Su-a’s current attitude?
“Su-a is smart. There’s no way she wouldn’t know. Which means….”
Several pieces of information clicked in Kim I-seo’s mind.
“Ah.”
And she realized.
“…Su-a is curious about my capabilities.”
It seems Su-a wants to test Kim I-seo’s skills. They haven’t yet built a trust-based working relationship.
“Indeed, Su-a.”
“Hmm?”
“You have seen me watching your performances multiple times, but you’ve never seen how I handle business. That’s certainly unfair. Let me show you how I work starting now.”
Kim I-seo meticulously went through the phone.
[Deer: Lift Ban]
[Deer: @#$%! Old Fool]
[Deer: I’ll cry if you don’t lift it]
…What’s this?
Nonetheless, Kim I-seo’s handling was both seasoned and swift. She quickly differentiated between things that could be handled fast and those that would take longer, beginning with the easier tasks.
“CF auditions, huh? Then let’s start with this…”
That’s when it happened.
─♩♪♬
Su-a’s phone rang.
“Hello. This is Kim I-seo from Mystic Entertainment.”
Kim I-seo answered the call, naturally setting it to speakerphone so Su-a could hear too.
The issue was simple. A hair studio wanted to establish a contract with Su-a. There was no better stage to showcase Kim I-seo’s negotiation skills.
She didn’t deliberate long.
“I’ll bring Su-a over right away.”
◈◈◈◈◈
Lee Yeon-hwa’s Hair Studio
A rectangular table lay between the four who were seated—Director Lee Yeon-hwa, Manager Seo Jae-woo, and across from them, Su-a and Kim I-seo.
‘This is an opportunity. My chance to impress Su-a.’
‘Why is the president of Mystic here…? Could it be…?’
As each participant’s thoughts intertwined, the negotiation began.
The hair studio employees observed Kim I-seo with a look of “What is this kid doing here?” But at least Manager Seo Jae-woo realized he was facing someone terrifying. Wasn’t that Kim I-seo, the representative of Mystic Entertainment?
‘So, they finally poached her from Mystic? Damn it, and with this, pleasing Yeon-hwa is going to be even harder…’
Kim I-seo was infamous for not compromising in negotiations. Thanks to this, both Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il reportedly benefited from very favorable conditions, a story that had spread widely in the industry.
Of course, Lee Yeon-hwa, who had been overseas solely focused on refining her craft, had no idea about any of this.
‘…If I can just grab onto this woman, it will work, right?’
Lee Yeon-hwa knew nothing about MyTube, blogs, or SNS. Having devoted herself to her professional growth abroad, what could she possibly know?
‘Yes. I understand this much. I must definitely secure her.’
Still, even Lee Yeon-hwa had to admit the moment she faced Su-a again. This woman will undoubtedly save the hair studio.
‘The Thousand Faces.’
An appearance that suited any styling.
Even to Lee Yeon-hwa’s discerning eye, greed stirred. As a beautician, styling such a figure was something to celebrate in itself. And with the added publicity, it was truly a win-win situation.
Kim I-seo broke the silence first.
“You’re interested in a contract with our Su-a.”
She emphasized “our” quite heavily, perhaps a little too much.
“Yes. Our studio intends to give Su-a all our attention while filming the process. It’s a win-win for both sides.”
Kim I-seo scrutinized the other side carefully.
Lee Yeon-hwa swallowing, Seo Jae-woo growing anxious.
‘I sense it. All of it.’
Every person carries a unique scent, and Kim I-seo was remarkably skilled at detecting it. In no time, she understood that the other side was both impatient and deeply desperate.
‘Mutual benefit? Spare me the laughable joke.’
Mutual benefit? Using such words was a thinly veiled attempt.
It might seem like something beneficial to both parties, but realistically, Su-a’s side was thoroughly in the driver’s seat. Su-a was irreplaceable, but the hair studio? They could just switch to another one.
Truthfully, Kim I-seo didn’t even need to be here.
‘Even alone, Su-a could have handled this negotiation skillfully. She knows her own advantages and values. And she’s a negotiation genius.’
The conditions promised to Su-a by Mystic were clear enough. Even Kim I-seo, who prided herself on her negotiation skills, had ended up trading three cars. Percentages got trounced.
But the reason she still came here?
‘No matter how extraordinary Su-a’s abilities are, she’s only one person. So, the agency needs to be able to act as her extension. Su-a is testing my capabilities to evaluate them.’
The more she thought about it, the more a hollow laugh escaped her lips.
“Huh.”
The more she scrutinized it, the more nothing but laughter came out.
How absurd—it was the CEO herself, Kim I-seo, trying to prove her abilities to a new member.
Kim I-seo spoke in a cold voice.
“Mutual benefit? What exactly does that mean to your side?”
“If we care for Ms. Su-a thoroughly, all costs included, but we get to use the recordings as various promotional materials. The revenue from MyTube or blog views goes to Ms. Su-a.”
Surprisingly, Kim I-seo found the conditions offered rather excellent. She could even sense the sincerity and effort behind them.
There was no sense of trying to deceive Su-a. The conditions instead seemed like a plea: Please let us take care of Su-a and let us at least use that fact for promotion.
‘…There’s really nothing to haggle over.’
Upon closer inspection, the contract terms were hastily revised.
Ah, it’s because of the reputation. As soon as they realized Mystery Entertainment was involved, they quickly adjusted various conditions.
From Kim I-seo’s perspective, this was actually a good thing. Explaining these nuances to Su-a would be a great way to promote Mystic’s reputation. A perfect tool to save face.
Anyway, this meant there wasn’t much to argue about right now.
But tormenting the other side is a necessary skill.
“I’ll be back after discussing this with Su-a for a moment.”
.
.
.
.
.
Outside the hair studio.
“Su-a, there’s really nothing to fix. It’s splendid as it is.”
Kim I-seo smirked.
“Having the agency’s reputation helps here. They don’t try to deceive because of it. The contract seemed hastily revised after realizing we were from Mystic.”
She continued smugly.
“Su-a, I will always strive like this going forward. I’ll keep growing Mystery so that benefits like these come naturally even when I’m not by your side.”
“Hmm.”
“Does this build some trust in me?”
Kim I-seo spoke confidently.
“Remember. Mystery regards Su-a as family. And I am a representative who can do anything for family.”
But Kim I-seo started to feel strange.
No response.
Su-a still hadn’t responded.
“Hmm, was this still not enough?”
◈◈◈◈◈
Much later, Mystic’s CEO, Kim I-seo reappeared.
After boarding the van, Kim I-seo quietly spoke.
“Su-a.”
“Yes.”
“I improved the conditions a bit.”
“Yes?”
She involuntarily asked back.
“…You didn’t need to do this.”
“What are you talking about? It wasn’t any big deal.”
That’s when it happened.
“President! Miss Kim I-seo!”
Manager Seo Jae-woo came running with a troubled expression.
“Wait! Just a moment!”
He clung tightly to the van like a suction-cup octopus.
“President! This is really too much, isn’t it?”
Kim I-seo pressed the button by the window. The dark glass slid fully down before she replied coldly.
“Not at all. It’s perfectly fair.”
Su-a was inwardly surprised. So President Kim I-seo only behaved extremely kindly towards her. Her manner with others was completely different.
“Yes, that’s true. I understand. So President…”
“No.”
“Dear, yes. It’s something else, not related to the styling contract. Even a moment of your time would do.”
“Go on.”
“There’s something else…”
He finally took a deep breath.
“Ah, regardless of other things, the styling contract heavily leaned towards your benefit, didn’t it?”
“It is merely appropriate.”
“Ack. Let’s say, with a good deal in hand, would you mind reviewing this once?”
He hastily pulled out something.
“Mystery, could you just review this script for us…”
The mention of a script caught both their full attention.
“Script? What kind of script?”
Su-a asked this time. Her slight interest visibly made Manager Seo Jae-woo quite happy.
“This is none other than Director Kim Jun-ki’s work.”
At the mention of the director’s name, even Kim I-seo perked up.
“…Kim Jun-ki?”
The previous ingratiating attitude vanished, replaced by Manager Seo Jae-woo standing proudly.
“Yes! The director who makes anything he does, just succeed—Director Kim Jun-ki. Ms. Su-a, how many difficult shoots are there in this world? War movies, stuck away in some remote, wild village—how tough can that get?”
He continued with a voice brimming with vitality.
“But this one will be fun from the first shot. It deals with high society. Every scene is incredibly luxurious. Beautiful clothes, great dining, top-tier vehicles!”
For Su-a, this was an eye-opening story.
After all, she wouldn’t even dare to experience a scene involving torture. In comparison, this seemed enticing. The experience itself would be profoundly fulfilling.
“And the role of the heiress’s youngest daughter is currently open. It’s a fierce competition, sure, but Ms. Su-a, your looks scream ‘qualified.’ I’ll strongly recommend you to Director Kim Jun-ki! Absolutely casting you!”
Manager Seo Jae-woo moved like an inflatable toy spewing fiery words. Saliva occasionally flew out.
“Ah, why elaborate more? Just open the script. Every page is glorious. Come on, hurry!”
Su-a placed her palm on the script then closed her eyes momentarily.
Everyone immediately hushed as it seemed Su-a was about to declare focusing.
Soon after reopening her eyes, Su-a began turning the pages systematically.
Meanwhile, Kim I-seo had much to contemplate.
“Director Kim Jun-ki? To find such luck on her very first day with Mystic? Is she some kind of bottomless bag of fortune?”
Manager Seo Jae-woo cautiously spoke.
“What else makes Director Kim Jun-ki famous? His connections, right? Participating in this project alone means catching the eyes of other directors. It’s like the red carpet is laid out for you.”
“Really.”
Su-a calmly answered while smoothing the script. From Seo Jae-woo’s perspective, how could someone be so composed upon receiving such a proposal?
Just then, Su-a subtly tilted her head.
A subtle motion that went unnoticed by others.
Kim I-seo also organized her thoughts at the same moment.
“Hey, Su-a. Can I borrow your ear for a moment?”
Kim I-seo briefly rolled up the van window before speaking.
“Su-a, the role of a wealthy family’s youngest daughter, well, I’m pretty into it too.”
“It seems you like it.”
“Really, a lot. When you get a role that fits your mask, it becomes your immense strength. Sun-il once played a germaphobic killer; it was so easy for him, yet he received the best reaction ever. Breathing became an Oscar-worthy performance.”
“True.”
“Besides, it’s also accurate that Director Kim Jun-ki has wide-ranging connections. Starting with the network, it’s brilliant for a newcomer like Su-a.”
Kim I-seo’s voice was filled with certainty.
“What do you say we take it? It’s good that you don’t have an open schedule right after filming the Special Mobile Unit 808, and from the viewers’ perspective, they would be seeing Ms. Su-a throughout the entire year.”
“Agreed.”
That satisfied Kim I-seo.
Well, the truth was that participation had been a foregone conclusion the moment the offer was presented. It was simply far too good an opportunity to let go.
“But.”
It was at that moment that Su-a pressed the button to lower the van’s window.
She handed the script back to Manager Seo Jae-woo at the same time.
“I won’t do it. Thank you for your offer.”
