An upscale steak house located in Cheongdam. Yu-han Kim and Kim I-seo stepped out side by side. Kim I-seo already looked somewhat haggard.
“It was tough to make the reservation at such short notice. Luckily, I had some connections built up from before; otherwise, we wouldn’t have secured the spot.”
The representative added,
“If Lee Geum-sook is full of affection, Park Yu-mi is the opposite. She’s cool. Let’s try not to irritate her. When Sua stays quiet, I’ll do the talking, like that.”
“Yes.”
Kim I-seo had already told Sua various things during their ride in the van. Polite greetings that took the other person’s mood into consideration.
Sua hadn’t forgotten.
Kim I-seo glanced at her phone’s notepad.
[Notepad]
-Park Yu-mi writer’s meeting
-Pet reality show filming
-Appreciation of climaxes
-Lee Geum-sook’s group meeting
Could anyone have predicted that the rookie Sua would become so busy this quickly? Kim I-seo was truly surprised.
“We have a lot to do. Let’s wrap things up as quickly as possible.”
The two then entered the restaurant.
A short while later, five people joined them.
At the center was writer Park Yu-mi, and surrounding her like a fence were the production team members. Kim I-seo smiled.
“Hello, Writer Park. It’s been a long time since you’ve been in Korea. The last time I met you, Mystic was still a new entertainment company.”
Park Yu-mi writer also responded with a slight upturn of her lips.
“Don’t belittle yourself too much. I’ve been keeping tabs on the news from Korea and knew that Mystic had grown beyond recognition.”
“I’m glad you took an interest.”
“Of course. Now, let’s see, and this is…?”
Park Yu-mi’s gaze turned to Sua, who politely bowed her head.
“Hello, my name is Sua. I enjoyed your work.”
“Really? Which ones?”
Sua remained silent after that.
Fortunately, Park Yu-mi seemed distracted by something else.
“Compared to your images, the real thing is incredible. The camera couldn’t capture it all. Right now, you’re simply being Sua, just yourself without any costumes, the unfiltered you?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You yourself feel like a role. A heavy one. I sort of guessed it, but seeing you in person is indeed different.”
By this point, Sua was thinking internally.
‘Writer Lee Geum-sook was closer to an affectionate aunt, whereas this person feels more like the president of a large company. She makes me nervous.’
When the appetizers were served, Park Yu-mi spoke.
“Your meeting was set up more quickly than I had expected.”
Kim I-seo responded promptly.
“It should be. It’s none other than Writer Park, and with your entrance into the OTT business, having Sua in mind is something we are grateful for.”
“Did you read the entire script?”
“Of course. The masterpiece of a tycoon drama is indeed different.”
“Hmph.”
Park Yu-mi wore a meaningful smile.
“Whenever Manager Kim starts with compliments, it seems the meeting ends badly. Is my memory accurate?”
At the same moment, her gaze shifted to Sua.
“Sua, did you also read my script?”
“Yes. I thought about the role, and wanted to live that kind of life. So much money that no threat seems real, a life that’s unbearably dull. The kind of life where if you confide your troubles, the other side dismisses them as complaints from someone who’s too wealthy, and you might even get a knife in the back.”
“That’s right. Sua seems like the role, starting with the mask.”
Dinner was served, but Park Yu-mi writer seemed uninterested, staring at Sua the whole time with a glint in her eyes.
“To be honest, I considered casting the rising star Su-an as the young master, but after meeting you, Sua, I feel no regret. Actually, now I think you might be even more appealing.”
“Thank you.”
Sua didn’t boast. She remained humble.
Sua thought to herself that she had indeed grown a little.
“If I’d known about Sua earlier, I think I might have come back to Korea earlier.”
The production team was surprised by the overt praise, but Park Yu-mi continued, lightly swirling her wine glass.
“But it seems you’re turning down my project?”
Manager Kim struggled to speak at this point.
“In principle, yes.”
“I had that feeling. All the compliments were there, except the actual statement that you want to do it. Pretense is pretense.”
“I apologize. Sua is simply too busy right now.”
Manager Kim explained step by step.
Starting from how Sua had become busy after the short film “The Sword,” to the upcoming reality TV appearances, and the collaboration with Ko Tae-min on “Crescendo Starts Tomorrow” as well as the project with Seo Yeon-joo.
“I know Sua is busy. However…”
Writer Park Yu-mi shook her head.
“An important piece is missing. I heard you also received a call from the Lee Geum-sook group. Do you think my script is worse than hers?”
“Absolutely not. It’s splendid.”
“So why the choice?”
“Sua wished it. Desperately.”
At that moment, Sua nodded earnestly, clearly indicating it wasn’t a lie. Park Yu-mi writer maintained a moment of silence.
“Then, I have nothing to say. I’m an artist after all, so I understand. When you want to do something passionately, enthusiasm burns so brightly. And forcing yourself to do something you dislike is tough.”
“I absolutely did not mean to say I dislike Writer Park’s script.”
“I understand. That’s not what I mean. Still…”
Writer Park Yu-mi crossed her arms and continued,
“Let me see the Lee Geum-sook group’s script. I need to check what content has captivated Sua.”
The script was handed over to Park Yu-mi shortly afterward.
“…What is this?”
“Why wouldn’t you understand the content even after reading it?”
“Is this the finished product…?”
Even now, with the food growing cold, no one moved their forks or knives. Clearly, the shock was immense.
Park Yu-mi drank her wine like water and spoke.
“I remember some scenes I wrote. Why? Spraying water on someone’s face is common in tycoon dramas, isn’t it?”
“….”
“Will this work succeed more than mine? Try saying lines like that while feeling conflicted. It feels ambiguous.”
Sua listened silently.
I understood how Park Yu-mi writer felt. If I hadn’t looked at the special edition rankings, I wouldn’t have chosen it.
“I’d like to let you go easy, but it’s difficult.”
Writer Park Yu-mi spoke again,
“The script is bizarre, and after seeing Sua, I find it hard to let you go. Why does it feel so regrettable to let you go?”
Manager Kim paused for thought before replying.
“Writer Park, there is a way.”
“Tell me.”
“After all, this situation creates disadvantages for both parties. Writer Park, you’ll be known as a writer rejected by a rookie, and at the same time, Sua might come across as overly arrogant.”
“Especially, the rejection seems harsh since the chosen script is melodramatic.”
“Yes. Considering this, how about Sua participating as an extra with a limited role? It’ll be good for both sides.”
Writer Park Yu-mi pondered, and Sua thought Manager Kim’s judgment wasn’t bad. In fact, it was excellent.
‘This script’s rating isn’t bad.’
‘The Upper Class’ has a rating of 2.8.
I wouldn’t have let it go easily anyway.
At that point, Park Yu-mi handed over a file.
“It’s a character map. Go over it. If you have any questions, ask. I’ll answer any of them.”
Thus began the search for the extra role.
After a moment, Manager Kim sighed,
“It’s difficult. The role of the youngest daughter in a tycoon family seemed perfect.”
At that moment, Manager Kim’s phone rang unexpectedly, and she excused herself and stood up.
“It’s a call I can’t miss; Sua’s reality show production is near.”
That left Sua alone from Mystic’s team.
Suddenly, Sua pointed to a character.
“What is this role? It wasn’t in the script.”
Writer Park Yu-mi reacted with an “Ah,”
“You wouldn’t know. Since the character is so simple, I omitted descriptions, but it’s incredibly striking.”
“Striking?”
“Closer to a supporting role than an extra.”
“Even with the limited screen time, it’s this impactful?”
Sua’s ears perked up.
“What kind of role is it?”
“A maid. But not just any maid.”
Writer Park Yu-mi wore a mysterious smile.
“A temptress of a maid.”
Park Yu-mi chuckled.
“Ultimately, she catches the eye of an upper-class man and shares a bed with him, leading to an exhilarating rise in her social standing.”
Sua inwardly showed aversion. A bed scene? Sexual relations?
“Uh, uh, is there really… that kind of thing going on?”
“Of course.”
“…Do we really film it?”
“Oh no, we don’t.”
Writer Park Yu-mi clearly stated,
“She drops her gown, revealing her back in the bathroom, and is discovered accidentally by someone from the upper class. The scene ends by hinting at a certain kind of deal.”
First hurdle overcome: there would be no sexual relations.
But Sua was still concerned.
“How exactly do they show the back? Do you have to completely undress?”
“Of course not. It’s done while wearing underwear. The camera will capture only the calf area. She drops the gown and underwear near the ankle to create the illusion of nakedness.”
Writer Park Yu-mi shrugged.
“I’m not Kim Jun-ki or some creep who demands ridiculous poses or takes photos to later coerce with sexual relations.”
Sua was amazed anew.
‘He really was a monster. Trash.’
The world is truly frightening.
“The acting required for the maid is simple. Feel the gaze and turn your head, then make eye contact. The important part is the look in your eyes. The kind of glance that makes the man simply unable to resist.”
“Definitely very short but extremely striking.”
“That’s right. There’s just one problem.”
Writer Park Yu-mi sipped her newly filled wine glass.
“Can Sua handle seduction?”
“Hmm.”
Sua thought. Of course, I don’t know how.
Since it’s a 2.8-rated script, it might be good to participate lightly, but seduction is extremely difficult.
Up to this point, it felt like the most challenging acting that she’d done.
Seduction? How exactly do you do it?
Back in her working days, she tried acting spoiled to get leniency for her mistakes and ended up getting double the punishment. Since then, it’s been Sua-sealed….
‘Besides, I realized now. I’m not the Arctic Fox.’
She was simply born sharp.
A depressing fact, but gradually one had to accept it, right?
Still, just in case, she might check the special edition.
“Writer, please wait a moment.”
Saying that, Sua touched the script.
[The Upper Class]
001 ─ Huh Ah-hyun
002 ─ Lee Ah-young
.
.
.
009 ─ Maid 1
[Includes Special Abilities]
[Prerequisite Requirement: Extreme Difficulty]
‘Prerequisite? This is the first time I’m seeing this.’
Yohan Kim interjected at that moment.
-The role of Maid 1 seems to require a prerequisite, and it’s apparently quite challenging.
-That guy should understand by now. Therefore, what’s the prerequisite? Can we check it beforehand?
By that time, Sua had already attempted to experience it.
[…A prerequisite is required…]
[…Verifying the prerequisite…]
[Success]
[Physical Compatibility: S]
[Injecting ‘Fox Charm’]
-Huh?
-Huh?
‘Eh?’
It appears the prerequisite was simply her body.
To be more precise, her figure and proportions, but Sua didn’t know that.
‘Extreme difficulty they said? But it passed straight away?’
The news that she passed was enough to bring pure joy.
S-S-S-S!
Something began being injected into Sua’s consciousness.
-…Can it really be this easy to achieve?
-It’s indeed an extreme difficulty, but Sua Senior is exceptional. It appears the creator made the body and didn’t bother with the rest.
With a brief commentary from the Sua Association.
