Fate.
Someone’s karma is like a patched quilt or a musty blanket, filled with grudges and favors towards that someone. Fortunately, it seemed Sua had more favors than anything else.
Currently, one only needed to look at the internet.
[Director Kang Hyun-seong, planning a new variety show… Main cast will feature Sua. Never even considered anyone else.]
[Ham Ah-yoon—Sua, harmony demonstrated with two pianos. Ko Tae-min says, “We’ll give it our all starting tomorrow at Crescendo.”]
[Joe Korea, Sua’s bold swimsuit teaser?]
[Energy drink ‘Extreme’ — Sua seems to be a warm person, both now and before. Also, very grateful.]
There was no one venting resentment against Sua.
Only gratitude.
The response from pouring articles was, of course, explosive.
—What? She’s doing all this? Are you serious? This is insane. Hahahaha.
—How is this a rookie? This is insane…
—Where did all those people who used to spread wild rumors go? Instead, the other side even released official statements?!
—Seems like she’s always behaved well. No wonder everyone is trying to snatch her up. Dang.
—For real?
—Right. For real. Usually, when someone causes controversy, they’re quickly cut off.
—Even looking solely at the articles, there’s not a single mention of any actual scandal. Just clickbait.
However, these were the people too late for surprises.
Because there was more to come from Director Yusaku’s follow-up punch.
[‘Korea is narrow’. Finally, Sua’s entry into Japan.]
—Whaaaaaat?!?!
—What? With Director Yusaku?!?
—Is this insane? Is this her as the lead?
—Seriously, give me more details!!!
Director Yusaku was a well-known director both in Korea and Japan, so the reaction was bound to be enormous. After all, there had never been a precedent for a rookie making such a bold overseas move.
The internet flared up once more.
Although, this time, for a slightly different reason.
—Are you going to Japan and not coming back? :'(
—222. I’m scared because there really are some actors who don’t return.
—Honestly, this is all because of the tabloids.
—Sigh. If I were in her position, I wouldn’t want to stay in Korea anymore either. All she did was work hard, and still, they were relentless. Hahaha.
Everyone continued to support Sua as they always had, but a fierce backlash formed against those who had needlessly dragged her down with baseless rumors. There had been leaks of talented individuals who had left due to unfair controversies and atmospheres. Sua’s fans were afraid she might stay in Japan forever.
[Title: Is our gallery owner getting NTR’d?]
[What if she doesn’t come back after going to Japan?]
[Title: Kids are overreacting.]
[The articles just say she’s collaborating with Director Yusaku. We have no details about the project yet, whether it’s a side role or a leading role. Stop being scared.]
—Alright, let’s wait and see.
—If Sua’s popularity is really climbing, this might not be just any usual project.
[Title: Ridiculously unfair rumors.]
[No mention of any past social scandals. Not a single one. I couldn’t even find anyone saying they knew the gallery owner before she was 20 years old.]
—Absolutely right.
—Even those so-called “acquaintances” haven’t actually seen her before 20.
—Honestly, her acquaintances never said anything bad anyway.
[Title: Collection of the stupid.]
[Compilation of absurd tabloid articles.]
—Seriously, these people are idiots.
—Even if Sua goes to Japan, accept her.
—Everyone, just report these articles once.
—I just reported a bunch.
[Title: Star Today’s clarification post. lol]
[Alright, let’s stop now, guys. lol]
—No, I’m still reporting them.
—I’ll never read their articles again.
—These are the kinds of people who poop on keyboards.
[Title: Wow, the gallery owner is amazing.]
[After securing modeling work and major variety shows in Korea, she’s now crossing over to Japan. If she pulls this off, seriously, this is legendary stuff.]
—Agreed, this is insane.
—If it all pans out, she might even conquer Hollywood.
—She’s not a rookie but considered as an actor; even for an actor, this schedule is insanely busy. This is just insane.
The conclusion was clear.
Everyone was amazed by Sua’s accomplishments and began to mercilessly attack those who had criticized her based on unsubstantiated rumors. One could call this a purification of sorts.
[Title: A word to the unfair rumor-mongers.]
[You guys can’t win. Haha. Might as well join them.]
If you can’t beat them, join them.
Yes, the atmosphere was exactly like that.
◈◈◈◈◈
On the other hand.
Sua arrived at the Netflix Korea branch building, completely unaware of the storm brewing on the internet.
In front of the meeting room was a single sheet of paper.
[Untitled]
It was a meeting to discuss Hong Ye-ji’s latest flagship series, but the number of attendees was larger than ever before—Sua and Lee Seo-jung, who would be starring; Hong Ye-ji herself; Lee Geum-sook’s team; Netflix personnel, and, importantly, director Kim Young-gon who resembled Guan Yu.
“…”
Hong Ye-ji quietly sipped her water, her eyes still on Kim Young-gon, who resembled Guan Yu with his long beard.
“Director Kim Young-gon, known for his excellent science fiction direction…”
A truly remarkable director from the Straight Path group.
Kim Young-gon was the first to reach out and grabbed Hong Ye-ji’s hand.
“All these years, I’ve been forced to do work I didn’t want to, but now, with this project, I feel my heart swell. This must be how Guan Yu felt when he found his Red Hare.”
“What nonsense…”
“Excuse me?”
“…It’s a miracle. Thank you.”
“Hahaha! I’m the one who’s thankful!”
The meeting finally began properly.
The Netflix team leader spoke up.
“First, we need to decide on the production company…”
“Hmm.”
“This should be decided by Director Kim. After all, it makes sense for the director handling the direction to select the production company to get a perfect match. I leave it to you.”
Kim Young-gon nodded.
“Understood. Selecting a production company won’t be too difficult, but we might need to delve more into the direction. Hong Writer, can we discuss something related to the script?”
“No.”
Hong Ye-ji’s answer was resolute.
Everyone was stunned.
“Are you saying you won’t discuss script-related matters with the director handling the direction? Did you just say that?”
The staff looked dumbfounded.
“Yes. If there is ambiguity in my writing, it only means my abilities are lacking. Forcibly discussing it won’t improve the quality much.”
The look Hong Ye-ji gave Kim Young-gon was meaningful.
But,
“Hahaha!”
Kim Young-gon burst into laughter.
“Ah, so you’re giving me creative freedom?”
“Really?”
“If my interpretation yields ambiguous results, it means the script is incomplete but I still want you to direct based on your own interpretation. In my years in the industry, I’ve never heard anything more touching. Thank you for trusting me!”
“Ah.”
The atmosphere in the meeting room warmed up. Hong Ye-ji wiped at the corner of her eyes a few times, as if dirt had entered.
The Netflix team leader spoke again.
“This series will have a total of 8 episodes and will be released all at once as a banner production for Netflix.”
“…All-at-once release of full episodes?”
Sua murmured inadvertently.
The team leader smiled.
“Sure, it’s different from regular dramas which release two episodes a week, right? But we’re different. We release everything at once, and if the response is good, we prepare the next season in six months to a year.”
“Aha, I’ll have to work hard. I hope Hong Writer’s work won’t stop at season 1.”
As soon as Sua finished speaking, Hong Ye-ji choked, and Lee Geum-sook patted her back.
The team leader continued,
“If you put in the effort, Sua, we’re sure to achieve good results. Plus, it’s launching not just in Japan’s Netflix but will spread to many other countries.”
The world is changing. In this era, a single production can reach people in other countries. Sua carefully glanced at the document again.
[Category Unknown – Code Undone]
Key Elements Fully Satisfied
Grade 1.3
‘Is this really the end of Grade 1.3? If this targets not only Korea but Japan as well, there must be something beyond Grade 1 that will come. I must see it.’
She was certain it would surpass Grade 1!
Sua’s enthusiasm, hard work, dedication!
Just as Sua’s resolve began to flare up,
“… Excuse me.”
Hong Ye-ji finally intervened herself.
“Though I’m happy with the production and launch, I do ask that we address something I’ve strongly requested.”
Looking intently into Sua’s eyes, Hong Ye-ji said with emphasis,
“Sua, I want the artists themselves to handle the OST for this drama. Even the script includes a passage where the characters perfectly handle singing. Have you seen it?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you can handle the singing for it, Sua.”
Hong Ye-ji’s expression was fearsome. Sua thought, ‘This person has an incredible passion for her work.’
“OST…?”
Sua understood what it meant.
“Isn’t it the song inserted into the video? I’ve seen them perform well on the music charts even if the show flops. And sometimes even the OST becomes a hit.”
“… She’s giving me this responsibility.”
Sua felt a warm feeling inside.
Hong Ye-ji truly trusted her. Sua was moved!
Just then, a Netflix staff member cautiously spoke up.
“Sua, of course, this isn’t a demand. An actor’s primary job is acting, not singing, but we can polish and adjust any music you record. Please take it lightly.”
“Yes, actors singing OSTs doesn’t usually get high expectations from the audience anyway. If it suits Sua, you can just try. Hong Writer probably meant this.”
However,
“No.”
Hong Ye-ji was resolute.
“I can’t proceed unless Sua handles it.”
Sua could sense her desperation. She sensed something incredibly heartfelt.
Thus,
“Yes, I’ll do it.”
Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Eh? Sua doing the OST?”
“Really?!”
“Serious?!”
Though they’d all heard her clearly, it took time for them to understand exactly what she’d meant.
Was she planning to make an effort despite the likely low-quality outcome, or was she confident enough to create a hit OST?
No one knew yet.
But Sua’s expression was very serious.
‘Could she be good at singing too?’
‘Eh, she’s probably just trying it out. It’d be a shame to ruin the show because of this.’
‘… But somehow, with Sua, I feel like she could pull this off.’
After a considerable pause, the Netflix team leader resumed.
“Uh, then, we’ll review Sua’s singing at a later date. We need to know Sua’s vocal range to assist the composer.”
“Wait, wait, hold on.”
Hong Ye-ji interjected.
“… Sua, are you really serious about this?”
“Of course.”
Sua nodded.
‘What happens if I don’t reveal my identity as Sumi-ho? Would my OST compete with Sumi-ho’s songs in the charts? Oh, that’s truly hilarious to even imagine.’
Her head was filled with such thoughts.
No worries? No fears? None existed in her mind.
◈◈◈◈◈
Mystic headquarters.
Kim I-seo was busy handling tasks in the CEO’s office, with artists such as Sua, Sun-il, and Yeon-joo all gaining popularity and keeping her extremely busy and happy these days. She was reviewing all sorts of agendas and schedules in rapid succession when suddenly,
“CEO Kim, you should see this!”
One of her staff burst in urgently, handing her a pile of monitoring materials.
“…Hmm? An article from Yusaku’s side?”
Naturally, the article involving Director Yusaku caught her eye, widening it significantly.
[‘Korea is narrow.’ Finally, Sua ventures into Japan]
“Just a mention of collaboration. No specific details. I wonder why this article was released?”
“Still, we greatly benefited from it. All those baseless articles attacking Sua have disappeared since this news. Public opinion has completely reversed.”
“…Could they have known everything and released it to help us?”
Though saying it, she found it hard to believe. Surely not?
Anyway, asking the parties involved would clarify things.
Kim I-seo immediately picked up her phone, her forefinger already dialing the translator working with Director Yusaku.
“Hello, CEO Kim speaking?”
“Yes, we’ve had an urgent matter arise. Would it be possible to speak with Director Yusaku for a moment?”
“Of course. Actually, Director Yusaku was waiting for a call from CEO Kim too.”
The conversation continued via the translator.
“Director Yusaku, the news about Sua’s entry into Japan for her debut… Did you release it?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a reason in mind?”
“Director Yusaku says he cast Sua as the lead in his next project and didn’t like the mosquitoes-like reporters swarming around her. He wanted to keep them in check.”
Kim I-seo was quietly amazed.
‘So, Director Yusaku is doing all this for Sua’s sake? And he’s a well-known director in both Korea and Japan… How much does Sua appeal to him?’
The implications were clear.
This was a trade, a favor. Director Yusaku had used his fame to sway public opinion, so please cement Sua’s role in his next movie.
It was a funny and unrealistic event. How could a rookie actress receive such favor from an overseas master director? This was unprecedented.
“Director Yusaku, we’ll repay the favor.”
Thus, Kim I-seo subtly conveyed Mystic’s intentions.
After hanging up, she spoke to her staff,
“Who are the people publishing those articles against Sua?”
“Seems to be mostly Star Today.”
“Star Today… They’re so transparent, so transparent.”
Kim I-seo couldn’t help but smile.
Star Today is a garbage site that will do anything for money, but oddly successful. Many have been hurt by them.
‘And one of the places that enthusiastically pays them is CT Entertainment. How pathetic.’
Finding the culprits didn’t take long.
Kim I-seo crossed her arms.
“You made the first move, and you’ve chosen the wrong target. No matter what you do or who you debut next, I’ll show you hell.”
Her expression was solemn.
◈◈◈◈◈
The next day.
The internet was still buzzing.
News about Sua being involved in every major project, and her entry into Japan, spread widely, especially with vague details about the Japanese venture fueling speculation.
What will Sua do with Director Yusaku? Will her activities in Korea cease after moving to Japan? Please release follow-up news…
Everyone was clamoring. The level of interest in her future was extraordinary. Anyone releasing an article attacking her now would probably end up like a mouse crushed by a foot.
And finally,
This heat reached an unexpected person. Japanese golden writer Akiko.
“Sua Is…?”
Minami Akiko wrinkled her eyebrows, scanning various articles on her working laptop.
Of course, she wasn’t reviewing Korean language articles directly.
She didn’t need to go to Korean portal sites either.
[New announcement from Director Yusaku! However, is the lead actor from Korea?!]
Slowly but surely, Japanese sites also began mentioning Sama.
The fact that Yusaku was widely known in both Korea and Japan, the fact that Minami Akiko’s daughter Sawako was into the same genre, and the mother-daughter rivalry all converged.
[Mother vs. Daughter: Who will win the battle? The clash of traditional Yakuza and modern Yakuza stories]
[Why did Yusaku choose daughter Sawako over mother Akiko? Public interest rising]
All of this led to what Akiko eventually said to her staff after closing her laptop.
“I’m told Sua is the actress who’ll play the lead in Yusaku’s film and will be showing us her acting tomorrow.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Tomorrow, you, Director Yusaku, and Sawako will be watching Sua’s acting.”
“Hmm…”
Akiko did search for pictures of Sua but didn’t find anything extraordinary. Sure, Sua’s strong face and beautiful features stood out, but that was about it.
Honestly, female Yakuza characters were absurd, right?
Even seeing her act tomorrow wouldn’t change much, would it? Frankly, she still didn’t understand Director Yusaku’s and Sawako’s enthusiasm for her acting.
Therefore,
Since she’s confident in winning,
“I think we need to stoke this fire further.”
“Hmm, in Japan, it’s already a very hot topic. The mother-daughter rivalry on the same theme is already significant, so there’s not much more to do.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Akiko’s eyes gleamed.
“On the contrary, let’s head to the Korean side and stoke the fire. If we can bring Korean audiences to our show, wouldn’t that be great?”
“A?”
The staff finally caught on.
“So, you’re suggesting we make this Japanese rivalry known in Korea too? Exactly!”
“Yes, precisely.”
Another powerful bomb was aimed at Korea.
