The interview room was in chaos.
Given the less-than-ideal situation, having two more interviewees added was an event worthy of cheers—except the shock rippling through wasn’t quite done yet.
The identities of the unexpected arrivals were none other than Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il.
The interview room fell utterly silent. None present could have predicted this turn of events.
Reacting with mere astonishment in such a moment was only possible after an appropriate amount of surprise had been exhausted.
Currently, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief, struggling to process what was unfolding before them.
Ultimately, it was Seo Yeon-joo who broke the silence.
“…Sua, you’re different from the rest. Not shocked at all, huh?”
A single remark directed at Sua.
Afterward, all gazes converged on her.
A near-perfect expressionless face.
In fact, Sua’s focus wasn’t even directed at Kim Sun-il or Seo Yeon-joo. It remained steadfastly on the interviewee currently performing.
Thus, confusion and surprise spread through the crowd.
‘This kind of concentration, unbroken in such a situation. Remarkable.’
‘This person doesn’t find even Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo particularly surprising?’
‘This is the first time I’ve seen her today, and she’s just insanely cool.’
Of course, the actual circumstances were different from what everyone assumed.
Sua grimaced, the pain from her accidentally bitten tongue intense.
The label “non-reactive” was misleading; in truth, her state was more akin to petrification or freezing.
She’d simply gone rigid from shock.
The reason for her fixed gaze on the interviewee?
She couldn’t even muster the courage to look directly at the two new actors. She might jump right out of her skin if she did.
‘What’s happening here?’
The situation regarding “Sword” wasn’t favorable, which made it confusing. Would actors of such high caliber willingly jump into a potentially disastrous project?
Looking towards Park Jun for answers proved fruitless as he too sat there dazed.
‘Could the meaning of a top-tier script be this?’
If Sua’s conjecture was correct, then the grading of a script might vary depending on the acting talent involved. An important factor.
‘Well, regardless, it’s a good thing for me…’
While wholly incomprehensible, it was undoubtedly advantageous. As Sua struggled to piece her scattered thoughts together:
“Though I expected to see Sua shocked this time around, she didn’t even offer a greeting?”
Absolutely not, Sua thought. She was shocked and filled with joy beyond measure. Especially since the absence of Ha-ryeong among today’s interviewees had caused her much distress. How could she not be delighted?
“Doesn’t Sua like me?” Seo Yeon-joo joked, flashing a playful grin.
Tension heightened as Sua carefully composed her response. One misplaced word was the last thing she needed, not to mention her previous purchase of a rabbit doll inspired by Yeon-joo’s charm.
“Of course not. Please make yourself at home.”
“Upon hearing that, I’m suddenly a little scared,” Yeon-joo quipped, brightening her smile.
Suddenly, Sua recalled something. The events from that day—had she not reported them to the police?
After regaining her composure, Sua realized she was overthinking. For now, completing the project of top-tier value was paramount.
“Are you interested in the role of Ha-ryeong?”
“Of course. Why? Oh, I see.”
Yeon-joo chuckled and shrugged.
“Are you questioning if I can pull it off? Are you suggesting I should audition in front of you?”
Rather than coming off conceited, her confidence shone warmly and charmingly.
‘Miss Seo Yeon-joo simply has to be cast. Is there even a question about that?’
She’s beautiful. She’s a skilled actor. And her personality’s great.
There was simply no justification for rejection, and Sua couldn’t act as the interviewer anyway. Seo Yeon-joo was already established as a credible actor.
Sua nodded.
“Haling role is available, but you need to be prepared.”
With no funding secured, the implication was readiness for possible cancellation. However, it seemed conveyed differently.
A flicker of fiery determination sparkled in Seo Yeon-joo’s eyes.
“Absolutely. A newbie won’t easily devour me. Rather, I hope Sua is prepared too.”
Something else had been inadvertently stirred.
As Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il began blending into the atmosphere:
CT Entertainment’s spy, Son Ji-ah, hadn’t picked up her phone yet.
“What on earth is happening here?”
The sudden appearance of Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il shocked, but surprisingly, adaptation happened quickly. What Son Ji-ah found harder to comprehend was the figure at the center of it all.
Sua. A completely unknown, fresh face.
“Since their arrival, they haven’t stopped looking at Sua.”
“The script ‘Sword’ belongs to Director Park Jun, yet Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo are fixated on Sua.”
As if all decisions resided with the newbie.
Even if that were possible, given the world’s infinite peculiarities, the aspect that truly baffled Son Ji-ah was Sua’s attitude.
“Is she treating Seo Yeon-joo like an ordinary acting aspirant?”
Even with Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo present, there’s a lack of welcome. Her face reflects more annoyance at the disruption, doesn’t it?
…As if prepared to eliminate even Yeon-joo.
“Is it giving me a headache? What should I report? No, I must report it as is. But will they believe it?”
As Son Ji-ah wrestled with uncertainty.
“Ah, um, Miss Yeon-joo, Miss Sun-il, sorry, there’s no spare seat. Please, at least…,” Park Jun muttered, filled with apprehension, yet maintained polite speech even in private familiarity.
As he rose to offer his chair and others mimicked his instinctive move of deference to celebrities, Kim Sun-il shook his head.
“I’m here for the supporting role, Seo Yeon-joo’s here for Ha-ryeong. That’s enough.”
“Thank you so much for the trouble, it’s really heartwarming. Only, why so suddenly? What’s the reason?”
“Huh, well, truth is…”
Seo Yeon-joo began:
“It’s not solely because the project appealed to us.”
“Then why?”
“Hmm? What are the reasons, really?”
Seo Yeon-joo responded cleverly, locking her gaze with Sua simultaneously.
Steadily.
Almost piercingly at Sua.
Sua trembled.
“Me? Is it because of me?” Nope?
Meanwhile, Kim Sun-il placed a pile of scripts on Park Jun’s table.
“Either way, we’re not here for fun. Look here. Seo Yeon-joo went so far as to underline parts of the script while studying it.”
“…Are you crazy? Why did you casually bring someone else’s script along? Oh, anyway, it’s about time we leave. Director Park, we’ve conveyed what we had to.”
Seo Yeon-joo waved.
“Then, we’ll be waiting for your call.”
With that, they left. Director Park was left holding his head, dazed, yet continued the interviews.
Interestingly, their visit transformed the nature of the interview process, akin to the world’s dimensions shifting.
Before, expressions of regret were apparent from those who showed up, but now, there was a stark difference.
One after another, they fervently pleaded for a chance with their performances, as though embodying the will of heroes safeguarding the world from the Demon King.
Watching it all, Sua couldn’t help but realize the immense power a famous actor’s name possessed. It was remarkable.
Soon after. Finally.
When the interviews ended, and the two were left alone:
“Sua, Sua!”
Director Park immediately leaned in.
“Amazing! Could such a situation really exist? Is all of this thanks to Miss Sua?”
“…”
Sua remained silent. What does one know to answer?
A ring.
Director Park’s phone chimed.
“Hello? Unknown number. Who is this?”
Suddenly widening his eyes in surprise, Park stood up.
“Ah? It’s Manager Kim I-seo from Mystic Entertainment? Yes, I know! Yeon-joo and Sun-il’s agency. Hello, hello! By any chance…”
Their conversation continued,
“Yes, please go ahead. I’m listening.”
As the conversation went on, Park occasionally glanced at Sua, as if she was the subject of the phone call.
Then, somehow,
“Excuse me?”
Suddenly collapsing onto the floor, not in a chair.
“…Fully funded, you say?”
A murmur, as if his soul had escaped.
■
The following morning.
Despite waking, Sua remained in bed, absently stroking the ears of the rabbit doll, her thoughts a whirl.
It’s odd, yet everything resolved in one go.
The short film “Sword” had many issues.
“How would I get the investors? What about the actors?”
But all the worries were settled in a single day. The arrival of the Mystic representative had neatly addressed all uncertainties.
“…What exactly is going on?”
She pondered for a while but then dismissed it, deciding not to waste time on unknowable matters for the moment.
What’s more important was contemplating the future.
She was now set to participate in two top-tier script projects. Just thinking about it was exhilarating.
“Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo. Somehow we’ll work together on both projects.”
Even mentioning it felt strange. Isn’t this real?
Suddenly, she thought of Saeng-ji, her journalist friend.
If Saeng-ji knew she was working with Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il, how would she react? Would it create a sensation? Could it even lead to her rapid promotion?
…Should I contact her after all this time?
“No, there’s no room for showboating while I’m at this juncture.”
She slapped her cheeks.
No room for self-flattery. I’m not here to be a nuisance to others; now is the time for careful thought.
Sua realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance but acknowledged the danger of ending up in a worse position. Therefore, it must serve as a proper stepping stone for success.
And for that,
“Acting!”
Acting is the priority. Nothing else matters beyond acting.
“Doing my best. Doing my best…”
Repeating these words, she moved towards the awaiting package at her door. It was Kim Yu-han’s role script that had finally arrived.
Why is the box so large?
Probably due to extra secure packaging, but its heavyweight added to the mystery.
Rip!
After using a cutter knife to open the delivery box, the distinct smell of paper greeted her nose as a collection of five bulky scripts looked up at her.
“Is this normal for a drama?”
As she pulled them out one by one, a note from the author appeared.
[Just in case, I sent you the complete set, Sua. You can focus solely on the final draft, but if you have the time, feel free to read others. I’d love to see the answers Sua finds when she steps in front of the camera.]
What’s beyond the final draft? What does ‘finding answers’ refer to? Sua tilted her head in confusion but soon understood when recalling their prior conversation.
[Final Script: Special Mobile Unit 808]
[Kim Yu-han A Option: Special Mobile Unit 808]
[Kim Yu-han B Option: Special Mobile Unit 808]
“Oh, so sending everything meant this.”
Even Lего assembly-challenged Sua comprehended it all now!
Kim Yu-han, as it turned out, was a fully unconfirmed role. It seemed discretion was handed over to her. Choose whichever feels most suitable.
For a regular actor, merely examining all options would take ages, but…
“…Doesn’t matter much does it? I have a special skill, anyway.”
As her thoughts reached there, rose-tinted imagination unfurled in her mind. Displaying perfect acting in front of the camera, with the director shouting ‘Take it!’ while overcome with admiration.
Sua elegantly flicked her hair, as everyone clutched her hand asking for autographs, their hearts overwhelmed with affection, willing to give her everything including their assets and house deeds…
“…”
Sua shook herself out of the fantasy, her face flushed.
“Hum.”
Coughing to clear her throat, she entered the practice booth in her special space, pushing her daydreams aside. Time for real practice.
[Final Script: Special Mobile Unit 808]
▶ Sufficient elements for expression
▶ Experience complete / Top-tier
001 ─ Kim Yu-han
002 ─ Lee Kang-cheol
003 ─ Ha Yoon-jin …
Sua dialed. This time, however, not the usual code 002.
She decided to study all scripts thoroughly, though not solely focusing on Kim Yu-han’s part within each.
She aimed to study every role comprehensively, believing it would enhance her insight into Kim Yu-han from various perspectives.
Whoosh…
Forgetting food, Sua immersed herself in script experiences, losing track of even her hunger.
Because, indeed, experiencing it was more enjoyable than expected.
■
Three days later.
The tension of jumping into her first project combined with the excitement of script experiences led Sua to focus solely on this for the past three days.
Finally stepping out after a long absence, she headed out in response to Director Park’s summons.
The destination was a cafe with rather gloomy decor, though the dim lighting barely registered because Park Jun’s radiant smile illuminated it.
“Sua, over here!”
Waving, Director Park appeared cleaner and happier than ever, frequently breaking into laughter.
Sua understood why Park Jun was elated. The long-awaited opportunity to create his film materialized, how joyous must that be?
However, Sua found one thing perplexing.
“Sua, I’m truly grateful. Your effort entirely funded my project.”
This insistence that the credit for securing the investment belonged solely to Sua baffled her.
“Isn’t that because Mystic Entertainment agreed to invest?”
“That’s correct.”
Though Park eagerly nodded, confirming his words, this left Sua more mystified.
Mystic Entertainment? No idea. Their representative? Absolutely no clue.
“Mystic Entertainment’s representative apparently has great interest in you, Sua. Beyond allowing the participation of the two actors, they also committed the investment. Thus, everything fell into place…”
So, why does a representative of Mystic Entertainment care about me?
Park Jun eagerly shared more news.
Explaining how the names of Yeon-joo and Sun-il made securing other casts easier, and how the association with Mystic Entertainment helped secure a great production studio.
…I don’t know. Sua simply nodded.
After some time,
Thud.
Director Park placed several film photos on the table.
They depicted a dense forest with tall trees, giving off a creepy vibe to Sua.
“A pine forest in Wansan, North Jeolla Province. We’ll likely shoot the film here.”
“Is that so.”
“Truthfully, informing you about this shooting location is itself a touching experience. I initially thought it’d definitely fall through…”
“…Glad they didn’t sell the liver.”
Sua said genuinely, and Director Park chuckled.
“Exactly. All thanks to Sua.”
Afterward, Sua listened to several thank-you speeches and received a new script with updated information.
“Aim to wrap things up promptly. We’ll kick off filming in two weeks and aim to finish in that week.”
The precise schedule made her realize anew and filled her with anticipation. Standing before the camera was becoming tangible.
Signing the contract, Sua briefly declared,
“I’ll do my best.”
Meaning it wholeheartedly.
■
Time flowed like water.
“What?” Hey, you. Son Ji-ah, are you serious right now?”
Amid the usual clamor in the CT Entertainment, a report by Son Ji-ah.
[ Saeng-Ji: I’m really busy dying here…]
[ Saeng-Ji: Really, any big scoop out there? ☹️ ]
[ Sae-Deer : Playing games? ]
[ Monkeying: Breaking news, breaking news ]
[ Monkeying: Yang Ha-rin participating in a Short Film Festival!!! ]
[ Monkeying: Directed by Jo Eunshin, seems legit! ]
A typically noisy group chat.
[ Unsaved Number ]
[ Sua, this is Kim I-seo, the CEO of Mystic Entertainment. I’d like to briefly meet up to have a chat. ]
And the contact from Mystic Entertainment CEO.
[ Seo Yeon-joo – Kim Sun-il ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’ Mock shoot begins ]
[ Seo Yeon-joo… ready for the mock shoot? Just business as usual. ]
[ Will the mysterious Kim Yu-han participate in the mock shoot? ]
[ No media access. Are they hiding something major? ]
Articles still trickling out.
“…”
Leaving all that behind, Sua laced up her shoes by the shoe cabinet, simultaneously taking a deep breath while gazing at the adjacent mirror.
“Huff…”
Finally, the time had come.
The mock shoot for Special Mobile Unit 808.
“I’ll be back.”
Hugging the rabbit doll tightly, Sua stepped out of her home, having completed the full experience of all scripts, every role.
