Leaving a dazed Kim Jin behind, I went to the bathroom to wipe sauce off my hands, and Yeom Hae-jin followed.
“You’re not seriously thinking of doing that drama, right?”
Hae-jin, as if she knew something, glanced around and whispered to me.
“I heard Kim Jin-sunbae contacted Ryu Byul and got brutally rejected.”
“Oh… Byul?”
“Yeah. He told me while drinking. The female lead casting keeps falling through.”
“Why?”
“The actor they’re negotiating with is kind of a big deal. Apparently, she often bullies less famous actors. And since it’s still in discussion, actors are playing it safe.”
…Aha. That actor who took the role after I was pushed out. I remember the look she gave me when we crossed paths at the broadcasting station.
“If you get on the wrong side in this industry, it’s trouble. Rumors can spread weirdly. Especially since you’re a rising actor, it’s good you didn’t agree.”
Hae-jin, sounding relieved, hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, quietly thanking her.
“Thanks to you, Hae-jin. I’ll definitely do any drama you’re in.”
“What, you weren’t going to?”
“How’d you know?”
As Hae-jin spoke, I opened the bathroom door and locked eyes with Cheon Ian standing in the hallway.
Perfect timing—I had something to say.
Approaching him, Cheon Ian asked what was up.
“What?”
“Um… could I meet your agency’s CEO?”
Cheon Ian’s eyes widened, as if the alcohol had worn off.
“You’re joining our agency?”
“Yeah.”
“Huh, why? Didn’t you dislike the idea?”
I answered without specifying the subject.
“You’re not done yet?”
Yesterday, Cheon Ian’s agency submitted evidence to counter X Entertainment’s lawsuit. It should be nearly resolved. That’s why I planned to join.
Cheon Ian’s eyes narrowed, and he clicked his tongue.
“Are you cunning or just clever?”
Handing me the agency’s business card, he said, “You don’t know how scary our CEO is, do you?”
“How scary?”
“So picky. You’ll regret not joining when I first offered.”
Oh, this isn’t good.
“We’ll see.”
★★★
H Entertainment’s CEO, Min Ja-young, desperately wanted to sign Im Bada. Not just for her rising star title, but because her acting was exceptional.
A rookie with skills beyond her experience—a raw gem.
A jeweler shapes a gem to enhance its value, so Min Ja-young had asked Cheon Ian to bring Im Bada in, only to hear she’d declined.
But after the wrap party, Cheon Ian said she wanted to meet.
On the day of the meeting, a call came that morning.
“Take good care of Bada, okay? Don’t say anything weird.”
“…Got it, I got it.”
Cheon Ian’s caution had a reason.
Min Ja-young was once an actor. Finding more talent in nurturing actors than acting, she entered the entertainment business.
After starting her agency, she took on a few rookies, but it didn’t go well. Some even fled, saying they couldn’t stand her.
Knowing this, Cheon Ian was adamant she not scare Im Bada off.
‘I’ll handle it. She’s the first rookie since Cheon Ian who feels like a raw gem.’
Then.
“…Hello, CEO Min Ja-young.”
Im Bada walked in.
Her real-life presence was far better than on screen. A refined yet cool face, with a hint of warmth.
With styling, Im Bada could shift between cool and warm, acting with both personas.
“You look even better in person.”
“…Oh, thank you.”
“And tall.”
“Inherited from my mom.”
Her steady gaze and confident voice.
Min Ja-young had met many rookies, but none like this—no trembling, saying exactly what she meant.
“What do you think of H Entertainment?”
“It’s small.”
Pfft. She nearly spat out her water.
“Cough… Right.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Min Ja-young liked Im Bada’s blunt honesty.
“It’s still small-scale.”
“That’s fine. I’m okay with small.”
“Don’t you prefer something bigger?”
“…Well, bigger’s nice too.”
Now I see why Cheon Ian likes her. Smiling while speaking her mind—a perfect fit for surviving the gritty entertainment world.
Im Bada calmly clutched her bag, looking at Min Ja-young.
“Did Ian say anything about me?”
“A little.”
“What’d he say?”
“That you’re a good person.”
‘Him?’ Min Ja-young narrowed her eyes, testing her.
“No way.”
“…Oh, caught my lie?”
“Hahaha!”
Some might call her bold and off-putting, but Min Ja-young was smitten.
“Shall we look at the contract?”
★★★
Didn’t Cheon Ian say Min Ja-young was picky? She seemed warm and kind to me.
Her eyes curved like bows the whole time she looked at me.
I’d asked Cheon Ian how to win her over, and he sent the worst reply.
[Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim: She likes me because it’s me ^^]
“Here’s the contract, Im Bada-ssi.”
Min Ja-young handed it to me.
“…Huh? Don’t you have anything else to say?”
Wasn’t today just for a meeting, not a contract?
“I’ve wanted to give this to you for a while, so I’m just bummed it’s only now. There’s no shady clauses. Our settlements are clean. Ask Ian—he’s picky about settlements, he’ll tell you.”
“Oh, okay.”
I took the H Entertainment contract and carefully reviewed it, checking for any toxic clauses. CEO Min Ja-young watched me with an intrigued expression.
“You’re thorough, huh?”
“Cheon Ian-sunbae told me to scrutinize contracts before signing with any agency. He said even H Entertainment can’t be fully trusted.”
Min Ja-young nodded, as if that sounded like him.
“He would say that.”
After checking the final page, I gave a satisfied smile.
“The contract’s very clean.”
“Right?”
Four-year term, no toxic clauses. I took out the stamp I’d brought from home and placed it on the table.
It’s a contract, but I had one request for Min Ja-young.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
“Could I make one request?”
“What? Some weird condition…?”
“No, no! Can I choose my scripts…?”
Working in the industry, I realized rookie actors with agencies rarely get to pick their scripts.
Most agencies hand them scripts or tell them what to do. Naturally—rookies lack experience and the ability to choose scripts wisely.
“May I ask why?”
“I want to be a great actor through great projects.”
The path to becoming a great actor can be tough, like in my past life.
But in this new life, I know the future. With a good opportunity, I want to seize it fully.
Expecting Min Ja-young to laugh at my rookie ambition, I braced myself, but instead of mocking me…
“Why do you want to be a great actor?”
She asked with a serious expression.
“Uh…”
“You said you want to be a great actor. There’s gotta be a reason.”
“…I love dramas.”
My reason was simple.
“Dramas?”
“Yes… I love them so much. Dramas are the most fun thing in the world. That’s why I want to be a great actor.”
“It’s been a while since I met someone like Ian.”
“If I’m like Cheon Ian-sunbae, isn’t that a good thing?”
“Not always.”
In dramas, I could live lives I’d never experienced. Aren’t dramas fun?
Dramas and acting were the best things in the world.
That’s why I needed an agency—to focus solely on acting. Handling magazine interviews, drama scripts, and variety show offers alone meant staring at my phone all day.
“Alright. You can choose your scripts, Bada. I’ll just give advice.”
“Thank you…”
“Thank you for choosing our agency.”
I blew on my stamp and pressed it onto the contract.
“Congratulations on becoming H Entertainment’s second actor.”
I stamped my name, ‘Im Bada.’ Finally, I signed with an agency.
As soon as the contract was done, Min Ja-young asked, “So, what about your next project? Lead? Supporting?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
She blinked a couple of times, then rapid-fired questions.
“Why? Not sure? Wouldn’t a lead or supporting role in a good project be great? You’re just starting to gain traction.”
“I…”
Should I say this?
I told Min Ja-young the truth—that I have a condition making it hard to memorize lines.
I didn’t tell the full truth, saying it came from my university theater club days, mixing in a bit of a lie.
“That must’ve been tough.”
“Thank you for the comfort.”
“No, I mean it.”
Min Ja-young held my hand tightly, her expression sympathetic.
“I get why you want scripts with fewer lines. If you forget lines entirely…”
“You don’t have to worry too much. The hospital said it’ll improve gradually… and it has, a bit.”
The status window said so, anyway. To me, the status window’s my doctor.
“I don’t know who did this, but I want to bury them.”
A chilling aura emanated from Min Ja-young’s kind smile.
“…A university club, gaslighting me and leaving trauma. I don’t know what project I’ll debut in, but they won’t make it in this industry. I guarantee it.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you! You’re my actor now!”
‘My actor.’
Those words resonated warmly, spreading through my body.
“So, what kind of drama do you want to do?”
There was one drama I desperately wanted to do again.
“…Um, is there a chaebol third-generation role?”
“Chaebol third-gen?”
“Yes.”
There was a time, due to trauma from Kim Jin, I stopped acting. While working part-time at a barbecue restaurant, trying to memorize lines again, I got an offer for a haughty chaebol third-gen supporting female role in Save Me.
I auditioned for it. Thankfully, the audition went well, but…
The problem came after.
Unable to overcome my trauma, I kept getting NGs. Still, the Save Me crew never criticized me.
“Rookies can be like that.”
“You can do it!”
But, as expected, when the drama aired, the public’s reaction was harsh. Because of me.
They said it was a good drama with great acting, but everyone threw sharp criticism at me.
– If it weren’t for her, Save Me would’ve been a hit ᄏᄏ
– Ugh… I don’t usually bash actors, but… the supporting female lead’s acting is awful.
– The chaebol third-gen Ewha-won role is terrible.
But the Save Me crew encouraged me instead. I wanted to repay their kindness and gratitude. In this life, I wanted to make it right.
“…Chaebol third-gen roles are usually male leads. I’ll let you know if one comes up.”
“Yes, please tell me if a chaebol third-gen role comes up.”
“Got it.”
I stated my needs, signed the contract, and now I just need to act well.
“Here’s to working well together.”
Min Ja-young extended her hand. I shook it, smiling brightly.
“I look forward to working with you, CEO.”
★★★
A few days later.
[CEO Min Ja-young: A drama called Save Me came up. Wanna do it?]
The chance to act in Save Me again had come.