Chapter 41: The Weight of Genius

No one objected to Jang Byung-hyun's decision.

It wasn't simply because he was the director—anyone who had seen Cheon Na-young had no choice but to agree with the result.

Since Cheon Na-young had no agency, she agreed to sign a rookie contract with Ten Entertainment thanks to my suggestion.

I was worried it might be overstepping, but Jo Min-seong gladly and swiftly processed Cheon Na-young's contract.

Thus, Cheon Na-young officially took on the role of Sung Anna in .

"Don't eat too much. I'm paying, after all."

Cheon Na-young said she wanted to thank me, so she called me out to a pork cheek restaurant in Dangsan.

Even though it was early in the evening, the place was packed—probably because it was a famous spot.

Wearing a cap, Cheon Na-young skillfully grilled the meat with the tongs.

"Isn't it normal to say, 'Eat a lot' in situations like this?"

"If you eat a lot, it'll cost a lot."

"Give me the tongs. I'll do the grilling."

"No way. My dad said I have to show my gratitude properly."

"You've got a great father. Make it big and be a good daughter to him."

Cheon Na-young let out a soft chuckle, found something amusing, then handed me the tongs.

As I tried to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces with scissors, I could feel the springy texture of the pork cheek through my fingertips.

"I'll do it for you, too, mister."

"What?"

"Show filial piety."

Cheon Na-young placed a nicely grilled piece of meat on my plate and said it matter-of-factly.

I almost wanted to say, 'I'm not old enough to receive your filial piety,' but I didn't feel bad at all.

It felt as if I'd gotten myself a well-raised daughter for free.

Then, all of a sudden, my real daughter crossed my mind.

Even though not a single drop of my blood ran in her veins, thanks to the dirty schemes of Jeon Min-jung and Jeon Young-jun, she carried my surname and lived as Lee Areum.

I'd thought of her as my daughter for five years and raised her with the utmost devotion—so it was only natural that I missed her, even though she was innocent.

"Aren't you eating?"

"Huh? Oh. You eat up. It's good."

Cheon Na-young wrapped a perfectly grilled piece of meat in lettuce and popped it in her mouth.

Watching her chew made her look especially young and innocent today.

Whenever I cut up meat and fed it to Areum, who loved meat, her cheeks would puff up just like Cheon Na-young's now—it was adorable.

Now that both custody and parental rights had been taken away, I couldn't even see her face.

But watching Cheon Na-young made me miss Areum all the more.

You have met the success condition for

[Sudden Quest].

Would you like to receive the reward for

[Sudden Quest]?

Godflix, as if trying to console my gloomy mood, flashed an alert.

When I pressed the 'Yes' button, a one-week free viewing ticket floated up in the shape of a coupon, then was absorbed into a round icon labeled 'Lee Jung-hyuk.'

When I checked, it had been placed in my coupon box.

It looked like I could press it anytime and watch any work for free for a week.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"Mm, I got something nice because you did well at your audition. Eat up. Save your filial piety for after you succeed."

I ordered two more servings of pork cheek and grilled them carefully, setting pieces on Cheon Na-young's plate one after another.

Watching her eat like a baby bird made me feel full, even if I didn't eat much myself.

"Mister, but honestly, I thought I'd get it."

"Oh, really?"

"They say my great-grandmother was a shaman, and you know how people say there's only a thin line between those with unstable minds and those with spiritual gifts. They also say that celebrities' fates are a lot like shamans'. Maybe that's why things aren't great for my mom. I think I might have a bit of that spiritual sense, too."

"Really?"

Cheon Na-young shrugged her shoulders and continued.

"When I walked into Ten Entertainment, I just had a feeling. 'Ah, I'm going to make it.'"

"Ha, you're really something, aren't you?"

I couldn't help but laugh at Cheon Na-young's cheeky words.

Of course, I paused at her next words.

"But I feel something similar from you, mister. A tremendously strong and good energy. Something powerful that protects the writer. A feeling that whatever you do, you'll always be able to see ahead and succeed."

'Godflix?'

At her words, Godflix immediately popped into my mind.

"You, do you actually see something?"

"But be careful. When you've got good energy around you, sometimes your body suffers as a result. They say jealous spirits might try to harm you."

"Hey, don't creep me out."

I spun around, looking behind me, and she giggled as if it was funny.

"Mister, I didn't think you were the scaredy-cat type."

Cheon Na-young raised both hands and made weird noises, pretending to be a ghost to tease me.

I told her to stop acting like a kid and tried to act nonchalant.

But when Cheon Na-young suddenly grabbed my arm to tease me, I couldn't hide the goosebumps on my skin.

"Ah, come on, you're so cute, acting all tough."

"Hey, I'm at least fifteen years older than you. Don't call me cute."

"Is cuteness an age thing? People are cute."

"You're unbelievable... Seriously. Don't tease adults like that."

"Kikikik. Yes, sir."

I tried to act stern and scold her, but it didn't faze her at all.

For some reason, my relationship with this kid Cheon Na-young feels like a button done up wrong.

A strange relationship—both her guardian and her plaything.

***

"Writer, um..."

Assistant writer Im Seong-hee spoke up cautiously.

We had just sent the final script of  to Ten Entertainment, and we were gathered in the studio's living room, chatting casually.

"Could you maybe look at my script?"

"Your script?"

"Yes, there's a mini-story contest next month. It's not much, but if you could take a look and give me feedback, it'd help a lot."

"Gasp. Could you look at my script, too?"

Jeong Tae-mi pushed up her horn-rimmed glasses, her eyes sparkling.

As if they'd been waiting, the two brought over their miniseries proposals and episodes one and two of their scripts.

"Ah, but I don't know how much help I'll be to you both."

"Don't feel pressured. Even if you just point out the awkward parts, that's enough."

"Just having a great writer like you look at it gives me a huge boost!"

"But honestly, I..."

I couldn't finish my sentence.

Since I'd written my script after watching Godflix, of course mine was perfect.

Of course, I'd given feedback on the main writer's scripts in the past and worked with fellow writers to improve their work.

But what they wanted from me was more than that.

No, even if they didn't expect it, I felt pressured to give them something more.

Their scripts couldn't possibly be better than those on Godflix, but still, I needed to give them ways to improve.

Looking at someone else's script had become a lot more burdensome than before.

"I'll take a look first."

"Wow! Thank you so much, writer."

"Don't feel pressured. Really!"

Still, I didn't want to just avoid it.

Ignoring Jeong Tae-mi's expectant eyes, I picked up the script and headed into my room.

"Phew."

I picked up Im Seong-hee's proposal first. At about 30 pages, it was standard.

I quickly scanned through the title, intent, characters, and plot summary.

It was a youth romance, her favorite genre.

Her writing was good and the character relationships solid, so it was a proposal that inspired anticipation.

But a proposal is just a proposal.

What matters to viewers isn't the proposal, but the script itself—the real test.

Without further ado, I turned to episode one.

'Hmm. The narration is good, but the dialogue is lacking.'

Reading the script, I could see clearly where Im Seong-hee's strengths lay.

Her ability to describe scenes and set up situations was excellent.

But her weakness was also clear—the dialogue was bland.

In particular, all the characters spoke as if they were one person, so it didn't bring the characters to life.

As I read through the script, I realized something.

'I'm seeing the problems even more clearly than I expected.'

Contrary to my worries, each page I turned, I could easily spot problem areas and think of how to fix them.

In the past, whether it was my script or someone else's, it wasn't so easy to confidently point out what to revise.

'After watching Godflix's works and writing scripts, I've developed an eye for these things without even realizing it.'

The clearer I saw the scripts, the more enthusiastic I felt.

Once I finished checking Im Seong-hee's script, I moved on to Jeong Tae-mi's.

"Let's see. Tae-mi wrote a legal drama."

Jeong Tae-mi's proposal was a comic courtroom action series starring a prosecutor.

It was episodic, with the main character solving a case each week, but the way she unraveled the cases felt clumsy, and the resolutions were a bit weak.

However, the protagonist's dialogue was witty, so I could clearly see Jeong Tae-mi's strength.

After reviewing both scripts, I sent a message in our group chat telling them to come see me one by one in my room.

"Should I go first?"

Im Seong-hee, who'd been waiting outside, knocked and entered.

Since giving feedback to both at once could hurt their feelings, I decided to call them in separately.

As we talked, I found myself coming up with ideas on the spot for each scene—suggesting changes and embellishments here and there.

As we talked, I noticed Im Seong-hee's face growing more serious.

"Writer, of all the feedback I've ever received... this is the first time I've experienced something like this."

"Ah, I'm sorry if I upset you. It might've been too much for me to rewrite the dialogue for your script."

"No, it's not that. I'm embarrassed—in a good way."

Im Seong-hee said she'd always known her dialogue was weak, but when people pointed it out, they never offered real alternatives, which was frustrating.

But when I replaced her lines and read them aloud, she was surprised—they were exactly the lines she'd wanted to write.

"Your structure is good, so if you just strengthen your characters, it'll be much more solid."

"Thank you so much. I'm embarrassed, but I'm really glad I showed you."

Jeong Tae-mi's reaction was much the same.

I suggested ways to make the protagonist prosecutor's cases more plausible and presented some ideas.

"Are you a genius, writer? How do you come up with alternatives so fast? It's amazing."

"Heh heh. I'm glad if it helps."

Honestly, after watching nearly ten Godflix shows, my way of reading scripts had changed.

I kept thinking, 'If this were on Godflix, it would go like this,' or 'If this were a Godflix character, they'd say it this way,' and that helped a lot.

Having already thoroughly analyzed and copied three Godflix dramas, my critical eye for other dramas had grown.

Not only was I writing scripts based on Godflix shows, but it felt like my other skills had leveled up as well.

"By the way, shouldn't you both start preparing for next month's contest? How about we take about two weeks off?"

"Gasp, is that okay?"

"We've finished the script for Macho Restaurant, and I want to plan my next work too."

"Contact us anytime you need us!"

"No, really, thank you both for all your hard work."

"Huh? Wait, we're not getting fired, are we? You're not making us quit because you were disappointed with our scripts, right?"

"No, if it's okay with you both, I'd like to keep working with you from now on."

After exchanging a brief goodbye with Im Seong-hee and Jeong Tae-mi, I headed to the supermarket in my officetel.

I stocked up for a week—instant noodles, instant rice, frozen dumplings, and more.

Back at the studio, I mirrored my phone to the 98-inch TV that Momsfood's CEO Jung Se-jin had given me as a housewarming gift.

The Godflix logo appeared, followed by a cheerful jingle.

"Alright, let's use the one-week viewing pass."

I was perfectly prepared, like someone stocking a bomb shelter for war.

After all, to make the most of a free one-week pass, I'd have to cut down on eating and sleeping and watch as many works as possible.

Rather than repeatedly watching a single show and turning it into a script, it would be more efficient to sample a variety, jot down their plots and storylines, and later purchase the best candidates to study in-depth.

Aiming for maximum efficiency, I stretched briefly, then pressed play on the first show.

***

With a week off, Jeong Tae-mi spent her time revising her script and finally decided to get some fresh air.

Her hair had grown out and become hard to manage, so she got a perm—now the smell of the chemicals lingered.

But she wasn't just out for the salon.

She'd planned to meet Im Seong-hee and review each other's scripts.

Since Im Seong-hee lived in Dongjak-gu and Jeong Tae-mi in Eunpyeong-gu, Yeouido was the logical halfway point, so they arranged to meet at their usual spot.

Arriving first at Starbooks Cafe and buying coffee and some cake, Jeong Tae-mi wondered if she should get something for Writer Lee Jung-hyuk too, since she was coming all the way to Yeouido, and he'd given them feedback on their scripts.

"Unni, should we drop by the studio and give Writer some coffee? He gave us feedback last time—I feel bad just pretending we didn't see him."

-Yeah! Great idea.

Like a sparrow can't just pass by a mill, being in Yeouido naturally made them think of the studio.

It was a warm gesture, hoping to give Writer Lee Jung-hyuk, who was probably working hard alone again, a sweet treat.

"He's not picking up."

"There's no response from the intercom either. Maybe he's out?"

"Hmm. Let's just leave the dessert inside and send him a message."

Beep beep beep beep—

They entered the code and walked in as usual.

Seeing only slippers at the entrance, they assumed he was out, so they went straight in.

"Huh? Why is the TV on?"

"Maybe he had to run out in a hurry?"

As she headed to the kitchen to put the cake in the fridge, Jeong Tae-mi spotted something and shouted urgently.

"Gasp! Writer!"

"What? Is he there?"

Dropping the cake and crouching in panic, Jeong Tae-mi looked up at Im Seong-hee and shouted.

"Unni! Call 119! Writer! Are you okay?"

What Jeong Tae-mi and Im Seong-hee found was Lee Jung-hyuk, collapsed in the kitchen, unconscious.

Genius Writer Gets Rich with an App – Episode 41

eBook Release Date | 2025.02.26

Author | Duruchigi

Publisher | Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won

Published by | Poten