Chapter 47: Fireworks Over Two Worlds

At the same time as the Drama Awards were in full swing in Seoul,

In the lounge cocktail bar at the top of a five-star hotel in Tokyo.

By the window inside the bar, writer Park Eun-sook and actor Song Dong-wook sat side by side.

Seated across from them was a man in his fifties: Kudo Kei, one of the most renowned directors in the Japanese drama scene.

“Is it really all right for you both to skip the year-end awards ceremony?”

Kudo Kei asked gently in Japanese,

And Song Dong-wook, sitting next to Park Eun-sook, translated into Korean for her.

“The writer asked me to attend on her behalf. As for me, I took a break last year, so I wasn’t involved in any projects.”

This time, Song Dong-wook translated Park Eun-sook’s words into fluent Japanese.

“I see. Dong-wook, are you not planning to take on any new projects for a while?”

“No, actually, I keep sending love calls to the writer here. Haha. She asked if I had any plans for my next project, and I told her I’m just waiting for hers.”

“Oh, really? I had no idea.”

“I’m joking. I was cooped up at home, and you brought me along on this trip to Japan. I’m enjoying myself right now.”

Song Dong-wook took a sip of his cocktail, his signature eye smile on full display.

His fair skin, thick eyebrows, and sharp nose made him look unrealistically handsome for a man nearing his forties.

“What would you think of Dong-wook taking the lead in our next project?”

“Huh?”

For the first time, Song Dong-wook, who had been smoothly translating, faltered.

“Why? What did he say?”

“Oh, he’s asking how I’d feel about appearing in the project you two are planning together.”

“Hm. Not a bad idea.”

“Really?”

“You’re good at Japanese. In this co-production, the male lead is Korean but has to be fluent in Japanese, so you wouldn’t even need to study for the role.”

“But it’s so sudden...”

Song Dong-wook glanced back and forth between Park Eun-sook and Kudo Kei.

To have the top-tier writer from Korea and the master director from Japan both calling out to him like this—

Of course, Song Dong-wook had played lead roles in many dramas before, but right now, a single thought flashed through his mind.

‘This is the opportunity of a lifetime!’

It was the same feeling he’d had twenty years ago, back when he’d been street-cast as a high school student.

Though Song Dong-wook was already a household name in Korea, he had a hunch that this was his chance to step up to the next level.

“If you both call on me, I’ll do anything.”

He answered politely, with his emotions in check, as befitted an actor.

“Dong-wook, what’s the most interesting Korean drama these days?”

“I’ve really been enjoying  lately. There aren’t many Korean dramas where food is the main theme that drives the story. But this one—”

“?”

“Yes, Writer. Have you seen it?”

“Isn’t that Lee Jung-hyuk’s latest?”

“Oh, right! He’s the one who hit it big earlier this year with —huh!”

Song Dong-wook clamped a hand over his mouth.

Not only did he want to cover it up, he almost wanted to beat himself for slipping up.

“Who is this Lee Jung-hyuk?”

“Ah, that’s, uh...”

It wasn’t like he could say, ‘He’s the rising star who beat out Writer Park Eun-sook in the ratings.’ Song Dong-wook just wanted to leap out of this high hotel lounge bar.

“Dong-wook, just translate it as it is. He’s the most talked-about writer in Korea these days.”

“Ahem...”

“Oh, is that so? Never heard of him, but I’ll have to check it out.”

“Try watching  as well. It’s pretty close to the rom-com genre we’ll be doing.”

“So you’ve seen it too, Writer.”

“Of course. If a drama is fun, I make sure to watch it all the way through.”

Park Eun-sook downed the cognac in front of her in one shot.

Though it was over 50 proof, she didn’t even flinch.

Watching her, Song Dong-wook thought to himself.

Ah, I’m doomed. My once-in-a-lifetime chance is flying away like this.

“Oh. The Hanabi festival’s started.”

Outside the window, fireworks celebrating the new year lit up the sky.

With a loud bang, colorful lights sparkled across the dark heavens.

“Let’s be the ones to shine this year.”

“Sounds good. Let’s toast for our drama.”

“Kanpai!”

---

“Happy New Year!”

“Dear viewers~ Wishing you a blessed new year!”

As the countdown ended, the year-end awards venue also greeted the new year.

I exchanged cheerful new year’s greetings with everyone seated at my table.

“May Yoo Seok get even more handsome, Ji-won work even harder and win the Grand Prize, and Director Park, please make  a hit and break 30% ratings.”

“Wow, you say it so casually but ask for impossible things. 30% ratings, really?”

“Exactly. Who tells someone to win the Grand Prize in such a half-hearted way?”

“There’s no way I can get any more handsome at this point.”

“Boohoo.”

The nearly two-hour-long awards ceremony was drawing to a close, with only the Writer’s Award and the Grand Prize left.

For a writer, the Writer’s Award wasn’t just a measure of ratings or success, but recognition from within the industry—a truly honorable achievement.

When I was young, I watched it without thinking, and even after becoming a writer, watching with my daughter, it felt like someone else’s story.

I was a writer, but my shows barely got 3% ratings.

‘Not that I could win the Writer’s Award now anyway.’

I understood why Seo Ji-won wished I would win.

I didn’t think  was any less than other scripts, either.

But there was another problem.

‘They can’t give the award to me. If they did, CL Group’s affiliates wouldn’t bring scripts to NBN anymore.’

After all, awards shows aren’t really about pure merit.

There’s the desire to build bridges with those you want to work with, gratitude for collaborators, acknowledgment of effort and growth—a mix of interests.

Ahn Yoo-seok and Seo Ji-won certainly did well, but they’re the current hot stars, so it’s not surprising NBN wanted to put a mark on them too.

“Now, we’ll announce the Writer’s Award. Unusually, there are no nominees for this category. And this year, the head of the Drama Center will make the announcement.”

The Drama Center head, a man in his mid-fifties, strode up to the stage and greeted the crowd concisely.

As the announcement proceeded, I saw Seo Ji-won quietly mouth, “Lee Jung-hyuk,” which made me laugh.

Honestly, it would be a problem if I did win the Writer’s Award. I hadn’t even prepared a speech.

“Congratulations. For , Writer So Tae-man!”

So Tae-man, a writer in his late sixties, received congratulations from the actors around him and slowly made his way up to the stage.

I clapped as hard as I could and cheered.

To drama writers, So Tae-man was a legendary figure, called the king of historical dramas.

There was a time when I, too, dreamed of writing a sageuk after watching his work.

After So Tae-man’s brief speech, only the Grand Prize remained.

I was curious who would get it, but if it had been any other day, I would’ve been sprawled comfortably on my couch. Sitting on this hard chair for over two hours was making me squirm.

“Are you going for a drink after?”

Park Sang-tae, feeling restless himself, began asking Ahn Yoo-seok and Seo Ji-won what they wanted to eat, already setting up an impromptu get-together.

Tired as I was, having achieved the incredible feat of a triple crown, I resolved to pull an all-nighter even if I had to rely on energy drinks—

“Oh. There’s a new category this year. The Best Work Award.”

“Some of you may have wondered why the Center Head didn’t step down yet? He’ll present the next award as well. The show that lit up NBN this year—the Best Work Award!”

“Yes, the winner is... ! Congratulations!”

It all happened so fast that everyone at our table—arguing over whether to eat beef, tuna, or whether anywhere was even open at this hour—looked up at the stage together.

“Please, everyone come up! Director, writer, all the  family!”

“Huh? What? What is this?”

“Come on, let’s go up.”

“Wait, hang on.”

Before I knew it, I was being pushed onto the stage by Director Park Sang-tae.

All those celebrities looking at me.

Right in front of me were the subtitle monitors and a sea of cameras.

Hundreds of people in the audience were staring down at me, and for a moment, I finally understood what it takes for celebrities to stand unfazed before the cameras.

“Writer, here’s the mic. Your speech.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Director Kim isn’t here. Please do it, Writer.”

Just the stares alone were overwhelming, and now I had to give a speech, too?

I looked to Ahn Yoo-seok and Seo Ji-won for help, but their sparkling eyes only made me feel more pressured.

Right, they’d already given their speeches, so they didn’t have to say anything more.

But I—honestly, I’d never even thought about making a speech!

“Ahem. Um, first of all, it’s a true honor to receive the very first Best Work Award.”

I spoke, thinking, ‘Well, whatever happens, happens.’

“More than anything,  is a work that made me want to live this life again—a truly precious project for me.”

That’s right. —it was the show that gave me the excruciating pain of a kidney stone thanks to Godflix, but also made me want to write again when all I wanted was to die.

“I hope this work has been like a wildflower blossoming in your tough daily lives, and that it gives you the courage to believe in life and love once again. Thank you.”

“Waaaah!”

“ rules!”

“The writer is so handsome!!”

“Amazing!!!”

And so,  wrapped up triumphantly, boasting a quadruple crown.

---

“That means, ‘I hope this work has been like a wildflower blossoming in your tough daily lives, and that it gives you the courage to believe in life and love once again. Thank you.’”

Inside a studio in Tokyo, Kudo Kei heard Lee Jung-hyuk’s words translated by a Korean-fluent staff member.

“A work like a wildflower, huh? That’s a beautiful expression.”

“Right? Hearing that,  really does feel that way. Delicate and lovely.”

“You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?”

“Yes! When you first asked me to translate it, I thought I’d die. I wished you’d just wait until the subs came out on Setflix.”

“Did you now?”

Knowing Kudo Kei’s gentle personality, the staff grumbled playfully about their hardships.

“Ahaha. But in the end, I loved it too. I knew Korean dramas were fun, but it’s been ages since I stayed up all night watching one.”

“Hmmm.”

Kudo Kei stroked his carefully trimmed mustache, lost in thought.

“Is something on your mind?”

“Let’s meet Lee Jung-hyuk. If we don’t do it now, I’ll regret it.”

Genius Writer Rakes It In With an App Chapter 47

E-book Release Date | 2025.02.26

Author | Duruchigi

Published by | Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won

Publisher | POTEN