Chapter 66: A Name on the Casting List

Shin So-hee.

Tae-ha was surprised when he heard that name for a specific reason. It was because Shin So-hee was an actor belonging to Baek Seung-chul’s line.

Baek Seung-chul, one of the Republic of Korea’s top drama writers, was famous for being extremely prolific. He was also well-known for helping the actors he liked grow by continuously casting them in his numerous works. It wasn’t that Baek Seung-chul did this out of some grand mission to nurture talent. It was simply that he was so busy with so many projects that he didn’t have the time to discover new actors.

For that reason, he tended to cast similar people for supporting roles. If an actor caught his eye, he would gradually increase their importance, moving them from sub-roles to first-lead roles. In the end, his laziness had birthed this established system. To the outside world, this system was known as the Baek Seung-chul Line.

Shin So-hee was no exception. She had appeared steadily in Baek Seung-chul’s works as a supporting character, gradually increasing her screen time until she recently succeeded in securing a sub-lead role.

Some might ask what the big deal was about landing a sub-lead role. However, this was a sub-lead role in a Baek Seung-chul production. That meant her status was equivalent to a main lead in most other works. In fact, actors who had played lead roles in other projects often took sub-lead roles in Baek Seung-chul’s dramas. Since success was guaranteed in his productions, being a sub-lead wasn’t a minor matter.

This showed just how much Baek Seung-chul acknowledged Shin So-hee. It wasn’t for nothing that Tae-ha immediately thought of the Baek Seung-chul Line the moment he heard her name. Because of this, Tae-ha couldn’t help but wonder.

“I wonder, will Shin So-hee really want to do our project?”

However, CEO Choi seemed to have misunderstood Tae-ha’s reaction.

“Personally, I think she is the perfect actor for *Your Brilliant Sparkle*. In Baek Seung-chul’s recently aired work, *May’s Master*, she played a college student in a sub-lead role and showed off her romantic-comedy acting. She also significantly raised her public recognition. At twenty-seven, she’s only two years older than you, Writer, so it feels like a perfect fit.”

If they could actually cast her, it was certainly a good choice. Her acting was excellent, and she matched the visual style Tae-ha had in mind quite well. It was even questionable if they could find another female actor who met the requirements this well.

However, Tae-ha still doubted whether Shin So-hee would accept the casting offer for *Your Brilliant Sparkle*. Eventually, he spoke to CEO Choi.

“I know she’s a great actor. I’m just not sure if she’ll want to do our drama. Given the current situation, it’s highly likely she’ll be cast in Baek Seung-chul’s next project.”

Unexpectedly, CEO Choi let out a smirk.

“Shin So-hee will likely accept our proposal.”

He even spoke with a voice full of conviction. Unable to hide his bewilderment, Tae-ha asked back.

“Why are you so certain?”

“First of all, our script is exceptionally good. Since a writer who has already proven his skills through *Virus* wrote a script of this quality, Shin So-hee won’t be able to help but be swayed.”

Tae-ha immediately shook his head at CEO Choi’s words.

“She might be interested, but that’s not enough reason to give up on Baek Seung-chul’s next project. Above all, I can’t compete with Baek Seung-chul when it comes to a proven track record. Almost every single one of his works so far has been a success.”

“That’s true. But there are other reasons. Shin So-hee probably views this as her last opportunity to appear in a campus youth drama. No matter how much actors are praised for their youthful looks these days, nothing beats appearing in a project that fits your actual age.”

This time, Tae-ha nodded. This point was certainly persuasive. As an actor, there was nothing more enticing than a project that suited one’s age. Tae-ha had written *Your Brilliant Sparkle* for that very reason as well.

But it still wasn’t enough. There needed to be a more definitive reason for her to give up on a Baek Seung-chul project. CEO Choi seemed to be thinking the same thing as he spoke again.

“Finally, there is a high possibility that Shin So-hee will be pushed back to a minor sub-lead role in the next project Baek Seung-chul is preparing.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. From what I’ve heard, it’s a work that deals with the mature love of men and women in their thirties. There seems to be no role for Shin So-hee, not just for the lead, but even for the main sub-lead role.”

“Ah.”

An exclamation escaped Tae-ha’s lips involuntarily. If that were the case, even Shin So-hee, who was part of the Baek Seung-chul Line, would inevitably be shaken. If she were demoted to a minor sub-lead now, there was no telling when she would be able to rise to a lead role again.

Of course, as mentioned before, a sub-lead role in Baek Seung-chul’s dramas was almost equal to a lead in most other works. However, that didn’t mean they gave the same credit to minor sub-lead roles. Even in his dramas, those roles were usually given to supporting actors. Therefore, Shin So-hee was in a position where she needed to at least maintain a sub-lead role to save face.

However, more than those facts, Tae-ha was surprised by CEO Choi’s information network. Unless he had an incredible source of information, it would be difficult to know the casting details of another production company’s work so thoroughly. It was even harder if the drama was still only in the planning stages. It was almost considered impossible.

Yet CEO Choi had managed it, leaving Tae-ha impressed. When Tae-ha asked about it, CEO Choi scratched his head and answered.

“Oh, actually, I happened to have a drink with the executive director of Seoljungmae recently. That guy’s mouth gets a bit loose when he gets drunk. He just started blabbing about everything, including the casting for Baek Seung-chul’s drama, which is basically a top secret.”

Seoljungmae was the name of the drama production company Baek Seung-chul belonged to. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the company thrived and survived solely because of him. Perhaps that was why they weren’t very objective when it came to Baek Seung-chul. This was also why they had spread bad rumors about Ho-jun when he quit as an assistant writer.

If asked whether they took good care of Baek Seung-chul, the answer was no. Rather, they identified the company’s success with his success and acted overly arrogant, often saying things they shouldn’t in social settings. They would brag about the level of their production company and end up spilling various bits of information.

The same thing had happened now. By saying things to CEO Choi that he didn’t need to say, he had provided useful information to this side. At any rate, being able to utilize such information was a skill in itself, so there was no reason to downplay CEO Choi’s ability.

And since he saw the possibility of successfully casting Shin So-hee, there was no reason to back down. As mentioned before, no one suited the female lead role of *Your Brilliant Sparkle* as well as she did.

Tae-ha spoke.

“In that case, let’s make Shin So-hee our top priority for casting.”

“Yes. I’ll get right on it.”

Afterward, Tae-ha and CEO Choi decided on the second and third choices for the casting as well. News regarding the casting arrived a few days later.

***

Meanwhile.

A luxury apartment over fifty-pyeong located in Hannam-dong.

A man used this place as his studio. He had gathered three assistant writers in one place and was smoking so heavily that the living room was filled with a thick haze. He then threw a bundle of papers he was holding in his other hand.

“Fuck! You call this a script?”

With a thud, the bundle of papers crashed into a wall. At the same time, the expression of Lee Hyun-seung, the First Assistant among the three, stiffened. He couldn’t help it. The papers hitting the floor were the script he had stayed up for several days to write.

However, the man didn’t care. He maintained a high-handed expression and called Lee Hyun-seung’s name.

“Hyun-seung.”

“Yes, Writer.”

“Why the hell isn’t your skill improving?”

“I’ve fed you, given you a place to sleep, and let you work in an environment where you can just focus on writing for several years now. Why isn’t there a single line worth keeping, you bastard?”

“I’m sorry.”

“To think that the bastard who blinded by greed, betrayed me, and died was my best First Assistant… Fuck, what a life.”

“Ha, forget it. Let’s talk about casting. Anything from Director Kang?”

At the man’s question, Lee Hyun-seung, who had been being scolded until a moment ago, suppressed his rising emotions and spoke.

“He says casting for the first-lead and sub-lead roles is all finished, just as you requested, Writer.”

The man nodded as if satisfied by Hyun-seung’s words.

“Yeah. I’m sure it is.”

There was no way any actor would refuse an offer to be cast in his drama. However, the man’s mood, which had briefly improved, turned sour again at Hyun-seung’s next words.

“However…”

“However?”

Lee Hyun-seung grew nervous at the man’s reaction, but he continued. After all, it was something no one but him could say. As the First Assistant, he had to take the lead to protect the other two.

“I hear there’s a hitch in casting for the minor sub-lead role.”

As soon as Hyun-seung finished speaking, a cold wind seemed to blow through the studio once again. Amidst this atmosphere, the man asked Hyun-seung as if he couldn’t understand.

“Why the casting for the minor sub-lead? Didn’t we send the offer to Shin So-hee?”

As the mention of Shin So-hee’s name suggested, the man’s identity was Baek Seung-chul. And just as CEO Choi had mentioned, Baek Seung-chul intended to cast Shin So-hee as a minor sub-lead in the new project he was preparing.

Even for Baek Seung-chul, it was a bit awkward to demote an actor who had played a sub-lead in his previous work to a minor sub-lead role, but he didn’t think for a moment that Shin So-hee would refuse his offer.

The reason was simple. He believed that everything Shin So-hee had achieved in terms of fame was thanks to him. Therefore, in Baek Seung-chul’s mind, Shin So-hee should never reject his proposal. To him, that would be a clear betrayal.

Yet they were experiencing difficulties with the casting. He couldn’t help but be displeased. Since Lee Hyun-seung also knew Baek Seung-chul’s temperament, he answered cautiously.

“I thought it was strange too, so I looked into it. It seems she received a first-lead casting offer.”

“What? For what drama?”

“It’s said to be Writer Kang Tae-ha’s next project.”

“Kang Tae-ha? Oh, that actor who wrote *Virus*?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re saying my work was pushed aside for a project written by some mere actor?”

Baek Seung-chul’s expression was full of wounded pride. However, to Lee Hyun-seung, it was an understandable reaction. He thought that a first-lead role in the follow-up work of Kang Tae-ha, whose debut work had entered the tvM all-time top ten ratings, was a pretty good option.

Furthermore, the role Baek Seung-chul wanted to give Shin So-hee was a minor sub-lead. Therefore, it was only wise for Shin So-hee to choose Kang Tae-ha’s next project.

But Baek Seung-chul was not a man for whom such logic worked. Realizing this instinctively, Lee Hyun-seung chose to keep his mouth shut rather than offer a counterargument.

After a while, Baek Seung-chul, who had been fuming for some time, spoke to Lee Hyun-seung.

“Contact Director Kang and tell him to catch Shin So-hee no matter what. If she can’t be persuaded, tell her I’ll use her as a first-lead in my project after this one. Then she won’t even dare think about betraying me.”

It was the moment Shin So-hee’s casting took a new turn.