A quiet bar located in Sangam-dong.
A woman sitting alone in a private room, leaving the seat across from her empty, let out a long, heavy sigh.
She was none other than Shin So-hee. She was the one who had received casting offers from both Taeha and Baek Seung-chul.
‘What should I do about this?’
Originally, Shin So-hee had intended to join Taeha’s project. She had been 99% certain of her decision. That was only natural, considering the role Baek Seung-chul offered was nothing more than a minor supporting role.
Of course, Shin So-hee didn’t make her choice based solely on the size of the role. First and foremost, the script delivered by Taeha’s side was incredibly good.
She had thought Taeha was only proficient in thrillers, so the fact that he had written a campus youth drama of this quality was hard to believe. When she first heard that Taeha’s side was delivering a script, she naturally assumed it would be a thriller.
This was because Taeha had already proven how skilled he was at writing thrillers through *Virus*. Even looking at his acting career, it was hard to imagine him writing any other genre. *Critical Point*, *Heureojeo Itdeon Saramdeul*, and *Killer X Killer* were all far removed from charming love stories.
Yet, out of nowhere, he produced a campus youth drama.
Shin So-hee felt a sense of intense curiosity alongside her surprise. She was purely curious about what kind of work Taeha, who seemed interested only in thrillers, had written.
Then she began reading the script for *Your Radiant Sparkle*.
As she read, she was struck with a great sense of shock. For one, she couldn’t find a single trace of *Virus* anywhere in the script Taeha had sent. It felt like the work of someone who had been writing campus youth dramas since their debut.
However, Shin So-hee wasn’t just surprised by the fact that it was a perfect campus youth drama. It was simply fun. The script was so engaging that the more she read, the more she felt herself getting sucked in. To the point where she couldn’t even imagine joining any other project.
She felt her body heating up, and at some point, she found herself reciting the Female Lead’s lines without realizing it. It felt as if hot breath were escaping her mouth every time she read a line.
After finishing the script from the First Act through the Fourth Act with complete focus, Shin So-hee sat in a daze for a while before finally coming to her senses.
Once she did, countless reasons why she should choose *Your Radiant Sparkle* flooded her mind. *Your Radiant Sparkle* was definitely a better choice than a minor supporting role in Baek Seung-chul’s next work.
The fact that it was a lead role in a project that was practically a one-woman show for the Female Lead was one reason, and the fact that it was a campus youth drama—the last kind she could do at her age—was another. Additionally, the fact that it was a work by Taeha, who had already experienced success as a Writer, was an advantage that couldn’t be ignored.
So, Shin So-hee had intended to choose Taeha’s work without hesitation. But at that moment, she received some unexpected news.
Director Kang, who was in charge of directing Baek Seung-chul’s next project, had reached out. He said that if she would just close her eyes and accept the minor supporting role this time, Baek Seung-chul promised to give her a leading role in his next project.
It was certainly an attractive offer that was hard for Shin So-hee to refuse. If she could secure a leading role in one of Baek Seung-chul’s works, her success as an actress would be practically guaranteed.
Thinking rationally, no matter how good Taeha’s work was, it was more logical to choose Baek Seung-chul’s project. So she had tried to change her mind and choose Baek Seung-chul, but…
‘Strangely, I couldn’t choose it.’
That was it. Even after being promised a leading role by Baek Seung-chul, Shin So-hee couldn’t bring herself to turn down Taeha’s casting offer.
The reason was simple. The script for *Your Radiant Sparkle* that she had read for herself was surprisingly excellent. She even felt that it was more fresh and superior to the next project Baek Seung-chul was currently preparing.
That was why Shin So-hee, who still hadn’t decided which project to choose, was sitting here now. She wanted to seek advice from someone else on what choice would be best.
Conveniently, Shin So-hee knew just the right person to ask. A person who was both her college senior and her senior in the acting world.
That person opened the door to the private room and appeared. At the same time, Shin So-hee called out the name in delight. Surprisingly, it was Kang Sojeong.
“Sister Sojeong!”
Kang Sojeong looked at Shin So-hee’s anxious expression and sat in the empty seat across from her.
“What is it? What’s going on? What kind of trouble are you in that you suddenly wanted to meet in a place like this?”
A short while later, after a few rounds of drinks had passed, Kang Sojeong spoke with a face flushed from the alcohol.
“Pick Kang Taeha’s work.”
Shin So-hee, who was also tipsy, widened her eyes as if she had heard something unexpected.
“Really? Do you mean it?”
“Yeah. As an actress, it’s only natural to choose the script that draws you in more. Besides, does Baek Seung-chul put food on your table?”
“He has. For several projects already.”
“Ah, right. He did. Even so, don’t accept Baek Seung-chul’s offer this time.”
“Why?”
“Baek Seung-chul only looks after you up until you’re a supporting actor. Don’t you know? He promised another actor a leading role before and then flipped on them.”
“I know. But I heard that was because the actor did something wrong.”
“Who told you that? It wasn’t the actor’s fault. You know my debut work, right?”
“Yes. *Running Time*. It’s a masterpiece.”
“The Writer for that was someone who worked as Baek Seung-chul’s assistant writer for eight years, and they told me while we were drinking. They said it wasn’t the actor’s fault.”
“Then what happened?”
“They said Baek Seung-chul just flipped on the deal. That jerk never intended to give the actor a leading role from the start; he just bluffed because he didn’t want the actor getting cast in another project.”
“Oh…”
“So don’t be tempted by Baek Seung-chul’s offer. Just do what you feel drawn to right now. That way, you won’t have any regrets. And look at me. I’ve never appeared in a single one of Baek Seung-chul’s works, and I’ve become this successful.”
“…That’s true.”
Shin So-hee answered, nearly convinced by Kang Sojeong’s words. Then, Kang Sojeong drove the final nail in the coffin.
“And one more thing. I’ll tell you why you absolutely have to choose Kang Taeha’s work.”
“What is it?”
“Kang Taeha, that… he’s my cousin.”
“Whaaat?! Really??”
Kang Sojeong nodded and muttered drunkenly.
“That jerk. He said he’d give me his next project. But then he writes a campus youth drama where there isn’t even a tiny part for me to play? And he’s going to act in a romance himself?”
“Bad jerk… ungrateful jerk…”
Shin So-hee, who was slightly less drunk, watched Kang Sojeong curse while desperately wanting her to appear in Taeha’s work, and she finally made up her mind. She would appear in *Your Radiant Sparkle*.
‘Sister Sojeong’s eye for projects is truly accurate.’
Actually, that was the deciding factor. More so than the fact that Taeha was Kang Sojeong’s cousin.
***
A few days after the drinking session between Shin So-hee and Kang Sojeong.
Lee Hyun-seung was on the phone in the studio with Director Kang, who was directing Baek Seung-chul’s next project.
“Yes, Director. So that’s how it turned out. I understand. I’ll make sure to tell him.”
As could be predicted from the conversation, the news from Director Kang was that they had failed to recruit Shin So-hee.
Lee Hyun-seung was already worrying about how to deliver this message. It was unavoidable. It was obvious that the prideful Baek Seung-chul would fly into a rage.
‘Is this the end for me, too?’
Lee Hyun-seung had been the youngest assistant writer who was there at the very end when Ho-jun was still around. Back then, he hadn’t known why Ho-jun sometimes looked so exhausted.
But now, he knew better than anyone. It was because Ho-jun had been shielding everyone from Baek Seung-chul’s indiscriminate attacks.
In fact, after Ho-jun left, no one had been able to last even one month in the position of First Assistant. He, who had managed to endure for roughly one year, held the highest record after Ho-jun.
But he couldn’t hold on any longer. He was mentally exhausted from the constant reprimands, insults, and personal attacks. In particular, he felt a deep sense of loathing toward Baek Seung-chul for making up ridiculous false accusations against Ho-jun, who had suffered so much because of him.
This loathing stemmed from the thought that the same thing would happen to him once he left this studio. In truth, everyone kept quiet to avoid provoking Baek Seung-chul’s temper, but they all knew. They knew Baek Seung-chul had framed Ho-jun with false charges.
Everything Baek Seung-chul said regarding Ho-jun was a lie. For over eight years, Ho-jun had served Baek Seung-chul as his master with his utmost effort. Not only that, he had acted as Baek Seung-chul’s greatest supporter.
In the final stages, his contribution had become so high that more than half of the work was born from Ho-jun’s hands. Others might not have known, but Lee Hyun-seung, who participated directly in the scripting process, knew this better than anyone.
The reason Lee Hyun-seung had come to respect Ho-jun more than Baek Seung-chul at some point was because he had witnessed that character and skill with his own eyes. To Lee Hyun-seung, Ho-jun was the person he most wanted to emulate.
Yet the reason why someone as diligent and brilliant as Ho-jun decided to leave the studio was entirely Baek Seung-chul’s fault. Not only did he fail to even show his face at Ho-jun’s mother’s funeral hall, but he even scolded him for wanting to stay for the full three-day funeral period.
Lee Hyun-seung, who had overheard the phone conversation nearby back then, had been shocked. He was so appalled that he could no longer see Baek Seung-chul as a human being.
If it was like that for him, how must it have been for Ho-jun? It was only natural for Ho-jun to decide to become independent. In fact, Lee Hyun-seung found it impressive that Ho-jun simply stated he was going independent without adding any other words, even in such an infuriating situation.
And yet, it was Baek Seung-chul who branded even a man like Ho-jun as a traitor. He went beyond treating him like a traitor and acted as if he, Baek Seung-chul, were the victim.
Lee Hyun-seung couldn’t help but think he would be the next target.
‘Yeah. I should have left a long time ago. All I’ll get by staying here is disgrace.’
The reason Lee Hyun-seung had remained in this studio even while watching Baek Seung-chul’s atrocities against Ho-jun was out of a sense of responsibility. He felt that if it wasn’t him, no one else in the studio could take Ho-jun’s place.
However, the emotion that played an even larger role was actually guilt. The guilt of not being able to protect Ho-jun when he was struggling, even though Ho-jun had always protected him from Baek Seung-chul’s attacks.
Driven by these two emotions, Lee Hyun-seung had risen to the position of First Assistant—a role hard to endure for even one month—and had put up with Baek Seung-chul’s tyranny for one year. But now, he felt that all these emotions were futile.
After all, his staying wouldn’t bring the late Ho-jun back. Ultimately, the only person benefiting from his hard work was the perpetrator, Baek Seung-chul.
It was just as Lee Hyun-seung made up his mind to go independent.
The sound of the front door opening signaled Baek Seung-chul’s return from a brief outing. As soon as their eyes met, a question tumbled out of Baek Seung-chul’s mouth.
“No call from Director Kang?”
Lee Hyun-seung answered, hardening his resolve once more.
“He called. He said Shin So-hee ultimately declined the casting offer.”
As soon as he spoke, Baek Seung-chul’s face twisted into a grimace.