Kang Woojin chose the short drama script written by the assistant writer over star writer Lee Wolsun's project.
And after making that choice, his expression—
…
Was completely indifferent, as if it meant nothing.
Seeing that, Choi Sunggeon blanked out for a moment.
"What?"
He thought he had started to understand Kang Woojin.
But maybe he still didn't understand him at all.
Soon, Choi Sunggeon asked,
"…So."
He looked at Kang Woojin, whose lowered index finger had already returned to rest.
His voice trembled faintly.
"You picked that short drama script instead of Writer Lee Wolsun's work?"
"Yes. That's what I said."
"Do you know who Lee Wolsun is?"
Of course he did.
Woojin knew exactly who Writer Lee Wolsun was.
When he had searched Park Eunmi before, he had already seen article after article comparing the two writers.
"I know. She's an excellent writer."
"But you still chose the short drama script."
"That's right."
Choi Sunggeon was baffled.
Still, he wasn't completely stunned.
Things like this had happened before.
The case with Director Woo Hyungu had been the same.
Even so, he still couldn't understand it.
Why had Woojin made that choice?
"…I'd like to know the reason."
The reason?
Kang Woojin fell silent for a moment.
In truth, after briefly reading both scripts, he had secretly entered the void space before making his decision.
Since there were two scripts, he had gone in twice.
At this point, it had become an essential step for him.
And that dark, empty space had shown him the answer.
To be honest, the difference in grade wasn't that large.
That was right.
There wasn't a dramatic gap between them.
-[5/Scenario (Title: Frozen Love), C+ Grade]
-[6/Script (Title: Boyfriend), B Grade]
Frozen Love was Writer Lee Wolsun's project.
Boyfriend was the short drama script written by the assistant writer.
The gap between them was only one grade.
'If you look at it closely, the weird part is that the star writer's script is only one level below the short drama.'
In any case, both were average.
Going from C to B still meant average, or only slightly above it.
Looking at the projects alone, Woojin could have chosen Frozen Love.
In fact, Writer Lee Wolsun's project may even have been the better choice.
Even if the project itself was ordinary, appearing in a star writer's work right after Park Eunmi's would have had meaning on its own.
On the other hand, the short drama might have slightly better results, but it lacked buzz and publicity.
If the results were similar, then in the end it became a matter of basic judgment based on the surrounding circumstances.
And if you even considered the possibility that the project's value could rise later, then for the fast-rising actor Kang Woojin, appearing in Writer Lee Wolsun's work would have been the more advantageous move.
So why had Woojin chosen the short drama?
Looking at Choi Sunggeon, Kang Woojin found the answer inside himself.
Of course, it was in his own heart.
The reason?
Simple.
The short drama started with a kiss scene.
He hadn't made the decision because of the grade, but because of the content itself.
'I like this short drama, Boyfriend. And I like the writer too. A kiss scene right from the opening? Isn't that incredible?'
The short drama script Boyfriend began with the female lead's narration.
It showed the present first.
Then it raised the question—how did things end up like this?—before moving into a flashback.
And the female lead's very first scene was a kiss scene.
So who was her partner?
Obviously him.
Compared to that, Lee Wolsun's Frozen Love felt frustrating right from the start.
The male lead had severe obsessive cleanliness issues and was extremely afraid of being touched by others.
That much was clear from the very first line of the script.
'Hmm. I'm not the male lead, but if he's obsessed with cleanliness, then the romance probably won't even start until much later, and the overall tone will end up heavier too, right?'
That was just an excuse.
Kang Woojin had been completely captivated by the kiss scene.
Other actors would probably call him insane.
But while everyone saw him as some strange acting monster, the real Kang Woojin was still just a healthy man in his twenties.
More than anything, he was still an ordinary guy.
How could a man turn down a kiss scene?
Of course, a kiss scene was still just acting.
But if you were doing a romantic comedy or melodrama, wasn't it nice to have at least a little sweetness?
'Do you even know how much hell I've gone through up to now?'
And that was true.
Ever since he had started life as an actor, Kang Woojin had been through endless horrifying experiences.
His guts had been torn out.
He had witnessed death and murder.
He had been caught in gunfire.
He had run for his life.
He had gone through all kinds of terrible things.
His head had even been cut off once.
How awful was that?
Most people would never experience such things in their entire lives, yet Woojin had gone through them again and again.
And that would probably continue from now on.
Even composure had its limits.
'After getting my head cut off, am I not allowed to want something warm and sweet?'
At that point, Kang Woojin had decided he didn't care if people called him an idiot.
Of course, he still intended to approach the work seriously and do his best.
Then, to Woojin, who had remained silent for a while, Choi Sunggeon asked again,
"Is it difficult to tell me the reason…?"
Kang Woojin hesitated.
He couldn't exactly blurt out kiss scene, could he?
If he did, the carefully built image he had maintained until now would shatter instantly.
So he needed to phrase it more vaguely.
Still, aside from the kiss scene, it wasn't entirely wrong.
"This script feels very fresh."
"Fresh?"
"Yes. I felt that from the very first line."
That was it?
Choi Sunggeon found it hard to believe.
Did that bizarre instinct of his kick in again?
He quickly came to a conclusion.
Then he spoke again.
"…Do you think Writer Lee Wolsun's script is bad? Like it's going to fail?"
"No. It's not that bad."
"So your instincts kicked in again, right? Fine. I decided to trust your special instincts."
The misunderstanding only deepened.
Well, it didn't matter.
Kang Woojin decided to just let it go.
Meanwhile, Choi Sunggeon skimmed both scripts, stroked his chin, and thought for a while.
A few seconds later, he asked,
"How bad do you think Writer Lee Wolsun's script is? Do you think it'll totally flop like Director Woo Hyungu's project?"
Seeing Choi Sunggeon's serious face, Woojin decided to answer honestly.
"…No. It's just average."
"Really? So it's not that you hate it?"
"Yes. I don't particularly dislike it. I just think the other script is better."
"Ah, I see. Hmm. To be honest, especially with the recent controversy, it'd be difficult to publicly choose a short drama and reject Writer Lee Wolsun outright. If a famous writer or broadcaster takes offense, the backlash would be enormous."
That was true.
Not just backlash.
Rumors and entrenched power structures would become obstacles too.
In the entertainment industry, connections mattered enormously.
"This is frustrating. If it blows up into a major issue, it'll be a hassle to deal with, and it could hurt your reputation too. On top of that, rejecting Lee Wolsun's offer entirely feels like a waste."
…
"If you're alright with it, how about doing both? I'll make sure everything goes smoothly."
Both?
Woojin didn't fully understand what Choi Sunggeon was planning, but it didn't sound bad.
Choi Sunggeon was a veteran in this industry.
He obviously had more experience and skill in matters like this than Woojin did.
Soon, Kang Woojin slowly nodded.
"Please handle it well."
The moment he heard that answer, Choi Sunggeon broke into a wide grin.
Then he grabbed his phone and dialed the number on the business card attached to the short drama script Boyfriend.
It was Netflix's production team.
The call connected quickly, and Choi Sunggeon immediately began speaking.
"Ah, hello. This is Choi Sunggeon from BW Entertainment. Yes, yes, haha. Yes. Woojin read the script and liked it. Yes, yes. But before we set up a meeting, may I ask one favor?"
He started negotiating.
"Please make sure nothing leaks out for at least this week."
After hanging up, Choi Sunggeon made another call.
"Woojin, you've got Sports Day filming tomorrow, right?"
He smiled at Woojin, who was standing there silently.
"Let's call it a day here."
That afternoon, around lunchtime, at Writer Park Eunmi's workspace—
Park Eunmi was once again sitting in front of her laptop, tugging at her hair in frustration.
Because of that, her long permed hair had become completely disheveled.
"Ah, this won't work. It's too hard."
The pressure was enormous.
Since the drama had become such a massive hit, she couldn't let the final episode turn out mediocre.
"Ugh—"
Right then—
Knock, bang!
The door suddenly flew open, and a thin woman in glasses rushed in.
"Writer!"
It was Assistant Writer Choi Nana, the one who had written the short drama Boyfriend, the script that won Netflix's contest.
Her eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"Netflix just called!"
As usual, Choi Nana looked timid, and Park Eunmi frowned.
"Nana, calm down and tell me slowly. Netflix called?"
"Yes! Just now!"
"And?"
"Like you said, I sent the script without expecting anything, and this morning they said Kang Woojin liked it and wants a meeting!"
Park Eunmi looked slightly stunned.
"…What? Really? Seriously?"
"Yes! What should I do?! I'm so nervous! They said I need to attend the meeting too!"
"Wait, Nana. When did you send him the script?"
"Uh, I heard it was sent yesterday, and they called this morning."
"In just one day? So you're saying he contacted you only a day after getting it? That's incredibly fast."
"Um… yes?"
"Woojin is incredibly good at reading and analyzing scripts, but even with Profiler Hanryang, he didn't decide this quickly."
"Well… nothing's decided yet, right? It's just a meeting."
"It's not common for him to ask for a meeting after only one day."
Muttering to herself, Park Eunmi smoothed down her messy curls and let her thoughts expand.
'He must be getting flooded with major project scripts right now. There's no reason he'd pay attention to Nana's short drama. He wouldn't waste time on a casual little meeting like that. Is it because of me?'
She immediately shook her head.
No.
Woojin wasn't like that.
He didn't care about other people's opinions.
He was always direct and honest.
Ah, wait…
At that moment, a phrase flashed through Park Eunmi's mind.
The Kang Totem.
She now trusted Woojin almost blindly.
And to her, the reason Kang Woojin had suddenly chosen a short drama was simple.
"…Nana."
Park Eunmi widened her eyes slightly and looked at the confused Choi Nana.
"The short drama you made is going to be a hit."
Naturally, Choi Nana tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"When the Kang Totem activates, it means huge success is coming. And it looks like he reacted to your script."
"Kang… Totem?"
"Woojin's eye for projects is almost godlike. Or maybe it's instinct."
It was a logical conclusion.
There was already more than enough evidence.
A chill ran down Park Eunmi's spine as she stepped closer and placed a hand on Choi Nana's shoulder.
"I'm sure Woojin felt something in your script."
Of course, Writer Park Eunmi had absolutely no idea what it really was.
"An explosive element."
She had no idea it was the kiss scene.
Later that afternoon, in a meeting room at a production company—
Kang Woojin and Choi Sunggeon sat side by side in blazers.
It felt a little awkward for the two of them to be alone in such a wide room.
Clearly, someone else would be joining them soon.
At that moment, Choi Sunggeon, who looked tired as he stretched his neck, spoke to Kang Woojin, who wore his usual solemn expression.
"You only need to answer when necessary. I'll handle the rest."
"Yes, CEO."
"Since we've already signed with Netflix, I don't think there'll be any major problems. And I think this will help both the company image and the overall situation."
"I understand."
"I'll handle the negotiation."
At the same time—
Swish.
The glass door of the meeting room opened, and three people entered.
One middle-aged woman and two men.
Among them, the middle-aged woman wearing excessive jewelry had a familiar face.
It was Writer Lee Wolsun.
In other words, this production company was connected to her.
Choi Sunggeon immediately smiled and extended his hand.
"Oh my, Writer, it's been a long time. We met a few times before because of Hyeyeon's project, remember?"
Writer Lee Wolsun responded with a faint smile.
"Of course. Honestly, who in this industry doesn't know CEO Choi?"
"Haha, no, there are plenty."
"Really? Then you must be Kang Woojin?"
At Lee Wolsun's question, which naturally shifted to him, Kang Woojin stood and bowed politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Writer. I'm Kang Woojin."
"Wow, your voice is nice. You look taller in person than you do on screen. Do you always look like this?"
"Yes, Writer."
"You've got an aura. Honestly, I heard rumors. They said you're very quiet and calm, and it seems that was true."
Writer Lee Wolsun's smile deepened.
Seeing that, Kang Woojin thought inwardly,
'She's kind of intimidating. She reminds me of my mom. My back suddenly feels cold.'
Writer Lee Wolsun gave off an overbearing, snake-like aura.
Even so, everyone exchanged simple greetings and sat down facing one another.
The one who broke the awkward silence was Lee Wolsun.
"I was truly surprised that you contacted me so quickly."
Choi Sunggeon muttered inwardly,
'First, butter her up a little and win her over.'
Then he smiled playfully.
"We had to contact you right away because it was Writer Lee Wolsun's script, haha. We were touched that you thought so highly of Woojin."
"CEO Choi, you really haven't changed."
"We both read the script, and as expected, you chose a remarkable story."
"Really?"
"Yes. We were completely absorbed from the very first scene."
"How about you, Woojin?"
With as little change in expression as possible, Woojin added just a slight twist to the truth.
"It was strong from the very first line. The way it described the lead character Song Taehyung's obsessive tendencies was unique too."
Writer Lee Wolsun stared at Kang Woojin.
There was something about him that felt different from the other actors she had met.
How should she put it?
Maybe he didn't even feel like an actor at all.
'He's definitely unusual. Like a rough stone that somehow got polished smooth. A presence that's hard to come by. Unfamiliar, but strongly compelling.'
…
"I should've met you before Park Eunmi did. That's a shame."
At those words, the nearby production staff looked slightly surprised.
Even so, Lee Wolsun, still watching Woojin, turned her gaze toward Choi Sunggeon.
"The atmosphere feels closer to can't do it than it's fine. Is it difficult to fit my project into your schedule?"
Choi Sunggeon smoothly delivered the lines he had prepared in advance.
"Hmm… it's a little complicated. To be honest, it's closer to it's fine than can't do it."
"Really? So you're saying you actually want to do it?"
"To be frank, with Woojin's current schedule, it's difficult for us to fully match your project. We have other projects in progress or under discussion too. This is absolutely not an excuse, nor are we looking down on your work."
"Hmm. Go on."
At that moment, Choi Sunggeon lightly tapped Kang Woojin's thigh.
That was the cue they had agreed on.
Soon, Woojin spoke in a low voice.
"It's really unfortunate."
Choi Sunggeon immediately picked up the thread.
"Yes, exactly. But if this situation becomes public, it could create misunderstandings."
"Ah, I see. For example, something like rising star Kang Woojin rejecting Lee Wolsun?"
"That's right. This could negatively affect Woojin's other projects. So if you could create even a small role for him, we'll try to fit it into the schedule."
"A small role?"
"Yes. To prevent misunderstandings and show our sincerity."
Writer Lee Wolsun looked back and forth between Choi Sunggeon and Kang Woojin and thought for a moment.
After a brief pause, she asked the production staff beside her for something.
What they handed her was the script for Frozen Love Part 1.
"Then how about this role? The filming schedule shouldn't take more than one or two days."
As she handed the opened script to Kang Woojin, she said,
"The mysterious man next door."
Pretending to accept the script, Kang Woojin secretly pressed the black square attached beside it.
Tap.
In an instant, he entered the void space.
He had claimed to have read the whole script, but in truth, there were still many parts he hadn't gone through yet.
So he needed to check first.
"Let's see—"
From the list, Woojin selected Frozen Love.
Soon, text appeared.
-[You have selected Script (Title: Frozen Love).]
-[Character list available for reading (experience)]
-[A: Song Taehyung, B: Kim Jaemin, C: Do Changsik… P: Mysterious Man Next Door]
Naturally, Kang Woojin selected the mysterious man next door.
But the familiar robotic female voice said something different than usual.
[Detected a language other than the default language. 'Sign language' must be acquired first.]
"What?"
It was an unexpected situation.
'Did I just get blindsided?'