I Spent a Night with a Top Star Actress Chapter 42 - The Lead.

Seo Tae-jun’s one line turned suspicion into certainty.

‘Multicultural is a good script!’

Once I was sure, there was no reason to put things off.

I called Director Kim Jun-su, who’d written Multicultural, right away.

I opened with the fact that I was a chief at Baekhak Management, and Director Kim Jun-su, startled, agreed to a meeting.

So the next day, my first impression of Director Kim Jun-su, met at a café in Sangsu-dong, was… pretty unexpected.

For a rookie director who’d written something this intense on multiculturalism, he seemed awfully timid and short on confidence.

’25, was it?’

Only three years apart from me.

But Director Kim Jun-su, holding my business card, kept fidgeting and reading my face.

I clicked my tongue without meaning to.

‘The screenplay’s good, but… Director Kim Jun-su himself might be the wild card here.’

Getting a little uneasy, huh?

But contrary to my worry, Director Kim Jun-su’s own filmography was actually pretty solid.

‘He’s been making short films steadily ever since he got out of the army?’

One of them, shot last year, had even won an award at a small festival.

‘So he’s got the basics as a director, at least…’

Something like a spark almost caught…

and tickled my chest.

I wished Director Kim Jun-su would give me just a bit more certainty, but I couldn’t quite tell.

I gathered my thoughts and smiled brightly.

A sales smile, meant to loosen up Director Kim Jun-su’s nerves.

“Bit of a rushed meeting to set up, wasn’t it, Director?”

Even after seeing my easy smile, Director Kim Jun-su couldn’t relax, and stammered badly.

“N, no, not at all.”

“I read the screenplay you wrote, Director Kim Jun-su, and it hit me hard, so I went ahead and reached out even though it might’ve been rude.”

“Th, thank you so much!”

“The multicultural theme was just so interesting to begin with. It’s not easy to shine a light on the lives of immigrants in Korea like this. I was deeply moved, Director.”

“…Th, that, thank you so much!”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a script this good, so I’d love to work together…”

Director Kim Jun-su, who’d been frozen up, suddenly shouted.

“I, I’ll do it!”

“Sorry?”

“I, I’ll give you the screenplay. Take it!”

“?”

…Huh?

What was happening here?

Director Kim Jun-su’s lightning-fast yes left my head a little blank.

I got my expression under control, a beat late, and asked.

“…So, when you say you’ll give me the screenplay, that means you want to work together, right, Director?”

“Y, yes! Of course!”

“That’s great for me, but isn’t this a really fast decision?”

“N, no it’s not! I considered it fully before deciding!”

“What if a better offer comes along?”

“I’ll turn it down!”

My face soured a little.

…What is this.

Things really work out this easily?

‘Doesn’t look like there’s some other angle here, judging by his face.’

Or was I just overthinking it from dealing with nothing but sly old foxes in this industry?

I tilted my head and asked one more time, for a final check.

“So this screenplay, I’m really taking it?”

“P, please take it!”

“…Is there anything else you want from me, by any chance?”

At that, Director Kim Jun-su’s expression changed for the first time.

“Well…”

“Yeah, yeah, Director. Go ahead, speak freely.”

“I know you used to be actress Lee Ha-eun’s manager…”

My eyes went wide as I looked at Director Kim Jun-su.

‘Well, look at this.’

He wasn’t about to ask me to put Lee Ha-eun in a short film, was he?

If that’s what this was…

Director Kim Jun-su was a lot more cheeky than he looked, huh?

With a bit of rising tension, my head started spinning fast.

Just as I was running through dozens of ways to counter this bold request, Director Kim Jun-su whispered in a small voice.

“…Could I get an autograph sometime?”

“?”

“I, I’m a real fan of actress Lee Ha-eun, that’s why! If you don’t mind, just one autograph.!”

…I lost control of my expression again.

I cleared my throat and answered.

“I’ll ask her about it sometime, Director.”

“Th, thank you!”

“Well then, I’d like to talk about the project a bit…”

Trailing off, this time I prayed hard that my guess would be right.

‘A weak personality, a bit dim as a person, I can chalk that up to individual character.’

But a director shooting a film, even an amateur one, needed some backbone.

I hoped Director Kim Jun-su was that kind of director, the kind with backbone.

“Director, what kind of actress do you think would suit Choi Ji-seon, the lead of Multicultural?”

At my question, Director Kim Jun-su’s eyes went wide.

He agonized over it for a good while like that, and then, for the first time since we’d met, spoke without stammering.

“Well… first, I’d want a child actor.”

The corners of my eyes curved into a smile.

Yes!

A director ought to have a clear opinion about his own work!

My body leaned forward.

“And?”

“I think… visuals should take a back seat to acting ability.”

“Because the film’s theme is showing a high school girl born into a multicultural family getting bullied, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s a project with a lot of the protagonist’s inner psychology, so to bring out the picture I want, I’d want a child actor with plenty of acting experience… I think.”

At Director Kim Jun-su’s satisfying answer, the corner of my mouth curled up.

I moved my right hand and pulled out the document folder I’d brought from the office.

“Listening to you, Director, an actress comes to mind.”

A bright red lie.

Because I’d had exactly one actress in mind before I’d even walked into this meeting.

But sometimes, a well-meant lie is necessary.

Like right now, for instance.

“Her name’s Choi Go-eun, a child actress…”

By the way, he said he was a fan of Lee Ha-eun’s, right?

Then I’d need to shake that heart of his a little.

“I’m pushing her as the next Lee Ha-eun. Want to see her profile?”

At my sudden proposal, Director Kim Jun-su’s eyes went round.

---

Once the meeting with Director Kim Jun-su was over, I bought two hundred thousand won worth of red ginseng at Jung Kwan Jang and headed to visit Green Pine Productions.

Team Leader Choi and Director Park, sweeping the lobby floor with a vacuum and a mop, broke into wide grins the moment they spotted me.

“Whoa, Chief Kwon! What’s all that in your hands?”

“Felt weird coming empty-handed… nobody here can’t have red ginseng, right?”

“Aigoo! Why buy something like this? Your hands must be killing you! Give it here! I’ll carry it!”

I handed the red ginseng over to Team Leader Choi, then glanced around.

Last time I’d come, Green Pine Productions’ office had been so cluttered you couldn’t find a place to step, but today it was polished without a speck of dust.

‘What’s this? Is today cleaning day or something?’

Just then, Director Park led me toward the meeting room, talking as he went.

“You didn’t have to bring anything, but you’re not buying red ginseng because I put ideas in your head, are you?”

I gathered myself and answered.

“It’s a bribe, Director, for you to make a good film.”

Director Park, pouring the instant coffee himself, offered it with a laugh.

“I’ll make it good. Thanks to somebody, we got actress Lee Ha-eun on board, heh heh…”

“I’m counting on just you now, Director.”

“Ugh, don’t worry. I can’t say for sure this one’s gonna be a huge hit, but somehow I don’t think this project’s going to flop. You know that thing? That feeling that comes before you go into a project! That feeling just hit me, right now!”

Director Park’s voice was full of confidence.

“That feeling’s coming through strong, so I’ll shoot this one hard. For our Chief Kwon’s sake, if nothing else!”

The corner of my mouth quietly rose.

Because a director on Director Park’s level catching that kind of feeling before shooting even started was a good sign.

After that, we talked about the project in a warm, friendly mood.

“Casting’s basically done, and Baekhak’s put in plenty for production costs, so no worries there.”

“For location scouting, I’ve already got a place picked out from when I was working out the script, so we should be able to lock the shooting schedule down pretty fast.”

“Once the reading’s done and the production schedule wraps up, I’m thinking we go straight into shooting. First shoot’s probably going to be…”

Director Park trailed off, glancing at me a little.

“The shooting location’s an abandoned mine in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, so we’ll need to lodge together for a while. Will your actors at Baekhak be okay with that, Chief Kwon?”

I stroked my chin.

Lodging together for filming in Jeongseon…

Gangwon-do’s too far to commute back and forth from Seoul.

I’d probably need to find long-term lodging somewhere near Jeongseon.

‘I’ll need to check Lee Ha-eun and Seo Tae-jun’s schedules too.’

Seo Tae-jun’s side, I wasn’t sure, but Lee Ha-eun’s schedule right now moved by the minute, literally.

Still, when a director wants to lodge everyone together for filming, turning that down felt wrong.

I answered, planning to make it work even if it seemed impossible.

“I’ll sort out the schedule and get back to you separately.”

“Really, I just keep taking and taking from you, Chief Kwon.”

“That’s what a manager’s supposed to do.”

Maybe fired up by Lee Ha-eun joining, Director Park kept explaining the shooting plan and the schedule ahead without a break.

But listening quietly…

I couldn’t shake the thought: why am I the one hearing all this?

‘Is this just Director Park’s style? Why’s he sharing the shooting plan with me down to every detail?’

Usually a director doesn’t tell a manager things like this.

Even if he does, it goes through the actor.

It struck me as a little odd because of that, but nothing about it looked ill-intentioned, so I let it go.

“Well then, I’ll head out now, Director. I’ll be in touch again soon.”

“Ugh, feel free to call anytime. I’ll be waiting.”

“Chief Kwon! Take one of these Spam sets here!”

“I’m fine, Team Leader Choi.”

“No, no! I just want to give it to you! Leftover from the Chuseok gifts we handed out to the staff, so take it without worrying about it!”

Only after taking the Chuseok gift set Team Leader Choi handed me was I able to get out of Green Pine Productions.

I lit a cigarette at a nearby smoking area and muttered to myself.

“…That’s a lot warmer of a welcome than usual.”

Was I imagining it? No.

Today, of all days, Director Park and Team Leader Choi.

Both of them had been… pretty warm.

But I couldn’t figure out why.

‘Hm… something’s a little off today.’

Director Kim Jun-su, and now Director Park too, everyone I meet seems a little off?

I mulled it over for a moment, then shrugged.

After putting out my cigarette, I made a call.

Choi Go-eun picked up before a single second had passed.

-Hello?

“Choi Go-eun-ssi, it’s me.”

-Chief?

“Yeah. Choi Go-eun-ssi, your next project’s decided. Multicultural.”

-!

Choi Go-eun must have been startled, because she went quiet.

Imagining what expression this prickly high schooler was wearing right now, I let the corner of my mouth rise.

“I think we’ll need to have a meeting, Choi Go-eun-ssi. Write down the days you’re free and text them to me.”

---

At Green Pine Productions, after the meeting with Kwon Chan wrapped up.

Director Park Jun-seo crossed his arms with a triumphant look and spoke.

“Told you I was right?”

“Guess you might be right…”

“Not ‘might be,’ you are right, buddy!”

Director Park Jun-seo let out a big sigh.

“That Chief Kwon, he’s a bigger shot than we thought, you know? Good thing we cleaned up.”

“…No, I’ve known Chief Kwon for a while now, and I’m telling you he’s not on that level.”

“Are you Baekhak Entertainment? You’re Green Pine Productions’ Team Leader Choi. How would you know the company’s internal situation!”

“Th, that’s true, but…”

“Hey, Team Leader Choi. Let’s be honest with each other. Did you really think Lee Ha-eun would actually join us? An actress with Hollywood rumors flying around right now, for an occult movie like this?”

Team Leader Choi shut his mouth.

Just as Director Park had said…

he hadn’t believed it until he saw the article himself.

‘Why would that Lee Ha-eun appear in a movie like this?’

From Team Leader Choi’s point of view, it didn’t make sense.

Meanwhile, Director Park Jun-seo let out a hollow laugh.

“And on top of getting Lee Ha-eun in, he even landed Baekhak’s investment? Is that something an ordinary chief can pull off?”

“…Hearing it like that, guess it kind of makes sense.”

“Right! Now we’re talking! Honestly, I had a feeling ever since he got Seo Tae-jun to shave his head half off! That Chief Kwon…”

Director Park Jun-seo’s throat bobbed as he trailed off.

“He’s definitely someone Baekhak’s grooming, seriously, on purpose.”

At Director Park Jun-seo’s words, Team Leader Choi’s eyes went wide.

“Someone Baekhak’s grooming on purpose?”

“You get a feel for it, don’t you, seeing him pushed that hard? Just counting what he’s already done for us, that’s Division-Head-level work.”

Director Park Jun-seo warned him, his voice full of conviction.

“So we absolutely have to treat Chief Kwon well, got it!? Our necks are hanging on that man!”

---

After the meetings with Director Park Jun-seo and Director Kim Jun-su, the past few days went by so fast I barely noticed the time passing.

Open my eyes, and it’s work, work, work.

The Priest in Black reading and promotion plans, Twenty’s schedule management.

On top of that, keeping an eye on Director Kim Jun-su’s side and Choi Go-eun too, and I felt the limits of my stamina for the first time in a while.

But strangely.

My body was dead tired, yet my mind stayed sharper than ever.

Should I call it being fired up?

Unlike my half-dead body, my energy kept climbing to a new high every single day, never wearing out.

I thought hard about why, and it turned out to be nothing complicated.

I was just getting results.

-[S-Pick] Drama’s Queen “Lee Ha-eun,” About to Be Crowned Queen of Film with Occult Movie The Priest in Black?

-Occult Master Director Park Jun-seo’s “The Priest in Black” Named This Month’s Buzziest Project!

-[Talk of the Town!] Industry Insider A: “Expecting The Priest in Black to blow fresh wind into a stagnant film industry…!”

The Priest in Black was gaining momentum.

Now the industry, too, had slowly started reassessing The Priest in Black.

Word was quietly spreading that this project, already grown bigger with Lee Ha-eun joining, was about to become the buzz title of the quarter.

Meanwhile, Twenty, now in full swing, was locked in a fierce fight over the music charts.

-[Idol Star★] Rookie Girl Group “Twenty” Wins Fans’ Hearts with Rock-Solid Vocals and Choreography!

-An Overlooked Rookie’s Delightful Rebellion!? Twenty’s “Attention” Lands at No. 3 on the Charts!

-[One-Line Review!] A Delightful Rookie Threatens the Big Three 4th-Gen Girl Groups, Baekhak’s “Twenty” Members…

“Youth Journey” was at four.

“Attention” was at three.

And now, to take first place on the charts… just two steps left!

“This is exactly why I can’t rest.”

The sweet fruit dangling right in front of me forced my half-dead body to keep moving.

And so, I’d come with Twenty to a college festival in Busan.

“…One, two, three. Two steps to the top! Hello, we’re Twenty!”

Sitting in the audience, I could hear the murmurs of what looked like freshmen nearby.

“Whoa… no way. Who’s that? Her face is smaller than my hand.”

“Wait, seriously? The one with the long black hair looks like a doll??”

“Hey, hey, that’s them! Twenty!”

“Twenty? What’s that? You dork.”

“‘Youth Journey’! Everyone’s doing that Youth Journey lip-sync challenge thing right now, are you seriously that out of touch?”

You really feel a star’s popularity in moments like these.

When a total stranger says my star’s name…

That’s when it hits me: ah, my star’s popular now.

And right now, the girl group I’d raised with my own two hands since before their debut was getting cheered on by an audience.

“Kyaaaaah! Seol Chae-i-unnie! You’re so pretty!”

“Whoa, whoa… look how small Ga-eul-unnie’s face is.”

“Nova-noona! I love you!”

“Look here and give us a wink, Rei!!”

“We love you, Twenty–!”

Pride, a sense of accomplishment, joy.

Feelings I couldn’t put into words tickled at my chest.

Just then, Twenty’s song started.

-On this starlit night,

You and I, we can be together.

We’re on the sea of youth,

Let’s ride it like a wave!

Huh.

The sea, youth, a festival.

Isn’t this lining up a little too perfectly with the moment?

Laughing, I got up from my seat.

So I could load the girls into the van the moment the stage ended, I walked toward it, parked in front of the beach.

But they must have gotten an encore request, because Twenty didn’t look ready to come down from the stage.

Since this was the last slot of today’s show anyway, it didn’t much matter how many encores they sang.

With some free time on my hands now, I turned my back to the night sea and switched on my phone.

“About time it starts, huh?”

Today was the day Twenty’s Star Watch! aired live.

I’d originally planned to watch it together with the girls…

but it couldn’t be helped.

I’d been waiting for this moment too long to sit and wait it out patiently!

Just then, the ads ended and Star Watch! went live.

My heart started pounding.

[“I’m Chief Kwon Chan, Twenty’s manager.”]

Two months, a long journey.

At last, the final puzzle piece clicked into place.

---

The next morning.

A small star was born.

-[Star Rankings!] Twenty’s Leader, “Ga-eul,” Powers Through Illness to Finish the Broadcast Responsibly, Moving Fans to Tears…!

But the star born wasn’t just one person.

-[‘Pick’ of the Moment] “Twenty”‘s Manager’s Quick Save Catches Leader Ga-eul Before She Falls, Goes Viral on Social Media!

-A Heart-Stopping Close Call, Viewers Applaud ‘Twenty’ Manager’s Cool-Headed Save!

-[The One-Second Clip!] Manager Kwon Chan, Who Saved “Twenty” Leader Ga-eul! That Perfect Moment, Now a Viral GIF…!

A star manager was born.

Baekhak Management Team 5’s Chief Kwon Chan was the one at the center of it.