Chapter 65: Company Dinner
“Ms. Kim, the writer. What are you so worried about?”
A small writing room in Yeouido. The space provided by the drama production company was filled with papers and materials stacked as high as an adult’s height.
Kim Eun-so, a writer who was busy preparing for her new work, was staring at the actors’ photos with her chin resting on her hand.
“The image isn’t great.”
“Is it not working out?”
“I’ve got the female lead character down, but the two male leads are difficult.”
About five years ago, she debuted through a competition and has been consistently working on projects ever since.
Even if her works weren’t hits, they were decent enough, so this time she was determined to make a big splash—a desire that lingered deep in her heart like scorched rice.
“What do you think, PD-nim?”
“Yeah. I thought he was okay.”
This was already her second collaboration with PD Lee Yujin.
The two shared coffee and got excited about virtual casting. Even with her pick, the writer didn’t seem satisfied, shaking her head.
“I’d like someone sharper and more intellectual. Plus, someone strong-willed with clear principles. He’s a kid who finds a different dream at twenty, so he needs to have a strong sense of self. And above all, the sexy charm unique to musicians.”
He’s a character who chose a career in music despite having the grades to get into Korea University. He’s someone obsessed with his dreams. PD Lee Yujin pointed to each photo and asked again.
“Isn’t this enough? He’s the one who coined that phrase for the first time. ‘Brains and looks’—otherwise, we’d have to go the idol route.”
Actor Song Dowan. A man with an intellectual and kind image, nicknamed the National Secretary. His acting skills and vibe aren’t bad, but they don’t suit a ‘musician.’
“And he needs to look younger.”
The project she was planning was about a band. The female lead was the vocalist, and the male lead and sub-lead played guitar and piano, respectively. A story of love and friendship blossoming from the bottom of youth, starting in Hongdae!
Those are the most important things in life, after all. She wanted to tell a story about youth through music.
“Well, it is a bit ambiguous.”
He was almost thirty. Even if he looked young, it was a bit too much.
After an inconclusive meeting, the two women collapsed, exhausted. PD Lee Yujin, wanting to clear her head, mindlessly scrolled through a portal app.
“Huh?”
And there, in the real-time search, was a strange name: Ha Muyoung.
There seemed to have been an accident on the set of an M company miniseries. Since PD Lee Yujin worked for S company, it was neither her concern nor her interest. But as she looked at the article’s photos, her eyes grew wider.
“Huh? That guy……”
Hair slicked up with pomade. An appearance that didn’t look out of place in a school uniform. Plus, he was tall and handsome—a bonus. And above all, he had a rebellious yet unstable youthful vibe!
“Writer-nim, take a look at this guy.”
“Why? Who is he?”
“Ha Muyoung? I think he’s a rookie, but he’s good, right? He’s got a bit of a rough feel, and the styling is intense, but I think he’d suit anything. He’s like a blank canvas. Plus, he’s young, which is great.”
The writer also looked at the photo the PD handed her and slowly nodded. There was only one photo taken by a fan from a distance, but it was definitely fresh and good.
“It’s good that it’s not a consumed image. If he can sing well, that would be the icing on the cake.”
“Should we set up a meeting?”
“Okay. Put him on the list, and I’ll organize things again. But what happened on set?”
“……The assistant director bullied him and wouldn’t let him wear makeup. In the process, there were also comments about Unta’s appearance being inferior.”
But the comments were kind of funny?
“So Ha Muyoung……went into the crowd of fans and let them do his makeup? The fans did it for him?”
Whoa. The two women looked at each other in surprise. Perfect. He’s got talent. Not talent as an actor, but as a celebrity in his own right. The writer chuckled and muttered,
“He’s totally idol material.”
At that moment, the PD realized something. Were there any actors with this kind of talent besides those who came from idol groups? Usually, they were either quiet or had a mysterious personality.
“Keep him for now.”
She smiled and took a screenshot of the screen. The problematic drama was pre-produced and hadn’t aired yet.
Looking him up, she found that his filmography consisted of only one MeTube video. But there was also a mention of him appearing in a work by Director Jin Gyeongmun.
“This agency is…… Big Win? Big Win…… Oh! That’s it.”
One of Big Win’s actors, Taeseok, was appearing in a historical drama called <Crescent Moon’s Waist>, which was an S company production. It was a work being produced by her senior PD.
“Okay-”
That’s what connections are for—to use them at times like this.
She immediately sent a text message, gradually approaching Big Win Entertainment. Just in case the meeting fell through, she made it seem like she just wanted to have a meal together, with no official intentions.
“Wow. That smells delicious.”
Muyoung arrived at the meeting place, sniffing the air. Unlike him, who was just happy to eat, Gyeongmin, Geumdong, and Taeseok looked nervous.
“Why are you guys like that?”
“Why do you think? Kid, do you not know what it means to have dinner with PD-nims?”
“I know it’s an important meeting, but you’ll end up with an upset stomach if you keep this up.”
If even the agency president, Na Geumdong, was there, that said it all. Muyoung just smiled, as if he was there to enjoy himself. Taeseok’s stomach was also churning from the tension. And he hadn’t even had any alcohol.
“This is a great opportunity to make a good impression on S company. Let’s all do our best, okay?”
During the time the drama was wrapping up, Taeseok hadn’t even had a chance to have coffee alone with the PD, let alone a meal.
He was just a bodyguard hovering around the main character, after all.
“We’re benefiting from the company’s youngest again.”
But then that PD called him and asked him to set up a meeting with the company! That request went through Na Geumdong and Ko Gyeongmin and finally reached Muyoung.
They took hangover remedies as solemnly as employees going out to make a sale.
“Drink it!”
“You need to be properly medicated before you go!”
“Whoa! I’ve been saving my liver for today.”
The three men clinked their hangover drinks like a toast and downed them in one go. Only Muyoung stood there blankly, sniffing the meat and seeming eager to go inside.
“PD Lee Yujin is actually pretty decent.”
She’s one of the younger ones with a modern mindset and awareness. But PD Hong Seokjo, who Taeseok was working with, was the type who liked alcohol and old stories—the kind you’d typically imagine.
“You can’t blame PD Hong Seokjo for wanting to go big.”
“Muyoung and Director Ko will handle the casting discussion with PD Lee Yujin, and I’ll stick with Taeseok and PD Hong Seokjo. Okay?”
“Okay.”
They solemnly bumped fists and entered the barbecue restaurant.
The <Crescent Moon’s Waist> production team and PD Lee Yujin were waving their hands from a corner seat.
“Over here!”
“Oh, hello.”
“The president is here too.”
“We’ve left our actors in your care, and our greetings were late. I’m Na Geumdong.”
They bustled about, greeting each other warmly. Muyoung and Gyeongmin’s seats were directly across from PD Lee Yujin.
“Hello.”
“Nice to meet you.”
When Lee Yujin saw Muyoung’s face, she flinched slightly. Was it the difference in styling? He looked more laid-back than in the photos. More like Sinchon than Hongdae—neat and clean.
“You look much younger in person. You said you just turned twenty, right? Do you go to school?”
“Ah, yes. It’s vacation time right now.”
Muyoung’s expression darkened slightly. Lee Yujin hesitated to ask which university he attended. Did he not like talking about school?
‘In the end……I got a C.’
His first semester report card was full of ‘CDCD,’ so Muyoung calmed his troubled mind with water. Gyeongmin, watching the two of them, bridged the gap. Come to think of it……
“PD-nim, didn’t you also graduate from Seoyeon University? Muyoung goes there too.”
“Really? He’s a junior then?”
“Oh! Senior?”
The connection between the two, which could have been severed at any moment, was restored. Lee Yujin was slightly surprised by Muyoung’s unexpectedness. The writer would be very happy to hear this.
‘Is he actually smart?’
Well, just because someone graduated from a good university doesn’t mean they’re clever, but still, it would be funny if the character was too different from the role. Acting all cool in the show, but then being dumb as soon as the camera turns off. That would be a bit much.
“Well then! Since everyone’s here, let’s clink glasses and get started!”
Her face was already slightly flushed. It was unclear whether it was from the meat grill or if she’d already had a drink before they arrived.
Hong Seokjo used a spoon as a microphone and gave a hearty toast.
“Well-connected! To the development of the person sitting across from you!”
“Cheers!”
Whoa. Muyoung froze, holding a cider glass.
Just one old-fashioned toast, and he could tell exactly what kind of character this guy was. All he could do was send sympathetic glances to Na Geumdong and Taeseok, who would have to drink with him.
“Does Muyoung not drink alcohol?”
“No. I have a shoot tomorrow.”
“What? Oh. Director Jin Gyeongmun?”
“Tomorrow’s the last day of filming. All the on-site shooting is done, and we just need to do the post-recording and final touches.”
They just needed to re-record the sound and shoot any additional scenes that were necessary. But since it was the last day, he wanted to be in the best condition possible. Muyoung smiled as he grilled the meat.
“But I won’t skip out on eating, so don’t worry.”
“I’m not the type to force people to drink. So, how long have you been acting?”
And so began the meal—or rather, the meeting. Lee Yujin and Muyoung shared meat and chatted about small things. But all of this was part of the casting process.
Since it’s a human activity and people are used as ‘materials’ in the art, getting to know each other was a priority and essential.
‘In Director Jin Gyeongmun’s case, the script is already out, so I just need to follow it, but this time I have no idea what it’s about.’
Gyeongmin just sipped his drink and watched Muyoung nervously from the side. He only knew it was a musician role. He had no idea what kind of character PD Lee Yujin had in mind.
“Hey, you there, rookie!”
“Huh? Me?”
At that moment, Hong Seokjo stuck a spoon in a soju bottle and handed it to Muyoung. His face was red—no, it was burning.
“You’re not drinking, so what are you saving your voice for? Sing us a song.”
Muyoung laughed awkwardly and took the bottle. He was a jerk and an old fogey, but no one could stop him at this table. Na Geumdong blinked slowly, signaling him to just go along with it.
‘Senior, nice.’
Lee Yujin, who had been quietly watching, thought, What a stroke of luck!
She’d been wanting to hear his singing skills but wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Muyoung stood up and cleared his throat.
“Then I’ll sing a song?”
“Yeah! Make it a good one!”
If I have to do it anyway, I’ll do it right!
Muyoung tapped the table with a spoon to keep the beat. Lee Yujin, who had been expecting something, watched her expression slowly contort. Gyeongmin felt the same.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
“Flowers blooming—at Dongbaekseom! Spring has come!”
……Did he always sing this badly?
He had a good voice and pronunciation, but why was he like that? The rhythm and pitch were completely off. But despite that, the atmosphere was hilarious.
“Oh my God! President, this kid is a total entertainer!”
“Haha. You’re right.”
“Yeah. As long as an actor can act well, that’s all that matters!”
Muyoung, proud of having completed the first verse, sat back down. Hmm. Not bad.
‘It worked. It really did.’
The role required not only musical talent because the character was a musician, but also the ability to perform all the drama’s OSTs and tracks. But based on what Muyoung just showed, it was a definite no.
“Would you like more cider?”
Lee Yujin smiled brightly as she said that. She thought casting him would be difficult. But the way Muyoung looked at her was incredibly fresh.
“Why?”
“PD-nim, do you think about casting me?”
“What? Haha! What makes you think that?”
That’s ridiculous! Lee Yujin burst into a laugh that was a hundred percent genuine amusement. But it was strange how it suddenly appeared.
“I don’t know. It just seems that way.”
As soon as he finished singing, flower petals scattered behind her, sparkling. In this situation, that signal could only mean……casting, right?