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Chapter 6
[Are you listening?]
Ugh, how embarrassing.
I’m so ashamed I can’t even speak.
Why didn’t I think about Kim Se-yeon’s connections? I’d been suspicious all along that someone must be backing her.
Sara clamped her mouth shut for a while and pummeled her pillow with her fists.
“I’m listening—hm, yes, I’m listening.”
[So, is the misunderstanding cleared up?]
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
Her voice gradually faded until the last word was almost inaudible.
“Earlier I was out of my mind—no, I’ve got a hot temper, so once I fixate on something, I can’t think of anything else. I was really rude, I mean—sorry.”
[It’s fine.]
Thank goodness at least his voice wasn’t as heavy or stern as she’d feared.
[So, what should we do?]
“What do you mean?”
[This drama. You seemed pretty excited about it.]
“Well, yeah. It’s not every day you get to work with Writer Seong.”
[Should I give it back to you?]
He whispered sweetly.
She didn’t need to ask what he meant by “give back.”
For a moment, Sara’s heart wavered.
Writer Seong wasn’t someone who churned out projects.
If not now, she might never get the chance to work with her again.
Sure, she’d been told they’d work together next time, but that was just a verbal promise, one that could vanish any moment.
“No.”
Sara refused more firmly than ever.
The brutal truth she’d learned since stepping into this world at seventeen was that everything comes with a price.
“I guess this project just wasn’t meant for me. It’s fine.”
[Is that so?]
“Yes. It’s a pity, but it can’t be helped. More than that, I’m sorry for misunderstanding you.”
That was her second apology.
[Ah, I’m getting another call. Sorry, but I’ll have to hang up.]
“Okay.”
Sara set her phone down.
Once she understood how things had happened, her head cleared, and she knew exactly what she had to do.
She dug out the Rockstar script from her bag.
Then she called Ju-young.
“Ju-young, it’s me. I’m heading out now, so pull the car around to the basement.”
[Where are you going? You don’t have any schedule today. You just got back from Guam—you should rest…]
“I’m going to see Writer Seong.”
[Whaaat? You’re going to see Writer Seong? Right now? Noona, wait—hold on, the CEO wants to—Noona?]
“Why, hello there, sunbae-nim!”
“Hi, Se-yeon. How’ve you been?”
“Great. I slept really well yesterday, so I’m in good shape today.”
The two women ran into each other in front of the elevator.
Dolled-up Se-yeon beamed and greeted Sara first.
Unlike the day she’d been hovering nervously outside the CEO’s office a few weeks ago, she was now brimming with confidence.
“But what brings you here?”
“I have some business.”
“Business? What kind? Oh, I’m here for a script reading.”
She prattled on without being asked.
Sara didn’t bother to reply.
The elevator doors opened.
Sara stepped in first and pressed the button for the third floor.
“You’re going to the third floor too?”
“Yes.”
The elevator soon stopped at the third floor.
This time, Se-yeon bolted out the doors as soon as they opened.
Sara silently followed behind.
After striding ahead for a while, Se-yeon stopped in front of a door.
Then she turned back and snapped at Sara:
“Why do you keep following me? This is where the Rockstar script reading is.”
“I know. I’m here for the Rockstar script reading too.”
“Then why do you keep—!”
“Did you two come together?”
At that moment, the door opened and Writer Seong Ji-hee appeared.
Se-yeon’s expression instantly lit up like sunshine in spring.
“Writer! Good morning. Isn’t the weather amazing today?”
“The weather? Oh… is it nice?”
“Of course! It’s been so cold lately, but it finally feels like it’s warming up.”
“You’re right. Anyway—Sara, come on in. Director, Sara’s here.”
“Oh, Sara! Come in, come in. Wasn’t too cold on the way here?”
Director Kwak spread his arms in exaggerated welcome.
Sara smiled broadly.
“I came by car, so no worries. By the way, Writer, did you get home safely yesterday? The director seemed pretty drunk.”
“Of course. I didn’t know you could hold your liquor so well, Sara. Let’s drink together again sometime.”
“Ha ha ha. I don’t think I was that drunk.”
Before long, the three of them were laughing and chatting away.
Se-yeon, left out of the conversation, had lips trembling with frustration.
She forced her way in.
“S-sunbae-nim… what are you doing here?”
“Oh, didn’t I say? Sara and I are working on this drama together.”
“What? Sunbae? Which role?”
Se-yeon’s eyes flickered with unease.
Had the lead role switched hands again without her knowing? She hurriedly flipped through her script in a panic.
“Uh—I didn’t get any notice about that. Wait, then what about the lines I memorized—”
“Haha, why so startled? Of course you’re the lead, Se-yeon.”
“I’m joining as Chae Min-seo.”
“Chae Min-seo? Oh, that supporting role?”
Se-yeon, who had been about to call her manager, instantly deflated.
Sara’s role turned out to be smaller than she expected.
“Doesn’t she die in episode five?”
“Yes. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I really wanted to work with Writer Seong. Thank you so much for letting me join, Writer.”
“Oh, don’t thank me. I’m the one who’s grateful.”
The conversation didn’t last long.
Other cast members began arriving one after another, and the director and writer got busy greeting everyone.
Sara nodded greetings at a few familiar faces, then quietly sat down and pulled out her script.
Soon, the seat beside her scraped back, and the actor playing the male lead plopped down.
“What’s going on? Why you—and Kim Se-yeon’s still—”
“Long time no see, oppa. How’ve you been?”
“Suddenly speaking so formally?”
Instead of answering, she tilted her chin toward the cameras behind them.
He noticed and frowned.
His voice dropped low.
“They’re filming the script reading?”
“Looks like it.”
“Ha, we’ll talk after this.”
“Oh! Song Mu-gyeom! Long time no see.”
“Ah, hyung! How are you?”
“Same as always.”
Mu-gyeom was swept away by another veteran actor.
Once everyone had gathered, greetings began with the director leading.
When Sara got the microphone, she drew the most attention of all.
Everyone seemed to already know how the lead role had changed hands.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Seo Sara, playing Chae Min-seo. I look forward to working with you.”
A few people whispered, glancing between Sara and Se-yeon.
Sara just smiled confidently.
She hadn’t clawed her way back into a drama she’d once been kicked off just to endure petty gossip.
She came to reclaim her place.
—Writer, may I ask you one favor?
—A favor? What kind of favor?
—I really want to work with you.
—I’d love to work with you too, Sara. In the next project, for sure.
—No, I mean this project. Rockstar.
—Sara, isn’t that already decided? Se-yeon’s the lead…
—Oh, of course not the lead. I mean this role. Chae Min-seo.
—Chae Min-seo? But that’s a supporting villain, and she dies in episode five. Isn’t that too small for you?
—Perfect. I’m good at villains. Did you see Emergency Exit? I played a really nasty one there—killed people, cursed a lot.
—Sara, are you serious?
—Yes. I really mean it. I want to be in your work.
“What the hell happened? Why are you playing a supporting role? And what’s going on with Kim Se-yeon?”
“One question at a time.”
After about three hours, the script reading finally paused when a veteran actor suggested a break.
The moment he heard it, Mu-gyeom dragged Sara into an empty hallway.
“It doesn’t make sense. Three days ago you were the female lead, and now suddenly Se-yeon’s the lead and you’re a supporting role? How is that possible?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? In this world, money makes anything possible.”
“Money? But Se-yeon’s in the same agency as you—what money… oh.”
Mu-gyeom finally grasped what she meant, and sighed in a low voice.
Sara sipped her now-cold coffee.
“So the rumors were true. Who is it? Which side?”
“Kang Doo-hyun from Sungdo Daily.”
“Sounds like a rich man’s name.”
“Doesn’t it?”
They both fell silent.
The days of believing that skill alone was enough to survive here were long gone.
“But seriously, you’re something else. What made you take a supporting role in this drama? Doesn’t it hurt your pride?”
“Why would it? It’ll be my place in the end anyway.”
“What?”
“Ah! Seo Sara, Song Mu-gyeom—the script reading’s starting again!”
A staff member came rushing over, shouting, cutting Mu-gyeom off before he could hear her answer.
“Okay, we’ll be right in.”
Sara smiled brightly and crushed her empty paper cup.
