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Chapter 19
“After all this fuss, do you think I’d be crazy enough not to cast you as the lead, Ms. Seo Sara?”
“Wow, really? I can’t wait for the next project to come out.”
Sara was genuinely delighted, like a child.
Writer Sung was about to add something, but the vibration from his inner pocket interrupted his thoughts.
“Yes. The conversation went well. He agreed.”
It sounded like it was Director Kwak.
Writer Sung stood up and gave Sara a light nod.
“The contract… what? Right now? Ms. Sara, he just emailed the contract. Check it later.”
“Okay. You must be busy, go ahead.”
“Alright. I’ll see you later.”
Still on the call, Writer Sung left the room.
Park Hyun, who had been pacing near the door, started to say something to Sung Jihee but stopped when he realized Sung was on the phone.
Writer Sung got into the elevator and left.
The moment the doors closed, Park Hyun rushed over to Sara like a madman.
His face was pale, like kneaded dough.
“W-what… what did he say?”
“Oh, the contract…”
“What?! He wants to cancel it? What did Kim Seyun do in there? Damn it! We never should have taken her in!”
“What are you even talking about all of a sudden? I said I’ll play the role of Chae Min-seo. He said they sent the contract by email, so check it.”
“Huh? …Wh-what? That… that’s it?”
“What else did you want? Isn’t this what you wanted, Mr. Park? Didn’t you say five ads came in already?”
“Well, yeah, that’s true. But Kim Seyun stormed out screaming and crying earlier, so I thought…”
“Come on, it’s not the first time she’s screamed. Why act so surprised?”
“It’s different when she yells at me compared to when she yells at Writer Sung.”
“It’s fine. I explained things properly.”
“You did? How?”
“I told him I’d take the role of Chae Min-seo, so please give me a chance.”
“R-really? Oh, Sara! You beautiful girl! You know our company name, RESA Entertainment—the ‘Sa’ comes from Sara, right? Thank you, thank you! I’ll never forget this favor!”
Park Hyun fawned over her with exaggerated gestures.
Since things turned out far better than expected, his grin stretched ear to ear.
“Actress Seo, is there something you’d like to eat? Should we go to that omakase place you love?”
“No thanks. I already have plans.”
“Plans? With who?”
“Do I have to tell you every private detail, Mr. Park?”
“N-no! You don’t have to! Don’t tell me anything! Please don’t tell me!”
He fussed endlessly while seeing Sara off, even going so far as to close the automatic van door for her.
From the driver’s seat, Jooyoung asked,
“Where to?”
“Haaah.”
Exhausting.
Sara twisted her body with a sigh.
After arriving home and sinking onto the sofa, the tension melted away, and fatigue hit her all at once.
She needed a shower, but her body felt so heavy she couldn’t even lift a finger.
That’s when the doorbell rang noisily.
Checking the clock, it was past 8 p.m.
“Who could that be? I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
It was too late for a door-to-door salesman.
Dragging her tired body, Sara went to the intercom.
The person on the screen was unexpected.
“Oppa, what are you doing here at this hour?”
“Hey, why don’t you ever answer your phone?”
“My phone? Oh, did you call?”
“Of course I did. I’ve got something that needs to go straight into the fridge, so I was worried you weren’t home.”
Mu-gyeom stepped inside, slipped off his shoes, and headed straight to the kitchen as if he owned the place.
He was carrying a big bundle.
“What’s all this side dishes? Did your mom make them?”
“Yeah. You know how generous my mom is. While cooking, she made extra for you, told me to bring it over.”
“You didn’t have to come all the way. You could’ve just given them to me at the set.”
“I had some errands nearby, so I dropped by.”
“Met up with a friend nearby?”
“No, my girlfriend. Didn’t I tell you? Ji-hye moved into the building right in front of yours.”
“Ji-hye unni? I had no idea.”
“Both of us are busy, so it’s not like you’ll see her much.”
“I haven’t seen her in ages. We should all get together sometime.”
“She’s filming her next project in Japan. Spends half the month there. Even I barely see her.”
Though grumbling, he went on listing his girlfriend’s news unprompted.
The two sat at the table, sipping the tea Sara served.
“So, how did it go?”
“What?”
“The role of Chae Min-seo. Are you taking it?”
“Yeah. Writer Sung even came to our office today. How could I refuse?”
“Wow, if someone heard that, they’d think you said yes right away. You had him waiting so long, he was practically burned out. Do you know how much of a fit Director Kwak threw on set?”
“He could wait a little.”
Sara shrugged with a smile.
“By the way, something’s bothering you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your face is full of worry. What’s going on? It can’t be because of Rockstar.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? Come on, I’ve known you for years.”
Despite looking like some engineering student, Mu-gyeom was sensitive at reading others’ emotions.
“I just… had a meeting with a film production company today.”
All the fatigue, unease, and worry she’d been bottling up burst out at once.
She told him everything—from attending the meeting with Director Choi Eun-young, to who she’d met today.
“You went to a place like that alone? Are you out of your mind?”
“I’m not a kid. Why shouldn’t I go alone?”
“Hey, we’ve both been in this industry for ten years. You still don’t get it? There are tons of guys who want to do weird things to actresses and actually can. From what you said, it wasn’t even a big studio, more like a mid-size one.”
“I know. That’s why I only met them in public places.”
“‘You know’? Ugh. You should’ve at least asked Director Choi to come with you. You always try to handle everything on your own.”
“Eun-young unni thinks everything’s going smoothly with Director Park. If another studio says yes, then there’s no need to work with him.”
“Then at least go with Manager Jo.”
“No way. If Mirae unni found out, she’d definitely stop me.”
“And knowing that, you still went alone to meet producers? Do you not realize how small this industry is? Word gets around. When Director Choi finds out, you think she’ll be pleased?”
“I was going to tell her.”
“When? From the sound of it, this wasn’t just one or two meetings.”
“…”
“At this rate, if you can’t find a production company, you’ll end up using your own money to make the film.”
“…”
“Why aren’t you answering? You’re not seriously considering that, are you?”
“No. She said she’d never allow that.”
Sara shook her head firmly. Seeing that, Mu-gyeom let out a heavy sigh and stood.
“You and your stubbornness… Forget it.”
“Leaving already?”
“It’s past nine. If you haven’t eaten, use the side dishes I brought.”
He walked to the entrance, tapped the toe of his shoe, then turned back.
“Seo Sara.”
“What?”
“No means no.”
“…”
“They say Director Choi is leaving the scene.”
There was no need to ask how he knew.
Like he said, in such a small world, rumors spread fast.
“Even if you hold on to her desperately, it won’t last. If you’re lucky enough to do one movie with her, what about the next one? Will you keep chasing after her forever? Just let her go when she says she’s leaving.”
“But…!”
“I’m going.”
The door shut.
Sara stood staring at it until the hallway light outside went dark.
“Are you seeing someone these days?”
“W-what?”
“See? The way you’re startled makes you look even more suspicious.”
In the waiting room, Sara was reviewing her Rockstar script when Mirae’s voice made her spin around in surprise.
Her shoulders flinched so noticeably that Mirae narrowed her eyes and stared at her intently.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“You, who never has any friends, suddenly has lunch or dinner plans almost every day. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Oh, come on, unni. I have friends, you know.”
“Who? Director Choi? Or Jisoo?”
“Why do you even care?”
Sara bristled like a prickly teenager in puberty, and Mirae’s eyes filled with suspicion.
“You…”
“Why do you keep interrogating me? I told you, I’m just meeting friends.”
“You’ve got a boyfriend, don’t you?”
