YDCFGD 10

Chapter 10

The child actor for Doyeon had been decided.

After explaining the basic contract terms, writer Choi Gijeong headed straight to her studio. The image of Doyeon that Saei had shown her earlier kept lingering before her eyes.

How long had it been since she’d felt like this—an overwhelming urge to scribble down lines right away? When inspiration struck, she had to seize the moment and write the next script.

“Why aren’t you going home for once? You always say you feel frustrated after Doyeon’s auditions.”

As soon as she entered the studio, a woman turned around.

It was writer Choi Giyoung.

Another star writer known as “Writer Choi,” she was Gijeong’s older sister. Since they were real sisters, they sometimes co-wrote and shared a studio.

“What’s this? Why do you look so happy?”

Noticing her sister’s bright expression, Giyoung poked Gijeong’s arm.

“Come on, don’t tease me. Tell me already.”
“Unni.”

Interrupting her, Gijeong spoke with a meaningful look.

“Today, I met Doyeon. The real Doyeon. The Doyeon I wrote… she came alive.”
“You found a big one? Who is it? Jaeyeon? Yerim?”
“You wouldn’t know her. She’s a rookie.”

Gijeong chuckled softly. Just thinking about Saei’s acting made her smile.

Giyoung, still confused, urged her to explain more.

“There’s this girl named Joo Saei. She came on Ms. Hyeshim’s recommendation. She’s eighteen.”
“She’s that good? Well, if Hyeshim recommended her…”

The sisters nodded at the same time. Sung Hyeshim wasn’t called a ‘hit-maker’ for nothing. She had a sharp eye for both people and projects.

If she personally pushed someone into an audition, their skills were guaranteed.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect much. Even the famous kids were mediocre. I thought I’d just watch and endure any awkwardness with Hyeshim, but…”

Completely excited, Gijeong ignored her work and began recounting everything. Saei’s looks, voice, emotional expression—there wasn’t a single weak point.

“It’s such a shame I can only use her as a child actor this time. I’m taking her with me for my next project.”

As she nodded decisively, Gijeong shrank back under her sister’s obvious stare.

“W-Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me…”
“Gijeong. We’re family, right?”
“…No. I found her first.”
“Technically, Hyeshim found her.”

Gijeong had a bad feeling.

Her sister wanted Saei.

Sure enough—

“Introduce me to her. I think I can use her perfectly—as a lead.”

Giyoung carefully emphasized “lead.”

“For what? If it’s a crappy project, don’t bother. I hate getting dragged into garbage.”
“When have you ever seen me write trash?”

She had a point. Giyoung, who debuted earlier, was the queen of romantic comedies. Everything she wrote ended up being called “Drama of the Year.”

“Let me have her. You said it’s a waste to keep her as a child actor, right? Better I take her than someone else.”
“…Haa.”

With a deep sigh, Gijeong took out her pen and phone. She wrote down Saei’s number and tore off the page.

“Just don’t try to monopolize her.”

She knew introducing her to her sister was a huge opportunity for a rookie actress—but she still hated letting her go.

“If you do, I’ll fight you. Sister or not.”

Her insides boiled. She felt like a jealous male lead in a romance drama.

Later, On a Peaceful Afternoon Before the Script Reading

“Hoo…”

I stood in front of Jaedamjae, taking deep breaths.

There was only one reason I’d come today.

[The Chairman wishes to have dinner with you this evening.]

Grandfather had called me.

Since it was a bit early for dinner, he probably wanted to talk, too.

‘I should tell him. That I became a child actor on my own.’

With trembling hands, I opened the door. The butler led me inside.

We arrived at the VIP room.

Someone was already talking with Grandpa. I was about to wait outside when the butler knocked.

“Miss Saei has arrived.”
“Let her in.”

…Is it okay to just go in?

As I hesitated, the butler opened the door wide. I stretched my neck like a meerkat and peeked inside.

“Chairman… Ryu?”

The man sitting on the sofa was Chairman Ryu, the pillar of Seohae Group—and Ryu Dogyeong’s grandfather.

In the business world, Seohae and Dongwoo were rivals. In my past life, newspapers even called them “East and West.”

Still, I’d heard the two chairmen were close. It seemed true.

I had met Chairman Ryu a few times when I used to follow Dogyeong around as a kid.

“Hoho, looks like Saei remembers me.”
“Come in and sit.”

He seemed to remember me vaguely too. After brief introductions, I awkwardly sat down and listened.

“Advertising is the problem. Even with a good product, it’s useless if it doesn’t sell.”
“You don’t get it. These days, tech talk doesn’t work. You have to hit people in the heart.”

Apparently, Chairman Ryu was worried about the ads for Seohae Electronics’ new smartphone series, Lunatic.

It was rare for him to be this involved, but this series was meant to be their “national phone” to compete overseas.

‘Advertising…’

Grandpa was right. Just showing technology didn’t work.

‘What ad went viral around this time?’

I vaguely remembered. There was one that went crazy on Korean YouTube…

“Maybe just use Ha Eunhwa…”
“A celebrity alone won’t beat Pineapple.”

Cough.

I nearly choked. Pineapple was the American company that dominated Korea with its ads.

‘A year later, Pinephone’s renewal ad becomes a hit. After that, Lunatic loses ground…’

This was my chance.

I knew why Pineapple’s ad worked.

At this time, phone ads were just celebrities using products.

‘It was about family. That emotional story really worked.’

Even if we didn’t copy it exactly, a touching family story tied to a phone could work.

I grabbed a pen and started sketching ideas.

After a while, I handed it to Chairman Ryu.

“Um… Chairman Ryu. What about something like this…?”

He took it skeptically at first.

But soon, his face brightened.

Before long, his eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

“Saie, do you still like my grandson?”
“Pardon?”
“Dogyeong may be blunt, but he’s the most sincere guy in Korea…”

That was when Grandpa cut in.

“She doesn’t care about that brat anymore. Don’t try to match them.”
“How do you know? If Dongwoo and Seohae become in-laws…”
“Shut up! That kid ignored her confessions for years! You think I’d send her to him?!”

My dignified grandfather shouted.

Honestly, I didn’t care. Dogyeong would reject it anyway.

“Hey, you. Get out! I’m having dinner with my granddaughter!”
“Fine, perfect!”

Chairman Ryu pulled out his phone.

“Director Park. Tell my grandson to come to Jaedamjae. Right now.”

…Dogyeong is coming?

No way. He’ll refuse.

But Chairman Ryu smiled at me.

Soon, after getting a text, he grinned.

“He rushed out the moment I mentioned Saei’s name!”
“Dogyeong did…?”

Grandpa rubbed his nose.

“Ahem… Well, can’t be helped. Let’s all eat together.”

Judging by his grin, he wanted this too.

“Dogyeong isn’t a bad match for Saei.”
“Exactly!”

Um… what about my opinion…?

Ignoring my desperate gaze, the two grandfathers were already discussing wedding gifts.