Chapter 76 – Reaction – Part 4

Chapter 76 – Reaction – Part 4

At Woojin’s voice, Jo Jeonghwan’s body stiffened as if time had stopped.

In an instant, his brow furrowed deeply.

“Why do you think it’s easy to mess up?”

-The protagonist’s anguish is too long. The way he breaks down and worries seems to take up too much time.

“Well, because it’s the process of the character being created…”

-I think the character has already been created. His fiancée, to whom he promised a future, has been kidnapped. And the audience knows enough about what abilities the protagonist possesses. If I were a viewer, I’d think it would be better to find his fiancée quickly instead of wasting time like that. Like a man.

“Woojin, I think if the protagonist’s anguish goes down a certain righteous path, the quality of the work will improve, and the foundation of the movie will be even better.”

-Director Jo, you seem to be fixated on the quality of the work, but I hope you can see it from other perspectives as well. For example, there might be a third party who can judge objectively, did you say Media Dragon? How about showing it to that person? Before the story progresses further.

Jo Jeonghwan’s furrowed brows couldn’t easily relax.

It was understandable since he was being contradicted. But he couldn’t just ignore Woojin’s words either.

After all, he was the one who had established the character and the framework of the work.

Meow-

Woojin’s voice was heard over the meowing of the cat he raised.

-The cat seems hungry.

As the cat approached and rubbed against Jo Jeonghwan’s leg, he felt a chill run down his spine, following his central nervous system.

What Woojin had said in the Coffee Shop flashed through his mind again. How he had predicted the breakup, public transportation, and owning cats and dogs.

He was about to feed the cat even now…

Jo Jeonghwan exhaled, nodding his head as he spoke.

“Alright. I’ll discuss it. Thank you.”

-I understand that you might not be too pleased with me, and that you’re angry. I understand your confusion too. On the surface, the human brain is designed that way.

“Huh?”

-I understand Director Jo. So I hope you discuss it and think about it.

“Yes. I’ll contact you.”

After ending the call, Jo Jeonghwan stared at his cellphone for a moment.

He thought something was said about brain design, but he couldn’t quite interpret it.

Jo Jeonghwan soon sent the episode to his senior at Media Dragon.

And he started to get dressed up again to go to the alumni reunion.

There wasn’t much to even call dressing up.

He put on the watch he usually cherished, afraid of even a small scratch, and styled his hair to keep it in place.

Then he went outside and headed to the taxi stand.

Jo Jeonghwan thought as he watched the people passing by.

He wished everyone he saw now would watch his movie, or rather, he would make them watch it.

With such thoughts, he arrived at the taxi stand.

Buzz- Buzz-

Jo Jeonghwan checked his vibrating cellphone.

It was a senior from Media Dragon.

Thirty minutes had passed since he sent the episode, so it seemed he had checked it and called.

“Yes, Senior. Did you see it? How was it?”

-It’s a bit ambiguous, isn’t it?

“Ambiguous?”

-Yeah, it’s not bad, but it doesn’t seem great either. How should I put it…? It lacks that captivating charm, you know? How about we proceed with a different kind of room?

“Oh…”

As Woojin’s words became a reality, Jo Jeonghwan ran his hand through his carefully styled hair.

-Hey, hey, don’t get discouraged just because I said that. You can just change it, right?

“Yes, well…”

-Jeonghwan, you’re not spreading the synopsis to other companies, are you?

“No. Of course not.”

-You’re not lying, are you?

“I’m telling the truth. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”}]}

A potential investor has emerged. And they specifically mentioned your name.

Jo Jeonghwan’s eyes widened.

“Excuse me? They nominated me?”

-Yes, are you upset if you’re getting feedback from me and then secretly working with another company?

“No, Senior. I really, truly haven’t done that. It’s not an investor, is it?”

“It’s a Shinhwa Group affiliate. SH Future.”

Jo Jeonghwan’s eyes widened again.

SH Future was a company specializing in investment, distribution, and circulation, and it was much more stable than Media Dragon.

“Why would that company…”

-How would I know? You know, don’t you? It’s not like you’ve been bragging to your acquaintances about preparing a project and it got leaked, is it?

“No, I haven’t mentioned it…”

He truly hadn’t.

Even if he had, it was only a few friends.

He hadn’t mentioned any details either. He was only guilty of subtly boasting that this time it seemed like it would go well.

-What do you mean, no? Just hold back even if your mouth is itching to talk. Anyway, I’m glad the flow seems good already. Let’s just consider the episode you sent today for a different room. They’re going to assign writers, you know?

“No, that’s alright.”

-Then let’s do this. I’ll assign them for now, and if you don’t like them…

“Senior! A good episode just came to mind. I’ll call you back because I might forget it!”

Jo Jeonghwan, who had abruptly ended the call, blinked.

“SH Future…”

The corners of his mouth unconsciously twitched upwards.

They had apparently singled out his name, as if to say they trusted him enough to invest.

Suddenly, the world seemed beautiful.

“Aren’t you getting in?”

At the taxi driver’s words, Jo Jeonghwan grinned.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He sent the taxi away and started walking back the way he came.

This was not the time to go to an alumni gathering.

Jo Jeonghwan immediately called Woojin.

-Hello?

“Are you busy, by any chance?”

-No. (Who is it? Is it the Director?)

A woman’s voice was faintly heard, but Jo Jeonghwan didn’t mind.

“As Woojin said, I must have been fixated on something earlier. I’m really sorry for getting so excited.”

-It’s okay. I think it’s understandable.

“So, about that… what kind of action should the protagonist take?”

-How about going directly to the Police Station? Asking if a suspect has emerged. The Police would probably stop him and tell him to wait at home. Saying that nothing has come out yet from the ongoing investigation. So, it would be good for the protagonist to secretly infiltrate the scene.

Jo Jeonghwan thought to himself.

‘That’s right… This is it.’

The protagonist shouldn’t be agonizing in a corner of the Room; he should be taking action.

“Wait, just a moment. I’ll write up to this point and send it to you. Could you take a look?”

-Of course.

“Thank you. Oh, and Woojin. I won’t be foolish again.”

Jo Jeonghwan started running, as if to not forget Woojin’s words.

He hadn’t even thought of recording the sudden phone call.

* * *

Woojin was leaving the bookstore with Lee Hyerim.

She asked,

“What did the Director say?”

“He said he’d rewrite it.”

Lee Hyerim shook her head and smiled.

How did she get involved with the director and now she’s even touching movies?

The important thing was that it was fun.

When Woojin brought up the investment, she immediately went to SH Future with the synopsis.

The reaction was quite good.

It wasn’t because she was the granddaughter of Shinhwa Group, but everyone reacted positively in unison.

If the movie was a great success, it would be a natural progression for her position to be highlighted.

“Thank you.”

Woojin turned his head at Lee Hyerim’s words.

“For what?”

“When was it again…”

In Lee Hyerim’s mind, anecdotes from when she first met Woojin until now flashed by like a revolving lantern.

“Just, everything.”

“I just thought it was a good thing for both you and me, Hyerim.”

If it hit ten million viewers, he would get three billion won, and Hyerim could also get some recognition from her father on the right path.

Of course, Deputy Manager Lee of Shinhwa Trading and Department Head Shim had already formed a connection with Lee Hyerim.

“By the way, if the movie does well, will you give me a gift?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder what kind of gift it is. It would be hard to satisfy Shin Woojin with an ordinary gift. Even more so if it’s money.”

“Three billion won.”

Lee Hyerim’s eyes widened as she walked.

“Three billion won?”

“Yes.”

She blinked.

Because she had thought Woojin was someone who wasn’t greedy for money in the first place.

Woojin spoke as if reading her thoughts.

“Because I need a house. To be the director.”

“Then you should have told me…”

“I wanted to try it with my own power, as an experiment.”

“An experiment?”

“Yes, a group experiment.”

“No way… You don’t think of the audience as test subjects, do you?”

“Yes. I’m testing myself.”

Lee Hyerim swept her hair back, forming an incredulous smile.

It was a truly charming smile.

“That’s so you.”

“People die if they change. I need to live a long time.”

“Because there’s a lot you want to try?”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyerim blocked Woojin’s path, creating her characteristic refreshing smile.

It was a laugh that only appeared when she was with Woojin.

“What do you want to try now?”

“That.”

Woojin pointed his hand towards where a punching machine stood.

Lee Hyerim, who had been quietly looking at the punching machine, nodded.

“Yes, I wanted to try that too.”

Lee Hyerim approached the arcade with Woojin.

The two of them quietly watched people punch.

Bang!

“Oh yeah, a new record!”

As the record-setter confidently stepped away, Lee Hyerim looked around at the punching machine.

The surrounding men glanced at the scene.

“Can’t I use a card for this? Is this it?”

“Hyerim, this is cash only. I have a one-thousand-won bill.”

As Woojin inserted the cash, the ball came down.

“You hit first.”

At Lee Hyerim’s words, Woojin nodded and took his stance.

Since he was hitting a fixed object, a large movement didn’t matter.

Woojin’s right shoulder rotated backward, and his waist twisted similarly.

Woojin’s fist, having completed its scientific analysis, struck the ball with his full body weight, like a spring.

Wham!

A short exclamation escaped the lips of the onlookers at the crisp sound.

The sound was better than the one made by the record-setter.

But the score was different.

[5360]

He recorded the lowest score.

Woojin blinked, looking at the score.

A low sound also escaped his lips.

“Tsk…”

The people around him smiled leisurely, and Lee Hyerim spoke, as if comforting Woojin.

“Isn’t the machine broken? It seems broken?”

Woojin, who had been looking at his score, opened his mouth.

“Hyerim, I’m really sorry, but can I hit it one more time consecutively?”

“Oh? Yes. Of course. It doesn’t matter if I don’t hit it.”

“No. I’ll let you hit it. There’s a bonus if you set a new record.”

Woojin glared at the ball as if to devour it.

Lee Hyerim, who was watching, couldn’t help but be a little flustered.

It had been a long time since she’d seen Woojin so serious.

‘What on earth is that about…?’

Lee Hyerim’s gaze was fixed solely on Woojin, while the men’s gazes kept darting glances at her.

Then, as Woojin took his stance, his waist seemed to twist even more than before.

Thump!

With the sound of a leather drum bursting, the punching machine swayed back and forth.

Clunk. Clunk.

Woojin could only stare blankly at the punching machine.

It was the same for the people around him.