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Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 4: First Day (2)
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Chapter 4: First Day (2) ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐โด๐ฃ๐ฆ๐.๐ธโด๐ฎ
I was anxious and felt as if my heart was about to sink as the call returned only static noises.
But thankfully, the call finally connected on the fifth attempt.
โHello, is this the principal? Yes. Iโm Misoโs auntie. Um, the reason I called is because...well...โ
-Ah, yes. Misoโs auntie! Oh, yes. Donโt worry. Iโll take care of Miso until 5 PM. Donโt mention it! Haha. Miso is such a good child.
It turned out that the reason the principal hadnโt picked up the call right away was because she was busy hosting the Christmas party for the kids, as she was the only one running the small kindergarten.
โBut when is Yoo-Jin gonna hang up the phone?โ
The two showed no sign of wrapping up the conversation and continued chatting.
Having waited for three minutes, I felt the need to end their conversation and subtly hinted at Yoo-JIn who got my message and started wrapping up the conversation.
โYes, principal. Iโll stop by later.โ
-Oh, my. Kids are going to be so excited to see you come. You are a celebrity, after all.
โCelebrity? No way. Iโve only just started my career...โ
-Haha. Letโs talk more and have some warm red bean soup when you come to the kindergarten. By the way, I love Actor Jo Min-Sung from your company.
โYes, yes. Letโs talk more when we meet later.โ
Yoo-Jin hung up the phone and licked her lips, disappointed that the conversation had to end.
โWas there more to talk about? Theyโd been talking for so long.โ
Anyway, I felt relieved knowing the accident would no longer happen since Miso didnโt go home alone.
โItโs done. Miso is safe now. Iโll rush to her as soon as the on-site shoot is over.โ
My heart began to flutter as I thought of Misoโs cheerful face.
โMiso will be so happy. She always told me she wanted to visit the broadcasting station. La la la~โ
I couldnโt help but smile without realizing it when I saw Yoo-Jinโs face filled with motherly affection for Miso.
Yoo-Jin stopped humming and tilted her head in wonder when she saw me smile.
โWhy are you smiling? Is there anything on my face?โ
โNo. Itโs just that...you look really happy.โ freew ebnovel.com
Yoo-Jin smiled.
โOf course Iโm happy. It was Misoโs wish to visit the broadcasting station. I really appreciate it, oppa.โ
Watching Yoo-Jin hum and return her gaze to the script, I thought I should be the one thanking her.
Anyway, it was already in my plans to ensure Yoo-Jin and Miso did not return to their home today.
โBy the way, how much does it cost to book a hotel room these days?โ
Then I shook my head.
โNevermind. Iโll have to book a motel instead. As far as I can remember, I only had 5 million won in my bank account around this time.โ
The reminder of being financially strapped again made the fact that I had returned to the past much more real than ever.
โNonetheless, Iโll make sure to get them the cleanest motel room.โ
***
Writer Lee Ji-Yeon, often dubbed the Godmother of Dramas, had a habit of frequently visiting the shooting sets to oversee the progress of her work. She was also famous for screaming at actors if they made even the smallest mistakes.
As a result, her set visits always led to chaotic situations. Actors would shed tears as talent agents offered their consolation while assistant directors had to clean up the mess. The producer directors would even plead and apologize to her even if they didnโt know what they had done wrong.
However, as she was a top-tier writer who had written several works with good ratings exceeding thirty percent, there was no one who could stop her irrational attitude.
Yoo-Jin was soon about to act in front of this very writer, Lee Ji-Yeon.
While Yoo-Jin was preparing for the shoot and reading the script, I informed her of what was about to happen.
โThe writer...is coming?โ
โYes. I would say in about thirty minutes.โ
The heavily underlined script seemed to reflect Yoo-Jinโs nervousness.
โWhat should I do, oppa? Iโm not sure if I can do this.โ
While Yoo-Jin was typically confident and resilient, she appeared slightly intimidated, perhaps because it was her first shoot.
โDonโt worry. Iโve been watching you practice and youโre doing fine. I think everything would be perfect if you fixed just one part.โ
โWhich part?โ
I pointed to the section where Yoo-Jin would make twenty-three mistakes.
โThis fourth word in the third sentence. Oh, and keep in mind that Ms. Lee places a lot of emphasis on diction. Itโs especially easy to make mistakes in complex lines, so just repeat this part until youโre perfectly familiar with it.โ
โOkay.โ
Yoo-Jin listened to my explanation and continued to practice reading the script until she got used to the pronunciation.
As she was still a rookie actress, she was receptive to the talent agentโs advice and did not find it off-putting. While I was at it, I started to analyze the descriptions and lines in the script with her since having a good understanding of the character would help in her acting.
Yoo-Jin seemed amazed after hearing my analysis of the script.
โWow, youโre really good, oppa. How are you so good at analyzing the script? I think youโre even better than the acting coach.โ
Looking at Yoo-Jinโs sparkling eyes, I thought to myself:
โYou have no idea how many times I dined and drank with Lee Ji-Yeon while discussing her scripts.โ
I had memorized all of Lee Ji-Yeonโs scripts in my first life.
โHey, come on now. Letโs not waste time and focus on the script. We donโt have much time before she arrives.โ
โYes, teacher!โ
After regaining her confidence, Yoo-Jin continued to practice her lines by going over the script repeatedly for a long time.
The more Yoo-Jin practiced, the more progress she made, possibly due to my accurate advice.
***
โAlright, thatโs good enough. Letโs go now.โ
โWhere to?โ
โTo meet Ms. Lee. Itโs better to get it over with now than later.โ
Lee Ji-Yeon had a tendency to test actors regardless of time and place whenever she met them.
Hence, I figured it would be better to show Yoo-Jinโs acting directly in front of Lee Ji-Yeon than on the set far away filled with cameras and staff.
However, Yoo-Jin shook her head in hesitance.
โOppa, Iโm scared. Can I meet her later?โ
I was sympathetic to her fear, but some things had to be done.
โMs. Lee is not as scary as you think. Why are you so scared?โ
โBecause Iโve heard many rumors and they seem to suggest otherwise.โ
Yoo-Jin gave me a doubtful gaze, but I shook my head as if I had no idea what she was talking about.
โYou must have heard wrong. Come on, letโs go.โ
โWell, sheโll be fine as long as she doesnโt mess up.โ
I hurriedly grabbed the script and clothes, and headed to the parking lot with Yoo-Jin.
โThere she comes.โ
A giant pink Rose-Rise, resembling a small bus, pulled into the parking lot.
Crack! Crack!
The gravel under the tires scattered in all directions and made a loud noise.
When the car came to a stop, a young woman with her hair tied tightly got out of the driverโs seat with a heavy-looking suitcase.
She seemed familiar for some reason.
โWriter Kim Soll-Ip?โ
Come to think of it, she had been an assistant to Lee Ji-Yeon around this time.
Kim Soll-Ip would soon become a renowned writer in ten years, rivaling Lee Ji-Yeon.
Then a thought crossed my mind.
โIt was around this time when Kim Soll-Ipโs work became a huge success after she went independent. I thought I wrote down the name of her work and ratings somewhere...was it โBlue Sky?โโ
I opened the V10 planner app to check if my memory was correct.
However, the content of the planner had changed.
[Everyday V10]
[Date: December 12th, 2019]
-01:30 PM <Deleted Schedule>
(Deleted Schedule: (Report): Gyeonggi Province Guri Set, Jung Yoo-Jin, 23 mistakes. Scolded by the writer on set.)
My mind went blank for a moment.
โWhatโs going on? What is this planner? Can the schedule actually change? Did the future written in the planner change because of my intervention with Yoo-Jinโs acting?โ
One question led to another, but I quickly came to a conclusion.
โThe schedule of the planner changes based on my actions.โ
This suggested that the potential value of this planner was beyond oneโs imagination. Having ten yearsโ worth of events written on it was already incredible, but being able to observe the impact of my actions on the future through the planner was even more amazing.
I was so surprised that I drank the coffee I was holding in my right hand in a gulp.
โAh! Itโs so hot!โ
I burned my tongue.
โAre you okay?โ
โYes, Iโm fine. Make sure youโre prepared because Ms. Lee is the type to jump right into things out of nowhere. She might ask you to act for her on the spot.โ
As Yoo-Jin got ready to act, I flipped through the planner to check if there were any other changed events.
However, there was still one significant event that had not yet disappeared from todayโs schedule.
[Everyday V10]
[Date: December 12th, 2019]
-05:30 PM: Kangdongkyung University Hospital Funeral Hall. Miso died.
Thump.
I felt my heart sink.
โWhy isnโt this schedule going away? Hadnโt we already called the kindergarten to ensure Miso didnโt go home? Could it be that my hypothesis about being able to change predetermined outcomes through my actions was wrong?โ
At that moment, a scene from a famous movie flashed through my mind.
โDestination.โ
I quickly shook my head.
This masterpiece taught that certain things were bound to happen regardless of what we did. Thinking about this made me feel anxious.
โItโs only been a few minutes since I thought everything would be fine!โ
I came to realize that simply making a phone call wouldnโt prevent Misoโs death.
โI should go and get Miso right away.โ
But the timing was not goodโLee Ji-Yeon, who got out of her car, was just around the corner.
My mouth began to dry up.
โDo I have no choice but to give up the opportunity to catch Lee Ji-Yeonโs attention? But Yoo-Jin worked so hard to get this opportunity!โ
Then I remembered the time Miso was in an accident.
It was currently 3 PM and there was about an hour and a half left before the accident would occur.
My brain worked harder than ever.
โCalm down, Jung Yoon-Ho. I can do both. It will only take roughly about five minutes for Yoo-Jin to show her acting. Immediately once that is done, I can run to the kindergarten to pick Miso up.โ
With this plan in mind, I calmed myself and took Yoo-JIn to meet Lee Ji-Yeon.
I had no time to lose.
***
Lee Ji-Yeon was an S-class writer who made more than 100 million won per episode.
She was clad in a bright leopard-patterned coat with heels over 7 cm. Despite being in her 40s, she looked stunning enough to be mistaken for an actress
However, the icy ground seemed to pose a challenge for her, as she was being supported by Kim Soll-Ip, who was wearing flat shoes.
โBe careful, Ms. Lee.โ
โEnough with your nagging, okay? Shut up~โ
Although Kim Soll-Ip was bound to become a famous writer in the future, at the moment, she was nothing more than an assistant writer and a servant.
I was worried about Miso, but I had to focus on the task at hand.
I greeted Lee Ji-Yeon politely as soon as I approached her, mentioning Jung Yoo-Jinโthe name of the actress under my care.
โItโs an honor to meet you, Ms. Lee Ji-Yeon.โ
โMy name is Jung Yoo-Jin, and I play the role of Lee Seol-Ran. I genuinely admire your work.โ
Lee Ji-Yeon adjusted her red glasses perched on the tip of her nose and snapped her fingers. Her index finger moved side to side like the pendulum of a metronome.
โNope, nope nope! I donโt like flattery~โ
โB-but I really do love your work...โ
Lee Ji-Yeon looked up and down at the perplexed Yoo-Jin and opened her mouth.
โLee Seol-Ran, huh? You look the part, but Iโm not sure if I can say the same about your acting yet. Shall we see?โ
As expected, Lee Ji-Yeon wanted to test Yoo-Jinโs acting. To put it plainly, Lee Ji-Yeon was obsessed with her own work. To put it nicely, she was deeply attached to her work.
โYes, Ms. Lee.โ
Yoo-Jin answered confidently and began to act out her role as Lee Seol-Ran.
As Yoo-Jin immersed herself in her acting, Lee Ji-Yeonโs eyebrows twitched. Yoo-Jinโs performance perfectly embodied the โLee Seol-Ranโ that existed in Lee Ji-Yeonโs mind.
In my first life, Lee Ji-Yeon would interpret the character โLee Seol-Ranโ for Yoo-Jin whenever she made a mistake. Since Lee Seol-Ran was the protagonistโs friend and a confident police officer, Yoo-Jin was instructed to act with a sharp and clear diction.
Thanks to Yoo-Jin listening to my advice, which was informed by my memories of my first life, her acting was incredible and I found myself unable to take my eyes off her.
โHow should I put this?โ
I felt like I was being drawn into her acting. Yesโthat would be the right description. Despite being in an urgent situation, I found my heart was racing without me realizing it.
A subtle smile graced Lee Ji-Yeonโs face.
It was a huge success.
***
Yoo-Jinโs short acting took less than three minutes. When her acting was over, Yoo-Jin took a deep breath nervously.
Lee Ji-Yeon looked at Yoo-Jin for a long time and opened her mouth to speak.
โNot bad. Your voice has a distinct quality and you seem well-versed with the script. Hmm~โ
โThank you so much, Ms. Lee!โ
Then Lee Ji-Yeon said something unexpected.
โWhatโs your name again?โ
Lee Ji-Yeon was famous for not caring about actorsโ names unless they were famous top stars. On set, she simply referred to the actors by their roles.
I canโt believe sheโs asking for Yoo-Jinโs name. She loves her!โ
Yoo-Jin answered Lee Ji-Yeonโs question excitedly.
โMs. Lee, my name is Jung Yoo-Jin from Hoop Entertainment.โ
โHoop Entertainment? Isnโt that the company run by President Kang?โ
โYes, it is. Mr. Kang Gam-Chan is our president, maโam.โ
Lee Ji-Yeon nodded and tilted her head to the side.
โGot it~. Your name is Yoo-Jin, right? I love Park Yoo-Jin.โ
โHuh? But what does Jung Yoo-Jin have to do with Park Yoo-Jin?โ
Well, it was fortunate that Yoo-Jin shared a name with someone Lee Ji-Yeon liked.
โYoo-Jin~. Who taught you acting? Did Hoop Entertainment always have a good acting coach who helps their actors with character analysis to this extent?โ
Compared to the actors, the acting coaches at Hoop Entertainment werenโt as competent. This was because Lee Gi-Cheol, the operations director, had unfairly secured the spots for the acting coaches who graduated from Seoul National University of the Arts. Director Kim Dong-Soo and Coach Choi Hyun-Min were also graduates of Suhyaejong.
Without giving me a chance to interrupt, Yoo-Jin answered Lee Ji-Yeonโs question.
โOh. My talent agent here helped me with analyzing the script, Ms. Lee.โ
Lee Ji-Yeon slightly raised her head and slowly turned toward me.
Then, she frowned and asked.
โAnd you are~?โ