Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 216

216. Money is the Problem (1)

2022.06.04.

Before I knew it, I somehow ended up with a peculiar friend.

“I told you to speak comfortably! Why are you being awkward with your friend?”

It’s awkward because you suddenly became my friend.

“Um… okay.”

‘It’s a bit awkward.’

“I was curious about what kind of person Yeonwoo is, but I’m so glad you’re such a good person.”

Yeonwoo didn’t do much.

He just gave him a lunch box.

But somehow, in Kim Si-hyuk’s mind, Yeonwoo became an incredibly good person.

“I’m the one who’s relieved.”

Because Kim Si-hyuk, the protagonist, wasn’t as strange as I thought.

“Huh? What?”

“I’m glad you don’t seem to feel bad about it.”

Sometimes it’s better to hide the truth.

To Kim Si-hyuk, who asked why,

-Because you’re not such a *makjang* [over-the-top, absurd] person that you’re running around with an Asura [a class of demonic beings in Buddhist mythology, often used metaphorically to describe someone fierce or combative].

Isn’t that what I should have answered?

“Ah! That’s not why I was curious. I thought you were very spirited!”

“What?”

Suddenly, an intense word popped out.

For a moment, Yeonwoo doubted his ears, wondering if he had misheard.

“Spirited…?”

“Yeah! It’s so cool! That self-assurance that you’re confident enough to kick the main role! It’s hard to have that kind of thing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You may or may not know this, Yeonwoo, but I’m actually a former national athlete? Most sports are a battle against yourself, so it can be surprisingly difficult to have that kind of conviction.”

Come to think of it, there was an expression in Kim Si-hyuk’s status window that he had changed jobs.

‘His special skills were a bit far from being an actor, weren’t they…?’

Putting aside the food fighter.

Like a fish in water or holding your breath.

And special skills like tireless stamina.

What they pointed to was one thing.

“By any chance, swimming?”

“Heol heol. Yeonwoo, did you know me?”

That’s not it.

I can’t say that I saw it in the status window and confirmed it, so Yeonwoo made an excuse.

“You have broad shoulders and you look good.”

“You figured that out just from that? Wow… you really have a good eye? Is that why you noticed I was hungry? I’ve heard people say I’m a bit slow, so I envy people who are quick-witted.”

I guess so.

That’s how he was.

Good rumors probably weren’t circulating about the rejection of the main role, but hearing that and saying it’s cool or spirited, he might be the type to only listen to what he wants to hear.

[Truth]

Even the status window told Yeonwoo that Kim Si-hyuk was sincere.

In any case, it wasn’t a bad thing for Yeonwoo.

It’s much better than the actor playing the lead role being caught up in an inferiority complex and picking fights over everything and reacting sharply.

‘But he’s surprisingly… okay?’

Kim Si-hyuk completely lowered his guard with just a few lunch boxes, and even acted like a close friend.

Before I knew it, I was swayed by Kim Si-hyuk’s unique cheerfulness.

But the strange thing is that I don’t feel bad about it.

‘Am I a little weak to this type?’

Following Lee Joo-ha, I somehow gained a second friend named Kim Si-hyuk.

If there’s a common point between the two, it’s their reckless impulsiveness without a future, I guess?

I became friends by being pushed along, but whatever.

What’s good is good.

“Thank you so much for your hard work today.”

The pre-meeting ended several hours later.

“With the director and writer being so passionate, our drama will definitely be a success. I’m already looking forward to it.”

“Oh, you’re welcome… It’s because the actors are showing so much interest.”

As writer Song Jin-joo said, the atmosphere was very warm.

The actors enthusiastically asked questions back and forth, as if trying to understand the roles they were playing more deeply.

Although the completed script hasn’t come out yet, writer Song’s explanation will definitely be a great help in creating the characters.

Of course, it’s necessary to study the script in depth, but there’s no more sure way than to hear the explanation directly from the original author.

The production company and the cast all seemed motivated.

As if Yeonwoo’s anxiety was unfounded.

Everything seemed to be going well.

“Excuse me? The production presentation might be canceled?”

Until an unexpected *taekleul* [tackle/interference] was *geolligi* [caught/obstructed] from an unexpected place.

*

“What on earth is going on?”

“Min Ye-rin’s side is *gangjjareul nwatdapnida* [being unreasonable/stubborn].”

Yeonwoo’s hunch was, as always, close to 100 percent accurate.

Yeonwoo himself didn’t even expect the mishap to happen so quickly.

“*Gangjjayo* [Being unreasonable]? Ms. Min Ye-rin isn’t the type to be so indiscreet…”

As Yeonwoo answered Lee Gyu-han’s explanation, something flashed through his mind.

Lee Gyu-han sighed as the *dwitmareul heurija* [trailing off the end of his sentence].

“It’s famous that Ms. Min Ye-rin is *kal gateun* [sharp/precise like a knife] in many ways. That’s why some people hate her for being so cold, but I think that’s really good from a business perspective. Anyway, it’s not Ms. Min Ye-rin… it’s her agency’s president who’s the problem.”

“The president.”

“Yes. Hmph.”

The president of Min Ye-rin’s agency, who was wearing all sorts of *japgwi, wonhanryeong, and sanyeomche* [various types of malevolent spirits and psychic entities].

“There were a lot of rumors about that president from the beginning. You remember, right? The drama Yeonwoo debuted in. The person who originally played that role was from A Entertainment.”

I remember.

At that time, a guy who couldn’t even act properly came with Min Ye-rin on his back and was *geodeolmeokgeorimyeo gapjil* [acting arrogantly and abusing his power] to the staff, which was very annoying.

It turned out that he was a human who had caused a huge accident.

Somehow, Yeonwoo himself entered the position where he had kicked out that guy, and he had a memory of debuting without realizing it.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’m grateful to that guy or the president who put him in.’

If you think about it that way, Kwon Seong-hyun, who consistently called me to the set even at the cost of his life, would be the benefactor.

He’s actually a benefactor.

“Min Ye-rin herself is *dambaekhago kkae끗hannde* [simple and clean], but that president was famous for being a very *jilcheokgeorineun sseuregi* [clingy trash]. Hmph… I heard it was roughly settled last time, but it seems like there’s been another problem.”

“What’s the matter this time?”

“They’re making an issue of the appearance fee.”

“Ah.”

“They also asked to increase the amount of screen time.”

“Is it because they’re greedy for appearance fees?”

“Probably something like that. Hmph.”

“I know that everything has already been agreed upon. Hasn’t the contract been signed yet?”

“We’ve finished it. But it turns out that the president was delaying it. Min Ye-rin didn’t know.”

The production company, which had bet its life on this drama, had already exerted its burning momentum in several places.

They had told their close reporters that they were planning to hold a production presentation.

They were preparing for the event with great enthusiasm.

The venue was already booked, a large number of invitations had already been sent out, and the actors’ schedules had already been fixed.

Like a racehorse running only forward, the production company bulldozed everything.

That’s what tripped them up.

“If everything has already been agreed upon, the contract may be given and received a little late depending on the circumstances. That’s how this industry works. But that’s where they hit us in the back of the head.”

The production company was already having a hard time finding actors.

But if Min Ye-rin leaves here, even the scheduled production schedule will be messed up.

‘I didn’t know that a butterfly effect would happen like this.’

Tsk.

Yeonwoo felt a little responsible.

This is all because he refused the lead role.

It was because he didn’t know the ways of the industry yet.

In fact, it wasn’t something that Yeonwoo had to think about, but doesn’t a person have *do-ui* [moral responsibility]?

In any case, Yeonwoo himself had gained something.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I think they’re having a meeting. I think the production company is trying to make a decision as quickly as possible. The biggest hit will be on that side if it falls through…”

“Can I go there too?”

“You, Yeonwoo?”

“Yes. I think I should go there.”

And.

‘It’s a complete mess.’

Yeonwoo saw it.

The production company people were on the verge of *hwanjanghagi* [going crazy].

*

‘It’s worse than I thought.’

That was the first thought Yeonwoo had when he went to the production company.

“No. Didn’t we meet the conditions as much as possible? It’s going to be difficult if you suddenly do this.”

“What’s so difficult about it? Do you think I’m a *bingdari hatbaji* [fool/idiot]? You received a lot of investment, so why are the actors’ appearance fees so low?”

“Are you trying to *haechyeomeogeuryeoneun* [embezzle/swindle] in the middle?”

“No, why are you saying that?!”

“Or not. But if that’s the case, there’s no reason why you can’t raise it, so why are you holding back like this?”

“President. The investment was received not because of the actors’ appearance fees, but for better production quality. I’ve told you several times!”

“Ah, so if you give more money, the actors will work hard and the production quality will improve, right? Huh? There’s even a saying that you work as much as you get paid. Why are people who know so much doing this?”

“Ha……”

I can’t communicate, so I don’t have the confidence to win.

It seems like such subtitles are passing over PD [Production Director] Gil Sang-jun’s head.

Whether the other person’s *sok* [insides/stomach] is *teojigeona* [bursting/exploding] or not.

A Entertainment CEO Lee Dong-jun crossed his arms and leaned deeply into the chair, revealing his bulging belly.

The completely *bae jjaeraneun* [playing hardball/going all in] attitude was very well seen in his *bangmanhan* [arrogant/unrestrained] posture.

“Do you know where our Ye-rin is *ppajineun ae* [lacking/deficient]? She’s a kind kid, so I deliberately gave her a *gihwisaeng* [chance to revive/comeback] that everyone else is kicking out, so shouldn’t I give her that treatment? Yes?”

“So I’ve already thanked you several times, President.”

“People’s hearts are so stingy. Where can you end it with just words? And. If our Ye-rin is the female lead, and the appearance fee is only that much, people will *yokhaeyo* [curse/criticize]. Is that amount *gadangki-na* [reasonable/appropriate] for Ye-rin’s level?”

“President. I’ve told you several times that Min Ye-rin is not the female lead.”

“No~! If there’s one female character in the supporting roles, that’s the female lead. And who watches dramas without a love line these days? So we need to increase our Ye-rin’s portion and add some romance to attract people. Why are people who know so much doing this?”

It was a clear disregard for the writer and production team.

PD Gil Sang-jun’s expression, who was trying to appease him somehow, was also rotten, and writer Song Jin-joo’s expression, who was standing behind him, was also uncomfortable.

Surely,

‘How can I kill that human so that rumors will spread that he was killed well?’

That’s the kind of expression he had?

“First… let’s take a break and talk. Hmph……”

“Okay. Bring me some coffee. Cough. I’ve been talking for the past few days, and my throat hurts.”

“……Guys. Make some coffee.”

“Yes……”

The interns with *jugeulsang* [a face like they’re about to die] answered, grumbling.

“Ah, get it from outside, not mixed coffee. I want a caramel frappuccino with extra caramel drizzle, lots of chocolate whipped cream, and a venti-sized upgrade with java chips.”

“……Yes.”

He’s hateful.

I hate him to death!

That expression clearly came to the faces of all the production company people.

As if he didn’t care, the president of A Entertainment leisurely took out his cell phone and started doing his business.

‘It’s a real mess.’

Yeonwoo, who had wanted to watch the situation unfold for now, was able to watch all the *nanri* [chaos/commotion] from outside the conference room.

It seemed like they had been having the same argument for days.

As if that thought answered, a voice suddenly came from the side.

“That’s been going on for three days.”

It was Kim Si-hyuk.

“…When did you come?”

“Just now. I was in the break room earlier, and I came when I saw you coming.”

“Really…?”

Yeonwoo, who was answering like that, felt something strange.

“But why are you here?”

Yeonwoo came because he felt sorry for this drama.

It’s unexpected that Kim Si-hyuk came here.

“If this drama falls through, I’ll be in trouble too, so I followed him because our company said they’d come to talk. Actually, it’s difficult if I’m in the company.”

Kim Si-hyuk, who said that, took something out of his arms.

It was some bread.