Unchanging Viewership Rating (4)
Kim Myung-Hak's voice cracked as he talked to Lee Ji-Yeon over the phone.
"W-what do you mean, Ms. Lee? That's nonsense. You know very well how we are barely scraping together the production budget, don't you? We can barely even breathe because the cable TV is pressuring us. You know that…
"Hm, is that so? Mr. Park said otherwise. He said there was excess money so he plans to use it on computer graphics. Anyway, I was shocked to hear that. Was giving you a 30% discount on my script fee a mistake? Huh?"
"Oh my goodness, that crazy bastard! Ah, I'm not cursing at you, Ms. Lee. I'm cursing at Doo-Shik, so please don't get me wrong!"
The desperate Kim Myung-Hak insisted he absolutely had to come to the set and sort out the situation.
"M-Ms. Lee. We shouldn't be doing this over the phone. Let's meet face to face. I'm near the set right now, so I'll be there in ten minutes. Just ten minutes!"
"Ten minutes? Okay, Myung-Hak. I'm going to leave if you don't come by then."
"No! You can't just leave! I swear I'll be there in ten minutes no matter what!"
With the sound of Kim Myung-Hak footsteps, the call was cut off.
The General CP of MBS Drama Division Kim Myung-Hak was on his way.
***
After ending the phone call with Kim Myung-Hak, Lee Ji-Yeon leisurely settled into a chair at the site and savored the coffee I had handed to her.
Knowing this couldn't go on, Ma Dong-Pal quickly approached Lee Ji-Yeon. He stood in front of her and bowed his head in greeting.
"Ms. Lee. It's been a while since we last met."
Lee Ji-Yeon answered with a frown.
"Hey, Dong-Pal~. I heard you rarely come to the set after your promotion. What brings you here today?"
"Um, Ms. Lee…can we talk privately? I believe any misunderstandings can be resolved through a chat and…"
Lee Ji-Yeon waved her hand and interrupted Ma Dong-Pal.
"Misunderstanding, you say? Do I look like a fool to you? I'm not in the mood to talk with you right now, so it'd be best if you stayed out of my sight."
Ma Dong-Pal tightly bit his lip at Lee Ji-Yeon's sharp refusal.
"Then…I'll visit you at your home tomorrow."
"I'm busy tomorrow—and the day after. I've moved, so don't come. Frankly, I'd prefer if we never met again."
Ma Dong-Pal's face turned from red to pale. Then without another word, he retreated into the opposite end of the set.
After he disappeared, Lee Ji-Yeon started sipping her coffee again.
"Why does this coffee taste so good all the time? It's not even Sunblocks."
This time, Park Doo-Shik took a deep breath and approached Lee Ji-Yeon.
"Um, Ms. Lee. There must be a misunderstanding."
"Hmm? What misunderstanding?"
"There is a valid reason why I intended to shoot using the original script and not the revised one…"
Park Doo-Shik tried to explain, but Lee Ji-Yeon just smirked.
"Oh~? You went back to the original script without consulting me when I stayed up for forty eight hours revising the script? Mr. Park, just because I'm smiling doesn't mean you can treat me like a dumbass."
Lee Ji-Yeon glared at Park Doo-Shik with eyes as sharp as a viper's.
"No, no! That's not it. Ms. Lee. The thing is…the chemistry between Jung Yoo-Jin and the lead actress wasn't as good as the first day, so I had no choice but to use the original script! It was a tough decision. And didn't you say that directing was my domain?"
The staff murmured among themselves at Park Doo-Shik's desperate lie. Yet no staff dared to openly challenge the PD's lie.
'But what a shame I had already sent all the on-set footage.'
Thud.
"Shut~ up~!"
"Hic."
Lee Ji-Yeon shouted in an irritated voice, causing Park Doo-Shik to hiccup. She was evidently angry.
"You want to talk about directing authority? Is that how you interpreted respecting each other's domain? If you wanted to toss my script into the trashcan and do as you please, you should've worked with a different writer. Weren't you the one who desperately wanted to work with me?"
"T-that's not what I meant…"
"And you're saying that Yoo-Jin did well on the first day but not today?"
"Y-yes…please trust me…Hic!"
"So you're saying that girl acted better than Yoo-Jin? Are you sure?"
When Lee Ji-Yeon pointed at Park Eun-Bin, Park Doo-Shik quickly nodded. Lee Ji-Yeon made a dumbfounded expression and spoke with determination.
"Fine. Then I can see her acting for myself, right?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Show me her acting! You stopped at scene 272 of the revised script, didn't you? If everything you said is true, I'll take back everything I said and say good things about you to Myung-Hak."
"R-really? Hic."
"Yes, really."
Lee Ji-Yeon boldly proposed a head-to-head comparison between Yoo-Jin and Park Eun-Bin's acting to pressure Park Doo-Shik. She seemed confident that Yoo-Jin's acting was better.
"Okay, ma'am. You better keep your words."
With a desperate look on his face, Park Doo-Shik quickly gave orders to the staff. Soon, the lights were set and every staff member took their positions.
Lee Ji-Yeon spoke to Choi Eun-Yung with a gentle smile.
"Eun-Yung~ I'm sorry about the sudden situation. But you can still act, right?"
"Of course, Ms. Lee."
Choi Eun-Yung nodded with a confident expression.
"Hey, you there. Can you act?"
When Lee Ji-Yeon called out Park Eun-Bin without using her name, the latter bit her lips and nodded. However, Lee Ji-Yeon didn't bother scolding her for her bad attitude.
"What are you doing, Mr. Park? Give the cue. I don't know what I'm going to do if Myung-Hak arrives first."
Park Doo-Shik nodded and quickly cued for the shoot to resume.
"Alright, Miss Eun-Bin. Relax and just do as before. Scene 272. Ready~ Action!"
The moment Park Eun-Bin started acting, I could immediately tell it was over.
Lee Ji-Yeon looked more troubled and horrified than ever.