On the other hand, despite having Lee Ji-Yeon as her mentor, Kim Soll-Ip was only a debuting writer. Moreover, she hadn't even confirmed the roles yet.
Then, Kang Ji-Yung asked for my opinion next.
"What do you think, Mr. Jung?"
"I think Yoo-Jin's next drama should be with Ms. Kim Soll-Ip."
Silence enveloped the meeting room as soon as I spoke.
A debut drama by a new writer was often a gamble that could either become a huge hit or a flop. Hence, everyone seemed perplexed and unconvinced.
At that moment, Gu Seong-Cheol posed a question carefully.
"Yoon-Ho, did Yoo-Jin by any chance become interested in Miss. Kim's drama after reading the script?"
"No, sir. That's not the case. She's probably still in the midst of reading it."
If an actor strongly insisted on a role, the agency couldn't say much. But since that wasn't the case, murmurs broke out everywhere.
Everyone looked puzzled, possibly wondering why I had pushed for Kim Soll-Ip's drama over Lee Ji-Yeon's.
Kang Gam-Chan raised his hand to quiet the commotion and asked me again.
"Have you read the script written by Ms. Kim?"
"Yes, Mr. Kang. I've read it thoroughly. It's far from mundane, and the chemistry among the characters, set against a universally relatable backdrop, is exceptional. Plus, I believe the nostalgic touch, reminiscent of the hit series Reply!, is another positive factor."
In reality, I hadn't read the script for Blue Sky yet—I had just watched the drama multiple times in my past life.
'It's one of my all-time favorites.'
Gu Seong-Cheol nodded in agreement with my view.
"Yoon-Ho is right. As he said, the script for Blue Sky is certainly commendable. It can appeal not just to the younger generation but also to middle-aged viewers. Given that it's set twenty years ago, it can evoke nostalgia."
Following Gu Seong-Cheol, Kang Ji-Yung also added.
"I haven't come across a script as good as this in recent times. It's no wonder Ms. Lee recommended it. However…"
"However?"
"The dialogue is so detailed that if they cast an actor who can't do it justice, it might ruin the essence of the drama."
"A detailed dialogue, huh…if they cast someone with subpar expressive skills, they might not be able to bring out the essence of the drama."
Kang Gam-Chan seemed lost in thought.
After a short moment, he posed a sharp question.
"Does Ms. Kim's drama have something that Ms. Lee's drama doesn't?"
'Wow, he is definitely a man with experience.'
As Kang Gam-Chan pointed out, vivid characters and crisp dialogues were Lee Ji-Yeon's trademark. While her drama had the typical characteristics of Korean dramas, including a certain predictability, it also had stability.
"No, sir. While their styles are different, Ms. Lee's drama isn't lacking in any aspect."
"Then why should our company choose the drama of an untested Ms. Kim? Answer me."
The meeting room fell silent once more. I knew that missing this chance could mean the end of everything. Having the opportunity to voice my opinion in front of high-ranking members of the company was a rare privilege. The fact that both writers wanted Yoo-Jin had miraculously granted me this chance.
In the end, I decided to share information concerning the future that only I was privy to.
"The truth is that there's a significant issue with the lead actor, Choi Jun-Woo, in Ms. Lee's drama."
'Drugs and women.'
There was a brief moment of silence following my short and direct revelation.
Soon after, Kang Gam-Chan asked with a look of disbelief on his face.
"But Choi Jun-Woo is known to be a gentleman. Are you sure about this? Who told you?"
Given that Choi Jun-Woo from Ace Entertainment had a gentlemanly image, everyone looked shocked. A month from now, Reporter Jang Moon-Ki would release an article about Choi Jun-Woo's scandal.
[Everyday V10]
[Date: January 15th, 2020]
11:05 PM (Report): Weekly Star News Flash. Choi Jun-Woo causes a ruckus, intoxicated by drugs at the entrance of club BLUE. Arrested on the spot.
However, I couldn't reveal this planner.
'What do I do?'
While I was contemplating, Kang Gam-Chan's impatience grew.
"Ah! This is so frustrating! Give me a proper explanation!"
As Kang Gam-Chan's voice resonated loudly throughout the meeting room, Kang Ji-Yung stepped in.
"Mr. Kang. Um…"
"What is it?"
"If you pressure him like that, how can he answer?"
"I'm not pressuring him. I'm just…anxious. Ugh."
After calming Kang Gam-Chan down, she questioned me in a composed manner.
"Just tell us about the source of the information."
After a brief hesitation, I fabricated the story.
"I heard this from a reporter who was covering my gas leak incident. He mentioned that apart from him, a few other entertainment reporters were digging into Choi Jun-Woo, coordinating when to release the article."
The room's atmosphere instantly turned tense after hearing a rather plausible story.
When Kang Gam-Chan gulped, Gu Seong-Cheol intervened.
"Mr. Kang, although half of what entertainment reporters say is often exaggerated, a scandal involving the main lead can be a huge burden. It might not be a bad idea to verify this."
"I agree with him, Mr. Kang."
Kang Gam-Chan nodded in acknowledgement.
"Then I'll personally assign someone to look into this matter separately. Everyone, make sure to keep quiet about it until then."
Kang Gam-Chan decided to verify the authenticity of the information I provided before making a decision.
'Thank goodness.'
I felt relieved. With Kang Gam-Chan's capabilities, I was certain he would find out the truth.
However, another thought crossed my mind.
'What if…he fails to find any evidence?'
I sneaked a glance at the planner, but there were no changes in the schedule as expected.
After all, Choi Jun-Woo had perfectly fooled everyone with his gentlemanly act until the news broke out.
A chill ran down my spine but I couldn't let my thoughts wander any longer. I had other matters to attend to today, and before I knew it, the conversation had shifted to the next topic.
"Oh, and Team Lead Sung. Let's hear about the advertising deal now. Sorry for making you wait so long."
"No problem at all, Mr. Kang. Currently, a major fast-food company Burger Queen has approached Yoo-Jin for an advertisement. The amount they've offered in exchange for Yoo-Jin to be their model is…"
However, the amount Sung Min-Suk mentioned for Yoo-Jin's advertising fee was absurdly low.
'Wait. That's all?'