Lately, Ju Yung-In had been confirmed as the female lead in SBC's new drama Wind, Cloud, Moon.
"Why would you bring up Team Lead Kang?"
Ju Yung-In's attitude didn't fit that of an actress who had just secured a leading role—she was far too indifferent.
When Kim Dong-Soo clarified, an unexpected reply came from Ju Yung-In. "I don't like that drama. I'm drawn to a different drama, Mr. Kim. What should I do?"
Then, Kim Dong-Soo panicked and raised his voice. "Hey! You've just passed the audition for the lead role after so much effort! What do you mean you don't like that drama!?"
When Ju Yung-In's expression immediately soured, Kim Dong-Soo instantly regretted raising his voice. Once Ju Yung-In got upset, she could go for days without speaking.
"Sorry, sorry. Let's hear about what drama you'd like to appear in before we decide anything."
After hesitating for a moment, Ju Yung-In spoke up. "Blue Sky."
Unsure if he had heard her correctly, Kim Dong-Soo asked again. "What did you say?"
"Blue Sky—the drama that Jung Yoo-Jin just joined. Don't you know it?"
"That's not possible! It's written by a rookie writer!"
Kim Dong-Soo tried to hide his dismay and dissuade her.
To abandon Wind, Cloud, Moon, in which she had already secured a lead role, just for another drama by an unknown writer was unthinkable.
"Yung-In, why are you acting this way? Why don't you choose a different drama by a famous writer instead? I'll arrange it for you, just as you wish."
But Ju Yung-In shook her head in disdain.
"This is why I told you to read the scripts when you have time."
"Why should I read them?"
"You are so frustrating! I'm saying the script for Blue Sky is good!"
In the face of Ju Yung-In's irritation, Kim Dong-Soo could only blink his eyes with a puzzled look.
Kim Dong-Soo was not confident in his ability to select promising dramas. Yet, he had managed to climb his way to success without any major issues. As a talent agent, maintaining a network with famous actors, renowned directors, and celebrated writers alone ensured a high success rate.
He took a moment to steady his breathing and looked at Ju Yung-In. While the quality of a drama often depended on the writer's potential, he knew Ju Yung-In was not the type to carelessly abandon a leading role she had secured just because of a good script.
"Is that all?" he asked.
Ju Yung-In snorted. "You don't need to know everything. Just trust me this time and do as I ask. You know I have a good instinct."
Silence fell between the two for a moment. However, the one to bow his head in the end was Kim Dong-Soo, as always.
"Alright. I'll talk to the PD and apply for the audition. Since you boasted so much, you'd better secure the lead role."
"Do you not know who I am?" Ju Yung-In said with a smug expression, causing Kim Dong-Soo to relax.
"That's right. My actress should have that kind of confidence. Alright."
But Ju Yung-In was thinking something else.
'Kim Dong-Soo isn't quite cutting it. I need someone more capable than him.'
At that moment, one man's face flashed through her mind—Jung Yoon-Ho. He was said to have an exceptional eye for quality works, unlike Kim Dong-Soo.
'Why does it matter that his rank is lower than Kim Dong-Soo anyway?'
After all, a talent agent's rank was proportional to the popularity of the celebrity they managed.
'What should rank matter if he is capable?'
A smile spread across Ju Yung-In's lips and grew more pronounced.
***
A frantic week passed by.
As expected, the bankruptcies of Stepping Stone and Louis Entertainment had a ripple effect on the entire industry.
Talent agents and actors from both companies were in disarray over the issue of transferring to other companies, which led to frequent tardiness on set.
This caused the PDs to unleash all sorts of frustration. Thanks to this, talent agents working on-site also sweated bullets trying to catch a break amidst the heightened scrutiny.
I was momentarily distracted from the repercussions of the industry's turmoil but was just as consumed by the frenzy of Yoo-Jin's audition preparations.
Then, it was finally January 7th of 2020, the day of the Blue Sky audition.
Creak!
We arrived at the Blue Dragon Studio in Gangbuk. The Blue Dragon Studio, belonging to one of Korea's top production studios, was as imposing as a huge broadcasting station itself.
A staff member who had come to meet us in the parking lot guided Yoo-Jin and me to the audition waiting room. "Over here. Please follow me this way."
"Don't worry. Just do as you always do and you'll definitely pass. Don't be scared."
"I'm not scared. I took some Uhwang-Cheongsimhwan[1]before coming."
"Really?"
Perhaps the pill was taking effect because Yoo-Jin's expression was calm, almost like a Tibetan monk on the verge of enlightenment.
'Having a clear mind free of any thought or worry—something like that?'
I hadn't informed Yoo-Jin that she was recommended by the writer. As such, Yoo-Jin believed she was just attending a regular audition.
[Audition Waiting Room]
As I opened the door to the waiting room in the studio, there was already one actress waiting there—Park Jin-Hee.
In my past life, she was an actress who enjoyed a short-lived heyday of about a year and a half after playing the role of Twilight.
'What is she doing here?'
Because I had heard that the role of Twilight was virtually confirmed for Yoo-Jin by the writer's recommendation, I couldn't understand Park Jin-Hee's presence in the audition studio.
"Hello, I'm Park Jin-Hee." Park Jin-Hee recognized us first and greeted us as her eyes met with Yoo-Jin's.
Park Jin-hee had an egg-shaped face with big eyes. She was a doll-like beauty who had long charmed the home viewers ever since she started out as a child actor. However, despite her cute appearance, her personality was known to be prickly and sensitive.
Being unaware of such a fact, the startled Yoo-Jin greeted her in return.
"Oh! I should have greeted you first. I'm sorry, Park Jin-Hee sunbae-nim. My name is Jung Yoo-Jin."
"It's okay. And please speak comfortably with me. You're older than me, after all."
"But how could I possibly speak casually to such a respected sunbae-nim..."
Park Jin-hee let out a slight laugh and complimented Yoo-Jin's acting. "Then do as you please. I'll do the same. But unnie, I saw the drama you were in. Your acting was remarkable."
To an outsider, it might seem like she was fostering camaraderie with Yoo-Jin. But that was in fact her way of putting up her guard against Yoo-Jin.
"Oh, not at all. It was my first drama ever, so I was just fumbling around."
"Ah, you're too modest. Anyway, let's both do well today."
"Yes, sunbae-nim."
"I'll go ahead then."
Giving a cute cheering pose using both hands, Park Jin-Hee went into the audition room first.
Yoo-Jin looked slightly moved after Park Jin-Hee left.
"Oppa, there are some nice people in the entertainment industry. All the people my age I've seen so far have been so prickly. But that sunbae-nim seems different."
I was dumbfounded.
'Park Jin-Hee? Nice?'
I shook my head in disbelief.