“We have to snatch her from this side.”
By coincidence, MBS had already begun showing interest in Han Yeoreum. One of the 10-minute clips from had climbed onto the real-ti trending videos list.
With that, Han Yeoreum’s mass appeal was practically guaranteed. The 10–20 age group that created trends was focusing on her.
Jegal Rok had no doubt that Han Yeoreum would beco the protagonist of the new world JC ENM was {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} about to build.
His head started to ache with anticipation over just how far she could rise.
* * *
“Ah, I’m freaking nervous.”
This was Sangam-dong, Mapo District. Massive terrestrial broadcasting buildings stood tall here, and between them, the gleaming JC ENM building ca into view.
And today, I was here to et Executive Director Jegal Rok.
“Calm down, Han Yeoreum... You’re the protagonist.... You’re the top rising actress JC ENM has its eyes on....”
No matter how many tis I tried self-hypnosis, my heart, pounding like it was possessed, refused to calm down.
Ever since I’d gotten the call from Team Leader Seong last week, I hadn’t slept properly a single night. Even now, I’d arrived thirty minutes early. First impressions mattered, after all.
‘I can’t look too desperate.’
Absolutely don’t chicken out. I need image-making. I took another deep breath.
“Hoo....”
I’m freaking nervous. Seriously, I’m going to die of nerves. But who am I? Han Yeoreum, future world’s greatest actress. Okay. Thinking like this makes feel a little calr—
“Hello. Ms. Han Yeoreum.”
“Whoa! You startled .”
“If I surprised you, I apologize. I’ve been waiting for a while, and it seed like your monologue had just ended.”
That was when it happened. A neatly dressed woman greeted politely and spoke.
She heard everything. I’m dood. My image—gone.
“I’m Executive Director Jegal Rok’s secretary. I’m here to escort you.”
“Hello. I’m Han Yeoreum.”
“The director is waiting upstairs, so please co with .”
Jegal Rok’s secretary imdiately turned and began leading the way. When she held the access card to the door, the transparent security gate slid open smoothly, as if welcoming my entry.
In the lobby, a few people fixed their gazes on as if they recognized .
“That’s Pi Chaewon, right? Pi Chaewon.”
“Uh... yeah. So Executive Director Jegal Rok really brought her in.”
“See? I told you. That’s probably why they released the article early yesterday.”
My lips kept threatening to curl upward. That’s right. The first actor Executive Director Jegal Rok chose. That’s —Han Yeoreum.
Part of wanted to grab each of them and give autographs.
“This way.”
At so point, the elevator doors were already open. The secretary extended one hand politely, gesturing inside. Truly, a person with no wasted movents. It seed there was a separate elevator just for the executive offices. The quiet elevator ascended quickly.
Knock knock-.
“Ms. Han Yeoreum has arrived.”
The knock sounded unusually heavy. Beyond that thick door was a giant who held Korea’s dia industry in the palm of his hand. It felt like my entire body was trembling.
“Yes. Please co in.”
Permission ca from beyond the door, and the secretary turned the handle and opened it. A man stood before a massive glass window stretching behind him, eting my gaze.
“...Hello.”
“I’ve been expecting you.”
Without realizing it, sweat soaked into my palms. The gaze behind his glasses was sharp, as if it could pierce straight through . Following the secretary’s guidance, I sat on the sofa. Soon after, Jegal Rok sat on the opposite sofa with docunts in one hand. Even in this sumr heat, he wore a perfectly tailored suit without a single flaw.
“First of all, congratulations on your successful terrestrial debut.”
“Ah, thank you....”
I needed to act naturally. Even though I’d practiced image training so much yesterday, it wasn’t easy.
Because I already knew how successful Jegal Rok would beco before my regression. He was soone who pioneered fields no one else had even imagined.
“I assu you know what kind of company ours is. I recomnd reviewing the contract separately with a lawyer.”
“....”
“To get straight to the point.”
Jegal Rok pulled the contract directly from the docunt envelope and held it out. His signature and seal were already stamped on it.
“JC ENM has chosen Ms. Han Yeoreum.”
I swallowed involuntarily.
I already knew what that ant. Among all of Korea’s films and dramas—no, all dia—there was no bigger player than JC.
Investnt, distribution, exports, imports. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say everything started with JC and ended with JC.
‘Later on, it even grows larger than terrestrial broadcasting....’
A company that would grow monstrously by riding the flow of the internet had chosen a re twenty-year-old rising actress. An indescribable thrill crawled straight up the back of my neck.
“I hear other agencies have contacted you. It was a wise decision not to sign yet.”
...He really gets news fast.
That was true. Once succeeded, MCNs filled with influencers flooded with calls. And when word spread that I’d passed the audition, actor agencies started handing over business cards too.
‘But that’s not my goal.’
I didn’t want to belong to a small place. My desire to reclaim what had been stolen from grew stronger by the day.
I wanted to turn the ti Do Gyeoul had piled up into nothing. And to do that, I needed JC.
“We promise full, unpredictable support.”
Not just dostically, but even overseas expansion. There was no better place than an entertainnt company when it ca to raising recognition. As Myeong Jeha had said, breaking out with one or two works wasn’t enough to overco the bond and familiarity Do Gyeoul had built with viewers.
‘That’s why I have to aim for the overseas pie at this exact timing.’
I needed a blank-slate fandom—fans who would like more than Do Gyeoul. And there was one more thing.
“If there’s anything else you want, say it now. We’ll move straight into adjusting the contract without wasting ti.”
Because soon, the landscape of Korea’s dia industry would change completely.
“Can you really grant anything?”
“As long as it’s within reason.”
Two years from now. Netholics would land in Korea.
“There’s so much I want to learn. Even if I don’t jump straight into a project, I want to learn all kinds of things. From vocal training to physical action, everything. I want to learn instrunts like piano too. I want to beco an actress who can act no matter when or under what conditions she’s thrown in.”
I had to move as fast as possible. So that when good scripts circulated, I could snatch my role.
Because I never wanted to miss another opportunity again.
“You’re quite greedy, aren’t you? Usually people learn while working on projects.”
“Yes. I’m very greedy.”
At my answer, Jegal Rok smiled faintly. For a mont, he looked as though he’d forgotten his fatigue.
Nodding lightly, Jegal Rok promised to include it as a special clause.
“For now, take the contract with you. Review it, then contact us to set a date to sign.”
There was confidence in his tone, as if he knew I would sign with JC.
As I left Jegal Rok’s office, I hugged the thick contract tightly to my chest. It already felt like I could see success right in front of .
* * *
“So? What do you think?”
Myeong Jeha watched Han Yeoreum, who couldn’t stay still for even a second in front of him.
This was Dok Gomin’s studio—without Dok Gomin. After finishing her eting with Jegal Rok, Yeoreum had called imdiately, and Jeha had co to review the contract. At this point, Dok Gomin’s studio was practically Han Yeoreum’s private space.
‘Jegal Rok isn’t usually like this.’
The contract and conditions weren’t drastically different from the ones Jeha himself had received before. Back then, Jeha had already established his position, whereas Han Yeoreum was still rising.
“Is it bad? Any toxic clauses?”
Most dia investnt revolved around male actors. Big-money investors only ca in after a male lead was confird.
‘Especially since overseas sales revolve around male actors.’
The market was cold. The further you went overseas, the more it beca a fandom business. Unless you were a top-tier na, a female actor’s power wasn’t considered that important.
‘So the fact that they offered this level of terms to Han Yeoreum....’
There were two possibilities.
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