Chapter 199: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (5)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

There was only one scenario…

But two people who claim it’s theirs.

-Ah, was I wrong?

Director Oh Hyunkyung said in a flustered voice.

-To be honest, I was unsure when I received a call from Director Joo.

Director Joo. Joo Jaechan. So they knew each other.

-City Jungle isn’t a very common title, and I had only come up with it recently after thinking about it for the past few months. I also heard you mentioned the noir genre, which is what my project is. It all fit perfectly, so I was just wondering…

That’s right.

The pieces all fit together, but the final picture was very odd.

-If I was mistaken then I’m really sorry. Please excus-!

“No.”

I said calmly so that I wouldn’t have too high hopes or be too disappointed.

“We talked while having a few drinks so my memory is hazy. The project came up while we were discussing minor genres. Hmm, I didn’t know that it was your work.”

-Pardon?

Her excited breaths suddenly stiffened.

-… Did Director Joo Jaechan say it was his?

She reacted in a sensitive manner, like her precious egg was being threatened.

Without waiting for my reply, Director Oh Hyunkyung hastily said.

-Then you’ve been tricked. City Jungle. Maybe not in the past, but now it’s my work.

Now?

-I bought it.

*

I twirled my phone in my hand before tossing it aside. Thunder rumbled outside.

I dragged the IV stand over and opened the window. A fresh breeze and raindrops blew in, accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain. It was refreshing. I looked up at the sky, which seemed to want to wash the earth away, before sticking my head out the window.

She bought the scenario.

If Director Joo Jaechan sold her his scenario and gave up all rights to the work, then there would be no problems with the law. Director Joo Jaechan would not be able to claim his right on the work either.

However, why was it back in Director Joo Jaechan’s possession in the future?

Did Director Joo Jaechan buy it back?

Or…

“What are you doing? That’s dangerous.”

Someone grabbed the back of my neck.

“You’ll die if you fall from here.”

Looking back, I saw a face covered with a black face mask. It was Seo Jijoon. While he pulled me away from the window from the back of my neck, Chief Lee Bongjoon closed the window. Just what outrageous thoughts were they thinking right now?

“I was just taking in the breeze. Why would I fall?”

At my words, Seo Jijoon tilted his head.

“Out of impulse?”

“Am I crazy?”

I asked laughing, but there was no reply. Rather, Seo Jijoon’s eyes turned slightly misty.

I told him the exact same words I told Im Joowon as I sat back down on my bed.

“there was no need for you to come.”

“I came because it was a rare opportunity for me to go out. I wanted to feel the breeze too.”

He took off his mask and handed me a basket.

It was a basket of roses. I wasn’t even surprised.

“It’s bigger than last time. And redder.”

“I paid special attention because it was a hospital visit. Ah, apparently, they don’t gift flowers for hospital visits these days. It wasn’t good for the patient. Allergies and such.”

“If you know that, then why?”

“Those are fake.”

Ah.

“They are soap flowers. You can pick one out and use it when you’re taking a bubble bath.”

“… I’ll use it well.”

I placed the flowers on top of the cabinet shelf. Chief Lee Bongjoon clicked his tongue as he said,

“Do you know how shocked I was when I heard that you fainted after going to get water and had to be brought out by an ambulance?”

“Probably less than me.”

“If you were suffering mentally, you should have let us know.”

“I’m telling you that’s not it.”

While I did have various symptoms for mental illnesses, I didn’t have a panic disorder.

However, Chief Lee Bongjoon and Seo Jijoon didn’t look like they believed me. I had initially thought that those rumors were spread by those who didn’t like me.

“Does it really look like there’s something wrong with me?”

“No.”

Chief Lee Bongjoon rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“You look fine on the outside. If I were you, I would probably have a panic disorder, loss of appetite, and a mental breakdown? But you looked extremely normal even who the situation changed drastically after the Team 2 Leader left. I would have continued to think that if you didn’t faint.”

“This was simply exhaustion and sleep deprivation…”

“It’s not ‘simply’. Whether it’s exhaustion or sleep deprivation.”

Saying this, Chief Lee Bongjoon patted my arm.

“It could be that you’ve been accumulating a lot of burden without you realizing.”

“Team leader.”

Seo Jijoon said while scratching his neck,

“Although I said I wanted to work with you, it wasn’t because I had hopes that all my projects would be successes if I did. I’m not smart, but I’m not that senseless.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Chief Lee Bongjoon smirked. Seo Jijoon added,

“Well, I did think you’d have a better eye for projects than Bongjoon hyung.”

“Hey.”

“I came to tell you that you don’t need to worry about it in case you felt burdened because of that.”

Seo Jijoon looked at me.

“It’s not like I’m going to retire after one or two projects. It’s normal for there to be bad times and good times. I’ll do what I can and leave the rest to the heavens. Also, above all…”

His sharp eyes curved in a joking manner,

“The reason why I wanted to work with you is simply because I thought it would be fun.”

So many people came to visit me even though I was only there for a day.

After Seo Jijoon and Chief Lee Bongjoon left, Nam Joyoon and Kim Hyunsup came to visit. Even Im Joowon visited after finishing his entertainment show schedule. Pretty Girls and Chief Lee Taeshin visited at night after coming all the way from Busan.

The rain calmed in the morning, and I looked back on the past few days.

Although everything happened before I could even catch my breath. My relationship with the Team 2 Leader sharply deteriorated, and because he left the company, I was able to bring in people into my team faster and without any big obstacles.

Did I have no free time?

It seemed like it. Receiving the duties of a team leader, the number of meetings and discussions increased. There was a lot more I had to organize. On top of all that, I was absorbed in thinking about my actor’s next projects and my future visions that there were a few days where I didn’t sleep a wink.

Burden.

I recalled Seo Jijoon’s words. Kim Hyunjo had said it before too. That if I failed once, I could just succeed the next time. That my life wasn’t over because I failed. I had thought that I had put down some pressure to succeed after that.

The uncertain future visions kept tugging at my mind.

Just in case I saw a vision where the project I chose failed.

In case I saw a vision where the project I rejected became a hit.

In case I would regret my decision like this time.

*

“Team Leader Jung!”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you ok-!”

“I’m fine.”

“Team leader, you have a guest?”

“I’m fin… A guest?”

An employee nodded.

“She said her name was Director Oh Hyunkyung.”

Director Oh Hyunkyung?

I thought I ended yesterday’s call quite well, but why did she suddenly show up here?

When I frowned, the employee looked taken aback and said,

“I brought her to a meeting room because she said she brought a movie scenario. I had thought that you had set up a meeting with her since she mentioned that she had talked to you on the phone yesterday. Was that not the case?”

“She brought a scenario?”

“Should I say you have another meeting and send her back? Ah, but because the director came to see you, Chief Park and Chief Yoon went over to greet her.”

They were the chiefs under Team 2. They were the prime suspects for spreading rumors about my panic disorder. They probably went over because they were interested than to greet her. In case it was a scenario I was interested in.

This was complicated.

The events where Director Oh Hyunkyung came to see me and where she meets other chiefs were probably not in the original future. I had planned on walking the path and waiting for the project to come into my hands, but hiccups have already begun to appear.

If things were headed in a direction I couldn’t predict…

I made my decision and asked the employee,

“Where is she?”

The meeting room was full. I saw Chief Park and Chief Yoon’s bitter faces through the window. Chief Lee Bongjoon sat his round body right between them.

“Oh, you’ve come.”

Chief Lee Bongjoon got up when he saw me.

“Then we’ll be on our way. Please enjoy your meeting.”

The other chiefs reluctantly got up with even more bitter expressions under Chief Lee Bongjoon’s prodding. Chief Park’s gaze landed on the scenario on top of the table for a moment, but he left without much regret. After sending those two off first, Chief Lee Bongjoon whispered,

“It seems she’s here to promote her scenario. Why there are investors who pay attention if it’s a scenario you’re interested in. There are a lot of people who come to meet you with those motives.”

“Did you see what kind of project it is?”

“I heard from her.”

He looked back at the meeting room as he clicked his tongue.

“It’s a stylish action noir. I’ll have to read the scenario to know for sure, but from what I heard, it seems like it’ll cost a lot to produce. A director who had numerous flops in the past and a small-scale production company. I don’t know if they’ll receive enough investments. I wonder if it’ll even be produced.”

I sent Chief Lee Bongjoon off and entered the meeting room.

The woman, who had been standing for a while now, was looking at me with a nervous smile. Her hands were tightly clutching her scenario. My gaze focused on the title page for a moment. Below the title ‘City Jungle’ was a clearly printed name.

Script/Director: Oh Hyunkyung

This would be produced and become a huge success.

If the owner changes.