At Hong Hyeyeon's answer, the CEO—who had paused briefly in front of the shoe rack—covered his face with one hand. He looked extremely tired.
"I suddenly feel like cutting my hair short."
Hyeyeon crossed her arms and complained.
"Why? I only said I wanted to try it for a bit. I never even said I'd shoot a short film, so why are you reacting like this?"
"You're the one reacting. Whenever you suddenly want something, you end up doing it anyway. I know you well."
A moment later, the CEO kicked off the shoes he had been about to remove and tossed them aside.
"Why would the female lead of the drama Profiler Hanryang suddenly want to shoot a short film? I'd understand if you weren't receiving decent scripts. But you're getting mid- to large-scale film offers in multiple genres. So why insist on a short film?"
Grumbling, he sat down on the sofa in the living room.
His reaction was milder than expected.
Perhaps he had already grown used to Hong Hyeyeon's sudden emotional outbursts.
Hyeyeon, still wearing pajamas, sat beside him.
The CEO let out a small sigh.
"Give me a moment. Let me organize the situation."
CEO Choi Sunggeon began sorting things out in his mind.
He was the head of BW Entertainment, a startup agency and also the company representing top actress Hong Hyeyeon.
He looked to be in his late thirties.
His long hair was tied back.
He wore rimless glasses, and a faint mischievous air lingered around him.
Despite his relaxed appearance, Choi Sunggeon was a veteran who had spent more than ten years in the entertainment industry.
His wit was sharp.
His observational skills and situational judgment were exceptional.
Because of his unusual personality, he also had a very wide network.
Hong Hyeyeon and Choi Sunggeon had worked together since her debut.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he helped make her the star she was today.
Their relationship was well known in the industry.
Hyeyeon trusted his ability and willingly joined him when he founded BW Entertainment.
In fact, a considerable portion of BW Entertainment's initial funding came from Hong Hyeyeon herself.
In other words—
she was both the agency's key artist and one of its investors.
At that moment—
"The short film's title is The Private Investigator, right?"
Leaning back against the sofa, Choi Sunggeon asked.
Hyeyeon crossed her legs.
"That's right. The Private Investigator."
"So you want me to look into the current situation? Or investigate the film's background?"
"Both. Even the smallest details."
"Gathering information isn't difficult if I visit a few independent short-film production companies. But suddenly I feel lazy. If there isn't even a script yet, that'll make things harder."
"No. Since Song Manwoo PD mentioned it, there must be something. Oh, and you remember Director Shin Dongchun, right?"
"I know him. He used to make good dramas, then suddenly said he'd make films and disappeared… Wait, don't tell me it's that guy."
"That's right. They say The Private Investigator was written by that Director."
Choi Sunggeon's eyes widened slightly.
"Really? Starting with Song Manwoo PD, the people around this project seem pretty unusual."
"Don't you think so?"
"If I investigate it, what will you give me in return?"
"What are you talking about? Don't you realize I'm the one feeding you?"
"That's not entirely thanks to you alone. How about this—remember that shampoo commercial you messed up? Let's renegotiate that contract."
Hyeyeon groaned.
"The marketing manager there is insane."
"I'll push for renegotiation on the condition that they remove that Director from the judging panel."
"How about it?"
"Damn it. Why does the CEO of the advertising agency get to do whatever he wants?"
"Because our artists are extremely talented."
Hyeyeon clicked her tongue and tapped the CEO's shoulder.
"Fine. But can you really remove that manager?"
"Alright. Now explain."
"Explain what?"
Choi Sunggeon adjusted his glasses.
He had already finished calculating everything in his head.
Then he smiled.
"Why did you suddenly become interested in The Private Investigator?"
"Don't give me vague excuses about Song Manwoo PD or Director Shin Dongchun. Tell me the real reason."
Hong Hyeyeon sighed slightly and pushed her long hair back.
"There's someone named Kang Woojin."
"Who's that? Your new boyfriend?"
"Are you crazy? Since when have I had a boyfriend? He's an actor."
"An actor? I've never heard of him. Explain."
From there, Hong Hyeyeon revealed everything she had been hiding.
Starting from the moment she first met the strange man Kang Woojin until now.
Choi Sunggeon's expression while listening was pure shock.
For nearly ten minutes.
When she finished, Hyeyeon leaned back.
Choi Sunggeon scratched his tied hair and sighed.
"So Song PD and writer Park Eunmi did all that for Kang Woojin?"
"Even top stars rely on those people. And they weren't satisfied?"
"Level isn't the issue. They're people obsessed with production."
"…True. Still, this is interesting."
To Choi Sunggeon, Song Manwoo PD and writer Park Eunmi were mountains impossible to climb.
Not just for him.
For most people in the industry.
Which made him even more curious about the actor Kang Woojin.
"From the start, his filmography is… unusual."
"He taught himself acting. He might have lived overseas too. Song PD said he probably had a difficult past."
"Overseas?"
"If he had been part of a theater troupe, I would have heard about it."
After hearing everything, Choi Sunggeon smiled at Hyeyeon.
"So you're not actually attracted to The Private Investigator itself."
"You're fascinated by Kang Woojin's acting."
"No! That's not it!!"
"Why pretend?"
"You haven't even read the script for The Private Investigator yet."
Silence fell for a moment.
Then—
"Brother."
While glaring at Choi Sunggeon, Hong Hyeyeon suddenly changed the topic.
"How much money do we have?"
"Suddenly? What kind of conversation is this?"
"Do we have spare funds?"
"If not, we should prepare some."
"Half of war is preparation, right?"
"Giving a signing bonus to a rookie might sound strange, but since he's a unique player it's fine."
"And it's been a while since I stepped onto the field as a Director."
"Treat the player warmly."
"Hey, hey. Are you serious?"
Hyeyeon frowned and shouted like an investor.
"I'm telling you—once the script reading ends, someone will immediately try to scout him."
Thursday the 20th. Morning.
A movie theater near Ori Station.
It was around 9 a.m.
Because it was an early screening, the theater was extremely quiet.
Among the sofas in the waiting area, Kang Woojin stood out.
He was alone.
He wore a long padded coat and a cap.
Why was Kang Woojin alone at a movie theater this early?
The answer was simple.
After recently starting his acting career, he had begun paying attention to different kinds of content he had never cared about before.
So for the first time in his life, Woojin had come to watch a movie alone.
And it was a morning screening.
Still—
Woojin stared at his phone.
"The Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, right?"
Holding his phone, Kang Woojin searched for information.
He had already looked it up yesterday after meeting Director Shin Dongchun.
But since he had time, he decided to research it more carefully.
"The most prestigious award ceremony in the short-film market."
"The largest and most trusted film festival."
While reading the search results, Woojin recalled his conversation with Director Shin Dongchun yesterday morning.
Everything had begun with Director Shin's bloodshot eyes.
When he asked Woojin to take the lead role in the film The Private Investigator.
"Please play the role of Kim Ryujin, the protagonist of The Private Investigator."
Woojin had been slightly bewildered.
A man who had just been crying suddenly asked him to play the lead role.
So Woojin remained silent.
Director Shin Dongchun continued explaining.
"To be honest, The Private Investigator wasn't made for the public."
"It was produced for submission to a film festival."
"You mean a film festival?"
"Yes."
"The Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival."
Just like the Blue Dragon Film Awards or Baeksang Arts Awards in the commercial film world, the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival was considered the most prestigious event in the short-film world.
It had a long tradition.
It would be held in mid-April—two months away.
They intended to submit the film by then.
The competition was fierce.
More than six hundred films were submitted every year.
Even good short films were often buried.
Only forty films made it into the final competition.
Winning the grand prize could instantly make a rookie Director famous.
But the standards were extremely strict.
In more than twenty years of history, only ten films had ever won the grand prize.
After explaining all this, Director Shin Dongchun said something shocking.
"To be honest, the production situation for The Private Investigator isn't very good right now."
Then he summarized the entire situation.
And finally—
"But none of that matters anymore."
"I'll abandon the production company, the investment, and even the actors."
"We'll start from scratch."
"With Kang Woojin as the foundation."
"So please take the role of Kim Ryujin."
"…."
What?
A complete reset?
Because of me?
The situation had suddenly escalated.
Woojin tried to calm him while maintaining a composed expression.
"Director, you don't have to push yourself that far."
"It's not excessive!"
Instead, Director Shin Dongchun became even more determined.
His adrenaline was surging.
"I have to do this."
"I'll endure any inconvenience."
"I'll reset everything somehow."
"Woojin, I'm only asking one thing from you."
"Act."
"Please play Kim Ryujin."
"A character only truly comes alive when an actor performs with love and attachment for it."
"Woojin, please try it."
It was excessive.
Director Shin Dongchun was running on pure adrenaline.
Just moments ago he had been sobbing.
Woojin realized there was no stopping such a stubborn Director.
Well… does it matter?
The situation had grown bigger than expected.
But he had still achieved his original goal.
Festival, grand prize—whatever.
All he had to do was act.
Having reached that conclusion, Kang Woojin extended his hand.
Calmly.
"Director, I'm glad to work with you."
Returning from his memories, Woojin looked around the movie theater again.
He checked the time.
"Ah, it's time."
The screening was about to start.
Woojin stood up.
Then he muttered.
"I wonder if actor Park Junghyuk—the one originally cast as the protagonist—will be angry after the racism controversy."
He shrugged.
"Well, that's none of my business."
A few hours later.
Nonhyeon-dong.
GGO Entertainment.
Around early lunchtime.
Inside the office of the large entertainment company GGO Entertainment—
a loud shout erupted.
"What?! He rejected us?!"
The one shouting was CEO Seo Guseob.
A short man with a bulldog-like face.
He shouted again at the employee standing in front of him.
"What are you talking about?! Everything was going smoothly until yesterday!"
The employee flinched.
"…I just got the call."
"Blue View Film Company made their decision this morning."
"What?!"
"It seems Director Shin Dongchun wants to roll back everything that was in progress."
"That includes the actors and investment."
"And even cutting ties with Blue View Cinema."
In other words—
the entire plan had been overturned.
Because of Director Shin Dongchun.
Meaning GGO Entertainment had been completely rejected.
Grinding his teeth, CEO Seo Guseob growled.
"How dare he… reject me?"
"Reject GGO Entertainment?"
His pride had been wounded.
"I've known him since his days as PD Shin Dongchun."
"I even cared about that script."
"What a ridiculous person."
Then he turned toward the sofa.
"Hey, Junghyuk!"
"Forget about The Private Investigator!"
"Pick another script!"
"Damn it, a short film for the Mise-en-scène Festival is too trivial!"
The man sitting on the luxurious five-seat sofa was Park Junghyuk.
A former top star who had hoped to clean up his image through The Private Investigator.
Though his popularity had declined somewhat, he was still a major actor.
Crossing his legs, he replied calmly.
"I know there are plenty of alternative short films."
"But CEO… isn't it strange that we were rejected?"
"There were no problems until yesterday."
CEO Seo Guseob stared at him.
Then slowly sat down.
He picked up a cigarette pack.
"Director Shin Dongchun was cornered… yet overnight he changed his mind and overturned everything."
"Investment."
"Junghyuk."
"Everything."
After thinking for about ten seconds, he lit a cigarette.
Then he spoke.
"Did Director Shin Dongchun cast another actor for the male lead?"
He continued reasoning.
"At the very least…"
"Someone with A-grade talent."
"Maybe even top-tier."