WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Potter

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◈ Why Do My Dramas Keep Becoming Hits!? ◈

Chapter 7: Bring That Writer Here Right Now! (4)

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'Anyway, Yoon Dong-woo really was blowing things out of proportion.'

What had Yoon Dong-woo said again?

That tvM was desperately searching for me right now? That the bigwigs would carry me on their backs and treat me like a king?

What a load of crap.

I snorted inwardly as I looked at the man seated across from me.

Just from his appearance, I had assumed he was at least a department head-level executive.

But look at him now. What a pathetic sight.

"Ahem. Ahem..."

His wandering eyes had been busy watching my reaction this whole time.

He tried to hide his fluster with the occasional fake cough, but his fingertips trembled like aspen leaves, giving everything away.

Clink!

"Ah, s-sorry."

Well, would you look at that.

Now he couldn't even hold onto a glass of water properly and dropped it.

He looked like a veteran PD who had seen it all, but he acted like a rookie PD who had just joined the company this year.

Then again, why would anyone important come in person just to secure my little string of words that was not even good enough to kill time with?

They probably sent a couple of junior staffers to test the waters.

"Ahem. Writer Ji, please eat. This cut is very tender. It's incredible."

"Sure. Thanks."

I quickly picked up a piece of beef from the grill and put it in my mouth.

But just how old did that man look for his age?

Judging by his face alone, he looked to be in his forties, yet he was so scatterbrained.

For some reason, I felt sorry for him.

'I should give him a few encouraging words before we part ways.'

As a seasoned veteran of this industry, after all.

"Does it suit your taste?"

"Yeah, it's fine."

Chew, chew.

It was delicious.

Was this the power of 1++ Korean beef?

The instant I bit down, rich juices burst in my mouth, bringing pure bliss.

But I only had a moment to savor it.

"Ahem, Writer Ji. Let's get to the main point. We'd like to make you an offer."

"?"

"Like I briefly explained on the phone, how about doing a project with us directly? Separately from the Script Contest, I mean."

Come to think of it, he had said something like that.

Take off the Script Contest label and make a drama with us. We'll give you better terms. Something along those lines.

"Of course, any conditions you want will be our first priority. Needless to say, that includes the signing bonus and your fee. I'll personally make sure you get a weekend prime-time slot."

"...?"

I had only half listened back then because things had been so hectic, but now I heard him clearly.

Every single word.

And this was what I thought of those outrageous terms.

'At least say something believable. Who does he think he's fooling?'

I was a complete newcomer, with neither professional nor amateur experience as a writer.

And they were going to give a novice like me a weekend prime-time slot?

For a miniseries, not even a single-episode drama?

It was the classic empty verbal promise meant to lure someone in.

They wanted to sweet-talk an inexperienced new writer into signing the contract first.

If I fell for it and stamped that contract?

Their attitude would change in an instant. They'd act as if they had never said any of it, make every excuse imaginable, and keep their mouths shut.

'I don't even need to see it to know.'

I had spent years in this industry. There was no way I wouldn't see through such a transparent scheme.

Even if I truly had been a writer who knew nothing, I wouldn't have fallen for that nonsense.

Even lies need to be believable. These absurdly generous terms were practically a sign on their foreheads saying they planned to scam me.

'Seriously. They must be rookie PDs. Why is everything they do so sloppy?'

Whether or not I clicked my tongue inwardly, the bearded PD kept chattering away as if he had a motor in his mouth, trying desperately to persuade me.

"The quality of the finished manuscript doesn't matter. As long as you have scripts through episode four, I'll secure a programming commitment immediately."

"...."

"And if you need it, we'll fully support you with a private office and an assistant. Regarding the contract terms..."

Secondary rights and rerun royalties guaranteed, sole credit guaranteed, even a long-term partnership.

One outrageous condition after another poured out, far more than a newcomer could ever deserve.

It was shameless, but also so ridiculous that I didn't bother cutting him off.

But once I let him continue, the bullshit went on forever.

Unable to endure it any longer, I finally spoke in an icy tone.

"Excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Are you kidding me right now?"

The two PDs' eyes went round like frogs'.

"K-kidding?"

"Don't test me with contract terms that make no sense."

"...!!?"

Why were they so startled?

Did I look like some easy mark who would fall for such an obvious trick?

Unbelievable.

"Th-then, Writer Ji, if this isn't enough..."

Bzzzt!

Just as the bearded PD started to stammer out another word, my phone on the table vibrated loudly.

"...."

The two PDs fell silent, looking back and forth between me and my phone.

Damn it. I had been about to curse them out properly, and now the momentum was ruined.

Who was it?

Clicking my tongue, I looked down at the screen.

The moment I saw the caller's name, the corner of my mouth rose on its own.

[Department Head Han Kang-hee]

That fucking bastard had finally called.

They should have started filming <Beyond Memory> by now, so I had been wondering why Han Kang-hee had been so quiet.

"I'll take this call for a moment."

I tossed the words at the two stunned PDs and walked out of the room.

The moment I answered, Department Head Han Kang-hee gave me an enthusiastic welcome.

"Ahaha. It's been a while, Department Head Han Kang-hee."

"You son of a bitch! What the hell did you do before you left?!"

Wow. No greeting, straight to cursing.

Some things never changed.

#

"And if you need it, we'll fully support you with a private office and an assistant. Regarding the contract terms..."

Woo Young-taek had never once thought of Ji Yeon-woo as a newcomer.

If anything, he considered Ji Yeon-woo a far bigger name than some mediocre A-list veteran writer, and he offered terms that were not merely exceptional, but excessive for someone of that stature.

He had thrown out those extraordinary conditions even though they had not been agreed with upper management.

'I guess I'll be seeing the bureau director again after a long time.'

The spending was going to be far greater than expected.

But now that it was virtually certain that the writer before him had once assisted the legendary Seo Eun-hye, there was no such thing as waste here.

If he tried to save a little money and let him slip away, that would be the real disaster.

Woo Young-taek had been certain that this massive gamble would bring him success.

"Don't test me with contract terms that make no sense."

"...!!?"

Even the desperate gamble he had staked everything on was woefully insufficient for this monster of a writer.

'T-this still isn't enough...?'

Woo Young-taek had lost all his usual composure and could only gape like an idiot.

What more was he supposed to add?

The conditions he had just named were enough to make even famous A-list writers welcome them with open arms.

Yet Ji Yeon-woo had not even blinked. Instead, he seemed offended.

Woo Young-taek could not begin to imagine the scale on which the writer before him operated.

'...So he really is Seo Eun-hye's favorite disciple. Even that arrogant, confident attitude is exactly like his teacher's.'

Woo Young-taek realized that the stories he had heard from PDs who had worked with Seo Eun-hye were not exaggerated.

The arrogance they had described while shaking their heads was perfectly reflected in the young writer right in front of him.

'Damn it.'

The calculator in Woo Young-taek's head spun madly as though it had overloaded.

How much more, and what kind of insane conditions, would he have to offer to win over that proud writer?

Just as Woo Young-taek fell into a pit of confusion, calculating without pause,

Bzzzt!

Ji Yeon-woo's phone on the table buzzed, breaking the heavy silence.

Woo Young-taek reflexively lowered his gaze and clearly saw the caller's name on the screen.

[Department Head Han Kang-hee]

'...!!'

Woo Young-taek's eyes widened as if they would pop out.

Han Kang-hee? That sly Han Kang-hee, the CP from SBC's Drama Department?!

His shock lasted only a moment. The true tragedy, the one that made his heart drop to the floor, happened the next instant.

The corner of Ji Yeon-woo's mouth curled up.

It was Ji Yeon-woo, who had remained indifferent and cold even as Woo Young-taek served him top-grade Korean beef, showered him with benefits, and practically begged him.

That writer's impregnable expression had finally changed.

And it had happened right after he saw the call from Han Kang-hee, the SBC CP.

"I'll take this call for a moment."

"...."

"Ahaha. It's been a while, Department Head Han Kang-hee."

Ji Yeon-woo left the room with a voice that sounded especially pleased.

Click.

The door shut firmly behind him.

Inside Woo Young-taek's head, every mismatched puzzle piece fell into place, creating a massive storm of misunderstanding.

"P-PD Woo! Did you see that? The person who called the writer...!"

"Damn it! Han Kang-hee, that fox!"

Now he understood perfectly.

Why that proud writer had ignored their calls again and again.

Why he had not even glanced at the incredible terms they offered.

Han Kang-hee had caught wind of him and approached first.

Right.

Ji Yeon-woo must have already received an unimaginable offer from SBC, so Woo Young-taek's terms had looked like nothing more than a ridiculous joke.

"Those shameless bastards again!"

Only now did Woo Young-taek grasp the whole situation, slamming the table in irritation.

Bang!

"P-PD Woo, what do we do now? Aren't we going to lose him to SBC at this rate...?"

His junior was right.

If they sat back and did nothing, this year's most anticipated project would be stolen by their competitor, SBC.

That could not happen.

"Whew..."

Woo Young-taek shot to his feet.

This was no longer something a single PD could handle through their own authority.

To crush SBC's aggressive bid, he needed a far more reckless and extraordinary move.

"Ji-young. When the writer comes back, tell him I'll be right back."

"What? W-where are you going?"

"I'm making a call. Do whatever you can to keep the writer here until I return. If it looks like he's about to leave, text me immediately!"

After urgently giving the instructions, Woo Young-taek rushed out of the room.

He pulled out his phone and called someone.

'I have to get him. No matter what it takes, we will secure this writer.'

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