Chapter 55
I added that before coming here, I had also talked to Gil Boyoung about Ma Sanghee.
“That’s right. Actually, I was thinking about asking Manager Ma to become my personal manager too, but with only my appearance fee, the pay I could offer Manager Ma would probably be too little, so I had given up on the idea. But if she takes care of both you and me, I think we could offer her a decent salary. Why don’t we ask Manager Ma?”
Gil Boyoung added, as if to strengthen my argument.
“Ah, I don’t think that’ll be easy…”
“Not easy? Why?”
“Actually, I already asked Manager Sanghee about it when she helped us with the interview for the movie magazine last time.”
What? She already asked her? Then… did Ma Sanghee refuse?
Without realizing it, I questioned her insistently.
“So? Did Manager Ma refuse?”
“Well, she didn’t exactly refuse, but she said she had enrolled in a baking academy starting next month. What else could that mean? Doesn’t it mean she isn’t interested?”
“Ah…”
Gil Boyoung’s shoulders drooped in disappointment.
I thought for a moment before speaking again.
“If I can persuade Manager Ma, you two are definitely willing to have her as your personal manager, right?”
“Gibaek, you?”
Both of them looked at me at the same time after I suddenly interrupted.
“After all, I’m the one who first introduced you two to Manager Ma…”
I didn’t exactly have a plan.
No, from this moment on, I would have to find a way.
“We’d really appreciate it if you could persuade her, but…”
“Then I’ll meet her first and let you know.”
“Section TV?”
“Yeah, they’re coming to film an on-site interview on the day of the full script reading.
Actually, Actress Min was reluctant to appear in the media, so she had refused before.
But yesterday, she said she would appear on television if it helped promote the movie.
So it was suddenly confirmed.”
With only three days left before the full script rehearsal, we were all caught off guard by the unexpected event and exchanged glances.
Production Manager Choi Sunhwa looked at us and smiled calmly.
**“There’s no need to be so nervous.
You guys won’t be on camera anyway.”**
At Choi Sunhwa’s words, some people looked relieved, while others secretly looked disappointed.
“Anyway, this means we have a little more work to do.
The location for the script reading has been changed.”
“The location is changing?”
“Well, if a broadcasting station is coming to film, this place doesn’t look very good.”
The original location for the full script reading was this office.
Since about fifty people would gather here, we had planned to move all the desks from the hall into the conference room and install movable meeting tables here.
“Then where are we doing the full reading?”
“Manager Cha is already looking into it.
You know those studios where theater actors practice?”
As if summoned by the mention of his name, Seungjun approached us after finishing his phone call.
“I found one place.
It’s a studio in Daehangno.
They said the space can hold up to seventy people at once, but they only have thirty-five chairs, so we’ll have to find and bring the rest ourselves.”
“Really?
Should we take the chairs from here?”
I looked at the office chairs while Choi Sunhwa was looking around at them.
**“These are office chairs, so they’re heavy and inconvenient.
We’ll need to buy about thirty simple chairs as supplies for the filming location anyway, so why don’t we buy them in advance, even tomorrow?”**
“Ah, that’ll work.
Okay.
The location problem is settled for now.
Assistant Director, inform the actors that the reading location has changed.
Ginama, inform the staff…”
She looked around.
“All right, then?”
We each took on our assigned tasks and returned our attention to work.
A little later, I saw Moon Changsu heading toward the pantry to get his coffee supply.
I casually looked around before quietly following him.
As Moon Changsu drank his coffee, he looked at me when I entered the pantry.
“Are you having coffee?”
“No, I’m just getting some water.”
As I poured water from the purifier, I casually asked Moon Changsu.
“Manager Ma is doing well, right?”
Moon Changsu looked at me with narrowed eyes, as if he found it strange that I had suddenly asked about his girlfriend.
“Why are you suddenly asking if my girlfriend is doing well?”
“No, actually, I met Noona Boyoung and Hyung Hyunbin yesterday.
Manager Ma came up in our conversation, so…”
I cleared my throat.
“Ah, I see.
I thought it was something else.
My girlfriend is doing fine.
Actually, I’ve been so busy lately that it’s really hard to see her.
Ah…
Now that I mention it, I miss her even more…”
Moon Changsu deliberately made a gloomy expression.
I tried probing him again.
“I heard she’s going to a baking academy…”
“Ah, actually, she’s registering next week…”
Suddenly, his words stopped.
Moon Changsu stepped toward me and stared directly into my eyes.
“W-What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“I’m the one who should be asking that.
What’s with you all of a sudden?
Why are you interested in someone else’s girlfriend?”
Moon Changsu’s gaze became even more intense, as if he were shooting lasers at me.
“I-It’s not like that.”
“Then why are you stuttering?
What’s your plan?
Why are you asking about her?
What do you want from my girlfriend?”
Seriously…
What is this, some kind of obsessive boyfriend?
“You’re a little too obsessed with your girlfriend, aren’t you?
Women would find that incredibly burdensome…”
“No.
My girlfriend likes this kind of thing.
You know, being obsessed with her and clinging to her…”
Moon Changsu seemed embarrassed by his own words and subtly turned his gaze away.
Ha… Manager Ma has a pretty unique taste.
“Anyway, tell me.
Why are you suddenly interested in my girlfriend?”
Since things had come this far, I decided to ask him openly.
**“Fine.
