1novels Chapter 58 Lee Ji-eun arrives, and immediately starts acting.
Chapter 58 Lee Ji-eun arrives, and immediately starts acting.
January 12th, Sunday, 2 PM.
Su Yu is currently writing the outline for "Goblin" at the company. To call it writing is really just listing the characters and core conflicts on an A4 sheet of paper—the goblin, the grim reaper, and the goblin bride, how the three storylines intertwine, and how nine hundred years of loneliness are brought to life.
He wrote quickly because he already had the image in his mind. Lee Young-eun was in charge of stuffing the meat, and he was in charge of building the skeleton; this was the division of labor they had agreed upon when they worked together on "Model Taxi".
The door was pushed open. It wasn't the casual way Yoon Shi-yoon would just barge in; instead, there was a gentle knock twice, a three-second wait, and then it was opened. Su Yu looked up and saw a woman in a gray coat standing in the doorway. She had a low ponytail, no makeup, and was holding a file folder. Her features were clean and simple; not strikingly beautiful, but the kind that grew on you.
"Excuse me, is this the Korchin Entertainment venue?" The voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.
Su Yu put down his pen. "Yes. Who are you?"
The woman walked in and placed the file folder on the table. "My name is Lee Ji-eun. I'm a singer."
Su Yu was taken aback. Lee Ji-eun. IU. The nation's little sister. What's she doing here?
"I watched 'Model Taxi'," said Lee Ji-eun, her voice a little tense, as if she were reciting lines. "The script was very well written. The actors also performed well."
Su Yu leaned back in her chair. "Thank you. You didn't come just to compliment me, did you?"
Lee Ji-eun took a deep breath. "Representative Su, I want to act."
A two-second silence fell over the office. Su Yu stared at her, his gaze unwavering. A pale golden line stretched from her chest, extending towards the window. The line wasn't thick, but it shone brightly. It wasn't the kind of line that led to instant fame through acting; it was the kind that would shine in a particular field. She came to him not because acting was her destiny, but because she needed a guide.
"What have you acted in?" Su Yu asked.
"You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin," Lee Ji-eun said, "but I feel I didn't act well."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's too tight. I can't relax."
Su Yu leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers twice on the table. "You're not nervous. You're overthinking it. When you're acting, if you have too much on your mind, your expression will freeze."
Lee Ji-eun was stunned. She stared at Su Yu, as if to confirm whether he was just giving a perfunctory answer. "How did you know?"
"I write the outline. The worst thing for a scriptwriter is for the actors to overthink. If they overthink, all the scriptwriter's lines will be wasted." Su Yu paused, "However, I don't write the lines. I only write the outline. The actual script is handled by screenwriter Li Ying'en."
Lee Ji-eun nodded, as if processing the information.
"What kind of role do you want to play?" Su Yu asked.
"Anything is fine. Even a minor role."
Su Yu thought for a moment. "I have a new script right now. It's about ghosts. The female lead is a high school student who can see ghosts. You can't play the role. Your age isn't right."
Lee Ji-eun's eyes darkened slightly.
"But there's a supporting character. The fried chicken shop owner. He doesn't have many scenes, but he appears in every episode. He's a very warm person."
Lee Ji-eun's eyes lit up again. "I'll act. When?"
"The script is still being written. I'll contact you when it's finished."
"Okay." Lee Ji-eun took a resume from the file folder and placed it on the table. "This is my information. Please keep it safe."
Su Yu glanced at it. She was smiling brightly in the photo. He put the resume in the drawer. "Lee Ji-eun."
"Um."
"You sing very well. Your acting may not be as good. But anyone who is willing to learn will do well."
Lee Ji-eun nodded. "I will do my best. Thank you, Representative Su."
She turned and walked to the door, stopped, and glanced back at Su Yu. "Representative Su, you're younger than I imagined."
"You're more nervous than I thought."
She smiled. Then she pushed open the door and went out.
At 3 PM, Cai Xiubin came down from the second floor. She had been upstairs reading the script for "Goblin" (Lee Young-eun had already written the first four episodes) and heard people talking downstairs, but she didn't come down to disturb them.
"Who just came by?" she asked, leaning against the stair railing as she held a cup of coffee.
Lee Ji-eun. Wants to act.
Chae Soo-bin raised an eyebrow. "IU? Isn't she a singer?"
"I wanted to cross over into a different field. I gave her a supporting role."
"What supporting role?"
"The fried chicken shop owner. He doesn't have many scenes."
Cai Xiubin laughed. "You want the nation's little sister to sell fried chicken?"
"What's wrong with selling fried chicken? You used to sell seaweed rice rolls too."
Cai Xiubin rolled her eyes. "Oppa, can you please stop being so mean?"
"Is that sarcastic? I'm praising you. Your seaweed rice rolls sell well, and your acting is great too."
Chae Soo-bin walked over and sat down next to him. "Oppa, did you give her the role because she's pretty or because she acts well?"
Su Yu turned to look at her. "Are you jealous?"
"No. I'm just curious."
"She hasn't played any serious roles. I don't know if she's good at it. But she's willing to learn. I give opportunities to those who are willing to learn."
Cai Xiubin stared at him for two seconds. "So when you gave me a chance, it was because you saw that I was willing to learn?"
Su Yu reached out and flicked her forehead. "You're not just willing to learn. You're willing to risk your life. It's different."
She covered her forehead and laughed.
At 7 p.m., Shirley sent a message.
Oppa, did Lee Ji-eun go to your company today?
Su Yu replied: [Hmm. The news came fast.]
She called me. She thanked me for the role. She was very happy.
You're welcome. Thank me after you've performed well.
Oppa, what do you think of her...?
Su Yu looked at the line of text and knew what Sherry wanted to ask.
I have no feelings for her. She's an actress, I'm the boss. That's it.
Shirley sent a smiley face. 【That's good. I was worried you'd have another rumored girlfriend.】
When have I ever had a rumored girlfriend?
Aren't you and Cai Xiubin examples?
Su Yu didn't reply. Shirley sent another message: [Oppa, goodnight. Don't stay up late.]
【Good night.】
Su Yu lay on the bed in the semi-basement, staring at the ceiling. The ticking continued. His mind raced with the image of Lee Ji-eun standing in the doorway—nervous, yet with a determined look in her eyes. It wasn't the kind of determination that screamed "I want to be famous," but rather the kind that said, "I want to try."
He rolled over. His phone lit up. Cai Xiubin had sent him a message.
Oppa, what are we having for breakfast tomorrow?
Su Yu replied: 【Seaweed rice rolls.】
"Eating this again? Didn't you become rich? Can't you eat something better?"
Money is money, and breakfast is breakfast. They don't conflict. Besides, your seaweed rice rolls taste better than the ones you buy outside.
She sent a smiley face. 【I'll make more tomorrow. I'll bring some for screenwriter Lee Young-eun to try too.】
【Row. 】
Oppa.
【Um. 】
Are you really not interested in Lee Ji-eun?
Su Yu looked at the line of text and smiled.
No. She's your junior. I'll take care of her for you.
【You can take care of her, but don't take it to bed.】
Su Yu almost burst out laughing. [When did you start speaking so boldly?]
I learned that from you. "One is influenced by one's company."
Am I Mo?
You are black. A black-hearted boss.
Su Yu typed a few words: [Your heartless boss is paying you. Go to sleep early, see you tomorrow.]
Goodnight, Oppa.
Su Yu placed his phone beside his pillow and closed his eyes. A breeze slipped in through the cracks in the window, causing the curtains to sway gently. But he knew that Cai Xiubin would bring seaweed rice rolls to the company tomorrow morning.
Lee Young-eun will come and deliver the script outline for "Goblin." Lee Ji-eun will wait for the role of the fried chicken shop owner. Everything is moving forward.