Chapter 1017: Genius Child Actors (4)

"Do you really mean that, Mr. Jung?"

"You're going to sign Yung-Soo with Hoop Entertainment?"

"And Se-Jung too? Hoop Entertainment? Really?"

Unlike the two stunned presidents of Mira Entertainment, the six mothers of the child actors excitedly asked again. No matter how much Mira Entertainment specialized in child actors, it simply couldn't compare to Hoop Entertainment.

I nodded and answered, "Yes. All six children here. I plan to sign every one of them. Kim Yung-Soo, Min Yoo-Hyun, Park Hyun-Mi, Baek Se-Jung, Oh Yung-Rim, and Yoo Ji-Ha. Every single one."

Apparently they hadn't expected me to know their children's names. The mothers covered their mouths in surprise.

"Oh my! You even know my child's name?"

"Did you hear that? Mr. Jung called Yung-Soo's name first!"

I looked at the delighted mothers and laid out the most important contract terms without hesitation. "All six child actors here will receive a signing bonus of fifty million won on a three-year contract. We'll reimburse your basic transportation and wardrobe expenses at cost. If you're unable to accompany your child to a filming site, we'll assign a talent agent instead at our own expense. As for revenue distribution, it'll be split fifty-fifty."

A fifty-million-won signing bonus wasn't something even rookie adult actors received easily. In other words, I was declaring that Hoop Entertainment intended to raise them as genuine actors.

"T-That's impossible..."

"You're giving our children that much money?"

"We almost made a terrible mistake going with Mira Entertainment."

"You're right. They only offered a five-million-won signing bonus. This is ten times that!"

As the mothers began comparing the offers, Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra's faces twisted in frustration. At the same time, they looked as though they thought I had lost my mind.

Ignoring them, I turned back to the mothers. "So? What will you do? Will you come with me to Hoop—"

Before I could even finish, Kim Yung-Soo's mother shot her hand into the air. She was the mother of seven-year-old Kim Yung-Soo, the boy who would soon be hailed as the next child acting prodigy.

"I'll go! Please let us join! For my son's future, Hoop Entertainment is far better than Mira Entertainment!"

Baek Se-Jung's mother, whose seven-year-old daughter would also become known as the next child acting prodigy, raised her hand as well. "Mr. Jung, we're going too. Absolutely."

The remaining four quickly followed, all declaring they wanted to join Hoop Entertainment. In the end, not a single person chose to follow Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra.

"Everyone, wait! H-How could you do this... to me...?"

At Cheon Mi-Ra's words, Kim Yung-Soo's mother shouted back. "President Cheon Mi-Ra. No... Ri-Yeon's mom. It's been three months since you said you'd take my son. During that time, you let me buy you coffee over and over, and even meals, yet you never did a single thing for us. How can you even say something like that?"

The other mothers began venting their anger one after another.

"Exactly. There's a limit to stringing people along. If you weren't going to take our kids, you should've just said so!"

"And why did you call us over whenever your family was making kimchi?"

The flood of accusations left Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra looking completely flustered. However, I had no intention of stopping there.

I asked Writer Lee Ji-Yeon, "Mrs. Lee. Instead of simply removing Ri-Yeon and Joo-Hwan from the cast, how about replacing them with the children who are still here?"

Lee Ji-Yeon flashed a grin. "You know, Yoon-Ho, you're ruthless when you want to be."

"I was only thinking about what would be best for the production."

"Pfft. I'm kidding. Still, from the way you're talking, it sounds like you've already got someone in mind."

"I do. Still, I'd rather you judge with your own eyes. Let's hold a quick audition. We'll see whether they can perform opposite the acting Miso showed us earlier."

"I like that idea."

When even Lee Ji-Yeon declared the roles would be recast, panic spread across Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra's faces. If things continued like this, their own children, Sung Ri-Yeon and Nam Joo-Hwan, wouldn't even get to appear in Land of Happiness.

"What do you think you're doing? You're removing Ri-Yeon from the cast entirely?"

"Joo-Hwan absolutely can't be taken off the cast!"

The moment Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra shouted, I answered calmly, "Hm? I thought you said you were leaving. You're still here?"

Their faces trembled with rage.

At that moment, PD Ju Se-Hyung gave an order as though he had been waiting for the chance. "Hey, staff! Aren't you going to clear the set? People who have nothing to do with the production are causing a scene. Get them out!"

"Yes, sir!"

The staff rushed over like lightning and began ushering the two women away.

"Ma'am, you can't do this here. Please leave."

"Anyone not involved with the production isn't allowed in!"

After trying to interfere with the filming of Land of Happiness, they were now being treated like nothing more than trespassers. Humiliated before everyone, Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra's faces flushed bright red as they shouted at me.

"Just you wait, Chief Jung!"

Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra grabbed the hands of their children, once hailed as child prodigies, and turned on their heels.

I shrugged and nonchalantly said, "Oh, and before you put him in the car, you should change Joo-Hwan's clothes. I mean, at least..."

"I'll take care of my own son, so mind your own business!"

Yang Mi-Ra roughly dragged the hesitant Nam Joo-Hwan away. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the promise I made to Miso. Clicking my tongue, I gathered the mothers of the remaining child actors, who were still excited from everything that had happened.

"The roles of Oh Jin-Gu and Yeo Soo-Jin are now open. We'll be holding a quick audition, and anyone who gets the part will receive the same five hundred thousand won appearance fee that Sung Ri-Yeon and Nam Joo-Hwan were getting."

The mothers' eyes lit up at the thought of their children's pay nearly increasing fivefold. On top of that, if filming continued according to the original script for Oh Jin-Gu and Yeo Soo-Jin, the children would remain on the drama until the very end.

"Yung-Soo, you have to get the part. Understand?"

Watching the mothers urge their children on, Lee Ji-Yeon chuckled beside me. "You really know how to reel people in, Yoon-Ho."

Just then, Ju Se-Hyung quietly walked over and brought up the appearance fee. "Chief Jung, listen. Even so, isn't five hundred thousand won a bit much for child actors who don't even have a name yet? What if we lowered it to around two hundred thousand..."

'Seriously? He's trying to cut their pay at a time like this?'

The timing of Ju Se-Hyung's attempt, now that he had regained his composure, was almost admirable. It was too bad it wasn't going to work while I was here. After all, every one of them now belonged to Hoop Entertainment.

I casually shifted my weight onto one leg and puffed out my chest. "Well then, Mr. Ju, why don't you find child actors who can keep up with Miso? Otherwise, they don't work for anything less."

Ju Se-Hyung looked flustered. "What? Weren't we on the same side?"

"That was before these child actors joined Hoop Entertainment."

Ju Se-Hyung's jaw dropped open.

Lee Ji-Yeon snickered. "Poor PD Ju. You've got a rough road ahead of you. You know Chief Jung doesn't show any mercy when it comes to his actors."

Ju Se-Hyung swallowed hard. "Damn it. I should've just kept the Miras around."

"Too late."

"Fine. We'll do it your way. We'll start the on-site auditions for the roles of Oh Jin-Gu and Yeo Soo-Jin right now. There are six kids—three boys and three girls—so we'll pair them off."

I immediately smiled at Miso. "Miso. You can do this, right?"

"Yes!"

Miso picked up the stone she had set down earlier. The moment she held it again, the look in her eyes turned chilling once more. And so, the quick audition began.

Just as I had expected, two of the child actors immediately began to shine with remarkable performances. Kim Yung-Soo and Baek Se-Jung were the very two who, two years later, would truly begin to be called child prodigies.

I had dealt a satisfying blow to the presidents of Mira Entertainment, but this still wasn't over.

'You messed with Miso and interfered with this production. You didn't really think I'd let you off with just this, did you, Presidents?'

***

After being thrown out of the Land of Happiness filming set at SBC, the two co-presidents of Mira Entertainment headed straight to rival network KBC to meet Drama Director Pyo Eun-Jong. Also in the office was Writer Nam Jong-Ok, whose drama A Life Lived Twice was about to premiere.

Gulp.

The moment Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra saw Nam Jong-Ok, they immediately launched into an agitated complaint.

"You have no idea how outrageous Writer Lee Ji-Yeon is. Seriously, she's unbelievable."

"We must've been out of our minds. I don't know why we ever went over there when someone as wonderful as you was right here, Mrs. Nam."

Originally, Nam Jong-Ok had planned to recruit Sung Ri-Yeon and Nam Joo-Hwan, the two former child prodigies, for A Life Lived Twice. With Jung Miso becoming such a hot topic, she wanted them to counter her. Instead, Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra had chosen Lee Ji-Yeon's Land of Happiness.

Nam Jong-Ok had been so annoyed by that decision that she'd intended never to see them again. But seeing them return now, humbly pleading their case, changed her mind. It even gave her the feeling that she'd won her rivalry with Lee Ji-Yeon.

Smiling broadly, Nam Jong-Ok put on the air of a celebrated writer. "See? I told you. That woman Lee Ji-Yeon has an absolutely awful personality."

Cheon Mi-Ra nodded so vigorously she looked possessed. "Exactly! She's completely insane."

As the two women continued criticizing Lee Ji-Yeon, Nam Jong-Ok shrugged and looked over at Pyo Eun-Jong.

"Director Pyo. We can put Joo-Hwan and Ri-Yeon in our drama, can't we?"

Pyo Eun-Jong smiled. "If that's what Mrs. Nam wants, of course. And if those two join our production, it'll naturally create a rivalry with Miso, which should help viewership ratings too. I'll make sure to promote it properly as the recruitment of 'child prodigies.'"

Nam Jong-Ok nodded. "Then I'll revise the script and write roles for Ri-Yeon and Joo-Hwan. With their acting skills, they'll give us some excellent scenes."

At that moment, Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra lowered their heads, clasped each other's hands tightly beneath the table, then let go.

Feeling as though they had been brought back from the dead, Cheon Mi-Ra cheerfully made a generous offer. "Then let's have a company dinner at a Hanwoo restaurant tonight. Invite the entire production staff. After all, A Life Lived Twice is definitely going to beat them in the viewership ratings."

Recently, no KBC 1TV daily drama had ever premiered below an 18% viewership ratings. With Nam Jong-Ok writing it, the first episode would probably exceed 20%.

By comparison, SBC's daily dramas had never surpassed 15% for a premiere. On top of that, KBC 1TV's daily drama had never once lost to SBC's daily drama in same-day viewership ratings.

Pyo Eun-Jong smiled confidently. "The first episode hasn't even aired yet... but if you're buying dinner, I'm sure everyone will appreciate it. Still, let's monitor both productions first."

"Okay."

Just then, Pyo Eun-Jong paused the conversation as his phone vibrated.

Buzz.

"One moment please."

The instant he looked at the screen, Pyo Eun-Jong's expression froze.

Noticing the change, Nam Jong-Ok frowned. "What's wrong, Director Pyo?"

"Mrs. Nam... I think we should put our partnership with Mira Entertainment on hold."

"Why?"

Pyo Eun-Jong held out his phone.

[Land of Happiness Recasts Its Main Child Actors Ahead of Premiere. Sung Ri-Yeon and Nam Joo-Hwan Replaced by New Child Actors Kim Yung-Soo and Baek Se-Jung.]

[Writer Lee Ji-Yeon: "Sung Ri-Yeon and Nam Joo-Hwan became too absorbed in being labeled 'geniuses,' and their skills haven't improved at all. I'm beginning to worry about the future of both child actors."]

Nam Jong-Ok's brow furrowed. Lee Ji-Yeon herself had publicly drawn the line, declaring that Sung Ri-Yeon and Nam Joo-Hwan were no longer child prodigies.

"So they're washed-up child actors now?"

"Yes. Once they're branded as kids who were kicked off a production, I don't think it's worth creating roles just to force them into the cast."

"Hmm..."

Caught off guard by the sudden change in attitude, Cheon Mi-Ra desperately grabbed the hem of Nam Jong-Ok's jacket. "Mrs. Nam! At least watch our children's acting first..."

"No. It's too late. Come to think of it, this would make it look like I eagerly picked up the washed-up kids Lee Ji-Yeon threw away." Nam Jong-Ok coldly drew the line, as though she had never welcomed them in the first place. "So let's pretend none of what we just discussed happened. And let go. You're stretching my clothes."

"Mrs. Nam!"

Pyo Eun-Jong waved his hand dismissively. "You two should leave for now. If another good project comes along, I'll introduce you."

"Director!"

"Enough! Are you leaving or not? Do I need to ban the two of you from entering KBC altogether?"

Cheon Mi-Ra and Yang Mi-Ra trembled with anger before ultimately being thrown out of KBC as well.

Thud.

The moment the door shut, Nam Jong-Ok let out a long sigh. "Ever since Lee Ji-Yeon joined Hoop Entertainment, she's been giving a lot of media interviews."

Pyo Eun-Jong spoke to the visibly competitive Nam Jong-Ok. "Don't worry. SBC can't beat KBC in daily dramas anyway."

"Are you really sure about that? I don't know... I've got a bad feeling about this from the very start."

"This is KBC. It doesn't matter if they have Writer Lee Ji-Yeon or Miso—we're still not losing. We've never once been beaten in same-day daily drama viewership ratings."

"Even with Chief Jung over there?"

Pyo Eun-Jong flinched. Then he quickly raised his voice. "Even if Chief Jung is there! Besides, our time slots are different. No matter what they do, they can't affect us!"

SBC's daily drama aired from 7:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. KBC 1TV's daily drama, on the other hand, aired from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Not only did the time slots not overlap, but there was nothing Jung Yoon-Ho could really do to interfere. When KBC's A Life Lived Twice aired, SBC would already be broadcasting the evening news.

Despite his confident words, however, Pyo Eun-Jong was beginning to feel increasingly uneasy. Whenever Jung Yoon-Ho was involved, nothing ever went according to plan.

'Jung Yoon-Ho... you didn't pull something again, did you?'

***

"Okay! Great work, everyone!"

"Thank you for your hard work!"

Three minutes before the premiere of the first episode of Land of Happiness, filming for Episode 4 finally wrapped up.

Ju Se-Hyung picked up a loudspeaker and called out, "We'll take a short break, watch the broadcast, then move into the night shoot. Hoop Entertainment's treating everyone to a buffet tonight, so eat until you're stuffed!"

The staff erupted into cheers.

A moment later, the catering trucks waiting outside the set drove onto the school grounds. As soon as they parked along one side of the field, the catering staff hopped out and began setting up enormous buffet tables.

Meanwhile, after finishing her scenes, Jang So-Yeon walked over with Kang Si-Ah and Miso, holding each of their hands.

Jang So-Yeon played Yoon Na-Ra, Kang Si-Ah—who had previously appeared as a child actress in Jiri Mountain—played Yoon Na-Bi, the twin sister of Yoon Kkot-Nim, while Miso played Yoon Kkot-Nim. The three of them had become inseparable whenever they had free time.

"Come on. Everyone, sit here."

I opened the tablet on one of the tables in the break area.

Miso pulled a chair up beside me and asked excitedly, "Uncle Yoon-Ho, what do you think the viewership ratings for Episode One will be?"

"What do you hope they'll be?"

Miso spread both hands wide, holding up all ten fingers. "This much!"

Just then, Lee Ji-Yeon, who was sitting on Miso's right, wore a dissatisfied expression. "Miso, only ten percent? If a daily drama only gets ten percent, that's way too low."

Miso shook her head at Lee Ji-Yeon. "Not ten percent!"

"Then what?"

Keeping both hands stretched out, Miso strained as she lifted both feet into the air. "I've got all my toes out too!"

The fronts of her sneakers wiggled.

"Twenty percent?"

"Yep!"

Everyone watching couldn't help but laugh.

"Twenty percent for the first episode of a daily drama would be a huge hit."

"It will be! It'll be a huge hit because So-Yeon unnie and Si-Ah unnie are both in it."

Jang So-Yeon and Kang Si-Ah burst into laughter at Miso's cheerful encouragement. As everyone enjoyed her innocent optimism, the commercials ended and Episode 1 of Land of Happiness began.

"Oh, it's starting."

The moment I spoke, everyone in our group turned toward the tablet. Soon afterward, every staff member on set focused on their own phones and tablets as well.

[Land of Happiness Episode 1]

The title appeared on the tablet screen. Then came the smiling faces of six family members standing in front of a fairly affluent three-story house with a spacious yard. It was Yoon Na-Ra's family. As a gentle original soundtrack began to play, the happy family's everyday life unfolded.

At that moment, Lee Ji-Yeon's hands began to tremble as she was swept away by memories.

"They're saying the one-minute viewership ratings started at 13%! Even if it doesn't match KBC 1TV, that's still a really strong opening..."

"Shh. Quiet. Mrs. Lee is concentrating."

None of the staff knew that Land of Happiness was based on Lee Ji-Yeon's own life. Naturally, they assumed she was simply focused on monitoring the first episode and quietly fell silent.

The stillness continued as time passed.

True to Lee Ji-Yeon's reputation, even the ordinary story of Yoon Na-Ra's family was captivating. Despite being a rookie, Jang So-Yeon delivered a performance that immediately drew viewers in, while Miso and Kang Si-Ah displayed a presence every bit as strong as the lead actress.

Then, just before the unforgettable first episode came to an end, a shocking scene unfolded.

Crash!

The car carrying Yoon Na-Ra's parents and the youngest daughter, Yoon Kkot-Nim, was struck in a traffic accident. The vehicle flipped over, and Episode 1 ended.

After watching the shocking ending, Lee Ji-Yeon closed her eyes, her body trembling. The pain of that day forty years ago had come rushing back.

"Mr. Ju... the viewership ratings for Episode 1 are..."

"Quiet, you idiot. Don't you see Mrs. Lee is still concentrating?"

Everyone on the staff remained silent. Not knowing why Lee Ji-Yeon's expression had become so rigid, they all tensed up.

A few moments later, Lee Ji-Yeon's eyes snapped open. She then looked at Ju Se-Hyung.

"PD Ju. What are the ratings?"

Only then did Ju Se-Hyung answer excitedly, "18.5 percent!"

The buzz surrounding Lee Ji-Yeon's first daily drama, Jang So-Yeon's impressive performance, and Miso's popularity had propelled the premiere to an 18.5% viewership rating.

"I guess daily dramas really do start with fairly high ratings."

"It's not just fairly high—it's an all-time record for SBC!"

"And compared to KBC?"

"Well..."

KBC's daily dramas almost always opened at no less than 18%, and more often than not surpassed 20%. That made the comparison difficult to answer.

"From the sound of it, I guess we might lose today."

Ju Se-Hyung cleared his throat. "Even so, things will be different later on."

"Really? That's a little disappointing..."

That was when I stepped into the conversation. "Mrs. Lee, Mr. Ju. There's no need to worry. I've already prepared everything we need to make sure we win starting with the very first episode."

Both of them stared at me wide-eyed. After all, I had just declared that we were going to defeat KBC—the undisputed king of daily dramas—from Episode One onward.