Chapter 16
‘Even Kim Byul-ah is Han Jiseon’s junior from college.’
Han Jiseon trembled as if she couldn’t stand losing to her young junior. Seeing this, Kim Doyun smiled.
Writer Han, if you don’t want to be known as the author of a failure, you’ll have to fight. Good luck!
As Doyun silently rooted for Han Jiseon to metaphorically cut down whoever was pushing for Cho Sangwoo’s casting, he spoke with an awkward expression.
“I might have said something unnecessary…”
“No, I needed to know this. So that’s why you thought they weren’t strong enough. I was wondering why you said that. As I thought, Kim PD is the only one who truly cares about me.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“What else? Even a rookie gets to work with someone like Kang Hoon. How could they do this to me? Seo Dongjin? Ha! Cho Sangwoo? Unbelievable! I won’t stand for this!”
Stay strong, Writer Han.
Doyun gently pressed on the accelerator.
‘Let’s proceed this way.’
His plan was to withdraw the casting of both Seo Dongjin and Cho Sangwoo, pushing the situation to an extreme. After all, nature—specifically the seasons—would solve the rest.
***
As soon as they arrived at the production company, Han Jiseon threw the car door open and leapt out. Watching her, Doyun retrieved the newly printed scripts from the trunk.
Han Jiseon’s revised 1st and 2nd episodes had been printed into 20 copies each, totaling 40 books. Since he couldn’t let the assistants carry such heavy loads, he grabbed four shopping bags in each hand.
“Let me help,” said Lee Seulgi, followed by Ham Dajeong offering to assist as well.
“It’s alright. Please stay by Writer Han’s side and cheer her on.”
“C-cheer her on?”
When Ham Dajeong asked if he was encouraging them to stir up a fight, Doyun shrugged.
“For the drama’s success, anything goes.”
“Ah, okay.”
Ham Dajeong nodded hesitantly, seemingly convinced by Doyun’s reasoning.
But Lee Seulgi was different. Her expression suggested she was trying to figure out why Doyun was deliberately overturning the casting. The two assistants followed Han Jiseon into the building.
As Doyun prepared to enter, he overheard some muttering behind him.
“What’s that? Did he quit being a PD to become Han Jiseon’s errand boy?”
“Pathetic.”
“If you’re not competent, at least try to learn instead of sticking to her side like that.”
The PDs, puffing cigarettes and slacking off, mocked him openly.
Doyun smirked and dismissed their remarks.
Getting along with everyone? Lowering your head to idiotic seniors? Obeying unfair orders without complaint?
‘Forget it.’
He turned to enter the building but paused when a cigarette butt struck his arm. Though unlit, this wasn’t just muttered insults—it was a whole new level of disrespect.
‘They’ve crossed a line.’
Stopping in his tracks, Doyun slowly turned his head. The three men, previously laughing over their cigarettes, immediately averted their eyes.
But there was no way he was going to let this slide. Changing direction, Doyun walked straight toward them.
“Who was it?”
“What?”
“Who threw the cigarette butt? Was it you, PD Oh?”
Oh Soon-gi was the senior among them, holding the rank of department head. Back when Doyun was just a first-year PD, he’d always addressed him as “department head.” But calling him “PD Oh” now, as if they were equals, made Oh Soon-gi’s expression twist in irritation.
No matter that Doyun added “sir” at the end—this was nothing short of insubordination.
“If you see a senior, you should greet them first, you punk!”
“Answer the question. Was it you, PD Oh?”
“Yeah, it was me! What are you going to do about it?”
Oh Soon-gi tilted his chin upward, glaring at Doyun.
This little punk, getting close to the company president and skipping over all the seniors?
When Jeong Woon-Young fired Bae Shin-ho, he’d announced to the entire staff that Doyun’s only responsibility was to assist with Han Jiseon’s script and to supervise the Jeongdongjin shoots once filming began.
What, am I supposed to serve the rookie now?!
Jealousy and frustration boiled over. Throwing the cigarette butt had momentarily satisfied his twisted feelings, but that sense of triumph was short-lived.
It was clear to everyone that he’d crossed a line, and now this sharp-witted kid was coming at him head-on.
‘I can’t back down here.’
Oh Soon-gi straightened his posture, puffing out his chest and glaring fiercely.
“Do you think it’s my fault the cigarette butt ended up there? Blame the wind! Or the cigarette itself! Why are you harping on me?”
“So you’re ashamed? I see, since you’re blaming the wind.”
“What did you say?”
“Da-in Furniture, Ro-an Cosmetics, Mirae Motors.”
Doyun rattled off a list of sponsors he’d contacted last night, alongside the project’s proposal, seeking sponsorship. Every single one had rejected him.
They all cited the same reason—they’d already signed contracts with competing dramas.
When a sponsor pulls out, the production company bears the loss entirely.
If the higher-ups learned that even sponsors were backing out, would they leave Oh Soon-gi unscathed? Especially when the production budget was already a hot topic due to the recession?
“Do you think they’d even let him off the hook?”
‘Of course not.’
Unless PD Oh figures out a way to pull a miracle—whether it’s begging sponsors on his knees or digging money out of the ground—his fate was already sealed.
Kim Doyun smiled faintly and raised his voice, ensuring everyone nearby could hear each word clearly.
“Did the wind also cause Road Money to steal our sponsorships for ‘Love and You’?”
“…Road Money stole our sponsorships?”
“Do you need me to say it twice? If it were me, I’d be making calls and running around right now.”
Doyun’s tone was arrogant, but this wasn’t the time to nitpick.
A major disaster hitting his drama?
First, PD Oh’s head would roll, and second, he’d earn a new line on his resume:
“Date X: Single-handedly ruined a drama.”
“Wait, is that true? Damn it. Last week, they told me the deals were all set… They must’ve pulled out after Lee Jugeon’s drunk driving scandal. Damn it. What now?”
Before any contracts were signed, Oh Soon-gi had relaxed, confident that everything was secured. Now his mind was blank.
“Hey, do you guys have a list of companies we can approach for sponsorships?”
The other two PDs, still smoking, looked at him quizzically. Even if they had such a list, there was no way they’d help willingly. Most likely, they were secretly thrilled at the prospect of Oh Soon-gi getting fired.
After all, someone else’s house on fire always makes for great entertainment.
“You idiots!”
Oh Soon-gi clawed at his hair in frustration. Watching his pitiful state, Doyun pressed further.
“So, when can I expect an apology?”
“Wait, how did you even find out? Did you contact the sponsors yourself?”
When Doyun nodded, the blood drained from Oh Soon-gi’s face.
‘Why would you poke around where you’re not told to?!’
The sponsors had initially reached out eagerly, offering contracts. They’d bought drinks, provided gifts, and even sent lavish items like expensive furniture and cosmetics under the table.
That had lulled him into a false sense of security.
But if Doyun had contacted them directly, the sponsors had likely rejected him and shifted the blame onto Oh Soon-gi, claiming they’d already been pressured to go elsewhere.
‘Unbelievable!’
The gifts and bribes were nothing more than grease for the wheels, a way to ensure they had an excuse ready.
They essentially meant, Enjoy the gifts, but don’t come crying to us if we back out later. And remember, we have receipts.
The sponsors’ implied threats echoed in his mind, making him sweat even more. Meanwhile, Doyun’s icy voice broke through his panic.
“Apology.”
Under Doyun’s intense gaze, Oh Soon-gi finally lowered his head.
“Kim PD, I’m really sorry. I won’t do it again.”
“Own up to your responsibilities, and don’t do what you shouldn’t. Got it?”
After delivering his curt remark, Doyun turned away.
The two other PDs, feeling awkward, quietly slipped away.
“I… I need to call a journalist…”
“I think I had an email to check…”
Left alone, a gust of spring wind swept over Oh Soon-gi as tears began rolling down his face.
***
“The revised scripts are ready.”
Entering the office, Doyun began handing out the newly edited scripts by Han Jiseon. Just then, heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs from the second floor.
Turning his head naturally, Doyun spotted Hwang Chang-soo standing at the entrance and narrowed his eyes.
‘So it’s you—the one who’ll ruin this drama by replacing the male lead with Cho Sangwoo.’
Hwang Chang-soo.
An alumnus of the MBS Academy, eight cohorts senior to Doyun.
Doyun didn’t remember every alumnus, but Hwang was hard to forget.
‘A nasty connection, if you can even call it that.’
If Bae Shin-ho was a lazy parasite stealing others’ achievements, then Hwang Chang-soo was just a brute.
A lapdog loyal only to his master, snarling and snapping at everyone else. His sole ambition was monopolizing his master’s affection, driving away anyone who caught their attention.
Because Doyun had gained recognition for A Summer’s Cantabile, he was now on Hwang’s hit list.
When Doyun had switched companies seven years later, H Entertainment had crumbled under a streak of flops. That collapse was due to all the capable employees leaving while Hwang wagged his tail endlessly, driving the company into the ground.
In this timeline, Doyun had thought he’d never cross paths with Hwang again. After all, he planned to leave H Entertainment as soon as A Summer’s Cantabile ended.
‘But here he is, two years ahead of schedule.’
Whether this was a result of Doyun altering the future or simply fate, he couldn’t say. But one thing was clear—he didn’t want to waste even a second on Hwang Chang-soo.
Doyun continued distributing the scripts, deliberately ignoring Hwang.
“Who’s this guy?”
But Hwang wasn’t about to let him be. He sauntered over, sniffing around like the lapdog he was.
“You seem familiar. Have we met?”
There’s a saying—if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
Doyun straightened his shoulders and met Hwang’s gaze.
—
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