Chapter 22
“Shall we muster up some energy and head to the station?”
As the train’s arrival time approached, Kim Doyun resumed walking ahead.
This time, Han Jiseon also kept up without showing any signs of fatigue.
When Doyun led the group into Jeongdongjin Station, a sound resembling the ding-dong of a railroad crossing echoed through the air.
Honk! Despite the bold blast of the horn, the train approached slowly and came to a halt.
Psssshh. White steam billowed out of the train, briefly obscuring the view before gradually dissipating in the breeze.
And then, everyone, including Doyun, saw a man in jeans and a denim jacket.
‘What is that fashion?’
Doyun had told Seo Dongjin to take the train to Jeongdongjin.
He had also suggested that he should look like Yeonwoo, the free-spirited fisherman’s son.
If he could embody that image and move not only Han Jiseon’s heart but also his co-star Jeon Sera’s, the casting would no longer be delayed.
‘…Isn’t this a bit too flashy?’
With messy hair and a full denim outfit, Seo Dongjin seemed unconcerned about hiding his past as a nightclub promoter.
A CD player hung at his waist, and he wore headphones over his head as if he were listening to music.
His high-top basketball shoes were the most trendy design of the moment, and although no one knew what he was listening to, he walked as though he were dancing.
“Oh! PD Kim! What brings you here?”
He even pretended to be surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to meet Doyun here.
But the whole situation was too awkward—so awkward that Doyun felt embarrassed as he replied.
“Mr. Seo Dongjin, this is Writer Han Jiseon.”
“Oh! Writer Han, it’s an honor to meet you.”
“Ah, yes.”
After receiving his casual greeting, Han Jiseon shot a sharp look at Doyun.
She had realized that this was an audition for the male lead role.
Moreover, since Doyun himself had previously admitted that Cho Sangwoo was a weak candidate, it was no surprise that Han Jiseon didn’t look pleased. But then!
“Wow! Full denim fashion!”
Forgetting her status as a top star, Jeon Sera exclaimed in pure amazement.
The two assistant writers, their faces flushed red, stole glances at Seo Dongjin.
“Ms. Jeon Sera? It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Let me formally introduce myself. I’m Seo Dongjin!”
He greeted her energetically, as if he were welcoming guests to a nightclub:
“Welcome! I’ll make your night unforgettable! I’m Hodori from Bangbang Night!”
Or so it felt.
“What is this? This is so different from the image I had,” Han Jiseon said, amused.
Seo Dongjin reached into the inner pocket of his denim jacket and, with a flourish, pulled out a rose.
‘This is ridiculous.’
It seemed only Doyun felt embarrassed as the four women clapped enthusiastically, clearly impressed.
Encouraged by their reactions, Seo Dongjin gifted roses to Jeon Sera and the two assistant writers.
‘Is he going to pull out a dove next?’
As Doyun pondered, Seo Dongjin approached him and clapped his hands skillfully before producing a lollipop seemingly out of thin air.
“This is a gift for you, PD-nim.”
Why Seo Dongjin suddenly decided to drop the “golden spoon” pretense and show his true colors was a mystery.
‘Did he interpret the revised script and decide to come like this?’
If Seo Dongjin studied the revised script and thought, “This is what Yeonwoo should be like”—
‘It’s possible.’
The idea that a pure-hearted fisherman’s son with a clear soul would wear khakis and a checkered shirt was, after all, a stereotype.
And weren’t such stereotypes what made dramas dull?
Creative twists on a character could be the key to success.
If Yeonwoo was pure-hearted but had visible flaws, and if those flaws carried genuine sincerity and a love so innocent—
‘The audience will go wild.’
With that thought, Doyun led the group, now joined by Seo Dongjin, back to the snack bar.
Originally, he had planned for them to have a barbecue party in the backyard and discuss the script all night, but…
“Mr. Seo Dongjin?”
“Ah, yes, Mr. PD.”
Doyun quietly called Seo Dongjin aside.
“It seems like you interpreted Yeonwoo’s character as an Apgujeong** nightclub type?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“It was very obvious.”
“Ah, well, after reading the revised script, I imagined Yeonwoo as a clumsy guy who’s very popular with women. But I thought it would be clear that he truly loves Hyein because he can’t even meet her gaze.”
This was why actors were so important. Even with the same script, their interpretations and performances could differ entirely.
“Good. Then enjoy yourself tonight.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“I’m saying, turn my backyard into Apgujeong Nightclub. Can you do that?”
“Of course. That’s what I do best.”
***
“Are you ready to party like it’s your last night? Let’s go!”
After borrowing a radio from Shin Sun-ok and cranking the volume to the max, Seo Dongjin began breakdancing to a Michael Jackson song.
“Woohoo!”
“Wow! Oppa, you’re amazing!”
The two assistant writers clapped and jumped excitedly.
Even Han Jiseon couldn’t resist the festive atmosphere, her shoulders swaying to the rhythm.
While tending to the barbecue, Doyun quietly approached Han Jiseon.
“Writer Han, does a fisherman’s son really have to look naive? If an angel like Hyein came down to Seoul, wouldn’t he want to catch her attention? Just like Seo Dongjin is doing now.”
“You said Seo Dongjin was weak.”
“I did. But he’s an incredible swimmer.”
In fact, Doyun had pushed Seo Dongjin to train hard in swimming to build lean muscles—for the scene where he rescues Hyein from the ocean.
It also served as a way to pair Eun Jihoon with an industry senior and mentor.
‘The ending of the first episode is crucial.’
Hearing that Seo Dongjin could swim, Han Jiseon gave Doyun a sharp look.
“How long have you been planning this?”
For forty years?
Since the beginning of A Summer’s Cantabile, Doyun had risen to Mflix director after twenty years, died, and then returned to the past.
‘The drama was a success, but something always felt lacking.’
Now was the time to resolve those lingering regrets.
With a calm expression, Doyun replied.
“Writer Han, this is the first project I’m taking on as a project PD. My success is your success, and it will become the defining moment in the careers of Jeon Sera and Seo Dongjin.”
“Oh, why are you putting so much pressure on me?”
Han Jiseon grumbled, but her eyes scanned Seo Dongjin up and down.
“If the writer says no, I’ll respect her decision.”
“No, it’s not bad.”
“Really?”
“Hmph! To be honest, something clicked back at Jeongdongjin Station. If we add a scene where Yeonwoo dresses up in full denim to catch Hyein’s attention and fools around, it could really add some tension.”
“…Looks like the script will need to be revised.”
“Oh, come on! Isn’t this supposed to be the final version?”
Han Jiseon shouted, but her voice was soon drowned out by the assistant writers’ screams.
“Ahhh! Moonwalk!”
“Oppa!”
“Goodness, these girls are going wild. Well, sometimes instinct beats logic, doesn’t it?”
In the end, Han Jiseon decided to cast Seo Dongjin.
“Writer Han, you have great vision.”
“Tch! Says the person who set up the whole thing.”
At that moment, Seo Dongjin gracefully approached Shin Sun-ok and held out his hand.
“Ma’am, may I have this dance?”
‘What is this guy doing?’
Just as Doyun was about to intervene, Shin Sun-ok began dancing to the music.
Seeing this, Han Jiseon burst out laughing.
“PD Kim, your mother has quite the spirit!”
“Writer Han, how about a dance?”
Seo Dongjin grabbed Han Jiseon’s hand and spun her around playfully.
Embarrassed, Han Jiseon hesitated, prompting the two assistant writers to jump in and start dancing to rescue their teacher.
In an instant, the backyard turned into a dance floor.
Watching the scene unfold, Doyun opened a can of beer and took a sip for the first time since his return.
Afraid of dying from cancer, he had avoided alcohol entirely until now. But overwhelmed by emotion, he instinctively reached for the drink.
Drama!
This was the joy that must be part of a drama that captures the essence of life, and it was playing out right before his eyes.
They weren’t just writers or actors.
They weren’t just a mother and her guests.
They were simply people dancing to music and savoring the moment.
Through countless dramas, Doyun had always observed everything sharply from outside the frame.
Was the script well-written? Were the actors performing properly? Was the footage shot correctly?
He had focused solely on those things.
He had deliberately excluded enjoyment from the process of creating drama.
A moment of lost focus could lead to poor decisions, and repeated mistakes could prevent the drama from achieving perfection.
“Alright, next up is our PD!”
Seo Dongjin exaggeratedly gestured toward Doyun, extending a hand.
Noticing Doyun’s stern expression, Dongjin’s shoulders shrank as he blinked nervously.
For some reason, Go Dongsoo’s words suddenly came to mind.
[“Didn’t you know? You’re really cold.”]
Wasn’t he called a cold-hearted person?
‘I’m not going to live like that anymore.’
Doyun set down his beer can and stepped boldly into the middle of the backyard.
Then, he began to move his body.
“Pfft! Hahaha! What is that? That wild dance!”
“Wow, look at him! His arms and legs are completely out of sync. Our PD knows how to freestyle!”
A drama is most delightful when it includes an unexpected twist.
Even Jeon Sera, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn’t resist the excitement and joined Doyun, dancing alongside him.
Her graceful dance only heightened the mood.
***
After the boisterous evening, the following morning arrived!
[“A Summer’s Cantabile” broke records on its premiere day, achieving a viewership rating of 52%, the highest ever for a Wednesday-Thursday drama. The role of Yeonwoo, played by Seo Dongjin, gained significant attention after he shared his emotional past at the production press conference, greatly boosting the drama’s promotion…]
Those were the days when roads emptied because everyone stayed home to watch TV.
‘The first drama I’ve created since my return will achieve the same.’
Feeling the thrill of seeing the future news change, Doyun experienced a deep sense of accomplishment.
***
Dohee’s scream threatened to break his phone.
“Ahhhh! Oppa, I hate youuuu!”
Having stayed at a friend’s house in Gangneung the previous night, Dohee had only just learned that Jeon Sera and Seo Dongjin had visited. She was throwing a fit.
“If something like that was going to happen, shouldn’t you have told me in advance?” she shouted furiously over the phone.
Had Dohee ever thrown such a tantrum in his previous life? No matter how much he searched his memories, he couldn’t recall it.
The large age gap and his distant demeanor had always made Dohee cautious around him.
‘Even during holidays, we barely talked.’
But in this life, after he went to Jeongdongjin and spoiled her with attention, she had become so comfortable that she wasn’t afraid to yell at her big brother.
The problem was that Doyun had no idea how to handle this kind of situation.
It felt like he was facing the greatest crisis of this life.
He didn’t want his little sister to resent him. At the same time, he couldn’t just ignore her tears and shouting.
“Dohee, Dongsoo wants to talk to you.”
Without any other solution, he handed the phone to Dongsoo, who was making kimchi stew.
“What?”
Dongsoo glared at him as if to ask why he was throwing the problem at him.
‘Just calm her down. You said you have three younger sisters, right?’
Mouthing the words, Doyun saw Dongsoo recall his forgotten sisters and reluctantly nod.
He took the phone and spoke.
“Hey, Dohee. This is Dongsoo, your brother’s friend. Do you want to meet a celebrity? Maybe one who runs marathons…”
“I don’t care! I don’t care!”
Dohee screeched and hung up the phone.
**((“압구정” (Apgujeong) is a prominent neighborhood located in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. It is renowned for its upscale shopping streets, luxury boutiques, trendy restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and as a hub for fashion and beauty industries.))
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