The Price of Impulse (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
Inside a high-end Korean restaurant in Cheongdam-dong.
Tae Jo picked up a piece of fresh, vividly red raw beef and placed it in his mouth. As he chewed slowly, the tender texture and nutty aroma of sesame oil lingered on his tongue.
“Is this really going into production?”
Director Ji asked with a skeptical look on his face. The array of delicious dishes laid out on the table was completely ignored.
He’d rushed straight to this meeting without even unpacking after returning from France.
Hearing there was good news, he’d dropped everything and hurried over—only to find Tae Jo’s revelation far exceeded his expectations.
They claimed a globally renowned OTT platform wanted to exclusively distribute his work—and with substantial investment backing it, too.
“Yes. Though there are conditions.”
Tae Jo dabbed his lips with a napkin and nodded. Director Ji looked at him with grim determination.
“What conditions?”
“The script you gave me was written for a film. They want to adapt it into a ten-episode drama instead.”
“A ten-episode drama….”
Director Ji murmured, stroking his chin. He’d revised the screenplay hundreds of times just to meet the film’s runtime.
He’d cut so much material that, if compiled, it could easily form the basis for a sequel—so the prospect of having more time to flesh out the story was actually welcome news.
True, revising a script he’d already pored over countless times was tedious, but that wasn’t his main concern.
More screen time meant more expenses…
“So, what’s the production budget?”
He’d searched high and low for investors to meet his quality standards, but each attempt had failed—unable to find common ground between his artistic ambition and the investor’s profit expectations.
Back when he’d pitched the screenplay to production companies, he wasn’t even well-known in the film industry. Naturally, no one was willing to commit funds based on a script alone.
He’d assumed that once he became famous, opportunities would eventually come his way.
That belief had led him to shelve this script for a staggering seven years.
“They’re putting in 23 billion won, and we’re contributing 10 billion. That comes out to 3.3 billion per episode.”
“3.3 billion per episode?”
Director Ji’s eyes widened in disbelief. That was far more than he’d anticipated—he’d expected at most 700–800 million won per episode, considering the domestic drama market.
“You’re joking, right?”
“I don’t joke after drinking expensive alcohol like this.”
“Expensive alcohol?”
Aren’t we just eating right now?
Director Ji glanced around the table, and Woo Hyun, who had been busily shoveling food beside Tae Jo, spoke up.
“When CEO Jin met the platform’s CEO, he got absolutely plastered—so drunk his memory just cut out completely.”
Woo Hyun repeatedly opened and closed two fingers like scissors.
He seemed like someone who could hold his liquor pretty well last time I saw him. Director Ji looked at Tae Jo in surprise.
“Really?”
“Yes. My memory’s a bit hazy. That’s why I’m trying hard to piece it together right now.”
“How do you even go about finding lost memories?”
“Exactly. That’s probably why CEO Jin’s been spacing out a lot lately.”
Woo Hyun added with a teasing grin, prompting Tae Jo to shoot him a glare, as if telling him to stop talking nonsense.
“Then when does filming start?”
“That’s up to you, Director. It’ll take some time to adapt the script again. While you’re doing that, we’ll handle casting, finalize the budget, build the sets—and then you can start shooting.”
“What if we end up needing more budget?”
“Planning to rent out an entire island for a long-term shoot?”
“No, nothing that extreme. But while adapting, I might come up with new story ideas.”
Seeing Director Ji’s embarrassed smile, Tae Jo chuckled softly.
“Then I’ll just have to crack open another bottle of whiskey. Honestly, some foreign productions spend over 10 billion won per episode anyway.”
“That really does sound reassuring just to hear.”
“I’m not saying it just to flatter you. I have high expectations for your work, Director Ji. Anyway, your food’s getting cold—go ahead and eat.”
At Tae Jo’s urging, Director Ji picked up his spoon. He was truly grateful to Tae Jo for appreciating the screenplay that had been repeatedly rejected by everyone else.
“Oh, by the way, Director—have you given any thought to casting actors for this project?”
Director Ji, who’d been shoveling galbitang into his mouth, rolled his eyes at Woo Hyun’s question.
“I’ve got a few people in mind. Wait—Yoon Se Kyung is signed under CEO Jin’s agency, right?”
“Yes. Is Ms. Yoon Se Kyung on your casting shortlist, Director?”
“Yeah. What movie was it again? I watched one of Se Kyung’s films and immediately pictured her for this role.”
Tae Jo recalled Director Ji’s screenplay titled “Hunting” and Se Kyung’s face.
Though it was only a working title, the word “hunting” evoked a mood matching the script’s occasionally brutal, blood-splattered scenes.
Was the director seeing her differently somehow?
Yoon Se Kyung, whose gentle face seemed incapable of killing even an insect, starring in a violently intense production?
When I think of Yoon Se Kyung and blood, all I can picture is her shivering adorably on a cold day, nose bleeding.
“So, Director—you’re seriously considering Yoon Se Kyung for this role?”
Is it really okay to invest 10 billion won like this?
While Tae Jo looked deeply concerned, Woo Hyun—since it wasn’t his money—cheerfully chattered away beside him.
“She’s my top choice—but only if Se Kyung agrees to do it.”
“What exactly did you see in her? I just can’t picture it.”
“I don’t remember clearly. I’ll let you know once it comes back to me.”
Director Ji, excited all by himself, enthusiastically resumed eating.
“This food is really good.”
“Right? I’ve heard their yukhoe bibimbap is amazing too. Should I order some more?”
Seeing Director Ji’s appetite return, Woo Hyun eagerly agreed and placed another order.
After finishing their hearty meal, Tae Jo saw Director Ji off and returned to the office in Woo Hyun’s car.
“You’re back.”
As soon as he entered the office, Secretary Kim greeted him and handed over a small shopping bag.
“What’s this?”
“Ms. Yoon Se Kyung stopped by earlier and left this. She asked me to give it to you, saying it’s for the CEO.”
“For me?”
Tae Jo opened the bag and checked its contents. It was the perfume and diffuser he’d asked Se Kyung to get for him.
“Oh, this. Thank you.”
He waved the shopping bag and walked into his office. After taking off his jacket, Tae Jo pulled the diffuser from the box and sniffed it.
“Is it similar?”
It kind of smelled like it—but also kind of didn’t.
Since he was relying solely on memory, he couldn’t be certain. He could only guess it felt somewhat close to the scent he remembered.
Tae Jo also took out the perfume from its small box. He spritzed it into the air—sweet fragrance drifting into his nose.
“Hmm… seems a bit different though….”
Leaning back in his chair, he mumbled languidly.
Was it different because the formula had changed? Or because it carried traces of Se Kyung’s own natural scent?
“…”
As the lingering fragrance faded, he spritzed again.
Closing his eyes, Tae Jo let the aroma envelop him.
His sensitive sense of smell soaked in the sweetness.
He wasn’t sure about much—but he knew one thing for certain.
The only person around him who smelled this sweet
was Yoon Se Kyung.
Inside the broadcasting station’s waiting room.
Se Kyung sat before the vanity, fiddling with the pre-received interview questions.
She’d memorized her answers since yesterday but was reviewing them once more before filming.
Yet her focus didn’t last long—beneath the surface, a half-forgotten memory slowly resurfaced.
“What on earth does he plan to do with that perfume?”
That morning, a hotel staff member had delivered a package addressed to her. It was the perfume and diffuser she’d ordered from the workshop last time.
While setting aside what she’d prepared for CEO Jin, she replayed their conversation in her mind.
She’d asked if he was buying it as a gift for a woman since he clearly wouldn’t use women’s perfume himself—and he’d countered by asking if she disliked the idea of someone else using her scent.
He’d quickly added it was just a joke, of course.
He’d also mentioned that Tae Jo would be keeping the perfume himself, saying he needed to verify something.
But what could he possibly verify using her perfume?
“Could it be…?”
She briefly considered that fateful night they’d spent together—but immediately shook her head, dismissing the idea.
That was ages ago. The kind of man who couldn’t even remember sleeping with her—would he really recall her scent?
“Maybe he really does intend to give it to someone.”
Even if he didn’t like her, Tae Jo had said he liked that fragrance.
Perhaps he wanted to recommend it to his girlfriend—or even buy her a similar one.
Maybe that’s why he asked me to order it alongside mine—to compare them. And that “just kidding” remark afterward? Probably just a cover-up so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
Honestly, the most plausible explanation was that he wanted to give it as a gift to someone else.
“If only he’d given it to me directly—I could’ve pretended not to know and asked him again.”
She was slightly curious. What kind of woman did CEO Jin like?
Certainly not just someone conventionally pretty—he was the man who’d turned down confessions from some of Korea’s top actresses.
“Seok Joo sunbae probably knows.”
Moon Seok Joo, as Jin Entertainment’s very first signed actor and a founding member in all but name, had known the CEO longer than anyone. If the CEO had a new love interest, Seok Joo would surely know.
But…
“I can’t very well ask him myself.”
Even if CEO Jin and Director Kang teased her by calling her “Gom,” if she outright asked about it, even a slow bear would catch on to her feelings.
Knock knock.
“Yes?”
At the sound of knocking, Se Kyung turned around. Je Hoon entered the room, followed closely by Yoo Na peeking in from behind him.
“Se Kyung-ah!”
Yoo Na waved and stepped into the waiting room. Se Kyung had invited her over to receive souvenirs from her honeymoon—and Yoo Na arrived with both arms full of luggage.
“Why did you bring so much? And how was the honeymoon?”
“Amazing! Absolutely wonderful.”
Yoo Na clasped her cheeks with both hands and swayed her body playfully.
Though she had plenty she wanted to share, she cast a quick glance at the single man beside her and held back, considerate of his presence.
“Oh! This is your gift. I bought everything that was famous there. This is macadamia chocolate, this is Kona coffee, and this is Lehua honey. I bought this honey too—the bear-shaped bottle was just too cute!”
Yoo Na shook the honey bottle shaped like a teddy bear and then handed a box of chocolates to Je Hoon, saying it was for his manager.
“Huh? You’re giving me some too?”
“Of course! Do you think celebrities travel alone? We’re not about to ignore the people beside us. I’m sure you already treat her well, but please continue taking good care of our Se Kyung.”
“What do I— Anyway, I’ll enjoy it. Don’t worry, noona—I’ll serve her with everything I’ve got.”
Yoo Na burst into laughter at Je Hoon’s boastful remark. Just then, a staff member entered to announce filming would begin soon.
“What should we do? We don’t have much time. Yoo Na, what are your plans? Will you wait here a bit?”
“No, I just came to give you your gift and head off right away. I’ve got someone else to meet too.”
Yoo Na waved her hands, telling Se Kyung not to worry about her. Se Kyung walked her out to the elevator as they left the waiting room together.
As the two walked down the hallway—
“Oh, Ms. Se Kyung.”
Recognizing the voice from the opposite direction, Se Kyung looked up. Seeing a familiar face, she gave a polite nod.
“Hello, PD Lim.”
“Yeah, long time no see. I’ve been watching your recent appearances—they’re great. Oh, Yoo Na, it’s been a while for you too?”
PD Lim greeted Yoo Na familiarly. Back when they were active as singers, he’d been the PD in charge of music shows.
“Yes. Have you been well?”
“Same old, nothing special.”
“Are you still handling music programs?”
“No, I’ve moved on to something else. But Yoo Na—has it really been that long? Three years? Four? I haven’t seen you on screen lately. Planning a comeback?”
“No, I came today just to see Se Kyung. I got married and brought back souvenirs from our honeymoon in Hawaii to give her. Oh! Here, PD Lim—have some macadamia chocolates too.”
“Oh, thank you. Wait—you got married? Hmm…”
PD Lim tapped his shoulder lightly with the chocolate box, lost in thought.
“Yoo Na, what have you been up to these days?”
“Me? I’ve been working as a yoga instructor and occasionally posting videos on YouTube.”
“Really? Any plans to return to broadcasting?”
“Me? Broadcasting?”
Why is he asking that?
Yoo Na blinked her big eyes and glanced at Se Kyung, who gave a small nod as if urging her to be honest.
“It’s not that I’m completely uninterested…”
But nobody’s been asking me to come back either…
As Yoo Na trailed off, Se Kyung suddenly remembered something and let out a short gasp.
“Oh! PD Lim—you’re currently producing that variety show where celebrity couples appear together, right?”
“Yeah. That’s exactly why I’m asking.”
PD Lim nodded and looked directly at Yoo Na.
“Yoo Na, would you be interested?”
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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