Eom So Yeon wanting to step down and Tae Seo Jun insisting on following the contract.

The conflict between Director Yoon Ji Wan pushing to continue as planned and writer Kwon Eun Young who still couldn’t let go of her biased values even though the tide had already turned.

The one who ultimately resolved the tense standoff between these four was Gu Won Hoo.

“The narrative written by Director Yoon is too solid to fail because of one supporting actor. Writer Kwon’s screenplay is also excellent in itself, I can’t stop marveling at it. Moreover, with veteran actors like Tae Seo Jun doing their part, why are you talking about failure prematurely? And since this work is essentially Eom So Yeon’s debut, she won’t be criticized for deceiving the public by revealing it now. Even if it becomes known, it will be just a minor issue, and my CN PR team and I can certainly handle such gossip. Well, if there are any other problems, don’t hesitate to speak up.”

No one objected to President Gu’s concluding remarks. They just exchanged glances of agreement while looking at each other.

There was still time until the drama aired, and everyone acknowledged that President Gu Won Hoo was one of the few capable people who could suppress any public outrage through excellent media play and flexible public opinion manipulation.

Perhaps moved by the praise for the scenario she wrote, even Writer Kwon, who had been on edge until now, was busy biting her rising lips. However, the voice of opposition did not recede from those lips.

But it was a case of trees prospering together.

It wasn’t long after that when Director Yoon Ji Wan, who persuaded Writer Kwon Eun Young, stated the conclusion.

“Alright. Our drama production team absolutely cannot let go of Tae Seo Jun, and there will be no replacement for the role Eom So Yeon is playing. Also, let’s keep the conversation we had here today to ourselves for now.”

Director Yoon, who decided to embrace both the best actor and the rookie actress who was like a ticking time bomb, showed a very businesslike attitude without any particular emotion.

However, at some point, a faint smile had appeared on his lips.

It was then that he suddenly recalled when he first saw Eom So Yeon.

Only Seo Jun and So Yeon remained in the room after everyone else had left.

So Yeon glanced up and down, carefully taking in the same room structure as before, and moistened her lips, which kept drying from tension, with the warm tea Seo Jun had just offered.

Seo Jun also picked up his teacup and focused on So Yeon’s face. Her complexion was pale after enduring such an ordeal.

“So, Ms. Eom So Yeon, you’re determined not to do it until the end?”

Even though the situation had been resolved well, So Yeon maintained a gloomy expression throughout. With her intention to quit clearly written on her face, how could he not know? The reason Seo Jun had So Yeon stay behind when everyone else left the room was different, but it provided a plausible pretext.

“More than that, I’m grateful that you took my side earlier. But that was excessive interference. It’s my business. I should have been the one to argue. Though it probably won’t happen again, I hope you won’t do that in the future.”

So Yeon worried that Seo Jun might get caught up in bad rumors or have his good image tarnished because of her. In that sense, she firmly stated that she didn’t want Seo Jun to interfere in her affairs again.

She was usually a woman of few words. Perhaps he found it amusing that she was chattering away in front of him and even offering sharp advice without hesitation. Seo Jun’s eyes narrowed as he listened intently to So Yeon’s voice.

“While it’s natural that a woman giving birth should be blessed, an unmarried woman having a child should rightfully be condemned? She’s a loose woman? No, that’s not it. It’s because she’s a woman that she can do this great thing. I was simply correcting Writer Kwon’s strange logic, I didn’t take anyone’s side. It seems Ms. Eom So Yeon misunderstood.”

Childbirth, marriage, woman, child.

From those words to the phrases listing her situation, how could they be things that would come out of Tae Seo Jun’s mouth? Even with a little thought, it was impossible not to know that all those words were for her, yet this man was completely feigning ignorance.

“……”

Ah, I want to cry…

So Yeon, her vocal cords locked as she tried to hold back the tears that were about to burst forth, filled her trembling eyes with Seo Jun’s flawless face.

She had endured stubbornly in even harsher situations than today, strong enough to withstand a typhoon without flinching, but that doesn’t work well with Tae Seo Jun. In the midst of this, So Yeon’s voice flowed out excitedly as she brought up her stubbornness.

“It’s the same with you pushing me into Director Yoon’s work. Did you think I would bow my head and express deep gratitude to the director who worked hard for me? No way! I’ve learned, not just learned but learned painfully, that the more easily you get something, the greater the price you must pay. And yet, not knowing I was being pushed into this, I… It only takes a moment to become a fool.”

No matter how well-intentioned, it must just be cheap sympathy, what else could it be? So Yeon, who couldn’t help but think this way, reproached Seo Jun with a sharp tone.

“Is that what you’re dissatisfied with?”

“Even if I’m thirsty, I can’t drink just any water. Because someone who lost that water will surely be suffering from thirst because of me.”

“……”

Seo Jun, who had firmly closed his lips, smirked.

Was it that she didn’t know the ways of the world, or that she knew them too well? Anyway, he had purposely not said anything because he expected this kind of reaction, and that expectation was not off the mark.

But what had this woman gone through to become so tough? Or was she always like this?

Either way, if she left the child she had alone with her parents, she probably didn’t part on good terms with the child’s father. What kind of trash bastard would do that to his child and woman…

Still, for someone who had gone through such a turbulent time, her face remained innocent and youthful.

I was your first man, and you seemed like my first woman too. When I embraced you for the first and last time, it was also the first time my heart felt so overwhelmingly full.

In the face of that clear fact, it was meaningless to attach any other reason.

To be honest now…

It wouldn’t be wrong to say I fell in love at first sight for the first time in my life.

Because from the moment we first encountered each other in the hotel bar, my instincts wanted only you.

That longing might have deceived you and even myself. How clear and beautiful your carefully sparkling eyes were that day…

That must have been why.

It was me who pretended not to be interested in you while luring you into my domain. It was clearly me who held onto you when you said you were leaving, mentioning ridiculous compensation. It was even me who pulled you into bed when I should have been content just looking at you.

On that snowy night, it was me who seduced you, driven by a sudden desire. Wearing the mask of a man agonizing over heartbreak, as if it wasn’t like that at all.

But have you become a thorn in my heart? Whenever I think of you, my heart tingles and now it aches unbearably.

Seo Jun, who had been lost in thought for a moment, raised a faint smile to his lips.

“Shall I tell you why I did it? Being unknown for too long is no good. Especially since Ms. Eom So Yeon is too pretty to just waste away.”

“…!”

My ears must be crazy!

It’s inexplicable why his voice sounds so sweet. So Yeon bit her lower lip as if to steady her weakening heart.

“Let me ask one thing too? Why is Eom So Yeon trying to throw away this golden opportunity? Because of a guilty conscience? Because the start wasn’t clean?”

So Yeon slowly opened her mouth, as if to answer Seo Jun’s question, releasing her lips that had been pressed between her teeth.

“Just now, everyone pushed through with their own intentions without asking for my opinion. But I remained silent. Even though I said I would quit, I couldn’t let go of my ambition. But knowing that the special treatment you gave me isn’t fair, I can’t deceive my conscience till the end.”

It was because she had spoken too honestly. So Yeon’s face, which had been pale white, gradually turned reddish.

It seemed like quite a reasonable declaration of conscience, but Seo Jun’s thoughts were very different from So Yeon’s.

“Not fair? Then you’re saying I’m abnormal. Fine, I’ll admit that.”

With my head and heart so full of you, how could I be normal when they’re going crazy like this? Seo Jun spoke while looking directly at So Yeon with an even deeper gaze.

“But out of the countless actors competing with each other, how many can grasp success? And how many times in a lifetime do you think that path to the top will open up?”

“Both would be harder than a camel passing through the eye of a needle.”

“At least you know that. What I want to tell Ms. Eom So Yeon is that making someone put a rice cake in your hand is also your own ability. But there’s nothing more foolish than expecting to be lucky or to have a decent helper in the harsh entertainment industry. Don’t you know that well too?”

“……”

I know. How could I not?

It’s just that I didn’t respond to each one, but even last year alone, there were countless strange brokers making covert proposals. All of them armed with sweet talk as a weapon, saying that person would take care of everything, so I should spread my wings and pursue my dreams.

So Yeon, knowing well that exchanging plausible temptation for dreams was no different from building a castle on sand, and that the end of it could not be happy, had never regretted it even when she confirmed that her growth as an actress was slow.

“Does Eom So Yeon think there’s nothing but throwing away what you have? I mean, the way to keep your self-respect.”

“I’ve never thrown anything away, nor do I have anything to throw away. Even this time, I’m just trying not to covet something that’s not mine.”

“If Eom So Yeon gives up, it becomes no one’s. Isn’t that a waste?”

“The person who threw something for me to covet will take care of it, I guess.”

“You must mean me, but isn’t it a bit better because it’s me who’s accepting it?”

So Yeon suddenly recalled that thing from long ago. That deal where Tae Seo Jun said he would do anything for her. But feeling strongly that bringing up that incident would only put her at a disadvantage, she tilted her head slightly and gave him a look as if she didn’t quite understand.

Is she a fox or a bear? It was confusing, but what did it matter? Seo Jun spoke softly in a relaxed voice.

“Instead of dismissing an opportunity that came for free, you should make it completely yours when it comes. It’s that accumulated skill that allows you to protect not only your self-respect but also yourself and your people. Even luck that rolls in will quickly run away if you don’t grab it tightly. In that sense, has Ms. Eom So Yeon tried to possess it?”

“Do you think I haven’t?”

Even at this moment, I’m terrified of losing or failing to protect my one treasure.

As So Yeon sharpened her gaze as if even her thoughts might be exposed, Seo Jun chuckled and leaned his upper body against the sofa backrest, wearing a languid expression. It meant that was at least fortunate.

“If you’ve made such efforts, you can do better this time. Ms. Eom So Yeon, you’re a mother, right? Then you should throw yourself into anything for your child’s sake. As long as it’s not something bad. Do you think audiences who want professionals would want to see an actor performing half-heartedly? On the other hand, they always applaud an actor who gives their all, even in a mediocre role.”

To So Yeon, who said she wouldn’t take opportunities given by others, Tae Seo Jun wanted to tell her. That while he may have given her the initial opportunity, everything after that was solely up to So Yeon.

“It means that no matter how many opportunities are given, it’s useless if you don’t do well yourself. Now that I’ve explained this much, you should feel courageous enough to try your best. Don’t you think?”

Will you throw away this heaven-sent chance, or will you grab it tightly and climb up?

Just a moment ago, she had chosen the former of those two options. But her heart, enchanted by Seo Jun’s resonant voice and brilliant eloquence, had somehow tilted sharply towards the side he was pulling.

So Yeon nodded without realizing it.

“……”

This man is too good with words.

Listening to him, it seems there’s no other answer but to do well.

Have I been persuaded?