Days before Han Yooil reached out to Ki Juhyun, Director Yoo Jaeho sat in his office in Sangam, staring blankly at the monitor. His once neatly trimmed hair had grown long and unruly due to his hectic schedule.

“…My mind is all over the place.”

His latest work, <The Last Diner>, had just won the New Currents award at the Busan International Film Festival, beating out strong contenders. Normally, such independent films would premiere in arthouse theaters, but the narrative changed when TN ENM decided to distribute it. Backed by a robust distribution company, <The Last Diner> was enjoying unprecedented popularity for an independent film, surpassing 100,000 viewers. With a break-even point of just 20,000 due to minimal investment, the film’s success was beyond expectations. The flood of texts on Yoo Jaeho’s phone was a testament to his changed daily life.

– Hello, Director. This is Shin Yuri, a reporter from TEN. I’d like to request an interview regarding the Busan International Film Festival.

– Hello, Director. I’m Kim Soojin from Doodream. I have some questions about your upcoming project.

– Hello, Director…

Amidst these messages, the first text Yoo Jaeho responded to was from someone else.

– Hello, Director. How have you been? This is Han Yooil.

It was a message from none other than Han Yooil.

* * *

Hours after receiving Yooil’s text, Yoo Jaeho found himself in his office with the actor.

“Ah, Yooil. You like coffee, right?”

“Of course.”

Yoo Jaeho personally brewed a cup of coffee and handed it to Yooil in a mug adorned with a cute duck character. It was coffee made from Yirgacheffe beans, known for their pleasant acidity.

“The coffee is delicious. Thank you.”

“Haha, this place is actually known for its coffee. People from around here often come by just to take out. Though I haven’t been able to meet many people these days.”

“You’ve been quite busy lately, right?”

“Don’t even start. I’ve never been this popular in my life, it’s dizzying.”

Yoo Jaeho, who had given a friendly laugh, suddenly changed his expression.

“So, what brings you here?”

Instead of answering, Yooil reached into his bag and pulled out a file.

Yoo Jaeho glanced at the opaque file on the table and then back at Yooil’s face. His clear, unblemished face was intriguing.

“What’s this…?”

“Would you like to read it?”

The first emotion that struck Yoo Jaeho was curiosity.

‘What is this?’

“Just reading it, right?”

“Of course.”

“Really, just reading?”

With that reminder, Yoo Jaeho opened the file Yooil had handed him.

‘It’s a proposal.’

He already had numerous proposals waiting for his review, and he was considering writing his own script.

But.

‘If he specifically chose this, it must mean he’s interested.’

Han Yooil was an actor who had never disappointed him, not even once.

Yoo Jaeho held the proposal with a serious face. His hand slowly began turning the pages of the proposal.

And then, his calm face gradually started to change.

* * *

If it’s a school of the arts, it’s a place all aspiring young artists dream of attending – Saetbyeol Art High School.

One day, something strange happens there. A child goes missing. The school is turned upside down. Amidst the lingering unsettling atmosphere… the body of the missing child is discovered.

And that night, another child disappears. The last person to have seen the missing child was Min Hojun, a second-year student at Saetbyeol Art High School and the protagonist of the drama.

The dark outsider, he is shunned by the police and those around him. And then, a girl who claims she can see ghosts appears before him…

“…!”

Yoo Jaeho bit his lip and frowned as he rapidly flipped through the script.

He quickly reached the page marked ‘Act 2.’

“What is this…?”

Yooil smiled slyly and said,

“It might become your next project, Director.”

“…!”

Yoo Jaeho didn’t know, but Yooil had personally pitched the script to Chairman Jang to get him to review the proposal.

Initially, he just listened without a word but eventually nodded.

“Looks good. Once we confirm the director and the writer, let’s schedule a meeting with TN.”

Remembering his conversation with Chairman Jang Jaehyun, Yooil smiled pleasantly.

【Now, all that’s left is to notify TN.】

* * *

TN ENM’s Drama Business Division.

It was already a tiring day, and the rain made it even heavier. The head of the drama department, sitting in the office with a bored face, read the approval request submitted by the team leader and his eyes widened.

“…Saetbyeol High? They want to go ahead with this now?”

At TN, <The Missing Case of Saetbyeol High> was a headache. The director knew many writers personally, including writer Ki Juhyun, and understood her sentiments. However, he was in a position where he had to consider the higher-ups’ circumstances.

He tilted his head as he checked the name of the director.

‘Director Yoo Jaeho.’

Yoo Jaeho.

He was a director who had suddenly become the talk of the town with <The Last Diner>. It was important that he didn’t just make an independent film, but a ‘successful’ independent film.

In truth, the director didn’t know much about Yoo Jaeho. All he knew was that he was a director famous for animation.

If he hadn’t won an award at the Busan International Film Festival, that would have been the end of it.

‘No affiliation, just started making films, so there shouldn’t be any bad relations.’

Above all, <The Last Diner> was a film distributed by TN.

‘This should be okay from the top.’

The director immediately called the team leader.

“Is this all settled? Have you met Director Yoo Jaeho?”

“Yes. He contacted us directly.”

“Really?”

The director asked with a furrowed brow.

“But would writer Ki agree? After all the trouble till now.”

“That’s the thing…”

The team leader scratched his head.

“It was writer Ki Juhyun who first suggested working together.”

“Huh? Really?!”

“Yes. Writer Ki asked to convey that she really wants to work with Director Yoo Jaeho. …Oh, and JJ Entertainment has requested a meeting regarding this matter.”

Hearing the news in succession, the director rubbed his forehead.

A script that no one was paying attention to suddenly approached the threshold of production. This meant someone was forcibly pushing it forward.

“Whoever it is… they’re like a bulldozer, a real bulldozer.”

Clearly, someone at JJ Entertainment must have really liked the script.

At that time, no one could have guessed that ‘someone’ was Han Yooil.

* * *

A few days earlier.

After reading the script for <The Missing Case of Saetbyeol High>, Yoo Jaeho immediately exclaimed that he needed to meet Ki Juhyun.

Yooil quickly contacted her. The appointment was set promptly.

And so, the first meeting began.

At first, it seemed a bit awkward…

“Here, this scene’s ending, I personally really like it. It’s lonely yet chilling… it’d be great if we could get the right atmosphere.”

“Thank you for noticing. Someone suggested adding a kiss scene right here.”

“…You’re kidding! That director? Did he really say that? To suddenly add a kiss scene here?”

“I tell you!”

“Wow, that’s insane!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

‘…’

Just 30 minutes ago, they were awkwardly exchanging first greetings.

‘They’ve become fast friends.’

Yooil quietly watched the two, who seemed to get along as if they’d known each other for ten years.

‘It seems like the project has found its perfect match.’

【Yes. This is good news.】

After the meeting that day, Ki Juhyun reached out to Yooil separately.

– Thank you, Mr. Actor. I’ve been really worried.

Yooil smiled faintly, touched by Ki Juhyun’s sincere words.

“It’s nothing. It’s all thanks to your good writing.”

– …

“Anyone would recognize it as a good project. Even if it wasn’t me, it would have been produced someday.”

Yooil spoke sincerely. After a long silence, Ki Juhyun spoke.

– Really, thank you. Mr. Actor.

Her voice seemed to tremble slightly as she spoke.

* * *

After that day, Ki Juhyun’s demeanor softened. She said she was sleeping better than before, and it showed on her face.

If it had been a terrestrial drama, getting it scheduled might have been a problem.

However, <The Missing Case of Saetbyeol High> was a series optimized for OTT. It was set to be released simultaneously on general programming channels and Newblix. That fact alleviated much of her worries.

Among industry insiders, a release in the first half of next year was considered certain, and articles revealing only basic information started to appear sporadically in portal sites.

【- Upcoming Newblix releases for next year list is out

[(Article link)

Personally, The Missing Case of Saetbyeol High looks interesting]

┗ Didn’t Saetbyeol High start production before? Is it finally coming out?

┗┗ ㄴㄴ I think it got canceled back then

┗ Wow, Han Yooil is the lead.

┗┗ Yooil is really hitting it big.

┗┗ Seems like he’s the most successful among the new male actors.

┗ Honestly, Yooil’s acting is beyond amazing.

┗┗ 2222…

┗┗ 3333333

┗ Ah, I’m excited… I love horror stuff.

┗┗ Seriously, there’s a shortage of good horror.

┗┗ Hope it’s well made.

Yooil closed the window Brion had opened and got out of the car. He was now familiar with the underground parking lot of the Sangam office building.

“I’ll be around here. Call me if you need anything!”

Min Woojin had come along because it was the shooting day for <The Mysterious Garden>. On his way to the set, Yooil decided to drop by Yoo Jaeho’s studio.

Ki Juhyun and Yoo Jaeho were busy with the final revisions, meeting twice a week. That day, Yooil was also able to meet writer Ki Juhyun at Director Yoo Jaeho’s studio.

Yoo Jaeho was already waiting for him, with coffee prepared.

“Big companies do have their perks. Plenty of support. I was really surprised when I saw the preliminary budget proposal.”

Yoo Jaeho laughed heartily but added cautiously, noticing Ki Juhyun’s suddenly darkened expression, “Of course, that doesn’t mean everything’s perfect.”

Listening to their conversation while drinking coffee, Yooil cautiously intervened.

“Director, would it be possible for me to know the detailed schedule for the pre-production phase?”

“Of course!”

Ki Juhyun, sipping her coffee beside him, suddenly asked, puzzled,

“But why do you need the detailed schedule? …You’re not investing in this project, are you?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Yooil replied as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I want to audition.”

“…?”

Yooil’s words left Yoo Jaeho and Ki Juhyun in silence for a few seconds, exchanging bewildered glances.

“You’re joking, right?”

“You, an actor, want to audition?”

Yooil looked back and forth between a flustered Yoo Jaeho and Ki Juhyun.

“Yes. I really want to be part of it. Any role is fine.”

“But… that’s not the point…”

To be so passionately involved in getting the production off the ground and then to say any role would do.

Most actors would naturally think of a lead role in such a situation.

‘Well, this is Yooil.’

Seeing Yooil, who hadn’t changed much since their last shoot, Yoo Jaeho smiled comfortably.

Ki Juhyun, who also burst into laughter, teasingly said,

“What should we do? We already have a favored candidate.”

Then she pointed at Han Yooil and said,

“Mr. Actor, from now on, you’re my ‘Hojun’.”