Prologue (1)
27 was the prime age, it was winter back then.
“Miss Oh Yoon-seo! What had happened? Please explain about the incident!”
That time, when snow fall, thousands reporters were surrounding her house like there was a drama press conference. Camera lights were flashing, and those reporters were screaming at the girl who just came out elegantly from the house.
‘Explain? About what? What did I do wrong exactly?'
Before she was planning to answer the question with the confused look on her face, her manager broke through the swarm of reporters who were holding cameras. His face was pale, like a dead person.
That girl asked the manager who took her immediately to the van.
“Oppa. Why were they like that? Did something happen?”
Today was weird.
She got so much attention from people since young age because of her doll-like beautiful figure, as if God himself sculptured her personally. Wherever she went, she always receive the centre of attention from men and women of all ages.
People envied her, but they liked her because she really had a perfect beautiful face.
A beauty that could easily bewitch every people.
The most beautiful girl in Korea, the beauty representative of Korea. Oh Yoon-seo.
That girl was titled by countless names, but ‘beautiful’ and ‘gorgeous’ had become her well-known title.
She knew about it well, used it to make a debut in entertainment industry easily, and went to the top position easily. She was the type who easily caught people’s attention.
Rather than hating it, she was the type who enjoyed the attention, but for some reasons in her 27 years old age, winter, that day was strange.
She was aware of it easily for she had sharp eyes. Rather than having a good intention for her, the light on those reporters’ eyes who bought recorder was more like wanting to kill her.
“Yoon-seo.”
Hyuk-joon who had worked with her for a long time finally said something to that confused girl.
“What happened?”
Hyuk-joon whose face was sad and had a complicated thought put something on the accelerator in front of that girl, it was some sport newspapers.
Every newspaper’s front page was decorated with her face, and her pupil became bigger as if it would pop out.
[Top Star, Ms. O, had a secret night with a conglomerate!]
[Representative of Pure Girl, Ms. O! Turned Out She is a Fox?]
[Representative of Korean Actress, Ms. O’s Big Scandal! Is it truth or lie?]
***
“It wasn’t me.”
Whispers.
Wherever she went, those negative whispers were heard.
When she went to the TV station, when she had schedule at the radio station, when she was at the theater, when she was at a coffee shop, even when she was at a mart.
People were pointing their fingers at her.
It wasn’t like she had never tried to explain about the scandal. She had a press conference, giving the statement that she wasn’t the person on that rumor, she also said she had never met a conglomerate before, and for some reason the rumor just becoming more out of control.
When she was 26, on spring, she was resting after finishing her drama, but people said she went abroad to give birth there, that rumor was heard by her.
“Sue them.”
“What?”
“I said arrest them all who made stupid rumor like that, sue them all!”
And in the end, it exploded in a flash.
She was debut in her sweet age, 17, and until now, after she turned 27 years old, her image has always been “Pure”. And because of that, people were becoming more suspicious about her. They said there must be something she hid.
In a flash, she became stuck to that image.
Shockingly, she became the centre of rumor with a conglomerate. She did everything. She said they’ve never done that meeting, said the rumor was created by someone who had grudge against her. But they knocked her down by saying she used those conglomerate family’s wealth.
Despite all the truth that was as clear as the day, that girl didn’t receive an offer for scenario anymore. CF offers also stopped coming when she was 27 years old, during winter.
“How about taking a self-reflection time for a while?”
Self-reflection time for a top Korean actress means she’s been demoted to a helpless actress. It was what her CEO agency said.
CEO was worried about her, because after 10 years since she came to the agency, it was their first time shaken by something.
Of course she was planning to reject it, but in the end, it had been decided that she would taking a self-reflection time for a year to avoid creating a controversial public opinion.
It was last spring back then, when she was 28 years old, something happened.
***
“Did you hear any news about Oh Yoon-seo recently? Seriously I have no idea what she is doing now.”
A familiar name was caught by the ear of a girl who was wearing sunglasses, mask and a hat.
There was time when she was wondering if people would recognize her, but it seemed people who were sitting at the table behind her still didn’t realize. She wanted to pretend not to hear that, but there weren’t people who would ignore it when they were being mentioned.
‘Maybe I would get a chance later.’
It had been a year now after the scandal came out.
She had been taken a rest forcefully for a year, and was now thinking to start making a comeback slowly.
It seemed those two boys who were talking were high school students. It might be a small example, but this could be a chance to know what people were thinking about her.
Yoon-seo was now paying attention on listening to the conversation from the table behind her.
“I don’t know. What’s the point of knowing it? She’s a former actress now.”
As those boys were talking, her body was fixed hearing the criticism and her eyes becoming bigger.
‘What did I just hear?’
Her face was full of shock.
“That’s true. Seeing that she isn’t on TV anymore, she must be really done. Speaking of her, how old Oh Yoon-seo is?”
“Perhaps 30? No. 31? Yeah, she’s 31.”
“Gosh! She’s that old? She’s really old!”
“I know. 30 isn’t a lady anymore, it’s aunty.”
“It’s Oh Yoon-seo aunty then?”
“Of course! Since she’s 30. There’s no exception even it’s for Oh Yoon-seo. All this time, maybe she hid it behind her make-up. Don’t you think she has a lot of wrinkles? “
I keep listening to them but they were so mean! An aunty? Aunty?!
And… 30?!
I’m still 29!
It was true that she sequestered herself from the world for a year, but she still had one more year to be 30.
Sure enough, she looked like a straw bag for just listening to that without saying anything.
“Oh Yoon-seo is not 30….!”
She got up from her chair, couldn’t bear it anymore. She turned her back and yelled but found out a woman stood there staring at her, making her body stay still.
“Ms. Writer?”
“Hello. It’s been a while.”
The woman who gave a faint smile to her was the one who Oh Yoon-seo met several times at a TV station. The one who asked to meet in a café, who made her went out of the house after a while.
A broadcasting writer who was trusted by Korean viewers. Oh Yoon-seo shook her head to throw away her awkward face because of Writer Lee Se-jin's arrival.
“Let’s sit first.”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
Writer Lee Se-jin led them, because person who came first lost her confidence.
Oh Yoon-seo who minutes ago got up from her chair now sat back there again.
‘What is it?’
Oddly enough, my heart beats fast.
Staring at Writer Lee Se-jin who sit at her chair and ordered coffee with ease, she didn’t hear conversation about her anymore from the table behind.
Oh Yoon-seo showed her elegant smile, but without knowing the reason she swallowed her saliva when she found out Writer Lee staring at her. Working in entertainment industry for a long time she had met a lot of people, but meeting with this person made her nervous for unknown reason.
“Excuse me….”
“You seem had a hard time this whole time.”
“What?”
“Your face is getting thinner.”
She was about to ask the reason why she called her to come to this place, but then Writer Lee’s sudden words surprised her.
“Ha ha ha. Well, it’s self-reflection time after all…”
“You even lost your confidence. You’re not Oh Yoon-seo I knew before.”
Writer Lee’s words hit her, made her stop smiling.
Oh Yoon-seo stared at Writer Lee Se-jin with her wavering eyes.
Sending a firm gaze to her, Writer Lee opened her mouth once again.
“I think you’re curious why I asked you to meet me. We had exchange greeting, so I will straight to the point now.”
Writer Lee stared directly at Oh Yoon-seo’s stiff face, without hesitation she said that, made Yoon-seo nodded her head slightly.
She had been questioning everything the moment she saw Writer Lee. To be honest, she wasn’t familiar with this kind of meeting. Moreover, when she had to meet with a famous writer during her difficult situation.
“The reason why I want to meet Oh Yoon-seo ssi is, there is something I want to ask.”
“What?”
“Why did you turn down my offer?”
Her eyes were big open listening to what Writer Lee had said.
‘Turn down the offer?’
Yoon-seo couldn’t hide her surprised face after listening to Writer Lee Se-jin’s word.
“I called your agency and told them that I want to work with you, and recently I got the news you turned down the offer. Honestly, I was confident that you’d take my offer, so I was surprised. That’s why I asked you to meet me. Yoon-seo ssi, why did you turn down my offer?”
***
“Yoo, Yoon-seo! Wait!”
Hyuk-jun was about to block her, but she walked faster than him.
“What happened?”
Venus Entertainment CEO, Yeon Jun-seok who was examining some documents raised his head when the door opened.
Yoon-seo took a light step with her red high-heels staring CEO Yeon who wore a black fur coat as he wrinkled his forehead.
“Ha ha.”
Hyun-jun who stared at Yoon-seo lowered his head, she obviously heard his voice, but she just stood still there.
Yoon-seo used her charming lips to raise her voice, and the confrontation with CEO Yeon finally started.
“Is it true?”
CEO Yeon’s eyes wavered hearing to that girl sudden word.
“About what?”
“Writer Lee Se-jin’s drama that will be airing next year, was the role really offered to me?”
“…….!”
“Say something! Is it true?”
Hearing Yoon-seo’s angry tone, CEO Yeon stared at Hyuk-jun who was standing right in front of the door. Holding his hand, Hyuk-jun lowered his head.
CEO Yeon keep looking at Hyuk-jun and Yoon-seo who was angry and felt betrayed. Then he ordered Hyuk-jun to leave the room using his finger.
Hyuk-jun hesitated but then he closed the door and left the CEO room. CEO Yeon put the documents on the desk.
Yoon-seo’s gaze became sharper.
“But in the end, you would just turn it down, wouldn’t you? Didn’t you say you want to take a break from filming a drama for a while?”
“But it’s Writer Lee Se-jin’s drama! It’s obviously would be a hit, why did you turn down the offer?!”
A few months ago, there was a rumor that a famous writer, Lee Se-jin who recently took a break after giving birth to her second child made a contract with a station TV to air a new drama next year.
Every TV station wanted to work on her new drama. Every day, there were articles on which actors would be the lead on that drama. It’s clear that people were curious about who would be the female lead on Writer Lee’s new drama.
She needed to clean her bad image.
Writer Lee’s new drama was the perfect option to clean the stain she had.
Facing furious Yoon-seo, CEO Yeon took a deep breath.
“The deal is done. You don’t have to think about it anymore, Jin-shim. And isn’t it good that your label-mate is cast in a good drama?”
Good my foot!
“I don’t like it. Why should I feel happy if Kim Yoon-mi is doing well? Mr. Yeon, are you really going to do this? You’re so mean to me recently!”
10 years ago, CEO Yeon cast her. He debuted a girl from an unknown countryside into the entertainment industry, he turned her into a Korean representative actress among other million actresses. Of course it was not from acting side, but from her beauty.
“Jin-shim.”
“It’s Yoon-seo! Oh Yoon-seo!”
Despite his knowing about how Yoon-seo hated to be called by her real name, CEO Yeon kept calling her by that name.
[I used to call you by that. I can’t help it.]
It was like that when he met that girl 10 years ago, and now 10 years later it was still same.
He had already been with her since the first day he built the agency, now obviously he felt she was like a family, and for that reason he should say something about it.
With unsatisfied look on her face, Jin-shim threw a gaze to CEO Yeon.
“Oh Jin-shim.”
CEO Yeon bent her head down to meet Jin-shim’s pretty face that was gasping because she was angry.
CEO Yeon refused to stare at Jin-shim even though she bit her lips.
CEO Yeon’s sealed lips were now starting to open.
“It is true that Writer Lee wanted to cast you, Jin-shim.”
“Then why…..”
“But! With one condition.”
Condition?
Jin-shim opened her eyes wide once she heard what CEO Yeon said. He had predicted that kind of response from Jin-shim, he then took a short breathe and mumbled.
“Our Jin-shim’s face is pretty, you have good vibes, but…. Your acting is bad.”
Gaah!
Even though she was burnt by CEO Yeon’s words, she couldn’t do anything except shutting her mouth.
Okay. Okay.
It was true that in today’s entertainment industry, Oh Jin-shim, or known by her stage name Oh Yun-seo, was the best Korean CF star and the most beautiful girl. But she still had not been acknowledged on acting by people.
During high school days, ignoring the havoc entertainment world she made a fancy debut. Hundreds CEO had made her star, but she had always been labeled as “Poor Acting” actress. Of course, nowadays her acting skill was a little bit better. Back then, she would avoid top level actresses many times.
It was true that many helpless actors wanted to work on Writer Lee Se-jin’s drama ‘to be born as a pro actor.’
CEO Yeon opened his mouth seeing Jin-shim frowned and bit her lips.
“Jin-shim. Try to understand me. Frankly speaking, if we were to compare your acting skill with Yoon-mi, she got more acknowledgment….”
“Does being competent have something to do with having a good acting skill?”
Jin-shim yelled at CEO Yeon who liked Yoon-mi's acting skill.
“I could have joined Writer Lee Se-jin’s new drama if I was acting like that!”
Saying something like that, it was clear that Jin-shim was thinking about it and managed her anger. CEO Yeon who a few minutes ago was confused with Jin-shim’s anger now opened his mouth once again.
“Of course I would approve it if you had a good acting skill. But it’s quite difficult regards your situation.”
“What does it mean?”
“There’s another condition from Writer Lee.”
CEO Yeon told Jin-shim who wrinkled her forehead.
“A perfect skill other people can’t do.”
“…..!”
“If you want to join her drama, you should receive acting training, so you could really get into the role.”
Jin-shim’s lips were sealed.
CEO Yeon opened his mouth once again when he saw Jin-shim couldn’t answer him.
“Simply put, you won’t be able to focus on other things. She wants you to work at that place for a few months until you could get into the role. To put it plainly, Writer Lee wants our Great Jin-shim to do field experience.”
What?
Seeing CEO Yeon clicked his tongue, Jin-shim couldn’t say anything. He continued.
“But Jin-shim, since debut days you have never done such training. Field experience.”
CEO Yeon’s words were true. That’s why she couldn’t answer it. CEO Yeon pressed his lips, he did a short breath out watching Jin-shim.
Jin-shim’s pride had been hurt, she didn’t say anything.
“That’s why I rejected it. I did it to protect your pride. You wouldn’t want to go that far to work on Writer Lee’s drama.”
CEO Yeon didn’t want to make Jin-shim’s image gotten worse than already had, so he turned down the offer. He was planning to protect her from another new “poor acting controversy.” Especially in this situation, responses from public wouldn’t be good.
“I’ll do it.”
That moment, CEO Yeon tilted his head hearing Jin-shim’s mumbling words.
Jin-shim said another words loudly once she saw CEO Yeon was waiting for other words from her with a doubt look on his face.
“I said I’ll do it!”
Training, getting into the role, experiencing the real life, actual battles, everything!
“So cancel the rejection now! No matter what happens, I will appear in Writer Lee’s drama!”
To clean that fatal damage, I should join in that drama no matter what!
Jin-shim clenched her fists while looking at the stunned CEO Yeon.
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