Kang Rojun’s brain short-circuited as he stared at the top actress sitting across from him, Choi Rina.
‘…What did she just say?’
Her face was hidden behind a mask and cap, but if they had not been there, his dazed expression would have been plain to see. Of course it would. Choi Rina had just dropped a bombshell.
‘Sh-She said she’d play the female lead in my piece of literary garbage??! Choi Rina herself???’
It was none other than Choi Rina, an actress who had devoured the entire acting world. She had volunteered to play the female lead in *Rental Lover*.
‘Why on earth??? What? Why??’
Rojun simply could not understand.
Wasn’t someone at Choi Rina’s level the kind of star who could waltz into projects by the biggest names in the industry?
But *Rental Lover* was only a one-act drama, and the writer who had penned it was none other than complete newcomer Kang Rojun. For a moment, he remembered the days he had dashed off *Rental Lover* halfheartedly. He had even chuckled to himself and muttered, “Why am I writing this kind of crap?”
Was this a joke? It had to be a joke, right?
Yet no words suggesting a joke came from Choi Rina’s lips as she sat across from him, smiling with her eyes. Instead, she drove the point home.
“For the record, I’m not joking. I’m serious.”
That’s exactly what makes it so strange—you’re serious?
Rojun’s eyes were filled with question marks, but Jeong Suryeong, the PD sitting to his right, seemed completely at ease. It was as if she had anticipated Choi Rina’s bombshell declaration.
“Really? You want to do *Rental Lover*? Hmm—why all of a sudden?”
When Jeong Suryeong asked with even a smile on her face, Choi Rina answered.
“As I said, I really enjoyed reading *Rental Lover*. Ever since I finished it, the story hasn’t left my head. Besides, it’s a one-act drama directed by you, PD. How could I resist?”
“What did you find interesting about *Rental Lover*?”
“The premise is fresh. The characters have depth, too. The female lead, who has rock-bottom self-esteem and is a shut-in, and the rental lovers who approach her. At a glance, it looks like a romantic comedy, but the lovers all have serious flaws, which introduces an unusual variation with elements resembling a thriller. It’s the kind of story that can only be told in a one-act drama, which made me want it even more, and—”
For several minutes, Choi Rina rattled on about *Rental Lover*. Kang Rojun listened in amazement. She really had read it properly.
Jeong Suryeong folded her arms.
“You read it yesterday, didn’t you? You analyzed it quickly.”
“Oh my? You know I’m a hard worker, even if I don’t look like one.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“You’re doing it again.”
The two exchanged something resembling playful banter, and Jeong Suryeong shrugged.
“But this is a one-act drama, so we can’t match Top Star Choi’s fee. If we paid your usual rate, we’d have to fold before we even got our hands on a camera.”
It was true. Choi Rina’s fee as one of the current top five actresses in Korea was beyond imagination. Considering her recognition and influence, the production budget for *Rental Lover* could not possibly cover it. Choi Rina surely knew that as well, because she did not react as though it were a big deal.
“I know, but I’ve saved a lot of money. I’m not particularly greedy, either. Just pay me the fee you originally had in mind for the female lead. Then there won’t be a problem, right?”
Was she serious? Rojun’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at Jeong Suryeong, who answered at once.
“No problem at all. But have you talked it over with your agency head?”
“No. But I’m taking a break right now, and the one-act drama will only take a month or two to shoot anyway. Even if the fee is low for now, *Rental Lover* has decent artistic value, doesn’t it? A larger project could come along afterward. I can persuade my CEO. It won’t be difficult.”
“That’s true. CEO Kim can never say no to you. Still, hmm…”
“Why? Were you preparing another actress?”
“I’m Jeong Suryeong. Of course I had my radar running. I can’t explain all the circumstances, but I was thinking of making *Rental Lover* bigger despite it being a one-act drama. But, in good conscience, I was thinking of going with an appropriate A-lister rather than an S-tier star like you.”
That was not the truth. Jeong Suryeong had been planning to contact the S-tier top actresses, including Choi Rina. Connections were a cost-effective weapon in the entertainment industry, and Jeong Suryeong was quite skilled at wielding that weapon. Choi Rina had simply taken the bait before she had even cast it.
Unaware of that, Choi Rina smiled sweetly.
“Then I’ll do it. S-tier is better than A-tier, after all.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Big decisions were being made right before his eyes, though Rojun had no idea what was going on. Once he had calmed down somewhat, he decided it would be best to keep his mouth shut. Jeong Suryeong, meanwhile, had been steering things exactly according to the plan she had devised and changed the subject.
“I watched your latest film, Top Star Choi, and it was great—but it’s still a little different in tone from *Rental Lover*, so we should see you act, right?”
“Of course. I didn’t make this decision lightly. I actually read *Rental Lover* yesterday and did some character analysis. I’ll try a few lines.”
Right before Kang Rojun’s eyes, top actress Choi Rina began to act. Choi Rina’s interpretation of the female lead in *Rental Lover*. Who could ever experience something like this in their lifetime? Rojun could only watch her performance as if entranced.
“How was that?”
As soon as Choi Rina finished acting, she returned to her usual emotions. Jeong Suryeong gave her a small round of applause.
“Whew—just as expected from Top Star Choi. You only had a short time to analyze the character, but she turned out very similar to the female lead I had in mind. As for the acting, there’s nothing to say. What do you think, Writer?”
Jeong Suryeong passed the baton to him. Choi Rina also shifted her gaze toward Kang Rojun, who was wearing a mask. Her eyes were as clear as a deer’s. Looking at her, Rojun nearly said, “That was incredible.”
It would not have been empty flattery. He truly meant it. But he could not answer so frivolously.
“I don’t think I’m qualified to evaluate you.”
Choi Rina’s eye-smile deepened.
“Thank you, Writer.”
Jeong Suryeong then wrapped things up.
“Okay, then I’ll proceed on the assumption that Top Star Choi is our female lead. No changing your mind later, all right?”
* * *
After finishing their conversation, Choi Rina left the room before the meal. Kang Rojun and Jeong Suryeong filled their stomachs suitably, then began their proper meeting. Jeong Suryeong, who had tied back her tousled hair, started things off.
“You were surprised, weren’t you? Choi Rina suddenly showing up.”
He had not merely been surprised—his heart had nearly burst—but Rojun toned down the truth a little.
“Yes, somewhat.”
“I’m sorry. Writer Kang Cheolsu is always so understated, so I wanted to surprise you. But you’re calmer than I expected.”
“No. I really was surprised.”
“Choi Rina’s all right, isn’t she? As the female lead?”
“She’s not merely all right. She’s more than enough. I didn’t know something like this was possible.”
“I told you, didn’t I? I’ve got some experience under my belt. Still, this sort of thing is rare, so if word gets out, it’ll cause quite a stir.”
Jeong Suryeong took out the diary she had brought with her and wrote something down before continuing.
“Uh—as I said over the phone, the situation with *Rental Lover* has changed a bit. I was already planning to give it a boost because of you, but landing Choi Rina upgraded the whole thing to megaton scale.”
She explained why she wanted to expand *Rental Lover*. Most of it was because of Kang Rojun. The number-one star of *The Debut’s Grand Finale* was secretly a writer, and that writer was even appearing in his own work—while the female lead was S-tier top actress Choi Rina.
“If we handle this right, it’ll become a truly unprecedented one-act drama. In fact, because it’s a one-act drama, there’s an even greater chance it’ll become a hot topic.”
Kang Rojun got goosebumps just imagining it.
‘It’s really going to be enormous. Even if you set me aside, the female lead is Choi Rina, for crying out loud??’
Jeong Suryeong added another explanation.
“I read the revised version of *Rental Lover* you sent. The overall feel is good, but I’d like to increase the screen time for your role, Lover Number Four. The character setup is fine. Also, add stories for the other lovers. Right now, it’s enough for two episodes, but try expanding it to three. With a production this big, we need at least three weeks of broadcast.”
In other words, she wanted him to flesh it out further. His workload had increased, but Kang Rojun took it lightly.
‘It won’t be difficult. I wrote *Rental Lover* easily enough in the first place.’
He even had quite a few ideas he had jotted down because he had been too lazy to write them at the time.
“Understood. I’ll revise it and send it to you by the end of this week.”
“That fast? Can you manage it? I’d be happy if you can keep up that pace, but you’ll have *The Debut’s Grand Finale* as well.”
“We’re in a brief preparation period before filming, so I can manage. Writing isn’t difficult for me.”
“You really are a genius in every respect. A face genius, and your writing is excellent, too. What’s it like, living as though you’re the only person in the world?”
“Not bad.”
“Hahaha. What would we do if you were witty on top of that?”
Afterward, Jeong Suryeong explained that she planned to raise the expected level of the direction and the staff’s capabilities. In other words, she intended to put several times more effort into it than an ordinary one-act drama. She also informed him of the production status of *Rental Lover*. The staff lineup had been completed, and the first production meeting would begin the next day.
“I’ll handle the script meetings with only you, Writer. We’ll put Choi Rina at the very top of the casting list and start casting in earnest next week. Originally, we were going to go with rookie actors, but we’ll raise the level there, too. It won’t take long, since the female lead is Choi Rina.”
The meeting ended after roughly an hour. Kang Rojun and Jeong Suryeong tidied up their things and—
—Vroom!
They drove back toward the campus in Paju. Before long, Jeong Suryeong, who was driving, glanced at Rojun in the passenger seat. He had taken off his mask and cap.
‘It’ll be exciting to get him on camera. He looked like CGI even on *The Debut’s Grand Finale*, but once we get him into *Lover Number Four* and start shooting, he’ll be incredible. And a two-shot with Choi Rina—hmm. If his looks are good enough, Choi Rina might even be overshadowed.’
Jeong Suryeong gave a small laugh before speaking.
“It’s hectic, isn’t it? Writing while filming *The Debut’s Grand Finale*.”
“It’s manageable.”
“Anyway, since your appearance as Lover Number Four is confirmed, start making time here and there even if you’re busy and slowly practice your facial acting. You wrote the character, so you know the setup well. When the time comes, I’ll take a look at you in something like an audition. We might even run some scenes with Choi Rina. I’ll tell you what needs fixing and give you some advice.”
Rojun nodded and turned his gaze toward the window. He was going to rehearse with Choi Rina? Kang Rojun’s heart began to race.
‘I have no idea what’s happening to my life anymore.’
That was when it happened.
—Bzzzt.
He felt a brief vibration around his wrist. When he checked his smartwatch, a notification had arrived. It was, of course, from the *AI Simulation*.
—[As a new side job has been added to the title “Side-Job Tycoon,” it has been strengthened by +1. We have awarded you 20 coins as a gift!]
—[The title “Side-Job Tycoon” has been strengthened to +2, increasing the bonus coins to 2.]
Kang Rojun was slightly surprised when he saw the notifications, then cheered inwardly.
‘Oh—the title got upgraded!’
The next morning, Wednesday the 29th.
The location was the *The Debut’s Grand Finale* campus in Paju. Just as he had the day before, Kang Rojun was the first among the dozens of participants to wake up. He reached for his phone immediately. Today, before searching for himself on a search engine, he opened the *AI Simulation* app first.
A fairly significant change had taken place.
—[Titles: Side-Job Tycoon +2 / Recognition Monster +1]
—[User: Kang Rojun / Age: 24 / Height: 182.8 cm / Desired Occupation: Idol / Coins Held: 498]
—[Side Jobs: [1] Screenwriter, [2] Actor]
The title “Side-Job Tycoon” had been strengthened, and “Actor” had been added to his side jobs. On top of that—
—[Title Bonus Coins +3]
The bonus coins had risen to three. In other words, starting today, Kang Rojun’s daily coin earnings had increased to eight. The corners of his mouth stretched upward.
‘Eight coins a day. What a steal.’
His coins were already approaching five hundred. With his heart feeling considerably fuller, Rojun immediately changed into workout clothes for his daily mission. His roommates in Room 105 woke at the sound of movement and groaned miserably, but even so—
“Ugh… Let’s go together, Number One.”
“Ah, I’m dying. My whole body’s sore from yesterday’s choreography training. Still, I’ll go too.”
All four of them followed Kang Rojun. When Rojun and his roommates from Room 105 stepped into the hallway—
“Oh—are you all heading out to exercise?”
They ran into PD Woo Hanseok, who was walking toward them. More precisely, PD Woo Hanseok had come to see Rojun.
“Number One, you were holed up in the editing room yesterday afternoon. Sorry.”
“It’s all right.”
“If you’re heading out, shall we walk together?”
“Yes.”
After greeting the people from Room 105, PD Woo Hanseok left the dormitory with Rojun. The two walked toward a park near the dormitory, and Kang Rojun glanced at PD Woo Hanseok beside him, wondering if he was all right.
‘His dark circles look even worse.’
Woo Hanseok’s hair was greasy, his eyes were lifeless, and exhaustion covered his face. He took off his glasses, pressed firmly around his eyes, and spoke.
“I’ve been dying from meetings and editing all night.”
“Are you all right?”
“Hahaha, I’m fine. If the show caused a sensation with a fifteen-percent viewership rating, I should be editing even after I’m dead. A happy death, something like that? It’s all thanks to you, Number One. I’ve been monitoring the public’s response, and tens of thousands of posts went up on our official website yesterday. Seventy percent of them were about you.”
Even as he looked half-dead, PD Woo Hanseok smiled and patted Rojun’s shoulder twice before changing the subject.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
Kang Rojun calmly opened his mouth.
“It’s about the writing project I mentioned before.”
“Oh, the one that won the grand prize in the SBC competition. I heard you met the director yesterday, too. Is production going well? You must be deep in preproduction.”
“Yes. For now. But somehow, I ended up appearing in the project.”
—Freeze.
PD Woo Hanseok stopped dead. His lifeless eyes opened wide.
“……What? Appearing? You mean you’re going to appear in that project as an actor?”
“Yes.”
“So, you wrote the project, and now the writer is appearing in it as an actor as well?”
“Yes.”
PD Woo Hanseok stared at Rojun with a dazed expression.
‘The writer is going to act, too??! What kind of absurd scenario is this??’
He quickly looked around. After confirming that no one was nearby, he moved right up beside Rojun.
“Wait, wait. This is too sudden. Could you explain it in a little more detail?”
Kang Rojun explained everything that had happened with *Rental Lover* so far. Of course, he left out Choi Rina, just in case. PD Woo Hanseok’s expression soon became serious. He was a veteran and a player in this industry as well. It was easy for him to start running the numbers.
‘PD Jeong Suryeong—she’s famous in the drama industry. Judging by the looks of it, she’s building a whole platform around this… If things go well, it could turn into a win-win situation for both of them.’
After stroking his chin, PD Woo Hanseok answered Kang Woojin.
“I’ll meet PD Jeong Suryeong myself.”