Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 299: Han Woo-Ju (3)

[Everyday V10.1]

[Date: March 17, 2021]

-01:00 p.m.: Meeting regarding the copyright lawsuit for Hwaranjeon. (Report: Assistant Ms. Han Woo-Ju, accused of stealing the scenario from her mentor, Writer Yoo Sun-Jung.)

For an unknown reason, the entry in my planner remained unchanged.

It made sense, though—someone as relentless as Yoo Sun-Jung wouldn't just sit back and watch a project she had her eyes on slip away.

After thinking it over for a moment, I decided to seek help.

"Ms. Han, there's still one more place we need to visit. Let's hurry."

Han Woo-Ju looked at me while still on the phone. "Wh-where to?"

"To Ms. Lee Ji-Yeon's place."

With limited broadcast slots, the industry was like a battlefield with fierce competition over what little opportunities there were. In that dog-eat-dog world, Yoo Sun-Jung was an expert at leveraging her reputation to her advantage. To take on someone like Yoo Sun-Jung, we needed an ally with an even stronger reputation—and that ally was none other than Lee Ji-Yeon.

Han Woo-Ju nodded in understanding. "Oh, okay. Just a moment. Let me finish the call with my dad."

Han Woo-Ju then spoke into the phone. "Dad, I'll send Woo-Hyuk down, so schedule the surgery right away. Got it?"

-I got it, sweetheart. And you know how much your dad loves you, right?

Han Woo-Ju blushed from her father's warm and affectionate words. "What are you saying? That's embarrassing! I'm hanging up now."

After ending the call, Han Woo-Ju's face was bright red. "I'm just more comfortable speaking in the Busan dialect[1] so with my dad..."

Han Woo-Hyuk smiled. "You were speaking so thickly in dialect, and now you're embarrassed?"

Han Woo-Ju bit her lip and pinched her brother's arm tightly.

Hann Woo-Hyuk flinched. "Ahhh! What was that for?"

"Hurry up and go check on Dad!"

"Alright, alright."

However, I stopped Han Woo-Hyuk. If he was going to help his sister, he needed to understand the situation as well.

I said, "Woo-Hyuk. I'll take you to Seoul Station later, so come with us for now."

Han Woo-Hyuk nodded in agreement. "Oh? Okay, sure."

Then I called Lee Ji-Yeon.

After explaining Han Woo-Ju's situation, Lee Ji-Yeon readily agreed.

-Got it. Come on over. We'll discuss everything in detail after I see the script.

Lee Ji-Yeon didn't get along well with Yoo Sun-Jung, because Yoo Sun-Jung often mentioned Lee Ji-Yeon to boost her own fame. Recently, Yoo Sun-Jung had even engaged in media play, claiming she was preparing a work that would surpass In the Name of God.

"Okay, Ms. Lee! We'll head there right away."

-Alright. See you soon. Drive safely.

After ending the call, I headed to Lee Ji-Yeon's house with Han Woo-Ju and Han Woo-Hyuk.

***

On the way to Lee Ji-Yeon's house, I cautiously asked, "Ms. Han. When you start writing, do you plan to use assistant writers?"

Han Woo-Ju nodded her head from the back seat. "If the assistant writers are competent, it's definitely good to have help. Long series are too much to handle alone."

Han Woo-Ju emphasized that all she wanted was her name to be written on the script for Hwaranjeon.

At that moment, a rather bold idea crossed my mind. 'I should try to recruit Lee Ji-Yeon.'

In my past life, Lee Ji-Yeon had served as an assistant writer for her own mentee, Kim Soll-Ip. However, she had written two of the 24 episodes, making her more of a co-writer than an assistant.

If my plan succeeded, Yoo Sun-Jung wouldn't just be facing off against Han Woo-Ju in a copyright lawsuit. She'd also have to contend with Lee Ji-Yeon.

Of course, I planned to be completely transparent with Lee Ji-Yeon about what could happen.

As these thoughts raced through my mind, we arrived at Lee Ji-Yeon's house. When we approached the parking lot, the gate was lifted automatically.

Once we parked and got out of the car, Han Woo-Ju and Han Woo-Hyuk looked around in awe. The expansive lawn and grand mansion clearly left them impressed.

"Wow! This house is amazing."

"As expected of Ms. Lee... even her home is something else."

The siblings seemed clearly overwhelmed by the sheer size of Lee Ji-Yeon's house.

I smiled. "Ms. Han, you could live in a place like this one day too if you succeed."

Han Woo-Ju quickly waved off the idea, saying it was impossible.

However, if she managed to make Hwaranjeon a success and reclaim the profits from her previous work, Under the Big Tree, living in such a mansion wouldn't be out of the question.

We crossed the yard and reached the entrance, where Lee Ji-Yeon came out to greet us personally. "Welcome, Team Lead Jung. And don't be shy, you two, come on in."

Han Woo-Ju and Han Woo-Hyuk bowed deeply in a polite manner.

"It's an honor to meet you, ma'am! I'm a huge fan!"

"H-hello."

Lee Ji-Yeon smiled warmly at their greetings. "I'm glad you're here, Writer Han. And you too, Woo-Hyuk."

Startled, Han Woo-Ju quickly lifted her head. "Wr-writer? No, I couldn't possibly..."

Lee Ji-Yeon met her gaze and said, "I heard you wrote Under the Big Tree, didn't you?"

"Yes... I did."

"Then that makes you a writer. Or do you not care about your own work?"

It was as if Lee Ji-Yeon was asking Han Woo-Ju if she would abandon her creation like a mother abandoning her child.

In response, Han Woo-Ju shouted, "No, no, Ms. Lee! I wrote it! It's my work, and I put everything I had into it!"

Seeing the earnest look on Han Woo-Ju's face, Lee Ji-Yeon finally smiled. "Now that's more like a writer. You can't just throw away your baby like that!"

Lee Ji-Yeon's words about treasuring her work seemed to give Han Woo-Ju a renewed sense of determination.

"Yes! I understand!" exclaimed Han Woo-Ju.

"Alright, enough with the introductions. Let's go inside and talk, shall we?"

I couldn't help but admire Lee Ji-Yeon. She had only said a few lines, but her words had a remarkable impact on Han Woo-Ju's spirit.

"Yes, ma'am."

We followed Lee Ji-Yeon into the living room.

***

After hearing the full story, Lee Ji-Yeon nodded. "Yoo Sun-Jung... I always thought she was the type to do that."

Lee Ji-Yeon mentioned that she had heard rumors about Yoo Sun-Jung stealing ideas from her assistant writers and even taking credit for their scripts. However, since the assistant writers never spoke up, nothing was ever confirmed.

Han Woo-Ju looked at me and said, "I was able to muster the courage thanks to Mr. Jung's persuasion. I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for his help."

Lee Ji-Yeon looked at me and smiled. "Well, Yoon-Ho always finds a way to get involved in everything. But going up against Yoo Sun-Jung won't be easy. Are you sure Hoop Entertainment is ready to see this through to the end?"

I nodded. "Yes. We've chosen Ms. Han's work for Yoo-Jin's first lead role."

This was a clear declaration that I had no intention of backing down.

At that moment, Lee Ji-Yeon narrowed her eyes and gave me a scrutinizing look. "You're taking on a new project when you haven't even finished mine yet? And with Yoo-Jin as the lead too?"

I smiled sheepishly, trying to dodge the question.

"If I'd known this, I wouldn't have agreed to help!" grumbled Lee Ji-Yeon.

I scratched my head and apologized. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lee."

Lee Ji-Yeon grumbled that she had planned to cast Yoo-Jin again in her next project, but that was exactly why I hadn't mentioned Yoo-Jin's name from the start.

Lee Ji-Yeon stared at me for a moment and then sighed deeply as if accepting defeat. "Sigh~ Alright, Yoon-Ho. But next time, Yoo-Jin has to star in my project as the lead. Okay?"

In about a year and a half, Lee Ji-Yeon would release How to Live in a Beautiful World, which would achieve an average viewership ratings of 21%.

Even though that was an impressive rating, I responded playfully, "Well, as long as the script is good."

After all, there would be another project around the same time with similar viewership ratings.

Lee Ji-Yeon puffed out her chest with confidence. "What do you mean, 'as long as the script is good'? I'm Lee Ji-Yeon, you know!"

Nonetheless, when it came to choosing projects, I didn't want to be swayed by anyone.

Unable to break my stubbornness, Lee Ji-Yeon eventually took a step back. "You never make things easy, do you? Fine. I'll write such a compelling script that you'll be begging to cast Yoo-Jin in it. Don't come crying to me later, Yoon-Ho!"

Fortunately, Lee Ji-Yeon took it in stride, and we moved on smoothly.

She said, "Let's see the synopsis and the first episode."

"Oh, sure."

I handed her my tablet which contained the synopsis and first episode of Hwaranjeon.

"This is it? Hwaranjeon?"

"Yes."

As Lee Ji-Yeon read the file, a small smile appeared on her face. "A fusion traditional drama set in the Silla era?"

While Lee Ji-Yeon read with an intrigued look, I quietly placed a cup of coffee in front of her. Without taking her eyes off the tablet, she reached for the cup and took a sip.

I also offered coffee to Han Woo-Ju sitting beside Lee Ji-Yeon, but she was too nervous to take even a sip.

Five minutes passed as we waited in silence.

Finally, Lee Ji-Yeon looked up from the tablet and let out a long sigh. Then, she stared at us with a sharp glint in her eyes. "What is this? It's really good!"

Han Woo-Ju's face lit up at Li Ji-Yeon's brief but enthusiastic evaluation. "D-do you think so?"

"Yes. The characters are well developed, and the story is engaging right from the start. It's been a while since I've seen something this solid."

Coming from Lee Ji-Yeon, who was hailed as one of Korea's top writers after the success of In the Name of God, this praise meant the world to Han Woo-Ju.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she shouted, "Thank you so much, Ms. Lee!"

"What are you thanking me for? I'm just saying it as I see it."

Then Lee Ji-Yeon turned to me and asked, "I'll help. But how far are you willing to go with Sun-Jung?"

I replied immediately, "I'm prepared to go all the way."

In my past life, Yoo Sun-Jung had erased Han Woo-Ju from the writing industry. Seeing that the entry in my planner still hadn't changed, it seemed likely she would try the same thing again.

That's why I was planning to completely push Yoo Sun-Jung out of the drama industry.

Upon hearing this, Lee Ji-Yeon nodded in agreement. "Okay, I'm in. If she's a thief who steals scripts, then she shouldn't be allowed to set foot in this industry. I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Thank you so much, Ms. Lee."

Lee Ji-Yeon then asked, "So what's your plan?"

I smiled and began to outline the strategy I had in mind.

***

"Are you asking me to be an assistant writer?" Lee Ji-Yeon asked.

"Yes."

Lee Ji-Yeon stared at me with a dumbfounded expression, utterly taken aback.

Hwaranjeon was a 50-episode long drama, and I was asking her to take on one of the episodes entirely, writing it herself.

Given that there was already a detailed synopsis of the plot, setting, and characters, it was feasible within the framework.

However, this was more than just a simple request—it was a trap of sorts. My plan was to keep Lee Ji-Yeon's involvement a secret, and I'd reveal Lee Ji-Yeon's role if Yoo Sun-Jung tried to sue.

For a moment, Lee Ji-Yeon's shoulders shook. Then she suddenly burst out laughing. "Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Meanwhile, Han Woo-Ju sitting beside me looked completely bewildered. She was supportive of my suggestion of getting an assistant writer, but she had never imagined I would suggest for Lee Ji-Yeon to be her assistant.

While Han Woo-Ju was in a state of shock, I patiently waited for Lee Ji-Yeon's laughter to subside.

Finally done laughing, Lee Ji-Yeon looked at me with a mix of admiration and amusement. "Yoon-Ho, you're really something else. How do you come up with these ideas?"

"Does that mean you agree?"

Instead of answering me directly, Lee Ji-Yeon turned to Han Woo-Ju. "Shouldn't the main writer be the one to approve?"

Han Woo-Ju blinked in surprise.

I asked, "Ms. Han?"

"Y-yes?" Han Woo-Ju stuttered.

I continued, "What do you think about having Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon as your assistant writer?"

Clearly overwhelmed, Han Woo-Ju stammered, "Uh, um, well, that's..."

Then Lee Ji-Yeon gently prodded her with another question. "Main Writer Ms. Han, is it okay if I handle an episode of your work?"

Faced with Lee Ji-Yeon's kind tone, Han Woo-Ju nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! Of course! It would be an honor, Ms. Lee!"

Han Woo-Ju stood up abruptly and bowed deeply.

Lee Ji-Yeon smiled playfully. "Where have you seen a main writer bowing to their assistant? You should be bossing me around! From now on, just call me 'Writer Lee'."

Han Woo-Ju looked like she was about to cry, insisting she couldn't possibly do that.

Seeing her distress, Lee Ji-Yeon burst into laughter again and assured her it was all just a joke.

With the atmosphere now lighter, Lee Ji-Yeon turned to me and asked, "Yoon-Ho, how did you come up with such a bold idea? What would you have done if I didn't agree?"

I grinned. "I wouldn't have tried this with just anyone. But I knew you'd say yes because the script is good. I'm right, aren't I?"

Lee Ji-Yeon nodded in agreement. "Alright, then. I'll help you out this time. And feel free to use my name whenever you need it."

Despite knowing the potential conflict with Yoo Sun-Jung, Lee Ji-Yeon agreed to side with us.

Grateful for her generosity, I bowed deeply. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Lee!"

From that moment, we began discussing how to proceed with the script.

First, I sent the 30-page synopsis, which outlined the major plot points, to Lee Ji-Yeon.

Once Lee Ji-Yeon had familiarized herself with it, we decided that she would work on episodes 2 and 6 to flesh out the details under Han Woo-Ju's guidance.

The plan was to have Lee Ji-Yeon enhance the specifics with Han Woo-Ju setting the overall direction.

"Can I add some minor characters as I see fit?" Lee Ji-Yeon asked.

Han Woo-Ju replied readily, "Yes, of course."

Lee Ji-Yeon continued to boost Han Woo-Ju's confidence as they discussed the project.

At that moment, the front door swung open and Kim Soll-Ip entered, carrying bags of snacks in both hands.

Setting down the tteokbokki and soondae, Kim Soll-Ip asked teasingly, "What's going on? You're having fun without me?"

Lee Ji-Yeon had invited Kim Soll-Ip over, and after hearing about the situation, Kim Soll-Ip offered to help as well. She explained that she understood exactly how Han Woo-Ju felt, having been an assistant writer herself.

Lee Ji-Yeon glared at her, pretending to be offended. "Really? After all I've done for you, you're saying you relate to this?"

Kim Soll-Ip replied, "Come on, Ms. Lee~ You know I wasn't talking about you. I was just speaking generally about how tough it can be for assistant writers my age."

And so, Han Woo-Ju suddenly found herself with two of the top writers in the country—Kim Soll-Ip of Blue Sky, which had over 25% viewership ratings, and the immensely popular Lee Ji-Yeon—working as her "assistants."

Still in disbelief at her good fortune, Han Woo-Ju could hardly believe what was happening.

Then I gave her one last piece of advice. "Mrs. Yoo will likely call you when you don't show up at the office. When she does, here's what you should say."

I continued, "Tell her she should speak with your talent agent from now on."

Han Woo-Ju nodded resolutely. "Got it, Mr. Jung. I'm counting on you!"

Despite gaining the support of Lee Ji-Yeon and Kim Soll-Ip, the entry in my planner still remained.

The next day, I finally understood why that entry hadn't disappeared.

1. Busan is a city in the Gyeonsang province. All the cities in the province have the Gyeonsang province dialect, but they also sound slightly distinct ☜