Novelist Running Through Time - Chapter 209
Chapter 210 of The Time-Traveling Novelist
It is a well-known fact that if a novelist torments the protagonist of their own novel, they will be reborn as that protagonist in the next life and suffer the same pain.
There is a reason why novelists obey traffic laws. Shouldn’t they at least avoid one-ton trucks?
However, to put it another way, it means that they won’t receive that retribution in this life, at least.
Therefore, ill-tempered and short-sighted novelists often mistreat the characters in their novels.
They might suddenly turn a normal person into a cockroach, make them paint a picture while watching their own daughter burn, or cause them to get into a traffic accident and lose their legs…
The important thing is that as long as they can accept the minor penalty of being ‘reincarnated in another world,’ they don’t have to take any responsibility for how they treat the characters in their novels.
That’s why being a novelist is such a convenient job.
However, the same cannot be said for drama writers.
“Writer-nim!”
If a drama writer mistreats a ‘character,’ the ‘character’ can come and protest in person.
That was why Song Ji-young, the actress who played the role of Kim Chae-yeon in the drama , came to visit Lim Song-i, the writer. Kim Chae-yeon, who had been an ordinary mistress, suddenly became Kim Chae-yeon, who “had an affair while on drugs and died in the first episode.”
To be exact, Song Ji-young was crying like a schoolgirl who had been hit by a dodgeball in gym class, and her agency’s director was acting like her best friend who had come to twist the arm of the little punk who had thrown the dodgeball.
“This is too much!”
“Director, stop… stop… I’m okay…”
“What on earth did our Ji-young do wrong for you to do this to her! If we did something wrong, please tell us!”
Song Ji-young’s manager shouted, his face red with anger, like Guan Yu.
“She’s out in the first episode – !”
That was it.
It was fine for her to play a character who “had an affair while on drugs,” but it was not okay for her to play a character who “died in the first episode.” The number of episodes was a serious matter.
Of course, the role of ‘Kim Chae-yeon’ was a minor character with little to no significance in the plot and one-dimensional lines, but she still appeared from time to time until the seventh episode.
But to kill her off in the first episode…
Wasn’t that like demoting her from a supporting role to an extra?
And since drama appearance fees are paid on a ‘per episode’ basis, Song Ji-young’s appearance fee had suddenly been reduced to 1/7th.
It was perfect news for her manager to start causing trouble.
‘Oh, boy…’
Lim Song-i frowned, realizing that a headache was about to begin.
With the manager of director level visiting her in person, it means that Song Ji-young’s agency must have faced a serious problem.
Lim Song-i felt sorry for the manager who was nagging at her like a mother visiting her injured daughter.
‘Damn it, if only I were 10 years younger…!’
She didn’t mean that she could have won a fight against the manager if she were 10 years younger, but that she could have defeated him with a single harsh word.
It would have been unimaginable in those days for a manager to visit a writer to lodge a ‘daring’ protest.
In those days, Lim Song-i would not have had to be so distressed, and she would have been able to brush off the obstacle with a venomous remark like, ‘Where did you learn to touch the script, you punk?’
No! She could have even slaughtered him without giving him a chance to open his mouth…
That’s because the power of a drama writer in those days was beyond imagination.
However, these days, if she did that, she would surely be stuffed and exhibited as a controversy over power harassment on the set, so Lim Song-i suppressed the murderous intent that was rising deep inside her.
Also, it was a bit awkward to say something mean to someone she had often seen on the same floor for 15 years.
Of course, the agency guys must have known that and sent that guy as a messenger, but what could she do? There are tactics in the world that you have to accept even if you know about them.
“Hey, Ji-hye, don’t do that. Sit down for a moment. Song, stop crying and sit down…”
Lim Song-i soothed the complainants by promising that the amount of ‘Kim Chae-yeon’ would be reduced, but her importance in the drama would increase, and that she would be given more parts in the future as a flashback scene.
However, the great transformation of the script had only just begun,
And it was clear that there would be more than one or two characters in the novel who would be dissatisfied with the writer…
EP 13-Changing
“The writer is crazy, totally crazy…”
I’m sorry, but Kim Byul seemed crazier than Lim Song-i in my eyes.
Kim Byul came to me like the first witness of a zombie movie’s first episode, telling me that ‘a human being ate a human being.’
I checked Kim Byul’s scattered hair to see if there were any bite marks, and then replied as if I were someone who didn’t care, saying, ‘Where in the world are there zombies?’
“How can writer Lim Song-i be crazy?”
“No! She’s totally crazy! The craziest among all the drama writers I’ve ever met!”
Of course, Kim Byul, a veteran of the entertainment industry, belatedly recalled the past and adjusted her position by lowering Lim Song-i’s name by one or two steps in the .
“Oh, isn’t she…? Second? No, there’s that bastard Seo Ju-tae, so third…”
With a confused look in her eyes, Kim Byeol counted on her fingers, determining Lim Song-i as the 5th psycho in the , ranking Kim Byeol as 2nd.
Of course, the 1st place belongs to Gu Yubin. Not the soft and gentle Gu Yubin of now, but the Gu Yubin of that time was a psycho to the point that even thinking about it now gives chills.
By the way, Gu Yuna is out of the ranking. Gu Yuna is not at all psycho. It’s strange that this world cannot accept Gu Yuna, who is not at all psycho.
Anyway, I offered red bean bread and milk to the still bewildered 2nd place psycho.
“Oh? This is fancy? Where did you get it?”
“Director So Tae-ung sends food every month.”
“…And yet you haven’t worked on a project together?”
“Just because I received a gift doesn’t mean I have to work on a project.”
“Poor director…”
I whispered a magical spell in Kim Byeol’s ear, “Mana.”
“Suddenly, he doesn’t seem pitiful.”
Kim Byeol frowned and took a big bite of red bean bread and sipped on the milk.
The sight of her was as desolate as a starving nomad tearing into jerky on the steppes…
As the sweetness entered, Kim Byeol seemed to gradually regain her senses.
Seeing her start to think about practical issues, it was clear that she was coming back to her senses.
“Oh! I forgot to wear a mask on the way to the studio!”
“That’s why you should stop being so absent-minded. What if the paparazzi catches you?”
“Actually, if another dating rumor breaks out this time, it’s already the fourth, so even the fans are like, ‘Oh well.'”
“…What does that mean?”
Kim Byeol subtly changed the subject.
“No, no, anyway, please do something about Yuna!”
“What did Yuna do wrong?”
“Why are you calling Yuna a traitor? She just did what writer Lim Song-i asked.”
“Anyway, what should I do?!”
“Why are you coming to me for that…”
“You’re in charge!!!”
“Fine.”
It felt like she was constantly asking to muzzle a fierce dog, but if Kim Byeol was right, this wasn’t good for Gu Yuna either.
There are people who can’t even open their mouths in front of writer Lim Song-i, so it’s possible that they might take out their anger on Gu Yuna for no reason.
And you never know what might happen in human affairs, but if Gu Yuna already starts to get on the nerves of the broadcasting stations, it could become an unexpected obstacle later on.
“Um…”
As I pondered how to solve the sudden quest thrown by Kim Byeol, I suddenly came up with a good solution and nodded my head.
I was about to share the solution, but Kim Byeol let out a deep sigh with a look of complete despair.
Lim Song-i, a seasoned drama writer, was trying to talk about that room, but Kim Byeol let out a sigh with a frustrated expression.
In the secular world, the only thing left for writers who have transcended is an obsession with art.
Lim Song-i is a 15-year veteran drama writer. The passage of 15 years was evidence of Lim Song-i’s abilities and, at the same time, a time solid enough for connections and power to take root.
Even for someone like Lim Song-i, this incident was a massive accident that was difficult to handle. Ten years ago, there wouldn’t have been a problem. It’s common for writers to completely rewrite the script just before the drama production.
Even if there are complaints, everyone can gather, cheer each other on, and push through with perseverance. However, now it’s not something that can be overlooked like that.
“Why are you suddenly revising the script, writer?”
“If there isn’t a sufficient explanation, we have no choice but to reconsider our investment.”
Now, the drama is no longer art but a business.
Under the boom of overseas OTT investment production companies, the production environment has changed significantly, and entertainment planning agencies that used to be a chaotic labor market have transformed into stable large corporations.
And they did not quietly tolerate unexpected elements that interfered with their business.
The pressure on Lim Song-i was so intense, beyond comparison with crying actors or stubborn managers.
Despite some actors breaching contracts and giving up on the project, and a few major investors pulling out and fleeing, Lim Song-i did not give up on tearing apart and revising the script with Goo Yuna.
The reason was simple.
Lim Song-i could no longer believe in her own writing.
“Lastly, I have to show something.”
Lim Song-i is a 15-year veteran drama writer.
Not just any drama writer, but a successful one.
Having money left in her bank account from a lifetime of writing, receiving honor that is not enviable, and seeing all sorts of actors bowing before her, Lim Song-i, who has experienced the evaporation of the whole world like an illusion, has also transcended the secular world just as a literary figure who experienced the evaporation of the whole world transcended the secular world.
For writers who have transcended the mundane world, the only thing left is an obsessive desire for art.
However, Lim Song-i’s art was brutally trampled on and shattered in the past.
It was trampled on by the very people who once admired her…
‘I’m still okay.’
She is not okay. Lim Song-i’s pride as a writer has already been shattered.
Even if she were to stuff a 170,000 won lunch into her mouth, it would not fill her heart.
Artistic success.
Only that can fill an artist’s heart.
So, even if her reputation built over 15 years collapses, even if she is pointed at by all sorts of people, even if she has to borrow the talent of a child younger than her daughter…
She intends to create a masterpiece.
Anyway, the people who live in this entertainment industry are shallow people who only wag their tails and cling to success.
So, no matter what, she has to succeed.
As long as she succeeds, it doesn’t matter.
If she just succeeds… she can rise again.
“Oh my.”
It was only natural that Lim Song-i, who was like that, would not mistreat the writer who suddenly visited her.
A guitar.
It doesn’t matter that it reminds her of the bitter failure that caused her so much pain.
If only she could succeed with the writer’s help, it was a stain that could be erased.
“Welcome, Writer Moon. It’s nice to see you again, but it’s also a little awkward.”
The writer looked at Lim Song-i’s kindly smiling face.
A kind and sociable smile.
And eyes filled with a sticky obsession.
The writer briefly saw his own reflection in those eyes.
“Hello, Writer. I’m sorry for contacting you so suddenly and visiting you.”
“Oh no! Oh no! If it’s Writer Moon, you’re always welcome. Our friend, Writer Moon, is also working in this studio… Would you like to take a look?”
Lim Song-i’s speech was slow and leisurely, but the content of her speech was already hasty, as she was trying to lay the groundwork to draw her into the drama work.
The writer, who read that haste, smiled bitterly and shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can stay and watch for long.”
“Oh. Is that so?”
Despite the firm rejection, Lim Song-i’s voice remained kind until the end.
It meant that Lim Song-i had not given up on her intention to draw her into the drama work.
So the writer hurriedly pushed the main point.
“Instead, I have a student I’d like to introduce you to.”
And while pushing the main point, he physically pushed in a student.
A student who was frozen stiff.
She was not the best novelist the writer knew…
But she was the best drama writer.
“Oh, oh, hello…?”
An Ju-hee, who was trembling, looked up at Lim Song-i and greeted her.