“Have you seen the revised script?”
The newly appointed main writer of the drama, Min Se-hee, said this while cautiously observing Seo-yeon’s reaction.
What if she didn’t like the changes Se-hee made? It felt like a nerve-wracking moment.
“Yes, it was fine.”
“Oh, thank goodness. To be honest, I still don’t think I’m capable enough to be the main writer…”
“Ah, Min Writer.”
“Oh, I-I’m sorry!”
Director Kim Pil-seok hinted at Se-hee, murmuring uncertainly.
How could a writer lack confidence in their own work, right?
“That kind of talk disrespects our viewers who watch this drama. It’s also disrespectful to the actors who have to trust your script. And to me, too.”
“Yes…”
Min Se-hee looked a little deflated after that.
But Seo-yeon felt a strange sense of concern for her.
‘Min Se-hee…’
For some reason, she recalled having heard that name before.
Seo-yeon’s memories unfurled like pages from countless media she consumed in her past life, including details from games and the entertainment industry.
Although the things she loved in her past life were slowly fading, they would come back to her clearly like pulling the right book from a library when she tried to remember.
So, she quickly recalled Min Se-hee.
However, Se-hee’s work was known not from KMB but from cable channels.
Why she moved from KMB to cable, she didn’t know…
‘But that doesn’t mean she lacks talent.’
If she did, Park Jung-woo wouldn’t have recommended her.
In fact, Min Se-hee would later become quite famous.
“Um, first of all, the previous script by Writer Lim was canceled for some unfortunate reasons, but it was very cleverly scripted.”
“Really?”
Was that so?
Honestly, from an acting perspective, some parts of Writer Lim’s script felt quite absurd.
Of course, having watched dramas in her previous life, she wasn’t too shocked by it.
“Except for the part where the role of Joo Ha-rin was handled poorly, the distribution among characters was very natural. However, that mishandling led to some cracks…”
Min Se-hee pointed to the newly revised scripts.
“I thought it would be good to restore it as much as possible while adding scenes that highlight Joo Ha-rin’s charm. Honestly, there aren’t many parts that have increased her screen time. So, I wanted to emphasize the love line with Park Min-yul more.”
While saying this, Se-hee recalled the part where Park Jung-woo had caught her earlier to discuss.
“I think there’s no need to force a love line while showing charm, but do you have a specific reason for including it?”
“Huh? But… it was something that should have been there from the beginning. This is just restoring it… Is that weird?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it was weird. Just… um, every actor has their strengths and weaknesses. Some might not be ready yet.”
Or maybe, there could be a better direction to take.
Park Jung-woo somewhat recognized that but didn’t feel the need to tell Se-hee.
Seo-yeon would certainly know.
“I think it would be good to listen to the actors’ opinions, as well.”
“But it’s a bit tight on time to revise the script further.”
“Don’t worry, I can manage that. Just trust me.”
Park Jung-woo said with a smile, and Min Se-hee unknowingly nodded in agreement.
After all, declining wasn’t easy when Park Jung-woo was so handsome.
“Ahem! So, there are parts of the dialogue and scenes I want to adjust.”
“Yes.”
Seo-yeon first accepted the newly presented script from Min Se-hee.
It looked like a hastily written draft.
The rawest of the raw.
After checking it, she thought, ‘Huh?’
Seo-yeon opened her eyes a bit wider.
“I rewrote the lines to be more straightforward.”
The relationship between Joo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul had become more straightforward.
In a way, it seemed more like close friends or colleagues.
“But, as you can see, this part displays Joo Ha-rin’s charm. The duet with Park Min-yul.”
The gist was this.
It was a scene where Park Min-yul and Joo Ha-rin were heading to the stage for the final round.
A stage that determines who enters the top ten.
The mission, cruelly enough, required a co-ed duet.
It was a theme song that showcased dancing and singing typical of an idol.
“Before heading on stage, Park Min-yul expresses his hidden feelings for Joo Ha-rin. She shows signs of being swayed by that.”
Honestly, when Seo-yeon had seen the original script, she thought it was a pretty good scene.
Of course, that was before Joo Ha-rin’s role lost its significance.
After it diminished, Park Min-yul ended up feeling distant and awkward.
Originally, Park Min-yul and Joo Ha-rin had been in a couple-like relationship.
“Yes, so I thought forcing a love line would make it awkward, and what do you think, Seo-yeon?”
Min Se-hee’s question prompted Seo-yeon to nod.
However.
“But… it seems the overall plot hasn’t significantly changed?”
In other words, only the relationship between Park Min-yul, played by Ma Yeon-woo, and Joo Ha-rin, played by Seo-yeon, had changed?
The revised script had emphasized their love line.
In essence, it felt like they returned to square one.
“No. Here, Joo Ha-rin is originally eliminated in the auditions. As you know, singing is her weak point.”
That’s why Joo Ha-rin’s importance dwindled from episode 8.
Having said this, Min Se-hee paused for a moment.
“Joo Ha-rin won’t get eliminated.”
“Huh?”
“And what do you think Seo-yeon should show in her relationship with Park Min-yul?”
Seo-yeon blinked at those words.
Usually, an actor performs according to the script, and personal opinions rarely applied.
There were instances when an actor interjected their opinions, but that often led to controversy.
‘Totally chaotic…’
Seo-yeon thought this while quietly observing director Kim Pil-seok, who appeared relaxed.
Could a script change so close to filming be possible?
Or perhaps, could the revised draft be modified and re-created immediately?
Either way, the writer’s abilities would need to shine.
Would they really be able to pull that off so swiftly?
And could a rushed drama maintain proper quality?
‘But…’
Seo-yeon pondered.
Park Min-yul and Joo Ha-rin.
The revised script surely restored Joo Ha-rin’s original screen time.
Included in it was definitely a love line with Park Min-yul.
But if they were to discover that during the climax, it wouldn’t hold the same flavor.
Moreover, the one winning in the auditions should be Joo Ha-rin.
A changed storyline.
‘And the love line.’
The love line couldn’t be omitted.
After all, from the beginning, [Dream Future] was a drama with six leads each having their own coupling.
It would be nonsensical to omit the acting of loving someone just because Seo-yeon didn’t like the love line and found it awkward.
Seo-yeon was an actress now.
She had pride in that role.
She had no intention to lower the drama’s quality just because she didn’t want to.
‘But, it’s a different matter whether I can do it well…’
She scanned the script quickly, recalling Joo Ha-rin’s parts she had seen in her previous life.
Comparing those scenes with the old script.
Just like when she remembered Lee Ji-yeon’s acting during her first CF shoot in childhood.
One scene, then another.
Scene after scene.
And examined the emotions that flowed through each.
What Seo-yeon couldn’t do and what she could.
“…Seo-yeon?”
Min Se-hee observed Seo-yeon silently gazing at the script.
And then—
“Rolling, action!!”
The staff’s shout urged Ma Yeon-woo to move with heavy steps.
Well…
‘This is scary…’
Seo-yeon, no, Joo Ha-rin was quite the challenge for Ma Yeon-woo.
Even now, the vivid images of Cha Seo-ah lingered in her mind.
The other Just X members joked about being cowards, but Ma Yeon-woo felt unfair.
Did they know how it felt to confront her directly on set?
‘Plus, the script changed, and I’m now supposed to get eliminated.’
Of course, Ma Yeon-woo had no lingering thoughts about it.
However, her manager was getting heated.
Wouldn’t that kill Park Min-yul’s significance?
Although director Kim Pil-seok and Min Se-hee promised they would adjust the importance later.
‘Honestly, I could just vanish.’
She was just worn out.
It seemed acting was still too early for her.
Ma Yeon-woo thought that as she ascended to set for the final audition scene.
The set resembled a stage she often saw on music shows.
A very familiar place for Ma Yeon-woo.
As she blankly stared at it.
“What are you doing?”
“!!”
Someone lightly tak tapped Ma Yeon-woo’s shoulder and walked past.
Turning in that direction, Seo-yeon spun around with a smile.
“We need to film, right?”
“Uh, uh.”
There was something oddly different in the atmosphere today.
‘What’s going on?’
Her expression hadn’t notably changed.
Same indifferent look.
A little red in her eyes.
But the mood felt strangely different.
Bouncy, perhaps.
Like an athlete warming up before a big game.
“Do your best up there.”
“Well…”
Doing my best was something she always did.
It’s just that the evaluation often returned as ‘bad acting.’
With that slight hesitation in her response…
“Aren’t you the senior?”
With that, Seo-yeon flashed a bright smile, revealing her white teeth.
“What?”
“As an idol.”
Seeing Seo-yeon smile genuinely like that was a rare sight.
That’s when Ma Yeon-woo realized what she was implying.
There was no need to perform as ‘Park Min-yul’ for this stage.
Since it was a part of the audition where they sang and danced.
“…That’s true.”
She wasn’t boasting, but that was definitely a part where Ma Yeon-woo felt confident.
*
“Today is a big day.”
1.35 million YouTuber Han Bong-sik told his viewers while waiting for the airing of [Dream Future] episode 7.
Having struck gold with [The Chaser] and the character Joo Seo-yeon, he was now ready to live stream [Dream Future].
“Do you remember Joo Seo-yeon, whose popularity skyrocketed with [The Chaser]? So there’s talk about increasing her screen time, right?”
– If you force it, won’t the content get weird?
– Even if it’s weird, they should increase it.
– The fact is, [Dream Future] has always been a bit strange.
– That’s true.
Anyway, expectations for the drama [Dream Future] were relatively low.
Nevertheless, there was undeniably something charming that kept viewers engaged.
“Today, we’ll see Joo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul’s final audition showdown. Given the current flow, Joo Ha-rin getting eliminated seems like a given.”
Han Bong-sik chattered away while waiting for [Dream Future] to air.
Basically, he speculated about the audition results and how [Dream Future] could recover.
Well, most of it wasn’t particularly professional.
“Oh, it’s starting.”
Han Bong-sik secretly hoped that Joo Ha-rin’s screen time would increase and that they would have great scenes for broadcasting.
‘No matter how much Joo Seo-yeon is in it, it’s impossible to rebound a failing [Dream Future].’
Still, it’s human nature to hope.
As Han Bong-sik and the online viewers watched, episode 7 of [Dream Future] began.
Ma Yeon-woo and Joo Seo-yeon.
And the scenes of Park Min-yul and Joo Ha-rin appeared on the screen as [Dream Future] kicked off.
At first, there wasn’t much happening.
It was the usual [Dream Future].
But a hint of something unusual struck as ten minutes into the drama.
“What should I do?”
Joo Ha-rin’s solo part came out again after a long time.
For the first time, she expressed her innermost feelings instead of just being in the background.
Joo Ha-rin finally realized what Park Min-yul’s feelings for her were.
It was the same emotion she had for Kim Si-hwan.
A feeling far too difficult for a country girl who knew nothing of love.
Though she had given it up because of Song So-ha, Park Min-yul held those feelings for her.
“What should I do…?”
Joo Ha-rin’s whisper echoed softly, revealing her emotion of being flustered.
The unfamiliarity of a feeling she didn’t recognize.
The youthful innocence of a girl conveyed through the screen.
This naturally drew the viewers into Joo Ha-rin’s narrative.
This marked the point where viewers, flipping through the screens, began to stop and watch [Dream Future].
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