Chapter 106
“Kibaek, thank you. Seriously.”
Do Kijeong had come to Big Picture to sign his contract as an affiliated writer.
Even now, he stared emotionally at the contract placed in front of him, as though he still couldn’t believe what was happening.
“Because of you, I was already grateful that I got to work under such a great teacher like Writer Hong Yeonhee. And now I’m becoming a writer under Big Picture too...”
“You’re still a rookie, so the signing bonus isn’t very large.”
I smiled.
“Become successful quickly, earn back that signing bonus, and then sign another contract with us under much better conditions.”
“Even hearing you say that makes me grateful.”
Do Kijeong picked up his pen.
He was just about to sign his name when he suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.
“What is it?”
“Ah, well... I’m planning to work under a pen name from now on. Can I just write my real name on the contract?”
“A pen name?”
Do Kijeong explained.
After Episodes 1 and 2 of The Woman’s Garden aired, Writer Hong Yeonhee had been worried about the unexpectedly low ratings.
So she took Do Kijeong with her to a fortune-teller she sometimes visited for New Year fortune readings.
There, the shaman separately told Do Kijeong that if he wanted to become a hugely successful writer, he needed to change his name.
After hearing that changing his name would bring him success as a writer, Do Kijeong had received a new name that very day.
“I can’t actually change my legal name just because of that, so I’m thinking of using it as my pen name.”
I nodded and thought for a moment.
“Then write your pen name beside your real name.”
With a newly serious expression, Do Kijeong began filling out the contract.
Then...
Beside his own name, Do Kijeong wrote another name.
Mabongchun.
W-Wait.
What is this?
“Kijeong hyung, this... Wait, is this your pen name?!”
Seeing my shocked expression, Do Kijeong gave an awkward laugh.
“It sounds a little old-fashioned, right? But they said I have to work under this name if I want to succeed. Haha.”
Ha...
Then Mabongchun and Do Kijeong are the same person?!
For a moment, I felt like an idiot.
All this time, I had been worried that Do Kijeong might someday have his scripts stolen by Writer Mabongchun.
Or that someone named Mabongchun might plagiarize his work.
I had kept worrying about it.
“The thing is, it’s not like I seriously believe in superstitions or anything...”
Do Kijeong scratched his head.
“But you know how people sometimes feel desperate enough to grab at even a straw, right?”
He laughed.
“Look. As soon as I received Mabongchun as my pen name, all these good things started happening. Haha.”
Even though the situation was absurd enough to leave me speechless, I couldn’t help laughing.
And more than anything, I was relieved to learn that Do Kijeong hadn’t had his work stolen or plagiarized.
Wait.
If things turn out this way...
Does that mean I’m the one who ends up connecting Writer Do Kijeong, no, Writer Mabongchun, with Director Choi Kyungmin? Haha.
While the recruitments were gradually being completed, The Woman’s Garden continued attracting enormous attention.
Its final episode ended with an incredible rating of 42.3 percent.
Three days later, the staff, actors, and other people involved with the drama gathered at a fusion-style pub in Gangnam for the wrap party.
Once the party had warmed up, I took Do Kijeong, who had been quietly drinking beside Writer Hong Yeonhee, over to the table where Director Choi Kyungmin was sitting.
Except for conversations when Writer Hong was around, Choi Kyungmin and Do Kijeong hadn’t really had much opportunity to talk.
I planned to properly introduce Do Kijeong, or rather Writer Mabongchun, to him.
“Ah, Assistant Writer Do. I heard you recently signed an exclusive contract with Big Picture. Congratulations.”
“Oh, Director, you heard about that? Thank you.”
Do Kijeong smiled shyly at Choi Kyungmin’s congratulations.
“I heard you served under Team Leader Min in the military.”
Choi Kyungmin laughed.
“Team Leader Min kept telling me how good Assistant Writer Do... no, Writer Do’s work is.”
“Ah, come on. You’re embarrassing me. Hahaha.”
Do Kijeong twisted awkwardly in embarrassment, but he clearly didn’t hate hearing the praise.
“Now that filming is finished, I’ll make time and definitely read your work.”
“Really?”
Do Kijeong’s eyes brightened.
“If you personally read it, Director, that would be a huge honor for me. Honestly, except for Team Leader Min, I’ve never shown those works to anyone else...”
“Really? Then I’m the one who should feel honored. Hahaha.”
In that natural atmosphere, Do Kijeong and Choi Kyungmin talked for a long time.
I watched the two of them with satisfaction.
These two would someday become one of the legendary director-writer combinations in the Korean drama industry.
Knowing that I had personally connected them like this felt unbelievable.
At the same time, a thrilling excitement spread through me.
A few days later, Director Choi Kyungmin contacted me after reading Do Kijeong, or rather Mabongchun’s, work.
“I had no idea this man was this talented. His skill is being wasted as someone’s assistant writer.”
“I remember hearing he kept failing contests, but I think that might be because his material is too unconventional.”
Choi Kyungmin continued excitedly.
“Most contests tend to choose safer, more popular stories that the general public will enjoy, instead of something extremely unconventional.”
“Of course, there are a few parts that could be improved, but those can easily be revised, so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
Then his voice became even more excited.
“Team Leader Min, I want to do this project. What do I need to do?”
He barely paused.
“Actually, before that, I want to meet Writer Do Kijeong right now. Can you arrange a meeting?”
His voice was filled with excitement, like a child who had discovered a toy he desperately wanted.
“Director, calm down. Hahaha.”
I told him that Director Hwang Donghyuk of MBS had already suggested doing several more projects with Big Picture.
Then I carefully suggested that Choi Kyungmin personally tell Director Hwang that he wanted this project to be his next drama.
“Really?”
Choi Kyungmin immediately answered.
“Then I’ll talk to Director Hwang myself. Please prepare a studio and everything else so Writer Do can start revising the script immediately.”
“I’ll bring it up with Director Hwang first.”
And just like that...
The legendary partnership between Director Choi Kyungmin and Writer Mabongchun, a golden combination that would someday create countless masterpieces, was beginning right before my eyes.
“No.”
