Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

Chapter 76 Park Ji-yeon's Leap in Acting

The week Su Yu returned from SM Entertainment, Park Ji-yeon's new drama "Stranger" aired.

The premiere ratings were low, only 6.8%, incomparable to "The Good Taxi." However, the word-of-mouth was exceptionally good. The internet was flooded with positive reviews, praising the drama for its "solid script," "excellent acting," and "American-style feel, unlike typical Korean dramas." Park Ji-yeon's portrayal of the second female lead—a taciturn but passionate prosecutor's assistant—became one of the most discussed characters.

"Did you see it?" Park Jiyeon texted Su Yu.

"I've seen it."

"What do you think?"

"very good."

Park Jiyeon sent a long string of ellipses, then said, "Can't you just say a few more compliments?"

Su Yu thought for a moment and typed a few words: "Better than I expected."

Park Jiyeon replied with a smiley face and said, "Thank you, CEO. I'll treat you to dinner next week."

Su Yu did not reply.

In its second week of airing, "Stranger" saw its viewership rating rise to 8.5%. Park Ji-yeon's name trended on social media, not because of scandals, but because of her acting. Someone posted on a forum, titled "Was Park Ji-yeon's talent wasted by her stylists before?", along with several screenshots of her from the drama. The comments were full of praise—"She should have played this kind of role a long time ago," "Those idol dramas she did before were a waste of her acting skills," "I didn't expect her to be such a good actress."

Park Jiyeon forwarded the post to Su Yu, saying, "Look, look." Su Yu read it and replied, "Don't get carried away." Park Jiyeon said, "I'm not getting carried away, I'm just happy." Su Yu said, "Being happy is fine, but don't get carried away." Park Jiyeon sent a tongue-out emoji.

In its third week, "Stranger" broke the 10% viewership rating.

While Su Yu was looking at the ratings report in her office, Kim Dong-wook walked in, holding a contract in his hand.

"What's wrong?" Su Yu asked.

"Several GG companies have approached Park Ji-yeon," Kim Dong-wook said, placing the contracts on the table. "Cosmetics, soju, coffee—the prices aren't low. Choi Min-soo is in talks with her; we expect to sign a contract this week."

Su Yu flipped through the contract and put it down. "Where is she?"

"Filming. Today's last scene, wrapping up this afternoon."

Su Yu glanced at his watch. "Where's the wrap party?"

"A barbecue restaurant in Yeouido. 7 PM."

"I'll go over there."

Kim Dong-wook glanced at him. "You're going yourself?"

"She did a good job, so I'll show my face and give her some encouragement."

Kim Dong-wook didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

When Su Yu arrived at the barbecue restaurant, the wrap party had already begun. The main cast and crew of "Stranger" sat at three tables. The director, his face flushed from drinking, was gesturing to the screenwriter at the middle table. Park Ji-yeon sat next to the director, holding a glass of soju, her face also red.

When Su Yu pushed the door open, Park Jiyeon was smiling. When she saw Su Yu, her smile paused for a second, then widened.

"Representative Su!" The director stood up and waved to Su Yu, "Come, come, sit here."

Su Yu walked over and sat down next to the director. Park Ji-yeon's seat was on the other side of the director, one person away from Su Yu. She tilted her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling.

"Why are you here?"

"Come and see."

"Look at me?"

"Let's see the production crew."

Park Jiyeon pursed her lips, but the corners of her mouth turned up.

The director poured Su Yu a glass of wine, and the two clinked glasses. The director said, "Representative Su, your company's actors are really good. Park Ji-yeon's performance this time was outstanding. I'd like to use her in my next project." Su Yu said, "Then you'll have to talk to her manager." The director laughed and said, "You certainly know how to push people away."

Park Jiyeon listened from the side without saying a word, but kept smiling.

Halfway through the wrap party, Park Jiyeon stood up, took a glass of wine, and walked over to Su Yu.

"Representative Su, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Su Yu stood up and bumped into her.

"Thank you for recommending this drama to me." Park Jiyeon looked into his eyes. "You said, 'Act well, and if you do well, you'll get an even better role in the next drama.' I haven't let you down, have I?"

"no."

Park Jiyeon smiled and drank her wine. Su Yu also drank.

Park Jiyeon didn't return to her own seat but sat down next to Su Yu. The director, who was sitting one person away, was drunk and snoring on the table, leaving the seat empty.

"Representative Su."

"Um."

"Have you been very busy lately?"

"fine."

"I heard you went to a meeting at SM Entertainment?"

Su Yu glanced at her. "You're quite well-informed."

"Sulli said so." Park Jiyeon picked up a piece of grilled meat and placed it on Su Yu's plate. "She said you saw Im Yoon-ah."

"Um."

Is Lim Yoona pretty?

Su Yu chewed on the meat, without answering.

Park Jiyeon waited a few seconds, then smiled. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

"There's not much to say about work."

Park Jiyeon nodded and lowered her head to drink her soup. After two sips, she looked up again.

"Representative Su, I have something I'd like to ask you."

"explain."

"Why did you sign me in the first place? I mean, I had only been in the industry for a short time then, my acting skills were average, and I wasn't famous at all. Why did you choose me?"

Su Yu put down his chopsticks and thought for a moment.

"Because you're durable."

Park Jiyeon was stunned for a moment. "What?"

"During the audition, in that scene where you were being beaten, you didn't dodge. You were really hit, and you didn't utter a sound." Su Yu looked at her. "A person who's that ruthless to themselves is either crazy or capable of great things. I think you're the latter."

Park Jiyeon stared at him for several seconds, her eyes slowly reddening.

"You remember?"

"Remember."

Park Jiyeon lowered her head, stirred the contents of her bowl with her chopsticks, and remained silent. After a few seconds, she looked up and smiled. There was a hint of sadness, a touch of emotion, and something else entirely in that smile.

"Thank you, Representative Su."

"You're welcome. It's because you did well."

Park Jiyeon finished the soup in her bowl and stood up.

"I'm going to the restroom."

She turned and walked away quickly. Su Yu watched her retreating figure, feeling a little strange, but didn't think much of it.

Park Jiyeon stayed in the restroom for five minutes. Not to touch up her makeup, but to calm herself down. She looked at herself in the mirror; her eyes were red, and her mascara had smudged a little. She took out a tissue from her bag, gently wiped it off, applied another layer of powder, and took three deep breaths in front of the mirror.

"Calm down," she whispered to herself. "He's the boss. He has a girlfriend. Don't overthink it."

She returned to her seat. Su Yu was talking to another actor. She didn't disturb them, sitting quietly beside him and listening to their conversation. Su Yu spoke softly and slowly, but every word was to the point. The other actor nodded repeatedly, as if receiving some important instructions.

Park Jiyeon looked at the lines of his profile and suddenly remembered how he looked when he fell asleep in the office that day. The same face, the same features, but one was gentle, the other cold. She couldn't tell which one was the real him, perhaps both were.

It was almost midnight when the wrap party ended. Su Yu paid the bill, said goodbye to the director and screenwriter, and left the barbecue restaurant. Park Jiyeon followed behind, putting on her coat and scarf.

"How will you get back?" Su Yu asked.

"My agent will pick me up later."

"Then I'll wait with you."

"No need, it's cold outside."

Su Yu didn't leave; he stood beside her, his hands in his coat pockets. December in Seoul was cold; their breath was white. The streetlights cast long, overlapping shadows of the two of them.

Park Jiyeon looked at her shadow on the ground, her heart beating a little fast.

"Representative Su."

"Um."

Are you cold?

"It's not cold."

"You're lying. Your hands are in your pockets."

Su Yu didn't reply.

Park Jiyeon hesitated for a moment, then took off her scarf and handed it to him. "Here, wear this."

Su Yu glanced at the scarf but didn't take it. "No need."

"Please wear it for a moment."

"I said I don't need it."

Park Jiyeon's hand froze in mid-air before slowly retracting. She wrapped the scarf around her neck again, head down, without saying a word.

About five minutes later, the manager's car arrived. Park Jiyeon opened the car door and glanced back at Su Yu before getting in.

Good night, Representative Su.

"Good night."

The car drove away. Su Yu stood by the roadside, watching the taillights disappear around the street corner, then turned and walked towards his car.

He got in the car, started the engine, and turned the heater up to the maximum. His hands were still cold, but he didn't care.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Park Jiyeon.

"Representative Su, thank you for coming today."

Su Yu typed with one hand: "Of course."

Why weren't you wearing my scarf just now?

Su Yu thought for a moment and typed a few words: "Not suitable."

Park Jiyeon remained silent for a long time, so long that Su Yu thought she wasn't going to reply. Just as the car reached the main road, her phone vibrated again.

"Okay. I understand. Goodnight."

Su Yu looked at the message and felt something was off. He put his phone down without replying.

When Cai Xiubin got home, she was still awake. She was curled up on the sofa, covered with a blanket, holding the remote control; the TV was on but she wasn't watching it. When she saw Su Yu come in, she sat up.

"You're back? Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I've been waiting for you." Cai Xiubin walked over and helped him take off his coat. "Weren't you at the wrap party today? How was it?"

"It's good. Park Jiyeon acted well; the director praised her."

Cai Xiubin hung up his coat and pulled Su Yu to sit on the sofa.

"Has she contacted you again?"

Su Yu glanced at her. "What do you mean by 'again'?"

"So...has she been contacting you a lot lately?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "It's about work."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "Okay, it's work-related." She leaned into his arms, closed her eyes, and said, "Su Yu, sometimes I feel like I'm being too petty. You're the boss, it's normal for you to interact with actresses. But I just..."

"What is it?"

"I just overthink things." Cai Xiubin's voice was muffled. "If you're nice to her, I wonder if you have other feelings for her. If you smile at someone else, I wonder if you smile at me like that. I know it's not good, but I can't control myself."

Su Yu was silent for a few seconds, then gently patted her back.

"Then I won't smile anymore."

Cai Xiubin looked up, staring at him with wide eyes. "No, that's not what I meant."

"So what do you mean?"

"I just... let me process this myself." Cai Xiubin leaned back into his arms. "You don't need to change for me. Just continue working as usual. I believe in you."

Su Yu didn't say anything, but hugged her tighter.

A late-night variety show was playing on TV, with bursts of laughter coming in bursts. Neither of them watched it; they just nestled on the sofa, listening to each other's heartbeats.

The night view of the Han River outside the window was quietly lit, with a few lights in the distance going out and then coming on again.

At the same time, Park Jiyeon returned home without turning on the lights.

She sat on the sofa, holding her phone, the screen displaying her chat history with Su Yu. She scrolled up for a long time, finally reaching their first conversation—the day she signed the contract, when Su Yu sent a message: "Contract signed, audition next week, get ready." She replied with three exclamation marks.

At that time, she was only happy and had no idea that things would turn out this way.

Park Jiyeon put down her phone and closed her eyes.

"It's not suitable." She repeated the three words Su Yu had said, her voice very soft, as if confirming something with herself.

"Hmm, that's not appropriate," she said again, then opened her eyes, stood up, and went to take a shower.

The sound of rushing water drowned out all other sounds.

Including the part where she didn't cry out loud.