Chapter 752: Writer Wang Mi-In (1)

Wang Mi-In, now twenty-two-years-old and a graduate of the MBS Broadcasting Academy, originally aspired to be a drama writer.

But after repeatedly failing to place in drama script competitions, she gave up on that dream. She eventually couldn't bear the life of surviving on one pack of ramen a day and started working as a junior writer for variety shows at the network.

Five years later, Wang Mi-In would hit it big with

Where Are Mom and Dad?

, a reality show about stars and their children's daily lives. With her signature mix of human warmth and variety flair, she would reach the level of head writer—a milestone most writers take ten years to reach.

However, Wang Mi-In's success didn't stop at variety shows. Still yearning to write dramas, she continued working on scripts in her spare time. She eventually broke out with

Woo-Ri Doo-Ri Brothers

; a story about first love between twin teenage soccer players, and

Fired-Up High School Vagabonds

; a fast-paced story about runaway teens. Despite using rookie leads and casting idols only in minor roles, both series exceeded 20% viewership ratings.

Everyone had said it was impossible, but she pulled it off, thanks to her sharp eye for character-building developed during her years as a variety writer.

For this reason, idol agencies began referring to her with reverence as best writer. She gave singing-only idols the title of actor idols and skyrocketed their market value in the process.

And now, here she was right in front of me. She appeared just as Hoop Entertainment was preparing to go public when every bit of positive momentum counted. So I cheerfully accepted the question sheet to review, but the contents she handed me today were nothing like what we had agreed upon in yesterday's pre-interview call.

'

This reeks of Head Writer Choi Eun-Se's meddling.

'

Pre-interviews were typically done one or two days before a live shoot. The questions presented on set usually didn't differ much from the original list.

'

But to flip the entire sheet like this?

'

Only one person at MBS had the clout to pull that off. That was Choi Eun-Se, the ten-year variety veteran and head writer of

Talk Show! Entertainment World

.

I stiffened and handed the A4 pages back to Wang Mi-In, pointing out the most problematic sections. "The Head Writer changed this sheet, didn't she?"

[Chae Mi-Hyun]

-There's been a lot of speculation about President Kang Eun-Gi's past. Are you aware of that?

-Do you believe in the idea of redemption?

-Some fans criticize you for hiding your brother Chae Seok-Hyun's existence for so many years. Do you have anything to say to them?

...

Kang Eun-Gi and Chae Mi-Hyun had already laid everything bare in their debut appearance on

The Omniscient Viewpoint

. Though a few critics had chimed in afterward, most fans responded warmly. It was because they hadn't glamorized their past, but they acknowledged it, apologized, and promised to live better lives moving forward.

In fact, they were already backing that promise with real actions. They were donating to orphanages and supporting children with developmental disabilities. However, questions like these would stir up everything they had just worked so hard to put behind them.

And that wasn't all. Choi Eun-Se had buried loaded questions for Deok-Bae and Yoo-Jin as well.

[Choi Deok-Bae]

-Mr. Deok-Bae, Han-Ul isn't your biological brother. What made you decide to take him in as your own?

-Mr. Han-Ul, is there anything that upsets you about Mr. Deok-Bae? You must feel a little uncomfortable at times, since you're not real siblings...

[Jung Yoo-Jin]

-Lately, Miso's schedule has been full and some people are saying it's overlapping. Aren't you forcing too much onto a first grader?

-Child actors often suffer from sleep deprivation due to harsh filming conditions. How are you managing that issue?

Choi Eun-se had worked closely with PD Ahn Chae-hyung, who was dismissed after arranging a drinking party for Oh Sung-yeon in Jeju Island, for a long time. They were also personally close. So now, she was pulling this kind of stunt just to get back at me.

"Ms. Choi made these revisions, right?"

When I asked again if the head writer had altered the list, Wang Mi-In stammered nervously. "Well... um..."

Kang Eun-Gi, glancing over the questions, raised his voice in anger. "These questions are nothing like the ones from the phone interview, Ms. Wang."

Wang Mi-In blushed as she replied. "I,

um

, just pulled some remarks from your previous

The Omniscient Viewpoint

appearance..."

"Even if you did, imagine how the audience will take this. I'm no TV expert, but this is over the line."

I held up a hand to calm Kang Eun-Gi. "Eun-Gi, wait. This isn't Ms. Wang's doing. Only the head writer can make changes like this on-site."

"What?"

"Ms. Wang I know would've softened it, if anything. She's not the kind of person to go for shock value."

There were people who knew how to speak tactfully, and those who wielded words like weapons. Unlike the sensationalist PDs who lived for drama and evil edits, Wang Mi-In always led with warmth.

For this reason, her shows and scripts radiated healing. There was no way she would have written these landmine questions. But even so, Wang Mi-In couldn't openly admit the head writer had changed them.

This left me with one option.

"I think we need to talk to the PD."

Kang Eun-Gi nodded in agreement. "Alright. Let's go together."

I turned to head straight for the newly appointed PD, Go Min-Hyung.

That's when the panicked Wang Mi-In called after us. "Wait! You can't do that!"

If the head writer said to "show them the script," they meant "show them, and get them to agree by any means necessary." Most talent agents would eventually yield, but I wasn't most talent agents.

As Kang Eun-Gi and I marched off, Wang Mi-In scrambled to keep up with us in a flustered half-jog. Watching her struggle, I made a silent promise.

'

Don't worry, Ms. Wang. I've got you.'

From this moment on, I was going to ask Wang Mi-In to rewrite the interview and the script completely replacing the mess Choi Eun-Se had left behind.

'

No one touches my actors or my friends.

'

***

The thirty-two-year-old Go Min-Hyung was seated in the director's chair, looking over the same script we had just reviewed. He had worked as an assistant director for three years, and was only recently promoted after Ahn Chae-Hyung was removed for trying to make Oh Sung-Yeon serve drinks in Jeju.

However, our plan to privately request script revisions died on arrival. Sitting right next to him was none other than "writer king" Choi Eun-Se. In the entertainment world, writer king referred to those top-tier head writers who consistently made hits. They had a decade of field experience, deep industry connections, and star-pulling power, often making even PDs tread lightly.

I had solutions, but not while she was sitting right there. I had no choice but to go head-on.

"Mr. Go, Ms. Choi. Good afternoon," I greeted them politely.

Go Min-Hyung looked up from the script with an awkward expression. "

Ah

, yes. Mr. Jung..."

He didn't look too happy either, probably uncomfortable with the questions as well.

That's when Choi Eun-Se scowled and looked up at me. "What are you doing here, Chief Jung?"

"There are some questions on the sheet that weren't agreed upon beforehand. I came to discuss them."

Right then, Choi Eun-Se sneered and snapped—not at me, but at Wang Mi-In, who had just arrived behind us.

"Hey! Rookie! This kind of issue should've been handled at your level. How dare you let some talent agents come looking for me? Huh?"

"I-I'm sorry, Ms. Choi."

"

Oh

, you're sorry? Then why'd you do something you'd be sorry for?"

"I'm... really sorry..."

"Forget it. You're off this program. This is what happens when you let college dropouts in. They just have no common sense."

Wang Mi-In's livelihood was on the line, so even under this barrage of humiliation, she began to plead.

"Please, Ms. Choi. I'm sorry. I'll speak to them again, so just give me one more chance..."

Despite Wang Mi-In's desperate plea, Choi Eun-Se waved her off with a face full of contempt and snapped again. "Hey! Rookie! Are you deaf or what? Why are you still standing there? Should I get someone to drag you out?"

Wang Mi-In's shoulders trembled as she held back tears and slowly turned to leave.

That's when I grabbed her wrist. "Wait, Ms. Writer. Please stay right here."

Wang Mi-In froze in place, slender and silent.

Choi Eun-Se scowled at me. "Why are you calling her a writer? Huh? She's just a rookie. Don't insult real writers by calling her that."

She insisted that was a title that only she deserved, and we should refer to Wang Mi-In as nothing more than the rookie.

'

What a joke

.'

If anyone deserved that title, it was the person standing beside me—not this tyrant.

Still holding Wang Mi-In's wrist, I replied. "I'm not a writer, so maybe I don't know all the rules. But I don't see the harm in calling someone with the title they own. Even though she's a rookie, she's still a writer."

"You should learn the rules then! And you, Chief Jung—just because you've been doing well lately doesn't mean you get to look down on this station! You see a question sheet, you nod and say 'yes, ma'am.' That's how it works. Who do you think you are, barging in here and making a scene?"

"Look down on the station? No one's more cautious about broadcast than I am. But maybe you're the one who's lost perspective, Ms. Choi."

"What did you say?"

"If this script goes to air as-is, we're not the only ones who'll suffer. Your program will too. At best, fan outrage. At worst, future guests will be too afraid to even consider appearing. And that means viewership ratings drop, plain and simple."

I laid out the logic calmly and clearly, but Choi Eun-Se only got louder. "If we keep things boring, the viewership ratings will tank! You have to shake things up and stir the pot! You don't know the first thing about this job, yet here you are, mouthing off! What, just because you're riding high, you think you can challenge me?! You think I'm a joke?!"

Choi Eun-Se was a three-time variety show hitmaker. Not even department heads crossed her lightly. However, I wasn't like the others. After all, I knew her weakness.

"Fine, you want to say I'm being reckless? Let's really get reckless then. I know all about your relationship with Mr. Ahn Chae-Hyung. The script and questions were changed for personal revenge, weren't they?"

"W-What? Y-You think you can say whatever you want?! Revenge?!"

I cut the fuming Choi Eun-Se off. "KN Hotel in Jeju."

Choi Eun-Se's face froze. KN Hotel was the site of her affair with Ahn Chae-Hyung.

"To save your face, I won't speak further. But at the very least, for the sake of this program, let's stick to the originally agreed-upon script."

"You... You..."

"And if you've got a grudge, take it out on me. Don't drag innocent actors into your mess."

Choi Eun-Se glared at me, trembling. Most people would have backed off at this point, but not her.

"PD Go. Are you just going to sit there and do nothing?"

"...Excuse me?"

"You're just going to watch while Chief Jung throws this tantrum? Should I drop the program right now?"

"Don't tell me...You're saying you'll quit?"

"Of course I will. If a talent agent is going to interfere with my program, I have no intention of writing for it anymore. So make your choice, PD Go."

'

Oh? Now that she's cornered, she's threatening to walk unless she gets her way? Alright then. I guess I'll have to help the PD out

.'

I turned directly to Go Min-Hyung. "If Ms. Choi really quits, Hoop Entertainment can provide guest talent for the next four weeks. And if needed, both myself and Eun-Gi here can appear on camera as well."

One of a head writer's biggest responsibilities was casting. Unlike variety shows with fixed casts,

Talk Show! Entertainment World

had to bring in trending celebrities each week. That had always been the PD's biggest headache.

If I stepped in, I could handle most of what Choi Eun-Se offered. Just with our roster of actors and singers, I could fill even four months. In the meantime, they could easily find a new head writer.

As Go Min-Hyung processed this, the worry vanished from his face in real time.

Sensing she was losing ground, Choi Eun-Se lashed out one more time. "PD Go, do you really think you can air today's show with no script at all?"

'

Oh, that's even easier

.'

"Mr. Go, I've been hearing rumors that our dear Ms. Choi here has been leaving most of the scriptwork to the juniors lately because she's too busy playing betting golf with the writers' room staff. If that's true, then doesn't it mean even just the rookie writers can handle this show?"

Choi Eun-Se's cheeks twitched harder. "Y-You! How the hell do you know that?!"

'

How? Because before the regression, I was the one who played those screen golf matches with you around this time. And the one million won I "lost" back then? This makes us even.

'

Go Min-Hyung finally made his decision. This was his first gig as head director, and he didn't want to be under the thumb of a head writer from day one.

"Writer Wang. You think you can handle the script? We've still got the basic structure from yesterday, so I think we just need to tweak the questions."

Wang Mi-In hesitated, but then nodded firmly. "I'll do it. I can! You can count on me. I wrote most of the structure anyway."

Her back was against the wall and she had no other way forward.

"Alright then. Let's give it a shot. If today goes well, I'll assign you a regular writing segment going forward."

"Yes, Mr. Go! I'll do my best!"

And at that moment, Choi Eun-Se shrieked, "Fuck this! Let's see how well this show runs without me!!"

Choi Eun-Se stormed out, yelling at the top of her lungs.

Bam! Bam!

At that moment, a few writers from Choi Eun-Se's clique followed behind, their footsteps heavy with spite.

Slam!

The studio door echoed shut behind them.

Go Min-Hyung sighed, shaking his head before turning to me. "I'm sorry. Honestly, I didn't like the questions Ms. Choi came up with either. It felt totally wrong to bring in valuable talent like yours and set them up like that... I was uncomfortable."

I shook my head. "No apology necessary, Mr. Go. This wasn't your fault. And I'm the one who escalated things anyway. But you can count on my full support going forward."

Kang Eun-Gi added his voice. "Mr. Go, Reverse will hook you up with a full sponsor package."

Go Min-Hyung beamed and turned to Wang Mi-In. "Then it's all up to our Writer Wang now, isn't it?"

With a determined nod, Wang Mi-In pulled out her laptop and got to work.

Tap tap tap.

The clatter of rapid typing echoed through the room. And just ten minutes later, Wang Mi-In dripped with sweat and turned her laptop around.

Go Min-Hyung glanced over it and broke into a wide grin. "Wow. Writer Wang, your instincts are sharp. This is way better than expected."

"Thank you, sir!"

Then Go Min-Hyung turned the screen toward me. "Mr. Jung, take a look too. I think this is spot on."

And the moment I saw it, I knew I had made the right choice. Wang Mi-In's revised script wasn't just good—it was perfect.