Chapter 29: Can I Refuse?

"Kim Ji-won..."

Myung-eun swore to himself that he really didn't want to hear that name. It was hard to say he was afraid, but there was certainly a touch of guilt involved; after all, when they broke up, they hadn't even met in person—it was all settled over a single phone call.

Tsk, he wondered if Kim Min-jeong could handle such a heavy burden. The little one was still growing, after all.

"That's right, Myung-eun-ssi. Your performance in *Descendants of the Sun* was absolutely stellar," Screenwriter Lim Sang-chun said excitedly. "You and her are the leads I’ve always dreamed of."

Director Kim Na-jung nodded in agreement. The buzz surrounding *Descendants of the Sun* hadn't yet faded. If they announced that the cast for their new project would be Myung-eun and Kim Ji-won, it would undoubtedly draw in a massive wave of fans, even sparking interest overseas. It was killing two birds with one stone—no, it was a fantastic opportunity with multiple benefits.

Myung-eun had to pin his hopes on Kim Ji-won. "Um... have you reached out to the female lead yet?"

Surely no ex-girlfriend would want to star in a romance drama with her former flame. *Ji-won noona, please, be a sport and say no.*

"We have."

"And what did she say?"

"Kim Ji-won's team replied that if the male lead is you, then there’s no problem."

*Aish, damn it.* For some reason, Myung-eun felt a hint of retaliation in that response. He could already visualize the expression on her face as she said it—clutching her little fists tightly. It was quite adorable.

Even though that *noona* had played many cold, icy characters who looked like someone you shouldn't mess with, in real life, Kim Ji-won was an incredibly introverted and shy girl. When they first started filming *The Heirs*, Myung-eun and Krystal Jung became close quickly, but Kim Ji-won would always sit quietly by herself in a daze, rarely joining the crowd.

And then... that was that.

At the beginning, he hadn't really had any intentions toward the introverted girl. They had known each other since the end of 2013, but their relationship had always been lukewarm. Myung-eun had dated other women in the meantime, but they were all fleeting affairs—some of which had ended before even the likes of Kim Ji-soo or Lim Na-yeon knew they had existed.

Before filming *Descendants of the Sun*, it was precisely because he had recommended her to Kim Eun-sook that Kim Ji-won secured the audition for the role of Yoon Myung-ju. Myung-eun was never stingy with those around him; he helped whenever it was within his power. This included those nominal girlfriends who only wanted to use him to break into the circles of Kim Eun-sook or Jo In-sung; he didn't care. Or rather, those were the majority. Even after breaking up, he felt nothing—everyone just took what they needed.

Myung-eun even felt like he was the one losing out; a perfectly handsome guy letting people sleep with him for free. He should have been charging.

After the drama officially began filming, Kim Ji-won thanked the guy who had helped pull strings for her, and after some back and forth, she fell into his trap. They had started dating around August or September of 2015.

Hirai Momo: *I told you! The ship I'm sailing is REAL!*

Come to think of it, Kim Ji-won was the ex-girlfriend Myung-eun had spent the most time with—about a year. She was a good girl. Life is like a play, but one cannot get lost in the script forever. Sometimes, stepping back gives you a clearer perspective.

"Writer Lim, Director Kim, would you mind if I took some time to consider this?" Myung-eun regained his composure and replied.

"No problem at all, Myung-eun-ssi. You will always be our first choice." Screenwriter Lim Sang-chun was incredibly humble. There was no helping it; the woman behind Myung-eun, Kim Eun-sook, was a titan in the industry. Furthermore, judging by Kim Ji-won's side, she was clearly tying her participation to his. If they couldn't land either of them, *Fight for My Way* might really end up being third-rate.

Myung-eun politely saw the writer and director out, then headed toward Kim Eun-sook's office. Honestly, he was quite moved by their attitude; after all, they had genuinely come for him. In his three-plus years since debut, this was the first time he had received such treatment.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Myung-eun knocked once and walked in without waiting for an answer.

Kim Eun-sook didn't even look up. "Well? Finished meeting with Writer Lim Sang-chun and Director Kim Na-jung?"

"Yeah."

"Then why do you look so troubled? This drama is a great fit for you." Kim Eun-sook had analyzed it; with the popularity of the Myung-eun and Kim Ji-won pairing combined with a solid script, *Fight for My Way* was bound to succeed. For an actor, it was a golden opportunity.

Myung-eun got straight to the point. "Teacher, did you already know the female lead was Kim Ji-won?"

"I did. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't necessarily have wanted you to take the role." Before Kim Eun-sook could finish, she widened her eyes. "You brat, don't tell me you broke up with Kim Ji-won again."

She knew her student's character, but in the entertainment industry, those things weren't exactly major scandals. Young people being a bit of a playboy—what of it? Among the big shots in Chungmuro, from directors to actors, how many were truly "clean"? He had dated a few times, but he wasn't out there making a mess in bars and clubs; in some ways, he could even be called a moral exemplar.

*Cough, cough...*

Myung-eun feigned a couple of coughs.

"You, I really thought you had turned over a new leaf this time. Ji-won is such a good girl, two years older than you and more mature. Weren't you two getting along just fine?" Kim Eun-sook sighed, feeling like he was beyond help.

If it were anyone else, she wouldn't even bother. But she had seen how Myung-eun and Kim Ji-won were inseparable on the set of *Descendants of the Sun*. The girl was truly a good soul—quiet and beautiful. How could they break up just like that? Today's youth were truly unbelievable.

"Teacher, I..." Myung-eun opened his mouth but suddenly didn't know where to start.

Kim Eun-sook waved her hand, cutting him off. "Are you refusing to do this drama just because you broke up?"

"That's not it."

Myung-eun felt a faint sense of awkwardness discussing his love life in front of his mentor. That said, although he had a few ex-girlfriends, there wasn't a single one he needed to avoid. At the very least, while the relationship lasted, he had always been responsible and sincere. Breaking up just meant there was no longer a need to maintain an intimate relationship; it didn't mean they couldn't be friends.

Kim Ji-won was a slight exception. Myung-eun had sensed danger, so he had decisively used Kim Min-jeong as an excuse to break it off. Meeting her now did feel a bit guilt-inducing.

"You know that from a professional standpoint, collaborating with Kim Ji-won on this drama is a great choice," Kim Eun-sook noted.

Myung-eun offered a strained smile. "Teacher, I understand the logic. I'm just a bit uneasy."

"Uneasy about what? Did you do something to wrong her?"

"No, I've been single ever since we broke up."

"Give me one reason."

"I'm afraid she'll hit me."

"Then let her hit you."