NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

“Ah, hello. I look forward to working with you!”

Director Hwang Min-kwon, bowing at a 90-degree angle, entered the meeting room, greeting the actor who was more than ten years younger than him. Despite his title, Hwang Min-kwon was essentially a rookie in the commercial film industry, having only a failed debut and a few short films under his belt.

“Likewise, I look forward to working with you, Director Hwang Min-kwon and Director Jung Yo-han,” Yeon-woo greeted them with a warm smile, causing Hwang Min-kwon’s face to split into a wide grin.

“Wow, he called me Director Hwang Min-kwon. Amazing,” Hwang Min-kwon exclaimed, almost in disbelief.

“Stop embarrassing yourself. At least try to act confident,” Jung Yo-han, feeling embarrassed by his friend’s behavior, took his seat.

“We’re all in the same boat now, so it’s crucial to start by solidifying the script, which is the backbone of our project,” Yeon-woo said, and both directors nodded in agreement.

“But, as I mentioned before, while I’m good at coming up with concepts, the…,” Hwang Min-kwon trailed off, turning his head away, clearly lacking confidence.

Yeon-woo then turned to Jung Yo-han, the CG director.

“Director Jung, what about you…?”

“I’m a science guy,” Jung Yo-han replied.

“Excuse me?”

“Anyway, I’m a science guy,” Jung Yo-han reiterated, fiddling with his glasses and also turning his head away. It was clear they were indeed friends, given their similar reactions.

Seeing their behavior, Yeon-woo chuckled softly and spoke up.

“So, I was thinking, we could hire a writer to keep the core concept intact while fleshing out the details.”

“I’m all for it, but I don’t know any writers, not even aspiring ones.”

Yeon-woo pulled out his smartphone from his pocket.

“In that case, would it be alright if I handle the recruitment?”

“Of course, by all means,” Hwang Min-kwon agreed, nodding.

Yeon-woo dialed a number, and both directors watched with anticipation, curious about who he was calling. The call connected quickly, and even though it wasn’t on speakerphone, the cheerful voice of a woman was audible in the quiet meeting room.

– Oh my, what brings you to call me first, Yeon-woo? By the way, congratulations!

“Thank you, writer. I do call you from time to time, don’t I?” Yeon-woo replied warmly.

– I’m always honored whenever you call.

After some small talk, Yeon-woo got to the point.

“Do you remember the promise you made to me last time?”

– Of course, I’ll do anything for you.

“Then, how about working on a project with me, writer?”

– A project? I don’t have any scripts ready except for some short stories…

Yeon-woo glanced at the two men in front of him before continuing.

“The director has a concept, and we need you to flesh it out.”

– This sounds like a long conversation. But I always keep my promises, so I’ll do it.

“Thank you. I’ll send you the details and the script materials. Let’s have a meal together soon, writer.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yeon-woo ended the call and looked at the two directors.

“The writer is on board, directors.”

Both men, curious about who Yeon-woo had called, asked simultaneously, “Who was that?”

“It was Writer Kim Jin-joo.”

“Oh, Writer Kim Jin-joo,” they nodded absentmindedly, then exchanged glances and asked again, “Wait, who?”

“Just to confirm, are you talking about the star writer of ‘The Scent of Time’ and ‘The Road to Mont Saint-Michel’?” Hwang Min-kwon asked, his eyes wide.

Yeon-woo nodded and smiled. “Yes, that’s right. She also wrote ‘The Star Beyond the River’, my first lead drama.”

Both directors’ jaws dropped in astonishment.

“That’s… incredible…”

“This isn’t just incredible, it’s extraordinary,” Jung Yo-han added, still in disbelief.

Yeon-woo smiled at their reactions.

“So, we can’t make any other decisions right now. We need to see how the story evolves before we can proceed with casting.”

“I’m just thrilled that the project is moving forward. I’ve waited my whole life for this, so a little more waiting is no problem,” Hwang Min-kwon said, his excitement palpable.

Yeon-woo nodded.

“Given my academic commitments, we’ll be taking this project slowly.”

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– Click. –

Writer Kim Jin-joo sat at her computer and clicked on the file she had just received.

“Hmm, a medical action thriller? What could this be about…?”

Kim Jin-joo wondered as she glanced at the first page. The initial impression didn’t give much away, so she settled in to read the substantial script in one sitting.

The protagonist, Jung Do-jin, was a rising star among young medical professionals, renowned for his exceptional success rate in treating cancer patients. Known as the doctor whose touch could heal, his reputation meant that patients had to wait at least six months for an appointment. Terminal patients, desperate for his treatment, would even resort to bribery to secure a spot.

However, Jung Do-jin hadn’t always been exceptional. During his medical school and residency years, he was quite average. Then, one day, his patients’ recovery rates began to soar dramatically. When asked about his secret, he would simply say that he treated them with utmost care.

Jung Do-jin harbored a secret he couldn’t share with anyone, he could physically enter his patients’ bodies to treat them. This wasn’t a metaphorical possession but a literal reduction to a microscopic size, allowing him to navigate their bodies like a cell.

He discovered this ability by accident. Frustrated by a patient’s worsening condition despite his best efforts, he fell asleep holding the patient’s hand. In his dream, he found himself traveling through a strange world and battling monsters. When he awoke, the patient’s condition had miraculously improved, and they soon recovered completely.

“Hmm, the idea of entering a body isn’t entirely new.”

Kim Jin-joo mused. She recalled the 1980s American film “Innerspace,” where characters navigated the human body in a submarine, and a Japanese anime featuring cellular protagonists. While the concept wasn’t entirely original, combining it with a medical drama was intriguing, though it seemed insufficient on its own.

“Linking this to a doctor is interesting, but it needs more. Still, if Yeon-woo called me about this, the script must have potential,” she thought, delving deeper into the story.

In the narrative, Jung Do-jin used his ability to treat patients, gaining wealth, fame, and a sense of fulfillment. However, his life took a turn when his only sister was diagnosed with leukemia and hospitalized. Despite it not being his specialty, he used his ability to enter her body. For six years, he remained trapped in her internal world.

“Hmm, this is getting interesting. So, does time stop in the real world during this period?” Kim Jin-joo wondered, scrolling quickly to read the subsequent chapters.

– Click! Click! –

The sound of her mouse clicking incessantly filled the room as she read through to the final chapter. Once she finished, she sat back, deep in thought.

“What is this? The setting and concept were great, but why did the story fall apart in the middle?”

Kim Jin-joo muttered to herself. Suddenly, key supporting characters betrayed the protagonist without any build-up, alien spaceships appeared out of nowhere, and dinosaurs popped up without any logical connection. If this were a webtoon or webnovel, it would be filled with ‘drop points’ where readers would likely abandon it.

Realizing why Yeon-woo had called her, Kim Jin-joo nodded to herself.

“This is definitely a project that would appeal to an actor, but the story falling apart like this is a major issue.”

She picked up her smartphone and called Yeon-woo. The call connected quickly, and Yeon-woo’s voice came through.

– Yes, writer.

“I’ll take on this project. Not just because you asked, but because I genuinely want to. As a writer, I can’t stand seeing such a great concept ruined by a ridiculous story.”

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***

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While Yeon-woo and Kim Jin-joo were having their conversation, the movie 「Sketch」 finally premiered in South Korea. Hong Yuri and her boyfriend Kim Junsoo went to the theater .

“Junsoo, it feels like Yeon-woo is becoming an unreachable star. He’s even winning awards overseas,” Yuri remarked.

“Yeah, but when we talk on the phone or in our group chat, he’s still the same as he was in high school,” Junsoo replied, nodding as he thought about his friend who remained humble despite his success.

“Still, we haven’t seen him much lately. The last time was when we went camping last year. Ah, it was like a dream to hang out with my favorite celebrity,” Yuri sighed.

“Hey, that was the day I confessed to you! Are you saying your dream wasn’t about me?” Junsoo pouted.

Yuri laughed at his playful jealousy.

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Junsoo, also laughing, nodded.

“True, we did go for survival shooting and stayed at a villa, but it’s been a while. At least we’re here to watch his movie now.”

“Yeah, I guess watching him on screen counts too,” Yuri agreed.

They bought popcorn and soda and sat in the theater lobby, waiting for the movie to start. Just then, they heard a sniffling voice behind them.

“Mom, I’ll do better from now on. Let’s make a video together, okay?” a girl said, her voice choked with tears.

– What are you talking about all of a sudden? What video?

“I just want to make a video with you, so I can remember your voice,” the girl sobbed.

– Did you get into trouble? I’m busy right now, so just tell me.

It wasn’t just the girl behind them who was sniffling. As the audience exited the theater, many were wiping their eyes or had red noses.

“What’s going on? What kind of movie did she just watch?”

“Didn’t Yeon-woo tell you what the movie was about when he was filming?”

“He said it was a musical film with a youth romance element. That’s why he was practicing guitar and violin.”

As it was time to enter, the two stood up.

“I wonder what the story is about? I’m so curious! Let’s go in quickly.”

Junsoo and Yuri made their way toward the screening room. They weren’t the only ones heading in. A gentleman with neatly styled pomade hair in a suit also walked toward the entrance. This was none other than CEO Kim Joo-seong, who had invested in the film on behalf of Yeon-woo. Despite his investment, he was equally in the dark about the film’s plot.

Yeon-woo had accepted Director Park Chan-hong’s offer and decided to participate and invest without even reviewing the script. Similarly, CEO Kim Joo-seong had trusted Yeon-woo’s judgment and offered him a contract based on that trust.

“Hmm, it’s already a successful deal,” Kim Joo-seong thought. Although the box office results were yet to be seen, the film had already won the Golden Bear Award, securing its distribution rights. The 1.5 billion won investment had already been recouped.

‘And there’s no way we won’t make back the investment,’ he mused.

Director Park Chan-hong had invested 3 billion won, and LN Media, under Yeon-woo’s name, had invested 1.5 billion won. Yeon-woo’s share was 33%, and in return for covering the investment, the company would receive 30% of that share, translating to about 10% of the total profit. While this percentage was after deducting the distributor’s share and other expenses, it was still a solid deal based on the anticipated audience numbers.

Currently, Yeon-woo and Park Chan-hong were hot names, appearing on every media platform. Their names were constantly mentioned on entertainment channels, YouTube, and even the news. Their contributions to national prestige had even caused many South Korean mothers to overwork themselves with pride.

The bustling theater, despite it being a weekday afternoon, was proof of their popularity. Considering it was winter break and there had been heavy snowfall since morning, it was likely that most people in the theater lobby were there to watch the newly released 「Sketch」.

“More than the investment, I’m dying to know what the story is about,” Kim Joo-seong thought. As a movie enthusiast, he had strictly forbidden Manager Kim Min-soo and Team Leader Jung Hyuk from giving him any spoilers.

With a face full of anticipation, CEO Kim Joo-seong quietly walked toward the entrance of the screening room.