Sometimes, during the filming of a drama, the script gets replaced.

    There can be several reasons for this.

    Perhaps the viewer response was overwhelmingly negative, necessitating urgent revisions.

    Or maybe the original writer had to step down or was replaced.

    It could also happen if the scriptwriting process couldn’t keep up with the filming schedule.

    In most cases, the scripts that were prepared beforehand would have been written before these changes, so the newly revised scripts often arrived on the day of filming.

    “Is this for real?”

    “......”

    The idol-turned-actors Ma Yeon-woo, Cha Na-hee, and Aiden all had complex expressions.

    Cha Na-hee, at least, had some acting experience, but for the other two, this was their first time acting.

    Not that Cha Na-hee’s situation was much better.

    ‘This is my first time working with a last-minute script...’

    She was starting to feel gloomy.

    After all, who was getting the most criticism in Dream Future right now? It was none other than Song So-ha.

    The character that Cha Na-hee was playing.

    ‘I feel like it’s my fault Jo Ha-rin’s screen time keeps getting cut.’

    Even though Director Kim Pil-seok had said that the script changes were due to Writer Lim Jinha’s personal bias, it was still hard to accept.

    Even without personal bias, the script would have likely been revised anyway.

    Jo Ha-rin, despite her limited screen time, was being mentioned as much as Song So-ha in online communities.

    That meant their presence was roughly equivalent.

    This also meant that the character Song So-ha, played by Cha Na-hee, had a weaker presence.

    “......”

    As the lead female character driving the story, this wasn’t a good sign.

    Director Kim Pil-seok was starting to demand more from Cha Na-hee.

    Even if Jo Ha-rin’s role grew and she became more popular, the lead of the drama was still Song So-ha.

    If Song So-ha’s character didn’t resonate, the drama would fail.

    ‘She looks really troubled.’

    As the hastily revised script was handed out, the actors’ faces generally darkened.

    Only two remained calm.

    Park Jung-woo and Ju Seoyeon.

    Especially Park Jung-woo, who, with over ten years of experience as a child actor, was a seasoned veteran.

    It might sound odd to call someone in their early twenties a veteran, but that’s what he was.

    ‘That girl doesn’t seem like someone who’s returning to acting after a ten-year break.’

    Her screen time had suddenly increased.

    This could have caused significant stress, but Seoyeon’s expression didn’t change.

    She didn’t seem at all burdened by the sudden increase in lines.

    On the contrary...

    ‘Why did Jo Ha-rin’s screen time increase so much?’

    Ma Yeon-woo’s face had turned pale as he reviewed the script.

    After nearly injuring his arm in an arm-wrestling match with Seoyeon, he had become much more subdued around her, though he had recently started to recover.

    ‘Apart from almost breaking my arm, she doesn’t seem like she has a particularly aggressive personality.’

    After that incident, he started calling her by her name on set and tried to get along with her.

    Seoyeon didn’t seem to mind either.

    However...

    After watching The Chaser together with his group, Just X, two days ago...

    “Wow, that’s the same girl, right?”

    “Isn’t she the one filming with Yeon-woo right now?”

    “Is she really the same person? Man, I’m so glad I didn’t mess with her back then.”

    The members of Just X made such comments as they looked at Ma Yeon-woo.

    And Ma Yeon-woo understood what they were trying to say.

    Their looks were mostly sympathetic.

    ‘...It’s just acting, though.’

    That’s what he told himself, but the portrayal of Cha Seo-ah in the movie was so intense that it was hard to forget.

    Those red eyes glowing in the rain.

    The fire axe in her hand.

    The ferocity with which she fought the last policeman, like a wild beast.

    It overlapped with the memory of Seoyeon nearly breaking his arm.

    “......”

    Even if he knew it wasn’t real, perceptions are hard to shake.

    But up until today, it hadn’t been a big deal.

    In Dream Future, Jo Ha-rin didn’t have much screen time.

    Even when he ran into Seoyeon on set, their interaction was limited to a brief nod.

    There wasn’t much conversation, so it wasn’t uncomfortable to work with her.

    At least, it hadn’t been until today.

    “Um, Park-sunbae. Is this normal? Does the script really get changed like this all of a sudden?”

    In reality, Ma Yeon-woo was four years older than Park Jung-woo, at twenty-four.

    He was the second oldest in Just X.

    However, since he was now in the acting world, he tried to be friendly and respectful to Park Jung-woo by calling him “sunbae” in a joking manner.

    “It happens quite often.”

    “R-Really?”

    “Is something bothering you?”

    Park Jung-woo’s calm voice made Ma Yeon-woo gulp.

    Ma Yeon-woo had met plenty of handsome idols, but Park Jung-woo stood out.

    There’s a saying that even the most attractive idols can look ordinary next to actors.

    Ma Yeon-woo didn’t fully buy into that idea, but it did seem to apply to Park Jung-woo.

    It wasn’t just his looks but also the aura that made him seem unapproachable.

    An aura similar to the one Seoyeon had.

    Seeing Ma Yeon-woo’s unease, Park Jung-woo couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

    ‘...It’s understandable that he’s feeling the pressure.’

    Sudden script changes are tough for any actor.

    But it’s even harder for someone making their acting debut, like Ma Yeon-woo.

    ‘...However.’

    Jung-woo’s expression grew serious.

    Up until now, he had watched Seoyeon act.

    And now, with the revised script in hand...

    Comparing what he saw of Seoyeon on the deserted island with this script...

    “Writer Min Se-hee.”

    “Yes?”

    Jung-woo stopped Min Se-hee just as she was about to leave.

    “There’s something I’d like to ask you about the script.”

    “W-What?!”

    Min Se-hee froze, seeing the serious look on Jung-woo’s face.

    Whenever he spoke like this, it usually meant a very troublesome situation was about to unfold.

    As Seoyeon reviewed the revised script, her eyes widened in surprise.

    She had memorized the original Dream Future script in its entirety.

    She also knew how the original Dream Future was supposed to succeed.

    ‘Wasn’t Dream Future supposed to have low ratings until episode 7, when it would start climbing?’

    The ratings pattern was almost identical to what she remembered from her previous life.

    The first episode was only a success because of Seoyeon’s outstanding performance.

    The first episode of Dream Future in her previous life had a rating of only 7%.

    This time, thanks to Seoyeon’s stellar performance, it had soared to 15%, and even though the ratings started to decline afterward, they were still higher than in her previous life.

    Originally, Dream Future was supposed to start gaining momentum from episode 7 onward, with the ratings significantly increasing.

    The drama would eventually hit 20% ratings by the end.

    Jo Ha-rin, whose screen time would have decreased by episode 7, wouldn’t have benefited much from the resurgence, but Seoyeon had been okay with that.

    After episode 8, as the drama entered its final phase, the love lines would become more prominent.

    However, Jo Ha-rin, whose screen time would have been reduced after episode 8, wouldn’t have been involved in that development.

    But now?

    ‘My interactions with Park Min-yul have definitely increased.’

    Park Min-yul, the character played by Ma Yeon-woo.

    The fact that his role had been significantly expanded was a testament to Seoyeon’s growing popularity.

    And after episode 7, if her screen time had increased, it meant that the romantic plotline had expanded as well.

    ‘Will I be able to handle this?’

    Honestly, she wasn’t confident.

    She couldn’t fully empathize with those emotions in the first place.

    “J-Ju Seoyeon sunbaenim!!”

    The sound of footsteps approached rapidly as Writer Min Se-hee rushed over, followed by Director Kim Pil-seok.

    They were likely coming to coach her on the new script before the shoot.

    “C-Could I make a few adjustments to your lines?”

    “Huh?”

    So, additional revisions were made, and new directions were given.

    With the main writer replaced, the first shoot of Dream Future under the new script began.

    And...

    “Will Dream Future... be okay this week? I just hope the ratings don’t drop any further.”

    The staff at KMB’s drama department were anxiously discussing the show.

    The drama, which had started off strong with 15% ratings, had been on a downward trend.

    Because of this, MDC’s drama airing at the same time was seeing a surge in viewership.

    “They say the writer has been replaced.”

    “But will that really lead to a dramatic improvement?”

    “No, it usually doesn’t.”

    Replacing the writer usually signaled trouble.

    Scripts written last minute tend to be sloppy.

    They used to enjoy watching the live chat reactions during the broadcast, but now they couldn’t bring themselves to look.

    “Still, we need to check the ratings. It’s been about 20 minutes since the episode started, right? What’s the rating?”

    They expected it to be about the same as before. It had been similar 10 minutes ago, so they didn’t expect any major changes.

    “It’s at 14%.”

    “Yeah, 14%... Wait, what?”

    14%.

    This was close to the highest rating the first episode had achieved.

    “G-Go tell the producer immediately, hurry!!”

    “Yes, sir!!”

    The staff member quickly pulled up the live chat feed for Dream Future, trying to figure out what had happened in the past 10 minutes.