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

Chapter 28 Two Women, One Show

When Shirley pushed the door open, Su Yu was installing wallpaper. He pressed down with the scraper, squeezing out the air bubbles, and it was applied smoothly. He didn't even turn his head.

"Just passing by, bought too much."

Shirley placed the two takeout bags on the windowsill, the plastic bags rustling. Su Yu then put down the scraper and turned around. She was dressed simply today, in a white T-shirt, jeans, and a low ponytail.

"Are you still messing with this wall?"

"Soon."

"How soon is 'soon'?" She took a step forward, staring at him. "Give me a straight answer."

"When you come next time..."

Shirley didn't reply. She lowered her head and opened the takeout bag. Fried chicken, kimchi fried rice, and a drink were arranged one by one on the windowsill.

Su Yu leaned against the windowsill and took a bite of fried chicken.

"You didn't buy too much. You just bought what I like. Need something from me?"

"What could possibly be wrong? You're stuck in this shabby house all day, never even getting a hot meal. You're pathetic."

"I have my own hands and feet. I don't need your pity."

Su Yu ate slowly and deliberately, glancing towards the stairs. Shirley caught his gaze, and the smile on her lips faded.

"What, you're eating my food and still thinking about the people upstairs?"

"They're busy with work."

"Work?" Shirley crossed her arms. "Is locking yourself upstairs all day typing on a keyboard what you call work? I think you're just staying here and don't want to leave."

The keyboard noise upstairs has stopped.

Footsteps came down the stairs, soft and rhythmic. Cai Xiubin appeared at the top, a rolled-up script clutched in her hand. Her eyes met Shirley's. There were no pleasantries, no small talk.

one second.

"Why is she here again?" Cai Xiubin asked Su Yu.

"I'm bringing food," Su Yu said.

Shirley stepped forward half a step and looked Cai Xiubin up and down.

"You're the one who played Ahn Go-eun?"

"Um."

"The acting was alright."

"Thanks."

Shirley took an unopened box of fried chicken out of the bag and handed it over.

"I'll treat you to something."

Cai Xiubin did not answer.

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry."

"Afraid I'll poison you?"

"No. I don't want to eat."

Shirley pulled her hand back, put the fried chicken on the table, and crossed her arms.

"Fine. I won't eat it then. Stubborn as ever. Just like your boss."

"Softer than her," Su Yu said.

Shirley glared at him. "Shut up."

Cai Xiubin stood still, without moving.

Shirley turned to look at her.

"Aren't you bored staying cooped up here all day?"

"It's not boring."

"He talks so little, can you handle it?"

There aren't many people who talk less than you.

Shirley choked for a moment. Su Yu's lips twitched.

"You two are quite a match," Shirley said. "One is quiet, and the other is even quieter. They're perfect together. It saves us from arguing."

"We don't argue," Cai Xiubin said.

"Then what are you doing? Staring at each other?"

"Work."

Shirley glanced at Su Yu.

"The person you hired is just like you. Infuriating."

"I'm better than you," Su Yu said.

"Which one is stronger?"

"At least they don't talk nonsense."

Cai Xiubin's lips twitched. She didn't laugh out loud, but she was about to.

Shirley saw it.

"Alright. I'm leaving. I won't disrupt your teamwork any further."

She picked up her backpack from beside her feet and straightened up. She walked to the door, placed her hand on the doorknob, and turned back.

"Su Yu, you need to replace that hair tie. It's so old and you're still wearing it."

"I'm used to it."

"Getting used to it my ass. Didn't we give you a new one?"

Su Yu didn't reply. Shirley's gaze swept over Cai Xiubin.

Do you know where that new rubber band is?

Cai Xiubin did not answer.

Shirley smiled. "You don't know. He's hiding." She pushed open the door and went out. The iron gate creaked shut.

Cai Xiubin stood for a moment, then walked over and pushed the untouched box of fried chicken in front of Su Yu.

"You can eat it. It won't taste good when it gets cold."

Aren't you going to eat?

I'm not hungry.

She didn't leave. She stood by the window, looking at the wilted green plant.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"She said you hid that new rubber band."

"Um."

"Where did you hide it?"

Su Yu took it out of his pocket and placed it on the table. It was brand new, matte black, with a small silver pendant hanging from it.

Cai Xiubin glanced at it but didn't take it.

Why aren't you wearing one?

"The old ones haven't been broken off yet."

"Replace it if it breaks?"

"Let's break it off first and then talk about it."

She didn't ask any more questions. She turned and walked upstairs. She stopped halfway down the stairs without looking back.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Put the new one on the table. Don't always keep it in your pocket."

Why?

"If you keep it in your pocket for too long, you'll lose it."

She went upstairs.

The keyboard started clicking again. Tap tap tap, one sound after another.

Su Yu glanced at the new rubber band on the table, then at the old one on his wrist. The old one was deformed and had long lost its elasticity. He didn't take it off.

He picked up the new one and put it back in his pocket.

If you put it in your pocket, you'll lose it.

Let it go. The old one isn't broken yet.

The next day, when Cai Xiubin came downstairs, she wasn't carrying a script. Su Yu was applying the last coat of paint to that wall; the roller rolled over, spreading the gray-blue color evenly.

She stood at the top of the stairs and didn't come over.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Did Ahn Go-eun and Kim Do-gi have any kissing scenes?"

Su Yu's hands didn't stop. "No."

Why not?

"Because it's not necessary."

"The audience wants to see it."

Su Yu put down the rolling drum and turned to look at her. "The audience can't watch it even if they want to. I wrote the script, so I call the shots."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything. She turned and left, her footsteps making a thud on the stairs.

She came again in the afternoon. Su Yu had finished painting the walls and was tidying up the rollers and brushes. She stood at the top of the stairs, this time holding a script, turned to a certain page.

"Really not?"

"What?"

"Kissing scenes."

Su Yu put the brush into the bucket of water and shook the water off his hands. "Really, there isn't any."

"Then write a script. It's okay if you don't film it."

Su Yu leaned against the wall, watching her. "Just writing?"

"Hmm. I'll write it down."

Su Yu stared at her for three seconds. "Do you want to see me write about you kissing?"

Her face flushed instantly, from her neck down to her forehead. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She turned and ran, her footsteps pounding on the stairs like firecrackers going off upstairs.

Su Yu stood still, her lips twitching slightly. Not in a smile, but because she found the way she ran a little funny.

About half an hour later, she came downstairs. This time she walked very slowly, step by step, her eyes not on Su Yu, but only on the linoleum floor.

Su Yu sat by the window, holding her phone, without looking at her.

She walked to the window, picked up the wilted green plant, and pretended to water it. Actually, there was no water in the watering can.

"What are you watering? It's empty," Su Yu said.

She paused for a moment, then put the kettle down. Turning around, she looked out the window instead of at Su Yu.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"What were Ahn Goeun and Kim Do-gi thinking when they were silent in the car?"

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

Kim Do-gi is thinking about the road ahead. Ahn Go-eun is thinking about her sister.

"this one?"

"That's it."

"In that scene you wrote, the one where the wind blows her hair, she wasn't paying attention to her hair. What was she thinking?"

Su Yu looked at her. Her profile was turned towards him, and her ears hadn't completely lost their redness.

"She was wondering if she would flinch if Kim Do-ki reached out to help her tuck her hair."

Cai Xiubin turned her head and looked at him. Their eyes met, and neither of them moved.

Su Yu looked away and picked up her phone.

"That scene didn't happen. Kim Do-gi wouldn't reach out."

"I know," Cai Xiubin's voice trailed off.

She stood there for a while, then went upstairs. The sound of the keyboard started again. This time it was very soft, a gentle tap-tap-tap, as if afraid of disturbing anyone.