assistirfilmes Chapter 32 is about to explode.
Chapter 32 is about to explode.
After signing the contract, Park Jiyeon felt like a newlywed bride who had just received her marriage certificate, with nothing in her hands except for that piece of paper.
Filming is finished, but it won't air for another two weeks. The company doesn't have any new projects, so she comes here every day to clock in, like a headless fly. Su Yu is painting the third coat of paint on that wall on the first floor; the roller is making a "swish-swish" sound as it hits the wall. She stands beside him, feeling superfluous and in the way.
"Miss Park, if you're really that bored, why don't you go downstairs and count ants?" Su Yu said without turning her head, her voice carrying the smell of paint. "You're blocking the light by standing here."
Park Jiyeon pouted and sat down on the broken chair by the window, hugging her knees. There were two potted plants on the windowsill, one a gift from Sulli and the other brought by her. Both were thriving, vibrant green, as if mocking the lifelessness in the room.
"Representative Su, is your company usually this... ascetic?" she couldn't help but ask.
"Um."
"Just the two of you?"
"There's another one upstairs."
Park Jiyeon looked up at the stairwell. The sound of a keyboard clicking away came from upstairs, a steady rhythm like some kind of mechanical timer.
"She types on a keyboard all day?"
"Um."
"No chatting? No slacking off? No ordering bubble tea?"
"I'm not talking."
"Is that a wooden figure?"
"That's work." Su Yu finally turned around, holding a roller in her hand, gray-blue paint dripping down the bristles. "Unlike some people who think they can just lie around counting money after signing a contract."
Park Jiyeon was taken aback, but stood up defiantly and walked to the top of the stairs to look up. The stairs were so narrow they looked like a sliver of sky, the walls were peeling like a map, and the fluorescent light tubes drooped half-dead.
"Representative Su, may I go up and take a look? To see that 'wooden man'?"
"Whatever. Just don't make her crash."
She climbed the stairs, the wooden planks creaking in protest. The second floor was even emptier than the first, practically a scene of war-torn Syria. A few cardboard boxes were piled in the corner, and a table and chair stood by the window, where Cai Xiubin sat like a statue.
The laptop's glow reflected on her face as her fingers danced across the keyboard, their afterimages too fast to see.
Park Jiyeon stood at the top of the stairs, feeling like a tourist who had accidentally wandered into forbidden territory.
"Hello, I'm Park Jiyeon. The new one... the one who got hit."
Cai Xiubin's fingers didn't stop, and she didn't even lift her eyelids: "Hello."
"Are you playing Ahn Go-eun?"
"Um."
"I've seen the clips you made. Your acting... was really cold."
"Thanks."
Park Jiyeon stood there for a moment, so embarrassed she was digging her toes into the ground. Chae Soobin didn't say anything either, the clatter of his keyboard echoing as if he were telling her to leave.
"Well... you're busy."
Park Jiyeon turned and slunk away downstairs.
Su Yu was painting the wall and didn't look up, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
"You're down?"
"Hmm. She's a robot, isn't she?"
"She's always busy. You'll get used to it."
Park Jiyeon walked back to the window, picked up the potted plant she had brought, and fiddled with its leaves. The two newly grown leaves had grown a little bigger, a tender green.
"Representative Su, if I put this flowerpot here, won't the person upstairs think I'm taking up too much space?"
"Who?"
"The one upstairs."
Su Yu tossed the roller into the bucket with a "plop." He turned around, leaned against the windowsill, and looked at her with a half-smile: "This company is mine. I call the shots. Don't even mention putting a potted plant here; you could even set up a tent here, as long as she doesn't mind blocking the way, I don't care."
Park Jiyeon put the plant back, feeling inexplicably at ease. She stood by the window, watching the occasional passersby in the alley outside. Delivery riders sped by, dog-walking aunties walked slowly, and students with backpacks looked miserable. No one looked into the dilapidated iron gate.
"Representative Su, do you think anyone will recognize me after the broadcast?"
"meeting."
How did you know?
"Because that slap you received hurt badly, and it was real."
She didn't reply, lowered her head, and drew circles on the dusty windowsill with her finger. Su Yu picked up the roller and continued painting the wall. That wall had already been painted three times, a grayish-blue, but he was still not satisfied, as if he were wrestling with the wall.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
The sound of high heels clicking on the concrete floor was crisp and clean.
Shirley has arrived.
She slammed a glass of iced Americano onto the windowsill, her eyes scanning Park Ji-yeon like an X-ray before finally settling on Su Yu.
"Another one?"
"Yes. It's a newly signed contract."
"What kind of role are you playing?"
"A supporting character in episodes seven and eight. The one who was a victim of domestic violence."
Sulli raised an eyebrow, sizing up Park Jiyeon as if assessing the quality of a product. "You? The one from T-ara?"
"Yes." Park Jiyeon stood up, a little nervous. "My name is Park Jiyeon."
"I know." Shirley picked up her iced Americano and took a sip, her eyes cool. "I've seen the role you played."
Su Yu stopped what she was doing, her brow furrowing slightly. "It hasn't aired yet. What's your opinion?"
"It was for internal viewing. It's a sample I got from the director." Shirley looked at him defiantly. "Is that not allowed?"
Su Yu didn't reply, he just shrugged.
Sulli turned her head, her gaze returning to Park Jiyeon's face, her tone suddenly becoming somewhat playful: "That slap you got, was it real?"
Park Jiyeon paused for a moment, then subconsciously touched her still slightly sore cheek: "How did you know?"
"Because you didn't dodge. There's a technique to faking a fight, but when you really fight..." Sulli pointed to Park Jiyeon's eyes, "there's a light in your eyes. That kind of 'I've been putting up with you for so long' light."
Park Jiyeon didn't say anything, but a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
Shirley put the iced Americano on the table, picked up her bag, and turned to leave.
"I'm gone."
"So fast?" Su Yu asked.
"Just passing by. Checking if any rats have gotten into your run-down temple." She stopped at the door, not turning around, her voice tinged with amusement. "Su Yu, your company is getting more and more crowded. Be careful it doesn't collapse."
He pushed open the door and went out.
The door shook a few times before slamming shut with a loud bang.
Park Jiyeon stood by the window, looking at the iron gate, then at Su Yu.
"Representative Su, is she your girlfriend?"
"no."
"Then how come she has the company's sample photos? And why is she bossing you around?"
Su Yu didn't answer. He put the brush into the bucket of water, shook the water droplets off his hands, and the water droplets splashed onto Park Jiyeon's hand, feeling cool.
"She gave us her internal feedback. She's an investor, so we let her see it if she wanted to."
Park Jiyeon didn't ask any more questions. She walked to the top of the stairs and glanced back up at the direction of the stairs. The sound of the keyboard was still ringing out, tap-tap-tap, never stopping.
"Representative Su, I'll be going now."
"Okay. Don't run around before the broadcast; it'll be hard to explain if someone recognizes you."
"So what if you recognized me? I didn't do anything wrong."
Su Yu looked at her, his gaze suddenly turning somewhat deep: "You're an artist under Yinguo Entertainment now. Your role hasn't aired yet, and the audience doesn't know you. If you're photographed and asked who you are, you won't be able to explain yourself. Then, you'll go back to being that 'ostracized Park Ji-yeon'."
Park Jiyeon nodded, pushed open the door, and went out. Her ponytail swayed behind her head like a small flag.
Su Yu stood by the window, watching her walk to the alley entrance, turn the corner, and disappear.
The potted plant is still on the windowsill, its leaves shining green.
On the day it airs, she will be recognized. She will be criticized, praised, and re-examined.
but not now.
Right now, she's just Park Jiyeon, a newcomer who's signed a contract but hasn't had a drama air yet. Someone still waiting to be seen.
Su Yu picked up her phone and sent a message to Park Jiyeon: "Don't wander off. Remember to bring that potted plant when you sign the contract next week. The person upstairs said it's blocking the light."
Three seconds later, the phone vibrated.
Park Jiyeon replied with an angry emoji: "CEO Su, you're lying! Those are my flowers!"
Su Yu looked at the screen and smiled.
That wall is finally finished being painted.