Chapter 221

Right after Dmitri's campaign pictorial struck the public.

It was no longer just the popularity of a pretty-faced rookie actress — Sae-i's market value was climbing by the day.

Ad offers and scripts poured in so fast that Wave Actors' agency work was practically paralyzed.

Naturally, all of that buzz flowed straight into her next project, Yoon Hae-ri's To All My Self-Righteousness, and into the film Deboning, whose teaser had just dropped.

A few days later.

A drinking gathering of Chungmuro's most prominent film directors, Kim Seong-rok among them.

The hot topic at the table was, without question, Joo Sae-i — and the director who'd snatched her up as a lead role early on, Kim Seong-rok.

"I mean, we all know the kid can act. Watching her previous work, she's definitely got screen presence, and she's sharp for someone so young."

"Right, she can act, no question."

"But still, putting…