《I Want to Be a VTuber》


 Chapter 0

    To put it simply, it was a day when the summer cicadas were particularly noisy. When I opened my eyes, I was in the arms of an unfamiliar woman.


    "Our daughter Seo-yeon is so pretty, isn''t she?"


    "It''s not easy for babies to be this pretty, but your daughter has a beautiful face."


    I overheard a conversation between the woman holding me and another woman. I didn''t know exactly who the woman holding me was, but the woman she was talking to was a nurse.@@@@


    ''What in the world is this...?''


    I felt dizzy. What on earth was happening?


    ''I definitely collapsed and then...''


    I couldn''t remember clearly. I had finally escaped unemployment and was working at my new job when I felt a pain in my chest. I heard the sound of an ambulance, and my last memory was of being carried on a stretcher.


    And then, I woke up to this situation.


    ''Hmm.''


    I sucked my thumb once and came to a conclusion. My fingers were as small as my tiny mouth.


    ''I''ve been reincarnated...''


    With that thought, I decided to sleep first. My body wasn''t strong enough to resist the overwhelming drowsiness.


    ***


    Time passed. When I looked in the mirror, a girl who seemed about five or six years old was crossing her arms and glaring at me.


    ''Cute.''


    I raised my hand and lightly touched the long hair tied in twin tails. It was quite cute, and I liked it.


    When I brought my face closer to the mirror, I noticed slightly red eyes.


    ''Is it some strange disease?''


    According to the doctor, there was no problem other than the color. It wasn''t very bright red, so from a distance, it looked like a light brown.


    ''I still can''t get used to this.''


    I didn''t notice it immediately when I was first reincarnated. But it didn''t take long to realize that I had been reincarnated as a girl.


    In my previous life, I was a man. So, how shocking it must have been to reincarnate as a girl. I''m still not fully used to it, but I''ve gotten quite accustomed to it.


    When I strike various poses while looking at myself in the mirror, I honestly feel like I''m looking at a cute child rather than myself.


    The reason I haven''t gotten used to it even after five years is probably because of my appearance. Honestly, haven''t I become too cute compared to my previous life?


    "Ah."


    My voice was cute too. When I looked in the mirror, I was really satisfied with how cute I was. Reincarnation was definitely worth experiencing.


    Seo-yeon''s mother, Min Suah, who was secretly watching her, smiled warmly. Seo-yeon was a daughter who never cried or threw tantrums since she was young. She even used honorifics well, unlike a typical child.


    She often found things to do by herself and was always busy with various activities.


    "A celebrity?"


    Her husband, Youngbin Joo, who was watching the news, found his wife''s words puzzling.


    ''...Her?''


    She was his daughter, but she had some odd traits. She was certainly sweet and so cute that he never got tired of her.


    But sometimes, he had no idea what she was thinking.


    "Look, our Seo-yeon practices her voice every day while watching children''s shows."


    "Well, that''s true."


    Is that voice training? She did talk to herself a lot, but he couldn''t see how that related to voice training.


    "I secretly watched her, and she does various acting exercises. She was so cute I wanted to hug her."


    ''Hmm, really?''


    Youngbin had his doubts but didn''t say anything. It was a typical reaction from a mother who loved her daughter dearly.


    "Our Seo-yeon started speaking early, so wouldn''t she be good at acting?"


    Given that she practiced acting every day, she clearly had an interest.


    "Well, then how about we let her try an audition for child actors?"


    Usually, the best way to handle such things is to show them reality. Youngbin thought his daughter was really cute, but he knew that becoming a celebrity wasn''t easy.


    How many kids have talent? His daughter was unique, but he didn''t think she had much talent.


    ''Besides, these days, acting requires early education.''


    Seo-yeon''s family wasn''t poor, but they didn''t have the money to invest in such extracurricular activities. How could Seo-yeon, who only watched children''s shows, compete with kids who had been studying acting properly?


    "Shall we?"


    Suah, on the other hand, smiled brightly, clearly taking it seriously. Youngbin felt a bit guilty.


    Maybe he was being too harsh on his daughter.


    ''Well, who knows? She might actually have talent.''


    Watching his wife eagerly search for child actor auditions, Youngbin scratched his head. He thought it might be a good idea to give it a proper try.


    "What? ...A child actor audition?"


    But this was far from what Seo-yeon wanted for her future.

 Chapter 1

    Chapter 01


    My daily life after being reincarnated was quite fulfilling. As soon as I woke up in the morning, I did stretching exercises and then immediately started vocal practice. I also didn''t forget to practice various acting scenes while watching TV.


    Why bother studying acting?  It was all for a proper role-play (RP).


    What is RP, you ask? Simply put, it''s the persona and concept used for activities as a Vtuber. It¡¯s the setting of the Vtuber character. Among Vtubers, some maintained their RP well, while others did not.


    Personally, I found Vtubers who didn''t keep their RP to be very off-putting. What''s the difference between that and a regular streamer?


    ''Though to be honest, I haven''t watched many Vtubers.''


    As a busy office worker, I rarely had time to watch them. Even when I did, it was usually shorts or clips uploaded by clippers.


    ''I should have watched more diligently back then.''


    Now, before the industry is fully established, it''s hard to know what to do. The important things for now are vocal training and acting.


    If I want to be a streamer, I''ll need some natural talent too...


    ''Broadcasting skills are hard to grasp without actually doing it.''


    There were many challenges. Whether a streamer or a Vtuber, coming up with content is the most crucial part. If I plan ahead from now, I won''t struggle in the future.


    ''I''m sure I''ll be good at gaming, right?''


    After all, being reincarnated should come with otherworldly reflexes. So I didn''t worry about the gaming aspect.


    ''But what kind of RP would be good?''


    Thinking about the Vtuber concept was enjoyable in many ways. Since my free time would decrease once I entered kindergarten next year, it was better to plan ahead.


    ''Hmm, now that I think about it, I could do it as a guy Vtuber.''


    Since my male consciousness was still stronger, I thought about that, but soon shook my head. It would be foolish to waste the advantage of being born with a good voice.


    So, I faithfully continued my daily routine. By the time what would have exhausted my past self within a month became a habit.@@@@


    "My dear, would you like to try auditioning for child actors?"


    My mother suddenly said that to me.


    ***


    "Even though it''s an open audition, really..."


    Casting director Kim Hyung-seok scratched his head and sighed. They were holding an audition to find a child actor for a commercial, but he couldn''t shake off the feeling that they had made a mistake.


    "Wouldn''t it have been easier to use a known child actor?"


    One staff member''s remark made Kim Hyung-seok shake his head.


    "Is that possible? We don''t have the budget for that."


    "Why is the client so stingy...?"


    The staff grumbled, but there was no other choice. It wasn''t a big corporate ad, but a small job from a mid-sized company.


    Kim Hyung-seok had been a casting director for a long time, but this situation was rare. Usually, they would just run an ad online instead of squeezing out a budget to film a commercial.


    Even the CF director was clearly a rookie without much experience.


    ''He''s obviously a parachute hire.''


    There''s no way a young person like him would be directing a commercial without some connections.


    Everything was handled cheaply. It was absurd that the highest-paid person was himself, the casting director. The fact that they had a proper studio prepared was a stroke of luck.


    Knowing this, the rookie CF director came over to greet him first.


    "Haha, well, please take care of me. I just moved from advertising design to this."


    This was Ji-yeon''s first gig. Even the management at Galaxy Entertainment had said so.


    With Ji-yeon''s skills, she should easily pass a small audition like this. They were participating for the experience and to add a small line to her resume.


    Clunk.


    While thinking that, the door to the waiting room opened. Being close to the door, Hong Jin-hee glanced over.


    "...!"


    A cute girl with neatly laid long black hair. What stood out was the strange eye color. Combined with her clear face and neat appearance, she was prettier than any child actor Hong Jin-hee had seen at the agency.


    But if it was just her appearance that stood out, Hong Jin-hee wouldn''t have been so surprised.


    ''She has a different aura.''


    A strangely detached feeling. It was different from the aura of actors, yet somewhat similar.


    [ Do you know who she is? ]


    [ How would I know? ]


    It wasn''t just her who felt this way, as the waiting room became more lively. Amidst the murmuring atmosphere, Seo-yeon''s mother, Suah, smiled brightly.


    "Look, there are friends here, Seo-yeon. But you know you''re the prettiest, right?"


    Holding her presumed mother''s hand, Seo-yeon walked in with strange maturity. Usually, a typical child would respond to such a mother''s words with a cute reaction like ''Really??'' or ''Oh, stop kidding~''.


    "Yes."


    Her response was firm, as if it was obvious. Not just in her mother''s eyes, but she seemed confident that she was the prettiest in this audition.


    As a result, the mothers at the audition couldn''t help but wonder who this child was.


    Was she already an actress somewhere? They exchanged brief opinions but couldn''t gather any information.


    ''Hmm.''


    Watching them, Seo-yeon crossed her arms and nodded.


    ''This is also an experience.''


    Actor auditions. Honestly, it was something I had never expected, so I was initially surprised.


    But thinking about it more, it seemed like a good opportunity.


    ''This is also acting, after all.''


    Considering my future debut as a Vtuber, it seemed beneficial to have such experiences. It would help with RP and improve my conversation skills.


    ''I can even use stories about having appeared in CFs or having child actor experience later.''


    So, I didn''t care much about the result of this audition.


    ''Of course, I''m the prettiest.''


    My TS appearance is invincible. Ordinary girls can''t compare.


    Knowing that auditions aren''t based solely on looks, Seo-yeon calmly plopped down on an empty seat. There wasn''t a trace of the tension that a typical child would show in such an audition.


    [ Is she an experienced child actor? ]


    [ Or... maybe she''s really from a management agency. ]


    Though no manager was visible, it''s common for mothers to take on that role for child actors. So, it wouldn''t be surprising if Seo-yeon was from a management or a major agency.


    ''Our Seo-yeon is so poised.''


    While various mothers and some staff whispered among themselves, Seo-yeon''s mother, Suah, kept gently stroking Seoyeon''s round head.


    To her, her daughter was simply the cutest.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 02


    First Audition (1)


    ¡®Ju Seo-yeon, it¡¯s Ju Seo-yeon.¡¯


    CF director Cho Min-tae observed the atmosphere in the waiting room. As expected, the girl he had his eye on was attracting all the attention.


    ¡®It¡¯s not just about her face.¡¯


    There was an atmosphere, a presence that captivated everyone around her. Having followed his father''s work from a young age, Cho Min-tae had seen many actors.


    Actors always had beautiful and impressive appearances, but beyond that, they had something that captured people¡¯s attention.


    That girl, Ju Seo-yeon, had that kind of presence. It wasn¡¯t quite an aura yet, but she had something that drew people¡¯s eyes to her.


    ¡°She definitely has a good vibe. It would be great if her acting matches her looks.¡±


    Great minds think alike. Casting director Kim Hyung-seok also had his eye on Seo-yeon. However, his expectations weren¡¯t as high as Cho Min-tae¡¯s.


    ¡®There are kids like that sometimes.¡¯


    Kids who are pretty and have a good presence. But looks are just looks. If you¡¯re not going to be a model, being an actor is all about acting. Even if it¡¯s just a simple commercial.


    Especially since this CF involved not just one actor, but another actor as well.


    ¡®I need to prepare for that too.¡¯


    With the child actors being like this, he wondered if they could find a decent adult actor.


    ¡°It seems like everyone¡¯s here. How about we start?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s hurry. We don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Most of the kids they had identified from their profiles seemed to have arrived, and it was about 10 minutes to the scheduled audition time of 12 PM.


    Hyung-seok stood up, opened the waiting room door, and called out.


    ¡°We will start the audition now. You have your number tags, right? Come in order from number 1.¡±


    His dry words caused a wave of tension to sweep through the waiting room.


    ¡°Ji-yeon, you don¡¯t need to be nervous. Just do what you always do.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom.¡±


    Ji-yeon, the only child affiliated with a management agency, also showed signs of nerves. Her mother, Hong Jin-hee, tried to calm her daughter while glancing at Seo-yeon.


    ¡®Is that kid¡¯s heart made of steel? No change in her expression.¡¯


    Jin-hee frowned as she looked at Seoyeon¡¯s unperturbed face, but soon smiled.


    ¡®But with that kind of dull expression, her acting won¡¯t be worth seeing.¡¯


    An actor''s job is to convey emotions through acting. This fact doesn¡¯t change even for a small CF.


    In fact, because CFs are like short one-act plays, emotional elements needed to be maximized. But if a kid was that dull, they¡¯d surely be poor at expressing emotions.


    ¡®Why is she smiling at me?¡¯


    Seo-yeon wondered if there was something on her face. There was a woman who had been glaring at her for a while.


    ¡°Seoyeon, you mustn¡¯t be nervous. Understand? If you get nervous, hold my hand tightly.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Seo-yeon who was nervous, but her mother, Suah. Seo-yeon held Suah¡¯s hand to calm her, not because she was nervous.


    ¡®This is odd. Isn¡¯t the acting my job?¡¯


    With that thought, Seo-yeon focused on today¡¯s CF.


    ¡®It¡¯s a food commercial, right?¡¯


    Although she didn¡¯t know exactly what product it was, she could guess it was something food-related. This meant she needed to act like she was eating something.


    ¡®It¡¯s important to eat deliciously.¡¯


    Though the concept wasn¡¯t established yet, a few years later, the idea of mukbang would emerge. However, this wasn¡¯t directly relevant to Vtubers.


    For Vtubers, mukbang could be part of their content, but it couldn¡¯t be the main attraction. Still, it was good to have versatility. Mukbang was content after all.


    ¡°Seo-yeon, look, the kids who went in before are coming out.¡±


    Suah whispered to Seo-yeon. Turning her gaze, Seo-yeon saw the kids walking out of the audition room with dejected faces.


    They clearly hadn¡¯t received good feedback.


    ¡°Next, number 5, please come in.¡±


    Numbers continued to be called. Seo-yeon¡¯s number was 22, which meant she was quite far down the line.


    ¡°Number 13.¡±


    As she pondered what kind of food it might be, the kid affiliated with the management agency stood up. Though her face showed signs of tension, she was clearly better off than the others.


    ¡°Yes, it seems so.¡±


    Cho Min-tae and Kim Hyung-seok nodded as they exchanged such comments.


    There were 25 kids in total for today¡¯s audition, so it was almost over.


    ¡°Given that she entered a management agency at a young age, she seems to have some skills.¡±


    Kim Hyung-seok said this as he roughly closed the remaining profiles. He thought there was no point in looking further.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true...¡±


    However, Cho Min-tae was still dissatisfied. As a CF director, it was his first job, so he wanted to work with a good actor.


    ¡®But things in life aren¡¯t that easy.¡¯


    With a limited budget, good actors wouldn¡¯t come to such an ad. It was clear that the ad wouldn¡¯t get much exposure anyway.


    ¡°There¡¯s still number 22 left, right? The kid you were eyeing earlier.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Cho Min-tae scratched his head and looked at the profile of number 22 he had just called.


    ¡®No acting experience. This is her first time.¡¯


    Like the other kids who came to audition today, there was nothing special about her profile.


    Initially, he had high hopes, but after seeing the other kids¡¯ skills, he realized how important experience was.


    ¡°It would be great if she could perform at least half as well as she looks.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that would be really nice...¡±


    Clunk!


    In the middle of their conversation, the door opened, and a small child walked in. With long black hair and strangely colored eyes, her pale face looked like a porcelain doll, almost unreal.


    If not for the mother following behind, they might have kept staring.


    ¡°Oh, the guardian can sit over there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    The mother was so nervous that she clumsily took her seat, a stark contrast to her expressionless daughter.


    ¡®Or maybe the daughter is also nervous in her own way.¡¯


    Cho Min-tae nodded at Seo-yeon, who was seated neatly. From the moment he first saw her, he felt she had a very proper posture. Her back was straight, and her gaze was forward.


    Receiving her direct gaze, Cho Min-tae spoke.


    ¡°So, your name is Seo-yeon, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Did they tell you what kind of acting you¡¯ll be doing today?¡±


    ¡°I only heard it was food-related.¡±


    Her calm answer lacked any fluctuation. With such a flat tone, their expectations for her acting dropped further.


    ¡°Alright, then you¡¯ll be acting as if you¡¯re drinking something. Imagine drinking cold milk deliciously.¡±


    This was purely improvised. She wasn¡¯t given any preparation about the advertisement or the character. It was impromptu acting without a script.


    Typically, in such cases, kids react with confusion or at least show it on their faces.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    But again, she responded with a very short answer. Cho Min-tae exchanged glances with Kim Hyung-seok, laughing wryly.


    ¡®This isn¡¯t going to work, right?¡¯


    ¡®With such a stoic expression... acting with food will be tough.¡¯


    Their exchanged looks conveyed this meaning. In these auditions, the casting director¡¯s opinion often carried more weight than the director¡¯s.


    With Kim Hyung-seok almost set on casting Ji-yeon, it would be hard for Seo-yeon to succeed unless she performed exceptionally well.


    ¡®What a shame.¡¯


    He really wanted to work with her. As Cho Min-tae thought this, something happened.


    ¡°Phew.¡±


    A smile appeared on Seo-yeon¡¯s lips. It was a bright, cheerful smile, far from the expressionless face she had before.


    The atmosphere changed. The dullness turned bright.


    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯


    Cho Min-tae¡¯s eyes widened as he watched Seoyeon¡¯s hand move in slow motion.


    She grasped something. When thinking of drinking, people generally mimic holding a cup. But Seo-yeon¡¯s hand shape was different.


    It was mimicking a carton. A milk carton. Not the usual 200ml size, but a long, 190ml soy milk carton.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 03 First Audition


    First Audition (2)


    Some people are said to be born to be actors.


    Kim Hyung-seok had been a casting director for a long time, but he had never met such a person. He had seen many impressive performances, but the phrase "born to be an actor" always seemed like an exaggeration.


    ¡®They exist.¡¯


    However, the saying he once thought was an exaggeration now seemed very real.


    ¡®A person born to be an actor.¡¯


    Just by smiling, the atmosphere changed. The child, who seemed emotionless, suddenly became lively and cheerful.


    Was she holding a cup? No, from the hand shape, it looked like she was holding a milk carton or something longer, like a soy milk carton.


    ¡°Wow, what¡¯s this, big sister?¡±


    With a bright smile and chatty demeanor, Cho Min-tae and Kim Hyung-seok couldn¡¯t take their eyes off her.


    ¡®Her gaze is directed upwards.¡¯


    She was acting as if she was with someone.


    ¡®How?¡¯


    They had only instructed her to act like she was drinking cold milk deliciously. They hadn¡¯t mentioned that this commercial involved two people.


    The girl mimicked holding a straw with her two fingers. She pretended to insert it into the soy milk carton in her right hand and took a sip.@@@@


    A simple action.


    Gulp.


    But just watching her made their throats move involuntarily. She had a charm that made people want to drink something too.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t feel awkward.¡¯


    The most painful thing to watch is when an actor isn¡¯t immersed in their performance. If they find their acting awkward or embarrassing, the viewers will feel the same discomfort and embarrassment.


    This is due to empathy, the ability to share and understand another''s feelings. Thus, good acting should be able to evoke that empathy to the fullest.


    Can a child around five years old do that? Could they?


    ¡°...I¡¯m done.¡±


    Lost in watching her performance, they were startled when the girl spoke. She was now back to her expressionless face as if the lively performance earlier had been a lie.


    ¡°Oh, um.¡±


    Cho Min-tae couldn¡¯t find the words to say. He could have praised her for being great, but that was the same compliment he had given to number 13 earlier.


    Repeating the same words felt inappropriate given the disparity in their performances.


    ¡®Is she really a child actor?¡¯


    Of all the child actors Cho Min-tae had seen, only a few could perform at this level. Most of them were older than Ju Seoyeon by a year or two.


    ¡®Wasn¡¯t this her first audition?¡¯


    A child with such acting skills wouldn¡¯t have failed every audition. Good child actors were rare, and her performance at her first audition was this skilled.


    If she wasn¡¯t born to be an actor, who else could claim that title?


    ¡®It seems...¡¯


    ¡®We¡¯ve made our decision, right?¡¯


    Cho Min-tae and Kim Hyung-seok exchanged opinions and nodded.


    ¡°You were the best child actor I¡¯ve seen recently.¡±


    ¡°Your performance was excellent today. We¡¯ll notify you of the results by email or phone later.¡±


    After saying this, they continued to praise Seo-yeon. They praised her for immersing herself in the emotions and for her delicate expressions.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Listening to their compliments, Seo-yeon tilted her head.


    ¡®Is it really that great?¡¯


    It felt like an exaggeration.


    Honestly, she didn¡¯t know how good her acting was. She had practiced in front of the mirror, but it was hard to gauge her own performance.


    ¡®Daydreaming might have helped.¡¯


    Seo-yeon sat maturely on the sofa. She watched the TV show Pingpong with a serious face, as if the audition success was a matter of course.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Without taking her eyes off the TV, Seo-yeon tilted her head slightly. She wanted to turn to look at Youngbin, but her eyes stayed fixed on the TV.


    Perhaps her mind was influenced by her younger body, finding Pingpong more entertaining than expected. Anyway.


    ¡®...I got accepted.¡¯


    In her past life, she had never passed an audition on the first try. Who knew it would turn out like this?


    After a moment of contemplation, Seo-yeon spoke up.


    There was no real problem with accepting, after all.


    ¡°I want to try it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Appearing in a CF would bring in some income. Knowing this, Youngbin decided how to handle that income for their daughter.


    ¡°All the money will be saved in your account, Seo-yeon. You can use it when you grow up.¡±


    For university, or any other expenses. Ensuring this showed that Youngbin and Suah were really good parents, unlike her past parents.


    ¡®Money, huh. I¡¯ll definitely need it.¡¯


    Thinking about her debut as a Vtuber, she realized she would need a lot of money.


    Possibly more than a regular streamer.


    Regular streaming equipment, a 3D model, full tracking equipment. She might even need a separate room. Soundproofing... there were so many expenses to consider.


    ¡®I need to save up.¡¯


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t want to burden her parents. Initially, it felt awkward, but now they were precious to her, and she wanted to manage on her own.


    Moreover, she still felt like an adult mentally. Doing what she wanted to do by herself was her motto.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve decided, let¡¯s go together next time, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good. And well done on passing the audition. You¡¯re amazing!¡±


    With Youngbin patting her head energetically, Seo-yeon nodded. She didn¡¯t know why she passed the audition.


    But since she did, she planned to do her best.


    ***


    In a small studio in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Kim Jung-ha, who was waiting for the audition to start, let out a nervous sigh.


    ¡®Let¡¯s do well, let¡¯s do well.¡¯


    This was practically her first job. She had tried many auditions but never got a proper role. Currently a freelancer without an agency.


    If she could catch attention with this CF, she might find a decent agency.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t overdo the emotions.¡¯


    Her consistent failure in auditions was due to her acting not matching the advertisement¡¯s tone. Even in drama extras, her acting stood out too much.


    So she often ended up with roles that didn¡¯t even have lines.


    ¡°Jung-ha, don¡¯t be too nervous. What¡¯s a pro? Just do as per the payment.¡±


    ¡°Ha, haha.¡±


    Trying to relax her, a staff member¡¯s words made Jung-ha laugh awkwardly. The payment for this ad wasn¡¯t much, so they couldn¡¯t get a big name actor, which is why they hired someone like her.


    ¡°By the way, I heard from Director Cho that the child actor coming today is amazing?¡±


    ¡°Amazing?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. The casting director and others were raving about her. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was real or not with all the hype.¡±


    As someone who had only received positive feedback once, Jung-ha felt envious. And that one positive feedback was from her recent audition.


    ¡®I wonder what kind of kid she is.¡¯


    Still, Jung-ha thought, ¡®She¡¯s just a kid.¡¯ Especially since child actors in such small ads were often average or below.


    But.


    ¡°Hello, Kim Jung-ha.¡±


    Seeing the politely greeting child, Jung-ha had to change her mind. She realized there truly are geniuses in this world.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 04


    First Shoot (1)


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Crossing my arms and closing my eyes gently, I thought.


    ¡®I¡¯m nervous.¡¯


    Even though my gender had changed, I was still human. Fear was still fear, and nervousness was still nervousness.


    ¡®I wasn¡¯t like this during the audition.¡¯


    To be honest, I had expected to fail the audition. Maybe the mindset of treating it all as an experience worked to my advantage.


    ¡°Oh my, Seo-yeon, are you nervous?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    At times like this, Suah was particularly perceptive about my feelings. When I glared at her with a pouty face, she hugged me tightly with her large chest.


    Hmph, whatever.


    ¡°Looks like this is the studio. Let¡¯s go in.¡±


    At my father Joo Youngbin¡¯s words, I nodded. I couldn¡¯t quite gauge the size of the studio.


    After all, it was my first time in such a place.@@@@


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    As we entered the studio, CF director Cho Min-tae greeted us as if he had been waiting. While my parents exchanged brief conversations with him, I looked around the studio.


    ¡®Interesting.¡¯


    Reflectors, cameras, and various props were placed in a rectangular space. It was quite charmingly arranged, probably by the staff in advance.


    It felt entirely different from the audition room, which was just a bit more spacious. It felt more professional, I suppose.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Ju Seo-yeon. I¡¯m looking forward to your performance today.¡±


    I scurried around and bowed to the staff. A child¡¯s deep bow is a very powerful weapon.


    When I was my previous self, my nieces¡¯ deep bows made me instinctively open my wallet. Especially now, with my own cuteness added, it was natural for the staff¡¯s expressions to soften.


    ¡®Managing reputation is important.¡¯


    Who knows, I might succeed as a Vtuber and make it onto a broadcast. It was important to prepare for any possibility.


    ¡°Oh my, how cute.¡±


    ¡°I wish my daughter was half as cute as her...¡±


    As expected, sighs of admiration followed my deep bows.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    As I greeted everyone, a particular woman caught my eye. She sat in a white plastic chair, looking very anxious and deep in thought.


    ¡®Kim Jung-ha.¡¯


    The Kim Jung-ha I knew was a ten-million-ticket-selling actress. Seeing this ¡®pre-success¡¯ version of her was quite unfamiliar.


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Kim Jung-ha.¡±


    When I greeted her with a deep bow, her eyes widened.


    ¡°Oh, are you the child actor in this CF?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. My name is Ju Seo-yeon.¡±


    The term ¡®child actor¡¯ felt a bit awkward, but I accepted it for now.


    ¡°Wow, really... people are indeed different.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°...Nothing.¡±


    Kim Jung-ha murmured and then slouched back into her plastic chair, looking very different from the person I had expected.


    ¡®This is the person who filmed that CF?¡¯


    Kim Jung-ha, who always appeared bright and cheerful on various shows, now looked like someone who might never leave the house¡ªa hikikomori, a loner.


    ¡®Can we sync up?¡¯


    Already feeling nervous, I couldn¡¯t believe Kim Jung-ha was like this. I decided it was best to abandon any hope of relying on her seniority for confidence.


    ¡°Ms. Jung-ha! Ms. Seo-yeon!¡±


    At that moment, another staff member gestured toward us.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to start filming. You¡¯ve memorized your scripts, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, the second scene?¡±


    Cho Min-tae looked at the script for the second scene. He had wanted to create a more familial atmosphere, so he wasn¡¯t entirely fond of this scene.


    ¡®It¡¯s too lively.¡¯


    He glanced at Jung-ha.


    ¡®Can she handle it?¡¯


    Static acting has its challenges. Lively acting can easily become overly childish.


    Kim Jung-ha, who struggled with static acting, handling a lively role...


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try it.¡±


    They weren¡¯t making progress with the first scene anyway. The biggest hurdle in filming food commercials is the eating part. Even though it was just soy milk, it was easier for them to bring out emotions when eating.


    So they began filming again.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°This is good.¡±


    The staff¡¯s eyes filled with surprise. As soon as the acting switched to lively, Kim Jung-ha began to shine. Her once gloomy performance now brimmed with energy.


    In fact, her energy was almost overwhelming.


    ¡®And she matches it perfectly.¡¯


    In this commercial, Jung-ha and Seo-yeon were playing the roles of sisters. A cheerful older sister and a lively younger sister.


    Seo-yeon¡¯s performance was exceptional, embodying the lively younger sister perfectly.


    ¡®This is it.¡¯


    While the staff were merely impressed, Cho Min-tae felt chills. This performance was exactly like what Seo-yeon had shown during the audition.


    ¡®How can it be so identical?¡¯


    It didn¡¯t make sense. There was no way the script had been leaked.


    Lost in watching the performance, he forgot to call for a cut.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. Cut, cut! This is great. This will work.¡±


    Despite the previous struggles, they got an okay sign in one take. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Kim Jung-ha couldn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡®One take? Really?¡¯


    Having confidence in lively acting, she had desperately tried to bring the scene to life. But she hadn¡¯t expected an okay sign in one take.


    ¡®Did she know this would happen?¡¯


    Seo-yeon¡¯s suggestion to switch to the second scene now seemed incredibly insightful.


    ¡®It must be a coincidence, right?¡¯


    If it was intentional, it would be terrifying. How could she have known?


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s review the footage. Ms. Jung-ha, Ms. Seoyeon, come over here.¡±


    Jung-ha and Seo-yeon approached the camera to review the footage. On the small screen, the scene they had just filmed played back.


    ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s soy milk!¡±


    The lively cry from Seo-yeon started the video. Watching it, the staff were impressed, and Jung-ha blinked in awe.


    ¡®Wow, it¡¯s so clean.¡¯


    Is filming supposed to be this easy? She wondered, glancing at Cho Min-tae¡¯s face.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    Cho Min-tae¡¯s expression was slightly furrowed. And it wasn¡¯t just him.


    Seo-yeon also seemed deep in thought.


    ¡°This is strange. This seems quite good...¡±


    Cho Min-tae replayed the video several times, scrutinizing it. Kim Jung-ha¡¯s acting was flawless. Seo-yeon¡¯s performance was excellent.


    Or was it? Was this really okay?


    ¡°I think we should shoot it again.¡±


    Before Cho Min-tae could say anything, Seo-yeon spoke up.


    It was her first time filming a CF. It was also her first time reviewing footage like this.


    But even without much experience, she could tell if something was off.


    Especially if it was her own fault.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do well.¡±


    Jung-ha couldn¡¯t understand what Seo-yeon was talking about. What was wrong with the last shoot?


    ¡®Oh.¡¯


    Then she realized why Seoyeon suggested redoing it.


    Footnotes


    Hikikimori is a Japanese term that refers to a phenomenon where individuals, typically young adults, withdraw from society and remain isolated in their homes for extended periods, often for months or years. ?Method acting is a technique used by actors to create a more authentic and immersive performance.The goal is to become the character, not just play the role. ?Static acting refers to a style of performance where the actor''s physical movements and facial expressions are minimal and restrained. ?

 Chapter 5

    First Audition (2)


    To be honest, at first, it felt pretty good.


    Despite being nervous, my body didn¡¯t shake and did its job well.


    ¡®And this time, I even have a cheat sheet.¡¯


    The commercial I saw in my previous life came back to me with remarkable clarity. I remembered Kim Jung-ha¡¯s acting and the performance of the child actor, Lee Ji-yeon, as if they were etched into my mind.


    I can do this.


    This should be fine.


    Thinking optimistically like that, I went into the shoot.


    ¡®...Something¡¯s off.¡¯


    The girl on camera was lively and full of energy, unlike myself. However, it was still clearly ¡®Ju Seo-yeon.¡¯


    This meant that my RP (role-playing) or acting wasn¡¯t up to par.


    ¡®What¡¯s the problem?¡¯


    Even after thinking it over, I couldn¡¯t figure it out. I had never formally studied acting; all I had done was mimic children¡¯s shows and exercises.


    Although I had acted out characters in my imagination, I had never directly filmed and reviewed it.


    ¡°Hmmm...¡±


    Director Cho Min-tae also had a worried look on his face.


    ¡°Honestly, it could work as it is.¡±


    He responded to my suggestion to re-shoot.


    ¡°Frankly speaking, there isn¡¯t a significant issue. Right?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±


    ¡°I honestly can¡¯t pinpoint what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Just... it feels a bit off.¡±


    A staff member made a casual comment, but it struck a chord with me. Something felt off.


    ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s it. There¡¯s an odd feeling.¡¯


    Why is that? As I stared at the video intently, someone tapped my shoulder.


    ¡°Ms. Kim Jung-ha?¡±


    ¡°Um... well...¡±


    She seemed hesitant to speak, as if questioning her right to say anything.


    Some staff members shook their heads at her. Despite her good performance in this scene, she had shown inconsistent results previously.


    It might have seemed presumptuous for her to give advice after just one decent performance. But I knew better.


    Kim Jung-ha was a future ten-million-ticket-selling actress, recognized for her talent by millions.


    ¡°Ms. Kim Jung-ha.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never properly learned acting.¡±


    At my words, her eyes blinked in surprise. She might have thought I was boasting.


    ¡°So, of course, I have a lot of shortcomings. If you notice anything off, please let me know.¡±


    I learned something during my time working: if you don¡¯t know something, ask. That saying doesn¡¯t always hold in the workplace.


    ¡®Figure it out on your own,¡¯ was what my boss often said.


    But Kim Jung-ha wasn¡¯t my old boss.


    Well, she did have the same last name, but at least Kim Jung-ha wouldn¡¯t yell at me for asking questions.


    She wasn¡¯t stupid. She must have known that unsolicited advice could be met with ridicule, given her recent performances.


    Still, she tried to tell me something. So, I wanted to hear what she had to say.


    ¡°...This is really just my personal opinion.¡±


    My words seemed to reach her as she stammered a bit.


    ¡°Seo-yeon, your emotional acting is incredible. It¡¯s amazing for someone your age. Honestly, I can¡¯t even come close.¡±


    With trembling hands, she pointed to the replaying video.


    ¡°But emotional acting alone can¡¯t convey everything on a small TV screen.¡±


    Her words made my eyes widen.


    ¡®Oh.¡¯


    I understood what she was trying to say.


    Cho Min-tae also let out a small exclamation.


    ¡°Yes, exactly. That¡¯s the feeling. Seo-yeon, you said you¡¯ve never learned acting?¡±


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time for Pingping, your favorite show.¡±


    She turned on the TV to distract her daughter, who often whined about the failed audition.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    As they waited for Pingping to start, a commercial came on.


    ¡°Mom.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen her before.¡±


    Jin-hee nodded at her daughter¡¯s comment. She had the same thought.


    It was a soy milk commercial for a new brand they hadn¡¯t heard of.


    ¡°Sis! Is this milk?¡±


    It started with a long-haired girl pouting. Then, a lively woman appeared, wagging her finger.


    ¡°No way. It¡¯s soy milk I bought for you.¡±


    ¡°Soy milk?¡±


    The girl held the soy milk, closed her eyes tightly, and sucked on the straw. Her sidelong glances at her sister were irresistibly cute.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s sweet!¡±


    The colors brightened, and the girl¡¯s face lit up. She bounced energetically, making it hard to take your eyes off her.


    In the vibrant colors, she bounced around brightly, and the benefits of soy milk were naturally highlighted as the girl¡¯s face was shown in close-up.


    Bang-!


    The bold text Pure Soy Milk appeared at the end.


    ¡°Mom.¡±


    By the time Jin-hee came to her senses, her daughter Ji-yeon was tugging at her sleeve. From her daughter¡¯s sulky face, it seemed she had been calling her for a while.


    ¡®That¡¯s why.¡¯


    Jin-hee realized why her daughter hadn¡¯t gotten the role.


    ¡®That¡¯s why we lost.¡¯


    She adored her daughter, but she couldn¡¯t imagine her performing like that.


    ***


    I was exhausted.


    My mom dragged me out early in the morning.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m hypotensive...¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, Seo-yeon. You¡¯re not hypotensive.¡±


    Well, she wasn¡¯t wrong, but I hated moving in the morning, having been severely hypotensive in my previous life.


    ¡°And Seo-yeon, you need to get used to waking up early since you¡¯ll be going to kindergarten soon.¡±


    ¡°Kindergarten...¡±


    Just the name made me not want to go. Such a pointless, tedious place.


    Ju Seo-yeon, age six.


    I was starting to wish time would speed up. At least middle and high school would be more interesting. But kindergarten?


    ¡°Mom, we don¡¯t have to rush.¡±


    Rubbing my eyes, I told my mom. My mom, Suah, frowned as if questioning what I was saying.


    ¡°We would have left earlier if our pretty daughter hadn¡¯t slept until the sun was high in the sky.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, I understood why she was nagging me. She had been like this since yesterday.


    ¡®Since we watched the CF yesterday.¡¯


    Yesterday was the debut of the CF we had filmed months ago. Mom had been recording it diligently, hugging me tightly while calling me a genius.


    ¡®They¡¯ll have plenty of stock.¡¯


    Pure Soy Milk from Garam Dream was a product that sold moderately well. It wasn¡¯t a hot seller but sold decently thanks to Kim Jung-ha¡¯s commercial.


    ¡®How much soy milk can people buy?¡¯


    Even the local store was quite large, so they should have had plenty of stock.


    Or so I thought.


    ¡°...Sold out?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it all sold out in the morning. I should have stocked more.¡±


    The store lady¡¯s words made my mom turn her eyes on me with a look of deep resentment.


    I never imagined it would sell out.

 Chapter 6

    Growth (1)@@@@


    The fact that the soy milk sold out on the first day was shocking, but I didn''t dwell on it too much.


    ''They probably didn''t stock much in the first place.''


    However, contrary to my thoughts, the soy milk sold far better than I had expected. It wasn¡¯t always sold out, but it was selling far more than what I remembered from my previous life.


    Nowadays, people even recognized me when I walked around with Mom.


    ¡ªAren¡¯t you the kid from the soy milk commercial?


    ¡ªWow, she lives in our neighborhood.


    ¡ªShe¡¯s so cute! But she looks a bit different from the commercial.


    I wasn¡¯t exactly a celebrity, but some local moms started to recognize me and strike up conversations. That was it, for now.


    ¡°Seo-yeon! Mommy finally bought a ton of soy milk!¡±


    ¡°...Mom, you should drink it all.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? You drank it so deliciously in the commercial... Oh, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t like soy milk?¡±


    Mom sounded genuinely surprised. Just like she said, I didn''t like regular milk.


    It tastes weird!


    I could tolerate low-fat milk, but I couldn''t say I liked it.


    ¡°Soy milk is better, but... I just don¡¯t like beans.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, my daughter is such a good actress. I thought you loved soy milk.¡±


    Well, I had to act like I enjoyed it. I couldn¡¯t very well show my dislike on camera.


    ''Did she really buy three boxes?''


    In any case, I couldn¡¯t leave Mom to drink all that soy milk by herself, so I had to help her finish it.


    ¡°But Seo-yeon, you do have things you dislike, huh?¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    I turned my gaze away without answering. In my past life, I didn¡¯t have clear preferences for likes and dislikes.


    Especially with things like milk; showing that I disliked something usually meant getting ignored.


    Recently, these preferences naturally emerged, perhaps as my memories from my past life faded.


    ¡®Is it because of acting?¡¯


    Or maybe it¡¯s because I became a girl. Who knows why?


    ¡°Mommy wants to know everything you like and dislike, so you have to tell me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Seo-yeon.¡±


    Mom pushed the boxes of soy milk aside and checked to see if Dad was around before speaking softly.


    ¡°Director Cho contacted me. He asked if you¡¯d be interested in doing more TV commercials.¡±


    ¡°Commercials? But I don¡¯t want to go through auditions...¡±


    ¡°Well, according to Director Cho, some advertisers liked your performance in the CF.¡±


    Finding talented child actors isn''t impossible, but it¡¯s rare. Children who lack acting skills often become kid models. So, being an ¡®actor¡¯ already implies a certain level of talent.


    Like Lee Ji-yeon, who I met at the audition.


    ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°It must be because of the soy milk commercial, right?¡±


    The soy milk commercial... It certainly had a greater impact than in my previous life.


    ¡®Well, it¡¯s not bad to try various types of acting.¡¯


    The money from the CF went into my bank account. It wasn''t much, but it was the first money I earned in this world, so I felt quite proud.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    There probably aren¡¯t many CFs I can do. Acting is somewhat related to being a VTuber, and honestly, it¡¯s fun.


    I want to be a VTuber because it was my only hobby in my past life.


    I can become someone completely different.


    ***


    Three months after turning six, I started kindergarten for the first time in both lives.


    I had never attended kindergarten in my previous life.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Amidst the colorful, uniformed children, I stood with my arms crossed. It was the kindergarten entrance ceremony.


    I could see Mom waving at me from a distance.


    ¡°The casting was excellent. Kim Jung-ha and the child actor were both amazing.¡±


    Cho Min-tae awkwardly smiled at the head of Garam Dream¡¯s advertising team.


    ¡®If you think they¡¯re so great, why not remember their names?¡¯


    Despite being told several times, the team leader didn¡¯t seem to remember ¡®Ju Seo-yeon¡¯s¡¯ name. How many people really remember child actors'' names anyway?


    ¡°Thanks to you, our sales have increased sevenfold. It¡¯s all thanks to you, Director. So please consider working with us on the next commercial. We¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re well compensated.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯ll let you know as soon as I have some free time.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much.¡±


    After hanging up the call with the team leader, Cho Min-tae sighed.


    ¡®No way.¡¯


    He had no intention of working with people who couldn¡¯t remember the actors¡¯ names or paid poorly. However, he was proud that he had made the names Kim Jung-ha and Ju Seo-yeon known.


    Connections with talented actors are invaluable for a director.


    Cho Min-tae hoped that both Kim Jung-ha and Seo-yeon would grow and succeed.


    For the future films he would direct.


    ¡°That commercial was quite good.¡±


    His father¡¯s voice came from behind him. Turning, he saw his father, Jo Bang-woo, with his hair turning white.


    Jo Bang-woo was a renowned director known for several hits and was Min-tae¡¯s role model. The only regret was that his father had never directed a ten-million-ticket film.


    ¡°Especially that kid. Did you pick her?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She was exceptional from the audition.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Jo Bang-woo stroked his chin. The girl was only five or six years old.


    ¡°When I watched the unedited footage, I saw some flaws.¡±


    ¡°But her emotional acting was extraordinarily good.¡±


    ¡°Like method acting?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Method acting is a double-edged sword. Some actors take months to recover after immersing themselves in a role.


    Seo-yeon seemed to be the type who fully immersed herself in her role. Her acting showed that.


    However, she easily snapped out of those emotions.


    ¡°That might be due to inexperience or another reason.¡±


    ¡°Another reason?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Even though Jo Bang-woo was saying this, he wasn¡¯t sure of the reason either. After all, he had only seen her in one commercial.


    ¡°If she tries more serious acting instead of just commercials, we might find out the reason.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Bang-woo had watched the commercial several times. This child needed more than just commercials.


    If she only did commercials, her skills might develop unevenly. Especially during the formative years, she might pick up bad habits.


    ¡°They mentioned offering her another commercial, right? When does that end?¡±


    ¡°About a month from now. They¡¯re about to start shooting.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, a month.¡±


    Commercials take a lot of time for editing and scheduling. The shoot itself wouldn¡¯t take long.


    So, there was a perfect opportunity.


    ¡°There¡¯s a historical drama audition coming up. I think it¡¯s worth a try.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°If she¡¯s interested, I can recommend her under my name.¡±


    This was unusual. But he felt it was a waste to let this talent be confined to commercials.


    ¡°A historical drama? You mean...¡±


    ¡°Yes, KMB is planning to air a fantasy historical drama. The name is...¡±


    After a moment of thought, Jo Bang-woo continued.


    ¡°The Sun Hidden by the Moon, or something like that.¡±


    If Seo-yeon had heard the name, she would have been surprised.


    ¡®The Sun Hidden by the Moon.''


    The drama would eventually reach a peak rating of 40%, becoming a national hit.

 Chapter 7

    Growth (2)


    The daily life of six-year-old Joo Seoyeon is busy.


    She wakes up in the morning, does her morning exercises, and heads off to kindergarten. Spending hours with children who are mentally far younger than her can be exhausting.


    And after kindergarten, she goes straight to the filming set.


    ¡°Cut, cut, cut! Wow, I¡¯ve heard about you, but Seoyeon, you¡¯re truly amazing.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s all thanks to everyone¡¯s help.¡±


    At Director Kim¡¯s praise, Seoyeon politely bowed. The set filled with smiles at her humility.


    ¡°How is she so different from my kid? Not all six-year-olds are the same, apparently.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s really mature for her age. You must be proud, Seoyeon¡¯s mom.¡±


    Every passing staff member seemed to express their envy to Sua. Seoyeon¡¯s performance in this commercial was just as impressive as her soy milk ad.


    ¡®My Seoyeon might really be a genius.¡¯


    She had been an easy child to raise since she was born, rarely crying and always managing on her own. Sua¡¯s motherhood had been surprisingly easy.


    Nodding, Sua noticed the actress working with Seoyeon and greeted her with a respectful bow. The actress, Kim Miyeon, had over twenty years of acting experience.


    ¡°Oh, Actress Kim Miyeon, thank you for helping Seoyeon so much.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Seoyeon¡¯s acting is so good that she made my job easy.¡±


    Watching Seoyeon give a deep bow, Kim Miyeon spoke.


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a bit of an odd feeling.¡±


    Miyeon looked at Seoyeon. People said it was method acting, but it felt different.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t it actually the opposite?¡¯@@@@


    To her, Seoyeon¡¯s acting seemed like she was skillfully expressing learned emotions.


    Miyeon was an experienced actress. She had worked with big names known for method acting and knew the struggles they faced.


    ¡®I might be too sensitive. She¡¯s still a child. It¡¯s impossible for her to learn and act out emotions like this.¡¯


    It¡¯s not something that can be done in a year or two. It takes decades, making acting a part of daily life.


    Seoyeon was only six. Even if she had started acting the moment she was born, it would still be impossible.


    But still, there¡¯s always a chance.


    ¡°Mrs. Ju.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Seoyeon seems strong, but children like her often have hidden vulnerabilities.¡±


    Miyeon saw Sua as a young mother. Over forty, Miyeon was more experienced as a parent.


    ¡°What you see isn¡¯t always everything.¡±


    Sua slowly nodded at Miyeon¡¯s advice.


    ¡®Seoyeon¡¯s weak spots?¡¯


    Did she have any? Though she doubted, she took the advice seriously.


    ¡®Come to think of it, actors need regular stress management.¡¯


    Indeed, as Miyeon suggested, it might be good to get Seoyeon checked regularly.


    ***


    ¡®Today¡¯s shoot was fulfilling.¡¯


    Seoyeon nodded to herself. She was saving money and getting good acting practice.


    Being recognized by people occasionally was now a bit fun.


    ¡®I get why people do this.¡¯


    The real-time feedback from viewers during virtual streaming would be even more thrilling.


    ¡°You¡¯re working harder than your dad.¡±


    Seeing Seoyeon come home, Joo Youngbin remarked. Somehow, she was getting home later than he was from work.


    Jiyeon handed her two glass bottles of orange juice. She must have tried and failed to open them herself.


    ¡°Why two?¡±


    ¡°One¡¯s for you, obviously. Can¡¯t you see?¡±


    Despite being annoying, Jiyeon had her cute moments. Bringing orange juice when Seoyeon was thirsty was considerate.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    With a pop, the bottle opened easily. Jiyeon¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°How are you so strong? Even the teacher couldn¡¯t open it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    She must have asked the teacher for help first. Usually, kids ask friends first, right?


    ¡®Am I strong?¡¯


    Thinking back, she realized her strength might be unusual. She hadn¡¯t noticed anything she couldn¡¯t do with her current body compared to her previous life.


    Except for things limited by her small size and short limbs.


    ¡®Why am I so strong?¡¯


    A six-year-old with the same strength as her previous adult self? Would she grow up to be a super soldier?


    And sometimes her eyes turned red. It was eerie.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t hit me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Why would I hit you?¡±


    Jiyeon didn¡¯t answer. Maybe she thought Seoyeon might hit her in a fit of anger.


    Fights among kids do happen easily.


    ¡°Do you know?¡±


    After finishing her orange juice, Jiyeon spoke.


    ¡°Know what?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s an audition at KMB. I can¡¯t go, but the older kids from my agency are going.¡±


    Older kids?


    ¡®Are they also auditioning for the male lead?¡¯


    Unexpected information.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Are you going?¡±


    For a moment, Seoyeon hesitated. Should she tell the truth or lie?


    ¡°I¡¯m going.¡±


    But she didn¡¯t want to lie. If she somehow got the role, it would be a disaster.


    She knew she had no chance. The other child actors were incredibly talented.


    ¡°Hmph, okay?¡±


    Surprisingly, Jiyeon reacted calmly.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°What else? I can¡¯t go anyway.¡±


    Jiyeon glared at Seoyeon.


    ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll be in those auditions soon. I only missed this one because of the older kids.¡±


    She was determined and confident. In her previous life, what happened to her?


    ¡®After the soy milk commercial, she didn¡¯t do much, right?¡¯


    But now, Jiyeon had already done another commercial. She was an intriguing kid.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the lead in a drama someday.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Seoyeon responded and couldn¡¯t help but smile. A rare occurrence for her.

 Chapter 8

    Parachute (1)


    [The Sun Hidden by the Moon.]


    It¡¯s a fantasy historical drama prepared by KMB, one of the top three broadcasters in Korea. A fantasy historical drama mixes a fictional background with general history, aiming to captivate both young and middle-aged viewers.


    ¡®It needs to be well-made.¡¯


    Ha Tae-oh, the producer of [The Sun Hidden by the Moon], was a veteran in the industry with several historical dramas under his belt. This was his second fantasy historical drama. The first one, Fox Dew, wasn¡¯t a blockbuster but did fairly well.


    ¡®If it¡¯s poorly made, it will lose both the young and middle-aged audiences.¡¯


    So, the cast was meticulously selected. The budget allocated was twice that of a typical fantasy historical drama. For KMB, this was a project that couldn¡¯t afford to fail.


    ¡°Wow, even the child actors are top-notch.¡±


    Casting director Kim Ki-woong remarked, seemingly impressed.


    ¡°It looks like almost every well-known kid from agencies, academies, and entertainment companies has shown up.¡±


    ¡°They all know how much effort KMB is putting into this drama.¡±


    Even if the child actors didn¡¯t have major roles, they wouldn¡¯t fail to leave an impression. Usually, child actors appear in the early episodes of a drama. It could be just one episode or extend up to five episodes.


    Are they important?


    Absolutely. They set the first impression of the drama.


    Therefore, many recent dramas omit the childhood parts altogether. If a child actor¡¯s performance is lacking, it could negatively impact the drama¡¯s image.


    ¡°The role of young Yoon Seoil is practically decided.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s been famous since he was young.¡±


    Looking over the profiles of the child actors, Ha Tae-oh nodded.


    Starting his acting career at five, recognized for his talent, Park Jungwoo, son of the great actor Park Sun-woong, was already five years into his career. At ten years old, Park Jungwoo was the perfect fit for the young Yoon Seoil in [The Sun Hidden by the Moon].


    ¡°This means we can¡¯t just pick anyone for young Lee Haewol.¡±


    ¡°Park Jung-woo is such a good actor that the wrong partner could be overshadowed instantly.¡±@@@@


    A child inheriting the talent of the great actor Park Sun-woong would necessitate careful selection for the female lead.


    ¡°Oh, this...¡±


    Kim Ki-woong sighed, holding a profile of a girl who had only appeared in two commercials and was now included in the audition.


    ¡°First drama appearance... with only two CFs under her belt, and she¡¯s in this audition?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that kid?¡±


    Ha Tae-oh glanced at the profile in Kim Ki-woong¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I heard she was recommended by Director Cho Bang-woo. Apparently, she was in a CF with his son.¡±


    ¡°Did he recommend her just because she was in his son¡¯s CF? Hoping his son would get noticed too?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    They briefly scoffed at the name Ju Seo-yeon on the profile. Her face was decent, and at six years old, she was a bit young but could still play the eight-year-old Lee Haewol.


    ¡®She has a good look.¡¯


    What CF was it again? Right, the soy milk CF.


    ¡°Well, her performance in the soy milk CF wasn¡¯t bad.¡±


    ¡°But a lively child¡¯s performance isn¡¯t necessarily acting.¡±


    Moreover, CF acting and drama acting are entirely different. Memorizing lines accurately would be a challenge.


    ¡°Nepotism has its limits.¡±


    Ha Tae-oh dismissed Seo-yeon¡¯s profile, believing there was no chance a child with just two CFs would pass the audition.


    ***


    [The Sun Hidden by the Moon.]


    The audition site for [The Sun Hidden by the Moon.]


    Murmurs of discontent arose.


    ¡®Is this not how auditions are usually done?¡¯


    The Sun Hidden by the Moon had garnered attention even before airing, probably for this reason.


    ¡®Paired acting.¡¯


    It would be different from a CF. And the script was different too. CF scripts were visually driven, but drama scripts were like novels.


    ¡°In paired auditions, your partner¡¯s performance is crucial.¡±


    ¡°Is it a problem if the partner is bad?¡±


    Sua asked nervously.


    ¡°Yes. If your partner is much worse or much better, it¡¯s problematic.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it good if they¡¯re better?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a CF; it¡¯s a drama. If your performance is lacking... you¡¯ll get overshadowed.¡±


    A crucial thing for an actor, especially a lead, is not to get overshadowed by the co-actor.


    ¡°If your presence gets overshadowed, you don¡¯t deserve the lead role.¡±


    ¡°For now, Seo-yeon, let¡¯s change into the costume. You have two hours for the reading, so prepare quickly. The costume room is over there.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yes!¡±


    Sua quickly led Seo-yeon to the costume room.


    ¡°Huh? Who are you?¡±


    As they arrived, a girl who had just changed came out. With her sophisticated look, she stood out from other kids.


    ¡®Ah, it¡¯s her.¡¯


    Seo-yeon recognized her immediately.


    ¡®The child actor for young Lee Haewol.¡¯


    She remembered from the previous life¡¯s drama. Even at a young age, she had shown remarkable acting skills.


    Her name was probably ¡®Jo Seo-hee.¡¯


    ¡®Not as good as the actor for young Yoon Seoil.¡¯


    She was excellent when acting alone but tended to get overshadowed when paired with the young Yoon Seoil.


    ¡®I think she was in only two episodes because of that.¡¯


    Even so, she left a strong impression in those episodes.


    ¡®She did quite well later on, too...¡¯


    Seo-yeon didn¡¯t remember the details.


    ¡°Oh, is it her?¡±


    Jo Seo-hee laughed at something her manager said.


    ¡°Nepotism?¡±


    She smirked, looking like a drama villain. Seo-yeon was impressed.


    ¡®She¡¯s quite articulate.¡¯


    No wonder she¡¯s an actor. She seemed only a year or two older than Seo-yeon but knew words like ¡®nepotism.¡¯


    ¡°Well, good luck.¡±


    Seo-hee said confidently and walked out.


    She was like a higher version of Lee Ji-yeon, mostly in a negative sense.


    ¡°Seo-yeon, you must not lose to her.¡±


    Of course, Sua didn¡¯t realize that the rude girl was originally cast as the main character in The Sun Hidden by the Moon. To her, Seo-hee was just a brat who mocked her precious daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±


    Telling a novice child actor who had only done two CFs to surpass the lead child actor was an impossible challenge.

 Chapter 9

    Parachute (2)


    "Our daughter looks so good in hanbok!"


    Sua was busy taking pictures of Seo-yeon. Just as she said, Seo-yeon looked very cute in the prepared hanbok. Her long hair, usually left down, was neatly styled to match the hanbok, and it suited her perfectly.


    "Is she acting with her looks?"@@@@


    "If she got in through connections, she should at least be quiet."


    Of course, Sua was the only one welcoming Seo-yeon with open arms. Most others clicked their tongues at Seo-yeon. Her appearance? Beautiful, undoubtedly. Even among the child actors, her looks stood out. So, it was no surprise that others frowned, thinking she was there solely because of her appearance.


    "How lucky. She got here with just a CF."


    The soy milk commercial? They''d seen it. It was well-done, but drama was a different ball game.


    "I heard she''s only six. Can she even memorize the script?"


    "Well, at least it means one less competitor for the rest of us."


    Managers and people from acting academies whispered among themselves. They were careful with their words around child actors from agencies to avoid offending anyone, but Seo-yeon, without an agency and seemingly lucky to be there, was easy prey.


    On the other hand, there was a child actor receiving positive attention.


    "Isn''t that the kid from the daily drama?"


    "Oh, the one who yelled, ''I hate you, sis!'' She''s grown a lot."


    As those words floated around, Jo Seohee smirked.


    ''Why even bother with this audition?''


    Seohee was confident. Other child actors might be impressive, but none compared to her. She already had experience in historical dramas and had appeared in a daily drama, giving her an edge in both acting skills and stamina. Daily dramas required constant filming, offering significant exposure.


    ''Unless it''s someone like Park Jung-woo.''


    Seohee acknowledged only one person. As he walked in with his manager, a few girls gasped in awe.


    "He''s only ten, but he''s already so handsome."


    "He already looks like a star. Must be in the genes."


    Even Ha Tae-oh, the producer, smiled approvingly.


    "Park Jung-woo''s acting keeps getting better. Veteran actors should be on their toes. Imagine getting outshined by a child actor!"


    This wasn''t just flattery. Park Jungwoo, son of the renowned actor Park Sun-woong, had already acted in a blockbuster movie, showcasing his incredible talent.


    ''Wow, he really is different from the rest.''


    Seo-yeon was impressed. Park Jung-woo would gain even more popularity from this drama, and continue his success streak with subsequent projects.


    ''Ah, I should focus on the script.''


    Distracted, Seo-yeon turned her attention back to the script. She had less time to review it because of the late costume change.


    ¡®Oh.¡¯


    "I will come back. I promise... again..."


    Seohee¡¯s tearful voice was so moving that her partner couldn¡¯t keep up, his presence completely overshadowed.


    ¡°She¡¯s not called the princess of daily dramas for nothing.¡±


    ¡°No kidding.¡±


    ¡°Conveying that much emotion in such a short time is tough.¡±


    For the first time, the evaluators praised a performance. Seohee returned to her seat, looking triumphant.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue.¡±


    After a few more pairs, Park Jung-woo was called up at number 10. Unsurprisingly, his partner¡¯s face fell, knowing the inevitable comparison.


    ¡°I will come back...¡±


    Jung-woo¡¯s performance was so powerful that the girl stumbled over her lines. Her delivery was weak and barely recognizable as acting.


    ¡°Hmm... we can¡¯t really judge Jung-woo¡¯s performance here.¡±


    ¡°Still, Park Jung-woo stands out. He¡¯s leagues above the rest.¡±


    The harsh criticism made a few children flinch, knowing they would¡¯ve fared similarly if paired with Jung-woo or Seohee.


    ¡°Now, number 11, please.¡±


    A nervous boy stepped forward, dreading the comparison with the previous performance.


    ¡°Oh!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t hide his delight, though quickly covered his mouth. He was paired with the nepotism kid.


    The remaining boys envied him. Everyone knew Seo-yeon was considered a nepotism kid, barely acknowledged as a legitimate contender.


    ¡°Her visuals... are definitely good.¡±


    ¡°Her CFs probably turned out well because of her looks. She has a certain aura.¡±


    Even those who scoffed at her acknowledged her presence. But acting wasn¡¯t just about looks.


    ¡°Alright, begin.¡±


    At the director¡¯s cue, the boy in the clean hanbok called out energetically.


    Back turned, Seo-yeon slowly turned around at the call of her name.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Lee Haewol, who looked like she was seeing something blinding, narrowed her eyes. Her eyes gradually widened with recognition, joy, and sadness.


    Her red eyes, like the setting sun, reflected the boy¡¯s face.


    ¡°...¡±


    For a moment, the boy was speechless. He forgot his lines. His lips and tongue froze.


    Of course, he did. He was standing in front of Princess Lee Haewol.

 Chapter 10

    Starring Competence (1)


    Looking back, it wasn''t a particularly remarkable scene.


    The princess, Yeonhwa, merely turned her body slowly at the boy''s call. But that simple action alone conveyed so much.


    ''Acting.''


    The phrase naturally came to the mind of producer Ha Tae-oh. Acting wasn''t just about reciting lines.


    It encompassed all acts of expressing emotion, from facial expressions and eye movements to body gestures. All of these elements combined to create the art of acting.


    "You called for me."@@@@


    Yeonhwa hadn''t even begun her main lines yet. However, the presence of the princess, who had turned her body slowly, made everyone hold their breath.


    Leaving the palace and heading to a far-off place, many had portrayed Princess Yeonhwa''s sorrow. Jo Seo-hee had succeeded in bringing tears to her eyes, expressing this sorrow.


    But the Yeonhwa before them now did not cry.


    Sorrow was there, yes.


    But there was also something more: anger. The red eyes of the princess seemed to darken further. An anger that could not be buried under sorrow alone. Anger at fleeing alone due to a rebellion, anger at the instigators of it all.


    This anger was deeply conveyed.


    Facing this head-on, the young Yoon Seo-il was at a loss for words. His mind went blank. He needed to speak his lines, which he had memorized. Yet, the words just lingered in his mind.


    "Why are you silent?"


    Typically, this would have been the end of it. But the princess, looking at the silent boy, opened her mouth again.


    "Or do you mean to say that someone like me is not even worth speaking to?"


    This was more like a venting of frustration. The princess, who had swallowed her sorrow alone, was venting her anger on the boy who had called her.


    "Hiccup."


    At that sharp voice, young Yoon Seo-il hiccupped. If one looked closely, they could see tears welling up in his eyes. It truly felt like a prince was standing before him.


    Speaking out now felt like committing a grave sin.


    "Cut! Cut! That¡¯s enough. The performance is sufficient!"


    At the call of Tae-soom Dal''s director, Gong Jeong-tae, the tense atmosphere vanished like a lie. The princess Yeonhwa standing before them was replaced by Seo-yeon, who blinked innocently.


    Yet no one dared to laugh at Seo-yeon like before.


    ''Weren''t they calling her a nepotism kid?''


    Was this what a nepotism kid looks like? She seemed more like a paratrooper.


    The child actors eyeing the role of Princess Yeonhwa wore expressions of helplessness. They couldn''t imagine another child pulling off such a performance, except maybe Jo Seo-hee.


    ''This is ridiculous.''


    Among the shocked onlookers, the most taken aback was Jo Seo-hee herself, who had been confidently smiling.


    ''They said she only did commercials.''


    Was this the skill of someone who had only done commercials? As bitter as it was, Jo Seo-hee couldn''t deny that Seo-yeon''s interpretation was one she hadn''t even considered.


    ''No, this is wrong. The script clearly describes the princess crying in sorrow.''


    The script called for the princess to shed tears and be comforted by Yoon Seo-il. But Seo-yeon''s performance conveyed more chill than sorrow. Therefore, it was an incorrect performance.


    Jo Seo-hee desperately wanted to believe that.


    "I heard child actors these days are scary good."


    "That recommendation seems well-deserved."


    "The emotional delivery is incredibly strong. Better than most seasoned actors."


    Ha Tae-oh glanced at Cho Min-taek, who had come to the set. The CF director, also the son of Cho Bang-woo.


    ''Is he lucky, or does he just have a good eye?''


    The evaluators silently reviewed Seo-yeon''s performance in their minds.


    ''She was definitely looking at the sunset at first.''


    ''She couldn''t open her eyes properly because she was looking directly at the sun.''


    ''Then she turned around at Yoon Seo-il''s call...''


    Was this just flattery? His expression seemed sincere.


    ''Thank goodness.''


    She was worried that she might have created an embarrassing memory, but it seemed her performance had been well received.


    As Seo-yeon sighed in relief, her mother gripped her hand tightly.


    "I was so surprised, too. You know how much I watch historical dramas, right? Compared to the child actors there, your performance was amazing. No, it was even better."


    "Really?"


    "Absolutely! Our daughter is a genius!"


    Sua, perhaps not wanting to speak out in the audition hall, now hugged her daughter tightly.


    ''S-Suffocating.''


    As Seo-yeon struggled in the embrace, Cho Min-taek calmly continued.


    "If I ever get the chance to direct a drama or movie, I''d love for you to play the lead role, Seo-yeon."


    "Me?"


    "Of course. But by then, you''ll probably be such a big star that I won''t even be able to approach you."


    He laughed softly as he said this.


    "No, if I get the chance, I''ll definitely do it."


    "Really? No backing out later, okay?"


    "Of course not. It''s a promise."


    She raised her fist and extended her thumb, sealing the promise playfully.


    "Sometimes, Seo-yeon, you really seem like a boy. Your actions are so bold."


    "Really?"


    The comment made her flinch. Of course, she seemed like a boy. She was one in her past life. Her behavior had changed, but her mind hadn''t.


    ''Anyway.''


    To Min-taek, this was just a playful promise, but Seo-yeon took it seriously.


    ''His first project will be The Thief.''


    It was an action-packed film, promoted as a thrilling ride by a genius director. If she could land a lead role, she''d be grateful.


    Many actors rose to fame through that film.


    It was the movie that catapulted Kim Jeong-ha, who was already on a high, to the top.


    ''But I also need to become a VTuber.''


    Boasting about being in a blockbuster movie wouldn''t fit her online persona. Claiming to be an extra wouldn''t be satisfying, and being the lead would be too revealing.


    Avoiding red pills was crucial for a VTuber.


    ''Well, we''ll see.''


    She would deal with it when the time came. For now, she was pleased with her performance. It was her own interpretation, unlike in the commercials.


    Becoming another person, like a VTuber.


    ''I hope


    I get the role.''


    Although she knew it was unlikely.


    Jo Seo-hee''s performance was stunning.


    Seoyeon had taken a gamble, feeling overwhelmed by Seo-hee''s acting.


    Sticking to the script wouldn''t have won against Seo-hee, so she had taken a risk.


    Whether the judges liked it or not was another matter.


    ''Still.''


    A week later, the results of the Taesoomdal auditions were announced.


    Through a public making-of video.


    Footnotes


    Ad-lib acting, also known as improvisation, is a technique used in acting where actors create dialogue or actions on the spot, without prior planning or scripting. ?

 Chapter 11

    Starring Competence (1)


    "Seo-yeon, when do you get the results for the audition?"


    As soon as I got to kindergarten, Ji-yeon grabbed my arm and asked. She had asked this question every day for a week since the day after the audition. Her persistence was admirable, if nothing else.


    ¡®The results should be out soon.¡¯


    I had heard they would notify us within a week, but there had been no contact with my mom, nor any mail or email.


    ¡®Do they just not notify you if you don¡¯t make it?¡¯


    I had never failed an audition before, so I wasn¡¯t sure. The thought of receiving no response if I failed was a bit unsettling.


    "Ji-yeon."


    "What?"


    "Do they not contact you at all if you don''t get in?"


    "Why are you asking me that?"


    Ji-yeon squinted at me, and I avoided her gaze, unable to say it was because I thought she might have failed a lot. Despite her frequent failures, I firmly believed Ji-yeon would become a great actress one day.


    "Seo-yeon!"


    At that moment, our teacher from the Blossom Class, Ms. Hyun Young, called me urgently. She waved her hand, looking quite flustered, which made me feel a bit tense.


    ¡®Did something happen?¡¯


    It was rare for a teacher to call a child so urgently in kindergarten. Was there an accident? Or something dangerous?


    "Oh, Ms. Hyun Young, don''t scare Seo-yeon like that."


    "Oh! I-I''m sorry. I was just so surprised."


    Ms. Hyun Young apologized as Ms. Haetnim, from the Sun Class, pointed out her mistake.


    "I''m sorry, Seo-yeon. I didn''t mean to scare you."


    "It''s okay."


    I was curious about what had happened, though. Ms. Hyun Young was usually very calm, so seeing her this flustered was unusual.


    "Come on. Everyone''s watching something."


    "Huh?"


    Watching what? I followed her, still unsure of what was going on. Ji-yeon, curious, trailed behind me.


    "Could it be about the audition?" Ji-yeon whispered in my ear.


    "Unlikely."


    Did she always connect everything to that?


    ¡®If it were about the audition, they would have contacted us at home, not here at kindergarten.¡¯


    Even if it were good news, neither Dad nor Mom would come to the kindergarten for it. They wouldn''t want to disturb the teachers.


    "Seo-yeon, look."


    Following Ms. Hyun Young, I saw a small TV. Several teachers and a few children were gathered around, watching it.


    [ Special!! Behind-the-scenes footage of the ambitious KMB drama, The Sun Hidden by the Moon! The first episode! ]


    The words were displayed in the top right corner of the screen. I blinked several times, confirming what I saw.


    "Wow, Seo-yeon is such a good actress..."


    From KMB¡¯s perspective, capitalizing on Seoyeon''s current popularity was crucial. As child actors grow, the dynamics change, and maintaining their popularity becomes challenging.


    ¡®I need to suggest this soon.¡¯


    Kim Jung-hoon was determined to push for this.


    ***


    Joo Seo-yeon was still six years old. As her seventh birthday approached, I faced a significant challenge.


    "Seo-yeon, so who got the role of Lee Haewol?"


    "Did you win?"


    "How was Jo Seo-hee on set? Did she bully you?"


    I had underestimated the influence of national TV dramas. If this is the reaction from just the behind-the-scenes footage, I couldn¡¯t imagine how Jo Seo-hee and others in her position lived.


    "I don¡¯t know."


    "Oh, come on..."


    "Ah, Mrs. Taeyoung. Didn¡¯t you hear? They usually can''t say anything about these things. It¡¯s all in the contract."


    "Oh, I see. Sorry, Seo-yeon."


    The mothers around me apologized and asked questions, creating a chaotic scene. Luckily, I was calm enough not to be overwhelmed, but any other child might have been stressed out.


    "But the rest of the footage is coming out today, right?"


    Mom tried to stay composed, but she was so pale she looked like she might faint. Today was the release of the second part of the behind-the-scenes footage. She was extremely nervous.


    ¡®The second part will feature my performance with Park Jungwoo.¡¯


    After the first audition, it was almost certain Park Jungwoo would play young Yoon Seoil. While it hadn¡¯t been officially announced, everyone likely assumed it.


    Therefore, in the subsequent auditions, both Jo Seo-hee and I performed opposite Park Jung-woo. This was definitely different from my previous life.


    ¡®He was indeed different.¡¯


    Park Jung-woo, living up to his reputation as the son of a great actor, felt entirely different from other child actors. Even I momentarily doubted whether it was really a child¡¯s performance.


    "Seo-yeon, come here, let¡¯s watch together! Oh, I¡¯m so nervous."


    If Dad had been home, he would have watched it with us, but unfortunately, he was still at work. It was just me and Mom waiting anxiously.


    "Special!! Behind-the-scenes footage of the ambitious KMB drama, The Sun Hidden by the Moon! The second episode!"


    This special segment on Celebrity Live was finally going to reveal who would play young Lee Haewol.


    At that moment, I had no idea.


    During the scene where I and Jo Seo-hee performed opposite Park Jung-woo, the ratings for Celebrity Live spiked to 15%.


    And then...


    "Seo-yeon..."


    When all the performances ended, the role of Princess Lee Haewol was announced.


    It must have been a surprise.


    Even my mom, Sua, stared at me blankly.


    I had beaten Jo Seo-hee, the princess of daily dramas, and secured the lead role.


    Yes.


    It was me.

 Chapter 12

    Starring Competence (2)


    "If I fail again this time, my family will really kill me..."


    Seon-ah Han, a retaking student preparing to enter S University¡¯s Journalism and Broadcasting Department in Seoul, sighed deeply in her small studio apartment. She had narrowly missed the mark before, and was confident she would make it this time. But instead, she was left with the label of a second-year retake student.


    ¡°Haah.¡±


    Feeling depressed, Seon-ah turned on the TV in her cramped room. The combination of her gloomy mood and throbbing headache made it hard to focus on studying.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    Being an avid fan of celebrity gossip, she was a regular viewer of Celebrity Live, a show that often covered such topics. Today¡¯s episode, which normally would feature the latest rising stars and idols, was airing behind-the-scenes footage of a drama instead.


    ¡°Geez, they¡¯re showing making films on public TV now?¡±


    It seemed like a well-invested production. [The Sun Hidden by the Moon]. The description revealed it was an upcoming historical fantasy drama based on a popular novel.


    ¡°They should show updates about my favorite actor Hosuk instead.¡±


    She decided to endure it, hoping the next segment would be more to her liking, and continued watching. The show introduced the drama and its cast, and then moved on to the auditions for the child actors who would play the younger versions of the main characters.


    Naturally, Seon-ah was indifferent. No matter how well child actors performed, they were still just kids in her eyes.


    Her initial reaction was merely, ¡°Oh, that girl¡¯s from that daily drama.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Park Sun-woong¡¯s son has grown so much already?¡±


    The appearance of Park Jung-woo, the son of the once-famous actor Park Sun-woong, caught her attention. As she got more engrossed in the show, Seon-ah found herself surprised by the performances of the child actors.


    She had expected a level akin to a school play, but these kids were truly talented budding stars. Park Jung-woo and Jo Seo-hee¡¯s performances were particularly impressive, like fully bloomed flowers drawing everyone''s gaze.


    ¡®She must be the top contender.¡¯


    Seon-ah thought, watching Jo Seo-hee. Anyone who had seen the other child actors'' performances would think the same.


    Park Jung-woo was a given. The way the other boys wilted in his presence made it clear.


    She assumed all the roles were as good as decided.


    ¡®What?¡¯


    But then, a girl who had barely been noticed until now stepped forward.


    She was adorable, with long dark hair and eyes that shimmered with a hint of red. Despite her young age, she exuded a serene presence.


    The caption introducing her mentioned she had only been acting for six months, with just two commercials under her belt.


    But Seon-ah recognized her immediately.


    ¡°Oh, the soy milk ad girl!¡±


    She had been quite memorable in the popular soy milk commercial.


    ¡®But can she act?¡¯


    With only six months of experience and two commercials, she seemed far less qualified compared to the other children who had proper training and experience. Could her striking looks and unique eye color carry her through?


    That doubt vanished as soon as she began her performance.


    The serene princess.


    In the audition room, she stood with a quiet grace, embodying the character of Princess Yeon-hwa.


    Seon-ah watched, mesmerized by the girl¡¯s performance. Before she knew it, the first episode of the making film had ended.


    ¡°What?! How can they end it there!¡±


    Seon-ah fumed. It was a cruel tactic by the producers to boost ratings, leaving the viewers hanging on who would play Princess Yeon-hwa.


    Jo Seo-hee or Joo Seoyeon?


    Grumbling, Seon-ah sat at her desk. For the first time in a long while, her headache was gone, and her mind felt clear.


    ¡°Who do you think will get the role, Jo Seo-hee or that soy milk girl?¡±


    A week later, she was discussing the drama with her friend, who was also studying at a cram school. Given that many of her friends were aiming for journalism and broadcasting, it was natural for them to discuss the audition.


    Even his boss, who usually nitpicked, had started showing interest, making Youngbin feel on top of the world.


    ¡®Dad is really happy.¡¯


    Seoyeon nodded to herself.


    ¡®So this is why they say auditions are important.¡¯


    Auditions were indeed a great way to create a buzz. If a Vtuber entered through an audition, it might generate similar excitement.


    ¡®Maybe aiming for a corporate sponsorship isn¡¯t a bad idea...¡¯


    Could Vtubers be selected through auditions? If handled like this, they could quickly become breakout stars!


    As Seoyeon was lost in thought, Sua¡¯s voice pulled her back.


    ¡°Seoyeon, don¡¯t stress too much, okay? Also, remember we have a doctor¡¯s appointment later.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom.¡±


    Seoyeon remembered Sua had scheduled a psychiatrist appointment for stress management. It was probably someone''s suggestion...


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Seoyeon sighed, crossing her arms. She wasn¡¯t particularly fond of doctor¡¯s appointments.


    ***


    The promotion for [The Sun Hidden by the Moon] was a huge success. Requesting a special segment on Celebrity Live had been a great decision.


    However, PD Taeo Ha felt a bit uneasy.


    ¡®Joo Seoyeon... will she be okay?¡¯


    She had won the role through a vote, with her performance in the audition being undeniable. But now she would be acting alongside veteran actors, not peers.


    Some actors might resent the fact that a newcomer like Seoyeon had been chosen over someone like Jo Seo-hee, who had taken the traditional path of learning and refining her craft.


    ¡®Honestly, she¡¯s almost like a maverick.¡¯


    In essence, Seoyeon had taken an unconventional route. Naturally, actors with strong pride in their craft would look down on her.


    That¡¯s why Ha Taeo had cast a vote for Jo Seo-hee during the audition. While Seoyeon had shown more impact, filming a drama was different from an audition.


    ¡°PD Ha.¡±


    An actress with neatly styled gray hair called out to Taeo Ha.


    ¡°Oh! Yes, Ms. Eun-sun Jeong.¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s that child¡¯s first shoot, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Taeo carefully observed Eun-sun¡¯s expression. As an experienced actress, her emotions didn¡¯t show on her face. But every person has their inner feelings, and Taeo, having worked with many actors, could roughly sense them.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely not happy.¡¯


    Eun-sun Jeong was a veteran actress known for her strict standards, especially regarding acting.


    Seoyeon¡¯s raw performance was likely displeasing to her.


    ¡®Moreover, she has openly shown favoritism towards Jo Seo-hee.¡¯


    Eun-sun, having also risen from being a child actor, particularly doted on Seo-hee, who showed early promise. She had even mentioned on a variety show how she looked forward to acting in a drama with her.


    But that opportunity was abruptly taken away by an unexpected newcomer.


    ¡®I hope Seoyeon has a strong mentality.¡¯


    Unfortunately, the role Eun-sun Jeong had was Grand Dowager Queen Eun-hye.


    In other words, she would be playing Princess Yeon-hwa¡¯s grandmother.


    Footnotes


    Yeon-hwa (?????) which was previously TLed as Lee Haewol (???????) ?Seo-yeon changed to Seoyeon (?????) ?

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    ¡°Seoyeon, don¡¯t be too nervous. You know that, right? The other actors will help you a lot, so make sure to thank them, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The first day of filming for [The Sun Hidden by the Moon] had arrived. Despite the hype generated by the making film, time had passed quickly, as if it had all been a dream.


    After about a month, there were still people who greeted her, but the number of people asking her questions had significantly decreased.


    And today, Seoyeon was on her way to the set for the actual filming. Naturally, she was traveling in her mother Sua¡¯s car.


    ¡°Seoyeon, we should find an agency for you, right?¡±


    Sua cautiously brought up the topic while checking her beautifully dressed daughter¡¯s face. Most mothers and child actors would be eager to join an agency. But Seoyeon was different.


    [ Please consider joining our GH Entertainment. We will do our utmost to ensure Seoyeon becomes an outstanding actress. Please get in touch. ]


    [ Hello, Seoyeon¡¯s mother. We¡¯re from Biendelro, the agency representing actor Kim Myung-chul. As a specialized management company for actors, we excel in nurturing talent. A talented young actress like Seoyeon should start in a good environment... ]


    Sua had already received a stack of business cards. Among them were several well-known management companies and agencies. Given Seoyeon¡¯s young age and vast potential as an actor, model, or even an idol, she was receiving numerous love calls.


    ¡°But...¡±


    Sua hesitated. Joining an agency would mean there was no turning back.


    ¡®We¡¯ve come quite far already, though.¡¯


    For now, Sua was still Seoyeon¡¯s primary guardian. But if she joined an agency, she would get a manager and start various schedules, including acting lessons.


    Especially since Seoyeon had recently become a hot topic, she might soon be prepared for various auditions and variety shows.


    ¡°We¡¯ll think about the agency later.¡±


    Seoyeon said this as she slowly opened the car door. They had arrived at the filming location.


    ¡®Joining a company already feels too soon.¡¯


    Her past life¡¯s memories of working in a company resurfaced. Joining a company at six years old? Even if she found acting appealing, it felt premature.


    Seoyeon needed time to mentally prepare herself. Truly.


    Click!


    As soon as Seoyeon got out of the car at the filming location, she heard the sound of a camera clicking. Turning her head, she saw someone she assumed was a reporter pointing a camera at her.


    ¡°Seoyeon, is it true that you got into this audition through Director Park Sun-woong¡¯s recommendation? Why do you think you were chosen over Jo Seo-hee, who is recognized as a talented child actor?¡±


    Seoyeon instinctively took a step back in response to the reporter¡¯s rapid-fire questions. Both she and Sua were momentarily at a loss on how to react. They hadn¡¯t expected a reporter at the set, nor such provocative questions.


    ¡°Hey, who are you? Why are you causing trouble on set?!¡±


    Someone shouted as they ran over to them. The reporter, startled, quickly disappeared.


    ¡°Geez, what era do they think this is? Just let me catch that guy.¡±


    The man, out of breath from running, was Heo Jeong-su, the camera director for [The Sun Hidden by the Moon.] After looking around to make sure the reporter was gone, he gestured for Seoyeon and Sua to follow him into the set.


    Sua asked in a small voice, ¡°Is it okay for me to come in too?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Seoyeon doesn¡¯t even have an agency yet.¡±


    Without an agency or a manager, Sua had to play a supporting role. She was effectively acting as Seoyeon¡¯s manager.


    ¡°Reporters don¡¯t usually come to filming sets, so I let my guard down. If I knew his name, I¡¯d make sure he never gets an interview again.¡±


    He clicked his tongue, glancing at Seoyeon.


    ¡®This kid¡¯s got a good head on her shoulders.¡¯


    Despite what had just happened, she stood her ground, which was admirable.


    ¡®I hope she keeps this up during filming.¡¯


    During the audition, Jeong-su had given his vote to Seoyeon. It was clear Jo Seo-hee was technically more polished.


    But Seoyeon had a way of conveying emotions and a surprising physicality for her short acting experience.


    ¡®She¡¯s perfect for Princess Yeon-hwa.¡¯


    Jeong-su thought Seoyeon¡¯s ability to convey emotions would be more important for the character than technical precision. Especially considering a scene in the third episode.


    However, not everyone on set felt the same way, and Jeong-su worried some might show favoritism.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get discouraged if anyone says anything during filming. Just focus on doing your best.¡±


    Jeong-su¡¯s encouragement, though well-meaning, only added to Seoyeon¡¯s pressure.


    ¡®I must be really unpopular.¡¯


    If she were just a six-year-old girl, she might have taken it in stride. But with her past life¡¯s memories, she could sense the overall atmosphere.


    Actors would naturally favor Jo Seo-hee, the promising, traditional talent. To them, she was just a parachute hire who¡¯d unexpectedly landed the role.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising if some held a grudge against her.


    At the director¡¯s signal, the cameras focused on Seoyeon and Eun-sun.


    The setting was the Grand Dowager Queen¡¯s quarters. Princess Yeon-hwa, who had sneaked out of the palace, was caught and scolded.


    Seoyeon closed her eyes, recalling Yeon-hwa¡¯s character.


    ¡®Princess Yeon-hwa often sneaked out of the palace to mingle with commoners.¡¯


    Her meetings with Yun Seoil happened because of this. A straightforward personality.


    Her bright character remained unchanged until the end of episode three.


    ¡°Alright then... action!¡±


    Director Gong¡¯s shout marked the start. Eun-sun spoke first.


    In the serene quarters of the Grand Dowager Queen, her eyes slowly turned to Yeon-hwa.


    A simple gaze. But her upright posture and sharp eyes showed her feelings clearly.


    ¡¸I hear you¡¯ve gone out of the palace again.¡¹


    Her voice carried a hint of anger. Despite the simple lines, the weight of a veteran actress¡¯s experience was palpable.


    It felt like the real Grand Dowager Queen was there.


    ¡¸This is the fifth time. As a princess, you should uphold dignity, conduct, and responsibility! Are these things so easily discarded for the joy of wandering outside?¡¹


    Not all actors dive deep into their emotions during every performance. Mistakes happen, and laughter can break the mood.


    But Eun-sun was different. She was a master of method acting, fully immersed in her character. She never missed a line, her pronunciation was perfect, and her emotions were clear.


    For ordinary actors, standing before her felt overwhelming.


    ¡®This is tough.¡¯


    Director Gong frowned, watching. As expected, Eun-sun wasn¡¯t giving Seoyeon any leeway.


    She was giving her all from the start.


    ¡®That¡¯s how it should be...¡¯


    To get the best scenes, actors needed to give their all.


    But this was Seoyeon¡¯s first drama shoot. Especially since she excelled in emotional acting like Eun-sun.


    Naturally, the pressure on her was immense. Everyone watched, wondering how Seoyeon would perform.


    Would she be able to act properly? Could she even remember her lines?


    First-timers with Eun-sun often forgot their lines under her intense presence.


    ¡¸I simply wanted to observe the lives of the common people up close.¡¹


    But their worries were unfounded. Princess Yeon-hwa¡¯s innocent words flowed smoothly from Seoyeon¡¯s lips. Her eyes showed clear fear.


    But it was fear directed at the Grand Dowager Queen, not the actress Eun-sun.


    ¡¸I understand your concern, Grand Dowager Queen. But I am your grandchild, a member of the royal family and a princess. A fine princess must see the world beyond these narrow palace walls.¡¹


    It was the spirited, somewhat cheeky portrayal of the eight-year-old Princess Yeon-hwa, fitting for the character. There was no sign of intimidation in her performance, even in front of Eun-sun.


    Seoyeon¡¯s performance was as if she were affirming her right to the role.


    ¡®She didn¡¯t miss a single line.¡¯


    Not only was her performance remarkable, but her lines were flawless. Dialogue was a challenge for child actors, especially in historical dramas with complex language.


    But Seoyeon delivered her lines without a single mistake, her pronunciation clear.


    By the time the first scene ended, everyone was impressed.


    ¡®Wow.¡¯


    The staff silently applauded. Other actors were visibly impressed.


    ¡®Even Ms. Jeong should acknowledge this...¡¯


    No matter how much Eun-sun favored Jo Seo-hee, she couldn¡¯t deny Seoyeon¡¯s talent. Or so they thought.


    ¡°Hmmm.¡±


    But to their surprise, Eun-sun¡¯s expression was one of slight dissatisfaction as she looked at Seoyeon. Was she unhappy with the performance? No, that couldn¡¯t be. Seoyeon¡¯s performance was stellar.


    She might have found the lack of grand gestures unsatisfactory, but even then, Seoyeon had outperformed Jo Seo-hee.


    ¡°Seoyeon, right?¡±


    After a brief pause, Eun-sun spoke.


    ¡°There¡¯s no emotion in your acting.¡±


    Her unexpected words sent a chill through the set.


    ¡°You¡¯re not acting with genuine feelings.¡±

 Chapter 14

    Actor''s Acting (2)


    Jeong Eun-seon¡¯s words froze the atmosphere on set.


    It was only natural. Anyone could see that Seoyeon''s performance was impressive.


    ¡®I knew it.¡¯


    Gong Jung-tae clenching his eyes shut. Jeong Eun-seon clearly did not like Seoyeon. Given her favoritism towards Jo Seo-hee, it was evident she was displeased that Seo-hee hadn¡¯t been chosen.


    Or perhaps, as some rumors suggested, she believed that Director Jo Bang-woo had influenced the decision.


    ¡°Jeong Eun-seon Sunbae-nim.¡±


    In such a situation, only he could manage it. As the oldest and most influential actress on set, her words carried weight.


    ¡°Your words were too harsh. Seoyeon¡¯s performance was more than sufficient.¡±


    The expected level of performance from a child actor was never set too high. If they could deliver lines without garbling and maintain emotional continuity, they were considered talented. Jo Seo-hee was praised as the princess of daily dramas for good reason. Gong Jung-tae had never seen a child actor as skilled as Seo-hee.


    Until he saw Seoyeon.


    ¡®This child¡¯s acting has power.¡¯


    Lacking in technical skill, perhaps, but possessing the power to move people¡¯s emotions. He had thought it might be difficult in a drama setting, but she had proven herself brilliantly today.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Jeong Eun-seon turned her piercing gaze toward him, her eyes as sharp as the Grand Dowager Queen¡¯s, causing him to flinch involuntarily.


    ¡°Um, I meant to say, wasn¡¯t that a bit too harsh?¡±


    Even though she was a veteran actress, he was the director on this set. He couldn¡¯t let such behavior slide. Even those who had initially viewed Seoyeon with skepticism felt Jeong Eun-seon¡¯s reaction was over the top.


    ¡°......¡±


    Jeong Eun-seon remained silent for a moment.@@@@


    ¡°I believe you¡¯ve misunderstood my words.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    What was there to misunderstand? Gong Jung-tae wondered, confused. Jeong Eun-seon¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Seoyeon, who looked back with a puzzled expression, not fully grasping the situation.


    Honestly, from Seoyeon¡¯s perspective, she thought:


    ¡®Isn¡¯t it normal to get some criticism?¡¯


    Manager Kim used to nitpick all the time. She continued her thoughts calmly.


    ¡°Director Gong, what did you think of Seoyeon¡¯s performance just now?¡±


    ¡°What did I think? Of course, it was excellent. I gave the okay, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯d like to ask you instead, what part of Seoyeon¡¯s performance did you find unsatisfactory?¡±


    ¡°I never said her performance was unsatisfactory.¡±


    Jeong Eun-seon responded firmly.


    ¡°What I said was that her acting lacked emotion, that it wasn¡¯t sincere.¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t that the same thing?¡¯


    That''s what he thought, but Gong Jung-tae quietly listened to her.


    ¡°The performance was, without a doubt, outstanding. Yes, it was truly remarkable. Honestly, I was surprised.¡±


    The sudden praise startled Gong Jung-tae. As he looked at her, Jeong Eun-seon briefly glanced at Seoyeon. Her clear eyes, with their mysterious reddish hue, were part of her charm.


    ¡°Director Gong.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes?¡±


    ¡°Could I have a word with Seoyeon¡¯s mother?¡±


    Her unexpected request left Gong Jung-tae stunned.


    ***


    ¡°......¡±


    She looked into the water as if mimicking emotions without truly understanding them. Even now, Jeong Eun-seon couldn¡¯t comprehend how this was possible.


    However.


    ¡°...She¡¯s this good without using real emotions. It¡¯s probably because she lacks technique.¡±


    This was why Jeong Eun-seon favored Jo Seo-hee. Seo-hee knew her limits. She understood the boundaries of using emotions. But Seoyeon had no boundaries.


    No brakes. Because she didn¡¯t know them.


    Her emotions stayed in check only because she didn¡¯t know how to incorporate them into her acting.


    But if.


    If Seoyeon learned to act. If she genuinely engaged in method acting, truly embodying her emotions.


    ¡°If she becomes a professional actress, who knows what might happen.¡±


    So Jeong Eun-seon disliked Seoyeon¡¯s acting.


    That discomfort stemmed from fear of the child stumbling into the emotional depths, like an unmoored child.


    ¡°Yes, I hope my concerns are unfounded.¡±


    Neither Sua nor Director Gong Jung-tae could respond to Jeong Eun-seon¡¯s warning.


    ***


    Despite the commotion, filming ended successfully. The scene with Eun-sun Jeong was completed in one take.


    The footage was excellent.


    Returning home, though still uncomfortable, Eun-sun had apologized for her harsh words.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    On the way back, her mother asked quietly.


    ¡°What is acting for you?¡±


    Mom seemed unusually subdued. Seoyeon couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. Had Jeong Eun-seon said something?


    That didn¡¯t seem likely. While Seoyeon wasn¡¯t the best judge of character, she didn¡¯t feel that Eun-sun disliked her.


    Though she did seem a bit disapproving.


    ¡°It¡¯s fun.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Initially, she saw it as a practice run before becoming a VTuber. Now, she genuinely enjoyed it. There were similarities in becoming a different person.


    ¡®I don¡¯t particularly like the term red pill...¡¯


    But the idea of becoming a popular actress as a red pill VTuber seemed exciting.


    Still, maybe not the red pill...


    ¡°Seoyeon, if you ever feel burdened, please tell me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, okay.¡±


    Seoyeon replied absentmindedly. She felt she was living much more diligently than in her past life.


    The proof was the growing balance in her bank account. Working hard in commercials and dramas could lead to more opportunities.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Seoyeon recalled Jeong Eun-seon¡¯s earlier comments. Her remark about a lack of genuine emotion resonated with her.


    Even if others didn¡¯t notice, Seoyeon somewhat agreed.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    She folded her arms and sighed. She had a rough idea why.

 Chapter 15

    Aaquarium and Sea (1)


    "Is it really true that there''s no issue?"


    "Yes, ma''am. Seoyeon is fine. In fact, she has a very strong mind."


    "That''s a relief."


    A few days after the first filming, my mom took me to a psychiatrist. Officially, it was for stress management, but I could guess the real reason.


    ''It must be because of what she heard last time.''


    It was probably related to what actress Kim Mi-yeon had said during the previous CF shoot, along with what actress Jeong Eun-seon had said recently. Director Gong Jung-tae and my mom must have discussed something with Jeong Eun-seon, leading to this visit.


    ''It''s likely about emotional acting.''


    Holding my mom''s hand, I looked at my reflection in the window. A cute girl''s face stared back at me. This was me, almost seven years old.


    ''Actress Jeong Eun-seon doesn''t like my acting.''


    It''s not that she dislikes me personally. She probably believes in the saying that ''children should be children.'' She likely thinks:


    ''Children should avoid deep emotional acting until they are mature enough.''


    And she¡¯s not wrong. As a child actor, there¡¯s no need to delve into deep emotional acting. Even just riding the surface of emotions is more than enough. I''m not naive.


    I understand how people perceive my acting. I¡¯m sure Jeong Eun-seon thought my acting was precarious. But I never considered what I was doing as acting.


    For me, it was a reflection of my past life. It¡¯s related to my previous life''s condition:


    Alexithymia.


    It¡¯s a condition where a person cannot identify or describe their own emotions or the emotions of others. It''s different from conditions like sociopathy or psychopathy. In my past life, my strained relationship with my parents and my long period of unemployment were due to this.


    So, I was forced to act normal from a young age. I had to learn to laugh when happy, and cry when sad, just like any normal person. It involved mimicking emotions.


    To achieve this, I consumed a lot of media: movies, dramas, books, web novels, and games¡ªanything that clearly depicted human emotions. I lived for a long time just trying to blend in with the crowd.


    But I consider myself lucky. Many people with my condition find even this impossible. My case was unique, as even the doctors said.


    "Mom, I got a job."


    I could finally say that with a smile. I could express emotions just like anyone else.


    "You see, you did it."


    My mom hugged me, smiling. But even then, I couldn''t understand that emotion.


    My mimicry of emotions is not acting.


    Mimicking emotions can feel off-putting, often falling into what''s called the ''uncanny valley,'' making people feel uncomfortable. However, I had subtly crossed that line, reaching an almost genuine level of fake emotions. I lived in a gray, ash-colored world.


    That world changed when I discovered a VTuber''s broadcast.


    At first, I couldn''t understand why people liked it. But the VTuber''s actions made people happy, earning praise and adoration.@@@@


    Maybe that''s when it started. Although I couldn''t watch it regularly due to work, I watched whenever I could. In the world of VTubers, emotions are portrayed through 3D models or drawn avatars.


    If I could do that, perhaps I could appear normal, too.


    "Joo Seoyeon."


    A grumpy-looking girl stood in front of me.


    "What are you doing here alone? Hurry up and follow me."


    Lee Ji-yeon crossed her arms and spoke in a very cocky manner. Sometimes I wonder if she''s really six years old.


    "I''m coming."


    "Humph."


    ¡®Anyway.¡¯


    I turned my gaze behind me. The beluga, which had been hiding, had finally appeared, approaching me. It was a star attraction at the aquarium.


    I reached out towards the beluga, and it pressed its nose against the glass.


    ¡®I need to adapt.¡¯


    Seeing my worried mother after the hospital visit made me rethink. I failed in my past life, but I didn¡¯t want to repeat that. My past experiences remained in my soul. This was a unique strength no other actor had.


    ¡®And for the sake of my ideal role-playing!¡¯


    Even my favorite VTuber always said, do everything with sincerity!


    Until now, my goal had been to become a VTuber. Creating the virtual ¡®me¡¯ that I had always longed for.


    This still remained a significant aspiration, like a lasting scar. But.


    There¡¯s no reason I can¡¯t be genuine in multiple pursuits.


    ¡°Lee Ji-yeon.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    With the blue light of the aquarium casting a glow, I smiled confidently.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be an actress.¡±


    A beloved and acclaimed actress.


    ***


    Gong Jung-tae was troubled. Listening to Jeong Eun-seon had made him rethink how to guide Seoyeon.


    ¡®But it might just be her concern?¡¯


    There aren¡¯t many child actors who are as refined as Jeong Eun-seon expects. How many can differentiate between emotional acting and surface acting?


    Moreover, Seoyeon had never struggled with her acting so far. So, it should be okay...


    ¡°...saying that makes me sound awful.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°...!!¡±


    Gong Jung-tae flinched, turning to see Seoyeon, now changed into her costume, standing quietly.


    ¡°Ah, Seoyeon, is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Hello, Director.¡±


    Seoyeon greeted him with her usual cute bow. Her greetings always brought smiles to the staff.


    ¡®Let¡¯s not push too hard. Take it easy, take it easy.¡¯


    With this in mind, he nodded, trying to ease his complex emotions.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about my acting.¡±


    ¡°...!¡±


    Seoyeon suddenly said.


    ¡®She heard it!¡¯


    Flustered, he tried to think of what to say, but Seoyeon bowed again and left. Her steps seemed more lively than usual.


    ¡°...huh?¡±


    Watching her leave, Gong Jung-tae tilted his head. For some reason, Seoyeon seemed different.

 Chapter 16

    Aaquarium and Sea (2)


    Joo Seoyeon, seven years old... with just a week to go.


    The drama was preparing to shoot a new scene.


    ''We can''t delay it any longer.''


    The staff thought as they glanced at Seoyeon. She seemed perfectly fine, standing there quietly, but considering what had happened during the shoot two weeks ago, they were noticeably cautious.


    Especially since it was none other than veteran actress Jeong Eun-seon who had pointed it out.


    ''She hasn''t mentioned it, has she?''


    Seoyeon felt a bit puzzled as she noticed the staff sneaking glances at her. While the atmosphere of consideration was comforting, she wondered if it was okay.


    The conversation between Suah, Director Gong Jung-tae, and Jeong Eun-seon had been kept confidential. As a result, Jeong Eun-seon became the actress who had criticized a six-year-old child actor without reason.


    Or at least, that''s what the staff speculated. They believed the reason was that Seoyeon had been cast as Princess Yeonhwa instead of Jo Seo-hee.


    Therefore, the other staff and actors couldn''t help but worry about the upcoming scenes involving Seoyeon and Jeong Eun-seon. The person most concerned was Director Gong Jung-tae.


    ''Most of the remaining shoots involve Seoyeon.''


    Moreover, there were quite a few. Princess Yeonhwa, the role Seoyeon played, was the lead in the drama.


    Young Princess Yeonhwa appeared in just three episodes. While that might seem like a small number, the number of shooting sessions required was considerable.


    For a typical 16-episode drama, there are roughly 100 shooting sessions. Thus, shooting three episodes would take about six sessions per episode.


    ''That''s assuming everything goes smoothly.''


    Seoyeon would need around 20 shooting sessions. So far, she had only completed one.


    There were still nineteen sessions left to shoot. Even with breaks for other scenes, it was bound to be challenging.


    "Mrs. Suah, will she be alright?"


    "......"


    Suah looked at Seoyeon energetically stretching a little distance away from the set. She seemed utterly unaffected, almost to the point where it felt strange to worry.


    No, was she really unaffected?


    It seemed odd to worry when Seoyeon looked completely fine.


    "I think she''s... okay?"


    "Hmm."


    "Honestly, I don''t know."


    Although Seoyeon was her daughter, Suah thought she was a peculiar child. She rarely cried as a baby and never asked to do anything herself. Even her acting career had started because of Suah''s suggestion.


    But this time was different.


    "This time, Seoyeon said she wanted to do it herself."


    Seeing her daughter confidently say she wanted to act was cute, but it also worried Suah as a mother. She was grateful that Director Gong Jung-tae was so considerate of Seoyeon.


    "Don''t worry too much. You''ve already done a lot for her. Thank you."


    It was rare for a director to take such care of a child actor. Usually, managing the actor''s well-being was the actor''s responsibility.


    "Well, talented actors benefit the director too."


    Although there were concerns, Gong Jung-tae believed in Seoyeon''s talent. Jeong Eun-seon herself acknowledged Seoyeon''s true potential. Seoyeon carried a vast emotional ocean in her small chest.


    Gong Jung-tae was no novice director. He had hit works and had seen many actors.


    Some shone like stars, just like Seoyeon now.


    ''Director Cho Bang-woo didn''t notice her talent for nothing.''


    As he thought about this, he noticed the set was almost ready.


    "Alright, today we''ll be filming the scene where young Yoon Seoil and young Lee Hye-wol meet."


    Gong Jung-tae began guiding the young actors who would carry the future of Korean entertainment through the scene. He explained how they should act and portray the scene in detail.


    And so, the filming began.


    ***


    Young Yoon Seoil''s role.


    While Seoyeon was burning with determination, Park Jung-woo looked at her curiously.


    "What were we doing at that age?"


    "Well, we were co-stars, weren''t we? Cheers."


    To the other actors, they just seemed like monstrous child actors. Especially Seoyeon, who hadn''t even been acting for a year.


    It was her first drama shoot. Her talent was almost unbelievable.


    Even with past life memories.


    Seoyeon, unaware of this, didn''t realize the extent of her abilities.


    "Alright, let''s continue with the next scene!"


    After a short break, Director Gong Jung-tae''s voice rang out. It was noticeably lighter than before.


    The staff knew why.


    ''Today''s shoot will finish quickly.''


    Everyone loves an early finish.


    ***


    "How was today''s shoot, my girl?"


    As soon as Joo Young-bin got home, he knocked on his daughter''s room.


    When he entered, he found her sitting seriously with the robot toy and BiniPing doll he had bought her earlier.


    "...What are you doing?"


    "I''m thinking."


    "About what?"


    "Who''s stronger, BiniPing or Toobot."


    Young-bin found himself contemplating too. Who was stronger between a boy''s anime character and a girl''s anime character? It was a serious topic he''d never considered before.


    ''She''s such a unique kid sometimes.''


    She seemed uninterested in girly toys, but she played well with them when given. Yet, she naturally tossed robot toys into the cart while shopping.


    She even decorated her robot toys with a professional touch.


    "Well, I''m glad nothing special happened."


    Anyway, Young-bin was relieved his daughter seemed fine. Recently, his wife, Suah, had been worried about various things.


    "Don''t play too late."


    "Okay."


    With that, Young-bin closed the door. Seoyeon glanced at it and then fell back onto her bed.


    ''Hmm, I don''t know.''


    It wasn''t about who was stronger between BiniPing and Toobot.


    ''Real emotional acting.''


    Whether she could do it or not, she thought


    she probably could. The question was how far she could go and if she could control it.


    This was where actress Jeong Eun-seon was correct.


    Although she had confidence in mimicking emotions, going beyond was an unknown territory.


    Facing her own emotions was unfamiliar to her. It might even harm her fragile child psyche.


    The TS body is invincible, but hormones and mental health might be different. It wouldn''t hurt to be cautious.


    "Hmm."


    Seoyeon picked up the script she had placed next to her. There were scene numbers marked in red.


    ''There are two scenes that require genuine emotional acting.''


    Scene numbers S#24 and S#32.


    These were the ones she wanted to act out sincerely.


    These scenes were none other than the climax of young Lee Hye-wol.

 Chapter 17

    Aaquarium and Sea (3)


    ¡®Finally.¡¯


    Seoyeon turned the calendar, feeling emotional.


    ¡®I¡¯ve turned seven.¡¯


    Joo Seoyeon, age seven.


    First year of kindergarten.


    In reality, turning seven didn¡¯t change much. Maybe just feeling the accelerated growth of her body?


    Next year, she would start elementary school. And...


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯@@@@


    There were many things to consider. Most of them related to acting.


    With serious practice, she realized her own shortcomings. And emotional acting, in particular, was not easy.


    ¡®Most things end with just mimicking emotions.¡¯


    Even actors don¡¯t always express their emotions at full strength. For Seoyeon, mimicking emotions was usually enough.


    At least in this area, she probably wasn¡¯t much different from adult actors.


    ¡®Considering my age, of course...¡¯


    Emotional acting comes from lived experiences. Naturally, younger actors struggle with it due to their lack of experience.


    However, Seoyeon filled that gap with her past life.


    Smack.


    She cupped her face with her hands, looking in the mirror.


    ¡®My facial expressions are relatively natural.¡¯


    But as she studied acting more, she noticed other areas where she was lacking. Minor actions, handling gazes, voice projection when delivering lines.


    Thanks to her practice, her voice projection was about a 4 out of 5.


    ¡®I need more time.¡¯


    Of course, with the filming of *The Sun Hidden by the Moon* coming up, there wasn¡¯t time to learn anything new. What she could do was maximize her strengths.


    Previously, she was all in on being a VTuber, but things were different now. She was Joo Seoyeon, a soon-to-be great actress.


    She didn¡¯t want to waste her talents, which felt like a gift from her past life.


    ¡°Phew.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, she pulled her hands away from her face. Looking at her palms, she saw various scratches and wounds.


    Her eyes in the mirror were bloodshot, redder than usual.


    Almost as if they changed with her emotions.


    ¡®...Could it be?¡¯


    Even if it were true, it wasn¡¯t dramatic. Her body had many peculiarities, so she was used to it by now. The strange strength and the unusual eyes.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Now that she felt somewhat composed, it was time to practice again. For her first true emotional performance as the seven-year-old Joo Seoyeon.


    ***


    There are two stars at the Arongdarong Kindergarten. One is Lee Ji-yeon.


    A lively kid who actively appeared in commercials. Her strong personality meant no one in the kindergarten dared to go against her. Except for one person.


    ¡°Seoyeon is so well-behaved.¡±


    Mr. Hyun Young from the Blossom class looked at Seoyeon with a hint of envy. If only the kids in her class were as calm as Seoyeon.


    ¡°Well-behaved... she is, I guess?¡±


    Mina, the teacher of the sun class where Seoyeon belonged, smiled awkwardly. Seoyeon was the second famous star at this kindergarten.


    But honestly, Ji-yeon paled in comparison. Especially after the broadcast of [The Sun Hidden by the Moon] audition, there were people who would glance at the kindergarten just to see Seoyeon.


    While that had now subsided, Mina still felt uneasy. If something dangerous had happened during those times...


    ¡°She¡¯s well-behaved, but... she¡¯s a peculiar child.¡±


    Park Jung-woo, on the other hand, seemed more exhausted, even though he had fewer sessions than Seoyeon.


    ¡°Director, wouldn¡¯t it be better to space out the sessions? We¡¯ve been shooting too intensely lately.¡±


    Director Gong Jung-tae nodded at the camera director¡¯s suggestion. He also felt they had been pushing Seoyeon¡¯s scenes too hard recently.


    ¡°But, well... the person herself wants it.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡±


    It was about two weeks ago when Seoyeon cautiously approached Gong Jung-tae and spoke hesitantly.


    ¡°Director.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Seoyeon. Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s okay with everyone else...¡±


    Seoyeon apologized profusely as she made a request to Gong Jung-tae. In short, she wanted to quickly film the pending scenes.


    It was an admirable request, but also overstepping bounds. It was rare for a child actor to make such a suggestion to a director.


    But knowing Seoyeon wasn¡¯t one to make frivolous requests, Gong Jung-tae decided to listen to her reason.


    Seoyeon calmly began to explain.


    ¡°According to the script, there are two scenes with intense emotional lines.¡±


    ¡°S#24 and S#32, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Listening to Seoyeon¡¯s articulate explanation, Gong Jung-tae wondered if she was really just seven years old. Compared to his cousin¡¯s kids he saw during holidays, the difference was like heaven and earth.


    Both in attitude and vocabulary.


    Gong Jung-tae could guess Seoyeon¡¯s reason.


    ¡°Seoyeon, are you saying...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a secret. I might need a break after the next performance...¡±


    Seoyeon spoke hesitantly, knowing she was asking for something unusual. One of the scenes involved acting with Jeong Eun-seon.


    Considering the previous conflict, Gong Jung-tae was hesitant.


    ¡®Although she hasn¡¯t said anything since then.¡¯


    Seeing Seoyeon act well afterward, Jeong Eun-seon might have thought everything was fine. Her face still showed complex emotions, but she hadn¡¯t said anything.


    ¡®Old-fashioned people are difficult.¡¯


    Although the treatment of child actors had improved in recent years, there had been many issues for a while. Reports of child actors being mistreated or verbally abused on set or stage were not uncommon.


    That¡¯s why there were caretakers like chaperones specifically for child actors.


    While Jeong Eun-seon wasn¡¯t like those people, her sharp tone and lack of tact made her unsuitable for dealing with children.


    ¡®Still...¡¯


    Refusing Seoyeon¡¯s request was the right thing to do. There was no need to push her hard; her current performance was already enough.


    But he was also curious about the performance she was so eager to show.


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s see and decide.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re asking to push for the sake of your acting... I need to see that acting to consider it.¡±


    Since he was in charge of the filming schedule, any decision would ultimately fall on him.


    Even so, Gong Jung-tae wanted to see Seoyeon¡¯s performance.


    ¡°...Alright.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Seoyeon took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It still took her time to get into the emotions.


    And then...


    ¡°...Wow.¡±


    When Seoyeon¡¯s performance ended, Gong Jung-tae couldn¡¯t help but be convinced.


    This was worth a try.


    Footnotes


    There was a mistake and Mina (????), Seoyeon teacher''s name was Tled as Haetnim (?????) ?Zhuge Liang, also known as Kongming, was a renowned statesman, engineer, scholar, and inventor of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 CE). ?Pang Tong (ý‹½y), also known as Shiyuan (Ê¿Ôª), was a Chinese politician and strategist who served as a key adviser to Liu Bei, the warlord of the Shu Han kingdom, during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. ?

 Chapter 18

    Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played the main antagonist Jo Yeong-dae in The Sun Hidden by the Moon, glanced around. He was particularly mindful of Jung Eun-seon, who played Queen Dowager Eun-hye.


    Although Yoon Jong-hyuk was a veteran actor with a long history in various dramas, his career was shorter compared to Jung Eun-seon. Nonetheless, he had appeared in several dramas with her over the years, and their long-standing friendship allowed him to sense her current discomfort.


    "It''s the first time I''ve seen you this bothered, nuna."


    His attempt to lighten the mood was met with a sharp glare from Jung Eun-seon, making him flinch.@@@@


    "Let''s just keep it smooth this time. She''s still a child actor. You tend to say things in such a harsh way that it becomes worrisome. We''re in an age where it could easily make the news."


    "...I know."


    Although she claimed to know, Yoon Jong-hyuk''s lips twitched as if he wanted to say more but decided against it. It wouldn''t make a difference anyway; she wouldn''t listen.


    ''She''s not a bad person, but...''


    Yoon Jong-hyuk viewed Jung Eun-seon as a stubborn person. He had once heard about an incident and couldn''t help but slap his forehead.


    He didn''t need to witness it firsthand to know the atmosphere on set must have been tense. As an experienced actor, he knew how much impact a senior actor''s words could have on set.


    But saying such things to a six-year-old child in front of everyone...


    ''Maybe she was just worried, or perhaps she just wanted to say it.''


    It''s the stubbornness of the elderly. It was quite common in older shooting environments to apply pressure by speaking in front of others. While her concern was understandable, her methods were excessively rough.


    "You really need to fix that terrible personality, tsk."


    He muttered to himself, but Jung Eun-seon heard him and glared menacingly. Yoon Jong-hyuk was just grateful his wife didn''t have a personality like hers.


    "Alright, we''ll start shooting soon."


    Director Gong Jung-tae''s voice echoed. They were about to film scene S#24.


    This scene involved Jo Yeong-dae staging a coup, overthrowing the current king and taking the throne for himself. The deposed king would then be exiled, and his daughter, Princess Yeonhwa, would also be sent away.


    Princess Yeonhwa would plead with Queen Dowager Eun-hye for her father''s innocence and express her anger at Jo Yeong-dae''s treason. However, Jo Yeong-dae would enter the Queen Dowager''s chambers during this plea and drag Yeonhwa away.


    Eventually, Princess Yeonhwa and a few of her retainers would leave the palace.


    "Since Queen Dowager Eun-hye''s chambers will be somewhat dark, the positioning of the reflector is crucial. Please adjust it."


    The scene of Jo Yeong-dae leading his troops to the Queen Dowager''s chambers was to be filmed in a long take, emphasizing the impact of the main antagonist.


    Furthermore, they needed to pay attention to the lighting since it involved barging into the chambers.


    "Yoon Jong-hyuk, as mentioned before, you need to glare at Princess Yeonhwa as fiercely as possible."


    "That I can do, but are you sure it''s okay? My face might be too scary for the kid."


    Yoon Jong-hyuk''s playful remark made some of the staff chuckle. Indeed, his appearance was quite intimidating.


    His eyes were sharp, and the wrinkles and angular jawline gave him a stern look. However, when he got into character, his expression and intense gaze commanded a significant presence.


    Having played many antagonistic roles in dramas and movies, his performance often pressured not just child actors but even regular actors.


    "It''s fine. You actually need to go all out. We need to clearly show what kind of person Jo Yeong-dae is in this episode. Otherwise..."


    "Otherwise..."


    "If you underestimate the child, Jo Yeong-dae''s character might fall short."


    Gong Jung-tae''s words made Yoon Jong-hyuk''s eyes narrow. He looked as if to say, ''Is that so?'' Of course, that wasn''t his real thought, but his appearance gave off that vibe.


    "Oh dear, Director. She''s only seven years old..."


    "She''s seven now."


    "Oh, really?"


    Some staff members lightly teased Gong Jung-tae, thinking he was exaggerating.


    What Gong Jung-tae was implying was:


    "If you don''t act properly, you''ll be outshone."


    Being outshone is the biggest disgrace for an actor. It means acknowledging that your performance is inferior to your counterpart.


    "I understand."


    "And... well, I trust you''ll do well."


    "...?"


    Jung Eun-seon sent a questioning look, but Gong Jung-tae didn''t elaborate. Despite their previous conflict, she was a skilled actress.


    A seasoned performer. She wouldn''t repeat her past mistake once she saw Seoyeon''s performance.


    "Alright, let''s roll."


    The sound of the camera moving filled the air. All eyes were on Yoon Jong-hyuk and Seoyeon.


    There were no additional instructions for them, indicating prior discussions.


    "Action!"


    Gong Jung-tae''s shout signaled the start of the performance.


    Late at night. The usually quiet palace was in turmoil. Flames rose high.


    Men with torches shouted harshly as they moved around. The clatter of swords and heavy footsteps echoed.


    Screams filled the air. It was unclear if they came from the palace maids or someone else.


    Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol, ran, trying to evade their eyes. If she was caught, she would be dragged away.


    Expelled from her safe haven in the palace. Thus, she sought someone who could prevent this.


    The only person Lee Hye-wol could think of. She moved her small feet as fast as she could and finally reached the place.


    "Queen Dowager!"


    Her desperate cry made Queen Dowager Eun-hye, sitting quietly by the small lantern, turn her gaze. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions. She was the mother of the current king and Jo Yeong-dae, who led the coup.


    "Please stop Jo Yeong-dae!"


    It was an unreasonable request. Queen Dowager Eun-hye had no power. She was merely the mother of Jo Yeong-dae. And by the time she knew about the coup, it was too late.


    In an irreversible situation, all she could do was stand by.


    "This is treason. They are rebels. How can they dare! Those who received my father''s grace. How can they do this!"


    Princess Yeonhwa''s cry of anguish was met with silence from Queen Dowager Eun-hye. Lee Hye-wol was always affectionate, calling her ''grandmother'' and being close.


    "This is a mistake. Please, answer me, Queen Dowager!"


    But now she was Princess Yeonhwa. Her small body exuded palpable anger and hatred.


    Queen Dowager Eun-hye couldn''t bear to look at such a Lee Hye-wol and closed her eyes.


    The scene was watched in silence by everyone. The camera moved, and the reflector adjusted to keep Queen Dowager Eun-hye and Lee Hye-wol''s faces visible in the dim light. The camera pulled back to capture both of their emotions.


    ''Something...''


    The staff watching felt something different.


    ''It''s more intense than usual...''


    Young Lee Hye-wol, played by Seoyeon, always had a way of drawing people in. But now, it was different.


    A palpable tension spread around them. It felt like something was about to erupt.


    Queen Dowager Eun-hye''s eyes slowly closed. In response, Lee Hye-wol''s eyes squeezed shut.


    She understood. Queen Dowager Eun-hye had no intention of stopping the coup, or rather, she couldn''t.


    And then.


    Bang!!


    The door burst open, and a man leading his troops barged into Queen Dowager Eun-hye''s chambers. With hawk-like eyes and tight lips.


    His dark eyes gleamed with madness, making everyone hold their breath. His twitching lips curled into a twisted smile.


    It was Jo Yeong-dae''s entrance.

 Chapter 19

    Jo Yeong-dae.


    The moment he appeared, the atmosphere around them changed.


    For the first time, Seoyeon felt it.


    All this time, the other actors had been considerate of the child actors.


    Her fingertips tingled with tension.


    Even with her eyes closed, she could clearly feel that the atmosphere on set was different from usual.


    "Hah."


    A short sigh escaped as Jo Yeong-dae''s fierce eyes swept over Queen Dowager Eun-hye''s chambers.


    He looked at his mother, then at Princess Yeonhwa.


    "Princess, do you know how long I''ve been looking for you?"


    His low, guttural voice, like the cry of a beast, sent chills down the spine. His glossy eyes soon turned to his mother, Queen Dowager Eun-hye.


    "What did she say?"


    He slowly bent down.


    "Did she cry out that it was a betrayal of human decency, that it was a disgrace to the royal family?"


    He chuckled, a grating laugh that filled the room. Queen Dowager Eun-hye remained silent with her eyes closed.


    "Yes."


    As if she couldn''t bear to look at her son.


    Jo Yeong-dae''s lips twisted into a sneer.


    "I betrayed it all. Human decency, the royal family''s grace."


    Even those who followed him dared not speak. To anyone, he was the king.


    A king who did not allow anyone to raise their heads, a tyrant.


    "But this is my path."


    He had betrayed human decency and overthrown the royal family. There was a man walking a path stained with blood.


    "Princess."


    Still looking at Queen Dowager Eun-hye, Jo Yeong-dae spoke.


    "Princess...!!"


    His fierce shout shook the chamber, causing the lantern to flicker. The dim light cast shadows on Jo Yeong-dae''s face.


    Slowly.


    Very slowly.


    His gaze moved to Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol.


    "What will you do?"


    He turned his head and then his body to look down at the small, young princess.


    "Will you leave on your own?"


    Originally, Jo Yeong-dae and Princess Yeonhwa were close. They had always shared smiles and laughter.


    "Or shall I escort you personally?"


    At least, that''s what Princess Yeonhwa believed. Today, she realized it was all a lie.


    She had been foolish.


    The emotions were palpable in the bowed princess''s body.


    The camera moved.


    From Jo Yeong-dae to Princess Yeonhwa.


    Camera director Heo Jeong-su forgot to breathe, his eyes fixed on the screen without blinking.


    The light wavered, and the reflector moved to ensure they didn''t miss the shot.


    Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played Jo Yeong-dae, was a seasoned actor. His villainous roles were always highly praised, and this time was no different.


    His portrayal of madness, exhaled as if breathing, was incredibly immersive. It seemed as if he alone filled the screen.


    ''This is dangerous...''


    Heo Jeong-su knew this wasn''t a good situation.


    Only someone with an equally strong performance could counter Jo Yeong-dae. Perhaps only Jung Eun-seon as Queen Dowager Eun-hye, but she had few lines in this scene.


    The only one who could turn the atmosphere in this scene was the young Princess Yeonhwa.


    But could a child actor do it?


    ''Director Gong said it would be better to zoom in on the emotions.''


    Heo Jeong-su, an experienced camera director, knew that bringing the camera closer would reveal the actor''s emotional performance more intricately.


    But could Princess Yeonhwa hold up against Jo Yeong-dae?


    He believed in Seoyeon''s talent. That''s why he voted for her over Jo Seo-hee in the audition.


    But she was still a child.


    Compared to the seasoned actor Yoon Jong-hyuk, she was lacking.


    It would be better to capture the scene widely and focus on the setting rather than the individuals.


    He glanced at Director Gong Jung-tae, but there were no additional instructions. It seemed they would proceed as initially discussed.


    ''They said she''s a genius, but...''


    Now he understood why even the prickly Jung Eun-seon took an interest in her.


    As he was lost in thought, he noticed Jung Eun-seon standing beside Seoyeon.


    This caused a few staff members who were about to exclaim in admiration to freeze.


    Remembering the previous incident.


    "...."


    Jung Eun-seon bent down to the panting Seoyeon.


    She saw the tears in her red eyes.


    She saw the blood-stained hands.


    She saw the child struggling to separate from her emotions.


    And she sighed.


    "Take deep breaths."


    She guided Seoyeon to inhale and exhale deeply.


    Then she gently opened Seoyeon''s small hands.


    Her nails had dug in so deep that her hands were bleeding.


    Seeing this, Jung Eun-seon''s face hardened.


    "What are you all doing? Hurry and disinfect and bandage her hands."


    Her shout startled the staff, who rushed over.


    "Ah, yes, yes!" "Wait, is she really hurt?"


    They had assumed it was some kind of prop.


    After all, it was hard to believe a child could grip so tightly that it drew blood.


    "....That''s why."


    Jung Eun-seon started to say something, then bit her lip and stood up.


    First, they needed to treat the wound.


    And after seeing her performance, there was nothing more to say.


    It was clear how much Seoyeon had practiced for this scene.


    "Don''t do it too often. But..."


    After a moment of hesitation, Jung Eun-seon spoke to Seoyeon.


    "...It was an excellent performance."


    She simply said that and handed Seoyeon over to Su-a.


    She watched for a moment before turning and leaving.


    Su-a, who had been anxiously waiting for her daughter, finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She knew Seoyeon had performed wonderfully.


    "Are you alright?" "...Yes."


    Honestly, she wasn''t alright.


    Seoyeon avoided Su-a''s worried gaze and wiped her tears.


    Emotions were unfamiliar.


    It was harder than she thought to immerse herself in such deep emotions.


    Her palms were already covered in small wounds.


    ''It''s different from practice.''


    She sighed.


    It was still hard to shake off the lingering emotions.


    Maybe it was because she was still a child.


    No wonder they advised against doing it too often.


    "This is truly surprising."


    Just then, Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played Jo Yeong-dae, approached Seoyeon and Su-a.


    "Honestly, I heard about it, but I was shocked. You''ve only been acting for a year?" "Ah, yes." "You''ll be a great actress someday. Even Jung Eun-seon couldn''t say a word."


    It was a performance that silenced even those who usually advised against emotional acting for children.


    "But still. It''s best to refrain for now. You''re still a child. Be mindful of her sensitivity."


    "Yes, yes. I understand."


    Satisfied with Su-a''s response, Yoon Jong-hyuk smiled and patted Seoyeon''s head.


    "Now, let''s go see how the footage turned out."


    At his words, Seoyeon slowly nodded.


    It was probably her first real emotional performance in her life.


    So she was curious too.


    Until now, she had only thought, ''Well, it''s okay.''


    But if this time she still felt that way, she might be disappointed.

 Chapter 20

    What must it have been like for the first person who ever saw the ocean? I don''t know. But I imagine it felt similar to when I first faced my own emotions.


    From a distance, the ocean is just beautiful, blue, and clear¡ªan unknown entity. Emotions were no different to me.


    In my previous life, emotions were ''something'' I didn''t truly understand. Of course, I don''t think my previous life was miserable because I couldn''t feel emotions at all. It was just a condition, a form of difference.


    I avoided them because they were unfamiliar, because I didn''t see the necessity, or because I didn''t feel the need to change. But isn''t it true? One can''t avoid emotions just because they don''t want to feel them. Naturally, as humans, we express them.


    So, at some point, I naturally approached emotions. One step at a time. Then, I dipped my feet in the seawater that had washed up on the beach.


    It was so cold and unfamiliar. It was still not entirely comfortable, but with repeated exposure, I began to understand a little.


    The reflection of myself in the water.


    "Now, let''s take a look."


    Director Gong Jung-tae''s words made me swallow dryly. My heart pounded heavily.@@@@


    Until now, I had never felt fear when reviewing my own acting. It was a routine, something expected.


    Even when everyone applauded my performance, it was because it was an imitation of emotions that a child couldn''t naturally show. They applauded the near-perfect mimicry.


    Acting. Yes, in retrospect, it was still acting. I played the character others wanted, even in my previous life. But that was all.


    If I were a veteran actor, or one who could show more, it would be natural. I could effortlessly and habitually fabricate it.


    So it was as natural as breathing, and I felt no specialness. No sense of achievement.


    "Queen Dowager!"


    The unfamiliar yet familiar sound of my voice marked the start of the performance. I watched, forgetting even to blink.


    And it wasn''t just me. Director Gong Jung-tae, the staff, And actors Yoon Jong-hyuk and Jung Eun-seon, All watched their performances together.


    Until the final moment when Princess Yeonhwa left the room and the door closed.


    "Wow."


    As soon as the footage ended, Heo Jeong-su, the camera director, exclaimed.


    "We shot it, but it''s really amazing. Here, look at this part...¡±


    "Yes, here, when Seoyeon raises her head, the light movement is excellent."


    The originally bright light temporarily darkened when Seoyeon raised her head. Thanks to this, Seoyeon''s red eyes stood out more clearly. This was slightly different from the initial setup Director Gong had requested. It was a sensitive improvisation by Camera Director Heo Jeong-su.


    "...Is this reflected in the lantern? No, it looks like CG if you didn''t know."


    Director Gong Jung-tae looked at my eyes. Unlike the video, my pupils were now a reddish-brown.


    Because of this, Director Gong Jung-tae examined my face with a curious expression before laughing softly. Apparently, my face looked different than usual.


    "Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "Do you think it turned out well?"


    I hesitated to answer his question. What should I say? I recalled the video I had just watched.


    I remembered the days of effort put into shooting that scene. I felt the stinging pain of the wounds on my palms.


    But this was not an aquarium. It was my first footprint deeply embedded in the beach, with seawater wetting my ankles.


    "Yes."


    I think this was the first time I realized. When something makes you overwhelmingly happy, you smile without realizing it. This intense emotion that the seven-year-old Joo Seoyeon felt, Something my past self could never understand.


    "It turned out really well."


    I probably smiled like a child my age. Surely.


    Mina''s voice carried a hint of disappointment as she spoke to me. It would be odd for me to take a leading role in a children''s play.


    Well, I''m still a child. Of course, my parents would want to see me shine...


    ''Hmm...''


    But the role I got wasn''t just any extra part. It was quite significant.


    I was the ''magic mirror'' for the queen. A role no child dared to take.


    ''The face doesn''t appear, but there are a lot of lines.''


    It was a role everyone avoided. The seven dwarfs would at least appear on stage.


    ''Anyway, let''s give it our best.''


    In a way, the mirror role was similar to a VTuber. Though the queen didn''t throw super chats.


    Even though I took acting seriously, my passion for VTubing didn''t wane. I was still pondering how to connect acting and VTubing.


    As the performance approached, The final shoot for The Sun Hidden by the Moon began.


    The Sun Hidden by the Moon. A fictional historical drama produced by KMB.


    Initially, it seemed like a well-funded historical drama targeting young audiences. But after the making film was released, it garnered considerable attention.


    "Director Gong, did Seoyeon finish shooting yesterday?"


    Ha Tae-oh, the planning producer for The Sun Hidden by the Moon, spoke to Director Gong Jung-tae. Before today''s meeting, he had many things to discuss.


    "I watched the footage, and Seoyeon, this is her first drama shoot, right?"


    "Yes, that''s what I heard."


    Ha Tae-oh recalled the footage he received yesterday. Unedited and without any added music, it was raw footage.


    Despite that, Ha Tae-oh found himself engrossed in it. And it wasn''t just Seoyeon.


    Yoon Jong-hyuk, who played Jo Yeong-dae, stood out the most. His performance, truly befitting a master of villain roles, was remarkable.


    "Even so, Seoyeon didn''t fall short against Yoon Jong-hyuk... In some scenes, she was even more intense, though briefly."


    Ha Tae-oh couldn''t forget the moment Seoyeon raised her head.


    How would it turn out with editing and sound? The thought thrilled him.


    "And... was that filmed yesterday?"


    "Yes, wasn''t it excellent?"


    "It really is. Nowadays, you can''t underestimate child actors. As expected of Park Seon-ung''s son. Oh, of course... Seoyeon was outstanding too."


    Ha Tae-oh''s voice was rarely this excited. Director Gong Jung-tae couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Indeed, seeing that performance, it was understandable. Park Jeong-woo, once called a child prodigy in acting, was equally amazed. His acting was impressive to witness.


    "The last scene with young Princess Yeonhwa is S#32, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Hmm."


    Ha Tae-oh recalled the footage from yesterday, his lips twitching. A smile he struggled to suppress.


    Sometimes, you just have a gut feeling. A feeling that something will be exceptionally successful.


    This was exactly that for Ha Tae-oh.


    "Seoyeon is going to get very busy."


    Anyone who saw her final performance would undoubtedly want to work with her.

 Chapter 21

    "I''m bored."


    Having been so busy with drama shoots and other activities for a while, I found myself spending most of my time lazing around after coming home from kindergarten.


    Acting was forbidden for the time being. Specifically, this was something I was discussing with my mom.


    "Especially because your hand got hurt..."


    I had gotten various injuries while acting, and during the actual shoot, my hand was dripping blood. Naturally, my mom must have been very upset seeing me like that.


    So, she gave me this warning:


    "No intense emotional acting for now. No practice either."


    It meant I should wait until I was older. Since I was a child actor, there was no need to demand that level of acting from me, and the performances I had done so far were already impressive.


    "Hmm..."


    I flopped onto the giant Pinkyping doll I had recently bought. One advantage of a child''s body is that you can ride a giant doll and shake your body, and it still looks cute.


    If it were my former self, it would have been a grotesque sight, but now, it''s fine. Seven-year-old Joo Seoyeon is very cute! So, there''s no shame in it.


    Anyway.


    "Should I learn acting properly?"


    I had many things I wanted to do. What I realized from the recent drama shoot was that I still had a lot to learn.


    Even though everyone praised me, I was always technically criticized for my shortcomings. The reason it wasn''t noticeable was because my role as Princess Lee Hye-wol didn''t require a variety of acting styles.


    In a daily drama or a continuous series where diverse situations arise, my flaws would have been immediately apparent.


    "And voice projection..."


    Thinking about this, I suddenly remembered Lee Ji-yeon. Lee Ji-yeon''s agency, Eunha Entertainment.


    I don''t remember exactly, but it had several controversies. While it called itself an entertainment company, Eunha Entertainment was essentially an agency.


    Of course, being an agency isn''t inherently bad. In fact, it can be convenient. Agencies mainly connect actors with various dramas and advertisements and take care of them.


    "Generally, actors or child actors are usually affiliated with specialized agencies..."


    However, for child actors, some parents prefer agencies over specialized agencies. Since the children might change their career paths as they grow up and stop acting, being with a specialized agency could lead to disputes.


    While agencies are convenient, they''re not always perfect. There are bad apples everywhere.


    "I think it was embezzlement."


    Eunha Entertainment''s problem stemmed from this. I remember hearing that they didn''t pay the actors for their advertisements and commercial shoots and disappeared with the money.


    Although I''m not sure of the exact details, the important thing is that Eunha Entertainment, despite being normal now, would eventually embezzle actors'' earnings and vanish.


    Why did I think of this while considering voice projection? This issue became a controversy because child actors were used as voice actors in an animated feature film.


    It sparked debates about non-professional voice actors, child exploitation, and unpaid fees. In the midst of these controversies, Eunha Entertainment vanished without a trace.


    "Hmm..."


    Child actors as voice actors? How many child actors does Eunha Entertainment have besides Lee Ji-yeon?


    Probably not many. And there would be even fewer who would accept any job indiscriminately.


    "Could it be..."


    Lee Ji-yeon, were you the one involved in that controversy?@@@@


    "My pretty daughter! You got a call from PD Ha..."


    Su-a, hearing the news from a phone call, opened the door to Seoyeon''s room, where she was supposed to be resting. She saw Seoyeon sprawled like a sloth on top of the Pinkyping doll.


    It was a rare sight of her usually active daughter being lazy. But at seven, could it really be called laziness?


    "Then I''ll do it."


    Seeing her daughter readily agree at the mention of money, Su-a felt a bit conflicted. She wondered if Seoyeon felt they were living in poverty or if she was influenced by her wealthy peers.


    It was a complex feeling for a novice mother.


    "By the way, Mom."


    "Yes?"


    "I have a favor to ask..."


    Seoyeon fidgeted as she spoke. She seemed hesitant about whether it was okay to ask.


    It was the first time Su-a had seen her daughter like this! Her usually mature daughter rarely asked for anything.


    Most of the time, they were trivial matters. She had mentioned a few things related to acting, but they weren''t really requests.


    Most of the time, Su-a just observed.


    "Yes, Seoyeon. I''ll help!"


    "Really?"


    "Yes!"


    So, Su-a answered enthusiastically, eager to help. Not knowing what her daughter would ask for.


    "Oh, look at all the people."


    "Well, it''s an event with Kang Seong-chan and Ha Ye-seo, so this is to be expected, right?"


    Entertainment reporter Lee Byung-hoon muttered as he fiddled with his camera. With so many people around, he was worried about someone accidentally bumping into it.


    "There''s a lot of interest. Look, it''s not just crowded with people but also with reporters."


    "It''s going to be tough to get an interview with actor Kang Seong-chan."


    Most of the reporters gathered here were likely aiming for interviews with the lead actors, Kang Seong-chan or Ha Ye-seo. Despite the grand reveal in the making video, there had been no separate promotional efforts from the actors. This was the first time. Securing an interview with the lead actors was crucial for the reporters.


    As they chatted, excited screams erupted, and a path opened up for a few people to pass through.


    "Oh, here they come. Wow, the hanbok looks really good on them."


    Kang Seong-chan, playing Yoon Seo-il. His bright appearance and refreshing smile. His intelligent eyes perfectly suited the character Yoon Seo-il.


    And what about Ha Ye-seo, playing Lee Hye-wol? Her pure beauty perfectly matched the celestial princess.


    As the main characters of The Sun Hidden by the Moon, the success of the drama heavily depended on her performance.


    "And, let''s see..."


    Lee Byung-hoon scanned the list of actors participating in today''s event. If he failed to get an interview with the leads, he would target the supporting actors.


    "But this doesn''t seem as exciting."


    He wondered if there was anything interesting. Then he noticed a small girl walking hand-in-hand with the actress playing Princess Hye-wol''s caretaker.


    The very girl who had sparked much interest in the making film. Child actress Joo Seoyeon, playing the young Lee Hye-wol.


    "She''s here too?"


    Lee Byung-hoon raised his camera and snapped a photo of Seoyeon. He had been interested in her for a while.


    "Huh?"


    He suddenly realized he was the only one who had photographed Seoyeon. All the other reporters were focused on Kang Seong-chan and Ha Ye-seo.


    Belatedly, some reporters started photographing Seoyeon, but not as much as the leads.


    It was understandable. Seoyeon was not a famous child actor and was only appearing in three episodes. For now, she was just a slightly noteworthy child actor.


    That was how she was known.

 Chapter 22

    Actor Kang Seong-chan was highly popular due to his excellent acting skills and handsome, refreshing looks. He was the top casting choice for The Sun Hidden by the Moon, and as expected, he garnered much attention.


    What about actress Ha Ye-seo? With her pure appearance and a recent romance movie that attracted 7 million viewers, she was one of the hottest rising actresses.


    However, there were some comments that her acting skills might be slightly lacking compared to her popularity. Even so, she wasn''t bad enough to be an issue; she was just not on par with more seasoned actors.


    Then there were the two supporting actors. Actors Han Tae-won and Shin Yeon-mi frequently appeared in various media, adding flavor to the productions they were in. Especially Shin Yeon-mi, who played the caretaker of Princess Yeonhwa, had a significant role in the drama.


    So, the inclusion of a child actor among them stood out. From the journalists'' perspective, it was a rather curious selection.


    "If a child actor were to be included, I thought it would be Park Jung-woo, the son of actor Park Sun-woong."


    "That kid was the talk of the making film, though."


    "True, but auditions and actual dramas are different, aren''t they?"


    "That¡¯s right. Hmm, I don''t know. But she certainly has the looks..."


    "Definitely has the looks. Honestly, among the recent child actors, purely in terms of appearance, she¡¯s the best."


    As entertainment reporters, they were well-versed in the actors'' backgrounds. They could talk extensively about the child actor who became a hot topic recently.


    "We don¡¯t need to memorize much. She¡¯s only appeared in one CF so far, right? I heard she shot another CF recently, so her entire activity consists of two commercials."


    "That''s true. But her acting in the audition was pretty good."


    "Auditions and actual dramas are different, aren¡¯t they?"


    "Yeah, that¡¯s true too."


    Reporter Lee Byung-hoon nodded absentmindedly as he listened to the other journalists'' conversations. Even counting the cameras aimed at the actors, the difference in attention was evident.


    "No, if you think about it, it¡¯s actually quite a lot."


    In the photo zone, Lee Byung-hoon and Ha Ye-seo, the lead pair. Standing a bit further away, supporting actors with child actor Joo Seoyeon.


    Despite playing young Princess Yeonhwa, she stood somewhere between the main and supporting roles.


    Honestly, considering her recognition level, it wasn¡¯t surprising she didn¡¯t attract much attention. Yet, surprisingly, some cameras occasionally focused on Seoyeon. Perhaps others had similar thoughts as Lee Byung-hoon.


    "Director Gong Jung-tae isn¡¯t an idiot."


    Common sense dictated that if a child actor was involved, it would be easier to gather attention with Park Jung-woo, the son of a famous actor. Yet, they chose to feature Seoyeon, which must mean something.


    "Alright."


    With that in mind, Lee Byung-hoon aimed his camera at Seoyeon, following his instincts developed over ten years as a reporter.


    "Thank goodness."


    Seoyeon inwardly sighed in relief at the lack of excessive attention from the cameras. Or rather, it was fortunate that the reporters weren''t actively approaching her.


    Had there been no reaction at all, she would have felt a peculiar emotion, but it wasn¡¯t like that. Just an ambiguous reaction?


    It was hard for Seoyeon to discern if it was good or bad.


    "Seoyeon, it would be nice if you could smile at the people."


    "Okay."


    At the advice of Shin Yeon-mi, who played the caretaker of Princess Yeonhwa, Seoyeon nodded slightly. After all, it was a photo zone, so standing there expressionlessly would not be good.


    "Anyway, the focus is on the leads."


    With that thought, Seoyeon smiled brightly and waved her hand. Smiling artificially was one of Seoyeon''s strengths.


    "Oh, she smiled."


    "She looked frozen with nerves, but... she really matches the image from the commercials."


    As Seoyeon smiled, more people started showing interest. While her presence had been minimal with a neutral expression, her smile brightened up the atmosphere.


    "That child..."


    It was rare for a drama to hold consecutive offline events before its airing.


    "I¡¯ve already seen it, and I was truly amazed. You can look forward to it."


    Judging by the preview, the first three episodes feature child actors. Despite this, the excitement in Kang Seong-chan¡¯s voice drew attention.


    Especially towards Seoyeon.


    "Oh."


    Seoyeon felt the reporters'' gazes all at once. Not yet accustomed to such attention, she froze with a smile.


    While she was good at maintaining a smiling expression, she wasn¡¯t prepared for unexpected situations.


    "Especially, take lots of pictures of Joo Seoyeon today. You might regret it later if you don''t."


    With Kang Seong-chan¡¯s confident statement, Seoyeon''s forehead began to sweat.


    "You might regret it."


    With these words and a thumbs-up from actor Kang Seong-chan, Seoyeon awkwardly raised her thumb in response. She tried to smile, but she wasn''t sure if she was doing it right.


    Nevertheless, ignoring a senior¡¯s words would obviously lead to criticism, so she did her best.


    "This wasn''t necessary..."


    Isn¡¯t preparation key for everything? As soon as Kang Seong-chan finished speaking, Seoyeon felt the gaze of the reporters and the public.


    Their eyes seemed to question if his words were true or false. Some reporters were already busily taking pictures.


    At this moment, Seoyeon could clearly feel the weight of the "burden."


    Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, after the drama teaser event ended, no one called for her. Producer Ha Tae-oh said this was enough. The major articles would come out after the preview screening.


    "Ugh..."


    The burden, something everyone must face at some point, was heavier than expected. Actors confidently facing countless viewers. And VTubers too seemed impressive.


    "Wait, is VTubing a bit different?"


    Regardless, the burden of public attention could be overwhelming. It was a very unfamiliar feeling for Seoyeon, making her want to roll around on the floor.


    "What are you doing, Joo Seoyeon?"


    "...Can''t you see?"


    "Just saying, you¡¯re not planning to half-ass the mirror role, are you?"


    "I¡¯ll do my best."


    "You better."


    Lee Ji-yeon crossed her arms and spoke. Currently, we were practicing for the kindergarten¡¯s play at Arongdarong Kindergarten.


    "Oh my."


    By the way, we weren¡¯t practicing at the kindergarten. Rather, it was a place where Lee Ji-yeon could practice comfortably.


    So, I was at Lee Ji-yeon¡¯s house.


    "Our Ji-yeon really likes Seoyeon. I never thought it would turn out like this~."


    "Ah, haha. Yes, that¡¯s right."


    With a bright smile, Hong Jin-hee spoke, and my mom awkwardly replied.


    "I knew it."


    I looked at my mom with a sympathetic gaze. Mom, Su-a, had poor communication skills.


    Looking back, she didn''t have many friends she kept in touch with.


    "Mom, fighting!"


    I wanted to do something, but there was nothing I could do. This was something only my mom could handle as an adult.

 Chapter 23

    Eunha Entertainment, where Lee Ji-yeon belonged. Seoyeon did not want to leave Ji-yeon in this ticking time bomb of a place. Despite everything, Ji-yeon was the only one in kindergarten who hung out with her.


    "Wait, do I have no friends?"


    Suddenly, Seoyeon realized this fact. Although she had interacted with other children in kindergarten, none had really approached her.


    "Why?"


    Even Ji-yeon had other friends. Seoyeon was shocked, but it was no wonder.


    When she came to kindergarten, she rarely spoke and often stood around blankly. Which child would easily approach someone like that? From the children¡¯s perspective, Ji-yeon, who was always active, was much easier to interact with.


    "Anyway."


    Seoyeon shook her head vigorously. That wasn¡¯t the important thing.


    "I have to get Ji-yeon out of Eunha Entertainment."


    Since it''s an agency, terminating the contract wouldn''t be difficult. However, Ji-yeon and her mother, Hong Sun-hee, would not easily give up a connection they worked hard to obtain.


    "Telling the child wouldn¡¯t make them believe it anyway."


    Ultimately, this required an adult. If it was Su-a, who had recently been on set with Seoyeon, she might be able to persuade Hong Sun-hee.


    That was Seoyeon¡¯s plan.


    "Seoyeon..."


    Of course, from Su-a''s perspective, this was a huge burden. The woman in front of her, Hong Jin-hee, was someone Su-a remembered.


    "She was the one glaring at Seoyeon during her first audition."@@@@


    Hong Jin-hee was speaking kindly, but today was the first time Su-a had met her. This was the first time Seoyeon was visiting a friend¡¯s house. Since the child worked in the same industry, it made sense for Su-a to greet the mother. However...


    "Persuading her to change agencies is a different story."


    Su-a planned to do her best to help Seoyeon, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated this.


    Hong Jin-hee''s sharp eyes reminded Su-a of the tough seniors from high school. If she wasn¡¯t awkwardly smiling, she might have closed her eyes tightly.


    "A celebrity family?"


    Meanwhile, Hong Jin-hee was also in a state of cultural shock. Previously focused on Seoyeon, she hadn''t paid much attention to her mother.


    But now she could guess where Seoyeon got her looks from. Most notably, her chest. No, really, her chest.


    "It''s so big."


    Gulping, Hong Jin-hee swallowed her dry saliva. It was impressive. Who knew a Korean woman could have such a size?


    Moreover, Su-a¡¯s appearance was stunning. Was this really the appearance of a mother who had given birth?


    "So, how old did you say you were, Seoyeon¡¯s mother?"


    "Uh, I¡¯m twenty-nine..."


    So young! Well, she looked young even at first glance, but...


    "Did she have a shotgun wedding?"


    Hong Jin-hee''s thoughts raced. At twenty-nine, with a seven-year-old daughter... Seoyeon was her age, so she must have been pregnant at twenty-one or twenty-two...


    "Definitely a shotgun wedding."


    She became genuinely curious about what Seoyeon''s father looked like.


    "I went to the The Sun Hidden by the Moon event at GoEX yesterday.""What did they show?""I heard they released the teaser, why no news?""Predictable. If the drama was well-made, they would have plastered the teasers and ads everywhere.""It¡¯s going to air against MDC''s new drama. Probably going to get crushed.""The concept itself seems childish."


    There were many mocking comments online. Speculation was rampant that they were delaying the drama release because the actual drama was underwhelming compared to the making film.


    "The teaser was awesome. There will be a screening in two weeks, so we¡¯ll see reviews then."


    "Isn''t it just the first two episodes with kids? Total flop."


    "The girl was cute."


    "Pedo alert..."


    "Kang Seong-chan said we¡¯ll be surprised. The teaser looked great."


    "You believe that?""Your parents must have had an easy time raising you, so naive...""People still fall for teasers these days?"


    As discussions heated up between those who saw the teaser and those who hadn¡¯t, a new post appeared.


    "Teaser''s up. Go check it out."


    The drama teaser site had opened. A one-minute teaser video was available.


    The drama had filmed up to the fifth episode. The one-minute video contained snippets from the first five episodes.


    [A tragic princess driven out of the palace by her uncle¡¯s coup, Princess Yeonhwa.]


    The video opened with the main character, Princess Yeonhwa. Showing a lively child, her first meeting with Yoon Seo-il.


    And then...


    "Let go!"


    With a sharp cry, the tone shifted. The once lively girl transformed into Princess Yeonhwa.


    And then the grown-up Princess Yeonhwa appeared as she left the palace. The young Yoon Seo-il, played by Park Jung-woo, took over, progressing the story. Various supporting characters were shown, setting the tone of the drama.


    One minute. It wasn¡¯t long, but it was enough to change the online sentiment.


    "Surprisingly decent?""Seems good.""The kids act well."	"Park Jung-woo was always good. Beyond child actor level.""I thought it was someone else for a moment.""Different from the milk commercial... I want the cute Seoyeon back..."	"How do you know the child actor''s name??? Pedo!""It¡¯s in the teaser, idiot."


    One day after the teaser was released. The view count was 400,000.


    This was the second-highest view count for a KMB drama teaser in the past three years.


    "PD Ha, the director called!"


    "Yes, yes. Hand it over."


    Ha Tae-oh received the phone with a broad smile. The reaction to the drama teaser was better than expected. At 400,000 views on the first day, it was a number that aimed for 1 million, no, 1.5 million views.


    If it hit 1.5 million, it would be the highest-viewed teaser in KMB¡¯s history.


    "Yes, of course. The screening preparations are going smoothly. We¡¯ll ensure the actors attend the screening."


    Ha Tae-oh felt a pang of anxiety wondering if Seoyeon would come to the screening. Normally, actors would rush to attend at the producer''s request, but Seoyeon was a child actor.


    Child actors often quit the industry as they grew up, so a producer¡¯s influence was limited.


    "Her face looked anxious."


    After the teaser event, Seoyeon had a look of determination, as if she was thinking, ¡®I¡¯ll get stronger and come back...¡¯


    "But wasn¡¯t there any contact from Seoyeon? She¡¯s quite the talk of the town."


    "No? Ah, I think..."


    Thinking of how to win Seoyeon¡¯s favor, Ha Tae-oh remembered something. Today...


    "She¡¯s probably at a school play."


    "What? Today of all days?"


    "Yes."


    It was the day after the drama teaser became a hot topic. It was easy to guess the atmosphere at the school play.

 Chapter 24

    The official advertisement video on the drama teaser site. The reaction to the one-minute video was much more intense than Seoyeon had anticipated.


    Sua was so excited that she talked about it all night.


    "Our daughter looks so pretty in the video!" "Yes, she does." "Right? Tomorrow¡¯s school play is going to be a hit."


    Is that so? Seoyeon blinked as she looked at the drama ad video reflected on the computer screen. It was incredible that the video was released right before the school play, but she couldn¡¯t gauge how influential the teaser would be.


    "Don''t put too much pressure on her. Haven''t you seen the news? There¡¯s a reason child actors don¡¯t stay in the industry long."


    Joo Young-bin, his voice low, pointed out his wife¡¯s overzealous reaction. He was worried that the child might feel burdened.


    "I know, but... Seoyeon secretly enjoys this." "...Enjoys it?" "Yes. She really likes being praised."


    Sua whispered back. Although it wasn¡¯t clear before, their daughter had become more expressive since starting her acting career.


    Sitting at the computer desk with a blank face, moving the mouse while watching the video, seemed the same as before. However, if you looked closely, you could see she was keenly replaying only the parts she appeared in.


    "...Right?" "Hmm. But there are also mean comments..."


    As he spoke, Seoyeon started doing something strange by herself, like shooting a gun or sending hearts towards the monitor.


    "What is she doing?" "She does that when she sees good comments. She says it''s reaction practice." "What kind of reaction practice?" "I don''t know. She says you have to work hard when you''re a newbie..." "What¡¯s a newbie?"


    Joo Young-bin watched his daughter closely with half-closed eyes. Sure enough, as Sua said, despite her expression, her flushed cheeks and slightly trembling body showed she was in a good mood.


    "She definitely seems happy."


    There were likely negative comments as well, but she didn¡¯t seem to care at all.


    "No need to worry about the school play tomorrow."


    Young-bin nodded. Anyway, the time a child actor can work is limited.


    Especially for a child actor with a big hit.


    "Of course, if she wants to find work, she can still do it."


    Young-bin planned to support Seoyeon in doing what she wanted. That was a father¡¯s role. And Seoyeon seemed to have made up her mind about it.


    Arongdarong Kindergarten¡¯s school play. As the largest kindergarten in the area, their school play was grand in scale. They rented a hall instead of holding it in the kindergarten, and with more than 300 students, the number of parents attending was immense.


    "You know? That kid is in this class." "Oh, Princess Yeonhwa... What was her name?" "If you mean the child actor, it¡¯s probably Seoyeon, Joo Seoyeon. My daughter is in the same class."


    Leaving her embarrassed husband, the group of mothers talked about their children. It was natural for parents to want their children to be the best, so a noticeable child was a hot topic.


    "The kid acts very well. Maybe I should get an autograph." "It¡¯s just an ad, you know. I¡¯m not criticizing, but child actors are all similar." "Right. I heard today¡¯s class is doing a play..."


    I heard there were two child actors in the class. One of them was the child actor who appeared on TV, who KMB promoted. It was obvious this would draw attention at the play.


    In fact, some parents were eagerly waiting for Seoyeon to appear.


    "I heard the play is Snow White, and that kid is playing the mirror? They said she gave up the main role." "Really?"


    There was a mix of relief and disappointment. In any case, Seoyeon was already drawing a lot of attention at the school play.@@@@


    After all, that teaser was released just yesterday! The rumors that had been quietly spreading were now on the lips of every parent attending the play.


    "Seoyeon, you¡¯re strong. Is it because you''re an actor?"


    It probably had nothing to do with being an actor. But I couldn¡¯t think of a better explanation, so I just nodded.


    "Anyway, okay then. Sun Class, fighting!"


    With Teacher Min-a¡¯s cheer, the play began. Hiding behind the board, I didn¡¯t feel much pressure, but the gaze of the parents seated in the hall was intense as it focused on the stage.


    "This feels... different from drama shooting."


    It had its own charm. Maybe I should try children¡¯s musicals later?


    But to do a musical, I would need to learn to sing... and virtual YouTubers need singing skills, so it might be good to consider it for the future.


    "This is the class." "Oh, the one with that child actor?"


    The child actor was the most talked-about topic among the mothers today. The name most mentioned since the teaser of ¡®The Sun Hidden by the Moon¡¯ was released yesterday was Joo Seoyeon, who played Princess Yeonhwa.


    "I heard she¡¯s playing the mirror." "That¡¯s a shame. I wanted to see how well she acts."


    They were curious if she would act as well as she did in the teaser. At the same time, they understood that having a real ¡®actor¡¯ might be intimidating for the other kids, so many were understanding.


    The play of the Flower Class began amid this interest. The lights dimmed, and a small spotlight shone on the stage as the play started.


    "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"


    The background music was softly played, creating a surprisingly good atmosphere for a children''s play. Moreover, the child playing the queen seemed to have practiced a lot for this play.


    She had originally vied for the princess role with Ji-yeon but ended up as the queen. The queen''s performance was met with equally impressive acting from the mirror.


    "Of course, the fairest is the beautiful queen."


    The voice was oddly androgynous. The parents in the audience were momentarily taken aback.


    "Actors are different. Doesn¡¯t it sound different?" "This must be what they call articulation...? It feels different."


    Amidst the murmuring parents, Sua¡¯s eyes widened.


    "She wanted to attend a voice acting school. I guess she practiced for this."


    Unlike acting, Seoyeon had been practicing voice projection for a long time. If acting was purely a talent, her voice work was the result of long practice.


    Thanks to that, Seoyeon¡¯s voice in the drama was unusually clear for a child. Parents who were initially watching the play with amusement gradually became engrossed.


    The play proceeded smoothly. As the familiar story of Snow White unfolded, the mirror''s words changed.


    "The fairest of them all is the beautiful princess with skin as white as snow, Snow White."


    The clear voice was pleasing to the ears. Though it was a children''s play, the voice was captivating enough to make the audience engrossed.


    "My vacation... my vacation is in sight!"


    Teacher Min-a of the Sun Class trembled with delight. If it continued like this, the vacation was hers.


    The play seemed to be progressing smoothly. Until that moment.


    __________________________________________


    As the story continues, the play reveals not only the talents of Seoyeon but also the intricate dynamics between the characters and the expectations of the audience. Stay tuned for more as the plot unfolds!

 Chapter 25

    Children inherently strive to meet their parents'' expectations. This held true for events like school plays, especially for those children who had significant roles.


    Seoyeon''s role as the ''Magic Mirror'' was not lengthy. The queen would consult the mirror three times as Snow White grew older.


    "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"


    Initially, the mirror would respond, "The fairest of all is the beautiful queen." However, as Snow White grew up, the mirror¡¯s answer changed to Snow White. Hearing this answer for the third time, the queen would smash the mirror.


    Seoyeon''s debut as a virtual YouTuber was supposed to end there.


    "How dare you!!"


    As soon as the queen heard "The fairest of all is Snow White," she passionately threw a punch at the foil-covered mirror. This scene was a special request from Teacher Min-a, who wanted to add some flair to the traditional Snow White story.


    Regardless, the queen''s energetic punch was so powerful that it tore through the foil.


    "...."


    It was a simple paper board with a hole covered in foil. Even a seven-year-old''s punch could easily pierce the foil. If Seoyeon hadn¡¯t instinctively dodged, she would have been hit squarely.


    ¡®What to do?¡¯


    Seoyeon quickly decided. The mirror was supposed to break with a cry of agony and meet its end. Although it wasn''t clear if the original magic mirror shattered this way, in the Sun Class play, the mirror did. Accepting the queen''s passionate performance without reciprocating would be rude.


    So, Seoyeon matched the emotion and elevated her performance slightly.


    "Ahhh!!"


    With a dramatic scream, Seoyeon collapsed. The grand death scene brought the noisy hall to a sudden hush. Now, all eyes were on the queen and her.


    This would set the stage for the queen to deliver her lines, creating a sinister atmosphere. The voice of a child¡¯s scream could easily evoke fear. In the eerie background music, the queen''s lines would sound powerful.


    ... ...


    ¡®...Huh?¡¯


    But there was no follow-up from the queen. Peeking through her closed eyes, Seoyeon saw the queen frozen in her pose.


    "Seoyeon?"


    Teacher Min-a, creeping up from the side of the stage, asked in a whisper.


    "Are you alive?" "Yes." "This wasn''t how we practiced, was it?"@@@@


    Seoyeon struggled for an excuse. Blaming the queen''s passionate performance felt unfair.


    "I''m a natural on stage...." "That¡¯s true, but...."


    Min-a was evidently startled by how realistic Seoyeon''s death seemed and came up to check. Seoyeon realized she had overdone it.


    The first major blunder in Seoyeon''s acting career.


    "You scared me." "It looked so real, I thought something had happened."


    Thankfully, the audience''s reaction was positive. The background music and the absence of lines made it seem like the queen''s silence was part of her performance.


    "Phew!"


    Realizing this, Teacher Min-a dragged Seoyeon and the paper board off the stage.


    The queen, after a brief moment of shock, continued with her performance.


    "You scared me."


    The play proceeded without further issues. The queen exiled Snow White, and the dwarves played their parts well.


    "For such an innocent and beautiful princess to suffer such misfortune."


    Hearing the dwarves¡¯ explanation, the prince¡¯s face contorted in sorrow. With long black hair tied back, wearing black pants and a plain top, the prince¡¯s attire didn¡¯t suit royalty.


    Only the crown on his head indicated he was a prince. Yet, his every movement displayed nobility. Despite the prince being a girl, her walk and demeanor were convincingly masculine.


    The prince then lifted Snow White in his arms.


    "What are you doing, Seoyeon?"


    Ji-yeon whispered. Glancing sideways, she saw Seoyeon in the prince¡¯s guise with neatly combed black hair.


    "It¡¯s hard to get the right pose if I just bow my head."


    Min-a''s play included a grand kiss scene. Of course, it wasn''t a real kiss, just a gesture. The small size of the glass coffin made it difficult to get a good posture.


    "You really...." "What?"


    Seoyeon, smiling like a true prince, replied. Of course, she was the prince now.


    "You wanted a proper performance, didn¡¯t you?"


    Before Ji-yeon could protest, the prince turned with Snow White in his arms.


    "Especially."


    Positioned so their heads were hidden from view, the prince¡¯s head tilted.


    "We must finish grandly."


    Though they didn¡¯t actually kiss, it might have looked that way to the audience. That was the intention.


    Amid the audience''s exclamations, Seoyeon looked into Ji-yeon¡¯s wide eyes.


    "It¡¯s your first acting debut, isn¡¯t it?"


    Well, this was quite a grand finale.


    Ji-yeon''s first grand debut ended successfully. All the children were satisfied. Teacher Min-a shed tears of joy, having secured her vacation.


    Except for the prince, who had an accident due to nerves. This led to Seoyeon being urgently cast in his place. All her lines were improvised.


    ¡®But I did reappear as a tree.¡¯


    Snow White was revived by the prince¡¯s kiss. After a final showdown with the queen, the play ended happily.


    Despite being swamped by people afterward, it was a good memory.


    "But, mom." "Yes?"


    Sitting in the back seat of the car, Seoyeon sighed deeply.


    "Do I really have to participate?"


    "You''re the main focus of the premiere with Jung-woo, aren¡¯t you?"


    The upcoming premiere. Having found the previous event burdensome, Seoyeon had hoped to avoid it. But, as in life, you can¡¯t always do what you want.


    ¡®If I want to continue acting, it¡¯s best not to upset the PD.¡¯


    The drama director had taken note. It wouldn¡¯t look good to back out now. Plus,


    ¡®Mom is looking forward to it.¡¯


    Seeing her mother¡¯s smiling face, Seoyeon thought maybe it wouldn¡¯t be so bad. This would be the last event for a while.

 Chapter 26

    ''Who would have thought I''d win a ticket to the premiere.''


    Han Seon-ah, a student at S University majoring in Broadcasting, held the ticket to the premiere at the entrance of the Vega Box with a trembling heart. It was her first time applying for a premiere, and her first time winning.


    As she held the ticket, reality slowly began to sink in.


    ''Are there always this many people at premieres?''


    She had never attended a drama premiere before, so she had no idea. She saw people who seemed to be journalists, but most of them were regular audience members.


    ''The teaser was really good...''


    With her heart pounding, Han Seon-ah entered the theater where the premiere was being held. She heard that the competition for tickets was fierce.


    This meant it was a highly anticipated drama and that the teaser had made a significant impact.


    "But didn¡¯t they say the first and second episodes only feature child actors?" "Really? Does that mean Kang Sung-chan won''t be in it?"


    In the front row, she overheard people who had been lucky enough to win tickets discussing. It seemed they were fans of Kang Sung-chan.


    ''You have no idea!''


    She wanted to shout, but being shy, she kept quiet. To her, Seoyeon''s performance in the teaser was the best. She muttered to herself silently.


    "Hello, everyone!"


    While waiting for the premiere to start, an energetic male voice came through the speakers. A man in a suit holding a microphone appeared on stage in front of the screen.


    "Wow, we have a lot of people here for today''s premiere! It seems like many of you are excited about ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon,'' and we''re thrilled."


    The host briefly explained how the premiere would proceed. The director and actors would come on stage to greet the audience, there would be a brief gift presentation and a photo opportunity with the actors, and finally, the screening of the drama.


    "So, let''s welcome the stars of our drama!"


    With the host''s words, the audience cheered enthusiastically. The door opened, and the director Gong Jung-tae and the actors appeared.


    There were seven in total, including two more who had joined since the teaser event.


    "Wow, he''s so handsome." "They really picked the perfect actors. The female lead, Haye-seo, is perfect." "The kids are cute too."


    There were murmurs as the actors were evaluated, and cameras flashed as people took photos.


    Most of the attention was on the leads, Kang Sung-chan and Haye-seo. Few people were taking pictures of the supporting actors or child actors, Park Jung-woo and Joo Seoyeon.


    "I heard this is the first time for some of these actors..." "The teaser looked good, though." "Do you think they would show the bad parts in the teaser? They always show the best scenes."


    The journalists'' conversations could be heard. Meanwhile, Director Gong Jung-tae expressed his ambitions for ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon,'' and then Kang Sung-chan took the microphone.


    "As I mentioned before, this drama was a learning experience. Especially the young actors; their performances were so impressive that I worked extra hard not to be outdone."


    When Kang Sung-chan made this statement with a smile, the audience laughed, thinking he was joking.


    After Kang Sung-chan, Haye-seo, and the supporting actors spoke. As their turn approached, Park Jung-woo looked at Seoyeon curiously.


    Speaking in front of so many people was a daunting task.


    However, Seoyeon remained calm and composed as always.


    "You don''t seem nervous at all. Is this really your first time?" "Yes."


    Seoyeon answered indifferently while looking at the audience.


    Had she not experienced the kindergarten play, she might have been nervous.


    But by numbers and scale, the kindergarten play had far more people. Could Park Jung-woo understand the intense gaze of parents when their child''s part was being overshadowed?


    "Did you go to kindergarten?"


    Startled by Seoyeon''s sudden question, Park Jung-woo was taken aback.


    He had been busy with child acting since he was young and had never attended kindergarten.


    The general audience noticed this, and the journalists were even more surprised.


    ''I see why Kang Sung-chan told us to take many photos of her at the teaser event.'' ''Her acting is so natural. Even her voice is clear.''


    Children''s acting often feels awkward due to their indistinct speech. Emotions conveyed poorly sound awkward.


    Yet, Seoyeon, at seven years old, showed none of this.


    ''She''s so cute!''


    Han Seon-ah was moved, wiping tears with a handkerchief.


    The first episode depicted the meeting of Young Yeon-hwa and Young Yoon Seo-il. Many expected a similar tone for the second episode.


    However, the tone began to shift in the second episode. With the appearance of Jo Young-dae Gun, tension built.


    Eventually, Jo Young-dae Gun staged a coup. Yeon-hwa Princess ran to the queen dowager''s chamber.


    "I have abandoned it all. Duty, royal grace."


    Jo Young-dae Gun''s madness silenced everyone. Yeon-hwa Princess lowered her head.


    "What will you do? Will you leave on your own? Or shall I escort you?"


    Tension filled the air. Jo Young-dae Gun''s face zoomed in, showing his wild eyes.


    Then, the camera focused on Yeon-hwa Princess. Her surroundings darkened, contrasting her inner turmoil.


    Yeon-hwa Princess lifted her head.


    "...!!"


    The audience gasped. Her eyes, reflecting the lantern''s light, shone naturally.


    Burning red in the darkness, they expressed her anger.


    As Yeon-hwa stood alone, Jo Young-dae Gun laughed. With a thud, the door closed, ending the second episode.


    "Wow...."


    Someone checked the time. Each episode was an hour long. Two episodes meant two hours, like a movie.


    Yet, it felt like time had flown.


    ''Jo Young-dae Gun''s acting was amazing, but...''


    It was a pity Jo Young-dae Gun, played by Yoon Jong-hyuk, wasn''t present. Probably to avoid spoilers.


    "Are all child actors like this?" "Look at my arms. Goosebumps." "I should have taken a picture!"


    The audience buzzed. Journalists looked solemn.


    "We have no photos for the article." "Shall we catch them later?" "We can''t with child actors. It''s not allowed."


    A moment of mixed emotions. Some glanced at Han Seon-ah, who had taken a photo with Seoyeon. As if asking how she knew.


    ''...Amazing.''


    Han Seon-ah trembled, overwhelmed by the drama''s impact.


    With the premiere over.


    The ''Sun Hidden by the Moon'' premiere was amazing.Use your head for viral marketing.I''m serious, it was good.I heard from someone who went. It''s really good.How can it be good with just kids?


    Online reviews of the premiere spread. Many praised the child actors'' performances. Especially the final scene of the second episode.


    ''How good can it be?'' ''Are they exaggerating?''


    Doubt lingered.


    A month later.


    The first episode of ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'' aired amid great interest. Even Seoyeon was surprised by the ratings.


    The first episode''s rating was 25%. 8% higher than the original series.

 Chapter 27

    In her past life, "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" was an undeniable hit. With a solid storyline based on a novel, it featured talented actors and was directed by a young and capable director, making it a standout historical drama. When I took over the role originally played by Jo Seo-hee, the pressure was immense.


    ''I hope it at least matches the previous success!''


    I prayed fervently because I couldn''t afford to ruin a drama that had achieved a peak viewership rating of over 40%. My dedication to this project stemmed from this very fear.


    ''Just match Jo Seo-hee''s performance.''


    Initially, that was my goal. However, even Jo Seo-hee''s screen time was significantly reduced in the previous life, with the childhood parts being cut down to two episodes. There was no guarantee that the same wouldn''t happen to me.


    So, I gave it my all¡ªevery bit of effort within my limits.


    "Seoyeon!"


    The first episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" finally aired. Although I had seen it at the premiere, watching it on TV felt different. Would it succeed? What if the public''s reaction differed from the premiere''s?


    Just as I was caught in these worries, my mom beamed and exclaimed.


    "Director Gong Jung-tae called! The ratings exceeded 25%!!"


    25%? Really? I was taken aback, and my mom wrapped her arms around my head.


    ''I can''t breathe...''


    Luckily, she didn''t hold me for too long.


    "Sweetie, she''s going to suffocate."


    My dad, observing the scene, gently pulled my mom away. He was practically my lifesaver at that moment.


    "But~~!"


    Mom grabbed my shoulders and shook me, more excited than I was. Seeing my mom this thrilled was rare.


    "What should we do? I heard it''s the highest rating for any first episode aired this year! Is our Seoyeon already a big star?"


    "S-S-S-Surely not."


    My words stumbled as she shook me. Please, stop.


    Dad seemed to give up on calming her down, merely shrugging his shoulders. He should have persisted a bit more.


    ''But 25%...''


    I vividly remembered the ratings of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" from the previous life, as they had been reported in the news. Recalling it was as easy as pulling up a clear memory, so finding the ratings was simple.


    The original first episode, starring Jo Seo-hee, had a 17% rating. My version''s rating was 8% higher at 25%.


    Realizing this, my heart raced with the feeling of ''I did it.''


    For the first time, I felt the thrill of achieving something through my own efforts.


    "Hmm?"


    Mom noticed my expression and smiled.


    "Our daughter seems happy, smiling like that."


    Smiling? I pressed my chubby cheeks with my small hands.


    I was smiling.


    ''Well, this is normal.''


    Being able to smile naturally is standard.


    I closed my eyes, feeling light and airy.


    ''I feel good.''


    It was the first time I had achieved something through my own efforts. It was a joy I had never felt in my previous life.


    ''I''m glad I became an actor.''


    With that thought, I nestled into my mom''s embrace.


    The drama''s impact was incomparable to that of commercials. Even after just one episode, I could sense the increased recognition.


    Most importantly, articles about the drama began to surface prominently.


    <KMB''s Ambitious New Drama ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'' Surpasses 25% on First Airing!> <MDC''s ''Action King'' vs. KMB''s ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'': The First Battle Goes to ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon''> <Who is the Child Actress Creating a Buzz as ''Yeonhwa Princess''?> <''Action King'' in Trouble Right from the Start: ''We Will Show Our True Colors in the Next Episode''>


    Numerous articles flooded in, and some of them were about me.


    There were pieces praising my stable performance in the first episode and others speculating about my transition from commercials to drama.


    In real-time, this overlap would impact the ratings.


    "We won the first round, but ''Action King'' is not to be underestimated today."


    The KMB drama department was tense.


    "Action King" had a 16% rating for the first episode.


    Though lower than "The Sun Hidden by the Moon," it was still significant.


    "We''re confident in the second episode, right?" "Absolutely." "It''s good we''re going head-to-head. Their luck ran out."


    Despite the bravado, there was tension. Confidence couldn''t eliminate the possibility of failure.


    "''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'' Episode 2 is starting."


    As Hae Tae-oh spoke, someone swallowed nervously.


    The second episode began.


    "Our current rating is around 15%."


    "Action King" was likely similar or slightly higher.


    ''The early part of Episode 2 isn''t much different from Episode 1.''


    It focused on the interactions between young Yeonhwa and young Yoon Seo-il.


    In this light-hearted atmosphere, Jo Yeong-dae Goon''s actions shifted the tone dramatically.


    "She... she''s undressing!" "What?" "A bold nude scene in the second episode. Wow."


    "Action King" featured a daring nude scene, shocking the audience with its execution and performance.


    ''They have reason to be confident.''


    Hae Tae-oh clenched his teeth. The ratings must be fluctuating.


    ''I trust actor Yoon Jong-hyuk and Seoyeon.''


    While "Action King" showcased its bold scenes, "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" turned the tide with Jo Yeong-dae Goon''s actions.


    His commanding steps and the tension-filled coup meeting Yeonhwa Princess captivated the audience.


    The praised scenes from the teaser and premiere played out, with Seoyeon lifting her head and glaring at Jo Yeong-dae Goon.


    Despite multiple viewings during filming and editing, the scenes remained gripping.


    As the drama concluded,


    "Producer!"


    An employee called out, having checked the ratings.


    Did we win? Or lose?


    "23%."


    "What?"


    23% was lower than the first episode. Hae Tae-oh was confused.


    The employee smiled.


    "For ''Action King.''"


    Is this a joke? Hae Tae-oh''s eyes narrowed. Though not usually authoritative, this was too much.


    Just as he resolved to address this,


    "29%." "Huh?" "The second episode''s rating is 29%, with a peak of 34%."


    Rising anger vanished like sand.


    Overall rating: 29%, peak: 34%.


    The peak happened during the climactic scenes between Jo Yeong-dae Goon and Yeonhwa Princess.


    ''A peak of 34%?''


    This was a rare feat for a second episode.


    The phone buzzed.


    KMB Drama Director Hwang Jeong-su was urgently calling Hae Tae-oh.

 Chapter 28

    The Buzz After Episode 2:


    The day after the airing of the second episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon," the buzz was intense. Both dramas, KMB''s "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" and MDC''s "Action King," were products of each network''s highest efforts and aired simultaneously, adding to the competitive excitement.


    "The kid actors are insane these days.""Our Jung-woo is amazing! I''m in tears!"	"Shut up already.""Jung-woo is talented, but what''s up with Yeonhwa Princess?""All those lucky kids who got into auditions are gone, haha.""Honestly, it was impressive.""Not just kid acting; it''s like they''ve lived twice."


    Despite the striking action scenes and the bold nudity of the main actress in "Action King," which were spectacular for a second episode, the climax of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" in Episode 2, particularly the confrontation between Jo Yeong-dae Goon and Yeonhwa Princess, left a lasting impression.


    "Honestly, Yoon Jong-hyuk carried the show."	"Agreed.""His villain performance was on another level.""The confrontation scene between him and Yeonhwa Princess was amazing.""The direction was incredible.""My cousin works on the set and said Yeonhwa Princess'' red eyes weren''t CGI."	"That''s nonsense.""So, did they put light bulbs in her eyes?""Hmm..."


    Yoon Jong-hyuk, a seasoned actor known for his excellent villain roles, delivered an impressive performance. However, it was the intensity of the young actress playing Yeonhwa Princess that truly stunned the audience, overpowering even Yoon Jong-hyuk''s presence.


    Recalling an interview Yoon Jong-hyuk had given to an online outlet, viewers remembered his praise for the young actors.


    "Ah, the young actors I worked with this time?"


    He laughed heartily at the reporter''s question.


    "Jung-woo is a given. He''s the son of actor Park Sun-woong, after all. You realize that some people are born with a silver spoon in acting. When I think back to my own childhood... oh boy..."


    While Park Jung-woo, playing young Yoon Seo-il, was already a proven talent, the real curiosity was about Joo Seoyeon, playing Yeonhwa Princess.


    "Seoyeon? Oh, has the word already spread? Episode 2 hasn''t even aired yet, right?"


    Nodding in agreement, the reporter watched as Yoon Jong-hyuk''s smile faded into a serious tone.


    "Honestly, I don''t like evaluating people based on the word ''talent''."


    He gazed distantly as he spoke.


    "But honestly, that''s talent. Her acting still feels fresh, like she''s just started. But, you see, there''s a light."


    A light. He meant the kind of spark often referred to when talking about a star''s potential.@@@@


    "People call entertainers ''stars''. A superstar. When they say that, I felt something for the first time with her. Ah, so this is what real talent is."


    Yoon Jong-hyuk thought to himself. Seoyeon''s strong emotional acting, often described as method acting, was undoubtedly her greatest weapon. Even veteran actress Jung Eun-sun had tried to hold her back.


    "But more than that, she has this radiance. Just a feeling. For the first time, I thought, ''This kid would have found her way here no matter what.''"


    He continued.


    "If an entertainer is a star, then she''s a little star. I think everyone will see it in this drama. A small, young, but shining little star."


    A genius child actor. While Yoon Jong-hyuk didn''t use those exact words, everyone present understood it that way. A young star. It was a term signifying star quality.


    Meanwhile...


    "I am Hwang Jung-su, the Director of the KMB Drama Department."


    Accompanied by her parents, Seoyeon was meeting about her future.


    Meeting with the Director:


    Anyone in the broadcasting industry likely experiences an instinct for recognizing talent. Drama Director Hwang Jung-su felt this when he reviewed the footage and even more so upon watching the actual broadcast of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon."


    The explosive start of the drama, especially during a dry spell for KMB, was a godsend. They celebrated just days ago.


    "I had to meet this young star," Hwang said.


    "There''s a lot of excitement at the station. Everyone wants to meet Seoyeon."


    Some remained skeptical, thinking her success might be fleeting. But if it was, they needed to capitalize on it immediately. Various producers were eager to contact Seoyeon.


    Of course, Hwang, having a good connection with PD Ha Tae-oh, only needed a call.


    "Some even suggested adding two more episodes of the child actors."


    Seoyeon''s parents, Jo Young-bin and Min Su-ah, tensed up. They knew Seoyeon wouldn''t have the stamina for extended filming. Seoyeon, meanwhile, sipped her drink calmly.


    "Ha Tae-oh PD here strongly opposed it."


    How long would it take for her to return? It might not be long, but it wouldn''t be short either. Hwang felt a bit regretful.


    "By then, you might be in my position."


    "Surely not."


    "Who else but you?"


    With the success of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon," Ha Tae-oh''s stock had risen again. Hwang sincerely believed Ha Tae-oh had a high chance of succeeding him.


    "Anyway."


    Hwang smiled.


    "When this news gets out, it''ll be quite the uproar."


    And with that, the third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" was just a day away.


    Episode 3:


    "Joo Seoyeon."


    Park Jung-woo called out to Seoyeon, who sat alone.


    "It''s starting soon. Are you going to stay here?"


    Seoyeon looked a bit troubled.


    ''How did this happen?''


    Today was the airing of the third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon." Seoyeon planned to watch it with her parents after kindergarten.


    Episode 3 showcased her best performance yet.


    But that morning, Yoon Jong-hyuk had called.


    "Ha Tae-oh PD told me. It''s a shame, but how about we gather with Seoyeon?"


    Su-ah, flustered, had reflexively agreed, leading to this unexpected meeting at actor Park Sun-woong''s penthouse.


    It was a kind gesture from Yoon Jong-hyuk, but for Su-ah, it was nerve-wracking.


    "Seoyeon''s mother, you''re so beautiful. You should be an actress." "Yes, um, thank you."


    Frozen in place, Su-ah listened to Park Jung-woo''s mother, Shin Jung-hwa, who was gushing over her. Celebrities were intimidating for Su-ah.


    She silently cursed her husband for not being there.


    ''Poor mom.''


    Seoyeon nodded.


    "...I''ll go."


    "You... never mind."


    Seoyeon replied to Jung-woo, sipping her drink. Jung-woo seemed to have more to say but nodded and left. Watching him go, Seoyeon sighed softly.


    ''I haven''t resolved the title issue.''


    Park Jung-woo was the hardest to deal with. At ten, he was three years older than Seoyeon, making it difficult to address him.


    Like calling him "oppa."


    ''Ugh.''


    It was a daunting term for Seoyeon.

 Chapter 29

    The Great Actor Park Seon-woong


    Three films with over ten million viewers. The lead role in a daily drama that dominated an era.


    Two dramas with ratings hitting 40%, a box-office magician. An actor known for never failing, with people saying he was a sure bet.


    Not just acting skills. His eye for choosing projects. Especially his talent for recognizing people.


    He personally recommended actors to directors for roles in dramas or films.


    ¡®That child is Joo Seoyeon.¡¯


    To Park Seon-woong, Joo Seoyeon was a peculiar child. At seven years old, an age where she should still be in kindergarten, she was strangely quiet.


    Child actors often tend to be more mature than their peers. They have to recite lines and act. They experience adult society faster than others.


    His son, Park Jung-woo, was the same. More mature and talented than his peers.


    ¡®That''s why I was worried.¡¯


    Was it because he was approaching puberty? His son seemed to have developed a consciousness that he was different from kids his age. An attitude often described as arrogant.


    He didn''t talk much, so it wasn''t noticeable. But his recent behavior during the making of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" revealed it.


    He often said something, but Park Seon-woong was too busy to address it frequently. His wife loved their son too much to say anything critical.


    ¡®But.¡¯


    He hadn''t expected a child who would break his son''s arrogance to appear. That''s why, despite his busy schedule, he accepted the invitation from Yoon Jong-hyuk today.@@@@


    ¡°Jung-woo seems quite upset.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Seon-woong nodded at Yoon Jong-hyuk''s words. Even now, Jung-woo was hovering around Seoyeon, paying attention to her.


    And Seoyeon? She seemed quite uncomfortable, though it didn''t show much in her expression.


    ¡°From Jung-woo¡¯s perspective, it must feel like he''s losing and running away.¡±


    In the first two episodes, Seoyeon hadn''t directly competed with Jung-woo in terms of acting skills. Except for the scene in the audition where she played two roles.


    That one scene was inserted into the third episode. The scene where the young Lee Hae-wol says goodbye to Yoon Seo-il and leaves.


    ¡°Right. Well, let''s go. It''s about time.¡±


    Yoon Jong-hyuk said, heading towards where Soo-ah and Seoyeon were. He was quite looking forward to the third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon."


    ¡°Starting now.¡±


    KMB Drama Department. Everyone tensed at PD Ha Tae-oh''s words. The third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon."


    The episode he had the most confidence in. It absolutely couldn''t fail.


    It hinted at the growth of the young Lee Hae-wol. If it didn''t get a good reaction here, the ratings for the fourth episode might drop significantly.


    ¡®That''s why the child actor part is short.¡¯


    This is true for all media. When the environment suddenly changes or the protagonist is replaced, or when the age is suddenly raised, there are bound to be viewers who drop out.


    To retain viewers, they had to give them proper expectations for the fourth episode in this third episode. If they failed, it would surely negatively impact the fourth episode''s ratings.


    ¡°You all know, right? It can''t be just okay or pretty good here.¡±


    This section needed to be a definite hit. Fortunately, MDC''s rival show "Action King" was losing steam today.


    So, "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" had to achieve a certain level of ratings.


    ¡°Fortunately, the current response isn''t bad.¡±


    The real-time ratings were stable. In fact, they were quite good.


    That meant the impact of the second episode had strongly resonated with the viewers. Some staff were also monitoring the community responses, not just the ratings.


    Episode 3 starting nowI think Episode 2 was the peakIs this the last episode with the child actors??The atmosphere has been quite good since the last episode.Jo Yeong-dae saved the day.Ugh, frustratingWhat is Yoon Seo-il doing?What can a kid even do hereWow, the princess''s bodyguard is so cool. Can''t he be the male lead?How big is the age gap between him and the princess...That''s what makes it delicious...Agreed, agreedFinally going?Ugh, I almost died of frustrationBut the acting is really goodThere are more Yoon Seo-il scenes this episodeShow the princessWhere is the princess?


    And among those viewers was Han Seon-ah, who was holding her breath and watching. She was already emotional, typing frantically on her phone.


    Princess Yeonhwa ????? so pitiful ????


    Reflecting Han Seon-ah''s feelings, similar reactions poured in on social media. And.


    ¡°Yeong-bin, Seoyeon is finally on.¡±


    Joo Yeong-bin watched his daughter''s performance with his friends. Unlike Soo-ah and Seoyeon, who had already seen the scenes, Yeong-bin was seeing them for the first time. But he had seen that back before.


    When they discussed future plans not long ago.


    ¡°Are you sure? You''re not doing this just because of Mom, right?¡±


    As "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" became a hot topic, Seoyeon decided quickly.


    She had received many offers for CFs. There were also drama offers through PD Gong Jung-tae and PD Ha Tae-oh. Even variety shows.


    If Seoyeon made up her mind, she could ride this wave to greater heights.


    ¡°No. This is my decision.¡±


    Seoyeon thought. She pondered.


    There was a desire to do more. If there were any shortcomings, she could learn gradually.


    Such thoughts crossed her mind.


    ¡°This is the right thing.¡±


    Seoyeon looked at her hands. The wounds from the last filming had fortunately healed without a scar. But those wounds made Seoyeon cautious.


    For her, emotions were unfamiliar and frightening unknowns. Her greatest strength was emotional acting.


    Especially method acting. But ultimately, method acting was just one type of acting.


    It shouldn''t be everything. Seoyeon still lacked.


    Technically, emotionally.


    Surely, she would grow both in body and mind. These emotions might also grow.


    Frankly, Seoyeon wasn''t confident she could fully control those emotions. Perhaps it was due to the gap left by her past life''s memories and body.


    She needed time to fully accept those traces.


    ¡°It''s okay.¡±


    Seoyeon smiled at Yeong-bin and Soo-ah.


    ¡°Really.¡±


    She had so much she wanted to learn. She wanted to learn acting. She wanted to attend a voice acting academy and learn pronunciation.


    If possible, she wanted to sing. All the things she couldn''t do in her past life due to lack of emotions.


    An actress. And a VTuber.


    ¡°I''ll come back anyway.¡±


    It was her dream, full of ambition. So Seoyeon looked ahead.


    Among the actors, in Soo-ah''s arms. She watched herself on the giant TV screen, so different from her own home.


    Princess Yeonhwa turned away. Breaking the aquarium, she plunged into the sea of emotions. Seeing her own self drenched in emotion, Joo Seoyeon.


    ¡¸...You came.¡¹


    With the tearful voice of Seoyeon, and Lee Hae-wol.


    ¡¸Seo-il.¡¹


    Princess Yeonhwa slowly turned her body. With a sad smile.

 Chapter 30

    What was Princess Yeonhwa thinking as she stood with the sun at her back? Seoyeon had to ponder this for days.


    An actor must be able to understand their character. Method acting, where one immerses themselves in the role, ultimately comes from this understanding.


    "Usually, in such cases, it''s easiest to think from the character''s perspective, right?"


    When Seoyeon asked Yoon Jong-hyuk, who was resting while dressed as Jo Yeong-dae, he answered this way.


    "Well, it''s a bit obvious, but that''s the simplest method. Or you can project your own experiences, but... that might be hard for young Seoyeon."


    There are no definitive answers in acting. Yoon Jong-hyuk said this while patting Seoyeon''s head.


    It seemed he found it admirable that a young child actor was trying to interpret the role in her own way.


    "Putting too much of your own thoughts into the role isn''t good."


    When she slyly asked Jeong Eun-seon, she answered this way.


    "The script includes everything. The character''s explanation and background are detailed. Trying to go beyond that is usually just ambition. Also, ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'' is based on an original work."


    In works based on original material, fans of the source are bound to be more critical of the character interpretations. If the actor''s or director''s subjective views are too prominent, the character becomes something entirely different. That¡¯s definitely not what the fans want.


    However, the drama¡¯s audience likely includes more people who haven''t read the original work. The original might be the correct answer, but you can''t be absolutely sure it''s infallible.


    The reactions of novel readers and TV viewers can differ. ''Of course, there are plenty of dramas that got criticized for overly altering the original.''


    Seoyeon nodded at this thought. Despite being an actress known for method acting, Jeong Eun-seon said so.


    Perhaps she meant that Seoyeon, being a child actor, would be overreaching by going beyond.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯


    After all, Seoyeon had never properly learned acting. So, she had no choice but to ask herself and confront these questions.


    As Yoon Jong-hyuk had said, she tried thinking from the character''s perspective. She tried to recall similar experiences from Princess Yeonhwa¡¯s point of view.


    But, amusingly enough, she found none. Even when reflecting on her past life, her lack of understanding of emotions was unhelpful.


    Joo Seoyeon was too young to have any experiences worth mentioning. So, Seoyeon read the original novel.


    She wanted to understand Princess Yeonhwa¡¯s feelings. She read the script multiple times.


    She expressed emotions in various forms. Practice. And more practice.


    She had no choice but to figure out what was right through acting. It was extremely difficult. For young Seoyeon. For a child who didn¡¯t know emotions, it might have been a harsh task.


    However.


    ¡¸Seo-il.¡¹


    Princess Yeonhwa, standing with the sun at her back, was the moon.


    ¡¸I believed you would come here.¡¹


    Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hae-wol, said with a serene smile, unlike her previous anger towards Jo Yeong-dae. For the young Yoon Seo-il, it was an incredibly difficult emotion. Perhaps Lee Hae-wol herself didn¡¯t understand it.


    Anger. Resentment. These feelings were directed not only at Jo Yeong-dae but also at herself.


    ¡¸Why.¡¹


    Towards such a Lee Hae-wol, Yoon Seo-il spoke.


    ¡¸Why must Your Highness leave? Isn¡¯t this wrong?¡¹


    Yoon Seo-il said, his lips trembling. There was so much he wanted to say.


    ¡¸Why!¡¹


    But the young Yoon Seo-il couldn¡¯t articulate those emotions and thoughts. He was still a child. The son of the grand academician of Sungkyunkwan.


    Seo-il¡¯s thoughts and emotions could not become words.


    ¡¸Please, don¡¯t leave, Your Highness. You mustn¡¯t go. Don¡¯t leave me behind.¡¹


    In the end, what came out of Seo-il¡¯s mouth was the typical plea of a child. He knew it was impossible. Yet, young Yoon Seo-il said so.


    Not to leave. Simply that.


    "Seoyeon, are you really okay with this?"


    Soo-ah¡¯s words overlapped with this scene. She had asked if Seoyeon was really okay multiple times, her face filled with concern, and Yeong-bin¡¯s worried expression came to mind.


    Yoon Jong-hyuk had said that if you wanted to understand a character¡¯s feelings, looking at past experiences could help.


    Fortunately. Seoyeon found herself in a similar situation to Princess Yeonhwa.


    ¡°Actors can learn even while doing child acting. Now, you have this opportunity, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Young Yoon Seo-il. And young Park Jung-woo snapped back to reality.


    ¡®It¡¯s completely different from the audition...¡¯


    It was the first time. Watching another child actor¡¯s performance in a daze. Forgetting his lines and staring blankly at the other¡¯s face.


    Thus, the only thing Park Jung-woo. Young Yoon Seo-il could say was this.


    ¡¸Yes, definitely.¡¹


    With just those words, he hooked his pinky with Princess Yeonhwa¡¯s. A purely childlike promise.


    And. The screen zoomed out, showing both of them. The palace visible below the hill. The somber face of Queen Mother Eun-hye.


    Finally, the scene of Jo Yeong-dae sitting on the throne. And with that.


    The third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" ended.


    "Ha PD..."


    KMB Drama Department. After the third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" ended, a quiet silence settled in. No one dared to ask about the results.


    They were too scared to look at the comments flooding the community.


    ¡°...It¡¯s a hit.¡±


    Finally, everyone¡¯s gaze moved. The staff member trying to suppress a smile.


    The freshly tabulated ratings were in front of him. It was only the third episode. They hoped it would be a hit.


    ¡°Oh my God.¡±


    Ha Tae-oh rubbed his eyes. The rating displayed was something unimaginable for a third episode.


    ¡°Oh...¡±


    Yoon Jong-hyuk, who had already watched the video once, was amazed again. He recalled how Seoyeon had been downcast after filming this.


    It was a performance deeply immersed in emotions. The only acting Seoyeon could currently do. A scene where she displayed her limits.


    Watching it, Soo-ah sobbed and wiped her tears.


    ¡°Our daughter, you worked hard.¡±


    Thinking it might be her last performance as a child actor, Soo-ah couldn¡¯t help but cry.


    Seoyeon smiled brightly at Soo-ah.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    It really was okay. She already knew what she wanted to do next.


    ¡®I need to attend a voice acting academy and find an acting school.¡¯


    Of course, Seoyeon didn¡¯t know. While a voice acting academy was one thing, how an acting school would perceive her.


    There were some regrets, but there were also many exciting aspects.


    ¡°Senior.¡±


    Watching Seoyeon from a distance, Yoon Jong-hyuk spoke.


    ¡°Senior, which side are you on? Do you think it¡¯s a waste? Or do you think it¡¯s the right decision?¡± ¡°Well.¡±


    Park Seon-woong mumbled after looking back and forth between Seoyeon and her mother, Soo-ah. Popularity is like a spark.


    It can extinguish at any moment unless you constantly tend to it. That¡¯s why most people run with all their might when the flame ignites. Until the embers burn out, leaving only charred remains.


    ¡°To be honest, it would be a lie to say it¡¯s not a waste.¡±


    It was an opportunity everyone dreamed of holding. How many people could let it go so easily?


    Of course, both knew Seoyeon had her reasons. That straightforward child wouldn¡¯t have made such a decision without reason.


    She must have had no choice. But humans can¡¯t easily let go of what they¡¯ve gained.


    So Park Seon-woong said.


    ¡°But sometimes, there are those whom time itself cannot tarnish.¡±


    A light that doesn¡¯t extinguish. One that always shines from its place.


    ¡°I think that child is one of those.¡±


    And the world calls such people this.


    A star.

 Chapter 31

    Amazing Ratings for "The Sun Hidden by the Moon"


    "A Tear-Jerker: ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon.'' KMB Sharpens Its Blade.""With ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'' Thriving, ''Action King'' Faces a Dire Crisis with 13% Ratings.""The Golden Age of Child Actors: Are ''No Fun'' Child Parts a Thing of the Past?""Who is Joo Seoyeon, the Child Actor Who Made Moms Cry? Unexpected Hit with Do-You Milk CF!"


    The Sun Hidden by the Moon: Episode 3. The childhood of young Lee Hae-wol and young Yoon Seo-il. It marked the end of their early years.


    In other words, it could be said that the real story of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" was just beginning. The tale starts with the reunion of the grown-up Lee Hae-wol and Yoon Seo-il.


    However.


    "They could have extended the child actor part a bit more.""Watching with my mom next to me, this is pure gold.""Are child actors these days all like this???? They were just amazing.""The kid who was picked over Jo Seohui is phenomenal; now I understand why she won.""Idol actors should watch and reflect on this kid''s performance."


    Online reviews, rather than being satisfied, were mostly lamenting that it ended too soon. This indicates how impactful the third episode was.


    Such occurrences are rare, making the entertainment industry buzz significantly. Especially.


    "Does anyone have a picture of Joo Seoyeon?" "Anyone attend the preview or teaser events last time?" "No, we don''t have any photos for the article!!"


    The most urgent were the journalists. In desperation, they captured scenes from the drama to include images, but it didn¡¯t quite have the same impact.


    Other articles also used captured images, making them less distinctive.


    "What¡¯s this, Byunghoon? When did you take this photo?" "Well, during the teaser event. I also attended the preview, didn¡¯t I?"


    There were quite a few group photos taken at the preview and teaser events. But not many had individual shots like Lee Byunghoon.


    "Do you have any good ones? I want to use them in my article." "Sorry, nothing suitable."


    Byunghoon answered with a smile but clicked his tongue inwardly.


    "That¡¯s what happens when you focus only on Haye-seo."


    Well, once the next episode aired, Haye-seo¡¯s era would return. After all, "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" was already a hit.


    "I''ve been a celebrity journalist for a long time, but I''ve never seen ratings like this from a child actor part." "Exactly. How is this even possible?" "I watched it with my wife, and it was certainly fantastic. Who was that idol in ''Action King'' again?" "Ah, Sebin? But wasn¡¯t he pretty good for an idol?"


    At a reporter¡¯s remark, the person shook his head.


    "Yes, pretty good for an idol. But not better than the child actors. Especially this Joo Seoyeon girl. Isn¡¯t this her first drama?" "What? This is her first?" "How can a journalist be so behind on the news?"


    Listening to the conversation, Byunghoon kept writing his article. The regret was not getting a solo interview during the teaser event.


    "But yesterday was quite strange."


    Joo Seoyeon¡¯s performance as Princess Yeonhwa in yesterday¡¯s third episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon." It was perfect, yet Byunghoon felt oddly uneasy.


    It felt as if she was truly going to leave. Not just Princess Yeonhwa, but also Joo Seoyeon, who played her.


    "Come on, that can¡¯t be."


    Who would quit after gaining such popularity all of a sudden?


    "Yeah, surely."


    This child has a brilliance. She¡¯ll undoubtedly grow to be a great actress.


    Byunghoon was convinced of this.


    "PD Ha, did I hear this correctly?" ¡¸Of course.¡¹ "Wow, this is unreal."


    Kang Seong-chan, who played the adult Yoon Seo-il, stuck out his tongue.


    "An average of 30% is already unbelievable. And the peak rating was what? 36%?"


    Even if you cut that rating in half, it would still be a hit. Getting 15% in the first three episodes often places a drama in the ''blockbuster'' category.


    But hitting 36%, even if it was just the peak rating, made Kang Seong-chan laugh in disbelief.


    "You remember that historical drama I shot before? That was a hit, and it hit 41% in the final episode." ¡¸I remember. That was insane, right?¡¹ "Yes, it was. So what do you think 36% in episode 3 means?"


    He heard PD Ha Tae-oh laugh over the phone. He would know. Dramas with this level of early success are few and far between.


    It¡¯s hard to believe it was all achieved by these two child actors.


    Seoyeon was far more outstanding than the older kids she had seen at the acting agency and academy. It wasn¡¯t even a comparison.


    ''And now she wants to learn acting?''


    Lee Ji-yeon thought. If Seoyeon joined an acting academy, everyone would be stunned.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    But seeing Seoyeon speak like that, there must be a reason. After all, Ji-yeon was still a child too, so she just accepted it.


    "Seoyeon."


    At that moment, Soo-ah entered Seoyeon¡¯s room.


    "Ji-yeon, here¡¯s a drink. I also cut some fruit; would you like some?" "Yes." "Good, and..."


    Soo-ah hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    "PD Ha Tae-oh asked if you would consider doing an interview." "An interview?" "Well, not just an interview. He mentioned appearing on ¡®Entertainment Relay.¡¯"


    ¡®Entertainment Relay.¡¯ A show that covers celebrity gossip. It had a segment where they interviewed stars who recently became the talk of the town.


    "Apparently, this will be the third time for a child actor."


    Variety shows. Honestly, Seoyeon had no special interest in them. She had many things she wanted to learn, and showing her face continuously would only leave her with lingering attachments.


    ''Still, maybe I should do a final interview...''


    While it would be cool to disappear quietly. It might be better to at least say goodbye.


    Seoyeon thought so and nodded.


    "Alright." "Really?" "Yes."


    Soo-ah¡¯s eyes widened, surprised that Seoyeon agreed. She thought Seoyeon would leave without any lingering attachments once she decided.


    Especially with variety shows, she thought Seoyeon would hate them. But contrary to Soo-ah¡¯s thoughts, Seoyeon didn¡¯t particularly dislike variety shows.


    ¡®I can learn some broadcasting know-how from appearing on variety shows.¡¯


    Hmm. Seoyeon crossed her arms. Being a VTuber was ultimately a content battle.


    It had something in common with variety shows. But as mentioned, staying in broadcasting would only leave lingering attachments, so she decided to give it up.


    ¡®Anyway, I can do variety shows later.¡¯


    It would probably be better to do it then when she could do more than now. Seoyeon counted on her fingers the things she needed to do.


    Acting, singing, voice acting techniques. And self-defense, just in case.


    ''Being a VTuber or an actress isn¡¯t easy.''


    She felt like she would be very busy in the future.


    "What? She really agreed?"


    Ha Tae-oh smiled broadly at the news from Soo-ah. He thought Seoyeon might outright refuse due to her personality.


    But the answer was positive. It was the moment Seoyeon¡¯s first variety show appearance was decided.


    "You¡¯re lucky. You know this will be Seoyeon¡¯s first and her last variety show during her childhood, right?" "Haha, of course. Thank you so much! You know I really like you, PD Ha!"


    PD Shin Jae-woon of KMB¡¯s variety department trembled with joy. He never expected that helping out with the making of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" would come back this way.


    Back then, the ratings had doubled. But now?


    ¡®We¡¯re going to last another year!¡¯


    The last chance for "Entertainment Relay," which was nearing its end. Shin Jae-woon had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.

 Chapter 32

    The Sun Hidden by the Moon Episode 4


    The following episode of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" was able to maintain its ratings thanks to the stellar performances of seasoned actors Kang Seong-chan and Haye-seo.


    However, "Action King," which had dropped to a 13% rating in Episode 3, made a comeback with 18%. This meant that "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" could not afford to relax.


    ''In my past life...''


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t particularly worried. "Action King" was destined to self-destruct around Episode 8 anyway.


    The idol actor, whose name might have been Sebin, would face a school bullying scandal, leading to the show ending with a dismal 5% rating.


    Naturally, "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" would absorb all those viewers, culminating in an astonishing 42% rating for the final episode.


    "Episode 4 of ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon'' Begins Amid High Expectations, But Falls Short?""Did the Stellar Performances of Child Actors Backfire? Ratings Drop from 31% to 26%"


    Despite such articles, Seoyeon didn¡¯t care much. She was simply proud of the positive reviews her acting received.


    It made all her hard work worthwhile.


    ''Understanding True Acting.''


    Previously, she hadn''t felt such a sense of accomplishment. Not when filming commercials, and not even when she first started filming "The Sun Hidden by the Moon."


    But now, things were different. She felt good.


    "Aigoo, Seoyeon, it must have been tough coming here, right?"


    Currently, she had arrived at the KMB studio. For the "Entertainment Relay" segment, "Star of the Moment."


    This was her first and last variety show appearance.


    "Hello."


    She bowed, and the PD of "Entertainment Relay," Shin Jae-woon, smiled broadly.


    He looked at her like she was a treasure chest.


    "I watched ''The Sun Hidden by the Moon.'' Seoyeon, are you really seven? Your skills are unbelievable." "Thank you for the compliment." "Oh, and this here is..."


    Shin Jae-woon¡¯s gaze turned to her mother, Soo-ah. His face showed surprise upon seeing her.


    "Oh. Well."


    He quickly composed himself, his eyes never leaving Soo-ah¡¯s face.


    ''Impressive.''


    Seoyeon was inwardly impressed. Most people¡¯s eyes would briefly flicker downwards when they first saw her mother. But Shin Jae-woon¡¯s eyes stayed fixed straight ahead, even if he was momentarily surprised.


    "Your mother is very beautiful. She could be an actress herself." "Oh, th-thank you. But that¡¯s not for me..." "Still, now we know who Seoyeon got her cuteness from."


    Soo-ah laughed awkwardly at Shin Jae-woon¡¯s compliment. It was clear both of them felt a bit awkward, but for different reasons.@@@@


    "Ah, right! We¡¯ll start filming at 2 PM, so please take a break until then. We¡¯ll call you when we¡¯re ready."


    Shin Jae-woon¡¯s words were met with a nod from Seoyeon. Since the show was mainly interview-based, she didn¡¯t have much to prepare.


    "Seoyeon, I¡¯ll be waiting outside... Are you going to say it?" "Yes."


    Seoyeon nodded. Everyone would find out soon anyway.


    It would be more impactful to announce it on a show like this.


    ''Besides, variety shows have reruns.''


    With reruns, it would be remembered longer than just an online article. And it was a good choice for her first variety show because it wasn¡¯t too difficult.


    ''I should watch closely how they do the interview.''


    There was another reason Seoyeon accepted the variety show. She wanted to learn interview skills.


    Streamers and VTubers often participate in broadcasts. Learning natural questioning techniques, handling gazes, and interview skills would be useful.


    A show that mostly involved eating and interviewing. It would surely be educational.


    Seoyeon was already looking forward to the interview for various reasons.


    "Well, yes. Precisely because that¡¯s all I can do right now."


    All she can do? Method acting isn¡¯t something just anyone can pull off.


    It¡¯s not necessarily the best method, and it often backfires. Could a child like Seoyeon handle method acting and remain unscathed?


    Frankly, Song Young-jin thought it was impossible. Until now.


    "I have many shortcomings, so other actors accommodated me. For the climaxes in Episodes 2 and 3, I even insisted on changing the shooting schedule."


    Seoyeon calmly recounted the events. How they had altered the shooting schedule to film the two scenes.


    The more he heard, the more astonished Song Young-jin became. When this broadcast airs, viewers will likely share his reaction.


    "But isn¡¯t it exhausting to perform such intense emotional acting? Usually, method acting is something veteran actors attempt." "I don¡¯t really know. But once I do it, I don¡¯t have to do it again for a while, so I decided to go for it." "I see..."


    As Song Young-jin nodded absently, he suddenly remembered something in Seoyeon¡¯s previous statement.


    "But what do you mean by ''not for a while''? Does it relate to emotional acting?"


    This wasn¡¯t a scripted question. It was a spontaneous remark, but Song Young-jin didn¡¯t think it was a mistake.


    However, it felt strangely significant. Really significant.


    "Oh, that."


    Seoyeon answered with a truly nonchalant expression.


    "I plan to leave the entertainment industry for a while."


    She spoke as if it was no big deal. This made Song Young-jin almost casually respond with, "Oh, I see," and move on.


    ... ...


    "Wait, what?"


    They say people are too shocked to speak. That was exactly how Song Young-jin felt.


    Inviting a popular actor to hear them announce their retirement on the spot was the last thing he expected.


    "Did I hear that right? Is Seoyeon really leaving the industry for a while?" "I think I heard the same thing." "So did I..."


    The set buzzed with murmurs.


    The filming staff. And even PD Shin Jae-woon couldn¡¯t escape his feelings of confusion.


    "So that''s what... "


    Only then did PD Shin Jae-woon understand the meaning behind PD Ha Tae-oh¡¯s enigmatic words. This was why he had said, "You can look forward to the interview."


    Indeed, as PD Ha Tae-oh had said, When this airs, it would certainly stir up the audience.


    Sure enough. Just as PD Shin Jae-woon expected, the "Star of the Moment" segment with Seoyeon spread like wildfire.


    Communities related to the drama were all abuzz.


    The most talked-about child actor of a recent drama. A child actor on the brink of an extraordinary career suddenly declared she was leaving the entertainment industry.


    **- "The girl who played Princess Yeonhwa, is she really retiring?"


    "Not retiring, just taking a break from broadcasting, it seems?""How is that different from retiring? Does anyone really know?""Why is this happening for real?"**


    Since the reason for her departure was unclear, various speculations emerged. That the filming of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" had been too harsh, or that she made a lot of money and decided to retire.


    Most were just rumors, and the stories didn¡¯t last long, but the chatter persisted. So much so that the content of Episode 5, which aired that day, was overshadowed.


    Still, Episode 5 saw a ratings recovery from Episode 4, securing the drama''s continued success.


    And the child prodigy who stirred up South Korea so much.


    "Starting today, I¡¯ll be learning acting at Hwayang Acting Academy. My name is Joo Seoyeon."


    She entered an acting academy recommended by Lee Ji-yeon.


    Hwayang Acting Academy. The applause from Lee Ji-yeon filled the room as the instructors and young students stared at Seoyeon in a daze.


    ''...What is this?''


    They genuinely wanted to ask. Why are you here?

 Chapter 33

    <Child Prodigy Retiring? No! She¡¯ll Be Back!>


    <The Reason Behind the Sudden Retirement Decision of the Child Star of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon">


    <¡°The Sun Hidden by the Moon¡± in Its Prime! Average Ratings Surpass 25%, New High Ratings on the Horizon>


    ¡°......¡±


    Han Seon-ah rubbed her eyes.


    She thought it might be a dream, but it wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Unnie, can you wait a long time for my next work?¡±


    Suddenly, she remembered what Seoyeon had said to her at the premiere.


    Ah, that¡¯s why she asked if I could wait a long time.


    It must have been a decision made after much contemplation, not an impulsive one.


    Realizing this, Han Seon-ah shook her head.


    ¡°...It¡¯s not like she said she was retiring.¡±


    Seoyeon had said she would return.@@@@


    She probably intended to take a long break.


    This is not uncommon among child actors.


    It¡¯s just that it¡¯s rare for someone to take a break right at the peak of their fame.


    ¡°Time to study.¡±


    Thanks to Seoyeon, she was also able to get into Seoul National University.


    So Han Seon-ah would keep waiting, to meet her as a more wonderful unnie, a proper adult.


    The only autograph Seoyeon had left behind.


    Looking at it, Seon-ah made a promise.


    ¡°This is absurd!!¡±


    Jo Seohui¡¯s scream echoed through the living room.


    Her parents, who were watching the news with her, covered their ears at her sudden outburst.


    ¡°Ah, Seohui, why are you suddenly shouting...?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that?! That kid!¡±


    Jo Seohui clutched her father¡¯s collar and shook him violently.


    A girl with strong pride and a spirited personality that was hard to describe.


    She had been very down after losing the "The Sun Hidden by the Moon" audition.


    ¡®There must have been something going on behind the scenes. Otherwise, there''s no way Seohui would lose.¡¯


    Her parents comforted her by saying that.


    Still, her dissatisfaction didn¡¯t change.


    If she were truly superior, there wouldn¡¯t have been any reason for the higher-ups to intervene, even if there was talk.


    Seoyeon and her acting were similar.


    Seoyeon was better at emotional acting and setting the atmosphere.


    Jo Seohui was superior in pure acting stability and skill.


    The princess of daily dramas.


    Jo Seohui¡¯s child acting career was on a smooth path.


    She never imagined she¡¯d lose to a rookie in a place like that.


    However, even Jo Seohui had to admit it when she watched episodes 2 and 3 of "The Sun Hidden by the Moon."


    It was acting that captivated even young Jo Seohui.


    If she had witnessed it on set, Jo Seohui would have been completely overshadowed by Seoyeon.


    ¡°For someone who acted like that...¡±


    Jo Seohui bit her thumbnail and glared at the TV.


    Her gaze was so fierce that even her parents quietly left the room.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she a golden goose? But instead of killing the goose, she just left it behind.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to that, Seoyeon¡¯s last CF is a hot topic. The children''s vitamin ad she shot after the soy milk CF.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I saw that too. CF offers would pour in, but I can¡¯t understand why she¡¯d quit.¡±


    The hosts on TV discussed, watching the referenced CF clip.


    The ad featured Seoyeon acting as a mother-daughter duo with the middle-aged actress Kim Mi-yeon.


    They played a friendly mother and daughter.


    It was different from the drama but still a clean performance.


    ¡®She¡¯s so good at it.¡¯


    Even now, news outlets covering entertainment gossip were filled with stories about Seoyeon.


    It was such a sudden and unlikely event.


    ¡®Running away after winning?¡¯


    She resolved never to lose in the next audition.


    This audition loss served as a motivator for Jo Seohui.


    Everyone praised her as the princess of daily dramas.


    She had been satisfied and arrogant.


    Because she was still a child.


    She thought child actors didn¡¯t need to improve beyond this point.


    Even actress Jeong Eun-sun, who cherished her, always said the same thing.


    That Seohui¡¯s acting could already be considered the best for a child actor.


    Yes, ¡®for a child actor.¡¯


    But now Seoyeon was being compared to adult actors, not child actors.


    Like Ha Ye-seo, who played the grown-up Lee Hae-wol in Episode 4.


    ¡°Just wait and see.¡±


    She didn¡¯t think of it as retirement.


    While the news talked about retirement, the content from the "Entertainment Relay" ¡®Star of the Moment¡¯ segment made it clear that it was more of a ¡®temporary break¡¯ than retirement.


    She didn¡¯t know how long that break would be.


    Child actors often take breaks lasting more than ten years.


    Especially if they¡¯re as young as Seoyeon, the hiatus tends to be longer.


    Typically, child actors are most in demand between ages 5 and 7.


    And.


    ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s start from the beginning, Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Acting without emotions was just stiff acting for Seoyeon.


    She realized this.


    ¡®It¡¯s all because of my body.¡¯


    A physical ability far beyond a child¡¯s.


    It must have been that, which caused her to underperform.


    Or perhaps the disconnect between emotions and the body was the cause.


    ¡®Yes, that must be it.¡¯


    Seoyeon internally made excuses.


    Just because it¡¯s an unbeatable TS body doesn¡¯t mean it does everything perfectly from the start.


    As she realized this.


    Regardless of the humiliation at the acting academy.


    My daily routine was quite structured.


    Mondays and Wednesdays were for acting classes.


    Tuesdays and Thursdays were for voice acting classes.


    And Fridays were reserved for trying various exercises.


    I tried taekwondo and children¡¯s boxing to find a sport that suited me.


    ¡°But Joo Seoyeon, isn¡¯t voice acting and acting entirely different?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about vocalization, vocalization.¡±


    ¡°No, it seems completely different.¡±


    Today was a day for voice acting classes.


    I had practiced enough to speak in a somewhat decent voice.


    ¡®Voice actors are masters of voice acting.¡¯


    Even if the acting is similar, the vocalization methods differ entirely from actors.


    The feel is worlds apart.


    ¡®As Lee Ji-yeon said, it won¡¯t be easy to apply to acting....¡¯


    I should just use it when capturing emotions.


    Moreover, voice acting¡¯s vocalization is very challenging, so I struggled a lot.


    ¡®I realize again, not everything comes easy.¡¯


    Thinking that, I felt relieved.


    I was glad I decided to take a break from acting...


    If I had continued acting, who knows how long the ¡®child prodigy¡¯ title would have lasted?


    I might have gotten by with emotional acting.


    But it would have taken a toll on my body, especially during adolescence.


    ¡°Ji-yeon, you¡¯re doing great. Are you sure you haven¡¯t learned this before?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. But who¡¯s better, me or Joo Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°Ah, well...¡±


    The instructor glanced at me and Lee Ji-yeon, then whispered something to her.


    Probably thinking I¡¯d feel bad if I overheard.


    ¡®But judging by the whispering and her smug face....¡¯


    Did I lose to Lee Ji-yeon?


    How could this be?


    ¡°Ahem. Let¡¯s try again. This time, try raising your voice a bit more.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Voice acting isn¡¯t just about speaking well.


    There are narrations, character acting, vocalization for animation dubbing.


    There are many things.


    The voice acting school had a well-organized curriculum for this.


    Currently, Lee Ji-yeon and I were only covering the basics.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    I drank some water to soothe my sore throat and listened to Lee Ji-yeon¡¯s voice.


    Today, I think it was about directly acting out a character from a fairy tale.


    A little squirrel.


    It was quite fitting for Lee Ji-yeon in some sense.


    ¡°Where are my acorns, my acorns?¡±


    The cute childlike voice.


    Lee Ji-yeon was undoubtedly better at this than acting.


    ¡°Pffft!!¡±


    But hearing her voice, I couldn¡¯t help but spit out the water.


    It was a completely different tone from the narration and regular character acting.


    I heard that normal kids couldn¡¯t do that, but Lee Ji-yeon managed it.


    ¡°...What, why are you suddenly laughing? Joo Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Uh? I wasn¡¯t laughing at you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, really?¡±


    Lee Ji-yeon briefly gave me a sidelong glance but didn¡¯t press further.


    Watching her turn away, I wiped the water from my mouth.


    ¡®It can¡¯t be... right?¡¯


    I tried to reassure myself.


    Even so, it seemed a bit far-fetched.

 Chapter 34

    From the beginning of its broadcast, The Sun Hidden by the Moon garnered attention, concluding successfully with a staggering 45% viewership for its final episode. In contrast, Action King, which was anticipated to be a rival to The Sun Hidden by the Moon, ended with a final episode rating of just 4.5% due to a school violence scandal involving an idol star that surfaced in the middle of the series.


    ¡°Ah, are you talking about Seoyeon on the set?¡±


    In an interview conducted after the drama concluded, actress Shin Yeon-mi, who played the role of Princess Yeonhwa''s nanny, spoke about a particular child actor:


    ¡°She was a diligent child. People call her a prodigy, but she was an actor who worked harder than anyone.¡±


    She shared about Seoyeon¡¯s efforts, especially regarding the much-discussed episodes 2 and 3.


    ¡°We shot those scenes earlier than planned. She had remarkable stamina for a child actor and handled it all. Honestly, I felt like I was the one going to collapse.¡±


    Shin Yeon-mi¡¯s joking tone drew laughter from those around her, who assumed she was kidding.


    ¡°It was the toughest shoot of my life.¡±


    Ha Ye-seo, who played the grown-up Lee Hae-wol, commented with a smile.


    ¡°When the ratings dropped sharply after episode 4, I was really worried. But I worked hard to fully portray ''Princess Yeonhwa'' until the end. Thankfully, I''m relieved the highest ratings weren¡¯t capped at episode 3. It was a valuable opportunity to learn that sometimes having a child actor who is too talented can be a challenge.¡±


    Initially, Ha Ye-seo appeared slightly shaken due to the pressure, but she delivered excellent performances in the subsequent episodes, proving her reputation as a talented, pure actor wasn¡¯t undeserved, demonstrating her power in the final episode.


    Following Ha Ye-seo, Ha Tae-oh, the producer of The Sun Hidden by the Moon, was the last to speak.


    ¡°Seoyeon isn¡¯t retiring. As Shin Yeon-mi mentioned earlier, she is a very ambitious child.¡±


    Ha Tae-oh continued, looking directly at the camera.


    ¡°She expressed a desire to learn many things. She said that while filming this drama, she discovered many areas where she felt she was lacking.¡±


    Although method acting and emotional performance were significant factors, Ha Tae-oh deliberately avoided mentioning them because they were challenging areas to comprehend anyway.


    ¡°Seoyeon will definitely be back.¡±


    Producer Ha Tae-oh spoke firmly and confidently.


    ¡°That child was born to be an actor.¡±


    Although she planned to take a break, it wasn¡¯t something that could happen immediately. She had to remain as the child actor Joo Seoyeon at least until the end of the year, when The Sun Hidden by the Moon aired. The reason? The year-end award ceremony.


    ¡°Wow, you look incredibly pretty.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s makeup artist couldn¡¯t help but comment on how beautiful she looked. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Seoyeon herself was quietly amazed.


    ¡®I think I look prettier than I did in the drama.¡¯


    This was only natural since award ceremony makeup could be more varied than that of a historical drama.@@@@


    ¡°Your eyelashes are so long for someone so young...¡±


    They were too long to be a child''s eyelashes.


    ¡®How beautiful will this child become when she grows up?¡¯


    As a makeup artist who had worked with many child actors, she had never met a child as pretty as Seoyeon.


    ¡®It¡¯s such a pity she¡¯s taking a break.¡¯


    Especially for her, who had enjoyed watching The Sun Hidden by the Moon, it was even more regretful. The performance this child had delivered was still vivid in her mind.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    Just then, someone came to check on Seoyeon. It was a man dressed in a neat suit who played the lead role of the grown-up Yoon Seo-il in The Sun Hidden by the Moon.


    ¡°Oh, Seoyeon, you look really beautiful.¡±


    Actor Kang Seong-chan said with a smile. He was assigned to look after Seoyeon in place of Sua, who couldn¡¯t attend the award ceremony. Since the cast members of The Sun Hidden by the Moon would all be sitting together, it was no trouble at all.


    ¡°Have you arrived?¡±


    When they slowly reached the venue, Park Jung-woo, who had arrived earlier, spoke to her. It was awkward since he hadn¡¯t acknowledged her before but changed his attitude after episode 3 of The Sun Hidden by the Moon.


    ¡°Yes, sunbae.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Not knowing what else to call him, Seoyeon addressed him as ¡°sunbae¡± (senior). Park Jung-woo was dissatisfied with Seoyeon''s stiff tone, but there wasn¡¯t much to criticize.


    After all, Seoyeon was younger and a junior to Park Jung-woo.


    ¡°Alright, Seoyeon, you sit next to Ha Ye-seo over there... Have you thought of what you¡¯re going to say today?¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m going to say?¡±


    Seoyeon was puzzled by Kang Seong-chan¡¯s sudden question. Was there something she needed to say today?


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you get the notice? Normally, nominees are informed in advance, though.¡±


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°I received it.¡±


    Park Jung-woo answered on Seoyeon¡¯s behalf. As a result, Seoyeon looked at him, and he laughed lightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about the Youth Actor Award.¡±


    They were to be regarded as actors.


    ¡°Seoyeon is a strong child.¡±


    Twice, she poured her emotions into acting. Once, in front of Jeong Eun-sun.


    And once more, watching from a distance. The effort Seoyeon put in for her acting was palpable.


    Having performed method acting for a long time, she couldn¡¯t help but understand.


    ¡°An old actress couldn¡¯t see that because of her own worries.¡±


    ¡°Ah, no.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    Interrupting Seoyeon¡¯s flustered response, Jeong Eun-sun continued.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be nervous.¡±


    With those words, Seoyeon¡¯s familiar face appeared on the screen. It was Joo Seoyeon. Herself.


    The Youth Actor Award. In the male category, Park Jung-woo. And in the female category, Seoyeon¡¯s face appeared.


    Applause resounded. Thunderous applause echoed.


    Light shone on Seoyeon. Jeong Eun-sun gently nudged Seoyeon¡¯s back.


    ¡°Go confidently as an actor.¡±


    Until the last departure. Only then could Seoyeon step forward. Her previously trembling heart had already calmed.


    As usual, she felt her serene heart and took a step forward.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    From behind, as she headed to the podium, she heard Jeong Eun-sun¡¯s voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for before.¡±


    Turning her back on those words, Seoyeon ascended the podium. Just like Jeong Eun-sun said. As an actor.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Joo Seoyeon, who played the young Princess Yeonhwa in The Sun Hidden by the Moon.¡±


    She performed her usual respectful bow to everyone. She looked at the numerous stars before her.


    It was dazzling.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t even know what she was saying now. Though she tried to express her thoughts, she wasn¡¯t sure if she was doing well.


    ¡°Seoyeon, are you crying?¡±


    The host spoke, a bit flustered. Seoyeon wiped her eyes with her fingers. Tears.


    Ah, emotions can overwhelm me. I can cry even when I¡¯m happy. It was different from crying in acting before. She still didn¡¯t understand it well.


    Her past self didn¡¯t know many things.


    ¡°Finally.¡±


    Back then, it was sadness; now, it was more complex. Seoyeon took a deep breath and spoke calmly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to stand here again. So...¡±


    She exhaled and smiled brightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely come back.¡±


    That was Seoyeon¡¯s final statement. Seven-year-old Joo Seoyeon.


    And the end of a young child actor. The end of her childhood.


    And so, time passed.


    A few springs. And a few winters.


    And spring came again.


    Spring, heralding a new beginning.


    ¡°Joo Seoyeon.¡±


    In school uniform, Lee Ji-yeon frowned and turned her gaze. There stood a girl staring blankly at the sky.


    ¡°What are you doing? If you don¡¯t hurry, we¡¯ll be late!¡±


    The girl with long black hair in the same school uniform. Seventeen-year-old Joo Seoyeon.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    With the same calm face as in the past.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡±


    She wore a small smile.

 Chapter 35

    6:00 AM at the gym.


    This is the time when many office workers visit for their morning workouts before heading to work.


    There was a man who had visited the gym for the first time today. His name was Jung Hyun-woo, a 25-year-old rookie actor.


    ¡®Morning workouts are the best, indeed.¡¯


    He had only landed a supporting role in a cable drama once, but as a rookie actor, he always lived with the thought that someone might recognize him. That was Jung Hyun-woo.


    Building a strong physique was essential for an actor''s work. A "muscular body" was now almost a basic requirement for male actors.


    ¡°Wow~, the gym equipment is really clean here.¡±


    Even though it was a gym that had been around for a while, it was well maintained. He chose this gym because it was close to his home, and it turned out to be much cleaner and more satisfactory than he expected.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    While looking around, something caught his eye.


    It was a girl with long black hair tied up high. Or should he say young woman?


    She looked to be in her late teens.


    ¡®Wow.¡¯


    Hyun-woo was astonished by the girl for two reasons. First, her breathtakingly beautiful appearance. Second, the weight of the barbell and plates in front of her.


    ¡®Whoa, what is this?¡¯


    With striking eyes and a calm expression, her beautiful face and slender, delicate physique stood out. Hyun-woo was an actor, after all. He had met many beautiful actresses and idols while filming cable dramas. But this girl was exceptionally stunning, overshadowing them all.


    That¡¯s why the barbell in front of her stood out even more. It was a weight unimaginable for a girl of her appearance to lift.


    ¡®That¡¯s about 200kg, isn¡¯t it?¡¯


    On the internet, people might boast about deadlifting 200kg, but that¡¯s no easy feat. Even those who work out regularly struggle with that weight. Only those who have made exercise a daily habit and enjoy the challenge of increasing their weight can even consider deadlifting 200kg.


    ¡®Surely not.¡¯


    Hyun-woo intended to walk past, not believing that the barbell belonged to the girl. However, as the girl placed her hands on the bar, Hyun-woo instinctively moved forward to tell her to stop for safety reasons.


    ¡°Is this your first time here?¡±


    But his movement was halted when someone grabbed his shoulder.


    ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I thought you were going to stop her because you were surprised.¡±


    Initially, Hyun-woo wondered if the person had recognized him. But he was taken aback by the man¡¯s words.


    The man was at least 190cm tall and had a muscular build¡ªa natural-born gym rat.


    ¡°Oh, um, shouldn¡¯t I stop her?¡± ¡°Well, normally, yes. That was my initial reaction too.¡±


    The man gestured towards the girl with a nod.


    Then, as if on cue, the girl holding the barbell began her deadlift, exhaling slowly.


    ¡°......!¡±


    As soon as she exerted a little force, the barbell lifted smoothly.


    It settled back down gently.


    Normally, one might release it lightly to avoid injury, but the girl carefully lowered it.


    ¡°Her strength is unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°......What? How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. She¡¯s just that kind of girl.¡±


    The man, Bang Yong-sik, had observed Seoyeon since she first came to the gym. He was a trainer there, keeping an eye on Seoyeon¡¯s workouts.


    Yong-sik frowned as Hyun-woo continued to watch Seoyeon in silence.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit much to keep staring like that?¡±


    ¡°Oh? Ah, no, no! I didn¡¯t mean anything strange by it.¡±


    Initially, he had been surprised by her deadlift technique. Her beautiful appearance also took him aback. But there was another reason Hyun-woo kept looking at the girl.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that she looks familiar, like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere before....¡±


    Hyun-woo muttered, looking at the girl again. Her long black hair and sharp yet enchanting features seemed familiar, though he couldn¡¯t place her. Where had he seen her before?


    ¡°Ah, I see. I don¡¯t know much, but I heard she used to do child acting.¡±


    ¡°Child acting?¡±


    Hearing that she was a child actor was thrilling. Although he was a rookie himself, he was an actor, after all.


    ¡®With a face like that, she¡¯s perfect for acting.¡¯


    If she pursued acting, helping her out would be a good thing. Having such a junior would make every day delightful.


    I should come to the gym daily from now on, Hyun-woo thought to himself, smiling.


    ¡°Hoo, hoo.¡±


    Seoyeon runs. The distance from the gym to the high school is a whopping 3 km. It¡¯s quite far without taking the bus, but Seoyeon ran it every day.


    After all, she could cover that distance in under 10 minutes.


    Ding-ding, ding-ding!


    ¡°Welcome.¡±


    Upon entering the convenience store, the bell rang. The clerk stiffened upon seeing the girl who walked in.


    ¡°Well, there aren¡¯t many who recognize me.¡±


    Or rather, none at all.


    After all, it had been ten years.


    My appearance had changed significantly from my childhood.


    I had grown prettier, more beautiful.


    Entering the school, I felt eyes on me. This wasn¡¯t just because of my appearance.


    Having Ji-yeon, who had recently appeared in a drama, had its effects.


    Though it was a cable drama, cable dramas had become more daring, and their ratings had risen.


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Realizing my gaze, Ji-yeon smirked annoyingly, looking smug. Her demeanor didn¡¯t sit well with me, not at all.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely going to continue acting.¡¯


    While that was certainly a good thing, it was also unsettling for me. But there was nothing I could do about it.


    A rather complex feeling of mine....


    ¡°Joo Seoyeon.¡±


    Seeing how I reacted, Ji-yeon patted my shoulder.


    ¡°If you¡¯re envious, start acting again.¡±


    ¡°......I will.¡±


    After entering high school, I thought it was time to resume activities.


    Broadcasting stations, OTT platforms, and various internet programs were becoming more popular.


    And there were VTubers too.


    My determination to become a VTuber hadn¡¯t wavered.


    ¡®However.¡¯


    I was still unsure about what to do.


    A comeback project.


    Numerous ideas flitted through my mind.


    ¡°It comes down to two, I guess....¡±


    There weren¡¯t many places where I could get an audition right now.


    It was different from when I was a child actor. Now, I had to compete with adult actors. To land a role, I needed the right career background.


    As a child actor in The Sun Hidden by the Moon, I had a good career, but the hiatus was too long.


    Rather, it was a title I could use after making a comeback.


    ¡°Two?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I need to audition first.¡±


    A child actor who took a long hiatus.


    There weren¡¯t many auditions for someone like me.


    I needed to show something to climb the ladder.


    ¡°Just ask the head of the KMB drama department.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s....¡±


    I had no intention of stirring controversy.


    Nowadays, even trivial matters could spark controversy. Doing that would only make me unpopular with senior actors.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Ji-yeon nodded.


    ¡°So, what are those two things you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that....¡±


    Just as I was about to answer Ji-yeon¡¯s question.


    Ring-ring, ring-ring!!


    The bell signaled the start of the first period.


    Students around us quickened their pace.


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯ll tell you after school.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Ji-yeon tried to grab my clothes, but I was faster.


    I was already late once before, and I knew I¡¯d get scolded if I was late again.


    ¡°Hey, Joo Seoyeon!!!¡±


    Ignoring Ji-yeon¡¯s loud voice, I quickly entered the classroom.


    I waved at Ji-yeon through the back door of the classroom.


    She shouldn¡¯t have teased me about the convenience store.

 Chapter 36

    When I attended school, one of the most uncomfortable aspects was the separation of boys and girls into different classes. I would have been more comfortable if it were a co-ed class, but being split made things awkward for me.


    ¡°Does anyone have a spare pad? Oh, I forgot mine.¡±


    ¡°Geez, of all things to forget.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Hearing conversations like this always made it hard for me to know how to react. I''ve lived as a girl for seventeen years now. I¡¯ve fully adapted, and the mental dissonance between my body and mind has disappeared.


    However, I still find it strangely difficult to get used to this atmosphere. In my previous life, I probably would have been nonchalant about it.


    ¡®I¡¯m bored.¡¯


    Because of this, after three months of high school, I still hadn¡¯t made a single friend. Why is that? There¡¯s no one else as gentle and kind-hearted as me.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you should start a conversation first, you dummy.¡±


    When I vented this problem to Lee Ji-yeon during lunch, she wiggled the lollipop in her mouth side to side and spoke as if I were pathetic.


    ¡°If I try to talk to them first¡ª¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°......they run away.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Ji-yeon seemed to have some idea of what I meant.


    ¡°Your face is a bit intimidating, so it makes sense that they¡¯d feel burdened.¡±


    ¡®Do I really have an intimidating face?¡¯


    And what¡¯s with her calling it a ¡°face¡±? Sometimes Ji-yeon tends to be a little too blunt.


    ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s not the important part.¡±


    ¡°It is important.¡±


    ¡°More importantly, tell me what those two things you¡¯re considering appearing in are.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it is important.¡±


    Ji-yeon didn¡¯t seem to care at all about my lack of friends and asked about what I mentioned in the morning. How heartless. I pouted as I replied.


    ¡°Play.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to audition for a play at a small theater in Jongno.¡±


    Ji-yeon blinked at my words, as if asking if I was serious.


    ¡°......Do you want me to find you something? If you ask well, I can find you something good.¡±


    It was rare to hear Ji-yeon be so kind. The word ¡°play¡± must have sounded strange to her.


    ¡°Well, what about school during that time?¡±


    ¡°The performance overlaps with summer vacation, so it¡¯s fine.¡±


    I can practice while attending school, and I plan to get permission from the school to some extent.


    ¡°And you said there were two things, right? What¡¯s the other one besides the play?¡±


    ¡°You can only do that one if you do the play.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Ji-yeon looked at me as if I were joking. But what could I say? I was serious.


    ¡®The first project after a comeback is important.¡¯


    After going through puberty, I felt my emotions and mind stabilize. It wasn¡¯t an easy process, but it turned out well in the end.


    It was around that time that I decided to return to acting. When I entered high school in spring.


    Since then, I¡¯ve been contemplating what would make a good comeback project.


    ¡®What would be good?¡¯


    I had the knowledge from my previous life, and with it, I knew which projects would succeed and which would fail. I could barely remember what I learned in class yesterday, but I could recall these details with surprising clarity.


    Several ideas came to mind right away.


    ¡®More important than anything else is the role I can take on.¡¯


    Since it¡¯s the first project after my comeback, it should be something with a strong impact. There are few projects that cast through auditions, and most are sentimental pieces.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    After much deliberation, I arrived at one conclusion. But to achieve that, there was a prerequisite.


    That¡¯s why I chose the play. However...


    ¡°?¡±


    I glanced at Ji-yeon. Feeling my gaze, she tilted her head curiously.


    ¡®Whoops.¡¯


    I should have answered right away. I reflected on my mistake and continued as naturally as possible.


    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll keep studying consistently.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Sua looked at her daughter with slight suspicion. Although her daughter was always impressive, she clearly disliked studying. Her grades were okay through middle school, but her first high school midterms were a disaster. She didn¡¯t even tell them how she did on the mock exams.


    ¡®She¡¯s not dumb.¡¯


    While Sua was deep in thought, she decided to let it go. Her daughter already had too many talents. Expecting her to excel in academics too might be too much.


    ¡®How does Mom manage her skincare?¡¯


    And Seoyeon was amazed by Sua as well. Sua was thirty-nine. An age where one should be called ¡°Ajumma.¡±


    Yet her appearance hadn¡¯t changed much from 10 years ago. Her chest even seemed larger. Her beauty was as mysterious as Seoyeon¡¯s inexplicable strength.


    ¡°Alright, my dear, you¡¯ve had a long break. Are you really okay now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡±


    Seoyeon replied, raising her arms in a determined pose.


    A clear voice came from below.


    ¡°Unnie, you¡¯re funny!¡±


    A cute girl with black pigtails appeared. She was a small girl who resembled Sua, rather than Seoyeon. Her name was Joo Suyeon, seven years old. They both shared a similar pronunciation because they both had the same last syllable, ¡°Yeon.¡±


    Due to the 10-year age gap, Seoyeon often took care of her when she was younger.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll take Suyeon out for groceries. There¡¯s food in the fridge.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°Unnie, Suyeon is leaving. Bye-bye.¡±


    ¡°Mm, bye-bye.¡±


    Taking her out must have meant that she fussed about not wanting to stay home.


    I waved goodbye to my sister and watched Sua leave. Her reaction to me saying I would return to acting was just a ¡°I knew this day would come.¡± It was a little disappointing. I¡¯d thought about it quite a bit before deciding.


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Left alone at home, I plopped down on the sofa and turned on the TV. An ad with a familiar face came on.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    ¡°Love like the morning dew.¡±


    It seemed like a soju ad, but it was actually a cosmetics ad. Cosmetics ads are typically done by beautiful men and women, and they require the brand to have a sophisticated image and a certain level of recognition.


    In other words, being in a cosmetics ad is a marker of being a top star.


    ¡°With me, Seo-hee.¡±


    A woman¡¯s face appeared, smiling sweetly. She seemed like she was about my age, but her face was suspiciously mature. She could easily pass for someone in her twenties.


    ¡®Cho Seo-hee.¡¯


    Among teenage actresses, she was definitely one of the best. Unlike in my previous life, where she stumbled in The Sun Hidden by the Moon, this time she had a stellar career spanning 10 years.


    The actress on TV was Cho Seo-hee, who had nothing but success ahead of her.


    ¡®Cosmetics ads aren¡¯t for me. I¡¯ll refuse them if they come later.¡¯


    Without thinking much about it, I opened YouTube.


    Seoyeon¡¯s screen was filled with her dazzling playlist.


    They were all VTuber broadcasts that had recently gained popularity.


    And among them, something caught Seoyeon¡¯s eye.


    ¡°A new generation of VTubers coming soon!¡±


    Seoyeon squinted as she looked at the list.


    Just as I thought. One person who should be there was missing.

 Chapter 37

    Somewhat aware of what was happening, I found myself surprised by the absence of a character that should have been part of the Seven Live third generation. This generation was themed around non-human characters, often inspired by fantasy elements like those found in a magical world.


    Among the missing characters was Ramiel, a harpy princess with the unique twist of being unable to sing. Her appearance was closer to that of an angel than a harpy. Honestly, I initially thought she was an angel too.


    Ramiel was exceptionally popular among the third generation of characters. She had a very delicate voice and an excellent sense of broadcasting, quickly rising to the level of what you¡¯d call a ¡°big player¡± in the industry.


    Despite her concept of not being able to sing, she could sing quite well. Her role-playing was standard, sticking to the basics, but she never contradicted her character''s setting.


    Her main content was communication broadcasts. She was a good listener, and her eloquence made her very popular.


    "......"


    "Joo Seoyeon, what''s wrong?"


    While I had considered the possibility of something happening, the reality was harsh. How could this be?


    I had always denied the thought that it could be true.@@@@


    I glanced at Lee Ji-yeon, who was staring blankly at me. My suspicions began when I attended voice acting school with her. While her normal voice was fine, her voice for ¡°anime¡± dubbing was a problem. It was a childlike voice that I had heard somewhere before.


    In that voice, she would call out, ¡°Joo Seoyeon?¡±


    At that point, I might have known but was in denial.


    Why did it have to be Lee Ji-yeon? How could I accept that she was Ramiel, who seemed like an angel? Where had the Ramiel gone, who had earnestly listened to my worries and comforted me?


    ¡®Something, something went wrong.¡¯


    There¡¯s a phrase known as the ¡°red pill¡± moment, referring to the shattering of illusions when you discover a VTuber''s true identity. Honestly, was my illusion shattered? Not really.


    The Lee Ji-yeon in front of me and the Ramiel I knew were two entirely different people. However, aside from that, my favorite VTuber graduated suddenly when I thought I would eventually see her, and it felt like the world was ending.


    ¡®I wanted to experience it properly this time.¡¯


    The feelings I had for VTubers in my previous life were of something ¡°unknown.¡± I felt something inexplicable in those who genuinely embraced fantasies instead of reality. With my lack of normal emotions, that was the only way I could describe it.


    When time allowed, I watched live broadcasts, but most of the time, I had to rely on highlight clips and short snippets.


    ¡®So this time, I wanted to experience that ¡°unknown¡± I couldn¡¯t understand before.¡¯


    I felt somewhat depressed. Some might say it¡¯s not a big deal, but it was an incredibly important issue to me, for various reasons.


    ¡°Joo Seoyeon.¡±


    "~~~!!"


    Suddenly, an all-too-familiar whisper filled my ear, and I shuddered, nearly falling sideways off the bench. Luckily, it was a bench; otherwise, I might have rolled off a regular chair. I quickly covered my ear with my hand, surprised and flustered, and spoke.


    ¡°W-What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer when I called you repeatedly.¡±


    Hmph, Lee Ji-yeon crossed her arms and frowned, as if displeased with my behavior.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always acted flustered when I use this voice. Is it that strange?¡±


    ¡°......Uh, no.¡±


    She seemed to test whether my words were true, her gaze now filled with curiosity, as if she had noticed something.


    Avoiding Ji-yeon''s gaze, I added, "I don''t dislike it."


    I really meant it. It was just that her voice startled me. Everything else had changed, but that voice remained exactly the same.


    ¡®I still held on to the possibility that it might be the same voice.¡¯


    But that possibility ended yesterday.


    In this world, Ramiel truly became an angel...


    Though she was technically a harpy.


    "Hmm."


    Ji-yeon examined me up and down, seemingly considering whether to clear her throat and use that voice again. Eventually, she nodded.


    "Alright, that''s not what I was curious about anyway."


    "Curious about?"


    "The play audition. When exactly is it?"


    She even wields a knife.


    ¡®Though not a major role, she leaves a strong impression.¡¯


    It was a role with impact. Surely, it was because of this character that I received additional offers for roles.


    ¡®It¡¯s a role that doesn¡¯t suit method acting.¡¯


    If I method acted this character, I would undoubtedly feel depressed for days on end. I closed the script and shut my eyes. Slowly exhaling, I engraved the character into my mind. Through the emotions written in the script, I visualized the character of Hong Jeong-hee. I had memorized all the lines.


    Checking the time, I saw there was still a little time before the audition started.


    ¡®Let¡¯s practice once.¡¯


    Many people were reciting lines around me anyway.


    So I thought I¡¯d take this chance to revisit the character of Hong Jeong-hee. With that thought, I opened my eyes.


    Aspiring actors and actresses in the audition room frowned when a high school girl entered.


    ¡®A high school student?¡¯


    ¡®How did she get past the first stage?¡¯


    Her outfit was a school uniform. For auditions, it¡¯s common to dress in a way that reflects your understanding of the character. It¡¯s a good way to visually demonstrate your grasp of the role. But wearing a school uniform?


    Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s age isn¡¯t specified in the script. The only clue is a note about her being ¡°on leave from school.¡±


    It¡¯s unclear whether she¡¯s a college student or a high school student.


    ¡®And her appearance......¡¯


    Long black hair, in stark contrast to her fair skin. Even actors accustomed to beauty couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her looks.


    Even though she was still a high school student, her appearance was that of a fully-fledged actress.


    ¡®But acting isn¡¯t just about looks.¡¯


    ¡®No matter how pretty you are, the outcome depends on your acting skills.¡¯


    Despite their thoughts, the high school girl, sitting and reading her script, looked like a picture-perfect scene.


    The worn script. At least it showed she had prepared.


    ¡®But there¡¯s something familiar about her face, isn¡¯t there?¡¯


    Those watching her felt a strange sense of familiarity. It was as if they had seen her somewhere before.


    Could she be an actress who had already appeared on TV? If she were a former child actor, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for her to be here.


    ¡®With looks like that, there must have been some buzz.¡¯


    For high school students, transitioning from child actor to an adult actor is common. With looks like hers, there was no way she wasn¡¯t already known in this tight-knit world.


    Tap.


    The high school girl abruptly closed the script she was reading.


    Was she done reviewing it? That thought crossed their minds for a moment.


    The girl slowly opened her eyes.


    ¡°......!¡±


    There wasn¡¯t a dramatic change in atmosphere.


    It was quiet. Her expression was calm, and her face was composed.


    She didn¡¯t seem to be acting, but...


    ¡®Is she acting?¡¯


    Actors often have a ¡°base expression.¡± It¡¯s the expression they use as a foundation when they begin acting. They build emotions and expressions on top of this base expression.


    For seasoned actors, it¡¯s possible to convey emotions and perform with just that base expression.


    ¡®No way.¡¯


    Yes, just like now.

 Chapter 38

    In the silence, the atmosphere grew tense as everyone¡¯s gaze began to shift toward the high school girl exuding an unusual aura. With long black hair and strikingly fair skin, at first, she seemed like just another candidate relying solely on looks to pass the audition. However...


    ¡®Who is she? She seems experienced.¡¯


    ¡®What is she doing? Is this acting?¡¯


    The calm base expression on her face was accompanied by an underlying current of emotion. Bad acting is often described as robotic, with no change in expression, but subtle changes can make that robotic performance appear as ¡°understated and natural.¡± This delicate nuance often demonstrates the difference.


    Naturally, this was the kind of display you¡¯d expect from seasoned actors, making it a strikingly unusual sight for a high school student to exhibit such poise.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely experienced.¡¯


    Perhaps she was a former child actor who had been active somewhere. It¡¯s not uncommon to have appeared in small dramas and thus remain unknown to many.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Despite being wary of the high school girl, the actors in the room felt a sense of relief. Her performance style differed from traditional theater acting.


    Clatter.


    At that moment, the previously closed door burst open with a loud noise. All eyes turned in that direction, including Seoyeon¡¯s, as she was calmly preparing for her audition.


    At the entrance of the waiting room filled with actors, a woman was panting heavily, clutching the door handle. Her hair was a wavy brown, her eyes drooped in exhaustion, and she had a slight, slender frame. She looked to be in her early twenties, but the most notable feature was her haggard appearance.


    For an actor, she had a strangely distinctive look.


    ¡®Who is she?¡¯


    ¡®Another auditionee?¡¯


    Her attire was peculiar, similar to Seoyeon''s. A fashion disaster, maybe? She wore mismatched jeans and a checkered shirt as if she had borrowed a college guy¡¯s outfit.


    Whether or not it suited the role for today was irrelevant¡ªher outfit exuded a peculiar discomfort.


    ¡®That must be her.¡¯


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes at the staggering woman. She seemed indifferent to the stares around her, choosing an empty seat to settle into. There wasn¡¯t even a script in her hand. It was as if she had stumbled into the wrong place.


    ¡°Uh, this is the audition room,¡± one actor said hesitantly, approaching her with concern. The woman¡¯s eyes moved slowly, in an unnerving way that made the actor recoil.


    There was an aura about her that deviated from the norm.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Her words were clipped. She offered no further explanation, but there was no need for any more. It was enough to stifle any further conversation.


    ¡®......That¡¯s right. It¡¯s her.¡¯


    It was just like what I saw in the news. The ¡°character¡± from this play that Seoyeon had recognized belonged to this woman.


    She was later cast in a film following this play and became a significant figure for several reasons.


    ¡®Pyo Ji-woo.¡¯


    She could have been a star¡ªa woman with the worst kind of talent: a fanatic stalker. She was the adversary Seoyeon needed to overcome this time.


    ¡°How about it? Anyone catch your eye?¡±


    Jo Do-yul, the play¡¯s director, looked around at the other judges as he spoke. The panel included Jo Do-yul, the director, the assistant director, the stage manager, other production staff, and two actors participating in the play.


    ¡°It seems popular, probably thanks to writer Lee Min-hee¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°Of course. The script is already well-acknowledged.¡±


    Close Your Eyes was a play that had made a significant hit in Daehak-ro three years ago. The success was enough to warrant a fresh cast and crew for its re-run, indicating its anticipated success.


    ¡°The role of Hong Jeong-hee is crucial this time.¡±


    ¡°Certainly. She¡¯s the character that changes the entire tone of the play.¡±


    The play mainly revolves around the male protagonist, idol Bae Seong-hak, and a hearing-impaired woman, Song Min-seo. The plot primarily follows their romance, with no significant crises until the arrival of Hong Jeong-hee, who serves as a catalyst for a dramatic shift in the narrative.


    ¡°Casting the wrong Hong Jeong-hee could ruin the entire play.¡±


    ¡°Right. Villain roles aren¡¯t easy to pull off....¡±


    ¡°That creepiness has to come through. If it¡¯s off, it¡¯s glaringly off. But if done right, it can leave a significant impact.¡±


    Thus, it¡¯s a role that many actors vie for. Despite the limited screen time, it carries enormous presence in the play.


    Hence, there were a staggering 500 applicants for this role, and only a tenth of them advanced to this second-round audition.


    ¡°If there¡¯s someone interesting, Bae Young-hyun?¡±


    ¡°Ah, he¡¯s a decent actor. Proven skills, and he¡¯s still fresh off the stage.¡±


    Each judge mentioned the names of actors they were interested in. Among them, one mentioned a particularly unique candidate.


    For the role of Hong Jeong-hee, the antagonist who would drive the play¡¯s success.


    Seven o¡¯clock in the evening.


    The audition began late in the day. Seoyeon slowly surveyed her surroundings.


    The tension in the air was incomparable to her time as a child actor. Back then, it was mainly a battle between parents.


    However, everyone here was serious. They were here to survive and succeed in the industry, with no room for compromise. The intensity was on a whole other level.


    ¡®This audition feels different from the ones I¡¯ve been to before.¡¯


    Seoyeon thought to herself, calmly closing her eyes. The auditions took place with five candidates entering the set at a time.


    This meant performing in front of others. If she hadn¡¯t experienced the auditions for The Sun That Hides the Moon, she might have been flustered.


    Even though that was ten years ago.


    ¡®I¡¯m calm.¡¯


    ¡®This feels familiar.¡¯


    The actors glanced at Seoyeon.


    For those who frequently auditioned, this was a familiar situation.


    But wasn¡¯t Seoyeon still a high school student? The fact that she showed no signs of nervousness suggested either a wealth of experience or an inherently strong heart.


    Either way, it was an essential trait for an actor.


    ¡®Who could she be?¡¯


    Amidst the curiosity surrounding Seoyeon...


    ¡°Next, Ha Si-eun, Hwang Young-hee, and......¡±


    The names of the next candidates for the audition were called.


    ¡°Joo Seoyeon.¡±


    Slowly, Seoyeon¡¯s eyes flickered at the sound of her name. Joo Seoyeon. Upon hearing that name, several actors reacted.


    ¡°Joo Seoyeon? Not that child actor, is it?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°But judging by the looks and age...¡±


    The Sun That Hides the Moon was a drama that defined its era. Joo Seoyeon¡¯s performance as a child actor in the series was unforgettable.


    Most actors present were young during its airing, yet they vividly remembered the impressive performance.


    ¡°And, Pyo Ji-woo.¡±


    Following Seoyeon, Pyo Ji-woo was also called for the audition. She stood up with a detached expression, seemingly indifferent to the interest Seoyeon had garnered.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Jo Do-yul, directing Close Your Eyes and acting as a judge today.¡±


    Entering the audition room, eight judges were seated.


    Seoyeon glanced at Bae Seong-hak¡¯s actor, Min Seo-ho, among them.


    ¡®That¡¯s him.¡¯


    The controversial figure. Soon, he would empathize with Bae Seong-hak¡¯s character in a way he hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    ¡®And.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s gaze shifted to the woman who had entered with her. Pyo Ji-woo.


    ¡°Now, who should go first....¡±


    The judges¡¯ eyes roved around the room, mainly settling on two people.


    Joo Seoyeon and Pyo Ji-woo.


    ¡°Joo Seoyeon, please come forward.¡±


    The first to perform. Being the first always carries a weight, and auditions were no exception.


    ¡®The child prodigy from ten years ago.¡¯


    Her dazzling appearance caught everyone¡¯s attention. Could she deliver a performance as impressive as she had in the past?


    The judges decided to watch quietly and see if she still had what it took.

 Chapter 39

    Ten years ago, Joo Seoyeon was the brilliant child actor who caused a major sensation.


    ¡®She definitely has acting talent. But being on stage is a different matter altogether.¡¯


    Jo Do-yul, the director, picked up his pen as he watched Seoyeon step forward. In front of him lay a notebook for evaluations.


    During the first audition, the recorded video of her free acting clearly demonstrated that she was indeed an actor. She understood how to perform for the camera, tailoring her acting to fit the medium.


    In the video, her portrayal of Hong Jeong-hee included her unique interpretation of the character. It was neither excessive nor lacking, perfectly fitting the character.


    That¡¯s why she passed the first audition despite several concerns about her.


    ¡®How about the script?¡¯


    ¡®She seems to have memorized it all.¡¯


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s script lay on the chair. Memorizing the lines is beneficial, but not mandatory.


    Many actors still perform holding the script during auditions. While it leaves a good impression, it doesn¡¯t necessarily earn extra points.


    Acting without the script carries the risk of making mistakes.


    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s see what she¡¯ll show us.¡¯


    The script included Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s scene, where her intense and sinister nature is fully displayed in Act 3, Scene 6. It begins with Hong Jeong-hee secretly observing Bae Seong-hak and Song Min-seo during a romantic moment.


    It marks the conclusion of Act 3 and serves as a forewarning of the crisis in Act 4.


    This was a crucial scene; failing to convey Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s essence would render her character ineffective in the following act.


    ¡®Will she pull it off?¡¯


    ¡®But she hasn¡¯t acted for ten years.¡¯


    ¡®Acting for a drama and acting for a play are different, aren¡¯t they?¡¯


    Moreover, Seoyeon not only took a decade-long hiatus, but her only notable acting experience was in The Sun That Hides the Moon. She lacked experience in various ways.


    However...


    ¡®She has an aura.¡¯


    There was an aura that captivated the audience¡ªa natural-born talent.


    While everyone was contemplating this, Seoyeon began her performance.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    With a lowered smile and a single utterance, Jo Do-yul felt chills. Not because she was acting well.


    No, it was because her voice was so incredibly clear.


    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯


    Wasn¡¯t this her first time performing in a play?


    In front of them, the brilliant child actor Joo Seoyeon was gone.


    Her back hunched, her long hair falling forward, giving off a sinister aura. The beauty that once adorned her face had vanished.


    ¡°Why, why does he smile at a woman like that? He¡¯s never shown that side to me.¡±


    What is the difference between acting in a drama and performing in a play? It lies in the method of expression.


    In dramas, emotional and detailed acting is crucial. The camera zooms in on the actor¡¯s face, capturing their emotions.@@@@


    This is what is commonly known as natural acting. The portrayal of daily life with added emotions defines acting in dramas.


    But what about theater?


    ¡°It can¡¯t be, heh, it can¡¯t be true. He must be deceived, right? That bitch is definitely seducing that nai?ve oppa. Yeah!¡±


    Seoyeon exaggeratedly clutched her chest, stumbling with zigzag steps. She moved like a woman who couldn¡¯t steady herself in a dark alley.


    She continued her actions while delivering her lines.


    Stage acting is expressed through the body.


    Exaggerated gestures are both similar and different. Unlike films or dramas, the actor''s emotions are conveyed through their physicality on stage, rather than through their facial expressions.


    With her hands and arms, her legs, and her heaving movements, she delivered Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s lines. Her voice trembled, yet her enunciation was impeccable.


    This was proof she had received proper training. Even her voice differed from when they first heard her.


    It was the voice of a cracked, sinister woman.


    ¡®What in the world...¡¯


    The actors who had entered the room with Seoyeon rubbed their arms as they watched her performance.


    Those exaggerated actions did not feel awkward at all. Anyone witnessing this would agree that the person in front of them was unmistakably ¡°Hong Jeong-hee.¡±


    ¡°Should I sneak in too? Heh, if I dress in a school uniform like this, oppa won¡¯t have the heart to push me away.¡±


    This line was not in the script, yet it blended seamlessly into her dialogue.


    Seoyeon was wearing a school uniform, whereas Hong Jeong-hee was a university student in her twenties. Naturally, the costume was a miss, but she incorporated it smoothly.


    The mere fact that a woman in her twenties pretended to be a teenager to approach an idol was enough to capture Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s sinister nature.


    ¡®Was it intentional?¡¯


    Or perhaps an improvisation.


    This was her first play.


    Her blocking¡ªor the movement around the stage during a performance¡ªwas lacking, as expected. Without any actual stage experience, her blocking was naturally insufficient. However, she was aware of this shortcoming.


    In her mind, she mapped out the scene: Hong Jeong-hee hidden in an alley, observing and staggering along the path.


    While her blocking might have been awkward, it added a sense of authenticity to her performance, as though she portrayed Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s unstable psyche.


    And her gaze?


    While the audience may read the actor¡¯s emotions through their physicality, they still want to see their face. As if aware of this, Seoyeon¡¯s gaze occasionally turned toward some of the judges.


    ¡°Just, wait a little longer, oppa. I, I will surely...¡±


    She huddled her body, turning around with small steps as if she were exiting the stage.


    And with that, Seoyeon¡¯s performance as Hong Jeong-hee concluded.


    ¡°.......¡±


    An uncanny silence enveloped the room.


    Jo Do-yul found himself reevaluating his assumptions. Had he underestimated her due to her lack of experience in drama? Sure, she lacked experience, but she possessed skills and talent that outshone that.


    Even a fool could recognize her genius in acting.


    While Seoyeon¡¯s portrayal emphasized Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s sinister nature, Pyo Ji-woo focused on the discomfort.


    It was the unsettling feeling of facing the real Hong Jeong-hee.


    The kind of fear that made you want to recoil and escape.


    ¡°I must, must find a way. A way to get rid of that wretched woman.¡±


    Seoyeon clenched her fist as she watched Pyo Ji-woo¡¯s performance.


    Yes, this is it.


    It genuinely felt as if Hong Jeong-hee was right before her eyes.


    Method acting?


    That could be one way to describe it.


    ¡®This performance is what will lead her to the film industry.¡¯


    The madness that garnered universal acclaim.


    It was real.


    Pyo Ji-woo was Min Seo-ho¡¯s stalker¡ªthe actor playing Bae Seong-hak.


    She was never caught and shadowed him until the very end.


    ¡®And at the same time, her acting skill is... genuine.¡¯


    Her gaze control and stage movements were impeccable.


    In particular, her blocking was more skilled than Seoyeon¡¯s.


    That¡¯s because this wasn¡¯t Pyo Ji-woo¡¯s first play.


    Driven by the sole desire to perform alongside Min Seo-ho, she had already appeared in several productions.


    Of course, her previous performances were lackluster.


    After all, she wasn¡¯t sincerely dedicated.


    But this time was different.


    Hong Jeong-hee represented Pyo Ji-woo¡¯s earnest desire.


    If everything prior had been practice, this was her ultimate goal.


    ¡°...I¡¯m finished.¡±


    When Pyo Ji-woo concluded her performance, the room froze for a different reason.


    An unexpected dark horse had emerged.


    Pyo Ji-woo had delivered a performance bordering on madness.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Inwardly, Pyo Ji-woo wore a satisfied smile.


    The judges¡¯ faces were lined with contemplation.


    ¡®I¡¯m more suited for the role. Isn¡¯t that right? I am Hong Jeong-hee.¡¯


    She knew this herself.


    This was a role granted to her by fate.


    A destiny bestowed by the heavens to unite her with Min Seo-ho.


    So not even a so-called child prodigy could stop her.


    With that sentiment, she turned her gaze toward the brilliant child prodigy.


    ¡°...!¡±


    Joo Seoyeon.


    Upon seeing the girl whose beauty dazzled the eyes, Pyo Ji-woo froze.


    With an expressionless face, Seoyeon stared back at her.


    Beyond the lights, in the shadowed corners.


    From there, faintly glowing red eyes watched her.


    In that stillness, a fierce determination emerged¡ªa resolve not to lose.


    That relentless emotion rooted Pyo Ji-woo to the spot.


    ¡°Hmm, well.¡±


    Behind her, Jo Do-yul¡¯s voice sounded as Pyo Ji-woo turned to leave.


    ¡°I think we should see one more scene from both of you.¡±


    A quiet conversation among the judges.


    Although spoken softly, Pyo Ji-woo, who stood close to the judges, heard it.


    And after hearing it, she looked back at Joo Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon¡¯s impassive expression twisted into a smirk.


    A sneer.


    A mocking smile directed at her victorious grin.


    She returned the smile she had shown Seoyeon earlier.


    At that smile, Pyo Ji-woo bit her lower lip.


    A mere child.


    A cunning girl trying to snatch away the role fate had destined for her.


    She had thought victory was certain, yet why!


    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡¯


    Pyo Ji-woo and Seoyeon¡¯s gazes collided in the air.


    Naturally, neither intended to relinquish the role.

 Chapter 40

    ¡°Joo Seoyeon and Pyo Jiwoo.¡±


    Jo Do-yul called for Seoyeon and Jiwoo.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see both of your performances again. Would you be able to do Act 4, Scene 3?¡±


    Act 4, Scene 3.


    This scene is where the female lead, Song Minseo, is threatened, rather than the male lead, Bae Seonghak. It reveals the violence inherent within Hong Jeonghee, amidst her ominous and foreboding nature.


    ¡®I¡¯ve memorized the script, of course.¡¯


    Seoyeon pondered how she should respond.


    Although she had memorized the lines, she hadn¡¯t actually performed Act 4, Scene 3. This scene was different from Act 3, which she had rehearsed for the audition.


    ¡°...Would it be alright if I practiced briefly before the performance?¡±


    ¡°You may.¡±


    After checking the watch on his wrist, he replied.


    There was still some time remaining.


    This was because the questions posed to other actors had been resolved quickly.


    ¡°Well then...¡±


    Just as Seoyeon was about to ask for a mere ten minutes to practice.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Jiwoo¡¯s firm voice was heard.


    Seoyeon turned to meet Jiwoo¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to start right away.¡±


    Jiwoo smiled at Seoyeon, who gazed at her impassively.


    It seemed almost like a provocation.


    ¡®So, what are you going to do?¡¯@@@@


    The girl appeared to have a strong sense of pride.


    This was evident by the way she had retaliated with a sneer earlier.


    Child prodigy?


    Sure, that might be true.


    But even so, that¡¯s all there was to it.


    Jiwoo was genuine.


    Just as she had told Jo Do-yul, she was prepared for any scene involving the role of ¡°Hong Jeonghee.¡±


    She had memorized every scene Hong Jeonghee appeared in and had rehearsed them countless times.


    ¡®Hong Jeonghee is me.¡¯


    No one could empathize with her emotions more deeply.


    Method acting. That¡¯s one way to describe it.


    Her persistence.


    It had taken her a year to go from being a mere spectator to standing in this place.


    For the sake of one person.


    ¡®It¡¯s fine to practice.¡¯


    She looked at Seoyeon as if to say that.


    The girl was still a high school student, wasn¡¯t she?


    A teenage girl would certainly fall for such provocations.


    ¡®Though, it would erase any chance of your victory.¡¯


    Jiwoo did not underestimate Seoyeon.


    Certainly, the performance she had just witnessed was quite remarkable.


    It was an impressive portrayal of Hong Jeonghee.


    If given practice time, a similar incident might occur again.


    She might lose by sheer bad luck.


    Such an outcome was absolutely unacceptable to Jiwoo.


    ¡°...I¡¯ll just do it.¡±


    Seoyeon replied with a dry tone.


    Her expression and voice were difficult to read.


    However, the determination visible in her eyes caused Jiwoo¡¯s lips to curl slightly.


    ¡®Got you.¡¯


    No matter how talented, you couldn¡¯t excel at something you hadn¡¯t tried before.


    Of course, she felt confident she would win even if Seoyeon practiced, but this was tantamount to Seoyeon surrendering on her own.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Jo Do-yul, naturally, looked perplexed.


    ¡®Is she still just a high school student?¡¯


    He couldn¡¯t believe she had so easily succumbed to Jiwoo¡¯s provocation.


    ¡®Being too emotional can be problematic.¡¯


    He was about to lower his assessment of Seoyeon.


    ¡°But instead,¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°Would it be okay if I performed after Pyo Jiwoo?¡±


    ¡°After Pyo Jiwoo?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Since I went first last time.¡±


    At Seoyeon¡¯s audacious request, Jo Do-yul turned to look at the other judges.


    Most nodded, indicating they had no objections.


    ¡°Hmm, alright. Then we¡¯ll have Pyo Jiwoo perform first this time. Is that alright with you, Pyo Jiwoo?¡±


    ¡°...Yes.¡±


    What was she thinking?


    Jiwoo sneered as she looked at Seoyeon.


    Even her expression was hard to read.


    Like a doll.


    With barely any visible emotions, yet remarkably beautiful.


    ¡°Act 4, Scene 3. The scene where Hong Jeonghee appears before Song Minseo and threatens her.¡±


    She traced her canvas with her brush, not missing a single stroke of color.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t perfect.


    Seoyeon¡¯s replication of emotions was incredibly close to reality, but it couldn¡¯t reach Jiwoo¡¯s method acting.


    In that case.


    The answer was simple.


    ¡°Song Minseo!¡±


    Thud, as Hong Jeonghee grabbed Song Minseo¡¯s hair and tried to slam it into the wall, her arm stopped.


    This was where Bae Seonghak appeared and grabbed Hong Jeonghee¡¯s arm.


    ¡°...I¡¯m done.¡±


    The judges applauded her calmly spoken words with stunned expressions.


    It was, without a doubt, a perfect portrayal of Hong Jeonghee.


    One couldn¡¯t imagine a performance more fitting.


    ¡®Who played Hong Jeonghee before?¡¯


    ¡°Eyes Closed¡± had already been performed three years ago at Daehangno.


    This was merely a reprisal.


    Yet Jiwoo¡¯s performance made it hard to recall who had previously played Hong Jeonghee.


    ¡°Next, we have Joo Seoyeon.¡±


    Jo Do-yul calmly called for Seoyeon, observing her face.


    A high school student like Seoyeon would undoubtedly feel immense pressure from the previous performance.


    However, he also remembered the look in Seoyeon¡¯s eyes from earlier.


    ¡®Surprisingly...¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯s rather composed?¡¯


    ¡®Strong mentality, huh~.¡¯


    The judges whispered quietly.


    The earlier performance was enough to pressure anyone.


    To the point where performing first might have been preferable.


    ¡°Please show us your performance for Act 4, Scene 3.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    A calm response.


    Seoyeon stepped forward.


    To the very spot where Jiwoo had stood moments ago.


    As she did, Jiwoo narrowed her eyes.


    ¡®Strange girl.¡¯


    Even now, she didn¡¯t show any changes in expression¡ªan uninteresting character.


    ¡®Heh, heheh.¡¯


    Nevertheless, Jiwoo found it hard to suppress the laughter rising from her lips.


    The performance she had just delivered was better than any she had practiced alone.


    She knew why.


    ¡®It¡¯s because Seoho oppa was among the judges.¡¯


    Secretly, Jiwoo glanced at Min Seo-ho.


    Then, Min Seo-ho trembled slightly, glancing around nervously.


    As expected, Hong Jeonghee was her role.


    To perform alongside Min Seo-ho in a play, she had practiced relentlessly to find a way to approach him.


    Ever since it was announced a year ago that Min Seo-ho would be part of this play.


    ¡°I will begin now.¡±


    Seoyeon spoke with composure.


    Act 4, Scene 3.


    Seoyeon¡¯s portrayal of Hong Jeonghee commenced.


    ¡®...What?¡¯


    Initially, Jiwoo, the person involved, felt the most significant discomfort.


    Seoyeon¡¯s steps, her movements.


    The emotions on her face.


    Her restless breath and desperate gaze.


    ¡®This girl!¡¯


    She moved.


    Her actions, her blocking, the way her body shifted¡ªsomeone she was mimicking.


    Who was it?


    There was no need to question.


    It was Pyo Jiwoo herself.


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re special?¡±


    She moved as if she had absorbed the emotions Jiwoo had shown as ¡°Hong Jeonghee.¡±


    ¡®You copied me! Yes, you mimicked me...?¡¯


    Following the emotional trajectory, the lines she delivered.


    It indeed resembled the emotions Jiwoo had expressed.


    ¡®What is this?¡¯


    Yet, something was different.


    ¡®It¡¯s not enough to merely understand and imitate the information.¡¯


    As a child actor, that might have sufficed, but now the standards had changed.


    Ultimately, she couldn¡¯t defeat Jiwoo with mere imitation.


    Thus.


    The emotion replication Seoyeon employed was purely to understand the role.


    Jiwoo anticipated her victory because she empathized with Hong Jeonghee¡¯s feelings more than anyone.


    Seoyeon¡¯s emotions fell short because she hadn¡¯t fully comprehended Hong Jeonghee as a character.


    Having replicated and understood Jiwoo¡¯s emotions as Hong Jeonghee.


    She was now prepared.


    Prepared to immerse herself entirely in the role.

 Chapter 41

    When Seoyeon portrayed Hong Jeonghee, she didn¡¯t avoid performing deeply emotional acting, akin to method acting, because she disliked it.


    She lacked information.


    In the end, Seoyeon¡¯s usual emotional acting was akin to that of a veteran actor.


    That is, she acted based on firsthand experiences or information she had seen.


    Conversely, it took her time to understand emotions in situations she hadn¡¯t experienced or unique characters that deviated from the ¡°norm.¡±


    In her previous life, emotions were something Seoyeon learned academically.


    Though this disadvantage was eliminated in her current reincarnation, it was still challenging to grasp emotions she had not consciously felt or experienced.


    In other words, the character ¡°Hong Jeonghee¡± was merely a script to Seoyeon.


    There were many aspects of Hong Jeonghee¡¯s words and behavior that she found difficult to understand.


    Therefore, Seoyeon interpreted the emotions written in the script to the best of her ability and portrayed her version of Hong Jeonghee.


    ¡®Of course, that alone isn¡¯t enough to beat Pyo Jiwoo, who has a complete grasp of the character.¡¯


    The answer lay before her.


    Thus, she observed Jiwoo¡¯s actions.


    In theater, a character¡¯s psychology is expressed through movements.


    Those intense actions helped Seoyeon understand Hong Jeonghee as a character.


    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s do this.¡¯


    With a single breath,


    She opened her eyes, looking at the judges.


    ¡°Song Minseo.¡±


    Hong Jeonghee called out to Song Minseo.


    Upon reflection, this was a peculiar action.


    Song Minseo had a hearing impairment and could not hear Hong Jeonghee¡¯s words.


    However, Hong Jeonghee spoke to Song Minseo without any sign language.


    One might argue that this was done in theater to convey Hong Jeonghee¡¯s words to the audience.


    However, other characters in the play used simple sign language when conversing with Song Minseo.


    In other words, Hong Jeonghee¡¯s actions and words were essentially monologues.


    They didn¡¯t matter if Song Minseo could hear them.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a deaf person.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a sarcastic comment.


    Surprisingly, the emotion in this line was inferiority.


    Such was Hong Jeonghee.


    Watching Seoyeon¡¯s performance, Jo Do-yul pondered.


    ¡®The performance is different from before. Yet, it¡¯s not completely different.¡¯


    Initially, it seemed like she was mimicking Jiwoo.


    But it wasn¡¯t merely that feeling.


    It was as if she understood the character by watching Jiwoo, and the depth of emotion in her performance had increased significantly.


    Jo Do-yul was likely not the only one who felt this way.


    The other judges were also scribbling something as they watched Seoyeon¡¯s performance with a captivated look.


    ¡°Hmm? Think about it. Do you believe he truly has feelings for you?¡±


    Hong Jeonghee berated Song Minseo even more because of her inferiority complex towards Song Minseo¡¯s hearing impairment.


    She resorted to violence, ensuring Song Minseo couldn¡¯t hear her words.


    ¡°He¡¯s only going along with your vile schemes.¡±


    The sense of superiority gained from this.


    Seoyeon uttered her lines, understanding that vile heart.


    ¡°A vile woman who uses her disability to exploit the goodwill of others.¡±


    Ultimately, Hong Jeonghee¡¯s lines were solely about belittling Song Minseo.


    And simultaneously,


    ¡°Pathetic.¡±


    Those words were also directed at herself.


    Pathetic.


    Hong Jeonghee knew she was pathetic.@@@@


    But it didn¡¯t matter.


    If she could exclude Song Minseo and somehow drive her away from Bae Seonghak.


    Perhaps she could occupy the empty space beside him.


    While concealing such sinister thoughts, she disparaged Song Minseo, but Song Minseo responded to Hong Jeonghee¡¯s words with composure.


    Witnessing this, Hong Jeonghee¡¯s actions became more intense.


    Her voice rose, and she resorted to violence.


    Seoyeon followed Jiwoo¡¯s blocking, imitating her movements and correcting some actions on the spot.


    ¡®This is Jiwoo¡¯s. But Hong Jeonghee... would be a bit different.¡¯


    Of course, this was merely Seoyeon¡¯s interpretation.


    However, unlike before, that interpretation was based on understanding.


    Though similar in essence, Seoyeon painted over Jiwoo¡¯s color with her own.


    A painting crafted with the water currents of the sea.


    So that it could be beautifully displayed in an aquarium.


    A new understanding of emotion.


    Through that emotion, she acted out a new ¡°Hong Jeonghee.¡±


    At last, she was perfectly depicted.


    ¡°I¡¯m finished.¡±


    Seoyeon calmly answered.


    She swept her disheveled hair back.


    As she straightened her wrinkled collar and faced forward, the judges were all deep in thought, with their mouths slightly agape.


    ¡®This is...¡¯


    This is problematic.


    Occasionally, such situations arise.


    An audition where you hesitate, unsure of whom to choose.


    ¡®Both of them suit Hong Jeonghee.¡¯


    ¡®Visually, isn¡¯t Pyo Jiwoo more fitting?¡¯


    ¡®Joo Seoyeon¡¯s appearance is too dazzling. But that can be covered with makeup.¡¯


    Each performance had its unique characteristics.


    She had considered it, but only slightly!


    After all, she was still a minor, still a child.


    Just a little.


    Just a little, really...


    Tears welled up in Jiwoo¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Boohoo!!¡±


    ¡°Eek.¡±


    Naturally, Seoyeon could only grimace at her tears.


    In many ways.


    ¡°Sniff.¡±


    And so.


    After a short period of time.


    ¡°...If you do anything suspicious, I¡¯ll report you.¡±


    Hearing Seoyeon¡¯s words, Jiwoo felt sorrow once again.


    She hadn¡¯t done anything yet, but Seoyeon treated her as if she were a criminal.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t Seoyeon¡¯s intention.


    The memories of her previous life were simply too vivid.


    ¡®She did carve up a person, after all...¡¯


    As mentioned, the reason Seoyeon became aware of the play ¡°Eyes Closed¡± was none other than the news.


    A news report about an assault case.


    In that news, the suspect was none other than the Jiwoo before her.


    The victim was Min Seo-ho.


    In some ways, the incident was the result of Min Seo-ho¡¯s own actions, but the fact that Jiwoo had stormed into a club with a knife and stabbed Min Seo-ho, who was with friends, was a topic of online discussion for a while.


    ¡®Min Seo-ho surviving that situation is impressive, though.¡¯


    In any case, Jiwoo managed to get past the club¡¯s guards and accomplish that.


    She was even called ¡°Swordmaster Pyo¡± on internet forums for a while.


    If she had brought a knife today... Seoyeon couldn¡¯t guarantee the outcome.


    ¡®Still.¡¯


    Seoyeon watched the sniffling, tearful Jiwoo.


    At least for now, she wasn¡¯t the Jiwoo she had seen in the news.


    Moreover, after witnessing her performance, Seoyeon didn¡¯t want such a destructive future for her.


    ¡°Pyo Jiwoo... unnie.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    It still felt somewhat awkward to use the term ¡°unnie.¡±


    With that thought, Seoyeon continued speaking.


    ¡°If it¡¯s alright, would you like to go somewhere with me in three days?¡±


    Knowing what she did now, she believed the past incident wouldn¡¯t occur.


    Now that Jiwoo hadn¡¯t become Min Seo-ho¡¯s lover yet.


    ¡°Sehee, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to take on a drama or something?¡±


    Inside the spacious van, Manager Shin Yu-gyeong remarked to Jo Sehee, who was idly playing with her phone.


    They had known each other for over a decade and were like sisters, so such remarks were possible.


    Shin Yu-gyeong had numerous grievances regarding Jo Sehee¡¯s recent behavior.


    She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, prompting her to speak.


    ¡°Lately, I just don¡¯t feel motivated.¡±


    ¡°...Well, you have been working really hard.¡±


    Seventeen.


    Jo Sehee, who rarely attended school and devoted herself to work, was undoubtedly at the top among her peers.


    The only person comparable was Park Jungwoo, who was three years older.


    ¡®No, it¡¯s not just among peers. How many current actresses can surpass Jo Sehee?¡¯


    The ¡°hitmaker.¡±


    That label was attached to her a year ago.


    In other words, when Jo Sehee was in her third year of middle school.


    Two movies, four dramas.


    All of them achieved astonishing success and were hits.


    Although she only starred in one of them, what did it matter?


    In the end, her reputation had skyrocketed.


    If she attended school, students would undoubtedly flock to her, eager to talk.


    That¡¯s the level of popularity and recognition she had achieved.


    However, Jo Sehee¡¯s face appeared profoundly bored.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like acting.¡±


    ¡°Are you burned out? Then why not take a few months off?¡±


    Take a break.


    That was a word that hadn¡¯t been used in relation to Jo Sehee for about ten years.


    When did she start working so hard?


    Jo Sehee thought of the person who had been the catalyst for this.


    ¡®Did she really retire?¡¯


    Joo Seoyeon.


    She repeated that name to herself several times.


    In truth, they had only exchanged a few words.


    Yet, had anyone else had such a profound impact on her?


    ¡°Take a break, see some plays or musicals, enjoy some cultural activities. Who knows? You might find inspiration again.¡±


    Musicals, movies.


    Shin Yu-gyeong¡¯s intentions were clear.


    Still, since Jo Sehee¡¯s nature was that of an actress, watching such performances might inspire her again.


    ¡®Unnie is right, I should take a break.¡¯


    Plays, huh.


    For Jo Sehee, who primarily worked in dramas and movies, the word was somewhat unfamiliar.


    So, she had a bit of interest.


    Yes, just a little.

 Chapter 42

    Pyo Jiwoo was Min Seo-ho¡¯s current stalker. Driven by the sole determination to get close to him, she prepared for an acting career for a year. Not only did she successfully debut, but she also managed to perform in the same play as him.


    A testament to the extraordinary dedication of a rookie with immense talent, she even managed to infiltrate Min Seo-ho¡¯s team in the play ¡°Eyes Closed.¡± And what¡¯s more? Through her aggressive advances, she finally secured the position of his girlfriend.


    It was a tear-jerking success story of a stalker.


    However, the real problem began afterward.


    It all started when Min Seo-ho¡¯s complicated relationships with multiple women were revealed.


    ¡®The number of women Min Seo-ho is currently dating is five.¡¯


    This was the epitome of juggling multiple relationships. It was almost like having a girlfriend for each day of the week.


    And to top it all off, he practically lived in clubs during his spare time with friends.


    Jiwoo knew he frequented clubs but never imagined he had such an intricate web of relationships.


    The result, as previously mentioned, culminated in the ¡°Swordmaster Ending.¡±


    ¡°...You¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah.¡±


    Regardless of who stabbed whom, Jiwoo did stab someone, and it was true.


    Naturally, I couldn¡¯t help but be a little cautious.


    I glanced Jiwoo up and down discreetly.


    I was worried she might have brought a weapon.


    ¡®Fortunately, nothing seems suspicious.¡¯


    Come to think of it, Jiwoo didn¡¯t even carry a bag.


    She usually wore jeans and a plain shirt.


    In truth, her style was more masculine than feminine.


    ¡°Why are you wearing a school uniform?¡±


    ¡°I came here right after school.¡±


    What an obvious question.


    I¡¯m currently a high school student, so it¡¯s only natural for me to be in uniform.


    ¡®...Aside from the fact that I have limited clothing options at home.¡¯


    My mother¡¯s hobby is enhancing my appearance.


    Basic skincare is a given.


    Naturally, she pays a lot of attention to my clothing as well.


    Thus, my wardrobe is filled with colorful clothes I didn¡¯t choose.


    As a result, the most neutral outfit I can wear is my school uniform.


    Joo Seoyeon, 17 years old, is still at an age where I wear clothes my parents pick out for me...


    ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered about something.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Do you know that you always look at me with an uncomfortable gaze?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken.¡±


    In any case, I walked about a meter away from Jiwoo.


    It was a distance where I could react to anything that might happen.


    Hearing my response, Jiwoo surveyed the surroundings with her characteristic sinister expression.


    ¡°And why here of all places? It doesn¡¯t seem like a place you would come to...¡±


    ¡°Well.¡±


    I considered explaining in more detail, but then shook my head.


    Showing her directly would make it clearer.


    If I explained verbally, she might accuse me of slander and lash out.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for now.¡±


    We were currently in an entertainment district in Gangnam.


    It was a place frequently visited by our lead actor, Min Seo-ho.


    Jiwoo frowned as she watched Seoyeon walking ahead.


    Long, black hair.


    With hardly any expression changes, her face was as beautiful as a doll¡¯s.


    ¡®To think she came here wearing a school uniform.¡¯@@@@


    As Seoyeon strolled through Gangnam¡¯s entertainment district at this hour, she naturally drew attention.


    It was currently 10:30 p.m.


    A high school girl walking around in a nightlife area at this time was bound to attract attention.


    With looks transitioning from a girl to a young woman.


    Seeing Seoyeon¡¯s stunning beauty, men couldn¡¯t help but follow her with their eyes.


    A born aura.


    Was this what it meant to be a natural-born actor?


    Jiwoo wasn¡¯t someone who would fall short in terms of appearance either.


    That¡¯s why she was in the acting business.


    Although there¡¯s a demand for actors with unique looks, ultimately, being good-looking is always a plus.


    While unattractiveness can be masked with makeup, the reverse is usually impossible.


    In that sense, Seoyeon was a daunting opponent for Jiwoo.


    She was someone who triggered Jiwoo¡¯s inferiority complex.


    Although Seoyeon herself seemed to have an aversion to Jiwoo, Jiwoo was also not comfortable with her.


    That¡¯s why Jiwoo was rather curious why Seoyeon had called her here.


    ¡®Somehow.¡¯


    An uneasy feeling.


    With such thoughts, Jiwoo followed Seoyeon.


    ¡°Shh.¡±


    Seoyeon gestured for her to wait for a moment.


    ¡°Come this way.¡±


    Seoyeon led them into an alley near a club.


    Given the line to get in, it seemed like a fairly popular spot.


    ¡®Why such a place?¡¯


    While pondering this question, Jiwoo waited silently.


    The bouncer felt Seoyeon¡¯s palm touch his chest.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Suddenly, the scene changed.


    The bouncer belatedly realized he had been pushed backward and had fallen.


    Seoyeon had shoved him forcefully with her palm.


    With just that, the nearly 190 cm tall bouncer was pushed back several meters and toppled over.


    Though he had let his guard down, it was a strength unimaginable from a young girl.


    It felt as if he had been pushed by a man of similar build.


    ¡°Now.¡±


    Then, Seoyeon quickly pulled Jiwoo¡¯s hand and started running.


    In reality, Jiwoo was more or less being dragged along.


    While the bouncer got to his feet in confusion, Seoyeon and Jiwoo were already far from the area.


    ¡°Hah, hah.¡±


    Having cried and broken into a sweat, Jiwoo sat panting on a nearby bench.


    Seeing Seoyeon, who didn¡¯t even break a sweat, Jiwoo felt dumbfounded.


    ¡®What is she?!¡¯


    Are all high school girls like this these days?


    Surely not.


    She wanted to say something about the recent events, but no longer had the mental capacity to do so.


    She was just in a daze.


    ¡°Now, what do I do?¡±


    Even though her intentions were impure, she had devoted a year to acting.


    She thought she might have a knack for acting.


    She had considered continuing in this line of work if things worked out with Min Seo-ho.


    But now, she didn¡¯t even have the will for that.


    ¡°Why did you show me this?¡±


    She asked again why Seoyeon had revealed the truth about Min Seo-ho to her.


    Seoyeon glanced at the absent-minded Jiwoo.


    Her original intention was to prevent Jiwoo from repeating her past actions.


    And why did she think that?


    ¡°...It would be a waste.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You said you¡¯ve been at it for a year.¡±


    Jiwoo was an incredibly talented actress.


    The time she spent becoming an actress to perform with Min Seo-ho was a year.


    Yes, just a year.


    ¡°I think you possess tremendous talent. So...¡±


    Remarkably, it took her only a year to get cast in a movie.


    She was that outstanding of an actress.


    ¡°I thought it would be a waste to quit over something like this.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°And it would be unfortunate if anything bad happened because of someone like that.¡±


    Hearing Seoyeon¡¯s words, Jiwoo silently stared at her.


    She looked awkward.


    It even seemed like she was embarrassed to say such things.


    Usually, she had such a stoic expression and showed little emotion.


    ¡°That''s all there is to it.¡±


    With those words, Seoyeon left.


    Jiwoo could only watch Seoyeon¡¯s retreating figure until the very end.


    Just, silently.


    ¡°So.¡±


    Lee Ji-yeon looked at me with a curious expression.


    ¡°So what happened to actor Min Seo-ho?¡±


    ¡°He was replaced.¡±


    Of course, Seoyeon didn¡¯t report him to the police directly.


    Several days after that incident, Seoyeon received a call informing her that she had passed the audition.


    Then, during a meeting with Jo Do-yul, she casually mentioned what had happened.


    ¡°...Are these photos real?¡±


    ¡°Yes. An unnie I know took them and showed them to me.¡±


    ¡°Ha...¡±


    Jo Do-yul shook his head as if dealing with a headache.


    Typically, plays have two or three actors for the same role.


    A play usually has two or three performances a day, and it¡¯s impossible for a single actor to perform in all of them.


    This was also true for ¡°Eyes Closed,¡± which had three actors for the role of Baek Sung-hak.


    Incidentally, this audition was for the role of Hong Jeong-hee in the part where Min Seo-ho was the lead.


    The previous two teams had been composed of remaining actors from the original production.


    Since one team was missing, the audition sought to recruit others while keeping Min Seo-ho in the lead role.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to find a new Baek Sung-hak...¡±


    He let out a sigh.


    Usually, he didn¡¯t meddle too much in an actor¡¯s personal life, but with the opening approaching, any scandal could pose a significant problem.


    Moreover, having two women clinging to him...


    ¡®Why did he have to get caught by a kid?¡¯


    Joo Seoyeon.


    The impact of her name was by no means trivial.


    Jo Do-yul could only sigh at the looming headache.

 Chapter 43

    The departure of the actor Min Seo-ho, who played the lead role of Bae Seong-hak, happened quickly.


    It seemed doubtful that they would make him quit before any issues had even surfaced, but Jo Do-yul and the production team decided to find another actor.


    "It seems like there are just too many people involved."


    "Even if just one person goes out of control..."


    There must have been a heated debate about this behind the scenes.


    With a little over a month until the play begins, now was the only time to make decisions.


    ¡°Usually, a play''s preparation period is between a month and a half to three months.¡±


    This means that the standard preparation period is between 6 and 12 weeks. Anything more is too long, and anything less is too short.


    So, it is not too difficult to drop an actor from the play before rehearsals begin, especially if there is another actor ready to step in.


    "...It¡¯s Sim Cheong-seok."


    Jo Do-yul quickly found an actor perfectly suited for the role of Bae Seong-hak. Sim Cheong-seok.


    A man who has already played the lead in several plays in Jongno.


    "Wow, Cheong-seok is going to be in it?"


    "Isn''t this his first time doing romance? I''m really looking forward to it."


    When he first appeared at the gathering of the cast, the staff let out shrill screams.


    Seoyeon looked at him intently and slightly tilted her head.


    ¡®He¡¯s certainly handsome.¡¯


    However, she wasn''t sure how well he would fit in with "Eyes Closed." The previous actor for the role of Bae Seong-hak, Min Seo-ho, was often described as a refreshing handsome man. To be honest, he didn¡¯t look like someone who would be juggling multiple relationships.


    In terms of appearance, he looked like a pure and innocent young man.


    "So even the swordmaster didn''t realize."


    Even if they knew, they might have assumed they were mistaken.


    Someone once said:


    "Longing is the emotion farthest from understanding..."


    "Let''s keep it brief today so that the actors can introduce themselves to each other. Rehearsals start tomorrow, you all know that, right?"


    The person speaking was Lee Hyeong-hak, the stage director. He smiled warmly as he gestured to the assembled actors.


    There were fifteen people in total. Three of them were in leading roles, and two were multi-role actors, so the numbers were quite significant.


    "That girl..."


    "Isn''t she the one who appeared in "The Legend of Tae-sum" back then?"


    Among the actors gathered, the person receiving the most attention was Seoyeon.


    This was to be expected.


    A child actor who suddenly disappeared ten years ago, no one imagined she would reappear in such a setting.


    The most burdened were the two actresses cast in the same role as Hong Jeong-hee.


    They had already seen Seoyeon''s audition video, which could lead to unavoidable comparisons.


    "Besides, is she really suitable for this?"


    Isn''t she too pretty to play Hong Jeong-hee?


    Both actresses were confident in their looks, but Seoyeon seemed to be in a different league.


    Then there was her presence.


    Even when meeting many actors in Jongno, they rarely felt such a strong presence.


    This was a child who had won the Youth Acting Award at a young age.


    It was no exaggeration to say she had the qualities of a top actor.


    "Why is a girl like her here?"


    It was a question that arose separately from the burden.


    Why did Seoyeon choose to audition for this play?


    Even though it was her first comeback in a while, there must have been better opportunities for her if she wanted them.


    Amidst such questions, everyone''s eyes turned to Seoyeon.


    "Ahem."


    Someone cleared their throat.


    "Hello, I enjoyed your audition. I am Park Hee-jun, playing the role of Bae Seong-hak. I look forward to working with you, Hong Jeong-hee."


    The first to greet Seoyeon was Park Hee-jun, one of the actors playing Bae Seong-hak.


    He was the eldest here and a veteran actor who had been active in Jongno for a long time.


    "Should I call you senior? Considering Seoyeon''s debut year..."


    "Feel free to call me whatever you''re comfortable with."


    "Really? Then I¡¯ll do that."


    No one here had debuted earlier than Seoyeon, even if they had been acting for a long time.


    Although the drama and theater scenes are different, there¡¯s no rule that one must stay in the same place.


    It''s good to leave a strong impression on an actor with a promising future.


    "Cheong-seok, why don¡¯t you introduce yourself? You¡¯ll be working closely with her."


    That thought made me uneasy.


    Thinking of a mom made me think of my actual mom.


    ¡®Is my mom watching this too?¡¯


    Seoyeon''s mother, Sua, enjoyed watching YouTubers.


    So if it became a topic, she might see it.


    If she did, the scolding would last more than a couple of hours.


    Just imagining it made me shiver.


    "Joo Seoyeon."


    "Yeah?"


    "You know that promise we talked about earlier."


    The promise we talked about earlier?


    I tried to remember and finally recalled it.


    "Oh, you¡¯re coming over to my house?"


    "Yeah. If your play starts, it¡¯ll be hard for a while, so is this week okay?"


    "Yeah."


    Rehearsals started today, but this week should be fine.


    Besides, my parents were going shopping with my younger sibling that day.


    ¡®I need to do my best that day.¡¯


    I glanced at Lee Ji-yeon.


    I was glad things were working out.


    Even so, I hoped she would take it up as a hobby.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re starting officially today, so let¡¯s all do our best.¡±


    The play rehearsals began after afternoon classes ended.


    So if I hurried, I could make it on time and not be late.


    Of course, during the performance, I¡¯d have to skip some classes, but that was for later.


    ¡®Joo Seoyeon.¡¯


    The assistant director was mainly responsible for guiding the play¡¯s acting.


    Assistant director Kim Cheong-un squinted as he looked at the high school girl, Seoyeon, who had arrived late.


    ¡®Is this going to be okay? Her acting skills seem solid enough.¡¯


    He felt a bit uneasy.


    The audition was excellent.


    He was there, so he could fully understand why Seoyeon was cast for the role of Hong Jeong-hee.


    ¡®But talent is different from personality.¡¯


    A talented child actor.


    Considering she was still a teenager, there were several areas of concern.


    Even though she had passed puberty, she still had a lot of emotional aspects to deal with.


    ¡°First, we¡¯ll watch some of the Bae Seong-hak scenes, then we¡¯ll check the chemistry between Cheong-seok and Seoyeon. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Short responses were heard.


    Sim Cheong-seok and Joo Seoyeon.


    Both had limited facial expressions and conveyed little emotion.


    "Oh, my head hurts."


    This group of actors seemed to be particularly stoic.


    Was this really going to be okay?


    That¡¯s how it seemed.


    However, Seoyeon herself didn¡¯t think much of it.


    In fact, she found it comfortable not having to talk much.


    Besides, Seoyeon was deep in thought.


    ¡®If it¡¯s Sim Cheong-seok...¡¯


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes as she watched Sim Cheong-seok warming up.


    Since she first saw him, he seemed familiar.


    Upon closer examination, he was indeed someone Seoyeon recognized.


    ¡®Surely... the person who became a sensation later in an OTT drama.¡¯


    Outstanding acting skills.


    Along with a handsome face, he quickly became a star.


    However, Seoyeon remembered him for a different reason.


    He was the ill-fated actor who died while filming that drama, just before the last episode aired.

 Chapter 44

    The reason I knew Sim Cheong-seok was somewhat similar to how I knew Pyo Jiwoo.@@@@


    An accident that was widely reported in the news.


    I had only seen his face as a small thumbnail in the news, so I couldn''t immediately remember him.


    "The incident happened approximately a year from now."


    It was an accident that occurred during drama filming.


    A fall accident.


    He reportedly slipped at the filming site and tumbled down a gorge.


    Initially, it was labeled a simple accident, but it was later revealed to be caused by power abuse from a senior actor.


    The actor had insisted on continuing the scene even though the stuntman had not yet arrived.


    "Power abuse by an actor."


    It was indeed a controversial issue.


    I was lucky never to have experienced such power abuse during my time as a child actor.


    However, I''ve heard that child actors are often in positions vulnerable to power abuse from other actors or staff.


    ¡®I was lucky.¡¯


    Unlike me, Sim Cheong-seok wasn''t so fortunate.


    Perhaps some felt bitter that he had transitioned from the theater to a major OTT drama, or maybe they felt inferior to his talent.


    Because of this, there was talk in the National Assembly about introducing a law against actors¡¯ abuse of power, often referred to as the "Sim Cheong-seok Law."


    "Why are you looking at me like that? I mean, sir?"


    "Huh?"


    "You''re looking at me like I''m about to die."


    Sim Cheong-seok said this with a rather displeased expression.


    Oops, had I been looking at him like that unintentionally?


    "But why does he talk like that?"


    Was he uncomfortable using honorifics with someone younger than him?


    It seemed like speaking in that way would make conversations difficult.


    "You can speak informally with me. It''s fine."


    "Oh, really?"


    As soon as I told him he could drop the honorifics, Sim Cheong-seok did so immediately, which made me roll my eyes.


    I didn¡¯t mind, but still, how should I put it...


    ¡®Does he know that I''m his senior?¡¯


    He didn¡¯t seem like the kind of junior that seniors would appreciate.


    Not that I had any intention of flaunting my seniority.


    ...Really.


    "But it wasn¡¯t like I was looking at you for any special reason."


    "Hmm."


    Though his appearance was sharp, his tone was not.


    His speech was slow, and his movements weren''t particularly quick.


    He seemed like someone who would have a hard time if he was bullied.


    "Let''s get started if you''re ready."


    Cheong-seok seemed to lose interest in me as he looked around.


    At this point, everyone involved in the play was seated around the table.


    Script Reading.


    Whether for a drama or a play, it is the foundation of any performance involving a script.


    It''s not just about reciting lines and performing scenes. It''s a process where you review pronunciation and sentences to see if they fit you.


    "In the previous drama, I went through it lightly."


    Was it because I was a child actor?


    As I pondered this, I noticed that everyone had a different style of script in their hands.


    They were all edited to suit each actor''s style.


    I just had the original.


    I felt there was nothing to tweak, so I held on to the one I had received initially.


    "Seoyeon, is this your first time doing a script reading for a play?"


    "Yes."


    As I sat quietly reviewing the script, Lee Hye-jin, playing the role of Song Min-seo, cautiously spoke to me.


    "The first reading usually takes quite a while. It might end late. Is that okay?"


    "Yes, I¡¯ve already informed my family."


    Even if it wasn''t okay, it was something I had to do.


    If I said I was leaving because it was late, I¡¯d likely be leaving with my role too.


    "Then, as I mentioned earlier, let''s have Seoyeon and Cheong-seok start first."


    I wondered why it was us two, but upon reflection, it was obvious.


    The other two pairs of actors had already worked together in previous productions.


    Since all the actors in our parts were new, our ''first'' reading was the only real first one.


    "Then, shouldn''t I be starting with Lee Hye-jin, who plays Song Min-seo?"


    I had this question, but they probably wanted to check something specific.


    I vaguely thought that as I opened the script.


    The introduction of Act 2, where Bae Seong-hak and Hong Jeong-hee first meet.


    There were other actors too, which took up more time.


    Of course, Seoyeon and Sim Cheong-seok did consume the most time.


    "She¡¯s the real deal."


    Kim Cheong-un admired Seoyeon, who was now cautiously glancing around.


    Despite it being her first script reading, she seemed very familiar with it.


    Well, she had done it during drama shoots, so perhaps it was just her first for theater.


    "This is certainly worth the production team¡¯s attention."


    In fact, even if Seoyeon''s performance was a bit inferior to Pyo Jiwoo''s, she would still have been cast.


    The child actor from "The Moon That Hid the Sun."


    Having her make a comeback after ten years through theater is an unmatched promotional opportunity.


    *¡®A comeback work¡¯ is a premium title available only once.


    Though its impact may not reach broadcast levels, it certainly elevates the theater scene.


    "She didn¡¯t falter against Sim Cheong-seok either."


    I was already looking forward to the actual performance.


    Sim Cheong-seok was a tremendously talented actor as well.


    There¡¯s a variety show called "Looking at the Past, Memories!"


    It''s a program that reenacts old popular shows or dramas.


    Usually, it''s targeted at teenagers who don¡¯t know about those past events.


    They often visit schools to reenact classic drama scenes.


    Sometimes, they let students directly perform scenes from once-popular variety shows.


    "Last time was a variety show segment, so is it a drama this time? Or should we do both?"


    "......."


    "Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?"


    Jeong Min-jae, the chief producer of the variety show, spoke to the junior PD, Park Geon.


    "Well, I was just wondering how much longer we have until the show ends."


    "......Oh."


    The previous viewership rating was about 6 percent.


    Barely clinging to life.


    It¡¯s on the verge of ending, so if the rating drops slightly, it will be over.


    At best, this season would be the last.


    "They said viewer-participation shows are popular..."


    "It seems it''s because the target is students."


    "Hmm."


    PD Jeong Min-jae sighed.


    Initially, he thought reenacting once-popular shows or dramas with lively student performances would be fun.


    In fact, the pilot program received good responses.


    But in reality?


    Only a 6 percent viewership rating.


    "Well, it¡¯s unrealistic to expect a proper reenactment."


    It works out if the high school has a drama club.


    Otherwise, it¡¯s 20 minutes of dreadful acting.


    Still, it¡¯s funny in its way, which is how they maintain the 6 percent.


    "Let¡¯s get a guest actor."


    "A guest?"


    "Wouldn''t it motivate the kids to have a real actor perform with them? And maybe the acting will be more bearable too?"


    It wasn¡¯t a bad idea for something said in frustration.


    It would be perfect to have an actor who appeared in the drama they were reenacting as a guest.


    PD Jeong Min-jae¡¯s thoughts were quick.


    "We need to choose the actor first, not the drama. Do you know any good actors for our show?"


    "I do."


    Then, a staff member raised their hand.


    It was the staff member who always ordered soup alone while the others ordered stir-fried pork for lunch.


    "Hmm, if you know someone..."


    "Actor Park Jeong-woo."


    "What?"


    PD Jeong Min-jae wondered if he had heard correctly.


    Who did they say?


    "My father''s distant relative''s friend¡¯s son once worked with actor Park Jeong-woo. That''s how I know him."


    "Is he really someone you can contact? Sounds like just an acquaintance."


    "Of course. We were texting just recently."


    He showed a chat where he had spoken with Park Jeong-woo.


    ¡®Wow. This might actually work.¡¯


    Park Jeong-woo is one of the hottest actors right now.


    At the age of 20, he broke away from his father¡¯s shadow and became independent.


    His handsome face has garnered a huge following of older female fans.


    "If we get Park Jeong-woo, we¡¯ll have a drama."


    "The biggest hit among Park Jeong-woo''s past dramas is ''The Moon That Hid the Sun,'' right?"


    It looked promising.


    If it works out, it might be a lifeline for the program.


    "Does the high school we¡¯re visiting have a drama club?"


    "Yes, they do. And it''s quite famous."


    "Perfect."


    PD Jeong Min-jae smiled broadly and searched for the high school they would visit on his smartphone.


    Yeonhwa High School.


    The school where Seoyeon and Jiyeon were currently studying.

 Chapter 45

    After a few script readings, we finally approached the time for full-fledged stage rehearsals. We were currently engrossed in analyzing the script, but it was clear that we would soon become even busier.


    Therefore, I didn''t want to miss this opportunity.


    "I¡¯m coming in, okay?"


    "Yeah."


    I prepared some tea, glancing at Lee Ji-yeon as she took off her shoes and entered.


    Although Ji-yeon often hung out with me at school, she didn¡¯t come to my house often. We usually met outside, and I was the one who visited Ji-yeon¡¯s house more frequently.


    ¡®Good.¡¯


    I had been hesitating for a while, but seeing the announcement for the third generation of Seven Live had made up my mind.


    At least I would try mentioning it once. Who knows? She might show some interest.


    ¡®I don¡¯t expect much since it might interfere with her acting career.¡¯


    But maybe, just maybe, she could do it occasionally.


    "...Why do you have such a strange expression?"


    "That¡¯s harsh."


    I frowned slightly as Ji-yeon cupped my face with her hands.


    "You don¡¯t show any expression, but it feels like you do. Are you having weird thoughts again?"


    "Weird thoughts?"


    "You sometimes have really wild ideas."


    Anyone who heard this could seriously misunderstand.


    Despite how I might seem, I am an entirely ordinary high school girl... well, except for not having any friends.


    "Oh my, Ji-yeon, you¡¯re here?"


    "Hello."


    "Hehe, really, Seoyeon wouldn¡¯t know what to do without Ji-yeon."


    Mom said this as she hurriedly put on clothes, saying she was going out to buy some fruit.


    It seemed she planned to cut some fruit for us while we were hanging out.


    "Your mom."


    "Yeah."


    "Her chest seems bigger."


    "...No way."


    "And she hasn¡¯t changed since I last saw her. My mom would be sad to see her."


    "Your mom looks young too."


    Ji-yeon¡¯s mom did appear quite youthful for her age.


    "My mom puts in a lot of effort for that. I should ask your mom how she takes care of her skin later."


    Even so, my mom didn''t do much in the way of skincare.


    She only put on a face mask occasionally before bed.


    It was truly remarkable how young she looked.


    It was probably because of my mom¡¯s genes, wasn''t it?


    "So, what do you want to do now? Watch a movie like usual?"


    Ji-yeon glanced at the large TV as she spoke.


    We usually watched movies or dramas when we were together.


    Not just for entertainment but also to observe the actors'' performances, discuss them, or practice.


    Ji-yeon was passionate about acting and would frequently ask me about it whenever she had free time.


    Even though her acting career was now longer than mine.


    "Today..."


    I naturally turned on YouTube.


    "...."


    Then my fingers stopped there.


    I had planned to casually say, "There''s something like this these days," while showing a VTuber video.


    That way, Ji-yeon would have a reaction, and from there, we could naturally...


    Naturally...


    ...


    ¡®This isn''t easy.¡¯


    I wiped the sweat from my forehead.


    I could feel Ji-yeon''s gaze on me, wondering what was up.


    This is weird, right?


    If I suddenly show a VTuber video now, isn¡¯t it strange?


    "Get it together, Joo Seoyeon. Are you embarrassed by VTubers?"


    I felt a bit like that...


    Ji-yeon is a real extrovert who doesn''t have any interest in things like anime.


    Since I couldn¡¯t predict her reaction, I couldn¡¯t move my hands easily.


    Was my modest hope for Ji-yeon to show just a little interest ending here?


    "Joo Seoyeon."


    "Oh, huh?"


    Ji-yeon glanced at the YouTube page on the TV.


    "...Why are there so many weird things in your algorithm?"


    The YouTube account was, of course, logged in under my ID.


    Naturally, it displayed things I often watched.


    And among them, there were VTuber-related videos.


    "This is it, VTubers."


    Flinch.


    I couldn¡¯t answer and just flinched.


    How did she know?@@@@


    If I knew she knew, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to bring it up naturally?


    I opened my mouth to speak.


    "You watch stuff like that?"


    This was one of the top three scariest phrases to hear from a friend.


    I closed my mouth again.


    "Let me tell you."


    Sim Cheong-seok erased his smile and spoke to her with a languid voice.


    "If you can¡¯t adapt to the stage properly, you won¡¯t perform at half your ability. I¡¯ve seen many who soared during readings but crumbled on stage."


    He paused, as if recalling something, and added:


    "Of course, I¡¯m not talking about you. You definitely have a different vibe."


    ...A vibe?


    When I squinted at his strange expression.


    "Here¡¯s a tip: treat the real thing like practice."


    "Like practice?"


    "In drama, you can do retakes, but not in theater. So relax and perform."


    He said this, stepping closer to me.


    "If you put too much effort into acting, you might make mistakes."


    "But isn¡¯t it normal to put effort and give your all in acting?"


    "Well, that¡¯s typical."


    He leaned over and looked down at me, speaking.


    "If you can."


    This was... a challenge.


    Seoyeon looked at him.


    As she met his eyes, she tried to read his intentions.


    Was it a provocation?


    Or just curiosity?


    She couldn¡¯t discern his emotions.


    Although Seoyeon was indifferent to her emotions, she was sensitive to others''.


    This was largely due to her early experiences and accumulated ¡®information.¡¯


    "Hong Jeong-hee is a crucial role."


    He looked down at Seoyeon and spoke.


    "Because she¡¯s a villain?"


    "Yes. A villain without presence might as well not exist."


    Sim Cheong-seok shrugged.


    "At least based on the script reading, I doubt that will be the case. And."


    As other actors began to approach the stage, he leaned in and whispered into Seoyeon¡¯s ear.


    "I want to try acting properly once."


    Wanting to act properly?


    As Seoyeon looked at him with a questioning gaze, he offered a faint smile and moved away.


    ...He was a truly inscrutable person.


    Yeonhwa High School.


    A private high school with around 800 students.


    It was known for having many students strong in the arts but was a little lacking as a college prep school.


    Still, it was an average high school.


    "We received a request to shoot at our school this time."


    "Shoot?"


    That was a sudden item on the agenda during the faculty meeting.


    Shoot?


    Were they going to film a drama?


    The principal cleared his throat and continued as I looked at him, wondering.


    "It''s a show called ''Looking at the Past, Memories.''¡±


    Was there such a thing?


    Most had never heard of this variety show.


    It was a program with low recognition and popularity...


    "Oh, I know it. Isn¡¯t it the variety show that airs at 5 PM on Sundays?"


    Since it aired during the prime time on weekends, some people knew about it.


    The principal sighed in relief at the positive reaction.


    At least it had some recognition.


    "If it goes well, it can be a good way to promote the school, right? I hear they¡¯ll be reenacting a drama aired long ago? Is that right?"


    "Yes, I understand it involves students recreating scenes from old variety shows or dramas."


    But the teachers who knew about the show wore ambiguous expressions.


    ¡®Can that really be promotional?¡¯


    Honestly, it wasn¡¯t very entertaining.


    It was only fun when a student acted exceptionally well or was a complete mess...


    "Moreover, we¡¯re lucky that a guest actor will be joining the shoot to help with the acting."


    "A guest actor?"


    Thinking that a guest actor on such a show wouldn¡¯t be very famous.


    "The actor is Park Jeong-woo. You all know him, right?"


    "Wow, really?"


    "Is Park Jeong-woo coming to our school?"


    He had long abandoned the title of "son of a great actor."


    He was now the most desired actor to meet for people in their 20s and teens in Korea.


    That actor was Park Jeong-woo.


    "So, the drama club... Teacher Song Dayeon is in charge, right?"


    "Oh, yes."


    "They asked us to select about ten students who can participate in the shoot. Is that possible?"


    "Of course!"


    Teacher Song Dayeon was confident.


    No wonder, as the drama club included Lee Ji-yeon, who was currently starring in a cable drama.


    Even if it was just in name, she was indeed a member.


    ¡®Ji-yeon would definitely want to participate, right?¡¯


    Given her passion for acting.

 Chapter 46

    "Hyejin! Please look a bit more this way while speaking! We can''t see your face properly."


    Full-fledged stage rehearsals had begun.


    Throughout the process, we dissected the script thoroughly, exploring every nuance. Script readings were just the beginning.


    The goal of approximately six weeks of rehearsal was to perform the play without making any mistakes.


    A perfect performance.


    That is the most fundamental requirement of a theatrical production.


    "Seoyeon."


    "Yes."@@@@


    Assistant director Kim Cheong-un stroked his chin as he looked at the girl in front of him.


    In general, the assistant director is responsible for guiding the actors'' performances in a play.


    Kim Cheong-un had seen many actors, but Seoyeon was special.


    Child prodigy Joo Seoyeon.


    Her skills far exceeded what Kim Cheong-un had expected from an actor known simply by that title.


    Mostly in a good way.


    "You still have a bit of a drama-like feel, but you¡¯re really good at capturing emotions."


    "Thank you."


    "But it would be great if you could improve your blocking a bit. Your eye contact and movements are really good."


    "Blocking? Specifically where...?"


    I asked, wondering if there was a place where my blocking was lacking.


    "In the part where you have a monologue while looking at Sim Cheong-seok? Try crossing the stage more."


    "Wouldn¡¯t that make the blocking too wide for a monologue?"


    "It will make the emotions seem more intense. And deliver the monologue as if you''re conversing with the audience."


    Conversing with the audience.


    Seoyeon nodded at his words.


    ¡®Did she understand?¡¯


    This isn''t something you can understand just by being told.


    Even for Seoyeon...


    "Okay! Let¡¯s give it a try."


    With Kim Cheong-un''s words, Sim Cheong-seok approached.


    "Alright, then."


    With his words, Seoyeon calmly collected her emotions.


    The woman who stalks the idol Bae Seong-hak, Hong Jeong-hee.


    Reading the surface of her emotions, she exhaled.


    ¡®...It¡¯s always fascinating to watch.¡¯


    Method acting.


    There¡¯s a term for it, but what Seoyeon was doing now was different.


    There was still a faint sense of ¡®Seoyeon¡¯ remaining.


    When asked about it, Seoyeon replied:


    "Because it''s practice right now."


    I¡¯ll try to do it more properly during the rehearsal, Seoyeon added.


    ¡®If she does it properly, to what extent?¡¯


    Kim Cheong-un recently re-watched the drama Seoyeon starred in.


    Her performance was incredibly emotional for a child.


    This was probably Seoyeon''s greatest strength.


    But paradoxically, such detailed emotional acting wasn¡¯t always an advantage in theater.


    Seoyeon''s emotional acting was very delicate and showed its true value when the camera zoomed in, but on stage, not everything can be conveyed.


    Depending on where the audience sat, it might not be visible, and delivering those fine emotions was more challenging than expected.


    Hence, gestures and movements were important to express those emotions.


    The two need to be balanced, but this often conflicts with method acting.


    If you fully immerse yourself in the character, your gestures and movements may become awkward.


    So some "theatrical techniques" inevitably had to be integrated.


    Seoyeon''s practice was about naturally blending those elements.


    "I can¡¯t believe it. Why! Why is oppa seeing a woman like her?"


    Seoyeon''s monologue was clearly conveyed to the audience.


    Kim Cheong-un watched Seoyeon''s feet moving naturally while listening to her lines.


    She moved exactly as he had instructed.


    She delivered the monologue well, engaging the audience.


    "How was it?"


    "It was excellent."


    Kim Cheong-un gave Seoyeon a thumbs-up as she returned after her performance.


    Watching a talented actor is a joy.


    But.


    ¡®There¡¯s something that bothers me.¡¯


    Kim Cheong-un hesitated whether to mention it.


    It wasn¡¯t a big issue if left unaddressed.


    Ji-yeon''s face took on a strange expression.


    Wasn¡¯t that a very familiar role?


    "Park Jeong-woo is coming too?"


    If it was true, it would cause a huge stir on the internet.


    The high school''s name was also Yeonhwa High School.


    It seemed like a setup made in heaven.


    "The outline is to recreate episode 8 of the original."


    Episode 8 was the reunion scene.


    The episode where the grown-up Yun Seo-il and the grown-up Lee Hye-wol reunited.


    It had high ratings and received good reviews.


    "But it also got a lot of bad reviews."


    At that time, actress Ha Yeso, who played the grown-up Princess Yeonhwa, received harsh criticism.


    Princess Yeonhwa didn¡¯t have as much presence as her child counterpart.


    Something about it didn¡¯t quite fit.


    Those evaluations still hadn''t changed, and Ha Yeso often brought up that period.


    It was difficult being compared to her younger counterpart.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll do it."


    "Really?"


    "But can I bring someone from the agency for makeup? I want to do it properly."


    "Oh, of course."


    Ji-yeon nodded and smiled slightly.


    An interesting thought had crossed her mind.


    A large van was driving down the road.


    Inside, a casually dressed man was sitting with an eye mask on, his eyes closed.


    "Jeong-woo, we¡¯re almost there. Wake up."


    "...."


    Annoying.


    The first thought in Park Jeong-woo¡¯s mind was that it was annoying.


    Originally, he had no interest in this shoot.


    "Please, please help us just this once! I¡¯ve been talking about this for so long!"


    A request from an acquaintance he had coincidentally met during a previous shoot.


    Plus, he happened to be on a break, so he decided to help.


    "Looking at the Past, Memories is doing both drama and variety this time, right?"


    "Yes. Since you¡¯re the guest, it wouldn¡¯t make sense to just do one."


    "Sigh, who do they think I am?"


    "You¡¯re Park Jeong-woo."


    The hottest actor these days.


    His next movie was already decided.


    He was the lead, and it was a well-funded film with a good director.


    Everyone thought his life was smooth sailing with no obstacles.


    "Reenacting The Moon That Hid the Sun... No wonder this show isn¡¯t popular."


    "Don¡¯t be like that. It¡¯s a meaningful role for you too."


    "...That¡¯s true."


    Manager Ha Hyeong-hwan, who had been with him for five years, spoke, and Park Jeong-woo nodded.


    A meaningful role indeed.


    "What¡¯s that girl doing now?"


    There weren¡¯t many moments in Park Jeong-woo¡¯s acting career that had left a strong impression.


    But the girl he met in The Moon That Hid the Sun was still vivid in his memory.


    Her acting.


    Her retirement.


    "...."


    The image of the girl crying at the award ceremony came to mind.


    A girl with no expressions, a boring kid.


    She was the first to shatter Park Jeong-woo¡¯s pride as a child actor.


    The girl who, when she cried, looked at everyone.


    He could remember her laughing as well.


    Sometimes Park Jeong-woo wondered.


    Should he have persuaded her to keep acting?


    Would it have been better to tell her it was a waste to stop?


    If he had done that.


    ¡®It¡¯s all in the past now.¡¯


    As he was lost in thought, the van stopped.


    He felt the manager¡¯s gaze on him.


    "Jeong-woo."


    "Yes."


    Erasing the image of the girl from his mind.


    He slowly opened the van door.


    And at that moment.


    The screams of countless students filled the air.

 Chapter 47

    "Hey, isn''t that actor Sim Cheong-seok?"


    At a bar in Daehangno, Seoul, where Sim Cheong-seok was leisurely having a drink with fellow actors, a voice called out.


    "I heard you''re trying to put out a fire in the play that''s burning up right now? What''s it called again, ''Eyes Closed,'' right?"


    Turning his head, Sim Cheong-seok saw a man with a decent appearance.


    ''Ah, this guy.''


    Sim Cheong-seok shook his head. A fellow who graduated from a well-known university drama department in Seoul and was currently working as an actor. He had been gaining some recognition recently, with rumors about him possibly appearing in a drama.


    ''I think his name was Kang Se-hyun.''


    Incidentally, Sim Cheong-seok had only worked with him in a play once. That was the extent of their connection.


    "A~mazing Sim Cheong-seok, you''ll do well. It''s a reenactment of ''Eyes Closed,'' right? The script is pretty good too..."


    "If you have something to say, just get to the point."


    Sim Cheong-seok''s curt words made Kang Se-hyun frown.


    "That arrogant attitude of yours hasn''t changed."


    "Huh, I¡¯d like to ask who started with the sarcasm first."


    Sim Cheong-seok¡¯s chuckle made Kang Se-hyun''s lips twitch.


    "Since you insist, I¡¯ll get to the point."


    "Go ahead."


    "When ''Eyes Closed'' is performed, our play''s performance dates coincide perfectly."


    Sim Cheong-seok looked at him, wondering what he was getting at.


    "What? Didn''t you know? Haven''t you heard of ''Under Snitch''?"


    "Yeah."


    He had heard of it. ''Under Snitch.'' A play popular overseas being remade and performed in a large theater with over 800 seats. It definitely qualified as a ''promoted play.''


    "The actors involved are well-known too. Actor Hong Tae-baek is leading, and actress Seong Si-ha is also starring."


    Both were highly recognized in the theater world. Seong Si-ha, in particular, had transitioned from being an idol and found success in theater, frequently participating in recent performances. She was likely considering appearing in musicals in the future.


    Both actors had remarkable audience-drawing power.


    "But."


    "Yeah."


    "Why are you telling me this? Coming all the way to my drinking spot."


    At Sim Cheong-seok''s question, Kang Se-hyun leaned on his shoulder.


    "Well, just to give you some consolation. You¡¯ve come out of your way to help, and it looks like it''s going to flop."


    Despite his words, Kang Se-hyun looked very pleased. Since their previous play together, Kang Se-hyun had always been antagonistic towards Sim Cheong-seok. Despite having more experience, he resented being outshone in acting skills.


    "Good luck. Let me know if you need any help."


    As Kang Se-hyun walked away, patting him on the shoulder, Sim Cheong-seok let out a derisive laugh. Help? He wouldn''t even answer the phone if called.


    "What a guy."


    "Don¡¯t let it bother you, Cheong-seok. A play¡¯s success isn''t just about the actors."


    Though his fellow actors tried to comfort him, Sim Cheong-seok honestly didn¡¯t care.


    ¡®Audience-drawing power, huh.¡¯


    A certain girl came to his mind.


    ¡®Speaking of which, there was supposed to be some filming at the school.¡¯


    As he thought about it, Sim Cheong-seok poured himself another drink.


    "Cheong-seok, are you okay?"


    "Ah, yes. I¡¯m fine. It''s just that..."


    He had a feeling he was about to witness the true power of audience attraction.@@@@


    "Park Jeong-woo!!"


    "Please look over here!"


    "Look at that face! It''s the size of my fist, my fist!!!"


    Screams of excitement echoed through Yeonhwa High School. Park Jeong-woo waved to the students with a smile, but inwardly he was already exhausted.


    ¡®I¡¯m already tired.¡¯


    Though he disliked the hassle, Park Jeong-woo was known for his excellent fan service. Thanks to his father''s teachings from a young age, he knew that without fans, there would be no actor.


    ¡®Always be grateful for the crowd¡¯s cheers.¡¯


    That was his father''s teaching, and Park Jeong-woo followed it faithfully.


    Just like that, if fan service brought even one more audience member to the theater, it was worth it.


    "Where are the staff?"


    "They''re preparing over there. Hey, over here!"


    At the manager¡¯s shout, staff members ran to assist Park Jeong-woo as he got out of the van. Teachers, including the student affairs officer, were controlling the line to ensure that the students didn¡¯t rush in.


    Although there were security guards, they were clearly struggling with the number of students. As Park Jeong-woo entered the filming location,


    "The drama club advisor is supposed to be here... Ah! This way!"


    PD Jeong Min-jae smiled widely as he saw Song Dayeon, the drama club advisor, rushing over.


    "Are you Ms. Song Dayeon from the drama club? Are all the students prepared for the broadcast?"


    Oh, they¡¯re really filming.Can¡¯t you hold the camera higher?If you hold it higher, won¡¯t they notice and take it away?Just stick to games.Who¡¯s Lee Ji-yeon?Watch some TV occasionally...Typical nerd: gets excited when something they know comes up.There¡¯s a minor actress from a cable drama. She¡¯s pretty.As long as she¡¯s pretty.


    Privately? That wasn¡¯t a difficult request, but should a PD handle this?


    Was this one of those MG or MZ things he had heard about?


    "She said it might not be good if she gets caught while moving separately."


    "Goodness."


    What was she up to?


    "Alright. Let¡¯s go."


    PD Jeong Min-jae nodded. He resolved to give a stern warning if it turned out to be nothing serious.


    Wearing the costume after so long felt strange. Park Jeong-woo looked down at the hanbok he was wearing and sighed. A historical drama. The last historical drama he appeared in was The Moon That Hid the Sun. He hadn''t felt compelled to appear in another since then.


    ¡®Grown-up Yun Seo-il, huh.¡¯


    Looking in the mirror, he saw glimpses of the young Yun Seo-il. After reciting the lines in his head, he slowly stepped outside.


    "Wow, you look just like the grown-up Yun Seo-il we imagined."


    A staff member gave him a thumbs-up as soon as he came out, and Park Jeong-woo chuckled.


    "It¡¯s been ten years. Do you still remember?"


    "Of course. It¡¯s my favorite drama."


    Favorite drama, huh. Maybe it was similar for Park Jeong-woo too. Despite having worked on many projects, none had left such a lasting impression.


    "What about PD Jeong?"


    "Oh, he¡¯s with the actress playing Princess Yeonhwa. He told us to start without him."


    It seemed PD Jeong had disappeared, leaving the proceedings to the junior PD. He could somewhat guess why this variety show was struggling.


    "Wow! You look amazing in hanbok too."


    A makeshift set in the auditorium, with paper boards hastily set up. As Park Jeong-woo arrived, the students chattered excitedly.


    There was a buzz of conversation. The auditorium was filled with students.


    The voices of the staff.


    ¡®I¡¯m tired.¡¯


    Muttering words he¡¯d said countless times today, the shoot began.


    "Come this way, my lord!"


    "Are you going to the palace again today?"


    The students'' acting was decent but still couldn''t compare to professional actors. It was watchable at best. Still, it was the best among all the episodes of Looking at the Past, Memories so far.


    The staff thought so too.


    "It¡¯s almost time for Princess Yeonhwa to appear..."


    "She¡¯s still not here? What¡¯s PD Jeong doing?"


    The students portraying the market scene crowded around, creating a bustling atmosphere. They weren¡¯t really acting, just mimicking a market scene.


    Yun Seo-il walked through the scene, reminiscing about the past.


    ¡®The market I walked through with Princess Yeonhwa ten years ago.¡¯


    Princess Yeonhwa, surprised by even small snacks. Young Joo Seoyeon. That image briefly surfaced in Park Jeong-woo¡¯s mind and then disappeared.


    ¡®Now, Princess Yeonhwa should be here.¡¯


    If not, it would be an NG take.


    Thinking about retakes made him even more tired. His negative impression of Lee Ji-yeon was about to solidify.


    Amidst the market crowd, a graceful figure appeared. Although her appearance was concealed by a long traditional Korean coat, anyone could tell she was Princess Yeonhwa.


    ¡®There she is...¡¯


    Relieved, Park Jeong-woo followed ''Princess Yeonhwa.'' The students chattered noisily in their roles.


    And there stood Princess Yeonhwa.


    Despite wearing the traditional coat, something was different. Her posture and aura were unlike the other students.


    The moment Park Jeong-woo realized this, his pace quickened.


    Maybe.


    He thought it wasn¡¯t acting.


    Park Jeong-woo, and Yun Seo-il, moved instinctively. Pushing through the crowd. Knowing she wouldn¡¯t run, he reached out hastily.


    When he grasped the small shoulder, a faint laugh was heard. Familiar. Clear.


    "Seo-il."


    A woman''s hand moved, slowly pulling down the traditional coat¡¯s hood.


    The sight entered his view slowly, like in slow motion.


    First, he saw the long, neatly tied black hair. White skin.


    "I¡¯m a bit late."


    The cute face from childhood had grown beautifully. Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol.


    "...But."


    Her star-like presence was etched into Park Jeong-woo''s, no, Yun Seo-il''s eyes.


    "I¡¯m back."


    The red-tinted eyes. The playful smile on her lips.


    Park Jeong-woo¡¯s mind went blank.

 Chapter 48

    Three hours before the reenactment of Episode 8 of The Moon That Hid the Sun was to begin.


    Park Jung-woo had just arrived, and the staff were busy with the shoot.


    "Joo Seoyeon."


    Lee Ji-yeon handed Seoyeon a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.


    It was the "Princess Yeonhwa" hanbok that the staff had given to her earlier that morning.


    "Put it on."


    Seoyeon looked at the hanbok with a slightly troubled expression. The reasons were complicated.


    There were memories from middle school, when she had been known as Princess Yeonhwa, and the close calls that had come with it.


    Then there was the fact that this role was given to Lee Ji-yeon, not her. And there was the worry that something might go wrong during the performance.


    All these reasons made Seoyeon hesitate.


    "Lee Ji-yeon, I..."


    "I know what you''re thinking."


    Ji-yeon interrupted. They had known each other for ten years now. In the past, it had been hard to read Seoyeon''s expressionless face, but not anymore.


    Though there were still times when she couldn''t tell what Seoyeon was thinking, in situations like this, it was clear.


    "You have your reasons. But above all, this is an amazing opportunity for me."


    It was a chance to shoot with Park Jung-woo, a top-tier young actor. If you were a fellow actor of the same age, you''d be burning with determination to seize such an opportunity.


    Low viewership?


    Park Jung-woo¡¯s presence would more than make up for that. Even if the show didn¡¯t become a hit, the online articles alone would boost her recognition significantly.


    She knew everything.


    "I know you want to do something with the play."


    Seoyeon surely had a plan. But Ji-yeon didn¡¯t like the idea of Seoyeon¡¯s first comeback performance being just a regular play.


    A comeback performance. The first stage after her return. It felt like throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime premium opportunity.


    "You said you wanted to become a top actor."


    Ji-yeon thought that if Seoyeon didn¡¯t like an ordinary stage, she could make it special. This variety show was a great opportunity for that.


    "This is a chance. You know that, right?"


    From the moment she was given the role of Princess Yeonhwa, Ji-yeon had imagined this scenario many times.


    Princess Yeonhwa was Seoyeon¡¯s role. From long ago, from the moment Ji-yeon had seen her on TV.


    From the moment she witnessed that starlight, her heart hadn¡¯t wavered.


    "......"


    Seoyeon quietly looked at Ji-yeon. Calmly, and silently.


    After a moment passed, Seoyeon slowly nodded.


    "Alright."


    She made up her mind. Ji-yeon was right. Seoyeon¡¯s participation in "Eyes Closed" was a stepping stone for her next move.


    But there was nothing wrong with making that stepping stone more special. To hesitate now would be an insult to Ji-yeon, who was speaking while giving up her own opportunity.


    "I¡¯ll do it."


    With Seoyeon¡¯s resolute answer, the transformation began. Ji-yeon had brought a makeup artist and manager to assist.


    Everything proceeded quickly. It was all prepared in advance by Ji-yeon.


    The makeup artist. The manager who would help with the costume change.


    With their help, Seoyeon began to get into character. To become Princess Yeonhwa Lee Hye-wol once again, after ten years.


    "Please lift your arms."


    She put on the multi-layered rainbow skirt and wore the jeogori, the short jacket.


    "Seoyeon, lift your head, please."


    They tied her long black hair. Looking in the mirror, the artist carefully applied makeup, decorating her face.


    The reflection in the mirror was Princess Yeonhwa.


    A grown-up version of the young Lee Hye-wol appeared in the mirror.


    "Ji-yeon? What¡¯s going on here...?"


    Just then, the director Ji-yeon had called, PD Jeong Min-jae, arrived. The moment he saw her, he froze with a sour look on his face.


    ''Ji-yeon?''


    He rubbed his eyes. He had looked at Ji-yeon¡¯s photo several times before the shoot.


    But the woman in front of him now... who was she?


    Long black hair, slightly upturned eyes. A graceful figure with a calm demeanor.


    She was the living embodiment of Princess Yeonhwa.


    She looked exactly like what he imagined the grown-up version of the young Lee Hye-wol from ten years ago would look like.


    "Huh?"


    This is why it flopped, lolI haven¡¯t been able to sleep lately, but this is putting me to sleep already...I''d rather go home and play a game. That would be a thousand times more fun.What is this, a pterodactyl???I was about to fall asleep, but now I''m wide awake, damn it.Please please please... (repeated)Wake me up when it''s over...Even Park Jung-woo can¡¯t save this.Hmm...???????What¡¯s going on?That¡¯s not Lee Ji-yeon, right?Who¡¯s playing Princess Yeonhwa??? Her face is insane????She looks familiar... Isn¡¯t she the child actress who played Princess Yeonhwa?Are you serious, old man? Come on, be reasonable.That¡¯s Joo Seoyeon. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s the child actress who played the young Princess Yeonhwa.Seriously???How does that make any sense????


    Her playful red eyes and softly curved lips. That expression was warmer and more dazzling than in the past.


    "Seoil?"


    He couldn¡¯t even act.


    "You, you!!"


    When he grabbed Seoyeon¡¯s arm in panic, confusion flickered in her eyes.


    "The line is wrong."


    "Is this really the time to talk about that? You¡¯re really Joo Seoyeon, right? Are you...?"


    Why are you here? No, where is Lee Ji-yeon, and why is the real Princess Yeonhwa here?


    Without realizing it, Park Jung-woo grabbed both of Seoyeon¡¯s arms and was about to blurt it out.


    "...Oh."


    Only then did he realize that the auditorium had fallen silent. How did he look just now?


    Park Jung-woo squeezed his eyes shut.


    She was a bit surprised.


    She never expected Park Jung-woo to suddenly grab her arms and shake her like that.


    Was there such a scene?


    She thought for a moment, but of course, there wasn¡¯t.


    "Let''s take a short break!"


    The filming paused briefly, and the camera captured Seoyeon and Park Jung-woo. It seemed they intended to keep this on film.


    Seoyeon thought so as she spoke.


    "I made an NG."


    "You... seriously."


    Park Jung-woo held his head in his hands. His head throbbed. It felt like all the exhaustion he had felt just moments ago had vanished.


    "...Why are you here?"


    "Of course, because this is the high school I attend."


    "This... this can¡¯t be real."


    His heart was still pounding. He glanced at Seoyeon for a moment and then turned his head away. It was difficult to look at her properly.


    It was awkward. In so many ways, it felt strange.


    "...Are you making a comeback?"


    Park Jung-woo¡¯s quiet words were captured by the camera. Naturally, everyone in the auditorium¡ªstudents filming, teachers watching¡ªfocused their attention on the two.


    Seoyeon felt it.


    Now was the time.


    "Yes."


    "Do you have a project lined up? If not, I could..."


    "I already have one. A play."


    "A play?"


    That was an unexpected answer for Park Jung-woo. Why would Seoyeon choose a play as her comeback?


    "What¡¯s it called?"


    "Well..."


    Seoyeon¡¯s lips moved. And those words echoed clearly in everyone¡¯s ears. The title of the comeback project for Joo Seoyeon, who had made waves as Princess Yeonhwa ten years ago.


    "But what¡¯s important right now is this performance, isn¡¯t it?"


    All eyes in the auditorium were on her. Seoyeon glanced at them, then turned her gaze back to Jung-woo.


    And then...


    The atmosphere shifted.


    The relatively calm aura around Seoyeon changed to the playful yet graceful demeanor of Lee Hye-wol.


    Everyone watched, completely engrossed, forgetting that this was just a variety show.


    "Seoil."


    Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol.


    The scene of her reunion with the grown-up Yoon Seoil.


    The iconic scene that fans of The Moon That Hid the Sun had been longing for.


    "Have you been waiting long?"


    At her words, Jung-woo chuckled.


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    And so, the reenactment of Episode 8, which began after ten years, brought about tremendous repercussions.


    <The Child Star Returns After 10 Years: Joo Seoyeon¡¯s Comeback> <A Dramatic Twist on ¡®Looking at the Past, Reliving Memories¡¯! Viewership Soars!> <What Is ¡®Eyes Closed,¡¯ the Play Chosen by the Child Star?> <¡®Eyes Closed¡¯ Sells Out in 30 Minutes: An Unprecedented Result>

 Chapter 49

    The Moon That Hid the Sun.


    Ten years ago, this drama surpassed 40% viewership ratings, leaving a significant impact on its audience. That year, all the awards went to the actors involved in the show.


    But that was ten years ago.


    Now, it''s a drama remembered only by those chasing the nostalgia of the past.


    However...


    "......"


    Kang Se-hyun, who played the role of "Alex" in the play Under Snitch, couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing.


    "Wow, look at this. This is insane." "Joo Seoyeon? Did she just mention Eyes Closed?" "Is this for real?"


    All the actors and staff were talking, but Kang Se-hyun couldn''t hear them. He was too absorbed in the variety show playing on his phone.


    "Seoil, you''ve grown so much." "That''s what I wanted to say to you."


    A young man who had grown up significantly. And a girl who had matured into a beautiful woman.


    The faded nostalgia of the past was now blooming vividly before his eyes. It was hard to believe that the backdrop was a set made of paper.


    "Shall we take a walk, Seoil? It''s been a while." "Let''s, Your Highness." "Actually, you can call me Hye-wol now." "Excuse me? What do you mean by that?" "Seoil, it would hurt my feelings if you said that. We''re close, aren¡¯t we?"


    Lee Hye-wol''s smile was so beautiful that it made one involuntarily sigh.


    The sight of the high school students in their uniforms, visible in the background, didn¡¯t distract from the scene at all. Everyone watching the show must have felt the same.


    Park Jung-woo.


    He was known as a genius actor who had inherited his father¡¯s talent from a young age. His acting skills were so well-regarded that the number of times he made a mistake on set could be counted on one hand.


    An aura.


    He was born with a sparkle destined for stardom, so it was no surprise that he was captivating. But...


    Joo Seoyeon.


    Kang Se-hyun''s attention was entirely focused on Joo Seoyeon. The child actress who had made a dramatic comeback after ten years. Her story struck a chord with everyone, and her acting? It wasn¡¯t overshadowed by Park Jung-woo at all. In fact, in this setting, she shone even brighter.


    It was like watching a play, not a drama.


    Seoyeon''s movements were more theatrical than cinematic, making them feel natural. If it weren¡¯t for someone as talented as Park Jung-woo, no one could have kept up with her performance.


    Is she really this good?


    She had spontaneously turned the drama scene into a theatrical performance right there in the auditorium. Looking at the Past, Reliving Memories had flopped because it was too focused on ¡°drama acting.¡±


    Reenacting famous scenes from a drama in a school setting lacked flavor. The actors¡¯ skills and the shooting methods were entirely different from those on a drama set.


    But Joo Seoyeon knew that, so she transformed it into a play.


    And the students around her...


    The drama club at Yeonhwa High School was fairly talented, enough to earn some recognition.


    But since this was a drama reenactment, their skills didn¡¯t stand out. However, when Seoyeon naturally led the play, the students'' movements also changed naturally.


    One actor led the entire play.


    Even with Park Jung-woo''s support, the realism was almost overwhelming.


    "This is crazy."


    Everyone agreed with the actor who said this while watching the show. Even the students in the auditorium, who had been bored at first, were now completely immersed in the performance.


    They were spellbound until the reenactment of Episode 8 concluded.


    "Se-hyun." "...Yeah."


    A fellow actor next to him spoke.


    "This... doesn''t it feel like we''re in trouble?" "..."


    The tickets were limited, so the play wouldn¡¯t flop. That was certain. But...


    The ghost of the past...


    It was clear that all the attention that Under Snitch was supposed to receive had been stolen by Eyes Closed. For Kang Se-hyun, who had been poised to soar with this as his stepping stone, it was a nightmare.


    A strange sense of unease gripped his throat.


    "Seohui?"


    Jo Seohui¡¯s manager, Shin Yu-kyung, looked at her with a tense expression as she glared at her smartphone. If looks could kill, her phone would have been reduced to ashes by now.


    "Ha."


    Jo Seohui, who usually sat in the van with a languid expression, was now more lively than ever. And that was only natural.


    The variety show was playing on her smartphone. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t have watched it in real time.


    She wasn¡¯t interested.


    But after hearing the rumors, she checked out the content herself.


    "So, you¡¯ve returned."


    Park Jung-woo didn¡¯t matter. He was just a man she had crossed paths with several times.


    In the past, she would have been overwhelmed by him, but not anymore. The title "princess of the daily drama" no longer applied to her.


    Now, she stood proudly as the actress Jo Seohui, and her position was as solid as Park Jung-woo¡¯s. While she still harbored a desire to surpass him someday...


    "Joo Seoyeon."


    The girl who had once defeated him.


    "What? That¡¯s ridiculous..."


    "I¡¯m serious. Seriously."


    Sim Cheong-seok recalled the arm-wrestling match he had with Seoyeon as a joke not long ago. His arm still ached when he thought about it, as if he had wrestled with a gorilla.


    "Anyway."


    Sim Cheong-seok thought about it.


    The power of an actor to draw an audience.


    He expected to see it this time, but...


    "She always exceeds expectations."


    Even Sim Cheong-seok hadn¡¯t anticipated this level of impact.


    "Why did you suddenly decide to make a comeback?"


    The woman with short hair, neatly dressed in a suit, looked across at the girl she was interviewing. The girl had long black hair and reddish-brown eyes.


    Joo Seoyeon, who had recently become a major topic of conversation, was sitting in a chair, conducting an interview with the woman.


    Seoyeon had declined all interviews until now, making this a particularly special occasion.


    "I¡¯ve been thinking about it for a while. I just hadn¡¯t found the right role."


    "A role for your comeback?"


    "Yes."


    "So, was this variety show something you had planned?"


    Seoyeon shook her head at the woman¡¯s question.


    "That was a friend¡¯s idea. Originally, Princess Yeonhwa was meant to be played by my friend."


    "So, your friend gave up her role for you."


    "Yes."


    "It must have been a difficult decision. You seem to have a really good friend. That actress is...?"


    "Lee Ji-yeon. She¡¯s been appearing on cable TV recently..."


    Internet journalists usually tend to write their articles in whatever way they see fit. But Seoyeon trusted the woman in front of her.


    She had her reasons.


    "I imagine many fans have been eagerly awaiting your return. Could you say a few words to them?"


    The woman smiled as she asked. Seoyeon smiled back.


    "Sure."


    As Seoyeon answered, she unfolded a white cloth she had in her hand. It was something the woman had just handed her.


    It was an old, white piece of clothing, worn but carefully preserved.


    "...Thank you."


    The name "Joo Seoyeon," written in clumsy handwriting, was still on the cloth. It felt familiar. It was Seoyeon''s first autograph.


    She never thought she¡¯d see it again.


    "Thank you for waiting."


    Her first fan.


    At those words, the woman with short hair dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. Han Seon-ah.


    Now a grown woman, she had become a journalist and was sitting across from Seoyeon.


    "I¡¯ll write a great article."


    "Yes. I trust you."


    At the word "trust," Seon-ah nodded. Of course, she carefully kept the clothes she had given Seoyeon.


    This outfit was her treasure, something that had supported her during tough times.


    "Oh."


    At that moment, Seoyeon seemed to remember something and asked.


    "Could you tell me the title of the article?"


    "Of course."


    Seon-ah shared the article title she had in mind with Seoyeon. It was a title she had been thinking of for a long time, ever since she had been waiting for Seoyeon¡¯s comeback.


    "Rising Star."


    The word that refers to the current and future stars.


    A tribute to the star Seon-ah had been waiting for all these years.


    <Rising Star: Joo Seoyeon Returns>


    Two weeks later, this article by Seon-ah topped the entertainment news section.


    It received the most comments and sparked the most discussion.


    And then, two weeks later...


    "Alright, everyone, line up, line up!" "No scalping! You must show your ID!"


    The curtain rose on the play Eyes Closed, attracting immense attention from many people.

 Chapter 50

    The Play Eyes Closed


    The play Eyes Closed had quickly become one of the most talked-about productions in recent times. On the day of its first performance, it was almost impossible to find anyone walking around Daehangno who wasn¡¯t talking about it.


    "Did you see the variety show? The one with Park Jung-woo and Princess Yeonhwa?" "Of course I did. That¡¯s why I bought the tickets."


    A young couple chatted as they walked. The Moon That Hid the Sun was a hit drama from ten years ago.


    "But who is Joo Seoyeon?" "She¡¯s really pretty. Apparently, she¡¯s still a high school student." "She was the actress who played the young Princess Yeonhwa."


    The younger generation didn¡¯t really remember the show. But as is often the case with word of mouth, when the older generation made a fuss, the younger ones became interested.


    "Wow, so she just happened to run into Park Jung-woo on that variety show?" "I heard the young actress did such a good job in Episode 8 that it stirred up controversy. That¡¯s why everyone¡¯s talking about the reenactment now." "Ah, I see."


    The story.


    There was nothing more effective than a compelling narrative to make an actor''s name known.


    A "child prodigy" making a comeback after ten years. The reaction of the renowned actor Park Jung-woo to her return.


    All of these factors combined to spark curiosity about "Joo Seoyeon" and, by extension, the play Eyes Closed.


    "She¡¯s still more known as ¡®Princess Yeonhwa¡¯ than ¡®Joo Seoyeon.¡¯" "Hmm, that¡¯s true."


    Two middle-aged men sitting at an outdoor cafe? overheard the young couple¡¯s conversation. Although there were still about two hours left before the performance, a large crowd had already gathered.


    "It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt the impact of an actor¡¯s influence like this." "Whether this interest ends here or becomes a springboard for her future success depends on her."


    Looking at the Past, Reliving Memories.


    This variety show originally had a modest viewership rating of around 6%. But after the "Yeonhwa High School" episode aired, the ratings jumped to over 14% overnight. A show that had been on the brink of cancellation had suddenly been revived.


    The buzz was so intense that several YouTube videos discussing "Joo Seoyeon," The Moon That Hid the Sun, and Park Jung-woo had already been uploaded.


    It was likely that the play¡¯s sudden popularity was due to these factors. Whether the audience had come to see the play itself or just to catch a glimpse of Joo Seoyeon remained unclear.


    "Director Bae Jin-hwan."


    While lost in thought, the producer Cha Dong-jin, who had come with him, spoke up.


    "Thanks to you, I¡¯m getting to see this play too." "Well, there was no point in coming without you."


    Bae Jin-hwan and Cha Dong-jin were there to scout for actors.


    They were searching for one of the most important roles in a movie that GH Group was ambitiously preparing.


    Watching Eyes Closed was part of that process.


    "We¡¯re lucky that PD Jo Do-yul gave us VIP tickets. We wouldn¡¯t have been able to get in otherwise."


    They had received two tickets, a rare commodity usually reserved for actors and production staff.


    Bae Jin-hwan and Cha Dong-jin were immensely relieved.


    "What do you think, Director?" "About Joo Seoyeon, you mean?" "Yes, since she¡¯s playing the role of ¡®Hong Jeong-hee.¡¯"


    Initially, they had planned to watch Eyes Closed regardless of the recent buzz, to evaluate the actress playing "Hong Jeong-hee."


    It was purely by chance that Seoyeon had taken the role.


    "A young actress who can deliver a powerful villainous performance is rare." "Exactly. We haven¡¯t found anyone suitable yet."


    They had watched several plays, mainly those featuring significant villain roles, as well as dramas and movies. Recently, no actor had left a strong impression with their portrayal of a villain.


    They even considered holding auditions, though GH Group had expressed a preference for casting a well-known actor.


    "Her performance on the variety show was impressive, but..." "Villain roles are a different story."


    The saying "a feast for the eyes but no food to eat" was famous for a reason. Princess Yeonhwa and Hong Jeong-hee were vastly different roles.


    There was no guarantee she could pull it off.


    "Let¡¯s head in. It looks like they¡¯re letting people in now." "Ah, yes."


    As they watched people lining up, they stood up slowly, not holding high expectations.


    "Everyone ready?"


    Sim Cheong-seok looked at the nervous actors and spoke. Things had grown too big. The venue was larger, and the expectations had increased exponentially.


    Eyes Closed had always been a known play, but it was ultimately a romantic comedy. It was far from being considered a "blockbuster."


    "Is this going to be okay?"


    The question came from Lee Hye-jin, who was playing the role of Song Min-seo. She was originally scheduled to perform in the third run, but the order had been changed.


    This was the first performance of Eyes Closed, and the reason was obvious.


    "Well, what are you going to do if it¡¯s not okay?"


    "Affection? Oh, you were still thinking about that?"


    Seoyeon asked Sim Cheong-seok as the play was about to begin.


    "Yes, I feel like I can¡¯t afford to show any weak acting now." "Hmm, that makes sense."


    He smiled slightly as he responded.


    "Affection, huh. It¡¯s true that Hong Jeong-hee had feelings for Bae Sung-hak. It¡¯s a flaw if that doesn¡¯t come across. I guess that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about?" "Yes."


    This was a significant issue. It could disrupt Seoyeon¡¯s immersion in the role of Hong Jeong-hee or prevent her from fully understanding the character.


    "You¡¯re too greedy." "Sorry?" "Here¡¯s a tip."


    He raised his index finger as he spoke.


    "Sometimes, a little deception is necessary in acting." "Deception?" "Sure, affection is important. After all, Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s actions are ultimately for Bae Sung-hak."


    But.


    "But Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s role in the play is what? She¡¯s the villain."


    It¡¯s good to show affection. But it must be balanced.


    The role of Hong Jeong-hee in the play.


    It¡¯s good to show affection, but it¡¯s not essential. At least, that¡¯s what Sim Cheong-seok thought.


    "The playwright¡¯s intention and the actor¡¯s interpretation don¡¯t always align." "..." "You know what I mean, don¡¯t you?"


    She was just avoiding it.


    "Perfection isn¡¯t always the right answer."


    Recalling her conversation with Sim Cheong-seok, Seoyeon slowly opened her eyes.


    The third act was about to begin. She could feel the eyes of countless audience members on her.


    I am Hong Jeong-hee.


    She exhaled, releasing the tension in her body and slouching her posture.


    Hong Jeong-hee, as interpreted by Pyo Ji-woo¡¯s emotions.


    At this moment, Seoyeon became one with Hong Jeong-hee.


    The villain.


    Yes, that¡¯s why she had taken on this role.


    Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s inferiority complex, her insidiousness, and her obsession.


    She would emphasize these traits.


    Deception.


    As Sim Cheong-seok had said, if she pushed this to the extreme, the audience would eventually find a reason for it.


    The reason behind Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s actions.


    Even if she didn¡¯t explicitly portray affection, the audience might still perceive all her actions as driven by love.


    "Huh."


    A low chuckle escaped from Seoyeon¡¯s, or rather Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s, lips.


    In that moment, the audience froze.


    Something had changed.


    Hong Jeong-hee, with her shoulders shaking as she chuckled darkly.


    As she lifted her head, the pale face visible under the dim lighting was chilling.


    Joo Seoyeon.


    Princess Yeonhwa.


    Those names didn¡¯t even come to mind anymore, so terrifying was her presence.


    "Lies."


    As Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s monologue began, Bae Jin-hwan nearly jumped out of his seat.


    This...


    The actress he had been searching for.


    The villain who would bring his film to life.


    Perhaps he had finally found her.

 Chapter 51

    Who Is Hong Jeong-hee?


    For Seoyeon, Hong Jeong-hee was a character she couldn''t quite understand.


    A person pushed to the extreme by their obsession with another. In her past life, Seoyeon had never experienced such emotions, never harbored affection for anyone. In this life, she had only known pure love and had no concept of twisted affection. The idea of developing such a deep obsession with someone like Bae Sung-hak was foreign to her.


    She supplemented her understanding through Pyo Ji-woo¡¯s acting. The emotions Pyo harbored for Min Seo-ho¡ªso intense that she felt murderous rage when he betrayed her¡ªserved as a reference.


    It was like watching an old black-and-white television or a silent movie.


    Seoyeon analyzed each aspect of these emotions, trying to comprehend them even if she couldn''t fully understand them.


    Affection.


    Once it takes root, they say it¡¯s hard to let go, even if you want to.


    Suddenly, Seoyeon recalled her past life. Thinking about it, her parents had been the same.


    Twisted, relentless, and pained, yet they never let her go.


    Obsession.


    Parental, romantic. Seoyeon contemplated these types of attachment as she moved her body, her lips, her face.


    "You¡¯re too greedy."


    While discussing character interpretation, Sim Cheong-seok had said that to her.


    "There¡¯s no such thing as a perfect human."


    Therefore, everyone¡¯s interpretation of a character is different.


    "The role you¡¯ve taken on is ultimately a flawed human being."


    A person ruined by their longing for someone else''s affection.


    "So a flawless display of affection isn¡¯t appropriate."


    So when you act, the audience will be deceived. Sim Cheong-seok had said this, and Seoyeon knew it too.


    She expressed the intensity of Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s character.


    Inferiority, despair, jealousy, obsession, affection.


    She listed these complex emotions and assigned them an order.


    And the emotion Seoyeon placed first was...


    "...If something¡¯s wrong, it must be corrected."


    Obsession.


    "Think about it, when did Oppa start to change? When did he start going somewhere, doing something?"


    Under the dimming lights, Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s monologue began. Her movements were jerky, like a doll with broken joints.


    "February 22nd, fan meeting. The 27th, an event in Gwangju. No one made contact during March¡¯s rehearsals."


    Her hunched back and long black hair cascaded over her face as her eyes darted through the strands toward the audience.


    "April, visited a facility for volunteer work..."


    Red eyes.


    A blend of all her emotions, those red eyes.


    Even though her face wasn¡¯t clearly visible, those eyes stood out more vividly than anything else to the audience.


    No one dared to breathe as they felt the eerie obsession of Hong Jeong-hee, who knew Bae Sung-hak¡¯s schedule from top to bottom. The audience was struck by the unnerving nature of her fixation.


    Why is she going to such lengths?


    Everyone must have thought the same thing.


    The answer was simple: her obsession with Bae Sung-hak was driving her.


    Slowly, her steps dragged.


    Step by step.


    As she crossed the stage, Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s feet moved.


    "I have to find it."


    Tilting her head toward the audience, as if searching for someone.


    "I must."


    The audience member who made eye contact with Hong Jeong-hee froze, unable to utter a word. Then, as Hong Jeong-hee turned away from the audience, the tension that had been suffocating the air briefly dissipated.


    But then, Hong Jeong-hee abruptly spun around and charged toward the audience.


    "!!"


    The audience flinched in shock, feeling as if Hong Jeong-hee was about to leap at them. It felt like her face was right in front of them.


    But Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s feet never left the stage. She stopped right at the edge.


    "It¡¯s you."


    Balancing precariously on the edge of the stage, Hong Jeong-hee stared at the audience and spoke.


    "Yes, it was you."


    The lighting grew dimmer and dimmer.


    "It was you, Song Min-seo."


    As the stage went completely dark, the audience finally exhaled, relieved.


    They shuddered at the oppressive presence of Hong Jeong-hee.


    She¡¯s utilizing the stage to its fullest.


    Director Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s hands itched to take notes. He couldn¡¯t help but smile in delight as he stroked his chin.


    This isn¡¯t the end, is it? Joo Seoyeon?


    He couldn¡¯t wait to see her next performance.


    He wasn¡¯t the only one with such thoughts.


    Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s role was that of the villain.


    The antagonist.


    And yet, this villain was dominating the play.


    But it¡¯s not good for the play.


    When the protagonist doesn¡¯t stand out, the play¡¯s impression becomes muddled. What will the audience say after seeing this play today?


    The villain was amazing, but the play? The play was just okay.


    They would likely say that.


    That¡¯s not good for the actor or the play.


    What should be done?


    Will this play end as one dominated by Joo Seoyeon?


    Bae Jin-hwan watched as the third act progressed, the story of the main characters Bae Sung-hak and Song Min-seo unfolding.


    Meanwhile, Hong Jeong-hee, a character with no lines, would occasionally pass by. Each time, the audience held their breath, anxious about what she might do.


    Then came the fourth act.@@@@


    The moment when Hong Jeong-hee takes center stage, clashing directly with Bae Sung-hak.


    She regretted never having acted in a play.


    But Song Min-seo remained frozen.


    If this continued, the audience would soon sense something was off.


    The actor had made a mistake.


    At that moment.


    "Song Min-seo!!"


    Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s shout reverberated across the stage.


    "You think you¡¯ve won, don¡¯t you? Why, why are you looking at me like that?!"


    Jo Seohui recognized it instantly.


    A line that wasn¡¯t in the play.


    An ad-lib.


    Song Min-seo was supposed to be deaf.


    There was no way she could hear Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s shout.


    But the audience didn¡¯t notice it at that moment. Even if they did, it would sound like Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s last desperate cry. But Jo Seohui knew.


    This shout wasn¡¯t directed at Song Min-seo, but at the actress Lee Hye-jin.


    At the same time, Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s overwhelming presence suddenly diminished.


    "Min-seo, are you okay?"


    And in sync, Bae Sung-hak turned his gaze to Song Min-seo.


    He added sign language, reminding the audience that she was deaf.


    With a smooth flow, Song Min-seo¡¯s dwindling presence was instantly revived.


    The audience¡¯s focus was forcibly shifted back to Song Min-seo.


    "I-I¡¯m fine."


    Lee Hye-jin, as Song Min-seo, barely managed to speak her line.


    Her voice trembled slightly, her tone momentarily shaky, but given the circumstances, it felt like part of the act.


    She had skillfully covered up her earlier mistake by channeling it into Song Min-seo¡¯s flustered emotions.


    Lee Hye-jin was an actress, after all.


    She knew what had happened and that she needed to make up for it.


    Taking a deep breath.


    "Jeong-hee."


    There were many lines to follow.


    But Lee Hye-jin realized something.


    She shouldn¡¯t prolong the dialogue here.


    "I¡¯m sorry."


    Carefully, Song Min-seo embraced the crying Hong Jeong-hee.


    Gently holding her.


    "Really, I¡¯m sorry."


    She conveyed forgiveness to Hong Jeong-hee, who had hurled insults and violence at her, by quietly embracing her.


    "Sniff."


    The tears that had been falling now streamed down her face.


    With Hong Jeong-hee¡¯s sorrowful cry, the fourth act came to an end.


    And that marked...


    The final appearance of Hong Jeong-hee in the play.


    "Wow, so this is what plays are like? It was my first time, and it was intense." "The lines were a bit different from when I saw it before. But it was still good." "Really? But the male actor was so handsome. Is he a real idol?"


    With the conclusion of the sixth and final act, Eyes Closed came to an end.


    As the audience filed out, chatting among themselves, the most talked-about topic was...


    "The girl who played Hong Jeong-hee, she¡¯s the same one who played Princess Yeonhwa, right?" "She didn¡¯t feel like that at all. Honestly, I was so scared I almost left in the middle." "Yeah, but she seemed a bit pitiful at the end."


    Joo Seoyeon¡¯s portrayal of Hong Jeong-hee was so impactful that it dominated the conversation. Her performance, which had frozen the audience in place, remained vividly imprinted in their minds even after they closed their eyes.


    "Phew."


    Director Bae Jin-hwan and Producer Cha Dong-jin were no exception.


    The two of them let out a breath as they sat in the lingering afterglow of the play.


    "...What did you think?"


    Producer Cha Dong-jin spoke first, his voice tinged with a strange sense of anticipation. Bae Jin-hwan understood and shared that expectation.


    "I¡¯ve been humbled." "Humbled?"


    Bae Jin-hwan nodded.


    "Yes, a comeback after ten years. I thought the image of Princess Yeonhwa was too strong and that it might be risky."


    He recalled Seoyeon as she walked the stage, looking out at the audience. Originally, Hong Jeong-hee wasn¡¯t such a strong character.


    She was the main antagonist, but more of an "unpleasant" character than a powerful one.


    "But this was good. It was a fresh interpretation." "And the final lines of the fourth act were different too, right?" "Yes."


    The two nodded slowly in agreement.


    "You¡¯re thinking the same thing as me?" "Of course."


    Seventeen years old, so young.


    At first, that had been a concern, but now it didn¡¯t matter.


    "Let¡¯s do it."


    This was the moment they decided to cast her as the villain in their upcoming movie, The Chaser.


    But there was one issue they hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    "...What? Joo Seoyeon doesn¡¯t have an agency?" "?"


    As they tried to contact her and send her the script, they encountered an unforeseen problem.


    They had no way to reach her.


    The despair of this realization left Bae Jin-hwan and Cha Dong-jin at a loss.


    Meanwhile, the person in question, Joo Seoyeon...


    "..."


    At the after-party following the play, two people had arrived, tailing her.


    "...Sigh." "Hmph."


    Park Jung-woo and Jo Seohui.


    Caught between them, Seoyeon glanced around nervously.

 Chapter 52

    "......Hello, Sohee. It''s been a while." "Yes, I''m... glad to see you, senior."


    A strange tension lingered between them. Park Jung-woo and Jo Seo-hee.


    They looked at each other with cautious eyes.


    ¡®Why is she here?¡¯ ¡®Why is he here?¡¯


    They were smiling at each other, but there was an awkwardness that couldn¡¯t be ignored. An awkwardness that shouldn''t exist among young, highly acclaimed actors.


    And then, caught between the two of them:


    ¡®How did... it come to this?¡¯


    Joo Seoyeon slowly retraced her steps after the play ended. About an hour ago.


    "Great job, everyone!"


    After the performance. Especially after a successful performance, it''s natural for everyone to feel excited. Reflecting on their own performance in front of a large audience. And recalling those brilliant scenes.


    "Seoyeon, you were amazing. You really saved the day."


    It was Lee Hye-jin from Song Min-seo who spoke first. It was understandable since the play might have been ruined if it weren¡¯t for Seoyeon.


    "It¡¯s because you handled it so well, Hyejin." "Oh, you say such sweet things." "Did you see the audience''s reaction today? It¡¯s been a while since we got such a good response in the first run. Seriously."


    The performance replayed in her mind over and over. A stage that met the excessive expectations. The feeling of accomplishment from pulling it off was indescribable.


    "We should have a celebration! It''s a bit early, but let¡¯s go!"


    It was Jo Do-yul, who excitedly suggested it. He was loudly declaring that he would treat everyone.


    "But Seoyeon, don¡¯t you have to go to school? And the director should stay behind, right?" "......."


    Seoyeon closed her mouth at Sim Cheong-seok''s words, which were, as always, said to dampen the mood. Still, he wasn¡¯t wrong.


    ¡®Come to think of it.¡¯


    Seoyeon was a high school student. If alcohol was involved in the celebration, it could cause some controversy. But she couldn¡¯t just skip it.


    Who was the superstar of this play? The one who saved the play when it was faltering was none other than Joo Seoyeon.


    There¡¯s no celebration without Joo Seoyeon!


    "Oh, don¡¯t worry about school. I got permission." "Really?" "Yes, as long as I meet the minimum attendance, it¡¯s fine."


    With Seoyeon¡¯s calm response, everyone started moving busily, saying, "Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go." Seoyeon felt a little proud of herself.


    ¡®I did well today.¡¯


    It was different from when she was a child actor. Back then, she could feel everyone being considerate of her.


    She knew she wasn¡¯t good enough, so she wasn¡¯t satisfied with her performances except for the last one. But today¡¯s performance was very satisfying.


    She added another ¡°Joo Seoyeon Mad Movie¡± to replay in her mind before going to sleep. She thought she would sleep well tonight. Though it didn¡¯t show on her face, Seoyeon was feeling elated.


    Just as her mother, Soo-a, said. Seoyeon liked it when others praised her. Today was the peak of that.


    Her expressionless face was slightly flushed.


    Yes, everything was good up to that point.


    "Though it''s funny to ask now that we¡¯re already here, is a barbecue place okay?" "Yes."


    Seoyeon, who was sitting among the actors in the barbecue restaurant, suddenly realized that she hadn¡¯t washed her hands after the play ended.


    By the way, Jo Do-yul had stayed behind because of the next performance. It seemed like he left the actors in Sim Cheong-seok''s care.


    Sim Cheong-seok, despite not having much experience or age, had somehow taken on the role of leading the other actors since the performance.


    "Oh, can I go wash my hands for a moment?" "Of course. If you go out and turn right, you''ll find it."


    Sim Cheong-seok answered while taking orders from the other actors. After watching the lively actors for a moment, Seoyeon happily stepped out of the restaurant.


    And then...


    "......."


    She saw a man and a woman standing at the entrance of the restaurant.


    ¡®Huh.¡¯


    They were both familiar to Seoyeon. The man first. Large sunglasses, a cap on his head. A black mask covering his face and casual clothes.


    But the handsome face and the elegant facial features were very familiar to Seoyeon. Park Jung-woo. The one she had acted with in a variety show not long ago. And...


    "Hmm."


    The woman was looking at the man with a nasal sound. She was dressed in the same school uniform as Seoyeon. If Seoyeon remembered correctly, it was the uniform of a famous arts high school in Seoul.


    The woman wore a mask that covered her face and glasses. But there was no need to say anything more. Right behind her, there was a sign with her face on it.


    Jo Seo-hee. The girl Seoyeon had met during the audition for The Moon That Hid the Sun in her childhood.


    With Sim Cheong-seok''s appearance, Park Jung-woo and Jo Seo-hee were startled and ran off. Given their personalities, he thought they would naturally get involved, but apparently not. As Sim Cheong-seok blankly watched them go, he asked me.


    "Are they friends of yours?" "......Well, sort of." "Hmm."


    Can I really call them friends? Jung-woo, maybe, but Seohee was a surprise.


    I didn¡¯t realize she was paying so much attention to me. I didn¡¯t expect that her current success had something to do with that.


    I felt a strange mix of emotions.


    ¡®Is that all you felt after seeing them?¡¯


    Seeing his nonchalant reaction to meeting two top-tier actors made me think I saw a glimpse of why he would face harsh treatment on a drama set later.


    "Great job, everyone!" "Let¡¯s keep up the good work for the next performance!"


    With the successful celebration wrapped up, I mentioned it to Lee Ji-yeon at school the next day.


    "For your information, I watched the play too." "Really?"


    Then you could have joined us for dinner. I tried to convey that sentiment.


    "It would have been rude for an outsider to join. I¡¯m sure those two left because they knew that." "Really?"


    Were they really that considerate? Honestly, I wasn¡¯t sure, but since Ji-yeon said so, I guess it must be true.


    ¡®By the way.¡¯


    I was sitting on the bench where I usually spent lunch with Ji-yeon. But I felt that the atmosphere had changed a bit.


    Maybe it was because I had been busy with the play and hadn¡¯t been to school much lately. It was the first time I really felt this kind of atmosphere.


    "It¡¯s been crazy."


    As if reading my thoughts, Ji-yeon spoke.


    "Everyone keeps asking me why I didn¡¯t tell them. Did I hide it? They just didn¡¯t notice." "Is it really that much?" "What do you mean? Joo Seoyeon. Do you want to sound like my dad?"


    Ji-yeon responded as if she found it absurd. For reference, the "dad" she mentioned was my father. Then she pointed her finger at each of the students who were staring at us.


    "There, there, and there."


    On top of the school building. Through the classroom windows. Peeking while using the vending machine.


    It was a little funny to see the students jump in surprise and scatter as Ji-yeon''s finger pointed at them. Apparently, the influence of filming a variety show at school had been pretty significant.


    ¡®I still don¡¯t have any friends, though.¡¯


    Couldn¡¯t someone just come up and talk to me? The only conversation I had today after coming to school was with my smartphone¡¯s voice assistant. Oh, except for Lee Ji-yeon, of course.


    "And."


    After dispersing the attention, Ji-yeon spoke.


    "You need to find an agency soon. What are you going to do?" "What do you mean?" "You said you had a place in mind before."


    There was a place I had in mind. The agency where Kim Jeong-ha, the actor I once filmed a commercial with, was signed.


    It was actually the agency I recommended to Lee Ji-yeon. It was about time for Kim Jeong-ha to rise in fame, and since the agency was currently receiving mixed reviews, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to join now. But...


    "...Is there room in your agency?" "Why ask the obvious? If you want to join, they¡¯d make room for you even if there wasn¡¯t."


    The agency Ji-yeon belonged to, Nova Entertainment. It was the agency she moved to after leaving Eunha Entertainment.


    Back then, it was a mid-sized agency, but now it had grown quite a bit. Of course, it still lacked in many ways to be called a major agency, and its influence was relatively weak. But it was a place that had survived for a long time, had wide connections, and was sure to grow into a major agency in the future.


    ¡®I¡¯m also familiar with the people there.¡¯


    Considering everything, there really was no place better than Nova Entertainment.


    ¡®Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡¯


    As Seoyeon made that decision.


    Bzzz!


    Suddenly, her smartphone buzzed.


    "Who is it?" "Oh, that..."


    When she checked the screen, the caller''s name appeared. Jo Do-yul. The director of Eyes Closed. Seoyeon looked at it for a moment and then calmly answered the call.


    "Hello, this is Joo Seoyeon." "Ah, Seoyeon. It¡¯s your lunch break, right? Sorry for contacting you out of the blue." "No worries. What¡¯s the matter?"


    Seoyeon had some free time today since her schedule didn¡¯t start until the evening. She just had to be there by around 4 PM.


    "There¡¯s a director I know..."


    As he said that much, Seoyeon realized.


    "Would you be interested in appearing in a movie?"


    Finally, what she had been waiting for had come.

 Chapter 53

    "The movie is titled The Chaser, and they specifically requested to cast you, Seoyeon."


    The Chaser.


    The title Jo Do-yul mentioned matched a movie that Seoyeon remembered. As for how that movie performed in the past...


    It had a total audience of 2.5 million during its release. Not too many, but not too few¡ªan average success. However, considering the circumstances behind those numbers, it was actually quite an impressive achievement.


    "This isn¡¯t really my place to say, but this is such a great opportunity that I think you should consider it, Seoyeon."


    Jo Do-yul seemed to really like Seoyeon, judging by his words. And it was understandable.


    The Chaser was a movie that GH Group had ambitiously prepared. The investment was substantial, and the cast was quite good.


    But...


    "Joo Seoyeon?"


    Lee Ji-yeon asked Seoyeon with a puzzled look, wondering what was going on.


    "Hmm."


    Seoyeon lightly patted her cheeks with both hands before looking at Ji-yeon. There was something she needed to take care of before the movie casting.


    The agency. Various scenarios flashed through her mind. She wondered if there might be something better out there. But there was no guarantee that a better company would be better for her. So...


    "Do you think I could talk to the CEO today?"


    It was time to decide on something she had been putting off.


    "Did you hear? That actress Joo Seoyeon, who recently made a comeback." "Oh, you saw the play? Yeah, the atmosphere was incredible!" "No, that''s not it."


    RY Entertainment, one of the top three entertainment agencies in Korea. A company known for its aggressive business expansion and for signing popular stars left and right.


    They had recently heard about an actress.


    "She doesn¡¯t have an agency yet." "Are you talking about Joo Seoyeon?"


    The performance she showed in the recent play was far beyond what could be expected from someone her age. It was the first time they had felt such a thrill from a young actor. Could Park Jung-woo, Jo Seo-hee, or even the rising young actors match that? Honestly, it was hard to say.


    And this actress was still a free agent without an agency? How many agencies would just sit back and do nothing after hearing that?


    "Manager Song."


    And as if to prove that point, RY Entertainment''s Actor Management Division was abuzz with talk about her.


    "What do you think about actress Joo Seoyeon?" "Well, she¡¯s only shown her talent in a play so far, so it¡¯s hard to say for sure, but she¡¯s definitely a promising talent."


    The impact she had on the recent variety show Looking Back at the Past was considerable. She had managed to double the ratings of a failing show.


    But... Because the ratings had been so low to begin with, it didn¡¯t feel as significant.


    "There¡¯s been a lot of talk about her, and quite a few articles have been published, so this could be the peak of her popularity." "Exactly. But she¡¯s already used up the premium of being a comeback project, so... hmm."


    Lee Hwi-rok, the head of Actor Management, scratched his chin thoughtfully.


    "But it would be a waste to let her go to another agency. And she has a great face." "Right. She was cute as a child, and she¡¯s grown up beautifully without any awkward changes." "Her acting seems pretty solid too. If we can get her into a good project, she could be a real asset."


    He made his decision as he spoke. There was no reason not to sign such a promising talent. And if they could sign an actress who was currently trending, it would positively impact their stock price as well.


    "Manager Song, take care of this, alright? Let¡¯s see... for the contract terms, offering A-tier money would be too much." "Somewhere between B and C, right?" "Exactly. B is already generous. Let¡¯s go with C. And make sure it¡¯s clear that the C-tier is only because of her recent buzz." "Of course."


    A little better than C-tier. With that, he gave the go-ahead.


    Typically, the contract fee is set at around 30% of what the actor is expected to earn during the contract period. Actors are usually classified into 18 tiers, with child actors typically at the lowest levels, 1-5. Seoyeon¡¯s career consisted entirely of her work as a child actor, and since she was returning after 10 years, her tier wouldn¡¯t be very high.


    From their perspective, they were being quite generous.


    "I see a lot of potential in the actress Joo Seoyeon, and I¡¯m investing in that potential. So the terms... are exactly the same as before."


    A contract fee on par with an A-list actor. He would have liked to offer her an S-tier contract, but the board would have opposed it, so he was giving her the best terms he could.


    However, if she showed even a little success, he could easily raise her to S-tier. That¡¯s how this industry works.


    "......."


    Even though Seoyeon had already made up her mind before coming, there was still a part of her that hesitated. It was precisely because they were close that she hesitated. And she knew how good the contract terms were.


    Even the revenue split was 8:2. Usually, when signing a contract with an agency, the standard split is 7:3. The entertainer gets 7, and the agency gets 3.


    That¡¯s the industry average.


    But starting with an 8:2 split was extremely rare. And he even offered to raise it further.


    Honestly, Seoyeon was confident. Talent. She was sure she had it.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Starlight. She wasn¡¯t sure if she had the kind of grand talent that Kang Chan-yul and Park Sun-woong spoke of.


    The past life she had lived. The abilities of Joo Seoyeon, who had been reincarnated. The knowledge of the future that told her which projects would succeed.


    Even so, there was a primal fear that lingered.


    "...Yes. I¡¯ve made my decision."


    Seoyeon looked at Kang Chan-yul as she spoke. There was no more time to hesitate.


    She thought of the two people who had come to see her after the play. Ten years ago. They were just brief acquaintances from a single project. Now, they were far above her.


    A spark of competitiveness. Perhaps that¡¯s what ignited a fire in Seoyeon¡¯s heart. And...


    "Please take good care of me from now on."


    A top star. To keep the promise she had made to her friend, it was time to start running.


    And the next day.


    "Hello."


    After class, as Seoyeon was leaving school to head to the theater, a man spoke to her. A man in a black suit, with a fresh impression. He looked Seoyeon up and down before smiling brightly.


    "My name is Shin Min-chul, and I¡¯m an agent from RY Entertainment." "Oh, I see."


    He handed Seoyeon his business card as he spoke.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely worth it based on looks alone.¡¯


    If her acting was on par with what he had seen on TV, she could quickly grow as an actress. After thinking that, Shin Min-chul cleared his throat and spoke.


    "We were really impressed by your performance in Eyes Closed and Looking Back at the Past, so we decided to reach out."


    Seoyeon stared blankly at him as he spoke.


    ¡®What¡¯s with him?¡¯


    He thought she would be thrilled and excited. Shin Min-chul wondered if she was just too shocked to react and continued.


    "So, what I¡¯m saying is that we at RY Entertainment would like to sign you..." "I¡¯ve already signed a contract."


    Before Shin Min-chul could finish his sentence, Seoyeon calmly responded. And upon hearing that...


    "...What?"


    He could only stand there, dumbfounded.

 Chapter 54

    "Child Actor Joo Seoyeon, from Looking Back at the Past, Signs with Nova Entertainment" "Joo Seoyeon Joins the Ranks of Hwang Min-hwa at Nova Entertainment"


    The article that appeared in the morning caught the attention of RY Entertainment''s Actor Management Division head, Lee Hwi-rok, who frowned deeply as he read it. It was just the other day that they had discussed pursuing a contract with Joo Seoyeon.


    And the very next day, they had even gone to her school in person.


    "But she said she already signed."


    And the agency that snagged her from under RY¡¯s nose was Nova Entertainment? He let out a bitter laugh.


    It wasn''t a bad agency. But compared to RY? Not quite on the same level.@@@@


    ¡®She must have been too hasty and signed the contract without thinking it through.¡¯


    He clicked his tongue, but that was all. He had thought she was a promising prospect, but perhaps this was simply not meant to be.


    ¡®She¡¯s still just a kid, after all. Too impulsive.¡¯


    It was disappointing, but Joo Seoyeon wasn¡¯t the kind of actress RY needed to desperately cling to. She was more like a lottery ticket with slightly better odds of winning¡ªnothing more.


    "People need to learn to see the forest, not just the trees."


    With a smirk, he closed the online article, deciding to forget about the actress named Joo Seoyeon.


    While Lee Hwi-rok was busy reading the online article, Seoyeon had just finished her play and was meeting with Director Bae Jin-hwan of The Chaser at a nearby cafe?.


    "Seoyeon, you made a good decision. Opportunities like this don¡¯t come around often."


    Jo Do-yul, who had introduced Seoyeon to the director, spoke with a beaming face.


    ¡®It would be nice if she could still appear in plays from time to time.¡¯


    Having watched Seoyeon¡¯s recent performance, Jo Do-yul felt a bit regretful. Given her rising popularity, expanding the theater scene with her presence was certainly possible. However, he didn¡¯t want to miss out on giving her a chance to reach even greater heights as an actress.


    It wasn¡¯t that the position of a theater actor was low, but that this was an opportunity for her to make her face known to a wider audience. You never know¡ªif the OTT market continues to grow, her name might spread overseas.


    "Pleased to meet you. I¡¯m Bae Jin-hwan, the director of The Chaser."


    A middle-aged man with a good-natured appearance said as he extended his hand. Seoyeon, momentarily flustered, quickly grasped his hand.


    "I¡¯m Joo Seoyeon from Nova Entertainment." "Oh, I saw the article about you joining Nova. It¡¯s a good agency. With an actor like Hwang Min-hwa, you¡¯ll have a lot to learn."


    Hwang Min-hwa. Seoyeon recalled that he was an actor in the recent blockbuster movie Professional. Before Professional, he had appeared in several high-profile films and dramas, significantly contributing to Nova Entertainment¡¯s growth.


    Hearing the name, Seoyeon smiled awkwardly.


    ¡®He¡¯s probably leaving the agency this year, isn¡¯t he?¡¯


    She didn¡¯t remember the exact timing, but she recalled that Hwang Min-hwa left Nova Entertainment before The Chaser was released. That meant there likely wasn¡¯t much time left.


    The agency Hwang Min-hwa would move to was Horizon Company, a firm classified as a second-tier agency. In other words, it was a step above Nova Entertainment.


    "Yes, I¡¯ll do my best." "That¡¯s the right attitude. An actor should always be eager to learn."


    Of course, Director Bae Jin-hwan had no way of knowing Seoyeon¡¯s thoughts as he chuckled softly. He really liked Seoyeon. She had a calm and composed demeanor.


    Like a young lady from a noble family, the girl had shown remarkable talent on stage. A presence that captured the eye in an instant.


    "Have you heard anything about The Chaser? I imagine it¡¯s been generating some buzz."


    In fact, The Chaser had been announced quite some time ago. Several months, at least. During that time, they had been gathering the cast and refining the script, which had delayed the process.


    All that remained was to cast the villain, Cha Seo-ah. The production was ready to begin filming as soon as they found the right actor.


    "I¡¯ve heard of it. It¡¯s a thriller, right? I also heard that GH Group is investing in it..." "Yes, that¡¯s correct. It¡¯s a highly anticipated project, funded by GH Group."


    Director Bae Jin-hwan took a sip of his Americano as he spoke, exuding confidence. With GH Group¡¯s backing, he had every reason to be confident.


    He was a proven director with ample resources. With GH Group¡¯s support, there would be no worries about marketing or securing enough screens for the film.


    He was likely certain of its success to some degree. The only question was whether it would be a hit or a blockbuster.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Seoyeon knew the truth. The Chaser wouldn¡¯t be a major success.


    "Ahaha, I¡¯m so high up!"


    I smiled softly as I watched Su-yeon laugh innocently like a child. Today had been a complicated day in many ways, but seeing Su-yeon made me feel a bit more at ease.


    "Oh, Seoyeon, you¡¯re back? You¡¯re late today." "There was a meeting about the movie." "Oh, that¡¯s right."


    Mom, holding a ladle, looked at me, who was still holding up Su-yeon, with a surprised expression.


    "My, our daughter is strong..."


    Su-yeon weighed well over 20 kilograms. The fact that I could lift her straight up and spin her around with both hands must have been shocking to Mom.


    I guess I¡¯m finally getting used to my strength.


    "But didn¡¯t you say the role was a villain? Are you okay with that?"


    Mom had set dinner on the table, as if she had been waiting for me to come home. She had prepared the meal in advance, ready for her daughter who would be coming home late.


    As I sat down at the table, my little sister climbed onto my lap, blinking her big eyes as she asked,


    "Sis, are you playing a bad person again?"


    Again, huh. But it¡¯s true that I¡¯ve taken on villainous roles back-to-back after Princess Yeonhwa.


    ¡®Not that Su-yeon has even seen Princess Yeonhwa.¡¯


    To my sister, it might seem like I only play bad roles. I guess that¡¯s how it looks.


    "So, I¡¯m thinking of doing a drama or variety show alongside the movie." "Won¡¯t that make you too busy?" "If I start after the movie finishes filming, I think I can manage the timing."


    Typically, a movie takes about three months to shoot. If I start filming a drama right after finishing the movie, it might air around the same time the movie is released, or perhaps a little earlier.


    ¡®I¡¯ll have to think carefully about what to take on.¡¯


    Considering the role in The Chaser, there¡¯s a possibility that I¡¯ll be heavily typecast as a villain. In my previous life, the movie wasn¡¯t well-received due to the sudden change of actors, but the character of Cha Seo-ah has a significant impact in the story.


    Even a slightly good performance could greatly influence my image as an actress.


    "Then how about a romance drama?" "...What?"


    "Oh, don¡¯t look at me like that. If you¡¯re worried about being typecast as a villain, wouldn¡¯t a loving role help balance it out? You¡¯re so stoic, I worry about you, my dear."


    Is that so? Would that work?


    I took a sip of cold water. Hmm. I thought about it for a moment. A romance role... that¡¯s...


    ¡®I¡¯m not ready for that right now.¡¯


    I felt genuinely sorry, but that¡¯s something I can¡¯t do right now. Really.


    Even if it¡¯s not a romance, I should take my time to think about what roles might suit me.


    "And stop watching YouTube while you¡¯re eating." "Okay."


    I absentmindedly scrolled through my smartphone as I ate, trying to clear my head. There was a lot to think about¡ªThe Chaser, future roles, and everything else.


    ¡®In my previous life, I would¡¯ve watched Ramiel¡¯s channel to relax at times like this.¡¯


    I didn¡¯t fully understand my emotions back then, but I think it was a form of healing. It made me feel at ease.


    Ramiel used to give advice to her viewers, and I had received her guidance a few times myself.


    ¡®Sigh.¡¯


    As I typed "Ramiel" into the YouTube search bar, yearning for someone who wouldn¡¯t appear, something strange popped up.


    "Huh?"


    A channel called Ramiel had been newly created.


    "Wh-what???"


    There were no videos, nothing at all. I couldn¡¯t help but stare at my phone screen in disbelief.


    ¡®No way, could it be...?¡¯


    Until my mom told me to sit up straight and finish my meal, I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the screen.

 Chapter 55

    The next day. Seoyeon hurried to school, even skipping her usual visit to the convenience store, which had become part of her daily routine. She wanted to get there early and discreetly ask Lee Ji-yeon if what she had seen the previous day was real.


    ¡°Oh, Ji-yeon said she¡¯ll be late this morning because of a shoot...¡±


    Right, Seoyeon closed her eyes in frustration. She realized that Ji-yeon was a busy person as well.


    She was currently acting in a drama, her popularity was steadily increasing, and she even had some CF deals lined up.


    ¡®And she seems to have gotten close to PD Jung Min-jae after Looking Back at the Past.¡¯


    Ji-yeon was, in many ways, different from Seoyeon, especially when it came to communication skills. It was no surprise that she became a popular virtual YouTuber in such a short time in her previous life; she had the talent for it.


    ¡°...Tell her I wanted to talk when she gets here.¡±@@@@


    With that, Seoyeon turned and walked away, her steps slow and heavy. This left the girl from Ji-yeon¡¯s class, whom Seoyeon had spoken to, as the sudden center of attention.


    ¡°What did she want? What did she say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her this close before¡ªher face is so small. Is she really a celebrity?¡± ¡°Seeing things like this, it¡¯s clear that Ji-yeon is also a celebrity.¡±


    The students whispered among themselves. They were friends who had become so familiar that they often forgot about Seoyeon¡¯s fame, but the truth was, Ji-yeon had been in the entertainment industry longer and was more well-known.


    Sometimes, when someone is too close, you forget certain things. The impact of the recent shoot for Looking Back at the Past was still fresh in their minds.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to talk to her too, but...¡± ¡°She¡¯s a bit intimidating.¡±


    There¡¯s a saying that someone can be so beautiful that it¡¯s scary. That phrase fit Seoyeon perfectly.


    Moreover, she didn¡¯t smile often, and her expression was usually serious. She unintentionally gave off a chilly impression to the other students.


    If Ji-yeon had been there, she might have said, ¡°Try smiling more like when you go to the convenience store,¡± but Ji-yeon wasn¡¯t there.


    Then came the fifth period, P.E. It was during the joint P.E. class with the neighboring class that Seoyeon finally got a glimpse of Ji-yeon.


    ¡°Just play dodgeball lightly. Be careful not to get hurt.¡±


    As usual, P.E. class meant dodgeball. In truth, it was more of a self-study period than a proper game of dodgeball.


    Not many students actually played, but since dodgeball was part of the school sports festival, there were a few who took it seriously.


    After all, this was an arts-focused school, so there were plenty of students who were confident in their athletic abilities.


    ¡®I want to talk to her.¡¯


    Seoyeon, who had been lingering nearby, somehow got roped into the dodgeball game with the other class and found herself deep in thought. She noticed Ji-yeon standing tiredly, her fatigue evident¡ªprobably from the morning shoot.


    Meanwhile, across from Seoyeon, a girl from Ji-yeon¡¯s class was watching Seoyeon with sharp eyes.


    ¡®Joo Seoyeon.¡¯


    Even among a group of girls, her appearance stood out. She truly looked like an actress.


    ¡®But still...¡¯


    The girl gripped the dodgeball in her hand tightly. The dodgeball team from Yeonhwa High School was a strong contender that consistently made it to the semifinals in national competitions. Although she was only a substitute, she was still a player on the team.


    ¡®I¡¯ll show her what I¡¯m made of.¡¯


    This wasn¡¯t about petty jealousy or anything like that. No, not at all. It¡¯s not because Seoyeon stands out too much or because she monopolizes the attention of the boys.


    Or because the senior she liked seemed to have a crush on Seoyeon. Definitely not because of that!


    ¡®Now¡¯s my chance.¡¯


    Seoyeon was distracted, looking at Ji-yeon. The girl seized the opportunity and swung her arm.


    ¡°Haaah!¡±


    The ball flew with all her might, aiming for the gap in Seoyeon¡¯s attention, and it soared towards her with ferocious speed.


    Thwack.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    It was effortlessly caught by Seoyeon with one hand. It didn¡¯t even bounce off¡ªshe caught it with one hand. The ball was visibly dented from where her fingers had gripped it.


    Nova Entertainment. The agency where she would now be working.


    As she let out a tense sigh during a rare outing with her mom...


    ¡°So, how about you, Mrs. Joo? I see real potential here.¡± ¡°Oh, my...¡±


    CEO Kang Chan-yul, who had also come to oversee Seoyeon¡¯s contract, spoke to her mother with a smile. Mom seemed taken aback, chuckling awkwardly. ...He was joking, right? Seoyeon glanced at him, but to her surprise, Kang Chan-yul looked serious.


    ¡®Mom does look pretty young, though.¡¯


    Seoyeon glanced at Soo-ah¡¯s face, then quickly looked down. That prominent feature was still there.


    Seoyeon lowered her gaze further, this time focusing on herself.


    There wasn¡¯t any particular meaning to it. No real meaning at all, but...


    ¡®Will these grow even bigger?¡¯


    Maybe it¡¯s because of her mom¡¯s genes? They¡¯re already quite big enough, but if they get as big as Mom¡¯s... well, it could be a bit uncomfortable for acting.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m too busy with household chores.¡± ¡°What a shame.¡±


    Kang Chan-yul genuinely looked disappointed. Given Soo-ah¡¯s mysterious beauty, it made sense. Was that really the appearance and body of a woman nearing forty?


    It was no wonder that actresses passing by would ask her what skincare products she used. Anyway, becoming a celebrity was out of the question for Mom.


    Her personality didn¡¯t mesh well with public life. Unlike me.


    ¡°So, have you made any friends at school? Besides Ji-yeon, of course.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°Hmm? Is there something wrong with your school life?¡±


    Her sharp question pierced me, and I fell silent. It was as if she had read my mind.


    ¡°I have so many that I can¡¯t count them on both hands.¡± ¡°I see.¡±


    Without Ji-yeon, that statement was an honest truth. Satisfied with my response, Kang Chan-yul nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be absent often, but maintaining good relationships is important. You know that, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And if your friends want to visit, let me know in advance. Students would love to meet a celebrity, right?¡± ¡°Y-yes. I¡¯ll bring them next time. For sure.¡±


    What should I do? I gave a dry laugh as I pondered. At least there was no set deadline, which was a relief.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s it for the contract. This is Park Eun-ha, your new manager, who will be handling things from now on.¡±


    Thinking the conversation was over, he introduced the woman standing nearby. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with a kind expression, but she seemed quite tense.


    ¡°She was previously managing actor Hwang Min-hwa, so she knows the industry well. Feel free to ask her any questions.¡± ¡°Okay.¡±


    I nodded, studying Park Eun-ha¡¯s face. If she had been Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s manager, it meant she had been assigned to take good care of me. But at the same time, something felt odd.


    ¡®Is she already preparing to leave?¡¯


    Normally, a manager doesn¡¯t change unless there¡¯s a special reason. Since they work closely together, changing managers comes with risks.


    And it seemed strange for a manager of a top-tier actor like Hwang Min-hwa to be so tense.


    ¡®...I¡¯ll have to look into this later.¡¯


    There might have been some issues surrounding Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s departure. When I thought about it, it was quite unusual for Nova Entertainment to let go of an actor like her.


    After all, it¡¯s rare for an agency to let a top star move to another company.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    I sensed that there was more to this transfer than met the eye. Of course, I didn¡¯t have enough information to be certain, so I decided to keep an eye on the situation.


    If there were any problems, they would likely surface soon enough.


    And two days later...


    ¡°Alright, is everyone here?¡±


    Director Bae Jin-hwan scanned the assembled actors with a satisfied smile. He seemed especially pleased as he looked at me, his eyes filled with strong anticipation.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started, then.¡±


    The movie The Chaser. A film that would ultimately end with a total audience of 2.5 million¡ªa tragic story. Its official filming had begun.

 Chapter 56

    "I''m Kim Dae-hun, playing the role of Im Seung-chul."


    The Chaser is a story centered around two detectives pursuing a criminal. Im Seung-chul is the main character, a detective in the violent crimes division. He¡¯s a passionate detective who won¡¯t hesitate to fight criminals, having trained in martial arts.


    Reflecting this character''s setting, actor Kim Dae-hun had a striking appearance. With a chiseled jawline, thick eyebrows, and piercing eyes, his towering height of over 180cm made him quite an imposing figure when standing face-to-face.


    ¡°Wow, I''ve played criminals plenty of times, but this is my first time as a detective.¡±


    His joke drew laughter from the group. Kim Dae-hun was known for often playing generals in historical dramas, though in modern settings, he was more frequently cast as the criminal.


    It was his first time playing a detective, but no one there doubted his ability. His acting skills were well-regarded in the industry.


    "I''m Jung Si-hyun, playing the role of the victim, Han Ye-hwa. I look forward to working with you."


    A woman with a delicate appearance bowed and greeted the actors sitting around the large table. Jung Si-hyun had recently starred as the lead actress in a popular drama.


    With a good image and growing recognition, she was cast as the victim, though in truth, her role was more akin to the main heroine whom the protagonist must save.


    And then...


    ¡°......¡±


    All eyes turned to one girl. The youngest among them, seventeen-year-old actress Joo Seoyeon.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t she Princess Yeonhwa?¡¯ ¡®She was on TV recently, right?¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s appearance at this meeting was something of a surprise. This was the first time many of the cast were seeing her, as it was only today that the director, Bae Jin-hwan, had finally introduced the actress playing the film¡¯s main villain.


    ¡®I heard he had been struggling to find an actress for the role of Cha Seo-ah and finally managed to cast someone...¡¯


    ¡®But I never imagined it would be Joo Seoyeon.¡¯


    Joo Seoyeon. The child actress who had suddenly disappeared ten years ago.


    Child actors retiring abruptly wasn¡¯t uncommon. The reasons varied, but it wasn¡¯t a rare occurrence.


    What made Seoyeon unique was that she vanished at the height of her popularity.


    ¡°I''m Joo Seoyeon, playing the role of Cha Seo-ah.¡±@@@@


    Her voice was calm and pleasant to listen to. She had a serene expression and a beautiful face.


    She was the perfect visual fit for the character of Cha Seo-ah. However...


    ¡®The image of Princess Yeonhwa is so strong.¡¯ ¡®I heard that her performance in Eyes Closed really impressed the director.¡¯


    The staff whispered quietly among themselves. Those who hadn¡¯t seen the play were puzzled by Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s casting choice.


    The most recent memory of Seoyeon was from Looking Back at the Past, where her poignant reunion with the grown-up Yoon Seo-il and Park Jung-woo after ten years had left a deep impression.


    To see Princess Yeonhwa, who had moved them all to tears... playing a villain?


    ¡°This is really surprising¡ªJoo Seoyeon as Cha Seo-ah.¡±


    The one who spoke up was Park Hee-jun, who was playing the role of Seo Gwang-il, the other detective in The Chaser. Unlike Kim Dae-hun, who was a good fit for the hot-blooded detective Im Seung-chul, Park Hee-jun had a more cold and calculated demeanor.


    His character, Seo Gwang-il, was meant to be the more restrained and strategic partner, reining in the impulsive Im Seung-chul.


    ¡°The role of Cha Seo-ah is crucial to this movie, so I hope we can work well together.¡±


    It sounded like a friendly remark, but...


    ¡®There¡¯s an underlying edge to his words.¡¯ ¡®It seems Park Hee-jun is a bit skeptical about Seoyeon.¡¯


    In truth, Park Hee-jun wasn¡¯t thrilled about Seoyeon. He had auditioned rigorously for his role and immersed himself deeply in the character of Seo Gwang-il.


    This role felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And with GH Group backing the film, it had a high chance of being a major hit. He had essentially put everything into this movie, so it was only natural that he felt uneasy about Seoyeon.


    Honestly...


    ¡®It¡¯s not that I doubt Director Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s abilities, but having Joo Seoyeon play Cha Seo-ah...¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t hostility, but there was a strong sense of unease. Sure, Seoyeon had received good reviews for her acting in the past, but that was ten years ago, and what she had shown recently was merely in a variety show.


    And on a theater stage. This was neither drama nor film.


    Her first real opportunity to showcase herself to the public would be in this movie. So, he wasn¡¯t the only one feeling uncertain.


    At that moment...


    ¡°Let¡¯s go ahead and do a script reading today.¡±


    The words came from Director Bae Jin-hwan. There was a slight stir among the group at his suggestion.


    It wasn¡¯t uncommon to move straight to a script reading after introductions, especially when there was tension in the air that needed to be addressed quickly.


    ¡®Indeed.¡¯


    Producer Cha Dong-jin, who was present at the meeting, understood Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s intention. He had seen Seoyeon¡¯s performance in the play.


    She was given opportunities. Time to observe and mimic the emotions of others.


    Even if she was scolded or punished during that time. It wasn¡¯t abuse... or so she thought.


    In her past life, she was forced to be ¡°normal.¡± She was expected to be a normal person who laughed and cried like everyone else.


    Her parents, she thought, had that expectation of her.


    But Cha Seo-ah didn¡¯t even have that chance. Cha Seo-ah¡¯s smile was a survival tactic learned through abuse.


    It wasn¡¯t even an attempt to mimic emotions like Seoyeon had done in her past life¡ªit was just a crude imitation.


    ¡®Mimic the emotions faintly, just on the edge of awkwardness.¡¯


    Seoyeon knew. She knew at what point people would sense ¡°something¡¯s off.¡± She remembered the faces of those who had looked at her when she laughed or cried in her past life.


    In those moments, she had seen fear. What she was performing now was that unsettling edge.


    If her usual emotional mimicry was over 95% accurate to real emotions, now it was about 70%. Just enough for people to recognize it as emotion but still feel something was off.


    ¡°And...¡±


    Seoyeon, or rather, Cha Seo-ah, smiled calmly again as she spoke.


    ¡°Are you two officers stationed at the nearby police station?¡±


    It was a simple question. But a heavy tension hung in the air.


    A simple line had struck the hearts of the two detectives like a scene from a thriller.


    ¡°Uh, yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Oh~, I see. So if I call, you¡¯ll come right away? How long does it usually take? Can you get here quickly?¡±


    Was she asking out of concern for the threat of the killer? It felt strange to think so.


    She seemed very interested in how long it would take them to arrive and where they usually were stationed.


    ¡°Why are you asking?¡±


    Detective Seo Gwang-il asked cautiously, trying to shake off the strange feeling he got from the woman.


    ¡°Well, you said it¡¯s dangerous. I¡¯m a weak woman, so I thought it would be good to know how quickly I can get help.¡±


    It was a plausible reason. But her line had no hint of actual ¡°concern.¡±


    It was pure curiosity, detached from the content of her question. And the smile that accompanied her words only heightened the unease.


    It was as if she didn¡¯t know how to express genuine concern, so she simply smiled as best as she could.


    ¡°Oh, the bus is here.¡±


    Seeing that the two detectives were silent, the woman said this and bowed slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll rely on you next time.¡±


    On any other day, Detective Im Seung-chul might have made some light-hearted remark in response, but now he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so.


    He felt it. A sense that he would meet this woman again.


    It was a vague but certain feeling.


    The two detectives could only watch as the woman boarded the bus and left.


    And so, Scene #24. The first encounter between Cha Seo-ah and the two detectives ended.


    ¡°...Phew.¡±


    Someone exhaled. The tension that had settled over the table dissipated with that breath.


    The script reading. It was an effortless finish. There were no heightened emotions, just a smooth exchange of lines. But...


    ¡®What was that?¡¯


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were on Seoyeon.


    ¡®Was that really acting?¡¯


    Method acting. No, it wasn¡¯t even that.


    What they had just witnessed was the real ¡°Cha Seo-ah.¡± They were actors, people whose livelihood depended on their ability to act. So they should have been able to distinguish between acting and reality. But this time, they couldn¡¯t.


    They couldn¡¯t tell the difference.


    ¡°Se... Seoyeon?¡±


    Even Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s voice trembled as he spoke. He had believed Seoyeon would do well, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this good. This felt entirely different from the role of Hong Jeong-hee in Eyes Closed.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Seoyeon looked puzzled at their reactions. The way they were staring at her, their gazes filled with tension, made her wonder what was going on.

 Chapter 57

    A strange tension filled the room. The atmosphere had turned cold, a testament to how impactful Seoyeon''s performance had been.


    It wasn¡¯t just a matter of whether her acting was good or bad¡ªit was disturbingly accurate.


    ¡°Has she... actually killed someone before?¡±


    Director Bae Jin-hwan found himself slapping his own cheek as the thought crossed his mind. What was he even thinking about a young actress?


    Apparently, he wasn¡¯t the only one with such thoughts. The other actors exchanged uneasy glances.


    ¡°Did I... do something wrong?¡±


    Seoyeon, sensing the strange atmosphere, looked a bit downcast as she asked.


    ¡°No!¡± ¡°Absolutely not, right?¡± ¡°Seoyeon, you were just so good that everyone got surprised.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly it.¡±


    The male actors, followed by actress Jung Si-hyun who was playing Han Ye-hwa, quickly tried to reassure her. It was easy to forget, with her mature appearance and demeanor, that Seoyeon was still a teenager.


    There was nothing wrong with her performance. It was just that her acting was so chilling.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Of course, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t actually upset. She had just been fishing for reactions. But she had been nervous, and their responses made her feel relieved.


    ¡®Was it too much?¡¯


    No, this was the right approach, Seoyeon reassured herself.


    She understood why they reacted the way they did. This role might end up being her defining role.


    ¡®Or rather...¡¯


    It was a role that mirrored her past life¡ªa character that closely resembled who she had once been.


    ¡°Um, let''s try a few more scenes,¡± Director Bae Jin-hwan suggested, trying to lighten the mood. He also wanted to see if the eerie feeling he¡¯d experienced from Seoyeon¡¯s performance was just a fluke.


    He wasn¡¯t the only one. The other actors were equally curious.


    ¡°Could I go next?¡±


    The actress playing the victim, Han Ye-hwa, raised her hand. Jung Si-hyun swallowed nervously as she looked at Seoyeon.


    ¡®So that¡¯s Joo Seoyeon...¡¯


    Jung Si-hyun was feeling the pressure. After all, her agency had already faced defeat at the hands of Seoyeon once.


    ¡°This is just too much,¡± a woman had said, angrily stabbing at her salad with a fork. She was in her mid-thirties but looked ageless, one of Korea¡¯s top actresses, Ha Ye-seo, seethed with frustration.


    ¡°Why come back after ten years just to dig up old wounds?¡± ¡°You could just reshoot it, right?¡± ¡°...Are you kidding? How could an old woman like me play that role now? I¡¯d be playing Queen Yeonhwa, not Princess Yeonhwa.¡±


    ¡°Old woman¡± was quite an understatement. Jung Si-hyun thought to herself. Only someone who knows they don¡¯t look like an old woman would joke about being one. If someone else called her an old woman, she¡¯d probably explode.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Ha Ye-seo continued, sipping her drink.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re going to be acting with that girl?¡± ¡°Yes. I heard she¡¯s been cast as the villain, Cha Seo-ah.¡± ¡°Hmm, a villain.¡±


    Ha Ye-seo recalled the young Seoyeon from long ago. Her acting was still rough, but she wasn¡¯t an ordinary child actor.


    When Ha Ye-seo had seen Seoyeon¡¯s performance back then, she had been...


    ¡°Creepy.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°The emotional acting was off for a child. There was something unsettling about it. That¡¯s why Actress Jung Eun-sun was so harsh on her.¡± ¡°I guess she didn¡¯t have the best personality even back then.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about having a bad personality¡ªshe¡¯s just a clueless old woman.¡±


    Is it okay to say that about a senior actress? Jung Si-hyun wondered, but when it¡¯s just the two of them, anything goes.


    ¡°Anyway. Be careful.¡± ¡°Careful?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up like me, having your past dug up.¡±


    Honestly, Ha Ye-seo had wanted to act with Seoyeon again. To redeem herself, she thought. Yes, she definitely wanted a chance at redemption. Ha Ye-seo bit into a cherry tomato, glancing at her junior actress.


    A talented actress with good looks and a promising future.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely talented, but she¡¯s been acting in a bubble for too long.¡¯


    This movie might be the perfect opportunity to break that bubble. Sometimes, you have to see the wall before you can break through it.


    The genius child actor making a comeback after ten years. Ha Ye-seo had quietly watched her first stage performance.


    ¡°Do your best.¡±


    That¡¯s what Ha Ye-seo had told her. Jung Si-hyun didn¡¯t think much of it. After all, Seoyeon was just a teenager.


    But seeing her now, in person, was a completely different experience.


    If she wasn¡¯t careful, she might end up just like her senior¡ªor worse.


    The girl¡¯s hand moved, raising the hammer. Han Ye-hwa was supposed to push her away with all her might.


    She was supposed to struggle and break free from her grip.


    The scene was supposed to continue.


    But Jung Si-hyun froze, staring into the face of Seoyeon, who loomed over her.


    She was completely overwhelmed by the presence before her.


    Even though she was supposed to struggle and then be struck unconscious by the hammer.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    The dark alley transformed back into the brightly lit indoor setting. Director Bae Jin-hwan wiped the sweat from his forehead, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    ¡°You both did a fantastic job.¡±


    His praise was genuine. Up until the moment Seoyeon began to overpower Jung Si-hyun, everything had been perfect. Until the moment Jung Si-hyun froze at the sight of Seoyeon¡¯s face up close.


    Normally, he would give feedback on such mistakes, but this time, he was left with a strange feeling.


    It was as if he had underestimated Jung Si-hyun as an actress.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    The actors watching Jung Si-hyun, who now stood frozen in place, began to worry.


    ¡®As soon as they were in the same scene, she completely disappeared.¡¯


    When they were a bit apart, Jung Si-hyun¡¯s acting had been commendable. But the moment she was overpowered by Seoyeon, the character of Han Ye-hwa, and the actress Jung Si-hyun herself, completely vanished.


    ¡®This is a scene where the villain should stand out.¡¯ ¡®But being this overwhelmed is a problem.¡¯


    The actors imagined themselves in Jung Si-hyun¡¯s place, wondering how they would have handled the situation.


    It wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    The pressure Seoyeon exerted was something only veteran actors who could dominate a scene would possess. It was that powerful.


    ¡®I have to be careful.¡¯


    Especially for the lead actor, Kim Dae-heon, who played Detective Im Seung-chul, he resolved to stay sharp.


    He had never been accused of lacking in acting skills.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Kim Dae-heon chuckled to himself. He was actually looking forward to it.


    He was eager to see what kind of brilliant scenes they could create together, to see what kind of performance he could deliver.


    ¡°...¡±


    Meanwhile, Jung Si-hyun, who had just acted alongside Seoyeon, bit her lower lip. She looked down, feeling utterly defeated by Seoyeon.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure not to make any mistakes next time.¡±


    Jung Si-hyun apologized to the actress ten years her junior. It was an apology born out of self-reflection.


    If she hadn¡¯t made that mistake, they could have created something truly amazing.


    But she had ruined it.


    ¡®Next time...¡¯


    She resolved never to let this happen again. She wouldn¡¯t ruin Seoyeon¡¯s performance next time.


    ¡®...Hmm.¡¯


    Seoyeon, watching Jung Si-hyun, hesitated, unsure of what to say. She wasn¡¯t good at dealing with situations like this.


    Should she offer words of comfort? No, maybe she should give some encouragement instead...


    ¡°F-Fighting.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°N-Never mind...¡±


    Seoyeon cursed her own poor communication skills, truly frustrated.


    And then, a week later, the final performance of the play Eyes Closed came to a close.


    Seoyeon received a call from the cable network she had asked Lee Ji-yeon about.


    It was from Up to the King, a show that had been running on a game channel for ten years.

 Chapter 58

    Choi Kwang-soo, a variety show PD at the online game broadcasting station GMN, couldn''t believe his ears when he received the call that morning. After all, the variety show he was in charge of was on the brink of being canceled.


    It had been a long time since they had any guests on the show, and recently, they had been relying mostly on the regular cast members. So, when he heard the news, he thought there must have been some mistake.


    ¡°What? A guest on our show?¡±


    He thought he must have misheard. Well, having a guest wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.


    But the problem was who the guest was.


    Joo Seoyeon.


    An actress who had recently become a hot topic on the variety show Looking at the Past, Memories. Additionally, she had performed in a play on Daehangno that sold out every night and had apparently severed her contract with RY Entertainment. She was the kind of hot potato everyone was talking about.


    Given her current popularity, she had no reason to appear on a small cable variety show like his.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t even know what she looks like.¡±


    At that moment, Hwang Junho, a cast member of If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King, who was with Choi Kwang-soo in an informal setting, took a bite of his rib and spoke up.


    At Junho''s words, PD Choi Kwang-soo let out a dry laugh. They had been working together for ten years on the same program and were practically inseparable, but hearing Junho say things like this always left him flabbergasted.


    ¡°Oh, were you perhaps on some sort of retreat in the mountains? For about ten years?¡± ¡°Ten years is a bit much.¡± ¡°No, Joo Seoyeon has been a hot topic for the last ten years. Don¡¯t you know Tae-sum-dal?¡± ¡°I know it. I just didn¡¯t watch it. I was a senior in high school back then, so I didn¡¯t have time for dramas.¡±


    Well, being a senior in high school would do that.


    Wait a minute.


    If he was a senior in high school, he shouldn¡¯t have been able to appear on If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King in the first place, right?


    ¡°I distinctly remember you being over twenty back then, Junho.¡± ¡°Oh, your memory is sharp.¡±


    But it made sense that Junho didn¡¯t know the actress, Joo Seoyeon.


    She had been in commercials, but the only memorable one was Tae-sum-dal. And then there was the recent shock she gave in Looking at the Past, Memories.


    Park Jung-woo''s reaction and her dramatic entrance were still being rebroadcast on cable channels every day.


    After that, Looking at the Past, Memories changed its format to always include a guest, and surprisingly, the ratings were on the rise.


    The show had literally been saved.


    ¡°We could do something like that too.¡± ¡°Hm? Oh, yes, you¡¯re right.¡±


    Junho, gnawing on the rib until only the bone was left, was curious. Who was this person that had PD Kwang-soo so excitedly explaining things?


    ¡°Show me a picture. Let me see her face.¡± ¡°You really didn¡¯t know, did you? Here, take a look.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see...¡±


    PD Choi Kwang-soo showed Junho a recent picture of Joo Seoyeon on his phone. It was of her at Yeonhwa High School, dressed beautifully as Princess Yeonhwa.


    Upon seeing her appearance, Junho¡¯s rib bone dropped from his mouth.


    ¡°A high school student?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow, I rarely think actresses are pretty just by looking at their pictures, but she¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°I can see why she¡¯s popular.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°So, why is she coming on our show?¡± ¡°That, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    The two exchanged glances. Just by her looks alone, she seemed worlds apart from anything related to gaming. The ultimate "insider" look.


    The kind of vibe only celebrities possess, after all.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll find out when we meet her.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason to refuse if she¡¯s willing to come.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t seem to wipe that smile off your face.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡±


    Well, who wouldn¡¯t be happy about a beautiful actress coming to visit? Anyway, PD Kwang-soo stared at Seoyeon¡¯s picture again.


    ¡®Surely, she¡¯s not going to make any unreasonable demands, right?¡¯


    There wasn¡¯t much money. Still, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have a conversation. That¡¯s what PD Kwang-soo thought as he sent his reply.


    While such a conversation was taking place during If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King, Seoyeon was wrapping up her play Eyes Closed with a successful final performance and was now greeting the audience.


    The first performance of a play is often avoided, but the final performance is usually more popular. That¡¯s because the last performance, commonly called the "last show," often comes with various perks.


    These could include ad-libs in the play, stage greetings, and the actors sharing their thoughts. People who regularly watch plays often come to see the last performance again, even if they¡¯ve already seen the show once.


    ¡°Another fake gamer, fake otaku has arrived.¡±¡°Is If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King completely ruined? Has her agency lost its mind?¡±¡°Does she even know how to play games?¡±¡°She¡¯s trying to appeal with a relatable high school girl concept.¡±¡°She¡¯ll probably make the show awkward as hell, lol.¡±


    She thought she should give each of them a good punch when she met them. That¡¯s what filled her mind.


    ¡°Do I know how to play games, you ask?¡±


    Of course, she was confident in her gaming skills. After all, didn¡¯t the TS million prove that?


    Knowing how to play games was a given if you were a TS. If you didn¡¯t know, you should learn. Seoyeon had no doubt that she was, naturally, a gamer too.


    She really believed that.


    A few days later, on the day of the If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King shoot.


    The regular cast, who were used to preparing for the show in the same place and the same way, were quietly excited. It had been so long since they had a guest. Plus, after seeing Seoyeon¡¯s photo, the male cast members were in high spirits. There were two female cast members as well, but they seemed just as expectant.


    ¡®I should sit a little further away from her.¡¯ ¡®Her face is so small. I need to avoid sitting next to her.¡¯


    If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King didn¡¯t really have a set set. They often filmed at PD Choi Kwang-soo¡¯s or Hwang Junho¡¯s house.


    But this time, they were filming at GMN for the first time in years.


    ¡°They seemed to have high expectations after watching Looking at the Past, Memories.¡± ¡°No matter how popular that show was, it¡¯s not the same as network TV...¡±


    Even though Looking at the Past, Memories had ratings of 3% to 5%, it couldn¡¯t compare to cable variety shows. Still, it was good news for the cast. The more comfortable the shoot, the better.


    As they prepared in the new and lovely GMN studio.


    ¡°She¡¯s here.¡± ¡°Really? She¡¯s coming now? So the cameras will start rolling soon?¡± ¡°The cameras have been rolling for ten minutes already.¡±


    Oh, really? Junho nodded at the words of his fellow cast member, Gong Taekyun.


    ¡°Ahem. So, today we have a special guest! You all probably know who it is.¡±


    After a half-hearted ¡°Really?¡± passed around the group, Hwang Junho, following PD Kwang-soo¡¯s signal, spoke loudly.


    ¡°Today¡¯s guest, returning after ten years, Princess Yeonhwa! It¡¯s Joo Seoyeon!¡±


    At Hwang Junho¡¯s announcement, the six cast members all turned their eyes to the entrance of the set. They had all seen many actors and idols, but every time, seeing a new one was a fresh experience.


    And then, taking a step onto the set.


    With a light step, Seoyeon appeared.


    ¡°Uh, school uniform?¡±


    Everyone knew she was a high school student. But no one expected her to show up at the filming set in a school uniform.


    "Hello," Seoyeon said, bowing politely, reminiscent of her younger days as Princess Yeonhwa.


    "Oh! Yes! Hello!!" The other cast members immediately stood up and bowed in response.


    This reaction wasn''t what Seoyeon had expected, and she couldn''t help but feel a bit embarrassed.


    "Um... Why are you in a school uniform?" Hwang Junho asked, wondering if she had come straight from school.


    Seoyeon blinked her large eyes and smiled.


    "It was sponsored," she replied.


    "Oh, really?"


    Ah, so the uniform was sponsored? It seemed that a school uniform brand had quickly decided to sponsor her since the main audience for this game show was young. Normally, brands would avoid sponsoring game shows due to image concerns. It seemed strange, but that wasn¡¯t something Hwang Junho needed to worry about.


    ¡®But still...¡¯


    Hwang Junho swallowed dryly. He had seen many actors, but Seoyeon¡¯s appearance was particularly striking.


    She was so mesmerizing that he found himself watching her without realizing it. In fact, the other cast members were staring at her with their mouths slightly open.


    ¡®...Is this okay?¡¯


    He wondered if the cameras were still rolling. As these thoughts crossed his mind, the filming of If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King officially began.

 Chapter 59

    The usual atmosphere of If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King was that of a nearly raw broadcast. Although the cast refrained from using profanity, the mood was light and carefree, with everyone playing around freely.


    But today...


    ¡®Why does everyone seem so stiff?¡¯


    Seoyeon felt a bit puzzled. Everyone seemed unusually tense. Was it because she was an actress?


    But they had their reasons.


    ¡®Wow, she¡¯s really pretty.¡¯ ¡®Is she even the same species as us?¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s appearance naturally muted their conversations. Meanwhile, Hwang Junho, who was essentially the main host, felt rather awkward.


    ¡®Can she really play games?¡¯


    He regretted not discussing what games she could play beforehand. In the past, they used to give the guests a heads-up.


    However, as the show¡¯s concept evolved into more of an impromptu style, they started spinning a roulette wheel on the spot to decide.


    ¡®Still, if they had any sense, they¡¯d have picked something appropriate.¡¯


    Thinking this, Hwang Junho brought over the roulette wheel with a rattle.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s take a moment to select the game that will drive today¡¯s broadcast.¡±


    The roulette was covered with sticky notes hiding the game titles, and it seemed the games would be revealed once the wheel stopped.


    ¡®Please, let it be something easy!¡¯


    No matter how you looked at it, Seoyeon didn¡¯t seem like someone who was familiar with games. Although there were many celebrities these days who promoted themselves as ¡°fashion otakus¡± or ¡°fashion gamers,¡± Seoyeon¡¯s appearance didn¡¯t fit even those labels. It was only natural to doubt her gaming skills.


    ¡°What kind of game would you like to play?¡± Hwang Junho asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m confident with any game,¡± Seoyeon replied confidently, showing no doubt that she could handle whatever came her way.


    This wasn¡¯t an unfounded confidence. Seoyeon¡¯s overwhelming physical abilities backed it up.


    It¡¯s common knowledge that someone who¡¯s undergone TS (Total Substitution, a trope where someone¡¯s physical body is drastically altered) would naturally have superior reflexes, right? At the very least, Seoyeon was sure she would excel at anything that required physical effort.


    ¡®But, now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t played any games since I was reborn.¡¯


    To be fair, she hadn¡¯t felt the need to because most of the games she knew, she had already completed. Lacking emotional depth in her previous life, she cleared games without much excitement. The memories of those games were still vividly clear to her.


    Since she could recall every detail of her past life, including game stories, endings, and strategies, Seoyeon was confident she could do well this time too.


    With those thoughts, she spun the roulette.


    [Out Crazy 2] A game where the protagonist, a journalist, sneaks into a mental hospital.


    In other words, a horror game.


    ¡°?¡±


    Of course, Seoyeon had never played this game before. Not in this life or the previous one.


    A horror game, of all things. The roulette felt like it had been set up with malice.


    But inwardly, Hwang Junho was impressed. If the player was someone unfamiliar with games, a horror game could produce some great reactions.


    Of course, it was purely luck that the roulette landed on this, but the other games on the wheel were notoriously difficult, like the ¡°pot game¡± and other challenging titles.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t know it, but she was lucky to have landed on a horror game.


    ¡°Seoyeon, have you ever played a horror game before?¡± ¡°...I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Oh dear.¡±


    Hwang Junho smacked his forehead, subtly giving the crew a thumbs-up. Horror games are best played by those with no prior experience, as their reactions tend to be more entertaining.


    ¡®It¡¯s also easier to pass the controller if she gives up.¡¯


    If she couldn¡¯t continue, another cast member could take over. Incidentally, Hwang Junho was pretty confident in his ability to handle horror games, especially puzzle types.


    ¡°Okay, then, let¡¯s get started. Please check the time.¡±


    The other cast members settled onto the prepared sofas. Seoyeon, who was handed the game controller first, swallowed nervously as the eerie background music began to play.


    Her serious expression looked almost cinematic, making it a perfect scene.


    ¡®Why isn¡¯t she giving up?¡¯


    Admittedly, it was fun to watch. She was more physically engaged than he expected... but was this really acting?


    She seemed genuinely terrified.


    ¡°...Should I take over if you¡¯re too scared?¡±


    Four hours into the recording, one of the cast members, Gong Taekyun, hesitantly offered.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll try a bit more.¡± ¡°You seem unfamiliar with the controller...¡± ¡°The controller just can¡¯t keep up with my reflexes.¡±


    Oh, is that how it works? To be fair, her reaction time was incredibly fast, even if her control was clumsy. The way she destroyed the controllers almost simultaneously with the appearance of a creature was proof enough.


    ¡®This can¡¯t be happening.¡¯


    Seoyeon was genuinely trying her best. She had never once thought she¡¯d be bad at games. Isn¡¯t it common sense that TS people are good at games? If you¡¯re TS and can¡¯t play games, are you even really TS?


    You¡¯re just a girl.


    Her world was crumbling, and her understanding of reality was being challenged. Seoyeon found herself grappling with an unexpected identity crisis as she played.


    [Grargh!]


    ¡°Eek!¡±


    The grotesque mid-boss creature made a shocking entrance. Its terrifying appearance caused Seoyeon to scream for the first time in her life.


    Boom!


    And at the same time, Seoyeon¡¯s controller finally split in half.


    As the plastic pieces flew everywhere, Hwang Junho found himself marveling at the scene before him.


    With the game over screen on display, Seoyeon collapsed sideways onto the couch.


    Did she die? It looked like a scene from a tragic movie.


    Everyone watched her with concern.


    ¡°Please, take over.¡±


    It seemed strange that a game could make her so despairing.


    It was now six hours into the recording.


    Despite everything, the filming of If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King was considered successful. Initially, with the show¡¯s low ratings, it didn¡¯t make much of a splash.


    But as clips of Seoyeon circulated online, the atmosphere began to change. The broadcast itself only slightly exceeded the usual ratings at 0.8%, but the rerun posted on the official YouTube channel surpassed one million views in just a week.


    ¡°Is she really a fashion gamer? Or is she just a fashion gorilla?¡±¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a controller break like that.¡±¡°I¡¯m a personal trainer. I couldn¡¯t even break a controller with a hammer.¡±¡°If she can crush a controller like that, who¡¯s going to use one?¡±¡°She should be an athlete, not an actress.¡±¡°I¡¯ve never felt fear in my life.¡±¡°I believe her.¡±


    Given that she had been a hot topic recently, people were talking about her a lot. The fact that she was young and appeared in a school uniform also attracted attention.


    ¡°Wearing the school uniform was a genius move.¡±¡°It¡¯s hilarious how everyone avoided looking at her.¡±¡°She might be a fashion gamer, but she surprisingly knew a lot. Maybe she¡¯s for real.¡±¡°She doesn¡¯t seem bad at games.¡±¡°The final part with Ring Fit was epic. She should quit acting and do this.¡±¡°She actually cleared the game in the end. Cheers to that.¡±


    Although she had faltered at one point, Seoyeon eventually managed to clear the game. It took 8 hours and 45 minutes.


    It was a bit slow, but considering the delays caused by the broken controllers, it was a decent time. The Ring Fit segment at the end was particularly noteworthy. For the record, Seoyeon completed the Ring Fit challenge in record time, without a single failure or death.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t really a game,¡± she thought.


    While everyone gave her a thumbs-up for her performance in Ring Fit, Seoyeon felt a bit down. She wanted to be praised for her gaming skills, not just her physical abilities. She decided to practice more later.


    In any case, even if it wasn¡¯t exactly what she intended, Seoyeon managed to create some buzz in the community and succeeded in leaving a positive impression.


    The image of Princess Yeonhwa would certainly help balance out her upcoming villain role.


    ¡°Seoyeon! You got a CF offer!¡±


    As Seoyeon gloomily watched the rerun of If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King, her manager, Park Eunha, cheerfully approached her. Although they had started out awkwardly, Seoyeon and Eunha had quickly become close, now referring to each other as sisters.


    ¡°...What kind of CF?¡± ¡°A game controller ad.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing it.¡±


    The ad was meant to showcase the durability of the game controller, but Seoyeon had no intention of participating.


    A week later, just as Seoyeon was starting to regain her composure.


    ¡°Did you hear?¡± ¡°Apparently, actress Hwang Min-hwa...¡±


    Seoyeon overheard a conversation.


    It was about Nova Entertainment¡¯s star, Hwang Min-hwa, who was reportedly leaving the company.

 Chapter 60

    Hwang Min-hwa, an actress from Nova Entertainment. What I remember from my past life is that she was an actress who appeared in a film that garnered ten million viewers.


    She wasn¡¯t a figure who courted controversy, and if there was something unusual about her career, it was just one thing: she frequently changed agencies.


    After leaving Nova Entertainment, she joined Horizon Company, which was considered a second-tier agency. After moving through several other agencies, she ultimately ended up at one of the top three management companies, RY Entertainment.


    Yes, the same place I had turned down.


    ''Her career was flawless.''


    I thought as I took a sip of my Americano. She was an actress who might have been average in dramas but truly excelled in films.


    You could say she had a good eye for roles. Over the next five years, Hwang Min-hwa would appear in two films with over five million viewers each, and one that reached ten million.


    There was also another reason why she became a hot topic.


    ''She starred in Director Jo Bang-woo''s final film.''


    There was only one movie that Hwang Min-hwa, who had never experienced failure in films, failed in. Unfortunately, that movie was Gold Hunt, directed by Jo Bang-woo.


    Despite receiving substantial investment, the film flopped as if by some cruel joke. Even though it received a lot of screenings and the content was deemed decent, the box office results were disappointing. The total audience was only 1.5 million.


    Considering the amount of money invested, this was an incredibly low figure. The film ended up being Director Jo Bang-woo¡¯s last, as he tragically took his own life, leaving it as his final work.


    Perhaps that¡¯s why Hwang Min-hwa didn¡¯t include this film in her career highlights. Since she wasn¡¯t even the lead, it was understandable...


    ¡°Seoyeon, did anything happen at school?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    I had come straight to the agency after leaving school a little early. Just as I finished my Americano, Park Eun-ha rushed over, panting.


    She was holding two cans of coffee in her hands, but when she saw the empty Americano cup in my hand, she smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°Oh, you already bought one. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll drink it on the way.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Park Eun-ha, who had looked a bit down, brightened up as I accepted the can.


    ''I heard that she used to be Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s manager.''


    I wondered if she knew why Hwang Min-hwa was leaving Nova Entertainment. But I hesitated to ask because Park Eun-ha always had a peculiar reaction whenever Hwang Min-hwa was mentioned.


    Also, Park Eun-ha was oddly quick to apologize. Just now, she apologized for no reason at all.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got your first shoot in a few days, so don¡¯t overdo it...¡±


    Park Eun-ha was in the middle of saying this when we stepped out of the agency.


    A woman was just entering the building. She looked to be in her late twenties.


    With her glamorous blonde hair, slender figure, and sharp features, she gave off an elegant impression. Even though she wasn¡¯t wearing any luxury items, she had the appearance of someone who would come to mind when you think of luxury.


    It was like you could see a golden aura surrounding her. She was the kind of person who made me stop in my tracks without realizing it.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    The woman noticed me too, and as she lowered her large black sunglasses, she smiled.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. You must be Seoyeon, right? I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡±


    Hwang Min-hwa. A ten-million-viewer actress and the star of Nova Entertainment.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I¡¯d heard, but you¡¯re really pretty. Are you a high school student?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She smiled warmly at my response.


    ¡°Well, unfortunately, I¡¯m leaving soon, but let¡¯s get along while I¡¯m still here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡±


    As I bowed politely, Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s eyes sparkled with satisfaction, and she smiled as if she were pleased.


    ¡°See you later.¡±


    With that, Hwang Min-hwa walked away, her heels clicking on the floor. And following behind her was her manager...


    ''...Huh?''


    I caught a fleeting glimpse of the manager¡¯s face. There wasn¡¯t anything particularly special about it, but I could tell.


    Even someone as sensitive to others'' emotions as I was could detect the slight emotion radiating from him.


    Fear.


    It was an emotion I had become well acquainted with recently while playing that horror game.


    Fear is a very complex emotion, one that can¡¯t be easily pinned down. And it wasn¡¯t just the manager...


    ¡°...¡±


    Park Eun-ha, who had been chatting cheerfully beside me, was the same. I watched her for a moment, then picked up my phone and contacted someone.


    ¡°Oppaaaaaa!!¡±


    ¡°Please, look over here!!¡±


    Park Jung-woo, who had recently been selected as the new model for the luxury brand Violl, was greeting fans at a department store in Gangnam, dressed in luxury clothing.


    It had been a while since his last public appearance. Park Jung-woo, dressed in an impeccable suit, waved at the line of women.


    Of course, he knew her. He had recently co-starred with Hwang Min-hwa in the 6-million-viewer film Butterfly Effect.


    Seoyeon knew this too, which was why she had come to Jung-woo.


    ¡°What kind of person is she?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking... Oh, right. Your agency is Nova Entertainment.¡±


    Hwang Min-hwa. Jung-woo rubbed his chin with his thumb, deep in thought.


    Even so, she was pretty normal on set. She had a good reputation among her fellow actors...


    ¡°...Is there something wrong?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that something doesn¡¯t sit right with me.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sit right?¡±


    Seoyeon nodded.


    ¡°My manager used to be Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s manager.¡±


    ¡°Oh, got it. That explains a lot.¡±


    Jung-woo raised his hand, stopping her from saying more.


    ¡°Just so you know, it¡¯s better not to talk about this with other actors. Especially since we¡¯re in the same industry.¡±


    You always have to be careful about what you say, especially if it¡¯s about someone in the same industry. Seeing Jung-woo¡¯s reaction, Seoyeon frowned slightly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t just talk to anyone about these things, you know?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Jung-woo hesitated. Then why tell me? Does that mean I¡¯m not just anyone? What does that mean?


    ¡°...Anyway, this isn¡¯t about any specific actor. It¡¯s just a rumor.¡±


    Jung-woo calmed his swirling thoughts and continued.


    ¡°There¡¯s a rumor about an actor who is well-liked among their peers but allegedly verbally abuses their juniors and managers.¡±


    ¡°Verbal abuse?¡±


    ¡°Again, it¡¯s just a rumor. There are no witnesses, and maybe it was just verbal abuse.¡±


    Jung-woo didn¡¯t bother to use the term ¡°power trip,¡± though it was surprisingly common among newly rising stars.


    ''I was at risk too.''


    Jung-woo, who had been a star since childhood, knew how easy it was to become arrogant when success came too early. And arrogant people tend to look down on others.


    He only avoided that fate thanks to his father and a traumatic experience in his childhood.


    ¡°And as far as I know, she¡¯s incredibly ambitious.¡±


    ¡°Ambitious?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing. But if your ambition is too strong, it can lead to dangerous situations.¡±


    Seoyeon listened carefully to Jung-woo¡¯s words. It gave her some insight into why Hwang Min-hwa frequently changed agencies.


    Nova Entertainment¡¯s CEO, Kang Chan-yul, wasn¡¯t the type to mistreat his company¡¯s celebrities. He likely treated Hwang Min-hwa as a star representative of the company.


    But Hwang Min-hwa was not content with just being Nova Entertainment¡¯s star.


    ¡°Remember, this is all just rumor. Don¡¯t go spreading it around.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The way Seoyeon obediently nodded didn¡¯t inspire much confidence. She seemed to be the type who did what she wanted, considering she had even appeared on that cable variety show.


    ''This is concerning.''


    Watching Seoyeon¡¯s unreadable expression, Jung-woo cautiously asked.


    ¡°...Just to be sure, she didn¡¯t say anything to you, did she?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Does she only pick on people she considers beneath her...?¡±


    ¡°You just told me to be careful with my words.¡±


    Jung-woo laughed at Seoyeon¡¯s retort. He then signaled to the waiting driver that it was time to leave.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride, so get in. And next time, call ahead.¡±


    ¡°I told you, I did call.¡±


    Seoyeon replied grumpily to Jung-woo¡¯s words. Anyway...


    ''A power trip, huh.''


    Of course, as Jung-woo suggested, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t planning to confront Hwang Min-hwa about this. But...


    ¡®I¡¯m sure Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s next film is...¡¯


    The movie Seoyeon was about to start filming, The Chaser, was set to be released on the same day. In her previous life, Hwang Min-hwa¡¯s film Utopia crushed The Chaser at the box office, drawing 8 million viewers and achieving great success.


    Utopia was the last film Hwang Min-hwa shot under Nova Entertainment.


    ¡®I can¡¯t lose.¡¯


    Seoyeon resolved. She had always been highly competitive, but this time, she was even more determined not to lose.


    And so, three days later...


    The first day of filming for The Chaser arrived.

 Chapter 61

    ¡°......¡±


    On the first day of filming, Seoyeon stood aghast, staring at the large pig''s head in front of her.


    ¡°Seoyeon, it''s your turn,¡± someone said.


    ¡°Oh, yes.¡±


    Seoyeon, along with a few other actors, bowed deeply to the pig''s head.


    It¡¯s a common practice in film or drama productions to perform a ritual before starting, to pray for the project¡¯s success. Seoyeon found it interesting because she had never experienced this during her time on The Moon Embracing the Sun.


    ¡®A pig''s head...¡¯


    Seoyeon felt an indescribable emotion as she looked at the pig''s head, which seemed to be smiling at her. It reminded her of the creature she saw in If You Switch It On, You¡¯ll Be a King.


    ¡®Could it be that I¡¯m easily scared?¡¯


    Seoyeon had never considered herself mentally weak, but the fear she experienced for the first time was so shocking that it lingered in her mind. It would fade with time, but for now, it was still there.


    ¡°Seoyeon, are you feeling okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±@@@@


    Seoyeon nodded in response to her manager Park Eun-ha''s question. To others, Seoyeon seemed calm and composed, with no change in her expression. Even though she was startled by the pig''s head, her only visible reaction was a slight trembling in her eyes.


    ¡®Indeed...¡¯


    Park Eun-ha gazed at Seoyeon intently. Actors, especially exceptional ones, are different from ordinary people.


    Hwang Min-hwa, who Park Eun-ha had previously managed, was the same. She exuded a sophisticated aura and an overwhelming presence that made it difficult for others to speak freely in her presence, often leading them to feel suppressed.


    And Seoyeon?


    ¡°Filming might take a while, so why don¡¯t you rest in the van?¡±


    Contrary to her cold appearance, Seoyeon was very kind-hearted, the complete opposite of Hwang Min-hwa.


    Or perhaps not the opposite, since Hwang Min-hwa''s image didn¡¯t exactly scream kindness.


    ¡®I thought Seoyeon would be similar.¡¯


    When Park Eun-ha first met Seoyeon, she froze. Seoyeon had an expressionless face that was hard to read, making her seem like a doll.


    Like Hwang Min-hwa, or perhaps even more so, Seoyeon possessed an aura that proved the title of "genius child actress" was no exaggeration.


    She had something overwhelmingly captivating, perhaps the greatest quality an actor could have. And when she acted, her aura could change in an instant.


    The surprise Park Eun-ha felt when she first saw Hwang Min-hwa up close was now surpassed by Seoyeon.


    ¡®That''s why even Hwang Min-hwa couldn¡¯t act recklessly around her.¡¯


    Actors who have reached the top often have keen insight. Hwang Min-hwa had an eye for spotting people who would rise and those who wouldn¡¯t. Seoyeon must have passed her test.


    So, Hwang Min-hwa pretended to be a kind older sister, hiding her true intentions.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll stay here and watch. Where else would a manager go?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t think it would be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Just focus on the filming.¡±


    Park Eun-ha smiled as she spoke. The Chaser was Seoyeon¡¯s first film.


    And its release date coincided with that of a film starring Hwang Min-hwa: Utopia. Just as GH Group had put their all into The Chaser, Utopia was backed by a giant corporation. In fact, Utopia had even more financial support, including international funding.


    Although The Chaser had a better-known director, Utopia boasted a higher number of top-tier actors.


    While The Chaser wasn¡¯t small in scale, Utopia was an even bigger blockbuster.


    ¡®Still...¡¯


    As Park Eun-ha watched Seoyeon preparing herself, she silently wished for Seoyeon to surpass Hwang Min-hwa.


    She believed it would happen.


    ¡°Today¡¯s shoot is the scene where Detective Im Seung-chul coincidentally sees the murderer, Cha Seo-ah, escaping and chases her.¡±


    This was scene number 30. After the confrontation between Cha Seo-ah and the detectives at the bus stop, the night patrol scene happens where they meet again by chance. This was the first encounter with the murderer, Cha Seo-ah.


    ¡®So, he doesn¡¯t shoot in sequence.¡¯


    Hearing that it was scene number 30, Seoyeon checked her physical condition. She hadn¡¯t expected her first shoot to involve running.


    Each director has a different shooting style. Director Gong Jung-tae of The Moon Embracing the Sun preferred shooting scenes in order.


    However, Director Bae Jin-hwan of The Chaser preferred to shoot scenes that matched the mood of the day or, alternatively, to start with the most challenging scenes.


    A pile of trash next to a utility pole tumbled over. Detective Im Seung-chul, who had been chasing the recent string of murders, frantically looked around.


    ¡°Where is it? Where are you?¡±


    He glanced down at his old cell phone to check the time of the report. The call had come in late at night, a terrified voice saying someone had broken into their home.


    But before they could give their full address, there was a scream.


    Without waking his sleeping colleagues, Im Seung-chul rushed out alone into the dark alley.


    The victim had given an approximate location over the phone¡ªMangwon-ro, 49th Street.


    Weaving through the maze of residential houses, Im Seung-chul ran aimlessly. More than ten minutes had passed since the report came in.


    He might be too late. He shook his head, trying to push that thought away.


    Then, as he turned down yet another alley...


    ¡°......¡±


    He came face-to-face with someone wearing a yellow raincoat.


    Someone wearing a raincoat, even though it wasn¡¯t raining.


    A small figure, hard to determine their gender. An eerie presence, as if swallowing the darkness.


    Im Seung-chul¡¯s eyes widened when he saw the red stains on the yellow raincoat. Blood. Whose blood was it?


    There was no need to ask.


    ¡°You bastard!¡±


    With a roar that echoed through the alley, Im Seung-chul charged at the figure. Leaping over the scattered trash, he closed in on the suspect, who turned and fled.


    The weapon had already been discarded. Seeing the size difference, the criminal chose to run rather than fight.


    And then...


    ¡°......?¡±


    The figure disappeared in an instant.


    Kim Dae-heon, playing Detective Im Seung-chul, came to a stop.


    ¡®How is she so fast?¡¯


    Ah, no wonder they hadn¡¯t caught this criminal yet. It was the kind of speed that made you think that.


    ¡°Cut, cut, cut!¡±


    Director Bae Jin-hwan hurriedly called out.


    He called for Seoyeon, who had already dashed out of the alley.


    ¡°Seoyeon!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Um... can you run a little slower?¡±


    It made sense for the criminal to run fast, but this was too much.


    ¡°Did you do track in school, Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    Seoyeon denied it, but it was hard to believe. Now they understood why she didn¡¯t need a stunt double. The staff all thought the same thing.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try it again, this time matching the pace.¡±


    Director Bae clapped his hands and shouted out instructions.


    And so, the reshoot began.


    After that astonishing display of speed, everyone was on edge.


    ¡°Wow, that shot turned out great.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we wanted. Everything is lining up perfectly.¡±


    S#30.


    The scene ended with praise from everyone.


    No one had to pull an all-nighter; it was over in a flash.


    The first chase scene that symbolized The Chaser.


    With such a successful start, a smile spread across Director Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s face.

 Chapter 62

    "They were filming a movie in front of my house yesterday."


    This was a post that appeared on a certain online community. At first, most people dismissed it as nonsense, but the photos and short video clips taken from outside a window quickly caught people¡¯s attention.


    "Looks like Daeheon again. Probably playing another criminal role.""In the video, it seems like he''s the one chasing someone??"


    The video wasn¡¯t long¡ªbarely ten seconds.


    There was a man, presumed to be actor Kim Daeheon, and a smaller figure. What caught people''s attention was the smaller figure.


    "Ugh, the video quality is awful.""Get a new phone.""Who¡¯s the person in the raincoat???""They''re running super fast, lol."


    It seemed like the person in the raincoat was being chased by Kim Daeheon. What stood out was the incredible speed.


    Especially in the first ten seconds of the video, the figure in the raincoat suddenly vanished.


    "It looks like the frames are missing.""Did they disappear suddenly like a ninja??""You can¡¯t even see their face, but why can you see Daeheon¡¯s?""LOL, for real."


    People started commenting, joking that the scene looked like it had been fast-forwarded. The absurdity of the scene led to more and more comments.


    "But is it okay to post something like this?"


    The post ended with a comment questioning the legality of sharing the footage, after which the post was deleted. But the real buzz started afterward.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    Hearing Director Bae Jin-hwan suddenly call her name, Seoyeon blinked in surprise.


    ¡®Did I do something wrong again?¡¯


    Lately, Seoyeon had been called out by the director quite a bit, usually to be scolded. But it wasn¡¯t just Seoyeon; other actors were getting the same treatment.


    In fact, Seoyeon had only been scolded when it came to physically demanding scenes. After all, she hadn¡¯t had many filming sessions yet.


    ¡°Do you use online communities?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Seoyeon was momentarily at a loss for words. How was she supposed to answer that?


    ¡®I do, though...¡¯


    Actually, she should have said, ¡°Of course.¡± She often browsed VTuber communities for information, posted, and commented. She was quite active, to be honest.


    And not just VTuber communities¡ªSeoyeon had her hands in various online communities. After all...


    ¡®A proper VTuber must be well-versed in memes.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s VTuber philosophy was making a rare appearance. These days, trends and memes changed rapidly. Even if you weren¡¯t deeply immersed in online communities, you had to keep an eye on them to understand the current trends. Otherwise, you¡¯d be out of touch within a year.


    ¡°I don¡¯t use them often.¡±


    ¡°Right? You don¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯d spend time on the internet.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    But there¡¯s a certain image that actors have to maintain. Seoyeon smiled awkwardly at Director Bae Jin-hwan¡¯s comment.


    ¡°Yesterday, someone posted pictures and videos of our filming on a movie community.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Can they do that? Well, they can, but...


    ¡°It was taken down quickly, but it¡¯s still a bit of an issue.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Take a look at this.¡±


    Seoyeon looked at the screen of the iPad that Director Bae handed her. The screen showed a community site. Seoyeon recognized it immediately, and for a moment, she nearly flinched.


    ¡°These videos are going around as shorts now.¡±


    The video showed the chase scene between Seoyeon and actor Kim Daeheon. Specifically, it was from the first take of the chase scene, where Seoyeon suddenly disappeared.


    ¡°This clip has become a meme and is spreading around as a joke. It¡¯s not just on one site either.¡±


    ¡°...Really?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just an NG take, so it¡¯s fine.¡±


    He looked at Seoyeon thoughtfully. Her large eyes blinked innocently. It was clear that she was a born entertainer.


    Even a single scene like this could create buzz.


    ¡°People are starting to wonder who the person in the yellow raincoat is.¡±


    A person in a raincoat. But I¡¯m a woman.


    ¡°...¡±


    As Seoyeon thought about it, she felt a bit uneasy. Why did she so naturally think of herself as a woman? She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.


    ¡°So, what should we do?¡±


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t think Director Bae Jin-hwan would bring this up without a reason. When she asked why he mentioned it...


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    He smiled mischievously.


    ¡°Especially you, Seoyeon. Don¡¯t tell anyone who you really are.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°This has already become a topic of conversation. It¡¯s perfect to use as a promotional tool.¡±@@@@


    The buzz was still growing, but if they kept feeding the rumor mill, it would spread quickly.


    In communities, a hot topic is like a wildfire. Once it catches the right momentum, it can spread like flames.


    Even if I asked my mom or dad...


    ¡°Seoyeon, you¡¯re too generous. You always give up what you like so easily and don¡¯t have many desires. That¡¯s why you don¡¯t feel jealousy.¡±


    Mom would say that and then hug me tightly.


    ¡°Hmm, maybe you just live without thinking too much,¡± Dad would say.


    I really wanted to punch him.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s right.¡±


    So, I was too generous.


    Maybe it was because of my past life that I was born with such a wide heart. It was troublesome.


    What if I couldn¡¯t understand jealousy?


    As I was pondering this...


    Buzz, buzz!


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    My phone vibrated. Curious, I checked the notification.


    [Ramiel has uploaded 2 new videos.]


    I blinked in disbelief at the screen. What on earth is this?


    ¡®Is this real?¡¯


    Could it be someone with a similar name?


    I was suddenly afraid to check.


    What if it wasn¡¯t the Ramiel I knew, but someone else? What if it wasn¡¯t a VTuber, but just a regular YouTuber?


    These thoughts swirled in my mind, but...


    ¡°...I should still check.¡±


    I closed my eyes tightly and clicked on the new video. Then, I slowly opened one eye.


    And...


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the new VTuber, Ramiel!¡±


    A cheerful voice.


    Blonde hair, wings on her back.


    She had the appearance of an angel, but her species was a harpy.


    The voice in my ear was unmistakably the same as the one I knew.


    ¡°Her modeling...¡±


    How much money did they spend on this?


    I recalled the previous corporate model of Ramiel. It was good, but this was on another level. It was rare for an individual to debut with such high-quality assets.


    ¡°Her facial expressions are incredible.¡±


    How expensive was her equipment?


    I was baffled by how this was all prepared. Did Jiyeon really do this on her own?


    It wasn¡¯t just about having money; you also needed the know-how.


    I watched Ramiel¡¯s first video with a mix of awe and confusion. It seemed to be a simple promotional video, announcing when the first stream would be.


    ¡®An unusual approach.¡¯


    I thought as I clicked on the second video.


    ¡°Let me introduce my friend!¡±


    Ramiel¡¯s bright voice filled the room.


    A friend?


    I wondered as a new character appeared next to Ramiel.


    ¡°This is my dear friend who brought me here from the nest where I was just sleeping.¡±


    Ramiel hugged the new character¡ªa blue-haired female mage¡ªtightly.


    I realized that this mage VTuber must be the person who helped Ramiel get her videos online.


    ¡°...Who is this?¡±


    The blue-haired mage and Ramiel seemed very close. Was it normal to collaborate in the second video already?


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t tease me.¡±


    The mage teased Ramiel, who responded playfully.


    ¡°Who the heck are you?!¡±


    Anger surged within me, one of the rare moments in my life where I expressed such intense emotion.

 Chapter 63

    ¡°Seoyeon, Mom brought some fruit...¡±


    Sua knocked on her daughter''s door and cautiously opened it, only to trail off as she spoke. Seoyeon was slumped over her desk, her head buried on top of it.


    ¡®Did she die?¡¯


    The scene was so unusual that Sua briefly wondered if something was wrong. However, the monitor displayed a YouTube video that had just finished playing, suggesting Seoyeon had been watching something before she collapsed.


    ¡®She must be watching something strange again,¡¯ Sua thought, placing the plate of fruit next to her slumped daughter before leaving the room. Seoyeon acting strangely was nothing new.


    ¡®Who is she...¡¯


    Seoyeon slowly got up and started nibbling on an apple from the plate. The sweet taste of the fruit seemed to clear her head, although she still felt a simmering anger inside.


    Jealousy!


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t realized it yet, but the emotion burning inside her, the feeling that made her bite into the apple so fiercely without even thinking about it, was jealousy!


    ¡®Someone who could have helped Lee Ji-yeon with modeling or equipment...¡¯


    Nothing specific came to mind. Among the people around Ji-yeon, who could have possibly done that?


    ¡®Was there someone else besides me?¡¯


    When Ji-yeon had visited Seoyeon¡¯s house before, she hadn¡¯t seemed to know much about VTubers. Maybe she had asked someone else after that, leading to her newfound interest?


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t bring herself to watch the video again. That magician... No, she should be able to find out who the magician is by searching, right?


    Seoyeon knew quite a bit about the domestic VTuber scene, but not everything. There were things she didn¡¯t know, and this blue-haired magician was one of those cases.


    ¡®Around 30,000 subscribers with a typical view count of about 1,000.¡¯


    For an independent VTuber, those numbers were quite impressive. How had she not known about this person? But that wasn¡¯t the important part right now. Wasn¡¯t there any redpill information available?


    ¡®Nothing...¡¯


    She could tell that this VTuber had been active for over a year, but beyond that, there wasn¡¯t much information available. Judging by the voice, this person had clearly received some voice training.


    ¡®Voice training?¡¯@@@@


    As she thought about that, Seoyeon began to connect the dots. If she considered someone who was good at voice training and was close to Lee Ji-yeon, the list became very narrow. Wasn¡¯t there someone from the voice acting academy...?


    Buzz!


    At that moment, Seoyeon¡¯s phone rang. She quickly grabbed it.


    ¡°Hey, Joo Seoyeon. Did you call?¡±


    It was Lee Ji-yeon¡¯s sharp voice on the other end. Seoyeon glanced at her monitor, imagining Ramiel and Ji-yeon overlapping in her mind.


    ¡®Should I just ask her?¡¯


    Yes, why complicate things when she could just ask directly? Seoyeon thought about casually bringing it up, but then...


    ¡®...¡¯


    Is it okay to ask something like this so bluntly? It was almost like asking about the red pill directly. Even if Ramiel and Ji-yeon were indeed the same person, hearing it directly from Ji-yeon was another matter.


    ¡°Ah, I was calling about the midterm... and the test material.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t study.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon was at a loss for words at Ji-yeon¡¯s blunt remark. She couldn¡¯t argue with that.


    The next day.


    Seoyeon wanted to storm the voice acting academy right away, but unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t. The movie filming schedule made it difficult to find time.


    Today¡¯s filming was in the morning, and she had taken the day off from school, so she couldn¡¯t even ask Ji-yeon.


    ¡°Seoyeon, you look a bit tired?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Really? Well, it¡¯s an important role, so make sure to manage your condition. You know that, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded at actor Kim Daeheon¡¯s advice. She couldn¡¯t exactly tell him that she hadn¡¯t slept well because she was upset after watching a VTuber stream the night before.


    ¡®Condition management...¡¯


    He was right. Seoyeon¡¯s role as Cha Seo-ah, the main villain of this movie, was crucial.


    The character had significant screen time, and if Seoyeon missed filming, it would severely impact the production schedule. A few times might be manageable, but if it became frequent, it could even delay the movie¡¯s release.


    ¡®It¡¯s different from my child actor days.¡¯


    The level of responsibility and the weight of her role were much greater now.


    Cha Seo-ah¡¯s eyelids began to tremble slightly. Her lips twitched as if convulsing, unable to find the right emotion.


    She couldn¡¯t comprehend what she was feeling. Even with other customers around, Cha Seo-ah¡¯s pupils moved slowly, as if under a spell.


    The camera zoomed in, capturing her gaze precisely.


    ¡®What is this?¡¯


    Director Bae Jin-hwan watched the scene unfold with his mouth slightly agape. He could clearly see the emotion reflected in Seoyeon¡¯s eyes.


    Jealousy.


    That intense flame was vividly apparent. And it wasn¡¯t just Bae Jin-hwan who noticed; the other staff members felt it too.


    The tension between Han Yewha¡¯s joyful phone call and Cha Seo-ah¡¯s brooding presence was palpable. The camera director, who was zoomed in on Seoyeon¡¯s expression, felt it even more intensely.


    Seoyeon had already shown a high level of synchronization with Cha Seo-ah. Now, with the added motive of jealousy, the tension in the scene was more potent than anything seen before.


    It felt real.


    Maybe that was why Jung Si-hyun, playing Han Yewha, flinched as she turned to approach the counter. The intensity of Seoyeon¡¯s acting had caused her to instinctively react.


    ¡®This is just natural.¡¯


    Any human would have reacted like that if they weren¡¯t prepared. The tension radiating from Cha Seo-ah, coupled with the unsettling feeling that she was not entirely human, would naturally provoke a reaction.


    This wasn¡¯t a mistake. It was natural.


    But even though the scene technically had an error, Director Bae was about to call ¡°cut¡± when...


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the weather nice today?¡±


    Han Yewha spoke up, smiling at Cha Seo-ah.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°You seem a bit tired. Working on a day like this would make anyone feel that way.¡±


    Especially on a lovely spring day like today.


    Han Yewha handed a bottle to Cha Seo-ah, something she had just bought¡ªa vitamin drink.


    ¡°Drink this and cheer up.¡±


    Han Yewha said with a warm smile. Cha Seo-ah accepted the drink absentmindedly, watching Han Yewha as she left the store. She kept staring until another customer called her attention.


    Endlessly.


    ¡°Cut!¡±


    The scene wrapped up as Director Bae shouted. He had expected an error, but Jung Si-hyun had unexpectedly improvised.


    ¡®That wasn¡¯t in the script, was it?¡¯


    ¡®No, it wasn¡¯t.¡¯


    ¡®Jung Si-hyun really brought her A-game today.¡¯


    It was a natural performance. The brief moment of hesitation actually helped to highlight Han Yewha¡¯s character.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Before praising Jung Si-hyun¡¯s improvisation, Director Bae called out to Seoyeon first.


    ¡°Have you been secretly training?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d have to talk to you about something today, but it seems I don¡¯t need to anymore. You perfectly captured Cha Seo-ah¡¯s emotions.¡±


    Seoyeon responded to his words with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°...?¡±


    Was it really that good? She thought she had just acted as usual.


    But suddenly...


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Seoyeon realized what had happened.


    She had unconsciously channeled a particular feeling during that performance.


    Jealousy.


    That feeling she hadn¡¯t quite identified until now.


    ¡°Ah, yes. I... I did some training.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to explain what had triggered it. Even Seoyeon knew better than to mention that.

 Chapter 64

    <The Chaser> filming progressed smoothly overall. Although the process of discovering jealousy was rather trivial, it undeniably helped improve her acting.


    ¡®...But I can¡¯t exactly talk about it.¡¯


    Jealousy¡ªa foreign emotion. Upon reflection, experiencing emotions is a natural thing. It wasn¡¯t anything special, just that it was unique to her.


    As Seoyeon watched the crew packing up the set, she found herself lost in thought. Perhaps, in some way, her decision to pursue acting was a means to understand these emotions.


    Acting provided a space where various emotions could be expressed and embellished. In the past, the mask she had worn to hide her discomfort became a strength in this world. Maybe that was why she felt comfortable in this industry.


    ¡®...Maybe my adolescence isn¡¯t over yet.¡¯


    She was feeling oddly emotional today. Perhaps it was because of the shocking scene she had witnessed yesterday.


    Just thinking about it made her blood boil. Though not as intensely as before, Seoyeon was surprised to discover that she harbored such emotions.


    She had once thought of herself as almost plant-like in her detachment. But no¡ªshe realized now that she was simply naive.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    There are still many emotions she doesn¡¯t fully understand. In her current life, she experiences emotions naturally. However, due to the disparity between her past and present selves, she often has to consciously identify what she¡¯s feeling. When acting, she has to be more aware of this.


    It¡¯s like how breathing becomes cumbersome when you start thinking about it.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    Perhaps because today¡¯s shoot had gone so well, Director Bae Jin-hwan approached her with a light step.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s shoot was really good. If we keep going like this, we¡¯ll be in great shape. But...¡±


    He trailed off, contemplating something as Seoyeon¡¯s calm gaze met his.


    ¡°The next shoot will be a bit intense, as you know. It involves abducting Han Yewha and getting into a fight with a cop during the process.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡±


    ¡°You seem quite capable with physical scenes. Do you think you could do it?¡±


    Do I think I could do it? Seoyeon stared at him, puzzled.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Normally, a stunt double would handle the action scenes. You should have been informed already.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I did hear that.¡±


    Now that she thought about it, she vaguely remembered something about that. Usually, stunt doubles are selected based on their similarity in build to the actor.


    Cha Seo-ah often wears a raincoat or other clothing that conceals her face, making it easier to use a double. Given the frequent physical confrontations in the film, they had planned to use a stunt double.


    ¡°But, as it turns out, the stunt actor who was supposed to double for you injured their ankle. So we were considering finding a replacement... Then I suddenly remembered something.¡±


    He was recalling the first chase scene between Seoyeon and Kim Daeheon. He thought of how Seoyeon had zoomed out of sight so quickly. Of course, running and performing action scenes were different, but he wondered, ¡°Could she do it?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re okay with it, I know an action school. What do you think?¡±


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t know this, but it was a rather extraordinary offer. The action school that Director Bae Jin-hwan mentioned was a prestigious one in Seoul, practically synonymous with top-tier stunt training in Korea.


    It was a place where some of the country¡¯s most famous stunt actors trained. Naturally, getting into such a place was not easy. It wasn¡¯t just aspiring stuntmen who went there; many actors seeking to learn action also attended.


    It required passing an audition, and the competition was fierce.


    ¡®He has a very keen eye, but if it¡¯s Seoyeon...¡¯


    Incidentally, Director Bae had a connection with Professor Kim Hong-baek, who founded the action school. He believed Seoyeon had enough potential to recommend her for training.


    ¡®A crash course of one or two months should suffice.¡¯


    The action scenes in The Chaser weren¡¯t particularly demanding. After all, it was a thriller, not an action movie. But the difference between actors who had and hadn¡¯t trained in action scenes was significant.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try, and if you feel comfortable with it, you could do it yourself?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s response to this suggestion was:


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to try it, as an actor.¡±


    Her calm response impressed Director Bae. Most female actors tended to shy away from action roles.


    ¡®She has a great attitude.¡¯


    Or rather, calling her an actress might be premature. She was more of a rookie. She had appeared in one drama and had one theater performance.


    A fledgling actress who was just starting her first movie. Yet, she was personally recommended by none other than Director Bae Jin-hwan.


    ¡°The roles of Yeonhwa Princess and Hong Jung-hee.¡±


    Neither role had any action involved. But Director Bae had an exceptional eye for talent.


    If he was recommending a non-stunt actor to perform action scenes, there must have been a good reason.


    That afternoon, at the appointed time, a young girl arrived at the school with her manager.


    Joo Seoyeon.


    Her entrance drew the attention of the trainees practicing their action scenes.


    She had that kind of appearance¡ªone that naturally drew people¡¯s eyes. However, Kim Hong-baek furrowed his brows slightly.


    ¡®Her body seems well-balanced, but...¡¯


    Had she ever exercised properly? She didn¡¯t seem particularly athletic on the outside.


    She was slender, but it was hard to find an actress who wasn¡¯t. Especially among female actors, some had fragile bodies due to excessive dieting.


    If she was that delicate, action scenes would be too much.


    She might as well use a double.


    ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Joo Seoyeon, a rookie actress from Nova Entertainment.¡±


    Despite his initial impression, she had a bright demeanor. She bowed politely, which softened Kim Hong-baek¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve received the introduction. I¡¯m Professor Kim Hong-baek. Here, you can just call me Master or Professor.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Thank you for having me.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever done action acting before?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever been trained?¡±


    Seoyeon hesitated for a moment. She had done some weight training and practiced various exercises by watching online videos, but...


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been formally trained.¡±


    Even during her acting classes, she hadn¡¯t had any such training. Kim Hong-baek nodded, as if he had expected this.


    However, the other trainees around them frowned slightly.


    ¡®Who is she?¡¯


    ¡®She seems like an actress...¡¯


    For those who had gone through the grueling audition process, it was hard to overlook someone getting in through connections. Learning from Professor Kim Hong-baek was not something just anyone could do.


    And here was this actress, who clearly had no background in action, coming to train?


    It was good to be ambitious about acting, but it seemed obvious that she would give up halfway.


    ¡°Since there aren¡¯t many action scenes, a month should be enough. It might be tough, though¡ªare you okay with that?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Professor Kim Hong-baek had already reviewed the script through Director Bae. Cha Seo-ah¡¯s action scenes mostly involved fighting with a cop during the abduction and other moments of physical confrontation.


    And then there was the chase scene¡ªthe highlight of the film.


    To make the most of these scenes, about a month¡¯s training would be necessary. They would need to start by teaching her basic physical techniques, to prevent injury during more complex scenes.


    ¡°First, I noticed that your height and weight aren¡¯t listed on your profile. Could you tell me?¡±


    Professor Kim Hong-baek scrutinized Seoyeon from head to toe. She looked like she might weigh around 50 kg.


    That¡¯s how delicate she appeared.


    ¡°...My weight?¡±


    But for some reason, Seoyeon¡¯s voice wavered. Professor Kim Hong-baek found her reaction puzzling.


    She didn¡¯t seem like the type to be overly concerned about her weight.

 Chapter 65

    Was it because of the memories from her previous life?


    Seoyeon had never paid much attention to her weight, neither in her past life nor in this one. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for men to be indifferent to their weight, and this habit had persisted even after her reincarnation.


    ¡®I''m already so slim,¡¯ she thought confidently whenever she looked at her reflection, admiring her slender waistline. Her consistent exercise routine since childhood had granted her a body with no excess fat.


    But things started to change when she began visiting the gym regularly and started checking her body composition.


    ¡°?¡±


    That was when Seoyeon realized something odd. One thing that caught her eye was her weight.


    ¡°Hm, given this muscle mass, it¡¯s still on the lighter side.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The fitness trainer said this, but there was something that didn¡¯t sit well with Seoyeon. No, rather, her TS (transformed) body seemed too strong. Wasn''t the graph a bit strange?


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Although she felt uneasy, Seoyeon decided not to dwell on it. After all, being reborn was far more significant than having a strong body.


    She decided to forget about the weight issue. Who would care about her weight if no one could lift her?


    However...


    ¡°Seoyeon?¡±


    Professor Kim Hongbaek''s question made Seoyeon feel deeply conflicted. She had been introduced by Director Bae Jinhwan, and showing any signs of rudeness here would be disrespectful to him as well.


    ¡°Ah, I haven¡¯t checked my weight recently...¡±


    She barely managed to say.


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s check it now. The scale is over there.¡±


    Why is there a scale in the academy? While this puzzled her, it made sense since it was an action school.


    Although Professor Kim Hongbaek was curious about Seoyeon''s hesitation, he didn¡¯t give it much thought. He simply assumed she might be sensitive about her weight, as many actresses are.


    However, it was crucial to record this information accurately so that they could adjust the intensity of the action scenes appropriately.@@@@


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon stood silently in front of the scale. At least the other actors were far enough away. She could feel Professor Kim Hongbaek¡¯s gaze on her.


    Realizing there was no way to avoid it, Seoyeon stepped onto the scale. It was an analog scale, not digital.


    As the needle moved, Professor Kim Hongbaek watched closely with his pen ready.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see, 30, 40, 50, 60...¡¯


    The speed at which the needle tilted was alarming.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Just as Professor Kim Hongbaek''s eyes widened as the needle continued to move, Seoyeon quickly stepped off the scale. Her face had turned bright red, and her eyes, now glowing crimson, glared at the scale.


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    Watching her reaction, Professor Kim Hongbaek furrowed his brows.


    ¡°It seems like the scale is broken.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but please check your weight later and let me know.¡±


    Recalling the number displayed on the scale, Professor Kim Hongbaek shook his head, convinced that the old scale had malfunctioned.


    ¡°Your height is 165 cm, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Her height was ordinary¡ªneither tall nor short, just average.


    ¡®There must have been some error with the weight reading,¡¯ he concluded. Considering Seoyeon¡¯s current physique, the weight displayed didn¡¯t seem possible.


    ***


    After that, Seoyeon¡¯s days were packed. After school, she would head straight to the set. On days without filming, she went to action school.


    However, she wasn¡¯t overly busy; she still had enough time to rest and work at a manageable pace. At least, that was how it felt to Seoyeon. For most teenage actors, it would have been overwhelming, and they would have burned out by now.


    But even now, Seoyeon was holding a game controller, not resting for a moment.


    She was in her personal room provided by the agency. Since playing games at home made her feel uneasy, she had moved all her gaming equipment here.


    Not that anyone at home minded her playing games. Her mother, Sua, trusted that Seoyeon was handling her responsibilities, so she didn¡¯t interfere. Her father, Youngbin, occasionally watched her play and would remark, ¡°You¡¯re not very good at this,¡± before walking away.


    Despite her father¡¯s teasing, it wasn¡¯t that playing games at home bothered her. It was just that she felt self-conscious, especially when thinking about her dismal grades.


    ¡®But I have to practice.¡¯


    The humiliation she felt during King of Games was still fresh in her mind. Even now, online communities ranked her as one of the ¡°celebrities who are bad at games,¡± and the shame of it made her tremble with frustration.


    As a man, there is no greater insult than being told, ¡°You¡¯re bad at games.¡± Even though Seoyeon was now a woman, she still couldn¡¯t tolerate such a remark.


    She vowed to redeem herself on the next reality show or whatever she participated in. She would make her father, Youngbin, finally say, ¡°You¡¯re good at this.¡±


    With this resolve, she was in the middle of an intense training session.


    ¡°Seoyeon!¡±


    Just then, Park Eunha burst into Seoyeon¡¯s waiting room while she was in the middle of a game. Seeing Seoyeon still deeply immersed in the game, Eunha¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡®This girl¡¯s stamina is not normal.¡¯


    Most people would have collapsed by now, but Seoyeon hadn¡¯t taken a single break. To Park Eunha, even gaming was labor.


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t taken a break from school or filming. On weekends, she was at action school. From Park Eunha¡¯s perspective, Seoyeon truly seemed like someone born to be an actress.


    ¡°Is something up?¡±


    Seoyeon paused her game and asked. Park Eunha nodded excitedly.


    ¡°Yes, something really good!¡±


    ¡°Something good?¡±


    ¡°You got a commercial offer! A commercial!¡±


    A commercial. For celebrities, commercials were a measure of their popularity. The very fact that Seoyeon received a commercial offer meant she was gaining recognition.


    This was Seoyeon¡¯s second commercial offer! Although she had declined the first one, the second offer had come right away.


    ¡®The only significant appearance I¡¯ve had is King of Games.''


    Yet, she still received a commercial offer. Though her theater performance was a success, that wasn¡¯t typically a factor that appealed to advertisers.


    This was purely due to Seoyeon¡¯s rising popularity. The charm she displayed in Past Memories and King of Games had resonated with the public.


    ¡°...It¡¯s not another game controller commercial, is it?¡±


    Recalling the commercial she had previously declined, Seoyeon asked skeptically, and Park Eunha shook her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not that. You¡¯re going to like this one.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What is it?¡±


    What kind of commercial could it be? Seoyeon had only done two commercials before, both when she was a child. One was for soy milk, and the other was for a children¡¯s multivitamin.


    The children¡¯s multivitamin commercial was especially notable as it was released right after Seoyeon had announced her break, making it a huge success. The vitamins sold out rapidly, and the advertiser had even asked if Seoyeon could do another commercial for them.


    And now, this was her third commercial. What could it be? Seoyeon was secretly excited.


    ¡°It¡¯s a cosmetics commercial!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In the world of female celebrities, a cosmetics commercial was a testament to both their appearance and popularity. Only truly popular idols or actors with beautiful faces received cosmetics commercial offers.


    For Seoyeon to be offered a cosmetics commercial was highly unusual. It was likely that the company was investing in her future potential rather than her current fame.


    However...


    ¡°Cos...metics?¡±


    Seoyeon felt a bit bewildered by the offer.

 Chapter 66

    E?clat E?toile.


    This brand, famous for its women¡¯s cosmetics, was often thought to be a French company, but it was, in fact, a Korean brand with its headquarters based locally.


    The company had been pushing a luxury strategy... but things were starting to falter.


    ¡°We¡¯re nearing the end of our contract with Song Heebin, so we need to find a new advertising model soon,¡± one member of E?clat E?toile''s brand business strategy team said, clearly frustrated.


    The brand strategy team had been under considerable stress lately, with the sales of their cosmetics plummeting due to the aggressive rise of new brands.


    In reality, they were losing ground in the competitive market. The actress Song Heebin, who had been their advertising model for the past five years, was now leaving as her contract was ending.


    ¡®It¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s been approached by another cosmetics brand.¡¯


    Song Heebin¡¯s popularity had soared recently due to her role in a Monday-Tuesday drama, so naturally, she would want to move on to a brand that offered more money and a higher brand value.


    ¡°Ugh,¡± groaned Jeong Taesoo, the team leader of the business strategy department. It was becoming painfully clear that they were falling behind other brands.


    ¡°Should we also hire a celebrity with enough recognition to boost our brand¡¯s visibility?¡±


    ¡°But our budget...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no point in hiring a low-profile celebrity if they don¡¯t bring in any results.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but if we hire a well-known celebrity and don¡¯t see the expected results, it¡¯ll be hard to recover from the loss.¡±


    The issue wasn¡¯t just the cost of hiring a celebrity. The real problem was the potential loss if the chosen celebrity didn¡¯t perform as expected and sales didn¡¯t meet their goals.


    Their situation was already precarious. With Song Heebin out of the picture, they had less than a month to find a new advertising model.


    ¡°She seemed like she was going to renew the contract... I swear, celebrities...¡±


    Jeong Taesoo shouted in frustration, but there was nothing more they could do. They hadn¡¯t been able to offer her a better deal.


    ¡°Excuse me, Team Leader,¡± said Deputy Park hesitantly.


    ¡°What is it, Deputy Park?¡±


    ¡°How about this person?¡±


    Deputy Park displayed an image on his tablet¡ªa still from Past Memories, showing a woman who had garnered considerable attention: the rising star Ju Seoyeon.


    She had recently gained fame as the grown-up Princess Yeonhwa. There was also some buzz about her appearance on a cable show.


    ¡°Her face is definitely good, but isn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon not that well-known for an ad?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but don¡¯t you think she¡¯s on the rise?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying we should bet on her future potential?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly.¡±


    Watching Deputy Park nod enthusiastically, Jeong Taesoo sighed. It seemed like a gamble on a vague future.


    ¡°Deputy Park, Princess Yeonhwa was a long time ago. Ju Seoyeon hasn¡¯t had any significant appearances since then. Plus, you know her latest film is a thriller, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°A female lead in a thriller... She¡¯s probably a supporting role at best. What¡¯s her next project? When will she raise her profile? She¡¯s an actress who disappeared for ten years and only made a small comeback on stage. Who¡¯s going to watch an ad with her? Theatergoers?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Deputy Park returned to his seat, looking dejected. While Jeong Taesoo felt a bit guilty for being so harsh, he knew it was necessary.


    Advertising is all about image and recognition. While it was true that Ju Seoyeon had an exceptional appearance, that wasn¡¯t enough to guarantee the success of an ad campaign.


    Sure, a pretty face could be enhanced with editing to look radiant and beautiful, but you couldn¡¯t manufacture recognition.


    What mattered was how luxurious the product seemed and how well it appealed to women.


    ¡®But I still need to submit a report.¡¯


    He had shortlisted a few candidates. But for the final selection, they needed someone the higher-ups would approve of.


    ¡®Two idols, two actresses...¡¯


    All of them had decent name value. As Jeong Taesoo was about to finalize his report with five candidates, he reconsidered.


    ¡®Well, fine. I¡¯ll add Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    It wouldn¡¯t hurt to include her as a wildcard. After all, she did have some recent buzz. He didn¡¯t put much thought into it, seeing it as merely filling a spot.


    Even the director had come to the meeting. Was this normal?


    Seoyeon had some experience with corporate life in her past life. Higher-ups usually didn¡¯t bother with meetings like this.


    Even having a team leader present was unusual. Or maybe this was just how things worked with celebrity contracts?


    ¡°Ahem, I¡¯m just here to observe, so don¡¯t worry too much about me.¡±


    Director Baek said this, but Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he was there.


    ¡°Well, as you may already know, E?clat E?toile would like to offer you a one-year exclusive contract as our advertising model.¡±


    ¡°One year?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and there¡¯s potential for renewal and additional contract extensions afterward. Of course, the terms will improve accordingly.¡±


    The first contract had to be handled with care since it would set the standard. While there was room to increase the pay later, it couldn¡¯t be reduced.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t have any particular expectations. Given her level of recognition, she was sure the contract amount wouldn¡¯t be high. But then...


    ¡°A one-year exclusive model fee of 400 million won.¡±


    Four hundred million won... Wait, what?


    ¡°Four hundred million won?¡±


    Four hundred million was a number Seoyeon had only seen in video game currencies. She had filmed dramas and signed movie contracts before, even receiving 200 million won for a B-list movie.


    But 400 million won was double that, and considering the difficulty of the shoot, it was a staggering amount.


    ¡®Honestly, I¡¯d have done it for half of that.¡¯


    Taesoo felt the sting of this amount. Seoyeon was the type of actress who would have been content with half that amount.


    But Director Baek, sitting beside him with an intense gaze, had insisted. She had to be paid as if she were at least a B-list actress, to prevent her from jumping to another brand when the contract ended.


    It was probably because of what happened with Song Heebin, but it still felt excessive.


    ¡°...What do you think of the terms?¡±


    After carefully reading through the contract, Seoyeon nodded. There didn¡¯t seem to be any concerning clauses. Manager Park Eunha also nodded in agreement.


    The terms were surprisingly favorable for Seoyeon. It was almost suspicious how good they were.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    For 400 million won, she had to. Who cared about the details of cosmetics?


    ¡°When would the shoot begin...?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll coordinate the schedule and let you know, so you can arrange the dates accordingly.¡±


    With that, everything was set in motion. While the final contract review and signing would take place later, the deal was essentially sealed.


    ¡°But, I heard your upcoming movie is a thriller. What role are you playing?¡±


    ¡°Ah, well... it¡¯s confidential.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. That¡¯s too bad. As you know, the type of role you play can greatly influence the image of the ad.¡±


    Seoyeon awkwardly smiled at Team Leader Taesoo¡¯s comment, knowing she couldn¡¯t reveal any details due to the movie contract.


    ¡®Come to think of it, isn¡¯t this a problem?¡¯


    She was playing the role of a murderer. While Seoyeon didn¡¯t think much of it, this could severely impact her image. The better she performed, the worse it could get.


    ¡®...Hmm.¡¯


    This could be a big problem.


    Four hundred million won.


    Seoyeon stared at the contract. She could almost see those 400 million won flying away.


    There were famous cases of actors who had been dropped from ad campaigns due to the negative impact of playing a murderer. And this was a cosmetics ad. If the movie became a hit, she was sure to be dropped.


    ¡®I need to find a way to improve my image.¡¯


    Seoyeon felt a sense of urgency. She needed to find a role that would balance out the dark image of her character, Cha Seoa, before that 400 million won slipped through her fingers.


    And as luck would have it, there were two projects that could help her do just that.


    The only issue was that both projects were connected to people with whom Seoyeon had a history.

 Chapter 67

    The Chaser was a film with relatively few characters.


    This aspect was an advantage because a significant portion of the film''s budget could be allocated elsewhere, rather than being spent on casting. For the actors, having fewer characters meant a mix of both pressure and opportunity¡ªmore focus on a smaller group meant more screen time for each of them.


    "Minah, great job today."


    "Yes, thank you!"


    Kang Minah, who played the younger sister of Detective Seo Gwangil in The Chaser, let out a sigh of relief. Still a rookie and quite young, she often found herself nervous on set.


    ¡®I need to work hard and not embarrass my company.¡¯


    Minah was managed by Loren Company, a mid-tier agency that had pushed hard to secure her role in this film. Although it was only a supporting role, she had more opportunities to appear on screen as the younger sister of the main character. This was a significant step forward compared to the three dramas where she had only appeared as an extra.


    ¡®I never know what expression I¡¯m making when the camera is on me.¡¯


    Despite her nerves, she had managed to get through the shoot without many NGs, and she felt good about it. The crew had praised her, saying she was doing well for her age.


    ¡®But still, talent really makes a difference.¡¯


    Minah glanced over at the girl sitting quietly nearby. She was two years younger than Minah, only seventeen, but her polished appearance made her look around twenty.


    Sitting with her eyes closed and her back straight, she looked like a refined young lady from a noble family. Her appearance was like that of a flower, but after watching her act, Minah couldn¡¯t see Seoyeon as just a pretty flower.


    Today¡¯s shoot...


    S#37, a scene where Han Yehwa and Cha Seoa confront each other in an alley. It was a crucial scene where Seoa, instead of killing Yehwa on the spot, knocks her out and kidnaps her, taking her to her parents¡¯ home, where she had been left alone after their murder.


    Watching the scene, Minah couldn¡¯t help but think:


    ¡®Isn¡¯t she really Cha Seoa?¡¯


    She felt a chill run down her spine, especially from Seoyeon¡¯s gaze¡ªit was like looking at something inhuman, something pretending to be human. It was so convincing that Minah questioned whether it was truly just acting.


    The sense of unease was palpable, and the intensity Seoyeon brought to the scene was astonishing. Her portrayal of inferiority and jealousy toward Han Yehwa was vividly evident on her unsettling face. It was a level of acting that Minah couldn¡¯t even begin to emulate.


    ¡®But still...¡¯


    Noticing Minah¡¯s frequent glances toward Seoyeon, Shin Seongmi, who played the role of the "Convenience Store Lady," chuckled.


    "Why don¡¯t you try to get closer to her? You¡¯re about the same age."


    "Huh?"


    "You¡¯ll be seeing a lot of each other throughout this shoot."


    Shin Seongmi had suggested this because she recognized Seoyeon¡¯s potential.


    ¡®This girl is going to be big.¡¯


    Especially once this film is released¡ªher status will change dramatically. For Minah, this might be the only chance to get close to someone like Seoyeon. However, Seongmi didn¡¯t mention the importance of building connections because she knew Minah wasn¡¯t the type to be swayed by such talk.


    "Yeah, you¡¯re right."


    Minah nodded. Although Seoyeon was two years younger, they were indeed close in age, and Minah had much to learn from her.


    ¡®What is she thinking?¡¯


    Minah swallowed nervously as she watched Seoyeon, who remained still, eyes closed, and posture straight. There was an aura around her that made it difficult to approach.


    Was she reflecting deeply on today¡¯s performance? Or was she still immersed in the emotions of her character, Cha Seoa?


    ¡°...It doesn¡¯t seem like the right time.¡±


    Minah decided not to interrupt. She would try to talk to Seoyeon later, when it seemed more appropriate.


    And just like Minah thought, Seoyeon was indeed deep in thought.


    ¡®What do I do about my 400 million won?¡¯


    It was a crucial concern. The role of Cha Seoa was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Seoyeon. She was confident about her portrayal and had a clear vision of how the audience would perceive Cha Seoa.


    ¡®The contract didn¡¯t have any restrictions on roles...¡¯


    Sometimes, contracts would include clauses that restricted an actor from taking certain roles or appearing on specific shows due to concerns about brand image. Fortunately, there were no such restrictions in her contract.


    However, if the film¡¯s image was too strongly associated with her, it could damage her public persona. There were cases where actors were dropped from advertisements despite there being no official restrictions, purely because the film¡¯s image was too overpowering.


    ¡®If I need to improve my image...¡¯


    Two possibilities came to mind. Since it was a cosmetics commercial, emphasizing femininity would be key.


    She remembered seeing a similar setup at a high school festival in her previous life¡ªdark curtains creating a spooky atmosphere, with the halls and classrooms decorated to scare visitors. Students dressed up and hid, ready to jump out and scare anyone who entered.


    ¡®Honestly, it wasn¡¯t that scary.¡¯


    It was more about the atmosphere. For someone like her, who wasn¡¯t easily frightened, it hadn¡¯t left much of an impression.


    For the record, the game that had scared her before was purely due to a jump scare. That was all.


    ¡°The principal said we could use the abandoned building at the back of the school, so we decided to use it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    An abandoned building?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll check it out with the teachers first to make sure it¡¯s safe.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded. So they were using an entire abandoned building.


    ¡°...¡±


    Still, it was just a high school haunted house. But an abandoned building could add a genuine sense of atmosphere.


    She had heard about the abandoned building at Yeonhwa High School. It was an old, unused school building that had been left empty after the construction of new facilities and the decrease in student numbers.


    ¡®The atmosphere should be pretty good.¡¯


    Using the old building was a clever idea. As Seoyeon nodded thoughtfully, the class president returned to the other students.


    ¡°There¡¯s still a ghost role that needs to be filled. Anyone want to do it?¡±


    ¡°A ghost role? Where?¡±


    ¡°On the second floor, near the old science lab.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡±


    The students¡¯ reactions were hesitant. Seoyeon pretended not to listen, casually flipping through a book she wasn¡¯t actually reading.


    ¡°Is anyone willing to do it? The person who was going to dropped out suddenly.¡±


    ¡°Well, that makes sense.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s an important part, right? We were planning to make it the highlight...¡±


    The students trailed off awkwardly. Seoyeon briefly considered the situation.


    It seemed like they were short one ghost.


    ¡®...¡¯


    Her mind started to work quickly. If she volunteered, wouldn¡¯t this be a good chance to get closer to the other students?


    ¡°Um.¡±


    When Seoyeon spoke up, all eyes turned toward her. She flinched slightly at the sudden intensity of their stares.


    Did I say something wrong? I haven¡¯t even said anything yet.


    ¡°If no one else wants to do it, I could be the ghost.¡±


    ¡°What? Really?¡±


    The students exchanged glances, surprised by Seoyeon¡¯s offer. An active actress playing the ghost role... and considering Seoyeon¡¯s looks...


    ¡°Are you sure? The second floor can be a bit scary since there won¡¯t be many people around. We¡¯re going to block out all the windows with dark curtains.¡±


    Despite the class president¡¯s warning, Seoyeon nodded confidently. It was just a high school haunted house in broad daylight¡ªhow scary could it be? Most of the fear was usually just about the ambiance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Seoyeon spoke firmly. The class president slowly nodded in agreement.


    If Seoyeon was willing, there was no problem. Besides, the idea of an active actress playing the ghost was quite exciting.


    ¡®This could be more successful than I thought.¡¯


    If the festival went well, it would look good on their school records. The class president was filled with enthusiasm.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t Seoyeon¡¯s intention at all.

 Chapter 68

    A Few Days After Deciding to Play the Ghost at the School Festival


    Seoyeon was at the Cheonghong Action School, practicing her action scenes.


    "Remember, Cha Seoa is not a martial artist. If you fight with such precise, controlled movements, it might look cool, but it feels out of place. Out of place!"


    Professor Kim Hongbaek was thoroughly training Seoyeon in action acting. Initially, the other stuntman trainees had looked down on her, but now they were left speechless.


    However, Kim Hongbaek was shaking his head for a different reason.


    ¡®Even after all this, it¡¯s hard to see any sign of fatigue.¡¯


    Despite everything, Seoyeon was still only lightly wiping away sweat. Her breathing was calm, with just a slight rise and fall of her chest.


    For someone who had been doing action scenes for hours, she was remarkably fresh.


    "Since it seems there''s no suitable double, I¡¯ll take on the role of Detective Im Seungcheol this time."


    Thinking that Seoyeon had mastered the basics of Cha Seoa''s action scenes, Professor Kim Hongbaek made this suggestion.


    "Huh?"


    "Why are you surprised?"


    "Oh, no reason."


    Right, action scenes require coordination with a partner. Seoyeon was reminded of this as she opened and closed her fists, considering the situation.


    ¡®It should be fine, right?¡¯


    This body, which had possessed the strength of an adult man since the age of six, was now almost a human weapon. What had once been a joke about being a super soldier was now becoming a reality.


    ¡®But this is what I¡¯ve been training for.¡¯


    It made sense to practice with a martial arts expert like Professor Kim Hongbaek before filming the fight scenes with actor Kim Daeheon.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started, then.¡±


    They were about to practice the final highlight of The Chaser¡ªthe intense fight scene between Detective Im Seungcheol and Cha Seoa.


    Scene #115.


    ¡°Please act as Cha Seoa would, to the fullest extent.¡±


    ¡°To the fullest?¡±


    ¡°I need to see how the emotions blend with the movements.¡±


    ¡°...Alright.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded and calmly centered herself. She took a breath. And then another. As she captured the emotion and opened her eyes...


    Bang!


    Professor Kim Hongbaek charged at her. In the film, there would have been lines for Detective Im Seungcheol, but for now, there was none.


    However, the somewhat clumsy but swift and sharp movements of Im Seungcheol came into view. They were almost identical to those of actor Kim Daeheon.


    Stuntman. And body double.


    Professor Kim Hongbaek was the top body double and stuntman in Korea. His movements, replicating those of Kim Daeheon, were proof of that.


    Naturally, all the trainees¡¯ eyes were glued to the scene. Watching Professor Kim Hongbaek perform action scenes was a rare treat.


    At the same time, they were curious about what kind of action Seoyeon, with her incredible stamina, would showcase.


    ¡®Cha Seoa is not a martial artist.¡¯


    Seoyeon recalled Professor Kim¡¯s words and began to move her body. Not with the techniques learned for fighting, but with the primal aggression inherent in humans. This was Cha Seoa¡¯s characteristic¡ªa person who doesn¡¯t feel fear.


    Whoosh!


    She easily dodged Professor Kim¡¯s hand. It was a prearranged move. Then Seoyeon¡¯s fist...


    Whoosh!


    ...grazed Professor Kim¡¯s cheek as it cut through the air.


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Professor Kim touched his cheek. He had dodged according to plan, but it still felt like a close call.


    ¡°...¡±


    Hmm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s tone it down a bit.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°You do understand that we¡¯re coordinating, not actually hitting each other?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, I didn¡¯t mean to... I think.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    But that punch came straight at him. It seemed that in her deep immersion into Cha Seoa¡¯s emotions, Seoyeon had lost some control.


    ¡®If this were with actor Kim Daeheon, it could have ended with one blow.¡¯


    He thought it was a good thing they practiced in advance.


    ¡°From what I hear, the highlight scene will be filmed soon, so it¡¯s good we¡¯re practicing now.¡±


    ¡°Today, we¡¯re starting with scene number 117.¡±


    This was the beginning of the convenience store sequence that would serve as the movie¡¯s climax.


    In this scene, Cha Seoa engages in a fierce fight with Detective Seo Gwangil, who has rushed in after locating the place where Han Yehwa was kidnapped. Seo Gwangil, a detective with the athleticism of a national competitor, wasn¡¯t easy for Cha Seoa to kill. She barely manages to knock him out with a soju bottle, hitting him over the head.


    During this time, Han Yehwa escapes. Leaving the unconscious Seo Gwangil behind, Cha Seoa hurries after her.


    However, finding Han Yehwa after she has already fled is almost impossible. Cha Seoa stops running and enters the convenience store.


    She¡¯s looking for tools to kill the detective who¡¯s passed out at her home.


    ¡°Uh, is this scene alright? Shin Seongmi might get some flak for it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s better to leave a strong impression at the end.¡±


    When Kim Daeheon, who played Detective Im Seungcheol, voiced his concern, Shin Seongmi, who played the convenience store lady, laughed.


    She, too, had felt the same when she first read the script.


    It might come across as a bit implausible, but...


    ¡®It¡¯s definitely shocking.¡¯


    It seemed like a scene that would be talked about for a long time.


    ¡°If this scene is going to work, Seoyeon needs to nail it.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You need to show everything that Cha Seoa is.¡±


    The next scene would be the final fight with Detective Im Seungcheol. Scene #115.


    For the audience to be fully engaged in the climax, the buildup was crucial. Scene #114 was that buildup.


    It was the scene that would solidify Cha Seoa as the perfect villain, creating intense suspense for the viewers.


    ¡°...Alright.¡±


    Director Bae Jinhwan let out a sigh. The highlight scene had come sooner than expected, but it was a scene they would have filmed eventually.


    This scene had been on his mind since he first took on the movie.


    He watched as Seoyeon calmly prepared herself. She wasn¡¯t dressed in Cha Seoa¡¯s usual raincoat, but in her everyday clothes¡ª a hoodie and jeans, what she¡¯d typically wear when visiting the convenience store.


    Quietly.


    In the noisy set, busy with preparations, Seoyeon stood alone, her eyes closed as she centered herself emotionally.


    She needed to deliver a performance more intense than the one she had given on stage as Hong Junghui. Director Bae had faith in her.


    He believed Seoyeon could do it.


    Slowly.


    Seoyeon opened her eyes. Her red eyes glinted sharply under the bright lights.


    The filming for scene #114 began as the camera captured Cha Seoa walking toward the convenience store.


    Step.


    A heavy footstep echoed.


    ¡¸...Huff.¡¹


    Breathing heavily, Cha Seoa moved slowly. She was late because of the detective who had broken into her home.


    If there had been one more detective, it could have been dangerous.


    ¡¸...¡¹


    Cha Seoa silently observed the passersby who were staring at her wounds. Their strange looks had become something she was accustomed to.


    Cha Seoa thought to herself. She had lost Han Yehwa for now. The next step was to deal with the detective she had left unconscious at home.


    She wasn¡¯t ready to get caught yet. If the person who saw her kidnap Han Yehwa disappeared, she might be released due to a lack of evidence, even if she was caught.


    Jingle.


    With that thought, Cha Seoa entered the convenience store she had grown familiar with.


    As she stepped inside, the convenience store lady exclaimed in surprise. This woman, the store owner, was someone Cha Seoa knew very well.


    ¡¸Oh my, Seoa! What happened to you? You¡¯re hurt!¡¹


    In response, Cha Seoa smiled. It was the same familiar, feigned smile she always used. But the dull-witted store lady didn¡¯t find anything strange about the forced smile.


    ¡¸I¡¯m fine. But I need to borrow some tools.¡¹


    ¡¸Tools?¡¹


    There was a toolbox that Cha Seoa had left at the store previously. Just as she grabbed the blue tape she planned to use for handling the body...


    ¡¸What a day this has been. You¡¯re the second one today.¡¹


    The store lady muttered to herself, speaking to Cha Seoa.


    At that moment, Cha Seoa¡¯s hand froze, clutching the tape and the large box cutter.


    ¡¸Second one?¡¹


    ¡¸Yes! Oh, this is a secret, but there¡¯s a young lady in the back room right now! Don¡¯t be scared, but she¡¯s on the run from a killer. It¡¯s so frightening.¡¹


    At those words, Cha Seoa¡¯s gaze turned sharply toward the store lady. The emotion reflected in her eyes at that moment was probably the clearest emotion she had ever shown in her life.

 Chapter 69

    Scene #114.


    The highlight of The Chaser.


    Cha Seoa, who has found Han Yehwa hiding in the convenience store, approaches her with a bloodied hammer and knife in hand.


    Her gaze falls on Han Yehwa, who is trembling with fear.


    ¡®What kind of expression should I have?¡¯


    Seoyeon had hesitated over how to portray this scene while reading the script. Cha Seoa had reached a point of no return¡ªshe was beyond redemption.


    She had killed too many people and was about to kill another, making it impossible to excuse her actions as mere results of her illness.


    ¡®Especially considering what happens before she meets Han Yehwa.¡¯


    Cha Seoa kills one more person before confronting Han Yehwa¡ªthe convenience store lady. To the audience, she was just an innocent bystander who made the mistake of saying the wrong thing, but to Cha Seoa, she was much more.


    Cha Seoa wasn¡¯t a psychopath or a sociopath. She wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t feel or understand human emotions.


    Rather, she was someone who couldn¡¯t feel them correctly or express them appropriately.


    This made her a far more terrifying figure to humans. If someone laughs in a situation where they should cry, or cries when they should laugh, how would people perceive them?


    Seoyeon could vividly recall this from her past life¡¯s memories.


    ¡®Not being able to forget is not always a good thing.¡¯


    For reasons she couldn¡¯t explain, whenever Seoyeon tried to recall something from her past life, she could remember it with perfect clarity. This had been the case since she was young, and she often used this ability to draw upon her knowledge of movies and dramas.


    But it wasn¡¯t just media that remained vividly imprinted on her mind. While the details of her past life were fading, the faces of certain people remained clear.


    This was different from the memories related to the entertainment industry. Although she hadn¡¯t understood it before, reading the script for The Chaser made her realize:


    Ah, I was deeply hurt back then.


    That¡¯s why I can¡¯t forget.


    Emotional expression disorder, or alexithymia, is not the inability to feel emotions.


    It¡¯s simply the inability to recognize or express them correctly.


    The term "alexithymia" comes from the Greek words "lexi" (meaning "word") and "thymia" (meaning "soul"), with the prefix "a-" indicating a lack. Thus, it means "without words for the soul."


    ¡®I once wondered if I truly lacked a soul.¡¯


    But ironically, reincarnation proved that wrong. I do have a soul, and now I feel emotions just like anyone else.


    It¡¯s a simple physical disorder.


    Simple, yet it¡¯s a shackle that one cannot escape for a lifetime.


    ¡®So...¡¯


    Even now, Cha Seoa is not without emotions. When she kills the convenience store lady who treated her kindly, and when she kills¡ªor intends to kill¡ªothers like Han Yehwa, she feels something. She just doesn¡¯t know what that emotion is.


    ¡¸.......¡¹


    Cha Seoa brings down the hammer, killing the convenience store lady.


    The script described this scene as "expressionless and cold."


    No.


    Seoyeon shook her head. Yes, alexithymia often results in a lack of expression, but that¡¯s because the person doesn¡¯t know what expression to make.


    Therefore, in this moment, Cha Seoa should indeed have an expression. But it shouldn¡¯t be one of sadness or pain.


    Those would be the appropriate emotional responses.


    The blood splattered. Or at least, it felt that way. It was as if she saw the blood splattering in her mind¡¯s eye.


    With the motion of swinging the hammer, the convenience store lady, who had been begging for her life, collapsed. Cha Seoa looked down at her, placing her fingers near the lady¡¯s nose to check if she was still breathing.


    Then, she brought the hammer down twice more.


    Of course, the hammer never actually hit the actor. But the force with which Seoyeon swung it was enough to make the crew flinch.


    ¡®Is this really acting?¡¯


    It had felt like this before, but today it was even more intense.


    More than anything...


    ¡®That expression.¡¯


    Kim Daeheon, who played Detective Im Seungcheol and was waiting to shoot the next scene, swallowed hard. For a moment, he forgot they were in the middle of filming.


    ¡®Is she laughing? Or crying?¡¯


    Seoyeon was smiling, yet it seemed like she was crying. Kim Daeheon had seen an actor give a similar performance once before¡ªthe legendary Park Seonwoong in a film where he avenges his son¡¯s murder, smiling in the final scene.


    But this was different.


    Kim Daeheon joked, and Seoyeon smiled faintly. Her rare smile made Kim Daeheon momentarily lose his composure, forcing him to clear his throat.


    ¡°But your acting today was really something. It was almost like...¡±


    Kim Daeheon stopped himself.


    He couldn¡¯t quite say it felt like Seoyeon was Cha Seoa herself. But everyone on set who had watched her performance today would likely agree with him.


    Honestly, some of the crew even whispered about whether they should take her to a hospital¡ªthough it wasn¡¯t out of concern for her mental state, but rather a worry that she might be pushing herself too hard with her method acting.


    ¡®Method acting... is it?¡¯


    He was an actor, after all. So he could tell whether Seoyeon¡¯s acting was method acting or not.


    It was well-known that Ju Seoyeon specialized in method acting. Most people probably assumed that her portrayal of Cha Seoa was another instance of method acting.


    But today, Kim Daeheon realized something.


    Seoyeon¡¯s portrayal of Cha Seoa wasn¡¯t just method acting.


    It was an expression of something deep within the actor Ju Seoyeon herself.


    ¡®Could it be that she has a similar condition...?¡¯


    Kim Daeheon chuckled at his own wild imagination.


    In preparation for the role, he had researched alexithymia, the condition of emotional expression disorder.


    Of course, someone with that condition wouldn¡¯t be able to pursue acting, let alone method acting, which requires deep understanding and empathy for the character¡¯s emotions.


    Alexithymia was the polar opposite of what method acting demanded.


    ¡®But the fact that she understood Cha Seoa so intensely...¡¯


    It was a complex role, one he found difficult to grasp. That Seoyeon had portrayed it so powerfully was a testament to her skill. Kim Daeheon had insisted on retaking Scene #115 multiple times because he didn¡¯t want to ruin Seoyeon¡¯s performance with his own shortcomings.


    The final take of Scene #115 was something he was genuinely satisfied with.


    ¡®Seoyeon must feel the same, right?¡¯


    He looked over at Seoyeon, but she was just sipping the green tea he had given her. While the crew, including Kim Daeheon, had been focused on the acting and its challenges, Seoyeon¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere.


    ¡®I hope they¡¯re going to pay for the damages to the convenience store.¡¯


    During the hours-long shoot, Seoyeon and Kim Daeheon had gone all out, leaving the convenience store in a state of utter destruction.


    As someone who frequented convenience stores daily, seeing one get wrecked like that was a little heartbreaking for Seoyeon.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    At that moment, Director Bae Jinhwan, who had reviewed all the footage, approached Seoyeon.


    ¡°You did great today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°The scene today will probably be part of the promotional video. It turned out really well.¡±


    Though he hadn¡¯t been thrilled about shooting the highlight scene earlier than planned, the idea of using it in the promotional video didn¡¯t seem so bad.


    ¡°And, by the way, have you thought about doing another movie after this one?¡±


    ¡°A movie? Well...¡±


    She had plans.


    She was considering auditioning for a movie later this year, a project she had in mind to improve her image and secure that 400 million won contract.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not immediate, so no rush. But it might be next year.¡±


    ¡°Next year?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard GH Group is preparing another ambitious movie project... But...¡±


    Director Bae hesitated. Watching Seoyeon¡¯s performance today, he realized she was a rising star. Once this movie was released, her value would likely double.


    That made him hesitate.


    It was a great opportunity, but he was concerned about the director of that movie.


    ¡°Seoyeon, do you know Director Jo Bangwoo?¡±


    Director Jo Bangwoo.


    He was the father of Director Jo Mintaek, who had helped Seoyeon when she was younger. At the mention of his name, Seoyeon¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly.


    ¡®So, the time has come.¡¯


    There was a time when Jo Bangwoo was called the ¡°undefeated director.¡± But now, after a string of flops, he was at the end of his rope.


    His final film was scheduled for release next year.


    And that time was drawing near.

 Chapter 70

    A Break from Filming


    After filming the highlight scenes for The Chaser, the production took a short break. Having pushed through the intense scenes all at once, the remaining parts were less urgent and could be filmed at a more relaxed pace.


    Director Bae Jinhwan decided to take this opportunity to give the cast some time off.


    ¡°Seoyeon, you¡¯ve been really immersing yourself in your role lately. Let¡¯s take it easy for a bit.¡±


    This was Bae Jinhwan¡¯s way of looking out for Seoyeon, assuming that her intense method acting might be mentally exhausting.


    With no immediate need to rush, there was no reason to push the actors unnecessarily.


    ¡®I¡¯m not really that tired, though,¡¯ Seoyeon thought, though she appreciated the gesture. She had plenty of other things to keep her busy outside of the film.


    And she found herself appreciating the way people around her were now calling her ¡°Seoyeon-ah¡± instead of the more formal ¡°Seoyeon-ssi.¡± It was a small but meaningful shift, reflecting a growing familiarity. She noticed that older people often seemed to like her¡ªshe just found it a bit awkward with her peers.


    ¡®But that¡¯s just a matter of time,¡¯ she reassured herself.


    Nodding to herself a couple of times, Seoyeon thought about how participating in her school¡¯s festival preparations, particularly in her role as a ghost, would give her plenty of opportunities to talk to her classmates. With more conversations, casual jokes, and maybe even some teasing, she¡¯d naturally start building friendships.


    Her plan was perfect. Soon, even Lee Jiyeon wouldn¡¯t be able to tease her about not having friends anymore. Yes, Lee Jiyeon...


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon grabbed her head, realizing she had completely forgotten to ask Jiyeon about her recent decision to become a VTuber, or about that mysterious ¡°wizard¡± character.


    ¡®I¡¯ve been so focused on playing Cha Seoa lately...¡¯


    Ramiel¡¯s first broadcast was about a week away. It was going to be a significant event, and Seoyeon didn¡¯t want to stir up anything unnecessarily beforehand.


    She felt like asking too many questions might cause more trouble than it was worth¡ªespecially since this whole thing seemed like a slippery slope to begin with.


    ¡®I should probably just pretend I don¡¯t know who Lee Jiyeon is when I watch the stream.¡¯


    That seemed like the best approach. But then again...


    Ramiel¡¯s Channel Subscribers: 325


    Seoyeon squinted at the number on the screen. It wasn¡¯t much yet, but considering that Jiyeon hadn¡¯t even done a proper broadcast, it was surprisingly high. The high-quality modeling and the collaboration with that wizard character probably played a big role.


    ¡®...¡¯


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit slighted. Jiyeon had told that wizard about her VTuber plans but hadn¡¯t mentioned a word to Seoyeon.


    ¡®...I really should visit that voice acting academy.¡¯


    But only after Ramiel¡¯s first broadcast. Seoyeon wasn¡¯t planning anything major¡ªjust a visit to see if she could find out why Jiyeon had suddenly decided to become a VTuber.


    That was all.


    ***


    At the E?clat E?toile commercial shoot, the atmosphere was relaxed. The shoot was relatively simple, with most of the effects to be handled in post-production. As long as the lighting and the green screen background were set up properly, everything else would fall into place.


    ¡°I hope Heebin isn¡¯t late today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s been pretty vocal about not wanting to shoot this ad anymore.¡±


    Song Heebin, a popular actress thanks to her recent hit drama, had been reluctant about continuing this commercial from the start. Even before the drama aired, she had made it clear she wasn¡¯t enthusiastic about the brand.


    It was as if she was thinking, ¡®I want to stop doing these ads for a washed-up brand!¡¯


    Though she never said it out loud, her attitude made it clear.


    People can often sense someone¡¯s thoughts through their actions and expressions. Even if she hadn¡¯t directly voiced her dissatisfaction, it was evident to the crew. Given her recent rise in popularity, thanks to the drama, they were even more worried about how this shoot would go.


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you hear? The ad model has changed. They¡¯re bringing in someone new.¡±


    ¡°What? Who¡¯s replacing her? They said they couldn¡¯t afford another actor!¡±


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s Ju Seoyeon. You know, the child actress from Tales of Sumar.?¡±


    ¡°A child actress?¡±


    ¡°Well, she¡¯s grown up now. That drama was a long time ago...¡±


    ¡°Right, it¡¯s been ten years, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Ten years? Wow, has it really been that long?¡±


    At the mention of Ju Seoyeon¡¯s name, several of the staff members reacted with recognition. Recently, she had made a spectacular comeback with Looking at the Past, Recalling Memories. Those who frequented online communities were familiar with her from The Gaming Prodigy: Ju Seoyeon Edition.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Do Hyungtae let out a short exclamation of admiration.


    ¡®This is... wow.¡¯


    What do they call this? A good investment? A future-proof bet?


    ¡®She¡¯s worth it.¡¯


    With looks like this, she perfectly suited the brand name E?clat E?toile¡ª¡°Shining Star.¡±


    The image of Song Heebin was already fading from his mind.


    ¡®Wow... she¡¯s something.¡¯


    It¡¯s often said that actors exude an aura that sets them apart from ordinary people. Do Hyungtae had met many actors and had encountered several who gave off that aura. Song Heebin had it too, to some extent.


    But Ju Seoyeon... she was different.


    Now he understood why she had made a name for herself as a child actress.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Do Hyungtae, the director for today¡¯s shoot.¡±


    Despite his usually cynical nature, Do Hyungtae extended his hand first.


    At the same time, he thought to himself.


    This ad might just become a highlight of my career.


    ***


    Three days until Yeonhwa High School¡¯s festival.


    Preparations were reaching their final stages. Particularly in Seoyeon¡¯s class, where the scale of their project meant they had a mountain of work left to do.


    Even students who initially weren¡¯t interested were now participating out of necessity.


    Had this been an academic-focused school, there would likely have been complaints about the amount of time being spent on the festival.


    ¡°...Um, s-s-so...¡±


    One of the girls in her class stammered as she tried to speak to Seoyeon.


    In her hand, she held makeup tools meant for creating the ghost look.


    But faced with Seoyeon¡¯s calm, attentive gaze, the girl couldn¡¯t bring herself to start and froze.


    It was no wonder.


    ¡°Are you sure... it¡¯s okay to... wipe off the makeup on your face?¡±


    Seoyeon was already wearing makeup. Well, it was more accurate to call it professional makeup.


    ¡®A cosmetic model has to use the product they¡¯re advertising.¡¯


    This applied to Seoyeon as well. While it wasn¡¯t an absolute rule, she felt a responsibility to adhere to it as the face of the brand.


    She was diligent in these matters. Despite still feeling awkward about makeup, she knew she had to represent the brand properly, especially with a 400 million won contract.


    ¡®If I walk around without makeup and someone says, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be using E?clat E?toile products?¡±...¡¯


    Seoyeon was already being cautious about her image. The last thing she needed was to be the subject of gossip.


    In any case...


    ¡®...How should I respond to this?¡¯


    The girl looked so guilty, like she was on the verge of tears. Seoyeon thought deeply. Should she casually say, ¡°Go ahead and wipe it off¡±? Or should she be a bit more gentle and say, ¡°It¡¯s okay¡±?


    ¡®This feels wrong somehow.¡¯


    In other corners of the room, students were chatting and laughing as they applied their makeup. It felt strange. She had managed to talk naturally with the makeup artist earlier, so why was this so awkward?


    Was there something wrong with her communication skills? Seoyeon wondered briefly, but shook her head. In all her years of acting, she had never felt this way before.


    Maybe it¡¯s just that she had never really made friends, even in her past life...


    ¡®...I¡¯ll make up for it when we practice the ghost role later.¡¯


    As the girl nervously wiped off her makeup, Seoyeon reassured herself that there was still plenty of time before the festival.

 Chapter 71

    Final Preparations and the Festival


    A few days before the festival, Seoyeon and her classmates visited the old school building where they would set up their haunted house.


    ¡°Wow, with the blackout curtains covering the hallways...¡±


    Class 4''s president, Gil Dahyeon, couldn¡¯t help but be impressed with the atmosphere they had created. The windows were covered with blackout curtains, and the walls were lined with white paper splattered with dark red paint to add to the eerie vibe.


    It all added up to something quite chilling.


    ¡°Honestly, this is kind of scary,¡± one of the girls said, shivering.


    It wasn¡¯t just the setup¡ªit was the building itself. They were using an old school building, long abandoned and left to decay. The neglected structure had a certain eerie atmosphere that seemed to seep into the air.


    The windows were foggy and cracked, the wooden floors creaked with every step, and the entire place had a sense of foreboding that was hard to shake.


    ¡°Do we really need to use both the first and second floors?¡±


    A few of the girls, already overwhelmed by the atmosphere, murmured nervously.


    ¡°What are you talking about? Of course, we need to do it properly!¡± Dahyeon exclaimed enthusiastically, glancing at Seoyeon, who had been quietly observing the preparations. Seoyeon, who had recently garnered a lot of attention, had volunteered to play the role of a ghost.


    ¡°Seoyeon... I mean, Seoyeon-ah, you¡¯ll do a great job with the ghost role, right?¡±


    Dahyeon¡¯s tone was a bit awkward¡ªafter all, they had been in the same class for several months now, so there was no reason to be formal anymore.


    ¡°...Yeah.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. It wasn¡¯t that she was nervous about the role itself, but...


    ¡®This feels oddly similar to that horror game...¡¯


    The old, white building, now darkened by the curtains, reminded her too much of the game she had played. The resemblance was unsettling.


    ¡°We¡¯ll give everyone flashlights to carry around on the first floor.¡±


    ¡°Why? Even with the blackout curtains, it¡¯s not dark enough to need flashlights.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t get it. The flashlights add to the atmosphere.¡±


    Even the idea of carrying flashlights was eerily reminiscent of the game. It felt strange.


    ¡®It¡¯s probably nothing.¡¯


    Seoyeon nodded to herself, dismissing the thought. There was no reason to worry just because something reminded her of a game. After all, it was just a haunted house put together by high school students¡ªnothing to be afraid of. And she was the one doing the scaring, not being scared herself.


    She was playing the role of the monsters that had startled her in the game.


    ¡°...¡±


    The more she thought about it, the more fun it seemed.


    Even Dahyeon was looking forward to her ghost performance.


    ¡®This might actually help.¡¯


    Since she was playing a killer in a thriller movie, she thought that channeling those emotions into her ghost role might be beneficial.


    ¡®Come to think of it, I¡¯ve been focusing too much on Cha Seoa¡¯s human side.¡¯


    Seoyeon realized that she had been seeing too much of herself in Cha Seoa, and that might have softened the character¡¯s portrayal.


    But Cha Seoa wasn¡¯t meant to be a sympathetic figure. As the villain in a thriller, she was supposed to instill fear in the audience.


    ¡®So far, the only fully filmed parts are the highlight scenes, which were fine for showing Cha Seoa¡¯s character.¡¯


    The only parts that had been shot were a few chase scenes in the beginning, some daily life scenes in the middle, and the highlight at the end. The more intense crime scenes in the middle hadn¡¯t been filmed yet.


    ¡®Maybe I should emphasize her more terrifying aspects in the middle scenes.¡¯


    If she could practice this during the haunted house, it might help with the film.


    ¡°Seoyeon?¡±


    Dahyeon¡¯s voice brought her back to the present. Looking up, Seoyeon noticed the other students watching her.


    ¡°We¡¯re about to start practicing. Are you ready?¡±


    They had already practiced a few times in the daylight, but this would be the first time in the dark, so Seoyeon felt a slight nervousness¡ªnot because she was scared, of course. Definitely not.


    ***


    Three days before the festival, Seoyeon sat at home, deep in thought.


    The day¡¯s commercial shoot had gone well. Director Do Hyungtae had been full of praise, which felt a bit strange to Seoyeon.


    Before the shoot, she had heard things like:


    ¡°If Do Hyungtae is directing this, it¡¯s going to be tough.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s really demanding and particular.¡±


    He was known for shooting visually stunning commercials, but his demands on actors were high, and opinions about him among the staff were mixed.@@@@


    ¡®But he was practically an easygoing yes-man.¡¯


    ¡®That sounds like something Seoyeon mentioned.¡¯


    She felt uneasy. When Seoyeon had first told her about it, she had assumed it would be a typical high school haunted house.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t realize they were going all out with the old school building.¡¯


    And then there was something else that bothered her.


    ¡°Apparently, she¡¯s playing a ghost in it!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon¡ªyour friend.¡±


    Seoyeon, as a ghost? Jiyeon¡¯s anxiety deepened.


    She knew how seriously Seoyeon took anything involving acting. Whether it was in kindergarten, elementary school, or middle school, whenever Seoyeon was in a play, she became completely immersed in her role.


    It had happened so often that it was almost an annual event. The only time things had gone smoothly was when Jiyeon had intervened in middle school. But now they were in different classes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Uh, I mean... I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    Jiyeon¡¯s casual words didn¡¯t match the unease gnawing at her.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t usually like scary things, a fact Jiyeon had only recently realized after watching the ¡°Turned on to King¡± broadcast.


    So why was she playing a ghost?


    Of course, Jiyeon wasn¡¯t worried about Seoyeon.


    Her concern was for the students who might fall victim to Seoyeon¡¯s overzealous performance.


    ***


    ¡°Whoa, this is... pretty cool?¡±


    Two boys stepped into the haunted house, clutching flashlights. They had wandered in after being disappointed by the rain-drenched booths outside.


    ¡°The rain really adds to the atmosphere.¡±


    The sound of rain pattered against the windows. The sun was hidden behind dark clouds, casting everything in shadow.


    The blackout curtains made the hallway as dark as night.


    The walls were painted with dark red paint, mimicking the appearance of blood.


    The combination of rain, creaking wooden floors, and the pitch-black corridor sent chills down their spines.


    ¡°At least they gave us flashlights.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Without the flashlights, they might have tripped in the darkened areas. But the flickering beams of their flashlights only heightened the eerie atmosphere.


    ¡°Ugh! I hate jump scares!¡±


    ¡°I know, but that¡¯s what makes a haunted house.¡±


    ¡°Not if you¡¯ve been to a really good one.¡±


    The taller boy, embarrassed by his earlier reaction, tried to downplay it.


    Just then, the smaller boy glanced at the staircase.


    At the center of the hallway.


    They had to pass by it to complete the mission and get their stamp before heading to the second floor.


    But something white caught his eye at the top of the stairs.


    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯


    At first, he wasn¡¯t sure what it was.


    Then he realized it was a hand¡ªsomeone¡¯s hand holding onto the stairs.


    And as his gaze traveled upward, he saw red eyes.


    Ssssshhhhh...


    Long, black hair flowed down the stairs. It took him a moment to register that this was a person¡ªsomeone standing on their hands instead of their feet.


    And slowly, the figure descended the stairs, upside down, in a white dress.


    The boy froze in place as the figure continued its descent, a scene straight out of a horror movie.


    Black liquid dripped from her eyes, contrasting sharply with the bright red of her irises.


    The boy couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    ¡°Aaaaargh!!!¡±


    Screaming like a little girl, he ran for his life.

 Chapter 72

    The Haunted House''s Terrifying Debut


    The haunted house practice in the old school building had left everyone impressed by Seoyeon¡¯s ghostly performance, but she wasn¡¯t satisfied. Something felt off to her, like she hadn¡¯t fully grasped the essence of fear that a ghost should evoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably because I haven¡¯t fully understood the fear that comes with being a ghost,¡± she thought to herself.


    She recalled the emotions she¡¯d felt while playing that horror game¡ªthe tension, the atmosphere created by the creatures. Seoyeon wasn¡¯t sure if she had successfully conveyed that same eerie presence during practice. Appearing suddenly to scare people was more like the jump scares she had always hated in games.


    ¡°Jump scares aren¡¯t bad,¡± she mused, ¡°but maybe I should reference a proper horror movie.¡±


    Horror movies were a genre Seoyeon had never fully explored, even in her previous life when she consumed various media to learn about human emotions. The premise of a horror movie is based on the idea that people experience fear, something Seoyeon hadn¡¯t naturally felt, making such films less appealing to her.


    ¡°Right,¡± she nodded, realizing that the fear she had felt while playing the game was because it was so unfamiliar to her.


    ¡°If I watch a few movies or play a few more games, I¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Seoyeon, the girl who didn¡¯t know fear¡ªnow she did, and if it was something she could get used to, then it was just a matter of time. The memory of screaming and panicking during the game made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.


    ¡°That won¡¯t happen again,¡± she vowed.


    Determined to improve, Seoyeon began searching the internet for horror movies to reference. She focused on classic films that had changed the horror genre, especially scenes that were particularly memorable.


    One scene that caught her attention was from a movie where a possessed girl crawls down the stairs, upside down, on all fours.


    ¡°...¡± Seoyeon studied the scene intently, and that night, she went to bed shivering.


    Over the next three days, Seoyeon practiced the move in the old school building, alone, determined to perfect her ghostly role.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she nodded at her reflection in the mirror. Her classmates had done their best to create a scary look for her. Seoyeon had wanted something more terrifying, but they settled on heavily applying black mascara around her eyes and using powder to give her skin a pale, ghostly appearance. Her naturally fair skin meant that the makeup wasn¡¯t as dramatic as she¡¯d hoped.


    Thunder rumbled outside, and Seoyeon looked around the second floor of the old school building. Other students were stationed there too, dressed as ghosts, but unlike Seoyeon, they didn¡¯t need to move around. She was assigned to scare students as they moved from the second floor to the first and then back to the second-floor teachers'' office.


    The rain outside was pouring down, and the blackout curtains made it feel like night, even though it was still daytime.


    ¡°It¡¯s so stuffy,¡± Seoyeon muttered as she lifted the blackout curtain to peek outside. It was still daylight, though you couldn¡¯t tell from inside the building.


    ¡°The haunted house is supposed to start at ten,¡± she reminded herself, checking the time. She had about ten minutes left. Wanting to get some fresh air, she opened a window to let in the cool, wet breeze.


    The window creaked open, and rain and wind immediately blew in, soaking her face and hair.


    ¡°...¡± Seoyeon quickly closed the window, wiping her face with a handkerchief. The wind outside had picked up, making the windows rattle. The atmosphere was perfect for a haunted house but made Seoyeon uneasy.


    But she wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªshe was Seoyeon, who had now familiarized herself with horror movies and had trained herself not to be scared. This was nothing she couldn¡¯t handle.


    Seoyeon headed toward the central staircase, knowing it was almost ten o¡¯clock and the first guests would soon enter the haunted house. What she didn¡¯t realize was that the makeup she wore wasn¡¯t waterproof, unlike her usual makeup. The rain had smeared it across her face, making her look even more terrifying than she intended.


    ***


    Most students turned back after encountering the ghost on the central staircase, but a few brave souls made it up to the second floor.


    ¡°Maybe we should¡¯ve just left,¡± one boy said nervously.


    ¡°What, are you scared?¡± his friend teased.


    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s nothing to be scared of,¡± he replied, though his voice shook slightly.


    Three boys made their way up to the second floor, trying to convince themselves it wasn¡¯t that bad. The staircase ghost had been scary, but the rest of the haunted house hadn¡¯t been too terrifying.


    ¡°Yeah, we can handle this.¡±


    ¡°Ji-seok ran out after seeing that ghost, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°What a wimp. There¡¯s nothing scary about this.¡±


    They clicked their tongues dismissively, but their voices betrayed a hint of fear. They finally reached the last stop: the teachers'' office. They¡¯d heard that the ghost from the central staircase¡ªthe one with the red eyes who crawled down the stairs¡ªwould appear here.


    ¡°Hey,¡± one of them said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Can we, like, scare the ghost instead? You know, give them a taste of their own medicine?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a bunch of high schoolers running this, right? They¡¯re not pros or anything.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be fun to scare them back?¡±


    ¡°Nah, if I get startled, I might punch someone. Better not risk it.¡±


    ¡°Did you make it to the end of the first floor?¡±


    This was the type of conversation Jiyeon overheard from trembling girls, while boys tried to sound tough:


    ¡°Damn, that was embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°I saw you run. You¡¯re fast, dude.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°I was so scared I almost kicked someone.¡±


    Most of the boys¡¯ bravado was clearly exaggerated. Especially the last comment¡ªif one of them had actually kicked Seoyeon, they might have ended up with a broken leg.


    Jiyeon remembered the incident during their middle school retreat and couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    ¡®The line is long.¡¯


    Despite the scary setup, the haunted house was popular. Students formed a long line to get in. Only two teams could enter at a time, with one team heading to the second floor while another remained on the first.


    The rain had forced most other booths to close, leaving the haunted house as one of the few attractions still open. The creepy atmosphere only heightened the appeal.


    ¡°Seoyeon¡¯s performance must be amazing. People keep running away at the central staircase.¡±


    ¡°Not many have made it to the second floor, huh?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    As Jiyeon listened to the students from Seoyeon¡¯s class managing the line, she thought:


    ¡®Seoyeon probably did more than just show her face.¡¯


    During practice, it might have been enough to just appear and scare people. But Jiyeon knew Seoyeon too well. If Seoyeon felt the need to step up her game, she¡¯d find inspiration from horror movies or games, imitating a character or scene.


    ¡®If she gets too into it... there¡¯s no telling what she might do.¡¯


    Seoyeon had a boyish streak. If someone gave her a strong reaction, she¡¯d often get carried away, pushing things further without thinking.


    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s our turn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sticking right behind you, Jiyeon. No way I¡¯m going first!¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Jiyeon sighed as they entered the old school building. After handing their tickets to the student at the entrance, they walked inside.


    ¡®It¡¯s definitely eerie in here.¡¯


    The dark, abandoned school building had an unsettling vibe. But that was all it was¡ªa vibe.


    Following the map they were given, they completed the first-floor tasks, encountering a few scares along the way. But nothing was genuinely terrifying.


    But then, they reached the central staircase.


    This was where Seoyeon was supposed to appear.


    Jiyeon paused as she reached the staircase, just as a group of boys came running down, screaming in terror.


    Right behind them was the ghost with the red eyes.


    The figure crawled down the stairs on all fours, the same way it had chased the boys.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    Jiyeon¡¯s two friends gasped, too scared even to scream.


    The sight of the upside-down woman, her face smeared with black makeup and her red eyes glowing, was terrifying enough to make the girls¡¯ legs give out beneath them.


    Then, Seoyeon and Jiyeon locked eyes.


    Without hesitation, Seoyeon started crawling back up the stairs, heading towards the second floor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave us!¡± the two girls cried desperately, reaching out for Jiyeon as she chased after Seoyeon.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, you¡¯re crazy!!!¡± Jiyeon shouted, her voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.

 Chapter 73

    After the Storm


    Seoyeon sat on a bench, eyes downcast, looking like a scolded puppy. Her gaze flickered sideways, trying to avoid Jiyeon¡¯s stern look. Jiyeon sighed deeply, already knowing the situation before speaking.


    ¡°You know...¡± Jiyeon began, her tone weary.


    She had anticipated this. Seoyeon must not have been satisfied with her ghost performance during practice. It was likely that she had sought inspiration from movies or practiced separately to improve.


    ¡®The Exorcist,¡¯ Jiyeon mused. The upside-down stair crawl had clearly been inspired by that film. Jiyeon had felt her own hair stand on end when she saw Seoyeon¡¯s performance, but honestly, it had been too fast. Instead of evoking the horror of a ghost, Seoyeon had come across more like a giant insect. It was terrifying in its own way, but still...


    ¡°Did you know?¡± Jiyeon asked, watching Seoyeon¡¯s uncomfortable fidgeting.@@@@


    ¡°Know what?¡± Seoyeon replied hesitantly.


    ¡°That people are saying you¡¯re a real ghost.¡±


    ¡°N-no, I didn¡¯t know that...¡± Seoyeon stammered, her voice trailing off.


    Despite dialing down her performance after meeting Jiyeon, the haunted house had become wildly popular, largely due to the intense reactions to Seoyeon¡¯s earlier, more enthusiastic performances.


    ¡°People couldn¡¯t believe someone could move like that. They¡¯re treating it like they saw a real ghost.¡±


    Seoyeon looked remorseful. She had been aware that she might have gone too far. The students who had made it to the second floor were few, and no one had reacted as dramatically as those boys who had been so genuinely terrified.


    ¡®I got too carried away,¡¯ Seoyeon thought, inwardly apologizing to the boys. They had given her such a strong reaction that she couldn¡¯t help but chase them down, not realizing it might go too far.


    Despite everything, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed that she couldn¡¯t continue. Even though waiting alone in the dark building had been unsettling, scaring the students had been exhilarating. She now understood why the creatures in horror games pursued their victims so relentlessly.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, you¡¯re going to get hurt one day. What if one of those boys had panicked and fought back?¡± Jiyeon warned.


    ¡°I¡¯d win,¡± Seoyeon answered matter-of-factly.


    ¡°...¡± Jiyeon was speechless. Sure, Seoyeon could probably hold her own, but the fact that she even considered fighting wasn¡¯t what a typical actor should think about.


    Seoyeon was about to go off on a tangent about grappling techniques, but Jiyeon quickly changed the subject before the conversation could spiral into a discussion on combat strategy.


    ¡°So, did you make any friends?¡±


    Seoyeon paused mid-sentence, her expression thoughtful. She looked out at the schoolyard where they were sitting. It was the final day of the school festival, and Seoyeon had been busy playing her ghostly role.


    ¡°Halfway, maybe.¡±


    ¡°Halfway?¡± Jiyeon echoed, slightly amused.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the class group chat now,¡± Seoyeon said with a hint of pride.


    ¡°That¡¯s... good for you,¡± Jiyeon responded, smiling wryly.


    ¡°The rest will happen soon,¡± Seoyeon said confidently, though she didn¡¯t notice some of her classmates giving her a wide berth. The sight of Seoyeon crawling on all fours had left an indelible impression on them.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon,¡± Jiyeon said, her tone softening.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡®Why?¡¯ Jiyeon wondered. ¡®Does Seoyeon know them? If she does, why isn¡¯t she saying anything?¡¯


    Before Jiyeon could ask, Seoyeon murmured to herself, ¡°I see.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t much of a statement, just an acknowledgment. Seoyeon then turned away from the scene, her expression calm.


    ¡°I needed to see something for my role,¡± Seoyeon explained as they began to leave.


    ¡°For Cha Seo-ah¡¯s motivation?¡± Jiyeon asked, still puzzled.


    ¡°I think I understand now,¡± Seoyeon said, smiling gently.


    As they returned to Seoul, Seoyeon felt a sense of clarity. She had seen something that helped her grasp the emotions driving Cha Seo-ah¡¯s character. The sense of envy, the desire for something she couldn¡¯t have¡ªit all made sense now.


    ***


    The Chaser was now in its final stages of filming. Most of Cha Seo-ah¡¯s scenes had been completed, and the atmosphere on set was one of quiet satisfaction.


    ¡°Great work, everyone!¡± Seoyeon called out as the final scene wrapped up. She wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling a mix of relief and pride.


    Director Bae Jin-hwan watched her thoughtfully, noticing a change in her performance.


    ¡®Her acting has improved,¡¯ he mused. In the earlier scenes, Cha Seo-ah had seemed like an extension of Seoyeon herself¡ªa character she was born to play. The highlight scenes had been particularly impressive, and he had expected the connecting scenes to be solid but not extraordinary.


    ¡°To be honest,¡± Bae Jin-hwan said with a grin, **¡°every scene you¡¯ve done is so good, it¡¯s going to be tough to edit. The crew is already worried about how to choose the best takes.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Seoyeon asked, blinking in surprise.


    **¡°Absolutely. Where did you pick up these new skills? Cha Seo-ah¡¯s performance is a real gem.¡±


    In a thriller, the villain is crucial. The audience needs to feel the terror the villain brings, to understand their motivations, to be fully immersed in the story.


    Cha Seo-ah¡¯s motivations were complex, driven by more than just simple jealousy. Seoyeon had managed to convey this depth through her performance, turning a potentially shallow character into one with real emotional weight.


    ¡°It¡¯s a deeply emotional performance,¡± Bae Jin-hwan continued. **¡°Considering your age, it¡¯s honestly astounding.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Seoyeon said, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. She was, after all, just a high school student.


    ¡°Now that filming is nearly done, it¡¯s time to start promoting the movie,¡± the director said.


    ¡°Promoting?¡± Seoyeon repeated.


    **¡°Yes, we¡¯ll need to do some interviews and maybe appear on a few shows. Do you have anything in mind?¡±


    Seoyeon thought for a moment, but nothing specific came to mind. She was familiar with promotional work from her previous acting experiences, but this time it felt different¡ªmore intense, more focused on her role as the villain.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything particular in mind, I¡¯ll coordinate with the PR team,¡± the director offered.


    ¡°Please do. I¡¯ll trust your judgment,¡± Seoyeon replied, nodding.


    **¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The other actors will be involved too, so it won¡¯t all fall on you.¡±


    Seoyeon felt a bit more at ease with that reassurance. Promotional work was necessary, and while it might be daunting, she knew it was part of the job. And this time, she was ready to face it, just as she had faced everything else in her career.

 Chapter 74

    When it comes to appearing on variety shows for movie promotions, the decisions are often more reflective of the movie''s promotional team''s intentions rather than the individual''s preferences. The genre of the movie and the type of variety show that can most effectively boost its promotion are the key considerations.


    Seoyeon was aware of this to some extent.


    "The easiest option is Running People."


    The basic plot of Running People revolves around "chasing and removing the name tag attached to the opponent''s arm." This format allows for a variety of concepts, making it an ideal choice for promoting The Chaser.


    "What variety show did The Chaser promote on in its previous life?"


    As Seoyeon thought about it, she couldn''t recall seeing it on any variety shows.


    It appeared on the 9 o''clock news instead.


    "Hmm."


    In fact, there hadn''t been any significant promotions before the movie finished filming. They probably intended to promote it only after all the filming was done.


    "Unfortunately, before that could happen, Pyo Ji-woo ended up concluding the Swordmaster arc."


    Before they could properly promote the movie, it ended up on the 9 o''clock news. Of course, that provided a much greater promotional effect than any variety show appearance could have, though it did cause a minor issue with the movie''s release being delayed.


    "Hmmm."


    In truth, Seoyeon wasn''t particularly interested in variety shows.


    "I need to manage my image."


    Once the movie is released, it''s certain that Cha Seo-ah''s image will impact her. To counteract that impact, her existing image needs to be stronger.


    She couldn''t rely on the "Princess Yeonhwa" image forever.


    "So, for now, I want to avoid any variety shows that require physical exertion."


    Seoyeon was, of course, confident in her physical abilities. Too confident, perhaps. In that regard, Running People was a bit of a risky choice.


    "I definitely want to appear on it someday, though."


    It¡¯s a popular show, after all. Seoyeon folded her arms, lost in thought.


    "But nothing''s going to change no matter how much I worry."


    With a sigh, Seoyeon released her deep thoughts, sensing some nearby students flinch.


    "......"


    Maybe it was just her imagination, but it seemed like more students were reacting intensely to her words since the end of the school festival.


    It had only been a week since the festival ended. While the class president had become a bit more comfortable talking with Seoyeon, she couldn''t help but feel there was a strange distance forming.


    ¡®Why is that?¡¯


    Even though they had worked together, it felt like there was a growing gap between them. The girl who had flinched just now was the same one who had played a ghost with Seoyeon on the second floor during the festival.


    Of course, this girl had no intention of avoiding Seoyeon.


    But during the school festival, she had seen something unforgettable¡ªsomeone crawling on all fours, chasing the boys.


    ¡®It definitely looked like Seoyeon.¡¯


    However, it''s impossible for a human to chase after running boys on all fours. Despite her doubts, she couldn''t shake the memory, especially since the direction the boys had run from was where Seoyeon had been.


    Adding to that, Seoyeon¡¯s performance during practice had been so impressive that it strongly reminded everyone she was indeed an actress.


    After the festival, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t been at school for a while due to filming, which only amplified the strange feeling.


    ¡®This is weird...¡¯


    Still, joining the class chat group was a step forward, even though there was also a slight feeling of having taken a step back, leaving Seoyeon deep in thought.


    Meanwhile, as Seoyeon was mulling over her concerns, the production team for The Chaser was busy selecting variety shows for promotion.


    "Running People seems like the best choice, doesn¡¯t it?"


    "It would be most effective to hold a chase-themed episode that matches the concept of the movie. I¡¯ve heard that Seoyeon is good at physical activities?"


    "Hmm, that''s true."


    It was a valid point. Typically, Running People involves splitting into two teams, though sometimes the plot varies.


    If they placed Seoyeon in a role similar to Cha Seo-ah''s...


    "That won¡¯t work."


    Producer Cha Dong-jin, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. His opposition was unexpected.


    "What? But it matches the movie''s style perfectly."


    "It does."


    "It¡¯s not ideal for an actress."


    The locations for Survival on a Deserted Island could be the worst: remote, uninhabited places. At best, it would be a sunny, deserted island.


    Naturally, this was detrimental to actresses who needed to maintain their skin. On top of that, many actresses ended up unable to sleep properly and ended up causing a lot of trouble.


    Of course, if Seoyeon could show an active and enthusiastic side, she could gain a lot of favor. But there was still concern.


    ¡®Seoyeon could probably handle it well...¡¯


    After all, Professor Kim Hong-baek had praised her. But physical activity and survival challenges are two different things.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Contrary to Park Eun-ha¡¯s concerns, Seoyeon didn¡¯t think much of Survival on a Deserted Island. In fact, she found it...


    "Sounds fun."


    Although she was slightly surprised, things like sunlight didn¡¯t really bother Seoyeon. Her skin was practically invincible against UV rays¡ªno freckles or sunspots could mar it.


    ¡®There¡¯s also downtime where I can talk about the movie.¡¯


    She had expected Running People, so this was unexpected. Perhaps she would consider appearing on Running People later.


    "Seoyeon, just to be clear, don¡¯t push yourself too hard, okay?"


    "Yes."


    Seoyeon nodded calmly, but this left Park Eun-ha feeling uneasy.


    Thus, Seoyeon¡¯s participation in Survival on a Deserted Island was confirmed.


    ¡®Filming starts in a week.¡¯


    What a coincidence. The last day of filming would be a particularly significant day for Seoyeon.


    It would be the day of Ramiel¡¯s first broadcast.


    And, it would also be Seoyeon¡¯s birthday.


    "Wow, hello, Producer Shin! It¡¯s been a while."


    "Hey, our Park Actor! You¡¯ve grown so much. It really has been a long time."


    Producer Shin Young-woo¡¯s bright greeting made Park Jung-woo smile awkwardly.


    It was no wonder; he had often appeared on Shin Young-woo¡¯s shows since he was young.


    Because of this, Producer Shin tended to treat Jung-woo like a nephew.


    Not to mention, he knew Jung-woo¡¯s father well.


    "You¡¯re always working hard."


    "Don¡¯t even mention it. Ever since I moved to Survival on a Deserted Island, it¡¯s been exhausting. The weather¡¯s been so hot... ha..."


    Survival on a Deserted Island was a tough show, not only for the participants but also for the staff and producers. In fact, the show had already gone through several producers. The only constant was the main MC, Jung Dae-hyun.


    "Jung-woo, you should join one of our shows sometime. I¡¯ll find you a spot."


    "Ah, of course. I¡¯ll think about it."


    Naturally, he had no intention of doing so. Park Jung-woo wasn¡¯t interested in physical variety shows. Especially Survival on a Deserted Island, which was both physically and mentally challenging. Filming on a deserted island would surely damage his skin.


    "There¡¯s an open guest spot for the next shoot..."


    It almost sounded like he was subtly asking if Jung-woo was interested, making him smile awkwardly. Of course, Producer Shin didn¡¯t actually expect Jung-woo to accept.


    Park Jung-woo was known for being meticulous about his self-care.


    "Sigh, but I¡¯m already worried about the upcoming shoot. We have two actors coming to promote a movie."


    "...Promoting a movie on Survival on a Deserted Island?"


    It was a bold move. He could understand why actors might be hesitant, so he asked:


    "It just so happens that one of them is related to you. She¡¯s still quite young, so I¡¯m already worried. If she starts complaining or wants to quit during filming, it¡¯ll be tough."


    There were indeed many actresses or idols who struggled with the unexpected hardships of the shoot, some even giving up partway.


    "...Could you tell me who it is?"


    Park Jung-woo felt a nagging concern at Shin Young-woo¡¯s words. A young actress related to him?


    There was only one person who came to mind.


    "Actress Ju Seoyeon. She¡¯ll be appearing on our show."


    Hearing this, Park Jung-woo closed his eyes tightly.

 Chapter 75

    Park Jung-woo thought to himself,


    ¡°How did things end up like this?¡±


    The scorching sun blazed overhead, and people stood around staring at him in bewilderment. Their expressions seemed to say:


    "Why is he here?"


    Jung-woo felt the same way.


    "Why am I here?"


    It all started just a few days ago. He vaguely remembered talking about Survival on a Deserted Island with Producer Shin, who was a close friend of his father. He couldn''t quite recall what he had said, but somehow his participation was swiftly decided.


    And the reason for that was clear:


    ¡°Wow, it seems like your performance in A Glimpse into the Past left quite an impression, and approval came through in no time!¡±


    Producer Shin had laughed heartily as he received the approval almost instantly. Jung-woo couldn''t understand why his agency didn¡¯t intervene.


    "Since you don¡¯t have anything else until your next drama shoot, go have some fun."


    Hwang Jin-hwan, the CEO of On Garam Actors, Jung-woo''s agency, had said this as he sent him off cheerfully, almost as if he were telling him to go play.


    ¡°Nowadays, Survival on a Deserted Island isn¡¯t too tough. They say the filming isn''t as intense anymore.¡±


    He had even patted Jung-woo on the shoulder reassuringly. The real reason for this push, however, was something else.


    Jung-woo rarely participated in variety shows. He focused exclusively on acting and modeling, never appearing on other types of shows.


    ¡°An actor has to be mindful of image consumption.¡±


    This strict principle was drilled into him by his father. While he wanted to tell his father that times had changed, even the agency¡¯s CEO couldn¡¯t easily contradict a seasoned actor of his father''s stature.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t create any scandals.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Jung-woo knew exactly what that meant. After A Glimpse into the Past aired, everyone he met would ask him something along the lines of, "You¡¯re not involved with Princess Yeonhwa, are you?"


    ¡°CEO, she¡¯s still in high school. There are three more years until she becomes an adult. Three years.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s only three years younger than you. What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    He¡¯d say that, adding:


    ¡°Three years will fly by.¡±


    Despite these comments, the CEO knew that Jung-woo was the last person to get involved in a scandal. He was meticulous in managing his image. Thus, without much time to refuse, Jung-woo found himself on the show.


    ¡°Wow, they said there was a secret guest!¡±


    Jung Dae-hyun, the main MC of Survival on a Deserted Island, greeted him with a bright smile.


    The scorching sun, the sandy beach, the distant dense forest¡ªeverything about this place was the exact opposite of what Jung-woo liked.


    Indeed, Jung-woo had arrived on an uninhabited island somewhere abroad.


    ¡°An uninhabited island!¡±


    Seoyeon was well aware of Survival on a Deserted Island. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a show she enjoyed watching in her past life. It wasn¡¯t really a show suitable for "studying."


    Nonetheless, as Ju Seoyeon, she found it quite interesting. After all, she had never been abroad or been left in the wild like this.


    ¡°I remember Survival on a Deserted Island being quite a talked-about show.¡±


    It couldn¡¯t be called a super popular variety show, but it had a very solid fan base and consistently good ratings.


    There were many claims that the show was tough, but it wasn¡¯t known for being unsafe or overly harsh on the participants. There had been no major incidents, which made it a relatively safe choice.


    Due to the extended filming period, only Seoyeon and Park Hee-jun, whose movie filming had finished, were able to participate.


    ¡°Greetings! I¡¯m Jung Dae-hyun, the leader of this uninhabited island expedition!¡±


    A man, easily over 190 cm tall, greeted everyone with a bow. Jung Dae-hyun, who referred to himself as the expedition leader, was a comedian with a background in athletics, naturally making him the main MC of Survival on a Deserted Island. Despite his imposing figure, his friendly demeanor helped ease the tension.


    ¡°And over here, we have the two actors from the soon-to-be-released movie The Chaser.¡±


    The introduction was seamless, followed by a brief promotion of The Chaser starting at the airport. It wasn¡¯t a full promotion, just a teaser.


    Seoyeon remained silent, leaving most of the talking to Park Hee-jun.


    ¡°I¡¯m just a convenience store part-timer...¡±@@@@


    It wasn¡¯t that Seoyeon didn¡¯t want to speak, but given her role as a convenience store worker, she was cautious about what to say.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough introductions. Since we only have two guests this time, that was quick, right?¡±


    Survival on a Deserted Island had three regular members, including Jung Dae-hyun. The guests, usually a few, joined them to work together.


    This time, the guests were the two actors promoting The Chaser: Ju Seoyeon and Park Hee-jun.


    ¡°...Will this be okay?¡±


    Jung Dae-hyun didn¡¯t seem concerned, but Na Tae-shik, one of the regular members, couldn¡¯t help but worry. He wasn¡¯t too concerned about Park Hee-jun. He was a man who had served in special forces in the military, standing over 180 cm tall, with a muscular build.


    ¡°But why?¡±


    He was genuinely curious. How did she plan to make fire without tools?


    ¡°We need tools to start a fire, and the exploration team is out looking for them.¡±


    Ignoring Jung-woo¡¯s comment, Seoyeon picked up a log and some twigs.


    ¡®Is she really planning to make a fire with that?¡¯


    Was she just being overly ambitious for the sake of the show? He wondered, but then noticed the serious look in Seoyeon¡¯s eyes.


    ¡®She¡¯s serious.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s eagerness to prove herself made Jung-woo¡¯s lips twitch slightly.


    ¡°...Fine, I¡¯ll go gather other materials while you try to make the fire.¡±


    ¡°I want to do it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Starting a fire by rubbing sticks together isn¡¯t easy. Even men struggle with it, and from Jung-woo¡¯s perspective, Seoyeon didn¡¯t seem capable of it.


    ¡®Does he want to try making fire too?¡¯


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes at Jung-woo, suspecting he wanted to take over her task.


    ¡°Let¡¯s settle this with rock-paper-scissors.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The winner gets to make the fire.¡±


    ¡°Wai¡ª¡±


    Before Jung-woo could protest, Seoyeon had already thrown out her hand for rock-paper-scissors. Reflexively, Jung-woo played along, choosing rock. Seoyeon, however, chose scissors.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I win.¡±


    Jung-woo sighed in relief. Despite being caught off guard, he thought he could use this to persuade her.


    But then...


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Seoyeon pressed her scissors down on Jung-woo¡¯s rock, producing an unsettling sound.


    ¡°Ow!!¡±


    Jung-woo yelped and quickly pulled his hand away, while Seoyeon looked triumphant.


    ¡°Scissors are stronger, right?¡±


    ¡°No. Is...is it broken?¡±


    Jung-woo looked at his hand, wondering if it was injured, but thankfully, it seemed fine.


    ¡°...Alright, fine. I¡¯ll go do something else. You can work on the fire.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    With that, Jung-woo turned away with a sigh. He figured she would give up after a few attempts.


    ¡®But why is her grip strength so strong?¡¯


    Maybe that¡¯s why she was so eager to make the fire. As he walked away, he recalled the time she had asked him how much he could lift.


    ¡®...¡¯


    Maybe she wasn¡¯t asking out of curiosity. He wondered if there was more to her question than he initially thought.


    Meanwhile, Seoyeon, left alone, was seriously trying to start a fire by rubbing the log and twigs together.


    The cameraman filming Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but find her unique.


    ¡®She¡¯s more interesting than I thought.¡¯


    As she earnestly tried to make a fire, the cameraman captured her efforts, unsure whether she was doing it for the show or genuinely wanted to succeed. Either way, it was entertaining.


    ¡®Maybe she¡¯ll struggle and eventually give up...¡¯


    Just as he was thinking that, Seoyeon vigorously rubbed the twigs together.


    Snap!!


    The wood in Seoyeon¡¯s hands shattered as if it had gone through a grinder. Naturally, no fire was made.


    ¡°...¡±


    Holding the splintered wood, Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

 Chapter 76

    Starting a fire by rubbing sticks together is a highly challenging skill. It requires more than just strength; it demands a significant amount of technique.


    Of course, Seoyeon was aware of this. She had simply applied too much force.


    "..."


    Seoyeon discarded the stick that had split along the grain. The cameraman was taken aback by what he saw.


    ''Can a stick really shatter that easily?''


    Perhaps it was just a very dry branch. But even if that were the case, seeing it splinter like a piece of bamboo was astonishing.


    ''It''s like what happened with the game controller...''


    Seoyeon reflected on her mistake. She had been startled back then, but this time she was determined to do it right.


    "Gently..."


    She began to rub the stick against the log more carefully. Five minutes passed. Then ten.


    ''Is this a freeze-frame?''


    The cameraman couldn¡¯t help but think that. How could someone maintain the same posture for ten minutes, moving in exactly the same way? And shouldn¡¯t her palms be hurting, or shouldn¡¯t she be getting tired by now?


    ''And she doesn¡¯t even seem hot. Not a single drop of sweat.''


    One thing was clear: Seoyeon¡¯s stamina was anything but ordinary.


    "See? It¡¯s not working, is it?"


    Park Jung-woo had returned with a bundle of suitable sticks for building a shelter. Even though he was dressed in nothing more than a plain white T-shirt, his appearance was striking, proving why he was such a prominent actor.


    ''The visuals are amazing.''


    The cameraman made sure to capture both Seoyeon and Jung-woo in the frame. The pair had already garnered attention for their roles as Princess Yeonhwa and Yoon Se-il. Producer Shin had emphasized the importance of highlighting their chemistry.


    "I''m almost there."


    "Look..."


    Jung-woo put down the sticks he had collected and looked over.


    ''...Why is there so much sawdust?''


    It looked less like she was trying to start a fire and more like she was delicately grinding down the wood. It was a puzzling sight.


    "I..."


    Just as Jung-woo was about to say, "Let me try," Seoyeon looked at him with narrowed eyes, almost as if she suspected he was trying to steal the final move.


    "Don¡¯t just rub it anywhere; use the groove."


    "What?"


    Under Seoyeon¡¯s somewhat smug gaze, Jung-woo reluctantly took the stick from her and inspected the end. It was smoothly ground down, as if it had been sanded with a grinder.


    "Try using this one instead, and rotate it in the groove. Keep the pressure steady."


    "...Okay."


    Jung-woo handed Seoyeon one of the thinner, pointed sticks he had brought. She placed it in the groove she had carved into the log.


    ''Even so, it¡¯s not like a fire will start easily...''


    Jung-woo suspected Seoyeon was attempting the "fire plow" technique, a method that involves rubbing the wood back and forth to generate heat. It was famously depicted in the movie Cast Away, so Jung-woo was familiar with it. Although in the movie, the protagonist used a different motion, shaving the wood rather than rotating it.


    ''Still, her form is impeccable.''


    Jung-woo watched as Seoyeon diligently rubbed the stick in the groove. Her black hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, and despite the seemingly mundane task of rubbing sticks together, the scene was almost picturesque.


    "It¡¯s done."


    ''Huh?''


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts.


    ''Already?''


    Indeed, black smoke was rising from the stick. Had merely showing her the technique made it this easy?


    Crackling sounds accompanied the rising smoke, and Jung-woo¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment.


    "Impressive, right?"


    Seoyeon looked at him triumphantly. Though she had followed Jung-woo¡¯s advice, she had still succeeded on her own.


    "Have you been reading survival guides?"


    "?"


    Jung-woo didn¡¯t know what a survival guide was, but he nodded anyway. Seoyeon glanced at the smoldering wood and nodded to herself.


    ''Using the groove is crucial, I see.''


    Now that she knew, she was satisfied. While she was reflecting on this:


    "Wow, you actually started a fire?"@@@@


    "Since the survival team doesn¡¯t have much else to do, let¡¯s all go together."


    Jung-woo suggested, watching Seoyeon¡¯s expression.


    "Huh?"


    "From what I know, gathering coconuts can be dangerous. It¡¯s better if we all work together, then we can go hunting afterward."


    Indeed, harvesting coconuts came with significant risks. A coconut could weigh over 1.5 kg, and falling from a 6-meter-tall tree, it could be lethal.


    "Hmm, that¡¯s true."


    Jung Dae-hyun initially thought it would be fine with Bang Ha-yoon helping out, but Jung-woo¡¯s words made him reconsider.


    ''Is he trying to give her more screen time?''


    In the structure of a variety show, the exploration team naturally got more focus than the survival team.


    ''But...''


    Trekking through a tropical jungle was no easy feat. The chances of capturing unflattering moments were higher. If Seoyeon, a high school student, ended up doing something dangerous, it could cause controversy.


    "To gather coconuts, we¡¯ll need a long pole."


    Jung Dae-hyun explained, and Seoyeon raised her makeshift spear.


    "...That¡¯s too short to reach."


    Normally, coconuts were harvested by using a pole to carefully dislodge the clusters of fruit. Bang Ha-yoon was particularly good at this, which is why she was on the survival team.


    "And even if you throw it, you won¡¯t have enough force to make it effective."


    Jung-woo watched as Bang Ha-yoon demonstrated how to use a pole to shake the clusters loose.


    ''So that¡¯s how you harvest coconuts.''


    As Seoyeon observed the others gathering coconuts, her gaze shifted to a nearby empty tree.


    Naturally, Jung-woo noticed her strange behavior.


    "What are you planning now?"


    Of course, the cameraman followed her as well. After her previous unusual behavior with the fire, he was curious to see what she would do next.


    "If I hit the cluster with a rock, won¡¯t the whole bunch fall down?"


    "That won¡¯t work."


    It was a ridiculous idea. If it were that easy, others would have already done it.


    "Even if you hit it with a rock, the coconuts are too tough and would just bounce off. You have no idea how hard..."


    Smash! Thud!


    A cluster of coconuts crashed to the ground. Jung-woo, who had been watching Seoyeon, quickly turned his gaze back to the tree.


    "..."


    He approached the spot where the coconuts had fallen and saw that one of the coconuts had split open.


    ''What...?''


    He rubbed his eyes. Had she really thrown a rock and pierced through the coconut, severing the cluster?


    "Wow, did she shake the bunch loose by throwing a rock?"


    Jung Dae-hyun, who had come over after hearing the coconuts fall, commented.


    Well, that would be the logical explanation.


    "Oh, yes. Something like that."


    Jung-woo responded, looking back at Seoyeon. She shrugged her shoulders, as if to say, "Did you see that?"


    "Amazing."


    "Right? If we keep doing this, we can gather them much faster."


    "No, let¡¯s not do that anymore."


    "Why not?"


    Jung-woo was taken aback by Seoyeon¡¯s puzzled look. He pointed to the split-open coconut.


    "Half of it is smashed."


    "That¡¯s true."


    Seoyeon conceded. Maybe it was better to leave the coconut gathering to the experts.


    "Here."


    She handed the damaged coconut to Jung-woo. He took it instinctively.


    "?"


    Only then did he notice the gaping hole in the coconut.

 Chapter 77

    Expedition Leader Jung Dae-hyun


    Jung Dae-hyun was a seasoned entertainer who had traveled to countless remote areas while filming Survival on a Deserted Island. With exceptional physical abilities and an even greater adaptability, this shoot was no different from his usual experiences.


    But that didn¡¯t mean it was going to be easy.


    This is going to be tough in terms of content.


    The two actors here for movie promotion posed a unique challenge. In such cases, the focus tends to shift more towards promotion than actual entertainment.


    Especially considering that one of the actors, Ju Seoyeon, was still a teenage high school student. Naturally, there were more things she couldn¡¯t do than could. On an ordinary uninhabited island, there were many concerns about the young actress¡¯s well-being. Frankly, Dae-hyun found it puzzling that they would send a supporting actor, rather than a lead, for promotion.@@@@


    But I have to make the most of this broadcast.


    He was a professional. Whether it was promotion or entertainment, his goal was to maximize the content. After all, Survival on a Deserted Island was a popular variety show on KMB, and he took pride in that.


    However...


    "Seoyeon, the fish went that way!"


    Bang Ha-yoon shouted as Seoyeon raised her wooden spear. It was the same spear Seoyeon had been carrying around.


    If she stabs like that so clumsily...


    Just as Jung Dae-hyun was thinking this, the spear plunged into the moving fish. Despite the awkward movement, the speed compensated for it.


    "Oh, I caught it."


    "Wow, amazing!!"


    The members of the expedition cheered. No one had expected Seoyeon to catch the fish on her first try.


    As Seoyeon lifted the fish impaled on the spear, smiling triumphantly, people applauded her.


    Huh?


    However, actors Park Hee-jun and Jung-woo simply looked at her with a sense of mild acknowledgment, as if this was no big deal. And that was just the beginning.


    Climbing hills, catching bugs, and exploring with enthusiasm, Seoyeon¡¯s actions left Jung Dae-hyun astounded.


    Did she work out?


    Otherwise, it was hard to explain her level of physical capability.


    "We¡¯re going to paddle across on a raft now. I¡¯ll take the oar, along with..."


    Park Hee-jun, Jung-woo, and one of the regular members who was used to handling the oar.


    "...Seoyeon, do you want to try?"


    "Yes."


    Seoyeon volunteered eagerly for everything. It wasn¡¯t just about being on a variety show; she genuinely seemed excited.


    She seems really thrilled.


    Jung Dae-hyun¡¯s thoughts mirrored Seoyeon¡¯s mood. This was probably the most exhilarated she had felt since her middle school retreat.


    As previously mentioned, Seoyeon had a naturally subdued personality, so when she got excited, it was hard for her to calm down. It could be said that she was particularly susceptible to joy. If Ji-yeon had been there, she would have tried to stop her, even if it meant being a bit forceful.


    So she has this side to her too.


    Jung-woo observed Seoyeon rowing with energy, surprised by her determination. He had thought she was a calm person, but she also had a competitive streak and clearly enjoyed receiving praise from others.


    When I first met her, Seoyeon seemed quite prickly.


    Unlike most kids these days, she really puts her all into everything.


    To the rest of the cast, Seoyeon¡¯s behavior was incredibly positive. Seeing a young actress earnestly trying at everything naturally made her more endearing to everyone. As a result, whatever Seoyeon did, everyone applauded her efforts, creating an endless cycle of positive reinforcement.


    And then...


    "Wow, isn¡¯t rowing difficult?"


    "Seoyeon, you¡¯re really strong. Seriously."


    The staff watching her row marveled at her stamina. It wasn¡¯t just a regular boat, but a raft. Although the current wasn¡¯t strong, it was still a physically demanding task for a woman.


    "And doesn¡¯t this look good?"


    "Be careful not to push this too hard, or the Park actor¡¯s fans will come after us."


    As they crossed the water on a different boat, this one a proper motorboat, Producer Shin remarked jokingly.


    Anyway...


    Producer Shin hadn¡¯t expected this. He never imagined Seoyeon would be so well-suited to the wild.


    Jung Dae-hyun didn¡¯t realize it, but the cameraman who had been filming Seoyeon was captivated, focusing almost exclusively on her. Her behavior was far from ordinary.


    I thought this was just for promotion, but...


    She¡¯s actually quite something, isn¡¯t she? Especially considering that Ju Seoyeon was known to the public as Princess Yeonhwa¡ªa calm and dignified image. Not to mention...


    They seem oddly concerned about Ju Seoyeon¡¯s image.


    Nova Entertainment and Seoyeon¡¯s manager both gave off that impression. They were focused on maintaining her image. But the image of Princess Yeonhwa wasn¡¯t a bad one. It almost felt like they were trying to prevent a negative image from forming.


    "Seoyeon, while this show is meant to promote the movie, it¡¯s also important to project a bright image, okay?"


    "Yes."


    Seoyeon¡¯s manager had come along and happened to overhear this conversation.


    A bright image?


    Dream Future.


    It was none other than Jung-woo who had played the male lead in Dream Future.


    "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Jung-woo approached, holding a dish of food he had prepared using ingredients from the exploration.


    "Sunbae."


    "What?"


    "When is the Dream Future audition?"


    Hearing the name Dream Future, Jung-woo¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    How does she know about that?


    Does she know someone connected with the production team?


    Dream Future was one of the dramas KMB was heavily investing in. While it wasn¡¯t the biggest project in terms of budget, it was an ambitious and challenging one.


    "In about a month. But aren¡¯t you already filming a movie?"


    "My scenes are already done."


    "Oh, right, that¡¯s why you¡¯re out here promoting."


    Jung-woo replied, then paused for a moment. He glanced at Seoyeon, trying to read her expression, but her face was as neutral as ever, making it difficult to gauge her intentions.


    "Why, are you planning to audition?"


    "Yes."


    "..."


    Jung-woo was momentarily speechless. After all, he was the main male lead in Dream Future.


    Dream Future featured several young actors, each with their own pairings. But the most prominent pairing was between Jung-woo¡¯s character, Kim Si-hwan, and the female lead, Song So-ha.


    Is she aiming for the role of Song So-ha?


    Jung-woo swallowed dryly. He had acted alongside Seoyeon in Princess Yeonhwa, but she had been much younger then. The idea of performing a romance with a now-grown Seoyeon hadn¡¯t crossed his mind.


    A month from now... I wonder how competitive the audition for Jo Harin will be.


    Of course, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t aiming for the role of Song So-ha, the female lead paired with Jung-woo. She was targeting the role of Jo Harin¡ªa character with neither too much nor too little screen time. Jo Harin was a cute, endearing character who had garnered significant popularity despite her moderate presence in the story.


    This character was the complete opposite of Cha Seo-ah, the role Seoyeon played in The Chaser. While Cha Seo-ah was emotionally detached, Jo Harin was the opposite¡ªa character who felt emotions far more intensely than others. She was sensitive, lively, and adorable.


    To be honest, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t entirely confident. The fact that Jo Harin¡¯s character was the polar opposite of Cha Seo-ah applied to Seoyeon as well.


    Still...


    It was a role she really wanted to try. Initially, she was motivated by the desire to secure the four billion won she had earned from the commercial, but for an actor... it was a path she had to walk.


    She couldn¡¯t always stick to playing the same type of character. An actor shouldn¡¯t only perform roles they¡¯re comfortable with. The ability to switch things up was essential. It was a crucial skill for any actor.


    The competition for Song So-ha¡¯s role will be intense...


    But Jo Harin¡¯s role might be less competitive, right?


    With these thoughts crossing their minds, the second day of filming came to a close.


    "Thank you all for your hard work. Finally, we¡¯re back in Korea."


    Three days and two nights. It was a short yet long time.


    When this airs, it¡¯s going to be a hit.


    Producer Shin thought to himself. Honestly, when he first heard about promoting a movie on Survival on a Deserted Island, he thought it was a reckless idea. But now, he felt differently.


    Even if the first day was so-so, Seoyeon¡¯s performance on the second and third days, especially during the missions, had been incredibly impressive.


    In particular...


    Her flawless white skin was still pristine. Despite being under the blazing sun for three days and two nights, her skin hadn¡¯t tanned at all¡ªstill clear and white.


    Didn¡¯t she say she was in a skincare commercial?


    Bang Ha-yoon had even asked Seoyeon what products she used, fascinated by her skin. Although Seoyeon didn¡¯t mention any brand names on camera, the scene would still be broadcast.


    When this airs, things will definitely be different.


    It was clear that she would become the center of attention. And there was one more thing.


    The camera was still focused on Park Jung-woo and Seoyeon. Given all the interactions they had, the camera was keeping a close eye on them until the very end. The filming wasn¡¯t quite over yet.


    "Are you heading straight home?"


    "Yes. I have something else to do."


    "Something else?"


    Jung-woo was puzzled. What could she possibly have lined up after this?


    As if sensing his curiosity, Seoyeon gave him a rare, bright smile.


    "Yes, it¡¯s my birthday today."


    "..."


    Jung-woo froze at her words.

 Chapter 78

    For a moment, Park Jung-woo doubted his own ears. It was only natural to be confused. Who in the world would mention their own birthday on the day itself, just moments before parting ways?


    "What?"


    Jung-woo dumbfoundedly asked again, unable to think of anything else to say. He wasn''t the only one caught off guard. The cameraman, who had been filming them, and even Producer Shin Young-woo, were equally bewildered.


    "Excuse me? Your birthday?"


    "Yes, it''s my birthday today. Well then, I''ll be off now. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work."


    Seoyeon bowed deeply, almost folding herself in half. While it was common to part ways with a polite bow, especially in a setting like this, her sudden announcement added an unexpected twist.


    "No, no, no! Wait, wait a minute!"


    "Hold on just a second!"


    "?"


    Seoyeon tilted her head in confusion at the sudden protest from the cast.


    Though they were initially taken aback by her sudden revelation, the group didn¡¯t keep her long. They quickly bought a small cake and had her blow out the candles.


    Jung-woo, for some reason, seemed restless, pacing around with a dissatisfied expression, but he didn¡¯t say much.


    "Oh my, dear, what¡¯s with all the gifts?"


    When Seoyeon returned home, her mother, Soo-ah, who was wearing an apron, looked at her with wide eyes.


    "They gave them to me when I said I was heading home."


    "Is that so?"


    Her mother seemed surprised by the number of gifts Seoyeon had received. Why not? After all, she could receive gifts too.


    It¡¯s just that I might come across a bit differently at school...


    Even so, Seoyeon considered herself to be someone well-liked by her superiors in social situations.


    Oh, I forgot to check how the video turned out.


    Unlike drama shoots, she hadn¡¯t had a chance to check the footage during the variety show. She had planned to do so once everything was wrapped up but had forgotten in the end.


    Oh well, it¡¯ll air soon enough anyway.


    Variety shows tend to air quickly, so it would likely be in next week¡¯s or the following week¡¯s episode.


    "Seoyeon! Come blow out the candles!"


    Her mother¡¯s voice called out from the other room. Usually, Seoyeon spent her birthdays with her family.


    It wasn¡¯t because she lacked friends or because Lee Ji-yeon had other commitments. No, it had always been this way, purely by choice.


    "Our little girl is finally seventeen."


    With a look of deep emotion, Soo-ah lit the candles. The flickering flames caught Seoyeon¡¯s eye. The four members of her family sat together at the square dining table, a familiar yet ever-refreshing sight for her.


    She suddenly remembered something she had seen in Daejeon not long ago.


    A woman walking hand-in-hand with a little girl.


    There were no traces of ¡°her¡± there. Seoyeon knew this already, having confirmed it once before.


    Because I was reborn.


    There couldn¡¯t be two versions of ¡°me¡± in this world. She didn¡¯t know why, but it was probably something like that.


    She had only seen the woman holding the little girl¡¯s hand once.


    "Seoyeon?"


    Her mother looked at her with a puzzled expression. The cake now illuminated the darkened table.


    "..."


    The loss of the past. Perhaps this was how Cha Seo-ah felt when she looked at others. Seoyeon had been avoiding this feeling, but now the pain struck her more deeply. However...


    "It¡¯s nothing."


    She shook her head and blew out the candles with all her might.


    Amidst the applause of her family, she closed her eyes as the last candle flickered out.


    She reminded herself that the past her and Ju Seoyeon were different, that the person she was thinking of was now a stranger, unrelated to her current life. There was no reason for that existence to affect her now.


    But...


    She opened her eyes and smiled warmly at those looking at her.


    There wasn¡¯t any grand reason for it. Seoyeon didn¡¯t particularly care about her past life. She just didn¡¯t want to forget something she had liked.


    "...Hmm."


    When she didn¡¯t respond, Lee Ji-yeon looked at her notes and said:


    "Wait, she¡¯s not an angel but a harpy? What¡¯s a harpy?"


    "...?"


    "I¡¯m just curious about what you were working so hard on."


    Lee Ji-yeon had been intrigued by the drawings, wondering what had caught Seoyeon¡¯s attention.


    Ramiel¡¯s concept is a bit like a fairy tale, after all.


    Seoyeon casually explained Ramiel¡¯s story. At that time, she didn¡¯t know that Lee Ji-yeon would eventually become Ramiel, so she hadn¡¯t thought much of it.


    In fact, she had forgotten about it until now.


    "I came into the world to find the owner of that notebook."


    Ramiel spoke with a smile.


    "This outfit is a signpost. A way to find the owner of the notebook¡ªa friend."


    I watched the stream in silence, feeling a strange stirring in my chest. It was the same deep emotion I had felt earlier while blowing out the candles with my family.


    "I came out into the world today because it¡¯s my friend¡¯s birthday. Huh? You think that¡¯s not enough to find my friend?"


    Ramiel covered her mouth and laughed elegantly. Her mannerisms were purely Ramiel, not Lee Ji-yeon.


    "No."


    Ramiel was resolute.


    "My friend, the owner of the notebook, is quite persistent. They¡¯ll find me soon enough. Maybe they¡¯re even watching me right now."


    Ramiel glanced at the chat before smiling sweetly.


    "Happy birthday."


    As Ramiel winked at the camera, I felt myself losing consciousness.


    "Wow, the PV turned out fantastic!"


    Producer Cha Dong-jin watched the video repeatedly, clearly impressed. The remaining scenes were nearly all wrapped up, and the production was moving quickly.


    Considering how quickly everything had come together since filming began, it was astonishing. Even the GH Group was pleased with the rapid progress.


    "We¡¯ve kept Cha Seo-ah mostly hidden in the PV."


    "Yes, that¡¯s the best approach."


    Although the face of the convenience store worker was briefly shown, it didn¡¯t overlap with the scenes of the killer running in the rain.


    Wearing a raincoat that obscured her gender, and with the chase scene being so intense, the killer appeared more masculine.


    "This wasn¡¯t a body double, was it?"


    Team Leader Kim from the PR department asked, and Cha Dong-jin shook his head.


    "No, Ju Seoyeon did all of this herself."


    "Wow, I¡¯d heard about it, but to see it... she¡¯s really something. She runs incredibly well..."


    Cha Dong-jin gave an awkward smile at Kim¡¯s comment.


    If they knew this was a reshoot, they¡¯d probably faint.


    She was too fast. Even if he told them the truth, they probably wouldn¡¯t believe it.


    "The PV goes live this evening, right?"


    "Yes. It will be in theaters four months from now."


    "That¡¯s fast."


    "Since there¡¯s no need for CG, the post-production work will finish quickly. We¡¯ll focus on promoting it until then."


    It was indeed a satisfying situation. It wasn¡¯t often that everything came together so smoothly after filming.


    "There are going to be a lot of actors getting attention from this movie. Especially..."


    They trailed off without naming names, but both were likely thinking of the same person.


    Ju Seoyeon, who played the role of the killer, Cha Seo-ah. She was poised to become the breakout star of The Chaser.


    The return of a young, shining star.

 Chapter 79

    Lee Ji-yeon sighed as she observed the unusually noisy atmosphere in her class that morning. The restlessness was not due to anything particularly significant; it was because of someone loitering around their classroom, looking hesitant and out of place.


    Couldn''t they wait until lunchtime? Ji-yeon thought to herself. The person in question was from another class, and after the school festival, exams were just around the corner. Even though Yeonhwa High School wasn''t particularly strict academically, some standards still had to be maintained.


    "Ji-yeon, your friend...," one of her classmates said hesitantly.


    "Is it okay to just leave them like that? Oh, they''re looking this way."


    Whenever Ji-yeon was hanging out with other students, that person would glance over with the expression of a wet puppy, clearly feeling out of place.


    "That''s just how she is," Ji-yeon replied.


    "Really?"


    "Yeah, that''s how Seoyeon is."


    In reality, Seoyeon''s behavior was mostly an act, probably to draw attention and start a conversation. While sometimes she was genuinely like that, Ji-yeon, who had known Seoyeon for a long time, was aware that this was just a performance.


    "It''s too much."


    Finally, when lunchtime arrived, Seoyeon had her chance to talk and said, "It''s too much."


    "You could make other friends, you know."


    "I did."


    Oh, the class president? Ji-yeon thought, though she barely remembered their name. Seoyeon did seem to have some interaction with the class president.


    Hmm, Ji-yeon considered. While she wasn''t sure if they were actually friends, it was clear that Seoyeon had at least started talking to someone. Despite her somewhat odd personality, Seoyeon wasn''t a bad person, so Ji-yeon figured she''d make friends soon enough.


    While Ji-yeon was lost in these thoughts, Seoyeon hesitated.


    Should I mention last night''s stream? she wondered. She wanted to thank Ji-yeon for remembering their childhood conversation and recreating it in the stream.


    Seoyeon hadn''t been able to watch the entire live stream since she had fainted after the birthday wish, but she had caught up with the rest of it in the morning. The rest of the debut stream had been fairly standard.


    Although Seoyeon couldn¡¯t watch Ramiel¡¯s original debut stream in her past life, she had at least managed to watch this one live.


    For a debut stream by an indie VTuber, it got quite a bit of attention, Seoyeon thought. The production quality had attracted attention, and the acting and voice work, which were clearly well-trained, led some to speculate that it might have been a promotional tool from a larger company.


    ...


    As she debated whether to bring it up, Seoyeon ultimately decided against it. Ji-yeon, noticing her hesitation, chuckled. Recently, Ji-yeon had learned a bit about the VTuber world, and she was confident that Seoyeon, with her stubborn nature, would never openly discuss it.


    The boundary between Ramiel and Lee Ji-yeon was clear. Still, seeing Seoyeon¡¯s demeanor, Ji-yeon could tell that she had received the "gift" from the stream. Ji-yeon had spent a long time preparing it¡ªover ten years, to be exact.


    "Isn''t the PV coming out today?" Ji-yeon asked, changing the subject.


    "Ah, yeah," Seoyeon nodded. The PV (Promotional Video) for The Chaser was set to be released at 10 PM that evening. The movie''s official promotion would begin in earnest soon, with the film set to release within the next three to four months. The exact date would be announced within the month, so there wasn¡¯t much time left.


    "I guess I need to step up my game," Ji-yeon remarked.


    Seoyeon glanced at her briefly. While Ji-yeon was doing well on cable TV, she didn¡¯t have a mainstream image yet.


    What kind of drama or movie would suit Ji-yeon? Seoyeon wondered as she observed her friend. Objectively, Ji-yeon''s acting was good for her age, but compared to seasoned adult actors, there were still areas that needed improvement. However, she had potential for growth.


    If only there was a good opportunity... Seoyeon pondered. She herself wanted to work with Ji-yeon on a project, but no specific ideas came to mind. Most roles that suited Ji-yeon¡¯s current career level were still out of reach.


    Lost in thought, Seoyeon felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking up, she noticed Ji-yeon¡¯s concerned expression.


    "It seems like something¡¯s going on," Ji-yeon commented.


    Seoyeon looked around, realizing that the students were buzzing with excitement. A few of them were walking briskly toward something, as if a celebrity had arrived.


    ...A celebrity?


    Ji-yeon and Seoyeon exchanged glances. Without a word, they both stood up from the bench and headed in the direction of the commotion.


    "You''re late."


    "..."


    The sharp tone of the woman''s voice left Seoyeon momentarily unsure of how to respond.


    Why is everyone suddenly into making dramatic entrances these days? she thought, taking in the sight of the woman with brown-dyed hair tied back and a piercing gaze. Her appearance was regal, like a princess or queen. If it weren''t for the brown school uniform, Seoyeon might have mistaken her for an adult.@@@@


    "Are you friends with Ju Seoyeon?" the woman asked, looking directly at Ji-yeon.


    "...Well..." Ji-yeon hesitated, clearly about to say something dismissive, but held back out of respect for their shared industry. Still, it was clear she wasn''t pleased with the sudden appearance.


    Ah, no way...


    One particular project came to mind as Seoyeon connected the dots.


    "I didn¡¯t get all the details, but I heard they¡¯re looking to cast a lot of actresses for it."


    "That makes sense."


    "...That makes sense?"


    "No, I mean, yes."


    Seoyeon nodded. She knew exactly which film it was. Director Baek Min''s next movie was indeed a hit. It had drawn in around 4 million viewers¡ªan impressive number, especially considering the genre.


    More importantly, the film had made a huge impact and garnered international acclaim, even receiving mentions at the Academy Awards. It was a golden opportunity for anyone looking to increase their international profile.


    "You can learn a lot from being in a Baek Min film."


    Essentially, Seo-hee was suggesting that they star in the movie together. It was a chance to showcase their acting skills on a serious stage.


    Baek Min¡¯s film would demand strong acting performances.


    "I''ll think about it."


    "Hmm."


    Seo-hee seemed unsatisfied with Seoyeon¡¯s response but eventually nodded.


    "Did I bother you?"


    "No, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to act with you."


    "Really? Hmm, okay."


    Whether it was her imagination or not, Seo-hee suddenly looked very dejected. She had seemed so confident when talking about Director Baek Min¡¯s film.


    "Anyway, if you decide you want to do it, let me know. I''ll put your name down for the audition."


    After saying that, Seo-hee glanced at Ji-yeon, who was standing next to Seoyeon.


    "If your friend is interested, I can put in a word for her too."


    With that, Seo-hee got into her van and sped off. It seemed she had taken some time out during lunch to come and see them. Seo-hee mentioning Ji-yeon was more of a tactic than anything else¡ªa way to leverage their friendship to get closer to Seoyeon.


    But for Seoyeon, this was all quite awkward.


    She really doesn¡¯t know what kind of film it is...


    If she did, there was no way she would have been so confident in suggesting they act together.


    The film in question? Gyeongseong Lady¡ªa story of love between women, a film about same-sex relationships.


    The Chaser¡¯s first PV (Promotional Video) release.


    Directed by Bae Jin-hwan, known as a "master of visual storytelling," the film had generated high expectations among the public. However, there was also some anxiety due to its thriller genre. Recently, several Korean thriller films had underperformed, leading to concerns that the audience might be experiencing genre fatigue.


    "Five minutes left."


    Producer Cha Jin-hwan exchanged glances with the promotional team, anxiously awaiting the PV¡¯s release at 10 PM. The tension was palpable.


    If this had been the second or third PV, it wouldn¡¯t have been as nerve-wracking. But the first PV was the initial indicator of how the public would respond. Although PVs could be misleading, failing to generate interest in the first one often spelled disaster for a film.


    This was why films that became hits through word of mouth were so remarkable¡ªbecause it was so rare.


    Naturally, Producer Cha Jin-hwan was hoping to avoid that kind of scenario.


    "It¡¯s up!!"


    And with that, The Chaser''s PV began appearing on various online communities.


    Please...


    Perhaps in answer to his prayer:


    [Movie: The Chaser 1st Teaser] Views: 2,170,344


    Over 2 million views in a single day.


    This was the highest view count for any movie teaser released this year.

 Chapter 80

    "The Chaser? Another thriller, huh?"	"Is it directed by Bae Jin-hwan? Then it might be worth watching.""Who are the actors? That convenience store actress is really pretty.""Isn¡¯t she still in high school? She was the princess in Looking at Memories.""Oh, it''s her?""She is indeed pretty, but it''s a shame she''s being wasted in a convenience store role.""I think she''s also appearing on a variety show next week.""Do supporting actors do promotions now?""She''s pretty, so why not have a drink?"


    The release of the trailer for The Chaser briefly stirred up the internet. Director Bae Jin-hwan.


    A new film by a director often called a genius in Korea. Moreover, it was a thriller with a fairly impressive cast.


    Since it was a film produced with investment from the GH Group, some people were wary of it, but it was still a highly anticipated release. Especially because Korean films had recently been struggling against foreign superhero movies, so expectations were even higher.


    "I just hope the plot isn¡¯t too predictable."


    Film critic Na Dong-sik shook his head as he said this.


    A thriller film? That¡¯s fine. There were even rumors that Director Bae Jin-hwan had given a lot of power to the casting decisions.


    "A raincoat killer? Isn¡¯t that a bit outdated?"


    Na Dong-sik¡¯s fellow critic snickered as he commented.@@@@


    "...I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s a bad thing. It¡¯s classic, but, hmm." "Does it lack a bit of impact?" "Exactly. It¡¯s just..."


    They replayed the trailer. The trailer released yesterday was only two minutes long.


    Of course, you can''t know everything about the movie from that. So, based on what could be inferred:


    "The physique is too small." "Especially since the tall actor Kim Dae-heon is right next to them." "Exactly. That¡¯s the feeling I get. The culprit... Sure, there¡¯s atmosphere, but..."


    Why did they choose someone with such a small build as the culprit? Well, even a woman with a knife can be dangerous.


    "A woman?"


    Na Dong-sik narrowed his eyes as he muttered to himself.


    "Oh, the culprit is a woman? That could be it." "Hmm. In that case, it¡¯s not very exciting."


    The culprit needs to have a strong presence. It¡¯s not that I have a macho attitude thinking it can¡¯t be a woman, but there¡¯s something about the appearance that sets the tone. An absolute evil. It seemed somewhat lacking to portray that image.


    "And, is she also a main character? Her face appears in the trailer." "Oh, actress Ju Seoyeon? Maybe they included her because she''s trending these days."


    Indeed, her face was very pretty. The face of someone working part-time at a convenience store. And judging by the internet reaction, it seems she¡¯ll soon appear on a variety show as well.


    "Promoting a supporting actor on a variety show..." "It seems like they¡¯re trying to capitalize on the current buzz, even though there¡¯s still quite a bit of time before the movie is released."


    Even at the earliest, it would be several more months before the movie is released. Advertising videos aside, sending her to a variety show seemed a bit premature. However, it was clear they intended to leverage her recent popularity.


    They probably plan to hit with a jab now and do a major promotion a few months later.


    "Hmm..."


    But somehow, Na Dong-sik couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off about this actress, Ju Seoyeon. He¡¯d heard that producer Cha Dong-jin was involved in this film. He was a smart person. GH didn¡¯t entrust this to him for nothing.


    ¡®Is that really all there is to it?¡¯


    Logically, it made sense. But actress Ju Seoyeon... Of course, he had seen her before. He clearly remembered The Moon Embracing the Sun. He vividly recalled Ju Seoyeon¡¯s performance as a child actor.


    Moreover, her recent appearance in Looking at Memories. Her drawing power in Eyes Closed. The influence she had on the public was beyond that of a mere convenience store supporting role.


    ¡®No.¡¯


    That couldn¡¯t be it. It didn¡¯t make sense for such a noticeable actress to be in such a minor role.


    "I should at least write a brief review of the trailer today."


    Na Dong-sik nodded at his fellow critic''s words. He had a rough idea of what kind of post he would write.


    He was a critic known for harsh reviews, so he would likely point out the negative aspects of The Chaser. It wouldn¡¯t even be a full review. Just a quick comment on social media.


    "I''m going to refrain this time." "Really?"


    His colleague looked puzzled at Na Dong-sik¡¯s words. After all, Na Dong-sik was usually the first to do something like this.


    But, somehow, he felt that he shouldn¡¯t do that this time.


    "What kind of drama is it? I heard there¡¯s a thriller drama in production..." "It¡¯s not a thriller drama." "R-right. Oh, the image of Cha Seo-ah is just so strong..."


    To Jeong Si-hyeon, Seoyeon was Cha Seo-ah. The image was so powerful that it was hard to imagine Seoyeon in anything other than a thriller or similar genre.


    Seoyeon¡¯s reaction only strengthened her resolve regarding this drama.


    "It¡¯s a youth romance." "...A youth romance?"


    Wasn¡¯t that a genre completely disconnected from Seoyeon? Everyone seemed to think so.


    Sure, Cha Seo-ah was a factor, but considering her physical roles, it seemed like she¡¯d be better suited for an action drama.


    "The audition for Dream Future is coming up soon."


    Specifically, in three weeks. It would be after Seoyeon¡¯s variety show and commercial aired.


    ¡®If I pass the audition.¡¯


    Seoyeon was aiming for a relatively minor yet significant supporting role, Jo Ha-rin. Though the role was small, the character had a strong, quirky personality.


    If things went well and Seoyeon ended up filming Dream Future, the drama would air around the same time as The Chaser was released.


    Seoyeon¡¯s goal was clear. To prevent the killer¡¯s image from sticking to her cosmetic advertisement.


    ¡®And from episode 8 onward, my role decreases significantly, so there¡¯s no burden.¡¯


    With less screen time, there would be fewer filming sessions. So Seoyeon planned to improve her image and then quietly step away.


    A perfect plan, Seoyeon thought with a smile.


    "Director." "What?"


    Director Baek Min-chan of Eclat Etoile responded while looking over some documents. The head of the business strategy team, Jeong Tae-su, spoke in a low voice.


    Hearing this tone, Baek Min-chan paused his review.


    "...Did it not go well?"


    He asked in a tense voice. It was understandable since he had strongly pushed for this new advertising model. If it didn¡¯t work out, it would be a significant blow to him.


    "Ten percent..." "Did it drop?" "It went up." "Damn it, then why did you phrase it like that?!"


    Baek Min-chan slammed the desk. Ten percent. It might sound small, but it was actually a significant increase. Of course, considering the previous drop in sales, it was a relief.


    "It¡¯s only been a week since the change, right?" "Yes." "Then let¡¯s wait and see. Sales will increase even more."


    Baek Min-chan chuckled confidently. He was fully aware of all of Seoyeon¡¯s activities.


    Today, Seoyeon¡¯s variety show was airing. Survival on a Deserted Island.


    ¡®It would be great if she casually mentioned our cosmetics...¡¯


    To be honest, Baek Min-chan didn¡¯t expect Seoyeon to accomplish much in Survival on a Deserted Island. Since she was an actress, he just hoped she wouldn¡¯t cause any major trouble.


    If she messed up, it would negatively affect Eclat Etoile, the brand she was representing.


    Of course, Baek Min-chan trusted Seoyeon. She didn¡¯t seem like the type to cause trouble based on what he had seen of her.


    However.


    The next day.


    "Director, the sales..." "..."


    Baek Min-chan froze upon seeing the sharp increase in daily sales. He hadn¡¯t expected sales to rise this much.


    ¡®I just hoped sales would recover a bit...¡¯


    It was dramatic.


    The word fit the situation perfectly.

 Chapter 81

    A commercial was playing on a billboard by the street. The first thing that caught the eye was a pitch-black dress.


    A black dress paired perfectly with jet-black hair. A woman asleep in the darkness, like a fairy.


    The ad was calm and serene, but there was something subtly captivating about it.


    Some of the people walking by turned their attention to the ad.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Isn''t that Eclat Etoile? Wasn¡¯t Song Hee-bin the one doing the ads for them?¡±


    Women were walking by, chatting.


    At that moment, a small droplet of dew fell on the sleeping woman¡¯s cheek, as if a tiny star had dropped. It glittered as it slowly trickled down her cheek.


    Then, the girl in the black dress slowly opened her eyes.


    Her eyes, tinged with a mysterious red hue, were a striking feature, making it easy for viewers to remember her.


    ¡°Oh! That¡¯s the princess from Looking at Memories, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Right, right. That fits. Did she land an ad after blowing up on that variety show?¡±


    The women continued watching the ad. As the girl in the black dress opened her eyes, vibrant colors began to spread. Her once drowsy expression gradually changed as her pristine black dress turned bright white, transforming beautifully.


    Flowers began to bloom in the once barren space, and the girl slowly looked up at the sky. The night sky was filled with countless stars.


    Starry light.


    The woman, who looked at it, seemed to be glowing herself. The sleepy face had now turned into a bright smile.


    A radiant smile, like a flower in bloom. Under the starlight. A woman shining under the dark night sky. Her pure white skin was strikingly emphasized.


    ¡°Of course, it must be edited.¡±


    Even with that thought, the white skin still drew the viewer¡¯s attention.


    "Shine like the starlight."


    With that tagline, the Eclat Etoile ad came to an end.


    "Like starlight."


    That was the new catchphrase that Eclat Etoile was pushing.


    Post: I just switched my cosmetics.


    (Photo)


    Skin tone looks great. Super glowy.


    Replies:


    ¡°Where¡¯s that from? It looks really nice.¡± ? ¡°Right? I¡¯m so satisfied after switching!¡±¡°Tell me too! I¡¯m thinking about changing my cosmetics lately.¡± ? ¡°It was actually hard to find. I had to go to the store in Jamsil.¡±¡°Is it a new brand? Your skin looks so white?? Please share the brand name bb¡± ? ¡°Thanks for the compliment!! :>¡±¡°Come on! Just tell us the brand already!!!¡± ? ¡°111111¡± ? ¡°2222222 lol, can¡¯t believe you¡¯re not saying!¡±


    In a women¡¯s community focused on cosmetics, a particular product was recently creating a buzz. The post was meant to be humorous, but it spread across various communities, leading to people speculating about which brand it was.


    ¡°That¡¯s Eclat Etoile.¡±¡°How do you know?¡±¡°My sister uses it.¡±¡°Is your sister pretty?¡±


    Eclat Etoile, a brand that had recently changed its advertising model, had ambitiously launched three types of essence creams and three types of tone-up creams.


    The name for these cosmetics was ¡°Starlight.¡±


    ¡°The ad was really well done.¡±¡°Isn¡¯t she the princess from Looking at Memories? Her skin really does look good.¡±¡°It¡¯s all edited, though.¡±¡°But the way they suddenly made her look so radiant in the ad was really well done.¡±


    The transition from a monochrome-like girl to one bursting with vibrancy felt like watching an old black-and-white silent film suddenly come to life in the present. The sparkling skin matched the name ¡°Starlight¡± perfectly.


    This led to a surge in sales for Eclat Etoile. And there was more.


    In a community entirely unrelated to cosmetics, there was talk about Seoyeon.


    ¡°I heard the actors are promoting in the next Survival on a Deserted Island episode.¡±¡°What¡¯s Survival on a Deserted Island? Seriously, stop with the abbreviations.¡±¡°If actors are coming to promote, it¡¯s going to be boring.¡±¡°Seriously, forget it.¡±¡°Actors hold back so much, it¡¯s going to be no fun.¡±¡°Apparently, one of them is a high school girl.¡±¡°Now I¡¯m interested.¡±¡°The fact is, Survival on a Deserted Island is getting healthier.¡±¡°Are you serious? Just thinking about them whining gives me a headache.¡±


    Survival on a Deserted Island was mentioned in a community where there were more discussions about internet shows, but also about variety shows in general.


    Survival on a Deserted Island was a popular show, so it was natural for people to talk about it. It was quickly revealed that the cast for the upcoming episode included actors from the movie The Chaser.


    ¡°Who is Ju Seoyeon?¡±¡°Apparently, she plays a convenience store part-timer.¡±


    Even the role the actress had in the ad was just a ¡°convenience store part-timer.¡± It sparked talk about how a supporting role, not even a lead, was being pushed into variety shows.


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t do anything, it¡¯ll all get edited out. It¡¯s fine.¡±¡°Yeah, those few scenes will probably just be her crying to go home~~~if we¡¯re lucky.¡±¡°Why is he here?¡±¡°There was no mention of Park Jung-woo appearing??¡±¡°Oh, they know each other, right?¡±¡°Is it because of The Moon Embracing the Sun again?¡±¡°They probably brought them together because they had good chemistry in a previous variety show?¡±¡°The producers must have known it would be boring, so they used connections.¡±¡°Smart move.¡±¡°What is she doing?¡±¡°She¡¯s making a fire.¡±¡°Why are the twigs so weak?¡±¡°? lol¡±¡°?????¡±¡°Is that really a coconut?¡±¡°They say it¡¯s a coconut for women.¡±¡°Do female coconuts have different shells?¡±¡°Make some sense, please.¡±¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±¡°Is this for real?¡±¡°Everyone else looks exhausted, but why is she still so full of energy? Is she resting when the camera isn¡¯t on her?¡±¡°Even with rest, I don¡¯t think you could move around like that.¡±


    What made it even more alarming was that Seoyeon was still full of energy, despite running here and there.


    ¡°The fact is, Ju Seoyeon is getting healthier.¡±¡°I think she¡¯s healthy enough already.¡±


    Then came the next mission.


    ¡¸We¡¯ve prepared a mission for you to earn your dinner.¡¹


    It was PD Shin Young-woo who spoke. It was a regular main mission on Survival on a Deserted Island.


    ¡¸We¡¯ve placed a flag on the highest mountain on this deserted island.¡¹


    In other words, the first person to bring the flag back would win a special dinner. That was the gist of the mission.


    Only one person could participate. The mountain wasn¡¯t very tall, but just walking through the tropical forest would be tiring.


    Park Jung-woo quickly gave up. As for Seoyeon...


    ¡¸Can I hold the camera?¡¹


    The cameraman filming Seoyeon was taken aback by her request.


    ¡¸Huh?¡¹ ¡¸I¡¯m going to run, so it might be tough for you.¡¹


    No matter how energetic she was, could she really run through a tropical forest?


    ¡®Maybe she could.¡¯


    Both the viewers and the cameraman had that thought for a moment. But the camera was still quite heavy. Could she carry it and run? But the more they thought about it, the more they realized their worries might be unfounded.


    ¡¸Um, this one is off-limits, but you can use this.¡¹


    The cameraman handed her a small camera he had brought just in case. It was a bit smaller and seemed manageable for someone to film with.


    ¡¸Alright, I¡¯ll be back.¡¹ ¡¸What?¡¹


    The mission had already started. Park Hee-jun, another guest like Seoyeon, had already set off.


    ¡¸Wait...!¡¹


    Before the cameraman could ask if she was okay going alone, Seoyeon had already vanished.


    ¡°We can¡¯t see her face, you crazy girl.¡±¡°Did she just take the camera to run?¡±


    What kind of footage would Seoyeon get? Considering that it was edited footage, one could only imagine how dull the original must have been for this to make it to the final cut. Most of the scenes of Seoyeon running were edited out, but there were occasional shots of the forest rushing by, shots of her running, and her cheerful face flashing by as she sprinted.


    ¡¸Oh, Seoyeon, when did you get here?¡¹ ¡¸I¡¯ve been here for a while.¡¹


    Seoyeon was the first to arrive. The second was Park Hee-jun.


    Although he was a bit late because he came with the cameraman, he hadn¡¯t expected Seoyeon to beat him. After all, Park Hee-jun was a former Special Forces member.


    ¡°Just remember: High school girl >= Special Forces member.¡±¡°This is ridiculous.¡±¡°Is this really a survival show?¡±


    Thanks to her stellar performance in the mission, Seoyeon got to enjoy a delicious dinner. And her antics continued in the next week¡¯s episode of Survival on a Deserted Island set in Papua New Guinea.


    ¡°But why doesn¡¯t she get sunburned?¡±¡°Didn¡¯t she run around the whole time??¡±


    As viewers started to adapt, they began to focus on other details. Like Seoyeon¡¯s white skin. Even the other cast members were curious enough to ask her about it.


    ¡¸Seoyeon, wow, your skin didn¡¯t get tan at all. What skincare products do you use? Tell me, I want to know.¡¹


    Bang Ha-yoon, the only other female cast member besides Seoyeon, asked this, and Seoyeon hesitated for a moment. She looked as if she was debating whether to say something. But since it wasn¡¯t ideal to mention the brand directly, she simply said:


    ¡¸I did a commercial, you know.¡¹


    And that sparked the real buzz after Survival on a Deserted Island ended.


    The skincare product that protected Seoyeon¡¯s white skin even in extreme conditions. There was only one such product she was advertising.


    Starlight


    A new skincare line launched by Eclat Etoile. As soon as Survival on a Deserted Island ended, there was a rush, and every department store and Eclat Etoile store sold out.


    And simultaneously.


    It marked the rise of a new star in the world of advertising.

 Chapter 82

    [Survival on a Deserted Island Viewership Increases, Anticipation for The Chaser Rises] [Continuous Variety Show Hits! Who is Ju Seoyeon?] [Eclat Etoile''s ''Slump is Over,'' Glorious Comeback with ''Starlight'']


    The day after Survival on a Deserted Island aired, several articles were released in quick succession. Even I didn¡¯t expect this level of response.


    ¡®Is this false advertising?¡¯


    I was genuinely concerned. What if people who actually use the product end up getting different results and file complaints? My skin is just naturally very resilient.


    Regardless, Eclat Etoile was so excited that they contacted my agency directly.


    ¡°I heard their sales skyrocketed.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± ¡°Right now, you can¡¯t find Starlight on display anywhere because it¡¯s sold out.¡±


    I awkwardly smiled at Manager Park Eun-ha¡¯s words.


    ¡®No matter what, I didn¡¯t expect it to be this much.¡¯


    To be honest, it didn¡¯t feel real. I knew the ad turned out well, but I never imagined it would have such a huge impact.


    ¡®Is it because Survival on a Deserted Island had such a big influence?¡¯


    Honestly, after watching the episode yesterday, I couldn¡¯t hold my head up at home. Watching myself running around the deserted island... honestly, it was embarrassing.


    ¡®This is all because I¡¯m weak against feeling good.¡¯


    It was actually fine when I was younger, before I turned ten.


    That was when the influence of my past life was still present.


    ¡®But things changed when I hit puberty.¡¯


    As I began to fully experience emotions, I started to feel those so-called good emotions.


    I was used to negative emotions since my past life had plenty of intense experiences, so I was quite indifferent to them. But emotions I hadn¡¯t properly felt in my past life¡ªlike joy, excitement, and exhilaration¡ªwere something I was very vulnerable to.


    In the words of Lee Ji-yeon:


    ¡°You¡¯re like an excited retriever, running around everywhere.¡± ¡°...¡±


    Honestly, this wasn¡¯t the first time. Something similar happened once in middle school. It turns out I quite like being active.


    ¡®Suddenly, I¡¯m feeling a bit worried.¡¯


    Dream Future. A youth romance drama. The role I¡¯m aiming for, Jo Ha-rin, is a quirky, vibrant character. And she¡¯s the tragic supporting heroine.


    She¡¯s someone who has liked the main male lead, Kim Si-hwan, since childhood and joins an audition program to pursue her dream of becoming an idol alongside him.


    Of course, Kim Si-hwan ends up with the main female lead, Song So-ha, and Jo Ha-rin steps back.


    ¡®Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time decreases sharply after episode 8.¡¯


    Episodes 7 and 8 are Jo Ha-rin¡¯s main episodes. It¡¯s when Jo Ha-rin quietly gives up on Kim Si-hwan and decides to support Song So-ha.


    ¡®Romantic acting.¡¯


    Even though the feelings aren¡¯t mutual, Jo Ha-rin¡¯s tender first love for Kim Si-hwan and her journey to giving it up¡ªcan I portray that well?


    And after watching myself on Survival on a Deserted Island, I¡¯m suddenly worried about whether I can convincingly act out romantic feelings.


    Maybe I shouldn¡¯t go after all. Just as I was thinking that...


    ¡°Seoyeon, the director from Eclat Etoile called!¡±


    Manager Park Eun-ha¡¯s phone rang with a direct call from Eclat Etoile.


    ¡°Ah, actress Ju Seoyeon! How are you? I wanted to discuss continuing our partnership with Eclat Etoile moving forward...¡±


    Director Baek Min-chan¡¯s voice was full of excitement as he spoke to Seoyeon. It was essentially a request to keep working together. And...


    ¡°Just to mention, please do your best to maintain a positive image! It would be greatly appreciated!¡±


    Currently, I have a mysterious image in the ad and a lively image on the variety show. Essentially, he was asking me to maintain those positive images.


    Additionally...


    ¡°At this rate, we might even renew the contract midway. I¡¯ll work hard to ensure we can get at least double the amount next time.¡±


    Director Baek Min-chan boldly ended the call with those words. After mulling over his words for a moment, I made up my mind. Over 400 million won. The image of myself swimming in money briefly crossed my mind.


    ¡®...Hmm.¡¯


    I nodded as I looked at my phone.


    ¡®I¡¯m going to audition for Dream Future.¡¯


    And so, I firmly made up my mind.


    After the airing of Survival on a Deserted Island, another significant change was the creation of fan sites dedicated to Seoyeon. Commonly known as the Ju Seoyeon Gallery, Ju Seoyeon Fan Cafe, and so on, these started popping up here and there.


    There weren¡¯t many of them, but the fact that they were being created at all was proof that her recognition had significantly increased. And this happened even though there weren¡¯t any recent dramas or movies released.


    ¡°She could probably kill him with one strike from her coconut spear.¡±¡°Do you think Ju Seoyeon is a joke?¡±¡°Metal Cocorilla would win.¡±


    Because of this, Park Jung-woo attracted attention. Standing alongside Shin Yoon, his presence was proof that he was one of today¡¯s judges.


    ¡°Idols, actors. Most of them are newcomers, though.¡±


    Park Jung-woo murmured. Many of the participants were trying their hand at acting for the first time.


    Although it might seem a bit amusing to someone with more experience, he didn¡¯t even crack a smile. On the contrary...


    ¡®It feels like he¡¯s distracted.¡¯


    It was as if he was waiting for someone. But could there really be an actor participating in this audition that Park Jung-woo would be waiting for?


    ¡®No way.¡¯


    Dream Future was a drama that KMB had ambitiously prepared, but it was more about being a challenging project than one with a significant investment.


    Even the writer for Dream Future was a newcomer. The actors were mostly newcomers too.


    Honestly, as the casting director, Shin Yoon couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the lineup.


    ¡®If this succeeds, I¡¯ll eat my hat.¡¯


    Even with that thought, looking at Park Jung-woo somehow filled him with a vague sense of confidence. Though some of his previous works had been shaky, he had never had a complete failure.


    ¡°Wow, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Is JustX really here?¡±


    At that moment, the audition hall buzzed with excitement. The first thing that caught everyone¡¯s attention was the blonde hair.


    A man in casual attire walked in. The manager beside him seemed to be puffing up his chest.


    ¡®JustX¡¯s Ma Yeon-woo.¡¯


    Park Jung-woo narrowed his eyes. It made sense for an idol drama to have a popular idol attempting their first acting role.


    ¡®Of course.¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo shrugged his shoulders as he walked forward. He could feel all eyes on him.


    ¡®There¡¯s no stage more fitting than this.¡¯


    A drama about an idol audition. And he was a popular idol. Naturally, he was guaranteed at least one role.


    ¡®What were the roles again?¡¯


    He couldn¡¯t quite remember. As he continued walking... he suddenly noticed that something felt off.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    It felt like the attention wasn¡¯t on him but on someone behind him.


    Ma Yeon-woo stopped walking. Then, he slowly turned around.


    ¡°...Aren¡¯t you going?¡±


    For a moment, Ma Yeon-woo was speechless.


    A female student with black hair. She slightly furrowed her brow, seemingly annoyed that Ma Yeon-woo was blocking her path.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Her appearance startled not only Ma Yeon-woo but also the other actors.


    ¡®The Princess of Memories.¡¯


    All eyes then turned to Park Jung-woo, who had played Yoon Seo-il. The chemistry between them in Looking at Memories had caused quite a stir.


    ¡®Could she be going for the role of Song So-ha...?¡¯


    It was already known that Park Jung-woo had been cast as the male lead, Kim Si-hwan. But if Ju Seoyeon was aiming for the role of Song So-ha?


    If that were the case, it would be disheartening for the other actresses. If he were the casting director, he would definitely cast Seoyeon as Song So-ha.


    However...


    ¡®Who was originally cast for the role of Jo Ha-rin?¡¯


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t particularly interested in the role of Song So-ha. Her focus was solely on the role of Jo Ha-rin.


    And...


    ¡®This guy.¡¯


    A delicate-looking male actor¡ªor was he an idol?¡ªwas staring at her. His face seemed familiar. That¡¯s because...


    ¡®He played the role of someone who had something going on with Jo Ha-rin in the drama.¡¯


    Seoyeon quietly looked up at Ma Yeon-woo.


    And as Park Jung-woo watched the two, his eyes narrowed slightly.

 Chapter 83

    A silent tension filled the air. The presence of Ma Yeon-woo, an idol from JustX, currently one of RY¡¯s most successful groups, combined with Ju Seoyeon¡¯s entrance, brought about a quiet unease.


    Everyone participating in today¡¯s audition felt nervous, especially the female idols and actors.


    ¡®This is different from theater.¡¯


    Recently, Ju Seoyeon had made a stunning comeback through the play Eyes Closed. Although she had gained considerable recognition through several variety show appearances, she hadn¡¯t yet achieved significant success in dramas or films.


    So, they tried to reassure themselves with that thought. However, the recently released trailer for The Chaser lingered in their minds.


    ¡®She appeared as a convenience store part-timer.¡¯


    In the nearly two-minute trailer, Seoyeon appeared for just about ten seconds. It wasn¡¯t much, but even in that brief appearance, her acting ability was apparent.


    ¡®If she¡¯s seriously aiming for the role of Song So-ha...¡¯


    That would make her a strong competitor. Even with just decent acting, her chemistry with Park Jung-woo would likely give her a high chance of being cast.


    And then there was another thought.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t she the girl who appeared on Survival on a Deserted Island?¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo only thought of Seoyeon in that context. He knew about the ¡°Princess of Memories,¡± of course. There had been a segment about her when she appeared on Survival on a Deserted Island.


    ¡®She looks different from back then.¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo looked at Seoyeon with a curious expression, causing Seoyeon¡¯s eyes to narrow further.@@@@


    ¡®Ma Yeon-woo.¡¯


    A key member of the popular idol group JustX, who had also ventured into acting and achieved some success with Dream Future, and later proved his acting skills in a war film... He was a person with some talent.


    But, separate from that, Seoyeon didn¡¯t particularly want to get close to him. And for good reason.


    ¡®The other members of JustX...¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo had his share of issues related to his personality. But the other members had even more problematic reputations... for things like drunk driving, drugs, and assault.


    In any case, they had quite the track record. It was expected that more scandals would emerge within the next three years, so she had no desire to be associated with them. Ma Yeon-woo himself had already been involved in various abuse of power controversies.


    ¡°Excuse me, can I get by?¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡±


    Ma Yeon-woo was slightly taken aback by Seoyeon¡¯s lack of reaction to his appearance. As an idol, he was used to being admired, especially by women, and this was the first time someone had reacted so indifferently.


    ¡®Is it because she¡¯s really that stunning herself?¡¯


    There¡¯s a saying that no matter how handsome an idol is, when they stand next to an actor, their light fades. Seoyeon was one of those people.


    As she walked among the other actresses, it seemed as if she absorbed the light around her. Naturally, those around her subtly moved away.


    ¡®Why did she have to come here?¡¯ ¡®There are plenty of other spots.¡¯


    The actresses nearby wore troubled expressions, while Seoyeon was quietly reviewing the script in her mind. She was here for the role of Jo Ha-rin, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous.


    Then...


    ¡®Ah, there he is.¡¯


    Seoyeon spotted Park Jung-woo and subtly nodded in greeting. When their eyes met, Park Jung-woo relaxed his furrowed brow and nodded back.


    There was no need to draw unnecessary attention by acknowledging each other overtly. But even that small interaction made the actors observing them click their tongues.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely aiming for the role of Song So-ha.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t it already decided? This isn¡¯t looking good.¡¯


    Amidst this tense atmosphere, the audition began.


    ¡°Na-hee, you¡¯ve prepared for the role of Song So-ha, correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±


    A young woman with a pure image answered with a nervous expression. She was a... no, she was an idol who had recently appeared as a supporting character in a popular cable drama.


    ¡®For an idol, her acting is quite good.¡¯


    Casting director Shin Yoon thought as he tapped his pen on his chin. In Dream Future, acting ability wasn¡¯t the only important factor.


    Since the story revolved around an idol audition, singing ability was also somewhat crucial. In that sense, this drama audition was advantageous for idols.


    ¡°This is your second time trying acting, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    That was almost like indirectly asking them to cast her as Song So-ha. The judges were inclined to agree. If Seoyeon demonstrated her skills in this audition, the role of Song So-ha would be hers.


    ¡°Alright, very good.¡±


    After a brief introduction and some simple questions...


    ¡°Is there a specific role you¡¯re interested in? The role you¡¯re auditioning for today.¡± ¡°Yes, there is.¡±


    As expected, there was. As everyone exchanged glances with Park Jung-woo, anticipating that she would say Song So-ha...


    ¡°I would like to play the role of Jo Ha-rin.¡± ¡°Ah, of course, Jo Ha-rin...¡±


    Kim Pil-seok, who had been murmuring absently, trailed off.


    ¡°...Pardon?¡±


    Jo Ha-rin. One of the six main characters participating in the drama¡¯s idol audition alongside Kim Si-hwan and Song So-ha.


    Out of those six, Jo Ha-rin had the smallest role. She had a decent amount of screen time until episode 8, but her appearances dwindled significantly after that.


    She was a quirky character, but that was about it.


    ¡°...¡±


    The judges fell silent and stared at Seoyeon. In response to their reactions, Seoyeon just tilted her head slightly, puzzled.


    The Dream Future audition was a great success. Surprisingly, despite feeling quite nervous about this audition...


    ¡°Um, yes. That was well done. Are you sure you want the role of Jo Ha-rin?¡±


    I was asked that question several times, but I think I did well enough. I focused on the character¡¯s quirkiness rather than the romantic scenes, and it seemed to work as a good distraction.


    ¡°If this goes well, I¡¯ll need to get some vocal training.¡± ¡°What...?¡±


    As we walked home together, Ji-yeon frowned at my comment.


    ¡°What now? You¡¯ve done it before.¡± ¡°If I get cast in this drama, I¡¯ll need to sing too.¡± ¡°Oh, right, you said it was an idol drama.¡±


    I nodded at Ji-yeon¡¯s words. Singing. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve been practicing steadily since childhood because it¡¯s also a skill needed for a VTuber.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, you¡¯re not good at singing.¡± ¡°...¡±


    I shot Ji-yeon a sharp look at her comment. It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t sing. It¡¯s just that it sounds flat because I can¡¯t convey emotion in my voice.


    That¡¯s why no matter what I did, it sounded dull. I was stuck at karaoke level.


    ¡°But I¡¯ve gotten better now.¡± ¡°Really?¡±


    Going through puberty, I had improved somewhat. I could now put a bit of emotion into my singing. It was enough not to sound weird.


    ¡®But I¡¯m still a bit lacking for an idol drama.¡¯


    As I wondered whether I should find a new academy...


    ¡°Shall I help you with that?¡±


    Ji-yeon suddenly made the offer.


    ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I have a contact who helped me out a lot. She¡¯s a former idol and trained in classical singing, so she¡¯s good at it.¡±


    Ji-yeon¡¯s words gave me a strange feeling.


    ¡®Ji-yeon has a contact like that?¡¯


    I felt a peculiar sensation and asked cautiously.


    ¡°Who... who is it?¡± ¡°A senior I met at the voice acting academy. She helped me with a lot of things. I think it¡¯s a good opportunity to introduce you.¡±


    With Ji-yeon¡¯s explanation, a certain person came to mind. It might be a coincidence. Or perhaps just a wild guess.


    ¡®Magician!¡¯


    Since I had already subscribed to that VTuber and watched her several times, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but think it had to be her. After all, Magician was a VTuber known primarily for her singing. In fact, in her past life, Ramiel¡¯s singing skills were also at an impressive level.


    ¡®If she learned her singing from that person...¡¯


    And finally, Seoyeon realized the reason behind it all.

 Chapter 84

    ¡®Voice Actor Academy.¡¯


    It was a place that Seoyeon had once attended together with Jiyeon. Of course, Seoyeon had dropped out halfway through to learn other things, but she had spent a considerable amount of time there.


    The same was true for Jiyeon; although she didn''t go there as often anymore, she would occasionally visit.


    ¡®The Wizard.¡¯


    Fortunately, after that broadcast, there had been no further appearances of the wizard on Ramiel''s stream. However, Ramiel did mention the wizard from time to time, which still made Seoyeon uneasy.


    ¡®Who could it be?¡¯


    If it¡¯s someone from the Voice Actor Academy, is it someone I know? And judging by Ramiel¡¯s behavior at the time, it didn¡¯t seem like just a casual acquaintance...


    With that spark of curiosity in her heart.


    ¡°Hello. My name is Han Dayoung.¡±


    And it wasn¡¯t hard to meet the person in question. The first thought that crossed Seoyeon¡¯s mind was:


    ¡®She¡¯s tall.¡¯


    She was at least a head taller than me. And in other aspects as well.


    ¡®Not as tall as my mom, though.¡¯


    But still very tall. She looked to be at least three or four years older than us, meaning she was likely a university student.


    ¡®An idol who also studied vocal music?¡¯


    I stopped my idle staring and quickly searched my memory. There was no relevant information.


    This meant that the woman in front of me, Han Dayoung, hadn¡¯t been active in the entertainment industry. It seemed she had only worked as a VTuber. However, no matter how much I tried, I couldn¡¯t recall anything from the VTuber world. If it wasn¡¯t related to the entertainment industry, it just didn¡¯t come to mind easily.


    ¡°You can speak casually if you want,¡± she said. ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°......¡±


    Although she said it was okay to speak casually, I didn¡¯t expect her to drop formalities immediately. In any case, Han Dayoung stuck close to Lee Jiyeon, gently patting her head.


    ¡°Jiyeon¡¯s such a troublesome personality. I thought she was lying when she said you two have been friends since childhood.¡±


    Han Dayoung said this while winking at me. Was she showing off?


    ¡°Oh, unnie,¡± Jiyeon said, giving Dayoung a sullen look. It was a refreshing sight.


    It felt a bit odd to say this, but Jiyeon usually took care of me. Because of that, seeing her being treated like a child was something I hadn¡¯t witnessed since she was little.


    ¡°Shall we go inside and talk? You said you came for the song, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, I hope I can be of help.¡±


    With a bright smile, she really gave off the vibe of a mature, older sister. Now that I looked closer, she had a very gentle and pleasant demeanor.


    As we entered the academy, we had a brief conversation.


    First, it was confirmed that Han Dayoung had indeed helped Jiyeon start her VTuber activities. However, Jiyeon didn¡¯t mention being Ramiel or Dayoung being the wizard.


    ¡°Jiyeon¡¯s been busy lately, asking me for help with various things.¡± ¡°Well, I did get a lot of help from unnie,¡± Jiyeon said, glancing at me. Her expression was one of rare timidity, as if she was feeling embarrassed...


    ¡°Oh my, Jiyeon, are you embarrassed?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°Oh, really.¡±


    As she said that, Dayoung hugged Jiyeon tightly. The sight was very endearing. Jiyeon didn¡¯t seem to mind it either.


    Then followed a conversation only the two of them understood. It seemed to be about preparations for VTubing, but I didn¡¯t care about that. I wasn¡¯t particularly interested in hearing the details about Ramiel¡¯s red pill.


    However...


    ¡°......¡±


    How should I put it? I felt a strange emotion.


    ¡®She¡¯s my friend.¡¯


    Recently, I had become closer to the class president, but still, Jiyeon was the only one I could confidently call my friend. Yet here she was, talking about things that only she and Dayoung knew.@@@@


    ¡°......¡±


    My mouth twitched involuntarily. It was a feeling I had experienced before.


    When Ramiel was in the wizard¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Come on, unnie, stop it.¡±


    Yes, that was the moment when my heart burned with anger. My hands trembled slightly.


    Jealousy!


    It was an emotion unfamiliar to me, something I had only used in my performance as Cha Seo-ah. And now, with the new role I was challenging myself with, Jo Ha-rin, I suppose she would feel the same emotion.


    ¡®So, this is what that feels like.¡¯


    No, Jo Ha-rin probably felt it even more intensely. According to the character''s background, Jo Ha-rin had an unrequited love for the male protagonist, Kim Si-hwan. I could imagine the feelings she would have had watching Kim Si-hwan and Song So-ha¡¯s sweet moments.


    Annoyance.


    Seoyeon had never really understood what it meant to be annoyed, but now she did.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon.¡± ¡°...What?¡±


    When I replied curtly, Jiyeon tilted her head in confusion before suddenly laughing.


    Seoyeon¡¯s acting.


    And everything she had prepared for this audition.


    One week ago, at the audition.


    ¡¸I¡¯ll do it! I want to do it!¡¹


    With a lively wave of her hand, the girl ran around the audition room. She was like a puppy, specifically a retriever, that¡¯s the exact impression she gave.


    ¡®Can a person¡¯s atmosphere change this much?¡¯


    The judges each had similar thoughts. Before the audition started, she had seemed so cold. But once the acting began, she was overflowing with liveliness.


    But Jungwoo noticed.


    ¡®Deserted Island.¡¯


    She¡¯s using the emotions she felt on that deserted island.


    He recognized it immediately. Back then, Seoyeon had roamed the jungle with that exact same energy.


    Along with the lively acting of Jo Ha-rin:


    ¡¸Why... why not me...?¡¹


    Her voice was sorrowful, but the jealousy in it was unmistakable. She had taken some of the emotions she used for Cha Seo-ah in The Chaser and applied them to Jo Ha-rin¡¯s performance.


    The judges all nodded in agreement. It was different from any acting they had seen at the audition so far.


    ¡®There really is a big difference between idols and actors.¡¯


    ¡®The gap is significant.¡¯


    When you only watch one person¡¯s performance, you don¡¯t notice, but when you compare them back-to-back, the difference is stark.


    ¡°Ah, Seoyeon, have you memorized the lines for the role of Song So-ha as well? If it¡¯s okay, we¡¯d like to see it.¡± ¡°The role of Song So-ha?¡±


    Seoyeon nodded casually. She had memorized the entire script, of course.


    And when she performed as Song So-ha...


    ¡®Wow, both are really good.¡¯


    It was better than any of the idols or actors who had auditioned for the role of Song So-ha so far.


    ¡°Then, could we hear you sing one last time? You know, this drama revolves around an idol audition, so singing is essential.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Seoyeon responded with confidence. The judges let out a brief sound of admiration, but it didn¡¯t last long.


    ¡°...Ahem.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you for your efforts, Seoyeon.¡±


    The atmosphere became tense. She wasn¡¯t terrible at singing, but she wasn¡¯t great either. There was a vague feeling of unease. Her acting was excellent, but her singing left much to be desired.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    At that moment, Park Jungwoo, who had been silent, spoke up. All eyes turned to him.


    Was he going to point something out? Given his history, the judges expected it.


    ¡®Or maybe he¡¯s going to defend her because they¡¯re acquaintances.¡¯


    If that were the case, it would be problematic...


    Everyone waited for Jungwoo¡¯s next words with those thoughts in mind.


    ¡°You can dance, right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡±


    His tone was filled with confidence.


    ¡®She wouldn¡¯t audition focusing only on her weaknesses.¡¯


    She must know that her singing isn¡¯t her strong suit. ...Though she seemed oddly confident about it, I¡¯m sure...


    ¡°As an idol, singing isn¡¯t everything. You need to be able to dance too. Can you show us?¡±


    Dance.


    Everyone looked at Jungwoo in surprise. An actor dancing? It wasn¡¯t common to hear of actors who could sing well, let alone dance.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded at Jungwoo¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡°I can do it.¡±


    Her eyes glinted red. Jungwoo nodded at her and signaled to the staff.


    The same song they had heard several times at the audition began to play. Seoyeon entrusted herself to the rhythm, calmly closing her eyes.


    One, two.


    It was as if she was counting the beat.


    Then slowly, her eyes opened.


    And with the music, she began to dance.

 Chapter 85

    First of all, the reason Seoyeon learned to dance wasn¡¯t because of her VTuber activities, which was quite rare.


    After receiving an award, Seoyeon took a break from acting for a while, leaving her feeling downhearted. She had suddenly stopped doing something that had become a significant part of her life.


    ¡°Seoyeon seems to be really down,¡± Suah noted, clearly worried.


    Youngbin, after some serious thought, responded, ¡°Well, maybe if you praise her for something else and get her interested in it, she might cheer up.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯ll work?¡± Suah wasn¡¯t convinced by Youngbin¡¯s suggestion, but with no better ideas, she began to praise Seoyeon every morning as she did her exercises.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got great rhythm, Seoyeon! You should try learning to dance; I think you¡¯d be good at it!¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s ears perked up at the suggestion. In fact, she had a pretty good sense of rhythm. She was generally good at physical activities, so she picked up dancing quickly.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re doing great!¡± Suah continued to clap her hands, not giving it much thought, while Seoyeon, motivated by the praise, put real effort into learning to dance.


    ¡°Um, Seoyeon, you¡¯re doing really well... but don¡¯t you think this might be a bit much?¡± Suah eventually said, realizing she might have overdone the compliments.


    ¡°You¡¯ve praised her too much,¡± Youngbin remarked.


    Although it eventually led to that conclusion, Seoyeon grew quite confident in her dancing. Unlike singing, dancing required less emotional expression.


    It was about pure physical ability and skill.


    Of course, rhythm was important, but as mentioned before, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t tone-deaf. Her struggles with singing stemmed from her inability to fully convey emotions through her voice. While she wasn¡¯t bad at it, it could sometimes come off as slightly off-putting, much like her attempts at emotional mimicry.


    For now, Seoyeon closed her eyes as the music began. It was a song prepared in advance for the audition¡ªa song by a singer who would later contribute to the Dream Future soundtrack.


    ¡®It¡¯s not enough to just dance any old dance.¡¯


    Although it was a dance, it was an extension of her acting. She needed to demonstrate this clearly to the judges.


    In the script, Jo Ha-rin was a bubbly, lively character. Because of this, the character was also portrayed as having some dance skills.


    Naturally, Seoyeon had thought about how to incorporate this into her performance.


    ¡®First, a light hip-hop dance.¡¯


    It was a popular, widely recognized dance style, one that the general public would find ¡®cool.¡¯


    B-boying was something she could do, but it was excessive. It didn¡¯t match the character¡¯s concept.


    ¡®Still...¡¯


    One or two moves would be fine.


    Seoyeon opened her eyes. Her red eyes locked onto the judges. Exhaling softly, she flashed a slight smile.


    With a thumping rhythm, Seoyeon¡¯s foot moved. Her feet spread naturally to shoulder width, one foot stepping forward.


    ¡°Whoa...¡±


    The first exclamation came from the casting director, Shin Yoon. Perhaps it was because the singing had been so underwhelming, but the dance felt even more impressive.


    ¡®Her long limbs make the dance movements feel expansive.¡¯@@@@


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t a dance expert; he was just evaluating it from a viewer¡¯s perspective.


    But even to an ordinary audience member, Seoyeon¡¯s dance was remarkably fluid and expansive. Simultaneously...


    ¡®Her expression.¡¯


    He realized, somewhat belatedly, that Seoyeon was acting even as she danced.


    ¡®This is a scene where Jo Ha-rin dances on the street in the script.¡¯


    The other judges quickly caught on to this as well. It wasn¡¯t just because of her dance or bright expression.


    ¡®Her gaze.¡¯


    Park Jungwoo carefully observed the movements of Seoyeon¡¯s eyes. While it seemed her gaze was directed at the judges, as she spun around, she made eye contact with everyone in the room, as if she were performing in front of a full circle of onlookers.


    An audience. She was imagining herself surrounded by an audience on the street, dancing as Jo Ha-rin would.


    Her steps were measured, and her arm and leg movements were as if she was showing the space she had to work with, suddenly freezing in place.


    It was as if you could see the space around her. Seoyeon wasn¡¯t in the audition room; she was on the street, surrounded by people watching her dance.


    The song reached its climax, and Seoyeon bent her body downward.


    ¡°Oh?!¡±


    Someone let out a surprised exclamation. That was because the hip-hop dance naturally transitioned into breaking.


    Finally, with the last intense beat, Seoyeon¡¯s body spun rapidly.


    Windmill.


    In other words, breaking. It was one of the foundational moves in b-boying, the most basic and familiar breaking dance move to the general public.


    Although basic, it was difficult for an ordinary person to do, and without proper training, it would look awkward. With her long limbs, it was enough to leave onlookers open-mouthed, forgetting that this was supposed to be an acting performance.


    And as the music stopped, Seoyeon¡¯s hands touched the ground, and she suddenly lifted her body into the air.


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    One of the judges couldn¡¯t help but let out a gasp of admiration.


    She was a talented kid in many ways.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make the decision.¡±


    Director Kim Pil-seok looked at the photos of the two selected actors.


    For Song So-ha.


    And for Jo Ha-rin.


    Seoyeon was notified of the results of the Dream Future audition two days later. Manager Park Eun-ha tapped Seoyeon on the shoulder with a somewhat regretful expression.


    ¡°Seoyeon, what should we do?¡±


    Seeing Eun-ha¡¯s downcast face, Seoyeon felt a prickling sensation.


    ¡®Did... did I fail?¡¯


    No matter how poorly she sang, they wouldn¡¯t have cut her for that, right? Just as Seoyeon was about to feel dejected...


    ¡°You¡¯ve been cast for the role of Jo Ha-rin.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    ¡°Uh?¡±


    Contrary to Eun-ha¡¯s expectations, Seoyeon¡¯s face brightened instantly. Although her expression didn¡¯t change much, her eyes sparkled.


    Having spent so much time with her, Eun-ha had learned to read Seoyeon¡¯s subtle expressions. Though she struggled to express herself, her emotions had become much richer lately.


    ¡®You almost gave me a heart attack.¡¯


    Eun-ha had thought Seoyeon was aiming for the role of Song So-ha, not realizing that Seoyeon had always targeted Jo Ha-rin during the audition.


    After all, Song So-ha was the main heroine in the story.


    ¡°Oh, and...¡±


    Just as Manager Park Eun-ha was about to say something else, a buzzing sound came from her pocket.


    She naturally pulled out her phone and, after checking it, made an expression that was hard to describe.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Seoyeon asked.


    ¡°Uh? Oh, you¡¯ll understand once you answer this.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    What could this mean? Puzzled, Seoyeon took the phone that Eun-ha handed her.


    If it were a suspicious call, Eun-ha wouldn¡¯t have handed it over in the first place.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    As Seoyeon casually answered the phone, a startled voice responded immediately.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon?!¡±


    The voice sounded surprised. It was a woman¡¯s voice, unfamiliar to Seoyeon.


    ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    The other person seemed oddly disappointed, but that must have been Seoyeon¡¯s imagination. After taking a moment to collect herself, the caller continued.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s me, Jo Seo-hee.¡±


    The voice was trembling. Ah, Jo Seo-hee. Now that she thought about it, this was what her voice sounded like.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t think too deeply about her supposed friend Jo Seo-hee. It was more of a casual acknowledgement.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Ah, hi. Though I¡¯m not doing so well...¡±


    Hearing Seo-hee¡¯s unusually timid voice, Seoyeon pulled the phone away and frowned. She rarely sounded this subdued, making Seoyeon wonder if it was really Jo Seo-hee.


    ¡°So, why are you calling me all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    Seo-hee hesitated, her voice full of uncertainty. It sounded like she was debating whether she should say something.


    But soon enough...


    ¡°There¡¯s been a misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The movie you wanted to shoot with me... I didn¡¯t realize what it was.¡±


    Seo-hee¡¯s sudden confession gave Seoyeon a clue about what this was all about.


    ¡®Ah, so that¡¯s what this is about.¡¯


    She finally realized what Director Baek Min¡¯s movie, the one Seo-hee had mentioned before, was all about.

 Chapter 86

    To explain, Jo Seo-hee only recently found out about the true nature of the film. Jo Seo-hee, who had been active in the industry since she was a child actor, had built a wide network of connections over the years.


    Veteran actress Jung Eun-sun was especially fond of Jo Seo-hee, and Seo-hee herself paid great attention to maintaining her connections.


    ¡®In the acting world, you¡¯ll see the same faces again and again.¡¯


    It was wise to maintain good relationships. She had thought this way since she was young, and that mindset hadn¡¯t changed much as she grew older.


    Director Baek Min was one of those connections, having known Jo Seo-hee for quite some time. When she was a child, they met through an introduction from actress Jung Eun-sun. Later, as she grew older, she appeared in a movie called Emergency Cooperation.


    ¡°The title is Gyeongseong Lady?¡±


    At first, she thought it was just a film with an intriguing title. The setting was during the Japanese occupation, and she assumed it was a film related to the independence movement.


    ¡®It might help improve my image.¡¯


    Jo Seo-hee pondered this as she sipped her warm Americano. With her sharp appearance, Jo Seo-hee often faced negative public opinion.


    People speculated that she might have been a delinquent or that she seemed a bit too bold. Such rumors were widespread, so she welcomed the opportunity to improve her image.


    ¡®It would be nice if I could play a role where I die heroically.¡¯


    If she could evoke the right emotions, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. Moreover...


    ¡®It¡¯s a good chance to prove my acting skills.¡¯


    She thought of Ju Seoyeon, the girl who had suggested Director Baek Min¡¯s film to her. She still remembered Seoyeon from her childhood, but Seoyeon had grown into a fine actress.


    Although Seoyeon had only starred in one film so far, Jo Seo-hee knew she had the potential to rise quickly.


    She hadn¡¯t forgotten the helplessness she felt as a child.


    She could still vividly recall Seoyeon competing with adult actors rather than other child actors.


    ¡®This time will be different.¡¯


    She was no longer a child actor. Although she wasn¡¯t very old, she now lived in the world of adult actors.


    ¡°This is a lesbian film.¡±


    ¡°Pfft!!!¡±


    But Director Baek Min¡¯s words caused Jo Seo-hee to spit out her coffee. Just as she was resolutely steeling herself, what on earth was he saying?


    ¡°I-I think I misheard you, Director.¡±


    ¡°No, you heard right.¡±


    Director Baek Min laughed as he wiped the Americano Jo Seo-hee had spit out off his face.


    ¡°Oh, I-I¡¯m so sorry. Here, let me get you a handkerchief...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Director Baek Min smiled cheerfully, just as he always did. He was a young director in his mid-thirties.


    However, he was considered one of the most promising young directors. From Jo Seo-hee¡¯s perspective, he was an invaluable connection.


    ¡°I really want to cast you as the lead in this film, Seo-hee. There¡¯s no other actress your age who¡¯s as amazing as you are.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really flattering, Director, but...¡±


    Director Baek Min had a high opinion of Jo Seo-hee. Not only did she have exceptional looks, but she was also the best actress among her peers. She had impeccable self-discipline. There was no other actress her age who could match her. He was confident in that.


    So, he was determined to cast her as the lead in Gyeongseong Lady.


    ¡°And the actress you recommended, Ju Seoyeon, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing her act as well.¡±


    Director Baek Min hadn¡¯t seen Tae-sum-dal or the play Seoyeon had performed in. Therefore, he hadn¡¯t seen Seoyeon¡¯s acting directly. However, he knew that Seo-hee had taken an interest in Seoyeon since childhood. Recently, Seoyeon had been making headlines, so he was curious about her.


    ¡°Will you be bringing her along next time? You said she¡¯s your friend.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, she¡¯s a friend.¡±


    Jo Seo-hee managed a shaky smile with trembling lips. Fortunately, the facial muscles trained by years of acting performed their duty flawlessly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely bring her, Director.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡±


    With a bright smile, Director Baek Min made Jo Seo-hee nod helplessly. And so, today...


    ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. It¡¯s a lesbian film.¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡±


    Seoyeon tilted her head at Seo-hee¡¯s response.


    ¡®Is this something to be so nervous about?¡¯


    ¡°Ji-yeon, would you consider auditioning for a movie?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Ji-yeon was rarely caught off guard, but Seoyeon¡¯s question left her momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Seon-ah, have you finished writing the article?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯ll be up soon.¡±


    Han Seon-ah smiled and responded to her senior before letting out a sigh. With the trend shifting toward online articles, there was a lot of work to do these days.


    Reporters often got lumped together and criticized because of others posting articles without proper research.


    ¡°Huh? The Chaser?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. Have you heard about it?¡±


    ¡°Of course! That¡¯s the movie GH Group invested in, right? No need to worry about the audience numbers.¡±


    Han Seon-ah smiled at her senior¡¯s words. As Seoyeon¡¯s number one fan, just hearing this made her feel good.


    ¡°But Ju Seoyeon? Hmm, do you really need to write an article? Isn¡¯t there already a lot of coverage on her?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not for immediate release. I¡¯m planning to publish it when the second or third PV comes out.¡±


    The article Han Seon-ah was preparing traced the growth of the actress Ju Seoyeon and speculated on how she would perform in The Chaser. It was intended to introduce the relatively unknown actress to the public.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit vague. Writing something like that won¡¯t generate much buzz, you know? What¡¯s the term they use these days? Clickbait? It¡¯s not that catchy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of writing overly sensational articles...¡±


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t worry so much about that. We actually focus too much on that kind of thing.¡±


    The media company ¡®Seon-yang Media¡¯ that Han Seon-ah worked for was relatively moderate.


    However, being moderate meant it was less recognized compared to outlets that produced more provocative articles.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re good at what you do, Seon-ah. I trust you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make sure to do it right.¡±


    After her senior walked away, Seon-ah let out another sigh. Half of her motivation for writing about Seoyeon was fandom, but she also believed in Seoyeon.


    ¡®She¡¯s definitely going to make it big.¡¯


    With The Chaser.


    Recently, there were also signs that Seoyeon had auditioned for a drama. Seon-ah planned to dig around to find out more about what happened during the audition.


    About the new role Ju Seoyeon had chosen.


    And that role was...


    ¡°I¡¯m Ju Seoyeon, playing the role of Jo Ha-rin. I look forward to working with you.¡±


    Seoyeon bowed to the other actors who were looking at her.


    It was the first meeting for Dream Future.


    The actors who passed the audition had gathered in one place. It was their first meeting, organized by Director of Photography Kim Pil-seok.


    It wasn¡¯t a script reading, just a chance for the cast to get to know each other.


    ¡°They¡¯re young actors, after all. They¡¯re all around the same age,¡± Director Kim Pil-seok said with a hearty laugh.


    Most were in their early twenties. The younger ones were in their late teens.


    Among them, Seoyeon, at seventeen, was the youngest by far. Besides the male lead, Kim Si-hwan, and the female lead, Song So-ha, the four main supporting actors were each brimming with personality.


    They were young, and some had already found success at a young age, so they exuded confidence. The most representative of this group was...


    ¡°Wow, Seoyeon, you¡¯re still in high school, right? Feel free to speak casually with us.¡±


    A guy with flashy blonde hair and an earring, Ma Yeon-woo, was the prime example.


    His remark caused the other four¡¯s faces to twist in displeasure. They didn¡¯t openly say anything, but since Ma Yeon-woo had the largest fandom, they couldn¡¯t voice their complaints.


    ¡®Not good.¡¯


    Seoyeon subtly nodded as she observed them. These were young actors who would likely go on to great success in the future. There was nothing to gain from souring relationships here.


    ¡®In this group, I need to be the one who keeps things together.¡¯


    She thought to herself. Though she struggled with school life, she was top-notch when it came to social interactions.


    As Seoyeon nodded to herself with this thought...


    ¡®...It seems she¡¯s getting some strange ideas again.¡¯


    Park Jung-woo sighed, predicting that this would be a challenging group to work with.

 Chapter 87

    Dream Future.


    A youth romance drama composed of young actors or idols. The basic plot revolved around participants in an idol audition program and the process they go through to debut.


    With the male lead, Kim Si-hwan, and the female lead, Song So-ha, the drama had a total of six main characters.


    "But it''s an idol-themed show. Are the actors going to be okay? Don¡¯t they need to sing and dance?" Ma Yeon-woo asked with a smile.


    Three out of the six main leads were actors: Seoyeon, Park Jung-woo, and Hwang Seol-ah. Hwang Seol-ah was a relatively inexperienced actress who had only appeared as a supporting character in two cable dramas. This was her first time starring in a prime-time drama, so Ma Yeon-woo''s comment rubbed her the wrong way.


    "Just don''t forget that this is still a drama," she shot back.


    To be honest, Hwang Seol-ah hadn¡¯t liked Ma Yeon-woo from the start. JustX. Sure, she knew he was a popular idol, but even if you compared him to someone like Park Jung-woo, who was sitting quietly across from them, it wasn¡¯t the same. The popularity of idols and actors was different¡ªidols had more intense and passionate fanbases. In comparison, Park Jung-woo might be one of the few actors with a particularly large following.


    "You can practice singing and dancing, but acting isn¡¯t something you can just pick up quickly," Hwang Seol-ah continued.


    At her words, another idol-turned-actor, Aiden, who was a Canadian-Korean mixed-race idol, let out a chuckle.


    "It almost sounds like you''re saying that while acting can¡¯t be learned quickly, singing and dancing can be mastered just like that."


    Although Aiden spoke calmly, his words carried a sharp edge. Sitting next to him, Cha Na-hee looked visibly uncomfortable, but it was clear that she was also upset by Hwang Seol-ah''s remarks.


    In the tense atmosphere that followed...


    "Hmm."


    Director Kim Pil-seok found himself a bit flustered. Since everyone was around the same age, he thought this would be a good opportunity for them to bond. However, with idols and actors mixed together, a subtle power struggle had begun.


    ¡®If I step in now, this situation will just drag on,¡¯ he thought.


    As the director, his word was final. If he said something, everyone would fall silent out of respect. But that didn¡¯t mean the conflict would be resolved¡ªit would just be buried.


    So instead...


    ¡®Please, Jung-woo, handle this,¡¯ he thought, having arranged for someone to act as a mediator. Seeing the director¡¯s gaze, Park Jung-woo sighed, realizing it had come to this.


    But this wasn¡¯t a conflict that could be quickly resolved. The best approach would be to calmly address everyone¡¯s concerns. As Jung-woo organized his thoughts and prepared to speak, someone else beat him to it.


    "Let¡¯s have a competition," Seoyeon said.


    "Huh?" Jung-woo turned to Seoyeon in surprise.


    Seoyeon had raised her hand slightly as she spoke, and the noisy room suddenly fell silent.


    "Actors will compete with singing and dancing, and idols will compete with acting," Seoyeon declared.


    Has she lost her mind? Jung-woo wanted to say, but something in Seoyeon¡¯s eyes¡ªan odd gleam¡ªmade him hold his tongue.


    ¡®What is she thinking?¡¯ he wondered. Did she mean something like, "the losing side has to listen to the winner"?


    ¡®No, that can¡¯t be it.¡¯


    That strange gleam in her eyes. Maybe she was just being a bit nai?ve.


    ¡®Is she hoping that by having a skill-based competition, they¡¯ll reconcile and bond?¡¯ If he thought about it that way, it made a bit more sense, though it still seemed a little too idealistic and absurd. Jung-woo considered stopping her, but...


    "Sounds good!" Ma Yeon-woo was faster.


    This guy really was just clueless.


    "So, actors will compete in singing and dancing, and we¡¯ll compete in acting. But how exactly will we do it?"


    "Ah, well..." Seoyeon trailed off.@@@@


    She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. She had just spoken out of a somewhat old-fashioned belief that kids become friends by fighting it out.


    "Oh, that¡¯s not a bad idea," Director Kim Pil-seok suddenly chimed in as the room was beginning to calm down.


    "Oh, I¡¯ll figure out how to make it work. Seoyeon, you¡¯re really clever."


    Everyone stared blankly at the director, not quite understanding what he meant. Even Jung-woo was taken aback this time, except for Seoyeon, who looked proud of herself. Jung-woo let out a sigh, feeling like he wanted to give her a light tap on the head.


    ¡®What on earth is he thinking now?¡¯


    Director Kim Pil-seok was a young director who often socialized with variety show PDs. In a good way, he was more open-minded than most directors. In a bad way, he didn¡¯t always adhere to industry norms.


    "Anyway, let¡¯s continue talking for a bit today, and then wrap it up. I¡¯ve got something to take care of," he said with a hearty laugh, leaving behind a few staff members and Jung-woo as he made his exit.


    And then...


    "True, but the real benefit for the actors is the increase in exposure."


    They didn¡¯t need to offer a big prize. The point was to make the competition meaningful.


    However...


    "So, it¡¯s going to be an actor team versus an idol team?"


    "That¡¯s right, but they¡¯re not splitting the teams completely by idols and actors."


    What does that mean? Seoyeon listened quietly.


    The team composition was roughly as follows: while there was a team of actors and a team of idols, each team would have one member from the other group mixed in.


    "In other words, there will be one idol in the actor team and one actor in the idol team."


    The idea was to create a setup where they could learn from each other.


    "And Seoyeon, you¡¯re on the idol team."


    This was something Seoyeon hadn¡¯t expected.


    The Dream Future promotion kicked off and received more attention than anticipated. That was largely because two of the most popular members of the younger generation were leading the teams.


    The leader of the actor team was Park Jung-woo. The leader of the idol team was Ma Yeon-woo.


    This kind of promotion made sense, given that Dream Future was an idol drama. The drama itself was set to be broadcast both on TV and online in real-time.


    In other words, it was like a live broadcast. The promotion was a preview of what that would be like.


    "Wow, Yeon-woo, that¡¯s awesome!"


    When the members of JustX heard the news, they congratulated Ma Yeon-woo by patting him on the back.


    "Now go crush that arrogant guy!"


    The one who patted him on the back and made that comment was, a year later, to be caught up in a drug scandal involving over seven different substances. This was the leader of JustX, also known as the ¡°drug-taking idol.¡±


    "Yeah, hyung. Honestly, I think you can beat him even in acting," said another member, who would later become known as the Apgujeong Killer Hong after a drunk driving incident in which he ran over six people.


    "Ahem."


    Ma Yeon-woo felt a surge of confidence from their words, but he also had some concerns.


    This was because of something that happened on the first day they met for Dream Future.


    "Seoyeon, you¡¯re still in high school, right? Feel free to speak casually with us," Ma Yeon-woo had said to her.


    Since she didn¡¯t respond, he followed her to ask again just as she was about to part ways. Park Jung-woo, who was talking to Seoyeon at the time, frowned slightly, but Seoyeon surprisingly replied with a cheerful face.


    In fact, she had just been in the middle of a scolding, so she was grateful for the interruption.


    "No, you can¡¯t," she said.


    "......."


    "But, since it would be rude to just refuse outright..."


    Seoyeon raised her arm.


    "I¡¯ll acknowledge you if you can beat me in an arm-wrestling match."


    Arm-wrestling? Out of nowhere? Ma Yeon-woo chuckled at Seoyeon¡¯s challenge. Was she indirectly saying she wanted to hold his hand?


    "Sure, let¡¯s do it."


    "Wait, no..."


    Park Jung-woo seemed like he was about to intervene, but Ma Yeon-woo shook his head, thinking that Jung-woo wanted him to back off and not touch what he considered his own territory.


    "Alright! Let¡¯s do this!"


    And the result...


    "So, hyung, I heard you almost broke your arm? Did someone hit you or something?"


    "No, nothing like that."


    Ma Yeon-woo was just thankful that it didn¡¯t actually break.

 Chapter 88

    The initial reaction to the web promotion of Dream Future was rather lukewarm. The fact that it was being released through an internet broadcast contributed to this lack of enthusiasm.


    However...


    "Wait, JustX''s Ma Yeon-woo is going to be on it?" "Really? No way, are you serious?"


    The power of idol fandoms cannot be underestimated, especially when it comes to JustX, one of the most popular idol groups of the moment.


    The news that Ma Yeon-woo from JustX would be appearing quickly caught people''s attention. As a result, information about how the web promotion would be conducted started spreading among the public.


    "They said it''s actors versus idols, right?" "Seems like they¡¯re putting one actor on the idol team and one idol on the actor team." "So, the competition is based on acting and singing?" "Yeah, and there''s dancing too."


    These kinds of conversations were even happening at Yeonhwa High School, where Seoyeon was attending.


    "Should we go talk to her?" "You do it."


    The girls exchanged glances. Ju Seoyeon, the quiet girl who always sat quietly in class.


    Even before she started her acting career, she was a girl that wasn¡¯t easy to approach, and now it was even harder. There were only a few who had gotten closer to her after the school festival.


    At that moment...


    "Seoyeon, um, Seoyeon-ah."


    One brave girl spoke up.


    "......."


    Seoyeon slowly raised her gaze. The girls were from her class, but they had never really spoken to her before. They froze as Seoyeon looked at them.


    ''Damn, she¡¯s really pretty.''


    An actress is an actress. Just sitting there with a straight posture, she exuded an aura that made it hard to approach her. Plus, she typically wore a neutral expression.


    Of course, Seoyeon was also frozen at that moment.


    ''Why?''


    Why are they suddenly talking to me? Seoyeon, who had filmed variety shows and movies, found herself in a situation she had never encountered before.


    "Uh, um, are you really going to be on the show with Yeon-woo oppa from JustX?"


    But the brave one gets the answer. Seoyeon slowly nodded at the girl¡¯s question.


    "Yes." "Then, could you maybe get us his autograph? Just one, please!"


    Seoyeon didn''t think much of it.


    "Okay." "Really?"


    The girl''s face brightened at Seoyeon''s simple reply. And then...


    ''Huh?''


    Suddenly, girls began lining up in front of Seoyeon. All of them wanted to get an autograph from JustX.


    ''Is he that popular?''


    For a moment, Seoyeon wondered. JustX¡ªan idol group that would explode in popularity in just a year. She only remembered them as such, but it seemed their current recognition was already incredible.


    ¡®Even Jung-woo sunbae wasn¡¯t like this.¡¯


    Actors may have fans, but they rarely have such intense fanbases, at least in Korea.@@@@


    Thus, Seoyeon found herself receiving requests to sign all sorts of items¡ªordinary notebooks, clothes, and more.


    "...What is going on?"


    When she arrived at the filming site, Ma Yeon-woo politely greeted her. Seoyeon tilted her head, puzzled by his demeanor.


    "Um, I have a favor to ask. Is that okay?" "A favor?" "Yes."


    Seoyeon spoke as she set down a pile of items with a thud. Ma Yeon-woo momentarily lost his words. Did she really bring this all the way to the filming site?


    He swallowed nervously. He wasn''t mistaken in losing that arm wrestling match.


    "I got a few requests. But you don¡¯t have to do it if you don¡¯t want to." "I see."


    Was he really allowed to refuse? Ma Yeon-woo looked at the pile. There wasn¡¯t actually that much.


    ¡®Oh, it¡¯s not as much as I thought.¡¯


    It just looked heavy because of the mix of various items. Of course, it wasn¡¯t something a high school girl should have lugged all the way to a filming set. But ordinarily, Ma Yeon-woo would have declined.


    ¡®Signing too many autographs lowers your value.¡¯


    That was Ma Yeon-woo''s usual mindset. If his autograph became too common, it would lose its worth.


    So, he normally avoided giving autographs.


    "Is it really not okay?"


    Seoyeon asked in a flat tone. Ma Yeon-woo couldn¡¯t bring himself to refuse. His right arm ached as he listened to her voice.


    ¡®...Am I not the leader?¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo wondered. Why was the actor taking the lead in an idol team?


    Seoyeon had taken charge so naturally that it was hard to interrupt.


    "Since this is a promotion, we¡¯re supposed to showcase some scenes from the drama."


    And those scenes... Seoyeon checked the assigned scenes for the mission.


    Each of them had a list of the scenes in their scripts.


    "......." ".........."


    Everyone silently reviewed the scenes. Even Seoyeon, who had been enthusiastically scanning the script, was a bit taken aback.


    Was it because of the love scenes?


    Not quite. If it had been that, it would have been merely awkward. But this was a different kind of problem altogether.


    ¡®Oh, right. Dream Future was this kind of drama.¡¯


    She wondered how such a concept had managed to achieve over 20% viewership ratings.


    At first, Dream Future attracted attention because Ma Yeon-woo from JustX was participating. However, the excitement didn¡¯t last long. After all, it was just a small 3-on-3 team competition.


    Moreover, as a pre-promotion for a youth drama, it was bound to lose steam quickly.


    I''m still going to watch it though.Ju Seoyeon is busy. A movie and now a drama?


    Even in Ju Seoyeon¡¯s fan community, which had fewer than 300 active members, there was some discussion. But no one had high expectations.


    They were simply interested in the character of ¡®Ju Seoyeon¡¯ that had become popular through variety shows. There was little anticipation for the drama itself.


    And then the first episode of the web variety show aired.


    Already bored.How long is this meeting going to last?


    For the actor team, led by Park Jung-woo, the strategy was to win in the acting department, reflecting his personality. While they did sing and dance, it wasn¡¯t at an impressive level.


    Then came the idol team.


    Who is that? Get them off the screen.Stop ruining it and just leave.


    The idol team received criticism right from the start, mainly because Seoyeon took the lead. The fans who had come to see Ma Yeon-woo weren''t interested in a competition; they were there to see him.


    However, as the actual practice started, the number of viewers began to increase. The chat on the online broadcast channel became more active.


    Oh, Park Jung-woo can sing a bit.Why is Ma Yeon-woo so quiet? He usually acts out.


    But the most talked-about figure was Seoyeon.


    Wait, is Ju Seoyeon an ex-idol?She¡¯s really good at dancing.Her singing... is that right?My little brother sings just like that.


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t particularly bad at singing. It¡¯s just that her singing was overshadowed by her dancing.


    After practice ended...


    Hmm...For a promotional variety show, it''s a bit...


    The content of the first episode, mostly consisting of practice sessions, didn¡¯t receive great reviews. The common criticism was that it was boring. Just when it seemed like the episode would end...


    What? It''s not over yet?


    In the final segment, the scene switched to a practice session for the actual scenes. The competition involved filming two scenes and determining who did better in acting and singing.


    "I don''t think I can do it."


    Seoyeon appeared. Or rather, it was Seoyeon portraying Jo Ha-rin.


    "No matter how much I practice, my singing isn¡¯t improving. If I go on like this, it¡¯ll never work."


    This was a part that revealed the basic character of Jo Ha-rin. A character who excelled in dancing but struggled with singing. It was a role that fit Seoyeon perfectly.


    However, the character Jo Ha-rin had a one-sided crush on Kim Si-hwan, who was a complete package as an idol¡ªappearance, singing, and dancing.


    Jo Ha-rin desperately tried to follow in his footsteps but couldn¡¯t keep up.


    "Ha-rin!"


    At that moment, a man approached the despairing girl. It was Park Min-yul. Just as Jo Ha-rin had a crush on Kim Si-hwan, Park Min-yul harbored feelings for Jo Ha-rin.


    But he couldn¡¯t express his feelings for fear of burdening her.


    "You¡¯re doing great. I¡¯m here for you!"


    A cliche? line came out, and naturally, the reaction in the chat wasn¡¯t great either.


    Haha, so predictable.So now she gets comforted and suddenly gets better? Overcomes her trauma?


    Just as they were typing these comments...


    "Look at me, Ha-rin!"


    Park Min-yul suddenly started dancing as he approached her.


    ?What the heck? Why is he suddenly dancing?


    "I couldn¡¯t dance either, but look at how much I¡¯ve improved!"


    Stop, please.Can¡¯t he just say it without dancing?


    The chat sped up, but the dancing continued. Park Min-yul shouted.


    "So you can do it too! You can sing too!"


    Ah...


    But the scene didn¡¯t stop despite the chat. Jo Ha-rin, encouraged by Park Min-yul¡¯s words, smiled faintly.


    Oh no, please don''t tell me...


    And with Park Min-yul¡¯s dance, Jo Ha-rin opened her mouth.


    "You''re right."


    Wait.Oh no.What?


    Suddenly, an upbeat rhythm started playing. Jo Ha-rin began to sing, her beautiful voice soaring through the space. As her melody harmonized with the rhythm, Park Min-yul¡¯s dancing became even more intense.


    We were wrong... Please, just stop...


    Naturally, the singing and dancing didn¡¯t stop. The chat exploded, as expected.

 Chapter 89

    Thus, the web promotional variety show for Dream Future sparked unexpected buzz on the internet. The completely unpredictable development, along with the sudden inclusion of dance and song in what was supposed to be a youth romance, created a chaotic mix.


    Even though only two scenes were released, that alone was enough to set drama-related communities on fire.


    Did that meme really come from here?Ma Yeon-woo, what the heck? This is ridiculous.Can he at least act? His face looks like he¡¯s checked out.


    For the record, the competition between the actor team and the idol team ended in a perfect tie. The idol team naturally dominated in singing and dancing. The acting, while somewhat close, was marred by Ma Yeon-woo''s notably poor performance.


    Usually, this would have been heavily criticized.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped... I have to agree.Ma Yeon-woo, you¡¯re a legend.At least he gave us a good laugh.


    Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s poor acting quickly became a meme, spreading across various communities. The scene where he suddenly starts dancing while walking, and the intense dance moves synchronized with Seoyeon¡¯s singing, were particularly highlighted.


    Although Park Jung-woo''s team technically won in the acting category with their stable performances, the spotlight was undoubtedly on Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s side. Consequently, Seoyeon, who had supported Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s flamboyant dance with her singing, also became a topic of conversation.


    Seoyeon, I really like you, but please, no more singing...Just stick to dancing, please.Combining Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s acting with that song was unbearable. Was it just me?I had to turn it off halfway through.Is this what they call the uncanny valley?


    With this level of buzz, YouTubers and various content creators quickly picked up on it, and analyses of Dream Future began to circulate.


    ¡°This seems like they¡¯re trying to do a musical drama. It¡¯s quite innovative... Wait, no, it¡¯s not?¡±


    ¡°This is an interesting attempt, though. Usually, in dramas, the lead actors are a bit older, even if they¡¯re playing high school students.¡±


    ¡°Who is this? Ju Seoyeon? Oh, I know her. I saw her on a recent variety show.¡±@@@@


    One YouTuber, with over a million subscribers, took particular interest in the buzz. Han Bong-sik, known for reviewing movies and dramas, hadn¡¯t initially cared about Dream Future. But the constant memes caught his eye.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s give this a proper review.¡±


    The YouTuber started by watching the first scene that had caused the buzz¡ªthe idol team¡¯s first acting performance in Dream Future.


    ¡°To summarize this scene: Jo Ha-rin feels talentless and becomes discouraged. Then Park Min-yul, who secretly has a crush on her, comforts her by... dancing? Wait, who wrote this script?¡±


    This is the right reaction.I feel like I¡¯m losing my mind.Why is he comforting her by dancing? Is this Bollywood?Even in Bollywood, they don¡¯t randomly sing while dancing, right?


    Even hearing a summary was confusing. For someone who had reviewed countless dramas and movies, this left even him momentarily dumbfounded.


    ¡°Judging by the official website, this is supposed to be a serious youth romance drama. Maybe I don¡¯t understand what ¡®serious¡¯ means anymore.¡±


    After watching the scenes that had gone viral, he nodded in agreement. Having already seen the memes, the impact was lessened.


    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±


    What is it?Explain so we can understand.


    ¡°Both are still inexperienced in their respective fields¡ªJu Seoyeon with singing, and Ma Yeon-woo with acting. That¡¯s why this ended up so bizarre. Look at Park Jung-woo¡¯s side; it¡¯s not causing any buzz. He did well enough.¡±


    That¡¯s true.That scene was the same, but a bit boring.


    That was the gist of it. Park Jung-woo¡¯s side did have some flaws, but Kim Si-hwan, his character, was supposed to excel in singing. Since Park Jung-woo himself was quite capable of singing, there was little room for things to go wrong.


    The only minor hiccup was from Hwang Seol-ha, the other actor on his team.


    ¡°On the other hand, this side has a second scene.¡±


    If the first scene involved Seoyeon and Ma Yeon-woo, the second scene featured Seoyeon and Cha Na-hee.


    Since it would have been too much for the two idols to handle the acting part alone, Seoyeon was added to support them.


    I got chills from watching this.Was it that good?People get chills when they¡¯re scared, dude...


    ¡°You¡¯re being too harsh. This one was at least better.¡±


    Fortunately, this scene was better because Seoyeon danced. Who knows why every scene includes dancing and singing, but that seems to be the nature of this drama.


    ¡°That¡¯s why there are fewer memes from this scene. At least the dancing matched well with the acting.¡±


    Definitely true.Seoyeon¡¯s acting is really good.Wow, does Ju Seoyeon already have fans? Look how kind the chat is.She¡¯s pretty.


    ¡°Even from this, it¡¯s clear this wasn¡¯t done as a joke. It¡¯s serious. And honestly, if it were properly filmed and edited, it could look completely different.¡±


    This was something a video review YouTuber could say, having watched so many productions.


    ¡°If you notice, the singing and background music are there, but the camera hardly moves. Basically, the scenes are shot in a variety show format rather than a drama format. That¡¯s why it looks so funny.¡±


    Oh, I get it (I don¡¯t get it).If you don¡¯t get it, are you a dropout?


    ¡°So if these funny scenes were directed and edited like a drama, it could be completely different.¡±


    Of course, given the script, it might not be mind-blowing, but it would definitely be better.


    ¡°If both sides work on their weaknesses, I honestly think this drama could perform well. I¡¯m predicting over 20% viewership!¡±


    Bong-sik, are you serious?If this gets 20%, I¡¯m ending it all.Korea is doomed.


    He smiled at Seoyeon. No woman had ever resisted his charm before.


    ¡°......?¡±


    Seoyeon frowned in response. Knowing his notorious history, she could guess the reason behind that smile.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    At that moment, Ma Yeon-woo rushed in and quickly inserted himself between Seoyeon and the members.


    ¡°Seoyeon? Or should I say Seoyeon-ssi? Anyway, don¡¯t bother her. Go on, move along.¡± ¡°What the heck? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?¡±


    Lee Hyun was taken aback by Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s sudden push. However, Ma Yeon-woo was flustered for a different reason. He was honestly scared.


    ¡®What is this idiot doing to a high school girl?¡¯


    If this got out, it would be a massive scandal. Ma Yeon-woo might not have the best personality, but he didn¡¯t want to ruin his career. A minor controversy was one thing, but this was on another level.


    Moreover, he noticed Seoyeon¡¯s eyes narrowing into a sharp glare. He knew what could happen if you crossed her at the wrong time.


    ¡®It wasn¡¯t captured on camera, but still...¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo shuddered. Cha Na-hee would likely agree with him.


    The ¡®Idol Team¡¯ continued to work together even after the promotional ad ended.


    When they rehearsed their lines, it was always the three of them together.


    ¡°It¡¯s better to work with people you¡¯ve already practiced with, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    That was what Director Kim Pil-seok had said. As a result, Ma Yeon-woo received a lot of help from Seoyeon in improving his acting.


    ¡°Your eye movement isn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°...Eye movement?¡± ¡°You have to be aware of where the camera is.¡±


    Seoyeon would give demonstrations as she explained. Every time she did, Ma Yeon-woo was reminded that, while she might be intimidating, she was definitely a skilled actress.


    She had a certain presence that made it hard to look away. Even Cha Na-hee listened closely to Seoyeon¡¯s advice.


    A model student. That was Cha Na-hee, and it naturally made the troublemaker Ma Yeon-woo fall in line. Moreover, Seoyeon was strict.


    Whenever Ma Yeon-woo made a mistake, her eyes would narrow. She would correct his posture with her hands, and every time she did, Ma Yeon-woo could feel his body creak.


    ¡®This is weird.¡¯


    Ma Yeon-woo had a body trained through dance, but he couldn¡¯t seem to resist Seoyeon¡¯s strength. Even after long dance practices, she didn¡¯t seem to break a sweat...


    ¡°Hey, Ma Yeon-woo, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Just shoot the ad. I¡¯m saving you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Lee Hyun didn¡¯t understand what Ma Yeon-woo was saying. Saving him? From what?


    As for Seoyeon...


    ¡®The members seem to get along well.¡¯


    Though they might be criminals... she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little envious. Lee Ji-yeon, on the other hand, didn¡¯t like it when others got too close to her.


    But there were kids like this at school, too. Seoyeon secretly longed for that kind of camaraderie.


    ¡®But soon...¡¯


    Seoyeon felt confident. Thanks to JustX, more students were starting to approach her.


    Just a little more, and she would reach the realm of true friendship.


    With this confidence, the first episode of Dream Future was fast approaching its broadcast date.

 Chapter 90

    Seoyeon had a lot on her mind when it came to her role as Jo Ha-rin. Dream Future was essentially structured around couples, with each pair forming a significant relationship:


    Kim Si-hwan and Song So-haPark Min-yul and Jo Ha-rinHa Yu-seong and Jin Hye-min


    That was the general setup. Among them, Jo Ha-rin had a particularly complex storyline, primarily due to her unrequited love for Kim Si-hwan.


    "Unrequited love, huh."


    To be honest, this was a feeling Seoyeon found difficult to understand. She still struggled with emotional connections with others, which made it hard for her to grasp such emotions fully.


    She figured that this difficulty in forming friendships might stem from the same reason. Just like with love, she hadn¡¯t been able to find a clear definition for friendship either.


    The only relationship she had consistently maintained over time was with Lee Ji-yeon, which she labeled as friendship.


    "But unrequited love..."


    Seoyeon sat alone in her dark living room, staring at the TV, lost in thought. This had become a routine as she filmed Dream Future.


    Whenever she had spare time, Seoyeon would watch romance or romantic dramas. Despite the quirky nature of Dream Future, as described on the website, it wasn¡¯t a comedy.


    It was clearly a youth romance drama centered around the mental growth of its characters. The backdrop was an idol audition, focusing on six idols who participated in it.


    "I still don¡¯t get it."


    Empathy. She hadn¡¯t understood its importance in the past, but now she knew better. To enter a role deeply through method acting, one had to empathize with the character.


    In other words, if she couldn¡¯t empathize with the character, method acting would be difficult from the start.


    "Jo Ha-rin doesn¡¯t require deep immersion for the role."


    Her character was lighthearted and bubbly. If she just acted naturally, Seoyeon was confident she could do well. Her performance in the pre-released "web promotion" had been praised.


    Even during the first shoot, everyone gave her a thumbs up. Of course, this was more noticeable when compared to the idol¡¯s acting.


    However, something still nagged at Seoyeon. Even though she had joined the drama primarily to improve her image...


    "So..."


    Park Jung-woo stirred the straw in his iced Americano as he spoke.


    "Have you ever been in love?" "No."


    Seoyeon stared at him blankly, and Park Jung-woo was left speechless.


    ¡®Is she serious?¡¯


    They were at a cafe? near the set, with both of them keeping a low profile, so no one recognized them.


    ¡®Doesn¡¯t she realize how dangerous that question is?¡¯


    If he didn¡¯t know Seoyeon well, he might have misunderstood. Especially considering that in Dream Future, Park Jung-woo¡¯s character was the one Jo Ha-rin had a crush on¡ªKim Si-hwan.


    It was a potentially risky question.


    ¡®She must be quite unfamiliar with these kinds of things.¡¯


    Sometimes, Seoyeon displayed an unusual level of ignorance. Jung-woo had noticed this while observing her, and most of her actions shared one common thread.


    It was a lack of understanding of specific emotions that arise when interacting with others¡ªanger, jealousy, or, as in this case, love.


    Seoyeon sometimes acted as if she didn¡¯t know these emotions. While it was understandable for anger or jealousy, Jung-woo had no words when it came to love. After all...


    "I haven¡¯t." "What?" "Do you have any idea how busy I¡¯ve been?"


    He hadn¡¯t even attended school properly. From a young age, he had been a child actor, constantly filming commercials, dramas, and movies.


    So he had hardly any experience interacting with people. The only ones he occasionally crossed paths with were fellow actors.


    Of course, there were young actresses or idols who had approached him.


    "Then it¡¯s not surprising." "Sigh."


    "It¡¯s not like you¡¯re getting lost in emotional acting like before." "......" "I¡¯ll take it as a sign that you genuinely want to do this."


    Emotional acting, or method acting, as some call it.


    Seoyeon wanted to immerse herself fully in the character of Jo Ha-rin.


    "First, let me say this: there¡¯s no need to rush." "What?" "Of course, I haven¡¯t seen much of your acting, Seoyeon."


    After all, the dramas and movies Seoyeon had filmed hadn¡¯t been released to the public yet.


    "But from what I¡¯ve observed, you seem to have a lot of ambition." "That¡¯s..." "I understand that you want to do this, but there¡¯s no need to hurry."


    Jung Eun-sun sincerely believed that. Even after ten years, Seoyeon was still young.


    "Romantic acting. If you ever fall in love, you¡¯ll be able to understand it deeply. But even then, it might not be the same."


    "What do you mean by that?" "Love doesn¡¯t always take on a beautiful form. It doesn¡¯t always have a single, definitive shape."


    For instance, let¡¯s say you fall for someone. But if that person doesn¡¯t match you well, or if they approach you with ill intentions, even if it starts as love, it might not end well.


    "Having the experience might help you understand, but it¡¯s not everything."


    Seoyeon looked at Jung Eun-sun with eyes that seemed to ask what she should do then.


    "When you were younger, you displayed excellent emotional acting. You didn¡¯t need method acting for that."


    Just a little bit more, she needed to add her thoughts. Shape it into the ideal form.


    Jung Eun-sun mentioned that Park Jung-woo¡¯s acting followed this approach.


    "If you want to understand other emotions, there will come a time when you can."


    Even emotions like the love Seoyeon was longing to experience now.


    Jung Eun-sun smiled at Seoyeon, who was staring at her.


    After ten years, she was finally seeing a young girl emerge from the once doll-like child.


    "Seoyeon, you¡¯re still young, so express that imagination in your acting."


    That should be enough.


    Even if the emotion was unfamiliar to her, even if she thought she couldn¡¯t understand it herself, as long as she was human, she would inevitably grasp it.


    Is Dream Future going to air live at the same time?They said so, right?Is it going to feel like a variety show?Judging by the ads, it seems like it, lol.


    Dream Future Episode 1.


    The scenes from the web promotion had already garnered considerable attention online.


    JustX''s Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s first attempt at acting, along with the involvement of Park Jung-woo and Ju Seoyeon, two recently popular actors, made it a highly anticipated broadcast.


    The buzz was undeniable. But was it serious interest?


    Usually, the trailer is the best part.Honestly, I¡¯m not watching this drama for comedy.Agreed, this isn¡¯t a sitcom.


    It was mostly curiosity. People wondered what would actually come out of it. How would the funny scenes they saw in the trailer play out in the actual show?


    The beginning of Episode 1 was indeed reminiscent of the trailer, evoking the vibe of an early 90s drama.


    But this is kind of good.


    As the story of Kim Si-hwan and Song So-ha, who participated in the audition, unfolded, viewers began to immerse themselves. However, unlike the raw footage used in the variety show, the properly edited video had a completely different feel.


    Park Jung-woo is definitely solid.It¡¯s easier to get into since there¡¯s no dancing or singing.Hmm... but it¡¯s kind of boring.


    As the much-anticipated scenes didn¡¯t quite deliver, reactions were mixed. Some liked it, while others were unimpressed.


    After the stories of the two leads ended, it was time for the remaining four main actors to take the stage.


    First up was Seoyeon.


    Jo Ha-rin, who arrived late to the audition, happened to encounter Kim Si-hwan by chance. As Jo Ha-rin¡¯s performance began...


    Oh?


    The viewers'' reactions started to change. Not just laughter, but genuine interest began to emerge.


    It was turning into a proper drama.

 Chapter 91

    Jo Ha-rin was a girl from the countryside, freshly graduated from high school. Ignoring her parents'' wishes for her to go to college, she had ventured to Seoul on her own, a rural girl in the big city.


    But it wasn¡¯t that she had come to Seoul without a plan. Unlike her parents, who wanted her to have a normal job, Jo Ha-rin had always harbored a dream since she was a child.


    And she hadn¡¯t come to Seoul without a strategy.


    "Produce Star 200..."


    Jo Ha-rin muttered to herself, releasing a tense sigh.


    It was a large-scale audition program with 200 aspiring idols participating. Thousands of applicants had applied¡ªnot just from Korea but from overseas as well.


    Jo Ha-rin had proudly passed the preliminary round, which had seen thousands of applicants, and earned the right to participate in the main broadcast.


    "Yes, I can definitely do this."


    She nodded repeatedly, almost looking a bit foolish. But her round, bright eyes, full of determination, evoked a protective instinct.


    Jo Ha-rin looked at the photos stored on her slightly outdated phone, nodding again. But only for a moment.


    "But..."


    Her eyes started to tremble as she stared at the photos. Her attempt to escape reality had reached its limit.


    "Where am I?"


    For a girl from the countryside, Seoul was overwhelming. This was her whispered question as she stood in the middle of Gangnam Boulevard, with only two hours left until the Produce Star 200 shoot began.


    This girl seems a bit clueless.She''s going to be the annoying character, isn¡¯t she?Who did her makeup? Does it even look right?She''s supposed to look like a country girl, so they made her look rustic on purpose.


    As Jo Ha-rin appeared on screen, the chat of viewers watching the live broadcast started to fill with comments. The character¡¯s design was unremarkable¡ªa country girl who came to Seoul dreaming of becoming an idol. It was a common setup, but one that often resonated well.


    Jo Ha-rin currently wore large, horn-rimmed glasses. Her hair was simply tied back in a single ponytail.


    Her clothes were baggy, emphasizing her awkwardness. For viewers who were familiar with Seoyeon¡¯s appearance, this transformation felt oddly out of place.


    "What do I do!"


    After a brief transition to another character¡¯s story, the drama returned to Jo Ha-rin¡¯s part. The first episode of Dream Future primarily introduced the main characters. Jo Ha-rin was only given about ten minutes of screen time.


    There weren¡¯t many scenes she could showcase. And with the drama nearing its end, the remaining time was limited.


    Each character was given, at most, five minutes.


    Though there was a final scene where all the characters appeared together, which could extend her time a bit.


    However...


    What a cliche? character.Haha, this is like a character from a decade ago.So annoying.


    Jo Ha-rin¡¯s character was bound to attract critics. Many people disliked overly bubbly characters, and a country girl coming to the big city had its own frustrating elements.


    Moreover, her rustic appearance didn¡¯t leave a good impression, so the live chat was filling up with negative comments.


    "Are you okay?"


    Someone called out to Jo Ha-rin as she ran around, lost and unable to find the filming location.


    It was Kim Si-hwan.


    He carefully asked, seeing the panic on Jo Ha-rin¡¯s face.


    "Huh? What?"


    Jo Ha-rin looked up at Kim Si-hwan with a startled expression. To her, a girl from the countryside, he was shockingly handsome, leaving her almost speechless.


    "Oh, um, I¡¯m trying to get to this place."


    This was her first time receiving kindness in Seoul. Her voice trembled as she explained the location, and Kim Si-hwan¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise.


    "Oh, I happen to be heading there too." "What?" "Shall we go together?"


    He smiled warmly as he spoke, and Jo Ha-rin nodded slightly before quickly shaking her head. No matter how desperate she was, she couldn¡¯t impose on him like that.


    "I¡¯m really sorry, but..." "No, let¡¯s go together." "...?"


    Kim Si-hwan, who had answered kindly with a smile, turned out to be unexpectedly insistent. He tossed a motorcycle helmet to Jo Ha-rin.


    "Get on." "Wait, hold on." "Let¡¯s go!" "..."


    With his insistence, Jo Ha-rin was forced onto his motorcycle, and they sped off to the filming location. It all happened in a flash. Riding a motorcycle for the first time left Jo Ha-rin dizzy.


    "We¡¯re rivals now at the audition."


    Kim Si-hwan said this as they arrived at the filming location. He was about to walk away as if their interaction had ended. It made sense.


    After all, Jo Ha-rin and Kim Si-hwan had just met for the first time that day. Normally, Jo Ha-rin would have simply bowed and parted ways.


    However...


    On impulse, Jo Ha-rin reached out and tugged at his sleeve as he turned away.


    "Um." "Yes?" "Why did you help me today?"


    Jo Ha-rin was genuinely curious. For him, it was just a small act of kindness, but for her, it was the first kindness she had received since coming to Seoul.


    He was the first person to reach out a hand to her in a world that felt completely foreign.


    Kim Si-hwan chuckled softly at Jo Ha-rin¡¯s question.


    "Because I thought I¡¯d get lucky." "What?" "I just had that feeling."


    He answered simply. It was a silly answer, but Jo Ha-rin watched as he walked away with a smile. Beneath her glasses, Jo Ha-rin¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    Her lips parted slightly, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes trembled.


    "I see." "Yeah, that¡¯s all there is to it."


    As Kim Si-hwan casually responded, Jo Ha-rin smiled. Even though he was pretending to be nonchalant, Jo Ha-rin knew.


    She knew that he was just making excuses. There was no real reason for him helping her.


    Kim Si-hwan had simply seen her struggling and decided to help. There was no deeper reason. It was pure kindness.


    Oh...Wow...


    The judge, who had a stern expression, said.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Although the judges were smiling, their demeanor suggested they weren¡¯t expecting much. Clips of other idol contestants flashed by, including the four main characters who had already appeared, such as Song So-ha and Park Min-yul.


    Finally, Kim Si-hwan¡¯s gaze lingered on Jo Ha-rin as she took hold of the microphone.


    Before dancing, she needed to be evaluated on her singing.


    Wait a minute.Seoyeon, please don¡¯t sing.


    The chat picked up speed as viewers, who had already heard Seoyeon sing in the variety show, expressed their concerns.


    She wasn¡¯t bad.


    That was the general opinion, but in a drama, an awkwardly competent performance could be even harder to listen to.


    However...


    This wasn¡¯t Seoyeon standing on stage.


    It was Jo Ha-rin.


    A girl who had just fallen in love.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know what that feeling is, but...¡¯


    She had experienced it through many media.


    Sometimes it appeared in terrible forms, but that emotion was mostly portrayed as beautiful.


    It was something that made her long to experience it herself one day.


    Seoyeon¡¯s singing lacked emotion, which made it feel awkward to everyone.


    Especially Han Da-young, the wizard she had met through Ji-yeon.


    ¡°Putting emotion into your voice is a natural thing.¡±


    Han Da-young had told Seoyeon that she was too self-conscious about it.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a robot, right, Seoyeon? People naturally express emotions when they speak, without thinking about it. It¡¯s the same with singing.¡±


    Seoyeon thought she was past this, but apparently not.


    It wasn¡¯t just about speaking; it was about singing.


    ¡°Singing is just an extension of speaking. If you try too hard to put emotion into it, you¡¯ll miss out on a lot.¡±


    Just like Seoyeon¡¯s singing now.


    Han Da-young had done her best to help Seoyeon understand how to sing naturally.


    ¡®The emotion Jo Ha-rin felt.¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t replaced with a specific form.


    Seoyeon simply sketched out that form vaguely.


    Not through method acting, but through emotional imitation.


    She painted a picture in her mind, adding her imagination.


    And her longing.


    What?


    The chat displayed reactions of confusion.


    A delicate voice spread across the stage.


    The judges, who had been somewhat indifferent, widened their eyes as they focused on Jo Ha-rin.


    The viewers watching the broadcast were also captivated.


    It was a love song.


    The song Jo Ha-rin sang on stage was a gentle ballad.


    A soft, clear voice.


    While it lacked technical skill, her voice was enchanting.


    Jo Ha-rin¡¯s eyes softened, and she wore a pure, clear smile as she sang.


    A girl in love.


    It was as if she were portraying that very moment, singing lightly to the rhythm, like a flower blooming.


    Radiant and beautiful emotions spread beyond the screen.


    The expressions on the judges¡¯ faces, and finally, the faces of Kim Si-hwan and Song So-ha, were shown.


    From Song So-ha¡¯s perspective as the lead female character, it hinted at the arrival of a strong rival.


    At the same time, this scene had not originally been emphasized in the script.


    In the original script, Jo Ha-rin was supposed to sing awkwardly and pass the audition by relying on her dancing skills.


    However, Director Kim Pil-seok had made some adjustments.


    Of course, he had consulted with the writer first.


    This resulted in the current scene.


    A highlight for Jo Ha-rin, which came about two-thirds into the first episode.


    And this choice...


    ["Dream Future is not just a comedy¡ªIt starts strong with 15% viewership!"]


    ["Is her awkward singing acting? Ju Seoyeon''s surprising charm"]


    ["Peak viewership hits 21%! Signs of a Dream Future hit"]


    ...sparked an explosive reaction.

 Chapter 92

    This drama is different from what I expected.It has a bit of a cheap vibe, but still...Jo Ha-rin is really pretty. Is she the main character?No, she''s the secondary lead.???? No sense at all.


    The first broadcast of Dream Future was met with an unexpectedly positive reception, garnering a 15% viewership rating. This was an exceptionally encouraging result, as only two other dramas this year had achieved such ratings.


    Considering that those two dramas had significantly higher budgets and star-studded casts, Dream Future''s success was nothing short of a shock, even causing the higher-ups to take notice.


    "Is this really happening?"


    That statement perfectly captured the situation. Director Kim Pil-seok, who had initially been perceived as a competent but relatively young director, now found his reputation significantly enhanced.


    He had always been regarded as a capable director among the younger generation, but now...


    "He''s the problem solver, isn''t he?" "Absolutely. Nobody wanted to take on this project." "Well, it''s a youth romance, a genre that''s practically obsolete..." "To be honest, I was skeptical when I first saw the proposal."


    These were the kinds of discussions taking place within the broadcasting station.


    "But more than anything else..."


    There was another person who had caught the attention of the drama team at the broadcasting station.


    "It''s that girl again." "That girl? Ah, right..."


    The KMB drama team, especially the long-serving members, couldn¡¯t forget one particular "girl."


    Ju Seoyeon.


    The child actress who had once shaken the entire broadcasting station with her performance in The Moon That Hid the Sun. She had made a dazzling comeback, making her name known again.


    "Whenever Seoyeon is involved, something changes." "Yeah, I know. There''s just a different feeling."


    A few members of the drama team remarked on this as they reviewed the first episode of Dream Future.


    "Usually, the highlight at the end of an episode gets the highest ratings." "Right, but I heard that Jo Ha-rin''s audition scene had even higher ratings?" "Yes, by about 2%."


    Director Kim Pil-seok had personally put extra effort into that scene. It was a slightly altered version of the original script. While he had discussed it with the writer, it had felt like a gamble.


    The focus should have been on the main leads in the first episode, but he had decided to give some attention to Jo Ha-rin as well. The result was a massive success.


    "This is a real headache for Cha Na-hee, who plays Song So-ha." "She''s probably feeling the pressure, especially since she''s an idol."


    In fact, fans of Cha Na-hee¡¯s girl group were already voicing their concerns. They were upset that her screen time seemed to have been reduced.


    "But it¡¯s not like Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time was significantly increased. Her scenes barely added up to 10 minutes, even when you count all the cutscenes together." "Yeah, and Song So-ha had more than double that amount."


    In truth, Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time wasn¡¯t much different from the other supporting characters, aside from Kim Si-hwan and Song So-ha. Her total screen time amounted to about 10 minutes, which included the shared cutscenes. Her personal scenes were even shorter, consisting mainly of her introduction and the audition scene.


    Yet, despite having far less screen time than Song So-ha, Jo Ha-rin made a much stronger impression on the viewers.


    It wasn''t that Jo Ha-rin did anything wrong. The only change in the script was that she passed the audition with her singing instead of dancing.


    So why did this happen?


    It was all about the acting. The impact of Jo Ha-rin¡¯s scenes was so much greater than Song So-ha¡¯s that viewers were left with the impression that Jo Ha-rin had appeared more frequently.


    After watching the drama, when people talked about it, they would inevitably mention the most memorable scenes. This was a significant advantage for Dream Future''s early success, but not everyone was happy about it.


    "This shouldn¡¯t have been allowed."


    Writer Im Jin-ha muttered with a tone of irritation.


    "Oh, come on, Writer Im! It¡¯s a hit, isn¡¯t that great?" "......"@@@@


    Baek Tae-soo, a PD from the drama department who had a good relationship with Im Jin-ha, tried to console him. Baek Tae-soo was one of the senior PDs at KMB. Many expected him to be the next head of the drama department within a few years.


    He had had a chance before, but unfortunately, someone much more capable than him had taken the position, leaving him no choice but to step aside.


    "She couldn¡¯t sing in the variety show." "Yeah, I saw that. Ju Seoyeon, right? She wasn¡¯t good." "Exactly. That¡¯s why I agreed to it... but I was completely fooled."


    Had that been acting too? How could she have sung so impressively in that scene? Im Jin-ha was not pleased.


    ¡®I don¡¯t like this.¡¯


    Jo Ha-rin had originally been a character added out of necessity. She was meant to be a seasoning to the main dish, added to spice up the storyline between Song So-ha and Kim Si-hwan. But now, this seasoning was overshadowing the main course.


    In some ways, it wasn¡¯t entirely wrong to think that way. A minor character shouldn¡¯t overshadow the main characters. But Im Jin-ha¡¯s dissatisfaction ran deeper.


    ¡®What¡¯s her relationship with Park Jung-woo?¡¯


    Im Jin-ha was a fan of Park Jung-woo. He had wanted Park Jung-woo for the lead role from the start, and seeing Seoyeon getting close to him rubbed him the wrong way.


    ¡®Yes, that¡¯s what I should do.¡¯


    Even so, there wasn¡¯t much a drama writer could do.


    Drama writers, especially those with careers as relatively short as Im Jin-ha''s, often had limited power.


    If it weren¡¯t for Baek Tae-soo PD and the one hit under his belt, Im Jin-ha wouldn¡¯t have been able to say a word. But conversely, this meant that now he could.


    "I think I¡¯ll reduce her screen time a bit more." "Hmm? Why? Things are going well right now..." "She¡¯s overshadowing the main character." "Well, that¡¯s true."


    Even though it was Ju Seoyeon who had significantly boosted the ratings for Dream Future, reducing her screen time might not be a bad idea...


    ¡®But a drama where the lead gets overshadowed isn¡¯t likely to succeed.¡¯


    Even though the drama had taken off thanks to Ju Seoyeon, no one knew how long that would last. Giving more emphasis to Cha Na-hee might be a good move. While Ju Seoyeon¡¯s acting had shone brightly, Baek Tae-soo didn¡¯t think Cha Na-hee¡¯s acting was bad either.


    Is that Ma Yeon-woo playing Park Min-yul?Wasn¡¯t his character supposed to be upbeat and friendly?Friendly??? That sounds more like Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s real personality.What kind of vibe is this?Ugh.Why are they doing the audition mission on the street in the first place?Why not? It¡¯s possible.?Wait, no way...Is this for real?Oh my god...Turn on your blinker before you enter...Ah, I almost forgot this was that kind of drama after the first episode.I¡¯m losing my mind!!!I think I¡¯m going crazy.Who wrote this script?Ah...Please, just stop.Wait, hold on.Did they all get hypnotized?If you wanted to ruin the drama, you should¡¯ve just said so.I recommended this drama to a friend...And they didn¡¯t unfriend you? Your friend is too kind.But they¡¯re actually doing well.The song is unexpectedly good.I¡¯m going to keep watching just to see what happens next.It¡¯s surprisingly watchable.The songs are good, too.But didn¡¯t Jo Ha-rin seem to have less screen time this episode?She didn¡¯t really have any scenes to appear in.That¡¯s true.


    It felt like Jo Ha-rin, who had made a strong impact in the first episode, had her screen time reduced in this one. Most people attributed it to the nature of the episode.


    "Good."


    Writer Im Jin-ha smiled as he observed the reactions on various online communities.


    It wasn¡¯t that he had made significant changes to the script or altered many scenes.


    He had simply removed a few lines.


    That was enough.


    ¡®If I keep reducing her role like this...¡¯


    By the time they reached the eighth episode, she would barely be visible.


    Im Jin-ha laughed at the thought.


    But there was one thing Im Jin-ha hadn¡¯t considered.


    The third trailer for The Chaser that was released that evening.


    The second trailer for The Chaser hadn¡¯t been much different from the first.


    Two detectives searching for the killer.


    Brutally murdered victims.


    A chase with the killer in a raincoat.


    The only difference was that there were more shots of Cha Seo-ah, the convenience store clerk.


    Why do they keep showing this extra character¡¯s face so often?They¡¯re probably trying to capitalize on her recent rise in popularity.Hmm...


    Such comments were common.


    As discussions about The Chaser started to gain traction, the final third trailer was released just before the premiere.


    The cinematography is definitely impressive.But there don¡¯t seem to be any new scenes?


    The trailer was about two minutes long.


    It combined the key scenes from the first and second trailers.


    Ju Seoyeon, who had been criticized for her role as the convenience store clerk, barely appeared. Most viewers assumed that her role had been cut after the backlash from the second trailer.


    But then...


    Drip, drip, drip.


    The sound of rain falling.


    It was the same scene that had appeared frequently in the second trailer.


    The chase scene with the two detectives.


    In the previous trailer, it had always ended with them losing the killer.


    Now, the camera focused on the small figure of the killer standing still in a yellow raincoat.


    Clang.


    A fire axe held by the killer dropped to the ground.


    Thump, thump, thump.


    The heartbeat-like background music grew louder as the killer¡¯s hand slowly moved.


    The viewers watching all thought, "No way."


    Was the killer¡¯s face finally going to be revealed?


    Rustle.


    The hood of the raincoat slowly came down, revealing long, black hair.


    Slowly.


    Very slowly, the camera panned up, showing a sharp jawline and pale, rain-soaked skin.


    Finally.


    Red eyes.


    Glowing red eyes in the darkness.


    Cha Seo-ah.


    The woman who had been seen as nothing more than a convenience store clerk.


    The screen went black as her face was revealed.


    As if to say, everything had been shown.


    Quietly, the title The Chaser appeared on the now completely dark screen.


    Afterward, it was no surprise that movie communities exploded with discussions.

 Chapter 93

    The third trailer for The Chaser initially seemed like a simple compilation of the first and second trailers. Given that a movie has only so many scenes it can reveal¡ªespecially in a thriller where too much exposure can detract from the immersion on release day¡ªthe first two trailers had mainly focused on the masked killer in the raincoat and the police chase. The identity of the victims was not even clearly shown.


    But then came the final ten seconds.


    Ju Seoyeon is the killer???What¡¯s going on?Wasn¡¯t she just the convenience store clerk?I knew it. Why else would an extra be in the trailer?For real.But the atmosphere is intense...


    In the trailer, the appearance of Cha Seo-ah, the killer in The Chaser, lasted only ten seconds. Of those, her face was visible for just two seconds.


    The rest was all about setting the mood, showing only her silhouette. But that was enough.


    It was more than enough to capture the public¡¯s attention.


    [The Chaser Third Trailer: 13 Million Views]


    Five days after the trailer¡¯s release, it was on its way to a record-breaking number of views.


    Even now, with the momentum slowing, it was still racking up at least half a million views a day¡ªsometimes even a million.@@@@


    This sudden surge in interest affected various online communities as well.


    Is this a stock forum?Are you guys crazy? This is a stock forum!!!!? So what.


    As a result, forums dedicated to Ju Seoyeon saw a surge in activity. What used to average around a hundred posts a day was now exceeding ten times that amount.


    The killer is Ju Seoyeon, lol.Was she always supposed to have red eyes?Not sure? Hasn¡¯t she had them since she was young?But isn¡¯t she practically a newbie? Is this okay?Her acting has been proven.How much proof do you need?I suspected when I saw her small stature. Was I the only one?Oh, shut up.Pathetic.But her last scene was insane.Do they usually reveal the killer in the trailer?


    Speculation and discussion about the trailer abounded. Some questioned the wisdom of revealing such a plot twist so early.


    Moreover, the role of Cha Seo-ah was completely opposite to the character Jo Ha-rin in Dream Future.


    ¡°Do you think this is okay, Director?¡±


    At E?clat E?toile, the company that had recently reaped significant promotional benefits from Seoyeon, the sudden surge of interest was not entirely welcome.


    ¡°Especially with her being the killer.¡±


    Team Leader Jeong Tae-soo spoke cautiously.


    He had come to recognize Ju Seoyeon¡¯s talent as an actress to some extent, which made him even more anxious. If The Chaser became a major hit, it could undermine the concept of their advertising campaigns.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Director?¡±


    Jeong Tae-soo waited quietly as Director Baek Min-chan, arms crossed, stared out at the city through the large glass window.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Ha-ha, how could I know? Predicting the public¡¯s reaction is one of the hardest things to do. You, as the team leader of business strategy, should know that better than anyone.¡±


    Jeong Tae-soo fell silent. Baek¡¯s words weren¡¯t wrong. And from a business strategist¡¯s perspective, the situation seemed precarious.


    Based on all the data they had, he was almost certain. It didn¡¯t look good.


    If a negative image became strongly associated with her¡ªespecially in the cosmetics industry, where image is everything¡ªthere was a high likelihood of significant damage.


    ¡°I saw the trailer, and the impact was tremendous. My wife even booked the movie in advance. It releases in two days, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she did a great job. A really great job.¡±


    Baek Min-chan nodded.


    ¡°But doesn¡¯t Dream Future exist?¡± ¡°Pardon? But that¡¯s...¡±


    He was aware of Dream Future. But compared to the blockbuster The Chaser, backed by GH Group, it seemed rather insignificant.


    While the internet response to the first episode had been quite positive, the second episode had been met with more lukewarm reactions. If The Chaser became a hit, her image as the killer would inevitably overshadow everything else.


    ¡°Besides, it didn¡¯t seem like a particularly significant role.¡± ¡°The market follows the money.¡±


    Baek Min-chan knew. As someone who had watched every work Seoyeon appeared in, he was well aware that her role had been significantly reduced in the second episode. The focus had likely been spread thinly across the main characters, or perhaps for other reasons.


    But if The Chaser became a success, would they just sit back and let it happen?


    ¡°For now, I think we should just wait and see.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°And who knows? It might turn out to be a massive hit in an unexpected way.¡±


    Baek Min-chan chuckled as he recalled the time of Survival of the Fittest. The rising star¡¯s career, which had taken off again after ten years, always seemed to defy his expectations.


    Lately, Seoyeon had noticed the growing buzz around her.


    When she arrived at school today, she overheard her friends whispering and talking about her as they watched her.


    According to Lee Ji-yeon:


    ¡°It¡¯ll probably get even worse when the movie is released.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It depends on how your character turns out in the movie.¡±


    Ji-yeon¡¯s words made Seoyeon feel anxious. Things had seemed to be going smoothly, but who knew what could happen next?


    Actors who played villains often reported similar experiences¡ªpeople cursing at them on the streets, even when they were just walking around.


    That same unease followed Seoyeon to the set.


    ¡°What? You were the killer?¡±


    Ma Yeon-woo, who had become comfortable enough to speak casually to her on set, was the first to ask.


    ¡°...That sounds strange.¡± ¡°Oh, no, I just meant the role. Since your name wasn¡¯t revealed yet.¡±


    ¡®This means the killer¡¯s identity isn¡¯t the main twist.¡¯


    This implied that the killer¡¯s identity was revealed early in the movie. So it made sense to use the trailer to deliver a powerful shock.


    It also meant that the killer¡¯s role was likely very significant.


    ¡®If the movie¡¯s plot revolves around pursuing and tracking the killer, rather than figuring out their identity...¡¯


    And if the killer¡¯s backstory was woven into the narrative, it meant that the role of Cha Seo-ah was even more substantial.


    Naturally, this would elevate Ju Seoyeon¡¯s status.


    In many ways.


    ¡°...You.¡±


    Jung-woo looked at Seoyeon. She seemed to be staring blankly at him, without any particular expression.


    Was she really not thinking about anything? Or did she have some plan of her own?


    ¡°Hmm, yeah. This might be better.¡± ¡°Huh?¡±


    Jung-woo chuckled.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fun to see everyone¡¯s reaction after the movie comes out.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°And as for Dream Future¡¯s ratings...¡±


    He wasn¡¯t a fan of a single actor dominating a show. But Jung-woo knew that his character, Kim Si-hwan, wasn¡¯t particularly attention-grabbing. Even though he was the main male lead, most of his important scenes were concentrated in the latter half of the show.


    The early episodes focused on Song So-ha¡¯s perspective, with supporting characters playing a more prominent role. If Seoyeon¡¯s screen time continued to decrease...


    ¡®I¡¯ll need to help Na-hee a bit more.¡¯


    That way, at least, she wouldn¡¯t get too much flak. Jung-woo waved goodbye to the young "monster," confident that she would handle things well on her own.


    [Dream Future struggles with 10% viewership] [Is the youth romance drama genre reaching its limits?]


    Articles about Dream Future were gradually decreasing in number. The ones that did appear mostly discussed the declining viewership.


    Although 10% was still a decent figure, the key issue was that the ratings had dropped in the second and third episodes. If the fourth episode saw another dip, the ratings might fall below 10%.


    Ironically, the peak viewership had been 17%, which was quite high. And the scene in question was...


    Watching the show after seeing the trailer, lol.So, she¡¯s the killer, right?Is this all the screen time Jo Ha-rin gets?This can¡¯t be right.


    Since the show was being broadcast online simultaneously, it was easy to track where the audience reactions were coming from. The viewership spike to 17% had been due to the influx of viewers following The Chaser¡¯s third trailer. While the effect wasn¡¯t massive yet, it was noticeable. As soon as Seoyeon was no longer on screen, the ratings dropped sharply.


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    Im Jin-ha bit his lower lip as he watched the reactions. The ratings had been declining steadily, starting from the moment he revised the script. With the second and third episodes showing drops, even PD Baek was beginning to give him uneasy looks.


    If the fourth episode also saw a drop...


    ¡®The slight changes in content have created an awkward gap.¡¯


    People might criticize the show for being cheesy, but that was intentional. After all, that was the aim.


    It was better to be cringeworthy than bland.


    However, the overall flow had been disrupted, which was far from ideal.


    But he had no intention of making further revisions. That would feel like admitting defeat.


    ¡®The group performance scene in the fourth episode should be fine.¡¯


    A lot of effort had gone into that scene. Even Director Kim Pil-seok had said it turned out well.


    Finally, the fourth episode aired.


    ¡°What are the ratings?¡±


    Im Jin-ha quickly asked the staff, and soon heard cheers from the drama department.


    ¡®Viewership 14%!!¡¯


    A jump of 4%!


    The ratings had rebounded after a period of decline, which was an excellent sign.


    It was only then that Im Jin-ha felt relieved. Only then did he finally check the live reactions that he had been too afraid to look at before.


    Given the 4% increase in ratings, the live chat should have been filled with praise.


    But as soon as he opened the chat...


    Ha-rin, I¡¯m scared...Who would win in a fight between Jo Ha-rin and Cha Seo-ah???I can¡¯t look at Jo Ha-rin the same way anymore...Why isn¡¯t Cha Seo-ah appearing????Lol, her absence makes it even more tense.Is The Chaser really that good?Lol, go watch it.True, true.


    The chat was full of bizarre comments that caught Im Jin-ha¡¯s attention. And then it hit him.


    ¡®The release date for The Chaser.¡¯


    It was today.

 Chapter 94

    The movie that garnered great interest with its third trailer.


    The Chaser


    On its release day.


    Perhaps because it was the first highly anticipated film in a long time, all the good seats were already taken.


    The only seats left were those from which the screen was barely visible.


    "I knew it would be like this."


    Han Bong-sik, a YouTuber with over a million subscribers, muttered to himself as he stepped into the theater. He hadn''t visited a movie theater to watch a Korean film in a long time, despite regularly reviewing various visual media.


    There hadn''t been any notable Korean films to speak of for some time, and Bong-sik himself hadn¡¯t shown much interest.


    ''But who would have thought I''d get interested out of nowhere.''


    The trigger was when he reviewed a certain drama¡ªDream Future.


    A youth romance drama that had been performing quite well recently. The first episode''s viewership rating surpassed 20%, just as Bong-sik predicted, and his accuracy earned him the reaction, "How did you know?"


    That single review gained him an additional 100,000 subscribers! Now, Han Bong-sik was a YouTuber with 1.1 million subscribers.


    ¡®Ha, but the viewership ratings kept dropping after that.¡¯


    He had a rough idea of why. The first episode of Dream Future had exploded in popularity entirely because of "Jo Ha-rin," the character played by the actress Ju Seoyeon.


    To be honest, before that, the drama was mocked for being overly light or for being a musical drama, which was unfamiliar to many. However, no one made fun of Jo Ha-rin¡¯s singing scenes. The viewers of Dream Future naturally empathized with her emotions due to her acting. Her performance captivated the audience from the very first broadcast.


    But in the second and third episodes, she barely appeared...


    ''Still, she should appear more in the fourth episode.''


    Today was the day the fourth episode of Dream Future was released. Given her reduced screen time in the second and third episodes, there was a hopeful expectation that she would have more presence in the fourth. One actress had managed to generate anticipation for the drama.


    "I heard she''s only in her teens, but she''s really something, isn¡¯t she?"


    Agreed, agreed.Are you watching the first screening of The Chaser right now?I heard there was an internal preview, but no information has been released at all.I¡¯ve been a fan of Ju Seoyeon since she was a kid. She¡¯s grown up so well.


    Before the movie started, Bong-sik briefly turned on his stream, as a way of confirming that he was watching the first screening of The Chaser.


    ¡®To think I¡¯d end up watching a movie because of a drama.¡¯


    To be precise, it wasn¡¯t just because of the drama.


    It was because of one actress.


    The young actress Ju Seoyeon had moved him to action.


    "I¡¯ve heard that an actor''s ticket-purchasing power can be significant, but honestly, I never believed it. I always thought the movie had to be good to succeed... But now, I can''t say that anymore."


    Bong-sik could no longer dismiss such a notion. However, he didn¡¯t feel bad about it.


    Perhaps many of the people who came to the theater today were there because they saw the third trailer.


    "I¡¯ll conduct a brief review of the movie this evening."


    It¡¯s not good to have too high expectations before watching a film. After saying this to his viewers, Bong-sik ended the stream.


    He then entered the theater to watch The Chaser, taking his seat. The theater quieted down as the commercials on the large screen ended, and the movie began.


    Swoosh


    The sound of rain, just like in the trailer. Footsteps splashing in puddles could be heard.


    Scrape, scrape.


    And then, the sound of something heavy being dragged. The heavy background music set the tone, making Bong-sik, along with the rest of the audience, feel a growing sense of tension.


    The scene revealed a person wearing a yellow raincoat.


    A small figure.


    But in their hand, they held a red fire axe. The blood-stained axe alone was enough to appear chilling.


    "Please, please spare me... Spare me..."


    A man being dragged along the ground whimpered. His arms and legs were already soaked in blood, hinting at what the perpetrator had done to him.


    Jung-woo observed the large crowd in the theater. Though he couldn¡¯t recognize anyone specific, he knew that many were likely there to witness Ju Seoyeon''s performance.


    Movie and drama directors, various advertisement sponsors, or even fellow actors.


    For someone who had only appeared in one drama, the level of interest was extraordinary. Those in the industry must have sensed it, even if just vaguely.


    ¡®It''s instinctual to be drawn to someone who shines.¡¯


    Jung-woo thought this as he settled into his seat in the theater.


    And, just as Jung-woo had predicted...


    "You look like you''re really looking forward to it."


    "Ah, do I?"


    "Yes, it¡¯s been a while since I''ve seen that kind of look."


    A smile appeared on the slightly wrinkled face of the man beside her.


    "I''ve been waiting for this connection for a long time."


    "If the Director is saying that, it makes me even more excited."


    The man, who was referred to as "Director," smiled at the PD who had been working closely with him recently. They both turned their attention to the movie screen, which showed a convenience store clerk.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    As he watched her on the screen, Director Ha Tae-oh of the drama department smiled calmly, curious about what kind of performance she would deliver this time.


    The first day screening of The Chaser received an explosive response.


    The most mentioned topic was, without a doubt:


    [What is emotional expression disorder that turned Cha Seo-ah into a criminal?]


    [A twist! A complete image transformation from Dream Future''s Jo Ha-rin]


    [Two veterans and one rising star]


    Unsurprisingly, the articles were predominantly about Seoyeon, who played the role of the killer Cha Seo-ah. It was as if, from the moment the movie was released, a flood of articles about her poured out.


    "Jinha, have you seen this?"


    "This... there''s been some talk from higher up."


    But Lim Jinha didn''t have the luxury of looking up those articles. She was too busy being called here and there.


    The viewership ratings for Dream Future rebounded with the fourth episode. However, it was too early to celebrate.


    The reason was clear.


    "This surge is purely because of Ju Seoyeon. You know that, right?"


    Even Baek PD, who wasn¡¯t directly involved with Dream Future, carefully brought it up.


    "620,000¡ªThe Chaser''s first-day audience count."


    In terms of first-day audience numbers, it was the second-highest this year, even including foreign films. For a thriller, this was a shocking number.


    From Lim Jinha¡¯s perspective, it felt like the world was conspiring against her. How could this possibly be happening?


    "You know, it was released on a Tuesday. Can you imagine what the weekend numbers will be like? And...¡±


    Baek PD spoke to Lim Jinha, who had gone silent.


    "The buzz around Ju Seoyeon is extraordinary."


    "I... I know."


    After all, she was the one responsible for raising the ratings by 5% single-handedly, despite her limited screen time.


    "Consider revising the script."


    "What?"


    Lim Jinha''s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected Baek PD to say that to her. Reading her expression, Baek PD shook his head.


    "I can''t shield you from this. This comes from much higher up."


    "Higher up?"


    "I''m only telling you this because I care about you. If you want a long career as a writer, it¡¯s better to be flexible. The higher-ups know everything. I¡¯m telling you this out of concern."


    Lim Jinha could roughly guess what he meant by "everything."


    All she could do was nod quietly with a blank expression. No matter how successful she had been, there were many writers with just as much experience. No matter how much influence she had, if the higher-ups were getting involved, there was nothing she could do to resist. Especially if Baek PD was saying this much.


    ''Just how significant is The Chaser...''


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder about it. And then, about the actress causing this ripple effect.


    Seoyeon...


    "......?"


    It was her first day back at school after two days. As she stepped into the classroom with light footsteps, Seoyeon was greeted by stares that were hard to describe.

 Chapter 95

    To start with, it was simple curiosity.


    Gildahyeon, the class president of the class where Seoyeon was, wasn''t particularly a fan of thrillers. However...


    "Are you going to watch The Chaser today?"


    "Huh?"


    "It¡¯s the one Ju Seoyeon acted in."


    Curiosity piqued by a classmate''s comment.


    In truth, Gildahyeon wasn¡¯t someone who watched a lot of visual media because of her studies.


    TV, YouTube, dramas, movies, animation¡ªshe barely engaged with these, except for the occasional movie.


    "Hey, didn¡¯t she do a great job acting as a ghost during the festival?"


    "Well, yeah, she did."


    Seoyeon¡¯s ghost performance at the festival.


    Honestly, Gildahyeon hadn¡¯t really seen it. She was too busy managing things at the time.


    But afterward, she heard the stories.


    "Are you guys insane?"


    "I almost had a heart attack, seriously."


    It was that terrifying, apparently.


    What could it have been like?


    Gildahyeon somewhat regretted not experiencing the haunted house herself. Maybe that¡¯s why...


    "Alright. Let¡¯s watch it."


    She agreed readily to watch the movie with her friends.


    And then...


    Today arrived.


    "?"


    Within a 2-meter radius around Seoyeon, who wore a puzzled expression, no one dared to approach.


    Even though they knew it was just a role, the impression she left was that powerful.


    "Se-Seoyeon, hi?"


    The friends who finally managed to greet her were trembling slightly as they spoke.


    ¡®Hey Seoyeon, that was really just acting, right?¡¯


    They wanted to ask, but knew how silly that question would sound. That¡¯s how much Cha Seo-ah¡¯s presence dominated the movie for two hours, instilling fear.


    ¡®Could it be that Seoyeon¡¯s expressionless face is because of...¡¯


    ¡®No way, really?¡¯


    Such doubts crept into their minds.


    And then there were Seoyeon¡¯s red eyes.


    ¡®They¡¯re not red right now, but...¡¯


    Didn¡¯t they sometimes turn red? Was it her natural disposition?


    These thoughts made Cha Seo-ah¡¯s face overlap with Seoyeon¡¯s in their minds.


    ¡®I won¡¯t be able to go to a convenience store for a while.¡¯


    ¡®Totally agree.¡¯


    The image of Seoyeon holding a bloodied fire axe from the movie overlapped with the real Seoyeon in their heads. That¡¯s how strong the impression was¡ªCha Seo-ah chasing after her victims.


    "Uh, excuse me."


    When Seoyeon spoke, the students quickly backed away.


    "Um."


    Again, they backed away.


    Feeling awkward, someone finally spoke up.


    "Ah, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re avoiding you or anything."


    "Yeah, sure."


    "A movie is just a movie, right?"


    Even though they said that, their actions were telling. None of them could meet Seoyeon¡¯s gaze while talking. In fact, it wasn¡¯t that they couldn¡¯t look at her at all.


    Every eye in the room was drawn to Seoyeon¡¯s gaze.


    The memory of her holding the axe, the hammer, and all sorts of deadly tools in the movie was still fresh.


    ¡®She¡¯s unarmed.¡¯@@@@


    That¡¯s what their eyes seemed to say.


    The distance that had been narrowed suddenly felt like a huge chasm.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Watching this, Seoyeon thought to herself.


    ¡®...I guess I should take a break from making new friends for a while.¡¯


    Seoyeon felt a bit disheartened.


    It¡¯s said that actors can sometimes influence the public when they take on roles that leave a strong impression. Right now, she was experiencing exactly that.


    She could only hope that Dream Future would help counterbalance this image.


    ¡®What should I do?¡¯


    ¡®You go talk to her.¡¯


    ¡®I just need a little time to prepare myself.¡¯


    Of course, the students who were watching Seoyeon were anxious.


    Among them was Gildahyeon.


    ¡®Ah.¡¯


    She wanted to talk to Seoyeon.


    But unlike the others, it wasn¡¯t because she was scared or because she wanted to console her.


    He¡¯s exaggerating.I watched it, and yeah, he¡¯s right.Is it really that good?Yeah, it¡¯s that good.


    The ensuing chase scene gripped the audience.


    Cha Seo-ah showed no fear in her actions.


    Though she was being chased, she kept glancing back at Im Seungcheol.


    And when she spotted a fallen iron pipe, she immediately turned and struck him across the head.


    "Ugh!!"


    Im Seungcheol staggered and collapsed.


    As Cha Seo-ah approached with a box cutter pulled from her pocket, another set of footsteps approached, and she turned to face them.


    "I¡¯m fine. Just go! She went that way, that way!"


    Im Seungcheol, his face drenched in blood, shouted desperately at his partner, Detective Seo Gwangil, who had arrived too late.


    But Seo Gwangil simply lowered his head.


    It was too late to give chase.


    Moreover, Im Seungcheol was bleeding heavily. It looked like his head had been split open by the iron pipe.


    "I...damn it, I lost her because I¡¯m useless. Damn it..."


    Tears mixed with blood could be seen.


    A voice filled with regret and grief escaped his lips.


    The audience felt sympathy for Im Seungcheol.


    As they focused on his performance, their anger towards Cha Seo-ah grew.


    Im Seungcheol and Seo Gwangil then refocused their efforts on tracking down Cha Seo-ah, following every clue.


    During this process, Cha Seo-ah¡¯s past was revealed.


    The traces of how she became a murderer.


    "Excuse me? Abuse?"


    "Ah, it seems she was abused by her parents."


    A neighbor had reported it, but Cha Seo-ah had continued to live under her parents'' care for a long time.


    "Emotionally numb?"


    "Yes, Cha Seo-ah cannot properly feel emotions. She doesn¡¯t know how to express them."


    The words of the doctor echoed as Cha Seo-ah pursued her next target.


    This would be her final victim.


    Han Yehwa, the convenience store clerk who had kindly spoken to Cha Seo-ah.


    She was captured and dragged away.


    Normally, Cha Seo-ah would have killed her on the spot, but this time, her hand hesitated.


    Humanity or morality.


    It was as if something she had forgotten resurfaced.


    The audience believed that Cha Seo-ah felt something when she saw Han Yehwa.


    "When I look at you, it hurts here."


    But Cha Seo-ah, looking down at Han Yehwa, who was now wrapped in duct tape, spoke instead.


    She was simply curious.


    "You wouldn¡¯t know, would you? Yeah, no way you¡¯d know."


    Muttering to herself, Cha Seo-ah touched the tools beside her.


    A hammer, a saw, an axe.


    All difficult items to acquire.


    "My chest feels strange. It¡¯s so hot, so, so... I don¡¯t even know how to describe it. Should I laugh? Should I cry? Ah, am I angry? Or is it that I feel wronged?"


    She knew the names of the emotions.


    But she didn¡¯t know how to express them, or even if she was feeling them correctly.


    Her anger towards Han Yehwa, who had been kind to her.


    Wasn¡¯t that strange?


    To be angry at someone who had been kind to her.


    And so...


    Or maybe because of that...


    She didn¡¯t want to just kill her.


    It wasn¡¯t about humanity or morality, nothing so grand.


    It was simply that it felt like a waste.


    Killing Han Yehwa in an ordinary way felt like a waste.


    Han Yehwa had stirred something in Cha Seo-ah¡¯s heart.


    What could it be?


    Pure curiosity arose.


    She wanted to know, and if she killed Han Yehwa like she did the others, she felt she might miss the chance to find out.


    "I¡¯m strange, aren¡¯t I?"


    A flash of Cha Seo-ah¡¯s past appeared on the screen.


    Flickering like a light bulb about to go out.


    The abuse from her parents.


    The bullying from her classmates.


    Each time, the sound of a pounding heartbeat resonated through the theater.


    As she gripped the hammer and approached her victim...


    "Stop right there, you murdering bastard!!"


    Detective Seo Gwangil broke through the door to Cha Seo-ah¡¯s house.


    "Hah."


    Cha Seo-ah, holding the bloodied hammer in her hand, tilted her head.


    As if reflecting her mood.


    Holding their breath, the audience watched as Cha Seo-ah¡¯s face filled the screen.


    Finally, her mouth twisted into a crooked smile.


    "Ah, I get it."


    Cha Seo-ah¡¯s words escaped her lips as if she were exhaling.


    "This... is what they call ''fucking bullshit.''"


    Cha Seo-ah raised the hammer and advanced towards Detective Seo Gwangil,


    who was twice her size, with not a trace of fear.

 Chapter 96

    It felt as if the scent of blood was seeping out from the screen.


    Cha Seo-ah looked at Seo Gwangil, who had collapsed, bleeding from his head.


    Breathing heavily, she felt the pain in her waist.


    "......."


    Cha Seo-ah turned her gaze to the broken window.


    It bore the mark of Seo Gwangil, who had snatched away Cha Seo-ah''s hammer to break the window.


    Apart from the faintly breathing Seo Gwangil, there was no one else.


    Han Yehwa had escaped through the broken window while Seo Gwangil was holding Cha Seo-ah off.


    "Hah."


    Before Seo Gwangil could regain consciousness, Cha Seo-ah used the remaining duct tape to tie him up.


    "Not enough."


    She had used too much duct tape when binding Han Yehwa.


    The scene then switched, showing Han Yehwa stumbling into a nearby convenience store.


    She had been too injured from the glass to keep running.


    "Oh dear, what on earth happened to you? Come inside quickly and let¡¯s take care of those wounds first. I¡¯ll call an ambulance."


    The store owner, shocked at the sight of Han Yehwa, ushered her into the storage room.


    While Han Yehwa caught her breath and dialed the police inside the storage room...


    "Oh my, oh my, Seo-ah, what happened to you?"


    A new customer entered the convenience store.


    It was none other than the store clerk, Cha Seo-ah.


    She had come to retrieve tools and duct tape to finish off Seo Gwangil.


    At that moment, the store owner turned her gaze to Cha Seo-ah.


    The audience instinctively thought, "No, it can''t be."


    And then...


    The store owner, with a concerned expression, spoke to Cha Seo-ah.


    "What on earth is going on today? This is already the second time."


    At those words, Cha Seo-ah¡¯s hand froze.


    A collective gasp filled the theater.


    The audience, momentarily forgetting they were in a crowded theater, let out an unconscious sigh.


    What followed was exactly as everyone expected.


    As soon as Cha Seo-ah received the tools, she killed the store owner.


    However, what no one anticipated was Cha Seo-ah¡¯s reaction afterward.


    For the first time, an "understandable" emotion appeared on Cha Seo-ah¡¯s face:


    Pain.


    Regret.


    These emotions, which even Cha Seo-ah herself seemed not to fully comprehend, were clearly displayed on the screen.


    It was frustrating.


    Biting her lower lip, Cha Seo-ah¡¯s expression was one that could not be easily identified as either crying or laughing.


    "Wow."


    This time, the audience nearly let out another sigh, but for a different reason.


    Laughing while crying, Cha Seo-ah repeatedly touched her own face, as if unsure of her own emotions.


    The frustration and desperation emanating from Cha Seo-ah...


    For the first time, the audience felt a sense of empathy for the pain that Cha Seo-ah was experiencing.


    In the final moments...


    The face of the dead store owner and that of her parents overlapped like a haunting vision.


    Unable to bear it any longer, Cha Seo-ah turned away.


    She opened the door to the storage room where Han Yehwa was hiding, but just as she did, Han Yehwa struck Cha Seo-ah on the head with a soju bottle.


    Detective Im Seungcheol ran.


    He was chasing after Seo Gwangil, who had entered the scene first, and found him unconscious.


    Sensing Im Seungcheol¡¯s presence, the barely conscious Seo Gwangil could only utter one word.


    "Escaped... she escaped. Ch-chasing her..."


    Escape and chase.


    At first, Im Seungcheol thought Seo Gwangil meant that Cha Seo-ah had escaped, but then he noticed Han Yehwa was missing.


    Seo Gwangil had desperately tried to save Han Yehwa.


    And Cha Seo-ah had gone after her.


    Or perhaps she had gone to retrieve tools to kill Seo Gwangil.


    Either way, it didn¡¯t matter.


    Im Seungcheol ran.


    He had lost count of how many times he had run that day.


    His breath was coming in gasps, and sweat was pouring off him like rain.


    He searched the nearby area and eventually reached a convenience store.


    It was a weekday afternoon.


    The blinds were drawn, preventing anyone from seeing inside.


    Im Seungcheol knew this store well; he often visited it.


    He knew the store owner wouldn¡¯t close the store without a good reason.


    Ugh, seriously?Calm down.There¡¯s no way it¡¯ll hit 10 million lol.Do you think it¡¯s easy for a thriller to reach 10 million?


    ==Hmm... this might actually hit 10 million???Utopia is also getting good reviews, so this might not last.Haha, no way it¡¯ll reach 10 million at this rate.If it hits 10 million, I¡¯ll dance naked in Gangnam.Really???But honestly, even this is impressive.Hold on.No way, this is seriously going to hit 10 million? 5 million already???I watched it, and the acting is seriously amazing. All the actors did great.The tension is insane. Now I can¡¯t even go to a convenience store without thinking about that scene.But Ju Seoyeon is really pretty, isn¡¯t she? Haha, I even started watching Dream Future because of her.Dream Future?? Is it worth watching?Surprisingly, Dream Future isn¡¯t bad.But Ju Seoyeon barely has any screen time in it.Her popularity is about to skyrocket, just watch.


    "It¡¯s strange that sales are holding steady. I mean, it¡¯s not a good image, right? Normally, sales would drop."


    "But they didn¡¯t drop?"


    "No, they did drop."


    "Then isn¡¯t that what we expected?"


    "No, but it was just a slight drop. So slight that it could be considered within the margin of error."


    "Really? Seriously? Why is that?"


    "I think it might be because... she¡¯s pretty?"


    "...It¡¯s about time we find a new team leader, isn¡¯t it?"


    "No, seriously, there¡¯s no other reason I can think of. Plus, it seems that Cha Seo-ah has surprisingly gained sympathy from female audiences."


    Indeed, the cool, detached image Cha Seo-ah projected in the movie matched well with the aesthetic of Eclat E?toile¡¯s ads, despite her being a killer.


    And just as Team Leader Jung Taesu had speculated...


    Two weeks after the release of The Chaser,


    sales at Eclat E?toile began to rebound.


    The Chaser¡¯s box office rampage.


    Eight million viewers in just two weeks.


    With ten million almost guaranteed,


    not everyone was smiling.


    "Is this for real?"


    "No way..."


    "You said it would be successful. We even got investors."


    A sharp voice rang out.


    There was another movie that had been released alongside The Chaser.


    Utopia.


    It was funded by GH Group and released on the same day as The Chaser.


    Its lead actress, Hwang Minhwa, was glaring at her co-star.


    The same co-star who had recently joined her agency, Horizon Company.


    It was through this actress that Hwang Minhwa had ended up participating in Utopia.


    "It didn¡¯t flop, at least."


    "It¡¯s at 2 million."


    "..."


    "Yeah, it might reach 4 million if we¡¯re lucky. The growth rate is there."


    But no one was talking about Utopia.


    Online, offline¡ªeverywhere, people were only discussing The Chaser.


    It was humiliating.


    Especially because she had been utterly outdone by an actor from Nova Entertainment, the agency she had left behind.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    Hwang Minhwa recalled the young actress she had briefly encountered.


    She bit her lower lip.


    The girl undeniably had presence.


    Her talent was blindingly clear.


    But still, Hwang Minhwa had considered her just a novice.


    Grinding her teeth,


    Hwang Minhwa vowed never to forget this.


    As Hwang Minhwa made this resolution...


    "Congratulations, Director Bae Jinhwan!"


    "Oh, thank you."


    "You¡¯re about to become a ten-million-viewer director!"


    "Not yet! Not yet!!"


    Bae Jinhwan was grinning from ear to ear as he clinked glasses with his colleagues.


    The ten-million mark was nearly in sight.


    Today? Maybe tomorrow.


    ¡®I¡¯m finally going to be a ten-million-viewer director.¡¯


    He was about to attain that prestigious title,


    becoming one of the youngest directors to do so.


    "I really need to thank the actors who worked so hard."


    "It¡¯s a shame Seoyeon couldn¡¯t join us for the celebration."


    "Well, she¡¯s still a high school student."


    "At that age, with that kind of performance... wow, is she heading for Hollywood?"


    "Absolutely. I, Bae Jinhwan, guarantee it!"


    Clink!


    As they toasted, the actor who had played Detective Im Seungcheol, Kim Daehun, spoke to Bae Jinhwan.


    "Director, I think your phone is ringing?"


    "My phone?"


    Sure enough, the phone on the table was vibrating.


    "Who on earth is calling at this hour..."


    Setting his glass down, Bae Jinhwan glanced at the screen and his eyes widened.


    He jumped to his feet and answered the call.


    "Ah, yes, this is Director Bae Jinhwan. Oh, hello, Director! How have you been?"


    It was the director of the Cultural Affairs Division at GH Group,


    the person who had generously supported the production of The Chaser.


    No matter how successful he was, Bae Jinhwan couldn¡¯t afford to be careless with such an important call. The alcohol-induced buzz quickly faded.


    And then...


    "What? You want Seoyeon?"


    This was an unexpected request.

 Chapter 97

    Sometimes, people think.


    That when they wake up in the morning, their life has changed.


    And lately, I¡¯ve been feeling that, in a small, indirect way.


    In a slightly different sense.


    "Uh, welcome... oh!!"


    When I entered the convenience store I usually visit on Wednesdays, the clerk gasped.


    He always gasped, but today¡¯s gasp felt different somehow.


    As I stared at him, the clerk, who seemed to have been opening a box, glanced nervously at the industrial cutter knife on the counter.


    ¡°H-ha. The weather is nice, right?¡±


    He slowly, cautiously, moved the cutter knife out of sight.


    ¡°......¡±


    As I frowned slightly, the clerk, looking somewhat embarrassed¡ªor maybe a little frightened¡ªcleared his throat.


    ¡°...I watched The Chaser yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You were... Cha Seo-ah in that, right?¡±


    He asked hesitantly, drawing out his words, and I nodded.


    His face took on an expression that was hard to describe¡ªa mix of excitement and nervousness.


    "The, the acting was amazing. I didn¡¯t even know something like emotional expression disorder existed. It felt so real, you know?"


    ¡°Did it?¡±


    ¡°...Yes, it really did... ...¡±


    He trailed off as I looked at him calmly.


    "...That was just acting, right?"


    At his question, I smiled softly.


    And with one hand, I touched the corner of my eye.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°...!!¡±


    In the nearby mirror, I caught a glimpse of my eyes turning red for a moment.


    The clerk, noticing this, recoiled slightly.


    Seeing his reaction, I chuckled softly.


    ¡°Just kidding.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I-I see.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    I said that as I picked up the vitamin drink I had just purchased.


    ¡°Well, take care. And be careful about who you let into the storage room.¡±


    As I left the convenience store, I felt a gaze following me from behind.


    A gaze filled with confusion, or perhaps caution, trying to determine whether what they saw was real or fake.


    This was a look I had become accustomed to since the movie¡¯s release.


    At first, it felt a bit strange.


    ¡®But now, it¡¯s kind of fun.¡¯


    I thought to myself that I should visit a different convenience store tomorrow.


    The idea already had me looking forward to it.


    Jung Hyunwoo, a rookie actor.


    He was an actor who led a disciplined life.


    In the morning, he went to the gym to work out, and in the afternoon, he searched for work.


    ...Although finding work lately hadn¡¯t been easy, he was trying his best.


    ¡®Should I do theater?¡¯


    After playing a supporting role in a cable drama, he hadn¡¯t been able to find another suitable role.


    Unfortunately, his drama had been crushed by another show airing at the same time.


    Initially, both shows were on par, but as his drama¡¯s story deteriorated, it was completely overshadowed by the other.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    He let out a deep sigh as he prepared to start a deadlift, when he saw a young woman entering the gym.


    She was someone he couldn¡¯t possibly not recognize by now.


    At first, he¡¯d heard she made waves in the plays Looking at the Past, Memories and Closing My Eyes.


    Then she appeared consecutively in Survivor on the Island and Dream Future, generating even more buzz.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    By now, even Jung Hyunwoo couldn¡¯t help but know who she was.


    ¡®She seemed familiar...¡¯


    She used to be known as the young princess of plays.


    But that image had long since faded.


    Now, a much stronger image had overtaken the girl.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    When Seoyeon spoke to him, Jung Hyunwoo instinctively stepped back.


    It was the first time she had ever spoken to him.


    That was fine.


    But how?


    [Dream Future Power Abuse Allegations?]


    The article¡¯s title was short but impactful.


    The content included testimony from a staff member claiming that the drama¡¯s writer had drastically reduced the screen time of a specific actor simply because she didn¡¯t like them.


    ¡®How did this get out?¡¯


    She had tried to reduce it as naturally as possible.


    But how did they catch wind of it and start investigating?


    ¡°Are you in on this? Ha, this is ridiculous.¡±


    Lim Jinha spoke, but her hands were shaking.


    Lately, even Baek PD hadn¡¯t been very supportive of her.


    It seemed that the rumors about orders coming from higher-ups weren¡¯t a lie.


    But revising the script?


    ¡®Now?¡¯


    She had already caused enough damage by reducing Seoyeon¡¯s screen time.


    But now the higher-ups were asking not just to restore the scenes, but to increase them.


    "Writer Lim, you know who the most talked-about actor is right now."


    The next day, Lim Jinha was summoned to the broadcasting station and heard this from Baek PD.


    ¡°The director has watched the movie.¡±


    ¡°...Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°He said it would be fine to give her more screen time. You understand? This means we need to increase it.¡±


    Baek PD pressed Lim Jinha as he spoke.


    ¡°Do you want this to be your last project?¡±


    ¡°But, I...¡±


    ¡°Ah, I know you¡¯ve had a hit before. You¡¯re considered promising. But things are different now.¡±


    Baek PD had also watched The Chaser.


    And after watching it, he had one thought.


    ¡®This is something worth pushing.¡¯


    Any producer, any broadcaster would have thought the same.


    The image of Cha Seo-ah?


    That could easily be overshadowed by her role as Jo Ha-rin.


    Maybe not for other actors, but Ju Seoyeon definitely had that potential.


    A ten-million-viewer actress at such a young age.


    How many actors could boast such a career?


    Park Jungwoo and Jo Seohui?


    "Don¡¯t misunderstand, Writer Lim. You¡¯re still a rookie writer."


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, you would¡¯ve been cut a long time ago.¡±


    Lim Jinha¡¯s hands shook at those words.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Baek PD to speak so bluntly.


    "Look."


    Baek PD turned on his smartphone and showed it to Lim Jinha.


    "The press is already asking about the reduced screen time. See the number of articles popping up?"


    ¡°I... I didn¡¯t mean to cut it this much...!¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter now. The screen time was reduced, right? In reality, Jo Ha-rin has barely appeared since the first episode.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡±


    It was unclear who first fanned the flames.


    Was it that reporter Han Seonah? Maybe.


    But in the end, someone was bound to notice.


    With The Chaser gaining popularity, it was only natural for people to turn their attention to the drama Ju Seoyeon was starring in.


    ¡°Restoring the original screen time won¡¯t be enough. Her role was supposed to disappear after the eighth episode, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°This mess happened because you tampered with it. I¡¯m giving you this advice as a final courtesy...¡±


    Baek PD placed a hand on Lim Jinha¡¯s shoulder as he spoke.


    ¡°You¡¯d better handle this wisely. I¡¯ll talk to Director Kim Pilseok for you.¡±


    ¡°...Yes.¡±


    Lowering her head, Lim Jinha felt completely defeated.


    She could hardly believe it.


    That the ripple effect was caused by just one actor.


    But anyone familiar with the industry would understand.


    An actor¡¯s fate is unpredictable.


    When an actor truly breaks through, the level of influence they can wield is enormous.


    The point at which the amount of money a single individual can move becomes significant to a company.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon is standing at that tipping point right now.¡¯


    So, of course, everyone would want to reach out to her.


    She was an actor destined to rise.


    And the most affordable time to invest in such an actor?


    When was that?


    [The Chaser Surpasses 10 Million Viewers! An Astonishing Box Office Blitz!]


    Right now.

 Chapter 98

    Post Title: Just watched The Chaser and I have a question


    Post Content:


    So, who would win in a fight, Hong Junghee or Cha Seo-ah????


    Replies:


    Who is Hong Junghee?


    ? She¡¯s the character Ju Seoyeon played in a play.If Cha Seo-ah axes Hong Junghee in the head, she¡¯s done for.You never know, Hong Junghee might have special forces training for people with disabilities.


    ? Are you seriously messed up?I¡¯m Cha Seo-ah, so I¡¯d win.


    As The Chaser continued its successful run, various memes began spreading in online communities.


    Because Seoyeon had recently played a string of villainous roles, people started making jokes and memes about her.


    Additionally, one of the most talked-about aspects of the movie was the scene with the convenience store lady.


    Some argued about why she spoke up, while others countered that it would have been odd if she hadn¡¯t, considering Cha Seo-ah was originally a part-time worker at the store.


    Still, it¡¯s a good thing Han Yehwa survived.If she had died, I bet someone would have gone looking for the actress, lol.


    Given how much buzz this movie generated in online communities, it was only natural that attention would turn to the actor who had garnered the most interest.


    Is it true that Ju Seoyeon¡¯s screen time was cut in Dream Future?Do you believe everything you read? Maybe she didn¡¯t have much screen time to begin with.But Ju Seoyeon was the one who carried the first episode¡¯s buzz, right?But it¡¯s true that Song So-ha has less screen time.Maybe it¡¯s not the screen time that¡¯s less but her presence that¡¯s lacking?


    As the episodes progressed, Jo Ha-rin¡¯s, or rather Seoyeon¡¯s, screen time decreased.


    Mentions of this fact started to increase as well.


    The peak of this discussion occurred with the airing of episodes 5 and 6, right after the release of The Chaser.


    It was clear to viewers that the intention was to minimize Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time as much as possible.


    At this point, even the audience began to notice something strange.


    Wasn¡¯t Jo Ha-rin supposed to be the female lead?They say the main character is Song So-ha... but is there really a need to reduce Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time this much?


    Posts like these began appearing on the drama¡¯s official website, and of course, the chatter in other communities was even more intense.


    And finally...


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s obvious the drama¡¯s writer cut her screen time on purpose.¡±


    Bongshik, there¡¯s already an article about it.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen that too. But if you look into it, the method they used was really nasty. I did some digging at the broadcasting station, and it seems there¡¯s talk about it internally. Apparently, the writer is being stubborn.¡±@@@@


    How can a drama writer be so stubborn? Aren¡¯t they just another employee? Is the writer a big shot or something?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s a big shot, but she definitely has some clout. There¡¯s talk that she¡¯s particularly fond of actor Park Jungwoo. And as you know, Ju Seoyeon often gets involved with Park Jungwoo in various roles. So, that might be part of the reason.¡±


    And so, rumors about this began to spread, thanks to Han Bongshik, a YouTuber with 1.3 million subscribers.


    ¡°Wait, what? The writer is being replaced? Just like that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as sudden as it seems, Writer Lim.¡±


    Director Kim Pilseok sighed, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache.


    ¡°With all this talk going around, what do you expect?¡±


    With The Chaser becoming a hot topic, discussions about Jo Ha-rin started popping up in online communities.


    Okay, that was understandable.


    Whenever an actor draws attention, it¡¯s natural for their other roles to gain interest as well.


    And since Jo Ha-rin had an image completely opposite to Cha Seo-ah¡¯s, the curiosity was even greater.


    However, that alone doesn¡¯t cause a dramatic spike in ratings.


    While a single actor¡¯s influence can be significant, it¡¯s not enough to sustain viewership on its own.


    But when the article about power abuse allegations spread, it only drew more attention¡ªmostly negative.


    ¡°PD Baek asked them not to remove you, but the higher-ups got involved. You heard about that, right?¡±


    ¡°I-I did hear something.¡±


    Lim Jinha replied, her tone full of confusion.


    ¡°Yeah, well, even though PD Baek tried to keep you on, the idea of replacing the writer was seen as too risky to pursue easily... but what can you do when the higher-ups have made their decision? Did you do something to get on their bad side?¡±


    Even as he said this, Lim Jinha had no idea what might have led to this.


    All she could think about was the fact that she was being kicked off the drama.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not the end of your career or anything... don¡¯t take it too hard. This was bound to become an issue at some point.¡±


    Director Kim Pilseok said this, but internally, he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    It had been difficult to control Lim Jinha because she had PD Baek backing her, so in a way, this turn of events was a relief.


    ¡®It¡¯s not the end, after all.¡¯


    Current Drama Department Head Ha Taeo wasn¡¯t the type to easily push someone into oblivion.


    So this was an unusual case, but the reasoning behind it was understandable.


    The viewers¡¯ opinions.


    The internal problems.


    The consistently declining ratings.


    All these issues combined led to the decision to replace her.


    ¡®But because of this, Lim Jinha¡¯s reputation as a drama writer will likely plummet.¡¯


    It would take a lot more effort for her to climb back up from this.


    Could Lim Jinha even do that?


    Considering the poor internal reputation she already had, it seemed unlikely.


    Even if Ha Taeo hadn¡¯t personally blacklisted her, Lim Jinha was already marked by many within the industry.


    ¡°So, take some time to relax and recover.¡±


    Sorry, Writer Lim. It looks like this isn¡¯t going to work out.


    Youngbin had joked about watching Utopia instead, but had eventually agreed to watch The Chaser without complaint.


    Afterward, when asked how they felt about the movie...


    ¡°I never imagined our daughter could act like that.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it made me feel oddly sad, to be honest.¡±


    Cha Seo-ah was a character with "alexithymia," a condition that makes it difficult to express emotions.


    While Seoyeon herself didn¡¯t have that condition, she had experienced some emotional difficulties as a child.


    Maybe that¡¯s why...


    Or perhaps it was because of the overwhelming emotions that Cha Seo-ah projected on screen.


    Sua couldn¡¯t help but shed a few tears.


    It was definitely intense and suspenseful, making her grip her seat.


    Though the movie was enjoyable, it left her with a heavy heart.


    ¡°...Really? Did Dad feel the same way?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he was really worried about you.¡±


    Hearing this, Seoyeon felt a lump in her throat.


    Though she often felt like smacking her dad when he teased her, she realized there was this other side to him as well.


    ¡°Oh, speaking of Dad, he got a package delivered earlier. Could you bring it inside for him?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    With a somewhat heavy heart, Seoyeon went to the front door and saw the package.


    As she lifted the fairly large box, she absentmindedly glanced at the label.


    [Product Name: Anti-stab Vest!!]


    ¡°......¡±


    She made a firm resolution to give her dad a good smack when he got home.


    By the time The Chaser was on track to reach 8 million viewers,


    the script for episodes 7 and 8 of Dream Future had been hastily rewritten due to the replacement of the drama¡¯s writer.


    Since they were filming content that would air this week, the entire crew was in a frenzy.


    ¡°Ah, hello. I¡¯ll be handling the script for now...¡±


    Seoyeon looked at the person bowing deeply to her.


    ¡®She¡¯s short.¡¯


    The woman was at least a head shorter than Seoyeon,


    but she was at least six years older than her.


    She had just graduated from college and was now a drama writer.


    ¡°Ah, this is Writer Min Sehee. She was an assistant writer on a film I was in before.¡±


    Park Jungwoo explained on behalf of the stammering Min Sehee.


    ¡°And she¡¯s also been working as an assistant writer on Dream Future.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? I didn¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s a bit shy, as you can see.¡±


    Indeed, Min Sehee seemed very timid, constantly glancing at Seoyeon for her reaction.


    ¡°But she¡¯s very talented and ambitious. She could have taken on a lead writer position but asked to stay on as an assistant writer for Dream Future.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s reaction was ambiguous, making it unclear whether she was surprised or not.


    Park Jungwoo chuckled at this.


    For someone who had taken on the assistant writer role, Min Sehee hadn¡¯t had much involvement in the script so far.


    That was because of Lim Jinha.


    Although she had agreed to let Min Sehee join as a favor to Park Jungwoo, it seemed she hadn¡¯t been too thrilled about it.


    ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, the revised script is very good. You can look forward to it.¡±


    ¡°...Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your screen time has increased significantly. Of course, without overshadowing the main characters.¡±


    ¡°Is that so...¡±


    Seoyeon felt a bit uneasy at Jungwoo¡¯s words.


    ¡®Why, though?¡¯


    Originally, Seoyeon¡¯s filming for Dream Future was supposed to wrap up this week.


    But now she was being told her screen time had increased.


    ¡®...¡¯


    She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off.


    It didn¡¯t seem like it was just a slight increase in screen time.

 Chapter 99

    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.

 Chapter 100

    "Did you see the revised script?"


    The new main writer for the drama, Min Se-hee, said this while cautiously observing Seoyeon. It felt like she was anxious about whether Seoyeon liked the script she had changed.


    "Yes, it was fine."


    "Th-that''s a relief. Honestly, I still don''t think I have the skills to be a main writer yet..."


    "Uh-huh, Writer Min."


    "A-ah, I''m sorry."


    Director Kim Pil-seok gave Min Se-hee a look, as if to say, ¡°How can a writer not have confidence in their own work?¡±


    "Such words are disrespectful to the viewers who watch our drama, to the actors who have to trust your script, and to me as well."


    "Yes..."


    Min Se-hee looked a bit dejected. Seoyeon tried to recall if Min Se-hee had worked on any projects in her past life.


    ''Nothing comes to mind.''


    Seoyeon¡¯s memories mostly consisted of the countless media she watched in her past life to learn emotions, including information related to the entertainment industry. While her fond memories from her past life were fading, she could vividly recall details from these media as if pulling a specific book from a library.


    In that regard, Min Se-hee was clearly not a particularly famous figure in her past life.


    ''But if Senior Park Jung-woo recommended her, she must have some talent.''


    Seoyeon wondered about this while watching Min Se-hee''s uncertain attitude, which might explain the lack of confidence.


    "A-ahem. First of all, although Writer Im was fired for something unfortunate, the script itself was very cleverly structured."


    "Really?"


    Was it? Honestly, as an actor, some parts of Writer Im''s script had felt rather absurd. Although it didn¡¯t surprise her too much, having watched a lot of dramas in her past life.


    "In fact, apart from the forced changes to Jo Ha-rin¡¯s role, the character distribution was quite natural. However, those forced changes caused some cracks..."


    Min Se-hee pointed to the revised scripts.


    "I thought it would be best to restore it as much as possible while emphasizing Jo Ha-rin''s charm. Actually, there¡¯s not much more screen time added. So, I tried to emphasize the love line with Park Min-yul."


    As she said this, Min Se-hee recalled what Park Jung-woo had mentioned when he grabbed her earlier.


    "I think there''s no need to force a love line to show the character''s charm. Is there a particular reason you included it?"


    "Yes? But... It was supposed to be there originally, and I just restored it... Does it seem strange?"


    "Ah, I didn''t mean it was strange. It''s just that... hmm, every actor has things they¡¯re not good at. Or perhaps, they might not be ready yet."


    Or maybe there could be a better direction. Park Jung-woo had some awareness of this but didn¡¯t share it with Min Se-hee.


    Seoyeon must be aware of it too.


    "It might be good to consider the actor''s opinion as well."


    "But it''s a last-minute script, and there''s not much time for further revisions."


    "Don''t worry, they can handle it. It''ll be fine."


    Park Jung-woo said this with a smile, and Min Se-hee nodded unconsciously. After all, it was hard to refuse when someone as handsome as Park Jung-woo was talking.


    "A-ahem. So, there are some lines and scenes I want to revise a bit."


    "Yes."


    Seoyeon accepted the new script that Min Se-hee handed her. It seemed to be a freshly written draft. A truly raw script.


    As she checked it...


    ''Huh?''


    Seoyeon''s eyes widened slightly.


    "I¡¯ve made the lines a bit more straightforward."


    The relationship between Jo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul became more understated, almost like close friends or colleagues.


    "But, as you can see, this is a scene where Jo Ha-rin''s charm is supposed to shine. A duet with Park Min-yul."


    The content was this: It was the part where Jo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul were heading to the final stage. A stage to decide who would make it to the top ten.


    As he stared blankly at it...


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°!!¡±


    Someone tapped his shoulder and walked past. When Ma Yeon-woo turned in that direction, he saw Seoyeon spinning around.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be getting ready?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes.¡±


    Something was different about her today.


    ¡®What is this?¡¯


    Her expression hadn¡¯t changed much. The same usual expressionless face. Slightly red eyes. But something was different about her atmosphere. It was as if she was warming up before the main event, like an athlete.


    ¡°Do your best on stage.¡±


    ¡°Well, of course...¡±


    He always did his best. The problem was that the result was always ¡°bad acting.¡±


    When he gave a half-hearted response,


    ¡°You¡¯re a senior, right?¡±


    Seoyeon smiled, showing her white teeth.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°As an idol.¡±


    It was rare to see Seoyeon smile so brightly. Only then did Ma Yeon-woo realize what she meant.


    In this scene, he didn¡¯t need to act as ¡°Park Min-yul.¡± After all, it was an audition scene for singing and dancing.


    ¡°...That¡¯s true.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t boasting, but this was something Ma Yeon-woo was very confident in.


    ¡°Today is crucial.¡±


    Han Bong-sik, a YouTuber with 1.35 million subscribers, said this to his viewers as he waited for episode 7 of Dream Future to air. Having already capitalized on the character ¡°Ju Seoyeon¡± from The Chaser, Han Bong-sik was now starting to do live commentary on Dream Future as well.


    ¡°You all know Ju Seoyeon, who gained a lot of popularity from The Chaser? There¡¯s been a lot of talk about whether her screen time in Dream Future would increase.¡±


    Won¡¯t the story get weird if they force it?Even if it gets weird, they should increase it.The truth is, Dream Future was weird from the start.That¡¯s true.


    In any case, expectations for the drama Dream Future were quite low. Yet, there was still something about it that kept people watching.


    ¡°Today¡¯s episode will show the final audition between Jo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul. Based on the previous storyline, it seems likely that Jo Ha-rin will fail.¡±


    Han Bong-sik chatted with his viewers as he waited for the broadcast, speculating about the audition results and discussing how Dream Future could potentially recover. Most of it wasn¡¯t very professional commentary.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s starting.¡±


    Han Bong-sik hoped that Jo Ha-rin would have more screen time and that there would be some good scenes to use in his content.


    ¡®No matter how popular Ju Seoyeon is, it would be difficult to revive a sinking drama like Dream Future.¡¯


    Yet, it¡¯s human nature to hope. As Han Bong-sik and the online viewers watched, episode 7 began.


    Ma Yeon-woo and Ju Seoyeon. And Park Min-yul and Jo Ha-rin.


    The scene opened with those two on screen as episode 7 of Dream Future began. At first, it seemed like just another ordinary episode.


    However, about ten minutes into the episode, something felt different.


    ¡°What do I... do?¡±


    For the first time in a while, Jo Ha-rin had a proper solo part. This scene showed her expressing her inner thoughts for the first time, instead of just appearing as a side character with other members.


    Jo Ha-rin finally realized the feelings Park Min-yul had for her. It was the same emotion she once had for Kim Si-hwan.


    A feeling that had been too overwhelming for a young girl from the countryside who didn¡¯t know what love was. Though she had given up on that feeling because of Song So-ha, she now realized that Park Min-yul harbored those same feelings for her.


    ¡°What... should I do...¡±


    Jo Ha-rin¡¯s murmur was almost a whisper. Her conflicted emotions.


    The unfamiliarity with emotions she didn¡¯t understand. The youthful innocence was conveyed beyond the screen.


    It naturally allowed the viewers to immerse themselves in Jo Ha-rin¡¯s story. This was the moment when viewers who were flipping through channels began to stop and focus on Dream Future.

 Chapter 101

    Honestly, Jo Ha-rin was not a role that suited Seoyeon.


    A bubbly, energetic character. A girl with a one-sided crush. And a naive child, scared and unfamiliar with the love of others.


    Perhaps deep down, she thought such a role didn¡¯t suit her. She did her best, but she might have lacked confidence.


    In fact, she actually thought that way.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    She closed her eyes and recalled the script in her mind. The revised content. And the lines. Naturally, the emotional trajectory she had prepared for her acting also began to shift accordingly.


    Writer Min Se-hee had incorporated Seoyeon''s opinions into the script as much as possible, making it as straightforward as possible. It seemed that she had made some additional revisions after listening to Park Jung-woo.


    "She might not be ready yet."


    Park Jung-woo had likely said that. He wasn''t wrong. In Park Jung-woo¡¯s eyes, Seoyeon might not have been ready to deliver such a performance.


    So, the script reflected his opinion. But was that all there was to it? Not quite.


    If that were the case, he wouldn¡¯t have asked to hear the actor¡¯s opinion.


    "Don¡¯t worry that the tone of the acting might not match."


    She felt Ma Yeon-woo''s gaze on her. A look of concern, as if asking if she was really okay. No matter how much they tailored "Park Min-yul" to fit Ma Yeon-woo, they couldn¡¯t make it exactly the same.


    "I¡¯m still your senior in acting, aren¡¯t I?"


    "...Well, it doesn¡¯t really matter."


    Ma Yeon-woo chuckled at the sight of Seoyeon, who had an unusually different atmosphere about her. It was, if anything, easier to deal with this side of her than her usual self.


    ¡®Getting into character.¡¯


    This was a phrase often used by actors before shooting. So far, Ma Yeon-woo had never seen Seoyeon getting into character while filming Dream Future.


    The way her expression and emotions changed in an instant, despite her short screen time, left a strong impression. He knew how much Cha Na-hee, who played Song So-ha, struggled with this.@@@@


    ¡®So this is what getting into character looks like.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s gaze as she looked at the set had a fiery red intensity. A truly intense color.


    Her former group members, who had trained as idols with her, had once had that same look in their eyes. Memories of the past flashed through his mind as he saw that familiar intensity in this actor before him¡ªthe raw passion of those early days.


    It struck Ma Yeon-woo clearly.


    "So please, do your best to act like an idol."


    Seoyeon smiled brightly as she looked at him. It wasn¡¯t the usual Seoyeon, but a different face¡ªprobably Jo Ha-rin.


    A bright and cheerful idol with not even a shadow of Cha Seo-ah.


    "You can do it, right?"


    Seoyeon raised her fist, full of determination. No, perhaps the word was cheerful.


    This scene, where had he seen it before?


    ¡®Ah, Survival Show.¡¯


    The variety show his fellow members had watched at their dorm. Ma Yeon-woo suddenly recalled the image of Seoyeon he had seen fleetingly back then. He had forgotten about it, but now it came back to him. Yes, that was the vibe she had in the show.


    "Of course."


    Park Min-yul and Ma Yeon-woo were different. Park Min-yul was a trainee applying for an audition program, while he was a member of Just X. He might be a rookie actor, but...


    "I¡¯m Ma Yeon-woo."


    A TOP IDOL. He was in a different league from Park Min-yul, a mere trainee.


    RY Entertainment. The agency of Just X. One of the top three management companies in South Korea.


    "Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s appearance in Dream Future was a mistake."


    Lee Hwi-rok, the head of the actor management department, felt bitter. And with good reason: after Dream Future, it seemed like Ma Yeon-woo''s image had taken a hit.


    "At least he gained some attention with his bad acting."


    "Are you serious, Chief Song?"


    Lee Hwi-rok sighed.


    "Do you know how much flak I¡¯m getting from the idol division because of this? They¡¯re saying he¡¯s ruining the group¡¯s image."


    "...Did anyone expect Dream Future to be such a mess?"


    "Still, the ratings are decent."


    Yes, decent. Not great, but not terrible either.


    Considering how strong the start was, it was true that the show had lost steam. But with this kind of theme, it was still holding its own quite well.


    ¡®The writer played it smart.¡¯


    When this project was first pitched to the business division, the drama writer must have had a tough time. The sentimentality was outdated, and the youth drama genre itself was somewhat unfamiliar to the general public.


    It¡¯s the audition part today, sigh...Please don¡¯t be too cringe-worthy.But the songs are good, right? Let¡¯s drink.Wait a minute.Is this a thriller drama?Why does it feel like Park Min-yul is going to die?Show us some hand-to-hand combat.


    ¡°Do you have any final words for each other before the performance?¡±


    Before the stage began, the judge asked them this. Final words.


    As Jo Ha-rin hesitated,


    ¡°I¡¯m determined to win and make it to the top ten.¡±


    Park Min-yul was the first to respond. As he said this and passed the microphone, Jo Ha-rin briefly looked at him.


    A firm statement. And this was Park Min-yul''s way of signaling to her: Don¡¯t hesitate on stage.


    ¡°I feel the same way.¡±


    Jo Ha-rin said as she took the microphone.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make it to the top ten.¡±


    She answered with a smile at Park Min-yul, who chuckled in response.


    The judge smiled at the sight of the two, and the audience cheered.


    The stage lit up with lights shining from all directions. A refreshing idol song.


    Park Min-yul was the first to step forward.


    Yeon-woo, please.Why is he always the first to sing?Probably because he¡¯s an active idol?Stop pushing that overrated idol group, Just X.


    As usual, when Ma Yeon-woo¡ªno, Park Min-yul¡ªstepped forward, the chat was filled with criticism. Some were just following the crowd, some were anti-fans of Just X, and some genuinely criticized Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s awkward acting.


    While they watched, the camera captured Park Min-yul¡¯s every move. His confident face. The bold steps he took toward the stage.


    Huh?


    It was a side of Park Min-yul that he had never shown before. The sudden presence he exuded on stage. The spotlight focused on Park Min-yul in an instant.


    The judges¡¯ faces crossed the screen as Park Min-yul¡¯s clear voice echoed. Moving with rhythm, dancing as he walked.


    Anyone could see it now.


    A TOP IDOL. Just X wasn¡¯t just a group that stayed within Korea; they were an idol group bridging K-POP to the world. Despite the controversies, their talent was undeniably among the best.


    Among them, Ma Yeon-woo was the skilled vocalist.


    Lee Hwi-rok couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the screen.


    Acting? No.


    ¡®This is Ma Yeon-woo.¡¯


    Everyone must have been surprised by this dazzling performance. But they would soon realize. That the person on stage wasn¡¯t Park Min-yul, but Ma Yeon-woo.


    There might be fans who were satisfied with this, but as the head of the drama division, Lee Hwi-rok narrowed his eyes.


    This wasn¡¯t acting; this was an idol¡¯s performance. It was the right choice, but not a satisfying one.


    But at that moment, the camera shifted, capturing Seoyeon as she reached out toward Ma Yeon-woo.


    Jo Ha-rin. The cheerful girl from the countryside. Bright and merry, she smiled as she received Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s song.


    Her technique was lacking. After all, she wasn¡¯t a singer.


    But the clear emotions conveyed in her voice. The spotlight that had been on Ma Yeon-woo quickly shifted to follow Seoyeon.


    Simultaneously, the camera captured her dancing with a grace that matched Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s, filling the screen with her presence. Her emotions spilled over the screen, spreading in all directions.


    Innocent feelings. She began to guide Ma Yeon-woo¡¯s awkward performance with her song. Naturally, she drew his gaze to her.


    It was a performance so charming that viewers couldn¡¯t help but gasp in admiration.


    Ma Yeon-woo followed her lead. Seoyeon was guiding him.


    Ma Yeon-woo, lacking as an actor, had his flaws. But Seoyeon¡¯s acting covered them. On the other hand, Seoyeon, not being an idol, was limited in the performance she could give on stage.


    And Ma Yeon-woo covered that.


    It looked natural, as if it wasn¡¯t acting.


    No one could take their eyes off the screen. The chat slowed down significantly. A sign that more viewers were focusing on the drama.


    But neither Chief Song nor Lee Hwi-rok noticed.


    Their eyes were also fixed on the screen.


    ¡®What a shame.¡¯


    For the first time, Lee Hwi-rok, the head of RY Entertainment, thought as he watched.


    ¡®I should have signed her.¡¯


    Ju Seoyeon. The child actress who had returned after ten years. He had dismissed her, thinking her acting skills had yet to be proven. He had written her off as just another actress who had briefly become a hot topic.


    A mistake. A truly foolish decision. A fatal error.


    These thoughts spun around in Lee Hwi-rok¡¯s head. And with those regrets,


    ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much for your support!!¡±


    Dream Future¡¯s resurgence had begun in earnest.

 Chapter 102

    Writer Im Jin-ha had reduced Jo Ha-rin''s screen time. Seoyeon didn¡¯t know the exact reason for this.


    There could be many reasons why drama writers reduce a character''s role. Judging by Park Jung-woo''s reaction, it wasn¡¯t something that happened often.@@@@


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t particularly bothered by the reduction in Jo Ha-rin''s screen time. After all, this role was meant to offset the image of Cha Seo-ah.


    So, she thought the current amount of screen time was enough. Although Cha Seo-ah¡¯s image sometimes overlapped with Jo Ha-rin¡¯s acting, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. In fact, it was even amusing.


    "Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    It was around that time that Cha Na-hee, who played Song So-ha, spoke to her.


    "Am I... really lacking in my acting?"


    "...What?"


    "My screen time, it¡¯s been reduced."


    Cha Na-hee said this. She seemed to think that her screen time as the main character, Song So-ha, had been reduced because Jo Ha-rin had overshadowed her.


    But that wasn¡¯t true. There must have been another reason behind the writer¡¯s decision.


    She wanted to tell Cha Na-hee this, but since no one had openly discussed her increased screen time, she couldn¡¯t say it. It would sound like she was making excuses to comfort Cha Na-hee.


    "So... could you help me out a bit? I¡¯ll do my best until the drama ends."


    Cha Na-hee was still an idol. When idols act, they don¡¯t often approach it with full sincerity. After all, they have their main career.


    "Yes, I¡¯ll help as much as I can."


    "Th-thank you!!"


    She was a truly upright person. She was probably older than Seoyeon, yet she bowed and asked for help, which couldn¡¯t have been easy.


    Is Song So-ha really the main character?She has no presence, lol. You can only see her when she sings.Just make Jo Ha-rin the main character.Both the director and the drama writer have lost their touch.


    But even with Seoyeon¡¯s help, Cha Na-hee¡¯s acting didn¡¯t improve significantly. Of course, she must have already received proper acting lessons, so it wouldn¡¯t improve drastically overnight.


    "..."


    However, Seoyeon had many thoughts as she watched Cha Na-hee. She reflected and realized something.


    ¡®I¡¯ve been avoiding Jo Ha-rin¡¯s character.¡¯


    Acting in a role where she had to express love for someone else¡ªhonestly, Seoyeon lacked confidence in that area.


    When she lacked confidence, she didn¡¯t want to do it. It was a childish thought. Even though she had always believed that she shouldn¡¯t pick and choose roles as an actress.


    Seoyeon took pride in her work as an actress. She realized that her nonchalant attitude, thinking it was okay if her screen time was reduced, was disrespectful to Cha Na-hee.


    "I... I want to see you act properly, Seoyeon. Like in episode 1..."


    Cha Na-hee said this with a smile. Even though she was still being criticized online, she was a strong person.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t know much about Cha Na-hee. She knew that she was from a girl group, that the group would soon disband, and that she was the breadwinner who had supported the group alone.


    Among the members of her girl group, Cha Na-hee was the only one who continued to work until the end. Seoyeon thought she might understand why.


    "...Yes, if the opportunity arises."


    At Seoyeon¡¯s words, Cha Na-hee smiled. And then...


    "This stage scene is really important. You know that, right?"


    Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time had suddenly increased. Director Kim Pil-seok spoke to Seoyeon.


    "Park Min-yul will be eliminated, and Jo Ha-rin will take his place. This is the moment when Jo Ha-rin, who has lacked presence until now, must make an impact."


    In other words, this one performance in episode 7 had to make up for the lack of screen time so far.


    "It¡¯s a bit of a tall order, but..."


    Min Se-hee said this, bowing her head. And so, the shooting began. Seoyeon watched Ma Yeon-woo on stage.


    "No way."


    More and more people were talking about the drama.


    In both film and drama, Seoyeon¡¯s name started coming up more frequently.


    Lol, the writer of Dream Future quit.??? Really??They say there¡¯s a new writer starting from episode 7? Apparently, the old writer quit after a power struggle.Wasn¡¯t the one who reduced Jo Ha-rin¡¯s screen time that writer?Lol, maybe they wanted the show to fail.


    Discussions about Writer Im Jin-ha were circulating online. It seemed like someone on the staff had leaked information. Or perhaps...


    "Hmph."


    Han Seon-ah scoffed as she typed out the latest article. It was an article based on an internal investigation at KMB, focusing on Im Jin-ha.


    The article title was something like "Power Struggles Among Drama Writers¡ªIs It the Viewers¡¯ Fault?"


    "Ah, this is too clickbaity."


    Reflecting on it, Han Seon-ah rewrote the article. After all, she wasn¡¯t going to let Im Jin-ha quietly fade away.


    And so, after episode 7 aired, episode 8 followed. Jo Ha-rin had entered the top ten and met with Song So-ha.


    "Did the ratings go up again? How much?"


    "17%! Up by 2%."


    "Wow, this is crazy! Are we going to see a drama that surpasses 20% ratings after a long time?"


    In an era where drama ratings were generally declining, 20% was considered the threshold for a big hit.


    [The Chaser Surpasses 8 Million Viewers! On Its Way to 10 Million?] [A Positive Rebound for Dream Future! Ratings Nearing 20%]


    Then came episodes 9 and 10 of Dream Future. Song So-ha began to shine as she realized her feelings for the male lead, Kim Si-hwan. Meanwhile, Jo Ha-rin also had a chance encounter with Park Min-yul.


    This is so frustrating.Song So-ha¡¯s acting has really improved lately.You mean Cha Na-hee, not Song So-ha.Aren¡¯t they the same? There¡¯s a reason she¡¯s the breadwinner.I¡¯ve seen her posting pictures with Ju Seoyeon on Instagram a lot lately.Are they close?


    Cha Na-hee, in her own way, gave it her all. As the female lead, Song So-ha, she was slowly but surely making her presence known to the public.


    Jo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul¡¯s relationship is so sweet.Honestly, the romance line is so frustrating.But that¡¯s what makes it good, you drama newbie.They probably won¡¯t end up together.Honestly, it would feel cheap if she just switched from liking Kim Si-hwan to liking Park Min-yul.Yeah, that¡¯s true.


    Discussions about Dream Future were becoming more active in online communities. As a result, the ratings continued to rise, and the number of views on YouTube increased as well.


    [Lamiell¡¯s Broadcast]


    "Recently, I watched a movie called The Chaser."


    "Oh, it seems everyone knows about it. It¡¯s great, isn¡¯t it?"


    "I heard the same actor is in Dream Future, so I checked it out, and I was shocked."


    "I couldn¡¯t believe it was the same actor; the performances were completely different."


    "...Honestly, I was really impressed."


    "Oh, what? You think my voice sounds familiar? Th-that must be a mistake."


    "Ahem, anyway, The Chaser and Dream Future¡ªLamiell recommends them both!"


    As these shows were mentioned more frequently in various internet broadcasts, their popularity continued to grow.


    There were people who hadn¡¯t seen The Chaser. There were people who hadn¡¯t watched Dream Future. But it was rare to find someone who hadn¡¯t seen both.


    "Lately, Ju Seoyeon? That actress is everywhere."


    "I first saw her on a variety show, and I liked how cheerful she was."


    "But because of her image as Cha Seo-ah, she¡¯s kind of scary. Like she might show up with an axe."


    "Pfft, true."


    With her appearance in both shows, mentions of Seoyeon were steadily increasing.


    [Dream Future OST Released, Dominating Melon Charts!]


    The OSTs from the drama were climbing the charts on music streaming sites, showing their presence.


    [The Chaser Reaches 10 Million Viewers!]


    And so, as The Chaser hit the 10 million viewer mark,


    "Hello? Yes, Director Bae Jin-hwan. ...Me?"


    Seoyeon received a phone call right around that time.

 Chapter 103

    The Chaser reached 10 million viewers, and Dream Future achieved a 20% viewership rating.


    These two milestones were accomplished almost simultaneously, significantly increasing the interest in Seoyeon, who appeared in both projects. Considering that she played supporting roles in both, the attention was already substantial.


    If she had been the lead, the level of interest would have been even greater.


    "Honestly, this is already an extraordinary situation."


    Lee Jun-bin, the head of the management division at XN Entertainment, one of the top three management companies, said this.


    At XN Entertainment, the management division was responsible for both idols and actors.


    "Completely different roles¡ªone a killer, the other a fresh idol from the countryside."


    Lee Jun-bin spoke to the other executives gathered in the conference room.


    "I¡¯ve heard that RY Entertainment has already made contact with her."


    "Considering she¡¯s still with a small company like Nova Entertainment, it seems they didn¡¯t succeed."


    Lee Jun-bin had heard about it too. It seemed RY Entertainment was one of the first to reach out.


    "They must have failed to recognize her value initially."


    "Hmm. But if you think about it carefully, she might be overvalued now."


    "Whether overvalued or not, marketability is key. And her marketability is tremendous."


    To be honest, when she first returned through a variety show, there wasn¡¯t much thought given to it. There was some interest when she gained attention through her theater work, and she was seen as a decent actress with potential after Survival Show.


    "She¡¯s young¡ªwell, rather, she¡¯s quite young. And above all, her appearance is extraordinary."


    "That¡¯s true. You can see her potential clearly in the CFs she¡¯s done."


    "The sales of E?clat E?toile increased by more than 10% compared to the previous quarter. This figure even dipped briefly before recovering."


    Moreover, among those who went to see The Chaser in theaters, there were certainly some who went specifically to see Ju Seoyeon. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a large number, but the fact that such viewers existed was important.


    ¡®An actor who can draw an audience with their first movie.¡¯


    This was separate from the issue of acting skills. There are plenty of actors who are excellent but don¡¯t have the ticket-selling power. But the fact that Ju Seoyeon had already drawn in an audience with just one film was significant.


    The greatest strength an actor can have: ticket power. If she were to act in more dramas and movies from here?


    "Nova Entertainment hasn¡¯t had her contract for long, right?"


    "Yes, that¡¯s correct."


    "Is there a way to break her contract and bring her over to us?"


    "If we push hard enough, it¡¯s not impossible, but too many eyes are watching."


    "Ugh."


    Several executives expressed their frustration. XN was the largest of the top three management companies.


    Naturally, the government kept an eye on them, and any missteps could lead to severe consequences.


    "Still, should we try to approach this quietly?"


    "Quietly?"


    "Ah, I heard that Deputy Park knows actress Hwang Min-hwa."


    "Didn¡¯t Hwang Min-hwa move to Horizon Company?"


    "Yes, but since she worked at Nova Entertainment for a long time, we might be able to use that connection."


    "...Hmm. That doesn¡¯t sound bad."@@@@


    Would it really work that easily? Lee Jun-bin had his doubts, but Hwang Min-hwa was indeed a top actress. A true star who earned the title of ¡°Million Actor¡± by leading a film to ten million viewers.


    ¡®If a senior actor from the same agency approached her, it might be possible to make a move.¡¯


    With that conclusion, the XN Entertainment business division wrapped up the meeting.


    "Does anyone here know Ju Seoyeon?"


    "I heard Nova Entertainment¡¯s schedule is fully booked..."


    "Fully booked? They¡¯re just testing the waters!"


    While other management companies and various advertising industries kept an eye on her, Seoyeon was quite busy.


    "Hello, I¡¯m Kang Tae-jin, director of the Cultural Business Division at GH Group."


    GH Group. She had a meeting scheduled with a major conglomerate ranked 12th in the industry.


    Seoyeon received her first call the day after she heard the news that The Chaser had surpassed 10 million viewers. It was a call from Director Bae Jin-hwan, relayed through her manager, Park Eun-ha. Curious about what it was, she answered the phone.


    "A director from GH Group has asked to meet you, Seoyeon."


    ¡®Well, she deserves it.¡¯


    Jiyeon also felt proud. She had even promoted Seoyeon a bit on her broadcasts, hoping for her success.


    ¡®I need to work hard too.¡¯


    As much as Seoyeon was an important figure to Jiyeon, Jiyeon was equally important to Seoyeon.


    Since they were kids.


    "Oh, Jiyeon."


    "What?"


    Seoyeon hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    "Jo Seo-hee wants to meet sometime. With me, of course."


    "Isn¡¯t she your friend?"


    "She¡¯s not."


    Despite that, Jo Seo-hee seemed to act quite friendly with Seoyeon. Honestly, Jiyeon didn¡¯t like her much.


    ¡®She called Seoyeon a "nepo baby" when we were kids.¡¯


    While Seoyeon didn¡¯t seem to care much, Jiyeon hadn¡¯t forgotten. She was persistent, and she never forgot anything that had happened to her.


    Still.


    "Sure."


    Maybe it was time for a proper conversation. After all, Jo Seo-hee was the most successful actress of their age group.


    "First of all, congratulations on The Chaser reaching ten million viewers."


    Kang Tae-jin, Director of the Cultural Business Division, said this with a smile to Seoyeon. Although his mouth was smiling, his eyes were not.


    ¡®Unsettling.¡¯


    People like this were uncomfortable to deal with. She had encountered several in her past life.


    ¡®The look of someone appraising a product.¡¯


    Back then, it hadn¡¯t bothered her much because she couldn¡¯t fully grasp emotions. In a way, it was easier to deal with them because she could quickly figure out what they wanted by observing their emotions.


    "I also enjoyed watching The Chaser. The emotions of the villain, Cha Seo-ah, were portrayed so vividly. It was different from the initial explanation I received from Director Bae Jin-hwan. I could tell there was a personal interpretation from the actor. And the action scenes were excellent too. I heard you trained at Cheonghong Action School? Professor Kim Hong-baek mentioned you had a great talent for action acting. We were surprised to hear that you did all your stunts yourself at GH."


    "..."


    "And recently, I¡¯ve been following Dream Future as well. At first, I watched it because my daughter was interested, but I wasn¡¯t really drawn to it. I remember it received some criticism online at the time. However, the performance you gave as Jo Ha-rin in the first episode received high praise. I wish I had watched it live; I think I would have been even more impressed. I also heard there was a small conflict with the writer. These things happen sometimes. Don¡¯t worry too much about it. After episode 7, your screen time increased significantly, and the ratings exceeded 20%. It¡¯s a drama worth watching. I¡¯ve been enjoying it a lot lately. Honestly, the way Jo Ha-rin..."


    "Director."


    At that moment, a person who appeared to be his secretary gave a small reminder, and Director Kang Tae-jin nodded.


    "I really enjoyed watching your work."


    "Th-thank you."


    Seoyeon hesitated as she watched Director Kang Tae-jin smile at her. His eyes still weren¡¯t smiling.


    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯


    Had he memorized those compliments about her acting? He was a hard person to read.


    "The director wanted to emphasize how much he enjoyed the films and dramas you¡¯ve appeared in."


    The secretary repeated the point, emphasizing the director¡¯s sincerity.


    Given that, Seoyeon grew genuinely curious.


    ¡®Could it be that he has trouble expressing emotions?¡¯


    Like she had in her past life.


    Such thoughts seemed almost rude, but Kang Tae-jin¡¯s demeanor was so intense that it made her wonder.


    "To get to the point, I¡¯ve brought a few proposals to discuss with you."


    "Proposals?"


    A few proposals? Seoyeon¡¯s mind began leaning towards the idea that these offers might be overwhelming.


    "An action movie."


    An action movie.


    "And before that, we¡¯re planning a large-scale audition. It¡¯s for a variety show."


    As he spoke, he smiled again. His eyes gleamed like a snake¡¯s.

 Chapter 104

    Seoyeon was surprised twice by Director Kang Tae-jin''s words. First, by the fact that a variety show was being planned for a movie. Second, because it was a variety show she had never heard of in her previous life.


    ¡®No matter how much I think about it, I can¡¯t recall any variety show like this.¡¯


    This meant it was likely a completely new movie. A movie that hadn¡¯t existed in the past, one Seoyeon knew nothing about.


    While this realization surprised her, it also excited her. After all, every movie she had seen until now was one she had already known.


    "By the way, the director for this project is Director Han Ye-gun."


    Kang Tae-jin said, quietly watching Seoyeon¡¯s reaction. She had heard of that name before.


    A director known for his expertise in action sequences. He was known to have high standards but was also somewhat arrogant and had a distinct style.


    "Hmm, you might have heard of him¡ªhe¡¯s a bit difficult to work with, being a veteran in the industry."


    "Yes, I¡¯ve heard of him."


    "Then we can move on quickly."


    Kang Tae-jin silently observed Seoyeon, who remained calm, and was inwardly impressed.


    ¡®Quite composed for someone so young.¡¯


    There was no sign of her being flustered or nervous while dealing with him. Was it because she was an actress? Kang Tae-jin had a talent for reading people¡¯s emotions.


    But with Seoyeon, he couldn¡¯t read anything. She was like Cha Seo-ah from the movie.


    ¡®They call it alexithymia, right?¡¯


    When he was younger, Kang Tae-jin had been told he was emotionally dull. He had wondered if it was a medical condition, but it turned out he was just a bit slow to grasp emotions.


    In any case, he could somewhat empathize with Cha Seo-ah, so when he said he enjoyed The Chaser, it wasn¡¯t a lie. He also genuinely admired Seoyeon and had been the driving force behind arranging this meeting.


    Of course, he believed his high evaluation of Seoyeon as an asset was an objective judgment, not a subjective one.


    "The title of the movie is still tentative, but it¡¯s called Mine. It¡¯s a modern fantasy with characters who have superpowers."


    Seoyeon nodded slightly. It was indeed something she didn¡¯t know.


    "We¡¯re planning a large-scale audition for the movie. In other words, we¡¯ll be selecting the lead actor through this audition."


    Was he asking her to participate in the audition? As she pondered this, he continued.


    "Yes, I would really like for you, Ju Seoyeon, to participate in the movie audition. The variety show will also be aired on national TV."


    It seemed like this was a properly planned audition program.


    However, one thing puzzled her¡ªwhy did they specifically invite her to participate in the audition? Normally, something like this could simply be requested through the agency.


    "Of course, I understand that this request might seem a bit odd to you. I¡¯m not asking you to appear in the movie, but to participate in the audition for it."


    "Well..."


    She tried to respond, but Kang Tae-jin spoke faster.


    "This project was made possible thanks to The Chaser."


    "Excuse me?"


    "This movie, Mine, has strong action elements and a bit of a thriller aspect. With the recent decline of Korean films, it had been stuck in the planning stage."


    However, the CEO of GH Group had been deeply impressed by The Chaser.


    "In other words, you were invited here at the CEO¡¯s request."


    "..."


    This was a much bigger deal than she had anticipated. The CEO of GH Group himself had specifically asked for her to be in the movie.


    "In fact, we had gathered some information, including about your training at Cheonghong Action School... So we thought you would be more than capable of handling the audition."


    "Is that so?"


    "So even if you don¡¯t win the lead role in the audition, you can still expect to be cast in a significant role."


    They were saying she would compete for the lead role, but even if she didn¡¯t get it, they would give her a role regardless.


    "..."


    Although this was a good offer, it was oddly insulting at the same time. Looking at Director Kang Tae-jin¡¯s smiling face, she couldn¡¯t tell if he was provoking her or genuinely believed in her abilities.


    ¡®A superhero action movie.¡¯


    She could understand why the production had been delayed. After all, this was a genre dominated by Western films in recent years.


    It was a genre categorized as superhero movies. Naturally, it would be compared to them, so the project had been postponed. Other domestic films with similar concepts had flopped.


    Adding a thriller concept would make it even more challenging.


    "I¡¯ll think about it positively."


    "Thank you."


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was something to be thankful for. As she wondered if that was all, she looked at him.


    "Shall we move on to the next topic?"


    "Pardon?"


    She looked at him with eyes that seemed to ask if this was the only reason she had been called here.


    "Didn¡¯t I mention earlier? There are several proposals I¡¯d like to discuss with you."


    Jo Seo-hee crossed her arms. She looked like a haughty villainess from a drama.


    Honestly, the uniform didn¡¯t really suit her. Or maybe it did? Surprisingly, it seemed okay.


    "...Anyway."


    The three of them moved to a nearby cafe? and began their conversation in earnest.


    ¡®Why do we always end up talking about this?¡¯


    Jo Seo-hee was secretly nervous. After all, they were meeting to discuss something related to Gyeongseong Lady.


    ¡®Why did it have to be this?¡¯


    Honestly, Jo Seo-hee had no prejudice against homosexuality. But if she were to play such a role, it could lead to various complications.


    An actor must fully immerse themselves in their role. But the most important thing was...


    ¡®I¡¯ve never even done a romance scene before.¡¯


    The movie that brought Jo Seo-hee major popularity was a disaster movie. She had never been in a soft, romantic drama like Dream Future.


    Her strong image had always made it difficult for her to land roles with sweet romance plots. Her age played a part in that too.


    Now, her first romance movie might be a same-sex love story.


    ¡®Why is she so nonchalant?¡¯


    Looking at Seoyeon standing there calmly, Jo Seo-hee felt even more tense. Though she was standing confidently with her arms crossed and chin up, it was all an act.


    ¡®Cha Seo-ah...¡¯


    Suddenly, The Chaser came to mind. Seoyeon¡¯s performance had been a shock to her.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that someone her age could deliver such an intense performance. The way Seoyeon portrayed ¡®Cha Seo-ah¡¯ was so real that Jo Seo-hee wondered if Seoyeon had actually suffered from such a condition herself.


    ¡®Of course, that¡¯s not possible.¡¯


    She had found out that it wasn¡¯t even a curable condition. The fact that Seoyeon could give such a heartfelt performance was astonishing.


    With these thoughts, Jo Seo-hee first shared her impressions of The Chaser and Dream Future.


    And then...


    "The Gyeongseong Lady audition will start soon. Are you planning to try out?"


    "Yes. I told you already."


    Seoyeon replied calmly. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.


    ¡®And why does she only speak formally to me?¡¯


    Jo Seo-hee felt a bit hurt. Seriously. We¡¯re the same age.


    "And... did you mean that this friend of yours would be auditioning as well?"


    "..."


    Lee Jiyeon, who was already not too fond of Jo Seo-hee, was puzzled and looked at Seoyeon. She already didn¡¯t like Jo Seo-hee following them around, and now she was suggesting they act in the same movie?


    ¡®Why is she glaring at me like that?¡¯


    Looking at Lee Jiyeon, Jo Seo-hee thought they might be ¡®kindred spirits.¡¯ Her personality didn¡¯t seem all that pleasant either.


    "What kind of movie is it?"


    But she didn¡¯t want to upset Ju Seoyeon¡¯s friend, so she asked politely.


    "Speak comfortably."


    "What kind of movie is it?"


    "..."


    As soon as Jo Seo-hee told her to speak comfortably, Lee Jiyeon immediately dropped the formal speech. That caught her off guard a bit.


    ¡®Could it be...¡¯


    Jo Seo-hee looked at Seoyeon with hopeful eyes. Now that her friend had dropped the formal speech, maybe Seoyeon would too.


    "It¡¯s called Gyeongseong Lady, directed by Director Baek Min."


    "Oh, the one you mentioned before."


    "Yes, Seo-hee unnie introduced it to me."


    Despite noticing the formal speech, hearing her say ¡®Seo-hee unnie¡¯ didn¡¯t sound too bad.


    ¡®Have they already discussed it?¡¯


    She must be quite open-minded to talk about such things with her friend so freely.


    "And by the way, it¡¯s a same-sex love story."


    "Oh, I see..."


    Responding nonchalantly, Lee Jiyeon¡¯s words trailed off as she realized what had been said.


    "...What?"


    Lee Jiyeon¡¯s expression changed. Seeing this, Jo Seo-hee sipped her warm tea.


    ¡®Oh, she didn¡¯t explain that part.¡¯


    Watching the two of them, Jo Seo-hee felt a wave of curiosity.

 Chapter 105

    Jiyeon considered herself to be quite close with Seoyeon. After all, they had spent nearly ten years together, relying on each other in many ways.


    They both worked as actors. Academically and in other aspects, they leaned on each other a lot.


    ...If it weren¡¯t for Seoyeon, Jiyeon would never have become a VTuber. Now, it was one of the things she enjoyed doing as a form of relaxation.


    Jiyeon was confident in her ability to communicate with others and plan content. But still...


    ¡®I really don¡¯t know what she¡¯s thinking sometimes.¡¯


    A film about same-sex love. It seemed to be a story about love between women.


    ¡®A film by Director Baek Min.¡¯


    Of course, Jiyeon knew who the director was. He was a director known for his strong artistic vision, recognized more internationally than domestically.


    In other words, he was a director you had to work with if you were considering advancing overseas. But that was that.


    ¡®How can she be so calm about this?¡¯


    Jiyeon looked at Seoyeon with a half-asleep gaze. Seoyeon tilted her head slightly in response, as if wondering if she had done something wrong, a typical gesture of Seoyeon¡¯s when she was unsure.


    Looking at her like this, it seemed like she had brought it up with the best of intentions...


    ¡®No, no, it¡¯s weirder to take it the wrong way.¡¯


    But wasn¡¯t it strange? Maybe an adult actor could accept this coolly and judge it logically, but Jiyeon was still a high school student. Isn¡¯t this a normal reaction? It was Seoyeon¡¯s calmness that was surprising. Sometimes, Jiyeon wondered if Seoyeon was just really professional about work, separating work and personal feelings so distinctly. How does she manage to do that? Jiyeon wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡®Moreover, what about your school friends?¡¯


    Even if they worked together and the reaction was positive, how would their school friends react? A girl who was always with them at school, now starring in a film like that...


    ¡°Do you hate it?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon asked again, her tone somewhat dejected like a puppy with its tail between its legs. It seemed Seoyeon thought this film would be a great opportunity for Jiyeon.


    ¡®Ugh.¡¯


    Jiyeon shut her eyes tightly as she looked at Seoyeon.


    Well, so what? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m in a position to be picky. The only thing I¡¯ve done so far is a cable drama. If it¡¯s a film by Director Baek Min, it¡¯s right to be a part of it, even if it¡¯s as an extra.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate it.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Really? But you seemed surprised.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Ju Seoyeon. Of course, I¡¯m surprised!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, why? This is...¡±


    Watching the two of them talk, Jo Seohui looked on with interest.


    ¡®They must be really close, huh?¡¯


    Judging by their conversation, they were both actors. Jo Seohui didn¡¯t know who Jiyeon was.


    But as she listened to their conversation, she quickly looked her up.


    ¡®Ah, she¡¯s in a cable drama right now.¡¯


    Seohui propped her chin up with her hand, watching them. When you start acting at a young age, it¡¯s hard to make friends.


    First of all, it¡¯s hard to find time to hang out, and when you get used to the industry, people your age start to feel younger. It¡¯s like they seem immature. Jo Seohui knew it wasn¡¯t a good thing to feel, but what could she do when it was true?


    ¡®Fellow actors, and close since they were young.¡¯


    Jo Seohui was secretly envious. It seemed that Seoyeon had a small circle of friends but kept her relationships deep.


    Given that there were practically no other young actresses around, Jo Seohui was even more eager to find a way to slip into that circle.


    ¡°Seohui sunbae.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°When does the audition for Gyeongseong Lady start exactly?¡±


    Seoyeon had already gone through several auditions before. She assumed that the audition for Gyeongseong Lady was just like any other audition and asked casually.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to audition.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already gained a fair amount of recognition from The Chaser and Dream Future.¡±


    Jo Seohui had personally advocated for her. Director Baek Min had watched The Chaser and Dream Future. And Seohui had heard the evaluation the day before.


    ¡°Seohui, are you really close to Actress Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    Jo Seohui flinched at Director Baek Min¡¯s words. Was he doubting her relationship with Seoyeon?


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re best friends. We¡¯ve known each other for ten years.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right. You auditioned together for The Moon and the Stars, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Still, it was convenient. Oh, that reminded her, the girl had asked her to inquire about something else too.


    ¡°If I may, there¡¯s one more actress I¡¯d like to recommend...¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s okay. The auditions will be open to everyone.¡±


    He meant that she would have to pass the audition. And who knows what role it would be for.


    Seohui sighed quietly. She looked at the two girls in front of her: Ju Seoyeon and Lee Jiyeon.


    Especially Seoyeon, who seemed a bit taken aback. She must have thought she would have to audition too. But Director Baek Min seemed more taken with her than expected.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the only one who has to audition.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t point at people.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seohui, who had instinctively pointed at Jiyeon with her finger, hesitantly withdrew her hand. That was harsh.


    Still, in a strange way, Seohui felt an odd satisfaction from receiving this criticism from someone her age. It made her feel like there was no wall between them. Most people around her were too intimidated by her, so this was refreshing.


    ¡°Ahem, so yeah, you¡¯ll need to audition. But I¡¯ve already spoken to Director Baek Min.¡±


    Jiyeon thought for a moment at Seohui¡¯s words. Unlike Seoyeon, the news that she would have to audition didn¡¯t bother her much. It would be silly to compare herself to Seoyeon, a million-seller movie star with a hit network drama.


    She had fallen behind again, but...


    ¡®I have to do this.¡¯


    This was a chance to stand on the same stage as Seoyeon. In that sense...


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°For bringing up my name.¡±


    Seohui was taken aback by Jiyeon¡¯s words. She had thought Jiyeon disliked her, but maybe that wasn¡¯t the case?


    ¡°Ahem! Well, yes, for me, this is nothing.¡±


    She replied, glancing at Seoyeon. This time, Seoyeon was looking at Seohui with a disapproving expression.


    ¡®What now?¡¯


    As Seohui looked back at her with a bewildered expression, Seoyeon huffed and turned away.


    It was because Seoyeon had never really heard Jiyeon thank her before. Jiyeon was always the one who managed things for Seoyeon, so Seoyeon had often thanked Jiyeon, but never the other way around.


    ¡®...Anyway.¡¯


    Seoyeon glanced at Jiyeon. The audition. She knew Jiyeon¡¯s abilities well, but since it was Director Baek Min¡¯s film, she wasn¡¯t sure what the judging criteria would be. She had hoped they could both tackle it together, but...


    ¡®She¡¯ll be fine.¡¯


    Still, Seoyeon trusted Jiyeon. After all, she had watched Jiyeon closely for the past ten years.


    ¡°Director.¡±


    Manager Park Eun-ha looked quite exhausted these days, and it was no wonder. Recently, her phone had been flooded with an overwhelming number of calls.


    Naturally, these calls were all about Seoyeon. She was a rising star who was just starting to gain recognition.


    There were many people trying to take advantage of her while her value was still relatively low. Some were even hoping that Seoyeon¡¯s sudden rise in popularity would fade, considering it to be a ¡°bubble¡± that would eventually burst.


    They were waiting for the inflated value of her name to drop, even just a little.


    ¡°We have this much in advertising offers, but there have also been a lot of requests for variety shows.¡±


    ¡°Variety shows? Let¡¯s take a look.¡±


    Kang Chan-yul, the CEO of Nova Entertainment, looked through the recent requests. Seoyeon was one of the few entertainers he managed personally.


    As he had once told Seoyeon, Kang Chan-yul thought of her as a star¡ªa talent that would shine even brighter with the right guidance.


    So, it was only natural that he would be directly involved in managing her schedule. Seoyeon had agreed to this arrangement, understanding that she didn¡¯t yet fully grasp how the industry worked.


    ¡°What do you think would be good?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Usually, these decisions depended on the actor¡¯s personality. Some actors were so private that they never appeared on variety shows. Others were very selective about the advertisements they accepted, knowing that the wrong ad could damage their image.


    ¡®If we consider the variety shows she¡¯s done before...¡¯


    ¡°If I Become King.¡± And ¡°Wilderness Survival.¡±


    Seoyeon had enjoyed both shows immensely, although those accompanying her during the shoots had found it quite challenging.


    ¡°Something a bit more active might be good... Oh, this one looks interesting.¡±


    As he muttered to himself, Kang Chan-yul nodded as he found a particular variety show that caught his eye. Given how busy Seoyeon had been with filming, he thought it might be good to give her a chance to unwind a little.


    ¡®Is this really for her to unwind?¡¯


    Of course, Park Eun-ha had her doubts when she saw it. It seemed more like something Kang Chan-yul himself would find relaxing rather than Seoyeon.

 Chapter 106

    "At XN Entertainment, what?"


    Hwang Minhwa had been in a bad mood lately. And for good reason: the highly anticipated film Utopia, which had been touted as a major project, hadn''t received much response. Of course, the box office results weren''t terrible. It had garnered 4 million viewers.


    At least it seemed like it would break even. Yes, break even.


    In other words, it just managed to cover the production costs. But today, her manager mentioned that XN Entertainment had contacted them.


    When she asked what it was about, the manager replied:


    "They were wondering if you, Hwang Minhwa, might be able to have a conversation with actress Ju Seoyeon, since you used to be at Nova Entertainment..."


    This was the kind of statement that made Hwang Minhwa''s anger flare up to the very top of her head.


    "I can''t believe this. I ended up like this because of that woman?"


    "Minhwa, it''s not like the results were bad. Sometimes, this happens."


    Jang Cheolho, an executive at Horizon Company, wiped the sweat off his forehead as he tried to calm Hwang Minhwa down.


    ''Her pride is unbelievably strong.''


    In truth, it''s good for an actor to have strong pride. In some ways, it means they have ambition.


    However, Hwang Minhwa was particularly extreme. Her desire for success was twice as strong as anyone else''s.


    "The Chaser must have been a natural disaster. The fact that it reached 4 million against that is impressive."


    Jang Cheolho sincerely thought so. Although Ju Seoyeon had garnered attention, realistically speaking, it wasn''t a result she could have achieved on her own.


    The director, the script, and the other actors were all top-tier.


    It was true that Ju Seoyeon, as the antagonist, had fully brought out their strengths, but in the end, it was the two leads who carried the film.


    "Director Bae Jinhwan is certainly talented. With proper investment, his direction is impeccable."


    The direction that brought out not just 100%, but 120% of Ju Seoyeon''s acting¡ªthis showed the level of trust the director had in the actress. And that trust was rewarded with success.


    "Hah! I can''t believe it. So, XN asked me to be the bridge to connect them with Ju Seoyeon?"


    "You don''t have to comply with their request, so don''t be too upset..."


    Jang Cheolho worked hard to appease Hwang Minhwa. If he didn''t, she would surely go back and give her manager a hard time.


    ''That manager shouldn''t have told Hwang Minhwa without thinking.''


    The request from XN Entertainment. The manager had relayed it to Hwang Minhwa without much thought, and this was the result.


    ''Who would have thought she had such a personality?''


    Two managers had already been replaced. Hwang Minhwa would lash out at people depending on the situation.


    To be precise, she only showed her temper to those who wouldn''t easily spread her weaknesses externally. These were the employees working for her agency.


    Actors live off their image. So, to prevent any tarnish to their product, the agency employees had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.


    After all, she was the one earning their salaries.


    "I''ll make sure to speak with XN Entertainment."


    "...You¡¯re not trying to make me the bad guy, are you?"


    "Oh, no, of course not."


    Even if he cursed her internally, Jang Cheolho continued to soothe Hwang Minhwa. Since she had meticulously managed her image, the general public didn¡¯t perceive her as having a bad reputation.


    So, XN Entertainment probably didn''t think much of asking.


    ''It¡¯s not like I can tell them to take her away.''


    Although Utopia had only achieved modest results, Hwang Minhwa''s name still carried weight. The fact that it even reached 4 million viewers was thanks to her acting skills and ticket-selling power.


    But if she continued sulking like this, the manager would be replaced again...


    "Oh."


    "Hmm?"


    "Actually, I have some recent information."


    Jang Cheolho then shared some news about a variety show being prepared by the GH Group. It was related to an action movie, and there would even be an audition.


    "...That girl is participating in it?"


    "It''s almost certain."


    "Hmm. Interesting."


    An action movie audition combined with a variety show? It was obvious.


    ''They must want to see how well the participants can handle action scenes.''


    Are they planning to pick the cast through a survival-style competition? If that''s the case, it likely won¡¯t be aired on a major network. At best, it might be a web variety show...


    ''But if the GH Group is investing so much, there must be something more to it.''


    As she pondered, Hwang Minhwa thought of Ju Seoyeon. It seemed that her action scenes in The Chaser had left quite an impression.


    ''I¡¯ll have to make sure to appear on it later.''


    If she managed to succeed in one or two more projects, she could even request to be on the show herself for promotional purposes.


    "There wasn¡¯t anything else that suited me."


    "A lot of offers, but nothing substantial, huh?"


    "Exactly."


    For the record, Star Angler wasn¡¯t a show Seoyeon particularly watched. It was a show mainly viewed by older men.


    If her father, Youngbin, had watched it, she might have watched it with him... But Youngbin wasn¡¯t interested in such shows. He would probably be watching highlights of the Worlds tournament or YouTube Shorts instead.


    With that in mind, something suddenly occurred to her.


    "Oh, Jiyeon."


    "What?"


    "I want to join a club."


    "...?"


    Jiyeon couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled by Seoyeon¡¯s rather random statement. It was one of those moments where the phrase "out of nowhere?" seemed most fitting.


    ''Could she be interested in joining the drama club?''


    Come to think of it, since Looking Back on the Past there had been hints that the drama club was desperate for Seoyeon to join. But no matter how much she thought about it, it didn¡¯t seem like that was why Seoyeon brought it up.


    "...Which club?"


    "The esports club."


    Seoyeon genuinely wanted to get better at gaming.


    "Is our guest an actress this time?"


    "Hmm."


    In the meeting room of Star Angler, the two regular cast members, actors Song Gwangmin and Lee Sangsoo, looked uncertain.


    "Has she ever gone fishing before?"


    "We¡¯re not sure."


    "Hmm."


    Well, being older men, they didn¡¯t mind going fishing with a young woman. However, they weren¡¯t sure how well it would work for the show.


    "She¡¯s the actress who recently rose to fame with The Chaser and Dream Future, right?"


    "Oh, didn¡¯t Mr. Lee watch those?"


    "No, I haven¡¯t. I¡¯ve been struggling with my own acting lately. Both of those seem tough to watch."


    In his mid-fifties, Lee Sangsoo was not a fan of thrillers. And Dream Future was a drama for young people. He had tried watching it briefly, but the tone didn¡¯t resonate with him, so he gave up.


    ''I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s been in a slump lately.''


    PD Jung Seunghyun of Star Angler sighed inwardly with regret.


    Lee Sangsoo.


    An actor who had been active for a long time. He had starred in countless hit films, including three that surpassed ten million viewers. In two of those, he had even played the lead role.


    ''He lost his passion after his unfortunate experience in Hollywood.''


    About five years ago, when his career was at its peak, he tried to break into Hollywood, thinking it was his last chance. But he faced great difficulties. The roles didn¡¯t suit him, and Hollywood didn¡¯t give him a proper role.


    Even though he was told it would be a significant supporting role, his screen time didn¡¯t even amount to five minutes. After that, Lee Sangsoo gave up on overseas ventures and returned to Korea. He then tried to make a comeback through dramas, but even that was met with harsh criticism.


    Since then, Lee Sangsoo had taken a break, but PD Jung Seunghyun eventually brought him back through Star Angler, utilizing his only hobby: fishing.


    "If I were a bit younger, maybe I¡¯d get along well with her like a granddaughter."


    "Well, the other cast members are all men, so that should be fine..."


    The middle-aged man who spoke was five years younger than Lee Sangsoo. He was actor Song Gwangmin, a man deeply passionate about fishing. So, the idea of having an actress who probably didn¡¯t know the first thing about fishing as a guest didn¡¯t sit well with him.


    "What if she starts complaining about wanting to go back home on the boat? Can she even handle herself properly?"


    "Oh, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve thoroughly researched everything."


    "...Ahem. Well, I know PD Jung is meticulous."


    Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, Song Gwangmin coughed and said that. But his displeasure still hadn¡¯t completely disappeared.


    ''Still, if it¡¯s PD Shin¡¯s recommendation, it should be solid.''


    PD Shin Youngwoo of Island Survival. He was a senior to PD Jung Seunghyun from the same high school. Through that connection, he had heard about Ju Seoyeon.


    After doing some digging, they had decided to extend an offer for her to appear.


    ''Even if half of what I¡¯ve heard about her is true, it¡¯ll be fine.''


    That alone would be enough. After all, the rest could be covered by her looks and popularity to drive the ratings. PD Jung Seunghyun¡¯s expectations were just that.

 Chapter 107

    "Fishing variety show?"


    Liam, a member of the boy group Thunderst, which had just celebrated its first year since debuting, thought he had misheard. Fishing? Of course, being just over twenty years old, Liam had never tried fishing before.


    "That''s totally something for old men..."


    "Are you in a position to be picky about your opportunities?"


    "...."


    Sunshine Planning was one of the top three management companies, but despite focusing on the idol business, it hadn¡¯t seen significant success. Thunderst had managed to secure a modest fan base, but...


    "To put it bluntly, you¡¯re falling behind, Hoseung."


    "Please call me Liam."


    "Why? Kim Hoseung is a good name, easy to pronounce, and sounds nice."


    It wasn''t that he disliked the name Kim Hoseung. It just didn''t seem to fit well with a boy group.


    "Anyway, this isn''t the time to be picky about whether it''s a show for older men or not. You need to build a fan base."


    "...You''re right."


    His team leader''s words were spot on. Among the members of Thunderst, Kim Hoseung was particularly unpopular. He had an average, plain-looking face, his dancing and singing were just okay.


    He wasn''t especially witty, so even when he appeared on variety shows, he didn¡¯t manage to stand out. Lately, he¡¯d even started wondering if this job was really right for him.


    "Still, if you appear on Star Angler, you could build relationships with veteran actors and develop a new image."


    "That would be nice."


    "Oh, and there¡¯s talk that one of the other guests will be a woman."


    "A woman? Is she an actress or an idol?"


    "I don¡¯t know."


    "Is there anything you do know?"


    "Ahem, but wouldn¡¯t it be a great opportunity to build your image? You could help her out while learning to fish, right? That should make for a good image."@@@@


    Apparently, the woman was new to fishing too, or so he¡¯d heard. Fishing, after all, requires a lot of physical endurance.


    ''It seems like she might be in a tight spot too.''


    Moreover, it was rare for a woman to appear on a fishing variety show. Female celebrities often avoided outdoor variety shows like this because they were physically demanding and risked sun damage to their skin.


    So, Liam thought this was a good chance to enhance his image. If he could show himself helping out the female celebrity, whoever she was, it could leave a positive impression on the viewers.


    With that thought in mind, he headed to the filming location.


    "Hello."


    "...."


    Standing there was an actress he¡¯d recently seen in movies. The actress currently gaining popularity for her roles in The Chaser and Dream Future.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    She was standing there, holding a ton of equipment, looking directly at him.


    Lee Sangsoo honestly felt a bit uneasy. Star Angler was the only variety show where he could truly relax.


    Although it was a broadcast, it was a show where he could go fishing with his friend, Song Gwangmin, and new guests.


    So when he heard that a young actress would be joining as a guest this time, he felt uncomfortable.


    ''Does she even know anything about fishing?''


    In truth, he didn''t expect her to know. If she didn''t, he could just teach her.


    But he wondered if she would actually try to learn. She might listen, out of respect for her much older seniors, but she could also just pretend to enjoy it.


    As an actor, Lee Sangsoo could easily see through such pretenses. He had always been good at reading other people''s emotions.


    ''Especially if she''s recently had back-to-back hits, it¡¯s not hard to imagine how she might behave.''


    He wasn¡¯t trying to criticize Ju Seoyeon as an actress. It''s just human nature.


    After hitting it big as a child actor, disappearing, and then returning to score two consecutive hits, it was natural to become a bit arrogant. Especially when she was still a teenager.


    But then...


    "Hello, I¡¯m Ju Seoyeon."


    She bowed deeply, greeting them with a very refined and graceful demeanor. Although her features were somewhat sharp, she exuded a strangely warm atmosphere.


    It was as if she was genuinely looking forward to the upcoming experience. That emotion was clearly conveyed.


    "...I''m Lee Sangsoo. Seoyeon, is this your first time fishing?"


    "Yes."


    As she spoke, it was clear she had brought a lot of things. While the fishing rods had been provided by the show, she had brought plenty of other gear.


    Backup equipment and fishing supplies.


    "I¡¯m Song Gwangmin. Nice to meet you."


    The rather large-framed Song Gwangmin extended his hand for a handshake with Seoyeon. As he did, he secretly clicked his tongue.


    The sound the fishing rod made when Seoyeon swung it was chilling, and the way the metal jig flew was like a bullet. Is fishing about shooting fish with bait?


    "Um, you don¡¯t have to swing it so forcefully."


    "Okay."


    Her voice was calm, but there was an oddly excited tone to it.


    "Loosen the line, loosen the line."


    In any case, it seemed Seoyeon had properly studied how to fish. After casting the bait, she calmly tightened the line.


    With the fishing underway, the two veteran actors, who had initially been focused on Liam, were now mainly watching Seoyeon.


    It was only natural. Seoyeon¡¯s posture as she held the fishing rod was very straight. Clearly, she had practiced properly.


    Her consistent jerking of the bait, which involved shaking it to mimic a swimming fish, was also spot on. Without a certain level of stamina, it would be impossible to keep that up, yet she didn¡¯t break a sweat.


    "Seoyeon, didn¡¯t you bring a hat? Should I give you mine?"


    "No, I¡¯m fine."


    Seoyeon shrugged and said,


    "The sun can¡¯t do anything to me."


    Her white skin had never once been sunburned. Invincible skin. Though she had applied sunscreen out of courtesy, it wasn¡¯t really necessary.


    "Oh, really?"


    He didn¡¯t quite understand what she meant, but if she said she was fine, then she must be fine. On the other hand, the one really struggling was Liam.


    ''Isn¡¯t this tiring for her? How is that even possible?''


    Seoyeon was having the time of her life, continuously shaking the fishing rod without stopping. Anyone who has tried fishing knows that while it might be fine at first, if you keep shaking the rod, your arms start to feel like they¡¯re going to fall off.


    Normally, people don¡¯t fish that way. But since Seoyeon was doing it non-stop, Liam felt pressured.


    If he just stood there holding the rod and watching, it would look like Seoyeon was working hard while he was slacking off.


    "Both of you have great stamina."


    "Yeah, we couldn¡¯t keep up like that."


    Meanwhile, Lee Sangsoo and Song Gwangmin just laughed, seemingly enjoying themselves. For the record, Lee Sangsoo and Seoyeon were on the same team, while Song Gwangmin and Liam formed the other team.


    They had noticed that Seoyeon¡¯s behavior was a bit out of the ordinary, but they decided to just go with it for fun.


    "Ah."


    At that moment, Seoyeon felt something tug on her line.


    "Oh, you''ve got something! How does it feel?"


    "Do I just reel it in now?"


    Hearing Seoyeon¡¯s calm question, Lee Sangsoo assumed it must be a small fish.


    "Just reel it in slowly, and let me know if you need help."


    "I¡¯m fine!"


    Seoyeon pulled the rod with a focused expression and started reeling in the line. Seeing her slightly biting her lip suggested she was exerting quite a bit of strength.


    ''Is it a red seabream? Or maybe a flatfish?''


    Even a red seabream would be enough to secure a win. He hoped it would be at least 50 centimeters.


    Just then, the fish hooked on Seoyeon¡¯s line surfaced.


    "Oh! ...Oh?"


    At first, it seemed pretty big. But something about the perspective felt off.


    The fish was... kind of huge? Very huge, actually.


    "Wh-what?"


    PD Jung Seunghyun jumped up in shock.


    "Seoyeon! If it gets dangerous, let go of the line!"


    Reacting to PD Jung Seunghyun¡¯s alarm, Liam turned his head. He saw Lee Sangsoo and Song Gwangmin moving closer to Seoyeon. What¡¯s going on?


    Rushing over to her side, Liam finally saw it.


    "...What?"


    A massive fish was dangling from Seoyeon¡¯s fishing line, being dragged along. The fish was almost as long as Liam himself.


    "No way! What is that?"


    "Quickly, help Seoyeon!!"


    But Seoyeon shook her head as if she was fine.


    "I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m stronger than it!"


    "No, it¡¯s not about being strong!!"


    The fish was a 170-centimeter long sailfish. An ultra-rare species in Wando, with only a few dozen caught each year.

 Chapter 108

    Star Angler is a popular variety show among older men who enjoy fishing or those who appreciate healing entertainment. The two lead actors were known for their excellent banter and, having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, they handled any guest with ease.


    However, that didn¡¯t mean they were open to every guest.


    "Ju Seoyeon? Who¡¯s that?"


    "Didn¡¯t you watch The Chaser?"


    "Nope. I haven¡¯t been to a movie theater in over 10 years, so what¡¯s The Chaser?"


    For those who didn¡¯t watch movies or dramas, Ju Seoyeon was an unfamiliar name. After all, who would recognize a rising star when they only watched variety shows on TV?


    "Plus, that guy who¡¯s with her looks so scrawny."


    "He¡¯s someone¡¯s grandson."


    "Oh, you mean Hoseung?"


    Anyway, Liam, or Hoseung, as he¡¯s known to his family, was making his first variety show appearance, and his family gathered together to watch. On the internet, discussions about Ju Seoyeon¡¯s guest appearance on Star Angler began to surface.


    I knew she¡¯d end up on a variety show after two back-to-back hits, but Star Angler???Star Angler is a solid choice.I¡¯ve never seen a female guest make Star Angler interesting.If you saw her on Survivor Island, you¡¯d know she¡¯s capable.She¡¯s the one who caught fish with a spear, LOL.Is that the same as deep-sea fishing? You Seoyeon fanboys are all here now.


    While some of Ju Seoyeon¡¯s growing fanbase and those who had seen her on Survivor Island welcomed her appearance, others who didn¡¯t even know who she was were displeased. Typically, Star Angler was a serious fishing show, and female guests had never made much of an impact.


    But those doubts were shattered within just 10 minutes of the broadcast. As soon as they set out on the boat and Ju Seoyeon began fishing, the show took a turn.


    When she eagerly hooked the bait and cast her line:


    ?Something sounded weird just now.Is this normal on Star Angler? First time watching.Nope, not normal.


    The sound of the bait shooting out as it pierced the water was intense, almost like a gunshot.


    "Wow, Seoyeon¡¯s got good form."


    "Right? I practiced."


    Seoyeon replied confidently.@@@@


    What do you mean, "Right?"Am I the only one who thought that scene was strange?If that fishing rod had hit someone, it¡¯d be like getting shot, seriously.


    Although it was a bit odd, Seoyeon was far more likable than expected. Her demeanor resembled that of a refined young lady, and some thought she might disrupt the flow of the show. But...


    Looks like she practiced alone.She¡¯s got good stamina; that jerking motion is tough.What¡¯s jerking?It¡¯s when you shake the metal jig on the hook to make it look like a small fish.


    But watching her shake the rod non-stop with enthusiasm was exhausting just to watch.


    The idol guy is out of it. Who is he?He¡¯s from Thunderst.And who¡¯s that?Doesn¡¯t she ever get tired? Is this on repeat or something?


    If it weren¡¯t for the exhausted Liam on the other side, people might have thought the scene was on repeat. Seoyeon¡¯s energetic rod-shaking conveyed her excitement through the screen.


    "Seoyeon, should I give you my hat?"


    "No, I¡¯m fine. The sun can¡¯t do anything to me."


    Lee Sangsoo looked flustered at her cheerful response, completely unexpected.


    Is Ju Seoyeon some kind of eccentric?LOL, what kind of movie line is that?I couldn¡¯t believe my ears. Is that something an actress would say?"The sun can¡¯t harm me." Sounds like something a vampire who¡¯s overcome the sun would say.


    As silly comments circulated for about 10 minutes, Seoyeon suddenly felt a tug on her line. When actor Lee Sangsoo told her to slowly reel it in, Seoyeon cautiously began to turn the reel.


    Creak, creak.


    "It sounds like it¡¯s about to break."


    "It won¡¯t break. That fishing rod is expensive and sturdy. It¡¯s not going to break, don¡¯t worry."


    Looks like it might be a red seabream, considering we¡¯re in Wando.Red seabream, LOL. With a female actress like her, she¡¯d be dragged all over the place, no way.Nope, if you know the technique, that won¡¯t happen.If she¡¯s a fishing novice, it¡¯s possible.What¡¯s going on?What kind of fish is that? It looks pretty big.Is she out of her mind?"I¡¯m stronger," LOL.It¡¯s not about being strong, it¡¯s about safety!!!Is this a show about fighting fish?Is that a sailfish??? That thing is huge!!!What¡¯s a sailfish?Wow, you don¡¯t know what a sailfish is? That thing can grow up to 2 meters long.Only a few dozen are caught each year, and some people dream of catching one.That thing weighs over 100kg. How is she reeling it in alone??Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s still underwater?This is insane.A sailfish caught on a variety show?But is she really pulling it in alone?Aren¡¯t the other guests helping?Helping? Are they really?This is my first time watching Star Angler, isn¡¯t it supposed to be a healing show?What is this, The Old Man and the Sea?Yap?Wow, that¡¯s crazy.Isn¡¯t that dangerous?The fish is huge and must be incredibly strong.What just happened? Why did the sailfish suddenly go limp?Did Ju Seoyeon just punch it?Do sailfish faint from being punched?But is it really fainted or... is it dead?


    "Wow! A sailfish!!"


    "Catching a sailfish has been a lifelong dream of mine, but to catch one like this..."


    "This is incredible. The match is already decided. Wow, really."


    Since the first catch was a sailfish, the competition became meaningless. Lee Sangsoo and Song Gwangmin, both fishing enthusiasts, couldn¡¯t hide their excitement.


    "Can I hold it?"


    Everyone nodded in agreement at Seoyeon¡¯s request.


    "Of course! Here, let us help you..."


    Lee Sangsoo smiled at Seoyeon. A female actress holding a sailfish. She looked as beautiful as ever.


    Seoyeon wanted to hold it on her own, but she hesitated, feeling it would be a bit impolite. After all, they had all caught it together, so it wouldn¡¯t be right to hog the spotlight.


    So they took a group photo. Everyone smiled brightly as they took the picture, and with a loud thud, Seoyeon dropped the sailfish she had been holding. Liam swallowed nervously.


    "Didn¡¯t they say that thing weighs over 100kg?"


    Even though the others were helping her, Seoyeon seemed to handle it too easily. Liam began to have his doubts. And he remembered.


    "I¡¯m pretty sure... I saw her punch the sailfish in the head..."


    The others were too busy to notice, but Liam, standing awkwardly at a distance, had seen it clearly. The moment Seoyeon punched the sailfish, it went limp.


    "..."


    The sailfish was 170 centimeters long. Considering its weight, it was a fish larger than Liam himself. He made a mental note: better not mess with her.


    After catching the sailfish, as everyone was about to share their fishing stories, Seoyeon spoke up.


    "Are we going to make spicy fish stew with the catch now?"


    "What?"


    "I¡¯ve seen people make spicy fish stew with their catch."


    Seoyeon asked with a rare, excited expression.


    No way.Who makes spicy fish stew with a sailfish?Please don¡¯t.You crazy woman!!! Stop it, please!!!!!Save the sailfish...


    For anyone who knew about fishing, her suggestion was enough to send them into a fit. But Lee Sangsoo and Song Gwangmin exchanged glances. What could they do when the person who caught the fish was so eager?


    And besides, seeing a female actress who had caught a sailfish made them want to agree to anything she said.


    "Well... it¡¯s a big one, so maybe we can use a little bit."


    "But where do we start cutting? I¡¯ve never even seen a video on how to prepare a sailfish."


    Everyone moved busily. Although some were tearfully trying to stop them, with two veteran actors agreeing with Seoyeon, there was no other choice.


    And so, Star Angler, which unexpectedly struck gold with this episode, was memorialized in Wiki under "Ju Seoyeon¡¯s First Controversy: The Sailfish Stew Incident."

 Chapter 109

    The shocking episode of Star Angler featuring the catch of a sailfish stirred up a lot of attention, especially when part of the expensive fish was cooked into a spicy stew.


    Post: Was the sailfish catch staged?


    "Wasn''t there a fishing show before where they had divers underwater hooking the fish for the contestants? Could this be something like that?"


    Such comments started to circulate, but they were quickly rebutted.


    What kind of staged broadcast is this? ©¸ No way. ©¸ What''s going on? ©¸ Wow.


    How could anyone fake catching a sailfish?


    It was clearly alive when they caught it, so if it was staged, it would¡¯ve been impossible. Seriously, just admit it if you think it was staged.


    The fact that the fish was alive made it impossible to be staged. Anyone who watched the broadcast couldn''t even imagine staging something as large as a sailfish. The sheer size of the fish, which looked like it could swallow a person whole, made it clear that it couldn¡¯t have been staged.


    While discussions like these were happening in various online communities, the fan community for Ju Seoyeon was engaged in a more humorous debate:


    Post: Ju Seoyeon with a fishing rod vs. Cha Seo-ah


    Honestly, I think Ju Seoyeon with a fishing rod would be stronger.An axe or a kitchen knife has shorter reach.Cha Seo-ah is fast, she could just catch her.Did you see how Ju Seoyeon swings that fishing rod? If she hit Cha Seo-ah with it, she¡¯d split in half.In the end, if they both get injured, Hong Jeong-hee would win, lol.


    Even though the fan community often indulged in versus posts like this, not all posts were just for fun.


    Seoyeon is really pretty.I love how she seems so excited whenever she¡¯s on a variety show.Yeah, she has such a natural vibe.She¡¯s really kind.Does she really have a kind-looking face, though...?She¡¯s kind, I¡¯m telling you.


    Ju Seoyeon''s fan community had steadily been growing. It started with viewers who enjoyed Looking Back on the Past joining the community. Then, more people came after seeing her in Close Your Eyes. Her fan base began to grow rapidly after her appearances in The Chaser and Dream Future.


    And with her appearance on Star Angler, she managed to attract a broader demographic of fans. The number of registered users in her fan community had now reached 5,000.


    But Ju Seoyeon¡¯s influence wasn¡¯t just limited to her fan community; it also had unexpected effects elsewhere.


    ¡°Director, our fishing rod sales have doubled recently!¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    Yuseong Enterprises, a well-known domestic fishing rod manufacturer, was experiencing an unexpected boom. In a market dominated by Japanese brands, such an increase in sales was quite unusual.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Recently, on Star Angler, an actress caught a sailfish...¡±


    ¡°An actress caught a sailfish? Isn¡¯t that staged?¡±


    ¡°People are saying that, but the catch was so spectacular that it¡¯s hard to believe it was fake.¡±


    The executive showed a video that was already circulating on YouTube Shorts. The sailfish didn¡¯t just get caught; it flew out of the water.


    ¡°Is this CGI?¡±


    ¡°...There are rumors, but either way, the fishing rod she used was ours.¡±


    Yuseong Enterprises had been sponsoring fishing rods for Star Angler for some time. The fishing rod used in this episode was quite expensive, designed to withstand a lot of strain.


    ¡°It managed to reel in a sailfish without breaking. If you search on YouTube, there¡¯s a video showing the catch at around the 7-minute mark where the rod almost snapped in half.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. But our rod broke at the end...¡±


    ¡°Yes, but honestly, even an American or Japanese rod would have broken long before that. So, it seems our rod has gained quite a bit of attention.¡±


    Who would have thought that sponsoring a fishing show would pay off like this?


    ¡°...Do we have a brand ambassador?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°What do you think about using this actress, Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    The executive hesitated for a moment. Ju Seoyeon, a recently rising star, was currently generating a lot of buzz. If they were to use her as a model, now would be the time.


    ¡°...Shall we reach out to her?¡±


    Yuseong Enterprises¡¯ CEO, Kang Daesik, nodded, though he also felt a twinge of regret.


    ¡®If I had known, I would have contacted her a little sooner.¡¯


    Until recently, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s fee would have been comparable to that of a rookie. But now? Her rate had probably doubled or tripled. Regardless of whether it was hype or not, there was no denying that she was a hot topic.


    As Ju Seoyeon was becoming a hot commodity in the advertising world...


    ¡°Our sales went up again.¡±


    There was one brand that had secured Ju Seoyeon at her lowest rate.


    ¡°I¡¯m amazed by your foresight, sir.¡±


    ¡°This truly is the legend of a luxury brand! It¡¯s no wonder they say you¡¯re a genius.¡±


    ¡®We can cultivate a more sophisticated image for her through our cosmetics.¡¯


    Managing an actress¡¯s image was part of what an advertising company needed to consider. And with Seoyeon, Jung Taesu now felt confident it could be done.


    While discussions about her were heating up in the advertising world, the Star Angler team gathered once more to celebrate the recent buzz around the show.


    Usually, they would have had the after-party right after the shoot, but they had been too preoccupied with the sailfish to do so at the time.


    ¡°Thanks to Seoyeon, I got to try sailfish stew.¡±


    ¡°...I didn¡¯t realize it was that expensive.¡±


    Seoyeon responded in a small voice. She genuinely hadn¡¯t known. Who would have thought that the fish she caught was one of only a few dozen caught each year?


    It was only after the shoot, during her usual ego-searching routine, that she stumbled upon her profile on Namu Wiki and realized.


    The controversy surrounding the sailfish stew was boldly listed under the ¡°Controversies/Scandals¡± section of her profile.


    ¡®To think my first controversy would be...!¡¯


    Seriously, was making sailfish stew really that big of a mistake? It just seemed... a little too foolish, didn¡¯t it?


    Seoyeon did care about her image, after all. Just yesterday, a convenience store clerk had asked her, ¡°Why did you make spicy stew out of a sailfish?¡±


    Who knew it was such a big deal?


    ¡°Well, considering how big it was, making stew out of part of it seems reasonable.¡±


    ¡°Right, right.¡±


    Although Seoyeon felt a bit awkward about the conversation between Lee Sangsoo and PD Jung Seunghyun, Liam, who had appeared alongside her on the show, looked a bit down.


    It was understandable since Seoyeon¡¯s overwhelming presence had completely overshadowed him. In fact, many people didn¡¯t even realize he had been on the show.


    As Liam quietly picked at his grilled meat, he noticed Seoyeon staring at him.


    ¡°Why, why are you looking at me?¡±


    ¡°No reason, just...¡±


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes as she looked at Liam.


    ¡®Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve seen him somewhere before.¡¯


    She hadn¡¯t recognized him during the shoot because he had been so done up, but now, with his makeup toned down, she remembered seeing him somewhere.


    ¡®It wasn¡¯t a good memory...¡¯


    It must have been some kind of incident. Not a major one, but something that had briefly made it into the news before disappearing. The incident that led to the disbanding of Thunderst.


    ¡°...Anyway.¡±


    At that moment, Lee Sangsoo addressed Seoyeon.


    ¡°I watched your movie this past weekend.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°I mean The Chaser. Honestly, I¡¯m not good with thriller movies.¡±


    Lee Sangsoo instinctively reached for a shot of soju but hesitated, realizing they hadn¡¯t ordered any alcohol for this gathering since Seoyeon was underage.


    ¡°Honestly, after watching the movie, it¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯re the same person.¡±


    He chuckled as he spoke. The character Cha Seo-ah in The Chaser was someone who had gathered all the darkness around her.


    But on the variety show, Seoyeon had been like a ray of sunshine. Even though Dream Future didn¡¯t quite match his tastes, there was something captivating about it.


    An actor.


    That word, which no longer seemed to apply to him, shone brightly for Seoyeon. She was an actress to whom that word suited more than anyone else.


    ¡°If I ever get the chance, I¡¯d love to act alongside you someday... Ah, that¡¯s just me rambling, no need to take it seriously.¡±


    Seoyeon suddenly thought of the actor Lee Sangsoo. An actor who had experienced a great failure in Hollywood.


    More precisely, someone whose pride as an actor had been thoroughly crushed, leading him to lose his way.


    ¡®If I remember correctly, Lee Sangsoo will completely retire in about five years.¡¯


    After Star Angler, he would no longer be seen on screen. But...


    ¡°Senior.¡±


    Seoyeon looked at him as he fiddled with his empty shot glass. Personally, she didn¡¯t want to see him retire.

 Chapter 110

    Actor Lee Sangsoo was a seasoned actor, and he didn¡¯t want to overlook the connection he had made through Star Angler. The reason was simple.


    ¡®Director Jo Bangwoo¡¯s movie.¡¯


    Jo Bangwoo was the father of Director Jo Mintae, who had a connection with Seoyeon when she was younger. His movie was scheduled to begin production early next year.


    Seoyeon wanted to star in that movie alongside Lee Sangsoo.


    ¡®Director Jo Bangwoo¡¯s movies are never mediocre.¡¯


    The movie had decent funding, and Director Jo Bangwoo, considering this his last opportunity, was pouring everything into it. It was a rare disaster movie with a fairly fresh concept, and the lead character was quite compelling... or so it would later be evaluated. However...


    "Tomorrow, Dream Future episode 14 will air."


    "Oh, really?"


    "It¡¯s the last episode where I fully appear as Jo Harin."


    In other words, it was the episode where Jo Harin competed against Song Soha for a place in the finals. In this episode, Song Soha would defeat Jo Harin and advance to the finals.


    "I hope you¡¯ll watch it."


    "Haha, of course, I will. I¡¯ve been watching it recently, and it¡¯s not bad."


    Even saying "not bad" was a significant compliment. After all, Dream Future was not the kind of drama that suited Lee Sangsoo¡¯s tastes.


    He had been watching purely to see Seoyeon¡¯s performance.


    "And..."


    Seoyeon hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to say what was on her mind. But then, she shook her head.


    ¡®Trying to persuade him with words here would be pointless; he¡¯d just brush it off.¡¯


    Lee Sangsoo was nearly done with his acting career. All that remained was a spark of lingering attachment.


    Seoyeon knew that the first thing she needed to do was to reignite that spark.


    "I hope we can meet again sometime."


    "Oh, of course. If you ever want to go fishing again, just let me know."


    "Aww, senior, fishing is for guys like us old men."


    "Why not? Seoyeon has talent for it!"


    As the men chatted about fishing, Seoyeon quietly shifted her gaze to a young man who was barely managing to keep a composed expression in the lively atmosphere.


    "Jiwoo, your acting was good today."


    Shim Cheongseok said as he patted Pyo Jiwoo on the shoulder. Before leaving the theater group, he had managed to wrap up the play on a decent note.


    "But you should try to add more variety to your acting style. Right now, it¡¯s all in one color."


    "I¡¯ll try."


    "Yeah, but you have talent, so you¡¯ll get there soon enough."


    Pyo Jiwoo let out a sigh of relief. When Shim Cheongseok ended with just these comments, it meant her performance that day was satisfactory.


    If he had been displeased, he would have grilled her for two or three hours, as was his nature.


    "Oh, and one more thing."


    Just when she thought it was over, Shim Cheongseok seemed to remember something.


    Pyo Jiwoo tensed up, wondering if there was more to come.


    "Someone¡¯s waiting for you outside, so you should hurry."


    "What?"


    Waiting for her? As strange as it might sound, Pyo Jiwoo had a very limited social circle. The number of people who would be looking for her was very small...


    "Hello."


    "...."


    Ju Seoyeon.


    The girl who had pulled her away from a dangerous path was waiting for her outside the theater. Unlike before, when she had worn a winter uniform, she was now dressed in a light summer uniform.


    "So..."


    At a nearby cafe?, Pyo Jiwoo stared at Seoyeon. Her beauty was just as striking as before, almost unnervingly so.


    "What¡¯s the matter?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s calm gaze was fixed on her. Frankly, even Pyo Jiwoo, who was fairly bold, felt a little intimidated by that look.


    ¡®Cha Seo-ah, was it?¡¯


    She had heard that Seoyeon had appeared in Dream Future, though she hadn¡¯t watched it. But she had seen The Chaser.


    She hoped it would grow to that level. Seoyeon was fiercely competitive.


    "Stay still, it¡¯s dangerous."


    "I don¡¯t want to."


    "I¡¯ll take care of it, just wait."


    "Fine."


    In the end, Pyo Jiwoo agreed to help after hearing Seoyeon¡¯s request. It made sense to let an expert handle it instead of trying to tackle it as a novice.


    ¡®It¡¯s not going to happen right away anyway.¡¯


    There was still some time left. There was always a chance she could be wrong. It was important to approach such matters cautiously.


    And just in case...


    "Here, take this wooden sword."


    "?"


    "If you stab someone with a metal sword, they¡¯ll die."


    "You can kill someone with a wooden sword too. Besides, I¡¯m not planning to fight anyone."


    Well, Pyo Jiwoo would know how to handle it. Even if she had to face sasaeng fans, she wouldn¡¯t lose with a sword in her hand.


    Thinking this, Seoyeon headed to the convenience store she usually visited on Tuesdays.


    "...?"


    The reaction of the clerk was different than usual. For a while, thanks to The Chaser, Seoyeon could see the clerk¡¯s pupils shaking whenever she appeared.


    "Oh, hello."


    Now, the clerk seemed oddly calm. In fact, they seemed eager to strike up a conversation.


    The same thing happened at school.


    "Oh, hi?"


    "You¡¯re early again today."


    For the first time, her classmates greeted her. Just as she was considering asking Lee Jiyeon about it...


    "I really enjoyed Dream Future yesterday. I was rooting for you, but it¡¯s a shame."


    Class president Gil Dahyun approached her with a bright smile. It was then that Seoyeon realized.


    ¡®Ah, it¡¯s because of episode 14 of Dream Future that aired yesterday?¡¯


    It was the episode where Jo Harin competed against Song Soha. Except for the ending part, it was the last episode where Seoyeon would appear in Dream Future.


    She had only expected it to serve as a way to improve her image as "Cha Seo-ah."


    But the reaction was much bigger than she had anticipated.


    "...You¡¯re asking me to work on the OST for the drama?"


    In ways she hadn¡¯t anticipated at all.


    "Damn, Dream Future."


    Drama director Kim Ilsu sighed as he tossed aside the materials he had received today. With the success of Dream Future as a "youth drama," it seemed KMB wanted to create a similar show.


    They were even planning to use that rookie writer, Min Sehee. However, Kim Ilsu wasn¡¯t thrilled with the situation.


    After all, he wasn¡¯t the type to enjoy light-hearted dramas like Dream Future. The dramas he directed were usually cynical and often had a strong social commentary.


    "And the main character is supposed to be a high school student again? Dream Future was just lucky."


    He had a lot to say, but it seemed the higher-ups in the drama department had taken a liking to that young actress.


    "Ju Seoyeon, was it..."


    The young actress who was stirring up all sorts of buzz lately. She certainly had the qualities that would attract the attention of those higher up.


    "Episode 14, right. Today¡¯s her last appearance."


    He planned to watch all the episodes of Dream Future that he had missed. So far, he had only seen up to episode 4.


    The first episode had been decent, but after that, it was just an average drama. That¡¯s why he had stopped watching after episode 4.


    But now, he was going to watch it because of his upcoming drama. Sky Garden might feature that same actress.


    Her agency had already indicated that they were considering the offer positively...


    "Let¡¯s see what she¡¯s like."


    Recalling the intense image of Cha Seo-ah from The Chaser, he calmly began to watch Dream Future.


    And he kept watching until the next morning, not taking a single break.

 Chapter 111

    The last appearance of Jo Harin in Dream Future. Normally, this wouldn¡¯t have been such a highlight. However...


    "Is Jo Harin really leaving the show today?"


    "Huh? Really?"


    "So what happened with Park Minyul?"


    To the public, Dream Future had already become a highly talked-about drama. The amusing part was that this buzz all started from a single movie.


    "Oh, is there a live broadcast today too? Of course, there is!"


    A YouTuber with 1.4 million subscribers, Han Bongshik, nodded enthusiastically at the camera. How could he not livestream Dream Future?


    ¡®I really rode the wave at the perfect time.¡¯


    Han Bongshik chuckled as he looked at his subscriber count. After being stuck at around 1 million subscribers for a long time, the numbers had recently started climbing noticeably¡ªnow reaching 1.4 million.


    All of this had happened after The Chaser was released. People who were either searching for reviews of The Chaser or looking up a certain actress common to both The Chaser and Dream Future had stumbled upon his content through the algorithm.


    Even though Bongshik had already been one of the top three movie reviewers, now he was undeniably in second place. If he could surpass just one more person, he could take the top spot.


    That¡¯s why he had a special fondness for the actress who had contributed to his success.


    ¡®I really love you, Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    His affection for Seoyeon had reached its peak. With that in mind, his anticipation for today¡¯s Dream Future episode 14 was sky-high.


    ¡®I wish she could appear more, though.¡¯


    But the script had been changed, so there was nothing he could do about it. He just hoped that even if she was leaving, she would leave in the most spectacular way possible. And then...


    "...Hmmm."


    Jo Seohui narrowed her eyes as she awaited the live broadcast of Dream Future episode 14.


    ¡®This isn''t just a one-off, right?¡¯


    She wasn¡¯t sure who had planned this drama, but it seemed well-tuned to current trends. It felt like waiting for a real audition show, with the drama streaming simultaneously as real-time reactions poured in online.


    "I wonder..."


    Jo Seohui was personally looking forward to episode 14 of Dream Future because it might give her some insight into the acting style Seoyeon would bring to Gyeongseong Lady, a project they might soon be filming together.


    Given that the story would inevitably involve romance, Seohui wanted to see how Seoyeon handled romantic scenes.


    ¡®I heard from Senior Jungwoo that she¡¯s going for a more restrained approach.¡¯


    That¡¯s what the script said. But would Seoyeon really settle for just that?


    Every time they met, Seoyeon had a cool demeanor, but when it came to acting, she was nothing if not passionate.


    "..."


    But why is she only so cool toward me? She¡¯s all wagging tails and smiles with everyone else.


    ¡®This is why you need to be careful about what you say.¡¯


    ...Maybe she was still holding a grudge over the "nepotism" comment she made when they were younger. Yeah, that must be it.


    Jo Seohui convinced herself of this. In truth, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t really thought much about the nepotism comment. In fact, she had almost forgotten about it.


    The reason she felt awkward around Jo Seohui was purely due to her intimidating appearance. With a face that looked like it belonged to a villainous noblewoman, Seoyeon, who was naturally shy around people, found it hard to approach her.


    "Anyway."


    Jo Seohui turned her attention back to Dream Future as the music started playing, signaling the beginning of the episode. The protagonist, Song Soha, and Jo Harin were about to face off in the semifinals.


    "You know, I¡¯ve always been a little jealous of you."


    Jo Harin spoke with a bittersweet smile. Usually so cheerful, Jo Harin was finally revealing her true feelings to Song Soha.


    The viewers had known, but this was the first time Song Soha heard about Jo Harin¡¯s inner thoughts.


    "Seeing you sing on stage was always so dazzling..."


    Idols are, after all, singers. Singing is more important than dancing.


    Jo Harin had always been a better dancer than Song Soha, but her singing skills were significantly weaker. Although the gap had closed over time, Song Soha was still superior.


    ¡®What an ironic situation.¡¯


    Seohui pondered as she watched the interaction between Song Soha and Jo Harin. In the story, Jo Harin was jealous of Song Soha, but in reality, it was the opposite.


    Park Jungwoo had mentioned as much.


    "Nahyi is too conscious of that girl."


    "Conscious of her?"


    "It¡¯s obvious. She¡¯s worried that if Ju Seoyeon gets more screen time, she¡¯ll be overshadowed again."


    Cha Nahyi had only managed to regain her standing as the main character once Seoyeon¡¯s role was scaled back. In the first few episodes, most of the reactions had been about Seoyeon. So after the script was revised, Nahyi had been working hard to keep up.


    "As expected, Seoyeon¡¯s acting has come to the forefront again."


    "And Nahyi¡¯s acting is being criticized again."


    Seohui was aware of this. While it wasn¡¯t as harsh as what Ma Yeonwoo had faced, it was still "disappointing."


    But for someone like Cha Nahyi, who was taking on her first lead role, it must have felt like a stake through the heart.


    "So it¡¯s understandable that she¡¯s desperate..."


    "She shouldn¡¯t worry too much."


    "People are different."


    "Hmph, you were overshadowed by Ju Seoyeon too, Senior Jungwoo."


    "..."


    Huh?


    It might completely break Cha Nahyi, but...


    ¡®Method acting.¡¯


    If immersing oneself completely into a role is method acting, then what would you call this?


    What Seoyeon was doing was drawing her opponent into the role as well. By provoking her emotions, Seoyeon was forcing Song Soha to immerse herself in the character.


    Cha Nahyi, who had been on countless stages, would instinctively know. She would realize how she looked on camera compared to Seoyeon.


    ¡®It¡¯s like Ma Yeonwoo, but different.¡¯


    While Ma Yeonwoo had acted out of her own choice, this was becoming a "forced immersion."


    As Song Soha¡¯s emotions and Cha Nahyi¡¯s feelings aligned in the final moment before the finals...


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes turned red.


    Facing the overwhelming emotions, she smiled at Song Soha. And at the audience.


    It was a smile that probably evoked different feelings in each viewer. As they watched, the audience, along with Director Kim Ilsu, clenched their fists.


    Song Soha gripped the microphone tightly. And then...


    An explosive emotion burst forth.


    "This is... how long has it been?"


    One of the producers in KMB¡¯s drama department said this.


    "Since one actor had such a strong influence on a drama¡¯s ratings."


    No one knew exactly how much, but it was clear the impact was significant.


    "I did see potential in Dream Future to some extent..."


    Dream Future episode 14. The episode that focused on the final showdown between Song Soha and Jo Harin.


    Its ratings...


    "23 percent."


    The drama department was abuzz. After all, this was the highest rating achieved by any drama in the past year.


    Ten years ago, this would have been considered a "decent" rating, but now, it was an almost unreachable number.


    It was close to the highest ratings ever recorded for a youth drama. A youth drama surpassing 20 percent? That hadn¡¯t happened even ten years ago.


    "Honestly, there were some risky parts in yesterday¡¯s episode 14..."


    "Was that Ju Seoyeon¡¯s doing?"


    "We don¡¯t know."


    Seoyeon herself hadn¡¯t made any comments about her acting. Those who watched could only speculate.


    "If it was intentional..."


    "It¡¯s like she¡¯s playing with emotions."


    Was it possible because she had an abundance of emotions? Or was it because she had a deep understanding of others'' feelings?


    How much did she observe people''s emotions to be able to do something like that? Seoyeon¡¯s strength had always been her emotional acting.


    Anyone who had been in this industry for a while knew that. It was evident in The Hidden Sun and the Moon. And recently, she had clearly demonstrated it in The Chaser.


    Though the impact of her emotional acting had been somewhat diluted in Dream Future, episode 14 left a different kind of strong impression.


    "The new drama... Sky Garden, right?"


    "Yes, originally, it was supposed to be a cable drama."


    "Written by Min Sehee?"


    "Yes."


    The meeting today was to discuss the casting for Sky Garden.


    "Will it be her first lead role?"


    "Without an audition?"


    As they discussed, the door to the meeting room opened. A middle-aged man with a pleasant demeanor walked in and took a seat.


    "There will be an audition."


    "Huh?"


    "But it¡¯s not really..."


    Drama director Hataeo smiled at them.


    "Do you think there¡¯s any chance she won¡¯t get the role?"


    "Well..."


    "The audition is to reduce noise, and young actors tend to be sensitive about these things."


    For instance, they might think it was "nepotism."


    "Come on, she¡¯s already a known name."


    "But it could also serve as a way to assert dominance."


    It was a way to show what it means to have the presence of a leading role. This was, in its own way, Hataeo¡¯s consideration.


    Consideration for the other actors who would be working alongside Ju Seoyeon.


    "Oh, and about the OST for Sky Garden, how about having Ju Seoyeon do it?"


    There was no one in the room who could refuse Hataeo¡¯s suggestion.

 Chapter 112

    "Nahee, your acting was really impressive!"


    Director Kim Pilseok clapped his hands as he spoke. The staff members also looked at Cha Nahyi with wide, surprised eyes.


    It was the first time she had received such positive feedback during the filming of Dream Future. Up until now, any applause she received felt forced, but this time, it was different.


    Everyone¡¯s reaction. Even she was surprised when she replayed the performance in her mind. Had she really done that well?


    ''No, was that even acting?''


    As the heat that had been coursing through her body began to cool, she recalled the moment on stage. The moment when Seoyeon stepped forward and began to sing. Originally, she was supposed to downplay her presence or perform awkwardly, but...


    ¡®It was as if she was asking, "Is this okay?"¡¯


    Instead, Seoyeon had stolen Nahyi¡¯s spotlight with full force. Acting? Yes, it was acting. Seoyeon was a monster capable of doing something like that while staying in character.


    Nahyi had felt it. But she wasn¡¯t the same. Her pride as an idol wouldn''t allow it.


    ¡®The stage was already set the moment Seoyeon stepped forward.¡¯


    Maybe she sensed it instinctively. The moment Seoyeon moved, the emotions of Cha Nahyi and Song Soha couldn¡¯t help but align.


    A scene not in the original script. Confusion and bewilderment. The jealousy she had felt toward Seoyeon all this time.


    The moment Seoyeon stepped forward, it turned the stage into a place where ''Cha Nahyi'' appeared to be ''Song Soha.''


    ¡®Is this what it means to be an actor?¡¯


    She had felt something similar while filming with Park Jungwoo. But Seoyeon''s influence was more raw and instinctive.


    It was as if she was forcibly drawing her into the flow. Thanks to that, on this stage, Cha Nahyi undoubtedly became Song Soha.


    The applause that followed on stage began to extend to the viewers as well.


    ¡°Did you watch Dream Future episode 14 last night?¡± ¡°Wow, it was something else. Cha Nahyi as Song Soha? Which group was she from again? The live performance was no joke.¡± ¡°I was really bummed that Jo Harin got eliminated.¡±


    The showdown between Jo Harin and Song Soha. Honestly, it felt less like acting and more like a real idol battle.


    The main character in the show was Song Soha. In that sense, the scene where Song Soha took a step ahead in the competition with Jo Harin was incredibly impactful.


    And that scene...


    ¡°Heh, she really played with the acting.¡± ¡°You noticed that too, huh?¡±


    Lee Sangsoo and Song Gwangmin, who had appeared on Star Fisherman with Seoyeon, were discussing episode 14 of Dream Future. It wasn¡¯t the type of drama that usually appealed to them. But there was something that drew them in.


    By the time they realized it, they had watched the entire episode 14. Especially last night¡¯s episode. Any actor with a keen eye would have noticed right away.


    ¡°She naturally guided her co-star¡¯s emotions. And that means she moved the emotions of the viewers as well.¡± ¡°Right. If it had been done poorly, it would have been a very uncomfortable scene.¡± ¡°It was definitely an ad-lib.¡±


    Replaying the scene, the moment Seoyeon stepped forward, Cha Nahyi¡¯s genuine emotions burst out. But because it fit the situation so naturally, none of the viewers realized it was an NG (no good) take.


    The NG flowed seamlessly into the emotional transition, and Cha Nahyi became Song Soha.


    ¡°To have such acting skill at this age...¡± ¡°It would be difficult without having observed others¡¯ emotions for a long time.¡±


    How could someone of her age pull that off? It raised questions. The depth of her understanding of emotions was profound.


    ¡®It felt like she knew exactly how people would react in certain situations.¡¯


    It was as if she had mechanically learned how others would emotionally respond to her actions. Considering Seoyeon¡¯s age, it was ridiculous, but that¡¯s exactly how it felt.


    ¡°Senior.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°So, what are you going to do?¡±


    Seoyeon had asked Lee Sangsoo to watch this episode 14. Her intention was clear.


    ¡°Our junior is practically encouraging you to start acting again.¡± ¡°...¡±


    He had failed in Hollywood and lost his passion for acting.


    ¡®The spark.¡¯


    A close junior had once said something like that to him.


    ¡®The one who holds both starlight and the spark.¡¯


    Unfortunately, Lee Sangsoo was the one with the spark. Unable to shine like starlight, he was an actor who burned himself to act.


    The fire had been extinguished by the cold waters, making it difficult to rekindle. Watching dramas or movies no longer brought him any joy.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    ¡°But Jiyeon.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°...Do you think I could learn a bit more from that person?¡±


    The ''magician'' who sometimes collaborated with ''Ramiel.'' It was clear she was talking about Han Dayoung.


    ¡®That person?¡¯


    Jiyeon tilted her head at the oddly distant title. But then she remembered how Seoyeon would become strangely prickly whenever the ''magician'' teamed up with ''Ramiel'' and chuckled.


    Despite that, Seoyeon still wanted to learn singing from Han Dayoung. The ''magician'' was indeed good at singing. She was also a great teacher.


    ¡°But, she¡¯s in Japan right now.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°She has a meeting with a... company there.¡± ¡°Oh, for how long?¡± ¡°She probably won¡¯t be back until the end of the month.¡±


    Jiyeon stopped short of saying it was a meeting with a VTuber agency. After all, this was a topic mostly discussed among those in the know. It was a silly thing, but Seoyeon was extremely meticulous about such matters.


    ¡°...Really?¡±


    Seoyeon was clearly troubled by Jiyeon¡¯s words. And for good reason. They had suggested she test out her skills in the studio before working on the OST.


    That test was in exactly two weeks. If she performed poorly, the OST might be canceled.


    ¡®I don¡¯t want that.¡¯


    Honestly, she wanted to try working on the OST. She wanted to try new things, no matter what. Besides, everyone kept saying she was a good singer, so naturally, she wanted to sing more.


    ¡®It would also be useful if I end up becoming a VTuber...¡¯


    As if making excuses, Seoyeon mumbled to herself, eager to work on the OST.


    ¡®Come to think of it, agreeing to do the OST means I also agreed to take the lead role.¡¯


    She wondered if she had accepted too hastily. But, since the action movie audition planned by the GH Group had yet to be scheduled, and since Gyeongseong Lady wouldn¡¯t start filming for a few months¡ªplus, she didn¡¯t even need to audition for it anymore¡ªshe suddenly found herself with a lot of free time.


    ¡°Normally, during such times, you take a break by doing some commercials or variety shows.¡±


    That¡¯s what Manager Park Eunha had said, but Seoyeon wasn¡¯t very interested in that. Her abundant energy couldn¡¯t be satisfied with just commercials.


    ¡®What should I do...¡¯


    Seoyeon hesitated. Wasn¡¯t there someone who could help her? Just as she was pondering this, someone came to mind.


    After all, she had recently become close to an idol during a shoot.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Labin of the girl group ''Summer Girl'' tilted her head in response to Cha Nahyi¡¯s words.


    ¡°Oh, um, yes.¡±


    Cha Nahyi hesitated. Her position within the group was somewhat ambiguous.


    Specifically, in terms of relationships. By chance, she had gained popularity on a variety show, monopolizing the spotlight.


    She also had the most broadcast activities. And now, with her proven skills in Dream Future, ''Summer Girl'' was starting to feel like a group of extras with Nahyi as the star.


    Because of this, there was a sense of distance between Nahyi and the other members.


    ¡®She got lucky and blew up.¡¯


    Labin frowned slightly as she looked at Nahyi. When they first debuted, Nahyi had the lowest rank among the members.


    There were even rumors that she was chosen only for her looks.


    ¡®Aside from her looks and singing...¡¯


    Labin tried to convince herself that was all Nahyi had going for her.


    ¡®Even if Nahyi brings someone, they probably won¡¯t be much.¡¯


    Nahyi was rather timid within the group. She was thoughtful and cautious when making friends, so most of the people she knew were fairly boring.


    ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    So, Labin, the leader of ''Summer Girl,'' casually gave her approval. And the next day...


    ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°...¡±


    A slightly stiff voice. Long black hair, a neat school uniform. A pale face and shockingly beautiful features filled her view. This was an actress. Moreover, the girl who had recently become the hottest star in town through The Chaser and Dream Future.


    Ju Seoyeon calmly greeted them. And as she watched them all react in shock, Seoyeon thought to herself:


    ¡®Their legs are really slender.¡¯


    She wondered if they would break if she kicked them.

 Chapter 113

    ¡°Oh, where¡¯s Seoyeon? Why are you here alone?¡±


    Kang Chanyul, the CEO of Nova Entertainment, was in a great mood lately. And why wouldn¡¯t he be? Thanks to Seoyeon¡¯s impressive performances, Nova Entertainment''s stock had seen a significant rise.


    After Hwang Minhwa¡¯s departure, the company was left without any notable actors, leading to whispers that "Nova Entertainment is done for." But now, those whispers seemed like a distant memory.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon went to learn some singing.¡±


    ¡°Singing? Ah, is it for the OST work she¡¯s involved in?¡±


    Kang Chanyul responded casually at first but then paused, sensing something odd in Jiyeon¡¯s tone.


    ¡°Wait, is she working with our company¡¯s vocal trainer?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Initially, Seoyeon had planned to ask Han Dayoung, Jiyeon¡¯s VTuber colleague known as the ''Magician,'' for help. However, something came up, and Seoyeon suddenly disappeared. From what Jiyeon heard...


    ¡°She¡¯s learning from... a friend.¡±


    ¡°A... friend?¡±


    Kang Chanyul couldn''t help but think such a thought was rude. Did Seoyeon even have any friends besides Jiyeon?


    That¡¯s how limited Seoyeon¡¯s social circle was.


    ¡°And what about our vocal trainers?¡±


    Kang Chanyul muttered in disbelief. Nova Entertainment wasn¡¯t some small-time company, and of course, they had their own vocal trainers.


    Nova wasn¡¯t just a talent agency focusing on actors; they also managed idols. Naturally, they had several skilled vocal trainers... so why?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that.¡±


    Jiyeon¡¯s response left Kang Chanyul feeling both exasperated and puzzled by Seoyeon¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Jiyeon.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re feeling a bit sour, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Kang Chanyul chuckled as Jiyeon gave him a pointed look. Having known her for so long, he could read her thoughts like an open book.


    ¡®Sometimes, they¡¯re just alike.¡¯


    Seoyeon often frowned at how many friends Jiyeon had, but Jiyeon, who usually acted all cool and composed, was pretty much the same in this regard.


    ¡°...Still, make sure to tell her when she gets back that we do have vocal trainers here.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Despite that, Kang Chanyul couldn¡¯t help but worry if Seoyeon was causing trouble somewhere else. After all, Seoyeon had a unique way of thinking that often set her apart.


    While such a conversation was happening at Nova Entertainment, there was an unusual silence at Hoyeon Studio, the agency of Summer Girl.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon?¡¯


    Labin swallowed nervously as she looked at the girl standing before her. Of course, she knew who she was.


    Wasn¡¯t she the actress who appeared in Dream Future alongside Cha Nahyi?


    ¡®She¡¯s the one from The Chaser.¡¯


    Recently, she played the role of a murderer in the million-ticket-selling movie The Chaser. Thanks to that, she had quickly risen to stardom, becoming one of the top contenders in the current trend.


    ¡®Why is she with Cha Nahyi?¡¯


    Sure, Cha Nahyi was the most popular member of Summer Girl, but to them, Nahyi was just a boring girl.


    Other than being good at singing and having a pretty face, they couldn¡¯t understand why the public liked her so much.


    And yet, Cha Nahyi had brought none other than Ju Seoyeon as a guest.


    ¡®No, no, there¡¯s nothing to be scared of. Ju Seoyeon¡¯s a rookie too.¡¯


    Even if she had a past as a child actor, she had a 10-year gap in her career. She was practically a rookie.


    In terms of time spent in the entertainment industry, Summer Girl had been active longer. What was there to be afraid of?


    ¡°...¡±


    As Seoyeon stared at them intently, Labin swallowed again. This girl had an intimidating presence.


    Her indifferent gaze made her seem inhuman, like a doll¡ªcold and distant.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Labin couldn¡¯t just sit back and be overwhelmed.


    ¡°Oh, how cute.¡± ¡°Are you a high school student?¡± ¡°It must be tough, but you¡¯re doing great~.¡±


    The members of Summer Girl started chattering after Labin broke the ice. Their use of the word ¡°cute¡± was a subtle power play, establishing their dominance.


    With her incredible stamina, Seoyeon could keep singing endlessly without tiring. And as she watched Seoyeon, Nahyi was quietly impressed.


    ¡®Her voice is good, and her stamina is impressive.¡¯


    She could feel Seoyeon getting stronger with each practice. It seemed like her earlier training had been solid, laying a good foundation.


    But she had internalized it physically rather than mentally, so she couldn¡¯t easily draw on it when needed.


    ¡®She performed better during the filming.¡¯


    When filming episode 14, Seoyeon had delivered such a powerful performance that it overwhelmed Nahyi. It was because of that performance that Nahyi¡¯s pride as an idol had been bruised.


    ¡®She¡¯s a bundle of talent.¡¯


    Seoyeon was, quite literally, a personification of raw talent.


    ¡°Think of singing as a form of acting.¡±


    Nahyi explained as Seoyeon looked at her intently.


    ¡°The more you immerse yourself in and understand the lyrics, the better your singing will be. Just like how you immerse yourself in your role when acting.¡±


    If Seoyeon could consistently do that, she would be able to deliver even better performances.


    ¡®The person who asked Seoyeon to sing the OST probably didn¡¯t have high expectations.¡¯


    After all, she¡¯s an actress, right? As long as she didn¡¯t make any glaring mistakes, they¡¯d probably praise her. They likely chose a song that wasn¡¯t too challenging.


    But Nahyi couldn¡¯t be satisfied with just that. After all, she had witnessed Seoyeon¡¯s talent in episode 14.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already this late. Take a break for a moment. I have something I need to take care of.¡±


    After some time had passed, Nahyi remembered that she had been called by the idol planning team leader earlier today. It was probably related to future activities for Summer Girl. Given that Nahyi¡¯s popularity had soared thanks to Dream Future, there was likely something additional for her to do.


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    She was a bit tired, but it was better than not being popular at all. With that thought, she left the practice room.


    ¡®It seems like Hoyeon isn¡¯t in great shape.¡¯


    Originally, Hoyeon had been around for quite some time. But it had also been plagued by numerous incidents. For one, they were known to disband groups without hesitation if they weren¡¯t profitable, and there was frequent controversy over favoritism.


    And it seemed that the target of that favoritism was...


    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re alone?¡±


    She saw a group approaching Seoyeon. It was the members of Summer Girl who had backed off earlier.


    They were all slender and had decent looks, but they weren¡¯t particularly outstanding among idols. Someone like Cha Nahyi was more exceptional.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Nahyi?¡± ¡°She stepped out for a bit.¡±


    At Seoyeon¡¯s response, Labin chuckled.


    ¡°She sure likes to keep to herself.¡±


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes at that remark. She recalled the rumors about Summer Girl¡¯s potential disbandment.


    ¡°Because of her, we couldn¡¯t even have a proper conversation earlier. What¡¯s she trying to hide?¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably trying to hog all the attention, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°So, Seoyeon, what do you like?¡±


    The members of Summer Girl chatted around her, some of them asking rude questions. They asked about her specialties and what she was good at.


    In response, Seoyeon smiled softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty good at magic.¡±


    ¡°...Magic?¡± ¡°Do you have a coin?¡±


    The members exchanged glances at Seoyeon¡¯s words. A coin? Sure, they had some. It was unexpected that she¡¯d be into magic, but it wasn¡¯t unheard of among entertainers.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    Labin quickly handed over a 500-won coin, and Seoyeon took it.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to turn this into 250 won.¡±


    ¡°250 won?¡±


    How could she turn 500 won into 250 won? They watched her intently.


    Seoyeon held the 500-won coin between her thumb and index finger and pressed down. The coin bent in half.


    ¡°?¡±


    The members of Summer Girl stared dumbly at the coin. Then, as they slowly turned their heads...


    They saw Seoyeon smiling gently. Her red eyes, gazing at them quietly, weren¡¯t smiling.


    ¡°Amazing, right?¡±


    So, unless you want to be folded in half like this coin, you¡¯d better watch yourselves. That was essentially the message. Seoyeon wasn¡¯t in a good mood right now.


    Anger.


    It was a rare feeling for Seoyeon, but she was definitely experiencing it.

 Chapter 114

    "Nahee, now that Dream Future has been successful, you need to maximize your activities. Appear on variety shows, and we¡¯ve even lined up a CF for you. You can handle that, right?"


    "And what about group activities...?"


    The entertainment team leader patted Cha Nahyi on the shoulder as if to reassure her.


    "Don¡¯t worry about that. We¡¯re actually planning to have a really good producer work on something for you. So, Nahee, you need to give it your all. Summer Girl has potential. If we can get the right song, you¡¯ll definitely take off."


    "Ah, yes."


    "But before that, we need to talk about your contract renewal. It¡¯s up next month, right?"


    "It¡¯s actually this month."


    "Well, don¡¯t delay it too much. Make sure to get it done soon, okay? We¡¯re counting on you, Nahee."


    With those words, Cha Nahyi sighed. Being an idol, and especially being part of Summer Girl, was quite special to her. She had a solid core fanbase that loved her, and the group enjoyed a decent level of popularity.


    Of course, they were nowhere near being a top-tier girl group, but even this level of success was something to be grateful for. After all, just having an idol appear in dramas or commercials was enough to maintain recognition.


    But...


    There were a few things that weighed on her mind. One of them was the fact that she never felt fully integrated into Summer Girl.


    She knew the reason for that. Their leader, Labin, didn¡¯t like her.


    Normally, the most popular member in the group would have a strong voice, but Labin was the niece of the CEO of Hoyeon Studio. Naturally, the other members had no choice but to follow Labin¡¯s lead. While they hadn¡¯t done anything overtly harmful to Nahyi, who was the only one bringing in any income for the group...


    Doubts...


    Nahyi had doubts about whether it was right to stay in this situation. With these concerns in mind, she headed to where Seoyeon was waiting for her.


    She couldn¡¯t help but worry whether the innocent Seoyeon was managing to hold her own among the cunning Labin and the other members.


    "You came back quickly."


    "...?"


    Nahyi was startled as she opened the door to the practice room. Labin, with Seoyeon¡¯s hand on her shoulder, was sitting quietly. In fact, all the other group members were kneeling side by side, as if to say, "Let¡¯s all get along."


    It was such a strange sight that Nahyi couldn¡¯t help but tilt her head in confusion.


    And even after Seoyeon left, Labin seemed to be watching Nahyi carefully, but Nahyi never found out the reason why.


    Thanks to this, Seoyeon was able to properly learn singing from Nahyi. Nahyi¡¯s vocal skills were truly exceptional, far beyond that of an ordinary vocal trainer, proving that her reputation as a skilled idol was well-deserved.


    "You really learned well!"


    When Seoyeon relayed this to Nova Entertainment¡¯s vocal trainer, even they were impressed. Naturally, this made Seoyeon feel a bit proud.


    "Seoyeon, it seems you know how to make friends after all."


    "?"


    "Oh, I just thought you were really shy."


    It seemed they genuinely believed that. And, to be fair, they weren¡¯t exactly wrong.


    I¡¯m not shy...


    She did find it a bit difficult to interact with people her own age. In contrast, she was more comfortable around older individuals.


    Since Nahyi was three years older than Seoyeon, she found it easier to get along with her. In any case, Nova Entertainment had said, "You should use our practice rooms too," so Seoyeon ended up receiving more lessons from their vocal trainer.


    "...This is good."


    Producer Lee Minhwa looked at Seoyeon with surprised eyes. She was the producer of the upcoming drama Sky Garden.


    "If you¡¯re this good, I think you¡¯ll do just fine with the OST."


    Seoyeon realized that she wasn¡¯t going to start working on the OST immediately. They were going to proceed only after confirming that Seoyeon could actually sing.


    Come to think of it, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t even been officially confirmed for a role in Sky Garden yet.


    I should have taken my time learning...


    She had rushed through the lessons, scrambling to learn. Seoyeon let out a small sigh.


    "But Seoyeon, I know you¡¯ve been really busy lately. Do you think you¡¯ll be able to take on Sky Garden as well?"


    "I think I can handle it."


    "I heard there¡¯s a meeting scheduled for next week as well..."


    "That seems to be the case. I¡¯ve heard that some actresses have already been approached. Fortunately for us, some of them have loose lips."


    A few actresses had been directly contacted by GH Group to participate. These were young actresses who had recently made a significant impact in films or dramas.


    In other words, they were the rising stars expected to carry the future of the entertainment industry.


    "I heard it¡¯s an action movie... Did they just contact anyone?"


    "Probably, since those without the skills will be eliminated in the survival rounds."


    "Hah, even though the dangerous stunts will be done by stunt doubles..."


    "They probably want the actors to do most of the action themselves."


    While the dangerous stunts would be handled by professionals, most of the action scenes would be done by the lead actors. This would make the scenes more realistic and dynamic. It seemed they were really sharpening their focus on action.


    "They¡¯re gathering all the young rising stars... It sounds interesting, but can they afford it? And won¡¯t actresses shy away from doing action?"


    "That¡¯s probably why they¡¯re targeting younger actresses. They¡¯re not in a position to be picky about roles."


    "Ah, I see."


    Young or relatively unknown actresses come with a lower price tag. And since it¡¯s a survival show, their fees would likely be fixed.


    The lead role itself was the real prize for the actresses. If they weren¡¯t confident, they could simply decline.


    But would any young actress back out when all the other rising stars are participating?


    Just being part of the show would be a great networking opportunity. Plus, they might think they¡¯re the best among their peers. While actresses might typically avoid action roles, this was also a rare opportunity to show the public that they were willing to take on challenging roles.


    This will be interesting.


    Han Suna grinned as she started writing her article. Young rising stars. Ambitious actresses who wouldn¡¯t want to miss this chance.


    And she was sure her young star, Ju Seoyeon, would be participating too.


    Han Suna was already excited at the thought of writing her next article.


    "Action acting?"


    Jo Seohui tilted her head in response to a variety show offer that had come her way. She had never done action acting before.


    In fact, she had never even appeared in an action film.


    "Why me?"


    "It seems they¡¯ve approached all the well-known actresses in your age group."


    "Ah, I see."


    Jo Seohui had heard about GH Group¡¯s upcoming variety show. Whether it would be on cable or a web platform wasn¡¯t clear, but she had heard about the massive investment GH Group was making in the film.


    The lead role in that movie was something any actor would covet.


    And if it¡¯s a large-scale survival audition, the rookies will be fighting tooth and nail for it.


    Being a survival show, it wasn¡¯t just the actors who were directly contacted who would be competing. Many unknown actors would likely join through open auditions.


    The more notable actors would receive direct invitations.


    "You¡¯re going to decline, right?"


    Her manager, Shin Yookyung, knew Jo Seohui well. Seohui didn¡¯t particularly like action roles, and she certainly didn¡¯t need to appear on a variety show like this.


    It seemed GH Group had contacted all the young rising stars...


    But honestly, they¡¯re no match for Seohui.


    Shin Yookyung was confident in that. Jo Seohui¡¯s recognition wasn¡¯t something that could be compared to the fleeting fame of these younger actresses. Comparing her to them would be an insult.


    "I¡¯ll do it."


    "Yeah, you should decline... Wait, what?"


    Shin Yookyung stared at Jo Seohui, who seemed lost in thought and didn¡¯t notice her manager¡¯s gaze.


    So that¡¯s it.


    Recently, Jo Seohui had been talking with Lee Jiyeon and Seoyeon about Gyeongseong Lady. During those conversations, Seoyeon had casually mentioned some details about "a certain variety show."


    She must be planning to participate in that.


    Seohui felt a little excited. She wasn¡¯t particularly confident or even interested in winning the movie audition.


    But the thought of getting a chance to work on her acting with Seoyeon before they started filming Gyeongseong Lady made her feel unexpectedly happy.

 Chapter 115

    "For the time being, I might be a bit busy, so I might not be able to visit as often."


    Ji Yeon was now quite familiar with the full tracking equipment, the 3D character displayed on another monitor, and everything else involved in her VTuber activities. What started as a fun project to create a birthday present for Seoyeon had turned into a hobby and even a bit of a side job that she genuinely enjoyed.


    [I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but stay strong!! ?100,000]


    "..."


    Ji Yeon let out a small, exasperated laugh at the Super Chat. The name of the sender was very familiar to her.


    Why are you even sending money?


    Ji Yeon sighed as she wondered how she could return the money. Was Seoyeon sending it with the expectation that she would return it?


    No, it doesn¡¯t seem like that...


    At first, it felt like a joke, but Seoyeon seemed to be serious about it.


    Sometimes, I just can¡¯t figure her out.


    Seoyeon was surprisingly serious about the VTuber world in some ways. For instance, even though she clearly knew Ji Yeon was the VTuber ''Ramiel,'' she never said a word about it.


    However, she wasn¡¯t always so discreet. Occasionally, when Ji Yeon was collaborating with or hanging out with ''Magician Erchebet,'' the VTuber senior who had helped her get started, Seoyeon would give her a subtle, almost jealous glance.


    That amused Ji Yeon, and she would often tease Seoyeon about it, but she didn¡¯t plan on making it a regular thing.


    Real-time viewers: 2,000.


    The growth of her channel was not just steady but remarkably fast. Ji Yeon had already connected with several other VTubers through her senior, but amusingly, none of them knew her true identity as an actress.


    She occasionally worried about what they would think if they found out.


    It turns out I¡¯m quite suited for this.


    Ji Yeon enjoyed planning and trying out new content. If she hadn¡¯t pursued acting, she might have made a full-time career out of being a VTuber.


    If I hadn¡¯t met Seoyeon...


    She thought about how different her life would have been. If she hadn¡¯t met Seoyeon, she would have stayed with Eunha Entertainment. Considering what happened to that company, things wouldn¡¯t have ended well for her. Would she have continued acting?


    Honestly, she doubted it. Ji Yeon had always had a strong sense of pride as an actress, but her start in the industry was simply due to her mother¡¯s encouragement. Initially, she didn¡¯t have much drive or motivation, and it wasn¡¯t until she met Seoyeon that things changed.


    Sometimes, I wonder...


    There were moments when Seoyeon seemed to act as if she knew what was going to happen. She would casually mention which movies or commercials would be good or bad, almost as if she had insider knowledge. At first, Ji Yeon chalked it up to coincidence, but when it happened repeatedly, it was hard to dismiss.


    ...Maybe I¡¯ve been watching too many movies.


    Ji Yeon chuckled at herself. She¡¯d been watching a lot of shows and movies lately to study characters, and it was making her imagination run wild.


    But still...


    Ji Yeon shook her head to clear her thoughts. Right now, what mattered most was the audition. Jo Seohui might have offered the opportunity without much thought, but for Ji Yeon, it was a huge chance.


    Director Baek Min¡¯s film. Honestly, not many actors would be expecting it to be a box office hit.


    His films were known for their artistic value, but their box office performance was unpredictable, making him less favored by production companies. Still, he had a dedicated fanbase, especially overseas.


    And he¡¯s more well-known internationally than domestically.


    There would definitely be actors interested in working with him for that reason, even if they were few, they would undoubtedly be top-tier.


    Not much was known about the role being cast. Was it a lead role? A supporting one?


    Jo Seohui was unlikely to be cast in a minor role. Most likely, she would be the lead actress. And if Seoyeon got a role, it probably wouldn¡¯t be a simple supporting part either.


    The first movie I¡¯d shoot with Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon might not think much of it, but for Ji Yeon, it was incredibly meaningful. Seoyeon had always been out of Ji Yeon¡¯s reach.


    That hadn¡¯t changed, even after a ten-year hiatus. Ji Yeon had always believed that if Seoyeon returned to the industry, she would shine again.


    And just as she thought, Seoyeon was growing at an incredible pace, already surpassing Ji Yeon.


    If it had been before, Ji Yeon might not have cared much.


    "Sometimes, I just want to catch her off guard."


    As Ji Yeon mused aloud,


    [Ramiel¡¯s smile is so beautiful ?100,000][??? ?100,000][?? ?100,000][?? ?100,000][??? ?100,000][!!!! ?100,000]Stop it, seriously.Say it all at once, you idiot.Are they not getting banned?How can you ban someone who spends that much? lol


    "..."


    Seeing the Super Chats flooding in one after another, Ji Yeon promptly banned Seoyeon from the chat.


    At Cheonghong Action School, Kim Hongbaek scratched his head as he looked at the list of new students wanting to train with him. Suddenly, actors who had never shown an interest in action roles were signing up en masse.


    Several well-known management companies had even contacted Kim Hongbaek directly, asking if he could provide action training for their famous actors.


    Courage.


    In action acting, this was an essential trait. Fear of injury was natural, but Han Soyu seemed to lack that fear. Her scenes were bold and thrilling.


    Despite being a cable drama, it had achieved impressive ratings. She was one of the rising stars currently being pushed by XN Entertainment.


    As they sat around a large table, a strange tension filled the room. Then, another actress entered the room.


    ...!!


    Some of the actors¡¯ eyes widened in surprise. The person who had just arrived was completely unexpected.


    Jo Seohui!


    A woman whose presence here made no sense. Jo Seohui had never appeared in an action movie, had she?


    The room buzzed with murmurs. And why not? Jo Seohui was more famous than any other actress in the room.


    She was someone who didn¡¯t need an "audition." She was an actress who could choose her scripts.


    Could she be trying to challenge herself with action acting? It¡¯s definitely a good opportunity to prove her skills.


    As the actors exchanged thoughts and watched her, Jo Seohui scanned the room. Her sharp gaze caused the other actors to shrink back as she casually took an empty seat.


    Seeing her, Min Doha, who had been lounging with a bored expression, grinned.


    Did she just assert her dominance? Interesting.


    It was a look that said, "We¡¯re not on the same level." Despite being younger, her aura was fierce.


    Of course, the other actors didn¡¯t realize that...


    Seoyeon¡¯s not here yet.


    Jo Seohui was just checking to see if Seoyeon had arrived. She had deliberately arrived late so she could naturally sit next to her.


    A bit disappointed that she wasn¡¯t there, Jo Seohui frowned slightly, which only made the others around her more tense. With her naturally sharp features, she easily gave off the impression of a villainess.


    As more and more people filled the room, the only empty seats were near Jo Seohui.


    Suddenly, the door opened with a soft thud, and a girl walked in. Black hair, a slender figure, and a pale face.


    With strikingly red-tinged eyes, it was Ju Seoyeon.


    All eyes in the room turned to her. Another unexpected contender had arrived.


    *The action scenes in The Chaser. And the way she appeared on recent variety shows...


    Many assumed that the action scenes and chase sequences in The Chaser were performed by a stunt double. The fact that she wore a raincoat was a clear indication that a double was involved.


    But even beyond that, her "action acting" was clearly impressive. Considering her dance performances in Dream Future, she likely had great physical abilities.


    And the things she did on variety shows were often extraordinary.


    How much of that was just exaggerated for the show...?


    Honestly, most of the stunts on the variety shows were so absurd that it was hard to tell if they were real or just edited that way.


    But with her appearance, and that atmosphere...


    The young actress, who was rising rapidly in the industry, made everyone tense.


    "?"


    Seoyeon tilted her head slightly at their reactions and scanned the room for an empty seat. Realizing that the only available seat was next to Jo Seohui, she frowned slightly. Still, it was better to sit next to someone she knew than a stranger.


    As she sat down, Jo Seohui, who was thrilled, immediately started talking to her.


    "You''re late."


    "I ran over right after school."


    It was so quiet that Seoyeon¡¯s voice carried across the room. Of course, Jo Seohui didn¡¯t care much about that. She was the type who expected people to pay attention to her.


    Moreover...


    "...Wait, you go to Yeonhwa High School, right?"


    At Jo Seohui¡¯s comment, the actors all stiffened. They finally realized why she was late.


    She¡¯s asserting her dominance.


    Yeonhwa High School was five stations away from here. The fact that Seoyeon had run all the way over meant that her stamina was something to be reckoned with.


    "?"


    "Seoyeon was a bit confused by their reaction. She had simply traveled the distance quickly because she was worried about being late due to traffic."

 Chapter 116

    None of the actors present were unfamiliar with Seoyeon.


    She was the star of two of the most talked-about recent productions: The Chaser, a movie that had captivated audiences, and Dream Future, a youth drama that surpassed a 20% viewership rating.


    Even appearing in just one of these would have drawn attention, but Seoyeon had starred in both¡ªand not in minor roles either. Both productions had sparked significant buzz, all of which stemmed from her acting prowess.


    "Still, ordinary acting and action acting are different beasts," some thought to themselves. However, the performances Seoyeon had displayed in both the movie and the drama weren¡¯t something that could have been achieved without a high level of physical ability. In The Chaser, she might have used a stunt double, but in Dream Future, that wasn¡¯t an option.


    "She ran all the way here? That¡¯s a funny joke," Min Doha muttered under her breath. She hadn¡¯t meant for anyone to hear, but the room was so quiet that her words were clearly audible.


    "Running five stops, and she¡¯s not even winded? Not a drop of sweat?" the other actors thought to themselves, their eyes subtly shifting to the cameras around the room.


    The actors knew that this meeting was likely being filmed and would be broadcast later, perhaps on a variety show. If this were on a major network, any damaging remarks would likely be cut, but a cable network might air it unfiltered. They had to be careful with their words.


    Seoyeon, too, was aware of this and didn''t intend to deny their assumptions. She had known from a young age that her physical abilities were extraordinary, even bordering on the excessive at times, making her feel as if she lived in a different world. But, unlike Seoyeon, someone else had a different perspective.


    "Hey, isn¡¯t it a bit much to brush off what you can¡¯t do as a joke?" Jo Seohui, who was sitting beside Seoyeon, said with a slight laugh. Although it was a personal remark, in the quiet room, everyone heard it.


    Min Doha scowled and turned to look at Jo Seohui, but before she could say anything, Jo Seohui¡¯s sharp gaze silenced her. The difference in their status as actresses was clear. Jo Seohui had connections with veteran actors and many allies in the broadcasting industry. Rumors even suggested she was a third-generation chaebol, hailing from a wealthy family.


    Jo Seohui¡¯s confidence, radiating from her very being, was overwhelming for Min Doha and the other actors.


    ¡°...Even though you can¡¯t do action scenes,¡± Min Doha thought, knowing that Jo Seohui was notoriously bad at physical acting, which made her presence here all the more puzzling.


    But as much as Min Doha wanted to criticize her, Jo Seohui¡¯s cold stare kept her silent. The intimidating gaze, coupled with her striking appearance, made Min Doha feel as if she were facing a dangerous snake.


    "Are you...," Jo Seohui began, but before she could continue, Seoyeon nudged her in the side with a finger.


    Jo Seohui looked at Seoyeon, who subtly gestured toward the cameras.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Jo Seohui huffed quietly. She hadn¡¯t done anything overt to attract attention, only pointed out Min Doha¡¯s narrow-minded comment. But knowing Seoyeon was concerned for her made Jo Seohui feel somewhat better. In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have cared at all.


    As Jo Seohui¡¯s sharp gaze softened, the other actors finally breathed a sigh of relief. It felt like watching a snake charmer taming a cobra with just a pipe.


    "Are they close?" the actors wondered. "What kind of relationship do they have? They seem pretty friendly... But didn¡¯t they work on different projects?"


    The actors¡¯ speculations were mostly accurate. There was indeed nothing going on between them¡ªat least not on the surface.


    Jo Seohui¡¯s fondness for Seoyeon wasn¡¯t baseless, though. Seoyeon was the first peer Jo Seohui had ever lost to in terms of acting. Jo Seohui had become a fan of Seoyeon¡¯s pure talent, and after waiting so long for Seoyeon¡¯s return, her feelings were a mix of admiration and relief.


    But still, Seoyeon found Jo Seohui¡¯s behavior burdensome. It felt like having a fierce guard dog that was overly affectionate¡ªan intimidating presence that was hard to deal with.


    "She¡¯s supposed to be sociable, right? So why...?" Seoyeon thought, recalling how Jo Seohui¡¯s appearance reminded her of a character from a horror manga she¡¯d seen online¡ªbeautiful but strangely terrifying. What was the name... Tomi... something?


    While Seoyeon was lost in these thoughts, other actors who had arrived late began to take their seats. As the actors exchanged nervous glances, the tension in the room grew.


    "It seems everyone¡¯s here now," said a man who had been observing the room with a warm smile. He had a gentle demeanor, but the actors were taken aback when they recognized him¡ªhe was Cha Mingyu, one of Korea¡¯s leading action stars.


    Beside him stood a middle-aged man who introduced himself, "I¡¯m Lee Kitae, the producer of Hyper Action."


    Moreover, performing a superpower in front of a live audience without special effects or CGI would just look ridiculous. It had to be conveyed purely through imagination, and Min Doha decided to focus on executing the rappel perfectly instead. Without a concrete idea for a superpower, she dismissed the notion and leaped out the window.


    "Wow!" the actors gasped as they watched her descent on the monitor inside. The cameras outside had captured the entire scene. Although not quite as seamless as Cha Mingyu, Min Doha¡¯s landing was still impressive.


    "Hmm..." Lee Kitae nodded with a curious expression before asking, "Who¡¯s next?"


    The actors hesitated, glancing at one another. Not only was it challenging to think of a superpower to perform, but anyone who went now would inevitably be compared to Min Doha. Most of them decided it would be safer to go after someone less experienced.


    As the actors were exchanging these thoughts, Jo Seohui clicked her tongue and was about to raise her hand when¡ª


    "I¡¯ll go," Seoyeon stepped forward.


    All eyes turned to her. Compared to the tall and robust Min Doha, Seoyeon¡¯s petite frame seemed ill-suited for action scenes, which made some of the actors feel a sense of relief. After all, Seoyeon didn¡¯t look like someone who could pull off an action scene.


    Seoyeon briefly looked down from the window at the soft air mattress that had been set up to cushion any falls. Then she slowly backed away from the window.


    "Seoyeon?" Lee Kitae asked with a puzzled look. After all, she hadn¡¯t even put on the safety gear or grabbed the rope.


    "Is she backing out because she¡¯s scared?" the others wondered.


    At that moment, someone murmured in surprise. Seoyeon suddenly started running toward the window. She grabbed the window frame, vaulted over it, and jumped down¡ªstraight from the third floor.


    "What kind of superpower did you imagine when you jumped?" Cha Mingyu asked Min Doha, who had come down first. Min Doha hesitated, unable to give a definitive answer, since she hadn¡¯t really thought about superpowers when she jumped.


    "Uh, a sharpshooter¡¯s power? You know, like having really sharp eyesight..." she finally replied, recalling a superhero movie.


    Cha Mingyu nodded. It was a clever response¡ªif you had sharp eyesight, you wouldn¡¯t need to perform any special stunts while rappelling.


    "Still, it would¡¯ve been better if you had demonstrated your exceptional eyesight before you descended," Cha Mingyu remarked.


    "Yes, you¡¯re right," Min Doha bit her lip in frustration at her missed opportunity. She was sighing in disappointment when something suddenly flew through the air and landed on the air mattress with a bounce before smoothly touching down on the ground.


    "Seoyeon?" Min Doha¡¯s jaw dropped. It was an unbelievable sight. Although the third floor wasn¡¯t extremely high, it was still high enough to cause serious injury if someone fell.


    But more astonishing was the fact that Seoyeon had jumped without any safety equipment¡ªno rope, no harness.


    "That¡¯s not even a rappel action!" Min Doha thought, stunned. Even Cha Mingyu seemed caught off guard, but he was impressed by Seoyeon¡¯s courage to jump, trusting in the air mattress to break her fall. As long as she made it down, the method didn¡¯t matter.


    "What kind of superpower did you imagine when you jumped?" Cha Mingyu asked Seoyeon, the same question he had posed to Min Doha. Seoyeon, who had been eyeing the air mattress with a hint of dissatisfaction as if wishing it hadn¡¯t been there, turned to face him.


    "...!"


    Cha Mingyu flinched at the sight of Seoyeon¡¯s eyes¡ªred, like the character Chasa from The Chaser. She exuded a chilling aura that made it feel like she was still in character.


    Acting. He could tell that everything she did was part of her performance. Seoyeon smiled slightly, seemingly enjoying his reaction.


    "Healing factor," she said.


    A superpower commonly seen in superhero stories¡ªthe ability to regenerate.


    With that power, there was no need for safety gear. Seoyeon found it easier to act that out than anything else.

 Chapter 117

    One day, a new variety show set to air on a cable network was announced. Produced with substantial investment from the GH Group, it was a show that had certainly required significant funding.


    However, that alone wasn''t enough to grab viewers'' attention. Cable network variety shows were generally known for being edgier and more polarizing than what was typically seen on major broadcast channels, meaning they often had mixed reactions. The fact that the show had a large budget or was airing during prime time didn¡¯t make much of a difference.


    Especially when the show in question was a "survival audition show."


    ¡°Another one of those?¡± people complained. The market was already oversaturated with survival audition shows, particularly those aimed at finding new idols. The genre had worn out its welcome, and many viewers were sick of them, especially after previous shows had been tainted by rigging scandals. There was a sense that this new show would be more of the same.


    However, today, the much-discussed cable show Hyper Action Star released its teaser trailer. It was available on YouTube and aired on TV.


    ¡°Is there anything new to review...?¡± muttered Han Bongsik, a YouTuber with 1.37 million subscribers, as he scratched his head, searching for new content to review. He had already covered all the recently popular movies and dramas, making it difficult to find fresh material.


    His subscriber count had surged, partly thanks to content featuring Ju Seoyeon, but now it seemed some of them were starting to drift away.


    ¡°How about a variety show?¡±


    A comment in his chat caught his eye. Bongsik shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m a reviewer, you know? How am I supposed to review a variety show?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a variety show auditioning actors.¡±


    An audition for actors? That piqued Bongsik¡¯s interest. But could such a concept work? How would they evaluate acting on a variety show stage?


    ¡°What kind of show is it? I mean, I don¡¯t usually do variety shows, but you never know,¡± Bongsik said, trying to cover his curiosity. Soon, someone in the chat posted the title of the show, along with some teasing remarks.


    Hyper Action Star?


    It was an odd title, hard to guess what the show was about just from the name.


    ¡°The teaser is out now ??¡±¡°Where do you even find these things?¡±¡°Is it just viral marketing?¡±


    His viewers¡¯ reactions suggested that the show wasn¡¯t widely known yet.


    ¡°Jo Seohui and Ju Seoyeon are in it.¡±¡°???¡±¡°What kind of show is it if Jo Seohui is in it?¡±


    Jo Seohui? The mention of her name startled Bongsik. Jo Seohui was not one to appear in variety shows¡ªshe usually only did promotional interviews. She was in the same category as other top actors like Park Jungwoo, who chose their projects carefully.


    ¡°...Jo Seohui in an audition show? That¡¯s ridiculous. Jo Seohui is at the level where she picks her scripts,¡± Bongsik muttered.


    Jo Seohui was a young actress, still in high school, yet her career was far beyond what one would expect at her age. She had already appeared in two movies that sold over ten million tickets and had starred in several hit dramas on major networks, consistently driving up viewership ratings.


    She had a strong relationship with veteran actor Jung Eunseon, and her acting career seemed unshakeable. There was even a saying in the industry that any project Jo Seohui starred in, no matter how risky, would succeed¡ªa symbol of good fortune in the business.


    And she had managed to maintain a spotless reputation as a young actress.


    ¡°So, this is about selecting actors for a GH Group-funded movie. The winner gets the lead role. Ah, but it¡¯s a female lead, so only actresses are involved,¡± Bongsik explained as he continued reading.


    ¡°Sounds boring.¡±¡°But what do they do on an acting audition show? Do they just act?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure...,¡± Bongsik admitted. He couldn¡¯t quite picture how it would work, but his interest was piqued. The fact that Jo Seohui was involved was intriguing, but there was another factor.


    ¡°And since Ju Seoyeon is also in it...¡±


    ¡°How many shows is she doing in a year?¡±¡°I saw her on another variety show recently; I guess she¡¯s really cashing in on her fame.¡±¡°She¡¯ll burn out quickly if she overexposes herself like that.¡±


    Bongsik agreed with the comments. Ju Seoyeon was like a goddess to him¡ªthe figure who had instantly boosted his subscriber count by hundreds of thousands. Even without Jo Seohui, the show was worth watching for Ju Seoyeon alone. Even if the ratings weren¡¯t great, he felt an obligation to watch it out of respect. Bongsik prided himself on being a conscientious YouTuber.


    ¡°Let¡¯s watch the teaser. You have to see it to understand,¡± he said, as much to himself as to his viewers. The video wasn¡¯t long¡ªjust 10 minutes, though the full version was available. The TV and YouTube versions were shorter, just two-minute trailers.


    ¡°Come to think of it, isn¡¯t that long for a teaser?¡± he wondered as he hit the play button.


    The video opened with various actors arriving at what appeared to be a set. They entered the building and began seating themselves around a large, circular table.


    ¡°She looks so arrogant.¡±¡°Top candidate for ¡®Most Likely to Have a School Violence Scandal.¡¯¡±¡°Are you seriously trying to smear a million-ticket actress like Jo Seohui?¡±¡°Honestly, if Jo Seohui looked at me like that, I¡¯d probably wet myself.¡±¡°Not to be rude, but she¡¯s on a whole different level.¡±¡°But why is Jo Seohui here? She¡¯s not an action actress.¡±¡°??? Now that you mention it...?¡±¡°Look at how the others avoid sitting next to her. They know they¡¯ll look like squid if they do.¡±¡°Here she comes.¡±¡°Oh.¡±¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±¡°Are they close?¡±¡°I¡¯ve never seen Jo Seohui smile like that before.¡±¡°They¡¯re the same age, so maybe they¡¯re friends?¡±¡°Look at the others, all intimidated.¡±¡°They¡¯re all around the same age, so I can understand why they¡¯d be scared.¡±¡°If I saw those two sitting together, I wouldn¡¯t dare go near them.¡±¡°They look like they¡¯re from a different anime.¡±¡°Different anime lol.¡±¡°Are you insane?¡±¡°She ran five stops?¡±¡°Is that even possible?¡±¡°It is if you¡¯re Ju Seoyeon ??¡±¡°?¡±¡°Whoa!!¡±¡°Why are you so shocked?¡±¡°Did you know she can pierce a coconut with her finger?¡±¡°What? Is that even possible?¡±¡°Seohui¡¯s done for??¡±¡°???¡±¡°What¡¯s happening??¡±


    Some of the actors watching screamed in surprise. But Seoyeon spun in mid-air and landed cleanly on the air mattress below, bouncing slightly before landing smoothly on her feet.


    ¡°She¡¯s insane;;¡±¡°Who in their right mind just jumps like that, even with an air mattress???¡±¡°Why did she spin in the air? Was she trying to strike a pose?¡±¡°Maybe she wanted to do a superhero landing lol.¡±¡°??¡±


    As the chat filled with incredulous comments, Bongsik found himself wondering, Did she really mean to jump without the air mattress? It seemed crazy, but then again, something about Ju Seoyeon inspired a strange sense of trust, as if she¡¯d be fine no matter what.


    Then, Cha Mingyu, who was playing the role of the instructor in Hyper Action Star, asked Seoyeon what superpower she had imagined while jumping.


    ¡°Healing factor.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡±¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡±¡°Healing? Seriously?¡±¡°Ah, she meant she jumped because she wouldn¡¯t get hurt even if she fell, lol.¡±


    Despite the chat¡¯s reactions, Seoyeon looked oddly pleased, as if she was satisfied with her answer. Meanwhile, Jo Seohui¡¯s response was different.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to rappel down, Seohui?¡±


    ¡°They said I could just take the stairs.¡±


    ¡°What about your superpower?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, a genius with a high IQ? Or maybe a rich person.¡±


    With that, Jo Seohui simply took the elevator down, making herself even more noticeable by avoiding the rappelling altogether.


    Her final appearance in the teaser, like a cameo, wrapped up the video.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Bongsik stared at the finished video, trying to find the right words.


    ¡°This... looks like it¡¯s going to be interesting.¡±


    That was all he needed to say. Sometimes, that¡¯s all a variety show needs.


    And as if to prove Bongsik right:


    [Hyper Action Star teaser hits 3 million views in two days!]


    [Young action stars face off¡ªwho will be the lead?]


    Hyper Action Star had quickly become a hot topic, thanks to the GH Group-funded movie and the battle among young actresses for the lead role. The most talked-about participants were none other than Ju Seoyeon and Jo Seohui.


    Their reputations aside, they had left a lasting impression. Of course, for every standout, there was someone who didn¡¯t make the cut.


    Bang!


    ¡°This is all I got?¡± Min Doha muttered through gritted teeth.


    Ten seconds. That was all the screen time she had received in the teaser, most of it showing her picking a fight with Seoyeon. Her rappelling scene had been cut to just two seconds.


    While Min Doha¡¯s rappel had been skillful, there were plenty of others in different groups who had performed at a similar level. Being merely competent wasn¡¯t enough to stand out or make a lasting impression.


    Indeed, none of the articles mentioned Min Doha¡¯s name.


    ¡°...Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    She didn¡¯t care about Jo Seohui. Jo Seohui hadn¡¯t even been serious about this show.


    But Ju Seoyeon was different. She was a monster who had returned to the entertainment industry after a ten-year hiatus.


    ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll definitely...¡±


    Min Doha couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing to an actress who had only just returned after a decade away. She vowed never to let that happen again.


    Meanwhile, at that very moment...


    ¡°Uh... So, what was that you said just now?¡± Ju Seoyeon, the actress causing Min Doha so much frustration, was looking excitedly at a group of male students, asking, ¡°Can I try out the eSports club for a bit?¡±

 Chapter 118

    In truth, Seoyeon had known for some time that her school had an eSports club. The only reason she hadn¡¯t joined earlier was simply because she was too busy.


    ¡°Games!¡±


    Gaming was an essential part of Seoyeon''s life. After all, isn¡¯t it a common trope that characters who have undergone a gender swap (TS) typically excel at games? Naturally, Seoyeon assumed she would be great at games too¡ªat least, until she participated in the variety show If You Turn It On, You¡¯re a King.


    ¡°That¡¯s just because it was a console game,¡± Seoyeon tried to explain to Jiyeon, but Jiyeon didn¡¯t seem to care.


    Seoyeon pouted as she stared at Jiyeon, who didn¡¯t seem to grasp the significance of gaming at all.


    But Seoyeon thought differently this time.


    ¡°PC games are a different story.¡±


    In fact, if there had been some sort of advanced VR game or other ultra-scientific gaming devices like those often found in TS stories, Seoyeon would have been confident she could excel. But since nothing like that existed, she had no choice but to settle for a keyboard and mouse.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just play games at home?¡± Jiyeon asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Seoyeon replied firmly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think your mom or dad would stop you from playing games,¡± Jiyeon pointed out.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡± Seoyeon admitted. As Jiyeon mentioned, Sua and Yeongbin weren¡¯t the type to stop their daughter from doing what she wanted. However...


    ¡°Look at this, daughter. The foolish players can¡¯t keep up with your superior skills.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Surely, I didn¡¯t raise you to be someone who can¡¯t even press the R key...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Amumu is looking for his dad. Tell him he¡¯s right here.¡±


    Whenever Seoyeon played games at home, her father would sit beside her, teasing her endlessly, making it difficult to focus. She could sometimes get him to quiet down by pointing at the display case containing the torn, framed protective gear, but that never lasted long.


    Because of Yeongbin¡¯s constant presence whenever she tried to game, Seoyeon had given up on playing games at home.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start playing again once I surpass Dad¡¯s rank.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you play at your agency?¡± Jiyeon suggested.


    ¡°I¡¯d feel too self-conscious.¡±


    The agency already had console games available, but bringing in a PC felt like a bit too much, even for Seoyeon. What kind of image would it project if a female actress were seen clicking away on a keyboard, playing League of Legends at her agency? It wouldn¡¯t look good for her image.


    ¡°She¡¯s surprisingly concerned about things like this.¡±


    Jiyeon found Seoyeon¡¯s reasoning intriguing. From the outside, Seoyeon seemed like someone who didn¡¯t care at all about what others thought, but in reality, she was quite mindful of her image.


    Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that Seoyeon enjoyed being in the spotlight, which might explain why she cared so much about how others perceived her. Jiyeon could only guess at the reasons.


    ¡°But I¡¯m worried.¡±


    Watching Seoyeon walk eagerly toward the eSports club with a light step, Jiyeon felt a twinge of concern. The eSports club was actually quite a serious organization. It had two semi-professional players, and even a member who was already playing for a team.


    Yeonhwa High School was known for heavily supporting arts and sports, and the eSports club was no exception. The club had achieved significant success, receiving substantial support from the school.


    ¡°Sure, the academic performance might suffer, but...¡±


    Who cared? Hardly anyone at this school planned to take the college entrance exam seriously.


    ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    Originally, Seoyeon was supposed to visit the eSports club alone today. Jiyeon had decided to follow her after seeing her walking so excitedly by herself, thinking that if left alone, Seoyeon would inevitably cause some kind of trouble.


    ¡°But you don¡¯t even like games, Jiyeon,¡± Seoyeon remarked.


    ¡°I play them. I¡¯ve been playing a lot lately,¡± Jiyeon replied.


    Really? Seoyeon thought, recalling a recent collaboration between the VTuber Ramiel and the streamer Erchevet the Wizard. They didn¡¯t play games like League of Legends, opting instead for the FPS game Valorant.@@@@


    She remembered how much fun they seemed to be having during the stream.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Jiyeon asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Seoyeon said, turning her gaze away.


    Geunsoo recalled what Seoyeon had said earlier. After greeting them, Seoyeon had explained her intentions.


    ¡°Yes, I want to experience eSports. I haven¡¯t joined any clubs yet.¡±


    This statement only deepened the confusion among the club members.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t most actors join the drama club?¡±


    Even Jiyeon, who was standing right next to Seoyeon, was a member of the drama club. Although she wasn¡¯t particularly active, she was still officially part of it. Most students joined clubs to get extra points for their grades, even if they didn¡¯t participate much.


    ¡°So, how much do you know about games... No, I mean, do you know much about games?¡± Geunsoo stammered.


    ¡°Why are you speaking like that to someone older than you?¡± Seoyeon asked.


    Geunsoo was a year older than Seoyeon, but his behavior made it seem like he was her junior.


    ¡°Ahem! Then I¡¯ll speak informally.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°But you do know how to play games, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Seoyeon replied, frowning slightly as if wondering why he would even ask such a question. The other boys immediately turned their glares toward Geunsoo.


    ¡°No, no! I just need to know your skill level.¡±


    ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t normally ask that way if you were really curious,¡± Seoyeon pointed out.


    ¡°Ugh,¡± Geunsoo muttered, feeling the reproachful gazes of his club members. If they were so keen on talking, why didn¡¯t they try it themselves? He had to resist the urge to laugh at how all of them stood at least two meters away from the conversation.


    ¡°Well... okay.¡±


    In summary, Seoyeon¡¯s story was that she preferred eSports, particularly League of Legends. She liked that it had many tournaments and a lot of content to watch, and it was popular on streaming platforms.


    ¡°Do you want to play a game with us?¡± Geunsoo offered.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Seoyeon responded enthusiastically. She had been waiting for this moment.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t concentrate at home because of Dad.¡±


    But here, things would be different. Unlike with console games, Seoyeon felt more confident with this. After all, in the typical TS stories, the protagonist usually becomes a pro at AOS games.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this...¡±


    Jiyeon decided not to participate but to watch instead. She had a basic understanding of League of Legends, thanks to her time as Ramiel.


    Given her experience as a VTuber, she had to keep up with popular topics among her audience. Even if she didn¡¯t play the games herself, she made sure to be familiar with them. So, she was a bit uneasy about Seoyeon¡¯s choice.


    ¡°Top lane?¡±


    As the game began with a five-man queue, Seoyeon immediately chose a top lane champion.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to her.


    Top lane? Seoyeon confidently announced, ¡°I¡¯m good at this.¡±


    ¡°Uh, okay.¡±


    What else could they say? She claimed to be good at it. And she picked Irelia. Despite the recent rework that made her easier to play, she was still a difficult champion for beginners.


    ¡°Well, she says she¡¯s good, so she must be.¡±


    It would be disrespectful to assume otherwise. Trying to shake off his doubts, Geunsoo headed to mid lane.


    Exactly ten minutes later, Seoyeon¡¯s character was standing still in front of the tower.


    A quick check of the scoreboard showed [Irelia 0/7/0].


    The opposing team¡¯s Teemo typed in the chat:


    Teemo: ? Did she give up? Why isn¡¯t she moving?


    Of course, Seoyeon wanted to move. If only her mouse hadn¡¯t been shattered into pieces.

 Chapter 119

    Seoyeon felt quite unfairly treated. She was sure that when she played alone, she never got matched against opponents this skilled.


    But when she played with a team of five, everything felt different. The top lane, known as a place where only the logic of strength prevailed, was her favorite. It was often referred to as "the man''s lane," a battlefield of pure might, which suited Seoyeon perfectly.


    She especially despised Teemo, the annoying little creature that looked weak but tormented her with its poisonous darts and eerie laugh.


    Teemo: ¡°Is this your first time playing?¡±


    Being taunted by such a character with poisonous darts only made her anger boil over. This wasn¡¯t the first time Seoyeon had faced a Teemo, but this one was far better than any she had encountered before. His skills were on another level¡ªshe couldn¡¯t land a single stun.


    ¡°If only this was before the patch...¡±


    She might have been able to defeat him then. Her hands trembled with frustration.


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t this world have virtual reality games?¡±


    In most gender-swap (TS) stories, the protagonist would dominate their enemies in virtual reality games, match up against famous streamers, and receive praise for their incredible reaction times and physical abilities. Seoyeon possessed the reflexes and coordination that would have made her a legend in such a world.


    Thwack!


    Parry!


    Argh!!


    Thwack!


    Parry!!


    Argh!!


    But in this game, League of Legends, there was no parrying¡ªno way to counter the endless barrage of Teemo¡¯s poison darts. If this were a virtual reality game, she would have effortlessly parried the poison and heard the amazed reactions of her opponents. Instead, she was just getting holes punched in her head by those damn darts.


    ¡°Just wait a bit, I¡¯ll be back up there soon,¡± Baek Geunsoo, the club president, offered, trying to gauge Seoyeon¡¯s mood. But she shook her head firmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she insisted.


    Seoyeon prided herself on her strong mental resilience, and for the most part, this was true. She rarely got angry over anything. The last time she had truly felt her blood boil was when she witnessed how the other members of Summer Girl treated Cha Nahyi, but this was different.


    She recalled what her mother, Sua, often said to her father, who took gaming a bit too seriously.


    ¡°Calm down, it¡¯s just a game.¡±


    Seoyeon had always agreed with her mother¡¯s sentiment. Games were meant to be fun, after all.


    ¡°I can win this!¡± she declared confidently.


    She couldn¡¯t tolerate the idea of anyone else interfering in her sacred top lane. It would feel like admitting defeat if she accepted help.


    And so, she kept playing, even as her deaths mounted¡ªthree, then four. Soon, she spent more time looking at the gray screen than actually playing. But she still held on.


    That is, until Teemo¡¯s next message popped up.


    Teemo: ¡°Are you a girl?¡±


    And that was when Seoyeon¡¯s mouse shattered in her hand.


    ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Baek Geunsoo exclaimed, jumping out of his seat. The other students also stopped playing and stared in shock.


    ¡°Is she injured?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s an actress! What if this becomes a big deal?¡±


    The idea of a mouse exploding out of nowhere was unheard of. Had the battery inside the mouse somehow exploded? But it was just a standard Logitech mouse, wasn¡¯t it?


    As Baek Geunsoo left his character standing idle and rushed over, Seoyeon raised her hand. Her hand was smooth and unscathed, not at all what you¡¯d expect from someone who had just shattered a mouse.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said in a strangely calm voice.@@@@


    But everyone in the room could feel it¡ªthe deep, simmering anger beneath that calm tone. It was the kind of rage that made you think she might tear Teemo in half if she met him in real life.


    ¡°Here,¡± Jiyeon sighed, pulling out a mouse and handing it to Seoyeon.


    ¡°This is the one I use for gaming... so please, don¡¯t break it.¡±


    Jiyeon had anticipated something like this might happen, so she had brought her own mouse just in case. It was better to sacrifice her own equipment than to break the club¡¯s property.


    ¡°A gaming mouse...¡±


    Seoyeon took the mouse from Jiyeon. It was relatively new, likely something Jiyeon had bought for her streams as Ramiel.


    Seoyeon¡¯s anger began to subside, replaced by a renewed sense of determination. The 0/7/0 KDA no longer mattered.


    Baek Geunsoo thought about the game League of Legends and how it wasn¡¯t just about physical skills. It required a lot of strategy and memorization. Knowing how to capitalize on advantages during fights was crucial to securing victory.


    ¡°She¡¯s actually not bad,¡± he thought when he first saw Seoyeon play. Her CS (creep score) was pretty decent for someone of her rank, and her control was good. If only she wasn¡¯t up against a champion with targeted skills, her physical abilities would have shone even more.


    ¡°But her game sense... well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s lacking.¡±


    Of course, Baek Geunsoo had been keeping an eye on the top lane to help out if needed, so he could see what was happening. Seoyeon had a tendency to dive headfirst into fights without thinking. It was as if she believed she could hit her opponent even when they weren¡¯t visible.


    For the record, Seoyeon¡¯s rank was Silver. The vast difference left her feeling dizzy. And Jiyeon didn¡¯t even play that much!


    ¡°By the way, Ju Seoyeon,¡± Jiyeon suddenly said.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°I got the script.¡±


    The script. Seoyeon immediately knew what she was talking about¡ªthe script for the Gyeongseong Lady audition.


    ¡°They¡¯re giving out the scripts in advance, not at the audition? That¡¯s considerate.¡±


    It was a kind gesture, Seoyeon thought. Most auditions involved cold readings on the spot, so getting the script ahead of time was unusual.


    ¡°...I was wondering if you could help me practice,¡± Jiyeon said hesitantly.


    Ah, she¡¯s asking for help, Seoyeon thought as she nodded, about to agree.


    ¡°Could you ask Jo Seohui to join us?¡± Jiyeon added.


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened slightly. It seemed that while she had been busy with her own schedule, Jiyeon and Jo Seohui had become much closer than she had anticipated.


    Hyper Action Star, despite being a cable variety show, had quickly become one of the most anticipated productions, surpassing many network shows in popularity.


    The 10-minute teaser was nothing short of impressive. Over the years, there had been countless audition programs covering various genres, but the only ones people really remembered were the idol audition shows. The others? Most people didn¡¯t even know they existed.


    Many of them failed, and the networks often had to swallow massive losses.


    ¡°This Hyper Action Star has about five central characters we¡¯re focusing on,¡± PD Lee Kitae said, addressing the production team. There were clear favorites among the investors, who had their own hopes for certain actors.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    She was the first name mentioned, and for good reason. The teaser had become a sensation largely because of her. The moment she literally jumped from the third floor of a building had captured everyone¡¯s attention.


    Sure, there was an air mattress below, but it still took guts to leap off without any safety gear. However, the production team was later criticized for allowing such a risky stunt.


    ¡°Even with an air mattress, it¡¯s not 100% safe,¡± people complained, forcing the crew to promise they¡¯d be more cautious in the future.


    ¡°Who could¡¯ve expected someone to just jump like that?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d leap without any ropes or harnesses?¡±


    There hadn¡¯t been any time to stop her. She had glanced down for a moment, and then she just... jumped.


    Still, with the buzz they¡¯d generated, it was worth enduring some backlash.


    ¡°Besides her, there¡¯s Jo Seohui... and Han Soyu,¡± Lee Kitae continued, murmuring as he glanced at a few photos.


    ¡°Min Doha is a bit disappointing.¡±


    ¡°She did everything well but was too ordinary.¡±


    ¡°Still, those types often end up winning.¡±


    While it would be ideal if someone like Jo Seohui won, the unfortunate truth was that she didn¡¯t have much experience with action scenes. Ju Seoyeon had at least been praised for her action scenes in The Chaser and had received high marks from Professor Kim Hongbaek.


    ¡°But this is different from working with professional stunt actors.¡±


    Stunt actors had grit and tenacity. For them, this lead role was everything. Could these regular actresses compete with that? It was hard to say.


    There was a difference between actors who only did action and those who did action as well. However, Hyper Action Star was placing a heavy emphasis on action.


    That was the wild card.


    ¡°So, next, we¡¯re giving out missions and filming scenes with each group. What scene did Group A get?¡± PD Lee Kitae asked, as the production team reviewed the upcoming scenes.


    Group A was Seoyeon¡¯s group and the one currently attracting the most attention. The scenes had been drawn randomly, and Group A had already filmed theirs.


    The scene Group A had drawn was...


    ¡°A shootout scene, with a bit of a chase,¡± the staff replied.


    A shootout in an urban setting, crafted as a scene to be performed.


    That was the mission for this round of Hyper Action Star.

 Chapter 120

    Cheonghong Action School


    The cradle of stunt performers, founded by South Korea¡¯s top martial arts director, Kim Hongbaek.


    Lately, Professor Kim Hongbaek had been receiving a flurry of calls. All because of a certain variety show he had agreed to appear on.


    ¡°They said you¡¯ll need to be on set from the next shoot onwards.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡±


    To be honest, he originally intended to decline. Variety shows weren¡¯t really his thing.


    However, this time, something piqued his interest.


    ¡®Some of the actors from our academy are participating.¡¯


    Most well-known action actors have come out of Cheonghong Action School. But this time, it was different¡ªfemale actors. The cast primarily consisted of young actresses, which sparked his curiosity. Traditionally, female actors were often sidelined in action roles.


    But that¡¯s only natural since action acting is, after all, ¡®acting.¡¯ When filming, the preference naturally leans towards male actors who can deliver larger, more powerful movements.


    ¡°Impact...¡±


    The force of acting¡ªthat¡¯s what action scenes require the most.


    For the performance to have power, both the emotion and the body must be in sync.


    ¡°Nowadays, though, filming techniques have improved, so stunt doubles are used more often,¡± remarked Professor Sung Hocheol.


    In the past, back when Hong Kong movies were popular, it was customary for actors to perform their stunts. But nowadays, who would actually perform the stunts themselves? It''s easier to let someone more physically adept handle the action scenes. That¡¯s the current trend, but...


    ¡°This time, I think I should participate.¡±


    It seemed like an opportunity to promote a traditional action actor.


    ¡°And I¡¯m a bit concerned about Seoyeon being involved.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s part of it, too.¡±


    Coincidentally, today was the day Seoyeon was supposed to visit. Probably because of Hyper Action Star.


    In fact, a large portion of the recent calls Kim Hongbaek received were about that. The participants in Hyper Action Star were flocking to Cheonghong Action School, seeking guidance in action acting.


    It helped that Professor Kim Hongbaek himself had agreed to appear on the show. Though he rejected most of those calls.


    Action acting isn¡¯t something you can master with a crash course in a day or two.


    ¡®Did they get scared after signing up?¡¯


    While a few actors were directly recruited for Hyper Action Star, most participants applied freely from outside. Although they were selected based on their profiles, many also came in through agency connections.


    From the beginning, Hyper Action Star was a challenging show, viewed skeptically within the industry. A variety show with a higher chance of failure than success.


    An outdated public audition format. And since it focused on acting rather than singing, there were fewer elements to engage the audience.


    That¡¯s likely why many actors who could do a bit of action signed up¡ªto boost their recognition.


    ¡®But then they had to rappel down the building in the first meeting.¡¯


    Suddenly, the show caught the public¡¯s attention. Every day, the views kept climbing. Even the actors who joined half-heartedly couldn¡¯t help but feel the pressure.


    With the scales tipping from failure towards success, if they didn¡¯t show something impressive, they might miss out on the opportunity.


    ¡°Ah, it seems Seoyeon is already here warming up.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Professor Kim Hongbaek headed to the stunt training ground with his now-familiar steps. Previously, many actors had viewed Seoyeon with a critical eye, but now things were different.


    Whenever they crossed paths with her, they would quickly avert their gaze.


    Because...


    ¡°Is there anyone willing to practice a scene with me today?¡± ¡°...¡±


    At Seoyeon¡¯s request, everyone lowered their eyes. There was a lot to learn from working with her.


    A lot, but... being thrown several meters also tends to throw everything you¡¯ve learned out the window. Life¡¯s impermanence. People grow detached and start seeing life flash before their eyes.


    Anyway, the kind of acting that flirts with life and death. Thanks to that, they could now handle most stunts with a smile, which was satisfying in its own way.@@@@


    She was curious. If the protagonist¡¯s superpower wasn¡¯t set in stone, it might be decided during this audition.


    As Seoyeon mulled over this, Professor Kim Hongbaek spoke.


    ¡°With regeneration, there¡¯s a lot of action viewers would want to see. But from an acting perspective, it¡¯ll be tricky.¡±


    ¡°Because the ability is meaningless unless I get hit.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Even in a shootout, you need to show that. The kind of acting that involves getting hit.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t an easy role for a female actor. If it were any other actress, Professor Kim Hongbaek would have advised against it.


    He might even have suggested they ask the production team to change it.


    ¡®But for her, it should be fine.¡¯


    Professor Kim Hongbaek nodded. Seoyeon¡¯s skin wasn¡¯t fragile enough to be damaged by mere paint bullets.


    In fact, he had never seen her get hurt. When he asked her about it...


    ¡°Uh... the skincare products I use are really good.¡±


    He didn¡¯t know since when skincare products could do that, but he didn¡¯t question it. What could he do, even if he doubted it?


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with some practice. We have model guns with paint bullets here.¡±


    Professor Kim Hongbaek was serious about guiding Seoyeon. He knew how passionate she was about acting.


    ¡®If...¡¯


    If Seoyeon could elevate her acting skills while mastering action...


    ¡®The success of this movie could very well depend on her.¡¯


    Professor Kim Hongbaek didn¡¯t think Seoyeon would get eliminated from Hyper Action Star. If she did, it would only be because she couldn¡¯t adapt to action acting.


    But even if that happened, no director would refuse to cast her. If she didn¡¯t land the lead, she¡¯d still get a role with significant importance.


    He was certain of that.


    ¡®No.¡¯


    Professor Kim Hongbaek shook his head, dismissing the thought of her getting eliminated. She was destined to be the lead this time.


    Not a supporting role, but the lead character driving the story forward¡ªthat¡¯s what he wanted to see from Seoyeon. He was genuinely invested.


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s start with some shooting practice.¡±


    So Professor Kim Hongbaek decided to pass on everything he knew to Seoyeon. She had the potential to become South Korea¡¯s top action star.


    Hyper Action Star auditions were essentially live broadcasts, from the preliminaries to the finals.


    In each round, twenty contestants would be eliminated. And in the semifinals, ten more would drop out.


    In the end, one actor out of the final ten would be selected as the lead in GH Group¡¯s new movie.


    The first episode airs today?A Group preliminariesSimulcast online, yeahIs Ju Seoyeon in it?But they¡¯re pushing Ju Seoyeon way too muchAgreedIt¡¯s not even acting; she just jumped off, lol. Even I could do that.They¡¯re hyping something everyone does in the military, lol


    Because Seoyeon was heavily featured in the teaser, she drew a lot of attention, including some negative comments. Of course, her defenders pointed out that she jumped without any safety equipment. Others argued about whether the air mattress counted as safety gear.


    Despite the buzz, most of the chatter revolved around Seoyeon. There were a few mentions of other contestants, but they were fleeting, just like their brief appearances in the teaser.


    Only Jo Seohui managed to generate some discussion, mainly because she was shown descending alone in an elevator.


    ¡°Alright, then.¡±


    Lee Kitae, looking at the gathered members of Hyper Action Star¡¯s Group A, spoke. Twenty contestants, each in comfortable attire, stood nervously. As the camera panned across them...


    ¡°...Huh?¡±


    Seoyeon stood out. She couldn¡¯t help but stand out.


    ¡°Uh, Seoyeon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why are you... wearing a school uniform?¡±


    Seoyeon stood on the set wearing a cool, short-sleeved school uniform. Among those in more practical outfits, her choice was particularly eye-catching. When Lee Kitae PD questioned her, Seoyeon responded matter-of-factly.

 Chapter 121

    Hyper Action Star is strictly an audition show. This means that every episode is broadcast live from the first episode onward, and viewers can start voting immediately after the broadcast ends.


    With a total of five groups, each time they compete, half of the contestants are eliminated, making each filming session extremely crucial.


    ¡°They¡¯re broadcasting on both TV and the internet simultaneously. Man, this is already fun,¡± said Han Bongshik, a YouTuber with 1.38 million subscribers, as he let out a sigh of relief, noticing a slight recovery in his subscriber count.


    ¡®I have to cover this.¡¯


    From the teaser alone, he could tell this show would be a hit. And more importantly, Ju Seoyeon was in it.


    So, of course, he had to cover it. Ever since The Chaser, Ju Seoyeon had been like a goddess to Han Bongshik. Even now, in the teaser and the current footage, she was displaying an overwhelming presence.


    School uniform...really?Is that so? I guess she looks like a high school student.Ju Seoyeon special: she¡¯s actually a high schoolerWow, she thought to wear a school uniform. Isn¡¯t this an action scene?She probably has safety shorts on. ©¸ Hehehehe ©¸ Obviously...By the way, Jo Seohui is the same age as Ju Seoyeon.Jo Seohui as a high schooler? LOL, no way.It¡¯s true... We went to the same school, and honestly, you¡¯d be surprised seeing her.


    As evidence of the show¡¯s buzz, the number of viewers was about 30% higher than usual. Judging by the active chat, it seemed like many viewers were not regular subscribers to Han Bongshik¡¯s channel.


    ¡°Ahem, for those of you who are new here, the show we¡¯re watching today is Hyper Action Star. It¡¯s an audition program for actors, and the winner gets the lead role in a movie.¡±


    Han Bongshik explained what he had researched to his viewers¡ªthe format, how the show progresses, and how the final selection is made.


    ¡°Today¡¯s theme is ¡®Shootout.¡¯ But what¡¯s this? It¡¯s not just a shootout. They have to act. It¡¯s all about the acting!¡±


    But isn¡¯t this a superpower action movie?How are they supposed to act while doing a shootout?


    The viewers were understandably puzzled. After all, the superpower they chose during the rappel action would be the basis for their performance in the shootout. But, naturally, the actors themselves were ordinary humans. How were they supposed to incorporate superpowers into this?


    ¡°Well...this is just my guess.¡±


    What¡¯s your guess?Bongshik, hurry up and tell us. You¡¯re killing me here.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain once the first shoot begins.¡±


    Damn it, why stop mid-sentence!!!What a tease, seriously.


    Han Bongshik chuckled at the viewers¡¯ reactions. He indeed had a theory, but revealing it now would ruin the fun.


    ¡®It¡¯s likely about the acting.¡¯


    It had to be related to that. However, superpower acting could easily come off as ridiculous if not done well.


    ¡®No, most of the time, it probably would look ridiculous.¡¯


    Superpowers without CGI¡ªhow different was this from the ¡°Superpower¡± episodes on Running People? Therefore, one crucial element was needed.


    In this kind of acting, the ¡°receiver¡± was more important than the one performing it.


    ¡°So, after each episode, they¡¯ll release a version with CGI added for the next episode.¡±


    This part had already been mentioned by PD Lee Kitae of Hyper Action Star. By now, some viewers probably understood the ¡°rules¡± of the show, as even Han Bongshik had caught on quickly.


    But these scenes won¡¯t carry over to the movie, right?


    ¡°No, this is just an audition... But there¡¯s a chance they might keep the same superpower for the movie.¡±


    Of course, this was all speculation. There was no guarantee that the superpower chosen in the audition would be the same in the movie.


    ¡®But if it makes a strong impact, who knows?¡¯


    With that thought, Han Bongshik turned his attention back to the screen, focusing on the first live audition of Hyper Action Star.


    The ¡°Shootout.¡±


    ¡°As soon as filming starts, everything is acting. You¡¯ve all seen the script, right?¡± Actor Cha Mingyu asked, looking at the gathered actors. They nodded in response.


    However...


    ¡®Can we even call that a script?¡¯


    It was more like instructions on how to act rather than a script. They were supposed to create a character based on their chosen superpower and then act it out. Most of the actors looked bewildered, but some found it intriguing.


    ¡®I joined because of Ju Seoyeon, but this seems pretty interesting.¡¯


    Jo Seohui, in particular, felt that participating in this variety show was the right choice. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t too confident about passing. She wasn¡¯t particularly skilled in action.


    ¡®But if this is about acting...¡¯


    Jo Seohui¡¯s gaze sharpened as she looked at Seoyeon. This was her first chance to face Seoyeon in acting, before they eventually starred in the same movie. Though this was a variety show, acting was still involved, even if it wasn¡¯t exactly like true acting.


    ¡®I wonder how many of them have caught on to that.¡¯


    And you too, Seoyeon.


    ¡°...?¡±


    Seoyeon flinched under Jo Seohui¡¯s intense gaze. To be honest, that kind of look always made her uncomfortable.


    ¡®I should invite her as a guest to the next festival.¡¯


    Nothing, she says. Though that was a loaded statement, the actor just sighed in relief.


    ¡°But your hand must really hurt...¡±


    She winced as she looked at Seoyeon¡¯s hand, but Seoyeon just smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°Really, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    In truth, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t been hurt at all from deflecting the paint bullet. A mere paint bullet wasn¡¯t enough to scratch her invincible TS skin.


    ¡®Maybe I should have just caught it.¡¯


    She only grimaced because the paint had splattered on her hand. She had forgotten that paint bullets burst on impact.


    ¡®Then again, with my regeneration power, catching it wouldn¡¯t make much sense.¡¯


    Swatting it away didn¡¯t quite fit either. She would have to focus more on avoiding them in a way that made sense for her character.


    Anyway, this was a minor incident before the shoot officially started. Since there were few witnesses, it didn¡¯t cause much of a stir on set.


    What just happened?Did she just swat away a paint bullet with her hand?


    However, because the moment was caught on camera, some viewers began reacting strongly in the chat.


    ¡°...That wasn¡¯t a coincidence, was it?¡±


    Han Bongshik replayed the clip he had just captured. This time, he slowed it down.


    ¡°It looks like a paint bullet was fired by accident...¡±


    The scene showed the bullet flying straight toward Seoyeon¡¯s face. At that moment, the camera didn¡¯t fully capture Seoyeon¡¯s face, just a partial profile.


    At 0.25x speed, you could see the paint bullet in slow motion. Then¡ª


    Did her eyes move?Eeeeek!!


    At 0.25x speed, you could clearly see Seoyeon¡¯s eyes tracking the bullet. And in the next frame, her hand swatted it away, as everyone saw.


    ¡°Uh, that wasn¡¯t intentional, right?¡±


    Ju Seoyeon can do that.Huh?Oh, really? (still confused)


    As Han Bongshik pondered the comments, he thought back to the Ju Seoyeon he had seen in Survival of the Fittest and Star Fisher.


    ¡°...Hmm. I suppose she could.¡±


    Thinking about it, he felt oddly at ease.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep watching.¡±


    Whether it was intentional or not, he didn¡¯t know. But it was more fun to believe it was, so he decided to go with that.


    ¡°The total filming time is 30 minutes. Keep that in mind. Also, any dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in immediate disqualification.¡±


    At the mention of disqualification, the actors nodded, their faces tense with anxiety.


    ¡®Should I focus on the shootout?¡¯ ¡®Or should I aim for the bag...?¡¯ ¡®How will the acting be evaluated? Through superpowers?¡¯


    As these thoughts raced through their minds, Min Doha looked at Seoyeon. Having witnessed the earlier incident, she bit her lower lip.


    ¡®Whether it was intentional or not, that scene will cause a stir when it airs.¡¯


    Cha Mingyu, who wasn¡¯t aware of the full details, would later reprimand her harshly, so it was bound to create some buzz. From the beginning, Seoyeon was already drawing everyone¡¯s attention as if she were the main character.


    ¡®I can¡¯t lose in action acting.¡¯


    Losing to a delicate-looking high school girl would be a humiliation she couldn¡¯t bear. With that determination, Min Doha fixed her gaze on Seoyeon. Shooting wouldn¡¯t be allowed until three minutes after the shoot began.


    ¡®The bag will appear ten minutes later.¡¯


    Until then, everyone needed to secure their positions.


    And then¡ª


    Beep!!!


    The signal to start filming blared. At that sound, all the actors rushed forward.


    Min Doha calmly followed behind Seoyeon, who was jogging at a relaxed pace. The rule was that getting shot didn¡¯t mean you were out.


    But if they were ¡°acting,¡± then they would have to act as if they died when hit by a bullet. It was all up to the actor¡¯s discretion. Ultimately, it depended on how the judge, Cha Minseok, and the viewers interpreted it.


    ¡®Sorry, but I¡¯m going to take you out here.¡¯


    Of course, she wasn¡¯t really sorry. It was only natural to eliminate the strongest competitor.

 Chapter 122

    As soon as the signal for the start of filming blared, the actors scattered in all directions. Nearly twenty actors swiftly darted across the set, making for a visually striking scene.


    ¡®As expected, these are all people confident in their physical abilities,¡¯ Seoyeon thought as she ran, quickly scanning her surroundings. Given that everyone here claimed to be an action actor, there wasn¡¯t a single person who moved slowly.


    ¡®Ah, except for one.¡¯


    There was one person running somewhat sluggishly¡ªJo Seohui. Although it felt a bit harsh to think so, she seemed like an easy target.


    ¡®Anyway...¡¯


    Seoyeon exhaled slowly. This might be a variety show, but it wasn¡¯t just that; it was a legitimate acting audition. She needed to stay in character and perform her role convincingly.


    ¡®My character is...¡¯


    After the initial meeting, Seoyeon received a call from Hyper Action Star, asking her to define her ability for the script. This was likely where they would solidify the characters¡¯ abilities.


    Naturally, Seoyeon confirmed that her character¡¯s ability was regeneration. She had no intention of changing that.


    When she received the script afterward, it indeed confirmed that her ability was regeneration. It also listed the abilities of the other contestants in Group A. The reason was simple.


    ¡®The ability itself is the script.¡¯


    Professor Kim Hongbaek had once said that the most important aspect of action acting was ¡°matching the timing.¡±


    No matter how flashy your movements are, if your partner can¡¯t match you, it¡¯s just gymnastics¡ªimpressive, but hollow.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, for action acting, you need to rehearse endlessly and imprint your partner¡¯s movements into your mind.¡±


    Punching, kicking, getting hit, and falling down¡ªif you want these movements to look natural, you need to sync up with your partner.


    ¡°But when all of this is happening live, that¡¯s when an action actor¡¯s true skill shows. Because at that point, all the acting is essentially improvisation.¡±


    Your ability serves as the minimum safeguard. If you¡¯ve memorized your partner¡¯s ability, you can quickly adapt to it in real-time.


    ¡®That¡¯s why this is the script.¡¯


    There were no lines written in the script, but all the abilities were listed. So, when the moment came to act, they would have to engage as if clashing swords. Seoyeon mentally reviewed the abilities of those around her, as if reciting lines from a script.


    She also took in her surroundings¡ªthe structure of the set, the electronic scoreboard on the wall, and the number of cameras.


    ¡®There are twenty cameras in addition to the ones installed around the set.¡¯


    It was an impressive number. With that many, it seemed likely that each person had a dedicated camera operator following them.


    ¡®There are five watching me.¡¯


    As Seoyeon ran through the set, designed to look like a ruin, she felt the eyes following her. These were the ones who were watching her closely from the start, trying to keep her in check.


    Three of them were moving together as a team. They must have formed an alliance before the shoot began.


    Seoyeon thought it was a smart move. Three is better than one. By sticking together, they gained character development and attracted three cameras to their group.


    ¡®Ten seconds.¡¯


    The electronic scoreboard displayed the names of the twenty participants. All of them were currently at zero points.


    They were likely tallying the points in real-time. Since no one was wearing sensors, the crew must have been monitoring the action and keeping track manually.


    ¡®Five seconds.¡¯


    Seoyeon suddenly stopped running and turned around to face the three people who had been following her.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    The three actors trailing her flinched momentarily when she turned to face them. However, realizing they were outnumbering her, they glared at her sharply.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    She was probably the most recognizable actor among the participants in this audition. Although Jo Seohui was also well-known, she was in a different league¡ªone that was hard to mess with. Moreover, Jo Seohui had never performed action scenes before, so her abilities were difficult to gauge.


    ¡®If we don¡¯t take her out quickly, it could be dangerous.¡¯


    In acting, presence is everything. Cha Seoah¡¯s presence in The Chaser had been overwhelming, and her action scenes were excellent.


    ¡®We don¡¯t know what the next missions will be...¡¯


    This first mission, purely based on points, was clearly the best opportunity to eliminate Seoyeon. Getting hit by a paint bullet resulted in a -1 point. A fatal wound meant -20 points. On the other hand, hitting another actor with a paint bullet awarded +1 point, and hitting a critical area gave +5 points.


    Additionally, if you inflict a fatal injury on a high-scoring opponent and put them in a ¡°dead¡± state, you get half of their points.


    ¡®Roughly, those are the rules.¡¯


    And of course, since this was acting, if you ¡°died,¡± you couldn¡¯t move anymore. It was up to the actor¡¯s discretion. No one would accept someone continuing to move after suffering a clearly fatal wound.


    ¡°One second.¡±


    Someone said. The guns in their hands shifted, and the muzzles were aimed at their target.


    Three guns pointed at Seoyeon. From a distance, PD Lee Kitae, who was monitoring the situation, tensed up. At the same time, he recalled a conversation he had recently with an executive from GH Group.


    Most of the actors had chosen physical enhancement as their ability, while others had opted for powers like telekinesis or pyrokinesis, which were easier to imagine but harder to depict without CGI. But with regeneration...


    ¡°Acting.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s face suddenly appeared inches from the actor¡¯s, her voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°You should act, right?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t even noticed her getting this close. Before he could react¡ª


    Seoyeon¡¯s right hand moved, pressing the muzzle of her gun against the protective gear under his clothes.


    Bang!


    The paint bullet struck his chest with a crisp sound, instantly reducing his score by 20 points.


    ¡°...!!¡±


    The others hesitated to shoot because Seoyeon was so close to their fallen comrade, effectively using him as a shield. Meanwhile, Seoyeon remained perfectly still, not giving them any opening.


    They could just shoot her, but then they realized why she wasn¡¯t moving.


    ¡®She can¡¯t shoot at long range, can she?¡¯


    Given Seoyeon¡¯s physical abilities, it didn¡¯t seem like she¡¯d have trouble with it. But the fact that she didn¡¯t do it suggested otherwise¡ªit was part of her character setup.


    Seoyeon had established her character as someone who, despite her regeneration abilities, was poor at long-range shooting and had to rely on close-quarters combat. She had just demonstrated this limitation in a single scene.


    A regeneration user who excels in close combat¡ªthat¡¯s how she clearly defined her character¡¯s strengths and weaknesses.


    ¡°Are you not coming at me?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice was cold, her expression reminiscent of Cha Seoah¡¯s emotionless gaze from The Chaser, her lips curling in a mocking smile.


    ¡®Acting.¡¯


    When had she started acting? The actors felt a chill run down their spines.


    ¡®Wait, is that how a normal person moves?¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t she supposed to have physical enhancement?¡¯


    All three had chosen physical enhancement as their superpower, thinking it would make the action scenes easier. But looking at Seoyeon, they couldn¡¯t help but feel like mere extras.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    One of them leaped forward, signaling with a glance for the others to take advantage of the distraction and shoot.


    ¡®Even with regeneration, she can¡¯t have healed her left arm yet.¡¯


    That was the assumption. So as soon as he moved¡ª


    ¡°?¡±


    Seoyeon vanished from sight. Where did she go? He slowly turned his head to the side.


    Thunk.


    He felt the cold muzzle of her gun against his side. The other two actors turned their guns on Seoyeon, but before they could pull the triggers¡ª


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Three shots rang out in quick succession.


    The scoreboard displayed the updated scores.


    Ju Seoyeon: 15 points.


    The score went up with a pleasant ding, and everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the scoreboard. Among them was Min Doha, who had been watching the fight unfold.


    ¡°...¡±


    She had planned to jump in when the opportunity arose, but something about the situation felt off. How was Seoyeon dodging paint bullets like that?


    Seoyeon looked down at the three actors she had just defeated. They were now fully immersed in their death scenes, performing with all their might.


    While it was a bit sad to see them acting out their deaths, Min Doha quietly raised her gun at Seoyeon.


    ¡®While she¡¯s off guard...¡¯


    Slowly and silently, she pulled the trigger from behind Seoyeon.


    Bang!


    The sound of the shot was followed by Seoyeon taking a step back, the paint bullet grazing her left shoulder.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    She had aimed for the center of Seoyeon¡¯s back, yet Seoyeon had dodged it after hearing the sound?


    ¡°...¡±


    As Min Doha processed this, Seoyeon turned her gaze toward her. Those crimson eyes locked onto Min Doha¡¯s, and in that moment, Min Doha did the only thing she could¡ªshe turned around and ran.

 Chapter 123

    ''What the hell was that?''


    Min Doha turned and fled without a second thought.


    ¡®She dodged the paint bullet by just hearing it?¡¯


    Chills ran down her spine. If this scene made it to the broadcast, it would undoubtedly cause a huge stir.


    ¡®If only I had engaged in close combat...¡¯


    Originally, Min Doha had planned to start with long-range shooting and, if that failed, lure Seoyeon into close combat. She thought she could easily overpower a fragile-looking high school girl.


    But now...


    ¡®No way, it¡¯s impossible.¡¯


    What was with those reaction speeds? And why did her eyes shine so terrifyingly?


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡±


    Min Doha heard footsteps approaching from behind as she vaulted over obstacles. The set was filled with various objects to hide behind. With so many obstacles, she believed she could escape if she kept running.


    As she had hoped, the footsteps behind her gradually faded.


    ¡°Phew...¡±


    Min Doha finally caught her breath, having sprinted across the set. She hid behind one of the obstacles, gasping for air.


    All around her, she could hear various noises: the sound of gunfire, actors shouting their lines as they performed their action scenes.


    ¡®Acting...¡¯


    Min Doha suddenly realized she hadn¡¯t acted at all. Maybe she should¡¯ve stayed and fought in close quarters... No, that would¡¯ve been a mistake.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    As she pondered, she noticed that the area around her had become strangely quiet. She instinctively looked up.


    ¡°...¡±


    The first thing she saw was a head of black hair. Then pale skin. Red eyes. And a smile curling at the corners of the mouth. Slowly, those lips began to move.


    ¡°Found you.¡±


    ¡°Kyaaaaaaah!¡±


    Min Doha let out an involuntary scream and tried to stand, but her legs gave out. She started crawling away on all fours.


    Seoyeon, watching her, aimed her gun at Min Doha... and then slowly lowered it.


    ¡®She¡¯s good at acting.¡¯


    Seoyeon was genuinely impressed. It was convincing enough that she almost believed Min Doha¡¯s scream was real. The way Min Doha¡¯s legs gave out, forcing her to crawl away, was a performance worth admiring.


    Seoyeon decided to let Min Doha go because of this.@@@@


    ¡®If this is an acting audition, I need someone to match my character.¡¯


    Even if Seoyeon had crafted her character, she needed a counterpart to play off of. In that sense, Min Doha was a great match. She remembered that Min Doha had chosen physical enhancement as her ability.


    That¡¯s why Seoyeon had deliberately matched her speed when chasing Min Doha. A regeneration user outpacing someone with physical enhancement would have seemed odd.


    ¡®Get stronger and come back.¡¯


    Seoyeon allowed Min Doha to escape. She could have pursued her, but since she had decided Min Doha was a good match, it would have been a waste to take her out now.


    And then...


    ¡®I feel like a lot of people are watching me.¡¯


    Seoyeon slowly scanned her surroundings. Initially, five people had been paying attention to her. But as time passed, she sensed that the number was growing.


    Maybe she had been running around too much. Just as she was considering this¡ª


    Whoosh!


    Something flew through the air and landed near Seoyeon¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    She dodged a paint bullet aimed at her shoulder and picked up the object.


    ¡®An earpiece?¡¯


    It looked a bit different, but she could tell it was meant to be worn in the ear. Thinking it might be some special item prepared by the production team, she put it on.


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡±


    Unexpectedly, Jo Seohui¡¯s voice came through. Seoyeon was about to ask how she had gotten something like this, but then she remembered.


    ¡®They did say we could bring any props necessary for our character.¡¯


    As long as it wasn¡¯t a weapon or something of that nature, it could be brought in after being inspected by the production team. Jo Seohui¡¯s character was supposed to be a genius, a wealthy and clever person.


    ¡®So she¡¯s using her props to her advantage.¡¯


    But where exactly was Jo Seohui right now? As Seoyeon pondered this, she heard more gunfire, and two or three bullets flew in her direction. Without thinking, she deflected one with her hand, earning another point.


    ¡°Let¡¯s form an alliance.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be hard to do this alone. I¡¯m in a position where I can see everything clearly.¡±


    Jo Seohui¡¯s voice sounded like that of a support character in a movie. That¡¯s when Seoyeon realized where Jo Seohui must be.


    ¡®She didn¡¯t head towards the bag; she went in the opposite direction.¡¯


    Jo Seohui had likely positioned herself on a high styrofoam ruin at the edge of the set, where she could see everything below.


    ¡°...I got hit five times while running away, so I¡¯m at 5 points.¡±


    Jo Seohui chuckled, clearly trying to lighten the mood. At least she hadn¡¯t been knocked out, Seoyeon thought. It seemed that with the bag soon to appear, others had left Jo Seohui alone. Chasing someone helpless wouldn¡¯t make for good drama.


    ¡®Did they give up on her?¡¯


    Seoyeon found Jo Seohui¡¯s actions puzzling. Did she really have no intention of advancing? It seemed that way.


    ¡°This spot is high up, so I have a good view of what¡¯s below. Even you can¡¯t see everything, right?¡±


    What¡¯s happening?She¡¯s dodging paint bullets without even looking now.Isn¡¯t Jo Seohui guiding her?If getting guided was all it took, I¡¯d have aced my exams too.LOL, so true.With Jo Seohui guiding her, she¡¯s unstoppable.She¡¯s literally going around hunting everyone down.Who is Ju Seoyeon? Has she always been like this?Yeah, this is how she always is.????You¡¯re so naive. Of course, it¡¯s all scripted.How can that be scripted? Are you nuts?If that¡¯s scripted, my life must be scripted too...Ju Seoyeon has arrived!Is she a ninja or what?It looks like she let herself get hit??Is she a superhero or what? LOLBut aren¡¯t the others using their powers?They don¡¯t seem to know how to incorporate them?Han Soyu!Shouldn¡¯t she just run away at this point?Isn¡¯t that obvious? Without CGI, it¡¯s just silly.?What do you mean?


    ¡°But if you show the whole thing on camera, it can look cheesy. Like bad special effects.¡±


    That¡¯s why the camera zoomed in, focusing more on the actors¡¯ expressions and reactions rather than showing their entire bodies.


    When Seoyeon was flung backward, it genuinely looked like she had been hit by something.


    That looks legit.Is it the camera work that¡¯s so good?


    ¡°This is all an advertisement. GH Group is using this to show how seriously they¡¯re taking the upcoming movie.¡±


    Han Bongshik watched as Seoyeon and Han Soyu played their parts. As expected, Seoyeon reacted perfectly to Han Soyu¡¯s telekinesis.


    The activation condition was simple: Han Soyu extended her left hand, and her telekinesis affected whatever was in her line of sight.


    That was the power Han Soyu had been given in the script. She had experience playing a wizard in a children¡¯s drama, which was cute and sometimes silly. But depending on how her opponent reacted, telekinesis could become a genuinely threatening power.


    Wow.This feels a bit too real.


    The camera showed Seoyeon moving out of Han Soyu¡¯s line of sight, clearly wary after experiencing the telekinesis.


    Now, everyone was eager to see how Seoyeon would overcome this new challenge.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Han Soyu¡¯s eyes twisted with a fierce expression. With that one word and look, her character was instantly established.


    ¡®She¡¯s decided to play the villain.¡¯


    Han Bongshik thought Han Soyu was clever. She must have realized that she couldn¡¯t defeat Seoyeon with telekinesis alone. According to the rules, the only way to secure a ¡®kill¡¯ was to hit your opponent with a paint bullet.


    Superpowers couldn¡¯t directly determine a kill unless the opponent played along.


    Given Seoyeon¡¯s superior physical abilities, Han Soyu had no chance of winning in a direct confrontation. Realizing this, Han Soyu had set herself up as the ¡®strong villain.¡¯


    The fact that Seoyeon, who had been overpowering everyone, was easily flung aside by telekinesis created a sense of real danger.


    Once the mood shifted, the rest was simple. Seoyeon began to close the distance, dodging Han Soyu¡¯s outstretched hand.


    Her right arm twisted as if it had been broken by telekinesis, causing her to drop her gun. Seoyeon kicked the gun away, sending it flying.


    ¡°Eek!¡±


    Han Soyu let out a shriek as Seoyeon lunged forward, grabbing her with her still-functional left hand. Han Soyu hastily extended her left hand in an attempt to use her power, but Seoyeon¡¯s gun was already pressed against her chest.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    With the crisp sound of gunfire¡ª


    [Ju Seoyeon: 68 points]


    Seoyeon had single-handedly eliminated more than half of the competition.


    ¡°!!¡±


    Min Doha, who had been hiding with the bag clutched to her chest, gasped. The area that had been chaotic just moments ago had suddenly fallen silent.


    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯


    Having lost her will to fight after fleeing from Seoyeon, Min Doha had decided to focus on protecting the bag instead. After all, if she could just hold onto the bag, she could secure 30 points.


    ¡®Fighting someone like her was a mistake from the start.¡¯


    But how could anyone fight against someone who dodges paint bullets? Min Doha felt genuinely wronged.


    Was she some kind of special forces trainee? It was hard to believe otherwise.


    ¡®At least if I can keep the bag...¡¯


    ¡°Found you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Min Doha fainted on the spot.


    With the bag secured, Seoyeon¡¯s score soared past 80 points, far surpassing what anyone, including the production team, could have anticipated.


    Even if her score were halved, she would still be in first place.


    Adding in the acting score, she would easily surpass 100 points. It was an overwhelming performance, leaving the other contestants with little choice but to smile wryly. Even those who had been ¡®killed¡¯ by Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of relief¡ªafter all, the points determined who advanced to the next round, not who got ¡®killed.¡¯


    Death was, after all, just part of the performance. Some contestants continued to move around even after suffering ¡®fatal¡¯ injuries, trying to earn points in any way possible.


    ¡®At least I made it into the top 10.¡¯ ¡®This kind of acting really wasn¡¯t for me.¡¯


    With mixed feelings, the remaining five minutes of the filming session ticked by. Only two contestants were left standing¡ªSeoyeon and Jo Seohui.


    Seoyeon, now holding the bag, made her way toward Jo Seohui¡¯s location. Despite having taken a few paint bullets, Jo Seohui looked relatively unscathed compared to the others.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Seoyeon glanced at the scoreboard. Jo Seohui¡¯s score wasn¡¯t displayed. It was effectively zero.


    She was undoubtedly going to be eliminated, even if Seoyeon handed over the bag.


    Just as Seoyeon was about to approach Jo Seohui and ask if she was okay¡ª


    ¡°Well done, Agent.¡±


    Jo Seohui gave Seoyeon a sly smile, her eyes twinkling. Seoyeon paused, momentarily thrown off.


    ¡®Acting.¡¯


    Why now? she wondered.


    Bang.


    A sharp gunshot rang out. Seoyeon looked down.


    A paint bullet had hit her chest, right where her heart¡ªthe only weakness of her regeneration ability¡ªwas located.


    It was point-blank range, and she hadn¡¯t seen it coming.


    [Jo Seohui: +34 points]


    Jo Seohui¡¯s score instantly catapulted her into the top five, despite having taken several hits earlier, leaving her with 29 points.


    Seoyeon stared at the scoreboard in disbelief, then looked back at Jo Seohui.


    ¡°Sorry. But I¡¯ll still let you have the bag.¡±


    Jo Seohui tried to soothe Seoyeon with her words.


    Seoyeon, however, was pouting.

 Chapter 124

    An actor''s audition. Specifically, the Hyper Action Star audition for action and stunt actors. At first, most people were indifferent.


    After all, audition programs were nothing new. However, perceptions changed dramatically after the release of the teaser trailer¡ªparticularly after Seoyeon¡¯s spectacular rappel stunt.


    Aren¡¯t all reality shows scripted anyway?She probably didn¡¯t do the stunt herself.Seriously, only naive people would believe this.


    Of course, not all reactions were positive. Many were skeptical, wondering if such a breathtaking action sequence could have been faked.


    Who even is Ju Seoyeon, and why is she getting so much screen time?She got popular after The Chaser.She¡¯s been trending lately because of Dream Future too.Never heard of her.


    The general sentiment on social media ranged from curiosity to indifference. Surprisingly, it was Seoyeon¡¯s own fan community that was the most subdued, responding with, ¡°Well, she could probably pull that off.¡±


    Wow, has she overcome gravity now?Why does Hyper Action Star need an audition?I¡¯m curious to see what Seoyeon will do next.LOL, right.You can tell she¡¯s having fun in the teaser.Well, who wouldn¡¯t be?


    As the chatter continued, Hyper Action Star officially aired its first episode.


    Streaming live on both an internet platform and a cable channel, it was clear that GH Group had invested heavily in the show.


    It¡¯s starting!Is this live?Yeah, it¡¯s all live.


    The first group, Group A, consisted of 20 actors, each standing in the set¡ªa ¡°ruined¡± environment crafted from broken styrofoam buildings. Amidst the actors dressed in comfortable outfits, one person stood out¡ªJu Seoyeon.


    Unlike the others, who appeared tense, Seoyeon remained calm, making her presence even more noticeable.


    Wait, why is she in a school uniform?Isn¡¯t she playing a high schooler?But even high schoolers don¡¯t usually show up in uniform to something like this???Is there a stronger battle outfit than a school uniform? Get real.???


    While most actors had dressed casually, some had clearly chosen outfits to match their characters, like Jo Seohui and Han Soyu.


    At this point, viewers began to catch on.


    ¡®Ah, so you need to establish your character from the costume onwards.¡¯


    In fact, Cha Mingyu, the actor playing the drill instructor, was already scanning the actors with a sharp eye, quietly scoring them based on their costumes.


    The first mission, a shootout, began soon after, and Cha Mingyu explained the rules in more detail¡ªhow the points would be tallied and how the actors needed to incorporate their acting.


    The actors had already been briefed, but this was the first time viewers were hearing about the rules.


    A shootout? Can these actresses even handle guns?They probably haven¡¯t even touched one before, lol.And how are they supposed to act out superpowers during a shootout?


    Even for action actors, handling a gun was a different challenge, model gun or not. Sure, they had likely practiced a bit beforehand, but still...


    ¡®Honestly, I¡¯ll be surprised if they can even hit anything.¡¯


    At least there hadn¡¯t been any accidents yet, which was a relief to most people.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    Bang!


    The sound of a gunshot echoed through the set. The camera caught the moment as an actor accidentally dropped their gun, causing it to fire.


    The bullet flew directly toward Seoyeon.


    ?What just happened?


    In what looked like a casual move, Seoyeon swatted the bullet away, as if shooing a fly. The camera captured the scene clearly, and viewers were momentarily stunned.


    Did she just deflect that paint bullet with her hand?No way, that had to be a coincidence.I just watched a breakdown from Bongshik¡ªhe pointed out how Seoyeon¡¯s eyes moved as the bullet flew at her.Shut up, stupid YouTuber.


    Most viewers chalked it up to luck. Sure, she deflected it once¡ªbig deal. After a brief commotion, the situation settled down, and Cha Mingyu gave the signal to continue.


    Beeeep!


    The horn sounded, signaling the start of the action. For the first few minutes, guns were not allowed to fire, so the actors sprinted off to claim strategic positions.


    Among them, the camera focused on four actors: Seoyeon and three others chasing her.


    Three people going after her?They¡¯re probably trying to take her out early since she was praised for her action scenes in The Chaser.Ju Seoyeon¡¯s getting knocked out in the first round, lol.Did you not see her deflecting bullets earlier?Dude, that was just luck. Come on.


    The chat began to buzz, with some viewers even spotting Min Doha watching the situation from her hiding place.


    Most viewers expected Seoyeon to be eliminated here. Three against one? Sure, Seoyeon might have good action chops, but in a points-based shootout, how could she handle three opponents alone?


    Three on one??Do they think Ju Seoyeon¡¯s a pushover?Why would they go after her like that?Do her fans really think she¡¯s invincible? Get real.It¡¯s probably military guys who believe that stuff.


    As some of Seoyeon¡¯s fans chimed in, their comments were met with ridicule. Almost everyone expected Seoyeon to be eliminated as three sets of guns took aim at her.


    Then, the bullets flew¡ªand Seoyeon dodged. She ducked and twisted her body, clearly ¡°seeing¡± the bullets coming her way and avoiding them.


    ¡®What?¡¯


    The viewers could sense something had changed. Maybe the actors facing her hadn¡¯t realized it yet, but the audience knew: Seoyeon wasn¡¯t the same person she had been just moments before.


    ¡®She¡¯s acting.¡¯


    Suddenly, they remembered that this audition was for the lead role in a movie. Every contestant had crafted a character, and this shootout was just another way for them to showcase their acting skills and superpower abilities.


    Seoyeon was doing exactly that.


    What the hell?How is this even possible?Paint bullets travel at 90 m/s, even if these are weaker for filming.No one should be able to react to that in time!LMAO, I¡¯m speechless now.She¡¯s an absolute monster.Seoyeon¡¯s got the moves. No wonder she¡¯s the lead.No way, is Min Doha serious?Does she really think she can shoot her after watching that?Doha¡¯s a good shot. If she snipes from outside Seoyeon¡¯s line of sight, it might work.She dodged again!Doha, get out of there! Run!She¡¯s gonna dieeee!!If that were me, I¡¯d wet myself right there.Why did she make her character so terrifying? She¡¯s just a villain at this point.Seoyeon just created the scariest character in her universe... a regenerating, superhuman Cha Seoah.Are you insane? That¡¯s not acting¡ªit¡¯s real!Poor Doha, she¡¯s just trying to survive!To Seoyeon, anyone struggling to live their best is giving their best performance, lol.Seoyeon: Omoshiroi.She¡¯s just obsessed with acting.Wait, Jo Seohui is still alive?Last I saw, she was crawling away like a worm.The queen of survival.Didn¡¯t they have enough sense to kill her? Seriously?Looks like you could bring props. Jo Seohui was smart about it.Jo Seohui is always the brains of the group, lol.She¡¯s letting herself get hit. Can¡¯t you see? Shoot her legs and run!She¡¯s letting herself get hit?!Look at her eyes tracking the bullets. She¡¯s just a walking weapon.


    ¡°This is... interesting.¡±


    Han Yegun wasn¡¯t a big fan of CGI. He had grown up idolizing Hong Kong action films, where everything was done with practical stunts. But now, watching Seoyeon, he felt inspired.


    With Seoyeon taking down Han Soyu, the mission was nearing its conclusion.


    The final twist?


    ¡°Well done, Agent.¡±


    With a small gunshot, Seoyeon was eliminated by none other than Jo Seohui.


    The chat erupted.


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t won as smoothly as everyone expected, and Jo Seohui¡¯s unexpected betrayal had added a shocking twist to the show. No one had seen it coming.


    Watching the chaos unfold on-screen, Han Yegun chuckled to himself.


    He had already found his star actors.


    A few days later, the results of the first mission were released.


    ¡®I¡¯m definitely out,¡¯ Min Doha thought.


    After all, she hadn¡¯t done much of anything.


    Had there been a shootout when she grabbed the bag? Maybe? She wasn¡¯t sure. She hadn¡¯t even bothered checking the scoreboard before the mission ended.


    ¡®Honestly, I¡¯m relieved.¡¯


    Min Doha was glad she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with Ju Seoyeon anymore. This audition had left her with nothing but nightmares. She couldn¡¯t sleep without imagining that red-eyed monster chasing her down.


    ¡®Next time, I¡¯ll audition for a nice, quiet romance.¡¯


    A supporting role would be just fine, anything to calm her nerves...


    ¡°Hey, Doha! Congratulations! You passed the first audition!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The next day, Min Doha could hardly believe her manager¡¯s words.


    Passed? Me?


    She quickly checked her email, where her scores were listed.


    She had earned a mere 16 points from the shootout, a few lucky hits here and there. But with half those points deducted because she had ¡®died,¡¯ she ended with only 8 points.


    No way she should have passed with that score, right?


    Then she saw it.


    [Acting Score: +20 Points]


    ¡°...¡±


    Min Doha was devastated. She wanted to call and argue with the judges.


    That wasn¡¯t acting!


    But could she really turn down this opportunity?


    ¡°Doha, seriously, congratulations! Hyper Action Star is making headlines! I was so worried you might not make it, but this is great!¡±


    Her manager beamed with joy, leaving Min Doha no choice but to shut her eyes and sigh.


    She could almost picture the red-eyed monster grinning at her.


    It was going to be another sleepless night.

 Chapter 125

    The audition program Hyper Action Star created a much bigger stir than anyone had anticipated. While the outlandish action sequences Seoyeon pulled off were part of the reason, it was the last-minute twist by Jo Seohui that brought an extra layer of fresh excitement.


    "LOL, Jo Seohui betrayed her at the end!""Weren¡¯t they friends?""Survival comes first before friendship, doesn¡¯t it?"


    Reading these online reactions, Jo Seohui couldn¡¯t help but feel reassured in her decision. The majority of online communities were buzzing with positive feedback.


    Though Seoyeon had shown her strength, there were some who thought, "Does this kind of domination even make sense for an audition?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s performance was so overwhelming that such a reaction was inevitable. However, with Jo Seohui''s betrayal at the end, it was clear that Ju Seoyeon wasn¡¯t invincible after all.


    Even the show¡¯s PD, Lee Kitae, personally praised Seohui.


    ¡°Seohui, that was amazing. The production team was blown away.¡±


    In fact, Jo Seohui hadn¡¯t planned on betraying Seoyeon. She was content to just give Seoyeon a little help along the way. After all, she wasn¡¯t that committed to making it through the round herself. She just thought it would be fun to act alongside Seoyeon for a bit.


    And honestly, their brief acting collaboration was enjoyable.


    "But..."


    Jo Seohui came to a realization. This was entertainment. If one person shone too brightly, it would surely lead to criticism¡ªtowards Hyper Action Star and, perhaps, even Seoyeon herself.


    If Seoyeon¡¯s dominance continued unchecked, viewership would likely drop since the show would start feeling too predictable. That¡¯s why Jo Seohui decided to introduce a small crack in Seoyeon¡¯s facade¡ªto give her a more human touch.


    Besides, it made the show more entertaining. So, no, Jo Seohui didn¡¯t regret her betrayal.


    Or at least, she didn¡¯t think she did...@@@@


    Jo Seohui: ¡°Hey, Ju Seoyeon. Are you there?¡± Ju Seoyeon: (Read) Jo Seohui: ¡°If you read this, could you reply...?¡± Ju Seoyeon: (Read) Jo Seohui: ¡°Hello?¡± Ju Seoyeon: (Busy emoji)


    Before filming Hyper Action Star, Seoyeon would have responded to Jo Seohui¡¯s messages promptly. But after filming, her replies were sparse, mostly consisting of non-committal emojis.


    That¡¯s when Jo Seohui realized...


    ¡°She¡¯s upset...¡±


    It felt like all the rapport she had painstakingly built with Seoyeon had suddenly crumbled. Was she back to square one? Surely it wasn¡¯t that bad... right?


    Then again, Seohui wasn¡¯t sure. She had never actually seen Seoyeon get angry before.


    ¡°Should I apologize?¡±


    That would probably be the quickest solution. But would Seoyeon even accept her apology? In fact, Seohui worried that apologizing might even make things worse. Seoyeon was the type to understand why Seohui made the decision for the sake of the show, but she probably wouldn¡¯t appreciate a simple ¡°sorry.¡±


    So instead of apologizing, she needed to find another way to make it up to her. But how?


    Jo Seohui racked her brain.


    Meanwhile, Lee Jiyeon, who had been watching the situation from a distance, couldn¡¯t help but comment.


    ¡°Why do you keep waiting around like that?¡±


    A luxurious imported car was parked in front of the school gate, drawing the attention of passing students. And standing in front of it was someone even more eye-catching.


    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±


    The dignified way she spoke was almost laughable. Seohui had slightly shorter black hair than Seoyeon, pale skin, and a sharp beauty marked by a small mole under her eye.


    Where Seoyeon¡¯s striking appearance and impassive gaze made people feel intimidated, Jo Seohui¡¯s sharp features and haughty aura exuded a different kind of dominance. She looked like someone straight out of a famous horror manga.


    It wasn¡¯t just her physical appearance¡ªher whole presence made it hard for people to approach her.


    "Is this about Ju Seoyeon?" "Um, well... kinda! You have good intuition."


    Ji-yeon had watched Hyper Action Star and remembered the dramatic betrayal Seohui pulled on Seoyeon in the final moments. Plus, Seoyeon had vented to Jiyeon afterward, clearly upset about what happened.


    Meanwhile, while Jiyeon and Seohui were having their conversation, Seoyeon was incredibly busy.


    She knew that Jo Seohui was constantly messaging her on KakaoTalk, but she just couldn¡¯t find the time to respond properly. The messages always seemed to come in while she was working.


    ¡°This is Producer Han Pyo-yeol, who will be helping with Seoyeon¡¯s OST project.¡± ¡°Ah, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°The pleasure¡¯s all mine. I¡¯ve been following your work closely, Seoyeon.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded nervously. Acting and music were completely different worlds for her.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be recording two songs for this project.¡±


    Though it was only two songs, the number of people involved in the process was overwhelming. The team had already been handpicked by Producer Han Pyo-yeol, and the tracks were mostly finalized.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already received the guide track, right? What did you think?¡± ¡°Yes, I liked it. It had a... sentimental feel?¡± ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s a soft and emotional song, perfect for your image.¡±


    "..."


    Sentimental? Soft? Seoyeon took great pride in managing her image carefully.


    "Isn¡¯t that... not quite right for me?"


    Seoyeon preferred to project a strong image. Think of characters like Cha Seoa or the powerful persona she had crafted in Hyper Action Star.


    ¡°Why do they keep photoshopping my face onto elephants and gorillas?¡±


    Not that Seoyeon disliked elephants or gorillas¡ªthey were strong, after all. She even liked hippos because of how powerful they seemed. But still, having her face pasted onto an animal was a bit much.


    One meme featured King Kong eating octopus, with Seoyeon¡¯s face added to the body. And of course, Min Doha always appeared in the background, caught by King Kong''s hand.


    "To be fair, Min Doha... kind of deserves it."


    Seoyeon sighed. At least her fans liked her strong, fiery image, even comparing her to iconic figures like Cha Seoa. She even saved some of these fan-made images in a special folder.


    But poor Min Doha... she was stuck with the nickname ¡°human musical instrument,¡± forever immortalized in internet memes.


    At least Seoyeon¡¯s image was more dignified. She nodded to herself, satisfied. Being a "fashionable gorilla" was far better than being a meme in an F1 racing video, with your screams dubbed over an engine roar.


    Just as she was deep in thought, the producer spoke again.


    ¡°Oh, and we¡¯ve got a special guest for this project¡ª''Summer Girl'' will be singing alongside you.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Summer Girl?


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s probably because of Cha Nahyi. She performed a song in Dream Future too.¡± ¡°Is she appearing in Heaven¡¯s Garden too?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you know?¡±


    Cha Nahyi, appearing in Heaven¡¯s Garden?


    "That wasn¡¯t supposed to happen."


    There had been an idol actress in Heaven¡¯s Garden, but she had only sparked controversy due to her poor acting skills. If Cha Nahyi was joining the cast, she was likely taking that spot.


    "I can guess why this happened."


    It was most likely because of Cha Nahyi¡¯s recent performance in Dream Future. In fact, Seoyeon had been cast in Heaven¡¯s Garden because of her success in Dream Future. Since the script for both projects had been written by Min Sehee, it made sense that the director would want actors who had already worked well with the material.


    Especially considering that Cha Nahyi had held her own alongside the likes of Park Jungwoo. It was no surprise that she had been cast in another youth drama like Heaven¡¯s Garden.


    "So Nahyi is working on the OST too."


    Seoyeon felt a bit uneasy. She knew how Summer Girl typically treated Cha Nahyi.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re about to start recording. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m good.¡±


    With a nod to the producer, Seoyeon headed into the recording studio. There was one more thing she had to address in the near future¡ªone last visit to Ho-yeon to set things straight.

 Chapter 126

    The production of the Heaven¡¯s Garden OST was going smoothly. Thanks to the vocal training by the "Magician," Seoyeon had managed to improve her singing skills significantly.


    Of course, if compared to professional singers, she was still lacking in some areas. However, contrary to her own thoughts, producer Han Pyo-yeol had a different opinion.


    "But your emotions run very deep. That¡¯s incredibly important for ballads."


    Hearing this kind of praise made Seoyeon feel strange in a way. Listening to her own voice layered with music, she couldn¡¯t help but think:


    Maybe I¡¯m actually pretty good at this?


    This newfound confidence led to moments at school where, when her classmates said things like:


    "Who wants to go to karaoke today?" "I do, I do!!"


    Seoyeon would quietly sidle up to the group, eavesdropping on the conversation. She really wanted to go to the karaoke room before anyone found out about her work on the OST.


    But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to suggest it. No one would probably eagerly invite her anyway, and it would seem a bit off.


    It¡¯d feel like I was just going to show off my singing skills.


    There was a big difference between offering to go to karaoke and suddenly wowing everyone with a great performance versus being dragged along and impressing people unintentionally.


    Seoyeon imagined what would happen if she naturally tagged along to karaoke:


    Wow, your voice is amazing~. Seoyeon, you can sing too? Not just act?


    As she daydreamed about this scenario, she noticed that the lively chatter among the students gradually faded.


    "Um, I guess we should be studying, right?" "Should we hit the study cafe? today?" "?"@@@@


    Everyone awkwardly dispersed, deciding to study instead. It was understandable, really.


    While Seoyeon¡¯s image as an actress was one thing, as a student, she gave off a very studious vibe. Her neat black hair, slightly intellectual expression, and beautiful appearance all combined to make her seem like the type who excelled at schoolwork.


    So, when Seoyeon gave them a silent look, it felt as if she were scolding them for not focusing on their studies.


    Ugh...


    Left alone, Seoyeon sighed and packed up her bag.


    I really wanted to go to karaoke...


    This wasn¡¯t even something Jiyeon could help with. Sure, it would be fun to go with her, but Jiyeon wasn¡¯t the type to enthusiastically cheer her on. Besides, hanging out with celebrity friends wasn¡¯t ideal¡ªthey¡¯d heard real singers before, so they wouldn¡¯t be impressed.


    Jo Seohui?


    The thought crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it, her lips pouting in mild annoyance.


    Traitor.


    Of course, Seoyeon didn¡¯t actually hold any ill will toward Seohui¡¯s actions. In fact, she thought it was brilliant.


    But she was still a little upset, though. Whatever. She¡¯d see Seohui again next week during the filming of Hyper Action Star, so it wasn¡¯t something she was too worried about. They could talk then.


    Besides, the same issue with Jiyeon applied to Seohui¡ªgoing to karaoke didn¡¯t seem quite right. Plus, there was the matter of uncertainty:


    What if she sings better than me?


    After all, Jo Seohui was good at pretty much everything. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she could sing well too.


    Resigning herself to the fact that she wouldn¡¯t be going to karaoke that day, Seoyeon headed to KMB. There was a meeting regarding Heaven¡¯s Garden, and she had things to discuss.


    At the KMB broadcast station, MDC had been dominating the ratings for the last few years among the top three networks. KMB hadn¡¯t produced a hit in quite some time, leading to a shake-up at the drama division, where a new drama director was appointed.


    The first project under this new leadership, Dream Future, had been a massive hit. In today¡¯s age, a drama achieving over 20% ratings was a remarkable feat.


    Even more impressive was the fact that Dream Future had attracted a remake proposal from a Japanese broadcaster before it had even been officially released overseas. This kind of reception gave rise to high expectations for its international performance, particularly in Japan.


    "Seoyeon¡¯s style is exactly the type they love over there." "Really? I thought Japan favored a more cutesy look rather than model-like girls." "Seoyeon isn¡¯t actually that tall. It¡¯s just her proportions that make her look taller."


    While Seoyeon appeared to be over 170 cm tall, she was actually around 165 cm. She wasn¡¯t short by any means, but she wasn¡¯t exceptionally tall either.


    "And her hairstyle¡ªlong black hair? Japanese fans go crazy for that."


    "...Is that so?"


    As they laughed, Seoyeon felt a bead of sweat roll down her forehead.


    An honor student, huh...


    Well, she was an honor student. But did honor students only have to be good at studying? These days, people focused on more than just academics¡ªarts and sports were important too.


    Wasn¡¯t Seoyeon living proof of that?


    Her mom, Suah, always supported her, and her father, Youngbin, did too, though his way of showing it was a bit different.


    Honor student role...


    It seemed like they wanted her to give off a smart, intellectual vibe. Seoyeon, who typically acted based on empathy with her character, started to feel a little worried.


    An honor student seemed like such a distant, detached concept.


    ...


    Seoyeon was lost in thought. It seemed like she might need some help with this one.


    Meanwhile, at Hoyeon Entertainment¡¯s headquarters in Seoul, the building was far more luxurious than one would expect for a third-tier agency. Rumor had it that the CEO was wealthy, and the building certainly matched that description.


    Their only real success had been the idol group "Summer Girl," and even then, it was Cha Nahyi who carried the group.


    Because of that, Cha Nahyi was incredibly busy, especially with her work on Heaven¡¯s Garden¡¯s OST.


    Out of the several insert songs for the drama, three were being sung by Summer Girl.


    I wonder how the group¡¯s practice is going...


    Nahyi couldn¡¯t help but worry about the rest of the group members. Most of them were lazy and didn¡¯t take practice seriously.


    Even though Nahyi tried to help them, they didn¡¯t listen, so progress on the OST was slow. While she could just sing the songs herself, this time it was a bright, energetic girl-group track, and she couldn¡¯t perform it solo.


    "I heard even the vocal trainers ran away. Is that true?" "...Yeah, it¡¯s true."


    Nahyi sighed as she vented to her friend Yena, a popular idol. She couldn¡¯t focus on the variety show they were filming today.


    "And even if I try to teach them, I doubt they¡¯ll listen..."


    The songs for the OST were difficult, making practice essential. But none of the members seemed willing to put in the work, leaving Nahyi in a tough spot.


    "Seoyeon said she¡¯d help, though."


    Her newly close younger friend, Seoyeon, had unexpectedly offered to help. However, Nahyi doubted that an actress like Seoyeon would be able to teach them how to sing.


    Besides, how could sweet, innocent Seoyeon handle those unruly girls?


    What am I going to do...


    Nahyi sighed again, wishing someone would appear and help whip her group into shape.


    And at that moment...


    What the hell is this?


    Ravin was staring at the large screen, deep in thought. Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the black-haired, red-eyed girl sitting next to him, staring at him like some kind of psychopath, he would have already walked out.


    Everyone sat neatly in their chairs, watching the screen. At that moment, the character on the screen locked eyes with them.


    What the hell is this?


    A strange character appeared on the screen. Seoyeon introduced it as... some kind of magician, or at least that¡¯s what she said.


    It looked like an anime character, but apparently, there was a real person inside.


    ¡°Today, I¡¯ve brought a special vocal trainer,¡± Seoyeon said cheerfully, looking at their somewhat pale faces.


    Of course, no one knew how to respond to her energetic announcement.


    Neither Summer Girl nor the "Magician Elchevette."


    In other words, even Han Dayoung, who was behind this character, had no idea how things had come to this.


    How did it end up like this?

 Chapter 127

    Recently, Seoyeon¡¯s small circle of acquaintances had expanded by one person¡ªCha Nahyi.


    The key member of the girl group Summer Girl, Cha Nahyi had also joined the cast of Heaven¡¯s Garden after Dream Future. When Seoyeon realized this, she took the opportunity to reach out to her.


    "Won¡¯t it be too exhausting to appear in back-to-back shows?"


    Seoyeon asked out of genuine concern. Going straight from Dream Future to filming Heaven¡¯s Garden would require an immense amount of stamina.


    On top of that, Cha Nahyi was practically the "breadwinner" of Summer Girl. The group¡¯s entire reputation rested on her shoulders.


    It wasn¡¯t just dramas¡ªNahyi was also actively appearing in variety shows and commercials.


    "...Actually, Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "I¡¯m more worried about you."


    This was something Cha Nahyi said with absolute sincerity. Lately, Seoyeon¡¯s schedule had been nothing short of brutal.


    Even though Dream Future had ended, Seoyeon was still being dragged around for follow-up events. On top of that, she was now a regular on the variety show-slash-audition program Hyper Action Star, and simultaneously shooting for Heaven¡¯s Garden.


    While Nahyi was only taking on one project at a time, Seoyeon was juggling two at once.


    How on earth does she have so much stamina?


    Nahyi had always considered herself physically fit, able to handle a busy schedule without much trouble. But watching Seoyeon made her realize Seoyeon¡¯s endurance was on an entirely different level.


    She¡¯s always so full of energy...


    Cha Nahyi genuinely wanted to get closer to Seoyeon. She had received a lot of help from her during Dream Future, and Seoyeon was undeniably kind and beautiful. Though Nahyi prided herself on being hardworking, she couldn¡¯t boast in front of Seoyeon.


    If only my groupmates had even half of her work ethic.


    No, even just a tenth of it would make a huge difference.


    "Unnie, is something wrong?"


    Seoyeon, noticing the sudden change in Nahyi¡¯s mood, asked softly. Having lived most of her life mirroring others'' emotions, Seoyeon was extremely sensitive to the feelings of those around her.


    The fact that Nahyi had called her today hinted that she needed someone to talk to.


    "Ah, well..."


    The truth was, Nahyi did want to consult Seoyeon about something today.


    "Your vocal trainer?"


    "Yes."


    Summer Girl had been tasked with performing the OST for Heaven¡¯s Garden, specifically a bright and lively insert song.


    The song had been selected, and the guide track had been delivered. All they needed to do was practice. But, to everyone¡¯s shock, their vocal trainer at Hoyeon Entertainment had up and disappeared.


    What¡¯s worse, trying to hire a new vocal trainer was proving difficult¡ªSummer Girl¡¯s bad reputation had spread, making it hard to find anyone willing to work with them.


    "...I see."


    "Huh? You¡¯re not surprised?"


    "It just seems... like something that could happen."


    Seoyeon recalled her previous encounter with Summer Girl. The impression she had of the group back then was that of a "beastly" team.


    And not in the sense of a wild, charismatic idol group. No, they acted like literal animals, following some strange hierarchical order.


    Seoyeon had managed to restore order with a simple magic trick, but it was clear that for Nahyi, maintaining control over them was a constant challenge.


    Like a Shih Tzu stuck between Beagles and Chihuahuas.


    That¡¯s exactly what it felt like. Nahyi worked the hardest, but her status within the group was the lowest.


    It didn¡¯t make sense, but somehow, in Summer Girl, this absurd hierarchy was possible. Part of it was because Nahyi was too kind for her own good, and part of it was the result of continuous gaslighting from her groupmates.


    "Unnie."


    "Y-Yes?"


    Nahyi flinched at the low tone of Seoyeon¡¯s voice. When Seoyeon spoke like that, it was always intimidating¡ªnot just because of her looks, but because of the sheer presence she commanded.


    She really is something special.


    Even though Nahyi had met plenty of actors, there was something about Seoyeon that stood out. Sure, the members of Summer Girl were beautiful enough to turn heads on the street, but when they stood next to Seoyeon, they all looked plain in comparison.


    It wasn¡¯t just her appearance¡ªit was her aura. There was a sense of power that made her difficult to approach.


    "Have you ever thought about switching agencies?"


    "Well, I have..."


    She had, but she wasn¡¯t confident. If she couldn¡¯t even fully adapt to Hoyeon, would she really be able to fit in at another agency?


    She always remembered what her manager at Hoyeon used to say.


    "Our agency is like a family, but other places are jungles¡ªjungles! You¡¯re the best here, but in other agencies, there are tons of idols like you. The best agency is the one that treats you well. It¡¯s not about being first or second tier!"


    She¡¯d heard that kind of talk so often, it was hard to ignore. Even though her contract was ending soon, and she was thinking about it...


    Who would win?If the bear has a gun, it wins.Seoyeon deflects bullets. The bear would die.She¡¯s only deflected paintballs so far, don¡¯t exaggerate.So far????Are you guys talking about a celebrity?


    "..."


    Dayoung was left speechless by Seoyeon¡¯s suggestion.


    Did she forget I used to be an idol trainee?


    Part of her doubted Seoyeon could have forgotten something like that, but at the same time, it seemed possible. Seoyeon didn¡¯t seem like the type to forget important details.


    "There are plenty of other vocal trainers. And besides, it¡¯s Summer Girl we¡¯re talking about..."


    Not to mention, Dayoung had some unpleasant history with the group. She had crossed paths with several of them during their trainee days.


    Dayoung and the members of Summer Girl had trained around the same time.


    "Oh, it won¡¯t be in person."


    "Huh?"


    "You could meet them in a different form."


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t directly mention Magician Elchevette, but she didn¡¯t have to. The implication was clear.


    Red pill!


    She couldn¡¯t outright say it, because if she did, Dayoung would start asking more questions about Ramiel!


    This is what it means to be a true fan.


    Seoyeon had drawn a strict line between Jiyeon and Ramiel, and the same went for Magician Elchevette.


    "If we connect through a headcam..."


    By this point, Dayoung was starting to find the idea intriguing.


    How would idols feel about being taught by a VTuber?


    Especially since there was someone in that group she wasn¡¯t particularly fond of.


    This will make for a great story later on.


    It was so absurd that no one would believe it anyway. And since she couldn¡¯t say the group¡¯s name, it would remain a funny, private anecdote.


    I kind of wish I could stream this.


    But that would be impossible. If she could, she could boost her VTuber¡¯s channel in the process.


    Which would also help Ramiel¡¯s channel grow...


    Right now, Ramiel had a decent following for an independent VTuber. But compared to her previous life as a corporate VTuber, she was still far behind.


    Back then, she¡¯d been part of a company, but now she was on her own. Still, her current skills were superior to her past self, so she had a loyal fanbase.


    Hmm... or maybe...


    Seoyeon crossed her arms, lost in thought. Watching her, Dayoung raised an eyebrow but nodded.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll do it."


    Dayoung gave her the go-ahead. After all, it seemed like it would be fun to train a popular girl group.


    Of course...


    "What is this...?"


    Summer Girl didn¡¯t find it fun at all.


    "What is this situation?"


    ¡¸I am Magician Elchevette.¡¹


    As they watched the character on the screen introduce herself, Ravin was at a loss for words.


    Who the hell is this?


    Magician Elchevette? What a joke. He wanted to tell her to get lost immediately.


    But before he could get the words out, he saw Seoyeon twirling a 500-won coin between her fingers.


    She was clearly reminding him of the coin magic trick she¡¯d shown before.


    And who could forget that?


    Not to mention, Seoyeon¡¯s red eyes were practically glowing as she stared at them.


    The message was clear¡ªSeoyeon didn¡¯t like them. If the coin in her hand had been a knife, Ravin was sure he would¡¯ve wet himself right then and there.


    Where is the manager when we need him?!


    Their company was letting another agency¡¯s actress cause this much trouble, and no one was doing anything to stop it? He swore he¡¯d report this to the CEO later.


    But at that moment, Seoyeon calmly spoke.


    "Introduce yourselves."


    "Hello, teacher!!"


    All of them greeted Magician Elchevette in unison.


    They were on the verge of tears.

 Chapter 128

    Virtual YouTuber.


    Rabin from Summer Girl had never heard of such a term before.


    How could anyone host a broadcast using a 3D avatar?


    At first, she thought it was some kind of joke, but was this really a thing?


    ¡°I actually knew about it,¡± said Soeun, another member of Summer Girl.


    ¡°Really??¡±


    Rabin was taken aback by Soeun¡¯s words. Am I falling behind the times?


    Still, she couldn¡¯t voice her complaints because the person quietly watching from beside them was just too intimidating. Wasn''t this my own agency? Where were the bodyguards, or the security? Were they slacking off?


    ¡°Unni.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Do you think the security guard could fold a 500-won coin in half?¡±


    ¡°...No, probably not.¡±


    ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t they have let us know?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a lawful country?¡±


    Despite all these frustrations, there was nothing Rabin could do but sit quietly and listen to the session. If I¡¯d known this would happen, I would¡¯ve just gone to vocal training.


    This is all Cha Nahyi¡¯s fault.


    Just because she¡¯s got a pretty face, sings well, and dances perfectly, does she have to be good at acting too? She really has everything. Rabin ground her teeth in frustration.


    The reason Summer Girl had half-assed their OST work was also largely because of Rabin. She didn''t want the group to become even more reliant on Cha Nahyi, further cementing the image that Summer Girl was piggybacking off her fame.


    To others, it might sound like a case of sour grapes, but Rabin¡¯s pride mattered more. I am Summer Girl! Without me, there is no Summer Girl!


    She didn¡¯t want to add another achievement to Cha Nahyi¡¯s already impressive career with this OST, so she resisted as much as possible, but now, she was at her limit.


    ¡°We¡¯ve checked the song, and the difficulty level isn¡¯t too high.¡±


    While Rabin was lost in her thoughts, the teacher, Elchevette, continued speaking. Rabin wanted to look away or block her ears, but if she did, Seoyeon might flick that 500-won coin in her hand at her.


    But wait a second.


    She¡¯s actually teaching really well.@@@@


    Unlike Rabin, the other members of Summer Girl were quietly impressed. The way Elchevette explained the emotions behind the song, the vocal techniques¡ªshe was providing incredibly detailed guidance.


    Of course, they were singers, so they could sing well if they needed to. But when it came to singing new songs, practice was always necessary.


    That¡¯s what a vocal trainer was for, and teacher Elchevette was doing an excellent job. In fact...


    ¡°You heard that, right? This is the kind of feel we¡¯re going for. Soeun, your part needs to be a bit more playful.¡±


    She even sang well. No, she sang really well.


    Rabin started feeling confused.


    How is she this good at singing?


    Wasn¡¯t she just someone who messes around with an avatar for fun? Really, Rabin didn¡¯t want to admit this, but¡ª


    ¡°She sings better than you, unni.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you...!¡±


    Rabin glared at Soeun, who had clearly been waiting for the perfect moment to stir the pot. She nearly cursed but managed to hold it back.


    No way was she going to let herself be told she was worse than this. Now she had to deal with hearing that not only Cha Nahyi but this...thing was better than her too.


    ¡°Rabin.¡±


    Of course, the flicker of anger inside Rabin was immediately extinguished by Seoyeon¡¯s quiet voice.


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s...not?¡±


    Seoyeon looked at the startled Rabin seriously.


    ¡°There¡¯s a person inside that monitor.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°Of course there is, yes.¡±


    Rabin glanced at Elchevette, who was staring blankly back at her from the screen.


    ...If only.


    I¡¯d like to smash that monitor and put an end to all of this, but Seoyeon was right next to her, and that scared her more.


    Why is she being so nice today? It¡¯s scarier this way.


    As Rabin grumbled to herself, she could feel Seoyeon¡¯s gaze on her. Those slightly glowing red eyes. Rabin¡¯s attention shifted to the 500-won coin in Seoyeon¡¯s hand. It was still intact, but the thought that if that coin folded, she¡¯d be folded along with it crossed her mind.


    At this point, there was no denying it. Rabin couldn''t say "She only came because she¡¯s friends with Cha Nahyi." That would be too humiliating.


    Now, she understood why Manager Lim hadn¡¯t stopped Seoyeon earlier.


    ¡°The company¡¯s in a bit of a pinch lately, you know? We need to keep her close.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±


    In fact, Hoyon Entertainment was doing quite well financially. Their sister group, Winteress, had been a massive hit back in the day.


    But then half of the members, who were Chinese, left for China, and the remaining Korean members slacked off.


    So Hoyon tried to recreate Winteress¡¯s success by pumping out girl groups like a factory, and the result was Summer Girl. Well, they still had plenty of money left.


    The problem was, the opportunities to bring in more money were drying up.


    But now...


    I can¡¯t ask for a new vocal trainer. If they hired one, Seoyeon would stop coming.


    Why is this happening to me?


    It was all Cha Nahyi¡¯s fault. Not that Rabin could do anything to her now.


    After all, she didn¡¯t want to be beaten to death with a 500-won coin. And so, Summer Girl¡ª


    ¡°...We¡¯ll do our best.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s work hard today!¡±


    ¡ªended up being trained by someone in a monitor. Seoyeon watched them with a satisfied smile.


    ¡°?¡±


    Meanwhile, Cha Nahyi, who had just returned, stared at the scene in confusion. She had no idea what had happened.


    _______________


    Thanks to the magician¡¯s help, it seemed like Summer Girl¡¯s OST preparation was going smoothly. Especially with Rabin unexpectedly taking an active role, Seoyeon was in a very good mood.


    Nahyi unni even thanked me.


    Rabin had been so eager to ask when the magician would be coming again, she almost asked every time they met. Shouldn''t the magician be grateful to me for this?


    After all, idols had become her fans.


    Maybe I can arrange a collaboration later?


    Seoyeon had never heard of idols appearing on a VTuber stream before, but it wasn¡¯t impossible, was it?


    Or maybe Summer Girl could become VTubers themselves.


    There had been individual cases of idols becoming VTubers, but never an entire group. A group of ultra-skilled VTubers debuting!


    That way, the magician would grow in popularity, and Ramiel would benefit too, growing into a large corporation in no time...


    ...


    No, that might be too much.


    Seoyeon smiled slightly as she daydreamed. It would be nice if they just grew as big as they were in their previous life.


    Too big and they might not even notice my Super Chats anymore...


    At that point, Seoyeon calmed herself down. Surely, it won¡¯t get that far.


    Thanks to this, I feel much more relaxed now.


    Seoyeon was on her way to meet the cast of Sky Garden for the first time. Until now, she had only met the director and the producers, but now she would meet the entire main cast.


    Why is everything moving so fast?


    This meant they were fully prepared. As long as the actors were ready, they could start filming immediately.


    Come to think of it, who are the cast members of Sky Garden?


    If none of the actors had been changed, except for Cha Nahyi, she didn¡¯t know anyone else. There were more actors of her age in this production compared to Dream Future.


    ¡°Seoyeon, over here.¡±


    As Seoyeon entered, she saw Cha Nahyi waving her over. Thankfully, there¡¯s someone I know.


    She was walking over when suddenly¡ª


    ?


    Seoyeon felt something strange. She sensed an intense gaze.


    It came from the young actors who had already arrived.


    Hmm.


    Narrowing her eyes slightly, Seoyeon scanned the room. The young actors¡¯ stares only seemed to intensify.


    Most of them were hostile.


    Now that I think about it, didn¡¯t Jo Seohui mention something like this?


    The younger the actors, the more intense the competition. That¡¯s why Jo Seohui always acted confidently and flamboyantly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re too modest, they¡¯ll look down on you. Remember that.¡±


    Being young meant emotions could run high. Now, Seoyeon understood what Jo Seohui had meant.

 Chapter 129

    Sky Garden was a drama that Seoyeon couldn''t quite relate to in her past life. It was about the fierce competition among parents who sought private education for their children to get into prestigious universities.


    The children, too, would go to extreme lengths to gain admission, resorting to unethical and malicious behaviors without hesitation. For Seoyeon, who had never been able to attend school properly, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder, Why go that far?


    Seoyeon had barely managed to attend a regular school, let alone a prestigious one, and that hadn¡¯t changed now.


    Neither Seoyeon¡¯s father nor her mother had cared much about her academics. They used to say, "The best thing for a student is to live like one."


    But that might be because I was working as an actress...


    Either way, the protagonist of Sky Garden was a very difficult character for Seoyeon to portray. Naturally, she had a lot of concerns about how she would perform in this role.


    But...


    Seoyeon glanced around the room. They were all young.


    There were some middle-aged actors as well, but Seoyeon was seated in an area with the younger actors¡ªthe ones playing her schoolmates who would be targeting her character.


    "It¡¯s probably more comfortable for actors of the same age to sit together, right?" said the PD of Sky Garden, Lee Minhwa, with a smile. It was a kind smile, but Seoyeon knew there was more to it.


    The production team clearly understood that conflicts among the younger actors were inevitable.


    They want us to sort this out ourselves.


    The seating arrangement was designed to prevent any issues from arising once filming began, giving them a chance to resolve tensions early.


    "They¡¯re all watching you, Seoyeon," someone whispered.


    "...Looks like it," Seoyeon replied. The tense atmosphere was strange for her, used as she was to lively and energetic sets. Cha Nahyi, sitting nearby, probably felt the same way.


    But honestly, the bigger problem was with Nahyi.


    She¡¯s an idol.


    Not just any idol, but an active one. And while Summer Girl was a fairly well-known group, it wasn¡¯t exactly top-tier.


    Actors tend to look down on idols.


    They were often dismissively referred to as entertainers. Many seasoned actors, and even those who followed their example, wouldn¡¯t so much as applaud idols or singers performing at movie or drama award shows. If that¡¯s how they treated them on stage, how would they feel about working with them on set?


    That¡¯s why the other young actors were only focused on Seoyeon, ignoring Nahyi entirely.


    Nahyi was essentially treated as invisible. They probably didn¡¯t expect much from her.


    Even though she proved herself in Dream Future...*


    Seoyeon smirked slightly. It was amusing how they could disregard someone¡¯s achievements just like that.


    I guess Jungwoo sunbae really was special.


    Seoyeon¡¯s respect for Park Jungwoo increased. He hadn¡¯t discriminated against idols at all. It helped that Dream Future had a balanced mix of idols and actors, but it was mainly because Park Jungwoo, the biggest name in the cast, had set the tone for how everyone should behave.


    But here, Nahyi¡¯s the only idol.


    And today, the other actors gathered here were all renowned or up-and-coming talents.


    The cast is even stronger than in my previous life.


    Many of the older actors were the same ones Seoyeon remembered from her past life. It was likely that writer Min Saehee had always intended for them to be cast. However, the younger actors were different this time. Instead of mostly rookies, they were all rising stars.


    These were actors who would gain prominence with time¡ªtalented, with strong, unique personalities. They were the kind of actors who would soon be walking the red carpet.


    Sky Garden was clearly a project that KMB had invested heavily in, sharpening their knives for this drama, leveraging the success of Dream Future.


    And just as Seoyeon had been observing them, the other actors were watching her too.


    Ju Seoyeon...


    The lead role, huh?


    She didn¡¯t even have to audition.


    "She¡¯s the younger sister of a genius who aced the college entrance exam and is now the top student at Baekyeon University¡¯s medical school."


    Just like her brother, Yoo-joo was admitted to the elite Taeyang High School through a special admissions process. Her brother, Lee Seokchan, had developed a unique curriculum that allowed him to succeed, and now her family was determined to pass it on to her.


    "And all of you play the parents who are desperate to get their hands on this curriculum," the director explained. "Some will try to befriend her, some will resort to threats, and others will use their influence."


    The parents¡¯ sole goal was to ensure their children¡¯s success and to maintain their prestigious family reputations as doctors, lawyers, or judges.


    "The drama is a satire of private education and the obsession with academic prestige."


    After delving into more of the plot details, the director finally paused to take a breath.


    "That¡¯s it for the overall story. Today is just about getting to know each other before the formal script reading begins," he said, smiling warmly.


    The atmosphere was different from earlier with the PD. This time, the tension was thicker, with the director now observing everything.


    "I¡¯m already dealing with enough stress because of my son, and now I have to act that out here too."


    "I¡¯ve never had any connection with such prestigious schools myself."


    "This is going to be a headache..."


    The first to break the silence were the middle-aged actors. Once the conversation started, it naturally spread to the younger actors as well.


    "Seoyeon, can I ask you something?"


    It was Han Sungjin, smiling as he initiated the conversation.


    "I¡¯ve been watching Hyper Action Star recently. Is all of that real?"


    Sungjin was genuinely curious. After all, the stunts she pulled off¡ªdeflecting paintball shots, running at superhuman speeds¡ªwere not things you could do without meticulous rehearsal and script coordination.


    "Well..."


    Seoyeon was caught off guard by the question. She had been preparing to answer when¡ª


    "That¡¯s all trickery, isn¡¯t it?"


    Kim Hyunseok smirked as he chimed in.


    Is he really pulling a Mister Satan act right now?


    "Come on, you¡¯re too naive. Do you really believe she could pierce a coconut with her finger? Or crush wood while making a fire? Or throw a 200kg sailfish into the air by herself? Paintballs? They travel at 90 meters per second. How could anyone deflect them? And dodging multiple shots? That¡¯s impossible without pre-arranged choreography."


    "....."


    The truth was, Hyunseok had watched every single variety show Seoyeon had appeared in. His impression? The shows were heavily exaggerated. They made it all look so real that people would believe it was true.


    "Right?"


    What made it funnier was that Cha Nahyi agreed with him.


    "They¡¯re trying too hard to force that kind of image on a female actress."


    Nahyi felt frustrated. It was like the internet had turned Seoyeon into a meme, forcing an exaggerated persona onto her.


    Seoyeon isn¡¯t violent at all!


    Though they had different reasons, both Hyunseok and Nahyi were in agreement on this.


    Hmm.


    Listening to their conversation, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but think of her fan community, where countless memes and edits circulated. She actually found it amusing and even liked the idea of looking strong, but...


    As an actress...


    ...Maybe I should tone it down a bit.


    Seoyeon had a tendency to get carried away during variety shows. But hearing Hyunseok¡¯s remarks made her realize that maybe it had gone too far.


    For now, she decided to focus on managing her image more carefully, letting out a quiet sigh.

 Chapter 130

    Hyunseok Kim''s words were, in fact, half a provocation.


    After all, it was like saying that everything Seoyeon had done so far was thanks to the broadcasting company.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t show much of a reaction.


    In truth, it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t react, but rather, she was thinking about how to revert to being the "cute Ju Seoyeon" in her mind.


    Sometimes people forgot, but Seoyeon was, after all, the advertising model for E?clat E?toile.


    No advertiser liked their actress to be associated with such an image. However, this was irrelevant to Seoyeon.


    ¡°Hmmm~.¡±


    Sungjin Han looked at Hyunseok Kim with a slightly perplexed expression.


    After all, it was his question that prompted the recent comment.


    ¡°Was there really a need to say that?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What you just said was quite a dangerous statement.¡±


    Sungjin knew that Hyunseok harbored animosity toward Seoyeon. There were several reasons, but the fundamental one was:


    ¡®He¡¯s immature.¡¯


    When that immaturity was driven by passion, it could be seen as a strength, but harboring baseless hostility like this was a problem.


    No matter how you look at it, claiming that everything filmed live was staged was absurd.


    Well, sure. Let¡¯s say that Hyper Action Star was pre-recorded.


    But deflecting paintball shots with her bare hands was real, wasn¡¯t it? Even the whole fish-catching stunt was shown live on the broadcast.


    If that was faked, it would¡¯ve caused an uproar long ago.


    ¡®It¡¯s clear that what really bothers him is how Seoyeon got cast without an audition.¡¯@@@@


    At the same time, Sungjin suspected Hyunseok was also afraid.


    He had watched The Chaser with Hyunseok.


    The overwhelming impression they had was, ¡®So, this is what she¡¯s capable of.¡¯


    An actress of the same age.


    To be honest, Sungjin couldn¡¯t even fathom attempting such a level of acting.


    Even the two detective actors she had worked with were known for their incredible acting skills.


    Yet, she shared the screen with them without feeling out of place, and her sheer presence drew praise from both audiences and critics.


    That¡¯s something not just anyone could pull off.


    ¡°Hah.¡±


    But Hyunseok merely scowled.


    Of course, even he must have felt it.


    He just didn¡¯t want to admit it.


    It might be competitiveness, or it could just be immature hostility.


    But still, they were actors and professionals.


    Unlike Hyunseok, Sungjin had no intention of making an enemy of Seoyeon.


    She was the lead actress, after all.


    On top of that, being cast as the lead in a drama without an audition clearly meant she had some connections at the top.


    There was no point in antagonizing an actress favored by KMB.


    ¡®Seems like there are a few more actors like Hyunseok, though.¡¯


    People weren¡¯t always rational.


    Sometimes, Sungjin felt that way.


    Some people let their emotions guide them rather than common sense.


    But what puzzled him was¡ª


    ¡®Wasn¡¯t this guy supposed to be on Ju Seoyeon¡¯s side?¡¯


    Looking at Nahyi¡¯s puzzled expression, he sensed her confusion.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    It was then that Cha Nahyi realized how bad Hyunseok¡¯s comment had been.


    In fact, Nahyi hadn¡¯t interpreted it as manipulation, but as a criticism of the excessive staging in Seoyeon¡¯s broadcasts.


    Nahyi had a hobby of looking up information about her friends and herself.


    Recently, Seoyeon, who had become quite the hot star, was a frequent topic of conversation in various online communities.


    They often compared her to an elephant or a gorilla.


    Every time Nahyi saw Seoyeon associated with such images, it upset her greatly.


    Why do you attach such negative images to this delicate actress? Are you anti-fans?


    Delicate? Really?


    Delicate? Are we talking about the same Seoyeon?


    What connection does Ju Seoyeon have with elephants or gorillas?


    Are you seriously asking? You must be clueless about her.


    Of course, Nahyi genuinely didn¡¯t know.


    She had asked out of ignorance, and even now, she didn¡¯t understand why Seoyeon was associated with those images.


    To Nahyi, Seoyeon was simply a sweet and kind girl.


    ¡°Se, Seoyeon, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I just thought that image was a bit harsh for an actress...¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    Seoyeon was taken aback by Nahyi¡¯s sudden apology.


    What had happened while she was busy thinking about ways to improve her image?


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s nonchalant attitude made Sungjin chuckle in disbelief, while Hyunseok¡¯s expression twisted further in frustration.


    ¡°Oh, I see. It seems I don¡¯t matter at all to you, huh? Because you¡¯re the lead?¡±


    Seoyeon blinked at him for a moment.


    ¡®Did I punch this guy in the face or something?¡¯


    It was a serious thought.


    She had never experienced such one-sided hostility before.


    Of course, if she had punched him, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d still be working as an actor.


    So clearly, she hadn¡¯t.


    ¡®The guy next to him seems to be watching my every move.¡¯


    Though Sungjin was smiling, Seoyeon could tell he was being careful around her.


    ¡°Just show it on set.¡±


    ¡°Are you confident you can do better?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He didn¡¯t know.


    Seoyeon¡¯s presence had been overwhelming.


    It felt as if she had swallowed up all the space around her.


    ¡®If that had been on set...¡¯


    As Seoyeon had said, he would have looked utterly ridiculous.


    The realization made his blood boil.


    He had, after all, been called ridiculous.


    At the same time, Seoyeon¡¯s expression had relaxed, as if all her previous lines had been nothing more than an act.


    A thinly veiled pretense, but no one had called her out on it.


    No, they couldn¡¯t.


    ¡®Hah.¡¯


    Sungjin¡¯s friendly words irritated him.


    He wanted to say something snarky like, ¡°Trying to suck up to the lead actress?¡± or ¡°Don¡¯t you have any pride?¡± but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it.


    ¡°Forget it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom.¡±


    Thinking he should splash some cold water on his face, he trudged away.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    His feelings toward her weren¡¯t just hostile.


    There was definitely a competitive spirit as well.


    But above all, there was jealousy.


    Because he believed he could do better.


    The fact that he had been completely overpowered by her acting left him feeling utterly pathetic.


    At least it hadn¡¯t happened on set.


    That thought offered a small sense of relief.


    But the realization that he was relieved only made him angrier.


    What was there to be relieved about?


    ¡°...Next time.¡±


    It would be different on set.


    He clenched his teeth as he headed down the hall.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    That¡¯s when Hyunseok noticed something shiny on the floor.


    Walking closer, he picked it up.


    ¡°A coin?¡±


    It was a 500 won coin.


    But oddly enough, it was bent in half.


    ¡°What the...¡±


    Looking ahead, he saw more bent 500 won coins scattered along the floor, almost like a trail.


    It reminded him of Hansel and Gretel.


    A bizarre sight¡ªbent 500 won coins lying in a row.


    Without thinking, he began picking them up.


    It felt strange.


    What was the deal with these coins?


    Why were they all bent in half?


    Those questions lingered in his mind as he gathered about a dozen of them.


    ¡°Aha.¡±


    That¡¯s when he ran into Seoyeon, who was doing the same thing.


    For a moment, the two of them silently exchanged glances, each holding a handful of bent coins.


    ¡°...?¡±


    Hyunseok¡¯s attention shifted to Seoyeon¡¯s bag.


    A small nylon handbag, it appeared to have been torn at one side, as if it had snagged on something.


    ¡®No way.¡¯


    It seemed unlikely, but...


    Could it be that the coins had fallen out of that tear?


    And was Seoyeon now collecting them?


    Why did she have bent 500 won coins in her bag?


    As these thoughts raced through his mind, Hyunseok couldn¡¯t shake the odd feeling that he was witnessing something surreal.


    ¡°That...¡±


    Seoyeon spoke calmly, her voice controlled, much like it had been in the meeting room earlier.


    ¡°You know that feeling you get when you pop bubble wrap? I just couldn¡¯t resist.¡±


    ¡°......??¡±


    What did that have to do with the 500 won coins?


    Was she saying that she bent the coins out of some compulsive habit, like popping bubble wrap?


    As Hyunseok stared at her, dumbfounded, Seoyeon smoothly took the remaining coins from his right hand.


    He didn¡¯t even have a chance to resist.


    ¡°...See you on set.¡±


    With that parting remark, Seoyeon quickly turned and disappeared.


    Hyunseok glanced down at his left hand.


    One coin remained.


    A coin Seoyeon hadn¡¯t managed to retrieve.


    ¡°......¡±


    That coin served as a reminder that what had just happened was real.


    Hyunseok never did figure out what the bent coins meant.


    All he knew was that, in that moment, he had felt an inexplicable sense of fear toward Seoyeon.

 Chapter 131

    Recently, Seoyeon had been drawing a lot of attention for various reasons. While her casting as the lead in the drama Sky Garden was one of them, the main cause was her sudden rise in public interest due to Hyper Action Star.


    When is Ju Seoyeon coming on? The second episode is so boring.There are other teams too, and to get through all of them, it¡¯ll take at least three episodes.Yeah, but don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll rush through the other teams to finish faster?If they know Team A is the most fun, they¡¯ll think differently.


    The first episode of Hyper Action Star had an astonishing 5% viewership rating, an exceptionally high number for a cable variety show.


    Considering this was just the first episode, there was a chance the ratings could climb even higher, potentially making it the most-watched variety show of the year!


    There was even a possibility of surpassing the elusive 8% rating mark.


    ¡°Episode 2¡¯s rating is 4%.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    PD Lee Gi-tae sighed in response to the staff member¡¯s report from HK Channel. It wasn¡¯t a surprising result.


    ¡°The ratings seem to have dropped a bit since the other teams don¡¯t have the same appeal as Team A.¡±


    Everyone spoke in calm, measured tones. They had expected this outcome since filming.


    ¡°The initial viewership at the start of episode 2 was double that of episode 1.¡±


    Episode 2¡¯s Team B had been assigned the same gunfight mission as Team A from episode 1. While the actors showed a fierce firefight, it just didn¡¯t have the same intensity.


    For one thing¡ª


    ¡°None of the actors are using their powers effectively.¡±


    ¡°That part was inevitable. It¡¯s not easy to coordinate those abilities during live filming.¡±


    ¡°But wasn¡¯t the purpose of the auditions to select actors who could handle that?¡±


    Acting out a gunfight while incorporating superpowers wasn¡¯t an easy task. As a result, no one in Team B had really been able to pull it off.


    ¡°We should have separated Ju Seoyeon and Jo Seohui into different teams.¡±


    ¡°Or at least Han Soyu.¡±


    It felt like all the capable actors had been bunched together in Team A. But the team assignment had been random, so there was nothing they could do about it.


    ¡°I¡¯m already scared to see what the ratings will be for episodes 3 and 4.¡±


    There was no real standout character.


    When you think about it, it was obvious. This wasn¡¯t regular acting; it was action acting. Moreover, most of the cast members excelled in action scenes but lacked the ability to deliver strong, regular performances.


    ¡°To create memorable characters, regular acting skills are essential.¡±


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that expected of a lead actor?¡±


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t realize there would be so few actors who could handle both...¡±


    It suddenly dawned on them how much of a monster Ju Seoyeon was.


    It wasn¡¯t just her physical feats that seemed almost superhuman during filming, but the fact that she could act.


    Her presence as a protagonist with a villainous aura had shone through, and Jo Seohui¡¯s twist at the end had made the first episode a huge success.


    ¡°So, here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do.¡±


    After thinking it over, PD Lee Gi-tae spoke up. Since Team A had already advanced, they had no choice but to proceed with the same format for teams B through D. The only option left was to bend the rules a little.


    ¡°An interview?¡±@@@@


    ¡°Yes. After evaluating all the teams from A to D, we plan to add CGI to certain scenes.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the scenes from episode 1?¡±


    Seoyeon briefly recalled the first episode¡¯s shoot. Now that she thought about it, there had been green elements in the props and floor. Perhaps they had been intended for CGI in post-production.


    ¡°Will all teams do this?¡±


    It seemed like it would take too long if all teams were involved. With that thought in mind, she asked.


    ¡°No, only the team with the highest evaluation among the four will get this treatment.¡±


    But Team A had already started?


    ¡°Of course, this process will take place after all teams have completed their first missions.¡±


    There was still the chance that a better performance than Team A¡¯s could emerge.


    But¡ª


    ¡®That¡¯s unlikely.¡¯


    PD Lee Gi-tae watched Seoyeon, who was staring at him blankly. Her physical abilities alone were so incredible they seemed surreal.


    ¡®But beyond that, her acting.¡¯


    Ultimately, what mattered in a broadcast wasn¡¯t just physical prowess but acting ability. This wasn¡¯t just a variety show; it was an audition.


    Seoyeon had fully utilized her physical skills while also delivering a strong performance. She had even ended on a high note with a perfect smile.


    ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask Jo Seohui for help too.¡¯


    And Han Soyu as well. Acting wasn¡¯t something one could do alone. Chemistry with the other actors was what made a scene truly shine.


    ¡®Team A had the right dynamic.¡¯


    While other staff members and PDs had said they should have split the three actors across different teams, PD Lee Gi-tae thought differently.


    It was because these three had been together in Team A that episode 1 had been such a success.


    Actors who could play off each other, actors who could deliver surprises.


    If Seoyeon had been alone, the result would have been completely different. She would have won the gunfight without breaking a sweat.


    ¡®Though Min Doha also played his part well.¡¯


    Honestly, it was hard to say if his acting was intentional or not. It had been so convincing that it felt like it might have been real...


    ¡°Oh, and we plan to include brief interviews in episodes 3 and 4.¡±


    This was becoming a legitimate concern.


    He was proud of their product, which certainly had UV protection and could help protect rough skin.


    But there had to be a limit.


    How could it prevent injuries from running around a deserted island all day or from being hit by paintballs during survival training?


    If their product could do all that, no one would bother with protective gear anymore.


    He imagined E?clat E?toile evolving into a military supply company as his thoughts spiraled.


    ¡°Director.¡±


    It was Jeong Tae-su, the head of business strategy, who had earned a hefty bonus for his recent achievements.


    ¡°You know we¡¯re expanding our clothing line under our brand, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m aware.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re thinking of having Ju Seoyeon model for that too. What do you think?¡±


    It seemed the other directors were already on board with the idea. From the look in Jeong Tae-su¡¯s eyes, it was clear he had immense faith in Ju Seoyeon.


    Of course, Baek Min-chan also trusted her completely.


    But if she was going to wear their clothes on variety shows¡ª


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m all for it.¡±


    ¡°Right? Then we¡¯ll move forward with that.¡±


    ¡°But if Ju Seoyeon agrees, make sure the clothes you send her are durable.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I should probably schedule a meeting with her team.¡±


    E?clat E?toile was currently putting a lot of effort into launching their luxury clothing line. They had brought in top international designers and were preparing everything with care.


    ¡®The clothes need to be sturdy.¡¯


    This wasn¡¯t something he usually worried about.


    Who would concern themselves with durability when it came to high-end clothing?


    But if Seoyeon was going to wear them while doing her usual activities, it could become an issue.


    With the way she moved around, the clothes could very well end up in tatters.


    ¡°No way, Director. She¡¯s still an actress...¡±


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon is pretty energetic, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Was she...?¡±


    If you just looked at her appearance and vibe, she didn¡¯t seem like someone with a lot of energy.


    But watching her on variety shows, she did seem that way.


    ¡°She¡¯s always wearing her school uniform because it¡¯s sturdy.¡±


    Since it was designed for students, the material was naturally more durable. And even Seoyeon¡¯s high school uniform was made from notably high-quality fabric.


    As a result, several high schools had recently been reaching out to that manufacturer.


    ¡°Anyway, durability is key, and make sure to get Ju Seoyeon¡¯s input. That¡¯s the most important thing.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Satisfied with Jeong Tae-su¡¯s confident nod, Baek Min-chan felt reassured. Everything was going smoothly.


    Cosmetic sales were soaring thanks to Seoyeon, and the upcoming clothing line was already drawing attention without any problems.


    You could even see people discussing E?clat E?toile¡¯s new clothing brand in online communities.


    ¡®I don¡¯t see how we can fail.¡¯


    He had no fear of failure.


    ¡°Seoyeon, E?clat E?toile has offered you a clothing ad.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Seoyeon nodded at her manager Park Eun-ha¡¯s words.


    A clothing ad for E?clat E?toile...


    ¡®Right, it was around this time.¡¯


    That was when E?clat E?toile had launched their new clothing line.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    Park Eun-ha looked at Seoyeon with a puzzled expression.


    It was strange for Seoyeon to hesitate over an offer from a luxury clothing brand.


    It would be great for her image and came with a lot of money too.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡±


    It¡¯s just¡ª


    ¡®That brand ends up flopping.¡¯


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted.


    After all, E?clat E?toile was the company that had paid her 400 million won.

 Chapter 132

    Eclat E?toile was launching a new clothing brand. The name? Argente Camellia.


    It was a luxury line that emphasized femininity. Seoyeon remembered it well from her past life because it had been a hot topic in online communities for a while.


    Of course, even without such a clear memory, the specifics of this brand would have come to mind because of certain controversies it stirred.


    ¡®There were definitely a few issues.¡¯


    One of the major ones was a durability issue.


    It wasn¡¯t just the material; the design of the clothing was such that any rough movements would cause the waist area to tear easily. On top of that, there was another controversy related to the actress used in their advertising campaign.


    During an awards ceremony, the dress worn by the actress split at the skirt, creating a disaster that ultimately destroyed the reputation of Argente Camellia.


    ¡®The second issue was the design.¡¯


    When you emphasize femininity, design becomes crucial.


    In theory, targeting femininity should come with merits that make the discomfort worth it for women. However, Argente Camellia failed in that regard. The designer had such a unique sense that the pieces ended up looking odd.


    The designs were certainly beautiful, but they were difficult to pair with other outfits. Wearing only Argente Camellia made it seem as though the brand alone wasn¡¯t prestigious enough.


    ¡®Eclat E?toile doesn¡¯t quite reach the status of a true luxury brand.¡¯


    Though some claimed it was doing well in France, it was still a domestic brand.


    While it could be classified as a semi-luxury brand, it wasn¡¯t something one could boast about exclusively.


    ¡®The third issue was price.¡¯


    As mentioned, Eclat E?toile was a semi-luxury brand, and Argente Camellia followed suit.


    Naturally, the prices were steep¡ªmuch higher than regular clothing. This led to a lot of jokes and ridicule in online communities.


    Not only did it spread across women¡¯s forums, but it also became a meme in men¡¯s communities, gaining the reputation of a brand that offered poor value for money.


    This caused Eclat E?toile to take a significant hit¡ªone so severe that the brand never fully recovered.


    ¡®In fact, I never heard about Argente Camellia again after that.¡¯


    ¡°How about it, Seoyeon?¡±


    Seoyeon snapped out of her thoughts when her manager, Park Eun-ha, spoke.


    ¡°For now, I¡¯d like to take the offer.¡±


    ¡°Really? It¡¯s definitely a good opportunity.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    Eclat E?toile was the foundation of Seoyeon¡¯s considerable allowance, much of which she spent on Lamiel¡¯s super chats. If Eclat E?toile went under, it would be problematic.


    As an actress, Seoyeon¡¯s earnings were managed by Sua, who was stricter with those funds. However, she was more lenient with the money Seoyeon made from advertisements.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to meet with Eclat E?toile to discuss the details before making a decision.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Sure. I¡¯ll arrange a meeting.¡±


    It was rare for Seoyeon to respond this way. Normally, she was very decisive¡ªeither yes or no, nothing in between.@@@@


    ¡®Is there something going on with Eclat E?toile?¡¯


    Park Eun-ha couldn¡¯t help but feel curious. She trusted Seoyeon¡¯s instincts immensely.


    After all, every project Seoyeon had taken on¡ªwhether a TV show, a variety program, or an advertisement¡ªhad been a success. If there was any reason for hesitation, it had to be worth investigating.


    ¡®I¡¯d better look into this.¡¯


    If Seoyeon had reservations, there was definitely something important behind it.


    Finally, Team A is up?????Man, it took forever...But Team C wasn¡¯t bad, though.Half of the teams were trash, let¡¯s be real.


    Episode 5 of Hyper Action Star was here.


    Episodes 2 to 4 had seen a steady decline in viewership, and as a result, online discussions about the show had dwindled.


    The auditions for Teams B through D felt lackluster compared to the intense content in Team A¡¯s first episode. Additionally, the other teams had approached the tasks more cautiously after seeing Team A, which only made things worse.


    They¡¯re using their superpowers, but it feels... off.Whoever came up with this needs to cut it out.But isn¡¯t using superpowers what this movie audition is all about?Ju Seoyeon was fun to watch. Maybe the others just can¡¯t act that well?


    The superpower performances weren¡¯t very engaging, leading to a sharp drop in ratings.


    Although many had prepared ways to showcase their powers, they hadn¡¯t thought much about how their abilities would interact with others.


    This was only natural.


    As actors, their priority was to make themselves shine.


    Helping another actor perform well inadvertently made that actor stand out more, and no one wanted to do that¡ªeven in an audition.


    And so, the mission for the remaining 10 actors in Team A was:


    ¡°Capture the flag.¡±


    Actor Cha Min-gyu addressed Team A.


    Each actor had to attach a flag to their back, and the goal was to steal flags from others in a parkour-style chase.


    ¡°And make sure to incorporate parkour techniques.¡±


    Parkour meant using the environment to perform action sequences. The filming set was filled with a variety of obstacles and terrain features.


    Oh no.You can feel it coming.Ju Seoyeon¡¯s going to have fun with this, huh?


    The camera cut to Seoyeon, whose mood seemed to have improved instantly. She was standing right next to Min Doha, who looked rather gloomy, making her all the more noticeable.


    Why does Min Doha look so miserable??Imagine your crying face getting turned into a meme with a luxury car. That¡¯s why.Still, getting famous from it is a good thing, right?LOL, yeah, look at how well-known he is now.Min Doha was already a somewhat famous actor, though.


    As viewers noted, Min Doha was currently feeling rather dismal.


    ¡®Capture the flag? Really?¡¯


    Looks like she picked up some skills from her time as a fishing star.Does Ju Seoyeon like Min Doha or something? She keeps letting him off easy.LOL, anyone would let him go if he¡¯s running away like that.If I were crawling away on all fours like him, I¡¯d get spared too.Is all this acting? Min Doha¡¯s really good at it.Acting? Wait, this is acting? What¡¯s the role, though?Beats me.Maybe his character is a superhuman trying to escape from the main character? His power is shooting, after all.Could be.Does Ju Seoyeon hold a grudge against him or something???Min Doha: Just... kill... me...Is it weird that I¡¯m starting to sympathize with Min Doha?That insane, evil woman... Doesn''t she feel bad for Doha?!Wait, isn¡¯t that Jo Seohui flying through the air?Is Jo Seohui okay? Did she die?!No, no, the set¡¯s padded, and the obstacles are soft, so she¡¯s fine.She betrayed us last time; now she¡¯s paying the price.Is Ju Seoyeon just super strong, or is Jo Seohui super light?Wasn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon¡¯s power regeneration?Not getting tired is technically part of regeneration...No wayTwo-time betrayal, damnDoes she not fear the consequences?Min Doha and Jo Seohui are still in it, though.Min Doha was about to lose his flag, but Jo Seohui saved him, lol.Won¡¯t Seohui get punched by Seoyeon after this?Nah, our Seoyeon¡¯s not like that.Still, watching Ju Seoyeon run around so energetically in variety shows is pretty endearing.LOL, she doesn¡¯t seem like a typical actress in variety shows.


    ¡°Team A seems to have pretty good balance.¡±


    ¡°It feels like Seoyeon is carefully choosing when to get eliminated.¡±


    ¡°Han Soyu¡¯s acting was great too. Her superpower scenes with Seoyeon were the highlights.¡±


    ¡°And Seohui has a nice character. She¡¯s really bringing her role to life and using her acting skills to the fullest.¡±


    The staff and PDs laughed as they graded the acting performances for this episode of Hyper Action Star.


    The ratings, which had been falling, jumped back up to 7%.


    There was still some concern about the focus on Team A, but¡ª


    ¡®It¡¯s better than losing the audience completely.¡¯


    PD Lee Gi-tae sighed.


    In hindsight, they should have aired Team A later.


    Switching the order of Teams D and A might have helped sustain the ratings. While it was a bit of a regret, there was nothing they could do now.


    ¡°What do you think, Director Han?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Director Han Yegun was seriously reviewing the footage from the recent shoot.


    His expression was dead serious as he watched scenes that had caused nothing but laughter among the crew.


    That was Han Yegun.


    His personality was clear from just that.


    ¡®They call him a young genius.¡¯


    He was particularly renowned for his action scenes, rivaling the greats in the industry.


    That¡¯s why GH Group had hired him.


    He was known for his visual style and his pursuit of pushing action to the extreme, much like the popular superhero films from the West.


    ¡®It¡¯s a gamble, honestly.¡¯


    Lately, audiences had grown accustomed to the level of action and CGI seen in Western superhero films. If the Korean productions didn¡¯t meet those standards, they¡¯d be ridiculed.


    For this reason, Korean directors had shied away from movies involving fantasy elements. They were difficult to shoot, expensive, and often mocked by audiences, making it a risky venture.


    ¡°I have to say.¡±


    Han Yegun finally spoke.


    There was a brief silence, and PD Lee Gi-tae felt a bit nervous.


    Han Yegun had a reputation for being a demanding director. He worried that Seoyeon, with her more variety-show-like performance, would receive some harsh criticism.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of actors.¡±


    He paused the footage on a scene where Seoyeon was chasing after Min Doha.


    While the others had found it funny and entertaining, Han Yegun¡¯s perspective was different.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen an actor with such strong presence.¡±


    ¡°Seoyeon does have a lot of presence, yes.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. It¡¯s not just about how she dominates the screen. It¡¯s about the expectation.¡±


    ¡°Expectation?¡±


    Han Yegun nodded.


    ¡°There¡¯s a sense of anticipation. A feeling of, ¡®What will this actor do next?¡¯ People are waiting to see her next move.¡±


    They¡¯re waiting for her to show something.


    ¡°That kind of anticipation extends beyond acting¡ªit¡¯s a valuable asset for a film¡¯s success as well.¡±


    People wanted to know what Seoyeon would do in her next scene, what she would show them.


    Han Yegun smiled as he watched Seoyeon lose her flag to Seohui.


    The unpredictability of it all.


    ¡°You managed to find a real monster.¡±


    Hearing those words, PD Lee Gi-tae found himself rethinking Seoyeon.


    If even this genius of a director had such praise for her, it meant that Ju Seoyeon was far beyond what he had initially imagined.


    And this so-called monster was currently¡ª


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    In a stunning dress, Seoyeon looked at Jo Seohui, who gave her a wary glance.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go in. Didn¡¯t you want to see what the upper class is like?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    They were standing outside a luxurious party at a high-end hotel.


    Seoyeon looked as though she was beginning to regret her decision.

 Chapter 133

    Seoyeon couldn''t help but feel a bit of pressure from being cast as the lead in Sky Garden.


    It wasn¡¯t that she disliked the opportunity. However, after the recent meeting, she realized what it truly meant to be cast without an audition.


    ¡®Now that I think about it, most of my roles have come through auditions.¡¯


    Even her current project, Hyper Action Star, was essentially an audition, despite its variety-show format. While acting ability played a significant role, it was still a competition, with scores being given to each contestant and eliminations happening along the way.


    Seoyeon was simply in a very favorable position this time, likely due to GH Group¡¯s expectations. The show¡¯s average rating was around 6%, a solid number for a cable variety show. Additionally, thanks to short clips circulating on social media, its popularity had grown beyond just TV ratings. When the film eventually premiered, it was expected to benefit greatly from the show¡¯s exposure.


    ¡®But even then, that was still an audition, at least in form.¡¯


    Even if they had faith in her abilities, there was never a guarantee. Anything could happen during an audition. But in the case of Sky Garden, she had been cast outright, without any competition.


    She could understand why some of the other actors might be upset. For a young actor, recognition and exposure were as important as talent, so being denied the opportunity to compete could feel unfair.


    ¡®Which is why I really need to do well.¡¯


    If she had been cast without an audition and didn¡¯t live up to expectations, people would definitely talk. While the older, more seasoned actors had been kind to her, especially the ones who would play the ¡®parent¡¯ roles in the drama, Seoyeon knew she had to prove herself.


    Whenever they met, these senior actors praised her work in The Chaser and Dream Future. However, if she failed to perform well on set, all that goodwill would vanish quickly.


    ¡°Ugh...¡±


    Seoyeon sighed, crossing her arms.


    She was currently in the practice room provided by Nova Entertainment, running through the script and rehearsing her lines alone. She had thought about asking Jiyeon for help, but Jiyeon was busy with her own audition for Kyungsung Lady and still streaming regularly on Lamiel¡¯s channel.


    ¡®The protagonist of Sky Garden, Lee Yujoo, is quite a cynical character.¡¯


    Yujoo had a near-perfect curriculum planned out for her by her older brother. Her family was middle-class, but her brother was a top scorer on the college entrance exam and the valedictorian of Baekyeon University, a fictional top school in Seoul. Their father had been a highly successful college prep coordinator, but after a string of students he coached failed to achieve their goals, he had lost his reputation. Thus, Yujoo¡¯s brother¡¯s academic success was a point of pride for him. He expected Yujoo to follow in her brother¡¯s footsteps.


    As a result, Yujoo had become an expert in self-discipline and had memorized her academic plan to perfection. However, approaching Yujoo¡¯s father directly wasn¡¯t an option, as he had previously rejected an offer from the very same people trying to get close to him through Yujoo.


    Thus, the parents of other students sought to gain favor with Yujoo instead.


    ¡®A college prep coordinator?¡¯


    This kind of role felt foreign to Seoyeon. She had never been particularly focused on academics, and her parents had always been content as long as she studied diligently. Seoyeon had never even had private tutoring, mostly because she had pursued acting from a young age.


    ¡®Even if I hadn¡¯t pursued acting, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d have gone this far with my studies... Oh, this is real?¡¯


    Seoyeon checked her smartphone and looked up what a college prep coordinator was, feeling puzzled. Was there really a job that involved managing every aspect of a student¡¯s life so meticulously, as described in the script?


    Apparently, yes. Coordinators helped students manage their stress, provided advantages as students, and ensured that everything was in order for their school records.


    ¡®Do wealthy people really live like this?¡¯


    She considered asking the drama¡¯s writer, Min Sehee, who had once told her:


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a bit exaggerated.¡±


    ¡°A bit?¡±


    ¡°Well, to be honest, really wealthy people would just use money to solve most things, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±


    Hmm, that was probably true.


    ¡°But there are certainly people who care about prestige, and that¡¯s what this drama focuses on.¡±


    So while exaggerated, it wasn¡¯t completely fictional. The writer had done her research to create the script. Even so, Seoyeon found it hard to relate to Sky Garden. It felt like she was filming a story set in a world she couldn¡¯t quite imagine.


    It was almost like acting in a historical drama¡ªrelying heavily on imagination to bring the character to life. However, unlike historical dramas, there was no familiar history to draw from.


    ¡®Elite education and the lives of the upper class.¡¯


    Yujoo was portrayed as a middle-class student who had a deeply cynical and nihilistic view of life, solely focused on academics.


    ¡®I understand now why they asked if I¡¯d ever played a top student before.¡¯


    The only person Seoyeon could think of for inspiration was her class president, Gil Dahyun.


    ¡®But Yujoo needs to show much more intense emotion than that.¡¯


    Portraying Yujoo¡¯s emotions would be one of Seoyeon¡¯s toughest challenges. Unlike Seoyeon, who enjoyed attention and praise, Yujoo resented it. She saw others as seeking her friendship for their own gain and hated the expectations placed on her.


    Disgust.


    That was the root of Yujoo¡¯s cynical nature¡ªher disdain for others.


    Seoyeon had never truly hated anyone. She¡¯d been angry at the Summer Girls for bullying Cha Nahyi but had never felt disgust or hatred toward them.


    ¡®If I could understand that feeling better...¡¯


    Still, it wasn¡¯t an emotion Seoyeon particularly wanted to explore. It felt too unsettling.


    However, she was curious about how the upper class truly lived. Was it really like this? Or was it an exaggeration?


    Not that Seoyeon had any issue with dresses. She¡¯d heard somewhere that skirts were even used as combat gear in Scotland. Plus, skirts were definitely more practical when kicking, whereas pants tended to tear when she moved.


    ¡°But the dress code is such a hassle. They could¡¯ve just specified a simple color scheme or something.¡±


    Seohui¡¯s complaint surprised Seoyeon. She hadn¡¯t realized dress codes were such a thing. She had simply assumed it was normal to dress up for a fancy party.


    As it turned out, hosts usually provided dress codes for these events. Sometimes it was specific colors, like black or white, and other times it was a full theme, like a masquerade.


    Tonight¡¯s theme was formal attire¡ªsuits and dresses.


    ¡°They¡¯re trying too hard. I know the girl hosting this party, and she¡¯s so spoiled. She¡¯s a high schooler, for crying out loud.¡±


    Seohui tapped her hand fan against her palm.


    ¡®So she brought the fan after all.¡¯


    With her hair styled up, fan in hand, and her haughty demeanor, Seohui looked every bit the role of a villainous noblewoman.


    In fact, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t too different herself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Following Seohui¡¯s lead, Seoyeon entered the extravagant hotel, one of the most famous in Seoul, known especially for its delicious food.


    ¡®They rented out the entire hall for a party?¡¯


    This level of luxury was hard for Seoyeon to wrap her mind around.


    Inside, it was even more glamorous. Most of the guests were people Seoyeon didn¡¯t recognize, all dressed to impress. Among them, she spotted a few actual celebrities.


    They seemed equally surprised to see Jo Seohui and Seoyeon.


    ¡°Is that Jo Seohui?¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s Ju Seoyeon next to her, right?¡±


    ¡°Was Yu-gyeong actually telling the truth about knowing Jo Seohui?¡±


    Seoyeon overheard their hushed whispers. Most people wouldn¡¯t have caught it, but her sharp ears picked it up easily.


    And unlike the average person, they weren¡¯t content to admire from afar. They each held their phones, eager to approach.


    Before arriving, Seohui had warned her:


    ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t just let anyone take a photo with you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll all want a picture. They¡¯ll post it on Instagram to show off that they know you.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t necessarily a trait unique to the upper class. It was more about people who were confident in themselves and wanted to flaunt their connections.


    ¡°Think of yourself as a walking gemstone.¡±


    That¡¯s what Seohui had said as she adjusted Seoyeon¡¯s dress.


    ¡°Each one of these people is holding a jewelry box, and they want to place you inside it.¡±


    Each person had their own approach, but the ultimate goal was the same¡ªusing her as a symbol of their social standing.


    ¡°What do you need?¡±


    The moment someone tried to approach, Seohui snapped open her fan, speaking with such authority that most people backed off.


    As a wealthy celebrity herself, Jo Seohui was one of the apex predators at this party. Even Seoyeon could see that clearly. Many guests wanted to approach her, but none dared.


    ¡°Stay close to me.¡±


    Seohui whispered through her fan, and Seoyeon nodded quietly.


    ¡®Still.¡¯


    Despite being slightly overwhelmed, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t too nervous. She simply observed, absorbing what it was like to be at an upper-class party.


    What interested her more were the celebrities present.


    ¡®There are a lot of them.¡¯


    Her gaze narrowed as she spotted a group of men gathered around, laughing and talking.


    One of them she recognized.


    ¡®Ro?¡¯


    The leader of Just X and the oldest member of the group. And aka the drug-eating idol.


    ¡°Hey, I''m opening a club, and you guys should come. You know, everyone.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes narrowed further as she watched him.

 Chapter 134

    Ro from Just X.


    Among the members of Just X, a group notorious for its scandals, his position was particularly unique. Later, when he ran the club Shine Moon, the whole country would be rocked by drug-related controversies.


    Despite being implicated in scandals involving other celebrities, Ro had always managed to escape unscathed. The online community had been furious, and Seoyeon vividly remembered the public outrage.


    ''Even without this absurd knowledge from my past life, I probably would¡¯ve remembered him anyway.''


    It was one of the most infamous incidents in the entertainment world.


    ¡°Oh, when¡¯s the opening? It¡¯s coming up soon, right? Next week, I believe,¡± Ro announced casually.


    Next week. That meant the club that would be at the center of the scandal hadn¡¯t opened yet.


    ¡®So, this is where he gathers people.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes narrowed even further as she watched Ro. The club had been a hot topic in her previous life, with rumors flying about various ¡°business meetings¡± held there.


    Naturally, Seoyeon didn¡¯t think highly of the crowd gathering around Ro.


    ¡°What are you staring at?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Seoyeon replied indifferently.


    Jo Seohui, noticing where Seoyeon¡¯s gaze had fallen, glanced over at Ro and grimaced. She let out a small sigh.


    ¡°It¡¯s best not to get involved with them,¡± Seohui muttered.


    ¡°Really? But Just X is a pretty popular idol group right now,¡± Seoyeon responded.


    ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re popular, but their reputation isn¡¯t great.¡±


    Covering her mouth with her fan, Seohui leaned in and spoke quietly so only Seoyeon could hear.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard Ro is tied to RY¡¯s CEO in more ways than one. There are even rumors that RY¡¯s money is behind the club he¡¯s opening.¡±


    ¡°And how do you know all this?¡±


    Seohui smirked. ¡°There are ways to know these things.¡±


    The smile on Seohui¡¯s face made it clear she really didn¡¯t like Ro. In moments like this, it was hard to believe they were the same age.


    ¡®I wonder who Seohui¡¯s parents are...¡¯


    Seoyeon found herself increasingly curious. From what she could tell, Seohui wasn¡¯t just from any wealthy family. Being invited to events like this meant she had to be from a highly influential background.


    ¡®She¡¯s really like a villainess from a drama.¡¯


    Seoyeon nodded to herself. That explains why she¡¯s so good at betrayal. Seoyeon shot Seohui a sideways glance, and Seohui flinched.


    ¡°W-why are you looking at me like that? I¡¯ve been helping you out.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was just thinking about what happened on the show.¡±


    ¡°T-that was just for the show! Entertainment, you know?¡±


    What Seohui had done definitely spiced up the show, and Seoyeon didn¡¯t really hold any grudge against her.


    The viewers loved it too, but...


    ¡®It¡¯s still frustrating to have fallen for it twice.¡¯


    Having been outwitted twice while chasing Min Doha made Seoyeon feel like she¡¯d been a prey tricked by a clever hunter. As she shot a cold glance at Seohui, the other girl began to sweat nervously.


    ¡®You¡¯re terrifying when you look at me like that.¡¯


    There was a reason Seoyeon had become famous for her role as Cha Seo-ah. Her ability to mask her emotions made her seem inhuman, especially when her gaze was devoid of any discernible feelings. Coupled with her beauty, it gave her an otherworldly presence.


    ¡®I think I¡¯m beginning to understand why people find me so scary.¡¯


    Seohui now grasped how others might feel when they found themselves on the receiving end of her own intimidating stares.


    Regardless...


    ¡®There¡¯s quite a mix of people here tonight.¡¯


    Among the guests, there were not only entertainers but also internet personalities and even athletes. Some of them were already eyeing Seoyeon, hoping to approach her.


    Snap!


    The sound of Seohui¡¯s fan snapping open sent several of them retreating. It seemed that with Seohui by her side, getting close to Seoyeon wasn¡¯t an easy task.


    However, there were always some who were bold enough to push past that barrier.


    ¡°Oh, Seohui unnie, you¡¯re here!¡±


    It was the host of tonight¡¯s party, a young girl who was supposedly a year younger than them.


    Her outfit was extravagant, and she carried a designer handbag in her hand.


    ¡°You said you weren¡¯t coming.¡±


    ¡°Well, things changed.¡±


    ¡°And this is... Oh! You¡¯re Cha Seo-ah, right?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Ju Seoyeon, the actress. My... ahem... my friend,¡± Seohui said, sneaking a glance at Seoyeon for approval.


    Seoyeon simply looked at her blankly, offering no objection.


    Friend, huh? Seohui felt a wave of happiness at the thought.


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Chae Min-young.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Seoyeon replied calmly.


    The flat, emotionless response seemed to irritate Min-young, who had likely been expecting a more impressed reaction.


    ¡°My parents run Hyo-young Group.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    That was all Seoyeon said.


    Her lack of enthusiasm made Min-young frown, clearly displeased that Seoyeon wasn¡¯t reacting the way she¡¯d anticipated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with that,¡± Seohui said, cringing.


    ¡°It just makes you look desperate.¡±


    Min-young stomped her foot. ¡°I-I just didn¡¯t think she knew!¡±


    Still pouting, Min-young turned to Seohui, exclaiming, ¡°Well, whatever! You¡¯ll never get to work with our family¡¯s group! I¡¯m going to tell my dad!¡±


    ¡®First leading role.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s grip on the script tightened. She¡¯d played many roles before, always giving more than what was expected of her.


    Villains, supporting characters with significant screen time¡ªshe¡¯d done them all.


    But this was the first time she would truly be the protagonist.


    Even at the party earlier, she¡¯d gotten a taste of how she was perceived.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she Cha Seo-ah?¡±


    ¡°I saw The Chaser, and she was great.¡±


    Most people still knew Seoyeon as ¡°Cha Seo-ah.¡± Occasionally, someone would mention Jo Ha-rin from Dream Future, but Seo-ah was the role she was most famous for.


    It made sense, given that Seo-ah had been the antagonist driving the plot in The Chaser.


    If someone were to list Seoyeon¡¯s most iconic roles, The Chaser would always come first.


    Her other works might be seen as secondary.


    ¡®But Sky Garden is different.¡¯


    This was her first chance to be the protagonist.


    It was an opportunity to test her abilities as an actress in a leading role.


    And the pressure that came with being the main character was unlike anything she¡¯d experienced before.


    ¡®If you fail, everyone fails.¡¯


    That¡¯s what their stares seemed to say.


    And they were right.


    In any work of fiction, if the audience can¡¯t connect with the protagonist, the entire story falls apart.


    Being the protagonist meant drawing viewers in, making them care about the character and the story.


    ¡°Even though you¡¯ve all read through the script, I¡¯d like you to approach it as if we¡¯re shooting a thriller,¡± Director Kim Il-soo said, looking around at the cast.


    ¡°This drama relies heavily on atmosphere, and your acting needs to reflect that tone.¡±


    After his words, his gaze landed on Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon, holding her script, appeared calm and composed.


    A young actress.


    Kim Il-soo didn¡¯t doubt her abilities as an actress.


    He had no reason to.


    She¡¯d already proven herself time and again. The younger actors might be upset about her being cast without an audition, but Kim wasn¡¯t.


    Sure, if she had been an untrained idol shoved into the lead role, it would have been infuriating.


    But Seoyeon wasn¡¯t one of those.


    The head of the drama department, Ha Tae-oh, wasn¡¯t the type to pull strings like that either.


    ¡®The head knows talent when he sees it.¡¯


    Ha Tae-oh had climbed to his position without a single failure. He had never forced an unqualified actor into a role.


    So, Kim Il-soo was more excited than anything. He couldn¡¯t wait to see what Seoyeon would bring to the table.


    And then...


    ¡°Are we starting with Scene 17?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that sounds like a good place to begin.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    The actress who replied was Imi-ran, the seasoned actress playing the role of the matriarch of the Lee family, the wife of Lee Hyuk-soo in Sky Garden.


    ¡®She¡¯s known for her emotional depth.¡¯


    Imi-ran glanced at Seoyeon, wondering how the young actress would approach the role.


    When she¡¯d heard that Seoyeon was cast in Sky Garden, she¡¯d sought out Kim Dae-heon, who had worked with Seoyeon on The Chaser.


    She had wanted to learn more about Seoyeon as an actress.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t plan to.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s easy to fall into that trap when you meet her. She¡¯s young, and her resume, at first glance, isn¡¯t that long.¡±


    If you counted her child acting years, Seoyeon had been in the industry for a decade. But she had a significant gap in her career, and she¡¯d only starred in two major projects since her return.


    It was easy to question her abilities based on her limited experience.


    But...


    ¡°You¡¯ll see for yourself.¡±


    Kim Dae-heon had spoken with absolute certainty.


    And just as he had said...


    ¡°Hoo.¡±


    Seoyeon exhaled and lifted her head.


    Her once peaceful eyes had shifted, her entire demeanor transforming.


    Everyone in the room could feel it¡ªthe intense shift in atmosphere.


    It wasn¡¯t Seoyeon sitting there anymore.


    It was Lee Yu-joo.


    The protagonist of Sky Garden had taken her place.


    Goosebumps ran down Imi-ran¡¯s arms.


    The sheer depth of emotion radiating from Seoyeon¡¯s performance was staggering.


    It was as if a completely different person had stepped into the room.

 Chapter 135

    Scene Number 17 was the first meeting between Gilsujin, the wife of Lee Hyuksoo and one of the other main characters in the story, and Lee Yuju. Up until this point, the narrative had been progressing from both of their perspectives, but from this moment onward, their stories would begin to intertwine like cogs in a machine.


    The successful academic achievement of her son. A mother, Gilsujin, who wants to ensure her child walks a successful life.


    And Lee Yuju, the one holding the answer sheet. In a way, this wasn¡¯t too different from a chase.


    The hunter and the hunted. The only difference from a typical chase was:


    "The hunted is at an advantage."


    Limiran, who played both Seoyeon and Gilsujin, understood this well. Gilsujin wanted the entrance exam plan that Yuju possessed¡ªmore precisely, the flawless portfolio that had helped Yuju''s brother, Lee Seokchan, achieve the top rank at Baekyeon University.


    Gilsujin''s goal was simple: she wanted to claim Yuju for herself before anyone else did.


    "I wonder if starting this intense from the get-go was the right choice."


    Veteran middle-aged actors, who had been acting for a long time, thought so. This scene didn¡¯t involve any action or strong emotions.


    That¡¯s what made it even more challenging to act. If there were exaggerated emotions, one could just throw oneself into the role and deliver the lines with passion.


    However, this scene was quiet. Endlessly still, yet chilling, and in a way, it needed to express a fierce, burning emotion.


    It was an extremely complex scene. It also revealed the theme and essence of the entire work.


    The two main characters driving the plot. It was suitable to kick off the script reading with a conversation between them.


    But...


    "It''s difficult." "It¡¯s really difficult."


    No one in the room had missed the series The Chaser. Whether out of pure jealousy for the rising young actors or with a sense of expectation for these emerging stars, everyone watched the performance with varying emotions.


    And then...


    Limiran, who faced Seoyeon, inwardly smiled.


    "Impressive."


    Seoyeon¡¯s atmosphere had shifted. It was chillingly noticeable.


    Perhaps the others couldn¡¯t clearly tell the difference between the old Seoyeon and the new one. After all, Seoyeon and Yuju had many overlapping traits.


    An emotionless expression, a calm tone. The overall lack of large gestures made them similar. But there was also a distinct difference.


    "Yuju is an extremely cynical character."


    From a young age, she was subjected to education that bordered on abuse by her parents. Along with her brother, Lee Seokchan.


    The moment she saw her younger brother, a year younger than her, fail to keep up with that education and face discrimination, she believed that she had to succeed no matter what.


    Years passed like that. By the time Yuju became a high school student, academics were nothing more than an inevitable achievement for her. A goal for the future. Something she must accomplish.


    There were no personal desires or dreams. She existed solely to restore the glory of her father''s position as an "admissions coordinator." Thus, adults coveted her.


    A girl who despised students who mechanically immersed themselves in studies.


    "That disgust."


    Although Yuju¡¯s face remained utterly emotionless, her eyes revealed a profound disgust. The deep loathing contained in her calm pupils could be felt distinctly.


    It wasn¡¯t just an impression. Subtle facial muscle changes naturally conveyed that feeling.


    A faintly furrowed brow. Slightly narrowed eyes. A mouth subtly twisted into a smile.


    These elements combined to give the impression of a sneer. Or perhaps, it could even be interpreted as self-mockery.


    Yuju¡¯s loathing wasn¡¯t directed solely at others, but also at herself. And so...


    "Yuju, it¡¯s nice to meet you."


    Limiran, in her role as Gilsujin, welcomed her with anticipation.


    "Be good friends with Minseo. As classmates, you¡¯ll be seeing each other for life."


    Scene Number 17. Upon entering Taeyang High School, Yuju found herself paired with Gilsujin¡¯s daughter, Minseo, in the school dormitory. They were seated next to each other simply because they shared the same surname.


    Gilsujin considered this a stroke of luck. Her long-desired target had ended up sitting right next to her daughter.


    So, she asked her daughter to invite Yuju to their house. To win Yuju¡¯s favor, probe her true intentions.


    And somehow, to obtain the portfolio Yuju¡¯s brother, Lee Seokchan, had used to reach the top of Baekyeon University.


    "We''ll see."


    Yuju responded with a serene smile. A smile that looked like it was drawn in a painting.


    It wasn¡¯t a human expression but a meticulously crafted smile.


    "Forever? I wouldn¡¯t be so sure."


    "It¡¯s just a figure of speech. But Minseo¡¯s told me quite a bit about you."


    "Has she? I haven¡¯t had many conversations with her."


    "Then that¡¯s good. It means there¡¯s room to get to know each other better."


    "That¡¯s true."


    Their conversation was calm. Both of them wore smiles as they spoke.


    "So, if you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. As a friend¡¯s mother, I¡¯ll help as much as I can."


    "Thank you, but I¡¯m fine."


    "No, there must be things you need, things you want. Tell me, I can make them happen."


    But after watching that performance, all those words now felt like empty compliments.


    And it wasn¡¯t just him. All the young actors who had made it through the auditions and joined the drama probably felt similarly.


    Previously, the way people looked at Seoyeon was filled with jealousy, suspicion, or disdain.


    On a screen or TV, it was easy to think, "I could do that." But facing it in person, the pressure was entirely different.


    From the start, Limiran, who played Gilsujin, had acted with full sincerity. As if she was ready to devour Seoyeon¡¯s very presence if she let her guard down for even a second.


    However, Seoyeon had accepted that intensity with such composure. As if it were only natural.


    That difference made the young actors feel a deep sense of defeat.


    "Moreover, she doesn¡¯t even care about us."


    It was as if Seoyeon didn¡¯t give a single thought to how the other actors viewed her. She simply scanned through her script leisurely.


    Kim Hyunseok bit his lower lip at the overwhelming sense of defeat, even though he hadn¡¯t even acted alongside her yet.


    Then...


    "?


    Sensing his gaze, Seoyeon shifted her eyes towards Kim Hyunseok. Startled, he quickly averted his gaze.


    "Why are you looking away? She¡¯s watching you."


    "...No reason."


    Although he was still filled with jealousy and frustration, it was difficult to express blatant hostility like before.


    "...That coin."


    That coin still sat in his pocket. For some reason, it made it hard to glare at Seoyeon with the same animosity as before.


    He didn¡¯t know what that coin meant. But something inside him instinctively led him to avoid her.


    It was better to steer clear of her. Han Sungjin tilted his head at Kim Hyunseok¡¯s strange reaction. But soon, he nodded in understanding.


    "Oh, you¡¯re already worried about shooting scenes with her, huh?"


    "......"


    Kim Hyunseok slowly nodded in response to Han Sungjin¡¯s comment. Of course, the meaning behind his nod was entirely different.


    "It¡¯s definitely tough."


    Back in her room after the script reading, Seoyeon sighed. She didn¡¯t know how others felt, but for her, the script reading had been incredibly challenging.


    No one criticized her acting, and there weren¡¯t any particular revisions to the script. From an outsider¡¯s perspective, Seoyeon had delivered the most relaxed performance today.


    But...


    "My stomach feels queasy."


    It was difficult to act out emotions of hatred. In her past life, she had never experienced such emotions, and there was little room for hatred in the life of "Ju Seoyeon."


    Good parents. Good friends. The things she considered the greatest fortune in her life.


    That made it even harder to portray hatred. If...


    If she hadn¡¯t followed Jo Seohui to an upper-class party. If she hadn¡¯t met "Roh" there, the emotions might have remained vague.


    The feelings Seoyeon experienced then were far more intense than they were now. She had felt something much more powerful than mere anger.


    An indescribable revulsion. The feeling one gets when encountering a fundamentally different kind of existence.


    She wanted to express that through her acting, but it didn¡¯t turn out as well as she had hoped. Everyone had praised her, but personally, she felt unsatisfied.


    She could have done better. That was the general feeling.


    "Whew."


    Sighing, Seoyeon turned on her computer. She saw the new graphics card, which she had recently bought, light up and start working.


    "I hadn¡¯t planned to replace it."


    Her father, Youngbin, had pestered her to buy it, saying graphics cards were cheap these days, so she ended up buying it with him. In fact, since it was a rare occasion, she just bought it as a gift.


    Seoyeon¡¯s parents never expected her to use her earnings for anything special. Whatever Seoyeon earned was hers to keep. They always supported her when she wanted to do something, and they were always there to listen if she had a tough time.


    ...Of course, there were times she felt like hitting her dad for various reasons. But overall, that was the vibe.


    That might be why it was even harder to immerse herself in the character of Lee Yuju. Because when she tried to immerse herself, it was too exhausting. More so than even the killer, Cha Seo-ah, from her past life.


    "Maybe it¡¯s because it feels strangely real."


    The emotions felt stronger than murder itself, probably because they weren¡¯t something she could just imagine her way through.


    "Alright."


    Seoyeon finally pulled herself together. She decided to watch Lamiel¡¯s stream to cheer herself up from the gloomy mood. With that thought, she entered the channel.


    "I think I¡¯ll be introducing a new friend soon! Ta-da~!"


    "?


    Suddenly, a black silhouette appeared on Lamiel¡¯s channel. A debut announcement for a new VTuber on Lamiel¡¯s personal channel?


    What in the world is going on? And who are you?


    "I¡¯m excited to introduce my new friend soon!"


    Lamiel smiled kindly as she spoke. The horrible emotions that had been swirling in Seoyeon¡¯s chest until just moments ago were now being consumed by something else.


    A burning feeling, intense and fiery.

 Chapter 136

    Jo Seohui had been in a good mood lately.


    Seoyeon, who had seemed a little distant recently, was now feeling much more approachable.


    "Maybe it''s because we went to that high-society party together?"


    She wasn''t sure of the exact reason, but it was clear that Seoyeon¡¯s attitude had softened.


    The frequency of their conversations had increased, and at this rate, Seohui might even be able to get Seoyeon to use informal speech with her soon!


    "Things are also progressing smoothly with what Jiyeon and I are working on."


    To be honest, Seohui hadn¡¯t been all that interested in what Jiyeon had suggested, at least not at first.


    She had only thought of virtual streamers as people using weird avatars to broadcast online.


    "But there¡¯s potential here."


    After doing some research, Seohui realized the appeal.


    "The best part is that your face doesn¡¯t get exposed."


    For most entertainers, having your face recognized was inevitable. But with these ¡°virtual YouTubers,¡± that wasn¡¯t the case.


    There was almost no way for someone to figure out their real identity, and even if a controversy arose, it would stop at the level of the avatar.


    It wouldn¡¯t deeply affect their personal life, at least from Jo Seohui¡¯s perspective as a celebrity.


    "...You could call it a place to gain viewers'' attention while feeling relatively less stress."


    Of course, no streamer was completely free of stress. But being able to interact with an audience while keeping your identity hidden was a major appeal for Seohui.


    A virtual YouTuber.


    An avatar.


    And an animated art style.


    To Jo Seohui, these elements were promising. In fact, she didn¡¯t feel much emotion about it¡ªjust that this was how things were done in this world.


    If anything, she found the concept cute. Spending money to make something pretty and appealing seemed like a good idea to her.


    That was the extent of her thoughts.


    People like Jiyeon and Seohui didn¡¯t really care much about anime or virtual streamers. They just accepted it as something that existed.


    "Hey, Jo Seohui, aren¡¯t you spending too much money on this?"


    Watching Seohui, who was diligently researching the market and creating an avatar, Jiyeon was taken aback.


    She had suggested it because it seemed like fun, but she hadn¡¯t expected Seohui to dive in with such enthusiasm.


    "It seems like a good side job for days when I don¡¯t have a shoot."


    "Well, that¡¯s true."


    There weren¡¯t many outlets where celebrities could interact with their audience freely.


    Of course, she was hiding her identity as ''actress Lee Jiyeon,'' but this was an easy way to casually ask the public for feedback.


    For instance, she could say, ¡°I really enjoyed watching that new drama. Have any of you seen it?¡± and get immediate responses.


    While the viewership might not overlap much, she could still gather various opinions.


    For a celebrity, interacting with viewers in this way fulfilled a certain emotional need.


    Thanks to Seoyeon, Jiyeon had learned about virtual YouTubers, and it became a source of comfort for her.


    "I thought she¡¯d take some interest, but..."


    Seohui ended up preparing and learning far more than Jiyeon expected.


    Actually, Seohui seemed to know more about it now than Jiyeon did.


    While Jiyeon had received some help from a "wizard," Seohui had drawn on her family¡¯s resources, gathering all sorts of information.


    "But Seoyeon does like this stuff, right?"


    "...Seoyeon?"


    Jiyeon was puzzled by Seohui¡¯s odd tone.


    "Since the party, I¡¯ve been talking to her more comfortably."


    "Just you?"


    "...Yeah, just me."


    Seohui crossed her arms, giving Jiyeon a look as if to ask if she really needed to point that out. But eventually, she lowered her gaze.


    Despite her reputation for being intimidating, Seohui found Jiyeon¡¯s appearance more intimidating than her own.


    While Seohui¡¯s looks gave off an air of authority, Jiyeon¡¯s appearance seemed to naturally draw money out of people¡¯s wallets.


    It¡¯s usually people like that who lead groups of girls around in school.


    Though Jiyeon had denied it, Seohui still had her doubts. Could there have been a bullying controversy in her past?


    "...You sometimes give me the most unsettling looks."


    "I-It must be your imagination."


    This girl had sharp instincts. Jo Seohui coughed awkwardly and looked away.


    Anyway...


    "Things have been feeling good lately."


    Apparently, Seoyeon liked virtual YouTubers.


    Seohui thought that Seoyeon would definitely be pleased if she appeared on a stream under a friendly avatar like "Ramiel."


    And Seohui had already watched Ramiel¡¯s streams several times.


    Including the ones where someone, who she assumed was Seoyeon, dumped a ton of money into donations.


    Ramiel usually kicked Seoyeon out of the chat.


    Sometimes, she¡¯d respond, but only briefly.


    "I want that too."


    Jiyeon had mentioned that she could lead Seoyeon to watch Seohui¡¯s streams as well.


    In that case, wouldn¡¯t Seohui be able to interact with Seoyeon just like Jiyeon did?


    In other words, Ju Seoyeon could become her fan!


    The thought filled her with a strange sense of pride.


    "If things keep going this way, we¡¯ll be best friends in no time."


    Lately, she¡¯d been thinking along those lines.


    "Ahem, Seoyeon, let¡¯s do our best at today¡¯s shoot, alright?"


    Hyper Action Star.


    Today marked the final shoot for the actors in Group A.


    Once this was done, only the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals would remain.


    Since it was such an important day, Seohui didn¡¯t plan on betraying Seoyeon.


    If she did, it might end in something worse than just sulking.


    With a fresh smile, Seohui greeted Seoyeon.


    "..."@@@@


    But Seoyeon¡¯s gaze was oddly sharp.


    It was as if she were scrutinizing Seohui from top to bottom.


    "Does Ju Seoyeon have a grudge against Jo Seohui?""After betraying her twice, she probably deserves to get hit.""Jo Seohui¡¯s acting is pretty good.""Acting? Is that really acting???""Jo Seohui hasn¡¯t moved at all, is she dead?""Seohui¡¯s gonna get wrecked. ????????????"


    "These four are moving on to the next round. Congratulations!"


    Suddenly, applause erupted from all directions. Applause to congratulate the winners.


    Or maybe applause from those who hadn¡¯t made it. Either way, no one felt like it was unfair that these four had advanced.


    Everyone accepted the results.


    "Congratulations, Doha." "Your performance was incredible. I learned a lot from you."


    The actors who had partnered with Min Doha in the final mission clapped and congratulated her. Of course, Min Doha looked like she was on the verge of tears. For various reasons.


    KMB Broadcasting Station.


    Drama Department meeting room.


    Several PDs had gathered to discuss upcoming broadcast schedules and program placements. They were deciding which shows would be slotted into prime time and how best to cater to the recently shifting preferences of the audience.


    "Let¡¯s start with this."


    With a smile, PD Baek Tae-su spoke up. He was the same PD who had backed writer Im Jin-ha during the production of Dream Future.


    He glanced at PD Lee Min-hwa, who was in charge of Heaven¡¯s Garden, and began to speak.


    "What do you think of Heaven¡¯s Garden?"


    "Well..."


    The other PDs hesitated for a moment at Baek Tae-su¡¯s question. If Director Ha Tae-oh had been present, he would have said it was great.


    But Director Ha wasn¡¯t at today¡¯s meeting.


    In fact, he couldn¡¯t attend.


    He was tied up with personal matters.


    And since all the reports would eventually make their way to him, it wasn¡¯t a major issue.


    Still, this absence allowed Baek Tae-su to speak with a bit more authority.


    He held significant influence within KMB, with few people at his level.


    He was essentially positioning himself as the next Drama Director. So, naturally, the other PDs had to be mindful of him.


    "To be honest, there are quite a few concerns."


    "Exactly."


    Baek Tae-su looked back at PD Lee Min-hwa, causing a slight frown to form on her face.


    He smiled softly, seeming to enjoy her discomfort.


    "You¡¯ve used some great actors. Many of the most talked-about actors are part of this production. For example... Ju Seoyeon."


    Ju Seoyeon, who had only appeared in two productions so far, but had left a lasting impression.


    She was one of the young actresses the market had its eye on.


    And this was her second "youth drama" after Dream Future.


    "Although, calling it a youth drama might not be quite right. It¡¯s more of a drama that critiques society."


    Baek Tae-su wasn¡¯t just criticizing Heaven¡¯s Garden for no reason.


    Many of the other PDs shared the same concerns.


    "Originally, this script was supposed to go to a cable channel, right?"


    "...Yes."


    "That makes sense, especially since it¡¯s lacking romance."


    Lacking? No, it didn¡¯t have any romance at all.


    For a public broadcast, that was a major issue.


    At least, that¡¯s what the higher-ups thought.


    "The writer is also essentially a newcomer. Sure, she did a great job covering for writer Im Jin-ha in Dream Future, and I think she¡¯ll achieve great things in the future."


    But...


    "That doesn¡¯t guarantee this particular project will be a success."


    The risk of a first-time writer was considerable.


    But Heaven¡¯s Garden couldn¡¯t be judged solely on that risk.


    The cast of actors was simply too strong.


    "Are you going to add romance?"


    "They¡¯re adamant about not including it."


    "Hmm..."


    "Fortunately, there are plenty of other good projects."


    "But it seems like the Director is pushing hard for Heaven¡¯s Garden."


    "Yes, the Director¡¯s input has already been reflected quite a bit. But this is a separate issue..."


    The PDs exchanged glances, keeping a close eye on Baek Tae-su.


    KMB had three major dramas it was backing. One of them was Heaven¡¯s Garden, which the higher-ups saw as a risky gamble.


    The other two were safer bets. One of them was being produced by Baek Tae-su himself.


    The cast was full of popular actors, and the writer, Kim Myung-yeon, had a track record of back-to-back hits.


    And, of course, the drama included a romance, something the higher-ups loved.


    "So, what do you think? Which drama should we throw our support behind?"


    Baek Tae-su¡¯s words hung heavily in the KMB Drama Department meeting room.

 Chapter 137

    "Did the meeting go well?"


    Drama Department Director¡¯s Office.


    Director Ha Tae-oh, who had just taken his seat, looked at PD Lee Min-hwa and asked, his face filled with dissatisfaction.


    He could already guess what had happened during the meeting.


    "I heard PD Baek Tae-su was quite eager to promote his own drama."


    "...Yes."


    Eager? That was an understatement.


    Baek Tae-su had practically forced his drama into prime-time slots, pushing aggressively to secure them.


    With the other PDs constantly checking Baek Tae-su¡¯s reactions, it had left Lee Min-hwa feeling utterly frustrated.


    Of course, Heaven¡¯s Garden was a bold project for a public broadcast.


    But they had thoroughly prepared for it, and solutions to overcome its weaknesses were firmly in place.


    "Fortunately, the decision wasn¡¯t made during that meeting, but it looks like the time slots will be split."


    There was a high chance the slots would be divided into Monday-Tuesday dramas and Wednesday-Thursday dramas.


    Baek Tae-su had stubbornly tried to push Heaven¡¯s Garden into an awkward time slot.


    While Lee Min-hwa had resisted, it hadn¡¯t gone far enough to resolve the issue...


    "Recently, Baek Tae-su has been particularly assertive, hasn¡¯t he?"


    Lee Min-hwa sighed as she spoke.


    Ha Tae-oh silently observed her as she vented her frustration.


    Recently, PD Baek Tae-su had started asserting his opinions more forcefully.


    In the past, even if he wielded power, he would do so quietly and cautiously from behind the scenes.


    The incident with writer Im Jin-ha was a prime example of that.


    Rather than stepping into the spotlight, he had preferred to move the pieces from the background.


    But lately, that approach had changed.


    He was stepping into the foreground more often, taking on the role of a leader.


    Considering there was already a Drama Department Director, it was enough to be considered arrogant.


    So it was understandable that the situation had been quite awkward for Lee Min-hwa.


    In the past, PD Baek Tae-su would have at least outwardly supported Heaven¡¯s Garden, which had been chosen by Director Ha Tae-oh.


    "Yesterday, the Vice President called me in."


    "Excuse me?"


    Director Ha Tae-oh spoke up, surprising Min-hwa.


    She had heard that he had stepped out for personal reasons, but could it have been because the Vice President had summoned him?


    "There will be a restructuring at KMB soon."


    Restructuring?


    It was unexpected, but not entirely impossible.


    Although Dream Future had performed well recently, KMB dramas had been struggling for some time before that.


    "There will be many changes... but the biggest one involves the Drama Department."


    "Our department?"


    "I¡¯m not sure if we can still call it ''ours.''"


    Ha Tae-oh recalled the conversation from the day before.


    The Vice President had looked quite serious.


    There had been significant pushback, but the President had pushed the issue through with an iron will.


    The reason behind it was fairly obvious.


    It was to gain the upper hand in the power struggle with the Vice President.


    "The Drama Department will be split into two divisions¡ªDivision 1 and Division 2."


    "What?!"


    PD Lee Min-hwa was so shocked she shouted, then quickly covered her mouth.


    They were going to split the Drama Department into two?


    Why?


    "The President claims it¡¯s to strengthen competitiveness."


    The Drama Department would be divided into Division 1 and Division 2, where they would compete with each other.


    Additionally, it was to prepare for upcoming OTT (Over-the-Top) dramas, so they planned to expand and reinforce the department.


    That was the general idea.


    "Does this have anything to do with PD Baek Tae-su¡¯s recent assertiveness...?"


    "He¡¯s the most likely candidate for the Director of Division 2."


    Baek Tae-su had originally been considered a strong contender for the next Drama Department Director.


    He was in a similar position as Ha Tae-oh in terms of seniority, and his track record was solid.


    But when he lost out to Ha Tae-oh, he had no choice but to take a step back.


    "You don¡¯t think..."


    "I don¡¯t know... but I can¡¯t say it¡¯s unrelated."


    The current President of KMB and Baek Tae-su were closely connected.


    Both had attended Seoul Baekcheon Arts University.


    They had strong ties through their academic network.@@@@


    PD Baek Tae-su was part of President Hwang Jung-hwan¡¯s inner circle.


    Meanwhile, Director Ha Tae-oh was essentially aligned with the Vice President.


    It wasn¡¯t that Ha Tae-oh was particularly interested in office politics, but that was the situation he found himself in.


    "Wouldn¡¯t splitting the Drama Department be problematic?"


    "It certainly doesn¡¯t seem like it will result in any good press. Regardless, I think it¡¯s best to prepare for various outcomes going forward."


    Ha Tae-oh smiled as he spoke.


    He knew this wasn¡¯t an ideal situation.


    It wasn¡¯t PD Baek Tae-su that worried him.


    It was the potential loss of personnel that would come with splitting the Drama Department.


    "There¡¯s no need to worry about Heaven¡¯s Garden. We can¡¯t afford to lose the first fight."


    Hearing this, PD Lee Min-hwa nodded.


    "Plus, your competitors might leak rumors as well."


    Jiyeon had been in the entertainment industry much longer than Seoyeon.


    She had seen all kinds of things, so it was hard for her to dismiss the possibility.


    "So, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to put in a bit of effort. It¡¯ll help your image, after all."


    It wasn¡¯t just reporters¡ªthere were already people at school who were paying attention to her.


    In fact, many at school already assumed that Seoyeon was the type to be good at her studies.


    After all, just by looking at her, she seemed like a very smart person.


    "There¡¯s even a rumor going around in your class."


    "A rumor?"


    "That there¡¯s a blank space for the second-to-last score in your class rankings."


    "...What?"


    "People are gossiping about who that could be."


    Like some kind of schoolyard legend.


    Seoyeon shivered at Jiyeon¡¯s words.


    Class rankings weren¡¯t public.


    So most students found out through asking each other.


    But there was always one blank spot, just one place above the very last.


    "No one thinks it¡¯s you, though."


    "It¡¯s not me."


    "Sure, of course."


    Jiyeon didn¡¯t believe her.


    But Seoyeon felt wronged.


    Honestly, Seoyeon¡¯s grades weren¡¯t nearly that bad.


    "Why is it that my memory only seems to work perfectly when it comes to showbiz?"


    In her past life, Seoyeon had done reasonably well academically.


    She had come close to getting into an "In-Seoul" university but just missed out.


    With that knowledge, she figured she could do fairly well without studying much at all.


    After all, Yeonhwa High wasn¡¯t exactly known as a high-achieving school, but more for its focus on arts and athletics.


    "I was fine until middle school, but I don¡¯t remember anything from high school."


    And to be honest, she had been slacking off a bit. Really, she had.


    But now, Seoyeon was determined to redeem her honor.


    "I¡¯m busy."


    "Huh?"


    "I don¡¯t have much time left until the audition."


    "Oh."


    On top of that, Jiyeon was a top student.


    She had never once ranked below fifth place in the entire school.


    "Honestly, Jiyeon should have been cast in Heaven¡¯s Garden."


    She was one of those rare celebrities who was both talented and smart.


    It made sense, but contacting Jo Seohui... felt like an attack on her pride.


    Besides, Seoyeon was still sulking over the whole VTuber issue.


    She planned to stay upset a little while longer.


    So, her next choice was...


    "Huh? Studying?"


    Gil Da-hyun blinked at Seoyeon in confusion.


    Even the other students around her went silent and stared at Seoyeon.


    Ju Seoyeon!


    If you mentioned the most popular person in class, Ju Seoyeon was always the first name that came up.


    She was mostly popular for her looks, which was a bit of a problem.


    Whenever she came to school, she would sit quietly at her desk, focused on something, making it hard for people to approach her.


    Her presence alone was stunning, like a picture-perfect scene.


    She exuded the aura of a celebrity.


    But now, that same girl had suddenly spoken to Gil Da-hyun.


    "What¡¯s going on?"


    Gil Da-hyun looked puzzled.


    It was rare for Seoyeon to initiate a conversation with her.


    After the school festival, Da-hyun had wanted to talk to Seoyeon more, but she had been so busy that there hadn¡¯t been a chance.


    Variety shows, dramas, movies.


    With her schedule packed between these, Seoyeon had barely been at school.


    "The chairman seems to like her, though."


    Lately, the chairman¡¯s favorite student was undoubtedly Seoyeon.


    After all, wherever she appeared, she was always in her Yeonhwa High uniform.


    It wasn¡¯t clear what was so special about the uniform, but every time she was spotted, she was wearing it.


    Naturally, this became free promotion for Yeonhwa High.


    "Yeonhwa High School uniforms are so pretty.""S-tier quality.""It¡¯s because Ju Seoyeon is wearing it, you pigs.""Shut up."


    Naturally, the rumor that the uniforms from Yeonhwa High were stylish spread.


    Because of that, the number of applicants for the upcoming year had surged.


    "Hmm."


    Seoyeon hesitated for a moment before nodding.


    If there was anyone at school who closely resembled the characters in Heaven¡¯s Garden, Seoyeon would say it was Gil Da-hyun.


    She was the very image of a top student, like a character drawn from a picture.


    That was Gil Da-hyun.


    "Would you like to study together?"


    "Huh?"


    The sudden proposal left Gil Da-hyun stunned.

 Chapter 138

    On their way to Gil Da-hyun¡¯s house, Seoyeon noticed that Da-hyun was observing her closely. Her expression seemed to ask, Why do you want to study with me?


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t really have a good answer for that.


    I just don¡¯t have anyone else to study with.


    How pathetic. Jiyeon was busy preparing for auditions, and studying with Jo Seohui felt like a loss, given their rivalry. Seohui¡¯s competitive spirit had rubbed off on Seoyeon, making her hyper-aware of their dynamic.


    And as for Park Jungwoo?


    ¡°If a female actress invites a male actor to study, it¡¯ll cause a scandal.¡±


    That would be his response for sure. So, Seoyeon was left with her classmates. Among them, Gil Da-hyun, who reminded Seoyeon of the characters in Heaven¡¯s Garden, seemed like the best option.


    They had even spoken before.@@@@


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to invite others to study with us?¡± Da-hyun asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Da-hyun seemed to want to study in a group, but Seoyeon refused.


    My study skills would be exposed.


    Even though Da-hyun seemed trustworthy, Seoyeon didn¡¯t want to take chances. And so, they ended up studying alone at Da-hyun¡¯s house.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re doing this because of your drama role?¡± Da-hyun finally understood after they arrived.


    For the drama. To study hard... Because she¡¯s a student? Isn¡¯t that just normal?


    That thought crossed Da-hyun¡¯s mind, but Seoyeon looked so serious that Da-hyun decided to drop it. Maybe this was a different kind of studying.


    Besides, Seoyeon looks like the type who would excel at studying.


    Da-hyun had never asked Seoyeon about her grades, but there was something about her demeanor that suggested she was a model student. Seoyeon was always attentive during class, never dozing off, and her posture was perfect, like a student straight out of a picture.


    And her notes? Da-hyun had caught a glimpse of them once. They were immaculate, written with various colored pens.


    Maybe she just enjoys organizing things, Da-hyun had thought at the time.


    But those assumptions were shattered when they started studying together.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know this one?¡±


    ¡°...No.¡±


    ¡°And this?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Seoyeon studied the questions seriously, but Da-hyun was shocked.


    She barely knows any of this!


    In hindsight, it made sense. Seoyeon missed a lot of classes due to her schedule. But still, her image had created certain expectations.


    ¡°Well, at least you have good memorization skills,¡± Da-hyun remarked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    That was a given. As an actress, Seoyeon rarely forgot her lines, which made her memory sharp.


    Then how is her academic performance so poor?


    Da-hyun wondered but didn¡¯t say anything. Seoyeon, sensing Da-hyun¡¯s thoughts, glanced away and said sheepishly, ¡°Studying is about learning, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Absolutely!¡± Da-hyun quickly agreed, although from her perspective as a top student, she found Seoyeon¡¯s situation baffling. Still, Seoyeon¡¯s dedication to her acting was undeniable, and Da-hyun respected that.


    ¡°This problem is from middle school material.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°You should know this at least, right?¡±


    Da-hyun¡¯s eyes silently asked, Didn¡¯t you learn this before becoming an actress? Seoyeon, feeling cornered, avoided her gaze. Sure, studying is about learning, but come on, there¡¯s a limit to what you can not know...


    Under Da-hyun¡¯s silent judgment, Seoyeon resigned herself to diligently taking notes, feeling like a scolded puppy.


    Hours passed as they studied. After what Da-hyun considered a warm-up session, she casually remarked, ¡°You¡¯re good at sports too, right?¡±


    Seoyeon, who now looked pale from hours of studying, nodded. Of course, she was good at sports.


    No, not just good¡ªher physical abilities were almost abnormal, having developed to an extraordinary level. In fact, even Seoyeon wasn¡¯t sure of the full extent of her physical prowess.


    ¡°You should join a sports club. It¡¯ll help your school record.¡±


    Though being an actress made that somewhat irrelevant, Da-hyun suggested it for the experience.


    ¡°I¡¯m already in a club.¡±


    An esports club.


    ¡°Oh, I knew it! Of course!¡± Da-hyun nodded enthusiastically, without realizing the exact nature of Seoyeon¡¯s club activities. Meanwhile, Seoyeon chose not to clarify. Her gaming skills, especially in League of Legends, were enough to earn her a spot in the club, though lately, she had grown tired of it.


    I wonder how people can play the same game for so long...


    She could relate to Seoa through her past experiences, but Yuju...


    ¡°...I think I understand now.¡±


    ¡°Understand what?¡±


    Seoyeon mumbled after a moment of reflection, and Da-hyun looked at her curiously.


    Seoyeon raised her head and smiled.


    She had learned a lot today.


    The first day of shooting for Heaven¡¯s Garden.


    On a day when autumn felt as hot as summer.


    ¡°Feels like fall is disappearing.¡±


    ¡°They say it¡¯s going to get hotter every year.¡±


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Such casual conversations were heard on set, but they were really just a way to ease the underlying tension.


    ¡°We already have so much to worry about...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it would help if things were easier on the inside too.¡±


    The staff exchanged glances at writer Min Se-hee, who sat quietly in a corner. They weren¡¯t blaming her, not directly.


    Usually, all you had to worry about was competing with dramas airing on other networks at the same time. That was stressful enough.


    But this time, company politics were involved as well.


    Drama Division 1 and Drama Division 2. The divisions hadn¡¯t been officially finalized yet, but this was essentially their first battle.


    Both dramas had been allocated prime-time slots, so it was a direct fight for ratings.


    Whoever lost this initial skirmish could very well be headed for extinction.


    If one show drastically underperforms...


    One division could end up getting shut down.


    The idea of splitting the drama division into two for the sake of ¡°competition¡± seemed absurd, but the reasoning made sense.


    For too long, KMB¡¯s drama department had failed to produce a hit.


    The previous head of the department had stepped down.


    The new head had botched several shows.


    Within just two years, they were ousted, and Ha Tae-o took over last year. He had managed to scrape by with decent results, but it wasn¡¯t enough.


    And so, they had arrived at this situation.


    Of course, this is all just the official story.


    Some say it¡¯s really just to create a spot for Baek Tae-soo PD.


    The staff grumbled.


    If Baek Tae-soo, who had been maneuvering behind the scenes, was stepping into the spotlight, it was hard to predict what would happen next.


    And all of that pressure...


    ¡°...¡±


    ...weighed heavily on writer Min Se-hee.


    What am I going to do?


    Normally, writers didn¡¯t show up on set.


    But today, she had come in person.


    This was the first day of filming for a drama she had meticulously planned from start to finish.


    Maybe I¡¯m pushing too hard.


    Min Se-hee felt afraid.


    This script was intensely personal, filled with her own thoughts and ideas.


    There was minimal romance, just as she wanted.


    She had carried over the script she originally wrote for a cable network.


    For Min Se-hee, who was essentially a rookie, the pressure was overwhelming.


    If this drama fails...


    Even if it wasn¡¯t entirely her fault, she would undoubtedly shoulder much of the blame.


    Would she be able to continue working at KMB?


    Would other networks even consider hiring her?


    In the end, was she really just meant to be a cable writer?


    ¡°Writer Min Se-hee.¡±


    At that moment...


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    A girl bowed respectfully before her.


    As always, her manners were impeccable.


    With jet-black hair and porcelain skin, she was stunningly beautiful today.


    Instead of her usual Yeonhwa High School uniform, she wore the "Taeyang High School uniform," instantly evoking the image of her character, Lee Yuju.


    Oh?


    Min Se-hee noticed something different.


    There was something off about her today.


    Usually, when Seoyeon started acting, her whole aura would shift.


    But today was different.


    Had Seoyeon noticed Min Se-hee¡¯s stare? She glanced over at the writer and smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit tough, so I went to study.¡±


    Her tone was different from usual¡ªslightly colder.


    ¡°I learned the solution.¡±

 Chapter 139

    What should an actor do if they cannot fully immerse themselves in a role?


    Acting is a comprehensive art form that requires a balance of appearance, inner depth, and skill to deliver a convincing performance. It¡¯s never about mastering just one aspect; it¡¯s about synthesizing all these elements to bring a character to life.


    However, failing to understand a character is a significant weakness.


    "Alright, everyone! It''s our first day of filming. Let¡¯s stay relaxed and go through this step by step!" Director Kim Il-soo spoke in a casual tone, but internally, he was uneasy. He, too, had heard about the restructuring of the drama department.


    If we don¡¯t succeed here, things could look very bad for us.


    It could become a setback for Heaven¡¯s Garden, or worse, impact his own career. Determined, he knew that this drama needed to be executed with precision.


    After all, KMB wasn''t the only network out there.


    "Today''s scene focuses on the story surrounding Lee Yu-ju¡¯s arrival at ''Heaven¡¯s Garden,'' so our young actors need to give it their all."


    The story begins with the perspectives of the adults. They discuss Lee Yu-ju and what they hope to gain from her. Their schemes and ambitions will soon entangle the younger characters.


    ¡°Although Lee Yu-ju is the main character, the other students need to play their parts well too.¡±


    In some ways, it was similar to Dream Future, where each role carried a weight almost equivalent to a leading character.


    Of course, this time, unlike Dream Future, the focus wasn¡¯t spread too thin. The main focus was on three characters: Lee Yu-ju, Lee Min-hyuk, the eldest son of the Lee Hyuk-soo family, and Gil Soo-jin, the family matriarch.


    Today¡¯s shoot was for the first episode. Naturally, the flow needed to pull viewers into these three key characters and their dynamics.


    It¡¯ll be fine. Everything¡¯s under control, thought Kim Hyun-seok, who played Lee Min-hyuk. Though confident in his acting, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous. It was only natural to feel the pressure.


    Taking a deep breath, he glanced at the other actors. Today, there were more young actors on set than usual, which made sense since the scene was set at school, Lee Yu-ju¡¯s introduction scene.


    I heard she doesn¡¯t get nervous easily.


    Kim Hyun-seok briefly observed Seoyeon. She seemed oddly composed compared to the other young actors, who were visibly tense. This calmness unnerved him, but he couldn¡¯t say anything. After all, the small coin tucked in his pocket reminded him of his own performance anxiety.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started,¡± the director called out.


    The hum of the cameras gearing up filled the room, and the atmosphere on set began to heighten. As they prepared to shoot, writer Min Se-hee clasped her hands tightly together, as if in prayer.


    Please let it come out the way I envisioned it.


    Sometimes, the way a scene played out on screen didn¡¯t align with how it was written in the script. When that happened, it wasn¡¯t the actors¡¯ fault¡ªit was the writer''s. Min Se-hee feared that her writing might not translate as she had hoped. Everyone had praised the script, even director Kim Il-soo had expressed confidence, but she still couldn¡¯t shake her anxiety.


    "You have to stay strong," Park Jung-woo often told her.


    Even though the script wasn¡¯t fully completed yet, she found herself faltering on the first day. We have to film at least four episodes before airing starts...


    ¡°Action!¡±


    With the director¡¯s shout and the sound of the clapperboard, filming officially began.


    Heaven¡¯s Garden was a gated community where the wealthy resided, a picturesque setting with well-manicured families who appeared harmonious and well-off. They frequently gathered, exchanging information and solidifying their social connections. But beneath the surface, they were always sizing each other up, fostering hidden rivalries.


    Gil Soo-jin, the matriarch of the Lee family, is introduced through this backdrop of polite but competitive social interactions. And when the scene shifts to a more private setting, Gil Soo-jin¡¯s voice drops to a cool, measured tone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard something interesting.¡±


    Her husband, Lee Hyuk-soo, turned to her, silent but attentive.


    ¡°Lee Yu-ju.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°The younger sister of last year¡¯s top student at Baekyeon Medical School.¡±


    Her husband raised an eyebrow, impressed. ¡°How did you get that name?¡±


    ¡°Their father is an admissions coordinator. He couldn¡¯t stop boasting about it.¡±


    As soon as the words admissions coordinator were spoken, Lee Hyuk-soo¡¯s eyes narrowed. He had an inkling of what was coming.


    ¡°Ah, I remember that guy. Wasn¡¯t he at the event you attended recently?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I thought he was past his prime, but it seems he¡¯s pulled off quite the surprise.¡±


    The eldest son had entered Baekyeon Medical School as the top student, a remarkable feat that revived the coordinator¡¯s reputation. For a parent, it was the perfect advertisement. Even though they hadn¡¯t had the financial resources to back him fully, the results spoke for themselves.


    ¡°The parents at that event were all dying to know how he did it. He couldn¡¯t stop bragging about his children.¡±


    Apparently, their daughter was about to enter Taeyang High School, and the father claimed she was just as capable as her brother, fully prepared to follow the same path.


    It was a completely different vibe from the script reading.


    What¡¯s going on with her?


    Is this what they call method acting?


    No one dared to voice their thoughts aloud. They were too intimidated, having been completely dominated by her presence in the scene.


    Seoyeon, for her part, felt their discomfort.


    Stay focused. Keep in character.


    Lee Yu-ju was a character so different from herself that it was hard to immerse fully. But Seoyeon thought back to something her class president, Gil Da-hyun, had told her during their study session.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t understand it, just memorize the process. You¡¯ve got a great memory, Seoyeon. If you can memorize the formula, eventually, it¡¯ll become second nature.¡±


    Seoyeon had done something similar before.


    When she first decided to return to acting, she had taken on the role of stalker Hong Jeong-hee in a stage play. Back then, she couldn¡¯t fully grasp the character¡¯s emotions, so she had mimicked another actress, Park Ji-woo, and combined that with her own style to create her version of Hong Jeong-hee.


    This is the same.


    She didn¡¯t need to overthink it. She just needed to absorb the emotions she had studied, and this time, she had done just that. She had watched movies and dramas with characters similar to Yu-ju, imprinting their performances into her mind. By the time she arrived on set, she had locked herself into Yu-ju¡¯s persona.


    With sharp eyes and a twisted smile, the disdain she exuded crushed the spirits of the other actors.


    Kim Hyun-seok gritted his teeth. He knew how poorly that last take had gone.


    I probably didn¡¯t even register on camera.


    In that scene with Seoyeon, the other actors must have been practically invisible. Anyone watching would only have seen Lee Yu-ju¡¯s overwhelming presence. It was a shocking debut for the character.


    And there were even NGs.


    Kim Hyun-seok bit down on his lower lip, feeling like nothing more than the useless coin in his pocket.


    Seoyeon¡¯s gaze seemed to taunt him: Is that all you¡¯ve got?


    It wasn¡¯t until several hours later that the scene was finally completed. Kim Hyun-seok had caused a few too many NGs along the way.


    That night, after returning home from filming, Seoyeon lay in bed.


    I went too far.


    She cringed, remembering how she had practically showered the entire set with disdain and contempt. It had been the right performance, but now that she was out of character, the memory embarrassed her.


    Especially the part with Kim Hyun-seok. He had fumbled several times, visibly shaking during the NGs, and every time, Seoyeon had sneered at him. The memory of her mocking smirks made her squirm under her blankets.


    Ugh!


    She kicked her blanket repeatedly in frustration.


    ¡°Sweetie, what happened to your blanket?¡±


    ¡°It... It tore.¡±


    ¡°Oh, did it really?¡±


    ¡°Yes... Yes, it did.¡±


    As she stuffed the torn filling back into her comforter, Seoyeon¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment.


    As filming for the first episode of Heaven¡¯s Garden continued, there was a short break before the next Hyper Action Star shoot. For once, Seoyeon had a rare free day in her schedule.


    ¡°An interview?¡±


    ¡¸Yes, does it fit with your schedule?¡¹


    The call was from Cha Na-hee, regarding Dream Future.


    ¡¸Dream Future is going to be aired in Japan soon, so they¡¯re setting up some interviews.¡¹


    Though Seoyeon wouldn¡¯t be directly speaking with Japanese reporters, it was still a notable event.


    ¡¸It¡¯s going to be more of a casual fan-interaction type of interview.¡¹


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡±


    ¡¸Great! Oh, by the way...¡¹


    Was there something else? Seoyeon perked up.


    ¡¸There¡¯s a PD I know who¡¯s interested in you. They produce variety shows.¡¹


    Variety shows? Seoyeon¡¯s interest was piqued. She enjoyed variety show appearances because they were usually fun and active, offering her a chance to learn new things.


    ¡¸Do you like reality shows?¡¹


    The question made Seoyeon freeze.

 Chapter 140

    The recent atmosphere in KMB''s drama department could easily be described as the calm before the storm. Naturally, this was expected. With the drama department splitting into the 1st and 2nd divisions, it was only natural that the staff and producers below would be greatly unsettled.


    But what mattered most was...


    ¡°Has PD Baek mentioned anything to you? About moving over to his side?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard something. It seems like he¡¯s starting to seriously gather members for the 2nd division.¡± ¡°I think most of the decisions will be made from above, though...¡± ¡°It seems like PD Baek is directly approaching the people he wants to take with him.¡±


    After such conversations, the producers fell silent for a while. While the higher-ups would naturally make the decisions, producers would still have some say in the matter.


    That made it all the more agonizing to decide.


    ¡®Should I stay in the 1st division?¡¯ ¡®Or should I move to the 2nd division?¡¯


    Based purely on ability, I¡¯m more inclined to join Director Ha Tae-o. After all, he quickly resolved the incompetence of the former director, and thanks to the recent success of Dream Future, the drama department is currently thriving.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    PD Baek Tae-su had a direct line to the KMB president. It was uncertain which side would be favored in the future.


    Of course, only a fool wouldn¡¯t back the stronger side. However, in this case, the risk of failure was the bigger concern.


    If both sides ended up failing equally, PD Baek Tae-su would likely be given another chance. That¡¯s the power of connections.


    Because of this, Director Ha Tae-o was at a relative disadvantage in that regard. But he had more producers following him and was known for his personal competence. Moreover, the vice president had his back, so...


    ¡®This is a headache.¡¯


    Connections. Or allegiances.


    Which side do you align with? Who would have thought it would come to this within a broadcasting company? Then again, in any workplace, big or small, you eventually have to align with someone.


    But in this case, the battle between the 1st and 2nd drama divisions would inevitably grow intense. Choosing the wrong side could leave you adrift with no direction.


    ¡®Both sides have ongoing dramas, right?¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ll get some idea based on the performance of those shows.¡¯


    The last drama produced before the department split would likely determine the future movements of the producers.


    ¡°So, what do you think about Haneul Garden?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good. Writer Min Se-hee, whom we¡¯ve discovered, has a great sense. Her style is something you don¡¯t often see on public broadcast.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true. But whether it¡¯ll work out or backfire remains to be seen.¡± ¡°Well...¡±


    That was an undeniable fact. Writer Min Se-hee¡¯s script was sharp and had a solid storyline.


    However, the romance element was quite weak. This was a significant weakness for a public broadcast drama. Writer Min Se-hee was well aware of this and was trying to address it as much as possible.


    ¡®But it¡¯s not something that can be resolved quickly.¡¯


    The producers thought to themselves. PD Baek Tae-su had supported a variety of writers, so there were many talented writers around him. That side seemed stable.


    ¡°And I¡¯ve heard something about PD Baek¡¯s upcoming drama.¡± ¡°Heard what?¡± ¡°Apparently, Song Ga-min is going to be in it.¡± ¡°Ah, Song Ga-min. Yes, I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    When asked who the rising young actress was lately, her name was mentioned most frequently. Song Ga-min. She was now 25. She had been active since she was a child, but it had only been about a year since she truly gained recognition.


    Her story of achieving success through a series of hardships had become a hot topic among the public.


    ¡°It seems like they¡¯re setting her up to compete with the rising actresses.¡± ¡°And since her counterpart is Ju Seoyeon, they may have chosen her as the opposing actress.¡±


    Though 25 wasn¡¯t old, it was difficult to compare her to a young actress who was 17 and constantly making headlines.


    ¡®They¡¯re setting up a narrative.¡¯ ¡®A genius actress versus a hardworking one.¡¯


    While the public may be drawn to a genius actress, in the end, people tend to root for the underdog. The focus would naturally shift to Song Ga-min, who rose to fame through hard work and adversity.


    A drama¡¯s success wasn¡¯t solely determined by the acting ability of its cast. It was as if the casting choices were made with this in mind. There would undoubtedly be continuous media play surrounding this.


    In other words, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s image was so strong that it required such measures. Her radiant star power. Her monstrous potential.@@@@


    The actress who had been captivating KMB for the past 10 years was now...


    ¡°Mom, I want to appear on that observational reality show.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡±


    Her mother, Su-ah, was clearly flustered as Seoyeon continued to persuade her.


    ¡®Observational reality show.¡¯


    It was a type of program that showcased the daily lives of stars. The reality show in question was Golden Duckling, a relatively new observational program.


    Though some observational shows tackled topics like romance, Golden Duckling was a show focusing on the daily lives of stars living with their parents. Since it featured stars living with their families, young actors often appeared on the show. It was quite a daring concept, but the first episode, featuring a young actor, had been a major hit.


    The show was popular, particularly because it offered a rare glimpse into the lives of child stars or young celebrities. It was also often used as a way to shape the image of young stars.


    ¡®The kid looks polished on TV, but they¡¯re still just a kid.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s an MDC variety show.¡±


    MDC had a somewhat familiar connection with Seoyeon. During her childhood days, The King of the Masked Sword had aired directly against MDC¡¯s drama Action King.


    Did Ju Seoyeon just punch that bigeye tuna to death?It¡¯s true, the tuna has been awfully quiet since then.200kg tuna? Even Ngannou couldn¡¯t do that!But it¡¯s dead, though.That¡¯s true.She totally gives off that villainous young lady vibe.Feels like the daughter of a demonic cult leader.Definitely a villainess, but she¡¯s pretty!Is there still no controversy about Lee Jiyeon being a bully?Still???Please step on me, Jiyeon noona...Wasn¡¯t Lee Jiyeon a delinquent?Stop slandering her! Jiyeon is so kind!Could Ju Seoyeon destroy a punching bag?Special forces unit vs. Ju Seoyeon. Does she win if they don¡¯t use guns?Even if they use guns, Seoyeon wins. She dodges bullets!Those were just paintball guns, though.But could she dodge real bullets?Hmm... a special forces unit would still be tough.Why would I beat special forces? I¡¯m just a normal, cute, pretty actress... Keep it reasonable.Reason: Stop spreading slander.


    Surely it wouldn¡¯t get as big as that, right? Then again, those could probably block bullets.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s going to be on TV?¡±


    Her younger sister, Suyeon, blinked her large eyes and asked.


    ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s not for sure yet... If I go on, Suyeon, you¡¯ll be on, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be on? I want to go on TV!¡±


    Raising both arms excitedly, Suyeon, who was almost 8 and soon to be an elementary school student, beamed. Seeing her cute daughter, Su-ah¡¯s expression softened, but then her gaze sharpened.


    ¡°B-But, Mom can¡¯t do that! Isn¡¯t the guest seat where they talk with the MCs?!¡± ¡°Well, it is a show about observing stars with their parents.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point. Your school life will be shown, too. Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seoyeon had no shame. At least, when it came to her school life, she was a model student. She took notes diligently, never fell asleep in class.


    She maintained impeccable posture and never took her eyes off the teacher!


    ¡°But, won¡¯t your lack of friendships be exposed?¡±


    ¡°!!¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened. She never expected such a pointed comment from her own mother.


    ¡°I mean, at least I keep in touch with Jiyeon¡¯s mom and Jungwoo¡¯s mom sometimes.¡± ¡°Well, Jiyeon, sure. But you¡¯ve been in contact with Jungwoo-senpai¡¯s mom?¡±


    Considering how shocked Jungwoo had been when she returned after a 10-year hiatus...


    ¡°She¡¯s not the type to talk about such things with her son.¡±


    It had been kept a secret. At least, that seemed to be the case. Seoyeon felt a strange sense of gratitude for that subtle consideration.


    ¡®But still, doesn¡¯t that mean you only have two contacts?¡¯


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t mention it. If anything, she could count at least three.


    Lee Jiyeon, Jo Seohui, and recently, Gil Dahyun. Ah, and there¡¯s also Cha Nahyi. That makes four. And if you generously count Park Jungwoo, that¡¯s five!


    ¡®I win.¡¯


    Seoyeon shot a triumphant look at Su-ah. Su-ah felt a strange unease, but she was more concerned about what Seoyeon had said.


    ¡®An observational reality show?¡¯


    Su-ah didn¡¯t attend neighborhood meetings or mom cafes. As a freelance programmer working on outsourced projects, she rarely left the house.


    In any case, Su-ah loved staying at home. She never imagined this would happen.


    ¡°B-But why an observational reality show? People already like seeing you do action stuff.¡± ¡°You know what kind of image that creates.¡±


    ¡°A strong, healthy image.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but for an actress, it¡¯s not ideal.¡±


    Seoyeon spoke seriously.


    ¡°To reshape that image, this is something I have to do.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing Seoyeon¡¯s earnest tone, Su-ah realized there was no way out. From experience, she knew how difficult it was to change her daughter¡¯s mind once it was made up.


    There was no avoiding it. The observational reality show was inevitable.


    And so... MDC Broadcasting Station.


    ¡°Oh my! It¡¯s so nice to meet you!!¡±


    An excitable middle-aged woman. This was none other than Jeon Ha-young, the PD of MDC¡¯s reality show, Golden Duckling.


    As she looked at the girl standing before her, she couldn¡¯t help but smack her lips. With her black hair and calm demeanor...


    Even Jeon Ha-young, who had met countless celebrities over the years, found herself momentarily entranced by Seoyeon¡¯s beauty. She had heard that Seoyeon was still a high school student, so it was impossible to imagine just how much more beautiful she would become as she matured.


    ¡®Nahyi really found a gem.¡¯


    She had mentioned Seoyeon as a possibility just in case, but she never expected to actually bring her on. Jeon Ha-young barely managed to keep a smile on her face as she repeatedly greeted Seoyeon. If she let her guard down for even a moment, she felt like she might just stare at Seoyeon without speaking.


    That¡¯s how stunning and radiant this actress was.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    The actress who had made a name for herself at KMB Broadcasting Station. Of course, other broadcasting stations were eager to have her as well.


    And this Golden Duckling was the first step. Jeon Ha-young had been entrusted with an important mission from MDC, and that¡¯s why she was here.

 Chapter 141

    Unlike the many complex thoughts running through Jeon Ha-young PD¡¯s mind, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t thinking much at all. She simply figured that appearing on an observational reality show would be okay.


    ¡®Reality shows often reshape the public¡¯s image of celebrities.¡¯


    Observational reality shows, in particular, tended to allow celebrities to appear more relatable to the public. Because of this, celebrities who felt distant from the public often benefited from appearing on such shows.


    Golden Duckling was no different. Young celebrities, who typically seemed somewhat distant, frequently appeared, showing that even stars were someone¡¯s child. This made such shows quite popular among both viewers and celebrities alike.


    ¡®Of course, some celebrities have worsened their image by appearing on such shows.¡¯


    There were cases where celebrities, by displaying poor behavior towards their parents, ended up damaging their image. Seoyeon reminded herself to be careful not to fall into that trap.


    ¡°Seoyeon, have you watched our show before?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Really? Oh, thank you so much. I¡¯ve also enjoyed The Chaser and Dream Future. I¡¯ve been keeping up with the recent variety shows as well.¡±


    Was she referring to Hyper Action Star when she mentioned recent variety shows?


    ¡®But that¡¯s technically an audition show.¡¯


    There seemed to be a growing perception that Hyper Action Star was more of a variety show rather than an audition program. Perhaps it was because the format didn¡¯t feel as competitive. Of course, GH Group seemed to have intentionally guided it in that direction.


    ¡°Well... getting back to the main topic.¡±


    After the formal pleasantries were exchanged, Jeon Ha-young cleared her throat.


    ¡°Golden Duckling doesn¡¯t air in the prime time slot with the highest ratings, but it still pulls in viewership comparable to top-tier shows.¡±


    Her tone was quite confident. The ratings for Golden Duckling were a solid 5%.


    In today¡¯s market, where overall viewership was declining, those were impressive numbers. Considering the additional exposure from reruns and online streaming, the actual reach was even greater than what the ratings suggested.


    ¡°You won¡¯t regret this decision.¡± ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s calm response made Jeon Ha-young flinch slightly.


    ¡®...This should be fine, right?¡¯


    Meeting Seoyeon in person, she was a bit concerned by how quiet and emotionless she seemed. Still, all the variety shows Seoyeon had appeared in had been huge hits. Not just Hyper Action Star and Star Fisher, but even the gaming show King Until I Turned It Off had generated a lot of buzz.


    However, in person, Seoyeon seemed entirely different from the persona she presented on TV.


    ¡®Now that I think about it, she doesn¡¯t interact with many other celebrities, and from what I¡¯ve heard, she¡¯s quite introverted.¡¯


    Could everything on TV have been a carefully crafted image? If so, it would indicate a high level of professionalism, but as a PD for an observational reality show, Jeon Ha-young couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    Many celebrities showed stark differences between their appearances on regular variety shows and observational reality shows. This could sometimes work in their favor, but it could also backfire.


    If Seoyeon¡¯s calm, reserved demeanor was her true personality, it might not make for compelling variety TV. A perfect top student with a quiet personality wouldn¡¯t score many points in terms of entertainment value.


    ¡°Oh, right. Your family will also be appearing on the show. Have they agreed to it?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all okay with it. My younger sister is excited.¡± ¡°Oh, you have a younger sister?¡± ¡°Yes. She¡¯ll be starting elementary school soon.¡±


    Having a younger sister was a positive development. If the younger sibling of a star was cute, that alone could become a hot topic.


    ¡°What about your parents?¡± ¡°My mom was hesitant at first, but she eventually agreed.¡±


    Fortunately, Seoyeon seemed willing to go ahead with the appearance, which was a relief to Jeon Ha-young.


    ¡®So, Seoyeon¡¯s parents...¡¯


    In Jeon Ha-young¡¯s mind, Seoyeon¡¯s parents were an ideal, middle-aged couple. Given that Seoyeon was a high school student, they were likely in their forties.


    She pictured a gracefully aging couple with soft wrinkles¡ªa vague but elegant image.


    Most of the celebrity parents who had appeared on the show so far had fit that image, so it was only natural for her to think that way.


    ¡°How about a meeting with your parents next time?¡± ¡°Do both need to attend?¡± ¡°No, no! It¡¯s fine if just one of them comes, especially if it¡¯s your mom, who will be appearing on the panel.¡±


    Seoyeon felt a bit worried at this. While she herself was relatively social and communicated well, her mother, Su-ah, struggled with communication due to her more reserved nature.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll arrange that.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s smooth response made Jeon Ha-young feel good. If she could establish a rapport with Seoyeon and even get her involved in an MDC drama down the line, it would be a win-win situation.


    For now, she thought everything was going smoothly.


    Variety shows, after all, didn¡¯t need to be exceptional to be successful. But then...


    ¡°Ah, hello. I¡¯m Min Su-ah, Seoyeon¡¯s... Seoyeon¡¯s mom.¡±


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s Seoyeon, not Suyeon.¡± ¡°Se... Seoyeon¡¯s mom...¡±


    As Su-ah bowed her head nervously, something large bounced up and down with her movement. Naturally, Jeon Ha-young¡¯s eyes followed the trajectory.


    Wow, those are huge. No, I shouldn¡¯t be thinking this. But seriously, wow.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Jeon Ha-young unconsciously let out a small exclamation, then quickly covered her mouth. A middle-aged woman with a high schooler?


    Was that really a middle-aged woman? Seoyeon, who was a shining star among the younger actresses, was stunning, but her mother... She had expected Seoyeon¡¯s mother to have good looks, but...


    ¡°Excuse me, but may I ask how old you are...?¡± ¡°I¡¯m 39. Just an ordinary mom.¡±


    Thirty-nine. An ordinary mom. Was there anyone who fit the term ¡°ordinary mom¡± less?


    At that age, wouldn¡¯t there normally be some sagging? Jeon Ha-young herself was now in her mid-thirties. She had worked hard to become the main PD at such a young age and had built an impressive career.


    Recently, she¡¯d noticed a few wrinkles, and she comforted herself by calling them life¡¯s little scars. But now...


    Here was someone older than her, without a single visible wrinkle. Was that even fair? How was this even possible?


    Feeling a sense of unfairness, she thought to herself...


    ¡®This could actually be... amazing.¡¯


    Jeon Ha-young realized that Su-ah¡¯s appearance would undoubtedly shock the public. This was going to work!


    After betraying her team three times¡ªtwice in the preliminaries and once in a group mission during the quarterfinals¡ªshe had cemented that image.


    By the third time, even Seoyeon¡¯s normally calm gaze turned icy as she crushed Jo Seohui¡¯s spirit. Remarkably, Jo Seohui managed to avoid serious injury, suggesting she was tougher than she appeared.


    ¡°And then there¡¯s Min Doha.¡±


    ¡°Huh? How did she make it to the semifinals? And they¡¯re all from Group A?¡±


    ¡°She did reasonably well.¡±


    ¡°She showed a lot in the preliminaries.¡±


    Min Doha had also made it to the semifinals. Now, only the semifinals and finals remained.


    Two more episodes to go.


    ¡°And then...¡±


    There was one more contestant.


    ¡°The dark horse from Group D.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you mean... the foreign actress?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s Japanese, here in Korea to study acting.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the one who beat Han Soyu.¡±


    This was an incredibly rare case. It was common for idols to cross over to acting, but an actor coming to Korea? That was unusual.


    There were strong prejudices against Japanese acting, as the emotional tones required in Japan and Korea were quite different.


    Many people found Japan¡¯s exaggerated acting style to be too childish.


    ¡°Narumi Sora, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I believe she¡¯s 19 years old. A young actress with a lot of potential.¡±


    ¡°And her eyes... she¡¯s got great eyes.¡±


    Great eyes.


    If you hadn¡¯t seen her act, you wouldn¡¯t understand what that meant. But in terms of action scenes, she was exceptional, and she knew how to emphasize her unique style.


    ¡°She¡¯s great with weapon-based action scenes. I¡¯m excited to see her face off against Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s trained a bit, right?¡±


    ¡°She mentioned it in an interview.¡±


    ¡°She beat Han Soyu, so it¡¯s definitely going to be interesting.¡±


    Most people had expected Han Soyu to win, but the victor was Narumi Sora. That was when people really started paying attention to her.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be very exciting.¡±


    The producers were all buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming semifinals. At this point, not only were the main roles up for grabs, but additional roles could also be given to the contestants depending on GH¡¯s decision.


    It wasn¡¯t just an audition; this was about landing a role in a fully-fledged movie with CGI-enhanced performances. Everyone present wanted to witness that.


    The four semifinalists were all incredibly talented. Of course...


    ¡®Why, how, how did this happen?¡¯


    There was one actress standing on set, completely bewildered. Min Doha was in that mindset.


    At this point, it wasn¡¯t bad. She had made it to the semifinals, after all.


    Though luck had played a role, her confidence was starting to grow.


    ¡®As long as I don¡¯t have to face Ju Seoyeon... or Jo Seohui.¡¯


    The easiest opponent seemed to be the Japanese actress, whose name she barely knew. What was a Japanese actress doing in Korea, anyway?


    Just as Min Doha was regaining her confidence...


    ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡±


    On the set for the semifinals, a female actress with her black hair tied in a ponytail, Narumi Sora, glanced to the side.


    A woman with model-like features was staring at her.


    ¡®Why the school uniform?¡¯


    Even Narumi Sora, who took her concepts seriously, found this Korean actress to be baffling. What bothered her the most was that since she arrived on set, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t taken her eyes off her.


    Why?


    Was this some form of Korean hazing? Or was this genius actress sizing her up as a rival?


    If that were the case, it might at least make her feel a bit better. But the whole situation just felt strange.


    As Jo Seohui watched the back-and-forth between Sora and Seoyeon, she narrowed her eyes. Since they had arrived on set, Seoyeon¡¯s attention had been fixed on Sora.


    ¡®Is she still mad about my last betrayal?¡¯


    That thought made Jo Seohui chew nervously on her lower lip, too hesitant to make the first move.


    As both actresses focused on Seoyeon¡¯s reactions...


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Seoyeon, for her part, was completely at peace.


    ¡®...She¡¯s Japanese. I wonder if she likes anime? She probably watches VTubers too.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s thoughts were somewhat narrow-minded, possibly even bordering on racial stereotyping, but she wasn¡¯t quite sure.

 Chapter 142

    The semifinals and finals of Hyper Action Star were all that remained, and most people had already formed a solid idea of who the final winner would be.


    Honestly, it looks like Ju Seoyeon is going to win.It''s more of a battle for second place.I heard that if you place in the top three, you''ll get casting offers?Yep, and if you''re interested, you can join.Do we know what roles they''re offering?Nope, not yet.


    GH Group had mentioned that they were still discussing the details with the director, but no definitive answers had been given. This meant that even if you appeared in the final project, it might not be a very significant role.


    However, if your ranking was high or you made a big impact, you couldn¡¯t help but gain some influence. For a rookie action actor, just having the possibility of a role was enough to be valuable.


    Especially for one person.


    ¡®I have to win the lead role.¡¯


    Narumi Sora, the actress who had come from Japan, was determined. People were talking about the battle for second place.


    There were many who agreed with that sentiment, and Sora could somewhat understand why.


    She had been shocked when watching the auditions in Group A, especially by Ju Seoyeon.


    The performance she had shown left a huge impact on Sora. It wasn¡¯t just the acting¡ªthough Ju Seoyeon''s acting skills were extraordinary for someone her age¡ªit was her action scenes that really shook her.


    ¡®Is she really dodging those paintballs?¡¯


    Dodging or blocking them, she handled both with astonishing ease. She could even avoid them just by listening to the sound.


    To be honest, Sora had initially thought it might have been staged. But when she remembered her own experience, it didn¡¯t seem like there had been any manipulation, so it must have been Seoyeon¡¯s own skill.


    ¡®Still.¡¯


    Even so, Sora didn¡¯t want to lose. This time, she planned to show off her own secret weapon.


    In her pre-match interview, Sora expressed her determination.


    "I¡¯m going to win."


    Naturally, her confident declaration garnered quite a bit of attention in the online communities.


    She just straight-up declared victory in the interview!Not even "I think I can win," but "I will win"? Dang.Who is Narumi Sora, though? I only watched Group A.She''s the dark horse from Group D, and she moves really well.I heard she learned action stunts on her own while doing events in Japan.She''s also a fan of old Hong Kong movies.Hong Kong movies? That¡¯s so old-school.


    Narumi Sora¡¯s cute appearance led many people to dismiss her bold statements as adorable. After all, compared to the rest of the cast, she was the only one with a somewhat soft appearance.


    Is she a hamster trapped among gangsters?


    That was a common comment. But Sora didn¡¯t mind.


    The semifinals and finals would be one-on-one duels.


    A series of sequences set in a dilapidated building. Everything would be evaluated, and the results would be decided solely by audience votes.


    Votes, not scores.


    As Sora checked her props, she felt a chill from the intense gaze Seoyeon had fixed on her.


    ¡®Why is she staring at me like that?¡¯


    Could it be that Seoyeon was aware of her as a competitor? It made sense.


    The other two semifinalists had already faced Seoyeon before and were familiar with her skills. Since Sora was the only one who hadn¡¯t directly competed with her yet, it was natural for Seoyeon to be wary.


    Meanwhile, Seoyeon was thinking...


    ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask her if she watches VTubers later.¡¯


    She made a mental note to ask Sora once the filming was over.


    The matchups for the semifinals were as follows:


    Jo Seohui vs. Ju Seoyeon. Min Doha vs. Narumi Sora.


    It was a fairly balanced setup. After all, based on previous performances, Jo Seohui had already beaten Ju Seoyeon.


    Min Doha and Sora both had superpowers that enhanced physical abilities. One specialized in firearms, the other in physical augmentation.


    Since their powers were relatively simple, the match would come down to pure skill. However, the results were quite underwhelming.


    In the one-on-one matchups, no matter what Jo Seohui did, she couldn¡¯t defeat Seoyeon. And though Min Doha put up a good fight, she was easily overpowered by Narumi Sora.


    Even though this was supposed to be an action performance, where it wasn¡¯t strictly necessary to determine a winner, the outcome was clear.


    She used every prop in the building and still lost.Honestly, how could Jo Seohui ever beat Ju Seoyeon?But how is Jo Seohui so tough?She¡¯s surprisingly resilient...


    Despite Jo Seohui¡¯s loss, her efforts became a topic of conversation. She had prepared thoroughly, using every possible prop and trap in the dilapidated building during the preparation time.


    The rules were simple. If you were hit by a paintball or sustained what could be considered a major injury, you were declared ¡°dead,¡± and could no longer perform, thus losing the match.


    Jo Seohui had made full use of this rule. However...


    ¡¸.......¡¹


    As the preparation time ended, Seoyeon, who had been warming up, immediately moved upstairs to chase after Jo Seohui. The moment she stepped forward, she felt something catch her foot, like a string.


    It wasn¡¯t enough to trip her, and she easily snapped it. At the same time, paintballs flew from both sides, which she dodged effortlessly by ducking.


    ?How did she dodge that?


    That was only the beginning. Jo Seohui had worked hard on her traps.


    This is the badass action star we were looking for!LOL this is what makes sense.But seriously, how could Jo Seohui ever beat Ju Seoyeon???Only if they had the same mom.??? Are you saying Jo Seohui and Ju Seoyeon have the same mom?But Min Doha did well with her shooting, didn¡¯t she?Yeah, but in close combat, she was no match.Are we going to hear that supercar scream again?That only happens when she fights Ju Seoyeon, lol.Did Narumi Sora dodge paintballs too???No, she figured out a strategy for dealing with them.She just moves as soon as she sees the gun pointed at her.That¡¯s still pretty impressive, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡®Why does she always speak so formally to me?¡¯


    We¡¯re the same age.


    Jo Seohui felt a little hurt.


    Seoyeon¡¯s days flew by. How could they not? She had so much to do.


    Filming for Haneul Garden. Preparing for the fan meeting that Cha Nahyi had mentioned.


    That alone filled her week.


    At least Hyper Action Star would end this week.


    ¡®Though, being an audition, it feels like it¡¯s just beginning.¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t as if Seoyeon thought she was guaranteed to win the final.


    She recalled her opponent in the final, Narumi Sora.


    Sora had only started to stand out in the semifinals, but her acting and action skills were undoubtedly genuine.


    Though Sora was a Japanese actress, her acting style was reminiscent of Korean cinema.


    ¡®But if she¡¯s a fan of Hong Kong movies, why did she come to Korea?¡¯


    That part puzzled Seoyeon, but she didn¡¯t care too much.


    She just had a lot of things she wanted to ask Sora later.


    And so, the final of Hyper Action Star arrived.


    "At last, the day has come! Today, we will crown the winner of Hyper Action Star!"


    The finals were hosted by announcer Yoon Kyung-deok, who had gained popularity in recent weeks, just like in the semifinals.


    There were even more spectators this time. The tickets for the finals had sold out in just ten minutes.


    Among the audience were Kang Taejin, director of GH Group¡¯s cultural affairs division, and Han Yegun, the director slated for Mine.


    The two of them were watching the final stage.


    "Who do you think will win?"


    "Well."


    Han Yegun assessed everything he had seen so far objectively.


    "It will be Ju Seoyeon."


    "I think so too."


    "Which makes me wonder if the final will even be meaningful."


    Han Yegun muttered as he watched the stage.


    A screen had been set up to show highlights of both finalists¡¯ performances so far.


    The lead role in the GH Group-backed movie was a juicy prize.


    ¡®But it¡¯s not a guaranteed success.¡¯


    Strictly speaking, it was a high probability of success.


    A lot of investment. Significant marketing efforts and a large budget for filming.


    With GH Group footing the bill for everything, the movie had a higher chance of success than most.


    That¡¯s how audition programs usually go.


    It feels like winning is the end, but in reality, it¡¯s just the beginning.


    That¡¯s why, when Han Yegun had first heard about the audition, he hadn¡¯t been particularly interested.


    "...But. If someone shows something special here, things might change."


    "Are you rooting for anyone in particular?"


    "Both of them. If they don¡¯t both give it their all, this won¡¯t be satisfying. Honestly, I was hoping Han Soyu would make it to the finals."


    "But she lost to Narumi Sora in the round of 16."


    "So, I¡¯m hoping she lives up to expectations."


    Otherwise, it would be a very boring final.

 Chapter 143

    "Finals. Only one step remains until we find the ultimate winner."


    Yoon Kyung-deok, the announcer, stood at the podium, gazing at the audience. Unlike other auditions, however, this final round wouldn''t take place on stage.


    Here, only Yoon Kyung-deok, as the MC, and the actors who had participated in Hyper Action Star so far were present, along with the audience who had purchased tickets.


    The final showdown would be broadcast in real-time on the large screen behind the stage.


    "Now, I will explain the rules."


    The finals of Hyper Action Star had one last set of rules.


    "It will be a comprehensive challenge, encompassing everything they''ve done so far."


    Gunfights, capture battles, and various stunts¡ªeverything could be utilized, but with one caveat: it had to follow the script.


    ¡°A script?¡±


    One of the audience members muttered absentmindedly. Up until now, while the show was said to involve acting, there hadn''t really been a proper script.


    It was mostly improvisation, with few people being able to act properly. More than an acting audition, the show was seen as a contest of action skills among the actors¡ªa kind of variety show.


    "The script was provided about two hours ago. Of course, it¡¯s said to be a preview of the screenplay for the upcoming film Mine. While some parts may resemble the actual movie, there will likely be many changes during filming."


    The script given to the two finalists was framed around Mine, an upcoming movie. It included the theme of the film and the plot of the scene to be used in the finals.


    "The two superhumans will have their final battle at the research lab where they were once experimented on."


    The set, as described, resembled a research facility.


    Various equipment and devices were scattered throughout the space.


    "Due to their actions, the lab is on the verge of destruction. The one responsible for bringing the lab to ruin..."


    A face appeared on the screen.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    "And her character¡¯s name is..."


    Yeohwa. Two syllables appeared on the screen, and as the audience whispered the name, Yoon Kyung-deok continued speaking.


    "And the last superhuman remaining in the lab. Her name is..."


    Narumi Sora.


    Her character¡¯s name was Shin Arin, and her superpower was physical enhancement. It was the same ability she had demonstrated throughout the competition.


    Although her ability wasn''t flashy, she had made it to the finals by effectively using regeneration and physical enhancement without relying on CGI. The audience, however, seemed underwhelmed. Even though they knew superpower-based action scenes were difficult, it still felt a bit dull.


    "The plot is simple. Yeohwa, who destroyed the lab, will face Shin Arin, the final experiment subject left in the lab, in a battle."


    Yoon Kyung-deok checked the time. It was time to begin. The signal had come through that both actors were ready.


    "Now, let''s begin the finals of Hyper Action Star!"


    The screen behind him rapidly changed.


    Smoke rose from all sides of the set.


    The lab set, which was eerily lifelike, left the audience speechless.


    ¡®How much money did they spend on this?¡¯


    It looked like a fully produced movie scene. The rising smoke and the wreckage of the ruined lab were so realistic that everyone could predict this set would later be used for Mine.


    It was practically a teaser for the film. Even if the final content differed, the concept of the movie could already be inferred.


    ¡®Of course, that¡¯s assuming the actors can pull it off.¡¯


    Director Han Ye-geon crossed his arms and quietly watched the screen. The two actors stood facing each other in the lab. Han Ye-geon narrowed his eyes.


    The winner was already almost certain, but would it end anticlimactically?


    Or perhaps...


    Narumi Sora.


    A Japanese aspiring actress, nineteen years old.


    She had two younger siblings, and her parents were regular office workers. Aside from her pretty appearance, her profile was nothing special.


    She had never participated in a proper film or drama. Her only acting experience consisted of small children¡¯s plays at amusement parks and minor roles on small stages.


    But she hadn''t stopped there. She studied Korean and flew to South Korea.


    ¡°Why did you decide to participate in Hyper Action Star?¡±


    This interview, filmed before the finals began, would likely air during the broadcast.


    ¡°When I was young, my parents showed me old movies.¡±


    Movies without special effects, where people performed real stunts. It was Hong Kong action cinema, a genre that could no longer be seen.


    ¡°I thought it was really cool. So, I made up my mind that one day, I¡¯d perform action scenes like that.¡±


    "But isn¡¯t Hyper Action Star different, since it deals with superpowers?"


    ¡°I just won¡¯t use them.¡±


    "Ah, so that¡¯s why you chose ¡®physical enhancement¡¯ as your superpower?"


    "Yes. I¡¯m confident in anything that involves using my body."


    Her acting might still be lacking, but she was certain she wouldn¡¯t lose when it came to action.


    Yes, she was confident.


    At least, she had been until recently.


    "......"


    Sora exhaled deeply as she looked ahead.


    The lab, covered in rising smoke, appeared before her eyes. The set was so well-prepared that it hardly seemed like a set at all.


    Just that alone made her feel like coming to Korea had been the right decision.


    A place where she could perform real action scenes. In Japan, Sora hadn¡¯t been allowed to perform the kind of action scenes she had always dreamed of.


    Some ridiculed her, saying it wasn¡¯t acting.


    Others said it was too excessive.


    After all, the kind of action she wanted to do was outdated.


    Korea might be similar, but at least for now, this was enough.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    She saw Seoyeon quietly walking toward her. No, once the scene started, she should call her "Yeohwa."


    Her outfit was a jet-black dress. It wasn¡¯t the school uniform she usually wore.


    For some reason, she had donned a black dress and black stockings, dressed entirely in black.


    And strangely, though it seemed out of place, it suited her perfectly.


    Long, black hair, and calm, red-tinged eyes. Her hands were bare.


    Unlike Sora, she hadn¡¯t brought any props.


    ¡®Is she underestimating me?¡¯


    Sora didn¡¯t know, but she thought it was possible.


    Seoyeon¡¯s performances so far had far surpassed the ordinary, not just in terms of acting but also in action.


    Sora was confident in her physical skills, but every time she looked at Seoyeon, her confidence waned.


    ¡®Still.¡¯


    She couldn¡¯t lose.


    And there was a strategy she could use. Seoyeon, as an actress, strictly adhered to the script.


    In other words, since she had the ability to regenerate, there had to be a weakness.


    Regeneration meant she had to take hits to use it.


    And when non-professional actors were involved, even more so.


    Every time, Sora had responded with quick reflexes.


    ¡®Is that what she¡¯s referring to?¡¯


    Watching Seoyeon¡¯s calm demeanor, Sora slowly nodded.


    Fine. If Seoyeon said she¡¯d adjust, then she would go along with it.


    Whether it turned out to be a convincing performance or a clumsy farce, it was up to the viewers to decide.


    ¡°Yeohwa!!¡±


    Sora¡ªno, Shin Arin¡ªchose to go for her gun first.


    The finals incorporated all the rules from the previous rounds.


    Just like in the preliminaries, the goal was to land a critical shot and incapacitate the opponent.


    Yeohwa, with both hands down, hadn¡¯t even drawn the gun strapped to her thigh.


    So, if she shot first, it would be over.


    Click.


    As the gun barrel aimed and Sora¡¯s finger pulled the trigger¡ª


    Yeohwa¡¯s right hand struck Shin Arin¡¯s, disarming her effortlessly.


    Sora¡¯s eyes darted as the gun clattered to the ground.


    ¡°What? Are you going to rely on a gun?¡±


    Before she could even respond.


    At the same moment, Seoyeon had already stopped moving.


    Her crimson eyes locked onto Sora¡¯s.


    Instinctively, Shin Arin raised her leg.


    But¡ª


    Wham!!


    Yeohwa blocked her knee with her right arm effortlessly.


    Then, as Yeohwa¡¯s left hand moved, Shin Arin swatted it away.


    ¡®She¡¯s deliberately making it easy for me to see her moves.¡¯


    It was disconcerting.


    Despite the simplicity of the moves, they were clearly performed without much force. Since this was acting, neither could strike with full power.


    But the ease with which Seoyeon countered left Sora unsettled.


    Conversely, Sora was only able to block because her opponent made her movements obvious.


    ¡®I¡¯ll adjust to you.¡¯


    What had seemed impossible now felt surprisingly feasible.


    ¡°Not sure what you¡¯re thinking, but...¡±


    Yeohwa¡¯s voice reached her ears.


    Her eyes narrowed mischievously, and a sly smile crossed her face.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve got the time to think about other things?¡±


    At that moment, Sora realized that Yeohwa¡¯s hand was pressed against her chest.


    ¡®What?¡¯


    In an instant, the scenery around her changed.


    The props decorating the set were mostly soft, made of foam or something similarly spongy.


    Still, being thrown several meters at once made it feel different.


    To the audience, it probably looked like she was hurled through the air by a superpower.


    ¡®Does she actually have powers?¡¯


    From Sora¡¯s perspective, that¡¯s exactly how it felt.


    Despite being the one attacked, Yeohwa hadn¡¯t even pursued her.


    It was like facing off against a final boss.


    Sora had seen The Chaser, but this felt completely different from the atmosphere Cha Seo-ah had given off.


    If Cha Seo-ah had been a terrifying serial killer, this was like confronting a monster.


    It felt like standing before a predator.


    Even though Sora knew this was just acting, a chill ran down her spine.


    ¡®Fine.¡¯


    Sora exhaled sharply, regaining her focus.


    At this point, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    ¡®Seoyeon said she¡¯d adjust to me.¡¯


    She reached into the sling bag at her waist and pulled out a prop she had prepared.


    It had been checked by the staff beforehand.


    Made from a dense sponge, the weapon was quite unconventional.


    ¡°What the...?¡±


    ¡°Why that?¡±


    The audience, watching from the screen, was abuzz.


    Not just them¡ªJo Seohui, watching the finals, also narrowed her eyes.


    ¡®Nunchucks?¡¯


    The sound of chains clinking echoed through the speakers.


    Now that she thought about it, Sora had mentioned she liked Hong Kong cinema.


    Had she chosen this weapon to reflect that concept?


    ¡®If it¡¯s sloppy, it¡¯ll only cost her points.¡¯


    Though Jo Seohui thought that, remembering the earlier exchange between the two, she wasn¡¯t sure what to expect.


    Their first encounter.


    It was true that Seoyeon had adjusted to Sora¡¯s moves, but Sora¡¯s reaction speed had been impressive.


    Her claim to be confident in physical skills wasn¡¯t unfounded.


    At the same time, Seohui began to understand how Sora had managed to defeat Han Soyu in the round of 16.


    As the audience murmured about the sudden appearance of nunchucks¡ª


    "......"


    Seoyeon stood silently, watching Sora.


    Her face remained calm, but internally, Seoyeon was quite surprised.


    Unlike the others¡¯ reactions of ¡°Nunchucks, seriously?¡± hers was different.


    ¡®Why isn¡¯t she using a katana?¡¯


    If she¡¯s Japanese, shouldn¡¯t she be wielding a katana?


    I wanted to try catching a blade.


    Seoyeon felt a bit disappointed.

 Chapter 144

    ''What is going on?''


    PD Lee Gi-tae felt a strange sense of disconnect as he watched the finals unfold. While the show was technically an audition, it had always been structured like a variety show.


    But this final round was different. It seemed much more focused on acting and the audition aspect, compared to the previous rounds, which had been more about testing the contestants'' quick thinking in real-time¡ªmore like a variety show in format.


    For the finals, however, they had been given a script and two hours of preparation time, indicating that the focus was on acting.


    ''It''s also the last chance to verify their skills.''


    Since the overall setting had been shared from the preliminary rounds up to this point, they likely had an idea of how things would unfold. The general format of Hyper Action Star had been to throw the actors into a specific setting and give them missions.


    They could have planned their acting during these missions in advance.


    Even so, it would have been difficult to fully choreograph an action sequence in just two hours.


    Two hours of preparation¡ªif they had discussed things beforehand¡ªmight have been enough time to finalize some key sequences.


    In a live performance context, at best they could prepare one or two scenes within that time frame, likely lasting no more than 10 minutes. Typically, you would expect about 5 minutes of material.


    But that wasn¡¯t a problem. Even in movies, action scenes typically only last a few minutes.


    So, Lee Gi-tae had expected that the final would mostly showcase the actors'' performance in terms of dialogue, background, and narrative. In such a format, they could get about 10 to 20 minutes of footage.


    If not, it wouldn¡¯t matter.


    ¡®That¡¯s why we prepared several backup options.¡¯


    For example, pre-filmed interviews. They could also insert clips showing the two actors¡¯ performances in previous missions.


    Altogether, they had prepared about 40 minutes of content to edit into the show, both before the finals began and to insert appropriately afterward.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    Lee Gi-tae checked the time. Five minutes had already passed.


    He could sense that the audience, who had initially been clapping in awe at the early exchanges, were starting to feel puzzled. Even though it was only a light skirmish, the quality seemed far beyond what could be expected from just two hours of practice.


    Now, they probably expected to see more acting rather than action.


    That is, until Narumi Sora pulled out the nunchucks.


    The audience gasped at the unexpected choice of weapon, but the staff and professionals reacted differently.


    ¡®How...?¡¯


    Choreographing a fight using weapons was far more difficult than unarmed combat. He was certain that no matter what they had done in those two hours, this shouldn¡¯t have been possible.


    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s just a simple swing or two?¡¯


    That might be manageable. Still, something felt off.


    On both sides, it didn¡¯t seem like they were adjusting to a pre-choreographed fight... It felt like they were genuinely battling in real time.


    Lee Gi-tae held his breath as he watched. He couldn¡¯t predict how this final would unfold anymore.


    A single breath.


    With her nunchucks tucked under her arm, Sora stared at Seoyeon. The realm of acting had already passed.


    Shin Arin¡¯s role only required lines that had been rehearsed in advance. Her opponent would have memorized those lines, too.


    But no choreography for action scenes had been prepared beforehand. This part would have to be fought as Narumi Sora, not as Shin Arin.


    This was no longer about acting¡ªit was pure action.


    ¡®It¡¯s what you said.¡¯


    Sora extended her left hand forward, her expression unreadable as she faced Seoyeon.


    It was a familiar stance. She had practiced this countless times as a child while watching movies.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    The nunchucks felt much lighter than real ones. Aside from the plastic chains, they were essentially sponge rods with a bit of weight added.


    Getting hit by them would only result in a dull thud. Still, Sora felt that even if she had brought her actual nunchucks, it would have made no difference.


    ¡°Do you like Hong Kong movies?¡±


    Suddenly, Yeohwa spoke. Sora couldn¡¯t tell if the question was directed at Shin Arin or Narumi Sora herself.


    But none of the pre-rehearsed lines involved a response to that question.


    Feeling unsure about her Korean pronunciation, Sora simply nodded and replied,


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Yeohwa¡¯s lips curled into a smile.


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Her voice sounded like a mocking sneer. Perhaps it was because of the previous dialogue, but it felt like she was ridiculing Sora¡¯s love for Hong Kong films.


    Of course, Sora didn¡¯t mind. She was used to such reactions.


    ¡°It won¡¯t just hurt a little if you get hit.¡±


    This was one of the pre-rehearsed lines. Shin Arin, being a character with physical enhancement powers, would easily break bones if she used such a weapon. It was a line meant to warn Seoyeon.


    With that, Sora took a step forward.


    One step, then another, and soon she was sprinting toward Seoyeon.


    Sliding her left foot forward, she swung the nunchucks in her right hand in a smooth arc toward Seoyeon.


    Whoosh!


    Seoyeon ducked to avoid the blow, her red eyes following the movement of the nunchucks before locking onto Sora once more.


    ¡®You dodged that, huh?¡¯


    Those eyes seemed to say.


    Sora chuckled internally. Upon reflection, she realized that Seoyeon never initiated an attack.


    Even when Sora had charged earlier, it had been her who attacked first with a knee strike.


    ¡°You sure are tough for someone who¡¯s taken so many hits,¡± Sora remarked in halting Korean.


    She didn¡¯t want to fall behind in dialogue, knowing it wouldn¡¯t benefit her to lose the verbal exchange as well.


    In response, Seoyeon raised her right hand and smashed a nearby case with it.


    Inside the case, which was made of sugar glass, was a weapon.


    A red fire axe.


    Yeohwa¡¯s lips curled into a smirk as she laid eyes on it.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re tough, too.¡±


    With the axe in hand, Yeohwa charged at Sora.


    A weapon!


    Up until now, Yeohwa had fought unarmed, but now, for the first time, she was attacking first with a weapon.


    ¡®This is dangerous.¡¯


    Before Sora could even process what was happening, the axe swung toward her, striking the foam wall behind her with a loud crash.


    The Styrofoam wall cracked under the impact, and Sora¡¯s eyes twitched in disbelief.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t that weapon supposed to be made of sponge?¡¯


    It was supposed to be a denser sponge, but it had just cracked the Styrofoam wall?


    For a moment, even Seoyeon seemed surprised that the wall had broken, her body freezing in place.


    For the first time, there was a delay in Seoyeon¡¯s movements.


    ¡®Now¡¯s my chance!!¡¯


    Sora swung her nunchucks toward the opening, and Yeohwa¡¯s eyes followed the trajectory.


    Yeohwa yanked the axe from the wall and deflected the nunchucks with the blade, as if she knew she couldn¡¯t overpower Sora with brute force.


    Rather than blocking the nunchucks directly, she twisted the axe to redirect them.


    If the weapons had been made of metal, the force might have dented or twisted them. But since both were soft sponges, the nunchucks bounced off like springs.


    As the nunchucks flew into the air, Seoyeon snatched them mid-flight.


    Then, with the axe raised high, she brought it down vertically.


    Crunch!


    The nunchucks shattered into pieces and fell to the floor.


    With both of her hands now empty, Sora lunged at Yeohwa.


    She aimed for her throat and chest, but before she could land a hit, Yeohwa¡¯s body surged forward, and her shoulder slammed into Sora¡¯s chest.


    ¡°......!!¡±


    Sora was thrown to the ground. The floor, padded with soft mats, cushioned her fall, but she hastily tried to push herself back up.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    But a red fire axe was now inches from her face.


    And with that, the finals of Hyper Action Star came to a dramatic close.


    Not without its share of surprises.


    The show Hyper Action Star, which had gained popularity for its audition to select the lead actor for an upcoming movie, had come to an end.


    Aside from the early hype surrounding Group A, the show had struggled with low ratings.


    Though there had been a slight rebound, the general opinion remained lukewarm. It was, after all, not a typical audition but more of a variety show, with less emphasis on acting and more on simple entertainment.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just how these promotional audition shows go.¡±


    ¡°Still, wasn¡¯t it kind of fun?¡±


    Reactions were generally mixed, but the show had managed to maintain decent ratings¡ªan average of over 6%.


    For a cable variety show, those numbers were quite impressive, and everyone was satisfied.


    Even if the show had ended here, most would have been content.


    But then, the finale exploded in popularity.


    [The spectacular finale of Hyper Action Star wasn¡¯t pre-choreographed?] [Narumi Sora: ¡®It felt like we were really fighting.¡¯]


    Articles like these quickly spread, setting the internet ablaze.


    Wait, but if that was the final battle, isn¡¯t that a spoiler for the movie?Nah, apparently the movie¡¯s plot is different.I wish the movie was like that though. So, Yeohwa is the protagonist?Yeah, whoever wins in the final becomes the lead.


    Yeohwa, the character, became a hot topic.


    Though portrayed as a villain, she was the ultimate victor.


    I was rooting for Sora though...Hold your head up, Sora. Losing to a strong opponent isn¡¯t shameful.A strong opponent (truly).Honestly, Sora did great considering her opponent was Seoyeon. I thought Sora¡¯s head was going to get split by that axe.


    Though some of the improvised lines felt awkward, they had been more than enough to draw viewers in.


    With action scenes dominating, many found the finale entertaining.


    What had been expected to be a mere 5-minute action scene had stretched to nearly 15 minutes, flooding the internet with clips and memes.


    In Ju Seoyeon¡¯s fan community, many hailed her performance as the best they¡¯d ever seen.


    Is Ju Seoyeon with the fire axe now her strongest version?Yup, even Cha Seo-ah would get her head split.But Cha Seo-ah uses an axe too.Seoyeon¡¯s always liked axes.?? Why?She said in an interview it¡¯s because axes look strong.;; Axes are strong, I guess;;


    Thus, Ju Seoyeon was chosen as the lead for Mine. There weren¡¯t many dissenting opinions about the decision.


    Though some people jokingly suggested she might want to try UFC instead of acting...


    Either way.


    Having secured the lead role in Mine, Ju Seoyeon soon found herself in high demand.


    ¡°Seoyeon, you¡¯ve got a public service ad offer.¡±


    ¡°Huh? For me? From where?¡±


    ¡°The fire department.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Seoyeon let out an exasperated sigh as the flood of CF offers continued to pour in.

 Chapter 145

    Currently, the only advertisement Seoyeon had properly filmed was for Eclat Etoile. She hadn¡¯t really done any other ads.


    Whenever she appeared on TV, Seoyeon always used Eclat Etoile¡¯s cosmetics, and she frequently promoted the brand whenever she got the chance. From the company¡¯s perspective, she became a very cost-effective celebrity.


    ...Although she felt like it had been used as a bit of an excuse on her end.


    Anyway, now that she was being referred to as one of the top trending celebrities, the number of offers for advertisements had increased significantly.


    Some of these offers were for things that didn¡¯t quite fit Seoyeon personally, like gaming pads or fishing rods.


    Of course, there were legitimate offers as well, but she hadn¡¯t had much time recently to actually film any commercials.


    ¡®But I should start thinking about it now.¡¯


    After all, ads bring in a lot of money. And they also help improve a celebrity¡¯s public image.


    ¡®...Especially since I probably lost some goodwill with Hyper Action Star.''


    She felt like she might have gotten a little too intense during the action audition. To be honest, Seoyeon was somewhat disappointed that Min Doha hadn¡¯t made it to the finals.


    His acting style had meshed well with hers in many ways. Who would¡¯ve thought a Japanese actor wielding nunchucks would make it to the final round?


    ¡®Narumi Sora, right?¡¯


    Seoyeon muttered her name under her breath, tilting her head in thought.


    She didn¡¯t have any particular thoughts about her.


    Usually, you could just search a name online, and a wealth of information would pop up automatically. But when it came to Narumi Sora, there wasn¡¯t much to find.


    ¡®If she went back to Japan, that might explain it.¡¯


    She had never really been interested in the Japanese entertainment scene, either in this life or the previous one, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that she didn¡¯t know much. Still, it was a shame if Narumi¡¯s impressive acting in the finals went unnoticed.


    And besides...


    ¡®I didn¡¯t even get to ask if she watches VTubers.¡¯


    Not that it seemed like something Narumi would be into. She had been quite guarded before the finals, and afterward, she¡¯d just stared at Seoyeon with a somber expression.


    ¡®But I left a good impression¡ªwhy was she like that?¡¯


    Seoyeon felt a little annoyed. After all, she had played the hero in this performance.


    Yet Narumi had taken on the villain role again, which meant that Seoyeon¡¯s image had once again been associated with the murderous Cha Seo-ah.


    Aren¡¯t you tired of always playing the tough characters?How about quitting TV and joining UFC instead, Seoyeon?


    Comments like these had even appeared on her articles. Apparently, many people now thought of her as someone with an overwhelming physical presence. Judging by the number of likes those comments got, it seemed like a lot of people agreed.


    ¡®That¡¯s actually a better reaction.¡¯


    Her fan club had been flooded with all sorts of meme creations, after all. Seoyeon felt relieved that the era of AI deepfakes hadn¡¯t yet fully taken off.


    If AI had been as widespread now as it would be in the future, she¡¯d probably already be deepfaked into countless battle scenes with enemies, thanks to her action roles. Just imagining it made her shiver.


    ¡®...I¡¯ll be appearing in a variety show soon.¡¯


    She only had two weeks left until the filming for that observational variety show began. It wasn¡¯t far off.


    Still, before that, it would be good to consider taking on another advertisement. Not so much for the money, but for the sake of her public image.


    However...


    ¡°Seoyeon, what do you think of this chicken ad?¡±


    That brand would be revealed to have mistreated its franchise owners in six months.


    ¡°Oh, this one looks good, too. It¡¯s a new brand launched by a famous BJ. It¡¯s pretty popular with the younger crowd.¡±


    This brand, started by an internet broadcast BJ who ventured into business, would completely collapse within a year. And of course, any actors associated with the ads would see their reputations nosedive as well.


    ¡®This is tricky...¡¯


    While there were plenty of safe, average ads, nothing stood out as a perfect fit. Seoyeon sighed.


    Sometimes, having too much information could be a disadvantage. When you know too much, you tend to overthink things.


    Maybe she should just pick anything.


    But among all these offers, none seemed particularly helpful in improving her image.


    ¡®Why don¡¯t I get luxury brand offers like Sunbae Jung-woo does?¡¯


    That thought crossed her mind, but then she recalled how the internet currently viewed her.


    ¡®...It can¡¯t be helped.¡¯


    She had no choice but to accept it. The image she had now was far from the dignified and elegant one typically associated with actresses.


    ¡®Maybe I really should consider doing that public service ad for the fire department.¡¯


    Then again, would it really be right for Seoyeon, who had been running around wielding a fire axe, to do a PSA? She wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it a little more.¡±


    ¡°Alright. You¡¯re busy with your acting career anyway, so it¡¯s best to be careful with ad choices,¡± her manager, Park Eun-ha, replied.


    Seeing Seoyeon looking a little down, Park Eun-ha couldn¡¯t help but admire her.


    ¡®So many big ad offers, yet she¡¯s prioritizing her acting projects.¡¯


    Park Eun-ha was deeply attached to Seoyeon. In her eyes, Seoyeon was an actor who put her craft first, even when she was at the peak of her popularity.


    In reality, Seoyeon had only done one ad¡ªfor Eclat Etoile. She hadn¡¯t even glanced at the others that had come her way.


    What a role model for other actors!


    Anyway...


    ¡®I need to bring back that mysterious aura she had.¡¯


    As Seoyeon was deep in thought, an idea suddenly came to her. Although none of the offers she had received stood out, there was one company she could directly approach.


    It was an advertisement for a chair brand.


    Han Ye-gun stroked his chin as he observed Seoyeon.


    On TV, she had seemed like the type to play dark, mysterious roles. From the very beginning of Hyper Action Star, her character Yeohwa had been similar to her role as Cha Seo-ah.


    But seeing Seoyeon in person... how should he put it?


    ¡®She¡¯s actually quite bubbly, isn¡¯t she?¡¯


    If you looked closely, it was obvious. She might be hiding behind a poker face, but her eyes were full of emotion, constantly moving.


    As she gazed at Han Ye-gun, she radiated an intense curiosity.


    Han Ye-gun, who was usually sensitive to such things, found himself smiling despite himself.


    ¡®Smiling, huh.¡¯


    Normally, actors would observe him with nervous eyes, calling him a ¡°genius director.¡±


    Rumors about his temperamental nature were also widespread.


    That¡¯s why Han Ye-gun generally disliked being stared at.


    But for some reason, Seoyeon¡¯s gaze made him smile.


    Why?


    It felt like he was being looked at by a curious puppy meeting a stranger for the first time.


    It was pure, innocent curiosity.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Han Ye-gun had already seen her act.


    While her physical abilities were impressive to say the least, that wasn¡¯t what acting was about.


    ¡°I have a lot of things I want to try in this movie.¡±


    Maybe he could draw out the cheerful personality she was showing now, while also showcasing the intense strength she had displayed in Hyper Action Star as Yeohwa.


    He wanted to present both sides of her character.


    ¡°You can do it, right?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t so much a question as a declaration.


    Most actors would feel nervous after being addressed like this, but Seoyeon, her eyes gleaming with determination, simply nodded.


    Her enthusiasm left Han Ye-gun feeling quite satisfied.


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Han Ye-gun, known for his stoic demeanor, broke into a broad smile.


    _______


    ¡°Huh? A commercial?¡±


    Kwak Hyun-woo, the head of the advertising planning department at Aidz Chairs, couldn¡¯t believe what he had just heard.


    ¡°Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. It was a manager from Nova Entertainment. She said she represented Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Ju Seoyeon wants to do an ad for our brand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    Kwak Hyun-woo blinked in disbelief.


    Sure, Aidz was a moderately successful chair brand.


    But compared to its competitors, it didn¡¯t stand out.


    And more importantly...


    ¡®We don¡¯t hire expensive ad models.¡¯


    They didn¡¯t see much value in hiring big-name models. In the past, they had hired several trending celebrities for ads, but they hadn¡¯t seen any real results from it.


    Hiring unknown actors or idols didn¡¯t make much of a difference. That¡¯s why Aidz had stopped pursuing high-profile celebrities.


    ¡°Wow, she¡¯s a hot topic right now. How much is she planning to charge?¡±


    The fact that her agency had reached out first was unusual.


    Though it happened on occasion, it was rare.


    Usually, such deals were the result of a personal connection.


    Nova Entertainment had worked with Aidz in the past, advertising another actor. It was likely that connection that made this possible.


    But with Ju Seoyeon¡¯s current level of fame, Aidz wasn¡¯t expecting her to reach out to them.


    ¡®This is strange.¡¯


    At her level, she should be getting a flood of CF offers. Why would she choose Aidz of all brands?


    ¡°So, shall I send a polite rejection email?¡±


    ¡°Wait, hold on. Let¡¯s think about it.¡±


    After some hesitation, Kwak Hyun-woo crossed his arms, swaying as he pondered.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s schedule a meeting.¡±


    Let¡¯s hear what the reason is.


    That was his decision.


    He couldn¡¯t figure out why Ju Seoyeon wanted to advertise for Aidz.

 Chapter 146

    It had been two months since Dream Future wrapped up, which made this unexpected fan meeting seem a little strange to Seoyeon.


    Even more surprising was that it wasn¡¯t just fans attending this event; there were also people coming from a Japanese broadcasting station.


    ''There¡¯s no way an overseas company would request a domestic fan meeting.¡¯


    She¡¯d heard that Dream Future had recently sold its broadcasting rights to Japan. Maybe they were coming to check in on the series that was set to air in Japan soon.


    "Don¡¯t get your hopes up too much."


    While she was lost in thought, she noticed Park Jung-woo, looking sharp in his formal suit, glancing her way. Next to him stood Ma Yeon-woo, forming an odd and mismatched duo.


    ¡®They really stand out.¡¯


    The two of them together had a way of making the female staff passing by stop in their tracks. After all, Park Jung-woo was a rising star, and Ma Yeon-woo was a member of the top domestic idol group, Just X.


    It would be more unusual if they didn¡¯t draw attention.


    "I¡¯m not really expecting much," Seoyeon replied calmly. Her perfect poker face and near-flawless emotional control kept her thoughts well hidden.


    At this, Park Jung-woo chuckled.


    "You¡¯re definitely hoping it¡¯ll do well in Japan."


    "..."


    How did he know?


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes darted around nervously. Truthfully, she was a bit excited.


    After all, if it aired in Japan, wouldn¡¯t Japanese VTubers watch it too? Maybe someone would even live-stream a reaction to it? Just thinking about it gave her a strange sense of excitement.


    Even if she didn¡¯t see it live, if the show gained popularity, there might be clips or highlights floating around. Dream Future had a distinct vibe, after all.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    Seeing Seoyeon¡¯s reaction, Jung-woo nodded, clearly confirming his thoughts.


    ¡®I knew it.¡¯


    Although it was hard to gauge her emotions from her face alone, her behavior gave her away. Her light steps, the way her body slightly trembled with anticipation, and most telling of all, the sparkle in her eyes. Seoyeon¡¯s eyes often betrayed her emotions, even if her face didn¡¯t. Sometimes, when her eyes shimmered with a red glow, they even looked a bit terrifying.


    As a child, her eyes had even appeared in his nightmares¡ªusually in a horror context.


    "Alright, everyone, let¡¯s get ready."


    At the staff''s announcement, the celebrities gathered for the fan meeting began to move. The event was taking place at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, a spacious venue with a large audience capacity.


    ¡®This is more serious than I thought.¡¯


    Even though she had been involved in the entertainment industry for a long time, this was Seoyeon¡¯s first official fan meeting. While the news about Dream Future airing in Japan was exciting, this event was what had her really buzzing.


    Although she had participated in a press event for Tale of the Hidden Moon, this full-scale fan meeting felt different.


    "Seoyeon, over here."


    As she wandered around, looking for her place, Cha Nahyi waved her over. Nahyi, looking relaxed and comfortable, was clearly used to these kinds of events.


    It was moments like these that reminded Seoyeon of how different idols were from actors. Idols were definitely pros when it came to interacting with fans.


    "What kind of magic did you pull off?"


    "Huh?"


    "Your group¡¯s been so quiet lately."


    Nahyi had plenty to ask Seoyeon after a long time apart. Summer Girls was a group known for its internal conflicts.


    Even the OST work for Sky Garden, a drama in which Nahyi had a role, had stirred up tension within the group. But now? They had been working diligently, completing their tasks with a focus and professionalism that was rare.


    Without any drama or discord, they had simply gotten the job done.


    "Maybe they just really wanted to do a good job?" Seoyeon suggested.


    "Is that so?"


    Nahyi seemed doubtful. When she had asked So-eun, the most reasonable member of Summer Girls, about the change, she got a strange response.


    "Seoyeon showed them magic."


    "Huh?"


    "And they met a magician."


    "???"


    Though So-eun wasn¡¯t known for her sense of humor, she wasn¡¯t one to lie either. Did Seoyeon really perform magic and introduce them to a magician?


    ¡®No, that¡¯s ridiculous.¡¯


    But the more she thought about it, the more her mind entertained the possibility. After all, Hyper Action Star had showcased Seoyeon¡¯s character in a way that made her seem almost superhuman.


    ¡®Seoyeon¡¯s just a bit... extra healthy.¡¯


    Nahyi found Seoyeon¡¯s exuberant personality adorable and didn¡¯t give much thought to the rumors or gossip surrounding her.


    "I really don¡¯t know."


    Seoyeon felt a bit uneasy under Nahyi¡¯s gaze but maintained her composure.


    "I just showed them a magic trick to get closer."


    "Magic trick? You can do magic?"


    Following Jung-woo¡¯s gaze, Ma Yeon-woo noticed Seoyeon¡¯s line.


    ¡®She¡¯s that popular?¡¯


    She really was a rising star.


    Even Cha Nahyi¡¯s line was long. At this rate, Ma Yeon-woo might not even make third place.


    He chuckled to himself. Despite the competition, every fan was precious, and he greeted the first fan in line with a warm smile.


    "Since there are a lot of people, it¡¯s better to keep the autographs simple," Nahyi advised quietly, noticing the crowd.


    "I¡¯ll be fine," Seoyeon replied with a smile.


    She was filled with excitement. This was her first time showing her signature to the public, aside from Han Seon-ah. She had spent countless hours practicing at home, ready to finally reveal it.


    She couldn¡¯t help but remember how her classmates used to look at her strangely when she carried her pen around school, hoping someone would ask for an autograph.


    ¡®What does she plan to do with that pen?¡¯


    Their wary looks had made her quietly stash the pen away.


    ¡®Wow, she¡¯s fast.¡¯


    Nahyi glanced over at Seoyeon¡¯s signing process and was impressed. Her signature was surprisingly cute and intricate, something that looked like it would take time to write. Yet, Seoyeon¡¯s hand moved swiftly, producing perfectly crafted signatures one after the other.


    It was almost like watching a printer in action.


    Despite signing so many autographs, Seoyeon showed no signs of fatigue. In fact, she seemed energized, and her cheerful mood lifted Nahyi¡¯s spirits too.


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    As Nahyi continued to sign, she noticed something unusual.


    A mother and her young daughter, probably just entering elementary school, stood in front of Seoyeon. The little girl, who had been waiting in the crowd for a while, was clearly tired, but her face lit up the moment she saw Seoyeon.


    "My daughter¡¯s a big fan. I loved the drama too."


    The mother¡¯s tone was refined, almost like a teacher¡¯s.


    She had an air of elegance about her, which matched her voice.


    But what caught Nahyi¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t just the mother-daughter duo¡ªit was Seoyeon¡¯s reaction.


    Seoyeon, who had been signing non-stop, suddenly froze. Her eyes widened slightly, and the red hue in them seemed to shimmer.


    However, she quickly recovered.


    "Thank you so much for watching. Your daughter is adorable!"


    "Hehe."


    The little girl giggled, and Seoyeon, rare for her, smiled back as she signed.


    Other fans had tried to shake Seoyeon¡¯s hand, but the girl didn¡¯t ask for that. Her mother gently reminded her not to bother the actress.


    "Don¡¯t trouble the actress."


    "But~!"


    "It¡¯s okay," Seoyeon said, taking the girl¡¯s hand with a bright smile.


    "Make sure you don¡¯t give your mom any trouble, okay?"


    "Yes!"


    The mother smiled and moved along, and Seoyeon waved them off.


    After that, the rest of the signing event went smoothly without any further issues.


    Seoyeon seemed perfectly normal, parting ways with everyone with a smile. At least, that¡¯s how it appeared to Nahyi. She couldn¡¯t shake a small feeling of unease.


    Seoyeon stood in front of the vending machine, lost in thought. She wanted to grab a cold drink before heading home.


    ¡®No coins.¡¯


    She had been caught folding too many coins, and they had all been confiscated. And this vending machine didn¡¯t take cards, of course.


    "Here."


    Out of nowhere, Park Jung-woo appeared, handing her a can of cold coffee.


    "...What are you doing here?"


    "Well, this is a staff area, so of course, I¡¯d be here."


    He laughed, noticing Seoyeon¡¯s embarrassment.


    Jung-woo had clearly noticed her unease earlier and had come to offer a little help. It wasn¡¯t hard to tell that she was feeling unsettled.


    ¡®Nahyi unnie had been watching me closely too.¡¯


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t particularly bothered by what had happened earlier. She was just a little surprised.


    Nothing more, nothing less.


    But now, she had something to think about.


    Something she¡¯d been considering for a while.


    ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll talk to writer Min Se-hee about it later.¡¯


    Taking a sip of the cold coffee, Seoyeon felt her mood lighten.

 Chapter 147

    After the fan meeting, Seoyeon suddenly realized she hadn¡¯t properly thanked Park Jung-woo. She wasn¡¯t exactly sure why he had given her the coffee, but she suspected it was because she had looked a bit down, and he wanted to cheer her up.


    But still...


    ''I just took the coffee without even thanking him.¡¯


    All she had said to him was, ¡°Why are you here?¡± after receiving the coffee. Since she had another reason to talk to him, Seoyeon thought maybe she should treat him to a meal as a way of making it up.


    And without wasting any time, she texted him.


    Are you crazy?


    That was the reply she got.


    He was apparently too worried about getting caught in a scandal if they were seen eating together. After all, she was still a minor, and being seen alone with a young actress could easily lead to rumors, Park Jung-woo explained.


    ''Well, that can¡¯t be helped.¡¯


    Seoyeon decided she¡¯d make it up to him another time. Since he didn¡¯t reply after that, she didn¡¯t dwell on it.


    Truthfully, the real reason she wanted to meet with him wasn¡¯t just to buy him a meal.


    ¡®I wanted to ask him about writer Min Se-hee.¡¯


    With Sky Garden currently filming, she could probably speak to the writer directly if she wanted to. But it still felt awkward, and she thought it might be easier to ask Park Jung-woo about what the writer liked. Unfortunately, she had failed.


    ¡®Did he catch on?¡¯


    Park Jung-woo, being the perceptive actor he was, must have sensed that she was trying to ask a favor.


    Still, the fan meeting had left a lasting impact on Seoyeon. She hadn¡¯t expected to run into someone there.


    "......."


    Thinking about it made her thoughts a bit jumbled.


    ¡®I¡¯ll deal with that later.¡¯


    With that thought, Seoyeon turned her attention back to the present. She was currently in the car with her manager, Park Eun-ha, heading to a meeting.


    Today, she had a meeting scheduled with the chair brand "Aidis."


    "Hello, I¡¯m Gwak Hyun-woo, the head of advertising for Aidis."


    "Hello, I¡¯m actress Ju Seoyeon."


    As they greeted each other, Seoyeon could sense him sizing her up. It wasn¡¯t anything new to her¡ªshe¡¯d seen that kind of gaze many times before.


    People often looked at her like that, especially because of her young age and her relatively short career, which led some to doubt her abilities.


    But this felt like a different kind of skepticism. She had seen it before from the PD of Turn on the King.


    It was the kind of look that asked, Why is this person here?


    But today, it seemed to go a step further, as if he were thinking, Why is someone like her here? And how much is she going to demand?


    ¡®Well, that¡¯s understandable. Aidis isn¡¯t known for hiring expensive models.¡¯


    Expensive models hadn¡¯t worked out for them in the past. Seoyeon knew this not from her past life but from recent articles she had read.


    Even though Aidis was expanding its business, the chair market was highly competitive, so they were likely searching for new avenues.


    "I¡¯ve seen you quite a bit on TV recently. Your ad for E?clat E?toile was fantastic," Gwak Hyun-woo said as they sat down.


    Starting with a compliment¡ªit was a basic tactic. First, you flatter the other person to make them feel good, which in turn makes them more likely to reveal their intentions.


    But Seoyeon could tell he was still trying to figure out why she was there.


    ¡®He wants to know why I¡¯m here.¡¯


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t ask directly. And Seoyeon, with her calm demeanor, didn¡¯t seem like someone he could joke around with easily.


    ¡®She¡¯s still a high school student, right? About to turn eighteen soon.¡¯


    For an actress, she was very young. But her expressionless face and the red glow in her eyes made it hard to tell what she was thinking. Even as Gwak Hyun-woo talked about her past roles, she only nodded without much reaction.


    ¡®Her manager seems to trust her completely.¡¯


    The manager simply listened quietly, not intervening in the conversation. It was rare to see such confidence in a young actress¡¯s ability to handle a meeting.


    "So, may I ask what brought you to this meeting?" Gwak Hyun-woo finally asked, unable to hold back any longer.


    After all, if this was about an ad, he needed to find a polite way to decline.


    He¡¯d complimented her enough that she wouldn¡¯t take offense if he turned her down. He didn¡¯t plan on using Seoyeon as a model but didn¡¯t want to burn any bridges either.


    Seoyeon, who had been quietly observing him, finally spoke up.


    ¡®If Aidis takes that spot, it¡¯ll be fine.¡¯


    Aidis¡¯s products were known to be of higher quality, and their new chair line was specifically designed for students.


    After considering this, Seoyeon spoke again.


    "I¡¯m not asking for a high contract fee."


    This caught Gwak Hyun-woo off guard.


    "You can just pay me the same amount you¡¯re paying your current models."


    "Really? Is that true?"


    His eyes widened in surprise. If that were the case, there was no reason to hesitate.


    "If you¡¯re serious about that, then..."


    "Of course, there¡¯s one condition."


    "I knew it."


    There had to be a catch. He braced himself for some unreasonable demand.


    "Make sure I look really pretty in the ad."


    "...Huh?"


    "Especially intellectual-looking."


    "...??"


    At first, he thought she was joking. But seeing Seoyeon¡¯s serious expression, he realized she was dead serious.


    "That¡¯s all you¡¯re asking for?"


    "Yes."


    "Then..."


    "Just make sure I look as beautiful as possible."


    "Of course."


    How many times would she emphasize that? He was caught off guard by the simplicity of her request.


    ¡®Is that really all?¡¯


    Gwak Hyun-woo was stunned. He didn¡¯t expect things to go this smoothly. All she wanted was to look good in the ad, something they¡¯d already aim for.


    "Alright, we¡¯ll make it happen," he agreed without hesitation. After all, it wasn¡¯t every day you could hire a rising star for such a reasonable fee.


    And so, Seoyeon wrapped up the negotiation. She could only hope Aidis would secure the sponsorship deal with Sky Garden.


    ¡®I remember that spot was filled last minute.¡¯


    It had even made the news. Apparently, the drama had almost gone without a chair sponsor, but the brand that stepped in had unexpectedly hit the jackpot, securing a dominant position in the student chair market.


    One day, while filming Sky Garden, Seoyeon overheard a conversation.


    "Oh, we¡¯ve got another sponsor," said writer Min Se-hee with a somewhat conflicted look.


    It seemed Aidis had agreed to sponsor the drama, just as Seoyeon had hoped.


    "Don¡¯t worry about the product placement. I¡¯ll handle it in the script," said Director Kim Il-soo with a reassuring laugh.


    Seoyeon let out a sigh of relief. Everything was falling into place just as she had planned.


    "This chair ad you¡¯re doing¡ªit looks great," the director added, smiling.


    "That¡¯s why the product placement came through," Min Se-hee mused, finally understanding the connection.


    "It¡¯s a great opportunity," she admitted, though she couldn¡¯t shake her doubts.


    ¡®Will it really succeed?¡¯


    Even though everyone had high hopes for the drama, she couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    "Haa..."


    Min Se-hee sighed as she felt someone¡¯s gaze on her. She turned to find Seoyeon standing nearby, staring at her.


    Startled, she flinched.


    "Min Se-hee, can I speak with you for a moment?" Seoyeon asked calmly.


    Min Se-hee froze in place.

 Chapter 148

    Seoyeon had been testing the waters lately, trying to engage in conversation with writer Min Se-hee. There were two main reasons for this. One was purely personal.


    As for the other reason...


    "The script has changed a bit recently."


    "Yes, yes."


    Min Se-hee nodded, stammering. In the world of drama, a writer holds considerable power, especially if they are a star writer. But Min Se-hee wasn''t a star writer.


    In fact, this was practically her first work. So when a well-known actor spoke up, she couldn''t help but be cautious.


    Especially when it came to...


    ¡®Seoyeon is a bit intimidating.¡¯


    If Seoyeon had heard that, she might have been a little down, but it was true. Seoyeon, with her hamster-like cuteness, was also an imposing presence to someone like Min Se-hee.


    Seoyeon''s image? Cute face but with the power to obliterate multiple people in battle¡ªa strong, overwhelming persona. This perception had somehow started to seep into the script recently.


    "Why does Lee Yu-joo get hit with a chair here?"


    Seoyeon was genuinely confused. After all, she''d seen Sky Garden in her past life.


    Despite usually feeling nothing toward romance-heavy dramas, Seoyeon had actually enjoyed Sky Garden. At least, that¡¯s what she assumed. For that reason, she had a lot of faith in the show.


    And for good reason¡ªit had garnered legendary ratings on cable television. Now that it was set to air on national TV, suddenly a chair shot?


    There definitely hadn''t been such a scene in the past. Sky Garden had maintained a delicate tension throughout.


    "It¡¯s just that, with your current image, action scenes have been well-received..."


    "Do you really think I¡¯d go around hitting people with chairs?"


    "Ah, no, not that... It''s just that action has become such a hot topic recently..."


    It seemed the popularity of Hyper Action Star was starting to influence the script. But seriously, a chair shot?


    It was turning into a delinquent drama out of nowhere.


    "I don¡¯t use chairs."


    "...?"


    "I don¡¯t need them. I can handle things with my bare hands."


    For the record, the scene in question was originally part of the script. Lee Yu-joo, being somewhat of an outcast at the elite Sun High School, had her fair share of enemies.


    She was the top student in her grade, which naturally attracted jealousy and some ill will. At one point, a minor scuffle occurred, and the eldest son of the Lee Hyuk-soo family, Lee Min-hyuk, stepped in to save her.


    It was a moment that had viewers wondering, "Is he the male lead?"¡ªa moment that stirred hearts. At least, until the next episode revealed that the harassment had been orchestrated by Lee Min-hyuk himself.


    ¡®Yeah, the writer''s inexperience is showing here.¡¯


    In her past life, she wondered how such a drama had managed to come out so well. There must have been other shaky elements at the time too.


    ¡®Maybe the actors kept things together during filming.¡¯


    Thinking back on it now, that was a likely scenario. But what mattered right now was her current script.


    "You''re right. That scene doesn¡¯t quite fit the tone of the drama."


    Fortunately, Min Se-hee agreed to revise it. However, she seemed a bit disappointed. Did she really want to see Seoyeon deliver a chair shot that badly?


    ¡®I do have a chair ad deal, though.¡¯


    Although, the school chairs were a different brand. If she had used the advertised chair in the scene, it would have been a legendary product placement moment.


    "Well, I¡¯ll have to revise the script now..."


    Just as Min Se-hee was about to leave, Seoyeon hurriedly grabbed her by the shoulder.


    Though the initial reason for approaching her was the script, Seoyeon thought it might be a good opportunity to ask something she had been wanting to for a while. After all, who knew how much longer Min Se-hee would be on set.


    "Eek!"


    Min Se-hee''s reaction was rather dramatic, as if she were a mouse being grabbed by the neck by a cat.


    "..."


    "I was just a bit startled."


    Though Min Se-hee tried to downplay it, the truth was she was more than a little startled. After all, Seoyeon¡¯s hands were the same ones that deflected paintballs and tossed people around like they were weightless.


    If someone like Min Se-hee were caught by those hands, it was clear she would be flattened like a dried fish.


    It suddenly dawned on her.


    ¡®Lee Yu-joo wouldn¡¯t need a chair either.¡¯


    If her hands were her greatest weapon, why would she need to use a tool? Of course, Lee Yu-joo and Seoyeon were different characters, but that thought lingered in her mind.


    "Anyway."


    Seoyeon took a moment to choose her words before speaking again.


    "I have a script for a movie that I really want to work on."


    "Excuse me?"


    "A movie script... I was wondering if you could help with it."


    Min Se-hee looked at her, surprised. Of course, there were actors who ventured into directing.


    But wasn¡¯t Seoyeon still quite young for that?


    "I¡¯m not going to direct it. But I do want to make this movie."


    "That¡¯s quite an ambitious idea."


    More than that, Min Se-hee was curious. What kind of movie did Seoyeon want to make?


    ¡®Other people seem to be doing all sorts of things.¡¯


    Seoyeon pondered seriously. Should she do something more active, like other people?


    ¡®Studying was enough for now.¡¯


    She closed the notebook she had been scribbling in. To be honest, it wasn¡¯t really studying.


    It was more like vague planning for the future... though it was packaged as studying for the cameras installed in her room.


    Anyway, Golden Ducklings was a show about young stars showing their daily lives. If she was seen neglecting her studies, it would spark controversy.


    Isn¡¯t she a student? She doesn¡¯t even study!LOL, why would she study when she¡¯s already rich?


    Snarky comments like that were frequently posted online. Because of that, the cast made sure to include at least a brief scene of them studying.


    The difference between having it or not was bigger than one might think.


    As she tapped the chair lightly, Seoyeon muttered.


    "Should I say something?"


    She wanted to naturally place the chair as a product placement... but it felt awkward. This was the chair she would soon be advertising.


    Though the actual commercial hadn¡¯t been filmed yet, it didn¡¯t hurt to practice.


    ¡®But how do I even advertise a chair?¡¯


    For reference, Seoyeon had replaced all the chairs in her home with ones from Aidis. She wanted to promote them naturally, but it wasn¡¯t going as smoothly as she¡¯d hoped.


    "..."


    Now what?


    Seoyeon sat there, thinking seriously.


    Normally, what she did was either play games, watch VTubers, or consume various video content.


    She usually exercised in the mornings, so going now would be awkward. Plus, the gym would be crowded in the afternoon, and she felt too self-conscious to work out with all those eyes on her.


    ¡®Hmm.¡¯


    She sat back down. Should she just watch VTubers, as usual?


    While she was pondering that...


    "Sweetie~ Mom brought some fruit."


    "Huh? What?"


    Seoyeon turned her head naturally in response, only to freeze when she saw Soo-ah walk in.


    ¡®What is this?¡¯


    Soo-ah was different from usual. Normally, she dressed casually, like a typical housewife.


    But today, she was fully styled from head to toe, as if she''d been professionally coordinated. She looked flawless.


    Looking like that, she could easily pass for someone in her twenties. She didn¡¯t look like someone in her late thirties at all.


    ¡®This is ridiculous.¡¯


    Seoyeon thought seriously. It was almost hard to believe that her own appearance hadn''t been artificially enhanced.


    It must be good genes. Besides the looks, the outfit was eye-catching too.


    Comfortable, yet subtly highlighting her figure. Definitely not something Soo-ah would normally wear.


    ¡®Did Park Jung-woo¡¯s mother style her?¡¯


    Only someone like that could¡¯ve gotten Soo-ah to dress like this. While Ji-yeon¡¯s mother tried her best, she lacked the skill.


    ¡®She really knows how to play to her strengths.¡¯


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but admire it. The first thing she noticed was... well, the size.


    Naturally, her gaze shifted to her own chest. It wasn¡¯t out of jealousy, though.


    After all, she had inherited those genes herself.


    ¡®There¡¯s no way I¡¯m like that.¡¯


    Seoyeon thought that was enough, but recently she had begun to worry. Despite all her efforts to burn fat, the presence of her chest seemed to grow.


    She was already at the point where she needed new underwear, so it was only natural to feel some concern.


    "So, what¡¯s my sweetie going to do now? Play a game? Or that other thing?"


    ¡®That other thing¡¯ was undoubtedly referring to VTubing. But seeing the look in Soo-ah¡¯s eyes, Seoyeon realized that doing so might get her killed.


    Those eyes said, "You better manage your image properly."


    ¡®Ah, image.¡¯


    That reminded her of the reason for participating in this observational show in the first place.


    Her image. She was here to completely overhaul her strange public persona.


    ¡®So what should I do?¡¯


    She had already done some studying. Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly studying.


    Should she try something more active, like sports?


    ¡®Gaming?¡¯


    Technically, esports is still a sport, right? Just as she was contemplating this...


    "Dad¡¯s home."


    The sound of the front door opening startled both Seoyeon and Soo-ah, who instantly turned toward the source of the sound.


    Why was he home at this time??


    Both of them had the same reaction. Normally, Young-bin would still be hard at work at the office at this hour.@@@@

 Chapter 149

    Young-bin was in an unusually good mood today. The frustration from having to stay at the office for several days had all but disappeared.


    ¡°Team leader, you¡¯ve worked hard preparing for the release. The director said you can head home early today and get some rest.¡±


    With that directive from above, he returned home promptly. Plus, they¡¯d pay him for the full day, so there was nothing to worry about.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d get off work at this time.¡±


    Working at a game company, Young-bin often had a hectic schedule. Late nights were common, and his return times to home were irregular.


    Lately, he had been extra busy with preparations for the launch of a new game. So this break felt particularly sweet.


    Especially since there was a potential promotion to director on the horizon, he had been pushing himself hard.


    ¡°Time to catch up on those games I¡¯ve been missing.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t worried about the company¡¯s game launch. It was a mass-produced title, and while he respected the current director¡¯s capabilities, he wasn¡¯t too sure about the game itself.


    ¡°I miss the high school days.¡±


    Back then, he and Soo-ah had even created a game together. They had won an award in a competition, and that was how he landed his job. However, the game he was working on now didn¡¯t align with his personal dreams.


    ¡°If I become director, maybe I can change things?¡±


    Should he just go independent? He mused over the thought while looking around the house.


    ¡°Huh? Where¡¯s the framed suit?¡±


    The half-torn body armor that his daughter had ripped in half was missing. Seoyeon had vehemently opposed him keeping it, but he had hung it up anyway, thinking it was crazy but also a unique keepsake. He knew his daughter was strong, but he hadn¡¯t realized just how strong.


    ¡°But where could it have gone?¡±


    He started poking around the house. As he moved through the rooms, something felt different.


    ¡°Huh.¡±


    It was strangely quiet, and the house seemed to be rearranged.


    ¡°Did someone do a deep cleaning today?¡±


    Young-bin didn¡¯t think much of it. He was, after all, the only one in the family who didn¡¯t know about their participation in the variety show Golden Ducklings.


    He¡¯d been too busy with work recently and hadn''t been home when the cameras were installed.


    ¡°Is Seoyeon in her room?¡±


    He thought he could hear faint murmuring. He walked over and knocked three times before flinging the door open.


    ¡°What are my headbutting dino and mom up to?¡±


    But then¡ª


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    He was taken aback. Soo-ah was dressed unusually fancy, to the point where it was suspicious.


    She even had makeup on and her hair neatly done.


    Her outfit? That was something else entirely.


    ¡°Why are you barging in like that?¡± Seoyeon, who was rarely fazed, said, visibly flustered.


    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯


    Young-bin¡¯s instincts told him something was up. Just as he was about to ask¡ª


    ¡°L-let¡¯s go outside for now.¡±


    Soo-ah dragged him out, leaving no room for argument. Young-bin had always been weak when it came to Soo-ah.


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t expected her dad to come home so suddenly. She thought she¡¯d be safe, considering he was supposed to be working late today.


    And now, with the cameras rolling, there was no good time to tell him what was going on. Even though the scene would likely get edited out, his reaction would still be a problem.


    Besides, if she told him now...


    ¡®It¡¯ll just get boring again.¡¯


    Young-bin, despite his casual attitude, was strangely sensitive to these things. The moment he realized they were filming, he¡¯d start managing his image, no doubt.


    So, for now, she decided to let it be.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    Young-bin stood next to Seoyeon, watching her play a game.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t my daughter deflect bullets at one point?¡±


    ¡°Me? I¡¯m completely confident!¡±


    PD Jeon Ha-young was all smiles. Despite the staff''s concerns, she didn¡¯t seem to share their worries.


    ¡®She¡¯s been this way ever since that meeting with Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    During the pre-show meeting with Seoyeon and her mother, something had clearly happened to make the PD this confident.


    ¡°Honestly, Star Fisher was really fun.¡±


    ¡°Really? I preferred Hyper Action Star...¡±


    The staff''s doubts had lessened as they trusted in PD Jeon¡¯s judgment. After all, the success of observational variety shows largely hinged on the PD¡¯s skills.


    The editing was crucial¡ªit determined whether the show would be interesting or dull. And that was why Golden Ducklings had lasted so long while other observational shows had come and gone.


    ¡°Now I¡¯m starting to look forward to this.¡±


    ¡°I was worried that the show was becoming too focused on image crafting, but maybe this time will be different.¡±


    ¡°I hope it doesn¡¯t just rely on hype.¡±


    Naturally, the broadcasting team began to anticipate the filming day.


    ¡°Today, we have a special guest joining us.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve heard! A new golden duckling, right?¡±


    The filming began with the MCs and panelists, who were visibly excited.


    In Golden Ducklings, the term "golden duckling" referred to the featured star¡ªa young celebrity whose daily life would be showcased on the screen.


    ¡°And now, let¡¯s reveal who it is!¡±


    Main MC Gong Hyeong-man spoke, and everyone leaned in to listen.


    ¡°It¡¯s none other than actress Ju Seoyeon!¡±


    As his words echoed, a video clip from The Chaser played on the screen. The panelists gasped in admiration. There was only one young actress in The Chaser, so the reveal wasn¡¯t a surprise.


    When clips from Dream Future followed, their assumptions were confirmed.


    ¡°Actress Ju Seoyeon!!¡±


    Applause filled the room as Gong Hyeong-man scanned the reactions. Everyone seemed amazed, but there was an undercurrent of worry in their expressions.


    After all, the previous actor had tanked the ratings, and they were still trying to recover. Another actor?


    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it be better to feature someone with a more unique profession?¡¯


    But at Ju Seoyeon¡¯s age, what other professions were there? Still, maybe an idol would have been better? That¡¯s what some were thinking.


    ¡°And now, let¡¯s bring in the guest¡¯s mother. Don¡¯t be too shocked, everyone.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Is she someone famous?¡±


    ¡°No, she¡¯s not. I mean, Ju Seoyeon isn¡¯t a second-generation star, right?¡±


    Gong Hyeong-man teased with a playful tone, leaving the other panelists confused.


    ¡®What¡¯s with him?¡¯


    While the MC had prior knowledge of the guests, the rest of the panel met them for the first time on set. Naturally, they were curious. But what could they expect from a celebrity¡¯s mom? Most of the time, they were pretty average.


    At most, they just hoped she had a good sense of humor. Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother would likely be in her mid-40s, which sometimes meant a strict or difficult personality.


    They all hoped she wouldn¡¯t stir up any controversy.


    Just as these thoughts were going through everyone¡¯s minds¡ª


    Clunk!


    The door opened, and Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother entered. The panelists clapped politely, but as they saw her, they froze.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother, Min Soo-ah, had arrived.


    Her long hair was tied up in a neat bun, and her slightly drooping eyes twitched nervously. Her pale skin showed not a single wrinkle, and she wore a somewhat awkward smile.


    She wasn¡¯t particularly tall, but her proportions were stunning. A narrow waist, wide hips, long legs, and well-toned breasts¡ªall contributing to an incredibly striking figure.


    But what stood out the most was...


    ¡®What is that?¡¯


    The female panellists were momentarily stunned, while the men quickly averted their eyes, knowing full well that this was a body that could be dangerous if looked at too closely.

 Chapter 150

    The MC of Golden Ducklings, Gong Hyeong-man, smirked at the reactions of the panelists. It was exactly as he had predicted.


    He was relieved that the guest hadn''t been revealed to the panel beforehand, given how shocked he had been when he first saw Soo-ah himself.


    Typically, the mothers of celebrities are pretty ordinary. After all, unless they come from a family of entertainers, they rarely have a reason to keep up appearances. Of course, some parents might start taking care of themselves once their children earn money, but this was relatively rare.


    Even if they did take care of themselves, at best they looked clean and well-groomed for their age. Gong Hyeong-man, upon first seeing Soo-ah, had asked:


    "Did you ever work as an idol or actress?"


    It was hard to believe otherwise. Women who had been in the entertainment industry, whether as actors or idols, tended to look significantly younger than their peers. Even those in their 50s could sometimes pass for being in their 30s.


    ¡®But this is something else...¡¯


    As Soo-ah stood in front of him, visibly nervous and avoiding eye contact, she clasped her hands together, causing her chest to be even more prominent. Gong Hyeong-man tried to ignore that and focused on his curiosity instead.


    Her appearance made her look like a young professional, perhaps in her late twenties, if he exaggerated a bit. If she wasn¡¯t in the entertainment industry, how many women would feel that the world was unfair?


    ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m just a regular freelancer.¡±


    ¡°A freelancer?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a programmer.¡±


    A programmer. That seemed like an oddly mismatched profession for her appearance, but her intellectual aura sort of made it work.


    ¡®This is gold.¡¯


    Gong Hyeong-man felt like he had struck a nerve. While she didn¡¯t talk much, after chatting for a while, he realized she wasn¡¯t the quiet type either. When the topic was about her daughter or husband, she opened up quite a bit. Apparently, she had a second child as well.


    ¡®It¡¯s hard to believe this woman gave birth to two daughters.¡¯


    But hey, what¡¯s wrong with looking good? He was excited to see how the panelists would react once Soo-ah stepped in front of the cameras.


    And, as expected...


    ¡°Wow, is she really Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure she¡¯s not her older sister?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re teasing us too much.¡±


    In variety shows, reactions are crucial. Each panelist had prepared for Soo-ah¡¯s entrance, imagining her appearance and personality, running through various simulations in their heads. They had come up with what they thought were the perfect responses.


    But now...


    ¡®What do I say? Do I say it or not?¡¯


    They all stuttered. The gap between what they had anticipated and the reality before them was too large for them to deliver their planned reactions.


    Is she really not an older sister? Is that chest real? Did she put something inside?


    The likely public reaction once the broadcast aired was already clear. If this had been a live broadcast, the online response would have exploded.


    ¡°I wondered why Seoyeon was so pretty, but now I see where she gets it.¡±


    ¡°Right, right.¡±


    ¡°Wait, are you sure you¡¯re her mother?¡±


    As Soo-ah finally sat down in her designated seat, the panelists began regaining their composure, smiling as they asked her.


    ¡°Oh, yes. I¡¯m 39, you see...¡±


    ¡°Thirty-nine?¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re still so young.¡±@@@@


    ¡°Wait, how old were you when...?¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, no need to do the math.¡±


    Finally, the panelists began to gel, as they smoothly transitioned into the flow of a typical variety show. Soo-ah laughed awkwardly at their comments, though internally, she had only one thought:


    ¡®I want to go home.¡¯


    Soo-ah realized just how suited her daughter was for the spotlight. Whenever Seoyeon had an entertainment shoot coming up, she was visibly excited, especially when she had been on Star Fisher. She had even watched numerous fishing shows and practiced hard at home, to the point where Soo-ah had to stop her from buying expensive fishing equipment.


    ¡®She¡¯s just like her father in that way.¡¯


    When Soo-ah thought of her forever-young husband, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Seoyeon¡¯s enthusiastic attitude, which mirrored his. So she didn¡¯t criticize Seoyeon much for it.


    Seoyeon was truly passionate about variety shows and seemed to genuinely enjoy participating. It was a stark contrast to her mother, who found the attention overwhelming and could already feel sweat beading on her forehead, back, and chest.


    Instinctively, Soo-ah reached for a handkerchief to wipe her chest.


    ¡°W-wait, Seoyeon¡¯s mother!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to cause a broadcasting accident! Broadcast!!¡±


    The others, thinking back to when Seoyeon had caught a huge fish on Star Fisher, finally understood.


    ¡°Oh, right. Seoyeon is pretty strong, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s quite healthy.¡±


    Soo-ah laughed, clearly pleased with the compliment about her daughter. It was a lovely smile, but...


    ¡®Is this really just a matter of her being ¡°healthy¡±?¡¯


    The panelists didn¡¯t fully understand, but what could they do? They just clapped and laughed.


    ¡°Wow, that chair is really sturdy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Right? Right?¡±


    All they could do was watch the scene unfold, marveling at the durability of the chair that Seoyeon was swinging around so effortlessly.


    In any case, the filming for Golden Ducklings wrapped up successfully. After riding the ¡°gyro drop¡± to his heart¡¯s content, Young-bin said something as soon as he got off the chair.


    ¡°Hey, I just thought of something. Should we go to a swimming pool?¡±


    ¡°?¡±


    Having seemingly enjoyed the impromptu ride, he was now craving more thrills.


    So, they went to a swimming pool, and with the footage from that, they had wrapped up enough content for Golden Ducklings.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, weren¡¯t you trying to improve your image?¡±


    Lee Ji-yeon was scolding Seoyeon. But Seoyeon felt wronged.


    Aside from that one incident, she had worked hard to manage her image. She hadn¡¯t even used her strength at the swimming pool!


    ¡°That¡¯s only because Dad kept... And I didn¡¯t do anything at the swimming pool or anywhere else.¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, your dad can be... Anyway, you didn¡¯t watch the broadcast, did you?¡±


    The ¡°broadcast¡± Ji-yeon was referring to, of course, was Seoyeon¡¯s VTuber stream. She doubted Seoyeon would have watched VTubers while filming for Golden Ducklings.


    From what Ji-yeon had heard, all Seoyeon had done was study, play games, and go to the pool. However, knowing that Golden Ducklings was an observational variety show, Ji-yeon assumed that they had filmed for a long time and edited the footage later.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Why are you avoiding eye contact?¡±


    That was the expression Seoyeon made when she knew she had done something wrong. She had the look of a guilty puppy.


    ¡®She did watch it!¡¯


    Ji-yeon closed her eyes in exasperation. It was partly her fault as well. Knowing that Seoyeon was filming for Golden Ducklings, Ji-yeon should have suggested taking a break from streaming. But Ji-yeon had stuck to her regular streaming schedule.


    After all, she hadn¡¯t expected Seoyeon to actually tune in during the shoot!


    ¡°I had a lot to think about.¡±


    ¡°Sure you did.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true!¡±


    Seoyeon pouted, her defiant attitude only making Ji-yeon more incredulous.


    ¡®Well, watching VTubers is better than showcasing her strength.¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t like watching VTubers made her seem like a fashion-obsessed nerd or anything. And since this was a variety show, they wouldn¡¯t air her watching her own VTuber stream on TV anyway.


    ¡®They¡¯ll probably edit it appropriately.¡¯


    Ji-yeon decided not to worry too much about it.


    ¡°When does the show air?¡±


    ¡°In a week.¡±


    ¡°Not long now.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded. Despite the incident with the chair, she believed the footage would be edited down appropriately. Even if they showed it, they had plenty of footage from the swimming pool that could balance it out.


    ¡°And by the way, I have an audition two days before the broadcast.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded. She knew about it.


    It involved Jo Seohui, and they had been working on something together. It seemed like Seohui felt more comfortable practicing with Ji-yeon.


    ¡°Would you help me with the final rehearsal?¡±


    Hearing this, Seoyeon, who had been nodding along, suddenly froze. After all, this wasn¡¯t just any audition¡ªit was for Gyeongseong Lady.

 Chapter 151

    Seoyeon was taken aback when Jiyeon asked her for help with the audition. It wasn''t because she had forgotten about Jiyeon¡¯s audition due to managing her own image or being slightly annoyed at Jiyeon for hanging out with Jo Seohui recently.


    No, Seoyeon had been keeping track of Jiyeon¡¯s audition date daily.


    ...Though it did bother her a little that Jiyeon had only asked Jo Seohui for help.


    That feeling stemmed from the fact that Jiyeon had been Seoyeon¡¯s closest friend since childhood.


    ¡®I get why she asked Jo Seohui, though.¡¯


    In her past life, Jo Seohui hadn¡¯t appeared in Gyeongseong Lady. After receiving harsh criticism for her performance in The Moon Hiding the Sun, she wasn¡¯t very active in the industry and wasn¡¯t considered a top actress.


    ¡®She might not have been cast in the first place.¡¯


    But the Jo Seohui of today was different. Seoyeon, despite her efforts, had only just caught up with her in terms of recognition, and no one could easily say who was more successful.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t really care about ranking herself above or below anyone.


    ¡®Anyway.¡¯


    While feeling a bit sad that Jiyeon had asked Jo Seohui for help, Seoyeon was relieved for one reason: Gyeongseong Lady had a much larger focus on romance than even Dream Future, which had been awkward for her.


    ¡°Did Jo Seohui tell you what your role might be?¡± Seoyeon asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Seoyeon and Jo Seohui had already been pre-cast in the upcoming Baek Min director¡¯s movie. They had received the script and discussed it beforehand.


    After some contemplation, Seoyeon accepted the role. Jo Seohui, upon Seoyeon¡¯s acceptance, had excitedly said:


    ¡°Right? I knew you¡¯d do it. Sure, there are a few intense scenes, but I¡¯m confident the movie¡¯s quality will make up for it!¡±


    Jo Seohui had even turned down Mine to focus on filming Gyeongseong Lady. After reaching the top in Hyper Action Star, she was one of the few actors¡ªalongside Han Soyu and Min Doha¡ªwho had displayed solid performances.


    It seemed the GH Group had offered casting proposals to all three of them. Seoyeon didn¡¯t know what the others had decided.


    The only person she knew about for sure was Jo Seohui.


    When she had asked Jo Seohui about it, she had replied:


    ¡°I can¡¯t handle multiple projects at once, unlike you.¡±


    Jo Seohui had squinted and added:


    ¡°If anything, it¡¯s more normal for an actor who focuses on emotional performances, like you, to struggle with multiple projects at once. You¡¯re the strange one.¡±


    That might be true. Some actors struggled to separate themselves from their roles once they became too absorbed. Seoyeon¡¯s ability to separate roles and control her emotions likely stemmed from her past life, giving her a significant advantage.


    ¡®Jo Seohui does have a good eye for scripts.¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t for nothing that she had yet to fail in choosing her roles. Jo Seohui had a remarkable instinct for selecting successful projects.


    When talking about Gyeongseong Lady, she had said:


    ¡°There are certain elements that might make it a bit weaker in the Korean market, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll do well overseas, and critics will love it.¡±


    Later, when Gyeongseong Lady received rave reviews, Seohui¡¯s prediction turned out to be spot on.


    ¡®Though, it¡¯s not like it underperformed in Korea.¡¯


    The film had drawn 4 million viewers. Even though Seoyeon had recently been in a film that reached 10 million, Gyeongseong Lady¡¯s 4 million was a phenomenal achievement, especially for a film with LGBT themes.


    Of course, ¡°The King''s Love¡±, a movie about homosexuals, has already passed 10 million, but the lesbian theme in ¡°Lady Kyungsoon¡±was still somewhat unexplored.


    ¡®It could¡¯ve done even better.¡¯


    The story, direction, and screenplay were all excellent. The only issue was...


    ¡®The cast.¡¯@@@@


    The film¡¯s casting had two major problems. If those were addressed, Gyeongseong Lady¡¯s domestic performance would undoubtedly improve.


    ¡°Thanks for helping me out. The audition script has... some connections to Jo Seohui.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by Jiyeon¡¯s voice. They were currently in Nova Entertainment¡¯s practice room together.


    ¡°With Jo Seohui?¡±


    ¡°There are three scenes in the audition, and all of them involve Jo Seohui. She¡¯s both the judge and my acting partner.¡±


    So, Jo Seohui would be there, too.


    ¡°She¡¯s definitely not going to go easy on me.¡±


    Of course. While Jo Seohui might be intimidated by Jiyeon in personal interactions, she was different when it came to acting.


    When it came to performing, Jo Seohui was relentless. She¡¯d likely approach this audition with the intent of completely outshining her opponent.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why not ask Jo Seohui for help?¡±


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, I told you. She¡¯s a judge.¡±


    In other words, Jiyeon considered it unfair to seek help from a judge before an audition.


    ¡°I want the competition to be fair.¡±


    While she had received some help from Jo Seohui before, she refused to accept any assistance directly related to the audition. This showed just how seriously Jiyeon was taking this role.


    ¡®She didn¡¯t show this much seriousness during her LaMiel stream.¡¯


    In fact, Jiyeon had collaborated with a magician on that stream, much to Seoyeon¡¯s dismay. It had happened while Seoyeon was filming Golden Ducklings, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed by the spectacle.


    ¡®Hopefully, they¡¯ll edit it out.¡¯


    Along with the antics her father had pulled. But... this was a variety show, and Seoyeon had a sinking feeling that the editors might leave everything in.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how the footage from Golden Ducklings had been edited yet, as it hadn¡¯t aired.


    ¡°You seem pretty calm about all this. I thought you¡¯d be more anxious.¡±


    Jiyeon was surprised by how easily Seoyeon agreed to help. She assumed Seoyeon, who would soon be filming again, would be more nervous about practicing for such a sensitive scene.


    Had Jo Seohui not pointed that out? No, she must have. Otherwise, Jiyeon wouldn¡¯t be nodding along as if she already expected this feedback.


    ¡°You¡¯re not showing enough emotion?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s different. You¡¯re showing too much, and it¡¯s too predictable.¡±


    Seoyeon explained:


    ¡°Acting should make the audience feel anticipation. If everything you¡¯re going to do is obvious, it gets boring.¡±


    Anticipation.


    There were many ways to build that tension¡ªby creating complexity in your emotions or acting contrary to what the lines suggested.


    ¡°I think Jo Seohui said something similar.¡±


    Jiyeon admitted she was having trouble grasping it fully. Seoyeon nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°So just focus on me.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s smile curled into something mischievous, similar to the ¡°Lady¡± from the script.


    ¡°I¡¯m confident I can show you how now.¡±


    Teaching wasn¡¯t Seoyeon¡¯s strong suit. Her default mindset was always, Why can¡¯t they just do it?


    But as she gained more control over her emotions and acting, she had also learned how to analyze and explain it better. Combining that with the ¡°emotional mimicry¡± she had learned in her past life, Seoyeon had started to see acting in a more technical light.


    So now, she intended to guide Jiyeon to deliver a performance that would shock everyone at the audition.


    The Gyeongseong Lady audition was being held in a building in Gangnam. It was bustling with activity, even early in the morning.


    Several actors had arrived early, but it didn¡¯t feel particularly crowded.


    More actors would trickle in, but it wouldn¡¯t be an overwhelming number.


    ¡°There don¡¯t seem to be too many applicants.¡±


    Director Baek Min laughed as he glanced at the audition room, seemingly pleased despite the low turnout.


    ¡°There may be fewer of them, but the quality is good. They¡¯re all actors I¡¯m familiar with.¡±


    These kinds of auditions often attracted a large number of rookie actors. However, this time, for some reason, the number of rookies seemed noticeably lower.


    ¡°There were more applicants, weren¡¯t there?¡±


    Baek Min mused as he chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, but many have dropped out.¡±


    Despite the smaller number, he wore a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Seohui, what do you think?¡±


    He asked playfully, turning to Jo Seohui. She, having been absorbed in reading the script, narrowed her eyes as if to say, Stop with the jokes.


    ¡°The competition will be fierce.¡±


    Even with fewer participants, it was the quality of the actors that mattered. It wasn¡¯t about how many different performances you saw; the goal was to find the one actor who stood out above the rest.


    If the talent was strong, then the competition would be intense.


    ¡®That¡¯s always the case with Baek Min¡¯s auditions.¡¯


    Some actors underestimated these auditions because of the smaller pool of candidates. However, actors often developed a preference for certain directors, and Baek Min was one of those directors with a dedicated following.


    His films had such a unique style that many actors gravitated toward them.


    So, it wasn¡¯t surprising that the audition room was filled with familiar faces¡ªactors who had auditioned for or worked with Baek Min before, including seasoned veterans.


    ¡®This won¡¯t be easy for Jiyeon.¡¯


    Jo Seohui thought to herself. She had watched Jiyeon¡¯s practice sessions, but her performance had still felt somewhat lackluster.


    Although Jiyeon wasn¡¯t nervous, her acting didn¡¯t quite pop. It wasn¡¯t bad, but it lacked that extra spark.


    ¡®She doesn¡¯t seem nervous.¡¯


    Jo Seohui glanced at Jiyeon, who was sitting calmly, waiting for her turn. Her expression was composed.


    It was Jo Seohui who felt more anxious.


    But at the same time, as she looked at Jiyeon again...


    ¡®...Something seems different?¡¯


    She had heard that Jiyeon had been practicing with Seoyeon. Was that why?


    Practicing with Seoyeon, huh.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    ¡°Seohui, why are you laughing?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, did I laugh?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Hearing Baek Min¡¯s question, Jo Seohui awkwardly covered her mouth with her hand. She needed to compose herself.


    Still, I¡¯m looking forward to it.


    After the brief glimpse of Seoyeon¡¯s acting during Hyper Action Star, Jo Seohui was eager to see what it would be like working with her on the same film.


    And then...


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin the audition. Contestants 1 through 5, please come in!¡±


    The Gyeongseong Lady audition had officially begun.

 Chapter 152

    "Actors I used to see frequently on cable dramas are here."


    With her eyes slightly open, Jiyeon immediately noticed the people around her. Like her, they were actors who appeared in cable dramas.


    It seemed they recognized her too, nodding at her discreetly. They had crossed paths a couple of times before.


    "Of course, to them, I''m just a rookie."


    After all, considering their age, they were likely to think that way. The characters in Gyeongseong Lady were meant to be in their late teens to early twenties.


    So, there weren¡¯t any intense or highly explicit scenes in the drama. Instead, the focus was on delivering dense emotional performances, which required strong acting skills.


    It was only natural that they preferred actors in their twenties. Teen actors often had unreliable acting skills, and while those in their twenties weren¡¯t perfect either, they were generally more capable.


    "Unless you''re someone extraordinary like Jo Seohui or Ju Seoyeon, there aren¡¯t many roles for teenage actors. This audition will probably be the same."


    Having the same age as the character wasn¡¯t necessarily an advantage. In fact, it was more of a penalty.


    "Next, numbers 10 through 20, please."


    Jiyeon¡¯s number was near the thirtieth spot, almost at the end.


    When she was younger, the wait used to feel boring. Later, as her thoughts grew more complicated, she became nervous, but now, she wasn''t sure how she felt.


    "Just like I practiced."


    The practice she had done with Jo Seohui and Seoyeon. She wondered if she could perform as well as she did during those rehearsals.


    As nervous tension began to gnaw at Jiyeon¡¯s heart...


    "Huh?"


    She noticed someone in the crowd. Amidst the staff, there was a figure moving awkwardly, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask.


    The appearance was suspicious, to say the least, but no one seemed to be stopping him. On the contrary, some of the staff greeted him warmly.


    "...Could it be?"


    Looking around the waiting area, the figure paused briefly when they glanced at Jiyeon before slipping away quietly. The way they moved reminded her of someone.


    "..."


    Though it wasn¡¯t strange for such a person to be here. After all, they could be someone from the production team. Even though it piqued her curiosity, Jiyeon decided not to dwell on it.


    Still...@@@@


    "At least my nerves have calmed down a bit."


    She could sense the presence of someone watching from somewhere. At the very least, Jiyeon could feel that much.


    It was funny, really. Thanks to this strange feeling, her racing heart began to settle.


    Today was Lee Jiyeon¡¯s audition.


    In fact, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t intended to come here at all.


    But this morning...


    [Wanna come?]


    A text from Jo Seohui. Clearly, Seohui was trying to create an opportunity to spend time with Seoyeon, as if that wasn''t already obvious.


    Seoyeon stared blankly at the message.


    [You should watch your friend act with me.]


    It sounded like she was subtly asking Seoyeon to come watch her as well. After all, Jo Seohui was indeed Jiyeon¡¯s scene partner for today.


    Though Jo Seohui was a strange person with her peculiar habits, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t deny her impressive acting skills.


    They had clashed since childhood, and as a result, Seoyeon had grown to be somewhat conscious of her. Jo Seohui¡¯s acting was undeniably extraordinary. No, it would be more accurate to say it was excellent.


    Even when they were child actors, Jo Seohui''s performances were incredibly stable. And as she grew older, she was able to infuse even deeper emotions into her roles. In some ways, their acting methods were similar.


    Jo Seohui wasn¡¯t the method type; rather, she was the type to faithfully reproduce what she had learned.


    [The audition scene is a love scene, so it¡¯ll be fun to watch. And you''re technically part of the production team.]


    Upon reading this, Seoyeon¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    A love scene. Well, of course. After all, Seoyeon had helped Jiyeon practice for it.


    She hadn¡¯t thought much of it before, but now that she realized Jiyeon and Jo Seohui would be performing a love scene together, an indescribable feeling welled up inside her. After all, it was a love scene between a friend and a friend¡¯s partner.


    Perhaps this is why people say it¡¯s hard to watch a movie with someone you know in it. Seoyeon felt a mix of curiosity and concern.


    She wondered if Jiyeon could perform well opposite Jo Seohui. After mulling it over for a while, Seoyeon finally responded to the message.


    [I¡¯ll be there.]


    And now, Seoyeon was hiding in a corner of the audition hall, watching the auditions unfold. She had briefly locked eyes with Jiyeon when she entered, but surely Jiyeon hadn¡¯t noticed her.


    "More importantly..."


    Seoyeon observed the performances of the actors currently auditioning. The people outside probably had no idea what was happening inside.


    "It¡¯s a bit intense."


    Though Jo Seohui often acted playful in her texts to Seoyeon, her actual demeanor resembled that of a villainous young lady. Today, she even brought a fan with her to the audition.


    Jo Seohui¡¯s character for this audition was a young lady from a prestigious family, and her appearance perfectly suited that role. She looked exactly like the villainous young lady she was supposed to portray.


    "Director Baek Min had been planning to cast Jo Seohui from the start."


    It made sense. After all, the role of ¡®Amanabi Michiko,¡¯ a young Japanese lady from an affluent family, seemed to fit Jo Seohui perfectly.


    As the story is set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, Michiko eventually travels to Japan with the protagonist after the ending. And today¡¯s audition was for the role of the protagonist, Yeon Sun-ye.


    "..."


    At that moment, Seoyeon realized something.


    "Wait, my role is a Japanese character?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s role was Kasugayama Yuina, a fact that dawned on her just now.


    "Lady, your complexion hasn¡¯t been looking well lately. Perhaps you should rest for a while?"


    Jiyeon¡¯s calm voice¡ªno, Sun-ye¡¯s voice¡ªsignaled the start of the scene. The lady sitting before Sun-ye, with her fan quietly spread, was Michiko.


    Michiko gazed at Sun-ye, her eyes piercing through her, as if trying to devour her whole.


    There was a wave of emotion behind those eyes, and Sun-ye could sense it, even if just a little. But she averted her gaze indifferently.


    "No."


    With a gentle snap of her fan, Michiko¡¯s twisted smile was revealed as she spoke.


    "Sun-ye, fetch me my shawl. There will be an auction today."


    Her eyes glinted as though she were looking at a precious treasure. Just as others at the auction looked at her, so Michiko gazed at her maid.


    Though Michiko herself wasn¡¯t fully aware of it yet.


    "Then, I should look my very best, shouldn¡¯t I?"


    Michiko gently pressed the fan against Sun-ye¡¯s shoulder as she said this. It was a command, almost a demand.


    Make yourself beautiful. Just as you wish.


    That was the intent behind Michiko¡¯s words. Sun-ye, flustered, avoided her gaze and bit her lip momentarily.


    "Emotions."


    Jo Seohui could feel the subtle emotional tone in Jiyeon¡¯s performance. It seemed a bit less intense than during practice, but it suited the character of Sun-ye better.


    The slightly muted tone gave a sense of vulnerability, allowing for stronger emotions to seep in. Had Ju Seoyeon taught her this?


    "You must put on your makeup first, Lady. It won¡¯t do to look for the shawl before that."


    Sun-ye lowered her head as she spoke, as though rejecting Michiko¡¯s advances.


    Her voice was calm, innocent, like a child unaware of what was happening. Her tone had changed. No, her entire acting style had shifted.


    "Motherly affection."


    Ah, that¡¯s what it was.


    As mentioned before, Jiyeon¡¯s presence was quite strong, making her somewhat of a mismatch for the gentle character of Yeon Sun-ye.


    But now, as her intensity faded, her performance shifted toward a softer direction. The way she looked at Michiko, the way she moved her hands, her natural smile¡ªit was all reminiscent of a mother looking at her daughter with tender affection.


    Yet behind this maternal affection was pity. Pity for Michiko, which in turn fueled the motherly behavior that was meant to hold her back.


    Thus, everything seemed perfectly natural.


    "How did she change so much in such a short time?"


    Was this still Sun-ye? Jo Seohui continued to watch Jiyeon¡¯s performance.


    She seamlessly deflected Michiko¡¯s cutting remarks and gently ran her hand through Michiko¡¯s hair, fixing her appearance as they spoke.


    Her voice was refined, her demeanor elegant¡ªcompletely unlike Jiyeon¡¯s usual impression.


    She seemed like someone who had dealt with countless difficult people, with an air of experience. Both her voice and her acting style had transformed.


    This was no longer Jiyeon, nor Sun-ye. It was someone else entirely.


    "It¡¯s based on something."


    Finally, Jo Seohui understood where Jiyeon had drawn this performance from.


    Upon realizing it, Jo Seohui...


    Michiko smiled, genuinely amused.


    "Do you think I¡¯m beautiful?"


    "My lady, you¡¯re more beautiful than any precious gem."


    "I know that."


    "You¡¯ll be the most radiant presence at today¡¯s event."


    At those words, Michiko¡¯s smile twisted further.


    Though she didn¡¯t know the full extent of it, she understood that her maid pitied her. And that knowledge both fueled her longing and wounded her pride.


    "I hope you truly mean that."


    Slowly, Michiko¡¯s fan slid from Sun-ye¡¯s shoulder, down her collarbone, and up to her chin.


    With her face just inches away, Michiko pressed her fan firmly against Sun-ye¡¯s lips, the same fan that had earlier touched her own lips.


    "I hate liars more than anything."


    With those words, the scene came to an end.


    It was all so seamless.


    The judges looked quietly impressed, while Director Baek Min wore an expression that was hard to describe.


    In the corner, Seoyeon, who had been watching, was...


    "..."


    Her hands flew to her mouth, struggling to contain her shock.


    She had said the love scene wouldn¡¯t be too intense!


    "And..."


    At the same time, Seoyeon felt a bubbling anger rising within her.


    Of course, it made sense. The foundation of Jiyeon¡¯s performance was something Seoyeon cherished deeply.


    Seoyeon trembled with frustration, while Jo Seohui, sensing Seoyeon¡¯s gaze, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit flustered.


    "Why is she reacting like that?"


    Jo Seohui couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback, especially since, in her eyes, Jiyeon¡¯s audition had been a great success.

 Chapter 153

    While Seoyeon''s primal gaze flustered Jo Seohui, Jiyeon remained tense.


    Unlike the two, Jiyeon had yet to receive any definitive feedback.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t expect to get an answer today, but at the very least, she wanted to hear how she did.


    "First, you need to understand what kind of character Yeon Sun-ye is."


    When they practiced together, Seoyeon had told Jiyeon this.


    "Compared to the two noblewomen, Yeon Sun-ye gives off a more commoner-like vibe. She¡¯s a commoner who ends up taking on a job as a maid by chance."


    Yeon Sun-ye was the head of her household, raising her younger sibling alone. However, she happened to apply for a maid position and was successfully hired.@@@@


    A man approached the joyful Yeon Sun-ye. He promised her a large sum of money if she killed Michiko and brought him a specific necklace.


    Yeon Sun-ye later realized that it was the man''s plan all along for her to be hired as a maid. Despite the huge sum of money, Yeon Sun-ye hesitated¡ªshe couldn''t bring herself to kill someone.


    "You have a younger sibling, don¡¯t you?"


    When the man mentioned her sibling, she had no choice but to give in.


    "Although Yeon Sun-ye has an extraordinary side, her overall atmosphere is quite plain."


    In fact, she had a rather weak presence. Jiyeon''s strong emotional acting didn¡¯t really suit her.


    Yeon Sun-ye wasn¡¯t the type to express emotions so clearly.


    "And the most important thing..."


    The key to the performance was how Jiyeon portrayed Yeon Sun-ye. Should she interpret the character in her own way, or follow the script to the letter?


    In an audition, you need to understand the judge¡¯s preferences. From what Seoyeon knew, Jo Seohui was a model student.


    She didn¡¯t like taking risks. If Jiyeon chose to interpret Yeon Sun-ye independently, Seohui wouldn¡¯t appreciate it.


    Of course, Jo Seohui was more of a participant actor than a full judge, so her opinion might not carry much weight, but it was likely to influence her judgment during the performance.


    "As for Director Baek Min..."


    Seoyeon had only seen him through news or articles. He had a friendly image and was well-liked by actors.


    But after watching his work, Seoyeon could tell¡ªhe wasn¡¯t the type to enjoy actors straying too far from his vision.


    He had a clear picture in mind, and he preferred actors who fit that mold exactly. That¡¯s why he favored Jo Seohui.


    "He gets along well with strict actors like Jung Eun-sun and Director Baek Min."


    Model students, honor students. With her talent and discipline, it was no wonder Jo Seohui was so well-regarded.


    For someone like Seoyeon, who often took creative liberties, they probably saw her as a troublemaker.


    "In that sense, I think this works in your favor."


    Seoyeon glanced at Jiyeon as she spoke.


    "In my favor?"


    "Yeah. Yeon Sun-ye is a character you¡¯re probably quite familiar with."


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t elaborate, though. After all, it was obvious what she was getting at.


    Lamiel and Yeon Sun-ye were two separate characters. Seoyeon constantly knocked her head, reminding herself of that.


    But in any case, it wasn¡¯t something Jiyeon could ignore, as there was a strong reference point she could use.


    "Yeon Sun-ye is a strong-willed girl who bears deep compassion for Michiko."


    The emotions that stemmed from that were complex. Yeon Sun-ye didn¡¯t particularly like Japanese people.


    She started working as a maid for her sibling¡¯s sake, and she targeted Michiko to earn the money to save her sibling¡¯s life.


    However, as she lived in Michiko¡¯s mansion, she began to sense the hollowness of Michiko¡¯s seemingly glamorous life. Unlike Yeon Sun-ye, Michiko had no real family.


    She was surrounded only by enemies. Michiko frequently changed her maids and servants, likely because of the hostile environment she lived in.


    "..."


    Jiyeon fell silent at Seoyeon¡¯s words. She was probably contemplating how to reconcile Lamiel and Yeon Sun-ye in her mind.


    Of course, there were many differences between Yeon Sun-ye and Lamiel. But at their core, their motivations were similar.


    At least, in terms of their character development.


    "I¡¯m not saying to directly copy Lamiel. But you can certainly use her as a reference."


    Just as Seoyeon had referenced her past life while playing Cha Seo-ah.


    "I¡¯ll just have to lay low for now."


    That was her conclusion. After all, no one knew when the audition results would come out.


    Though Seoyeon might seem like someone who lacked tact, in reality, she was quite perceptive.


    Until the audition results were released, Jiyeon would likely be in a sour mood.


    So, Seoyeon avoided clinging to her or whining too much. Even during Lamiel¡¯s streams, she only sent modest super chats and wrote simple, polite comments.


    "Still, she¡¯s quite diligent, streaming on time every day."


    In that regard, Jo Seohui and Jiyeon were similar. Seoyeon, on the other hand, was more relaxed in comparison.


    "Ah, do you have a broadcast scheduled for today?"


    Seoyeon, meanwhile, focused on catching up on her work. First, she had a meeting about the Aidis chair commercial she had recently signed on for.


    "Shooting will begin next week. I hear Sky Garden will start airing in a month?"


    "Yes, that¡¯s right."


    With six episodes of the drama already filmed, the show was scheduled to start airing soon.


    A Wednesday-Thursday drama. Meanwhile, Director Baek''s drama was slated for Monday-Tuesday.


    They had assembled a strong cast and a star writer.


    While Sky Garden had received a significant investment from KMB, it still couldn¡¯t compare to Director Baek¡¯s drama. Sky Garden was heavily influenced by the head of the drama department, Taeo Ha.


    As such, the drama was seen as a mock battle between the two drama divisions within the network. Losing wouldn¡¯t cause immediate damage, but it would provide some indication of which way things were leaning.


    "There¡¯s a lot of buzz around Sky Garden, especially since it¡¯s getting good internal reviews. We¡¯ve heard great things from you, too... you know?"


    "Yes."


    In fact, Aidis had already placed product placements in Sky Garden, so the chairs featured in the show were mostly theirs.


    "So, for the ad concept, you mentioned wanting an intellectual image. Nothing else?"


    At this question from Gwak Hyun-woo, the advertising team leader at Aidis, Seoyeon nodded.


    "Yes, that sounds fine to me."


    It was nice that they were considering her input. Well, she had requested it in exchange for a reduced fee.


    "By the way, will our chairs appear in the variety show you¡¯re in?"


    "..."


    Seoyeon hesitated for a moment before nodding. They would appear.


    "Oh, really? I suppose since you¡¯re a student, it¡¯ll be shown when you''re studying?"


    Yes, it would be shown then.


    And also when things get a bit more intense.


    But Seoyeon didn¡¯t feel the need to mention that.


    "Maybe the director will edit that part out."


    She had acted out in frustration, unable to resist teasing her dad, Young-bin. She hadn¡¯t mentioned it because she figured he¡¯d back down if he realized they were being filmed, but maybe it would¡¯ve been better to warn him.


    "Hopefully, a bit of a healthy image will be okay."


    Even if it wasn¡¯t edited out, that much should be fine. Seoyeon tried to reassure herself.


    "I¡¯m looking forward to it. I¡¯ll have to keep an eye on the show."


    Seoyeon gave a faint smile and nodded at Gwak Hyun-woo, though she was certain the Aidis chairs would make an appearance in ways he wasn¡¯t expecting.


    Is Seoyeon¡¯s variety show airing today?No, it¡¯s tomorrow.


    Seoyeon¡¯s fan cafe was already buzzing with excitement. Fans were eagerly anticipating what new sides of Seoyeon she would show on the program.


    Some people have been spreading rumors about Seoyeon lately. Cut it out.For real, lol. The only thing that¡¯s true is the part where she knocked out the fish with one punch.Isn¡¯t that clip doctored?No, it''s real. If you slow it down, you can clearly see the punch.


    In the midst of this, discussions about Hyper Action Star continued, with some wondering if Seoyeon was putting more effort into variety shows than acting.


    Isn¡¯t this common for actors, though?How many actors can shoot multiple projects in a year?True.Seoyeon works hard as an actress, no doubt.Is Golden Ducklings any good? I never watch observational variety shows.It got boring when it turned into a superpower battle.??????


    Despite being only a 15-second preview, the teaser clip for Golden Ducklings was already circulating online.


    It featured a scene of Seoyeon studying diligently, along with some brief shots of her family. Though short, fans quickly shared screenshots on her fan cafe.


    Who¡¯s that woman?Is that Seoyeon¡¯s mom?Mom? Are you serious? It¡¯s clearly her sister.Wow, I thought Seoyeon was tall, but wow, just wow.Genetics are insane.


    The first debate sparked by the teaser focused on the woman who brought fruit to Seoyeon while she studied. Some lamented that her appearance was too brief.


    Then came the man¡¯s appearance. At first, fans assumed he was Seoyeon¡¯s father, and the conversation was fairly calm.


    But when a screenshot of him spread to online communities, things quickly heated up.


    Isn¡¯t that Joo Young-bin???Who is that?Wasn¡¯t he the lead developer of Unchained?Yep, I saw him at a fan meeting. He was one of the guys who bowed his head in apology.Didn¡¯t he leave the company?But Unchained is doing fine now.Yeah, he¡¯s the one who sorted everything out before leaving.Oh, for real?


    The man was none other than Joo Young-bin, the former project lead for Unchained, a major title at Raywill Games. This revelation set the community ablaze.

 Chapter 154

    "Good job, everyone."


    "Let''s hope the results match the effort we put in."


    After wrapping up a big project, it''s customary to have a team dinner. Raywill Games, being a large game developer, was no exception.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t really the end. Since they were moving into live service for the game, the real work was just beginning.


    "It¡¯d be great if the results come out just right and we can all pocket some bonuses." "Yeah, that¡¯d be nice."


    Although the conversation was lighthearted, everyone knew that it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. The reality was that companies always chase after games that make money.


    Many had joined the company with dreams of game development, only to find themselves working on mobile games or games focused on in-game purchases.


    The upcoming release was no exception¡ªa game designed with heavy monetization. It was basically a clone of a once-popular game, benchmarked for its success.


    So, they had a rough idea of what to expect. With these graphics and that level of gameplay, the revenue would likely be around this much. A rough estimate.


    "By the way, where¡¯s the team lead?"


    "He took a half-day off to rest at home."


    "Oh, really? He¡¯s been taking time off more often lately."


    "Well, we¡¯ve just finished the project. He¡¯s the type to take full responsibility. He hasn¡¯t had much time to rest."


    Joo Young-bin, the project lead for both planning and development, was mentioned. Almost everyone there had, at some point, been helped by him.


    It wasn¡¯t just because he was a nice guy; he was also incredibly competent. He wasn¡¯t just good at planning but had extensive programming knowledge, which helped him manage the team effectively.


    "It¡¯s strange, though, isn¡¯t it? There hasn¡¯t been a single project he¡¯s led that¡¯s failed."


    "Yeah, that¡¯s why he was brought into Unchained at the last minute. He just barely met the deadline. It was nerve-wracking."


    "It helps that his wife gave him a hand."


    "Still, he¡¯s amazing. He¡¯s never dropped a project he was in charge of."


    "No wonder they¡¯re already talking about him becoming a director."


    Young-bin¡¯s wife, Sua, often freelanced as a programmer. During crunch times, she would even come to the company to work with him. She excelled in UI and level design.


    Her skills were so good that despite being a freelancer, she worked closely with the team. Plus, being Young-bin¡¯s wife ensured that security was never an issue.


    Whether the game would truly shine, though, was another matter.


    "Well, let¡¯s hope it does well."


    That was the last thing said on the matter. They all raised their glasses, taking another drink. Truth be told, they just hoped the game performed as expected. No one was dreaming of a massive hit.


    "Hey, isn¡¯t that Golden Ducklings?"


    One of them pointed at the TV in the restaurant. The show had just started, introducing the guests for the day.


    "Is it good?"


    "I haven¡¯t seen it myself."


    "Then why bring it up?"


    They all laughed, but the reason for pointing it out wasn¡¯t random.


    "Seoyeon¡¯s on today."


    "Seoyeon? Oh, you mean the team lead¡¯s daughter?"


    "Right, Golden Ducklings is airing today."


    Joo Young-bin¡¯s daughter, Joo Seoyeon, was well-known within the company.


    It wasn¡¯t just because she was the daughter of a promising team leader; she was also one of the most popular rising actresses.


    "The Chaser was great."


    "Remember how proud Young-bin was back then? He couldn¡¯t stop talking about it."


    "Yeah, every time we met him, it was all about that."


    Although Dream Future wasn¡¯t everyone¡¯s cup of tea, The Chaser was different. When a movie hits ten million viewers, it becomes hard to find someone who hasn¡¯t seen it.


    Especially when the boss¡¯s daughter is in it. It wasn¡¯t something anyone could ignore without raising eyebrows at work.


    Naturally, every team member had watched The Chaser, even if they didn¡¯t follow her other works.


    "Man, the team lead is lucky to have a daughter like her."


    "She¡¯s so polite, too."


    "Isn¡¯t Golden Ducklings one of those observational variety shows?"


    As they chatted, one of the staff mentioned it.


    "Wait, is it an observational show? ...Observational variety?"


    While they weren¡¯t avid viewers, they knew what an observational variety show was. Suddenly, everyone¡¯s attention turned to the TV.


    Another actor?Does the PD have no sense?Seriously, actors are so boring.No one cares.Actors don¡¯t know how to be funny.We¡¯re here for entertainment, not to watch them manage their image.Just stop featuring actors.But Seoyeon¡¯s actually funny. Haven¡¯t you seen her in Survival Island and Superstar Fisher?For real, she¡¯s hilarious.Is she really that entertaining?I skipped it because she¡¯s an actress. Should I check it out?


    They monitored the ratings and reactions on social media and forums.


    "Starting at 5%."


    As soon as the show began, the ratings came in. Not bad. In fact, it was good¡ªsimilar to one of their highest-rated episodes recently.


    PD Jeon Ha-young smiled in relief.


    "Now the real test begins."


    She grinned, feeling confident about today¡¯s episode.


    The moment Sua made her first appearance, the ratings began to climb rapidly.


    Why do they even need moms as guests on Golden Ducklings?Honestly, most of the time they just say ridiculous things.90% of them are stuck in the past.


    One of the most divisive aspects of Golden Ducklings was the inclusion of mothers as guests. Even the positive buzz around Seoyeon was met with mixed reactions because of this.


    Seoyeon¡¯s funny, but who knows if her mom will be.At least Seoyeon¡¯s mom will probably be pretty.Dude, her mom¡¯s probably in her mid-forties.That¡¯s peak boomer age.


    As MC Gong Hyung-man chatted with the guests, it was time to introduce the main mother guest for the episode.


    Seoyeon¡¯s mother, Sua, entered the scene.


    ?????Wait, that¡¯s her mom????Holy crap.Hold on, what¡¯s going on???How does she have three heads???Where did Seoyeon¡¯s mom¡¯s genes go?Seoyeon¡¯s tall, though.


    SNS and forums lit up with comments. As soon as Sua appeared, viewers couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing.


    LOL, this is hilarious.For real, this is actually funny.I can¡¯t stop laughing.Seoyeon¡¯s mom is comedy gold.I already clipped it.Dude, that was fast.This is worth it, trust me.


    Even people who hadn¡¯t originally planned to watch started tuning in. Viewers who had lost interest in observational variety shows were suddenly captivated.


    Is it really that funny?Why aren¡¯t you watching?Why should I?Just leave if you¡¯re not watching this.


    Curiosity piqued, many flipped the channel, and once they did...


    ¡®Oh, that¡¯s why people are watching.¡¯


    Suddenly, their TVs were locked onto the show.


    There was too much to explain, but let¡¯s just say... Was this woman really almost forty?


    That thought crossed many viewers'' minds as they watched Sua.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the clips of her appearance to spread like wildfire across online communities.


    But the real explosion came next.


    Isn¡¯t that the team lead from Unchained?


    [We deeply regret failing to meet the expectations of our players. We will work diligently to improve the game in the coming days. Raywill Games is committed to...]


    As soon as the clip of Young-bin arriving at Seoyeon¡¯s home aired, viewers immediately connected him to the developer from a well-known Unchained apology event.


    Wait, is Seoyeon¡¯s dad a game director?No, he¡¯s the lead developer.This is insane. But, hey, dakdoritang is delicious.


    The online gaming community quickly made the connection, remembering the man who had publicly apologized during the infamous Unchained developer meeting.


    "What''s my little headbutting dinosaur up to with Mom?" Young-bin''s line was met with widespread laughter online.


    LOL, Seoyeon is kind of a headbutting dinosaur.Is Seoyeon bad at games?Yeah, if you haven¡¯t watched The King of All Gamers, she¡¯s totally clueless.


    Seoyeon¡¯s bewildered expression as her father barged in had the viewers rolling in laughter, and many started saving it as a meme.


    Seoyeon rarely made such faces, after all.


    But soon, Seoyeon seemed to have reached her breaking point.


    "Hey, Dad."


    "Yeah?"


    "Do you know what a gyro drop is?"


    Her voice was eerily calm.


    Wait, what¡¯s she talking about?Why is she grabbing the chair??????


    And then it happened. Seoyeon lifted the chair her dad was sitting in with him still on it, shaking it vigorously before letting it drop back down.


    Young-bin''s terrified yelp echoed through the room.


    - Seoyeon-style lift ;; wow


    - No shit, is that a cunt or a bitch????


    - Seoyeon has always been strong.


    - No, crazy bitch, you''re not good enough to be a strength coach.


    - What are you going to do if you can''t? Go spar with Ju Seoyeon.


    - No, that''s not what I meant...


    Naturally, the internet blew up.

 Chapter 155

    As soon as the image of Yeong-bin being lifted in the "gyro drop" chair by Seoyeon aired on national television, the online communities erupted in heated discussions. After all, Seoyeon, a seemingly delicate high school girl, had effortlessly lifted her father along with the chair.


    Here¡¯s how Seoyeon¡¯s fans reacted:


    "?? Why are people making such a big deal?""LOL, so is he heavier than a giant fish or what?"


    This nonchalant response came from her dedicated fans. Having already seen Seoyeon display strength in various moments, they were relatively unfazed. To them, it was simply like, "Oh, she can lift things, no big deal."


    Naturally:


    "Are you out of your mind???""What the heck, how did she even do that?""As a fitness trainer, let me tell you: considering an adult male weighs about 80kg and the chair about 10-20kg, this is impossible.""Why can''t she do it?""Hmm... maybe it''s possible after all."


    There were plenty of posts debating her feat, but they were soon drowned out by those more focused on enjoying the humorous scene.


    Following this, the camera zoomed in on Yeong-bin, half-conscious after the drop, which sparked more questions:


    "What''s he wearing underneath?""It ripped, but doesn¡¯t it seem really thick?"


    As if anticipating such reactions, the next shot seamlessly transitioned to Sua, who was interviewed by the production team:


    "Oh, what my husband was wearing underneath? That¡¯s a stab-proof vest he ordered online. You know, from those trendy shopping sites. Yes, it¡¯s a stab-proof vest."


    Sua smiled awkwardly as she explained, her delicate eyes drooping in embarrassment.


    "Our daughter¡¯s pretty strong, so I guess he tore it while playing with her. Ever since then, he wears it whenever they roughhouse."


    The way she described it as lively play between her daughter and husband only led to a flood of confused reactions on online forums:


    "Wait, a stab-proof vest? Can it really tear just because she¡¯s strong?""Oh right, we saw her poke at it before with her finger, LOL.""Did he buy it to protect himself from her finger jabs? Are Seoyeon¡¯s fingers bullets or what?""No, stab-proof vests are meant to protect against knives, not bullets. That¡¯s what bulletproof vests are for.""But can it really tear like that?""LOL, nah, he probably bought a cheap knockoff from China."


    While some posts debated the credibility of a person ripping a stab-proof vest, others zoomed in on the footage to reveal the model he wore.@@@@


    "Looks like it¡¯s legit, though. Kevlar fiber and all.""Wow, you know a lot. Are you Kevlar fiber?""But can you actually tear that?""No way. Not even a gorilla could rip it apart.""But Seoyeon tore it playing with her dad?""If you can tear that, you can tear a person in half while playing.""Well, that¡¯s... probably true.""Don¡¯t insult Seoyeon ;;"


    And so, the debate about whether a person could actually tear a stab-proof vest lasted over two hours after the broadcast, but it was eventually dismissed as an unsolvable mystery. Instead, viewers focused on the more "realistic" part: the chair-lifted gyro drop.


    The sight of Yeong-bin lying unconscious on the floor even had some viewers rooting for more:


    "That jerk deserved it, Seoyeon! Just shake him a little more!""Why are you trash-talking someone¡¯s dad?""I¡¯m an Unchained player.""Didn¡¯t he fix everything before leaving?""If someone who beat you to a pulp sent you to the hospital, would you forgive them?""Oh..."


    Gamers who had been burned by the Unchained launch were particularly amused by Yeong-bin¡¯s predicament, even encouraging Seoyeon to go harder on him. In an unexpected twist, his image, which had taken a hit after the Unchained incident, seemed to improve as viewers enjoyed seeing him suffer at his daughter''s hands.


    "Is Seoyeon¡¯s dad really a game developer?""Yeah, he¡¯s with Unchained.""LOL, why didn¡¯t he mention his daughter was Seoyeon? He could¡¯ve used her in marketing.""Please, let¡¯s not start putting celebrities in game ads."


    As the episode progressed, Yeong-bin¡¯s name even made it to the top of real-time search rankings. The production crew, curious about the man, took the opportunity to ask Sua more about him:


    "So, how did you and your husband meet? I heard you two have been together since high school?"


    "Oh, uh, yes, that¡¯s right."


    Sua nodded repeatedly, her nervous movements inadvertently drawing attention.


    ''Please, just answer with words,'' MC Gong Hyung-man thought desperately, hoping the footage wouldn¡¯t need heavy editing to avoid revealing too much.


    "Did you two meet at school?"


    "Well, I was the head of the game development club, and my husband joined later on."


    "A game development club? Oh, right, your husband is a developer. And you¡¯re a programmer too, right? That¡¯s so cool."


    The panelists praised her, and Sua responded with a sheepish smile.


    "So did you two work together on game development?"


    "Oh no, back then I was mainly drawing, so it wasn¡¯t just the two of us. I handled the art side of things."


    She mentioned that there were four members in total: herself, Young-bin who did the planning and scenarios, one person who handled music, and another who helped with the art.


    "Wait, what kind of life did Young-bin live in school?""Is this a real story? It sounds like a novel!""A regular housewife? How is she a regular housewife? Are you insane?""No, ma¡¯am.""Shut up, you fool.""So Dad¡¯s life is in danger but that¡¯s fine??""LOL, Seoyeon¡¯s dad deserves to be punished, right?""For real, though, it¡¯s his fault.""LOL""How can his wife and both daughters be this gorgeous?""Young-bin, you need to start paying extra taxes.""What am I doing with my life?""Honestly, I¡¯d rather have this than a rich family."


    "You know, that thing... a flume ride or whatever."


    "You¡¯d need to go to an amusement park for that."


    "Yeah, but it made me think of a pool."


    "?"


    "And come to think of it, we didn¡¯t go swimming this summer. We should go. Remember, we skipped it when you hit puberty. Now¡¯s the perfect time."


    Well... he had a point, but where did this pool idea come from?


    "LOL, what the heck?""Seriously, what¡¯s going on?""Could you manage game development like this, too?""Does this mean Seoyeon and her mom will be in swimsuits next episode??""Suyeon... hehe""Can someone please report this guy?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s pondering face was caught on camera as she mulled over the sudden suggestion. It was such a sudden decision, after all.


    But the idea of going to a pool did have its appeal. It would be more fun shooting outdoors than indoors anyway.


    ''My image...''


    Though it felt like her image had taken a bit of a hit thanks to her dad, maybe the pool episode could help her make up for it.


    "Okay, sounds good."


    And just as Seoyeon nodded in agreement, the screen flashed a preview of the next episode with a blurry shot of the family in swimsuits running toward the pool.


    Then the screen read:


    [Next episode! Joo Seoyeon¡¯s family goes to the pool!]


    "You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!!!!!""No way, are you serious????""They cut it off here??? Are they joking??"


    And that¡¯s how the first episode of The Golden Ducklings featuring Seoyeon and her family came to an end, with a record-breaking viewership of 11%.


    It wasn¡¯t just the highest rating for the latest The Golden Ducklings episode, but one of the highest in the show¡¯s history.


    A massive success. A huge hit.


    "This is crazy!"


    "Director Jeon Ha-young, your insight is amazing. Seriously!"


    While everyone at the MDC variety show department was celebrating, Young-bin, who had been pulled out from watching with his family, was interviewed:


    "So when did you realize you were being filmed?"


    "...Just now."


    Young-bin wondered how on earth he was going to face the office the next day.


    The marketing team at Aidis was busy as well. They¡¯d recently sponsored Sky Garden and were preparing to launch a new line of chairs with Seoyeon as their model.


    "Team leader, our sales have gone up??"


    "What? Why?"


    They hadn¡¯t even started advertising yet. Did some YouTuber promote them or something?


    They hadn¡¯t even begun selling the new chairs. They¡¯d only started building up hype for the upcoming release.


    "So, why are sales up?"


    "Because of the Seoyeon challenge."


    "???"


    "...It¡¯s trending on YouTube right now."


    "???"


    Team Leader Kwak Hyun-woo was baffled. He had no idea how things had spiraled into this situation.

 Chapter 156

    Thus began what was called the ¡°Ju Seoyeon Challenge.¡±


    In fact, the start of it was triggered by something rather trivial.


    ¡°Alright, this is health YouTuber Park Ho-seung. One of our subscribers sent me a video asking me to give my opinion on it.¡±


    A man with a decent appearance.


    He was Park Ho-seung, a YouTuber with a million subscribers focused on fitness.


    His good looks and fit body naturally attracted female subscribers, while his well-built physique also drew in male viewers. Among fitness YouTubers, he was quite well-known.


    The video he received from a subscriber was none other than the now-famous chair-lifting video by a certain actress from the recent show Golden Duckling.


    "Ah, I see. This is a video of actress Ju Seoyeon lifting a chair in the recently aired Golden Duckling."


    As soon as Park Ho-seung saw it, his eyes widened in surprise.


    How could anyone lift a chair like that?


    Even while thinking that, he watched her grip the lower backrest like a barbell and lift it up with ease. Clearly, she had some experience in working out.


    Gender didn¡¯t matter here¡ªwhen someone did something like this, their gender became irrelevant.


    Park Ho-seung let out a series of amused "hooh"s as he watched the entire video, but in the end, he waved his hands dismissively.


    ¡°No, no, this isn¡¯t right. You¡¯d hurt your back doing it like this. Lifting a person, even if they weigh the same as a barbell, is a completely different challenge.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t do it?¡±


    His manager, who was listening, chimed in with a teasing remark.


    ¡°A high school girl did it, though.¡±


    ¡°Well, she¡¯s not exactly an ordinary high school girl, is she?¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t do it, huh? All those muscles are just for show?¡±


    Annoyed by the teasing, Park Ho-seung smiled.


    ¡°Well, what the heck, I¡¯ll give it a try!¡±


    And that¡¯s how it started.


    Of course, lifting an adult man would be too difficult, so they brought in a female member to sit on the chair instead.


    They made sure her posture was correct. And the chair? It was the same model that Seoyeon had lifted, from the ADZ brand.


    ¡°This chair distributes weight really well. If you look here, the base is easy to grip...¡±


    He added explanations like that.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    While he couldn¡¯t lift it quite as effortlessly as Seoyeon, Park Ho-seung did manage to lift the chair!


    In just three days, the video racked up over 3 million views.


    Averaging a million views per day, the video quickly gained viral fame.


    And thus, the now-infamous video continued to spread.


    ¡°You¡¯ll hurt your back. Fitness isn¡¯t just about lifting heavy weights¡ªit¡¯s about correct posture...¡±


    "Oh, but Park Ho-seung did it so easily, why are you making excuses?""If your face doesn¡¯t measure up to Park Ho-seung¡¯s, you¡¯d better at least lift heavier weights.""Don¡¯t call yourself a fitness YouTuber anymore, tsk tsk."


    ¡°...¡±


    It didn¡¯t help that Park Ho-seung was both good-looking and well-built.


    He had the kind of physique that made people joke, ¡°If you work out, I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    It¡¯s common to assume that someone who¡¯s good-looking is less skilled or has succeeded based on their looks alone.


    Park Ho-seung had that kind of image.


    Because of that, the phrase ¡°Park Ho-seung did it¡± hit differently for fitness YouTubers who were serious about their craft.


    "Why the hell did that guy do it?"


    "If he did it, I can¡¯t just sit back and not do it..."


    That mindset quickly spread among fitness YouTubers.


    And so, the ¡°Ju Seoyeon Challenge¡± was born.


    ¡°Okay, time to get up on the chair, please!¡±@@@@


    ¡°Yes~!¡±


    But when they actually tried it, it turned out to be surprisingly good content.


    With a female guest sitting on the chair, it emphasized how light she was.


    And when the fitness YouTuber succeeded in the challenge, it brought in delicious views.


    Thanks to the Ju Seoyeon Challenge, rookie fitness YouTubers were unearthed, and it became a rite of passage for newcomers to attempt the challenge at least once.


    ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s happening, Team Leader.¡±


    ¡°This is ridiculous.¡±


    The marketing department at ADZ was in chaos.


    After all, regardless of who was sitting on the chair, they were all lifting ADZ¡¯s chairs.


    As a result, the chair Seoyeon had lifted unintentionally became a fitness chair.


    No, it was originally just an office chair!


    ¡°Our chairs have great weight distribution. And they¡¯re so sturdy that their ratings are going up!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly good news.¡±


    ¡°Sales have already increased by 20% this month.¡±


    ¡°20 percent?!¡±


    Gwak Hyun-woo almost fainted.


    Twenty percent¡ªwhile sales drops were easy to manage, an increase like that was something even he had only dreamed about.


    Sometimes sales rose after switching advertising models, but...


    ¡®We haven¡¯t even run the ad yet, though?¡¯


    All they had done was sign a contract with Ju Seoyeon.


    But if things were already this good...


    ¡°Assistant Manager Kim, make sure to tell the other staff to be extra polite to Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    Jeong-woo couldn¡¯t outright refuse.


    This was a rare request from Seoyeon, and besides that...


    His gut was telling him that this movie was sending off strange signals.


    ¡°By the way, aren¡¯t you supposed to be improving your image? You don¡¯t seem to be doing that.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon, who had just felt relief at Jeong-woo¡¯s positive response, now felt like she¡¯d been hit over the head.


    Image improvement!


    The intellectual and sophisticated image she had shown on Golden Duckling had completely vanished thanks to the Ju Seoyeon Challenge!


    ¡°It¡¯s improved, at least... I¡¯m not a gorilla anymore.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s surprising.¡±


    She had become the headbutting dinosaur instead, but Seoyeon couldn¡¯t bring herself to say that out loud.


    The impact of Golden Duckling was significant.


    Though she thought she had failed at improving her image, it seemed that at least the people around her found her more approachable.


    When she went to class:


    ¡°Seoyeon, I watched Golden Duckling last night. Your dad was so funny!¡±


    ¡°Wait, is that really your mom? Wow, when I watched with my mom, she seemed so bitter.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, my mom kept saying she¡¯s gotten old because of me.¡±


    ¡°Your little sister was so cute!¡±


    That was the general sentiment.


    Most of the comments were about her dad being funny and her mom being beautiful.


    ¡®...What about me?¡¯


    Oddly enough, Seoyeon felt a little left out.


    Wasn¡¯t she the main character of the show?


    Why were they only talking about her mom and dad?


    Seoyeon felt a little hurt.


    ¡°But the headbutting dinosaur was cute, right?¡±


    ¡°It did look a bit dumb, though.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Even at home, the topic of conversation had shifted to the show.


    For now, the cameras had been put away.


    Su-ah couldn¡¯t deny her daughter¡¯s comments.


    After all, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.


    But she couldn¡¯t say that out loud, so she just hugged her instead.


    Seoyeon had come to realize that her mom¡¯s hugs were reserved for times when there was nothing more to say.


    And then, not long after:


    ¡°Dad¡¯s home.¡±


    Young-bin opened the door and entered.


    The moment he stepped inside, he started poking around with a long stick, checking every corner.


    ¡°There¡¯s no camera today.¡±


    ¡°How am I supposed to believe that?¡±


    Young-bin spoke in an aggrieved tone.


    He had been tricked during filming, and even at the pool.


    Ju Seoyeon¡¯s vlog? Or whatever it was called?


    She¡¯d said she was filming something for the fan cafe?, but fan cafe? my foot!


    The footage had aired on national TV for everyone to see!


    ¡°Nowadays, people look at me and bite their lower lip.¡±


    ¡°...Ahem.¡±


    ¡°I had an interview today. I walked in as the interviewer, and everyone was pinching their thighs and biting their lower lips.¡±


    Young-bin spoke with a regretful expression.


    He had been shocked when he first heard that Golden Duckling would be airing the episode featuring Ju Seoyeon.


    But when it aired, words couldn¡¯t describe how he felt.


    How could he go to work the next day?


    That was his biggest concern, and sure enough, when he arrived at the office, his coworkers greeted him with odd expressions.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re such a fraud.¡±


    ¡°How could your wife and daughters do this to you?¡±


    The people who brought up his family out of envy were easier to deal with.


    They actually made Young-bin feel more confident.


    But then...


    ¡°Was that really...pfft!¡±


    ¡°Uh, Team Leader Ju, I wanted to ask... ahem!¡±


    His colleagues and superiors were all in hysterics.


    Even the smallest work-related question turned into a comedy skit.


    Recently, Young-bin had become a walking punchline at work.


    It was depressing, really.


    And to make matters worse, next week his wife¡¯s swimsuit scene would air for the entire nation to see.


    He couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine...


    ¡®Well, at least I¡¯m better off than Dad,¡¯ Seoyeon thought.


    She had become a headbutting dinosaur, but at least she wasn¡¯t the national laughingstock her dad had become.


    And the aftermath wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Due to the impact of Golden Duckling, the agency had been flooded with inquiries.


    Most of them were from advertisers.


    Given the recent surge in ADZ¡¯s popularity, this wasn¡¯t surprising.


    ¡°Seoyeon, we¡¯ve got an ad offer for you!!¡±


    Her manager, Park Eun-ha, beamed as she delivered the news.


    But something about her gaze felt a little off.


    There was a strange sense of hesitation in her expression.


    When Seoyeon stared at her quizzically, waiting for her to continue, Eun-ha finally spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s for your mother.¡±


    ¡®...What about me?¡¯


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel once again like she was being left out.


    And then, two days later...


    ¡°The trailer for Heavenly Garden is coming out this week.¡±


    PD Lee Min-hwa casually mentioned it on set.


    The broadcast date was now within sight, and things were really starting to move.

 Chapter 157

    PD Lee Min-hwa of Heavenly Garden was convinced that much was riding on this drama.


    The upcoming viewer ratings wouldn¡¯t just determine the success of the drama but would also serve as a critical turning point in the power struggle between the drama departments at KMB.


    ¡°That¡¯s why this preview is so important.¡±


    ¡°But do you think this will work? There¡¯s no romance, after all.¡±@@@@


    Lee Min-hwa squinted at the staff member who had spoken.


    Of course, the employee wasn¡¯t saying Heavenly Garden was boring.


    In fact, they found it quite enjoyable.


    However, the drama was undoubtedly challenging.


    ¡®Even Dream Future, which was presented as a youth drama, had romance.¡¯


    Though it had a lot of comedic elements, there was a solid romantic aspect.


    Moreover, the OST was very well received, making it a commercially successful drama despite its plot.


    ¡®But Heavenly Garden has no romance.¡¯


    ¡®It might fit the genre of a coming-of-age story, but still...¡¯


    When people feel uncertain, they naturally compare it to what¡¯s familiar.


    If something is present in other shows but not here, it makes them uneasy.


    Furthermore, among broadcasters, producers, and staff, there¡¯s a general formula for what makes a drama successful.


    Heavenly Garden was essentially going against that formula.


    There was no romance.


    The main character was a high school student.


    And it didn¡¯t quite fit the mold of a typical youth drama.


    Altogether, it was a complicated show.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s understandable.¡±


    Lee Min-hwa, who had been about to lash out, held back.


    It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t empathize with their concerns.


    ¡°I believe that once this preview is released, those worries will be put to rest.¡±


    Her words drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    Was the preview really that good?


    Even if it was, they couldn¡¯t be sure how it would feel.


    Still, there was one thing.


    One thing they were sure of.


    ¡®The lead is solid.¡¯


    ¡®As long as it¡¯s Ju Seoyeon, at least the acting won¡¯t fail.¡¯


    At the very least, the choice of the lead actor was well-received.


    Not only was her acting solid, but Ju Seoyeon had also gained a considerable amount of buzz recently.


    Among actors her age, she had shot to the top.


    To the point that she was being mentioned alongside Jo Seohui.


    ¡°At least the lead doesn¡¯t fall short compared to PD Baek¡¯s drama, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. At least right now. But of course, the other side has name recognition.¡±


    The drama being compared to Heavenly Garden was PD Baek Tae-su¡¯s The Grand Game.


    It was a massive production in many ways.


    The budget initially allocated for that drama was twice that of Heavenly Garden.


    However, PD Baek had managed to cut that budget in half by leveraging his personal connections.


    So, in terms of cost, Heavenly Garden and The Grand Game were on equal footing.


    In many ways, it wasn¡¯t an ideal situation for them.


    When you compared the scale of the two, it felt like the other side had the upper hand.


    ¡°Oh, but did you see the variety show?¡±


    ¡°Variety show?¡±


    ¡°You know, the one that aired next door recently. The one with Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    The tense atmosphere relaxed as a staff member smiled and brought up the topic.


    Nobody was unfamiliar with the variety show that had aired recently.


    After all, it featured the lead actress of their drama.


    ¡°Of course I watched it. It was fun.¡±


    ¡°That was Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother, right? The one on the show?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I heard.¡±


    ¡°Wow, she looks so young. I mean, how does she look that young at her age? My wife, on the other hand...¡±


    The conversation didn¡¯t last long due to the nature of the setting, but it did help lighten the mood.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± PD Lee Min-hwa said, smiling.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother became quite a topic of conversation, didn¡¯t she? I heard about it too.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so even the PD heard about it. It was a pretty big deal, after all.¡±


    ¡°Then, I think it would be good to include her in an interview for the promotion.¡±


    ¡°...What? You mean Ju Seoyeon¡¯s mother?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Heavenly Garden was a drama that dealt with parent-child relationships.


    So, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to include an interview with the actors¡¯ parents, given the current buzz.


    Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be a long segment¡ªjust a short interview.


    ¡°We might as well reach out to the other young actors¡¯ mothers too.¡±


    It seemed like it would be a nice touch for the promotional video.


    ¡°I¡¯ll contact Ju Seoyeon myself.¡±


    That¡¯s what PD Lee Min-hwa decided.


    And then...


    ¡°Mom, PD Lee is asking if you¡¯d be okay with doing an interview for the drama.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Su-ah, who had rejected all advertising offers, collapsed to the floor upon hearing that request.


    She had a feeling this one would be difficult to refuse.


    Whether it was promoting the drama or appearing on variety shows, neither could be neglected.


    More than anything, Seoyeon¡¯s image improvement project was still ongoing.


    Whether it would be during the second episode or the third, the timing would be around then.


    ¡®Will Team Leader Gwak¡¯s decision pay off... or backfire?¡¯


    He wasn¡¯t sure.


    If it were up to Assistant Manager Kim, he would¡¯ve fully embraced the ¡°Ju Seoyeon Challenge¡± in the ad.


    Based on Seoyeon¡¯s recent image, he wondered if it would be difficult to change people¡¯s perceptions.


    No matter how intellectual or serious she appeared now, people who had seen her on variety shows might just find it amusing.


    That was the nature of an entertainer¡¯s image.


    He just hoped the new image Seoyeon would present in Heavenly Garden would work well in the ad.


    The day before the second episode of Golden Duckling was set to air, Seoyeon was enjoying some rare free time.


    Most of her recent busy work had been wrapped up, so she felt like she could finally relax a bit.


    ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t... happen to watch VTuber streams again, did you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon averted her gaze at Jiyeon¡¯s question.


    There was no point in lying. After all, it would come up in the broadcast or the third episode anyway.


    Jiyeon, seeing Seoyeon¡¯s reaction, sighed.


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t the most patient person.


    She had a tendency to act impulsively, likely because she was driven by her emotions.


    Thankfully, this had improved since middle school.


    Jiyeon sighed again, remembering her own embarrassing moments from that time.


    ¡°I got in.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I passed the audition for The Gyeongseong Lady. I got a call this morning.¡±


    Seoyeon unconsciously shot up from her seat.


    Realizing they were in a cafe?, she quickly sat back down, embarrassed by the attention.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s wearing a mask, so it¡¯s hard to be sure...¡±


    She couldn¡¯t escape the whispers around her.


    Feeling a bit flustered, Seoyeon lowered her voice as she spoke to Jiyeon.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve called and told me about that!¡±


    ¡°We could just talk about it when we met.¡±


    Jiyeon snorted dismissively, her attitude giving off a bit of a delinquent vibe.


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®How does she have so many friends?¡¯


    ¡°But there¡¯s a bit of a problem.¡±


    ¡°A problem?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear from Jo Seohui? Well, I guess she wouldn¡¯t want to tell you.¡±


    Maybe because she didn¡¯t want Seoyeon to get a bad impression and back out of the project.


    On the other hand, Jiyeon was telling her now because she knew how important this role was.


    But Jiyeon knew one thing for sure.


    Once Seoyeon committed to something, she never backed down.


    ¡°There¡¯s a snag with one of the roles.¡±


    ¡°A snag with the roles?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s supposed to be a servant under your character in The Gyeongseong Lady, right? The one who manages the household.¡±


    Seoyeon knew about it.


    It was a senior actor who had quite a bit of experience and was meant to play the film¡¯s main antagonist.


    Because of how crucial the role was, Director Baek Min had been very careful in casting.


    ¡°But apparently, that actor backed out. Officially, they¡¯ve signed on to another movie.¡±


    ¡°...What about the contract?¡±


    ¡°Well, they hadn¡¯t started filming yet, so they probably just paid a small penalty and left. Or maybe not even that.¡±


    Jiyeon didn¡¯t know the exact details.


    What mattered was that the role was now vacant.


    ¡°So, they won¡¯t be able to start filming until they find a replacement.¡±


    It might be easy to assume Director Baek Min would quickly find someone,


    but in reality, it was quite difficult.


    The movie wasn¡¯t highly commercial, and the pay wasn¡¯t great, so bigger actors weren¡¯t interested unless they really wanted the role.


    And the vacant role was that of the villain.


    Would any big actor want to play the villain for little money?


    For artistic merit alone?


    ¡®There probably is someone.¡¯


    They could find someone if they looked hard enough.


    But it would definitely take time.


    ¡°...Could I recommend someone to Jo Seohui for the role?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell her yourself?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit mad at Jo Seohui right now.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t told her about the audition results, and she had been in a scene with Lamiel.


    For such petty reasons, Seoyeon had been pretending to be upset with Jo Seohui.


    It was just a joke, though.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll let her know.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded.


    A villain, huh?


    They needed an actor of a certain stature, someone Director Baek Min would like.


    If that was the case...


    There was only one person Seoyeon could think of.


    ¡°Oh, Seoyeon! Long time no see. Want to go fishing together? Oh, wait, it¡¯s not about fishing?¡±


    He was a veteran actor who had been active for a long time.


    In terms of acting skills, he was one of the top five in the country.


    Five years ago, he had a rough time trying to break into the international market and had returned to Korea.


    Recently, he had only appeared on Star Fisherman, a fishing variety show,


    but he and Seoyeon still kept in touch from time to time.


    It was none other than actor Lee Sang-su.

 Chapter 158

    After filming Star Fisherman, Seoyeon stayed in contact with the two actors she had filmed the show with: Lee Sang-su and Song Kwang-min, two actors who represented Korea. Of course, it wasn¡¯t to manage her connections; rather, it was because she had genuinely developed a passion for fishing.


    So, occasionally, she tagged along with her manager to join them during their fishing trips. From their perspective, it seemed like the young actress was being diligent in managing her network early on. However, the general feeling was more about them enjoying the increase in fishing buddies.


    Such outings weren¡¯t unusual for them, and they seemed to welcome having a new fishing friend.


    However, as Seoyeon¡¯s schedule got busier recently, their contact had become less frequent.


    ¡°Are you asking if I¡¯d consider being in a movie?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I think it¡¯d be best to discuss it in person.¡±


    Since it wasn¡¯t something she could explain over the phone, Seoyeon brought it up during a fishing trip. This time, Jiyeon had come along as well.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, this is my first time fishing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At Seoyeon¡¯s enthusiastic response, Lee Jiyeon simply nodded. It was easier to just go along with things quietly here. After all, trying to refuse would only lead to her being dragged into it anyway.


    ¡°By the way, Seoyeon, shouldn¡¯t you tell Jo Seohui? You¡¯ll also need to inform the director.¡±


    ¡°I already asked her.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t planning to go ahead with things recklessly. She wasn¡¯t sure if actor Lee Sang-su would accept, and as an actress, she couldn¡¯t just proceed with things on her own.


    When Seoyeon mentioned it to Jo Seohui, her eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯re in contact with actor Lee Sang-su?! Tell me! Is this about the vacant role in The Gyeongseong Lady? Ah, did Jiyeon tell you? Right, there¡¯s an issue with that role. If actor Lee Sang-su could take it on, that would be amazing...¡±


    Seoyeon had to stop Jo Seohui from trying to slyly get his contact information. It seemed that Lee Sang-su was one of the actors Jo Seohui greatly admired.


    So, she said she¡¯d talk to Director Baek Min about it and rushed off.


    ¡°She got back to me that evening, saying it was fine.¡±


    ¡°...Her decisiveness is impressive.¡±


    Jiyeon clicked her tongue in amazement. Both Jo Seohui and Seoyeon had remarkable drive. Once they thought of something, they acted on it right away. They also seemed to take full advantage of their youth. Being young meant they could get away with a little bit of stubbornness, which came off as cute.


    Of course, in this case, it wasn¡¯t really stubbornness, but under normal circumstances, this kind of process would have taken much longer.


    ¡°So, when are we going fishing?¡±


    ¡°Maybe the week after next?¡±


    ¡°What if I have something scheduled?¡±


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t.¡±


    How do you know? Jiyeon was about to ask when she suddenly realized that Seoyeon knew the streaming schedule of ¡®Ramiel.¡¯ There was no way she¡¯d be waiting for the stream to start unless she knew Jiyeon¡¯s availability in advance.


    Looking at Ramiel¡¯s streaming schedule, one could roughly guess Jiyeon¡¯s schedule. Ramiel usually streamed when Jiyeon didn¡¯t have work.


    ¡®...I knew it.¡¯


    Isn¡¯t she a bit too into VTubers? It¡¯s fine, but could she please stop sending superchats? Jiyeon found it exhausting to keep returning the money to Su-ah, Seoyeon¡¯s mother, especially since there was a time when she had misunderstood Su-ah.


    ¡°Let¡¯s practice fishing before we go. I¡¯ll teach you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll practice on my own.¡±


    ¡°...Hmph.¡±


    Seoyeon pouted, but Jiyeon ignored her. Learning fishing from Seoyeon would leave her exhausted.


    The highly anticipated second episode of Ju Seoyeon¡¯s segment on Golden Duckling!


    Since the first episode caused such a stir, there was a big difference in the number of people waiting for the second episode.


    The most tormented by this was none other than Young-bin.


    ¡®Why did I suggest going to the pool?¡¯


    To make matters worse, he had to work late tonight.


    He wouldn¡¯t even get to go home; instead, he¡¯d be watching Golden Duckling with his colleagues at work.


    The worst part? The second episode featured the pool!


    He was about to inadvertently expose his wife and daughter in their swimsuits to the entire nation.


    Sure, they were just swimsuits, nothing too revealing... but still. Sigh.


    ¡°Oh, Team Leader Ju, lighten up! You should smile like you do on the show.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that everyone¡¯s watching...¡±


    ¡°Lately, everyone¡¯s been in such high spirits. Whether it¡¯s the development team or the planning team, everyone smiles when they see you, Team Leader.¡±


    Even the department head mentioned this to Young-bin as he walked by.


    In the end, Young-bin couldn¡¯t leave after work and was dragged to watch the show with his colleagues.


    ¡°Oh, come on, Team Leader. You¡¯ve got to watch with us!¡±


    ¡°Right! Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were going to be on TV?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know myself.¡±


    ¡°Ah, come on, now you¡¯re just playing dumb.¡±


    Seriously, he hadn¡¯t known. How was he supposed to know Su-ah had kept it a secret?


    Since there was no ill intent, he couldn¡¯t exactly get mad about it.


    And even if he did want to get angry, it all melted away when he stood in front of his wife.


    ¡®Well.¡¯


    Young-bin sat down in his seat. Looking around at the gathered employees in front of the TV, he realized this wasn¡¯t so bad.


    After all, his daughter was an actress, and this wasn¡¯t much different from watching a movie together.


    Plus, there was one benefit to having been on the show.


    His superiors, who used to criticize him, now treated him with more respect.


    Since he had been on TV and his daughter, Seoyeon, was a famous actress, they were worried he might mention it in the industry.


    There were even rumors that he might be promoted to director for the company¡¯s upcoming project.


    His performance was solid, and his name recognition had skyrocketed recently.


    More than anything...


    ¡®I¡¯m so envious.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m jealous of his wife and daughters.¡¯


    ¡®If I had a wife like that, I¡¯d be excited to come home from work.¡¯


    ¡®How does he have two such obedient daughters? I bet they give him allowance money too.¡¯


    ¡°Ahem!¡±


    Takes a seatI heard today¡¯s episode features the pool, so I¡¯m watching in my birthday suit.Why are you watching naked, you psycho?It makes me feel like I¡¯m really at the pool.Do you normally go to the pool naked???Ju Young-bin¡¯s fat loss secrets revealedWhy don¡¯t game devs fix bugs this efficiently?Isn¡¯t Young-bin on the development team? The support team handles bugs.Shut up.


    Thinking nothing of it, Seoyeon casually pulled down her mother¡¯s parka.


    And then...


    ¡°We should definitely cover this up. The broadcast might get canceled.¡±


    It seemed like it might not pass the broadcast regulations.


    Seoyeon thought seriously about that.


    It turned out the swimsuit was a bit small.


    As she had suspected, Su-ah¡¯s chest had grown recently.


    Combining that with the swimsuit led to quite the...


    ¡°...Mom, do I look fat?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it at all.¡±


    Fat? Is that what she calls it?


    Seoyeon found it hard to believe. Sure, big breasts didn¡¯t always make for the best silhouette, but still.


    However, Su-ah... well.


    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I mean, really dangerous.¡±


    Fortunately, most of Seoyeon¡¯s comments were edited out.


    It was funny, but due to the content¡¯s nature, it got cut for being a bit too... risque?.


    Naturally, viewers who couldn¡¯t see the cut scenes reacted as follows:


    Seoyeon, show us what you saw!What the hell did she see??Why did they even go to the pool if they were going to cut it???Did you see that when she unzipped the parka? Ohohoho.Seoyeon¡¯s mom is stacking up retirement money nicely.Seoyoon is seriously the cutest thing on this planet.


    Those were the typical reactions.


    Even with the parka on, there was no hiding it.


    It wasn¡¯t a regular outfit, after all, but a thin swimming parka.


    Seriously, how big is it?The parka is actually lifting up.Seoyeon¡¯s got a great figure, too. Is she really a high schooler???


    Despite not fully revealing her body, just seeing her silhouette was enough to stir up conversations.


    Of course, this kind of talk was mostly found on unmoderated forums.


    On more regulated fan cafe?s for Ju Seoyeon, the discussion was more like:


    How does she fight gorillas with a body like that?Seoyeon is more delicate than I thought.Honestly, I thought she¡¯d be more muscular. LOL


    ©¸ ?????


    And so the pool scene began.


    Just as Young-bin had said, nothing much happened.


    At least, not in the parts Young-bin could see.


    ¡°Mom, your swimsuit top is coming off.¡±


    ¡°What?! No!!¡±


    ¡°Sis, bounce me on the water!¡±


    ¡°Okay, hold on.¡±


    Wait, someone¡¯s skipping across the water like a stone.Seoyeon is way stronger than she looks...


    While Young-bin enjoyed his time alone, the other side of the pool was a chaotic mess.


    There were a few moments that could have been broadcast accidents, but thankfully, no actual exposure occurred, so it all passed without incident.


    ¡°Okay, on the count of three, we¡¯ll all jump into the pool together with Dad!¡±


    ¡°Yes!!¡±


    ¡°...Do I have to?¡±


    Young-bin blinked, as if the answer was obvious.


    With the cameras rolling, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t say no, so she nodded reluctantly.


    The truth was, Seoyeon had never really learned to swim.


    But, as is often the case, people don¡¯t go to swimming pools just to swim.


    It¡¯s more about enjoying the atmosphere.


    ¡°One, two, three!¡±


    At Young-bin¡¯s shout, they all splashed into the water!


    At the same time, a large splash of water surged up from where Seoyeon had jumped in.


    ?That didn¡¯t sound right.It didn¡¯t sound like someone just splashing in the pool, but like something heavy falling in.Oh my God, the mass...Yeah, I heard Ju Seoyeon weighs quite a bit because of all her muscle mass.All humans are muscle.


    Most of the online communities didn¡¯t take it too seriously.


    ¡°This pool is deeper than I thought.¡±


    Suyeon, who had jumped in with a tube, popped her head out of the water, clinging to the float.


    After helping her up, Young-bin looked around, but strangely, Seoyeon was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Wow, Seoyeon must have sunk because she¡¯s too heavy.¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡±


    Suyeon covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide with shock.


    ¡°Dad, Dad, I think Seoyeon is too heavy to float.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, even though she doesn¡¯t look like it, your sister is actually pretty...¡±


    Before he could finish, Young-bin disappeared.


    Someone had grabbed his ankle and pulled him under.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Suyeon, startled by her dad¡¯s sudden disappearance, looked around in confusion. Where had he gone?


    ¡°...Suyeon.¡±


    ¡°Eek!¡±


    Seoyeon, who had surfaced from the water, lifted Suyeon up with her tube.


    It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t swim; she had just sunk a little deeper than expected.


    She had even bumped her head on the bottom of the pool.


    She had taken her time getting back up, worried she might have broken the pool floor.


    ...Sure, she was heavy, but she still floated.


    ¡®Lesson learned: don¡¯t jump into pools carelessly.¡¯


    Anyway, Seoyeon spent the rest of the pool time towing Suyeon around like a jet ski.


    Meanwhile, she had casually tossed Young-bin off somewhere.


    Other than that, it was a completely uneventful shoot.


    Really.


    But still...


    - What''s Ju Seoyeon''s weight?


    - Did Young-bin die?


    - Good riddance, teenage.


    A lot of posts appeared on the forums.


    Most of them were slanderous rumours aimed at Seoyeon.

 Chapter 159

    Jiyeon had anticipated this to some extent.


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t one to lie.


    If she couldn¡¯t answer, she would simply avoid the question altogether.


    Therefore, the fact that she had avoided answering meant it was essentially true.


    In other words, it meant:


    ¡°Is Ju Seoyeon really watching this?¡±¡°Wow, she watches stuff like this.¡±¡°Is this a corporate VTube channel? The model is no joke.¡±¡°The voice is great!¡±¡°She¡¯s really into roleplay.¡±


    Currently, Ramiel had around 4,800 viewers in her stream¡ªa staggering number.


    Numbers like these were typically only achieved by the top corporate VTubers, and now they were being displayed on Ramiel¡¯s stream.


    Of course, more than half of them were probably just there out of curiosity.


    For reference, Ramiel¡¯s average viewership was about 500.


    In other words, her audience had increased nearly tenfold.


    ¡°Oh, there are quite a few people here today.¡±


    ¡°Quite a few?¡±¡°Can we get a mod to clear out the trolls?¡±


    Her manager¡ªJiyeon¡¯s actual manager, not just her VTuber manager¡ªwas doing her best to manage things.


    But with a large crowd, there were inevitably more trolls.


    And since a celebrity was watching, the interest was even greater.


    ¡°...Ah, I heard actress Ju Seoyeon is watching my stream. Let¡¯s see.¡±


    Though Ramiel¡¯s voice was endlessly sweet, she was gritting her teeth behind the scenes.


    For Jiyeon, VTubing was a healing activity.


    [Aired in Golden Duckling this week ?100,000]


    ¡°...¡±


    Regardless, the superchats kept rolling in.


    Seeing them, Jiyeon¡¯s irritation melted away.


    Unlike Seoyeon¡¯s disruptive superchats, these were well-moderated by her manager.


    After all, she was doing this to make money, and it was hard to be in a bad mood with so many superchats popping up.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Ramiel had watched the latest episode of Golden Duckling featuring Seoyeon.


    Episode 3 focused on two main events: watching an internet stream and a gym visit.


    ¡°Did she get caught pretending not to watch?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±¡°She had it in a small window and got caught.¡±¡°Watching a VTuber stream like it¡¯s an educational broadcast, LOL.¡±¡°Thought she wouldn¡¯t get caught, LOL.¡±¡°LOL, is that part of her act?¡±¡°If it were an act, she would¡¯ve been watching it openly.¡±


    Apparently, Seoyeon had tried to use her excellent acting skills to her advantage.


    She¡¯d sat there with an incredibly serious expression, staring at the monitor and taking notes.


    Occasionally, there¡¯d be a quiet click of the mouse.


    To anyone watching, it looked like she was a student diligently studying an online lecture.


    But then a suspicious character appeared on the monitor, revealing the truth.


    ¡°Does this look like a face that watches VTubers?¡±¡°Yeah, totally.¡±¡°You can tell clearly.¡±


    Ramiel sighed as she read the chat.


    Then...


    [¡°You¡¯re looking beautiful today ?500,000¡±]


    A familiar nickname had sent a massive superchat.


    ¡°Whoa, ?500,000!¡±¡°Unreal! That¡¯s a big spender.¡±


    From the outside, it might have seemed like that.


    But Ramiel knew she¡¯d have to return the money to Seoyeon.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t tell Seoyeon this.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ramiel gave a polite thank-you as always and glanced at her manager.


    Then Seoyeon was promptly banned from the stream.


    Seoyeon¡¯s habit of watching Ramiel¡¯s streams had become quite the topic online.


    After all, she¡¯d worn an endlessly serious expression.


    Watching VTubers as if she were studying would naturally raise questions.


    Though it wasn¡¯t something that had been revealed publicly, those who were active in certain online communities couldn¡¯t help but notice the circulated screenshots.


    ¡°So, does Ju Seoyeon really watch VTubers? Is she a real fan?¡±¡°It¡¯s just a nerdy act.¡±¡°If she were a nerd, she¡¯d be watching anime or playing games, not VTubers.¡±¡°That¡¯s true.¡±¡°Maybe she took it a bit too far.¡±


    There was heated debate over whether Seoyeon was genuinely into it or not.


    Some even speculated that Seoyeon was the one constantly sending superchats and getting banned.


    ¡°That¡¯s taking it too far.¡±¡°The amounts she sends are insane, LOL.¡±


    But people couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°What if it is Seoyeon?¡±


    Of course, Jiyeon saw all of this and put Seoyeon on her ban list for a while.


    There was another topic regarding Seoyeon circulating online, though.


    ¡°So, how much does Ju Seoyeon weigh, anyway?¡±¡°Shh.¡±¡°Asking that isn¡¯t very polite.¡±


    The controversy started with the pool episode.


    Seoyeon¡¯s seemingly substantial weight became a topic of speculation when she sank into the water.


    But those were just vague guesses.


    Then, in episode 3, things got a bit more specific.


    While the VTuber topic was a community-driven post-episode revelation, the gym segment drew more attention.


    To keep her image, Seoyeon had been focusing on feminine exercises that day¡ªlight-weight squats for hip-ups and bodyweight exercises for flexibility.@@@@


    ¡°Seoyeon, are you okay? No heavy lifting today?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame; lifting is usually the highlight.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing it? You look a bit weak today. Need a hand?¡±


    Unaware they were on camera, the regulars kept coming up to Seoyeon with remarks like that.


    To viewers, it could seem confusing.


    ¡°Are they serious?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°But they seem oblivious to the cameras. Notice how they bleep out the curse words.¡±


    Despite it all, Seoyeon kept going with her routine.


    From what they showed, it seemed like a typical gym session for an actress.


    The real problem came afterward.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to do the Ju Seoyeon Challenge as Ju Seoyeon herself!¡±


    ¡°Oh! I was going to suggest it.¡±


    ¡°Well said! Let¡¯s all try it after he does.¡±


    ¡°How can he be all fluff if he couldn¡¯t lift Ju Seoyeon?¡±¡°Still, seeing Seoyeon laugh at him is so... sweet.¡±¡°How old are you, anyway?¡±¡°A wife like Su-ah and daughters like Seoyeon and Su-yeon... Should I kill him?¡±¡°How did he survive being dragged off by Seoyeon?¡±¡°I work at RayWill Games... I can¡¯t look at my team leader without laughing.¡±¡°Su-ah could have been my queen.¡±¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡±¡°Mother Su-ah...¡±


    Various broadcasters, including KMB, reached out to her, wanting her for more variety show appearances.


    While Seoyeon enjoyed filming variety shows,


    ¡®It¡¯ll probably be hard for a while.¡¯


    She might do more shows if the opportunity arose, but her schedule was currently packed.


    After Golden Duckling, Seoyeon¡¯s public image had softened considerably.


    ¡®It¡¯s an improvement, but...¡¯


    The violent gorilla-wielding image had faded significantly, likely because it had been an internet meme.


    While she failed to project the intellectual honor student persona through Golden Duckling, she had become more relatable as a ¡°daughter¡± or ¡°sister¡± figure.


    It was a sign of her increasing popularity.


    ¡®The murderous image from Chase-ah has also faded considerably.¡¯


    Seoyeon was relieved.


    She had worried about being typecast as a villain.


    But she also didn¡¯t want to gain a reputation for being overly bubbly, so she planned to manage her appearances carefully.


    ¡°By the way, Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Did it really have to be fishing?¡±


    Jiyeon asked, her tone serious.


    Today, they were scheduled to meet with actor Lee Sang-su.


    They would be going sea fishing, just like they did when they filmed Star Fisherman.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never fished before, and I¡¯ve barely been on a boat.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good timing.¡±


    Seoyeon answered nonchalantly as she packed her things.


    She felt it was appropriate to bring Jiyeon, given that Jiyeon was the lead in Gyeongseong Lady.


    After all, even Jo Seohui had contacted her personally the day before, asking if she could come along to meet Sang-su.


    But Seoyeon had declined to bring all three of them.


    Seohui seemed a bit disappointed, but ultimately, she understood.


    ¡°Just make sure to ask for Lee Sang-su¡¯s support. However...¡±


    ¡°However?¡±


    ¡°Director Baek Min wants to see him act before finalizing his role.¡±


    Seoyeon frowned at this.


    While she understood the importance of casting based on talent rather than just a name,


    ¡®Will Lee Sang-su agree?¡¯


    He was highly skeptical about acting these days.


    In a few years, he would retire quietly, his last appearance being a forgotten Hollywood movie.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t want that for him.


    ¡°Oh, Seoyeon! Always looking so healthy.¡±


    At their meeting point, Lee Sang-su greeted them with a hearty laugh.


    Jiyeon seemed a bit nervous, but both Sang-su and his longtime fishing buddy, Song Kwang-min, welcomed her warmly.


    They were happy to have a new fishing novice join them, especially a girl who could be their daughter¡¯s age.


    ¡°Here you go, Sang-su. Is this what you were looking for?¡±


    ¡°Thank you! Jiyeon, you¡¯re very helpful.¡±


    And so, they boarded the boat and began fishing.


    Though Jiyeon had been initially reserved, she quickly grew comfortable around them.


    Seeing her ease into conversation, Seoyeon marveled.


    ¡®She¡¯s really good at socializing.¡¯


    That must be why she excelled at internet broadcasting.


    Jiyeon wasn¡¯t good at fishing, but she was helpful in other ways.


    She had a way with words and seemed to know exactly what the actors needed.


    ¡°If only I had a daughter like Jiyeon.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. She¡¯s got it together.¡±


    The two men chatted happily, while Seoyeon narrowed her eyes.


    Despite all the fishing trips, they had never once mentioned wanting a daughter like her.


    Not that they knew Seoyeon was eavesdropping.


    Completely oblivious, they continued talking.


    ¡°Seoyeon makes me think I should get a puppy, though.¡±


    ¡°I know what you mean.¡±


    Not realizing Seoyeon was listening, the two chatted on.


    What¡¯s this? Jiyeon¡¯s a daughter, but I¡¯m a puppy?


    Seoyeon pouted, feeling slightly indignant.

 Chapter 160

    "Ah, so that''s the story."


    Though it felt like she was being treated a bit harshly, that wasn¡¯t the main issue. The real purpose of today was to talk to Actor Lee Sang-soo about Gyeongseong Lady.


    Sudden actor departures were fairly common occurrences. It often caused delays in production.


    However, for someone in a position like Director Baek Min, who couldn¡¯t easily find a replacement, it could be a fatal issue.


    "Director Baek Min has always been a picky one."


    Actor Lee Sang-soo nodded at the mention. It might have been an embarrassing comment for someone asking for a favor, but ultimately, Director Baek Min had to give the okay on Lee Sang-soo''s performance before they could start filming.


    And this was despite the difficulty of finding the right actor for the role.


    "He¡¯s stubborn too. Though I don¡¯t necessarily see that as a bad thing. It¡¯s good for a young director to have a bit of stubbornness. It¡¯s not ideal to be too concerned about what actors think."@@@@


    Of course, it was all about maintaining the right balance. Director Baek Min was a master at that.


    ''But.''


    Lee Sang-soo felt a strange feeling from Seoyeon¡¯s proposal. It was as if he¡¯d had an inexplicable premonition that something like this would eventually happen.


    ''An actor that would draw me back into the film industry.''


    To be honest, Lee Sang-soo still hadn¡¯t completely gotten over the shock of going international. Seeing the look on Lee Sang-soo¡¯s face, Actor Song Kwang-min let out a sigh.


    He could roughly guess what Lee Sang-soo was thinking.


    "Seoyeon, you know, it¡¯s quite rude to ask a senior actor to take on a role like that."


    Of course, Seoyeon was well aware of that. It was as if she was offering a role that someone else had cast aside to Lee Sang-soo.


    Even if she asked for his help, he could still feel that way. And this wasn¡¯t even a highly coveted role¡ªit was a villainous role, at that. The main antagonist of the story.


    Seoyeon had learned one thing while filming The Chaser: the importance of a villain. In dramas and films alike.


    The depth of the villain¡¯s portrayal could make or break the immersion of the story. That was one reason why Seoyeon had been praised for her role as Cha Seo-ah.


    So yes, the villain was crucial. Although in Gyeongseong Lady, Seoyeon played a character close to being a villain.


    However, she wasn¡¯t a complete villain. There was someone manipulating her¡ªa person who could be called the main villain of Gyeongseong Lady.


    Goto Isamu. The mastermind behind everything in Gyeongseong Lady.


    "Alright, Seoyeon, apologize to Actor Lee Sang-soo, and let¡¯s go fishing."


    Song Kwang-min said, tossing out the suggestion with a light-hearted smile. It wasn¡¯t a serious apology, just a way to lighten the mood.


    ''Will this be okay?''


    Jiyeon also found it hard to say anything. Compared to Sang-soo and Song Kwang-min, both Seoyeon and Jiyeon had far less experience.


    Should she speak up? Or would it be better to hold back?


    From Jiyeon¡¯s perspective, Seoyeon¡¯s boldness in bringing up the matter so bluntly was astonishing. She¡¯d expected her to handle it with more care, perhaps in a discreet manner.


    But who would have guessed she¡¯d bring it up directly at a fishing spot?


    ''Actor Lee Sang-soo.''


    But Seoyeon knew. Lee Sang-soo was still dreaming.


    He simply had no one to push him forward. Seoyeon knew this because of his last interview before he decided to retire a few years down the line.


    "The sudden retirement, it¡¯s not really like that."


    With a bitter smile, Lee Sang-soo had said those words.


    "I was just a coward. How many years did I take off? Five? No, seven? I took a really long break."


    He counted the years with his fingers.


    "During that time, I was a burden to those around me. To those who waited for me to pull myself together, to return to the film industry someday."


    Lee Sang-soo said he was lucky. He had fans who waited for him to come back. And fellow actors who believed in him.


    But that¡¯s all they did¡ªjust wait.


    "It¡¯s silly to say, but."


    He spoke up.


    "If back then, someone had forcibly dragged me back onto the set¡ªif there had been someone selfish enough to push me around¡ªwhat might have happened?"


    A coward. Lee Sang-soo called himself a coward. He¡¯d failed once, and it left him unable to walk forward on his own.


    He¡¯d gotten too old, too fearful to take on new challenges. His youthful recklessness had faded, leaving him just an old man wasting away.


    "But I know that¡¯s impossible. That¡¯s why I¡¯m retiring without any regrets."


    He chuckled. At the time, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t distinguish that smile from the truth.


    He was an excellent actor, so perhaps he was acting even then. After all, the article that followed read:


    "Ah, but send me the script first. I¡¯ll have to see it before I make a final decision."


    Of course, it all depended on whether Seoyeon could reignite that spark of passion within him. That inner fire had dwindled to ashes.


    When Lee Sang-soo accepted Seoyeon¡¯s proposal, Director Baek Min seemed quite surprised.


    He had thought it might come across as rather rude.


    But all Sang-soo had asked for was for Seoyeon to be his acting partner. He acted as if this test was an obvious step.


    "I¡¯ll let you know as soon as a date is set."


    Director Baek Min was cautious. He didn¡¯t show much joy about Lee Sang-soo¡¯s participation in his film.


    Perhaps it was due to Sang-soo¡¯s long hiatus.


    ''There were also rumors that he¡¯d lost his passion after his Hollywood failure.''


    He probably thought Sang-soo might deliver a half-hearted performance. Seoyeon didn¡¯t find Director Baek Min¡¯s attitude particularly negative.


    After all, a film wasn¡¯t made by one person alone.


    "Seoyeon, you should inform your manager about things like this, right?"


    "Yes."


    From her manager Park Eun-ha¡¯s perspective, it was enough to make her panic.


    She knew Seoyeon had connections with other actors, but she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d become so close with someone like Lee Sang-soo.


    Moreover, for this casting, Seoyeon had to perform alongside him.


    ''Doesn¡¯t she feel any pressure?''


    Manager Park Eun-ha felt like her blood was running dry. Lee Sang-soo was one of the top actors in Korea.


    The fact that he¡¯d specifically chosen her for this test was enough to make anyone lose sleep from the pressure. And yet, what was Seoyeon doing right now?


    ''She¡¯s listening to music?''


    Nodding along with her headphones in, she seemed completely at ease.


    "What are you listening to?"


    "Ah, today¡¯s the day the Sky Garden trailer is released."


    "Oh, right."


    Of course, Park Eun-ha had already seen the trailer. The production team had sent her the finished version.


    It was excellent. It showed a sharp side of Seoyeon that hadn¡¯t been seen in a while, contrasting with her recent variety show appearances.


    "The song in it is great too. Did Summer Girls work on it?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s lips curled slightly at Eun-ha¡¯s words.


    ''Huh?''


    In the past, Park Eun-ha might not have recognized Seoyeon¡¯s expressions, but now she knew better. Seoyeon was one of the easiest people to read.


    That face meant she was itching to brag.


    "...No way, that song."


    "Yeah, I sang it."


    "Really?!"


    Eun-ha was genuinely shocked. She knew Seoyeon had been steadily improving her singing skills.


    But to this extent? She knew Seoyeon had participated in the Sky Garden OST.


    But she hadn¡¯t connected it to that song.


    "With a lot of help from Wizard and Nahyi."


    Seoyeon shrugged. She wasn¡¯t the same as she¡¯d been when she¡¯d clumsily sung in Dream Future.


    Even Summer Girls¡¯ main vocalist, Cha Nahyi, had given her a thumbs up.


    ''I can¡¯t wait to brag.''


    Once the trailer dropped, she¡¯d show it off. With that thought, Seoyeon headed to KMB.


    The main producer of Sky Garden, Lee Min-hwa, had something to say before the trailer was released.


    And then.


    "Why don¡¯t we keep it a secret that you sang the song in this trailer?"


    "...What?"


    This was a suggestion she hadn¡¯t expected at all.

 Chapter 161

    "Hello, this is Bongsik!"


    With a smile, Han Bongsik, a YouTuber with 1.4 million subscribers, bowed to the camera at a full ninety degrees. It was the same greeting he had given since he had just 140 subscribers.


    Despite the growing subscriber count, his unchanging attitude was one of the things that appealed to viewers.


    "The drama trailer I was looking forward to was released today."


    "Is he trying to ride the Ju Seoyeon wave again?""I mean, she did bring him over 400,000 views, so why not?""I don''t know much about Sky Garden, though.""But the song is good. Who''s the singer?"


    Bongsik wondered what kind of drama would elicit a response of "I don''t know." It seemed like the focus was more on the song than the content of the drama itself, which made it feel less anticipated.


    ''Could that really be the case?''


    Though Bongsik mainly reviewed movies and dramas, he didn¡¯t shy away from other shows¡ªespecially those involving Ju Seoyeon. In fact, he had become quite a fan of Seoyeon.


    Initially, his motivation was simply the high viewership he gained from covering her, but recently, it had become genuine. He was sincerely a fan of hers now.


    ''Missing that fan signing event will forever be a regret.''


    He had even enjoyed watching Dream Future, and not attending her fan signing event was a sore point. However, his admiration for Seoyeon wasn''t just because she was a good actress.


    Seoyeon had an uncanny sense for choosing roles. Though her acting ability sometimes compensated for shortcomings, a project¡¯s success usually wasn''t determined by just one person''s performance.


    Her acting was outstanding, but it shone because the projects themselves were solid. Bongsik admired her mature acting skills, which seemed beyond her years.


    But beyond that, he respected her remarkable sense for choosing roles.


    ''But is Sky Garden really that unimpressive?''


    Sky Garden was especially significant for Seoyeon. Until now, she had mostly played villains or supporting roles. Even though Dream Future could be considered a lead role, she wasn¡¯t technically the "main character."


    Sky Garden was different. This was Seoyeon¡¯s first time as the lead in a drama.


    Taking on the main role for the first time was always special for an actor. It could also influence their standing in the industry.


    If her first lead role bombed, producers and directors might reconsider casting her.


    ''That''s strange.''


    Bongsik had a hard time understanding the audience¡¯s lukewarm reaction, given his respect for Seoyeon¡¯s knack for selecting roles. His curiosity was piqued.


    What kind of trailer could have elicited such a reaction?


    "Alright, let¡¯s take a look. I¡¯m curious to see what kind of performance our actress Ju will show us this time."


    "Bongsik, why don''t you review variety shows?""That Golden Duckling show was fun."


    "Yeah, I don¡¯t do those. I¡¯m a movie and drama reviewer. Sure, I¡¯m a fan of Actress Ju, but not the variety shows."


    Of course, he had watched Seoyeon¡¯s appearance on Golden Duckling from start to finish, even postponing his other plans to watch the live broadcast.


    ''The family really has strong personalities.''


    That might explain why someone like Seoyeon turned out the way she did. He was a bit surprised to learn that her father, Young-bin, was a developer at Raywheel Games.


    Having once been an avid player of their games, Bongsik found it somewhat amusing.


    "Now, this isn¡¯t your typical coming-of-age drama."


    He hit play on the Sky Garden trailer, which was now two days old and had surpassed 300,000 views.


    That wasn''t bad, but it wasn¡¯t particularly impressive either.


    "Let¡¯s see... KMB¡¯s Monday-Tuesday drama trailer recently surpassed 800,000 views."


    One of his contacts worked at KMB, where there had been some internal shuffling and restructuring in the drama department. The ratings for the Monday-Tuesday dramas seemed to be a significant indicator in this internal competition.


    Judging by the numbers, Sky Garden, airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays, was lagging behind.


    ''The Grand Game, huh.''


    It was a drama critiquing society¡¯s obsession with wealth, featuring the hot actress Ko Mi-eun as the lead. It had been heavily promoted.


    "Honestly, The Grand Game looks more interesting.""Agreed lol.""A show about students as the main characters sounds boring."


    As he read the comments, Bongsik continued his review of the trailer.


    "The color scheme is quite dull. They put some effort into it, though. It almost feels like a movie."


    "One show is about wealth, the other is about academic status.""The male lead here seems... meh."


    He had a point. The cast of Sky Garden was mostly made up of young actors, unfamiliar to the audience.


    And unfamiliarity can be dangerous for a drama that needs to appeal to the public.


    "The drama definitely feels unfamiliar. Usually, how well the first episode draws viewers in is crucial, and judging by the trailer, that¡¯s hard to gauge."


    Bongsik paused, watching the trailer closely.


    The trailer began with several seasoned actors, who played pivotal roles in the story. It set up the backstory of how "Lee Yoo-joo," the main character, was aiming to get into Baekyeon University, the country¡¯s top school. Her unique study method, her ¡°portfolio,¡± required her to approach children in a specific way.


    "Is Baekyeon U supposed to be Seoul U?""Trying to get into Seoul U is such a cliche? lol."


    These were the kinds of reactions he was seeing. However, Bongsik kept watching.


    The first minute of the two-minute trailer focused on the ¡°motivation¡± aspect. The remaining minute, however, took a sharp turn.


    With a refreshing song in the background, the main character, Lee Yoo-joo, made her appearance.


    ¡°I heard your brother is the top student at Baekyeon U. In medical school, no less.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    "The acting is really good.""But I¡¯m not sure what it¡¯s about.""No romance? I¡¯m in.""Lol if there¡¯s no romance on network TV, it¡¯ll flop.""Really?""Are you serious?""Oh, here he goes again, hyping Ju Seoyeon out of bias.""Is Bongsik washed up now?""So, that¡¯s bad, right?""Are you crazy? What if it doesn¡¯t?""Is he serious? I¡¯m screenshotting this lol.""Bongsik¡¯s fanboying is off the charts."


    "Yes, a bit. It depends on the nature of the show."


    Though she¡¯d taken a break from variety shows, this was different, given its connection to the drama.


    "We¡¯re still brainstorming. Your singing has improved a lot, and we¡¯ve been debating how to present it to the public... Also, you know PD Sim Kyung-hoon, right? He¡¯s been really insistent about bringing you on."


    Sim Kyung-hoon was a popular variety show producer at KMB, and he¡¯d been pestering Lee Min-hwa for a while now.


    "Ju Seoyeon on a KMB variety show, please!!"


    "Of course, it¡¯s not just because of him. We want Sky Garden and Seoyeon to stand out."


    "But isn¡¯t Nahyi¡ªsorry, Summer Girls¡ªalso a great singer?"


    "Well, they¡¯re idols, so it¡¯s expected. The standards for idols have been rising."


    She had to agree. Idols were, after all, singers. And it felt a bit odd to label an idol as "talented," almost like saying "talented actor."


    ¡®Like calling someone a ¡°skilled actor.¡±¡¯


    Isn¡¯t it strange to refer to an actor¡¯s acting skills as particularly strong?


    "So, what¡¯s the variety show?"


    "You¡¯ve probably heard of it. It¡¯s not as popular as it once was, but it¡¯s still decent for promotion."


    With that hint, Seoyeon had an idea.


    It was a show that had seen a drop in ratings but still had a loyal following and occasional news coverage.


    "Masked Singer."


    "Yehee."


    The disheveled woman raised her head at the call of her long-time manager, who sighed at the sight.


    She¡¯d be turning forty next year, but she hadn¡¯t changed a bit since her twenties. The thought of her ever getting married was a distant dream.


    Maybe forty was too late? But she was a celebrity, and she could easily pass for someone in their early thirties, so it wasn¡¯t impossible.


    Despite her lazy lifestyle, she was meticulous about her appearance. Recently, she¡¯d been motivated by a particular show and was working on her skin, even booking an appointment at a clinic.


    ¡®Suah-suah, was it?¡¯


    Who was that, anyway? Another celebrity? It was unusual for someone like Yehee, who normally had no interest in other celebrities, to be interested.


    "Singers should sing, you know."


    "I just released an album."


    "Solo artists need to stay visible, or they get forgotten quickly. You know that with idols around, there¡¯s not much room left."


    Of course, Yehee was well aware. She yawned and stood up.


    When her manager made comments like this, it usually meant there was work to do.


    ¡®I was thinking of retiring.¡¯


    She¡¯d been mulling over the idea of living off her savings and traveling. If it hadn¡¯t been for that show, she might have.


    "For the first time in forever, there¡¯s a variety show offering for you."


    "Oh, really? Seems I¡¯ve lost my touch."


    "Exactly, which is why you must go."


    "Well, aren¡¯t you charming."


    Her manager had such a cheeky way of speaking. Yehee squinted at her with sleepy eyes.


    "So, what is it?"


    "Masked Singer."


    Hmm, would that be alright for a singer?


    Thinking it over, she realized that most of the truly talented singers had already been on it.


    These days, it felt more like a comeback platform for scandal-ridden celebrities. It had lost some of its edge, but she still decided.


    "Sure, why not."


    "Really? I thought you¡¯d say no!"


    Just then, her manager noticed a song playing on repeat in the background. It seemed like Yehee had it on loop.


    "Is that a rookie? Their voice is great."


    "Oh, um... Are they? I guess they are?"


    "Wait, I feel like I¡¯ve heard this song somewhere..."


    Of course, she couldn¡¯t remember where. After all, it had only been a brief part of a drama trailer.

 Chapter 162

    [KMB Drama Division Split?] [Will the Internal Fight Between Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday-Thursday Dramas Be Fierce?]


    The internet news outlet Seonyang Media was abuzz with the recent news about a split in KMB''s drama department.


    There was definitely something going on, whether it was intense internal competition or some other reason.


    "It''s all about factions."


    Han Seon-ah turned her head at the dismissive comment from her fellow reporter.


    "They say PD Baek Tae-soo is the leading candidate for the head of the second drama division. From what I gathered during my last investigation, he went to the same university as the KMB president."


    Seoul Baekcheon University of Arts. One of the top schools in South Korea for anyone pursuing a career in broadcasting.


    So, Seon-ah''s colleague speculated that the president might be backing the second drama division.


    "That makes sense..."


    Seon-ah agreed. Baek Tae-soo was in charge of The Grand Game. And the current head, Ha Tae-oh, was pushing Sky Garden.


    At this point, it didn¡¯t take a genius to see the competitive dynamic between the two divisions.


    "You can tell just by watching the trailers. The Grand Game had way more investment put into it."


    The problem wasn¡¯t just that. It seemed like there was a sudden reshuffling, as the quality of the Sky Garden trailer felt lacking.


    Or rather, it felt like the production wasn¡¯t quite up to par. Though it did include most of what needed to be there, the overall feel was lacking.


    "Must be disappointing for you, huh?"


    Her colleague gave Seon-ah a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. Everyone at Seonyang Media knew she was a fan of Seoyeon.


    She frequently wrote articles whenever Seoyeon was active.


    "Not everything can be a hit. She had a big movie success, and the drama is doing okay. That¡¯s enough to be satisfied with."


    While it was meant to be comforting, it was true. Seoyeon was enjoying her current popularity in broadcasting because she hadn''t had a clear failure yet.


    Whatever she appeared in did at least decently well. The name Ju Seoyeon carried weight.


    Whether it was dramas, movies, or even variety shows. Even cable variety shows had benefited from her influence.


    "I don¡¯t think Sky Garden will flop. It seems interesting enough."


    With that, her colleague stood up, holding a warm Americano, ready to brave the chilly weather.


    ''...''


    Seon-ah felt the changing season as she fidgeted with her pen. The end of the year was approaching, which meant award season was near.


    Film awards, entertainment awards. It was the season for celebrities to gain recognition.


    ''Seoyeon will surely win something.''


    Her colleague might be right. Seoyeon had already shone brightly this year, so Sky Garden didn¡¯t have to be a massive success. And it didn¡¯t seem like it would fail, so there wasn¡¯t much to worry about.


    However, as the year-end approached, people tended to remember the most recent hits. If The Grand Game became a big success, the awards Seoyeon was expected to win for Dream Future could end up in someone else¡¯s hands.


    Sky Garden didn¡¯t need to succeed. But Seon-ah hoped it would.


    Because it would cement her position even further.


    "And also..."


    Seon-ah began typing an article about the recently released Sky Garden trailer. Although it initially seemed underwhelming, a certain YouTuber had drawn attention back to it, giving it a second chance in the spotlight.


    With over 1.4 million subscribers, his influence was substantial.


    ''I should be grateful.''


    She had already watched the video by Han Bongsik, a YouTuber with the same last name, which made him oddly relatable.


    Anyway, as he mentioned, Sky Garden had a cable drama vibe. Whether that would work in its favor or simply seem unfamiliar remained to be seen.


    "The song is so good!""KMB, release the soundtrack now!""It¡¯s perfect for working. It¡¯s so calming that I can focus well.""I listen to it while studying. It¡¯s great for concentration ><"


    Maybe it was because the trailer had a lot of exposition, or perhaps it was because there weren¡¯t any standout scenes.


    But the scene with Yoo-joo and Gil Su-jin¡¯s conversation had left a strong impression. Still, with little context, many viewers felt, ¡°It¡¯s atmospheric, but I¡¯m not sure what it¡¯s about.¡±


    Instead, the gentle song playing during their conversation stood out. Since it wasn¡¯t an intense scene, the lyrics and accompaniment were more prominent.


    Click, click.


    "..."


    Click, click.


    "Stop searching."


    Unable to take it anymore, Jiyeon poked Seoyeon in the side as she was intently clicking away with her mouse.


    Only then did Seoyeon stop her fervent ego-searching. Though she¡¯d taken a break from it for a while, she¡¯d recently resumed her obsession.


    This coincided with the release of the song she sang.


    ''She hardly ever checks the acting reviews.''


    Jiyeon thought to herself. It wasn¡¯t that Seoyeon didn¡¯t look at them at all.


    If she felt a particular scene was amazing, she¡¯d search for reactions and then smugly pat herself on the back. But generally, she didn¡¯t bother with acting reviews.


    It might be because she¡¯d heard enough praise for her acting.


    At Jiyeon¡¯s reply, Seoyeon gave her a look. Jiyeon had dragged Seoyeon over with one earbud still in.


    ''I barely got to listen.''


    Though a bit disappointed, Seoyeon knew how intimidated Jiyeon was by Suah, so she handed over the earphones without a fuss.


    "Oh, the sound quality..."


    As Suah listened to the song, her expression softened with a mix of nostalgia and joy.


    "Yeohee, huh."


    "Oh, you know her?"


    Yeohee was the singer Jiyeon had been listening to. She was a singer who had recently released a comeback album after a long hiatus.


    Having bought the album as soon as it was released, Jiyeon had been listening to Yeohee¡¯s songs non-stop.


    "I do. I know her very well."


    "Really?"


    Suah didn¡¯t know much about celebrities. She had her favorites, but she wasn¡¯t one for details.


    Even when it came to singers, she usually didn¡¯t know much. Naturally, Seoyeon was curious.


    It was rare for Suah to recognize a celebrity. Noticing their gaze, Suah slowly removed the earphones and looked at the album cover on the MP3 screen.


    A glamorous image of Yeohee adorned the cover. After staring at it for a moment, Suah spoke.


    "She was my high school friend."


    She said with a gentle smile.


    "Hello, Actress Ju Seoyeon!!"


    The tall man greeted her with a bright smile, and Seoyeon bowed her head in response. Although he looked young, she knew he was close to forty.


    "I¡¯ve been asking PD Lee about this for so long, and finally, it¡¯s happening."


    "Thank you for considering me."


    "Oh, no, the pleasure¡¯s all mine."


    The man was Sim Kyung-hoon, a PD from KMB¡¯s variety show division.


    He carefully observed Seoyeon as she politely greeted him.


    ''She¡¯s different from the rising stars I¡¯ve seen.''


    Though he wore a friendly expression, he scrutinized Seoyeon closely. After all, sometimes reality differs from what you hear.


    ''...Her eyes are sharp.''


    Though many wouldn¡¯t notice, Seoyeon realized that Sim Kyung-hoon had a meticulous personality.


    If he was producing a show like Masked Singer, where the identities were concealed, it made sense for him to be thorough.


    Revealing identities prematurely was unacceptable. But his intense gaze soon softened.


    "Thank goodness this opportunity came at the perfect time, with Sky Garden coming out."


    "I also see this as a good opportunity."


    Today¡¯s meeting was an informal one. Shortly after, PD Lee Min-hwa joined them, and the three of them had a casual chat.


    "As you know, in Masked Singer, everyone wears a mask. You can either design one yourself or let us make one for you."


    "Is that so?"


    "Do you have any design in mind? I brought a few mock-ups."


    Seoyeon tensed up at the mention.


    ''Could there be a gorilla mask in there?''


    When you searched her name online, images of her fighting a gorilla frequently popped up.


    Thanks to some image rehabilitation efforts, that had decreased recently.


    But if she ended up with a gorilla mask...


    "How about this one? I personally really like it."


    "Oh, it¡¯s cute."


    Sim Kyung-hoon PD displayed a concept mask on the screen. In Masked Singer, the participants often match props and outfits to their masks.


    It was almost like a Halloween costume party.


    The mask he showed was a rabbit.


    "The red eyes match well with you, Seoyeon. It suits you, doesn¡¯t it?"


    A Vorpal Rabbit. Essentially, a killer rabbit.


    Seoyeon was thrilled.


    It was cute! And strong!


    That was her favorite kind of thing.

 Chapter 163

    After Seoyeon¡¯s concept as the Vorpal Rabbit was decided for Masked Singer, PD Sim Kyung-hoon cheerfully promised, ¡°I¡¯ll send over the detailed schedule once it¡¯s set!¡± and departed. He seemed particularly pleased that Seoyeon would be joining the show, walking away with a noticeable spring in his step. However, there was one important thing:


    "I guess I¡¯ll have to start watching Masked Singer more closely."


    Seoyeon had, of course, seen Masked Singer. Well, in her past life, that is.


    Despite having watched countless video programs, she hadn¡¯t watched Masked Singer often. Since the show focused on singing while wearing masks, it didn¡¯t offer much value to her.


    Seoyeon had mainly watched various media to memorize the emotions being expressed. Naturally, with masked faces and singing that didn¡¯t resonate emotionally with her, she¡¯d merely skimmed through Masked Singer on fast-forward.


    About the only things she picked up were the surprised faces of the panel, their astonishment, and their emotional reactions to the performances.


    And she stopped watching altogether once it became more of a celebrity PR show.


    ¡°Oh, my dear, are you watching Masked Singer?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    It was the weekend, and Seoyeon was watching Masked Singer from the morning. She didn¡¯t want to make any mistakes in an upcoming appearance.


    Since she started experiencing emotions fully, her reaction to Masked Singer had significantly changed. She could finally understand why it was so popular.


    There was certainly a catharsis in discovering that those remarkably talented singers were actually certain celebrities.


    ''I think it would be great if Jiyeon joined too.''


    Unknown actors and comedians occasionally appeared as well. Of course, Jiyeon wasn¡¯t exactly an unknown.


    She¡¯d had quite a notable role in a popular cable drama, and she was pretty well-known back at Yeonhwa High School before Seoyeon¡¯s rise.


    Still, joining would likely be beneficial for her.


    ¡°Honey, come over and watch this with me.¡±


    It was the weekend, and when Yeongbin finally shuffled into the living room, scratching his belly, Suah gestured him over.


    He cast a wary glance around at the word ¡°honey.¡± Since filming Golden Ducklings, he had developed a regular tendency to check for cameras.


    ¡°There aren¡¯t any cameras today. I swear.¡±


    Suah seemed a little guilty as she reassured him, and only then did Yeongbin flop onto the sofa, dozing off almost immediately.


    ¡°Aigoo.¡±


    Suah seemed a little displeased with his reaction. She was a loyal fan of Masked Singer, after all.


    ''Sometimes, I think Dad is strangely uncomfortable with being called ¡°honey.¡±''


    In fact, Seoyeon knew this: Suah used to call him ¡°Yeongbin Oppa.¡±


    It must have been how she addressed him when they were dating.


    As they both settled in to watch Masked Singer, they focused on the new contestant who¡¯d made it to the finals. The contestant was a woman in a black raven mask.


    Her costume was feather-laden, and Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but think about how hot it must be in there. The woman¡¯s demeanor seemed so languid and uninterested that, despite PD Park Gichan¡¯s best efforts, he struggled to enliven the interaction.


    ''Did she not want to be here?''


    That¡¯s what it seemed like. A quick glance at the community¡¯s reaction showed similar opinions.


    Why even show up with that attitude?They worked hard on that mask, and she¡¯s just wasting it.Her singing has been mediocre. There¡¯s nothing unique about her voice.She¡¯s decent enough, I guess.


    The comments suggested that, once her identity was revealed, she¡¯d likely face significant backlash. Seoyeon herself found the attitude off-putting.


    She usually approached everything with full sincerity and disliked half-hearted efforts.


    However...


    ¡°Well, we look forward to a great performance!!¡±


    With PD Park Gichan¡¯s encouragement, music began to play, and Seoyeon was instantly captivated. The song was an old one, nearly a decade old¡ªfamiliar as it was the opening for The Sun-Hiding Moon. Originally a ballad, it now had a lively metal arrangement.


    The raven, who Seoyeon had thought wore the guitar only as decoration, held the instrument in hand. Her hands, though obscured by feathers, were ungloved¡ªperhaps to play the guitar more effectively.


    As eyes focused on her, the raven stepped up to the mic.@@@@


    And then...


    ¡°!!¡±


    Seoyeon was momentarily stunned.


    Was it because she was bad? No, quite the opposite.


    She was so outstanding that the singer from the previous performance now seemed amateurish in comparison. The voice was crisp, yet not bland or monotonous as some clear voices can be. Instead, it had a universally appealing quality.


    The high notes came effortlessly, accompanied by intricate vocal techniques, and Seoyeon found herself gaping.


    Unlike with acting, one could gauge singing ability simply by listening. While Seoyeon knew people were impressed by her acting, it rarely hit her emotionally.


    Now, she found herself reacting the way others often did to her performances.


    ''But this voice... I feel like I¡¯ve heard it before.''


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t particularly good at identifying singers by voice, but she vaguely recalled hearing something similar in the song Jiyeon had played recently...


    This is hilarious, lol.Did Raven¡¯s singing just blow everyone away? She¡¯s amazing!One of the best performances on Masked Singer in a while. Who is she?


    ''Why does Nahyi keep dragging that monstrous girl here?''


    At least she had stopped her weird coin-folding tricks. Lavin had almost developed a complex from the constant clinking noises.


    ''When you hear coins jingling, do not turn your head.''


    That was practically an urban legend around Hoyun Studio, where Lavin had survived the ordeal.


    ¡°By the way, Lavin.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes? What?¡±


    ¡°Nahyi¡¯s contract runs out this year, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Seoyeon gave a thoughtful hum, a soft smile curving on her lips.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡±


    That was all she needed. Summer Girl felt too small for someone like Nahyi.


    [The World is Ruled by Those Who Hold Wealth.] [Money is Justice, Driving the World Forward!]


    Finally, The Grand Game had begun airing. The Monday-Tuesday drama was a crucial indicator for the future of the soon-to-be Second Drama Division.


    Unsurprisingly, all the KMB Drama Department employees were keeping a close eye on its ratings.


    ''Please be a hit. Please succeed!'' ''Let it flop. Let it tank!''


    In the end, The Grand Game garnered:


    [12% Rating for Episode 1!! A Good Omen for The Grand Game!] [KMB on a Winning Streak with Success After Dream Future!]


    It was a stunning start.


    Naturally, for PD Lee Min-hwa of Sky Garden, this was not good news.


    Even worse...


    ¡°Hello, PD Baek.¡±


    ¡°Oh, PD Lee! What a surprise.¡±


    PD Lee Min-hwa inwardly cursed as she exchanged greetings with Baek Tae-soo, the last person she wanted to see this morning.


    ¡°Congratulations on The Grand Game. It¡¯s doing well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only just begun. We still don¡¯t know what¡¯ll happen.¡±


    A rather ominous statement.


    It didn¡¯t sound like empty modesty. He seemed to mean it sincerely.


    And then, as he slowly opened his smiling eyes, he added,


    ¡°Well, Sky Garden airs tomorrow. I¡¯m looking forward to it. Hopefully, another home run for KMB?¡±


    ¡°A home run... right.¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha! A hit would be great, of course. But no need to worry so much about the Drama Department drama.¡±


    With a final pat on the shoulder, Baek Tae-soo turned and walked away.


    Watching them from a distance, the staff breathed a sigh of relief.


    ''Thankfully, there wasn¡¯t any friction.'' ''Maybe we¡¯re overthinking this.''


    Some felt relieved, thinking it was just friendly banter. But as she rubbed the shoulder Baek had patted, Lee Min-hwa was left with a cold feeling.


    He was smiling, but his eyes weren¡¯t.


    ''He knows they¡¯re in a better position right now.''


    Baek Tae-soo had the backing of KMB¡¯s president, yet he respected the current Drama Division Head, Ha Tae-oh.


    It was a respect born of strength.


    Lee Min-hwa wondered if Baek Tae-soo would still be so respectful if he were left standing with no rivals.


    ''Let¡¯s hope Sky Garden does well.''


    The first five episodes were ready, and she had confidence in their quality.


    But whether the drama¡¯s unique tone would resonate with the public... she wasn¡¯t sure.


    ''Seoyeon Ju.''


    Sky Garden¡¯s lead actress.


    An undefeated actress who had yet to experience failure in her brief career.


    Lee Min-hwa trusted her, believing in Seoyeon¡¯s eye for success.


    And, the character Yoojoo that Seoyeon was bringing to life.

 Chapter 164

    "Just 100 days. Exactly 100 days."


    A man in a suit looked around at the 20 people standing in front of the gray building and spoke.


    "All you have to do is live in that building for exactly 100 days. During that period, we''ll provide you with basic supplies and a few missions."


    The gazes of the 20 people shifted to the building behind him. It was a lone structure built in the middle of a secluded mountain, hardly a place that could be considered ordinary.


    "We won¡¯t interfere with anything that happens inside. After 100 days, we¡¯ll reward you with five billion won."


    "Fi-five billion won?"


    "Is that for real?"


    "Of course."


    The man in the suit smiled broadly, showing his white teeth.


    "In other words, you all will decide how to split up the five billion won. The reward will go to the one who scores the highest in the missions. Think of it as the first place winner dividing the five billion won among you."


    Everyone¡¯s faces brightened. According to what he said, as long as they completed the missions and spent 100 days lazing around in that place, they¡¯d walk away with at least 2.5 billion won each, provided the first-place winner distributed it evenly.


    ''With that money, I could pay off my debt and buy a house...'' ''But...''


    The people glanced at one another. The prize amount meant that if the number of participants decreased, the amount of money each person could take home would increase.


    Realizing this, a tense silence spread among them.


    "I¡¯m telling you, folks, you¡¯ve really lucked out with this opportunity."


    The man in the suit, clean-cut and neat, beamed at them with a face devoid of malice. That only made the situation feel more surreal and heightened the tension.


    "The Grand Game."


    Just one hundred days.


    "All you have to do is get along for that time. Really."


    With that, the first episode of The Grand Game ended. The following day, the second episode aired, continuing directly from the events of the first.


    In the first episode, they introduced the participants and the setting of The Grand Game. In the second, the story focused on the protagonist and the heroine.


    "Someone is... they''re targeting me."


    The first month passed without incident. They completed missions, idly passed the time, and went about their days peacefully. One day, as the protagonist leisurely read a book, a woman knocked on his door, setting the scene.


    "Since, uh, the fewer people there are, the more money we take home. So, surely..."


    "Calm down."


    The protagonist managed to remain composed, even in such circumstances. He navigated through the situation with logic and his intellect.


    He attempted to catch the person who had first targeted him, but when he went to confront the man...


    "He''s dead. Already, by someone else."


    The first murder. The moment the seemingly peaceful The Grand Game fractured. And thus, the second episode concluded.


    Wow, this is insane.I was completely absorbed watching this, LOL.So KMB invested in this and Sky Garden, right?Sky Garden is going to get roasted.The trailer didn''t look bad, but compared to this, eh...This is ridiculously good. The suspense is amazing!


    The reaction was explosive. Discussions popped up across various communities, debating the details of the first and second episodes. Who could be the murderer?


    Some complained that the protagonist was too flawless.


    So you want the main character to fail, huh?Wow, tough crowd.But did they really need to include romance? It felt a bit off in the middle.Meh, it wasn¡¯t overdone, and a little bit of romance is fine.


    Despite some complaints, the overwhelming praise made PD Baek Tae-soo beam with joy.


    He knew the drama would do well, but he hadn''t anticipated such an enthusiastic response.


    "Go Mieun did a fantastic job. She''s one of the top actresses these days. Her performance was very steady."


    Other staff members gave a thumbs-up, and Go Mieun, who was present, smiled bashfully.


    "It¡¯s all thanks to everyone¡¯s hard work. I just followed the script and did my best."


    "Oh, so humble!"


    "It¡¯s thanks to PD Baek for giving me this opportunity, so of course I should be humble."


    Baek Tae-soo chuckled at her words. He¡¯d managed to cast her at a reasonable rate, so it was a win-win situation.


    "Isn¡¯t Sky Garden airing today?"


    "Yes, but considering the situation..."


    The staff laughed among themselves.


    ''I was right to stick with PD Baek.'' ''He sure knows how to pick a hit.''


    While the others chuckled, PD Baek Tae-soo kept a composed expression, cracking only a slight smile. The others thought nothing of it, assuming he simply had no interest in Sky Garden.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Meanwhile, Go Mieun, who had been cast as the heroine of The Grand Game, mentally repeated the name. She was also a lead actress in a KMB drama, like herself.


    ¡°Jo Minta is talented. He might even surpass my own career. But Jo Bangwoo...¡±


    He trailed off, watching as Sky Garden prepared to air.


    ¡°It¡¯s a full count. The slightest mistake, and it¡¯s over. But on the other hand, it means there¡¯s one last chance to pitch.¡±


    Ju Seoyeon knew there was a final opportunity. And she had recommended him for it.


    Park Sunwoong understood the weight of that final chance.


    ''It¡¯s not heavily funded, but it¡¯s his last shot at securing an investment.''


    It would be all or nothing. Whether that proved beneficial or not, one thing was clear: the production would be intense.


    He knew what it was like to work on a project with a desperate director.


    ¡°Please, no more baseball metaphors.¡±


    ¡°A full count is common knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just call it a last chance.¡±


    Park Jungwoo took a seat beside his father, ready to watch the drama he¡¯d returned home early for.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Park Sunwoong said no more.


    He¡¯d grown to appreciate his once-arrogant son, who now seemed to have his head on straight.


    ''I heard you¡¯re still thinking it over, but it seems you¡¯ve already made up your mind.''


    Sometimes, a bit of stubbornness is needed.


    As his father, he should warn him against a risky film, but...


    ''If he can turn the full count into a winning strike...''


    It could lead to a comeback.


    And then, a voice filled the room as the drama began.


    ¡°This era of endless competition, I¡¯ll show you how to find your way.¡±


    The day after the first episode of Sky Garden aired, Seoyeon headed to her agency with ease.


    She¡¯d seen the online reactions, which were more positive than expected. In fact, it was great that the show was receiving any reactions at all.


    ¡®As expected, broadcast TV has more visibility than cable.¡¯


    Recalling the initial atmosphere of Sky Garden, Seoyeon felt quite satisfied. But upon arriving at the agency, her manager, Park Eunha, seemed concerned.


    ¡°Seoyeon, what are we going to do?¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°The ratings didn¡¯t turn out as expected. I heard...¡±


    Seoyeon felt a bit tense. Was it possible the ratings were much lower than the online feedback indicated? She listened closely.


    ¡°It¡¯s 6%. Half of The Grand Game¡¯s rating.¡±


    6%!!


    Seoyeon was shocked. What had been the original ratings for Sky Garden¡¯s first episode?


    ''1%.''


    Though it had aired on a cable network, it was still a very low rating. The ratings gap between cable and broadcast networks had narrowed over time, but a 1% rating was practically rock bottom.


    And now it was 6%? While that¡¯s a standard figure for a public network show, it was staggeringly high considering the original reception of Sky Garden¡¯s first episode.


    ''I¡¯m up by six times!''


    What would this mean for the future?


    Seoyeon grew serious.


    Interpreting her seriousness as disappointment, Park Eunha¡¯s expression mirrored it, worried about how the low ratings might affect her.


    This kind of setback could be damaging for an actor.


    ''I should practice my signature just in case.'' ''Oh no, Seoyeon seems really down.''


    As they thought these things in silence, online communities were busy comparing the two dramas.


    LOL, Sky Garden got wrecked by The Grand Game.I knew it, haha.Actually, I thought Sky Garden was more interesting.Do you need new glasses?Bongshik said Sky Garden has good potential later on.Who¡¯s Bongshik, lol?


    The online discussions were mostly negative toward Sky Garden, with The Grand Game enjoying the upper hand.


    It seemed that, for now, The Grand Game was victorious.


    Or so it seemed.

 Chapter 165

    "Make sure to get close, my son."


    Professor Lee Hyuk-soo from the Hematology-Oncology Department at Baekyeon University Hospital spoke gently to his son, Lee Min-hyuk, as his wife, Gil Soo-jin, stroked their son''s head.


    "I''m doing this for your benefit. Look at all the advantages you''ll gain just by becoming friends with that girl," she said, showing him a picture of Lee Yoo-joo.


    "She''s the daughter of a fallen admissions coach. But in her mind, she knows everything about how to get her brother''s portfolio ready. She knows what it takes to secure the top spot at Baekyeon University¡¯s medical school."


    "Mom, I..."


    "I know, my son. I know you''re not fond of this girl. Min-seo told me you argued with her today. You need to go and apologize tomorrow."


    "Mom!!" Lee Min-hyuk finally shouted, unable to contain his frustration. But Gil Soo-jin just looked at him quietly, unfazed.


    In the silence that followed, his anger began to wane.


    "Why couldn''t you have just done a little better on your own?" she said softly, squeezing his shoulder tightly. "If you had put in the effort so that I wouldn''t have to intervene like this, things would be different. It¡¯s shameful. That girl has never missed the top spot, not once. Do you really think you can compete with someone like that?"


    The middle school that Lee Yoo-joo attended was within the ranks of this "Sky Garden," where students progressed on an escalator-like path from middle school to university. She had never once failed to take first place.


    "She was even the top student representative when she entered high school."


    In other words, she had completely outperformed him academically. Hearing this, Min-hyuk felt his breath catch.


    "You have to become a doctor, son."


    At his mother¡¯s words, Min-hyuk slowly, reluctantly nodded his head.


    "Good. Make sure you apologize tomorrow. I''ll let Min-seo know as well."


    With that, Gil Soo-jin turned away, leaving Min-hyuk glaring at the floor.


    "Just be more like Min-seo, alright?"


    Though his grades were slightly lower, his younger twin, Min-seo, was already stuck to Yoo-joo like glue.


    "That clueless girl."


    Min-hyuk muttered to himself as he turned his back. And the next day, he made his way to Yoo-joo¡¯s class, where he found Min-seo already there beside her. He let out a small chuckle as he walked over to them.


    "Sorry."


    At last, Yoo-joo looked up at him. First, a look of confusion crossed her face, then her eyes narrowed as she understood. A smirk formed at the corners of her mouth.


    "For what?"


    "For telling you yesterday that you didn¡¯t belong here. I didn¡¯t realize you were the top student representative."


    In Baekyeon High School, Yoo-joo was an outsider. This "Sky Garden" was an exclusive place, where students progressed seamlessly from kindergarten to university. These were the chosen ones¡ªthe top 0.1% of Korea.


    With wealth, fame, and power, they had everything. And among them, Yoo-joo had arrived from outside. Naturally, most people didn¡¯t look upon her kindly. Though this was a world where classes weren¡¯t supposed to exist, they still treated her like a commoner.


    Yet, some still approached her¡ªlike Min-seo. And the reason was obvious.


    "I''m not telling you."


    Yoo-joo rose to her feet, pressing her finger against Min-hyuk¡¯s chest.


    "My brother''s portfolio."


    Min-hyuk¡¯s eyes widened at her words, and he noticed Min-seo by his side, covering her mouth and glancing nervously.


    "That¡¯s why you''re apologizing, isn''t it?"


    Yoo-joo lifted her finger from his chest and gave a lighthearted smile.


    "Well, I¡¯m not telling you."


    "You¡ª"


    "But," Yoo-joo said, looking around at the group of students now watching them.


    "It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to keep it completely to myself."


    Everyone here was a competitor, studying to meet their parents'' expectations and advance their family status.


    "I¡¯m a little unpredictable."


    In that moment, Min-hyuk saw a glimpse of his mother, Gil Soo-jin, in her. He felt like he knew what she was about to say.


    It wasn¡¯t bad, but it wasn¡¯t great either. Meanwhile, PD Baek Tae-soo¡¯s The Grand Game had pulled in a whopping twelve percent.


    Without a competitor, Sky Garden might have a chance to rebound, but with a hit like The Grand Game airing alongside it, the spotlight was inevitably drawn there.


    "Nothing but bad news."


    Kim Il-soo glanced at writer Min Se-hee, who looked like she was about to pass out. She had been stoic about her expectations, but the rating still seemed to hit hard.


    Another staff member tried to comfort her. "I heard a YouTuber with 1.4 million subscribers say the show has potential. So, it¡¯s not over yet!"


    It was amusing to think that a single YouTuber could sway things, but he continued.


    "This isn¡¯t just any YouTuber¡ªit¡¯s Bong-sik. He¡¯s been a fan of Ju Seoyeon for a while and always reviews her work. He¡¯s like a fortune teller with ratings."


    Though Bong-sik had simply called hits when they were obvious, a prediction of success would be nice right now.


    Elsewhere, Bong-sik was passionately declaring Sky Garden as the hit of the season. Though, judging by the chat comments, his viewers didn¡¯t agree.


    "At least we¡¯ve got a fan that big."


    "Yeah, a 1.4 million subscriber YouTuber is something."


    "I ran into PD Baek Tae-soo on my way here," another staff member mentioned.


    "Did he smirk at you?"


    "No, actually, he didn¡¯t look happy. I wonder what¡¯s wrong?"


    "I doubt it¡ªeverything¡¯s practically a celebration over there."


    "Ju Seoyeon just arrived on set."


    When Seoyeon arrived, she seemed incredibly upbeat, greeting everyone enthusiastically.


    "Good morning!!"


    "What¡¯s with her? She¡¯s in such a good mood."


    Had she not heard the ratings? Or was she in denial?


    "Uh, Ms. Ju Seoyeon, did you hear about the ratings?"


    "Oh, yes, six percent, right?"


    So, she knew¡ªand yet seemed completely unfazed.


    Was this simply acceptance of low expectations?


    ''No, she wouldn¡¯t have taken the role if she thought it was going to fail.''


    For Seoyeon, this project was a turning point. She wouldn¡¯t squander her first lead role.


    ''What¡¯s going on?''


    While everyone else was confused, Seoyeon¡¯s cheerfulness almost made their concerns seem trivial.


    "Does she really think she can turn it around?"


    "Come on, with The Grand Game airing, there¡¯s no way."


    "It would take a miracle."


    Turning the tide would require more than just an actor¡¯s performance.


    They all glanced at Min Se-hee, who fainted again under their stares.


    ''If episode one got six percent, what will episode two bring?''


    Meanwhile, Seoyeon was happily practicing her autograph, oblivious to the concerns of others.


    ''The original episode two rating was four percent.''


    Yet now, with episode one at six percent, no one could predict the outcome.


    And then, episode two aired.


    Sky Garden surprised everyone, rising to a ten percent rating, nearly catching up to The Grand Game.


    While it was supposed to start gaining momentum around episode four, Seoyeon realized there would be no gradual climb this time.


    Her Sky Garden was heading straight to the top.

 Chapter 166

    The employees set to transfer to Drama Department 2 were honestly terrified. When the first episode scored only a 6 percent rating, they thought it was over.


    "Six percent? Yeah, it¡¯s done for." "Honestly, I couldn''t even follow the premise... It felt like a drama that should''ve gone to cable." They laughed and joked about it after that first episode aired.


    After all, six percent. It wasn¡¯t high, but it wasn¡¯t low either. And with a premise that felt so alien, they thought it lacked the adaptability needed to hook viewers.


    But then they watched episode two.


    "Why is this actually interesting?" "This feels... kind of strange."


    Episode two focused on Min-seo and Yoo-joo. Min-seo, the so-called ''disappointment'' to her parents, was the girl who always came up short compared to her brother.


    "My parents love me, but I know. I¡¯m just their cute daughter," Min-seo said to Yoo-joo, her tone laced with sarcasm. She didn¡¯t fully understand why she had to get close to Yoo-joo¡ªafter all, it was only for her brother''s benefit, not hers.


    "I¡¯m just playful and cute. How is this any different from being a pet?" she muttered, not really expecting a response from Yoo-joo, who simply listened without reacting.


    "I¡¯m the daughter they¡¯ve given up on, so I don¡¯t have to do anything anymore."


    Min-hyuk, her brother, was oblivious to this. He thought their parents were just lenient because they adored her. But Min-seo knew that when parents have no expectations, they can afford to be lenient.


    "I don¡¯t even know anymore," she mumbled, biting into the bread she¡¯d brought from the cafeteria.


    Yoo-joo, despite her dramatic declaration from the first day, was quiet and ordinary. She didn¡¯t talk much, nor did she stand out. It was almost like she was quietly observing everything.


    Then, without warning, Yoo-joo spoke. "I¡¯ve decided."


    "Decided what?" Min-seo asked, turning her gaze to Yoo-joo with the bread still in her mouth.


    "I¡¯ll help you," Yoo-joo said, leaning in close. "You want to beat your twin brother, don¡¯t you?"


    "I... I mean..." Min-seo stammered.


    "I can help you with that," Yoo-joo whispered in a voice that felt like an enticing promise.


    Min-seo looked at Yoo-joo, feeling as though she was the only one in the room.


    "But," Yoo-joo continued, pressing her index finger against Min-seo''s ear, "you have to trust me completely."


    "Your dad always used to say that we have to live young. That''s why he still plays games and keeps up with trends," Soo-ah said with a wistful smile. "It¡¯s why he hasn¡¯t decided on that director role yet. He¡¯s always wanted to make something of his own, but now he¡¯s got a family."


    Seoyeon thought back on her character, Lee Yoo-joo. Trapped by her father¡¯s ambitions, Yoo-joo¡¯s dreams weren¡¯t her own but dictated by her father¡¯s desires. Seoyeon played Yoo-joo as a girl with hopes and ambitions, but now, she saw how much those dreams had been shaped by her father¡¯s influence.


    "Why did you want to be an actress, Seoyeon?" Soo-ah asked.


    Seoyeon hesitated, her mind full of unspoken thoughts.


    But before she could answer, Suyeon chimed in, asking, "When is Dad coming home?"


    "He has plans with a friend today," Soo-ah replied.


    "A friend? Dad has friends?" Suyeon¡¯s innocent question made Seoyeon laugh, the familiarity of the question catching her off guard.


    "Yes, an old high school friend," Soo-ah said, thinking of the old days when Young-bin would meet his friend regularly.


    "Why the suit?" Young-bin remarked as he walked into the bar.


    Across from him sat a sharply dressed man with a pair of sleek glasses and a cool demeanor, who looked him over.


    "Is that how you go to work?" the man replied, surveying Young-bin with a raised eyebrow.


    "Hey, not all of us can afford fancy suits. What¡¯s that watch worth?"


    "Two thousand."


    "Wow, ridiculous. You¡¯re paying for dinner."


    Young-bin pulled up a chair, looking at the menu before he remembered something. "So, this Hyper Action Star... Seoyeon mentioned it was planned by a director at GH Group."


    "Yeah, that¡¯s me," the man replied.


    Young-bin raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his face. "Since when did you make director?"


    The man laughed. "It¡¯s my father¡¯s company."


    And so, Young-bin found himself sitting across from Kang Tae-jin, a director in the Cultural Business Division at GH Group.

 Chapter 167

    "Sales have increased slightly compared to last week."


    "Well, looks like it did have an effect after all."


    Kwak Hyun-woo, the team leader of the advertising planning department, let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried that sponsoring Sky Garden might have been a mistake.


    "I was pretty freaked out when the first episode only pulled a six percent rating."


    "Yeah, but it bounced back the next day."


    The other staff members shared excited smiles. After all, recent sales for A-Diz had risen quite a bit, largely thanks to the popularity of the "Ju Seoyeon Challenge."


    Many fitness YouTubers had been using A-Diz chairs in their videos, which caught the attention of viewers. Especially with comments like:


    "The chair is sturdy and comfortable!"


    "I can¡¯t really explain it, but it feels like it supports my back really well!"


    Positive reviews like these had painted the chair as "solid and durable" even before the new product launched. This was an image boost money couldn¡¯t buy, as A-Diz''s durability hadn¡¯t always been highly regarded.


    "Do you think Sky Garden will keep doing well? Honestly, even with this sales bump, I feel like it¡¯s already worth it."


    At Assistant Manager Kim''s comment, Kwak Hyun-woo nodded. It was only natural to want more; the sponsorship had already increased sales slightly, and they''d hit their yearly targets thanks to Ju Seoyeon as their model.


    "It will do well," Kwak reassured. After all, he remembered something Seoyeon had said during the ad shoot.


    "The best time to release this ad would be after episode four of Sky Garden airs."


    When he¡¯d asked her why, she had replied, "Judging by the script, things are going to pick up around episode four."


    It seemed strange, but somehow, Seoyeon''s words carried an undeniable sense of confidence, as if everything would go exactly as she¡¯d said. That was the power of her presence.


    "By the way, did you catch the rival drama on KMB? Episode three aired yesterday, right?"


    "Ah, about that."


    The variety show was a suggestion from the producers. Ji-yeon, who had only done drama filming, found it hard to imagine handling both at once. But Seoyeon had managed, just like Ji-yeon kept her other commitments as her VTuber persona "Ramiel."


    And now, Ramiel had even started promoting a new VTuber¡ªa noble cat-eared villainess. Though Ji-yeon found the concept somewhat outdated, the execution was flawless. She wondered who the performer was, recognizing the voice as familiar.


    But for now, she had a more immediate concern.


    "By the way, you¡¯re going up against ''Gray Crow,'' right?"


    "Probably. I think it¡¯ll start next week."


    If that was the case, it would mean Seoyeon could face Gray Crow in the final showdown on Masked Singer.


    Gray Crow, a fan-favorite masked singer, had already defended their title three times, earning the chance to reveal their identity or stay masked.


    Ji-yeon knew who Gray Crow was¡ªshe¡¯d been following them all along. But now, facing Seoyeon, it seemed she¡¯d have to choose between rooting for her friend or her favorite masked singer.


    She sighed, knowing Seoyeon would definitely sulk if she cheered for Gray Crow.


    "So, did you pick a song?"


    "Oh, Nah-hee unnie helped me pick one."


    The first song Seoyeon would perform was one from "Summer Girl," a tribute to her favorite artist.


    After that, who knew? She hadn¡¯t prepared a second song. She assumed she¡¯d be out after round one, especially given how good Gray Crow was.


    And as it turned out, Gray Crow was back at it, claiming yet another victory on Masked Singer. This time, as Yeohui stood on the winner¡¯s throne, her thoughts drifted to the mysterious contestant set to challenge her next.


    "Yesterday, I ran into Ju Young-bin," she recalled, almost knocking over her drink. She realized now why Young-bin had given her a ticket to Masked Singer.


    It must mean one thing: Young-bin¡¯s family member was competing, and there was only one person it could be.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Next week, the two of them would meet on stage.


    As the announcer introduced the new challenger, "Full-Level Rabbit," Yeohui nearly slipped from her throne. This season was about to get even more interesting.

 Chapter 168

    Seoyeon honestly never thought she would win on Masked Singer.


    It wasn¡¯t about motivation;


    it was about skill.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t exactly have an innate talent for singing. She had reached her current level only because others had helped her sing somewhat decently.


    That was all she thought she had. Even though adding emotion improved her performance, she still couldn¡¯t fully understand the appeal.


    The fact that people on the internet praised the Sky Garden OST was something she secretly took pride in.


    Still, she didn¡¯t think she could win a competition where singing was the main focus.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just focus on promoting Sky Garden and head back,¡± she thought,


    although she knew it wasn¡¯t a common mindset for other variety show contestants. Seoyeon didn¡¯t mind; she wore her composure like armor.


    After all, most actors appeared on shows like this to promote their dramas or movies.


    So why couldn¡¯t she do the same?


    With that in mind, she confidently stepped up under the nickname ¡°Full-Level Rabbit.¡±


    ¡°But who came up with that name?¡±


    Maybe they couldn¡¯t think of a better name for a rabbit.


    However, the host and the audience seemed to react positively, so she let it be.


    With these thoughts in mind, Seoyeon looked at her opponent.


    He was a man wearing a pigeon mask.


    It was clear from a glance that he was exceptionally skilled.


    ¡°So, this is it.¡±


    Seoyeon lowered her head and greeted him with composure.


    He nodded back with a bold demeanor.


    ¡°That¡¯s definitely someone with real talent.¡±


    He exuded confidence, as if he was sure he¡¯d perform his song flawlessly.


    And so, the first battle began.


    ¡°With just a three-vote difference!!! Full-Level Rabbit takes the win!¡±


    ¡°Wow, only three votes!¡±


    ¡°That was really close!!¡±


    ¡°??¡±


    Seoyeon froze, still holding the microphone.


    Wait, did she just win?


    The main MC of Masked Singer, Song Byungsoo, was a professional broadcaster.


    He had been hosting Masked Singer for nearly five years now. It was a long-standing show, and he had accumulated considerable experience.


    He could gauge a contestant''s skill level just by watching.


    Even the MC wasn¡¯t privy to the contestants'' identities due to the show¡¯s strict confidentiality.


    They couldn¡¯t risk any leaks, as that would ruin the real reactions.


    So, Song Byungsoo often relied on his instincts.


    ¡°That¡¯s a win for Noryangjin Pigeon.¡±


    He thought so the moment he saw them.


    No matter how much contestants tried to hide their identity, some habits were hard to disguise.


    Experienced singers, who were used to performing in front of a crowd, exuded confidence. They moved naturally and seemed to enjoy the attention, with assurance in their songs.


    Their presence gave off a ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll win¡± vibe.


    In contrast, Full-Level Rabbit was the exact opposite.


    ¡°The mask is really well-made.¡±


    It looked like a recreation of the mythical creature from Western movies, the "Vorpal Rabbit" or the Rabbit of Caerbannog, or something like that.


    It had a pretty fierce look.


    Compared to Noryangjin Pigeon, the quality was superior.


    ¡°But this show isn¡¯t a masquerade ball.¡±


    Of course, the one who sings better wins.


    ¡°Full-Level Rabbit is definitely not a professional singer.¡±


    There was a difference in how they held the microphone and looked at the stage.


    She seemed familiar with being in front of an audience, but it didn¡¯t quite feel like a singer¡¯s vibe.


    It felt oddly awkward, as if holding the microphone wasn¡¯t something she was used to.


    At that moment, Song Byungsoo was certain of the winner.


    And he wasn¡¯t alone¡ªhe suspected the viewers would feel the same way.


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin with Noryangjin Pigeon! Please, a wonderful song!¡±


    Noryangjin Pigeon took the stage first. Ever since Gray Crow appeared, Masked Singer seemed to have an influx of bird-themed contestants.


    Maybe they were going for a theme.


    Either way, the rabbit stood out.@@@@


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Just as expected, Noryangjin Pigeon was skilled.


    His vocal technique and skill hinted at his professional background.


    The audience and panel reacted positively.


    ¡°And next up is~.¡±


    Full-Level Rabbit.


    From the outfit and the altered voice, it was evident that she was female.


    She was playfully punching the air in the identity-reveal segment.


    What was she even doing?


    It looked like she was punching something, but who knows.


    ¡°Ahem, well then, Full-Level Rabbit. Let¡¯s see if her singing skills match her name~!!¡±


    With Song Byungsoo¡¯s introduction, a lively backing track began.


    The audience and the panel gasped as soon as the music started.


    ¡°An idol song?¡±


    Was she really going to sing an idol song for this competition?


    Idol songs often had an upbeat tune, usually with dance moves.


    But Masked Singer focused more on vocals than dance.


    It wasn¡¯t an ideal song choice for this competition.


    Was it a song by Summer Girl?


    Cha Nahee¡¯s girl group.


    ¡°Lee Jiyeon.¡±


    Yes, it had to be Lee Jiyeon.


    Not many people knew Seoyeon was on Masked Singer.


    So if she heard it from someone, it was probably Jiyeon, and Seoyeon had a hunch where that happened.


    ¡°Those two have been acting weird lately.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that they were in some mysterious relationship.


    Jiyeon had been learning acting from Seohui more often than from Seoyeon.


    And Seohui, in turn, seemed to be getting some ¡°help¡± from Jiyeon.


    ¡°That Villainous Lady persona.¡±


    It had to be Seohui, right?


    At first, she wasn¡¯t sure, but watching the broadcasts made it clear.


    That character, with her aristocratic flair.


    How many people could Jiyeon know like that?


    As far as Seoyeon knew, only Jo Seohui.


    It was just a suspicion, but it was growing.


    ¡°Thanks to beating Park Ren, there¡¯s a lot of interest in the community! Taking off the mask will be a great promotional opportunity.¡±


    Her friend Jo Seohui kept going on.


    Seoyeon, who had been mildly interested at first, had to accept the reality at this point.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do karaoke next time.¡±


    Finally, Seoyeon replied, sighing.


    Honestly, Masked Singer had been a bit exhausting for her.


    She had put in a lot of practice, more than she would have liked.


    With so much going on, she had half expected to be eliminated in the first round.


    ¡°Seoyeon, we¡¯re about to start filming. Ready?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes.¡±


    Looking up, she saw Sky Garden¡¯s director Kim Ilsu giving her a thumbs-up.


    ¡°So you¡¯re Full-Level Rabbit, right? You¡¯re doing so much better than before.¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Did someone tell him?


    Seoyeon gazed at him, wondering.


    ¡°Ahem, no one told me. I just figured it out. Who else has been watching you improve but me?¡±


    It was amazing that he recognized her just by her voice.


    ¡°Still, let¡¯s make sure it doesn¡¯t affect the filming. You understand, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±


    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s get today¡¯s shoot started.¡±


    Director Kim¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t lost on her.


    She was juggling many responsibilities.


    If not for her resilient TS body, she might have collapsed by now.


    Perhaps that¡¯s why...


    She felt eyes on her from the set.


    Some of the younger actors.


    Among them, she noticed Kim Hyeonseok, who had been giving her a hard time lately.


    Not that he was outwardly hostile, but the atmosphere was tense.


    She knew why.


    In Sky Garden, all the focus was on her character, Lee Yoojoo.


    It made sense, as she was the lead.


    If the lead didn¡¯t get attention, it would be a problem.


    However,


    It¡¯s hard to take this seriously with so many young actors.Honestly, isn¡¯t the difference in acting skill a bit too much?Shouldn¡¯t something be done? There are moments that feel off.


    She understood the frustration from the harsh criticisms.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t good.¡±


    Such criticisms could affect the other actors too.


    Tomorrow¡¯s episode 10 shoot could be a challenging one.


    Sky Garden had 20 episodes, and episode 10 was right in the middle,


    a critical turning point that would change the tone of the drama.

 Chapter 169

    The first-born of the Lee Hyuksoo family, Lee Minhyuk.


    In the story, he plays a significant role alongside Lee Yoojoo, the protagonist, making frequent appearances with her.


    ¡°What did you do to Minseo?¡±


    Lee Minhyuk asked Yoojoo, who was sitting alone in the library, seething with anger.


    ¡°Keep quiet in the library.¡±


    Her low voice didn¡¯t even direct a glance his way.


    Her gaze remained solely on the book she was reading¡ªa regular one unrelated to any classwork.


    The fact that she had time to read something like that felt, to Minhyuk, like it highlighted the difference between them.


    Though that wasn¡¯t really the case, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that way.


    ¡°It¡¯s just like Yoojoo.¡±


    Minhyuk thought to himself.


    Lee Yoojoo¡¯s actions always seemed to carry a hidden motive.


    On the first day of school, she provoked the other kids.


    Then, she started guiding Minseo with his portfolio.


    She even made conditions, right in front of him.


    ¡°Until the mock exams, don¡¯t tell your parents.¡±


    It was clear what she didn¡¯t want Minseo to tell.


    She was handing over the portfolio of her older brother, the prodigy who had entered Baekyeon University¡¯s medical school as the top student, to that fool, Minseo.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t she warn me?¡±


    Even if Minseo kept it a secret from their parents, Minhyuk could just tell them himself.


    Hadn¡¯t she thought of that?


    Or perhaps she expected Minseo to keep her word?


    ¡°She knows.¡±


    Minhyuk gritted his teeth.


    She knew he would keep Minseo from telling their parents.


    It was because she knew that if Minseo received help from Yoojoo, all their parents'' attention would be focused on Minseo.


    And she expected him not to stand by and let that happen.


    The fact was, she said it right in front of him, knowing he wouldn¡¯t tell their parents.


    With a sly smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me and answer, Yoojoo!¡±


    ¡°Cut! Cut!¡±


    Suddenly, Kim Hyunseok¡¯s focus was broken by the director¡¯s voice.


    As he looked over, Director Kim Ilsu was shaking his head.


    ¡°Hyunseok, you¡¯re overdoing it.¡±


    Kim Ilsu approached him as he spoke.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a chat over here for a moment.¡±


    As the director called him aside, the other young actors gulped nervously.


    The fact that they weren¡¯t continuing the shoot immediately but calling Hyunseok over meant there was something the director wasn¡¯t pleased with.


    However, this wasn¡¯t an unusual occurrence on this set.


    Scenes with Yoojoo¡ªplayed by Seoyeon¡ªoften required retakes and adjustments.


    ¡°There aren¡¯t even that many lines.¡±


    At first, he¡¯d thought maybe he was just lucky.


    He¡¯d watched The Chaser and Dream Future and thought that.


    It was close to self-deception.


    Seeing her act like that and still brushing it off as luck?


    Reality was harsh.


    In the world of performance, the differences might not be obvious to the casual viewer, but to another actor, they were clear as day.


    There was him, struggling, and there was her, who seemed effortlessly in character.


    Once the scene started, Lee Yoojoo was there¡ªnot Joo Seoyeon.


    ¡°How is she able to do that?¡±


    The thought alone could throw him off his game.


    And when it¡¯s someone younger, or around the same age, it naturally stirs feelings of inferiority.


    People are like that; it¡¯s just about how well one handles it.


    That¡¯s where moral character comes into play.


    ¡°Hyunseok.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Kim Ilsu¡¯s quiet, piercing gaze made Hyunseok tense up.


    Although he¡¯d been corrected many times before, he¡¯d never been called aside like this.


    ¡°You¡¯re putting too much force into it.¡±


    ¡°Too much force?¡±


    ¡°Acting requires you to relax sometimes.¡±


    Think about the emotional acting Seoyeon often utilized.


    Similar to method acting, it focuses on ¡°naturalness.¡±


    By embodying the role, she aims to express actions and emotions as naturally as possible.


    People applaud just for that.


    ¡°Sometimes exaggerated acting is necessary. But this is a calm scene.¡±


    Emotional excess.


    If raw emotion stands out in such a quiet scene, the viewers will feel it, too.


    ¡°It comes across as overdone.¡±


    Kim Ilsu¡¯s blunt words made Hyunseok¡¯s face pale.


    He had always received praise for his acting. Kim Ilsu¡¯s criticism was unsettling, even frightening.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t seem this way in other dramas.¡±


    He mumbled, letting out a sigh as he watched Hyunseok.


    He had a general idea why.


    ¡°Just look online, and there¡¯s post after post comparing them.¡±


    If Yoojoo, played by Joo Seoyeon, appeared in a scene, the comparison was inevitable.


    When two actors share a scene, the one who isn¡¯t as strong stands out even more.


    Honestly, it wasn¡¯t even a particularly intense scene.


    ¡°Nahee, did you always dream of being an idol?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Why was she asking about dreams?


    She blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s true.¡±


    Cha Nahee replied casually.


    ¡°I always wanted to be an idol. I¡¯m dedicated to acting too, but the more, the better.¡±


    After all, idols also have to act, mainly to maintain their image on variety shows.


    She had started acting to help with that.


    ¡°And lately, there¡¯s something else I¡¯m interested in.¡±


    She glanced at Seoyeon as she spoke.


    It made sense, given she had worked with the voice trainer and even bonded with Da-yeong during the Sky Garden OST project.


    ¡°But, it¡¯s not set in stone yet.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yep. But why the sudden interest in dreams?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Nahee found Seoyeon¡¯s behavior curious.


    Why the sudden question?


    As she thought about it, she remembered Yoojoo, the character Seoyeon was playing.


    ¡°Yoojoo is a bit pitiful.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Sure, she chose her goals, and I admire that. But I wonder if it¡¯s really what she wanted to do.¡±


    What she really wanted.


    Seoyeon tilted her head, feeling a mix of emotions.


    ¡°What about me?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    She shook her head.


    After all, that was something only she could decide for herself.


    The following week, episodes 3 and 4 of Sky Garden aired with a slight increase to 12% in viewership.


    It wasn¡¯t a dramatic spike like the first week, but it was respectable.


    Meanwhile, its rival, Grand Game, held steady at 16%, showing no signs of dropping.


    However,


    The female lead¡¯s screen time has increased lately.Is this turning into another romance?But that¡¯s the target demographic.As long as the story holds, it¡¯s fine.


    The responses were a bit sharper than usual.


    It wasn¡¯t terrible, but it wasn¡¯t entirely positive either.


    ¡°Seoyeon, Suyeon went to play with a friend. Could you pick her up from the playground?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, sweetheart!¡±


    Su-a flashed her a thumbs-up, and Seoyeon gave a small smile.


    Lately, Su-a had seemed particularly cheerful.


    Ever since Seoyeon started filming Masked Singer, Su-a had been in high spirits.


    She wasn¡¯t one to watch variety shows often,


    but she never missed an episode if Seoyeon was on.


    ¡°Since Gray Crow appeared?¡±


    It was around then.


    Gray Crow was indeed a great singer, nearly a hall-of-famer.


    ¡°Hopefully, I won¡¯t lose in the semifinals.¡±


    Currently, Seoyeon was preparing a new song with Summer Girl and the voice trainer.


    Since she couldn¡¯t repeat a Summer Girl song, choosing a new one was tricky.


    Then,


    ¡°I like this song. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nice. But isn¡¯t it hard to sing?¡±


    ¡°At least this one doesn¡¯t have high notes.¡±


    Unfortunately, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t suited for high notes.


    Her strength was in conveying emotion.


    It helped that she¡¯d discovered a new artist thanks to Jiyeon.


    ¡°Yeohee¡¯s songs are nice. I recommend this one too.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡±


    So, Seoyeon chose a Yeohee song for the semifinals.


    ¡°Seoyeon!¡±


    As she headed to the playground, Suyeon ran over, covered in sand.


    ¡°Careful, you¡¯ll trip.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine! I¡¯m strong!¡±


    Suyeon raised her arms triumphantly.


    ¡°She is pretty tough.¡±


    Though not superhuman, Suyeon was strong and healthy, never falling sick.


    ¡°Can my friend come home with us?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    She turned and saw a girl approaching, staring at her in surprise.


    Seoyeon froze.


    It was the girl from the Dream Future fan meeting.


    The one who had asked for her autograph.

 Chapter 170

    It was something she hadn¡¯t expected at all.


    After all, that girl lived in Daejeon.


    As far as Seoyeon could remember, at this time, the girl¡¯s family had no reason to be in Seoul either.


    "Unnie?"


    "Huh? Oh, right."


    "Why are you standing still?"


    Suyeon asked, puzzled. It seemed Seoyeon had been frozen in place for a while. She shook her head and approached the girl, who was also standing stiffly.


    "Hello."


    "Ah, hello! Wow, you''re an actress, right? You¡¯re really an actress!"


    "That''s right."


    "Wow, Suyeon¡¯s unnie is an actress!"


    Suyeon puffed her chest out proudly at that comment. Watching her, Seoyeon found it cute, even if she couldn¡¯t help but notice the resemblance between them. It was only natural, since Suyeon had grown up watching her older sister.


    "But, what''s your name?"


    "Yuna, Han Yuna."


    A name that was quite similar to her own name from her previous life.


    Seoyeon felt a strange sensation and a flood of mixed emotions.


    It was as if the name itself tied her back to her past life.


    "By any chance, do you have a brother?"


    "Huh? No, I don¡¯t."


    "I see."


    So, Yuna was the eldest. That meant the timing was off in an odd way.


    In her previous life, Seoyeon would have been the same age as she was now.


    In other words, Yuna had been born much later than her.


    "When did you and Suyeon become friends?"


    "Ah, I moved here, and I didn¡¯t have any friends at kindergarten."


    It seemed that the move had been recent, around the time of Dream Future''s fan meeting.


    Since they were in Seoul for the event, Yuna''s parents must have brought her to the fan meeting because she liked Dream Future.


    ¡®Do kids really watch dramas these days?¡¯


    The thought crossed her mind. Or maybe Dream Future had been suitable for younger audiences as well. Either way, it was a curious feeling.


    "Well, let¡¯s head back. Where¡¯s your house?"


    "It¡¯s..."@@@@


    Not wanting to leave Yuna alone, Seoyeon decided to walk her home with Suyeon.


    Suyeon, feeling proud of herself, gave a double thumbs-up.


    "Our Suyeon, isn¡¯t your expression a bit outdated?"


    Still, Seoyeon found it adorable and let it slide.


    She didn¡¯t ask many questions.


    There were plenty she wanted to ask, but she didn''t want to be intrusive, nor did she want to disrupt Suyeon¡¯s time with her friend.


    Besides, there wasn¡¯t any need to get too involved.


    Though some things weighed on her mind, she decided to leave it at that.


    ¡®The move was just a coincidence.¡¯


    Yuna¡¯s family moving to Seoul wasn¡¯t anything special.


    Her parents must have worked hard after Yuna¡¯s late birth, and her father¡¯s promotion led them to relocate to the main office in Seoul.


    There was nothing particularly out of the ordinary.


    Yet, something continued to bother Seoyeon¡ªnot about Yuna, but about herself.


    "Unnie, unnie."


    "Hm?"


    "Look over there!"


    Suyeon tugged at Seoyeon¡¯s sleeve excitedly.


    When she turned her head, she saw a small event happening on the street.


    It seemed to be some kind of children¡¯s animation event.


    "Harara, Harara!"


    "Harara?"


    The name was so odd it was hard to describe.


    But it was easy to pronounce, making it memorable.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s Magical Girl Harara. That¡¯s the cartoon Suyeon¡¯s been watching lately."


    Seoyeon glanced at the giant penguin and the blue-haired magical girl standing beside it.


    ¡®Why a penguin, though?¡¯


    The name was unusual, but the combination was even more peculiar.


    A penguin and a magical girl. Whoever came up with it certainly made it stand out.


    It seemed to be quite popular among kids, given the crowd of children and parents gathered at the event, not just Suyeon.


    ¡®They must have put a lot of effort into this event.¡¯


    There was even a stage set up.


    The event was simple: kids would reenact scenes from the anime with their parents, and then hit a game console with a foam hammer to score points and win prizes.


    Naturally, the kids would be the ones swinging the hammer.


    If adults had been allowed, it would¡¯ve been fathers lining up to play.


    Since kids don¡¯t have a significant strength difference between genders, it was a fair competition.


    "Unnie."


    "Hm?"


    Lost in thought, Seoyeon suddenly noticed Suyeon tugging at her sleeve again.


    She looked up to see Suyeon staring at her with pleading eyes.


    It was the unmistakable look of a child asking for something.


    Seoyeon immediately understood what that look meant.


    ¡®She wants to participate?¡¯


    Seoyeon felt an overwhelming urge to turn around and leave.


    After all, this event involved reenacting scenes from a children¡¯s anime.


    The roles of villain and magical girl were split between the kids and their parents.


    ¡®I-I can¡¯t do that.¡¯


    When she was younger, she would¡¯ve jumped at the chance.


    Back then, Seoyeon had been an utterly fearless and shameless girl, unbothered by anything. Her ability to suppress emotions had made her invincible.


    Of course, Zeroro was a cute villain with black hair, red eyes, and a cat-like charm.


    She was popular enough to have her own merchandise, but still... choosing the villain at an event like this?


    ¡®Hold on, then...¡¯


    Yeongyeon turned to look at the other person on stage.


    The woman in sunglasses was clearly frozen in place.


    It seemed she had just realized what was about to happen.


    "Since you¡¯ll be acting, could you please take off your mask and sunglasses?"


    "..."


    She hesitated for a moment, but only briefly.


    Slowly, she removed her sunglasses and mask, and for a moment, the murmuring crowd went silent.


    Then,


    "Wait, is that Joo Seoyeon?"


    "It is! That¡¯s Joo Seoyeon from Golden Duckling!"


    "Mom, who is that?"


    "She¡¯s an actress, honey."


    The crowd erupted.


    Who would have expected an actress to show up at a children¡¯s event like this?


    Most stars would buy the toys, not participate in events.


    The event organizers were beaming with joy.


    ¡®This promotion is a hit.¡¯


    They hadn¡¯t paid a dime, and a celebrity had walked right into their event.


    Of course, some people wondered if she had been paid to appear.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯


    ¡®The prizes aren¡¯t based on rank anyway.¡¯


    As long as the event conditions were met, everyone got a prize.


    "So, you¡¯re the older sister?"


    "...Yes."


    "Here¡¯s the magic wand. Have you watched Magical Girl Harara before?"


    "I just... saw it."


    Seoyeon had quickly watched the event¡¯s demo video on YouTube before coming on stage.


    She gripped the wand with trembling hands.


    This might have been the most embarrassed she had ever felt in her life.


    She had never been shy about her acting, but right now, she could hardly bear it.


    The shame!


    It wasn¡¯t an emotion she usually struggled with, but today, it hit her like a tidal wave.


    "Wow!! Magical girl unnie!!"


    Completely unaware of Seoyeon¡¯s feelings, Suyeon, now dressed as the villain Zeroro, raised her arms high with a huge grin.


    Yuna, standing beside her, clapped excitedly, her eyes sparkling.


    ¡®Unnie always plays the bad guy, so it¡¯s time for her to be the hero.¡¯


    In a way, this was Suyeon¡¯s way of looking out for her sister.


    Although, she did like Zeroro more.


    "Okay, now let¡¯s say our lines together. Harara, Harara~."


    "H-Harara, Harara..."


    "Louder! Harara~ Hararara~!"


    "H-Harara, Harara!!"


    Thanks to the presence of a celebrity, Yeongyeon¡¯s enthusiasm was at 200%.


    He went all out, fully acting out Harara¡¯s lines and transformation moves!


    As an actress, Seoyeon thought she should be giving a top-notch performance.


    But in this moment, for the first time in her life, she could think of nothing at all.


    She just squeezed her eyes shut and...


    "M-Magical Girl Harara~!!"


    Waving the shining magic wand with all her might.


    Thanks to her spirited performance and Suyeon¡¯s excellent hammer strike, they not only met the goal but exceeded it.


    Yuna walked away with her beloved magical girl toy.


    Thank goodness.


    "Thank you, actress unnie!!"


    "Y-yeah..."


    Yuna, clutching the magical girl Inana toy, beamed with joy.


    ¡®...I guess this is okay.¡¯


    No one filmed it, right?


    It was awkward meeting Yuna like this, so maybe it was for the best.


    "Unnie, since Yuna¡¯s birthday was just recently, can we consider this a birthday present?"


    "Huh? Yuna, when¡¯s your birthday?"


    "June 8th!"


    Suyeon answered on her behalf.


    June 8th.


    Seoyeon furrowed her brows slightly at the date.


    It was the same as her birthday in her previous life.


    "This is a gift from the actress unnie, so I¡¯ll cherish it! I¡¯ll think of you every time I play with it!"


    "Y-yeah... right."


    Seoyeon hoped she wouldn¡¯t shake it too much, but then quickly remembered something she had forgotten.


    "By the way, meeting me today is a secret from your mom, okay?"


    "Huh? Why?"


    "Uh, well... because unnie being a magical girl is a secret."


    Not wanting to admit her embarrassment, she used that excuse.


    Yuna blinked, then smiled brightly.


    "Okay!"


    Hopefully, even if someone filmed it, Yuna wouldn¡¯t be in the video.


    As long as Yuna kept quiet, her mom wouldn¡¯t find out.


    That was what Seoyeon thought, anyway.


    At least, until the short video of Seoyeon¡¯s entire performance went viral and hit 3 million views.


    Thankfully, Yuna wasn¡¯t in it.


    But Seoyeon would have to buy a new blanket for all the sleepless nights she¡¯d spend thinking about it.

 Chapter 171

    The video of Seoyeon participating in the street event spread like wildfire.


    It first surfaced as a YouTube short, and soon snippets of it started circulating across various online communities.


    "LOL what¡¯s she doing there??""I didn¡¯t know, but Joo Seoyeon is actually kind of cute when you see her like this.""Is that her little sister? Haha, the younger sibling really is just a knockoff of the older one."


    ©¸ "???"


    It seemed like Seoyeon participated in the event because her little sister wanted the toy.


    Initially, there were even claims that the whole thing was staged by the company for publicity, or that it was some kind of setup.


    "They could¡¯ve hired the actress for promotion, right?""But doesn¡¯t she look way too embarrassed for this to be a promotional stunt?""For real, lol, I¡¯ve never seen Joo Seoyeon this flustered."


    Seoyeon had acted in numerous scenes broadcast on TV before.


    When she was working on Dream Future, many clips of her doing challenging or awkward acting had circulated.


    However, Seoyeon had always maintained a straight face, even during the most embarrassing scenes.


    Yet, in this event, her embarrassment was plainly visible for all to see.


    In a way, the emotional depth that was her forte as an actress now worked to convey her embarrassment clearly to the audience.


    "Suyeon is too cute ???""I want a little sister like Suyeon, or maybe a daughter like her.""Me too... Apparently, she said she gave her sister the good role because the sister always plays the bad guy.""Really?""Yeah, one of the event organizers asked her afterward. Of course, she also admitted she likes Zeroro more, lol."


    The event organizers were summoned by their headquarters to explain what happened.


    Meanwhile, Loop Entertainment, the production company behind Magical Girl Harara, quickly uploaded the footage to their official YouTube channel.


    This all happened within just three days.


    It was a whirlwind.


    "How about casting Joo Seoyeon and her little sister for our new toy commercial?"


    "I already reached out."


    The company¡¯s swift action made it clear how influential Seoyeon had become recently.


    And as for Seoyeon herself...


    "What do you think, Seoyeon? You¡¯ve already done it once¡ªmight as well do it again!"


    "..."


    Seoyeon stared at the YouTube short, which was quickly approaching 5 million views.


    She had wanted to improve her image, but she never expected it to happen so dramatically and so easily.


    ¡®Improving your image isn¡¯t something you can force.¡¯


    Though her previous efforts had helped somewhat, this event brought a much more drastic and positive change.


    As an actress, Seoyeon had always been seen as a bit distant from the public.


    She was mainly known for playing antagonistic roles.


    Even though she had portrayed Cho Harin in Dream Future, people often remembered actors for their most memorable roles.


    For those who watched Dream Future first, they might have thought of her as Cho Harin¡¯s actress, but Cho Harin¡¯s role wasn¡¯t as prominent.


    ¡®Come to think of it, I¡¯ve played quite a few intense roles.¡¯


    Lee Yoojoo, too, wasn¡¯t exactly the most virtuous character¡ªshe wasn¡¯t a murderer, but she didn¡¯t give off a particularly wholesome vibe either.


    Still, Yoojoo was a popular character, largely because she was a victim of her parents¡¯ forced education and had a flawed, unstable personality that made her compelling to watch, like a ticking time bomb.


    ¡®Plus, Yoojoo is incredibly talented.¡¯


    In the story, no one was portrayed as more capable than Yoojoo.


    Yet despite her abilities, she was an incomplete protagonist, mainly due to her mental fragility, which was often highlighted in the show.


    ¡®Anyway.¡¯


    The real issue Seoyeon faced now was the proposal for the Magical Girl Harara toy commercial.


    "What do you think? If you do the toy commercial, it¡¯ll really boost your image with mothers!"


    "But it¡¯s a toy promotion..."


    When Seoyeon looked into Magical Girl Harara later, she discovered that the sheer number of transformation options had led to the series being dubbed ¡°Bankrupt Girl Harara¡± because it drained parents¡¯ wallets.


    The show was popular not only among young children but also among middle schoolers, with even some adults appreciating the character designs.


    "Come on, it¡¯s just for fun."


    Maybe, but the decision wasn¡¯t hers alone to make.


    After all, the offer wasn¡¯t just for her¡ªit was also for her little sister, Joo Suyeon.


    When she brought it up at home...


    "I want to do it!!!!"


    Suyeon¡¯s near-screaming response made Seoyeon cover her ears.


    With Seoyeon¡¯s sensitive hearing and strong body, it felt like her eardrums might burst.


    "I want to be on TV with you, unnie!!"


    Not that her eardrums were weak enough to actually rupture.


    "Oh, did Suyeon get a commercial offer?"


    "Yes, apparently so."


    Their mother, Sua, seemed amused by the whole situation, smiling as she watched Suyeon jump around in excitement.


    ¡®You turned down every other offer that came in.¡¯


    Sua had rejected numerous proposals for Seoyeon to appear on TV, saying it might be dangerous if too much attention was drawn to her.


    But since Suyeon had been repeatedly asking to see her mom on TV, it seemed there was still a possibility left open.


    Sua, too, seemed a bit conflicted, but with the way things were going, it felt like she might give in to at least one appearance.


    "But you haven¡¯t given up on the other thing, right?"


    "That..."


    Seoyeon wanted to say no, but the words didn¡¯t come easily.


    She hadn¡¯t really given up, but something was holding her back.


    "Why did you decide to take acting seriously?"


    "..."


    Sua smiled as Seoyeon remained silent.


    "I think that¡¯s the question you¡¯re struggling with."


    Seoyeon had her reasons for becoming serious about acting and for wanting to become a famous actress.


    "You¡¯ve never been the type to leave things unfinished, Seoyeon."


    She was someone who had to complete one thing before moving on to the next.


    That¡¯s just how she was.


    "And there¡¯s still that dream from your childhood."


    Of course, the thing Seoyeon needed to finish wasn¡¯t acting itself.


    It was likely something else.


    Sua believed that there was something in Seoyeon that she still hadn¡¯t finished, though she didn¡¯t know exactly what it was.


    Even after episode 6 of Sky Garden aired, the viewership didn¡¯t change much.


    Grand Game remained more popular, and discussions in online communities were still mostly about that show.


    However, starting with episode 4 of Sky Garden, Adiz began heavily promoting their chairs.


    Episode 4 prominently featured the main characters Yoojoo and Minseo studying hard for their exams while using Adiz chairs.


    "How are the Adiz chairs? They looked nice in Sky Garden.""Not sure about the older models, but the kids¡¯ chairs are great."


    It was a small buzz, nothing major yet, as Sky Garden hadn¡¯t become a huge hit.


    "Are you tired today, Seoyeon?"


    "Huh?"


    "Your performance seems a bit lacking today."


    Really?


    Seoyeon tilted her head at director Kim Ilsu¡¯s comment, though it didn¡¯t seem impossible.


    "Go home and rest after today¡¯s shoot. The upcoming scenes will be tougher."


    "Okay."


    Once episode 10 started filming, there would be more outdoor shoots, and that¡¯s when Yoojoo¡¯s character would really start to unravel.


    It was the turning point in the story.


    ¡®Childhood dreams...¡¯


    Back at home, Seoyeon watched the episodes of Sky Garden that had aired so far from the beginning.


    Yoojoo was a very flat character.


    It wasn¡¯t that Seoyeon was playing her that way; the character had been designed like that from the start.


    Yoojoo merely mimicked her father¡¯s words and actions.


    Even if she denied it, the viewers knew.


    Yoojoo was just repeating her father¡¯s behavior.


    She was a child who hadn¡¯t found what she wanted to do, an immature kid.


    That¡¯s who Lee Yoojoo was.


    ¡®Acting.¡¯


    In some ways, Seoyeon and Yoojoo were alike, having both started on their paths because of parental influence.


    They had chosen that path, and in that sense, they were similar.


    But they were also different.


    Yoojoo had nothing else, but Seoyeon did.


    So why did Seoyeon feel like she had to pursue acting first?


    ¡®I think I know the answer.¡¯


    It had to do with Han Yuna, the girl she had recently met whose name was so similar to her own in her previous life.


    Yuna¡¯s life was different¡ªher circumstances were different, and she hadn¡¯t been subjected to harsh education from a young age like Seoyeon had been.


    Yuna was happy, well-adjusted, and simply a pretty, sweet girl.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t feel envious or upset about that.


    She was relieved for Yuna¡¯s sake.


    But through Yuna, Seoyeon realized something.


    It was one of the reasons she had spoken to writer Min Sehee recently, and it tied into what Seoyeon truly wanted to do moving forward.


    There was something Seoyeon needed to do before she could fulfill her childhood dream.


    ¡®Acting is my only way of communicating.¡¯


    Maybe, deep down, that¡¯s what she had wanted to show.


    No, it was clear.


    If she became a famous actress, a star that everyone knew, her parents from her previous life would see her.


    So,


    "I made a mistake with Yoojoo¡¯s character."


    After watching the drama repeatedly, Seoyeon realized that she had missed something in her portrayal of Yoojoo.


    She had only just realized it today.


    Yoojoo, in many ways, was a character very much like herself.

 Chapter 172

    "This... is this really Minseo''s?"


    The matriarch of the Ihyeoksoo family, Gil Soo-jin, widened her eyes at the report card her daughter had brought. Her daughter had never once ranked in the top three.


    However, today¡¯s report card showed that, aside from one subject, all her grades were within the top two tiers. And this had all happened within just two months.


    "Y-Yes."


    Her daughter, speaking hesitantly, looked utterly exhausted. But that didn¡¯t matter in the slightest to Gil Soo-jin.


    This report card meant everything to her. Up until now, Minseo had been cute but with an uncertain future. But now, this darling child had brought her exactly what she had always hoped for. And look at those grades!


    As expected, Lee Yoo-joo was the real deal. Gil Soo-jin was convinced that while Yoo-joo had her own abilities, it was clear she had benefited from using her brother''s portfolio as a guide.


    ''If she just keeps at it like this, she''ll get into Baekyeon Medical School...''


    Gil Soo-jin had practically given up on Minseo, but now, both of her children had a real chance.


    "Our Minseo, you¡¯ve worked really hard. On the other hand..."


    Gil Soo-jin¡¯s eyes narrowed as she glanced over at Minseo¡¯s twin brother, Minhyuk, who remained silent. Minhyuk¡¯s grades were still overwhelmingly better than Minseo¡¯s.


    Most of his grades were top-tier, with only a few ranking in the second. The third-tier grades were in subjects that didn¡¯t really matter.


    "You''re still the same, my son."


    "......."


    But what was important was that Minseo had dramatically improved, while Minhyuk had stayed the same. For now, Minhyuk was ahead, but in the next mock exam... and even in the college entrance exams, who knew?


    In fact, with Minseo sticking close to Lee Yoo-joo, there was a real chance Minseo could surpass him. Considering her skyrocketing grades over just two months, it seemed entirely possible.


    "Please, don¡¯t disappoint your mother. From now on, whenever Minseo meets with Yoo-joo, you should join them."


    "Mother..."


    "My son, everything I say is for your own good."


    It was something Gil Soo-jin said out of habit: everything was for his sake. Of course, Minhyuk understood that. No doubt, it was for his own good. But there was also a hint of her own selfish desires mixed in.


    Minhyuk¡¯s dream was to become a doctor. However...


    "Understood."


    For now, Minhyuk could only respond like this. After all, no matter what he said, Gil Soo-jin wouldn¡¯t listen.


    And so, Minhyuk had no choice but to accompany Minseo whenever she met with Lee Yoo-joo.


    "Oh, really? Do you want to get closer to me?"


    Yoo-joo smiled brightly as she spoke. For the record, Minhyuk had never said anything like that.


    He merely tagged along whenever Minseo met her. But it seemed Yoo-joo had instantly grasped his intentions.


    Well, it¡¯s no surprise, considering someone who had previously insulted her suddenly started hanging around.


    "If you don''t want to..."


    "No, I don''t mind. I just find it amusing."


    After saying that, Yoo-joo stared at Minhyuk. Her gaze was that same condescending look she always gave others.


    It had only been a few months since starting high school, but in that time, Yoo-joo had already won over the teachers.


    She was, after all, the top student. Among all the high-achievers at Baekyeon High School, she was number one. Her results in the mock exams had been excellent, and her midterm scores were unmatched.


    "Yoo-joo? You really don¡¯t mind being with my brother?"


    "I don''t really care."


    It was actually Minseo who seemed flustered. Yoo-joo simply continued to stare at Minhyuk.


    Feeling her gaze, Minhyuk¡ªor rather, Kim Hyun-seok, who was playing the role of Minhyuk¡ªfelt a strange sensation.


    That gaze had changed.


    Previously, it had been purely intimidating, as if looking down on someone. But now, there was a slightly fragile air to it. Like the quills of a hedgehog standing up defensively, only this time, they were hidden.


    Somehow, the atmosphere felt completely different. Why?


    As that thought lingered in his mind¡ª


    "Cut! Hyun-seok, your next line!"


    "Oh, sorry."


    Hyun-seok was so used to making mistakes by now that it barely fazed him anymore. He even sympathized with Minseo¡¯s character to some extent.


    If no one had expectations of you, it was easier to stay calm. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as if he didn¡¯t feel guilty.


    He felt sorry for the other actors whose energy drained with each failed take. But after being criticized online and receiving harsh feedback, he realized something.


    No matter how anxious he felt, it would only negatively affect his performance. It was better to remain calm and objective about himself.


    So, after wrapping up the scene as smoothly as possible, Hyun-seok approached Seoyeon after the shoot.


    "...Your acting feels different."


    Hyun-seok, who rarely spoke to Seoyeon, asked her that question. Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    She hadn¡¯t expected anyone to ask her anything, let alone notice a change in her acting.


    It was a somewhat ambiguous reaction.


    "I changed it a little. Can you tell?"


    "You... did?"


    Park Se-jin, the actor playing Minseo, seemed completely unaware. Well, maybe not completely. She had felt something was different, but had attributed it to Seoyeon¡¯s condition that day.


    "She looked more vulnerable, right?"


    How should he describe it? The tone had changed.


    From what Hyun-seok had observed, Seoyeon¡¯s acting had always been emotional. She conveyed feelings clearly, making them easy to understand.


    That¡¯s why it hit hard¡ªbecause the emotion behind her acting had changed.


    "I just thought a bit more from Yoo-joo¡¯s perspective."


    Seoyeon had never really empathized with Yoo-joo. As a result, it had been difficult for her to deliver deeply emotional performances.


    After all, while Yoo-joo was an honor student, her reasons for looking down on others weren¡¯t clear to Seoyeon. But now, she understood a little better.


    "No, I prefer working on these things alone."


    Na-hee said and immediately dove into her work, staying up late.


    The equipment at Nova Entertainment wasn¡¯t as good as what Hoyun had, though. They had poured excessive money into trying to raise an idol group, leaving behind expensive equipment that now just gathered dust.


    "...I¡¯m a little tired."


    Glancing at the clock, Na-hee noticed it was already past midnight. Though she felt like sleeping, time was short.


    She was essentially doing the work of an entire team by herself.


    ¡®I think it needs to feel a bit more upbeat.¡¯


    The original song had a somewhat emotional tone, a style Seoyeon excelled in.


    The song she was going to sing for the semifinals was another emotional piece. But if the finals had the same tone...


    It¡¯s a competition, after all. Repeating the same vibe would only make the audience and judges feel too familiar with it.


    Creators need to present something that resonates with their audience.


    Seoyeon¡¯s strongest weapon.


    However, there are times when novelty is just as crucial as familiarity. You can¡¯t rely on empathy alone.


    Cha Na-hee was searching for a way to blend those elements together. Staying in the agency late at night.


    "...She¡¯s still here?"


    Lavine glanced at the lights on in the studio, clicking her tongue.


    "You didn¡¯t leave either."


    Her right-hand woman, So-eun, pointed out sharply.


    "Well, I live here. And besides¡ª"


    Lavine hadn¡¯t stayed to work. She was just hanging out with So-eun because it was boring to drink alone, so she had dragged her along to the studio.


    It was a perfect place to sing for free since Lavine had even brought a karaoke machine to the studio.


    But seeing Cha Na-hee still working made her sober up fast.


    "That stubborn girl..."


    "That¡¯s why she¡¯s successful."


    "Hey, want to get slapped?"


    Lavine grumbled, turning away from the studio.


    "Let¡¯s head out."


    She called to So-eun, but So-eun didn¡¯t follow.


    "Why~?"


    "Unnie."


    "What? Isn¡¯t it normal for Na-hee to work late? Just leave her."


    "That¡¯s not it. I heard she¡¯s working on something Seoyeon asked for."


    That gorilla-like woman?


    Lavine thought about leaving her behind but found it hard to walk away. As much as she disliked her, seeing Na-hee working like that made her reluctant to just leave her alone.


    "Ugh, maybe I¡¯m just drunk."


    Lavine scratched her head.


    "Let¡¯s send her home and keep hanging out. It¡¯s weird to have her here working while we play."


    "But can we even help with anything?"


    "How should I know?"


    With that, Lavine headed toward Cha Na-hee.


    Blaming it on the alcohol.


    ¡®Ah, I shouldn¡¯t have joined Masked Singer.¡¯


    Yeon-hee, sitting on the throne reserved only for the champion, felt her stomach churn. She was posed like a king, a position that suited her!


    Even the mask she wore, resembling a gray crow, added to the cool factor. She looked like a villain straight out of a superhero movie.


    But inside, she didn¡¯t feel like that at all.


    ¡®Please, please let me lose.¡¯


    Yeon-hee was silently praying as she watched the two contestants.


    One of them, the red-eyed rabbit, had introduced themselves as Manlap Rabbit.


    Their voice had been modulated during the interview, but there was no way Yeon-hee wouldn¡¯t recognize it.


    She had been following this actor since Tae-soomdal and had even listened to her sing the OST for Sky Garden. She knew this voice well.


    No one else seemed to have caught on, but Yeon-hee knew instantly.


    That¡¯s Ju Seoyeon!!


    Yeon-hee often cheered for her from afar, but she had never expected to face her like this.


    ¡®She probably doesn¡¯t know it¡¯s me.¡¯


    Yeon-hee had changed her singing style just enough, and the song she chose wasn¡¯t one she typically performed.


    While she was deep in thought¡ª


    "And now, it¡¯s time for Manlap Rabbit¡¯s performance! The song is... Wings of the Wind and Bird!"


    As soon as Yeon-hee heard the title, she almost jumped out of her seat. It was her song!


    ¡®Does she know?¡¯


    Was this some kind of warning?


    She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong yet!


    Yeon-hee, trembling like a child, remained frozen throughout Seoyeon¡¯s entire performance, silently praying that Seoyeon would lose.


    But as it turned out, Seoyeon won the semifinal with a landslide victory.

 Chapter 173

    "So, who exactly is this Manlap Rabbit??"


    Masked Singer had a consistent fanbase. Although the hype had died down recently, that didn¡¯t mean all the fans had disappeared. Discussions about the contestants were still happening.


    Recently, two figures were the talk of the show: Gray Crow and Manlap Rabbit.


    "Gray Crow is definitely Yeon-hee.""No, seriously, who is Manlap Rabbit?""I have no idea.""Yeah, no one really knows."


    For singers, fans could usually guess their identities quickly due to familiarity with their voices and singing styles. This was the case for Yeon-hee. Even though she had tried to disguise her voice, her die-hard fans easily figured her out.


    But nobody seemed to know who Manlap Rabbit was. There was only one explanation for that.


    "Did they just pick up some random weirdo again?""Who¡¯s the latest female celebrity in hot water these days?"


    Masked Singer was often used as a comeback show for celebrities who had been involved in scandals. The general opinion was starting to lean in that direction when suddenly¡ª


    "Could it be Ju Seoyeon?"


    That remark popped up unexpectedly. A fan claimed that, having followed her since Dream Future, they were pretty sure it was Ju Seoyeon¡¯s voice.


    "Hahaha, no way that¡¯s Ju Seoyeon.""I¡¯ve been watching since Dream Future too, and Seoyeon could never sing like that.""The voice might be similar, but the skill level is way off.""Still, she¡¯s pretty cute in those recent Harara shorts, LOL."


    Even people who didn¡¯t watch dramas were starting to recognize Ju Seoyeon, thanks to a viral video from the Harara Shorts. The video had already surpassed 5 million views and was still climbing.


    "I think I know who it is.""Who?""Isn¡¯t it the person who sang the Sky Garden OST?""Ohhhhh!"


    A strong contender finally emerged: the singer of the OST from the popular drama Sky Garden.


    But there was a problem.


    "So, who is that person?""I have no clue.""Great, back to square one."


    Since no one knew the identity of the person who sang the Sky Garden OST, the mystery of Manlap Rabbit remained unsolved.


    "We¡¯ll find out this week anyway, LOL.""Yeah, true.""Gray Crow is the favorite to win.""If it¡¯s Yeon-hee, she¡¯s definitely on the path to becoming the champion."


    Though Manlap Rabbit had put up a good fight in the semifinals, many believed that Gray Crow would win the finals. After all, Yeon-hee was one of the top vocalists in Korea, widely recognized for her immense talent. She wasn¡¯t just a singer but an artist in every sense of the word.


    She had a broad range, even singing anime OSTs in Japan. Her popularity in the community was largely due to this versatility.


    So, when the finals came, everyone assumed they¡¯d finally uncover Manlap Rabbit¡¯s identity.


    "You figured it out, right? No, I¡¯m telling you, you totally did!"


    "Unnie, calm down."


    "How can I calm down about this?!"


    Having finished the semifinals, Yeon-hee, now without her Gray Crow mask, was pacing nervously backstage, talking to her manager, Song Ah-ram.


    "And why are you trembling so much? Just greet her nicely."


    "Well, yeah, maybe you¡¯re right."


    Maybe it would be better to act cool about it. After all, it had been nearly 20 years. Seoyeon wasn¡¯t even born when it happened.


    So, in a way, this was ancient history and could even serve as a chance to finally talk about it. Even someone as stoic as Yeon-hee thought that 20 years might be long enough for it to be okay.


    Still...


    "What if Taejin told her about me?"


    "Taejin? You mean Director Kang Taejin of the GH Group?"


    "Yeah, I kept asking him about it... What if he told her?"


    "Wow... for 20 years? That¡¯s a little creepy."


    "No! I just asked! I didn¡¯t do anything weird!!"


    I mean, anyone could be curious, right?


    Yeon-hee was insistent. Sure, it had been 20 years, but she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong by asking.


    "Unnie, you¡¯re really... holding onto some things for too long."


    "Ugh."


    Yeon-hee clutched her chest dramatically. What could she do? She never expected to hold onto her regrets for so long.


    "When you almost have something but lose it... that makes it worse."


    "I don¡¯t really care about that."


    "You¡¯ve been a bit harsh with me lately, don¡¯t you think?"


    Yeon-hee muttered while rubbing her face with her hands.


    "I¡¯m going to wash my face for a bit."


    She sighed heavily, deciding to splash some cold water on her face before returning to the set.


    "Oh, wait, I need to call Dad real quick."


    A familiar voice caught Yeon-hee¡¯s attention. She had almost forgotten, but that voice was one she had recently been reminded of while watching Golden Duckling.


    ¡®Oh my gosh!¡¯


    Yeon-hee quickly hid herself but peeked out when she realized that Yeon-bin, the owner of that voice, was headed in a different direction.


    ¡®Why is he still on set? Oh.¡¯


    Then it hit her. His daughter was also a contestant on Masked Singer. It made sense that he¡¯d be around late. She herself had finished early since she didn¡¯t perform, but she hadn¡¯t expected to run into him like this.


    ¡®I thought I¡¯d be fine by now.¡¯


    Yeon-hee bit her tongue. Truth be told, she had almost moved on. She thought finding someone new wouldn¡¯t be so bad after all. But it seemed like she hadn¡¯t quite gotten over it.


    Her memories were still stuck in high school, perhaps due to the magic that had taken hold of her back then.


    "Creators must stay young."


    That was what he had told her. He said you had to keep your spirit youthful to continue creating.


    Yeon-hee had immersed herself in her work for a long time, especially after high school. She spent nearly ten years focused on nothing but work¡ªuntil The Sun Hidden by the Moon aired.@@@@


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    For Yeon-hee, Seoyeon symbolized her lingering regrets. She hadn¡¯t expected to recognize her so easily.


    Seeing the child reminded her so strongly of her parents.


    Yeon-hee tried to sound as casual as possible, as if she were just making small talk while waiting for the vending machine.


    "I saw you on TV... You work for a game company, right?"


    Of course, it was a pretty personal question.


    Yeon-hee was immensely grateful for Golden Duckling. Thanks to that show, she could use the "I saw you on TV" line to smooth things over.


    But Seoyeon was focused on Yeon-bin, not really paying much attention to Yeon-hee¡¯s probing questions.


    "It just seems like there¡¯s something else he wants to do."


    Seoyeon trailed off, choosing her words carefully.


    "He seems to have a lot on his mind."


    She didn¡¯t want to be too intrusive, but that was enough for Yeon-hee.


    She had a pretty good idea now.


    "Oh, it looks like his call¡¯s done. You can use the vending machine now."


    "Huh? Oh no! I just remembered something urgent. Sorry!!"


    Yeon-bin had finished his call and was now walking toward them. Yeon-hee heard his footsteps and immediately turned and fled.


    She ran so fast that Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Didn¡¯t she want to use the vending machine?


    ¡®She feels oddly familiar. Could she be someone connected to Masked Singer?¡¯


    It didn¡¯t make sense for a non-celebrity to be hanging around the set this late. Sure, she could have been a lost audience member, but that pretty face and aura were unmistakably those of a celebrity.


    And not just any celebrity¡ªsomeone with a lot of experience.


    Though she had seemed oddly nervous around Seoyeon.


    ¡®She looks familiar, but where have I seen her?¡¯


    Unable to place her, Seoyeon folded her arms, deep in thought.


    "Hey, what¡¯s up? You waiting for your magic dinosaur or something?"


    "...Magic dinosaur?"


    It felt like the list of nicknames for Yeon-bin was getting longer. Seoyeon gave him a disgruntled look, and he smirked in response.


    "Your mom¡¯s waiting for us. Let¡¯s go."


    With that, they walked off. Seoyeon wanted to ask about the call.


    But she didn¡¯t push it. She had a pretty good idea what it was about.


    And so, she had prepared a special song for the finals with that in mind.


    A song of support.


    "Seoyeon, don¡¯t get too nervous! Just take it easy!"


    Manager Park Eun-ha patted Seoyeon, now disguised as Manlap Rabbit, on the back.


    Park Eun-ha had noticed that Seoyeon had been deep in thought lately. It seemed like her role in the drama was weighing heavily on her.


    It had even shown in her acting, to the point where Director Kim Ilsu of Sky Garden had asked Eun-ha about it.


    "Has something been bothering Seoyeon lately?"


    "Huh? No, why?"


    "It¡¯s just that there¡¯s a subtle tension in her performances lately. She seems a bit anxious."


    Anxious? Seoyeon never struck Eun-ha as someone who got anxious. Was she hiding something?


    Seoyeon had always been good at keeping her emotions in check, so it was hard to tell.


    "Anyway, Yuna¡¯s here to cheer you on, and your family¡¯s here too, right?"


    "Yeah, they¡¯ve been coming since the semifinals."


    "That¡¯s great."


    In all honesty, Eun-ha thought it would be difficult for Seoyeon to beat Gray Crow. But she hoped this would at least help Seoyeon relax.


    "Good luck!"


    With those encouraging words, Seoyeon left the waiting room. She sighed quietly beneath her mask and shook her head.


    ¡®Why do I feel so restless?¡¯


    Was it because of her recent meeting with Yuna?


    For some reason, she felt an increasing sense of urgency.


    She wasn¡¯t sure what was causing it, but even while participating in a variety show like this, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling.


    The more she watched Yeon-bin, the stronger that feeling grew.


    As she approached the stage door, she saw Gray Crow waiting.


    For some reason, Gray Crow flinched upon seeing Seoyeon but then slowly gave her a thumbs-up.


    ¡®Is that a sign to do our best?¡¯


    Seoyeon nodded in return and gave a thumbs-up as well. And with that, the door to the stage opened.


    The stage for the Masked Singer finals was ready.

 Chapter 174

    "Wow, today''s championship round is really tough."


    MC Song Byeong-soo, the host of Masked Singer, joked as he spoke, and the panelists immediately responded. After years of hosting the show, they had become experts at reacting to moments like this.


    "I¡¯m rooting for Gray Crow. It¡¯s been almost half a year since a Hall of Fame-worthy champion emerged. We¡¯re due for one now."


    "Ah, but Manlap Rabbit''s skill isn¡¯t something to ignore either, so it¡¯s hard to say for sure."


    Though the show was being set up to appear as if it could go either way, most people were already betting on Gray Crow to win. Manlap Rabbit¡¯s performances, while solid, had followed a consistent emotional tone, mostly avoiding songs that required intricate vocal techniques.


    While that was enough to bring her this far, many thought it was starting to wear thin. Unless Manlap Rabbit introduced some kind of change in the finals, Gray Crow would likely take the victory.


    ''If this were a live broadcast, I¡¯d be really curious about the real-time reactions,'' thought Song Byeong-soo as he watched the two contestants on stage. Online communities also favored Gray Crow, but there were still some who backed Manlap Rabbit.


    "Now, let¡¯s welcome our challenger for the throne, Manlap Rabbit! Her singing skills are maxed out! Let¡¯s see what song she¡¯s prepared for us today!"


    With those words, Song Byeong-soo handed the microphone to Manlap Rabbit, also known as Seoyeon.


    ¡®Please don¡¯t hype me up too much,¡¯ Seoyeon thought sincerely. Honestly, she hadn¡¯t expected to make it all the way to the finals.


    While she had put effort into rearranging the song...


    ¡®No, I can¡¯t let those thoughts get to me.¡¯


    After all, she had made it to the finals. As she looked into the audience, she saw her mom and Soo-yeon clapping enthusiastically. Her dad, sitting beside them, was yawning, but she knew he was rooting for her as well. Despite his own struggles, he was hiding his worries just like she was.


    But as the intro of her song began to play, the audience¡¯s reactions shifted. It was a song unfamiliar to most of them.


    Or maybe it wasn¡¯t the song itself¡ªjust the arrangement was hard to recognize at first.


    Their surprise came from something else entirely.


    ''A cartoon song?'' ''Whoa, really, in the finals?''


    Seoyeon had chosen a nostalgic song¡ªa theme from a Korean animated series, back when it was common to insert original soundtracks into imported anime. This particular song had been famous in its time, and while the audience would have recognized it, they probably didn¡¯t expect to hear it in the finals of a singing competition.


    Song Byeong-soo himself was taken aback. Sure, there had been rearranged anime themes before, but to bring one to the final round was unexpected¡ªespecially since Manlap Rabbit had stuck mostly to emotional ballads up until now.


    The song Seoyeon had chosen, arranged by Yeoreum So-nyeo (Summer Girl), was titled Silence. Originally, it was a song by a famous Korean rocker, used in an anime about guns.


    ¡®It was definitely something with guns,¡¯ Song Byeong-soo thought.


    However, it wasn¡¯t a rock song in its core. It had a rare, emotional depth that belied its original context. If you just listened to the melody, you wouldn¡¯t guess it was an anime theme. Of course, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t seen the anime, and her only connection to the song was through Soo-ah.


    As Seoyeon raised the microphone to her lips, she glanced at Soo-ah in the audience. Soo-ah and Yeon-bin¡¯s eyes were wide with surprise. They hadn¡¯t expected Seoyeon to choose this song.


    How could she not? Sitting in the audience, Yeon-hee¡¯s manager, Ah-ram, gave her a sympathetic look¡ªthe kind of look you give to someone who¡¯s holding onto an old regret.


    Yeon-hee could feel it. Ah-ram knew a bit about her past, and that gaze spoke volumes.


    ''This song is a memory for her parents.'' ''Yeah.'' ''Doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re part of that memory too, unnie?'' ''...I guess.''


    Ah-ram¡¯s eyes seemed to say, You¡¯ve become a part of history. Yeon-hee didn¡¯t say anything, but she could sense it.


    ''Does she know who I am?''


    Yeon-hee watched as Seoyeon, her voice modulated, briefly spoke to the audience. Yet even from a distance, Yeon-hee could sense that Seoyeon was carrying her own burdens.


    ¡®What¡¯s she struggling with so much?¡¯ Yeon-hee wondered. Then again, she remembered what it was like to be young and full of doubt.


    ¡®But we all have our worries,¡¯ Yeon-hee thought, turning her gaze toward the audience. She could hear Yeon-bin shouting something, probably cheering Seoyeon on with his usual enthusiasm.


    For some, it was a joyful scene, but Yeon-hee knew better. She had overheard enough of their earlier conversations to know that behind the smiles, there were deeper concerns.


    ¡®How amusing.¡¯


    In truth, Yeon-hee had never seen this side of Yeon-bin before. He had always been the type to charge headfirst into things, no matter how difficult. When had he started hesitating like this?


    ¡®Time changes everything,¡¯ she mused. Yeon-bin and Soo-ah were no longer the same as they had been, even if Yeon-hee still felt like the same person she had always been.


    Did that make her sad? Hardly.


    "Wow, that was a beautiful story. A song filled with your parents¡¯ memories. I don¡¯t think even Gray Crow will find it easy to beat that!" Song Byeong-soo said, turning toward Yeon-hee.


    His expression seemed to say that no matter how good she was, this time the challenge would be tough.


    Of course, Song Byeong-soo was too experienced a host to show outright favoritism, but the sentiment was there.


    "And now, it¡¯s time for the final showdown! Do you think you can take on the strong challenger, Manlap Rabbit, and win the crown?"


    Handing her the microphone, he waited for her response. Yeon-hee smirked under her mask. Seoyeon had indeed performed well, perfectly showcasing her strengths. Even Yeon-hee couldn¡¯t help but applaud her.


    But still... she had no intention of losing.


    "My memories will win."


    At least, not today.


    As she spoke, Yeon-hee signaled to the band, and the sound of an electric guitar filled the room. The band began to play.


    ¡®...!!¡¯


    Descending the stage, Seoyeon turned around, immediately recognizing the song. It was one she had heard recently.

 Chapter 175

    The lively sound of an electric guitar echoed through the hall, followed by the music that resonated along with it.


    It was an unfamiliar song, and the audience and panelists mostly had puzzled expressions. It was as if Seoyeon had selected an old anime song for the performance.


    However, back then, there were at least some people in the audience who had that "Ah, I know this!" look. The song had been famous enough that, even if it had been rearranged, plenty of people still recognized it.


    Most of the reactions now were more along the lines of, "I''ve heard this somewhere... was it from a cartoon?" The general consensus was that the song was unique, but not so strange as to make people feel as alienated as they did now.


    The show Masked Singer wasn''t a platform for presenting original songs. Naturally, the audience came to hear existing songs and to see how the singer would perform them.


    This wasn¡¯t the place for unfamiliar content.


    Seoyeon knew that much, at least.


    ''This is...''


    But from the moment the sound of the electric guitar rang out on stage and the moment the Gray Crow grabbed the microphone and the music began, Seoyeon realized something.


    She had heard this song before.


    And not just at some distant point in the past¡ªquite recently.


    "CD? What is this?"


    At Jiyeon''s house, there was an old PC. One that could still read CDs.


    These days, PCs don¡¯t typically have CD drives. It¡¯s rare to see anyone bothering with one.


    Unless you go out of your way to order that part separately, it has become a relic of the past, barely even functional.


    "It¡¯s a game CD."


    "Juseoyeon, are you picking up random junk again?"@@@@


    "It¡¯s a CD of a game my parents made during their high school years. A nostalgic memory, really."


    "Sometimes, you stumble across nostalgia when you pick up random things like this. Isn¡¯t it wonderful?"


    Jiyeon¡¯s sharp tone suddenly softened, though Seoyeon squinted at her suspiciously. Jiyeon simply averted her gaze with a sheepish smile.


    How was Seoyeon supposed to know that the random CD she had brought over would be something this important?


    And Seoyeon had never heard that her parents had ever made a game before.


    Was it something like a high school club project where they made games?


    Come to think of it, considering the line of work her parents are in now, it wasn¡¯t all that strange.


    Click.


    Anyway, it was thanks to Jiyeon¡¯s old PC that Seoyeon was able to play the old CD at her house.


    She had thought about buying something to read the CD herself, but then there would have been compatibility issues, making it impossible to run.


    A homemade game from over 10 years ago? Who knew if it would even run on a current OS.


    But thanks to Jiyeon¡¯s old PC, they were able to run it without any problems.


    "This is..."


    Jiyeon murmured quietly.


    The game, surprisingly enough, exuded an old-fashioned charm.


    There was something special about it.


    "It has an opening song?"


    The game had an opening song that played upon startup. The song didn¡¯t seem to have a proper title. The word Opening was simply written in the corner of the screen.


    The song itself was relatively calm. It fit well with the vibe of a typical fantasy RPG¡ªa song that would encourage an adventurer about to embark on a journey.


    But Jiyeon couldn¡¯t help but think the voice was familiar. And soon enough, she realized it.


    ''Isn¡¯t this Yeo-hee?''


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t noticed it at all, but Jiyeon, who was a huge fan of Yeo-hee¡¯s singing, could sense it faintly. The voice of the singer, though a bit raw, sounded remarkably similar to Yeo-hee¡¯s.


    Of course, the singer''s skill couldn¡¯t match the current Yeo-hee, but considering the singer might have been a high school student at the time, it was an exceptional performance.


    ''...No way.''


    Now that she thought about it, they did say they were schoolmates.


    At the time, she had just thought of them as classmates, but listening to this song, it gave her a different feeling.


    If it weren¡¯t for that connection, there would have been no reason for Yeo-hee to participate in the game¡¯s production.


    So, what exactly is going on here? Jiyeon glanced over at Seoyeon, wondering if she had realized this too.


    But Seoyeon just listened quietly, without any apparent recognition.


    The Opening.


    It seemed hastily put together, and the video that played alongside the song was crude. It was nothing more than a collage of illustrations, similar to what people called a ¡°mad movie.¡±


    However, the very fact that they had included a song at all made it special. It was a game that had its own charm, feeling a bit rough but endearing.


    A song that strangely tugged at the heartstrings.


    Seoyeon raised her head, stepping down from her stage and looking at the new singer who had just stepped onto it.


    The Gray Crow.


    No, the fact that she knew this song meant that she had to be someone connected to Sua and Youngbin.


    Could it really be?


    The thought crossed her mind, but the song itself confirmed it.


    The Opening.


    Though the song didn¡¯t even have a proper title, it fit better than anything else with that name.


    A matured voice, different from the freshness of back then.


    Years had passed, and now that song was spreading beyond mere memories to reach the world, right there on that small stage.


    To put it simply, this was a small whim.


    "Unnie, are you serious? There are so many other songs you could choose!"


    "Why, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "No one¡¯s going to recognize a song like that."


    Isn¡¯t this basically a self-composed song?


    No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s not a song that fits the tone of Masked Singer.


    "Why are you making a big deal out of this? This song was sung at a music festival back then, and it was a bit of an issue. It was the theme song for a game that a high school student made!"


    "But it doesn¡¯t even have a proper title."


    The title of the song was just Opening.


    No other title¡ªjust that simple name.


    At the time, they had tried to come up with a proper name, but nothing fitting came to mind.


    So, Youngbin said this to her:


    "Opening is good."


    As a song marking their first beginning.


    A song for the adventurer setting out on a new journey. What better title could there be for such a song?


    Well, perhaps it was just laziness.


    Looking at the stage, she felt the gaze of a masked rabbit looking up at her.


    Of course, she couldn¡¯t see its expression, but the surprise was evident.


    A child who, unlike their father, seemed to overthink things needlessly.


    Perhaps they took after Sua instead.


    Yeo-hee gripped the microphone in her hand.


    A strange song, a strange melody.


    But it was fine.


    Even if she remained a child, tied to her past from 20 years ago.


    She could accept even that.


    So what? Isn¡¯t it wonderful?


    Being able to keep loving something.


    Some might call it foolish.


    Some might point fingers and laugh.


    But as long as she didn¡¯t think so, that¡¯s all that mattered.


    If creation is suffering, then perhaps this suffering, too, was hers to bear.


    If being foolish and lingering was part of her, so be it.


    Like the title of the song she was singing now.


    Her life had always been an Opening.


    Seoyeon thought to herself.


    Sometimes, songs can move people¡¯s hearts.


    At least, Seoyeon felt that way.


    ''Maybe I¡¯ve been rushing things.''


    There was no doubt that Seoyeon had been hesitating lately.


    She had been questioning why she became an actress in the first place.


    And about the things she had wanted to do in the past.


    Her hesitation came from a deeply personal place.


    She wondered if those dreams were truly what Juseoyeon wanted.


    Becoming a Virtual YouTuber was something her past self had dreamed of.


    Wanting to do that was, in the end, something that kept her tied to her past self.


    If she pursued that path, she felt she might never truly become Juseoyeon.


    Maybe it was an exaggerated thought.


    But for some reason, that¡¯s how it felt to her.


    The same applied to acting.


    At first, it was something her parents pushed her into, and her decision to become a famous actress was genuine.


    But was it truly what Juseoyeon wanted?


    Recently, she had been questioning that.


    Meeting Yuna had made her realize that she was still tied to her past.


    Perhaps the reason she became an actress was also because of her lingering attachments to the past.


    The countless movies and shows she watched to learn about emotions.


    The many actors she saw on screen.


    Like them, through TV and the silver screen, she had wanted to show herself to her past parents.


    To send them a signal that she was doing well.


    And perhaps, because of that desire, she had become an actress.


    Her conversation with writer Min Sehee had followed the same train of thought.


    If she could completely let go of her past, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with these doubts.


    That¡¯s what she had thought.


    So, perhaps, she had been rushing things.


    Trying to fully sever herself from her past.


    Believing that if she could do that, she could move forward as Juseoyeon.


    But this song seemed to deny that belief.


    Oddly enough, the song was filled with memories of the past.


    It was a song steeped in lingering feelings.


    Yet the singer didn¡¯t seem to mind at all.


    As if saying, "So what?"


    It was as if Seoyeon¡¯s worries were being brushed aside as foolish.


    As if the song was saying that, yes, even those lingering feelings are a part of you.


    One of the lyrics said:


    "Is your dream so weak that it can¡¯t wait even a little longer?"


    So there¡¯s no need to rush.


    It was true.


    As long as she continued to love it, it was something she could do at any time.


    And if she still had doubts, she could wait until she had a clear answer.


    This song seemed to be offering an answer to Seoyeon¡¯s doubts about her past.


    There was no need to forcibly forget it.


    There was nothing wrong with lingering feelings.


    The important thing was how you acted on them.


    As long as you continued to love it, your dream would never leave you.


    Even until the moment you closed your eyes for the last time.


    As the song ended, with one last strum of the guitar strings, Seoyeon continued to watch the stage.


    She wasn¡¯t the only one, either.


    Surely there was another person here who had been dealing with similar doubts.


    "Unfortunately, you lost by just two votes. Are you okay with that?"


    "Yes."


    Slowly, Seoyeon removed her mask as she spoke.


    When she took off the mask, a small commotion arose in the audience.


    That¡¯s how impressive the song performed by Manlap Rabbit had been.


    They had all assumed she was a professional singer.


    But who would have thought that Juseoyeon would appear here!


    As everyone stared in surprise, the Gray Crow¡ªYeo-hee¡ªwas inducted into the Hall of Fame as the champion.


    By just two votes.


    With a somewhat unsatisfied expression, Yeo-hee stood watching Seoyeon being interviewed. Then, she looked down at the stage floor.


    Her manager was staring up at her with an exasperated expression.


    "You said nostalgia was stronger."


    "Well, I still won, didn¡¯t I? Have a drink."


    "By only two votes?"


    Well, sometimes things happen.


    It seemed like Seoyeon was saying something during her interview that was causing a stir, but Yeo-hee didn¡¯t really care.


    What mattered to her was something else entirely.


    She noticed someone in the audience, amidst the commotion, silently giving her a thumbs-up.


    Yeo-hee, catching his gaze, gave him a thumbs-up in return, smiling beneath her mask.

 Chapter 176

    Honestly, Seoyeon had always thought of herself as somewhat foolish.


    A past that no longer held much relevance, and her previous life.


    Yet, she remained entangled in them. If she couldn¡¯t focus on the present because of those things, wasn¡¯t that a problem?


    But her heart didn¡¯t follow her mind.


    Seoyeon had never felt true happiness in her past life. That¡¯s what she believed.


    So, she thought there wouldn¡¯t be any lingering attachments. But for some reason, something felt different¡ªan indescribable emptiness lingered.


    Perhaps that¡¯s why Jiyeon said what she did back in middle school.


    Because Seoyeon treasured her current life, her life as Juseoyeon, so deeply, she believed she shouldn¡¯t remain attached to the past.


    Even if it was something she had once loved or a dream she had wanted to achieve, if she became too fixated on it, she thought she¡¯d never be able to truly become Juseoyeon.


    That¡¯s the conclusion she came to in middle school, at the age of fifteen, right at the end of her adolescence.


    But the Gray Crow¡ªYeo-hee¡ªtold her something different.


    She told her that even those lingering attachments were a part of her. That there was no need to rush. And she was right.


    Even with all those lingering feelings, the moment Yeo-hee sang, she shone in Seoyeon¡¯s eyes.


    The difference was only two votes. It might as well have been the difference of a single person.


    Seoyeon felt she had completely lost in that moment.


    In a competition like this, what determines the winner when performing a song is empathy¡ªhow many people can relate to your song.


    But at that moment, the Gray Crow brought her memories to the stage.


    Naturally, it was something the general audience wouldn¡¯t be able to empathize with. It was a song for one person.


    Seoyeon could vaguely feel that.


    And yet, the Gray Crow¡ªYeo-hee¡ªwon gracefully.


    So, though Seoyeon may have pouted a little at the end, she felt that was okay.


    "You have to move on and change, not get stuck in the past."


    That¡¯s what Seoyeon had been told countless times. She knew it well.


    But what Yeo-hee showed her was entirely different.


    Each person places value on different things, and there¡¯s no need to conform to those standards.


    If you are truly strong, you can carry even your past with you.


    Lingering attachments to the past mean there was something worth holding onto.


    Or maybe, there¡¯s something more precious in your past than you realized.


    Isn¡¯t it a waste to throw it all away? That¡¯s what it seemed like Yeo-hee was saying.


    Of course, Seoyeon didn¡¯t fully understand.


    At the time, she hadn¡¯t been in touch with her emotions.


    But perhaps those lingering feelings were proof of the happiness her past self had left behind.


    Suddenly, that thought crossed her mind.


    And so, Seoyeon finally made her decision.


    Nothing about her actions in the present would change.


    She would carry on as she had decided from the beginning. The only thing that had changed was her understanding of the word graduation.


    That was all.


    "Oh? Seoyeon?"


    "Yes?"


    "Your acting has really improved. The scenes we shot today are fantastic! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still getting better."


    Director Kim Il-soo of Sky Garden said this with a smile.


    Had she really gotten better? Seoyeon wasn¡¯t sure, but she thought it might be true.


    Thanks to recent events, she had a better understanding of how to portray the character Lee Yoo-joo.


    It wasn¡¯t something that Director Kim Il-soo or writer Min Sehee had specifically mentioned.


    It was just something Seoyeon herself had come to believe.


    That people are complex, and sometimes there are parts of themselves even they don¡¯t fully understand.


    She had experienced that herself, so maybe Lee Yoo-joo did, too.


    "By the way..."@@@@


    The director leaned in and asked in a low voice.


    "The Masked Singer finals are this week, right? Who won?"


    At that, Seoyeon smiled faintly.


    She had originally joined the show for promotional purposes.


    But since she kept winning, she never really got the chance to promote her work.


    Still...


    "The promotion should be just right."


    At her words, Director Kim Il-soo¡¯s eyes widened momentarily, then he smiled knowingly.


    If that were the case, the timing couldn¡¯t be more perfect.


    With the airing of the tenth episode coming up, it would certainly serve as the perfect hook to upend the competition.


    It had been a difficult shoot, with numerous complex scenes. During one of them, Seoyeon had spoken to Hyun-seok.


    Seoyeon rarely interfered with other actors¡¯ performances, so Hyun-seok was caught off guard.


    He had always acted as if he was fine around Seoyeon, but it was only an act. He hadn¡¯t been truly unaffected by her presence.


    He just avoided looking at her too much.


    If he watched her for too long, the inferiority complex he had suppressed would rise up.


    But this time, he couldn¡¯t avoid it.


    ¡®She¡¯s changed.¡¯


    There was something different about her. He couldn¡¯t quite explain it, but Seoyeon¡¯s acting had definitely improved.


    She was still playing Lee Yoo-joo, but something about the portrayal had deepened, become more dimensional.


    How could she do that?


    He had already struggled to keep up with her earlier performances, but now it was even harder to match her.


    When one actor¡¯s performance is overwhelmingly strong, the scene can look unbalanced if the other actors don¡¯t match up.


    And that was exactly what was happening.


    Hyun-seok wasn¡¯t just struggling; he was ruining the scenes with Seoyeon¡¯s performance.


    "Hyun-seok, you need to add more depth to your character. Why is he coming across so flat?"


    Already exhausted from the difficult shoot, Hyun-seok now had to contend with the fact that Seoyeon¡¯s acting had improved yet again, drawing more attention to his shortcomings.


    He had lost count of the number of takes they¡¯d done. Even without anyone saying it, the tension was palpable.


    The only one who remained calm was Seoyeon.


    She didn¡¯t offer any additional comments.


    She simply looked at him, her gaze more impactful than any words.


    Had Seoyeon ever been criticized during this shoot?


    No.


    She had been showered with praise.


    While he was the one ruining the scene.


    Not even good enough to be a mere side character.


    And so, his real emotions started leaking into his performance.


    Even though he tried to suppress them, they burst through.


    But then...


    "Cut! Cut! That¡¯s great. Let¡¯s go with that."


    Director Kim Il-soo finally nodded with satisfaction.


    Most people on set understood the situation and gave him sympathetic looks.


    Seoyeon, however, quietly approached him and said:


    "You did a great job expressing Lee Min-hyuk¡¯s inferiority complex."


    "...What?"


    "It felt so real, it was almost scary."


    "...??"


    Was she mocking him?


    No, she wasn¡¯t. Her expression was far too sincere for that.


    Seoyeon nodded to herself as if proud of his performance, leaving Hyun-seok bewildered.


    What was going on?


    He couldn¡¯t help but feel that it had been a form of provocation, making his next performance even more intense.


    But it seemed Seoyeon had interpreted it all as acting.


    So, after it was all over, the animosity faded away.


    Reflecting on this, Hyun-seok chuckled to himself.


    "Well, I¡¯ve decided not to bring personal feelings into it anymore."


    "You? Seriously?"


    Of course, his friend Han Sung-jin looked incredulous.


    Regardless of this "growth" of the actors, Sky Garden¡¯s ratings began to soar dramatically after the tenth episode.


    And it wasn¡¯t just because the tenth episode had been particularly well-made.


    It was thanks to an unexpected bombshell dropped on a variety show that weekend.


    Masked Singer.


    It¡¯s starting!Yep, the Gray Crow¡¯s going to win, obviously.Yeah, she¡¯s the favorite to win.Manlap Rabbit is good, but they¡¯re just... good.


    For a while, Masked Singer¡¯s ratings had been in decline. But with the appearance of the Gray Crow, viewership had picked back up.


    The anticipation was high because it had been a long time since a singer had reached the Hall of Fame. If she won this time, she¡¯d be the eighth one to do so.


    Even if she lost, there was a lot of curiosity about her true identity.


    On social media and in various online communities, most people were betting on the Gray Crow to win.


    Of course, those who had already seen the show knew the winner but couldn¡¯t spoil it online.


    What flipped the mood entirely, however, was Manlap Rabbit¡¯s song choice.


    Wait, what?! She¡¯s singing Silence?!That song¡¯s ancient!Isn¡¯t that a song by Shin Wanseok? Isn¡¯t it a guy¡¯s song?Probably rearranged.Is she crazy? Singing an anime song in the finals?!But Silence is a legendary song. It could work!


    When Manlap Rabbit suddenly started singing this nostalgic song, the online communities lit up instantly.

 Chapter 177

    "Silence" was a song by Shin Wanseok, the lead vocalist of Sacrifice, one of Korea¡¯s iconic bands. It wasn¡¯t just an ordinary song, though¡ªit was the theme song of an anime.


    When the anime was first imported from Japan, the studio had swapped in a new song rather than using the original Japanese track. Though controversial at the time, Silence was so well-received, and with Shin Wanseok as the vocalist, any criticism quickly faded away.


    Over the years, many had forgotten the song, though it still lived on in the memories of some. Who would have thought it would reappear on Masked Singer of all shows?


    What intrigued fans even more was that a female singer had chosen this song¡ªquite the unexpected twist.


    Whoa, Manlap Rabbit has some good taste.This song is a masterpiece, the original¡¯s great, and so¡¯s the anime.Wait, what are we even talking about here?If you haven''t seen it, I''m actually jealous. You get to watch it fresh.


    Originally, Silence was a ballad with hints of intensity, and fans thought Manlap Rabbit¡¯s usual vocal style would suit that sound. But the arrangement was different this time.


    It started with a sharp electric guitar riff that transitioned into a soaring high note.


    Wait, the high notes sound cleaner than expected.It¡¯s probably because her voice is clear.It was originally a male song, so it¡¯s not too high, but she handled it well.


    The arrangement had an upbeat energy but retained the essence of Silence. The person who rearranged it must have been remarkably skilled.


    As the song progressed, the audience¡¯s expressions shifted from initial cheers to something deeper. Was it a negative reaction? Not at all¡ªthe opposite, in fact.


    The song had a captivating power that made people stop and listen, almost as if drawing them into a trance.


    Manlap Rabbit¡¯s singing seemed to have that effect¡ªa way of pulling at people¡¯s emotions.


    It was her strongest weapon¡ªthe ability to evoke empathy and bring out people¡¯s feelings, allowing listeners to connect naturally with the melody. That emotional pull was likely why Manlap Rabbit had advanced through so many rounds.


    The community and social media activity dropped significantly until the end of Manlap Rabbit¡¯s song, a testament to how focused the audience was.


    And then, with a final flourish of guitar notes, Manlap Rabbit¡¯s performance concluded.


    Was she always this good?She¡¯s really bringing it today.Gray Crow might not have an easy time.


    Everyone had assumed Gray Crow would win the final. In fact, some thought it would be an easy victory.


    But now that Manlap Rabbit had finished singing, opinions were suddenly split. If anything, the crowd seemed to favor Manlap Rabbit.


    Who is she? Is she a singer?Definitely seems like it, probably an idol.How could an idol sing like that?Idols these days can sing pretty well, you know.


    Comments flooded in, asking who Manlap Rabbit could be. The host and panel members showered her with praise.


    "This song was actually the song that brought her parents together."


    In the disguised voice of a masked contestant, she shared that this song had been the one that brought her parents together.


    Nostalgia trip, really?Is that true?No way, haha.If I could get a girlfriend that way, I¡¯d have a million by now.


    Manlap Rabbit¡¯s words didn¡¯t sound entirely believable, but, well, they clapped politely anyway. Wow, amazing how this song connected your parents!


    But in the audience, Sua and Youngbin simply hid their faces in their hands, not expecting their daughter to introduce the song in such a way.


    Regardless...


    "And now, for the final showdown! Do you think you¡¯ll be able to claim victory over your formidable opponent, Manlap Rabbit?"


    The host, Song Byeong-soo, shouted the question, and Gray Crow stepped to the center, gripping the mic tightly.


    "My memories will win."


    The confident declaration was met with cheers from the audience, and Gray Crow responded with a dramatic gesture, punctuated by the sound of a guitar strum.


    Declaring victory the moment she steps on stage?She¡¯s going to win!Wait, what¡¯s this song?


    The style was similar, with a strong OST vibe rather than a typical Korean track.


    People speculated if it might be an original song, as it didn¡¯t sound like anything they¡¯d heard.


    There was no rule against performing original songs on Masked Singer, but usually, contestants avoided it. The risk was high, as it might seem like a new song release.


    ¡®What kind of song is this?'' ¡®Is it another anime song?¡¯


    Most people couldn¡¯t place it, but when Gray Crow started singing, the atmosphere completely shifted.


    It was a refreshing melody, similar to the style Manlap Rabbit had been singing in, yet distinctly different.


    Her skill and vocal techniques were outstanding. Even if listeners didn¡¯t quite resonate with the song, they found themselves nodding along.


    There was a divide on empathy; some couldn¡¯t quite connect with it.


    But others felt the emotions within the song, naturally drawn in.


    Honestly, I think Manlap Rabbit was better.It¡¯s emotional, but it doesn¡¯t quite hit me.But she¡¯s got serious skills.


    Then, there were comments like:


    What¡¯s this song? It¡¯s amazing.I think I heard this somewhere...I feel like I heard it ages ago but can¡¯t remember where.


    There was an odd allure, drawing people in despite its unfamiliarity.


    "See? That¡¯s the reaction you get when you pick such a random song," manager Song Aram said, watching the broadcast with Yeo-hee as she sipped her beer.


    "Does that even matter right now? The real fun is coming."


    "Well, she won, technically."


    "She won by singing her own song?"


    "It¡¯s not exactly my song, okay? It¡¯s not even copyrighted."


    For god¡¯s sake, tell us who won already!Who¡¯s behind it? The biggest guess was Eleven Rain¡¯s Flara, right?No way it¡¯s Flara, haha.It¡¯s definitely a singer. After that performance, I¡¯m sure.Considering she called her dad, she¡¯s probably an idol.


    As it slipped, long black hair tumbled out, and a pair of red, rabbit-like eyes were revealed.


    Wait... Is that Juseoyeon?Seriously?! Was Juseoyeon always this good at singing?Then what was with her in Dream Future?!


    The moment her face was revealed, a stir swept through the audience and panelists alike.


    Everyone assumed she was a singer, an idol, or someone in the music industry. Nobody expected her to be an actress.


    They all knew Seoyeon hadn¡¯t been studying music for very long, but with this level of skill?


    ¡®Didn¡¯t I do well hiding it?¡¯


    Yeo-hee squinted with a knowing look, realizing how perfectly the arrangement highlighted Seoyeon¡¯s strengths.


    Whoever did the arrangement was remarkably skilled.


    "Manlap Rabbit is, in fact, actress Juseoyeon! Wow, how long have you been practicing singing?"


    Even the host seemed genuinely amazed.


    He couldn¡¯t believe Seoyeon could sing this well.


    Wait, was the Sky Garden OST sung by Juseoyeon, too?That one? Seriously?Looking back, the voice does sound really similar.Can someone¡¯s skill really improve this fast?


    In the heat of all these reactions, Seoyeon began to drop a few hints.


    "I¡¯ve been working on a lot of music projects lately, so I think that helped me improve quickly."


    Talking about her recent music endeavors.


    "An older sister who¡¯s also in the drama with me helped a lot with the arrangement."


    An older sister in the drama, and the only one who could work on music¡ªCha Na-hee from Summer Girls.


    Wait, Cha Na-hee did the arrangement?Was Cha Na-hee always this good? That song was amazing.What¡¯s going on with Summer Girls if they¡¯ve got talent like that?Shut up, they¡¯re just on a break.But they haven¡¯t been active recently...


    A fandom argument was about to start.


    Satisfied with her performance, Seoyeon relaxed her shoulders.


    Despite her loss in the finals, she looked oddly relieved, and some finally realized why.


    Haha, she just came on for the drama promo. Imagine if she¡¯d won the finals.Yeah, she came to promote the drama.


    There was no real reason for Seoyeon to appear on Masked Singer. The show had become a rehabilitation program for celebrities, so doing it for promotion was almost cute.


    And the way Seoyeon shrugged, a classic move she used on variety shows when in a good mood, was instantly recognizable to her fans.


    "Any last words you¡¯d like to share?"


    As the host asked, Seoyeon almost shook her head, then paused.


    "Oh, actually, there is one last thing."


    Yeo-hee and her manager, who had been too distracted to hear her earlier, exchanged glances and glued their eyes to the screen.


    At that moment, Seoyeon¡¯s words caused quite a stir.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have skipped watching that clip,¡¯ Yeo-hee thought.


    Refusing the preview out of stubbornness, she had drawn plenty of scolding from Song Aram.


    "Gray Crow¡¯s song, I actually know it."


    "Huh? Really? I thought it was an original."


    Everyone thought it was an original, but Seoyeon had apparently heard it before.


    Wait, so it¡¯s real?Oh, now I remember! I heard it at a university music festival ages ago.A university festival? Grandpa, seriously.


    Attention turned back to Yeo-hee¡¯s song, with curious eyes on the screen.


    Sua and Youngbin exchanged uneasy glances.


    "Apparently, my parents were in a game club back in the day. They made a game together...and that song was part of it."


    "An original song, right?"


    "Yeah. I was surprised because the voice sounded familiar."


    Seoyeon finished with a teasing expression as she stuck out her tongue at the Gray Crow.


    At the time, no one had understood the meaning, but now it made sense¡ªit was pure pettiness.


    She had lost, sure, but she couldn¡¯t help showing a bit of mischief.


    But this was no small gesture.


    ¡®Seriously, this girl...¡¯


    Realizing the full extent of the gesture, Yeo-hee grabbed her head with both hands.


    And just then, her phone started blowing up like wildfire.

 Chapter 178

    Youngbin had been wrestling with an unusual dilemma lately, and for good reason.


    If he accepted the director position, backing out would no longer be an option. Rejecting it outright seemed awkward, but accepting it and then backing out would be a declaration of intent to cut ties with Raywill Games entirely.


    So his choices boiled down to two: accept it or not. Becoming a game director for a major corporation¡ªa career pinnacle for some¡ªmight have been an easy yes for others, but for Youngbin, it was about something else entirely.


    The reason? A piece of his high school dream lingered. He still clung to the desire to start his own company, to create games with his own team. It was a minor, impractical dream, and he¡¯d mostly set it aside. He was a director now. What kind of adventure was he hoping for?


    He had a wife and two daughters; it felt too late to get lost in the past. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d let it go.


    But then... Seoyeon and her.


    Who would have thought those two would go head-to-head in the Masked Singer finals?


    When Seoyeon sang, it had been surprising but reasonable. But the Opening¡ªthe song had no real title. Hastily completed, it had been added to their game with only ¡°Opening¡± as its placeholder name. Still, nothing else would have fit as perfectly. And who could have guessed that song would end up in a final round?


    It was a song no one knew.


    ¡°Go ahead and regret letting me go,¡± he recalled a girl crying out with tearful defiance from twenty years ago. Her pride had been all over her words.


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t believe it, I¡¯ll live well enough to make you regret it. This isn¡¯t the end,¡± she¡¯d said.


    As she¡¯d shouted those words at him, running after him on his way out of Seoul, he hadn¡¯t known how things would turn out. Years later, he¡¯d heard she¡¯d moved up to Seoul, and he¡¯d seen her on TV, thriving in her own success.


    ¡®So, was this her way of showing me?¡¯ he thought, cracking a smile as he stepped out of the company elevator and made his way to the familiar glass-walled project office.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...?¡±


    A strange silence greeted him as he entered. Heads snapped around to look at him, and the hand Youngbin had raised in greeting slowly lowered.


    ¡°What¡¯s... what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Startled by the tense atmosphere, he stammered, watching as the group huddled around the monitor parted slightly to reveal multiple news articles on display.


    It was footage and write-ups from the Masked Singer final episode aired the night before.


    ''Ah.''


    Youngbin realized he¡¯d missed the live broadcast; he¡¯d had too much on his mind.


    And while he remembered that Seoyeon had said something during the finals¡ªprobably something while she focused on Yeo-hee¡ªit hadn¡¯t really registered.@@@@


    ¡®What exactly did our daughter say?¡¯


    When he¡¯d asked Sua, she hadn¡¯t filled him in. Now he understood why.


    ¡®Did I mess up big time, honey?¡¯


    The articles told the story.


    [¡°Gray Crow¡±: Is it really Yeo-hee?] [Fans uncover surprising details: Yeo-hee¡¯s mysterious past!] [The song Yeo-hee performed, a nostalgic song from her school days]


    Nothing out of the ordinary there; enough hints had already been dropped.


    The clues were there: Yeo-hee¡¯s song, Sua¡¯s remarks during Golden Duckling. It wasn¡¯t hard to put together that Gray Crow was Yeo-hee. Sua¡¯s past pointed to her gaming club, which had only four members; tracking down Yeo-hee hadn¡¯t been difficult.


    The problem was the depth of information these articles provided, including a thorough timeline of their pasts.


    That guy, Ju Youngbin... what the hell?No way, is this even real?Nope, Yeo-hee looked completely out of it in that interview.What did he get up to back in high school?I put up with his actress daughter and Sua, but this...Man, what a life...Blessings from the almighty Ju Youngbin.What¡¯s going on here?So, to summarize: Ju Youngbin was in a high school game club with three girls, one of whom he married, another was Yeo-hee, and the last was some unknown girl?Apparently, the last one was in charge of the story and writes novels now.Pretty standard.Right, aside from the fact they were all childhood friends.What?So, he was the only guy, and the three girls all liked him?Not confirmed, but based on Yeo-hee¡¯s reaction, something was definitely up.Wait, did Seoyeon always sing this well?If she only lost to Yeo-hee by two votes, that¡¯s basically a win.Still, Yeo-hee pulled a bold move by singing her own song.It was a completely unknown song, though.


    It figured. Seohui was here to ask for an introduction to Yeo-hee. Both Ji-yeon and Seohui seemed deeply captivated by Yeo-hee¡¯s popularity.


    ¡®Given Seohui¡¯s personality, she¡¯s probably eager to network.¡¯


    In truth, Seoyeon had no particular desire to meet Yeo-hee again. To her, Yeo-hee was just an old club friend.


    But the online stories were captivating enough to make Seoyeon want to meet her again, if only out of curiosity.


    Back home, Sua¡¯s reproachful gaze made Seoyeon feel slightly guilty. Yet, Sua¡¯s relief in reconnecting with Yeo-hee was evident, though her feelings were complex.


    ¡®Well, Yeo-hee Auntie won, after all.¡¯


    Losing to Yeo-hee was a given. However, Seoyeon¡¯s competitive streak had compelled her to make her parting words memorable¡ªshe hadn¡¯t anticipated the scale of the reaction.


    ¡®Maybe I overdid it a little...¡¯


    When she¡¯d made her final remarks, she hadn¡¯t expected them to spark this level of media attention.


    ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s great you said what you did.¡±


    Unable to leave Seohui outside on her bike, Seoyeon brought her to the nearest McDonald¡¯s, where Seohui munched on a burger with gusto.


    ¡°It¡¯s an issue that¡¯s drawing attention. It¡¯s not like this will harm anyone¡¯s image. Besides, it happened so long ago that it¡¯s a pretty safe topic.¡±


    It was true. No one was getting hurt from this. The worst outcome was people feeling bad for Yeo-hee.


    ¡®Though I suppose Dad¡¯s a victim.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s recent hobby involved watching AI-generated apology videos of her dad, Youngbin, synced to a beat. Watching him squirm when she played the video at home on the big screen doubled her amusement.


    For once, Seoyeon, who¡¯d always been teased, finally got to strike back.


    ¡°And look at how it¡¯s boosting Sky Garden.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see how it¡¯s relevant to the story.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s attention. Just look at the search trends¡ªeveryone¡¯s looking it up.¡±


    Up until now, The Grand Game had been outpacing Sky Garden by a wide margin, but since Masked Singer, they¡¯d been neck and neck.


    Today, Sky Garden was actually pulling ahead, drawing interest from the latest episode¡¯s buzz.


    ¡°Did you watch last week¡¯s episode? They went on a group trip. And they ended with a cliffhanger hinting at an incident.¡±


    Seohui had been keeping up with Sky Garden episodes, even recording them. While partly for study, she was genuinely enjoying it.


    She was already a fan of Sky Garden.


    ¡°I think the next episode will be big. With the buildup, they need to follow through. How¡¯s it looking?¡±


    Taking a big bite of her burger, Seoyeon replied confidently.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    In the upcoming episodes 11 and 12, Kim Hyunseok, who played Minhyuk, was getting into his groove, especially with his recent portrayal of Minhyuk¡¯s inferiority complex.


    His performance had even momentarily convinced Seoyeon.


    This week¡¯s episodes would only build on last week¡¯s momentum, and Seoyeon felt assured.


    She was ready to finally overshadow The Grand Game.

 Chapter 179

    The influence of Masked Singer had naturally spilled over to Sky Garden. After all, the fact that Joo Seoyeon, who had reached the finals in Masked Singer, was also the lead in Sky Garden drew considerable attention. On top of that, it was revealed that Seoyeon herself sang one of the show¡¯s hit songs. What began as simple curiosity quickly turned into genuine interest as viewers found themselves captivated by the drama.


    In coffee shops and similar settings, Sky Garden had become a popular conversation topic. Previously, talk often centered on The Grand Game, but now Sky Garden was starting to edge its way in, creating a rare chance for the show to make its mark. Had Sky Garden been less entertaining, this opportunity would have gone to waste.


    In KMB¡¯s recently split Drama Division 2, an employee commented, ¡°I don¡¯t think we need to worry too much.¡±


    Another director chimed in, ¡°True, The Grand Game had a strong response this week. What¡¯s our current rating?¡±


    ¡°Sixteen percent this week,¡± came the reply.


    ¡°So, Sky Garden managed 12 percent, boosted by Masked Singer, but it¡¯ll probably max out at 14 or 15 percent at best.¡±


    They all nodded in agreement. Sky Garden¡¯s rise was impressive, but The Grand Game¡¯s solid following meant it wasn¡¯t threatened.


    "Director Han Jung-min, what do you think about Sky Garden?"


    A relatively young producer who had garnered attention for his promising work, Han Jung-min¡¯s response surprised everyone.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he said simply.


    They had expected a straightforward answer, either praising or dismissing the show. Han Jung-min, known for his clear and decisive opinions, rarely wavered.


    ¡°The Grand Game is likely to delve deeper into romance this week,¡± Jo Seohui mused, tapping her finger against her cheek. "But I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s the right focus for its core audience.¡±


    Jo Seohui was watching highlights from Sky Garden and the character scenes Seoyeon had portrayed so masterfully. Sky Garden, by now halfway through its season, had chosen to avoid romance entirely, emphasizing character dynamics and tension instead.


    ¡°The Grand Game might cater to the romance-loving viewers, but Sky Garden looks like it¡¯s all about tension and deeper storytelling,¡± Seohui added, noticing how Seoyeon¡¯s portrayal of the reserved and haughty Lee Yoo-joo was nuanced with subtle vulnerability.


    As Seohui finished analyzing, she turned to Seoyeon, who had been listening attentively, albeit with a hint of shyness in her gaze.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t these compliments supposed to be given when I¡¯m not around?¡± Seoyeon muttered, nibbling her lower lip. Though she loved praise, Seoyeon still felt a bit flustered when hearing it outright.


    ¡°Anyway, is that why you asked me to watch the drama with you today?¡± Seoyeon asked.


    ¡°Not just that,¡± Seohui replied. ¡°Ji-yeon is coming over later, and I have something else planned before then.¡±


    Curiosity piqued, Seoyeon tilted her head, shooting Seohui a questioning look.


    With a sly grin, Seohui handed Seoyeon a flyer. ¡°Our family¡¯s company recently opened a new amusement park. We¡¯re holding a kids¡¯ show there. How about helping out for a day? Your little sister will love it.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened as she read the event description. It wasn¡¯t just any performance¡ªit was a magical girl-themed play, eerily similar to the Magical Girl Harara shorts Seoyeon had recently starred in. Her hands trembled slightly with anticipation and nerves as she looked back up at Seohui.


    This event was going to be... memorable.

 Chapter 180

    "Since last week''s episode ended that way, I wonder if they''ll show something exciting today."


    "Surprisingly, developments like these often end anticlimactically."


    "But wait, isn''t this story about high school students prepping for college exams? Why is there a weapon involved? Haha."


    The tenth episode ended with someone preparing a weapon. Naturally, viewers¡¯ anticipation reached a peak.


    Kim Hyunseok, who plays Lee Minhyuk in the current drama, waited for Episode 12 with a tense expression. But he wasn¡¯t alone.


    Today, a few young actors from Sky Garden had gathered to watch the 12th episode together.


    ¡°Did you hear what Wednesday¡¯s ratings were?¡±


    ¡°14 percent.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re three percent behind Grand Game.¡±


    Kim Hyunseok thought that gap was manageable. He had already checked out the latest Grand Game episode.


    A bold move¡ªthe episode featured a romantic turn between the main character and the female lead. The online reaction, of course, was positive.


    "Wow, I''m seriously swooning ????""The way he saved her in that scene, I almost cried.""Romance in a thriller??? This is insane."


    Based on the stream of praise on social media, it seemed like their gamble had paid off. But...


    ¡°By the way, isn¡¯t Joo Seoyeon coming today?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Joo Seoyeon¡¯? Call her ¡®senior Joo Seoyeon.¡¯¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not here, though.¡±


    Well, they weren¡¯t wrong. Who doesn¡¯t speak freely when the person isn¡¯t present?


    Not that it was an insult. Anyway, just as Hyunseok had mentioned, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t shown up. Maybe she had stopped by ADs for another commercial before heading over, or perhaps she had something else to handle.


    ¡°But why are you bringing up Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°Oh, she mentioned something during filming.¡±


    ¡°For Episode 12?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    The filming for Episode 12 had been exceptionally grueling. There was even a rainstorm in the valley, making it slightly dangerous. Although, it wasn''t a downpour that would disrupt the shoot.


    ...Or maybe it was just safe because it was Joo Seoyeon. In any case, back then, Seoyeon had turned to a visibly nervous Hyunseok and said,


    ¡°Praise on online communities doesn¡¯t necessarily translate to ratings.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°If you mistake community feedback for the general audience¡¯s opinion and get caught up in it, you might lose something much bigger.¡±


    Hyunseok understood this intellectually. But for someone like Seoyeon, close to his own age, to say it¡ªit felt odd.


    ''And even if I know it¡¯s different, ignoring it is difficult.''


    It wasn¡¯t completely wrong. Sometimes, what sticks out really does pierce through.


    So it couldn¡¯t be ignored.


    ¡°Grand Game is a good drama. I think... the original plot was probably a bit different.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Hints dropped throughout the series seem to imply that.¡±


    Curious, Hyunseok asked, and Seoyeon replied in a calm tone.


    With the sound of rain in the background, her voice, which had reached the finals in Mask Singer, almost felt like a melody. Like she was singing.


    ¡°I think the original culprit was supposed to be the female lead.¡±


    ¡°What? Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s likely why she¡¯s been by the protagonist¡¯s side all along. Of course, it probably wasn¡¯t finalized.¡±


    The turning point was likely Episode 10, just like Sky Garden.


    However, making the ¡°female lead¡± the villain would¡¯ve been a significant risk for the show¡¯s main audience.


    Seoyeon knew this. After all, Grand Game was a drama she had avidly watched in her previous life.


    ¡®Even without understanding emotions.¡¯


    Even without grasping emotions, she could still get invested in the storyline. Though, admittedly, there were many aspects of ¡°investment¡± she didn¡¯t fully understand.


    ¡®Originally, Sky Garden was supposed to air on a separate network and much later, so there would have been no overlap.¡¯


    This gave Grand Game a clear solo run. But its conclusion was ultimately anticlimactic.


    ¡®Still, it held up fairly well, maintaining its ratings through the end.¡¯


    The reason came out later in a director¡¯s interview: ¡°The original script had the female lead as the culprit.¡±


    Looking back from the start with that in mind, there were definitely clues.


    ¡°They chose to appeal to the mainstream.¡±


    It was a balancing act between thriller enthusiasts and the show¡¯s main audience.


    ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    Hyunseok asked, almost like it was a prophecy. Seoyeon looked at him with a slightly puzzled expression before smiling.


    That smile left an impression on Hyunseok.


    Recently, he¡¯d noticed Seoyeon smiling more often. And her serene smile was so beautiful, it momentarily mesmerized him.


    Even he, who was used to beautiful celebrities.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you watch Episode 12, right?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t talking about Grand Game. She meant today¡¯s Sky Garden Episode 12.


    "Cha Nahi¡¯s pretty, but next to Joo Seoyeon, she definitely looks ordinary."


    "Yeah, she really suits the role of Gayun."


    The scene drew reactions like these. But Gayun didn¡¯t appear again after that moment in Episode 11.


    Then came Episode 12, returning to Yiju¡¯s perspective.


    A small spat erupted between Minhyuk and Minseo, with Minseo stepping in to calm him down.


    "I told you, I¡¯ll handle my studies my way!"


    ¡°Prove it with your grades.¡±


    ¡°Then does Minseo score higher than me? No, she doesn¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Sure, but if you take Yiju¡¯s help, you¡¯d improve faster.¡±


    Gilsujin already knew Yiju¡¯s academic performance. Perfect scores.


    Since enrolling, Yiju hadn¡¯t missed a single perfect score, consistently ranking at the top. Her stellar grades, coupled with her attitude, made her a favorite among the teachers at Taeyang High School.


    As for college, Yiju would likely have her pick. If she helped Gilsujin¡¯s son...


    Securing the top spot in Baekyeon University¡¯s medical school wouldn¡¯t be a stretch, Gilsujin thought.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s gotta be Minhyuk."


    "Gilsujin doesn¡¯t seem to have a motive to stab anyone."


    "Or maybe Yiju does the stabbing, lol."


    "Nah, Yiju wouldn¡¯t use a knife. She¡¯d wield an axe."


    "Axes are Seoyeon¡¯s specialty, folks."


    As the drama neared its climax, the conflict simmered down, leaving the weapon¡¯s whereabouts unknown.


    Then, Minseo and Minhyuk vanished simultaneously. At first, it seemed they were just avoiding Gilsujin after a fight.


    But as they didn¡¯t return under the pouring rain, concern started to grow. Gilsujin and her husband, Lee Hyuksoo, went out to search.


    Yiju had no choice but to join the search for them.


    ¡°I thought he¡¯d outgrown this rebellious phase.¡±


    Mumbling that she had overestimated Minhyuk, Yiju joined the search. As she scouted the area, her phone buzzed¡ªa call from Minseo.


    ¡°Oppa fell down the valley and got hurt.¡±


    Minseo usually called Minhyuk by name, so the use of ¡°Oppa¡± suggested her panic.


    Reluctantly, Yiju went to the location Minseo specified. It wasn¡¯t far from where they had been earlier.


    ¡°Minseo? Where¡¯s Auntie?¡±


    With the rain and fog, visibility down the valley was poor. Yiju looked around as she approached Minseo.


    Gilsujin and Lee Hyuksoo were nowhere to be seen. Minseo had said she¡¯d already called them, so it was odd.


    ¡°That¡ªthat doesn¡¯t matter! Oppa¡¯s fallen down there!¡±


    Seeing Minseo¡¯s pale face and frantic steps, Yiju sighed and moved closer, assuming Gilsujin and Hyuksoo were somewhere nearby.


    Yiju hadn¡¯t considered that Minseo might actually do something to her. After all, to Yiju, Minseo was insignificant¡ªmerely a stepping stone.


    A comparison piece and bait for climbing up through Minhyuk.


    So she never imagined that someone so minor could do anything to her.


    ¡°Y-Yiju, my battery¡¯s about to die. I haven¡¯t called my parents yet. Can I borrow your phone?¡±


    Ah, so that¡¯s why Gilsujin and Hyuksoo weren¡¯t here?


    Casually, Yiju handed Minseo her phone.


    After all, she had no intention of doing anything here herself. She just wanted them to sort things out quickly.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything.¡±


    The fog and rain limited her view, with trees and bushes obscuring the area. If someone fell, it¡¯d be nearly impossible to climb back up alone.


    Was Minhyuk really down there?


    While she was focused on looking down the slope, a hot sensation bloomed in her abdomen.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Glancing down, she saw the blade in her stomach. And Minseo¡¯s face, holding the handle.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Her strength waned from the stab wound. Minseo, however, offered no explanation to Yiju.


    Thud.


    She simply shoved the staggering Yiju off the cliff. And...


    With that, a commercial banner flashed on screen, marking the end of Sky Garden Episode 12.


    It was a jaw-dropping ending, leaving viewers stunned and uncertain of what might happen next.


    "Why¡¯d they cut it there?!"


    "Damn cliffhangers, I swear."


    "So what happened? Did the main character die?"


    "Was she a fake protagonist all along??"


    "She lost her phone, got stabbed, and thrown off a cliff?? If she survives, she¡¯s practically John Wick."


    The online community¡¯s reaction was explosive, marking the beginning of Sky Garden¡¯s stunning comeback.

 Chapter 181

    "The real reason Yiju is actually a fake protagonist.jpg""What if the person who stabbed Yiju wasn¡¯t Minseo, but actually Minhyuk in disguise??" ©¸ "Come on, make your theories at least somewhat realistic."


    After Episode 12 of Sky Garden aired, the reactions, which had been quiet up until now, exploded like a bomb, with posts flooding in from everywhere.


    There were likely several reasons for this. The build-up that started from Episode 10, the recent attention gathered through Mask Singer, and the fact that people who had been binge-watching paused right at Episode 12.


    Naturally, all kinds of speculative posts were flooding not only forums but also SNS.


    "So, did Minseo kill Minhyuk too?""Nah, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it.""I was sure Minhyuk was the one who took the weapon, but apparently not???""But did Minseo really have a reason to stab Yiju? I don¡¯t get it..."


    These were the kinds of responses. Some people even said the storyline was diving into a trainwreck, but it certainly grabbed attention. The fact that it was impossible to predict where the story would go next only fueled the intrigue.


    And, as expected with such intense reactions...


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    The filming crew gaped as they saw the reactions to last night¡¯s episode of the drama. They were about to begin shooting Episode 15, but it was almost impossible to concentrate on the shoot.


    It was no wonder.


    ¡°Eighteen percent?¡± ¡°Is that for real?¡±


    The numbers were unbelievable. The ratings had been on a steady rise, and expectations were high, so they had hoped for a strong response.


    They¡¯d struggled to reach 14 percent. But this week, they¡¯d hit a whopping 18 percent.


    A four-percent jump. Most importantly...


    ¡°...We won?¡±


    They had finally surpassed Grand Game by one percent in viewership. Though Grand Game had maintained consistent ratings, Sky Garden¡¯s continued growth was nothing short of remarkable.


    ¡°Writer Min Sehee has collapsed!¡± ¡°Did she ascend to heaven? She looks pretty peaceful.¡±


    Writer Min Sehee, who usually showed up on filming days, was slumped in a corner with a look of enlightenment on her face. She hadn¡¯t expected such a strong response.


    Even though she¡¯d likely been informed in advance, seeing her reaction suggested just how surprised she must have been when she first heard the news.


    ¡°This is insane.¡± ¡°Seriously? I got calls all night asking what¡¯s going to happen next.¡±


    The young actors on set had bright, exhilarated faces. In recent years, there were only a handful of dramas that achieved over 18 percent ratings.


    Just being part of this drama meant their recognition as actors would soar. Naturally, they had to put in their best effort to show even a bit more of their talents.


    For them, Sky Garden would be a portfolio piece that followed them throughout their careers, just like Yiju¡¯s portfolio that Gilsujin coveted for her brother.


    ¡°Seoyeon, you¡¯re incredible. How does every project you work on turn out like this?¡±


    Director Kim Ilsu approached Seoyeon with a big smile, thinking she must be thrilled as the lead actress, given the reactions from even supporting actors and extras.


    Especially with the way he knew Seoyeon usually was. He imagined she¡¯d be bubbling with excitement, maybe even fishing for compliments.


    With that thought, he struck up a conversation.


    ¡°...Yes?¡±@@@@


    But Seoyeon seemed oddly subdued, enough to make Director Kim flinch momentarily.


    ¡°Is...something wrong? Is there some bad news?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s nothing. Just a little...¡±


    Seoyeon lowered her head quickly, saying it was just something she needed to think about.


    She was, of course, ecstatic that the drama was such a hit. But...


    "My brother¡¯s on the Sky Garden production crew, and he says Joo Seoyeon actually fell while filming ????.""Whoa!! Did she get hurt in the valley?" ©¸ "??""Nope, apparently she¡¯s totally fine.""Phew.""Fact: Gorillas naturally live in mountains.""Why do people keep associating Seoyeon with the gorilla meme?"


    Since her ¡°Magical Girl Harara¡± shorts, the frequency of certain memes had decreased, but with the influx of fans on Sky Garden, the old memes were re-emerging.


    Truly, her fans were an unpredictable bunch.


    Of course, the majority of posts were praising her performance as Yiju.


    ¡®But these so-called fans...¡¯


    Outside her fan cafe?, the animals most associated with her were often puppies. Her lively antics on variety shows made people compare her to a playful dog.


    Yet on her fan cafe?, debates constantly popped up, making it hard to tell if it was a fan cafe? or an anti-fan cafe?.


    ¡®Not that I mind being called strong.¡¯


    Still, it was a bit of a pride thing. The lack of recognition of her as an actress¡ªjust as a pretty gorilla¡ªwas starting to sting a bit.


    ¡®Hmph, if I show them my true potential, they¡¯ll change their minds fast.¡¯


    ¡°...Who taught you that word, ¡®amazing¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Dad says it all the time.¡±


    It must¡¯ve rubbed off from their dad¡¯s habit. Seoyeon shot a sharp glance at Yeongbin at home, hoping he wouldn¡¯t pass strange phrases to her sister.


    ¡°We¡¯ll ride the rides after the event... Shall we go?¡±


    Seoyeon had already watched a video in advance to get an idea of how to perform. Of course, her role wasn¡¯t anything extraordinary.


    Still, she had to sync up with the other actors, so she came early.


    ¡°Unnie, are you becoming a magical girl again?¡±


    ¡°...Something like that.¡±


    If it were up to her, she¡¯d prefer to be Zero Ro, a character her sister Suyeon loved, which she thought suited her image better.


    ¡®Though honestly, Seohui would make a better villain.¡¯


    Seoyeon glanced at Seohui. She herself had a sharp look, but she thought she looked softer than Seohui.


    At least I look a bit kinder than her.


    Mirinae Park.


    This amusement park was built two years ago by the Newlike Group. While not the largest in Korea, it boasted considerable space and, more importantly, was filled with the latest rides, designed with the newest technology.


    They had invested heavily in promoting the park, hiring numerous celebrities to build awareness, and over the past two years, they¡¯d managed to significantly increase its popularity.


    In particular, Newlike¡¯s cultural division consistently organized events related to movies and dramas, giving it a steady stream of visitors. As the primary investor in ¡°Loop Entertainment,¡± which recently found success with Magical Girl Harara, they regularly hosted children¡¯s plays at the park.


    Though the results hadn¡¯t met their high expectations yet, they decided to bring in celebrities this time to boost publicity.


    ¡®So that¡¯s what I heard...¡¯


    Park Donghwan, one of the actors in today¡¯s Magical Girl Harara play, swallowed nervously as he looked at the two actresses in front of him: Joo Seoyeon and Jo Seohui. In recent years, who among young actors didn¡¯t know these two? They were that well-known.


    Seoyeon, despite having debuted only a year ago, had left a strong impression as a child actor in The Sun Hidden by the Moon. Over the past year, she had been the most active actress, starring in one film and two dramas, while also appearing on various variety shows, making her a familiar face to the public.


    But why were they in a children¡¯s play?


    ¡°Is it true, then?¡±


    ¡°Is what true?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that Jo Seohui is the daughter of the Newlike Group.¡±


    Being called ¡°the daughter of¡± had an almost old-fashioned ring to it. It was basically saying she was a noble family¡¯s daughter.


    ¡®Why would a daughter from such a prestigious family choose to become an actress?¡¯


    He was curious. Now that he thought about it, the chairman of Newlike¡¯s wife was reportedly a famous actress. If she hadn¡¯t passed away young, she would¡¯ve become even more renowned¡ªa woman once hailed as a genius actress. He remembered reading about her in the news.


    While he was lost in thought, Seoyeon and Seohui finished their conversation elsewhere and approached.


    ¡°Uh, which of you will be playing Harara and which one will be Zero Ro?¡±


    He knew that today, each actress would be taking on one of the roles, so he asked.


    ¡°...I¡¯m Harara.¡±


    Seoyeon replied, glancing pointedly at Seohui with a mildly annoyed expression. Seohui, however, felt unfairly targeted by that look.


    After all, she had wanted to play Harara. But then...


    ¡°Unnie should be Harara!! The kind magical girl!!¡±


    ¡°But Unnie could be Zero Ro too...¡±


    ¡°Unnie is so cool, so she should be Harara.¡±


    Who would¡¯ve thought Suyeon would throw a tantrum there? And she even liked Zero Ro herself!


    ...Though she did call Unnie ¡°cool,¡± so it wasn¡¯t all bad. But still!


    Seoyeon poked Seohui¡¯s side with her index finger, a cute gesture, but the sting in her ribs was anything but cute. Seohui winced, clutching her side.


    ¡®Seriously, this is so unfair.¡¯


    It was no wonder that Seohui looked a bit teary-eyed.

 Chapter 182

    "Dayeon, it''s our day off today. Want to go to Mirinae Park?"


    To start with, it was a coincidence.


    Gildaheon, the class president of Seoyeon¡¯s class, had never really gone to places like amusement parks.


    Since childhood, her family¡¯s financial situation hadn¡¯t been good, so there was no chance to visit amusement parks. And once things got better as she grew up, she naturally lost interest in going.


    So, when her friends invited her to an amusement park, her initial reaction was one of mild surprise.


    Amusement park? Isn¡¯t that something only kids go to?


    "What are you talking about? You¡¯ve never been to an amusement park?"


    "Nope."


    "How can you say that like it¡¯s normal? Then let''s go today!"


    "But what about studying?"


    When she looked at them with a hint of reproach, as if asking how their last exams had gone, her friends averted their gazes.


    But exams were exams, and they needed to relieve some stress, didn¡¯t they?


    "They say there will be celebrities at Mirinae Park today."


    "Celebrity?"


    "They¡¯re putting on a Harara play at Mirinae Park, but it¡¯s apparently received mixed reviews so far."


    Dayeon knew Harara¡ªit was an animation her younger siblings loved.


    Her siblings even had a few toys from Harara, unlike her, so she¡¯d seen the related merchandise.


    "But we see celebrities all the time."


    "No!!! It¡¯s different!!"


    Sure, Seoyeon from their class was a big-name actress, and Dayeon knew she was a celebrity. Honestly, it was still fascinating to see her sitting naturally at her desk in the classroom.


    But, seeing a classmate and running into a celebrity outside were completely different experiences.@@@@


    "President, you probably don¡¯t realize it, but this is all part of social experience. Later on, you won¡¯t even be able to play like this, even if you want to."


    Hearing her friend say something so serious, Gildaheon found it amusing. It was like hearing something adults would say, coming from kids.


    "...Alright, if that¡¯s the case."


    Having never gone, she felt a bit of curiosity.


    "Great, you¡¯re coming, right? Should we invite the others too?"


    "Sure, I don¡¯t mind."


    She thought this might actually be good. Dayeon usually thought her hobbies were fine with just watching movies and dramas.


    But, as her friends said, this would be an experience in itself.


    Despite the constant poking and fussing, Jo Seohui was an actress. An actress with a strong sense of professionalism, no less.


    When she was younger, she looked down on Seoyeon, thinking she was just a talentless parachute entry. ...This was probably why Seoyeon still treated her like a reluctant friend.


    Anyway.


    Even though this was a children¡¯s play, Jo Seohui had no intention of treating it lightly.


    On the contrary, because it was a performance for children, she wanted to give it her best. Childhood memories last long.


    So, she wanted to leave them with a good memory, something that would make them smile whenever they recalled it.


    "So, don¡¯t do it like the shorts you did last time."


    With a hint of concern, Jo Seohui told this to Seoyeon. For a moment, Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened at the word ¡°shorts,¡± but she quickly realized it referred to the Harara Shorts.


    ¡®Did she watch it too?¡¯


    Well, it would be strange if she hadn¡¯t seen it, considering how popular it was. Recently, even in class, there were people eager to bring up the topic.


    Of course, they couldn¡¯t bring it up easily. After all, Seoyeon in the video and Seoyeon at school had such different images.


    It was more disconcerting than funny.


    "You know this as well."


    If an actor seemed embarrassed on stage, the audience would feel uncomfortable, too. That¡¯s because the actor¡¯s role is to draw empathy from the audience.


    Actors are people who make fiction feel real. That¡¯s their role, and they must fully immerse themselves in it on stage.


    They don¡¯t need to be method actors, but...


    That¡¯s the basic posture of an actor.


    "I think you¡¯ll do fine, but you looked so embarrassed in the shorts."


    Of course, even actors have areas they struggle with. Jo Seohui wondered if Seoyeon was just uncomfortable with this type of performance.


    "If I¡¯ve committed to it, that won¡¯t be a problem."


    Seoyeon understood Seohui¡¯s concerns well. It was probably because of how she came across in the shorts.


    Even actor Park Donghwan, who would be performing alongside her today, was watching her with a worried expression. She¡¯d received the script beforehand.


    She had also practiced whenever she could between other shoots.


    ¡®The Harara back then and the Harara now are different.¡¯


    As an older sister, she had to show her younger sister a cool side, didn¡¯t she? Even though she¡¯d lost Zero Ro to Seohui, if she performed well as Harara, maybe her sister would like Harara instead of Zero Ro?


    ¡®Besides, I need to be extra careful on a small stage like this.¡¯


    Especially since it was a stage for children, their parents would likely be there too.


    Parents are sharp.


    If anything went wrong, if they felt their child had a negative experience, they¡¯d be quick to react. Performing poorly on such a stage would surely draw negative comments.


    "Unnie! Should I stay with Manager Johee ajumma?"


    "...Ajumma?"


    Seoyeon glanced back to see Jo Seohui¡¯s manager, Shin Yookyung, smiling calmly. But Seoyeon noticed that Yookyung¡¯s smiling lips were trembling slightly.


    "Suyeon, you should call her ¡®Unnie,¡¯ not ¡®Ajumma.¡¯"


    "But she¡¯s older than you guys."


    "Ouch."


    "...Well, there are lots of people older than you."


    "Mmm, okay then."


    Suyeon looked up at Yookyung with innocent eyes, as if asking whether it was okay to call her ¡®Unnie.¡¯ Yookyung flinched under her gaze.


    At twenty-something, Yookyung was in that ambiguous age range where she could be called ¡®Ajumma¡¯ by Suyeon but was still young enough to be ¡®Unnie.¡¯


    ¡®I hope Manager Shin Yookyung doesn¡¯t hold a grudge against Suyeon for calling her Ajumma.¡¯


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but worry a little. She had no idea how deeply the ¡°Ajumma¡± comment might sting Yookyung.


    "So, let¡¯s start with a light rehearsal. We still have four hours before the actual performance."


    They had arrived early to rehearse. During that time, Suyeon was going to explore the amusement park with the manager.


    Meanwhile, Seoyeon and Jo Seohui were about to go through a light run-through for the play.


    ¡¸Zero Ro! Up to your bad tricks again, huh?¡¹


    As the rehearsal started, Park Donghwan, sandwiched between the two actresses, let out a small gasp of admiration.


    ¡®Honestly, I didn¡¯t think it would suit them at all.¡¯


    He probably wasn¡¯t the only one who thought so.


    The other actors on set likely felt the same.


    Although it was a children¡¯s play, there were a total of six actors in this performance. This number included Seoyeon and Seohui.


    Four of them were actors who had previously performed in Harara. While some grumbled about the sudden addition of celebrities, the play¡¯s poor performance left them with little choice.


    But those complaints quickly faded once they heard that Joo Seoyeon and Jo Seohui would be performing.


    ¡®I heard rumors that Jo Seohui is from the Newlike Group family, and I guess it¡¯s true.¡¯


    ¡®They have the same last name, after all. But that was just a rumor.¡¯


    ¡®Are Joo Seoyeon and Jo Seohui friends? They show up together often.¡¯


    ¡®They even appeared together on Hyper Action Star, so maybe?¡¯


    It seemed that they got along well because they were the same age. But aside from that...


    ¡®Both of them have such intense looks; I wonder if they¡¯re suited for Harara.¡¯


    Anyone could look fitting as Zero Ro. But it was hard to imagine anyone fitting as Harara.


    That seemed to be the consensus. Judging from their looks, this wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    One had a cold, icy aura, and the other looked like an imposing noble lady.


    They hardly seemed a good fit for the cheerful Harara.


    But the moment Seoyeon held Harara¡¯s magic wand and started the play, those worries vanished.


    ¡¸Ow~! How can you just throw cars around like that?¡¹


    ¡¸No, it shouldn¡¯t just end with an ¡®Ow.¡¯ You just got hit by a car.¡¹


    Harara and Zero Ro¡¯s banter continued. Watching the lively exchange, it was clear that Seoyeon¡¯s Harara perfectly matched the animated character from the show.


    The most impressive part was how she replicated the voice to match the animation¡¯s tone.


    "Seoyeon, have you done voice acting before?"


    "Huh? I learned it."


    "Oh, do actors get into voice acting these days?"


    After the rehearsal ended, the other actors crowded around Seoyeon, asking questions. With Seohui¡¯s natural fit for Zero Ro, there were no concerns there.


    The real question was about Harara.


    The concerns about Seoyeon¡¯s suitability had melted away with her performance, though she looked a bit embarrassed.


    ¡®Seems I do have a friendlier vibe than Jo Seohui.¡¯


    Very few people approached Seohui. When she tried to approach Seoyeon, she hesitated as others surrounded her, unable to step forward easily.


    ¡®Anyway.¡¯


    Learning about voice acting hadn¡¯t been something she¡¯d picked up for her acting career. But it had proven useful after all.


    So it was worth learning anything she could.


    ¡®I bet Lee Jiyeon would be better suited for voice acting than me.¡¯


    Maybe she¡¯d persuade Jiyeon to perform in a Harara play someday. It seemed like a great idea.


    That way, she wouldn¡¯t tease her about the shorts as much as before.


    ¡°Wow, Dayeon. There are so many people.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a children¡¯s play, but it¡¯s not just kids, huh?¡±


    ¡°Why are there so many middle-aged guys?¡±


    ¡°Look at that¡ªthere¡¯s a guy in a Harara T-shirt. That¡¯s hilarious.¡±


    Dayeon¡¯s friends, each with bunny ears or mouse ears on their heads, chattered noisily. Despite having already ridden several rides, they were still full of energy.


    ¡®We¡¯ve got pretty good seats here.¡¯


    Thinking that, Dayeon settled in. She noticed a man in a penguin costume taking the stage. Curious about who he was, she stared, and her friend Minji filled her in.


    ¡°That¡¯s the Harara mascot penguin.¡±


    ¡°...That?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because he¡¯s wearing a costume. He¡¯s cute in the animation. In the play, he¡¯s just there to wave a sign.¡±


    Dayeon glanced at Minji. How does she know all this? Do you watch Harara?


    ¡°Kids! Are you ready to play with Harara today?!¡±


    The penguin shouted, and children cheered, ¡°Yes!¡± Dayeon smiled, watching the excited kids.


    For the record, the adults in Harara T-shirts also shouted, which was a bit unsettling.


    ¡®But the kids are cute.¡¯


    Dayeon liked children. However, she suddenly noticed an odd figure standing out among them.


    ¡®Huh? Isn¡¯t that Seoyeon¡¯s little sister?¡¯


    Since Golden Duckling, Seoyeon¡¯s younger sister had become famous. If she remembered right, her name was Joo Suyeon. Next to Suyeon was not Seoyeon or their mom but another woman.


    ¡®Who¡¯s that?¡¯


    While she pondered this, the stage darkened, signaling the start of the play.


    ¡¸Oh no, what should I do? If I fail again, the Dark Lord will punish me.¡¹


    A bright spotlight illuminated a girl in black on stage, talking to herself, and a murmur of awe rose from the audience in the front rows upon recognizing her face.


    ¡°That¡¯s Jo Seohui playing Zero Ro.¡±


    ¡°Jo Seohui? Really?¡±


    ¡°They said a celebrity would be here, but they didn¡¯t say who.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re planning to reveal it after the first show.¡±


    They hadn¡¯t specified which celebrity would be there, likely aiming to create buzz after the first performance and then launch full-scale promotions.


    The promotional material had indeed stated the first show would remain undisclosed.


    The first show of a play often involves special events, and they were leveraging this fact.


    ¡¸Harara¡¯s punch hurts the most. Why does she even carry a magic wand?¡¹


    Seohui¡¯s grumbling was endearing, her tone reminiscent of a highborn lady, making Dayeon admire her secretly.


    She had seen Jo Seohui¡¯s movies multiple times, but seeing her perform live in a play felt different.


    A completely new experience.


    Dayeon felt it was worth coming to the amusement park just for this.


    ¡¸Oh, yes. That sounds good. You won¡¯t have it easy this time!¡¹


    Clenching her fists, the light on Zero Ro dimmed. Then the stage brightened, fully illuminating it.


    Standing center stage was a young girl with a small penguin puppet on her shoulder.


    The moment she appeared, Dayeon and her friends were taken aback.


    ¡°What the...?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    They murmured in shock as they saw her friend from class.


    ¡®Joo Seoyeon?¡¯


    Seoyeon was playing Harara?


    Dayeon couldn¡¯t even imagine Seoyeon acting as Harara.


    ¡¸Ah~, what nice weather. I should have hit Zero Ro even harder yesterday.¡¹


    But that assumption shattered quickly.


    Seoyeon¡ªor rather, Harara¡ªwas nothing like the Seoyeon Dayeon knew.


    Her typically sharp eyes were wide open, and the usual stern line of her mouth was replaced by a soft smile.


    A lively girl stood on the stage.


    ¡¸Right?¡¹


    Harara turned to the audience, smiling brightly as if asking the children for their agreement. And then, in an instant, her gaze met Dayeon¡¯s.


    It was a brief but impactful moment.

 Chapter 183

    The time their eyes met was by no means long.


    At most, it was only a few seconds.


    In that brief moment, as she spun around, casting her gaze across the audience filled with children, Seoyeon spotted Gildaheon sitting in the crowd. But it wasn¡¯t just Gildaheon. Sitting right beside her were five or six other girls from Seoyeon¡¯s class.


    Though the unexpected sight almost caused Seoyeon¡¯s eyes to falter, she quickly pulled herself together and smiled.


    ¡°The only reason I was embarrassed before was because I wasn¡¯t prepared.¡±


    But this time, it¡¯s okay!


    Seoyeon struck Harara''s signature cute pose, encouraging a response from the children.


    ¡°I heard Zero-Ro is up to no good again today~.¡±


    ¡°Harara, you already know the location, so there¡¯s no need to rush. You still have school to attend.¡±


    With Harara¡¯s words, the wooden panel near the mascot penguin, painted with a penguin¡¯s likeness, moved as a voice emanated from it. Despite the cute appearance, the voice had a strikingly cool tone.


    Hearing that voice calmed Seoyeon¡¯s slightly overheated body. Yes, it¡¯s okay. She was only a little¡ªreally just a little¡ªnervous, but wasn¡¯t she up here as an actor?


    Her heart raced, and a bead of sweat trickled down, but there was no problem!


    No, it¡¯s not okay!


    Seoyeon inwardly grimaced. Honestly, any other type of acting would have been fine. She would even prefer her classmates watching her play a serial killer over this. But Harara... Harara was something else entirely. While making a cute voice and forming a heart shape with her hands, her winking eye almost started twitching.


    Because when she glanced over, Gildaheon and the other girls were giving her an indescribable expression. What would it feel like to see one of your classmates acting all cutesy right in front of you? Seoyeon could hardly even imagine.


    Then the spotlight shifted back to Zero-Ro, and her lines flowed out.


    ¡°Harara should be in school by now. Just in case, I already told the teacher I¡¯d leave early today.¡±


    Zero-Ro, clad in a black dress, laughed slyly, revealing herself as a dutiful villain who planned ahead by informing her teacher of her early departure.


    In other words, Jo Seohui felt relieved watching Seoyeon¡¯s performance.


    ¡°As expected, she¡¯s different on stage.¡±


    Acting in a children''s play can present unforeseen challenges if you go in without much thought. Of course, no actor would think they could slack off just because it''s a kids¡¯ performance. Still, unconscious habits can lead to trouble.


    In children¡¯s theater, exaggerated lines and performances are often required. Furthermore, the expressions might seem too childish for adult actors, making it difficult to immerse in the dialogue. Though this is typically overcome through practice, Seoyeon had limited rehearsal time. Yet, even with that short time, she adapted perfectly to Harara.


    ¡°As she told me before, it must be true.¡±


    After seeing the recent Shorts video, Jo Seohui had been concerned about Seoyeon and asked her directly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not easily flustered, so I¡¯ve never really been nervous while acting.¡±


    At her matter-of-fact tone, Seohui recalled how unshaken Seoyeon was, even during situations where others were visibly trembling back in her child actor days.


    Likewise, during Hyper Action Star, where other actors felt pressured about how to handle certain scenes, Seoyeon¡¯s performance flowed seamlessly without hesitation.


    Compared to Jo Seohui, who needed a little more preparation, Seoyeon¡¯s ability to instantly deliver her lines was astonishing.


    ¡°Her forte is emotional acting.¡±


    Everyone who worked with Seoyeon would say the same thing: her emotional conveyance was unmatched.


    In the past, she used method acting as a tool for emotional roles, but now, she rarely found it necessary. Method acting is, after all, a means to immerse oneself in a role. Since Chaseoa, there hadn¡¯t been a role intense enough to warrant such a deep dive.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t there a difference between feeling embarrassed and feeling nervous?¡±


    ¡°An actor wouldn¡¯t feel embarrassed about performing.¡±


    Seoyeon answered with a calm, matter-of-fact tone.


    ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve never, um, really experienced such embarrassment.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s finally here.¡±


    Hearing the music, Seoyeon felt a surge of nervousness. This scene was the very part that had garnered millions of views on Shorts¡ªthe transformation scene!


    With mental preparation, there should¡¯ve been no problem. She¡¯d done fine in rehearsal.


    But performing it in front of her classmates wasn¡¯t as easy.


    ¡°Love and compassion. And respect and kindness. The magical girl of benevolence!¡±


    As the special effects lit up, the spotlight that had been on Zero-Ro shifted to Harara, who had changed costumes in the interim.


    ¡°Harara~, Hararara~!!¡±


    Seoyeon waved her pink magic wand, rallying the children in the audience.


    ¡°Harara! Harara!!!¡±


    While some male voices in the crowd were unusually enthusiastic, the children¡¯s cheers were louder, so it felt fine.


    But hearing the voices of her classmates, Seoyeon¡¯s ears began to burn. This warmth was unlike anything she¡¯d felt while acting before.


    I can¡¯t be awkward. I can¡¯t be embarrassed!


    Smiling brightly, she waved her wand, chanting Harara¡¯s name. Known for her emotional expressiveness, any embarrassment would immediately resonate with the audience.


    She couldn¡¯t let that happen.


    But!


    Ughhhh!


    She felt the warmth building in her cheeks. Thanks to the bright lights casting a red glow, the audience wouldn¡¯t notice much.


    ¡°You¡¯re done for, Harara! No matter how powerful you are, my super monster is unbeatable!!¡±


    But Jo Seohui on stage noticed. As a fellow actor, she could sense it. And standing close, she saw the growing redness of Seoyeon¡¯s earlobes.


    And when Seoyeon spun around, biting her lower lip, her face was, quite rarely, and incredibly... full of embarrassment.


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s adorable.¡±


    Knowing it wasn¡¯t appropriate, Seohui couldn¡¯t help but think it. Facing away from the audience, she saw Seoyeon struggling to maintain her expression.


    Noticing this made Seohui feel strangely energized. Watching Seoyeon fidget made her want to see more.


    ¡°Harara Flash!!¡±


    Seohui, sitting on top of a giant bear prop, watched as Harara performed a flashy kick toward her.


    ¡°Harara Flash is when Harara lands a chin strike to snap the opponent to attention. It¡¯s her most-used move.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it a magic move?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a separate magic move for that.¡±


    While Gildaheon and her friends chatted, the staff below stage were taken aback.


    ¡°Was there supposed to be a wire action here?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No, we avoided wire action since it¡¯s too risky without thorough practice.¡±


    Wire stunts were dangerous without proper training, so they¡¯d skipped them.


    ¡°Then how¡¯d she do that jump? If there¡¯s no wire...¡±


    ¡°Who knows? She practically flew through the air.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s Harara Shorts sequel and a Harara-related ad soon followed, marking the show as a huge success.

 Chapter 184

    "Harara Shorts? What¡¯s that?"


    Ko Mieun, the lead actress of Grand Game, let out a chuckle as she watched the new video that popped up on her YouTube feed. It was a short clip from the recent Mirinae Land play.


    There were two versions: one was a promotional video uploaded directly by Mirinae Land, and the other was a compilation filmed by an audience member from various angles.


    Since it was a children¡¯s play, they hadn¡¯t strictly monitored video recording, allowing these videos to circulate.


    "Ju Seoyeon?"


    For a moment, Ko Mieun couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. The main character of the Harara play was none other than Ju Seoyeon.


    Did she actually manage to squeeze in a play while filming Sky Garden?


    When did she even practice? In the promotional video, Seoyeon was practically flying around while performing action scenes with a giant bear puppet. That kind of wire action isn¡¯t something you can do with just a few rehearsals.


    Which means she probably practiced in her spare time, all while filming Sky Garden. Honestly, kids¡¯ plays don¡¯t pay well.


    Actors of Seoyeon¡¯s caliber wouldn¡¯t usually appear in such productions unless there was a special reason. Granted, Ju Seoyeon wasn¡¯t exactly a top-tier star¡ªshe was a young actress who¡¯d only been in the spotlight for about a year.


    But she¡¯s in a position to demand a decent fee.


    Yet she wouldn¡¯t just do a children¡¯s play for free. She¡¯s one of the current trending stars, so it¡¯s not like she needed the exposure.


    "Haha, she really did it! First that Harara Shorts, and now an actual performance!""Told ya! The Harara Shorts were obviously a promo tactic.""Maybe they cast her after seeing the first video?""Regret not going to the Harara play. I heard Jo Seohui was there too.""It was a hit with adults and kids alike."


    Ko Mieun frowned as she read the comments. One name stuck out.


    Jo Seohui?


    Of course, she knew who that was. Seohui had gained prominence right around the same time Mieun was filming her own drama.


    Within just three years, Jo Seohui and Park Jungwoo had become the most talked-about young actors. It was to the point that you could turn on any channel and see her in a drama or movie.


    Very few actresses her age had Seohui¡¯s talent. Almost every role involving high school students seemed to go to her.


    She was even briefly mentioned as the ¡°nation¡¯s little sister.¡±


    "Sure, Jo Seohui is pretty, but little sister material? Not really." "If I had a little sister like that at home, I wouldn¡¯t know what to say."


    With such opinions, Jo Seohui never quite claimed the title. And though she sulked about it at home, Ko Mieun wouldn¡¯t have known.


    Why was Jo Seohui at Mirinae Land?


    Ju Seoyeon aside, Jo Seohui really had no reason to do a children¡¯s play. Now that she thought about it, there¡¯d been rumors that Seohui was a chaebol¡¯s daughter.


    There had been guesses, though no one had confirmed any connections with specific corporations.


    "Looks like Ju Seoyeon and Jo Seohui are really close, lol.""Anyone could tell during Hyper Action Star. When Seohui betrayed Seoyeon, Seoyeon¡¯s reaction was hilarious.""Probably invited Seoyeon to do the play together this time too.""Lucky fans who saw it live. Rumor has it the play¡¯s quality won¡¯t be matched anytime soon.""I thought it¡¯d be low-budget since they¡¯re not seasoned theater actors, but it was better than expected!""They don¡¯t call them genius actors for nothing."


    Could they actually be friends? It wasn¡¯t impossible, considering their similar ages. Jo Seohui was untouchable for Ko Mieun.


    As an actress and a chaebol¡¯s daughter, Seohui was beyond reach.


    And if Ju Seoyeon was close to such a powerful figure...


    This was also beyond Mieun¡¯s control. She gritted her teeth.


    ¡°Mieun, are you reading internet comments again? Don¡¯t worry so much.¡± ¡°Yeah, Grand Game is only trailing by one percent.¡± ¡°Today will be different. We¡¯ve added a lot more romance now, so it¡¯ll really grab attention.¡±


    Seeing Mieun¡¯s tense expression, her fellow actors and crew members tried to lift her spirits, thinking her mood was soured by last week¡¯s lower ratings.


    And they were right. Mieun was going through all of Ju Seoyeon¡¯s content because of Sky Garden.


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t understand it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Sky Garden. I watched it because it¡¯s all the rage, but is it really worth the hype?¡± ¡°Oh, I thought I was the only one. And then in the latest episode, they suddenly push someone off a cliff.¡±


    The staff continued to bad-mouth Sky Garden. Ironically, it only showed how much of a threat Sky Garden posed to Grand Game.


    Until the previous week, Sky Garden had barely been discussed. When it was, people only said it was an interesting show.


    People criticize either because it¡¯s genuinely bad or because they feel threatened and competitive.


    In this case, it was the latter. Everyone here could feel it.


    ¡°They just grabbed some ratings with that ridiculous twist last week. And Ju Seoyeon was on Mask Singer too. Since it was the finals, of course viewers flocked to it.¡± ¡°That kind of shortcut won¡¯t last. If the drama isn¡¯t good, they won¡¯t keep those ratings.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Hearing their words, Ko Mieun¡¯s mood lifted slightly. Even if they were just words of consolation, they felt convincing.


    [Sky Garden Hot on Grand Game¡¯s Heels!]


    [Sky Garden Declares This Season¡¯s Victory! Internal Battle Heating Up]


    [Trailing by 1%. Who Will Prevail This Week?]


    Ko Mieun turned off her phone after checking the news again.


    It was still only a 1% difference. Given the frenzy last week, that gap wasn¡¯t too bad.


    This has to be my year.


    With that resolution, Mieun walked onto the set, determined not to lose to Ju Seoyeon.


    But...


    [Sky Garden Episode 13 Ratings Soar to 20%!]


    [Grand Game Trails by 6%. The Magic of Sky Garden¡¯s Ratings Surge]


    [Sky Garden Hits a Record 22% with Episode 14!]


    [What¡¯s Behind Sky Garden¡¯s Record-Breaking Ratings?]


    [Grand Game Stumbles with a 2% Drop in Ratings]


    Life doesn¡¯t always go the way you plan.


    ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    "Bongsik, you¡¯ve lost it!""Might as well become a fortune teller!""King of the season! You nailed it!""So that¡¯s why she appeared in episode 11!""But isn¡¯t it unrealistic? Wouldn¡¯t she get injured from a fall like that?""She¡¯s human, come on!""Guys, it¡¯s Yiju, not Ju Seoyeon."


    ¡°Yiju only sees me as a stepping stone, right? I¡¯m not a bad person.¡±


    Muttering to herself, Minseo rationalized her actions.


    She knew that Yiju only acted friendly because her ultimate goal was Minhyuk¡ªthe favored son of the Lee household, her twin brother.


    Yiju had used Minseo as a stepping stone to reach higher, and though Minseo was aware and had allowed it, she couldn¡¯t bear to see Yiju pass her by.


    And so...


    ¡°I did it. I really did it.¡±


    Minseo collapsed, her face twisted in a terrified smile as she looked at Yiju lying at the bottom of the cliff.


    The story then shifted back to Yiju¡¯s perspective.


    After being rescued by Song Gayon, Yiju was taken to the hospital. She couldn¡¯t understand why Gayon had helped her, grateful but questioning Gayon¡¯s motives.


    What did she stand to gain?


    But when she confronted Gayon, the girl just smiled.


    ¡°Friends help each other, right?¡±


    Gayon wasn¡¯t from a powerful family, though she moved in high society as a resident of Sky Garden. She was the daughter of a small-town doctor.


    Since Yiju had never felt any personal benefit from knowing Gayon, she considered her a ghost at school¡ªbarely there.


    Yet, Gayon¡¯s words caused a shift in Yiju¡¯s heart.


    ¡°What do you want to do, Yiju?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so smart and talented. You must have something you want to do.¡±


    In the small hospital run by Gayon¡¯s father, the two had this conversation.


    Gayon didn¡¯t envy Yiju; she was just genuinely curious.


    What do you want to do?


    ¡°I...¡±


    For a moment, Yiju was at a loss for words. She knew deep down what she wanted, but for some reason, she couldn¡¯t answer.


    And with Yiju¡¯s trembling gaze locked on Gayon, episode 14 ended, leaving viewers uncertain about the future.


    "Seoyeon¡¯s acting was insane in this scene.""The emotional depth was just... wow."


    Amid the usual chatter, a few serious comments came through. Bongsik agreed.


    ¡°Her portrayal of Yiju here felt different¡ªmore emotionally powerful.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. Was it just an instinctive choice?


    She must¡¯ve put a lot of thought into it.


    It felt like method acting, completely immersing herself in the role. The fact that she could evoke such emotions from viewers showed how deeply she connected with the character.


    She¡¯d always been talented, but now she was on a whole new level.


    This shift had started after her appearance on Mask Singer, around the middle of the season.


    I wonder if something happened then?


    Whatever it was, Seoyeon¡¯s performance was resonating deeply. The ratings spoke for themselves.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe she¡¯s the same person.¡±


    With that, Bongsik pulled up the Harara Shorts. It was the latest clip from Harara¡¯s play at Mirinae Park.


    It was an unofficial edit of audience-filmed footage from various angles.


    One clip captured Harara¡¯s face turned away from the audience¡ªa moment you couldn¡¯t usually see.


    Seoyeon¡¯s face, flushed with embarrassment, wasn¡¯t something typically shown on screen.


    With her hand trembling as she bit her lower lip, her face was bright red.


    "Haha, this is it!""Does Harara make you nervous, Ju Seoyeon?""At least she kept her cool in front of the audience, lol.""Even gorillas can be cute, apparently.""Stop calling her a gorilla, lol."


    It was no surprise that these clips spread across various communities. And when Seoyeon eventually saw them...


    ¡°H-hey, Seoyeon...¡±


    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s play was... good.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    All Seoyeon could do was bury her head in her desk as her classmates greeted her.


    How am I supposed to show my face at school now?


    As she pressed her forehead to the desk, Seoyeon¡¯s ears flushed red.


    It was perhaps the most embarrassing moment of her life.

 Chapter 185

    "Did you see Sky Garden?"


    ¡°Yesterday? Wow, it¡¯s so unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°Right? I thought it was a thriller, but it¡¯s really something else.¡±


    Once Sky Garden¡¯s ratings began to climb, they didn¡¯t stop. What seemed to be a peak at 18% turned into 20% the following week.


    Then, the week after, 22%.


    With ratings setting new records each week, Sky Garden gradually shifted from catering to its ¡°target audience¡± to appealing to the general public.


    The drama had now reached the point where it wielded true influence. At a certain stage, when a show becomes a massive hit, every broadcast and variety show mentions it. The network had decided that this drama was worth promoting, and it was the perfect time to do so.


    Sky Garden had crossed that threshold.


    ¡°Let¡¯s schedule a special segment featuring Sky Garden on this variety show.¡±


    ¡°Do we have any footage saved from earlier shoots? You know, any behind-the-scenes incidents?¡±


    ¡°Is it necessary to start prepping already? It¡¯s only at 22%...¡±


    ¡°Are you underestimating those numbers? 22% is huge.¡±


    This also came at a time when people¡¯s attention was shifting towards OTT dramas and online streaming platforms like YouTube, causing network influence to wane.


    And amidst this, Sky Garden had reached over 20% in ratings. Although Grand Game had also once reached 20%, it quickly dipped, which made the network hesitant to invest further.


    Now, Sky Garden was perfectly filling that gap.


    ¡°Producer Lee, can you reach Ju Seoyeon? Any chance of arranging a special feature?¡±


    ¡°Uh, it might be difficult with her packed schedule.¡±


    ¡°Why is a young actress so busy?¡±


    But no one could deny how active she¡¯d been lately. Recently, Seoyeon had been on Golden Duckling and Mask Singer back-to-back, not to mention her Harara Shorts and the children¡¯s play.


    Every single one of these appearances had impacted Sky Garden. Not one of them failed to stir up buzz.


    It was almost unbelievable.


    ¡°Must be nice for you, Producer Lee. Won¡¯t Sky Garden set another record this week?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯d be great. I¡¯d love to see it hit 30% just once.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, that¡¯s unrealistic. Those kinds of numbers only happened a decade ago.¡±


    Producer Minhwa Lee chuckled knowingly. A drama that reaches 30% ratings these days would be on par with the all-time legendary shows that stirred the entire country. It might not feel as explosive due to the times, but from the network¡¯s perspective, it was.


    ¡°But is she really that busy? This could be a huge opportunity for Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s already appearing everywhere, even without our involvement.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s also preparing for a new movie.¡±


    Minhwa didn¡¯t want to push Seoyeon too hard. After all, they planned to keep working together, and she wanted to maintain a good relationship.


    ¡°Have you heard which drama she¡¯s doing next? I¡¯d like to see if we can fit in.¡±


    ¡°Do you think any drama Seoyeon stars in is guaranteed to succeed?¡±


    ¡°Well... isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Minhwa paused, realizing her colleague had a point.


    Only one film so far, but three hit dramas if you count her child actor days.


    Dream Future might have been a notch below Sky Garden, but it was the show that reignited the network¡¯s drama department during a bleak time. And who could even predict where Sky Garden was heading?


    ¡°Could Seoyeon win this year¡¯s Best Actress Award?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s definitely the frontrunner.¡±


    There were many strong dramas this year, but with Sky Garden¡¯s record-breaking success, her chances of winning were high.


    ¡°Getting a Best Actress Award right after her comeback...¡±


    Producer Minhwa Lee chuckled softly.


    Sometimes, she really believed in the power of talent.


    ¡°Seoyeon, we got calls from Eclat Etoile and Aidiz. They¡¯re wondering if you¡¯re interested in shooting another commercial?¡±


    Her manager, Park Eunha, beamed as she spoke. But Seoyeon, sitting in the back seat of the van, looked serious, lost in thought and barely reacting.


    Park Eunha quickly figured out why.


    "Haha, Ju Seoyeon, acting all cute won¡¯t fool me, gorilla." ©¸ "What are you saying? Ju Seoyeon¡¯s always been cute!" ©¸ "Seoyeon, turn off the studio Wi-Fi." ©¸ "But honestly, she was kinda cute this time, lol.""That user¡¯s just a Seoyeon superfan. Just ignore him.""Gotta admit, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s always been cute. I knew since Survival Island." ©¸ "Wasn¡¯t that where the gorilla meme started?""What¡¯s ¡®meme¡¯? Does it mean amputation?""Hey, hey, hey."


    ¡°Yeah, I guess they¡¯ll announce it once he¡¯s confirmed.¡±


    Typical of Director Baek Min to be cautious. Seoyeon did some quick calculations.


    If they screened now, the main filming for Gyeongseong Lady would likely start in late November or December.


    That leaves about a month.


    She would need to ensure her schedule didn¡¯t overlap too much. Two major projects were set to start filming around year-end.


    Mine and Gyeongseong Lady. Rumor had it that Mine might go the OTT route instead of a theatrical release, which was causing delays.


    Will it end up being a drama instead of a movie?


    Though uncertain, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad choice. The timing could work to their advantage.


    And finally...


    Seoyeon double-checked the dates saved on her phone. Although Mine and Gyeongseong Lady were significant, another project held the most importance for her.


    There was one key audition scheduled for the latter half of the year. It hadn¡¯t garnered much attention amidst the flood of year-end movie auditions.


    The audition for Seoul Escape¡ªa film about the aftermath of a biochemical terror attack.


    This was none other than the final project of director Jo Bangwoo.


    ¡°Aaaah! Oppa!¡±


    ¡°Look over here!¡±


    Park Jungwoo walked through the street, smiling and waving at fans. Was there a special fan meeting today? No, not really.


    He was simply out shopping, minding his own business.


    The problem was he had been too nonchalant about it.


    Should¡¯ve covered my face.


    He had been careless. For a while, only a few people approached him for autographs, so he thought nothing of it. But after his recent OTT drama received positive reviews overseas, things had changed.


    ¡°The drama is amazing! A true masterpiece!¡±


    ¡°Totally! It¡¯s the best!¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Jungwoo smiled and waved at the fans, but inwardly he was dumbfounded.


    It¡¯s been out for ages. Why now?


    The show hadn¡¯t been particularly well-received in Korea. But now that it was gaining traction abroad, people who¡¯d dismissed it as corny were coming around.


    After hitting number one overseas, it was suddenly being praised as deep and meaningful, with a unique and clear vision from the director.


    ¡°What¡¯s your next project? I¡¯ll definitely watch it!¡±


    At the fans¡¯ question, Jungwoo hesitated. Nothing was confirmed.


    But he did have something in mind.


    ¡°Well...¡±


    Just as he began to answer, he noticed a woman in the crowd waving at him.


    Wearing sunglasses and a hat, she looked suspiciously disguised.


    At first, he tried to ignore her. And he did.


    Is she crazy? There are so many people here.


    He turned his back, but he felt a tug.


    ¡°?¡±


    At that moment, he realized she¡¯d grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Why are you running away?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish calling her ¡°crazy,¡± he was being pulled along. Or rather, practically lifted off his feet and dragged away. It all happened in an instant.


    As if a ninja had suddenly appeared.


    ¡°Huh? Oppa?¡±


    ¡°Is this a movie shoot?¡±


    In shock, his fans stood frozen, watching as he was spirited away.

 Chapter 186

    "Are you seriously out of your mind?"


    Park Jungwoo, utterly disheveled, sat in a cafe? with a sigh. Seoyeon, who had effectively "kidnapped" him, had taken him along in her van to a secluded cafe? located a bit out of the way.


    With her thorough preparations, she had even provided sunglasses and a mask to cover Jungwoo¡¯s face. Though it turned out they weren¡¯t necessary, as the cafe? was empty.


    "So this is what it feels like to be kidnapped," he thought to himself.


    Jungwoo had seen those kidnapping scenes in movies before, where someone gets whisked away into a van. He¡¯d wondered if it could really be that easy, and after going through it, he figured it just might be.


    "You''re the one who didn¡¯t respond to my messages first," Seoyeon said in a flat tone.


    With her hair tied in a high ponytail and sunglasses on, she looked different from her usual self. There was a more energetic impression to her¡ªperhaps because her eyes were hidden.


    "Messages? You mean those?"


    In the first place, Jungwoo and Seoyeon didn¡¯t keep in touch that much. Well, it¡¯s not like they didn¡¯t communicate at all.


    It was more like they didn¡¯t send each other "proper messages." Seoyeon''s idea of messaging Jungwoo usually went something like this:@@@@


    A few days ago.


    "10 PM, for a quick match?"


    Three days ago.


    "10 PM"


    Yesterday.


    "Quick match?"


    And today.


    "Let¡¯s go"


    At first, he thought it was some kind of code. Now, though, he understood well enough.


    He¡¯d seen the phrase "quick match?" so many times that it was impossible not to know what she meant. And originally, Jungwoo wasn¡¯t even the type to play those PC games. He only started because of Seoyeon.


    "Yeah, she¡¯s definitely saying she wants to play with me," Jungwoo thought.


    He knew why Seoyeon always called him up to play¡ªit was because out of everyone around her, he was the only one worse at gaming than she was.


    Lee Jiyeon was way better than Seoyeon, and Jo Seohui, well, she seemed to have tested the waters a bit.


    "Hahaha! I made it to Platinum rank this time! Isn¡¯t that amazing? Incredible, right?"


    Seohui seemed to have gotten into live streaming as a Virtual YouTuber lately, turning on her stream more frequently on her days off. Jungwoo had only started watching because she kept nagging him to. It wasn¡¯t as if he was a devoted viewer, though; it was more that she wanted him to see if she was doing things right.


    "Why the cat ears, though?"


    Her avatar was "Alice," a virtual YouTuber. The name likely came from Alice in Wonderland, and the cat ears were probably inspired by the Cheshire Cat. The aristocratic "villainess" look matched surprisingly well, which was kind of funny.


    Even though she hadn¡¯t been streaming games for long, she was improving at an alarming rate. While Jungwoo wasn¡¯t a game expert, he could tell from the reactions in the chat.


    The most amusing part?


    The person who sent a Super Chat message saying, "This is unreal," was none other than Ju Seoyeon, sitting right in front of him. Thanks to Lee Jiyeon, who¡¯d shared Seoyeon¡¯s nickname¡ªor was it her ID?¡ªhe was vaguely aware of her online presence.


    As for Seoyeon, she seemed to feel a sense of unease (fear?) about how quickly Seohui had surpassed her. Consequently, Jungwoo often ended up being summoned as her gaming partner.


    "She just can''t handle anyone better than her," he thought.


    "It¡¯s not surprising that I ignore you when you keep asking to play every day."


    At his comment, Seoyeon narrowed her gaze. Jungwoo gulped nervously and took a sip of his green tea.


    "Wow, that¡¯s one intense look," he thought. No wonder she always plays the villain.


    Thinking back, Seohui and Jiyeon also had a distinct presence when walking with Seoyeon. He had once seen the three of them together, and the students around them seemed to keep their distance. Normally, if people recognize actors, they try to get closer, don¡¯t they?


    But everyone stayed at a distance, snapping photos from afar without daring to approach.


    Of course, Seoyeon¡¯s gaze was just a slightly pouty look. It was hard to believe that this was the same person from that recent short video¡ªthe one where she appeared as a magical girl. She¡¯d been so cute that even Jungwoo had to blink and check if it was really her.


    He¡¯d like to tease her about it, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t end with just a glare if he did. He¡¯d probably get the same finger poke that Seohui always suffered. Sometimes she even elbowed him, maybe because he was a guy and she assumed he could take it.


    The last time he got hit without thinking, he¡¯d nearly blacked out.


    "Gaming is socializing, you know."


    "Then why don¡¯t you play Summoner''s Rift?"


    "I¡¯m tired of it."


    As if. It was probably because she couldn¡¯t rank up that she kept sticking to quick matches. Jungwoo chose not to argue, especially since Seoyeon had a fork in her hand today.


    "But I¡¯m serious, you know?"


    "About what?"


    "...It¡¯s because of the movie."


    What? How did a quick match relate to a drama? Jungwoo blinked at her in confusion, and Seoyeon¡¯s grip tightened on her fork. Was she going to bend it?


    Curious, he watched her, but then she lowered the fork.


    Jungwoo averted his eyes. But the more eccentric Seoyeon¡¯s antics became, the more curious he got. She had once punctured a coconut with her finger; he wondered what she could pierce if she really tried.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t dare ask, fearing for his own safety.


    "Anyway, two villain roles? I suppose that means you won¡¯t overlap your image too much."


    "Exactly. Overexposure can speed up image fatigue."


    That was why some actors carefully selected their projects each year. Others, meanwhile, tried to shoot as many films as possible.


    "For leads, that¡¯s even faster."


    Seoyeon¡¯s image was unique, mostly as a villain, but somehow she¡¯d managed to balance it.


    For now, her image as a magical girl was also strongly imprinted among younger viewers. The short video had left a powerful impression.


    Image in the entertainment world can change quickly, sometimes even from a single scene, as with one actress whose cute behavior in a military variety show had once gone viral.


    Seoyeon¡¯s magical girl role had a similar effect. If it had been broadcast, the impact would have been even stronger.


    "Anyway, you¡¯re going to take it, right?"


    "I said I would."


    "Then just answer that sooner."


    "Instead of dragging me into games, just ask like a normal person."


    Jungwoo sighed, then turned serious.


    "And to be clear, the problem isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s you."


    Jungwoo¡¯s tone was earnest. After all, he knew about the trouble brewing around her current project, Gyeongseong Lady.


    "I heard some major actors dropped out. That¡¯ll be a big issue if scheduling doesn¡¯t work out."


    "It¡¯s fine."


    Seoyeon glanced at her phone, just as she received a message related to what Jungwoo mentioned.


    "Actually, things are going well," she said with a mischievous smile.


    Jungwoo looked at her, puzzled, until her smile sent a chill down his spine.


    "I heard they¡¯re looking for someone to play the role of Goto Isamu."


    "Hmm, that''s a significant role. They can¡¯t just cast anyone for it."


    The production team of Gyeongseong Lady wore troubled expressions. Recently, several actors who had initially agreed to join the project had pulled out due to various issues.


    Having only signed contracts and subsequently breaking them while paying penalty fees, there wasn¡¯t much the production team could do. Situations like these weren¡¯t uncommon.


    The only difference here was the sheer number of actors who had withdrawn.


    "From what I heard, Director Shin Hocheol is pouring all his efforts into his new movie."


    "Oh, that one? Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re jumping ship to work on that?"


    "Who knows? But one thing¡¯s certain¡ªthey¡¯ve got a much bigger budget than we do."


    They had managed to secure funding for Gyeongseong Lady thanks to Director Baek Min¡¯s reputation. But since the backing wasn¡¯t from a major investor, their funds were limited.


    ¡®No wonder they paid the penalty fees so easily,¡¯ they thought. ¡®At least it was before filming, so the costs weren¡¯t too high.¡¯


    The character Goto Isamu, after all, was the primary villain of the story. Only someone with considerable acting prowess could truly bring out the character¡¯s essence. The actor initially cast for the role, Kang Seohyeok, had seemed perfect for it, which made his departure all the more impactful.


    "Do we have anyone who can replace Kang Seohyeok?"


    "Honestly, I¡¯m not sure. There are some candidates, but I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll accept the script."


    "Well, there are quite a few veteran actors who avoid Director Baek Min¡¯s projects."


    From the veterans'' perspective, Director Baek Min¡¯s work often carried unique perspectives or values that didn¡¯t align with their own. This time, Gyeongseong Lady was no exception, as it dealt with same-sex relationships.


    "Seoyeon."


    At that moment, Director Baek Min entered, greeting Seoyeon. Her sudden appearance at the audition venue surprised the production team.


    ¡®Why is Ju Seoyeon here?¡¯


    ¡®Isn¡¯t today the casting call for the role of Goto Isamu?¡¯


    The team had been prepared to hire someone simply on the basis of their suitability for the role. They hadn¡¯t expected Ju Seoyeon to show up so unexpectedly.


    All eyes turned to Seoyeon with a mix of curiosity and confusion.


    "He should be here any moment now."


    Seoyeon smiled at the gathered production members. At long last, the film¡¯s secret weapon was about to make his appearance.

 Chapter 187

    "I heard they¡¯re looking for someone to play the role of Goto Isamu."


    "Hmm, that¡¯s a critical role. They can¡¯t just cast anyone for it."


    The production team of Gyeongseong Lady wore worried expressions. Recently, several actors who had initially agreed to participate had withdrawn due to various issues.@@@@


    Contracts had been signed, only to be broken, with penalty fees paid. Unfortunately, this was a common occurrence in the industry.


    But the number of actors dropping out was unusually high this time.


    "I¡¯ve heard that Director Shin Hocheol is going all out for his new movie," one person mentioned.


    "Oh, that one? Do you think they¡¯re leaving us to join that project?"


    "Who knows? But it¡¯s safe to say they¡¯re probably working with a bigger budget than we have."


    The production had managed to secure investors for Gyeongseong Lady, largely due to Director Baek Min''s reputation. However, the funding wasn¡¯t extensive, so their resources were limited.


    ¡®No wonder they paid the penalties without hesitation,¡¯ someone thought. ¡®Since filming hadn¡¯t started, the costs weren¡¯t too high.¡¯


    The character of Goto Isamu was the main villain, and his role was crucial to the story. Only a talented actor could truly do justice to it. Kang Seohyeok, who was initially cast, had seemed perfect for the part, which made his departure all the more impactful.


    "Do we even have anyone who could replace Kang Seohyeok?"


    "Honestly, I¡¯m not sure. We have a few candidates, but I don¡¯t know if they¡¯d accept the script."


    "There are quite a few senior actors who avoid Director Baek Min¡¯s projects."


    For veteran actors, Baek Min¡¯s work often held unique perspectives and values that didn¡¯t align with theirs. This time, Gyeongseong Lady was no exception, as it explored same-sex relationships.


    "Seoyeon."


    Just then, Director Baek Min entered, greeting Seoyeon. Her sudden appearance at the audition venue surprised the production team.


    ¡®Why is Ju Seoyeon here?¡¯


    ¡®I thought today was for casting the role of Goto Isamu?¡¯


    The team had assumed they would simply be reviewing someone¡¯s suitability for the role today. None of them had expected Ju Seoyeon to show up unannounced.


    All eyes turned to her, filled with curiosity and confusion.


    "He should be here any moment now," Seoyeon said, flashing a smile at the gathered crew. Finally, the secret weapon for this film was about to make his entrance.


    Lee Sangsoo was an actor¡ªa veteran.


    He¡¯d once experienced a major failure in Hollywood. However, no one denied that he was one of Korea''s greatest actors, with a career few could rival. But everyone also knew he was getting older.


    "Sir, are you really okay with this?"


    His agency had asked him, concerned.


    "You¡¯ve been resting for a long time. Isn¡¯t it a bit much to jump back into such a strenuous role, especially a villain?"


    His longtime manager and the other actors in his agency all advised him to take more time, to rest and gather himself.


    "Don¡¯t worry about what the younger folks say."


    Even Song Kwangmin, an actor who had filmed Star Fisher with him, had said as much to Sangsoo. Although, Kwangmin¡¯s words had carried the implication that if Sangsoo truly wanted to do it, he should.


    But no one held faith in Sangsoo¡¯s decision to return to film. Perhaps it was due to his Hollywood failure, or maybe it was just a matter of respect.


    Honestly, Sangsoo couldn¡¯t tell. He was too old to worry about such things.


    ¡®It¡¯s ridiculous,¡¯ he thought.


    He had even lost faith in himself. The fierce passion he once had for acting had dwindled to a mere spark.


    That was likely why he had taken particular notice of her.


    "I want to act alongside Lee Sangsoo in this film."


    He remembered the young actress who had spoken so directly about what everyone else avoided. Ju Seoyeon.


    The girl everyone praised as a prodigy, now on the cusp of adulthood, had looked him in the eye with a calm resolve.


    "It¡¯s a role in Director Baek Min¡¯s new film. It¡¯s a villainous character with a powerful presence. Not just anyone can take it on."


    Her gaze held an assurance that he wouldn¡¯t refuse. She had said that a spot had opened up in Baek Min¡¯s film.


    And she wanted Lee Sangsoo to fill that spot.


    The absurd part was that she had looked at him with eyes that believed in him more than anyone else did.


    Even when he himself hesitated, unsure if he was ready to return to drama or film.


    "Yes, I¡¯m aware."


    "And I know you won¡¯t refuse."


    Seoyeon¡¯s tone held unwavering conviction, as if she knew him well.


    Director Baek Min called Seoyeon, as if asking if she was prepared to act.


    "I¡¯ve memorized the script in full. Any scene is fine."


    "Then, let¡¯s go with Scene 147."


    Scene #147.


    In that scene, Seoyeon¡¯s character, the lady Kasugayama Yuina, confronts her servant Goto Isamu in a heated argument.


    It was the part where Yuina discovers she has been betrayed by Goto Isamu, whom she had trusted deeply.


    A scene full of intense emotion and physicality, with props and objects thrown. It was an extremely challenging scene to perform, especially in an audition.


    Some staff members began to murmur, suggesting that a more routine scene would be better for an audition.


    "Maybe a simpler scene would be more suitable for an audition."


    "Isn¡¯t Scene 147 a bit too much?"


    However, Director Baek Min had made up his mind on Scene #147.


    "Mr. Lee Sangsoo, are you all right with this?"


    "Of course. I received the script well in advance."


    He hadn¡¯t even bothered to bring the script with him¡ªhe had memorized it.


    "Then let¡¯s begin."


    With Baek Min¡¯s cue, the crew took their places, ready to watch what was to come. It felt as if they were about to film a real scene, not just an audition.


    "Please, begin."


    With Baek Min¡¯s calm instruction, it was clear that this was an audition, not a real shoot.


    ¡®Here we go.¡¯


    Sangsoo looked at the young actress standing before him. Kasugayama Yuina, they¡¯d called her.


    Her sharp features suited the role perfectly¡ªa lady with an intense, villainous presence.


    And of course, the true villain was the one who had been manipulating her all along¡ªGoto Isamu.


    The scene they were about to perform was the moment when Goto Isamu finally revealed his betrayal to the young lady who had come to confront him.


    He had everything he wanted in his grasp.


    "My lady."


    Sangsoo¡ªor rather, Goto Isamu¡ªgrinned. His aged face twisted into a sneering expression.


    It was sinister but not pathetic¡ªa smile one might expect from a devil who had manipulated someone¡¯s life for years.


    The faces of those watching the audition showed their astonishment. Sangsoo¡¯s acting had lost none of its power.


    "So, even if you¡¯ve figured it out now, what difference does it make?"


    Goto Isamu rummaged through his pockets, pulling out something small. It looked like a key, though it was simply a gesture as no props were prepared.


    Everyone¡¯s attention was on Sangsoo¡ªnot as an actor, but as the villainous Goto Isamu himself. His performance was seamless.


    The crew watched in admiration, while Baek Min quietly took notes, his expression calm.


    ¡®The scars from his Hollywood failure remain.¡¯


    Sangsoo¡¯s intense presence had often landed him similar roles. However, his acting style carried a specific image¡ªa perception.


    And this time, he was still within that mold, unable to fully unleash his strengths due to the lingering wounds from his past.


    ¡®Is this all that¡¯s left of him?¡¯


    That was Baek Min¡¯s assessment.


    However, he knew the young actress, Seoyeon, would find it challenging to withstand such pressure.


    And, Seoyeon was the one who had brought Lee Sangsoo into the production, which meant there was a sense of responsibility for her as well.


    All eyes were on her as she waited for Sangsoo¡¯s line to end.


    "It¡¯s just as well, don¡¯t you think? You¡¯ve wanted to see the old man so badly; now you¡¯ll get your wish."


    As Goto Isamu chuckled, Yuina¡¯s expression shifted.


    Her previously calm face changed, her gaze burning with fury. The transformation was so intense that Sangsoo momentarily forgot his line.


    It was a mistake one could call "breaking character."


    Yet, it felt strangely natural.


    "Isamu. You¡¯d better shut your mouth right now."


    Yuina¡¯s low voice, laced with hatred, filled the set.

 Chapter 188

    The "audition" for Lee Sangsoo was, in reality, more of a simple script reading.


    Even if Director Baek Min remained outwardly reserved, the investors wouldn¡¯t remain passive. Knowing this, most of the staff relaxed and watched the sequence unfold.


    They had assumed Seoyeon¡¯s presence was simply to assist with the lines, nothing more.


    "I see. So it was all a lie."


    The words came out in a low tone, as if the speaker was expelling their very emotions.


    "Everything, from start to finish."


    Seoyeon had always been good at conveying emotions. But now, there was a palpable sense of advancement, something beyond her usual performance.


    Why?


    Everyone wondered, though Director Baek Min had a faint idea.


    ¡®She recently participated in Mask Singer, didn¡¯t she?¡¯


    Though he didn¡¯t watch variety shows, he had heard about it. Those who had seen it were said to have been deeply moved by the emotions conveyed through her singing.


    Actors, after all, draw emotions from the audience through every available means. But singing, relying solely on the voice, demands an extraordinary level of expressiveness.


    And Seoyeon was one of those rare cases.


    Just as physical skills improve with regular use, so does the voice. Seoyeon had honed her voice to the fullest extent to compete in Mask Singer, training her greatest asset to overcome any shortcomings and captivate the audience.


    Her compelling voice drew in the staff, making them forget that this was merely an audition or a casual script reading.


    "I knew... somehow, I always knew," Seoyeon said in character, her gaze narrowing as she looked at Goto Isamu, filled with an unmistakable hatred.


    Her red eyes, glinting in the dim light, chilled the air.


    "And still, I believed you¡ªfoolishly, because I thought you did it all for me."


    She had no intention of blaming anyone else. After all, she, too, had plotted to kill Amanabe Michiko and seize her wealth. And perhaps... to take that girl, too.


    "So, it was all a lie."


    She realized she had merely been a puppet, and that realization fueled her anger. Her rage toward Goto Isamu grew.


    "Even those words you said to me as a child..."


    Seoyeon, as Yuina, clenched her fists and took a step forward.


    "That I should crush others to find happiness."


    She grasped her chest with her left hand, as though trying to rip out her own heart.


    "So, I crushed everything. Until I seized every last bit of the Kasugayama wealth for myself."


    She had trampled her family beneath her feet, making it all hers.


    "Yes, you waited... until I had claimed it all."


    To kill her and take everything at the final moment.


    Her voice scratched at emotions like nails on a chalkboard.


    Lee Sangsoo, playing Goto Isamu, watched Seoyeon¡¯s performance and suddenly understood what actor Park Sunwoong had once told him.


    She was a young actress. Frankly, he had over forty years of experience as an actor, having started as a child. Never once had he lived a life away from acting. Seoyeon was half his age.


    ¡®What was I doing at her age?¡¯


    He thought back to those days, when the acting world was harsh and rife with discrimination. As a child actor, he had even been subjected to physical punishment¡ªthere was no protection for young actors back then.


    But he had persevered. And yet, watching Seoyeon now, he felt his younger self pale in comparison.


    Was he envious?


    No, it wasn¡¯t that.


    Watching her reminded him of the kind of acting he had always wanted to do.


    "For a while, I was deceived too."


    Before attending the Gyeongseong Lady audition, he had met an actor with whom he had performed in dramas many times, dating back to Seoyeon¡¯s childhood¡ªa connection nearly as long as his own career.


    But passion rekindles easily.


    "You¡¯re nothing more than my puppet. A counterfeit."


    Isamu slipped the key back into his pocket, drawing something else instead.


    A knife.


    "And now, it¡¯s time to cut the strings of this worthless doll."


    Isamu¡¯s twisted grin spread as he took a step forward.


    "Cut!"


    Director Baek Min raised his hand, signaling the end of the scene¡ªnot with "Start," but with a final "Cut."


    This indicated that the scene itself had come to a natural conclusion, ending as though it had been a complete performance.


    No one voiced any objections. They had none to give.


    In the stunned silence, Director Baek Min broke into a smile.


    "Lee Sangsoo," he said, "you were extraordinary."


    Just six words, yet they held more praise than anything else.


    Lee Sangsoo chuckled, a hint of bitterness in his voice.


    "I suppose I couldn¡¯t let my junior outshine me," he said, looking over at Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon stared at him in surprise.


    "Director Baek Min," Sangsoo added, turning back to him, "if you¡¯d allow me, I¡¯d be honored to act alongside Ju Seoyeon in this film."


    Had Sangsoo¡¯s performance failed to impress, Baek Min likely would have declined. Although pressure from investors might have changed the outcome, a director who disapproved of his actor would never give them the treatment they deserved.


    But seeing Seoyeon¡¯s performance had reignited something in Sangsoo.


    He had to act alongside her.


    Seoyeon was equally astonished, as were the crew members who watched with wide eyes.


    ¡®Lee Sangsoo is this moved... by her?¡¯


    Though it was Sangsoo who delivered the powerful finale, it was Seoyeon¡¯s performance that had drawn everyone in initially.


    For Lee Sangsoo¡ªa national icon in acting¡ªto set aside his pride and make such a request left everyone speechless.


    "Mr. Lee Sangsoo, you¡¯re too much," Director Baek Min said, a smile tugging at his lips.


    Everyone tensed at his words, aware that Baek Min might decline with a smile.


    "To refuse an actor of your caliber after seeing such a performance... I might as well step down as a director."


    With a satisfying snap, Baek Min closed his notebook. There was nothing more to see.


    Certainly, Sangsoo¡¯s performance deviated from Baek Min¡¯s original vision of Goto Isamu, who he had imagined as a cowardly and manipulative character.


    But sometimes, a different take could prove even better.


    "And Seoyeon," he added.


    "Yes?" she replied, wide-eyed, clearly still in awe of Sangsoo¡¯s acting.


    "Please perform like that during the actual shoot. That was magnificent."


    "Yes! Absolutely!" Seoyeon bowed deeply, unaware that Director Baek Min was notoriously stingy with praise.


    "As for Mr. Lee Sangsoo, we¡¯ll keep this under wraps, at least until the trailer."


    "Great idea¡ªit makes him feel like our secret weapon."


    "Secret weapon?" Baek Min mused over the staff member¡¯s suggestion and nodded.


    "Yes, perfect¡ªa secret weapon."


    Lee Sangsoo, once a national icon, would undoubtedly be the secret weapon of Gyeongseong Lady.


    Director Baek Min had no doubt.

 Chapter 189

    With Lee Sangsoo confirmed for the role, the once-stalled filming of Gyeongseong Lady picked up pace. Jo Seohui, ever resourceful, was filling the gaps left by Kang Seohyeok and other departing actors by networking relentlessly to bring in replacements.


    Seoyeon found it fascinating. While even Director Baek Min and the investors had struggled to recruit actors, they seemed to show up when Jo Seohui got involved.


    As she walked to school, Seoyeon mentioned this to Jiyeon.


    "Well, that¡¯s because she has quite the reputation."


    Jo Seohui was known to be the heiress of Newlike Group, ranked third among conglomerates. Of course, she had never openly mentioned it herself.


    "In fact, you¡¯re probably the only one she¡¯s hinted at it to."


    During the last Harara performance, Seohui had casually mentioned that the theme park was managed by her family.


    "Besides, she¡¯s a well-liked actress among veteran actors," Jiyeon added.


    Seoyeon found it oddly intriguing. Sure, Seohui was undeniably pretty, but there was something about her that gave off a strangely intense aura¡ªshe¡¯d look like a villainess with just a fan in her hand, and if you ran into her at night, she¡¯d resemble a scene from Tomie.


    "Newlike Group is far bigger than any of the investors backing Gyeongseong Lady, after all."


    The main backer for Gyeongseong Lady was a company called BestOne, a platform that had recently entered the cultural industry, investing in music, films, and anime.


    "But if Jo Seohui¡¯s in it, why didn¡¯t Newlike Group invest in the production?"


    "She probably asked them not to. She¡¯s not the type to like relying on her family for help."


    "Is she really?"


    "Come on, Seoyeon, you¡¯d be the same way if you were in her shoes."


    Seoyeon was about to reply that she definitely would¡¯ve taken advantage of it, but she shrugged in agreement instead, not wanting to come across as petty.


    ''Seems like those two have gotten close.''


    Seoyeon glanced over at Jiyeon. Recently, it didn¡¯t seem like Jiyeon was getting private acting lessons from Seohui anymore. They¡¯d spent time together, probably bonding over their similar tastes in clothes and shopping styles. When they were together, men rarely approached them.


    ¡®She never goes shopping with me, though,¡¯ Seoyeon thought, feeling a bit slighted.


    "So... you¡¯ve been shopping together a lot lately?" she asked casually.


    "Want to come along, Seoyeon?"


    "Why not?"


    "You¡¯re not usually into shopping. You just grab something and go."


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t argue with that. She wasn¡¯t someone who spent much time picking out her clothes. It wasn¡¯t due to any lingering habits from her previous life; she actually liked wearing cute and pretty outfits. Skirts were surprisingly practical for high kicks.


    Still, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t exactly a shopping enthusiast.


    She typically chose clothes at random, satisfied with how they looked on her. But Jiyeon was the type to spend hours shopping, checking out makeup, and browsing random items.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t this where someone usually drags you off for a shopping spree because they ¡°can¡¯t let that pretty face go to waste¡± or something?¡¯


    In the novels and comics Seoyeon had read, if there was a character indifferent to shopping, the people around them would often pull them along for a shopping makeover.


    When she hinted at shopping to her mom recently, Sua¡¯s response was completely sensible.


    "Alice is so cute!""That laugh is adorable ???? So cute ???""Is this really her first time playing this game? Unreal..."


    "She¡¯s just formal with you because of something that happened a long time ago."


    "..."


    In some ways, Seoyeon holding a grudge for something from ten years ago seemed childish.


    ¡®She probably just finds it easier to be formal with Seohui.¡¯


    Jiyeon couldn¡¯t pinpoint Seoyeon¡¯s reasoning, as she mostly acted on whims.


    "All right, I¡¯ll bring it up next time."


    Jiyeon appreciated everything she¡¯d gained from knowing Seohui, beyond just acting lessons.


    "Seoyeon."


    Reflecting on the past week, Jiyeon decided she¡¯d try to help Seoyeon connect with Seohui a bit more. After all, they¡¯d be working together on Gyeongseong Lady, so becoming closer wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    "Want to join me and Seohui for shopping?"


    "Oh, um, sure."


    Seoyeon nodded slowly, feeling like a child who¡¯d just asked to tag along.


    Despite setting a shopping date, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but worry. After all...


    "Are you... are you Ju Seoyeon? I love Sky Garden!"


    "Hey, it¡¯s Ju Seoyeon!"


    "Wow, her face is tiny!"


    Without some sort of disguise, people would instantly swarm her. She understood why celebrities hired bodyguards.


    Headlines constantly highlighted Sky Garden¡¯s soaring popularity.


    [Sky Garden: Soaring to the Top! Episode 18 Breaks 30% Viewership!] [The Winner in Household Drama: Sky Garden Reaches 30%, Grand Game at 11%]


    Articles like that were everywhere. With only two episodes left, Sky Garden had shifted its focus to Lee Yiju¡¯s growth after Episode 14, drawing viewers with its intense, sensational plot.


    It had even surpassed 30% viewership, a staggering figure, and 8% higher than in her previous life.


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t fully grasped the significance of high ratings as a child actor, but now she understood. Wherever she went, people recognized her immediately.


    ¡®I really need to work on my disguises.¡¯


    Now she understood why Park Jungwoo constantly nagged her about this. Meeting up with him would be challenging for a while.


    Thankfully, they¡¯d already met, and he had confirmed his participation in Seoul Escape.


    ¡®With him on board, most of the issues are sorted.¡¯


    Now all she had to do was beat the competition for her role in the audition.


    While reflecting on this, Seoyeon wandered through KMB, the broadcasting station, greeting people along the way.


    "...Huh?"


    She locked eyes with a tall woman who looked strikingly familiar. At once, the woman¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    Realization struck Seoyeon¡ªthis was Ko Mi-eun, the lead actress of Grand Game, and the one whose show had been overshadowed by Sky Garden.

 Chapter 190

    Seoyeon paused, wondering what she should say. She ran a quick simulation in her head:


    "Hello, Actress Gomi-eun." "Why are your eyes so wide?" "Actress, you don¡¯t like me, do you?"


    ...Though it wouldn¡¯t go exactly like that, she couldn¡¯t imagine a positive outcome. If Gomi-eun acted hostile, was she supposed to just stand there and take it? If Seoyeon retaliated in frustration, it was clear Gomi-eun would be the one getting hurt.


    After all, Gomi-eun wasn¡¯t a notorious fighter like Pyo Ji-woo¡ªshe was just an ordinary actress.


    "Hello, Actress Gomi-eun."


    Following the script from her mental simulation, Seoyeon greeted her first. She sensed Gomi-eun flinch slightly.


    It was as if Gomi-eun was thinking, Why is she at KMB Broadcasting Station?


    But there was nothing strange about Seoyeon being there; just like Gomi-eun, she was also starring in a drama.


    "...Hello."


    Contrary to her expectations, Gomi-eun, though hesitant, returned the greeting normally. Seoyeon felt relieved. Thankfully, Gomi-eun seems like a reasonable person. She didn¡¯t suddenly appear and scoff about her being a "nepotism hire." How nice, Seoyeon thought.


    And yet¡ª


    "You must be pleased." "Excuse me?" "Your drama, it¡¯s doing well, isn¡¯t it?"


    Gomi-eun brought it up out of nowhere. Seoyeon looked at her blankly, unable to guess the intent behind her words.


    Is she genuinely congratulating me, or is she being sarcastic?


    Judging by her face, it doesn¡¯t seem like sarcasm.


    Seoyeon studied Gomi-eun¡¯s face. Her expression was relatively gentle.


    But considering her tall stature and the sharp look in her eyes earlier, she might have a bold personality. So, was it the latter?


    But how do I respond? Saying, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s doing well,¡± sounds arrogant, but modestly saying, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not that great¡± wouldn¡¯t be sincere either.


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t the type to misinterpret others¡¯ words, so she decided to take it positively.


    Besides, she¡¯d recently been reading a book on communication skills.


    ¡°The Art of Giving Compliments.¡±


    The book was meant to improve her relatively unpolished speaking skills.


    "Your Grand Game is doing well too. That¡¯s amazing."


    "...But not quite like Sky Garden, right?"


    Gomi-eun replied with a smile. Being an actress, she was good at hiding her emotions.@@@@


    "I think the appeal lies in the unpredictable developments. I¡¯ve realized that sometimes sacrificing logic for bold twists can be effective."


    Gomi-eun carefully offered her assessment of Sky Garden in response to Seoyeon¡¯s remark. Her tone was polite, but the implication was clear: Sky Garden relied on extreme plot twists to boost ratings.


    Indeed, the later episodes of Sky Garden did get a bit intense.


    "Certainly, Grand Game also had that unpredictable feel. Really impressive."


    "...What?"


    Seoyeon nodded in response. Is she taking a jab at the sudden romance plot? That¡¯s how it sounded.


    Clearly, she¡¯s not one to be easily intimidated.


    Gomi-eun narrowed her eyes at Seoyeon. It wasn¡¯t by chance she often played villains. Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for this situation, Gomi-eun wouldn¡¯t have started this conversation.


    Besides, the way Seoyeon kept saying "impressive" was getting on her nerves. But it wasn¡¯t like she could hit another actor just because she didn¡¯t like them.


    Yet... Hyper Action Star came to mind. She¡¯d initially thought Seoyeon¡¯s performance might have been staged, but she remembered Seoyeon¡¯s live stunts.


    It might have been a pre-recorded performance passed off as live, but¡ª


    As Gomi-eun remained silent, Seoyeon looked at her briefly and said,


    "I hope things go as well for you every time."


    "Huh?"


    Gomi-eun was momentarily speechless at Seoyeon¡¯s words. It sounded like well-wishing, but didn¡¯t feel like it.


    If Grand Game maintained its current level of success, it would indeed be good for Gomi-eun. But hearing it from someone who was essentially outperforming her... it was a strange feeling.


    Well, that might have been an issue in my past life, but now it¡¯s fine, she thought, since she was actually a high school girl in this life.


    "After watching The Chaser and Dream Future, I thought, This is it! and decided to come. Wow, it¡¯s really you... Actress Ju, right? You¡¯re really a high school student?"


    "Yes, that¡¯s right."


    The energy felt a bit different from what she was used to in Korea¡ªhe had a serious look but an upbeat personality. Seeing that Seoyeon was a high school student, the Japanese staff began whispering among themselves.


    "The genius actress from Korea. The child star who disappeared ten years ago. It¡¯s a good title."


    Hearing this, Seoyeon asked Lee Minha quietly,


    "Did he come here because of Sky Garden?"


    "It hasn¡¯t been broadcast in Japan yet. He saw The Chaser on a recent visit, and Dream Future is airing there now."


    Today¡¯s discussion was about potentially broadcasting Sky Garden on YHJ in a similar manner to Dream Future. And apparently, they had a lot of interest in Seoyeon.


    In fact, one of the visiting team members was from YHJ¡¯s variety department.


    "Before discussing Sky Garden, I have a personal suggestion for Actress Ju Seoyeon."


    PD Nanjo Katsuo looked directly at Seoyeon as he spoke.


    "Recently, the Hallyu wave is rising again in Japan, thanks to the expansion of OTT dramas and the idol industry. We¡¯re thinking about inviting Actress Ju, who¡¯s become quite popular in Korea, to appear on a Japanese variety show."


    The main reason was her titles as both a high school student and a genius actress. According to PD Lee Minha, these two titles were especially popular in Japan.


    "Plus, Seoyeon, you have black hair¡ªneat black hair."


    "Uh, yes, that¡¯s right."


    "A lot of people love that."


    This preference was especially true among older viewers, though it hadn¡¯t entirely disappeared even in modern times. In Japan, some people still criticized idols for dyeing their hair.


    It had changed a bit, but that sentiment wasn¡¯t gone.


    "But it¡¯s not a bad suggestion. Increasing your exposure can¡¯t hurt, right?"


    Why not take a trip to Japan and try out a variety show? At PD Lee Minha¡¯s suggestion, Seoyeon nodded.


    It wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    "PD Nanjo."


    After the meeting about Sky Garden concluded, the Japanese broadcasting team returned to their lodging and spoke to their leader, PD Nanjo.


    He was set to become the next director of the variety department at YHJ, making his opinions influential.


    But his attitude was somewhat controversial; he was a fan of international stars, yet didn¡¯t particularly like Korean celebrities appearing on Japanese shows.


    It wasn¡¯t that he disliked Korean movies or dramas. Quite the opposite¡ªhe was a fan, which was why he learned Korean.


    However, he wasn¡¯t enthusiastic about Korean celebrities appearing in Japan. His suggestion this time felt unusual to the others.


    "Why are you interested in this actress Seoyeon? Wouldn¡¯t an idol be better?"


    Nanjo looked at him, slightly exasperated.


    "Because she¡¯s a great product. And if no one else has claimed her yet, it¡¯s only right to be the first."


    "That... really?"


    "Have you seen The Chaser? Oh, right, it hasn¡¯t been released in Japan yet."


    He couldn¡¯t remember the last time a young actor had made such a strong impression on him. Seoyeon¡¯s appearance, her aura¡ªit was everything that would captivate the Japanese audience.


    Her slightly sharp look... but still, she had it all.


    "If we build a small bridge now, we can reach out when something really significant happens later."


    PD Nanjo was sure of it¡ªActress Ju Seoyeon would only grow from here.


    And then¡ª


    "...A trip to Japan? For me??"


    The woman, half-awake in bed, widened her eyes in surprise as she answered her phone.


    It was Narumi Sora, the runner-up of Hyper Action Star, receiving an unexpected invitation to join Seoyeon¡¯s trip to Japan.

 Chapter 191

    For Narumi Sora, this news was like a bolt from the blue.


    She had been without an agency for a while, but after Hyper Action Star, she managed to sign with a reputable agency and was now enjoying a stable life. "Lime Actors," her agency, was mid-tier but leaned toward supporting actors rather than idols, which suited her interests.


    With a variety of actors to learn from, it was an ideal environment.


    "Sora, your pronunciation is really good. Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t have known you were Japanese until you told me."


    "Is... is that so?"


    Sora had always been good at Korean. She had diligently studied it while in Japan, moving to Korea right after high school. Now, at nineteen, she felt a sense of pride in how hard she had worked.


    Actually, most people here probably speak it pretty well.


    Japanese actors in Korea were rare. She remembered hearing about one in the past, but their career hadn¡¯t lasted long.


    Most Japanese entertainers active in Korea were idols. So, it wasn¡¯t surprising people thought her pronunciation might be lacking.


    Most people probably assume it¡¯s part of the persona.


    Everywhere has its stereotypes, and foreign idols with a slight accent often seem cuter or more endearing to the public.


    But that¡¯s only true for idols.


    It¡¯s different for actors. Clear pronunciation is essential, and an actor with poor pronunciation would struggle to get cast in films or dramas.


    "At this rate, it¡¯d be wise to start preparing for other projects beyond Mine. I¡¯ll put in a word with the agency."


    "Th-thank you!"


    Sora bowed her head in gratitude to her senior actor.


    Projects... more projects.


    Sora couldn¡¯t help but smile. In terms of income, being an actor in Korea was far more lucrative than in Japan¡ªalmost four times more, on average.


    So, it was no wonder Sora felt uplifted. If she could secure a lead role in Mine, her visibility would be greatly enhanced.


    No, not yet.


    Nothing was certain, after all. She had to give her best effort. For Sora, Mine was the starting point, a movie she absolutely had to succeed in.


    With that mindset, she was ready for anything.


    But then¡ª


    ¡°...Japan? Me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The voice on the other end was someone Sora would never forget: Ju Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon was the actress she had faced in the final stages of Hyper Action Star. Her physical prowess was remarkable, and her acting was on a whole different level.


    Though younger, Seoyeon was far more experienced as an actress. Even with Sora¡¯s theater background in Japan, there was a vast difference.


    After Hyper Action Star, they had exchanged numbers and kept in touch occasionally.


    ¡°If you have the chance, it¡¯d be good to stay close to Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s an actress who¡¯ll go far. Very few actors can make such an impact within just one year. This year was undeniably the year of Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    How many actors could make a debut and dominate the entire year? Ju Seoyeon was one of them.


    Naturally, the agency¡¯s director and senior actors advised Sora to maintain a good relationship with her. Connections were essential, and if Seoyeon became a superstar, it could open doors for her.


    ¡°B-but Japan...?¡±


    Narumi Sora hesitated. Seoyeon¡¯s invitation was certainly something to be grateful for.


    Apparently, she¡¯d been invited to appear on a Japanese variety show, and it would create a nice picture to have Sora, as a Japanese actress, appear alongside her.


    It was a great offer, but Sora wasn¡¯t too keen on appearing on Japanese variety shows.


    People will recognize me!


    Though she hadn¡¯t starred in any major productions in Japan, she¡¯d participated in a few small plays. And while she hadn¡¯t had the chance to truly break out, it wasn¡¯t as if there weren¡¯t opportunities.


    ¡°The acting environment in Japan doesn¡¯t suit me. It feels too much like playing house.¡±


    In her rebellious phase, she¡¯d set her sights on overseas markets, whether in Korea or China. She was brimming with ambition as a high school student.@@@@


    Though she had received offers, her disappointment with Japan¡¯s reluctance to accept her as an action actress had pushed her away.


    Back then, she¡¯d spoken her mind bluntly, refusing offers because they wanted her to be a "pretty actress," not an action star.


    Someone must have talked about it online.


    Thinking of the things she¡¯d said to industry contacts, Sora felt uneasy about returning to Japan.


    ¡°Honestly... I¡¯d love to go with you.¡±


    Jo Seohui said this, glancing at Seoyeon. Seoyeon continued holding a dress up to herself, seemingly indifferent.


    Not displeased, just neutral.


    ¡°Maybe next time, if you don¡¯t mind? I actually have a family friend in Japan who owns a hotel.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Since Mirinae Land, Seohui had been more open about such things with Seoyeon, perhaps because Seoyeon never showed much interest in financial matters.


    Moreover, Seohui didn¡¯t particularly appreciate the advantages that came from her family background.


    ¡°Yeah, we could go to Okinawa or Hokkaido. They¡¯re nice places.¡±


    But as Seohui mentioned the travel spots, Seoyeon¡¯s reaction immediately cooled.


    Seohui was taken aback. Okinawa and Hokkaido were iconic Japanese tourist destinations, after all.


    She wondered if Seoyeon preferred a ryokan (traditional inn) instead of a hotel.


    As she pondered this, she noticed Jiyeon clicking her tongue in amusement.


    If it¡¯s not Tokyo or Osaka, she¡¯s not interested.


    There were no places like Akihabara or Denden Town there. Seoyeon¡¯s preferences were obvious; she enjoyed things that excited her and wasn¡¯t particularly interested in relaxing, healing trips.


    She liked places where she could have a good time.


    If they wanted to entice her, suggesting Disneyland or Universal Studios might have been better. Jiyeon thought this while picking out clothes for Seoyeon.


    All in all, it was an enjoyable shopping day.


    In reality, today¡¯s shopping was more about preparing for Seoyeon¡¯s Japan trip.


    She¡¯s bound to forget skincare or clothes if left on her own.


    She would likely travel with just Manager Park Eun-ha and Narumi Sora. Perhaps the manager, too? Four or five people at most?


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t like traveling with a large group, so they planned for a minimal crew.


    I just hope she doesn¡¯t cause any trouble.


    Honestly, Jiyeon felt concerned. Though Seoyeon seemed normal as she chatted with Jo Seohui, she was noticeably excited.


    She also noticed that Seoyeon had become more gentle toward Seohui. Though she didn¡¯t drop the honorifics, she was visibly more relaxed with her.


    While Jiyeon hadn¡¯t thought much about it before, she felt a faint sense of jealousy. She had always been Seoyeon¡¯s only friend.


    Now, others like Seohui were entering that space. It was both a little irritating and a little comforting.


    Meanwhile, YHJ Broadcasting was discussing the actress coming from Korea. They had already decided on a variety show for her appearance, but it felt too plain.


    ¡°What about a hidden camera prank?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, that sounds good.¡±


    Hidden cameras were a popular choice for foreign celebrities visiting Japan for the first time. But the important part was the concept.


    ¡°How about horror?¡±


    At that moment, Hiroki Amaya, who had been quiet, spoke up.


    ¡°Horror?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. She mentioned something about that¡ªif she¡¯d ever watched a Japanese horror movie.¡±


    The response came from PD Nanjo Katsuo, who had met Seoyeon in Korea. Japan was famous for horror films, so he¡¯d asked if she¡¯d watched any.


    Her answer had been remarkable.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never really experienced fear in real life.¡±


    Watching horror movies, she wouldn¡¯t feel much.


    ¡°Wow, now I want to try this even more.¡±


    ¡°Should we notify her manager first?¡±


    ¡°That sounds best. Let¡¯s discuss it with them and proceed accordingly.¡±


    Since she was a foreign actress, it wasn¡¯t easy to plan a hidden camera without permission. To be honest, they weren¡¯t familiar with Ju Seoyeon.


    For them, she was simply the Korean actress PD Nanjo Katsuo had taken a liking to. But with The Chaser set to release in Japan soon and Dream Future already popular, they figured it would be worth it.


    After all, Korean actors rarely visited Japan these days.


    ¡°Still, if she doesn¡¯t react much, it might be awkward. She seems pretty cool-headed.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. So we¡¯ll have to work even harder on the setup. Luckily, we have a good location in mind.¡±


    As YHJ prepared for the broadcast with these discussions, Seoyeon was already en route to the airport with several bags packed, excited for her Japan trip.

 Chapter 192

    ¡°Are we filming in Hakone?¡±


    Seoyeon looked thrilled. Her first time in Japan. Her first time overseas!


    So it was no wonder her excitement was shining through.


    "Well, Seoyeon... you''ve technically been abroad before."


    Manager Park Eun-ha didn¡¯t want to dampen Seoyeon¡¯s spirits, but did she forget about Survival in the Wilderness? Or did she not consider Papua New Guinea as ¡°overseas?¡±


    Or maybe this was different because it wasn¡¯t purely a work trip but one where she could have fun, which would make it feel like a first.


    ¡°It seems we¡¯re staying for one night in the lodging provided by the production team.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. It seems like they plan to film there too,¡± murmured Narumi Sora as she looked over the schedule.


    Park Eun-ha replied with a slightly awkward expression.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t notice, but Sora did. You pick up a knack for reading situations when you work on the lower rungs of the industry.


    "Something¡¯s definitely up!"


    Sora knew a lot about Japanese variety shows! After all, she was Japanese!


    In the past, Korean shows would often adopt the extreme pranks and setups that were popular in Japan. Recently, however, Korean shows had stopped following Japanese formats as closely. But Japan¡¯s variety shows hadn¡¯t changed much¡ªthey were still a bit extreme.


    Or maybe more than a bit.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a late-night show, so it shouldn¡¯t be that intense.¡±


    Late-night shows could be extreme, sometimes with surprisingly high levels of intensity. There were times they even filmed in hot springs.


    But seeing Manager Park Eun-ha¡¯s reaction, it probably wouldn¡¯t go that far.


    Just as Sora guessed, Manager Park Eun-ha had confirmed that they¡¯d be filming at a designated ryokan.


    ¡°What? A hidden camera prank?¡±


    ¡°Yes! What do you think?¡± an enthusiastic voice responded over the phone.


    Park Eun-ha hesitated for a moment. Hidden cameras were a staple in Japanese variety shows and were often elaborate, even involving big-name Korean celebrities.


    It wasn¡¯t only actors like Seoyeon but also world-famous idols who¡¯d been on these shows. And the advantage was that it didn¡¯t require much preparation.


    ¡°Will it just be a preview segment before the main broadcast?¡±


    ¡°It will probably be included as a special segment,¡± PD Nanjo Katsuo explained.


    Manager Park Eun-ha agreed. Refusing too many things on their first overseas shoot might not leave a good impression.


    The only issue was that she couldn¡¯t inform Seoyeon about the hidden camera prank.


    ¡°Judging by how she handles horror games...¡±


    There were concerns¡ªthough not necessarily about Seoyeon herself, but rather other aspects.


    ¡°Oh, but I have one request...¡±


    Just to be safe, Park Eun-ha made one specific request to PD Nanjo Katsuo, who ended up with a puzzled look.


    ¡°What? Were we denied permission?¡±


    One of Nanjo¡¯s colleagues, noticing his expression, asked. Nanjo shook his head.


    ¡°No, that wasn¡¯t it. They actually gave permission quite readily.¡±


    However...


    ¡°They asked us to avoid using people if possible?¡±


    ¡°People?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they didn¡¯t explain much, but they asked us to use props or devices instead...¡±


    It was an odd request. For a horror-themed hidden camera prank, not using people seemed almost impossible.


    ¡°They also mentioned keeping some distance if people are involved.¡±


    Park Eun-ha¡¯s ambiguous phrasing had a reason behind it. If she outright warned them against physical contact, it could make Seoyeon seem intimidating or even violent, which could affect her image.


    So she had to be careful with her wording.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for image management,¡± one of Nanjo¡¯s colleagues suggested.


    ¡°Oh... right. Didn¡¯t she say she¡¯d never felt fear before?¡±


    ¡°Oh, is that her persona?¡± Nanjo Katsuo thought.


    Many celebrities had unique, ¡°four-dimensional¡± personalities, so he assumed this was Seoyeon¡¯s gimmick.


    Initially, PD Nanjo didn¡¯t think much of it, but after hearing the manager¡¯s input, it did start to feel like part of Seoyeon¡¯s image.


    ¡°Well, now I¡¯m even more excited to see how this goes.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡±


    In fact, Seoyeon seemed to realize something and added,


    ¡°Now that I think about it, her Korean is quite good. I guess a lot of Korean tourists visit here.¡±


    Seoyeon looked up at the inn. It was a three-story wooden building, somewhat large, old, and slightly eerie.


    ¡°Maybe they chose this place for the ambiance?¡±


    She didn¡¯t think much of the elderly woman. The woman just seemed a bit unwell, nothing more.


    But with everyone else reacting that way, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel a little more cautious.


    Her empathy for others¡¯ emotions worked both ways.


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s reality, so it¡¯s different.¡±


    In games, she couldn¡¯t do much but scream. But here in real life, it would be different! Seoyeon entered the ryokan confidently.


    "Here''s your meal."


    Despite the old, worn exterior, the inside of the inn was quite pleasant, and the food was exceptional. Kaiseki cuisine, if she remembered correctly? It was like a full course meal, and Seoyeon was more than satisfied.


    "There are a few things to be mindful of," said the elderly innkeeper as they were enjoying their meal.


    "After 10 p.m., if there''s a sudden power outage, please don¡¯t be alarmed." "Also, if you hear any noise from the room at the end of the hall, please do not leave your room." "If you wish to use the onsen, please do so in the morning. We strongly advise against using it after 10 p.m." "And if you must leave your room at night, please head to the room at the opposite end of the hallway."


    As Seoyeon munched on her food, she tilted her head slightly in confusion. She could understand the innkeeper¡¯s Korean, but her slightly stilted manner of speaking made some parts unclear and confusing.


    But the innkeeper¡¯s awkward and ominous tone made Eun-ha and Sora look uneasy.


    ¡°Must be an old inn with lots of issues,¡± Seoyeon thought.


    Since she hadn¡¯t played many horror games or watched horror movies, she didn¡¯t pick up on the chilling undertones of the innkeeper¡¯s warnings.


    ¡°But when are we filming? Tomorrow, maybe?¡±


    She was more curious about the filming schedule. And with no production staff in sight, she figured it was just part of the experience.


    "Maybe we should be careful about moving around at night. Seems like we¡¯re the only guests here," Sora said, a bit nervously.


    "What? There are a lot of people here, though."


    Seoyeon looked around, sensing the presence of several people.


    ¡°Are they ninjas?¡±


    The way she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint their exact locations was a bit strange, but¡ª


    ¡°What the... that¡¯s even scarier.¡±


    What on earth was Seoyeon seeing? Sora couldn¡¯t help but feel more terrified.


    After they finished their meal and had cleaned up in the bath area, Eun-ha called out to Seoyeon.


    ¡°Seoyeon.¡±


    Seoyeon, who had been lounging around playing a game on her console, looked up at the sound of her manager¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Do you want to go to the onsen?¡±


    ¡°The onsen?¡±


    Seoyeon tilted her head at Eun-ha¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t they say we shouldn¡¯t go there?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still before 10 p.m.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Seoyeon got up without hesitation. Just like that? So easily?


    Eun-ha let out a sigh of relief, even though her smile was a bit awkward. This was all for the show.


    "Sora, you should join us."


    Eun-ha gave her a nudge. Sora, who had been about to put on a face mask, looked visibly reluctant.


    ¡°Here it comes.¡±


    But she couldn¡¯t show her nerves, so Sora nodded and followed along quietly.


    "Where¡¯s the onsen, anyway?"


    "I heard it¡¯s in the middle of the third floor."


    "An onsen on the third floor?"


    "Maybe it''s an artificial onsen."


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t think too deeply about it. As she stepped into the hallway with that thought, she noticed that, at least for now, the hallway lights were still on, brightly illuminating her path.


    "Nothing much here," she said casually, walking down the middle of the hallway.


    And that¡¯s when the lights in the entire hallway suddenly went out.

 Chapter 193

    The lights in the inn all turned off at once.


    Incidentally, the inn where Seoyeon had arrived wasn¡¯t exactly a proper inn to begin with.


    Technically, it had once been an inn, but after closing down, it was repurposed as a set. Of course, there was no issue with staying or eating there, and the facilities were still intact.


    However, since it had been remodeled into a set, it now had additional features for various uses.


    "Alright, all the lights are off."


    The actors involved in this prank nodded as they watched the Korean actors looking around in the darkness. Most of them seemed visibly startled, as shown by the night-vision cameras.


    Incidentally, two of them seemed to have caught on. One was a particularly perceptive person, and the other was a manager who had already been informed.


    But that was fine. The person they intended to prank was none other than Seoyeon, who was now blankly staring into the dark.


    "She doesn¡¯t look as scared as we thought, does she?" "Aww, that¡¯s not good."


    For the actors who had gone to great lengths with makeup, it felt a bit disappointing. This happens sometimes.


    Especially in horror pranks, there are people who pretend to be tough. Even if they aren¡¯t genuinely scared, they should play along to fill the show¡¯s airtime.


    The problem was, since this was a hidden camera prank, if she didn¡¯t get scared immediately, it would clearly seem like an act.


    "For now, let¡¯s focus on using the setup and try to guide her to a specific spot."


    Hearing this, PD Nanjou whispered quietly. Currently, they were on the floor above where Seoyeon was.


    It was an empty space created when they remodeled the place into a set.


    "If she doesn¡¯t get scared, we¡¯ll have to make her scared."


    PD Nanjou said this as he looked at Seoyeon on the monitor. She had started leading the others, walking through the dark.


    She was heading down the now pitch-black hallway to turn on the lights.


    ¡®I¡¯m not scared.¡¯


    Seoyeon thought as she walked down the hallway. As she repeated this thought to herself, she suddenly remembered a horror game she had played before.


    Back then, she thought she was only scared because the character she was controlling was weak. If she could actually enter the game herself, she thought, she would have just mowed down those creatures with a chainsaw or whatever.


    That boastful thought was still lingering in her mind. At the time, she had meant it sincerely, but now... maybe it really was just bravado.


    Step.


    "S-Seoyeon? Why did you stop all of a sudden?"


    Her manager, Park Eun-ha, stammered, her voice tinged with fear, as Seoyeon abruptly stopped in her tracks.


    ¡®Oh, this kind of atmosphere is really not good.¡¯


    Even though she had been informed beforehand, Park Eun-ha was still terrified. She had never been able to watch horror movies or play horror games.


    The only time she¡¯d done anything remotely close was an escape room with friends. It was at a place in Gangnam known for its horror-themed rooms, and she nearly fainted from the experience.


    ¡®That time, it just had to be a Japanese horror-themed escape room, too.¡¯


    This felt exactly the same. If something suddenly dropped here, it would be exactly like... that.


    Thud!!


    "Aaaaaaah!"


    Park Eun-ha screamed, her voice echoing loudly. Something round had fallen from the ceiling with a loud thud.


    Thwack!!


    In that instant, Seoyeon reflexively reached out her hand. It was a completely instinctive reaction.


    And Seoyeon¡¯s hand pierced right through the round object.


    "Huh?!"


    Narumi Sora let out a genuine Japanese exclamation in shock. Seoyeon¡¯s open hand had pierced right through a mannequin¡¯s head.


    ¡®Not even a fist, but... is that... a hand strike? With just her fingertips?¡¯


    How did that even happen? What was more terrifying than a mannequin head falling from the ceiling was the fact that she had somehow managed to pierce it with her hand.


    "...."


    Seoyeon stared at her hand, which was embedded up to her wrist in the object. It was dark, but her sharp, shining red eyes didn¡¯t have much trouble seeing.


    So, even in the dark, she could see the meticulously crafted mannequin head. In fact, it hadn¡¯t even registered in her mind that it was a mannequin.


    The red liquid inside dripped out, and the strange texture against her skin was unsettling. Human perception relies heavily on sight, after all.


    Though she knew it was a mannequin, its too-realistic form gave her an indescribable feeling.


    "S-Seoyeon?"


    With Park Eun-ha trembling beside her, Sora cautiously asked. For some reason, Seoyeon¡¯s reaction seemed odd.


    "Take... take it out, please." ¡®What?¡¯


    Sora could feel Seoyeon¡¯s voice shaking. Getting closer, Sora finally realized that the object in Seoyeon¡¯s hand was a mannequin head that resembled a human head.


    ¡®Eugh, it¡¯s creepy.¡¯


    To make it worse, the head was wedged in such a way that the eyes looked slightly popped out. Of course, it didn¡¯t look entirely like a real human head.


    Just a well-made mannequin head. But the dim lighting and eerie resemblance created an uncomfortable feeling.


    "I-I¡¯m fine." "...."


    Despite Sora¡¯s reassurance, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t bring herself to look at her own hand. She had tightly shut her eyes, clearly spooked.


    ¡®So Seoyeon can be scared too?¡¯


    Sora turned right and stopped, figuring she¡¯d distanced herself enough from Seoyeon. Besides, they weren¡¯t supposed to turn the lights on, and she didn¡¯t want to move further into the creepy atmosphere.


    She let out a sigh, thinking that the production team would probably do something with Seoyeon.


    ¡°?¡±


    When she looked up, there was suddenly a monster behind Park Eun-ha. More precisely, an actor dressed as a monster.


    Wearing a rotting mask and holding a hatchet, he looked like a zombie with a terrifyingly large build that added to his menacing presence.


    Just looking at him was unsettling.


    "Eek!"


    Realizing it a moment later, Park Eun-ha recoiled in fear. Watching the monster approach slowly, she grabbed Sora¡¯s sleeve and shook it.


    "Aren¡¯t they supposed to go after her, not us? Maybe... try using the nunchaku you practiced?" "N-no, I can¡¯t. Besides, I didn¡¯t bring it here."


    It wasn¡¯t allowed on the plane anyway. After all, it¡¯s classified as a weapon.


    Noticing their reactions, the actor holding the hatchet took another step forward, seemingly enjoying himself. Then he stopped, his gaze fixed on something else.


    "Huh?"


    Both Sora and Park Eun-ha, initially paralyzed with fear, looked puzzled. Why did he suddenly freeze?


    Then something even stranger happened.


    Not only did he stop, but he began to back away slowly.


    What? Why is he doing that? It¡¯s as if... something is behind us.


    Both Sora and Park Eun-ha turned around in reflex.


    And they saw it.


    Something was crawling toward them at an incredible speed.


    ".........!!!"


    For the first time in her life, Sora felt the kind of terror that made her forget to breathe.


    She suddenly remembered a particular RPG game that had been popular some time ago.


    Wasn¡¯t it called The Witch¡¯s House? There, a witch with no lower body crawls after the protagonist with her arms.


    That scene was exactly what this looked like.


    Long, pitch-black hair, with bright red eyes shining through.


    And a woman, crawling on her arms at an inhuman speed.


    Her lower body was barely visible, obscured by the darkness.


    The critical part was, this woman was crawling down the hallway at terrifying speed. And something ghostly seemed to be following her.


    "R-run! RUN!!"


    In response to Sora¡¯s cry, the first to flee was the actor playing the monster.


    He even dropped his hatchet, stumbling backward. Sora and Park Eun-ha followed suit, thinking that as an actor he must know his way around.


    Thud!!


    Curious about the noise, Sora glanced back while running.


    The woman who had been crawling picked up the dropped hatchet, still crawling forward.


    Thud, thud, hitting the floor as she moved.


    Why was she hitting the floor? It made it scarier. Why was she doing this?


    And her speed was increasing.


    "Ahhh!! Aaaaahhh!!"


    The actors stationed in various places to jump out and scare Seoyeon were startled by the sight of Sora and Eun-ha running toward them. Originally prepared to startle them with loud screams, they saw what was chasing and immediately joined in fleeing.


    "There¡¯s a partition wall! Over here!"


    Even the actors in ghost costumes, abandoning their roles, quickly banged on the wall to open the door.


    "Close it! Close it!"


    If they got through the partition, they¡¯d be safe. The three ghosts they encountered frantically urged each other.


    As they closed the partition, however¡ª


    Rattle, rattle!


    "It¡¯s... it¡¯s not closing!!"


    Sora cried. Looking down, she noticed that a hatchet was jammed in the partition gap.


    Wait, hold on.


    Everyone¡¯s gaze shifted downward.


    Clunk.


    Through the opening, a pale hand appeared, gripping the partition door.


    Dark hair slid down, and they saw red eyes staring up through the gap as the hatchet twisted, prying the door open.


    At that moment¡ª


    ¡®No, this can¡¯t be happening.¡¯


    Sora fainted.

 Chapter 194

    To put it simply, Seoyeon was sulking.


    A hidden camera prank was understandable. At the time, she was too confused to fully grasp it, but she¡¯d seen similar pranks on Korean celebrities a few times.


    Still, even if it was filmed in an inn, she should have questioned why there were no staff members around. However, wasn¡¯t it a bit too much to leave her completely ignored while she was being chased by a ghost?


    "I saw you, Sora. You were the one who shut the door the hardest when I was desperately running from the ghost."


    Seoyeon spoke curtly, clearly annoyed. Sora, who had fainted and woken up ten minutes later, felt a pang of injustice at Seoyeon¡¯s words.


    ¡®Desperately running? When did I even do that?¡¯


    Thinking back, Sora vaguely remembered feeling like there was something following behind Seoyeon. The problem was that Seoyeon¡¯s frantic crawling was so intense that she¡¯d mostly forgotten about it.


    "S-so, why did you pick up the hatchet?" "Just in case a ghost attacked me, to protect myself." "...."


    Of course, the hatchet was just a prop made of sturdy plastic. But still, she had been banging it against the floor while chasing them. Sora wondered how she could even manage that, but she didn¡¯t dare ask any further.


    Seoyeon was still huffing in indignation.


    ¡®How could you just leave a cute girl desperately running for her life?¡¯


    In fact, Sora wasn¡¯t the only one. When they¡¯d opened the door that was barely closing and started to run away, even the male actors who had been running with them saw it.


    Though, by that point, the ghost makeup on the actors had mostly come off, so it wasn¡¯t as frightening.


    "I was so scared my legs gave out." "Ah, so that¡¯s why." "I had to crawl with my arms to get away, didn¡¯t I?"


    Normally, people can¡¯t crawl that quickly with their arms. It¡¯s probably something only Seoyeon could manage. Even after crawling so fast, she hadn¡¯t even scraped her knees or legs.


    ¡°The reactions were really something!¡±


    The day after the hidden camera filming ended, Nanjou Katsuo PD, who had watched everything unfold, sounded genuinely amazed.


    ¡°To think she saw through our prank and turned it into her own hidden camera on us instead.¡± ¡°Right? It was like she was reacting as if, ¡®Since when did you think you were the only ones pulling a hidden camera prank on me?¡¯¡± ¡°Her ghostly acting to turn the tables on us was really top-notch. Absolutely incredible.¡±


    Listening to PD Nanjou¡¯s praise, Seoyeon stood there blankly, unsure how to respond.


    ¡®I have no idea what he¡¯s talking about.¡¯


    Despite watching a lot of anime, she thought she could understand Japanese decently, but hearing it straight from a native speaker was a different experience altogether. PD Nanjou supposedly knew some Korean too, so why couldn¡¯t he just use that?


    Also, she couldn¡¯t tell who was an actor and who was part of the crew.


    ¡®Please translate this for me.¡¯


    Seoyeon glanced at Sora with a look that practically screamed, ¡°Hey, translation device, are you going to translate or what?¡± Taking the hint, Sora quickly translated PD Nanjou¡¯s words for her.


    "Um, he said that your reaction to the hidden camera was really well done." "Really? Honestly, I don¡¯t remember much because I was just running the whole time. Well, let him know the actors did an amazing job playing ghosts."


    If anyone were to tell Seoyeon that she had actually been the one performing a hidden camera prank or that she had acted as a ghost, she would undoubtedly sulk. So Sora decided to paraphrase Nanjou¡¯s words carefully.


    In Seoyeon¡¯s dreams, she was still just a cute girl running away in pure terror.


    "So, when will the hidden camera air?" "It should air in about three days. There¡¯s not much to edit. We were going to add some other segments, but we¡¯ll probably split this one into two episodes."


    Thanks to Sora¡¯s translations, the conversation flowed naturally. Having a native speaker around really made things easier, Seoyeon thought.


    ¡®Well, it sounds like the response was good, so that¡¯s fine.¡¯


    Still, she was impressed by the level of Japanese hidden camera pranks. In Korea, there are so many things you¡¯re not allowed to do on variety shows these days that this type of prank wouldn¡¯t even be possible.


    Japan may be a bit over-the-top, but the pure fun element of ¡°entertainment shows¡± hadn¡¯t faded there.


    ¡®Although sometimes it¡¯s a bit too much.¡¯


    This hidden camera prank had certainly been a shocking experience.


    "Come to think of it, is this the only variety show I¡¯ll be filming in Japan?"


    After parting ways with PD Nanjou, Seoyeon headed to the accommodation they had officially booked in Japan. She had heard they would be staying for about two weeks, so she didn¡¯t expect to be playing around the whole time.


    "Huh? Didn¡¯t you check the schedule, Seoyeon?" "I did, but some parts were vague."


    Technically, she¡¯d heard they would only be filming one thing. But since they¡¯d already done the hidden camera yesterday, didn¡¯t that count as one?


    "That was newly added. The original plan was just an interview-based show." "Oh, I see." "And if there¡¯s time, maybe one more filming session wouldn¡¯t be bad?"


    The Japanese hotel was... well, it was just a hotel. Nothing particularly amazing.


    ¡®Actually, I preferred the inn.¡¯


    Lost in a daze, watching the two of them, Sato suddenly found the black-haired girl standing in front of her. The other woman behind her looked at her nervously.


    Seeing she had no items in hand, Sato figured she wasn¡¯t there to check out. So, did she have something to ask?


    ¡®Why?¡¯


    Sato looked at her, curious.


    "...."


    The girl gazed at her silently, as if thinking about what to say.


    "Miss...?"


    Sato asked, puzzled. Just as she did, the girl¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto her, with a strikingly beautiful, albeit slightly cold look.


    It was a beauty so intense it was almost frightening. Then, after a pause, the girl¡¯s mouth slowly opened.


    ¡°Hey, girl.¡± ¡°?¡±


    Sato froze in place. What she said was... not quite what she had expected.


    Seoyeon was enjoying a happy sightseeing trip in Japan. She didn¡¯t have to wake up early.


    Whenever she opened her eyes, she¡¯d have a meal and go straight into Tokyo for sightseeing.


    "Uh, didn¡¯t we go there yesterday?"


    The only thing that baffled Sora was Seoyeon¡¯s insistence on certain places.


    ¡®Why does she like Akihabara so much?¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s trip to Japan was oddly one-sided. The truth was, she wasn¡¯t the type to enjoy landscapes or sightseeing.


    Everything she wanted was in Akihabara¡ªanime, gacha games, and even virtual YouTubers.


    ¡®Japan has a lot of second-hand stores.¡¯


    There were things she couldn¡¯t get in Korea. And she was amazed at how easily accessible adult content was.


    She¡¯d gone in without thinking, only to run out screaming after seeing shelves full of adult doujinshi.


    Even for Seoyeon, running into that unprepared was a shock.


    ¡®N-not that I have any tolerance for that.¡¯


    But it stuck in her mind afterward. Maybe she¡¯d sneak in alone when Sora wasn¡¯t around.


    After two days of touring Akihabara, something else popped into her mind.


    ¡®I haven¡¯t gone to a Japanese convenience store yet!¡¯


    Japanese convenience store food is famous, after all. Sure, Korean convenience store food quality had gone up, but Japanese convenience store food was supposedly still better.


    Seoyeon was interested.


    Besides, to her, visiting convenience stores was part of her ¡°duties.¡± She¡¯d always been one to go on convenience store tours back home.


    Of course, she¡¯d visit Japan¡¯s too. More than anything...


    ¡®I heard they¡¯re selling chocolates with a VTuber collaboration.¡¯


    In Japanese convenience stores, you could sometimes find collaboration products with anime or VTubers. Seoyeon knew this already.


    So, after visiting the convenience store...


    ¡°Next time, just let me do the talking.¡±


    Sora gave her that advice.


    ¡®Japanese is hard.¡¯


    Seoyeon had only been trying to speak as she¡¯d heard in anime, and she¡¯d only adjusted her tone a bit after PD Nanjou had told her she sounded like a ¡°gyaru high schooler.¡±


    ¡®They said not to use ¡°kisama.¡±¡¯


    She had only meant to say, ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am.¡± What else was she supposed to call a girl but a girl? Seoyeon genuinely wondered.


    Anyway.


    With her sightseeing tour in Japan ongoing, the following day, at six in the evening...


    Seoyeon¡¯s first Japanese variety show aired.

 Chapter 195

    [Today, Seoyeon-chan from Korea appears in Dokkiri, lol]


    This was a post that suddenly popped up on the Japanese forum Futaba Channel. Tagged with "variety show" and "Dokkiri," the post discussed a Korean celebrity''s appearance on a show airing today on YHJ TV. Dokkiri is a Japanese term for a hidden camera prank format, similar to candid camera shows.


    002: "Eh? A Korean actor today?"


    005: "It''s been a while since there was a Korean on the show."


    013: "YHJ really loves Korea, lol."


    019: "I preferred it when there were fewer after Nanjo-kun took over."


    020: "But wouldn¡¯t an idol be better? Honestly, we don¡¯t know Korean actors, lol."


    Since the teaser was already released that morning, various comments were circulating in the thread. The responses were mixed, neither too negative nor overly enthusiastic. Recently, Korean celebrities appearing on Japanese shows had become somewhat common.


    However, actors from Korea were still rare enough to create some buzz. Most users didn¡¯t know who this actress, Seoyeon, even was.


    When the thread slowed down a bit...


    129: "Picture incoming!!! [Image]"


    Someone uploaded a photo of Seoyeon, taken in Korea, wearing a school uniform, which quickly picked up the pace in the thread.


    131: "Whoa~ is she a real JK (high schooler)??? For real???"


    132: "She¡¯s just wearing a uniform for filming, right? Isn¡¯t she probably older?"


    "Nope, Seoyeon-chan is actually a JK. She¡¯s famous in Korea as a genius actress."


    134: "For real, lol? Genius actress, lmao. They must hype her up a lot in Korea, huh?"


    135: "Wait, isn¡¯t she Harin-chan from Dream Future? Seoyeon plays Harin?"


    With her long black hair, reddish eyes, and fair skin, the comments on whether the image was edited quickly began circulating in the thread.


    After realizing she was the actress in the currently airing Dream Future, scenes from the show began appearing in the thread.


    Dream Future had initially gained attention in Japan thanks to the idol Cha Nahui from Summer Girl, but once it aired, the main topic of conversation quickly became Jo Harin. Harin''s overwhelming visual presence captivated viewers, leading to her popularity in meme form as well.


    222: "Wait, wait, Harin-chan is Seoyeon?"


    223: "A current JK? Nice."


    234: "Nanjo-kun wouldn¡¯t prank a Korean actor without good reason."


    236: "She¡¯s a cool-type actress; is it okay for her to be on a prank show?"


    "Probably because of that cool vibe, lol."


    Even those uninterested were drawn in by Seoyeon¡¯s appearance. The teaser revealed that it was a horror-themed hidden camera prank.


    382: "A genius actress with a cool vibe on a Dokkiri? Kinda excited for this."


    As the show neared its start time, posts picked up in frequency, with some viewers already setting their channels.


    However, they weren¡¯t expecting much in terms of entertainment. Japanese celebrities often display more expressive reactions than Korean ones, which tend to be milder.


    Still, there¡¯s a certain appeal to seeing foreign celebrities react differently, which creates its own demand.


    003: "It¡¯s starting."


    004: "Heart pounding."


    When the show finally started, the thread, now with over 1,000 comments, was replaced with a new one. They posted the variety show¡¯s title in large letters and began watching in earnest.


    The first shot captured Seoyeon arriving at the airport, waving a small ¡°V¡± at the camera, vlog-style.


    Her excitement was palpable, even through the screen.


    023: "Eh? Isn¡¯t she supposed to be the cool type? lol, she¡¯s so excited."


    025: "She¡¯s a bit different from what I expected."


    030: "I think I just fell for this girl."


    031: "I¡¯m a traveler from France... who¡¯s this actress on right now?"


    "She¡¯s Seoyeon-chan, the actress who plays Jo Harin in Dream Future."


    It seemed like Seoyeon had no idea filming had started. Unaware, she casually chatted with another woman about her plans.


    "I¡¯m definitely going to Akihabara."


    "Anywhere besides Akihabara?"


    "I don¡¯t have any other plans."


    That she mentioned Akihabara first was no surprise; everyone in Japan knows how foreigners view the area.


    But hearing it from Seoyeon, with her cold aura, made it seem strangely mismatched.


    158: "Obviously just for show, lol."


    160: "Seoyeon-chan even cosplayed as a magical girl in Korea."


    "Really?"


    "Huh? There are lots of people in the inn besides us."


    Seoyeon nonchalantly looked around, making the actors hiding in the shadows panic and scurry away.


    002: "What? Seoyeon-chan¡¯s psychic??"


    003: "I¡¯ve never heard someone say something like that in real life."


    005: "She looks like she¡¯s thinking, ¡®Is this Japan, where ninjas exist?¡¯"


    As such trivial conversations continued, it was now late at night.


    At exactly 10 PM, as the innkeeper had warned...


    "Want to go to the hot springs?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s manager, Park Eun-ha, asked.


    "Didn¡¯t they tell us not to go earlier?"


    "It¡¯s not 10 yet."


    "True. Let¡¯s go."


    Seoyeon nodded coolly, and her demeanor stirred up the forum.


    123: "lolol Trying to provoke her, lolol."


    124: "Seoyeon-chan has nerves of steel."


    125: "Isn¡¯t she acting a bit too calm?"


    126: "She¡¯d probably react the same even if a ghost appeared."


    127: "The other actors must be feeling really motivated."


    129: "Everyone probably has a ¡®don¡¯t want to go¡¯ face, lol."


    130: "Sora-chan is adorable. Why isn¡¯t she active in Japan?"


    131: "She said in an interview she went to Korea to become an action star."


    The screen shifted, showing the actors waiting at the inn, ready to scare her. The detailed makeup revealed the effort put into the setup.


    As Seoyeon boldly led the way toward the hot springs, all the lights went out with a sudden "click."


    Eun-ha and Sora gasped, huddling close, visibly tense.


    At that moment, Seoyeon, who had remained calm, began moving oddly, her body stiffening slightly.


    431: "Is she actually scared?"


    432: "For real?"


    444: "Honestly, I thought she wouldn¡¯t be scared at all, lol."


    While everyone was tensely holding back, there was a loud clunk as the ceiling opened and something fell.


    "Kyahhhh!"


    As Sora and Eun-ha screamed and backed away, Seoyeon¡¯s hand moved reflexively. The hidden camera caught her in slow motion as her eyes followed the falling object, narrowing briefly before she reacted.


    With one swift motion, her hand pierced the mannequin¡¯s head.


    A sharp crack echoed as her hand went right through the mannequin.


    772: "Huh?"


    773: "Huh?"


    774: "Huhhhh? lol"


    775: "Was that mannequin made of Styrofoam?"


    776: "The subtitles say it¡¯s plastic."


    777: "How did she pierce it with her hand, lol?"


    778: "Is Seoyeon-chan actually a magical girl?"


    779: "Did she really just see everything in slow motion?"


    780: "No way, lol."


    Seoyeon inspected what she¡¯d pierced, her eyes wavering slightly. Her mouth twisted as if saying, "Ugh."


    822: "Did Seoyeon-chan think she accidentally attacked a person?"


    823: "She saw it, though."


    824: "It was dark, so maybe she thought it wasn¡¯t visible."


    825: "If she can stab through a mannequin, she could probably pierce a human body too."


    826: "No, no, lol, that¡¯s a bit much."


    827: "Did Seoyeon-chan think she actually killed someone?"


    828: "Does she have this kind of image in Korea too?"


    The thread was flooded with reactions, with many sending Seoyeon sympathetic messages.


    "Huh?"


    Peeking at the thread, Seoyeon felt a bit flustered. She hadn¡¯t expected such responses. Wasn¡¯t it just a cute scene of her reacting to something creepy, like any girl would?


    "It was just gross."


    Sure, she reacted, but it was instinctive. Her hand moved first, after all. If it had been a person, she would have stopped in time. She wasn¡¯t stupid; she could tell the difference.


    Calling over Sora, she posted a message in the thread.


    844: "It¡¯s just that creepy things gross me out, realistically."


    "Were you the type in school who couldn¡¯t read the room?"


    "Being all serious by yourself is hilarious, lol."


    Seeing this response, Seoyeon¡¯s eyes gleamed red, and Sora, standing beside her, couldn¡¯t help but shiver.@@@@

 Chapter 196

    Seoyeon¡¯s Fan Club Buzzes with Anticipation for Her Next Project, The Gyeongseong Lady


    Lately, Seoyeon''s fan club had been quiet, waiting eagerly for her upcoming project, The Gyeongseong Lady. Occasionally, discussions about her magical girl role versus her rival Cha Seo-ah surfaced, though fans agreed they were too different to compare.


    Then suddenly, a new post appeared.


    Post Title: "What¡¯s with this trending topic on Japan¡¯s Twitter?"


    "What¡¯s this Dokkiri thing, and who¡¯s Seoyeon-chan? Isn¡¯t that Joo Seoyeon?"


    At first, fans thought it was just a prank post. Maybe somewhere else it would have gone unnoticed, but this was Seoyeon''s official fan club.


    Sure, the club occasionally got posts from "antis" that bordered on harsh, but it was all in the spirit of loving the actress. Naturally, any images or videos she posted on her Instagram account spread fast within the community.


    "Seoyeon¡¯s in Japan.""How do you know?""She posted a video from the airport on Instagram. Narumi Sora¡¯s with her.""Did they take a translator?""Wait, Seoyeon has Instagram? I didn¡¯t know that.""Seoyeon has an Instagram account??""I think her manager manages it."


    So, they knew Seoyeon was in Japan. But what on earth was she doing there to be trending on Twitter? In fact, her rank was around #7 but rising fast.


    "Apparently Dokkiri means something like hidden camera prank in our country.""What??""Seoyeon¡¯s on a hidden camera show? No way, I can¡¯t miss this.""Quick, someone share the link! ''Hidden Camera of Bathing Seoyeon.smi'' <-link"


    ©¸ "Dude, that¡¯s a gorilla spinning around in a bath.""Gorillas are so outdated, are you new here?""That clip gets you banned from the cafe now.""This place is still a fan cafe, I guess; they even manage spam like that.""Gorillas aren¡¯t even shocking anymore.""Ah."


    The fan club had come to life with renewed energy. Soon enough, they found the variety show episode Seoyeon was in.


    The prank involved Japanese actors at an inn, with Seoyeon unknowingly participating. And then, the sight of Seoyeon piercing a mannequin with her bare hands...


    "Seoyeon has practically become a human weapon now...""Lol, she even dodged paintballs mid-air once.""Honestly, she¡¯d probably yawn and pick her nose while catching a falling mannequin.""Seoyeon doesn¡¯t pick her nose."


    For a rare moment, the show captured Seoyeon looking frightened, much to the amusement of her fans. Sure, she looked scared, but fans were more curious about what she¡¯d do next.


    Post Title: "Japanese Reactions are Crazy."


    "Who¡¯s got a good chicken place recommendation to watch this with?"


    Comments:


    "Came here smiling, now I¡¯m dead serious.""Starve, bro."


    Some fans enjoyed the Japanese reactions to Seoyeon, eagerly awaiting updates on how the hidden camera prank would unfold.


    "If it¡¯s Seoyeon, she¡¯s bound to do something epic here.""She pretty much owns variety shows whenever she¡¯s on, lol.""For real, lol."


    The hidden camera prank officially began. Seoyeon, visibly shaken, walked down the hall, unaware of the ghost actor sneaking up behind her.


    All the lights in the inn went out, plunging it into darkness.


    Through the night vision camera, Seoyeon¡¯s figure looked clearly terrified, her posture tense, completely different from the confident way she¡¯d walked just moments before.


    043: "Behind you, behind you, behind you!"


    045: "Seoyeon-chan is adorable, lol. She¡¯s totally frozen!"


    046: "Honestly, I thought she wouldn¡¯t be scared at all."


    050: "The person in the ghost costume¡ªis she famous? I think I¡¯ve seen her before."


    051: "Really? She must work a lot of events, then."


    052: "Are there elites in ghost acting, too?"


    In the darkness, a long-haired woman in ghostly makeup began to move. Normally, Seoyeon would have noticed right away. But now, she seemed genuinely disoriented.@@@@


    The ghost actor approached from a hidden partition in the hallway, catching Seoyeon off guard.


    When Seoyeon sensed something behind her, she turned her head, a normal reaction.


    But as she locked eyes with the ghost, she froze completely.


    068: "Wait, what?? Are her eyes turning red?"


    069: "Is that a special effect? Or are her eyes naturally like that?"


    070: "Lol, no one has eyes like that."


    071: "Cool~"


    072: "I love black hair and red eyes."


    073: "No, no, guys, that¡¯s not the point! Something¡¯s weird, lol."


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes glowed red as she stared down the ghost. Then, with a soft thud, her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the floor.


    "Did her legs just give out?""Honestly, I¡¯d be the same."


    The viewers anticipated Seoyeon¡¯s next reaction. Would she scream and run, or would she laugh it off?


    Normally, celebrities reacted one of two ways in these situations.


    801: "Lololol."


    840: "Lmao."


    856: "Looool."


    921: "They¡¯re no match, lol. Japanese ghosts, step it up, lol."


    "How could they possibly step it up against that, lol?"


    941: "Seoyeon-chan really is a genius actress. Is this the dignity of a genius actress??"


    942: "Was she trying to scare them back from the start?"


    951: "I don¡¯t know, lol, but if she planned it, that¡¯s amazing."


    Some viewers began to think Seoyeon was purposefully playing a ghost to scare everyone. After all, how could anyone mistake her for a terrified victim with that performance?


    Ghosts and humans alike fled in terror.


    "Hurry, close it! Quickly, quickly, quickly!!!"


    An actor in zombie makeup urgently shouted, as if genuinely pursued by a ghost. Just as the partition door was closing¡ª


    With a loud clunk, something got caught.


    Everyone looked down.


    Axe wedged in the gap, with a pair of red eyes gleaming through the crack.


    034: "Nooo, lol."


    041: "Wait for us, lol."


    042: "Lololol."


    048: "This is too scary, lololol."


    058: "You¡¯re supposed to scare her! Why are you freaking out, lol."


    134: "Honestly, if I were there, I¡¯d have passed out ages ago."


    213: "Not just passed out¡ªI would¡¯ve wet myself, for real."


    And with that, the viewers shared their reactions.


    "Wow~, that was terrifying. Seriously, I was so scared."


    A follow-up interview played, featuring the first actor who dropped the axe and ran.


    "The axe? Oh, no, I didn¡¯t mean to drop it¡ªI was just startled! It¡¯s scary! Look at her! She¡¯s terrifying!!"


    The actor pointed dramatically at Seoyeon, who had just walked out.


    "I never imagined she¡¯d catch on to our prank and turn it around on us."


    "Yeah, honestly, I was thinking, ¡®What is she doing?¡¯ as I chased her."


    The actress who¡¯d initially chased Seoyeon laughed, recounting her attempt to follow Seoyeon until she picked up the axe.


    "When she started crawling back with the axe, I was thinking, ¡®Wait, what am I supposed to do?¡¯"


    "Oh, that would have been so funny."


    "No, not funny at all!"


    "I¡¯d heard Seoyeon is called a genius actress in Korea, and now I finally get it. If she can improvise like that, her screen acting must be incredible."


    The subtitles showed mention of Seoyeon¡¯s current works, Dream Future and her upcoming movie, The Chaser, which was set to release soon.


    The Chaser was surprisingly releasing in Japan shortly after its Korean debut, possibly because the director had a strong following in Japan.


    034: "Wow, that was fun."


    045: "Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect much, but that was so entertaining."


    084: "I thought it was amazing how she didn¡¯t hold back and just went for it."


    121: "I heard her movie¡¯s coming out soon."


    128: "Wasn¡¯t interested, but I might check it out."


    340: "Lolol, what? Seoyeon-chan¡¯s trending #1 right now, lol."


    412: "Lol, this is amazing, lol."


    And so, as the broadcast ended, Seoyeon¡¯s name, previously below the Dokkiri topic, now shot up to claim the #1 spot on Twitter trends. Posts with Seoyeon¡¯s gifs and clips spread rapidly.


    "Seoyeon, if you don¡¯t mind, could you make a cameo appearance while you¡¯re here?"


    People were already reaching out to Seoyeon, eager to collaborate after seeing her remarkable performance on Dokkiri.


    Of course, from Seoyeon¡¯s perspective...


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t acting.¡±


    For once, she felt embarrassed by their misconception. Even for her, being mistaken for ¡°acting¡± when she¡¯d been genuinely terrified was a bit much.

 Chapter 197

    "I want to go back to Korea."


    That was Narumi Sora''s thought. She wanted to return to Korea as soon as possible.


    Sure, to be honest, she¡¯d been excited when she first arrived in Japan. After all, it was her hometown, a place she was familiar with, so it was only natural for her to feel at ease.


    But that comfort was separate from the ordeal of constantly following Seoyeon''s schedule. During the first prank show, she''d fainted and had to be carried out, and when she regained consciousness, she was treated like a frail child.


    "Anyone would faint after seeing something like that!"


    The actors involved in the prank had fled as soon as they glimpsed the scene, but poor Sora had been chased around by Seoyeon the whole time. When Sora voiced her frustration about it:


    "I kept reaching out, asking for help, but you coldly rejected me! And then you tried to close the fake wall before I even got inside."


    Seoyeon pouted. After the prank, her cheeks were visibly puffed in annoyance. It only lasted a couple of hours¡ªSeoyeon wasn¡¯t one to stay upset for long¡ªbut she genuinely seemed unaware of how intense her own reactions were at the time.


    From Seoyeon''s perspective, she was desperately trying to flee from the ghosts, only to have the other person randomly panic and shut the door on her.


    "Still, everything was fine once the show aired."


    When Seoyeon saw the episode yesterday, she discreetly snuck back to her bed and hid under the blankets. Sora couldn¡¯t see her face, but she seemed thoroughly embarrassed.


    At least, Sora thought, she¡¯d finally had her frustrations relieved. Her desire to return to Korea wasn¡¯t because of the prank experience, though.


    It was her stamina.


    She was simply exhausted.


    By now, Park Eun-ha, Seoyeon''s manager, was already completely out of commission.


    So, Sora, being relatively stronger, was the one who had to keep up with Seoyeon¡¯s adventures.


    "I''m fine on my own. It¡¯s not really dangerous," Seoyeon insisted, but neither Park Eun-ha nor Sora could bring themselves to nod in agreement. They didn¡¯t believe Seoyeon was the one in danger. It was everyone else.


    "If we leave her alone, who knows what she¡¯ll get up to?"


    Sora was beginning to understand Seoyeon better. In a way, Seoyeon was unpredictable.


    Normally, she might seem as cool as she looked, a girl with a calm demeanor. But given the right trigger, she¡¯d burst into action without hesitation.


    And Sora needed to get closer to Seoyeon. The drama Mine was one thing, but Seoyeon was connected to so many influential people among their peers.


    "Jo Seohui, Park Jungwoo."


    Both were top-ranked actors of their age group.


    So, getting closer to Seoyeon to learn from her would be beneficial.


    Still, though...


    "Just... let¡¯s take a quick break, please."


    Sora had never considered herself weak. In terms of stamina and physical ability, she¡¯d never lost to her peers¡ªboys or girls. But compared to Seoyeon, it was another story.


    In response to Sora¡¯s plea:


    "You should work out more," Seoyeon suggested earnestly.


    It seemed to her that Sora¡¯s stamina had weakened since Mine. Sora, rendered speechless by Seoyeon¡¯s comment, couldn¡¯t say anything in reply.


    Since arriving in Japan, Seoyeon had been tirelessly exploring. She barely spent any time at the pricey hotel room she¡¯d booked, instead running around the city.


    Most of her travels were limited to Akihabara, but that didn¡¯t matter to her.


    Yet, after a week of exploring, there wasn¡¯t much left to see.


    "I¡¯ve bought too much... I¡¯ll have to ship it as cargo."


    And it wasn¡¯t just her belongings. A good portion was for Su-a.


    Su-a, once an avid otaku, hadn¡¯t let go of her passion even after becoming a mother. She¡¯d discreetly requested several items from Seoyeon that weren¡¯t available in Korea, so Seoyeon had prioritized grabbing those first.


    Along with anime, VTuber merchandise, and figures, her luggage was now packed. Just in case she found anything else to buy, she had stopped shopping for the time being.


    And also...


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t left the hotel today.


    That was because she¡¯d watched her appearance on Japanese television the day before.


    With the blanket pulled over her head, Seoyeon groaned, worrying that she might reflexively kick the covers off.


    "I don¡¯t want to pay for a broken blanket," she thought.


    "What if I get a strange reputation?"


    Apparently, she¡¯d trended number one on Japanese Twitter.


    She couldn¡¯t just go outside now without the risk of being recognized...


    "Especially since people often ask actors to reenact famous scenes."


    "Seoyeon, you really went too far this time...""I expected Seoyeon to surprise us, but this is beyond imagination lol""Seoyeon¡¯s flying antics on variety shows are known, but now she¡¯s crawling around lmao""By the way, how did Seoyeon punch through that mannequin?""Wouldn¡¯t be Seoyeon if she couldn¡¯t break it.""Wait, was that crawling bit acting or real?""She¡¯s scared of ghosts, isn¡¯t she? Probably real.""Actually, I have a friend at Yeonhwa High, and Seoyeon did a haunted house there. It might be acting.""Seriously??? Did she use that here too? Lol was she crawling back then too?""Yup, but back then, she flipped upside down and did a bridge crawl.""????? What the heck???""Is it the ''dragon crawl'' I¡¯m thinking of?""Yup, but she was so fast, they said running away was almost impossible.""As absurd as it sounds, this is Seoyeon we¡¯re talking about, so it¡¯s probably true lol""Come on, without video, I won¡¯t believe it."


    "Now that part I understand."


    "Honestly, she¡¯s like a character straight out of an anime."


    "That¡¯s true!"


    Jet-black hair, striking red eyes, pale skin¡ªshe looked like a fantasy character come to life. Rumors about her red eyes were already circulating, with some speculating supernatural abilities.


    "Long, black hair, red eyes, pale skin... a high school actress with amazing physical abilities."


    "Isn¡¯t that a bit much? Sounds like a character profile," his colleague chuckled.


    "But it¡¯s true."


    Yesterday¡¯s intense reactions were mostly from fans who were enchanted by her unique aura and impressive performance on the show.


    And she was funny.


    Her unexpected reactions were fresh for Japanese viewers, who were used to scripted reactions on prank shows.


    "Now everyone¡¯s searching for Ju Seoyeon."


    "Right? But since no one was paying attention to her before, nobody knows where she¡¯s staying."


    It was as though he were talking about someone else entirely. His colleague, Muroga Ouki, squinted.


    "You know, right?"


    "Hm?"


    "You were interested in Ju Seoyeon before she came to Japan."


    Furihata grinned.


    He did know. He¡¯d even visited the set after the filming had wrapped, though he hadn¡¯t managed to meet her directly.


    "I heard she¡¯d be touring Akihabara. I assume she¡¯s staying at a nearby hotel."


    "Akihabara?"


    "She might be interested in cameras or electronics."


    The area did have a strong presence of those stores. He hadn¡¯t considered that an actress might come for an otaku tour.


    Recalling the events, Furihata spoke up to Ouki.


    "We could ask around the hotels in Akihabara. There aren¡¯t too many high-end options there."


    "Yeah, good idea."


    As they stood up from the cafe, ready to search, a surprised shout came from Ouki.


    "Y-Yuito!"


    Ouki was pointing across the crosswalk, where they saw a distinctive figure.


    She was nervously adjusting her phone and glancing around, dressed in an eye-catching goth outfit.


    "She¡¯s covered up, but she¡¯s clearly a beautiful girl. So?"


    "That¡¯s Ju Seoyeon."


    "Really?"


    "She briefly lowered her mask while looking at her reflection in the cafe window."


    "Seriously?"


    Standing up abruptly, Ouki had caught the fleeting moment.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Absolutely. With a face like hers, there¡¯s no mistake."


    "Why¡¯s she in Shibuya? Is Narumi Sora with her?"


    "Nope, she¡¯s alone."


    Why would she be in Shibuya instead of Akihabara? And what was up with that outfit?


    But if that really was Ju Seoyeon...


    "We have to get her."


    If someone this popular was wandering around, it was the perfect chance for an interview.


    "The crosswalk¡¯s open!"


    "Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go!"


    They hurried to follow her, but Seoyeon, blending into the crowd, walked with a slightly hesitant stride.


    "Maybe... I shouldn¡¯t have worn this," she thought, her regret mounting.

 Chapter 198

    Seoyeon had limited options on where to go alone. She managed to grab a meal at a nearby McDonald''s.


    Even without speaking the language, kiosks were intuitive enough. After eating, she briefly pondered where to head next.


    "I¡¯ve already explored so much of Akihabara."


    She wanted to check out some secondhand shops, but knowing herself, she''d probably end up buying something she didn¡¯t need. Seoyeon was well aware of her lack of self-restraint when it came to things she liked.


    So, the best solution was to avoid temptation altogether.


    "Today, I¡¯ll go somewhere besides Akihabara!"


    Feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity about exploring on her own, she decided to head toward the train station. The destination that came to mind? Shibuya.


    "There¡¯s a lot to see there."


    She''d heard that the Poke?mon Center in Shibuya was particularly large, and it gave her a good excuse to visit. She boarded the subway with that in mind.


    Compared to her otaku-style sightseeing so far, this would be a more subdued form of window-shopping. If Sora had been with her, she would have questioned why Seoyeon hadn¡¯t done this sooner.


    "I should get something for Dad."


    Seoyeon knew her father, Yeongbin, was a Poke?mon fan. She wandered through the store, browsing for something to take back to him when something caught her eye.


    "Huh?"


    She spotted two women wearing what could only be described as gothic lolita fashion. Their outfits were striking, and their faces were quite pretty. While she¡¯d seen a few people dressed like this in Akihabara, it always left her with the same sense of amazement.


    "So people really dress like that in Japan. Incredible," she thought, glancing at them as they walked by.


    "This place is always so crowded," one of the women said.


    "There¡¯s not much to see, though. Let¡¯s just go to the Lush store downstairs," the other replied.


    "This is about the aesthetic, you know?"


    Their conversation wasn¡¯t in Japanese¡ªit was in Korean.


    "Wait, they¡¯re Korean?"


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t expected that at all. The idea that Koreans would wear such outfits while sightseeing was completely unexpected.


    She instinctively followed them with her eyes. Their outfits were what people called "landmine fashion," popular in subcultures lately.


    "Why though?"


    Were these women just unique? Or was it a cosplay-like trend? Pondering this, she descended a floor from the Poke?mon Center and noticed a shop that grabbed her attention.


    "Huh?"


    It was a store specializing in landmine-style gothic lolita fashion¡ªexactly the kind of clothes the women she¡¯d seen earlier were wearing.


    "Interesting."


    In an otherwise ordinary shopping mall, this store stood out. Her curiosity got the better of her. As an otaku herself, she couldn¡¯t help but feel drawn to it. Approaching the shop, she felt several pairs of eyes on her.


    "Why is everyone staring?"


    She was sure her face was well-hidden behind a mask. Did someone recognize her?


    "But I¡¯ve only appeared on one variety show!"


    Even if the show had gone viral, surely most people wouldn¡¯t know her. She¡¯d covered her face with a black mask and styled her hair differently. While she¡¯d worn her hair down on TV, today, she¡¯d tied it into twin tails.


    At first, she thought she was imagining things, but every time she examined the clothes, she felt those stares persist. It wasn¡¯t that anyone had recognized her; rather, it was her appearance that drew attention.


    "Wow, seriously? Stunning."


    "Are those contact lenses? Should I ask where she got them?"


    "Her clothes look ordinary, but she¡¯s clearly experienced."


    Her naturally red, glimmering eyes, paired with the black mask¡ªa staple of landmine fashion¡ªand her twin-tailed hairstyle made her stand out. Even though her clothes were ordinary, she looked every bit the quintessential landmine girl.


    Her sharp gaze, pale skin, and strikingly pretty features were impossible to ignore, even with her face partially covered.


    A shop assistant approached her.


    "Are you looking for anything in particular?" she asked.


    Seoyeon blinked at her.


    "What¡¯s she saying?"


    While she didn¡¯t know much Japanese, she could grasp the gist of what was being said from context.


    "Is she asking if I¡¯m looking for clothes?"@@@@


    The problem was that even if she understood, she didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    "Mata setana? Tamare? No, wait, what should I say?"


    She recalled the time she¡¯d tried saying, "Hey, woman," to a cashier in a convenience store and been scolded by Sora and Eun-ha afterward. Words like "onna" and "kisama" were now strictly off-limits.


    Better to say nothing at all, they¡¯d warned her repeatedly.


    Why though? She¡¯d just been repeating lines from anime.


    "Um, excuse me."


    And that would surely harm her carefully maintained image as a sophisticated actress...


    Or would it?


    Is this better than being a crawling ghost?


    At least this was fashion. And really, wasn¡¯t this similar to Jo Seohui¡¯s "Zero Ro" costume from that theme park event?


    Besides, after what I did on that variety show...


    Memories of her crawling performance came flooding back. While people had praised her as a "genius actress," her introduction to the Japanese public as a crawling ghost still stung.


    She now understood how hard it was to fix a first impression.


    Between being labeled a landmine girl and a crawling ghost, though...


    "Who are you?" she asked, deciding to hear the reporters out before bolting.


    Meanwhile, Narumi Sora and Park Eun-ha were in despair the moment they woke up.


    Seoyeon had disappeared.


    Sora looked at Eun-ha with uncertainty.


    "Should we call her?"


    "I tried already. She¡¯s not answering. What the hell is Seoyeon doing?"


    Eun-ha¡¯s exasperated words made Sora flinch. The phrase ¡°what the hell¡± had come out so naturally that it was hard to deny. Truth be told, Seoyeon did have a knack for getting into trouble.


    Whether intentional or not.


    More often than not, she failed to realize her celebrity status, frequently walking around without properly covering her face.


    Especially in Japan, where she thought no one would recognize her, she¡¯d been parading around with her face fully exposed.


    "After what happened yesterday, someone¡¯s bound to recognize her..."


    Eun-ha was worried¡ªnot about Seoyeon getting into trouble, but about the trouble finding Seoyeon.


    She knew. She knew Seoyeon had been obsessed with martial arts manga lately.


    When Eun-ha had cautiously asked if Seoyeon planned on taking up martial arts herself, Seoyeon had confidently replied, "Lions don¡¯t train."


    It was a line straight out of an anime, paired with a smug smile.


    At least it seemed Seoyeon wasn¡¯t planning to pick fights anytime soon, so Eun-ha had felt relieved. But knowing Seoyeon, if someone did pick a fight with her, there was no way she¡¯d back down.


    "Maybe we should check the news? Something might have happened," Eun-ha suggested in a panic.


    Sora, who had been equally frantic, managed to regain her composure.


    "Manager, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a reasonable idea."


    Thinking their celebrity might end up on the news wasn¡¯t exactly comforting. Then again, with Seoyeon, you could never completely rule it out.


    "Right, right. I must have panicked. But you know how Seoyeon is¡ªshe¡¯s a bit of a wild card. She tends to... blow up in unexpected ways."


    For the most part, Seoyeon was a kind and level-headed person. The problem was that when she got excited, she became utterly uncontrollable.


    Japan, being deeply tied to Seoyeon¡¯s hobbies, was like a match waiting to ignite. She was practically a ticking time bomb.


    "Let¡¯s just keep trying to call her. If we go looking and miss her, it¡¯ll only make things worse."


    Seoyeon had at least left a note before vanishing. It said she¡¯d gone to Shibuya.


    Not Akihabara, but Shibuya.


    So they waited, nervously pacing the hotel room, for hours.


    Finally, as the sun began to set, the door creaked open.


    "Seoyeon, are you oka¡ª"


    Eun-ha rushed to the entrance but froze mid-sentence.


    Sora, curious about Eun-ha¡¯s reaction, peeked over her shoulder¡ªand froze as well.


    What on earth happened?


    They¡¯d thought Seoyeon was a bit of a loose cannon, but to think she¡¯d return as a full-on landmine girl was beyond their imagination.


    And then, as if to top it off¡ª


    "I had an interview," Seoyeon announced casually.


    "Huh? An interview?"


    In that outfit?


    Sure, she looked stunning¡ªalmost too much so. It was like a manga character had walked straight into reality.


    "Oh, and it looks like I¡¯ll be doing a cameo in a drama."


    "What?!"


    Eun-ha and Sora could only stand there, completely dumbfounded.


    Nothing about this was expected.

 Chapter 199

    Yuito, a journalist for the Tokyo Daily, was genuinely grateful for having learned Korean.


    Without it, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to call out to Seoyeon, let alone conduct an interview with her.


    Why was she walking around without a translator?


    Questions swirled in his mind. Why was she alone? Why was she dressed in landmine fashion? Was it just a disguise? If so, why not choose something less conspicuous?


    "So, we¡¯ve got her attention... but what exactly are we going to ask in this interview?"


    "Honestly, I didn¡¯t think that far ahead," Ouki, his colleague, admitted sheepishly.


    While the two reporters exchanged whispers, Seoyeon excused herself to make a quick call in Korean.


    She said she needed to confirm something about this impromptu interview, possibly with her management.


    About ten minutes later, Seoyeon returned.


    Sitting quietly, she exuded an aura that left Yuito momentarily speechless.


    This outfit suits her almost... unnervingly well.


    He swallowed hard. Her calm, unyielding gaze, even with half her face hidden by a mask, radiated an intensity that made speaking difficult. Her presence was commanding. It even made him question how he had mustered the courage to approach her earlier.


    But he was a journalist, and scoops didn¡¯t catch themselves.


    "As I mentioned earlier, we¡¯re reporters from the Tokyo Daily," Yuito began.


    Seoyeon nodded, glancing at the business card he¡¯d given her.


    I have no idea what¡¯s written on this.


    She was tempted to use Papago to translate it but decided against it. The atmosphere didn¡¯t feel right for that. At least she could read the kanji for "Tokyo" and the logo on the card looked professional.


    If they were paparazzi, they¡¯d have just taken pictures and left.


    Had that been the case, she would have chased them down to confiscate the film. But their professional demeanor and willingness to introduce themselves reassured her.


    "How did you recognize me?" she asked.


    It was Ouki, not Yuito, who answered. He explained how he¡¯d seen her reflection in the cafe? window when she¡¯d briefly removed her mask.


    So the inside was visible after all, Seoyeon thought, surprised. She¡¯d assumed the semi-transparent glass only worked one way.


    Even so, for him to identify her from that fleeting glimpse spoke volumes about his observational skills.


    "Will this interview include photographs?"


    "Uh, not if you don¡¯t want it to!" Yuito responded quickly, eager to put her at ease.


    That reply earned some trust, but Seoyeon shook her head.


    "You can include photos."


    "Really? Are you sure?"


    "If it¡¯s an interview, having pictures makes it more believable, doesn¡¯t it?"


    Seoyeon understood how many fake articles circulated in Japan. Including pictures would lend credibility.


    "And since I¡¯ve never worn anything like this in Korea, they¡¯ll know it¡¯s from Japan."


    Yuito and Ouki exchanged glances.


    Not only were they okay with this, but they were thrilled to the point of disbelief. A Korean actress in landmine fashion, a style trending in subcultures¡ªthis would capture attention for sure.


    The look suited her so well it almost felt surreal.


    "Then... may we take a photo?"


    "Please, allow me too," Ouki added eagerly.@@@@


    Seoyeon posed with a casual V-sign as they snapped a few pictures. The results were stunning. Even she thought they turned out well.


    A photo like this could change my image.


    Yuito nodded, jotting down her response.


    "Please include that line in the interview."


    "Which part?"


    "About the manga and why I like it."


    "Understood."


    Seoyeon sighed in relief. She¡¯d almost contradicted her goal of shedding the "ferocious" image she was trying to escape.


    That was close.


    The rest of the interview consisted of fairly standard questions:


    "Why did you come to Japan?"


    "Do you have a favorite Japanese actor?"


    "What¡¯s your favorite Japanese food?"


    Most of her answers were normal, though a few stood out as quirky. Compared to her enthusiasm about manga, her responses to other topics felt more lukewarm.


    Is this her concept?


    Japanese celebrities often had unique personas, but for foreign actors, this wasn¡¯t usually necessary. Still, her answers seemed to cater to a specific niche: otaku fans.


    "Finally, one last question..."


    Yuito hesitated before recalling a trending topic from Twitter¡ªcomments from a certain Japanese director.


    "Do you know Kakeba Hiro?"


    "Kakeba Hiro?"


    Seoyeon frowned slightly, trying to recall. While she had an extensive knowledge of entertainment, foreign directors weren¡¯t her strong suit.


    "Sorry, I haven¡¯t heard of him."


    "That¡¯s understandable. He¡¯s a rising talent here in Japan¡ªconsidered a genius director."


    Kakeba Hiro was known for his innovative approach to filming, targeting international audiences rather than sticking to conventional Japanese drama styles. His work had moderate success but was gaining traction for its unique perspective.


    "He recently posted several tweets about you after watching your variety show."


    "Really?"


    Twitter was practically a national pastime in Japan, used by all ages. Yuito showed her Kakeba Hiro¡¯s tweets, translated into Korean:


    @kakeba_hiro:


    "I watched Ju Seoyeon on a variety show and became curious about her. After seeing The Chaser¡¯s Japanese trailer, I was impressed by her acting range."


    @kakeba_hiro:


    "The gap between her roles in Dream Future and The Chaser is striking. Same actress, completely different vibes."


    @kakeba_hiro:


    "I heard Japanese networks are in talks to air Sky Garden. Initially, I was skeptical, but now I¡¯m interested. I¡¯d love the chance to work with Ju Seoyeon."


    Seeing the tweets, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel a little embarrassed. Compliments were always nice, but reading them so directly made her blush.


    Also... that wasn¡¯t acting.


    She knew better than to clarify. Letting them believe it was all intentional was much safer for her image.


    Back at the hotel, Seoyeon casually mentioned the interview and potential cameo to Eun-ha and Sora, leaving them both stunned.


    "Wait, what?! A cameo?"


    "Well, sort of... the director wants to meet on set to discuss it."


    Though surprised, Eun-ha sighed in relief. At least Seoyeon hadn¡¯t done anything reckless.


    Seoyeon, meanwhile, was already plotting.


    This could open up opportunities in the Japanese market. If I handle this right, I can come here for work more often...


    Satisfied with her plan, she nodded to herself.

 Chapter 200

    The filming location that Director Kakeba Hiro had agreed upon was a deserted alleyway.


    Nearby, there was a playground, suggesting that the two scenes would be connected.


    "There are so many actors in school uniforms here."


    Of course, only a few of them were actual high school students. Most of them were adults.


    According to what Seoyeon had heard, the lead actress and a few other female actors were indeed supposed to be high school students.


    ¡°I never imagined we¡¯d meet under these circumstances.¡±


    Kakeba Hiro was a tall man with a strong, masculine appearance.


    He seemed to be in his mid-thirties, with looks that could easily be described as handsome.


    It was no surprise that he had many female fans among young actors.


    "D-Director Kakeba says it¡¯s an honor to meet you."


    "The pleasure is mine."


    Seoyeon bowed politely as she responded.


    Then, she hesitated, wondering if she should add anything.


    Having never watched any of Director Kakeba Hiro¡¯s works, she wasn¡¯t sure where to start.


    Seoyeon subtly glanced at Sora, silently pleading for help.


    Catching Seoyeon¡¯s gaze, Sora, now accustomed to such situations, began translating.@@@@


    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet the renowned Director Kakeba Hiro. I¡¯m Ju Seoyeon, a Korean actress. I¡¯ve heard you mentioned a cameo role. Please guide me, and I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    Though Seoyeon didn¡¯t understand the exact words, judging from Kakeba Hiro¡¯s expression, the statement seemed to have been well-received.


    ¡°This is convenient.¡±


    Director Kakeba didn¡¯t understand Korean.


    This meant Seoyeon could say whatever came to mind, and Sora would handle translating it appropriately.


    Of course, if Kakeba could understand Korean, Seoyeon wouldn¡¯t have spoken so freely, but since he couldn¡¯t, there was no helping it.


    Seoyeon sat with Director Kakeba in a separate space and exchanged some light conversation.


    For reference, present at the table was:


    ¡°It would be great if you could also talk a bit about The Chaser.¡±


    Yuito, a journalist who had organized the meeting, seemed to be in an excellent mood, grinning ear-to-ear.


    After all, an article about Ju Seoyeon meeting Kakeba Hiro would undoubtedly generate high traffic.


    ¡°Ah, please don¡¯t spoil The Chaser for me. I¡¯m planning to watch it without knowing anything beforehand.¡±


    ¡°Ah, of course! That makes sense.¡±


    ¡°By the way, I believe your name is Furihata? Thank you for setting up this meeting with Actress Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    Furihata was Yuito¡¯s last name.


    Even though the request was sudden, Kakeba had readily agreed because Yuito had dangled a tempting bait¡ªSeoyeon¡¯s photograph in a direct message.


    Kakeba couldn¡¯t resist.


    He was that intrigued by Seoyeon.


    ¡°I want to see her acting in person.¡±


    Thus, he had hoped she would agree to appear even in a brief cameo role.


    ¡°So, what kind of role is it?¡±


    ¡°Since it¡¯s a cameo, the screen time won¡¯t exceed a minute. Think of it as a quirky high school girl who crosses paths with the protagonist on the street.¡±


    The conversation continued through Sora¡¯s interpretation.


    A ¡°quirky¡± character?


    Noticing Seoyeon¡¯s reaction, Sora added an explanation.


    ¡°In Korean terms, it¡¯s like a 4D personality type.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know what that means.¡±


    Rather than being confused, Seoyeon found the role surprisingly distinct for a cameo appearance.


    The reason was simple.


    The character had been improvised by Kakeba after seeing Seoyeon¡¯s costume from a previous project.


    Inspired by her appearance in a ¡°landmine style¡± outfit from a photograph, he had crafted the character on the spot.


    ¡°Thoughtful script.¡±


    The lines Seoyeon received were written in Japanese with Korean pronunciation guides and translations.


    The total screen time was less than a minute, just as Kakeba had said.


    ¡°For now, feel free to relax before filming begins.¡±


    After a brief conversation, Kakeba stood up.


    Yuito followed him, perhaps for a separate interview.


    ¡°I guess we should wait nearby too.¡±


    Walking around was out of the question; Seoyeon had already attracted curious gazes during her talk with Kakeba.


    ¡°A Korean actress?¡±


    ¡°Why all of a sudden? Who is she?¡±


    Many Japanese actors on set were eyeing Seoyeon with curiosity.


    Though some seemed skeptical, Kakeba Hiro was a director who took his craft seriously.


    He wouldn¡¯t invite someone onto his set simply because they were popular or because he liked them.


    He prioritized actors who fit his vision and could deliver their roles, even for extras.


    ¡°Apparently, she was on a variety show recently.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s why she looks familiar.¡±


    ¡°But, how should I put it...¡±


    Some of them swallowed nervously.


    Seoyeon, quietly reviewing her script, was a striking figure.


    Even in an industry full of beautiful and handsome actors, she stood out.


    ¡°Wow, honestly, with looks like that, who cares if her acting is mediocre?¡±


    ¡°I looked her up¡ªapparently, she¡¯s famous in Korea as a genius actress.¡±


    ¡°Well, if she¡¯s promoted as a genius, I guess it¡¯s justified.¡±


    There was a stereotype that attractive actors often lacked acting skills.


    Especially younger ones¡ªthey sometimes relied on their looks to cover for any deficiencies.


    "Wow!!"


    Heads turned as Seoyeon appeared on set in her landmine-style outfit.


    ¡®It really does suit her.¡¯


    When she had worn the outfit at the hotel, it had been more of a casual look.


    But today, with full makeup, Seoyeon¡¯s appearance was flawless.


    She looked so natural in the costume that it was hard to believe it was merely a role.


    No, if anything, she seemed born for this kind of eccentric, quirky image.


    "Let¡¯s start off lightly," said Director Kakeba, clapping his hands.


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    Filming was rarely completed in just one or two takes; it often required long hours of shooting.


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes darted around, quickly scanning the scene.


    It seemed like she was assessing the camera positions.


    But there wasn¡¯t much to figure out.


    Unlike Korean dramas, Japanese productions didn¡¯t use as many cameras.


    ¡®Their primary cameras are high-quality, but they don¡¯t have many.¡¯


    It was a manpower issue.


    They didn¡¯t have the staff needed to operate a variety of cameras.


    ¡®Budget constraints, probably.¡¯


    Korean drama productions typically had larger budgets than their Japanese counterparts.


    Even the filming locations reflected this.


    The alley and playground nearby, while serviceable, were far from ideal.


    It was clear that the locations were chosen due to limited permissions from local authorities.


    Seoyeon took a deep breath, observing the actors taking their designated positions.


    As she watched them, she mentally overlaid the tone of First Love Moment, the Japanese drama she had been studying since yesterday.


    This wasn¡¯t a Korean drama.


    It wasn¡¯t just the equipment that differed¡ªit was the entire approach.


    ¡®I¡¯m just a cameo.¡¯


    Her screen time would barely last a minute.


    A quick appearance, a few lines, and that would be it.


    But she had no intention of treating it lightly.


    Even if her motivation stemmed from personal ambition, her professional dedication as an actress was unwavering.


    ¡°Ah, whatever! Kusakabe-kun, do whatever you want!¡±


    ¡°Sato, you can¡¯t just¡ª!!¡±


    The exaggerated gestures and dramatic delivery stood out, even compared to other Japanese dramas.


    But it was still distinctly different from Korean acting styles.


    Seoyeon subtly moved her lips, mimicking the intonations and delivery she had heard.


    The tone, the drama¡¯s unique atmosphere¡ªshe absorbed it like a sponge.


    It was like selecting the perfect paint color for a canvas.


    To Seoyeon, this process was second nature.


    When it was her turn to step onto the set, the actors who were to appear alongside her froze in place.


    A moment ago, Seoyeon had been expressionless, blending into the background.


    Now, her face was vividly painted with the character¡¯s essence¡ªa slightly eerie, unsettling presence of a quirky, ¡°4D¡± high school girl.


    Her sudden transformation was so striking that the actors paused mid-step, caught off guard.


    ¡°Earlier, you asked why I was the one reading the script out loud, right?¡±


    Sora¡¯s voice broke the silence as she turned to Yuito, answering the question he had asked earlier.


    ¡°Actually, Seoyeon was already rehearsing back at the hotel.¡±


    ¡°Rehearsing? At the hotel?¡±


    But Yuito was no longer paying full attention to Sora.


    His eyes were locked on Seoyeon, pen and notebook in hand, as though he couldn¡¯t afford to miss a single moment.


    ¡°Yes, she was refining the tone of her performance.¡±


    ¡°The tone?¡±


    ¡°And her pronunciation.¡±


    Even with the lines written out phonetically, delivering them in Japanese required capturing the nuances¡ªthe emotions embedded in the words.


    Seoyeon had repeatedly listened to Sora read the lines, interpreting the character in her own way.


    It was a blend of Japanese and Korean acting styles.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? A handsome oppa all alone?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice rang out, embodying the creepy yet oddly charming essence of her character.


    Her tone was exaggerated, with a slightly nasally, playful edge¡ªjust enough to sell the quirky vibe without feeling unnatural.


    She was unsettling yet endearing, like a caricature of a landmine-style girl.


    The balance was impeccable.


    And in that moment, all eyes were on her.


    Even though she was just a nameless extra, she had captured the entire set¡¯s attention.

 Chapter 201

    To be honest, there were only three people who had anticipated Seoyeon delivering such a performance:


    Narumi Sora, Director Kakeba Hiro, and journalist Furihata Yuito.


    Everyone else had a different impression of her.


    "Isn¡¯t she that creepy girl from that variety show the other day?"


    "Wasn¡¯t she crawling on the ground like a ghost?"


    The broadcast had hyped it up as ¡°Hidden Camera Prank: The Genius Actress Dokkiri!¡±, but from that alone, no one could really tell how skilled she was at acting.


    There had been no lines, no expressions, no emotions¡ªjust her scaring someone. That¡¯s not enough to judge acting talent.


    ¡°Genius actress¡± was a term thrown around far too often.


    As long as someone was young and could act a little, agencies or broadcasters would slap the label on them to promote them.


    This seemed like one of those cases.


    At least, that¡¯s what they thought.


    But then...


    "What¡¯s this? What¡¯s this? Why are you alone? Did you get dumped?"


    The line wasn¡¯t anything special.


    It came from a group of extras crowding around, loudly chattering.


    However, the voice that rang out belonged to Seoyeon, and it was sharp, lively, and completely different from the quiet demeanor she had just shown.


    Her steps were light, her posture slightly bent, as she glanced up at Kento from below, her gaze deliberately angled.


    Then, as though there were no boundaries¡ªor perhaps intentionally¡ªshe pressed her index finger against the man¡¯s chest.


    "So what if you¡¯re bored? I¡¯m totally free~."


    Her tone was like that of a woman teasing a stranger on the street¡ªa type you¡¯d instinctively want to avoid.


    The kind of ¡°landmine-style¡± girl who would cause trouble if you engaged with her.


    In real life, encountering someone like that would be unpleasant, but in a drama, it was entirely different.


    Her appearance, her voice, and her natural presence all demanded attention.


    "S-sorry, but I¡¯d like to be alone."


    The actor playing Kento, Hara Sho, felt like he had miraculously managed to get the line out.@@@@


    He had intended to deliver it more coolly, but the girl in front of him had completely stolen his focus, causing him to stutter.


    Ironically, it worked perfectly.


    "What the heck? How boring. Hey, Sacchan, why don¡¯t you give it a try? He¡¯s totally not budging!"


    Seoyeon stepped back, swinging her body playfully and shaking the shoulder of one of her female companions.


    The action was so lively and cute that it naturally drew laughter from the crew.


    "Ugh, this is humiliating. I thought he¡¯d fall for me instantly, but he¡¯s treating me like a nobody!"


    She continued whining, her voice full of exaggerated frustration.


    The other extras began to chime in, one by one, reciting their lines almost automatically.


    Four extras delivered their lines in a chaotic flow.


    In the middle of it all, the landmine-style girl stood with her arms crossed, a dissatisfied expression on her face.


    Those watching the scene felt a sense of unease.


    There were multiple characters on screen, yet:


    "It feels like only one person is there."


    Even though Kento, the male lead, was standing right next to her, everyone¡¯s focus was entirely on one extra.


    The realization dawned on them slowly, and they turned to look at Director Kakeba.


    The presence of this extra was overwhelming the scene.


    It felt like she was dominating the entire shot.


    And then...


    Another figure entered, seamlessly stepping between the two.


    It was Sato Mio, the lead actress of First Love Moment.


    She had been standing off-camera, frozen in place for a moment before she finally forced herself to deliver her lines.


    "Hey! Hey, hey, what are you doing?!"


    She pushed Seoyeon¡¯s character away¡ªor at least, she was supposed to.


    Her movements lacked fluidity, and her line delivery wavered.


    "Ah, I messed up."


    That was her immediate thought.


    "Cut! That¡¯s it for now."


    Director Kakeba raised his hand to stop the scene.


    It was clearly an NG (no good take), yet Kakeba looked absolutely delighted.


    His expression was full of satisfaction.


    While Mio¡¯s entrance had broken the flow, everything before that had been excellent.


    ¡®Could she not know?¡¯


    It was possible. The scene had been added at the last minute, after all.


    Seoyeon typed back a reply:


    ¡°It works fine as a bridge between scenes.¡±


    Reika blinked as though realizing something for the first time.


    Based solely on the earlier performance, it would¡¯ve seemed like Seoyeon had overstepped her role as an extra.


    But in the context of the show, it wouldn¡¯t feel that way at all.


    The scene had followed a heated argument between Mio and Kento.


    The tension had already been set, and Seoyeon¡¯s strong presence only emphasized Kento¡¯s emotional state.


    In fact, it needed to be that way.


    The audience had to see that Kento was vulnerable and off-balance.


    Once Mio appeared, the dynamic shifted, and the tension dissolved naturally.


    Even the script reflected this¡ªafter Mio¡¯s entrance, the landmine girl had no further lines.


    This was undoubtedly Director Kakeba¡¯s intention.


    The landmine-style girl wasn¡¯t meant to be a standout character; she was there to reinforce Kento¡¯s performance.


    A new message popped up on Seoyeon¡¯s screen.


    ¡°I... I knew that too.¡±


    Seoyeon looked at the text and thought:


    ¡®Is she... not very bright?¡¯


    She suddenly felt a bit better.


    Reika¡¯s response had a touch of naivety that was almost endearing.


    Most of the people around Seoyeon were quick thinkers, far too sharp for their own good.


    People like Park Jungwoo, Jo Seohui, and even Lee Jiyeon would immediately understand a situation after hearing just a brief explanation.


    Their intelligence was sometimes overwhelming.


    But Reika, with her slower, more uncertain reactions, was a refreshing change.


    She was like a slightly ditzy version of Jo Seohui.


    That¡¯s how Seoyeon decided to categorize her.


    ¡°Are you leaving for Korea now?¡±


    Reika added this follow-up message, seemingly a little embarrassed.


    ¡°Yes. The shoot is over, so I¡¯ll be heading back.¡±


    It was true. After a long break, it was time to return to Korea and begin filming Gyeongseong Lady in earnest.


    And after that...


    She had to prepare for her role in Director Jo Bangwoo¡¯s film.


    Her schedule was packed.


    ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t make the same mistakes as today.¡±


    Reika¡¯s determination was clear in her message. She glanced up at Seoyeon, her gaze sharp with effort.


    It might¡¯ve been intimidating to someone else, but to Seoyeon, who was used to the piercing eyes of people like Jo Seohui and Lee Jiyeon, Reika¡¯s attempt felt more like a chick trying to look fierce.


    Her demeanor and actions resembled a second-rate Jo Seohui, but her gentle appearance softened the impact.


    ¡°Just wait and see.¡±


    With that, Reika turned dramatically and walked away, exuding the pride of a lead actress.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Seoyeon suddenly remembered something she had meant to ask.


    ¡®That actress who called Sora a servant...¡¯


    While Seoyeon could usually ignore insults aimed at herself, she was sensitive to others being belittled.


    When she overheard that comment earlier, she¡¯d been tempted to step in.


    ¡®I should¡¯ve scolded her. At least given her a light smack.¡¯


    But she had missed the moment.


    ¡®Well, it¡¯s probably better if Sora handles it herself.¡¯


    Once Mine was released, Sora¡¯s fame would likely skyrocket.


    And so, Seoyeon¡¯s extended break in Japan came to an end.


    ¡°Wait, why is Ju Seoyeon in this Japanese drama?¡±


    ¡°What?! Seriously?¡±


    A small ripple began to spread online.

 Chapter 202

    The long trip to Japan had finally come to an end.


    To be honest, Seoyeon was more than satisfied.


    She was so content that she thought she wouldn''t need to visit again for a while, and she''d bought plenty of stuff to boot.


    Now, all that was left was to go home and decorate her place with the merchandise she''d collected.


    Just the thought of putting up posters and organizing her purchases was enough to make her feel giddy.


    "Doesn¡¯t Ramiel sell any merch?"


    The thought suddenly crossed Seoyeon''s mind.


    However, knowing Lee Jiyeon¡¯s personality, it didn¡¯t seem like something she¡¯d be inclined to do.


    "This is why she should¡¯ve joined a corporate group," she mused.


    In her previous life, Ramiel had been a highly successful corporate VTuber.


    Naturally, that meant a lot of merch had been released back then.


    But at the time, Seoyeon didn¡¯t really understand the appeal of buying merchandise, so she hadn¡¯t made any purchases.


    In hindsight, it was a true shame.


    Now that she had the money, fate had shifted, and she was in a cruel position where she couldn¡¯t buy any of it...


    "No, I guess it¡¯s not that cruel."


    From Jiyeon¡¯s perspective, staying a VTuber as a hobby while focusing on her original dream of becoming an actress was probably a better outcome.


    Thinking of it that way, sacrificing Ramiel¡¯s merchandise was a small price to pay.


    "...I¡¯ll just make it myself later."


    Anyway, she had brought back plenty of materials for it.


    She hadn¡¯t planned on it at first, but walking around Akihabara had sparked her interest in that kind of stuff.


    ¡°Seoyeon, are you ready for tomorrow¡¯s variety show appearance?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t that supposed to be the haunted inn segment they filmed?


    That¡¯s what she thought, but apparently, that wasn¡¯t the case.


    ¡°The one you were originally scheduled for is an interview show, remember?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The haunted inn bit had been nothing more than a hidden-camera prank the broadcasting station set up purely to surprise her.


    In other words, it was separate from the variety show she was actually supposed to appear on.


    As it turned out, the original show wasn¡¯t particularly remarkable.


    It was the type of interview program where various panelists asked her questions about her role in the currently popular drama, Dream Future.


    ¡°To think there¡¯d still be one more thing left to do.¡±


    And so, with that realization, Seoyeon wrapped up her final variety show appearance and finally returned to Korea for real.


    Up to that point, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.


    There wasn¡¯t an overwhelming crowd waiting for her when she arrived in Korea or anything like that.


    She simply returned home, unpacked, and slept soundly.


    However, while Seoyeon was sleeping peacefully...


    The internet was abuzz with discussions about her.


    Not in Korea, but overseas.


    "What exactly has Ju Seoyeon been up to in Japan?"


    "-? Why?"


    "I¡¯m watching a Japanese drama right now, and Ju Seoyeon is in it."


    "??"


    At first, it wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    A community user had uploaded a clip of Seoyeon¡¯s scene from the drama.


    Since her part was only about a minute long, there was no need for heavy editing.


    "What is this? Seriously?"


    "Is that Ju Seoyeon playing a landmine girl? Whoa."


    "She feels kind of different from usual, though?"


    The red eyes, the sly smile.


    The subtle, flirtatious movements¡ªeverything about her was unlike the usual Seoyeon.


    Most of all, her appearance perfectly suited the ¡°landmine girl¡± aesthetic.


    "Well, Ju Seoyeon was always kind of a landmine herself."


    "Yeah, I mean, she does explode when you step on her, so it fits."


    Such jokes floated around, but Seoyeon¡¯s one-minute appearance was far too impactful for an extra.


    Even with other actors in the scene, it was as if she was the only one who existed.


    Her black hair, pale skin, and striking red eyes perfectly captured the essence of the archetype.


    "Who is this actress?"


    "-? Don¡¯t you know Ju Seoyeon?"


    "Nope, never heard of her."


    Reply: "Really? I¡¯m not the only one then."


    484: "Super cute, lol. It¡¯s like her face was born to be a landmine girl."Reply: "Honestly, I don¡¯t know how to feel about that, lol."


    503: "Landmine girls are surprisingly dependent on appearance. But this doesn¡¯t feel awkward or like cosplay at all."


    506: "Her eyes aren¡¯t even contacts¡ªthey¡¯re real, lol."Reply: "Red eyes? For real?"Reply: "Apparently, they¡¯re natural. Normally brown but turn red in certain situations."Reply: "What the heck? Is she some kind of superhuman?"


    508: "Saw Soyeon-chan in Japan and became a total fan."


    612: "Honestly, her appearance is peak Japanese style¡ªbig chest and all."


    619: "I heard her mom is a total beauty with huge assets, too."


    622: "What? For real?""- ? True, good point."


    "- Landmine Seoyeon is kinda cute, though. She¡¯s my top pick."


    "- It¡¯s been a while since Seoyeon made my heart flutter."


    "- Honestly, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s face is top-tier. She¡¯s insanely pretty, even if her personality isn¡¯t."


    "- What are you talking about? Have you seen her bouncing around on variety shows? She¡¯s adorable."


    "- Wear the same outfit in Korea too!"


    "- Lol, she¡¯d never do it. Remember when she played Hara? Lol."


    "- But is it even possible to get this much attention from just one minute of screen time? It¡¯s messing with my head."


    "- There¡¯s even a case of someone blowing up from just 10 seconds on screen."


    "- Plus, Ju Seoyeon was in a legendary prank show just a few days ago. That¡¯s why so many people are interested.""Japanese Actress Devastated by Ju Seoyeon¡¯s Acting Skills¡ª¡®I¡¯m Quitting Acting After Seeing Soyeon-san.¡¯""[Breaking News] Green Light for World Cup¡ªJu Seoyeon Joins Korea¡¯s Soccer Team? Japanese Ministry of Defense Responds: ¡®Follow International Law.¡¯""Japanese Actress Becomes Korean Citizen After Seeing Ju Seoyeon¡ª¡®I¡¯m Moving to Korea.¡¯""- An underground fighting ring."


    Seoyeon blinked in confusion.


    A sensation?


    She couldn¡¯t think of any reason why.


    After all, she hadn¡¯t done much.


    She¡¯d been caught in a hidden-camera prank and appeared as a guest on a variety show.


    Even then, it was just an interview-based program¡ªnothing flashy.


    The hidden-camera prank wasn¡¯t even particularly unique; it was a standard feature that most Korean actors eventually went through.


    The only thing remotely unusual was her one-minute cameo in Director Kakeba¡¯s drama.


    Still, Seoyeon didn¡¯t expect that brief appearance to lead to anything special.


    ¡°Jirai Hime.¡±


    ¡°What? Did you just swear at me?¡±


    ¡°...Okay, yeah, that pronunciation is a little rough. My bad.¡±


    For a second, Seoyeon thought Jiyeon had insulted her, but Jiyeon quickly apologized after realizing the misunderstanding.


    Anyway...


    ¡°They¡¯re calling you the Landmine Princess.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°You. Japanese fans are calling you the Landmine Princess.¡±


    Jiyeon showed Seoyeon the trending topics in Japan.


    Apparently, the term ¡°landmine girl¡± was commonly used in Japan as Jirai Onna or sometimes Pien Onna.


    That¡¯s why Seoyeon, who had gone viral, was now being referred to as Jirai Hime or Pien Hime.


    ¡°What the heck is that.¡±


    Why did they have to add ¡°Princess¡±?


    Seoyeon shuddered at the overly cutesy title.


    But in Japan, it wasn¡¯t unusual to attach the word Hime to names.


    Sure enough, in Japan, Seoyeon had officially been dubbed the ¡°Landmine Princess.¡±


    ¡°Well... in a way, I guess it¡¯s better than being labeled a ghost.¡±


    She was relieved that her haunted inn prank wasn¡¯t the defining image people associated with her.


    Even so, being called the ¡°Landmine Princess¡± still left her with mixed feelings.


    She had leaned into the ¡°landmine girl¡± aesthetic for the role, but hearing herself actually referred to that way felt strange.


    ¡°Oh, and by the way, I heard from Jo Seohui yesterday...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was going to tell you, but you seemed tired yesterday, so I didn¡¯t.¡±


    For the record, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t been tired at all.


    Her invincible body had never experienced exhaustion.


    She had simply decided to catch up on sleep because she thought it was about time.


    And after waking up, all she¡¯d done was organize the merchandise she brought back from Japan.


    ¡°Apparently, the Japanese side is moving quickly.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about Gyeongseong Lady.¡±


    Seoyeon, who had suddenly become a massive sensation in Japan, had sparked a rapid response there.


    Once they learned that her next project was the movie Gyeongseong Lady, offers from various parties started pouring in.


    What¡¯s more, Seoyeon¡¯s role in Gyeongseong Lady was that of a Japanese character.


    Naturally, the Japanese industry saw this as an opportunity they couldn¡¯t pass up.


    ¡°It might not be possible to have a simultaneous release, but... it looks like they¡¯re planning to release it in Japan within six months of its debut.¡±


    Normally, the Japanese film industry is highly insular.


    Even blockbuster hits from overseas often take a year or two to reach Japanese theaters.


    For a Korean film to release in Japan within six months was practically unheard of.


    This alone demonstrated how much of an impact Seoyeon had made.


    ¡°Is... is it really that big of a deal?¡±


    Honestly, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t quite grasp it.


    To her, it was just, If this goes well, I¡¯ll have an excuse to visit Japan more often.


    But as events unfolded, it became clear that the buzz was spreading far beyond what she had imagined.


    The anticipation surrounding her next project, Gyeongseong Lady, was skyrocketing.


    ¡°Jo Seohui seems really fired up. She¡¯s been saying how much she¡¯s looking forward to this week¡¯s shoot.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Oh, right.


    The first shoot for Gyeongseong Lady was scheduled for this week.


    Since production had been delayed repeatedly, Jo Seohui was understandably brimming with enthusiasm.


    With the added buzz surrounding the film, it was truly a golden opportunity.


    From Seoyeon¡¯s perspective, it was a good thing too.


    After all, she still needed to become even more famous before she could tackle her eventual ¡°graduation¡± project.

 Chapter 203

    The fact that Seoyeon, the lead actress of Gyeongseong Lady, gained significant recognition in Japan turned out to be a great advantage for the film.


    The movie, while previously unlikely to achieve commercial success due to Director Baek Min¡¯s unique style, still enjoyed a degree of recognition thanks to his reputation.


    Additionally, while most of the cast members were relatively unknown, the inclusion of Jo Seohee and Ju Seoyeon provided the production with considerable star power. On top of that, receiving a love call from Japan put a smile on the faces of existing investors.


    "We actually have one more secret weapon," said Hwang Taesang, the cultural industry director of Best One, with a broad smile as he addressed Park Hoon, a director at the company.


    "Actor Lee Sangsoo."


    Lee Sangsoo, the secret weapon of Gyeongseong Lady, was a renowned Korean actor who hadn¡¯t appeared in any projects since his failed Hollywood debut.@@@@


    "Whether his reputation will live up to expectations, I can¡¯t say."


    "It will. Director Baek Min himself compromised on his vision to accommodate him."


    Park Hoon, who had heard rumors of Lee Sangsoo¡¯s participation but hadn¡¯t known the full story, couldn¡¯t hide his surprise.


    "Is that true?"


    "Yes, straight from Director Baek Min."


    "That¡¯s quite unexpected. For Director Baek Min to adjust his vision... it¡¯s unprecedented."


    "I thought so too. Despite his talents, he¡¯s known for being quite stubborn."


    Director Baek Min prioritized skill over experience and was resolute about his creative direction. If an actor didn¡¯t fit his vision, he wouldn¡¯t cast them, no matter how skilled they were.


    "How did Lee Sangsoo come to join the film? I heard he¡¯s refused every offer so far."


    "Apparently, it was Ju Seoyeon who convinced him personally."


    "Ju Seoyeon?"


    How could a young actress, not even a year into her return, persuade someone like Lee Sangsoo? Was it perhaps due to their connection from the earlier Star Fisherman project? But even that didn¡¯t seem sufficient to explain it.


    "Regardless, it¡¯s good news for Director Baek Min¡¯s movie on multiple fronts."


    "Maybe we have Jo Seohee to thank. She seems close to Ju Seoyeon."


    Jo Seohee, who had never experienced failure since her childhood acting days, was often said to bring good fortune to her projects. She was even playfully referred to as a "luck fairy" by some.


    "Jo Seohee being a fan of Director Baek Min is a stroke of luck."


    "Still, isn¡¯t it unusual that New Like didn¡¯t get involved?"


    "That¡¯s no secret. Jo Seohee herself avoids relying on their support."


    Hwang Taesang thought this was likely just youthful pride on Jo Seohee¡¯s part.


    "She¡¯s young and might find it embarrassing to rely on her parents¡¯ help."


    Or perhaps it was simple self-respect. Every project Jo Seohee participated in was a hit. If New Like had invested in all of them, the profits would have been unimaginable.


    "Well, Jo Seohee is a sharp individual. I¡¯m sure she has her reasons."


    "You seem to know a lot about her."


    "She used to be affiliated with my previous company. I¡¯ve met her a few times."


    Park Hoon gazed out at the Gangnam skyline from their high-rise office, deep in thought.


    "So, it¡¯s safe to say she has her reasons. Maybe something to do with her mother?"


    Or perhaps, purely, she believed relying on New Like would harm her image.


    Using New Like¡¯s power would make Jo Seohee¡¯s acting career much smoother. Directors and producers alike would go out of their way to accommodate her. But once she started down that path, would she ever stop?


    She¡¯d cease to be "actress Jo Seohee" and become simply "New Like¡¯s heiress." Her identity as an actress would become no more than a hobby for a wealthy third-generation chaebol. Perhaps that was the image Jo Seohee wanted to avoid.


    To protect her identity as an actress. A choice most people wouldn¡¯t make.


    "Of course, it¡¯s great news for us."


    A legendary actor, Lee Sangsoo.


    Jo Seohee, one of the most highly regarded young actresses alongside Park Jungwoo.


    And finally, this year¡¯s rising star¡ªJu Seoyeon.


    Currently, interest in Seoyeon is skyrocketing in Japan.


    Is it just because of her looks?


    No, that¡¯s unlikely.


    Seoyeon¡¯s activities in Japan boiled down to three key events:


    A fearless ghost impersonation on a variety show.A one-minute cameo in a drama.A modest promotional event for Dream Future.


    And yet, these were enough to create such a buzz.


    "If Jo Seohee is a luck fairy, then Seoyeon... what would you call her?"


    It was something different¡ªpresence, or perhaps an aura. It wasn¡¯t hard to see why Jo Seohee stuck so closely to her.


    "A supernova."


    Perhaps it was instinct¡ªchasing the starlight that resembled her late mother¡¯s.


    When filming for Gyeongseong Lady finally began, Seoyeon realized she hadn¡¯t given it much thought up to that point.


    But love was different. It required personal understanding and connection with others, making it especially elusive.


    "One day, I want to truly understand it, like other emotions."


    For now, however, she¡¯d have to find a way to fake it.


    "Especially with Jiyeon..."


    The situation boiled down to this: she had to act out a romance with her close friend.


    Her character, Kasugayama Yuina, was a villainess hopelessly in love with the heroine. Realizing this anew gave her a headache.


    "Looking forward to your performance, right?"


    Jo Seohee grinned brightly, completely oblivious to Seoyeon¡¯s inner turmoil. Seoyeon considered glaring at her but decided against it.


    "Yes, I am."


    After all, there were parts of it she was genuinely excited about.


    First, let it be said¡ªJo Seohee was in a fantastic mood.


    The thought of today¡¯s script reading had her so excited that she barely slept the night before.


    To remedy this, she played YouTube sleep music all night, tossing and turning until she finally managed to drift off. Thanks to this, she arrived at the set in excellent condition.


    "Is she nervous about the acting?"


    Seohee noticed that Seoyeon was quieter than usual. It was rare for Seoyeon to be so absorbed in the script, especially before a reading.


    Meanwhile, as for Jiyeon, who had just arrived...


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Her tone was cynical as she spoke up almost immediately. Her sharp eyes and cutting words matched her demeanor. Though she sat properly, mindful of the senior actors present, Seohee couldn¡¯t help but feel skeptical whenever she looked at Jiyeon.


    "She won¡¯t end up in a school violence controversy later, will she?"


    For Seohee, Gyeongseong Lady was an incredibly important project. While she¡¯d gotten to know Jiyeon well enough to be confident she wasn¡¯t the type of person to cause trouble, the suspicion lingered.


    After all, no matter how you looked at her, Jiyeon had the face of a delinquent.


    "Alright, let¡¯s begin shortly. Has everyone introduced themselves? Should I call out names one more time?"


    Director Baek Min¡¯s words lightened the somewhat heavy atmosphere on set. In truth, the script reading session had been unusually quiet.


    The reason wasn¡¯t anything complicated.


    *"Actresses these days sure leave quite an impression."


    "With those three sitting together, it¡¯s a bit... intimidating."


    Seoyeon was focused on her script, while Seohee sat next to her, stealing glances. Meanwhile, Jiyeon, sitting nearby, pretended not to glance at both of them but failed miserably.


    The three of them each had a striking presence, each from a different "genre" of charm. Their combined aura made them difficult to approach, leaving the supporting cast quietly keeping to themselves.


    This silence naturally extended to the set, creating an almost oppressive quiet.


    "Let¡¯s break the ice and start with something light," Director Baek Min suggested, scanning the room to decide who should go first.


    At that moment, Seohee thought to herself, "I¡¯ll go first."


    She shot a meaningful look at Director Baek Min, her eyes sparkling with an eager intensity that practically screamed, "Let me start!"


    "Seoyeon looks like she¡¯s too deep in thought to begin," she reasoned. Given Director Baek Min¡¯s personality, he would most likely call on Seoyeon if no one else volunteered. Seohee figured it was better for her to step in first.


    Just as she was about to gesture more emphatically to make her intention clear...


    "We¡¯ll start with a scene between Lee Jiyeon and Ju Seoyeon," Director Baek Min announced with a smile. "Their scene comes first in the script anyway. Seohee, since you¡¯re so eager, we¡¯ll save you for later."


    His tone was playful, clearly aware of Seohee¡¯s enthusiasm and teasing her with a good-natured joke.


    As a result, Seoyeon, who was unexpectedly called upon to read first, turned her narrowed eyes toward Seohee.


    "This is so unfair," Seohee thought, suddenly feeling genuinely wronged.

 Chapter 204

    In Gyeongseong Lady, Seoyeon¡¯s role was Kasugayama Yuina¡ªthe primary antagonist operating on the surface.


    Behind Yuina¡¯s actions was Goto Isamu, who, ironically, appeared as an ally to the protagonist in the beginning.


    The story began with this:


    Kasugayama Yuina hired the protagonist, Yeon Sunye, for two primary tasks:


    To locate the hidden assets of the Amanabi family and retrieve the keys to unlock them.To eliminate Amanabi Michiko, the family¡¯s sole heir.


    "In return, you¡¯ll receive enough money to live a life of luxury," Yuina said with a twisted smile. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips curved slightly, her smile revealing her sinister nature.


    "Ju Seoyeon¡¯s portrayal of villains never ceases to impress," thought the cast members as they watched.


    "Honestly, she could¡¯ve played the protagonist just as well."


    Even with just her first line, there was something spine-chilling about her performance.


    From the days of her role in Cha Seo-ah, Seoyeon had always excelled in vividly portraying the depths of human depravity.


    "Is this method acting?"


    No. Jiyeon, who received Seoyeon¡¯s performance head-on, knew it wasn¡¯t method acting. Seoyeon¡¯s method acting was even more intense and profound.


    Particularly when playing villains, Seoyeon avoided method acting due to the lasting impact it could have.


    For most actors, villainous roles were the most mentally taxing, and Seoyeon was no exception¡ªif anything, it was worse for her.


    "Oh my, why so silent? A stray dog should wag its tail obediently at its master¡¯s commands."


    With graceful steps, Yuina approached Sunye, her elegant hand touching Jiyeon¡¯s chin.


    Gently, Yuina stroked her chin, her thumb pressing lightly against her lips. As their faces came dangerously close, Jiyeon swallowed hard.


    It wasn¡¯t acting¡ªJiyeon was genuinely flustered by Seoyeon¡¯s proximity.


    Was this really in the script?


    No, such detailed actions weren¡¯t specified. Jiyeon remembered Yuina¡¯s scripted actions as merely ¡°gazing at Sunye with a seductive smile.¡±


    But Seoyeon had clearly added her own interpretation to the character, making it much harder to respond.


    This thought wasn¡¯t unique to Jiyeon; the other actors watching shared similar sentiments.


    "Didn¡¯t the actress playing the protagonist only appear in a few cable dramas before this? She¡¯s not a rookie, but this won¡¯t be easy."


    No one was underestimating Jiyeon¡¯s acting ability.


    It was about presence.


    How could the protagonist assert themselves in the shadow of such a commanding ¡°Yuina¡±?


    It wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    Yeon Sunye was an ordinary girl in the story¡ªa skilled thief but still just a regular person. She was intelligent but far from extraordinary.


    The challenge was striking a delicate balance. If Sunye exuded as much presence as Yuina, it would disrupt the character dynamic. Conversely, if Yuina completely overshadowed Sunye, the protagonist¡¯s significance would diminish.


    It was a fine line to tread¡ªa difficult performance to execute.


    At that moment, Yeon Sunye suddenly bit down on Yuina¡¯s finger, which had been pressing against her lips.


    "Ahhh!!"


    Yuina recoiled in shock, pulling her hand back. Smiling, Sunye spoke:


    "Oh, my apologies. As a stray dog, I can¡¯t help but bite when something comes near my mouth."


    The ad-lib fit perfectly with the previous exchange, feeling so natural that the actors instinctively checked their scripts, wondering if it was an actual line.


    In that moment, Yuina¡¯s overwhelming presence receded, allowing Sunye¡¯s character to shine. Without doing much, Jiyeon¡¯s Sunye established her own distinctiveness.


    The phrase ¡°softness overcomes strength¡± encapsulated the moment perfectly. Sunye had deftly deflected Yuina¡¯s dominance.


    "Of course, as you said, I¡¯ll do everything you command," Sunye added, bowing slightly, her words directed toward the startled Yuina.


    "As long as you keep your promise, my lady."


    Yuina¡¯s eyes narrowed at Sunye¡¯s boldness. Her gaze seemed to say, How dare you, of all people?


    But Yuina couldn¡¯t dismiss Sunye just yet. Sunye wasn¡¯t someone Yuina had brought in herself¡ªshe was Goto Isamu¡¯s recruit.


    Not only was Sunye the most skilled thief in the area, but her audacity in biting Yuina¡¯s finger also highlighted her strong character.


    "Of course," Yuina replied, her voice cold. "When a dog behaves well, it¡¯s a master¡¯s duty to reward it."


    With those words, both Seoyeon and Jiyeon lowered their scripts, concluding Scene #17¡ªthe first meeting between Yuina and Sunye, one of the film¡¯s most pivotal early scenes.


    ...This is something else.


    No one raised their hands to volunteer for the next reading. The scene had left the actors deep in thought, grappling with the weight of what they¡¯d just witnessed.


    "These young actors today are terrifyingly good," thought one of the senior cast members.


    The biggest surprise was Jiyeon. Until now, her career had been limited to cable dramas. No one had expected her to deliver such a performance.


    Her spur-of-the-moment ad-lib had been especially stunning. Even Director Baek Min, who notoriously disliked ad-libbing, had unconsciously nodded in approval.


    "This feels much more natural," he said. "Please replicate this in the actual shoot."


    The script was even adjusted on the spot to incorporate the changes.


    From the very first reading, the performances had been extraordinary, putting the other actors on edge.


    They¡¯d prepared themselves for a challenge under Director Baek Min, but it was clear their acting abilities would be thoroughly tested.


    In turn, Sunye gazes back at Michiko as if looking at a treasured gem.


    The performance had been so natural that Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but admire it.


    "Well, it¡¯s no wonder."


    After all, the character Michiko bore more than a passing resemblance to Ramiel, whom Seohee had embodied countless times before with such care.


    But thinking about the fact that Seohee was the one performing that role now, Seoyeon instinctively rummaged through her bag for a coin.


    "Ah, right... they confiscated it."


    Even her stress-relieving bubble wrap had been taken away.


    Nothing else felt quite as satisfying in her hands, leaving her at a loss.


    ...


    Seoyeon took a moment to glance around.


    She was currently at the KMB broadcast station, where she¡¯d come to discuss the aftermath of her recent Japanese TV appearance.


    Specifically, they were considering filming a new CM related to Dream Future.


    "Looks like The Chaser is planning something too."


    Apparently, the Japanese release date had been moved up, and the film was now set to premiere next month¡ªan exceptionally rare case for a Korean movie.


    With her "landmine princess" and "killer" image in Japan, it seemed Seoyeon¡¯s reputation was anything but ordinary there.


    "Anyway..."


    Clearing her throat, Seoyeon casually opened her script.


    Though the scenes weren¡¯t graphic, they were still enough to make her cheeks flush.


    Some of them were her own.


    "I have to do this with Lee Jiyeon...?"


    Until now, she hadn¡¯t given it much thought, but seeing the scenes in person during the reading had changed that.


    Now she finally understood why Seohee had been so insistent when recommending the role to her.


    "It¡¯s similar to Joharin, but deeper."


    Kasugayama Yuina¡¯s romance scenes shared certain similarities with Joharin¡¯s. Both characters struggled to openly express their feelings for the person they loved.


    And in both cases, those feelings were ultimately doomed to remain unfulfilled.


    "I managed to bluff my way through Joharin, but this feels impossible."


    Seoyeon felt a tinge of worry.


    Her acting was fundamentally rooted in crafting emotions. If she couldn¡¯t fully grasp Yuina¡¯s feelings, she risked failing to bring the critical scenes to life.


    "Maybe I should ask Jungwoo... no, that¡¯s not an option."


    Even Seoyeon, as shameless as she could be, knew she couldn¡¯t ask Jungwoo for advice about this.


    And among her fellow actresses, there wasn¡¯t anyone she could comfortably ask either.


    Jung Eunsun? Sure, she¡¯d give advice if Seoyeon asked, but every meeting with Eunsun usually ended with her scolding Seoyeon.


    If she brought this up with Eunsun, she could already imagine the response:


    "A proper actress should carry herself with dignity. Crawling around on the ground isn¡¯t acceptable!"


    She vividly remembered the death glare Eunsun had given her after she drilled a hole into a coconut during a deserted island shoot.


    Eunsun placed a great deal of importance on maintaining the image and dignity of an actress. Every time she saw Seoyeon gleefully running around on variety shows, she¡¯d follow up with stern messages via text or chat.


    "Hmm, if I have to ask for help..."


    "What are you reading?"


    "!!"


    Startled, Seoyeon hastily closed her script and turned her gaze away.


    It wasn¡¯t that the script was particularly embarrassing, but it still felt awkward somehow.


    And the voice was familiar.


    "Ahem. W-what do you mean?"


    "Hm? Oh, nothing."


    Turning her head, Seoyeon felt her initial panic subside. Instead, a sense of pity welled up within her.


    Her calm, serene "still pond" of emotions returned.


    "Hello, Yeohui sunbae."


    "Ah, h-hello. What a coincidence, huh?"


    The woman responded with a casual smile, her tone lighthearted. Seoyeon narrowed her eyes slightly.


    Come to think of it, she had sensed something earlier, even before opening her script.


    At first, she¡¯d assumed it was just another celebrity who recognized her, but...


    "Wait a second."


    Looking at Yeohui standing before her, Seoyeon¡¯s thoughts began to shift.


    Here, standing right in front of her, was a woman who had been unable to let go of her regrets for twenty years.


    In other words, she was the perfect living reference for the kind of acting Seoyeon needed for Yuina.

 Chapter 205

    Yeohui came across Seoyeon purely by chance.


    It was after finishing a music program shoot, on her way back from the restroom.


    That Seoyeon happened to be in that spot was entirely unintentional.


    "I should just go somewhere else..."


    She had definitely decided to turn away quietly. Yet somehow, when she came to her senses, she found herself naturally standing next to Seoyeon.


    "I mean, I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. I can at least talk to her, right?"


    After all, wasn¡¯t Seoyeon her junior in the entertainment industry?


    Maybe not as an actress, but as a singer, Yeohui was definitely the senior here!


    So, approaching a junior who seemed to be deep in thought wasn¡¯t anything strange.


    "Hmm."


    But after greeting Yeohui, Seoyeon gave her a long, suspicious look.


    It was a gaze that seemed to say she wanted to ask something but couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it.


    Could it be that?


    Do you still like my dad? Was that what her eyes were saying?


    "What kind of person does she take me for?!"


    No matter what, that would be an affair.


    Sure, Yeohui had a bit of a wild streak, but she wasn¡¯t that reckless.


    She never imagined she¡¯d get such a look from a much younger junior.


    Of all people, you shouldn¡¯t be looking at me like that.


    "I could have been your mother... well, not really, but still."


    "Why... why are you looking at me like that?"


    Feeling guilty for no reason, Yeohui flinched awkwardly, which brought Seoyeon back to her senses.


    Of course, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t suspecting Yeohui of any improper feelings.


    She was purely thinking about asking this expert in unrequited love how to masterfully handle a one-sided crush.@@@@


    "But no matter how you slice it, that¡¯s not something I can ask."


    If it were her past self, maybe. But now that she understood emotions better, it was an unaskable question.


    Honestly, she was curious about how Yeohui might react, but it wasn¡¯t something to casually bring up.


    Besides, she had already heard most of the story from her mother, Sua.


    It had been such an interesting tale that she remembered most of it.


    To be honest, her takeaway was simple:


    "Both of them just dug their own graves."


    The childhood friend, who had the best chance, realized her feelings far too late.


    And Yeohui, due to her pride, delayed confessing for too long.


    By the time Sua realized her feelings and made her move, Yeohui had been thoroughly defeated.


    "Then again, with someone as assertive as my mom, who wouldn¡¯t fall for her?"


    Having such a formidable rival by their side, it was their fault for being careless.


    Maybe they underestimated her, thinking her delicate appearance meant she wasn¡¯t so assertive.


    "Still..."


    Seoyeon glanced at Yeohui.


    The past was the past; the Yeohui Seoyeon knew was the person standing before her now.


    The song Yeohui sang on Masked Singer,


    a piece that called forth memories, had undoubtedly reached Seoyeon¡¯s heart.


    Because of it, she was now able to sort through her feelings and steadily move forward toward her goal.


    So, if an opportunity arose, she wanted to repay Yeohui in some small way.


    "Well then."


    Seoyeon gave a polite bow to Yeohui.


    There were many things she wanted to ask, but she wasn¡¯t oblivious.


    Asking would undoubtedly be painful for Yeohui, no matter how strong she seemed.


    She had no intention of digging into someone¡¯s wounds.


    "Ju Seoyeon!!"


    At that moment, someone came rushing toward Seoyeon.


    Turning around to see who it was¡ª


    "Why are you here?"


    It was Jo Seohee, panting heavily from the run.


    But really, was she that exhausted from just running over?


    "I¡¯ll have to teach her some exercises later. With stamina like that..."


    "For Gyeongseong Lady. What about you?"


    "I¡¯m here for Dream Future."


    "Ah, so it¡¯s similar. It¡¯s all for the Japanese broadcast, anyway."


    Oh, now that she thought about it, Gyeongseong Lady was being fast-tracked for import into Japan.


    They were probably discussing that today.


    "But why at KMB?"


    "It seems they plan to release a documentary about the filming process to coincide with the movie¡¯s premiere. In other words, they¡¯re filming us shooting the movie to air it as a documentary. It¡¯s scheduled to be released via OTT platforms in Japan."


    "Do they usually do things like that?"


    "It¡¯s a first for me, too. Maybe it¡¯s like an extended version of a making film? Anyway, there¡¯s no harm in doing this kind of thing. Exposure is always a good thing."


    "To be honest, I¡¯m a bit curious too."


    "About... what?"


    "Love stories."


    That was unexpected, and it caught Yeohui off guard.


    Honestly, Seoyeon didn¡¯t seem like someone who had any connection to romance.


    "Liking someone and figuring out how to love... I have no sense of it at all."


    "Hmm."


    Yeohui felt a mix of surprise and understanding. Though she questioned why Seoyeon was asking her, it was a common concern for girls her age.


    "So that¡¯s what she wanted to ask earlier."


    It suddenly made sense why Seoyeon had given her those uncertain looks.


    And she could guess why Seoyeon hesitated to ask directly.


    "Honestly, someone else could probably explain it better than me..."


    "Who?"


    "Yeongbin¡¯s childhood friend. She¡¯s a novelist, so she¡¯s better at depicting stuff like this than I am."


    Still, Yeohui had no intention of reaching out to that person for this.


    She had already been through too much with that group, leaving her emotionally battered.


    Noticing Seohee awkwardly fidgeting nearby, Yeohui decided to break the tension with a bright laugh.


    "Why don¡¯t we all make plans to meet up later? This is about the movie, right?"


    "How did you know?"


    "..."


    The fact that Yeohui seemed oddly informed about Seoyeon¡¯s schedule was a bit concerning, but they set a meeting and parted ways.


    Seoyeon was also curious about the high school stories Sua hadn¡¯t told her yet.


    More than that, she wanted to understand the kind of excitement Seohee felt about "romantic" emotions.


    After that, a few days passed.


    "Ju Seoyeon."


    The day before the next filming session, Jo Seohee came to visit Seoyeon at school.


    Today, she had quite a serious look on her face.


    With a mask and sunglasses on, she was trying to stay hidden, though her school uniform only made her stand out more.


    "Did you sell your Benz? You¡¯re always on a bike these days."


    "Hmph, you said I was out of shape."


    Come to think of it, she had mentioned something like that last time.


    That Seohee should exercise more because she seemed to lack stamina.


    Perhaps because she was in public, Seohee carried herself with the air of a proper antagonist heiress today.


    Her sharp eyes and brisk movements made even kids trying to snap pictures of her retreat in surprise.


    "Aren¡¯t you being too defenseless?"


    "They leave me alone at school."


    "How generous of you."


    After replying, Seohee tapped the back of her bicycle seat.


    It was as if she was asking Seoyeon to hop on, but Seoyeon shook her head.


    "Why not? I can at least give you a ride."


    "It¡¯s not practical."


    "?"


    She meant it.


    Besides, Seoyeon would probably reach her destination faster by running than by riding with Seohee.


    "So, where are we going?"


    "I came to invite you to a movie."


    Seohee grinned, pulling two tickets from her pocket.


    Seoyeon tilted her head at the sudden invitation.


    A movie?


    "It¡¯s a romance film. And it¡¯s surprisingly intense. These days, even PG-15 movies are quite bold."


    "Have you already seen it?"


    "Yeah. But I wouldn¡¯t mind watching it again."


    According to Seohee, it was her way of apologizing for the last time.


    After all, what she said to Yeohui had been, in Seoyeon¡¯s opinion, quite rude.


    "I think it might actually help you."


    Seoyeon hesitated at Seohee¡¯s words.


    Honestly, she didn¡¯t think Seohee needed to apologize.


    It was understandable to forget or not know certain details.


    Even the people involved in the situation could laugh it off¡ªthough Yeohui might have wanted to disappear from embarrassment.


    "...Okay."


    In the end, Seoyeon nodded.


    As an actress, she acknowledged Seohee¡¯s talent.


    If Seohee personally recommended a movie, there was probably a reason behind it.


    "Well, how bad can a PG-15 movie be?"


    That¡¯s what Seoyeon thought.


    And then...


    "What?"


    Seoyeon froze.


    On the screen unfolded a whirlwind of flesh and intimacy.


    "Wasn¡¯t this rated PG-15?"


    But that wasn¡¯t the only shocking part.


    The emotional depth and intensity were overwhelming.


    Glancing sideways, Seoyeon saw Seohee casually munching on popcorn, unfazed.


    Despite her image, Seohee was surprisingly composed and serious when it came to films or dramas.


    Not that Seoyeon was much different in that regard.


    "This... this is..."


    Seoyeon curled her toes and fidgeted with her fingers.


    She felt an inexplicable sense of embarrassment creeping up on her.

 Chapter 206

    In her previous life, Seoyeon was someone who couldn''t properly grasp her emotions¡ªbe it joy, sorrow, or any number of complex feelings.


    Naturally, this lack extended to certain aspects of her emotional spectrum, including matters of a sexual nature.


    "Th-this is supposed to be rated 15?"


    Seoyeon was practically in a state of culture shock. She had always been profoundly ignorant when it came to anything sexual, even in her previous life.


    No, it wasn''t that she didn''t know about it¡ªshe understood everything in theory. But she''d never had any personal exposure or experience.


    Even when she did encounter something suggestive, it was just that¡ªsomething to see, without eliciting any particular feelings. At first, she''d tried to show interest in sexual matters, like the men around her, but even that had failed miserably.


    Afterward, she abandoned the idea entirely and lived without any interest in it, even after her rebirth.


    ¡°Gyeongseong Lady¡± doesn¡¯t have scenes that intense, but still...


    Seoyeon swallowed dryly as she finished watching a film filled with provocative imagery. Yet, instead of the movie¡¯s plot, it was the script for Gyeongseong Lady that sprang to her mind.


    At least her character, Kasugayama Yuina, had very few such moments. At most, there were one or two? And even those scenes weren¡¯t particularly noteworthy.


    Just some hand-holding or maybe brushing a shoulder¡ªthings like that.


    ¡°Wait...¡±


    It was technically suitable for all ages, but depending on the performance, couldn¡¯t those parts come across as more suggestive than intended? This thought struck Seoyeon as she continued watching the movie.


    ¡°I see now why Jo Seohee wanted me to watch this.¡±


    The film unabashedly explored the feelings of love, making it impossible not to understand¡ªeven if you were an emotional novice like Seoyeon.


    A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and she felt an odd flutter in her chest. Her fingertips and toes fidgeted as if they couldn¡¯t stay still.


    Yet, despite the awkwardness, Seoyeon found herself completely engrossed. At some point, she became entirely absorbed in the film.


    +++


    ¡°How was it?¡±@@@@


    Jo Seohee glanced at Seoyeon as they exited the theater. Though she exuded confidence, her gaze betrayed a flicker of nervousness.


    She¡¯d made mistakes in the past, and no matter how great a film might be, personal taste was always subjective.


    From what Seohee had observed, Seoyeon tended to favor action movies. This preference stood in ironic contrast to the emotional and sentimental dramas she often starred in.


    "...¡±


    Seoyeon said nothing as she tossed the remaining popcorn into the trash and walked quietly beside Seohee.


    ¡°Did she not like it?¡±


    Seohee¡¯s lips twitched nervously. She¡¯d thought this movie would be perfect for helping Seoyeon improve her romance acting. When Seohee first saw it, she had cried into a handkerchief the whole time. Even during this second viewing, her eyes had glistened with tears.


    The story of a woman helping her beloved end up with someone else¡ªit was the epitome of bittersweet romance. What could be more fitting?


    ¡°Action movies don¡¯t focus much on romantic emotions,¡± Seohee thought. ¡°Not ideal for studying feelings.¡±


    But if Seoyeon ended up finding the movie boring...


    Seohee stole a glance at the posters for upcoming films. A Japanese animated movie was playing in the theater next door. Maybe she could suggest that instead¡ªits aesthetic even resembled what Seoyeon had worn while in Japan.


    Before she could voice her thoughts, Seoyeon spoke.


    ¡°It was good.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The movie... It was good.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice was hesitant, almost as if admitting she enjoyed it was embarrassing.


    ¡°What the¡ª? She¡¯s adorable.¡±


    Seohee thought to herself, caught off guard by Seoyeon¡¯s rare display of vulnerability. Normally, Seoyeon was the picture of composure¡ªa cool-headed beauty who barely let her expressions change. On variety shows, she could act like a playful puppy, but in everyday life, she remained reserved.


    Now, though, her face revealed a complex mix of emotions.


    ¡°I just wish she¡¯d stop being so formal with me.¡±


    Still, the important thing was that Seoyeon had enjoyed the film. Seohee straightened up, her confidence returning.


    ¡°Of course! Did you think I¡¯d recommend a bad movie?¡±


    ¡°But, honestly, there were parts I didn¡¯t fully understand.¡±


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t just being polite. She genuinely enjoyed the movie. In fact, she enjoyed most movies she watched¡ªpartly because she¡¯d trained herself to find emotional depth in even the dullest films during her earlier acting days.


    Now, though, what mattered was how her own emotions had grown and changed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to watch it again later... Alone, of course. Not because of that one scene. Really.¡±


    ¡°I get why the male lead was loved, but I don¡¯t understand why the protagonist made that choice,¡± Seoyeon began, diving into her thoughts on the film.


    ¡°Well, uh, how about we play some games? There¡¯s an arcade nearby.¡±


    ¡°An arcade?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s interest visibly piqued, and she realized Seohee had been trying to accommodate her preferences.


    ¡°Does she think I don¡¯t like shopping?¡±


    In the past, that assumption would have been correct. The rebellious teenage Seoyeon had thought, Why bother with makeup? What¡¯s fun about shopping? I¡¯d rather work out instead.


    Even though things were different now, Lee Jiyeon still rarely invited Seoyeon shopping.


    ¡°Seoyeon, you¡¯re good at games, right? I¡¯ve been trying out a bunch of games lately. They¡¯re surprisingly helpful!¡± Seohee said with a sly smile.


    Games? That didn¡¯t even need to be asked.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m very good,¡± Seoyeon replied confidently, her pride unmistakable.


    She was certain she¡¯d win at anything. Seohee didn¡¯t look like someone who frequented arcades anyway.


    ¡°Fighting games are perfect for playing together,¡± Seohee suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but... I¡¯ve never played one before. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll teach you,¡± Seoyeon said, puffing her chest with pride.


    ¡°Of course, fighting games are all about learning by taking a beating.¡±


    Seoyeon inserted coins and sat across from Seohee.


    But she had forgotten one crucial detail: Seohee¡¯s VTuber persona, Elise, was a variety game streamer¡ªand recently, a highly skilled gamer.


    ¡°Seoyeon...¡±


    ¡°...?¡±


    ¡°Should we maybe go somewhere else?¡±


    ¡°No, the match isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    The match had ended ages ago, but Seohee couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it.


    Despite her initial confidence, Seoyeon had been thoroughly demolished by Seohee in just five rounds.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    The first two rounds had seemed to favor Seoyeon, but everything changed in the third.


    Seoyeon, despite her excellent reflexes and quick reaction time, couldn¡¯t keep up with Seohee¡¯s meticulous strategy.


    ¡°You have to memorize the frame data, not just react to the attacks.¡±


    ¡°...Frame data?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know? I guess you don¡¯t need to, but...¡±


    Seohee had assumed Seoyeon must already know about frame data based on how she played, but that wasn¡¯t the case.


    Fighting games required reading the opponent¡¯s movements, calculating frames, and countering appropriately.


    Seoyeon¡¯s style, however, relied purely on reacting to what she saw¡ªa method that worked surprisingly well for her.


    ¡°Only Seoyeon could pull that off.¡± Seohee thought, both impressed and annoyed.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve just suggested shopping...¡± Seohee muttered, close to tears.


    By the end, Seoyeon had lost twice more.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with this joystick,¡± Seoyeon grumbled, almost yanking it out in frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯d do better if I were in the game myself.¡±


    She was genuinely tempted to believe that.


    ¡°Just one more round.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you been saying that for ten rounds now?¡± Seohee teased.


    ¡°This time, I mean it. One last match.¡±


    Determined, Seoyeon decided to rely on her fastest move¡ªa jab. No attack could beat it in speed.


    Just as she prepared to unleash her strategy, a familiar voice interrupted them.


    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Jo Seohee.¡±


    Peeking around the arcade machine, Seoyeon saw a man waving enthusiastically at Seohee.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that... the ¡®medicated idol¡¯?¡±


    It was Row, the leader of JustX. He greeted Seohee with a friendly wave and a beaming smile.

 Chapter 207

    Row from JustX.


    Seoyeon had encountered him a few times before. Since she had filmed Dream Future with Ma Yeonwoo, there were plenty of opportunities for them to cross paths.


    Outside of that, she had also seen him at an upscale event during the promotion of Shine Moon.


    But now, he looked much better than he had back then.


    He had the air of someone whose fortunes had turned for the better. Even his outfit screamed wealth, with luxury brands from head to toe.


    ¡°Hey, Jo Seohee, didn¡¯t know you hung out at arcades,¡± he said with a casual grin.@@@@


    Seohee looked exhausted.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? Were you two battling? I¡¯m great at fighting games. Want me to show you some tips?¡±


    ¡°No, thanks...¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on. You¡¯re in the middle of a match anyway. Let me step in and show you how it¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°...Fine, do whatever you want,¡± Seohee sighed, stepping aside.


    It seemed Row hadn¡¯t noticed that Seoyeon was sitting on the other side of the machine.


    The game started, and Seoyeon frowned. She¡¯d been gearing up for her rematch against Seohee, and now this strange guy had butted in.


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 Chapter 208

    The filming set of Gyeongseong Lady was bustling with activity. The actors, arriving on set, found themselves staring in surprise at the unusually large number of staff members.


    Even the outfits being worn were unfamiliar, and the murmurs of conversation were in a language that wasn¡¯t Korean.


    Japanese?


    The realization dawned on everyone as their eyes met each other¡¯s.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°So why would they be so interested in a Korean film...?¡±


    Both staff and actors found the situation puzzling.


    It was especially strange when one considered that all this attention seemed to be centered around a single actor.


    ¡°Future superstar, huh? Japan must have high hopes for her.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think Yuina was the main character if you didn¡¯t know better.¡±


    The tone was unmistakably cynical.@@@@


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 Chapter 209

    To begin with, it was just a few leaked photos¡ªimages from a film set.


    At first glance, it seemed like a routine case of minor leaks, but the reactions online painted a more significant picture.


    Is this a new Ju Seoyeon film?What¡¯s the title?I heard it¡¯s called ¡°Gyeongseong Lady.¡±Oh, is it set during the Japanese occupation again? Sounds predictable.Isn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon gaining popularity in Japan recently? Bold of her to tackle such a sensitive setting.


    The leaked photos sparked discussions across online communities, though the conversations were relatively low-key.


    This was expected¡ªafter all, the film hadn¡¯t even been released yet, and fan communities for actors were generally quieter compared to those for idols.


    Even so, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s fanbase was unusually robust for an actor. But the buzz wasn¡¯t solely due to the film¡¯s genre or subject matter.@@@@


    ¡°It¡¯s striking.¡±


    As the leader of JustX, Rhee Hyun was a globally recognized K-pop idol. Given the current trend of Korean idols being appointed as ambassadors for luxury brands, this seemed like a safe and logical decision¡ªat least from a numbers perspective.


    ¡°They also mentioned they¡¯re open to reviewing additional candidates.¡±


    Hwang Soyoung, head of Coquelicot Korea¡¯s PR team, scanned through the list of shortlisted candidates again.


    Unsurprisingly, all of them were visually stunning celebrities.


    However, the most eye-catching image wasn¡¯t from an official photoshoot but from the recently leaked photos.


    ¡°It¡¯s rare to see a leaked photo being considered in cases like this, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It speaks to the impact of the image. Plus...¡±


    The photo in question included members of the Japanese filming crew, as noted by whoever had leaked it.


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 Chapter 210

    Getting her finger bitten or hearing that the smoke in the scene was ¡°sexy¡±...


    The recent filming of Kyungsung Lady had turned into a series of humiliations for Seoyeon that she would rather never experience again.


    But, in truth, none of those things really mattered.


    Seoyeon almost never made NGs (outtakes), so the staff were more surprised than anything else.


    Director Baek Min seemed to regard it as merely part of the process of finding the right emotional tone.


    So, there wasn¡¯t any particular issue with the NG itself.


    It was just a bit embarrassing, that¡¯s all.


    Especially since the reactions from the Japanese broadcasting team felt overwhelming at times.


    "Wow~, did you see that performance just now, Tanaka-san? Korean acting is definitely different from Japanese acting."


    "More than that, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s acting is incredible. Even the part where she NGed¡ªhaha! Honestly, I found it kind of...cute."


    "Oh, me too, me too. I was watching with my mouth open, and then I accidentally laughed at the end. Did you catch that on camera?"


    "Of course! I was worried since I¡¯d heard she rarely makes NGs, but wow, we scored big on the very first shoot."@@@@


    ¡°Aw, that¡¯s so cute.¡±


    A voice came from beside her.


    Turning her head, she saw Jo Seohui with her hands over her mouth.


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing. It just slipped out. But, well, I couldn¡¯t help it. You¡¯re so different from your usual self.¡±


    Jo Seohui had unintentionally voiced her thoughts out loud.


    At first, she felt a little embarrassed but wondered if she¡¯d said anything wrong.


    It was really cute, after all.


    ¡°Making that kind of comment while filming a same-sex love story feels a bit loaded, don¡¯t you think?¡±


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 Chapter 211

    In her previous life, Seoyeon had consumed all sorts of media across genres, indiscriminately.


    She did this to stimulate her emotions.


    To understand what emotions were.


    She didn¡¯t know which piece of work, which genre, or which medium might help her grasp the concept of emotions.


    Among the works she encountered, the one Yeohee mentioned was something that had only briefly passed through her awareness.


    The reason it only brushed by was simple: for Seoyeon, who would watch almost anything, it was a ¡°work she couldn¡¯t watch.¡±


    ¡°I was so excited when my favorite web novel got adapted into a drama...¡±


    That was what her mother had said back then.


    Of course, her words weren¡¯t directed at Seoyeon, who lacked the ability to appreciate or understand the charm of such works.


    To begin with, Seoyeon was incapable of empathizing with such sentiments.@@@@


    She could only mimic the appearance of empathy.


    Naturally, her mother was aware of this and had never discussed such topics with her.


    Where am I? What happened to me?


    Confused, Neil Russell sees a news report stating that his own body is in a coma following the accident, deepening his bewilderment.


    Was it just a coincidence? Or...


    As he contemplates the strange nature of the accident, Neil Russell realizes he¡¯s not alone in this body.


    The man whose body he¡¯s inhabiting, Choi Yeonwoo, is still fully conscious.


    Thus begins the peculiar cohabitation of two consciousnesses in a single body. Unable to take a break for long, Choi Yeonwoo returns to his job at the hospital.


    There, Neil Russell is shocked by the mistreatment and harassment Yeonwoo faces despite his evident skills and diligence.


    Inside, Neil Russell observes that Yeonwoo is a hardworking young man with exceptional medical knowledge.


    Most importantly, his dexterity is outstanding¡ªa crucial talent for a surgeon.


    Even Neil Russell, a world-class surgeon, recognized that Yeonwoo¡¯s dexterity was extraordinary.


    Yet, Yeonwoo was constantly belittled and tormented at the hospital.


    Let me help you.


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 Chapter 212

    Yeonhwa High School.


    Among its first-year classes, class president Gil Dahyeon sometimes found herself amazed.


    There was a celebrity in her class.


    What was even more surprising was that, at the beginning of the school year, that girl had simply seemed like a quiet, unassuming student.


    ¡°Well, not just a regular quiet student.¡±


    To be precise, the phrase "incredibly beautiful" had to come first.


    Even from the start of the year, she had an air about her that made her stand out, as though she didn¡¯t quite belong with the other students.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t as though there was a problem with the girl herself¡ªher appearance and distinct aura were the issue.


    The declining birth rate had also led to a drop in student numbers.


    If the school couldn¡¯t distinguish itself with something unique, its enrollment would continue to dwindle.


    ¡°Schools closing down are becoming more common.¡±


    In that context, Seoyeon¡¯s presence was undoubtedly a stroke of luck for the school.


    Even nearby middle schools had started showing great interest in Yeonhwa High.


    While having one standout student might be noteworthy, having multiple was something else entirely.


    ¡°And then there¡¯s Lee Jiyeon from the next class.¡±


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 Chapter 213

    "A Nepotism Baby? Well, good luck."


    Jo Seohui had said those words while looking at the doll-like girl before her.


    Jet-black hair, porcelain skin.


    And those mysterious eyes tinged with a crimson hue.


    She looked like a character straight out of a fairy tale. Her appearance was so striking that it seemed obvious: they¡¯d chosen her for her looks.


    At the time, Jo Seohui had thought she disliked her.


    At least until she saw her act.


    The Morning Routine


    Bzzzz. Bzzzzzz!


    Clack! Thud. Thunk!


    The sound of her phone clattering to the floor roused Jo Seohui from her sleep. Half-lidded eyes glanced at the clock on the wall.


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 Chapter 214

    As Filming Begins


    After finishing preparations for filming, Seoyeon noticed Lee Jiyeon standing nearby in a long padded coat. Tilting her head in confusion, Seoyeon asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean, today¡¯s your day off, but you¡¯re here,¡± Seoyeon replied.


    At this, Jiyeon buried her mouth into her scarf and gave Seoyeon a sulky look.


    She was dressed in a kimono adorned with a red butterfly motif. Her black hair was styled intricately, adorned with elaborate ornaments, and she carried a gombangdae pipe in her hand. Every detail of her appearance was striking.


    Ji-yeon, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her long coat, silently observed. Her presence on set today was far from a random whim.


    Thoughts Weighing Heavy


    ¡°Lately, she¡¯s been worrying a lot,¡± Jiyeon thought.


    Ji-yeon knew that, despite her constant stellar performances, Seoyeon took acting very seriously. She never spared any effort in honing her craft.


    To Seoyeon, most of her life revolved around acting. Everything she did was carefully calculated to improve her skills.


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 Chapter 215

    "Because I knew."


    Yeohee shared some parts of her past with Seoyeon¡ªhow she came to live with her parents and how she experienced love.


    "Sometimes, a person¡¯s dreams are decided by something trivial, aren¡¯t they?"


    It was the same for Yeohee.


    Until then, music had only been a hobby for her.


    She had never thought of making it her profession.


    "Even when I was in the game department, I never considered my songs being used as OSTs."


    But then, someone had suddenly brought it up.


    "You''re good at singing. Wouldn''t it be perfect for an OST?"


    Yes, it had been something trivial like that.


    Seoyeon cautiously asked.


    To be honest, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t fully grasp the emotions behind Yeohee¡¯s words.


    But she felt like she could understand them faintly, as if they were reminiscent of her past life.


    She had recently come to realize something about herself.


    Seoyeon was, at her core, someone who liked herself a lot.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected that affection to extend even to her past self.


    Her past wasn¡¯t filled with many pleasant memories, after all.


    "I don¡¯t really know," Yeohee responded with a puzzled expression.


    Was it hard?


    Maybe.


    But the forms of love were so varied that it was hard to define them precisely.


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 Chapter 216

    The YHJ broadcasting station fell into a sudden, stunned silence, as if cold water had been poured over the entire room.


    And it was no surprise why.


    The person the director had just pointed out was none other than a Korean actress.


    Even as the clip continued, showcasing what they believed to be Goto Reika¡¯s powerful performance, the director¡¯s focus remained on the woman who had already exited the scene.


    ¡®What do we do now, Director Nanjou?¡¯


    ¡®This is completely unexpected.¡¯


    Even Nanjou Kazuo, the producer who had brought Seoyeon to Japan, wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.


    Subsequent biographical films had brought him multiple accolades. His resume was nothing short of extraordinary.


    However, his career had hit a snag about five years ago. He hadn¡¯t delivered any major box office hits since then.


    Of course, this slump was relative. His films weren¡¯t failures by any means¡ªjust not up to the standards of his earlier successes.


    ¡®Which is probably why we managed to lure him to Japan at all.¡¯


    Nanjou sighed inwardly as Baldwin stared at him with a detached expression.


    The difference between Japan¡¯s and Hollywood¡¯s production environments was vast.


    Appearance.Presence.


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 Chapter 217

    ¡°Oh my, are these your friends, young miss?¡±


    As they stepped inside the mansion, a middle-aged woman greeted Seoyeon and Jiyeon warmly.@@@@


    Young miss?


    Both of them glanced at Seohui, who looked visibly flustered.


    ¡°Come on, you¡¯re joking, right? If you say it like that, people might misunderstand,¡± Seohui protested awkwardly.


    ¡°Oh dear.¡±


    The middle-aged woman chuckled softly, her gaze shifting between Seoyeon and Jiyeon.


    She clearly knew who they were, having been aware of Seohui¡¯s everyday life.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a dog?¡± Seoyeon asked.


    ¡°A dog? Why?¡±


    ¡°Houses like this usually have a pet, like a dog.¡±


    ¡°What kind of stereotype is that?¡±


    Grumbling, Seohui seemed a bit embarrassed by the comment.


    Han Seoyoung couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her reaction. She had known Seohui for years, but this was the first time she had seen her bring friends home.


    To be precise, there had been occasional visits in the past, but none recently.


    Even back then, the atmosphere was different.


    Seohui had kept more of a wall around herself, but now, she seemed much more relaxed¡ªlike a normal girl her age.


    Always mindful of her image, Seohui now appeared more like a typical teenager.


    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s because they¡¯re friends who share her work.¡¯


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 Chapter 218

    At first, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.


    The three girls sipped on the non-alcoholic beers Jiyeon had brought while chatting idly.


    Being actresses working on the same movie, most of their conversation revolved around topics like films and dramas¡ªsubjects that weren¡¯t exactly "student-like."


    ¡®Or maybe they are?¡¯


    After all, talking about movies and dramas wasn¡¯t unusual for students. The only difference here was that their discussions leaned far more into technical and professional territory.


    Seoyeon listened attentively to Jiyeon and Seohui¡¯s conversation.


    At that, Seohui¡¯s gaze darkened noticeably.


    Usually cheerful and carefree, her sudden intensity startled Seoyeon.


    ¡®Okay, she really looks like a villainess right now.¡¯


    She could almost picture her commanding, "Guards, off with the head of this commoner girl!"


    Paired with the flowing silk of her pajamas, the look only enhanced the aura of a dignified yet intimidating noblewoman.


    ¡®No wonder people avoid her when we¡¯re out together.¡¯


    Seoyeon sighed internally.


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 Chapter 219

    Jiyeon clutched her head, groaning as she watched Seoyeon rolling around on the floor like a wild animal.


    Though the circumstances were different, this scene felt oddly reminiscent of Seoyeon back in middle school.


    Back then, too, she had been unpredictable¡ªsomeone who could leap from one wild impulse to another without warning.@@@@


    This reminded Jiyeon of a time when freshly woken Seoyeon looked exactly like this: a mix of confusion, energy, and chaos.


    ¡°Is Seoyeon always this strong?¡± Seohui asked, still processing the sight of the crushed beer can.


    ¡°Shh,¡± Jiyeon shushed, putting a finger to her lips as her eyes darted toward Seoyeon.


    Jiyeon grabbed a few empty cans lying around, a plan already forming in her head.


    ¡°Seoyeon has sharp ears,¡± she continued. ¡°Normally, she¡¯d be able to hear everything we¡¯re saying. But right now, she¡¯s not reacting... so I guess her senses are dulled.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s kind of cute, though,¡± Seohui said, watching Seoyeon trying in vain to clean the floor with the hem of her pajama skirt.


    The clumsy way she moved reminded Seohui of a kitten pawing at something.


    Though Seoyeon was mumbling, it was hard to make out the words from this distance.


    ¡®Should I get closer?¡¯


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 Chapter 220

    "Huh, Asher Baldwin?"


    Jo Seohui crossed her arms, a pensive expression crossing her face upon hearing the name.@@@@


    "Now that you mention it, I''ve heard about him. Recently, there were rumors about Asher Baldwin heading to Japan."


    "Is he working on a project there?"


    "Probably. But who knows? Hm, maybe the Japanese gave him a substantial paycheck."


    Seoyeon fell into thought at Seohui''s words.


    The Japanese film industry was known for its directors earning relatively modest fees.


    Even Seoyeon, who wasn''t particularly knowledgeable about the industry, was aware of this fact.


    "Especially in a project funded by Japan."


    The Japanese film industry was likely trying to revive its frozen market with bold moves.


    Bringing in a renowned foreign director might be one such gamble.


    "If that¡¯s the case, perhaps something didn¡¯t align, and the film never saw the light of day in my previous life."


    It was entirely plausible.


    Asher Baldwin''s recent works had faltered slightly, tarnishing his reputation.


    But that didn¡¯t erase his achievements as a two-time Academy Award-winning director.


    He remained one of the most revered filmmakers in the United States, his name towering over any Japanese director.


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 Chapter 221

    Sunyang Media


    An online news outlet primarily covering entertainment news.


    Known for its swift reporting on the entertainment industry and maintaining a relatively neutral tone, the publication has earned a dedicated readership despite its modest size.


    Recently, a buzzworthy story emerged from the outlet:


    It concerned none other than the rising star, Ju Seoyeon.@@@@


    "After Heaven¡¯s Garden ended, things seemed unusually quiet, but it turns out she¡¯s been in talks with Japan?"


    At a colleague¡¯s comment, the gaze of a female reporter shifted.


    Han Seona.


    Seoyeon¡¯s number one fan and the journalist who regularly wrote articles about her.


    "Yes, I recently went to Japan for that."


    "Oh, because of the Japanese broadcast shoot?"


    "That, and more."


    "After the success of Heaven¡¯s Garden, she deserves a break."


    Heaven¡¯s Garden had shattered viewership records for dramas in recent years.


    Even compared to the golden era of television dramas a decade ago, it was a massive hit.


    Its ratings were akin to the golden age of 40-50% viewership shares, a level rarely seen today.


    Naturally, the actors, writers, and everyone involved in the production saw their reputations skyrocket.


    Writer Min Sehee, in particular, was overwhelmed by the influx of offers from other networks after back-to-back hits with Dream Future and Heaven¡¯s Garden.


    "It¡¯s hard to even secure interviews with the cast of Heaven¡¯s Garden."


    "Especially the younger actors¡ªthey tend to be prideful."


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 Chapter 222

    Lee Jiyeon felt an unusual burden while working on Kyungsung Lady. It wasn¡¯t the film¡¯s genre, nor was it the pressure of being one of the leads.@@@@


    The truth was simpler: working alongside Ju Seoyeon made her uneasy.


    "Aren¡¯t you two on good terms?"


    This was the question Jo Seohui often asked, especially when Jiyeon approached her for advice during audition prep. Even after landing the role, Jiyeon frequently sought Seohui¡¯s input, much to her occasional annoyance.


    "Getting along is one thing."


    "What does that even mean?"


    "Hey, Jo Seohui, do you even have many friends?"


    But performing on television and acting directly alongside Seoyeon were entirely different.


    This was Jiyeon¡¯s first time witnessing Seoyeon¡¯s full intensity on set, her dedication palpable during every take.


    While Jiyeon thought she had gotten used to it during the filming of Kyungsung Lady, there were moments that shattered that illusion.


    "You¡¯re planning to die, aren¡¯t you?"


    Yuina¡¯s voice, cold and cutting, echoed through the scene.


    The commanding presence she had exuded all along felt magnified to an uncontainable level.


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 Chapter 223

    It all happened in an instant.


    Jiyeon¡¯s accidental headbutt to Seoyeon, followed by her improvised line, left everyone stunned.


    "Was that line in the script?"


    "No, I¡¯m pretty sure it wasn¡¯t."


    "Then... all of that was ad-lib?"


    The staff exchanged whispers, glancing at each other.


    And they had reason to be confused. Jiyeon¡¯s stumble and headbutt had already rendered the scene an NG.


    The original script hadn¡¯t accounted for any such event.


    Yet somehow, Jiyeon¡¯s improvised line had lightened the tense atmosphere, turning the heated scene into something more dynamic and fluid.


    It was exactly the kind of intervention Yeon Seonye, caught between the two opposing forces of Yuina and Michiko, might have made.


    "She¡¯s got great instincts."


    Baek Min lowered his hand, which he had raised to call NG, and turned his attention to Jiyeon with newfound appreciation.


    To be honest, Baek Min had never held Jiyeon in the same regard as Seoyeon or Seohui when it came to acting ability.


    Jiyeon wasn¡¯t bad¡ªnot at all.


    She was solid, competent, and certainly better than many of her peers. But for Baek Min, better than average wasn¡¯t enough.


    "But in the audition, she was a perfect match for Yeon Seonye."


    Jiyeon¡¯s understated performance had the sincerity and subtlety that embodied the character.


    Her naturally gentle aura added depth to Seonye¡¯s quieter moments, making her a compelling fit.


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 Chapter 224

    Chairman Jo Seokhwan of NewLike Group.


    A man who had taken over the weakened company from his father after a series of management failures, transforming it into one of the top five conglomerates in South Korea. With his polished appearance and unblemished reputation, Seoyeon knew only the most public aspects of his life.@@@@


    There was, however, one widely known personal detail: his late wife had been Baek Seoran, once hailed as Korea¡¯s ¡°Nation¡¯s Little Sister¡± and a celebrated actress. Tragically, she had passed away not long after their marriage, leaving him to raise their children alone.


    "But why is a conglomerate chairman here?"


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but feel tense.


    And she wasn¡¯t the only one¡ªJi Yeon was visibly stiff beside her.


    Who wouldn¡¯t be? They had come to visit a friend, only to be greeted by a man of such stature.


    What made it worse was his silence as he invited them inside.


    The thought sent a shiver down her spine.


    Now, seated in the grand living room of the Jo residence, Seoyeon and Jiyeon found themselves face-to-face with Chairman Jo.


    Their usual greeter, the friendly housekeeper Han Seoyoung, was silently tidying up the room.


    The tension was palpable.


    "Is he going to confront me about what happened to Seohui?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s mind raced with all the possible things he might say.


    This wasn¡¯t just about a scene¡ªit was a potential disaster waiting to unfold.


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 Chapter 225

    Actually, even Jiyeon, who had known Seoyeon for a long time, hadn¡¯t expected this kind of reaction.


    Jiyeon was, of course, familiar with the term "red pill."


    After all, as someone involved in the VTuber world, how could she not know?@@@@


    That¡¯s why Jiyeon had consciously avoided directly bringing up "Lamiel" when talking to Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon had always been a peculiar person since childhood, making it difficult to predict how she might react in situations like this.


    But for Seoyeon to pass out completely just from watching Alice''s "red pill," not even Lamiel''s, was beyond imagination.


    And when she opened her eyes an hour later...


    "I''m sorry," Seoyeon said.


    "I passed out suddenly while we were talking."


    "?!"


    "I think... I was on my way to meet Seohui."


    "I completely forgot Alice¡¯s stream time."


    It must have been the nerves¡ªbeing in the presence of a corporate chairman, and not just any chairman, but Jo Seohui¡¯s father.


    It was likely the pressure that caused her to faint.


    Of course, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t connecting Alice directly to Jo Seohui.


    In other words, despite the external appearances of VTubers, Seoyeon genuinely believed that the characters they portrayed during streams were entirely separate entities.


    ...Well, Lamiel, who persistently shoved red pills at her, made that belief impossible.


    Still, since Alice kept her identity discreet, Seoyeon had convinced herself to think that way.


    But then she ended up consuming the most extreme red pill she had ever experienced¡ªeven worse than anything Lamiel had thrown at her.


    "I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m supposed to look at Alice anymore..."


    "Is it really that bad?"


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 Chapter 226

    "Red pills really are dangerous," Seoyeon thought.@@@@


    Jo Seohui becoming a virtual YouTuber was, in fact, because of Seoyeon.


    To be precise, it stemmed from a time when Seoyeon was oddly upset with her, and Seohui sought Jiyeon¡¯s advice to mend their relationship.


    ¡°There¡¯s a better way, but honestly, I¡¯m not sure you can pull it off.¡±


    Jiyeon had casually suggested the idea while chatting about various things.


    That¡¯s just how people are.


    Even if it¡¯s something trivial, hearing ¡°I don¡¯t think you can do it¡± sparks a sense of determination.


    At the time, Jo Seohui was no different.


    Currently, Korea¡¯s cultural industry was dominated by the duopoly of NewLike Group and GH Group.


    While GH Group had initially held the upper hand, NewLike had risen to prominence after Jo Seokhwan became chairman.


    "And to overturn that dynamic, GH Group seems to be sharpening its blade with Ju Seoyeon as one of their tools."


    Starting with Mine, GH Group was clearly planning something.


    However, Jo Seohui wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about corporate rivalries.


    As an actress, she had never received any special support from NewLike Group.


    Her father¡¯s business was his business.


    And her acting career was entirely her own.


    Frankly, Seohui didn¡¯t care much if NewLike Group lost to GH Group.


    Weren¡¯t they all the same anyway?


    ¡°Oh, I have a weakness for noblewoman-type characters.¡±¡°Alice, you¡¯re so cute ????????.¡±


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 Chapter 227

    "Going to Japan again?"


    Sooah, wearing a concerned expression, spoke to Seoyeon, who was busy stuffing her suitcase with clothes.


    What kind of girl packs her things so recklessly, almost like a guy?


    "Did you pack your cosmetics?" "Someone else can handle that for me." "What about your underwear?" "..."


    Come on, she wasn''t a child. Of course, she''d pack the basics.


    When Seoyeon subtly avoided her gaze, Sooah flinched.@@@@


    "But Seoyeon, you can be surprisingly scatterbrained when you travel. For instance, last time you forgot your sanitary¡ª" "Hold on!"


    The thought crossed her mind, but this time, since she wasn¡¯t traveling privately, she carefully hung the outfit back in the closet. She¡¯d save it for her next personal trip.


    "By the way, won¡¯t it be finals season when you return from Japan? Have you been studying, my dear daughter?"


    "Of course!"


    It wasn¡¯t a lie. Seoyeon had actually studied hard this time¡ªthough not entirely of her own accord.


    "With Sky Garden being such a hit, how can the protagonist, Lee Yoojoo, have awful grades?"


    That was what Jo Seohui and Lee Jiyeon argued as they dragged her to study during breaks on set.


    ''I just want to play games.''


    The thought had consumed her, but even Seoyeon couldn¡¯t refuse when others were trying to help her.


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 Chapter 228

    In truth, Seoyeon was quite tolerant.


    While she tended to remember things that annoyed her for a long time, she rarely expressed those feelings in the moment.


    Especially if the behavior wasn¡¯t directly targeted at her, she¡¯d usually just let it slide.


    What truly angered Seoyeon was when harm came to the people around her.@@@@


    For example, when Cha Nahui was being bullied during Summer Girl, Seoyeon stepped in.


    And more recently, she¡¯d been upset about the way Jo Seohui was treated by her father.


    Of course, in Seohui¡¯s case, she could at least understand where her father was coming from.


    When Seoyeon asked why, Stella just smiled and offered no real explanation.


    Golden bobbed hair, a height just slightly shorter than Seoyeon¡¯s, and an age probably a year or two older.


    That summed up what Seoyeon knew about Stella so far.


    While Stella chattered away, Seoyeon looked her up on Wikipedia and found her career to be nothing short of extraordinary.


    Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival at the age of eight.


    It was such an unbelievable accomplishment that Seoyeon struggled to wrap her head around it.


    Back when Seoyeon was hailed as a child prodigy, all she¡¯d done was star in The Moon that Hides the Sun.


    Hanging out in Hongdae with Stella Baldwin ( ? ?? ??)


    (A photo of Seoyeon making a V-sign, with Stella holding tteokbokki in the background.)What the heck, Ju Seoyeon? Is this photoshopped?Seoyeon, is that really Stella Baldwin? Like, the actress?Yep.Don¡¯t just say ¡®yep.¡¯ If it¡¯s true, why is she in Korea? I thought she was in Japan?Wait. I¡¯m heading to Hongdae¡ªno, I can¡¯t. I have filming. Damn it.?( 0 ¨Œ 0 )?


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 Chapter 229

    A sense of unease permeated the Kyungsung Lady film crew as they prepared for an overseas shoot.


    Particularly among the actors, who were carefully observing each other.


    Some of them couldn¡¯t help but glance toward actor Lee Sang-soo.@@@@


    It was inevitable.


    An actor who had failed once overseas.


    In contrast, here on set was the youngest recipient of the Berlin International Film Festival¡¯s Best Actor award.


    Stella Baldwin.


    A smiling, golden-haired girl.


    Her white dress and sapphire-blue eyes made her look like a fleeting blossom.


    "She feels like one of those people with a rotten core."


    "Agreed. I had high expectations after seeing her movies, but..."


    Jo Seohui clicked her tongue as she watched Stella greet the staff at the airport.


    For someone like Seohui, who was acquainted with heirs from other conglomerates, Stella¡¯s behavior felt all too familiar.


    Smiling on the outside while harboring several metaphorical serpents inside.


    For Seohui, who had imagined Stella as an innocent angel, her impression now felt distinctly unsettling.


    "Ju Seoyeon, she understands Korean, doesn¡¯t she?"


    "Yeah, she does. How did you figure that out?"


    Was it from that little slip earlier?


    If so, Jiyeon had sharp instincts.


    "If she didn¡¯t, there¡¯s no way you¡¯d have been able to talk to someone that shady."


    "...I can speak English too, you know."


    "Yeah? What grade did you get in English?"


    "...."


    The harsh reality of measuring everything by grades was as cruel as ever.


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but lament inwardly.


    Wasn¡¯t it enough to just speak Korean well?


    She¡¯d never really been interested in English, even in her past life.


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 Chapter 230

    Just as Seoyeon had researched Stella, Stella had also gathered various information about Seoyeon. For example, someone had posted a compilation of Seoyeon¡¯s highlights in her fan community. Among those highlights was a clip from Hyper Action Star.


    And Stella¡¯s reaction to watching it?


    "What is this, a variety show?"


    Although the video was labeled as an action movie audition, it didn¡¯t feel like one.


    It was closer to a variety program.


    In fact, it resembled a poorly coordinated variety show, with Seoyeon standing out as the sole performer.


    She deflected incoming paintballs by sight with her hands.


    She cleared various missions using her extraordinary physical abilities.


    And then there was the final fight with Sora. Unlike the other scenes, this one felt more like a properly choreographed battle.


    As with most variety shows, exaggeration was the norm. Even the dullest American programs followed this pattern.


    Given today¡¯s trend of seeking more sensational content, overseas productions weren¡¯t much different.


    With the competition from YouTubers and virtual streamers growing, variety shows needed to offer what influencers couldn¡¯t.


    So Stella didn¡¯t overanalyze Seoyeon¡¯s performances. Over the past year, Seoyeon had been gaining prominence, and the show likely played up her abilities to promote her.


    Still, Stella couldn¡¯t help but think some of the scenes might backfire.


    ¡®Not that it¡¯s any of my business.¡¯


    She dismissed the thought and instead recalled the plane ticket she had booked online.@@@@


    You should¡¯ve tried talking to her.


    ©¸ Would you approach someone after seeing that?


    ©¸ Why not?


    ©¸ What if she punched me after looking at my face?Did she seriously break the machine?Someone recorded a video. Apparently, she just punched it, and it ended up like that.


    ©¸ WTF... What would happen if she punched a person?


    ©¸ What do you think would happen?


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 Chapter 231

    "A cameo?"


    "Stella Baldwin?"


    "Director, is this for real?"


    The filming set was abuzz with excitement.


    While some of the staff, already aware of the news, were less surprised, they were still captivated by Stella¡¯s appearance.


    The actors, on the other hand, were left wondering how Stella Baldwin ended up participating in Kyungsung Lady.


    But the surprises weren¡¯t over yet.


    "He''s here," a staff member whispered nervously into Director Baek Min¡¯s ear.


    ¡®Indeed.¡¯


    Director Baek understood their reactions completely.


    After all, he had felt the same when he first heard the news.


    The moment Asher Baldwin arrived in Japan, right as Stella was being escorted by her bodyguards, Director Baek had been invited to meet with him.


    Flashback


    "Stella has asked to appear in your film," Asher began.


    "In the film?" Baek replied, surprised.


    "Not for a major role, of course. A cameo seems appropriate."


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 Chapter 232

    Seoyeon looked over the revised script.


    The filming of Kyungsung Lady had been going smoothly so far.


    In that context, this script change was quite unusual.


    ¡®Well, it¡¯s not exactly unheard of.¡¯@@@@


    In film production, scripts often undergo multiple revisions for various reasons.


    Sometimes, they even shoot several versions of similar scenes just to cover different possibilities.


    There could also be multiple versions of the script circulating simultaneously, sometimes written by entirely different writers.


    Of course, Seoyeon had never personally experienced that, but for seasoned actors, it was considered just another professional hurdle.


    In short, Yuina¡¯s backstory had been partially rewritten.


    ¡®Honestly, considering her role, the yakuza angle makes more sense.¡¯


    Thinking about it, Yuina¡¯s objectives were to use Yeonseonye to locate the hidden treasure of the Amanabi family and the key that led to it.


    The second objective was to kill Michiko.


    Looking at those two goals alone, it made perfect sense for Yuina to be from a yakuza family.


    Filming additional scenes early on wouldn¡¯t be too difficult, either.


    Yuina being portrayed as far stronger than Michiko during their confrontation was a reasonable addition.


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 Chapter 233

    I understand the importance of translating the text exactly as written, without omissions, alterations, or rephrasing. I will proceed with the translation now, ensuring the output remains faithful to the original.@@@@


    ''Rosalyn, the daughter of a European merchant.''


    For a cameo, it was quite a luxurious name.


    Of course, the identity of that merchant wasn¡¯t particularly defined.


    After all, the original scene was simply about Michiko and Yuina meeting at an auction and clashing over their pride.


    ¡®To obtain the necklace on auction.¡¯


    It was an item Michiko¡¯s mother had once worn.


    A necklace that had gone missing from the mansion long ago.


    It didn¡¯t look like an old Japanese building but rather something straight out of Europe.


    ¡°Miss, this is my first time at an auction. Should I just sit back and watch?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass yourself. Just stay quiet. I¡¯ll handle it if there¡¯s something I want.¡±


    ¡°T-Then I¡¯ll stay quiet.¡±


    Michiko frowned slightly at Yeonseonye¡¯s awkward nod.


    Her expression was equal parts exasperated and fond.


    Despite being endlessly materialistic, Yeonseonye could seem surprisingly innocent at times like this.


    ¡°But Miss, what exactly are we here to buy? You must have come here for a reason.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡±


    Michiko hesitated briefly before locking eyes with Yeonseonye.


    She had already noticed Yeonseonye¡¯s suspicious behavior lately.


    No¡ªshe was certain it was related to Yuina.


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 Chapter 234

    ¡°Please take your seat. You wouldn¡¯t want to inconvenience the other guests.¡±


    Rosalyn¡¯s voice was gentle.


    Yet, it carried undeniable authority.


    The softness had been broken moments ago by Yuina¡¯s entrance.


    Hearing Rosalyn¡¯s words, Yuina shifted her gaze away and moved to her assigned seat.


    She didn¡¯t bother to respond.


    It was as if Rosalyn wasn¡¯t even worth acknowledging.


    ¡°Miss, that girl showed up too,¡± Yeonseonye whispered into Michiko¡¯s ear.


    Her hushed voice made her seem small and timid.


    ¡°She would. The item I want today is something Yuina considers important too.¡±


    ¡°Really? What could it be?¡±


    ¡°I told you. A necklace.¡±


    With that, the auction began.


    Rosalyn introduced the items one by one, presenting them to the crowd.


    Yuina wasn¡¯t interested in anything except the necklace.


    At her words, some people drew sharp breaths.


    Yet no one dared to speak up against her.


    The Kasugayama family held too much power.


    They were rulers of the night, even in mainland Japan¡ªpeople one should never offend.


    ¡°Oh my.¡±


    Rosalyn¡¯s lips curled into a smile at Yuina¡¯s remark.


    Her blue eyes narrowed as her gaze shifted toward Yuina.


    ¡°She¡¯s got such a nasty personality. Doesn¡¯t she know what an auction is for?¡±


    ¡°Yeonseonye, didn¡¯t you say this was your first auction too?¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t talk like that.¡±


    Their exchange echoed softly through the otherwise silent auction hall.


    Yuina, who had sharp ears, snapped her gaze toward Yeonseonye.


    ¡°Oh no.¡±


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 Chapter 235

    Sudden changes requiring an action scene left Rosalyn¡¯s bodyguards¡ªthe stunt actors¡ªcompletely bewildered.


    It was only natural.


    Action sequences required a great deal of time to coordinate.


    Without proper preparation, the scene wouldn¡¯t come out clean, and accidents could easily occur.


    ¡®Sure, she¡¯s unexpectedly strong, but action sequences are different. I mean, a girl like that...¡¯


    The actors playing Rosalyn¡¯s guards were white stunt actors brought in from Japan.


    Naturally, being sent flying by the small Seoyeon was considered either an accident¡ª@@@@


    Or a lapse in their own focus.


    ¡°Actress Ju Seoyeon will be able to shorten that preparation time significantly.¡±


    This time, at least, the lines themselves had stayed faithful to the script, even if the tone had shifted a bit, so it had been allowed.


    If even the lines had been improvised, she might have gotten scolded more harshly.


    ¡®I need to be careful.¡¯


    Jiyeon let out a sigh as she turned to look in Stella¡¯s direction.


    ¡®But I didn¡¯t have a choice.¡¯


    At the time, it had been the only way to keep up with Stella¡¯s acting.


    It felt like when she had first experienced Seoyeon¡¯s acting¡ª


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 Chapter 236

    Kiss Scene.


    A moment that every actor inevitably faces at least once.


    If it¡¯s a romance movie or drama, it¡¯s practically guaranteed.


    Seoyeon was aware of that.


    She had just wondered what she would do if she ever had to perform one.


    Most of the films she had starred in so far avoided such elements.


    And since Seoyeon had knowledge of the future, it wasn¡¯t hard for her to dodge them.


    Kyungsung Lady was no different.


    Kasugayama Yuina, her character, had an unrequited love for the protagonist, Yeonseonye, but there was little in the way of intimate contact.


    At most, brushing shoulders, gently stroking faces, or touching lips in passing.


    Moments that were suggestive without being explicit.


    Of course, even that was more awkward than Seoyeon had anticipated during filming.


    Who wouldn¡¯t feel that way?


    Flirting while touching the face of a friend she¡¯d known for ten years felt downright bizarre.


    Though actor Lee Sangsoo, who still had scenes left in Korea, seemed a little gloomy.


    Seoyeon¡¯s first thought, however, was that the long and tumultuous Kyungsung Lady shoot was finally coming to an end.


    ¡°Jiyeon and Seohui still have many scenes left to shoot, though.¡±


    They had to cram all the remaining scenes into a short schedule.


    Particularly, the ones set at Amamami House.


    And most of those scenes revolved around Yeonseonye and Michiko¡¯s romance.


    Yuina didn¡¯t appear in those parts for a simple reason¡ª


    Whenever there was business at Amamami House, Goto Isamu always went instead.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start filming in a few days. Make sure to stay in character until then.¡±


    And then he added¡ª


    ¡°Don¡¯t let the kiss scene look childish.¡±


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 Chapter 237

    The scene between Yeonseonye and Michiko, where they overcame their conflicts and confirmed their feelings for each other¡ª


    It just so happened to occur at the moment when Michiko had resolved to take her own life.


    And once their feelings were laid bare, there was nothing left to hold them back.


    ¡°But seriously, jumping straight to a kiss? That¡¯s not normal.¡±


    That was Jiyeon¡¯s only complaint about her script.


    She kept stealing glances at Seohui, curious about her take on the matter.


    But as for Seohui¡ª


    ¡°Hmm, isn¡¯t it fine? Actors can¡¯t avoid this kind of thing anyway. Better to do it with someone you¡¯re already comfortable with.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it harder with someone you¡¯re comfortable with?¡±


    ¡°Stop whining.¡±


    If she had taken the lead role, she wouldn¡¯t be playing unrequited love¡ª


    She¡¯d be acting out full-blown romance.


    And that definitely sounded harder.


    ¡®I¡¯m not ready for scenes like that yet.¡¯


    Seoyeon nodded to herself.


    With her knowledge of the future,


    she figured she could probably keep dodging scenes like that forever.


    Content with that thought, she leisurely tapped away at her phone game.


    ¡°NG!! Let¡¯s try that again. Seohui, your performance keeps faltering.¡±


    ¡°Wait, no, that¡¯s not¡ª¡±


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 Chapter 238

    ¡°Ow.¡±


    Clutching her side, the blonde girl groaned in pain.


    Youngbin, who had been staring blankly at her face, suddenly felt as though lightning had struck his brain.@@@@


    Stella Baldwin.


    An actress he immediately recognized¡ªafter all, he often watched foreign films.


    But this wasn¡¯t just any actress; this was a world-famous lead actress.


    Who would ever expect such a person to be standing in their living room?


    And to make matters worse, he had just elbowed her in the ribs.


    Youngbin¡¯s mind went blank.


    Didn¡¯t foreign actors have insurance for every part of their bodies?


    What if Stella decided to make a fuss about this?


    Still, who else would act this casually in Seoyeon¡¯s house but her family?


    A father, mother, and younger sister¡ª


    They seemed like a close-knit household.


    But...


    ¡®Something feels off.¡¯


    For someone who gave off the same aura as her,


    Stella had expected Seoyeon¡¯s family to be similar to her own.


    Yet, they felt completely different.


    What was it?


    As Stella subtly scanned the room to get a better look¡ª


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 Chapter 239

    While taking a break at the Japanese broadcasting station, Seoyeon received an unexpected call suggesting she participate in a variety show.


    Of course, this was far from common.


    Why would Japanese television prioritize inviting a Korean actress?


    It might make sense for an idol with broader recognition, but actors rarely get such opportunities.


    Perhaps it was due to the recent buzz surrounding her.


    Seoyeon''s appearance on the variety show was quickly approved.


    ''Of course, it¡¯s probably doubling as a movie promotion.''


    There had already been a similar case during The Chaser.


    That time, they had gone to a deserted island, if she recalled correctly.


    In the end, the movie promotion hadn¡¯t gone very well.


    Are you really okay with this, given how bad you are with scary things?


    Eunha¡¯s worried gaze lingered on Seoyeon, who nodded firmly.


    ''You can¡¯t keep running forever.''


    Seoyeon had already suffered countless humiliations because of her fear.


    But that wouldn¡¯t happen again.


    ''A place ranked among the top seven haunted locations should be perfect to trigger my fears.''


    Seoyeon steeled her resolve.


    Despite being emotionally detached for most of her life, Seoyeon had recently come to an important realization.


    Emotions, surprisingly, could fade through repetition.


    People often experienced a desensitization effect, where the same stimulus no longer elicited the same feelings over time.


    ''If I get used to this place, I won¡¯t feel fear anymore.''


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 Chapter 240

    Stella had turned down the offer to appear on the Japanese variety show a few days ago.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising.


    ''It¡¯s so obvious they¡¯re trying to pair me up with that actress.''@@@@


    There was no way she¡¯d fall for something that transparent.


    Smiling sweetly, Stella had rejected the PD¡¯s suggestion.


    Getting involved with that actress wouldn¡¯t just be annoying for her¡ªit would also irritate Asher Baldwin.


    Honestly, Stella still didn¡¯t understand why Asher had come to Japan in the first place.


    "Are you sure you don¡¯t want to reconsider?"


    "Hmm? Why? I said no."


    "I thought you were getting along with those actresses."


    "Not really."


    She never had any interest in getting closer to them.


    Stella still felt a sense of kinship with Seoyeon.


    There was something fundamentally similar about them.


    *****


    ''We have no one who can cook.''


    Seoyeon grew serious.


    Jo Seohui, Lee Jiyeon, and Goto Reika.


    None of them could cook.


    Seoyeon was probably the most capable one here¡ªand that wasn¡¯t saying much.


    Seohui, who had acted like a leader at first, completely crumbled when cooking became the issue.


    And Reika... Why was she even here?


    ''Is this just part of her ¡°noblewoman¡± act?''


    ¡°It¡¯s not that scary once you¡¯re actually there.¡±¡°Really?¡±¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a lot of trees.¡±


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 Chapter 241

    Aokigahara Sea of Trees...


    Stella stood at the entrance to the forest, murmuring absently.


    What kind of person thought it was a good idea to film in such a dangerous place?


    And yet, here she was. It felt out of character for her.


    Was it simply because she felt a sense of kinship with Seoyeon?


    No, that couldn¡¯t be it. Seoyeon was different.


    A harmonious family.


    Loving parents and a cute younger sister¡ª


    A picture-perfect family, just like the one she had dreamed of.


    Were they that desperate to have this actress on the show because of Asher Baldwin?


    ''Too bad. I have no intention of getting close to her.''


    Besides, Stella wasn¡¯t even good at recognizing faces.


    Even if they asked her to speak nicely, chances were she¡¯d get it wrong anyway.


    ''She¡¯d probably hate me.''


    She could already picture Seoyeon¡¯s wary eyes and the faces of the other two looking at her in discomfort.


    Chuckling softly, Stella headed toward the filming location.


    The shoot had already started a day ago.


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 Chapter 242

    What Stella witnessed when she first arrived at the forest was nothing short of a disaster.


    Honestly, at first glance, she thought they were corpses.


    Who wouldn¡¯t, seeing people sprawled out asleep in the grass like that?


    The real question was how they¡¯d even managed to fall asleep like that.


    Wait, isn¡¯t that a tent?


    What shocked Stella the most wasn¡¯t the four women lying down¡ª


    It was what they were lying on.


    At first, she thought it was just a tarp,


    but on closer inspection, it turned out to be an actual tent.


    A tent¡ªspread out on the ground instead of being set up properly.


    Seoyeon sounded desperate.


    And it wasn¡¯t just her.


    Stella suddenly remembered something the Japanese PD had requested before filming began.


    ¡ºFor realism, limit food the day before filming.¡»


    Apparently, since the show only lasted three days, they¡¯d wanted the contestants to start hungry.


    It was supposed to be no big deal¡ª


    But after two days of this, exhaustion was written all over their faces.


    No wonder they¡¯d given up on setting up the tent.


    They were too tired and hungry to care.


    Watching their reactions, Stella blinked, then smiled sweetly.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What? Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because this is more fun. I ate a big meal before coming here, so I can go a bit longer without food.¡±


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 Chapter 243

    Even Stella¡¯s request was to spend her last day in Korea.


    It was an absurd suggestion to fly all the way from Japan to Korea just to go on a date and then part ways there.


    ¡°I want to have one last date with you in Seoul before I go back home. It¡¯s not like you have any filming scheduled, right?¡±


    As she said that, Stella glanced at Lee Jiyeon and Jo Seohui.


    ¡°If we go on a date here in Japan, those two might get in the way.¡±


    Seoyeon was slightly flustered by the sudden request. She never expected Stella to ask for something like this.


    But honestly, that wasn¡¯t the only reason Seoyeon was caught off guard.@@@@


    ¡®To be fair, I thought she¡¯d ask for something much more troublesome.¡¯


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Back in Korea, Stella spoke as if she could see right through Seoyeon¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Are you curious why I wanted to meet you alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seoyeon answered calmly, but Stella just smiled.


    ¡°There are two reasons.¡±


    ¡°Two?¡±


    ¡°One, I want to buy some souvenirs since I¡¯m flying back to America tomorrow.¡±


    Souvenirs?


    That didn¡¯t sound like Stella at all.


    ¡°We might not see each other again for a while. Who knows? This might even be the last time we meet in Korea.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


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 Chapter 244

    Stella watched Seoyeon¡¯s video for a while before handing it back to the child.


    Han Yuna, the little girl, glanced at Stella and then turned back to Seoyeon. She spoke in a small, hesitant voice.@@@@


    ¡°Unnie... are you friends with the angel?¡±


    Friends?


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so...¡±


    ¡°Haha, how cold.¡±


    Stella must have overheard because she laughed as if it didn¡¯t matter whether they were friends or not.


    After all, this could very well be their last time meeting each other, so calling it friendship felt strange.


    ¡°Th-Then... unnie.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Yuna looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated, her face unsure.


    Seoyeon stared at her, waiting patiently, but Yuna slowly shook her head.


    ¡°N-Never mind...¡±


    ¡°Y-Yuna!¡±


    Normally, Seoyeon¡¯s emotions were straightforward¡ªappearing and disappearing one at a time.


    But this moment felt different.


    Why?


    Stella couldn¡¯t quite understand, but one thing was clear¡ªthis woman wasn¡¯t just some random stranger to Seoyeon.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I just thought Yuna looked like she wanted to ask you something.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s gentle question seemed to make the woman uncomfortable.


    ¡°Oh, no, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. My daughter just wanted to be a little pushy.¡±


    Pushy?


    Seoyeon tilted her head in confusion, and Stella stepped closer.


    ¡°It¡¯s the event.¡±


    ¡°Event?¡±


    ¡°Look over there.¡±


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 Chapter 245

    There were countless people.


    A loud noise filled the air.


    Her vision blurred, and her ears buzzed as if submerged underwater.


    ¡°You¡¯re a little late.¡±


    That voice rang out, startlingly clear.


    ¡°...Even though you¡¯re late.¡±


    When he grabbed her slender arm and called out to her¡ª


    The radiant smile peeking out from beneath the crimson fabric was seared into his memory.


    ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    ¡°Haah.¡±


    Lifting his head, he glanced at the mirror.


    A weary-looking man stared back.


    A well-defined face marred by a somewhat scruffy appearance.


    Who would ever believe this man was South Korea¡¯s most handsome actor?


    ¡°Of all the dreams to have...¡±


    Ju Seoyeon, back when her innocent beauty was still intact.


    But nowadays, the way she strutted around made her look more like a wild beast than a refined princess.


    Where had the ethereal princess who once captivated the world disappeared to?


    ¡®If she were really that strong, she should¡¯ve just beaten Jo Yeongdaegun to a pulp.¡¯


    Awake?You up?Say something.Answer me.I know you¡¯re awake.Get up.Hey, hey.What¡¯s your deal this early in the morning?Wait, it¡¯s not even morning. It¡¯s still dawn. Look at the time.And I¡¯m busy today, so no games.I think I just got confessed to.A woman.


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 Chapter 246

    "Father."


    Jo Mintae spoke as he gazed at his father¡¯s slumped back.


    Once an acclaimed advertising director, he had followed in his father¡¯s footsteps to become a film director.


    As time passed, Mintae rose to fame, churning out hit after hit. Meanwhile, his father had become a completely different person.@@@@


    "You¡¯re being too hasty."


    "......."


    His father, once hailed as a "box office magician," had seen a string of failures. Now, no one wanted to work with him.


    There was a time when actors would reach out first, checking in on him. Those days were long gone.


    The only ones left were Park Seon-woong and his son.


    Among them, who would do something like this?


    ''Hwang Minhwa?''


    That was the only name that came to mind¡ªjust a suspicion, but a strong one.


    Hwang Minhwa had played the lead role in Utopia, which flopped and was pulled from theaters shortly after its release.


    ''It had the misfortune of opening at the same time as The Chaser.''


    The Chaser.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Mintae couldn¡¯t help but think of her.


    Ju Seoyeon breaks Sadako¡¯s spine as she crawls out of the TV. GG.Forget crawling out¡ªthe TV explodes first.Haven¡¯t you seen her riding a bear? Does Sadako beat a bear?


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 Chapter 247

    The Violle production team waited anxiously for the actress Park Jungwoo had called.


    To be honest, they were skeptical¡ªnot because they doubted Jungwoo¡¯s choice, but because it seemed unlikely that any established actress would accept the offer so quickly.


    Today¡¯s shoot wasn¡¯t even about the actress. It was about Park Jungwoo.


    Any actress here would just serve as an accessory to his spotlight.


    A lesser-known actress or an idol might¡¯ve agreed without hesitation. But someone with real recognition?


    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t this hurt their pride?¡¯@@@@


    Then again, Jungwoo seemed to have a close relationship with her.


    If she agreed, she¡¯d be the perfect fit for today¡¯s shoot.


    For someone of her caliber, her schedule should¡¯ve been packed.


    ¡®Wait... wasn¡¯t she a high schooler?¡¯


    That one detail gnawed at the director.


    Would she be able to carry the look?


    Her young age made him worry whether the outfit would appear mismatched, no matter how much effort they put into makeup and styling.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    When the girl finally stepped into the studio, several staff members froze.


    Ju Seoyeon.


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 Chapter 248

    Anyone who knew Seoyeon would have noticed it immediately.


    Her demeanor was completely different from usual¡ªlike she had stepped straight out of her role as Princess Yeonhwa.


    ''She''s acting. Look at her.''


    If Lee Jiyeon were here, that''s exactly what she would have said. That¡¯s how obvious Seoyeon''s performance was.@@@@


    Even Park Jungwoo realized it belatedly.


    Seoyeon was acting as ''Princess Yeonhwa'' right now.


    And not just acting.


    Method acting.


    She was pouring her entire soul into becoming Princess Yeonhwa.


    ''It''s just a commercial. What''s the big deal?''


    That thought crossed his mind, but maybe this shoot really was important to her. He didn¡¯t get it, but there had to be a reason.


    To Seoyeon, Princess Yeonhwa was special.


    Most importantly, it was the first role where Seoyeon had truly ''acted.''


    The role that led her to take her first step out of her tiny fishbowl and into the vast ocean.


    Her first real performance.


    Not just brief, superficial scenes in commercials, but actual, heartfelt method acting.


    Because it had been Princess Yeonhwa, Seoyeon¡¯s body naturally remembered how to move, even without conscious effort.


    Like flipping a switch.


    Completely seamless.


    ''Maybe it was the same back then.''


    Even in Looking Back on Memories, it had been like that.


    Back then, it felt half like playing around, so she hadn¡¯t thought much of it.


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 Chapter 249

    Yeongbin was in a good mood that day.


    Things had gone smoothly at work.


    "You¡¯re still serious about making games?"


    The director of Raywill Games, who had worked with him for over ten years, laughed heartily.


    No one had imagined he¡¯d still be so passionate about it after all this time.


    "Actually, there¡¯s a new project in the company. It looks like they¡¯re planning to set up an independent development studio under our umbrella¡ªas an investment model."


    "...Why?"@@@@


    "What do you mean, ¡®why¡¯? The president ordered it. And also..."


    "And also?"


    "There¡¯s a partner company involved."


    With work going so well lately, Yeongbin was feeling great as he returned home.


    ¡°Seoyeon¡¯s home!¡±


    Seeing her shoes at the entrance made him smile.


    His busy daughter was usually out filming, often returning home much later than him.


    Didn¡¯t she mention having some free time after wrapping up her shoot in Japan?


    "My little head-butting dinosaur, are you gaming again?!"


    He knocked twice on her door before opening it.


    The last time he hadn¡¯t knocked, her Finger Strike of the Underworld nearly sent him to the hospital.


    ¡°...She¡¯s not here?¡±


    The house was unusually quiet.


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 Chapter 250

    "What? Park Jungwoo actually decided to take that role in the movie?"


    Hwang Minhwa¡¯s sharp eyes gleamed at the words from her junior actress, Yeon Ari. Under that piercing gaze, Yeon Ari instinctively shrank back.


    Hwang Minhwa had always been someone with a strong presence¡ªlike a walking luxury brand.


    Whenever she walked into a room, it felt as though light followed her. It was the kind of aura that made people think, Ah, so this is what it means to be an actress.


    But at the same time, that aura often carried a heavy sense of intimidation.


    Especially when her usual gentle demeanor was stripped away, revealing her true self.


    "Yes, yes, I think the news has already spread everywhere."


    "Hmph... That guy..."


    They weren¡¯t close enough for her to casually call him ¡°that guy,¡± but he wasn¡¯t here, and besides, he was younger than her.


    Sure, Park Jungwoo had debuted earlier as a child actor, but in terms of age, Minhwa was older.


    ¡°At his age, someone that successful should at least want to show off a little.¡±


    Minhwa had tried several times to form a connection with Park Jungwoo.


    But every time, he brushed her off with a polite smile, never leaving even the smallest opening.


    A stuck-up bastard.


    Actresses who had made advances on him all said the same thing.


    Still, his squeaky-clean personal life and unmatched self-discipline only made him more desirable.


    The more untouchable he seemed, the more tempting it was to try and break through that wall.


    ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t bother. He¡¯s probably the most boring man alive.¡±


    Regardless of her opinion about his personality, there was no denying that Park Jungwoo had a keen eye for good scripts.


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 Chapter 251

    The hottest rising star of the year, Ju Seoyeon, had arrived.@@@@


    Naturally, the entire audition room buzzed with whispers and murmurs.


    Who wouldn¡¯t be surprised?


    This was just an audition for a movie by Jo Bangwoo¡ªa director whose glory days had ended a decade ago.


    It was odd enough that top-tier stars like Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon were showing up.


    ¡°What the hell¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I heard Park Jungwoo was cast, but does that alone explain why Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon are here? Something¡¯s off.¡±


    ¡°Was the script really that good? I mean, it was fun, but isn¡¯t it just an action flick? Honestly, it felt kind of ridiculous...¡±


    The actresses in the room alternated their stares between Seoyeon, who had just entered, and Minhwa, seated confidently with her legs crossed.


    Their eyes eventually met.


    Her career had never seen a box-office performance below five million viewers.


    Except for one.


    ¡°Jo Bangwoo¡¯s movie.¡±


    It had barely scraped 1.5 million viewers before disappearing from theaters.


    Hwang Minhwa erased it from her career, as if it had never existed.


    She could afford to because she hadn¡¯t played the lead.


    ¡®Still, it¡¯s strange that she¡¯s here.¡¯


    From what Seoyeon remembered, Minhwa had originally been slated as the lead actress.


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 Chapter 252

    ¡°What sin did I commit in my past life?¡±


    Kim Siyu, the actress caught between Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon, wore a tearful expression.


    Her number was 35.


    She was sandwiched perfectly between Hwang Minhwa, number 34, and Ju Seoyeon, number 36.


    How could this happen?


    She was already treated like an afterthought in her agency.


    Even for this audition, she had come mostly to gain experience and maybe add a single line to her nonexistent career portfolio.@@@@


    ¡°Why are actresses of this caliber even here for Jo Bangwoo¡¯s movie?¡±


    Honestly, it was baffling.


    Neither her agency nor she herself had high hopes for this movie.


    It was just a practice run.


    If she managed to land the role, that would be great.


    A child prodigy who had returned after ten years.


    To be honest, seeing her up close felt surreal.


    Ju Seoyeon was so beautiful that it felt inappropriate to even categorize herself as a fellow actress.


    Unlike Hwang Minhwa, who carried an air of aristocratic elegance, Ju Seoyeon exuded a calm, delicate charm.


    And yet, there was something about her that made it impossible to look away.


    Maybe it was her ability to draw people in.


    It wasn¡¯t just her looks.


    Even before seeing her face, people naturally found their gaze pulled toward her.


    ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to act between them?¡±


    No wonder Kim Siyu looked like she was on the verge of tears.


    Could she even deliver her lines properly?


    ¡°Scene S#27.¡±


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 Chapter 253

    Seoul Escape was fundamentally an action film.@@@@


    But not the kind where people fought each other.


    The gas leak victims behaved like zombies, attacking those around them.


    However, the movie wasn¡¯t about fighting them.


    It was about dodging.


    Running away.


    Hiding.


    And ultimately, escaping.


    The goal was survival¡ªnot saving the world.


    The protagonists weren¡¯t tasked with fixing the disaster.


    That job belonged to the military and the police.


    That was something she¡¯d have to do endlessly in Mine, the next film on her schedule.


    ¡°What do you think, Seoyeon? Are you okay with this?¡±


    Director Jo Bangwoo asked carefully.


    If Seoyeon was uncomfortable, they could always test her skills separately.


    There was no need to accept Hwang Minhwa¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡®This is tricky.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s wry smile wasn¡¯t due to nerves.


    ¡®How much should I show?¡¯


    That was the real issue.


    Climbing fast wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    If she really wanted to, she could probably just jump to the top.


    ¡°I thought unification was finally happening.¡±¡°There goes my excuse to dodge military service.¡±¡°Kyungsung Lady.¡±¡°So who¡¯s stronger, Ju Seoyeon or a missile?¡±


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 Chapter 254

    The quiet peace of Ju Seoyeon''s fan cafe? was interrupted early in the morning when a new post appeared.


    Isn¡¯t the variety show Seoyeon filmed in Japan airing today?


    It was something like that.


    Seoyeon''s fan cafe? had been relatively quiet recently.


    With most of her movies and dramas wrapped up, the only thing to talk about was news about her next project.


    VS debates would occasionally pop up, but thanks to Seoyeon¡¯s meticulous image management, even those had subsided significantly.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t because there was nothing left to argue about. Fans had started to recognize the tearful efforts she was making to manage her image.


    Did she go to Japan again? Why?Isn¡¯t it from when she went for the Kyungsung Lady shoot?Didn¡¯t she come back earlier?They said she filmed it in advance because of her busy schedule.Yeah, Seoyeon is pretty busy these days.


    The Japanese variety show Seoyeon had appeared on previously was a standard interview show, so it hadn¡¯t drawn much attention.


    Ironically, the hidden camera variety show she¡¯d appeared on before that had been much hotter.


    Isn¡¯t she going to crawl around pretending to be a ghost again?Doing the same thing twice wouldn¡¯t be fun.True.I heard it¡¯s something like camping in the woods?Jo Sehee posted something on Instagram.So it¡¯s just a normal camping show?That¡¯s not bad, I guess?Are they really close? People keep saying they are.Honestly, it might be kind of fun.I¡¯m not into those calm, laid-back shows... Do Japanese variety shows even do that kind of thing?


    Park Eunha¡¯s excited voice came through the phone.


    Truthfully, Eunha had had some reservations about Seoul Escape.


    It was a movie directed by someone whose recent projects had all flopped.


    Given Seoyeon¡¯s current upward momentum, it felt like a questionable choice.


    Among the scripts sent to Seoyeon, there were several from far more reputable directors.


    But Seoyeon had insisted she wanted this film.


    With Park Jungwoo also attached to the project, Eunha felt somewhat reassured.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    [Yeah, it¡¯s a relief.]


    ¡°Honestly, I was a bit worried.¡±


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 Chapter 255

    Watching Japanese variety shows in Korea isn''t particularly difficult. In fact, Yeongmi occasionally found herself watching Japanese broadcasts live. While there was a slight delay of about ten minutes, it wasn''t significant enough to matter.


    "Though, to be honest, it''s not a variety show... it''s anime."


    Yeongmi couldn''t bring herself to admit this to Gilda-hyeon, the ultimate social butterfly who probably wouldn''t be caught dead watching cartoons.


    Regardless, Yeongmi was quite intrigued by the fact that Ju Seoyeon, the star of their class, had appeared on a Japanese variety show. After all, when a classmate is a famous actress and even appears on foreign television, it¡¯s hard not to take notice.


    ¡®Oh, maybe she¡¯s embarrassed to watch a show she starred in with her friends.¡¯


    That thought made Seoyeon seem oddly cute.


    ¡°And so, the four actresses head somewhere unknown...¡±


    A gloomy soundtrack played as the narrator spoke, and the screen transitioned to show the Aokigahara forest.


    Ju Seoyeon''s Japanese variety show just started.I heard it¡¯s some kind of camping show. Sounds boring.The camping location is Aokigahara forest.Where¡¯s that?One of the world¡¯s top 10 haunted places. In Japan, it¡¯s infamous as a suicide spot.??? Camping there? Is the PD out of their mind?Haha, it¡¯s Japanese variety TV. That¡¯s pretty tame, actually.Ju Seoyeon rode a bear.??????????Is it just me, or does the bear look sad?There¡¯s blood on its nose. Did Ju Seoyeon hit it?Lol, even if Tyson punched a bear full force, it wouldn¡¯t care.Seoyeon, I said you could do anything, but a bear? Really???She¡¯s the first actress I¡¯ve seen smile that brightly on a bear.Seoyeon... actually, never mind.Wait, did she fight and tame the bear to ride it?Does that say ¡°Bear Rider¡± in Japanese?Yeah, the top says ¡°Bear Rider,¡± and below it is Ju Seoyeon¡¯s name.Lol, ¡°Bear Rider Ju Seoyeon¡± is comedy gold.How can none of them cook?Wait, didn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon say she could cook on Golden Ducklings?Her dad mentioned in an interview that he gets scared when she picks up a knife, so she only cooks what she¡¯s really confident about.Ah, that explains it.Why aren¡¯t they communicating?Who¡¯s the Japanese actress? Is it Reika?This show is a promo for the movie Kyungsung Lady. Reika is the lead actress.Wait, not Jo Seohui or Ju Seoyeon? Reika¡¯s the lead?!Lol, Ju Seoyeon is the MVP of this show.Fun fact: Ju Seoyeon is always the MVP in variety shows.No way. She only caught a tilefish on Star Fisher and barely survived on Island Survival... Wait, this is real.Why is the lack of communication so funny?Reika calling Ju Seoyeon ¡°kind¡± is hilarious.Seoyeon actually getting scared by Reika¡¯s crying is the best part.Why is she in a tree now?Is this secretly a ¡°Find the Hidden Actress¡± show?So creative with their hiding spots.Where¡¯s Jo Seohui, though?As a professional trainer, I can confirm this core strength is insane.Breathing normally while doing this? Her stamina is unreal.Carrying like that will wreck your back. Signed, a professional trainer.Why are there so many ¡°professional trainers¡± here?(Moderator): Many trainers joined the fan cafe after the last Ju Seoyeon challenge.Wait, is that real?Is that Jo Seohui?Why does she look like she¡¯s in a different genre?Wait, I need to go to the bathroom real quick.Not scary at all, lol. Guess I¡¯m sleeping with Mom tonight.Wait, did Seoyeon just scream?Was that high-pitched scream from Ju Seoyeon?!Lol, so she does get scared. Kinda cute.Honestly, I¡¯d scream too if I saw that.Is that even possible?As a professional MMA fighter, I¡¯d say... maybe she really did knock out the bear earlier.Why are there MMA fighters here now?First time seeing Ju Seoyeon give someone a ¡°you¡¯re hopeless¡± look, lol.Jo Seohui seemed so competent, but I guess not in the kitchen.Reika is hilarious. She tried the hardest but ended up with the weirdest results.That Japanese actress is pretty likable. She¡¯s cute.She can¡¯t even talk to the Korean actresses, though. Only Seohui seems to understand her.Isn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon an otaku? Why can¡¯t she speak Japanese?She can, but it¡¯s weirdly gangster-like Japanese.What¡¯s with that ominous vibe?What did she notice?What¡¯s going on?


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 Chapter 256

    "Uh..."


    Gilda-hyeon was genuinely at a loss for words. Not because she had nothing to say, but because she had too much to say.


    Frankly, she was curious¡ªeveryone in the room was.


    "That¡¯s a real bear, isn¡¯t it? It says it¡¯s a wild bear on screen."


    "...Well..."@@@@


    What¡¯s with ¡°Konbanwa,¡± lol.Did Jo Seohui just faint?Honestly, if a bear said ¡°Konbanwa¡± to me, I¡¯d pass out too.Is Ju Seoyeon okay in the head? She¡¯s riding a bear and smacking it like that?!Clearly, she¡¯s training the bear. Can¡¯t you see?The only reason the bear survived is because Seoyeon is merciful, lol.Hi, I¡¯m a bear, and yeah, this checks out.


    Discussions ranged from how fortunate it was that the bear was tame to speculations about what could have happened off-camera.


    ¡¸The bear sustained facial bruises and broken ribs, possibly from losing a territorial fight.¡¹


    ¡¸Do bears normally act so calm?¡¹


    ¡¸No. Unless their stomachs are full, it¡¯s unusual for them to be this docile. In fact, this bear was likely hungry, making it very dangerous... but it¡¯s acting as if it isn¡¯t dangerous at all.¡¹


    A wildlife researcher who had come to the filming site also appeared baffled by the bear¡¯s behavior.


    Despite the ominous warnings, the footage remained lighthearted, with Seoyeon casually riding the bear and the other actresses reacting in shock.


    Reika, ever the daring one, spoke up.


    Is the bear a motorcycle now?My brain can¡¯t process what¡¯s happening.Is this for real?Stella doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯d know how to do any of this, lol.Three of them look like they belong in a cartoon: Dooly, Douner, and Dochi.Ju Seoyeon: ¡°Behave, or you¡¯ll be bear food.¡± Stella: ¡°God, I hate this gorilla.¡±Did a Korean network pay her off?She¡¯s clearly trying to ride the Korean wave.Seoyeon¡¯s doing well, but Stella and her are leagues apart.Bear Rider Ju Seoyeon and Stella Baldwin in the same sentence? Something¡¯s off.Seoyeon riding a bear.Stella Baldwin¡¯s appearance.What is the Korean movie ¡°Kyungsung Lady¡± that Stella Baldwin mentioned?Who is the ¡°incredible male actor¡± Stella hinted at?Ju Seoyeon¡¯s sensational performance in Japanese variety: The rise of ¡°Bear Rider.¡±Hollywood star Stella Baldwin extends an invitation to Ju Seoyeon.


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 Chapter 257

    Los Angeles, California.


    Dressed in glamorous evening attire, attendees gathered in groups within the grand estate, engaged in animated conversations.


    But it wasn''t just the clothing that dazzled. The people themselves seemed to radiate brilliance, their appearances exuding an almost otherworldly charm.


    "Jimmy, your latest film wasn¡¯t bad. It performed about as well as my debut movie."


    "Well, aren¡¯t you good at sugarcoating failure?"@@@@


    Her laughter carried an effortless elegance, prompting Aaron Campbell, an American superstar actor, to shrug his shoulders with amusement. As the host of tonight''s party, he was also a prominent actor in a famous American superhero franchise.


    The crowd, a veritable constellation of stars, had gathered to celebrate his 40th birthday.


    "So, did you leave your role in the latest film?"


    "Hah! That remains to be seen. It¡¯s up to the higher-ups, but I¡¯m not dead yet. Superman, remember? You know how it goes."


    "True, they¡¯d definitely find a way to bring you back¡ªthe profits are too good to pass up."


    "Stella, it¡¯s just a comic book story. Don¡¯t take it so seriously."


    "Oh, I wouldn¡¯t know. I don¡¯t read comics. I¡¯ve been into Marvel lately, but I¡¯ve never been into DC."


    "As always, you¡¯re such a contrarian."


    Aaron flexed his well-toned physique with a grin, embodying the picture-perfect image of Superman. As one of Hollywood''s few true action stars, known for performing stunts without a double, his reputation was well-earned.


    "By the way..."


    "Yes?"


    "I saw it. That Japanese variety show."


    "...You did?"


    "Now, now, don¡¯t make it sound so harsh."


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 Chapter 258

    In the heart of Yeouido, Seoul, a department store was bustling with activity. It was the opening day of a pop-up event for the renowned French luxury brand, Violl.


    This year¡¯s event was particularly special, celebrating Violl¡¯s 10th anniversary of launching in Korea. The brand was showcasing exclusive, limited-edition clothing and products designed specifically for the Korean market.


    Violl¡¯s strategy involved tailoring unique offerings for each country it entered, though Korea had long been overlooked compared to others. However, with the rising influence of Korean culture globally, Violl had decided to shift gears, launching a major promotional campaign themed around Korea. This campaign extended beyond Korea to international markets as well, and the epicenter of this launch was today¡¯s event at the Yeouido department store.@@@@


    The workers installing the advertisements couldn¡¯t help but admire the woman standing gracefully beside Jungwoo in the central image. Though she wasn¡¯t officially a Violl model, she seemed perfectly paired with him.


    While Jungwoo was the main focus of the campaign, this woman, despite having fewer photos and less spotlight, was impossible to overlook.


    "Maybe that¡¯s why she¡¯s even more eye-catching."


    Her most striking feature was her eyes, warm like a sunset with a reddish hue resembling ruby gemstones. They could have been intimidating, but instead, they drew you in like rays of sunlight.


    Same here ????So cute ????????????????The department store is packed. Is Violl really that big of a brand?They¡¯ve had their controversies, but people still flock to their exclusive items.Who¡¯s the woman next to Park Jungwoo in the photo?Not ordinary at all. That¡¯s Ju Seoyeon.LOL what?Ju Seoyeon? The Bear Rider???What are you even saying...No way, Ju Seoyeon doesn¡¯t look like that.LOL relatable!!!Seoyeon unnie has always been adorable, but this is a totally different vibe.Our Bear Rider grew up and became a princess???I¡¯m in my 30s... She reminds me so much of her Princess Yeonhwa role.That¡¯s from The Moon That Hid the Sun, right?OMG my parents loved that drama LOL.Honestly, this feels like her true self. It suits her so well!


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 Chapter 259

    That evening, in an online community known for discussing celebrity gossip, a post appeared:


    "Has anyone been to New Like''s Yeouido department store? Is that really Ju Seoyeon in the Violl ad?"


    The comments poured in almost immediately.


    "It¡¯s definitely Ju Seoyeon. How many actresses have a face like that?""LOL, but seriously, I almost didn¡¯t recognize her. She looks completely different.""For real, LOL."


    Ju Seoyeon¡¯s typical image boiled down to two archetypes:


    A lively, quirky, golden retriever-type girl.A strong and imposing high schooler, often jokingly referred to with gorilla memes."Anyone remember when Ju Seoyeon first appeared on variety shows? That¡¯s exactly how she looked.""Oh, you¡¯re talking about Looking Back at Memories, right? Now that you mention it...""Yeah, and people were worried about whether she could pull off Cha Seoa¡¯s villain role because of her Princess Yeonhwa image.""Well, she did show her chops in theater.""Theater and film are completely different, though.""Violl really pulled out all the stops for this pop-up. They¡¯re even releasing a making-of video?""Looks like they¡¯re aiming to make this a major promotional push.""Honestly, if I had both Park Jungwoo and Ju Seoyeon, I¡¯d go all out too, LOL.""With this concept, it feels like Seoil and Princess Yeonhwa meeting in the modern day.""Wait, who¡¯s Seoil?"


    ©¸ "The male lead from The Moon That Hid the Sun."


    Pre-written articles and quick-moving YouTubers began flooding the internet with content.


    "I was going to review a movie today, but I¡¯ve decided to pivot to a drama review instead," announced Han Bongshik, a YouTuber who had skyrocketed to 1.4 million subscribers thanks to his "Ju Seoyeon coin."


    "You know The Moon That Hid the Sun, right? The drama that aired ten years ago. I¡¯m planning to focus my reviews on that for a while..."


    "Bongshik, you¡¯re chasing Ju Seoyeon content again, aren¡¯t you?""He hasn¡¯t covered any of her work lately, though.""That¡¯s just because he already reviewed everything, LOL.""Didn¡¯t you already review The Moon That Hid the Sun?"


    "Hey now! That¡¯s not it! How could you misunderstand my pure intentions?" Bongshik exclaimed with mock indignation before clearing his throat.


    "Han Bongshik, the filial son, LOL.""I wish I could shop for my parents at department stores too ????.""Dude, you¡¯ve already reviewed it!""Really? It¡¯s hard to imagine Ju Seoyeon fitting that image.""I saw it too, and honestly, I thought it was someone else, LOL.""She usually gives off a cold vibe, but the Ju Seoyeon in the Violl ad feels so different.""LOL, bet the shoot was chaotic.""Bongshik¡¯s illusions about Ju Seoyeon are about to be shattered.""Anyone still holding illusions about her probably lost them after the bear-riding incident, LOL.""Seoil???""Who¡¯s this???""???""Does Park Jungwoo like Ju Seoyeon???""Nah, I think he¡¯s just genuinely caught off guard.""Honestly, I¡¯d be flustered too if Ju Seoyeon acted like that toward me...""Ju Seoyeon, you horrible gorilla! Bring back Princess Yeonhwa!""Free Princess Yeonhwa from the body of that brutish head-butting dinosaur!""You¡¯re not Princess Yeonhwa¡ªyou¡¯re Ju Seoyeon!"


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 Chapter 260

    GH Group Headquarters


    The newly established Overseas Cultural Projects Team, designed specifically for their OTT drama productions, was abuzz with activity. A heated meeting was underway.


    "Did everyone see the Violl ad that went up today?"


    "Of course."


    "Was this deliberate? I doubt Violl could know this much about the Korean entertainment landscape."


    For the team, the rising attention toward their lead actress was a good thing. Kang Taejin, the director present at the meeting, had a rare smile gracing his face.


    The Violl ad had transcended being just an ad, turning into a viral meme in the best way possible. It was remarkable how Ju Seoyeon¡¯s starkly contrasting images were fueling the public¡¯s fascination. Most people associated her either with Cha Seoa¡¯s cold-blooded villainy or with the lively, quirky persona she showcased on variety shows.


    The executives glanced cautiously at Kang Taejin.


    "If it becomes known that we pressured an actress, the backlash could be severe."


    Kang Taejin spoke calmly, his tone cold and measured. The son of GH Group¡¯s chairman, he had earned his position through sheer capability, climbing to his role as director with ruthless efficiency. His unyielding demeanor made it hard to meet his gaze directly.


    ¡®A double-edged sword,¡¯ one of the executives thought. ¡®We can¡¯t afford to oppose him recklessly.¡¯


    "Princess Yeonhwa vs. Ju Seoyeon: Who would win?""Don¡¯t drag Princess Yeonhwa into some savage VS debate.""The princess wouldn¡¯t even dine with such barbarians...""Seoyeon, please remake Tales of the Hidden Moon just once.""Is this really the same smile? [photo]""The difference between Cha Seoa, Ju Seoyeon smiling, and Princess Yeonhwa smiling is hilarious.""How does such a lovely face become so fierce?"


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 Chapter 261

    Seoyeon had recently begun establishing proper human relationships, and her confidence was steadily growing.


    More and more students in her class had started approaching her to talk.


    At this rate, having a large number of friends was practically inevitable.


    In addition, her circle of actor colleagues¡ªpeople she could consider workplace companions¡ªwas steadily expanding.


    "Well, it feels a bit strange, but even Stella said I was good."


    Though Stella¡¯s idea of "good" might have been slightly different, it was still a compliment.


    Even with Stella, who built walls around herself, Seoyeon had managed to get along.


    So, it was only natural that she had recently begun to overestimate her communication skills.


    Could it be that she was, in fact, already a social butterfly?@@@@


    "Be someone who praises and encourages others."


    It made sense.


    So, as Seoyeon quietly waited in the GH Group conference room for Arthur to arrive, she repeatedly rehearsed in her head.


    Stella said he¡¯s a very famous actor overseas. According to her, she¡¯s even taught Arthur Diaz a thing or two about acting.


    If they had taught each other, they must have been close.


    While Stella¡¯s personality might be debatable, her acting skills were highly respected by Seoyeon.


    Being compared to Stella essentially meant Arthur was one of the best actors of his generation, unmatched by his peers.


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 Chapter 262

    "Damn it!"


    Arthur stormed into his hotel room, roughly unpacking his luggage before running a hand through his hair in frustration.


    The meeting earlier hadn¡¯t been bad overall.


    The negotiations between his agency and GH Group had gone smoothly, and he¡¯d secured a role in the drama under very favorable terms.


    His role was the "male lead."


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just any ordinary male lead.


    GH Group clearly intended to fully utilize Arthur¡¯s star power, assigning him additional responsibilities within the production.@@@@


    Oliver laughed heartily, his toned, muscular frame flexing as he removed his shirt.


    "Actors speak through their performances anyway. By the way, Arthur, you probably didn¡¯t hear, but it seems like that actress is doing her own action scenes in Majin."


    "What? No stunt doubles?"


    "That¡¯s what the director said. Apparently, they specifically auditioned actresses capable of performing action scenes."


    "Ridiculous."


    Arthur scoffed, recalling Seoyeon¡¯s slender frame and average height.


    She didn¡¯t exactly scream "action star."


    "Are they planning to cover everything with CGI? How¡¯s the CGI in Korea, anyway?"


    "Not bad. I¡¯ve seen a fair share of Korean films, and their CGI isn¡¯t overly awkward. Of course, it¡¯s nowhere near Hollywood¡¯s level."


    "Hmph, maybe they think they can skimp on quality since it¡¯s just an OTT drama."


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 Chapter 263

    "Author, you really need to attend this."


    The meeting with the editor before the drama adaptation was more intense than usual.@@@@


    The editor, rarely this assertive, spoke firmly.


    "I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s almost unheard of for lead actors to be cast this quickly."


    "Is that so?"


    "Absolutely. Normally, even if we send the script to various actors, it takes quite some time. But you know, right? The recent buzz around the Violle commercial?"


    "Oh... yes."


    The author, hesitant and unsure, responded to the editor¡¯s words.


    But she couldn''t help it.


    For Jung Haran, a web novelist with ten years of experience, this situation was overwhelming.


    And yet, she had recognized it immediately.


    She knew who the daughter was.


    At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but after seeing the name, she was sure.


    When she asked Kang Taejin, he confirmed it with a nod.


    She loved that drama and those actors.


    But involving herself with them personally? That was a different story¡ªone that felt a little dangerous.


    "Oh, I¡¯ve always dreamed of seeing the young Princess Yeonhwa and Yoon Se-il from that series in a historical drama together!"


    ''Isn''t that the same topic that keeps causing fights in Park Jungwoo¡¯s fan community?''


    Of course, Seoyeon and Park Jungwoo were only three years apart in age.


    So, technically, there was nothing inappropriate about it, but neither of them was particularly old either.


    Their fanbases were much more like those of idols¡ªintensely passionate and emotionally driven.


    Bringing a romantic connection into the mix was bound to spark backlash.


    Naturally, there were plenty of fans like the editor, who reveled in the idea, leading to frequent debates.


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 Chapter 264

    "Let¡¯s see... So the meetings are all done? Now, all that¡¯s left is filming?"


    Sooah double-checked Seoyeon¡¯s schedule while watching YouTube on the TV. Though she no longer followed Seoyeon to work as she used to, she still checked in on her schedule regularly.


    Sometimes, she would ask Seoyeon¡¯s manager, Park Eunha, but since that was awkward, she usually got the details straight from Seoyeon.


    "Yes. First, I¡¯ll be filming Majin, and once that wraps up, I¡¯ll start on Director Jo Bangwoo¡¯s movie."


    "And then comes Flower of the Imperial Palace?"


    "Yes."


    Next year¡¯s schedule essentially consisted of just two projects: Flower of the Imperial Palace and Majin.


    This year had been overly packed, so two projects in a year was already plenty.


    ''Guess I¡¯ll hold off on variety shows until next year.''


    She planned to focus on her school life for now. The second and third quarters of this year had been her busiest, leaving her unable to attend school properly. It was time to make up for that.


    "I see. The CEO of Adiz reached out, asking if you could do more ads."


    Apparently, they had contacted Sooah as well.


    ''That¡¯s probably because they want her to appear in them with me.''


    Another legendary video incoming?Every video¡¯s a legend, so calling it ¡°another¡± is redundant, lol.For real, hahaha.Why speed like that in an alley?Judging by the interior, it¡¯s a Carnival.Carnival drivers, lol, as expected.This guy¡¯s definitely gonna crash into something.Oh no, this is bad.Is this gonna show a fatal accident?Wait, did this guy really upload a video of himself hitting people?If he submitted this because he thought he was in the right, he¡¯s insane.???What the heck?Is this magic?Where did the people in front go?Wait, that wasn¡¯t a shadow? It was a person?!Did someone just run in and save them?An alien?How is that even possible?Regrets, lol. He¡¯ll drive the same way tomorrow.The fact no one got hurt means he won¡¯t face any real consequences.But who was that person?Are we seriously saying that blurry figure was human?Wasn¡¯t that Ju Seoyeon?Hmm... plausible.Why would Ju Seoyeon be there, though, lol?Apparently, there¡¯s a YTBC broadcasting station near that alley. If she had business there, it¡¯s possible.This is such a stretch.But... kind of convincing?


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 Chapter 265

    A heavy silence filled the air.


    Arthur maintained a smile, but it was closer to a frozen expression than one of genuine amusement. He looked as though he couldn¡¯t fully process what he had just heard.


    The bodyguards standing nearby glanced nervously at Arthur, as did the Korean actors present.


    "Does Ju Seoyeon have such a close relationship with Arthur Diaz?"


    "If they were that close, she wouldn¡¯t have rejected him so directly."


    "But didn¡¯t Arthur Diaz just extend his hand to her first?"


    Who was Arthur Diaz, after all?


    The rising star of Hollywood.


    It was well-known that famous directors frequently reached out to him with offers. With a personality free of rough edges and a flawless performance in any role he took, he was so perfect that his peers called him "Mr. Perfect."


    Jo Seohui, who arrived shortly after Arthur, exclaimed with sparkling eyes. In truth, she had entered the room almost simultaneously with him, but the attention on Arthur had kept her unnoticed.


    She had been quietly watching from a distance as Arthur and Seoyeon exchanged words. Then, out of nowhere, Seoyeon had said, ¡°This is a spot for friends!¡±


    "Oh."


    Seoyeon finally noticed Seohui, though belatedly. Surrounded by others, she had been too preoccupied to spot her earlier.


    It was a slightly awkward moment. Seoyeon had never explicitly called Seohui her ¡°friend¡± before, and now it felt a bit embarrassing.


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 Chapter 266

    "Oh, Shim, how are things these days? I heard you got a call from a broadcasting station?"


    "I''m still thinking it over."


    "What''s there to think about? You''ve done all you can on the stage. If you have the chance, do some drama or film work. You''re too talented to stay confined to theater."


    It was a gathering of actors who had worked together on Close Your Eyes. Such reunions were rare¡ªmost actors were too busy to attend multiple end-of-year meetups.


    But Close Your Eyes held special meaning for everyone present.


    "As you know, Close Your Eyes was a massive hit¡ªnot just in terms of success, but look at what happened to the actors who were part of it," remarked Jo Doyul, the play''s director, as he glanced toward a corner of the room.


    There, a woman stood, noticeably transformed from her former self.


    Though this might be my last year here, he thought.


    He wanted to stay in theater a bit longer, but seeing his peers move up made him restless.


    Cheongseok glanced at Pyo Jiwoo. She blended in naturally, though she hadn¡¯t actually been part of the original Close Your Eyes cast. Instead, her involvement had started with the auditions and later expanded as she participated in other plays with the cast.


    Everyone here knew her, and her presence wasn¡¯t questioned.


    Though, if I¡¯m honest, they probably invited Jiwoo just to get that person to show up.


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 Chapter 267

    Seoyeon, having come up with a clever plan, discreetly reached out to other actors from Close Your Eyes, particularly Lee Hyejin, who had maintained a steady relationship with Pyo Jiwoo.


    "Jiwoo? She does seem to be seeing someone lately, but honestly, it¡¯s fifty-fifty."


    "Fifty-fifty?"


    "Yes, it feels like she¡¯s almost completely fallen for him, but... you know, because of what happened before, she¡¯s still a bit cautious."@@@@


    Almost and completely were worlds apart. Seoyeon already had her suspicions.


    Jiwoo¡¯s behavior still fell within the range of what might be expected from a typical person. If she were truly infatuated, just changing her profile picture wouldn¡¯t have been the extent of it.


    Considering how Jiwoo was in my previous life, shouldn¡¯t she be showing more obsessive tendencies?


    Seoyeon looked at Jiwoo for a moment before cautiously asking:


    "If his intentions turn out to be bad..."


    "I can handle it for now. But if things escalate and he turns out to be like Min Seohu oppa... no, Min Seohu... things might get ugly."


    Jiwoo¡¯s tone grew cold, her smile vanishing. Her eyes glinted with a dangerous resolve, as if promising not to forgive betrayal.


    At least she¡¯s still on guard¡ªthank goodness.


    It was almost ironic, but the past incident had instilled a strong sense of caution in Jiwoo. In the past, she might have fallen headfirst into the situation, but now, she was holding back and thinking things through.


    If left alone, though, this could end up in a Swordmaster Ending.


    "Ju Seoyeon still meets up with her theater colleagues, huh.""Most celebrities would just cut ties after leaving.""Seoyeon might look cold, but she¡¯s not like that at all.""Haha, if you watch her on variety shows, you know she¡¯s nothing like that.""Isn¡¯t that cold image outdated?""Wait, Pyo Jiwoo was in Close Your Eyes?""No, but she auditioned and stayed close with the cast."


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 Chapter 268

    Seoyeon¡¯s First Day of Exams: Social Studies and Korean.


    Needless to say, she hadn''t properly studied for either subject.@@@@


    "Well, at least I managed to get through Korean somehow."


    Seoyeon was relatively decent at Korean. Even reading web novels consistently had its benefits.


    Without much studying, she could still manage a steady third grade¡ªa middle-tier score based on the five-grade system.


    "No, that''s not ''steady'' at all!"


    Part of it stemmed from her role as Lee Yoojoo in Sky Garden. Additionally, a recent commercial had boosted her profile, leading many to mistakenly believe she was an exemplary student.


    For example, whenever she went shopping with Sua, she¡¯d overhear comments from nearby moms.


    "If only my daughter could study as well as Seoyeon."


    "Exactly. Just look at how put-together she is, even while shopping."


    Having grown up in the neighborhood, most locals viewed Seoyeon warmly and familiarly. Often, she could hear their hushed chatter as she walked past.


    "Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "I think it¡¯s fine if people have their illusions about you."


    "......"


    Sua¡¯s tone was tinged with resignation, as if holding back from saying more.


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 Chapter 269

    The class president, Gildahyeon, observed closely.


    Having interacted more frequently with Seoyeon recently, she had become somewhat adept at reading the subtle emotions in Seoyeon¡¯s otherwise expressionless face.


    "It seems like Seoyeon feels uncomfortable about meeting with the classmates."


    Though their conversations had increased and they felt a bit closer, Gildahyeon was aware that there was still a lingering awkwardness between them.


    "Other than me, she still doesn¡¯t initiate conversations with anyone."


    Moreover, without Jiyeon from the neighboring class, Seoyeon seemed even more uneasy in such situations.


    "That sounds like a great idea! But wouldn¡¯t it be a bit awkward with just two classes? Why not make it a school-wide event instead? How about we talk to the grade supervisor together?"


    When they brought the idea to the grade supervisor, it snowballed even further.


    "Hmm, if we¡¯re making it a school event, why not include students from other grades as well? With Yeonhwa High gaining fame as an arts school recently, this could highlight the school¡¯s unique traits. Let¡¯s discuss this with the vice-principal!"


    "What?"


    Things were escalating faster than Gildahyeon had anticipated.


    What had started as a small class party was turning into a massive school-wide event.


    "Ah, it¡¯s because it¡¯s a private school."


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 Chapter 270

    Han Yegun couldn¡¯t describe the atmosphere on set as good.


    Most of the actors seemed overly conscious of Arthur Diaz.


    Even the veteran supporting actors, experienced in numerous films, weren¡¯t immune to the tension. As for the newcomers who had stood out during auditions, the situation was even worse.


    Through the script readings, Han Yegun had confirmed this unease. It would have been better if it were just his imagination, but even now, everyone seemed to be closely monitoring Arthur Diaz¡¯s every move.


    "The only one not affected seems to be Ju Seoyeon."


    While Arthur could break his contract and pay the penalty if he chose to, such an action was unlikely unless there was an extraordinary reason. For a professional actor, it would be an irresponsible move, and Arthur wasn¡¯t the kind of person to lack that sense of professionalism.


    "Ju Seoyeon and Arthur, please come here."


    Han Yegun leisurely plopped down on a chair prepared on set¡ªa simple, metal folding chair.


    Opposite him, two more identical chairs stood empty.


    At his call, both Seoyeon and Arthur approached, glancing between Han and the vacant chairs.


    "Take a seat. These are the only chairs available."


    "Alright."


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 Chapter 271

    Seoyeon had already played "Jin Yeonseo" in Hyper Action Star. Of course, back then, the character was named "Yeohwa."


    But the current "Yeonseo" was different from "Yeohwa."


    Not because the character traits had changed, but because the context had.


    "Yeonseo grew up in a laboratory, never having the chance to interact properly with people."@@@@


    Perhaps because she was a test subject, she had never learned the emotions most people pick up naturally.


    That was precisely her current state.


    "In a way, she¡¯s similar to me."


    When Seoyeon first received the complete script for Mine, that thought struck her.


    "Seoyeon was so mature and composed as a child."


    She was aware of this. It was true.


    She had been that way until she gradually learned emotions, up until adolescence.


    After going through her teenage years, she became the person she was now. But Seoyeon didn¡¯t particularly miss her old self.


    Sure, she might have been composed and mature back then, but she hadn¡¯t truly been an adult.


    Even if she sometimes cringed looking back, she liked who she was now¡ªa teenage girl with a vibrant emotional spectrum.


    "And young Yeonseo is like who I was before I became myself now."


    She was like a younger version of herself, closer to her past life.


    A child who didn¡¯t know how to mimic emotions, who didn¡¯t know what expression to wear or how to react based on feelings.


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 Chapter 272

    Song Yong-ho, a senior at Yeonhwa High School, wandered into the school auditorium late at night. Despite the college entrance exams being over and having little reason to visit school anymore, he had come for one particular purpose.


    "This is a must-broadcast event!"


    Song Yong-ho was an internet streamer. At the start of the year, he was a virtual nobody, barely scraping by with a handful of viewers. But after filming a viral video during Close Your Eyes, his channel began to grow rapidly.


    Back then, he was the only one who had captured a raw, unedited reaction to the events on live stream.


    Though he received a warning from the broadcasting station later, he was let off lightly since he was just a student, and the video only gained attention after the variety show had aired.


    Now, with 100,000 subscribers, he had become a moderately successful streamer. His plan after graduation was to focus entirely on streaming.


    Where even is that?Never heard of it.Isn¡¯t Yeonhwa High a humanities school with strong arts programs?Rumor has it they¡¯re trying to rebrand as an art school.Isn¡¯t that the school Ju Seoyeon goes to?High schoolers have end-of-year parties these days? So cringe.Shouldn¡¯t they be studying instead of partying? LOL.Did you tell them you¡¯re streaming?


    "Not exactly. But it should be fine, don¡¯t you think?"


    Total delinquent behavior.


    "Hey, hey! Delinquent? No way. This is an unspoken agreement¡ªmutual understanding!"


    In truth, the school probably anticipated that someone would film and post videos since Ju Seoyeon would be attending. Whether it was Yong-ho rationalizing his behavior or not, the fact remained that he generally stuck to clean, student-friendly content.


    "For now, I¡¯ll turn off the stream since I have to help out. I¡¯ll go live again once Ju Seoyeon shows up."


    ?You¡¯re not filming the others?


    "Nope, I don¡¯t film regular students. Just Seoyeon."


    With that, Yong-ho turned off his stream. It made no sense to keep it running while he helped set up.@@@@


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 Chapter 273

    Reporters waiting for Seoyeon¡¯s arrival began snapping photos, their camera flashes firing incessantly.


    Startled by the noise, idol trainee Jung Hajin, who was standing next to Gil Dahyun, instinctively moved closer to Seoyeon.


    After all, if she managed to sneak into the frame, it would be a win for her.


    ¡°Wait a second.¡±


    As she hastily stepped forward, Jung Hajin suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the girl next to actress Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°No idea.¡±


    ¡°But wow, she¡¯s got guts, standing there so boldly.¡±


    ¡°Judging by her decent looks, maybe she¡¯s an idol trainee or something similar?¡±


    ¡°Hm~.¡±


    Several reporters exchanged glances at the sight of Jung Hajin and tilted their heads, puzzled.


    While they refrained from saying it aloud, their thoughts were unanimous¡ªit was a foolish move.


    All eyes were on Seoyeon. Even if someone did glance to the side, it would only serve as an unflattering comparison.


    ¡°The difference is obvious, even starting with head size.¡±


    Not that the woman standing next to Seoyeon had a large head¡ªrather, Seoyeon¡¯s head was exceptionally small.


    Really?Is it her big moment?Why is she dressed so extravagantly on her own?LMAOSo that¡¯s Ju Seoyeon? She¡¯s cuter than I expected!Everyone went to watch the official stream.Ju Seoyeon¡¯s agency is streaming it live on their official YouTube channel.What¡¯s this? Ju Seoyeon¡¯s live? Where?It¡¯s some high school year-end party, apparently.Do high schoolers do this nowadays? Where can I watch it?Some random YouTuber posted a video, but if you want the full experience, go to the official YouTube channel¡ªit¡¯s live right now.Thanks!Tsk tsk, serves you right for being shady. Unsubscribed.Didn¡¯t you pull this stunt before? Enough¡¯s enough."LOL, I¡¯m watching Ju Seoyeon¡¯s vlog right now, and what is she even doing?""She stumbles over her words so much. It¡¯s so obvious she¡¯s never done this kind of thing before, LOL.""Ugh, just grab someone and dance already! It¡¯s not that hard, is it?""Is this an act, or is this genuinely how she is?""Class rep, is there anything she can¡¯t do? She¡¯s eloquent and dances well too.""Ju Seoyeon¡¯s personal trainer, first-tier LOL.""Yes, ma¡¯am.""The class rep should totally start streaming¡ªshe¡¯d be great at it.""It¡¯s not that people find Ju Seoyeon intimidating¡ªshe¡¯s the one intimidated by them.""If you look closely, she can¡¯t even make proper eye contact LOL.""I always thought Ju Seoyeon had a fierce vibe, but I guess not.""Honestly, if that girl walking around with her hadn¡¯t been there, communication would¡¯ve been impossible.""The girl with her is adorable, though¡ªshe speaks so clearly.""Is this really Ju Seoyeon¡¯s vlog, or is it the class rep¡¯s vlog featuring Ju Seoyeon?""By the way, is Ju Seoyeon close with Summer Girl? They performed at her school, right?""Yeah, they¡¯re close.""Nah, it¡¯s just part of her image management, LOL.""Still, she only seems to have two friends.""But it¡¯s fine¡ªshe¡¯s cute!""Her reaction to accidentally overdressing was so real LOL.""That¡¯s what made me a fan of Ju Seoyeon. Which movie of hers should I watch first?""The Chaser. Start there."


    ©¸ "You¡¯re recommending The Chaser to someone who finds her cute? Are you nuts? LOL."


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 Chapter 274

    The reaction to the school party¡ªofficially referred to as the "Promenade"¡ªexceeded expectations.


    The most notable aspect was how different Seoyeon appeared at school compared to her image on TV or in films.


    A nervous, shy high school girl.


    Her small, ordinary struggles made her seem more relatable, and viewers found that incredibly charming.


    "Sure, but the class rep did all the talking."


    "..."


    Lee Jiyeon grumbled as she scrolled through the reactions.


    For reference, the vlog was split into two parts¡ªSeoyeon handled the first half, Jiyeon the second.


    When Seoyeon left, there was a noticeable dip in viewers, but the numbers remained relatively high.


    As expected, Jiyeon¡¯s experience in interacting with an audience helped keep engagement steady.


    Honestly, I was worried everyone would leave the moment Ju Seoyeon disappeared.


    Jiyeon let out a sigh, recalling her thoughts during the broadcast.


    She didn¡¯t care much about the viewers themselves¡ªit was the increased recognition that mattered.


    Considering the clear difference in public perception between her and Seoyeon, she had actually retained a lot more viewers than she anticipated.@@@@


    "Director Baek Min is an artsy type¡ªthis movie¡¯s gonna be pretentious.""Honestly, I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be entertaining.""Wait, isn¡¯t Lee Jiyeon, who¡¯s in the movie, also Seoyeon¡¯s school friend?""Yeah.""So they filmed a yuri movie together as childhood friends?""??? Wait, that¡¯s true.""Childhood friends in a yuri film? ????""So Korea¡¯s going woke now? Am I the only one uncomfortable with this?""Then go die.""What¡¯s the deal between Soyon-chan and Stella? There¡¯s no way they¡¯re just casual friends, right? ww""Maybe Stella sees her as a rival?""C¡¯mon, the ¡®Fairy of the Century¡¯ vs. some Korean actress? That¡¯s too big a gap. LMAO.""That¡¯s just hate speech.""Bet you guys have never actually seen Soyon-chan act.""I did see her ride a bear. That doesn¡¯t scream ¡®actress¡¯ to me.""I also saw her crawling after a ghost, lol.""At least she commits to her roles.""I saw her in person¡ªshe¡¯s insanely pretty. Her eyes are actually ruby red.""Contacts, obviously.""One of the staff said they glow under light.""Yeah, right. Ww"


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 Chapter 275

    The 2nd Drama Department of KMB.


    Baek Taesoo, the department director, frowned slightly as PD Hwang approached him early in the morning, looking eager to talk.


    What kind of fuss was this first thing in the morning?


    "Director, have you heard?"


    "Heard what?"


    "It¡¯s Kyungsung Lady! The first trailer dropped yesterday. It already has 1.8 million views! 1.8 million!"


    "...You mean Director Baek Min¡¯s film?"


    "No, it¡¯s fine. So that¡¯s why there¡¯s been a buzz this morning."


    The KMB network had been unusually lively since the early hours.


    KMB was already riding high on a wave of successful dramas this year. Though the 2nd Drama Department had lagged behind slightly, things weren¡¯t exactly bad for them either.


    But today, the mood was exceptionally upbeat.


    "Ju Seoyeon, huh."


    Baek Taesoo exhaled as he settled into his chair.


    He had heard her name more times than he could count this year.@@@@


    Yeon Seonye undergoing a selection process to infiltrate the Amamabi household.Successfully securing a position as a personal maid to the estate¡¯s lady.The lady in question finally making her entrance."Here he goes again...""But for real though, her screen presence is next level.""Tbh, I liked this role better than The Chaser. Visually, she was perfect for it.""Bro, calm down...""Bongsik, she''s still a minor. Watch yourself.""Because she rode a bear?""LMAO, literally.""Isn¡¯t she just hyping up Ju Seoyeon?""What¡¯s Seoyeon¡¯s deal with Stella? Did she pay her off?""LMAO, like Stella would promote a Korean actress for a few bucks.""Wait, I heard Stella cameoed in Kyungsung Lady¡ªis that true? Because if it is, that¡¯s huge.""...Seriously, what the hell is Kyungsung Lady?""Bro, that''s so old school.""Washed up, got wrecked in Hollywood, hasn¡¯t been relevant in years.""Wait, is that really him? He looks way thinner than before.""How did Kyungsung Lady afford him?? Seoyeon and Jo Sehee¡¯s fees alone must¡¯ve been ridiculous.""Probably because the main actress was cheap. LOL, drink up.""HEY! Don¡¯t talk about Jiyeon like that!""Wait, Jiyeon has fans?""So, is it Lee Sangsoo or not?""He¡¯s thinner, but the voice and jawline are definitely his.""Why isn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon saying anything? This is her movie¡ªshouldn¡¯t she at least appear on a variety show and clear things up?""She¡¯s busy filming Mine right now.""Even with this much buzz, she¡¯s just shooting a drama?""Seoyeon, now¡¯s not the time to be at some party¡ªjust tell us if Lee Sangsoo¡¯s in the movie and what your deal with Stella is!""Why are you partying when your movie is blowing up?""Guys, stop whining here. Go ask Seoyeon yourself."


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 Chapter 276

    "Then, there are no more actors to be selected from Hyper Action Star, correct?"


    After the public audition show Hyper Action Star ended, the investors and production team gathered to review the selections multiple times.


    The first three choices were quickly confirmed.


    The protagonist, Ju Seoyeon, along with Narumi Sora, who had faced her in the finals.


    And Jo Sehee.


    In Jo Sehee¡¯s case, it wasn¡¯t her "action" performance in Hyper Action Star that secured her spot. Rather, it was her career background and the strong impression she had left in variety shows that gave her an advantage.


    "Then, what about Han Soyu?"


    "Not a bad choice. She put on a great performance alongside Ju Seoyeon during the preliminaries."


    "Yes, and since action acting is her forte, she¡¯s a solid pick. Alright, moving on...."


    Unfortunately, aside from a handful of exceptions, very few actors from Hyper Action Star had secured roles beyond extras.@@@@


    Most were just background actors.


    Min Doha.


    A young actress who had become a surprising topic of discussion during Hyper Action Star.


    "Didn¡¯t Director Han Yegun also say she was good?"


    "Yeah, well."


    Han Yegun answered vaguely.


    To be honest, he had taken a liking to Min Doha.


    More than anything, it was because of how convincingly she had portrayed the act of running away.


    "It really looked like she was being chased by an actual monster."


    "Would that be considered method acting? I heard she ended up in the hospital after filming."


    "Wow, an actress who gets that immersed in a role."


    "She¡¯s been in other dramas too, right? How was her acting there?"


    "Just average. She didn¡¯t get much screen time, though."


    "Oh, so she¡¯s the kind that only shines when given a chance? Not bad."


    The staff had a favorable impression of Min Doha.


    For Han Yegun, there were still some doubts, but it was undeniable that Min Doha had left a strong impression on Hyper Action Star.


    "Would you call her... an extra? But she has some presence, so maybe a supporting role?"


    "She¡¯s a scene-stealer, so yeah, a supporting role fits."


    "Not exactly the kind of role most actors would want, though."


    "Come on, this is still a big opportunity. Better than being a nameless extra."


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 Chapter 277

    "Oh, what¡¯s with this atmosphere?"


    "Aren¡¯t they just running through the choreography before the action scene?"


    All eyes in the rehearsal space turned toward Seoyeon and Min Doha.


    Shooting an action scene required extensive preparation.


    Perfect synchronization was necessary to avoid accidents, and if they were utilizing a set, everything needed to be adjusted accordingly.


    Of course, today was just practice¡ª


    The real shoot would take place tomorrow.


    "Min Doha started getting into character first, and Ju Seoyeon just matched her energy."


    "Young actors sure are full of fire, huh?"


    The onlookers spoke with amusement, finding the situation intriguing.


    But for Min Doha, it was impossible to laugh along.


    "Full of fire?"


    "What the hell are they talking about? There¡¯s no fire here."@@@@


    Instead¡ª


    "It¡¯s silent."


    Min Doha forced herself to stay calm as she studied Seoyeon.


    So he had worked with countless big-name actors before.


    "She¡¯s painting emotions onto her face, but she doesn¡¯t actually feel them."


    That was why looking at her felt so uncanny.


    The discomfort people experience when watching bad acting comes from the same place.


    An unsettling revulsion toward someone pretending to have emotions.


    But in Seoyeon¡¯s case¡ª


    It wasn¡¯t that she was forcing her expressions.


    It wasn¡¯t that her movements were unnatural.


    And yet, that eerie unease was still there.


    "If you were face-to-face with that, you might not even be able to speak properly."


    Gwak Daechul glanced at Min Doha, who stood frozen across from Seoyeon.


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 Chapter 278

    The release date for Kyungsung Lady was set for early November.


    Considering the timing of film award ceremonies, it was a rather precarious period.


    "With the late release, it might be difficult to receive positive evaluations at the awards."


    If they were aiming for recognition, it would have been better to target the Baeksang Arts Awards in May of the following year instead.


    Seoyeon thought as much and glanced at Jiyeon.


    "Lee Jiyeon wouldn¡¯t care about something like that."@@@@


    A tense expression.


    It was only natural to be nervous since this was the official promotional event as the lead actress of the film.


    More than anything, it was her first lead role.


    The pressure that came with it was beyond imagination.


    Poke.


    Seoyeon lightly jabbed Jiyeon¡¯s side with her finger.


    Jiyeon turned toward her with a displeased face.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m nervous. Are you seriously messing around?¡±


    Normally, Jiyeon would have retaliated immediately, but today, her reaction was lackluster.


    So Seoyeon poked her a few more times.


    Each time, Jiyeon flinched.


    Even though Seoyeon was doing it lightly, it still hurt when she did it.


    "Ah, seriously! I swear I¡¯ll get back at you during the interview!"


    "It won¡¯t work."


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    Jiyeon glared at Seoyeon while holding her aching side.


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 Chapter 279

    The premiere of Kyungsung Lady received mixed reactions.


    Though the film had recently generated buzz, Director Baek Min''s works were known to be divisive.


    Artistic merit, creative direction¡ªwhile these were valuable aspects, his films often lacked mainstream appeal.


    That was the general perception of Baek Min''s films.


    Some actors sought out roles in his projects due to their artistic value, but most commercially driven actors tended to avoid them.


    "This time, it''s different. I''m telling you."


    "You said that last time, too."


    "But this time, an American actor took interest! Japan even proposed a simultaneous release!"


    "Yeah, yeah, which is exactly why we''re here."


    Film critic Kang Yuseok responded indifferently to his colleague, Lee Seokhoon''s passionate words.


    It wasn¡¯t that he undervalued Baek Min¡¯s work.


    If anything, he held it in high regard.


    "Just how much money did they pour into this?"


    "And even Lee Sangsoo?"


    He had heard that Kyungsung Lady initially struggled to secure investors, leading to delays in production.


    But now, it didn¡¯t seem like that was the case at all.


    Had a major investor swooped in at the last minute?


    "I have my suspicions about Jo Sehee¡¯s connections."


    There had been recent industry rumors.


    Whispers that Jo Sehee was the daughter of a conglomerate family.


    And the conglomerate in question?


    New Like Group¡ªone of the most powerful forces in Korea¡¯s cultural industry.


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 Chapter 280

    "You¡¯ve finally found a use for those hands that used to sew nothing but rags and pickpocket scraps."


    It was an unfortunate day.


    The pockets of the well-dressed gentleman she had targeted had been empty.


    And when she took her sick brother to the hospital, every bit of money she had painstakingly saved vanished in an instant, consumed by the overwhelming medical bills.


    Worst of all¡ªif he didn¡¯t receive treatment soon, her brother would die.


    On her way back from the hospital, alone, leaving her brother behind in a hospital bed,


    She had no money for an umbrella and walked through the rain, soaked.


    That was when a man approached her.


    "This is money you could never touch in your lifetime. Even with just this advance, your brother should be able to recover somewhat."


    Her trembling hands reached for the money pouch.


    With this, she could at least secure his hospital stay.


    His body would have time to recover.


    But that alone wouldn¡¯t solve the fundamental problem.


    "So? Will you refuse?"


    Because if she truly wanted to save him,


    She would need far more than this.


    "...I¡¯ll do it."


    In the end, all she had was a sharp mind and nimble fingers.


    If those were the only tools she had to save her brother,


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 Chapter 281

    "It''s okay."


    Staring at her reflection on the screen, Lee Jiyeon tried to steady her trembling hands.


    She had a feeling that sharp-eyed girl would notice, especially at times like this.


    The ''Yeon Seonye'' reflected on the screen looked like her, yet was someone entirely different.


    And yet, that face was one Jiyeon was intimately familiar with.


    "You don¡¯t have to act like it''s something new."


    That was what Seoyeon had said when asked about Yeon Seonye¡¯s emotional depth.


    "It¡¯s just a variation of what you¡¯ve already done. I learned it from a theater actor once."


    Deceiving the audience.


    Using similar emotional beats to make them recall the idea of an emotion.


    Yeon Seonye was a tough, yet kind girl.


    A kind Lee Jiyeon.


    To be honest, she wasn¡¯t confident she could pull that off.


    Yet, her face on screen was caught in the turmoil of indecision.


    It overlapped with the emotions Jiyeon felt at that moment, a feeling so raw it seemed to seep beyond the screen itself.


    "Do not entertain foolish thoughts."


    Isamu¡¯s low voice filled the theater.


    A heavy score.


    And a voice that carried weight equal to the gravity of that music.


    His eyes gleamed ominously in the candlelight as he stared down at Yeon Seonye.


    "You need only do your job."


    From his perspective, Yeon Seonye was about to ruin everything.


    They were almost there.


    "If you don¡¯t want your hesitation to be discovered... then, yes, it would be best if you were the one to kill Yuina first."


    A life spent solely for revenge against the Amamabi family, who had abandoned her.


    A miserable existence that had led her to throw herself at the enemy¡ªthe Kasugayama family¡ªjust to survive.


    "Yuina has already begun to suspect your betrayal. So, if you don¡¯t want to die, it would be wise for you to draw your blade first."


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 Chapter 282

    I¡¯ve thought about it since childhood.


    Ever since the day I saw that performance, I wanted to act like that someday.


    Was it jealousy, or admiration? She didn¡¯t know.


    ...To be honest, it was probably closer to admiration.


    When they were children, Ju Seoyeon had been so incredible that Jiyeon hadn¡¯t even dared to think of chasing after her.


    When she suddenly disappeared from the industry, Jiyeon couldn''t understand why.


    She had pushed her to return countless times.


    After entering adolescence, she came to understand the reason to some extent.


    But before that, they had nearly fought over it several times.


    That was how much Seoyeon''s acting meant to Jiyeon.


    "If it''s too much, you can do it later. There''s no rush."


    That¡¯s what Jo Sehee had said.


    Filming without Ju Seoyeon was far more difficult than expected, and the staff¡¯s exhaustion was evident.


    She couldn''t even get through a single take without an NG.


    She had to repeat the scene multiple times just to get something decent.


    "I always envied you, milady."


    As Michiko attempted to throw herself out of the window, Yeon Seonye grabbed her arms and slammed her against the wall.


    If she didn¡¯t restrain her like this, she would jump immediately.


    "A mansion this grand. If you want something, your maids will serve you hand and foot. Isn¡¯t that amazing?"


    Yeon Seonye had struggled just to pay for her younger sibling¡¯s medical bills, yet for Michiko, that kind of money was mere pocket change.


    The disparity.


    The overwhelming difference between them¡ªone she could never overcome¡ªhad filled her with jealousy.


    No, it had made her furious.


    "You have so much, so what the hell makes you so miserable that you''d want to die?"


    The venom in her voice made the audience hold their breath.


    Yeon Seonye¡¯s emotions were bleeding through the screen.@@@@


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 Chapter 283

    The class president, Gil Dahyun, watched the film with almost no prior knowledge of it.@@@@


    First and foremost, her impression was that, honestly, she had been moved to tears.


    It was a film more than worthy of closing out the year.


    She had laughed and cried while watching it with her friends.


    Even after the credits rolled, no one could immediately get up to ask for autographs.


    The lingering emotions kept them rooted to their seats.


    "All of the actors were just too good."


    She had already known about Seoyeon.


    But, to be honest, she hadn¡¯t had high expectations for Jiyeon.


    To Dahyun, Jiyeon was just Seoyeon¡¯s friend.


    That was the only thing stored in her mind.


    How did it feel to see a classmate naked on screen?


    For a moment, Dahyun had felt a dizzying sensation.


    Even though there was no actual nudity, the depiction and breathing had been extremely suggestive.


    Was it really okay to watch this with school friends?


    That was the kind of feeling she had gotten.


    ¡®And on top of that...¡¯


    Dahyun and her friends exchanged glances as Seoyeon entered the classroom, their expressions difficult to describe.


    I just got back from the screening, and honestly, I cried. It was incredible!!I don¡¯t usually like films with this kind of theme (LGBT content), but this might be the best movie since The King¡¯s Lament, which shook South Korea.Reminiscent of The King¡¯s Lament! The actors¡¯ performances were absolutely insane!!I thought it¡¯d be predictable because of the historical setting, but it was just a backdrop. The story was surprisingly fresh.Lee Jiyeon... was she always this good? I remember her from cable dramas, and she seemed average, but she was amazing in this movie.Lee Sangsoo¡¯s performance was out of this world????His villain role didn¡¯t feel like a comeback after a long hiatus; he was just straight-up insane;;Fr though lol, I literally forgot to breathe in the second half lmaoIf you forgot to breathe, how are you still alive?They said Stella only appeared for a few seconds, but she was in the movie for a solid chunk? She was basically a supporting role lolHow much did they even spend to make this kind of queer film?At least watch the movie before talking. This isn¡¯t something to be underrated.Ju Seoyeon¡¯s acting was just on another level.Was Yuina too OP? If she had just stormed in from the start, she could¡¯ve wiped everyone out lmao.Let us witness what you saw.Everyone¡¯s making such a big deal about it. Let¡¯s just wait for the release.A compelling film about three conflicted women. Director Baek Min successfully balances artistic integrity with commercial appeal¡ªa true masterpiece.


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 Chapter 284

    Hwang Minhwa was in a foul mood.


    The awards ceremony was approaching, and the buzz surrounding a recently released film was unreasonably positive.


    "This is ridiculous!"


    When she first heard news about Director Baek Min¡¯s movie, Hwang Minhwa had scoffed outright.


    "A gay movie? Are they asking to fail?"


    On top of that, the setting was during the Japanese occupation.


    What kind of outdated nationalist marketing was this?


    And worst of all¡ª


    "Lee Jiyeon is the lead actress?"@@@@


    Hwang Minhwa cleared her throat and adjusted her sunglasses.


    In any case, Kang Yuseok was notorious for his scathing reviews¡ªnot just of Utopia, but of most films.


    Yet that very same Kang Yuseok had given Kyungsung Lady a glowing review.


    "A magnificent film where the sincerity of its three leading actresses shines through."


    Just reading that one sentence had kept Hwang Minhwa up at night.


    If Kyungsung Lady continued its momentum, it could spell disaster for Utopia, which was barely holding onto second place in box office rankings this year.


    Worse still, it might even affect the awards ceremony.


    And then there was Ju Seoyeon.


    Hwang Minhwa had not forgotten The Chaser, the cinematic force of nature that had struck earlier this year.


    She already knew Lee Jiyeon was a close friend of Seoyeon¡¯s.


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 Chapter 285

    "Kyungsung Lady¡¯s Japanese promotional video was released simultaneously with Korea¡¯s. Naturally, the best way to watch it is while keeping an eye on Japan¡¯s reaction, right?"


    The promotional video uploaded to Nettrix was a full 60 minutes long.


    It was clear that a lot of effort had gone into it.


    "Wow, Japan even has a dubbed version."


    Switching to the Japanese Nettrix account confirmed it.


    They weren¡¯t messing around¡ªthis simultaneous release had been planned with precision.


    "I¡¯ve never seen such aggressive marketing for a Korean film before. Could it be because Ju Seoyeon¡¯s recognition in Japan has been rising recently?"


    ¡ª What do you mean Ju Seoyeon? It¡¯s because of Stella.


    ¡ª Bongsik, you¡¯re reaching too hard.


    "Come on, does it really make sense to put together an entire promotional video just because of a cameo?"


    As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward a single, unmoving presence.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    The set was Yuina¡¯s mansion.


    Tatami flooring.


    Seoyeon, sitting in a flawless seiza position, exuded an almost supernatural stillness.


    Even from afar, her presence was undeniable.


    ¡ª Damn, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s completely different when she¡¯s filming versus when she¡¯s on variety shows.


    ¡ª Just from the atmosphere, she looks like the final boss.


    ¡ª In the movie, her villainous Yuina moments were absolutely insane.


    ¡ª She basically soloed the entire auction house scene.


    The promotional video began with simple cast introductions.


    First, lead actress Jo Sehee.


    Then, Lee Sangsoo¡ªthe unexpected casting that had sent Korea into a frenzy.


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 Chapter 286

    [Kyungsung Lady Sparks a Box Office Sensation in Japan!]


    *[What is Kyungsung Lady, the Film Taking Japan by Storm?]


    [Kyungsung Lady Tops Japan''s Trending List, Poised to Dominate Theaters!]


    Opening day audience: 124,000 tickets sold.@@@@


    The number sent shockwaves through the Korean media industry.


    Kyungsung Lady had already been making headlines in Korea¡ª


    But no one expected it to explode overseas like this.


    Some might say it was just Ju Seoyeon¡¯s influence¡ª


    But the buzz she had stirred up in Japan before the film even premiered was insane.


    The First Love Moment Connection.


    Ju Seoyeon had made a cameo in First Love Moment, a drama directed by Japan¡¯s legendary filmmaker, Kakeba Hiro.


    In Korea, it was just another guest appearance.


    In Japan?


    A national event.


    When First Love Moment aired, it hit 32% peak viewership¡ª


    The second highest rating of the Reiwa era.


    At the time of filming, it wasn¡¯t that popular yet.


    But now?


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 Chapter 287

    "Jiyeon, how are you holding up?"


    A Korean variety show.


    A program where celebrities spend several days in an unfamiliar place.


    This time, they were staying for three nights and four days in an unfamiliar fishing village, but Lee Jiyeon was adapting well.


    Of course, she had already survived worse.


    "I''m fine. This much is nothing."


    "You''re really diligent. It would''ve been nice if you were good at cooking too."


    "Th-that''s not really my strong point."


    "We know, we know. That became quite the hot topic recently."


    Naturally, this variety show was also a promotional appearance for the movie.


    Kyungsung Lady was already a massive hit, but the variety show itself had been planned in advance.


    Thanks to that, the PD of Hometown: Three Nights, Four Days had a grin plastered on his face.


    It was just another promotional show for a movie.


    Honestly, he had considered rejecting it.


    It was the same everywhere.


    Whenever something domestic gained high praise abroad, people at home suddenly became more interested.


    For example, idols who had little recognition in Korea often gained fans once they exploded overseas.


    "They''ve really got nerves of steel. Who thought of releasing it simultaneously in Japan?"


    "Director Baek Min is seriously something else. The moment the opportunity came...."


    Not missing Japan¡¯s interest was also a skill.


    And now, with Kyungsung Lady dominating the box office, its cast was a hot topic in the industry.


    "So, Jiyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "The kiss scene in this movie became a huge sensation. Wasn¡¯t it overwhelming when you first performed it?"


    Especially Lee Jiyeon.


    When the production team had originally scheduled promotional variety appearances for Kyungsung Lady, Lee Jiyeon had been the least popular name on the list.


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 Chapter 288

    Promotions, in truth, weren¡¯t anything special.


    All she had to do was show up on a broadcast or at an event and greet people.


    If she had to pick the most exhausting promotion she had done this year, it was definitely for Sky Garden.


    "I¡¯m never singing an OST again."


    A statement that would make any broadcasting official gasp in horror, but Seoyeon was dead serious.


    Her performance on Masked Singer had been a huge success, and once it became known that she had sung Sky Garden¡¯s OST,


    every time she went to promote the drama, they made her perform live.


    How could she turn down the audience¡¯s overwhelming requests to hear the OST live?


    Her live singing skills had improved unexpectedly, but every time, it had been a huge burden.


    Compared to that, promoting in Japan was easy.


    She wouldn¡¯t have even needed to go, but since YHJ had invested heavily in Kyungsung Lady, there was no way around it.


    "Ah, right. My image."


    A cold sweat formed on her back.


    She hadn¡¯t considered that part at all.


    ¡ºThe filming is scheduled for Wednesday, so you can rest until then.¡»


    Ninomiya Daiki, the PD of Showdown: I Have Won, bowed politely as soon as Seoyeon arrived.


    Seeing him, Seoyeon thought,


    "His attitude has changed."


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 Chapter 289

    "Seoyeon, come over here and take a picture with the bear first."


    Reika spoke while watching the bear wail sorrowfully, seemingly overjoyed to see Seoyeon again.


    Since Reika had also shared memories of riding the bear with Seoyeon, she, too, was happy to reunite with it after a month.@@@@


    "Shall I?"


    Seoyeon, feeling cheerful, approached the bear standing beside the zookeeper.


    But the moment she drew near, the bear slowly started stepping backward¡ª


    only to suddenly collapse onto its rear.


    It looked as though its legs had given out.


    But a bear''s legs wouldn¡¯t just buckle like that.


    People watched in amazement at the unexpected reaction.


    Flustered, the bear flailed for a moment¡ª


    then started crawling backward using only its front paws.


    But then, something felt... off.


    Why was it getting further and further away?


    "Where are you going? Come here and take a picture with me."


    She reached out and grabbed the back of the bear¡¯s neck.


    The bear let out a deep, low growl¡ª


    but obediently settled down on the spot.


    As more people gathered around, Seoyeon suddenly noticed something and curiously asked,


    "You seem to have a good relationship with the zookeeper."


    Reika translated.


    ¡ºHuh?¡»


    Is Ju Seoyeon in Japan right now for Kyungsung Lady promotions?Holy crap, is this real? That whole crowd is here just to see her?Yeah, no joke. It¡¯s actually happening. (Photo attached)


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 Chapter 290

    The Actor of Kyungsung Lady Currently Making Headlines@@@@


    The internet was in an uproar over the news that Ju Seoyeon, the actress who played Kasugayama Yuina in Kyungsung Lady, would be appearing on a variety show.


    In Japan, reactions were mixed due to the lack of prior exposure to Seoyeon¡¯s variety performances. Meanwhile, Korean fan communities were already brimming with excitement.


    "Is it today? The episode of I Took On the Challenge and Won with Ju Seoyeon?"


    "Yeah, it''s starting soon."


    "All the so-called masters who meet Ju Seoyeon are about to get their heads blown off."


    "Fact."


    Seoyeon had already displayed a wide range of personas on variety shows. The internet¡¯s collective image of her could be summed up as:


    "This is Ju Seoyeon!"


    A woman with the sheer strength and stamina to carry two actresses and sprint at full speed!Reflexes sharp enough to see and dodge paintballs!The sheer audacity to ride a bear and smack it on the head!


    "At this point, isn¡¯t she just the Terminator?"


    "For real, lmao."


    With such expectations in the air, viewers settled in as Battle, I Took On the Challenge and Won began in earnest.


    "Today''s Special Guest!"


    "Now then, today we have an incredible lineup¡ªten masters are waiting!"


    The first to appear on-screen was the show¡¯s host, Katsuyoshi. His tone was more excited than usual as he began hyping up the audience.


    The panelists exaggerated their reactions, calling out in awe. But even though it was all part of the script, their timing was slightly off.


    It was clear they had rehearsed this in advance¡ªyet, their real hesitation still seeped through the screen.


    "Today¡¯s challenger is none other than Ju Seoyeon, who plays Kasugayama Yuina in the newly released movie Kyungsung Lady!"


    As the smoke cleared, Seoyeon appeared, fully dressed in Kasugayama Yuina¡¯s outfit from the film.


    A long-stemmed kiseru pipe in hand. A refined, aristocratic beauty.


    The sudden shift in atmosphere was breathtaking. The panelists, who had been chattering moments ago, momentarily forgot their lines, their words trailing off.


    Their reaction only served to amplify Seoyeon¡¯s presence.


    "Good."


    Watching the scene unfold from behind the camera, the director of I Took On the Challenge and Won, Ninomiya Daiki, clenched his fist in triumph.


    It had been Seoyeon¡¯s idea to appear in Kyungsung Lady¡¯s costume.


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 Chapter 291

    Seoyeon Thought She Was Doomed.


    As mentioned, Seoyeon rarely had opportunities to appear on Japanese television.@@@@


    In other words, there were very few chances to fix her image if something went wrong.


    The last time she appeared on a variety show in Japan, it was before she became widely known.


    But this time was different.


    Her various recent activities, combined with the buzz from Kyungsung Lady, had significantly increased public interest in her.


    In fact, for most Japanese viewers, this variety show was likely their first proper impression of Ju Seoyeon.


    That¡¯s precisely why she had aimed to maintain the same image as Kasugayama Yuina.


    "It¡¯s my fault for not double-checking! But still¡ª!"


    She could only imagine the chaos on Japanese forums¡ªand frankly, she was too scared to even check.


    "What do I do now...?"


    One thought came to her.


    Her only lifeline was for the web novel-based drama, Flower of the Imperial Palace, to be exported to Japan as soon as possible.


    Because if there was anything that could turn the tides in her favor¡ª


    It was Princess Yeonhwa.


    One iconic role from Flower of the Imperial Palace could single-handedly salvage her image.


    But before she could fully sink into those thoughts¡ª


    [Wait, what are you even talking about? Haven¡¯t you checked Japan¡¯s Twitter trends?]


    [Huh?]


    [Hyper Action Star just dropped on Nettrix right before the variety show aired. It seems people are hopping over from the show.]


    [Wait, WHAT???]


    Seoyeon froze.


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 Chapter 292

    [<Kyungsung Lady> Surpasses 7 Million!]


    [Three Ladies Who Dominated the Year-End Theaters.]


    Although the domestic audience numbers for <Kyungsung Lady> had slightly plateaued, the film''s popularity in Japan had recently sparked a resurgence in viewership. Of course, the efforts of Seoyeon¡¯s promotional team in Japan, with Sehee and Jiyeon taking charge of the domestic promotion in place of Seoyeon, played a significant role. With all that, the cast and crew of <Kyungsung Lady> were all smiles, but not everyone was smiling.@@@@


    For example, the highly ambitious film <Extreme Martial Arts> that opened around the same time. It was a ''anti-Japanese movie'' that could reliably gather a solid audience.


    Coincidentally, <Extreme Martial Arts> was also set during the same Japanese occupation period as <Kyungsung Lady>, with the lead role played by none other than Kang Seohyuk. Since actor Lee Sangsoo went missing, Kang Seohyuk had stepped in to play the role originally meant for Lee, raising his profile in the industry.


    Originally, he had been cast for the role of Goto? Isamu in <Kyungsung Lady>, but he chose the more commercially viable <Extreme Martial Arts> instead.


    And then. "Rising star, Ju Seoyeon."


    The industry''s newest star. If anyone were to be named the brightest actress of the year, it would undoubtedly be her.


    Her explosive popularity in Japan? That didn¡¯t really matter.


    Kang Seohyuk recalled meeting Ju Seoyeon. The way she had looked at him, gazing at him intently.


    "How frustrating."


    It was none other than Kang Seohyuk who had been completely defeated. Was it because of a lack of acting skill? Lee Sangsoo¡¯s acting was amazing, but Kang Seohyuk didn¡¯t believe his own performance had fallen short. Or perhaps, <Extreme Martial Arts> was just a poorly made film? That wasn¡¯t it. It wasn¡¯t a completely unremarkable movie, though not particularly special.


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 Chapter 293

    The protagonist of Mine, Jin Yeonseo, steps out into the world and sees many things.


    The countless people mentioned by ''Adam Lowell'', who took care of her at the lab.


    Nature.


    The city.


    All these countless things.


    Among them, Yeonseo learns about life with people, something she never learned in the lab, through her parents.@@@@


    Yeonseo isn¡¯t a psychopath or someone with emotional issues.


    She¡¯s just someone who has lived her life as a blank slate, so she is as pure as a child.


    But, because of her purity, her actions can sometimes become more instinctual and even cruel.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of life Yeonseo lived before.¡±


    Yeonseo¡¯s stepfather, Park Hunmin, said this as he patted her head.


    He was speaking to the girl, who looked puzzled by the gesture.


    ¡°But, I know you¡¯re very special.¡±


    ¡°Hello? I¡¯m Shin Arin. I lived in Japan for a long time, but now I¡¯m here in Korea.¡±


    Shin Arin.


    A girl who used such a name.


    She quickly became friends with Yeonseo at the academy.


    And then...


    Recalling a series of events, Yeonseo looked at the man in front of her.


    A man in a bike suit, wearing a helmet, holding a three-section staff.


    The fact that he was holding a three-section staff indicated that his intent was not to "kill" but to "subdue".


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 Chapter 294

    Filming for Mine officially began.


    After that, everything proceeded at a breakneck pace.


    As Director Han Yegeon had predicted, the shooting was moving so fast that, at the latest, it would be wrapped up by early next year, if not by the end of this year.


    More than anything...


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Yeonseo.¡±


    Jo Sehee said this, scanning the set.


    Yeonseo¡¯s action scenes appeared at least once every episode.


    Originally, she was the daughter of an investor in the lab.


    However, at the point when Yeonseo disappeared, a lot happened at the lab, and during this process, Ara¡¯s father was killed by one of the lab¡¯s superhumans.


    So, Ara seeks to use Yeonseo to get revenge for her father.


    ''Yeonseo would willingly play along.''


    Yeonseo sighed deeply as she recalled these events.


    For the most part, playing Yeonseo was easy for her.


    For instance, the character was unfamiliar with emotions.


    She had only used a limited range of emotions at the lab, and since entering society, she has encountered many more emotions.@@@@


    What¡¯s with using a celebrity in a game ad?It¡¯s really ridiculous. If you advertise with a celebrity, I won¡¯t even bother watching, lolIf you¡¯re going to use a celebrity, just get Ju Seoyeon.Seriously, it¡¯s easier to understand if she¡¯s the daughter of Ju Youngbin.Ju Seoyeon knows games, so she doesn¡¯t play Raywill Games. She mostly plays console games.A game?This isn¡¯t even a game.But Ju Seoyeon knows games, I guess, since she plays LoL.Other than that, she only plays console games.


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 Chapter 295

    Seoyeon first searched for information about the game she would be advertising.@@@@


    She didn¡¯t even need to ask Youngbin; Raywill Games was a relatively large company.


    It wasn¡¯t difficult to find information online.


    ¡°Eternity Camp. Is this it?¡±


    Since it was said to be a new game advertisement, it probably wasn¡¯t an existing game that was still running. In other words, it wasn¡¯t the kind of pay-to-win game that older men usually played.


    ¡°It¡¯s similar to AOS, but a bit different.¡±


    She had heard it was officially launching on Steam, so this much was clear. Although it had been made more than a year ago, it seemed to have been available on Steam Early Access until now.


    It looked like they were planning to launch it properly with a large-scale patch.


    One of its advantages was that, similar to the games Seoyeon often played, like League of Legends, you could move the characters. What she liked most, though, was that it didn¡¯t have any lane battles. It seemed like you just had to watch for an opening and fight when the timing was right.


    ¡°Well, it seems like it has a decent operating system...¡±


    After briefly checking the game info, Seoyeon closed the internet browser. Even though she had said she¡¯d do it, the ad campaign would probably begin in about a month.


    She didn¡¯t know what would happen in the meantime, so this was about all the investigation she would do.


    ¡°Still, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to play it occasionally, just in case.¡±


    In fact, she hadn¡¯t really cared about the game since it was from Youngbin¡¯s company, but the characters were pretty cute.


    ¡°The characters are more to my liking than in League of Legends.¡±


    In the end, Seoyeon was an otaku at heart, so this kind of visual was her style. It was odd that she hadn¡¯t noticed that before.


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 Chapter 296

    After successfully dealing with Jo Sehee, Director Kang Taejin finished the filming and approached Seoyeon, who was gathering her emotions.


    "Your acting was impressive. It¡¯s my first time seeing it live, and it was quite a fresh experience."


    "Ah, hello."


    Seoyeon was slightly startled by Kang Taejin¡¯s sudden appearance. To be honest, Kang Taejin was still a relatively unfamiliar figure to her.


    For reference, Seoyeon didn¡¯t know that Kang Taejin was friends with Youngbin. Her parents had never mentioned it, so it was only natural.


    ¡®He feels strangely familiar.¡¯


    It had been the same feeling when they first met.


    It must have been his skill in identifying potential delays early and addressing them quickly that made this possible.


    "Then I suppose now is the right time."


    "Does that mean you have something for me to do now?"


    "I¡¯m talking about the poster shoot."


    "Ah."


    Even though it was an OTT drama, a poster was still necessary to attract viewers. After all, you need to have a sign for people to come in.


    "We¡¯re planning to put it up for viewers at the upcoming film festival."


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 Chapter 297

    Hyo-Young Group''s only daughter.


    Chae Minyoung was bewildered.


    She had only come to pick up the dress she had pre-ordered today.


    But she never expected to run into such unexpected people here.


    "Jo Sehee."


    Even though she was often praised as beautiful or cute when she went out, she could never compare herself to Seoyeon.


    "Still, I have more money than her."


    She looked at Seoyeon, trying to feel better about herself.


    There was nothing she could win against Jo Sehee, but at least, she could claim victory in one area¡ªSeoyeon.


    "That''s not even your money."


    Of course, Jo Sehee had a pretty good idea of what Chae Minyoung was thinking.


    Her thoughts were clearly written on her face.


    As someone who knew Minyoung¡¯s habits, it was impossible not to guess what she was thinking.


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 Chapter 298

    Dressed neatly in a suit, Park Jungwoo arrived at the awards ceremony and briefly looked around.


    He saw several actors who had arrived around the same time as him.


    "Not too early, but not too late either."


    Arriving at just the right time was the best choice.


    Arriving too early or too late would both draw unwanted attention.


    For Park Jungwoo, who hadn¡¯t filmed a movie this year, there wasn¡¯t really any reason to attend this awards ceremony.


    The reason he was here today was simple.@@@@


    "I¡¯m the host."


    He had been selected as the host for the ceremony.


    Honestly, he thought it would be better for someone with more experience and an older age to do it, but he also knew that such opportunities might not come again.


    "Oh!!"


    "Over here!!"


    He couldn¡¯t help but stop in his tracks.


    The gazes that had been directed toward him suddenly shifted elsewhere.


    "Who could it be?"


    There weren¡¯t many people who could attract such attention.


    It was likely one of the big names who had made headlines this year, either a director or an actor.


    Park Jungwoo thought, "Could it be...?"


    Then, he saw the actresses getting out of the van.


    Jo Sehee, followed by Ju Seoyeon.


    And last but not least, Lee Jiyeon.


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 Chapter 299

    "Hoo!"


    Seoyeon took a deep breath and opened her eyes forcefully.


    Though she did this, the intensity wasn¡¯t as sharp as usual.


    After all, playing Princess Yeonhwa created a completely different atmosphere. But despite that, her mind remained calm and collected.


    If the usual Seoyeon would easily get swept up by her emotions, the current Seoyeon was the opposite.


    She could calmly observe the situation, almost like she was looking at it from a distance¡ªvery different from her younger self.


    Was it the effect of playing Princess Yeonhwa? Or was it the feeling of her past life blending with her current age?


    She wasn¡¯t sure.


    The reaction wasn¡¯t bad.


    At that moment, Park Jungwoo, who had just presented the Music Award, unknowingly shivered under Seoyeon¡¯s gaze.


    "What...what¡¯s up? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Usually, Seoyeon¡¯s stare would send chills down anyone¡¯s spine, but right now, she was different.


    Her look was more of a sulky pout.


    A slightly scolding, yet cute girl¡¯s gaze. Park Jungwoo let out a deep sigh for what felt like the umpteenth time that night.


    She¡¯s really messing with me in a whole new way.


    While Seoyeon thought that he was distracting her, Park Jungwoo felt awkward in his own way.


    It bothered him more than he would have liked to admit.


    He felt a wave of self-loathing for how much he was concerned with it.


    To be distracted by something like this at such a prestigious awards ceremony...


    Why does Seoyeon look so pretty today???? Seoyeon¡¯s face has always been top-tier.Seriously, though, her behavior is kind of childish.But something¡¯s definitely different today. Is this really her?She¡¯s probably just pretending to be elegant for the ceremony lol.Why isn¡¯t Seoyeon getting the Best Actress award?Fact: She didn¡¯t have a lead role this year.But something¡¯s definitely different today. She¡¯s just... amazing.


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 Chapter 301: The Flow of the Era (2)

    "Mum, what¡¯s that star?"


    It was the night when they were walking under the dark sky. The stars were shining so beautifully, like jewels embedded in black silk.


    Pointing at the brightest star, she asked.


    "The North Star." "Excuse me?" "The North Star."


    With black hair. A faint smile appeared beneath her long hair that resembled the night.


    "That star shines the brightest." "Yes, and long ago, people used to follow that star to find their way."


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was true, but her mother said this and looked up at the stars with a smile.


    "Isn¡¯t it beautiful to think that a star has been a guide for people for so long?"


    At her words, she nodded and looked up at the star. Out of all the countless stars, the one that shone the brightest.


    Maybe she had been gazing at it ever since that time.


    "It¡¯s just like you, Mum." "......Really?" "Yeah. People call you a star, don¡¯t they?"


    Whenever she watched TV or saw anything, everyone called her mother a star. No matter what show she watched, her mother appeared, and the clothes her mother wore became the trend of the time. The cosmetics her mother used would always sell out.


    A star leading the flow of the times. That¡¯s how it was written in the articles.


    She liked her mother like that. Just like that pretty star. She felt like she was a guidepost for so many people.


    "I want to be like you, Mum."


    Of course, she knew she couldn¡¯t be. She wasn¡¯t sparkling.


    She had followed her mother to many TV stations. Every time, she saw others her age doing the same kind of work as her mother.


    People her age. And yet, there were those who shined.


    Unlike her.


    Still, she wanted to be like her mother. The North Star.


    Just like that shining star had been a guidepost for so many people long ago, she would follow her mother. Her mother was her guidepost. The path toward that star.


    "Yes, Sehee is a bit timid. She¡¯ll need someone to guide her."


    As she said this, her mother spoke, but she couldn¡¯t quite remember the rest of the words. It was as if they had been completely forgotten. Even when she tried to recall them, it was hard to remember.


    It was probably the day when the starlight disappeared. The moment she saw that, she forgot.


    "Guidepost."


    Sehee quietly walked out to the mansion¡¯s veranda and looked up at the night sky. It wasn¡¯t as beautiful as the sky she had seen before, but still, there were shining stars.


    The North Star.


    "I don¡¯t really understand."


    The path she had walked blindly after her mother disappeared. She had followed the path her mother had walked, but she wasn¡¯t sure if she was walking it right.


    Was she doing it properly? To be honest, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    "I shouldn¡¯t get lost."


    Acting like a model student. She had heard that since she was a child star.


    Was this really okay? Wasn¡¯t something missing in her?


    Why couldn¡¯t she shine like the other actors? She had always wondered about this but still didn¡¯t know the answer.


    "Why do I keep looking for the guidepost?"


    Maybe she was afraid of walking on her own. It must be true.


    Everyone says people with strong hearts are the ones who make it.


    Maybe, to some extent, that¡¯s true. But...


    "That¡¯s definitely not the case."


    She snorted and returned to her room, lying down. It wasn¡¯t the best day for acting, to be honest.


    A careless mistake. It bothered her that she couldn¡¯t do well while everyone was on edge.


    "I need to do better."


    Sehee felt it. The flow of the times was changing.


    This Mine was an opportunity to ride that wave. It might be a chance to become a star like her mother.


    Kyungsung Lady and Mine. If it¡¯s these two...


    Definitely.


    With Child¡¯s Game, the world¡¯s attention turned to Korean dramas. Korean dramas, which had a different style from Western ones.


    Romance and melodrama, which people in Korea had been begging to stop, were still seen as fresh overseas. Nettrix also invested in Korean dramas, diversifying the genres.


    It is often said that Korea¡¯s filming environment is similar to Hollywood. Though not exactly the same, they have been steadily working to match that standard.


    And now, all the effort they had built up was finally beginning to shine.


    "Where¡¯s the next investment after Nettrix?" "GH Group is working on the OTT drama Mine, right?" "Is this the next one? What do you think? What¡¯s the forecast?" "First off, GH Group has sharpened its knives." "We need to get in before them. If we¡¯re late, we¡¯ll miss out!!" "Even if we proceed now..."


    Everyone started racing to become the second Child¡¯s Game. At least, the second or third one would certainly benefit.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know how long this trend will last, but we need to get in as quickly as possible.¡¯ ¡®Even if the quality drops, now¡¯s the time.¡¯


    "Everyone¡¯s already desperate to get in fast."


    But the broadcasters didn¡¯t think this trend would last long. Not just the broadcasters, but most people thought the same.


    "Child¡¯s Game was a fluke." "There¡¯s no way something like that will happen again." "Is the world full of prank marketing? Child¡¯s Game was that popular?"


    Even though Child¡¯s Game had been a worldwide hit, people still didn¡¯t fully understand the magnitude of its impact.


    Ranked number one globally. Many people dismissed this as a short-term achievement and thought the best thing to do was to cash in while they could.


    "Director Kang. Let¡¯s bring forward the release of Mine." "Yes, it¡¯s already halfway completed." "Everyone is desperate right now. They¡¯re doing whatever it takes to get in fast."


    There was a lot of discussion within GH Group. Director Kang Taejin was even called to the board to discuss it directly.


    "How they used to laugh at OTT dramas and now they¡¯re desperate to get in," Taejin thought with amusement.


    "Your words were right, Ju Youngbin."


    The times were all about Shorts. The shift was happening, and OTT dramas were taking over.


    "No, that¡¯s not going to work." "Huh? What if we miss the chance?" "That will inevitably reduce the quality. Let¡¯s take a long-term view." "It¡¯s a race to see who gets in first. Business is all about timing." "That¡¯s true when we¡¯re talking about a short-term trend. But if it grows, then even if it¡¯s later, high quality will be an advantage."


    At Taejin¡¯s words, Director Han Jeonghak, who was in a competing position within GH Group, sneered.


    "Are you saying this trend will last long? That Korean dramas will continue to be the focus of the world?" "That¡¯s what we¡¯re here for." "Being here and actually making it happen are different. This is a miracle. I don¡¯t know where your confidence is coming from, thinking this will happen again."


    Half of the executives nodded at his words. At least half of them agreed.


    "Even so, the schedule change is not possible."


    I didn''t expect Kang Taejin to come at it so firmly, and I could feel the murmurs of the people around him.


    At his attitude, Director Han Jeonghak furrowed his brows.


    "...Understood. For now, I''ll leave this part to Director Kang Taejin''s judgment."


    There was a lot of backlash from those around, but for the moment, the situation was settled like that.


    After all, if things went wrong, it would be Kang Taejin who would take the hit.


    ''That damn kid.''


    He''d never liked him much anyway.


    Director of the Cultural Affairs Department.


    That position should have been his from the start.


    ''If this fails, that position will be mine.''


    So, he took a step back.


    This mistake would be the dagger that would slit the kid''s throat.


    ''Goodbye. Even your father won''t be able to cover up this kind of mistake.''


    He stared solemnly at the president of GH Group, Kang Daehwan, who was sitting at the table.


    He didn''t speak, but there was a sense that he was backing his son¡¯s words.


    Because of that, the other executives couldn''t protest any further.


    But if this thing went wrong, it was clear that everything would come back like a blade.


    ''This momentum won''t last long.''


    Korean culture could never make it on a global scale.


    Even though so much money had been poured into it, hadn''t it all been meaningless?


    But now, a mere drama changes the current?


    Impossible.


    He firmly believed that.


    And his belief hadn''t been wrong.


    At least, not so far.


    ****


    "Today is the scene where Adam and Yeonseo reunite. To be more specific, it¡¯s the scene where his identity is revealed."


    Director Han Yegeon said, looking at Seoyeon and Arthur. Then, he spoke to Jo Sehee, who would appear later.


    "After today¡¯s shoot, episode 6 will be done. It''s a 12-episode series, so we¡¯ve already made it halfway. If we keep up this pace, it seems we¡¯ll be able to finish by early next year."


    Episode 6 already.


    The shooting pace was excessively fast.


    Well, most of the movie was action scenes.


    They even invited Professor Kim Hongbaek as the action director, so the stunt actors were burning with passion, eager to learn everything they could.


    That passion was fully reflected in the drama, and it became yet another reason for the fast pace of shooting.


    Seoyeon reviewed the scenes she would shoot today in her mind.


    From episode 6 onward, the story would progress at a much faster pace.


    ''Adam is an agent dispatched from an overseas research facility.''


    His true identity would be revealed in this episode, episode 6. Originally, Jin Yeonseo was a prototype psychic for the AE Project, a joint project between Korea and the United States to develop psychic abilities.


    But it wasn¡¯t just any psychic ability.


    It was a power that could change the world.


    ''Yeonseo¡¯s ability is regeneration.''


    Of course, her physical abilities were also remarkably strong, but the most defining trait was that.


    Just regeneration.


    How could that change the world? The answer was simple.


    Yeonseo''s ability was the key and proof for humanity¡¯s quest for immortality.


    Whoever controls her, controls immortality.


    ''That¡¯s why Adam rescued Yeonseo.''


    The research was conducted at labs in Korea, the U.S., and other places. But when the Korean lab succeeded in their experiments first, Adam, who was stationed there, terrorized the lab and rescued Yeonseo.


    ''The real villain of this film.''


    While Narumi Sora was set up as the rival, the real villain was Arthur.


    "But, the Korean lab is trying to kill Yeonseo, right?"


    Just then, Jo Sehee, perhaps recalling the storyline, asked Seoyeon.


    "Yes. The Korean lab is worried that Yeonseo will come back to take revenge on them."


    "Actually, that''s true."


    "Yes."


    There were two reasons why the lab wanted to kill Yeonseo.


    One was because they were afraid that Yeonseo, influenced by the U.S. lab¡¯s manipulation, might come to kill them.


    And secondly, they couldn¡¯t let Yeonseo fall into the hands of the U.S. lab.


    And, just as they feared, Yeonseo was indeed heading to the Korean lab.


    In fact, that wasn¡¯t the plan from the start.


    It was because of the constant attacks by agents that had been provoking her.


    In other words, she felt that her parents could be killed at any moment if this continued.


    Of course, this was all orchestrated by Adam and the U.S. lab, but Yeonseo had no way of knowing that.


    "The Korean lab will be destroyed by Yeonseo, and then she¡¯ll be subdued and taken to the U.S."


    "Yes, that¡¯s Adam¡¯s plan."


    "Hmm."


    Jo Sehee nodded, her face reflecting her thoughts about the part she would play.


    Adam, and the character Jo Sehee played, Hong Ahri, were both characters with deep connections to the story.


    Hong Ahri played a role just as important as Yeonseo, so it was natural that Sehee had a lot to think about.


    ''...She looks fine.''


    Secretly, Seoyeon felt relieved seeing Sehee like this.


    ''As expected, the memorial date was right.''


    The reason Sehee had been late for her acting the other day was because of her mother Baek Seoran¡¯s memorial.


    Of course, Seoyeon didn¡¯t ask in case it caused trouble, but it seemed she had remembered correctly.


    ''Well, time has passed, so...''


    Seoyeon thought to herself, though honestly, she couldn¡¯t quite imagine it.


    She had died before, but never had someone close to her passed away.


    If such a thing had happened in her past life, she likely wouldn¡¯t have felt the proper emotions.


    So, she hadn¡¯t given it much thought, but seeing Sehee today made her ponder it.


    If someone close ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) to her passed away, what would she do?


    ''...Thinking about it, I can understand Yeonseo¡¯s actions.''


    Yeonseo was cruel.


    The reason for her cruelty, ironically, was to protect her loved ones.


    Her parents, her friends.


    Her life as the ordinary girl ''Park Yeonseo,'' not as the psychic Jin Yeonseo.


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t really been able to connect with that, but now, understanding that fear, she could begin to understand.


    Yeonseo¡¯s cruelty came from that fear.


    "You."


    At that moment, Arthur approached and spoke.


    He was wearing the same bike suit as before.


    "You can¡¯t act all weak like last time."


    Arthur¡¯s words weren¡¯t directed at Seoyeon, but at Jo Sehee, who was standing next to her.


    "...Got it."


    Sehee nodded at his words.


    In fact, there had been parts of her previous performance that had been lacking.


    Seoyeon, knowing the circumstances, wanted to say something, but it wouldn¡¯t be right for personal matters to affect the shooting.


    Still...


    ''I just want to slap her once.''


    She hoped there wouldn¡¯t be any stunt double needed for today¡¯s shoot, and that Sehee would do it herself.


    At that moment...


    "I¡¯ll be doing the stunt today."


    "Oh, really?"


    At Seoyeon¡¯s sudden enthusiastic response, Arthur realized he¡¯d made a slip of the tongue.


    Given the situation, he knew he had to give his best for the drama.


    So, while he was prepared to do some stunts himself...


    "...Seoyeon, not you."


    Arthur discreetly pointed to Narumi Sora, who was stretching off to the side.


    "?


    "


    As Seoyeon¡¯s finger suddenly pointed at her, Sora couldn¡¯t help but blink.


    Unexpectedly, she was about to shoot an action scene with a Hollywood actor.


    ''Ah, Sora¡¯s going to fight today, too.''


    She would fight Arthur, and also fight Yeonseo.


    Seoyeon thought as she looked at Sora, noticing a long stick-like object strapped to her waist.


    ''A sword?''


    Well, if she was Japanese, a sword would be expected.


    Seoyeon nodded as she thought this.


    "Alright, let¡¯s get started with the shoot. Seoyeon, you¡¯re ready, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Since you¡¯ll be running a lot today, make sure to manage your stamina."


    "Yes, I understand."


    Seoyeon responded calmly, and Director Han Yegeon nodded, looking very confident.


    ''Seoyeon has never gotten tired, so it should be fine.''


    The real issue was over there.


    Arthur and Jo Sehee.


    Especially Sehee, since her previous performance was a bit lacking, it was still on his mind.


    ''She can definitely do better.''


    Director Han Yegeon knew Sehee¡¯s situation well.


    In fact, he was acquainted with her mother, Baek Seoran.


    ''I hope this drama becomes the turning point for her.''


    Fortunately, the ingredients were more than enough.


    Ju Seoyeon, the brightest star of the year.


    And one of Hollywood¡¯s top actors, Arthur Diaz.


    Not to mention Narumi Sora, who was undeniably a prodigy.


    Han Yegeon firmly believed that Sehee would do well.


    After all, she was the one who inherited the genius talent of the legendary actress Baek Seoran.

 Chapter 302: Shine Moon (1)

    Today''s scene was one where the character is once again brought into focus.


    Episode 6.


    The drama has reached its halfway point.


    The moment Yeonseo and Hong Seha discover the location of the Korean lab¡¯s headquarters,


    it begins with Adam''s arrival, seemingly timed to that very moment.


    Yeonseo is greatly surprised when Adam, whom she thought was dead, reappears.


    "...Adam? Is that really you?"


    "Yeah, it''s me. Yeonseo. It''s been a long time. ...And who¡¯s this?"


    "This is Hong Seha."


    "Someone from outside shouldn''t get involved with us. It won''t do anyone any good."


    At Adam¡¯s words, Hong Seha, who had been accompanying Yeonseo since episode 3, smiled softly.


    To think of him as an outsider... What a strange thing to say.


    "I had my parents killed by psychics. I need to avenge them."


    "Ordinary humans have no place to interfere."


    "But I have my own abilities. I¡¯m smart and I have money."


    As Hong Seha made a circular motion with his fingers, signifying money, Adam let out a bitter laugh.


    Indeed, Hong Seha had an air of refinement about him.


    Though his clothes were plain, there was something about his demeanor that set him apart from ordinary people.


    The staff members watching Jo Sehee¡¯s acting noticed this.


    "Seems like the rumors are true?"


    "Ah, the rumor that she¡¯s the daughter of the Newlike Group?"


    "Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard."


    "Her acting today feels like the best yet."


    Sehee, who had seemed a bit shaky earlier, now seemed to have found her balance.


    Glancing at Director Han Yegeon, he was observing the scene carefully.


    Director Han Yegeon was a very sensitive director.


    And if things went wrong, he was a director who could be quite exhausting to deal with.


    The staff thought Jo Sehee might have caught Director Han¡¯s attention in a way she didn¡¯t want.


    "He¡¯s been staring at Sehee since the last shoot."


    "Her performance today is fine, so he probably won¡¯t say anything."


    With those thoughts, the scene continued.


    Yeonseo and Seha reunited with Adam.


    Then, Adam made an offer.


    "Come with me to America."


    "America, you say?"


    "Yes, there are colleagues of mine there. If you¡¯re going to go after the Korean lab, wouldn¡¯t it be better to have more people than just the two of you?"


    Yeonseo silently looked at him, while Hong Seha had a thoughtful expression.


    Adam, certain that Yeonseo would follow him, waited expectantly.


    And as they were pondering, footsteps started echoing in the building they were in.


    "Yeonseo, we don¡¯t have time. We need to hurry. If we stay here...!"


    "No, I won¡¯t go."


    Yeonseo calmly replied as she gestured for him to hurry.


    Adam, not expecting this rejection, opened his eyes wide in surprise.


    "Are you seriously doubting me in a situation like this, Yeonseo? I¡¯m on your side. Don¡¯t you remember the conversations we had when we were kids?"


    "I haven¡¯t forgotten. I remember everything you said and did!"


    "Then why!"


    "I told you, I remember everything."


    Yeonseo smiled slightly.


    In that instant, the atmosphere shifted sharply.


    Both Arthur Diaz, facing her, and Sehee beside her could feel it.


    It was as if she had become an entirely different person.


    A sudden, dramatic change.


    Though she was smiling, her eyes were not.


    She was meeting someone who had once been so precious to her.


    Someone who had greatly impacted her past self, Adam, and yet she wasn¡¯t all that happy to see him.


    And rightfully so.


    "Why are you acting like it¡¯s our first time meeting?"


    "!!"


    "We¡¯ve already met before."


    With her thumb pressing down on her lower lip, Yeonseo gave a mischievous smile.


    Her twisted lips and eyes, slowly sinking, gave off a sense of eeriness.


    Red.


    It seemed as if the red color was flowing from her entire body.


    "With a motorcycle helmet on, and wearing a bike suit."


    "That¡¯s..."


    "Are you saying it¡¯s not me? But everything is the same, isn¡¯t it?"


    Her weight, height.


    And the old habits visible in her movements.


    It all pointed to the same person.


    Despite minor changes compared to the past, Yeonseo could recognize every detail.


    "How did you...?"


    "I¡¯m a psychic."


    It wasn¡¯t a lie.


    Adam hadn¡¯t expected Yeonseo to recognize him so easily.


    Then again, back when they had first met, Yeonseo hadn¡¯t shown any sign of being disturbed.


    "You knew it was me, and yet you attacked without hesitation?"


    "Adam."


    As he furrowed his brow, Yeonseo pressed her hands to her chest and said,


    "I¡¯m the one who was hurt. I thought you were a precious friend."


    "Yeonseo."


    "I never thought you were a psychic. It¡¯s strange, you weren¡¯t one back then."


    "Listen to me."


    "What are you after? Ah, maybe you want to take me to the U.S. lab? Or... wait, let me guess."


    At that moment, all the lights in the building went out.


    The psychics who had come to ambush them had cut off the building¡¯s electricity.


    The only thing that illuminated the scene were Yeonseo¡¯s glowing red eyes.


    "You wanted me to go to the U.S. lab, didn¡¯t you? Ah, so you¡¯ve been pretending to attack the Korean lab all along?"


    As she said this, Yeonseo suddenly appeared in front of Adam.


    In an instant, her wide-open eyes, staring directly at him, were so terrifying it could send chills down anyone¡¯s spine.


    The pupils constricted.


    The wide eyes indirectly conveyed Yeonseo¡¯s emotions in that moment.


    Humans open their eyes wide to express anger, to intimidate the other party.


    And now, Yeonseo¡¯s appearance was the perfect embodiment of that.


    At that moment, the wall exploded, and numerous people poured in.


    Simultaneously, Yeonseo pulled away from Adam, and Adam turned his back, trying to escape.


    "...We¡¯ve got a problem. Eve didn¡¯t listen to me. Oh, so she already knew."


    While communicating through his walkie-talkie, Adam clenched his teeth.


    Gone was the usual polite demeanor; his twisted appearance now looked almost demonic.


    "Adam Lowell."


    His thoughts were interrupted by another psychic who had arrived to confront him.


    A girl holding a long sword.


    The strongest psychic of the Korean lab, Shin Arin.


    "I¡¯ve been looking for you."


    Yeonseo was already on her way out of the building with Hong Seha.


    On their side, there were surely pursuit teams from both Korea and the U.S.


    Meanwhile, only one had been sent to deal with Adam.


    The strongest card she could play.


    "I remember you. You were the girl who was with Yeonseo back then."


    "Yes, I was. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t have known if Yeonseo hadn¡¯t said anything."


    "You¡¯re weaker than Yeonseo."


    "Yes, I am."


    Adam Lowell and Arthur Diaz both grimaced inwardly at their conversation with Shin Arin.


    The acting wasn¡¯t bad, but something felt off.


    ''Didn¡¯t she say she hadn¡¯t been acting for long?''


    So perhaps that¡¯s why she seemed uneasy.


    Luckily, her role wasn¡¯t that big, so it wasn¡¯t too much of a problem, but if this conversation dragged on, it would definitely become annoying.


    ''Will the action choreography match up?''


    They had practiced action scenes together several times with Sora.


    It wasn¡¯t bad, but when facing Arthur, she still showed signs of hesitation.


    Thinking about that, the acting today wasn¡¯t bad at all.


    In fact, it was worth complimenting.


    But could she act well while mixing in action scenes?


    As she pondered that...


    "But, my goal is still you."


    Slowly drawing her sword, her movements were so natural, it almost looked like her body and the sword were one.


    It was so beautiful that it momentarily captivated everyone¡¯s attention.


    "I don¡¯t need to be stronger than Yeonseo."


    The reason Sora had been with Yeonseo wasn¡¯t to target her.


    She knew full well she wasn¡¯t strong enough to kill Yeonseo.


    Instead, she had to stop the U.S. lab¡¯s attempts to provoke Yeonseo.


    Before, she had remained quiet to figure out who the culprit was, but now, she no longer needed to do so.


    Holding the sword, she slid her left foot forward, and then attacked.


    With a whoosh, the sword cut through the air with precision and power.


    It struck Adam¡¯s side, landing perfectly.


    "Ugh!!"


    "Ah."


    Wait, wasn¡¯t he supposed to avoid that?


    Arthur, clutching his side and collapsing, watched as Sora stood frozen, her sword extended.


    "...You''re faster than the acting."


    "Huh? Oh, was I?"


    She hadn¡¯t realized it.


    When she got into character, her mind would go cold, and she hadn¡¯t noticed the difference between now and before.


    Maybe...


    "I... I might have adjusted after asking Seoyeon to practice with me... Sorry."


    "...."


    No way! Did I just hit a Hollywood top actor?!


    Was I going to get hit with an enormous bill for this?


    Narumi Sora, constantly bowing her waist, spoke.


    Having witnessed Arthur openly criticize Jo Sehee''s acting before, she was feeling a bit nervous.


    Especially with action scenes, timing is crucial, and if an accident happens, it would cause a delay in the shoot.


    So, Sora had asked Seoyeon to practice several times before today¡¯s scene.


    It felt too burdensome to ask Arthur for such a thing.


    Though the speed of her actions changed, it had been worth it.


    "...It''s fine."


    "Huh?"


    "Good job, just now."


    Image management, image management.


    Arthur pressed his finger firmly against his forehead as he spoke.


    Anyway, unlike his true nature, getting angry at other actors didn¡¯t really fit "Arthur Diaz''s" image.


    That kind of thing was better suited to someone like Seoyeon or Jo Sehee, who could ¡®analyze¡¯ their own performance.


    More than that, it bothered Arthur that he couldn''t match Seoyeon''s pace.


    ''Actually, it was pretty good.''


    Arthur Diaz was honestly surprised by Narumi Sora¡¯s acting, especially when she drew the sword just now.


    ''She¡¯s completely different from practice.''


    He narrowed his eyes, watching the girl, Narumi Sora, who seemed like a trembling lamb.


    The acting she showed in Hyper Action Star was different, but was it because it wasn¡¯t a real battle?


    ''It happens sometimes.''


    There are those who perform far better in real situations than in practice.


    He didn''t understand why, but there were actors who displayed their best skills when they were pushed into a corner, when failure wasn¡¯t an option.


    Narumi Sora was one of those.


    When it came to real battles, she performed even better than in practice.


    Most importantly, while her movement was faster than during practice, it looked much better now.


    "Let¡¯s try again. I¡¯ll match with you. It might be a bit difficult, but I¡¯ll manage somehow."


    At his words, Seoyeon, who had been silently listening to the conversation, tilted her head and spoke.


    "Why not ask Oliver to do the tough action scenes?"


    "...."


    "? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Why try to do something you can¡¯t do? Arthur clenched his teeth at Seoyeon¡¯s gaze, as if questioning why she would even ask.


    How could she say the same thing as that American woman?


    Did she not know what empathy was?


    "I¡¯ll do it."


    "Ah, okay."


    Seoyeon nodded at Arthur, who insisted on doing it himself.


    Considering the acting just now, Arthur''s skills were obvious, so it was fine to let him do it.


    ''Then why bring Oliver in?''


    Wasn¡¯t he brought in for the action scenes?


    If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s no real reason ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? to have him here... but Seoyeon decided to let it go.


    More than that, Sehee was on her mind.


    "Did you see how good Sora was just now?"


    "It was a bit nerve-wracking, but once she held a weapon, she changed."


    "She¡¯s naturally an action actor. She¡¯s strong in real situations."


    "That¡¯s the greatest talent an action actor can have, being strong in real situations."


    "In that sense, Seoyeon, you''re similar."


    "Seoyeon? She was amazing today too."


    "I don¡¯t know how she manages to shift the atmosphere like that."


    The other staff members were also praising Sora¡¯s acting.


    Action actors often perform risky stunts, so if they get too nervous, accidents can happen.


    In that respect, Sora¡¯s talent was innate.


    Even in Hyper Action Star, she showed greater abilities in real situations than in practice.


    Sehee listened to those comments while quietly observing.


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t tell what she was thinking.


    Her expression was calm, and she didn¡¯t seem particularly concerned.


    But something about it bothered Seoyeon.


    Having observed others¡¯ emotions for so long, Seoyeon could sense it.


    "Sehee."


    At that moment, Director Han Yegeon quietly called Jo Sehee.


    "Ah, Seoyeon, you can rest for now. I just want to have a quick conversation with Sehee."


    At his words, Seoyeon slowly nodded.


    She watched them from a distance, considering whether to eavesdrop, but quickly gave up.


    It didn¡¯t feel right to eavesdrop on their personal conversation.


    ''She seems like she has something on her mind.''


    It wasn¡¯t just because of Mine.


    Sehee¡¯s worries had been there even before she started shooting Mine.


    ''Since filming Kyungsung Lady.''


    It seemed like she¡¯d had that feeling ever since they received feedback from the audience after watching the movie.


    Though there wasn¡¯t any bad review, something must have felt off to Sehee.


    ''I don¡¯t know.''


    Others¡¯ emotions are unfamiliar.


    When you don¡¯t even fully understand your own feelings, trying to guess based on secondhand information is just too difficult.


    If it were a strong emotion, it would be easy to pick up on, but when things are complicated and tangled, it¡¯s honestly hard to understand.


    ''I¡¯ll have to keep an eye on her.''


    With that thought, Seoyeon pulled out her phone from her bag.


    Since it seemed like there would be a longer break, she figured she¡¯d play a game while resting.


    ''Huh?''


    However, she noticed a missed call on her phone from someone during filming.


    Curious, she checked.


    [Shim Cheongseok.]


    It was an unexpected name, showing up as the caller.


    The call came about an hour ago, just shortly after shooting had started.


    And about 30 minutes ago, there was also a text.


    [We''re at the hospital right now.]


    Such a message.

 Chapter 303: Shine Moon (2)

    "Jo Sehee."


    Han Yegeon stepped outside, calmly lighting a cigarette as he spoke.


    "You''ve been a bit off lately."


    Unlike the quiet atmosphere on set, his tone was relatively light.


    Despite the sharpness, there was a very casual, almost careless vibe, unlike the calm, intense mood of the filming set.


    However, Jo Sehee found this more familiar.


    The Han Yegeon she had seen when she was young felt just like this.


    This was before he debuted as a director.


    When he was still in college, helping his older brother with work.


    Before he revealed his genius.


    It was exactly the feeling she got when they first met at a funeral, when she was a child.


    They had crossed paths occasionally after that, but they hadn¡¯t really spoken much.


    In fact, the events at the funeral were too long ago for her to remember the details clearly.


    Occasionally, Han Yegeon¡¯s gaze toward her contained many emotions.


    It was strange because it felt familiar, even though it should have been unfamiliar.


    "Could it be because of recent events...?"


    The anniversary of the genius actress Baek Seoran.


    It had been far too long for her to be shaken by it now.


    Jo Sehee wasn¡¯t the type to be so weak.


    If anything, she was far too strong.


    So strong, in fact, that she¡¯d never stopped for a single moment.


    "Or is it a more complex issue?"


    "...You¡¯re sharp."


    "If you¡¯re not sharp, you won¡¯t survive in this industry."


    He smiled lightly, rubbing his thumb across his stubbled chin.


    "Today, you did a good job portraying the rich girl. But that¡¯s all."


    His eyes were hawk-like as they fixated on her.


    Jo Sehee could feel Han Yegeon¡¯s gaze piercing through her.


    "Did you start wanting to act better?"


    "Yes."


    "Well, it¡¯s natural. You¡¯ve been filming with actors your own age."


    Kyungsung Lady.


    It was a project that was about to hit 10 million viewers, perhaps.


    It would be a significant project for Jo Sehee as well.


    Since her childhood, her acting had always attracted attention, and it had always been positive feedback.


    Kyungsung Lady was no different.


    Her acting was flawless.


    As Amana-bi Michiko, Jo Sehee brought the perfect image to the role.


    "But the impact was a bit lacking. In recent films and even today on set."


    He knew.


    Jo Sehee¡¯s acting was textbook-level, and there was nothing to criticize.


    She¡¯d been like that since she was young, and she was still like that now.


    "But, I think you need to change."


    "Is it because of Seoyeon?"


    "Yes."


    Han Yegeon clicked his tongue at Jo Sehee¡¯s refusal to deny it.


    Occasionally, Jo Sehee¡¯s straightforwardness made it clear she didn¡¯t shy away from the truth.


    She might hesitate at times in certain situations, but here, it was clear.


    Jo Sehee was clearly paying attention to Seoyeon¡¯s acting.


    "And, I¡¯ve been thinking about Lee Jiyeon¡¯s performance too."


    "The explosive energy she showed, even for just a moment."


    "Yes. I didn¡¯t have that."


    Her performance had been earnest, but in that moment, she knew she was not as good as Lee Jiyeon.


    That made it even more frustrating.


    What should she do to improve?


    "So, you¡¯re trying to imitate your mother¡¯s acting?"


    "...Can you tell?"


    Han Yegeon pointed to his sharp eyes as he spoke.


    "I can tell in an instant if someone is imitating another¡¯s acting."


    "Is that possible?"


    "Seoyeon could probably do it too."


    "...I suppose that¡¯s possible."


    If it were Seoyeon, Jo Sehee thought, she could definitely do it.


    She was special.


    Not just in her exceptional physical abilities or her emotionally expressive acting,


    but her ~N§àv§Ölight~ biggest strength was her keen observation.


    Seoyeon described her emotional acting as mimicry.


    It meant expressing things exactly the same way, as if drawing a picture.


    If that were true, it would mean she could look at a picture and immediately replicate it.


    "Seoyeon does it quite well. I¡¯ve seen the works she¡¯s been in. I¡¯ve also watched her interviews."


    Seoyeon¡¯s acting often draws from real-life experiences.


    Little, everyday experiences easily reflected in her performances.


    Such a thing couldn¡¯t be achieved so easily, could it?


    "A genius actress."


    Han Yegeon looked at Jo Sehee and spoke.


    "To follow that, you¡¯d need to be a genius actress too."


    The "genius" Jo Sehee had seen since childhood must have been her mother.


    That¡¯s why Jo Sehee wanted to act like her mother.


    At Han Yegeon¡¯s words, Jo Sehee sighed.


    "...Baek Seoran¡¯s daughter."


    She had heard that phrase incessantly since she was young.


    "People always said I must have inherited my mother¡¯s talent. They expected me to show incredible acting like hers."


    In truth, Jo Sehee had somewhat lived up to that expectation.


    Her career proved that.


    "...So, I¡¯m thinking of trying it now."


    After seeing Lee Jiyeon¡¯s performance, she thought it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to try.


    Just like her mother.


    To create acting that sparkles like starlight.


    Then, she could stand beside Seoyeon.


    On equal terms.


    Like Stella.


    "Hmm..."


    Han Yegeon exhaled, letting the smoke out as he spoke.


    Honestly, he didn¡¯t think it was a great idea.


    More than that...


    "Let¡¯s not practice on set."


    "...It wasn¡¯t exactly practice."


    "On set, you should be doing what you¡¯re good at."


    At those words, Jo Sehee had no response.


    But, in the end, anything must be tried on set.


    If she hadn¡¯t practiced beforehand, she¡¯d still have to use what she learned in the real scene.


    But from the director¡¯s point of view, that was not what he wanted.


    "...Understood."


    Jo Sehee nodded slowly.


    ''It¡¯s not that he¡¯s telling me not to try new things. He just wants me to stick to what I do best.''


    He wasn¡¯t asking her to avoid trying new things, but simply to do what she was already good at.


    If you can do something new well, no one would complain.


    It was only when you couldn¡¯t that it became an issue.


    ''I should probably let the investors know in advance.''


    It might take a bit longer, he felt.


    A certain feeling told him that.


    ****


    "You''re looking better than I thought."


    As soon as filming was over, Seoyeon arrived at the hospital where Shim Cheongseok was admitted.


    She had rushed over quickly, but fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem like he was seriously injured.


    "Phew, it''s thanks to Jiwoo. ...And ''better than I thought,'' huh? Despite how I look, my insides still hurt a bit."


    As he lifted his hospital gown slightly, showing bruises in various places, Seoyeon¡¯s gaze darkened.


    "...Can you explain what happened?"


    "It¡¯s not that hard. It happened last night."


    "Last night? Then why... today...?"


    "I was out of it yesterday."


    Shim Cheongseok calmly continued.


    It was late last night, after they had wrapped up filming and had all gone out for drinks together.


    "Jiwoo, your house isn¡¯t too far, right? I can drive you back."


    "Is that so? Then thank you."


    Jiwoo answered awkwardly, and Shim Cheongseok had a complex expression at her response.


    It didn¡¯t seem like she hated him, but at the same time, it didn¡¯t seem like she thought of him any particular way.


    "You¡¯ve had a complicated expression all day. Is something wrong?"


    "Huh?"


    "You didn¡¯t seem in a good mood during dinner."


    "Ah, was I...?"


    Jiwoo sighed.


    Looking at her, Shim Cheongseok remembered what she used to be like, back when he saw her as a rather haggard, gloomy woman.


    Recently, she had been giving off a similar vibe.


    ''Is it because of that Low guy?''


    That was the only thing he could think of.


    He vaguely remembered hearing that her birthday was coming up soon.


    ''Huh?''


    As he thought about it, he noticed a strange group of people around his car in the underground parking lot.


    "Jiwoo, wait here for a second."


    Saying this, he approached the people around his car.


    And then...


    "Hey, what are you doing over there...?"


    As he spoke, he suddenly felt a blow to the back of his head.


    Losing his balance, he collapsed to the ground.


    He described the chaotic sounds of shouting and the beating that followed vividly.


    "That''s how I ended up like this."


    "...So, you just took the beating and that was it?"


    "I don¡¯t know."


    "Huh?"


    "I really just took the beating and it ended there."


    Seoyeon squinted at him, but what could she do? He was outnumbered.


    In fact, considering the situation, wasn¡¯t his ability to withstand the beating impressive?


    "Earlier, you said you were fine because of Jiwoo."


    "I wasn¡¯t fine. It''s just that thanks to Jiwoo, I¡¯m not worse off."


    Shim Cheongseok didn¡¯t really remember what happened.


    He had been beaten like a dog, and after hearing some screams, the people attacking him gradually started to leave.


    He managed to protect his face, and when he opened his eyes again, he was relatively intact.


    "Are you... okay?"


    "Ah, yeah, those guys?"


    "I chased them off. I... actually practiced Kendo when I was younger."


    Can you really chase people off just by practicing Kendo?


    That thought crossed his mind, but it seemed like it had worked.


    In fact, even Jiwoo didn¡¯t know the full details.


    She just screamed and wildly swung her weapon, causing the attackers to flee.


    It didn¡¯t seem like a lie, and it seemed to have happened exactly as she said.


    ''...Jiwoo should be an action actor.''


    Seoyeon suddenly thought of that.


    If she fought with Sora holding a weapon, who would win?


    At least with a sword, Jiwoo would probably win, right?


    "But, here¡¯s where it gets important."


    "Is there something more important than this?"


    "Yes, there is."


    Shim Cheongseok mentioned that he had overheard a phone call Jiwoo had made outside the hospital room.


    From what he heard, the person who had likely orchestrated the attack on him was connected to Low.


    "It¡¯s Low."


    "Probably."


    "What did Jiwoo say about it?"


    "Well, her eyes looked pretty cold. It was similar to when she stared down that... guy."


    It seemed like she was ready to take someone down.


    Shim Cheongseok thought that the reason the men fled was because they instinctively felt they were facing something dangerous.


    "If she wanted, she said she¡¯d go that day."


    "That day...?"


    "Yeah, I think it¡¯s probably Low¡¯s birthday."


    At that, Seoyeon paused, deep in thought.


    No contact had come for her from Low.


    But thinking about the message Jiwoo had received, it seemed very likely that "that day" referred to Low¡¯s birthday.


    ''It¡¯s just a guess, but the attack probably has something to do with it.''


    Maybe Jiwoo had been avoiding going on her birthday because of it.


    Shim Cheongseok had mentioned that Jiwoo was suspicious of Low.


    So, it seemed like Low had probably assumed it was Cheongseok who was the reason Jiwoo had been avoiding him.


    That¡¯s why he had attacked Cheongseok when he was alone.


    Now, Jiwoo had likely gone to settle things with Low so that it wouldn¡¯t happen again.


    Or maybe she had been forced to go.


    ''...''


    But something still bothered her.


    Was Low really just trying to intimidate and attack Cheongseok?


    Or...?


    "Seoyeon?"


    Shim Cheongseok, noticing Seoyeon lost in thought, swallowed nervously.


    ''Her eyes... they¡¯re turning red, aren¡¯t they?''


    It happened sometimes when she was acting.


    But this was different.


    Seoyeon¡¯s usually expressionless face was colder than ever.


    Honestly, considering Seoyeon¡¯s personality, he had expected her emotions to show in her expression, but...


    ''She¡¯s actually quite emotionally expressive.''


    Having observed her for so long, Shim Cheongseok had realized that Seoyeon was more emotionally expressive than she let on.


    She just found it awkward to display emotions, which is why she often kept a blank face.


    But now, in this coldness, he could feel the sharp emotions piercing through.


    "I understand now."


    "...Understand what?"


    Shim Cheongseok spoke with a slightly tense tone.


    Though it felt wrong to say this, the Seoyeon in front of him now was far scarier than the people who had attacked him before.


    "What it really means to be angry."


    Seoyeon had trouble empathizing with Jin Yeonseo in Mine.


    She didn¡¯t like that type of character.


    It was different from Chasa.


    Chasa didn¡¯t know, and had a condition where she couldn¡¯t express emotions, which is why she did bad things.


    Perhaps, Seoyeon had thought she might have ended up like that too.


    But Jin Yeonseo was different.


    She could feel emotions perfectly, and learned about unfamiliar feelings as she went on.


    Even though she had a rough childhood, she had good parents who raised her well.


    But her actions were cruel.


    She never spared those who attacked her.


    From the start of the movie, Yeonseo was angry the entire time.


    Yes, continuously.


    ''Except for when she was with her family.''


    And now, Seoyeon thought she understood why Yeonseo acted that way.


    Sometimes,


    you realize there are people for whom common sense and the law don¡¯t apply.


    ****


    "There¡¯s an event at Shine Moon today, right?"


    "Yeah, it¡¯s Low¡¯s birthday, so I heard they¡¯ve got a lot of things planned."


    The street in front of Shine Moon was packed with a considerable crowd.


    Outside, members of JustX were mingling with the fans, casually greeting them.


    Of course¡ªit was their leader Low¡¯s birthday.


    There was no way they wouldn¡¯t be here.


    "Shit."


    Ma Yeonwoo smiled at the people around him, nodding in greeting, but inwardly, he cursed.


    "This isn¡¯t it."


    The place he belonged wasn¡¯t out here¡ªit was on the stage.


    Interacting with fans was fine, but something about this situation felt off.


    Among today¡¯s club attendees were a lot of high-ranking individuals.


    When the time came, it would feel like he was nothing more than a performing clown.


    His head was already starting to ache.


    "The birthday party starts at ten tonight, right?"


    Technically, Low¡¯s birthday was tomorrow.


    But they were holding a major event right at midnight, so the doors would open at ten.


    Most of the VIPs would probably arrive around then.


    For now, the only people inside the club were the staff busy with preparations¡ª


    And those who were personally acquainted with Low.


    "Pyo Jiwoo, wasn¡¯t it?"


    That woman who had stormed into the club earlier with a deadly expression.


    Her face had been unusually grim, which was why Ma Yeonwoo remembered her.


    There were still four hours left until the event, yet she had shown up early.


    "Damn, she must have pissed Low off somehow."


    Should he intervene?


    Maybe he could sneak her out later.


    Just as he was thinking that¡ª


    "Whoa! What the hell is that?"


    "No way... is that really her?"


    The murmuring voices of the crowd caught his attention.


    Turning to look, he saw a girl walking toward them.


    A black dress.


    An all-too-familiar silhouette.


    "Mine... poster."


    Yes, she looked exactly like the girl from the Mine poster.


    Which made sense.


    Because the girl who played Mine¡¯s protagonist, Jin Yeonseo¡ª


    Was standing right in front of him.


    "Ju Seoyeon?"


    Ma Yeonwoo muttered, caught off guard.


    Hearing that name, JustX member Ri Hyun let out a low whistle beside him.


    "Damn, Low¡¯s got skills. He even invited Ju Seoyeon?"


    As expected of Ri Hyun, who always had an eye for women¡ªhis gaze toward Seoyeon was already dubious.


    Ma Yeonwoo shot him a glare before approaching her.


    After all, Shine Moon was a club¡ªstanding around where everyone could see her wouldn¡¯t be good.


    But¡ª


    "Excuse me. I¡¯m here for a Mine shoot. Please let me through."


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice was calm as she wove her way through the crowd.


    Hearing her words, people exchanged glances, tilting their heads in confusion.


    "A shoot? At Shine Moon?"


    "Well... she is wearing the exact outfit from the poster."


    "But where¡¯s the rest of the cast?"


    "Maybe she just arrived first?"


    "Wait, wasn¡¯t there an event here today?"


    "Yeah, but she¡¯s a minor. Maybe she just dropped by to say hi?"


    "That makes sense, especially since it¡¯s JustX."


    Something felt off, but since she was dressed in full costume, people just snapped photos without stopping her.


    Not that they would have had the chance¡ªMa Yeonwoo had already rushed out ahead of them.


    "Are you out of your mind? A shoot? I never heard anything about that!"


    He hissed at her in a low voice.


    Seoyeon, however, simply gave him a curious look.


    "You don¡¯t seem very happy to see me."


    "Of course I¡¯m not! You need to leave. Now. This place is crawling with scumbags."


    "I¡¯m fine. Just tell Low that I¡¯m here."


    "...What? You were invited?"


    "No."


    She wasn¡¯t invited.


    But if Low heard she was here, he¡¯d undoubtedly tell them to let her in.


    That was just the kind of man he was.


    "...You¡¯re not planning to start anything inside, are you?"


    Ma Yeonwoo asked hesitantly, worried.


    He knew Seoyeon was stronger than she looked, but only to a certain extent.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine her being capable of anything more.


    Seoyeon met his gaze in silence.


    "Don¡¯t worry."


    "...Are you sure?"


    "Yes."


    Seoyeon smiled.


    It was soft, but for some reason, it sent a chill down his spine.


    "Being famous can actually be a form of protection."


    There were many reasons she wasn¡¯t afraid.


    The weight of JustX¡¯s name.


    And the fact that, as a minor, no one would dare question her walking into the club.


    "Sehee knows too."


    Of course, that was why her phone had been ringing non-stop¡ª


    But that was just a backup plan.


    "More importantly."


    Nothing that happened inside was ever going to make it outside.


    Low would make sure of that.


    Even when the Shine Moon Incident happened, it was the same.


    According to the police investigation, aside from one suspicious location¡ª


    There were no records of what went down inside.


    "I plan to settle things peacefully."


    At least, that was the plan.

 Chapter 304: Shine Moon (3)

    "Is it you?"


    Pyo Jiwoo narrowed her eyes sharply and spoke to Low.


    If not for him, there would have been no one else who would cause this kind of scene.


    It had been suspicious all along.


    The constant hints about Shim Cheongseok, or the insistence that she should attend the birthday party. If it was really because he wanted to celebrate her birthday with her, she would have gone.


    But, the longer she watched, the more she couldn''t ignore it.


    There had been similar incidents in the past, so of course, she had to watch the other person¡¯s behavior closely.


    It was clear he wasn¡¯t after her but someone else.


    The name ''Ju Seoyeon'' was obvious enough to deduce.


    "What are you saying, Jiwoo? Don¡¯t say such scary things."


    Low waved his hand and laughed.


    Behind him, two club guards of considerable size stood, but Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s stance didn¡¯t falter at all.


    ''This is not your average guts.''


    She never expected he could speak so boldly in this situation.


    Especially while suspecting that he might have done something to Shim Cheongseok.


    ''I heard she practiced Kendo.''


    It was something Pyo Jiwoo had heard herself, and she remembered that Jiwoo used to practice Kendo until high school.


    Even so, she had never competed in any tournaments; it was just something she practiced alone at the dojo. It seemed like self-defense, so Pyo Jiwoo hadn''t paid much attention to it, but hearing others talk about it, it seemed it wasn''t so simple.


    After all, she had the skill to drive away a few grown men with a steel pipe.


    "It¡¯s my birthday today, so let¡¯s avoid causing a fuss. The VIPs will be here soon."


    At his words, Pyo Jiwoo realized her words had no impact at all.


    She wondered if she should slap him, but just as she was considering it...


    "Oh, but now that you¡¯re here, how about this?"


    "...What do you mean?"


    "Since you¡¯re already here, Seoyeon is here too, right? Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if she came too?"


    Anyway, his target was Ju Seoyeon. Everything else didn¡¯t matter.


    To speak so openly to someone clearly irritated like her meant it was obvious that his true goal was her.


    "You''ve been in this industry long enough, haven¡¯t you?"


    Low slowly approached Pyo Jiwoo and spoke.


    "Among the VIPs coming today, there¡¯s an executive from GH Group. You know, right? If you make an enemy of GH Group, you won¡¯t be able to do broadcasting in Korea."


    His words were like a veiled threat.


    "If you want to stay in the industry, it¡¯s better to quietly answer the call."


    At Low''s words, Pyo Jiwoo felt her rationality snap.


    Lately, she had been putting on a stable appearance, but fundamentally, she wasn¡¯t mentally strong.


    She hadn¡¯t been obsessively attached to men in the past for no reason. Though her patience had been strengthened by Seoyeon, when she got angry, she could become reckless.


    Seoyeon¡¯s past life.


    The club guard, who had barged into the kitchen with only a kitchen knife at a club with over 20 men¡ªthis was why.


    "Hey. Just stay still."


    "Huh?"


    Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s hand moved towards the bag she was holding.


    And just as she reached into it...


    Clink.


    The door to the room opened.


    In the tense air, everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward the entrance.


    "Hello."


    A young girl casually bowed to them.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Her appearance was completely unexpected for them.


    Before coming here, Seoyeon had hesitated a little.


    She thought it was best to sneak in, since drawing attention wouldn¡¯t be good for her.


    ''But that would severely limit my options.''


    If Pyo Jiwoo hadn¡¯t gone to ShineMoon first, sneaking in might have been the better option. But once she moved, there weren¡¯t many choices left.


    If something were to happen, she would have to stop it.


    And that choice turned out to be the right one.


    As she saw Pyo Jiwoo, standing frozen with her hand still in her bag...


    "Jiwoo unni. Wait a second."


    Seoyeon grabbed Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s arm, pulling her out of Low¡¯s room.


    At the same time, she didn¡¯t forget to observe the inside of his room.


    ''There.''


    When the incident had occurred in the past, there had been a place that had seemed suspicious.


    Low¡¯s private room.


    In that room, there was a safe.


    It was where a considerable amount of gold had been stored, but there were also traces that something else had been kept there.


    ''The ledger.''


    There had been a ledger detailing the VIP guests at ShineMoon, but it hadn¡¯t been found anywhere. The place where it was likely kept was that safe.


    ''...What if I¡¯m wrong?''


    Seoyeon thought, and as she was about to leave, she mentally noted the possibilities.


    Well, if I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯ll just sneak around and search everything.


    "Seoyeon, what are you doing here?!"


    "Hold on for a second."


    Seoyeon pulled her hand out of the bag Pyo Jiwoo was holding.


    She was certain that there was a knife in that hand.


    Right now, she had prevented a bloodbath from happening at ShineMoon.


    "Recorder?"


    Seoyeon muttered when she saw it.


    "No knife?"


    She accidentally murmured, and quickly closed her mouth, looking at Pyo Jiwoo.


    It was so surprising that she couldn¡¯t help but let her words slip.


    "...What do you think of me?"


    Pyo Jiwoo sighed as she avoided Seoyeon¡¯s gaze.


    "After our conversation earlier... I was trying to make a point. Don¡¯t mess with me."


    At Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s words, Seoyeon nodded slightly.


    It was a pretty reasonable explanation.


    ''But, without the other person¡¯s consent, a recording isn¡¯t valid, right?''


    Of course, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t familiar with the law, so she didn¡¯t know the specifics.


    But at least, if it was spread, it would definitely cause a stir.


    "What were you two talking about?"


    After a brief chat outside, Low followed them with a big smile.


    He had a rather handsome face, just like someone who had become popular on JustX. His looks were undoubtedly great.


    But.


    ''...''


    Seoyeon felt a surprising sense of calm when she looked at his face.


    The little ember of anger that had been temporarily extinguished reignited.


    Anger.


    That unfamiliar emotion made Seoyeon calmly exhale.


    ''Honestly.''


    Surprisingly, solving the case wasn¡¯t that hard.


    She had confirmed on the way here that there weren¡¯t many people in the area, and there were no CCTV cameras.


    It was likely done to hide what was here.


    That¡¯s why all the spaces where the VIPs could play were here.


    She had learned this from Ma Yeonwoo, on the way here.


    ''Of course, he probably said that to warn me.''


    Personally, Ma Yeonwoo¡¯s title was a little uncomfortable.


    She couldn¡¯t call him ¡°sunbae¡± and, considering his age, she should call him ¡°Yeonwoo oppa,¡± but that still felt uncomfortable.


    Anyway.


    Seoyeon slowly opened and clenched her fists.


    ''If I wanted to, I could do it.''


    But.


    She sometimes thought.


    Her special power wasn¡¯t given to her for such trivial reasons.


    There must be another reason, she believed.


    "Do you know it¡¯s my birthday today? Then, will you join us for the event later? Oh, and one of the VIPs really wants to meet you. Do you know GH Group?"


    As she quietly gathered her thoughts, Low whispered to her like a devil.


    "Seoyeon, you¡¯re doing so well lately. Wouldn¡¯t it be great if you got connected with GH Group? You¡¯d have wings like a tiger. Overseas expansion wouldn¡¯t be just a dream. I recognize your talent, Seoyeon."


    A VIP wants to meet you.


    That was a line that didn¡¯t sound like anything wholesome.


    No matter how innocent Seoyeon might be, she didn¡¯t take that literally.


    ''What should I do?''


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes as she looked at Low.


    She had come up with plans for today.


    She had already told Sehee in case something happened, and she had thought of ways to find the VIP ledger from ShineMoon.


    The reason ShineMoon became the subject of investigation was because of Low¡¯s birthday party.


    At that time, a reporter who sneaked into the event had recorded Low and the VIPs¡¯ conversation and taken pictures of them with celebrities, publishing the article.


    And, the expose? followed.


    The reporter had written the story back then, and she had an idea of how it might go.


    ''If I can just get the safe open...''


    It was a perfect plan.


    So, Seoyeon decided to wait until the VIPs arrived, keeping an eye on things.


    Perhaps a small opening would appear before then.


    "How about it? Don¡¯t you like Seoyeon? Oh, and personally, I¡¯m a little interested in Seoyeon too."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Why are you looking at me like that? I really like capable people."


    With those words, Low took a step closer.


    Seeing that, Seoyeon quietly looked up at him, and Low smiled widely.


    "You must like a man who¡¯s on your level. Someone like me, for example."


    But at that moment, Low stopped speaking.


    The look in Seoyeon¡¯s eyes was so chilling that he couldn¡¯t continue.


    Seoyeon wanted to keep a light heart, but it wasn¡¯t easy when she looked at him.


    That was to be expected.


    Looking at him made her think of Shim Cheongseok.


    What would have happened if Pyo Jiwoo hadn¡¯t been there?


    It might have ended as simple assault, but still, bad thoughts lingered.


    When she thought about it, Seoyeon¡¯s mind weighed the easy path.


    In Mine, she could now understand why Jin Yeonseo acted that way.


    Anger comes from discomfort and fear.


    If she left Low alone, she feared that those around her would also be harmed.


    Perhaps, Jin Yeonseo had the same feeling.


    Now, Seoyeon could somewhat understand that feeling and anger.


    ''!!''


    Low''s eyes were drawn to the distinct red glare aimed at her.


    The overwhelming presence that couldn¡¯t be expected from such a small frame made Low forget how to breathe.


    ¡®Danger...¡¯


    Something felt dangerously off.


    Just as she thought that, Seoyeon looked at Low.


    Low, who had been focusing on Seoyeon, was suddenly distracted.


    "Are you seriously messing with high school students now?!"


    Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s fist, gripping the recorder, hit Low¡¯s chin with precision.


    "Ugh."


    There was no scream.


    The moment the punch landed on his chin, Low fell backward.


    Seoyeon reflexively rushed to put her hand out just before his head could hit the floor, preventing it.


    It was almost too picturesque how he collapsed; she was stunned for a moment.


    Had he collapsed unconscious, his life might have been in danger, after all.


    This was more for Pyo Jiwoo than for Low.


    Looking at the fainted Low with his eyes rolled back, Seoyeon¡¯s pupils shook.


    ''One punch?''


    Then, her eyes caught Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s furious face, breathing heavily.


    Her hand, still holding the recorder, had a fist that was flushed red from the impact.


    The anger that had built up in her chest began to cool, replaced by confusion.


    Wait, what about my plan?


    "Isn¡¯t this just a crazy woman?!"


    In the sudden chaos, the guards behind them couldn¡¯t even react.


    So, they charged at Pyo Jiwoo, who had thrown the punch, but within five minutes, they were both lying on the floor.


    Puffing for air, Seoyeon remained frozen in place, holding onto Low.


    She didn¡¯t even have a chance to step in.


    She thought about intervening, but Pyo Jiwoo fought so well.


    Seoyeon, flustered, asked,


    "Unni, did you get a TS?"


    "What? What are you talking about?"


    No? But why is she so strong?


    Even though the club guards had let their guard down, to knock them down with just a punch, without any Kendo training, was unexpected.


    "...I used to work out a bit."


    "Yet you were helplessly dragged around by me back then."


    "So, I trained harder. I couldn¡¯t stand being dragged around by someone as delicate as you."


    At those words, Seoyeon flinched.


    Though her actions had changed a lot compared to her past life, she never expected this kind of outcome.


    She never imagined her existence would make Pyo Jiwoo even stronger.


    It was quite shocking.


    What do I do now?


    Should I just knock everyone out and leave?


    Of course, unlike Seoyeon, who was flustered, Pyo Jiwoo was spitting on Low¡¯s head and about to stomp on him.


    "Wait, this will cause serious trouble."


    "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll kill this bastard and go to prison. So, could you move out of the way?"


    Ah, so this is the mindset.


    Seoyeon realized that her anger was far more restrained compared to Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s.


    Her eyes didn¡¯t even change color, but Pyo Jiwoo¡¯s eyes were bloodshot and fierce.


    It wasn¡¯t just Seoyeon, but the accumulated emotions with Shim Cheongseok, and everything built up exploded all at once.


    And most of all, even though they were somewhat involved, seeing Pyo Jiwoo like this was still unsettling.


    ''This is killing intent.''


    Seoyeon unconsciously swallowed her saliva.


    ''I thought a fight might break out, but...''


    So, she had planted some bait for the filming beforehand.


    It was like insurance.


    That way, even if someone witnessed it, it wouldn¡¯t feel as real.


    She had tried to resolve things peacefully, but isn¡¯t there always that ¡°what if¡± in life?


    But, wouldn¡¯t this be okay for people like them?


    She definitely had thoughts like that, but when she looked at Pyo Jiwoo again, she realized.


    Violence is dangerous.


    Though nothing had gone according to plan, this might actually be for the better.


    "Ah, no. More importantly, I need to open that safe."


    "Why?"


    "It¡¯s suspicious."


    "It is suspicious."


    "If we have that, you won¡¯t be able to harm Unni... at least, I hope so."


    Seoyeon hurriedly led Pyo Jiwoo towards the place where the safe was earlier, and scolded her for using her fists so suddenly.


    She had planned for things to be peaceful, but now a commotion had erupted.


    Listening to Seoyeon¡¯s scolding, Pyo Jiwoo thought:


    ''Was this just an unplanned move?''


    She had tried to think it through, but now that she heard it, there were holes in her plan here and there.


    Of course, this was because Seoyeon didn¡¯t know the future information Pyo Jiwoo had, so it was understandable.


    ''...It does feel a little sloppy.''


    Now that she had said it out loud, Seoyeon was a bit embarrassed.


    She had come in with such confidence, but now didn¡¯t have much to explain.


    "But we really need to open the safe."


    "We need the password, don¡¯t we?"


    "There¡¯s a way to open it."


    Seoyeon had already practiced with a few safes before coming here.


    Her sharp ears could precisely pick up the sounds of parts in the safe clicking into place.


    Using that, she could open a regular safe without much trouble.


    "This is an electronic lock, though?"


    "..."


    The electronic lock with buttons.


    She hadn¡¯t seen it properly earlier, but surely it wasn¡¯t something you just twist to unlock?


    Completely unprepared for this new obstacle, Seoyeon¡¯s expression became more focused.


    As she placed her ear to the lock and pressed the buttons...


    The alarm went off after five failed attempts, and Seoyeon had to punch it to stop the sound.


    "If you break it, you can¡¯t open it."


    "No, you just pull it open. It¡¯ll make a loud noise, though."


    You can pull it open?


    Pyo Jiwoo looked at Seoyeon.


    Didn¡¯t she just break the electronic pad with her fist?


    "So, what do we do now?"


    "We¡¯ll take it."


    "?"


    Pyo Jiwoo couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard.


    The safe weighed at least 50 kg.


    For Seoyeon to casually say she would take it felt like a joke.


    "And, I told Ma Yeonwoo I was going to the bathroom, so we need to move quickly and get back."


    "This?"


    "Yes."


    "But what if we don¡¯t need anything in there?"


    She hadn¡¯t thought of that.


    "Then we¡¯ll come back and get it."


    "..."


    "It¡¯ll be fine. It¡¯s still here."


    Of course, it didn¡¯t take long for Seoyeon to realize that she wasn¡¯t joking.


    Low couldn¡¯t believe the situation.


    When he woke up, the safe that had been in his private room was gone.


    ''How could it not have been caught on CCTV?''


    It would be impossible unless someone jumped out of the window with the safe.


    Whether the front or back door, it should have been caught.


    If he had known this would happen, he should have installed CCTV in his personal room.


    "You incompetent bastards."


    Low gritted his teeth.


    Even the guards who were supposed to protect it had ended up lying with him.


    Who could have taken it?


    Ju Seoyeon? Or Pyo Jiwoo?


    They had been there, but there¡¯s no way they took the safe.


    Was it a woman?


    The police wouldn¡¯t even listen if he said that.


    Similarly, he probably got beaten up by Pyo Jiwoo.


    A bunch of grown men beaten by a single woman?


    No one would believe it.


    Moreover, depending on how Seoyeon, who had been there, spoke, the situation could change.


    It was more likely to backfire on him.


    In South Korea, there¡¯s a system that supports women¡¯s side in cases like these.


    That made him hesitate to pressure her agency.


    After all, being ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) close to Ju Seoyeon meant the probability of this getting to Jo Sehee¡¯s ears was high.


    No one else mattered, but Jo Sehee should never be touched.


    "Did Ju Seoyeon leave after that?"


    "Yeah. Considering the situation, she said she was leaving. She even sent her regards for the birthday."


    It didn¡¯t even take an hour. She came, took a few pictures, and left.


    It was like she only came to promote Mine to the people gathered at the event.


    At Ri Hyun¡¯s words, Low gritted his teeth.


    Naturally, the birthday party was canceled, and he had to apologize to the VIPs.


    The event had to be postponed as well.


    "Damn, where the hell did it go?"


    How could they take the safe so easily?


    More than anything, the stuff inside was what mattered.


    The gold was secondary; the ledger was right there.


    ''Well, even if it gets into the police¡¯s hands, they can¡¯t do anything about it.''


    VIPs would be difficult for the police to handle.


    But that only applied if the police had control.


    If it fell into the hands of someone who could use it, someone with money and power, that would be a different story.


    "Hmm."


    And there was one person who could do just that.


    The chairman of New Like Group, Jo Seokhwan, chuckled as he looked at the documents in his hand.


    When he looked at the blade in his hand, all he could do was smile.

 Chapter 305: I’ll Cover It Up for You (1)

    Jo Seokhwan, chairman of New Like Group, couldn¡¯t believe what was happening.


    He never expected such information to land in his hands so suddenly.


    "Seoyeon brought this?"


    From what he had heard, she had briefly appeared at ShineMoon, which was run by JustX¡¯s Low, recently.


    Since she was a minor and had left quickly, there hadn''t been much talk about it.


    "But how did she get her hands on this information?"


    "I don¡¯t know either."


    Sehee spoke sharply, making it clear that he shouldn¡¯t pry further.


    At that, Jo Seokhwan, who had been preparing to ask more questions, shut his mouth with a slight flinch.


    "She¡¯s been in a bad mood lately."


    On top of that, she clearly wasn¡¯t happy about anyone trying to involve Seoyeon in ¡°business matters.¡±


    It was the same during Kyungsung Lady, and now, there was also the issue of adapting a web novel into a drama.


    She must not have liked how New Like Group was trying to profit off Seoyeon.


    That was why Jo Seokhwan had no choice but to be cautious around Sehee.


    The very fact that she had mentioned Seoyeon¡¯s name was an indirect way of saying, Handle this without letting it affect her.


    "How she got it isn¡¯t really important."


    Right, that wasn¡¯t the issue.


    The important thing was that he now had this information in his hands.


    "It matches the list we¡¯ve been investigating... it¡¯s real."


    In truth, Jo Seokhwan had already been looking into ShineMoon.


    There had been reports of corporate executives frequenting the place, including people from New Like and GH Group.


    That was why he had wanted to uncover the details first.


    Several journalists were already digging into the club, and if the scandal broke, New Like Group would undoubtedly be caught in the fallout.


    He had to put a stop to it before that happened.


    GH Group was probably working behind the scenes as well.


    "What will you do?"


    At his secretary¡¯s question, Jo Seokhwan finally looked up from the documents.


    "There are a number of ways to handle this."


    "That¡¯s right."


    "Are you planning to make a big scene?"


    "No."


    The secretary didn¡¯t bother asking why.


    It wasn¡¯t his place, but more than that, the reason was obvious.


    "This is the perfect timing, and I can¡¯t afford to pour cold water over it."


    Child Game.


    Right now, the global entertainment industry was focused on Korean films and dramas.


    If a massive scandal broke out, it would douse everything in cold water.


    Ongoing productions would be halted en masse.


    The financial damage would be immeasurable.


    "There are plenty of ways to handle this quietly."


    As long as GH Group cooperated with him on this matter.


    "They probably want to keep things quiet too."


    He knew GH Group had placed high stakes on Mine.


    If this scandal exploded, it could spell disaster for them as well.


    And conveniently, he had someone who could get in touch with them.


    According to Sehee, Seoyeon¡¯s father had a friend¡ª


    GH Group¡¯s Cultural Affairs Director, Kang Taejin.


    Of course, Jo Seokhwan knew the man.


    After all, he was the son of the GH Group chairman.


    ¡®...Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be from an ordinary middle-class family?¡¯


    How did he end up connected to someone like that?


    Well, this would make things easier.


    "Sometimes, handling things quietly is even more terrifying."


    By the time they realized it, everything would already be gone.


    A blade striking before they even had the chance to defend.


    That was what people feared the most.


    "Secretary Shim."


    "Yes, sir."


    "Send a message to the assemblyman that I¡¯d like to meet."


    "Understood."


    "He¡¯ll be pleased. After all, he begged us to take care of this."


    Honestly, even Jo Seokhwan felt satisfied.


    More than anything, he had no ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) intention of leaving that bastard alone after everything he did to his daughter.


    Not just his daughter¡ªbut also her friend.


    And considering that friend was one of the most promising future actresses in New Like Group¡¯s portfolio, even more so.


    "He must have thought he was living above the law."


    Jo Seokhwan¡¯s gaze turned cold as he looked down at the documents.


    "It¡¯s time to remind him that there¡¯s something above even that."


    And from the next day onward¡ª


    ShineMoon fell completely silent.


    ****


    "...Excuse me? What do you mean, sir? Shut down the business? The business?"


    Low couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing.


    It had only been a week since the safe disappeared.


    Just a week.


    He hadn¡¯t been able to sleep properly at night, desperately trying to locate the safe.


    Then, out of nowhere, he got a call from RY Entertainment¡¯s CEO, Sung Hajun.


    He had yelled for a while, but the summary was simple.


    Shut down the business.


    And stay at home quietly.


    "Something¡ªsomething¡¯s wrong. I¡¯ll talk to them. I¡¯ll contact Director Jung or Director Hwang myself¡ª"


    ¡¸And what do you expect to accomplish?¡¹


    "They aren¡¯t exactly clean either. If we go down, they¡¯ll take a hit too, so they¡¯ll have to step in¡ª"


    ¡¸......¡¹


    A deep sigh came through the phone.


    ¡¸They won¡¯t answer your calls.¡¹


    "What? What are you¡ª"


    ¡¸They¡¯re already finished.¡¹


    "Th-that¡¯s impossible. This has to be a mistake. I¡¯ll¡ªI¡¯ll call them. Do you have any idea how many people are involved? If this gets out¡ª"


    ¡¸No.¡¹


    The response was firm.


    ¡¸No one will speak. It¡¯ll all be over before a single word is said. Myself included.¡¹


    No one would even have the chance to say anything.


    Who would dare challenge someone who held the entire media in their hands?


    Low was nothing.


    Even the ones above him.


    Even those at the top of RY Entertainment had already been silenced.


    "Sir? What are you talking about?!"


    Click.


    Sung Hajun hung up.


    No matter how many times Low called back, there was no answer.


    Only a crushing silence greeted him.


    Standing there, gripping his phone, Low was frozen.


    Thump. Thump.


    The rapid thudding of his heart was the only sound filling the stillness.


    His blood ran cold.


    Sweat poured down his forehead like rain.


    "No... no way."


    Desperately, Low started calling every contact he knew.


    But no one answered.


    The corporate figures he was connected to.


    The acquaintances who had comforted him just yesterday.


    Even the celebrities.


    Even his fellow JustX members.


    All of them ignored his calls.


    Except for one person.


    Ri Hyun.


    "R¡ªRi Hyun, where are you? What the hell is going on?!"


    ¡¸Hyung.¡¹


    A voice came through, weak, trembling.


    ¡¸I¡¯m... at the police station.¡¹


    At those words, Low felt the world spin.


    JustX.


    One of Korea¡¯s top idol groups.


    ¡¸We...¡¹


    For someone like that to be at a police station¡ª


    Yet, not a single article had been published.


    A silence so absolute it was suffocating.


    ¡¸...Hyung, what the hell did you mess with?¡¹


    At those words, Low felt like throwing up.


    A fear so suffocating it clenched around his heart.


    A faceless monster, its jaws open wide in front of him.


    ****


    ¡®...It¡¯s quiet?¡¯


    Internally, Seoyeon was nervous.


    Nothing had gone according to plan after all.


    ¡®I¡¯m sure I delivered it properly, though?¡¯


    She had expected at least a few news articles to break.


    But things were strangely silent.


    Which made her doubt whether it had been passed along correctly.


    Even when she had given the files to Sehee, her reaction had been odd.


    "Wouldn¡¯t it be better to give this to your father?"


    "Why?"


    "Hm? Wait, you really don¡¯t know?"


    Sehee had said something cryptic but soon nodded as if she understood.


    Of course, Seoyeon had felt guilty about burdening Sehee, who had a lot on her mind lately.


    But she had no one else to ask.


    ¡®In my past life, this case caused massive damage to both GH and New Like.¡¯


    The corporate chairmen who saw it couldn¡¯t possibly have failed to predict what would happen next.


    So, they would handle it as quietly as possible.


    In fact, in her past life, there had been speculation that the reason the case was buried so quickly was because New Like and GH Group had stepped in.


    If things got too noisy, the ones who would suffer the most were those two.


    Still, she had expected at least a few news articles to pop up, but everything remained eerily quiet.


    No, it¡¯s actually scarier because it¡¯s so quiet.


    After that, Low never contacted her again.


    And it seemed Pyo Jiwoo hadn¡¯t received any messages either.


    Since she had beaten him up, Seoyeon thought he would at least take some sort of action, but the silence was shocking.


    And a few days later, she finally heard about what had happened¡ª


    Thanks to Ma Yeonwoo, who had come to Nova Entertainment.


    "It¡¯s completely wrecked."


    "...What is?"


    "Our group."


    His face was hollow.


    He had genuinely cared for JustX, so he couldn¡¯t seem to believe what had happened.


    "We were about to renew our contracts... ha. Well, Low hyung didn¡¯t seem to care anyway."


    He spoke bitterly.


    "Now, it¡¯s just me and Hojin left."


    So Killer Hong made it out alive.


    At his words, Seoyeon scratched her cheek.


    But she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that even the last remaining member wouldn¡¯t last long.


    Then again, maybe he¡¯ll just lay low after all this.


    That guy had gotten drunk and caused a scandal after visiting ShineMoon, so now that his base of operations was gone, who knew what would happen?


    "But why did you come to see me?"


    "...I mean, after everything that happened, I was worried Low might try something against you."


    It seemed like he had come to check if she had received any messages.


    And also¡ª


    "I still need to make a living."


    "...Huh?"


    "RY Entertainment... to be honest, it¡¯s a mess right now. No one knows what¡¯s going to happen. In this situation, renewing my contract... even if I were an idiot, I wouldn¡¯t do that."


    JustX had already earned far more than what was initially invested in them.


    If he left RY Entertainment, he wouldn¡¯t be able to use the same group name, but in a group that had already fallen apart, what meaning did a name even have?


    "So, I¡¯m looking to switch agencies."


    "And... that agency is ours? There are plenty of others, though?"


    Wait, why?


    Honestly, if he wanted, there were way better options for him.


    The first one that came to mind was XN Entertainment.


    If he went there, they would throw insane amounts of money at him just to sign him.


    Unlike the other members, he had zero scandals to his name.


    "It¡¯s not as easy as it sounds."


    "What?"


    "I don¡¯t know who Low hyung pissed off... but everyone seems to be avoiding me too."


    Even Ma Yeonwoo had been affected?


    Ah, well...


    For people who didn¡¯t have all the information, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they thought Ma Yeonwoo was just someone who hadn¡¯t been caught yet.


    But Seoyeon knew his future.


    She knew that he had almost no connections to ShineMoon.


    "...So I was hoping you could put in a word for me."


    His voice was hesitant.


    Seoyeon slowly nodded.


    "Alright."


    In her past life, Ma Yeonwoo had lived a completely arrogant life.


    But even after ShineMoon fell, he had pushed forward and continued his career.


    Looking back, the situation must have been similar.


    He had moved to some shady management company back then.


    She had always wondered why.


    Turns out, it was because he had been cornered.


    ...Though this time, it kind of feels like my fault.


    Regardless, Seoyeon didn¡¯t particularly want him to go anywhere else.


    In the past, he had suffered from a bad public image for a while, but eventually, he had made a grand comeback.


    He was talented.


    "I¡¯ll talk to them."


    And so¡ª


    A few days later.


    The headlines were filled with news of JustX¡¯s Ma Yeonwoo transferring to Nova Entertainment.


    And just like that, in complete silence¡ª


    Many were buried in the darkness.


    A year ended in absolute silence.


    ****


    A New Year Begins


    A new year had dawned.


    At eighteen years old, Seoyeon was stepping into another year.


    Amidst her packed schedule filled with filming, Jo Sehee opened her eyes in the morning.


    "...My head hurts."


    She slowly sat up in bed with a deep sigh.


    She felt like she had dreamed about something, but she couldn¡¯t remember what.


    When she rubbed her eyes, she found tiny tears clinging to her fingertips.


    Had her mother appeared in her dream?


    No... it didn¡¯t feel like that.


    Something was different.


    Lately, she felt like she had been dreaming about something¡ªbut she could never recall the details.


    Was it even my dream?


    Just a little bit.


    Like scattered fragments, she could remember one thing.


    Her own reflection in the mirror.


    But the face reflected back wasn¡¯t her own.


    It was someone completely different.


    A beautiful woman, yet with a strangely melancholic expression.


    ...I don¡¯t know.


    Thinking it was just some nonsense dream, Sehee quickly got up and washed her face, getting ready to leave.


    There was no need to go out since it was winter break, but today happened to be a filming day.


    Filming...


    It had been a long time.


    Since she had felt this reluctant to step onto a set.


    The filming for Mine had been going smoothly.


    Even when she got feedback on her acting, it was nothing major.


    Her performance was textbook.


    There had been times when she tried something new in her acting, but after being criticized a few times, she had stopped trying.


    "You don¡¯t need to rush. Your skills will evolve naturally over time."


    That was what Han Yegun had told her.


    But was he really being honest?


    He was an incredibly sharp person, so he wasn¡¯t the type to say things just to be nice.


    Still, she couldn¡¯t help but overthink it.


    I¡¯m still young...


    Suddenly, Sehee recalled something Seoyeon had said at the awards ceremony a while back.


    She had said she was still young and had a lot to learn.


    She was right.


    Both Seoyeon and herself were still just kids.


    It was too soon to be adults.


    There was plenty of time to grow at their own pace.


    "Yeah, no need to rush."


    She lightly smacked her cheeks and left for the filming set.


    Today was a shoot with Seoyeon.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to mess up and cause trouble.

 Chapter 306: I’ll Cover It Up for You (2)

    Ju Seoyeon, Eighteen!!


    Of course, since the new school year hadn''t started yet, she wasn''t technically a second-year high school student yet.


    ''Next year, I should act more like an upperclassman.''


    Looking back, this year, she had been running around too recklessly, even by her own standards.


    She hadn''t been like this in middle school. Maybe it was because she had let loose after entering high school.


    ¡°How¡¯s the filming for Mine going?¡±


    Sua asked curiously.


    It was an OTT drama that GH Group was pouring all its resources into. A drama that was receiving a lot of public attention in various ways.


    Naturally, Sua was also quite interested.


    Apparently, she had recently binge-watched Child Game.


    ¡°Maybe Mine will be a huge ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) hit like Child Game?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s very likely.¡±


    Honestly, even reaching half of that success would be legendary.


    When it came to Mine, Seoyeon herself couldn¡¯t even gauge how well it would do.


    Well, in her past life, it had never even seen the light of day.


    It was originally planned as a movie.


    But after repeated delays, the project had naturally faded into oblivion.


    ''The projects I¡¯m set to appear in this year... they all have oddly similar circumstances.''


    The works she had starred in previously had some minor issues, but they were nothing that couldn¡¯t be overcome. As long as they were resolved, those projects had the potential to soar.


    Not that they were flops to begin with.


    Every single one of them had pulled in decent ratings.


    From The Chaser to Dream Future, Sky Garden, and finally Kyungsung Lady.


    None of them had been outright blockbusters, but they had all performed at least moderately well.


    And whatever shortcomings they had, she had managed to compensate for with her presence.


    So it was reasonable to expect them to perform even better than before.


    Not because she was amazing or anything,


    but simply because she had prevented the issues that had originally plagued them.


    However, the projects she was set to appear in this year were different.


    Mine¡ªa project that had never even made it to release.


    Seoul Escape¡ªa disaster of a film that had cost its director his life.


    Flower of the Imperial Palace¡ªa drama completely ruined by its script adapter, earning it the title of the worst drama of the year.


    ''At least Flower of the Imperial Palace could turn things around with some improvements.''


    But what about Seoul Escape?


    The script for that one had been good too.


    But its performance had been an absolute trainwreck, which made her suspect that there had been another underlying issue.


    Still, with Park Jungwoo as her co-star, maybe the two of them could salvage it somehow.


    After all, Jungwoo had a good eye for projects.


    Hopefully, he hadn''t just been swayed by Princess Yeonhwa¡¯s charms into accepting the role.


    ''That guy is suspicious.''


    Hmm.


    Seoyeon crossed her arms and fell into thought.


    Why was it that someone so weak to Princess Yeonhwa treated her like this?


    Thinking about it, the way he treated her felt like how one might treat a yard dog.


    "Hey, my dog, can you do this too?"


    "Wow, you can catch chickens? You can even hunt now!"


    Wasn¡¯t that the vibe?


    Even someone like Seoyeon had her pride.


    ''Anyway.''


    With two projects alongside Park Jungwoo this year, she figured they could at least cover some of the gaps with their acting.


    ''This must be how most actors approach their projects.''


    After all, predicting a project¡¯s success was impossible.


    Even having as much information as she did was already a huge advantage.


    ¡°But what about Suyeon?¡±


    ¡°She went out with Yuna.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    The mention of Yuna made her flinch for a split second.


    It wasn¡¯t like she disliked her, but just hearing her name made her conscious of her.


    Come to think of it, this year...


    ''Well, I¡¯ll find out when the time comes.''


    Compared to her past life, Han Yuna was practically a different person.


    Unlike her past-life mother, she seemed genuinely happy now.


    And Yuna was the same.


    So surely, the worries she had wouldn¡¯t come true.


    ¡°Anyway.¡±


    Seoyeon shoved another bite of food into her mouth.


    ¡°Sehee seems to have a lot on her mind lately.¡±


    ¡°Sehee? She¡¯s not the type to waver easily, is she?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too.¡±


    Sua had met Sehee once before.


    She had visited Seoyeon¡¯s house once as a friend.


    It was after Kyungsung Lady had premiered.


    Sehee had been so obsessed with keeping up appearances at the time.


    She had seemed so adorably self-conscious that Sua still remembered it well.


    ''She used to be such a brat when we were kids.''


    Incidentally, Sua also remembered her first meeting with Sehee.


    Back then, Sua had been present on set.


    And she had overheard the infamous ¡°nepo baby¡± comment.


    She still remembered how little Seoyeon had run to her mom to tattle.


    "Mom, she called me a nepo baby!"


    "What?! How dare she say that to my daughter?! I¡¯m going to go give her a piece of my mind!!"


    With a grand proclamation, her mom had stormed off.


    Satisfied with that response, Seoyeon had let it slide.


    ¡°Sehee has already achieved so much. Maybe she¡¯s pushing herself too hard?¡±


    Unlike back then, now that Sehee was her friend, Sua did have some concerns about her.


    Unlike Seoyeon, who was practically made of steel, Sehee was just a regular girl.


    Pushing herself too hard could take a toll on her health.


    ''Achieved so much, huh.''


    Jo Sehee.


    Seventeen-year-old prodigy actress.


    Before Seoyeon had entered the scene, that title had belonged to Sehee.


    Now, it had been passed on to Seoyeon,


    but there were still plenty who considered Sehee superior.


    After all, Sehee had won Best Actress at a younger age than Seoyeon.


    Even now, when walking around the city, there were still more advertisements featuring Sehee than Seoyeon.


    Compared to her past life, Sehee was leagues ahead.


    ''The Jo Sehee from my past life... what was she like again?.''


    She hadn¡¯t been bad back then either.


    She had received heavy criticism for Tae Swoomdal, which had put her career on hold for a while.


    But in the end, she had made a comeback.


    Even so, she had never quite reached the level of being the top actress among her peers.


    ''At least, she was still active until a year before my death.''


    That last year¡ªthat was the missing gap in her past life¡¯s memories.


    Looking back, it was strange.


    A rising actress suddenly going on a one-year hiatus was unusual.


    But at the time, Seoyeon hadn¡¯t thought much of it.


    Actors taking a year or two off wasn¡¯t exactly unheard of.


    Back then, Sehee would¡¯ve been in her early or mid-twenties.


    Maybe she had just wanted a break.


    ¡°Come to think of it, Sehee¡¯s mother was actress Baek Seoran, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, my mom never really watched Korean dramas, but there was one she loved back in high school.¡±


    ¡°A drama starring Baek Seoran?¡±


    ¡°Yup. She was incredible back then.¡±


    At the time, Baek Seoran had been an actress around the same age as Sua.


    And her performance had completely captivated the entire nation.


    At its peak, the drama had surpassed 40% in ratings.


    The whole school had been buzzing about it.


    Back then, every channel you flipped to had Baek Seoran on screen.


    ¡°With a mother like that, it¡¯s no wonder Sehee is ambitious.¡±


    ¡°Ambitious, huh.¡±


    ¡°She must want to be an actress like her mother. Kids tend to take after their parents.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Actually, Sehee resembles Baek Seoran a lot.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    That was unexpected.


    She had never heard anyone mention Sehee looking like Baek Seoran before.


    ¡°Especially her face. She¡¯s practically her twin.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡±


    ¡°And her confident personality is just like Baek Seoran¡¯s too.¡±


    Sua let out a soft sigh as she looked at Seoyeon.


    ¡°I wish my daughter had taken after her mom too. But no, she had to take after her dad...¡±


    Wait. Did she really just say that?!


    Seoyeon glared at Sua.


    Sure, she might have inherited some of Youngbin¡¯s reckless tendencies!


    But hearing it said out loud was an entirely different matter.


    After all, she had once been a calm and composed person.


    ''...Anyway.''


    Just as Sua had said, Sehee had seemed a little restless lately.


    Ever since Kyungsung Lady had wrapped up.


    She had that look in her eyes¡ªlike she felt she had to prove something more.


    ''Hmm~.''


    Seoyeon crossed her arms and thought about it.


    And finally, she reached a conclusion.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t anything particularly profound.


    ****


    On the Set of Mine


    Filming was now about two-thirds complete.


    At this pace, they could wrap everything up within two weeks and release the drama as soon as post-production and special effects were finalized.


    If this had been a traditional TV drama, they would have already set a broadcast date by now.


    Since this was her first time working on an OTT drama, even Sehee couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback by the fast-paced production schedule.


    ¡°Sehee.¡±


    Just as she finished getting her makeup done and stepped out, Seoyeon called out to her.


    A pitch-black dress.


    Her eyes, still brown with a reddish tint, would turn fully red once filming began.


    Hanging at her waist was a red fire axe.


    ¡°Hm, so this is the look from the poster? Not bad.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why there wasn¡¯t much makeup needed.¡±


    ¡°...I guess that makes sense.¡±


    Overall, Jin Yeonseo¡¯s image closely resembled Seoyeon¡¯s natural look.


    Cold and cynical.


    At first glance, Ju Seoyeon appeared to be a girl with a cold and unapproachable demeanor.


    So, without much additional effort, simply wearing the outfit made her embody the character of Jin Yeonseo.


    ¡°But Sehee, your image has changed a bit, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, this?¡±


    Sehee touched her face.


    Compared to before, her appearance now had a noticeably gloomier air.


    ¡°Well, Hong Seha becomes more and more wrecked as the story goes on.¡±


    ¡°Right. She¡¯s a character obsessed with revenge.¡±


    ¡°So, I was asked to reflect that in my appearance.¡±


    Her makeup was darker, emphasizing the fatigue in her expression.


    Her eyeliner, drawn in a certain way, made her eyes appear slightly drooped.


    If she slightly tilted the corners of her lips, the melancholy in her face became even more pronounced.


    ¡°Like this.¡±


    She then struck the expression that matched her makeup.


    It was an expression she had practiced in front of the mirror before Seoyeon arrived.


    ''The face of that woman from my dream.''


    That sorrowful, utterly resentful face she had seen.


    Mimicking it, Sehee realized¡ª


    She had perfectly recreated that face from her dream.


    ¡°What do you think? Looks good, right?¡±


    She asked proudly.


    But instead of responding, Seoyeon simply tilted her head, resting her chin on her fist, deep in thought.


    ¡°...What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, it just feels... familiar.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s my face. Of course, it would feel familiar.¡±


    ¡°No, not like that...¡±


    Muttering to herself, Seoyeon suddenly reached out and grabbed Sehee¡¯s head.


    Sehee flinched in shock.


    Out of all people, it was Seoyeon grabbing her head¡ªof course, she was startled.


    ¡°Hmmm.¡±


    ¡°W-What are you doing? Let go and talk to me properly.¡±


    Ignoring her, Seoyeon gently pressed down on Sehee¡¯s eyelids with her thumbs, shifting her eyes slightly downward.


    She traced her nose and adjusted the corners of her mouth.


    As if she were... checking something.


    ¡°...I-I didn¡¯t get plastic surgery.¡±


    ¡°Well, obviously.¡±


    What the hell is she doing?


    Seoyeon finally let go, and Sehee was left recalling a very particular moment.


    That time when a bear¡¯s paw had suddenly landed on her shoulder.


    This felt exactly the same.


    Did people even realize that those small hands of Ju Seoyeon¡¯s were as dangerous as a bear¡¯s claws?


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too nervous during today¡¯s shoot.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m not nervous.¡±


    She pouted in defiance.


    As if she could be shaken enough for Seoyeon of all people to tell her that.


    ''...Though that¡¯s a lie.''


    She knew she had been shaken lately.


    Even though she knew she didn¡¯t have to push herself this hard, she couldn¡¯t help but feel impatient.


    She wanted to catch up with the actors around her.


    Even though she knew she wasn¡¯t born with star-like talent, she still wanted to reach that level.


    ''Even Lee Jiyeon has shown improvement.''


    Lee Jiyeon, after that one brilliant moment, had been training daily to make that level of acting her norm.


    She was steadily growing stronger, as if she had found her path.


    All while keeping it a secret from Seoyeon.


    Next time they met on set, she fully intended to show her progress.


    As Seoyeon silently observed Sehee,


    and as Sehee calmed her own thoughts,


    the shoot officially began.


    Today''s Filming Schedule:


    Two major scenes.


    1?? A chase scene.


    2?? A dialogue scene between Hong Seha and Adam.


    The American espers storm Hong Seha¡¯s hideout.


    They have finally realized that she has been secretly helping them all along.


    Jin Yeonseo, realizing this too late, rushes to where Hong Seha is¡ª


    But the American espers pursue her.


    "After the chase scene, we move right into Hong Seha and Adam¡¯s confrontation."


    Adam Lowell.


    A former researcher at South Korea¡¯s Esper Research Institute.


    Son of Henry Lowell, an esper expert sent from America.


    Now, a powerful esper himself¡ª


    and the strongest enemy standing in their way.


    "This is a critical scene. Both of them are important, but the Hong Seha scene matters more."


    Director Han Yegun emphasized the word ¡®critical¡¯.


    If he said it was important, then it really was.


    This was the moment when Hong Seha¡¯s character arc would be completed.


    The chase scene was essential for the drama¡¯s entertainment value,


    but the dialogue scene was what determined the drama¡¯s overall quality.


    "Throughout the series, Hong Seha has been chasing the people who killed her parents. The espers who ambushed and murdered her investor parents."


    And now, she asks Adam.


    "...So it was that, huh? After all this time... You really went full circle."


    The director demonstrated the line¡¯s delivery for the actors.


    A mocking tone.


    But not just mockery toward Hong Seha¡ª


    It was also directed at himself.


    A twisted kind of self-derision.


    Of course¡ª


    "My first mission. I got a little... excited."


    That was when it was revealed.


    Adam Lowell was the one who murdered Hong Seha¡¯s parents.


    "And this is the moment. The moment Hong Seha¡ªwho has always been calm¡ªfinally explodes with emotion."


    She had finally found the person responsible for her parents¡¯ deaths.


    How would she react?


    She would lose control.


    This was the emotional climax that Jo Sehee had to deliver in today¡¯s shoot.


    ''...Can I do it?.''


    Han Yegun turned to Sehee.


    She was quietly preparing herself, focusing her emotions.


    Her makeup looked great¡ª


    But would she be able to pull off the performance?


    This kind of intense emotional acting had always been one of her weaker areas.


    She was good at clean, controlled performances¡ª


    But this scene couldn¡¯t be clean.


    It had to be raw and messy.


    She must have known this too.


    So, she must have come up with her own way to handle it.


    ''That must be it.''


    Thinking back¡ªshe had been channeling her mother¡¯s acting on set recently.


    Now, he finally understood why.

 Chapter 307: I’ll Cover It Up for You (3)

    "The chase scene comes first, right?"


    "But Seoyeon, this is your first chase scene. Do you think you can handle it?"


    The first scene to be filmed was Seoyeon¡¯s chase scene.


    It involved her riding a motorcycle, being chased by other actors.


    It was a pure action scene, but in terms of difficulty, it was one of the most challenging she¡¯d filmed so far.


    ¡°The motorcycle following you will be ridden by Doha. As for the choreography... I assume you¡¯ve already practiced, right?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡±


    Min Doha responded in a low voice.


    This scene would essentially be her final appearance in the drama.


    Seeing this, Director Han Yegun couldn¡¯t help but admire her.


    ''Has she already locked in her emotions?''


    Since Min Doha was wearing a helmet, only her eyes were visible.


    Her eyes, which now held a strange, intense heat.


    They were completely different from the eyes full of fear she had shown in previous scenes.


    ''Shim Sojin, in the script, is overwhelmed with emotions, thinking that this is her chance to kill Jin Yeonseo.''


    Shim Sojin¡ªthe leader of the anti-superhuman task force raised by the Korean Research Institute.


    She had been entangled in a bitter feud with Jin Yeonseo since childhood.


    Now, Min Doha was perfectly portraying Shim Sojin¡¯s feelings.


    The exhilaration of finally severing a long-standing, toxic connection.


    The hope of getting revenge on the person who had crushed her so many times.


    That was the emotion she conveyed.


    ''Finally, this terrible filming is coming to an end.''


    Of course, Min Doha¡¯s actual feelings were nothing like Han Yegun had imagined.


    The exhilaration in her eyes, the hope racing in her chest¡ª


    All of it came from the fact that today¡¯s filming would be the last.


    ''As the director said, increasing Min Doha¡¯s screen time was the right choice.''


    ''Emotion to emotion¡ªno one pairs better with Seoyeon than her.''


    ''I understand why Seoyeon prefers Doha.''


    Watching Min Doha, the crew saw Seoyeon gently patting the motorcycle placed on set.


    She had shown good performances in various action scenes, but today there was something different about her presence.


    ''Everything¡¯s green.''


    Seoyeon stared at the black motorcycle as she looked around the green-screen set.


    It was obvious¡ªSeoyeon had never ridden a motorcycle in her life.


    Was it because it would be faster than running?


    If someone said that, it might seem like a reasonable excuse¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t true.


    Where would someone even get such an idea?


    Would a high school student really have the need to ride a motorcycle?


    More importantly...


    ''It¡¯s scary.''


    It was hard to admit, but Seoyeon couldn¡¯t even ride a bicycle properly.


    In fact, recently, her younger sister Suyeon had bought a bicycle.


    "Unnie, why do you run to school? Isn¡¯t it faster to ride a bike?"


    Suyeon had looked at her with innocent eyes, and then, as if she had realized something, she clamped her mouth shut.


    "...Suyeon, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "Hmm, I just remembered something Dad said."


    "What did Dad say?"


    "He said you¡¯re too heavy, so the bike will break..."


    "Suyeon, I¡¯m not that heavy."


    "Really? So, if you step on the pedal, the chain won¡¯t break?"


    "Did Dad say that too?"


    "Yup!"


    "Suyeon, I¡¯m not a gorilla."


    "Really?"


    Their conversation was kind of strange.


    Clearly, someone in the house was corrupting her cute little sister¡¯s worldview.


    ''I should ask Dad to exercise with me later.''


    What a filial daughter, concerned about her father¡¯s health.


    Seoyeon started mentally planning an exercise schedule.


    First, a morning hike this coming weekend, on Saturday and Sunday.


    Nevertheless, Seoyeon was somewhat uneasy about bicycles and motorcycles.


    This was something she hadn¡¯t realized in her previous life, but she understood now.


    Back then, it was just a thought of not wanting to ride them,


    but now she realized it stemmed from fear.


    Of course, she¡¯d never admit it to anyone.


    "Seoyeon, just do it like you practiced at action school."


    ¡°Yes, I know.¡±


    She took her position on the motorcycle.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t wear a helmet.


    For Jin Yeonseo, with her superhuman strength, a helmet would only impair her vision.


    Though she had never actually ridden a motorcycle,


    she had already learned how to film chase scenes using one at the action school.


    ''Still, doing it for real is much more intimidating.''


    She took a deep breath, focusing her emotions.


    The space was set for CG, the world completely green around her, with numerous eyes watching her every move.


    Now, she was about to become Jin Yeonseo,


    defeating the enemies closing in from all sides on her motorcycle.


    This would likely be the most difficult performance of the day.


    Purely in terms of action difficulty.


    ''But I¡¯m not laughing.''


    ''Many people feel awkward when they do something for the first time.''


    Seoyeon was calmly listening to Professor Kim Hongbaek¡¯s instructions while sitting on the motorcycle.


    Then, the filming began.


    In the green-screen space, a chase scene began, painted only by imagination, without any CG yet.


    Jo Sehee was watching closely, just like always.


    ''The movement of her eyes, the way she sizes up her opponent before a fight.''


    This was the kind of mistake Hollywood stars often make.


    But Seoyeon could capture the emotion from that very moment, professionally.


    To some, it might even look like a silly skit in front of a crowd.


    ''But that¡¯s a naive way of thinking.''


    Sehee looked at the crew and Director Han Yegun¡¯s serious face.


    His eyes were practically bulging out of his head,


    focused entirely on capturing the perfect shot.


    To a third party, it might seem like a ridiculous scene,


    but no one on set was laughing.


    They were all watching with serious intent.


    The axe Seoyeon was wielding collided with Min Doha¡¯s sword in mid-air.


    Then, Min Doha pulled out her baton, preparing for the next strike.


    In scenes like these, Min Doha truly shines in controlled action.


    ''Well, Min Doha is actually afraid of Seoyeon.''


    Others might be slightly mistaken, but Sehee, who had worked with her on Hyper Action Star, knew.


    At first, she was fooled too.


    But over time, she realized¡ª


    ''Aside from being afraid of Seoyeon, her action acting is top-notch.''


    Just like her flawless rappel action in Hyper Action Star,


    she was exceptional at coordinating martial arts for the action scenes.


    There was nothing to criticize.


    Even with the simple stick without any CGI,


    she wielded it like an axe, while the other wielded it like a sword and baton.


    There were significant differences in how the weapons were handled.


    Seoyeon¡¯s strikes were mostly downward blows.


    With her axe, she could hook and pull.


    She actually disarmed Min Doha¡¯s sword and sent it flying.


    The baton technique required dodge movements.


    When using the sword, she often thrust, but after switching to the baton, her attacks became sweeping.


    Those minor details were what made the action believable.


    "Wow, one take?"


    "Did we really shoot this in one take? This was supposed to be a long take!"


    This wasn¡¯t just Seoyeon doing well¡ª


    action acting is about synchronization.


    And they did it in one take.


    It was no surprise the crew¡¯s mood was elevated.


    "Amazing. Absolutely amazing. You finished this in one take? Professor Kim, did you see any flaws?"


    "Yes. Hmm, Min Doha is a great actor. We should invite her to our action school next time..."


    Director Han Yegun and action consultant Professor Kim Hongbaek both nodded in agreement.


    Anyone who saw the scene would think the same.


    ''When this drama airs, this will definitely be the scene that sparks the most buzz.''


    The action was executed flawlessly.


    And Seoyeon¡¯s biker suit during the chase scene was so impressive that it would likely become a talking point too.


    ''She looks great in a boyish image too.''


    Han Yegun thought to himself,


    She had always seemed like a delicate girl.


    Her posture was straight, and her movements were generally subdued.


    But once she wore the biker suit,


    her gestures became larger, and her more boyish traits were accentuated.


    ''I could use this in future projects.''


    With that thought, he looked at Jo Sehee.


    Since Seoyeon¡¯s shoot finished earlier than expected, it meant more time would be allocated to Sehee¡¯s scene.


    "Let¡¯s take a short break and then resume shooting. Sehee, get ready."


    "Yes."


    At Han Yegun¡¯s words, Sehee answered calmly.


    She was a professional, and there was no need to be nervous before such a scene.


    But.


    ''It¡¯s not so much pressure ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) anymore, now I feel greed.''


    Sehee gazed at her fellow actor, Arthur Diaz, with a displeased look.


    Since he became truly invested in this drama, Arthur had been looking at Sehee with discontent.


    "I look forward to your performance today."


    His words were calm, but his dislike for her acting was clear.


    "I don¡¯t like this kind of clean, perfect performance."


    Arthur Diaz never liked performances that felt too academic or too clean.


    He believed in raw talent.


    Thus, he harbored feelings of inferiority toward Stella and was determined to surpass her.


    ''What¡¯s good, and what¡¯s not good.''


    Sehee repeated that in her head.


    What is the right thing to do?


    ''...I guess it¡¯s best to try everything.''


    It was an acting she had tried a few times before, even though she had been scolded for it.


    An acting like her mother¡¯s.


    An acting that appeals to emotion, much like Seoyeon¡¯s performance.


    The difference between Seoyeon and her mother, Baek Seoran, was that her mother¡¯s performance had a softer kind of empathy.


    While Seoyeon synced her emotions with the audience through her strong presence, Baek Seoran drew the audience in gently, as if they were naturally swept away by the same feelings.


    Like rain soaking through clothes.


    Rather than having the audience¡¯s attention immediately, Seoran¡¯s presence would make her the only one the audience noticed, slowly but surely.


    "Hah."


    Sehee pressed her cheeks with both hands and stared into the mirror.


    ''It¡¯s similar, but different.''


    The reflection she saw now was of a woman from her dreams.


    By dressing like this, she truly looked like her.


    But the strange melancholy she felt from her dream-self wasn¡¯t there.


    For a moment, she wondered if this was her future self.


    But she didn¡¯t think so.


    More importantly, her features were slightly different.


    "Let¡¯s do this."


    With that thought, Sehee stepped out into the prepared filming set.


    There was plenty of time today, so even if she failed, she would try her best.


    And so, the second shoot of the day began.


    ****


    "Good job today."


    "Seoyeon, Sehee, you both worked hard."


    Late at night, as the filming wrapped up, the staff smiled and greeted the actors who had worked hard.


    From the reactions of the crew, it seemed like the filming had gone smoothly.


    ''Arthur.''


    Oliver, who had been watching the filming from a distance, spoke up.


    "How was the acting today? You looked a little irritated earlier."


    "Just as you saw."


    "Does that mean it was the worst?"


    At that comment, Arthur chuckled lightly.


    "Did I look that bad?"


    "You don¡¯t have to read your expression. It¡¯s clear you¡¯ve criticized her a few times already."


    "Maybe, but I thought it was pretty detailed advice."


    Arthur, thinking about Sehee¡¯s performance with Seoyeon, reflected on today¡¯s acting.


    "Of course, it wasn¡¯t the worst. It just didn¡¯t meet my expectations."


    The scene between Hong Seha and Adam was supposed to be a fiery clash of emotions.


    When watching the footage after filming, it came out just as he had expected.


    Yeah, exactly as expected.


    Somewhere between 90% and 100%.


    "This scene should have been 120%."


    "Not every actor can perform like you."


    "That¡¯s not it, Oliver."


    Arthur thought back to Sehee¡¯s performance today.


    Her previous acting had been clean and proper.


    But it was too clean, so it lacked the depth needed for emotional scenes.


    True, heartfelt acting often has its rough edges.


    It shouldn¡¯t be too clean, or else it won¡¯t feel genuine.


    "It¡¯s not enough to just imitate something strange."


    Of course, she had improved compared to before.


    Her gestures were more varied, and there were even tears forming.


    That alone was enough to call her a top-tier actress.


    Honestly, she was better than most Hollywood actresses her age.


    "Well, you¡¯re just being too greedy. I¡¯m fine with it. Honestly, not every actress can be a monster like Stella or Seoyeon."


    "Oliver, I¡¯m not frustrated because her acting was weird."


    "Then what?"


    Oliver gave Arthur an intrigued look.


    He was a strict man, full of arrogance and with little room for sincerity in such a small country.


    But, with the success of Child Game, Oliver had become someone who, in his eyes, was the world¡¯s next genius actor.


    Before Stella appeared, he thought of himself as the main character of the world.


    And indeed, he was an actor with exceptional talent.


    No matter what anyone else said, that¡¯s how Oliver saw him.


    "I¡¯m frustrated because I couldn¡¯t do what I was supposed to. I¡¯m not an idiot who would try to do something I can¡¯t do. I¡¯m just the kind of actor who could have done that, but I didn¡¯t."


    "Didn¡¯t you used to say you had no talent?"


    "I thought so. Hah, I didn¡¯t expect you to deceive the people around you. Or maybe, you didn¡¯t even know that¡¯s how you saw yourself."


    Arthur¡¯s words, full of genuine frustration, made Oliver look at the two actresses talking in the distance.


    The second filming of the day had gone smoothly, despite a few NGs.


    The crew had praised it.


    However, Director Han Yegun was still reviewing the footage, and had called Sehee over after the shoot to tell her something.


    It seemed like he had noticed something, just like Arthur.


    ''I still have a long way to go to be a pure actor.''


    Oliver wished he could see what Arthur saw.


    That¡¯s why he was curious.


    If Arthur was right, he might get to see even more amazing acting in the future.


    Arthur and Oliver left the set, and Seoyeon and Sehee packed their things and headed out of the filming location.


    Sehee let out a sigh, pressing both hands to her face.


    "That was the worst."


    "But at least it¡¯s over safely."


    Safely.


    It had ended calmly, just like Seoyeon said.


    And that made it worse.


    It felt like her performance in this scene was acknowledged as the best she could do, as if there was no need to try anymore.


    ''Wearing an ill-fitting dress, how could I give a proper performance.''


    Sehee remembered Arthur muttering to himself.


    An ill-fitting dress.


    It was probably a reference to her trying to imitate her mother¡¯s performance.


    The reactions from the crew were fine, but she could tell.


    Both Han Yegun and Arthur must have thought her acting was lacking.


    "Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "Did my acting seem strange today?"


    Sehee asked with a light sigh.


    Her tone wasn¡¯t really sad.


    She was strong.


    Sometimes, Seoyeon thought about Sehee like this.


    Even though Sehee showed moments of doubt, she never collapsed.


    Even after receiving the harsh gaze today, she finished her performance without faltering.


    That alone made her an incredible actress.


    But...


    "Sehee."


    Seoyeon looked at Sehee¡¯s face.


    The makeup hadn¡¯t been removed yet, and it made her think of a certain face.


    Especially now, when Sehee seemed emotionally settled.


    "How about we go to the beach now?"


    "...Huh?"


    Sehee didn¡¯t expect this suggestion at all.

 Chapter 308: I’ll Cover It Up for You (4)

    Let¡¯s Go to the Sea.


    That sudden remark made Sehee naturally assume it was a joke.


    Of course, there was time.


    There was no filming tomorrow, nor were there any other scheduled plans.


    Since she had deliberately kept her schedule free to focus on Mine, there was nothing else planned.


    And with it being winter break, there was no need to go to school either¡ªplenty of free time.


    Seoyeon was probably in the same situation.


    Even so, the suddenness of the suggestion made it feel like a joke.


    Wasn''t that obvious?


    To suddenly say, Let¡¯s go to the sea right after filming ended?


    Why?


    That thought had barely crossed her mind when¡ª


    "Huh?"


    Sehee realized she was already standing at the winter beach.


    Since they had taken the early morning train, they arrived just in time for sunrise.


    It felt so surreal that Sehee could only stare blankly at it.


    "...What are we doing here?"


    Gazing at the sea, Sehee called out to Seoyeon beside her.


    Unlike herself, who had come along with barely anything, Seoyeon had carefully stopped by home to pack her things before coming.


    "First, we should get some sleep."


    "..."


    "Staying up all night is bad for your skin."


    Was she really the type to be this meticulous about such things?


    So, they found a place to stay and took a nap.


    By the time they woke up, it was already 1 p.m.¡ªthe sun was high above them.


    Not having brought a change of clothes felt oddly uncomfortable.


    Maybe I should just buy something nearby.


    She had the money, so that might be the best option.


    Just as she was considering this, Seoyeon spoke.


    "First, let¡¯s buy swimsuits."


    "...Huh?"


    "Since we came to the sea, we should swim, right?"


    Sehee couldn''t tell if she was joking or being serious.


    Since she had packed thoroughly, there was even a possibility she had actually brought swimsuits.


    Swimming... in the winter sea?


    For a moment, Sehee seriously wondered if she had done something terribly wrong.


    Was her acting that unbearable?


    Enough to be thrown into the freezing ocean?


    She could vividly picture herself diving into the icy winter sea and ending up in an ambulance.


    "Sorry, I didn¡¯t bring my wallet."


    "Oh?"


    In reality, there were plenty of ways to pay without a wallet.


    As long as she had her phone, at least.


    Seoyeon glanced briefly at Sehee¡¯s handbag before nodding knowingly.


    "Ah, makes sense."


    "...Makes sense?"


    Why did that reaction feel strangely off?


    What did she think of her to respond with "Ah, makes sense"?


    Sometimes, Sehee was genuinely curious about what image of her existed in Seoyeon¡¯s mind.


    Well, I guess being rich, she might not be familiar with Samsung Pay or things like that.


    In truth, the gap between Sehee¡¯s self-image and Seoyeon¡¯s perception of her wasn¡¯t all that big.


    After all, this was practically the first time Sehee had even been to a fast-food restaurant with her.


    If she had never gone to a fast-food place before, it made sense she might not know about Samsung Pay.


    "Then, let¡¯s just dip our feet in the water and play around."


    Do we really have to go into the water?


    Sehee shook her head firmly, but there was no escaping as Seoyeon grabbed her hand and led her forward.


    I think I might get frostbite.


    That was her first thought as soon as her bare feet touched the icy seawater.


    Her feet were so cold it made her entire body feel even chillier.


    "Isn¡¯t it nice to walk along the beach like this?"


    "Aren¡¯t you cold?"


    "Nope."


    How was she not cold?


    Suddenly, Sehee recalled a variety show Seoyeon had filmed before.


    Survival on a Deserted Island.


    The filming location had been Papua New Guinea, a tropical region.


    Since they had gone at the hottest time of year, everyone had sweated buckets and lost a ton of weight.


    Park Jungwoo had once said:


    "I almost died from the heat, but she was completely fine. I never saw her sweat even once."


    He had been serious when he said that.


    Curious, Sehee had asked Seoyeon about it.


    "If you sweat, you smell like sweat."


    "...?"


    Wait, so... she doesn¡¯t sweat because she doesn¡¯t want to smell?


    Sehee stared at her in disbelief, making Seoyeon awkwardly look away and clear her throat.


    "...It¡¯s not that bad at this level."


    That response had made Park Jungwoo seriously wonder¡ª


    If that heat was "not that bad," just how hot would it have to be?


    And until the end of filming, he never once smelled sweat on her.


    Is it the same for the cold?


    Her feet were freezing.


    As Sehee shivered while splashing through the waves,


    Seoyeon looked at her silently.


    "Are you cold?"


    "Isn¡¯t it weirder that you¡¯re asking that?"


    Sehee''s voice carried a rare hint of sulking, making Seoyeon smile faintly.


    Then, she slowly bent her knees and said,


    "Hop on."


    "Why?"


    "If your feet are cold, I¡¯ll carry you."


    Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just step out of the water?


    That thought crossed her mind, but since Seoyeon was offering, she climbed onto her back without hesitation.


    "Stretch your legs forward."


    "Why? Like this?"


    Carrying her lightly, Seoyeon alternated between rubbing each of Sehee¡¯s feet with her hands.


    Compared to her warm body, her feet were freezing.


    "...That tickles."


    "You said your feet were cold."


    As if the cold didn¡¯t affect her, Seoyeon''s body radiated warmth.


    Even her ice-cold feet quickly started feeling warmer under Seoyeon''s touch.


    Once they were warm enough, Seoyeon adjusted her hold on Sehee and continued walking along the shore.


    The sound of splashing footsteps echoed in their ears.


    With the winter beach nearly empty, it felt like the two of them were wandering through a dream.


    "Sehee."


    "Hm?"


    "Have you ever heard of a company called Shinyeon Company?"


    "No."


    Hearing the unfamiliar name, Sehee wondered if it was a newly established management company.


    But judging by Seoyeon¡¯s reaction, it didn¡¯t seem to be an agency.


    "It¡¯s just a typical advertising company in Seoul."


    "Okay."


    "It¡¯s not particularly successful, but since it¡¯s a subsidiary of a major conglomerate, it won¡¯t go bankrupt either."


    "Did they offer you an ad deal?"


    "No."


    Then why bring it up out of nowhere?


    "I only found out about it recently, so I was wondering if you knew anything."


    That made Sehee frown slightly.


    How was she supposed to know about that?


    "Oh, is it a New Like subsidiary?"


    "Yeah."


    "Hmm, did they invest in stocks or something?"


    "No. I was just curious if you knew about it."


    That was pretty random.


    She didn¡¯t know every single subsidiary under New Like.


    In fact, she probably didn¡¯t know most of them.


    Which made Seoyeon¡¯s question feel especially odd to her.


    "Seoyeon."


    "Yeah?"


    "Why did you want to come to the sea today?"


    Had she just wanted to take a walk along the beach?


    If so, Sehee thought that was fine too.


    Being carried on Seoyeon¡¯s back made her forget the cold.


    And strolling along a winter beach like this was a rare experience.


    "When I act, I think of the sea."


    "The sea?"


    "Yeah."


    The small aquarium she had once mimicked¡ª


    Now an ocean.


    "When you look at the sea, don¡¯t you feel overwhelmed by something?"


    A flood of emotions, not just imagined but truly her own.


    Just like walking along this shore right now.


    When Seoyeon acted, she played in an ocean of emotions.


    "Or maybe not? I did, at least."


    Seoyeon Smiled, Somewhat Embarrassed.


    In her past life, when she first saw the ocean, she had felt nothing.


    The comparison between the aquarium of her childhood and the vast sea had been just a metaphor.


    But after being reborn¡ª


    The first time she saw the ocean again, Seoyeon finally realized the stark difference between her past and present self.


    Was it when she was in third grade?


    Around the time she had just turned ten?


    The first time she saw the sea...


    In her previous life, the ocean had been nothing more than a beautiful painting.


    After all, she had that illness.


    But seeing the ocean with her own eyes this time was different.


    Something in her chest tightened and resonated within her.


    So I really am different now.


    She had realized that truth so clearly.


    And she had thought¡ª


    Someday, she wanted to convey this overwhelming feeling she felt while looking at the ocean¡ª


    "I wanted to show that through my acting, to the people watching me."


    That was why she had prepared for so long.


    She needed time¡ª


    Time to make sure her fragile heart wouldn''t waver at any emotion.


    Time to gain the strength to face countless unfamiliar feelings head-on.


    That was Seoyeon¡¯s ten years.


    "Sehee, what do you want to show people through your acting?"


    "I..."


    Sehee hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer.


    Not because nothing came to mind, nor because she was embarrassed to say it out loud.


    It wasn¡¯t that.


    "Let me guess."


    Since Sehee remained silent, Seoyeon spoke calmly in her place.


    "Starlight."


    At that moment, she felt Sehee¡¯s fingers tighten around the fabric of her collar.


    "Acting like starlight, right?"


    No response came.


    But Seoyeon knew this silence was an affirmation.


    At the same time, she also understood why Sehee couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it.


    "I looked up Baek Seoran¡¯s performances recently."


    Lately, she had noticed that Sehee was reaching for something¡ª


    Not her usual stable acting, but something beyond that.


    That performance reminded her of Baek Seoran¡¯s acting.


    A dazzling, star-like performance.


    Like the radiant stars embroidered across the night sky.


    That brilliance was beginning to shine through in Sehee¡¯s acting.


    The overwhelming emotions she felt when looking at the ocean weren¡¯t there¡ª


    Instead, it was an entrancing beauty that made people lose themselves in watching.


    "Yeah... you¡¯re right."


    Sehee finally opened her mouth.


    "I wanted to act like that."


    As a child, her mother¡¯s acting had been like radiant starlight.


    She had thought¡ª I want to act like that someday.


    So, she had secretly practiced.


    And when she received praise, she had been happy.


    She had believed that if she kept learning from her mother, she would be able to act just like her.


    Her younger self had simply thought so.


    ¡°A curse.¡±


    Not long ago, she had overheard Han Yegun muttering that as he watched her acting.


    The curse her mother had placed on her.


    Sehee hadn¡¯t been able to deny it.


    Because, just as he had said¡ª


    Her mother¡¯s acting was a curse to her.


    A shackle that bound her.


    A radiant starlight.


    A North Star guiding her path.


    "But... it¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it?"


    She clutched onto Seoyeon¡¯s collar as she spoke.


    She didn¡¯t waver.


    One of the few things she prided herself on was her resilience.


    And yet, she could feel cracks beginning to form.


    "I¡¯m nothing like her."


    Just like when she had once screamed at her father as a child.


    How would Seoyeon respond to that?


    Would she affirm it? Or deny it?


    Seoyeon was kind in moments like these¡ª


    She would undoubtedly say no.


    On a normal day, she would have been blunt and said yes.


    But when the person in front of her was vulnerable, she softened.


    The waves washed up against the shore, leaving small footprints on the wet sand.


    "It took me ten years."


    "What did?"


    "The time I spent preparing to act the way I do now."


    At that, Sehee let out a small scoff.


    "Are you telling me to wait too? That time will solve everything? Well, maybe... if I wait ten years, it might work out."


    "No, that¡¯s not what I meant."


    "Then what?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice blended with the sound of the waves, speaking gently.


    "I think... you finished preparing a long time ago."


    Sehee had already debuted in a drama for the first time.


    Had already been called the princess of daily dramas.


    During the ten {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} years that Seoyeon had been away, Sehee had steadily continued acting.


    "You just haven¡¯t realized it yet."


    She had already starred in a movie with over ten million viewers.


    She had already won the Best Actress Award¡ªan award Seoyeon hadn¡¯t received.


    "I came back because I saw your commercial."


    It was the first time Sehee had heard this.


    She never imagined that it was her commercial that had made Seoyeon decide to return to the industry.


    "You¡¯ve always been a model student, Sehee. You¡¯ve prepared step by step. For a very long time."


    Unlike Seoyeon, who had to force herself into emotional acting¡ª


    Sehee had always known how to act.


    Perhaps it was because she had watched her mother act since she was young.


    But if she had no talent, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible at all.


    "So, you were already prepared long ago."


    As a child, Jo Sehee had been more ambitious than she was now.


    She had envied Seoyeon¡¯s acting.


    Had waited all this time, hoping to act alongside her again.


    Right now, she was simply rushing, choosing an easier path.


    Because out of all the acting she had seen, her mother¡¯s was the most brilliant.


    Because so many people expected her to act like her mother.


    That was why she couldn¡¯t start¡ª


    Couldn¡¯t act as herself.


    "Of course, I understand. The most amazing acting you¡¯ve ever seen was your mother¡¯s¡ªso you can¡¯t let it go."


    That was why¡ª


    Seoyeon spoke firmly.


    "I¡¯ll make you forget."


    She would make Sehee recall that version of herself¡ª


    The one who had once been furious at her, calling her a nepotism case.


    "I¡¯ll cover it over with my acting."


    The steps along the beach came to a stop.


    At the same time, so did Sehee¡¯s thoughts.


    Because she had just heard something completely unexpected.


    "People look at me and say it."


    Seoyeon slowly turned her head, glancing at Sehee, who was still on her back.


    "That I¡¯m a genius actress."


    A genius actress, just like her mother, Baek Seoran.


    In other words, they were equals.


    "Then that means it¡¯s worth trying, doesn¡¯t it?"


    She smiled as she said that.


    Her golden eyes reflected the colors of the setting sun.


    Shining, like the sun mirrored in the ocean.


    Watching that, Sehee let out a short laugh.


    Because, well¡ª


    How could she deny it?


    "...Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right."


    If she hadn¡¯t believed that¡ª


    She wouldn¡¯t have waited ten years.


    For this young star, who shone like the sunset.

 Chapter 309: Polaris (1)

    "Team Leader, how''s the advertisement coming along?"


    After the weekly meeting at Raywill Games, a developer from the team cautiously asked Youngbin.


    It made sense, as the most important person at this meeting was none other than Youngbin.


    "...We''ve decided to go ahead with it." "Really?" "Ha..."


    Youngbin let out a deep sigh.


    He was already feeling anxious.


    Unlike him, his fearless daughter was already brimming with enthusiasm.


    "So, your daughter will be coming to the company, right?" "Of course. How could we shoot the ad without her showing up in the first place?" "Well, it''s not just Seoyeon, but it seems like they''re planning to invite a few internet streamers to join the shoot too." "Huh? But then, what''s the point of calling Seoyeon at all?" "The ad shoot is separate from the broadcast, that''s a different matter."


    It wouldn''t be a problem if Seoyeon could handle the broadcast by herself, but if not, they needed someone to take charge.


    "For now, we''ve decided on Heo Taegyun." "Wow, isn''t he a famous streamer?" "I think he has around 700,000 or 1,000,000 subscribers." "That''s huge!"


    Indeed, it was.


    Anyway, as a general game streamer, he had even covered Eternity Camp in his broadcasts.


    His tier was the highest level, Eternity.


    Among game streamers, he was likely one of the top-tier experts.


    "And who else?" "I don¡¯t know." "...Huh?" "How many early access users do you think there are? Why would famous streamers just be lining up to join?"


    That was a fair point.


    It wasn¡¯t a famous game, and it was still in the process of preparing for release.


    However, among early access games, it seemed to be doing reasonably well.


    "Sigh..." "You seem to be stressed out, Team Leader." "Huh? Oh, yeah, right?"


    Youngbin casually responded to his subordinate¡¯s concern.


    ''It''s not really this job that¡¯s making me sigh.''


    What he was worried about, however, was the upcoming weekend.


    ''What¡¯s with the hiking? Who''s going to think you''re the team leader?''


    Of course, when he said "you," he was referring to his not-so-cute daughter.


    Being dragged to the mountains on the golden weekend was something he never even experienced as a rookie employee.


    ''I need to make sure to tell Suyeon to be more careful with her words next time.''


    Is this what they mean by being betrayed by the axe you trusted?


    He felt a deep sense of betrayal from his second daughter, who had tattled to her older sister.


    ''Looks like the team leader¡¯s really worried.''


    As Youngbin¡¯s expression darkened, his employee thought to himself.


    ''If there aren''t any suitable streamers among the regular ones...''


    Suddenly, the employee recalled several broadcasts he had recently watched.


    Most of them were streamers who had played Eternity Camp.


    Indeed, as Youngbin had mentioned, there weren¡¯t many regular streamers who seemed like a good fit.


    Well, there weren¡¯t any regular ones, anyway.


    "Um, Team Leader?" "Hmm? What is it now?" "Well, our game appeals mainly to a community-driven consumer base... and most of them prefer cartoon-rendered graphics."


    "Right?" "Then..."


    After a brief pause, the employee slowly spoke up.


    Eternity Camp was based on cartoon-rendered graphics.


    It featured characters that looked like they belonged in Japanese animation.


    Many of the players had been drawn in by the game¡¯s unique graphics.


    The audience who used internet communities overlapped with them as well.


    Because of that, among regular streamers, there weren¡¯t many who played Eternity Camp. However, among slightly more unique streamers, many of them had played the game.


    That was because their user base and viewer demographics aligned closely.


    "Are you familiar with Virtual YouTubers?"


    At that, Youngbin made a strange face.


    After all, his daughter had been talking about it almost every day since she was a little girl.


    ****


    Meanwhile, while Raywill Games was busy discussing the advertisement, filming for Mine had almost reached its final stages.


    The 11th episode was up next, and with the finale being the 12th, they were nearing the end.


    The staff were all nervously watching the director, Han Yegen.


    After all, with just a little more to go, if the director called for a reshoot, their schedule could be delayed by a lot.


    ''Director Han Yegen might actually do that.'' ''What? What could be wrong with what we¡¯ve already shot?'' ''Look, he¡¯s been going over the footage again and again. There¡¯s something he¡¯s not happy with.'' ''Could it be? The part where Jo Seokhee acted? What could possibly be wrong with that?'' ''Exactly. How many actresses can perform like that at her age?''


    Arthur Diaz and Ju Seoyeon¡ªthose were the only ones who could pull it off.


    That didn¡¯t mean Jo Seokhee was vastly inferior compared to them.


    Though her intensity may have been lower, Jo Seokhee had delivered a clean performance with no faults.


    So, for them, it seemed excessive for Han Yegen to keep requesting revisions from her.


    "Isn¡¯t he being too sensitive?" The filming director, An Daeil, said as he watched Han Yegen replaying the same footage for the umpteenth time.


    He knew that Han Yegen had called Jo Seokhee aside for a private conversation.


    Honestly, An Daeil couldn¡¯t understand Han Yegen¡¯s actions at all.


    Filming never goes exactly as a director envisions it.


    Even Jo Seokhee¡ª


    She was a good enough actress to be popular without needing to be in Mine.


    If she had slacked off during this shoot, he would have noticed, but that wasn¡¯t the case.


    Jo Seokhee''s strength was her consistency in acting.


    She didn¡¯t have the fiery intensity of others, but she delivered solid performances that fit her roles.


    She had done that again this time.


    In fact, An Daeil had been impressed with her performance.


    "Other staff members also praised her, and I don¡¯t think anyone had any issues with her dialogue or acting." "That¡¯s right."


    Upon hearing An Daeil¡¯s words, Han Yegen paused the footage and turned his gaze.


    "I know that." "Then why..." "Well, it¡¯s simple. Greed."


    Han Yegen crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.


    "Jo Seokhee, of course, but also Arthur Diaz. And now, Ju Seoyeon too."


    Naturally, he wanted to make the best film possible when they had such talented actors.


    Even Arthur Diaz was a famous Hollywood actor.


    Now that he was part of the film, Han Yegen could not afford to fail.


    If he didn¡¯t achieve something remarkable with this production, his career would likely be filled with hardships from then on.


    "...I understand. But, really, what else can we do here?" "Right. So, I just proceeded with it."


    "Then why [N O V E L I G H T] do you keep calling Seokhee? And you¡¯re still watching the footage, aren¡¯t you?" "Well, it¡¯s because it¡¯s still on my mind. I¡¯m trying to find some improvements."


    The footage of Jo Seokhee and Arthur, who had filmed their scene together, was playing.


    Since no CGI had been added yet, Jo Seokhee appeared against a green wall, performing passionately.


    ''It¡¯s not bad.''


    Watching Jo Seokhee in the video reminded Han Yegen of someone.


    Baek Seoran.


    A genius actress who had once captivated him.


    Clearly, Jo Seokhee had studied her acting a lot.


    And seeing how she was able to imitate it, he could see her effort and talent.


    "By the way, is something going on today? You¡¯re paying a lot of attention to me." "Well..."


    Han Yegen hesitated, as he was concerned about whether he should criticize Jo Seokhee again.


    But he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to say that aloud.


    However, his reaction gave An Daeil a pretty clear idea of what was on his mind.


    "I won¡¯t do it." "...Hmm, I haven¡¯t really said anything yet." "It¡¯s obvious. It¡¯s obvious."


    Han Yegen was only disappointed, watching the footage once more.


    ''But there won¡¯t be any significant changes in such a short time.''


    He figured it was just a matter of timing.


    Eventually, he thought, it would all be overcome.


    And so, he prepared for today¡¯s shoot.


    The 11th episode, which was essentially the climax of the film.


    Today¡¯s shoot was focused more on Jin Yeonseo¡¯s emotional scene rather than the action.


    Jin Yeonseo arrived at the lab and was about to fight against two people.


    Adam Lowell, who had taken care of her when she was young.


    And Shin Arin, who had briefly been her friend.


    Against them, Jin Yeonseo would finally release all the emotions she had been holding back.


    ''Ju Seoyeon.''


    Since it was such an important part, Han Yegen was a bit worried.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t doubt Seoyeon¡¯s abilities.


    She had been performing excellently as Jin Yeonseo all along.


    But still...


    "Rather, that''s why I''m worried."


    She had been doing so well so far, and now he was worried if she could show even more in the climax.


    It was probably just greed.


    Considering the outstanding performances she had given up until now, if she could just maintain that level for the finale, it would be perfect.


    But deep down, he was hoping for even more.


    The intensity she had shown up until now.


    The girl who had perfectly understood and portrayed Jin Yeonseo, a girl who had transformed while learning emotions.


    Could she show even more than that in the climax?


    Could she deliver a more distinct, intense performance?


    If she could do that... then she would truly deserve to be called a genius.


    Like the genius actress who had captivated Korea in the past.


    But, it was probably impossible.


    That¡¯s what Han Yegen thought.


    "Today¡¯s shoot, I¡¯m counting on you."


    Before he faced the girl who was staring at him with her red eyes, he thought about it.


    ****


    Dark as the night, with hair as black as the ocean, and a black dress to match.


    Her snow-white skin stood in stark contrast, drawing attention.


    The most striking feature was her red eyes.


    The iconic look of Mine¡¯s protagonist, "Jin Yeonseo."


    As Seoyeon stood there, just like the poster, the staff whispered among themselves.


    "She¡¯s even more intense today than usual." "Yeah..."


    The reason was unclear.


    Today, both Jo Seokhee, who had caught a cold, and Seoyeon were together on set.


    "Wasn¡¯t Seokhee supposed to not be shooting today?" "Well, since she¡¯s close with Seoyeon, it makes sense she could show up."


    It was a well-known fact that Seoyeon and Jo Seokhee were close.


    Both were talented actresses of the same age, so it wasn¡¯t unusual that they became friends.


    "But, with their similar age, it would be easy to become competitors." "They both have good personalities, though."


    As they listened to the staff¡¯s conversation, Jo Seokhee coughed.


    ''The winter sea was a bad idea after all.''


    While Seoyeon had walked by the beach full of energy, Jo Seokhee, who had been carried along, had caught a cold.


    Why was that?


    Seoyeon had kept dipping her feet into the waves.


    Sometimes she thought it might be because her body was too strong.


    "...Hmph."


    Seokhee sniffled and stared at Seoyeon.


    Today, Seoyeon was filled with enthusiasm.


    The winter sea.


    Walking along it, Seoyeon had whispered something to her.


    ''My earlobes are hot.''


    Was it because of the fever from her cold?


    Seokhee touched her earlobes with her thumb and index finger while staring at Seoyeon.


    Watching her reminded Seokhee of something she had heard earlier on the beach.


    ''I came back after watching Seokhee''s ad.''


    She should¡¯ve said that sooner.


    Always teasing her with the parachute thing.


    And when would the honorifics end?


    ''That was bad, really.''


    Sniffling, Seokhee moved to sit in a place where she wouldn¡¯t disturb the shoot.


    It wasn¡¯t that her cold was severe, but the mild fever made it hard to stand for long.


    ''...It¡¯s not like this is the first time I¡¯ve watched someone else¡¯s acting on set.''


    Was it the cold?


    Or was it because of what Seoyeon had said by the sea yesterday?


    Her slightly dazed mind tried to mask the scene in front of her with past memories.


    Five years old.


    The time when she had just entered kindergarten.


    She would follow her mom around on set, sitting at a distance, watching her act.


    ''Seokhee, stay here quietly while mommy acts, okay?''


    ''Yes! I¡¯ll stay quietly.''


    Seokhee liked watching her mother act.


    Her mother would shine when she acted.


    Sitting there on set, Seokhee could always find her mom right away because she was shining so brightly.


    ''She shines.''


    A green wall.


    Props made for later CG processing.


    The background was a research lab.


    The hell where young Jin Yeonseo had lived.


    The researchers, scared of the returning Jin Yeonseo, rushed to escape.


    In such a scene, there were more actors gathered than ever before.


    Including extras, the supporting actors, all of them were preparing with determination.


    But among all those people, there was one girl who stood out.


    A girl who was clearly the protagonist.


    Watching her reminded Seokhee of the time when she had watched her mom.


    That sparkle was something Seokhee remembered fondly.


    She wanted to shine like that too.


    That''s how she came to want it.


    "Alright, let¡¯s start the shoot."


    Director Han Yegen spoke after finishing the acting direction.


    The staff moved to their positions, and the one holding the slate quickly ran out.


    This would be the part that marked the climax of the drama.


    There were plenty of extras, but no real fight.


    Most of the people here weren¡¯t resisting Jin Yeonseo, but running away from her.


    The tense gazes of the young actors all focused on one spot.


    The protagonist of this drama.


    Jin Yeonseo.


    And then¡ª


    "...!!"


    As the slate clapped, the shoot began.


    Seoyeon¡¯s usual vibe shifted in an instant.


    "Hello, everyone."


    With a soft smile, Jin Yeonseo looked around.


    Her smile was the same as before, but the feeling was completely different.


    Until now, Jin Yeonseo had mostly mocked others, her attitude one of arrogance.


    But now, it was different.


    "I''m so glad you all stayed just as you are."


    Though her smile stayed on her lips, her eyes¡ªdark and intense¡ªseemed to burn like a fire.


    Anger.


    The emotion that Jin Yeonseo had never shown before was now revealed for the first time.


    And it showed in that very moment.

 Chapter 310: Polaris (2)

    When Seoyeon first saw the script for Mine, one thing stood out to her.


    The protagonist of this drama, Jin Yeonseo, was an incredibly weak character.


    "Why do you look at me like that?"


    In truth, Jin Yeonseo didn¡¯t want to be out in the world.


    She was afraid of people and hated seeing new things.


    "You''ve searched for me all this time."


    In her life, she had never made a decision for herself.


    Everything was someone else¡¯s choice.


    Her life had been one where she was tossed around by others.


    Her powerful psychic abilities.


    A new life.


    She didn¡¯t wish for anything.


    "So I came. To meet you."


    A trembling voice.


    Throughout the story, Jin Yeonseo always seemed composed.


    Those watching the drama might be mistaken about who Jin Yeonseo was.


    From the start of the drama until now, Jin Yeonseo never appeared flustered.


    No matter what situation she faced, she adapted easily.


    But it wasn¡¯t because she was special.


    Jin Yeonseo was a coward.


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but see that clearly.


    And that¡¯s why she could become so evil and cruel.


    That¡¯s why Seoyeon hated Jin Yeonseo.


    She was learning emotions in the world.


    She wanted to learn, but she had to.


    "I know."


    Seoyeon knew.


    Learning something new was frightening.


    What would change by learning this?


    Seoyeon had felt the same way.


    When her mother had told her to learn emotions and act like an ordinary person,


    Seoyeon had obediently followed, but still, she couldn¡¯t help but question it.


    "What will change by doing this?"


    Her disability wouldn¡¯t disappear.


    Even if she mimicked other people¡¯s emotions, she couldn¡¯t truly understand them.


    For the most part, just seeing herself smile would make others uncomfortable.


    "Yeah, you can do it. You¡¯re special. The doctor said so."


    She thought she was lucky.


    Seoyeon could do things others couldn¡¯t.


    Some believed that her condition had been cured.


    Even doctors who knew it was incurable.


    "Emotional expression disorder isn¡¯t like being a psychopath. Most people wouldn¡¯t even notice that your son doesn¡¯t truly perceive emotions unless they engage in deep conversation with him."


    Emotional expression disorder meant it took a long time to recognize emotions when they were felt or sometimes not at all.


    Seoyeon fell into the latter category.


    Still, she could perfectly mimic other people''s emotions.


    Her mother thought she was special because of this.


    So did the doctor.


    But Seoyeon knew.


    Even so, there was an unbridgeable gap between her and them.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Jin Yeonseo was different from ordinary people.


    She was born a psychic.


    She was created to never stand on the same level as others.


    Understanding and empathy.


    Beautiful words, but Seoyeon knew they were difficult.


    Jin Yeonseo could not connect with others.


    People were afraid of her.


    And because she was afraid of people,


    the gap would never close, just like with her past self.


    "Shouldn¡¯t you be doing this to me?"


    With a trembling voice, Jin Yeonseo twisted her lips into a smile.


    Her usual smile.


    But the researchers looking at her only stared at her with terrified faces.


    As though they knew exactly what she might do next.


    "J-Jin Yeonseo. Please listen to us. We didn¡¯t mean any harm. We just wanted to talk."


    "Talk? We can do that right now."


    "Well, how can we speak when you¡¯re looking at us like that?"


    One of the researchers, who had watched her since she was a child, cautiously spoke up.


    In his eyes, the deep rage flickering in her red pupils was visible.


    A deep rage she herself hadn¡¯t recognized.


    Yeonseo had come into the world and learned emotions.


    She had learned a lot, but no one had taught her about anger.


    No one had told her.


    "Unpleasant emotions."


    Seoyeon had come to understand that emotion.


    Anger was unpleasant.


    Seoyeon had experienced many emotions since her rebirth,


    and not all of them were pleasant.


    Anger was one of them.


    Seoyeon hadn¡¯t realized she could get angry.


    She didn¡¯t know what to be angry about.


    But as she lived, there were times when she got angry.


    Even in small, everyday situations.


    For example, when playing games, when her father teased her, or when she failed a test.


    In those ordinary moments.


    But Jin Yeonseo¡¯s anger was different from those trivial moments of anger.


    Suddenly, Seoyeon remembered what had happened at ShineMoon not too long ago.


    Pyo Jiwoo, glaring as though she was about to kill Low.


    A deep rage toward the other person.


    That anger was so frightening that even Seoyeon had flinched.


    "But no."


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s anger didn¡¯t carry murderous intent toward others.


    Her anger came from sadness and pity.


    From injustice, frustration, and fear.


    What Seoyeon understood were the latter two.


    When Sim Cheongseok was hurt, Seoyeon felt a deep anger.


    That¡¯s why she rushed to ShineMoon.


    Anger dulls reason.


    Though it was an unfamiliar emotion, and she hadn¡¯t dealt with it properly,


    thanks to Pyo Jiwoo, she could calm down and think clearly.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her... Seoyeon might have made a mistake.


    Anger was that scary and terrifying.


    Seoyeon realized that not being able to control yourself was a frightening thing.


    And Jin Yeonseo had always lived with that fear.


    Knowing this, Seoyeon no longer hated Jin Yeonseo as much.


    Now, for the first time, she could reach her heart.


    "I came to make a decision today."


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s quiet voice.


    With a sigh mixed in, the researchers trembled.


    It was so natural.


    It wasn¡¯t acting.


    The emotions in her voice were too intense.


    Method acting.


    Director Han Yegen leaned forward in his chair.


    From the start, he felt something was different.


    She had only shown this kind of acting once before.


    In The Chaser, as Cha Seoa.


    In Kyungsung Lady, as Kasugayama Yuina, she had come close, but there was a slight difference.


    "No, can this be called method acting?"


    It wasn¡¯t just simple method acting.


    So, was it some other form of acting?


    He didn¡¯t know.


    This was Seoyeon¡¯s unique acting style.


    Only she could understand it, only she could perform it.


    If he said it, someone would call it nonsense.


    But, what could he do? It was real.


    Just like a certain actress had once shone brightly, now Seoyeon was the same.


    If she was a radiant star before, Seoyeon was like the blazing sun now.


    She could shine intensely or become a gentle sunset.


    She always shines.


    A truly special person.


    A real star with the brilliance of a star.


    Han Yegen looked around at the green-screened world.


    Even without CGI, he could see it in his eyes.


    The old research facility on a deserted island.


    And the little psychic girl, crying and smiling.


    "Which side will be able to accept me?"


    The world and the world she was born into.


    To some, it might be just a small research facility, but to Jin Yeonseo, it was everything.


    Her small playroom.


    The horrific laboratory where she had suffered.


    It was all her world.


    Adam had said.


    The world would shine.


    And if she went out into the world, she could do many things.


    Perhaps, that might be true.


    But Yeonseo was scared.


    "Between this small research facility and the world."


    Dragged into the world against her will, Jin Yeonseo was still afraid to choose it.


    Sure, the world was vast, and there were many things she could do, but how could she know if she could actually do them?


    She was different from countless others.


    She didn¡¯t know how others would perceive or accept her.


    The research facility was a terrible place, but there were others like her there.


    Maybe there, she could find someone who could empathize with her.


    If she left, and someone similar to her was born¡ª


    If someone was created, perhaps she could live together, empathizing with each other.


    In that way, Jin Yeonseo was a coward, a weak girl.


    "Th-that..."


    The researcher hesitated.


    Feeling that small hesitation, Jin Yeonseo calmly closed her eyes.


    The smile she had been wearing faded.


    She knew.


    This was not the place.


    "Is Adam here?"


    In a quieter voice, Yeonseo asked.


    The researchers didn¡¯t notice the change.


    "Ah, Adam? He... he died a long time ago..."


    "You must have heard that he¡¯s still alive."


    She had heard it from the psychic who had been posing as her friend, Shin Arin.


    "Adam will come here."


    "How do you know that?"


    "Because he knows me."


    Adam knew her personality.


    He had been the one to make this choice for her.


    "And he must have known it would end up like this."


    He had made her face things she didn¡¯t want to see.


    He made her choose by showing her the things she wanted to forget.


    "I told you. I came here to make a choice."


    Holding the red fire axe in her hand, Yeonseo took a step [N O V E L I G H T] forward.


    "I was going to decide between ordinary people and psychics. I hoped to be the latter."


    Even if the memories were terrible,


    If there were people here who could empathize with her, that would be enough.


    "The latter is just one. The former has to die a lot."


    Her trembling voice settled, steady and low.


    It was heavy.


    The fiery glow in her eyes cooled, replaced with a quiet, lethal calm.


    It was a killing intent.


    Only the will to kill her target reflected in her eyes.


    "But it seems like you don¡¯t want the latter."


    If they hadn¡¯t rejected her, Yeonseo was ready to kill one person.


    A short time.


    But she had been a pretty ordinary girl.


    The daughter of her stepfather, Park Hoonmin¡ªPark Yeonseo.


    But they rejected her and even rejected the fact that she was a psychic.


    To be exact, they feared her.


    What kind of understanding or empathy could she expect from those who feared her?


    "I didn¡¯t want it to be like this."


    If her stepfather¡¯s daughter disappeared, he would grieve, but she thought it would be better for him in the long run.


    She was certain that trouble would come to him because of her.


    But, as always, the world didn¡¯t go her way.


    "What, what are you planning to do?"


    "Wait, wait a moment. Yeonseo, let¡¯s talk."


    Only then did the researchers, noticing the change in her demeanor, start speaking.


    They exchanged glances, searching for ways to stop her.


    Among the psychics currently in the research facility,


    who had the power to stop her?


    Reading their eyes, Yeonseo¡¯s eyes grew colder.


    Deep into the darkness.


    "The latter would end with one girl dying."


    An ordinary girl, Park Yeonseo, just one.


    But¡ª


    "The former... yes. Many would die. Really many."


    Even if she acted like a perfectly ordinary girl, as long as there were people who knew she was a psychic, her surroundings would constantly be in danger.


    Knowing that, Jin Yeonseo couldn¡¯t easily open her heart.


    Just recently, a girl who had opened her heart¡ª


    ¡®Hong Seha¡¯¡ªhad been gravely hurt because of her.


    If she had been just a little late, she might have lost her life to Adam.


    So, she had to make a choice.


    "To become an ordinary person, I¡¯ll have to kill everyone who knows about Jin Yeonseo."


    Anyone who knew about her being a psychic.


    If she killed them all, then she could finally step into the world.


    Jin Yeonseo, the psychic, would vanish, and only Park Yeonseo, the ordinary girl, would remain.


    "Y-You¡¯re insane. How many people do you plan to kill?! And you still call yourself human?!"


    "What are you talking about?"


    Yeonseo stopped in her tracks.


    And then¡ª


    "You made me a non-human being, not me."


    Yeonseo smiled softly.


    A smile so beautiful it could take one¡¯s breath away.


    It was like the smile a devil wears before taking a person¡¯s soul.


    Yes, a devil.


    A devil that looked human.


    A Majin (demon-human).


    They could feel it.


    They had created an irreversible monster.


    Heh.


    In that moment, the eyes of the actors, who were watching Yeonseo¡ªSeoyeon¡ªtrembled.


    It was the same as before.


    Just like when she had first acted as Jin Yeonseo, who didn¡¯t understand emotions.


    Her acting conveyed that she was a being unlike humans.


    A girl who looked almost like a human, but wasn¡¯t.


    The fear from that place swallowed the actors.


    "Arthur."


    Oliver, seeing that performance, turned to Arthur, who was watching it intently.freewe?novel.c?m


    "Today, it¡¯s a truly monstrous performance."


    "Yeah."


    "Are you okay? It feels like I¡¯m watching the original monster. It¡¯s unsettling. I¡¯ve only seen this kind of acting once."


    The original monster.


    It didn¡¯t need to be said who Oliver was referring to.


    Nor what kind of performance he was talking about.


    Stella Baldwin.


    The performance that won her the Best Actress award at the Berlin Film Festival.


    Oliver recalled Stella¡¯s passionate acting back then.


    Now, Stella was a bit calmer.


    She had achieved so much at that age.


    But back then, she was different.


    She acted with her whole being, as if it was all she had.


    And the result had been the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress award.


    Now, Seoyeon¡¯s performance, riding on the current momentum, was similar.


    Something was different.


    Something else was there.


    A talent that ordinary people could never catch, no matter how hard they tried.


    Acting that moved other people¡¯s emotions.


    "Oliver."


    "Hmm?"


    "Opportunities are really laughable."


    Arthur adjusted his white coat.


    The same white coat he had worn when he first met young Yeonseo.


    A drama from this small country.


    He had never thought it could become sincere.


    But Child¡¯s Game.


    A drama from this small country that had created a small revolution.


    That drama had stirred up strong currents.


    And made the eyes of the world turn to this small country.


    Mine.


    A drama fully ready to ride that current.


    If it was properly completed, Arthur believed it was entirely possible.


    "...It really comes from an unexpected place."


    A work capable of hitting Stella back.


    And an opportunity to make the world recognize him again.

 Chapter 311.1: Polaris (3)

    Ju Yeonseo¡¯s actions after the conversation were ruthless.


    From that moment, what unfolded was a one-sided massacre.


    The sight of Yeonseo slaughtering the fleeing researchers one by one was nothing short of spectacular.


    To the staff watching, it was as if blood was splattering right before their eyes.


    The actors¡¯ screams were so harrowing.


    Yeonseo¡¯s figure looked just like the title of the work¡ªa devil in human form.


    A Majin.


    "Next scene. Moving straight to the next scene. Sora, you ready?"


    "Ah, yes!!"


    Sora grasped the stick that she had now grown familiar with.


    ¡®It¡¯s a sword. A sword.¡¯


    Right now, it was just a simple stick for filming. But in the actual drama, CGI would turn it into a sword.


    ¡®My nunchaku...¡¯


    She missed her weapon, but realistically, swinging nunchaku in a scene like this wouldn¡¯t feel quite right.


    "Going in."


    Sora was a foreigner.


    So, before speaking her lines, she read them once more in her head.


    Checking for mistakes.


    Marking where to infuse nuance and emotion.


    Once that was settled, she opened her eyes.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon.¡¯


    Inside the burning laboratory.


    In Sora¡¯s eyes¡ªno, in Shin Arin¡¯s eyes now¡ªshe saw it.


    The bodies of the researchers who had taken care of her.


    And a girl in black, slowly walking across a floor drenched in their blood.


    A familiar sight.


    The very first scene where she and Seoyeon clashed in Hyper Action Star.


    That scene was exactly this moment.


    Most of the details were different, but ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã the finale remained intact.


    The emotions, the tension¡ªexactly the same.


    They had already done their grand rehearsals in the past.


    Now, it was time for the real thing.


    The sharp sound of the slate echoed.


    Director Han Yegun¡¯s voice rang in her ears.


    The silent filming set transformed into the laboratory.


    Sora loved this fleeting moment¡ªwhen reality shifted into fiction.


    It was the reason she became an actress.


    ¡®Jin Yeonseo.¡¯


    Sora¡¯s face, light and casual moments ago, transformed into Shin Arin¡¯s.


    The eyes that had gazed at Seoyeon with reluctant admiration turned into those of a girl consumed by rage.


    ¡¸Jin Yeonseo!!¡¹


    Seeing the dead researchers, Shin Arin charged at Jin Yeonseo with a twisted expression.


    The next scene was like an illustration come to life.


    The illusion of swords and axes was so vivid it seemed real to the crew¡¯s eyes.


    In five seconds, they exchanged blows once, then froze.


    After reviewing the footage, they repeated the sequence from multiple angles.


    Not a single NG.


    Well, there were NGs, but they were covered up so smoothly with ad-libs that no one noticed.


    Even the normally rigid Han Yegun found himself questioning¡ª


    ¡®Did I even plan this scene like this?¡¯


    ¡®No, they¡¯re way too fast.¡¯


    ¡®Are they actually fighting for real?¡¯


    ¡®I heard they practiced at this speed too.¡¯


    The seasoned action actors could barely keep up with the rapid choreography.


    ¡ºOh, Arthur. You weren¡¯t joking when you called them slow.¡»


    ¡º...Don¡¯t lump me in with those people. Only you could keep up with that. Or Jack Robin, maybe.¡»


    They were mentioning the biggest names in American action films.


    That was how intense this scene was.


    ¡ºIf only she could improve her acting. The Japanese girl¡¯s still a bit rough.¡»


    ¡ºThat¡¯s why they leveraged Ju Seoyeon¡¯s presence. She¡¯s the protagonist, after all.¡»


    As they exchanged comments, the battle between the two psychics reached its climax.


    Thirty minutes of relentless filming.


    When Shin Arin finally collapsed, it probably wasn¡¯t just acting.


    She had squeezed every last drop of her stamina into the scene.


    A performance so immersive, they forgot they were filming.


    But all those watching shared a single thought.


    ¡®The protagonist? That¡¯s the protagonist?¡¯


    Even knowing the story, it was hard to accept.


    Whether it was the massacre at the lab or the shocking reversal when she took down Shin Arin¡ª


    Jin Yeonseo felt more like a villain than a hero.


    ¡®She brought the script to life perfectly.¡¯


    Jo Sehee coughed and silently applauded Seoyeon¡¯s performance.


    This was it.


    The moment when the audience would start resenting Jin Yeonseo.


    No matter how much she was the protagonist¡ªkilling this many people...


    And Shin Arin, even in the story, was a well-loved character.


    If Jin Yeonseo killed someone like that, her image would shift dangerously close to the ¡°villain¡± side.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    That was intentional, wasn¡¯t it?


    Sehee quietly observed Seoyeon¡¯s acting.


    Shin Arin, collapsed on the ground, grabbed Jin Yeonseo¡¯s ankle as she tried to walk away.


    She pleaded, demanding to know why.


    Yeonseo halted.


    Slowly, she turned her gaze to the girl beneath her.


    ¡¸Why am I doing this?¡¹


    A hollow laugh escaped Jin Yeonseo¡¯s lips.


    Her voice was different from before.


    She crouched, staring at Shin Arin, who glared at her with hatred.


    And she spoke¡ªso casually, as if it were nothing.


    ¡¸Then why did you do that to me?¡¹


    Shin Arin assumed she was referring to the ¡°choice¡± the researchers had forced upon her.


    She screamed in denial.


    Yeonseo listened quietly, closing her eyes.


    Jo Sehee thought her expression looked like she was holding something back.


    Yeonseo, who never wavered for anyone, was reacting.


    Maybe because, for a brief moment, she had considered Shin Arin a friend.


    ¡¸Shin Arin, do you know why I, and other psychics like me, were created?¡¹


    Yeonseo continued.


    ¡¸Why did they conduct research to awaken psychic powers in humans? What did they tell you? To surpass the limits of humanity? A noble purpose? To create a new race of superhumans?¡¹


    Shin Arin¡¯s eyes trembled.


    Yeonseo gently stroked her hair.


    ¡¸Then why was it all done in secret? Why did they act as if they had a divine mission? Doesn¡¯t it seem strange? Why do they want to kill me, to control me? There are already plenty of enhanced humans out there, so why the obsession with me?¡¹


    The reason was simple.


    ¡¸Immortality.¡¹


    ¡¸...What?¡¹


    ¡¸I¡¯m exaggerating, but in the end, they just wanted to extend their lifespan. The rich want to live longer.¡¹


    Yes, even the man who had funded the research¡ªHong Seha¡¯s father¡ªwas the same.


    A conglomerate head who feared death.


    But when the research¡¯s ¡°result¡± escaped, along with his hopes and promises¡ª


    He tried to expose the researchers to the media for taking his money and running.


    So he was killed.


    It was all so disgustingly petty.


    ¡¸But surprise! A child with these abilities was born.¡¹


    A body that healed instantly.


    Strength surpassing human limits.


    And a variety of supernatural powers.


    Like a god had been born.


    Because in Yeonseo, there was something¡ª


    A key to immortality.


    ¡¸You psychics only accepted my genes through a serum. But I... I am the real thing.¡¹


    All psychics were just diluted copies of Jin Yeonseo.


    ¡¸And yet, they rejected me. Why do you think that is? They need me, don¡¯t they?¡¹


    ¡¸That¡¯s...¡¹


    ¡¸Either they perfected the foundation. Or they found a replacement.¡¹


    An investor, or perhaps a way to create a new Jin Yeonseo.


    That¡¯s why they rejected her.


    ¡¸So I killed them all.¡¹


    Before another ¡°me¡± could be born.


    ¡¸Because I couldn¡¯t bear to see that happen again.¡¹


    Yeonseo smiled, but her lips trembled.


    She tried to act composed, but the emotion in her voice betrayed her.


    For the first time, the heartless demon looked human.


    ¡¸I was in agony.¡¹


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s lips trembled as she spoke.


    She acted as if she was unaffected, but the emotions in her voice made it clear.


    Slowly, the emotions she had kept buried all this time were beginning to surface.


    The actors, the staff, director Han Yegun¡ª


    Even Arthur and Oliver¡ª


    And Jo Sehee.


    They could all feel it.


    The moment when the demon who had been nothing but ruthless suddenly showed a glimpse of her humanity.


    Yeonseo tried to let out her usual mocking laugh,


    tried to smirk with her usual air of arrogance.


    But her expression was different this time.


    As if she was struggling to express her emotions properly.


    Distorted. Unfamiliar.


    Seoyeon could easily imagine how her own face must look right now.


    After all, she had seen it before.


    ¡®There was a time when I was afraid of looking in the mirror.¡¯


    In the past, when Seoyeon looked at her reflection,


    it was during the time when she had been trying to learn emotions.


    She had watched countless videos, comparing the expressions of others to her own in the mirror.


    She simply thought that was what she had to do.


    The why didn¡¯t matter.


    It was just that she wanted to experience what being "normal" was.


    Or maybe...


    She didn¡¯t know.


    She truly didn¡¯t know anything,


    so that was the only way she could explain it.


    But there was one thing she remembered clearly¡ª


    her own reflection in the mirror.


    Unlike the actors she saw in dramas and movies,


    unlike the people whose emotions she tried to imitate,


    The expression she saw on herself¡ª


    a desperate attempt at mimicry.


    Back then, she thought her emotion was sadness.


    But instead of crying, she had tried to smile.


    She had practiced so hard, but the result was a strange, unnatural expression.


    And now, watching Jin Yeonseo,


    Seeing her trying to smirk,


    trying to mask her emotions behind a sneer,


    For once, it felt like she wasn¡¯t playing a role.


    Seoyeon took a deep breath.


    And then, slowly, as if letting the words flow out, she spoke her next line.


    ¡¸They peeled the flesh off my body while I was still alive. They drained so much of my blood it could fill this entire lab. But I didn¡¯t die.¡¹


    Jin Yeonseo was a coward.


    How could she not be?


    To her, the world had only ever been pain.


    Before, she might not have understood that.


    But now, looking back¡ª


    It was obvious.


    ¡¸I said it hurt. I told them, again and again. But no one ever listened.¡¹


    ¡¸That¡¯s not true! I...¡¹


    ¡¸Yeah. Now you know.¡¹


    Yeonseo tapped her fingers against her leg.


    ¡¸But this ¡®precious sample¡¯ they created had legs.¡¹


    And she had thoughts.


    She could escape.


    Jin Yeonseo, who had lived as nothing more than a tool, had run away.


    Because she had learned she could.


    And if someone like her, who knew nothing of the world,


    had been able to escape¡ª


    Then what about someone like Shin Arin?


    Someone who had experienced the world,


    who had only ever received her abilities through a serum?


    Would they be able to stop her?


    Would anyone?


    ¡¸I always wondered. Why? Why me?¡¹


    Shin Arin had probably thought that question more times than she could count.

 Chapter 311.2: Polaris (3)

    Adam¡¯s words had meant nothing to her.


    The world outside could be even more cruel than this, she had thought.


    But the world was exactly as Adam had described.


    It was beautiful, and the adoptive father who had loved her became the most precious person in her life.


    So, despite her fears, she chose to live in that world.


    Until the day Shin Arin came looking for her.


    ¡¸I thought it was over because I was gone. I believed there was no chance for the same miracle to happen again. But then you came to me.¡¹


    Sending Shin Arin, someone who strongly inherited her blood, to this place¡ª


    It meant the experiments were still continuing.


    It meant they had found a replacement.


    Even if psychics like Shin Arin disappeared, the research could still go on.


    Maybe it was just for comparison, or maybe they were truly after a sample.


    They likely never imagined she would come all the way to the lab herself.


    ¡¸So I will kill everyone who knows of me. Every researcher involved in this experiment, and everyone behind it.¡¹


    Because no more children should suffer the way she had.


    No more samples should be created.


    All pain had to end with her.


    If they had chosen not to accept her, then there was only one possible conclusion.


    ¡¸Then what about us? What about the psychics who fought you?¡¹


    ¡¸I¡¯m not saintly enough to spare those who tried to kill me.¡¹


    Didn¡¯t you all try to kill me too?


    She said it as if it were a joke, but somehow, it didn¡¯t carry the same lightness as before.


    It was heavy.


    Shin Arin found herself unable to argue.


    Jin Yeonseo had spoken the truth.


    You created me.


    A Majin (ħÈË).


    A human shaped like a demon.


    No matter what justifications existed,


    it didn¡¯t change the fact that she had become a being who had to kill many people.


    ¡¸But I¡¯ll let you live. Because you¡¯re so much like me.¡¹


    With that, Jin Yeonseo slowly pried Shin Arin¡¯s fingers from her ankle.


    As if letting go of a friend¡ªbrief, but real.


    Beneath the act of indifference, there was a clear, unspoken sorrow.


    And only then did Shin Arin realize¡ª


    Jin Yeonseo had known from the very beginning that she was a psychic.


    Yet, she had still become her friend.


    And until Arin confessed it herself, she had pretended not to know.


    Maybe, to Jin Yeonseo, Shin Arin had been someone she hoped would understand her.


    Regardless of why she had come here,


    Maybe, Yeonseo had truly wanted to be her friend.


    Because Shin Arin was so much like her.


    ¡¸...Yeonseo.¡¹


    Shin Arin called out to her at last.


    But Jin Yeonseo was already gone.


    She had disappeared into the depths of the laboratory¡ª


    To find Adam.


    And so, the final scene of Majin¡¯s episode 11 came to an end.


    "That felt... strangely short."


    For just one scene, it had been quite long.


    Five minutes?


    Maybe, if they inserted a flashback later, it would stretch to ten minutes.


    Since they had filmed it right after the action scene, the pacing made it feel that way.


    And just like that, Jin Yeonseo¡¯s image had completely changed.


    No NGs.


    Not even a moment to call for a retake.


    It was like watching a stage play.


    As if the scene had already been perfected.


    Even without CGI,


    even against the crude green walls of the set,


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on one actor.


    Seoyeon smiled awkwardly as applause erupted around her.


    Actors approached, clapping and offering praise.


    Arthur, however, wore an unimpressed expression.


    But perhaps, despite appearances, he felt pressure building inside.


    Jo Sehee sat a little apart from the rest, watching.


    To her, it felt like the past.


    It was familiar.


    This entire sequence of events¡ª


    It reminded her of the days when she, as a mere kindergarten child, would follow her mother to film sets.


    The moments she had always watched from the sidelines.


    When the legendary actress performed a breathtaking scene,


    when the entire set would turn to admire her.


    Back then, Jo Sehee had never gotten to see the full picture.


    She closed her eyes for a moment.


    And when she did¡ª


    She saw the stars.


    The winter ocean from just yesterday.


    The place where she and Seoyeon had spent an entire day, from morning to night.


    "I¡¯m definitely going to catch a cold tomorrow."


    "You don¡¯t have filming tomorrow anyway."


    "Wh-What are you saying? You have filming tomorrow!"


    "I¡¯ll be fine."


    "What kind of logic is that?"


    Sitting on the embankment, they listened to the sound of the waves and talked.


    Even bundled up in layers, it was freezing.


    Even after Seoyeon had taken off her own padded jacket and wrapped it around Sehee, it was still freezing.


    She never expected Seoyeon to have packed spare clothes for her among the things she had brought.


    "What kind of acting did your mother do?"


    "...You watched her, so why are you asking?"


    "Are you analyzing your opponent before a match? You did say you¡¯d win against me with confidence."


    "Know thy enemy, know thyself¡ªvictory in a hundred battles."


    "You don¡¯t sound as confident as before."


    "Call it being cautious."


    Seoyeon chuckled at that.


    Then, after a moment, she calmly answered.


    "Just like I said earlier¡ª


    Her acting was like starlight.


    Whenever she performed,


    everything around her shined."


    She wasn¡¯t the only one who thought so.


    Brilliant.


    A dazzling, beautiful star.


    "It was so bright and pretty that I wanted to be like that too."


    Like the stars in the distant sky.


    Yes, in a way¡ª


    "The North Star."


    "Huh?"


    "The guiding star, they call it."


    A star that shines brightly, leading travelers so they don¡¯t lose their way.


    To Sehee, her mother had been that kind of light.


    She had learned acting from her mother,


    believing that if she kept chasing after her,


    one day, she too could become a star like that.


    "But the North Star isn¡¯t actually that bright."


    "Are you really going to ruin the moment with facts?"


    "I was joking."


    Seoyeon smiled and stared intently at Sehee¡¯s face.


    Her gaze was so direct it felt overwhelming.


    Didn¡¯t she feel embarrassed?


    Sehee found herself wondering.


    Now that she thought about it,


    Seoyeon had always been like this.


    When she looked at others,


    she always met their eyes head-on.


    The only times she avoided eye contact


    were when she had done something wrong.


    "Sehee, you look a lot like your mother, don¡¯t you?"


    "Yeah, I do."


    "...Have you ever hated that face?"


    It was an unexpected question.


    It caught her off guard,


    but at the same time,


    it struck right at her core.


    "A little."


    Surprisingly,


    it was something Sehee had often thought about.


    "Because I look like my mom,


    everyone immediately recognizes me as Baek Seran¡¯s daughter.


    There are still viewers who don¡¯t know,


    but most people in the industry do.


    That¡¯s why the rumor that I¡¯m the New Like Group chairman¡¯s daughter spread so quickly."


    Even though she had never officially revealed it,


    everyone already knew.


    Those in the entertainment industry always looked for Baek Seran in her face.


    And they expected her acting to be on the same level.


    "But when I act, I can always feel it¡ª


    the moment they realize, ¡®She¡¯s not quite at that level.¡¯"


    No matter how well she performed,


    her mother was always the standard for comparison.


    She was proud of her,


    but at the same time,


    it felt like she was tainting her name.


    So she both loved and hated this face.


    "I guess I can¡¯t tease you by calling you Tomie anymore."


    "Hey."


    ...Of course, her features were a bit sharper than her mother¡¯s.


    Maybe she took after her dad.


    "Anyway, yeah. That¡¯s why I feel lost."


    She had been chasing after the starlight she had once seen as a child,


    but she didn¡¯t know if she was on the right path.


    Because her North Star had disappeared.


    "What am I even doing?"


    Seoyeon had said she was ready.


    But no matter how much she had prepared,


    if she didn¡¯t know where to go,


    then what was the point?


    If Seoyeon could erase the lingering shadow of her past,


    maybe she could finally find her own way forward.


    "Sehee, you have a strong mentality,


    but you¡¯re such a coward in weird places."


    "Sh-Shut up."


    "You worked so hard to prepare,


    and now you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t do it? That doesn¡¯t even make sense."


    "Ugh, s-sorry for disappointing you."


    Seoyeon stopped teasing and looked up at the sky.


    The night sky over the ocean


    looked strangely close.


    The stars were twinkling,


    brighter than ever.


    She thought they were beautiful.


    Could I shine ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) like that too?


    A guiding star.


    People said her acting was like starlight.


    But honestly?


    That wasn¡¯t true.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t shine like that.


    She wasn¡¯t a star that could guide others.


    She couldn¡¯t be the North Star.


    But¡ª


    "Really, there¡¯s no helping it."


    She looked at the stars reflected on the surface of the ocean.


    The sight of the starlight being carried by the waves.


    "Just this once."


    She couldn¡¯t be a star.


    But what about a reflection of one?


    Imitation¡ª


    wasn¡¯t that what she was best at?


    "Just this once."


    In a world she knew nothing about,


    she had been a star to others.


    But that star was now hidden behind another light,


    so she didn¡¯t even know what kind of glow she had anymore.


    Maybe, if she looked at her reflection,


    she could finally see it.


    See how much she could shine.


    "Just this once,


    I¡¯ll be your North Star."


    Because if she guided her,


    Sehee would find her way.


    Seoyeon said it with a playful smile.


    "Sehee¡¯s guiding star."


    Sehee just stared at her.


    She hadn¡¯t meant to,


    but for some reason,


    she couldn¡¯t look away.


    She wanted to say something,


    but the words wouldn¡¯t come out.


    Seoyeon was usually expressionless.


    But sometimes¡ª


    moments like this¡ª


    her emotions shone more clearly than anyone¡¯s.


    And whenever she did,


    her words struck straight to the heart.


    Just like now.


    "Sehee."


    She lifted her head¡ª


    and there was Seoyeon, dressed as Jin Yeonseo.


    "Did you see?"


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t ask what she saw.


    She didn¡¯t have to.


    "Yeah."


    "Then let¡¯s go."


    "Go where?"


    Sehee felt like she had spoken more bluntly than she meant to.


    She hadn¡¯t intended to,


    but somehow,


    it just came out that way.


    "To act."


    Sehee¡¯s role, Hong Seha, had already finished filming.


    So that meant¡ª


    A reshoot.


    Seoyeon wouldn¡¯t have made that decision alone.


    "...The director asked, didn¡¯t he?"


    "W-Well, not exactly,


    but he understood what I meant."


    "I know.


    Director Han Yegun¡¯s been hinting at it for a while.


    He kept wanting to redo that scene."


    No choice, then.


    Sehee stood up.


    If the director had already made up his mind,


    there was no need to fight it.


    It would inconvenience the other actors,


    but since Han Yegun was the one pushing for it,


    he would take responsibility.


    "Alright."


    She turned to Seoyeon and smiled with confidence.


    That first time they met¡ª


    when Seoyeon had called her a nepo baby and scoffed at her.


    That moment.


    "I¡¯ll do it."


    Her nose was stuffy from the cold,


    but her stride was firm.


    Seeing that, Seoyeon smiled softly.


    Now, finally¡ª


    She looks like herself again.

 Chapter 312: I’m Good at This Game (1)

    Filming for Episode 11 and Episode 12 of Mine was completed, effectively wrapping up all of Seoyeon''s scenes.


    So that should have been the end of it... or so she thought.


    "We''ve decided to reshoot some scenes."


    Director Han Yegun dropped the bombshell ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) announcement.


    Unlike Seoyeon, who had somewhat anticipated this, the others looked momentarily confused, as if they had misheard him.


    "We''re discarding some of Sehee''s scenes and reshooting them."


    "Oh, um, I..."


    "Of course, we''ve already gotten her consent, so there''s no need to worry. In fact, she''s extremely motivated for this."


    With a slight smirk, Han Yegun spoke casually, and the staff could do nothing but nod.


    On set, the director is king.


    And who would dare defy the king?


    "This time, you better not take it lightly."


    Seoyeon approached Arthur, who stood with his arms crossed.


    "I never took it lightly to begin with."


    "Oh, it''s obvious. Just talk casually with me."


    "......"


    She really was a lot like Stella.


    Of course, Stella was a hundred times worse in personality, but the way Seoyeon could see right through him made Arthur uneasy.


    ''And then there''s her talent.''


    Filming Episodes 11 and 12 of Mine had been a significant experience for Arthur as well.


    It had been a while since he had truly immersed himself in acting, and he had actually enjoyed the process.


    "You''re no match for her," was it?


    Stella had once said that to him.


    Looking back, maybe that had been her way of provoking him into coming to Korea.


    ''If I had underestimated her, I would''ve ended up exactly as she said.''


    Before he knew it, Seoyeon would have completely overshadowed his presence.


    But since he had been aware of the possibility, he had been able to prepare.


    At the end of Episode 11, Arthur had to face Seoyeon.


    In Episode 12, it was Oliver''s turn.


    The results had been satisfying¡ªthough there had been some humiliating moments.


    And now, on top of that¡ª


    "A reshoot, huh..."


    Arthur''s character, Adam, had a scene in Episode 10 where he confronted Hong Seha, the character played by Sehee.


    That scene was Hong Seha¡¯s last appearance in Mine.


    If the show performed well and got a second season, she might appear again, but that was still undecided.


    ''At least I don''t have to redo the action scenes.''


    Arthur had performed the Episode 10 action sequence himself, so he had been inwardly relieved.


    Especially since the actor he had to do those action scenes with was none other than Seoyeon.


    "So, that means Seoyeon''s done filming for Mine?"


    "Yeah."


    "I heard you still have some time off. Why not come visit the U.S.?"


    At Arthur''s suggestion, Seoyeon tilted her head.


    There was no real reason for him to invite her.


    "Why?"


    "I like talented actors like you, Seoyeon."


    Arthur smiled warmly as he spoke, but Seoyeon''s expression turned into one of pure disgust.


    ''...That''s odd. That¡¯s not the reaction I expected.''


    Come to think of it, Seoyeon had never reacted to his looks at all.


    Even Jo Sehee hadn¡¯t shown much interest either¡ªmaybe Korea just had different beauty standards.


    Still, Arthur had expected Seoyeon to accept his invitation.


    I mean, it was his invitation.


    Even if she wasn¡¯t interested in his looks, Arthur Diaz¡¯s background was something anyone would desire.


    Especially for an Asian actress, who would normally have a much harder time breaking into Hollywood.


    ''If I take her to the U.S., Stella will be seething with jealousy.''


    Regardless, Arthur genuinely wanted to bring Seoyeon to the States.


    It wasn¡¯t just because she was Asian.


    When he said he liked talented actors, he had meant it.


    If he could sign someone like Seoyeon to his agency, it would be like gaining an invaluable asset.


    And at the same time, he could also piss off Stella, who had been eyeing Seoyeon as well.


    But Arthur¡¯s plan was instantly¡ª


    "Sorry, but I¡¯m a little busy."


    ¡ªshut down by Seoyeon''s firm refusal.


    Arthur was momentarily stunned.


    Was she seriously turning down a chance to go to Hollywood?


    "As far as I know, you don¡¯t have any upcoming projects lined up."


    "I need to play games."


    "?"


    "Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It¡¯s work."


    Seoyeon declared proudly, watching Arthur''s dumbfounded expression.


    It was a promotional event for her dad''s company¡¯s game.


    At first, it had felt a little awkward.


    But then, she realized¡ª


    It gave her an excuse to play games legally.


    Recently, Seoyeon had been gaming to her heart¡¯s content.


    Even Sua couldn''t stop her because, technically, it was "work."


    And Youngbin? He had never been able to stop her in the first place!


    As a result¡ª


    Seoyeon''s Eternity Camp ranking had been climbing higher and higher.


    At this rate, she''d rake in all the pre-launch rewards!


    ''Today, I¡¯m reaching Diamond.''


    It was just a promotional event.


    But Seoyeon was dead serious about it.


    After all, she had never reached Diamond in League of Legends.


    But in Eternity Camp, she was on the verge of achieving that dream.


    Meanwhile...


    "Haha, so next week, I¡¯m shooting an ad! Can I talk about it? Of course, I can!"


    70K-subscriber YouTuber Heo Taegyun was chatting happily with his audience.


    He was a variety gamer who played all sorts of games.


    A Grandmaster in League of Legends¡ª


    And in Eternity Camp, he had reached the highest rank: Eternity.


    "What¡¯s the ad for? Eternity Camp! I knew it! Of course, I¡¯d be chosen. I mean, I have the highest rank among all streamers, don¡¯t I? It¡¯s only natural. Fate, really."


    Damn, a pro.Wait, why is Eternity Camp suddenly running ads? Didn¡¯t it shut down?Nah, it hasn¡¯t even officially launched yet.???It¡¯s been on Early Access on Steam.Does that mean ranks reset when it fully releases?Yeah.


    Since the season was ending, a rank reset was inevitable.


    And since Early Access players would receive special rewards based on their rank, many were grinding hard.


    Wait, are you doing the ad alone?Lmao, imagine Heo Taegyun doing it solo.Like they could get another streamer for that dead game.LOL.


    "Hey, don¡¯t call it a dead game. Take that back."


    He acted playfully offended but secretly agreed.


    ''Could they even find another streamer at my level?''


    After all, he was a 700K-subscriber YouTuber.


    Big streamers like him rarely touched low-viewership games.


    He had only kept playing because he liked the game¡¯s cel-shaded graphics.


    He wasn¡¯t expecting any major changes when the game officially launched.


    ''I heard they¡¯re bringing in a VTuber.''


    As a streamer, he knew what VTubers were.


    But when he heard the name, he couldn''t help but laugh.


    ''Ramiel, was it?''


    Who the hell was that?


    She had less than 200K subscribers.


    Impressive for a debut, sure.


    But still¡ªonly 200K.


    Compared to him, she was a nobody.


    ''Pathetic.''


    He didn¡¯t like VTubers.


    And he couldn¡¯t understand why people even watched them.


    ''If they had the looks, they wouldn¡¯t be hiding behind an avatar.''


    That was Heo Taegyun¡¯s opinion on VTubers.


    And from what he¡¯d seen¡ª


    Ramiel didn¡¯t seem any different.

 Chapter 313: I’m Good at This Game (2)

    Crack.


    70K-subscriber YouTuber Heo Taegyun instinctively turned his head toward the sound.


    Something strange had just happened near the conference room door.


    ''What was that?''


    It sounded like something breaking.


    The employee he had been speaking with also looked toward the door, equally puzzled.


    "Hold on a second."


    Since he was the closest, Taegyun figured he should be the one to check.


    ''We were just having a good conversation, too.''


    The Raywill Games employee handling today''s ad discussion had been surprisingly easy to talk to.


    They had been going over how the ad would be filmed, how the promotion would work, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªwho else would be participating.


    Which led to the topic of Ramiel.


    A 200K-subscriber VTuber.


    VTubers weren¡¯t exactly unfamiliar anymore, but was one really significant enough to be included in this ad?


    Taegyun wasn''t sure.


    And more than that¡ª


    Unlike him, sitting comfortably in Eternity Camp''s top-tier ranks, this VTuber''s actual gameplay skills were completely unknown.


    Considering that they were also bringing in a celebrity, it would have been ideal if all participants had at least some experience with the game.


    After all, Eternity Camp was a team-based game.


    Covering for one inexperienced teammate was tough enough¡ª


    But covering for two? That was a nightmare.


    "Huh?"


    Taegyun grabbed the U-shaped door handle and tried to push it down¡ª


    But it wouldn¡¯t budge.


    "Huh? H-Hey, what the¡ª?!"


    Before he could react, he suddenly found himself lying face-down on the floor¡ª


    Still holding the doorknob.


    !!


    Silence.


    Taegyun blinked in a daze.


    He hadn''t even let go of the doorknob yet.


    Watching this unfold, Raywill Games'' Marketing Team 1 Leader, Manager Hwang, would later recall the incident as follows:


    "It all happened in an instant."


    The words alone seemed to make him sweat, as he repeatedly wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.


    "He just... whoosh¡ªhis body twisted and bam¡ªhe was down."


    It looked almost as if¡ª


    An elite judo master had effortlessly thrown a person over their shoulder.


    "You know how they say a top-tier judo master can toss someone just by grabbing their sleeve?"


    They say that an elite judo master¡ª


    Only needs two fingers.


    A simple grip on someone¡¯s sleeve is enough to send them flying.


    And what had just happened?


    Was exactly that.


    "He thought he was grabbing the doorknob, but in reality¡ª


    "He was the one being grabbed!!"


    A contradiction that defied human logic.


    An event that transcended common sense.


    The absolute pinnacle of technique and raw power¡ª


    That was what Manager Hwang claimed he had witnessed.


    Meanwhile, across from him, Raywill Games'' Planning Team Leader, Joo Youngbin, simply nodded.


    "You''re really taking your sweet time explaining why you''re taking a half-day off this afternoon."


    "......"


    If you¡¯re feeling sick, just say you¡¯re feeling sick.


    But Manager Hwang had no words to respond.


    When Seoyeon finally entered the room, she had the exact same reaction as Youngbin.


    "......What are you doing?"


    From her perspective, Taegyun was sprawled on the floor in an incredibly awkward position¡ª


    Still clutching the doorknob.


    Looking back, it was a pretty ridiculous scene.


    ''W-Wait, that¡¯s... Ju Seoyeon?!''


    Taegyun froze, still gripping the detached doorknob in shock.


    Manager Hwang had told him that the celebrity joining the stream today would also be attending the meeting.


    Even when Hwang had said, "You¡¯re going to love this. It¡¯s someone big,"¡ª


    Taegyun had assumed it was just some mid-tier idol.


    But instead¡ª


    The actress who had completely dominated the industry last year was standing right in front of him.


    There¡¯s a saying:


    Not all celebrities are the same.


    And the gap between idols and actors is massive.


    Even the prettiest idols can look plain when standing next to a true actress.


    Taegyun had always thought that was an exaggeration.


    But at this moment¡ª


    He had to admit¡ª


    He understood.


    He had met plenty of celebrities in person before.


    Even some well-known idols.


    But none of them had ever shocked him like this.


    Because Ju Seoyeon was different.


    Her beauty was so overwhelming¡ª


    That it made his brain go blank for a moment.


    "Are you just going to stay down there?"


    It was only when she spoke that he realized¡ª


    He was still lying on the floor.


    ''W-What the hell am I doing?!''


    Scrambling to his feet, Taegyun hurriedly bowed and sat back in his chair.


    The chair he had been comfortably sitting in just moments ago now felt impossibly stiff.


    It felt like he had wandered into the wrong room.


    And it wasn¡¯t just because of how insanely pretty Seoyeon was.


    It was because¡ª


    She was looking at him with an uncomfortably cold gaze.


    ''Why, though?''


    What had he even done?


    ''...If I saw someone open a door and then immediately fall flat on their face, I guess I¡¯d stare at them weirdly too.''


    Taegyun still had no idea what had just happened to him.


    Was he out of shape?


    Had his legs just given out randomly?


    He kept overthinking it¡ª


    But in the end, he would never learn the truth.


    ''Whew, he didn¡¯t notice.''


    Seoyeon glanced down at the snapped doorknob still in her hand.


    She had ended up gripping the metal rod inside and forcefully twisting it to open the door.


    She had felt that it was a bit stiff¡ª


    But she hadn¡¯t realized that someone had actually been holding onto it from the other side.


    ''I¡¯ll have to ask Dad to fix it later.''


    At the very least, she was relieved that Youngbin was a team leader at Raywill Games.


    That meant¡ª


    No one was going to make a fuss about the broken door.


    But anyway.


    Seoyeon shifted her gaze to Heo Taegyun, who was now awkwardly seated in the meeting room.


    To be honest¡ª


    She wasn¡¯t feeling great about this.


    Because he¡ª


    Had insulted Ramiel.


    ''I mean... I get it.''


    It was understandable.


    It wasn¡¯t like he had gone too far with his words.


    That¡¯s why she decided to let it slide.


    Not that she had been that angry to begin with¡ª


    But it wasn¡¯t like she could just run up and punch him, either.


    After what had happened with Pyo Jiwoo, Seoyeon had been making a conscious effort to control her temper.


    "The last participant will be [N O V E L I G H T] joining remotely."


    Once Seoyeon and Taegyun had taken their seats, the promotional meeting finally began.


    Seoyeon and Taegyun sat side by side across from Manager Hwang.


    A laptop was placed on the table in front of them¡ª


    Its camera positioned directly at Hwang, as if preparing for a video call.


    ''Wait, is Ramiel... even free right now?''


    Could she even attend the meeting?


    Seoyeon briefly wondered.


    Meanwhile, Kyungsung Lady had just barely crossed 10 million viewers¡ª


    With only five days left before its screening period ended.


    A real cliffhanger finish.


    If the movie hadn¡¯t been given an extended run, it might have fallen just short.


    But regardless¡ª


    10 million was 10 million.


    On top of that, it had also grossed nearly 7 million in Japan¡ª


    An absolutely massive success.


    Which was why Jiyeon was currently overseas.


    With Kyungsung Lady premiering internationally, Jiyeon was traveling to promote the film.


    Seoyeon, on the other hand, had never played a lead role in a movie¡ª


    So she had never had to do international promotion.


    She had been busy promoting dramas, though.


    And for Kyungsung Lady, the promotions weren¡¯t just focused on Korea¡ª


    They were going worldwide.


    "Wait... so she¡¯s joining via video call?"


    "Yes. She insisted on attending the meeting no matter what."


    Manager Hwang cleared his throat and glanced at Seoyeon.


    Such perfect posture.


    And her face¡ªstunning beyond words.


    ''If only my daughter was even half like that...''


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t talking about looks.


    Just look at that posture.


    She looked like someone who must have been top of her class.


    Manager Hwang checked his messages and turned on the laptop.


    A familiar 3D avatar appeared on the screen.


    The sight left Heo Taegyun with an indescribable feeling.


    It was surreal, to say the least.


    ''I assumed the person would actually show up, since it¡¯s a meeting.''


    But apparently, there wasn¡¯t even a chance to see her real face.


    Was she really that insecure about her appearance?


    Or maybe, as an internet personality, she considered showing her face in front of a streamer like him to be a dangerous choice.


    Either way, Taegyun was surprised that Raywill Games had allowed this arrangement.


    Maybe game companies were just more lenient about these things.


    ¡¸Hello, this is Ramiel.¡¹


    A clear, composed voice.


    The kind of voice that simply put people at ease.


    Even Taegyun, who had been harboring some annoyance, had to admit¡ª


    ''She¡¯s got a nice voice.''


    "Hello, I¡¯m Ju Seoyeon."


    Before anyone else could respond, Seoyeon was the first to reply.


    Seeing her reaction through the camera, Ramiel¡ªJi Yeon¡ªfelt a little puzzled.


    ''Did she really have to greet me like that?''


    She figured it was just because there were other people in the meeting, so she answered politely as well.


    ¡¸It¡¯s truly a pleasure to meet you, Ju Seoyeon. I¡¯m a fan of yours.¡¹


    Ramiel spoke with a bright smile, maintaining a composed demeanor.


    Even in the presence of a celebrity, she remained remarkably calm¡ª


    Which surprised Taegyun.


    He had expected her to be more excitable.


    ''But for Ju Seoyeon, wouldn¡¯t that feel a bit underwhelming?''


    Wouldn''t she be disappointed by such a lukewarm response?


    Curious, he turned to look at Seoyeon¡ª


    Drip.


    "?"


    A single tear rolled down her cheek.


    "Ah, sorry. I just... got overwhelmed for a moment."


    "...What?"


    "So this is what a fan feels like... I should treat my fans better from now on."


    "??"


    Including her past life¡ª


    She had spent over a decade passionately following Ramiel.


    And this was the first time she had the chance to actually speak to her.


    The overwhelming emotion made her eyes glisten with tears.


    ''What the hell? This is scary.''


    From Jiyeon¡¯s perspective behind the camera, it was downright unsettling.


    I mean¡ªshe knows who I am, right?


    She knows I¡¯m Jiyeon.


    And yet, Seoyeon was acting like Ramiel and Jiyeon were completely different people.


    "Ahem. Well, let¡¯s get started on discussing the promotional stream."


    Manager Hwang awkwardly redirected the conversation.


    Seoyeon¡¯s intensely emotional gaze toward Ramiel was getting a little overwhelming.


    "I already spoke briefly with streamer Heo Taegyun. For now, if you could share your thoughts on the concept and structure of the broadcast, that would be great."


    The promotional stream was planned to run for two hours.


    A separate commercial was also being considered, but celebrity commercials weren¡¯t always effective, so they were still undecided on that.


    For now, this meeting was strictly about organizing the live promotional broadcast.


    "Simply playing the game isn¡¯t very engaging."


    Having spent years streaming, Taegyun carefully began to share his thoughts.


    Seoyeon was still entirely focused on Ramiel, while Ramiel, being on video chat, maintained an attentive posture.


    "It¡¯s best if each participant has a set role or persona for the stream. The easiest dynamic to set up is having one person play the ¡®attacker¡¯ and the other the ¡®victim.¡¯ Oh, not anything extreme, just some playful teasing to spice things up."


    This wasn¡¯t about outright bullying¡ª


    But having someone to take the hits made for better entertainment.


    Of course, if it went too far, it could be a problem¡ª


    But as long as they kept it lighthearted, it would work.


    There were other possible formats, but this was what Taegyun was most comfortable with.


    "Usually, we¡¯d decide who¡¯s the ¡®strong player¡¯ and who¡¯s the ¡®weak one.¡¯ Depending on how we frame it, the whole vibe of the stream changes."


    Of course¡ª


    Taegyun had no intention of playing the weak role.


    So he subtly shifted his focus toward Ramiel.


    That had been his initial plan when discussing things with the team lead.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Seoyeon to be such a die-hard fan of Ramiel, which threw him off a bit¡ª


    But he had to push forward.


    After all, he had no idea how skilled this VTuber was.


    So, if they positioned her as the weaker player, the dynamic would work fine.


    ''Of course, the weaker role usually gets a slightly negative image.''


    But she was just a VTuber.


    Unlike him, she wasn¡¯t showing her real face on stream.


    She had a degree of protection.


    ''And I¡¯ll handle the heavy lifting anyway.''


    As for Seoyeon¡ª


    Even if she did nothing, he¡¯d figure out a way to carry.


    So, he couldn¡¯t afford to be the one getting teased.


    It was a bit of an excuse, but¡ª


    If the person carrying the game kept getting ridiculed, it could backfire.


    Viewers would start thinking:


    "Why are you mocking the one actually doing all the work?"


    If the other two were at least decent, it could be played off as a joke¡ª


    But since he wasn¡¯t sure of their skill levels, this was the safest plan.


    ¡¸Then maybe I should take that role. I¡¯m only Platinum, so my skills aren¡¯t that high yet.¡¹


    "Platinum?"


    Wait¡ª


    That¡¯s higher than he expected.


    Platinum wasn¡¯t particularly high in Eternity Camp, but still¡ª


    Taegyun had assumed she had zero experience with the game.


    This was a surprise.


    ''Well, this isn¡¯t bad, then.''


    As he nodded to himself¡ª


    He suddenly felt a presence beside him.


    Currently, in the meeting room, Taegyun and Seoyeon were sitting side by side.


    And now¡ª


    "......"


    The face that had just been filled with joy and admiration¡ª


    Had gone completely blank.


    A pair of ice-cold, crimson eyes were locked onto him.


    The moment he saw them, Taegyun¡¯s breath hitched.


    ''What should I do with this guy?''


    Should she just gut him?


    A rage far beyond what she had felt during the ShineMoon incident.


    An unfathomable fury that even Low himself had never reached.


    Seoyeon¡¯s mind was boiling with rage.


    "A-Ah. Actually, maybe I should take the weak role! I¡¯m great at being the one who gets beaten up!"


    Just as Seoyeon¡¯s mind was filled with gruesome thoughts about Taegyun¡¯s skull bouncing around like a pinball¡ª


    His sudden statement snapped her back to reality.


    But¡ª


    If he became the designated punching bag, wouldn¡¯t he come off as unlikeable?


    She didn¡¯t care much about herself¡ª


    But she couldn¡¯t let this affect Ramiel¡¯s image.


    That was unacceptable.


    "I think it¡¯d be better if Taegyun blamed me instead."


    "Huh?"


    "That makes the most sense, doesn¡¯t it?"


    "Wait, hold on¡ª"


    Taegyun was stunned.


    So she wanted him to be the one mocking her on stream?


    Even jokingly teasing a popular actress was dangerous¡ª


    But criticizing Ju Seoyeon on air?


    A ten-million-viewer actress.


    Someone who had just amassed a massive fanbase last year.


    He could already imagine the backlash.


    "......Do you not want to?"


    "No! I think that¡¯s a fantastic idea!"


    Taegyun quickly surrendered.


    The most important thing¡ª


    Was getting through this stream in one piece.

 Chapter 314: I’m Good at This Game (3)

    "The situation isn¡¯t looking too good."


    Park Jungwoo let out a deep sigh and slumped into the chair in front of his computer desk.


    He had just returned from an outing, and the exhaustion was settling in.


    "Should I play some games to clear my head?"


    Originally, Park Jungwoo had no connection to gaming.


    But ever since Seoyeon had forcibly dragged him into it...


    Now, he was actively seeking out different games on his own, even going so far as to build a custom gaming PC. He had become quite serious about it.


    "To sum it up, there are two main problems."


    His head throbbed.


    First, Violle wanted Seoyeon to visit France with him.


    They had formally requested her attendance at this year¡¯s Violle event.


    "So that guy¡¯s officially stuck as Violle¡¯s brand model now."


    They must have really liked her.


    He wondered if the executives at Violle¡¯s headquarters had any idea about the true nature of that girl hiding behind a princess-like fac?ade.


    Just thinking about traveling to France with her was already giving him a headache.


    And on top of that¡ª


    "This one¡¯s the bigger problem."


    Park Jungwoo stared at the script in his hands.


    It had arrived some time ago, but his packed schedule had delayed him from checking it.


    "Director Jo Mintae¡¯s first movie."


    Apparently, the director himself had no idea that Park Jungwoo was already involved in Director Jo Bangwoo¡¯s project.


    If he had known, he probably wouldn¡¯t have sent the script.


    "Is he so swamped that he didn¡¯t even have time to tell his own son?"


    Jo Mintae.


    He was, in his own way, an important mentor to that guy.


    The only reason Ju Seoyeon had been able to participate in The Moon That Hid the Sun was thanks to Director Jo Mintae¡¯s recommendation.


    Of course, Jo Bangwoo had supported the decision after hearing the details, but Seoyeon had undeniably received a lot of help from Mintae.


    Now, after years of working in commercials, dramas, and other visual media, Jo Mintae was finally making his bold move into film.


    The title of the movie: The Thief.


    And unfortunately, it was set to release at the exact same time as Seoul Escape.


    "This could turn into a disaster if their release dates overlap."


    A father and a son.


    A precious debut project and a career-defining work.


    Two men had unknowingly stepped onto the guillotine together.


    Had they really not communicated with each other about this?


    Or had the investors¡¯ demands just coincidentally aligned?


    Either way, it wasn¡¯t good.


    And the worst part was¡ª


    "It¡¯s good."


    Park Jungwoo¡¯s eyes grew serious.


    The script for The Thief that Jo Mintae had sent was good.


    Possibly just as good as, or even better than, Seoul Escape, which he had previously praised.


    And the confirmed lead actress?


    Kim Jeongha.


    The very same actress who had starred in Jo Mintae¡¯s first-ever commercial.


    The same actress who had appeared alongside Ju Seoyeon in her first commercial.


    For the past ten years, she had relentlessly climbed to the top.


    Her acting skills were indisputable.


    Her specialty? Method acting.


    Her ability to apply the perfect level of intensity to each scene was so exceptional that even Park Sunwoong, Jungwoo¡¯s own father, had once praised her talent.


    In the film where she had co-starred with Park Sunwoong, her performance had left audiences in shock¡ª


    She had held her own against one of the greatest actors of their time.


    "The competition is way too strong."


    Seoul Escape.


    No one could deny that it was a good film.


    But beyond the script and the director, the project had a lot of issues.


    First, casting was a nightmare.


    Seoul Escape placed an extreme focus on just two protagonists.


    That meant most actors weren¡¯t eager to join as supporting roles.


    Why would they? The pay was low, the screen time was minimal, and the risks were high.


    And on top of that, it was a Jo Bangwoo film¡ª


    His projects carried a significant risk of failure.


    "The investors..."


    From what he had heard, New Like Group and GH Group had been in talks, so there was hope.


    "It¡¯s probably because of Seoyeon."


    She was the only one capable of moving two conglomerates at once.


    Even if the investment issue was resolved, though, could they compete with The Thief?


    "Maybe I should talk to her about this."


    Surprisingly, Seoyeon was pretty sharp in situations like this.


    As Park Jungwoo mulled it over, his eyes drifted toward his glowing computer screen.


    He idly clicked a few buttons, intending to watch some YouTube videos.


    "Huh?"


    A recommended video caught his eye.


    It seemed to be related to a YouTuber he had previously watched while looking for game reviews.


    ...Eternity Camp?


    Oh, right. That was the name.


    The game that had just ended its early access and was launching officially.


    "Was that today?"


    Apparently, a promotional video had just been uploaded to YouTube in sync with the launch.


    Something about the broadcast felt odd¡ª


    A 3D avatar character was standing next to the YouTuber he had seen before.


    "Wait a second."


    That avatar... he¡¯d definitely seen it somewhere before.


    Seoyeon often watched¡ª


    "...?"


    That was when it hit him.


    The girl standing next to the 3D character.


    The girl playing the game, shoulders bouncing slightly.


    She looked twice as cheerful as usual.


    Her expression remained mostly blank, but the tiny lift of her lips betrayed just how much fun she was having.


    "What the hell is she doing?"


    Was she in a game commercial?


    Out of all possible endorsements, why this one?


    Confused but intrigued, Park Jungwoo naturally clicked on the video.


    There was no way he wouldn¡¯t¡ªthe thumbnail alone made it impossible to resist.


    [Chatroom before the official broadcast]


    Is the official Eternity Camp stream today?Yeah, starts at 2 PM. They¡¯re bringing in YouTubers for promotions.Who¡¯s streaming?Heo Taegyun.Just him?Nah, there¡¯s a VTuber and one undisclosed guest.LMAO a VTuber?Actually a solid choice for this game.


    The first official broadcast post-launch.


    Eternity Camp¡¯s developers were pushing promotions aggressively to capture new players, but audience reactions were mixed.


    Heo Taegyun has 700K subs, but isn¡¯t he kind of mid-tier?For this game, that¡¯s honestly a huge win.Who¡¯s the VTuber?It¡¯s Ramiel, she plays all kinds of games.Damn, VTubers and streamers are collabing now?


    Most of the buzz, however, revolved around the mystery guest.


    People were throwing out guesses, mostly assuming it was some famous gamer or streamer.


    And then¡ª


    "Hello, I¡¯m YouTuber Heo Taegyun."


    The broadcast began, just as expected.


    Heo Taegyun and Ramiel introduced each other and gave an overview of Eternity Camp¡¯s full release.


    So far, everything was scripted.


    But the real moment of interest was up next¡ª


    The reveal of today¡¯s final guest, followed by gameplay.


    "A lot of people have been guessing who today¡¯s guest is. Unfortunately, no one got it right."


    ??Just tell us already.Hurry up, dude.


    The chat was filled with impatient demands.


    Clearly, no one had anticipated anyone special.


    And why would they?


    Eternity Camp had been on life support in early access.


    Sure, the full launch was attracting new players, but no one knew how long that would last.


    So they assumed the ¡°special guest¡± was nothing extraordinary.


    But then¡ª


    "Our final guest today is... actress Ju Seoyeon!"


    The camera panned to reveal Seoyeon, seated neatly in her chair.


    For a brief moment¡ª


    ????????Is this real??Ju Seoyeon, here???


    The chat froze.


    For an instant, her perfectly symmetrical face filled the entire screen.


    For a brief moment, the chat froze.


    As the camera panned to capture Seoyeon¡¯s face in full view, the scrolling messages noticeably slowed down.


    Her face, flawless and elegant, filled the screen completely.


    Damn, she really is ridiculously pretty.If we¡¯re talking purely about looks, she¡¯s definitely #1 among current celebrities.Damn, what kind of connections do they have to bring in Ju Seoyeon?!Heo Taegyun is seriously lucky. He gets to stream with Ju Seoyeon now?!I¡¯m actually pissed off now.Please, just die.


    Even # N§àv§Ölight # in the slowed-down chat, most of the messages were pure admiration.


    And honestly, it made sense.


    Unlike her usual cold and aloof appearance, today¡¯s Seoyeon looked almost like a warm ray of sunlight.


    She practically glowed, as if she were radiating light herself.


    The reaction was so intense that Heo Taegyun¡¯s chat was flooded with envy.


    Of course, not all of it was positive.


    Ugh, another celebrity-sponsored stream?To be fair, Ju Seoyeon has talked a lot about gaming on public broadcasts.Yeah, but that¡¯s just a PR stunt.Dude, her dad is Kang Youngbin. It¡¯s not that surprising she got invited.Honestly, I¡¯m surprised it took this long for her to show up.


    Some of the sharper comments stood out.


    "As expected."


    Heo Taegyun swallowed dryly as he read through them.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising.


    Bringing a celebrity into a game promotion was a double-edged sword.


    Sure, it attracted a massive general audience, but it also alienated hardcore players.


    "I hope this doesn¡¯t mess things up."


    For streamers who weren¡¯t used to live reactions, harsh real-time comments could be a huge distraction.


    Even seasoned entertainers could get shaken if they weren¡¯t prepared.


    And Seoyeon?


    She was still young.


    If she saw some of the harsher comments, would it hurt her?


    Of course, Heo Taegyun was more worried about whether the stream itself would be fine rather than Seoyeon¡¯s feelings.


    "U-uh, let¡¯s start the game first! What are your ranks?"


    "I¡¯m Platinum."


    Ramiel was the first to respond.


    Since Raywill Games had reached out to her about playing the game, she hadn¡¯t had enough time to climb higher in rank.


    After all, Jiyeon¡¯s schedule had been packed.


    She had barely made it back in time from overseas to join the stream.


    "Uh, what about Seoyeon?"


    "You can just call me comfortably."


    "O-oh, then, Seoyeon... what¡¯s your rank?"


    Heo Taegyun asked as politely as possible.


    Since he¡¯d inevitably have to attack her in the game later, it was best to leave a good impression while he could.


    "Diamond."


    Seoyeon declared it boldly, her confidence unwavering.


    Heo Taegyun exaggerated his surprise, acting as if he had just heard shocking news.


    But in truth, he already knew.


    He had learned about her rank during a previous meeting.


    Back then, he had already been plenty surprised.


    "That¡¯s... higher than I expected."


    Honestly, Heo Taegyun had assumed Seoyeon and Ramiel would be somewhere around Silver or Gold.


    Or maybe they wouldn¡¯t have played ranked at all.


    But Ramiel was Platinum, and Seoyeon was Diamond.


    Of course, in Eternity Camp, that rank wasn¡¯t that high.


    Still, it was far beyond what he had imagined.


    ?? Diamond? Is that real?Damn, she¡¯s higher ranked than me.Did someone boost her account?Ju Seoyeon¡¯s got good mechanics, but that¡¯s all she¡¯s got.How do you even know that?She briefly showed it when she was on Golden Duckling.Yeah, and she was on that game show King If You Turn It On before too.


    The mention of King If You Turn It On made even the skeptics reassess their view of Seoyeon.


    For gamers, celebrities who had appeared on that show felt much more relatable.


    "Alright, let¡¯s start the game. Now, for character selection..."


    While Eternity Camp had team compositions, today¡¯s stream didn¡¯t need to follow strict meta strategies.


    At this level, skill and familiarity with one¡¯s character mattered more than tier rankings.


    As long as everyone played their best character and understood how to work together, they¡¯d be fine.


    "I¡¯ll tank."


    Seoyeon picked a character that was clearly built like a brick wall.


    A heavily muscled male warrior with jet-black hair.


    Not exactly the type of avatar most women would choose.


    She actually picked Vickers.Damn, she¡¯s a full-on min-maxer.Vickers is broken after the full release anyway.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t care about character appearances in games like this.


    In MMORPGs, sure, she¡¯d pay attention.


    But in competitive games?


    She only picked what was most effective.


    "Ramiel, you go ADC. I¡¯ll protect you."


    "Ah, sorry, but I¡¯ve only ever played support."


    "Then I guess there¡¯s no choice."


    Seoyeon gave Ramiel a look of genuine disappointment.


    Her in-game avatar even trembled slightly, as if shaken by the weight of her expectations.


    "...Does she even want to promote this game?"


    For the record, Ramiel was good at the game.


    Her main roles were melee damage dealers or ADCs.


    She rarely played support.


    But today, she had deliberately chosen a support role.


    "For the sake of this stream, my job is to be the support."


    Of course, many of her regular viewers were in the chat.


    And just like the company had predicted, using a VTuber for the promotion had been highly effective.


    Since Eternity Camp was based on cel-shaded animation, it paired perfectly with the VTuber aesthetic.


    "Still, the real star today should be Ju Seoyeon."


    A million-ticket actress.


    The most dazzling actress of the past year.


    She had just won a Best Supporting Actress award.


    And compared to that, a YouTuber with 700,000 subs was nothing.


    For the advertisement to be successful, Seoyeon had to be the main attraction.


    "Though, she doesn¡¯t seem to care about that at all."


    Heo Taegyun was ambitious.


    His desire to take center stage was clear from the start.


    He had planned to mess with Seoyeon during the game¡ª


    But in the end, he had quietly backed down from that idea.


    Instead, he had chosen a flashy assassin character, one that could make big plays.


    The kind of character that could steal the spotlight.


    ...Of course, that was also because Seoyeon had instantly locked in a tank.


    Leaving him no choice but to pick an offensive role.


    "Anyway, we¡¯ve got a standard composition."


    Tank, damage dealer, support.


    A textbook team setup.


    Like Ramiel, Heo Taegyun was secretly relieved that Seoyeon had picked tank.


    Tanks had become highly valuable after the game¡¯s balance patch.


    And since a tank was already in the mix, he could freely pick an aggressive damage dealer.


    "Alright, let¡¯s group up quickly and look for our first fight."


    Raywill Games had set a mission for the stream.


    If today¡¯s guests could secure first place, all players would receive 1,000 in-game gems.


    Naturally, this meant that most viewers wanted them to win.


    The match lasted two hours, and in Eternity Camp, victory meant being the last surviving team among eight groups.


    It was essentially a battle royale.


    "Since we don¡¯t have full vision, we shouldn¡¯t rush fights."


    In Eternity Camp, special crafting materials spawned at set intervals.


    And, unsurprisingly, those areas often became war zones.


    Most teams hesitated, waiting for others to fight first before swooping in to claim the loot.


    "We need to be cautious here."


    Heo Taegyun placed a ward for vision and scanned the surroundings.


    One enemy team was visible above them.


    He was just about to suggest a retreat route when¡ª


    "I¡¯m going in."


    "Huh?"


    It happened in an instant.


    Before Heo Taegyun could even stop her, Seoyeon had already charged at the nearest enemy.


    "Wait, what if another team is nearby?!"


    That was his first thought¡ª


    But as he watched what happened next, his eyes widened.


    "What the hell? How is she so good?!"


    She dodged every skillshot.


    Not a single non-targeted attack landed on her.


    And her abilities?


    She had perfectly focused the enemy¡¯s carry.


    Reflexively, Heo Taegyun followed up and secured the kill, sealing their first victory.


    ????What the hell was that?!She just walked in and dodged everything???Must be because this is casual play.Nah, the enemy team actually played that well.Her game sense is insane.


    Sure, Heo Taegyun had dealt the finishing blow.


    But anyone watching could see¡ª


    Seoyeon had completely set up that fight.


    Despite being on the frontline, she had barely lost any health.


    Even as a tank, she had only survived because she had dodged everything possible.


    She was too good.


    It was so impressive that Heo Taegyun couldn¡¯t keep up his original plan of teasing her on-stream.


    "U-uh, so... who¡¯s taking the loot?"


    Even though it felt surreal, no other teams had shown up.


    They quickly grabbed the crafting materials to upgrade their equipment.


    Typically, the carry got priority over loot.


    That was the usual unwritten rule, even after the official launch.


    "I¡¯m good. I¡¯m a tank."


    "Alright, then I¡¯ll¡ª"


    Just as Heo Taegyun reached for it¡ª


    "Ramiel, you should take it."


    He stopped mid-motion.


    "?"


    "Seoyeon, I won¡¯t get much value out of it."


    Ramiel politely tried to refuse, internally screaming, "I¡¯m a SUPPORT, dammit!"


    "That doesn¡¯t matter."


    "..."


    "And support getting stronger is always a good thing."


    Technically, that was true.


    It was just that other roles benefited more.


    ??What kind of nonsense is this?Did she really just say that?Her skills are Diamond, but her logic is Bronze.She¡¯s just being considerate so the VTuber doesn¡¯t feel awkward.Wait, but who even IS this VTuber?She¡¯s got 200K subs. Pretty well-known in the VTuber scene.Her voice sounds really familiar... is it just me?Yeah, just you.


    Scanning the chat, Heo Taegyun sighed.


    Winning today¡¯s match was not going to be easy.

 Chapter 315: New Semester (1)

    The game''s dynamics were overall quite peculiar.


    First of all, all the special items obtained went straight to the support character, Aria.


    Aria is not a character without damage, but she¡¯s primarily a support character who plays music to provide shields or healing to allies. Naturally, her efficiency was bound to be worse compared to the other characters.


    On the other hand, Heo Taegyun was handling an assassin character. Aich is a character where items are very important.


    Without proper items, the assassin might end up getting killed instead of making a successful assassination.


    ¡®Well, it¡¯s just a casual game, so it¡¯s probably fine.¡¯


    That was the thought Seoyeon forced herself to have. However, in this state, reaching the goal of getting first place in today¡¯s stream honestly seemed pretty far out of reach. Even if her physical skills seemed fine, with such strange judgments, things weren¡¯t looking good.


    But then...


    ¡®...What is going on?¡¯


    After about 20 minutes into the game, Heo Taegyun realized something.


    ¡®Why are we winning so consistently?¡¯


    By the time he snapped out of it, there were only 3 teams left. Out of the total eight teams, only 3 were still standing.


    And, in fact, their party didn¡¯t get this far by chance.


    ¡°Holy shit, they¡¯re basically tanks.¡±¡°Just bump into them, and they all get wiped out, hahaha.¡±¡°Ju Seoyeon¡¯s rank is Diamond? Seriously?¡±¡°Did the actress just play the game instead of acting?¡±


    The reason for this didn¡¯t need much deeper thought. It was simply because they won every single fight.


    And there was a reason for that. First off, Heo Taegyun¡¯s rank was Eternity, so it wouldn¡¯t be strange to easily dominate a normal game. But even then, it wasn¡¯t at the level where he could wipe out all the enemies by himself.


    ¡®At least, when it comes to fights... they really are good...¡¯


    That thought escaped involuntarily. Seoyeon wasn¡¯t half-assing it in fights, even though she had a rough idea of the approach.


    She avoided most of the non-targeted skills, and she effectively focused on eliminating the characters that needed to be killed first in the enemy team. What was surprising was how well Aria, who was the first to get items, did better than expected.


    Once she had items, she could deal damage and support as well.


    ¡®Was it Ramiel, right?¡¯


    Heo Taegyun thought about the virtual YouTuber character that wasn¡¯t in the match. Her rank was said to be Platinum, but her skill seemed to be above that.


    What stood out was her frequent gaming experience.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time for the Aclis to spawn, let¡¯s go check it out.¡±


    If they catch it, they get a special item and a buff from the neutral monster, Aclis. This monster gives a huge advantage when the game heads into its later stages.


    Catching Aclis would essentially secure the win for them!


    ¡°What¡¯s Aclis?¡±¡°I¡¯ve only recently joined, so I have no idea what Aclis is.¡±


    ¡°Oh, let me explain Aclis for you,¡± Heo Taegyun said, continuing his farming while giving a detailed explanation.


    It had only been a day since the official release, so the newcomers tuning into the stream were still unfamiliar with the game.


    While farming and talking naturally, Heo Taegyun smoothly handled the stream.


    ¡®His streaming skills are impressive.¡¯


    Although Seoyeon had been mostly focused on Ramiel, she had to admit that Heo Taegyun¡¯s broadcast skills were quite good. Of course, she hadn¡¯t fully appreciated Ramiel¡¯s value yet, but his speaking skills were top-notch.


    ¡®Hmm, so this is what it¡¯s like...¡¯


    Although she had watched Ramiel''s streams often, seeing a live broadcast from a fellow streamer right next to her wasn¡¯t so bad either.


    No, wait. She couldn¡¯t just sit and watch.


    ¡®I need to say something too.¡¯


    What did she say during this round?


    ¡®Ramiel, please take this.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll protect you, Ramiel.¡¯ ¡®Ramiel...¡¯


    She only said the necessary things. However, it felt like there were a lot of conversations related to Ramiel, so she thought she should say something different.


    ¡°Ah, my bad! I got caught. Over here, over here!!¡±


    At that moment, Heo Taegyun screamed.


    Perhaps distracted by running the broadcast, he didn¡¯t see the attack from the enemy tank in his blind spot. The assassin¡¯s character, Aich, was sent flying into the air.


    But, being from Eternity, he should have been able to escape quickly, right?


    ¡®There¡¯s another team.¡¯


    Just as Seoyeon was about to rush over to save Aich, she halted when another team appeared. It was unfortunate that the other team was aiming to catch Ramiel¡¯s Aria.


    ¡°Wait, wait! You have to save me first!¡± ¡°If we do that, Ramiel will die.¡±


    Was she really protecting a support instead of the dealer?


    ¡°Here, saving Ramiel over me?¡±


    It was more logical to save the dealer than the support. She was about to say that, but then she remembered the look Seoyeon had given her earlier when she spoke ill of Ramiel.


    ¡®Better to just die.¡¯


    It was probably best to just accept her death. This match wasn¡¯t the only one after all.


    Heo Taegyun humbly accepted his fate.


    He had taken down one enemy, but unfortunately was taken out by the remaining two enemies. The opposing team revived the one who had fallen, so they practically suffered no loss.


    ¡°Wow, it ends so anticlimactically.¡±¡°That¡¯s why you can¡¯t get cocky in these games. Always end up getting hit hard.¡±¡°But even with Eternity, he took one down against three, haha.¡±¡°Ju Seoyeon, haha, protecting the dealer, huh?¡±


    The chat was filled with similar comments. Heo Taegyun, feeling a little defeated, turned his head and glanced to the side.


    ¡®What¡¯s with them looking at me again?¡¯


    Was she blaming him for dying?


    ¡®I don¡¯t think so... I mean, surely not.¡¯


    Then it dawned on Heo Taegyun. Seoyeon was looking at him because, just as originally planned, she was trying to play the role of ¡®slamming¡¯ him. Seoyeon had been the one to handle the correct role, and she was trying to use this timing to her advantage.


    ¡®Ah, is that why I saved Ramiel instead of her?¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t really because of that. He just thought Ramiel was more important and decided to save her. But still...


    ¡°Heh, cough. Seoyeon, I mean, at that moment, you should¡¯ve saved Ramiel instead of me...¡±


    That¡¯s when the screen showed the scene where another team, aiming for Ramiel, got completely wiped out in a 3v2 fight.


    ¡°What was that?¡±¡°Damn, that Vicker is really strong, haha.¡±¡°Aria¡¯s shields kept them alive, what a play.¡±


    The sudden mad movie-like moment stopped the conversation in its tracks.


    ¡®If they¡¯re that strong, couldn¡¯t they have just saved me and wiped everyone out?¡¯


    That thought crossed her mind, but she didn¡¯t bring it up.


    Seoyeon¡¯s Vicker had put on an impressive performance, but unfortunately, they lost in the final fight.


    It was possible in earlier fights due to the level gap, but the final battle wasn¡¯t so easy.


    ¡°Ah, so close. I thought we were going to get first place right off the bat.¡±


    Heo Taegyun clicked his tongue in frustration. But with another hour and a half left in the broadcast, he thought they still had enough time to secure first place.


    ¡°I...¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Can I speak a bit during the next match?¡±


    At that moment, Seoyeon spoke up.


    ¡°Oh, Taegyun didn¡¯t let her talk much, huh?¡±¡°Taegyun¡¯s so rude, not talking to Seoyeon.¡±


    The chat exploded with comments about how Taegyun hadn¡¯t really let Seoyeon speak much.


    Heo Taegyun felt wronged.


    ¡°Seoyeon didn¡¯t really talk to me either, you know?¡±


    ¡°True, haha. Seoyeon only talks to Ramiel.¡±¡°Who is Ramiel? Why is Seoyeon so obsessed with him?¡±¡°Didn¡¯t Seoyeon get caught watching Ramiel¡¯s VTuber streams in Japan? That¡¯s what she was watching, wasn¡¯t it?¡±¡°No way, hahaha.¡±¡°If you zoom in, it looks just like him.¡±


    The chat went wild with reactions to Seoyeon¡¯s past visit to Japan. She had been caught watching a VTuber stream, and when the image was zoomed in, it resembled Ramiel.


    Hearing these comments, Seoyeon nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It might look like that, but... no.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s kind of weird.¡±¡°Hmm... something¡¯s off.¡±


    There were a lot of opinions about Ramiel, but for now, they had to move on since the broadcast had to continue.


    ¡°By the way, can I present the game next round?¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡±


    The next round began, with Seoyeon now taking over from Heo Taegyun to host.


    ¡®By listening to her talk, I¡¯ll probably figure out if she¡¯s hiding her tier or if she¡¯s just a local player.¡¯


    Seoyeon¡¯s tier was Diamond. But from Heo Taegyun¡¯s perspective, it seemed to be higher than that. He wondered if she was hiding her tier.


    Seoyeon, on her end, was excited.


    ¡®Alright, even if I¡¯m not a VTuber, it¡¯s my first stream!¡¯


    A chance to test her speaking skills! Seoyeon was full of energy and naturally continued speaking.


    ¡°The Eternity Camp is actually pretty easy once you know a little bit about how to play.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like League, but a totally different feel.¡±¡°Isn¡¯t it basically League without lanes?¡±¡°It¡¯s kind of like a survival game, like PUBG.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s similar. The way you handle characters is kind of like League, but there are no lanes, and there¡¯s not really any management, so it¡¯s easier.¡±


    ¡°No management?¡±¡°I thought Eternity Camp was a bit complicated with the movements and all.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s words made both Heo Taegyun and Ramiel flustered. After all, Eternity Camp does have its share of complex strategies, despite Seoyeon¡¯s claim that there is no management involved.


    For reference, Seoyeon picked a dealer this time.


    She initially chose her favorite mage character, but...


    "Seoyeon, I think you''d look cool playing that axe-wielding character."


    "Of course. I¡¯m pretty good with Rekki."


    The axe-wielding killer character.


    Seoyeon, having fallen for Ramiel''s words, picked it.


    ''Not a mage, huh. Not a mage.''


    Ramiel let out a relieved sigh inwardly.


    Seoyeon was originally a mage-type character.


    She liked caster-type characters.


    Before the advertisement shoot, they had played a few rounds together, so Ramiel knew.


    Seoyeon was a caster-type.


    Especially characters with more complex skill setups¡ªSeoyeon was terrible at those.


    What she was good at were simple melee characters.


    Ramiel had definitely figured that out.


    ¡®...But when it¡¯s with me, she didn¡¯t let me change her character.¡¯


    When Ramiel mentioned it, Seoyeon immediately switched, but when it was Ramiel¡ªno, when it was Lee Jiyeon, she was a bit frustrated.


    "First, let¡¯s quickly equip items, then wait at the location where materials spawn. It¡¯d be good if there are more people around..."


    "?? There are too many people here. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to go somewhere else?"


    "No, this is perfect."


    Seoyeon said that and moved forward with Rekki, the tank Heo Taegyun hadn¡¯t moved in yet, to check out the situation.


    "When Rekki comes out, I¡¯ll use skills to harass. I dodge like this. Then, dodge this one."


    As the enemy¡¯s skills came flying, Seoyeon¡¯s Rekki dodged them all.


    It wasn¡¯t just random movement; it was as if Seoyeon had carefully "seen" the skills coming and dodged them.


    "What is that?""Rekki¡¯s movement is kind of weird?""Is Seoyeon hacking?"


    "Alright, let¡¯s kill them all and take the money."


    "What the hell, you skipped a lot of explanation."


    "And now, some people will start heading to the shop to equip items."


    Seeing the exclamation mark on the map, Seoyeon quickly rushed over.


    Heo Taegyun and Ramiel quickly followed Seoyeon¡¯s ping.


    "If we kill them all now, we can even steal the items they were picking up."


    "That¡¯s pure thievery.""Is this how Eternity Camp is supposed to be played?"


    "It¡¯s basic to raid while they¡¯re crafting items."


    Heo Taegyun didn¡¯t say much.


    He never imagined he would charge in the moment he saw them, knocking them out.


    "You can¡¯t be afraid of fighting. The ones you see, you kill them all."


    "Come on, admit it, that wasn¡¯t acting, right?""Now that I think about it, both Rekki and Vicker only use axe-wielding characters.""Didn¡¯t the poster of Mind also show him holding an axe?""Sis, why do you like axes so much?"


    "That¡¯s a misunderstanding. I just chose the character that looks strong."


    "Is holding an axe what makes a character look strong?""Well, it does look strong..."


    Anyway, while Seoyeon was charging in ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã and slaughtering everyone, Heo Taegyun was hiding his dedicated contributions.


    He desperately tried to keep Rekki alive, and since he wasn¡¯t sure how Seoyeon would react if Ramiel died, he did his best to keep her alive.


    "...You¡¯re working hard."


    Ramiel, seeing this, said with a hint of sympathy.


    Heo Taegyun nearly teared up at Ramiel¡¯s kind words.


    ¡®I misunderstood VTubers...¡¯


    He had only looked at the 3D avatars and hadn¡¯t considered their inner personalities.


    Compared to Seoyeon, how gentle and kind this Ramiel was.


    "Ah, we¡¯re definitely getting first place now. They¡¯re fighting Aclis over there, so now... instead of stealing the Aclis, we just need to focus on hitting the players."


    The enemies would likely focus on stopping Aclis from getting stolen, leaving a chance for Rekki to take down one of them.


    That would essentially guarantee the win.


    ¡ª That was Seoyeon¡¯s logic.


    "It doesn¡¯t usually go that smoothly.""Who would foolishly deal damage like that?"


    "Watch, I¡¯ll show you that I¡¯m right."


    Seoyeon rushed in and immediately attacked the enemies hitting Aclis.


    The enemies quickly turned their targets from Aclis to Rekki.


    CC skills from the enemies flew toward Rekki.


    "I¡¯ll dodge this."


    "?"


    Since most CC skills were non-targeted, Seoyeon skillfully dodged them and closed the gap, taking advantage of the enemies¡¯ confusion.


    With that opening, Rekki cleaved through the heads of three enemies with her axe.


    By the time Heo Taegyun and Ramiel arrived, the situation was already over.


    In the chaos, first place was secured, and the screen captured it in slow motion.


    "What?""??""?????"


    The chat exploded with a flurry of comments.


    "See, I killed them all."


    "Are you serious?""Nothing you said actually happened. How is that correct?""What, you weren¡¯t even hitting Aclis, you were just hitting anyone you saw.""It was because of the growth gap, they were going to win anyway. You would¡¯ve lost if it weren¡¯t for that."


    "I didn¡¯t get hit, so it¡¯s the same as not attacking."


    "???""What kind of logic is that?""Can¡¯t we watch a replay?""How the hell did she dodge that? Right now?""Watching this makes me mad."


    "It¡¯s not that hard to dodge. Eternity Camp has a lot of non-targeted skills."


    "I¡¯m just starting this game today, but that sounds like nonsense.""I thought you meant ¡®no-target¡¯ skills."


    Anyway, just two rounds.


    Just two rounds and the mission was easily completed.


    The Eternity Camp marketing team, watching this unfold, was probably smiling.


    ¡®Is this for real? The live viewers count is 100,000?¡¯


    For Eternity Camp, this was an absurd level of viewership.


    Seoyeon¡¯s appearance must have drawn quite a bit of attention.


    Unlike other actors, Seoyeon was often a topic of discussion in various communities.


    And with her being a VTuber, there were likely people curious enough to watch.


    Still, aside from that...


    "...Seoyeon, I¡¯ll handle the hosting from now on."


    "Huh? Didn¡¯t I do well?"


    Hearing Seoyeon¡¯s genuinely confused tone, Heo Taegyun could only remain silent.


    That was all he could really do.


    ****


    "Ju Seoyeon, the advertisement went really well today. I¡¯m looking forward to the ad video later."


    The head of the Eternity Camp marketing team, Hwang, said with a bright smile.


    The promotional stream was a huge hit, and the viewership numbers were rising rapidly.


    Afterward, they¡¯d probably edit it briefly and post it, and that would draw in more users.


    ¡®I wish I could do a bit more streaming.¡¯


    Seoyeon, of course, felt a bit disappointed.


    Aside from the second round, she hadn¡¯t had a chance to stream much herself.


    "If it were just a regular stream, I wouldn¡¯t mind, but this is a promotional stream..."


    Seeing Seoyeon¡¯s sulking face, Jiyeon said with a smile.


    Honestly, Seoyeon¡¯s stream was entertaining.


    She wasn¡¯t particularly good at speaking, but the stream itself was definitely fun.


    However, it felt somewhat disconnected from the purpose of introducing Eternity Camp.


    "It¡¯s fine for one time, but it would be awkward to keep doing that."


    "Yeah, I get it."


    Finally, understanding, Seoyeon nodded.


    Jiyeon had a lot to say about Seoyeon¡¯s reactions when she talked to Ramiel¡ªlike she had the whole world, but when talking to Jiyeon, she was incredibly calm.


    ¡®Well, that¡¯s what makes it fun.¡¯


    And, of course, watching her jump when Ramiel whispered to her a few times was amusing too.


    ...Though, there was a small bit of jealousy as a friend.


    ¡®What happened with Jo Sehee, I wonder.¡¯


    Apparently, while she was overseas, there were several incidents on the set of Mine.


    Seoyeon seemed to be in high spirits, busy with reshoots.


    ¡®I feel like it¡¯s somehow related to Ju Seoyeon...¡¯


    Jiyeon watched Seoyeon, sipping her iced Americano thoughtfully.


    Lately, it seemed like a lot of people were getting involved with her.


    Not just Stella, but even Park Jungwoo seemed suspicious, especially regarding Princess Yeonhwa.


    Jo Sehee¡¯s recent responses were a bit off...


    "Ju Seoyeon."


    "Huh?"


    "Are you really going to do it?"


    Currently, Seoyeon and Jiyeon were heading back after visiting Yeonhwa High School.


    It wasn¡¯t a time they would typically go, but they had been called by Teacher Song Da-yeon from the drama club.


    It was something that had come up before.


    "Drama club."


    "Yeah. It won¡¯t hurt to join."


    "...Hmm."


    Well, Teacher Song Da-yeon probably wouldn¡¯t be too much of a bother.


    But it felt a little odd that Seoyeon, who hadn¡¯t planned on joining, was being persuaded.


    ¡®She just falls for that kind of thing so easily.¡¯


    In fact, Teacher Song Da-yeon hadn¡¯t thrown any particularly impressive bait.


    She was just a junior.


    Among the new students, many aimed to join the drama club.


    The reason? Because of one student currently attending Yeonhwa High School.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    The most shining actress in Korea last year.


    "Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to show the juniors Seoyeon¡¯s cool side?"


    Teacher Song Da-yeon had said that.


    And, being quite proud, Seoyeon nodded eagerly.


    ¡®I¡¯m a senior now.¡¯


    Seeing Seoyeon, all puffed up, Jiyeon let out a sigh.


    She hoped that the upcoming new semester wouldn¡¯t bring any trouble.

 Chapter 316: New Semester (2)

    "This year¡¯s KMB Acting Awards Best Actress... a young actress who made a huge impact with her roles in Sky Garden and Dream Future!"


    On that winter night, as snow gently fell, the family gathered around the TV, their eyes fixed on the screen, unable to look away.


    "It¡¯s Ju Seoyeon!"


    With the cheerful voice of the announcer, a round of thunderous applause filled the room.


    Amidst the many stars, a young girl naturally stood up.


    Her youthful appearance stood out compared to the other stars.


    In her bright white dress, contrasting with her dark black hair, and her eyes, shining like a sunset, she was a truly memorable actress.


    "Didn¡¯t she also win Best Supporting Actress at the film festival this year?"


    "Yeah, I heard she was in a film as well, though I didn¡¯t see it."


    "Wow, she''s so young and already so busy."


    The conversation of the parents could be heard in the background.


    The sight of the girl, holding the sparkling award and giving her acceptance speech, was a familiar one.


    One year.


    In just one year, she had achieved something miraculous.


    The image of the girl standing on the stage was so beautiful that it left everyone staring blankly.


    "Araya."


    The parents pointed to the TV as they spoke to the girl.


    "So, that actress is attending the school Araya will be entering this year?"


    Hearing this, the girl¡ªno, Yeonari¡ªnodded slowly.


    She was simply a fan.


    But beyond that, her heart was filled with a desire to be just like the girl on the TV screen.


    That¡¯s why she had chosen Yeonhwa High School.


    Even though she could¡¯ve gone to other arts high schools, she specifically chose this one.


    "Yeah, that''s right."


    Yeonari said this and ran her fingers through her blonde hair.


    Her blonde hair, a symbol of her mixed heritage.


    She touched it absentmindedly, gazing at the girl on TV, now realizing how soon she would meet her.


    ****


    "Ugh... grr..."


    A young actor who had steadily built a name for himself by appearing in various cable dramas, Jeong Hyunwoo slowly released the tension in his arms and dropped the weights he had been lifting.


    "Haah..."


    His breath was heavy, and his arms felt numb, but he felt proud to finally reach the 3 to 400 kg threshold.


    He wished his acting ability could steadily rise in the same way.


    As Jeong Hyunwoo thought about it and turned his body...


    "Ugh!"


    "...Why are you so surprised looking at me?"


    "Ah, no. It¡¯s just that you appeared behind me suddenly."


    "Mm."


    Seoyeon stared at Jeong Hyunwoo with slightly narrowed eyes.


    Hyunwoo swallowed nervously at the change in her expression.


    Though Seoyeon looked delicate, Jeong Hyunwoo knew better.


    He knew that Seoyeon could easily lift weights that were as heavy as his own body.


    ''Does this even make sense?''


    It wasn¡¯t the first time he had thought that, but honestly, he didn¡¯t care much.


    While his physical abilities were impressive, other aspects were still difficult for him to get used to.


    ''Will she be as active this year as she was last year?''


    The variety of activities Seoyeon had done last year had shocked Jeong Hyunwoo.


    As someone who spent a year hopping between supporting roles, seeing Seoyeon, who became a hit whenever she appeared, was like seeing a monster.


    At first, he felt a lot of envy, but now, he saw Seoyeon as a lucky charm.


    The day he saw Seoyeon at the gym, he felt like his acting had improved.


    That¡¯s why, when he had an audition, Jeong Hyunwoo made sure to go to the gym, because he felt like he needed to see Seoyeon to succeed in the audition.


    "Last week, I saw you in the drama."


    "Oh, really? How was it?"


    "I enjoyed it. It¡¯s a cable drama, but everyone¡¯s acting was amazing."


    Hearing Seoyeon¡¯s words, Jeong Hyunwoo let out a relieved sigh.


    It wasn¡¯t just that seeing Seoyeon was a lucky charm, but also because Seoyeon had occasionally given him tips.


    At first, Jeong Hyunwoo didn¡¯t think he was in a position to receive advice from someone younger, but Seoyeon had helped him several times before.


    "So, what¡¯s going on today?"


    "Huh?"


    "You seem like you have something to say."


    Seoyeon was somewhat surprised by Jeong Hyunwoo¡¯s words.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him to read her thoughts first.


    This made it easier to speak up.


    "By any chance, are you thinking about starring in a movie?"


    "A movie? I¡¯d love to... no, of course, I¡¯d love to."


    "I¡¯d have to play a supporting role, but the part is a bit small."


    She added that the director¡¯s review wasn¡¯t great either.


    Of course, for someone like Jeong Hyunwoo, who was still practically a newcomer, this didn¡¯t really matter.


    The important thing was to appear in a movie!


    "Well, even if it''s a small role, it¡¯s still a role."


    If it was a movie that Seoyeon recommended, Jeong Hyunwoo would take the part without even thinking about the payment.


    After all, it was a movie recommended by Ju Seoyeon herself.


    He saw immense value in this, something that money couldn¡¯t measure.


    Seeing Jeong Hyunwoo''s fervent admiration for her, Seoyeon felt a slight discomfort.


    No, he was being so firm about it.


    But from Jeong Hyunwoo¡¯s perspective, this was understandable.


    After all, when Seoyeon visited the gym during the Golden Duckling shoot, it had become quite the topic of conversation.


    She had filmed commercials and had a significant supporting role in the recent cable drama.


    At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for her to star in a mainstream TV drama this year.


    "Well... I¡¯ll contact you later. Although, I think someone else will contact you instead of me."


    "It doesn¡¯t matter."


    Jeong Hyunwoo said while tapping his muscular chest, and Seoyeon nodded in agreement.


    ¡®I¡¯ve filled the role of an actor.¡¯


    Seoyeon let out a sigh of relief inside.


    ¡®An actor is exactly what we need.¡¯


    She was talking about an actor to appear in Seoul Escape.


    Honestly, if they announced the audition, many actors would rush in, but what was important was their ''acting skills.''


    The actor needed to match the role as well.


    In that regard, Jeong Hyunwoo was a good fit.


    ¡®His acting has really improved in the past year.¡¯


    His performance in the recent cable drama was impressive enough to deserve applause.


    He¡¯d kept up with regular workouts, and his fresh looks made him the perfect fit to play the male lead''s bodyguard in Seoul Escape.


    ¡®Jeongwoo oppa said he¡¯d check out the other things, but I hope it goes well.¡¯


    Seoyeon recalled the bombshell news she heard from Park Jeongwoo recently.


    It was a huge possibility that The Thief and Seoul Escape would be released at the same time.


    At the cafe where they often met, Seoyeon lowered her sunglasses slightly and said,


    "Can¡¯t we just postpone it?"


    "I think Director Cho Bangwoo would prefer that. He probably wants to avoid a direct competition with his son¡¯s film."


    If Seoul Escape clashed with his son¡¯s first movie, it would cause a lot of conflict.


    If his own movie lost to his son¡¯s, it would be a huge shock.


    "Of course, as a father, he¡¯d probably be happy if his son won, but..."


    "Director Cho Bangwoo is probably under a lot of pressure."


    "Exactly."


    So, he¡¯d likely try to avoid the clash, but the investors had a different view.


    Their opinion was that there was no need to postpone the release, and it might be better to focus on the "buzz."


    The rare father-son film competition in the industry.


    If they adjusted the number of theaters, it could turn into a very profitable situation.


    "Fortunately, the fact that New Like Group is involved is a relief."


    Although the original investors had the most authority, with New Like Group involved, they wouldn¡¯t be able to do things recklessly. That, at least, was a comfort.


    ¡®If that¡¯s the case, they probably won¡¯t use problematic actors like in my past life.¡¯


    That was the one thing that made her feel relieved.


    The problem was, even if that was the case, it seemed like no decent actors were willing to join Seoul Escape.


    "There¡¯s something I need to talk about with the Biol Gun, but... I¡¯ll do that later."


    "By the way, do I have to wear that improved hanbok again?"


    "It¡¯s pretty much the same."


    "Hmm."


    At Park Jeongwoo''s words, Seoyeon gave him a strange smile and looked at him.


    It was as if to say, "You like that, don¡¯t you?"


    Naturally, Jeongwoo couldn¡¯t help but bristle.


    "Hey, that¡¯s just a fit of rage."


    "Don¡¯t describe me like I have some disease."


    "I¡¯m not easily fooled by acting like that."


    Is that acting, though?


    Now, even Seoyeon was a bit confused.


    It had started with method acting, but now, if she just focused, she could easily pull it off whenever she wanted.


    "Hmm, I think you might actually be able to fool someone..."


    "..."


    "Want to try it now?"


    Seoyeon spoke in a subtle tone, and Jeongwoo tightly shut his eyes.


    "No, uh, about that game commercial, I saw it. It looked pretty fun, right?"


    Realizing he was in an unwinnable situation, Jeongwoo slyly changed the subject.


    After all, Seoyeon, who had such a strong influence on him during his childhood, was not someone he could challenge.


    Seoyeon, knowing this, smiled slightly.


    Jeongwoo¡¯s reaction was so on point that she couldn¡¯t help but act like this.


    "If you watched the broadcast, you¡¯d know. I¡¯m an expert at Eternity Camp. If you want to play together next time, practice beforehand."


    "...Expert? What¡¯s that?"


    "..."


    "No, you''re right. Yeah, expert."


    Watching Seoyeon¡¯s eyes gradually turn a sunset-like hue, Jeongwoo nodded obediently.


    He knew that if he teased her about the game, Seoyeon would never let it slide.


    ****


    The end of winter break.


    Then, spring break passed, and the new semester began.


    The class changed, and spring came with a new grade.


    "Need a ride?"


    "..."


    Seoyeon looked at Jo Seokhee, standing in front of her house with a bike, holding her phone.


    "...How did you find out my address?"


    "Oh, it¡¯s not like that, I¡¯ve been to your house before. Why are you holding your phone like that? I¡¯m not some suspicious person!"


    "Hmm. But I¡¯ll pass on riding behind you."


    Seoyeon found Jo Seokhee interesting.


    On the first day of the new semester, while Lee Jiyeon had gone to school by herself, Seokhee had come to pick her up.


    "You don¡¯t have any friends, do you?"


    "..."


    Seoyeon said this, and for a moment, Seokhee wanted to say, ''More than you,'' but she held herself back.


    To someone for whom that statement would be a ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) lie, it would be a joke, but for someone who it was true for, it would just be a documentary.


    "I had something I wanted to talk about on the way."


    "Ah, you finished shooting, right?"


    "Yeah."


    Seokhee smiled proudly at Seoyeon.


    It had been a close call.


    The reshoot for Mine had only wrapped up two days before the end of winter break.


    "Thanks to that, I was able to do it."


    "I didn¡¯t really do anything, though."


    "No, if it weren¡¯t for that..."


    Seokhee recalled the day she and Seoyeon had gone to the winter beach.


    By the way, her phone¡¯s wallpaper was a picture from that day at the beach.


    It was a symbol of her resolve during the reshoots, and she hadn¡¯t bothered changing it.


    "You could¡¯ve just told me this over the phone."


    "...Don¡¯t people tell you you¡¯re sometimes too cold?"


    At Seokhee¡¯s words, Seoyeon shrugged.


    She probably felt hurt that Seoyeon hadn¡¯t shown more concern, but to Seoyeon, it was just a natural thing.


    She trusted Seokhee¡¯s skills and was sure that she had filmed a great scene during the reshoots.


    "I thought if I asked, I¡¯d end up getting questioned about everything."


    "Well, just ask then."


    "I¡¯d rather watch the drama without any spoilers."


    Seoyeon remembered Seokhee¡¯s acting from the earlier filming.


    She had done well, but it was average.


    She didn¡¯t want to ask how much it had changed, not because she didn¡¯t care, but because she wanted to be moved by her acting in the drama itself.


    "So I can appreciate your acting more if I watch it, right?"


    "...Is that so?"


    Seokhee, a bit flustered by Seoyeon¡¯s straightforward comment, cleared her throat lightly.


    Her mood, which had been a little down, quickly brightened.


    "Oh, we¡¯re already here."


    At the midpoint where their paths split, Seokhee stopped her bike and spoke.


    "Let¡¯s watch Mine together when it¡¯s out."


    "Yeah."


    "I¡¯ll come by again then."


    With that, Seokhee pedaled off, waving goodbye as she quickly disappeared.


    Seoyeon sometimes thought that Seokhee had incredible stamina.


    ''She could just drive, though.''


    She thought that for a moment but didn¡¯t say anything.


    It was probably because Seokhee didn¡¯t want to seem like she was showing off.


    ''Oh, I almost forgot to stop by the convenience store.''


    After parting ways with Seokhee, Seoyeon started jogging lightly.


    It was only a 5-minute run, so she had plenty of time to stop by the convenience store.


    Since it was the start of the new semester, the convenience store workers had probably changed too.


    Well, it would be polite to stop by.


    "Nice."


    Seoyeon smiled brightly as she looked at the trees that had turned green.


    It was a brand new year.


    The first day of 18-year-old Ju Seoyeon was just beginning.

 Chapter 317: New Semester (3)

    Yeonhwa High School Entrance Ceremony ¨C First Day


    It was the first day of high school, the day new students stepped into an unfamiliar world after graduating middle school.


    The reactions of the new students were divided into two main types.


    Some displayed their anxiety and nervousness openly through their eyes.


    Others roamed the school grounds, searching for something.


    Among them, Min Ara belonged to the latter group.


    "I saw her! She was running when she came to school today!"


    "Really? Did you talk to her?"


    "I wanted to... but she was too fast."


    The girls sighed in disappointment as they recalled chasing after a "senpai" who had already disappeared into the distance.


    They must have known each other since middle school.


    Watching them, Min Ara couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of envy.


    After all, she was like an outsider stranded on a deserted island.


    It was particularly frustrating for her, considering she had plenty of friends at her previous school.


    The fact that her old friends were now sending her pictures through KakaoTalk only amplified the emptiness she felt.


    "Looks like I¡¯ll have to struggle again."


    She twirled the ends of her blonde hair between her fingers.


    Making friends had been a challenge back in middle school, and she expected it to be the same this time.


    But she wasn¡¯t too worried.


    At the very least, Min Ara was confident in her social skills.


    Especially...


    "The reason I came to this school is for my future!!"


    Recently, Yeonhwa High School had been focusing on nurturing students in the arts.


    Particularly its theater club.


    The school had already produced two actors who had starred in blockbuster films with over ten million admissions.


    As a result, many aspiring actors had redirected their paths to Yeonhwa High School.


    The school was well aware of this trend, providing generous support to the performing arts department.


    They even had connections with Chungmuro theater groups, offering students the opportunity to receive professional training.


    "Ju Seoyeon."


    Or should she call her Ju Seoyeon-senpai?


    She was wondering how to approach her in a way that felt natural.


    Min Ara had watched every single movie and drama Seoyeon had appeared in.


    Even her commercials.


    Lately, she had even followed her Eternity Camp livestream.


    She had even installed and played the game herself¡ªdespite not being much of a gamer¡ªjust because Seoyeon had played it.


    "If I bring up gaming, it''ll be an easier conversation starter."


    Ara already knew quite a bit about Seoyeon''s interests.


    After all, Seoyeon had appeared on countless variety shows, where her tastes had been revealed to the public.


    For example, from watching Golden Ducklings, Ara had learned that Seoyeon¡¯s father worked at a game company, which explained why she was so familiar with the gaming world.


    "Wow, she''s so pretty. Do you think she¡¯s an aspiring actress too?"


    "An idol, maybe? Wait... I feel like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere before."


    "I know! I think she was in a web drama!"


    "Really? So she¡¯s a pro?"


    Hearing their comments, Ara couldn¡¯t help but feel a little proud.


    She might not have been good enough to appear on cable or public TV,


    but thanks to a director she knew, she had managed to get a small role in a web drama.


    Since the main audience for web dramas was quite young, there were occasionally people her age who recognized her.


    "Lucky me."


    As Ara was thinking that¡ª


    "Ugh, are you seriously proud over just a web drama? Look at me."


    A voice cut into her thoughts.


    It came from a girl standing near the school vending machine.


    She was short, with a cute teddy bear-like face,


    but her tone was nothing like her appearance¡ªit carried a distinct arrogance.


    "You do know I¡¯m starring in Nettrix¡¯s latest drama, right? If that blows up, blockbuster films or whatever won¡¯t even compare."


    "Oh, yeah, that¡¯s true."


    "Hyeri, I hope your drama does as well as Child Game."


    "Just based on production quality, it¡¯s way better than Child Game. It¡¯s definitely going to be a hit."


    The girl, filled with an odd sense of overconfidence, continued to talk.


    From the way she spoke, it was as if blockbuster films and dramas were merely "domestic" successes,


    and that hitting it big on Nettrix was what really mattered.


    Given today¡¯s industry trends, she wasn¡¯t necessarily wrong,


    but something about it rubbed Ara the wrong way.


    It seemed like she hadn¡¯t come to this school because of that actress.


    Or maybe... she had, but in a different way.


    "Should I say something?"


    Just as Ara was considering speaking up¡ª


    "We got lucky. Our drama was originally going into production around the same time as Child Game,


    but because of a slight delay, we ended up benefiting from the situation..."


    Right as Kim Hyeri was speaking,


    A ripple passed through the small rest area inside the school.


    The students who had been chatting suddenly fell silent.


    Their gazes naturally shifted.


    For the current students, it was a familiar sight.


    But for those seeing her for the first time, some even gaped in awe.


    Boys and girls alike found themselves watching as she took one step, then another.


    The first thing that caught their eyes was her jet-black hair.


    Then, her brown eyes, tinged with a reddish hue.


    And finally, her tall, slender frame.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Even Kim Hyeri¡ªthe same girl who had just been loudly boasting about Nettrix¡¯s superiority¡ª


    quietly closed her mouth.


    "She¡¯s on a different level."


    Her looks went without saying.


    But more than anything, it was her aura.


    Like her dark, midnight-black hair, there was ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) something about her that seemed to pull in attention, absorbing the light around her.


    "That¡¯s..."


    A ten-million-ticket actress.


    And recently, the lead in Nettrix¡¯s upcoming drama Mine.


    The same overwhelming presence from that poster was now standing right in front of them.


    That¡¯s why¡ª


    "Senpai."


    While everyone else simply followed Seoyeon with their eyes,


    too intimidated to approach¡ª


    Min Ara took the first step forward.


    "I¡¯m a fan, senpai! Wow, how can you be this pretty?"


    If there was one thing Min Ara had, it was her social skills.


    Despite her blonde hair and the striking mixed-race features that made her stand out,


    she had always managed to make friends easily.


    She took a step closer, her eyes sparkling with admiration.


    As she blocked Seoyeon¡¯s path and spoke¡ª


    "Why is she suddenly talking to me?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s pupils shook as if hit by an earthquake.


    ***


    "I¡¯m exhausted."


    Jo Sehee absentmindedly stared out the window.


    Her school was considered prestigious.


    Since it was highly academic, one might think it didn¡¯t pay much attention to the arts,


    but it was still well-regarded in that field.


    That was why she had chosen it as a compromise.


    "If I had known, I should¡¯ve gone to Yeonhwa High instead."


    Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t any celebrities at her school aside from herself.


    That meant there wasn¡¯t really anyone to talk to about the industry.


    Of course, even if she didn¡¯t form deep bonds, she still had plenty of friends at school.


    "You seem really tired lately. Has filming been busy?"


    "Huh?"


    "You just seem exhausted today."


    Her seatmate studied her carefully, clearly trying to start a conversation.


    After all, it wasn¡¯t every day that someone their age got to see a ten-million-ticket actress in person.


    "It¡¯s not that I was super busy..."


    "Then?"


    "I just... didn¡¯t sleep well."


    Maybe she had been dreaming.


    But she couldn¡¯t quite recall what the dream was.


    At first, she thought it might have been about her mother.


    But something about it felt... different.


    "What was it?"


    But Sehee wasn¡¯t the type to dwell on unsolvable questions.


    All she really wanted was a good night¡¯s sleep.


    And yet¡ª


    "I wonder if Seoyeon will be okay today."


    A new school year.


    And a bunch of excited new students.


    She could already picture Seoyeon¡¯s restless energy¡ª


    and if past experiences were any indication...


    Things probably wouldn¡¯t go as planned.


    And just like Sehee thought¡ª


    "How am I supposed to respond in this situation?"


    Seoyeon found herself in an unexpectedly troubling situation.


    "This wasn¡¯t something I accounted for."


    To be honest, it was hard for Seoyeon to perceive herself as an "actress" while at school.


    After all, even before she resumed acting, people around her rarely approached her.


    Still, now that she was in her second year, and with the theater teacher, Song Dayeon, mentioning that some students had enrolled at Yeonhwa High just for her, she had been secretly looking forward to it.


    "I even practiced my autograph."


    She had pretended not to expect anything.


    That¡¯s what she had told Jiyeon.


    But just in case, she had thoroughly practiced her signature.


    For the record, she even had a small pen tucked into her pocket.


    If anyone happened to ask for an autograph, she wanted to make sure it looked cool.


    But this...


    This was completely unexpected.


    "I never thought someone would actually approach me like this."


    Seoyeon was taken aback.


    The girl had striking looks¡ª


    blue eyes, blonde hair.


    A foreigner? Or maybe mixed-race?


    "Ju Seoyeon, she spoke in Korean just now."


    As Seoyeon was deep in thought, Jiyeon, who had belatedly followed her, pointed it out.


    With Jiyeon¡¯s sudden arrival, the atmosphere stirred once more.


    This, too, was a different reaction from before.


    Before Kyungsung Lady became a hit, most students didn¡¯t even recognize Jiyeon.


    But now, heads visibly turned as she moved.


    "...What?"


    "I mean, you weren¡¯t responding, so I thought you might¡¯ve mistaken it for English."


    ...Did she actually think I was debating whether to answer in English?


    Realizing this, Seoyeon turned to Jiyeon with a deadpan stare.


    "Sometimes I wonder¡ªjust what does this girl think of me?"


    She was aware that she was a little slow on the uptake at times.


    And yes, there were occasions when her thought process lagged behind.


    But that was simply because she didn¡¯t always bother thinking things through¡ª


    not because she was stupid.


    ...Then again, it wasn¡¯t like she was particularly smart either.


    But at the very least¡ªher memory was good.


    "Freshman?"


    "Yes! I applied to Yeonhwa High as soon as I heard that Ju Seoyeon-senpai was a student here! I want to be an actress too, and I¡¯ve even appeared in a few web dramas. So, I thought¡ªmaybe I¡¯d have a chance to get some advice from you, senpai~!"


    The girl grinned, forming a V-sign with her fingers.


    A lively student, no doubt.


    But unlike someone who was just chatty or outgoing, she had a different kind of energy.


    "She feels like one of those characters that show up in anime all the time these days..."


    A trendy gyaru-type character.


    In Korean terms, an ultimate social butterfly.


    Her aura wasn¡¯t as sharp as Seoyeon¡¯s or Jiyeon¡¯s Korean gyaru vibes,


    but she still gave off a refined, confident presence.


    The blonde hair only made her stand out more,


    making her the kind of person Seoyeon would normally struggle to talk to.


    "But... web dramas?"


    That was something Seoyeon had never paid attention to.


    Even digging through her memory, nothing stood out.


    While Seoyeon could recall entertainment industry knowledge like a wiki,


    that only applied to things she had actually watched in her past life.


    If it was something she had zero interest in, she wouldn¡¯t remember it at all.


    "And I really had zero interest in web dramas."


    Their target audience was generally younger,


    and personally, she never found them appealing.


    "And as for her..."


    Ever since stepping onto the school grounds,


    Seoyeon had been overhearing bits of conversation.


    Among them was the mention of the girl who had been in a Nettrix drama.


    "If it¡¯s a soon-to-be-released project, is she talking about Yasha? Or Infernal Hell?"


    After Child Game blew up, Korea pumped out similar productions,


    as if they had been waiting for the trend.


    Of course, they hadn¡¯t been made just because Child Game was a hit.


    There simply hadn¡¯t been enough time for that.


    Even Mine, which Seoyeon had filmed, had begun preparations long before Child Game aired.


    The same applied to most other productions.


    "...But except for one, most of them flopped."


    It wasn¡¯t a hard rule that things would unfold exactly as they did in her past life.


    But if the scripts hadn¡¯t changed, the results would likely remain the same.


    As Seoyeon quietly contemplated this,


    Ara tilted her head.


    "She seemed more easygoing on variety shows, but I guess that was just for TV?


    Her real personality must be as composed as her looks. She¡¯s just as cool as I imagined."


    Nodding to herself, Ara shifted her gaze¡ª


    toward Hyeri, who had been loudly boasting just moments ago.


    "I wonder if she still thinks she can compare."


    The same girl who had been treating films as if they were "dying out"¡ª


    Hyeri had already disappeared, having long since made her escape under Seoyeon¡¯s sharp gaze.


    Which, naturally, made Ara a little smug.


    As she basked in that satisfaction,


    Seoyeon hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.


    "Could you tell me the title of the web dramas you were in?"


    "Oh! Of course!"


    Ara eagerly listed them off.


    Naturally, Seoyeon had never heard of any of them.


    "I¡¯ll have to check them out later."


    Web dramas, by nature, weren¡¯t on the same level as regular TV dramas or films.


    Most of the actors in them were high schoolers,


    which meant they had less experience and lower skill levels.


    But that didn¡¯t change the fact that they were still actors.


    "Especially since web dramas are an easy entry point for teenage actors."


    Golden blonde hair,


    mixed-race features,


    and striking good looks.


    She had a presence that stood apart from the typical high school girl.


    And yet, she had still managed to land roles.


    That meant she must have had something else going for her.


    "Seoyeon-senpai, if you do watch them, could you tell me what you think? And if there¡¯s anything I could improve in my acting, I¡¯d really love to hear it!"


    With an intense gaze, Ara stepped forward once more.


    Seoyeon instinctively stepped back.


    "If nothing else... our compatibility is..."


    Both Sehee and Jiyeon were good at communication.


    They had different styles, but even then, Ara was on another level.


    Her energy was just too much to keep up with.


    "I should probably keep my distance from this type..."


    No matter how much someone liked her,


    this was the kind of person who would drain her just by being around.


    She would watch her performance, sure,


    but becoming close with her... that seemed unlikely.


    "For people like this, it¡¯s best to keep a comfortable distance."


    It was a lesson she had learned from Sehee and Jiyeon.


    Keeping unfitting people at arm¡¯s length saved a lot of unnecessary exhaustion.


    "Oh, and senpai!"


    "...?"


    "I also watched your latest ad! You were seriously amazing at the game! Your commentary was so sharp, and honestly, if you weren¡¯t an actress, I think you¡¯d make an incredible streamer!"


    "..."


    "Especially with that VTuber? Your chemistry was insane! It seriously felt like you two already knew each other!"


    At those words¡ª


    The mental distance Seoyeon had been maintaining suddenly vanished.


    "Alright. She may be a bit loud, but she has good taste and proper manners as a junior."


    Seoyeon¡¯s opinion of Ara skyrocketed.


    After all¡ª


    this was the first time anyone had sincerely praised her gaming skills.

 Chapter 318: The Calm Before the Storm (1)

    "I''ll definitely join the theater club! Please look forward to it!"


    As lunchtime came to an end, Min Ara left with those words.


    Watching her retreating figure with a satisfied gaze, Seoyeon¡ª


    "Does she really feel that good about being told she¡¯s good at games?"


    Jiyeon tilted her head in curiosity.


    For the record, Jiyeon knew that Seoyeon liked VTubers¡ª


    but she had no idea that Seoyeon actually wanted to become one.


    "She¡¯s way too serious about this."


    That aside, Jiyeon was well aware that Seoyeon really liked Ramiel.


    She had always noticed that Seoyeon made a clear distinction between Ramiel and herself.


    As if separating a character from a movie from the actor who plays them.


    After the recent commercial stream, Jiyeon had once again been reminded of just how creepy Seoyeon could be.


    But by now, she had long since given up on questioning it.


    After all, Ju Seoyeon being weird wasn¡¯t anything new.


    "Ju Seoyeon."


    "Huh?"


    "That girl seemed seriously interested in becoming an actress."


    She was talking about Min Ara, who had just left.


    "Yeah."


    Seoyeon immediately understood what Jiyeon was implying.


    Striking blonde hair.


    A beautiful face.


    People had probably asked her many times before¡ª


    "Have you ever thought about becoming a celebrity?"


    Based on her looks alone, she certainly had potential.


    But¡ª


    "She¡¯s mixed-race."


    Not only was her hair blonde, but her features leaned more Western than East Asian.


    That severely limited the types of roles she could get in Korean dramas.


    And because there were so few roles for mixed-race actors,


    those roles were already being taken by established mixed-race actresses.


    Breaking through that barrier wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    "I even went through my memories when I got home yesterday... but I couldn¡¯t recall anything."


    That meant¡ª


    As an actress, she hadn¡¯t achieved anything notable in Seoyeon¡¯s past life.


    Which, in turn, meant¡ª


    She wasn¡¯t skilled enough to break through that barrier.


    "...Hmm."


    As a senpai, Seoyeon wanted to give her honest advice.


    But she couldn¡¯t think of the right words.


    Telling her outright that acting wasn¡¯t a realistic path would be too harsh.


    What about becoming an idol instead?


    But that wasn¡¯t something she could answer right away either...


    "Well, don¡¯t think about it too hard. Who knows what¡¯ll happen in the future?"


    "Yeah."


    Jiyeon shrugged, and Seoyeon nodded.


    That was true.


    "I don¡¯t even know exactly what she¡¯s thinking yet."


    From what she said, she seemed to be serious about acting¡ª


    but you never really knew.


    Since she was planning to visit the theater club anyway,


    it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to see Min Ara¡¯s acting for herself.


    If Ara was talented not just in looks but in actual acting as well¡ª


    "Then I¡¯ll have to reconsider."


    After all, if there was one thing she had learned from Jo Sehee¡ª


    It never hurt to build connections with talented actors.


    ***


    [Who Will Be the Next Child Game?]


    A headline that had been trending since this morning.


    The article¡¯s view count skyrocketed, and comments poured in by the second.


    It showed just how much hype there was around OTT dramas lately.


    And of course¡ª


    It was only natural.


    For the Korean entertainment industry, it was practically a revolution.


    Until recently, OTT dramas had never been something that the TV industry saw a need to invest in.


    Up until now, streaming platforms were seen as nothing more than a second market¡ª


    a place to resell old broadcasted shows.


    But after Child Game, everything changed.


    Especially because Child Game¡¯s success made Nettrix take a serious interest in Korean content.


    And so, they began pouring money into creating the next Child Game.


    "Did you see the PV for Infernal Hell?"


    "Oh, yeah. That one¡¯s based on a novel, right?"


    "I think Yasha is dropping soon too. I¡¯m excited for that one."


    Conversations like these filled the streets.


    And with Seoyeon¡¯s sharp hearing, she could pick up on them even more whenever she took the subway.


    "Both of them had... pretty underwhelming results."


    It wasn¡¯t like they completely bombed.


    But compared to the hype, they were disappointing.


    After Infernal Hell and Yasha flopped,


    The next big drama¡ªNameLess¡ªmanaged to do decently,


    but it wasn¡¯t exactly a massive hit either.


    "And then a year passed."


    Korea failed to produce another major hit¡ª


    And public interest started to fade.


    Until the early months of next year, when Our New Semester would premiere.


    "But what about Mine?"


    It was a drama that hadn¡¯t existed in my past life.


    So, there was no way to predict how it would perform.


    A chill of tension ran down her spine.


    This was probably the kind of nervous anticipation actors felt before their work was released.


    Up until now, she had only accepted roles in projects that were guaranteed to succeed¡ª


    so she had never felt this feeling before.


    "If a film I worked hard on failed... it would be devastating."


    Now, she understood.


    Even though it hadn¡¯t failed yet, it felt like it had.


    As always in the arts and entertainment industry¡ª


    A project¡¯s quality and its success were two completely different things.


    A well-made production had a higher chance of succeeding¡ª


    but that didn¡¯t guarantee anything.


    For example¡ª


    Director Jo Bang-woo¡¯s Seoul Escape.


    It had a great script and was a good film, yet it still flopped.


    Scandals involving the actors had been one reason,


    but it was also because he had failed several times in a row,


    causing public interest in his works to plummet.


    And that was still an ongoing issue¡ª


    One that Seoyeon had been thinking about a lot lately.


    "The simplest solution would be..."


    Keeping consistent public attention.


    If the actors of a project remained in the public eye,


    the audience would naturally start anticipating their next project.


    In that sense, Mine¡¯s success was crucial.


    "If Mine does well, it¡¯ll have ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) a positive impact on Seoul Escape too."


    Of course, since they were different works, the effect wouldn¡¯t be huge¡ª


    but it would still be significant.


    [Nettrix OTT Drama Mine ¨C Trailer Countdown: 28:12:03]


    The countdown timer continued to tick down in real-time.


    Now¡ªjust 25 hours left.


    Seoyeon stared at the screen, eyes tense with anticipation.


    She was nervous about how the public would react¡ª


    but she was also excited.


    And above all¡ª


    "Sehee¡¯s performance."


    She wanted to see¡ªthe re-filmed version of Sehee¡¯s acting.


    That¡ª


    That was her pure, honest desire.


    ****


    "You were late because you took the subway."


    "......."


    Seoyeon exhaled sharply, staring at Park Jungwoo as if he had lost his mind.


    Was he telling her to take a taxi instead?


    No, he probably didn¡¯t mean it that way.


    More like¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you just run instead of taking the subway?


    "What exactly does he think I am?"


    No matter how fit she was, Seoyeon still took public transport when the distance was too far.


    She wasn¡¯t some superhuman who could fly.


    And she wasn¡¯t about to run along the roads either.


    Sure, she was fast, but if the distance was too great, the subway was obviously faster.


    "Jungwoo-senpai."


    "Hm?"


    "I''m thinking of learning self-defense. Want to join me?"


    "...What?"


    "I figured it¡¯d be nice to train with someone I know."


    Something like MMA.


    Or maybe kickboxing.


    Lately, as she had been doing more action acting, she felt that learning at least one or two martial arts would be useful.


    And if Jungwoo joined her,


    she¡¯d have an excuse to land a few punches on him during sparring.


    "Ju Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "Does a lion train?"


    "?"


    "A strong person training is unfair."


    "Is that so."


    "You need to understand that."


    Jungwoo spoke in an unusually serious tone.


    Clearly, the manga she had lent him recently had left an impression.


    "I shouldn¡¯t have lent it to him."


    Seoyeon had a habit of collecting her favorite manga and novels in physical copies.


    For reading, she preferred e-books, but she liked owning them.


    Jungwoo, being old-fashioned, refused e-books and only read physical copies,


    so she had lent him some of hers.


    "Anyway, I¡¯m signing up. You should too."


    "Why me?"


    "I can¡¯t exactly ask my friends, can I?"


    ...What?


    So her friends couldn''t be beaten up,


    but he could?


    Jungwoo felt a cold sweat break out down his spine.


    "Well... even if she asked them, they¡¯d all just run away."


    Jo Sehee would probably tremble but still go along with it,


    but even Seoyeon wouldn¡¯t want that.


    "...I¡¯ll think about it if my schedule clears up."


    "Alright."


    Seoyeon nodded generously.


    Jungwoo, watching her, decided that¡ª


    for a while, at least¡ª


    he should ease up on teasing her.


    "Anyway, is there anyone in Mine¡¯s cast who¡¯d be a good fit for Seoul Escape?"


    "There is, but it¡¯s too much overlap."


    "Right, you¡¯ve already worked with Jo Sehee back-to-back. Any actors you¡¯re personally close to...? Narumi Sora?"


    "No roles that suit her."


    "Yeah, we need a male actor right now."


    The casting situation for Seoul Escape was a mess.


    Even after Director Jo Bangwoo begged and scraped together actors,


    he had only managed to fill a few supporting roles.


    The film already had a heavy lead focus,


    but even this was a problem.


    "Wait, a male actor?"


    A name suddenly came to mind.


    A recently injured actor.


    His drama had just wrapped up, so his schedule should be open.


    "By the way, what¡¯s today¡¯s meeting with Biol about? From the schedule, it doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re planning to talk for long."


    "Probably just a check-in before I leave for France."


    For the record, the reason Seoyeon and Jungwoo had met up today was to discuss her official model contract with Biol.


    Their meeting was at 6 PM.


    Three hours from now.


    Why had they met up so early?


    Because there were some things to discuss about Seoul Escape first.


    But now that they were here¡ª


    another task had popped up.


    Shopping for clothes.


    "You should prepare your outfits in advance."


    "How was I supposed to know someone important was coming today?"


    ''Even so, most people wouldn¡¯t show up in their school uniform.''


    Jungwoo swallowed back the words before they left his mouth.


    Saying them out loud would probably just increase his sparring sessions by one.


    "What¡¯s the point of having a manager?"


    Not that it mattered¡ª


    her manager was already overwhelmed dealing with her advertisement shoots.


    Which was why Jungwoo had even texted her about it.


    But¡ª


    "She really didn¡¯t even check her phone?"


    Whether she forgot or just ignored it out of laziness,


    the result was the same.


    And so, as always, she had shown up in her school uniform,


    leaving Jungwoo sighing in frustration.


    "Well, let¡¯s go over the key points and head out."


    "Okay."


    Luckily, there was a department store near Biol¡¯s Korean headquarters,


    so shopping wouldn¡¯t be too much trouble.


    "I can probably pull in about ten actors if I ask."


    "Isn¡¯t that too many?"


    "Isn¡¯t it more like you have too few?"


    "I¡¯m a high schooler."


    Now she used her age as a shield.


    Jungwoo clicked his tongue at her words.


    "Well... she¡¯s not wrong."


    Honestly, he hadn¡¯t expected much from her in the first place.


    It wasn¡¯t like she knew that many actors.


    This was less about relying on Seoyeon


    and more about relying on Jo Sehee¡¯s connections.


    "If I asked Sehee, she¡¯d just laugh in my face and refuse."


    To Seoyeon, Jo Sehee was as sweet as a lamb.


    To everyone else?


    A proud noblewoman who refused to grant favors.


    Especially toward Jungwoo,


    whom she treated like some duke¡¯s heir and thus her rival.


    Which meant she was even less likely to help him.


    "Still, there are two actors I have in mind."


    "Not someone who can help, just someone who came to mind?"


    "If I ask, they¡¯ll probably agree."


    "Who?"


    "Arthur Diaz."


    "......."


    Jungwoo¡¯s eyebrow twitched.


    That was a name he knew all too well.


    "No."


    "Why?"


    "You think he¡¯d agree?"


    "I can ask Stella to nag him a little."


    "Not everyone thinks like you, Seoyeon."


    "......"


    The moment he said it¡ª


    Seoyeon¡¯s expression went blank.


    "...Shit."


    Jungwoo realized instantly.


    His sparring just went up by one round.


    He had run his mouth too much.

 Chapter 319: The Calm Before the Storm (2)

    Honestly speaking, Seoyeon never really thought Arthur Diaz would participate in Seoul Escape.


    More importantly, Arthur Diaz was already in the United States.


    Just calling him wouldn''t make him come.


    But.


    ''How frustrating.''


    Seoyeon squinted her eyes and glared at Park Jungwoo.


    At that gaze, Park Jungwoo subtly shifted his eyes away.


    Sometimes she thought that Park Jungwoo must think of her like some kind of gorilla.


    ''What did I even do?''


    She had some success in variety shows... Well, maybe not just some.


    The various scenes that flashed in her mind made Seoyeon a little more serious.


    It also reminded her of just how much effort she had put into erasing the image created in variety shows.


    "How about buying some new clothes first?"


    Park Jungwoo, who was staring at Seoyeon, hastily changed the subject.


    He thought to himself that if this continued, she might really drag him into the ring.


    So, he subtly shifted the focus to clothes.


    Since they were done talking about Seoul Escape, it was also time to buy clothes for the upcoming Biol meeting.


    "Sure, I guess."


    Seoyeon decided to let it slide this time.


    But.


    "Buy me the clothes today, senior."


    "......"


    A person with so much money like him was surprisingly stingy in places like this.


    Of course, Park Jungwoo had no choice but to nod obediently.


    If a few pieces of clothing could make her anger dissipate, it would be a bargain.


    The renowned French luxury brand.


    Biol''s creative director, Nael Arno, had a tired look on his face.


    ''I want to go back soon.''


    If the Korean luxury market had been a little smaller, he wouldn''t have come here in person.


    But the Korean market was not small at all, and recently, the momentum of Korean culture had been incredible.


    Starting with Child''s Game, the recently released Kyungsung Lady also received high praise for its artistic value.


    At first, when Biol signed Park Jungwoo as an advertising model, there were many skeptical reactions. But now, it was no longer the case.


    To significantly boost Biol''s sales in Asia, a Korean actor was the right choice.


    It was a realization Nael Arno came to once again.


    ''Is there really a need to find a new female model?''


    The existing Biol advertising model was Park Jungwoo.


    Although in his early twenties, with his tall figure and title of ''genius actor,'' he seemed to fit the brand''s image perfectly.


    However, finding a partner to pair him with had been difficult.


    Because models had been changed multiple times, rumors had spread that ''Biol had no intention of choosing a ''Korean female model'' as their main.''


    Of course, that wasn''t true.


    There just hadn''t been a suitable actress.


    ''But.''


    Nael Arno reviewed the advertisement PVs released in Korea, along with the photos displayed in department stores, and the model currently featured on the official Biol Korea homepage.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    That was probably the name.


    The Seoyeon in the video truly looked like a princess, and Nael Arno couldn''t help but admire her.


    The poster, designed by him, also showcased Korean beauty in a remarkable way.


    But.


    ''Will she live up to expectations?''


    It was possible the video or photos had been retouched.


    Before coming to Korea, Nael Arno had also watched many broadcasts Seoyeon had appeared on.


    Honestly, her image in those variety shows was so different from the one in the Biol advertisement that it was hard to believe she was the same person.


    ''She might feel different in person. It could be a product of chance.''


    Maybe it was the director¡¯s skill.


    If that was the case, Nael Arno had even thought about bringing the director to Biol.


    The posters and PVs had been that impressive.


    ''I can''t stand loud women.''


    The Seoyeon shown in variety shows was exactly the kind of person Nael Arno hated the most.


    If she really had that impression, Nael Arno would reconsider the idea of her as the advertising model.


    If her personality was truly like that, she could end up damaging Biol¡¯s image.


    It would be better to be cautious.


    No, since she would be the brand''s flagship advertising model, Nael Arno had to be even more careful.


    ¡ºThey have arrived.¡»


    ¡ºYes. I hope they are just like the image from the advertisement.¡»


    Biol¡¯s Korean branch manager, Han Jae-gwang, swallowed nervously at Nael Arno¡¯s words, which had an edge to them.


    He wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.


    ''This is bad.''


    He couldn''t hide his anxious feelings.


    He wasn¡¯t worried that Seoyeon would make a mistake.


    Quite the opposite.


    Han Jae-gwang had already made one mistake.


    He hadn¡¯t informed Seoyeon about Nael Arno¡¯s preferences before this meeting.


    Nael Arno had a very specific idea of the model and the image he wanted.


    If Seoyeon didn¡¯t fit that, she would be rejected immediately.


    ''But Seoyeon? It would be such a waste.''


    If Seoyeon didn¡¯t meet Nael Arno¡¯s standards, she would be dismissed without even a conversation.


    But Han Jae-gwang hoped that Seoyeon would become Biol¡¯s model.


    If she was rejected again, the modeling contract would likely go to another country.


    ''Since Jungwoo said he would meet with her in advance, I hope everything works out.''


    Being meticulous, if there was a problem, Han Jae-gwang wouldn¡¯t let it slide.


    He thought this as he stood up and walked toward the meeting room door.


    Normally, managers would have come along, but Nael Arno didn¡¯t like anything too crowded, so only the key people were invited.


    So, Han Jae-gwang needed to be extra cautious to avoid any mistakes.


    ''Please...''


    He hoped Seoyeon wouldn¡¯t arrive dressed too casually.


    With that thought in mind, he opened the door.


    "......!"


    When the door opened, Han Jae-gwang¡¯s eyes widened.


    At first, he was shocked.


    And then the next emotion he felt was joy.


    From a distance, Nael Arno, who had noticed the change in Han Jae-gwang, was puzzled.


    What had he seen to make him react like that?


    In that moment of thought.


    "Hello. I am Ju Seoyeon."


    It was a graceful voice.


    He couldn¡¯t quite understand the words, but it was a voice that oddly tickled his heart.


    ''The one from the PV.''


    The voice of the female model from the video.


    Hearing it in real life, it was much more shocking than he had imagined.


    But the important thing wasn¡¯t just the voice.


    It was her appearance.


    With dark black hair and striking sunset-colored ~N§àv§Ölight~ eyes.


    ''Is it lenses? No, no.''


    At first, he thought they were lenses, but it was different.


    Those eyes, which shone like jewels, couldn¡¯t possibly be fake lenses.


    Then, could she be mixed-race?


    That might be possible.


    Her skin was excessively pale, and her beauty was shockingly stunning.


    Next to her, Park Jungwoo had a strangely stiff expression, but Seoyeon was quite satisfied as he was just as she had seen him before.


    "It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m Nael Arno, Creative Director of Biol."


    The interpreter quickly translated their greetings.


    ''Creative Director?''


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback when she realized who he was.


    In other words, he was the head of the creative department for Biol''s advertisements. He had also worked as Biol¡¯s designer in the past.


    He was the one who had come up with the idea to create limited edition products inspired by the traditional cultures of various countries.


    To put it simply, he was one of the most influential people at Biol.


    ''So that¡¯s why senior was so concerned.''


    She had heard he was from Biol¡¯s headquarters, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be to this extent.


    Normally, Seoyeon would have just nodded casually, but now, her emotions were clearly visible on her face.


    She covered her mouth with one hand and widened her eyes, looking every bit like a surprised young lady.


    ''Is this really the same person?''


    Of course, Park Jungwoo, standing next to her, intentionally avoided Seoyeon¡¯s gaze.


    It was something he had requested, but seeing it in person made it a little hard to handle.


    Not in a bad way, but in a complicated way.


    About two hours ago.


    Park Jungwoo had said to Seoyeon.


    "Didn¡¯t you get the full details about who was coming today?"


    "Yes."


    "...How do you manage things?"


    So, it made sense that Seoyeon had come in her school uniform.


    He had told her separately, but he thought that the headquarters would have sent her the details.


    ''They must have sent it, but they didn¡¯t give any extra details about who was coming.''


    Of course, he understood that Biol Korea was busy. Since they said someone from headquarters was coming, there must have been a lot to arrange.


    But for something this important to be overlooked?


    ''Or maybe... they deliberately waited to tell her later.''


    That would help them understand the situation at the Korean branch more clearly.


    Well, either way, it didn¡¯t really matter.


    "People from Biol headquarters are very particular about ''the brand image.''"


    "That makes sense."


    "It¡¯s more than just advertising and posters. They also pay attention to the person¡¯s behavior. In other words, their personality."


    At Park Jungwoo¡¯s serious words, Seoyeon nodded.


    If someone caused trouble with their character, it could significantly damage the brand¡¯s image.


    There were many brands that suffered when their ad models were found to be using drugs or drinking, causing their image to plummet.


    "So... it¡¯s better to show a good image during the advertisement."


    "The image during the ad... you mean?"


    "Yeah."


    Listening to Park Jungwoo, Seoyeon looked at herself in the mirror, considering her chosen outfit.


    ''Well, this won¡¯t do.''


    Should she go for a more casual look to match her age? Or should she go for a more polished impression?


    She was debating it, but in the end, the latter seemed to be the better choice.


    "Which one looks better?"


    "Why are you asking me?"


    "Then who should I ask?"


    Park Jungwoo lowered his sunglasses slightly and glanced at the clothes Seoyeon had chosen.


    One was a black top and skirt, which Seoyeon usually wore. The top was an off-shoulder sweater, with her shoulders slightly exposed.


    The other was a dress with a houndstooth pattern.


    Comparing the two...


    "The dress."


    "Hmm... as expected."


    "Why?"


    "I knew you¡¯d choose that."


    "...What do you mean by that?"


    "Just as it sounds."


    Seoyeon calmly said that and disappeared with the dress in hand.


    It meant she was going to change.


    ''Something feels strange.''


    It felt as though her feminine preferences had been laid bare for everyone to see.


    The fact that a girl three years younger than her had figured it out only made her feel more awkward.


    "You two seem to get along well."


    "...It¡¯s not really like that."


    As Seoyeon sat, lost in thought, the shop assistant winked and said that.


    For reference, the store inside the department store was a place Park Jungwoo frequented, so he had some acquaintances there.


    If that wasn¡¯t the case, there would have been a high chance of causing unnecessary scandals, so he wouldn¡¯t have come.


    "What¡¯s going on?"


    "Ah, it¡¯s nothing. But... did you change?"


    As he said that and turned around, Park Jungwoo was suddenly left speechless.


    Before she went into the changing room, the girl¡¯s previously carefree vibe had completely changed.


    "Heh."


    Her sunset-colored eyes.


    Under her white hand, which lightly covered her mouth, a faint, soft smile appeared.


    ''Again...!''


    Park Jungwoo squeezed his eyes shut.


    She hadn¡¯t said anything, but she was doing this again.


    ''Of course, this time it was necessary!''


    He had asked her to show the advertisement look, so Seoyeon must have understood what he meant.


    It wasn¡¯t the usual high school girl Seoyeon, but more like the graceful Yeonhwa Princess she had portrayed as a child.


    And Seoyeon was faithfully fulfilling Park Jungwoo¡¯s request.


    "Didn¡¯t you tell me something like this last time?"


    Her voice, like a gentle spring breeze, tickled Park Jungwoo¡¯s ear.


    "You thought you could fool me with this acting... I¡¯m not that easy."


    Her voice was playful.


    At Seoyeon¡¯s words, Park Jungwoo couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep sigh.


    ''Looks like this will be dragged out for a while.''


    It was all thanks to Tae-Soomdal.


    Park Jungwoo felt truly frustrated.

 Chapter 320: The Calm Before the Storm (3)

    ''Her posture is straight.''


    Nael Arno thought as he observed the person sitting across from him. She looked exactly like the image he had seen in the PV.


    As he had mentioned, Nael Arno had reviewed not only the variety shows Seoyeon appeared in but also her movies and dramas. He hadn¡¯t been able to confirm Kyungsung Lady yet since it hadn¡¯t premiered in the West, but he had seen the PV.


    After watching all of those, the one thing Nael Arno felt was that Seoyeon¡¯s acting skills were truly impressive. However, it was difficult to infer what her personality was like.


    Her appearance in variety shows was extremely light and cheerful, while her roles in films leaned towards a much heavier side.


    ''Is she really this kind of young lady?''


    Young lady.


    Yes, that¡¯s exactly the impression she gave¡ªshe had the image of a proper, composed young lady. Her posture was straight, her face showed calmness, and her gaze was clear.


    He had heard she was Korean, but her eyes were a striking sunset color. When he looked at her, it strangely gave him a sense of calmness.


    Even Nael Arno, who was usually quite sensitive, felt this way, so it was easy to imagine how others might feel.


    "I¡¯ve seen the PV. And the poster, of course."


    The conversation was carried out with an interpreter in between.


    Nael Arno first explained why he had called them here.


    "It was very impressive. The clothes we designed seemed to fit perfectly. A warm spring vibe. We tried to emphasize the elegance of the hanbok, and it came across well."


    "I¡¯m a little embarrassed to hear you say that."


    Seoyeon gently placed her right hand on her cheek and smiled shyly.


    Park Jungwoo, who was standing next to her, slightly trembled as he watched her.


    How could someone change so much?


    ''Is this a habit that comes with reaching that state?''


    Anyway, Park Jungwoo observed Seoyeon carefully as he thought.


    Normally, Seoyeon didn¡¯t have any noticeable habits or specific behaviors.


    She was neutral.


    That was the closest description.


    Her personality wasn¡¯t the issue; it was more that she didn¡¯t have any specific habits.


    The only exception was when she had done something wrong¡ªthen she would subtly avoid eye contact.


    Most of the time, she was indifferent, and that was likely why she had no one to talk to at school.


    Now, however, she looked different, as if she was playing the role of Yeonhwa Princess, and her demeanor changed.


    First of all, there were little gestures that appeared when she moved. For example, when she felt awkward, she would place one hand on her cheek. When she smiled, she would gently cover her mouth with her hand.


    At first, Park Jungwoo had thought it was just acting, but it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Seoyeon¡¯s actions felt very natural.


    ''Come to think of it, her actions are a bit like her mother¡¯s.''


    He thought of Min Sua, who had appeared in Golden Duckling.


    When he thought about it, Seoyeon¡¯s actions were very similar to Min Sua¡¯s.


    Of course, their personalities were different, and so were their mannerisms and actions.


    Min Sua had the charm of a kind woman, while Seoyeon gave off the impression of a noble young lady¡ªone raised in a prestigious household.


    ''There are some similarities, though.''


    Seoyeon, as a rule, looked directly into people¡¯s eyes when speaking to them. She always did that, and if it could be considered a habit, then it was.


    But normally, Seoyeon¡¯s neutral, cold expression would prevent her from maintaining eye contact with others during conversations. This was likely one reason why she had no one to talk to at school.


    And Seoyeon now, although she still looked directly at people¡¯s eyes, felt different. Her gaze had the gentleness of a spring breeze, which made her appear more affectionate.


    "The feedback from Biol¡¯s headquarters was also very positive. I was impressed, which is why I arranged this meeting to see for myself."


    Nael Arno spoke, pausing for a moment. He felt a little uncomfortable with Seoyeon staring at him so intently.


    ''It¡¯s similar to the feeling when I met a princess from the UK.''


    He realized where this feeling was coming from¡ªwhen he had met members of the British royal family, those with titles and estates.


    It was probably when they had discussed the clothing designed with the UK¡¯s image in mind.


    ''Though, the real princess was a bit nai?ve.''


    At least the way she sat was similar.


    Before she opened her mouth, that is.


    Anyway, the outfit designed to represent Britain had been worn by a princess, and it had received high praise.


    Now, Nael Arno was looking at Seoyeon and feeling a similar impression. In fact, if anything, she felt even more like a princess than the royal family member he had met.


    Was it acting?


    Or was this her true personality?


    Either way, it was enough for Nael Arno to admire her.


    "We¡¯re looking for a model who can appeal to the Asian market. In that regard, actress Ju Seoyeon gives off the right vibe."


    "I don¡¯t think I can call myself that famous an actress yet, can I?"


    "Ah, of course, actress Ju Seoyeon is first and foremost a house ambassador."


    A house ambassador.


    It meant she was the local ambassador in Korea, which was Biol''s face in the country.


    "However, who knows what the future holds?"


    He said this as he briefly glanced at Park Jungwoo.


    Park Jungwoo was also still a house ambassador.


    But he was nearly at the level of becoming a global ambassador.


    If his recognition increased just a bit more, he could easily move up to become a global ambassador.


    Of course, Nael Arno couldn¡¯t say that out loud.


    "I heard your performance in Japan was impressive. Also, Kyungsung Lady received great reviews from international critics."


    After mentioning this, Nael Arno paused for a moment.


    "I have a good feeling. Kyungsung Lady will definitely get positive feedback. Besides, I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a drama that¡¯s set to be released on Nettrix."


    "Do you mean Mine?"


    "Yes. I heard the PV will be released tomorrow."


    "Mine might not give the image you¡¯re looking for."


    Seoyeon felt truly awkward when it came to this part.


    Even though she had crafted her image like this now, thinking back, her representative works often had a more intense, fierce feeling.


    Especially in movies.


    Cha Seo-ah was like that, and Yuina was also clearly a villain.


    And now, Jin Yeonseo in Mine took it a step further.


    Her actions were almost cruelly continuous.


    "Haha, of course, the image in dramas and movies is important, but ultimately, what matters most is the actor themselves. Works are just a way to make the actor¡¯s name known."


    If Kyungsung Lady and Mine did well, for example, if it did half as well as Child¡¯s Game, Seoyeon¡¯s name would rise in the West immediately.


    ''I¡¯ve heard people say idols might be better, but this actress is right for it.''


    Nael Arno had a firm conviction about this.


    To be honest, until he met her, he had thought idols might be a better fit.


    Recently, the momentum of Korean idols in Asia had been quite significant. However, Seoyeon fit perfectly with the brand image Nael Arno had in mind.


    Above all, her appearance was overwhelming.


    Then, there was her presence. It was as if the darkness absorbed the light, a stillness that captured people''s attention, drawing their gaze.


    "We plan to invite house ambassadors from various countries in France this time. I would like you to join, alongside Park Jungwoo. In other words, I would like you to attend the Biol Ready-to-Wear fashion show."


    "Me, you mean? But I''m not even a proper model yet, am I?"


    "Yes, the notice will be coming from the Korean branch soon. It won''t be a long wait. There''s not much time before the fashion show."


    Could it be this quick?


    Seoyeon was a bit taken aback. But she soon calmly nodded.


    Outwardly, she appeared to accept it without much surprise, with a composed demeanor. At this sight, Han Jae-gwang, the head of the Korean branch, was quietly astonished.


    ''I never imagined that actress Ju Seoyeon would rise to this point. I didn¡¯t expect that using her as a temporary model would have such a ripple effect.''


    More importantly.


    ''Even with Nael Arno in front of her, she can speak so comfortably.''


    This applied to both Seoyeon and Nael Arno. Nael Arno was as sharp with his words as his sensitive personality.


    Han Jae-gwang had done these kinds of meetings several times, but he had never seen Nael Arno speak so calmly. Park Jungwoo likely felt the same.


    That¡¯s why he was sitting quietly, with a slightly surprised look on his face.


    It was as though he had been overwhelmed by Seoyeon¡¯s aura, and Nael Arno¡¯s words were exceedingly polite.


    "I¡¯m looking forward to that time. I don¡¯t have high expectations for the model... but this time, it feels a little different."


    The conversation between Nael Arno and Seoyeon ended there.


    After the meeting ended without any real issues, Park Jungwoo sighed in relief.


    "Wow, I¡¯ve become a model."


    "Are you still doing that?"


    "Well, I can''t just quit because I want to."


    "I¡¯ll feel better after a good nap."


    Seoyeon smiled as she looked at him, and Park Jungwoo scratched his head.


    "...You¡¯re still going to do that, right?"


    "I guess so. Everyone seems to be expecting it."


    "Yeah, seems like it."


    "Of course, the one most excited about it is... oh, I haven¡¯t said everything yet?"


    Seoyeon raised her hand to cover her mouth and smiled. It was a beautiful sight, but to Park Jungwoo, it was one of the most annoying expressions he¡¯d seen.


    "Are you trying to tell everyone about this? You¡¯re trying to embarrass me, aren¡¯t you?"


    "I don¡¯t think I¡¯m easy enough to be embarrassed like that. Yeah, easy."


    "I was wrong. Please, stop."


    Seoyeon thought this was pretty fun, too. Even though she was acting the same as usual, the change in atmosphere made everyone around her react completely differently.


    Especially Park Jungwoo¡¯s reactions were so amusing that she wanted to keep teasing him.


    Should she show this to others next time?


    ''Biol Ready-to-Wear is such a great opportunity.''


    On a separate note, Seoyeon was honestly a bit surprised by the opportunity she had received.


    She had thought she would only be a house ambassador. In other words, a local model limited to Korea.


    She had expected that would take time¡ªmaybe next year, or the year after, it would slowly be finalized.


    But suddenly, she had become a house ambassador.


    If the press found out, it would immediately be big news.


    ''I should tell the journalist later.''


    This could be considered an exclusive story.


    Being an ambassador for a luxury brand was the kind of thing everyone wanted, but very few could achieve.


    Especially for female celebrities, becoming an ambassador for a luxury brand was an incredibly valuable thing, and it wasn¡¯t something you could just aim for.


    "France is my first time, so I¡¯m a bit excited."


    "......"


    At Seoyeon¡¯s words, Park Jungwoo briefly calculated the dates in his mind. The date of the Biol Ready-to-Wear show. The fashion show lasted one day, but considering other events...


    As Park Jungwoo thought about it, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ''...I need to stay sharp.''


    At least five days.


    He might be exhausted the whole time they would be in France.


    ****


    [Actress Ju Seoyeon Becomes Biol¡¯s Korean House Ambassador in France]


    The title wasn¡¯t overly sensational, but it was direct and clear.


    As with most article titles, it would usually be embellished with flowery language to grab attention, or focus on a more provocative subject.


    But this time, there was no need for that. The facts alone naturally attracted people¡¯s attention.


    "What? When did she become a Biol ad model? Last time, she said it was just a part-time job."


    Hwang Minhwa, as usual, was browsing through internet articles when she came across Seoyeon¡¯s article and widened her eyes.


    She was also an ambassador for another luxury brand, but that had only happened last year.


    Seoyeon, in just one year, had become an ambassador for a luxury brand.


    "If only I wasn¡¯t Yuina."


    Grinding her teeth, Hwang Minhwa let out a sigh and relaxed her gaze.


    Anyway, she had enjoyed Kyungsung Lady, so it wasn¡¯t as easy to burn her competitive spirit as before.


    Still, she didn¡¯t like it.


    "Perfect timing."


    Yunari, a celebrity from the same Horizon Company, glanced at the article and spoke.


    She had withdrawn from Seoul Escape due to some issues but was now thriving in other projects.


    Of course, Hwang Minhwa wasn¡¯t fond of Seoul Escape, so ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) she had been treating Yunari well in case things went well for her.


    If things did go well...


    ''I should push her towards better roles.''


    Hwang Minhwa thought this and cleared her throat.


    "Yeah, the article broke just in time for the PV release."


    How did Seoyeon become an ambassador? The moment Biol released the information, the article came up, so it seemed she had known about it beforehand.


    Han Seona, a reporter from Sunyang Media, often wrote articles about Ju Seoyeon.


    ''The investors in Mine are going to love this.''


    Unexpected accidents involving celebrities do happen, but it¡¯s rare for them to receive such good news.


    Right now, GH Group was shocked by the rare situation.


    "Biol ambassador? Ju Seoyeon?"


    "At this timing?"


    "The news is all over the entertainment media right now."


    She was always a topic of discussion, but today, it was particularly good timing. She had suddenly become an ambassador for a luxury brand, and her attention had skyrocketed.


    Having already appeared in several great projects, Seoyeon¡¯s fame had increased even more.


    [Nettrix OTT Drama, Mine PV Premieres at 00:00:00]


    At the same time, the premiere of Mine was imminent.


    The Mine PV was released globally across Netflix .

 Chapter 321: Light and Darkness (1)

    GH Group had sharpened its sword, as they had announced, with the PV for Mine. They had even gone as far as holding a massive public audition called Hyper Action Star to promote the project, and there were even rumors that they had cast ''Arthur Diaz''.


    They had essentially done everything they could. This left many people skeptical.


    "They say empty barrels make the most noise."


    "If this investment fails, how much will GH Group lose?"


    "But Seoyeon is the lead, right? No project Seoyeon¡¯s been in has failed."


    "Seoyeon has been in a lot of hits this year, but it¡¯s still just been one year."


    "That¡¯s true. After all the success, it¡¯s about time for a slip-up."


    That was the general sentiment. It wasn¡¯t that they expected failure, but rather, because everything had been so perfect, it left them with an uneasy feeling.


    However, the more uncertain people were, the more interest Mine garnered. And the final blow came just yesterday with the announcement about Biol¡¯s new ambassador.


    Ju Seoyeon becomes Biol¡¯s ambassador?? What do you mean, suddenly?No, it¡¯s on the Biol website.No way, you¡¯re kidding.This is real.How can she become a luxury brand ambassador after just one year?


    Even Seoyeon¡¯s fan community had a hard time believing it at first. She had appeared in a Biol ad before, but no one had thought she would become an ambassador from just that.


    You couldn¡¯t just dismiss Biol as a local brand; they didn¡¯t make anyone an ambassador.


    It was a significant role¡ªbeing the face of the brand¡ªand they would select a long-term partner for this.


    Why are so many people waiting for the Mine PV? Wow.Already over 30,000 people.The waiting line alone is 30,000 people, haha.Everyone¡¯s hoping Mine will be the next Child¡¯s Game, huh? What¡¯s going to happen if it fails?Mine was decided around the same time as Child¡¯s Game, idiot.Just ignore that nonsense and block it.


    An hour before the ad PV was released, there were already more than 30,000 people waiting.


    This alone showed how much anticipation there was for Mine.


    And at that time...


    ''Why are so many people watching this together?''


    Seoyeon found herself in a somewhat awkward situation. Or rather, it felt a little embarrassing.


    "Today is the Mine PV release, so how about we watch it with the students?"


    It was a suggestion from Song Dayeon, the theater club instructor.


    Since it was a PV for the drama in which their senior starred, she suggested they watch it together.


    Of course, Seoyeon had agreed at the time without thinking much of it. She thought it would be a good opportunity to act naturally as a ¡®senior¡¯.


    But.


    ''Now that I¡¯m actually going to watch it together, it feels...''


    When she glanced at Jiyeon next to her, her face seemed completely unconcerned, even showing some excitement.


    Of course, Seoyeon had heard the news that Sehee had reshot her scenes, so Jiyeon was probably curious about her sincere acting.


    Seoyeon was curious, too.


    Though she wasn¡¯t sure if it would appear in the PV.


    ''At least I¡¯m sitting a little further away, so that¡¯s a relief.''


    As Seoyeon looked at the theater club students watching her, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Right now, Min Ara was staring at her, clearly wanting to speak. And Kim Hyeri, who had been boasting about her appearance on Nettrix, was also looking in her direction.


    It seemed both newcomers had joined the theater club.


    Well, if they hadn¡¯t, there was no reason for them to come to Yeonhwa High School.


    Each of them had different reactions while waiting for the PV to begin.


    Min Ara¡¯s gaze was full of expectation.


    Kim Hyeri¡¯s was filled with a strange sense of tension.


    For Kim Hyeri, this was likely a competitor¡¯s work.


    Mine was the drama Kim Hyeri had appeared in¡ªMoving Heaven.


    Of course, Kim Hyeri was more of a minor supporting character, essentially a cameo role.


    Still, the PV reaction had been decent. The unique premise had earned good reviews in Korea.


    But there were parts that didn¡¯t quite capture the attention the way Mine had.


    ''I think the release date is next week.''


    For Kim Hyeri, she probably hoped Mine would fail.


    It would be nice if everyone succeeded, but human nature doesn¡¯t always work that way.


    "Oh, it¡¯s starting."


    While Seoyeon was lost in thought, she heard a male voice from the theater club.


    At the same time, the students¡¯ gazes briefly shifted in her direction.


    ''...I should have just said I¡¯ll watch it separately.''


    She had tried to act like a senior, but watching it with classmates felt very different from watching with an audience in a theater.


    Seoyeon realized this anew.


    And then...


    "He¡¯s the key to solving humanity¡¯s long-standing wish."


    A man¡¯s low voice rang out, like a narration, as the PV began.


    Nettrix drama Mine.


    Seoyeon¡¯s first action scene was about to be revealed to the world.


    ****


    "Stella, what are you watching again?"


    Stella was sitting on set, her laptop open in front of her. It was a rare sight.


    She was even wearing earphones, indicating she was watching a video.


    "I¡¯m watching a PV for a project from my favorite actor."


    "Oh, you have a favorite actor? I thought you only liked your own acting?"


    "Haha, of course, I do. Didn¡¯t you watch my last interview?"


    Stella¡¯s clear laughter was as charming as a fairy.


    Her fellow actress, Anna Riley, shrugged.


    It was hard to know if she was telling the truth or not.


    Stella hadn¡¯t even been looking at her own face.


    ''Interview? Could she be talking about that Korean actress?''


    Anna was one of the actresses who felt some rivalry with Stella. Of course, most actresses her age felt the same way.


    Hollywood.


    A place where many stars battle for the top.


    Actors praised as geniuses often found themselves trampled by the ¡®real¡¯ stars they met there.


    Anna Riley, at one point, had thought she was a genius.


    She had believed she was the best actor among her peers and had been recognized since her childhood.


    ''I must be a genius.''


    Anna had thought that until she met the real monsters of the industry.


    "Show me, Stella."


    Anna said with a smile.


    It was a simple joke.


    ''Of course, Stella will refuse.''


    Stella didn¡¯t care much about others.


    She was called a fairy, smiling equally at everyone, but being ¡®equal¡¯ to everyone meant that no one truly got close to her.


    Honestly, Anna didn¡¯t think much of Stella¡¯s ¡®favorite actor¡¯ claim.


    Her recent interview? Maybe she was just trying to appeal to the Asian market since she had been in Japan recently.


    She simply thought it was that.


    Korea or Japan.


    The markets were large, but she didn¡¯t really know them well.


    ''Wait, could it be because she¡¯s mixed-race that she¡¯s interested?''


    She had heard that her stepfather, Asher Baldwin, was doing something in Japan.


    He was supposed to be making a film, but Anna wasn¡¯t sure about the details.


    Stella herself didn¡¯t seem to know much about it either...


    "Hmm~, you¡¯re interested? Well, if you want to see, I¡¯ll show it to you, specially."


    "What?"


    "Oh? Did I speak too bluntly? Was that just a polite remark?"


    "No, it¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d accept."


    "You¡¯re too harsh~, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit stingy with me?"


    With Stella¡¯s clear smile, Anna felt a strange discomfort but naturally sat next to her.


    At that moment, other actors on set were deep in a heated discussion about a scene they were filming.


    It seemed the actor filming that scene was struggling.


    So, Stella and Anna had some spare time.


    ''Mine?''


    It was the first time Anna had heard of it.


    It seemed like it was a Korean drama.


    Korea.


    A country that had never been in Anna¡¯s mind until Child¡¯s Game became a huge success.


    ''Is this a PV for a Korean drama released on Nettrix? Why would Stella be watching this?''


    Stella wasn¡¯t really interested in OTT dramas.


    She never appeared in dramas, only movies.


    ''It¡¯s starting.''


    As Stella sat waiting for the video to start, Anna kept watching her side profile. When the grand background music began, Anna turned her attention to the screen.


    "He¡¯s the key to solving humanity¡¯s long-standing wish."


    A low voice, like narration, from an old man.


    And ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) in the darkness.


    Under a dim lamp, several men were having a conversation.


    "It¡¯s a miracle."


    "There will be no two of them."


    "So, we must start with that child as the source."


    They were talking with a picture of a girl in the center.


    A mysterious girl in a white dress.


    The men talking were of various nationalities.


    Blonde and black-haired.


    People from the West and East had eyes that glowed yellow.


    The flickering light from the old lamp reflected their frantic minds.


    "This child is a gift from God to us."


    Slowly, the screen moved and focused on the man who had spoken.


    ''...Arthur?!''


    At that moment, Anna gasped.


    Arthur Diaz.


    A Hollywood actor had appeared in this?


    ''Could it be that Arthur is in this?''


    That made sense now.


    Arthur¡¯s strange inferiority complex toward Stella.


    And the rivalry Anna knew about.


    But for actors of their age, the only one who could be compared to Stella was Arthur Diaz.


    ''...Or is it?''


    But when Stella briefly glanced at it, her side profile reflected an emotionless gaze. It didn¡¯t seem like she was interested in seeing Arthur at all.


    ''On another note, the PV is very clean. Quite atmospheric.''


    As the conversation among the men came to an end, the screen slowly faded to black.


    The sound of rain.


    The sound of footsteps running, desperately, with urgent cries echoing.


    It indicated something had gone wrong.


    A girl, breathlessly running, trying to escape.


    "Yeonseo, the world is more beautiful than you think."


    A warm male voice is inserted like a flashback.


    "I¡¯ll help you. You shouldn¡¯t be trapped here."


    The shackles around Yeonseo¡¯s feet are broken, and the man takes the place of a decoy for her.


    The girl briefly looks at him, then runs out of the laboratory.


    "Hey, what are you doing?! Young lady, you¡¯ll get into an accident!!"


    In a lab filled with white, the girl runs out desperately, almost getting hit by a car.


    And she meets a fateful encounter.


    An older couple looks at the ragged Yeonseo with pitying gazes.


    She looked like nothing but an orphan, an abandoned child.


    "Yeonseo, Jin Yeonseo. That¡¯s your name, right?"


    They smile gently as they look at the girl staring at them blankly.


    "Yes."


    Even with their smile, Yeonseo tilts her head, unable to understand their feelings.


    Her face carries a strange, unsettling vibe.


    It was as though she couldn¡¯t comprehend the emotions they were experiencing.


    There¡¯s no background music.


    Only the sound of their conversation flows in the silence.


    "If you have nowhere to go, how about living with us?"


    "Become Park Yeonseo, not Jin Yeonseo."


    Her old name, Jin Yeonseo.


    And their daughter.


    The ordinary girl, Park Yeonseo.


    The girl, Yeonseo, is given a new family name and becomes an ordinary girl.


    Time moves quickly in the PV.


    She becomes a middle schooler, studying here and there for several years.


    She grows up, enters high school, and makes friends.


    The cheerful background music signifies peace.


    However, despite the lively music, events that gradually build tension unfold one after another in the video.


    "I found you, Jin Yeonseo."


    The fearsome psychic from her childhood who had chased after her.


    Yeonseo, facing him, is the same little girl who had been running in the beginning of the PV.


    ''The PV is reaching its climax.''


    There were about 20 seconds left.


    Since Anna didn¡¯t have any prior information about this drama, she watched with nervous eyes.


    Is it a thriller?


    From the information revealed so far, that was the only thing it seemed like.


    ''This Korean actress. The actress playing Jin Yeonseo.''


    Anna¡¯s gaze naturally shifted to the actress.


    It wasn¡¯t just because she was the lead.


    It was the acting of a girl who didn¡¯t understand emotions.


    The more she watched her, the more an odd sense of discomfort grew.


    Probably, it wasn¡¯t just her.


    The fact that she could move people¡¯s emotions like this meant she wasn¡¯t just any average actress.


    But now, it was different.


    The Jin Yeonseo who faced the psychic wasn¡¯t the same as the past. She was now an ordinary girl.


    She understood emotions and could feel fear...


    ''...Huh?''


    The corner of Jin Yeonseo¡¯s mouth twisted when she faced the psychic.


    It wasn¡¯t fear that twisted her mouth¡ªit was joy.


    "You¡¯re too late."


    Her soft voice.


    At her words, fear appeared in the psychic¡¯s eyes.


    By this point, people started to realize that something was wrong.


    "Jin Yeonseo!!"


    The psychic rushed toward her with a roar.


    The scene showed his incredible speed, proving that he was no ordinary human.


    However, in response, Jin Yeonseo reached out her right hand and grabbed his neck in an instant.


    It happened so fast, it was unbelievable.


    "You don¡¯t have to shout, I can hear it just fine. My name."


    That was the beginning.


    The calm music gradually became grand, and the scene moved quickly.


    Action scenes from the drama.


    The fight between Jin Yeonseo and the psychic.


    The scenes where the weak girl, Jin Yeonseo, mercilessly takes down the psychics.


    And when the cheerful music abruptly stopped.


    "Why did you kill my father?"


    In the darkness, a girl points a gun at a man.


    The man rummaging through a desk.


    As if she knew who he was.


    And in the darkness, the man¡¯s smile briefly appeared.


    "Is it so wrong to kill the one who made the devil?"


    With those words, the word Mine appears on the screen.


    The PV ends.


    The entire PV lasted about 2 minutes, but it felt like it ended in the blink of an eye.


    ''Has the CG level of Korean movies improved this much?''


    Anna, stunned, couldn¡¯t help but look back at the PV.


    The CGI was incredibly natural.


    Above all, the intensity of the short action scene was astonishing.


    As an actress, she could tell.


    When the scene cut, the action moments were often shot from the perspective of the girl.


    In other words, the action was filmed without a stunt double.


    Yet, there was no awkwardness in the action.


    Anna herself was terrible at action acting.


    Action required both talent and hard work.


    The acting of the protagonist, Jin Yeonseo.


    And the action.


    To be honest, Anna couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it.


    Just when she thought the PV had ended...


    "...Interview video?"


    "This is PV2. It¡¯s a short video. It looks like a behind-the-scenes promo."


    It wasn¡¯t really a making-of video but a short clip containing promotional comments from the actors featured in the movie.


    "Mine was really fun to film. It¡¯s a great drama. Honestly, it¡¯s been a while since I enjoyed action acting this much."


    Arthur Diaz was the first to appear.


    His interview was conducted in fluent Korean.


    "Not acting."


    As Stella listened to Arthur¡¯s words, her face became slightly surprised.


    He was always someone with a mask on.


    So, she had assumed he would just say the usual rehearsed lines in this interview.


    But, unexpectedly, Arthur seemed to genuinely enjoy acting.


    Then, various actors followed, including staff and the director, Han Yegun.


    Finally, the main characters, Seoyeon and Sehee, appeared together on the screen at the end of the PV.


    "This is my first time doing action acting, so I was really worried, but I¡¯m relieved that it turned out better than I expected."


    Seoyeon said, while Sehee watched her with a somewhat gentle smile.


    She looked at her as if recalling something from the past.


    "Honestly, I made a lot of mistakes in this performance."


    Sehee continued while fiddling with her hands.


    "I was thinking of just going along with it, but actress Ju Seoyeon helped me a lot."


    Sehee smiled at Seoyeon as she said that.


    In response, Seoyeon¡¯s face showed a slightly awkward smile.


    Seeing the two of them, Anna felt a bit of a strange sensation.


    It was rare to see actors their age being so close.


    It wasn¡¯t just a performance¡ªit felt genuine.


    Anna let out an unconscious chuckle.


    "Heh."


    Stella also gave a strange smile as she watched.


    "You studied too much."


    "Huh?"


    "It¡¯s nothing."


    She said that, and then turned off the video.


    She had already seen everything she wanted to.

 Chapter 322: Light and Darkness (2)

    TL Note:


    We use Nettrix as the translated name for the Korean streaming platform ??????????. This term is a stylized version of the original name, which is a play on the popular streaming service Netflix, but in the context of the book, it represents a fictional or altered version. The use of Nettrix helps preserve the connection to the original name while maintaining the integrity of the fictional world in the narrative. Since Nettrix is treated as a proper noun and specific entity within the story, this translation choice aims to retain both the familiarity and the distinction needed for the world-building in the book.


    +++++++++++++++++


    Sudden interest in the Net OTT drama.


    Amidst a flood of new releases, countless works were dying off like a torrent.


    Not only did the works fail to become hits, but there were even those that died without even having their names recognized.


    In the midst of this, Mine was an especially notable piece.


    Have you seen the Mine PV yet?It¡¯s better than I thought? The action looks really good though??? Arthur Diaz is in Mine??? Seriously, why??LMAO, how did they cast him, lolI heard GH invested, so I guess that makes it possible.


    The reactions to Mine''s PV could be largely divided into three categories. Seoyeon¡¯s acting as Yeonseo in Mine. Then the action scenes. Lastly, Arthur Diaz''s appearance.


    Seoyeon always plays roles like that.But honestly, it suits her, yeah. Maybe it¡¯s because her eyes are red.Info: It¡¯s not because they¡¯re red, she made them red.I love action movies, is this one worth watching? When does it release?Mine is a drama, not a movie, yeah. It¡¯ll be released next month.The PV was actually pretty well-made.Since Director Han Yegun is involved, it¡¯s probably reliable to some extent.


    Director Han Yegun was known for his exceptional action direction. A genius director. He was once called by that title.


    However, his somewhat arrogant personality often caused discord with actors. In fact, there are rumors that a third of the scenes in this production were attempted only at the last minute.


    This fragment of his style clearly showed in the two-minute Mine PV. Seoyeon¡¯s action scenes. And the brief motorcycle chase.


    It was like the video was saying, "I¡¯ve included everything I need to."


    Seoyeon looks really badass ??Does Ju Seoyeon even know how to do action scenes?That¡¯s a pretty fresh question.If Seoyeon can¡¯t do action, then who can? Honestly, I don¡¯t know.??? How /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ many actresses can actually act in action scenes properly?Just Google it for once.The thing is, good physical ability and good action acting are different, yeah.But Seoyeon is already recognized for her acting ability.That motorcycle is pretty sturdy, considering it¡¯s carrying Seoyeon.Give me your address.???


    Among all the works Seoyeon has filmed, there has only been one true action scene so far. In The Chaser, as Cha Seoa.


    But even that was just the fight scene with a detective in the last convenience store. It was an impressive moment, but since The Chaser wasn¡¯t an action movie, it wasn¡¯t long.


    But Mine is a drama with twelve episodes. An OTT drama that boasts the quality of a movie.


    Even though Seoyeon showed a lot last year, there were certainly people who doubted her. But even that reaction was positive for many companies watching how the public responded.


    In the market, the most frightening thing is apathy. To doubt means that the PV was so good that it fooled them.


    "Is Ju Seoyeon not doing any ads lately?" "Is there no way to bring her in for one?" "Why isn''t she doing ads while she''s so active with other things? Doesn¡¯t she want to make money?"


    There were several brands that wanted to use Seoyeon for ads, but Seoyeon didn¡¯t accept any offers. Of course, the character she showed in Mine was quite a harsh one, so the amount of attention she received for ads was a little less than expected.


    But what¡¯s the problem with that? Even if it¡¯s a little less, that¡¯s only compared to her level of attention.


    Right now, there isn¡¯t a female actress who receives more attention than Seoyeon. That¡¯s just how it is.


    "The title of a genius actress is really huge." "She really showed it last year. If she had planned the narrative, that¡¯s something else." "Who would have known she¡¯d make such a comeback after 10 years?"


    Ten years of rest. And then a year of activity after her return.


    When Seoyeon came back after ten years, honestly, not many people had high expectations. How much could a former child actress who had been on a hiatus for ten years actually do?


    She was still in high school. Her acting hadn¡¯t matured yet.


    Even if she had been praised as a great child actress, when competing against adult actors, she would inevitably fall short. That was the common understanding in the industry. But Seoyeon shattered that common sense in just one year.


    "A genius actress." It only took her a year to earn the title that everyone covets. With that image, Seoyeon became a blue-chip celebrity in the advertising industry.


    "Of course, playing characters like Cha Seoa, Lee Yoojoo, and now Jin Yeonseo is the problem." "She¡¯s been playing intense characters, so her image is solidifying as that type of character." "We¡¯re trying to balance it out with her variety show image, but..."


    Seoyeon was struggling to refresh her image due to the "gorilla meme" from variety shows, but the industry was viewing it the opposite way.


    The fact that Seoyeon became associated with the "gorilla meme" and the image of immense strength through variety shows could actually be quite painful for an actress.


    "But, the characters Seoyeon has played so far have been like that."


    The characters Seoyeon has played until now. The most impressionable characters were largely close to antagonists.


    She was so good at playing those villains that there were actors who flinched when they saw Seoyeon. In other words, a fearful image was the first thing that stuck.


    However, the lighthearted "gorilla meme" helped offset that image, giving Seoyeon a "friendly" image instead.


    Occasionally, magic girl shorts or videos with her riding a bear allowed Seoyeon to engage with the public in a more fun way.


    Naturally, journalists who wrote about Seoyeon felt this more clearly.


    "Ju Seoyeon is really smart." "It¡¯s not something her manager or agency pushed her to do..." "No other celebrity at Nova Entertainment has taken this kind of approach." "She¡¯s consciously creating a lighthearted image in variety shows because her works are like that." "In fact, in surveys, the impression of Seoyeon as a villain almost contrasts with this image."


    In other words, Seoyeon is a cold-blooded female character and a killer. But, the lighthearted "gorilla meme" alleviates the heaviness of that image.


    "She¡¯s actually used in memes too. For example, in Ju Seoyeon World, who¡¯s the strongest?" "So, who is the strongest?" "Jin Yeonseo this time? I¡¯m rooting for her." "...Huh? Rooting for her? Where?" "Ah, ahem, never mind. By the way, what about Reporter Han Seona...?"


    They spoke like that, looking at the reporter who was the first to publish an article this time¡ªHan Seona. Entertainment reporters. They¡¯re a talkative bunch, but Han Seona kept her conscience.


    The media company they were part of, Seonyang Media, was large enough that it wasn¡¯t considered just a tabloid.


    "Didn¡¯t an article come out right when Mine was released?" "How do they know?" "I heard she¡¯s close to Ju Seoyeon..."


    Such gazes. Han Seona felt them at work.


    As a result, her shoulders naturally lifted.


    "When the drama releases, the reactions will definitely be hotter."


    Having received this information about Seoyeon, Han Seona was already highly motivated. The next article wasn¡¯t going to be about Seoyeon. It would be an article about Jo Sehee.


    She had heard that the reshooting for Mine involved Jo Sehee, so she planned to focus on that.


    "Next month, all twelve episodes will be released at once, so it should line up nicely."


    The actress who worked with Seoyeon in Kyungsung Lady last year. Her acting recognition was higher than Seoyeon¡¯s, Jo Sehee.


    However, there was a relatively neutral feeling about her recent acting, and it was being closely watched to see if she could make up for it in Mine. Han Seona knew this fact and had no choice but to ask Seoyeon about it.


    Then, Seoyeon said:


    "Maybe this time Jo Sehee¡¯s acting will really be good." "Really? I heard it¡¯s a reshoot, did you happen to see it...?" "No, I haven¡¯t confirmed it yet. But I¡¯m sure of it."


    Seoyeon said that, carefully choosing her words. Wondering which words would be most fitting.


    "A genius actress." "Excuse me?" "People call me a genius actress."


    Seoyeon knew that fact. But, is she really a genius? Honestly, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    Well, she believed she definitely had talent. She had an unparalleled presence.


    But the basis of her acting skill comes from her memories of a past life. In other words, her past self, who lived her whole life acting.


    If she didn¡¯t have those memories, could Ju Seoyeon, in this life alone, be called a "genius actress"? She might be able to... but she wasn¡¯t sure.


    "I think Sehee should be called that as well."


    It was a bit uncomfortable, but Stella was the first to notice it.


    When Stella and Seoyeon talked in Korea, Stella had left several remarks hinting at this.


    Sehee certainly had a talent passed down from her mother.


    However, that talent was still waiting to bloom.


    Perhaps it was her mother''s acting, which didn¡¯t suit her, that had covered up that talent.


    ¡®To put it another way, even while lost, she was able to deliver stable performances like that.¡¯


    Actress Jeong Eunseon had liked Sehee a lot since she was a child.


    This wasn¡¯t just because Sehee was a diligent child, but because Jeong Eunseon had recognized her talent.


    Why would Jeong Eunseon, a master of method acting, support a child who only acted according to the textbook?


    Even her mother, Baek Seoran, never truly practiced method acting.


    Originally, when did she first see Jo Sehee, and when did she start teaching her acting?


    ¡®Sehee often talks about actors with stardust in their eyes.¡¯


    Those actors with stardust in their eyes often gave performances that felt connected to their roles.


    In other words, emotional acting, like Stella and herself, could be deep method performances.


    Method acting has more drawbacks than advantages.


    It¡¯s not absolute, and honestly, Seoyeon doesn¡¯t do it well anymore.


    In fact, excessive emotional acting can often feel too much to the audience.


    It can become so exaggerated that it feels like an overabundance of emotion.


    But.


    ¡®Sehee, maybe...¡¯


    Since she naturally performed in a subtle way, if color were added to her acting,


    If her emotions were expressed more diversely, it would definitely be different.


    And this reshoot would likely be the opportunity to show that.


    "So, I¡¯m counting on you for this article too."


    Seoyeon thought that this time, Sehee would find her place again in Mine.


    From the moment she debuted, Sehee had been Seoyeon¡¯s rival.


    Recently, Stella had been in that position too, but Sehee was the first.


    The person who gave Seoyeon the biggest stimulus in her return.


    Seoyeon hoped that Sehee would regain her confidence.


    And she hoped Sehee would understand.


    That the stardust she longed for was also within her.


    ****


    "Hahaha!! I believe in Ju Seoyeon. This ad was really good. And you¡¯re now a Biol ambassador, right?"


    "Ah, yes."


    "Our Eclat Etoile had our eye on her, but it¡¯s a shame. Actually, she¡¯s already our ambassador."


    Baek Minchan, the director of Eclat Etoile, smiled widely as he spoke to Seoyeon.


    As Seoyeon¡¯s success grew, Eclat Etoile¡¯s stock, which had been purchased at a low point, was soaring.


    Recently, when Baek Minchan spoke at a board meeting, it felt as though everyone else lowered their heads.


    Even the president couldn¡¯t act freely around him anymore.


    Of course, the most important person in the company was the one who brought in the most money.


    And who brought that person to Eclat Etoile?


    ''It was me.''


    They say a position makes the person.


    As long as Seoyeon continued to model for Eclat Etoile, Baek Minchan¡¯s status would never fall.


    400 million.


    That¡¯s how much it cost to make Seoyeon an exclusive ad model three years ago.


    It didn¡¯t even make sense to hire a star with this much value for that price.


    Of course, they had provided Seoyeon with many things, but Eclat Etoile had gained a huge benefit from it.


    ''Well, it¡¯s not just us.''


    Baek Minchan thought of ADIZ, who had been joyously singing praises recently.


    They always managed to secure a seat for their products in any project Seoyeon participated in.


    More than anything else, that¡¯s what they focused on.


    Eclat Etoile was the same, constantly placing sponsorships in projects Seoyeon starred in.


    At first, it was just Seoyeon¡¯s projects, but now they were sponsoring in a variety of works.


    Eclat Etoile¡¯s prestige was steadily growing.


    However...


    ''It feels like we¡¯re using this as an excuse in variety shows...''


    Baek Minchan hesitated to speak as Seoyeon looked at him blankly, but eventually, he shut his mouth.


    When Seoyeon made excuses for her firm skin in official settings, she often said, "It¡¯s because of Eclat Etoile¡¯s cosmetics."


    At first, it was fine, but later, it turned into something resembling exaggerated advertising, and now they were receiving some criticism for it.


    But it wasn¡¯t something that could be stopped when an actress promotes something in an official setting.


    ''At this point, we¡¯ll just have to catch up with the benefits she mentions, even if it¡¯s only half!''


    That was Eclat Etoile¡¯s only challenge at the moment.


    "Whoo."


    Seoyeon sighed as she finished her meeting with Eclat Etoile.


    Meetings with companies were always exhausting.


    ¡®I¡¯ll have to work harder in the future.¡¯


    Still, Eclat Etoile treated Seoyeon quite well.


    In fact, they provided her with cosmetics for free.


    Her mother, Sua, was very happy with this, so Seoyeon thought it was a good deal.


    ''Next month.''


    Seoyeon thought.


    The time left until Mine''s release.


    It wasn¡¯t much time, but there were many works that would be released during that period.


    The works, quickly produced after the success of Child¡¯s Game, were going to be released around the same time.


    She knew of three works for sure.


    If she counted those that she couldn¡¯t even remember, it would probably be double that.


    ''It¡¯s actually a good thing.''


    Seoyeon knew.


    Right now, the timing wasn¡¯t great.


    Because, for the next month, Nettrix was going to become a graveyard for Korean dramas.

 Chapter 323: Light and Darkness (3)

    "Hey, Hyeri."


    "Snap out of it."


    Kim Hyeri.


    First-year student at Yeonhwa High School.


    Some people in the next class gossip that she came to this school just to chase after a famous actress. But that wasn¡¯t exactly the case for Kim Hyeri. That said, it would also be a lie to say that actress had no influence on her school choice whatsoever.


    That actress had made such a huge impact that Yeonhwa High School''s name had become the most well-known among the local schools.


    More importantly, unlike other schools focused on arts and entertainment, Yeonhwa High was still a humanities-focused school.


    It made convincing her parents way easier.


    "There are so many talented kids trying to become actors."


    "Our Hyeri is pretty, but making a living as an actress for life? That¡¯s tough. Only a handful make it, a tiny fraction."


    Every holiday, she had to hear those words on repeat.


    Even so, talent or not, she at least had good luck.


    One of her cousins worked as a TV producer, which gave her several chances to get involved in the industry.


    And now, another opportunity had come her way.


    "There''s a production in the works called Moving Heaven. A supporting actress who was supposed to appear in episode 8 suddenly dropped out, and the spot is open. Want to take it?"


    After Child¡¯s Game, public interest in OTT dramas had skyrocketed.


    More and more productions were scrambling to ride that wave, some even rushing into filming.


    Among them, Moving Heaven had been particularly lucky.


    It started filming just a little later than Child¡¯s Game, meaning it was already in its final stretch.


    "Would it be okay for someone like me, with no experience, to take the role? I mean, can I even get in...?"


    "It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. High school-age actors are rare. If they can¡¯t find one, they¡¯ll have to use an older actress instead. But since the role isn¡¯t that significant, things are a bit tricky right now."


    For once, being young worked in her favor.


    Sure, they could have found an older actress, but the director believed that the freshness of a real teenager was something only an actor of the same age could bring to the role.


    And so, through sheer luck, Hyeri landed a supporting role that would appear in just four episodes.


    ¡®This is divine luck.¡¯


    Opportunities like this were hard to come by.


    If she pulled this off, she could land even better roles in the future.


    That would finally shut her parents up, and she could boast about it at school.


    Even now, Hyeri already stood out among her classmates as someone pursuing acting at such a young age.


    She was practically the leader of the so-called clique girls.


    ¡®Ju Seoyeon? Sure, maybe her skills are better, but catching up to her isn¡¯t impossible.¡¯


    In the end, this industry was all about results.


    Even if someone was a better actor and highly praised, their projects didn¡¯t always perform well.


    Of course, Ju Seoyeon was an exception.


    To be honest, Kim Hyeri couldn¡¯t even wrap her head around how someone like her existed.


    Debuted at ten, immediately labeled a child prodigy.


    Then, after a ten-year hiatus, she made a spectacular comeback and dominated the entire nation for a year.


    Two movies in one year that hit ten million viewers¡ªa milestone that some actors never achieve even once in their lifetime.


    And while she hadn¡¯t starred as a lead yet, she¡¯d pulled that off with supporting roles alone.


    Kyungsung Lady was the biggest testament to her influence.


    People on the internet even joked about it:


    "Do we really count Kyungsung Lady as a ten-million movie? LOL"


    "For a queer film to do that well, that¡¯s god-tier."


    "She got lucky as hell. There was literally nothing else to watch."


    "It¡¯s because of the OTT boom. Movies were getting pushed there for a while."


    "Which is why Child¡¯s Game blew up, right?"


    "Honestly, without Ju Seoyeon, Kyungsung Lady would''ve only reached 6-7 million."


    "And even that would have been amazing. The lead was basically a newbie in film."


    "Lee Jiyeon? Thought her acting was fine at first, but the second half was actually solid."


    "Ju Seoyeon literally did a circus act in Japan and carried this movie to ten million."


    "Honestly, Kyungsung Lady owes everything to Japan."


    The success of Kyungsung Lady was what cemented Ju Seoyeon¡¯s name at the top.


    Like the internet comments said, the movie hit ten million because of her.


    Even Stella, who made a cameo appearance, only joined because of Seoyeon.


    Seoyeon''s popularity led to a Japanese documentary, which, in turn, was a huge hit.


    Naturally, that success spilled over to Korea.


    When a domestic movie does well overseas, people back home start thinking, Maybe I should check it out too.


    And Kyungsung Lady was the biggest beneficiary of that mindset.


    ¡®Amazing. Absolutely amazing. But if Moving Heaven becomes a hit...¡¯


    It could build her recognition to rival even those two ten-million movies.


    Just look at the Child¡¯s Game actors¡ª


    Overnight, their international fame skyrocketed.


    Even actors who appeared for just ten minutes were getting commercial deals.


    So Kim Hyeri¡¯s confidence wasn¡¯t entirely baseless.


    She could already see herself dethroning Seoyeon and claiming the title of Queen of Yeonhwa High.


    But then¡ª


    [Moving Heaven crashes to a historic failure.]


    [Was Child¡¯s Game just a fluke? Consecutive box-office flops for K-content.]


    "I¡¯m gonna die."


    "Hey, Kim Hyeri!"


    "I only had one chance!"


    "There won¡¯t be a second one."


    "What the hell are you saying?!"


    Hyeri blacked out.


    All the effort she had poured into this drama¡ª


    Vanished into thin air.


    ****


    The Half-Year Hell of K-Culture


    That¡¯s roughly what people were calling this period.


    "Especially this past month¡ªit¡¯s been the worst stretch ever. Every single launched project has gone up in flames."


    After Child¡¯s Game became a massive hit, suddenly, every drama was being pushed onto OTT platforms.


    Movies, too.


    The entire entertainment industry was scrambling, desperate to sell even a fraction of their content to international audiences.


    Of course, looking back, there were a few successful projects during these six months.


    "But none of them even came close to Child¡¯s Game."


    It¡¯s not like Child¡¯s Game didn¡¯t benefit other productions.


    It absolutely did.


    Some dramas that wouldn¡¯t have even gotten a single mention before were now casually racking up millions of views.


    Even foreign reviewers who never touched Korean dramas were suddenly flooding their channels with K-drama reviews.


    But despite all that attention, no show managed to truly take off.


    "So Moving Heaven bombed, huh?"


    Seoyeon sat on a school bench, watching Kim Hyeri, who was half-conscious, sprawled out like a ghost.


    She felt a bit bad for her.


    Hyeri had been all full of herself before, but Seoyeon figured it was understandable.


    She was young.


    And for a teenage actress, not having some kind of ambition would actually be weirder.


    ...Though, she really shouldn¡¯t have said those things out loud.


    "Everyone¡¯s struggling, huh?"


    Her mind drifted to Min Ara, who she had met not long ago.


    To be honest, Ara was in a far more precarious position than Hyeri.


    Sure, she was in a web drama, but beyond that? There was no clear path forward.


    Getting a role in a movie or mainstream drama was already a massive hurdle.


    And even if she did land a job and the project did well, once or twice wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    Seoyeon had been in this industry long enough to see how things played out.


    For a mixed-race actress, the barriers were even higher.


    "Ju Seoyeon!!"


    "!?"


    While she was lost in thought, Hyeri suddenly shot up from the bench, sitting upright like a corpse reanimating.


    And just at that moment, Seoyeon happened to be walking over with two cans of Zero Cola in her hands.


    Their eyes met.


    Hyeri¡¯s dazed gaze wavered before she quickly averted her eyes downward.


    "S-Sunbae, hello."


    "Uh, yeah."


    "I just... had a dream for a second."


    Wait.


    Did she fall asleep?


    No... probably not.


    "Just how much does she think about me...?"


    The ¡ï Novelight ¡ï realization was weirdly satisfying but also kind of unsettling.


    The fact that her own name held this much weight¡ªit was thrilling in one way, but in another, it felt like a heavy responsibility.


    "Is this what it means to be a senior?"


    Hyeri, on the other hand, was straight-up panicking.


    It was a miracle she hadn¡¯t blurted out a curse.


    Not that she had any actual ill will toward Seoyeon.


    It was just an instinctive reaction, like muscle memory.


    With her drama flopping so hard, Seoyeon¡¯s name had been circling in her head nonstop lately.


    "You, uh... I saw your drama."


    "It bombed."


    "Still, compared to everything else coming out this month, I think it was actually decent."


    Hyeri seemed to take that as nothing more than polite, empty words.


    "I meant it, though."


    Right now, Moving Heaven was a record-breaking disaster.


    But once some time passed and international reviewers started putting out their takes, it would find some footing.


    Not a miraculous recovery, but enough to keep it from being completely forgotten.


    The only reason its numbers were in the gutter right now was because no reviews had gone up yet.


    And considering the absolute graveyard that this month¡¯s lineup had been, Moving Heaven was in the best position out of all of them.


    The rest? Beyond saving.


    "Honestly, the title is just awful."


    What even was "Moving Heaven" supposed to mean?


    How would international audiences interpret it?


    To Korean ears, it sounded like something between Heaven in Motion and Shifting Paradise¡ªvague and confusing.


    This was exactly the kind of problem that came from Korea¡¯s reckless overuse of borrowed English words.


    "There¡¯s no other actress your age who could¡¯ve pulled off a performance like that."


    "......."


    Hyeri blinked, caught off guard.


    For a second, she wondered if Seoyeon was messing with her.


    "Didn¡¯t you hit ten million viewers at my age?"


    Even if a project she filmed right now was released, it was already too late to be counted as a hit this year.


    Seoyeon had wrapped her projects way too fast¡ªthings didn¡¯t normally move like that.


    And compared to the praise Seoyeon had gotten at her age?


    Hyeri was just another random high school actress.


    The only difference was that she had technically debuted already.


    "But still..."


    Hyeri¡¯s ambition burned anew.


    She might have lost this round, but...


    Maybe, if she played her cards right, she could get something out of Seoyeon.


    More importantly¡ªwasn¡¯t Ju Seoyeon close with Jo Sehee?


    Whether it was just a business relationship or a real one, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    "You can¡¯t trust reality show images."


    But considering they had worked on two projects back-to-back, they probably had some kind of bond.


    And Hyeri?


    Hyeri was a Jo Sehee fan.


    If Seoyeon and Sehee really were friends, that meant there had to be an opportunity somewhere.


    "I¡ªI¡¯ll do anything you say, Sunbae."


    "...Huh?"


    "I¡¯ll even be a dog. If you tell me to bark, I¡¯ll bark."


    ...What?


    Seoyeon was stunned.


    She had only come over to offer some encouragement and hand over a Zero Cola.


    And now, somehow, she had ended up with a Chihuahua-like underclassman glued to her.


    Looking into Hyeri¡¯s blazing, determined eyes, she could tell¡ª


    She wasn¡¯t joking.


    It was obvious the drama¡¯s failure had completely wrecked her.


    But... a dog?


    "This is definitely not because she likes me, right?"


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t that naive.


    Hyeri was clearly just hoping to latch onto her in hopes of picking up some scraps.


    Well, at least she was honest about it.


    "Seoyeon-sunbae!!"


    Just as Hyeri looked ready to get on her knees, another student came running over.


    A mixed-race girl, Min Ara¡ª


    And just from appearances alone, she easily outshined Hyeri.


    "Don¡¯t trust a word she says. She reeks of betrayal."


    "...Excuse me?"


    "My classmates told me all about her. She always acts like she¡¯s better than everyone else. Serves her right that her drama flopped."


    "You little¡ª!"


    Min Ara was a true devotee to Seoyeon.


    And the moment she saw the opportunistic Chihuahua, she immediately went for the throat.


    "Uh."


    Seoyeon was a bit stunned.


    She had always imagined this kind of senior-junior dynamic happening around her, but...


    This wasn¡¯t a fantasy.


    It was real.


    Watching her juniors fight for her attention (even if one of them had very clear ulterior motives), she felt...


    Complicated.


    "Still, it¡¯s kinda nice."


    At the end of the day, Seoyeon enjoyed the attention.


    Hyeri was way too obvious about her motives, so she didn¡¯t really care about her.


    But Min Ara¡¯s loyalty...


    "So this is what people mean when they say ¡®even admiration can be a burden.¡¯"


    She was starting to get it.


    And as all this chaos unfolded¡ª


    The release date for Mine was drawing near.


    One day before its premiere.


    [Hey, is it okay if I come to your school tomorrow? I heard people are planning to watch it there.]


    A message from Jo Sehee.

 Chapter 324: Striking the Heart (1)

    "The test results are normal. There are no major issues. You don¡¯t need to come back anymore."


    Arthur let out a quiet sigh of relief as he stepped out of the hospital.


    Unlike Oliver, who was built like a tank, this ordeal had made him realize just how fragile he actually was.


    Still, as usual, Arthur didn¡¯t have time to rest¡ªhe had to head straight to the set.


    His schedule was already packed for the entire year, and just because he was back in the U.S. didn¡¯t mean he got a break.


    "But god, I¡¯m exhausted."


    Arthur sighed as he looked over the bustling Hollywood film set.


    "Arthur, I heard you went to Korea. You look absolutely wrecked."


    "Roman, I¡¯m really not in the mood for conversation today."


    "Oh, when have you ever been in the mood to talk?"


    A familiar, teasing voice.


    Roman¡ªthe lead actor in the new film they were shooting.


    A man who had personally decided Arthur was his rival.


    "He really reminds me of Stella."


    In other words, he wasn¡¯t someone Arthur particularly liked dealing with.


    Honestly, he didn¡¯t even want to talk to him.


    "If he didn¡¯t actually have talent, I would¡¯ve dropped this conversation immediately."


    But the world was full of people who, despite having terrible personalities, were undeniably skilled.


    Roman was exactly that type.


    Of course, if Stella were here, she¡¯d probably say, "And you think you¡¯re any different?"


    Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t here to say that.


    "I get it, though. You¡¯ve been stuck in that tiny country for a while, right?"


    "Hmm..."


    "There¡¯s nothing worse than starring in a movie that won¡¯t even break even."


    "...What?"


    Roman smirked and jabbed his thumb toward himself.


    "But look at me. I only take on a few projects a year, but I work efficiently. You should learn to be more selective with your roles."


    "...You seriously started this conversation just to say that?"


    "Just that? No, no¡ªI¡¯m concerned for you. I heard this whole mess was because Stella provoked you. You need to stop obsessing over that woman. You can¡¯t compete with a monster like her."


    At Roman¡¯s words, several other actors nearby nodded in agreement.


    Arthur let out a small chuckle.


    Hollywood¡¯s perception of Stella was... well, grandiose, to say the least.


    And honestly, he had agreed with that sentiment for a long time.


    Actors like her¡ªmonsters like her¡ªweren¡¯t going to appear again in this world.


    But after his trip to Korea, that belief had changed.


    "Sure, Stella¡¯s an incredible actress. But she¡¯s not some untouchable force."


    "Arthur, again with this..."


    "Besides, I¡¯m not exhausted because my project bombed."


    "Oh, I know¡ªbecause it hasn¡¯t technically bombed yet. It releases at dawn, right? Four in the morning?"


    ...It was already time?


    Arthur thought back to the PV for Mine that had been making the rounds recently.


    It was good.


    They had hidden the best parts of the film while using just the right footage to build intrigue.


    "You really want this project to fail that badly, huh?"


    "It¡¯s not you I want to fail. Just look at the numbers for every Korean drama and movie on Nettrix lately."


    Every single Korean drama released in the past month had been a disaster.


    So it wasn¡¯t exactly surprising that Roman was acting like this.


    "Child¡¯s Game blew up, and now that tiny country has completely lost its mind."


    "We¡¯ll see..."


    "Well, at least the action looked decent. Especially that lead girl¡ªshe¡¯s absolutely gorgeous."


    Her looks, huh?


    Arthur thought of Seoyeon¡¯s face.


    She was beautiful.


    Objectively speaking, flawless.


    But for some reason, he had never really focused on that.


    For a lot of reasons.


    "The action was surprisingly smooth too, considering they used stunt doubles."


    "That wasn¡¯t a stunt double."


    "...What?"


    "She did it all herself."


    "Wait, you¡¯re telling me she actually did all those stunts?"


    "Yeah. If anything, I was the one using a stunt double. If you wanted to match her, you¡¯d have to be someone like Oliver."


    "Arthur, come on. Oliver¡¯s the best stunt actor I know. If you¡¯re gonna joke, at least make it believable."


    Roman scowled, clearly irritated.


    Arthur just shrugged.


    Roman pulled out his phone, bringing up the PV for Mine.


    "Look at this. You¡¯re telling me this entire fight scene was done by that girl?"


    "Yeah."


    "...Ha. If you¡¯re gonna treat me like an idiot, at least be more subtle about it. Still, I do like this fight scene. That part where she kicks the car was fantastic."


    On-screen, Jin Yeonseo (Seoyeon¡¯s character) was mid-fight with Adam.


    A fast-paced, precise combat sequence¡ª


    And then, to finish it off, she launched a car at him with a powerful kick.


    Adam barely dodged in time, his desperate scramble making the scene all the more intense.


    "Korean CGI has really improved. That¡¯s an incredibly seamless effect. And they filmed it in a long take, too. That must¡¯ve been tough to pull off."


    "...That wasn¡¯t CGI."


    "?!"


    "She actually kicked it."


    Of course, it was all choreographed.


    They had rehearsed multiple times.


    Oliver had gotten hit by the car more than once to get the right shot.


    That was why his reaction¡ªthe sheer panic as he dodged¡ªwas so damn convincing.


    "Though, he did have to spend some time in bed recovering afterward."


    Which meant Arthur had to take over a lot of the remaining action scenes.


    "...You¡¯re joking."


    "Who knows?"


    Roman¡¯s face darkened, clearly not amused.


    Arthur, on the other hand, was enjoying this.


    "If we get the chance, I¡¯d love to set you up for a scene with her. An action scene, of course."


    "You¡¯re a real comedian now, huh?"


    Arthur wasn¡¯t joking.


    He genuinely wanted Roman to experience fighting alongside Seoyeon.


    It was only fair.


    After all, Arthur had been thrown around, slammed into the ground, and even struggled to breathe under protective gear.


    There were several moments where he had barely walked away intact.


    "Why should I be the only one to suffer?"


    "Anyway, I¡¯m not worried about this drama."


    "Because you think it¡¯s doomed to fail?"


    "No."


    Arthur wasn¡¯t like Roman.


    He didn¡¯t believe in writing off a project before it had even launched.


    If it did fail, sure¡ªhe¡¯d be miserable.


    But that wasn¡¯t something he was considering.


    "I just don¡¯t waste my energy worrying about successful projects."


    Besides, if he wasn¡¯t the main character, the show wasn¡¯t really his concern.


    "Stella was right."


    Arthur had never once been the center of a project.


    She had said it before¡ª"You¡¯re not even in the same league."


    And... in the end, she was right.


    "Not just Seoyeon, either."


    Jo Sehee.


    She wasn¡¯t an ordinary actress.


    During the reshoots, even he had felt completely overshadowed.


    "If a performance like that still leads to failure... well, I¡¯ll just have to accept it."


    That would be an unavoidable fate.


    But Arthur didn¡¯t think it would come to that.


    MINE was going to be the next Child¡¯s Game¡ª


    He was sure of it.


    ***


    "Wait. Hold on a second, Seoyeon. Say that again. Who¡¯s coming?"


    Song Dayeon, the theater advisor at Yeonhwa High, blinked in disbelief.


    She had to have misheard.


    Seoyeon, as calm as ever, simply repeated herself.


    "One of the actors I filmed with, Jo Sehee, messaged me. She asked if she could come watch the screening with us."


    Even Seoyeon was a little surprised.


    Sehee had an iron mentality¡ª


    She didn¡¯t seem like the type to get shaken over something like this.


    Even during Kyungsung Lady, while Lee Jiyeon had been a nervous wreck, Sehee had been completely relaxed.


    But apparently, Mine was different.


    "If it¡¯s a problem, I can tell her no¡ª"


    "NO. Absolutely not. Do NOT reject her!"


    "...Huh?"


    Seoyeon stared as her teacher freaked out.


    Was Sehee¡¯s visit really that big of a deal?


    Sensing her confusion, Song Dayeon quickly explained.


    "Jo Sehee is one of¡ªno, the top young actress right now! Even just walking down the street, you see her everywhere! Of course our students need time to mentally prepare!"


    "Is that so?"


    Seoyeon nodded at Song Dayeon¡¯s explanation, though she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little... conflicted.


    "I mean, I¡¯m not trying to compare myself to Jo Sehee, but..."


    Last year, Seoyeon¡¯s achievements had been huge.


    Yet, judging by Song Dayeon¡¯s reaction, Sehee seemed to be getting way more excitement than she ever had.


    "A-Ahem. Well, that¡¯s because you go to our school, Seoyeon!"


    "...Is that so?"


    "Yes, of course!"


    Song Dayeon swallowed hard under Seoyeon¡¯s stare.


    "Why is she so scary when she just stares like that?"


    With her naturally reserved personality, Song Dayeon couldn¡¯t help but feel like Seoyeon¡¯s gaze was piercing straight through her.


    And sure, maybe it did look like she was more excited about Sehee than Seoyeon...


    But that was a misunderstanding!


    Seoyeon was already incredibly well-known.


    In fact, she was one of the main reasons so many new students had chosen Yeonhwa High this year.


    The only reason Song Dayeon wasn¡¯t making a huge fuss over her was simple¡ª


    She was intimidated.


    She had tried to hype her up a few times, but every single time, Seoyeon¡¯s sharp stare had been... well, a lot to handle.


    "A-Anyway! I¡¯ll check with the students first. If everyone¡¯s okay with it, I¡¯ll let you know right away!"


    "Alright."


    To be fair, Sehee was from another school.


    As a teacher, it made sense that Song Dayeon couldn¡¯t just immediately say yes.


    "Maybe I was a little too pushy with my request."


    But the truth was, Seoyeon had her own reasons for being concerned about Sehee.


    There was the incident at the beach...


    And more recently, she had learned something new.


    Another connection from the past.


    A part of her life that had changed, yet still remained.


    And so, at exactly 5 PM¡ª


    The moment Mine was officially released on Nettrix¡ª


    "Wait, that¡¯s really Jo Sehee!?"


    "Are you telling me she¡¯s actually close with Ju Seoyeon?"


    "Wow, I totally thought that was just for show."


    Sehee had arrived at Yeonhwa High, gracefully riding in on her bicycle.


    "...Huh?"


    She was not expecting this.


    She had only come to watch {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} the drama like a normal student.


    The only reason she had even reached out to Seoyeon was because¡ª


    "My mind¡¯s been a mess lately."


    For some reason, she hadn¡¯t been able to sleep properly.


    She kept having dreams¡ªthough she could never quite remember them.


    Still, she felt like she was starting to realize something.


    "It¡¯s just stress from Mine. Ugh, I¡¯m really getting soft."


    That was what she told herself.


    And before she knew it, she had suddenly thought of Seoyeon¡ª


    And on impulse, she had texted her.


    "Would it be okay if we watched it together?"


    Honestly, she had half-expected Seoyeon to say no.


    Seoyeon could be unexpectedly stubborn about certain things.


    If she thought something wasn¡¯t right, she never budged.


    Even the way she still insisted on speaking formally to Sehee¡ª


    That was probably because of her weirdly rigid principles.


    "N-Na-Na-Na! Should I ask for an autograph?! J-Jo Sehee is my role model!"


    Seoyeon glanced over at the voice.


    Kim Hyeri, face bright red, was frantically rummaging through her bag, pulling out a sheet of paper for an autograph.


    "Huh. That¡¯s... different."


    The same Chihuahua that had been bowing its head to her...


    Was now practically wagging its tail at Jo Sehee.


    For some reason, that really didn¡¯t sit right with Seoyeon.


    She narrowed her eyes at Sehee.


    "What? What did I do?"


    Sehee was baffled.


    She hadn¡¯t done anything!


    Of course, it made sense for people to react to her this way¡ªshe was an outsider.


    A celebrity from another school.


    A senior that was always around wouldn¡¯t get the same kind of reaction.


    "Ahem! Alright, listen up!"


    Song Dayeon clapped her hands to get everyone¡¯s attention.


    "Before we start, absolutely no checking online reactions while watching! Understood?"


    "Yes!"


    "And after watching, I want everyone to write a review about the acting. Got it? That¡¯s this week¡¯s assignment!"


    "WHAT?! Noooo!!"


    "Too bad. You have to do it. It¡¯s from the vice principal."


    "Aaaagh!!"


    Groans of protest filled the room.


    "...A review?"


    Seoyeon tensed.


    Wait.


    Did she have to write one too?


    Grading her own performance sounded like a nightmare.


    "Wow, you¡¯re so lucky, Ju Seoyeon. Such a senior-like assignment."


    Lee Jiyeon smirked at her.


    Honestly, when Kyungsung Lady came out, she was so relieved this kind of thing hadn¡¯t happened.


    Unlike Seoyeon, she knew her acting had a lot of flaws back then.


    Seoyeon stared at her for a moment before Song Dayeon spoke again.


    "Alright, I¡¯m starting the video. No talking during the screening!"


    The projector whirred to life, displaying the familiar Nettrix loading screen.


    And then¡ª


    The poster for Mine appeared.


    "I¡¯m nervous."


    Sehee muttered under her breath, glancing at Seoyeon.


    She had been in so many projects before.


    And yet, today¡ª


    Watching Mine felt more nerve-wracking than any of them.


    Maybe it was because, for the first time¡ª


    She wasn¡¯t trying to imitate her mother¡¯s acting.


    She wasn¡¯t trying to be the perfect textbook actress.


    This time, she was showing Jo Sehee¡¯s acting.


    She was stepping outside the textbook.


    She was stepping into the real world.


    "You¡¯ll be fine."


    Seoyeon¡¯s voice was steady.


    She looked at the screen as Mine began.


    The production logos faded in¡ª


    And then, the name "GH Group" appeared in bold letters.


    "Definitely."


    She wasn¡¯t just saying it for Sehee.


    She was saying it for herself too.


    No actor could predict the future.


    No actor could ever be sure of what lay ahead.


    This was just another trial that all actors faced.


    And now, it was her turn.


    "I should¡¯ve invited Min Doha and Sora too."


    Since she had invited Sehee, she might as well have brought the others.


    Especially Sora.


    And Min Doha¡ª


    She had worked well with him during filming, so she wouldn¡¯t have minded seeing him again.


    As those thoughts flickered through her mind, the last of the production logos faded away.


    And then¡ª


    The sound of rain.


    A dimly lit, enclosed space.


    From a small, narrow window¡ª


    The sound of rain trickled in.


    A quiet voice broke through the silence.


    "Yeonseo, so this is where you were?"


    Adam¡¯s voice, soft yet unsettling.


    The screen brightened, revealing the inside of a cold, sterile laboratory.


    Jin Yeonseo sat crouched on the floor.


    Adam, standing beside her, spoke to her gently.


    The real screening of Mine had begun.


    The students watched in silence¡ª


    Their breath held¡ª


    Waiting.


    Because if the PV was anything to go by¡ª


    Something horrible was about to happen.

 Chapter 325: Striking the Heart (2)

    The Highly Anticipated Drama, Mine


    Even before its release, Mine was already a hot topic.


    Of course, there were plenty of mixed opinions about it.


    For one, recent Nettrix dramas released in Korea had performed below expectations. Many assumed that Mine would follow the same trajectory.


    However, there was still some hope¡ªafter all, Ju Seoyeon, an actress who had made a spectacular comeback last year by showcasing various sides of her talent, had taken on the lead role. That alone made people wonder, Could this one be different?


    So, the moment Mine was uploaded to Nettrix, eager reviewers rushed to watch and share their thoughts.


    Among them was Na Minsang, a YouTuber with 600,000 subscribers.


    A rising star in the review space, he was known for focusing more on in-depth film analysis rather than just sensationalist takes.


    To be honest, Na Minsang wasn¡¯t particularly excited about Mine.


    "Looks like another superpowered protagonist story."


    A superpowered protagonist action drama, at that.


    That was an especially risky attempt for a Korean production.


    "Did they get inspired by DC movies blowing up? Now we¡¯re getting knockoffs?"


    He couldn¡¯t help but scoff.


    To be fair, how many Korean films that relied heavily on CGI had actually been good?


    Let alone a superpowered action drama?


    It wasn¡¯t that Na Minsang underestimated Korean cinema.


    When it came to emotional storytelling, Korean films held a solid position in the industry.


    But action? That was a different story.


    A single awkward CGI frame could ruin an entire sequence in this genre.


    Prejudice.


    Yeah, he couldn''t deny that he had some.


    Sure, recent Nettrix releases like Infernal Hell had shown that Korean CGI was improving, but it still wasn¡¯t on par with Western productions.


    At least, that¡¯s what he thought¡ªuntil he watched Mine.


    "There is a girl."


    He had no choice but to drop everything and upload a review immediately.


    Even if it meant staying up all night editing, he knew he had to be one of the first to get it out.


    "Born and raised in a research lab, this girl believed that the small world of the lab was all that existed."


    The introduction of the protagonist, Jin Yeonseo.


    Na Minsang narrated the scene as he recounted the start of the drama.


    As a review and summary YouTuber, his videos served as a gateway for many viewers¡ªif his review made something seem interesting, people would often go check out the original work.


    "Everyone around her sees her as nothing more than a test subject. But among the researchers, there is one man who approaches her."


    Adam Lowell.


    "He always tells her stories. About how there is a vast world beyond this tiny research lab. He drops hints that one day, he¡¯ll take her outside."


    But the girl doesn¡¯t quite understand his words.


    For her, this small lab is the only world she¡¯s ever known.


    At this point, the drama doesn¡¯t explicitly reveal what kind of abilities she possesses.


    All the audience sees is her body healing at an accelerated rate.


    Repeated experiments. Wounds inflicted on her. And how those wounds mend themselves over and over again.


    The only impression given is that she is a weak and helpless victim.


    "And then, an incident occurs. The lab catches fire, and Adam sacrifices himself to help the protagonist escape."


    In the chaos, Jin Yeonseo encounters a woman intent on stopping her.


    Agent Shim Sojin.


    A figure introduced early on, already shown killing people without hesitation.


    Up until this point, Jin Yeonseo had only been portrayed as a helpless girl¡ª


    A victim who had endured relentless experiments and suffering.


    "Lab rats /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ should stay in their cages."


    Shim Sojin mutters these words, gripping a baton as she charges toward Yeonseo.


    Her confidence mirrors the audience¡¯s expectations.


    "But just once."


    Jin Yeonseo blocks Shim Sojin¡¯s strike.


    And in that moment, she retaliates.


    With a single kick, she sends Shim Sojin crashing through a wall.


    Bloodied and unconscious.


    This wasn¡¯t the helpless victim they had seen until now¡ªthis was Jin Yeonseo, the superpowered being.


    "It¡¯s only then that the others chasing her finally realize."


    A beast has escaped its cage.


    And they have no means to stop it.


    At this moment, Na Minsang pauses, staring at the edited freeze-frame of Jin Yeonseo in his video.


    Damn, I can¡¯t fit all of this into a single review.


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s presence in the drama is immediately unsettling.


    Despite enduring torturous experiments, she remains eerily calm.


    As if it¡¯s normal.


    That eerie atmosphere only intensifies whenever she speaks with Adam Lowell.


    Even when he talks about the outside world, she doesn¡¯t show longing¡ªonly a vague, "Why bother?" kind of reaction.


    At first, he thought it was just his imagination.


    But the more he watched, the more he realized¡ªit was intentional.


    The deeper the story delves into Jin Yeonseo¡¯s character, the clearer it becomes.


    Especially in that moment.


    After annihilating Shim Sojin, Yeonseo¡¯s expression is impossible to describe.


    There¡¯s something profoundly wrong about it.


    Like a girl who doesn¡¯t understand emotions¡ªjust imitates them.


    "...This actress really thrives in roles like these, huh?"


    At this point, isn¡¯t she basically optimized for villain roles?


    But unlike typical villains, Jin Yeonseo is, objectively, a victim.


    And yet, she doesn¡¯t feel like one.


    Even after completely crushing Shim Sojin, Yeonseo wipes her unsettling expression away and hurriedly pretends to flee.


    This is where the audience gets confused again.


    Was it an accident?


    Or was it deliberate?


    Still, the sight of Yeonseo escaping is undeniably pitiful.


    Even with her overwhelming abilities, she runs like someone who wants nothing to do with fighting.


    And by sheer luck, she encounters a kind couple who take her in as their adoptive daughter.


    "And time passes quickly. Three years later, Jin Yeonseo has changed her name to Park Yeonseo. She graduates middle school, moves to another city, and transfers to a new high school."


    With that, Na Minsang continues narrating the episode.


    As the first episode reaches its midpoint, the drama shifts to Jin Yeonseo¡¯s new high school life.


    This is where the real story begins.


    ****


    After three years of living an ordinary life, Jin Yeonseo starts high school.


    The first episode of the drama covers this transition.


    As the scene shifts, the camera settles on a high school setting.


    "Hello, I¡¯m Park Yeonseo. I¡¯ll be studying with you from now on. Please take care of me."


    A transfer student.


    Unlike the dark, brooding atmosphere of the earlier scenes, Yeonseo now appears bright and cheerful as she introduces herself.


    The moment she steps into the class, her stunning looks draw applause from her new classmates.


    "Where are you from?"


    "Wow, you¡¯re really pretty!"


    "Are you good at studying?"


    The moment break time begins, students swarm around her with curiosity.


    As Yeonseo politely answers their questions one by one, the camera subtly shifts focus.


    A quiet girl, seated nearby, sneaks a glance at Yeonseo before returning to her notes.


    Just then, a rough-looking student passes by and taps the quiet girl¡¯s shoulder.


    "Cafeteria."


    One word.


    And with that, the girl sighs and stands up.


    The shot lingers, subtly highlighting another student in Yeonseo¡¯s new school life.


    Days pass in quick succession, shown through brief montages.


    Yeonseo studying normally.


    And in contrast¡ªbehind her, another girl constantly getting bullied.


    A girl with glasses, timid and unassuming.


    And the group of students tormenting her.


    Not just any students¡ªthe students.


    The ones known as delinquents.


    "Hey, nerd. What are you doing all alone again?"


    "Bored? Wanna hang out with us? Let¡¯s go to the cafeteria together."


    "Let¡¯s go to the cafeteria together."


    It sounded casual enough.


    But anyone could tell¡ªthe tone was anything but friendly.


    A rough-looking girl had her arm draped over the timid student¡¯s shoulder as she spoke, exuding a smug, overbearing presence. The meek girl swallowed dryly and nodded hesitantly.


    That response seemed to irritate the delinquent. Her face twisted in displeasure before she clicked her tongue and smirked.


    "Hey, hey, hey. Relax, will you? You¡¯re making it look like we¡¯re bullying you."


    Smack.


    She playfully slapped the timid girl¡¯s cheek, as if teasing her.


    It was just another ordinary day at school. No one stepped in. No one reacted.


    Except for one person.


    The transfer student, Jin Yeonseo.


    "What are you doing?"


    With a bright smile, Yeonseo casually stepped into the group¡¯s space, standing right between the timid girl and the delinquents.


    The moment she did, the other students watching from afar held their breath.


    Oh no. The new kid just got involved without knowing what¡¯s going on.


    But the delinquent girl standing across from Yeonseo stiffened.


    For a brief moment, she felt overwhelmed¡ªcrushed under the weight of Yeonseo¡¯s piercing gaze.


    She shook it off quickly, embarrassed at her own reaction. Scratching her head, she forced a sneer.


    "What does it look like? We¡¯re just hanging out with her."


    "I wasn¡¯t asking you."


    "...What?"


    "I was asking her."


    With a firm yet casual gesture, Yeonseo placed her hand on the timid girl¡¯s shoulder.


    The delinquents blinked in disbelief.


    "You don¡¯t know who I am, do you?"


    "Of course not. I¡¯m new here."


    "Then I guess I¡¯ll have to teach you."


    The words had barely left her mouth when the delinquent reached out¡ª


    As if to grab Yeonseo¡¯s hair.


    But before she could, Yeonseo caught her wrist.


    "Huh?"


    "You shouldn¡¯t do things like this. I was taught that it¡¯s wrong."


    Yeonseo smiled as she spoke.


    The delinquent instinctively tried to yank her wrist free.


    It didn¡¯t budge.


    Trapped in Yeonseo¡¯s grip, she could neither curse nor react¡ªshe just froze.


    Because Yeonseo¡¯s eyes, despite her pleasant expression, were... off.


    Her gaze didn¡¯t belong to a normal high school girl.


    It felt like looking at a humanoid robot¡ªsomething that resembled a person, but wasn¡¯t quite right.


    "...Ah. Got it."


    The delinquent finally pulled away and backed off.


    "T-Thanks... for helping me."


    "Don¡¯t worry about it. But hey, I don¡¯t think I got your name? We¡¯re classmates, after all."


    "I-I¡¯m Hong Seha."


    Seha introduced herself with a small nod.


    The delinquents, meanwhile, retreated hastily.


    "Ugh, what the hell was that?"


    "Why¡¯d you just stand there?"


    "I told you, she¡¯s weird! She¡¯s a total psycho. Did you see her eyes?"


    "So what, we¡¯re just gonna let it slide?"


    "Hell no. I¡¯ll have my brother deal with her."


    Just like that, the target of their bullying had shifted.


    Jin Yeonseo.


    The arrogant transfer student.


    That was more than enough reason for them to go after her.


    It wasn¡¯t reckless.


    They were a group, and she was just one person.


    Meanwhile, Seha quietly returned to her seat.


    The camera focused on her as she stared at the back of Yeonseo¡¯s head.


    The music softened, the atmosphere shifting.


    And then, her gaze sharpened.


    As if the timid, awkward persona she¡¯d shown so far had been nothing but an act.


    That was when the audience finally got a good look at her face.


    The girl who had been hiding behind glasses¡ª


    "Wait. That shy girl... was Jo Sehee?"


    "Holy crap, it actually is."


    "No way. I didn¡¯t recognize her at all, lmao."


    "?? How did you not notice? It¡¯s obviously Jo Sehee."


    "Bruh, she completely changed her vibe. I seriously thought she was just a random extra."


    "I can¡¯t believe I fell for it. Damn."


    YouTuber Han Bongsik, with 1.45 million subscribers, nodded along as he read the comments.


    To be honest, he hadn¡¯t realized it was Jo Sehee either.


    Lowered gaze. Glasses. A completely different posture and presence.


    It was almost impossible to recognize her.


    "Alright, so Episode 1 is hitting all the ¡®hidden powerhouse¡¯ tropes. But look at this¡ªdid you catch how fast she grabbed that hand? Was that CGI?"


    "- Nope, not CGI. They mention it at the end of the episode."


    "- That¡¯s just Jeet Kune Do. Anyone who trains can do it."


    "- ??"


    "- Hi, I¡¯m Ju Seoyeon, and yes, it was real."


    "Did she actually learn martial arts for this? No, seriously, look at this. And her gaze...."


    Bongsik paused the video, deep in thought.


    He¡¯d felt it back when she played Cha Seoa in The Chaser, too¡ª


    Ju Seoyeon had an uncanny ability to make her performances deeply unsettling.


    She was too good at portraying something fundamentally off.


    "Are we sure Jin Yeonseo isn¡¯t the villain?"


    "- Lol, she¡¯s the main character."


    "- Dude, if you didn¡¯t get nervous during the nerd scene, you¡¯re lying."


    "- Fr, I thought her head was about to fly off."


    "- Just talking to her feels like a death flag."


    "- So when does Jin Yeonseo grab an axe? Or is this just a delinquent drama?"


    "- Early episodes focus on the school setting."


    "Alright, no spoilers, guys. I mean it."


    Bongsik had been looking forward to this drama.


    He wasn¡¯t about to let people ruin it for him.


    "Oh, there¡¯s a making-of clip at the end?"


    "- Yeah, it shows Min Doha getting absolutely wrecked."


    "- Wait, wasn¡¯t that CGI?"


    "- What part of it wasn¡¯t CGI?"


    "- Only the wall breaking was CG."


    "- Wait, really? I thought the whole thing was real."


    "- ???"


    "- Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Ju Seoyeon actually could do that."


    "- Bruh, what do you guys think she is, a Terminator?"


    "- If it wasn¡¯t CGI, Min Doha would be a pancake."


    Bongsik was tempted to watch the making-of clip.


    But he held back.


    Right now, he wanted to start Episode 2 first.


    Episode 1 had ended on a suspicious look from Hong Seha.


    And Episode 2 opened with¡ª


    Jin Yeonseo, cornered behind the school by a group of male students.


    "Hey. I heard you messed with my little sister."


    A guy with an unmistakably thuggish aura stepped forward.


    "Damn, you¡¯re pretty cute, though. If you hang out with us for a bit, maybe I¡¯ll let it slide."


    "Ah, oppa!"


    "What? Can¡¯t your oppa have some fun too?"


    Listening to their conversation, Yeonseo let out a small chuckle.


    How pathetic.

 Chapter 326: Striking the Heart (3)

    Episode 2 Begins


    Jin Yeonseo stood in the secluded schoolyard, surrounded by a group of students.


    They were clearly delinquents¡ªlaughing amongst themselves, some even filming the situation on their phones.


    Malicious.


    That was the only way to describe them.


    "Listen, kid. Let me give you some senior advice. If you¡¯re going to act tough, you should at least pick your battles."


    The delinquent girl¡¯s older brother smirked as he stepped closer to Yeonseo.


    "This is what happens when you stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong. Got it?"


    Tap, tap.


    He playfully flicked Yeonseo¡¯s cheek as he spoke.


    The girl beside him, still bitter from earlier, smiled smugly.


    "You¡¯re actually kinda cute. If you behave and listen to me, I might just let this slide. How about it?"


    "Ugh, oppa! I was humiliated in front of Hong Seha¡ªthe biggest loser in class!"


    "Then just make her take your place. You¡¯ve had your fun with her already, haven¡¯t you?"


    The girl hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly.


    Meanwhile, Yeonseo simply watched them in silence.


    "What¡¯s wrong? Cat got your tongue?"


    Taking her lack of response as fear, the delinquent chuckled and reached for her arm¡ª


    Or at least, he tried to.


    Her arm didn¡¯t budge.


    The guy frowned, glancing between his hand and Yeonseo in confusion.


    She wasn¡¯t resisting. She wasn¡¯t even trying to pull away.


    She just... didn¡¯t move.


    "Actually, I agree with you."


    Yeonseo finally raised her head.


    Her calm, unreadable gaze locked onto his.


    The laughter died.


    The students filming the scene stopped giggling.


    Anyone watching the drama could feel it¡ª


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s entire atmosphere had shifted.


    "- Ju Seoyeon¡¯s crazy. She can switch the mood in an instant."


    "- Her transitions are insane. One second, she¡¯s lighthearted, then bam¡ªshe¡¯s terrifying."


    "- The music helps, but her eyes? Damn."


    Viewers on Bongsik¡¯s stream flooded the chat as they watched, waiting for what would happen next.


    "If you¡¯re going to pick a fight, make sure you choose the right target."


    Yeonseo¡¯s leg shot forward¡ª


    BAM!


    The delinquent was sent flying backward, crashing onto the ground with a choked gasp.


    "Ack¡ª!"


    Before anyone could react, Yeonseo was already moving.


    She flicked the back of another guy¡¯s chin with the back of her hand¡ªhe dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.


    Another student staggered back, trying to escape, but Yeonseo swept his legs out from under him.


    A single strike to the cheek sent another spinning mid-air before crumpling to the ground.


    Four students.


    All down in less than five seconds.


    The last guy, the one filming everything, barely had time to register what had happened before Yeonseo plucked his phone from his hand.


    CRACK.


    She squeezed.


    The phone crumpled in her palm like it was made of paper.


    "Wha¡ª?"


    The delinquent girl¡¯s eyes darted around in sheer panic.


    "- Holy crap."


    "- Was that CGI?"


    "- No idea. I can¡¯t tell anymore."


    "- Did Ju Seoyeon actually learn martial arts? Her movements are so sharp."


    "- The choreography is insane."


    Bongsik nodded along with his viewers.


    The action sequence had been fast. Brutal. Precise.


    Jin Yeonseo wasn¡¯t just some high school girl.


    "Ju Seoyeon¡¯s skills have seriously improved since Hyper Action Star."


    Back then, she had just been reacting to her opponents¡¯ movements.


    This time?


    The reactions were real. The timing was perfect.


    Her instincts were sharper.


    "...Wait. Was that CGI?"


    The camera had never cut away from Yeonseo¡¯s face.


    That meant no stunt double.


    It had to be all her.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll watch the whole thing and try to figure out what was CGI and what wasn¡¯t."


    "- LOL."


    "- Even he can¡¯t tell anymore."


    "- Bongsik¡¯s instincts are sharp today."


    Yeonseo dusted off her hands, casting one last look toward the remaining delinquents before patting the girl¡¯s shoulder and walking away.


    Her message was clear:


    Do it again, and next time, I won¡¯t be as nice.


    From the shadows, a figure quietly emerged.


    Hong Seha.


    Yeonseo had looked in her direction earlier, but Seha remained expressionless.


    The bullied, timid girl from class was nowhere to be seen.


    "Oh, there¡¯s definitely something going on here."


    "- No way Jo Sehee is just a random extra."


    "- Honestly, her acting always feels kinda samey, though."


    "- Yeah, but she was great in Kyungsung Lady."


    Jo Sehee wasn¡¯t a bad actress.


    She had won a Best Actress award at a young age.


    But her roles always had a similar flavor.


    "Let¡¯s see if Hong Seha breaks that mold."


    And with that, Bongsik continued watching.


    This was still just the early part of Episode 2.


    So far, it had been entertaining¡ªa well-done action flick, with Seoyeon delivering an outstanding performance.


    "Still, that alone wouldn¡¯t be enough."


    Lately, Korean dramas had been struggling to produce good action sequences.


    This was, by far, the best action he¡¯d seen {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} in recent years.


    Hollywood-level, even.


    "But..."


    Bongsik leaned forward.


    He had seen Ju Seoyeon in a lot of movies.


    So naturally, he had expectations.


    He wanted something more.


    And then¡ª


    "Whoa."


    Twelve episodes later, he finally pulled himself out of the binge.


    Outside his window, the sun had long since set.


    It was nearly dawn.


    He had watched Mine straight through, without a single break.


    The pacing had only accelerated after the halfway point.


    Each 50-minute episode had flown by.


    "This is a masterpiece."


    He muttered the words like a reflex.


    And his viewers?


    They agreed.


    GH Group¡¯s Mine¡ª


    A drama that had reignited Nettrix¡¯s dwindling flame.


    A work by the genius director Han Yegun.


    And it lived up to the hype.


    "Okay, okay... I¡¯ll watch the making-of video after I sleep."


    Bongsik shut down his stream.


    Twelve straight hours of broadcasting.


    It was only natural.


    And while he slept¡ª


    [GH Group¡¯s Mine: The Drama That Revived Nettrix¡¯s Momentum.]


    The industry itself began to stir.


    Quietly.


    ****


    "I want to reshoot this scene."


    A girl¡¯s voice¡ªrarely uncertain¡ªlingered in Han Yegun¡¯s memory.


    A girl who had once been lost, chasing only the distant glow of her mother¡¯s stardom.


    Now, for the first time, she was reaching toward a different light.


    "Who was the most impressive actor in Mine?"


    A reporter asked.


    Han Yegun didn¡¯t hesitate.


    "Ju Seoyeon, the lead actress."


    "Ah, because she¡¯s the main character?"


    "Of course. And because she delivered. She outshone all her competition on Hyper Action Star¡ªremember?"


    Seoyeon¡¯s performance was flawless.


    Anyone watching Mine could feel it.


    Jin Yeonseo wasn¡¯t like any of her previous roles.


    She was stronger than any of them¡ª


    And yet, weaker than them all.


    Because Jin Yeonseo, from start to finish, was afraid.


    She just never showed it.


    "And if we¡¯re talking about impact," Han Yegun added, "Jo Sehee¡¯s performance was the most striking."


    "Wait, but you just said Ju Seoyeon stood out the most?"


    "That¡¯s right. She was the most visible."


    But if he had to name the most impactful performance¡ª


    It would be Jo Sehee¡¯s.


    A personal opinion, of course.


    But still.


    "I truly believe she matched Ju Seoyeon¡¯s level."


    Seoyeon¡¯s performance in the latter half of the series was extraordinary.


    But the reshot scenes with Jo Sehee were equally impressive.


    In fact, for Han Yegun, who knew Sehee well, there were moments where Sehee¡¯s acting left a stronger impact than Seoyeon¡¯s.


    The moment when an actress, who had always chased after the stardom of others, became a star herself¡ªhow can anything be more intense than that?


    "I¡¯m sure some viewers will understand what I mean. I¡¯m sure of it."


    Despite being the lead, Ju Seoyeon may have been the star of Mine, but Jo Sehee was crucial in giving the drama its depth and completeness.


    No matter how talented a lead actor is, they can¡¯t carry a production alone.


    Unlike Jin Yeonseo, whose goals were unclear until the end, the character of Hong Seha, played by Jo Sehee, had a clear purpose:


    To find and take revenge on those who killed her parents.


    That clear objective was what allowed Mine to evolve into a more complete drama.


    Ah.


    And, as Han Yegun had said,


    Yeonhwa High School, Theater Club.


    The Mine screening held in the auditorium.


    Six episodes in one day.


    By the end of the two-day screening event, everyone in the room had their eyes glued to the screen.


    They weren¡¯t just there to watch the action¡ªthey had come to see the acting.


    Seoyeon¡¯s action scenes were undeniably impressive, but what truly captivated the audience were the powerful performances of the two leading actresses.


    "Wait, you¡¯re telling me this acting is only one year older than mine?"


    Kim Hyeri thought to herself.


    The first six episodes of Mine¡ªhonestly, she had enjoyed them thoroughly.


    The everyday episodes of Jin Yeonseo, the superpowered protagonist, leading a somewhat hidden life while attending school were genuinely entertaining.


    But after watching Episode 6, things had shifted.


    The direction Mine was heading toward¡ªthe finale¡ªwas something that couldn¡¯t be captured by the simple word "fun."


    Perhaps it was because she herself was an actress.


    It was hard to put into words, but the performances had reached a level she couldn¡¯t touch.


    In this room, where everyone was learning to act, they were all beginning to realize it.


    Even Min Ara, who had constantly mocked and followed Seoyeon around, was now utterly lost for words.


    Just yesterday, Min Ara had been applauding enthusiastically, but today...


    She seemed almost vacant.


    It made sense.


    Their acting was on a level beyond anything Min Ara could hope to achieve.


    Not ¡°student actor¡± acting.


    This was professional-level, top-tier acting.


    "Jin Yeonseo. Let¡¯s make a deal."


    In the beginning of Episode 6, Hong Seha, who had been quietly observing, finally confronts Jin Yeonseo.


    This wasn¡¯t the "fake" Hong Seha we¡¯d seen at school.


    This was the real Hong Seha.


    All this time, Hong Seha had known that Yeonseo would transfer to her school.


    Yeonseo¡¯s move had been due to her parents¡¯ involvement.


    And Hong Seha was deeply involved in that process.


    She had been waiting for Yeonseo¡¯s transfer while playing the role of the clueless, awkward girl.


    "So it was you who kept watching me."


    "Yes."


    "Alright. Then let¡¯s hear what you have to say."


    That¡¯s when it all began.


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s everyday life was shattered, and the real events started to unfold.


    With all the clues from earlier episodes, Hong Seha started to piece together what Yeonseo was after and what she was targeting.


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, and I don¡¯t need to. Your goal doesn¡¯t matter to me. But I¡¯ll tell you mine."


    "Why?"


    "Because I want to."


    At Hong Seha¡¯s words, Yeonseo smiled faintly.


    She glanced at the notebook she had been keeping, where she had been collecting details from various incidents.


    The minor events at school, the confrontations with delinquents, and the incidents with the superpowered individuals at the "research facility."


    She remembered Shin Arin, the academy student she had met.


    And the mysterious man wearing a motorcycle helmet.


    Through the many attacks they had faced, Hong Seha had managed to deduce the location of their target.


    "It¡¯s almost like they intentionally leaked information for me to find."


    "So you¡¯re saying you want me to find it?"


    "Yes. But I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s coming from the ''research facility'' or some external forces."


    Using the connections and money from her father, a former CEO, Hong Seha had gathered intelligence from various places.


    But even with all that, she still couldn¡¯t find everything.


    It meant that the people behind the research facility were far more powerful than she had anticipated.


    "Well, I¡¯ll find out eventually."


    "I¡¯ll stay out of it. It¡¯ll be more of a hindrance if I¡¯m with you."


    "Fine. It¡¯ll be better if you stay quietly at home."


    It might have seemed like they were dismissing each other, but their bond had been building up slowly throughout the episodes.


    Even without a direct conversation, trust had been formed.


    And after their first real conversation, even in the midst of this detached dialogue, their trust was evident.


    Yeonseo knew that Hong Seha, with her clear goal, wouldn¡¯t betray her.


    Hong Seha, in turn, understood that Yeonseo, though afraid, would never go back on her word.


    And as they went their separate ways, solving the mystery step by step, it was clear that each had their own role to play.


    And then came Episode 7.


    And Episode 8.


    More new clues and superpowered individuals appeared along the way.


    In the process, Yeonseo finally uncovered the identity of the man with the motorcycle helmet.


    And she realized that he was targeting Hong Seha¡¯s life.


    "You¡¯re Adam Lowell, aren¡¯t you?"


    In the dark, in the living room of an empty mansion, Hong Seha aimed a gun at the man.


    The man stood still, his motorcycle helmet still on.


    "You don¡¯t have a reason to kill me, do you?"


    "..."


    "Or maybe you think I¡¯m the problem?"


    The silence from him made it clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to answer.


    But Hong Seha wasn¡¯t expecting a response.


    She was just confirming her hypothesis.


    "Recently, I¡¯ve been close to Jin Yeonseo. If I die, it¡¯ll provoke Yeonseo. Her goal is to use her to destroy everyone at the Korean research facility. Those behind it cannot be left alive."


    That¡¯s what Hong Seha believed.


    And just as she thought that, Adam Lowell¡¯s lips finally parted.


    "Hong Seha."


    From beneath the motorcycle helmet, a strange amusement colored his voice.


    And just like that, all eyes watching the screen focused on him.


    The students in the theater club.


    And sitting among them, Seoyeon.


    "This is where it all changes."


    Seoyeon glanced at Jo Sehee, sitting beside her.


    For the first time, she felt a sense of unease.


    "Reshot scenes."


    She thought for a moment about saying something to Sehee, but quickly dismissed the idea.


    Sehee, despite her unease, clearly trusted her.


    "You¡¯ve been looking for the ones who killed your parents, right?"


    "!!"


    "You¡¯ve probably already figured out who they are."


    Yeonseo didn¡¯t mention it until now because her own affairs had come first.


    But now, she had no choice but to confront it.


    Her emotions were starting to spill over.


    It felt like a bond that couldn¡¯t be broken.


    And that¡¯s why Adam Lowell was dangerous to her.


    "You¡¯re right, Hong Seha."


    Slowly, Adam removed his motorcycle helmet.


    And with a smile, he faced Hong Seha, who had her gun aimed at him.


    "It¡¯s me."


    The calm background music stopped abruptly.


    It was as if Hong Seha¡¯s rationality had snapped.


    Her hand, holding the gun, trembled.


    Her breath quickened.


    Her eyes turned bloodshot.


    And the screen, showing her raw emotion, captured everyone¡¯s attention.


    This was no longer the poised, sophisticated acting Jo Sehee had been doing.


    This was wild¡ªuntamed acting.

 Chapter 327: Striking the Heart (4)

    "You..."


    Hong Seha¡¯s voice trembled violently.


    Like a candle flame, as if it might go out at any moment.


    "It really was you. Yeah, that¡¯s right. The face I saw back then¡ªit¡¯s exactly the same."


    A scene from Hong Seha¡¯s past, briefly shown a few times in the drama, appeared.


    Seha holding her breath, hiding in a wardrobe.


    And the face visible through the crack in the wardrobe door.


    The face of the murderer who killed her father looked exactly like Adam¡¯s now.


    "The first test subject."


    Adam chuckled and spoke.


    "I received Yeonseo¡¯s serum and gained psychic powers. But to adapt to the power, I needed a small experiment."


    The one chosen for that experiment was none other than Hong Seha¡¯s father.


    Originally an investor in the research¡ªand the man who was about to blow the whistle on it.


    "This was something the Korean research lab agreed on. America still didn¡¯t want the world to know about psychics either."


    Considering the origin of this research, it was understandable.


    Immortality.


    They didn¡¯t want the fact that they¡¯d found a clue to that to be revealed to the world.


    "That¡¯s why I volunteered. Honestly, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d have a reason to use this power for a long time anyway."


    "For something... something that trivial?!"


    "It¡¯s not trivial, Hong Seha. The shackles that have long held back human potential are finally about to be broken. Your father tried to stop that possibility."


    Just as Adam said that, he suddenly seemed to realize something.


    "Oh right, you don¡¯t know what this research is about, do you? Did you think it was just psychic research?"


    "You¡ª!"


    "Then you should¡¯ve just stayed a bystander. Why stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong? That¡¯s why it came to this."


    At Adam¡¯s words, Hong Seha¡¯s eyes twisted in pain.


    Her lips parted as if to speak.


    Her breathing turned rough, and she looked like she might collapse at any moment.


    The heavy background music underscored the overwhelming tension, ready to explode.


    Everyone was watching Sehee.


    The students of the drama club gathered in the auditorium.


    Even their advisor, Teacher Song Dayeon.


    And Lee Jiyeon and Seoyeon, too.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t feel like me.¡±


    Watching all those people, Jo Sehee clasped her hands together.


    Her hands were trembling, subtly.


    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to face the performance on screen.


    It felt like watching the moment she was first cracking out of an egg.


    ¡°Showing emotion... it¡¯s this embarrassing.¡±


    She thought this while watching Seoyeon¡¯s acting.


    Seoyeon always said that her acting was just borrowing from something else and layering it on.


    Imitation.


    Sehee didn¡¯t necessarily try to copy that style.


    It¡¯s just... even if Seoyeon¡¯s acting was imitation, even if it was merely layered on top, it felt endlessly real.


    No¡ªit was real.


    Human emotion isn¡¯t something inherently special.


    It¡¯s the accumulation of countless experiences.


    And with time, everyone develops their own way of expressing it.


    That was what Seoyeon¡¯s acting was, in the end.


    She called it imitation, but what was ultimately expressed was something new.


    She painted over her own emotions with the situation to create new ones.


    But that acting was so powerful.


    For a moment, it made Sehee forget her mother¡¯s acting¡ªsomething that had haunted her for so long like a curse.


    And once she forgot her mother¡¯s acting, she couldn¡¯t quite remember how she herself used to act.


    How did I act, at the very beginning?


    Surely, at first, I wasn¡¯t just chasing after my mother¡¯s shadow.


    When did it start?


    When did I begin trying to reclaim my mother¡¯s acting?


    Starlight.


    Chasing the North Star.


    ¡°Maybe... maybe I really don¡¯t have talent.¡±


    That thought suddenly popped into her head, and she let out a small scoff.


    Come to think of it, her dream wasn¡¯t even to become an actress in the first place.


    That dream of becoming an actress¡ª


    Yes, it was something she decided on the day her mother passed away.


    "Mom, when I grow up, I¡¯m going to be a teacher."


    Opening a picture book in her hands, young Sehee said that to her mother.


    To her mother, who always came home late from work.


    "A teacher? That sounds nice~. My daughter¡¯s so sharp, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d be great at it."


    "Yeah! My kindergarten teacher said so too. She said I¡¯m sharp and would be really good at it."


    "But wouldn¡¯t it be kind of hard? You¡¯d feel sad if your students didn¡¯t listen to you."


    "Sehee¡¯s strong-hearted, so I¡¯ll be fine!"


    "...You¡¯re right. My daughter is strong-hearted. You didn¡¯t cry much, even as a baby. Did you get that from your dad?"


    Her mom said that and smiled.


    It was just another ordinary day.


    "I already want to see what Sehee will be like when she grows up. I¡¯m curious how sharp she¡¯ll be by then."


    That day, after having that conversation, writing in her diary, and falling asleep¡ª


    That was the day her mother fell into eternal sleep.


    "It was suicide, wasn¡¯t it?"


    "Shhh, someone might hear."


    "Poor thing... the kid¡¯s still so young."


    "Maybe it was the pressure from her work. She took a lot of heat from her last role."


    As always, early in the morning¡ª


    Trying to live a proper life, Sehee woke up earlier than anyone.


    She wanted to be praised for waking up early.


    The only time she could talk with her mom was in that short window before she left for work.


    Her dad was always so busy, he barely came home.


    But that was fine.


    Sehee liked her busy mom and dad.


    She believed she was born into a very happy home¡ªtoo happy to have complaints.


    That¡¯s what she thought.


    At least, until the morning she saw her mom collapsed with a pill bottle in hand.


    "Dad... Dad... Mom..."


    She was the one who called the ambulance.


    The one who told her dad.


    It was still early in the morning, before the housekeeper came to work.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t suicide.¡±


    People said her mother¡¯s death was suicide.


    Her mother, Baek Seran, had indeed struggled with depression.


    She wasn¡¯t a strong-willed person, honestly.


    Yes, she had been using medication to get through it.


    But it wasn¡¯t suicide.


    It was just... an accident.


    In the early dawn hours, overwhelmed by a sudden panic attack, she took her meds and passed out.


    The problem was that she collapsed head-first onto the ground.


    "Dad."


    Sehee spoke to her father, who had placed a hand on her shoulder.


    Wearing a black suit, staring at her mother¡¯s portrait, he didn¡¯t answer.


    Of course, she hadn¡¯t expected a reply.


    "I want to be an actress."


    "...What?"


    Maybe because it came out so suddenly¡ª


    Jo Seokhwan quickly stepped in front of her and knelt down.


    "Why are you saying something like that all of a sudden? I absolutely can¡¯t allow it."


    Jo Seokhwan was opposed to Sehee becoming an actress.


    Even though he ran Newlike Group, a company deeply involved in the entertainment industry, he couldn¡¯t allow his daughter to be part of it.


    A genius actress, a shining star.


    That¡¯s how Baek Seran had been praised. But the shadows were just as deep.


    The more fans she had, the more haters there were too.


    On the internet, even small things would spark controversy.


    That¡¯s why Baek Seran died.


    If she hadn¡¯t been an actress, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have even developed depression.


    It was an accident, yes, but it was practically murder.


    That¡¯s how Jo Seokhwan saw it.


    And so, he would never let his daughter become an actress.


    "People say..."


    But Jo Sehee spoke in a trembling voice.


    "They say Mom became a star in the sky."


    That made Jo Seokhwan fall silent for a moment.


    "They say she¡¯s a star, brighter than anyone, and that she¡¯ll be watching over me."


    He figured it was something people said just to comfort a child.


    Maybe Sehee was too young to accept her mother¡¯s ¡°death,¡± and this was her way of coping.


    "But..."


    Sehee¡¯s lips quivered.


    Her big eyes welled up and blinked several times.


    A tearful, trembling voice¡ª


    As if she was trying desperately not to cry.


    "Because she was such a bright star, she might not be able to see me."


    Too dazzling.


    She might not be able to find someone as small as Sehee.


    "That¡¯s why..."


    That¡¯s why Sehee wanted to shine.


    Just like her mom, who sparkled so brightly.


    "I¡¯ll go find her."


    So her mom wouldn¡¯t have to search for her.


    If she could become a star too¡ªmaybe she could meet her.


    That¡¯s what young Sehee believed.


    "Yeah. I¡¯ll become an actress."


    Like her mom.


    No¡ªan even greater actress than her mom.


    She wanted to achieve the things her mom couldn¡¯t.


    She wanted to fulfill them for her.


    "Absolutely not."


    Surely, Mom may have struggled with this job.


    But still, there were so many things she wanted to do.


    Every morning, when they talked, Baek Seran would share so much.


    What kind of actress she wanted to become.


    What kind of movies she wanted to make.


    A genius actress.


    Having been praised as such, there were definitely things she could¡¯ve achieved, if only time had allowed.


    That¡¯s why Sehee decided to become an actress.


    It wasn¡¯t all that difficult.


    Fortunately, Sehee had grown up watching her mom¡¯s dramas, her performances, always following in her footsteps.


    Sometimes, her mom even taught her.


    Maybe¡ªmaybe her mother had secretly hoped she would become an actress, too.


    Of course, Sehee didn¡¯t choose acting because of that.


    She just wanted to become a star.


    To shine brighter than anyone.


    She didn¡¯t want to rely on her father¡¯s power.


    Because people would talk¡ªshe was sure of it.


    That she had a conglomerate backing her.


    Or that she was riding on the connections of the genius actress Baek Seran.


    She didn¡¯t want the spotlight to focus on her background rather than her skill.


    Only her own talent.


    Only her own effort¡ªshe wanted to rise with that alone.


    Because if not, Sehee would be forced to doubt herself.


    It would be the same as admitting she didn¡¯t have the talent to become a star.


    So¡ª


    "A parachute?"


    She didn¡¯t like people who got in through someone else¡¯s recommendation.


    Not when she thought about all the effort it took for her to land a role in a daily drama.


    Sure, it was only a year.


    Sehee hadn¡¯t spent all that long on it either.


    But still, she didn¡¯t like it.


    Riding on someone else''s power and trampling over someone else¡¯s effort¡ª


    She just didn¡¯t expect that girl to deliver a performance like that.


    Sehee glanced sideways, watching Seoyeon watch her performance.


    Outwardly, she looked like a cold and distant girl¡ªbut Sehee knew better.


    Seoyeon was a truly warm person.


    A little mischievous, kind of childish at times.


    But fundamentally, someone who always thought of others first.


    A rare kind of person in this industry.


    That¡¯s why¡ªjust like her acting, Sehee liked Seoyeon.


    ¡°So? What did you think?¡±


    Sehee wanted to ask.


    To Seoyeon, who was completely absorbed in the drama right now.


    ¡°My performance.¡±


    "I never forgot. Not for a single day."


    ¡®Hong Seha¡¯s¡¯ voice trembled.


    A voice wet with tears, merging with the heavy background music¡ªit sent shivers through the body.


    "The moment you killed my father... and the look in his eyes ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) as he lay dying, staring at me."


    Seha¡¯s hand moved, pointing the gun at Adam.


    Her voice trembled, but her eyes burned with fire.


    Hatred. Resentment.


    All those complex emotions swirled in those eyes.


    To overwhelm someone, you don¡¯t need a lot of lines.


    "That memory played on loop inside my head, endlessly. Left behind a scar that will never fade. But actually... I think I¡¯m lucky. Because I could hold on to the hatred I felt that day¡ªexactly as it was."


    Her voice cracked, the words spilling out in fragmented bursts.


    It was almost raw acting.


    But the technique and vocal training she¡¯d built up until now kept it from feeling awkward.


    ¡°When you become too fixed in your style as an actor, it becomes hard to break out of it.¡±


    Sehee knew that.


    That¡¯s why she¡¯d been mimicking her mother¡¯s acting¡ªto break free of it. But in the end, it had become a poison instead.


    Her mother¡¯s dazzling, star-like performance¡ªit didn¡¯t suit her.


    Her own acting was darker.


    More fierce. That¡¯s what fit her best.


    Maybe, in some ways, she was closer to Seoyeon.


    It wasn¡¯t method acting or anything like that, but Sehee shone the brightest when she expressed real emotions without embellishment.


    "I¡¯ll take revenge, Adam Lowell."


    In that hate-filled voice, even the mocking smile on Adam¡¯s face vanished.


    And then¡ªHong Seha¡¯s finger moved on the trigger.


    "Even if I die here today. I¡¯ll never forgive you."


    The bullet fired from the gun flew straight at Adam.


    Of course, Adam easily dodged the bullet, and before anyone could blink, he grabbed Seha by the neck and slammed her against the wall.


    A scream¡ªand the gun clattered to the ground.


    "There are no such things as miracles in this world. You¡¯re going to die here like a bug. Meaninglessly. Just like your father."


    Adam whispered.


    And in response, Hong Seha¡¯s gaze, filled with hatred, locked onto him.


    Her eyes were bloodshot, so red it looked like the veins had burst.


    Adam swallowed hard as he saw that.


    Even though she was a girl he could easily kill with a squeeze of his hand¡ªhe was overwhelmed.


    In that fleeting moment.


    Just a few seconds.


    Adam hesitated, caught in Hong Seha¡¯s intensity.


    "You¡¯ve gotten pretty cocky, Adam."


    "!!"


    A familiar voice rang out.


    And then¡ªsomeone grabbed Adam¡¯s wrist, the one holding Seha¡¯s neck¡ª


    Crunch.


    And snapped it, just like that.


    "Urgh!!"


    Even with regenerative powers, that didn¡¯t mean pain disappeared.


    Yanking his limp right arm back, Adam hurriedly leapt away, staring at the girl who had grabbed his wrist.


    "Jin Yeonseo."


    "Yeah. Nice to see you¡ªwell, not really. We¡¯ve already met so many times under different faces, haven¡¯t we?"


    With a lively voice, Jin Yeonseo smiled brightly at Adam.


    "Don¡¯t treat my precious assistant so roughly, okay?"


    One step¡ªslowly, she stepped toward Adam.


    "That really pisses me off."


    And so, with Adam and Jin Yeonseo facing off¡ªEpisode 8 came to an end.


    Effectively, the second half of Mine had begun.


    As the episode ended, sighs finally escaped from those around them.


    As if they had forgotten to breathe this whole time.


    "Wow, I seriously thought my eyes were gonna fall out."


    "That was her, right? ...That performance just now?"


    Whispers floated around as the drama club members recalled the scene they¡¯d just watched¡ªand turned to look at Sehee sitting behind them.


    And also at Seoyeon, sitting beside her.


    Among them were Kim Hyeri and Min Ara as well.


    They had thought they had some talent, but that performance had utterly overwhelmed them.


    Just like Adam had been, in the drama.


    "...What did you think?"


    It was, she believed, one of her best scenes.


    Though she would appear again later, for Hong Seha, this moment was the climax.


    Because after this, Hong Seha ends up hospitalized.


    So Sehee gave it her all.


    Just like Seoyeon had.


    She desperately hoped her acting had reached people¡¯s hearts.


    To that careful question from Jo Sehee¡ª


    Seoyeon, perhaps burdened by the stares of others, leaned in close to Sehee¡¯s ear and covered her mouth with her palm so no one else could hear.


    "You were dazzling."


    For Sehee, who always described acting as starlight¡ªthere was no higher compliment.


    It made her happy¡ª


    And then¡ª


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    It was only a second later that Sehee fully processed what Seoyeon had said, and she blinked at her blankly.


    For some reason, it felt shorter than usual¡ªlike Seoyeon had used fewer words.


    Maybe Seoyeon noticed her look.


    Because she smiled brightly and said:


    "Congratulations, Sehee."


    For overcoming her slump.


    At those words¡ª


    "...H-hmph."


    Sehee quickly turned her head and covered her mouth with the back of her hand.


    For some reason¡ª


    She felt really embarrassed.

 Chapter 328: So What Is CG, Exactly? (1)

    "Did you watch Mine yesterday?"


    "Oh, I binged it the moment it dropped."


    "Can you believe that was a Korean production? It didn¡¯t feel like it."


    "Wait, isn¡¯t it a drama, not a movie?"


    "Ah, right. A drama."


    You could hear conversations like that all over when walking around.


    It had been similar back when the teaser was released¡ªbut this time, it was on a whole other level.


    In fact, judging by how much people were talking, it was getting way more buzz than anything she¡¯d done on network TV.


    ¡°So it¡¯s true¡ªpeople¡¯s attention really is shifting from TV to streaming platforms.¡±


    Because of that, even the public networks had started changing strategies.


    No longer was it just about airing on television¡ªnow they could make extra revenue through OTT platforms too.


    "Well, it¡¯s got its pros and cons. That¡¯s just how it is."


    Jo Sehee brushed off the situation with a shrug.


    "Back when network TV was everything, a drama¡¯s success was measured purely by its ratings. That was the only metric that mattered."


    But now? Things were different.


    Even if something underperformed on TV, it could still get a second chance to go viral on a streaming platform.


    And if it succeeded there?


    It could end up making way more money¡ªand gaining way more popularity¡ªthan a regular network hit ever could.


    Even people who didn¡¯t watch the broadcast could get pulled in later through word of mouth.


    "Still, if you really want to measure a show¡¯s performance, you have to check both metrics. Just because it did well on TV doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll do well on streaming..."


    Then she took a sip of her warm Americano.


    "But if it does well in Korea, it usually ends up doing well overseas too."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah."


    Sehee trailed off and stared at Seoyeon for a moment.


    "..."


    "..."


    Seoyeon knew exactly why Sehee was staring at her.


    "Why aren¡¯t you using casual speech anymore?"


    "Just because."


    At that, Sehee gave her a mock-offended look, all pouty.


    Was dropping formal speech just a one-day thing? she wondered.


    "Then why are you sitting so far away?"


    "...I-I¡¯m not sitting that far."


    "Really?"


    "I-I said I¡¯m not!"


    She was just being awkward for no real reason.


    Embarrassed, maybe¡ªbut she wasn¡¯t sure why.


    "Anyway."


    Seoyeon looked at Sehee, who was technically sitting across from her but still angled slightly away.


    "Your acting yesterday was really good."


    Since they¡¯d already agreed to use casual speech, she went with it.


    That polite tone just now was a joke.


    Honestly, Seoyeon found it more comfortable to speak formally with Sehee.


    Maybe not because of familiarity, but something about Sehee just made her default to formal speech.


    ¡°Probably because I¡¯ve always talked to her that way,¡± she thought.


    But like Sehee had said¡ªusing honorifics forever wasn¡¯t going to work.


    They were the same age, after all. Keeping things formal would be weird.


    "I was actually moved. I almost teared up, to be honest."


    "..."


    "Should I just go back to formal speech?"


    "No-no-no! I¡¯m just¡ªit¡¯s just awkward, that¡¯s all!"


    Jo Sehee groaned and covered her face with both hands for no reason.


    Why was she so embarrassed?


    Seoyeon was honestly curious.


    Where did that haughty villainess she first met disappear to?


    Well, now that she thought about it, Sehee had always been kind of soft when it came to her.


    "...Hey."


    That¡¯s when Lee Jiyeon¡ªwho had been sitting quietly next to Seoyeon, watching them¡ªfinally spoke up.


    "If you two are just gonna keep blabbing, can I chime in too?"


    At Jiyeon¡¯s comment, Sehee subtly looked away.


    Like she''d just been caught red-handed.


    Meanwhile, Seoyeon didn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡°What the hell happened between these two?¡±


    Hadn¡¯t they gotten a lot closer than before?


    And when did they even switch to casual speech?


    ¡°Ugh, this weird feeling of being left out.¡±


    Jiyeon was starting to feel a little threatened.


    Even though Sehee had physically distanced herself, she felt emotionally closer to Seoyeon than ever.


    ¡°Come to think of it, that Mine interview was kinda suspicious, too.¡±


    She remembered how Sehee kept looking at Seoyeon during the interview, way more emotionally than usual.


    Clearly, Seoyeon had helped her out a lot with the acting.


    And well¡ªJiyeon had gotten help too, so she wasn¡¯t really in a place to complain...


    But still.


    Something about it just rubbed her the wrong way.


    ¡°So this is why Seoyeon always used to get on my case when I hung out with other friends.¡±


    She got it now.


    When your close friend starts paying more attention to someone else¡ªit hurts in a weirdly specific way.


    "Oh, right."


    While she was thinking that, Seoyeon pulled out her phone.


    "Stella messaged me yesterday."


    That made both Jo Sehee and Lee Jiyeon look straight at her phone.


    Stella.


    The fairy of the century.


    She had an oddly obsessive streak when it came to Seoyeon.


    To both of them, Stella was a bit of a sensitive subject.


    Maybe because she stood at the pinnacle of what all actresses aspired to.


    Or maybe it was because of what she said to Seoyeon before she left last time.


    "Look at this. She said, ¡®Did you study a little too hard?¡¯"


    "..."


    When Seoyeon showed the message, Sehee quietly looked away.


    Jiyeon turned toward her with a curious expression.


    But soon enough, Sehee started fumbling out a response.


    "I-I mean, no, this is¡ªuh, yeah, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding!"


    "A misunderstanding?"


    "Yeah, like... just a misunderstanding, okay?!"


    Sehee felt completely wronged.


    Seriously!


    Sure, maybe she was a little flustered, but only because she¡¯d been on the receiving end of formal speech and actual help.


    That¡¯s all!


    But if Stella phrased it like that, what was anyone supposed to think?


    This just... wasn''t it!


    ¡°Wait... was there really something in my acting that gave off that kind of vibe?¡±


    Seoyeon knew what Stella meant by ¡°studying hard.¡±


    But this drama didn¡¯t even have those kinds of scenes¡ªunlike Kyungsung Lady.


    ¡°Well... there was that sort-of friendship angle between Hong Seha and me.¡±


    Maybe that came across differently to international audiences.


    Honestly, Seoyeon thought it was kind of funny.


    It¡¯s like that thing people say:


    In Korea, it¡¯s totally normal for girls to walk around holding hands.


    But overseas, it might look like they¡¯re a couple.


    This was probably one of those cases.


    ¡°Overseas, huh...¡±


    Anyway, Stella had sent a few more texts after that.


    She said the international reception was really positive.


    Which meant there were actors and directors abroad who¡¯d been impressed by both Sehee¡¯s and Seoyeon¡¯s performances.


    That was the beauty of OTT dramas.


    They made it easier for Korean actors to break into global markets.


    Back when actor Lee Sangsoo tried going international, he failed hard¡ªpartly due to the heavy discrimination against Asian actors.


    But now?


    Things had clearly changed.


    Even Lee Sangsoo himself had said this to Seoyeon recently:


    "Miss Seoyeon."


    "Yes?"


    "I¡¯m thinking of giving it another shot."


    "Another shot?"


    "Yeah. It¡¯s my dream, after all."


    Actor Lee Sangsoo made that comment during the celebratory dinner after Kyungsung Lady surpassed ten million viewers and received massive critical acclaim.


    "Ever since I was a kid, watching black-and-white films, I dreamed of stepping into that world myself."


    Even though he¡¯d failed once before, the success of Kyungsung Lady rekindled the fire in his heart.


    "Kyungsung Lady is getting a strong response overseas. And because of that, I¡¯ve been contacted by some people¡ªincluding ones who ignored me back when I tried to go global."


    It was funny how much perceptions of Korean actors had changed in just a few years.


    Even now, things were still ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) unfamiliar and challenging¡ªbut compared to before, the barrier was drastically lower.


    "So I¡¯m thinking of heading out first. And you, Seoyeon¡ªI¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be following not long after."


    "I just really like Korea."


    "Haha, fair enough. Leaving home is always hard."


    Even as he said that, it was clear he believed Seoyeon would eventually take on international projects.


    But the truth was¡ªSeoyeon didn¡¯t have much interest in Hollywood.


    Still...


    ¡°Hmm... being a VTuber who talks about Hollywood behind-the-scenes stuff... that might make me look kind of cool.¡±


    Wait¡ªwasn¡¯t that crossing a line with the Red Pill rules?


    But then again, most people talk about their personal lives to some degree.


    Even the few who do hardcore roleplay usually share at least that much.


    ¡°In that sense... maybe it wouldn¡¯t be so bad.¡±


    She felt a slight temptation¡ªbut pursuing Hollywood with that kind of mindset felt deeply disrespectful to the craft of acting.


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t shake that thought.


    Unless there was a meaningful reason or catalyst¡ª


    There wasn¡¯t much motivation to take on that kind of challenge.


    Still...


    After reading the last of Stella¡¯s texts, Seoyeon closed her phone screen.


    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen with Mine?¡±


    So far, the response had been very positive.


    But there was no official international reaction yet.


    It had only been a day.


    Right now, Mine was sitting at around 7th place in the global OTT rankings.


    That¡¯s high for a newly released drama¡ªbut not that high.


    New releases often spike in rankings from initial buzz alone.


    Especially for Mine, which started out surrounded by a lot of hype and controversy¡ª7th place felt a little underwhelming.


    But then again, it had a major advertising campaign behind it.


    So it wasn¡¯t a flop¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t a breakout hit yet either.


    ¡°I really hope it does well.¡±


    Seoyeon glanced over at Sehee.


    Now that she seemed to have calmed down, Sehee tilted her head and blinked back at her blankly.


    ¡°Her performance this time was really good.¡±


    Sehee had always been a strong actress.


    But this time¡ªshe broke out of her usual mold, and Seoyeon was honestly impressed.


    ¡°I need to work harder too.¡±


    If she didn¡¯t want to fall behind.


    Not just Sehee or Stella¡ªeven Jiyeon was climbing fast now.


    ¡°My competitive streak...¡±


    Lately, she¡¯d realized something about herself¡ªSeoyeon was quietly, but fiercely, competitive.


    Especially when it came to acting.


    ****


    [OTT Global Ranking: Mine Hits #7! Early Signs of a Hit!]


    [A Bit Underwhelming? GH Group¡¯s Ambitious Drama, Mine¡ªWill It Deliver?]


    Because Mine was a major investment by GH Group, the media coverage was intense.


    There were tons of critical articles, and just as many full of empty praise.


    So, it was hard to gauge how successful it really was based on headlines alone.


    There were too many, and the opinions were all over the place.


    The reaction online was similar.


    ¨C Mine was actually pretty good lol


    ¨C The acting was solid, and the action scenes were top-tier


    ¨C But the writing felt kinda juvenile


    ¨C Great action, but like... psychics? Really? lol


    ¨C Feels like everyone¡¯s trying to copy the DC Universe now


    ¨C There¡¯s even a Superman homage in Jin Yeonseo¡¯s fight scene


    ¨C Was that a homage? Felt like a generic trope to me


    ¨C Honestly, the later episodes feel like the director is pushing some weird philosophy


    ¨C Immortality through psychic powers? So much unnecessary stuff crammed in


    That was the general consensus in the first three days.


    Good, but not mind-blowing.


    The action scenes were impressive.


    Ju Seoyeon and Jo Sehee delivered excellent performances.


    Arthur Diaz? He was fine¡ªnot amazing, but solid.


    At least his face was really good-looking. A feast for the eyes.


    That was the vibe overall.


    ¨C Did they really have to add that whole tragic backstory for Hong Seha or whatever her name is?


    ¨C She said Adam killed her dad, right?


    ¨C That scene was carried entirely by the actors. Otherwise, it was cliche? melodrama lol


    ¨C Was it melodrama though? I actually found it emotional


    ¨C Nah, it was cliche?. That stuff doesn¡¯t land with international audiences


    Jo Sehee¡¯s character, Hong Seha, was clearly designed to deliver the show¡¯s emotional beats.


    Family love. Blind revenge for her father.


    And those moments meant to tug at the audience¡¯s heartstrings.


    Jo Sehee pulled it off.


    Her performance was moving enough to squeeze out tears.


    Especially the flashback scenes¡ªthose stood out.


    Even so, reactions were split.


    ¨C lol stuff like that doesn¡¯t work overseas


    ¨C Only Korean audiences fall for that kind of thing


    On day five of release, while that kind of conversation was still going on¡ª


    [Mine Continues Its Meteoric Rise! Charting Higher Every Day!]


    [No More Ceiling? The Unstoppable Success of Mine!]


    [Child¡¯s Game, Watch Out! Mine Has Drawn Its Sword!]


    The tone of the headlines began to shift.


    Gone were the disappointed or skeptical takes.


    ¨C GH Group really pushing that PR machine lol


    ¨C But the rankings are going up?


    ¨C Is this real or PR spin?


    ¨C It¡¯s legit, the rank keeps climbing;; no way that¡¯s fake, right?


    Online chatter had been slow to catch on at first.


    People were treating it like ¡°just another decent drama.¡±


    Then¡ª


    [Mine Reaches #1 in 57 Countries! The Next Global Hit After Child¡¯s Game!]


    A headline like that exploded.


    It had been ten days since Mine premiered.


    Far too long for the initial buzz alone to explain its success.


    ¨C The more I watch, the more I get the director¡¯s vision lol


    ¨C I rewatched Mine last night and suddenly it was amazing wtf


    ¨C I knew from the start this was a masterpiece, but nobody believed me


    ¨C Turns out overseas audiences love that emotional melodrama...


    ¨C Nah, it¡¯s just well-made, period


    ¨C Wait a sec... this is giving me de?ja? vu from Child¡¯s Game


    That was when the Korean online community finally changed its tune¡ªfor real.

 Chapter 329: So What Is CG, Exactly? (2)

    [I¡¯m being serious here.]


    [Yeah?]


    [If you switched to MMA right now, wouldn¡¯t you make a fortune?]


    [...]


    Seoyeon narrowed her eyes at the chat that popped up mid-game.


    It was probably half-joke, half-serious.


    [So should I take that to mean you want to learn martial arts with me?]


    At that, Park Jungwoo felt his heart drop.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that to sound like he was digging his own grave.


    ¡°But it can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    He had recently watched Mine.


    The drama backed by GH Group.


    Of course, even if they hadn¡¯t invested in it, he would¡¯ve watched it the moment it dropped¡ªbecause Seoyeon was in it.


    [...Yeah, the drama was good.]


    [You''re dodging the question.]


    [The final behind-the-scenes video really stood out.]


    [What about my acting and Sehee¡¯s?]


    [Do I even need to say it? Oh, but Jo Sehee really popped this time.]


    Seoyeon¡¯s acting, as always, had no flaws worth nitpicking.


    The character suited her usual image perfectly, and she was practically flying through the action scenes¡ªjust watching her was a visual treat.


    ¡°After seeing those behind-the-scenes clips, how could I not ask?¡±


    The Mine making-of videos were packed with moments where you couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Wait, that wasn¡¯t CGI?¡±


    Especially Seoyeon¡¯s own action scenes¡ªbarely any CGI at all.


    ¡°No wonder it felt so real.¡±


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just the two of them that stood out this time.


    He didn¡¯t particularly like the guy, but Arthur Diaz had definitely lived up to his name.


    ¡°More than anyone, though¡ªNarumi Sora.¡±


    Park Jungwoo repeated the name again.


    She had already left an impression in Hyper Action Star, but what she showed in Mine went beyond that.


    ¡°As for Jo Sehee... I honestly don¡¯t want to say this to her face.¡±


    He was honestly surprised.


    He never expected Jo Sehee to pull off acting like that.


    It was the kind of performance that made your chest tighten with unease.


    If he actually said that out loud, she¡¯d obviously get smug about it, so there was no way he¡¯d tell her.


    It was petty, sure¡ªbut he couldn¡¯t help it.


    Park Jungwoo just didn¡¯t want to lose to Jo Sehee, plain and simple.


    [Still, you should think about this¡ªyour most memorable roles all have a pretty similar vibe.]


    [Are they really that similar?]


    [Not like, copy-paste similar, but it¡¯s about first impressions. You know what I mean. I haven¡¯t seen every movie you¡¯ve been in, after all.]


    Seoyeon had been in a lot of projects last year, but if you asked most people which role stuck with them the most, they¡¯d probably say Cha Seoa.


    Yuina had been impressive too, and her acting was stellar¡ªbut it didn¡¯t have the same impact as Cha Seoa.


    Though, to be fair, Yuina did feel somewhat similar to both Cha Seoa and Jin Yeonseo.


    ¡°I really have played a lot of similar characters.¡±


    Seoyeon thought about it.


    It hadn¡¯t been intentional, but the overlap was definitely there.


    Probably because she kept picking roles that suited her.


    And like Jungwoo said, being typecast into a single image wasn¡¯t exactly ideal.


    ...Though it was still better than that ¡°gorilla¡± image from her variety show days.


    [Don¡¯t get stuck on just your breakout image, okay?]


    [Ironically, my first breakout image was the Princess of Yeonhwa.]


    [...That was basically a split personality thing.]


    [?]


    Split personality?


    Seoyeon stared at the chat for a moment, then let out a short laugh.


    Just the mention of the Princess of Yeonhwa made her reactions obvious, even in chat.


    [It¡¯s not like that. I just get a little more serene, that¡¯s all.]


    [Liar.]


    [It¡¯s true! I just change how I talk, that¡¯s it.]


    [No, no. Your habits change too. Your whole personality shifts.]


    It¡¯s not really like that.


    Seoyeon almost typed that¡ªbut just shrugged instead.


    Jungwoo seemed to think of it like she had a full-on alter ego, but that wasn¡¯t the case at all.


    She remembered everything she did in that state.


    Sure, her speech softened, she acted like a model student, picked up some new habits¡ªbut there were reasons for that.


    ¡°If I had no memories of my past life, maybe I would¡¯ve grown up with that kind of personality.¡±


    Seoyeon had thought about it a lot, and that seemed like the most likely explanation.


    Call it the personality of her current body, maybe.


    Her memories from her previous life just kept that side of her in check.


    A split between memory and the body¡¯s natural disposition... something like that.


    That persona probably only surfaced when she played the Princess of Yeonhwa.


    Same with the habits that came with it.


    Back when she was a kid, none of that had come out¡ªso the fact that it did now...


    ¡°Probably just puberty.¡±


    Ju Seoyeon.


    Three years of adolescent chaos.


    All those changes must¡¯ve had some kind of emotional impact.


    ¡°Maybe things will change again once I graduate.¡±


    It was just a vague thought, but not without reason.


    She had gone through something similar in middle school, after all.


    Before puberty, she¡¯d been more detached¡ªcloser to the person she was in her past life.


    Unless she was acting, she didn¡¯t really show big emotional swings.


    But after puberty hit, and after experiencing that emotional storm in full force¡ª


    She became someone appropriate for her age.


    So once she graduates... she might change again emotionally.


    It was just a guess.


    Of course, there was also a very real chance that nothing would change.


    She was still growing, little by little.


    Maybe there wouldn¡¯t be any big shifts like last time, but steady, gradual change¡ªthat seemed more likely.


    [Honestly, I¡¯m kind of looking forward to it. Flower of the Imperial Palace.]


    Right after she said that, Park Jungwoo¡¯s chat paused.


    Like he was trying to figure out what she meant.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t have any deeper meaning.


    She was just genuinely looking forward to it.


    ¡°I mean, my dad¡¯s childhood friend wrote the original.¡±


    And it had been a while since she¡¯d played a princess role.


    The very first character she¡¯d ever portrayed.


    A character so similar to the Princess of Yeonhwa¡ªhow could she not be excited?


    ¡°This year, I really need to shape a better image for myself.¡±


    She¡¯d had more than enough of the edgy roles last year.


    Seoyeon was firmly set on this new path.


    ****


    Normally, OTT drama success is determined on release day¡ªor at most, within the first week.


    That¡¯s because, unlike traditional dramas, they usually drop an entire season at once.


    And all the viewers who came flooding in from PVs and ads catch that first wave.


    But in Mine¡¯s case? It was a total outlier.


    The drama blew up a full ten days after release.


    [#1 in 57 Countries Worldwide¡ª2 Weeks and Still Going Strong!]


    [Mine¡¯s Secret? Dazzling Action and Unbelievable Performances.]


    okay what the hell how did this even happenI told you Mine was actually goodwhen I said it was good I got flamed to hell, and now this? lolngl the cast totally carriedinternational fans are praising the script too thoyeah the writing was solidOST¡¯s topping charts overseas tooyeah the songs were bangers tbhso like, what exactly wasn¡¯t good about this drama???this is literally the meme now: ¡°Stop enjoying things!!!!!!!!!!¡±


    Korean netizens, honestly, were kind of stunned.


    YouTubers who had prepped videos titled ¡°Why Mine Flopped¡± had to scramble to make new content.


    ¡°Tsk, what did I say? What is Ju Seoyeon? A religion. You better memorize that. My sub count doesn¡¯t lie.¡±


    Bongshik, maybe you should just invest in stockshow much profit are you making off that Ju Seoyeon coin anywayand seriously, she never misses¡ªI really thought this one would flop


    ¡°Nononono. I said it when I watched Mine, right? That this was gonna blow up. No doubt about it.¡±


    ¨C Didn¡¯t you say that during The Chaser too?


    ¨C Bongpyeong strikes again with the misinformation lmaoo


    ¡°That¡¯s slander. I¡¯ve said the same thing every time Ju Seoyeon was in something.¡±


    Meanwhile, Bongshik, who had been riding the Ju Seoyeon hype train from the beginning, actually saw his subscriber count go up.


    His video ¡°Spot the CGI in Mine¡± exploded thanks to the algorithm, spreading like wildfire.


    The twist?


    It didn¡¯t just go viral in Korea¡ªit blew up internationally.


    Following the global success of Child¡¯s Game, foreign YouTubers were already watching Korean dramas more closely, and Mine landing right after only stoked the fire.


    Now, when you searched Mine, the top autocomplete result was Mine international reactions.


    A flood of real-time reaction videos from overseas YouTubers.


    And the one going through all those videos one by one?


    A brand-new member of Yeonhwa High¡¯s drama club¡ª


    Min Ara.


    ¡°Oh! Someone already compiled all the reactions in one place!¡±


    Ever since Mine became a hit, she had made it a daily routine to hunt down new reaction videos.


    With a huge grin, Min Ara hit play.


    Onscreen, a Black man in a snapback cap was reacting to chat messages in the corner of the screen.


    ¡°Yo, bro. Today I¡¯m checking out that trending Korean drama. You know Mine, right? The one with the sexy Korean girl?¡±


    ¨C :) Dude, that actress is still in high school


    ¡°Oh, wait wait¡ªscratch that. I meant, the cute Korean girl.¡±


    ¨C lol


    ¨C Cute XD


    ¨C FBI¡¯s coming for you, Joseph


    The video ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) kicked off with those ridiculous lines.


    The YouTuber, Joseph, wiped sweat from his forehead, suddenly realizing just how young the girl on the poster looked.


    Her vibe made her seem older than she was.


    Then the screen cut to a blonde woman¡ªanother YouTuber, apparently¡ªwatching the scene intently with a focused expression.


    ¡°Okay, so it opens in a lab. It¡¯s always the shady labs, isn¡¯t it? Ooh, Arthur! You handsome bastard, there you are.¡±


    Episode 1 of Mine.


    The scene where Jin Yeonseo is escaping from the lab.


    Then¡ªMin Doha throws himself in her path, trying to stop her.


    ¡°Arthur¡¯s gonna help her escape, right? Wait¡ªwas it Adam? Crap, Yeonseo¡¯s gonna get caught.¡±


    But then¡ªbam.


    One brutal hit, and Min Doha goes flying.


    The woman¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Oh damn. Okay, superpowers. Got it. You¡¯re a badass, Yeonseo.¡±


    After that came a montage of different YouTubers reacting in turn, one after another, all shocked at the same scene.


    Then¡ªback to Joseph.


    ¡°Wait. That scene where he gets blasted across the room... that wasn¡¯t CGI?!¡±


    ¨C The broken wall was CGI


    ¨C lol


    ¨C Ju Seoyeon passed Korea¡¯s top action audition, this is just a warm-up for her


    ¡°This is a making-of video, right? Holy crap, it¡¯s real. They actually threw him like that? Was it wires?¡±


    ¨C No wires


    ¨C Wow, Koreans are all built different


    ¨C Imagine agreeing to get thrown like that with no wire lmao couldn¡¯t be me


    Every YouTuber watching Mine ended up checking out the making-of videos at least once.


    Since every episode had a mix of scenes with and without CGI, they had to know what was real.


    ¡°Jesus, look at those hands move. That¡¯s straight-up Bruce Lee.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was sped up, but that¡¯s just how fast she moves. It¡¯s so absurd, it¡¯s hilarious.¡±


    ¡°That guy¡¯s Oliver, right? The best action actor in Hollywood. Damn, this Korean actress is wild. They¡¯re really going at it.¡±


    With every single scene, the YouTubers got louder and louder.


    They¡¯d gasp at the action, then burst out laughing during the behind-the-scenes clips.


    ¡°Okay, real talk¡ªMine is a damn good show. The story¡¯s tight, the action¡¯s next level. Especially the chase scenes. Best I¡¯ve seen this year, hands down.¡±


    Joseph turned his cap backward and gestured wildly with both hands.


    ¡°Look at this! The motorcycle stunt¡ªthis is insane!¡±


    ¡°Okay, this part¡¯s definitely CGI. No way you could do that with a real bike.¡±


    ¡°JESUS. Did you see that?! She bounced like a damn pinball. That¡¯s not CGI?! She¡¯s alive, right??¡±


    Viewers who watched Joseph¡¯s video couldn¡¯t resist commenting.


    Those who hadn¡¯t seen Mine were stunned.


    Those who had?


    Just spammed ¡°LOL¡± over and over again.


    ¨C That scene¡¯s actually in the show??


    ¨C Korean CGI tech is next-level;;;


    ¨C What do you mean ¡°not CGI¡± lmao


    ¨C lmfao how many times did this guy scream ¡°Jesus¡± during the making-of


    ¨C Honestly, fair


    ¨C Can Ju Seoyeon walk on water too??


    ¨C If she steps out with the other foot fast enough, sure


    ¨C lol wait is this real? She hits a guy holding a mat and he bounces off the wall and flies zigzag??


    ¨C You underestimate Ju Seoyeon¡¯s strength. She once fished up a giant red sea bream.


    ¨C At this rate she could probably pull up a whale too


    The reaction videos were all like that.


    People even joked that uploading the making-ofs was a stroke of genius.


    Min Ara couldn¡¯t help nodding along as she scrolled through the videos and comments.


    ¡°So it¡¯s the making-of clips that made it go viral overseas.¡±


    That had to be why Mine became such a late-blooming hit abroad.


    The reactions must¡¯ve spread organically through word of mouth.


    Of course, the only reason it could ride that wave was because the show itself was actually good.


    Min Ara had rewatched Seoyeon¡¯s acting multiple times.


    And, of course, Jo Sehee¡¯s too.


    She didn¡¯t think she could ever catch up to them.


    But she still wanted to get at least halfway there.


    ¡°And the scene with the most reactions was...¡±


    Min Ara scrolled through the video to find the most replayed moment.


    That scene¡ª


    The one where the burning lab became the stage for a showdown between two girls.


    Jin Yeonseo, and Shin Arin with a sword in her hand.


    The flashiest action scene in the entire show.


    ¡°Oh, this scene. Yeah, I know this one. It¡¯s the reason I decided to watch Mine in the first place.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already dying to find out what part of this is CGI.¡±


    ¡°Wait, she¡¯s Japanese? That¡¯s the most surprising thing I¡¯ve heard all day.¡±


    The YouTubers¡¯ voices echoed from the video.


    And the comments followed.


    ¨C Wait, where did they even use CGI??


    ¨C Budget optimization, literal GOAT


    ¨C Watching this, I finally get why they cast Narumi Sora lol


    ¨C Her acting¡¯s solid, but her physicality is just insane


    ¨C Why are these people actors? Put them in sports


    ¨C Athletes would just get injured


    ¨C A match with a guaranteed outcome isn¡¯t a sport


    ¨C Okay... yeah, fair


    Everyone who saw that scene said the same thing.


    Hong Seha and Jin Yeonseo¡¯s emotional drama had been impactful, sure¡ª


    But what truly stole people¡¯s attention was the sheer spectacle of the action.


    Min Ara had watched that scene so many times she could recite it, but even then, she hit the play button again.


    It was, without a doubt, one of the biggest reasons Mine had surged in popularity.


    Jin Yeonseo vs. Shin Arin.


    The two strongest psychics in the entire show¡ªclashing head-to-head.

 Chapter 330: So What Is CG, Exactly? (3)

    A standoff between two girls.


    This scene could be considered Mine¡¯s true climactic battle.


    There was still the fight against Adam to come, sure¡ª


    But Adam wasn¡¯t exactly a powerful psychic, and his goal from the beginning had been to persuade Yeonseo, not defeat her.


    ¡°The downside to this drama is that most of the action villains are women.¡±


    At that moment, Joseph¡ªthe overseas YouTuber¡ªpaused the video and spoke up.


    ¡°What? You calling me sexist? No, that¡¯s not what I meant! Men and women are just different, okay? Naturally, male action scenes feel more powerful and impactful.¡±


    He pointed to Shin Arin, facing off against Seoyeon in the frame.


    ¡°Look at her body. She¡¯s agile, sure, but she still looks like a teenage girl, doesn¡¯t she? Ah¡ªof course, East Asian women tend to look younger. But I did my research. Both of them? Total teenagers. Can you believe that?¡±


    ¨C XD But hasn¡¯t Seoyeon already shown insane action skills?


    ¨C You shouldn¡¯t judge with that kind of bias.


    ¨C I¡¯ve seen this episode. I¡¯ll just keep my mouth shut.


    ¨C Same.


    ¡°I get what you¡¯re all saying. Seoyeon¡ªthis actress¡¯s action scenes are crazy, no question. Just from the making-ofs alone, it¡¯s almost hard to believe. But that doesn¡¯t mean this actress will pull it off too. Like, remember... that supercar woman?¡±


    He was referencing an earlier episode.


    Actress Min Doha, whose character Shim Sojin frequently clashed with Jin Yeonseo.


    ¡°She was good! But still, something felt missing. I mean, the scene where she screams while running away? That was legit terrifying. I¡¯m not questioning her acting. The point is¡ªshe didn¡¯t have enough presence.¡±


    ¨C I want to argue with you calling her ¡°supercar woman,¡± but I can¡¯t even think of a comeback


    ¨C Bro there¡¯s already a meme of her called that


    Shim Sojin had already become a buzzworthy character overseas.


    Her screen time wasn¡¯t small, and she made her mark with a solid presence.


    Her tight action scenes and desperate chases by Jin Yeonseo had earned sympathy¡ª


    especially the way she fought back during the final motorcycle sequence. Some people even rooted for her.


    In the end, she fell off the Han River bridge during the bike action scene.


    But rumors were still floating around that she survived¡ªor would return somehow.


    ¨C First of all, why not just watch it?


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. I got too heated. Everything will speak for itself once I watch it. But I swear, I won¡¯t be surprised. I¡¯ve already seen so many shocking scenes in this show that I¡¯m numb to it.¡±


    ¨C Fair point.


    ¨C The making-of clips already broke our brains.


    ¨C Honestly, the lab massacre scene was so intense it¡¯s hard to top that.


    With those final chat comments, Joseph hit play again.


    And then¡ª


    ¡°Jin Yeonseo!!¡±


    Fire burned in Shin Arin¡¯s eyes.


    She didn¡¯t even have a line.


    Actually, Shin Arin hadn¡¯t been given many lines in general.


    A conscious decision to cover for Narumi Sora¡¯s slightly limited acting skills.


    To be fair, Narumi Sora¡¯s acting was decent.


    But going head-to-head against Seoyeon?


    Ordinary acting wouldn¡¯t be enough¡ªSeoyeon would steal the scene.


    ¡°Stop¡ªplease, just stop!!¡±


    Shin Arin screamed, lunging forward.


    At the same time, Jin Yeonseo looked up from where she was about to bring an axe down on the back of a fleeing lab technician.


    Shin Arin drew her sword mid-charge.


    One horizontal slash¡ªand the blade sliced clean through the nearby wall.


    ¡°Ooh.¡±


    Joseph flinched at the explosive direction.


    Impressed by Korea¡¯s advanced ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? CGI, he half-expected the fight to continue as a flashy effects-heavy sequence.


    He figured that¡¯d still be fun to watch¡ªno complaints there.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Jin Yeonseo dodged the slash, crouched low, and closed in.


    She spun halfway and kicked¡ªclean and sharp.


    Shin Arin blocked with her sword but still went tumbling, breaking through a cracked wall.


    But only for a moment.


    Springing up like a cat, Shin Arin charged forward again¡ªlike a panther.


    Jin Yeonseo¡¯s axe and Shin Arin¡¯s sword clashed mid-air.


    Yeonseo swung repeatedly in wide arcs, and Arin deflected every strike to the side.


    Whenever she found an opening, Arin stabbed at Yeonseo¡¯s shoulder.


    But with Yeonseo¡¯s monstrous regenerative abilities, those stabs were practically meaningless.


    Concrete walls felt like styrofoam under the force of their blows.


    Arin¡¯s blade sliced through a wall¡ªand severed Yeonseo¡¯s arm.


    Yeonseo regenerated the arm instantly, grabbed Arin, and slammed her into the ground.


    But Shin Arin wasn¡¯t far behind in durability or speed.


    A powerful psychic herself, Arin hurled a steel beam lying nearby straight through Yeonseo¡¯s body¡ª


    yet even that didn¡¯t stop her.


    ¨C Were those axe swings all CGI too?


    ¨C That must¡¯ve been choreographed


    ¨C Isn¡¯t it too fast for that though?


    Then, just as Arin landed a kick to Yeonseo¡¯s abdomen and sent her flying several meters¡ª


    Yeonseo¡¯s axe came whirling back through the air, straight at Arin¡¯s head.


    Arin¡¯s pupils widened.


    She reflexively swung her sword, deflecting the axe¡ªthen bolted forward.


    Yeonseo¡¯s axe remained embedded in the ground.


    Now weaponless, Yeonseo was wide open¡ª


    and Arin, sword in hand, charged in for the finish.


    ¡°Oh shit, that¡¯s bad.¡±


    Joseph muttered unconsciously, completely absorbed.


    Arin raised her sword for the final blow¡ª


    But right before impact, she froze.


    She saw it.


    The smile on Yeonseo¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    And then¡ª


    Shin Arin lost her balance and stumbled forward.


    ****


    ¡°Reika, look at this. Seriously. It¡¯s a Korean drama that just blew up¡ªand she¡¯s in it.¡±


    Reika perked up her slumped shoulders at the crowd of actresses rushing toward her.


    She was exhausted, sure¡ªbut with people following her around, she couldn¡¯t afford to look weak.


    ¡°Honestly, I thought that whole thing would die down after Aokigahara.¡±


    Reika had been trying to maintain a refined, elegant image.


    But on that Aokigahara variety show, she¡¯d come off as a complete klutz.


    She was convinced the ¡°lady-like¡± image had been totally shattered.


    ¡°But somehow, the noble lady vibe just got stronger.¡±


    Probably because she insisted on using a fan like Jo Sehee did.


    That, plus her slightly naive behavior, had ironically made her seem even more like a rich girl.


    She¡¯d worried the other actresses might glare daggers at her, but even that had taken its own turn.


    ¡°You know Stella personally?!¡±


    ¡°Reika, are you about to go Hollywood? Korean actors are seriously amazing these days!¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m really not that close to Stella Baldwin...¡±


    But she couldn¡¯t exactly say that out loud.


    So she just smiled vaguely and nodded.


    ¡°Re-Reika, look! You remember the actress I mentioned before?¡±


    ¡°The actress?¡±


    She tilted her head with a confused look.


    ¡°Back when we did that cameo shoot for a drama¡ªremember the girl who helped translate the script for Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Reika finally nodded like she remembered.


    ¡°...Didn¡¯t I just call her a weird kid?¡±


    She thought that, but kept her mouth shut.


    ¡°Here, watch this.¡±


    With an excited voice, the actress played the video.


    Reika had already seen Episode 11¡¯s action scenes and the final making-of video.


    ¡°Wait... did she really punch that bear back then?¡±


    The thought came to her suddenly¡ª


    And honestly, it wasn¡¯t far off from the truth.


    ¡°No way. Come on, that¡¯s ridiculous.¡±


    She shook the idea off quickly.


    For the record, the bear was now living a fairly happy life in a zoo.


    After Seoyeon¡¯s visit, it had become the leader of its group.


    ¡°Reika, look at this¡ªdoesn¡¯t it look like she actually flies?¡±


    ¡°I think she actually did fly.¡±


    ¡°Come on, no way. It¡¯s gotta be wires.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe not.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Reika, you¡¯re too naive. So what, she lifted someone up with one hand and slammed them into the ground?¡±


    ¡°I think she did. Like, how is that person even alive? Normally, they¡¯d be dead.¡±


    ¡°The ground¡¯s padded, right? Plus, she probably used wires to lift them¡ªwait, huh?¡±


    Can you even do that with wires?


    As the confused expression settled on the actress¡¯s face, Reika pressed her fingers against her temples.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t sped-up footage. How much CGI did they actually save on?¡±


    Reika clicked her tongue as the axe (really a stick) and the sword (also a stick) clashed at blistering speed.


    It was so fast, it didn¡¯t even feel like acting.


    In reality, it was a well-rehearsed sequence choreographed around the camera.


    Seoyeon was phenomenal, of course¡ªbut Narumi Sora matching her so smoothly? That was no joke either.


    ¡°Ahem.¡±


    Just then, the actress holding the phone awkwardly cleared her throat, catching Reika staring at Sora.


    ¡°Back when I was in Japan, we were kinda close.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you bullied her?¡±


    ¡°Wh-What? No way! We¡¯re totally friends! Friends!!¡±


    I doubt she sees you that way.


    Reika thought to herself as she replayed the making-of footage.


    At that moment, the video showed Narumi Sora, dripping with sweat, giving a short interview.


    ¡°When the hit lands, you just move with it. If you practice together, anyone can do it.¡±


    Sora said with a shy laugh.


    As she turned around for validation, the surrounding stunt actors quickly shook their heads.


    Clearly, not just anyone could pull that off.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it alone at first. Oliver helped me.¡±


    Oliver.


    The legendary Hollywood stuntman.


    Famous for partnering with Arthur in action scenes.


    He didn¡¯t say anything, but it was obvious he¡¯d helped Sora a lot behind the scenes.


    ¡°The axe... I just reflexively blocked it. Seoyeon said she threw it by accident, actually. The kick too¡ªit was all improv on my part.¡±


    Sora scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed.


    She figured Seoyeon could handle it, so she put a little extra force in her kick.


    Seoyeon, deeply immersed in her role, reflexively threw the axe (a plastic stick).


    Sora reacted instantly and deflected it with her own plastic sword.


    ¡°I¡¯ve learned so much since coming to Korea. Especially...¡±


    She trailed off, then smiled and waved at Seoyeon, who was approaching her in the background.


    That warm interaction made Reika... just a little envious.


    ¡°Having talented actors around really must make a difference.¡±


    She glanced over at her own entourage.


    One of them had just proudly claimed to be ¡°close friends¡± with someone she¡¯d barely met.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    Maybe she really should study abroad?


    Reika found herself seriously considering it.


    Of course, as a high school student, there was no way her parents would let her transfer to Korea.


    That was never going to happen.


    And that only made Narumi Sora seem even more impressive.


    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to visit when I can.¡±


    That¡¯s the conclusion Reika came to.


    It was a connection that started in Japan by chance.


    And she didn¡¯t want to let it slip away.


    ****


    Seoyeon arrived at school early that morning.


    She¡¯d stayed up late binge-watching Mine¡¯s international reactions, so she was more wired than usual.


    She didn¡¯t sleep much, but that kind of thing never affected her performance anyway.


    ¡°I should subscribe to that guy Joseph.¡±


    His reactions were sharp and satisfying¡ªtotally her style.


    Plus, all the other foreign YouTubers being mentioned alongside him were also positive.


    That gave Seoyeon some peace of mind.


    ¡°Thank god.¡±


    Honestly, she¡¯d been a little worried Mine might flop.


    But with this kind of response, she could finally relax a bit.


    Actually, the reactions were so over-the-top that it was becoming a little stressful.


    Even her agency told her to stay low-profile for a while.


    ¡°Now my schedule¡¯s completely empty.¡±


    The ads were flooding in like crazy¡ª


    So much so that even her mom and Sua had gotten calls on their phones.


    Her dad, Youngbin, practically had his chest puffed up like a mountain when he left for work.


    Probably planning to brag to everyone at the office.


    Sometimes, she wondered if she¡¯d inherited his love of showing off.


    ¡°Honestly, personality does seem genetic, no matter what my memories say.¡±


    Whatever. Seoyeon didn¡¯t mind.


    She nodded to herself, feeling good.


    Aside from the fact that everyone at school had been keeping their distance since the action scenes went viral...


    It felt like she was back to the start of freshman year.


    At least the class president was in her homeroom.


    ¡°Maybe I should figure out how to make friends a little faster this year.¡±


    Just as she was thinking that¡ª


    ¡°You all know there¡¯s a school trip in a month, right? This year we¡¯re deciding the destination by vote, so be ready.¡±


    An unexpected opportunity presented itself.


    She glanced down.


    A spinning axe swept between her legs.


    What? How?


    She was sure she had deflected that axe¡ª


    And just then¡ª


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be weird if the original couldn¡¯t use telekinesis too?¡±


    Yeonseo grabbed Arin by the hair and sneered.


    ¡°You were holding back this whole time?¡±


    ¡°Not holding back. Just didn¡¯t need to use it until now.¡±


    Yeonseo smiled as she said it.


    It was the smile of a villain¡ªnot a hero.


    After that overwhelming finish, Joseph instinctively lowered his hand from his mouth.


    ¡°Okay, I take it back. I was completely wrong. That was just... insane.¡±


    He had seen countless movies.


    He knew a thing or two about film production.


    And even for him, that scene wasn¡¯t just impressive¡ªit was beyond anything he expected.


    Yes, the CGI was great.


    But what stunned him most was how real the axe and sword choreography felt.


    CG? Or perfectly synced choreography?


    ¡°Best action I¡¯ve seen in years. Hollywood included.¡±


    He said it with conviction.


    No exaggeration. Just truth.


    ¡°Man, I need to finish this and watch the making-of.¡±


    He had to check.


    Especially that final axe throw.


    It felt too real.


    Shin Arin¡¯s expression looked genuinely shocked.


    And, just like he thought¡ª


    ¡°Told you this wasn¡¯t CGI. But seriously, how is that not CGI?¡±


    The making-of footage from Episode 11.


    Walls cracking and breaking? Mostly CGI.


    ¡°I figured the sword deflection was real...¡±


    But the part where someone gets kicked and goes flying?


    He hadn¡¯t expected that to be real too.


    Joseph rewound the clip, laughing in disbelief.


    Apparently, a person really can get launched like that from a single kick.

 Chapter 331: An Unexpected Field Trip (1)

    ¡°What do you mean no one took the ad?¡±


    ¡°Most of them declined. They¡¯re being extremely cautious.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t they push a little? Just take the risk!¡±


    ¡°The rep said their actress is still a student...¡±


    ¡°And so they pass up a golden opportunity? Now¡¯s the time to rake it in.¡±


    ¡°People have been saying that since mid last year.¡±


    ¡°Oh... really? Ahem!¡±


    Mine¡¯s explosive success triggered shockwaves across the industry.


    Last year had already been Ju Seoyeon¡¯s most successful year.


    Naturally, the ad offers had been rolling in since then¡ª


    But there were still plenty of companies hesitating, waiting to see.


    Especially the big corporations.


    When the star is still a minor, scandals could pop up anytime.


    So they tend to stick with safer, proven faces for their campaigns.


    Still, once a celebrity hits a certain threshold, they can¡¯t ignore it.


    Even if there¡¯s some risk, they have to try locking them in.


    But that only works if the celebrity actually accepts the offer.


    ¡°Was it ADZ and E?clat E?toile? Seriously, their foresight was off the charts.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no kidding.¡±


    Executives from companies that had managed to land ads with Seoyeon were all thinking the same thing.


    Had they really predicted her value would skyrocket like this?


    ¡°What¡¯s crazy is, when she does a campaign, she actually puts in the work.¡±


    ¡°Whenever a behind-the-scenes photo pops up, she¡¯s always sitting on an ADZ chair...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me started on her makeup looks.¡±


    There just wasn¡¯t another celebrity this diligent.


    Sure, in E?clat E?toile¡¯s case, there were some eyebrow-raising moments¡ª


    But most people brushed it off as humor.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, could you look this way? Hold the can like this... and big smile.¡±


    The director of the latest commercial¡ªthis one for a beverage¡ªgulped as he looked through the lens.


    The image Seoyeon had shown in her recent drama had been sharp, intense.


    But now, this bright and refreshing version of her felt just as natural.


    Something had clearly shifted.


    ¡°When she debuted last year, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s image was mostly sharp, almost cold.¡±


    Even her ad work had leaned more toward mystical, icy visuals than anything light or bubbly.


    Almost like a blue moon personified.


    But now, her image was becoming livelier¡ª


    Maybe because she was still a student?


    Or maybe because of all those lighthearted clips on variety shows and YouTube Shorts?


    This particular ad had nothing to do with her dramas or films.


    It leaned fully into her fun, casual energy.


    And it was the perfect move.


    Just like that, another shoot wrapped.


    Then, a few days later¡ªearly morning.


    ¡°Let¡¯s switch out the signage.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, this place too? Look over there.¡±


    The workers installing new signs pointed excitedly.


    They were in Gangnam, Seoul.


    The area around COEX Mall was plastered with all kinds of massive ads.


    On one building¡¯s giant LED screen, a new cosmetics campaign from E?clat E?toile was playing.


    A woman with long black hair swam underwater in a black dress.


    Apparently, she¡¯d actually gotten into the water in that dress to shoot it.


    ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous.¡±


    Like a real-life mermaid, almost too good to be true.


    ¡°And over there¡ªthat¡¯s ADZ. They¡¯ve got a new beverage campaign, plus a new clothing ad too.¡±


    Gangnam Station was the ultimate battleground for outdoor advertising.


    Whoever appeared on those billboards?


    That¡¯s who currently held the most influence in Korea¡¯s entertainment world.


    Foreigners.


    Big spenders.


    Young adults.


    This was where you reached them.


    Until the end of last year, Seoyeon only had one small billboard ad here.


    ¡°Can someone¡¯s exposure increase this fast?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not fast. It¡¯s just the delayed effect of everything she did last year.¡±


    Mr. Kim, a veteran in the business, spoke as he looked out across Gangnam at dawn.


    ¡°That show¡ªwhat was it? Mine? That drama blew up too, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Which network is that? Ju Seoyeon¡¯s with KMB?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s on Nettrix.¡±


    ¡°Net... what? Never heard of it.¡±


    None of that mattered, though.


    The show was just the trigger.


    Market reactions always lag behind.


    Ads, too, go up after the hype hits.


    ¡°That moment... is now.¡±


    From The Chaser to everything after¡ª


    And now Mine.


    The result?


    Her face plastered across Gangnam Station¡¯s massive LED displays.


    Just by looking up, you knew.


    Ju Seoyeon was now the leading actress in Korea.


    ¡°Look over there.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s here. She¡¯s really here.¡±


    Voices whispered as students filed into school.


    Their gazes all locked in one direction.


    A girl was walking.


    Black hair, pale skin in sharp contrast.


    She wasn¡¯t doing anything out of the ordinary¡ªjust walking.


    But the aura she gave off was different.


    So different that no one dared to get too close.


    Ju Seoyeon.


    This was what it looked like when a top star walked to school.


    ****


    ¡°People really do stare a lot lately.¡±


    Honestly, Seoyeon had only recently become aware of it.


    It had really hit her during that recent beverage ad shoot.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon, is it true you¡¯ve been getting a ton of overseas offers after Mine aired?¡±


    Seoyeon was very selective with her commercials.


    She still believed that as a student, her priority was school.


    More importantly, her inner circle wanted her to enjoy her student life while she still could.


    So she kept her ad work to a minimum.


    Out of the flood of offers, she only picked a precious few.


    ¡°This drink ends up going big later anyway.¡±


    Her future knowledge definitely helped her make those choices.


    This particular beverage?


    It would gain massive recognition in the near future.


    Plus, the image it projected fit perfectly¡ª


    It helped soften her usual cold, intense impression with something brighter and more refreshing.


    The celebrity who was originally supposed to shoot this ad had stayed locked into that fresh image for years afterward.


    Seoyeon might not take it that far,


    But she hoped it could at least help balance out the sharper impressions she gave off.


    ¡°All because of that senior.¡±


    Seoyeon grumbled inwardly.


    She¡¯d always had a fierce, icy look as an actress.


    She thought it had gotten better recently¡ª


    But Park Jungwoo¡¯s comments had made her self-conscious all over again.


    ¡°Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ªsorry, I spaced out. Just thinking about something. But no, not really.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re all anyone talks about lately.¡±


    Is that so?


    Sure, Mine was doing really well¡ª


    But that didn¡¯t automatically mean she was flooded with international offers.


    Of course, there had been a few unexpected inquiries,


    But it was obvious they just wanted to use Seoyeon briefly for a quick marketing spike.


    They weren¡¯t trying to treat her with real respect.


    Well, even if she was blowing up, it wasn¡¯t like foreign companies were eager to reach out to an East Asian actress anyway.


    ¡°If anything, Biol is the rare exception.¡±


    Come to think of it, there wasn¡¯t much time left until the Ready-to-Wear event in France.


    Park Jungwoo, who would be accompanying her there, had clearly been acting more alert lately.


    There were probably a few reasons for that.


    Maybe he was worried Seoyeon would cause a scene.


    Or maybe, because it would be their first time traveling together, he was unconsciously tense.


    To be precise, he wasn¡¯t worried about Seoyeon herself¡ª


    He was thinking about the version of Seoyeon he¡¯d be presenting to others.


    In other words, he was stressing about "Princess Yeonhwa."


    ¡°An overseas event, huh.¡±


    It would be the first time she went abroad after filming Mine.


    Honestly, even with people saying she was gaining popularity overseas,


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t feel it.


    Well, she lived in Korea.


    And Mine, despite its strong ratings, hadn¡¯t really caught fire domestically.


    It was seen as ¡°a solid action drama.¡±


    That was about it.


    ¡°But still... it¡¯s true more people are watching me now.¡±


    It was the Monday after her shoot,


    And as she walked through the school gates, she could feel all the eyes following her.


    Before, most of the attention came from her looks.


    Now, it was clear they knew who she was¡ª¡°Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°I did hear there are a ton of ads up at Gangnam Station...¡±


    Though to Seoyeon, Gangnam always felt like some other world.


    She¡¯d never really gone there on her own.


    Even during shoots, she spent most of her time glued to her phone playing games¡ª


    So she barely noticed her surroundings anyway.


    ¡°Whatever.¡±


    What mattered to Seoyeon right now wasn¡¯t any of that.


    What mattered was high school.


    Because of her packed schedule, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to really make friends in her class.


    ¡°The school trip is a good opportunity.¡±


    Last year¡¯s trip had been to Jeju Island.


    Some ¡°Jeju Oreum hiking experience¡± or whatever,


    But all she remembered was climbing random hills all day.


    It wasn¡¯t hard for Seoyeon herself¡ª


    But the other students had all collapsed from exhaustion, so there was no one to actually have fun with.


    She hoped this year would be different.


    And that hope naturally made her look forward to the upcoming trip.


    ¡°H-Hey, Seoyeon! Good morning!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s, uh, great weather today, right?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    If only she could erase the awkward tension in the classroom.


    ****


    ¡°The survey you¡¯re getting today has the destination options for the school trip.


    Check the one you want and submit it to the class president.¡±


    The homeroom teacher of Seoyeon¡¯s new class, Ms. Chae Younghee, said as she passed the papers from the front row back.


    Honestly, most school trips just stuck to domestic locations.


    ¡°Is it going to be Gyeongju again?¡±


    ¡°We did Jeju in first year, so it¡¯d be nice if it were somewhere different.¡±


    Everyone was thinking the same thing, flipping through the paper without much excitement.


    Seoyeon was no different.


    ¡°Anywhere that doesn¡¯t involve hiking, please.¡±


    Back in Jeju, there hadn¡¯t been much to actually do.


    They¡¯d spent the entire first day climbing oreum hills, and on the second day, climbed Hallasan.


    It was all uphill, all exhausting, and they never even got a chance to enjoy themselves properly.


    A little sightseeing was necessary¡ªif only so they¡¯d have something to talk about later.


    ¡°Huh?!¡±


    One student¡¯s eyes shot open as they looked down at the paper.


    Was this real? Did it really say what she thought it said?


    ¡°Teacher, is this really that Paris?¡±


    ¡°Japan¡¯s on here too!¡±


    A few students called out to Ms. Chae, dumbfounded.


    And no wonder.


    ¡°France? Japan?¡±


    The school trip destinations were overseas.


    There were four options listed: Japan, China, France, and the United States.


    ¡°Is this what Seoul schools are like?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s pupils quivered as she looked over the form.


    She glanced around at the other students,


    But none of them looked particularly shocked.


    Especially class president Gil Dahyeon,


    Whose /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ face betrayed deep discomfort.


    Well, of course.


    If the school trip was abroad, it¡¯d obviously cost a lot.


    ¡°This year, the chairman of the school board decided to make a big investment.


    So don¡¯t worry too much about the cost.¡±


    Basically, Yeonhwa High School was shifting toward being more arts- and performance-focused,


    So this trip was part of a big PR push.


    If the destination included Europe,


    It was guaranteed to get parents talking.


    ¡°Where do you wanna go? They all look cool.¡±


    ¡°Not China.¡±


    ¡°We can go to Japan anytime. Shouldn¡¯t we go to the U.S. or Europe while we have the chance?¡±


    Once the teacher left, the classroom exploded into chatter.


    No one had expected something this luxurious for a school trip.


    Even Seoyeon, who had expected something like Gyeongju or Jeju, felt a bit thrown off.


    ¡°Do people have pillow fights in Europe or America?¡±


    She was dazed enough to actually wonder that.


    Of course, back in middle school,


    A pillow fight had ended with two kids passing out¡ª


    Which had led to Jiyeon banning Seoyeon from all pillow fights ever since.


    But she¡¯d gotten way better at controlling her strength now... so maybe?


    Anyway¡ª


    ¡°What about you, class prez?¡±


    Seoyeon casually asked Dahyeon.


    Because right now, the one holding the power in this class... was definitely Dahyeon.


    Despite being a second-year, Gil Dahyeon had unanimously been chosen as class president again.


    Now she looked a little troubled.


    ¡°Hmm... personally, I think Japan or China would be fine...¡±


    As she spoke, she glanced over at two nearby friends.


    They were from the same class as last year,


    And didn¡¯t seem too intimidated by Seoyeon.


    ¡°Well, thank god for that.¡±


    If only Lee Jiyeon were in the same class, too.


    Seoyeon found herself really thinking that now.


    Still... when fewer than five people in class could make direct eye contact with you,


    You couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit... off.


    ¡°But it looks like most people don¡¯t agree with me.¡±


    Trips to Europe weren¡¯t common in Korean schools.


    It wasn¡¯t unheard of, but rarely actually happened due to all the complications.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little tight on timing, too? Even if we decide now and book everything, it¡¯d be late April by the time we go.¡±


    ¡°Late April?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s expression hardened.


    Because¡ª


    ¡°That overlaps.¡±


    Late April was when Biol¡¯s headquarters would be hosting the Ready-to-Wear show.


    The fashion event in France.


    And that, Seoyeon knew, was non-negotiable.


    She had to go.


    ¡°No way.¡±


    She¡¯d been waiting all year for this trip.


    If it ended up overlapping and she couldn¡¯t go?


    She couldn¡¯t think of anything worse.

 Chapter 332: An Unexpected Field Trip (2)

    A whole 5 days and 4 nights for the school trip.


    Considering the travel time, a day at each end is practically a wash, so it¡¯s basically just 3 days and 2 nights.


    Still, 5 days and 4 nights felt like ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? a long time to Seoyeon.


    They hadn¡¯t decided whether it would be Europe or the U.S. yet, but even if it ended up being Japan, that wouldn¡¯t really change much.


    She¡¯d already shot all her commercials, and she didn¡¯t have many upcoming broadcast appearances.


    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean she was completely free.


    Maybe next month, she¡¯d appear on a few variety shows related to Mine.


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that fine?¡±


    Park Jungwoo, her manager, said with a small smile.


    ¡°Honestly, last year was way too busy. I think this pace right now is just right.¡±


    ¡°You think so?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But more importantly... you¡¯ve been in contact with Nahi lately, right? Nothing going on there, is there?¡±


    Seoyeon hesitated at his question.


    Truthfully, it wasn¡¯t that there was nothing going on.


    At least for Seoyeon, something significant had happened.


    Nahi unni... I want to bring her on as my manager.


    It was something she¡¯d been thinking about for a while.


    Seoyeon, in her own way, wanted to bring in people who could contribute to the growth of Nova Entertainment.


    Sure, thanks to herself and Lee Jiyeon, Nova was already doing incredibly well, but nothing beats idols.


    And Yeonwoo... oppa¡¯s still there, too.


    The word oppa never came out easily, no matter how much time passed.


    It would be so much easier if she could just refer to him as ¡°senior¡± like she did with Park Jungwoo.


    Anyway, with Ma Yeonwoo still around, Nova¡¯s idol lineup was already pretty solid.


    If they could add Summer Girls into the mix, it¡¯d be perfect.


    That¡¯s why I reached out casually to meet her.


    She hadn¡¯t planned on saying it outright. Just wanted to test the waters a bit first.


    Nahi unni¡¯s contract with Hoyeon Entertainment was about to end soon, after all.


    Seoyeon gave a vague excuse to Jungwoo and headed home, where she stared down the survey form.


    For the record, she hadn¡¯t told Park Jungwoo about the school trip yet.


    If it became an issue, she¡¯d bring it up then.


    If the dates clashed, she could just skip the school trip. No big deal.


    Though... if they did pick France, that might be a different story...


    I should write ¡®France¡¯ on the school trip form, right?


    Honestly, she really wanted to check off ¡®Japan¡¯ on that survey.


    It wasn¡¯t about preferring one country over another ¡ª she just didn¡¯t find anything in Europe particularly exciting.


    Seoyeon liked beautiful natural landscapes.


    But she didn¡¯t care much for old architecture or the lingering scent of the past, or European culture in general.


    Japan, on the other hand, had a bunch of things she liked, so even just walking around would be fun.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you...¡±


    Youngbin tried to say something to Seoyeon, but went quiet as soon as she pulled out a small business card from her pocket.


    It was the card from the deputy director at Raywill Games.


    They¡¯d given it to her and told her to call anytime if she wanted to do more commercials.


    ¡°Should I give them a call?¡±


    ¡°My apologies, my dear daughter.¡±


    It was more effective than threatening him with a graphics card.


    Seoyeon tucked the card back into her pocket with a smug grin.


    Watching Youngbin¡¯s pupils shake as she pulled the card out made her feel strangely triumphant.


    It felt like she finally had a weapon that let her win ¡ª after always losing.


    As she smiled in satisfaction, Youngbin quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    She absolutely can¡¯t come to the office.


    There were a lot of reasons behind that.


    First was that if Seoyeon showed up at his workplace, things would get very complicated, and she might cause a scene.


    But recently, there were a few more reasons to worry.


    She mustn¡¯t find out I bought GH Group and Nettrix stocks.


    The business card was already a risk ¡ª if she found out about the stocks too, he¡¯d be completely at her mercy.


    How pathetic, to have his entire fate resting in the hands of his daughter.


    Also, with Mine blowing up in popularity, Youngbin had gone around bragging about her at work like crazy.


    Maybe that¡¯s why...


    "Hey, did you know Team Leader Ju Youngbin¡¯s daughter is that Ju Seoyeon?"


    "Seriously? I loved Mine, it was amazing."


    "Same! And did you hear? It¡¯s ranked #1 in 54 countries now. It¡¯s been three weeks. I wonder how long the hype will last."


    "It¡¯s the biggest hit since Child¡¯s Game, right? Man, our dramas are really killing it lately."


    He kept hearing stuff like that more and more these days.


    And sure, it felt good.


    But having Seoyeon hear all that praise ¡ª that was a bit too much.


    Since Seoyeon¡¯s rise to fame, he¡¯d been calling up his old friend Kang Taejin more often.


    He had benefited a lot from it too, but no one had profited more than Kang Taejin.


    Which is why Youngbin had no hesitation in demanding:


    ¡°So, buy me lunch.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The sour look on his friend¡¯s face as he paid for the meal was still vivid in his mind.


    Of course, Kang Taejin wasn¡¯t the type to take that lying down.


    ¡°Your daughter¡¯s tight with NewLike Group, right?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea who Seoyeon¡¯s hanging out with or where.¡±


    ¡°You could tell me a little, though.¡±


    ¡°What if she folds me in half for talking behind her back?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That genuine-sounding answer made Taejin shut up.


    At least he wasn¡¯t the type to press further once you refused.


    He probably just wanted Seoyeon to prioritize their company, since NewLike Group was a competitor.


    But that was up to his daughter.


    He wasn¡¯t about to interfere in her choices.


    ¡°I want good things for you too, Taejin.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess. You¡¯ve dumped a bunch of stock into this.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sharp as ever. Youngbin closed his mouth.


    That had been just a few days ago.


    Should I buy some Biol too?


    Youngbin was seriously considering it.


    As far as he knew, Seoyeon would be heading to France next month.


    She was Biol¡¯s ambassador, so she¡¯d be attending Ready-to-Wear.


    Yeah, let¡¯s buy it.


    Following his daughter¡¯s trail had never once failed him.


    That was his philosophy, and so far, he¡¯d never been wrong.


    ****


    ¡°Seoyeon~! Wow, it¡¯s been so long!¡±


    Cha Nahi greeted her with a bright smile.


    Lately, Seoyeon¡¯s schedule had been brutal, so it was hard to find time to meet.


    ¡°The last time was at the awards show, right? I teared up a bit watching you win.¡±


    Nahi¡¯s cheerful tone made Seoyeon laugh awkwardly.


    With Seoyeon¡¯s naturally awkward communication style, dealing with such a bubbly personality wasn¡¯t easy.


    She¡¯s gotten way more cheerful than before.


    Maybe something good had happened recently?


    Hoyeon Studio hadn¡¯t changed much since the last time she visited.


    Most of the newly debuted idol groups had flopped quietly.


    The company was surviving off its existing acts.


    In that sense, Summer Girls was a vital lifeline for Hoyeon.


    ¡°Your contract¡¯s ending soon, right?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Did I ever mention that? Yeah, it is.¡±


    ¡°I was just a little curious what your plans were after.¡±


    While Seoyeon and Nahi talked, the other members of Summer Girls were exchanging nervous glances.


    What¡¯s that monster girl doing here again?


    I thought the drama OST project was the end of it ¡ª is she here to ask for another favor?


    Ravin, the leader and true powerhouse of Summer Girls, watched Seoyeon from a slight distance.


    Just when she¡¯d almost forgotten the trauma of that 500-won nightmare, it was back from the dead.


    ¡°Unni, you watched Mine, right?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah, I did.¡±


    Sobin, another member of Summer Girls and Ravin¡¯s right-hand, had been deeply moved by Mine.


    She loved action films, and Mine had been pure cinematic bliss for her.


    A Korean drama like this? Incredible!


    ¡°Can you get me an autograph?¡±


    ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡±


    ¡°Preferably from Narumi Sora too.¡±


    ¡°Have you completely lost it? If you want one, go ask yourself!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s kinda scary though.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m scared too, you brat.¡±


    Just as Ravin was about to say that, she felt Seoyeon¡¯s gaze.


    Wait... did she hear them?


    They were pretty far apart ¡ª no way she could¡¯ve caught that conversation from here...


    ¡°What if Ju Seoyeon really is a psychic? What if Mine wasn¡¯t a drama but a documentary?¡±


    ¡°Sobin, I really do like you. But please, stop saying nonsense.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s actually a pretty plausible theory. I¡¯ve been watching a lot of Mine reaction videos lately. That kind of comment pops up more often than you¡¯d think.¡±


    Sobin recalled one she watched recently.


    It was one of those streams where the live chat appears on-screen ¡ª she was on her fourth rewatch, and she watched it through one of those.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder ¡ª did the viewers watch it with the same feelings as she did?


    For example:


    [The scene where Min Doha gets kicked and flies away.]


    LOLLLLL why is she flying like she¡¯s in a cartoon ????If you watch the making-of, she actually got hit and flew for real LOLMin Doha¡¯s scream never gets oldThis is gonna get meme¡¯d againAlready did lmao ???? just search ¡°Aston Martin Woman¡±Last time it was a Lamborghini, now it¡¯s an Aston Martin?At this rate she¡¯s going to run through every supercar brand


    [The fight scene with Adam (Oliver).]


    The choreography here is INSANEI guess if it¡¯s Oliver, he can keep up with Ju SeoyeonAnimal trainer Oliver ??????????? Shouldn¡¯t we be praising Ju Seoyeon here? She¡¯s up against a top Hollywood stuntmanThat¡¯s if you¡¯re comparing two human actors, lolCan you match fight choreography with an elephant? An elephant could casually swing its trunk and crack someone¡¯s skullDude, Ju Seoyeon¡¯s a person, don¡¯t say her skull would crackYou don¡¯t think she could?I mean... I¡¯m not saying she couldn¡¯t but...


    [The motorcycle chase scene.]


    Hong Seha¡¯s gonna die ???? go, go, goWhat is this?? This chase scene is freaking amazingIs this CG?If it¡¯s not, a bunch of people definitely died filming itLmao Ju Seoyeon refuses to use CG so much that I almost believed she really shot it on a motorcycleLOL in the scene right before the chase, that guy who gets hit by Jin Yeonseo actually flies away zigzaggingHow¡¯s that even possible??Probably similar to getting kicked by a horseGasp, did you just say Ju Seoyeon¡¯s punch is only as strong as a horse kick??I clipped this and sent it to Ju Seoyeon¡¯s agency. If they call you, know you brought this on yourself


    [The final showdown with Shin Arin.]


    ?? What is Narumi Sora?? That wasn¡¯t CG???LOL what the hell, that sword-axe clash just now ????So fast. That HAS to be CG, right?Watch the making-of later ???? you¡¯ll be speechlessJu Seoyeon does every action scene with pure physical skill ????In the interview she said knocking away the axe was a reflex LOL total accidentAnd Narumi Sora blocking an axe thrown by accident?? She¡¯s a beast too...Would Narumi Sora stand a chance if this were a real fight?Ju Seoyeon could have her legs tied together and arms bound, and still win just by headbuttingWhat is Ju Seoyeon to you people ????


    That was the general vibe.


    Even just from memory, that¡¯s the kind of stuff that came up.


    Soeun, who was a member of Ju Seoyeon¡¯s official fan cafe?, saw posts like that constantly.


    And after watching a bunch of Seoyeon¡¯s variety show highlight compilations, she¡¯d started to genuinely believe it.


    Maybe she really is an esper?


    Of course, to Ravin, Soeun¡¯s sincere claim was just ridiculous.


    But what made it even more surprising was that her fangirling was very real.


    ¡°And you still want her autograph?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re completely out of your damn mi¡ª¡±


    Ravin cut herself off as soon as she felt Seoyeon¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I-I was thinking of getting one too. I, uh, really enjoyed Mine. I¡¯ll... ask later or something.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re seriously the best, unni.¡±


    Soeun gave her a big thumbs up, and Ravin cursed internally.


    Why me? Why not just ask Nahi?


    Of course, Cha Nahi was currently glued to Seoyeon, so asking her for a favor like that wasn¡¯t exactly convenient.


    Not to mention, their relationship with Cha Nahi was always kind of... ambiguous.


    Hmph. No one would blame her for leaving after her contract ends anyway.


    Ravin could already see how Nahi would respond to Seoyeon¡¯s question.


    What are your plans after your contract ends?


    To Ravin, Nahi had always seemed inadequate, but...


    She was pretty, could sing decently, danced well,


    And her acting had come a long way ¡ª some agencies would probably want her.


    But then¡ª


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m thinking of re-signing.¡±


    ¡°...Sorry, what?¡±


    Seoyeon¡¯s eyes widened at Nahi¡¯s awkward smile.


    What? Re-signing?


    Didn¡¯t she break her contract and leave in my last life?


    What the hell was going on?


    As she stared at Nahi in disbelief¡ª


    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s kind of embarrassing to explain. Um... back when you worked on the Masked Singer song, remember? The other members helped me out a lot.¡±


    ¡°They... did?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Things were a little awkward between us, but I really appreciated it.¡±


    Nahi smiled brightly as she spoke, and Seoyeon felt a stab of guilt.


    She suddenly felt like some shady corporate shark trying to lure a sweet, innocent person into a trap.


    Wait, is this because of me?


    She hadn¡¯t expected Nahi to re-sign with Hoyeon because of her.


    But still...


    Well, if she said she liked Mine...


    Seoyeon, having overheard Soeun and Ravin¡¯s conversation earlier, nodded to herself.


    Her favorability rating toward ¡®Summer Girls¡¯ had gone up quite a bit.


    ¡°Got it. Then I¡¯ll be cheering you on.¡±


    Seoyeon offered her support for Nahi¡¯s re-signing without hesitation.


    It was a bit disappointing that she couldn¡¯t bring her over to Nova,


    But it did seem like her relationship with the other group members had improved a lot.


    And so, Seoyeon left Hoyeon Studio.


    ¡°...Didn¡¯t expect her to actually say she¡¯s re-signing,¡±


    Ravin muttered, still surprised, as she turned to Nahi.


    Ravin had always been the one who disliked Nahi the most in Summer Girls,


    But lately, they¡¯d started talking a bit more.


    ¡°You helped me a lot back then.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me unni. It¡¯s so cringey.¡±


    Ravin laughed dryly as she spoke.


    Honestly, if Cha Nahi had left Summer Girls,


    That would¡¯ve been the end of the group.


    But now that she was staying,


    It looked like Summer Girls would stay together...


    At least for the next three days.


    That¡¯s how long that optimism lasted.


    ¡°...Hey girls, sorry. Our company¡¯s gone bankrupt.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    The entirety of Summer Girls, including Cha Nahi, were rendered speechless by the studio director¡¯s announcement.


    It was like a bolt from the blue.


    Wait, what? Just like that?


    ¡°Cha Nahi.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes?¡±


    ¡°So, uh... that 500 won¡ª I mean, get in touch with Ju Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°W-why?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think?! We need to survive somehow! God, I can¡¯t take this. Uncle, what happened to all your money?!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still a bit left, but if I lose all that too, I¡¯ll starve to death. I¡¯m quitting before I lose more. But Ravin, you trust your cousin, right? I¡¯ll find you new work soon. Oh! Right, there¡¯s this thing called VTubing lately. I¡¯ve been really interested in it, and maybe we can¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ugh! Can you shut up already?!¡±


    Ravin¡¯s outburst made Nahi¡¯s eyes well up.


    She never imagined Hoyeon Studio would go under this fast.

 Chapter 333: An Unexpected Field Trip (3)

    ...Huh? Why did Hoyeon go under?


    News that something big had happened to Hoyeon spread faster than expected.


    Well, that sort of thing always made the rounds in the industry in no time.


    Things seemed better than before, though...


    Cha Nahi, who was originally going to leave Hoyeon, had even decided to stay.


    So how did this happen, all of a sudden?


    ¡°They actually were doing well, so they overextended with all sorts of projects and tripped over their own feet.¡±


    The one who answered Seoyeon¡¯s question was ¡ª unexpectedly ¡ª Jo Sehee.


    Like Seoyeon, Sehee had taken a step back after Mine became a massive hit, just doing the minimum in ads and staying low-profile.


    They couldn¡¯t afford for even a minor issue to tarnish the project.


    Besides, it was the start of the semester ¡ª Sehee also needed time to connect with her new classmates.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. I¡¯m sure of it. I¡¯ve got some people I know at Hoyeon Studio, and that¡¯s what I heard from them.¡±


    Seoyeon nodded slightly and looked at Sehee.


    For the record, Sehee was waiting for Seoyeon and Lee Jiyeon at the school gate ¡ª something that hadn¡¯t happened in a long while.


    Naturally, Seoyeon found it a bit strange.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be focusing on getting to know your new classmates right now?¡±


    She had assumed Sehee would be busy bonding with her homeroom.


    She definitely hadn¡¯t expected her to show up this soon.


    But Sehee tilted her head, as if confused by the comment.


    ¡°Huh? I¡¯m already close with everyone.¡±


    ¡°...What.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been weeks since the semester started. I¡¯m not some weirdo who still can¡¯t talk to people, you know.¡±


    ¡°...Right.¡±


    Sehee giggled smugly, and Seoyeon narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡ªwait, huh? Why are you being all formal all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Am I? Must be your imagination.¡±


    ¡°No way. I know when someone¡¯s messing with me!¡±


    Seoyeon gave Sehee a sidelong look as she tugged on her sleeve.


    It wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d had a proper conversation with anyone other than the people she already knew.


    Some people just didn¡¯t understand what that felt like.


    She¡¯s sulking.


    Of course, Lee Jiyeon, who had been quietly observing them, more or less understood what Seoyeon was thinking.


    Still, she couldn¡¯t shake the strange feeling ¡ª those two had definitely gotten closer lately.


    Something must¡¯ve happened during Mine¡¯s filming...


    ¡°By the way, Sehee. You look kind of tired. Something up?¡±


    Jiyeon finally spoke, watching the two interact.


    Sehee, who had just been nagging her to drop the formal speech, scrunched her nose at the comment.


    ¡°Not really. Just haven¡¯t been sleeping well lately.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Probably because Mine got so huge ¡ª that might be part of it.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.


    She didn¡¯t remember much, but her dreams had felt strangely chaotic.


    ¡°Even someone like you has sleepless nights, huh.¡±


    ¡°Pfft, I¡¯m human too, you know? Why wouldn¡¯t I lose sleep sometimes?¡±


    Sehee chuckled and shrugged.


    She could feel that the tension in Seoyeon¡¯s gaze had eased a little.


    ¡°More importantly, aren¡¯t you going on the school trip? Jiyeon said you¡¯re going far, right?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯ll be overseas. But it might overlap with Biol.¡±


    ¡°Did you tell him?¡±


    There was only one person ¡°him¡± could mean.


    A man probably stuck in a nonstop whirlwind of ad shoots right now.


    Park Jungwoo.


    ¡°No, I was planning to let him know once the location was finalized.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm. That makes sense, I guess.¡±


    If the schedule ended up clashing, Seoyeon would just skip the school trip.


    It would absolutely destroy her soul, but work was work.


    Any ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) other actor or model would kill to attend Biol¡¯s Ready-to-Wear.


    ¡°...If you go to the Biol show, are you doing that again?¡±


    ¡°That?¡±


    ¡°You know. That whole... elegant, lady-of-the-house thing.¡±


    Even Jiyeon looked up, curious now.


    For both of them, seeing Seoyeon like that had been shocking.


    ¡°Why? It doesn¡¯t suit me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just¡ªplease stop using formal speech already.¡±


    When Sehee whined and tugged at her sleeve, Seoyeon dropped the act and relaxed her gaze.


    She was just pretending to sulk a little. No need to drag it out.


    Besides, she had no one to blame but herself for lacking communication skills.


    ¡°I probably will. That¡¯s the image Biol wants.¡±


    As an actress, portraying that kind of image wasn¡¯t particularly hard for her.


    ¡°...I see.¡±


    Sehee nodded, looking like she was genuinely looking forward to it.


    Jiyeon, on the other hand, shuddered as if she couldn¡¯t stand that version of Seoyeon.


    But not Sehee.


    Gotta watch it live when it airs.


    She even considered flying to Paris herself.


    But no ¡ª that would be overdoing it. She managed to hold back.


    ****


    Seoyeon had quietly expected the school trip to be either Japan or China.


    Europe just felt like too much.


    But, contrary to her expectations¡ª


    ¡°The school trip destination has been decided ¡ª by a narrow margin, it¡¯ll be France. Make sure to inform your parents.¡±


    It was France.


    A totally unexpected result.


    It seemed like France had won out because the school was covering a large portion of the cost.


    Japan would¡¯ve been free. How did France win this...?


    Japan was easy and accessible.


    But France was the kind of place you had to make plans to go to ¡ª that might¡¯ve tipped the scales.


    For Seoyeon, it was a deeply complicated situation.


    The school trip was in France, and the return flight was scheduled for the day before Biol¡¯s Ready-to-Wear event.


    So... do I just leave the trip early?


    Honestly, that would work out best for her.


    She could go on the trip and attend the Biol show ¡ª no real conflict.


    But she had to get permission from school first.


    When she brought it up to her homeroom teacher, Chae Younghee¡ª


    ¡°What?! It overlaps with Biol? Wait, hold on. Let me bring this up in the staff meeting and get back to you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll make sure you can attend the event. By the way, can regular people watch the Biol show?¡±


    ¡°As far as I know, there¡¯s a designated viewing area. But you can¡¯t go into the actual venue.¡±


    In truth, Seoyeon wasn¡¯t walking the runway or anything.


    She was just attending in her capacity as ambassador ¡ª adding some star power.


    Maybe she¡¯d do an interview or something.


    ¡°...Really?¡±


    When she mentioned that the public could still observe, Teacher Chae¡¯s eyes gleamed.


    Like she¡¯d just gotten a great idea.


    And just like that, Seoyeon got official permission to attend Biol¡¯s Ready-to-Wear without issue.


    Okay then...


    Now that everything was settled, there was one last person Seoyeon needed to inform.


    Thankfully, things had worked out smoothly.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re going on a variety show?¡±


    She brought it up casually, slipping the news into conversation.


    Park Jungwoo¡¯s expression instantly soured.


    ¡°...Who told you that?¡±


    ¡°Sehee.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Figures.¡±


    He ground his teeth, picturing Jo Sehee.


    Of everyone in Seoyeon¡¯s life, she was the only one who would spill something like that.


    She had tons of connections, especially inside broadcasting.


    ¡°Iron Soldier? That¡¯s the military-themed one, right?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah.¡±


    Jungwoo looked miserable.


    But it wasn¡¯t like he had a choice ¡ª his father, Park Sunwoong, had strongly ¡°recommended¡± it with a ¡°just try it¡± kind of tone.


    Not to mention, Jungwoo¡¯s closest senior was already appearing on it, so he couldn¡¯t back out.


    ¡°They said there¡¯s actual live-fire drills too... ugh.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve done similar stuff, and it wasn¡¯t that bad.¡±


    He was about to ask when she¡¯d done anything like that, but then remembered: Hyper Action Star.


    He remembered Seoyeon swatting away live paintballs in real time.


    ¡°...Can you deflect actual bullets too?¡±


    ¡°I sometimes wonder if you''re serious. Are you?¡±


    Seoyeon looked at him like he was pitiful.


    Jungwoo shut his mouth.


    But yes ¡ª he was serious.


    Come on, just tell me already.


    He really wanted to know.


    Rumor had it she once rolled off a cliff and came out without a scratch.


    There was even a YouTube short where you could see her pupils rotate in slow motion as she dodged incoming paintballs.


    ¡°Anyway.¡±


    Seoyeon actually had some interest in the military show Jungwoo was going on.


    It was a two-week shoot, and you weren¡¯t allowed to leave the base during that time. It sounded brutal.


    If only I could visit, like a real army base... that¡¯d be fun.


    But if she said that out loud, Jungwoo would definitely tell her not to come.


    It¡¯d instantly turn into scandal bait.


    ¡°The school trip ended up being to France.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    Seoyeon explained to Park Jungwoo the reason she¡¯d asked to meet today.


    To talk about the school trip destination ¡ª and how they should handle things depending on it.


    ¡°France? Wait, high schoolers go on school trips to France now?¡±


    ¡°I was surprised too.¡±


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    Park Jungwoo was honestly thrown off.


    Yeonhwa High School had left quite an impression on him too.


    After all, it was where he¡¯d reunited with Seoyeon after ten years.


    Seeing the students there again... wasn¡¯t such a bad feeling, all things considered.


    Looks like they might even consider arranging a visit to the Biol show during the school trip.


    If it came down to it, Jungwoo was even willing to lend a hand.


    It wasn¡¯t often students got an opportunity like this.


    And if he was the one asking, Biol might be willing to set something up.


    Of course, not for the whole class ¡ª that¡¯d be too much.


    ¡°So you¡¯ll be slipping out of the trip mid-way?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, probably.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s going to be a bit complicated.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, depending on how far we are.¡±


    Still, Jungwoo felt a bit relieved inside.


    If it were just the two of them going alone, it might¡¯ve been kind of awkward.


    Normally, Seoyeon was someone he could hang out with, play Knife Wind, or game alongside without thinking twice ¡ª


    But if she suddenly decided to act, to play up the atmosphere...


    ¡°There¡¯s a good chance you¡¯ll have to come pick me up yourself, Jungwoo-sunbae.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯d be kind of weird to leave Euna unni by herself. Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense if you two were already together, and then you came to get me?¡±


    ¡°...Well...¡±


    Honestly, that was the most efficient plan.


    Saved manpower.


    Logistics like transportation and makeup would be way easier to manage too.


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s how it is...¡±


    Jungwoo still looked a little uneasy but eventually nodded.


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but smile on the inside at his response.


    If I use Jungwoo-sunbae a bit, maybe I can get closer to the other students.


    Among young male actors, Park Jungwoo was easily the most popular.


    Impeccable self-discipline.


    That sculpted face that made women fall for him left and right ¡ª a dangerously charming actor.


    Sure, when he was with Seoyeon, he came across as borderline pathetic...


    But around other actors, he was like a literal crown prince.


    On top of that, because of what happened last year, Park Jungwoo¡¯s popularity at Yeonhwa High was through the roof.


    Basically, Seoyeon had come up with a petty little scheme ¡ª


    If she ¡°used¡± Jungwoo a little, maybe she could talk to people more easily.


    And I need to fire back at Jo Sehee, too.


    That annoying line from Sehee earlier had shaken her more than she liked.


    So this was her secret counterattack.


    ¡°But... is it really okay to show that side of you to your classmates?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Your acting.¡±


    Seoyeon blinked.


    What acting? she thought, and then it hit her ¡ª the Yeonhwa Princess thing.


    She hadn¡¯t given it much thought, but now that he brought it up¡ª


    Wait... is that okay?


    Back when she showed it at school, it was because she was playing the Yeonhwa Princess.


    But this time wasn¡¯t like that.


    It wasn¡¯t ¡°acting¡± for a character ¡ª it was playing a role, faking an image, for the public.


    And showing that side to her classmates...


    ¡°...Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t even thought about this.¡±


    ¡°W-what? Of course I have! Who do you think I am? Besides, it¡¯s just something they¡¯ll see at the fashion show, so it¡¯s not like they¡¯ll actually¡ª¡±


    She tried to brush it off, but the way her eyes darted away gave her away completely.


    Seoyeon was flustered ¡ª something that didn¡¯t happen often.


    Jungwoo realized, with some satisfaction, that he finally had the upper hand again.


    ¡°Well. Who knows? If it were me, I¡¯d plan a student viewing program if one of our classmates was doing something like that.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mon. I¡¯m just a regular student¡ª¡±


    ¡°...Are you seriously saying that?¡±


    Jungwoo looked at her, completely stunned.


    A regular student?


    Since when did an actress who starred in multiple ten-million-viewer films and blew up globally with an OTT drama get to call herself ¡°just a student¡±?


    At this point, Ju Seoyeon was the face of Yeonhwa High.


    And if their golden girl was attending a major European fashion show?


    While they just happened to be on a school trip to France?


    Even if the students couldn¡¯t get into the show,


    They¡¯d absolutely try to visit the area ¡ª the general public section at the very least.


    ¡°...¡±


    Seoyeon fell silent at the look Jungwoo gave her.


    She hadn¡¯t considered that possibility.


    Sure, her image from Biol ads and posters had been out there,


    But having classmates see it live was a different issue altogether.


    He¡¯s overthinking it. He¡¯s just messing with me again.


    Like the school would ever go out of its way to rearrange their schedule just for her.


    She decided Jungwoo was taking this way too far.


    ...Right?


    ****


    ¡°This is tricky.¡±


    Marius, a French journalist, muttered to himself as he reviewed the list of ambassadors attending the upcoming Biol fashion show.


    Each one was a major name ¡ª it was hard to decide who to cover.


    Too famous is hard to access, but no-name isn¡¯t worth the story either.


    The one that stood out the most was Princess Mary Mountbatten-Windsor of the British royal family ¡ª


    A royal and a professional model.


    Currently considered one of the most beloved celebrities in the UK.


    ¡°But let¡¯s be real, I¡¯m not even getting close enough to snap a photo.¡±


    The crowd was going to be insane.


    And honestly, the media outlet Marius worked for, Demirune, didn¡¯t have the pull to secure a good spot.


    ¡°Is there anyone just famous enough to spark interest... but still easy to photograph...¡±


    Marius muttered as he scanned the list.


    Then let out a small laugh to himself ¡ª


    As if someone that convenient actually existed.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    As he casually skimmed the predicted attendees,


    One particular name jumped out at him.


    An actress.


    Young. From the East.


    He recognized her instantly ¡ª she¡¯d appeared in a drama he¡¯d enjoyed recently.


    ¡°...This one.¡±


    Could work.


    The thought came to him unprompted.


    Mine had been slowly building underground popularity in France.


    That might be the perfect angle.

 Chapter 334: Pranks and the Princess (1)

    Seoyeon had gotten fairly used to airplanes by now.


    After all, she¡¯d flown to Japan more than once while filming Kyungsung Lady.


    But this is my first time on a long-haul flight like this.


    Thirteen hours.


    She could see why the school trip was set at five days and four nights.


    Apparently, they¡¯d originally planned seven days, but that felt too long ¡ª so they settled on five.


    We even get two in-flight meals.


    Munching happily on her tray meal, Seoyeon glanced around.


    Most students weren¡¯t eating much and looked unimpressed.


    Clearly, the food didn¡¯t suit their taste.


    ¡°E-excuse me... Are you Ju Seoyeon?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, it really is you! I¡¯m such a fan! Mine was incredible!¡±


    The stewardess collecting trash beamed at her as she spoke.


    Even though Seoyeon had flown plenty for Kyungsung Lady, this was a first.


    She¡¯d never been recognized like this before.


    I guess my recognition has really gone up.


    The number of people recognizing her had definitely increased.


    She was starting to feel like a ¡°real¡± celebrity.


    Even going to the convenience store feels completely different now.


    Jiyeon had begged her to stop out of embarrassment, but Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help it.


    Convenience store trips were practically sacred.


    Still...


    After giving the stewardess an autograph, she looked around.


    Why does it feel like everyone¡¯s watching me?


    The moment she turned her gaze, the eyes that had been on her quickly darted away.


    And of course, she¡¯d ended up sitting far from Dahyeon, the class president!


    Ugh.


    Though really, that was just an excuse.


    If she wanted to, she could just talk to whoever was sitting next to her.


    But whenever Seoyeon glanced over to speak¡ª


    ¡°!!¡±


    ¡ªshe saw their pupils shake like they¡¯d just seen a ghost.


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t exactly the type who could casually strike up a conversation with someone obviously uncomfortable.


    Am I actually going to be able to get closer to anyone on this trip?


    She wasn¡¯t sure anymore.


    Was it because she was an actress?


    Or did she just have that kind of intimidating aura?


    As Seoyeon sighed to herself¡ª


    ¡ªthe girl sitting beside her, her classmate Kang Suhye, felt like she was dying inside from nerves.


    D-did I offend her?


    She wasn¡¯t upset ¡ª just... overwhelmed.


    Watching Seoyeon go silent made Suhye wipe the cold sweat off her forehead.


    Not because she found her scary.


    Quite the opposite.


    Hey, Kang Suhye, didn¡¯t you say you were a fan?! Come on, say something!


    Her friends had teased her before boarding the plane ¡ª but it was easier said than done.


    She was just... too pretty.


    That¡¯s what Suhye thought to herself.


    Just one glance at her profile made her wonder if they were even the same species.


    Flawless white skin.


    Silky black hair that looked like even static electricity wouldn¡¯t dare touch it.


    She looked like she¡¯d stepped right out of a manga.


    When Suhye first realized she¡¯d be sitting next to Seoyeon, she¡¯d been so excited she could¡¯ve screamed.


    But she couldn¡¯t even bring herself to speak.


    Yikes.


    Watching from a bit farther away, Gil Dahyeon gave a small smile and shook her head.


    She understood the situation perfectly.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t want to make the other person uncomfortable.


    And Suhye, on the flip side, didn¡¯t want to make her uncomfortable.


    Can¡¯t really blame either of them.


    In class, Seoyeon was someone special.


    Not just to Dahyeon ¡ª probably to everyone.


    No, definitely to everyone at Yeonhwa High.


    They probably just think they live in different worlds.


    Celebrity.


    Ultimate insider.


    Sure, there were outgoing students in the class, but still.


    How many teenagers in Korea could say they were on the same level as one of the country¡¯s top stars?


    Especially someone their own age?


    And there¡¯s the whole Instagram thing too.


    Social media mattered a lot to students.


    These days, introductions happened through Instagram, not by trading phone numbers.


    But Seoyeon¡¯s Instagram?


    Let¡¯s be real ¡ª would she even accept your follow request?


    Pictures with Jo Sehee from Kyungsung Lady,


    Selfies on set with Lee Jiyeon,


    Posts at ad shoots or brand events...


    To any ordinary student, it was basically a whole other dimension.


    Wanna exchange Instas?


    That line was a joke when it came to her.


    And KakaoTalk? That just felt like pretending they were besties.


    Her mom¡¯s managing it so well, too.


    Dahyeon knew the truth.


    Seoyeon¡¯s Instagram wasn¡¯t run by Seoyeon at all.


    Her mom, Kim Sua, or her manager Park Eunha, handled it.


    Jiyeon provided most of the photos.


    The only thing Seoyeon did was give permission to post, or help write a caption ¡ª


    and even that was usually Jiyeon¡¯s doing.


    Still, once they spend the trip together, things might get better.


    Like sharing a room.


    Or participating in a special school-organized event.


    The Biol show, right?


    As class president, Dahyeon had already been informed.


    Seoyeon would be appearing as Biol¡¯s ambassador at Ready-to-Wear.


    Hearing that, Dahyeon herself had felt the gap.


    Seoyeon really was different from regular students.


    But¡ª


    Still, the way she¡¯s sneaking glances like she wants help...


    Seeing Seoyeon sending little SOS signals in her direction, Dahyeon smiled.


    Honestly, it was kind of funny to watch.


    ****


    Paris!


    The city no European tour can skip.


    Seoyeon didn¡¯t have any fantasies about traveling in Europe,


    But the other girls? Their energy skyrocketed the moment they landed.


    We¡¯re splitting into homeroom groups, so I probably won¡¯t see Jiyeon till later.


    Which meant Seoyeon had only one option:


    Stick close to Dahyeon.


    But¡ª


    ¡°Did you know, Seoyeon? Originally, Versailles was just a villa.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°Back in Louis XIII¡¯s day, it was just a hunting lodge. Then Louis XIV expanded it into the current Versailles! With over a thousand rooms! The most famous one is definitely the Hall of Mirrors! Do you know it?¡±


    Dahyeon was practically vibrating with excitement.


    Day one of the Paris trip.


    Thanks to the flight time, the only thing on the itinerary was visiting the Palace of Versailles.


    But even that alone felt like more than enough ¡ª the sheer scale of the place was overwhelming.


    Even someone like Seoyeon, who wasn¡¯t that moved by traveling, was secretly impressed.


    Though...


    My ears hurt.


    She had good hearing, and Dahyeon¡¯s nonstop chatter was getting to her.


    With no other friends around, Seoyeon stayed close ¡ª but she was kind of suffering.


    And she wasn¡¯t the only one.


    The two girls walking with Dahyeon looked just as exhausted.


    ¡°Dahyeon¡¯s been looking forward to Versailles forever.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I can tell.¡±


    The bob-haired girl said it casually.


    Seoyeon flinched slightly at her voice ¡ª then realized, Oh. Wait.


    ¡°This might be a good chance to talk...¡±


    ¡°Hey, Seoyeon, it¡¯s Yeongmi! Remember? We watched that Japanese variety show together, remember?¡±


    ¡°...Ah.¡±


    So that¡¯s where she remembered her from.


    Seoyeon broke into a cold sweat.


    Just to be clear ¡ª she hadn¡¯t forgotten because she was careless or rude!


    It¡¯s just¡ª


    You¡¯ve... put on quite a bit of weight since then, haven¡¯t you?


    Yeongmi, as Seoyeon remembered her, had been practically skin and bones.


    But the current Yeongmi had... let¡¯s just say she¡¯d grown a bit ¡ª sideways.


    ¡°Ah~, sorry. I¡¯ve put on a little weight, huh?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re cuter than before.¡±


    ¡°...Dahyeon, you¡¯re probably the only one who¡¯d say that. My mom literally kicks me every morning.¡±


    Naturally, Seoyeon could only nod silently.


    She had enough social awareness to know this wasn¡¯t the time to say anything stupid.


    But still, trying to keep the conversation going feels awkward.


    She was close to Dahyeon, but not particularly with her friends.


    Just thinking about how awkward it had been when they¡¯d watched that Japanese variety show last time made her stomach twist.


    Hmm... but maybe it¡¯s better to start getting close to this group first.


    Dahyeon and Yeongmi.


    And some of the second-year classmates who seemed friendly with them.


    A good place to start for a ¡°tutorial,¡± so to speak.


    Alright. Let¡¯s give this a¡ª huh?


    Just as Seoyeon was [N O V E L I G H T] psyching herself up¡ª


    The students were split into groups, wandering freely around the Palace of Versailles.


    Right now, Seoyeon, Dahyeon, and about three other girls were strolling together through the palace gardens.


    Since it was peak tourist season, the palace was packed.


    Naturally, bumping into people was unavoidable.


    Especially in places like the line to enter the main building.


    So it wasn¡¯t surprising that they didn¡¯t notice when someone with... less-than-innocent intentions got close.


    Tap.


    ¡ºHuh?¡»


    The pickpocket ¡ª a seasoned pro who typically targeted tourists in France ¡ª was momentarily thrown off by the lack of movement in the girl¡¯s hand.


    He tilted his gaze down ever so slightly.


    And saw it.


    A pale hand gripping the small knife he¡¯d extended to slice open her bag.


    What the hell?


    She caught the blade?


    His moment of confusion barely lasted a few seconds.


    Crack.


    The little knife snapped in half between those white fingers.


    And in that instant¡ª


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    A beautiful girl¡¯s face appeared right next to his.


    She¡¯d been a few steps away just a second ago, and now she was right beside him.


    When had she moved?


    Was she speaking Chinese? Japanese?


    The pickpocket froze, confused.


    But he was a pro.


    Before she could say anything else, he dropped the broken blade and turned to flee.


    ¡°Wha?!¡±


    ¡°Wh-What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Seoyeon?¡±


    Dahyeon and the others, finally noticing something was wrong, turned to her.


    ¡°It was a pickpocket.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Just a sec, I¡¯ll go get him.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what are you getting?!¡±


    Hearing the voices behind him, the pickpocket smirked to himself.


    Whatever they¡¯re saying, they can¡¯t seriously think they¡¯re catching me.


    There was a reason he only targeted women.


    Especially young girls ¡ª they wouldn¡¯t chase him, too risky.


    He didn¡¯t want to invite unnecessary danger by sticking around.


    If it weren¡¯t for all these damn tourists, I wouldn¡¯t even have to run.


    They were just some teenage girls from Asia.


    Even if they realized he was a thief, a glare or two would be enough to scare them off.


    But with all these people around, you could never be too careful.


    Also...


    Why the hell did the knife break?


    Running now, he found himself still thinking about it.


    Sure, it was a small blade for slicing open bags ¡ª


    But it was still a weapon.


    There¡¯s no way it should¡¯ve snapped in someone¡¯s hand.


    Was it old? Worn out?


    Or maybe¡ª


    Oh.


    Up ahead, he spotted a woman ¡ª or maybe a girl ¡ª


    holding a luxury bag, facing away, completely unaware.


    Perfect target.


    If he just sprinted up and grabbed it, it would be over in a flash.


    The area wasn¡¯t too crowded, so slipping away would be easy.


    It was like she was begging to be robbed.


    ¡°Kyaa!!¡±


    Sure enough, the girl screamed and fell over as he snatched the bag.


    She let go instantly.


    It was a little messy, sure ¡ª but still, a luxury bag was worth way more than some random girl¡¯s wallet.


    The pickpocket grinned, satisfied¡ª


    CRASH!!


    ¡ºGuah?!¡»


    ¡ªand slammed into the ground, rolling hard.


    Or rather, he¡¯d suddenly been lifted off his feet and slammed down.


    ¡ºW-What the hell¡ª?!¡»


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    Seoyeon stood over him, having taken him down in an instant.


    She pulled the stolen designer bag from his hand.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him to try and grab another bag while fleeing, but whatever.


    He¡¯s still slower than the Korean subway crowd.


    She¡¯d explained the situation to the others with such calm because she knew she could catch him.


    Pickpocket or not ¡ª there¡¯s no way he could outrun a Seoul commuter.


    ¡°Um, excuse me, this is...¡±


    The girl who¡¯d dropped the bag stepped forward.


    Or was she a young woman?


    Strawberry-blonde hair with a reddish tint. Amber eyes.


    Her mouth was hidden behind a mask, making it hard to tell her age.


    She was also fumbling to put on sunglasses that had flown off when she fell.


    Is she famous?


    Something about her felt familiar.


    Maybe it was the way she was dressed ¡ª


    Reminded Seoyeon of herself, back in Korea.


    One nice thing about being overseas:


    She didn¡¯t have to go around dressed like that anymore.


    Wait, what do I say? Uh... ¡°Hello?¡±


    Seoyeon held out the bag, suddenly unsure what language to use.


    Was this person French? From somewhere else?


    Versailles was overflowing with international tourists.


    ¡°Th-Thank you... yo.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I speak Korean. Little.¡±


    Oh, thank God.


    Though her Korean was a bit awkward, the girl smiled and took the bag.


    ¡°Pickpocket... bad.¡±


    ¡°Yes, very.¡±


    ¡°Police... not needed.¡±


    She said that and then turned around and¡ª


    Wham! Wham!


    ¡ªkicked the pickpocket a few more times.


    ...She¡¯s got a fiery personality, huh.


    Her face looked sweet, but...


    The girl kept smacking the guy¡¯s cheeks with her palm.


    The pickpocket squirmed, trying to resist, but Seoyeon had him firmly pinned.


    There was no chance of escape.


    About ten minutes later¡ª


    The police arrived and dragged him away on the spot.


    The crowd murmured in surprise, but since the whole thing had ended so quickly, it didn¡¯t cause much of a scene.


    ¡°Pickpocket very dangerous. You... don¡¯t do like that, okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Police... not always help. For real, yo.¡±


    It was a pretty serious warning.


    And Seoyeon knew she was right ¡ª to an extent.


    But still¡ª


    She was technically here as a student.


    And more importantly, she was a Biol ambassador.


    So she had a bit of ¡°protection,¡± so to speak, while in France.


    There were also a lot of witnesses.


    ¡°Yes, thank you for the advice. Well then, I¡¯ll...¡±


    Seoyeon trailed off and looked around.


    The crowd had shifted ¡ª she couldn¡¯t see her group anywhere.


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Seoyeon couldn¡¯t answer.


    Because on her very first day of the school trip¡ª


    ¡ªshe had already gotten lost.

 Chapter 335: Pranks and the Princess (2)

    ¡°...Mmm.¡±


    With her fingers held up in a V, Seoyeon snapped a quick photo as that thought crossed her mind.


    She caught a pickpocket, the police came.


    They said something to Seoyeon, but of course she had no idea what it meant.


    All she could really say was something like, ¡°I''m a Korean actress.¡±


    Well, it seemed like they sort of got what she meant just from that, but their expression was still doubtful.


    She¡¯d started to think she was getting more recognized back in Korea, but obviously that didn¡¯t apply overseas.


    When the police tried to ask her something more detailed¡ª


    ¡ºCome over here, please.¡»


    A girl who spoke in French stepped in to speak on Seoyeon¡¯s behalf.


    She was the one Seoyeon had just helped by saving her bag from the pickpocket, and now she was the one who called the police for her.


    At first, the officers seemed indifferent, but as the girl continued speaking, their bodies started to tremble.


    ¡®Is she really that famous?¡¯


    The more the girl talked, the paler the officers'' faces became.


    No¡ªpale wasn¡¯t even the word anymore. They looked blue.


    Their reaction was far too dramatic for someone who was just a celebrity.


    And when the whole conversation wrapped up¡ª


    ¡°Tell them I¡¯m sorry for the trouble.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Please let them know she says it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The girl relayed Seoyeon¡¯s words in her own way.


    The police, still pale in the face, bowed their heads repeatedly and apologized again.


    ¡®I mean, I didn¡¯t even do anything.¡¯


    Their behavior was a little excessive, but that was about it.


    Maybe they were just asking to see her passport or something like that.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a picture too.¡±


    ¡°A picture?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    At her words, the girl took a photo with the police.


    She suddenly suggested it to them, and they nodded along as one of the officers took a quick shot with a click.


    From what Seoyeon could gather from the English words floating around, it seemed like a commemorative photo for catching a pickpocket or something like that.


    That was the situation just now.


    ¡®When the police listen to that girl talk, they kind of come off as a bit slow.¡¯


    Not saying the officers were dumb or anything.


    But the way they acted and looked when the girl was talking... it just gave off that vibe.


    ¡®Anyway, what now?¡¯


    Lowering her hand from the V-pose, Seoyeon finally realized¡ª


    Oh. I¡¯m lost.


    ¡°Lost?¡±


    ¡°I lost my group.¡±


    Seoyeon wasn¡¯t sure how good the girl¡¯s Korean really was.


    But judging by how they were communicating, it seemed like she was incredibly fluent.


    When she asked about it¡ª


    ¡°I like Korean dramas.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t work. I have time, so.¡±


    The girl said this without much change in expression.


    She almost felt like... someone similar to Seoyeon herself.


    Her features were gentle, but her actions oddly bold.


    She was wearing a mask, so it was hard to read her face, but you could tell she didn¡¯t move her facial muscles much.


    It felt more like something learned than natural.


    As if she¡¯d been taught that she had to act that way.


    ¡°Anyway, I need to find my group, so I¡¯ll get going. Watch out for pickpockets.¡±


    Seoyeon turned around after saying that.


    She didn¡¯t know exactly where they were, but if she walked around inside this palace, she¡¯d probably run into them eventually.


    It wasn¡¯t like the school only brought one or two students.


    Worst case, she could just wait at the entrance.


    But just as she was about to leave, the girl grabbed her sleeve.


    Seoyeon turned back with a puzzled look.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind...¡±


    For some reason, the girl seemed interested in Seoyeon.


    She was about to say something while holding onto her sleeve¡ª


    ¡°Seoyeon!¡±


    Gil Dahyeon came running up to her, panting.


    Their homeroom teacher, Cha Yeonghee, was with her too.


    ¡°I heard something about a pickpocket, so I brought the teacher just in case!¡±


    She must¡¯ve sprinted with everything she had¡ªDahyeon¡¯s face was drenched in sweat.


    Seoyeon felt honestly touched by that.


    She never expected anyone to go this far to look for her!


    Bringing the teacher along was probably in case something serious had happened¡ªlike having a guardian present.


    Truly, the model class president!


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I already caught the pickpocket and turned them in to the police.¡±


    ¡°...Wait, hold on. You actually chased after the pickpocket?¡±


    ¡°They were trying to cut open Yeongmi¡¯s bag with this knife.¡±


    ¡°Knife? That¡¯s more like a metal shard.¡±


    ¡°Well, I broke it, so that¡¯s probably why.¡±


    Dahyeon froze at Seoyeon¡¯s calm explanation, unsure how to respond.


    Seoyeon spoke like she didn¡¯t get what the big deal was, which made Dahyeon think maybe she was the one in the wrong for asking.


    ¡®Wait¡ªbreaking a knife is just normal now?¡¯


    Her sense of reality felt like it was being challenged.


    A knife is a weapon, isn¡¯t it?


    If someone had a weapon like that, shouldn''t you run instead of catching them?


    If people like Seoyeon are out here snapping knives and catching crooks like it''s nothing, how can pickpockets even survive?


    ¡°Uh, r-right. But you¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°The police?¡±


    ¡°Already gone. But how¡¯d you find me?¡±


    ¡°You stand out, so I just asked people around.¡±


    People around?


    Seoyeon looked at Dahyeon, puzzled.


    This was a tourist spot, so obviously most people here were foreigners.


    There were a few Koreans around, but not many.


    So how did she manage to find her by asking around?


    Did the teacher help?


    Maybe sensing her confusion¡ª


    ¡°Mostly I just used English. I can speak a little French too.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    Wait, class president can speak French too?


    Isn¡¯t that... a little too impressive?


    Later on, Seoyeon would find out that Dahyeon really liked learning foreign languages and could speak nearly five of them.


    She claimed she only knew the basics of each, but to Seoyeon, it was basically alien-level stuff.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°The pickpocket tried to steal her bag while running away...¡±


    Seoyeon briefly explained what had happened.


    How she ended up helping the girl and why they were together.


    ¡°A photo? Was it okay to take one?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I could say no.¡±


    ¡°True.¡±


    If it¡¯s the police asking to take a photo, who¡¯s really going to say no?


    It seemed like it was at the girl¡¯s request, but Seoyeon didn¡¯t really know the details.


    After wrapping up her talk with Dahyeon, she looked over to Cha Yeonghee.


    ¡°U-Um, you¡¯re really okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    For some reason, the teacher looked dazed as she talked to the girl.


    And when Seoyeon looked her way, the girl¡ªwho had briefly lowered her mask¡ªslowly pulled it back up.


    ¡®Why bother hiding now?¡¯


    She¡¯d already seen her face.


    Well, just a glimpse¡ªso it¡¯s not like she remembered it clearly.


    Honestly, Seoyeon didn¡¯t know much about foreign celebrities anyway, so even if she stared, she wouldn¡¯t recognize them.


    ¡°W-Well, shall we get going? I¡¯m just glad nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡±


    ¡°Right. You have to tell the teacher next time, okay?¡±


    At Cha Yeonghee¡¯s oddly stiff warning, Seoyeon nodded obediently.


    Sure, she knew she wasn¡¯t really in danger, but that didn¡¯t mean others felt the same.


    Honestly, she¡¯d just been worried about getting lost.


    But everyone else was probably imagining something much worse.


    If anything had happened to her here, it would¡¯ve messed up the whole school trip.


    ¡°By the way.¡±


    As she walked alongside the teacher, Seoyeon pointed subtly behind them.


    ¡°Is she... coming with us too?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah.¡±


    At Seoyeon¡¯s words, Cha Yeonghee nodded.


    Why?


    Seoyeon turned to look at Dahyeon, that question written all over her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure either? Maybe she¡¯s lost too?¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Lost... yeah, that could be.


    Was there some kind of lost-child announcement system in Versailles or something?


    ¡®...For someone supposedly lost, she really looks like she comes from money.¡¯


    Wearing a luxury-brand bag over her shoulder like it was nothing¡ªshe looked incredibly well-off.


    Almost like Jo Sehee, the daughter of a chaebol.


    There was a kind of refinement to her. Something that came through in the tiniest gestures.


    ¡®Come to think of it, I never asked her name.¡¯


    The thought crossed her mind for a moment, but Seoyeon shook her head.


    They were going to part ways soon anyway¡ªwhat was the point of asking?


    But Seoyeon¡¯s assumption¡ª


    Was overturned when the girl got on the sightseeing bus with them.


    And when she ended up heading to the same lodging with them, Seoyeon couldn¡¯t help but have a giant question mark floating over her head.


    ¡®...Why?¡¯


    Just how far was she planning to follow them?


    ****


    ¡°She¡¯s a princess.¡±


    Yeonhwa High¡¯s Cha Yeonghee felt her soul leave her body.


    And really¡ªwho could blame her?


    She¡¯d rushed over when she ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) heard Seoyeon had disappeared, only to find a woman in sunglasses and a mask standing next to her.


    That in itself hadn¡¯t seemed strange.


    When she heard what had happened to Seoyeon, her first thought was simply, ¡°That must¡¯ve been dangerous.¡±


    If the police had said anything before she got there, Seoyeon could¡¯ve ended up in a really tough spot.


    While Seoyeon was talking with Dahyeon, the golden-haired girl had slipped over and quietly said something to Cha Yeonghee.


    ¡°Is it okay if I... come with, you?¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    She didn¡¯t understand at first.


    But then¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit interested.¡±


    The girl pointed at Seoyeon.


    Ah¡ªwas she someone who recognized Seoyeon as a Korean celebrity?


    ¡®Wow... Our Seoyeon¡¯s reached the level where even foreigners recognize her!¡¯


    It had only been a little over a month since Seoyeon joined her homeroom class.


    Things were still a bit awkward, but to Cha Yeonghee, Seoyeon was unmistakably her student now.


    She¡¯d always seen her on TV as an actress, so there was already a strong sense of internal closeness.


    It felt like her own daughter was being praised¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help but smile proudly.


    Of course, even with that... letting someone tag along was definitely not allowed.


    ¡°We¡¯re here on a school trip from Korea, so I¡¯m afraid something like that isn¡¯t possible.¡±


    She had turned her down like that¡ªbut the girl slowly lowered her mask and gave a faint, cryptic smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m Marie Mountbatten Windsor.¡±


    ¡°...Pardon?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the only princess of the current British royal family.¡±


    Princess.


    For a moment, Cha Yeonghee¡¯s mind was ejected into outer space.


    Stars and planets floated through her head as she tried to make sense of what she¡¯d just heard.


    No way. That can¡¯t be real. If I Google it, this has to be some kind of fake¡ªwait, the face matches exactly?


    ¡°Seoyeon and I are both ambassadors for Biol. We¡¯re both attending the event.¡±


    ¡°W-Why were you alone?¡±


    Cha Yeonghee couldn¡¯t form proper sentences.


    She knew she was being rude, but somehow her vocabulary just collapsed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like bodyguards. I wanted to see France.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can protect myself. The pickpocket¡ªcaught me off guard.¡±


    ¡°Still...¡±


    What kind of reckless princess was this?


    ¡®Wait¡ªcan I even let her go off on her own?¡¯


    If something happened after they just let her wander off, wouldn¡¯t that make it their fault?


    ¡°Seoyeon has to attend the event. So do I.¡±


    So... isn¡¯t it fine if we go together?


    That¡¯s what Marie seemed to be saying.


    And before she knew it, things had ended up like this.


    ¡°You can¡¯t just bring her with us!¡±


    ¡°What was I supposed to do, leave her there?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, obviously!¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go tell her that, Mr. Jang?¡±


    When Cha Yeonghee snapped, the teacher referred to as Mr. Jang fell silent.


    That day¡¯s schedule had them visit the Palace of Versailles, then head to their lodging and unpack for free time.


    But they weren¡¯t allowed to go out after that.


    Unlike Korea, France could be dangerous at night.


    ¡°Who are we even supposed to contact? The French police? Does the British royal family have a phone number?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know that either.¡±


    ¡°S-So where is this British princess right now?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    Cha Yeonghee pressed her temples, like her head was about to explode.


    ¡°She¡¯s in the same room as Seoyeon.¡±


    ¡°...Seoyeon must really be interested in her, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I think that part was genuine...¡±


    She said she liked Korean dramas.


    That¡¯s what Marie had told them.


    If you just heard that, it sounded like a phrase tailor-made to trigger national pride.


    But it was a little too vague to believe 100%.


    She could speak Korean, so obviously she had some interest in Korea, but...


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s just keep an eye on her for now.¡±


    The teachers sighed, saying that.


    They just hoped nothing else would happen.


    But then¡ª


    ¡°Teacher, that girl who came with us¡ªSeoyeon hit her with a pillow and knocked her out.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    The teachers nearly fainted right then and there.


    Of course, Princess Marie got right back up and didn¡¯t say anything, so they were relieved pretty quickly.


    And so, the next morning¡ª


    [Korean Actress From Abroad Takes Down Pickpocket Who Attacked British Princess!]


    On the second day of Seoyeon¡¯s school trip¡ª


    Park Jungwoo, who had just arrived in France, stared blankly at the headline splashed across the French newspaper.


    ¡°...What the hell happened?¡±


    Because seriously¡ª


    What the hell even was this?