Chapter 106: Healing Variety Show (1)
Chapter 106: Healing Variety Show (1)
Ji-yeon considered herself and Seo-yeon to be quite close.
For one, they had been by each other's side for nearly ten years, sharing almost everything.
Their work as actresses was one thing.
But academically and in many other ways, they relied heavily on one another.
...And if it weren't for Seo-yeon, Ji-yeon would never have even dreamed of becoming a VTuber.
Now, it was one of the things she enjoyed doing to clear her head.
Ji-yeon was fairly confident when it came to communicating with others and planning content, after all.
Anyway.
‘I really have no idea what’s going on in her head.’
A movie about same-sex love.
It seemed to be a story about a romance between women.
‘A film by Director Baek Min.’
Of course, Lee Ji-yeon knew who he was.
He was a director known for his strong artistic sensibilities, someone more recognized abroad than domestically.
In other words, he was a director one had to work with if they had any intention of breaking into the international market.
But that was one thing.
‘How can she be so calm about it?’
Ji-yeon looked at Seo-yeon with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
In response to Ji-yeon’s gaze, Seo-yeon simply tilted her head slightly.
It was a gesture unique to Seo-yeon—looking as if she were checking to see if she had done something wrong.
Seeing her like that made it seem like she had brought it up with purely innocent intentions...
‘No, no. It’s weirder for me to take it as something scandalous.’
But still, wasn't it a bit much?
Sure, adult actors might accept it coolly and judge the role objectively, but Ji-yeon was still a high school student.
Wasn't her reaction the normal one?
If anything, Seo-yeon’s composure was the strange part.
Ji-yeon often thought this, but when it came to work, Seo-yeon was incredibly professional.
It was as if her work and her personal feelings were kept in entirely separate compartments.
Ji-yeon didn't know how she managed to draw such a sharp line between the two...
‘Besides, what about your friends at school?’
Suppose she and Ji-yeon appeared in it together and got a good response. How would their schoolmates react? If a girl who was always stuck to her side at school filmed a movie like that...
"Do you hate the idea?"
"..."
Seo-yeon asked again.
She looked dejected, like a puppy with its tail between its legs.
It seemed Seo-yeon truly believed this movie would be a great help to Ji-yeon.
‘Ugh.’
Ji-yeon squeezed her eyes shut at the sight of her.
Fine, whatever.
It wasn't like she was in a position to be picky.
She had only just managed to appear in a single cable drama.
If it was a movie by Director Baek Min, she should take the role whether it was as an extra or anything else.
"It’s not that I... hate it."
"Really? But you looked a bit flustered."
"Hey, Ju Seo-yeon. Of course I’m flustered!"
"Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'? I mean, this is..."
Jo Seo-hee watched their conversation with sparkling, interested eyes.
‘They must be really close.’
Apparently, she was an actress too.
Jo Seo-hee didn't know who Lee Ji-yeon was.
But while the two were talking, she had done a quick search.
‘She’s currently in a cable drama.’
"Hmm," Jo Seo-hee hummed, resting her chin on her hand as she watched them.
In truth, when you start acting as a child, it’s difficult to make friends.
First of all, it’s hard to find time to play together, and once you get used to professional life, your peers start to feel younger than they are.
They seem childish, so to speak.
She knew it wasn't a good way to think, but what could she do? That was how it felt.
‘Fellow actresses. And they’ve been inseparable since they were kids.’
Jo Seo-hee was secretly envious.
As expected, Seo-yeon seemed to have a narrow but deep social circle.
Since there were virtually no other actresses their age, Jo Seo-hee agonized over how she might slip into that relationship.
"Senior Seo-hee."
"Yes?"
"When exactly do the auditions for Gyeongseong Lady start?"
Seo-yeon had already gone through several auditions.
Since Jo Seo-hee had mentioned that auditions were being prepared, Seo-yeon asked, assuming it would be a standard process.
"You don't need to audition."
"Huh?"
"Your recognition has already gone up quite a bit through The Chaser and Dream Future."
There was also the fact that Jo Seo-hee had personally pushed for her.
Because of that, Director Baek Min had watched The Chaser.
And she had heard his evaluation just yesterday.
"Seo-hee, are you really close with the actress Ju Seo-yeon?"
Jo Seo-hee had flinched for a moment at Director Baek’s question.
Was he doubting her friendship with Ju Seo-yeon?
"Yes, we're... best friends. We've known each other for ten years."
"Ah, that's right. You two auditioned together for Taesumdal."
"Yes. I lost back then, but... it was a well-deserved loss."
She thought of her younger self as an arrogant brat.
Well, she was still arrogant now.
But that was more of a mental fortress to protect her pride, so she had no intention of changing it.
"I watched The Chaser as you recommended. And Dream Future as well."
"What did you think?"
Director Baek Min chuckled at the sight of Seo-hee asking with eyes that practically screamed, 'She's good, right?'
It was rare for Jo Seo-hee to show a face that actually looked her age.
"The Chaser was impressive, but I liked Dream Future very much."
"...Pardon?"
Usually, it was the other way around.
The thought crossed her mind, but Jo Seo-hee didn't let it show.
"Well, because what I’m filming is a romance."
"Yes, that's true."
"In that sense, her acting in Dream Future gave me a lot of inspiration."
It was just yesterday.
Episode 11 of Dream Future.
"It was so fresh."
Director Baek Min recalled Jo Ha-rin’s acting from the previous night.
He had heard there were several issues during filming.
That her screen time had been cut due to the screenwriter’s personal misconduct.
The funny thing was, because her screen time was cut, Jo Ha-rin’s narrative actually became more convincing.
Jo Ha-rin was paired with Park Min-yul.
But their relationship had progressed much slower compared to the other couples in the drama.
Naturally, since they barely appeared.
However, since Jo Ha-rin originally had an unrequited crush on Kim Si-hwan, it made sense that her romance with Park Min-yul was pushed to the back burner.
"The acting where she’s flustered by Park Min-yul approaching her step by step, so different from the one-sided crush she had."
She looked like an innocent girl who didn't know love.
Unfamiliar with those sweet and sorrowful emotions, she was unable to properly process the emotional exchange with another person.
Was that acting?
No, honestly, it didn't even feel like acting.
Personally, it was enough to make him completely forget the image of 'Cha Seo-ah' he had seen in The Chaser.
At least, that was how it was for Baek Min.
So the audience would likely feel the same.
A few days ago, Director Baek Min had also held a meeting with the GH Group.
At that time, Kang Tae-jin, who appeared as the Director of the Cultural Business Division, had said this:
"That’s a shame, Director Baek. I thought it was a good opportunity."
"I’m sorry. There’s a specific movie I want to film."
"I heard. That you’ve received investments from several places."
The man with snake-like eyes said that and smiled thinly.
"By any chance, do you know an actress named Ju Seo-yeon?"
"Pardon?"
Baek Min was caught off guard by the name appearing at such an unexpected moment.
After all, she was the actress Jo Seo-hee had been talking about non-stop.
"She seemed like a young actress who would suit your films well, Director."
"My... films?"
"Yes. Your movies are very emotional, Director Baek."
Emotional.
Did the fact that Ju Seo-yeon suited them mean she was an actress who delivered highly emotional performances?
"We were more on the side of 'Cha Seo-ah'..."
He said that and smiled at Director Baek.
"But I thought there might be someone who wants the 'Jo Ha-rin' side as well."
Director Baek Min scoffed inwardly at his words.
‘Is he trying to lure me in to boost an actress’s profile?’
Even though their collaboration had fallen through, he was fully intent on using him somehow.
It was an indirect statement that they had already laid claim to the actress Ju Seo-yeon.
If Ju Seo-yeon’s fame rose in any way, the side that had secured her first would stand to gain the most.
However, it was true that his interest had been piqued.
Ju Seo-yeon.
Even though she had only had significant roles in four projects, she was incredibly memorable.
The portrayal of a girl who doesn't properly understand the emotion of love gradually coming to realize it was exactly the kind of acting Baek Min wanted.
It was infinitely similar to what he wanted to show in the movie he was planning, Gyeongseong Lady.
Director Baek Min slowly closed and opened his eyes.
Leaving his thoughts on Dream Future behind, he looked at Jo Seo-hee, who was sitting quietly in front of him.
"I would be very happy if both you and Seo-yeon could appear in my movie."
"I'm truly grateful to hear that."
As she replied, Jo Seo-hee felt a bit bewildered.
Hadn't he said before that she had to audition?
Regardless, it was convenient.
Ah, come to think of it, that girl had asked her to inquire about one more thing.
"If there’s one more actress I’d like to recommend..."
"Hmm, that’s fine. The door to auditions is always open."
It meant she had to pass the audition.
An audition for a role that hadn't even been decided yet.
Jo Seo-hee let out a sigh.
The two girls in front of her.
Ju Seo-yeon and Lee Ji-yeon.
Seo-yeon, in particular, looked a bit bewildered.
She probably thought they would be auditioning together.
But Director Baek Min liked Seo-yeon more than expected.
"So, you're the only one auditioning."
"Don't point your finger at me."
"..."
Jo Seo-hee, who had reflexively pointed at Ji-yeon, carefully pulled her hand back.
How mean.
But still, strangely enough, Jo Seo-hee quite liked being corrected by a peer for the first time. Didn't it feel like there were no walls between them?
Since everyone around Seo-hee found her difficult to approach, it felt even more special.
"Ahem, so you'll have to audition. I've already spoken to Director Baek Min about it."
Ji-yeon thought for a moment at Jo Seo-hee’s words.
Unlike Seo-yeon, she didn't mind the fact that she had to audition.
In the first place, it was ridiculous to equate herself with Seo-yeon, who was a 'ten-million-viewer' actress and had even hit it big in a network drama.
She had fallen behind a bit again.
‘I have to do this.’
It was an opportunity to stand on the same level as Seo-yeon.
In that sense.
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
"For mentioning me."
Seo-hee was flustered by Ji-yeon’s words.
She thought Ji-yeon disliked her, but was that not the case?
"Ahem! Well, well. Something like this is hardly difficult for me."
She glanced at Seo-yeon as she spoke.
This time, Seo-yeon was looking at Jo Seo-hee with a dissatisfied expression.
‘Wait, why now?’
At Jo Seo-hee’s aggrieved look, Seo-yeon huffed and turned her head away.
After all, she had hardly ever heard Ji-yeon say thank you to her.
Since Ji-yeon was always the one cleaning up after Seo-yeon, Seo-yeon said thank you often, but the reverse was almost never true.
‘...Anyway.’
Seo-yeon stole a glance at Ji-yeon.
The audition.
She knew Ji-yeon was talented, but since it was a movie by Director Baek Min, it was hard to know what the judging criteria would be.
She had hoped they could work hard and do it together, but...
‘It’ll be fine.’
Still, Seo-yeon believed in Ji-yeon.
After all, Seo-yeon had watched Ji-yeon from the side for ten years.
*
"CEO."
Manager Park Eun-ha looked quite fatigued lately due to the sheer volume of work.
It was no wonder, given how many calls had been flooding her phone recently.
Naturally, those calls were all about Seo-yeon.
A rising star who was just beginning to take off.
Many were trying to target this period when her value was at its lowest.
Or, there were those who considered Seo-yeon’s sudden rise in fame to be a 'bubble' and were waiting for it to burst.
They were waiting for her currently spiked market value to drop even a little.
"These are the advertisements, but we've also received a lot of requests for variety shows."
"Variety shows? Let's take a look."
Kang Chan-yul, the CEO of Nova Entertainment, scanned the recent requests.
Seo-yeon was one of the few celebrities Kang Chan-yul managed personally.
As he had once told her, Kang Chan-yul considered Seo-yeon to be a child like a star.
An actress who would surely shine brighter if polished.
So, it was only natural for Kang Chan-yul to check Seo-yeon’s schedule.
Of course, Seo-yeon had agreed to this.
She still didn't fully understand how the industry worked, after all.
"Which one do you think would be good?"
"Hmm."
Usually, these things had to take the actor's personality into account.
There were actors who maintained an air of mystery and never appeared on variety shows.
Many were also selective about advertisements.
Accepting just any ad could ruin their image.
‘Thinking about the variety shows she did before...’
Play Until the King.
And Desert Island Survival.
Both were variety shows that Seo-yeon had thoroughly enjoyed.
Though the staff who followed her during filming seemed to have had a very hard time.
"I think an active variety show would be good... Oh, this one looks nice."
Muttering to himself, Kang Chan-yul nodded as he looked at one particular show.
Since she had been busy filming lately, he thought it would be good to give Seo-yeon some time to heal.
‘Is this really healing?’
Of course, looking at it, Park Eun-ha had her doubts.
If she had to say, it looked more like a show where Kang Chan-yul himself would be the one healing.