Chapter 177: The Great Reversal (1)
Chapter 177: The Great Reversal (1)
To be honest, Seo-yeon had always thought of herself as a fool.
Her past, her previous life—things that no longer had much connection to her now.
She felt foolish for being shackled by them.
If she couldn't take care of her current reality because of something like that, wasn't there something wrong with her?
But it didn't work the way she wanted it to.
Seo-yeon had never felt happiness in her past.
Or so she thought.
Therefore, she believed she would have no lingering attachments, but somehow, it was different.
An inexplicable, heavy feeling remained.
Perhaps that was why Lee Ji-yeon had said those things back in middle school.
Because she cherished her current life as 'Ju Seo-yeon' so much.
Because of that, she felt she shouldn't be bound by the past.
Even if it was something she liked or a dream she wanted to achieve back then.
If she stayed tied to it...
If she couldn't let go of the past, she thought she could never truly become Ju Seo-yeon.
That was the conclusion she reached as a middle schooler.
The fifteen-year-old Ju Seo-yeon, at the end of her puberty.
But Gray Crow—Yeo-hee—had told her otherwise.
That she was the sum of everything, including those lingering attachments to the past.
That there was no need to rush.
It was just as she said.
Even while harboring all those regrets, the moment she sang, she looked radiant to Seo-yeon.
The difference was only two votes.
In reality, it might have been the difference of just one person.
But at that moment, Seo-yeon felt she had been completely defeated.
In a competition, what decides the winner during a song is empathy.
How many people can you make empathize with your song?
But then, Gray Crow brought her own memories to the stage.
Naturally, it was something others couldn't empathize with.
It was a song for one person, not the public.
Seo-yeon could faintly sense that.
And yet, Gray Crow—Yeo-hee—had beaten her fair and square.
So, she acted a bit petty at the end, but she thought that much was fine.
'You have to change without being bound by the past.'
She had heard that countless times, and Seo-yeon believed it too.
But what Yeo-hee showed her was something entirely different.
That everyone has different values, and you don't necessarily have to follow the norm.
That if you are truly a strong person, you can carry even your past with you.
Having lingering attachments to the past...
It meant there was something she missed.
Or perhaps, there was something more precious in her past than she thought.
It was as if Yeo-hee was asking her if it wasn't a waste to throw it all away.
Of course, Seo-yeon didn't know.
Back then, she didn't understand emotions.
But these lingering attachments...
They might be the evidence of happiness left behind by her past self.
Suddenly, that thought occurred to her.
And so, Seo-yeon finally made a decision.
Nothing would change in her current actions.
She had made up her mind to proceed as she first intended.
She had simply changed the meaning of 'graduation' a little.
That was all.
"Oh? Seo-yeon."
"Yes?"
"Your acting has improved. Today's footage is really good. Wow, your skills are still growing?"
Director Kim Il-soo of Sky Garden said with a laugh.
Did I get better?
She wondered, but then thought it might be true.
Through this experience, she had learned a few more things that would be good to express through the character Lee Yu-ju.
It wasn't something Director Kim Il-soo requested, nor was it something Writer Min Se-hee had mentioned.
It was just something Seo-yeon felt.
That people are complex, and sometimes there are parts of themselves they don't even understand.
Since she was like that, Lee Yu-ju might be too.
"By the way."
The director approached her and asked in a low voice.
"This week is the Masked Singer King of Singers Tournament, right? Who won?"
At his question, Seo-yeon smiled softly.
Originally, she had gone on the variety show for promotion.
But because she kept winning, she hadn't really had the chance to do that.
However...
"The promotion will be handled properly."
At her words, Director Kim Il-soo's eyes widened for a moment.
Soon, understanding her meaning, he grinned.
If that was the case, the timing was actually perfect.
Episode 10, which was about to air.
If it went out alongside that, it would surely be the move to overturn the current stalemate in the ratings battle.
Director Kim Il-soo was certain of it.
*
Kwak Hyun-woo, the team leader of the Adiz advertising planning office, had been in a good mood lately.
Even though strange things like the Ju Seo-yeon Challenge had popped up, it was clear that Adiz's sales were rising.
Especially after episode 4 of Sky Garden aired, sales had been showing a steady weekly increase.
One percent, two percent.
It might not seem like much, but when added up, it eventually became massive.
As a result, Kwak Hyun-woo had been walking around the office with his chest puffed out lately.
In the past, no one had opposed using Ju Seo-yeon as an advertising model.
When did I ever say that?
Of course we should use her as a model.
That was the general atmosphere, so everyone at Adiz just let it slide.
It seemed that the events of that time had become a dark history.
"The drama is definitely good. Sales have been growing steadily since Sky Garden started airing."
"Indeed."
"But I thought it would jump more drastically, though that hasn't happened."
Kwak Hyun-woo chuckled at Assistant Manager Jung's remark.
He needed to be realistic.
"Look here, Assistant Manager Jung. That was in the past. These days, unless a drama is exceptionally successful, that doesn't happen. Honestly, achieving this much with chair PPL is already amazing."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes. Still, the exposure increased significantly from episode 4, so that was perfect. Actress Ju Seo-yeon is quite smart."
Assistant Manager Jung was a bit puzzled by Kwak Hyun-woo's words.
Is she smart?
Looking at her appearance on broadcasts, she didn't particularly seem that way.
Of course, he couldn't bring himself to say that to Kwak Hyun-woo, who had already become a devotee of Ju Seo-yeon.
"It's risen as much as it's going to... It would be great if it just maintains this level."
Kwak Hyun-woo muttered.
Episode 9 of Sky Garden would air today, and episode 10 tomorrow.
'I hope the chairs appear a lot.'
They had already appeared more than enough, but human greed knows no bounds.
Kwak Hyun-woo just wanted to see even more effect from the PPL.
However.
When he watched episode 9 on Monday and episode 10 the following day.
Those thoughts were completely wiped from his mind.
"No, damn. You're ending it like this?!"
The content was enough to make him blurt out those words unconsciously.
*
"Hyun-seok!!"
Han Seong-jin, an actor who appeared in Sky Garden as a friend of the character 'Lee Min-hyuk,' slapped him on the back with a broad grin.
And for good reason.
[Sky Garden's Great Counterattack! 14% Viewership. Only 1% Difference from Grand Game!]
[Where is Lee Yu-ju? Episode 10 Ends Amid High Expectations]
Among the usual articles was one that caught his eye.
[Who is Kim Hyun-seok, the Actor Playing Lee Min-hyuk? Shows Great Chemistry with Ju Seo-yeon]
It was a different kind of article from the ones that usually criticized him by comparing his acting to Seo-yeon's.
It was probably the first time he had received praise for his acting in this drama.
"Honestly, I was really worried during this shoot, but it turned out well, man."
"...I guess."
However, a part of him had expected it.
Episodes 9 and 10, which aired most recently, had parts that turned out exceptionally well.
Reading the article praising his acting:
==
Actor Kim Hyun-seok, who showed somewhat disappointing performances when the drama first started, delivered a wonderful performance in the recently aired episode 10.
He vividly portrayed the inferiority complex Lee Min-hyuk feels toward Lee Yu-ju, breathing great life into the character and making it seem as though he, too, is a victim.
==
Reading that article, Kim Hyun-seok couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
Acting that vividly portrays an inferiority complex.
'That wasn't acting.'
He didn't bother saying those words out loud.
It wasn't out of some noble intention not to rain on his friend's parade.
It was because most people on set probably already knew, so there was no need to say it.
Ju Seo-yeon herself knew.
'My inferiority complex.'
In episodes 9 and 10, the plot required Lee Min-hyuk to show more of his inferiority complex.
Episodes 9 and 10 of Sky Garden covered the Lee Hyuk-soo family's vacation.
It was called a family trip, but it was more of a social trip where Min-seo's friends also tagged along.
And naturally, Lee Yu-ju was among those students.
Since she was in a position where she had to go whenever Lee Min-seo went somewhere to play.
And the content up to episode 10 involved an accident happening at that vacation spot.
"An accident could happen, so everyone focus, focus!"
There were several difficult parts in this shoot.
There were many scenes with Seo-yeon, and they were frequently entangled.
He had 'pretended' to treat Seo-yeon calmly until now, but that was only a 'pretense.'
He wasn't actually calm.
He just tried his best not to keep her in his sight.
Because if he kept looking, the suppressed inferiority complex felt like it would rear its head.
But this time, he couldn't do that.
His gaze naturally went to Ju Seo-yeon, who was right beside him.
'She's changed.'
He felt that something about her vibe had changed.
He couldn't explain it, but it was clear that Seo-yeon's acting had improved a level.
It was the same Lee Yu-ju acting as usual, but something felt different.
It felt like the colors had become deeper and more three-dimensional.
How could she be like that?
It was already hard enough to keep up with her previous acting, but now it was incredibly difficult to match her pace.
If one person's acting is too outstanding, the scene looks very strange unless the other person matches it properly.
That was exactly the case now.
He was ruining not just his own acting, but Seo-yeon's as well.
"Hyun-seok. Let's put a bit more color in there. Why is the character so flat?"
The shoot was already difficult.
On top of that, with Seo-yeon's skills improving again, all eyes were on Hyun-seok.
He couldn't even count how many NGs there were.
Even if they didn't say it, everyone seemed on edge.
The only one who remained calm was Seo-yeon.
Seo-yeon didn't say anything in particular.
She just stared at him.
But that gaze felt more provocative than any words.
Had Seo-yeon ever been criticized during this shoot?
No.
Instead, she received nothing but praise.
He was just a presence ruining such acting.
Someone who couldn't even serve as a proper accessory.
So, those emotions must have leaked into his acting unconsciously.
Even though he tried to hide it, it must have burst out.
But then.
"Cut, cut! Good. Let's go with that."
Director Kim Il-soo finally nodded as if satisfied.
While others glanced at him, sensing the situation, Seo-yeon quietly approached him and said,
"I think you expressed Lee Min-hyuk's inferiority complex very well."
"?"
"I was surprised because it felt so real."
"??"
Was she mocking him?
No, but she praised him with such a serious face that it didn't feel like mockery.
After saying that, Seo-yeon nodded to herself as if proud.
What was that? What was she doing?
Anyway, at the time, it felt like a provocation, so his subsequent acting felt even more passionate.
But it seemed Seo-yeon thought all of that was just acting.
So after everything was over, his animosity had actually cooled down.
Recalling that time, Hyun-seok let out a short laugh and said,
"...Well, I've decided not to harbor any more personal feelings."
"You have?"
Of course, his friend Han Seong-jin found it absurd.
Anyway, regardless of the actor's growth(?), the viewership ratings for Sky Garden began to rise sharply starting from episode 10.
Of course, it wasn't just because episode 10 of Sky Garden was well-made.
It was because of a bombshell that dropped on a variety show aired that weekend.
It was because the drama soared on the back of the explosive power from Masked Singer.
*
The viewership for Masked Singer had been declining for a while, but it had recovered to some extent recently with the appearance of Gray Crow.
She was a singer who might enter the Hall of Fame after a very long time.
If she won this time, she would take the throne for the eighth time, so everyone was full of anticipation.
Even if she lost, many were curious about her identity.
Reactions on SNS and various communities were naturally leaning toward Gray Crow's victory.
Well, those who had already seen the recording knew the winner, but they couldn't post about it.
However, what flipped that atmosphere...
Was 'Max Level Rabbit's' song selection.
'Max Level Rabbit' suddenly began to sing a song of memories.
It was from that moment that the online communities began to heat up intensely.