Chapter 238: Fierce Ladies (1)
Chapter 238: Fierce Ladies (1)
The scene where Yeon Seon-ye and Michiko overcome their conflict and confirm their feelings for one another.
Coincidentally, that scene took place right when Michiko had resolved to take her own life.
And once the two had confirmed their hearts, there was nothing left to hold them back.
"Still, diving straight into a kiss like that... she’s not normal."
That was the only part of the script Lee Ji-yeon had grumbled about.
She kept glancing at Jo Seo-hee, seemingly curious about what she thought of it.
However, in Jo Seo-hee’s case:
"Hmm, isn't it fine? It’s something an actor can’t avoid anyway. Better to do it with someone you’re comfortable with."
"Isn't it harder because it's someone you're comfortable with?"
"Don't be weak."
Though Seo-hee was usually the one to shrink back among the trio, she was a total professional when it came to acting.
Perhaps sensing Ji-yeon’s burden regarding the kiss scene, she narrowed her already sharp eyes even further and spoke.
"The audience will have watched the movie specifically to see their relationship lead to this. What happens if we ruin the scene because of personal feelings?"
"No, I’m not saying I can’t do it."
Watching their conversation back then, what had Seo-yeon been thinking?
‘I’m just glad it’s not me.’
She had thought that while happily eating ice cream.
Acting out unrequited love was a bit difficult, but Yuina was definitely the better choice. If she had taken the lead role, she would have had to act out a full-blown romance instead of just a crush, which would have been its own kind of challenge.
‘I’m not ready for scenes like that yet.’
Seo-yeon nodded to herself.
Come to think of it, since she had knowledge of the future, she could keep avoiding them.
With that thought, she had spent her time peacefully playing mobile games.
And now, in the present.
"NG!! Let’s go again. Seo-hee, your acting keeps wavering."
"No, well, that’s..."
This was the first scene where Ji-yeon was completely overwhelming Jo Seo-hee with her acting.
Seo-yeon should have been applauding her best friend’s growth in skill, but...
"Didn't you say this was an important scene? That the audience has been waiting for this?"
"I—I know that!"
"Gosh, why are you stuttering so much?"
Ji-yeon was perfectly composed, while Jo Seo-hee was trying to pull her emotions together, her face flushed bright red.
Perhaps because she kept making mistakes during the kiss scene, she looked shaken in many ways.
The staff found it surprisingly heartwarming to see a new side of Jo Seo-hee, who rarely caused NGs—almost as rarely as Seo-yeon.
"..."
Seo-yeon, however, was just slumped in her chair, watching the scene.
There was nothing she could do.
Having no scenes to film today, she had simply tagged along after Lee Ji-yeon, and now she was forced to just watch.
"L-Lee Ji-yeon, tell the truth. You’ve done this before, haven't you?"
"Oh, stop acting like an amateur."
"B-but!"
With those words, filming resumed.
Perhaps because of Seo-hee’s embarrassment, Lee Ji-yeon seemed to be getting even more into it.
This was likely the part of Gyeongseong Lady where Lee Ji-yeon felt the least nervous.
『When I first washed you, My Lady... this is what I thought.』
Yeon Seon-ye pulled on Michiko’s collar, a suggestive smile playing on her lips.
『That something this beautiful actually exists.』
Her hand traveled up the collar, brushed past Michiko’s shoulder, and toyed with her earlobe.
Watching Michiko flinch, Yeon Seon-ye laughed as if it were fun.
And then.
‘Ra-Ramiel and Alice are...’
Seo-yeon was watching the spectacle with both hands clamped over her mouth.
She couldn't make a sound.
She couldn't step closer, even though they were right in front of her.
They were clearly Yeon Seon-ye and Michiko.
Their acting was at its peak, embodying the characters perfectly.
However, in Seo-yeon’s eyes, a 'Ramiel and Alice' filter kept overlaying itself.
‘No, the filter... I have to turn off the filter.’
If it were that easy, Seo-yeon wouldn't be in this state.
In Seo-yeon’s red eyes, she saw their lips overlap.
According to the script, the two were supposed to feel equal.
However, in the actual scene, Yeon Seon-ye was leading the flow much more skillfully.
And then.
"I think it would be good to include that ad-lib from earlier."
"Huh? Oh, I thought you were going to scold me for doing that."
"It hasn't been long since I pointed it out, so you deserve a scolding for doing it again, but... that line is good."
Director Baek Min was very fond of Ji-yeon’s ad-lib.
Honestly, it wasn't unheard of for actors to change lines on their own.
Especially when they were deeply immersed in the role, they sometimes changed lines without realizing it.
It was a result of the actor’s personal interpretation of the character.
In that sense, Yeon Seon-ye’s line this time was a perfect fit.
『My Lady, you must be a natural. How are you... so good at this?』
As she said that, Yeon Seon-ye once again smothered Michiko’s lips with her own. Her sly performance drew chuckles from the surrounding staff. They wondered how she could come up with such a line in that moment.
"That girl definitely has a sense for dialogue, doesn't she? There's a reason Director Baek Min keeps letting her ad-libs slide."
"I used to think, 'What kind of actor uses so many cheap tricks?' but she really seems to understand the character."
"Right?"
This was the area where the staff not involved in the current shot were gathered.
Since it was a bit away from the set, they whispered in low voices.
To be honest, they had wondered if she was a bit weak for a lead, but as filming progressed, her charm became apparent.
She was the type of actor who grew on you the more you watched—a perfect fit for the role of Yeon Seon-ye.
"Don't you think so too, Seo-yeon...?"
The staff member who turned to speak to Seo-yeon, who should have been sitting in a nearby chair, flinched.
Seo-yeon’s eyes were so bloodshot they were almost terrifying.
The staff member involuntarily swallowed hard.
‘Th-thank goodness it’s bright out.’
If they had encountered those eyes in the dark, they might have wet their pants on the spot.
Her irises were already red, but now they were so bloodshot she looked like a vengeful spirit.
‘Actress Ju Seo-yeon would be great in a horror movie.’
Mainly as the ghost.
Her eyes were so red it looked like she was crying tears of blood. It was haunting.
"Um, Seo-yeon, is something wrong? Why are you...?"
At the staff member’s words, Seo-yeon finally opened her mouth.
"The filter... please turn off the filter. My horn is going to break..."
"?"
Ramiel and Alice were both Seo-yeon’s absolute favorites... but this was a different issue.
Seo-yeon was a 'Unicorn' to her very core—so much so that she even hesitated to appear alongside the 'Wizard' who helped Ramiel debut.
She was the type who forbade any and all shipping.
And so, Seo-yeon had fainted.
*
"It seems Seo-yeon was just exhausted from her schedule."
"Please get some rest for a while."
Because she had filmed her scenes in a concentrated burst, Seo-yeon was effectively finished with her portion for now.
Of course, she would still sneak over to watch whenever Lee Ji-yeon and Jo Seo-hee were filming.
‘Seriously, Lee Ji-yeon... has she been doing something behind my back?’
Unfortunately, since the foundation of Yeon Seon-ye’s acting was Ramiel, the filter was forced on.
Seo-yeon cursed her talent for sensing others' emotions so minutely for the first time.
‘It was definitely similar to the acting Ramiel showed on stream in my past life.’
It felt somewhat nostalgic.
In her past life, Ramiel was a corporate VTuber, so she naturally did collaborations with her Seven Live gen-mates.
The acting she showed then was very similar to this.
Regardless, that emotional line from Ramiel combined with a very skillful kiss scene...
Seo-yeon became suspicious.
Setting Ramiel aside, Lee Ji-yeon herself was no joke.
She had completely dominated Jo Seo-hee.
"I—I did not get dominated!"
"Huh?"
While she was thinking that while looking out the window of their lodging, Jo Seo-hee was standing behind her. She must have returned at some point.
For the record, Seo-yeon and Jo Seo-hee were sharing a room in this hotel.
Lee Ji-yeon was sharing a room with Seo-yeon’s manager, Park Eun-ha.
"When did you get here?"
"I heard you fainted, so I rushed back, and yet..."
"But what about Ji-yeon? Why are you alone?"
"That girl just said, 'Ju Seo-yeon is always like that,' and didn't even come! Isn't that too much?"
Seo-hee said that, but her face was still flushed.
It seemed today’s filming had been quite intense for her.
Seeing her like that, Seo-yeon felt like she understood a little bit why Ji-yeon had acted that way.
Usually, Jo Seo-hee was such a haughty young lady that she maintained a poker face almost as well as Seo-yeon.
Of course, she tended to be weaker in front of Seo-yeon, but that was more because she didn't have any other friends she could be informal with and didn't know how to act.
Anyway, seeing that Jo Seo-hee was jumping around like a startled frog during this shoot, how could one not pay attention?
‘Ah, it’s because her reactions are so good.’
Did that make one want to be more aggressive instinctively?
Like getting carried away, so to speak.
And Lee Ji-yeon had expressed that perfectly.
"More importantly, Seo-yeon. Did you get any messages?"
"Me?"
Messages?
Was there anyone in Japan who would contact her?
After thinking for a moment, Seo-yeon shook her head.
The only person she had met recently was Stella.
‘Ah, come to think of it, we didn't even exchange numbers.’
Even though she had let her stay at her house.
‘Well, things were a bit funny back then.’
Specifically, from the moment her parents appeared.
That is to say, the day she took Stella home.
The day before she left for Japan.
It was when Park Eun-ha had asked her to let Stella stay over for just one night.
"Where did everyone go?"
When Seo-yeon brought Stella home, no one was there.
Her parents and Su-yeon had likely gone out together since it was the weekend.
‘Why did they leave me out?’
She felt a bit slighted, but being alone meant she could play games without worrying about anyone watching.
"Hmm~, do you like games?"
As long as Stella wasn't right there next to her, that is.
‘Force of habit!’
Seo-yeon, who had habitually turned on her console as soon as she got home, was momentarily flustered.
Regardless, it would be weirder to turn it off now.
"Yes. It’s not like there’s anything else to do."
"That’s true."
Seo-yeon was used to reading others' emotions, but it wasn't easy with Stella.
Between the strange sense of kinship and other factors, she was a mysterious person.
‘Right, it’s better to just play games.’
It wasn't like they had anything to talk about anyway.
With that thought, Seo-yeon decided to just play.
Preferably a Soul-like game where she could show off her skills.
‘Will she be impressed if I show her how good I am?’
Seo-yeon was full of motivation.
She was the type who performed well on a big stage.
She could already see Stella marveling at her amazing skills.
"Is this a game where you're supposed to just keep dying?"
"..."
Seo-yeon felt a sting at Stella’s chirping from the side.
"Then why don't you try it?"
"Huh? Me? I've never played before."
Despite saying that, Stella easily took the controller.
Did she think she could do better than Seo-yeon, who kept dying?
‘Wait.’
Seo-yeon suddenly thought as she handed the controller to Stella.
Come to think of it, everyone around Seo-yeon, except for Park Jung-woo, was good at games.
Even if they were bad at first, they quickly surpassed her.
Why?
Why was she so bad at games despite having this otherworldly physical ability?
Because of that, Seo-yeon was wary of Stella too.
Look at that relaxed posture.
She might take the controller and start flying through the game like Lee Ji-yeon or Jo Seo-hee.
‘N-not that. Anything but that.’
Seo-yeon grew tense, feeling that Stella was the type who would be strangely good at everything.
But fortunately.
"What is this? Why would anyone play this?"
For the first time, an annoyed voice escaped Stella’s lips.
Even after several attempts, Stella couldn't dodge properly.
She seemed to be getting stubborn, as she wasn't even looking at Seo-yeon anymore.
‘She’s worse than me.’
Seo-yeon liked that part very much.
Yes, this is how it should be.
Isn't it weirder for skills to just skyrocket?
"I’m going to go wash up for a bit. Keep playing."
"Okay."
Leaving Stella absorbed in the game, Seo-yeon went to wash up.
And while Seo-yeon was gone for a moment...
"Oh, is our daughter back?"
"Unnie, Su-yeon is here!"
The family, who had gone to the amusement park for the weekend, returned.
Thanks to Jo Seo-hee giving them essentially unlimited access to Mirinae Park, Seo-yeon’s parents often took Su-yeon there to play.
So, it was only natural that Young-bin’s steps were light after a long day of riding attractions with his daughter.
"What, playing games as soon as you get back? Ah, you couldn't dodge that? Your skills have gotten even worse since I last saw you."
Teasing his daughter as usual, Young-bin plopped down on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the TV in the living room.
Right next to where 'Seo-yeon' was playing.
As he sat down forcefully, he didn't forget to give her a playful poke in the ribs with his elbow.
It was his way of showing affection.
It was something Seo-yeon used to do whenever she was annoyed with Young-bin, but recently, Young-bin had started doing it often too.
Of course, Seo-yeon would usually just snort as if Young-bin’s light attack didn't even tickle.
However.
"Eek!"
A strange scream rang out as she tumbled sideways.
"?"
Eek? There was no way his daughter would make such a girly scream.
Feeling something was off, Young-bin turned his head. A blonde girl was clutching her side and staring at him.
She was a girl as beautiful as an angel.
And she looked strangely familiar.
"Um... who are you?"
Young-bin could only ask blankly.