Chapter 7: Growth (1)
Chapter 7: Growth (1)
To be honest, the fact that the soy milk sold out on the first day was shocking, but I didn't give it much thought.
‘It’s probably just because they didn’t stock very much.’
However, contrary to my assumptions, the soy milk sold much better than I expected.
It wasn't that it was sold out every single time I went to the store, but compared to my memories of my past life, it was selling at an incomparable rate.
Lately, people even recognized me when I walked around with my mom.
“Aren’t you the girl from the soy milk commercial?”
“Wow, so you live in our neighborhood!”
“She’s so cute! But she feels a bit different from the commercial, doesn’t she?”
It wasn’t like I was drawing massive crowds like a real celebrity. A few ladies who recognized me simply started striking up conversations.
Yes, for now, it was only at that level.
“Seo-yeon! Mommy finally bought a ton of soy milk!”
“...You should have a lot, Mom.”
“What are you talking about? You drank it so deliciously... Oh, wait. Don’t tell me you hate soy milk too?”
Mom spoke as if she were realizing something new.
As she implied, I didn't particularly like milk. I mean, it has that raw smell!
I could manage low-fat milk at best, but I could never say I liked milk.
“Soy milk is better than regular milk, but... I just plain hate beans.”
“Oh my. My daughter’s acting is no joke. I really thought you loved soy milk.”
Well, that’s because I was acting like I enjoyed it. I couldn't exactly act like it tasted bad just because I disliked it, could I?
‘I can’t believe she bought three whole boxes.’
Anyway, I couldn't just let Mom eat all that soy milk by herself, so I was destined to help her finish it.
“But Seo-yeon, you definitely have things you dislike.”
“...I guess.”
I turned my gaze away without giving a proper answer.
Come to think of it, in my past life, I didn't distinguish between things I liked and disliked. Especially with things like milk—if I showed any sign of distaste, I would be severely looked down upon.
Seeing these preferences come out naturally lately made me think those memories were fading.
‘Is it because of the acting?’
Or maybe it was because I had become a girl. How was I supposed to know the reason?
“Mommy wants to know everything you like and dislike, so you have to tell me everything, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and Seo-yeon.”
After pushing the soy milk boxes to one side, Seo-yeon’s mother glanced around to make sure her husband wasn't there before speaking in a low voice.
“Director Jo contacted me. Would you like to try filming another TV commercial?”
“A commercial? But auditions are such a hassle...”
“Well, according to Director Jo, there are a few advertisers who really liked this CF.”
Child actors with great acting skills are rare, but they aren't impossible to find. In the first place, children who lack acting talent usually pivot to being child models, so the moment someone is cast as a ‘child actor,’ it means they can act to some degree.
For example, like Lee Ji-yeon, whom I met at the audition.
“Why me?”
“Probably because of this soy milk commercial, don't you think?”
The soy milk commercial... It certainly had a much bigger impact than in my past life.
‘Well, there’s no harm in trying out different types of acting.’
The money from the previous CF had all been deposited into my bank account. It wasn't a huge amount, but since it was the first money I had earned in this world, I felt quite proud.
“Okay.”
There probably wouldn't be that many commercials I could do anyway. In a way, acting shared common ground with being a VTuber, so it was actually quite fun.
My desire to be a VTuber wasn't just because it was my only hobby in my past life. It was because it allowed me to become someone entirely different.
*
And so, Ju Seo-yeon.
Three months after turning six.
I ended up going to kindergarten for the first time in my life. This was a first even if I included my past life. I had never attended a place like a kindergarten back then.
‘Hmm.’
I stood with my arms crossed among children wearing colorful school uniforms.
It was the kindergarten entrance ceremony. I could see Mom waving at me from not too far away.
‘...I want to go home.’
It goes without saying, but my sensibilities didn't quite align with children my age. Even the other kids seemed to be avoiding me.
Why? I hadn't even done anything to them.
“Her eyes are scary...”
“Right?”
I heard whispering voices.
Eyes. Hmm, my eyes.
‘They... are a bit like that.’
I could understand that part. My irises, which were light in pigment and had a reddish tint, were certainly unusual. And sometimes, they would turn exceptionally red for reasons I still didn't know.
‘Is this some kind of ability I got when I was reborn?’
I had no idea. If they were going to let me be reborn, they should have at least attached an instruction manual. Because I was born without even a common status window, there were too many things I didn't know.
“You!!”
Just then, a child’s high-pitched voice rang out.
Wondering what was going on, I turned toward the sound, only for someone to grab my collar.
“It is you! What are you doing here?!”
The child shouting fiercely looked familiar. Right, she was definitely...
“...Lee Ji-yeon?”
“What? You know my name?”
“I saw you at the audition.”
Of course, I only remembered her name because of my past life.
“H-hmph. Is that so?”
Ji-yeon’s expression softened slightly, as if she hadn't expected me to remember her name. Honestly, I was more surprised that she remembered me.
“I thought you would have forgotten me.”
“What? How could I forget? That... that humiliation!”
Maybe it was because she had been working as a child actor, but her vocabulary was more advanced than the other kids.
‘Still, though. You remember something from over half a year ago?’
Beyond just having a good memory, she was practically obsessive. I was inwardly impressed that she could still be this angry about something that happened six months ago.
“But you were in another commercial too.”
“What? You saw it?”
Of course, since it was on TV.
‘In fact, she appeared in a better commercial than in my past life.’
This time, Lee Ji-yeon hadn't appeared in a soy milk commercial, but in a commercial for a children's toy. Toy commercials are usually highly competitive for child actors, so I figured she did well to land it. She probably didn't know, but I had essentially given her a big helping hand.
“...Hmph. Fine. I’ll forgive you.”
I didn't know what she was forgiving me for, but I just nodded. Ji-yeon’s face immediately turned triumphant, seemingly taking my reaction as a sign of submission.
“My mom said the toy commercial I filmed is better than a soy milk commercial, okay? Got it? I’m the winner now.”
I didn't know what kind of competition she was having by herself, but I silently nodded. She spoke clearly and well, but she was definitely still a child.
“Soy milk?”
“Oh, come to think of it, I saw her on TV!”
Unfortunately, several children reacted to the word ‘soy milk’ that Ji-yeon had mentioned. Of course, this wasn't my intention.
“Oh my, isn't she the girl from the soy milk commercial?”
“She certainly is pretty. But her image is a bit different?”
“I thought she’d be more energetic.”
The mothers watching the entrance ceremony from the back also began to pay attention to me. What was it about that soy milk commercial that so many people had seen it?
Actually, it made sense given that this was a gathering of mothers who cared about their children's health. Children these days were glued to the TV all day and would have seen the commercial, and the mothers were naturally interested in milk or soy milk that was good for their kids.
“...Ugh.”
When I glanced at Ji-yeon, her face had turned bright red as if her pride had been wounded. Then, as if wanting to be recognized too, she started circling around me.
It made me feel like my head was spinning.
‘Please stop.’
Of course, not a single person recognized her. Not even until the moment the entrance ceremony began ten minutes later.
*
—We really made the right choice leaving it to you, Director Jo.
“Not at all. It’s thanks to everyone’s hard work.”
—The casting was excellent. Kim Jung-ha was great, and that child actor was truly amazing.
Jo Min-tae smiled awkwardly at the words of the advertising team leader from Garam Dream.
‘If you think she’s so amazing, why don't you try memorizing her name?’
Even though he had told him the name ‘Ju Seo-yeon’ several times, the man didn't seem to have any intention of memorizing it. Then again, how many people actually bother to remember a child actor’s name?
—Thanks to that, sales jumped sevenfold in one go. It’s all thanks to you, Director. So, I hope you’ll work with us on the next commercial as well. We’ll make sure you’re well-compensated.
“Yes, of course. I’ll let you know as soon as I have some free time.”
—Oh, thank you.
After hanging up with the advertising team leader, Jo Min-tae let out a sigh.
‘As if I’d work with them again.’
He had no intention of working again with people who lowballed the pay and couldn't even remember the actors' names. Still, the fact that this project had made the names of Kim Jung-ha and Seo-yeon known was a significant achievement.
A connection with a talented actor is a precious thing for a director. Jo Min-tae hoped that both Kim Jung-ha and Ju Seo-yeon would grow up well—if only for the sake of the movies he would film one day.
“The commercial you filmed recently was quite good.”
Just then, he heard his father’s voice. Turning his head, he saw his father, whose hair was beginning to turn white.
Jo Bang-hoon.
A famous director with several hits to his name and Jo Min-tae’s idol. The only thing that frustrated Min-tae was that his father had never once directed a ‘ten-million-viewer’ movie.
“Especially that child. Did you pick her?”
“Yes. She wasn't an ordinary child, even during the audition.”
“Hmm.”
Jo Bang-hoon stroked his chin at his son’s words. She was five now... no, did he say she was six?
“Looking at the unedited footage, there were certainly flaws.”
“But her emotional acting was strangely good.”
“Almost like... method acting?”
“Yes.”
Method acting is a double-edged sword. It was common for actors to struggle for months after immersing themselves deeply in a role. Seo-yeon was definitely the type to immerse herself in a character. That’s what her acting suggested.
However, it was too easy for her to snap out of those emotions for it to be called pure method acting.
“That’s probably because she’s still inexperienced in many ways... or there’s some other reason.”
“Another reason?”
“Yes.”
Of course, even Jo Bang-hoon didn't know the exact reason. After all, the only proper footage Seo-yeon had filmed was a single commercial.
“If she tries... proper acting instead of just a CF, we might find out the clear reason.”
“Pardon?”
A talented child actor discovered by his son. Jo Bang-hoon had rewatched that CF several times. This child needed to try more serious acting, not just simple commercials. If she only filmed commercials like this, her skills would develop in a lopsided way. Especially during childhood, when one learns quickly, bad habits could easily form.
“Did you say you were recommending her for a new CF? When will that be finished?”
“It should be in about a month. They’re about to start filming.”
“Hmm, a month.”
For commercials, the editing and airtime negotiation periods take much longer than the actual filming. The shoot itself would be over quickly. In that case, there was a perfect opportunity.
“A historical drama. I know of a good audition.”
“...Excuse me?”
“If the child wants it, I’ll put in a recommendation under my name.”
This usually didn't happen. However, since it was a child his son was interested in, and since her talent seemed too great to waste on just commercials, he decided to bring it up.
“A historical drama? Could it be...?”
“Yes, I heard there’s a fictional sageuk scheduled to air on KMB. The name was...”
After a moment of thought, Jo Bang-hoon spoke calmly.
“The Moon That Hides the Sun. It was something like that.”
If Seo-yeon had heard that name, she would have been shocked.
The Moon That Hides the Sun.
With a peak viewership rating of 40% for its final episode, it was the title of a historical drama that had reached national phenomenon status.