NOVEL NEXT Chapter 127
Recently, Joo Seo-yeon had one more addition to her cramped social circle.
It was none other than Cha Na-hee.
The key member of the girl group, Summer Girls.
Realizing that she would be working with Na-hee again, after Dream Future, for this Sky Garden, Seo-yeon casually reached out to make contact.
“But, will it be tough for you to be on consecutive projects?”
Seo-yeon asked with genuine concern.
Filming Sky Garden right after finishing Dream Future was no small feat for anyone with ordinary stamina.
On top of that, Na-hee was practically the head of the household in her group.
All the group’s recognition rested heavily on Na-hee’s shoulders.
So, aside from drama filming, she was also actively participating in variety shows and commercials.
“……Um, Seo-yeon.”
“Yes?”
“I’m more worried about you.”
That was truly a heartfelt statement.
Seo-yeon’s schedule had reached a nearly murderous pace lately.
Even though Dream Future had ended, she was still being pulled around for follow-up events.
Moreover, she was currently a regular on a show called Hyper Action Star, which was both a variety show and an audition.
Now with Sky Garden filming simultaneously.
Na-hee was completing one project before the next started, but Seo-yeon was juggling both at the same time.
‘Just how good is her stamina?’
Na-hee always thought she had decent stamina herself.
She could manage a busy schedule without any problems.
But watching Seo-yeon, it was like she was operating on a completely different level of stamina.
‘She always looks so energetic…’
Na-hee wanted to get closer to Seo-yeon.
She’d received a lot of help from her while filming Dream Future, and let’s be honest, she was also just a really pretty girl.
That being said, Na-hee believed she was probably just as dedicated as anyone else. But around Seo-yeon, she didn’t dare to say that too loudly.
‘If only all the girls in our group were just half as good as her.’
No, not even half.
If they were just one-tenth as good, wouldn’t the situation be better?
“Sis, is something bothering you?”
Seeing Na-hee look strangely gloomy, Seo-yeon casually asked.
Having lived in a way that mimicked emotions, Seo-yeon was very sensitive to others’ feelings.
Na-hee calling her today felt like she needed someone to talk to.
“Uh, it’s just that…”
Today, Na-hee indeed had something she wanted to consult Seo-yeon about.
It was none other than.
“Vocal trainer?”
“Yeah.”
Summer Girls was set to handle the OST for Sky Garden.
They needed an appropriate insert song for a lively scene.
A track had already been chosen, and the guide song was delivered, so all they had to do was practice.
But the vocal trainer from Ho-yeon had completely bolted.
Even getting another vocal trainer was proving difficult due to the notorious reputation of Summer Girls.
“…I see.”
“Huh? You’re not surprised?”
“I just figured it was a possibility.”
Seo-yeon recalled the feeling she had when she saw Summer Girls not too long ago.
What she had sensed from them was,
‘Beast idols.’
Not in the sense of having a wild image, but rather a bizarre group that acted with a beast-like hierarchy.
Seo-yeon had effortlessly sorted out their ranks with a simple magic trick, but for Na-hee, that would be asking too much.
‘Like a Shih Tzu caught between a Beagle and a Chihuahua.’
That was the vibe she got.
Nonetheless, they worked the hardest, yet were at the bottom of the hierarchy within the group.
It shouldn’t make sense, but in Summer Girls, it did.
Na-hee’s overly nice nature contributed to that, but it was also a result of constant gaslighting.
“Sis.”
“Uh, yeah?”
As Seo-yeon softly spoke up, Na-hee flinched.
To be honest, whenever Seo-yeon talked like that, it was usually quite burdensome.
Both her looks and her aura.
‘An actress is an actress.’
Even after meeting many actors, it was clear that Seo-yeon stood out among the rest.
Even though other members of Summer Girls would catch eyes on the street, next to Seo-yeon, they would turn into squids!
Not just in looks, but in sheer presence.
There was an intangible force that made her hard to approach.
“Do you ever think about switching agencies?”
“Well, yes.”
She thought about it, but she honestly lacked confidence.
After struggling to adapt to Ho-yeon, would she fare any better in another management?
Always, the director of Ho-yeon’s words echoed in her mind.
‘Our management feels like family, but the others are a jungle! It’s a jungle. You’re right that you’re one of the best, but how many idols like you are there in other places? Celebrities usually prefer agencies that treat them well. It’s not about first or second teams, you know?’
Having always been told that, it was hard to move.
Still, with her contract nearing an end, she was thinking about it…
“Then let’s do this.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“I’ll help you out this time.”
By this time, it was clear she was talking about the vocal trainer situation.
Coincidentally, Seo-yeon happened to know a really good vocal trainer!
Moreover, this trainer had actually guided Seo-yeon on the OST for Sky Garden, making her perfect for the job!
“How about our agency? We could treat you well.”
As Seo-yeon smiled brightly at Na-hee’s response, Na-hee froze up.
Although the offer was generous, that smile seemed downright villainous.
‘But she’s saying she’ll help?’
Oh, could it be that she was suggesting asking the vocal trainer from Nova Entertainment?
Yet, despite the somewhat cryptic smile, it was undeniably an appealing proposal.
Unlike other agencies, Nova Entertainment had Seo-yeon, a friend.
Thinking back on all the nonsense she had endured in Ho-yeon, Na-hee hesitated before finally speaking.
“…I’ll think about it.”
That remark from Na-hee was decidedly optimistic.
*
Although she hadn’t received a definite answer, seeing Na-hee’s response felt like she was halfway there.
Thanks to that, Seo-yeon’s spirits were soaring high!
‘If I can bring Na-hee too!’
Na-hee was an SSS-grade asset guaranteed for future success.
She was talented in both acting and singing, truly a jack-of-all-trades.
Her visuals were certainly on par with any actor, making it hard to understand why she was still at Ho-yeon.
From the moment she’d heard that Na-hee’s contract was almost up, Seo-yeon had been planning to lure her into Nova Entertainment.
‘If Na-hee joins, it’ll be a massive boon for Nova Entertainment.’
Of course, this wasn’t solely Seo-yeon’s unilateral action.
She had also asked Nova’s CEO, Kang Chan-yul, for some input.
“By the way, what do you think of Na-hee from Summer Girls?”
“Huh? Oh, well… she’s an outstanding idol.”
In response to Seo-yeon’s inquiry, Kang Chan-yul replied somewhat hesitantly.
“So, what if I brought her over?”
“Seo-yeon.”
“Yes?”
“When you say ‘bring her over’, you’re not implying a physical abduction or anything, right?”
“?”
Seo-yeon tilted her head in confusion, prompting Chan-yul to let out a relieved sigh.
Thankfully, it didn’t seem it was meant to be taken that way.
‘All because of Hyper Action Star…’
In any case, Seo-yeon, Nova Entertainment’s precious SSS-grade actress, was under good care at Nova.
Naturally, every broadcast she appeared on was viewed religiously.
So much so that there wasn’t a single person at Nova Entertainment who hadn’t watched Hyper Action Star.
When asked how she was on the show, it was typical for her to bounce bullets back.
Dodging bullets while running, getting up close, and shooting them right back.
She had already showcased her extraordinary talents in shows like Survival of the Unarmed and Star Fisher, but this more direct manner left a stronger impression.
Even now, the most active posts in the community were like.
[Bear vs Joo Seo-yeon]
– Who wins?
– The bear wins if it has a gun.
– Joo Seo-yeon deflects bullets, though. The bear would drop if it gets shot.
– Still, Joo Seo-yeon’s only deflected paintballs so far; chill out!
– “Still????????”
– Are you guys seriously talking about celebrities?
So many posts of that nature had begun to worry her image.
Even the agency’s representative seemed to feel the same way.
‘I’ve got to cut back on the physically demanding variety shows for a while.’
There were plenty of good options besides that.
Observational variety shows, or light-hearted shows like Three Meals a Day.
‘Anyway, it’s Cha Na-hee.’
As Seo-yeon had said, if she could bring Na-hee over to Nova, there wouldn’t be many catches like that.
In reality, Chan-yul also knew that Na-hee’s contract was nearing its end.
‘Considering her position at Ho-yeon, she probably wouldn’t give it up easily.’
Na-hee likely enjoyed a decent standard of treatment there.
Unless they offered her a significantly better deal, Chan-yul figured she wouldn’t budge.
Thus, it was understandable how he might have entertained the idea that Seo-yeon meant ‘bring her over’ in a more physical sense.
Although she seemed sturdy ever since she was young, even Chan-yul couldn’t have expected her to grow into someone so exceptional.
“Hmm, okay. If it’s possible, I’ll do my best to help.”
“Yes!”
“Just don’t cause any incidents.”
“Of course.”
Filled with enthusiasm, Seo-yeon replied.
Now that she had the boss’s approval, all that was left was to execute her plan!
The next place she headed to was a voice acting academy.
Knowing that her fellow Wizard Erchebet was free from a show today,
The real name was Han Da-young.
She was genuinely, no, very perplexed by Seo-yeon’s sudden visit and proposal.
“Vocal training for an idol…?”
“Yes!”
“…….”
Seo-yeon’s statement left Da-young in shock.
‘Did she forget that I used to be an idol trainee?’
As unlikely as it seemed, she couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility.
Seo-yeon didn’t seem like a dense person, so she likely hadn’t forgotten…
“There are plenty of other vocal trainers out there, though. Plus, if it’s Summer Girls, they are a bit….”
Not to mention the bad blood.
Some had crossed paths during their trainee days.
The trainee periods of Summer Girls and Han Da-young closely overlapped.
“Oh, but this isn’t going to be in person.”
“Then?”
“We could meet in another form, right?”
Da-young found that thought slightly amusing now.
What would it be like for an idol being taught by a Vtuber?
Especially considering there was someone she had been wanting to have a word with too.
‘It would make for a good story later on a broadcast.’
With how ridiculous the idea sounded, would they even believe her?
It was likely she couldn’t even mention the group’s name.
‘Honestly, I wanted to do this on a live stream.’
But, no matter how tempting that seemed, it certainly felt wrong.
If there was a way to do it, she could elevate the wizard’s status as well.
‘Then, Ramiel’s channel would grow too…’
Currently, Ramiel’s subscription count was quite considerable for a personal channel.
Although compared to her previous life as Ramiel, it fell way short.
Back then, she represented a corporation, while now she was on her own.
Still, her skills had improved in numerous ways compared to her past life, and her fanbase was solid.
‘Hmm… wait.’
As Seo-yeon pondered with her arms crossed, Da-young observed her with a slightly puzzled expression.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
She sent a positive signal back.
It seemed quite interesting to provide vocal training for a popular girl group.
Although.
“…What’s this?”
From Summer Girls’ perspective, none of this was enjoyable at all.
What on earth was this situation?
「I am Wizard Erchebet.」
Watching the timid figure from the video, Rabin was at a loss for words.
Who do you think you are?
Wizard Erchebet? Are you kidding me, get out now!
Though she desperately wanted to scream that, the words stuck in her throat.
Seeing Seo-yeon twirl a 500 won coin between her fingers only made her more speechless.
It was as if she was being reminded not to forget that previous coin trick she had seen.
Of course, how could she forget?
Especially since Seo-yeon’s eyes were now sparkling a bright red as she stared at them.
It was painfully clear that Seo-yeon despised them.
Had that 500 won coin been a weapon, she would have surely wet herself.
‘What is Im the manager doing!’
She couldn’t even put a stop to an outsider’s tantrum!
Determined to tell the CEO later, just then, Seo-yeon calmly spoke up.
“Say hello.”
“Hello, teacher!”
Everyone greeted Erchebet in orderly fashion.
It felt like they were about to burst into tears.
Booom!