NOVEL NEXT Chapter 254
It was early morning when a post appeared on the peaceful Joo Seo-yeon fan cafe.
– Isn’t the variety show Seo-yeon filmed in Japan airing today?
Something along those lines.
Seo-yeon’s fan cafe had been quiet lately.
Most of the movies and dramas she appeared in had ended, so the only news to talk about was her next project.
VS debates occasionally popped up, but they had significantly quieted down due to Seo-yeon’s thorough image management.
Of course, it wasn’t that there was nothing to debate, but fans had somewhat noticed her tearful efforts to maintain her image.
– Did she go to Japan again? Why?
– Wasn’t it for the filming of *Gyeongseong Young Lady*?
– Didn’t Seo-yeon go first?
– They said she was busy and filmed first.
– Seo-yeon is pretty busy.
The Japanese variety show Seo-yeon previously appeared in was just a regular interview show, so the reaction wasn’t particularly big.
In fact, the hidden camera show she appeared in before that was way hotter.
– Isn’t she going to crawl around as a ghost again this time?
– Doing the same thing twice isn’t fun.
– True.
– I heard they filmed something like camping in the forest?
– Jo Seo-hee posted something on Instagram.
Jo Seo-hee uploaded a photo taken before filming.
The exact location wasn’t specified, but it definitely had a forest vibe.
– So it’s just a regular camping variety show?
– Not bad, right?
– They said she’s close with Jo Seo-hee, so maybe it’s true.
– Honestly, it might be fun.
– I’m not really into calm shows like that… Do they even have those in Japanese variety shows?
The reactions were split.
Half thought it was nice to see Seo-yeon’s daily life.
The other half thought it would be boring since they didn’t prefer calm shows.
Mostly positive, but no one really cared about the location.
Until it was revealed where that forest was.
***
A week after the audition for *Seoul Escape*.
The results flew into Seo-yeon’s agency around that time.
[Seo-yeon! They said you got the female lead role in *Seoul Escape*!!]
Park Eun-ha spoke with an excited voice.
Honestly, she had many doubts about *Seoul Escape*.
After all, wasn’t it a movie by a director who had recently failed multiple times?
It felt a bit awkward for Seo-yeon, who was on a good streak, to appear in it.
Among the scripts sent to Seo-yeon, there were plenty of requests from better directors.
Rejecting those and choosing *Seoul Escape*?
She had her doubts, but since Seo-yeon insisted on appearing in it and Park Jung-woo was also in it, she felt somewhat relieved.
“Really?”
[Yeah, thank goodness.]
“Yeah, I was a bit worried.”
Seo-yeon secretly sighed in relief.
She definitely loved acting.
She thought there would be additional auditions, but she didn’t expect it to be decided with just one scene.
Winning against Hwang Min-hwa with just one performance wasn’t easy.
Even if Seo-yeon’s acting was good, recognition and experience couldn’t be ignored.
Hwang Min-hwa’s career, built over the years, couldn’t be beaten by Seo-yeon’s amazing performance this year alone.
Even if Director Jo Bang-woo chose Seo-yeon, it was clear the investors didn’t want to lose Hwang Min-hwa.
[Director Jo Bang-woo strongly advocated for you.]
“…Really?”
[Yeah, Actor Park told me.]
Park Jung-woo.
Seo-yeon frowned the moment she heard his name.
She couldn’t forget the way he looked at her during the climbing scene.
‘He’s been too blunt lately.’
It didn’t feel like he was treating her as an actress.
More like he was treating her as a male peer.
Not that it was bad.
It was comfortable when playing games.
‘…The problem is, it’s not just Jung-woo sunbae.’
Lee Ji-yeon was similar.
People who had known Seo-yeon for a long time generally ended up like Park Jung-woo or Lee Ji-yeon.
‘Jo Seo-hee isn’t like that, though.’
In that sense, Jo Seo-hee’s favorability had risen significantly with Seo-yeon lately.
Of course, she didn’t say it out loud.
If she did, Jo Seo-hee’s ego would definitely inflate.
‘Anyway.’
Seo-yeon thought.
She needed to improve not just the viewers’ perception, but also the people around her.
[Oh, and.]
“Yeah? What else?”
[You know the ad that’s coming out in two weeks, right?]
“Ad?”
[The one we filmed for Beol.]
“Ah, yeah.”
Come to think of it, the ad they filmed for Beol was supposed to be displayed in department stores first.
The ad video itself would be released in a month or two, but the photos would be up in department stores first.
[I heard Beol’s headquarters liked it. If things go well… we might get some good news.]
“That’d be nice.”
Seo-yeon didn’t think too deeply about it.
It was probably just lip service, and she didn’t think Beol really needed her.
Beol’s chosen models weren’t just for Korea.
They usually targeted Asia, especially Southeast Asia, so they often used Korean actors.
That’s why Park Jung-woo, who starred in a movie that was a big hit in Southeast Asia, was chosen.
‘And, it’s about time for Korea’s cultural industry to shine.’
The deciding factor, *Child Game*, hasn’t been released yet.
They probably finished filming by now and are planning the release.
Maybe next year? Or the year after?
Seo-yeon secretly wanted to appear in that OTT drama too… but it wasn’t easy to squeeze in.
There were too many variables.
Besides, the cast was already somewhat decided.
Forcing her way in would be too much.
[And, GH Group contacted us… but let’s talk about that tomorrow.]
“Okay.”
Seo-yeon hung up after talking with Park Eun-ha.
Then, as she returned to the classroom and sat down, she felt the students glancing at her.
With no one to talk to, Seo-yeon quietly opened her textbook and pretended to read.
‘Without Lee Ji-yeon, there’s no one to talk to.’
There was the class president, but they were too popular for Seo-yeon to casually strike up a conversation.
With her first year of high school almost over, Seo-yeon couldn’t help but sigh at her narrow social circle.
‘It’s all because I messed up the first button.’
It wasn’t because Seo-yeon’s schedule was too busy.
Jo Seo-hee, who was busier than her, had plenty of friends and connections wherever she went.
It was purely a difference in effort.
‘Seo-yeon studies even during breaks.’
‘But her grades aren’t that great, right?’
‘Hey, shh.’
‘She was super smart in *Sky Garden*. She’s just busy.’
‘Really?’
Of course, Seo-yeon’s grades weren’t leaked, but in a situation where most class rankings were shared, it wasn’t hard to guess where the gaps were.
Luckily, thanks to *Sky Garden*, Seo-yeon became the “smart but too busy to get good grades” type of girl.
‘Who said we’re having a year-end party?’
‘How could you say that!’
‘You say it!!’
‘But I freeze up when I try to talk to her.’
‘Same.’
Anyway, Seo-yeon’s appearance was something people couldn’t get used to over time.
No, her appearance was even more radiant now than at the start of the school year.
While the internet was full of bizarre memes about Seo-yeon, at school…
In reality, Seo-yeon is a top-tier student you can’t even make eye contact with.
An actress.
Not to mention her looks.
There was a time when a group of bullies tried to pick a fight with Seo-yeon, but they shriveled up under her gaze and haven’t dared to look her in the eye since.
Her aura is different.
If you get close, her presence naturally shuts you up.
It’s not just about being pretty—it’s something overwhelming.
So, the only girl who can talk to Seo-yeon normally is Gil Da-hyun, the class president.
“Da-hyun, Da-hyun. You should start talking.”
“Huh? Oh, right.”
Da-hyun looked at Seo-yeon, who was pretending to read her textbook, and thought, ‘This isn’t going to end well.’
Of course, Da-hyun knows Seo-yeon is genuinely kind and nice.
The other girls know it too, in their heads.
But from what they’ve seen, Seo-yeon is a bit of an eccentric high school girl.
After the school festival, more people started talking to her, but that number dwindled as Seo-yeon got busier with her schedule.
If this keeps up, the first year is going to end awkwardly.
“Seo-yeon.”
So, Da-hyun approached Seo-yeon, who was pretending to read her textbook.
“We’re going to Young-mi’s house to hang out today. Wanna come?”
“Huh?”
“Plus, there’s a variety show you’re appearing on today, right? We can watch it together!”
A variety show?
Seo-yeon’s mind raced at Da-hyun’s words.
First, she tried to remember who Young-mi was.
The only Young-mi Seo-yeon knew was an athlete who shined in the Winter Olympics.
And what was that about a variety show?
Was there even one airing around this time?
“They filmed a variety show in Japan, right? Young-mi knows how to watch it live.”
“!!”
Seo-yeon’s body trembled.
She finally remembered.
Playing with a bear in Aokigahara Forest!
While she could guess how Korean variety shows would edit it, Japanese ones were a mystery!
Sure, the bear ride probably wasn’t caught on CCTV, but it still happened!
‘You were way too excited.’
How could you not be excited about riding a bear?
It was practically irresistible.
The problem was watching it with friends.
Japanese variety shows might not be well-known in Korea, but if they saw it…
‘Did you hear? Joo Seo-yeon rides bears.’
‘They say she keeps a bear at home.’
‘No way, she spars with a bear every morning.’
‘Really?’
Soon, rumors would spread nationwide, and Seo-yeon imagined being invited to an interspecies martial arts tournament as the human representative.
“No? Come on, join us~.”
Under her friend’s rare insistence, Seo-yeon had no choice but to close her eyes tightly.
***
“Hello.”
“……”
Young-mi’s mother blinked at the sight of the girl in front of her.
She had heard her daughter was coming home with school friends today.
So, she had prepared snacks as usual and was relaxing.
‘Joo Seo-yeon?’
Now, she couldn’t mistake her.
Joo Seo-yeon.
The actress who had been shining in movies and dramas this year.
Especially, Young-mi’s mother was a fan of <Sky Garden>.
She had teared up watching Yoo-joo’s growth and felt anger at parents sacrificing their children for private education.
‘The actress playing Yoo-joo is a student in our class. Joo Seo-yeon.’
‘Really?!’
She definitely had that conversation with her daughter.
She wanted an autograph, but her daughter didn’t seem close enough to ask.
‘They must be best friends!’
Young-mi’s mother already considered Seo-yeon her daughter’s best friend.
Why else would she come to their house?
‘What do I do?’
Meanwhile, the girl standing next to Seo-yeon, Shin Young-mi, was trembling.
By the way, Gil Da-hyun wasn’t at Young-mi’s house for no reason.
‘I’ve heard about Ji-yeon a lot.’
Young-mi was also friends with Lee Ji-yeon.
After all, Young-mi and Seo-yeon had been in the same middle school.
They were in the same class from first to third year and ended up in the same high school class.
Of course, Seo-yeon had no idea.
In fact, during the school festival, Young-mi had toured the festival with Ji-yeon, showing how close they were.
When Seo-yeon, dressed as a ghost, burst out, the girl next to Ji-yeon was her.
Of course, Seo-yeon didn’t remember.
So, it was natural for Da-hyun to ask Young-mi for this favor.
“Let’s get closer to Seo-yeon before the year-end party!”
A truly class-president-like statement.
The girls also wanted to get closer to Seo-yeon.
But, it’s scary, you know?
Seo-yeon turned a calm gaze toward Young-mi.
That gaze was colder than usual.
‘She’s definitely mad!’
She must be angry about being dragged here.
Young-mi signaled Da-hyun for help.
Then.
“Seo-yeon is really nervous, so help her out.”
I’m the one who’s more nervous.
Is that a nervous face? She looks like she could kill someone with her eyes.
Her pupils are even turning red. It’s scary.
“……”
By the way.
Seo-yeon was indeed nervous, as Da-hyun said.
After Da-hyun, this was the second time she’d been to a friend’s house—well, not really, since Jo Seo-hee was there.
Anyway, she was nervous.
Plus, she was doubly nervous about the variety show they were about to watch.
‘It’ll be fine, right? It’s just a variety show.’
She could always divert attention elsewhere.
By the way, she had told her mom she’d be home late because she was hanging out with school friends.
[Is that really true?! That’s a relief. I thought you only talked to Ji-yeon at school.]
“……”
Her mom’s words stabbed her like an arrow.
Her mom had coldly pointed out that her only conversation partner was Ji-yeon from the next class.
“First, come in and sit down. The variety show is in an hour, right? Young-mi?”
“Ah, yeah. If I remember correctly…”
“Then Seo-yeon, sit here. The rest of you, what are you doing? Come over here.”
At Da-hyun’s words, the other girls hesitantly gathered around.
It was quite awkward.
‘We’re going to have to stay like this all day, huh?’
No one dared to talk to Seo-yeon.
That’s what everyone thought.
But, just an hour later.
“Seo-yeon, is that really a bear?”
“……”
In the end, the girls couldn’t help but ask Seo-yeon.
After all, the screen showed Seo-yeon happily riding a bear.