I Want to Be a VTuber

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Silence filled the air.

Arthur had a smiling face, but it was more of a stiff smile than a genuine one. It was the kind of face you make when you can’t quite process what you just heard.

The bodyguards beside him glanced at Arthur, trying to gauge his reaction, and even the Korean actors around him were no different.

“Is Arthur Diaz really that close with her?”

“If they were close, he wouldn’t have been rejected like that.”

“But didn’t Arthur Diaz just reach out to Joo Seo-yeon first?”

Who is Arthur Diaz, anyway?

He’s currently Hollywood’s rising star.

It’s well-known that famous directors, whose names alone ring bells, have sent him countless love calls.

With a flawless personality and the ability to perfectly execute any role, he’s called “Mr. Perfect” among actors.

So, the fact that Arthur is appearing in a Korean drama is already surprising enough…

“Is this okay?”

“The atmosphere is…”

In the silence, Arthur’s lips trembled slightly.

He hadn’t expected to be so blatantly rejected, which is why his reaction was delayed.

“You…”

Just as Arthur was about to say something.

“Friend~?!”

Jo Seo-hee, who arrived late after Arthur, chimed in with sparkling eyes.

In fact, she had arrived almost right after Arthur.

But everyone’s attention was so focused on Arthur that they didn’t notice her.

From a distance, she had been quietly watching Arthur and Joo Seo-yeon talking, when suddenly Seo-yeon said, “This seat is for friends!”

“Ah.”

Seo-yeon finally noticed Seo-hee.

Surrounded by others, she had been slow to spot her.

Since Seo-yeon had never directly called Seo-hee a “friend” before, it was a slightly awkward situation.

“Hmm, friend? Really? I’m your friend, right?”

“…Stop asking that.”

“If we’re friends, why are you being so formal? Just call me Seo-hee~.”

Seo-hee confidently sat down next to Seo-yeon, completely ignoring the stiff Arthur.

Who would’ve thought she’d just sit down so casually?

Did she not hear the conversation between Arthur and Seo-yeon?

Anyway, with the situation like this, Arthur found it even harder to speak up.

“…Hmph.”

Eventually, Arthur glanced at the two girls for a moment before turning his back.

Only then did the surrounding actors let out a sigh of relief.

‘What just happened?’

‘Not just Joo Seo-yeon, but Jo Seo-hee too? Who would’ve thought she’d act like that.’

‘Was she trying to protect Joo Seo-yeon from Arthur Diaz?’

‘Maybe.’

Jo Seo-hee had a wide network in the entertainment industry.

Despite her appearance, she was actually very sociable.

So, when she openly challenged Arthur, people thought, “She must have something in mind.”

In reality, Jo Seo-hee had no such thoughts.

She acted this way purely because Seo-yeon had called her a “friend.”

“Seo-hee, do it for me.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Can’t you at least drop the formal speech?”

“No.”

Seo-yeon, feeling a bit embarrassed, spoke curtly, and Seo-hee just shrugged.

It was a bit disappointing, but seeing Seo-yeon like this was rare, so it was kind of cute.

‘Coming to Korea has already paid off.’

Seo-hee later realized that this “payoff” was thanks to Arthur Diaz.

‘Ah.’

Was this a big mistake?

With that thought, she glanced at Arthur, but he wasn’t paying attention to her or Seo-yeon.

But it was clear he wasn’t in a good mood.

‘Hmm.’

Looking at his face, Seo-hee narrowed her eyes.

‘Maybe this is for the best.’

While Seo-yeon saw Seo-hee as soft and gentle, Seo-hee’s true personality was quite different.

Not that she was a bad person.

But she had a temperament similar to that of a noble lady.

Especially towards her enemies, she could be quite the villainess.

And to Seo-hee, Arthur was an enemy.

To put it simply, back when she was still in Japan.

It was around the time she received the last call about <Mine>.

They really wanted her to appear.

She was agonizing over whether to accept the request.

Having already filmed a movie with Seo-yeon through <Gyeongseong Young Lady>, Seo-hee was worried that if she also appeared in <Mine>, it might feel “too familiar.”

And on the day she decided to decline again to director Han Ye-geon.

[Hello, Tomie.]

“Are we close enough to talk on the phone like this?”

[Ahaha, you’re so mean~. I was just trying to give you some good news. We’re on casual terms now, right?]

“That’s just you…”

[You’re still not on casual terms with Seo-yeon, are you? I am.]

“…That’s just you being presumptuous again.”

Stella had called.

With unexpected news.

[Arthur Diaz is joining <Mine>.]

“Arthur Diaz? I heard rumors, but is it confirmed?”

[Yes, it’s confirmed. He’s joining. I worked hard to get him. His skills are solid… It’ll be good for the OTT drama.]

“Is that why you called?”

[Yeah, I was worried.]

Worried?

That didn’t sound like Stella.

Seo-hee couldn’t believe Stella was genuinely concerned for someone else.

Before leaving for the U.S., Stella’s words to Seo-yeon had left Seo-hee confused—was she joking or serious?

[I worked hard to get Arthur, so I’m worried Seo-yeon might feel some resentment.]

“Then it’s your fault.”

[But if I hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have joined.]

That was true.

[So, it’d be nice if you could be there with her.]

“Me?”

[Yeah. You seem to have a lot of experience in this area. Seo-yeon might not know how to handle this kind of situation.]

“That’s…”

[And you’re her friend, right? Wouldn’t it be nice to appear together?]

Friend, did it seem that way?

Seo-hee’s opinion of Stella rose slightly.

“Hmm, yeah, we’re friends. Unlike you.”

[Yeah, unlike me, you’re her friend. I think I’m somewhere in between a friend and something else.]

What, did she know?

Curious, Seo-hee quietly listened to Stella.

[But I like this. It’s easier to change the relationship this way than as friends.]

“What?”

[Well, I’ll leave it to you? If you can make Seo-yeon scream, Arthur Diaz should be a piece of cake.]

Stella left a rather meaningful comment before hanging up.

And immediately after, Seo-hee informed director Han Ye-geon that she would join <Mine>.

That was just a week ago.

‘I’ve heard about Arthur Diaz.’

About his personality and how he might act.

She had received additional details via KakaoTalk.

So, pushing Arthur away like this was probably for the best.

Thinking that, Seo-hee turned her gaze forward.

At the front of the gathered tables, a man was walking out.

Han Ye-geon.

The director of <Mine>.

And beside him was Professor Kim Hong-baek from Cheonghong Action School.

Since the movie involved a lot of action, Professor Kim Hong-baek had been brought on as a consultant.

“Ah, mic test.”

Han Ye-geon grabbed the mic and checked the sound level.

At the same time, he seemed to be counting the number of people in the room.

To see if everyone was here or if some were still missing.

‘I heard about him, but he’s young.’

Seo-yeon was surprised as she looked at him.

She had heard about him, but seeing him in person, he looked even younger.

Jo Seo-hee, who had been chattering beside her, suddenly went quiet, allowing Seo-yeon to observe him more calmly.

Next to Seo-yeon, the woman sitting beside her—Narumi Sora—also seemed to stiffen.

With the director stepping forward, the reality of filming was sinking in.

In <Mine>, Seo-yeon was the lead, but the next most important roles were Arthur Diaz and Narumi Sora.

Especially for Sora, who had never been in a proper production before, this must be incredibly nerve-wracking.

The other Korean actors weren’t exactly giving her warm looks either.

Yeah, it’s like…

“The looks I got when I was called a ‘parachute’ as a kid.”

“Ugh.”

Seo-yeon, who had been muttering to herself, noticed Seo-hee flinch beside her and tilted her head.

“That wasn’t directed at you.”

“…But I was the one who said that back then.”

“I don’t really mind it anymore.”

“Anyway, Seo-yeon wasn’t too fond of the gazes directed at Narumi Sora.”

“Narumi Sora was, after all, an actress chosen through an audition.”

“Was it because she’s a Japanese actress?”

“Or because her career is still in its infancy?”

“Maybe it’s both.”

“But Seo-yeon recognized Narumi Sora as a truly remarkable actress.”

“From what Seo-yeon knew, Narumi Sora had the most outstanding physical abilities.”

“Hello, I’m Han Ye-geon, the director of ‘Mine.'”

“Just as Seo-yeon was thinking that, Director Han Ye-geon spoke up.”

“His tone was quite light.”

“Seo-yeon took a closer look at Han Ye-geon standing in front of her.”

“Mid to late thirties?”

“Pretty young for a director.”

“He was quite tall, probably over 180cm, with slightly long hair tied back.”

“His overall sharp features made him seem like a hawk.”

“Dark circles under his eyes gave him a strong artist vibe.”

“‘Director Han Ye-geon is known for his directing skills. Some say his storytelling is a bit weak, but he overwhelms with his direction and atmosphere. They say no one in Korea uses CG as well as he does.'”

“Seo-yeon recalled the information about Han Ye-geon floating around the internet and quietly listened to him.”

“This is more like an explanation session. And before the script reading, I thought it’d be good to see everyone’s faces. Ah, some of you must be busy, sorry about that.”

“Han Ye-geon said that while scanning the actors present.”

“With extras included, the number was quite large.”

“Probably over a hundred.”

“That just shows how much GH Group is investing in this drama.”

“Our drama ‘Mine’ is not your typical drama, it’s an OTT drama. I doubt anyone here has participated in an OTT drama before. It’s still new in Korea.”

“Total of 6 episodes.”

“Or often 12 episodes, OTT dramas are unfamiliar to Korean actors.”

“Plus, the level of investment in this drama is hard for them to grasp.”

“Only Seo-yeon understood this situation.”

“With <Child Game> not yet exploded, OTT dramas are premature for Korea.”

“No, OTT dramas themselves haven’t become mainstream worldwide yet.”

“Our drama is targeting overseas, not just domestic. Please keep that in mind. We have high expectations, and the filming might be tough.”

“Han Ye-geon calmly looked at Seo-yeon.”

“Amidst the confusion of many, his lead actress remained unshaken.”

“Since you’ve passed strict standards, I believe you’ll do well. If not… we’ll think about it then.”

“Though it sounded like a joke, no one took it lightly.”

“People often say about Director Han Ye-geon.”

“‘That director is completely nuts.'”

“‘He just changes the content like that?'”

“If he’s not satisfied with an actor’s performance, he doesn’t hesitate to reduce their role or change the content.”

“That’s why there have been many contractual issues.”

“Some leads were reduced to supporting roles.”

“That’s why this contract included a clause.”

“The director’s judgment may lead to changes in role or content mid-way.”

“A very unfair clause for actors.”

“Yet, so many actors gathered here.”

“That’s the power of GH Group.”

“Filming officially starts next Monday.”

“After the script reading, we’ll dive right into filming.”

“The tight schedule made the actors murmur.”

“All filming will be completed before the year ends, aiming for a release in February or March next year.”

“So, they’re betting on just three months?”

“Everyone was speechless.”

“Usually, a year is set aside for such work.”

“Sometimes even longer.”

“But three months?”

“That’s way too short.”

“Is it even possible to finish filming in such a short time?”

“‘No, it’s not impossible.'”

“At the director’s words, Jo Seo-hee stroked her chin.”

“If all schedules are already out, it’s possible.”

“The investment is solid, and OTT dramas don’t need to coordinate with theaters.”

“Similarly, they don’t need to worry about TV broadcasting schedules.”

“Usually, the most time-consuming part is scheduling.”

“The problem is promotion.”

“‘They’re planning to promote and produce the work simultaneously.'”

“Seo-hee finished her thoughts and looked at Seo-yeon.”

“Seo-yeon is going to be incredibly busy for the next two months.”

***

“‘Mine’? Three months? Haha, that friend. He’s really serious.”

“Back in Korea, Director Baek Min of <Gyeongseong Young Lady> laughed heartily at the gathering.”

“His unusually cheerful laughter was unexpected.”

“Probably because all filming was done, and he was relaxed.”

“Ah, Seo-yeon will be really busy. We’re about to start promotions too. The PV is already made, can you watch it later?”

“The PV is already out?”

“Seo-yeon recently filmed the last scene of <Gyeongseong Young Lady> in Korea.”

“The very last scene.”

“The scene where Yuina lets Yeon Seon-ye go.”

“Essentially, it was the scene where Yuina leaves Korea, saying goodbye.”

“‘What happened between them?'”

“Director Baek Min thought as he looked at Seo-yeon.”

“Seo-yeon is weak in romantic acting.”

“She’s been hiding it in various ways.”

“But as her acting continued, that ‘romantic’ acting started to flesh out.”

“Like a girl slowly understanding those feelings.”

“Especially Seo-yeon’s last scene was more poignant than any acting she had shown in <Gyeongseong Young Lady>.”

“Ah, and I saw the Beol ad. Seo-yeon, you really seem like a different person.”

“Really?”

“Seo-yeon awkwardly laughed.”

“Everyone says similar things when they see the Beol ad.”

“That they can’t believe it’s the same person.”

“Of course, Seo-yeon thought that was a bit much.”

“‘Different, Joo Seo-yeon. Completely different, I tell you.'”

“‘Is that so?'”

“‘Yeah! So, something must have happened, right? Suspicious.'”

“Lee Ji-yeon kept pressing Seo-yeon.”

“Was she always this persistent?”

“Uuung.”

“‘Huh?'”

“Suddenly, Seo-yeon’s phone vibrated.”

“Curious, she glanced at the screen and narrowed her eyes.”

“‘Who is it? Senior Jung-woo?'”

“‘Why would it be the senior?'”

“‘…Hmm. No?'”

“Lately, Seo-yeon noticed that since Stella, Lee Ji-yeon has been particularly wary of her relationships.”

“Before, she was mostly indifferent to who Seo-yeon met, but recently, it felt different.”

“‘Anyway.'”

“Seo-yeon looked at the screen again.”

“It was nothing much.”

“Just a message from Pyo Ji-woo after a long time.”

“The content was roughly about meeting up with the people from the play <Close Your Eyes> they did before, asking if she’d come.”

“Kind of like a year-end gathering.”

“Well, there’s still some time left until the year-end.”

“Of course, what caught Seo-yeon’s attention wasn’t the message content.”

“‘Her profile picture changed.'”

“Pyo Ji-woo’s profile picture showed two people.”

“One was Pyo Ji-woo smiling brightly.”

“And a man with his arm around her shoulder.”

“Though his face was covered with sunglasses and a mask, Seo-yeon could guess who it was.”

“Ro from Just X.”

“By the end of this year.”

“The person running the club ‘Shine Moon,’ where the incident would happen.”

 

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