I Want to Be a VTuber

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“Oh, Mr. Sim. How’s it going these days? I heard the broadcasting station contacted you.”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

“What’s there to think about? You’ve done enough in the theater world. If you can, go do dramas and movies too. You’re too talented to just stay in the theater.”

<At a gathering of actors who participated in "Closing Eyes">

It’s not common for people who worked on the same play to gather at the end of the year.

If they did gather like that, there would be more than one or two places to attend at the end of the year.

But for those present, “Closing Eyes” was a special drama for everyone.

“As you know, ‘Closing Eyes’ was a huge hit. Beyond just the ratings, look at what happened to the actors who participated in it.”

At the time, Jo Do-yul, who directed the play, glanced at Sim Cheong-seok from a slightly distant spot.

There was a woman there who had changed dramatically from before.

“Ms. Ji-woo, I heard you’re seeing someone these days? You even changed your profile picture? You’re doing great.”

“Is that so?”

“Hey, why are you so indifferent? You should respond more actively to such comments.”

“It’s a nuisance to comment on someone else’s love life.”

“Anyway, you always say the right thing in such a mean way. I’m really worried about you. If you want to do well in the drama world, you should tone down that personality.”

Jo Do-yul spoke with genuine concern.

Of course, Sim Cheong-seok knew he wasn’t the type to talk nonsense, so he didn’t say much.

‘Drama world.’

After “Closing Eyes,” the actors who participated in the play received various offers.

Offers to appear in dramas, or asking if they’d like to try movies.

Notably, Pyo Ji-woo was one, and Lee Hye-jin, who played Song Min-seo at the time, also appeared in a cable drama.

And Sim Cheong-seok received many offers too, but he was still in the theater world.

‘But maybe only until this year.’

Actually, he wanted to do a bit more.

But seeing those who keep moving up, it’s true that greed starts to creep in.

Sim Cheong-seok glanced at Pyo Ji-woo.

She fit in so naturally, but in fact, she didn’t actually appear in “Closing Eyes.”

However, after auditioning, she started her acting career properly, and later even did plays with the actors from “Closing Eyes.”

So naturally, she ended up being at this gathering too.

At least among the “Closing Eyes” cast, no one didn’t know Pyo Ji-woo.

‘Well, that’s an excuse. Actually, Pyo Ji-woo was probably invited to bring her along.’

Currently, the most successful actress among the “Closing Eyes” cast.

And the only one who could properly contact that actress was Pyo Ji-woo.

So, she ended up being here subtly.

With the thought that if Pyo Ji-woo was here, maybe she’d come.

Thanks to that, Sim Cheong-seok felt unnecessarily troubled.

‘Well, whatever.’

Moreover, Pyo Ji-woo, who recently appeared in a supporting role in a public broadcast drama, was getting quite a good response from viewers.

Lee Hye-jin, who’s close with Pyo Ji-woo, also seemed to be doing well.

‘Of course, compared to her, it’s nothing.’

Sim Cheong-seok thought of an actress who wasn’t here.

Honestly, it didn’t feel real that he had done a play with her this year.

Probably everyone here felt the same.

“Is Ms. Joo Seo-yeon not coming?”

“Will she come?”

“Ah, I wanted to get her autograph if she did.”

“She might come. She seems to keep in touch with Ms. Ji-woo.”

Of course, the other actors were also very interested in whether Seo-yeon would show up today or not.

“I did contact her, but I’m not sure. First, she sent this emoticon.”

Pyo Ji-woo said, showing the KakaoTalk message she sent to Seo-yeon to the gathered actors.

[(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑˂ᵒ͜͡ᵏᵎ]

“What does that mean?”

“It says ‘okay,’ so doesn’t that mean she’s coming?”

“These days, kids are hard to understand…”

But even if Seo-yeon said she was coming, no one really believed it.

‘She must be pretty busy.’

Variety shows, dramas, movies, and even commercials.

Seo-yeon has been so active this year that it’s overwhelming.

Thankfully, she hasn’t appeared much on TV, which has a lot of exposure.

Otherwise, her image would have been overexposed.

“Mr. Sim Cheong-seok must be feeling troubled. Just at the beginning of this year, she was still a junior.”

As Jo Do-yul turned to another actor, Sim Cheong-seok, who was sipping his drink alone, narrowed his eyes at the man who approached him.

“Got nothing to do?”

“Unlike you, I’m about to debut on public broadcast, so I’m very busy.”

He forced a smile at the man, Kang Se-hyun, who was boasting with his shoulders shrugged.

Earlier this year.

An actor who appeared in “Under Snitch,” which was staged alongside “Closing Eyes.”

At the time, he played the role of ‘Alex,’ and despite the huge investment, “Closing Eyes” completely crushed him.

Though his morale was shattered, it’s said he received offers from the broadcasting world thanks to a play that surprisingly took off at the end of the year.

“Why are you here?”

“Well, our agency is having a company dinner here today.”

Emphasizing ‘our agency,’ it was clear Kang Se-hyun was talking about the agency he recently joined.

Horizon Company, was it?

An agency with several famous actors.

A management company that’s been on the rise recently, having signed Hwang Min-hwa.

Of course, Sim Cheong-seok couldn’t help but sigh.

“Next time, you should pick a different place for company dinners.”

“No need. We’re going to a bigger place next time anyway.”

He said, shrugging his shoulders.

Quite an arrogant attitude.

Sim Cheong-seok clicked his tongue briefly at the sight.

“After being crushed all year, you’ve got your spirit back, huh?”

“Ha, are you going to keep living in the past? Sorry, but I’m different from you guys now, you know? You plan to be poor theater actors forever?”

“You’re poor because your level is low.”

At Sim Cheong-seok’s blunt remark, Kang Se-hyun’s lips trembled.

“Ha, let’s see how long you can keep talking like that.”

“You seem to think that appearing on public broadcast means you’ll easily succeed.”

“At least it’s better than staying here!”

Kang Se-hyun gritted his teeth at Sim Cheong-seok, who spoke as if he wasn’t even worth his attention.

At his voice, the surrounding gazes turned to them briefly.

“What’s going on?”

A man appeared, hearing his words.

He had a very upright appearance, tall, and with a muscular build, giving off a strong intimidating vibe.

“Ah, hyung.”

‘…Hyung?’

He did look like a hyung.

But why is an actor talking like a thug?

“Hey, Mr. Kang. Don’t you know about image management? I told you not to get into fights with others.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just someone I knew before.”

“Someone you knew? Hmm? Ah.”

He narrowed his eyes at Sim Cheong-seok.

He was quite good-looking himself, being an actor, but Sim Cheong-seok was much more handsome.

In fact, his sharp features made one wonder why he only wanted to do theater.

Especially his sharp eyes were impressive, making him somewhat unpleasant.

Of course, Sim Cheong-seok also felt uncomfortable with the man staring at him, so he met his gaze.

He had no intention of avoiding eye contact.

At the strange atmosphere, Kang Se-hyun hurriedly spoke up.

“Hey hey, this is Mr. Park Tae-hyuk.”

“…Who?”

“Mr. Park Tae-hyuk. You know ‘Mine,’ which became a hot topic with ‘Hyper Action Star’?”

Hyper Action Star?

Of course, I’ve seen it.

Well, it’s obvious who made the biggest splash in that variety show.

“Yeah, the drama that GH Group heavily invested in, advertising it extensively. Mr. Park Tae-hyuk here has proudly joined it.”

Originally, Park Tae-hyuk was an actor with considerable experience even before “Mine.”

But mostly in supporting roles.

This was the first time he was part of a project with such a huge investment.

So, it was natural that his shoulders were full of strength.

‘That’s why his body is so good.’

If he’s an actor specializing in action, it makes sense.

Sim Cheong-seok nodded belatedly.

“Hello, I’m Sim Cheong-seok.”

“Right. My junior has been rude.”

Park Tae-hyuk said, subtly shrugging his shoulders.

“But you shouldn’t respond emotionally like that either.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Watching from the side, you were really getting under his skin. You shouldn’t do that. You, being in theater, might not know, but we have to be careful with image management, so we can’t just fight recklessly.”

At Park Tae-hyuk’s words, Sim Cheong-seok was at a loss for words.

Do I not manage my image?

‘It’s frustrating.’

Kang Se-hyun also seemed somewhat speechless.

It seems like Sim Cheong-seok finally felt defeated now that he was gone, just when he was starting to like it.

*Ding.*

The door at the entrance of the restaurant opened.

Sim Cheong-seok was sitting far enough from the entrance that he couldn’t clearly see who had come in.

‘What’s going on?’

He felt the atmosphere shift strangely.

The loud chatter died down, and the music, which had been drowned out by voices, gradually became clearer.

“Who just came in?”

Park Tae-hyuk, noticing it belatedly, turned his head.

Only Kang Se-hyun, who had been fixated on Sim Cheong-seok, didn’t notice the sudden change in the atmosphere.

An eerie silence.

A quietness that didn’t belong in a noisy gathering.

Amidst it, slow footsteps could be heard.

And then.

“Gasp.”

Kang Se-hyun flinched.

No, it wasn’t just Kang Se-hyun.

Park Tae-hyuk, who had been shrugging his shoulders beside him, also held his breath.

‘Why, why is this actor here?’

He didn’t even know what kind of gathering this was.

He had only come to stop a junior from getting into an argument.

But who would’ve thought he’d run into that girl here.

“Hello.”

A calm voice.

A cool gaze, and a face so beautiful it could take your breath away up close.

Her jet-black hair seemed to swallow the light.

“……I didn’t expect you to come today.”

“I said I would.”

“Wait, you meant you’d actually come?”

Seo-yeon tilted her head at Sim Cheong-seok’s words.

She had texted Pyo Ji-woo that she was coming, right?

Anyway, Seo-yeon looked at the two standing in front of Sim Cheong-seok.

She had overheard some of their conversation from afar.

“Mr. Park Tae-hyuk, right?”

“……Ah, yes.”

“I heard you’re appearing in <Mine>. Looking forward to working with you.”

“…….”

He didn’t know how she had heard that.

But it didn’t matter.

Park Tae-hyuk was a supporting actor in <Mine>.

But Seo-yeon was the lead.

The difference between them wasn’t just a simple gap.

Especially when you considered the actors she usually worked with.

‘……Am I being filmed?’

It was natural to think that.

Who would’ve thought this actor, Sim Cheong-seok, knew Joo Seo-yeon?!

“Uh, I’ll take my junior and go.”

“Okay.”

“Then, I’ll see you on set.”

“Okay.”

At Seo-yeon’s indifferent response, Park Tae-hyuk bowed his head and glared at Kang Se-hyun.

“Hey, let’s go.”

“Yes, yessir!!”

“You…… Ha. Never mind.”

What a mess because of a junior.

He already had a headache thinking about how things would go during filming.

Considering the power a lead actor could wield on set……

‘I’ll have to explain later. It’s because of that junior.’

Thinking that, Park Tae-hyuk dragged Kang Se-hyun away.

Watching the two disappear in an instant, Seo-yeon finally let out a sigh.

Really, what’s going on as soon as I arrive?

‘Anyway.’

Seo-yeon looked at Sim Cheong-seok, who was staring blankly at her, and thought.

The actors who joined <Close Your Eyes> seem to have a lot of problems.

***

Anyway, Seo-yeon didn’t come to this gathering just for the sake of it.

There were things she needed to check.

Like Pyo Ji-woo, who had taken a photo with Ro.

‘What to do with her.’

Shine Moon would eventually collapse, but that was still a ways off.

If Pyo Ji-woo completely fell for Ro in the meantime……

……Well, it seems like she already has.

But for now, it’s still just an attempt.

“Ji-woo, I heard you’re not dating yet.”

“Is that so.”

“But it seems like you’re thinking about it.”

‘Is Ro really getting nervous?’

Of course, she couldn’t let him get away with it.

If you draw a knife, blood will be shed.

If it came to that, there’d be no turning back, so Seo-yeon didn’t want to create that situation.

‘Why did Shine Moon collapse again?’

Thinking about it, the solution isn’t hard.

Of course, the investigation is the problem……

‘Should I ask Seo-hee for help with this part?’

In the end, you can only fight a chaebol with another chaebol.

Considering who’s backing Ro, the opponents are limited.

Of course, Seo-yeon didn’t really want to do that.

That’s a bit much.

‘Maybe I should just go and have Ji-woo handle about thirty people…… and I’ll take care of the rest…… Wait, what am I thinking?’

She’d love to go to a club with Ji-woo and beat everyone up, but that’d just land them all in jail.

‘And what about this guy?’

Seo-yeon looked at Sim Cheong-seok in front of her.

He’s another actor who’s going to cause a lot of problems.

Sim Cheong-seok wasn’t supposed to appear in dramas or movies for a few more years.

But judging by the signs, it might happen much sooner.

‘Then the original problem would be solved, but…….’

If things go like this, other problems might arise.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Something very important.”

“If it’s that important, maybe you should talk to them instead of me.”

“That’s…… No, but why are you here, Mr. Sim Cheong-seok?”

“I……, just felt like it.”

Sim Cheong-seok’s tone was completely indifferent.

But Seo-yeon, sensitive to emotions, felt a subtle unease in his words.

“I’m just here because I want to be.”

As if he didn’t really want to be there.

And at that moment, his gaze subtly shifted toward Pyo Ji-woo.

‘Huh, wait, could it be?’

Seo-yeon realized.

Maybe the solution is simpler than she thought.

***

At that moment, Shine Moon.

Ro was bowing repeatedly in front of a VIP, smiling brightly.

“Of course, sir. Just say the word, and I’ll mobilize all my connections for you.”

“That’s why I like you.”

Ro’s lips twitched at the VIP’s pompous attitude, but he quickly smiled again.

After all, it was because of VIPs like this that he could exist.

“Haah, I’m exhausted.”

“So, who is it this time?”

“Who else? They want me to bring in some good kids.”

Struggling celebrities or trainees. That kind of thing.

But sometimes, they’d ask to be introduced to celebrity acquaintances.

Like Pyo Ji-woo, whom he’d been working hard to reel in recently.

‘Pyo Ji-woo knows Joo Seo-yeon.’

And they seem pretty close.

And Joo Seo-yeon is tangled up with Jo Seo-hee.

If he could just get those two, his network would be much stronger.

“Still, boss, it’s a good thing Ji-woo’s into you.”

“Hey, it’s not as easy as you think. She’s a bit guarded. But it’s almost over now.”

She clearly has feelings, but she keeps her guard up.

As if she’s been through something similar before.

But that’s over now.

“Someone always shows up to ruin things at times like this.”

“Hey hey hey, don’t jinx it.”

“Ah, sorry.”

As his junior kept bowing, Ro clicked his tongue and looked at his phone screen.

Pyo Ji-woo’s phone number.

He heard she was attending the year-end gathering for <Close Your Eyes> today.

If Seo-yeon was there, he planned to ask her to contact him somehow.

‘If there’s someone trying to interfere…….’

He wouldn’t let it slide.

Even if he had to use force.

 

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