I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 212: Celebrity (1)

Yeonhwa High School.

Among its first-year classes, class president Gil Dahyeon sometimes found herself amazed.

There was a celebrity in her class.

What was even more surprising was that, at the beginning of the school year, that girl had simply seemed like a quiet, unassuming student.

“Well, not just a regular quiet student.”

To be precise, the phrase "incredibly beautiful" had to come first.

Even from the start of the year, she had an air about her that made her stand out, as though she didn’t quite belong with the other students.

Of course, it wasn’t as though there was a problem with the girl herself—her appearance and distinct aura were the issue.

It was the kind of atmosphere that made it difficult for others to approach her easily.

At the time, Dahyeon didn’t know why.

But as the year went on, they learned that the quiet girl was actually the same child actress who had starred in a hit drama ten years ago before disappearing from the spotlight.

That revelation had marked a turning point.

It seemed to coincide with a subtle change in the school’s atmosphere.

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"We might as well focus on arts and make it a specialization."

"Maybe we could increase the drama club’s budget and create better learning opportunities in this area...."

As class president, Dahyeon often communicated with the teachers, which gave her access to various pieces of information.

Yeonhwa High School was surrounded by prestigious schools.

If it relied solely on academics, it wouldn’t stand a chance.

The declining birth rate had also led to a drop in student numbers.

If the school couldn’t distinguish itself with something unique, its enrollment would continue to dwindle.

“Schools closing down are becoming more common.”

In that context, Seoyeon’s presence was undoubtedly a stroke of luck for the school.

Even nearby middle schools had started showing great interest in Yeonhwa High.

While having one standout student might be noteworthy, having multiple was something else entirely.

“And then there’s Lee Jiyeon from the next class.”

Rumors also circulated about Jo Seohui visiting frequently, which kept Yeonhwa High in conversations.

"Putting Seoyeon’s face on the school’s promotional materials, though...."

"That’s not something Seoyeon can decide alone, right? We’d have to speak to her agency."

"Would they even approve of that?"

"If not Seoyeon, there’s still Lee Jiyeon."

"They’re in the same agency."

"Oh, really? Then we’d have to contact them."

"You didn’t know they were in the same agency?"

"Ahem. Well, you can’t know everything."

In the teacher’s office, this kind of discussion could often be overheard.

Dahyeon, who had stopped by for unrelated reasons, paused to think as she listened.

Promotional materials with Seoyeon’s face on them... It didn’t sound like a bad idea.

And to Dahyeon, there was no denying Seoyeon’s exceptional beauty, which was almost hard to believe at times.

"Oh, Dahyeon, the teacher’s really busy right now. Could you come back later?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Oh, and Dahyeon, you’re close with Seoyeon, right?"

At her teacher’s question, Dahyeon hesitated. Were they close?

They were friends, but they didn’t talk much.

"Well, Seoyeon doesn’t seem to talk to many people in class besides you."

Hearing that, she had to admit it was true.

“We’ve studied together before, too.”

Seoyeon wasn’t very talkative by nature.

While people often said celebrities acted differently in private than on-screen, Seoyeon seemed especially like that.

“Or maybe not?”

When she recalled how Seoyeon had acted during the school festival, it didn’t quite seem to fit.

A student from another class—Lee Jiyeon—had once said,

"Once she gets into the mood, she becomes impossible to stop. You’d better be careful."

Jiyeon had said this to Dahyeon in passing while surrounded by a group of girls.

It had been intimidating, to say the least.

“Is she a delinquent?”

No, that wasn’t it.

In fact, the delinquent crowd seemed to avoid Lee Jiyeon.

Her appearance and status as a celebrity made it hard for anyone to bother her.

Among Yeonhwa High’s first-year students, Jiyeon could easily be considered the most influential figure among the girls.

“This is exhausting.”

Having separate classrooms for boys and girls didn’t seem to help much.

When groups of girls gathered, cliques naturally formed, for better or worse.

This was likely why Seoyeon found it hard to make friends.

Although with Jiyeon protecting her, no one dared mess with her.

Now that Seoyeon’s fame had skyrocketed, more students seemed to distance themselves from her.

"Dahyeon?"

Lost in thought, her teacher called out to her again.

"Oh, yes."

"Could you ask Seoyeon later if she’d be willing to help with the school’s promotion?"

"Uh... sure."

"Ah, I feel so relieved knowing I can count on you, Dahyeon."

Dahyeon smiled awkwardly at her teacher’s praise.

"Reliable," "responsible"—words she often heard.

While she didn’t dislike them at first, she had come to feel that they were just a roundabout way of saying she was boring.

She had chosen Yeonhwa High because she believed she could study anywhere.

But watching Seoyeon made her think about other possibilities.

“Especially...”

Heavenly Garden.

The highest-rated drama in recent years.

After it ended, Yeonhwa High had been chaotic for a while.

Students from other classes came just to catch a glimpse of Seoyeon.

Even locals occasionally showed up.

Reporters, paparazzi—all sorts of people were constantly around.

Yet, Seoyeon would vanish like a ninja, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Dahyeon genuinely wondered where she went.

"You were really helpful during Heavenly Garden, you know."

Amid this, Seoyeon once quietly approached Dahyeon and said,

"When I was playing Yuju, I referenced you a lot."

Yuju, the protagonist of Heavenly Garden.

The drama was a coming-of-age story about a girl finding her own path after being confined to the life her parents dictated.

“Yuju and me?”

Even Dahyeon, who had watched the drama, found it hard to understand the comparison.

She didn’t think they had much in common.

Perhaps the only similarity was not having any particular dreams.

But it didn’t seem like that was what Seoyeon meant.

What had she seen in Dahyeon to make that comparison?

Dahyeon couldn’t figure it out.

Requests involving Seoyeon weren’t limited to her teacher.

Even during family gatherings, the topic came up.

"My daughter’s determined to get into Yeonhwa High. She’ll be staying with you for a while. Is that okay?"

Among Dahyeon’s relatives, some always stood out.

Unlike her own family, who were working-class and middle-income, this particular branch was considered “golden spoon.”

Their child was similar—more interested in arts than academics, likely due to their wealth.

"Unni, have you ever met Ju Seoyeon?"

Her cousin, Song Narin, was a pretty but slightly spoiled girl who often looked down on Dahyeon.

"Yeah, I’ve seen her."

After all, they were in the same class.

But Dahyeon didn’t bother mentioning that—it seemed exhausting.

"Have you ever talked to her? Oh, never mind, I doubt you’d care about that sort of thing."

It felt like a roundabout way of calling Dahyeon boring.

"Anyway, please take care of me, unni."

Narin’s parents had decided to send her to stay with Dahyeon’s family, offering a generous amount of money in return.

For Dahyeon’s busy, dual-income parents, it was a welcome financial relief.

“This is going to be exhausting.”

Dahyeon sighed, bracing herself for a tiring year ahead.

++++

“...It feels like more and more people are showing up.”

Seoyeon thought to herself as she slipped out of the school grounds.

After vaulting over the fence and weaving her way through the trees, she managed to sneak out unnoticed. Still, it felt like the number of people visiting the school was steadily increasing.

“The impact of Heavenly Garden is much bigger than I expected.”

Neither The Chaser nor Dream Future had caused this level of attention.

But after Heavenly Garden, there was a noticeable rise in the number of people seeking her out.

Not just reporters or paparazzi—YouTubers and all sorts of other people as well.

Honestly, it was becoming increasingly difficult to move around freely like she used to.

“But Jo Seohui still manages to bike over here without a care.”

Despite being more famous than Seoyeon, Jo Seohui regularly and energetically rode her bicycle to Yeonhwa High.

“Well, I haven’t been in a hit project recently,” Seohui had said, casually scrutinizing Seoyeon as though sizing her up.

Her gaze made it clear she was scheming to give Seoyeon a ride on her bicycle.

Why she was so intent on getting Seoyeon onto her bike remained a mystery. Still, it was obvious she just wanted to get closer to her.

“Honestly, it feels like I should be the one carrying Seohui on the bike instead.”

The thought of Jo Seohui struggling under her weight gave Seoyeon secondhand embarrassment.

“This kind of thing usually settles down in about a year,” Seohui said as she walked her bicycle alongside Seoyeon. “But in your case, who knows if it ever will?”

Seoyeon, with her typical blank expression, looked at Seohui.

Despite her growing fame, her face wasn’t one the general public had become overly familiar with.

She hadn’t appeared in any major commercials or had her image plastered across buildings.

Heavenly Garden had been the same.

In fact, Seohui was surprised at how relatively few people sought out Seoyeon.

Given the drama’s success, the level of attention seemed oddly low.

“Maybe there were just too many other hits this year? Or...”

Was there some behind-the-scenes tug-of-war going on?

She could ask her father, but honestly, she didn’t feel like it.

She was an actress, not a businessperson.

“In any case, the next shoot is what’s important,” Seohui said, steering the conversation back.

“You mentioned having trouble with your acting before—did you figure it out?”

“Yes.”

“...Really?”

If she hadn’t resolved it, Seohui was planning to use it as an excuse to have more fun together.

She felt a little disappointed.

“This time will be different.”

Seoyeon spoke with confidence, her voice steady.

It seemed like she had picked up some new insight.

“Hmph, now I’m looking forward to it.”

Seohui chuckled at Seoyeon’s determination.

Well, there would be plenty of opportunities to play later.

Meanwhile, Director Baek Min was reviewing the footage they had shot so far.

“I must be blessed with great actors.”

With no major mistakes from the leads, the pace of filming had quickened.

There were no shouting matches on set, and things ran smoothly.

Actors often encountered struggles during emotional guidance or demanding scenes, but there had been no such issues with Jo Seohui or Seoyeon.

“And surprisingly, Lee Jiyeon has been exceptional.”

Her performance was unexpectedly strong, almost as if she had extensive experience with such roles.

However, looking at her previous characters, there wasn’t much similarity to the current role of Yeonseon Ae.

Perhaps these types of roles simply suited her.

“Personally, I think Seoyeon’s performance feels slightly off,” said a deep voice behind him.

Director Baek turned to see the veteran actor, Lee Sangsoo.

“Mr. Lee Sangsoo.”

“Hello. I must admit, I arrived a little early because I was excited to be filming again.”

The set buzzed with excitement at Lee Sangsoo’s appearance. While most people knew he was part of the production, secrecy surrounding his involvement had kept some in the dark.

“You think she’s struggling to fully embody her character?” Baek asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lee Sangsoo smiled knowingly.

“Not quite. You know I wouldn’t say something like that. If a rumor spread that I criticized her, I’d probably get an earful from Actress Jung Eunseon.”

“Jung Eunseon is very invested in this production, isn’t she?”

“She is. After all, two of the actresses she holds in the highest regard are starring in it.”

Jung Eunseon’s admiration for Jo Seohui was well-known, considering her as the actress who would carry on her legacy.

And she had a special connection with Seoyeon as well.

“She even hinted that she’d be willing to make a cameo if the opportunity arose.”

“A cameo, huh...”

Baek Min couldn’t help but recall Seoyeon’s impactful cameo in a Japanese production not long ago.

But to have someone like Jung Eunseon as a cameo...

“The cast is turning into something absurdly luxurious.”

When he had first planned the shoot, such a lineup would have been unthinkable.

While Jo Seohui’s involvement had been her own decision, the rest of the cast had exceeded all expectations.

Director Baek returned his focus to the footage.

Though Lee Sangsoo’s comments resonated, he had already been mulling over the same thoughts.

It wasn’t that Seoyeon’s performance lacked immersion or that there were mistakes in her acting.

In fact, it was flawless.

“It’s as if her emotions are drawn with perfect precision.”

Her acting was delicate, beautiful, and without any visible flaws—but there was a difference from the raw, untamed energy she often displayed.

“Wanting more than this would simply be a director’s greed.”

Even so, Baek couldn’t help but feel that something was missing as he watched her performance.

At least...

Until he saw today’s shoot.