I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 265: Approaching Year-End (2)

A heavy silence filled the air.

Arthur maintained a smile, but it was closer to a frozen expression than one of genuine amusement. He looked as though he couldn’t fully process what he had just heard.

The bodyguards standing nearby glanced nervously at Arthur, as did the Korean actors present.

"Does Ju Seoyeon have such a close relationship with Arthur Diaz?"

"If they were that close, she wouldn’t have rejected him so directly."

"But didn’t Arthur Diaz just extend his hand to her first?"

Who was Arthur Diaz, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) after all?

The rising star of Hollywood.

It was well-known that famous directors frequently reached out to him with offers. With a personality free of rough edges and a flawless performance in any role he took, he was so perfect that his peers called him "Mr. Perfect."

The fact that such a man was appearing in a Korean drama was surprising enough, but now...

"Is this okay?"

"The atmosphere is..."

In the midst of the silence, the corners of Arthur's mouth twitched faintly. He clearly hadn’t expected to be rejected so bluntly, and it had taken him a moment to react.

"You..."

Arthur had just begun to speak when—

"Friend~?!"

Jo Seohui, who arrived shortly after Arthur, exclaimed with sparkling eyes. In truth, she had entered the room almost simultaneously with him, but the attention on Arthur had kept her unnoticed.

She had been quietly watching from a distance as Arthur and Seoyeon exchanged words. Then, out of nowhere, Seoyeon had said, “This is a spot for friends!”

"Oh."

Seoyeon finally noticed Seohui, though belatedly. Surrounded by others, she had been too preoccupied to spot her earlier.

It was a slightly awkward moment. Seoyeon had never explicitly called Seohui her “friend” before, and now it felt a bit embarrassing.

"Friend? Really? I’m your friend, right?"

"...Stop asking me that."

"If we’re friends, why are you being so formal? Just call me Seohui~."

Without hesitation, Jo Seohui boldly sat down right next to Seoyeon, ignoring Arthur entirely. No one had expected her to sit there so casually. Had she not overheard the conversation between Arthur and Seoyeon?

Regardless, with things turning out this way, Arthur found it even harder to say anything further.

"...Hmph."

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

Eventually, Arthur turned his back to the two girls after observing them briefly. Only then did the surrounding actors exhale.

"What just happened?"

"Ju Seoyeon is one thing, but who would have thought Jo Seohui would act like that?"

"Was she trying to protect Ju Seoyeon from Arthur Diaz?"

"That’s what it seemed like."

Jo Seohui was widely known for her extensive connections in the entertainment industry. Despite her delicate appearance, she had an exceptionally sociable personality. Her audacious behavior toward Arthur made others think she must have had a reason behind it.

In truth, Seohui didn’t have much of a plan. Her actions today stemmed purely from the fact that Seoyeon had called her a “friend.”

"Call me Seohui~."

"I absolutely will not."

"Can’t you at least drop the formal tone?"

"No."

Seohui shrugged at Seoyeon’s curt response, sensing her embarrassment. Though a little disappointed, she found Seoyeon’s flustered demeanor endearing—something rare to witness.

"Coming to Korea was totally worth it."

Seohui belatedly realized that this fortunate situation was thanks to Arthur Diaz.

"Ah."

Was this a mistake on her part? She glanced at Arthur, but he was no longer looking at her or Seoyeon. Even so, he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

"Hmm."

Seohui narrowed her eyes as she observed him.

"Maybe this is for the best."

Though she was soft and amiable toward Seoyeon, Jo Seohui’s personality otherwise aligned with her aristocratic appearance.

Not that she was unpleasant, but she had the temperament of a noblewoman. And when it came to adversaries, she could be as fearsome as any villainess. Arthur, in her eyes, was an adversary.

It all dated back to their time in Japan during the production of Majin.

At the time, Seohui had been deliberating over whether to accept a role in the film. Having already worked with Seoyeon on Kyungsung Lady, she worried that appearing in Majin as well might give off a "too familiar" impression.

Just as she was preparing to decline director Han Yegun’s repeated requests, Stella Baldwin had reached out.

[Hello, Tomie.]

"Are we on such close terms that you’d call me by phone?"

[Haha, don’t be like that. I just wanted to share some interesting news. You’ve been speaking informally with me for a while now, haven’t you?]

"That’s because you..."

[Unlike me, you still speak formally to Seoyeon, don’t you? I don’t.]

"...That’s just you being presumptuous."

Stella had shared unexpected news.

[Arthur Diaz will be joining Majin.]

"Arthur Diaz? I heard rumors, but is it confirmed?"

[Yes, it’s confirmed. I pushed hard for it. He’s incredibly talented, so I think it’ll be great for the OTT drama.]

"Did you call just to tell me that?"

[Of course. I was worried.]

Worried? That didn’t sound like Stella at all. Seohui found it hard to believe her sincerity.

[If Arthur harbors resentment toward Seoyeon, it could be my fault.]

"Then it’s your responsibility."

[But if I hadn’t pushed, he wouldn’t have joined at all.]

That was also true.

[So, I think it would be good if you stayed by her side.]

"Me?"

[Yes. You have experience with this kind of thing, don’t you? Seoyeon doesn’t seem equipped to handle situations like this.]

"...Well..."

[And, you’re her friend, aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be better to join her?]

Friend? Did Stella see her that way? Seohui felt her opinion of Stella rise slightly.

"Well, yes, I am her friend, unlike you."

[Exactly, unlike me. I might be more like something... in-between.]

What was that supposed to mean?

[I prefer this arrangement. It’s easier to shift relationships this way.]

"What?"

[Anyway, take care of her for me, okay? If you could make Seoyeon scream in frustration, handling Arthur Diaz should be a piece of cake for you.]

With that cryptic remark, Stella hung up, leaving Seohui no choice but to agree to Majin just a week ago.

"I’ve heard plenty about Arthur Diaz."

She had been given enough insight into his personality and likely behavior, along with some additional details via chat.

In this moment, she decided it was best to firmly push Arthur away.

Her attention shifted to the man now walking toward the table.

It was Han Yegun, the director of Majin.

Beside him was Kim Hongbaek, an instructor from Cheonghong Action School. Since Majin involved significant action sequences, Kim Hongbaek had been brought on as a consultant.

"Mic test."

Han Yegun tested the microphone, checking the sound level. At the same time, he appeared to be assessing the number of people gathered in the venue.

"He's young," Seoyeon thought, a bit surprised. She had heard as much, but seeing him in person, he seemed even younger.

Seohui, who had been chatting away beside her, suddenly fell silent, allowing Seoyeon to observe freely.

Meanwhile, Narumi Sora, seated next to Seoyeon, appeared even more tense.

With the director taking the stage, it seemed the filming was about to become a reality.

While Seoyeon was the lead, the second and third most prominent roles belonged to Arthur Diaz and Narumi Sora, respectively.

For Sora, who had never starred in a major production, the pressure was immense—especially since the other Korean actors weren’t exactly welcoming toward her.

"Just like when I was called a nepotism hire as a child," Seoyeon muttered quietly.

Seohui, sitting beside her, flinched visibly, causing Seoyeon to tilt her head in confusion.

"I wasn’t saying that about you," Seoyeon clarified.

"...But I’m the one who said it back then," Seohui replied.

"I don’t really care about it anymore."

"So, you still think about it."

Regardless, Seoyeon didn’t like the way people were looking at Narumi Sora. Narumi was a legitimate cast member who had earned her place through auditions.

Was it because she was Japanese?

Or because of her lack of experience?

Perhaps it was both. But to Seoyeon, Narumi Sora was an impressive actress.

To her knowledge, Sora possessed exceptional physical abilities.

"Hello, everyone. I’m Han Yegun, the director of Majin," Han Yegun spoke, breaking Seoyeon’s train of thought.

His tone was light, almost casual.

Seoyeon studied him carefully. He looked to be in his mid-to-late thirties—a young age for a director. He was tall, likely over 180 cm, with slightly long hair tied back. His sharp features gave him the appearance of a hawk.

Dark circles under his eyes added an artistic, almost eccentric aura.

"Director Han Yegun," Seoyeon recalled from her research, "renowned for his masterful direction. While his storytelling is said to be a bit weak, his ability to create an overwhelming atmosphere and visuals is unmatched. He’s considered one of the best in Korea when it comes to utilizing CGI."

She listened attentively as Han addressed the cast and crew.

"This is more like an introductory meeting. I believe it’s important for everyone to meet before the script reading. I know some of you must be very busy, so I apologize for the inconvenience."

Han glanced over the crowd, taking in the sheer number of people in attendance. With extras included, the group easily exceeded a hundred—testament to the significant investment GH Group had made in the project.

"Our drama, Majin, is not a typical drama but an OTT series. I don’t think many of you here have worked on OTT projects before, as they’re still relatively unfamiliar in Korea."

The series was set to span six or possibly twelve episodes, a format that was still novel in Korea. Even the level of investment in this production was unheard of.

Only Seoyeon seemed to grasp the reasoning behind it.

OTT dramas hadn’t yet gained mainstream traction globally, let alone in Korea. Without the explosive popularity of Child Game, this approach seemed premature.

"This drama is targeted at international audiences, not just domestic viewers. Keep that in mind. Naturally, we’ll have high expectations, and the filming process may be grueling."

Han’s gaze briefly rested on Seoyeon. Unlike the others, who appeared bewildered, his lead actress showed no signs of hesitation.

"You’ve all passed a rigorous selection process, so I trust you’ll do well. And if not... well, we’ll figure something out then," he joked.

Though his tone was light, no one took it as a joke.

Han Yegun’s reputation preceded him. Stories abounded of his drastic changes to scripts when he was dissatisfied with an actor’s performance. Entire roles had been reduced or altered on a whim, often leading to contractual disputes.

It was no surprise that the contracts for Majin explicitly included a clause stating that roles and scenes could be modified at the director’s discretion.

For actors, it was an unreasonable clause. Yet, the power of GH Group had drawn this many people despite it.

"Filming officially begins next Monday," Han continued.

The schedule was tight: script reading followed immediately by filming.

"We aim to complete all filming by the end of this year and release the series by February or March next year."

Three months. The room fell silent. A typical production timeline spanned at least a year, sometimes longer.

But three months? It seemed impossible.

"Not entirely impossible," Seohui thought, rubbing her chin.

If the schedule was already locked in, it could be done. Unlike traditional dramas, OTT productions didn’t have to coordinate with broadcasters or theaters. The main challenge would be marketing.

"They plan to handle marketing and production simultaneously," Seohui concluded, glancing at Seoyeon.

For Seoyeon, the next two months would likely be incredibly hectic.

****

"Majin? Three months? Haha, that guy is really pushing it," laughed Baek Min, the director of Kyungsung Lady, at a post-wrap party.

The typically composed director seemed relaxed now that filming was complete.

"Seoyeon, you must be so busy. We’re starting promotions soon too. The PV is already done—could you take a look later?"

"The PV is ready already?"

Seoyeon had recently finished filming the final scene for Kyungsung Lady in Korea.

The last scene depicted Yuina letting go of Yeon Seonye, marking their farewell as Yuina left Korea.

"What happened in between?" Baek Min wondered as he observed Seoyeon.

Seoyeon had always struggled with romantic scenes, masking it in various ways. Yet, with each project, she seemed to grow more comfortable expressing emotion.

Her final performance in Kyungsung Lady was the most poignant yet—full of longing and heartbreak.

"Ah, and I saw your Viola commercial. You looked like a completely different person," Baek Min commented.

"Did I?" Seoyeon replied awkwardly.

Everyone who saw the Viola commercial said the same thing: they couldn’t believe it was her.

"Totally different, Ju Seoyeon. Completely different," insisted Lee Jiyeon.

"Really?"

"Yes! So, something must have happened, right? Suspicious."

Seoyeon had barely begun to process Jiyeon’s persistence when her phone buzzed.

"Hm?"

She glanced at the screen and narrowed her eyes.

"Who is it? Park Jungwoo?" Jiyeon teased.

"Why would it be him?"

"...Hmm. So, it’s not?"

Lately, Jiyeon had been unusually curious about Seoyeon’s relationships. Normally indifferent, she now seemed on edge whenever Seoyeon interacted with others.

"Anyway," Seoyeon muttered, looking at her phone again.

It was nothing urgent—just a message from Pyo Jiwoo, an old acquaintance from her Close Your Eyes theater days, inviting her to a reunion.

But it wasn’t the message’s content that caught her attention.

"The profile picture changed."

Pyo Jiwoo’s profile photo now featured two people: a beaming Jiwoo and a man with his arm draped over Jiwoo’s shoulder.

The man’s face was obscured by sunglasses and a mask, but Seoyeon could guess who it was.

Row from JustX.

The very man behind Shine Moon, the club poised to make headlines by year’s end.