I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 316: New Semester (2)

"This year’s KMB Acting Awards Best Actress... a young actress who made a huge impact with her roles in Sky Garden and Dream Future!"

On that winter night, as snow gently fell, the family gathered around the TV, their eyes fixed on the screen, unable to look away.

"It’s Ju Seoyeon!"

With the cheerful voice of the announcer, a round of thunderous applause filled the room.

Amidst the many stars, a young girl naturally stood up.

Her youthful appearance stood out compared to the other stars.

In her bright white dress, contrasting with her dark black hair, and her eyes, shining like a sunset, she was a truly memorable actress.

"Didn’t she also win Best Supporting Actress at the film festival this year?"

"Yeah, I heard she was in a film as well, though I didn’t see it."

"Wow, she's so young and already so busy."

The conversation of the parents could be heard in the background.

The sight of the girl, holding the sparkling award and giving her acceptance speech, was a familiar one.

One year.

In just one year, she had achieved something miraculous.

The image of the girl standing on the stage was so beautiful that it left everyone staring blankly.

"Araya."

The parents pointed to the TV as they spoke to the girl.

"So, that actress is attending the school Araya will be entering this year?"

Hearing this, the girl—no, Yeonari—nodded slowly.

She was simply a fan.

But beyond that, her heart was filled with a desire to be just like the girl on the TV screen.

That’s why she had chosen Yeonhwa High School.

Even though she could’ve gone to other arts high schools, she specifically chose this one.

"Yeah, that's right."

Yeonari said this and ran her fingers through her blonde hair.

Her blonde hair, a symbol of her mixed heritage.

She touched it absentmindedly, gazing at the girl on TV, now realizing how soon she would meet her.

****

"Ugh... grr..."

A young actor who had steadily built a name for himself by appearing in various cable dramas, Jeong Hyunwoo slowly released the tension in his arms and dropped the weights he had been lifting.

"Haah..."

His breath was heavy, and his arms felt numb, but he felt proud to finally reach the 3 to 400 kg threshold.

He wished his acting ability could steadily rise in the same way.

As Jeong Hyunwoo thought about it and turned his body...

"Ugh!"

"...Why are you so surprised looking at me?"

"Ah, no. It’s just that you appeared behind me suddenly."

"Mm."

Seoyeon stared at Jeong Hyunwoo with slightly narrowed eyes.

Hyunwoo swallowed nervously at the change in her expression.

Though Seoyeon looked delicate, Jeong Hyunwoo knew better.

He knew that Seoyeon could easily lift weights that were as heavy as his own body.

'Does this even make sense?'

It wasn’t the first time he had thought that, but honestly, he didn’t care much.

While his physical abilities were impressive, other aspects were still difficult for him to get used to.

'Will she be as active this year as she was last year?'

The variety of activities Seoyeon had done last year had shocked Jeong Hyunwoo.

As someone who spent a year hopping between supporting roles, seeing Seoyeon, who became a hit whenever she appeared, was like seeing a monster.

At first, he felt a lot of envy, but now, he saw Seoyeon as a lucky charm.

The day he saw Seoyeon at the gym, he felt like his acting had improved.

That’s why, when he had an audition, Jeong Hyunwoo made sure to go to the gym, because he felt like he needed to see Seoyeon to succeed in the audition.

"Last week, I saw you in the drama."

"Oh, really? How was it?"

"I enjoyed it. It’s a cable drama, but everyone’s acting was amazing."

Hearing Seoyeon’s words, Jeong Hyunwoo let out a relieved sigh.

It wasn’t just that seeing Seoyeon was a lucky charm, but also because Seoyeon had occasionally given him tips.

At first, Jeong Hyunwoo didn’t think he was in a position to receive advice from someone younger, but Seoyeon had helped him several times before.

"So, what’s going on today?"

"Huh?"

"You seem like you have something to say."

Seoyeon was somewhat surprised by Jeong Hyunwoo’s words.

She hadn’t expected him to read her thoughts first.

This made it easier to speak up.

"By any chance, are you thinking about starring in a movie?"

"A movie? I’d love to... no, of course, I’d love to."

"I’d have to play a supporting role, but the part is a bit small."

She added that the director’s review wasn’t great either.

Of course, for someone like Jeong Hyunwoo, who was still practically a newcomer, this didn’t really matter.

The important thing was to appear in a movie!

"Well, even if it's a small role, it’s still a role."

If it was a movie that Seoyeon recommended, Jeong Hyunwoo would take the part without even thinking about the payment.

After all, it was a movie recommended by Ju Seoyeon herself.

He saw immense value in this, something that money couldn’t measure.

Seeing Jeong Hyunwoo's fervent admiration for her, Seoyeon felt a slight discomfort.

No, he was being so firm about it.

But from Jeong Hyunwoo’s perspective, this was understandable.

After all, when Seoyeon visited the gym during the Golden Duckling shoot, it had become quite the topic of conversation.

She had filmed commercials and had a significant supporting role in the recent cable drama.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to star in a mainstream TV drama this year.

"Well... I’ll contact you later. Although, I think someone else will contact you instead of me."

"It doesn’t matter."

Jeong Hyunwoo said while tapping his muscular chest, and Seoyeon nodded in agreement.

‘I’ve filled the role of an actor.’

Seoyeon let out a sigh of relief inside.

‘An actor is exactly what we need.’

She was talking about an actor to appear in Seoul Escape.

Honestly, if they announced the audition, many actors would rush in, but what was important was their 'acting skills.'

The actor needed to match the role as well.

In that regard, Jeong Hyunwoo was a good fit.

‘His acting has really improved in the past year.’

His performance in the recent cable drama was impressive enough to deserve applause.

He’d kept up with regular workouts, and his fresh looks made him the perfect fit to play the male lead's bodyguard in Seoul Escape.

‘Jeongwoo oppa said he’d check out the other things, but I hope it goes well.’

Seoyeon recalled the bombshell news she heard from Park Jeongwoo recently.

It was a huge possibility that The Thief and Seoul Escape would be released at the same time.

At the cafe where they often met, Seoyeon lowered her sunglasses slightly and said,

"Can’t we just postpone it?"

"I think Director Cho Bangwoo would prefer that. He probably wants to avoid a direct competition with his son’s film."

If Seoul Escape clashed with his son’s first movie, it would cause a lot of conflict.

If his own movie lost to his son’s, it would be a huge shock.

"Of course, as a father, he’d probably be happy if his son won, but..."

"Director Cho Bangwoo is probably under a lot of pressure."

"Exactly."

So, he’d likely try to avoid the clash, but the investors had a different view.

Their opinion was that there was no need to postpone the release, and it might be better to focus on the "buzz."

The rare father-son film competition in the industry.

If they adjusted the number of theaters, it could turn into a very profitable situation.

"Fortunately, the fact that New Like Group is involved is a relief."

Although the original investors had the most authority, with New Like Group involved, they wouldn’t be able to do things recklessly. That, at least, was a comfort.

‘If that’s the case, they probably won’t use problematic actors like in my past life.’

That was the one thing that made her feel relieved.

The problem was, even if that was the case, it seemed like no decent actors were willing to join Seoul Escape.

"There’s something I need to talk about with the Biol Gun, but... I’ll do that later."

"By the way, do I have to wear that improved hanbok again?"

"It’s pretty much the same."

"Hmm."

At Park Jeongwoo's words, Seoyeon gave him a strange smile and looked at him.

It was as if to say, "You like that, don’t you?"

Naturally, Jeongwoo couldn’t help but bristle.

"Hey, that’s just a fit of rage."

"Don’t describe me like I have some disease."

"I’m not easily fooled by acting like that."

Is that acting, though?

Now, even Seoyeon was a bit confused.

It had started with method acting, but now, if she just focused, she could easily pull it off whenever she wanted.

"Hmm, I think you might actually be able to fool someone..."

"..."

"Want to try it now?"

Seoyeon spoke in a subtle tone, and Jeongwoo tightly shut his eyes.

"No, uh, about that game commercial, I saw it. It looked pretty fun, right?"

Realizing he was in an unwinnable situation, Jeongwoo slyly changed the subject.

After all, Seoyeon, who had such a strong influence on him during his childhood, was not someone he could challenge.

Seoyeon, knowing this, smiled slightly.

Jeongwoo’s reaction was so on point that she couldn’t help but act like this.

"If you watched the broadcast, you’d know. I’m an expert at Eternity Camp. If you want to play together next time, practice beforehand."

"...Expert? What’s that?"

"..."

"No, you're right. Yeah, expert."

Watching Seoyeon’s eyes gradually turn a sunset-like hue, Jeongwoo nodded obediently.

He knew that if he teased her about the game, Seoyeon would never let it slide.

****

The end of winter break.

Then, spring break passed, and the new semester began.

The class changed, and spring came with a new grade.

"Need a ride?"

"..."

Seoyeon looked at Jo Seokhee, standing in front of her house with a bike, holding her phone.

"...How did you find out my address?"

"Oh, it’s not like that, I’ve been to your house before. Why are you holding your phone like that? I’m not some suspicious person!"

"Hmm. But I’ll pass on riding behind you."

Seoyeon found Jo Seokhee interesting.

On the first day of the new semester, while Lee Jiyeon had gone to school by herself, Seokhee had come to pick her up.

"You don’t have any friends, do you?"

"..."

Seoyeon said this, and for a moment, Seokhee wanted to say, 'More than you,' but she held herself back.

To someone for whom that statement would be a ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) lie, it would be a joke, but for someone who it was true for, it would just be a documentary.

"I had something I wanted to talk about on the way."

"Ah, you finished shooting, right?"

"Yeah."

Seokhee smiled proudly at Seoyeon.

It had been a close call.

The reshoot for Mine had only wrapped up two days before the end of winter break.

"Thanks to that, I was able to do it."

"I didn’t really do anything, though."

"No, if it weren’t for that..."

Seokhee recalled the day she and Seoyeon had gone to the winter beach.

By the way, her phone’s wallpaper was a picture from that day at the beach.

It was a symbol of her resolve during the reshoots, and she hadn’t bothered changing it.

"You could’ve just told me this over the phone."

"...Don’t people tell you you’re sometimes too cold?"

At Seokhee’s words, Seoyeon shrugged.

She probably felt hurt that Seoyeon hadn’t shown more concern, but to Seoyeon, it was just a natural thing.

She trusted Seokhee’s skills and was sure that she had filmed a great scene during the reshoots.

"I thought if I asked, I’d end up getting questioned about everything."

"Well, just ask then."

"I’d rather watch the drama without any spoilers."

Seoyeon remembered Seokhee’s acting from the earlier filming.

She had done well, but it was average.

She didn’t want to ask how much it had changed, not because she didn’t care, but because she wanted to be moved by her acting in the drama itself.

"So I can appreciate your acting more if I watch it, right?"

"...Is that so?"

Seokhee, a bit flustered by Seoyeon’s straightforward comment, cleared her throat lightly.

Her mood, which had been a little down, quickly brightened.

"Oh, we’re already here."

At the midpoint where their paths split, Seokhee stopped her bike and spoke.

"Let’s watch Mine together when it’s out."

"Yeah."

"I’ll come by again then."

With that, Seokhee pedaled off, waving goodbye as she quickly disappeared.

Seoyeon sometimes thought that Seokhee had incredible stamina.

'She could just drive, though.'

She thought that for a moment but didn’t say anything.

It was probably because Seokhee didn’t want to seem like she was showing off.

'Oh, I almost forgot to stop by the convenience store.'

After parting ways with Seokhee, Seoyeon started jogging lightly.

It was only a 5-minute run, so she had plenty of time to stop by the convenience store.

Since it was the start of the new semester, the convenience store workers had probably changed too.

Well, it would be polite to stop by.

"Nice."

Seoyeon smiled brightly as she looked at the trees that had turned green.

It was a brand new year.

The first day of 18-year-old Ju Seoyeon was just beginning.