I Want to Be a VTuber

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Seonyang Media.

It’s an internet newspaper that primarily covers entertainment news.

They maintain a moderately neutral stance and are known for being quick to report news in the entertainment industry, attracting a good number of subscribers given their size.

Recently, however, there’s been some buzz coming from there.

Specifically, it concerns the hot topic of actress Joo Seo-yeon.

“After ‘Sky Garden’ wrapped up, it felt oddly quiet, but I guess they were having conversations with Japan?”

At the words of a fellow journalist, a female reporter’s gaze shifted.

Han Sun-ah.

She’s Seo-yeon’s number one fan and regularly covers articles about her.

“Yes, I recently went to Japan for that reason.”

“Oh, the filming for the Japanese broadcast?”

“Yes, that too.”

Han Sun-ah just returned from Japan.

Of course, it seems like she’ll have to go back soon.

At that time, she was covering Seo-yeon’s trip to Japan shortly after wrapping up ‘Sky Garden.’

“I thought she’d do a CF or something after ‘Sky Garden,’ but she’s diving straight into a new project. What a machine!”

“Honestly, I’m a little worried too.”

From a journalist’s perspective, there was nothing wrong with Seo-yeon being active.

After all, that just means more material to write about.

Especially as a rising star and a female actress who has had successive hits.

If she’s the lead for this coming year, even more so.

But as a fan, it was a bit concerning.

“Since ‘Sky Garden’ was such a hit, she could afford to take a break…”

‘Sky Garden’ broke the viewership records for dramas over the past few years.

Comparing it to the soaring ratings of TV dramas from a decade ago, it’s definitely a hit.

In the past, it would have surpassed 40% and even approached 50% in ratings.

Naturally, the value of the actors in that drama, as well as the writer’s reputation, skyrocketed.

Especially Min Se-hee, who hit big with ‘Sky Garden’ right after ‘Dream Future,’ found herself in a whirlwind of offers from different networks.

“It’s tough to even get interviews with the actors from ‘Sky Garden.'”

“Especially the young actors tend to have strong egos.”

That made sense.

Initially, they were more open to interviews, having just experienced a hit and thinking their recognition had risen.

However, what journalists were mainly curious about was their leading lady, Joo Seo-yeon.

What was the atmosphere like on set?

And what did they think about her acting?

Those were the types of questions that could come off as quite rude.

Most actors asked those questions a few times ended up rejecting interviews.

“I admit, I asked similar questions myself,” a fellow journalist chuckled awkwardly.

Still, he was able to gather some responses.

Seo-yeon starred as the son of Lee Hyuk-soo in ‘Sky Garden.’

Kim Hyun-seok played the role of Lee Min-hyeok, Seo-yeon’s older brother, and appeared quite proud, hesitating to speak about Seo-yeon.

But Hyun-seok broke the ice first.

“If you haven’t acted directly with Seo-yeon, you might wonder what’s so great about her.”

Kim Hyun-seok said this in a somewhat blunt yet sincere tone.

“Honestly, even receiving dialogue is tough when you’re acting directly opposite her. There’s a tone in acting, you know? You can feel it right away. Oh, she’s not giving her all to me.”

“Can you really feel that?”

“Oh, of course, it depends on the scene. You can still perform without exerting too much energy. But there are parts where emotions can get excessive. ‘Sky Garden’ had quite a few of those.”

In the latter parts of the drama, it was those explosive emotion scenes with Lee Yoo-joo.

“Honestly, I was lacking a lot in this drama. But if we work together again, I think it will be different.”

“Ah, how humble. Hyun-seok, your performance was impressive too. I was completely captivated.”

“Thank you.”

Hyun-seok said this while smiling comfortably.

Then he gestured in a way that suggested it was just his personal opinion.

“Of course, since she’s so busy, I’m not sure if we’ll get to work together again. I heard she’s headed to Japan to film another new movie?”

“Oh, I don’t think it’s because of the movie she just shot.”

“Really? Actually, I got some information from a contact in Japan…”

What he was about to say next was quite surprising.

“Asher Baldwin?”

“That’s right.”

“Is it okay for you to share such crucial information with me?”

“I know Seon-ah is a big fan of the lead actress. Plus, I don’t even have the energy to go all the way to Japan. I’m too busy interviewing other actors.”

It felt like a missed opportunity.

But currently, what he was covering was quite important.

He managed to pull off exclusive coverage on director Jo Bang-woo’s new movie.

In the end, after much deliberation, he decided to hand it over to his colleague, Han Sun-ah.

“If it’s Han Sun-ah, it wouldn’t hurt to lend her a favor, right?”

Han Sun-ah was an enthusiastic reporter, quick on her feet and proactive.

If he were to owe her a favor, she would surely return the favor with equally valuable information in the future.

Especially regarding:

“This year’s Asher Baldwin.”

And anything related to the Gyeongseong Young Lady.

“This year is great, but I can’t wait for next year.”

Handing over that information, his colleague said.

Sun-ah, itched with the desire to fly back to Japan, nodded her head.

This year, she had already been dubbed a ‘rising star’ as Joo Seo-yeon.

Most journalists thought it would be tough for her to surpass this year’s career, but Han Sun-ah thought differently.

“If we consider the Gyeongseong Young Lady and the story I just heard…”

And let’s not forget about Mine.

The anticipation was already beginning.

For Joo Seo-yeon’s next year.

***

“The scene we’re filming today may seem light-hearted, but it’s actually a very important scene in the story.”

Director Baek Min said this to the staff and actors on set.

The fighting scene between Kasugayama Yuina and Amanabi Michiko.

It could be simplified as just that, but it’s quite a crucial moment.

This is when Kasugayama Yuina, forgetting her position, ends up fighting Michiko.

When they were children, Yuina and Michiko had met and were close to being friends.

However, events that unfolded later caused a rift between them.

Something that occurred between Michiko and Yuina’s parents.

And also the complex relationship involving Yeon Seon-ye.

All three main characters are in this pivotal part.

“Just looking at the script, this is a part where emotions will be in turmoil.”

Seo-yeon skimmed through that part of the script, lost in thought for a moment.

A scene that might seem oversaturated with emotions at first glance.

Positively speaking, it’s a part designed to move the audience’s feelings.

Negatively, it could come off as cheesy.

Honestly, Seo-yeon isn’t fond of the words “cheesy” or “emotionally excessive.”

Of course, she knows that there’s a trend for more subdued emotional expressions nowadays.

But there are too many words and scenes that can no longer be labeled as cheesy.

“Yet, they boldly included a scene like this.”

She didn’t think negatively.

However, the more sentimentally charged the scene was, the worse it might appear if the acting fell short.

If the emotions couldn’t be elicited from the audience, the cheesy parts would be highlighted even more.

Thus, Seo-yeon had to give it her all, pouring in more emotions than usual.

But…

“Can I actually pull this off?”

Seo-yeon thought, clenching her hands tightly.

She had made some mistakes in ‘The Chaser’ as well.

When she got overly immersed in the acting, sometimes she strayed from the control.

“…There’s definitely a bit of an excessive vibe.”

Even though she’s supposed to be invincible, there’s an excessive strong aura about her.

Seo-yeon doesn’t even know how far she can go with her own abilities.

Most of the things she thinks she wants to do, she can actually do.

So she had no choice but to give it her all in this role.

“Is there something I’m missing?”

She couldn’t tell.

For now, all she needed to focus on was not repeating the same mistakes from ‘The Chaser’ in this performance.

“What’s wrong?”

Joo Seo-hee, noticing Seo-yeon’s expression, cautiously asked.

“Nothing.”

“Hmm.”

At Seo-yeon’s response, Seo-hee narrowed her eyes.

It felt like it wasn’t nothing at all.

“You need to do it right.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean your acting. Please, don’t hold back. Don’t go easy on me like you did in ‘Sky Garden.'”

Hold back?

In that moment, Seo-yeon blinked.

“I wasn’t really holding back back then.”

“Hmph, what are you saying? It was super obvious! The actor on the receiving end probably felt it even more intensely! It was completely different when you acted with Lee Mi-ran compared to with Kim Hyun-seok.”

Lee Mi-ran played the role of the hostess of the Lee Hyuk-soo family in ‘Sky Garden,’ another main character.

She was an actress well-known for her acting skills, making a stark contrast with Kim Hyun-seok.

Of course, the viewers might not have noticed.

But Seo-hee couldn’t help but notice, having watched Seo-yeon’s performances continuously.

“Of course, I know you wouldn’t be sloppy. But I was looking forward to this.”

Seo-hee crossed her arms as she said so.

Perhaps it was because she was dressing up as Amanabi Michiko.

Seo-hee looked more like a villainous young lady than usual.

“In many ways, you’ve got to nail it.”

In many ways, that was a quite significant remark.

“Are you going to hurt yourself like that?”

At her remark, Lee Ji-yeon, who had just arrived, spoke up.

Today’s shoot was a scene featuring not just Seo-yeon and Seo-hee but also Ji-yeon.

“That sounds extremely mischievous.”

If she weren’t dressed as the gentle Yeon Seon-ye but had been in Ji-yeon’s usual state, that’s exactly what she would be thinking.

“A little pain is fine, you know.”

Seo-hee replied with a shaking voice.

Given recent events, Seo-yeon had a renewed understanding of her.

After all, she had been thrown into a situation in ‘Hyper Action Star.’

Maybe she seemed carefree, but she likely wasn’t completely oblivious either.

But judging by that response, she seemed like she understood.

Even so, being able to say such things meant she valued the project highly.

“She used to say she takes her acting seriously.”

During this pajama party, Seo-yeon had heard a little about Seo-hee’s past.

For instance, the circumstances where she had blurted out ‘parachute.’

Hearing that made Seo-yeon feel sympathetic.

Of course, regardless of understanding, she would still continue to address her formally.

It’s all Seo-hee’s emotional and vivid responses that had made this bad.

Thinking that, Seo-yeon chuckled softly.

“Of course, I’ll do it right.”

Seo-yeon released her clenching hands.

There was a worry that she might make a mistake by becoming too immersed in her character’s emotions.

But after all, it was just a worry.

Thus far, Seo-yeon had put in a lot of effort, and she had been supported by those around her.

“There won’t be any mistakes.”

With Seo-yeon’s words, the filming started in earnest.

***

“Senior.”

While quietly observing the filming set, a fellow actor approached Lee Sang-soo.

The actor played the male antagonist who tried to kill Michiko early on in the Amanabi family, Hwang Cheol-hoon.

“I thought you weren’t shooting today?”

“Well, it’s not every day you get to see Seo-yeon’s acting.”

At his seemingly casual statement, Hwang Cheol-hoon was taken aback.

The Lee Sang-soo he knew was the type who didn’t pay much attention to others.

“It seems like the rumors are true.”

“Rumors?”

“I heard that actress Joo Seo-yeon brought you back to this industry.”

“That’s true.”

Lee Sang-soo didn’t deny it.

It all started with an encounter during ‘Star Fisher.’

At first, when he was approached with the offer, he thought she was just a bold little thing.

But he didn’t mind a bit, and that slight interest stuck with him.

However, after acting with her, he realized she wasn’t just a brazen girl.

“The movie will cause quite a stir once it’s released. No one would have guessed Lee Sang-soo would be in this movie.”

“Well, it could’ve been anyone else…”

Lee Sang-soo trailed off while gazing at the filming site that was just beginning.

A set designed to recreate the streets of Seoul during the Japanese colonial period.

Extras filled the streets, and amidst them, Michiko encountered Yuina.

Had they just crossed paths casually, they might have overlooked it.

But Yuina, looking at Yeon Seon-ye and Michiko, felt an unusual air between the two.

Not just the relationship between the two but also why Michiko was acting that way.

On top of that, given the recent issues with Koto Isamu, Yuina felt unsure about her own intentions.

Did she really have to kill Michiko?

And could she really kill Yeon Seon-ye?

Those kinds of dilemmas.

It was almost like a situation close to giving up when seeing Michiko, which was like lighting a fuse.

Thus, she could only jump out.

Since only Yuina could read Michiko’s intentions.

“Michiko!!”

Piercing through the crowd, Yuina’s voice could be heard.

Michiko’s gaze shifted at her voice.

At the same time, Yeon Seon-ye’s eyes moved as well.

But there wasn’t even a moment for them to react.

Dropping the bear shaped pipe she always carried, Yuina grabbed Michiko’s collar and pushed her back against a wall.

“You.”

Until just now, Yuina had been half dazed.

The argument with Koto Isamu had left her a bit disoriented.

But, she had unintentionally followed the two and had come to understand Michiko’s intention.

“You intend to die, don’t you?”

She read the heart of someone who had resolved to commit suicide.