Ji-yeon considered herself and Seo-yeon to be quite close.
First, they had been together for nearly 10 years, and they shared many things in various ways.
Just look at their acting careers.
Academically and in many other respects, they often depended on each other.
……If it weren't for Seo-yeon, she would never have done vtubering either.
Now it was something she enjoyed as a change of pace.
Ji-yeon was quite confident when it came to communicating with others and planning content.
Anyway.
'What on earth is she thinking?'
A same-sex romance film.
Apparently dealing with the so-called love between women.
'Director Baek Min's film.'
Of course, even Lee Ji-yeon knew this director.
A director with strong artistic sensibilities, and one who was more recognized overseas than domestically.
In other words, if you had your sights set on expanding overseas, this was a director you absolutely had to work with.
But that was that.
'How can she be so nonchalant about this?'
Lee Ji-yeon looked at Seo-yeon with narrowed eyes.
At her gaze, Seo-yeon only tilted her head slightly.
It was Seo-yeon's characteristic gesture of trying to read the room, as if wondering if she had done something wrong.
Seeing that, it really seemed like she had brought it up with pure intentions…….
'No, no, taking it as an impure intention would be stranger.'
But wasn't that the case?
If they were adult actors, they might take it coolly and judge rationally, but Lee Ji-yeon was still a high school student.
Isn't this kind of reaction normal?
Rather, it was amazing that Seo-yeon could be so cool about it.
She sometimes thought about it—when it came to work, you really had to call her professional.
The feeling that work and personal emotions were separate.
She wasn't sure how she drew that line so clearly…….
'What are you going to do about your school friends, even?'
Even if she appeared alongside Ji-yeon and got a good response, what kind of reaction would her school friends have? If a female student from the same school, who always hung around together, filmed that kind of movie…….
"You don't like it?"
"……."
Seo-yeon asked again.
Like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs, a sullen look.
By the looks of it, Seo-yeon seemed to think this film would be very helpful for Ji-yeon.
'Ugh.'
Ji-yeon squeezed her eyes shut looking at Seo-yeon like that.
Yeah, so what.
It's not like I'm in any position to be picky.
Appearing in a cable drama was all she had accomplished so far.
If it's Director Baek Min's film, whether it's an extra or whatever, appearing in it was the right call.
"It's not that I don't like it."
"Really? But you seemed a bit flustered."
"Hey, Joo Seo-yeon. Obviously I'm flustered!"
"Why?"
"Why, why she asks. No, this is……,"
Jo Seo-hee watched the two's conversation with fascinated eyes.
'Are those two really close?'
By the looks of it, actors.
Jo Seo-hee didn't know Lee Ji-yeon.
But when she quickly searched during their conversation just now.
'She's appearing in a cable drama.'
Hm, Jo Seo-hee propped her chin and looked at the two.
Actually, if you worked as an actor from a young age, it was hard to make friends for various reasons.
First, it was hard to even hang out together, and once you became accustomed to social life, your peers felt even more immature.
Should she say they seemed childish?
She knew it wasn't a good thing, but what could she do when that's how it actually was.
'Fellow actors. And close since they were young.'
Seo-hee was secretly envious.
As expected, Seo-yeon had narrow but deep relationships.
Given that she virtually had no peer actresses, Seo-hee agonized even more over how she could somehow slip into that relationship.
"Seo-hee sunbae."
"Yes?"
"But when exactly does the audition for
Seo-yeon had already taken auditions many times.
Since Seo-hee had also said the audition was prepared, she asked thinking it would be a standard audition.
"You don't need to take it."
"Huh?"
"Your recognition has already gone up to some extent with
There was also the fact that Seo-hee had personally made a strong appeal.
Therefore, Director Baek Min had also seen
And, she was able to hear his evaluation yesterday.
"Seo-heissi, are you really close with actor Joo Seo-yeon?"
At Director Baek Min's words, Jo Seo-hee flinched for a moment.
Was he doubting her friendship with Joo Seo-yeon?
"Yes, we're best friends. We've known each other for 10 years."
"Ah, right. That's true, you auditioned together for
"Yes, I lost back then…… I only lost."
She thought of her as an arrogant little kid.
Well, she was still arrogant now.
But that was practically a mental barrier for Seo-hee to protect her pride, so she had no intention of improving it.
"First,
"How was it?"
At Seo-hee's look asking "It was good, right?", Director Baek Min chuckled.
It was rare for Jo Seo-hee to show a peer-appropriate face.
"
"……Pardon?"
Normally, wouldn't it be the other way around?
She thought so, but Jo Seo-hee didn't show it.
"Well, what I'm trying to make is a romance."
"Yes, that's right."
"In that sense, the acting in
It was just yesterday.
Episode 11 of
"It was fresh."
Director Baek Min recalled the acting of Jo Ha-rin he saw yesterday.
He heard there were many incidents during filming.
That the drama writer's personal deviation caused the screen time to be cut.
The funny thing was, because the screen time was cut like that, Jo Ha-rin's narrative actually made sense.
Jo Ha-rin was paired with Park Min-yool.
But their relationship probably progressed much more slowly compared to other couples in the drama.
That was because she didn't appear that much in the first place.
However, since Jo Ha-rin originally had a crush on Kim Si-hwan, it made sense that the romance with Park Min-yool was pushed back.
"The acting of being flustered as Park Min-yool takes steps toward her, unlike the one-sided crush she had."
Like an innocent girl who doesn't know love.
Feeling unfamiliar with that sweet and sorrowful emotion, unable to properly accept the emotional exchange formed with another person.
Was it acting?
No, honestly it didn't even feel like acting.
Personally, it was enough to completely make him forget the image of 'Cha Seo-ah' he had seen in
At least for Baek Min, it was.
So the audience probably felt similarly.
A few days ago, Director Baek Min also had a meeting with the GH Group.
At that time, Kang Tae-jin, who attended as the director of the cultural business division, said this.
"What a shame, Director Baek Min. I thought it was quite a good position."
"I'm sorry. There's a film I want to make."
"I heard. That you received investments from multiple places."
The man with snake-like eyes said so and smiled.
"By any chance, do you know an actor named Joo Seo-yeon?"
"Pardon?"
It was a name that came up at an unexpected moment, so Baek Min was flustered.
That was because she was the actor Jo Seo-hee had been talking about all along.
"She seemed like a young actress who would fit Director Baek Min's film well."
"My…… film."
"Yes, Director Baek Min's films are very emotional, after all."
Emotional.
And that Joo Seo-yeon suited that meant she was an actress who performed emotional acting to that extent.
"We were more on the 'Cha Seo-ah' side, though."
He said so and smiled at Director Baek Min.
"I thought there might be people hoping for the 'Jo Ha-rin' side as well."
At his words, Director Baek Min laughed hollowly to himself.
'Trying to seduce me to raise the actor's recognition.'
Even though their collaboration had fallen through, they were full of thoughts to use her somehow.
It was an indirect remark implying they had preempted the actor Joo Seo-yeon.
Since if Joo Seo-yeon's recognition increased in any way, the side that preempted her would reap the greatest benefit.
However, it was true that his interest was piqued.
Joo Seo-yeon.
Even though she had only properly carried significant weight in a mere four works so far, she was remarkably impressive.
The direction of a girl who doesn't properly know the feeling of love gradually coming to understand it was exactly the acting Baek Min wanted.
What she wanted to show in
It was endlessly similar to that.
Director Baek Min slowly closed his eyes and opened them again.
Putting aside his impressions of
"I would be really happy if Seo-heissi and Seo-yeonssi appear in my film."
"That's, truly a thankful remark."
Answering so, Jo Seo-hee was a bit flustered.
Didn't he previously say she had to audition?
Anyway, it was convenient.
Ah, come to think of it, that girl asked her to ask about one more person.
"By any chance, if there's another actor you'd like to recommend……."
"Hmm, that's alright. The door to the audition is always open."
It meant she should pass the audition.
An audition where she didn't even know what role it would be.
Jo Seo-hee sighed.
The two girls in front of her.
Joo Seo-yeon, and Lee Ji-yeon.
Especially Seo-yeon looked a bit bewildered.
She probably thought she'd be taking the audition together with her.
But contrary to expectations, Director Baek Min liked Seo-yeon.
"So, the audition is just for you."
"Don't point your finger at me."
"……."
Jo Seo-hee, who had unconsciously pointed her finger at Ji-yeon, carefully withdrew her hand.
That's too harsh.
But still, somehow from Jo Seo-hee's perspective, being called out by a peer friend for the first time was also quite pleasing to her. Didn't it feel like there was a bit less of a wall?
Since everyone around Seo-hee only found her intimidating, it was even more so.
"Ahem, so you do have to take the audition. I've already spoken to Director Baek Min."
At Jo Seo-hee's words, Ji-yeon thought for a moment.
She didn't pay much attention to the fact that she had to take an audition, unlike Seo-yeon.
Equating herself with Seo-yeon, a ten-million actor who had even scored a hit with a public network drama, was a ridiculous notion to begin with.
Even if she was a bit behind again.
'This is something I have to do.'
It was an opportunity that could put her on the same level as Seo-yeon.
In that sense.
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
"You said you put in a word for me too."
At Ji-yeon's words, Seo-hee was flustered.
She seemed to dislike her, but was that not the case?
"Ahem! Wh-what. This much isn't even difficult for me."
Saying so, she glanced at Seo-yeon.
This time, Seo-yeon was looking at Jo Seo-hee with eyes that seemed displeased again.
'No, why again?'
At Jo Seo-hee's gaze looking at her as if unjustly accused, Seo-yeon snorted and turned her head.
That was because she had never really heard Ji-yeon say thank you.
Since Ji-yeon was always cleaning up after Seo-yeon's matters, there were many times Seo-yeon said thank you, but the reverse was almost nonexistent.
'……Anyway.'
Seo-yeon glanced at Ji-yeon.
An audition.
She knew Ji-yeon's skills, but since it was Director Baek Min's film, it was hard to know what the judging criteria would be.
If they were together, she thought they could cheer each other on and do well…….
'It'll be fine.'
Still, Seo-yeon trusted Ji-yeon.
After all, Seo-yeon had watched Ji-yeon by her side for 10 years.
***
"CEO."
Manager Park Eun-ha had a considerably fatigued complexion due to having so much work lately.
That was only natural, as so many contacts had been coming to her phone recently.
Naturally, those contacts were all about Seo-yeon.
A rising star who was just starting to bloom.
Now was the time when she was cheapest, and there were many who aimed for this period.
Or, there were also those who considered Seo-yeon, whose name value had suddenly risen, as a 'bubble' and waited for the bubble to disappear.
They were waiting for her recently rebounded value to drop even a little.
"The advertisements are roughly this much, but we've also received a lot of requests for variety shows."
"Variety shows? Let's take a look."
Kang Chan-yul, the CEO of Nova Entertainment, reviewed the recent requests that had come in.
Seo-yeon was one of the few celebrities Kang Chan-yul personally managed.
As he had told Seo-yeon once, Kang Chan-yul thought of Seo-yeon as a star-like child.
An actor who would surely shine even more if she was polished and refined.
Therefore, it was only natural for Kang Chan-yul to check Seo-yeon's schedule.
Of course, Seo-yeon had agreed to this as well.
Since she still didn't properly understand how the industry worked.
"Which one do you think would be good?"
"Hmm."
Usually, for things like this, you had to consider the actor's disposition.
There were actors who never appeared on variety shows due to maintaining mystique.
There were also many who were selective about advertisements.
Since accepting just any advertisement could ruin your image.
'Thinking about the variety shows she filmed before…….'
And
Both were variety shows that Seo-yeon had really enjoyed.
Though the staff following the filming seemed to have had a very hard time.
"I think a slightly active variety show would be good……. Oh, this one's nice."
Muttering to himself like that, Kang Chan-yul nodded at one variety show.
Since she had been busy with recent filming too, it seemed good to give Seo-yeon some healing time this time.
'Is this healing?'
Of course, Park Eun-ha had that doubt when she saw it.
To put it bluntly, it seemed more like a broadcast that Kang Chan-yul himself would find healing.