"Na-hee, your acting was really good!"
Director Kim Pil-seok said while clapping.
And the staff also looked at Cha Na-hee with surprised eyes.
It was the first praise she had received while filming
If it had only been polite applause until now, this time was different.
Everyone's reaction.
And, looking back at her own acting just now, she surprised herself too.
She didn't know she could do this much...
'No, was that even acting?'
As the heat that had burned her body cooled down, she recalled the live performance just now.
Live, no. Acting.
The moment Seo-yeon stepped forward and sang.
Originally, she was supposed to reduce her presence, or awkward acting was planned.
'As if asking if that was okay.'
Instead, she went all out and plundered Na-hee's presence.
Acting? Yes, it was acting.
Seo-yeon was a monster who could do such things while acting.
Na-hee felt that.
But she herself was not.
Because her pride as an idol couldn't accept it.
'The board was already set from that moment.'
Perhaps she felt it instinctively.
The moment Seo-yeon stepped forward, Cha Na-hee and Song So-ha's emotions had no choice but to align.
A scene not in the original script.
Flustered, and then bewildered.
The jealousy she had felt toward Seo-yeon all this time.
That became a stage the moment Seo-yeon stepped forward, making 'Cha Na-hee' appear as 'Song So-ha.'
'Is that what an actor is?'
She had felt something similar when filming with Park Jung-woo this time too.
But Seo-yeon's was rougher and more instinctive.
As if forcibly dragging her into that flow.
Thanks to that, Cha Na-hee was definitely Song So-ha on this stage.
And the applause that continued from the stage began to reach the viewers as well.
"Did you watch Dream Future episode 14 yesterday?"
"Wow, seriously no joke. Cha Na-hee as Song So-ha? Which group was she from? The live was insane."
"I'm just sad Jo Ha-rin got eliminated."
The showdown between Jo Ha-rin and Song So-ha.
Honestly, I forgot about the acting and it felt like a pure idol battle.
The protagonist in the drama is Song So-ha.
In that sense, the scene where Song So-ha takes a step further in the confrontation with Jo Ha-rin was extremely impressive.
And, that video.
"Pfft, she just plays with acting."
"You think so too, sunbae-nim?"
Lee Sang-soo and Song Kwang-min, who had appeared together on
It wasn't really a drama that suited them.
Even so, there was something that made them immersed.
By the time they came to their senses, they had already watched all of episode 14.
Especially yesterday's episode 14.
Any actor with a bit of discernment would have noticed right away.
"She naturally drew out the opposing actor's emotions. And that means she moved the viewers' emotions along with it."
"That's right. If she had done it wrong, it would have been a very uncomfortable scene."
"It was definitely an ad-lib, I'm sure."
If you replay the scene, the moment Seo-yeon steps forward, real emotion pops out of Cha Na-hee. But because it was extremely natural given the situation, none of the viewers noticed it was an NG.
The NG naturally connected to the flow of emotional change, and Cha Na-hee became Song So-ha.
"Acting of this level at this age..."
"It would be difficult without observing others' emotions for a very long time."
How could she do that at this age?
Such a question arose.
Her understanding of emotions was extremely deep.
'More precisely, it feels like she knows how people react in certain situations.'
It was as if the emotions others would show in response to her actions had been mechanically learned.
Naturally, considering Seo-yeon's age, it was absurd, but it simply felt that way.
"Sunbae-nim."
"Yes?"
"So, what are you going to do?"
Seo-yeon had asked Lee Sang-soo to watch this episode 14.
His intention was clearly visible.
"Our hoobae is tempting you to act like this, isn't she?"
"..."
He had failed in Hollywood and lost his passion for acting.
'Ember.'
Once, a hoobae close to him had said this.
'One who possesses starlight and embers.'
Unfortunately, Lee Sang-soo was one who possessed embers.
An actor who couldn't shine on his own like starlight, but acted while burning his body.
The fire had been beaten by freezing currents and extinguished, so it was difficult to ignite again.
Even when watching dramas or movies, he couldn't feel any enjoyment.
'But.'
Yesterday, for the first time in a while, he felt enjoyment.
He felt the desire to act again.
"Honestly, that's what I was thinking."
"Yes?"
"That I would completely retire after Star Fisherman ended."
"!!"
Song Kwang-min's eyes grew wide at hearing his inner thoughts for the first time.
Lee Sang-soo, who chuckled at seeing him, said,
"But, it seems I won't be able to do that after all."
The ember that the young hoobae had breathed life into.
It was glowing faintly.
And, the person who had breathed in that ember.
"Could you... teach me that song a little?"
"...Yes?"
Was making a personal request to Cha Na-hee.
***
So to speak, it was when she was shopping with Lee Ji-yeon.
Seo-yeon wasn't the type to go clothes shopping on her own.
She wore whatever her mom Soo-ah picked out, and didn't really care about fashion in the first place.
"Joo Seo-yeon, with that pretty face, why can't you use it?"
"I use it for acting."
".........."
"Sorry."
Seo-yeon obediently apologized at Lee Ji-yeon's fierce glare.
She thought it was a somewhat humorous answer, but it seemed Lee Ji-yeon didn't think so.
Anyway, she really hadn't thought about clothes before.
But recently, walking around with Ji-yeon, she was definitely getting a bit more interested.
Looking at Seo-yeon like that, Ji-yeon spoke with some hesitation.
"...You strangely like skirts."
"Because they're comfortable."
"You're probably the only one who thinks skirts are comfortable."
Well, to be honest, they are comfortable.
In terms of activity.
However, that also comes with surrounding gazes, and if you even try to run a little, it rides up, making it difficult.
'Looking closely, it seems like she doesn't really know embarrassment.'
The kid was sometimes emotionally dull, but surely she couldn't not know that.
Skirts are cool in summer, but cold in winter.
However, Seo-yeon mostly lived in her school uniform, but she definitely preferred skirts.
'This is definitely the influence of the ajumma's education.'
Actually, when she was young, Seo-yeon only wore pants.
So Lee Ji-yeon also thought Seo-yeon was strange, but when Soo-ah kept putting them on her, it ended up like this.
'Hmm.'
However, Ji-yeon was inwardly uncomfortable with Soo-ah.
It was all because of what happened in middle school...
"Yes? OST work?"
At that moment, Seo-yeon's voice was heard.
OST?
"What's going on?"
"Well..."
Seo-yeon hesitated, wondering what to say first.
Should she start with the part about possibly becoming the lead in a drama?
'But...'
By this point, Ji-yeon could also sense it.
It felt like only she was consecutively landing roles.
Ji-yeon herself hadn't been able to find any decent roles since the cable drama.
She said she was taking a break, but.
"They contacted me asking if I could take the lead role in a new drama."
"From manager unni?"
"Yeah."
They said it was a script that was originally going to a cable channel.
The scriptwriter was Min Se-hee.
Since she was someone who hadn't yet handled a proper work.
But because the latter half of
Coincidentally, it was a drama with young actors as the main cast, just like
They received a proposal to try airing it on KMB.
Hearing that, Min Se-hee requested if she could use Seo-yeon as the lead, and that was approved by the higher-ups.
"Also, since she showed quite a good live performance in this
"It seems they brought up whether she'd like to try working on an OST."
Seo-yeon said calmly, trying not to show that she was concerned.
Fortunately, Ji-yeon didn't seem to think much of it.
'What can I do.'
Of course she wasn't unconcerned.
However, Ji-yeon knew Seo-yeon well.
A young star.
Having watched her constantly since she was young, she also knew how big the difference between them was.
Even so, leaving her be was also worrying, and her pride wouldn't allow it.
'
The opportunity Jo Seo-hee had brought.
It was definitely brought with the cunning thought of wanting to act together with Seo-yeon, but this was also a great opportunity for Ji-yeon.
In that regard, she was truly grateful to Jo Seo-hee.
'I definitely have to pass the audition.'
They said it was a film by Director Baek Min, who prefers art films, so the competition rate might not be that high.
But, you never know.
"But Lee Ji-yeon."
"What."
"...By any chance, could I learn from that person again from last time?"
The 'magician' who occasionally does a collab stream with 'Lamiel.'
She was definitely talking about Ha Da-young.
'That person?'
At the strangely distant form of address, Lee Ji-yeon tilted her head.
However, suddenly recalling how Seo-yeon became strangely prickly whenever the 'magician' collabed with 'Lamiel,' she chuckled.
For someone like that, she was learning singing from Ha Da-young.
The magician was definitely good at singing.
Her teaching skills were also good.
"But, unni went to Japan."
"?"
"She has a meeting with... some company in Japan."
"Oh, for how long?"
"Probably won't be back this month?"
She was about to say it was a VTuber agency but decided not to mention it.
Since this side was what they commonly called the red pill category.
It was a funny thing to say, but Seo-yeon was very thorough about those things.
"...Really?"
At Ji-yeon's words, Seo-yeon was flustered.
That was because, before the OST, there was talk of doing a test at the studio.
That day was exactly 2 weeks later.
If she showed a terrible appearance then, the OST could be canceled.
'I don't want that.'
Honestly, she wanted to try working on the OST.
Anyway, she wanted to try anything she was doing for the first time.
More than anything, since everyone kept saying she was good at singing, wasn't it human nature to want to sing more?
'Since I'll be a VTuber, it'll be useful too...'
Now muttering such words like an excuse, Seo-yeon greedily pursued the OST work.
'Come to think of it, saying I'll take on the OST means I also agreed to take the lead role.'
She wondered if she had accepted too thoughtlessly.
But, the audition for the action movie planned by GH Group hadn't even been scheduled yet anyway.
And
So Seo-yeon had become quite free now.
"Usually at times like that, you take a break by filming commercials or appearing on variety shows."
Manager Park Eun-ha had said, but she wasn't really inclined to do so.
Seo-yeon's overflowing stamina couldn't be satisfied with commercials.
'What should I do...'
Seo-yeon hesitated.
Was there no one around she could ask for help?
The moment she was thinking that, one person came to mind.
Coincidentally, among the people she filmed with, there was an idol she had become close to!
***
"A guest?"
Ra-bin of the girl group 'Summer Girls' tilted her head at Cha Na-hee's words.
"Ah, yeah."
Cha Na-hee said ambiguously.
Cha Na-hee's position within the group was微妙.
Precisely, in terms of human relationships.
By chance, she blew up on a variety show and monopolized the popularity alone.
She also had the most broadcast activities.
This time, she proved her skills with
Anyway, because of that, there was a sense of distance between the other members and Cha Na-hee.
'She just got lucky.'
Ra-bin frowned as she looked at Cha Na-hee.
When they first debuted, Cha Na-hee had the lowest ranking among the members.
There were even rumors that she was selected for her visuals.
'Except for her looks and singing.'
Ra-bin tried hard to think that way and pondered.
'Even if Na-hee brings someone, it'll probably be nothing special.'
Cha Na-hee was on the timid side within the group.
She thought a lot and was careful about making friends, so the people she knew were generally boring people.
"Sure, whatever."
So Ra-bin, the leader of 'Summer Girls,' gave permission without making a big deal of it.
And, the next day.
"Hello."
"..."
A slightly stiff voice.
Long, straight black hair, and a neat school uniform.
A white face and a beauty stunning enough to give goosebumps filled their vision.
This is an actor.
On top of that, the girl who had ridden the wave of the trend in one stroke with
Joo Seo-yeon had calmly greeted them.
And as she looked at them being flustered, Seo-yeon thought,
'Her legs are really thin.'
If I kicked them, they'd probably break—she was thinking something like that.