Cho Seo-hee has been in a good mood lately.
It was because Seo-yeon, who seemed a little upset, had been feeling quite affectionate recently.
'Is it because we went to that upper-class party together?'
She couldn't know the exact reason.
However, it was certain that her favorability had risen recently.
The frequency of her answering calls had increased, and if this continued, she might soon let her speak casually to her!
'The things I'm preparing with Lee Ji-yeon are also making steady progress.'
To be honest, Seo-hee hadn't been very interested in what Ji-yeon mentioned.
At least, not at first.
She just thought of it as an internet streamer who broadcasts using a strange avatar.
'It has its own marketability.'
That was the thought that crossed her mind after grasping the situation to some extent.
'The biggest thing is that the face doesn't get known.'
For a streamer, getting one's face known is a natural thing.
But with this 'Virtual YouTuber' thing, there's no chance of the face getting known.
Unless something extreme happens, one's identity won't be specified, so even if a controversy arises, it ends at the 'avatar' level.
The fact that it doesn't deeply affect one's personal information or life.
At least, that's how it looked to Cho Seo-hee, a celebrity.
'...A place where one can receive viewers' attention while receiving relatively less stress, I suppose.'
Since she's a streamer, she can't avoid stress completely.
However, being able to interact with viewers while hiding her identity felt like a tremendous advantage to Cho Seo-hee.
Virtual YouTuber.
Avatar.
And anime art style.
These elements didn't really matter to Cho Seo-hee.
To be honest, she didn't feel any particular excitement.
She just thought, 'So this is how they do it here.'
Rather, it's cute.
It seems like it would be nice to spend money and make it pretty.
That was the extent of Seo-hee's impression.
Actually, for people like Ji-yeon and Seo-hee, even if they watch anime or VTubers, they don't pay much attention. Most just think, 'I guess that's how it is.'
"Hey, Cho Seo-hee. Aren't you spending too much money?"
Seeing Seo-hee eagerly doing market research and working even harder on creating the avatar, Ji-yeon was startled.
She recommended it because it looked somewhat fun, but she didn't expect her to prepare so passionately.
"It looks good to do as a side job on days without filming."
"That's true."
There aren't many channels to comfortably communicate with viewers.
Of course, she's hiding the fact that she is 'Actress Lee Ji-yeon', but it's convenient for subtly gauging the public's reaction.
For example, if she asks, 'This OO drama was fun, have you perhaps watched it?', she gets immediate feedback.
Of course, the viewer demographics don't overlap much, but she could ask about this and that.
And for a celebrity, communicating with viewers had a way of fulfilling something in their heart.
It was a Virtual YouTuber she learned about thanks to Seo-yeon, but in this regard, it brought a lot of comfort to Ji-yeon.
'I thought she'd take some interest, but...'
Cho Seo-hee prepared and researched much more than Ji-yeon had thought.
No, it even seemed like she knew more than she did now.
Unlike herself, who had received help from a 'wizard', Cho Seo-hee felt like she had used her family's power to scrape together all sorts of information.
"But, Seo-yeon likes this, right?"
"...Seo-yeon?"
Ji-yeon looked puzzled by Seo-hee's strange tone.
"Since the party last time, we've been speaking comfortably."
"Only you?"
"...It's only me, but."
"Hmph," Cho Seo-hee crossed her arms and glared at Lee Ji-yeon with a look that asked if she really had to point that out.
But soon, she slowly lowered her gaze.
Although Cho Seo-hee was often told by others that she was intimidating, she thought Lee Ji-yeon's appearance was even more intimidating.
If her own appearance gave off an arrogant vibe, Lee Ji-yeon's appearance was the kind that made people nervously take money out of their wallets.
It was common for that type to lead a group of schoolgirls around.
Lee Ji-yeon had denied it, but it was still suspicious.
There wouldn't be any school violence controversy, right?
"...Sometimes you look at me with really annoying eyes."
"I-It must be your imagination."
Brat.
She's quick on the uptake too. Cho Seo-hee coughed, "Ahem," and averted her gaze.
Anyway.
'The vibe has been good lately.'
They say Seo-yeon likes this Virtual YouTuber thing.
If she appears showing a friendly side through 'Lamiel', Seo-yeon will definitely like it.
And Cho Seo-hee had already watched Lamiel's streams several times.
Including the sight of the person presumed to be Seo-yeon pouring in a ton of money.
Lamiel would usually kick that Seo-yeon out.
Or only occasionally acknowledge her words at best.
'Me too.'
She said Ji-yeon would guide Seo-yeon to watch Seo-hee's stream.
Then, wouldn't she be able to communicate with Seo-yeon just like Ji-yeon?
In other words, Joo Seo-yeon becomes her fan!
Thinking about it like that made her feel strangely proud.
'At this rate, we'll be besties in no time.'
These were the kinds of thoughts she had lately.
"Ahem, hem. Hey, Seo-yeon. Let's work hard on today's filming too, okay?"
It was now the final filming to determine the actors passing from Group A.
Once this was over, all that remained were the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
And finally, the finals.
Since it was quite important, she planned not to betray her as much as possible today.
No matter what, if she betrayed her here, it might not just end with her being upset.
When she greeted Seo-yeon with such a refreshing feeling.
"..."
Joo Seo-yeon's gaze was strangely fierce.
A face looking her up and down as if scrutinizing her in various ways.
"W-Why?"
When the flustered Cho Seo-hee asked, Seo-yeon shook her head.
'No matter how I think about it, it seems like Cho Seo-hee.'
The person who gets involved with Ji-yeon the most lately is Cho Seo-hee.
It was bound to be suspicious.
Of course, she also wondered why Cho Seo-hee would do something like being a VTuber.
But Seo-yeon's intuition pointed to Cho Seo-hee.
Seo-yeon's intuition was overtly good, so it was usually accurate.
"Hmm."
Just when did she get so close to Ji-yeon?
This was a very complicated feeling.
Of course, Seo-yeon didn't feel any strong emotions about Ji-yeon making friends.
Because Ji-yeon originally had a lot of friends.
However, if that friend was Lamiel's, it was a different story.
'That's too much.'
Seo-yeon's hands trembled.
I've been watching since Lamiel's pre-debut days.
I communicated so eagerly and liked her for longer!
With Cho Seo-hee suddenly swooping in like a hawk and proudly taking that seat next to her, it was only natural for her hands and feet to tremble and her eyes to fill with jealousy and all sorts of emotions.
Of course, Ji-yeon would be shocked if she knew, but how could she have imagined that her friend would be so overly immersed in 'Lamiel'?
But apart from that.
'A VTuber friend increased.'
That was a part she liked.
If Cho Seo-hee was really that silhouette.
If she really took an interest in VTubers and joined Ji-yeon.
Wouldn't they be able to have conversations related to it?
Of course, she wasn't talking about Cho Seo-hee's 'avatar' side.
Strictly personal conversation.
With Ji-yeon, she couldn't really have that kind of conversation, actually.
Because she tended to separate Lamiel and Ji-yeon as different individuals.
But Cho Seo-hee seemed highly likely to bring up that topic first herself.
Even if not about the avatar, in some other direction.
Then they could naturally have conversations about that field.
That was something she was a little looking forward to.
But apart from that.
"Today's last preliminary mission is a large-scale fighting scene."
The last mission of the
Apart from just liking it a little.
Because a fire was still burning in Seo-yeon's heart.
"W-Why are you looking at me?"
At the words 'fighting scene', Cho Seo-hee looked at Seo-yeon with a tense face.
Because Seo-yeon's gaze towards her was very ominous for some reason.
And.
- Does Joo Seo-yeon have bad feelings towards Cho Seo-hee?
- If you betray someone twice, you deserve to get hit.
- Cho Seo-hee's acting is good.
- ???Acting??? Is it really acting??
- Cho Seo-hee isn't moving, isn't she dead?
- Seo-hee got wrecked ㅜㅜㅜ
Anyway, as if being avenged for her betrayals so far, Cho Seo-hee rolled.
She rolled very diligently.
Cho Seo-hee also received the hits well in her own way, so a decent picture came out.
Of course, I'm not sure if it was her intention.
"Then, I will announce the final passers of the preliminaries last."
Round of 16.
Those who first stepped onto the plateau of the Round of 16, proving not only their action skills but also their acting prowess.
Min Do-ha finally let out a sigh of relief as he waited for actor Cha Min-gyu's announcement.
'It's over now.'
Strangely enough, Seo-yeon didn't chase him today.
So he was able to participate in the filming with a relatively relaxed mind.
Yes, this is filming.
What he had been doing so far wasn't filming or acting, but real.
Everyone was babbling about method acting or whatever, but it was all nonsense.
Min Do-ha really ran to survive.
To survive from that monster of a girl.
But that monster bitch.
It was time to part ways with Joo Seo-yeon too.
'Anyway, it was relatively boring today.'
He thought he couldn't match the impact he usually showed while being chased by Joo Seo-yeon.
'Yeah, this is about it.'
Through this audition, Min Do-ha felt his limits.
He was confident that he could use his body well and act to some extent.
But there were plenty of actors of that level.
He couldn't find someone like Cho Seo-hee with her intelligent acting, or someone like Han Soo-yoo who could make him shine.
Just average.
To the extent that he wondered if his name would even be mentioned if it weren't for Joo Seo-yeon.
'Yeah, so this is where I end.'
Min Do-ha muttered to himself again like that and looked at actor Cha Min-gyu.
To know who the final passer to the Round of 16 would be.
"Joo Seo-yeon, Cho Seo-hee, and Min Do-ha and Han Soo-yoo."
"?"
"That's right, these four. Congratulations!"
At the same time, applause burst out from all directions.
Applause congratulating the pass.
Or applause for the fact that they themselves didn't make it.
However, no one thought it was unfair that those four passed.
Everyone was convinced.
"Do-ha, congratulations."
"It was truly an incredible passionate performance. I learned a lot."
The actors who had matched moves with him in the last mission sent congratulatory applause to Min Do-ha.
Of course, Min Do-ha felt like crying.
In many ways.
***
KMB Broadcasting Station.
Drama Department Conference Room.
Several PDs gathered, discussing the schedule and programming for upcoming broadcasts.
What to push for the prime time slot.
And how to release shows according to the recently changed viewer tendencies.
"Let's decide this first."
It was PD Baek Tae-soo who spoke with a smile.
The one who had protected Writer Lim Jin-ha in
He opened his mouth while quietly looking at PD Lee Min-hwa, who was in charge of
"Sky Garden. What do you think about this?"
"Well..."
The other PDs briefly trailed off at PD Baek Tae-soo's words.
If Drama Department Director Ha Tae-o had been there, he would have said 'It's good'.
However, Drama Department Director Ha Tae-o did not participate in today's meeting.
To be precise, he couldn't.
Because he was out for a while due to personal matters.
It was also because everything was going to be reported anyway.
Anyway, because of that, PD Baek Tae-soo could speak with more force.
In this KMB, PD Baek Tae-soo's power was very great, and there were almost no people with similar seniority.
A position virtually aiming for the next Drama Department Director.
Therefore, the PDs couldn't help but watch his mood.
"To be honest, there are many concerning parts."
"Right."
PD Baek Tae-soo looked at PD Lee Min-hwa again.
Because of that, PD Lee Min-hwa's eyes frowned slightly.
As if enjoying that, PD Baek Tae-soo's eyes curved softly.
"You used a lot of good actors. Even the most talked-about actors recently were heavily cast. For example... like Joo Seo-yeon."
Only two works now.
But a young actress who left more of an impression than that.
One of the actors the market is paying attention to recently.
Plus, the second
"No, it's actually awkward to call it a youth drama. It's a drama that satirizes society."
PD Baek Tae-soo wasn't simply slandering
Actually, the other PDs clearly had anxious expressions too.
"It was originally a script meant for cable channels, right?"
"...Yes."
"As expected, because it lacks romance."
It's not that it lacks romance, it's that there is none.
This was quite a fatal problem on public broadcasting.
At least the higher-ups think so.
"The writer who wrote the script is also practically writing her first work. Of course, I think she did a great job filling in the holes of Writer Lim Jin-ha in Dream Future. I'm sure she's a writer who will achieve great results later."
However.
"There's no guarantee that will be this work."
The risk of a first work is that big.
But
Because the level of the cast was very high.
"Are you going to put romance in?"
"They say that's absolutely not allowed."
"Hmm..."
"Fortunately, there are many other good ones besides Sky Garden."
"But the Director seems to like Sky Garden."
"The Director's opinion has already been reflected a lot. But, this is another matter..."
The PDs said so and watched PD Baek Tae-soo's mood.
The dramas currently being pushed by KMB were largely three.
One was
But to the higher-ups, it was a drama with high risk.
The other two.
One of them was a drama directly taken on by PD Baek Tae-soo.
Top-tier actors.
They also brought in Writer Kim Myung-yeon, who had produced hit works consecutively.
A drama with romance added, which the higher-ups would like.
"What do you think? Which drama should we put our weight behind?"
Such words from PD Baek Tae-soo heavily pressed down on the KMB Drama Department conference room.