I Want to Be a VTuber Chapter 157 (158/718)

PD Lee Min-hwa of was convinced that a lot was riding on this drama.

The viewership ratings to be tallied this time would serve as a major turning point, not simply for the drama's success, but for the power struggle within the KMB drama department.

"That's why this preview is truly important."

"But, will this work? Since there's no romance, after all."

At a staff member's words, Lee Min-hwa's eyes narrowed.

Of course, that staff member wasn't saying was boring.

Rather, they found it quite entertaining to watch.

However, the point was that this was a highly challenging drama.

'Even , which claimed to be a youth drama, had romance.'

Although it had many comedic elements, it properly included romance elements.

Moreover, the OST in the drama was exceptionally good, making it a commercially very successful drama compared to its story.

'But Sky Garden has no romance.'

'It might fit as a coming-of-age story, but...'

When people feel anxious, they naturally compare it to existing things.

If others have it and this one doesn't, they naturally become anxious.

Furthermore, broadcasting station PDs and staff already have a rough formula for a drama's success ingrained in their heads.

Yet was practically a drama that violated that head-on.

No romance.

The protagonist is a high school student.

And yet, it's awkward to even call it a youth drama.

It was a complicated drama in many ways.

"Well, that could be the case."

Lee Min-hwa, who was about to throw a fit, held back once.

It wasn't that she didn't understand their feelings.

"I think that anxiety will be relieved once this preview comes out."

At Lee Min-hwa's words, everyone's attention focused on her.

Did the preview turn out well?

But honestly, even if it turned out well, they weren't sure what kind of vibe it gave off.

Still, there was one thing.

There was one positive aspect in their minds.

'The protagonist is fine.'

'If it's Actor Joo Seo-yeon, at least there won't be a failure in acting.'

At least the protagonist.

The evaluation was that they cast the protagonist well.

Her acting skills were one thing, but Seo-yeon's recent buzz was exceptionally high.

Among actors of the same age, she was definitely a head above the rest.

Being mentioned alongside Jo Seo-hee said it all.

"At least when it comes to the lead, we aren't inferior to PD Baek's drama, right?"

"Yes, that's right. At least at this point in time. Still, the other side basically has name value."

PD Baek Tae-soo's drama, which would be compared to .

was a drama they poured all their efforts into in many ways.

Initially, the expected cost for the drama was double that of .

However, PD Baek succeeded in cutting that in half by fully utilizing his network.

So, comparing just the costs, it was on par with .

In many ways, it wasn't a good situation for them.

Simply comparing their weight class, they felt the opponent had a slight edge.

"Ah, but you saw that variety show, right?"

"The variety show?"

"You know, the one that came out on the other channel recently. The one Actor Joo Seo-yeon appeared on."

At that moment, trying to break the stiff atmosphere, a staff member spoke with a smile.

If it was the variety show aired on the rival channel, there was no one here who didn't know about it.

After all, it was the variety show featuring the actor who was starring as the lead in their drama.

"Of course I saw it. It was fun."

"That's Actor Joo Seo-yeon's mother, right? Her?"

"Yes, I heard so."

"Wow, she's really young. No, at that age, how can she look so young? My wife..."

They conversed like that.

Of course, given the setting, the conversation didn't last long.

It was just a brief topic to refresh the mood.

"That's good."

PD Lee Min-hwa, who was listening to the conversation, said with a smile.

"Pardon?"

"I heard Actor Joo Seo-yeon's mother became a hot topic this time. I heard it too."

"Ah, so you saw it too, PD-nim. It was quite a big issue after all."

"So, it seems like it would be good to briefly include an interview in the promotion this time."

"...Yes? Actor Joo Seo-yeon's mother?"

"Yes."

was a drama dealing with the relationship between parents and children.

So, apart from the current buzz, she felt that including interviews with the actors' parents wasn't a bad idea.

Of course, not a long one.

Just a short interview would do.

"If possible, it would be good to reach out to the mothers of the other young actors too."

Just enough backstory to briefly fit into this promotional video would be good.

"I will personally contact Actor Joo Seo-yeon."

PD Lee Min-hwa said so.

And then.

"Mom, the PD is asking if it's okay to do an interview for the drama?"

"..."

Soo-ah, who had already rejected all the ad offers, slumped to the floor the moment she heard those words.

Somehow, she felt this would be hard to refuse.

***

Anyway, whether it was drama promotion or variety shows.

Neither should be neglected.

Above all, the project to improve Seo-yeon's image was still ongoing.

'But wouldn't my image get weird again if my mom does an interview?'

Anyway, it was clear that Soo-ah had become a recent hot topic.

It felt like it wouldn't be bad for her to appear in the drama's promotion.

Coincidentally, dealt with the story of parents and children.

So, having the actual parents of the actors come out for promotion wouldn't feel bad.

Especially since most of the actors appearing this time weren't second-generation actors.

"Good, good! Cut, cut!"

At the commercial director's shout, Seo-yeon finally let out a sigh and relaxed her posture.

Today was the long-postponed ADIS commercial shoot day.

As soon as Seo-yeon sighed, a figure came running hastily from afar.

It was Assistant Manager Kim, an assistant manager in the ADIS advertising planning team.

The team leader was originally going to come, but their schedule got tangled up due to a recent issue, apparently.

'A recent issue...'

Seo-yeon had roughly heard the reason.

Was it called the Joo Seo-yeon Challenge?

She never expected it to become an issue like that.

'That's why when I went to the gym last time, everyone looked like they were expecting something.'

Of course, she went there to film for the observational variety show.

But coincidentally, the Joo Seo-yeon Challenge was in full swing at that time, so everyone was watching Seo-yeon.

That day, she didn't do any strength training, and just worked hard on flexibility and exercises appropriate for Seo-yeon's own image management.

"Not lifting weights?"

"Is Seo-yeon not feeling well today? You've lost a lot of mass."

"..."

From the gym trainers to the managers, they came out and kept glancing at Seo-yeon.

Among them was a male actor who frequently appeared at the gym, Jung Hyun-woo.

He often asked Seo-yeon this and that, and this time he boldly shouted:

"I will do the Joo Seo-yeon Challenge with Actor Joo Seo-yeon!"

Right here!

With those words, ADIS chairs were dragged out one by one, and seeing that, Seo-yeon almost fainted.

No, why are there ADIS chairs in a gym?

Such a thought crossed her mind, but it seemed the filming crew had brought them in advance.

Knowing it was being filmed, Jung Hyun-woo made Seo-yeon sit on the chair, then tried to lift the chair vigorously, and...

Well, the result was obvious.

"Ahem, hem."

Well, it was funny, but.

Apart from that, she didn't know if another weird image would stick to her once that aired.

Well, Seo-yeon had partly given up on such things now.

She felt it was better than being seen as a bizarre gorilla wielding a spear, though.

"More importantly, did it come out intellectually?"

"Pardon? Ah, of course, of course!"

Assistant Manager Kim said so and gave Seo-yeon a thumbs up.

The commercial came out quite good visually.

"But wouldn't it be better to include a scene of lifting the chair?"

"...Then it wouldn't be intellectual."

"Haha, just kidding!"

Anyway, Assistant Manager Kim was in a good mood.

The commercial actually came out well, in a normal way.

Internally, there was an opinion about inserting the recent hot topic 'Joo Seo-yeon Challenge' into the ad.

However, Kwak Hyun-woo, the head of the advertising planning team, shook his head at that.

"We are a chair company. No matter what, I don't think it's good to use such a meme in our advertisement."

He refused surprisingly firmly.

Instead, he argued that they should utilize the image of Seo-yeon coming from .

Naturally, there were many who opposed this.

"No, success is visible with this, so why go out of your way?"

"Right now, the Joo Seo-yeon Challenge is the issue, we need to utilize this!"

Such staff members, and even one of the directors, applied pressure in that way.

But Kwak Hyun-woo only shook his head.

Of course, with a director stepping in, it was difficult for Kwak Hyun-woo alone to reject all proposals.

Eventually, another director stepped forward to mediate.

"I think Team Leader Kwak is right. We are a chair company. Not a fitness equipment company, right?"

So, it passed over, but.

There were still a lot of complaints internally.

Why take a gamble when there's an easy path?

Roughly that kind of feeling.

'In that sense...'

Assistant Manager Kim said it as a joke, but the commercial actually came out quite well.

Was it 'Lee Yoo-ju'?

The role Seo-yeon took on in .

Even the current Seo-yeon honestly had an unapproachable vibe, but Lee Yoo-ju was completely different.

'An image that rejects others.'

It was an image that intensely projected a feeling of despising and loathing others.

Of course, the ad didn't express such an image.

Just an honor student.

And the image of a student studying earnestly.

But the intensity hidden beneath that struck Assistant Manager Kim vividly.

"You don't need to worry. I watched from the side, and it came out really incredibly well. I think it might even be our best commercial yet!"

"Then that's a relief."

Seeing Seo-yeon smiling politely, Assistant Manager Kim was genuinely curious about the effect of this commercial.

'Did they say the ad would air matching the date after starts broadcasting?'

He didn't know if it would be episode 2 or episode 3, but it would be around that time.

'Whether Team Leader's words will be a gain or a loss...'

Honestly, he didn't know well.

If it were Assistant Manager Kim, he would have definitely released an ad fully utilizing the 'Joo Seo-yeon Challenge'.

Looking at the recent appearance of Actor Joo Seo-yeon, he thought it might be a bit difficult.

No matter how intellectual or serious she appeared, if one only looked at her recent appearance on the variety show...

Rather, this serious atmosphere would only invite laughter.

Because that's the image a celebrity holds.

The new image of Seo-yeon that would bring.

He just hoped it would work well in the commercial.

***

Like that, the day before episode 2 of aired.

Seo-yeon was having some rest time for the first time in a while.

Her recently busy schedule was mostly sorted out, so she felt like resting a bit now.

"Hey, you. Don't tell me you watched... the VTuber stream?"

"..."

Seo-yeon avoided Ji-yeon's gaze at her words.

Lying would be pointless anyway, as it would definitely be mentioned in tomorrow's broadcast or episode 3.

Of course, Lee Ji-yeon seemed to roughly guess Seo-yeon's reaction and let out a sigh.

Sometimes, Seo-yeon wasn't very patient.

She was secretly impulsive, probably because she acted emotionally a lot.

Still, it was a relief that this was less than when she was in middle school.

Ji-yeon thought so and sighed.

She also had her own dark history around that time.

"I passed."

"Huh?"

"The audition for Gyeongseong Lady. I got a call this morning saying I passed."

At those words, Seo-yeon unconsciously jumped up.

When everyone looked at her, she realized this was a cafe and quietly sat back down.

"Isn't that Joo Seo-yeon?"

"No way."

"She's covering her face with a mask, so I'm not sure..."

She couldn't stop the surrounding voices from reaching her.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Seo-yeon spoke to Ji-yeon in a small voice.

"If something like that happened, you should have told me over the phone earlier."

"We can just talk about it when we meet anyway."

Ji-yeon snorted with a "Hmph," her demeanor so much like a delinquent that Seo-yeon thought, 'How does she have so many friends?'

"...But, it seems there's a bit of a problem."

"A problem?"

"Didn't you hear from Jo Seo-hee? Well, she might not have wanted to tell you."

Giving a bad impression for no reason wouldn't be good if you refuse to appear.

On the other hand, Ji-yeon had already passed the audition, and she told her because she knew how important this role was for an actor's life.

But Ji-yeon knew.

Seo-yeon would never run away once she made up her mind to appear.

"The role got a bit tangled."

"The role?"

"Originally, in Gyeongseong Lady, there is one servant under your role. The person who manages your household."

Seo-yeon knew that too.

It was a veteran actor, and that actor was practically the mastermind and villain of this movie.

Since it was such an important actor, she knew Director Baek Min chose the actor very carefully.

"But, of all things, that actor said he couldn't do it. To be exact, he apparently left saying he's going to film another movie."

"...What about the contract?"

"Since filming hasn't even started yet, he probably paid a little penalty fee and left. Or maybe not even that."

She didn't know exactly what happened on that end.

The important thing was that the role was empty.

"So, until they find an actor for that role, filming probably can't start."

Since it's Director Baek Min's movie, wouldn't they be able to cast someone quickly?

It's easy to think that way, but this is quite difficult.

First of all, the commercial aspect is weak and the contract fee is small, so big-name actors don't usually come unless they 'really want to appear!'.

On top of that, the empty role happens to be a villain.

Would there be a big-name actor who wants to come for a small amount of money to play a villain?

Not making money, just looking at the artistic value?

'There probably is one.'

If you look, there is.

But it would definitely take a lot of time.

"...That."

Seo-yeon hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

"Could you tell Jo Seo-hee if it's okay for me to recommend an actor?"

"You can just tell her yourself."

"I'm currently sulking at Jo Seo-hee."

"Why again."

Because of the delay in telling me the audition results, and that acting with Ramiel... Anyway, for such petty reasons, Seo-yeon was pretending to sulk at Jo Seo-hee lately.

It was just a joke, though.

"Alright, I'll contact her."

Seo-yeon nodded.

Anyway, a villain, a villain.

And an actor with a certain weight class that Director Baek Min would like.

If it's such an actor.

There was exactly one.

A person Seo-yeon knew.

"Oh, Miss Seo-yeon. It's been a while. You want to go fishing together? Ah, it's not fishing?"

A veteran actor who has been active for a long time.

An actor who, based on acting skills alone, ranked within the top five in South Korea.

Someone who returned after tasting bitter failure in his overseas expansion 5 years ago.

An actor who recently only appeared on , and occasionally kept in touch with Seo-yeon.

It was Actor Lee Sang-soo.