Sunyang Media.
An internet newspaper primarily specializing in entertainment industry news.
It maintained a moderate neutrality, and being exceptionally fast with entertainment news, it boasted a large readership relative to its size.
However, some recent news had emerged from that place.
Specifically, rumors concerning the recently trending actress Joo Seo-yeon.
"I thought it was strangely quiet after
At a colleague's words, a female reporter's gaze shifted.
Han Sun-ah.
Seo-yeon's number one fan, and the one who still regularly covered articles about her.
"Yes, that's actually why I recently took a trip to Japan."
"Ah, because of the Japanese broadcast filming they mentioned?"
"Yes. That, among other things."
Han Sun-ah had indeed recently visited Japan.
Though it felt like she'd have to go right back again soon.
The reason she went to cover the story back then was because Seo-yeon, having just wrapped up
"I figured she'd shoot some CFs off the back of
"Honestly, I'm a bit worried myself."
Of course, from a reporter's perspective, Seo-yeon's relentless activity wasn't a bad thing.
After all, it just meant more material to write about.
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Especially a rising star, an actress who had delivered back-to-back successful projects.
Even more so if she was considered the leading figure of the past year.
But as a fan, it was inevitably worrisome.
"
Even compared to a decade ago when TV drama ratings were soaring at their peak, it was undeniably a hit.
To put it in perspective, it was the equivalent of ratings nearing the 50% mark, surpassing 40%.
Naturally, the market value of the actors involved in the drama skyrocketed, and the evaluation of the screenwriter soared as well.
In particular, Min Se-hee, who followed up
"It's hard enough just to get interviews with the
"Especially the younger actors; they have a lot of pride."
It made sense.
Initially, they had readily accepted interviews.
They probably thought that with
However, what the reporters were mostly curious about were details concerning the protagonist, 'Joo Seo-yeon'.
What it was like on set.
And what they thought after seeing her acting.
Those sorts of questions, which could be considered quite rude.
After receiving those questions a few times, most of the actors began refusing interviews altogether.
"I'm saying this, but I asked the exact same questions."
The colleague reporter smiled awkwardly.
Still, he had managed to get some answers.
The lead actor who played the son of the Lee Hyuk-soo family in
Kim Hyun-seok, who played the role of Lee Min-hyuk, the older brother of Lee Min-seo.
He had seemed so immensely proud that the reporter couldn't dare bring up Joo Seo-yeon, but Hyun-seok spoke up first.
"Unless you've directly faced Joo Seo-yeon's acting head-on, you might wonder what's so impressive about it."
Kim Hyun-seok said that in a somewhat brusque, yet deeply serious tone.
"Honestly, when acting opposite her directly, it's even difficult to properly receive her lines. There's such a thing as an acting tone, right? You can feel it instantly. Like, 'Ah, she's holding back out of consideration for me so I can keep up.'"
"It feels that way to you?"
"Ah, of course it varies from scene to scene. When she eases up, it’s not noticeable. But there are parts where the emotions overflow.
The latter half of the drama, where Lee Yoo-ju's emotions erupted, was exactly like that.
"...Honestly, I was lacking a lot in this drama. But if I get to film with her again next time, it will be different."
"Phew, you're too humble. Your passionate acting was incredible too, Actor Kim Hyun-seok. Honestly, I was completely mesmerized."
"Thank you."
Kim Hyun-seok smiled comfortably as he said that.
Then, he briefly gestured with his hands, indicating that this was just his personal opinion.
"Of course, she's so busy that I don't know if we'll ever work together again. I heard she recently went to Japan to film another new movie?"
"Ah, I believe it's not for the movie she recently filmed."
"Is that so? Ah, this is completely unrelated, but I have some information I heard from an acquaintance in Japan recently..."
What Kim Hyun-seok said next was quite shocking.
"Asher Baldwin?"
"That's right."
"Is it really okay to give me such crucial information?"
"Everyone knows you're her number one fan, Sun-ah. Besides, I don't have the time or energy to fly all the way to Japan. I'm too busy interviewing the other actors."
It was honestly a bit of a waste.
A waste, but what he was currently covering was extremely important as well.
He had just secured an exclusive scoop on Director Jo Bang-woo's new film.
After some inner conflict, he ended up handing it over to Han Sun-ah, a reporter he was at least somewhat close with.
'Having a debt owed by Reporter Han Sun-ah wouldn't be a bad thing.'
Han Sun-ah was a passionate reporter, quick on her feet and highly proactive.
If he held a debt over her, she would definitely bring back information of equal value and share it with him.
Especially...
'This Asher Baldwin thing.'
And the matters regarding the Gyeongseong Young Lady.
"This year was already incredible, but... I'm really looking forward to next year."
Handing the information over to Sun-ah, the colleague said.
Sun-ah, itching to fly right back to Japan, nodded her head.
This had been the year Joo Seo-yeon was crowned the 'Rising Star'.
Most reporters believed it would be difficult for her to achieve a career higher than this year, but Han Sun-ah thought differently.
'Considering the Gyeongseong Young Lady, and the story I just heard...'
And then there was
Anticipation was already beginning to build.
For Joo Seo-yeon's next year.
***
"The scene we're shooting today might seem a little light, but it's an incredibly important scene within the work."
Director Baek Min addressed the staff and actors on set.
The scuffle scene between Kasugayama Yuina and Amanabi Michiko.
It could be simply summarized as such, but it was a highly crucial scene.
It was the part where Kasugayama Yuina forgot her own position and ended up fighting Michiko.
In their childhood, Michiko and Yuina had met and were clearly close to being friends.
However, due to incidents that occurred later, they had grown apart.
What had happened between Michiko and Yuina's parents.
And Yeon Seon-ye wedging her way between them.
It was essentially a part where all three leading actresses appeared.
'Even just from reading the script, it's a part where emotions run high.'
Skimming through the section, Seo-yeon fell into deep thought.
A scene that at first glance seemed emotionally excessive.
Spoken positively, it was designed to move the audience's emotions.
'Spoken negatively, it could come off as cringeworthy.'
In truth, Seo-yeon disliked terms like "cringeworthy" or "emotionally excessive."
Of course, she was aware that the recent trend favored subdued, subtle emotional portrayals.
However, too many words and scenes had become unusable simply because they could be labeled as "cringeworthy."
'Yet, they boldly included a scene like this.'
She didn't think of it in a negative light.
However, in parts like this, clumsy acting made it look even worse.
It would fail to guide the audience's emotions and only highlight the melodramatic aspect.
Thus, Seo-yeon had no choice but to give it her all, putting even more emotion into it than usual.
However.
'Can I pull it off properly?'
Seo-yeon clenched her fists tightly as she pondered.
It was a flaw she had shown even in
When she became overly immersed in her acting, she sometimes slipped out of control.
'...There definitely was a feeling of going a bit overboard.'
She might boast about the Invincible TS's physique, but it was slightly overly powerful.
In the first place, Seo-yeon didn't even know the limits of her own strength.
Because she could generally do anything she set her mind to.
Therefore, she never had the occasion to go all out, nor could she.
'Is there some reason for it?'
She didn't know.
Regardless, right now, the goal was to not make the same mistake she did in
"What's wrong?"
Jo Seo-hee, seeing Seo-yeon's expression, quietly asked.
"It's nothing."
"Hmm."
At Seo-yeon's response, Jo Seo-hee narrowed her eyes.
It didn't seem like it was nothing.
"You need to do this properly."
"Pardon?"
"I mean the acting. Don't hold back out of consideration for me. Like you did in
Consideration?
Seo-yeon blinked for a moment.
"I didn't particularly hold back back then either."
"Hmph, what nonsense. It was completely obvious? The actors receiving it probably felt it even more intensely. It was completely different when you acted with Actress Im Yi-ran compared to Actor Kim Hyun-seok."
Actress Im Yi-ran played the matriarch of the Lee Hyuk-soo family in
She was the actress who played the role of Gil Soo-jin, the wife of the Lee Hyuk-soo family.
As an actress famous for her acting prowess, the gap between her and Kim Hyun-seok was inevitable.
Of course, the viewers might not have noticed.
But Jo Seo-hee couldn't help but notice.
Because she had been watching Seo-yeon's acting all along.
"Of course, I know you won't do a half-hearted job. But I was looking forward to it."
Jo Seo-hee said as she crossed her arms.
Perhaps because she was in costume as Amanabi Michiko.
Her appearance looked twice as villainous as usual, like an evil noble lady.
"You'll have to do this properly in more ways than one."
In more ways than one.
It was a highly meaningful statement.
"You're going to get hurt at this rate."
At her words, Lee Ji-yeon, who happened to walk up beside them, spoke up.
Today's shoot wasn't just for Seo-yeon and Jo Seo-hee; it was a scene where Lee Ji-yeon was filming together with them.
'That sounded like something a punk would say.'
If she weren't disguised as the gentle Yeon Seon-ye and was in her usual Ji-yeon persona, it definitely would have felt that way.
"I'm fi-fine with getting a little hurt."
Seo-yeon looked at Jo Seo-hee, who answered with a trembling voice, in a new light.
Well, given what had happened recently, she obviously knew.
'She was thrown around by a hyper-action star in the first place, so there's no way she wouldn't know.'
Yet she had been so nonchalant about it that it made Seo-yeon wonder if she didn't know.
But seeing that reaction, she clearly did know.
The fact that she could still say that despite knowing meant she valued the work that much.
'"I'm serious when it comes to acting," she had said.'
During the recent pajama party, Seo-yeon had heard a bit about Jo Seo-hee's past.
For instance, the circumstances that led her to spit out the word 'parachute'.
Hearing that, Seo-yeon couldn't help but understand.
Of course, regardless of understanding, she would continue to speak formally to her.
It was all because Jo Seo-hee's reactions were just too entertaining.
Thinking up to that point, Seo-yeon let out a small snort of laughter.
"Of course, I'll do it properly."
Seo-yeon unclenched her fists.
She had been worried that immersing herself in the character's emotions might accidentally lead to a mistake.
But it was merely a worry.
Seo-yeon had put in a great deal of effort so far, and the people around her had helped her a lot.
"There won't be any mistakes."
With Seo-yeon's declaration, filming began in earnest.
***
"Senior."
An actor approached Lee Sang-soo, who had been quietly observing the set, and struck up a conversation.
It was Hwang Cheol-hoon, the actor who played the male villain tasked with killing Michiko early on in the Amanabi family.
"I don't think you have a shoot today?"
"But Seo-yeon's acting is here."
Speaking as if it were no big deal, his words surprised Hwang Cheol-hoon.
The Lee Sang-soo he knew was the type who didn't care much about others.
"It seems the rumors are true."
"Rumors?"
"The rumor that Actress Joo Seo-yeon dragged Actor Lee Sang-soo back into this industry."
"That's correct."
Lee Sang-soo didn't deny it.
It was a connection that began with
When he first received the offer back then, he thought of her as a somewhat audacious girl.
However, since he didn't dislike that kind of audacity, he had simply been persuaded once his heart moved.
But upon actually acting opposite her, he realized she wasn't an actress who only had audacity.
"When the movie premieres, there's going to be a huge commotion. No one would have ever guessed that Actor Lee Sang-soo would be in this film."
"Well, even without me..."
Lee Sang-soo trailed off there, gazing at the set where filming had just begun.
A set reproducing the streets of Seoul during the Japanese colonial era.
The extras filling the streets, and Michiko and Yuina, who bumped into each other there.
If it had been a simple encounter, it might have just passed by.
However, as Yuina looked at Yeon Seon-ye and Michiko, she sensed a strange tension between them.
It wasn't simply because of their relationship, but because she could roughly guess the reason why Michiko was acting that way.
Yuina had already been feeling disillusioned with her own goals due to the recent incident with Goto Isamu.
Did she really have to kill Michiko?
And could she really kill Yeon Seon-ye?
Those sorts of agonizing doubts.
Of course, to Yuina, who was in a situation bordering on resignation, seeing Michiko like that was like lighting a fuse to gunpowder.
That was why she had no choice but to jump out.
Because Yuina was the only one who had read Michiko's true intent.
「Michiko!!」
Piercing through the noise of the massive crowd, Yuina's voice rang out.
At her voice, Michiko's gaze shifted.
Simultaneously, Yeon Seon-ye's eyes moved as well.
However, there was no time for them to react.
Dropping the pipe she always carried onto the ground, Yuina grabbed Michiko by the collar.
Gripping Michiko's collar with both hands, she slammed her straight against the wall.
「You.」
Until just a moment ago, Yuina had been in a half-dazed state.
She had clashed with Goto Isamu, and she herself had lost her sense of direction.
But as she absentmindedly tailed the two after bumping into them, she had realized it.
Michiko's true intent.
「You're planning to die, aren't you?」
Because she had read her heart, the one that had resolved to commit suicide.