Youngbin was in a good mood today.
It was thanks to the smooth conclusion of his talks with the company.
"You really want to make games that badly?"
The director of Raywill Games, who had known him for over 10 years, laughed heartily as he said that.
He never imagined Youngbin would still harbor such feelings after all this time.
"Recently, there's a new project at the company. It seems they want to establish an independent development studio under our company's umbrella. In the form of an investment, that is."
"...Why?"
"Come on, man. Why 'why'? Why does that even come out? It's not like the CEO told me to do so. And..."
"And?"
"There's a partner company."
Was our CEO really that serious about games?
'But a partner company?'
Did our company even need to bring in a partner?
Ah, could it be?
'Nah, no way.'
There was one thing that nagged at him, but surely not.
Since the director said they'd properly discuss it later, Youngbin nodded.
It wasn't a bad offer for him, after all.
Anyway, while Youngbin was a bit ambiguous, he was precisely the talent that fit those requirements.
Not a single project had failed under him so far.
A veteran with extensive experience in many ways.
Moreover, with deep popularity within the company, there was no better choice than him.
'It's amazing how he still seems so young despite his age.'
The director thought that while patting Youngbin's shoulder.
Of course, he didn't forget to give him a smack for saying "Why?"
Honestly, as he gets older and his head gets bigger, now he even talks back.
Thinking such thoughts.
Anyway, work at the company was proceeding smoothly as well.
Youngbin, who had been in a good mood lately for various reasons, returned home with light steps.
'Seeing the shoes, Seoyeon's back!'
When he arrived home, Seoyeon's shoes were laid out, which was rare.
Since she was a busy daughter, it was always non-stop filming after school ended.
So she usually came home much later than Youngbin.
Hadn't she said she'd have a lot of free time after the Japan shoot ended?
"Our little headbutting dinosaur, playing games again!"
Saying that, he knocked twice on Seoyeon's door and opened it.
After not knocking last time and nearly getting a hole in his side from two strikes of the Yellow Heaven's Finger Poke, he'd made sure to knock politely since.
"Not here?"
The house was quiet; had Sooa and their second daughter Sooyeon gone somewhere too?
With that thought, he headed to the living room.
"Oh, there they are. Honey, what are you doing there?"
"Shh, shh."
Sooa raised her index finger and gestured with her eyes toward Youngbin.
Beside Sooa sat Sooyeon with a very serious face.
"What's wrong with you two?"
"Seoyeon is acting strange."
"Unnie is weird."
"What? Where is she in the first place?"
"She's cooking in the kitchen right now..."
"What, cooking?!"
Joo Seoyeon is cooking!
Youngbin jumped up and immediately turned his feet toward the kitchen.
Seoyeon with a knife in her hand was scary enough as it was, but teasing her while she cooked was endlessly entertaining.
In truth, the reason Seoyeon couldn't cook properly was because of Youngbin's behavior.
How annoying must it be to have someone heckling her from the side when she's trying to do it right.
"No, wait..."
Sooa tried to hastily stop Youngbin, but his feet were much faster.
"Our daughter, making another dish that doesn't suit her... is... what?"
Youngbin, who had been speaking, trailed off at the sight before his eyes.
Something was different.
Seoyeon standing at the kitchen counter, chopping away on the cutting board, cooking.
Whereas before she would wield a knife with eerie red eyes glowing, now the atmosphere was strangely gentle.
Her posture was straight, like a noble household's young lady cooking.
'Did Sooa shrink?'
No wait, wasn't Sooa in the living room?
More than that, Sooa didn't have that kind of ladylike feel either.
Youngbin rubbed his eyes.
The face was definitely his daughter's, but something about the feeling, the demeanor, was entirely different.
A daughter whose face was like a robot and actions like a beast, looking like a lady?
"Ah."
Seoyeon noticed Youngbin belatedly and curved her eyes softly.
It was another strangely unfitting gentle eye shape.
No.
Actually, it suited her incredibly well.
The reason it felt unfitting was because Youngbin knew the usual Seoyeon.
The usual Seoyeon would have frowned the moment she saw Youngbin and looked at him with eyes that said 'Ugh, this is my dad?'
Of course, Seoyeon didn't look at him with that intention either.
But, her eye shape was just like that.
"Father, have you arrived?"
"Father???"
"Ah, was 'Father' too unaffectionate?"
It must have been a joke, as she covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed softly.
Of course, at Seoyeon's attitude, Youngbin was speechless.
Where did our daughter go?
"Uh, what is this."
"After the recent shoot, I thought it would be good to learn how to cook properly. Just watching through videos doesn't allow for proper practice, after all. I asked Mother for her understanding for a while and decided to try preparing dinner."
"Ah, is, is that so?"
"My, why are you using honorifics?"
No, why are YOU using honorifics with me?
Youngbin thought that, then realized Seoyeon had always used honorifics with him.
It just didn't feel like it.
"As you can see, it's come out quite decently, so I won't disappoint you."
Seoyeon presented the food she had made.
The dishes were not too difficult—doenjang jjigae. Along with stir-fried pork.
These also happened to be Youngbin's favorites.
A meal that seemed considerate of him.
Seeing that, Youngbin.
"Who, who are you?"
Ultimately, he couldn't hold back and could only say that.
"No, the face is our daughter's but... the behavior isn't our daughter's?? Where did our daughter go... Return our headbutting dinosaur..."
"......"
When Youngbin said that, Sooa and Sooyeon, who had been stealthily watching the two from the living room, covered their mouths with both hands.
If it were the usual Seoyeon, she would have immediately shown filial piety with fire when hearing such words.
Even Princess-mode Joo Seoyeon would surely return to her original Joo Seoyeon self if she heard such words.
With that thought, Sooa and Sooyeon watched the situation unfold with nervous eyes.
And.
"Father."
"...Uh, yeah?"
"Please sit there."
Seoyeon smiled and pointed to the living room chair, telling him to sit.
Surely, she wasn't going to put him in the chair and do a gyro drop like before?
With that thought, he hesitantly took a seat.
"Really, even if it's a joke, you shouldn't say things like that."
Suddenly, Seoyeon's lecture began.
With her index finger fully extended and her cheeks slightly puffed, Seoyeon, like a teacher scolding a child, told Youngbin everything from one to ten about what he did wrong.
For reference, Seoyeon's lecture continued for 30 minutes after that.
It only ended when Youngbin finally said he'd rather have the gyro drop finish him off.
"Ah, the food will get cold. But, you mustn't do that again next time, okay?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Oh my, you're joking again."
Seoyeon said that and once again covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed in a classical manner.
Seoyeon's family members exchanged glances with each other.
Well, she's really pretty and nice.
Having a daughter like this is quite nice too.
I actually wanted an older sister like that.
Sooyeon, you shouldn't say things like that.
Murmuring such conversations among themselves.
The dinner proceeded in a harmonious atmosphere.
A dining table with soft conversation flowing, and Seoyeon's refreshing laughter.
And so a day passed, and the next day.
"...What are you doing there?"
Seoyeon, who came out yawning, saw her family huddled together in the corner of the living room with tense faces.
A sullen face and curt tone.
A daughter who is cool and rational outside, but a 100% rebellious daughter at home.
Yesterday's elegance was nowhere to be found even if she washed her eyes and looked.
Realizing that, Youngbin broke into a wide smile.
Of course, the princess daughter was nice too, but our house definitely suited the headbutting dinosaur better.
"Our, our daughter is back."
"Unnie! It's Unnie! Unnie, are you not sick anymore?"
"I wasn't sick in the first place."
"Phew, thank goodness. We can cancel the hospital appointment now."
"What hospital appointment?"
"Uh, heh. Seoyeon, you shouldn't worry about things like that."
At her family's behavior, Seoyeon scowled.
Somehow, wasn't her family being even more excessive than other people?
'Hmm.'
But she crossed her arms and thought for a moment.
The Yeonhwa Princess mode Joo Seoyeon yesterday must have been that shocking.
Of course, this wasn't exactly a dark history either, and it was unexpected for Seoyeon as well.
The emotions at that time were definitely different from usual.
'Will it happen again next time?'
Simply because of the method?
Honestly, she didn't really know.
But, she also felt like something had changed through this incident.
She wasn't sure what it was, though.
"......"
A day of living as Princess Yeonhwa Joo Seoyeon.
Thinking about that time for a moment.
'...Why is everyone around me being so excessive?'
Should she be angry about this?
Seoyeon could only ponder for a moment.
***
Anyway, regarding the Viole advertisement they shot this time, they said it would go up in department stores in about three months at the earliest.
Since advertisements also usually schedule things well in advance, it seemed they couldn't go up right away.
"And, it seemed like the headquarters really liked it."
Park Jungwoo said that while looking at Seoyeon.
After the commercial shoot, he had a relieved face seeing that Seoyeon, who had been strange, was now back to normal(?).
Of course, at Park Jungwoo's attitude, Seoyeon scowled.
'When I was doing the Princess Yeonhwa act, he couldn't even make eye contact with me.'
That attitude, as if he thought she would forget about the Princess Yeonhwa thing!
Of course, she wasn't drunk, so the memories remained perfectly intact.
Princess Yeonhwa Joo Seoyeon was simply Joo Seoyeon.
Anyway, at that time, it was visible that Park Jungwoo was shaking like a reed at a single word from Seoyeon.
"Young Master."
"? What, suddenly?"
Park Jungwoo looked at her as if asking what nonsense she was suddenly spouting.
With eyes looking at something bothersome, Seoyeon tilted her head.
"Is this not it?"
"What's not it?"
"No, your attitude is too different from last time. Back then, your pupils were shaking at a single 'Young Master,' and you couldn't even look at me properly."
"No, hey. That's, well. ...Ahem. It's completely different in the first place."
No, what's different.
Seoyeon narrowed her eyes.
Did this only work when speaking as Princess Yeonhwa?
At Seoyeon's quite serious demeanor, Park Jungwoo was flustered.
If the usual Joo Seoyeon said 'Young Master' a hundred times, it wouldn't elicit any particular thought.
But, if she were to bring up the Princess Yeonhwa method again and that appearance popped out, even he didn't know how he would react.
"Ah, anyway. That's not what's important right now."
"It's quite important, though."
"No, I'm telling you it's really not important."
Park Jungwoo hastily changed the subject.
He heard that Jo Seohee and Lee Jiyeon had also called Seoyeon today and returned relieved.
So, it was certain that Seoyeon was full of complaints too.
What exactly was the difference between Princess Yeonhwa Joo Seoyeon and her usual self?
I'm pretty even normally?
Such a serious concern.
Of course, Park Jungwoo wanted to tell her 'There's a difference in atmosphere between a princess and a chihuahua,' but felt like he'd get hit, so he held back.
"You're going to the audition for Director Jo Bangwoo, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you'd better prepare hard. Since word got out to a few managements that I'm going, it seems some people are getting interested."
"How did that become a rumor? More than that, did you tell them first that you wanted to be in a movie?"
"One thing led to another, and it ended up like that."
It was a small problem that arose when he was just trying to tell Seoyeon the audition date.
He must have been unusually sloppy, Park Jungwoo sighed.
Honestly, whenever he got entangled with Joo Seoyeon, uncharacteristic aspects of himself seemed to emerge, he thought.
"Come to think of it, I thought it was strange that the audition was moved up. But was there a reason to propose appearing first?"
"The existing main cast seems to have all dropped out. I heard word that the investors might pull out too."
Ah, so that's why he hurried to contact her?
Because the movie might get canceled entirely?
Seoyeon looked at Park Jungwoo with fresh eyes.
Could it be, he paid attention because she said she really wanted to appear in that movie?
"Um, thank you for that."
"...Ahem, no, don't say that, it's embarrassing."
Park Jungwoo unnecessarily cleared his throat and crossed his arms.
There were various other reasons, but he didn't bother mentioning them.
'I shouldn't tell her she's entangled with Hwang Minhwa.'
Thanks to his father, he had an unusually wide network for a young actor.
He was well acquainted with the middle-aged actors belonging to Horizon Company, which Hwang Minhwa was part of, so he knew the internal circumstances well.
Of course, Hwang Minhwa thoroughly managed her image.
But, nothing could be perfectly hidden.
If a junior actor who was originally supposed to appear in the movie suddenly pulled out, the seniors couldn't help but think it was strange.
'Besides, if it was after a conversation with Hwang Minhwa, it's a hundred percent.'
Park Jungwoo looked at Seoyeon and slightly furrowed his brows.
He was certain why Hwang Minhwa was acting that way.
Because of Joo Seoyeon.
That woman was paying incredible attention to Joo Seoyeon.
She was originally from the same 'Nova Enter' as Seoyeon.
But with Nova Enter riding a wave of success lately thanks to Seoyeon, there was a high probability it made Hwang Minhwa's blood boil.
More than that, wasn't the foundation of that success the movie she herself had appeared in?
It wouldn't be strange if she saw her as a thorn in her side.
Originally, the protagonist of this year should have been Hwang Minhwa, but Seoyeon had snatched that position right away.
"But what's important is whether you can pass the audition. If people moved after hearing the news, the person who comes will absolutely not be easy."
"Yes, don't worry about that."
Seoyeon answered calmly.
At her composed appearance, Park Jungwoo smirked.
'Well, that's true.'
He wasn't worried.
Even if she appeared, what kind of great actor would other agencies send?
Honestly, for Seoyeon, it was closer to advice not to let her guard down just in case.
'If Seoyeon says she'll appear, she'd actually take the lead role without even an audition.'
Of course, Seoyeon herself wouldn't want that.
So, he just let her audition.
Rather, he was a bit curious.
Honestly, neither Director Jo Bangwoo nor the other agencies would have thought that Seoyeon would appear at this audition.
Seoyeon was the trend of this year.
The actress who dominated the entire year.
That she would appear in the work of a director who had recently churned out one failed movie after another—no one would think so.
More than that, Seoyeon's schedule was already packed full.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
Park Jungwoo crossed his arms and looked at Seoyeon.
At the same time, the first work where the two would take the lead roles together since
That point was also a highly anticipated element for Park Jungwoo.
Quite, seriously.