Seoyeon's first day of exams consisted of Integrated Social Studies and Korean.
Needless to say, she hadn't properly studied for either.
'W-Well, at least I could somehow manage Korean.'
Seoyeon was somewhat decent at Korean.
Even if it was web novels, continuously reading text tended to help.
Even without specifically studying, she usually managed to get around a Rank 3.
'No, it's not managing!'
Seoyeon squeezed her eyes shut.
Rank 3 might look like the exact middle based on a 5-tier grading standard, but it absolutely wasn't.
Anyway, from Seoyeon's current standpoint, that level could at least be considered holding the line.
As for Integrated Social Studies..., let's just not mention it.
Because that side had already crossed an irrevocable river.
"..."
After today's first exam, 'Integrated Social Studies,' ended, Seoyeon sat calmly in her seat before preparing for the next exam, Korean.
The other students, who were doing their last-minute checks by looking through textbooks or study guides, were inwardly surprised to see Seoyeon like that.
'Is Seoyeon confident? It seems like she doesn't even think about reviewing more?'
'Look at
'But from what I know, Seoyeon's rank is...'
'There must be some slander going around.'
'Is that so?'
Anyway, the superstar of the class who attracts attention.
In Joo Seoyeon's case, she received attention in many ways.
Part of it was due to her image as Lee Yoo-joo from
Recently, because she had shot another commercial, there were many who mistakenly thought Seoyeon was an honor student who studied very well.
For example, if she went shopping with Soo-ah, she would overhear the ahjummas talking.
"Sigh, how nice would it be if my daughter studied as well as Seoyeon."
"Right. Just looking at her shopping, you can tell how sharp and put-together she is."
Since there were people who had watched Seoyeon since she was young, most of them viewed her familiarly.
Whisper, whisper, murmur, murmur.
Walking down the street, she often heard such words.
"Seoyeon."
"Yes."
"Mom thinks it's fine for people to have illusions."
"..."
It was Soo-ah's words, containing a nuance of having a lot to say, but holding back.
Anyway, everyone around thinks Seoyeon is good at studying!
'But, if I get a devastating grade this time...'
If her current vaguely poor rank were to hit rock bottom, words would definitely spread.
Seoyeon broke into a cold sweat.
For Seoyeon, whose image was slowly recovering as the graceful Princess Yeonhwa, this was truly the worst situation.
If an image like 'the graceful Princess Yeonhwa is actually a dimwit' stuck to her, it would be very troublesome.
'Why doesn't the knowledge from my past life help here?'
Seoyeon was genuinely frustrated.
During break time, she couldn't even dare to open a textbook or a study guide.
Other students seemed to think that Seoyeon had already finished studying, but how could that be.
She had simply admitted defeat because nothing she did would change the result anyway.
'This won't do.'
Like this, in the worst-case scenario, she could become the last in the entire school and be made an example of.
The moment words spread from someone's mouth saying, 'I saw it, and Seoyeon's grades are dead last in the school'...
The model student Lee Yoo-joo image built through commercials would be completely shattered.
It would reach ADs' ears, and they'd cancel the contract saying 'she damaged the image of their product'... well, that probably wouldn't happen.
'There will definitely be talk on the internet.'
She didn't know what would be said in the fan communities.
The probability was low, but the fact that it could happen was the problem.
Therefore, Seoyeon had to maneuver her way out somehow.
"...Huh? You want me to help you cram?"
"..."
Thus, the person Seoyeon sought out was the class president, Gil Dahyun.
She had eagerly gone to ask her as soon as today's exams ended.
"Seoyeon, exams are based on your usual skills; cramming isn't good."
Dahyun spoke a truly fair argument, but those words didn't apply to Seoyeon.
"Hmm, come to think of it, Seoyeon, you must have been busy with your acting career usually, so you wouldn't have had time to study."
Saying so, Dahyun recalled that Seoyeon wasn't a normal student like them and spoke accordingly.
Actually, Seoyeon's schedule was murderous, so thankfully no one thought it strange.
"Alright, I'll help you."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Instead, will you grant me one favor after the exams end?"
At Dahyun's words, Seoyeon tilted her head.
Because she wondered what favor Dahyun could possibly have for her.
"Okay."
"Great, then where should we start? How far have you studied?"
Opening the textbook and study guide at Dahyun's house, Seoyeon put on a serious face.
How far have I studied, she says...
Seoyeon clenched her fist and calmly extended only her index finger.
Seeing that, Dahyun watched, thinking, 'Could it mean she only finished one subject?'
"Page 1."
"?"
"I did up to page 1 of Integrated Science."
"...Seoyeon. That's just not studying at all."
The only fortunate thing was that tomorrow's exams were Korean History and Integrated Science.
Subjects where she could somehow compete with memorization.
'Math is on the last day... so somehow.'
Dahyun steeled her resolve.
No matter what, she couldn't let her friend rank in the triple digits for the whole school.
***
"Actor Joo Seoyeon said she can't come until today due to exams."
"..."
Director Han Ye-gun looked at Arthur, whose expression was worsening, and smirked inwardly.
'He's definitely harboring a deep grudge.'
Of course, the more uncomfortable Arthur's mood became, the more nervous the surrounding actors seemed.
'Definitely, a remarkable actor.'
What he inwardly admired wasn't simply Arthur's acting skills.
'Language.'
Arthur really spoke Korean extremely well.
This wasn't just at the level of being "good."
Usually, when acting, the feeling when doing it in one's native language and doing it in another country's language is completely different.
Because one necessarily needed to perfectly grasp the nuances contained in that language.
There's a saying that Hangul is easy to learn, but Korean is hard to learn.
But Arthur's grasp of the nuances contained in the language, even the expression of emotions, was close to perfect.
It was visible to the eye how overwhelmed the other actors were even during a simple script reading.
'As expected, it was a good thing I checked like this.'
Before this script reading, the investors had asked Director Han Ye-gun.
"Why are you proceeding with the reading when Actor Joo Seoyeon isn't here?"
"There shouldn't be a need to proceed so urgently, right? If it's Actor Joo Seoyeon's exam period, couldn't we just start the reading to match the time when it's over?"
"Even if the schedule is set, couldn't you just postpone it?"
GH Group's department head, Kim Chang-gyu, asked almost interrogatively.
That was understandable.
12 episodes in total.
An OTT drama still rare in Korea.
Yet, proceeding with the reading with the protagonist missing.
Kim Chang-gyu simply couldn't understand Director Han Ye-gun's choice.
To that, Han Ye-gun replied like this:
"Arthur Diaz is conscious of Actor Joo Seoyeon."
"Yes. So even more, the two of them..."
"He doesn't care about the other actors. And the other actors also feel burdened acting with Arthur Diaz."
"..."
He is one of Hollywood's marquee stars.
It would be a lie to say there's no pressure.
Just the number of personal staff he brings to the filming set alone was considerable.
That very number was already a source of pressure.
Of course, for veteran actors, it probably wouldn't be much of a problem.
So Han Ye-gun didn't worry about that side.
However, this
There was an overwhelming number of young actors.
Actors with little experience, who only focused on action.
"If only Actor Joo Seoyeon can handle Arthur Diaz's acting, wouldn't that be a problem?"
"It's not simply that problem, but with the protagonist present, the surroundings also gain a center..."
"What about the days Actor Joo Seoyeon isn't on the filming set?"
A Korean actor who can handle Arthur Diaz.
If Seoyeon was there, the surrounding actors would definitely feel less tense.
But filming isn't like that.
Seoyeon won't always be on the filming set.
What about the veteran actors?
They probably just wouldn't want to get entangled with Arthur.
A young actor who transcended age and even overwhelmed the experience of veterans.
They would be reluctant to stand by his side.
Therefore, an equal condition.
No, they would look for Seoyeon, who is younger and possesses great talent.
"Then will the actors only be looking for Actor Joo Seoyeon then too? The actors who have to act face-to-face with Arthur Diaz?"
"..."
"Above all, Actor Joo Seoyeon is still a young actor. Isn't it irresponsible to leave everything to such a young actor? Didn't GH choose to cast Arthur Diaz in the first place? Are you saying you couldn't anticipate the trouble that would come with it?"
"...That is."
Han Ye-gun said so and let out a sigh.
'Does he think filming is some kind of joke?'
A reading isn't simply a place to compete in acting skills.
They read together, interpret their characters, and adjust to their counterparts.
They do readings to build their chemistry.
Arthur and Seoyeon would be able to do that.
But what about the others?
If they avoid it here, it might become even harder on the filming set.
"That part is definitely not for us to discuss. I apologize."
After Kim Chang-gyu replied like that, he barely managed to grasp Director Han Ye-gun's intention.
"...So you intentionally picked a time when Actor Joo Seoyeon isn't here? But Actor Joo Seoyeon will go into filming without having done the reading, right?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Pardon?"
"In my view... that might actually be better."
Arthur doesn't know Joo Seoyeon.
Rather, encountering the raw Seoyeon on the filming set would be a greater stimulus.
Of course, he would give her separate time then as well.
Since she missed the reading, there would be a lot to make up for anyway.
"Well, there's a term these days, WWE, right? Reading is like that. The filming set is UFC."
"I completely fail to understand what you mean, but..."
At Kim Chang-gyu's words, Han Ye-gun shrugged and spoke.
Actually, he didn't specifically tell him to understand.
From the beginning, Han Ye-gun wasn't the type to talk a lot with investors anyway.
'Anyway.'
Having persuaded the investor like that, Han Ye-gun continuously watched the script reading without Seoyeon.
As for what the result was.
'Not good.'
Han Ye-gun stroked his chin and thought.
Even Narumi Sora, who made it to the finals in
Because she couldn't even properly spit out a few lines.
At her appearance, he even let out a sigh with the feeling of, 'This is the actress who made it to the finals?'
'...It seemed like Narumi Sora was purely nervous, though.'
Thinking about the finals, she was definitely not a type with weak mental fortitude.
But she couldn't overcome the pressure Arthur gave off.
'Because he's not the type who acts gently like Actor Joo Seoyeon.'
Honestly, even in the finals, Narumi Sora was at the level of 'Not bad?', but not to the point where her acting could be evaluated as excellent.
She had potential, though.
'Instead.'
It was visible that Arthur was looking at Narumi Sora, who stood beside him, as if she were pathetic.
Of course, at his gaze, Sora was trembling like a poodle that had been hit.
'It'll be different when it comes to action acting.'
Excluding exceptions like Joo Seoyeon, there was no actor in this place who could beat Narumi Sora in stunts.
He was certain of that.
***
A full 5 days.
The final exam ended with Math on the last day.
As soon as the exam ended, Seoyeon slumped down on her desk.
How long had it been since she used her brain this much?
'Do actors need math? The manager will do all the calculations anyway, right?'
Seoyeon was serious.
That math wasn't a very helpful subject in life.
'I think I studied pretty well in my past life.'
A brain at the level of barely failing to get into a university in Seoul.
This level isn't too bad, right?
'Or is it?'
Seoyeon was quite generous to herself.
Anyway, with the help of this final exam's MVP, Gil Dahyun, Seoyeon felt she had barely avoided the worst.
Probably...
'S-Still, it won't go to the absolute worst, right?'
Seoyeon let out a sigh of relief.
"Seoyeon."
"Yeah?"
While she was letting out that sigh of relief, Gil Dahyun approached her.
"Did you do well on the exam?"
"...Thanks to you."
"That's a relief, then."
Actually, she couldn't say she did well, but she couldn't tell Gil Dahyun, who helped her, that she bombed it, could she?
'Should I have just cheated?'
If it were Seoyeon, she could do it.
If she roughly checked Gil Dahyun's movements from the start of the exam, wouldn't it be possible?
Or would it not work?
She'd have to try it to know.
'It's not some ninja exam or something...'
Even so, Seoyeon didn't want to go that far.
Exams are about one's true ability! If cheating is also considered a skill, I have nothing to say, but.
"So, I was wondering, do you remember what I said before?"
"What you said before?"
"That I'd ask you for a favor once the exams end."
At those words, Seoyeon recalled the words Dahyun had first brought up.
That she would help her with one thing in exchange for helping her study.
What could Dahyun possibly have to ask of her?
'Is she asking me to get autographs from celebrities?'
If not that... Seoyeon pondered.
Maybe asking to take care of someone... no, of course not.
"After our exams end, we decided to have a party with the class kids at the end of the year."
"...A party?"
"Yeah, yeah, gathering and having a party in that Western style."
"..."
Is that what high schoolers do these days?
But the class kids?
"C-Can't I go with kids from the next class?"
"No, it's only kids from our class."
Seoyeon's pupils shook.
A party with the class kids?
Without Lee Ji-yeon, just me?
Seoyeon surreptitiously looked around the classroom.
The students were all watching her.
Receiving those gazes, Seoyeon...
"Ah, okay."
"Really? I'll tell you the meeting place! You can just wear something like party clothes there!"
Seoyeon could only nod mechanically.
Having received those gazes, how could she say no?
'What do I do...'
To Seoyeon, in a way, it was a greater formidable enemy than the final exams.