"Juyeongbin, may I ask you one thing?"
It had been some time since *Hyper Action Star* ended.
Gangtaejin had a drinking session with Yeongbin.
"You? Asking me? More importantly, today I was going to vent my worries…."
"You already have the answer about independence in your heart anyway."
At his friend's words that cut like a knife, Juyeongbin cursed inwardly.
A bastard who only ever says what he wants to say.
I'll let it slide since he's paying for meat today.
"What is it?"
"Do you know about OTT dramas?"
"I do. I know, but why ask me about that?"
"Because it's something related to you too."
At Gangtaejin's serious tone, Yeongbin straightened his posture.
If it was something related to him, it was probably something related to his family.
And if it was family entangled with Gangtaejin, it was clearly something related to his daughter, Seoyeon.
"Tell me in detail."
"*Hyper Action Star* was originally a promotional variety show. A promotional variety show for the movie *Mine*."
"I've heard that."
"But there have been various discussions within the company. Well, mostly at my request."
Pouring a glass of soju lightly, Gangtaejin continued calmly.
"To put it simply, it's a discussion about which direction to take—OTT drama or movie."
"OTT drama? You mean like Netflix these days?"
"Right."
"Targeting not just the domestic market, but comprehensively going after the overseas market too?"
"That's the idea."
"Which side are you on?"
"OTT drama. I was the one who brought it up in the first place."
OTT drama.
Yeongbin had seen some.
But had there been a work with that much buzz?
Honestly, he didn't really know.
*I want to say, how would I know that.*
He knew Gangtaejin knew he wasn't an expert anyway.
Then, did he simply want him to talk from a layman's perspective?
"I honestly don't really know what that market is like," Yeongbin said, swirling his glass.
"At least I think the broader creative industry is similar."
He worked in the game industry.
He thought of games as works that comprehensively combined all entertainment—music, video, and so on.
Web novels, webtoons, comics, and countless games.
Dramas, movies.
All of those connected to the flow of the market as a whole.
The political correctness that had recently become an issue overseas was also part of that flow.
He didn't know what effect that would have on gamers.
At least it wasn't to Yeongbin's taste.
"With anything, people will look for something that lets them feel fun quickly."
For example, like YouTube Shorts.
Games are similar too.
Since so many games come out, they have to show their fun quickly to gather users.
Rather than being ordinary, they definitely need to have an identity.
"Take mobile game scenarios as an example."
Scenarios in mobile games are obviously important.
But at the same time, fewer people see them than you'd think.
Most users skip through without reading properly.
They simply enjoy the parts where they directly play the game.
"Then aren't scenarios unimportant?"
"No, no. That's not it. I told you, these days the world is all about Shorts. There are few who read the scenario, but they definitely exist. And those users post their impressions on various communities or SNS. Or they upload compilation videos on YouTube. Or they watch videos of someone else playing."
Clink. Setting down his glass, Yeongbin spoke.
"You're saying other people watch those compilation videos or impressions?"
"Exactly. For ordinary users, that's the 'starting point' where they encounter the scenario."
"Is watching it like that properly enjoying the game—"
"It is enjoying it."
"…."
"I told you. These days it's all about Shorts. That's what Shorts are."
It would probably get even faster as time passed.
Or an era might come where people tired of it enjoy works calmly.
That's something you only know when you get there.
But trends eventually go round and round.
For now, it's merely an era of rapidly consuming creative works.
"You might get the desire to properly play through the game's scenario later, after being drawn in by those impressions or videos."
"So, scenarios are important. Is that what you're saying?"
"Well, yeah. But this isn't just about mobile games. Web novels are ultimately similar. If you look there too, these days people don't like calmly accumulated build-up. The so-called 'sweet potato plot' development. But is that bad? Absolutely not."
"It's just the times, huh."
"Right. In that sense, OTT dramas are at least closer to 'Shorts' than movies."
This 'Shorts' wasn't simply about short videos.
"Easily accessible."
"…I see."
"As society grows more individualistic, culture that can be enjoyed alone develops. In the flow of such times, OTT dramas feel like they're properly riding the tide."
Having spoken up to that point, Yeongbin suddenly thought that he might be rambling carelessly about the movie market he didn't really know.
If that guy got weird ideas because of this, wouldn't it be his responsibility?
"Ahem, anyway, t-that's what I'm saying."
"I see. That was helpful."
"No, you probably already knew that."
Saying so, Yeongbin grilled and ate premium Hanwoo beef to his heart's content.
Thinking that having a rich friend was indeed nice.
And so, a few months later, now.
A mega-hit that took the world by storm.
A drama that generated greater revenue than any overseas drama in history.
It had come out of Korea.
Reading that article, Yeongbin thought.
"I should've bought stocks."
Strength drained from his body.
Right then.
If he had bought Netflix stocks the moment he told Gangtaejin that the era was OTT!!—
Right now, he would….
….
"No, it's not too late."
"It's too late, Team Leader!!"
"I said it's not too late! My daughter's drama is coming out early next year!!"
In front of everyone at the company, he went all-in on Netflix with the money he had saved up at once.
…Of course, it was a fortune he had diligently saved from his own allowance.
Separate from the family assets.
Anyway, it was definitely precious money.
"Ah, that's not how you do stocks…."
"It's the peak right now, the peak!"
"If it rises more from here, I'll burn my own hand."
"Ha, I really should've bought earlier."
"It's not like smash-hit works like that will come out one after another."
Everyone tried to stop him, but Yeongbin believed in his daughter.
Wasn't she his daughter, who had won awards this year and hadn't had a single failed work?
*I believe in you, our headbutting dinosaur.*
Yeongbin thought.
When the money rose immensely later, he would surely get back at the company people who had laughed at him.
***
A few days after the awards ceremony.
At a point right before winter break.
Songdayeon, the drama club teacher at Yeonhwa High School, called Seoyeon.
"Se-Seoyeon. Could you perhaps just put your name down in the drama club?"
"I already did."
"Huh? When? Oh, really?"
Because of what Ijiyeon had said, and just in case, she had put it down long ago.
Though she had never actually attended.
The only club Seoyeon actively participated in was the esports club.
These days she wasn't even playing LoL; she was playing her father's company's new game.
The male students who used to play LoL with her had all started playing Eternity Camp since Seoyeon started.
Why are they all copying me just because I do it?
Could it be that I have the power to lead culture?
She had such thoughts, but somehow it didn't feel that way.
*When is the official launch?*
And they are advertising, right?
Since there had been no word until now, there was no way to know.
"By any chance, when the new students come next year, could you show your face? Yeonhwa High has been pushing hard for the arts and physical education track lately. We've become known in that field… and many kids come saying they want to see Seoyeon."
"Really?"
"Because I'm sure Seoyeon will be a wonderful senior."
A wonderful senior!!
Seoyeon quite liked the sound of that.
"If word gets out that there's a chance to act alongside the actress who won Best Supporting Actress this time, won't a lot of aspiring actors come?"
"I suppose so."
Fundamentally, Seoyeon liked showing off.
In that sense, the drama club didn't seem like a bad idea.
Since she was a first-year now, and it bothered her that even her seniors were intimidated by her, she had never gone.
But juniors are supposed to be intimidated by seniors, aren't they?
And if she was haughty and pretty on top of that, it would be inevitable that juniors would admire her.
Imagining freshmen following her like chicks, Seoyeon nodded.
"Alright."
"Yes, yes, thank you! You'll be doing it with Jiyeon, right?"
"Yes."
Jiyeon was also an actress who had clearly won the Rookie Award.
Now, there was no one who looked down on her.
Countless scripts had arrived for Jiyeon at her agency immediately.
Seoyeon knew that Jiyeon had shed a few tears seeing that.
*Good for her.*
Jiyeon would probably get busier from now on.
Then, Best Actress wouldn't be a dream either.
Seoyeon thought.
Surely, if Jiyeon's skills improved further, she would definitely be able to win Best Actress.
Click!
"Ah, hello."
"Seoyeon's here?"
Finishing such a conversation and opening the classroom door, she could feel the atmosphere had become softer than before.
Especially after Seoyeon won Best Supporting Actress at the awards ceremony.
After *Lady Gyeongseong* was released, the previously awkward air had become peaceful.
On the contrary, there were now people who initiated conversation with Seoyeon.
"Seoyeon, you were so pretty at the awards ceremony."
"You looked just like a princess."
She had even heard such things.
Even if she sat expressionless as usual, they'd hand her a snack and leave.
Truly an incredible image improvement effect.
Seoyeon thought.
*Scary, Princess Yeonhwa.*
However, once she acted, she remained in that state all day, so attempting method acting was tricky.
When she would later film *The Flower of the Imperial Palace*, she would be in that state continuously, which wouldn't be easy.
One amusing thing was that when she got into that state, Bak Jeongu couldn't even meet her eyes properly.
The way he got shy felt just like boys her age.
*Hmph.*
That part was amusing, but separately, she was curious what he thought of her normally.
Sometimes he looked at her as if observing a lion at the zoo.
Anyway, internet communities too felt somewhat calmer after the awards ceremony.
Had it felt like this when filming *Taeseomdal* back then?
It was probably because many who felt nostalgia for those days had joined the fan cafes.
*And slowly, the time has come.*
Seoyeon had bought Netflix stocks early on.
Naturally, through her mother, Sua.
She knew Sua was living these days for the fun of looking at stock charts.
On the other hand, her father Yeongbin looked like he was dying.
Since he had always teased her, she hadn't told him, and that's what happened to him.
Anyway, if she earned money, where would it all go?
Giving her parents pocket money was nothing.
But Yeongbin seemed to want to earn it himself rather than receive from his daughter.
But recently, seeing him go off with a desperate face after begging her, she roughly got the feeling.
*He bought Netflix stocks.*
Everyone must be dissuading him saying it's the peak right now, but seeing him buy in this situation, truly the heart of a wild beast.
At this point, Seoyeon couldn't help but acknowledge her father.
"Lucky, Seoyeon."
When she arrived at the set, Arthur Diaz, who had come early to warm up, spoke.
"Interest in Korean OTT dramas has risen thanks to *Child Game*. I've ended up benefiting from it unintentionally as well."
"Is that so?"
"Hmm, you can tell just from the atmosphere on set. Doesn't it feel like expectations have grown compared to before?"
Arthur folded his arms and smirked.
Right away, the expressions of those Arthur brought around had changed too.
Until now, annoyed faces.
Honestly, they hadn't felt sincere.
Not just personal stylists but even the manager.
But now, if anything, everyone's eyes were bloodshot and they were working seriously.
He couldn't even throw his weight around on set like before.
"In the end, the market is all about money."
Arthur had witnessed the recent great performance of *Child Game*.
Honestly, to the point he couldn't believe it even seeing it with his own eyes.
To think a drama that big of a hit had come out of Korea.
And of all times, right when he himself was filming an OTT drama.
*The timing is too good.*
Thanks to the massive success of *Child Game*, interest in Korean dramas had reached its peak.
And not in Southeast Asia or Japan, where Korean dramas usually did well, but worldwide.
The dramas entering at this timing would properly reap the benefits of *Child Game*.
As for Japan, there had been interest in Seoyeon from the beginning, so needless to say….
*But can you call this luck?*
Arthur gazed at Seoyeon.
The actress who won Best Supporting Actress at a recent Korean awards ceremony.
At a young age.
If she had been American, she might have won an even greater award.
Just like Stella.
Now, Arthur Diaz couldn't help but acknowledge Seoyeon's acting skills.
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Because he had come to know that through the recent few shoots.
Not just her tremendous physical ability, but that outstanding acting skill.
*She had been acting sincerely before, but….*
Arthur Diaz was not an actor who missed opportunities.
Even if he didn't like Seoyeon, he had no intention of being hostile in this situation.
Because an actor's job was to bring out the best work.
*He's gotten serious.*
Seeing Arthur's face like that, Seoyeon blinked.
Because it seemed like today she would be able to see Arthur's proper acting.
"Hasn't Seohui come yet?"
Seoyeon asked other staff members, looking around.
Since Seohui had scenes today too, she thought Seohui would have come early.
But, rarely, it seemed Seohui hadn't arrived yet.
*She usually comes first on filming days, doesn't she.*
Because she was basically diligent.
"Who knows?"
"I heard she'll be a little late because she has something today."
Something?
What could it be?
As she was thinking that.
Suddenly, something came to Seoyeon's mind.
Something related to Jo Seohui at this time.
Thinking of that reminded her of something she had investigated before.
Her mother.
The actress Baek Seoran.
The time when that legendary actress closed her eyes without being able to fully bloom.
*I'm sure it was today.*
Recalling that date, Seoyeon couldn't help but stiffen her expression.