Choi Gwang-su, a variety PD at the online game broadcasting station GMN, doubted his ears for a moment upon hearing the news that morning.
This was understandable, considering the variety show he was currently in charge of was practically on the verge of ending.
It had been a long time since a guest had appeared, and recently, they had mostly been running the show with the existing members.
It was definitely supposed to be that way.
"Yes? A guest on our show?"
He thought he had misheard for a moment.
Well, sure. A guest could happen.
But the problem was the person in question.
Ju Seo-yeon.
The actor who recently became a hot topic on the variety show
On top of that, she did a play in Daehangno where tickets were sold out day after day, or she tore up her contract with RY Entertainment.
A hot potato surrounded by such rumors.
Given her level of buzz, she was a celebrity who had absolutely no reason to participate in a cable variety show like this.
"But I don't even know what that actor looks like."
At that moment, Hwang Jun-ho, a cast member of
PD Choi Gwang-su let out a hollow laugh at his words.
Having worked together on the same show for 10 years, they were practically close friends, but whenever he heard Jun-ho say things like this, he could only find it absurd.
"Uh, did you perhaps do some training in the mountains recently? For about 10 years?"
"10 years is too much."
"No, I'm saying Ju Seo-yeon has been a hot topic since 10 years ago. Don't you know Tae-soom-dal?"
"I know of it. I just haven't watched it. I was a high school senior at the time, so I couldn't watch the drama."
Yeah, well, if you're a high school senior, that can happen.
No, wait.
If he was a high school senior, he wouldn't have been able to appear on
"I distinctly remember you being over twenty at that time, though."
"Oh my, you have a good memory."
Still, it was understandable that he didn't know the actor, Ju Seo-yeon.
She seemed to have appeared in a CF too, but the only thing that stuck in his memory was Tae-soom-dal as well.
On top of that, the huge impact she made on
With Park Jung-woo's reaction at the time and her dramatic appearance, reruns were still airing daily on cable even now.
After that,
She literally saved a variety show.
"We could do that too."
"Umm. Huh? Ah, that's true."
Chewing on a rib bone he had sucked clean to the marrow, Hwang Jun-ho grew curious.
Just who was this person that this guy was spitting saliva while explaining so enthusiastically?
"Just show me a picture. Let's see her face at least."
"You really didn't know, no joke. Here, look."
"Let's see..."
On PD Choi Gwang-su's phone screen was a recent photo of Ju Seo-yeon.
At Yeonhwa High School, beautifully dressed up as the Yeonhwa Princess.
Seeing her appearance, the rib bone dropped right out of Hwang Jun-ho's mouth.
"A high school student?"
"Yes."
"Wow, there are very few actors I've looked at photos of and thought were pretty, but she's no joke."
"Right?"
"I can see why she's popular."
"Right, right."
"So why is she coming on our show?"
"I don't know that either."
The two met each other's gazes.
Based on her looks alone, she was as far removed from gaming as heaven was from earth.
An insider among insiders.
Exactly that kind of vibe.
Isn't the celebrity aura that actors have usually like that?
"Well, we'll know once we meet her."
"There's no reason to refuse when she's insisting on coming."
"Suddenly a smile won't leave your lips."
"Ahem."
Well, who would object to a pretty actress coming on the show?
Anyway, PD Choi Gwang-su stared at Seo-yeon's photo once again.
'She's not going to make some outrageous demand, is she?'
We don't have money.
Still, having a conversation wouldn't hurt.
Thinking that, PD Choi Gwang-su sent a reply.
***
Around the time such conversations were actively taking place at
Seo-yeon was giving a stage greeting as the play
In theater, people usually avoid the first performance, but they often prefer the final one.
The reason was usually the final performance of a play.
The stage commonly called 'Mak-gong' (final performance) always came with various special perks.
Ad-libs in the play, or stage greetings.
And the actors leaving their thoughts, and so on.
People who considered themselves theatergoers sometimes watched the Mak-gong once more even if they had already seen the play.
"Thanks to Actor Ju Seo-yeon this time, we really hit the jackpot. Wow, this is the first time in my theater career that tickets have been sold out day after day. I'll work hard so we can stand on such a stage again!"
The multi-role actor who was active in
Next to speak was Sim Cheong-seok, who played the role of Bae Seong-hak.
"Honestly, at first I wondered if it would be difficult, but it was truly the best stage."
Saying so, he briefly glanced at Seo-yeon.
"So much so that I want to act with you again next time."
At his words, Seo-yeon went 'Ugh' and subtly frowned.
"It might not be on stage next time, but I look forward to working with you."
After Sim Cheong-seok's surprisingly smooth stage greeting, it was Seo-yeon's turn.
It had been a normal stage greeting up to that point, but when Seo-yeon stepped forward, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Cheers erupted from the audience.
Although she wasn't the lead, the one who garnered the most attention in this play was undoubtedly Ju Seo-yeon, who played Hong Jung-hee.
"...Thank you. I was able to put on a good performance because of the audience."
Seo-yeon bowed deeply and said.
And the people quietly waited for what Seo-yeon would say next.
But Seo-yeon hesitated.
Should I say something more? That was her reaction.
"Ah, Seo-yeon. I heard you have a next project lined up?"
"Huh?"
It was Sim Cheong-seok who spoke quickly upon seeing Seo-yeon's reaction.
Since they had been coordinating together all this time, he caught on that Seo-yeon's behavior meant, 'I'm done talking.'
He said it with a smile, but Sim Cheong-seok's sharp eyes glared at Seo-yeon.
Only then did Seo-yeon feel her greeting was too short and hastily added more.
"Ah, yes. I think I'll be greeting you through a movie next. I heard they're thinking of releasing it at the end of this year."
At the word 'movie,' cheers came from the audience.
Aside from that, what role it was.
And a brief conversation about what kind of movie it was took place.
It was all thanks to Sim Cheong-seok, who had unwillingly taken on the MC role.
"Ah! And I'm also set to appear on a variety show soon."
"A variety show? Already?"
Sim Cheong-seok was inwardly surprised.
She had gained popularity through the play, but to already confirm a variety show appearance...
'Is this what they call buzz?'
Sim Cheong-seok clicked his tongue inwardly.
While doing this play, Sim Cheong-seok's own thoughts had changed somewhat.
In the past, if he could act, he was satisfied with just a small theater stage, but now it was different.
Seeing Seo-yeon made him want to play in slightly bigger waters.
He wanted to show his acting to more people.
"What kind of variety show is it?"
A variety show that a female actor would appear on.
And considering Seo-yeon's recent buzz, he thought it was a variety show for movie promotion.
The moment a few famous variety show names came up from the audience.
"
"?"
A completely unexpected variety show flowed out of her mouth.
The concert hall, which had been full of cheers, falling silent was definitely not an illusion.
And.
The next day at school.
"What the hell were you saying during the stage greeting?"
Lee Ji-yeon said, showing her phone screen.
Not many, but articles properly plastered on Naver's front page.
Seeing that, Seo-yeon felt unfairly treated.
She only said it because she thought some promotion would be fine.
Other actors do this much too.
And what's so bad about
It's fun.
I haven't watched it in about 7 years, though.
"Anyway, you pulled the aggro properly. The communities are buzzing more than the articles."
"Really?"
"Well, this is better than no interest."
As Ji-yeon said, words were definitely going around in some communities.
Skimming through them:
- Another fake gamer, fake otaku has arrived
- The completely ruined Kyeol-wang??? Did the agency lose its mind??
- So do you even know how to play games?
- Since she's a high school girl, seems like she's pushing a somewhat relatable concept
- Can't read the room and will probably make the show awkward lol
How did Seo-yeon feel seeing that?
'I need to learn boxing.'
I'll punch them just once when I meet them.
Her heart filled with such thoughts.
'Asking if I even know how to play games.'
Of course, she was confident in gaming.
Hadn't the Million TS Brigade proven it?
It's common sense that if you TS, you're good at games.
Memorize it if you don't know.
Thus, Seo-yeon believed without a doubt that she would naturally be the same.
Truly.
***
A few days later.
The filming day for
The cast, preparing for the broadcast with the same faces and postures as always, were inwardly excited.
A guest for the first time in who knows how long.
Furthermore, seeing Seo-yeon's face in the photo, the male cast members felt light enough to fly.
There were two female cast members as well, but.
Even they seemed to be inwardly looking forward to it.
'I should sit a little apart from her.'
'Her face is really small. I should avoid sitting next to her.'
Since they had often filmed casually at PD Choi Gwang-su or Hwang Jun-ho's homes during that time.
But for the first time in years, they were filming at GMN.
"I heard they were inwardly looking forward to it after watching
"No matter what, compared to public broadcast networks..."
Even if
Well, anyway, it didn't matter to the cast.
It's good to film comfortably.
As they were preparing moderately in the newly prepared pretty studio at GMN.
"She's here."
"Really? She's coming now? Then are the cameras rolling now?"
"The cameras have been rolling since 10 minutes ago."
Ah, really?
Hwang Jun-ho nodded at the words of his fellow cast member Gong Tae-gyun.
"Ahem. Now then, today we have! A guest. You've probably all heard about it."
After some half-hearted reactions like "Oh, really?" went back and forth.
Hwang Jun-ho, having received PD Choi Gwang-su's cue, said loudly.
"Today's guest, the Yeonhwa Princess returning after 10 years! Miss Ju Seo-yeon!"
At Hwang Jun-ho's words, the eyes of roughly six cast members focused simultaneously on the entrance of the set.
Since they were all celebrities, they had seen many actors, but every time they saw one, it felt new whether it was an actor or an idol.
And, a step into the set.
Seo-yeon, who revealed herself with light steps, was...
"Uh, a school uniform?"
It was a well-known fact that Seo-yeon was an active high school girl.
But they hadn't imagined at all that she would show up to the filming set wearing a school uniform.
"Hello."
A deep bow.
As she bowed in greeting, reminiscent of her days as the young Yeonhwa Princess.
"Ah! Yes! Hello!!"
The other cast members also jumped up and bowed in unison to greet her.
As a result, Seo-yeon, who hadn't expected this, couldn't help but be flustered.
"Um..., why the uniform?"
Did she come straight after school ended?
Thinking that, when Hwang Jun-ho asked, Seo-yeon blinked her large eyes and smiled.
"I got sponsored."
"Y-You did?"
Ah, the uniform was sponsored?
Since she was an active high school girl and the main viewing demographic was young gamers, it seemed a uniform brand had quickly offered sponsorship.
No, but don't uniform brands usually avoid game broadcasts because of their image?
Such doubts crossed his mind, but that wasn't Hwang Jun-ho's problem to worry about.
'But still.'
Hwang Jun-ho swallowed dry saliva.
He had seen many actors until now, but Seo-yeon's appearance was exceptionally striking among them.
To the point where he unconsciously lost himself looking at her.
In fact, the other cast members were looking at her with their mouths agape right now.
'...Is this okay?'
Weren't the cameras rolling right now?
While having such thoughts.
The filming of