NoveLight ™
Writer Im Jin-ha had reduced Jo Ha-rin's screen time. Seoyeon didn’t know the exact reason for this.
There could be many reasons why drama writers reduce a character's role. Judging by Park Jung-woo's reaction, it wasn’t something that happened often.
‘But…’
Seoyeon wasn’t particularly bothered by the reduction in Jo Ha-rin's screen time. After all, this role was meant to offset the image of Cha Seo-ah.
So, she thought the current amount of screen time was enough. Although Cha Seo-ah’s image sometimes overlapped with Jo Ha-rin’s acting, it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, it was even amusing.
"Seoyeon."
"Yes?"
It was around that time that Cha Na-hee, who played Song So-ha, spoke to her.
"Am I… really lacking in my acting?"
"…What?"
"My screen time, it’s been reduced."
Cha Na-hee said this. She seemed to think that her screen time as the main character, Song So-ha, had been reduced because Jo Ha-rin had overshadowed her.
But that wasn’t true. There must have been another reason behind the writer’s decision.
She wanted to tell Cha Na-hee this, but since no one had openly discussed her increased screen time, she couldn’t say it. It would sound like she was making excuses to comfort Cha Na-hee.
"So… could you help me out a bit? I’ll do my best until the drama ends."
Cha Na-hee was still an idol. When idols act, they don’t often approach it with full sincerity. After all, they have their main career.
"Yes, I’ll help as much as I can."
"Th-thank you!!"
She was a truly upright person. She was probably older than Seoyeon, yet she bowed and asked for help, which couldn’t have been easy.
But even with Seoyeon’s help, Cha Na-hee’s acting didn’t improve significantly. Of course, she must have already received proper acting lessons, so it wouldn’t improve drastically overnight.
"…"
However, Seoyeon had many thoughts as she watched Cha Na-hee. She reflected and realized something.
‘I’ve been avoiding Jo Ha-rin’s character.’
Acting in a role where she had to express love for someone else—honestly, Seoyeon lacked confidence in that area.
When she lacked confidence, she didn’t want to do it. It was a childish thought. Even though she had always believed that she shouldn’t pick and choose roles as an actress.
Seoyeon took pride in her work as an actress. She realized that her nonchalant attitude, thinking it was okay if her screen time was reduced, was disrespectful to Cha Na-hee.
"I… I want to see you act properly, Seoyeon. Like in episode 1…"
Cha Na-hee said this with a smile. Even though she was still being criticized online, she was a strong person.
Seoyeon didn’t know much about Cha Na-hee. She knew that she was from a girl group, that the group would soon disband, and that she was the breadwinner who had supported the group alone.
Among the members of her girl group, Cha Na-hee was the only one who continued to work until the end. Seoyeon thought she might understand why.
"…Yes, if the opportunity arises."
At Seoyeon’s words, Cha Na-hee smiled. And then…
"This stage scene is really important. You know that, right?"
Jo Ha-rin’s screen time had suddenly increased. Director Kim Pil-seok spoke to Seoyeon.
"Park Min-yul will be eliminated, and Jo Ha-rin will take his place. This is the moment when Jo Ha-rin, who has lacked presence until now, must make an impact."
In other words, this one performance in episode 7 had to make up for the lack of screen time so far.
"It’s a bit of a tall order, but…"
Min Se-hee said this, bowing her head. And so, the shooting began. Seoyeon watched Ma Yeon-woo on stage.
A top idol. Just as Seoyeon aspired to be a top actor, he might already be at the top as an idol.
So, she wasn’t worried about his performance.
‘Emotions…’
Seoyeon took a deep breath. It had been a while since she’d truly gotten into character.
Method acting. She hadn’t used it in a while. Method acting is just one technique; it’s nothing particularly special. While it can enhance immersion, it’s not always necessary. It can be excessive. Over-immersion can come across as cringeworthy.
That’s why Seoyeon hadn’t been using method acting, as it made emotional recovery slower. But…
‘Right now…’
It was different. Method acting was something special for Seoyeon. It was the first type of acting she’d ever done, and it brought out her emotions more vividly than anything else.
She synchronized with the surging emotions and adjusted her body to the rhythm around her. The stage was about to begin. The performance Jo Ha-rin would deliver.
She could feel Cha Na-hee watching her from below the stage. Seoyeon smiled at her, just like she would smile at an audience member from the stage.
‘What Jo Ha-rin feels for Park Min-yul is still just simple curiosity.’
A strange, confusing feeling. Yet, it spread warmth through her heart, which had started beating coolly. It was definitely that kind of emotion.
‘Ironically…’
Although Writer Im Jin-ha had reduced Jo Ha-rin’s screen time, it had actually been helpful. Up until now, Jo Ha-rin had lacked presence, and there had been little to no development between her and Park Min-yul.
So now, they had to build it up. Seoyeon had to convey to the viewers the pleasant strangeness of Jo Ha-rin’s feelings for Park Min-yul. Because of this, Seoyeon could empathize with Jo Ha-rin’s emotions.
After all, the affection of others was something strange and confusing for Seoyeon too. And now, Seoyeon was about to act out that strangeness.
This was the story arc, and it was the most brilliant emotion Jo Ha-rin was supposed to show. A performance so charming that anyone would fall in love with her—a heroine.
‘Wow…’
Cha Na-hee, watching Seoyeon’s performance, was left speechless. Watching Seoyeon dance on stage with a bright smile, it felt like she was watching a real idol.
‘Her feelings for Park Min-yul…’
But it wasn’t just that. Even as a rookie idol, her movements naturally reflected those feelings. Of course, Seoyeon, being an actress, couldn’t help but have some awkward moments as an idol.
But she turned those into something beautiful through her acting, and Ma Yeon-woo naturally covered her shortcomings. After all, he was a professional.
So, the stage was perfect. It felt like watching an actual performance.
Cha Na-hee couldn’t take her eyes off the cheerful Seoyeon, who maximized her strengths while covering her weaknesses.
It was like being at a real concert. The cheers of countless fans echoed in her ears, just like what she had always experienced.
When the song ended, and Seoyeon high-fived Ma Yeon-woo, she realized it was over. Only then did she remember that this was acting.
She probably wasn’t the only one who felt that way. And just as Cha Na-hee expected…
[Dream Future Returns to 15% Ratings!] [Dream Future Successfully Rebounds, Riding the Wave of The Chaser’s Popularity]
Articles started pouring out.
"Did you watch Dream Future yesterday?"
"I didn’t because I thought it was childish, but when I watched it yesterday, it was actually pretty fun."
"Isn’t the actor from episode 7 the same one who played the killer in The Chaser?"
"Really? The vibe was completely different!"
"Right, right. I was surprised too!"
From episode 7 onward, Dream Future became a hot topic in people’s conversations. Until now, it was just a peculiar drama that aired simultaneously on TV and online—a new experiment, so to speak.
But now…
"Jo Ha-rin was stunningly beautiful."
"I thought she was amazing in The Chaser too."
"Why didn’t they give Jo Ha-rin more screen time earlier? Was it all part of a bigger plan?"
"No way."
More and more people were talking about the drama.
In both film and drama, Seoyeon’s name started coming up more frequently.
Discussions about Writer Im Jin-ha were circulating online. It seemed like someone on the staff had leaked information. Or perhaps…
"Hmph."
Han Seon-ah scoffed as she typed out the latest article. It was an article based on an internal investigation at KMB, focusing on Im Jin-ha.
The article title was something like "Power Struggles Among Drama Writers—Is It the Viewers’ Fault?"
"Ah, this is too clickbaity."
Reflecting on it, Han Seon-ah rewrote the article. After all, she wasn’t going to let Im Jin-ha quietly fade away.
And so, after episode 7 aired, episode 8 followed. Jo Ha-rin had entered the top ten and met with Song So-ha.
"Did the ratings go up again? How much?"
"17%! Up by 2%."
"Wow, this is crazy! Are we going to see a drama that surpasses 20% ratings after a long time?"
In an era where drama ratings were generally declining, 20% was considered the threshold for a big hit.
[The Chaser Surpasses 8 Million Viewers! On Its Way to 10 Million?] [A Positive Rebound for Dream Future! Ratings Nearing 20%]
Then came episodes 9 and 10 of Dream Future. Song So-ha began to shine as she realized her feelings for the male lead, Kim Si-hwan. Meanwhile, Jo Ha-rin also had a chance encounter with Park Min-yul.
Cha Na-hee, in her own way, gave it her all. As the female lead, Song So-ha, she was slowly but surely making her presence known to the public.
Discussions about Dream Future were becoming more active in online communities. As a result, the ratings continued to rise, and the number of views on YouTube increased as well.
[Lamiell’s Broadcast]
"Recently, I watched a movie called The Chaser."
"Oh, it seems everyone knows about it. It’s great, isn’t it?"
"I heard the same actor is in Dream Future, so I checked it out, and I was shocked."
"I couldn’t believe it was the same actor; the performances were completely different."
"…Honestly, I was really impressed."
"Oh, what? You think my voice sounds familiar? Th-that must be a mistake."
"Ahem, anyway, The Chaser and Dream Future—Lamiell recommends them both!"
As these shows were mentioned more frequently in various internet broadcasts, their popularity continued to grow.
There were people who hadn’t seen The Chaser. There were people who hadn’t watched Dream Future. But it was rare to find someone who hadn’t seen both.
"Lately, Ju Seoyeon? That actress is everywhere."
"I first saw her on a variety show, and I liked how cheerful she was."
"But because of her image as Cha Seo-ah, she’s kind of scary. Like she might show up with an axe."
"Pfft, true."
With her appearance in both shows, mentions of Seoyeon were steadily increasing.
[Dream Future OST Released, Dominating Melon Charts!]
The OSTs from the drama were climbing the charts on music streaming sites, showing their presence.
[The Chaser Reaches 10 Million Viewers!]
And so, as The Chaser hit the 10 million viewer mark,
"Hello? Yes, Director Bae Jin-hwan. …Me?"
Seoyeon received a phone call right around that time.
Nice
Good