NoveLight ™
"For the time being, I might be a bit busy, so I might not be able to visit as often."
Ji Yeon was now quite familiar with the full tracking equipment, the 3D character displayed on another monitor, and everything else involved in her VTuber activities. What started as a fun project to create a birthday present for Seoyeon had turned into a hobby and even a bit of a side job that she genuinely enjoyed.
"..."
Ji Yeon let out a small, exasperated laugh at the Super Chat. The name of the sender was very familiar to her.
Why are you even sending money?
Ji Yeon sighed as she wondered how she could return the money. Was Seoyeon sending it with the expectation that she would return it?
No, it doesn’t seem like that...
At first, it felt like a joke, but Seoyeon seemed to be serious about it.
Sometimes, I just can’t figure her out.
Seoyeon was surprisingly serious about the VTuber world in some ways. For instance, even though she clearly knew Ji Yeon was the VTuber 'Ramiel,' she never said a word about it.
However, she wasn’t always so discreet. Occasionally, when Ji Yeon was collaborating with or hanging out with 'Magician Erchebet,' the VTuber senior who had helped her get started, Seoyeon would give her a subtle, almost jealous glance.
That amused Ji Yeon, and she would often tease Seoyeon about it, but she didn’t plan on making it a regular thing.
Real-time viewers: 2,000.
The growth of her channel was not just steady but remarkably fast. Ji Yeon had already connected with several other VTubers through her senior, but amusingly, none of them knew her true identity as an actress.
She occasionally worried about what they would think if they found out.
It turns out I’m quite suited for this.
Ji Yeon enjoyed planning and trying out new content. If she hadn’t pursued acting, she might have made a full-time career out of being a VTuber.
If I hadn’t met Seoyeon...
She thought about how different her life would have been. If she hadn’t met Seoyeon, she would have stayed with Eunha Entertainment. Considering what happened to that company, things wouldn’t have ended well for her. Would she have continued acting?
Honestly, she doubted it. Ji Yeon had always had a strong sense of pride as an actress, but her start in the industry was simply due to her mother’s encouragement. Initially, she didn’t have much drive or motivation, and it wasn’t until she met Seoyeon that things changed.
Sometimes, I wonder...
There were moments when Seoyeon seemed to act as if she knew what was going to happen. She would casually mention which movies or commercials would be good or bad, almost as if she had insider knowledge. At first, Ji Yeon chalked it up to coincidence, but when it happened repeatedly, it was hard to dismiss.
...Maybe I’ve been watching too many movies.
Ji Yeon chuckled at herself. She’d been watching a lot of shows and movies lately to study characters, and it was making her imagination run wild.
But still...
Ji Yeon shook her head to clear her thoughts. Right now, what mattered most was the audition. Jo Seohui might have offered the opportunity without much thought, but for Ji Yeon, it was a huge chance.
Director Baek Min’s film. Honestly, not many actors would be expecting it to be a box office hit.
His films were known for their artistic value, but their box office performance was unpredictable, making him less favored by production companies. Still, he had a dedicated fanbase, especially overseas.
And he’s more well-known internationally than domestically.
There would definitely be actors interested in working with him for that reason, even if they were few, they would undoubtedly be top-tier.
Not much was known about the role being cast. Was it a lead role? A supporting one?
Jo Seohui was unlikely to be cast in a minor role. Most likely, she would be the lead actress. And if Seoyeon got a role, it probably wouldn’t be a simple supporting part either.
The first movie I’d shoot with Seoyeon.
Seoyeon might not think much of it, but for Ji Yeon, it was incredibly meaningful. Seoyeon had always been out of Ji Yeon’s reach.
That hadn’t changed, even after a ten-year hiatus. Ji Yeon had always believed that if Seoyeon returned to the industry, she would shine again.
And just as she thought, Seoyeon was growing at an incredible pace, already surpassing Ji Yeon.
If it had been before, Ji Yeon might not have cared much.
"Sometimes, I just want to catch her off guard."
As Ji Yeon mused aloud,
"..."
Seeing the Super Chats flooding in one after another, Ji Yeon promptly banned Seoyeon from the chat.
At Cheonghong Action School, Kim Hongbaek scratched his head as he looked at the list of new students wanting to train with him. Suddenly, actors who had never shown an interest in action roles were signing up en masse.
Several well-known management companies had even contacted Kim Hongbaek directly, asking if he could provide action training for their famous actors.
"Is this because of the GH Group?"
"I heard they’re filming an action movie. But the variety show might be the real focus."
A large-scale action actor survival audition. This kind of thing hadn’t been done before, so many people were more interested in the audition itself than the movie.
Even if it didn’t make it to public television, if it was successful online, it could end up airing on cable TV as well.
A battle for the lead role in a GH Group movie, fought solely through action scenes! That was the tagline.
"I’ve heard that young actors who are confident in their action skills have all signed up."
"Hmm. It’s definitely intriguing..."
Just hearing about the concept sparked interest. In fact, the GH Group had even asked Kim Hongbaek to appear on the show himself.
He was the top martial arts director in South Korea, so it would be odd for him not to be involved in a show like this.
However...
"...Do you think Seoyeon will be participating?"
"She probably will, don’t you think?"
Professor Sung Hocheol, who had been working alongside Kim Hongbaek for a long time, fell silent for a moment. He was thinking about a particular actress who excitedly showed up every week.
At first, she had seemed a bit awkward, but now she moved confidently through the Cheonghong Action School, to the point where other trainees dared not mess with her.
If Seoyeon happened to notice someone and asked, "Would you like to help me practice?" it often meant a trip to the hospital as well.
"Hmm. She should be okay, right?"
"She should be fine now... probably."
At first, Seoyeon had been like a runaway train, but after some practice, she had improved significantly. And beyond her physical talent...
Her acting has also improved immensely.
Action acting. When she first filmed The Chaser, she had been somewhat awkward, but now she was different. Professor Kim Hongbaek had seen Seoyeon’s potential as an actress.
Her control of her gaze. Her restrained yet impactful action. She didn’t rely solely on physical ability; every movement was varied and unpredictable.
The Seoyeon of today was a completely different person from before.
"So, she doesn’t really need to come here anymore..."
"She must find it fun."
"..."
In truth, they both knew. Seoyeon came to Cheonghong Action School to blow off steam. Not because of work-related stress, but because she wanted to use her body properly.
Kim Hongbaek closed his eyes tightly. Still, Seoyeon was considerate enough to pay for anything she broke.
Thanks to her, the equipment at Cheonghong Action School was gradually being replaced with new ones. Although those new ones quickly became worn out as well.
"We should stock up on more sandbags..."
The cheapest way to keep Seoyeon occupied.
Professor Kim Hongbaek muttered to himself. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her she didn’t need to come anymore.
The new survival variety show prepared by the GH Group had the working title Hyper Action.
Young action actors would engage in real battles to compete for the lead role in a movie. The competition would be divided into male and female divisions. In some ways, this was to be expected.
According to insider information, the lead character in this movie was a "female protagonist," so the competition in the female division was expected to be particularly fierce. Although the exact plot hadn’t been revealed.
Before the show’s filming, there was a preliminary meeting. It was an opportunity for the participating actors to meet face-to-face.
"The GH Group sure knows how to have fun."
A sharp-eyed actress with a bored expression muttered to herself. Normally, it was unusual to have a preliminary meeting like this.
But at her comment, a few actors who recognized her swallowed nervously.
Min Doha.
A twenty-one-year-old actress who gained significant recognition for her role in an action film. The movie itself wasn’t highly rated, but her action scenes were praised. She managed to draw over 4 million viewers to the movie with her action alone.
"Maybe they want to stir up some competitive spirit by having us meet in advance."
Responding in a light tone, another actress, who was also a notable figure in the room, replied.
Han Soyu.
She was known for her athleticism, having starred in a disaster escape drama. It was said that she performed most of the stunts herself without a double.
Courage.
In action acting, this was an essential trait. Fear of injury was natural, but Han Soyu seemed to lack that fear. Her scenes were bold and thrilling.
Despite being a cable drama, it had achieved impressive ratings. She was one of the rising stars currently being pushed by XN Entertainment.
As they sat around a large table, a strange tension filled the room. Then, another actress entered the room.
...!!
Some of the actors’ eyes widened in surprise. The person who had just arrived was completely unexpected.
Jo Seohui!
A woman whose presence here made no sense. Jo Seohui had never appeared in an action movie, had she?
The room buzzed with murmurs. And why not? Jo Seohui was more famous than any other actress in the room.
She was someone who didn’t need an "audition." She was an actress who could choose her scripts.
Could she be trying to challenge herself with action acting? It’s definitely a good opportunity to prove her skills.
As the actors exchanged thoughts and watched her, Jo Seohui scanned the room. Her sharp gaze caused the other actors to shrink back as she casually took an empty seat.
Seeing her, Min Doha, who had been lounging with a bored expression, grinned.
Did she just assert her dominance? Interesting.
It was a look that said, "We’re not on the same level." Despite being younger, her aura was fierce.
Of course, the other actors didn’t realize that...
Seoyeon’s not here yet.
Jo Seohui was just checking to see if Seoyeon had arrived. She had deliberately arrived late so she could naturally sit next to her.
A bit disappointed that she wasn’t there, Jo Seohui frowned slightly, which only made the others around her more tense. With her naturally sharp features, she easily gave off the impression of a villainess.
As more and more people filled the room, the only empty seats were near Jo Seohui.
Suddenly, the door opened with a soft thud, and a girl walked in. Black hair, a slender figure, and a pale face.
With strikingly red-tinged eyes, it was Ju Seoyeon.
All eyes in the room turned to her. Another unexpected contender had arrived.
*The action scenes in The Chaser. And the way she appeared on recent variety shows...
Many assumed that the action scenes and chase sequences in The Chaser were performed by a stunt double. The fact that she wore a raincoat was a clear indication that a double was involved.
But even beyond that, her "action acting" was clearly impressive. Considering her dance performances in Dream Future, she likely had great physical abilities.
And the things she did on variety shows were often extraordinary.
How much of that was just exaggerated for the show...?
Honestly, most of the stunts on the variety shows were so absurd that it was hard to tell if they were real or just edited that way.
But with her appearance, and that atmosphere...
The young actress, who was rising rapidly in the industry, made everyone tense.
"?"
Seoyeon tilted her head slightly at their reactions and scanned the room for an empty seat. Realizing that the only available seat was next to Jo Seohui, she frowned slightly. Still, it was better to sit next to someone she knew than a stranger.
As she sat down, Jo Seohui, who was thrilled, immediately started talking to her.
"You're late."
"I ran over right after school."
It was so quiet that Seoyeon’s voice carried across the room. Of course, Jo Seohui didn’t care much about that. She was the type who expected people to pay attention to her.
Moreover...
"...Wait, you go to Yeonhwa High School, right?"
At Jo Seohui’s comment, the actors all stiffened. They finally realized why she was late.
She’s asserting her dominance.
Yeonhwa High School was five stations away from here. The fact that Seoyeon had run all the way over meant that her stamina was something to be reckoned with.
"?"
"Seoyeon was a bit confused by their reaction. She had simply traveled the distance quickly because she was worried about being late due to traffic."
Physical monsters!
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