Recently, Seoyeon had been drawing a lot of attention for various reasons. While her casting as the lead in the drama Sky Garden was one of them, the main cause was her sudden rise in public interest due to Hyper Action Star.

• When is Ju Seoyeon coming on? The second episode is so boring.
• There are other teams too, and to get through all of them, it’ll take at least three episodes.
• Yeah, but don’t you think they’ll rush through the other teams to finish faster?
• If they know Team A is the most fun, they’ll think differently.

 

The first episode of Hyper Action Star had an astonishing 5% viewership rating, an exceptionally high number for a cable variety show.

Considering this was just the first episode, there was a chance the ratings could climb even higher, potentially making it the most-watched variety show of the year!

There was even a possibility of surpassing the elusive 8% rating mark.

“Episode 2’s rating is 4%.”

“...”

PD Lee Gi-tae sighed in response to the staff member’s report from HK Channel. It wasn’t a surprising result.

“The ratings seem to have dropped a bit since the other teams don’t have the same appeal as Team A.”

Everyone spoke in calm, measured tones. They had expected this outcome since filming.

“The initial viewership at the start of episode 2 was double that of episode 1.”

Episode 2’s Team B had been assigned the same gunfight mission as Team A from episode 1. While the actors showed a fierce firefight, it just didn’t have the same intensity.

For one thing—

“None of the actors are using their powers effectively.”

“That part was inevitable. It’s not easy to coordinate those abilities during live filming.”

“But wasn’t the purpose of the auditions to select actors who could handle that?”

Acting out a gunfight while incorporating superpowers wasn’t an easy task. As a result, no one in Team B had really been able to pull it off.

“We should have separated Ju Seoyeon and Jo Seohui into different teams.”

“Or at least Han Soyu.”

It felt like all the capable actors had been bunched together in Team A. But the team assignment had been random, so there was nothing they could do about it.

“I’m already scared to see what the ratings will be for episodes 3 and 4.”

There was no real standout character.

When you think about it, it was obvious. This wasn’t regular acting; it was action acting. Moreover, most of the cast members excelled in action scenes but lacked the ability to deliver strong, regular performances.

“To create memorable characters, regular acting skills are essential.”

“Well, isn’t that expected of a lead actor?”

“I just didn’t realize there would be so few actors who could handle both...”

It suddenly dawned on them how much of a monster Ju Seoyeon was.

It wasn’t just her physical feats that seemed almost superhuman during filming, but the fact that she could act.

Her presence as a protagonist with a villainous aura had shone through, and Jo Seohui’s twist at the end had made the first episode a huge success.

“So, here’s what we’ll do.”

After thinking it over, PD Lee Gi-tae spoke up. Since Team A had already advanced, they had no choice but to proceed with the same format for teams B through D. The only option left was to bend the rules a little.

“An interview?”

“Yes. After evaluating all the teams from A to D, we plan to add CGI to certain scenes.”

“Oh, the scenes from episode 1?”

Seoyeon briefly recalled the first episode’s shoot. Now that she thought about it, there had been green elements in the props and floor. Perhaps they had been intended for CGI in post-production.

“Will all teams do this?”

It seemed like it would take too long if all teams were involved. With that thought in mind, she asked.

“No, only the team with the highest evaluation among the four will get this treatment.”

But Team A had already started?

“Of course, this process will take place after all teams have completed their first missions.”

There was still the chance that a better performance than Team A’s could emerge.

But—

‘That’s unlikely.’

PD Lee Gi-tae watched Seoyeon, who was staring at him blankly. Her physical abilities alone were so incredible they seemed surreal.

‘But beyond that, her acting.’

Ultimately, what mattered in a broadcast wasn’t just physical prowess but acting ability. This wasn’t just a variety show; it was an audition.

Seoyeon had fully utilized her physical skills while also delivering a strong performance. She had even ended on a high note with a perfect smile.

‘I’ll have to ask Jo Seohui for help too.’

And Han Soyu as well. Acting wasn’t something one could do alone. Chemistry with the other actors was what made a scene truly shine.

‘Team A had the right dynamic.’

While other staff members and PDs had said they should have split the three actors across different teams, PD Lee Gi-tae thought differently.

It was because these three had been together in Team A that episode 1 had been such a success.

Actors who could play off each other, actors who could deliver surprises.

If Seoyeon had been alone, the result would have been completely different. She would have won the gunfight without breaking a sweat.

‘Though Min Doha also played his part well.’

Honestly, it was hard to say if his acting was intentional or not. It had been so convincing that it felt like it might have been real...

“Oh, and we plan to include brief interviews in episodes 3 and 4.”

Not just for Team A.

‘But Team A will have the most screen time.’

To prevent the ratings from dropping with each new episode, they planned to mix things up.

“Seoyeon, you’ll be featured at the end of episode 4.”

“Me? Why is that...”

“Because you had the most impressive performance in episode 1.”

Seoyeon’s interview would be aired at the very end, showcasing what was going through her mind during the filming. That way, people would tune in again to see it.

Even if episodes 3 and 4 were less exciting, the audience would return for episode 5.

“We’re counting on you.”

And so, Seoyeon found herself in a separate room, preparing for a solo interview with a reporter.

‘It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve done this.’

Though she had done interviews as a child actor, this was her first one since her return, and she felt a bit awkward.

“Wow, Min Doha’s acting really was incredible! I thought it was real for a moment!”

“Yes, I’m glad he made it through the first round.”

Seoyeon responded with a smile to the reporter’s enthusiastic comments. The interview wasn’t anything too difficult.

They mainly asked about her mindset during filming and the intent behind her acting choices.

The most frequent topic was the superpower scene she had performed with Han Soyu. The reporter’s excessive praise made Seoyeon feel a bit flustered.

“Oh, and when you deflected the paintball shots with your arm and hand, did you get hurt at all?”

“Huh? Oh, no, I’m fine.”

Seoyeon smiled at the question. She had anticipated it, so she had already prepared her answer.

“I think the cosmetics I use helped with that.”

“...?”

The reporter seemed slightly confused by her confident response. Do cosmetics really protect against paintballs these days?

“Oh, really.”

“Yes.”

“Sounds like an amazing product.”

“It really is.”

And with that strange exchange, the interview concluded smoothly. And that interview would later lead to a massive surge in a certain company’s sales.

But that was only natural.

Baek Min-chan, director at Éclat Étoile, sat in his office, stunned.

He felt as though he had become the god of business, quietly basking in the moment.

“Director, we knew you could do it!”

“You’re the god of business!”

Everyone around him cheered and applauded continuously.

Well, it was understandable.

‘1.5 times last year’s sales...!’

It was an extraordinary result. Not only had they recovered their previous decline in sales, but they had started to see a noticeable increase.

‘I didn’t expect it to be this big.’

Baek Min-chan closed his eyes and reflected on the situation.

He knew the reason for it all.

It was all thanks to Ju Seoyeon, the actress he had fought to have represent their brand.

Sure, the ads had been well-made, but more importantly—

Seoyeon never missed an opportunity to mention their cosmetics during her broadcast appearances.

“Oh, I think my skin didn’t get damaged thanks to the cosmetics I use.”

She had said that during the survival show.

And most recently, in episode 4 of Hyper Action Star, she had confidently stated—

“The cosmetics I use help with things like this.”

Though it was hard to see how cosmetics were relevant in that context, viewers took her words at face value.

And so—

“What’s the brand of cosmetics Ju Seoyeon uses?”

“I think it’s called Éclat Étoile?”

You could hear people talking about it even in offline stores.

A miracle product that could protect you from the sun and prevent scratches.

It truly felt like a victory for modern science.

‘Hmm.’

As Baek Min-chan looked at the sales figures, which had shot up vertically, he wondered.

‘Could we get sued for false advertising?’

This was becoming a legitimate concern.

He was proud of their product, which certainly had UV protection and could help protect rough skin.

But there had to be a limit.

How could it prevent injuries from running around a deserted island all day or from being hit by paintballs during survival training?

If their product could do all that, no one would bother with protective gear anymore.

He imagined Éclat Étoile evolving into a military supply company as his thoughts spiraled.

“Director.”

It was Jeong Tae-su, the head of business strategy, who had earned a hefty bonus for his recent achievements.

“You know we’re expanding our clothing line under our brand, right?”

“Yeah, I’m aware.”

“We’re thinking of having Ju Seoyeon model for that too. What do you think?”

It seemed the other directors were already on board with the idea. From the look in Jeong Tae-su’s eyes, it was clear he had immense faith in Ju Seoyeon.

Of course, Baek Min-chan also trusted her completely.

But if she was going to wear their clothes on variety shows—

“Sure, I’m all for it.”

“Right? Then we’ll move forward with that.”

“But if Ju Seoyeon agrees, make sure the clothes you send her are durable.”

“Excuse me?”

“Actually, I should probably schedule a meeting with her team.”

Éclat Étoile was currently putting a lot of effort into launching their luxury clothing line. They had brought in top international designers and were preparing everything with care.

‘The clothes need to be sturdy.’

This wasn’t something he usually worried about.

Who would concern themselves with durability when it came to high-end clothing?

But if Seoyeon was going to wear them while doing her usual activities, it could become an issue.

With the way she moved around, the clothes could very well end up in tatters.

“No way, Director. She’s still an actress…”

“Ju Seoyeon is pretty energetic, don’t you think?”

“Was she…?”

If you just looked at her appearance and vibe, she didn’t seem like someone with a lot of energy.

But watching her on variety shows, she did seem that way.

“She’s always wearing her school uniform because it’s sturdy.”

Since it was designed for students, the material was naturally more durable. And even Seoyeon’s high school uniform was made from notably high-quality fabric.

As a result, several high schools had recently been reaching out to that manufacturer.

“Anyway, durability is key, and make sure to get Ju Seoyeon’s input. That’s the most important thing.”

“Understood.”

Satisfied with Jeong Tae-su’s confident nod, Baek Min-chan felt reassured. Everything was going smoothly.

Cosmetic sales were soaring thanks to Seoyeon, and the upcoming clothing line was already drawing attention without any problems.

You could even see people discussing Éclat Étoile’s new clothing brand in online communities.

‘I don’t see how we can fail.’

He had no fear of failure.

“Seoyeon, Éclat Étoile has offered you a clothing ad.”

“Oh, really?”

Seoyeon nodded at her manager Park Eun-ha’s words.

A clothing ad for Éclat Étoile…

‘Right, it was around this time.’

That was when Éclat Étoile had launched their new clothing line.

“Hmm.”

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

Park Eun-ha looked at Seoyeon with a puzzled expression.

It was strange for Seoyeon to hesitate over an offer from a luxury clothing brand.

It would be great for her image and came with a lot of money too.

“No, it’s not that.”

It’s just—

‘That brand ends up flopping.’

Seoyeon couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

After all, Éclat Étoile was the company that had paid her 400 million won.