Ha-eun found out that she was officially cast as Kim Ji-ah after her singing lesson with Double Lee. More precisely, she learned the news in the black van on the way home.

“You’ll be pretty busy from now on. So, if there’s anything you need, be sure to tell me in advance, okay?”

“…Yes.”

It would’ve been a lie to say she hadn’t been hoping for it. After all, she had given her best performance and had been quietly hoping to pass the screen test.

Yet, now that she’d actually won the role over Min Da-yeon, it felt almost surreal.

-Rustle.

In a mix of excitement and seriousness, Ha-eun began flipping through the pages of *The Man Next Door* script, reading it from the beginning. The official filming script would be sent later, but there wouldn’t be any major changes.

In her mind, Ha-eun relived some of the highlight scenes from *The Man Next Door* and recalled the unique version of Kim Ji-ah she’d created during the screen test. She planned to use both to bring depth to her portrayal and make her time on set meaningful.

In a way, it was her first time beating someone else in a competitive setting—through acting.

Being cast as Kim Ji-ah over Min Da-yeon, a famous child actress, was proof that Ha-eun’s acting had what it took to compete. It also meant that when she eventually debuted as VTuber *D.A.*, she’d have a good chance of drawing people’s attention.

“Thank goodness.”

She sighed, feeling slightly relieved. Jung-yoon’s cautious voice sounded from the front, where she had been stealing glances at Ha-eun through the rearview mirror.

“Um, Ha-eun, reading in the car will make you carsick.”

‘I’ll remember to bring some nausea medicine next time.’

Ha-eun realized that one day she’d have to have a more serious conversation with Jung-yoon. While she understood that it was normal for adults to worry over a child her age, Jung-yoon’s constant fretting over the smallest things was getting a bit much.

Besides, Ha-eun disliked being the subject of anyone’s worry. Rather than enduring Jung-yoon’s excessive concern, she figured it would be better to address it gradually.

“Oh, and Ha-eun, I think it’s best to take a break from your singing lessons for now. Double Lee has an overseas concert tour planned next month, so─”

As she listened to Jung-yoon outline the upcoming schedule, they arrived at her house.

“Let’s work well together… Jung-yoon unnie.”

Ha-eun extended her hand for a handshake, aware that both she and Jung-yoon would be busy until filming wrapped up. After all, Jung-yoon would be her only source of support on the set.

“Oh, yes. I look forward to working with you, too.”

With a calm exchange of glances and a light handshake, the partnership was sealed between an actress on her first film project and a manager taking on her first job.

---

When the day of her first shoot finally arrived, Ha-eun found herself facing a new sight.

“Ha-eun, I’ll be right back after I take something for my nerves.”

Watching Jung-yoon, who seemed more anxious than herself, Ha-eun’s gaze narrowed slightly. It seemed she might have picked the wrong person to rely on.

Still, now that they were at the filming location, there was nothing to do but move forward. Once Jung-yoon returned from her quick trip to the restroom, Ha-eun stepped into the bustling set.

“Hello.”

With a smile, voice, and posture that epitomized traditional courtesy, Ha-eun greeted every staff member she encountered. Fortunately, none of them ignored her greeting.

After winning over everyone with her polite demeanor, Ha-eun moved to the makeup room to prepare for the shoot.

As luck would have it, just as Ha-eun was about to enter the room—

-Creak.

‘Oh.’

She found herself face-to-face with a woman who had just finished her own makeup. Ha-eun stepped back and bowed politely.

“Hello…”

But before she could finish her usual greeting—

-Swish.

The woman passed by without a single glance and disappeared somewhere, leaving Ha-eun’s polite greeting unanswered for the first time.

Watching the woman’s back recede, Ha-eun’s expression turned slightly rigid.

‘…Kim So-hyun?’

The actress who had ignored her was none other than Kim So-hyun, who would be playing the role of Kim Ji-ah’s mother, Seo Do-yeon, an alcoholic with severe issues.

Ha-eun wasn’t meeting Kim So-hyun for the first time. They had crossed paths several times during script readings.

‘Hello, I’m Ha-eun, playing Kim Ji-ah.’

‘…Hello.’

During the readings, Kim So-hyun had accepted Ha-eun’s greetings without any issues. She tried to think of any reason Kim So-hyun might be cold towards her, but came up blank.

Shrugging it off, Ha-eun entered the makeup room. The makeup this time went beyond what she’d experienced during the screen test, with brushes and tools meticulously attending to every detail.

After two hours, Ha-eun’s appearance had fully transformed into Kim Ji-ah.

‘…Hmm.’

From her scruffy clothes to her disheveled hair, everything about her now closely resembled the image of Kim Ji-ah that Min Da-yeon had once portrayed.

This transformation showed the true power of special effects makeup. With her preparations complete, Ha-eun decided to use the time before the first shoot to explore the set.

These little experiences would all become part of her story someday.

Of course, she made sure to greet everyone she passed. She didn’t see Kim So-hyun anywhere, but she knew they would meet soon enough.

Coincidentally, the first scene to be shot that day was one in which Kim Ji-ah would be abused by her mother, Seo Do-yeon. Though “abuse” might sound tame; in reality, it was closer to a brutal mistreatment.

In fact, Ha-eun thought it might be for the best that she hadn’t spoken with Kim So-hyun beforehand. Casual chitchat might lessen the intensity of their interactions in the scene.

So, she continued exploring the set until the time for the first scene drew near.

“So-hyun and Ha-eun, are you both ready? Alright then… action!”

As Director Kwon Jong-hyuk called for the scene to start, Ha-eun summoned memories she would rather have left buried.

---

From the moment she met Ha-eun for their script reading sessions a few days before filming started, to the day they finally stood alone together in front of the camera, Kim So-hyun had her doubts.

‘Can I really bring myself to hurt such a cute kid…?’

Kim So-hyun, neither a star nor a complete unknown, but somewhere in between, wasn’t sure if she could pull this off—bullying someone as pretty and adorable as Ha-eun.

This was her first time playing a villainous character like Seo Do-yeon, and it wasn’t an easy role to refuse, as it had come as a recommendation from Kang Sun-woo, a celebrated actor in her own agency.

She still didn’t know why he’d suggested her for Seo Do-yeon, but she didn’t want to disappoint the senior actor she admired.

‘Hello, I’m…’

-Swish.

Forcing herself to ignore Ha-eun’s polite greeting was part of her attempt to focus on the character. Even though she already planned to apologize to Ha-eun after the shoot, she had to prepare herself mentally to be Seo Do-yeon.

Moments later, she would need to become Seo Do-yeon, the abusive, alcohol-dependent mother, and torment her “daughter” Kim Ji-ah—in other words, Ha-eun.

Steeling herself with Seo Do-yeon’s twisted mindset, she waited for Director Kwon’s cue.

“...Do you think I’m a joke, too?”

With a voice heavy with simmering anger and a hint of bitterness, she staggered toward Kim Ji-ah and eventually backed her into a corner, trapping her with no escape.

-Bang!

Pushing her “daughter” all the way against the wall of the dark, cramped room, So-hyun locked eyes with Ha-eun’s unflinching gaze.

“Tell me. Where did you hide the money from my drawer?!”

In this scene, Seo Do-yeon mistakenly believes Kim Ji-ah has stolen her money. In reality, Seo Do-yeon herself had spent it but was too drunk to remember.

Yet from Kim Ji-ah, who silently looked up at her, there was no response—no excuses or explanations. She knew Seo Do-yeon wouldn’t listen.

Unfortunately, her silence only fueled Seo Do-yeon’s anger.

-Smack!

Seo Do-yeon’s alcohol-fueled rage exploded, striking Kim Ji-ah. Without resistance, Kim Ji-ah collapsed to the floor.

“Stop pretending and get up! Where did you hide my money?!”

As she grabbed Kim Ji-ah by the collar and yanked her up, she was met with the same silence as before.

But unlike the earlier silence, there was now a trembling lip, clenched tightly, and a pair of hollow, empty eyes that appeared to suck in Seo Do-yeon’s emotions like a bottomless pit.

“Fine, Kim Ji-ah… let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

For a moment, the experienced actress Kim So-hyun faltered, stumbling over her lines as she looked into Ha-eun’s lifeless gaze.

In a cruel twist, instead of Seo Do-yeon dominating her “daughter” with hatred, it was Kim Ji

-ah’s hopeless despair that seemed to overwhelm Seo Do-yeon.