I Want to Be a VTuber

"A cameo?"

"Stella Baldwin?"

"Director, is this for real?"

The filming set was abuzz with excitement.

While some of the staff, already aware of the news, were less surprised, they were still captivated by Stella’s appearance.

The actors, on the other hand, were left wondering how Stella Baldwin ended up participating in Kyungsung Lady.

But the surprises weren’t over yet.

"He's here," a staff member whispered nervously into Director Baek Min’s ear.

There was no need to clarify who "he" was.

Standing behind Stella, who was already dressed and smiling at those around her, was none other than Asher Baldwin.

If Stella’s presence had caused confusion, Asher’s arrival left everyone utterly shocked.

"Is that really Asher Baldwin in the flesh?"

"He came here personally just because Stella is doing a cameo?"

"Sure, it’s not a trivial matter, but... really, for this?"

Staff and actors alike stared in awe at the father-daughter duo of Asher and Stella Baldwin.

Then, their gazes slowly shifted to Director Baek Min, who stood smiling quietly.

‘Indeed.’

Director Baek understood their reactions completely.

After all, he had felt the same when he first heard the news.

The moment Asher Baldwin arrived in Japan, right as Stella was being escorted by her bodyguards, Director Baek had been invited to meet with him.

Flashback

"Stella has asked to appear in your film," Asher began.

"In the film?" Baek replied, surprised.

"Not for a major role, of course. A cameo seems appropriate."

Baek never imagined the word "cameo" coming out of Asher Baldwin’s mouth.

Especially not in reference to his own daughter, Stella Baldwin.

As a Korean director, the situation was almost too surreal to believe.

While the global recognition of Korean cinema had been steadily growing, it was still rare for someone of Asher Baldwin’s caliber to personally propose a cameo for a project.

There had been cases where internationally renowned stars headlined Korean films, but for a top-tier actor to proactively request a cameo was unheard of.

"May I ask why?" Baek asked after a moment of contemplation.

"Hmm."

Asher regarded Baek with a calculating gaze.

Baek appeared young, and his demeanor made him difficult to read.

Given Asher’s reputation, most directors would respond in one of two ways:

Either with resentment at having their work disrupted, or by eagerly bowing to create connections with Hollywood.

Asher, with his influence, could easily bring a Korean director into Hollywood’s spotlight if he chose.

But Baek was neither resentful nor overly accommodating.

He simply seemed genuinely curious.

"It appears Stella has taken an interest in one of your actors," Asher said.

"You must mean Ju Seoyeon," Baek replied with a knowing smile.

"Ah, so you’re aware."

"Of course. She came all the way to Korea."

Baek chuckled.

"But why is Stella interested in Seoyeon?"

"If I had to pinpoint a reason, it might be my own enthusiasm."

Asher explained how he first noticed Seoyeon during her cameo in a Japanese drama.

Initially, her appearance had caught his attention, but it was her commanding presence as an actor that truly impressed him.

Presence was something one was born with.

Even when he learned that Seoyeon had almost no command of the Japanese language and couldn’t take on dialogue-heavy roles, her silent charisma outshone her limitations.

Without saying a word, Seoyeon had outperformed seasoned actors with sheer presence.

Asher had rarely encountered actors capable of such a feat.

Among actresses, the only other example he could recall was Stella Baldwin herself.

But now, that "only" had become one of two.

"If Stella came all the way to Korea, it’s because she saw Seoyeon’s performance," Asher said.

"Is this childish jealousy because her father praised another actor?" Baek teased.

"Hardly. Stella isn’t so simple-minded. Well, perhaps she is, but only when it comes to her goals."

"Goals?"

"I’m rambling. To summarize, Stella wants to appear in your film, Director Baek. She even went so far as to charm me with a rare display of affection, asking me to arrange it."

Baek chuckled at the thought.

Stella Baldwin using "cuteness" as a tactic? It was a hard image to reconcile.

Though she projected the image of an angel, stories from Jo Seohui suggested she had a fiery temperament beneath it all.

But that wasn’t Baek’s concern.

"I..." Baek began, intending to decline.

"If you’re worried Stella’s presence will disrupt the tone of your work, I understand," Asher interrupted smoothly.

He continued, "But from what I hear, you’ve involved many young talents in this project."

Asher’s unwavering gaze locked onto Baek.

Baek faltered, sensing the quiet intensity of a veteran’s presence.

"It’ll be good inspiration for those actresses. It’s just a cameo—it won’t ruin your film."

The challenge in Asher’s tone was clear:

Or are you suggesting that a mere cameo could overshadow your film and its actors?

It was a provocation.

A deliberate one, and quite effective.

For someone of Asher Baldwin’s stature to personally push for his daughter’s participation, it was a unique scenario.

Baek couldn’t help but consider what this meant for the actresses in the film.

Stella was, in many ways, similar to Ju Seoyeon.

Watching Stella’s performances, one naturally empathized with her emotions, laughed at her lines, and shed tears alongside her.

At just eight years old, Stella had drawn universal acclaim with her first role, winning the Best Actress Award at the Berlin International Film Festival—the youngest ever to do so.

Baek had watched that film countless times.

‘Seoyeon is always considerate of others.’

In some ways, Baek was like Asher.

Just as Asher had seen Stella’s younger self in Seoyeon, Baek had seen echoes of another child actress in Stella.

That child actress had been a sensation in Korea during the same year Stella won her Berlin award.

While the two projects couldn’t be compared in scale, the Korean drama in question had left a lasting impression.

It was only after Seoyeon joined Kyungsung Lady that Baek finally went back to watch that drama.

‘I discovered her too late.’

Perhaps it was for the best.

Had he seen Seoyeon’s talent back then, he might have joined the search for her during her years out of the spotlight.

Her performance in that drama rivaled Stella’s debut.

And since her return, she had only reached that level once, in her role as "Cha Seo-ah."

"Doesn’t it tempt you? The chance to turn a raw gem into a polished jewel?" Asher asked.

Baek smiled and nodded slowly.

It wasn’t a bad proposal from a director’s perspective.

The investors would be thrilled.

Strictly speaking, his artistic pride made him want to decline, but he couldn’t deny the potential upside.

"I’ll accept the offer," Baek said.

"But let me clarify one thing."

His voice was calm as he met Asher’s gaze.

"My actors aren’t raw gems."

They were already jewels—just waiting for the right stage to shine.

Baek firmly believed that.

*****

"Stella Baldwin, who has suddenly joined us today, will play the daughter of a wealthy Western merchant who shares a childhood connection with Michiko."

The script, of course, was hastily revised.

The writer, thrilled by the news of Stella Baldwin’s participation, had completed the changes in just two days.

For something written on such short notice, the script was surprisingly polished and well-integrated.

A new character was added to the auction scene, blending seamlessly into the narrative.

The only issue?

For a cameo, the screen time was rather substantial.

Usually, a cameo lasts no more than a minute, a fleeting presence in the film.

‘Isn’t this practically a supporting role?’

That thought crossed everyone’s mind as they watched Stella.

Her appearance was set to last a solid five minutes.

While five minutes might seem brief, in a two-hour film, it’s a significant amount of time for a single character.

"Ju Seoyeon," Jiyeon said, breaking the silence as she addressed Seoyeon.

"What are you thinking about?"

Seoyeon didn’t respond immediately.

Her gaze was fixed on Stella.

Was she nervous about having a new addition to the cast?

That didn’t seem likely.

Jiyeon had never seen Seoyeon nervous on a film or drama set, not even when they were younger.

The only times she had sensed discomfort were during romantic scenes in Director Baek Min’s films.

But the scene they were filming today had no romantic elements.

"It’s just... she gives me a strange feeling," Seoyeon finally said, her eyes still on Stella.

Stella stood quietly, much like Seoyeon did before a shoot.

She wasn’t smiling like an angel.

Nor was she displaying the cocky attitude she sometimes showed Seoyeon.

She was silent.

Eyes closed, expressionless, like a doll.

But in this state, she felt more authentic than ever.

‘Could it be...?’

Seoyeon narrowed her eyes as she observed Stella.

The way Stella stood reminded her of herself in her past life.

This brought back memories of the condition she had dealt with back then:

Alexithymia, the inability to express emotions.

However, Seoyeon knew that this condition didn’t aid acting.

If anything, her ability to channel it into her craft came from overcoming it.

Having watched Stella’s films, Seoyeon was confident that Stella didn’t suffer from such a condition.

Her emotional performances—drawing deep empathy from viewers—were a testament to that.

And yet, something about Stella’s demeanor felt oddly familiar.

"Wait here for a moment," Seoyeon said, suddenly standing up.

"Huh? Where are you going?" Jiyeon asked, puzzled.

"To talk to Stella. It’s better to clear things up before we start shooting."

There was still some time before filming began, so a brief conversation wouldn’t hurt.

All eyes followed Seoyeon as she walked away, but she didn’t mind.

As she approached Stella, she was met by a wall of bodyguards.

Seoyeon stopped and stared at them.

『Move aside. If she wants to talk to me, you won’t be able to stop her anyway.』

Stella’s voice came from behind the wall of bodyguards.

The guards exchanged uncertain looks before stepping aside.

『Hmm, your words are layered. They seem to think of you only as an "actress," though.』

Stella’s comment was in English, leaving Seoyeon momentarily confused.

"...Do you think all Koreans are fluent in English?" Seoyeon retorted.

"Oh, don’t accuse me of being racist again."

"That wasn’t the first time."

"I’ve been careful recently! Besides, if you flick me on the forehead, I might end up with a dented skull!"

"I don’t hit people lightly," Seoyeon replied flatly.

Stella clasped her hands over her head as if genuinely afraid, though Seoyeon couldn’t tell how sincere she was.

Still, Seoyeon was aware of her limited English skills.

If she wanted to continue her acting career long-term, improving her English would be essential.

"Let me know if you need help with English," Stella offered.

"...Maybe later."

Right now, that wasn’t the priority.

Seoyeon stood face-to-face with Stella, both dressed in starkly contrasting attire—Stella in a Western-style gown, and Seoyeon in a Japanese kimono.

The juxtaposition was striking, and though their bodyguards obscured the view, the crew watching from afar let out disappointed sighs at the obstructed scene.

Seoyeon, however, was relieved for the moment of privacy.

"I want to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ask you something," she began.

"Go ahead," Stella replied with her signature smile.

"You’ve mentioned that you can’t properly distinguish people’s faces."

Seoyeon hesitated for a moment, debating whether to continue.

Was it just a quirky habit of Stella’s, or was there a deeper meaning?

Before Seoyeon could elaborate, Stella gently pressed a finger to her lips.

"That’s not important right now, is it?" Stella said, her smile unwavering.

"Are you worried I won’t be able to tell the characters apart and mess up the shoot?"

Her tone was light, but her gaze met Seoyeon’s firmly.

"Don’t worry. I can tell the characters apart just fine."

With a radiant smile that seemed almost angelic, Stella added:

"The characters, that is."

Seoyeon couldn’t bring herself to smile in return.

That grin of Stella’s was all but confirmation of her suspicions.

And with that, their conversation ended.

The filming in Japan began in earnest.