I Want to Be a VTuber

The Violle production team waited anxiously for the actress Park Jungwoo had called.

To be honest, they were skeptical—not because they doubted Jungwoo’s choice, but because it seemed unlikely that any established actress would accept the offer so quickly.

Today’s shoot wasn’t even about the actress. It was about Park Jungwoo.

Any actress here would just serve as an accessory to his spotlight.

A lesser-known actress or an idol might’ve agreed without hesitation. But someone with real recognition?

‘Wouldn’t this hurt their pride?’

Then again, Jungwoo seemed to have a close relationship with her.

If she agreed, she’d be the perfect fit for today’s shoot.

After all—

‘She matches the concept too perfectly.’

Violle’s theme this season was modernized hanbok.

The women’s designs in particular were elegant—more for flaunting status than everyday wear.

Clothing made for grand events and special occasions.

Jungwoo’s outfit, though equally striking, couldn’t stand alone.

“Looks like she’s here.”

“Already?”

They’d only called a short while ago.

For someone of her caliber, her schedule should’ve been packed.

‘Wait... wasn’t she a high schooler?’

That one detail gnawed at the director.

Would she be able to carry the look?

Her young age made him worry whether the outfit would appear mismatched, no matter how much effort they put into makeup and styling.

“Hello.”

When the girl finally stepped into the studio, several staff members froze.

Ju Seoyeon.

Anyone asked about the most talked-about actress this year would immediately name her.

She had exploded back into the scene through variety shows, followed by plays, movies, and dramas.

This year alone, she had already starred in three major hits.

Many actors would feel lucky to have even one success in their entire career.

Seoyeon already had three.

Among them, Sky Garden had shattered ratings records, cementing her as a leading actress.

For a time, Sky Garden had been so influential that production staff couldn’t even hold casual conversations without referencing it.

But that same success made the team uneasy.

‘Aren’t we asking her to regress to an outdated image?’

Seoyeon had played Seo Ah in The Chaser and Lee Yooju in Sky Garden.

Those were the images the public associated with her now—graceful, emotional, and commanding.

Yet the concept for this shoot called for something entirely different.

Something closer to the vibrant, energetic image she’d shown on variety shows.

‘Though...’

Despite her lively persona on TV, her current expression seemed cold and distant.

‘Is she upset?’

“Hello, Miss Ju Seoyeon. I’m Jung Sungmin, the director for today’s shoot. You arrived surprisingly fast! Did you live nearby?”

“I ran.”

“...?”

Director Jung Sungmin blinked in confusion.

“Your house must be really close to the studio, huh? Ah! So that’s why Jungwoo said you could get here so quickly.”

“Huh? Oh, right. Sure.”

Seoyeon didn’t bother correcting him.

Technically, it wasn’t too far—about four or five subway stops away.

Still, there was no need to admit she’d sprinted the distance.

‘I need to be more careful about what I say.’

She knew exactly why her public image was slipping again.

It was simple.

All the action-heavy roles and variety show stunts.

She hated looking weak, but at the same time—

‘Is this really the image of a leading actress?’

“Hey, you’re here.”

“Yes.”

Jungwoo studied Seoyeon’s face and could already tell what she was thinking.

‘Overthinking again.’

But seriously—had she actually run here?

Jungwoo knew her general location, based on the school she attended.

If she really ran all that way—

‘Forget it.’

He shook off the thought.

Ju Seoyeon wasn’t someone who made sense by normal standards.

‘Maybe she’s awakened or something.’

Recently, Jungwoo had received an offer to star in a drama adaptation of a web novel.

Before that, he’d never paid attention to web novels.

But the premise intrigued him enough to start reading—and soon enough, he was hooked.

Whenever he had free time, he devoured new chapters.

Now, watching Seoyeon, he couldn’t help but think of her as one of those fantasy “hunters.”

“Why’d you call me here if you’re just going to stand there saying nothing?”

“...I was contemplating when the next gate would open.”

“...?”

Gate?

Seoyeon blinked at him, completely lost.

‘Wait, is he into web novels?’

But the way he stood there with his arms crossed, dead serious, made her second-guess herself.

Maybe it was related to a movie or drama script?

Or had the shoot’s concept changed without her knowing?

‘That would be a problem.’

She’d only agreed to this job because she liked the hanbok concept.

If the theme had shifted, she wouldn’t have bothered coming at all.

When Seoyeon called her manager about the Violle shoot—

[What?! Violle?! Are you serious, Seoyeon?]

“It’s not an official contract, just a filler role.”

[That’s not the point! You’ll be standing next to Park Jungwoo! Your face is going to be plastered on billboards with him!]

“I’m just going to be an accessory. I doubt I’ll stand out that much...”

[Do you know how big of a deal this is? What if this lands you an actual luxury ad?]

“There’s no way it’ll go that far...”

[I’ll let the CEO know right away! You better look perfect for this shoot, okay?]

And with that, Park Eunha, her manager, hung up, clearly thrilled about the opportunity.

‘Is it really that big of a deal?’

Honestly, Seoyeon had only accepted the job to manage her public image. She hadn’t even considered any additional benefits.

‘Eclat Étoile is practically a luxury brand too, right?’

Sure, it wasn’t on the level of global powerhouses, but with the rise of K-beauty, Korean cosmetic brands were gaining recognition overseas.

Among them, Eclat Étoile stood out.

Its French-sounding name often led people to mistake it for a European brand, but its Korean origins had become a selling point, especially after gaining traction internationally.

‘Still, it’s not like it’s breaking records.’

Recently, Eclat Étoile had even considered using Seoyeon for an ad campaign to push further into the global market.

But negotiations were still ongoing.

Honestly, Seoyeon wasn’t that eager to take the job.

‘If they’re targeting overseas markets, wouldn’t it make more sense to cast a foreign model?’

Even if she starred in the ad, no one overseas would recognize her.

How would that be any different from using an unknown foreign actress?

Seoyeon wasn’t exactly motivated to shoot commercials abroad when her impact would be limited.

“Alright, let’s start prepping for the shoot.”

Director Jung Sungmin signaled the staff to get ready.

“Miss Ju Seoyeon, we’ll begin shortly. Your outfit and makeup are already prepared.”

“Got it.”

‘Focus on this shoot first.’

Taking the outfit in hand, Seoyeon tilted her head.

‘This doesn’t look like casual wear.’

The design was elegant—ornate and regal.

It wasn’t something you’d wear every day.

It felt more like a ceremonial piece—an outfit meant to radiate sophistication and class.

And it didn’t exactly match Seoyeon’s current public image.

‘Hmm.’

Seoyeon stared at the garment, her confidence wavering.

Would this really suit her?

Given how much her image had shifted lately, the contrast worried her.

For the first time in a while, she felt a hint of insecurity.

‘What if they think I don’t fit the concept and send me home?’

Her eyes darted toward Park Jungwoo.

On set, Jungwoo was known to be strict.

Even Jo Seohui, who rarely acknowledged anyone as her equal, respected his work ethic.

If Seoyeon failed to meet expectations, he wouldn’t hesitate to cut her loose.

“What’s with that look?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Don’t be so tense.”

Jungwoo laughed lightly, crossing his arms. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The moment he did, several female staff members squealed softly.

Even Seoyeon was momentarily startled by the reaction.

‘He’s ridiculously popular.’

Seoyeon, however, felt nothing.

Maybe it was her past life influencing her perspective, but Jungwoo’s good looks barely registered.

To her, it was like looking at a character drawn in a slightly different art style.

“I’ll go get changed.”

‘I need to focus.’

Seoyeon made up her mind as she left to prepare.

‘I’ll have to rely on acting to make this work.’

Her usual image wouldn’t cut it.

She’d need to “perform” a bit to sell this concept.

And with that, Seoyeon resolved to transform herself for the shoot.

*****

Park Jungwoo busied himself with preparations while Seoyeon was away.

Since the actress had changed, adjustments were necessary—poses, angles, and even framing.

“Miss Ju Seoyeon is shorter than the previous actress, so shooting closer might be better.”

“But her proportions aren’t bad, so it should be fine.”

Seoyeon was noticeably shorter than the previous model.

Compared to Jungwoo, who stood around 185 cm, she was at least a head shorter.

This meant a lot of details needed to be reworked.

“Honestly, that height difference is ideal. It’ll look good on camera.”

“And as for her looks... well, no need to say anything.”

Director Jung Sungmin, who had worked with countless models and actors, found himself taken aback by Seoyeon’s appearance.

He had always thought she looked beautiful in dramas and films, but seeing her in person was different.

There was an aura about her—

The same feeling he’d had when he first saw Park Jungwoo.

‘No, maybe even stronger.’

The impact was so intense it made him question whether she was too striking to be just a prop.

Ju Seoyeon felt like someone born to stand in the spotlight.

Thinking back, there hadn’t been a single film or drama where she didn’t stand out.

Especially her performance as Cha Seo-ah—the villain role that left the strongest impression.

‘Maybe we’re looking too much to the past.’

Actors grow and change.

For Seoyeon, her presence had become so intense that capturing a softer elegance might be a challenge.

“I’m ready.”

The voice was soft—like a spring breeze.

Director Jung Sungmin paused.

The voice was so gentle that for a moment, he didn’t recognize it.

Was there even someone on set with such a sweet voice?

“...Oh.”

And then he lost his words.

The first thing he noticed was the calm white of the dress.

Then the deep navy skirt with gold embroidery caught his eye.

The patterns were delicate—ornate without being flashy.

She stood with her hands neatly folded, posture perfect.

She looked like the daughter of a noble family—graceful and dignified.

Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, smooth and perfectly styled.

Her pale skin glowed against the soft fabric, highlighting her elegance.

And then he saw her face—and finally recognized her.

“...Miss Ju Seoyeon?”

“Yes?”

“Ah, no... it’s nothing.”

Even after confirming it was her, Jung Sungmin felt disoriented.

‘Is this really the same person?’

Was it just the makeup?

No—it was more than that.

He glanced at her again.

Her gaze was lowered slightly, amber eyes catching the light like a gentle sunset.

A faint pink blush colored her cheeks, and her lips shimmered softly.

The cold expression she’d worn earlier had vanished, replaced by a refined and delicate aura.

‘Where have I seen this before?’

And then it struck him—like lightning.

Ju Seoyeon.

The child actress who returned after ten years.

Her first comeback role in Looking Back on Memories—

The performance that skyrocketed ratings.

This was exactly like that.

“The Lotus Princess?”

“...What?”

“Ah, no—I just... it popped into my head.”

Despite being middle-aged, Jung Sungmin stammered like a nervous rookie.

Compared to her sharp, cold image earlier, this version of Seoyeon was somehow even harder to face.

Hearing his words, Seoyeon gently raised her hand to cover her mouth and smiled softly.

“Did I get caught?”

Her smile was so beautiful that Jung Sungmin was momentarily stunned, unable to look away.

And he wasn’t the only one.

‘...What the hell.’

Park Jungwoo rubbed his eyes.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

How had she transformed so completely?

It made no sense.