I Want to Be a VTuber

Seoyeon, having come up with a clever plan, discreetly reached out to other actors from Close Your Eyes, particularly Lee Hyejin, who had maintained a steady relationship with Pyo Jiwoo.

"Jiwoo? She does seem to be seeing someone lately, but honestly, it’s fifty-fifty."

"Fifty-fifty?"

"Yes, it feels like she’s almost completely fallen for him, but... you know, because of what happened before, she’s still a bit cautious."

Almost and completely were worlds apart. Seoyeon already had her suspicions.

Jiwoo’s behavior still fell within the range of what might be expected from a typical person. If she were truly infatuated, just changing her profile picture wouldn’t have been the extent of it.

Considering how Jiwoo was in my previous life, shouldn’t she be showing more obsessive tendencies?

It might be a bias, but her history gave Seoyeon every reason to think so.

I’ll have to ask her directly about this.

And so, when Seoyeon finally spoke to Jiwoo herself:

"Huh? Oh, no, I’m not dating him yet," Jiwoo stammered.

"But your profile picture changed?"

"Oh, that? He suggested it. Honestly, it’s a bit awkward. I tried to change it back, but he stopped me."

Jiwoo’s uncomfortable expression made it clear she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the situation.

"He’s trying to flirt with me, but I’m not sure if he’s genuinely interested."

"Do you think he might have ulterior motives?"

"Exactly."

Seoyeon looked at Jiwoo for a moment before cautiously asking:

"If his intentions turn out to be bad..."

"I can handle it for now. But if things escalate and he turns out to be like Min Seohu oppa... no, Min Seohu... things might get ugly."

Jiwoo’s tone grew cold, her smile vanishing. Her eyes glinted with a dangerous resolve, as if promising not to forgive betrayal.

At least she’s still on guard—thank goodness.

It was almost ironic, but the past incident had instilled a strong sense of caution in Jiwoo. In the past, she might have fallen headfirst into the situation, but now, she was holding back and thinking things through.

If left alone, though, this could end up in a Swordmaster Ending.

It might even blow up worse than it did in her previous life.

That’s why Seoyeon had devised her plan.

"Seoyeon."

Deep in thought after her conversation with Jiwoo, Seoyeon turned to see a middle-aged man holding a beer glass and smiling at her.

"I didn’t think you’d show up today. You’re starting filming for Majin soon, right?"

"Yes," she replied with a nod.

The man was Jo ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Doyul, the director who had helped Seoyeon land her role in The Chaser. His confidence was sky-high lately, and it wasn’t hard to see why.

‘Oh? I’m the one who got that actress into that movie!’

Though he never said it outright, his demeanor left no room for doubt.

Actors were flocking to his productions more than ever before, with many trying to stay on his good side. Though he’d received offers to leave the stage for other opportunities, Jo Doyul remained committed to theater—a fact that made him a respected figure.

"Han Yegun is a stubborn director. I think you’ll do well, Seoyeon, but it might be a tough experience."

"I understand."

"Haha, as straightforward as ever. No wonder people like you. Look around—just look at how many people showed up hoping to see you!"

Seoyeon felt a bit embarrassed. Jo Doyul was one of the few people who would describe her as "straightforward."

Back during my first return, I was so tense.

At the time, her demeanor had been sharper. Now, with things going well, she felt a little more at ease.

"Could I ask for your autograph?"

"Me too, please!"

A few actors approached shyly, asking for autographs or photos.

Seoyeon accommodated their requests graciously—it wasn’t as if there were too many of them.

The actors couldn’t help but feel moved.

Even with all her success, she hasn’t forgotten the stage.

Unlike that other guy, she doesn’t act arrogant.

Thinking back to Kang Sehyeon’s earlier outburst, they couldn’t help but admire Seoyeon’s humility.

Thus, the Close Your Eyes end-of-year reunion concluded peacefully. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Social Media Post

[End-of-Year Gathering for the Cast of Close Your Eyes!]

[Photo]

Thank you to all the actors who joined us today! Special thanks to Ju Seoyeon for taking time out of her busy schedule to attend!

The post was uploaded to the theater group’s official Instagram account, earning attention online:

But it wasn’t only netizens who saw the post. Row, who had been monitoring everything related to Pyo Jiwoo, came across it as well.

"Well, well..."

Row smiled faintly at the photo, which showed Seoyeon standing beside Jiwoo.

Their closeness confirmed his assumptions about their strong relationship.

But then his gaze narrowed.

"Who’s that guy next to her?"

On Jiwoo’s right stood Seoyeon. On her left was Shim Cheongseok, who had reluctantly been dragged into the photo by Seoyeon’s insistence.

Row didn’t know that, of course. All he saw was another man in the picture.

I’ll have to look into this.

If this man turned out to be interfering with his plans for Jiwoo, Row knew exactly what he’d do.

Two Days Later, Three Days Before Filming

Seoyeon carved out time from her busy schedule to visit a certain woman.

The spacious mansion’s first-floor parlor was grand, and Seoyeon sat across from the woman, feeling slightly nervous.

"It hasn’t been that long, Seoyeon," the woman said in a dry tone.

Her voice could easily be mistaken for cold, but Seoyeon knew better.

"Yes, ah, hello, ma’am."

"Ma’am? What’s with the formalities?"

"Well, you’ve taught me so much..."

"Did Seohui tell you to address me like that?"

"..."

Had she been caught? Seoyeon glanced away nervously as the woman sighed.

Her white hair shimmered like frost—a clear sign of her advancing age.

Veteran actress Jung Eunsun, once hailed as a master of method acting, regarded Seoyeon with an unreadable expression. Though her demeanor remained calm, her words left little room for misinterpretation.

"I saw your variety show appearance recently."

"Ah, yes."

"An actress should never ride a bear."

"...Pardon?"

"Do you have any idea what could’ve happened? Riding a bear? Really?"

"Well, you’re not wrong."

"And how do you plan to fix that image? A frivolous reputation is poison for an actress."

The fact that she could deliver such a serious lecture about riding a bear left Seoyeon slightly dazed. There was no trace of hesitation in Jung Eunsun’s tone—it was as if she were admonishing a student for breaking the rules of their craft.

Seoyeon, though surprised, couldn’t argue. She’d come to realize the repercussions of that stunt far too clearly.

Fixing this is proving so hard.

If not for the Viola commercial, things could have spiraled completely out of control. She resolved to protect her image as Princess Yeonhwa at all costs.

"So, what brings you here?" Jung Eunsun asked, cutting through Seoyeon’s thoughts.

"Ah, well..."

Seoyeon explained the situation in simple terms.

Jung Eunsun, known for her regular appearances in historical dramas due to her authoritative presence, listened attentively.

"You’re asking if I can help two actors secure auditions—not for you?"

"That’s correct."

"I see. So you’re advocating for someone else, much like Seohui did. You must think highly of these actors."

Seoyeon blinked, surprised by the unexpected comment.

"It’s not a particularly difficult request. Auditioning for supporting roles, not leads. If you’re recommending them, they must be talented."

"Yes, one is already gaining experience, and the other is still in theater, but their acting is solid."

"Of course, I’ll have to see for myself first. Is that acceptable?"

"Of course."

Seoyeon had already prepared Pyo Jiwoo and Shim Cheongseok for the possibility, encouraging them to try their hand at a historical drama. She’d even hinted to Cheongseok that working under someone like Jung Eunsun would be an invaluable learning experience.

Assuming they pass the audition, of course.

Not that she doubted their abilities.

"Very well. I’ll speak with the director and have audition scripts sent to them."

"Thank you."

"Think nothing of it. Consider it a small gesture of appreciation. I owe you as well."

"Appreciation?"

Seoyeon tilted her head in confusion. Why would Jung Eunsun owe her anything?

"I heard you were instrumental in Lee Sangsoo’s return to the industry."

"Oh, that..."

"I tried many times to help, but it wasn’t easy. Yet you managed it effortlessly. I’m grateful. He’s a peer from my debut days and someone I greatly respect."

Jung Eunsun’s gaze softened as she spoke. Lee Sangsoo had shared much about Seoyeon during their work on Kyungsung Lady.

"She has the deepest emotional range of any actor I’ve ever met," he’d said once. "The only other actor I’ve seen with such depth is you."

Jung Eunsun had stared at him silently, her eyes sharp enough to make him flinch.

"That’s... quite the compliment," Sangsoo stammered. "Anyway, you should look forward to the film. It turned out great."

"You seem confident. That’s good to see."

"Anyone would feel confident after working on that film. Of course... the action scenes with Seoyeon were a bit overwhelming."

He winced, recalling the moment he’d been thrown by Seoyeon during a scene. The fact that she’d held back made it all the more terrifying.

"It was humbling, to say the least. If you ever get the chance, you should work with her. It’s... enlightening."

Jung Eunsun, unimpressed, continued to glare at him.

"Then again, given your history with her, you might not get the chance," Sangsoo added with a smug grin, earning another glare.

Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Jung Eunsun addressed Seoyeon again.

"Just know that working with me can be challenging for other actors. Are they prepared for that?"

"Yes, they’ll manage."

In fact, that was precisely what Seoyeon wanted. It was why she’d orchestrated this opportunity.

If Pyo Jiwoo and Shim Cheongseok are forced to work closely together, their dynamic might shift—and Row won’t be able to ignore it.

With Jiwoo nearby, Cheongseok wouldn’t be in immediate danger. And Seoyeon had already warned Cheongseok to stay cautious.

"When you say the man near Jiwoo is... that kind of person?"

"Yes."

"I see. Then I’ll help."

Cheongseok, initially hesitant, had agreed after hearing about Row’s connection to the Shine Moon scandal.

Seoyeon suspected Cheongseok harbored feelings for Jiwoo, though she couldn’t understand why. Still, it wasn’t her place to question his preferences.

Upon learning about Row’s activities, Cheongseok had become willing to cooperate.

Just mentioning Shine Moon and its reputation was enough to unsettle him.

Seoyeon knew the rumors surrounding the club carried weight in the industry.

And then there was Jung Eunsun’s influence. If anyone could shape Cheongseok’s attitude, it was her.

In a previous life, Cheongseok’s behavior had caused numerous issues, but under Jung Eunsun’s mentorship, Seoyeon believed his talent could flourish without being overshadowed by his flaws.

This plan really is perfect. Now, I just need to wait.

At the Majin set, tension hung in the air before the script reading.

The source of the unease was none other than Arthur Diaz.

Today, I’ll finally crush her with my performance, he thought, recalling the humiliation Seoyeon had dealt him.

But his plans were derailed by the director’s announcement:

"Ju Seoyeon won’t be joining us today due to a school matter."

"...What?"

Arthur wasn’t the only one caught off guard.

Seoyeon isn’t coming?

Narumi Sora froze in her seat. Without Seoyeon, she would have to act opposite Arthur—a daunting prospect.

"...I’ll be counting on you," Arthur said with a cold glare.

Narumi’s body trembled. She felt like a rabbit facing a tiger.

Meanwhile, Seoyeon, far from the set, was grappling with her own crisis.

I didn’t study at all for this.

It was her final exams, which she’d completely forgotten about until last night.

"Seoyeon, isn’t tomorrow your finals?" Sua had asked casually.

I’m doomed.

Seoyeon’s hands trembled as she struggled through her test. This was a disaster of her own making.