Chapter: 82
[Survival Without People Ratings ↑ | The Chaser Anticipation ↑]
[Consistent Success in Variety Shows! Who is Joo Seoyeon?]
[Éclat Étoile’s ‘Flop is a Thing of the Past’ | Stellar Comeback with
*
From the day after Survival Without People aired, articles flooded in like a burst dam.
I didn’t see this coming at all.
“Isn’t this just one big scam advertisement?”
To be honest, I was genuinely worried.
What if people who tried it ended up with results way off from mine and complained?
I mean, my skin is just naturally tough.
But anyway, aside from that, Éclat Étoile was ecstatic and contacted my agency.
“I hear sales have skyrocketed!”
“…Really?”
“They say there aren’t any stores displaying Éclat Étoile’s
Manager Park Eun-ha’s words made me awkwardly smile.
“I never thought it would be to this extent.”
Honestly, it didn’t feel real.
I believed the ad was good, but I never imagined it would have such a tremendous impact.
“Did Survival Without People have that much influence?”
Truthfully, ever since watching that episode, I haven’t been able to lift my head at home.
Seeing myself running around that deserted island…it was honestly embarrassing.
“It’s all because I’m too weak against things that feel good.”
When I was younger, it was different.
Let’s say before I turned ten.
It was during the time when the impressions of my past life lingered.
“But puberty changed everything.”
That’s when I waded deeper into the waves of emotion.
I started tasting the so-called “good feelings.”
Bad emotions? I could handle those easily, remembering past life experiences, but those feelings I had never truly felt before?
The excitement, that pounding heartbeat.
I was extremely vulnerable to such sensations.
As Lee Ji-yeon often puts it,
“You’re bouncing around like an excited retriever.”
“……”
Honestly, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.
It happened once back in middle school.
Surprisingly, it turns out I like being active.
“Suddenly, it’s a bit concerning.”
Dream Future.
A youth romance drama.
In this, the role I’m aiming for, Jo Ha-rin, is a vibrant character with a lot of personality.
And the unfortunate position of the supporting heroine.
She’s had a crush on the main male lead, Kim Si-hwan, since childhood and joined the audition program as a hopeful idol.
Of course, Kim Si-hwan ends up with the female lead, Song So-ha, while Jo Ha-rin fades into the background.
“It’s no wonder Jo Ha-rin’s screen time drastically reduces from episode 8 on.”
The seventh episode revolves around Jo Ha-rin’s key storyline.
It’s when she quietly gives up on Kim Si-hwan and supports Song So-ha.
“Love acting.”
Even if the feelings aren’t mutual.
Jo Ha-rin’s first love for Kim Si-hwan is touching.
I can’t help but worry if I’ll be able to portray such emotions convincingly.
Should I just skip it?
Right when I was pondering this,
“Seoyeon, the director from Éclat Étoile called!”
Manager Park Eun-ha spoke as she received a call directly from Éclat Étoile.
“Oh, Joo Seoyeon! Are you well? The plan is to continue moving forward with Éclat Étoile…”
Director Baek Min-chan spoke energetically to Seoyeon.
A casual, “Please take care of us from now on.”
And then.
“Just to mention it, please maintain that beautiful image! We would appreciate you paying attention to stay as positive as possible!”
Currently, I’m seen with a mystical image from the ads.
In variety shows, my image is lively.
Meaning, they wanted me to keep up that optimistic vibe.
And then,
“If this continues, we may renew the contract mid-term. I’ll do my best to ensure you get more than whatever you have now.”
Director Baek Min-chan confidently ended the call.
For a moment, I mulled over his words and had no choice but to decide.
More than 400 million won.
An image of myself swimming in cash briefly flashed across my mind.
“…Hmm.”
I nodded while staring at my phone.
“I have to join Dream Future.”
Thus, I firmly resolved it.
*
Another change after the variety show Survival Without People was the creation of Seoyeon fan sites.
Commonly known as the Joo Seoyeon Gallery.
Joo Seoyeon fan cafes, and so on, began sprouting here and there.
While the numbers weren’t high, the mere existence proved my growing recognition.
Even when there wasn’t a proper drama or movie release.
However.
==
Post: So, does Joo Seoyeon win this?
Celebrity 17 to 1 Legend Sam Min-hyuk
Comments:
– “Just one jab with her spear, and it seems like she’ll win.”
– “Do you think Joo Seoyeon is weak?”
– “Metal Cockatiel has her beat.”
==
For an entertainment community, the competition theories were becoming more common, but it was quite an encouraging result.
Many were also keeping an eye on the community itself.
Especially.
“Ah, I should have snatched her up back then.”
The head of talent management at RY Entertainment, Lee Hwi-rok, ruffled his hair.
I can’t believe it turned out this way.
“I suggested offering a bit more, you know…”
With that sly comment from Manager Song, Lee Hwi-rok frowned.
“Oh, come on, Manager Song!”
“Yes?”
“What’s with that? Didn’t we say the conditions were fine back then?”
“Uh, right.”
Anyway, the initial offer was not small either.
For an average actor, it was a tempting offer they’d jump at.
“Novus Entertainment… such poor judgment. I can’t believe she went there.”
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
When I visited, she had already signed with Novus Entertainment, what could I have done?
But I honestly didn’t get it.
Even if she had signed, she should have come to RY Entertainment even at the cost of breaking the contract.
There was that much difference between RY and Novus.
Knock.
Just then, someone carefully knocked and opened the office door.
“Oh, who is this? Our rising star?”
“Oh, yes. I heard you called.”
Lee Hwi-rok turned to see the man entering.
He appeared to be in his early twenties.
Currently a college student idol.
“Yeon-woo! How’s your condition?”
“Oh, I’m doing great!”
Kim Yeon-woo.
He was the popular member of the boy group Just X, recently released by RY Entertainment.
With a refreshing and handsome face.
Contrary to his light appearance, he had a well-toned body, earning the nickname “beast idol,” and was the most popular member among fans.
He was practically the top male idol that RY was backing.
“Yeon-woo, are you still learning to act?”
“Yes, of course!”
He had a face brimming with confidence.
After quickly gaining popularity with Just X, every move and word oozed confidence.
“What a kid.”
Lee Hwi-rok thought to himself, smiling gently.
Of course, Lee Hwi-rok liked Kim Yeon-woo.
After all, he was an important money stream for RY Entertainment.
But having tasted success at a young age made it hard to genuinely feel fond of his arrogance.
“Isn’t that just typical?”
So what if he was a bit cocky in front of him?
He was talented enough to back it up.
“Since I called you in as an acting idol, we got a request for you to try your hand at acting.”
“Acting? Like in a drama? Or a movie? Ideally, not too much action…”
Just mentioning acting made him immediately voice his dislikes.
Lee Hwi-rok chuckled at Kim Yeon-woo’s words.
“It’s a youth romance drama. One that KMB is preparing.”
“A youth romance?”
“They plan to film a drama with a young cast of idols and actors in their late teens or early twenties. Good opportunity, you can compete with your peers.”
“Oh, with my peers…”
The confident smile on Kim Yeon-woo’s face beamed even brighter.
It was as if he meant he was top among his peers.
“What’s the title of the drama?”
In response to his attitude, Lee Hwi-rok almost chuckled out loud but soon collected himself and continued speaking.
“Dream Future.”
A series where young actors and idols get together.
Its story revolves around the success journey of idols in youth dramas.
*
At the audition venue for Dream Future.
It was packed with young actors from various entertainment companies.
“Everyone said no one would sign up for Dream Future.”
“It’s overflowing!”
Casting director Shin-yoon muttered and glanced beside him.
Then inwardly marveled.
“Only one person is confirmed for Dream Future.”
Park Jung-woo.
In truth, it wasn’t even officially confirmed.
His role was just set in stone.
Today’s audition was about selecting roles excluding the “Kim Si-hwan” role that Park Jung-woo had.
So, Park Jung-woo participated as a judge for the Dream Future audition today.
“At first, I wondered if it was okay to have such a young actor as a judge.”
Casting director Shin-yoon thought the same.
To his knowledge, Park Jung-woo was only twenty.
In the young actor’s league, that was considered “young.”
But his popularity and presence reminded one of experienced actors in their thirties.
Was it maybe because his father was the late great actor Park Seon-woong?
Because of that, Park Jung-woo drew attention.
Standing next to Shin-yoon was a mark of his status as one of the judges today.
“Idol, actor. Most are newcomers, but…”
Park Jung-woo muttered.
Most were actors trying their hand at acting for the first time.
For those experienced, it might look a bit funny, but he didn’t break a smile.
On the contrary,
“Something feels off. Like I’m waiting for someone.”
It felt like he was expecting someone.
But was there really anyone worth waiting for here?
“Surely not.”
While Dream Future was a project ambitiously prepared by KMB, it was still relatively modestly funded.
Initially, the writer for Dream Future was a rookie.
The cast was composed mainly of newcomers too.
In all honesty, casting director Shin-yoon sighed at the composition.
“If this succeeds, I might just get my hands on some cash.”
Still, looking at Park Jung-woo, a vague sense of trust welled up.
He hadn’t had a flop yet, even if he had stumbled occasionally.
“Wow, what’s going on?”
“Is Just X coming too?”
At that moment, the audition floor buzzed.
The first thing that captured attention was the blond.
A guy walking in casually in light clothes.
Even the manager beside him appeared tense.
“Just X, Kim Yeon-woo.”
Park Jung-woo narrowed his eyes.
Considering it’s an idol drama, he perfectly fit as the popular idol’s first acting challenge.
“Just as expected.”
Kim Yeon-woo strutted in, shrugging his shoulders.
He could feel eyes on him from all corners.
“There’s no better stage than this.”
An idol-themed drama.
With a popular idol like him.
Naturally, whatever role, he was a clear contender for at least one.
“What roles were there again?”
In all honesty, he couldn’t quite remember.
He strolled forward… when suddenly, he felt that someone’s gaze was oddly intense.
“Hmm?”
It felt like someone was looking at him—not at him, but behind him.
Kim Yeon-woo stopped in his tracks.
Slowly, he turned around.
“…Not going?”
In that instant, Kim Yeon-woo was left speechless.
There stood a girl with black hair.
Slightly squinting her eyes, as if she found it uncomfortable that he was blocking her path.
Joo Seoyeon.
Her entrance startled Kim Yeon-woo and the other actors.
“Princess Yeonhwa.”
Soon, everyone’s gaze shifted towards Park Jung-woo, playing Yoon Seo-il.
The chemistry they had in the previous show, Looking Back at Memories, had caused quite a stir.
“Don’t tell me Song So-ha role is…?”
The main lead role of Kim Si-hwan was already known to belong to Park Jung-woo.
But if Joo Seoyeon were to aim for the Song So-ha role?
For the actresses, that would be disheartening news.
If they were the casting director, they’d want to pick Seoyeon for the Song So-ha role.
But.
“Who was the original actress for Jo Ha-rin?”
Seoyeon had no real interest in Song So-ha.
Her focus was solely on the Jo Ha-rin role.
And then.
“Who’s this guy?”
The soft-looking male actor? No, an idol?
A familiar face.
Of course.
“That’s the actor who played that role with Jo Ha-rin in the drama.”
Seoyeon quietly looked up at Kim Yeon-woo.
Meanwhile, Park Jung-woo, watching them from a distance, slightly frowned.
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