NOVEL WEB Chapter 267
“So what kind of plan is this, Seo-yeon?”
Seo-yeon, feeling clever, was considering the cast of Close Your Eyes.
She decided to casually ask Lee Hye-jin too, who had been in a relationship with Pyo Ji-woo apart from herself.
“Ji-woo? She definitely seems to have been seeing someone lately. Honestly, it’s a 50/50 chance.”
“50/50?”
“Yeah, I mean, it really feels like she’s leaning towards it, but… you know, considering what happened before? She’s a bit cautious.”
Almost and completely are two different things.
In fact, Seo-yeon already had a rough idea.
Pyo Ji-woo’s reactions were still pretty average by regular people’s standards.
If she was serious, it wouldn’t just end with changing her profile pic.
‘Thinking about the past Pyo Ji-woo, shouldn’t she be showing a more obsessive side or something?’
Maybe that’s just a bias, but there’s a history, right?
‘I should really just ask Ji-woo directly about this.’
So when Seo-yeon spoke to Ji-woo once more, she said,
“Huh? Ah, we’re not, dating yet?”
“But your profile pic changed?”
“Ah~, that’s because she asked to change it! It’s a bit awkward, you know? I was going to change it back, but she stopped me.”
Her face looked a bit taken aback.
It was clear there was some sincerity to it.
“She’s clearly trying to flirt with me, but I’m not really sure if she genuinely likes me.”
“Could it be she approached you with bad intentions, do you think?”
“Exactly.”
Seo-yeon briefly gazed at Ji-woo, then asked softly.
“What if she did approach you with ill intent…?”
“For now, it’s fine. But if the relationship changes later… and if he turns into Min Se-ho… no, I mean, Mr. Min Se-ho, what could happen?”
“……”
As Ji-woo was saying this, her awkward smile faded, and her tone turned chilly.
Her eyes held a fierce warning: if trust was given and later betrayed, she wouldn’t stand for it.
‘Well, at least there’s still some caution there.’
It’s funny, but it seems like the previous incident really made Ji-woo a lot more guarded.
If it were the old days, she probably would have fallen head over heels already, but now, she seems to think twice.
‘If I leave things as they are, it’s straight to a Sword Master ending.’
This might blow up bigger than the last life.
With that in mind, Seo-yeon had come up with a plan!
“Seo-yeon.”
Just as Seo-yeon was deep in thought after wrapping up her conversation with Ji-woo, someone called out to her.
Turning her gaze, she saw a middle-aged man grinning while holding a beer glass.
“I didn’t expect you to show up today! The shooting for Mine is starting, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Hearing Director Jo Do-yul’s words, Seo-yeon nodded.
Since he was the one who helped her get into The Chaser, he was practically walking around with an ego as tall as the Great Wall of China lately.
‘Oh? I’m the one who got that actor into that movie!’
Though she never stated it outright, just by him puffing up his chest, it felt like he was saying it loud and clear.
In fact, more actors were showing up for the plays directed by Jo Do-yul compared to before.
It seemed like those around were trying to get in his good graces with subtle hints.
From what she heard, he had been getting calls from multiple places, but he hadn’t left the theater scene.
That alone confirmed he was really passionate about theater.
“Han Ye-geon is quite stubborn. I believe you’d do well, but it might be quite tough.”
“Yes.”
“Hehe, whenever I see you, Seo-yeon, you’re impressively sharp. That’s why people like you. Look at this. So many people have gathered just to see you!”
At that, Seo-yeon felt slightly embarrassed.
It might seem odd, but Jo Do-yul was probably the only one saying she was sharp.
‘I was so nervous during my first return.’
Back then, she probably had a much sharper vibe than now.
These days, things were going well, so she felt a bit more at ease.
“C-could I perhaps ask for your autograph?”
“M-me too!”
At Jo Do-yul’s words, some actors were sneaking closer to Seo-yeon.
Occasionally, there were those asking for autographs or wanting to take photos with her.
Of course, Seo-yeon easily obliged their requests.
After all, there weren’t that many people to deal with.
Thanks to that, each of the gathered actors couldn’t help but feel moved by Seo-yeon.
‘She succeeded like this, but hasn’t forgotten about theater.’
‘Unlike that guy from earlier, she doesn’t have an arrogant attitude.’
Recalling the group that had been provoking Sim Cheong-seok, everyone couldn’t help but think that way.
Thus, the end-of-year party for Close Your Eyes began.
==
[End-of-Year Party for the Cast of Close Your Eyes!!]
[Picture]
Thank you to all the actors who participated today!!
And a big thank you to the busy Joo Seo-yeon for making it!!!
==
That post made it onto the official theater group’s Instagram.
– Looks like Joo Seo-yeon still gets along well with theater actors.
– Usually, people like that tend to wipe their hands clean.
– Joo Seo-yeon might look cold, but she’s not like that in reality.
– Haha, watching her on variety shows shows she’s definitely not a chilly person.
– Seriously, when did she have that kind of cold image?
– But wait, has Ji-woo ever appeared on Close Your Eyes?
– She auditioned and is apparently close with that actor.
– Oh, I see.
Unintentionally, Seo-yeon’s image had improved slightly.
Of course, she wasn’t the only one the netizens saw that photo.
Someone who was checking every detail regarding Ji-woo also spotted that post.
Rowe had seen the post on the theater group’s Instagram.
“Look at this?”
Rowe chuckled as he looked at the photo where Seo-yeon was smiling alongside Ji-woo.
Clearly, the relationship between Ji-woo and Seo-yeon seems to be as good as he thought.
That was fine, but…
“Who’s the guy standing next to her?”
Pyo Ji-woo was on Ji-woo’s right. And on her left was Sim Cheong-seok.
Seo-yeon had urged Ji-woo to stand next to her, leaving him no choice but to comply.
Of course, Rowe was clueless about that fact. In his eyes, that man looked oddly suspicious.
‘I’ll have to keep my eye on him.’
It might sound ridiculous, but he thought if the person he was making an effort to woo was being meddled with…
There was only one thing he could do.
***
And then, two days later.
Three days before the filming for Mine.
Seo-yeon was squeezing out time to visit a woman.
A spacious mansion.
In the expansive reception room on the first floor, Seo-yeon nervously sat across from the woman.
“Long time no see… Or should I say, it’s not really long?”
Her voice was monotone.
At first glance, one might take it as coldness, but Seo-yeon knew better than that.
“Yes, ah, hello, teacher.”
“Teacher? What’s that about?”
“You’re always teaching me various things.”
“Did Seo-hee tell you to say that?”
“……”
Did she see through me?
Seo-yeon glanced at her, and the woman exhaled a sigh.
An elderly lady with white hair, now entering her later years.
A veteran actress in South Korea, originally known as a pioneer of method acting.
Jeong Eun-seon.
Looking at Seo-yeon, she had a lot to say.
“I watched the variety show you were on before.”
“Ah, yes.”
“A female actor should never ride a bear.”
“……”
“What on earth made you think riding a bear was a good idea?”
“Y-you’re right.”
“And how do you intend to rectify that image now that you’ve created it? An overly light image is poison for an actor.”
That she could sermonize so seriously about riding a bear was quite the absurdity.
Seo-yeon’s face showed her bewilderment.
Without any signs of panic, Jeong Eun-seon remained firm in her correction about the bear incident, making her seem remarkable.
Seo-yeon honestly hadn’t anticipated this.
Furthermore, Jeong Eun-seon’s words resonated deeply with Seo-yeon lately.
‘Rectifying this is way too hard.’
Thank goodness for the Beol advertisement.
Seo-yeon had made a vow to protect Princess Yeonhwa at all costs.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Ah, well….”
Seo-yeon roughly explained the situation to Jeong Eun-seon.
It was simple.
As far as Seo-yeon knew, Jeong Eun-seon was set to appear in a historical drama soon.
Due to her image, it was common for most historical dramas to include her.
“You want me to help get two actors auditioning… instead of just you?”
“Huh?”
“No, I meant to say, just like Seo-hee, I’d like to act alongside you.”
At that, Seo-yeon blinked in surprise.
She never thought Jeong Eun-seon would say something like that.
“But… that’s not a tough request, right? An audition for a supporting role, so if you’re recommending them, they’re probably capable actors?”
“Yes, one is already active, and the other one is a theater actor, but their acting skills are solid.”
“Of course, I’ll need to see them for myself before recommending. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
Since she had already spoken to both Pyo Ji-woo and Sim Cheong-seok, there was nothing to hesitate about.
She had even suggested that Sim Cheong-seok get involved and learn the ropes where Seo-yeon had connections.
‘Assuming they get through the auditions, of course.’
Seo-yeon didn’t really think they would fail the audition.
“Understood. Then I will speak to the director and have the script sent for the audition.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. This is kind of my offering as well… and, you know, it’s gratitude too.”
“Gratitude?”
Did Jeong Eun-seon really have anything to be thankful for?
Looking at her with curiosity.
“I’ve heard you’ve helped make actor Lee Sang-soo’s return possible.”
“Ah, that’s….”
“Honestly, I’ve mentioned it multiple times, but it wasn’t easy. Yet you managed to pull it off so gracefully, making me grateful. Lee Sang-soo debuted around the same time as I did, and he’s an actor I admire.”
She said that while looking at Seo-yeon.
Lee Sang-soo had said quite a bit about Seo-yeon during the shooting of Gyeongseong Young Lady.
Claiming her emotional depth was greater than any other actors he had known.
And he had once said:
“This is only the second time I’ve seen an actor perform this deeply with method acting. The first was you, and now it’s Seo-yeon.”
“…I’ve been a child with deep emotions since I was young.”
“So I’ve heard you made quite a commotion too.”
Remembering the face of Lee Sang-soo who joked about it made Jeong Eun-seon silence him with a glare.
Under that fierce gaze, Lee Sang-soo couldn’t help but be startled.
“I-I was just kidding! Ahem, anyway, you can look forward to it. This film turned out great.”
“You seem to have regained your confidence, which is nice to see.”
“Well, if you watch the movie, anyone would feel confident. Of course… it was a bit of a whirlwind when I acted with Seo-yeon.”
Thinking back to the moment he threw Seo-yeon, Lee Sang-soo’s face turned nostalgic.
That was when he had to manage his strength.
Thanks to that, Lee Sang-soo could brush off the fact that Seo-yeon had beaten a bear.
“You should try acting with her too when you get the chance. It can lead to many thoughts.”
“……”
“Well, you might not get the chance for it since you’ve done something terrible to Seo-yeon before. Heh heh.”
Jeong Eun-seon could only give her best killer stare at the smirking Lee Sang-soo.
But since he was a senior in the industry, there wasn’t much she could do.
“Seo-yeon.”
Trying to recollect those moments, Jeong Eun-seon gazed back at Seo-yeon.
“However, if you work with me, those actors might find it quite exhausting. Is that alright?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
In fact, she welcomed it.
That was precisely why she had pushed for both of them to be included in the historical drama Jeong Eun-seon was involved in.
‘With Pyo Ji-woo and Sim Cheong-seok together, relationships can change. Rowe will definitely not leave it be.’
No matter what happens, having Ji-woo nearby should ensure Cheong-seok’s safety.
Of course, just in case, she would let Sim Cheong-seok know too.
“…so, the person beside Ji-woo was that kind of person?”
“Yes.”
“Then… got it.”
Initially, he had said no, but now, he seemed to be influenced by Seo-yeon’s mention of “Rowe.”
To Seo-yeon’s eyes, Sim Cheong-seok indeed seemed to have feelings for Ji-woo.
Why he liked her was still a mystery, but as long as he liked her, it was what it was.
Regardless, he seemed to believe that Ji-woo and Rowe were just in a relationship, watching from the sidelines.
It seemed reasonable to avoid meddling in someone else’s love life.
But once Rowe’s name came up, Sim Cheong-seok was willing to cooperate with Seo-yeon.
‘No need to reveal everything. Simply mentioning that Rowe is tied to Shine Moon should bring about some persuasion.’
There are certain rumors that circulate through the industry.
Fables involving Shine Moon.
Just mentioning a fraction of that would surely shock Cheong-seok.
‘Moreover, asking Jeong Eun-seon for help should assist with Cheong-seok’s disposition.’
Seo-yeon gazed at the woman in front of her, whose expression conveyed an intense aura.
In her previous life, Sim Cheong-seok had issues, but a lot of it stemmed from his poor character.
While there were jealous actors envious of his talent, Cheong-seok himself was clearly at fault.
‘Jeong Eun-seon would never stand idly by about that.’
Because of his talent, she would undoubtedly intervene.
Thus, Seo-yeon believed this was an incredibly wise maneuver.
A plan so meticulously thought out, it could hardly be improved upon!
‘Now, all that’s left is to watch.’
Until Rowe makes his move.
Going by Rowe’s character from their encounter at the arcade, he wouldn’t just passively accept things.
***
At the filming set for Mine.
Before the script reading began, a sense of tension filled the air at the set.
It was all because of Arthur Diaz being present.
‘Today, I absolutely have to trample that lady with my acting.’
Having been humiliated by Seo-yeon numerous times, he finally thought today would be the day he would get his chance.
But then,
“Today, Joo Seo-yeon can’t make it due to school commitments.”
“……”
With that announcement from the director, everything went down the drain.
Indeed, it wasn’t only Arthur that was flustered.
‘W-what? Seo-yeon’s not coming?’
Narumi Sora froze up.
If Seo-yeon was absent, that meant Arthur’s partner would automatically shift to Narumi Sora, herself.
“…Please take good care of me.”
Feeling the intense gaze from Arthur, Narumi Sora trembled.
She felt as if she was a rabbit in front of a tiger.
And at that moment, what was Seo-yeon up to?
‘I didn’t study at all.’
She happened to be in the middle of an exam.
A final exam with zero preparation.
Completely slipped her mind.
Just the night before, she had been planning to read the script for the day’s script reading.
“Seo-yeon, isn’t your final exam tomorrow?”
She hadn’t realized until Su-ah mentioned it.
‘I’m doomed.’
Her hands trembled as she solved problems.
This was genuinely a big deal.