NOVEL WEB Chapter 275
“Director, did you hear the news?”
KMB’s Drama Department 2.
Director Baek Tae-soo frowned slightly at PD Hwang’s chattering first thing in the morning.
I was wondering what was so urgent to make such a fuss this early.
“It’s about <Gyeongseong Young Lady>. The trailer dropped yesterday, and it’s already got 1.8 million views, 1.8 million!”
“…is that <Gyeongseong Young Lady> directed by Director Baek Min?”
“Yes! Exactly! And…”
PD Hwang trailed off, interrupted by the pointed looks from nearby fellow PDs, their eyes saying, ‘Are you totally clueless?’
Ah.
It took a moment, but PD Hwang finally grasped who was in the cast of <Gyeongseong Young Lady>.
He had just wanted to share some exciting news about a director who was known for being far from commercial—
only to realize far too late that ‘that actress’ was in the film.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Oh no. So that’s why there was such a commotion this morning.”
The KMB Broadcasting Company was buzzing with a strange energy since the morning.
Considering KMB’s dramas had been hitting success after success this year, the mood was perched high.
Drama Department 2 felt a little flat compared to the rest, but even that was not so bad.
But today felt particularly vibrant.
Director Baek Tae-soo sighed as he sat down in his office chair.
‘Joo Seo-yeon.’
It was the name of a young actress I had heard way too much about this year.
She was about to turn eighteen.
In just one year since she started, she had been a topic of every conversation.
‘Was <The Chaser> not enough for her?’
Given that I had been busy lately, I had completely lost track of the release dates for any films.
Movies and broadcasting felt like they were worlds apart sometimes.
But with Joo Seo-yeon, things were different.
Currently, she was singularly focused on her roles in KMB’s dramas.
So, as her name climbed in stature, KMB, with its connections to her, stood to gain advantage.
But, even if they made a big deal about the trailer…
As that thought crossed his mind, Director Baek Tae-soo calmly hit play on the trailer.
Just as PD Hwang stated, the views were at 1.8 million.
A number that could place it as the second highest among films released this year.
For Director Baek Min, it was almost historic in its level of buzz.
‘The setting is during the Japanese colonial period.’
The video started with a general vibe of Gyeongseong.
The bygone Seoul appeared on screen.
The sound of carriages rolling and people struggling to make ends meet filled the air.
A woman bumped into an elderly gentleman on the street.
She briefly bowed her head in greeting and then melted into the crowd.
In a nearby alley,
「Oh, look at this, poor thing doesn’t seem to have a penny to her name. Like, if you’re really broke, then don’t dress like that.」
She pulled out a wallet that looked like it had been stolen from the gentleman she just bumped into and sighed.
The contents were barely a few bills.
Unlike when she bumped into him, the girl now looked somewhat indifferent.
Simultaneously, the screen zoomed in, displaying the caption [Gyeongseong’s foremost pickpocket, Yeon Seon-ye].
Director Baek Tae-soo frowned at the sight.
‘Who is that?’
I vaguely recognized the face.
But she wasn’t a famous actress.
It felt more like I had seen her somewhere else, for a different reason.
My attention was more drawn to the elderly gentleman who the girl just bumped into.
His face wasn’t clearly shown.
He just flashed by with a view of his back.
Yet somehow, it felt familiar.
‘He doesn’t look like an extra.’
As Baek Tae-soo suspected, the elderly man reappeared in the following scene.
This time, only his voice could be heard.
「Your task is simple. Head towards Amanabi, and retrieve the necklace in this photo.」
Yeon Seon-ye looked at the photo of the necklace as she listened to his voice.
Suddenly, the photo ignited in flames.
「Oh, right. If possible, it would be best to deal with that lady of the house.」
「Deal, as in? You can’t be asking me to kill?」
「There will be no repercussions. You just need to do your part. In return, I will give you enough money to care for your sick sister for the rest of your life.」
At the same time, a heap of cash was tossed in front of Yeon Seon-ye.
Her pupils shook at the sight.
A sick sister.
The kind of money that could save her sister from not getting the proper treatment was enough for Yeon Seon-ye to take on the elderly man’s contract.
Thus guided by the elderly man’s direction, Yeon Seon-ye headed toward a grand mansion.
As they continued to show the elderly man’s back, Baek Tae-soo naturally found himself engrossed in the video.
And it likely wasn’t just him.
Anyone watching would undoubtedly be drawn in by the presence of that elderly man, wondering who the heck he was.
‘That voice sounds familiar, but it’s hard to tell because he sounds like he might have a sore throat.’
As if he had strained his vocal cords.
The elderly man’s voice was grating to the ears.
If he had purposely acted that way, he must be some extraordinary talent.
His overwhelming presence shifted eyes away from the protagonist, Yeon Seon-ye.
Was that a bad thing?
No, it was more of a device to characterize Yeon Seon-ye.
Compared to him, she felt almost insignificant—a pickpocket heroine.
Simply a little girl with some manual skills.
「Be respectful. Lower your head, and do not raise it until your name is called.」
And then.
Thump, thump, thump.
With the drumbeats echoing in her heart, a lavish Japanese-styled mansion flashed on the screen.
Scarlet butterflies.
Butterfly paintings adorned the walls, and a woman sat elegantly on a chair decorated in flashy leopard print.
Despite her slender build, the chair appeared immense.
In a way, it resembled a throne as the woman calmly looked down on Yeon Seon-ye.
「Yeon Seon-ye.」
With grace.
And an endless air of arrogance.
She swirled the bear pipe in her hand gracefully, languidly gazing at Yeon Seon-ye.
At her cue, Seon-ye slowly lifted her head, their eyes meeting.
「So, you’re the stray that Isamu brought in, huh?」
Just like how Seon-ye had done earlier, a name appeared next to the languid red butterfly lady.
[The Red Butterfly Lady targeting Amanabi, Kasugayama Yuina]
Joo Seo-yeon.
Director Baek Tae-soo’s eyes widened at seeing Yuina.
It was a completely different vibe from the acting Seo-yeon had shown so far.
Not like the icy sharpness of Cha Seo-ah.
It felt rather decadent, almost like that of an adult actress.
No hint of girlhood remained, just an atmosphere resembling a languorous deity.
She was embodying the main villain of the piece with every fiber of her being.
‘So, Joo Seo-yeon really shines when she plays a villain, huh?’
Earlier this year, she had stormed onto the scene in <The Chaser> as Cha Seo-ah.
Just like back then, Seo-yeon had a particularly striking presence when expressing overwhelming power.
Could it be because of those striking red eyes?
Or was it just the aura she possessed?
「Currently, Amanabi is looking for new maids. Just wait for the right moment to sneak in.」
「What if I fail?」
「Then you’ll be losing your head along with that.」
「What?!」
After the first glance at <Gyeongseong Young Lady>, the scene quickly changed.
Passing the test to select the maids, Yeon Seon-ye successfully infiltrated Amanabi as a maid, and it wasn’t long before she took over the maid position assigned to the lady of the house.
「Just as you don’t trust me, I don’t trust you either.」
With a somewhat dry tone.
Unlike the chilling impression of Yuina, she was simply a calm and composed lady.
[Beautiful yet withered like a flower, Amanabi Michiko.]
Another co-lead of the film appeared—Jo Seo-hee as Amanabi Michiko.
Her steady gait and demeanor naturally gave off the vibe of a noble young lady.
‘Seo-hee’s performances are always stable as usual. While she lacks intensity, she fits her role perfectly.’
What’s more, she just has that aura.
Being rumored to be a real noble lady, she truly embodied that sentiment in the film.
“This is a neat trailer. More than anything…”
What was concerning Baek Tae-soo was that familiar elderly man who kept appearing.
Familiar yet filled with disbelief.
Just ten seconds before the video finished.
In a dimly lit room, three figures stood facing each other.
The elderly gentleman in a black suit.
And the Amanabi lady alongside her maid.
「Did you ask what my purpose is?」
He whispered with a slight laugh.
For a brief moment, his face lit softly by a lantern appeared on screen.
「I merely wish to restore everything to its rightful place.」
With a whoosh, as the lantern went out, his voice faded as well.
Thus ended the first trailer for <Gyeongseong Young Lady>.
“Wait a minute.”
Baek Tae-soo hastily rewound the video ten seconds.
The scratching voice transformed into a familiar tone.
And the face illuminated by the lantern.
For just a fleeting moment, the jawline of that face was undeniably recognizable to Baek Tae-soo.
No, it wasn’t just him!
How many people in South Korea wouldn’t know that actor?
Once celebrated as a representative actor of Korea.
“…Is it possible that actor Lee Sang-soo is in <Gyeongseong Young Lady>?”
If that were true, it wasn’t the time to just applaud for a well-made trailer.
***
“Did you see the trailer? Our Seo-yeon looked sooo pretty!”
“Wow, honestly, I thought my heart stopped! Seo-yeon has to be a villain. It really brings out her vibe.”
“But who was that person at the end? Could it really be actor Lee Sang-soo?”
“Nah, no way.”
“But everyone is saying it’s Lee Sang-soo!”
Ever since the trailer was released, such conversations floated around as people strolled down the street.
Originally, <Gyeongseong Young Lady> had gained attention for more than just being ‘Baek Min’s movie.’
It was a project featuring the recent sensation that had caught Japan’s attention, Joo Seo-yeon.
It was rumored to have gained substantial interest in Japan, with simultaneous releases confirmed.
There’s this phenomenon often called ‘Nationalistic Fever.’
Whenever a work from one’s own country goes recognized abroad, people automatically get curious and excited.
When watching content related to films on YouTube, people say things like:
“It’s nearly unheard of for Korean films to be released simultaneously in Japan. This is the first! The first!”
“Do you know how closed off the Japanese market is? Even movies that garnered international fame often take a year or two to release there.”
“But Korean films being released simultaneously? And you know what? The surprise of <Gyeongseong Young Lady> doesn’t end there~.”
Often, comments from YouTubers, collectively known for hyperbole, are dismissed with skepticism, but when a million-plus YouTuber says the same thing, it’s hard not to believe.
Especially a YouTuber with 1.45 million followers.
Han Bong-sik, a YouTuber who hit the jackpot with the Joo Seo-yeon coin.
He rationally analyzed why <Gyeongseong Young Lady> had sparked interest beyond just ‘nationalistic fever.’
“Well, Joo Seo-yeon delivered an amazing performance, didn’t she?”
– Here we go again!!
– But lolol, Seo-yeon seriously rocks the vibe here ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Honestly, I like this more than Cha Seo-ah; looks totally fits Joo Seo-yeon, right?
“Cough, indeed. Just look at that bear pipe, from her languid gaze to everything. Wow!”
– Wow, that’s a bit too much;;;
– Bong-sik, be careful what you say; Seo-yeon is still a minor…
“I’m just saying pure admiration, pure admiration!!”
Bong-sik said that and took a moment to clear his throat.
“Anyway, a little joking aside, it’s true that <Gyeongseong Young Lady> caught attention beyond just the film itself. As I mentioned, the buzz in Japan holds the largest reason……”
– Wasn’t Joo Seo-yeon just promoted because she became a star?
– LMAO ㅋㅋㅋ
“No way that’s true, right……!!”
Bong-sik, who intended to say no, paused for a moment.
When it came down to it, such a scenario couldn’t be ruled out. If an actress becomes popular, it makes sense she’d get promoted.
“…there’s a likelihood, but that’s really not the case.”
Bong-sik cleared his throat softly and displayed a photo of a blonde actress on the screen.
“Another key reason is Stella Baldwin continually giving shoutouts to <Gyeongseong Young Lady>, right?”
– Wasn’t it more like shoutouts to Joo Seo-yeon than to <Gyeongseong Young Lady>?
– So what’s the relationship between Joo Seo-yeon and Stella? Did Stella pay her off??
– LOL, with how much Stella is worth, you think she’d promote a Korean actress for a few bucks? ㅋㅋㅋ
– There are even rumors she had a cameo in <Gyeongseong Young Lady>; if that’s true, it’s ridiculous.
– What kind of movie is <Gyeongseong Young Lady>?…
Referred to as the fairy of the century.
Thanks to her cameo and her continuous discussions about Seo-yeon abroad, it certainly became more than just casual promotion.
In fact, it has drawn more interest abroad than domestically.
“And then, the trailer was the final nail in the coffin.”
Bong-sik filled the screen with captured shots from the trailer.
“It’s actor Lee Sang-soo! That’s him! A man who would have participated as a representative in an actor’s world cup!!”
– When was that Lee Sang-soo? lol
– He’s been a washed-up actor in Hollywood for quite some time already ㅇㅇ
– Is it really him? Looks different from when I last saw him; he seems too skinny.
– If it is Lee Sang-soo, where’s the budget for <Gyeongseong Young Lady> coming from?
– Joo Seo-yeon and Jo Seo-hee must demand quite the salary already.
– The protagonist can be affordably paid, can’t they?
– Our Ji-yeon is definitely not affordably paid.
– I suppose she has fans too.
Such reactions made Bong-sik’s mouth twitch a bit.
Due to Lee Sang-soo’s lack of work after the Hollywood flop, many carried negative connotations about him.
While Bong-sik reveled in the thought of his return, the internet mostly saw him as simply ‘just a failed actor from Hollywood.’
“Anyway! With the participation of actor Lee Sang-soo, things have exploded! This is why <Gyeongseong Young Lady> is such a hot topic! That’s a fact!”
Bong-sik shouted that to conclude the broadcast.
It wasn’t suitable to go any further discussing a film that hadn’t even been released yet.
At this point, wrapping it up like that was all that was needed.
With the buzz, someone from the cast of <Gyeongseong Young Lady> would definitely end up spilling the beans.
‘Even if they try to stay silent, they’ll likely end up talking.’
Just as Bong-sik thought, following the trailer’s release, all three major broadcast networks and numerous online news agencies swiftly began their coverage.
– So, is it Lee Sang-soo or not?
– He looks skinny; judging by his voice and jawline, that’s definitely him.
– What’s Joo Seo-yeon doing? Since it’s this hot, she should come out on a variety show and clarify!
– She’s probably too busy shooting whatever that thing <Mine> is.
– Even with all this buzz, you think she’s still filming?
Most actors who appeared in <Gyeongseong Young Lady> maintained a tight-lipped approach.
And who could blame them? The actors at the center of this buzz failed to show any notable reactions.
– Seo-yeon, this ain’t the time for partying; you should let us know if Lee Sang-soo is indeed involved and what’s up with Stella!
– Is this a good time for you to party?
– Don’t just talk here; go find Joo Seo-yeon and ask her!
As if to emphasize, even recent comments on Joo Seo-yeon’s agency’s vlog hinted at such things.
While movie communities buzzed with excitement over <Gyeongseong Young Lady>,.
The actual protagonist, Joo Seo-yeon, was busy preparing.
“Alright, let’s have Seo-yeon match up with Do-ha a bit. You know the scene, right? The escape scene in the research lab.”
“Yes.”
“Seo-yeon, while your enthusiasm is great, you need to temper it.”
“Of course.”
“…I trust you. Now, next up is Arthur’s turn, so please hold on a moment.”
Kim Hong-baek, the action advisor for this <Mine> project, spoke, and Seo-yeon replied energetically.
It seemed she was excited to film an action scene after a long while.
You could tell just by her warming up as she threw punches into the air.
“….”
Of course, witnessing that enthusiasm, Min Do-ha genuinely felt like crying.
After all, the person who would have to perform alongside that eager Seo-yeon was going to be none other than herself.