I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 251: Nine Spirits Liquor (4)

The hottest rising star of the year, Ju Seoyeon, had arrived.

Naturally, the entire audition room buzzed with whispers and murmurs.

Who wouldn’t be surprised?

This was just an audition for a movie by Jo Bangwoo—a director whose glory days had ended a decade ago.

It was odd enough that top-tier stars like Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon were showing up.

“What the hell’s going on?”

“I heard Park Jungwoo was cast, but does that alone explain why Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon are here? Something’s off.”

“Was the script really that good? I mean, it was fun, but isn’t it just an action flick? Honestly, it felt kind of ridiculous...”

The actresses in the room alternated their stares between Seoyeon, who had just entered, and Minhwa, seated confidently with her legs crossed.

Their eyes eventually met.

With Minhwa glaring openly, it was impossible not to lock gazes.

‘Why the hell is she here?’

‘So Hwang Minhwa’s in this too.’

Minhwa was visibly unsettled.

Seoyeon, on the other hand, was slightly curious but otherwise indifferent.

‘Hwang Minhwa used to work with Jo Bangwoo, didn’t she?’

In Seoyeon’s previous life, Hwang Minhwa had been a top actress.

Not just successful—legendary.

Every movie she touched turned to gold.

Her career had never seen a box-office performance below five million viewers.

Except for one.

“Jo Bangwoo’s movie.”

It had barely scraped 1.5 million viewers before disappearing from theaters.

Hwang Minhwa erased it from her career, as if it had never existed.

She could afford to because she hadn’t played the lead.

‘Still, it’s strange that she’s here.’

From what Seoyeon remembered, Minhwa had originally been slated as the lead actress.

But Minhwa voluntarily stepped down, taking a supporting role instead.

Audiences had been baffled—why would someone of her caliber settle for a minor part?

It didn’t take long to find out.

“The male lead’s horrendous acting. And the leads’ inability to handle action scenes properly.”

No matter how many stunt doubles you use, actors still need to perform key scenes themselves.

Especially for Seoul Escape, which relied heavily on wide shots showcasing the action.

The awkward editing and lack of actor involvement had been painfully obvious.

Paired with poor performances, the result was inevitable.

‘Maybe Minhwa saw it coming.’

Her decision to take a supporting role instead had baffled many, but looking back, it made sense.

She later claimed she’d done it as a favor to her former mentor.

That could’ve been a PR excuse—or maybe it was true.

Either way, her smaller role allowed her to quietly distance herself from the flop.

Instead, Minhwa’s image improved.

She was seen as a loyal actress who supported an old mentor—and sympathy only grew after the director’s tragic suicide.

“It’s been a while, Seoyeon.”

“Yes, it has, Miss Hwang Minhwa.”

The two exchanged polite greetings and stared at each other in silence.

‘Why aren’t they saying more? Is this some kind of power struggle?’

‘Wait, does Minhwa even do action scenes? She’s not bad in her movies, but still...’

Minhwa’s lips twitched as Seoyeon’s calm demeanor grated on her nerves.

“Seoyeon, I’m your senior. Shouldn’t you greet me properly—”

“Hmm? Technically, I debuted first, didn’t I?”

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“...What?”

Minhwa blinked, momentarily speechless.

Seoyeon wasn’t wrong.

She’d debuted as a child actress nearly ten years ago in The Moon That Hides the Sun.

‘Does she not count child actors or something?’

Seoyeon tilted her head slightly, as if confused by Minhwa’s reaction.

Minhwa quickly cleared her throat.

“Oh my, you’re right. My mistake.”

“It’s fine.”

“Let’s do our best today.”

Minhwa studied Seoyeon closely.

‘This girl knows how to handle herself.’

Her innocent expression belied nerves of steel.

Minhwa suddenly wondered if Seoyeon’s blank face was just another act.

No wonder she’d dominated the industry for the past year.

‘And she’s backed by that brat, Jo Seohui.’

Minhwa had always found Jo Seohui unnerving.

Rumored to come from a chaebol family, Seohui was also a prodigy adored by veteran actors.

Not to mention, Seohui’s resume was even more impressive than Minhwa’s.

She was the kind of rival Minhwa couldn’t stand.

‘Did Minhwa only take this role because Jungwoo was cast?’

Seoyeon pondered the possibility.

It seemed like the most logical explanation.

Meanwhile, the other actresses were visibly losing confidence.

‘I shouldn’t have come.’

‘This is basically a showdown between those two.’

Seoyeon was the breakout star of the year. Minhwa had proven herself time and time again as a top actress.

In terms of both recognition and skill, no one else came close.

Now, curiosity buzzed through the room.

What kind of movie had drawn these two?

“Wait—Ju Seoyeon? That Ju Seoyeon?”

Director Jo Bangwoo gawked at the news.

Hwang Minhwa’s attendance hadn’t shocked him—he’d expected her to back out, but she came.

Still, it wasn’t completely unexpected.

But Ju Seoyeon?

“Was it because of Park Jungwoo?”

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The idea that one actor carried more influence than he did as the director stung.

Jungwoo might be the son of a legendary actor, but he was barely in his twenties.

Bangwoo sighed.

“Director, you didn’t know Seoyeon was coming?”

“I had no idea. Jungwoo only said he wanted someone specific to audition. I assumed it was someone lesser-known...”

Was this why Jungwoo had insisted on auditions?

Bangwoo suddenly understood.

“So all this—holding auditions—was for Ju Seoyeon?”

“Yes.”

“Why bother with auditions at all?”

“Because Seoyeon insisted.”

For Seoyeon, this audition was more than just a formality.

It mirrored her very first drama audition—the moment that defined her acting career.

And it was there that she’d first crossed paths with the arrogant child actor, Park Jungwoo.

"Honestly, the only reason I decided to join this movie is because of Ju Seoyeon."

Park Jungwoo flashed a subtle smile at Director Jo Bangwoo, whose expression froze in shock.

"What?"

"You’re not telling me you’ve forgotten, are you?"

Jungwoo spoke calmly as the stunned director struggled to respond.

"Ju Seoyeon’s very first real audition—the one that made her a true actress—was all thanks to your recommendation, wasn’t it?"

"..."

"Back then, she was just a child actor who’d appeared in a few commercials. A kid who’d shown up in Director Jo Mintae’s CFs a couple of times. And yet, it was you, Director Jo Bangwoo, who introduced her to the public as more than that."

"...That was only because my son recommended her. I just gave her a little push."

"Even so, you both gave her the chance that set her career in motion."

Jungwoo glanced at the audition room’s monitor, where the live feed captured the scene inside.

Hwang Minhwa, her eyes sharp and predatory, stared fixedly at Seoyeon, who stood there absentmindedly, lost in thought.

It was almost comical—Minhwa’s tension and Seoyeon’s utter indifference.

There was probably no one else who could remain so unfazed in front of Hwang Minhwa.

"Ju Seoyeon kept asking me about your upcoming film, Director."

"...Why?"

"She said she absolutely had to be in it."

Jungwoo’s calm gaze fixed on Bangwoo, who still looked bewildered.

"Of all the projects she could’ve chosen, she wanted this one above everything else."

Even Jungwoo didn’t fully understand.

Why had Seoyeon been so adamant about this film?

Was it the script?

No, that didn’t make sense.

Even if the script had been a complete disaster, Seoyeon still would’ve insisted on taking the role.

"...Why?"

"Who knows?"

Jungwoo chuckled softly.

"Maybe it’s because that connection from ten years ago means more to her than we realize."

And perhaps that was all there was to it.

The Moon That Hides the Sun, filmed ten years ago, held significance for Jungwoo too.

It was the project that had humbled his arrogant attitude and reshaped his outlook.

He still remembered that scene—Ju Seoyeon, standing against the setting sun, smiling as Princess Yeonhwa.

That image had burned itself into his memory like a brand.

It had become an anchor—a marker in his life.

"Director."

Jungwoo turned to Bangwoo, whose silence lingered.

"The child actress you once took a chance on has returned."

Ten years later.

At a time when everything seemed hopeless.

As if she’d come back—like a savior.

*****

At exactly 2 p.m., the audition officially began.

All the actors had gathered in the waiting room, and the auditions proceeded in groups of three.

One by one, the actors stepped into the audition hall to perform scenes from the script they’d received in advance.

Seated in her chair, Hwang Minhwa calmly reviewed the lines she had memorized.

Her determination burned stronger than ever—especially after seeing Ju Seoyeon.

‘I can’t lose to that girl.’

Yes, Seoyeon had debuted earlier.

But Minhwa’s career spanned far longer—years of dedication and achievements she had painstakingly built.

She wasn’t about to let some rising star overshadow that.

“A genius actress, huh...”

Minhwa wasn’t arrogant enough to deny Seoyeon’s talent.

Despite her prickly personality, Minhwa respected skill when she saw it.

She didn’t underestimate Seoyeon.

Ju Seoyeon was the real deal.

There she sat—silent, eyes closed—completely devoid of tension.

Like a doll preparing for its role.

Minhwa had heard the rumors.

Before filming, Ju Seoyeon had a habit of centering herself, becoming as still and emotionless as a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ machine.

No feelings. No nerves.

Minhwa had dismissed it as exaggeration—until now.

Seeing it in person, she understood.

From the moment they first met, Minhwa had sensed it.

That aura.

She’d felt something similar once before—years ago, when she attended an international film festival after one of her movies was nominated.

Minhwa had scoffed at the so-called "world-class actors."

“They’re still just local celebrities, aren’t they?”

Their skills didn’t intimidate her.

She had seen plenty of acclaimed foreign actors who weren’t even close to her level.

The only reason she couldn’t compete with them was her nationality.

Or so she thought—until she met that girl.

‘What was her name... Stella Baldwin?’

Minhwa remembered the actress vividly.

Stella had an aura that set her apart—a presence that couldn’t be faked.

And now, Ju Seoyeon radiated that same energy.

‘...Fine.’

Minhwa turned her focus back to the script for Seoul Escape.

Her role was Seo Hyemin, a college student whose hobby was climbing—specifically bouldering and free climbing.

Once a rising star in the sport, Hyemin had retired early due to a shoulder injury.

Now, she worked part-time at a fast-food restaurant while attending classes.

‘They’ll probably want to test physicality too.’

The script didn’t include actual climbing scenes, but it described Hyemin’s athleticism.

Minhwa assumed they’d pair her with Park Jungwoo, who was playing a wealthy heir and department store owner’s son.

‘Hyemin’s character is more feminine than I expected.’

She had imagined someone more cheerful and energetic.

Instead, Hyemin was reserved, with a mix of shyness and grit.

A layered role—far harder to play than a bubbly, outgoing character.

‘Should I emphasize her vulnerability? Or her strength?’

The movie’s plot revolved around Hyemin and the male lead navigating a disaster together.

To be honest, the premise was absurd.

A mysterious gas leak in Seoul caused deaths, and the victims turned into zombie-like attackers.

An action-packed survival thriller.

‘What even is this movie?’

Despite her doubts, Minhwa had read the entire script in one sitting.

It was pure entertainment—a bold attempt by Director Jo Bangwoo to reinvent himself.

"Numbers 34 through 36, please enter the audition hall."

Minhwa’s number was 34.

She stood up, script in hand—

And froze.

So did everyone else.

Because Ju Seoyeon rose from her seat at the same time.

“...!!”

Gasps filled the room.

The realization hit like a bombshell—Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon were in the same group.

Minhwa’s lips curled into a smirk.

Seoyeon, however, looked slightly surprised.

She clearly hadn’t expected to be grouped with Minhwa either.

The tension between the two was palpable.

"Let’s start with Hwang Minhwa. Please show us the scene from... Yes, Scene #27."

And just like that—

An audition no one saw coming had begun.