"Going to Japan again?"
Sooah, wearing a concerned expression, spoke to Seoyeon, who was busy stuffing her suitcase with clothes.
What kind of girl packs her things so recklessly, almost like a guy?
"Did you pack your cosmetics?" "Someone else can handle that for me." "What about your underwear?" "..."
Come on, she wasn't a child. Of course, she'd pack the basics.
When Seoyeon subtly avoided her gaze, Sooah flinched.
"But Seoyeon, you can be surprisingly scatterbrained when you travel. For instance, last time you forgot your sanitary—" "Hold on!"
How far was she planning to go with this?
Grumbling under her breath, Seoyeon ended up repacking her things, item by item, from the start.
'Well, it doesn't hurt to double-check.'
After all, relying entirely on Manager Park Eunha for everything felt a bit excessive.
While organizing, her hand brushed against a bold outfit she’d bought in Japan last time.
She hesitated for a moment.
'It’s not like I’ll have any occasion to wear this in Korea.'
Ah, so that’s why people save these things for Japan.
The thought crossed her mind, but this time, since she wasn’t traveling privately, she carefully hung the outfit back in the closet. She’d save it for her next personal trip.
"By the way, won’t it be finals season when you return from Japan? Have you been studying, my dear daughter?"
"Of course!"
It wasn’t a lie. Seoyeon had actually studied hard this time—though not entirely of her own accord.
"With Sky Garden being such a hit, how can the protagonist, Lee Yoojoo, have awful grades?"
That was what Jo Seohui and Lee Jiyeon argued as they dragged her to study during breaks on set.
'I just want to play games.'
The thought had consumed her, but even Seoyeon couldn’t refuse when others were trying to help her.
Thanks to their efforts, Seoyeon, quite uncharacteristically, managed to cover most of the test material.
While it was unlikely she’d achieve grades as stellar as Jiyeon’s, this was shaping up to be her best performance yet.
That vague sense of optimism lingered.
In any case, after finishing her packing, Seoyeon had nothing left to do but wait for the filming date.
Among the three prominent characters in Kyungsung Lady, Seoyeon’s role had relatively few scenes.
Well, her character was a villain, after all.
Moreover, Director Baek Min had condensed Seoyeon’s filming schedule as a gesture of consideration, so she naturally ended up with extra time.
'Should I schedule a meeting with Éclat Étoile or ADZ?'
Both brands had been reaching out regularly after Sky Garden.
However, Éclat Étoile seemed hesitant to fully embrace Sky Garden’s “student” concept.
Since they’d recently done an ad targeting minors, they might have felt it was a bit too soon to pivot to an adult-focused campaign, especially with Seoyeon’s age and the lingering image of Lee Yoojoo.
On the other hand, ADZ had contacted her as soon as they learned she was filming Kyungsung Lady.
"I saw your appearance on that Japanese variety show! It caused such a buzz in Japan. And as it happens, our company has been eyeing the overseas market recently. Naturally, our first target is Japan! We even set up a local office, but we haven’t landed the right ad campaign yet."
Apparently, their products were being sold through various online platforms and shopping malls, but they didn’t have a single TV commercial.
Given the buzz Seoyeon had generated in Japan and her role in Kyungsung Lady, it was no surprise they’d jumped at the chance to contact her.
And the amount they offered? Enough to make anyone gasp. Seoyeon had almost nodded instinctively.
'But money isn’t the issue right now.'
In truth, Seoyeon wasn’t in urgent need of cash. She’d been working tirelessly all year, and her bank account reflected that.
Even without doing another CF or two, she had more than enough saved up.
Still, she couldn’t ignore the greed that flickered in her father Yeongbin’s eyes when he saw her account balance.
Not that he dared touch it, with Sooah watching him like a hawk. But that didn’t stop him from dropping hints.
"You know, there’s this game I’ve been wanting to try..."
"I heard UMPCs are trending these days. And you know I work in the gaming industry, right? Gotta keep up with the trends..."
It wasn’t like he asked for anything outrageous.
But it didn’t help that he’d come fully armored, as if afraid of getting hit.
Of course, Sooah dragged him off before Seoyeon could even react.
Not that Seoyeon would ever actually hit her parents, no matter what they thought of her.
Sometimes she genuinely couldn’t tell if they were joking or serious.
'Come to think of it...'
Reflecting on her busy schedule, Seoyeon suddenly realized she hadn’t visited KMB Broadcasting Station in a while.
'They recently launched the Drama Division 2.'
After Sky Garden ended, and The Grand Game wrapped up, KMB had opened its second drama division.
Naturally, Drama Division 2’s director was Baek Tae-soo.
Though he’d been utterly defeated by Sky Garden, The Grand Game had still been a solid hit.
'Hmm.'
Now that Jo Seohui’s drama had also become a success, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to drop by and say hello.
If she waited until after returning from Japan, the timing would get tricky again.
'Should I make a quick visit?'
The thought was purely on a whim.
+++++
"By the way."
As Seoyeon neared the KMB Broadcasting Station, a thought struck her.
'Can I just walk into the station like this?'
Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d visited the station without a specific reason. Usually, Manager Park Eunha would schedule everything in advance, and this was the first time Seoyeon had wandered in alone.
Of course, she knew a few PDs at the station, but that didn’t mean she could just casually summon them at will.
PDs held considerable authority within broadcasting stations. They were, in a way, the ones holding the leash on the careers of ordinary celebrities.
'Ugh.'
Should she call Manager Park Eunha and ask her to handle this?
As she debated, her steps brought her closer to the station’s entrance.
Then, she noticed someone.
A girl in a white dress.
Her short golden hair, reaching just past her shoulders, shimmered as if reflecting sunlight. It didn’t look dyed—it radiated like pure gold.
She appeared to be a little shorter than Seoyeon.
'...A foreigner?'
A tourist?
That was Seoyeon’s initial thought. But the way the girl looked up at the broadcasting station, with an air of quiet elegance, suggested she wasn’t just an ordinary visitor.
Her striking appearance was impossible to overlook. Even though Seoyeon had only seen her from behind, the girl exuded a strong presence.
"Huh?"
Perhaps sensing Seoyeon’s gaze, the girl spun around, her movements light and fluid.
And then.
『Ah, there you are.』
She pointed directly at Seoyeon as she spoke.
For the record, Seoyeon had no idea what she was saying.
'English? Well, of course, she’s a foreigner, so she’d speak English.'
Though she didn’t understand the words, the girl’s gestures made her intentions somewhat clear. It was as if she’d been searching specifically for Seoyeon.
Wait. If that was the case—
'How does she know it’s me?'
After Sky Garden, Seoyeon had made a habit of keeping a low profile when going out. A hat, a black mask—her go-to disguise ensured most people didn’t recognize her.
'She must’ve mistaken me for someone else.'
Just as Seoyeon raised her hand to wave off the misunderstanding, the girl suddenly approached her.
Standing so close that Seoyeon could feel her breath, the girl looked up at her.
『Ahaha, it is you. I knew I was lucky. I came to the station on a whim, wondering how I’d get in, and here you are!』
'What is she saying?'
It felt like she was taking a listening comprehension test, even though finals were still a ways off. Seoyeon could barely catch any of the girl’s words.
She couldn’t help but think the girl was incredibly pretty, though.
'She looks kind of familiar... but I can’t place her.'
She wasn’t a Korean celebrity—Seoyeon would know if that were the case.
So, someone from overseas?
But who abroad would know her? Seoyeon hadn’t done much international work yet.
The closest she’d come was Japan. None of her movies or dramas had been distributed overseas.
In other words, there was no reason for someone like this foreign girl to know who she was.
『Huh?』
Seoyeon stared blankly at the girl.
The girl, noticing Seoyeon’s reaction, suddenly smiled, a strange expression playing on her lips.
『Hello? You’re Ju Seoyeon, right? Your eyes looked redder in the videos. Are those lenses? Interesting taste.』
The tone was oddly mocking.
Not that Seoyeon understood a word of it.
The girl, seemingly expecting that, nodded knowingly.
"You don’t speak English, huh?"
"Huh?"
"What, didn’t you think I could speak Korean?"
The girl took another step closer, now practically breathing the same air as Seoyeon.
So close that Seoyeon could see her reflection in the girl’s eyes.
"It’s nothing special. I know about four other languages besides Korean."
Her Korean was fluent, without the slightest hint of awkwardness.
Honestly, it felt almost surreal.
Her appearance was striking, her presence extraordinary, and the clarity of her words only added to the sense that she was different from normal people.
Still, amazement aside, Seoyeon tilted her head as she regarded the smiling girl.
"Who are you?"
"...What?"
The girl froze, her eyes widening as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
"You don’t know me?"
Of course, she didn’t.
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The girl, realizing Seoyeon’s ignorance was genuine, let out a faint, incredulous laugh.
"My God, you’re not joking. I’m shocked. You really don’t care about anything outside of Korea, do you?"
Her words were casual but carried an odd nuance—a mix of arrogance and amusement.
Still, her playful voice made the tone feel strangely fitting.
"Fine, whatever."
The girl raised both hands as if to surrender and took a few steps back.
"I came to Korea on impulse, you know."
"Uh, okay."
"Because I was curious about you. Alone."
Seoyeon, now equally curious about who this girl was, found herself sympathizing a little with that sentiment.
She was also wondering where the girl had come from.
"But really, I came here without much of a plan. It’s a bit of a problem."
"What?"
"I mean, I’m basically lost."
"...?"
"I told you, didn’t I? I’m a lost girl with nothing but a passport in hand."
Despite admitting that Seoyeon didn’t recognize her, the girl’s attitude remained peculiar.
It was as though she were testing Seoyeon’s reaction, her demeanor a mix of playful arrogance and an air of superiority.
"Would you mind helping me out?"
"Okay."
Seoyeon nodded without much thought—she didn’t have any pressing plans, and her curiosity about the girl was growing.
Still, before anything else—
"Can I ask you something first?"
"Sure, what is it?"
The girl’s cheerful tone suggested she was ready to reveal her identity at any moment, assuming that’s what Seoyeon wanted to know.
And while Seoyeon was indeed curious, she had something else on her mind.
"Why are you speaking informally to me?"
"..."
For the first time, the girl was at a loss for words.
+++++
『Are you saying Actress Stella has gone to Korea?』
Amaya Hiroki, a PD who had planned to interview the "Fairy of the Century," Stella, during her visit to Japan, couldn’t believe his ears. And who could blame him?
Up until just yesterday, the actress had been strolling around the Japanese broadcasting station as if it were her own home. No one at YHJ Broadcasting dared to stop her.
Arrogant.
That was certainly one way to describe her behavior, yet somehow, it suited Stella perfectly.
She had a peculiar way of walking the line between being outright rude and just managing to stay within the bounds of acceptable behavior.
If she were simply a star of one country, someone at the station might have called her out.
But Stella was no ordinary celebrity.
She had no rivals among her peers, and even among those ten years her senior, only a handful could stand beside her.
'And let’s not forget, she’s the only actress to have won Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival at the age of eight.'
The youngest winner in the history of the Berlin International Film Festival.
And that had been her debut film.
She hadn’t yet won an Academy Award, though some speculated that was due to bias against Stella for being biracial. Still, it was likely only a matter of time.
That was the kind of actress Stella was.
There was a reason she was called the "Fairy of the Century."
Since her debut, she had never experienced failure—not even once.
That’s why everyone had tolerated her whims and her domineering behavior until now.
After all, getting her to agree to an interview was already a significant accomplishment.
But now she’d gone to Korea out of the blue?
『Even if that’s the case, there’s nothing I could do about it,』 said Asher Baldwin, shrugging.
Amaya Hiroki, flustered, responded in halting English.
『Nothing you could do? But how could you let your daughter go to Korea alone?』
『I woke up this morning, and she was gone. Stella has always been the type to act on her whims, so there was no stopping her.』
『But what if something happens to her?』
『Korea, like Japan, isn’t exactly a dangerous country.』
That much was true. Korea’s safety standards were indeed high, even by global standards. But even so, wasn’t it better to be cautious?
Of course, at this point, there wasn’t much anyone could do.
『Sigh, so why did she go to Korea?』
『Well, I can’t say for sure, but... I do have one guess.』
A guess?
Amaya Hiroki furrowed his brow at Asher’s cryptic response.
『I suspect she may have gone to meet that actress... Ju Seoyeon.』
『Excuse me?』
Amaya Hiroki was stunned.
He hadn’t expected Ju Seoyeon’s name to come up here, of all places.
At that very moment:
"Honorifics."
"Huh? English doesn’t really have those."
"It does. I know it does."
"Oh? What’s this? You actually know that? Ahaha! But not for me. Never. I’ll never use them."
Sticking out °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° her tongue with a playful "bleh," Stella left Seoyeon wondering if this was how Jo Seohui often felt around her.
Though the dynamics between them seemed entirely reversed.