Hobbyist VTuber

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On a chilly November day, with leaves fluttering in the autumn breeze.

Simultaneously, it was the day of your first shoot, straight from the stars.

“Cut~! That’s great~.”

Ha-eun, donned in what people often call a ‘tteokbokki coat,’ was simply gazing at the scene of the ongoing shoot.

The reason being, her turn to film wasn’t scheduled until late evening.

Of course, there was no need for Ha-eun to be here ahead of time at this cold outdoor set rather than a cozy indoor studio.

Aside from watching the two lead actors, Hae-yun and Yu-sung, there wasn’t much to do on set.

From the start, the decision to film on the first day outdoors, with reporters allowed to cover it, was merely for the drama’s promotion.

A brief interview with the two lead actors, which had nothing to do with Ha-eun, was also about to begin.

Thanks to that, not just reporters but passersby on the street had shown interest in the drama shoot, so there were no issues from the broadcasting station’s perspective.

However, the staff and cast on-site were not in a particularly comfortable situation.

This also applied to Ha-eun and her manager, Joo Jung-yoon.

“Um, Ha-eun. Since it’s cold, wouldn’t it be better to stay in the car?”

“…No.”

Despite Jung-yoon’s suggestion, Ha-eun wanted to stick around in the chilly filming location.

The reason was that the scene she was set to film today was that of ‘modern’ Han Yu-hwa, not ‘Joseon-era’ Han Yu-hwa.

The scene being filmed was set in modern times as well.

In other words, it was an opportunity for Ha-eun to see Yu-sung’s portrayal of modern Han Yu-hwa with her own eyes.

“Oh, do you really not know who I am? I’m the Han Yu-hwa. The guaranteed hit, Han Yu-hwa.”

‘…So this is what they call star syndrome.’

In just a few hours, Ha-eun would have to portray modern Han Yu-hwa herself.

So, it was better for her to remain on set and observe Yu-sung, rather than waiting in the car as Jung-yoon suggested.

Unlike the Joseon-era Han Yu-hwa, who would naturally be different in speech and attire, Ha-eun had to portray modern Han Yu-hwa similarly enough, even if not identical to Yu-sung.

However, she couldn’t ignore the sight of Jung-yoon, who was puffing out white breath beside her.

“Um, Jung-yoon unnie. Don’t force yourself to stay outside because of me; you should go wait in the car.”

Ha-eun spoke carefully.

Jung-yoon, whose eyes slightly narrowed for some reason, eventually replied in a vague manner.

“How could I just leave you alone, Ha-eun? I’m not that selfish.”

‘…I really am okay though.’

Ultimately, regardless of what Ha-eun felt inside.

Jung-yoon’s white breath continued to linger around Ha-eun.

Despite feeling a bit sorry for Jung-yoon, Ha-eun thought the most important thing right now was to observe Yu-sung.

Thus, she remained on set and watched the portrayal of Han Yu-hwa being acted out by Yu-sung.

However, the character Yu-sung displayed was, at a glance, cheeky to a fault.

It was enough to provoke envy and disdain from others.

Like Yu-sung, who transformed it into a distinct character through her outstanding acting talent.

Ha-eun also thought she should be mindful not to let the audience feel discomfort towards the young Han Yu-hwa.

For today, the portrayal of Han Yu-hwa that Ha-eun had to embody had various complex factors.

The confident demeanor stemming from Yu-hwa’s extraordinary beauty and the naive aspect due to her young age mixed together chaotically.

Thus, for the confident side, she would take cues from Yu-sung’s performance.

For the naive side, she decided to refer to the portrayals of characters quite different from Yu-sung’s.

After sitting quietly in a corner of the set, the dusk eventually turned dark as the sunset faded away.

Like the others who had just begun receiving their meals from the food truck, Ha-eun sat at a makeshift table with her white bowl, filling it with the food she could eat—especially vegetables.

It was all about filling her stomach thoroughly before her first shoot, nothing more, nothing less.

However, unlike the others she had gotten used to seeing during her time at the filming site.

-Peek.

-Peek peek.

‘…What is this?’

A stranger she hadn’t encountered anywhere today sat down directly across from Ha-eun, naturally.

They continued to stare at her without touching the food they had received.

“Um… Who are you?”

Jung-yoon, sensing something suspicious, inquired about the stranger on behalf of Ha-eun.

Moments later, a business card was passed over from the woman in front of her.

“Is this Ha-eun Lee? If you’re free after the shoot today, could we have a brief interview?”

This was Ha-eun’s first-ever request for a one-on-one interview.

The problem was that the reporters who came to cover the drama’s shoot had already wrapped up all their coverage after the brief interview with the two lead actors.

Soon, the scene Ha-eun was set to film wasn’t one that could be disclosed to the press.

In other words, having that reporter, Heo Joo-eun, sitting directly in front of Ha-eun was a problem.

Worrying there might be some complications, Ha-eun was about to leave with Jung-yoon.

“Wait, just a moment! Ha-eun!”

However, in the end, Ha-eun listened a little longer to what Heo Joo-eun had to say.

“I’m not here to cover the drama ‘A Star from the Stars.’ I’m here to write about the actress Lee Ha-eun. Of course, I’ll mention the drama to some extent in the article…”

She wanted to focus her article on Ha-eun, rather than on the drama.

He even added that he had previously written an article about Ha-eun during the neighborhood uncle’s press conference.

“I swear I won’t expose any of your filming scenes, Ha-eun. Honestly, I didn’t even bring a camera for interviews.”

She exaggeratedly patted her empty pants pockets right afterward.

With a desperate voice, she added that she just hoped to chat for about 30 minutes at a nearby café after all of Ha-eun’s filming was done.

Ha-eun’s gaze drifted to Jung-yoon for a moment, contemplating over her request.

“Um, Jung-yoon unnie. If I do an interview, could it cause problems…?”

This was a cautious inquiry.

In other words, as long as nothing went wrong, she wanted to give the interview a try.

“Well, while you’re filming, I’ll look into it separately. You just focus on your filming for now.”

As always, Jung-yoon prioritized Ha-eun’s wishes as her manager.

After that, preparations for the scene Ha-eun was to film began.

“Um, Ha-eun. Just to check in, you’ve been around the filming location since you greeted me earlier, right?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, you didn’t have to come early. Thanks for enduring the cold while waiting.”

Soon, their brief conversation with PD Hwang Min-soo wrapped up, and once she tightened her brown coat, the atmosphere around her felt like…

– “It really feels like Yu-sung’s childhood.”
– “I watched the audition tape, and my jaw just dropped.”
– “I saw the recording in a meeting. I genuinely thought they had brought in a real Joseon-era young lady.”

Various voices echoed from around the filming site.

At the same time, a myriad of gazes only directed at Ha-eun made her acutely aware that she was back in front of the camera.

Now all that was left was to present her portrayal of young Han Yu-hwa before the camera.

“Alright, S#11. We will start shooting the first meeting scene now. Everyone, standby, 3, 2, 1… Action!”

With the deep voice of Song Tae-kwon, the director of ‘A Star from the Stars,’ heard over a white megaphone.

Finally, Ha-eun’s first drama shoot began.

*

Small points gently blinking and surely revealing their presence.

In the center of the sky dotted with stars, a massive gray light source projecting a single color.

For some reason, it felt like a long time since facing the night sky, which was beautiful as always.

However, now, Han Yu-hwa was awkwardly caught in the arms of a man she had just met.

“Um, could you let me go now…?”

Han Yu-hwa felt quite flustered.

Despite being aware that the man who had just grabbed her arm had saved her from being hit by a blind truck.

– Thud.

She swiftly shook off the unfamiliar man’s arm.

“Aren’t you being too heartless to your life-saver?”

“Sorry, but you see, I’m not someone you can just touch.”

After that, she questioned the man in front of her if he didn’t recognize her.

It was a valid question since she was currently the rising star in the entertainment industry.

However, all she got in return was a dry response of “who knows?”

With her cheeks slightly heating up, Han Yu-hwa puffed up her cheeks unconsciously.

“…How could you not know me as a Korean? Are you some kind of spy?”

She directed her suspicion toward the man who did not recognize her.

At that moment, her pocket began vibrating with a buzzing sound.

Later, when she pulled out her little phone adorned with cute stickers and checked the sender of the newly arrived message, her face darkened slightly.

In reality, being out this late could easily warrant scolding.

However, she felt a bit inclined to blame the person who had kept her from wanting to return home at this hour.

If they had wanted to see the obedient, good daughter, they shouldn’t have gone off chasing the wind in the first place.

“Ugh, I don’t care anymore~.”

After disconnecting the battery from her phone, she threw it straight into the next trash bin.

The man watching Han Yu-hwa let out a sigh.

“What’s the matter? Why are you sighing while looking at me?”

“…Just thinking if I had known this would happen, I should have ignored it 500 years ago.”

“Ah, so you’re a weirdo. I appreciate you saving me, but I’ll pass on the good advice~.”

Han Yu-hwa offered her usual light smile.

Then, she took a step back, distancing herself from the man.

– Whoops.

“Oh, oh no…?!”

She stumbled over a small rock she hadn’t seen, almost losing her balance.

At nearly the same instant, the man’s arm that had supported her back again.

“I beg you. Please stop making me worry.”

“Who asked you to save me?!”

There couldn’t be a more absurd claim like this.

Thus, Han Yu-hwa forcefully shook off the man’s arm again.

“Well, alright. Since you’ve saved me not once but twice, I’ll reward you.

She decided to compensate him somehow for his actions.

That said, after being compensated, she firmly stated that there would be no debts between them.

However, when the man asked why she despised being in debt to others so much.

“Well, I just don’t want to live with weaknesses exposed to anyone. I want to live life exactly how I want.”

She exaggeratedly expressed her life philosophy with a grand gesture.

Not long after, she revealed her genuine feelings to the man once again.

“You know, Mr. I’m going to become a star. The kind no one can ignore, the kind that everyone can only look up to.”

As her gaze gradually shifted toward the sky, it completely absorbed the vastness of the night sky.

Below, her beautiful white neck shone brightly under the gentle moonlight.

Han Yu-hwa soon noticed the man had been silently observing her.

As she subtly let out a giggle.

– Swish.

Before the sound of her lovely hair brushing against her ear vanished in less than a second, she slightly tilted her head.

“A person destined to be such an incredible star shouldn’t get caught up by a stranger, right?”

She showed only her faint smile to the man.

With an exceedingly beautiful figure reminiscent of a mythical creature from ancient books.

“…I said stop making me worry.”

To Park Do-jun, it was yet again someone he had seen 500 years ago.

Still, it felt like he could be captivated once more.