Chapter 129

[Sky Garden] was a drama that Seoyeon, in her past life, couldn’t really empathize with.

The cutthroat competition among parents to get their children into prestigious universities.

And the children themselves struggling by any means necessary to get into top universities, engaging in cruel acts without a second thought.

For Seoyeon, who couldn’t properly attend school, there was always that question in her mind: “Why go this far?”

After all, Seoyeon had been in a situation where even attending a regular school was difficult, let alone an elite one.

And even now, the situation was no different.

Neither Seoyeon’s father nor her mother cared much about her academics, even suggesting that living like a normal student was the best course.

“Maybe because I’m an actor, that’s how it is.”

Anyway, because of this, for Seoyeon, the protagonist of [Sky Garden] was a very difficult role to understand.

Thus, she felt quite worried about this role internally.

“But.”

Seoyeon glanced around. Everyone seemed young.

Of course, there were also quite a few middle-aged actors, but Seoyeon tended to sit with the younger actors.

After all, in the places where the story was set in a school, it would be the classmates of Seoyeon that gathered there.

“Perhaps it’s more comfortable for actors of similar ages to sit together?”

PD Lee Min-hwa said with a smile.

It was a friendly smile, but it certainly wasn’t all good-natured.

Because they knew all about the rivalry among young actors.

‘So, this probably means I’m supposed to handle these myself.’

That’s why such a setting was prepared. They couldn’t afford issues during the actual filming, so this was more of a preemptive courtesy.

“Everyone’s watching Seoyeon.”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

To Seoyeon, who was used to a lively set, this atmosphere was rather unfamiliar.

Maybe Cha Na-hee feels the same way, too.

Frankly, Cha Na-hee was more of a concern than herself.

“An idol debut.”

What’s more, she was even an active idol.

And Summer Girls, while being a fairly recognizable group, was still a bit controversial to call a first-tier group.

“Actors tend to look down on idols.”

They often refer to them as “bizarre” entertainers. Even actors who have hardened their views or those who picked it up from their environment aren’t very different.

At entertainment or drama awards ceremonies, actors didn’t even bother to clap when singers or idols performed. And if it’s like that for performances, how much worse could it get when it comes to acting?

That’s why all the attention was on Seoyeon now.

To them, Cha Na-hee was practically invisible.

They probably didn’t expect her to do well anyway.

“Even after achieving success in Dream Future.”

Seoyeon let out a small laugh. Success seems to have no meaning to some.

“Senior Park Jung-woo was certainly the exception.”

She found herself liking Park Jung-woo even more. He never really showed any discrimination against idols.

The fact that [Dream Future] had equal parts idols and actors was important, but it was Park Jung-woo, the most well-known actor among the cast, who set the tone, preventing any problems.

“But here, Na-hee is the only one.”

Moreover, today, all the actors gathered here were without question renowned and promising actors.

“The cast is better than expected.”

Still, many of the actors from the previous life were here too. Likely, writer Min Se-hee had them in mind from the start.

But the young actors were different.

In the previous life, most of them were rookies. This time, they were all promising stars.

All of them were actors who would eventually shine as time went on.

Actors renowned for their acting skills.

For their distinctiveness.

Actors advancing towards the red carpet.

This [Sky Garden] felt like KMB sharpening their knives on the success of [Dream Future], and it was clear from the get-go.

And, as Seoyeon had thought, most of the other actors were also watching her.

“Joo Seo-youn.”

“The protagonist.”

“No audition.”

Every young actor participating in this [Sky Garden] had gone through an audition.

But two people didn’t: Joo Seo-youn and Cha Na-hee.

So it was natural that these actors weren’t too pleased with them.

Most of them were actors who had built their careers diligently since they were child actors, nurtured as promising stars within their agencies.

Yet, they didn’t really bother with Na-hee. The thought was similar to Seoyeon’s.

“Because she’s an idol.”

In any case, they didn’t see her as competition. They thought idols would eventually return to their original occupations if they got bored or frustrated with acting.

But Seoyeon was different. Especially with someone of a similar age.

“After having a 10-year hiatus.”

Kim Hyun-seok squinted as he looked at Seoyeon. Initially, when Seoyeon first returned, he hadn’t paid her much attention.

After all, a child actor returning after 10 years didn’t seem worth worrying about.

He thought the attention she received on variety shows would fade quickly.

Unless, of course, she continued appearing in hit dramas, which she didn’t.

“More Chasers and Dream Future.”

Rumors were also circulating that the movie Seoyeon was shooting now, [Hyper Action Star], was her stepping stone for a leading role in films.

While it wasn’t confirmed since it was an open audition show, it was clear she had connections.

“She must have influential people backing her.”

Otherwise, why was she getting such support? Despite the success of [More Chasers], wasn’t it too convenient with everything happening so quickly?

“Why so worked up, Hyun-seok?”

At that moment, his friend Han Sung-jin, sitting beside him, smirked.

“You’re worked up too, pretending you’re not.”

They’d known each other since their child actor days, so they were quite close.

Not only were they from the same agency, but they’d also starred in the same dramas and movies.

“This is the drama’s protagonist.”

“Is she picked by connections instead of auditions?”

“Based on past experience.”

That “experience.” Even if you count, it was only two works, [More Chasers] and [Dream Future]. [The Moon That Hid the Sun] happened when she was too young, so it doesn’t count.

If you count the number of works, they had significantly more.

Even if we only count the hit dramas and movies they’ve been in.

“How memorable the role was matters.”

The roles were definitely impressive, and denying that would be unfair. He clearly saw her as a rival, but if he dismissed her acting completely, he wouldn’t be a real actor.

“Cha Sooah and Joo Ha-rin.”

Totally different roles.

The acting she displayed didn’t seem like it could possibly come from just any regular person. It didn’t seem like the acting of someone her age.

But.

“It’s probably because of those roles.”

Kim Hyun-seok looked at Seoyeon again, believing that if given the same opportunity, he could have done the same.

He had that kind of confidence.

One might say his strong sense of pride as an actor was admirable, but one might also call it overconfidence.

That way, in this strange silence.

“Shouldn’t we start some conversation?”

At last, the writer Min Se-hee and director Kim Il-soo arrived, and the discussion officially started.

“Those of you who saw the script during the audition already know, but I believe you’ve grasped the general atmosphere and content of the drama.”

Director Kim Il-soo of [Sky Garden] began after glancing briefly at Min Se-hee beside him.

“The story revolves around ‘Sky Garden,’ where royal families converge.”

And within the ‘Sky Garden’ compound, is the prestigious ‘Taeyang High School.’

“First, let me talk about the protagonist, Lee Yoo-joo.”

Director Kim Il-soo looked at Seoyeon as he spoke.

“The younger sister of a perfect scorer in the final exams—a top university student, the valedictorian of the medical school at Baekyeon University.”

She was admitted to Taeyang High School through a special program like her older brother, Lee Seok-chan, who succeeded with his own unique curriculum and entered the prestigious Baekyeon University.

“They say he transferred that entire curriculum to his younger sister as well.”

“You all are the parents chasing after that curriculum. In doing so, you target Lee Yoo-joo.”

Using various methods:

Making friendly overtures to her.

Using threats.

And wielding power to pressurize.

In many ways, they try to extract the curriculum from Lee Yoo-joo.

Their sole purpose is their child’s success, driven by the desire to uphold the prestige of families like medical dynasties or families producing lawyers and judges.

“A drama mocking the current education system will emerge from this.”

After spilling out a range of topics, Kim Il-soo paused to breathe.

“Let’s conclude the discussion about the work here. This gathering is meant for today’s face-to-face meeting before the actual script reading.”

He chuckled slightly and encouraged free conversation among the cast.

It was different from the PD’s approach.

A strange silence once again.

But this time, the director was present.

“Even my kid is causing me a headache, and I didn’t expect to play a role like this.”

“I never expected to be associated with such prestigious places.”

“Ugh, it’s such a headache. Oh.”

The middle-aged actors spoke first, breaking the ice for the others.

Naturally, the conversation flowed toward the younger cast as well.

“Seoyeon, I have a small question for you. Is it okay?”

With a friendly smile, Han Sung-jin, sitting next to Kim Hyun-seok, spoke up.

“I recently watched Hyper Action Star and found it really entertaining. But, were all those stunts genuine?”

Han Sung-jin was genuinely curious.

It didn’t feel right. How could someone dodge flying paintballs, move with such incredible speed?

And wasn’t the level of his performance, or the overall coordination during rehearsals and script readings beyond normal?

“That’s…”

Seoyeon was slightly taken aback. How could they ask something like this directly?

As she prepared to earnestly answer,

“Such stunts must definitely be tricks.”

Kim Hyun-seok interjected with a smirk.

What’s more, to say such things like Mr. Satan?

“Come on. Don’t be so naive. Like someone using their finger to make a hole in a coconut? Or starting a fire when the wood crumbles instead of igniting properly? Lifting a nearly 200 kg tuna with ease? A paintball traveling at 90 meters per second—how do you dodge that by sight alone? When multiple bullets are flying, it’s impossible unless the choreography has been fully synchronized beforehand.”

“…”

Without a doubt, Kim Hyun-seok had followed all of Seoyeon’s variety shows.

And his overall impression was this:

Reality shows are overly exaggerated.

They seem too genuine, to the point where one might consider them real, but it’s not.

That’s his general impression.

“True.”

Surprisingly, Cha Na-hee also agreed.

“It feels like they’re trying to give the actress an overly violent image.”

Cha Na-hee was actually upset!

It was like consuming Seoyeon through forced internet memes.

‘How could Seoyeon possibly be that violent!’

Anyway, the two, though coming from different perspectives, basically agreed.

“Hmm…”

At this conversation, Seoyeon suddenly remembered the fan community on the internet she’d seen recently.

An online space where numerous edited images were floating around.

Admittedly, Seoyeon personally found them quite amusing and even appealing, showcasing her strength.

But, clearly, for a female actress, it was slightly…

‘Now I need to manage this image…’

Seoyeon, who tended to get carried away by variety shows, felt a little self-aware after listening to Kim Hyun-seok’s comments.

For now, she should tone it down a bit.

Thinking that way, Seoyeon quietly let out a sigh.

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