Chapter 56

“…Let’s pretend we don’t know each other until this shoot is over.”

It was just around the time when the script reading for [The Moonlight Through the Clouds] had just ended.

Haeun couldn’t say a word in response to Da-yeon’s serious request to keep some distance for a while.

This was partly because Haeun couldn’t recall what she had done wrong, no matter how hard she tried to retrace her memories.

However, more than anything else,

“Once [To Busan] hits over 7 million, we agreed that I’d do whatever you say. Keep your promise.”

The voice that had declared that the stage for the long-ago promised acting duel was set to be [The Moonlight Through the Clouds] and Da-yeon’s serious expression.

“…Got it.”

Made Haeun unable to hold onto Da-yeon any longer.

Still, the reason Da-yeon couldn’t leave Haeun’s side rested with a third party, not Haeun herself.

“Um, Da-yeon, can you give me your contact information?”

With a neat appearance, a bright expression devoid of shadows, and a gentle voice, Yu Sung-jae, another main character of [The Moonlight Through the Clouds], was requesting Da-yeon’s contact information while creating a group chat.

Of course, he also immediately asked for Haeun’s contact information, which was right next to him.

Da-yeon had left just after letting Yu Sung-jae know Haeun’s contact information.

Thus, Haeun was silently watching Da-yeon move further away.

“Hey, Haeun, I think your phone is ringing.”

It was only when Yu Sung-jae recognized the source of the vibration coming from somewhere that Haeun snapped back to reality.

Her phone was pulled out of her pants pocket right after that.

[Mr. Ji – Missed Call]

‘Oh?’

The only Ji in Haeun’s contacts was Ji Hye-min.

There was no doubt that any matter worth contacting Haeun directly would also relate to the Fantasia project.

So,

“Um… I think I should go now.”

“Ah, okay. See you next time.”

After a brief farewell to Yu Sung-jae, lasting less than a second, she immediately stepped outside the drama department.

After glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, she called Ji Hye-min.

[ The avatar is complete! ]

“…!”

The long-awaited news that Diah’s virtual avatar was finished had arrived.

The debut schedule for [Fantasia] was announced as well.

However, unlike the other adult members, Haeun, being a high school student and actor, had a relatively packed schedule.

[ We’ll come to your house to set everything up and test things out, is that okay? ]

With Haeun unable to spare time due to her studies and acting, Ji Hye-min wanted to help set up Diah through her MCN.

From Haeun’s perspective, this kindness was something she had no reason to refuse.

[ Then, I’ll visit you around lunchtime tomorrow! ]

Thus, Ji Hye-min and her acquaintance for the broadcast setup decided to visit Haeun’s house.

After that, Haeun hung up the phone with a slightly brighter expression, which made her suddenly remember one thing.

‘…What should I tell my parents?’

Either way, tomorrow was Sunday.

That meant both Sung-yoon and Na-yeon would likely be home unless they had special plans.

This implied that both would have the chance to witness Haeun’s virtual YouTuber broadcast setup.

-♪

-♪

-♪

-♪… Click.

[ Hello? ]

“Ah, Mom. I have something to tell you─”

Immediately, she called Na-yeon and vaguely mentioned that someone from the company would be visiting their house tomorrow at lunchtime.

Since it was a very important and confidential matter, she also added that they would likely talk only with Haeun.

Strictly speaking, she wasn’t exactly lying.

Ji Hye-min and her acquaintance were representatives and staff of the MCN to which Haeun was affiliated as Diah, so they were indeed from the company, and the broadcast setup was a crucial matter for Haeun.

[ Hmm, I think Dad said he has plans tomorrow. ]

“What about Mom?”

[ No plans at all. Why, do you want Mom to go out? ]

“Ah, no. It’s not that. Since it’s about company business, I thought it might be good to be a little careful…”

It was awkward.

At the same time, it was embarrassing.

Even if Na-yeon found out about her being a virtual YouTuber, it wouldn’t necessarily cause huge problems.

However, if she had to choose between keeping the secret about being a virtual YouTuber and not keeping it, it was undoubtedly the former.

When Haeun was still young, she had thought that she could confidently declare she was going to be a virtual YouTuber in front of her parents, then gradually convince Sung-yoon and Na-yeon, who found the concept unfamiliar.

However,

‘It’s not that being a virtual YouTuber is embarrassing, but… still, revealing it myself feels a bit difficult.’

As the time came for her to actually become a virtual YouTuber, she realized it took much more courage than the young Haeun had imagined to open up to her family about it.

If Sung-yoon and Na-yeon discovered the true identity of Diah, they would surely look for clips of Diah’s broadcasts.

Decisively, Diah’s personality, speech style, and voice tone were entirely different from Haeun’s.

If they caught on, Haeun would likely get embarrassed to the point of not being able to maintain even the most basic role play.

Thus,

[ Still, I can’t completely neglect our guest, so I’ll just cut and prepare some fruit before going out. Will that be okay? ]

Upon Na-yeon immediately promising to leave, having seen through Haeun’s awkwardness, Haeun felt relieved without meaning to.

For just a moment, she thought she heard Na-yeon’s laughter echoing through the phone, but she decided it was just her imagination.

***

“There’s juice in the fridge, so please help yourself.”

“Ah, okay…. Have a good time.”

Only a few seconds passed before the digital door lock at the entrance, which had just closed after sending Na-yeon off, emitted a clear sound.

Ji Hye-min and her acquaintance arrived around 20 minutes later.

However, it was likely the first time Haeun had invited guests other than Da-yeon.

After serving the fruit Na-yeon had prepared in advance and the juice, Haeun found herself unable to say a word.

Tension, which had been gradually rising deep within Haeun’s chest, was an additional factor.

Perhaps it was because of this.

“Um, Haeun, where did you get this microphone?”

“Ah, um…”

She couldn’t even answer such a simple question about the source of the microphone in her soundproof booth right away.

There was also the fact that Ji Hye-min’s expression looked very serious.

Could it be a microphone that shouldn’t be used for virtual YouTuber broadcasting?

Or was it possible that the microphone setup that Daulby had adjusted for Haeun a long time ago was incorrect?

The tension from having a guest like Ji Hye-min in her room made Haeun continually think in the wrong direction.

However, apart from that,

“This is something you can’t buy even with money! It’s even a limited edition!”

From Ji Hye-min’s perspective, who had a hobby in audio equipment, Haeun’s soundproof booth felt like a treasure trove.

The headset and headphones neatly placed in the corner of the clean desk were also of very high quality.

“Hmm, it’s just something an acquaintance gave me…”

“An acquaintance just gives away things this valuable?”

“Well, they said they’re replacing it with better equipment, so they told me to take it since they have no plans to keep the old one.”

‘It’s like a modern version of The Giving Tree.’

The original purpose of setting up Haeun’s virtual YouTuber broadcast had completely faded from her mind.

For a long time, it continued with Ji Hye-min exploring the audio equipment.

Of course, for Ji Hye-min’s acquaintance, this was probably not an ideal scene.

“If you keep this up, I’m telling Dong-jin. Don’t interfere with the setup and come out.”

Finally, they pulled Ji Hye-min out of the pure white soundproof booth.

It was only after that that the setup for Diah began.

After about 20 minutes, once the basic setup for the virtual YouTuber broadcast was completed,

“Haeun, can you come try sitting in this chair?”

After starting the test broadcast for the virtual avatar, they had Haeun sit down.

Right after that, Haeun was asked to say something like a broadcast comment into the microphone.

And until that moment,

She had only expected simple comments like “Hello” or “Nice to meet you.”

She certainly hadn’t anticipated Haeun to deliver a voice that sounded completely different from the calm voice they had been accustomed to hearing.

Therefore,

“Are we going to broadcast on Christmas? Hmm, I wonder~☆”

“?!”

As soon as they heard a line and voice they had never imagined, they doubted their ears.

However, unlike the two of them, Haeun continued to

“Hey, is there anyone with no plans on Christmas who would want to go live…? Probably shouldn’t say that, right?”

Presenting herself as if she were actually conducting a live broadcast.

It seemed that the seasoned vibe emanating from Haeun, who had never experienced a virtual YouTuber broadcast before, was not just their illusion.

***

“It seems like we can’t skip ‘Tunnel’ for the producer performance.”

“Hmm, I’m wondering how Haeun should do her part… It’d be best if she sings it herself.”

“Just pulling a G out of the performance would probably earn a death glare. Guess we have to cover it with an MR.”

It was the time when it was confirmed that Daulby would appear on the famous hip-hop survival program [SIT ON THE MONEY].

While putting together plans for the producer performance to adorn the early stages of the program, Lee Geon-yeol and Lee Jun also discussed Haeun.

However, no matter how much they thought about it, it didn’t seem likely that Haeun, who had gone so far as to use a pseudonym to hide her identity, would stand on the same stage as them.

Even at this moment, the joint stage plan between [Pinocchio] and Daulby, which was still receiving immense attention, ultimately fell through.

“I hope someday I get to perform with Haeun too.”

“I think we’ll retire before that happens.”

“…Who’s to say that?”

Well, either way, they were still coming into the studio to practice to sing with Haeun’s other voice even after finishing all the featuring recordings.

So, for now, they decided to focus on keeping the promises they had made to Haeun in the past.

In the end, Haeun’s voice was truly recognized by countless people.

Thus, rather than forcing Haeun to be persuaded, they decided to wait for the day when they would share the stage with her.

None of them knew, however, that it would only be two months until that day arrived.

They were also completely unaware of the impact that [Pinocchio] would have once its identity was revealed.

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