Chapter 126

The OST production for the drama *Sky Garden* was proceeding extremely smoothly.

This was because the vocal training skills of the “Wizard” were exceptionally accomplished, and Seoyeon had already reached the point where she could sing to a certain degree.

Of course, when compared to professional singers, there was still some room for improvement.

However, contrary to Seoyeon’s self-assessment:

“But the emotion is very deep. This is highly important in a ballad.”

Surprisingly, Han Pyoyeol, the producer in charge of the music, praised her. Listening to her own voice with the music layered on top evoked a rather peculiar feeling.

‘Maybe I’m actually pretty good at singing?’

This thought began creeping into Seoyeon’s mind recently. So, the classmates would say:

“Who’s going to the karaoke place today?”

“Me! Me! Me!!”

As they would enthusiastically call out, she’d subtly approach and cautiously observe the situation.

Ideally, she wanted to go to the karaoke before the fact that she had worked on the OST became public knowledge.

But suggesting it herself wasn’t an option either.

There was no student who would casually invite her along, and besides, it just felt a little off.

‘It feels like I’d be boasting about my singing if I suggested going.’

Actually, her singing would stand out more if she was to casually join a group, rather than directly leading them to the karaoke.

Seoyeon thought about this.

About the scenarios that could unfold if she naturally joined the group to the karaoke place.

“Wow, what a voice!”

“Seoyeon sings really well too.”

“She’s not just great at acting.”

While indulging in such daydreams, she noticed the students’ laughter slowly dying down.

“Um… students should study, right?”

“Should we go to the study cafe today?”

And with that, the students cautiously avoided her gaze and quietly dispersed. Naturally, Seoyeon was left bewildered.

What did she do that made them leave?

However, the reason was unexpectedly simple.

Apart from her image as an actress, Seoyeon also carried a distinct image as a classmate. Specifically:

Her neatly kept black hair.

Her somewhat intellectual expression.

Her striking beauty, all combined to give an impression that she would likely excel academically.

Thus, the students instinctively flinched under Seoyeon’s gaze, which seemed to criticize them for prioritizing fun over studying.

“Ugh…”

Seoyeon remained alone, quietly gathering her bag.

“I really want to go to a coin karaoke…”

This was a desire even Jiyeon couldn’t fulfill. Jiyeon wasn’t the type to enthusiastically clap, so the joy was there but it wasn’t completely satisfying.

“Besides, going with other entertainers might be…”

They had already heard too many real singers to be truly impressed.

“Seohui Jo?”

That name briefly came to mind, but she shook her head. Seoyeon’s lips curled into a sulk.

“Traitor.”

While Seoyeon appreciated Seohui Jo’s actions – even liked them greatly – she was slightly hurt by it nonetheless. She didn’t imagine being betrayed like that. The shock from that incident was still vivid.

“Hmph.”

Anyway, Seoyeon and Seohui Jo would meet again next week during the filming of *Hyper Action Star*. It wasn’t worth thinking too much about now. If they discussed it, then it could be then. And similarly to Jiyeen, this wasn’t ideal either.

Moreover, the issue of unknown skill.

“What if she’s better than me?”

Anyway, Seohui Jo was an all-around perfect superhuman. If she suddenly sang well, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.

“There’s nothing to be done about it.”

Seoyeon decided to give up on the coin karaoke for today and headed to KMB instead. After all, there were supposed to be some discussions related to *Sky Garden* today.

***

KMB Broadcasting Company.

Among the three major broadcasting stations recently, MDC had been leading unopposed.

Since a few years ago, KMB hadn’t produced many hit dramas, which also led to the replacement of the Drama Department Director.

Then, immediately after the new director came on board, *Dream Future* became a hit.

In these days, achieving ratings over 20% was very encouraging.

What’s more, *Dream Future* received a direct remake proposal from a Japanese broadcasting station, despite not being fully released overseas yet. This gave good hopes for its performance, especially in Japan.

“Seoyeon’s style is exactly what they like.”

“Yes? Don’t Japanese prefer a cute image over models generally?”

“Surprisingly, Seoyeon isn’t very tall. She seems tall due to her good proportions.”

Seoyeon, who appears as if she is over 170 centimeters tall, is actually only around 165cm.

For a woman, she’s not small but not exceptionally tall either.

“Plus, her hairstyle fits perfectly. Japanese friends can’t stay away from long black hair.”

“…Really?”

Such was the conversation between Kim Pil-seok, the director of *Dream Future*, and Kim Il-soo, who would take charge of *Sky Garden*.

The two had been classmates since university and had a long-standing friendship. Kim Pil-seok even came today to assist Kim Il-soo.

Considering recent youth dramas, *Dream Future* had been the only one, and it was KMB’s first hit drama in a while, so discussions were taking place for various references.

“But, when you succeed at a young age… There’s a somewhat difficult aspect to it, isn’t there?”

“Yes, yes. But Director Kim Il-soo, I heard you’ve already met Seoyeon.”

“Yes, I did. But meeting her once doesn’t give you the full picture.”

Kim Il-soo had already met Seoyeon. She gave him an impression of being “a tidy overachiever.”

He didn’t doubt her acting since he’d already seen her perform many times, but he was a bit concerned about her personal life. She might seem like the type not to cause trouble at school, but you can never be sure.

There were many entertainers who looked pure but caused incidents.

“Plus, the fact that she’s never experienced failure…”

Even if she behaved well towards others, you can’t guarantee her behavior towards strangers. There were many two-faced entertainers, and many who caused problems in hidden places. Especially someone like Seoyeon, who hadn’t known failure, as a person, was likely to encounter such issues.

“Ah, Seoyeon. You’ve come?”

At that moment, Seoyeon appeared and bowed slightly as she entered the conference room, still in her school uniform as she came straight from school.

Her uniform suited the image of the upcoming *Sky Garden* well.

“Let’s refer to the school uniform from Yeonhwa High School. It would be most appropriate.”

Director Kim Il-soo thought, nodding his head. Yeonhwa High School, known for its excellence in art and sports, had a particularly beautiful uniform.

“And now that I think about it, didn’t Seoyeon wear her school uniform on *Hyper Action Star* as well?”

He had rarely seen her in any other outfit besides the uniform. What did she wear outside of filming?

“Your school studies must be taxing, and I apologize for calling you here.”

It was Director Kim Il-soo who began the conversation first. There wasn’t a specifically planned meeting today.

This was merely a session where the director and writer would meet to brief the actor before finalizing the concept.

“Ah, Writer Min Se-hee is here as well.”

Then Min Se-hee entered the conference room. The conceptual meeting for *Sky Garden* began.

“As I had previously mentioned to you, *Sky Garden* is a drama that somewhat reflects social satire.”

Min Se-hee looked at Seoyeon and explained. The concept had already been discussed multiple times with others, exchanging various opinions.

Since Seoyeon was the sole pre-casted actor and the leading character, this session was arranged to get her input.

For referencing the scripts to be written moving forward.

“The background setting, Taeyang High School, is a prestigious college preparatory high school in Korea.”

And it’s a wealthy school attended by children from well-known families.

*Sky Garden* tells stories set in such a high school.

“Tutoring, and parents who try to get their children into top-tier universities.”

Writer Min Se-hee looked at Seoyeon after explaining.

“Seoyeon, the role you will play is that of an ordinary middle-class… actually, from a slightly poorer family, girl who happens to end up in such a prestigious school.”

An irregular who accidentally finds herself in this elite circle.

Of course, she wasn’t admitted to Taeyang High School without reason.

She applied after hearing about Seoul’s renowned college preparatory school and managed to get in properly, as an outstanding student.

This was the character ‘Yeon So-ha’ that Seoyeon was to portray.

“She stands out among students who have been on the fast track their entire lives, from Taeyang Elementary School.”

“However, Yeon So-ha, who goes at her own pace, doesn’t care about it at all. Consequently, she’s lonely at school.”

This fit perfectly with Seoyeon’s image, so she nodded.

She felt confident about portraying loneliness at school.

“Moreover… the crucial element is having ‘the picture-perfect straight-A student’ image.”

Min Se-hee looked at Seoyeon. Her neat posture and appearance.

A girl who always wore her school uniform.

Min Se-hee slowly nodded.

“Seoyeon, you’re good at studying, right?”

“Excuse me?”

No, academic performance here?

“Ah, sorry. Not necessarily. Your image fits perfectly! I apologize for the unnecessary inquiry.”

Min Se-hee hadn’t noticed Seoyeon’s shaken pupils, nor did the other directors.

“Seoyeon’s image certainly matches that.”

“So, Seoyeon, what’s school like for you?”

At the slightly teasing question, Seoyeon laughed awkwardly.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“Of course. Acting as an overachiever is nothing to worry about.”

With their reactions, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Seoyeon’s forehead.

The image of an overachiever who excels in studies.

Not that she was necessarily an overachiever, but being good at studies wasn’t the only criterion. Extracurriculars like arts and sports mattered too, and Seoyeon herself was proof of that.

Her mother Sua supported her, and her father Joo Young-bin was similar, albeit with a slightly different vibe.

“Acting as an overachiever…”

It was roughly asking her to portray intellect.

Seoyeon, who hadn’t thought much about it until now, was beginning to feel concerned. Her acting was based on emotional performance, connecting with her roles on a personal level.

Overachievers, however, always felt distant.

Seoyeon fell into deep thought, realizing she might need some help here.

***

In Seoul, Ho Yeon’s headquarters.

Considering Ho Yeon was a modest management company somewhere in the third-tier group, it was an excessively impressive building. Rumors suggested that the representative was wealthy, and the building fit that description perfectly.

And yet, their one successful idol group was “Summer Girls,” where Cha Na-hee practically carried the group by herself.

Thus, Cha Na-hee was always busy.

Even the OST production for *Sky Garden* was affected by this. As many as three tracks were to be performed by Summer Girls.

“Are they practicing okay?”

She worried about the other members of the group. The ones who barely bothered to practice but had the audacity to act confident.

Though Cha Na-hee tried to help, their progress was slow because they wouldn’t listen to her. She could have sung them herself if the songs weren’t supposed to be group performances, designed as cheerful tunes.

“Isn’t it dangerous if the vocal trainers all quit?”

“…Not good.”

Cha Na-hee sighed to her close friend and popular idol, Ye-na, during a variety show recording, feeling unable to focus.

“And it’s questionable whether they’ll even listen to me, let alone the teaching…”

These songs were challenging enough that practice was necessary. But when Na-hee spoke, they didn’t pay attention at all, leading to a perplexing situation.

“Seoyeon’s supposed to help…”

Yesterday, a sudden call had come from her recently acquainted younger friend. Seoyeon, upon hearing Cha Na-hee’s story, had readily offered help. But teaching singing was beyond what an actress like her could manage, and it was frankly an improbable idea.

And there was no way Na-hee’s unruly groupmates could be properly handled by someone as gentle as Seoyeon.

“What am I going to do with this?”

Cha Na-hee let out another sigh, wishing someone would appear to help train those unruly individuals.

Meanwhile,

“What the heck is this?”

Rabin was deep in contemplation looking intensely at the large screen. The unsettling girl with black hair and crimson eyes scrutinizing her from the side made her almost lose her patience.

Everyone sat neatly in their chairs, their eyes glued to the screen where their gaze met someone.

“What’s this?”

On the screen was a strange character.

Seoyeon had introduced her as some kind of… Wizard, Erchebet, wasn’t it?

She seemed like a comic character, yet it was claimed that there was someone inside the suit.

“Today we have a special vocal trainer with us.”

As Seoyeon spoke confidently, observing the oddly pale faces, no one responded.

Not the Summer Girls nor the bewildered “Wizard Erchebet,”

That is, Han Da-young.

“Why did it come to this?”

That question continually reverberated in her mind.

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