Chapter 211

Seoyeon had watched various genres in her previous life without discriminating.

To stimulate her own emotions.

To understand what emotion was.

Any work, any genre, any medium—she didn’t know which would help her understand emotions.

Among them, the work mentioned by Yeo-hee was one that had briefly passed through her mind, but had mostly been forgotten because it was a piece Seoyeon herself deemed “unwatchable.”

“Such an interesting web novel got adapted into a drama, and I was so looking forward to it…”

This comment by her mother wasn’t directed toward Seoyeon, who neither understood the fun nor the emotions tied to the original work at the time.

Seoyeon lacked something that could resonate with such talk from the beginning.

She could only pretend to empathize.

Of course, Seoyeon’s mother also knew this and so they never had such conversations. Besides, Seoyeon’s mother wasn’t someone who enjoyed watching TV or movies. She was always busy and had to work to raise her child alone.

The only thing she had time for were light web novels. And when her favorite web novel’s adaptation failed, it was quite a shock, as evidenced by her confiding in a friend during a visit.

“First, the heroine’s character changed, didn’t it?”

“The acting is all over the place, and the adaptation is a mess.”

“And considering this was supposed to be a medical drama, the medical aspects were hardly emphasized.”

While this beginning might be new to traditional dramas, it was the story of a legendary American surgeon, Neil Russell, who happened to attend a hospital in Korea for a conference, only to lose consciousness after a van accident in transit.

When he awoke, Neil Russell realized his consciousness had entered the body of a young resident doctor who had been riding in the same van.

– Where am I? What happened to me?

Neil Russell watched the news and discovered his original body was in a coma, further deepening his confusion.

– Was this an accident? Or…

The incident felt strange in multiple ways, and as he pondered it, Neil Russell realized he wasn’t the only consciousness in this body.

The other consciousness belonged to the young resident doctor, Choi Yeon-woo, that he had taken over.

The male body that Neil Russell now occupied still retained its original consciousness.

A peculiar coexistence where two people shared one body began, and Choi Yeon-woo, unable to rest long, returned to his hospital job.

Once there, Neil Russell was surprised by the peculiar treatment Choi Yeon-woo received at the hospital.

Inside, Neil Russell saw Choi Yeon-woo as diligent and highly knowledgeable in medicine. A young man with exceptionally skilled hands, which was a rare talent in a surgeon. In fact, in Neil Russell’s worldwide expertise, Choi Yeon-woo’s hands were among the finest.

Yet, despite all these, Choi Yeon-woo was being ignored and bullied at the hospital.

– I will help you.

However, Neil Russell was a legendary surgeon. Using his vast knowledge and skill, Choi Yeon-woo gradually grew as a doctor, achieving great success.

This was the story of the popular web novel “Change Doctor.”

“The problem lies in the adaptation.”

Even originally, it was an accessible work focused on medicine. The main appeal of the story revolved around Neil Russell using his medical knowledge to solve various cases while occupying the body of Choi Yeon-woo, the overlooked resident.

But then romance was deeply woven into the story, distorting its substance. What had originally been a childhood friend nurse heroine was changed to a female doctor in the hospital in the adaptation.

“Why was the childhood friend element introduced?”

This question did cross Seoyeon’s mind, but it wasn’t really important.

“The acting by the actress playing the heroine was apparently catastrophic.”

To be honest, Seoyeon didn’t particularly care about it at the time. She just felt that the original work had been ruined.

She didn’t truly understand the feelings of her mother or what the author might have felt seeing their original work damaged.

“…So, you’re saying the author of that web novel is a friend of my dad?”

“Eh? Oh, uh, yeah?”

Yeo-hee hesitated at Seoyeon’s unexpectedly heavy reaction.

Well, thinking about it, it was a pretty normal statement, wasn’t it?

If Sua had told her what kind of relationship they had in high school, it would have been akin to chaos breaking loose.

‘Could it be… does she know my feelings?’

A dry lump formed in her throat.

No, it wasn’t like she had done anything or intended to do anything, so why was this so unsettling? Surely one was allowed to harbor feelings, right?

“Most likely filming will start next year, specifically in the latter half. Looking at the timeline…”

After Jo Bang-woo director’s *Seoul Escape*.

It was at least a year away.

So, it wasn’t something to think about immediately.

‘…Is this fixation another leftover from my past life?’

Thinking this, Seoyeon shook her head.

Hey, maybe it was okay to be a little concerned. After all, it was about the friends of her parents.

It wasn’t something she could simply ignore either.

‘Not like I’m planning to do anything immediately anyway.’

Besides, she didn’t have any clear plans in the moment either.

‘But, maybe in a year…’

Things could be different by then.

‘Why isn’t she saying anything?’

Yeo-hee looked at Seoyeon anxiously.

The already cool girl was now sitting in front of her, her crimson eyes glinting, adding to the tense atmosphere.

Coupled with the actor’s aura she exuded, Yeo-hee, who had seen countless celebrities, felt that Seoyeon stood out among the rest.

‘Sua always seemed so normal, though.’

Sure, she was beautiful with a great figure, but the charisma radiating off of her father, Joo Young-bin, felt different from this aura.

“By the way, what exactly are you here for today?”

She had heard a general outline, but today Seoyeon felt different from their previous meetings.

Seoyeon stopped her thoughts and nodded at this remark.

It wasn’t something she needed to think about when there was still a long way until it happened.

“I wanted to hear about something from the past.”

“The past?”

“It’s just I feel awkward asking our parents directly.”

‘Besides’

Their perspectives might not be the most reliable.

“Ah, of course, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Seoyeon needed Yeo-hee’s story. She needed the emotions intertwined with the songs back then.

“But, something about that song made me think.”

The complex emotions that Seoyeon couldn’t quite understand. Yeo-hee had used the song to convey something to someone.

It couldn’t have been to herself, but whatever it was, that song had greatly impacted Seoyeon.

“Would it be alright if I asked?”

Scratching her head in thought, Yeo-hee realized this wasn’t someone casually prying into the past out of curiosity.

There was definitely something Seoyeon needed. A deep seriousness was sensed, not something light.

This had the potential to stop the woman who had almost given everything up.

Something reminiscent of her past stirred those memories.

‘Joo Young-bin, you really owe me.’

Yeo-hee sighed. She had always been weak to him, after all.

And now, she was weak to his daughter as well.

***

“We’ve received a request from Japan.”

Park Hoon, the director of Best Cultural Industries, was slightly taken aback by the sudden news. Of course, he was aware that for some time now, Japanese parties had shown interest in various aspects of the filming of *Gyeongseong Lady*.

However, this latest development was surprising.

“A showcase screening in Japan before the movie’s official release?”

“Yes, they’re particularly hoping Ms. Sooyeon Ju will attend.”

Hwang Tae-sang, the director of the Culture Industry Department, recalled the Japanese side’s words.

“They call her the ‘Butterfly Lady.’”

“Excuse me?”

“It seems she left a very strong impression at the filming site.”

The outfit Seoyeon had worn then must have left a huge impact.

Indeed, this wasn’t restricted to Japan alone. Later, the character of Yuina saw a dramatic increase in butterfly-related elements—costumes and accessories alike infused with butterfly themes.

Thus, it wasn’t unreasonable for the Japanese to refer to her as the ‘Butterfly Lady.’

“That’s not such bad news. It seems Director Baek Min has already given approval?”

“Yes, he views it positively and is eager for this news to appeal to the investors.”

“Hmm…”

The Japanese side was being quite aggressive.

“Could a simultaneous release in Japan and Korea actually be possible?”

If so, it would be an extraordinary case. Especially when you consider this was solely due to a single actor.

It’s hard to believe anyone would accept that reality.

“Even Seoyeon herself probably wouldn’t believe it.”

Park Hoon nodded.

“Let’s at least give it a try—a simultaneous release.”

There’s no harm in being proactive. Especially if it’s something the other side desires.

In a situation where we hold the upper hand, we must leverage it to secure benefits. After all, he was a businessman.

“Maybe we should have targeted the international market from the start.”

He thought.

*Gyeongseong Lady* was clearly a profitable product.

***

Seoul’s Yeonhwa High School.

The school always had a decent reputation, especially in the arts.

However, the reputation wasn’t extraordinary—just decent enough.

If anything, the school boasted of its stylish uniforms.

That was, until recently, when the atmosphere began to shift.

“Didn’t I hear the theater club at Yeonhwa High School is pretty good?”

“Isn’t that where Sooyeon Ju goes?”

“Isn’t Sooyeon Ju part of Sky Garden?”

“Yes.”

The star who rose to fame this year, Sooyeon Ju, was a student at Yeonhwa High. Being only in first year, she would actually attend school with the newer students for two more years.

Plus, due to her friend’s membership in the theater club, rumors floated that she frequently visited the club.

“Is the theater club at Yeonhwa High really that good?”

“Yeah, come to think of it, there’s another actor besides Ju Seoyeon, isn’t there?”

With Jiyeon appearing on some variety shows, Yeonhwa had no choice but to stay in the spotlight.

“And then, didn’t Jo Seohui visit the school quite often?”

“Ha! What do you mean by ‘visited?’”

“Still, someone said Jo Seohui suddenly appeared on a bicycle.”

“Don’t you think that sounds ridiculous?”

Not only was Seoyeon Ju but also Jo Seo-hui, a beloved actress, was reportedly seen frequently. Whether true or not, it was clear that well-known actresses were often spotted around Yeonhwa.

“Speaking of which, wasn’t this the school from *The Past, Remembered*?”

“Right.”

Through Park Jung-woo’s involvement, *The Past, Remembered* became a hot topic. The reunion between Princess Yeonhwa and Seo-il in the film was a huge draw. In fact, certain iconic scenes were still circulating on the internet.

“Isn’t that Sooyeon Ju?”

A group of male students pointed at someone in the distance.

Faraway, she seemed like a picture. Slender figure, jet-black hair contrasting against her fair skin. They said her eyes had hints of red in their brown hue, turning completely red when she acted. Whether true or not,

She appeared to belong to another world, a feeling magnified by the distance between her and the other students.

“But I heard Seoyeon joined the eSports club to play games during lunch.”

“Ugh, you’re exaggerating again.”

“Like you’re the only one she needs to be like.”

“No, it’s true.”

“Enough already.”

Of course, there were rumors tarnishing her image, but they generally fizzled among the current students. Even if true, the rumors never stuck.

‘Late again for gaming. Jiyeon’s going to scold me.’

The reality was, Seoyeon herself wasn’t even aware of the mysterious aura she carried.

“Seoyeon!!”

Seoyeon arrived at the drama club during the end of lunch, responding to Jiyeon’s call. Judging from the reaction of Ms. Song Da-yeon, the drama teacher, Jiyeon likely asked her to come due to Ms. Song’s request.

“Long time no see! It’s good to see you again, right?”

“Yes.”

Song Da-yeon flinched at Seoyeon’s curt response. There was an air about the young actress that made her approach difficult.

“Um, well, it’s like this. We’re planning a small event for the drama club at year’s end.”

“An event for the drama club?”

“Sure thing! And since our club’s getting more recognition lately, we thought it’d be a good chance to promote to new students and maybe put on a small play.”

It wasn’t purely for promotion. The opportunity was to allow students a platform for performing in front of an audience.

Such small experiences could teach a lot.

Jiyeon, who had heard this casually, narrowed her eyes a bit. Although generally fine with her involvement, she was concerned about the feasibility.

‘I won’t have any problems though.’

She herself was good to go. She only had her one project *Gyeongseong Lady* to focus on.

But Seoyeon was different. She was always busy with a packed schedule.

Would she be able to handle work for the drama club as well alongside everything?

With theater, participation at various intervals throughout preparation would be inevitable.

At this thought, Jiyeon sighed, glancing at Seoyeon.

This expression…

‘She seems interested, doesn’t she?’

Even more, there was a familiar mischievous spark in her eye.

And, as Jiyeon anticipated…

‘Drama Club!!’

Seoyeon was quite intrigued by the idea.

Recently, Seoyeon had been slacking on her high school duties, understandably so due to her hectic schedule with movies, dramas, and variety shows. Her absences were frequent, so she had little chance to make friends. Though she had made actor friends who provided some company, there wasn’t much to delve into.

‘After hearing Yeo-hee’s stories…’

From the category of ‘aunt’ to ‘sister’.

Though not intentionally done by Seoyeon, Yeo-hee insisted on being called ‘sister’. She said it made ‘aunt’ sound too old.

Of course, as Seoyeon had received a lot of help from Yeo-hee, she harbored no grudges. She just thought it was a little silly, that’s all.

‘Now, I truly grasp how precious high school years are.’

Again, Yeo-hee didn’t explicitly tell her to focus on high school life. Hearing her stories, though, made Seoyeon feel it would be a shame to just go through life focused solely on work.

Because she could see how much Yeo-hee treasured those memories—even separate from her failed love story.

‘I want to make memories too.’

Though first year was over, there was still second and third year left.

There was still plenty to look forward to, and she was brimming with enthusiasm.

‘…And this makes me nervous.’

Though Jiyeon felt uneasy observing Seoyeon’s heightened enthusiasm, such energy often translated into enormous action and determination.

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