“Are you going to Japan again?”
Seoyeon, who had been hastily stuffing her luggage into a suitcase, received a worried look from Sua.
What kind of girl packs her luggage so manly?
“Did you pack your cosmetics?”
“That’s fine, there are people who’ll take care of it even without me.”
“Did you pack your underwear?”
“…”
No, even though she wasn’t a kid anymore.
Of course, she would naturally take care of the basics.
As Seoyeon subtly averted her gaze, Sua flinched.
“But Seoyeon, when you go traveling, you tend to be somewhat clumsy. For example, last time you forgot your… .”
“Excuse me.”
What exactly was she going on about?
Eventually, muttering to herself, Seoyeon started repacking her bags from the start.
‘Well, it’s not like being thorough would be bad.’
It did feel a bit excessive to leave everything to manager Park Eun-ha.
Then, she suddenly grabbed the minefield outfit she had bought in Japan before.
She paused for a moment.
‘Guess I won’t have much occasion to wear this kind of thing in Korea.’
Ah, so this was why people wore fancy outfits when they went to Japan?
This thought crossed Seoyeon’s mind.
But, this trip wasn’t personal, so Seoyeon carefully hung the outfit back in the closet.
Maybe I’ll try it out the next time I go for leisure.
“By the way, around the time you return from Japan, it’ll be the final exams. Has our daughter been studying?”
“Of course.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Seoyeon had been diligently studying in her spare moments.
Though she didn’t do it on her own.
“Isn’t it ridiculous that Joo Yoo-ju, the leading actress of ‘Sky Garden’, has such terrible grades?”
主张的조서희和李智贤主张着，因此在拍摄休息时间总是三人一起学习。
‘All I want to do is play games.’
Even though Seoyeon often thought this way, she couldn’t refuse their help.
Thanks to that, unusually for Seoyeon, she’d mostly cleared the exam material.
Of course, this didn’t mean she’d match Jiyeon’s good grades, but at the very least, it’d be her best so far.
She had a vague sense of expectation.
Anyway, having packed all her luggage, Seoyeon now had nothing to do but wait for filming day.
Among the three crucial characters of [Gyeongseong Yeong-nyeo], Seoyeon’s screen time was relatively minimal.
Of course, she was playing the villain, and director Baek Min had accommodated Seoyeon by consolidating her shootings, so it was only natural she had extra time.
‘What about meetings with Eclat Etoile or Aids?’
These two companies had been in persistent contact after filming [Sky Garden].
However, Eclat Etoile seemed a bit off with the youthful concept of [Sky Garden].
Perhaps they thought it was too soon to shoot adult advertisements given Seoyeon’s recent teen-focused projects.
On the other hand, Aids approached Seoyeon the moment they learned she was starring in [Gyeongseong Yeong-nyeo].
“Didn’t we see your appearance on that Japanese variety show? It was quite the sensation in Japan! We’ve been targeting the overseas market recently, and Japan is our first market. In fact, we’ve already manufactured the products but haven’t been able to find the right advertisement.”
Of course, they sold various products online and in shopping malls.
Yet, there was no TV advertisement.
Then, with Seoyeon making waves in Japan and starring in [Gyeongseong Yeong-nyeo], it was understandable that they contacted her immediately.
Plus, they offered astronomical numbers, making Seoyeon almost nod in agreement.
‘It’s not about the money though.’
Seoyeon hardly needed money at the moment.
How hard had she worked this year?
Even without taking commercial films, she had enough money in her account.
Of course, when Young-bin saw her account, greed sparkled in his eyes.
He wouldn’t dare touch it with Seua and her mother watching closely, but he subtly made demands.
“Dad wants to buy a game he’s been eyeing…”
“These days UMPCs are trendy, apparently. You know dad works in a game company. We need to keep up with the times…”
Though he didn’t ask for anything extraordinary.
He seemed scared to get hit and heavily armored himself.
Of course, Seua dragged him away before he could get hit.
Even Seoyeon wouldn’t hit her parents.
It was unclear what they thought of her.
Sometimes it was hard to tell if they were joking or serious.
“By the way.”
Recalling her busy activities, Seoyeon realized she hadn’t visited KMB Broadcasting Company in a while.
“Recently, Drama Department 2 was established.”
After finishing [Sky Garden] and [Grand Game], KMB launched Drama Department 2.
Of course, Director Baek Tae-soo became its director.
Though [Sky Garden] was a flop, [Grand Game] was a decent hit.
“Ah.”
Seohui had mentioned that since her drama hit, she should pay a visit and say hello.
Since it might become awkward with her Japanese visit, it felt like now was the time.
“Maybe I should pop in for a little?”
That’s all she thought.
“Just then.”
As Seoyeon approached KMB Broadcasting Company, she realized something.
“Can you just visit a broadcasting station?”
Thinking about it, this was her first time visiting without specific business.
Additionally, it was usually Manager Park Eun-ha who arranged the schedule in advance, so this was the first time Seoyeon came alone.
Of course, she knew a few producers, but even Seoyeon wasn’t in a position to order them around.
After all, producers wield considerable power in broadcasting companies.
They essentially controlled entertainers.
“Ugh.”
Should she ask Manager Park Eun-ha for help now?
While thinking that, she reached the entrance of the broadcasting station.
A noticeable person was there.
A girl in a white dress.
Her hair, probably blonde, draped elegantly over her shoulders.
She appeared to be slightly shorter than Seoyeon.
“…Foreigner?”
Tourist?
At first, Seoyeon thought so.
But the way the girl casually looked at the station was far from ordinary.
She had an unmistakable star quality.
Seoyeon could feel her presence even from her back.
“Hmm?”
As if sensing Seoyeon’s gaze, the girl turned around.
And then,
“Ah, I found you.”
She suddenly pointed at Seoyeon with that.
Seoyeon couldn’t understand what she said.
“English? Well, since she’s foreign, it makes sense she’d speak English.”
Even without understanding the language, Seoyeon could guess she was referring to her.
She looked like she found someone she was looking for.
Wait, if so…
“How does she know it’s me?”
Since [Sky Garden], Seoyeon had meticulously dressed when going out.
She wore a cap and a black mask.
This way, most people wouldn’t recognize her.
“It must be a case of mistaken identity.”
As Seoyeon thought this and tried to wave her hand to indicate ‘not me,’,
The girl suddenly walked right up to Seoyeon’s face.
“Ahaha, I was right. Lucky me, huh? I just came here to the broadcasting station wondering how to get inside~”
“Wait, what?”
We’re still a little before the finals, yet it felt like an English listening test.
Seoyeon understood almost nothing.
She just thought how pretty this girl was.
“Come to think of it, I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere.”
Not a Korean celebrity.
If she was, Seoyeon would’ve recognized her.
Then overseas?
But would someone overseas know Seoyeon?
She hardly ever performed abroad.
At most, Japan.
None of the movies or dramas Seoyeon starred in had made it overseas.
Meaning this foreign girl couldn’t know her works.
“Hm?”
Seoyeon blankly stared at her.
The girl noticed this and grinned strangely.
“Hi? So, you are Joo Seoyeon, right? Your eyes look redder in videos. Contact lenses, maybe? You have an interesting taste.”
The mocking tone was unmistakable.
Of course, Seoyeon didn’t understand it.
The girl nodded as if she’d guessed this.
“You don’t understand English?”
“Uh?”
“Why? Do you not speak Korean?”
The girl took a step closer.
They were now almost within breath distance.
Seoyeon’s face could be seen reflected in the girl’s pupils.
“Not particularly special. Besides Korean, I know about four more languages.”
Her Korean was flawless and sounded almost unreal.
Honestly, her presence was too distinct to be ordinary.
But, that’s beside the point.
Curiously, Seoyeon tilted her head.
“Who are you?”
“…Huh?”
The girl froze, wide-eyed, as if she couldn’t believe Seoyeon didn’t recognize her.
“Me? You don’t know?”
Of course, she didn’t.
The girl chuckled awkwardly at Seoyeon’s expression.
“My goodness, you’re not joking? I’m shocked. Seriously, you are completely indifferent to the world outside Korea?”
Though it seemed casual, there was a peculiar air of arrogance.
But, oddly fitting with her lively tone.
“Well.”
The girl raised both hands and took a couple steps back from Seoyeon.
“I impulsively flew to Korea.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I was curious about who you are. Alone.”
This resonated with Seoyeon, who was also curious about the girl’s identity.
Where exactly did she come from?
“But I sort of ended up here without planning anything, so I’m in a bit of an awkward situation.”
“Eh?”
“I mean, I’m lost.”
“…?”
“You asked me who I am, right? I’m lost, holding only my passport.”
Despite hearing she wasn’t recognized, the girl’s demeanor was peculiar.
It felt like she was observing Seoyeon’s reaction.
A slightly audacious attitude.
A hint of condescension underlying her words.
“Would you mind helping me a bit if it’s okay?”
“Okay.”
Seoyeon nodded since she didn’t have anything better to do.
Though she thought about entering KMB, she was now truly curious about the girl’s identity.
But first,
“I have one question. Is it alright if I ask?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
She was grinning as if ready to tell who she was immediately.
Probably expecting Seoyeon to ask who she was.
While that was indeed one of Seoyeon’s curiosities, there was something else more pressing at the moment.
“Why do you speak informally?”
“…”
Of course, the girl couldn’t answer that.
“Did Ms. Stella really go to Korea?”
Just then, PD Amaya Hiroki, who had come to interview the legendary fairy ‘Stella’ in Japan, couldn’t believe his ears.
It was understandable.
Just yesterday, the actress who strolled around the Japanese broadcasting station at will had vanished completely.
No one in the entire YHJ broadcasting station dared to stop her from treating the place like her own home.
Unruly.
Surely that was the case, but Stella managed to pull it off.
A person who strangely treaded the line between rudeness and politeness.
Had she been merely a star from one country, perhaps someone in the Japanese broadcasting station might have said something.
But Stella wasn’t just any big star.
She was someone without rivals in her age group and even arguably one of the top five among those ten years older.
“And after all, she’s the one-of-a-kind actor who won the leading role award at the Berlin International Film Festival at the age of eight.”
The youngest-ever winner in the history of the Berlin International Film Festival.
What’s more, it was her debut work.
She hasn’t won an Academy Award yet, but perhaps that’s due to her mixed heritage. Still, it’s only a matter of time.
Stella is such an actor.
That’s why she’s called the ‘Fairy of the Century’.
An actress who hasn’t experienced a single failure from her debut year until now.
That’s why her unruly behavior has been tolerated until now.
Just to request an interview once.
But she’s gone to Korea without a word?
“So you’re saying, you also couldn’t do anything about it?”
The way Asher Baldwin shrugged while saying this made PD Amaya Hiroki stumble with some English.
“Excuse me? Are you telling me you sent your daughter alone to Korea?”
“When I woke up, she was already gone. Stella is a girl who acts on her feelings, so there’s nothing I can do.”
“But what if an accident happens?”
“Japan may be like that, but Korea is not a particularly dangerous country.”
That is true to some extent.
Korea’s public safety is good when viewed globally.
But still, there’s always ‘what if’.
Of course, once an incident occurs, there’s nothing they can say.
“Haah, so why did she go to Korea?”
“Hmm… I don’t know exactly, but I have an idea.”
An idea?
As PD Amaya Hiroki frowned at Stella’s odd words,
“Perhaps, she went to meet that actor Joo Seoyeon.”
“Eh?”
PD Amaya Hiroki couldn’t help being shocked.
Who would’ve expected Joo Seoyeon’s name to come up here?
Meanwhile,
“Honorifics.”
“Yeah, honorifics don’t really exist in English.”
“I know they do.”
“Ah? You do? I don’t care though. I’ll never do it.”
Staring at Stella sticking out her tongue with a smirk, Seoyeon somewhat understood how Jo Seohui felt.
It was quite the opposite situation, though.
