I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 254: Bear Rider Ju Seoyeon (1)

The quiet peace of Ju Seoyeon's fan café was interrupted early in the morning when a new post appeared.

Isn’t the variety show Seoyeon filmed in Japan airing today?

It was something like that.

Seoyeon's fan café had been relatively quiet recently.

With most of her movies and dramas wrapped up, the only thing to talk about was news about her next project.

VS debates would occasionally pop up, but thanks to Seoyeon’s meticulous image management, even those had subsided significantly.

Of course, this wasn’t because there was nothing left to argue about. Fans had started to recognize the tearful efforts she was making to manage her image.

Did she go to Japan again? Why?Isn’t it from when she went for the Kyungsung Lady shoot?Didn’t she come back earlier?They said she filmed it in advance because of her busy schedule.Yeah, Seoyeon is pretty busy these days.

The Japanese variety show Seoyeon had appeared on previously was a standard interview show, so it hadn’t drawn much attention.

Ironically, the hidden camera variety show she’d appeared on before that had been much hotter.

Isn’t she going to crawl around pretending to be a ghost again?Doing the same thing twice wouldn’t be fun.True.I heard it’s something like camping in the woods?Jo Sehee posted something on Instagram.

Jo Sehee had uploaded photos taken before the shoot.

The exact location wasn’t marked, but it gave off a forest vibe.

So it’s just a normal camping show?That’s not bad, I guess?Are they really close? People keep saying they are.Honestly, it might be kind of fun.I’m not into those calm, laid-back shows... Do Japanese variety shows even do that kind of thing?

The reactions were split about fifty-fifty.

Half the fans were excited at the prospect of seeing a slice of Seoyeon’s daily life.

The other half thought such laid-back shows were boring.

Although the positive responses slightly outnumbered the negative ones, most people didn’t place much significance on the location.

At least, not until they found out where the forest actually was.

***

A week had passed since the auditions for Seoul Escape.

Around that time, the results were sent to Seoyeon’s agency.

[Seoyeon! They just called to say you got the lead role in Seoul Escape!]

Park Eunha’s excited voice came through the phone.

Truthfully, Eunha had had some reservations about Seoul Escape.

It was a movie directed by someone whose recent projects had all flopped.

Given Seoyeon’s current upward momentum, it felt like a questionable choice.

Among the scripts sent to Seoyeon, there were several from far more reputable directors.

But Seoyeon had insisted she wanted this film.

With Park Jungwoo also attached to the project, Eunha felt somewhat reassured.

“Really?”

[Yeah, it’s a relief.]

“Honestly, I was a bit worried.”

Seoyeon let out a small sigh of relief. She genuinely enjoyed acting.

She had expected to perform more scenes during the auditions but hadn’t anticipated that everything would hinge on just one.

Winning over Hwang Minhwa in a single scene was no easy feat.

Even if Seoyeon’s acting had been excellent, Minhwa’s reputation and experience couldn’t be ignored.

Minhwa’s career was something Seoyeon, no matter how remarkable her achievements this year, couldn’t match.

Even if director Jo Bangwoo had chosen Seoyeon, it was clear that the investors wouldn’t have wanted to lose someone like Minhwa.

[It sounds like Director Jo pushed for you really hard.]

“...Is that so?”

[Yeah, that’s what Jungwoo said.]

Park Jungwoo.

Hearing that name, Seoyeon frowned.

She couldn’t forget the way Jungwoo had looked at her during the climbing segment of the audition.

“He’s been acting a bit too familiar lately.”

It didn’t feel like he saw her as a fellow actress.

More like he treated her as an equal, almost like a peer.

Not that it was necessarily a bad thing.

It made things easier when they played games together.

“...The issue is, he’s not the only one.”

Lee Jiyeon was the same.

Most people who had known Seoyeon for a long time ended up acting similarly to Jungwoo or Jiyeon.

“Jo Sehee isn’t like that, though.”

In that sense, Sehee’s attitude toward Seoyeon had been improving recently.

Of course, Seoyeon didn’t mention it.

If she did, Sehee’s ego would surely inflate.

“Anyway.”

Seoyeon thought to herself.

She needed to work on improving not just the audience’s perception of her but also the opinions of the people around her.

[Oh, and.]

“Yes? Is there more news?”

[Don’t forget the ad airing the week after next.]

“Ad?”

[The one you shot for Viol.]

“Oh, right. I remember now.”

Apparently, the Viol ad she filmed was going to be displayed at department stores as a preview.

The full video would be released in a month or two, but the photos would be shown first.

[Word is, the headquarters loved it. If things go well... you might get some good news.]

“That would be nice.”

Seoyeon didn’t think much of it.

Such statements often felt like empty compliments.

She didn’t believe Viol had any particular reason to choose her.

Viol’s chosen models weren’t picked solely for the Korean market.

They were often selected to target the broader Asian market, especially Southeast Asia.

That’s why Jungwoo, who had starred in a blockbuster hit in Southeast Asia, had been chosen.

“And it’s about time Korean cultural industries got some recognition.”

The real game-changer, Child Game, hadn’t been released yet.

It was likely fully filmed and awaiting release, maybe next year or the year after.

Seoyeon had secretly wanted to appear in that OTT drama...

But it wasn’t an easy project to join.

Too many variables, and most of the cast had already been finalized.

Forcing her way in was impossible.

[Oh, and GH Group reached out, but... let’s discuss that tomorrow.]

“Alright.”

Seoyeon ended the call with Eunha and returned to her classroom.

She could feel the glances of her classmates as she sat down.

With no one to talk to, she quietly opened her textbook and pretended to read.

“With Jiyeon gone, there’s no one to talk to.”

The class president was an option, but he was too popular for her to casually strike up a conversation.

With her first year of high school nearly over, Seoyeon sighed at the state of her limited social circle.

“It’s all because I started off on the wrong foot.”

She couldn’t blame her busy schedule.

After all, Sehee, who was busier than her, had plenty of ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) friends and connections.

It was purely a matter of effort.

“Seoyeon studies even during breaks?”

“But her grades aren’t that great, right?”

“Hey, quiet.”

“She was so smart in Sky Garden, wasn’t she? She’s just busy.”

“Maybe.”

While Seoyeon’s actual grades weren’t known, it wasn’t hard to guess her rank based on the gaps in the shared scores.

Thanks to her role in Sky Garden, Seoyeon had acquired a reputation as a “smart but busy” student.

“Did someone say there’s going to be a year-end party?”

“Who’s going to tell her?”

“You do it!”

“I... I freeze up when I try.”

“Same.”

Even as time passed, Seoyeon’s appearance remained dazzlingly striking.

In fact, she seemed to shine even brighter now than at the start of the school year.

Online, she might be surrounded by strange memes, but in school, it was a completely different story.

In the realm of variety shows, Ju Seoyeon’s image was one of playful eccentricity.

But in reality, at school, Seoyeon occupied the highest rung of the social ladder—a girl so untouchable that most couldn’t even meet her gaze.

An actress.

Not to mention her stunning beauty.

There was even a time when a group of bullies tried to pick on her, only to be cowed by a single glare. Since then, they didn’t dare so much as make eye contact with her.

Her aura was entirely different.

Getting close to her left people so overwhelmed that they would instinctively fall silent.

It wasn’t just about being pretty—there was something overpowering about her presence.

As such, anyone who dared to break through that aura had to be unusually bold.

“Dahyun, it’s time. You need to say something.”

“Huh? Oh, right.”

Of course, Gil Dahyun was the only girl in the class who could speak to Seoyeon as if it were no big deal.

But this situation isn’t good at all, Dahyun thought as she watched Seoyeon pretend to read her textbook.

She knew Seoyeon was kind and a genuinely good person.

The other girls in class understood this on some level, too.

From what they had seen and heard, Seoyeon came across as a somewhat quirky high school girl.

Since the school festival, there had been more attempts to talk to her, but her busy schedule meant those interactions had dwindled again.

At this rate, their first year of high school would end on an awkward note.

“Seoyeon.”

Determined, Dahyun approached the girl who was still pretending to read.

“We’re hanging out at Yeongmi’s place today. Wanna come?”

“Huh?”

“I heard that the variety show you’re in airs today. We can watch it together while we hang out!”

Variety show?

Seoyeon’s mind raced.

She racked her brain to figure out who Yeongmi was.

The only Yeongmi she could think of was an athlete who made waves during the Winter Olympics.

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And what was this about a variety show? Did she have one airing around this time?

“Oh, right! The Japanese variety show you filmed! Yeongmi knows how to watch it live!”

“!!”

Seoyeon’s body trembled as she suddenly remembered.

The time she played with a bear in Aokigahara Forest!

For Korean variety shows, she could generally predict how the footage would be edited, but Japanese variety shows? She had no idea!

Sure, the CCTV might not have captured her playing with the bear, but riding it? That definitely happened.

You got way too excited...

In her defense, how could she not get excited at the chance to ride a bear?

It was practically irresistible.

But the problem wasn’t that it happened—it was the prospect of watching it with her friends.

Japanese variety shows might not usually reach Korean audiences, but if they saw it together like this...

“Did you hear? Ju Seoyeon rides bears.”

“I heard she raises one at home.”

“No, she spars with it every morning!”

“For real?”

Imagining the rumors spiraling out of control until she was representing humanity in a mixed martial arts tournament against animals, Seoyeon felt a chill run down her spine.

“Please? Come with us~.”

Faced with a rare plea from a friend, she could only close her eyes and reluctantly agree.

***

“Hello.”

“...”

Yeongmi’s mother rubbed her eyes, staring at the sight before her.

She had been told her daughter would be coming home with some friends from school today.

So, as usual, she prepared snacks and waited leisurely.

Ju Seoyeon?

It was unmistakable.

Ju Seoyeon.

The actress who had dominated both movies and dramas this year.

In particular, Yeongmi’s mother was a devoted fan of Sky Garden.

She had teared up at Ryu Joo’s growth and felt anger at parents who sacrificed their children for academic competition.

“That actress who played Ryu Joo is in my class. Ju Seoyeon.”

“Really?!”

She remembered having this conversation with her daughter once.

She’d even considered asking for an autograph but hesitated because her daughter didn’t seem particularly close to Seoyeon.

But they’re best friends?!

Now, Yeongmi’s mother was convinced her daughter and Seoyeon were inseparable.

Why else would Seoyeon come to their house?

What should I do?

Meanwhile, Shin Yeongmi, standing awkwardly beside Seoyeon and Dahyun, was trembling.

For the record, Gil Dahyun hadn’t brought Seoyeon here on a whim.

I’ve heard Jiyeon talk about this a lot...

Yeongmi was also friends with Lee Jiyeon.

It made sense—they had gone to the same middle school as Seoyeon.

From first to third year, they had been in the same class. And now they were in the same high school class, too.

Of course, Seoyeon didn’t seem to realize this.

During the school festival, Yeongmi had even toured the event with Jiyeon, standing right next to Seoyeon during her ghost costume sprint.

Naturally, Seoyeon didn’t remember her.

So it was only natural that Dahyun had asked Yeongmi for a favor.

“Before the year-end party, let’s get closer to Seoyeon!”

A very class-president-like suggestion.

Of course, the other girls also wanted to befriend Seoyeon.

But it was intimidating.

Seoyeon’s calm gaze shifted to Yeongmi, and it felt colder than usual.

She’s definitely mad!

Clearly upset about being dragged here against her will, Seoyeon’s piercing gaze made Yeongmi look to Dahyun for help.

Dahyun responded with confidence.

“Seoyeon’s just nervous. Be nice to her.”

I’m more nervous!

Was that the face of someone nervous? She looked ready to kill someone with her eyes.

And were her pupils turning red? Terrifying.

“...”

For the record, Seoyeon was indeed nervous, as Dahyun said.

Aside from Dahyun and Jiyeon, this was the second—or rather third—time she had visited a friend’s house, not counting Jo Sehee.

Still, she was nervous.

And her anxiety doubled at the thought of the variety show they were about to watch.

It’ll be fine. It’s just a variety show.

If she could redirect their attention to something else, she’d be safe.

For now, she had informed her mom she’d be home late, hanging out with school friends.

[Is that true?! Thank goodness. I thought Seoyeon only ever talked to Jiyeon at school.]

Her mother’s words stabbed her like a dagger.

Her mother had clearly figured out that Jiyeon, from the next class over, was her only conversational partner.

“Anyway, come in and sit down. The show starts in an hour, right, Yeongmi?”

“Uh, yeah. I think so...”

“Then Seoyeon, sit here. Everyone else, what are you doing? Come on over.”

At Dahyun’s prompting, the other girls shuffled over hesitantly.

It was an awkward scene.

Am I really going to stay like this all day?

None of them dared to strike up a conversation with Seoyeon.

That’s what they all thought.

But less than an hour later—

“Seoyeon, is that... a real bear?”

“...”

In the end, the girls couldn’t resist asking.

Because on the screen, there was Seoyeon, smiling brightly as she rode on the back of a bear.