I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 252: Confrontation (1)

“What sin did I commit in my past life?”

Kim Siyu, the actress caught between Hwang Minhwa and Ju Seoyeon, wore a tearful expression.

Her number was 35.

She was sandwiched perfectly between Hwang Minhwa, number 34, and Ju Seoyeon, number 36.

How could this happen?

She was already treated like an afterthought in her agency.

Even for this audition, she had come mostly to gain experience and maybe add a single line to her nonexistent career portfolio.

“Why are actresses of this caliber even here for Jo Bangwoo’s movie?”

Honestly, it was baffling.

Neither her agency nor she herself had high hopes for this movie.

It was just a practice run.

If she managed to land the role, that would be great.

If not, so what?

Right now, her priority was simply to get her face on the screen, no matter what the movie was.

At the very least, appearing in it meant getting paid.

That was about the extent of her expectations.

However, the actresses in front of her gave off a completely different vibe.

Hwang Minhwa had an overwhelming presence.

Someone had once described her as a walking luxury brand.

That description fit her perfectly.

Even when she stood still, she radiated elegance.

Standing face-to-face with her made it hard to breathe under the sheer pressure she exuded.

“And then there’s Ju Seoyeon.”

The actress who had turned the entire industry upside down this year.

A child prodigy who had returned after ten years.

To be honest, seeing her up close felt surreal.

Ju Seoyeon was so beautiful that it felt inappropriate to even categorize herself as a fellow actress.

Unlike Hwang Minhwa, who carried an air of aristocratic elegance, Ju Seoyeon exuded a calm, delicate charm.

And yet, there was something about her that made it impossible to look away.

Maybe it was her ability to draw people in.

It wasn’t just her looks.

Even before seeing her face, people naturally found their gaze pulled toward her.

“And I’m supposed to act between them?”

No wonder Kim Siyu looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Could she even deliver her lines properly?

“Scene S#27.”

The judges sat in a line, and Jo Bangwoo spoke in a low voice.

Jo Bangwoo, once known for his bold and lively demeanor, now looked gaunt and haggard.

Yet, oddly enough, his eyes still shone.

Why?

“I assume no one brought their scripts, so you’ve all memorized the scene, correct?”

He exchanged a look with actor Park Jungwoo seated beside him.

This scene was one that had to be performed with him.

“S#27 takes place right after the disaster. A mysterious terrorist attack causes a gas leak in a research facility in Gangnam.”

At that moment, the female lead, Shin Seoyoon, and the male lead, Ha Hyunjin, cross paths by chance at a hotel where she’s making a delivery.

Hearing the disaster alarm, they end up trapped inside.

It’s the beginning of the disaster—and the movie.

This scene would highlight the heroine’s decisive actions.

“Hwang Minhwa, you’re up first.”

Number 34, Hwang Minhwa, was called to begin.

She walked forward slowly, stopping in front of Park Jungwoo.

“She’s definitely not ordinary.”

The son of a famous actor—that label had followed Park Jungwoo since childhood.

And so far, he had lived up to it.

To Hwang Minhwa, he was an appealing target.

One day, her goal was to join his agency.

But now wasn’t the time.

Hwang Minhwa took a calm breath.

“E-Everyone, hurry upstairs! Quickly!”

The sophisticated aura she had exuded just moments ago vanished in an instant.

The sudden transformation sent chills down Kim Siyu’s spine as she watched.

This is the acting of a top-tier actress?

Wasn’t this a completely different person?

Hwang Minhwa, tall and elegant like a model, now felt like an ordinary part-time worker.

Even the judges’ eyes lit up at her transformation.

It was undeniable—her performance was stellar.

Although her recent projects had been somewhat disappointing, she had still drawn over five million viewers in Utopia.

There was no question about her skills.

“What is this?”

Park Jungwoo—no, Ha Hyunjin now—snapped irritably.

“What do you mean, what? T-The news just broke! Look, look at this!”

“Don’t shove your phone in my face.”

“Is that what’s important right now? Hey!”

The characters were former college classmates.

They had once been part of the climbing club together.

While Shin Seoyoon had pursued climbing seriously as a career, Ha Hyunjin treated it as a hobby.

Even though he loved it, he couldn’t aim for a professional career due to his family responsibilities.

Despite promising to enter a competition together, Ha Hyunjin broke the promise unilaterally.

Shin Seoyoon had entered alone and performed well, but excessive training caused an injury, forcing her to retire.

She had recovered physically but lacked the confidence to return as an athlete.

“What kind of disaster is happening in the middle of Gangnam? I get that you’re excited to see me again, but this is a bit much—”

As he spoke, Ha Hyunjin’s eyes widened.

Surprise flickered across his face before his gaze dropped to his pocket.

The movement was so natural that Kim Siyu didn’t realize it was acting.

But then—

“Look! Your phone’s ringing! Don’t you recognize this sound? Look at the alert—it’s about a gas leak in Gangnam!”

Hwang Minhwa picked up on the shift immediately.

Her rapid reaction was too precise to be the result of simple memorization.

As she frantically pushed her phone toward him, Ha Hyunjin flinched and pushed her back.

Their voices rose, the tension between them growing.

Watching this, Jo Bangwoo exchanged glances with the casting director beside him.

They must have been thinking the same thing.

“The acting feels heavy.”

“That’s the point. It shows how serious the situation is. Their performance alone conveys the gravity of the disaster.”

Hwang Minhwa’s acting was remarkable.

With just her voice and expression, she conveyed the sheer scale of the unfolding catastrophe.

Tension.

Even the actress standing behind her was visibly absorbed in the scene.

Her performance naturally set the tone, pulling the audience into the story.

“This is the opening act. Capturing the audience’s attention is crucial.”

In that regard, Hwang Minhwa’s acting was flawless.

She had transformed completely since her debut in Jo Bangwoo’s earlier films.

The inexperienced rookie had become a commanding presence capable of carrying a movie.

At the same time, Jo Bangwoo’s gaze shifted to Seoyeon.

How would she react to this performance?

Would she falter?

Or rise to the challenge?

“......”

Seoyeon did neither.

She simply watched Hwang Minhwa calmly.

It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

“Well done. That was an excellent performance.”

“Thank you.”

“We’ll save feedback until we’ve seen the other performances.”

At that, Hwang Minhwa nodded and glanced at the other two actresses.

Kim Siyu, who looked frozen in fear, and Ju Seoyeon, who remained unnervingly composed.

“I don’t like this.”

Seoyeon sat calmly, her expression unreadable.

It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

As if she had no intention of revealing any emotions.

Or perhaps, she was simply immersing herself completely in the role.

"Kim Siyu, thank you for your performance."

"T-Thank you."

And with that, number 35, Kim Siyu’s performance came to an end.

It was... ordinary.

No, to be honest, compared to Hwang Minhwa’s performance, it felt woefully inadequate.

That’s probably what every judge in the room was thinking.

"Of course it feels lacking after watching Hwang Minhwa."

Kim Siyu cursed her luck.

Her nerves had gotten the better of her, leaving her performance feeling stiff and robotic.

The judges tried to keep straight faces, but their twitching lips betrayed their thoughts.

But what could she do?

Anyone would struggle to perform right after someone like Hwang Minhwa.

Seeing a performance like that and then stepping up yourself—it was bound to affect you.

"Next, Ju Seoyeon."

Director Jo Bangwoo turned his calm gaze to Seoyeon as she stepped forward.

Ten years had passed since they first crossed paths.

And now, she had returned specifically to act in his movie.

Truthfully, he wanted to cast her right then and there.

But the investors were sitting among the judges.

And more importantly, as a director, he couldn’t let personal feelings dictate his decision.

He had to pick the actress who fit the role best.

"You may begin."

Jo Bangwoo realized something.

He was more nervous than she was.

No matter how much Seoyeon had grown...

No matter how talented she was...

Hwang Minhwa was no easy opponent.

She was a top-tier actress, after all.

For a young actress like Seoyeon, she might as well have been an insurmountable wall.

"Focus."

Under the watchful eyes of the judges, Seoyeon turned to face Park Jungwoo.

He, too, was already staring at her with a cold, focused gaze.

It was hard to tell whether it was Park Jungwoo himself or his character, Ha Hyunjin, looking at her.

"Hwang Minhwa focused on the disaster."

Her performance had emphasized the severity of the situation, making the scene feel heavy and intense.

"But the heroine is supposed to be scrappy and lively."

A hardworking part-timer from a poor background—this was a classic template for heroines.

Cliché, yes, but effective.

And Hwang Minhwa had elevated that template into something ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) powerful with her acting skills.

"E-Everyone, w-we need to get upstairs! Quickly!"

Seoyeon—no, Shin Seoyoon—delivered her first line.

For a moment, Seoyeon noted the similarity between her name and the character’s.

"What’s going on?"

Same line.

Completely different tone.

Seoyeon’s Seoyoon sounded hesitant, her voice laced with uncertainty.

She seemed confused, yet instinctively aware that something was wrong.

The contrast gave the scene a slightly comedic tone.

Especially when Ha Hyunjin snapped at her question, causing her to flinch.

Her eyes darted nervously to the side, repeatedly glancing back at him.

It was an awkward, almost comical reaction—less about fear of the situation and more about discomfort at running into someone she hadn’t wanted to see.

"A-And you’re still talking like that? L-Look! The news—look at this!"

"Sure, there’s an alert, but what does that have to do with going upstairs?"

"Ugh! H-Hey! Can’t you see this? You ditched me back then, but n-now I’m saying we need to run, and you’re asking what?!"

"What? Are you done talking?"

Despite the stuttering, her words came out clearly, making the scene oddly amusing.

Seoyeon’s Seoyoon wasn’t weighed down by the gravity of the disaster.

Instead, the focus shifted to the dynamic between the characters.

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Her hesitant eye contact and stumbling words hinted at lingering tension.

"She’s not making eye contact during the argument."

"When she does, she stutters."

"It’s like there’s history between them."

Even Park Jungwoo seemed to notice.

His acting shifted—lighter and more exaggerated than before.

His expressions were livelier, his gaze darting around nervously.

"It feels like a sitcom."

The casting director spoke without thinking.

This wasn’t a tone you’d normally expect in a disaster movie.

"I think Ju Seoyeon nailed it."

"......"

Jo Bangwoo silently observed.

Unlike Hwang Minhwa, who brought weight and urgency to the scene...

Seoyeon’s performance felt light, almost youthful.

"It’s like she’s playing a woman who ran into her first love."

Yes. That was it.

Ha Hyunjin was good-looking, talented, and rich.

If they had been in college together and bonded through the climbing club, it was natural that Seoyoon might have developed feelings for him.

They had even planned to compete in a tournament together.

Hwang Minhwa had focused on the disaster itself.

Seoyeon, on the other hand, focused on the relationship between the characters.

And that made the disaster feel less heavy.

"......She didn’t used to act like this in Dream Future."

Somehow, Seoyeon was now perfectly capturing the flustered emotions of a woman facing her old crush.

And Park Jungwoo clearly felt it too.

"Was she always this good at romantic acting?"

It wasn’t obvious.

But it was there—in her lines, in her glances.

Hints of a deeper connection.

And it was... fun.

Watching Seoyoon naturally drew people in.

"Thank you for your performance."

Jo Bangwoo nodded as Seoyeon bowed and returned to her seat.

The judges began murmuring quietly.

"This is tough."

"If we’re focusing on the disaster, Hwang Minhwa fits better."

"But in terms of immersion and entertainment, Ju Seoyeon’s performance stands out."

And that was the thing—Seoul Escape wasn’t a heavy movie.

The script might give off that impression, but at its core, it was a romance wrapped in disaster.

Just like Seoyeon had shown.

A disaster movie that wasn’t heavy.

A lighthearted take on the genre.

That was the concept behind Jo Bangwoo’s Seoul Escape.

But if the performances leaned too far in that direction...

‘Hwang Minhwa could easily adjust.’

Of course, she wouldn’t be able to capture the same youthful vibe as Seoyeon.

But even so, Seoyeon’s performance had the clear advantage right now.

Hwang Minhwa knew it too, which was why she crossed her arms and frowned slightly.

Character interpretation.

When it came to capturing the essence of the role, Seoyeon’s approach was undeniably stronger.

But losing someone like Hwang Minhwa would also be a waste.

Seoyeon may have been the breakout star of the year, but Hwang Minhwa’s long-standing career couldn’t be dismissed so easily.

“Let’s also test their physical abilities, shall we?”

“Huh?”

“Well, there are climbing scenes, aren’t there? If someone’s clumsy, it’ll be an issue...”

It was the casting director who brought it up.

Park Jungwoo hesitated.

‘Should I step in?’

He debated for a moment.

The audition room had climbing equipment specifically prepared for physical tests.

And Park Jungwoo already knew what Seoyeon was capable of.

‘Look at her—wait, what?’

When the words “physical test” were mentioned, Seoyeon’s ears twitched.

Park Jungwoo had expected her to be excited, but instead, she looked... uneasy.

Meanwhile, Hwang Minhwa’s confidence practically radiated.

“Sure. Physical ability is important for this role. I’m ready.”

Hwang Minhwa flashed a bright smile.

Seoyeon, on the other hand, wore a faintly troubled expression.

‘Wait... is she not confident?’

Hwang Minhwa immediately picked up on Seoyeon’s hesitation.

She had seen her dominate physical challenges on variety shows.

Was it staged?

Feeling a surge of confidence, Hwang Minhwa raised her hand to address the judges.

“Why don’t we make it a game to save time?”

“A game?”

“Yes, like a race to the top. Who climbs faster? Winning or losing doesn’t matter, but it could boost morale and save time.”

“Hmm.”

The judges turned to the climbing wall prepared for the test.

‘Having each actress go up one by one would take forever.’

‘A race makes it easier to compare abilities directly.’

It wasn’t hard to see the appeal.

And since it was suggested by one of the actresses, it wasn’t something the judges would likely reject.

‘Is she serious?’

Park Jungwoo stared at Hwang Minhwa, stunned.

It wasn’t the suggestion itself that shocked him.

It was the fact that she was proposing to challenge Seoyeon.

“Ju Seoyeon seemed confident about this stuff on variety shows, right? I’m pretty confident too.”

“Really?”

Seoyeon responded with the same awkward expression.

Seeing that only strengthened Hwang Minhwa’s conviction.

‘So she really isn’t good at this after all?’

“Wait.”

Before things could escalate, Park Jungwoo stepped in and leaned toward Hwang Minhwa.

“Hwang Minhwa, you know Ju Seoyeon is actually pretty athletic, right? Didn’t you see her variety show appearances?”

“I did. But it’s just TV.”

“What?”

“I mean, come on. Breaking coconuts with her fingers? Dodging paintball guns? Who’d believe that?”

“......”

“What’s next? Wrestling a bear? Those producers are ridiculous. Giving actresses such over-the-top images.”

“......”

Listening to Hwang Minhwa laugh dismissively, Park Jungwoo couldn’t even find the words to respond.