Focus, Sua!
It was finally Sua’s turn.
“Appeared like a meteor and won the Grand Prize at the short film festival! Everyone has been curious about the whereabouts of this newcomer. Ms. Sua, please introduce yourself!”
For a moment, Sua mentally repeated short phrases countless times.
Don’t act defiantly. Don’t be greedy for anything.
Just stick to the introduction. Emphasize Sumi.
Sua gently touched Sumi, the blanket-like arctic fox resting on her thigh.
“This is an arctic fox, and her name is Sumi. As you can see, she’s very cute. And today, I’ve…”
Sua inserted her hand underneath Sumi’s armpit and lifted her up, starting a conversation while maintaining eye contact.
“Aul Aul.”
(Is Sumi feeling okay today?)
“Au Auu.”
(I’m delighted to spend this time with you, Lady. It’s usually quite boring where we stay. Plus, the weather is nice today.)
Sua nodded at the director.
“She says she’s in a good mood today. It’s quite warm…”
For a while afterward, there was silence.
“… ”
There was no response, and the silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity.
Sua couldn’t help but wonder.
Had she made a huge mistake?
But then,
“Hahahahaha─!”
Director Kang Hyun-seong’s laughter started it, and soon everyone burst into laughter, leaving Sua confused.
‘Why are they laughing all of a sudden?’
Sua anxiously checked around her chest, confirming there were no issues—she hadn’t forgotten her underwear this time, unlike before.
Soon after, she understood the reason.
“Ms. Sua, are you having a conversation with the arctic fox?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“What did you say?”
Sua’s serious response set everyone off into another round of laughter.
Hugging a raccoon, Kim Dae-ho chimed in.
“Wow, Ms. Sua had this ace up her sleeve? Let me reintroduce myself too! Thanks to you, I feel so ordinary.”
“Exactly, I can already hear our screen time being eaten up.”
Everyone added their own comments with amused faces, but Sua merely blushed slightly. Was it really that funny?
“I’ve really bonded with Sumi. We often converse.”
The reactions were explosive, filled with disbelief.
“Eh, her management company helped her create this character!”
“Ms. Seo Yeon-joo told her to do this, right?”
“Ah, even knowing it’s a concept, this is hilarious. She’s talking to a pet like this with such a straight face! My stomach hurts. I think it might burst!”
Sua earnestly tried to clarify.
“I just casually asked how she’s feeling today.”
“Aul Aul! Like this?”
“…No, that means seaweed soup.”
“Hahahah! Seaweed soup! It means seaweed soup!”
Watching everything unfold, Director Kang Hyun-seong stroked his chin.
‘Hmm? She actually handles entertainment content pretty well, doesn’t she?’
His brain quickly formulated a plausible assessment.
‘Well, Ms. Sua is an outstanding actor. Digesting entertainment concepts wouldn’t be difficult for her. Did she come up with this concept herself? Or was it her agency? Either way, it’s impressive.’
Around this time, Director Kang’s instincts kicked in.
It was a refined instinct honed over years of experience in entertainment. A gut feeling that latching onto Sua would lead to a surge in views.
Director Kang swiftly interjected.
“Ms. Sua! Sua!”
Thanks to him, the laughter focused on Sua began to settle. Nonetheless, everyone was curious about the next question.
“I believe Ms. Sua’s words. What an enviable ability! However, you’ve only introduced Sumi so far. Tell us a little about yourself now.”
“I am….”
Sua chose her words even more carefully this time.
“I’m an actor who debuted in the short film ‘Sword’ and I’m currently working on Special Mobile Unit 808….”
─Hey! In-seok! You shouldn’t say that!
─Sua, don’t get confused….
The chaos in Sua’s association.
Sua finally realized her mistake and quickly changed her line.
“…I am a fan of Mr. Lee Su-an.”
At that, flames ignited in Director Kang’s eyes.
‘Ms. Sua mentioned Mr. Lee Su-an first!’
Questions related to Lee Su-an.
A guaranteed method to rocket the view count, but asking was easier said than done. Given Sua’s usually chilly demeanor and the presence of Seo Yeon-joo nearby.
However, Sua brought up Su-an on her own.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Both the PD and production team thought the same thing at once. There wouldn’t be another chance to ask about romance rumors.
“Ms. Sua, by the way, I’ve heard there’s talk going around recently about you and Mr. Su-an. Could you share even a tiny bit?”
Sua was perplexed. How should she answer this?
She had received advice from Kim I-seo, but it was all about lightly brushing it off.
Kim I-seo had given such guidance, believing Sua could handle it well. However, in reality, it wasn’t the case.
Just then,
“Lee Su-an!”
Out of the blue, Yang Ha-rin’s parrot called out.
“Lee Su-an! Marry me!”
Everyone’s attention turned to the parrot, startled by the unexpected shout. Yang Ha-rin’s face was already turning red at a rapid pace.
“Lee Su-an! Marry me! Lee Su-an! Marry me!”
Yang Ha-rin attempted to calm the parrot down, but it was not easy. Parrots, especially large ones, could be quite stubborn.
Meanwhile, the PD’s lips were curling up so high it seemed they might reach the top of his head.
“What’s this situation? Are there already two fans of Mr. Su-an? At this rate, we might turn this into a Su-an special?”
Right at that moment,
Seo Yeon-joo suddenly raised her hand.
“Isn’t this a coincidence? I like Mr. Su-an too.”
A meaningful smile.
The scene began to flare up madly.
◈◈◈◈◈
Meanwhile, inside the van.
Vroom-vroom-vroom─!
As the vehicle sped down the highway, the woman lounging with her legs stretched out comfortably leaned against the seat, exuding an intensely provocative aura, even without doing anything particularly.
Well-groomed short hair curling slightly around her neck, her detached gaze swept over her phone.
[Seo Yeon-joo – The rivalry with Lee Seo-jung has long collapsed? As Seo Yeon-joo soars with ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’, where is Lee Seo-jung now?]
“Hm, why are they constantly pairing her with someone so unremarkable?”
Lee Seo-jung.
The woman known in the world as Seo Yeon-joo’s rival. Their images were polar opposites; Seo Yeon-joo symbolized purity, while Lee Seo-jung epitomized provocation.
Lee Seo-jung continued scrolling through articles.
Occasionally, her fingers paused.
[The mysterious figure ‘Sua’ of no recent news following the grand prize, surprises the public with a unique pet on MyTube reality show. Is it an arctic fox?]
Every time she came across articles related to Sua.
Lee Seo-jung.
Lately, she found herself increasingly interested in Sua. To the extent that she’d set Sua as her phone’s wallpaper. There was no real reason—she just found her irritating.
She stimulated Lee Seo-jung’s instincts. Exciting, wasn’t it?
“Maybe I should have gotten a unique pet too? No, wouldn’t it be more interesting if you became my pet? Either way, it works…”
Lee Seo-jung’s train of thought didn’t come together.
“Seo-jung!”
The manager, who was driving, called out to her. Through the rearview mirror, his eyes carried both irritation and anxiety.
“Are you satisfying your desires by looking at weird stuff again? I don’t intend to interfere with your personal life, but could you please look at the script, at least? You’re busy today, and once we get to the studio, you won’t have time to check the script!”
“Alright. Why are you getting so angry about this?”
“If I don’t, you won’t look at it!”
“That’s correct. Now since you’re mad, I suppose I’ll take a look.”
Lee Seo-jung stuck out her tongue smugly and picked up the script stacked on the adjacent seat. Her eyes were half-closed.
“What’s this? A historical drama?”
“The film deals with Yeonsan Gun. They’re casting for a concubine role. It’s supposed to be very easy. You are great at provocative roles, aren’t you?”
“Boring. I won’t do it.”
“Huh?”
“From the beginning, my allure isn’t something acted. It’s something I was born with. Besides, this script is too cliché.”
The manager could do nothing but sigh deeply.
Once Lee Seo-jung declared she wouldn’t do it, that was that. Any further persuasion from then onward would be meaningless.
Lee Seo-jung picked up the next script.
“Netflix? What’s this?”
“It’s an overseas OTT platform that will soon land in Korea. They’re thinking of launching a big show in sync with their service start. And this? Apparently written by the Hong Ye-ji from the Lee Geum-sook writers group?”
“Then it’s unlikely written by Lee Geum-sook herself. Look, Hong Ye-ji wrote it. She might be just one of the assistant writers.”
“Still, read it. I overheard that OTT services are something huge. Overseas audiences can watch too.”
The manager added,
“And the writer made an interesting comment, too.”
“What kind of comment?”
“They said they’d cancel the whole work if you don’t participate. It shows how much they want you, right? It’s practically a suicide threat or something?”
Lee Seo-jung chuckled lightly. That statement appealed to her somewhat.
“Wow, witty. I might as well take a look?”
Lee Seo-jung opened the script.
After about 10 seconds perhaps, she closed it again.
“It’s disappointing. They’ll have to cancel the project.”
Not a single thought of doing it crossed her mind.
