It is already a thing of the past.
Clinging to something that cannot be changed by one’s own strength is not a very fruitful endeavor.
Instead of focusing on what cannot be done, Ha Eun believed it wise to dedicate time to what can be accomplished.
– Thud.
That’s why she returned to the recording studio where Park Mi-so’s recording had just begun.
After all, she needed to finish the recording of “Illusion” first, regardless of other matters.
She thought worrying about what Da-yeon would do was pointless.
“─────♪”
“Ha Eun, isn’t Mi-so unni’s high note amazing?”
“Yes. Her breathing is stable, making it pleasant to listen to.”
Thus, she tried to concentrate solely on the recording of “Illusion.”
She did not want to think about anything else.
For Ha Eun, worries related to Da-yeon were pointless.
These were matters beyond her control.
Indeed, it surely was a wasteful concern.
Getting wrapped up in worries about Da-yeon in the future wouldn’t change anything right now.
‘…She won’t fail the interview, right?’
Why couldn’t she forget it this much?
‘Seeing how she even made an RP shows she’s confident…’
She kept chewing on something that held no value.
Thoughts about various possibilities regarding the future that had yet to come filled her mind.
However, at no point did she consider the thought of Da-yeon failing.
After all, actress Min Da-yeon was an exceptionally talented actress.
‘Being a Virtual YouTuber still involves acting.’
She had lived her whole life as an actress.
Very few could perform as well as a seasoned actor when it came to portraying any character.
Of course, no matter how great Da-yeon was, she would have never communicated live as an internet broadcaster.
Others among the applicants also hadn’t experienced internet broadcasting.
‘There were no former broadcasters among the members of Illusion Season 2.’
In Ha Eun’s view, Da-yeon failing the interview was nearly impossible.
She knew better than anyone how much effort she put into anything she decided to take on.
Da-yeon must have learned everything possible about Virtual YouTuber broadcasts.
She had surely prepared meticulously, based on the broadcasts of Diah she had watched so far.
Given that Da-yeon’s RP had earned good reviews from Jee Hye-min, it seemed she had also conducted market research.
With Da-yeon’s singing talent receiving positive feedback, it would be safe to say her acceptance into Illusion Season 2 was a foregone conclusion.
The bigger issue was that Min Da-yeon’s friend Lee Ha-eun had to know nothing about Illusion Season 2.
‘If I act like I know something, they’ll find it strange.’
Only those involved with Illusion were aware of Da-yeon’s application for Season 2.
If Ha Eun were to be asked anything related to Season 2, she would practically reveal herself as someone connected to the project.
Ha Eun had long been worried about the possibility of Da-yeon discovering Diah’s true identity.
Choosing to reveal Diah’s true identity to deter Da-yeon had never been an option.
In other words, it meant that eventually, just as Jee Hye-min had said, she would end up becoming Da-yeon’s plaything.
‘…They say a word can pay a thousand nyang in debt. This is quite the opposite.’
Like it or not, Ha Eun was destined to grant Da-yeon everything her heart desired in front of numerous viewers.
However, she had no idea what Da-yeon would actually ask for.
It was certain that Da-yeon would acquire Diah’s unlimited access, but what she would do with that access was beyond her imagination.
In other words, it was an unknown fear.
The anxiety that had genuinely scared Ha Eun during the previous broadcast with Shirooni had now morphed into Da-yeon’s presence, overwhelming her.
Eventually, a deep sigh escaped her lips.
“Haah…”
However, the people around Ha Eun had no clue what thoughts were clouding her mind, not even a grain of sand’s worth.
Because of this, Ha Eun’s deep sigh was misunderstood in a strange way.
“Sorry, Ha Eun. I’ll sing better next time.”
Just after finishing her first recording, Maria was quick to glance at Ha Eun as she said this.
The others also seemed to observe Ha Eun’s response.
This was somewhat natural.
At some point, Ha Eun had drastically reduced her speech, and now her expression was gloomy as well.
‘It was fine during Mi-so unni’s time…’
‘Maria’s singing is lovely, so why is she like this?’
‘…Is she, perhaps, on her period?’
For the other members who were unaware of Da-yeon’s application for Illusion Season 2, these circumstances were inevitably ripe for misunderstandings.
Only Jee Hye-min noticed the meaning behind the deep sigh and quietly patted Ha Eun’s shoulder.
*
“Is it because we have a current singer? It went more smoothly than I expected.”
Perhaps it was because even Kim Eun-hye’s recording, the last one, had finished without any significant issues.
The composer, having finished checking the final recording of “Illusion,” praised everyone for their hard work with a satisfied voice.
All the members of Illusion along with Jee Hye-min came out of the studio afterward.
The sky had already darkened.
Crucially, the members, except for Ha Eun, were literally exhausted.
“Okay, let’s go eat Hanwoo.”
Jee Hye-min’s company card revealed itself to treat the members for their hard work that day.
Only then did their eyes, which had been gradually becoming clearer, brighten up.
“R-Really, the CEO is treating us?”
“Yes~.”
“…I’m going to pick a pillar of LUX today.”
Not long after, they arrived at the restaurant, where the decor was different from what they were used to.
The ambiance of the customers and the employees’ neat attire matched what was referred to as a “premium Hanwoo restaurant.”
When they finally arrived at the room that Jee Hye-min had reserved in advance, the Illusion members’ eyes sparkled with excitement.
Only Ha Eun remained calm.
Her silent perusal of the menu made one think that she was indeed a celebrity.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Hey, Ha Eun.”
“?”
“What’s the best thing to order in a place like this?”
“Right, let us know about the taste of an actress.”
They asked Ha Eun, who seemed like someone who had visited such places often, to recommend dishes.
They didn’t miss the chance to ask for the most expensive menu items.
However, the answer she returned was that everything was delicious.
It was a reasonable response from Ha Eun, who didn’t particularly discriminate against healthy food.
“Oh, since cold water isn’t good for the throat, I think it’s better to ask for warm water separately.”
“…Are we here to drink warm water?”
“Taking care of one’s throat can’t hurt.”
As a result, they didn’t order additional items like beer or cider.
That was because Ha Eun adamantly refused them for health reasons.
Of course, eating the succulent Hanwoo alone was already sufficiently delicious.
It would have been even better with refreshing drinks, though.
Thus, while they continuously savored the tender beef.
“Alright, everyone, listen up for a second.”
Jee Hye-min, who had been grilling meat like a mother feeding her chicks, finally opened his mouth.
What followed was news about the Illusion members’ 3D avatars.
“I’m sure you all already know, but we’re going to have a live stage for our 1st anniversary.”
He mentioned that to create a more perfect stage, they would need to take dance lessons.
In other words, it meant that the work related to “Illusion” was not over yet.
“The dance lessons will start next Tuesday. It’s from a really hard-to-get instructor, so everyone, please give it your all.”
The reason Jee Hye-min had reserved the Hanwoo restaurant in advance was also due to the rigorous dance classes.
Since they had enjoyed a fine meal, they better put in the effort for the dance lessons—that’s roughly the meaning behind it.
However, in the case of Ha Eun, who had already stood on stage as a singer twice, she wasn’t particularly worried about the dance lessons.
‘I should probably get VR and full tracking equipment in advance.’
Currently, Ha Eun’s mind was solely occupied with the thought of conducting a full tracking broadcast using Diah’s 3D avatar.
She was just thinking about what contents to pursue with full tracking.
She thus asked Jee Hye-min about the status of the Illusion members’ 3D avatar production.
“Is it still a long way from being completed?”
“It’s not that far off. I think it’ll probably be completed around mid-February to early March.”
“In that case, can I receive it separately before the performance? There are a few things I want to practice personally.”
The answer she received was a positive one.
However, it came with a caveat: they couldn’t reveal the 3D avatars before the Illusion 1st anniversary show.
“As long as you don’t spoil the 3D avatars, you’re good to go.”
In other words, it meant that Ha Eun could use the 3D avatar personally whenever she wanted.
About an hour later, when Ha Eun returned home, it was to purchase the VR device and full tracking equipment.
In any case, the priority was to get accustomed to VR.
Therefore, she made sure to play VR games ahead of time to learn the unique sensations of VR.
And so time flowed by.
– Ding dong─!
“Delivery is here~.”
Finally, the day the VR device and full tracking equipment arrived at Ha Eun’s house.
– Tap tap.
<Today’s to-do: VR game exploration─☆>
– Diah
– VR chat, let’s go!
– Let’s have an online fan meeting~
She began her very first VR game broadcast in Diah’s broadcasting career.
Shortly after, she displayed a list of various VR games she had pre-selected on the broadcasting screen.
“Okay, please vote for the game that looks most entertaining among these!”
And thus, everything proceeded according to Ha Eun’s plan while taking votes on VR games from the viewers.
She also didn’t forget to mention that today was her first time playing VR, so she might be a bit clumsy.
However, the moment she logged into “Beat Saber,” the VR game that received the most recommendations.
– Ding.
[ekdus7 has donated 30,000 won!]
: It would be fun to play a horror game in VR, lol.
The sponsorship message that made Ha Eun’s spine tingle arrived.
