Writer Im Jin-ha had reduced Jo Ha-rin's screen ti. Seoyeon didn’t know the exact reason for this.
There could be many reasons why drama writers reduce a character's role. Judging by Park Jung-woo's reaction, it wasn’t sothing that happened often.
‘But…’
Seoyeon wasn’t particularly bothered by the reduction in Jo Ha-rin's screen ti. After all, this role was ant to offset the image of Cha Seo-ah.
So, she thought the current amount of screen ti was enough. Although Cha Seo-ah’s image sotis overlapped with Jo Ha-rin’s acting, it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, it was even amusing.
"Seoyeon."
"Yes?"
It was around that ti that Cha Na-hee, who played Song So-ha, spoke to her.
"Am I… really lacking in my acting?"
"…What?"
"My screen ti, it’s been reduced."
Cha Na-hee said this. She seed to think that her screen ti as the main character, Song So-ha, had been reduced because Jo Ha-rin had overshadowed her.
But that wasn’t true. There must have been another reason behind the writer’s decision.
She wanted to tell Cha Na-hee this, but since no one had openly discussed her increased screen ti, she couldn’t say it. It would sound like she was making excuses to comfort Cha Na-hee.
"So… could you help out a bit? I’ll do my best until the drama ends."
Cha Na-hee was still an idol. When idols act, they don’t often approach it with full sincerity. After all, they have their main career.
"Yes, I’ll help as much as I can."
"Th-thank you!!"
She was a truly upright person. She was probably older than Seoyeon, yet she bowed and asked for help, which couldn’t have been easy.
Is Song So-ha really the main character?
She has no presence, lol. You can only see her when she sings.
Just make Jo Ha-rin the main character.
Both the director and the drama writer have lost their touch.
But even with Seoyeon’s help, Cha Na-hee’s acting didn’t improve significantly. Of course, she must have already received proper acting lessons, so it wouldn’t improve drastically overnight.
"…"
However, Seoyeon had many thoughts as she watched Cha Na-hee. She reflected and realized sothing.
‘I’ve been avoiding Jo Ha-rin’s character.’
Acting in a role where she had to express love for soone else—honestly, Seoyeon lacked confidence in that area.
When she lacked confidence, she didn’t want to do it. It was a childish thought. Even though she had always believed that she shouldn’t pick and choose roles as an actress.
Seoyeon took pride in her work as an actress. She realized that her nonchalant attitude, thinking it was okay if her screen ti was reduced, was disrespectful to Cha Na-hee.
"I… I want to see you act properly, Seoyeon. Like in episode 1…"
Cha Na-hee said this with a smile. Even though she was still being criticized online, she was a strong person.
Seoyeon didn’t know much about Cha Na-hee. She knew that she was from a girl group, that the group would soon disband, and that she was the breadwinner who had supported the group alone.
Among the mbers of her girl group, Cha Na-hee was the only one who continued to work until the end. Seoyeon thought she might understand why.
"…Yes, if the opportunity arises."
At Seoyeon’s words, Cha Na-hee smiled. And then…
"This stage scene is really important. You know that, right?"
Jo Ha-rin’s screen ti had suddenly increased. Director Kim Pil-seok spoke to Seoyeon.
"Park Min-yul will be eliminated, and Jo Ha-rin will take his place. This is the mont when Jo Ha-rin, who has lacked presence until now, must make an impact."
In other words, this one performance in episode 7 had to make up for the lack of screen ti so far.
"It’s a bit of a tall order, but…"
Min Se-hee said this, bowing her head. And so, the shooting began. Seoyeon watched Ma Yeon-woo on stage.
A top idol. Just as Seoyeon aspired to be a top actor, he might already be at the top as an idol.
So, she wasn’t worried about his performance.
‘Emotions…’
Seoyeon took a deep breath. It had been a while since she’d truly gotten into character.
thod acting. She hadn’t used it in a while. thod acting is just one technique; it’s nothing particularly special. While it can enhance imrsion, it’s not always necessary. It can be excessive. Over-imrsion can co across as cringeworthy.
That’s why Seoyeon hadn’t been using thod acting, as it made emotional recovery slower. But…
‘Right now…’
It was different. thod acting was sothing special for Seoyeon. It was the first type of acting she’d ever done, and it brought out her emotions more vividly than anything else.
She synchronized with the surging emotions and adjusted her body to the rhythm around her. The stage was about to begin. The performance Jo Ha-rin would deliver.
She could feel Cha Na-hee watching her from below the stage. Seoyeon smiled at her, just like she would smile at an audience mber from the stage.
‘What Jo Ha-rin feels for Park Min-yul is still just simple curiosity.’
A strange, confusing feeling. Yet, it spread warmth through her heart, which had started beating coolly. It was definitely that kind of emotion.
‘Ironically…’
Although Writer Im Jin-ha had reduced Jo Ha-rin’s screen ti, it had actually been helpful. Up until now, Jo Ha-rin had lacked presence, and there had been little to no developnt between her and Park Min-yul.
So now, they had to build it up. Seoyeon had to convey to the viewers the pleasant strangeness of Jo Ha-rin’s feelings for Park Min-yul. Because of this, Seoyeon could empathize with Jo Ha-rin’s emotions.
After all, the affection of others was sothing strange and confusing for Seoyeon too. And now, Seoyeon was about to act out that strangeness.
This was the story arc, and it was the most brilliant emotion Jo Ha-rin was supposed to show. A performance so charming that anyone would fall in love with her—a heroine.
‘Wow…’
Cha Na-hee, watching Seoyeon’s performance, was left speechless. Watching Seoyeon dance on stage with a bright smile, it felt like she was watching a real idol.
‘Her feelings for Park Min-yul…’
But it wasn’t just that. Even as a rookie idol, her movents naturally reflected those feelings. Of course, Seoyeon, being an actress, couldn’t help but have so awkward monts as an idol.
But she turned those into sothing beautiful through her acting, and Ma Yeon-woo naturally covered her shortcomings. After all, he was a professional.
So, the stage was perfect. It felt like watching an actual performance.
Cha Na-hee couldn’t take her eyes off the cheerful Seoyeon, who maximized her strengths while covering her weaknesses.
It was like being at a real concert. The cheers of countless fans echoed in her ears, just like what she had always experienced.
When the song ended, and Seoyeon high-fived Ma Yeon-woo, she realized it was over. Only then did she rember that this was acting.
She probably wasn’t the only one who felt that way. And just as Cha Na-hee expected…
[Dream Future Returns to 15% Ratings!] [Dream Future Successfully Rebounds, Riding the Wave of The Chaser’s Popularity]
Articles started pouring out.
"Did you watch Dream Future yesterday?"
"I didn’t because I thought it was childish, but when I watched it yesterday, it was actually pretty fun."
"Isn’t the actor from episode 7 the sa one who played the killer in The Chaser?"
"Really? The vibe was completely different!"
"Right, right. I was surprised too!"
From episode 7 onward, Dream Future beca a hot topic in people’s conversations. Until now, it was just a peculiar drama that aired simultaneously on TV and online—a new experint, so to speak.
But now…
"Jo Ha-rin was stunningly beautiful."
"I thought she was amazing in The Chaser too."
"Why didn’t they give Jo Ha-rin more screen ti earlier? Was it all part of a bigger plan?"
"No way."
More and more people were talking about the drama.
In both film and drama, Seoyeon’s na started coming up more frequently.
Lol, the writer of Dream Future quit.
??? Really??
They say there’s a new writer starting from episode 7? Apparently, the old writer quit after a power struggle.
Wasn’t the one who reduced Jo Ha-rin’s screen ti that writer?
Lol, maybe they wanted the show to fail.
Discussions about Writer Im Jin-ha were circulating online. It seed like soone on the staff had leaked information. Or perhaps…
"Hmph."
Han Seon-ah scoffed as she typed out the latest article. It was an article based on an internal investigation at KMB, focusing on Im Jin-ha.
The article title was sothing like "Power Struggles Among Drama Writers—Is It the Viewers’ Fault?"
"Ah, this is too clickbaity."
Reflecting on it, Han Seon-ah rewrote the article. After all, she wasn’t going to let Im Jin-ha quietly fade away.
And so, after episode 7 aired, episode 8 followed. Jo Ha-rin had entered the top ten and t with Song So-ha.
"Did the ratings go up again? How much?"
"17%! Up by 2%."
"Wow, this is crazy! Are we going to see a drama that surpasses 20% ratings after a long ti?"
In an era where drama ratings were generally declining, 20% was considered the threshold for a big hit.
[The Chaser Surpasses 8 Million Viewers! On Its Way to 10 Million?] [A Positive Rebound for Dream Future! Ratings Nearing 20%]
Then ca episodes 9 and 10 of Dream Future. Song So-ha began to shine as she realized her feelings for the male lead, Kim Si-hwan. anwhile, Jo Ha-rin also had a chance encounter with Park Min-yul.
This is so frustrating.
Song So-ha’s acting has really improved lately.
You an Cha Na-hee, not Song So-ha.
Aren’t they the sa? There’s a reason she’s the breadwinner.
I’ve seen her posting pictures with Ju Seoyeon on Instagram a lot lately.
Are they close?
Cha Na-hee, in her own way, gave it her all. As the female lead, Song So-ha, she was slowly but surely making her presence known to the public.
Jo Ha-rin and Park Min-yul’s relationship is so sweet.
Honestly, the romance line is so frustrating.
But that’s what makes it good, you drama newbie.
They probably won’t end up together.
Honestly, it would feel cheap if she just switched from liking Kim Si-hwan to liking Park Min-yul.
Yeah, that’s true.
Discussions about Dream Future were becoming more active in online communities. As a result, the ratings continued to rise, and the number of views on YouTube increased as well.
[Lamiell’s Broadcast]
"Recently, I watched a movie called The Chaser."
"Oh, it seems everyone knows about it. It’s great, isn’t it?"
"I heard the sa actor is in Dream Future, so I checked it out, and I was shocked."
"I couldn’t believe it was the sa actor; the performances were completely different."
"…Honestly, I was really impressed."
"Oh, what? You think my voice sounds familiar? Th-that must be a mistake."
"Ahem, anyway, The Chaser and Dream Future—Lamiell recomnds them both!"
As these shows were ntioned more frequently in various internet broadcasts, their popularity continued to grow.
There were people who hadn’t seen The Chaser. There were people who hadn’t watched Dream Future. But it was rare to find soone who hadn’t seen both.
"Lately, Ju Seoyeon? That actress is everywhere."
"I first saw her on a variety show, and I liked how cheerful she was."
"But because of her image as Cha Seo-ah, she’s kind of scary. Like she might show up with an axe."
"Pfft, true."
With her appearance in both shows, ntions of Seoyeon were steadily increasing.
[Dream Future OST Released, Dominating lon Charts!]
The OSTs from the drama were climbing the charts on music streaming sites, showing their presence.
[The Chaser Reaches 10 Million Viewers!]
And so, as The Chaser hit the 10 million viewer mark,
"Hello? Yes, Director Bae Jin-hwan. …?"
Seoyeon received a phone call right around that ti.
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