Director Moon from V Magazine, who was there for the photoshoot, laughed. It seemed like Director Chae wasn’t the only one who saw the photo of her falling at the press conference.
“My ankle’s a bit swollen. Once you twist it, it’s easy to do it again.”
“Yeah, I know. I twisted my ankle three times in one day wearing heels.”
Director Moon shook her head, recalling how she thought she had severely injured her ankle that day. While she was adjusting Se Kyung’s outfit, the photographer who had finished the previous shoot called them.
“Director Moon, can you check these photos? Se Kyung, come this way.”
After rechecking the storyboards, Se Kyung moved towards the window with a chinrest.
Holding the bag handed by the assistant, she struck a pose, and the paused photoshoot resumed.
“Okay, good. Keep your face like that and just turn your gaze slightly towards the window.”
Se Kyung followed the photographer’s instructions, changing poses after changing into two more outfits.
Her eyes rested on the staff in the corner while changing her pose.
‘What’s that?’
Despite trying to ignore it, her gaze kept drifting towards them, as they kept sneaking glances at her while looking at their phones.
The problem was that the gazes pointed at her didn’t seem very friendly.
“Se Kyung, focus.”
Noticing Se Kyung’s distracted state, the photographer clicked his fingers to regain her attention.
Se Kyung forced a smile.
She took a deep breath and refocused on the photoshoot.
That’s when it happened. She heard a familiar name amidst the murmuring crowd.
“Is this for real? Se Kyung did that?”
“Someone from the set said it, so it must be true. What did she say to Ji Eun Jae that made her cry?”
Se Kyung’s head snapped around.
Did they just mention Ji Eun Jae? Why is my name being mentioned with her crying…
“Hey, what are you doing making all that noise?”
Director Moon, seeing Se Kyung’s hardening expression, shouted loudly. Se Kyung excused herself from the photographer and stepped away from the shoot.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes, yes?”
As Se Kyung approached, the huddled staff tensed up.
“Could you show me what you’re looking at?”
“This, this thing?”
The staff member clutched their phone tightly, glancing at the others for their reaction.
“What’s going on? What are you all looking at?”
Until just moments ago, they had been chattering like sparrows, but now, as if by agreement, everyone clammed up, sealing their lips tightly.
Director Moon, annoyed by this sight, swiftly snatched the phone from one of the staff’s hands.
“Oh, Director!”
“What’s the fuss about? Don’t just have fun by yourselves. Let’s see what you’re all looking at…”
Upon looking at the phone, Director Moon’s face contorted. Se Kyung moved closer to read what they had been viewing.
The screen displayed an article from the entertainment section.
At first, Se Kyung wondered why her name was mentioned as the article was riddled with initials. But as she read slowly from the beginning, she understood why they had said such things.
The article talked about the female lead of a drama who had just held a press conference, an actress who was a former girl group member. It mentioned the story shared by a fellow member on her newly opened YouTube channel and comments written by a staff member of a variety show.
‘…But it’s kind of funny. She hasn’t contacted me for years, and out of the blue, she calls asking if I want to join her agency. She even started her own YouTube channel and asked if I would like to film together.’
Se Kyung bit her lip, recalling what Yuna had said to her previously. She extended her hand to Je Hoon.
“Je Hoon, your phone, please.”
“Here.”
As Je Hoon handed over his phone, Se Kyung searched for Ji Eun Jae’s name. Eun Jae’s profile now linked to her YouTube channel, which hadn’t been there before.
“…”
Se Kyung immediately clicked on a video and narrowed her eyes at the comments written below it.
└ If this is true, didn’t Yoon Se Kyung contribute to the group’s downfall? She neglected group activities for her solo career.
└ I’m staying neutral. Been betrayed too many times. Need to hear Yoon Se Kyung’s side as well.
└ I was a staff member on the variety show they appeared on. Their poor relationship seems true. When they filmed with Yoon Se Kyung and Ji Eun Jae, they didn’t talk unless on camera. After shooting, they talked separately, and Ji Eun Jae left crying.
The comments echoed the contents of the article.
The atmosphere in the office had grown heavy.
Tae Jo, chin propped in his hand, fixed his gaze on the monitor. The screen was playing a video uploaded by Ji Eun Jae on YouTube.
[The truth is, our group disbanded due to contract expiration. But honestly, there was another reason. Our team had one member who was excessively active solo. Because of that, she rarely came to practice for new songs. Naturally, this caused dissatisfaction among the members.]The words, though not naming Se Kyung, clearly targeted her as she had been the most active solo member in the group.
“Really, how could she do this? They were in the same group at one point. Se Kyung’s drama is about to premiere, and this feels like she’s casting a curse for it to fail!”
Director Chae burst out in anger after watching Eun Jae’s video. She refrained from commenting out of concern for potential issues, but internally, she imagined shaking Eun Jae’s head two hundred times.
“What about Se Kyung?”
“She’s on her way back from the shoot.”
Director Chae sighed deeply, feeling stifled.
The agency became aware of the article and video when Je Hoon contacted them.
The staff’s murmurs had alerted Se Kyung to the existence of the article and video. Despite being quite shocked, she calmly finished the remaining shoot.
“Did you find the staff member who commented?”
While Eun Jae’s video had sparked the issue, the staff’s comment had added fuel to the fire.
“We’ve contacted the variety show team after seeing the article. They said the person isn’t currently on the set but was there for a short time. It will take some time, but we can identify who it is. Alternatively, we can track the IP address if we decide to take legal action.”
“Make sure to identify that person. We need to know their intentions for writing such a thing. Has our official statement been released?”
“Yes, it’s been posted on the homepage and Se Kyung’s representative social media accounts. But it’s not calming down easily. The views on Ji Eun Jae’s video are still higher.”
“Our statement won’t attract much interest, naturally. Few will believe it. It would be better if a third party like that staff member came forward to clarify things…”
Tae Jo drummed his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. He slowly recalled what Manager Shin had told him.
After the variety show shooting, Se Kyung had a conflict with Ji Eun Jae. Likely, the staff member’s comment was referring to that incident.
“Contact the variety show team and see if anyone knows about the situation after that day’s shooting.”
“Understood.”
Director Chae nodded and turned to leave. Just as she was about to open the door, she flinched upon seeing someone standing there.
“Oh, Se Kyung…”
Tae Jo looked towards the door.
Se Kyung stood there, her expression dark and troubled.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
