Chapter 70 : Meeting with Another Genius

Let me tell you in advance, I’m not particularly good with words.

I’m actually so bad at speaking that I sometimes wonder how I’m even surviving as a VTuber.

Because of that, no matter how talented I might be, the profession of an actor feels intimidating to me.

After all, my vocal cords aren’t in the best condition… Even though I’ve received praise for my acting, I still can’t say for sure.

Being an actor requires more social interaction than being a VTuber.

Of course, more so than being an illustrator.

“But, um… Bihangwoon, you want me to have a meeting? Aren’t you coming too?”

[Is there a problem? Suhyun, you’re not a three-year-old child. You should at least have a meeting before the audition. Isn’t this an enormous privilege?]

It is a privilege.

After all, it’s a huge favor to have a rookie actor with no experience meet with a genius director for a one-on-one.

But…

“Actually, I think it might ruin my impression…”

[Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do. You can just continue as a VTuber.]

Bihangwoon’s tone sounded indifferent, but it was strangely annoying.

I couldn’t help but bite my lip.

‘You can just continue as a VTuber.’

It felt like she was saying, “You’re just someone who should stay where you are.”

She’s subtly rubbing me the wrong way. This girl…

Living as a VTuber isn’t bad, though.

But I’ve noticed that, without realizing it, I’m constantly yearning for other possibilities inside me.

Until now, I’ve completely denied my own potential.

“I don’t plan on becoming an actor.”

“I’m just a VTuber, nothing more.”

But… is that really true?

After filming “Busker,” I’ve tried to ignore the stirring emotions within me.

Back then, I didn’t just act in front of the camera; I felt alive.

I was creating my character and pouring my emotions into it.

I wasn’t just creating an outward appearance; I was shaping the “inside” of the character.

I knew deep down that it wasn’t just acting.

I slowly closed my laptop.

Then, I casually rested my hand on my chin.

It’s just a meeting, so why am I overthinking it so much?

“Bihangwoon.”

[Yes.]

“When is it?”

[Tomorrow at 3 PM. The location is a café in Manhattan, chosen by Byeolha herself.]

Yoon Byeolha.

A genius director.

One of the most sensibly creative directors.

And, someone who’s trying to give me a chance.

It would be strange to refuse an opportunity when someone offers it.

I slowly exhaled.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

[Good choice, Suhyun.]

Bihangwoon’s voice seemed lighter, as if she was smiling.

Come to think of it, she always seems to control me, yet somehow it always works out in my favor…

[What are you doing? Go read what I sent you.]

“Ah, I got it.”

She’s a bit annoying, but…

The next day, I arrived at the meeting place on time.

Manhattan Café.

It’s quite a famous place.

Apparently, industry people frequent it often.

It’s definitely a place where “the real ones” gather.

I walked in and looked around.

And, I spotted him instantly.

In a corner seat, sipping coffee and staring out the window, there was a man.

Yoon Byeolha.

He gave off a vibe different from anyone I had seen before.

A white shirt, black slacks, and a nonchalant face.

But his gaze…It felt like he was searching for ‘something else,’ not me.

It was as if he was a photographer trying to capture the moment of discovery.

I hesitated for a moment.

But then, I quietly moved closer.

Tap

I sat down and met his gaze.

“I’m Kang Suhyun.”

“Hmm…”

He looked at me for a moment, then put down his coffee cup.
And, he said one thing.
“You’re real.”

‘…Huh?’

“You’re completely different from how you are when you’re acting.”
“Ah, thank you…?”

I was momentarily stunned.
But his next words shocked me even more.
“He said the same thing as Bihangwoon.”

Yoon Byeolha looked genuinely intrigued.
He had the expression of someone who had just found an interesting toy.

“Sit down. Let’s talk.”

I slowly took a deep breath.
Then, I sat down across from him.
“Hmm…”

His black eyes were staring at me, piercing through.
It felt uncomfortable, in a way that was different from Bihangwoon.

If Bihangwoon looks like a person trying to devour me, it’s scary.

Yoon Byeolha seems like he would dissect and analyze me.

This place is a café.

But it feels like I’m lying on an operating table.

His gaze was too deep.

As if he wasn’t looking at me as “Kang Suhyeon” but as an “acting subject.”

He slowly spun his coffee cup with his long fingers, then rested one hand on his chin and quietly observed me.

“Bihangwoon said this. That you… seem a bit like a monster.”

“What?”

I blinked instinctively.

What did he just say?

Did he really just say that?

“A monster?”

“Yeah.”

Yoon Byeolha let out a low chuckle and set down his coffee cup.

Then, interlocking his fingers, he leaned his upper body slightly forward.

“In this industry, actors are usually divided into two types.”

“The first type are those who grow by learning ‘method acting.'”

I quietly listened to his words.

His voice was low, but his tone pierced straight into my head.

“They infer emotions, practice gestures, and thoroughly analyze their lines. Through a meticulous technical approach, they create highly refined performances.”

That… makes sense.

Most of the actors I’ve seen probably learned acting in that way.

I nodded silently.

“And the second type.”

Yoon Byeolha slightly lifted the corner of his lips.

“The ones who just… have it.”

With the way he was building me up, it was hard to refute anything.

I looked at him without saying a word.

“There are people like that. People who’ve never learned acting, yet they can do it. They just pour their emotions into a scene, and it instantly transforms into acting.”

His gaze slowly scanned my face.

His eyes looked at me as if he were observing an unknown creature.

“You’re one of them.”

A chill ran down my spine in an instant.

He spoke with certainty.

“You don’t need to learn the method. For you, the moment emotions arise, they turn into acting as they are.”

“…”

“People like you… are called monsters.”

His dark eyes deepened.

“You must have realized it yourself by now. When you act, you completely control the emotions of that moment.”

“…”

I didn’t respond.

Because…

He was right.

When I played my first love role in Busker,

I was entirely consumed by the character’s emotions.

To the point where I couldn’t tell whether it was acting or real emotion.

There were no lines, just a situation, yet I never practiced my gestures separately.

I just thought, This character would move like this in this situation.

And it naturally became acting.

Was it really that easy?

No, I heard other actors don’t do it that way.

Acting was supposed to be a skill to be learned.

A process requiring effort, analysis, and deep contemplation.

But me?

I could just… do it.

It was so easy that it didn’t even feel real.

I never even realized it was something special.

Yoon Byeolha observed my expression and let out a small smile.

“See? You already had an idea.”

He lifted his coffee cup and continued.

“When someone like you acts, people go crazy.”

I clenched my hands quietly.

“But the problem is… people like you don’t last long.”

I felt my breath catch for a moment.

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

He smirked.

“People like you directly turn emotions into acting, right?”

“…”

“Then… what do you think happens when you keep using your own emotions for acting?”

He spoke in a calm tone.

“You follow the emotions of the character and end up consuming your own feelings.”

“You use your real emotions for acting, so the more you act, the fewer emotions remain within you.”

“And in the end…”

I took a quiet breath.

“There’s nothing left.”

Yoon Byeolha said in a low voice.

“That’s the risk people like you carry.”

I looked at him in silence.

And at that moment, I understood.

This man already knew the path I would walk.

How painful that journey would be.

How difficult it would be.

And… how utterly mesmerizing it was.

He knew everything.

“Now, make your choice.”

He pointed at the coffee cup in front of me.

“If you pick up this cup… you’ll become a real actor. I’ll push you to immerse yourself completely, until there’s nothing left of you. So, you better be prepared.”

Without much hesitation, I picked up the coffee cup.

For the first time, Yoon Byeolha’s gaze wavered.

Ha.

It was the easiest decision in the world for me.

Because the way I act is completely different from what Yoon Byeolha analyzed.

The flaws of method acting?

There are plenty of videos about that on YouTube.

Actors who played villains ending up with weird personality changes—stuff like that.

Ha.

I’m cheating, aren’t I?

But since my body has changed into an avatar, I can perfectly replicate any emotion just by thinking about it.

Yeah.

Like pressing a button to change a Vtuber’s expression.

Everyone else is running barefoot, but I’m wearing carbon-plated running shoes.

What a cheat.

“I’m always… prepared.”

I tried to sound cool, but… my voice shook a little.

Being in a film directed by Yoon Byeolha…

I took a sip of coffee as naturally as possible.

A soft bitterness brushed against the tip of my tongue.

Just like this—seamlessly, as if it were part of my performance.

Yoon Byeolha remained silent for a moment.

Then, as if intrigued, he lifted the corner of his lips.

“I see.”

He observed me a little more closely.

Then, he let out a small chuckle and rested his chin on his hand.

“Now it makes sense.

I thought something was off.”

“Off?”

I raised an eyebrow slightly.

He flicked his fingers in the air, as if trying to analyze something.

“Usually, when actors put emotions into their performance, a lingering trace remains. Even after finishing a role, it takes time for them to detach from the character.”

“But you’re different. The moment your performance ends, the emotion disappears completely.”

I quietly listened to his words.

“That’s strange.”

Yoon Byeolha looked at me with sharp eyes.

“No matter how much method acting you claim to be doing, it doesn’t feel like you’re using emotions. It feels like you’re pulling them out and replaying them.”

“Like pressing a button to trigger an expression.”

I smirked slightly.

Bingo.

As expected of a genius director.

Sharp.

But there’s a realm he can never reach.

Not unless he discovers what I really am.

“That’s interesting.”

I set down my coffee cup and let out a soft chuckle.

“Then, does that mean my strange acting was to your liking?”

Yoon Byeolha snapped his fingers.

“Of course. It was eerily perfect.”

He spoke with absolute confidence.

“That’s why you’re going to be in my film.”

I blinked slowly.

“The role?”

“Lead.”

What?

I wasn’t expecting that…

He answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.

It’s time for people to remember you as Kang Suhyun, the actor.”

Yoon Byeolha smirked and held something out to me.

A thick stack of papers labeled Audition Script for ‘A Better Life’.

“There are about thirty actors auditioning for the role. They’re all carefully selected. If they lose to an unknown actor, that’ll be fun to watch.”

“…Alright. I’ll do it.”

Fine.

Since it’s come to this, I’ll completely dominate.

This bastard.

The way he casually talks down to me is annoying.

‘I’ll crush this.’

At that moment, I was full of confidence.

But when I got home, I regretted smiling like that.

“…Wait, this is a romance film?”

I’m screwed.