Now That I Have Become a Woman, I Am a Vtuber - Chapter 90

When I firmly refused, I could hear a bit of surprise in Moon Changsik’s voice on the other end of the phone.

[Um… so, it really doesn’t appeal to you?]

“It’s just… ah, well…” 

To be honest, it’s not a particularly troublesome scene. There’s no intense physical contact, and if I just braced myself, I could probably do it… but still, it’s not easy.

“It’s just that… I don’t think I’d be able to pull it off convincingly. Wouldn’t it come across as awkward?”

[True, it’s a bit different from before, but in that case, what if we pushed back the shoot date and did some practice?]

“Practice? I mean… sure…”

I could try, if that’s what it takes, but can I really manage this?

[But if it’s too hard, we can make adjustments.]

…Oh, is he actually considering changing it?

Really? That easy?

I’m almost starting to feel bad about it. But maybe I should just gratefully acce—

[I’ll teach you how to act it out. Just clear some time.]

“…Excuse me?”

Wait, is he serious?

***

The next day, around noon, I called Tenshi.

I had to let her know about the trip to Japan, and we needed to work out some details. If she couldn’t meet up, I’d just enjoy the trip with family and maybe plan to meet her the next time I visit Japan.

[Hontou ni, you’re coming to Japan?]

“Yes, eto… looks like I’ll be there next weekend. Will you be free?”

[Hai! Ehh~ I’m so excited!]

Fortunately, Tenshi eagerly agreed. I could feel her excitement radiating through the headphones.

Is she really that happy? And now, I’m about to meet my online friend in person for the first time.

“I’ll let you know the exact time soon.”

[Hai! So… what are you doing now? Want to play a game together?]

Playing games together… Normally, I’d chat and play with her, but today…

“Gomen, I already have plans.”

[Ehh—really? Don’t tell me… you’re meeting a guy?]

A guy? Well… he is a guy, technically. If I put it the Japanese way…

“Hai, he’s totally an ikemen.”

[Eeeeek~!]

“Haha, it’s business, business.”

[Ehh, sugoi!]

I mean, I guess it’s business… but it doesn’t quite feel like work.

[Then let’s play when you get back!]

When I get back? I don’t know exactly when, but I should be home before dinner…

“Sounds good.”

[Got it!]

After ending the call with Tenshi, I grabbed the clothes I’d prepared and started getting ready to head out.

“Going out again today?”

When I walked into the living room, Mom, our household’s long-standing guardian, called out.

“Oh, heading out to meet a guy.”

“Wow, really? That’s surprising.”

“Look at you, not believing me.”

“Is it true? If it goes well, bring him over sometime.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Are you teasing me right now?”

Uh-oh, if I keep talking, I’ll probably get a slap on the back like last time.

“Anyway, I’ll be back before dinner. I’m heading out.”

“Pick up some tofu on your way back.”

“Sure.”

With one errand added to my list, I headed outside, only to see a red sports car parked just beyond our gate.

…What the…?

Did some rich person come around here?

I’m not an expert on cars, but even I can tell that one’s worth several million won.

I’ll probably never get to drive something like that in my lifetime, but I’m not really dying to anyway.

Cars might be a dream for some guys, but it’s just not my thing.

As I stepped into the yard and opened the gate, the sports car in front of me completely stole my attention.

Wow, this thing definitely draws the eye. Why would anyone park in front of someone else’s house?

Bzzt—

“Get in.”

“Oh, jeez.”

“What’s with the sigh?”

“Nothing. Thanks for picking me up.”

“Good. That’s all I wanted to hear.”

With that, Moon Changsik motioned for me to get in. Suppressing the urge to cradle my head from the impending headache, I climbed into the passenger seat.

“Alright, let’s get going.”

“What happened to the van?”

“I don’t drive that van well. It’s too big for me.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Besides, I’ve always had a bit of a dream about cars. Once I started making money, buying a car like this became my little goal, so now that I have it, I like to take it out whenever I can.”

I mean… I get it. Still, it’s a bit flashy, isn’t it?

And here I am in sweats, which don’t match the car at all…

Hm, though Changsik’s outfit isn’t that different from mine.

“Why are you looking at my clothes? You look like you’re wearing gym clothes yourself.”

“Yep.”

How did he know?

It’s actually my high school gym uniform. It fits well and is comfortable, so why not wear it?

“Wait, are you seriously wearing your high school gym clothes? You still have that?”

“I only graduated less than two years ago.”

If you think about it, it’s only been a year. I graduated last March, after all.

When I mentioned I’d graduated two years ago, Moon Changsik furrowed his brows, staring at me like he’d misheard.

“What did you say?”

“I said it’s been two years since I graduated.”

“You’re twenty-one?”

“What age did you think I was?”

“Oh, well… you speak so maturely that I thought you were in your mid-twenties, just with a young face.”

What in the world?

Did I never mention my age? Or was he too preoccupied to hear it?

“Wait, so you didn’t know my age this whole time?”

“Uh… do you know mine?”

A reverse question right here?

How old is Moon Changsik again? I remember he’s relatively young, but he’s also got a career under his belt…

“Mid to late twenties?”

“See, you don’t know exactly either. And anyway, you could just look me up.”

“When are we getting there? Though I gotta admit, sports cars are pretty nice. They really zoom.”

“Oh, of course.”

We soon arrived in front of a building.

“This is the place?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Nice building—not too big, but it looks like a brand-new construction.

“Nice spot. Are we going inside?”

“Yep, there’s a room downstairs. I’ve booked it for the whole day, so it’ll be just us.”

“The whole day?”

Are we really going to need that much practice?

I mean, it’s probably good for me if we spend a while, considering how I’m using his time…

Inside, the space looked a lot like the studio where I took dance lessons before. 

One wall was lined with mirrors, and while the room was a bit smaller, it was still spacious enough for the two of us.

“Well, shall we start from the basics?”

“Are you sure this is okay? I could’ve just learned from YouTube. I feel like I’m taking up too much of your time.”

Changsik chuckled a bit, as if he hadn’t expected me to say that, and then replied casually.

“I don’t have much going on besides filming lately, so I’ve got plenty of free time. If I hadn’t come here today, I would’ve just stayed home binge-watching some drama.”

Still, getting a one-on-one lesson from Moon Changsik… His fans would probably want to kill me if they knew.

“Even so, why go to all this trouble for me?”

“To be precise, I’m investing in the project. Since you’re appearing alongside me, it’s an investment in our film. Plus, if you decide to pursue acting, maybe you’ll remember this time and consider joining my agency?”

Agency? Come to think of it, he did mention that before.

“Is your agency that good?”

What’s so great about it that he’s personally scouting me? Are they short-staffed?

“It’s less about it being good. I’m actually a major shareholder there.”

Ah… so he’s kind of investing in himself, too. 

That’s some serious confidence—if the agency fails, his stocks would tank too, right? 

Well, with his current popularity, he’d probably be set for three generations, even if things went south.

“Enough with the introductions; let’s get right into it. Shall we start with your walk?”

“But… isn’t it enough to just practice the one scene I have?”

Changsik raised a finger, as if lecturing.

“A great teacher doesn’t just give a starving student a fish; he teaches them how to fish.”

“Excuse me?”

Since when did I become a “student”? I mean, I’m learning for the day, but… does that qualify me as a student?

“Sure, I could just show you the parts for your specific role, but isn’t it more helpful to understand the process rather than memorizing answers by rote? I have plenty of time today anyway. Do you have any appointments?”

Appointments? Well… actually, I do have one.

“I have a… game session with a friend in the evening.”

Even saying it sounds a bit odd, but a promise is a promise.

Changsik raised an eyebrow briefly at the mention of a game, then shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“Evening, huh? We’ll wrap up before then. Luckily, your voice projection is good, so we just need to work on smoothing out a few awkward movements.”

“Yeah, that sounds good…”

It’s not like I have no physical awareness, and I’ve been doing Beat Saber recently, so I think my stamina’s even improved a bit.

“Alright, let’s assume the camera is positioned over here.”

With that, Changsik began his quick crash course on acting. 

And I realized… he might actually have a knack for teaching. Did he practice this while preparing for a role?

Whatever the reason, his instructions seemed to sink right in. 

His voice projection and articulation were excellent, and as a specialist in the field, he was an ideal guide. 

Thanks to him, I quickly got the gist of the basics.

Now, it was time to practice my assigned role.

“Alright, let’s give it a go.”

“Are we really… doing this?”

“You’ll have to do it on set anyway, and isn’t it better here than in front of all the staff?”

He had a point…

I recalled the lines I’d memorized last night. 

Not too much had been added—maybe ten lines at most? Fortunately, it was still a minor role.

But…

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes. I’ll practice with you, so give it your all.”

Alright, here goes.

Just like Changsik taught me.

I imagined myself in the recording studio.

The good thing is that imagining myself in a recording studio is actually pretty easy. 

After all, I’ve spent countless hours in a composer’s studio, recording over and over. Some days, I’d be there for hours. 

I overlay the empty room with the image of a recording studio, picturing the walls, glass window, microphone, and the soundproof door that I’ll soon be walking through. 

Maybe it’s just my imagination, or perhaps this is closer to the side of me that loves drawing, but I can visualize it all instantly.

With the room transformed into a recording studio in my mind, I begin acting out the scene as written in the script.

At first, it doesn’t even feel like acting—I’m just doing what I’ve done countless times before: recording and stepping out of the studio.

One added layer is that, in this role, I’m supposed to be a top star.

Not just any star, but a young, beautiful, confident, and highly successful one. I picture myself as the epitome of a top-tier celebrity, nose in the air, exuding pure confidence.

With an air of utter self-assurance, I stride out of the recording booth, as if there couldn’t possibly have been a single flaw in my performance. 

Waiting for me, however, is a surly producer with a condescending look.

“How was it?” I ask, full of confidence.

“Eh, it’s fine,” he replies dismissively.

He’s the so-called “fallen genius.” Unlike me, a star who soared with the weight of fame and expectations, he was crushed under the pressure, a defeated talent. 

Yet, he still looks good and shows glimpses of his former skills, having composed an impressive piece despite withering in his own little corner.

“That’s it? Nothing more to say?”

“Yeah, nothing else. There’s no feedback to give, so you can leave now.”

He’s a bit rude, but he’s got potential—it would be a waste to leave him like this.

“Tsk. You’re underselling yourself.”

Seriously, he’s too bland. Even the top producer at our company isn’t this cold.

“Would you like me to praise you?” I taunt, leaning in with a smirk.

He glares back at me with that blunt expression. Let’s see how long he can hold it.

Step—

I stride closer, taking a long step, and notice a crack in his impassive expression.

How about I break that mask?

I reach out, casually holding his smooth jaw.

“Do you really dislike me that much? Even though I… I—”

Just then, the background I’d created shatters, and I’m face-to-face with an utterly baffled Moon Changsik.

Oh, my god! This is so cringeworthy!

How am I supposed to do this?

“Break! I need a break!”

I collapse in frustration, lying flat on the floor.

I feel my whole body curling up in embarrassment!

I feel really sorry for Changsik, but keeping a straight face is almost impossible! There’s a limit to immersing yourself in a role. 

Who wrote this script? Bring them here. Seriously, who acts like this in real life?

Just as the wave of shame started to make my face turn red, Changsik approached me with a bewildered expression.

“Uh… Are you sure you don’t have any acting experience?”

“Pardon?”

Why is he asking that? Is he trying to hype me up now? 

Even if he is, it won’t undo the cringe in my hands and feet.

“You’ve never taken any lessons before?”

“No, you saw it yourself, right? We did the test scene together.”

His confused expression quickly shifted to shock, and suddenly, a strange light sparked in his eyes.

What’s this? Did I… actually do well?

But… why is he looking at me like that?—

**Author’s Note**

Thank you so much for the 100-coin donation, Pianonotebook! It feels like an overwhelming welcome-back gift. 

It’s been heartening to see readers express concern about the series during the break, and I’m incredibly grateful. 

To clarify, even if I enter the contest, Suhyun’s story won’t be ending anytime soon. I’ve got a lot of love for this story, and Suhyun still has so much to show.

While I can’t guarantee there won’t be more breaks, I promise that Suhyun’s story won’t be abruptly cut short—it’s come too far for that.

Thank you for your support, and please look forward to what’s next!