It had been two months since Dream Future wrapped up, which made this unexpected fan meeting seem a little strange to Seoyeon.

    Even more surprising was that it wasn’t just fans attending this event; there were also people coming from a Japanese broadcasting station.

    ''There’s no way an overseas company would request a domestic fan meeting.’

    She’d heard that Dream Future had recently sold its broadcasting rights to Japan. Maybe they were coming to check in on the series that was set to air in Japan soon.

    "Don’t get your hopes up too much."

    While she was lost in thought, she noticed Park Jung-woo, looking sharp in his formal suit, glancing her way. Next to him stood Ma Yeon-woo, forming an odd and mismatched duo.

    ‘They really stand out.’

    The two of them together had a way of making the female staff passing by stop in their tracks. After all, Park Jung-woo was a rising star, and Ma Yeon-woo was a member of the top domestic idol group, Just X.

    It would be more unusual if they didn’t draw attention.

    "I’m not really expecting much," Seoyeon replied calmly. Her perfect poker face and near-flawless emotional control kept her thoughts well hidden.

    At this, Park Jung-woo chuckled.

    "You’re definitely hoping it’ll do well in Japan."

    "..."

    How did he know?

    Seoyeon’s eyes darted around nervously. Truthfully, she was a bit excited.

    After all, if it aired in Japan, wouldn’t Japanese VTubers watch it too? Maybe someone would even live-stream a reaction to it? Just thinking about it gave her a strange sense of excitement.

    Even if she didn’t see it live, if the show gained popularity, there might be clips or highlights floating around. Dream Future had a distinct vibe, after all.

    ‘Hmm.’

    Seeing Seoyeon’s reaction, Jung-woo nodded, clearly confirming his thoughts.

    ‘I knew it.’

    Although it was hard to gauge her emotions from her face alone, her behavior gave her away. Her light steps, the way her body slightly trembled with anticipation, and most telling of all, the sparkle in her eyes. Seoyeon’s eyes often betrayed her emotions, even if her face didn’t. Sometimes, when her eyes shimmered with a red glow, they even looked a bit terrifying.

    As a child, her eyes had even appeared in his nightmares—usually in a horror context.

    "Alright, everyone, let’s get ready."

    At the staff''s announcement, the celebrities gathered for the fan meeting began to move. The event was taking place at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, a spacious venue with a large audience capacity.

    ‘This is more serious than I thought.’

    Even though she had been involved in the entertainment industry for a long time, this was Seoyeon’s first official fan meeting. While the news about Dream Future airing in Japan was exciting, this event was what had her really buzzing.

    Although she had participated in a press event for Tale of the Hidden Moon, this full-scale fan meeting felt different.

    "Seoyeon, over here."

    As she wandered around, looking for her place, Cha Nahyi waved her over. Nahyi, looking relaxed and comfortable, was clearly used to these kinds of events.

    It was moments like these that reminded Seoyeon of how different idols were from actors. Idols were definitely pros when it came to interacting with fans.

    "What kind of magic did you pull off?"

    "Huh?"

    "Your group’s been so quiet lately."

    Nahyi had plenty to ask Seoyeon after a long time apart. Summer Girls was a group known for its internal conflicts.

    Even the OST work for Sky Garden, a drama in which Nahyi had a role, had stirred up tension within the group. But now? They had been working diligently, completing their tasks with a focus and professionalism that was rare.

    Without any drama or discord, they had simply gotten the job done.

    "Maybe they just really wanted to do a good job?" Seoyeon suggested.

    "Is that so?"

    Nahyi seemed doubtful. When she had asked So-eun, the most reasonable member of Summer Girls, about the change, she got a strange response.

    "Seoyeon showed them magic."

    "Huh?"

    "And they met a magician."

    "???"

    Though So-eun wasn’t known for her sense of humor, she wasn’t one to lie either. Did Seoyeon really perform magic and introduce them to a magician?

    ‘No, that’s ridiculous.’

    But the more she thought about it, the more her mind entertained the possibility. After all, Hyper Action Star had showcased Seoyeon’s character in a way that made her seem almost superhuman.

    ‘Seoyeon’s just a bit... extra healthy.’

    Nahyi found Seoyeon’s exuberant personality adorable and didn’t give much thought to the rumors or gossip surrounding her.

    "I really don’t know."

    Seoyeon felt a bit uneasy under Nahyi’s gaze but maintained her composure.

    "I just showed them a magic trick to get closer."

    "Magic trick? You can do magic?"

    Following Jung-woo’s gaze, Ma Yeon-woo noticed Seoyeon’s line.

    ‘She’s that popular?’

    She really was a rising star.

    Even Cha Nahyi’s line was long. At this rate, Ma Yeon-woo might not even make third place.

    He chuckled to himself. Despite the competition, every fan was precious, and he greeted the first fan in line with a warm smile.

    "Since there are a lot of people, it’s better to keep the autographs simple," Nahyi advised quietly, noticing the crowd.

    "I’ll be fine," Seoyeon replied with a smile.

    She was filled with excitement. This was her first time showing her signature to the public, aside from Han Seon-ah. She had spent countless hours practicing at home, ready to finally reveal it.

    She couldn’t help but remember how her classmates used to look at her strangely when she carried her pen around school, hoping someone would ask for an autograph.

    ‘What does she plan to do with that pen?’

    Their wary looks had made her quietly stash the pen away.

    ‘Wow, she’s fast.’

    Nahyi glanced over at Seoyeon’s signing process and was impressed. Her signature was surprisingly cute and intricate, something that looked like it would take time to write. Yet, Seoyeon’s hand moved swiftly, producing perfectly crafted signatures one after the other.

    It was almost like watching a printer in action.

    Despite signing so many autographs, Seoyeon showed no signs of fatigue. In fact, she seemed energized, and her cheerful mood lifted Nahyi’s spirits too.

    ‘Huh?’

    As Nahyi continued to sign, she noticed something unusual.

    A mother and her young daughter, probably just entering elementary school, stood in front of Seoyeon. The little girl, who had been waiting in the crowd for a while, was clearly tired, but her face lit up the moment she saw Seoyeon.

    "My daughter’s a big fan. I loved the drama too."

    The mother’s tone was refined, almost like a teacher’s.

    She had an air of elegance about her, which matched her voice.

    But what caught Nahyi’s attention wasn’t just the mother-daughter duo—it was Seoyeon’s reaction.

    Seoyeon, who had been signing non-stop, suddenly froze. Her eyes widened slightly, and the red hue in them seemed to shimmer.

    However, she quickly recovered.

    "Thank you so much for watching. Your daughter is adorable!"

    "Hehe."

    The little girl giggled, and Seoyeon, rare for her, smiled back as she signed.

    Other fans had tried to shake Seoyeon’s hand, but the girl didn’t ask for that. Her mother gently reminded her not to bother the actress.

    "Don’t trouble the actress."

    "But~!"

    "It’s okay," Seoyeon said, taking the girl’s hand with a bright smile.

    "Make sure you don’t give your mom any trouble, okay?"

    "Yes!"

    The mother smiled and moved along, and Seoyeon waved them off.

    After that, the rest of the signing event went smoothly without any further issues.

    Seoyeon seemed perfectly normal, parting ways with everyone with a smile. At least, that’s how it appeared to Nahyi. She couldn’t shake a small feeling of unease.

    Seoyeon stood in front of the vending machine, lost in thought. She wanted to grab a cold drink before heading home.

    ‘No coins.’

    She had been caught folding too many coins, and they had all been confiscated. And this vending machine didn’t take cards, of course.

    "Here."

    Out of nowhere, Park Jung-woo appeared, handing her a can of cold coffee.

    "...What are you doing here?"

    "Well, this is a staff area, so of course, I’d be here."

    He laughed, noticing Seoyeon’s embarrassment.

    Jung-woo had clearly noticed her unease earlier and had come to offer a little help. It wasn’t hard to tell that she was feeling unsettled.

    ‘Nahyi unnie had been watching me closely too.’

    Seoyeon wasn’t particularly bothered by what had happened earlier. She was just a little surprised.

    Nothing more, nothing less.

    But now, she had something to think about.

    Something she’d been considering for a while.

    ‘Maybe I’ll talk to writer Min Se-hee about it later.’

    Taking a sip of the cold coffee, Seoyeon felt her mood lighten.