Chapter 3: Interview
Time passed, regardless of my mental state.
Before I knew it, it was already audition day.
The first round, like a document screening, I expected to pass easily, so I barely remember it.
I mean, with this face, they’d probably pass me just out of curiosity even if I submitted a blank resume with a photo.
But that’s trivial compared to now.
I put on something simple yet neat.
My face turns even a tidy outfit into an intimidating vibe, but it’s still less scary than a suit, right?
Phew, the nerves…! They’re not settling…
I’ve always had a strong heart, but after going through something as absurd as TS and regression, I must’ve built immunity to most things.
…Especially after what happened a few days ago.
As I opened the company door, I felt everyone glance at me briefly before turning away.
It’s a look I’ve gotten a lot over the past three weeks.
They scan me from bottom to top, see my face, and then bow their heads.
If someone’s eyes don’t land on me, it’s proof they’re not healthy, so I can forgive them with my generous heart.
With such pointless thoughts, I arrived at the waiting room.
I sat in an empty seat and scrolled through my phone.
Oh! This! It’d be fun, right? It’d definitely show my personality!
Even if I fail this audition, I won’t have regrets, but I feel like I’d regret not doing this, so I decided to go for it.
While I was messing with my phone, inspired by a sudden idea, someone came in.
“As announced, the interviews will be conducted individually, starting with number one.”
My turn is number eight, so it’s soon.
It didn’t take long before my name was called.
“Number eight, Lee Yeonwoo!”
“Yes!”
Entering the interview room, I saw three people looking surprised at me.
I recognized the person in the middle and dug into my memories.
Oh! The CEO of Gaon Entertainment!
…The CEO’s doing the interviews?
I sat in the chair in the center, and the interview began.
“Lee Yeonwoo?”
“Yes.”
“Um… you’ve never been an idol trainee or worked as a model, right?”
“No.”
They seem to want to confirm properly.
Fair enough—I’d also wonder what someone with this face has been doing if they haven’t been in the industry.
“What’s your motivation for applying?”
“I enjoy watching internet broadcasts, and I’m interested in anime, so I applied.”
“Any issues like school bullying in your past?”
“No, I lived quietly.”
“Do you have accounts on online communities?”
“I only lurk on all communities, never post.”
The early questions were basic like this.
As expected, there were a lot of questions about verifying my character.
“Could we hear you sing briefly?”
“Yes, I’ll sing a short K-pop girl group song and a J-pop song.”
After my singing demo, I observed the interviewers’ faces.
This worked!
They asked about other skills and such, until only the final question remained.
“So, why should we choose you?”
I’d been waiting for this moment.
With a serious expression, I said,
“My entire fortune is on the line.”
“What?”
Here’s what I was doing on my phone in the waiting room.
“I invested all my savings in Gaon Entertainment stock today.”
“What?!”
If the earlier “what” was mixed with confusion, this one was more like, “What is she talking about?”
“While in the waiting room, I used all the money I’ve saved to buy Gaon Entertainment stock. I can show you now if you’d like.”
“Huh?!”
“To raise the stock price, I absolutely need to be selected and join the company.”
“Oh… right…”
That’s it?
…Kind of disappointing.
I was so excited about their reactions when this idea hit me…
And so, the interview ended with me feeling let down.
They said the results could take up to two weeks.
Since the interview was over, I stopped by my family home.
“Nayeon! I’m here!”
My parents are still at work since they both have jobs.
“What? Why’re you here, unnie?”
“Felt like coming, why?”
“What, the homebody’s gonna abandon her base now that she’s got a new place?”
She must be happy to see me after so long.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m happy to see you too.”
“I’m studying, so don’t bother me.”
“You actually study?”
Well, she did get into a decent university.
…And at least she got into a better company than me, so I’ve got nothing to say.
“Hey! Don’t come into my room!”
“Alright, alright.”
Leaving the reunion banter behind, I went to my room.
Hmm! It’s been a while since I’ve been in my… room…?
This isn’t the vibe I remember.
Just in case, I checked my female memories, but it wasn’t like this back then either.
The room in front of me was filled with all sorts of junk.
…No wonder the house felt so clean.
“Sigh…”
I let out a sigh and went to Nayeon’s room.
“Hey! I said don’t come in!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ignoring her, I flopped onto her bed.
“You could’ve at least told me you’re using my room as storage.”
“Oh, I didn’t mention?”
“Nope.”
“Then go to the couch.”
“Thanks.”
She means don’t disturb her and stay quiet.
“Hey!”
Did I misinterpret that?
“I’m going to a vocal academy.”
I didn’t want to fight with my sister after so long, so I quickly changed the topic.
“For real? You gonna be a celebrity or something?”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you?”
Nice, topic change successful.
“What?! You’re actually becoming a celebrity?!”
Seeing Nayeon’s shocked expression, I explained further.
“Not exactly a celebrity, and I dropped out of university.”
Are VTubers considered celebrities since they’re signed to an agency? I’m not sure.
Well, it’s not even certain if I’ll pass, so whatever.
“Huh?! What, a scam—nah, you wouldn’t fall for that.”
I’m glad she trusts me.
“I’m gonna do internet broadcasting.”
That’s all I told her.
“Gasp! Unnie! Why that choice?!”
“…What’s with that reaction?”
Was the perception of internet broadcasting bad at this time? No, it wasn’t.
“If the world finds out who you really are, how’re you gonna get married?!”
I’m not. I can’t.
“I’m gonna live alone.”
“That’s a waste of your genes, isn’t it?”
“I won’t be around then, so it’s fine.”
We had some silly back-and-forth.
“And watch what you say on air.”
“Me? I barely swear.”
“No, I mean show some empathy.”
“Don’t make me out to be some sociopath.”
Nayeon frowned and asked,
“Last year, when I said I was cold, what’d you say?”
“That it’s winter, so of course it’s cold.”
“See! If you say stuff like that on air, you’ll hurt people!”
“What should I say then?”
What do you say when someone’s cold in winter?
Tell them to wear more layers?
“Anyway! Be careful what you say! People get canceled for saying the wrong thing these days!”
Even so, Nayeon doesn’t seem to think I’ll fail.
“Why aren’t you stopping me if you think I’ll flop?”
“No matter what kind of broadcast you do, if you show your face, your three viewers will turn into three thousand, right?”
…She’s not wrong.
Time passed, and my parents came home.
“What? You’re here?”
“Mom, you could’ve told me you’re using my room as storage.”
“Oh, I forgot.”
I see.
“Where’s Dad?”
“Sorry.”
Short and sweet.
“You staying for dinner?”
“I’m staying the night.”
“Then make dinner as a lodging fee. Nayeon said your cooking’s gotten really good.”
Mom’s still so cool.
“Dad, what should I make?”
“Hm… dakbokkeumtang?”
Dakbokkeumtang, huh…
“You got chicken?”
“Yeah.”
That’s settled then.
I went to the kitchen, took out the chicken for dakbokkeumtang, and prepped it to remove any gamey smell.
I grabbed a pot, added the chicken, and poured just enough water to cover it.
While it boiled, I roughly prepped some veggies from the fridge.
As the water boiled, I skimmed off the foam with a spoon and added two big spoonfuls of minced garlic from the fridge.
I tossed in the veggies, added chicken stock, soy sauce, and gochugaru, and seasoned to taste.
“Done!”
My family’s review of my dakbokkeumtang:
“Now go get married. We made a doll, but what’s the point if you can’t even date like one?”
That’s Mom.
“My daughter, Dad’s not ready to let you go yet.”
That’s Dad.
“Got any more?”
That’s the pet pig we keep at home.
It’s fascinating because it talks like a human.
Back at my place, rolling around on my bed, I remembered something I forgot.
Oh, I went to tell my parents I dropped out.
Eh, it’ll be fine.
A few days later, the interview results came in.
The text message, summarised:
You passed.
We’ll have a one-on-one meeting.
Send us your available days next week.
A perfect three-line summary.
I texted back that I’m free every day except Friday and stretched.
“Argh! I did it!”
Achieving a goal feels good.
Come to think of it, when I was a guy, this group had five members.
So, is it six with me now? Or did someone drop out, so it’s still five?
Time passed, and the day of the meeting arrived.
Having been to the place for the interview before, I got there more easily this time.
As I entered the room, I saw two women talking, then stop.
Huh? Weren’t they both at the interview?
“Hello, I’m Min Jiyu, the manager for this VTuber group.”
Oh, the manager.
“I’m Im Jua, the head of this VTuber group.”
She looks young but has a high position?
“Hello. I’m Lee Yeonwoo, who passed the final interview.”
“Yeonwoo.”
Why’s she looking so serious?
“Yes.”
“I know it’s odd to say this after selecting you…”
What’s she about to say?
“Yes.”
“…Are you not interested in being an idol or a singer instead of a VTuber?”