Chapter 37
At first, I thought about asking Seonghan.
But considering that the company would find out that Ji-hyun was taking an interest in one of the trainees appearing on the show, it didn’t seem like it would do any good.
More than that, remembering Seonghan’s somewhat negative attitude toward Ji-hyun’s activities, I couldn’t bring myself to casually say anything like before.
Eventually, a reply came from Hyunji, but it wasn’t particularly helpful.
It was just, “I heard the new trainee who joined there dances a bit.” That was all.
In the end, the key was Se-hee’s appearance in the audition video that writer Eun-ji would send.
Unless she had had surgery to change her face, there was no way Ji-hyun wouldn’t recognize her.
Sigh… waiting feels like carrying a thousand-pound weight.
I was so distracted that I couldn’t focus on anything. Even when I played a fancam of Ayung, who I liked so much, I ended up turning it off after a few minutes because my mind kept wandering.
Time dragged like an eternity, and just as my impatience was peaking, Eun-ji contacted me.
YTB Writer Yang Eun-ji
Ji-hyun, I just sent the audition video of applicant Jang Se-hee to your email! Check it out!
At those words, Ji-hyun’s hands shook as she bolted toward the computer like a bullet.
The unease that rose instinctively seemed to confirm that her instincts had been right all along.
[159_Sodam Entertainment_Jang Se-hee]
The moment Ji-hyun double-clicked the file, she let out a short groan.
The video opened to show her past self, preparing to dance to the music in a studio-like space.
As expected, Jang Se-hee was alive.
No wonder there hadn’t been a single accident article, and Ayung’s fate wasn’t the worry—whether she’d left fandom or not was what had concerned me.
By the way, this person…
Something felt off. Ji-hyun stared intently at Se-hee on the screen.
Now that I think about it, I had always wondered: why wasn’t there a single accident report? Why couldn’t I get in contact?
Above all, if Se-hee had possessed An Ji-hyun’s body, where had the original An Ji-hyun gone?
But all of this could be easily explained if Se-hee and Ji-hyun had swapped bodies.
Even the current question—why Se-hee’s audition video was this outstanding—made sense.
Let’s assume this person is originally An Ji-hyun.
Ji-hyun examined the video carefully.
Sure enough, the label “top idol” wasn’t a lie. Even though it should be Se-hee’s body—someone who had never danced before—the movements were smooth and captivating enough to grab anyone’s attention immediately.
On top of that, she didn’t miss the vocals.
The short audition video showcased such an impressive performance that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say anyone would pass her.
Of course, some limitations were visible. Her vocal tone and volume, her naturally smaller stature compared to Ji-hyun, gave her slightly less presence.
But Se-hee covered all of that so skillfully, without a hint of nervousness, it was as if they were just tricks in her repertoire.
Her expression radiated both composure and a strange, almost ferocious determination. She even looked like she was enjoying it.
It began with shock, and ended with amazement.
As expected, the only person capable of such a performance was An Ji-hyun.
But… why?
Honestly, it was a little scary. It almost felt like meeting the person who had taken my body and plotting revenge.
But more than that, I wanted to ask. I wanted to meet them. To be honest, there were a mountain of things I wanted to say.
But… is that even possible?
As Ji-hyun thought this with a hopeless expression, something struck her mind like a blow.
Come to think of it, no quest warning had appeared.
A warning always popped up whenever I tried to meet Se-hee before.
But this time, nothing. Even though she was feeling such strong curiosity.
Could it be possible now? Could Ji-hyun call Se-hee at the number she remembered?
Unlike the past, no warning appeared.
Which meant it could now be interpreted that meeting Se-hee would cause no problems.
Yet there was one more question.
If meeting Se-hee at this point was part of the predetermined flow, why didn’t a quest telling her to meet Se-hee appear?
Was it because there was another ongoing quest?
But the recording day for the music festival still has several days left.
And just because a quest exists doesn’t mean another quest can’t appear. There had been event quests that popped up during other quest progress before.
So, for now, the conclusion was: it’s not important enough to appear as a quest, but it’s also not dangerous enough to avoid.
In other words… do whatever you want.
Having come to that conclusion, Ji-hyun didn’t hesitate and dialed her old number.
-♩♬♪
As the ringtone played, a thought occurred.
In movies, normally in these situations, the phone would have changed or show “number not available.”
But the number hadn’t changed, and the ringtone playing was still the song she had set.
Click.
The song barely started when it stopped. Someone had answered.
-Hello?
The voice was calm, unflustered.
It even carried a sense of ease, as if they had expected the call.
Swallowing dryly, Ji-hyun finally moved her lips slowly.
“Uh… I’m not sure what I should say, so… um…”
Naturally, the name she called out now felt awkward.
Ji-hyun’s lips parted, and the name came out.
“Ji-hyun… right?”
-Yes.
Compared to that, Se-hee’s voice had no tremor at all.
-It’s strange. Hearing that voice in my ears… though I guess it’s the same for you, Se-hee. Or should I say… Ji-hyun now?
“Yes, yes… whatever you’re comfortable with.”
-Then I’ll call you Ji-hyun. You can just call me Se-hee.
“Yes… Se-hee.”
Ji-hyun, or rather, Se-hee, led the conversation so comfortably that Ji-hyun’s voice began to settle too.
Se-hee wasn’t hostile, nor did she try to sweeten her words. She was concise and to the point. That was her style.
-Looks like we have more to talk about. Shall we meet?
On the way to meet Se-hee
“Um…”
“…”
“Boss…?”
“Oh.”
Lost in thought, Ji-hyun hadn’t heard the voice properly.
She slowly lifted her resting chin and looked in the rearview mirror.
Seo-yoon was looking at her with a concerned gaze.
“It might be nosy of me, but… is something wrong?”
“…Does it look like it?”
“Yes.”
Seo-yoon spoke gently while driving.
“You didn’t want to listen to music, and usually you’d say a word or two to me, but today you’re so quiet.”
“Ah…”
Should I ask?
The thought struck her.
Of course, Se-hee probably wouldn’t contact Seo-yoon actively. But since Ji-hyun used to interact with her, there might still be some point of contact.
For instance, even if Ji-hyun didn’t initiate, she might still get involved with people around the original An Ji-hyun.
Maybe she could find some small clue that way.
But once again, a warning flashed in her mind.
※Warning: This action may negatively affect the current quest’s progress. Forcing it may lead to death.
Even though I’m about to meet Se-hee in person, I can’t talk to Seo-yoon… what does this mean?
It meant something was still hidden. And it gave me a headache.
