The Daughter of a Conglomerate Family Has Debuted - Chapter 286
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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There are quite a few inconveniences about this place not being Korea.
Usually when opinions about the album come up, like featuring with someone or bridge arrangements, the big advantage of our Day Entertainment was being able to talk with staff right away and get immediate feedback.
But coming to America, it takes forever just to ask a question and get an answer back.
While waiting to hear back, we’ve put our music production on hold and are just steadily preparing Cael Arden’s album.
Unlike our Flora which is making no progress at all, Cael Arden’s album is almost complete.
The song I participated in for Cael Arden has already finished recording and is complete, and the song sung together with Flora is progressing step by step under Han Da-min’s direction.
Cael Arden will probably be able to safely release his new album and make his comeback according to his planned schedule.
‘The problem is us.’
When will we ever create and complete songs for our comeback…
I thought we had finished everything we needed to do in Korea before coming to America. But now that we’re here, the communication delays are much more inconvenient than expected.
‘It’s too late to think about this now though.’
Time cruelly flew by quickly, and before we knew it, we were at the end of our American schedule.
It was the day of filming Cael Arden’s new album title track music video.
“Ji-ye, this kind of makeup suits you incredibly well too?”
“Right? Maybe it’s because her features are so striking.”
Glitter was plastered all over my face.
I frowned at the tickling sensation and held my breath.
And when I finally opened my eyes a moment later, the makeup in a style I’d never tried before was complete, just as the stylist had said.
“This looks totally American!”
“Right? We studied hard since it’s a makeup style we’ve never done before either.”
I’ve done heavy color makeup several times while performing on countless stages, but this was a first.
Dramatically raised eyeliner, skin that looked bronze from heavily emphasized shading with matching matte lipstick, and golden hair with lots of waves.
And most noticeably, freckles on my face.
If I had to compare this look I’d never tried before to something… hmm…
It resembled the villain who bullies the female protagonist in those high teen dramas I used to watch as a child.
You know, the cheerleader role who dates the popular football player.
At first glance, I looked so completely different that even our family members or fans might not recognize me.
“They said it’s a high teen song, so I guess the music video concept is reminiscent of high teen dramas too.”
“Haha, seems like it. I caught a glimpse and Cael Arden was wearing a football uniform.”
“Please tell me the story isn’t about me and him dating? That would be a bit much.”
At my words, manager Seong Ji-soo chuckled and shook her head.
“Of course not. Would we okay that kind of story?”
True, I’m not an idol who’s been around for a long time, so I should still be careful even with acting.
“They said there’s a separate female lead.”
“Oh, really? Then am I really playing the villain trying to steal the female lead’s position?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Ji-soo giggled as she explained.
According to her, rather than participating in the music video’s story, I’m playing the role of a popular cheerleader who only appears briefly when my parts come up.
I won’t meet Cael Arden at all in the music video, and I just need to lip-sync my parts and leave.
It was a very easy scene that didn’t even require acting.
“That’s actually better!”
This might really be Cael Arden’s consideration for me.
I heard the music video content itself is a high teen love story, and there are some things I need to be mindful of when filming that…
It was perfect for me to just appear as a popular cheerleader in lip-sync scenes.
Anyway, after finishing makeup and changing clothes, I went outside and moved to a large American football stadium.
In the dark night, lights everywhere were illuminating the stadium’s grass in a green glow.
Dozens of cameras were set up.
They said they rented this huge space solely to film me.
While renting for filming is natural, to think this big space is filled with so many cameras and staff just to film me alone…
A bit of pressure started to hit me.
I was guided by staff toward the center of the stadium.
Countless lights poured down on me like spotlights and everyone was looking at me.
Honestly, with several times more staff than Flora’s music video filming location, I felt a bit intimidated.
‘I’m nervous but…’
I can still do this.
It’s not even a scene with full choreography, I just need to confidently lip-sync in front of the rotating camera.
“You don’t need to feel too pressured. If you get nervous, just say so right away. We’ll give you time to prepare slowly.”
The director who said that confusingly proceeded with filming immediately after speaking.
Even though I wasn’t mentally prepared at all.
He seemed to have mistaken my stiff expression for a relaxed one.
It was a disaster caused by forgetting again that Ryu Ji-ye’s facial muscles are stiffer than Hong Yeo-eun’s.
The song played without fail and I started filming right away.
Hey, how can you not look at me?
I’m someone who shines without even realizing it.
Some people tell me I’m just normal,
while others say I look like a factory made doll.
But open your eyes and look at me again
my essence is so special, it shines as brightly as a diamond.
A song delivered with confident expressions and full gestures.
This song is about telling all the countless people who ignored, turned away from, and didn’t give opportunities to Cael Arden before he succeeded, “Look, look at me! I was actually a diamond buried in the dirt!”
It’s a song about how uncertainty about his future has disappeared, and he’s now convinced that he really is a diamond and absolutely an unbreakable person no matter what anyone says.
Amazingly, Cael Arden gave me an important part that matches the song’s theme.
Filming on the cool night grass field.
After that, we moved locations and filmed similarly under spotlights on high red carpet stairs.
My parts ended much faster than expected. The main filming that Cael Arden’s side must be doing would be different though.
“How do you feel now that the music video filming is over?”
Right after filming ended, I smiled and answered the behind-the-scenes cameraman who approached with a question.
“I was surprised it ended much faster than expected. The filming was also—can I say this?—incredibly easy.”
“This is your first time appearing in another singer’s music video instead of Flora’s. How was it?”
“That other singer being none other than Cael Arden’s music video is such an honor. Honestly, everything feels new and fascinating.”
Being invited to another country might have made me feel that way even more, but everything that proceeded was fresh because it was different from Korea’s system.
First of all, the number of staff is ridiculously large. Not just for music videos, but even when working on songs.
Creating songs, recording, and filming music videos with workers whose names alone are recognizable.
All those processes ran surprisingly systematically.
And that’s not all? The people I met naturally talked about ‘what’s next.’
This work was an opportunity, and naturally other opportunities were created with the collaborators I worked with.
I could only look forward to how many more opportunities would arise while working together on Cael Arden’s upcoming album activities.
“Personally, I learned a lot, and I’m just truly grateful to everyone who created such good opportunities.”
“So the filming is completely finished now?”
As I nodded at the staff’s words and was about to move to find my manager, I heard some commotion from somewhere.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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