In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 112

A week later, the studio recording day for the fourth round arrived.

I sat in front of the dressing room mirror, receiving makeup with a gaunt face.

Even if I stayed still, my eyes were on the verge of closing.

“I can do something about the dark circles, but your eyes are too bloodshot,” the stylist said, looking troubled.

Hearing that, I fumbled and reached for the handbag placed next to me.

I took out the eye drops I had prepared in advance. They were eye drops that erased the bloodshot marks.

I squeezed out a drop, two drops into my eyes, and let out a small scream.

“Ouch, my eyes hurt.”

“Oh, they say it’s not good to use that too much!”

“Aaaagh.”

At that moment, the dressing room door opened and Ha Sung-joon entered.

Ha Sung-joon was startled to see me shedding tears.

“Wh-what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

I silently held up the eye drops to Ha Sung-joon.

“Oh my. You scared me! I thought you were having a hard time lately,” Ha Sung-joon sighed in relief and sat down next to me.

“Anyway, you really surprised me. Wasn’t the decision made too suddenly?” Ha Sung-joon asked, jumping right into the conversation.

“I guess so.”

Ha Sung-joon exclaimed at my answer. “You’re really amazing. I thought Do Chang-hyun would definitely go to Bareum Entertainment.”

“Chang-hyun should play in bigger leagues. He’s a friend with a bright future.”

“Wow, even humility!” Ha Sung-joon made a fuss.

“Still, Saena, you were really in danger. If you had been a little late, oh my.”

Listening to Do Chang-hyun’s name, I sighed as if to say, ‘You bet.’ It was true that everything from Do Chang-hyun’s agency contract to his statement was a race against the clock.

‘Well, four newspapers had articles about you and Do Chang-hyun ready to go, just waiting for confirmation. That’s just the ones I heard about; there must have been more,’ Min-young unnie [older sister or close female friend] told me all the information she had picked up from people in the industry.

If I had been even a minute late, I couldn’t imagine what the situation would be like now.

“Ugh.”

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

Park Seok-jin sunbae [senior colleague], whom I met entering the studio early in the morning, left a meaningful word, ‘You’ve worked hard.’

Ha Sung-joon said, smoothing his hair. “Still, it’s a relief that he joined Lee Seok-hyun’s agency. No matter how big AK is, they can’t touch that place.”

“…Yes.”

Ha Sung-joon was right. Without Lee Seok-hyun’s active support and the CEO’s quick thinking, the response would have been delayed.

“I heard the president of that agency has quite the temper. Once he bites, he tears the opponent apart.”

This industry is always biting, chewing, and tearing apart.

It was also uncertain whether Yang Eui-cheol would back down. Therefore, I was still on high alert.

I wondered what Yang Eui-cheol was doing right now.

“Recording in 30 minutes.”

I straightened my posture, hearing the staff’s voice echoing in the hallway.

The audition journey, which was short if short and long if long, was about to end. I pushed away the unpleasantness caused by Yang Eui-cheol, and a strange sense of relief filled me.

Do Chang-hyun, who had been a pain in the neck, would no longer be a mentee but a colleague after today.

“Then let’s look at the costumes now.”

I got up from my seat, following the stylist.

* * *

“Now, finally, the last round of ! The audition for stars dreaming of becoming actors, let’s begin the final story.”

With the MC’s comment, the curtain finally rose on the last recording. As bright lights came on throughout the studio, I could see the audience sitting with placards at a glance.

The names of the sixteen participants were written on those placards. The mentees’ families were also gathered in various places with earnest expressions.

“The two highly anticipated short dramas will be revealed here today. They are the bubbly romantic comedy and the youth noir .”

A trailer played on the VCR along with the MC’s introduction of the works. Cheers erupted from the audience.

“Let me tell you the order of proceedings. First, there will be a screening of the two works. After that, judging, voting, and scoring will take place, and the final rankings will be announced.”

It would be a particularly long recording, but everyone in the audience had expectant expressions. The same was true for the judges’ seats.

Not only the head judge but also all four mentors had excited faces as if they were about to stand on stage. I was also tired from being tormented all week by Do Chang-hyun’s agency issue, but my heart was pounding.

“Now, let’s start watching the two works right away.”

First up was .

The studio lights went out and the sound of film rolling played from the VCR. The screen brightened and a sentimental film camera recording played.

A video full of affection, with lovers capturing each other with a film camera. As Hwang Yu-sun’s mentee Kim Min-seok and my mentee Min So-hyun smiled brightly at each other in front of the camera, cheers erupted from the audience.

In the drama, the two were young teachers assigned to a rural elementary school, enjoying a thrilling in-house romance. The scene where Min So-hyun learns to play the harmonica from Kim Min-seok in the empty classroom after all the children have gone home was the highlight.

The warm sunlight coming through the window, the thin curtains swelling greatly even in a small breeze, and the radiant smiles blooming on the two people’s faces.

Min So-hyun and Kim Min-seok were creating a naturally exciting situation that could not be seen as acting. Listening to that clumsy harmonica performance made me smile.

Seeing the two people captured in one screen, the expression ‘their art styles are similar’ came to mind. The story flowed without major ups and downs, relying on the chemistry between the two people.

Of course, some might find it boring.

Suddenly, I wondered how long it had been since I had seen such a textbook romance drama. A pleasant stimulus, like ripples on a calm surface.

‘Teacher Jung, why are you so bad at physical education?’

‘Seriously. Just because you know how to play the harmonica, are you looking down on me?’

‘No. I’ve just seen you running around with the kids on the playground sometimes. And that look is like….’

‘Like what?’

‘Like a mudskipper.’

Even the writer’s witty lines made me laugh from time to time. Both of them delivered their lines plainly so that the actors’ desires did not precede the situation.

Hwang Yu-sun and Ha Sung-joon, who were good at romantic comedies, made a fuss the whole time.

“What, what’s going on with those two.”

“No, what’s with Min-seok’s eyes. That’s love.”

“Kyaa- where did they learn that. They weren’t even taught.”

Other supporting actors who supported the main actors also shined in various situations. Most of the supporting roles were teachers from the next class who made the two people’s romance more interesting.

‘Oh, it’s getting hard for me to pretend I don’t know them anymore.’

‘Leave them alone, they probably think they’re fooling us completely.’

‘Seriously, they’d be shocked if they knew even the principal knew.’

* * *

After a short break.

The screening of the second work began immediately. captivated the audience with a heavy atmosphere, like dropping ink on the refreshing afterimage of the harmonica.

The process of rough, lonely, and sad children from orphanages going out into society and adapting was depicted extremely realistically. Throughout the play, the main character Do Chang-hyun acted roughly with lifeless eyes.

Within that dryness, there was a burning anger towards the world.

Looking at this guy now.

I didn’t sleep because I was worried about Yang Eui-cheol, and the dark circles under my eyes are quite helpful?

I followed Do Chang-hyun’s movements, even thinking about trivial things that I couldn’t tell anyone.

But when Go Seon-ho, a friend who often went astray with Do Chang-hyun, appeared, exclamations suddenly erupted from the audience.

“Wow, he’s really handsome.”

“If you only look at his face, he’s the male lead?”

I heard small whispers right below the judges’ seats.

Ugh.

Objectively, I agreed. I heard that Go Seon-ho received the most love calls from agencies despite his still unrefined skills.

However, Do Chang-hyun made sure that the audience’s attention was not distracted with his acting skills alone.

‘I’m not twisted. If I want to be loved, I know how to say I want to be loved, and if I’m lonely, I know how to say I’m lonely. It’s just that there’s no one to say it to.’

Do Chang-hyun’s empty eyes, placed on the writer’s lines, pierced my heart. Besides, although she left my hands as a mentor, Yoon Ha-neul’s unsparing action was also so beautiful.

Yoon Ha-neul’s expression, wearing an apron from the store where she worked part-time and smoking a cigarette, and every fingertip were filled with boredom.

Just as the conflicts of the main characters reached their peak, an amazing scene unfolded.

‘I thought it was lucky that you were abandoned. I’m sorry. For having hope like that.’

Lee Hyo-seo, who had been hovering around Kim Young-i in the play, appeared drunk and kissed Kim Young-i roughly. The audience was shocked at the same time.

After a short and clumsy kiss, Kim Young-i called out to Lee Hyo-seo, who turned around and staggered away.

‘If you give someone affection, you have to take responsibility. Isn’t that common courtesy between people like us?’

Kim Young-i’s lips covered Lee Hyo-seo’s again.

The camera captured the two people’s unreserved love in a close-up and sensual way.

Huh.

Cheers erupted simultaneously from the judges’ seats and the audience. I could see the cameras quickly capturing the expressions of the audience.

Even though I could see such miscellaneous things, I watched the two people’s acting, blocking the breaths coming out of my hands so as not to lose focus.

Not because they were my babies.

It was really amazing. The best scene in the work created by supporting actors and extras.

I was about to be overwhelmed by the emotions, mood, and chemistry created by the two people. When did these two do this?

Park Eun-gi, who was sitting next to me, also stared at the two people with a blank expression and asked.

“Did Saena teach them?”

“No. No….”

The video moved on to the next scene, but the lingering feeling of the kiss scene from before continued to disturb my mind.

* * *

“Okay, everyone, you’ve waited a long time. Shall we give a round of applause to the actors who have worked hard together?”

The MC induced a response from the audience, looking at the audience who were tired of the long screening. Before the break, the voting and the judges’ scoring were already completed.

Now, only the final rankings remained.

All the participants stood on the stage with nervous expressions. The MC recited each participant’s name and role once again for a long time.

“Now, let’s reveal it. In reverse order.”

A drum-beating sound effect filled the studio. But even that trite sound made the studio reach its peak of tension.

“13th place Kwak Seong-hyuk, 12th place Jang Hee-yeon, 11th place Eom Dan-bi!”

“…?”

The rankings were off from the bottom. While I was looking at the expected rankings I had written down, the other mentors also had surprised expressions.

Jang Hee-yeon and Eom Dan-bi were friends who had low scores in the previous rounds. Besides, they were extras with the fewest role points.

But their rankings were higher than the two supporting actors. Kwak Seong-hyuk, who had even been eliminated, showed a true human victory. How hard did those people work?

Park Eun-gi was looking at Kwak Seong-hyuk with a complicated expression.

The MC continued to call out the rankings slowly, one person at a time. Then, our team member’s name was called for the first time.

“7th place Min So-hyun!!”

It was a slightly lower number than I expected. I tried to hide my disappointment and made eye contact with Min So-hyun, who was standing on the stage.

I smiled broadly to make sure Min So-hyun could see me. Min So-hyun nodded as if she understood my heart. Seeing that made me feel emotional for some reason.

“Okay, Min So-hyun, how do you feel about being in 7th place?”

The MC asked Min So-hyun a question. Tears quickly welled up in Min So-hyun’s eyes as she grabbed the microphone. Seeing that made my eyes turn red.

Oh, really.

Min So-hyun smiled brightly even while shedding tears. “I don’t have any other thoughts… I just want to say thank you to our mentor. Thank you so much for taking responsibility and bringing me here. Thank you for everything.”

I stood up and applauded Min So-hyun. She had less experience learning acting than other friends, but she was so wonderful.

I quickly grabbed the microphone and said. “I’m so proud of you, So-hyun.”

In the end, both Min So-hyun and I burst into tears.

“Thank you. Mentor.”

I wiped away tears for a long time and then sat down again. The MC smiled and continued the proceedings.

“It’s a really close-knit team. Now, we have the announcement of 6th place left.”

I stopped the hand that was cooling my flushed face.

Huh? It’s already 6th place?

But Hyo-seo and Young-i’s names haven’t been called yet…?