In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 21

The cafe across from school felt nostalgic.

Rain drizzled against the window.

A perfect day for coffee.

Come to think of it, I used to love rainy days.

Returning to my twenties brought back those forgotten feelings.

I was gradually getting used to this life.

Each time I encountered something ‘I liked’ that I had forgotten, it felt so real.

Being young again, living again, was slowly becoming enjoyable.

It was still intense, but it felt different from before.

I’m finally taking a breather, but I’ve been running non-stop since starting *Flat Shoes* again.

Sometimes, I had this thought.

To break free from villain roles and take on various characters, shouldn’t I also experience diverse emotions and experiences?

When I thought about other genres, there wasn’t much I knew how to do properly.

Romance, a popular genre, was something I definitely… didn’t know how to do, either in acting or in real life.

Unless it was slapping the female lead who was flirting with the male lead.

I had never learned or experienced how to desperately love the male lead.

I had never played the ordinary mom role or the clueless daughter role.

This wouldn’t do.

When I thought about it… even in my previous life, I didn’t have any close friends, and I had never traveled, let alone had hobbies.

Also, many people were wary of me because of my image.

Whenever I had these thoughts, I felt empty, like I had wasted my life.

Hmm….

As I was lost in thought by the window, someone called out from behind.

“Noona!” [Older sister, a term of endearment used by younger males in Korean culture.]

“Oh my!”

My surprise was short-lived as a cake firework exploded in front of my eyes.

“What is this!”

My heart dropped.

Yooseok, your *noona* is older than you think.

“*Noona*, congratulations on your fan cafe!”

“Huh…?”

Seon Yooseok looked bewildered.

“You didn’t even know you had a fan cafe…? *Noona*, you really need to get an agency soon.”

Seon Yooseok took out his phone and showed me my fan cafe on the internet.

1,192 members.

Seon Yooseok smiled and said.

“I joined too, *Noona*. Good job, right?”

My head went blank.

Even when I filmed *Flat Shoes*, there was buzz, but a fan cafe didn’t happen….

This was truly unexpected.

I took the phone and looked through the posts.

Analysis and fantasies about Yoo Ji-an’s character, stories about the *Flat Shoes* series, stories about the pre-released magazine pictorial, interview and magazine captures, etc.

Over 50 posts had been uploaded in just one night.

The most viewed posts were usually about members’ interpretations and empathy for Yoo Ji-an, and mentions of fan meetings were also met with enthusiastic responses.

– When is the fan meeting?

– Please sell Yoo Ji-an merchandise.

Many fans were eagerly waiting for my agency to be decided soon.

Fan meeting….

I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I exhaled a rush of hot air.

I wanted to do that too.

My face turned red.

Even in my forties, I was envious and felt a strange sense of longing whenever actors my age heard fans call them ‘my baby’ at fan meetings.

Joking around with fans like friends.

It was something that was only possible in my dreams.

But now, there was already talk of a fan meeting.

Seon Yooseok looked at me and chuckled.

“*Noona*, are you perhaps embarrassed?”

I turned my head away, avoiding his gaze.

“Oh right, the Hanho Arts Awards are coming up soon.”

“Huh?”

Ah, it was March already.

It was already the season for the Hanho Arts Awards.

“It’s a shame. If *Flat Shoes* had aired a little longer, *Noona* would have definitely been nominated for the Best New Actress award.”

It was something I had never even imagined.

I had never dared to hope for such a thing in my life.

“If it’s pushed to next year, you’ll be at a disadvantage because of all the other works that will be released right before.”

I chuckled at how he was worrying about everything on my behalf.

“I’m okay. Thanks for introducing me to Chief Manager Kwon, by the way.”

“Speaking of agencies, *Noona*. What’s really going on? Why are you only meeting with Chief Manager Kwon without me?”

Seon Yooseok frowned slightly.

“Ah, that’s because. I decided to join the company that Chief Manager Kwon is starting separately.”

At those words, Seon Yooseok’s eyes widened.

“Chief Manager Kwon is starting a company?”

Seon Yooseok put his hand on his forehead.

Oh my gosh, this feeling.

“I’m the only outcast, right? Huh? I’m the only outcast….”

Seon Yooseok carelessly placed the cake he was holding on the table.

Through the narrow gap, I could see a princess doll and a pair of neatly placed pink shoes on top of the cake.

Cute decorations.

He seemed to have carefully chosen it because I filmed *Flat Shoes*, at my age….

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Seon Yooseok’s voice became quite heavy.

“Hey… you’re already under contract.”

“Still, couldn’t you have told me?”

Hmm.

Does he want to come to our company?

Well, he helped me a lot with acting practice, so I follow him too, and I’ve witnessed Kwon Min-young’s abilities firsthand.

“I really persuaded Chief Manager Kwon a lot. He’s such a great person.”

“Ah, I shouldn’t have signed with my agency.”

Seon Yooseok mumbled at the end of his sentence as he answered.

Seeing that, I chuckled.

“Yooseok, don’t worry. I’ll keep helping you with your acting practice.”

Seon Yooseok sighed after hearing my words.

“Why are you sighing? There are so many advantages you can get from a big company. You’ll need a lot of company contact skills while you’re under contract.”

I looked up at Seon Yooseok, who kept grumbling, not knowing what I was thinking.

“It would be better than True Actors with just Chief Manager Kwon and *Noona*!”

Oh geez, really.

“Why are you being so stubborn!”

Seon Yooseok looked dejected at my raised voice.

Pushing aside the subtle annoyance that was creeping in, I put my hand on Seon Yooseok’s shoulder and patted him.

Then, Seon Yooseok looked down at me with wide eyes.

“Yooseok, *Noona* and Chief Manager Kwon will help you a lot, so work hard there with good roles and then come over later, okay?”

Seon Yooseok’s ears turned red at my gentle tone.

“I’m serious. I’m going to become so famous that I’ll demand an astronomical price! It’ll be too late to regret it then, *Noona*.”

It was an absurd tantrum.

Why are your ears turning red?

I just blinked at Seon Yooseok’s face.

“Ah! I don’t know!”

Seon Yooseok strode out of the cafe.

Unbelievable.

Don’t use informal language, you little….

* * *

The wrap-up party was boisterous.

The long journey of *Flat Shoes* had finally come to an end.

The sizzling sound of grilling beef, the clinking of glasses, and the voices of people laughing and chatting filled the restaurant.

In the center of the restaurant, Director Moon, heavily drunk, staggered to his feet, saying he would give a toast.

Then, he grabbed his glass and began to ramble.

“This is really! The best drama in my directing career. I really mean it! Our, uh? Staff, cast, and even our writer!”

Writer Lee Si-young smiled slightly at the director and emptied her glass in one gulp.

She was surprisingly a heavy drinker.

The writer and Ji-eun continued to silently gulp down *bombs* [a mixed drink, typically beer and soju].

Despite the staff’s attempts to stop her, the writer brushed them off.

Ji-eun was also a formidable drinker.

Everyone seemed to be exhausted, but they laughed as if they were having fun.

It was rare to see a filming set with such a great atmosphere.

One of the best in my acting career.

I also sipped alcohol between senior actor Park Hoon and Yuri after a long time.

I used to really like alcohol…

I got drunk quickly since it had been a while.

The director’s words continued.

“Our youngest staff members, uh? I’m sorry if I scolded you a lot and you felt wronged. I’ll give you all some pocket money separately. Line up later.”

Then, Jung Chae-sung, who was sitting at another table, suddenly stood up and stood in front of the director.

“Hey, aren’t you going in?!”

The director waved his hand in embarrassment, and the wrap-up party burst into laughter.

Just as the director’s rambling was about to end, people raised their glasses.

But then,

“Han Sae-na-ssi?”

A familiar male voice was heard from somewhere.

I was startled and looked towards the door of the restaurant…

It was Yang Eui-cheol.

Director Moon, who found Yang Eui-cheol, hiccuped and widened his eyes.

“Oh? What brings Chief Manager Yang here?”

The director waved his hand at Yang Eui-cheol with a welcoming gesture.

Yang Eui-cheol approached and shook Director Moon’s hand.

“Ah, I was also having a company dinner near here. I heard that the director was having a wrap-up party here, so I came to congratulate him.”

The two, who seemed to be quite close, looked at each other and laughed heartily.

Yang Eui-cheol exchanged greetings with a few people.

“Yuri-ssi, you become more beautiful every time I see you.”

“Oh my, thank you for the compliment.”

“Actor Park Hoon, it’s been a while.”

“Oh my, Chief Manager. How have you been?”

Then, Yang Eui-cheol strode towards me.

With everyone’s attention focused on me….

“Sae-na-ssi, I heard rumors that you’re signing with another company. Is that not true? That would be a betrayal.”

Yang Eui-cheol threw those words as if he had planned it.

With that one sentence, the atmosphere in the meat restaurant instantly turned cold.

Director Moon, with a flushed face, assessed the atmosphere and sat down quietly.

“Chief Manager. This isn’t the place to talk about this….”

I tried to smile and answer Yang Eui-cheol.

“You haven’t been answering my calls either, actress. Because you’re busy. But I’ve invested quite a bit in Sae-na-ssi, right? I need to get some returns now.”

I felt a subtle sense of dread beneath Yang Eui-cheol’s smiling face.

At that moment, I sensed it.

Yang Eui-cheol was completely pissed off.

The actors and staff sitting around pretended not to notice and started grilling meat again.

“I’m sorry. Now that filming is over, I’ll contact you separately, Chief Manager.”

“Can’t I get a confirmation today?”

Yang Eui-cheol asked back with a slightly less smiling expression.

He seemed to have come with the intention of putting pressure on me properly.

This was going to be quite a headache.

I could feel people’s glances.

I had anticipated that Yang Eui-cheol would come and make a fuss soon, but I hadn’t expected it to be like this.

Then, senior actor Park Hoon opened his mouth.

“Chief Manager Yang, it looks like you came to appeal for a contract. Right.”

It felt like an attempt to ease the atmosphere.

“Yes. I’ve listened to Sae-na-ssi’s requests countless times to get this contract. But rumors are circulating that she’s going to another agency. So, I have to come here and beg and plead like this again.”