In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 22

Countless… demands…?

Begging and pleading….

They were carefully selected words that could easily lead to misunderstandings, making it seem like I was the one at fault, no matter how you looked at it.

“Oh, is that how it was? Our Saena is just smart, that’s all.”

Some people chuckled at Senior Park Hoon’s smooth remark.

“Then it’s about time to talk about the contract.”

Another senior, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.

At those words, Yang Euicheol looked triumphant and glanced down at me.

“Right?”

*Is he trying to start something here…?*

I had no intention of backing down. However, I didn’t expect him to plan to embarrass me by going this far.

Of course, it’s not entirely surprising.

I stared into Yang Euicheol’s face. Only one of his eyebrows was raised.

Suddenly, seeing that expression, a memory surfaced from a long time ago.

* * *

Was it about ten years ago? It was a company dinner back then.

I had already become known as a villainous character, and it was a time when hoping for supporting roles felt like a distant dream. My roles were becoming increasingly typecast.

I cautiously brought up the subject to Yang Euicheol, who was quite drunk.

“Director, I need to try other roles now to have longevity in my career….”

“Saena, are you bringing that up again?”

Another employee sitting next to Yang Euicheol frowned. Yang Euicheol smiled and waved off the employee.

“Why are you like that? Saena doesn’t know yet.”

The employee frowned, grabbed a cigarette, and went outside with the others.

At the now-empty table, Yang Euicheol poured me a drink in my empty glass.

“I know very well that Saena has a lot of ambition for acting. You’ve been doing well since you were young.”

“Director, I’m really confident.”

“Then you should have passed an audition for a project somewhere else.”

The moment I heard those words, my hand, which was reaching for the glass, froze.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know you were going around auditioning elsewhere? I know almost everyone in this industry.”

Yang Euicheol took a sip of his drink.

“Don’t embarrass yourself by failing.”

My hand holding the glass trembled. Yang Euicheol placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“Do you think you’re something special?”

At that moment, my mind went blank.

“You make some money playing a villain, you get a little popular, and you think you’re something? Do you think you can do anything else? You’re just always acting out evil scenes.”

Hearing those words, my body trembled uncontrollably. Yang Euicheol smiled when he saw my eyes filled with tears.

“Just do what you’re good at. Don’t even think about anything else until the contract ends. When you go to another agency, like you want, finish well here before you leave.”

Yang Euicheol took another sip of his drink.

“Unless you want to ruin your life with hate comments again somewhere else.”

After saying that, people rushed back and sat around the table. Those who saw my face ignored me as if they already knew what had happened and raised their glasses.

“Okay, everyone, let’s not bring down the mood. Let’s toast! Cheers!”

The sound of glasses clinking echoed through the restaurant.

* * *

With a light gesture, I stood up from my seat.

*But, it’s different in this life. I know who you are and what kind of person you are.*

“Director, it’s a bit difficult to have a conversation at a company dinner, so shall we step outside and talk?”

I stood up, grabbed Yang Euicheol’s arm, and pulled him along. Yang Euicheol sized up the atmosphere and followed, pretending he couldn’t win. He didn’t forget to greet the people at the company dinner with a relaxed expression as he followed.

“Director Moon, we should have a drink soon.”

“Ah, I know you’re just trying to promote the actors! Annoying.”

“As expected, you’re quick-witted!”

Huhuhu, hearty laughter echoed through the restaurant.

“Everyone worked hard on the project. *Flat Shoes* team, I hope to see you again with a good opportunity later.”

With those words, Yang Euicheol left the restaurant.

Inside the dark parking lot of the restaurant, Yang Euicheol and I stood facing each other in the darkness.

“Director, I think there’s some misunderstanding.”

“Is there?”

Yang Euicheol crossed his arms as if to say, ‘Go ahead and try.’

“Me going to another agency… it seems like there’s a misunderstanding. It’s not a rumor. It’s real.”

I smiled brightly at Yang Euicheol.

“What?”

Yang Euicheol spat out the word harshly in an instant.

“Watch your language.”

At my words, Yang Euicheol asked me in disbelief, in a low voice.

“Do you know who I am and are you doing this? Can you handle this kind of joke right now?”

Hearing those words, I also raised one corner of my mouth and crossed my arms. And I started.

“Seol Minji, Kim Jisu, Baek Minhee.”

The moment he heard my words, Yang Euicheol’s body froze.

“What…?”

“You know what I mean without me having to say it, right?”

The names mentioned earlier were the actresses who had been buried by hate comments in order for Yang Euicheol to bring them to his company, in order. One of them had been receiving psychiatric treatment continuously since receiving the hate comments. And the fourth was me.

“How did you….”

“How could I have known this?”

Yang Euicheol looked at me with a pale face. It was a face I had never seen before. It was very interesting.

“You know, Director. I don’t keep secrets. Let’s break up on good terms without showing each other our dirty sides. Isn’t that better?”

I turned my back, leaving Yang Euicheol in a state of pause. Just when I was doubting whether I could get rid of him so easily, a voice came from behind.

“Do you have evidence?”

At those words, I stopped walking and sighed. When I turned my head and looked again, Yang Euicheol was smiling with a face that looked obviously terrified. Yang Euicheol spoke again.

“Do you have evidence? Do you have evidence that I don’t even have?”

*What evidence would I have? Of course, I don’t.*

However, at this moment, my mouth instinctively knew how to say the words before my brain could even process them and took the initiative.

“Well. If I didn’t have any evidence, how would I know?”

Yang Euicheol swept back his hair and burst into a hollow laugh.

“Are you bluffing right now?”

I could see him trying to act relaxed. However, the last smile disappeared from Yang Euicheol’s face the moment I said the last name.

“Jeon Byeongjin.”

“…?”

Jeon Byeongjin was an actor who had been at the top for a long time, and Yang Euicheol had scouted him to AK when he was just an ordinary employee. With that, Yang Euicheol was immediately promoted to director, and he was admired by the employees as a senior with legendary skills. However… Jeon Byeongjin had a fatal secret that people didn’t know: drug addiction.

When Yang Euicheol brought Jeon Byeongjin to AK, he made a deal to secretly supply him with drugs through a safety measure. In addition, he threatened him with the repercussions he would face if he refused this deal.

Yang Euicheol looked at me with a cold gaze.

“…How much do you know?”

“Well. I may know everything, or I may know nothing.”

I looked straight into Yang Euicheol’s eyes.

“Depending on what you do in the future.”

Yang Euicheol’s pupils trembled. He opened his mouth for the last time.

“Interesting, interesting…. Let’s see how long you last?”

Without any special response to Yang Euicheol’s greeting, I immediately left the parking lot. Yang Euicheol must have been as shocked as if he had seen a ghost, but I felt like my energy was being sucked out because of him, as if I had a ghost attached to me.

*That devilish bastard….*

As I entered the restaurant, people’s worried gazes rushed towards me. I bowed as I went back to my seat.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble.”

A sheepish smile came out on its own. Then people gestured that it was okay. At that time, another senior actress approached and asked me kindly.

“Saena, I heard you signed a new contract. Is it a one-person agency?”

“Yes.”

The senior poured me a new glass of beer.

“Yeah… but how did you think of going into a one-person agency?”

There was worry in the senior’s voice. She must have meant, ‘Are you going to be okay without the push from an agency since you’re a rookie?’

“Senior, do you happen to know Director Kwon Minyoung of True Actors?”

“Huh? That person, I know. She’s famous, very.”

“I went into the company that Director Kwon started. I’m going to start there.”

Then Senior Park Hoon also listened to my story.

“Is that where Teacher Yoon Youngjae went?”

When I nodded, saying yes, the seniors chuckled.

“That’s so you, that’s so you.”

“That’s so me?”

“Yes. You’re confident and fearless!”

Senior Park Hoon replied. Some of the actors and other staff who had been listening to the conversation quietly laughed at those words. At that time, Jung Chaeseong carefully joined the conversation.

“Um… Saena, you have to be careful of Yang Euicheol. He’s famous in this industry for holding grudges.”

Ji Eun, who was next to him, nodded while chewing meat.

“It’s not good to get involved. Be careful, really.”

I smiled and nodded at those words. Other senior actors also chimed in, telling me to be careful.

*I’m grateful to everyone, but… I know the danger of Yang Euicheol the best among them.*

“I’m okay! Thank you all for your concern.”

At my words, the director shouted bravo.

“Ah, really. I like your spirit! Huh? You’re brave. Saena, I’ll speak well of you later. Don’t worry! Give us a toast!”

I carefully picked up my glass and stood up.

Yang Euicheol….

“To everyone in our *Flat Shoes* team… may you all walk only on flower paths [a Korean idiom wishing someone happiness and success]! Fighting [a Korean expression of encouragement, like ‘Go for it!’].”

When I finished speaking, everyone shouted fighting and raised their glasses high.

*I know Yang Euicheol’s methods and patterns inside and out now. And I have 20 years of experience. I was confident that I could overcome it well.*

Wait.

*Come to think of it… Isn’t this almost the first time I’ve ever gotten angry at someone? No, it’s closer to threatening than getting angry. I’ve become someone who threatens others. I felt like I had gained +1 experience.*

Being able to look straight at Yang Euicheol and say mean things felt like the power that the villain roles I thought were tiring in my past life had given me. It’s also a know-how [a French term meaning expertise or practical skill] that I learned from them.

Suddenly, I felt grateful and complicated. Anyway, I felt uneasy and refreshed at the same time…….

As I sat down, the senior who poured me beer stroked my hair.

“You’re so pretty. Do well, Saena.”

Haha, this is a new feeling. At those words, my heart melted like snow, and I felt good. I hugged the senior tightly.

“Oh my, look at you. Saena must be drunk!”

“Cute! We have to take a picture of this.”

I could see the faces of people smiling through my sleepy eyes.

It’s good to be able to act like this. It’s good to be young.

*I should have lived like this sooner, why couldn’t I back then….*

Is this what they call leisure?

My eyes grew heavy.

I Will Live as an Actress in This Life