In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 40

Nam Ji-hye glared at Kang Jeong-hwan, looking dumbfounded.

“Are you serious right now?”

Kang Jeong-hwan remained silent.

Of course, he was serious.

To him, this was the right decision, the obvious choice.

The media was already buzzing with stories that Seo Jae-yeon and Lee Na-ra were in talks for the lead role in *Flowers Beyond the Palace Walls*.

It was only a matter of time before one of them finalized their appearance fee negotiations.

Then, viewership ratings would be all but guaranteed.

But…

Out of nowhere, a rookie gets picked?

Kang Jeong-hwan spoke again.

“I understand everyone was moved by the short film and Sae-na’s passion, her energy… but let’s think rationally.”

Nam Ji-hye’s eyes wavered at those words.

“Even though we’re a broadcasting station, what are we going to say to the major agencies that have top actors? Two of them, at that.”

No one answered Kang Jeong-hwan.

Moreover, figures like Seo Jae-yeon and Lee Na-ra wouldn’t tolerate being pushed aside by a rookie at the tail end of negotiations.

This time, Kang Jeong-hwan stared directly at Nam Ji-hye.

“If you need it for the writer, we’ll take the concept Sae-na brought and give her a significant supporting role.”

At that, Nam Ji-hye’s face flushed with displeasure.

The assistant PD [Production Director] and assistant director cautiously nodded.

“We agree with the director.”

Kang Jeong-hwan scanned everyone’s faces one last time, adding,

“Since when did a broadcasting station run on passion? It runs on capital.”

Hearing that, Nam Ji-hye avoided Kang Jeong-hwan’s gaze and ran a hand through her hair.

The atmosphere in the meeting room had shifted in Kang Jeong-hwan’s favor.

Then, Cheon In-soo, who had been listening quietly, snapped at Kang Jeong-hwan.

“Are you a thug? Just taking the good stuff and then ditching her?”

Kang Jeong-hwan replied in a flustered voice.

“What are you talking about? It’s not ditching her, it’s about giving her a role that fits the situation.”

“What ‘fitting’ role is that?”

“That’s something we can discuss later…”

Cheon In-soo cut Kang Jeong-hwan off.

“Okay, let’s be logical, like you said. You bring in other actors to play the lead roles, and then tell them to act according to the ideas that supporting actress came up with. Does that make sense?”

Kang Jeong-hwan gritted his teeth.

“We’re NBS, a public broadcasting station. Let’s handle things with dignity, befitting a public broadcaster, huh?”

Cheon In-soo loosened his tie in frustration and started to leave, but Kang Jeong-hwan stood up to follow him.

“Then what about abruptly overturning a contract that’s almost finalized?”

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly turned icy.

“Is that dignified?”

Cheon In-soo slowly turned around to look at Kang Jeong-hwan.

Kang Jeong-hwan didn’t back down.

The two men stood facing each other for a long moment.

* * *

With the sound of the door slamming shut behind him, Cheon In-soo strode down the hallway.

Taking the elevator up, Cheon In-soo headed straight for the vice president’s office.

He decided to use his last resort.

In front of the door, Cheon In-soo took a deep breath and straightened his tie again.

Opening the door, he saw the vice president enjoying tea time with the head of the entertainment department.

Cheon In-soo bowed his head.

The vice president, still wearing the same jovial expression, greeted him.

“Oh, Director Cheon. What’s up? Did you see Saebyuk Yiseul’s [Morning Dew, a popular brand] latest commercial?”

“Yes?”

What miraculous timing.

Cheon In-soo quickly replied,

“Yes, I did. Mr. Vice President, as a matter of fact, that actress…”

“I know, isn’t it amazing for a rookie? So we were just talking about where we could get her to appear on one of our variety shows.”

Cheon In-soo replied with a smile.

“Put her on a variety show and a drama too.”

“Huh?”

“She actually came to audition for the new drama, *Flowers Beyond the Palace Walls*.”

“Oh, really? But wasn’t that already decided?”

Cheon In-soo opened his mouth with a slightly stiff expression.

“No, she was the best of all the actors who auditioned, but she was dropped because she wasn’t on the level of Seo Jae-yeon and Lee Na-ra.”

“Ah… but?”

“But she requested and even got a second audition. She even produced a short film for it.”

At that, the head of the entertainment department, who had been listening quietly, laughed as if he found it fascinating.

“Wow, is that the spirit of a rookie?”

The vice president, half intrigued and half troubled, took a sip of his tea.

Cheon In-soo’s heart grew anxious.

“It’s a waste to let her be pushed aside just because of name recognition. But Director Kang is stubborn…”

“Yeah, he’s famous for being stubborn.”

“Haha, yes. Well… it’s not that he’s a bad guy.”

“Right. I understand his position too. The initial influx depends on the actors’ name value and commercials.”

“Relying on that name value, Seo Jae-yeon and Lee Na-ra are currently holding out. It’s been weeks.”

Cheon In-soo’s voice grew slightly louder.

“It’s unsettling that the two actors are holding out, Mr. Vice President.”

“Do you have proof?”

A moment of silence fell in the office.

“…It’s a hunch.”

The vice president chuckled as if he finally understood, and put down his teacup.

“Why isn’t the director discovering PDs [Production Directors] instead of fostering actors?”

Cheon In-soo slightly lowered his head at the joke mixed with a sharp jab.

The head of the entertainment department chimed in.

“For Director Cheon to like an actor this much, I’m curious.”

Cheon In-soo continued without being intimidated.

“It’s not just because I like her. Didn’t you mention Saebyuk Yiseul [Morning Dew] just now? Han Sae-na is good enough to attract people’s attention.”

Then, the head of the entertainment department answered instead of the vice president, as if trying to stop Cheon In-soo from rushing in.

“Director Cheon, the buzz you get that way is just a flash in the pan.”

The vice president also nodded.

“How many years have we been in this industry? Why are you suddenly acting like an amateur?”

“It won’t fade quickly.”

Cheon In-soo replied with a confident voice.

“How do you know that, Director Cheon? What, did you get Han Sae-na’s fortune read?”

Unlike the head of the entertainment department who laughed at the vice president’s joke, Cheon In-soo didn’t laugh.

“I don’t need to read her fortune. Even if you search through established actors and rookies, it’ll be hard to find someone as talented and hardworking as her.”

“So, how do you know that?”

Irritation began to seep into the vice president’s voice.

“I saw it myself. I personally watched two auditions, and I saw her staying up all night at the late-night theater preparing for the audition. And I saw for the first time someone who performed at 100% bring it to 120% the next time.”

Eventually, the vice president’s brow furrowed.

Cheon In-soo tried to ignore the vice president’s expression.

“Using this project as a stepping stone, Han Sae-na will officially rise to the ranks of a big name. And our *Flowers Beyond the Palace Walls* will rise together, using Han Sae-na’s name as a stepping stone. What I’m saying is, it’s not a one-sided investment, but an investment for mutual benefit.”

From Cheon In-soo’s perspective, this was genuine.

Pushing Han Sae-na into *Flowers Beyond the Palace Walls* wasn’t just about being swayed by the passion of a young actress.

In the broadcasting world… people counted the moments when they were certain of something.

That’s what dramas were like.

It wasn’t that well-made works guaranteed viewership ratings, and it was only a matter of time before writers who had been on a successful streak for over 10 years slipped.

‘Certainty’ was almost a superstition in broadcasting stations.

But now, for Cheon In-soo, it was that moment of certainty, and it was Han Sae-na.

“Hmm…”

The vice president stroked his protruding beard, looking at Cheon In-soo with suspicious eyes.

Cheon In-soo swallowed.

“Then let’s take a look.”

“…Yes?”

Cheon In-soo’s face lit up.

“Ah, should I call her to the vice president’s office now??”

“Hey, why would you bring an actress to the vice president’s office! That’s a big deal…. I’m talking about the short film. The one you praised so much earlier.”

* * *

Two hours later, the office.

Kang Jeong-hwan sat at the table, pinching his forehead.

“Ah, stress…”

He had just been summoned to the vice president’s office.

‘This time, I’ve decided to trust Director Cheon’s judgment entirely. Let’s go with Han Sae-na.’

The assistant director glanced at Kang Jeong-hwan.

An aura similar to murderous intent emanated from Kang Jeong-hwan.

“Cheon In-soo. Ha…. I should have made a curse doll sooner.”

“A curse… doll?”

The assistant director looked at Kang Jeong-hwan with a dumbfounded expression.

“Yeah, an expensive one.”

“But didn’t you two… co-direct about three or four projects when you were a PD [Production Director] under the director in the past?”

“Yeah.”

The assistant director tilted his head.

“If you’re sticking together while bickering this much, it’s love…”

Kang Jeong-hwan took his hand off his face and glared at the innocent assistant director.

“If I love twice, I’ll kill someone?”

The assistant director pursed his lips and closed his mouth.

“In the end, even the higher-ups moved to make things like this. How can a rookie be so fearless?”

“The impact of the flat shoes and soju [Korean distilled spirit] commercials must have been good. The head of the entertainment department was also passing by earlier, wondering where to get Sae-na to appear.”

“Seriously.”

Kang Jeong-hwan leaned back in his chair.

“Yeah, if she’s going to take off, she might as well explode. Take off more. Please.”

The assistant director chuckled at those words.

“But the CP [Chief Producer]… doesn’t look too bad either?”

“Be quiet, you. Anyway, just try to mess up. I’m just going to…”

Kang Jeong-hwan sighed deeply.

And he raised his head and smoothed out his brow.

“If we’re going to do it, we have to do it big.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jeong-hwan got up from his seat.

“I’m talking about the reading. There must be a lot of talk since we’ve put a rookie in the lead role, right? Let’s just show them. Let’s give them a lot of anticipation.”

Behind Kang Jeong-hwan, who was leaving the office, the assistant director answered with a smile.

“Yes! I understand. I’ll prepare properly!”

Kang Jeong-hwan waved his hand roughly behind his back.

* * *

Lee Seok-hyun, who was looking at his laptop, had a blank expression.

“What is this?”

Lee Seok-hyun pressed the rewind button again.

It was the third time already.

Han Sae-na’s short film.

“That’s how Han Sae-na snatched the lead role.”

The manager pinched his temple.

“Didn’t they want Seo Jae-yeon and Lee Na-ra? This is no ordinary matter.”

Shock and worry were mixed in Lee Seok-hyun’s eyes.

“Don’t even mention it. It’s such an absurd thing that the rumors have already spread. She’s relentless. What kind of guts does a rookie have?”

“Wow…”

Lee Seok-hyun leaned back in his chair, dumbfounded.

The manager watched Lee Seok-hyun, lost in thought.

“Aren’t you upset?”

“Why?”

“Because she’s not on your level. How can someone who only took off with one project and one commercial compare to you as a partner?”

From the manager’s point of view, Lee Seok-hyun had messed up his previous project and even faced controversy over his acting skills, so he had been on pins and needles lately.

He was always like this.

Unlike his flawless and handsome appearance, his acting always had severe ups and downs.

Like his personality, which was inconsistent and unpredictable.

Even so, this casting was nothing short of devaluing Lee Seok-hyun’s level.

“How dare they even cut down on the level of the co-star?”

Lee Seok-hyun replied blankly.

“I’m not upset.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not upset. This person…”

The manager looked at Lee Seok-hyun with a bewildered expression.

“Is amazing?”

Lee Seok-hyun’s gaze returned to the monitor screen.