In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 74

Is he talking about *that* person in regards to the meeting?

“Shim So-hyun?”

Seon Yu-seok was startled by my question.

“How did you know… Ah, did Min-young already tell you?”

Seon Yu-seok asked and answered himself.

Shim So-hyun was an actress who appeared in the same drama as Heo So-jin about two years ago.

And she was one of the actresses who Min-young mentioned had been harmed by Heo So-jin.

From what I heard, Shim So-hyun had been working without an agency until recently when she was recruited by True Actors [a talent management company].

It was obvious how severe Heo So-jin’s bullying would have been when Shim So-hyun was working without an agency. Heo So-jin would just throw her weight around any actress who seemed more promising than herself.

I stared at Seon Yu-seok’s face, who continued to look troubled.

“…”

I had a sense of why he had been standing in front of me since earlier.

Bringing up a story that even he himself was reluctant to talk about meant that he might not be speaking of his own volition.

I said to Seon Yu-seok.

“Thanks for the story, but I don’t think I need the help. As you know, Min-young is very quick.”

“Yes.”

“And I have no intention of going to True Actors.”

Seon Yu-seok looked like he had been caught off guard by my added words.

As expected, my guess was correct.

It was a little strange from the moment True Actors readily allowed Seon Yu-seok to participate in the Indiva Bazooka video.

They had been planning to recruit me someday, taking advantage of this opportunity.

And Seon Yu-seok was now being used as a pawn in that plan.

I didn’t like that.

Not that Seon Yu-seok was saying these things to me, but the fact that the agency intervened to make us have such an uncomfortable conversation.

I became increasingly displeased with True Actors.

Seon Yu-seok lowered his head.

“I’m sorry, Noona [term used by a younger male to address an older female he’s close to]. Don’t worry about it.”

Who is telling whom not to worry right now?

I reached out and patted Yu-seok’s slightly tall shoulder.

It must have been a difficult situation to refuse. He must be upset about that.

“What are you sorry for? It’s nothing.”

“Still. Noona always only helps me, but I’m just causing trouble like this.”

“What trouble! You filmed a project with me.”

Seon Yu-seok lowered his head even further after hearing my words.

“But Yu-seok, I realized one thing from this incident.”

“Yes?”

“An actor is someone who earns money for the company through their work, and the company is a place that invests so that the actor can focus on their work.”

“…”

“I think I can now accept this obvious system as it is. An actor is just an actor, and a company is just a company. So, you just play the role of an actor. Don’t do anything else.”

Seon Yu-seok immediately understood.

The cold wind blew, sweeping Seon Yu-seok’s bangs.

* * *

[New Actor Being Swayed? Insult to Frontline Producers]

[‘Nepotism Controversy’ Countered by ‘Star Discipline’ Suspicion… HBC’s [a broadcasting company] Abuse of Power Explodes]

[Han Sae-na Exposes H, ‘Trampling on Seedlings’ Past Controversy Backfires! Who is the Real Devil?]

[Domestic Broadcasters Guarding Against Overseas OTT [Over-the-top media service], Must Improve Their Own Competitiveness First]

Min-young and Netmate [the name of the drama], and the rebuttals of people around them began.

I couldn’t read a few articles and put my phone away.

The arrows that were pouring down on me began to change direction little by little, towards Heo So-jin and HBC.

– Heo So-jin’s face says it all ㅋㅋ [Korean slang for ‘lol’]

– I knew HBC would cause trouble someday. They messed with several of my favorite actors, so good for them.

– What the heck is Netmate? It’s so noisy. Is it noise marketing?

– Still, the issue of making dramas based on personal connections should be properly verified.

– Nepotism Leader Han Sae-na vs. Bullying Leader Heo So-jin

People’s comments were posted in real-time.

Opinions began to diverge among them.

What is public opinion, anyway?

It just felt like a reed swaying back and forth in the wind.

I was reminded once again of the way people consumed issues in the 2010s and the fact that their opinions were uniform.

In particular, there were hardly any netizens who took a neutral stance on celebrities’ personal lives or gossip.

Most of them were in a position to criticize one side or the other.

Although the false accusation was being cleared up little by little, I felt strange.

“Sae-na.”

Then, Chae-seong, who had come next to me at some point, spoke to me.

“Did you see the articles?”

When I nodded, Chae-seong made an unexpected suggestion.

“I’m thinking of making a documentary about the drama production process.”

“Yes??”

Chae-seong explained calmly.

“This incident is one thing, but this is Netmate’s first Korean original production.”

“Yes.”

“If we make a documentary, it will be persuasive to people who are skeptical about this drama production process, and it will be a promotion for people who are interested in the content.”

“Ah…?”

It was an unexpected idea.

I remembered Chae-seong’s appearance on the day the incident broke out, diligently grasping the situation and taking notes among the actors.

Was it to come up with this idea?

“I want to let people know that this work was created with originality, not just simple nepotism by actress Han Sae-na.”

Chae-seong’s voice was firm as he said that.

A documentary, a harmless defense strategy that was typical of Chae-seong.

If we release an official video on our own, the negative public opinion will probably subside a lot.

Showing it directly with your own eyes would be a hundred times more certain than explaining it with words.

But Chae-seong didn’t seem to have finished speaking yet.

“So, I want to discuss the ending a bit.”

“Huh? You’ve already written the ending the way you wanted it.”

“Yes, but I’m going to change it to reflect the opinions of the original author and the actors a bit more.”

I was immediately worried by that.

“But the timing now… It’s become a problem because it looks like I’m getting too involved in the production….”

I trailed off.

Besides, if we change the ending at this point when filming has progressed a lot, it will be difficult for the staff in many ways.

“I want to show that Sae-na is not the only one involved in the production. That’s actually the case.”

“…”

“Even now, the characters are being filled with the brilliant ideas of the actors, right? Everyone is freely participating in the drama production beyond their positions.”

No, when did Chae-seong become so good at talking?

I kept thinking about other things in my head as I listened to Chae-seong’s voice.

The assistant director who scratched his head shyly, whom I saw just a year ago, had disappeared somewhere.

Now, only a leader who powerfully leads the team members who have boarded the same boat as himself is standing in front of me.

“Chae-seong… Did you go to a speech academy?”

* * *

A few weeks later.

“Ready, action,” and the final three sat around the camera.

Gwon Jae-hyung smiled as he looked at the two women.

You Joon-ho’s relaxed smile, as if he had reached the summit, was felt.

Han Sae-na calmly placed the camcorder she was holding on the table.

Lee Ji-hyun also sensed that she had reached a certain summit.

You Joon-ho smirked as he looked at the camcorder, then got up and took out a pocket knife.

The tip of the knife was first directed at Seong Eun-chae.

Seong Eun-chae couldn’t even scream and squeezed her eyes shut.

At the same time, Lee Ji-hyun overturned the table towards Kwon Jae-hyung.

As Kwon Jae-hyung fell backward, Lee Ji-hyun shouted.

“Grab the camcorder!”

Then, as if she had been put under a spell, Seong Eun-chae immediately picked up the camcorder.

As soon as You Joon-ho fell, he crawled towards the knife that had flown far away.

Lee Ji-hyun also went over the table and quickly headed to where the knife was.

You Joon-ho grabbed Lee Ji-hyun’s leg and knocked her down.

A desperate struggle for the knife ensued between the two.

Seong Eun-chae stood there holding the camcorder with a terrified face.

After the brawl, Lee Ji-hyun grabbed the knife first.

Lee Ji-hyun quickly got on top of You Joon-ho and stabbed the knife near his chest.

You Joon-ho’s screams echoed through the pension.

Curses were mixed in with the screams from time to time.

As the terrible screams subsided, Lee Ji-hyun collapsed to the side.

She looked at You Joon-ho, who was in pain, for a moment, then turned her eyes to Seong Eun-chae.

“Give it here.”

Lee Ji-hyun reached out to Seong Eun-chae.

But at that moment, You Joon-ho pulled the knife out of his chest.

And he stabbed the knife into Lee Ji-hyun’s back as she tried to get up.

“…!!!”

Lee Ji-hyun fell forward as it was.

You Joon-ho, as if he had done his part, vomited blood and died.

Lee Ji-hyun, who was in pain, trembled and barely raised her head.

The toe of Seong Eun-chae’s shoe was in front of her face.

Seong Eun-chae, whose legs had lost strength, sat down as it was.

In front of Seong Eun-chae’s knees, Lee Ji-hyun barely turned her head to the side and said while lying face down.

“Take it. Make sure to show it to the world….”

She couldn’t finish her words.

Silence flowed through the pension.

Seong Eun-chae gripped the camcorder tightly with both hands.

The seventeen-year-old girl, who wanted to die more purely and sincerely than anyone else, had become the final survivor.

Far away beyond the window, dawn was breaking.

* * *

“Cut! Okay!”

Chae-seong’s voice echoed loudly on the island.

“Everyone worked hard!!”

As soon as the last cut was over, cheers erupted from the small island.

“Oh, I’ve grown fond of this island.”

“I heard they’re just leaving this pension set for the time being. They say they’ll use it as a tourist attraction if it goes well.”

“Those who have colds, go to the mainland and get IV drips first.”

Finally, the very last filming was over, and the staff were chattering loudly.

There were also people gathering in groups of three or five and sharing emotional hugs.

I also realized the ending with a strange feeling.

I looked at the pension that I had decided to leave behind after consulting with the island owner.

Another project has come to an end like this.

It was a filming filled with unexpected developments from beginning to end.

My insides felt empty like the winter sea, but one corner of my heart was cold.

As there were so many problems in many ways, the feeling of finishing was also complicated.

Is it really over?

Suddenly, all the strength drained from my body.

I rubbed my cold hands, feeling a premonition that I was going to have body aches.

Far away in one corner, I saw Chae-seong looking at the pension in the same pose as me.

I approached him.

“Director, are you happy with the ending?”

Then Chae-seong smiled at me.

“Well….”

I heard the staff calling from behind.

“Director, Sae-na, come quickly! Group photo!”

Chae-seong turned around and sent an okay sign, then said.

“I did my best.”

I turned around after hearing those words.

I ran to the staff and sat in front of the camera.

As I did so, I thought.

Chae-seong just gave an answer that was close to the correct one.

The moment the filming was over, the success or failure of the work was now out of our hands.

However, everyone who is gathered here in front of me did their best.

That was all.

“Kimchi-!”

A dazzling flash went off.

I Will Die as an Actress This Life