In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 77

“> [Overcoming Jokes with Flowers]’s Hongryeon, actress Won Hye-rim. Congratulations on the award.”

As soon as I heard that, the Gyeol-kkot team, including me, jumped up from our seats like springs.

“Congratulations, Senior!!”

I hugged Senior, who seemed utterly surprised, tightly.

Next to me, Teacher Yoon Young-jae, Director Kang Jung-hwan, and writer Nam Ji-hye also shared hugs with Senior.

Seeing that, my heart was full.

After shaking hands with several people, Won Hye-rim walked down to the stage.

Seeing her elegant back, my heart was filled with pride.

As everyone wore pleased smiles, Won Hye-rim stood in front of the microphone with a deeply moved face.

“I’m quite famous for not having luck with awards… A day like this comes, doesn’t it?”

People responded to Senior’s light joke with smiles.

Contrary to expectations, Senior didn’t cry.

If I were in that position, I would have burst into tears as soon as I stood there.

“I’ve been a breadwinning actor for a long time, not befitting the title of this Acting Arts Awards. Acting wasn’t art to me, but a skill, just something I was confident in. So, for a long time, when I couldn’t win an award, people around me comforted me… But I thought it was natural inside.”

Gradually, the expressions of the listeners became serious.

In this vast space, only Senior was smiling.

Numerous junior actors straightened their backs and listened to Senior’s remarks.

“It was as if the heavens were saying, ‘An award for you? Unthinkable.’ Of course, there were valuable things left while acting as a technician and a worker, but there was always a void in one corner of my heart. Only the alcohol increased.”

Meanwhile, every word Senior said pierced my heart.

“But since filming Gyeol-kkot, I’ve changed a bit. For the first time in my life, I’m greedy. I wanted to act so well that I stayed up for two nights straight at this age. Because.”

Senior paused for a moment.

“A young actor who resembles my younger days appeared before my eyes. Han Sae-na. Sae-na, she doesn’t bat an eye at the old Queen and acts so well.”

In an instant, my heart sank in surprise.

Everyone’s gaze turned to me.

Won Hye-rim smiled casually and waved at me.

My stiff face was being broadcast on the screen.

“She acts so well, and she lives so diligently, and that’s so beautiful. She’s similar to me but different. She always acts as if there’s no turning back. Now I want to be that kind of person too.”

My head went blank.

“I’ll take this as a message to live like that from now on and use it well.”

Won Hye-rim slightly raised the trophy.

“Lastly, to my father who tormented me terribly for a long time and went to heaven. Your daughter received an award. Please congratulate me.”

Senior didn’t lose her smile until the end and came down from the stage.

* * *

One afternoon in Hapjeong-dong [a trendy neighborhood in Seoul], filled with the scent of flowers.

Enjoying the spring breeze for a while at a two-story pub overlooking the cherry blossom path….

“Ah, I was so amused back then. You were so good at pretending to be clueless.”

Seo Jae-yeon, sitting in front of me, laughed heartily as she drank a cool beer.

It was a long-awaited gathering of actors.

Today, the four of us, including Lee Seok-hyun, Seo Jae-yeon, and Seong Min-hee, gathered.

Lee Seok-hyun, sitting next to me, shook his head as if he was fed up with Seo Jae-yeon’s words.

“Is he still living like that? Can’t come to his senses.”

“But Han Sae-na is crazier than Lee Na-ra. Oh, don’t misunderstand. It’s a good meaning!”

Seo Jae-yeon stopped talking and looked at me, giggling again.

Anyway, she’s an unpredictable person.

I also took a sip of beer.

“Thanks to you, I had an interesting sight. Min-hee was so happy to see Lee Na-ra’s expression when you received the Best Actress Award.”

“Why? What was it like?”

Lee Seok-hyun asked, and Seo Jae-yeon shrugged.

I didn’t answer either.

I had already seen that expression.

At that time, Lee Na-ra’s momentarily frozen face was captured by the relay camera, and it was circulating on the internet as a meme.

“Awards are something you can receive or not receive.”

I answered vaguely.

“Wow, it’s really annoying when the person who received it says that.”

“That’s what I intended.”

“Oh, look at her.”

I smiled at Seo Jae-yeon.

This awards ceremony was satisfying in many ways.

The hanbok [traditional Korean dress] dress I wore at the awards became a hot topic every day, and thanks to that, attention was focused on the Hongmaehwa designer.

Also, PD [Production Director] Kang Jung-hwan and Senior Won Hye-rim, who were empty-handed at NBS [a fictional broadcasting station], each won the Directing Award and the Grand Acting Award, brilliantly ending Gyeol-kkot.

I was happier about their awards than receiving an award myself.

Meanwhile, the veteran senior who won the Best Supporting Actress Award instead of Senior Won Hye-rim at NBS received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Hanho.

Won Hye-rim, who received the Grand Prize, came down from the stage after her acceptance speech and handed a bouquet of flowers to the veteran senior.

That heartwarming scene of a junior congratulating a senior’s retirement was circulating all over the internet for days.

But in this friendly atmosphere….

“I’m sad. Why didn’t you contact me?”

Lee Seok-hyun was the only one with his mouth hanging open.

It was the umpteenth time I’d heard that.

“Desert Island, Desert Island, Desert Island! Everyone’s saying it’s the Han Sae-na division, but what about me? Can’t I be part of it? Why, is my acting lacking?”

I endured the endless whining and drank beer, trying not to get annoyed.

But Seo Jae-yeon said next to me.

“Don’t you know?”

Seo Jae-yeon waved her hand up and down in front of her face.

“Your mask is stale.”

“…!!”

Lee Seok-hyun put down his glass with a wounded face.

“Seriously…? Am I stale…?”

Lee Seok-hyun looked at me again.

I tried to calm Lee Seok-hyun by waving my hand.

“That can’t be true. People still go crazy when you say Lee Seok-hyun rom-com [romantic comedy].”

I answered Lee Seok-hyun in informal speech now.

This was also because Lee Seok-hyun insisted that he felt distant, so I dropped the honorifics.

“You’re lying, right?”

Then Min-hee, who returned from the bathroom, hit Lee Seok-hyun’s shoulder.

“Ah, be quiet! Why are you whining so much? Has everyone seen Sae-na’s documentary?”

To watch it already when it came out this morning.

“Min-hee, you’ve already seen it?”

At my question, Min-hee winked.

“I’m very interested in Sae-na these days.”

And Min-hee sat down and opened a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] in the middle of the day.

“When filming , I knew she was a great person because she acted so well and prepared so hard. But after watching the documentary, Sae-na is no joke, right?”

I couldn’t answer and just laughed awkwardly.

I was a little surprised while watching the documentary as soon as I woke up.

The documentary, which vividly captured the scene, contained the entire history of the production process.

From the differences from the original version to the actual Netmate office meetings, the atmosphere on set, Chae-seong’s interviews, and the behind-the-scenes stories of casting and OST [original soundtrack] selection.

The documentary, which unraveled all these stories, positioned Han Sae-na as someone who came up with ‘a little more’ good ideas while everyone enthusiastically participated in the drama production.

Looking at the comments on the documentary-related articles, public opinion regarding the controversy had completely turned favorable.

-This isn’t just a clique, but Han Sae-na ran with her own feet. She was an idea bank.

-Han Sae-na has an eye for people. She would have done well even if she worked as a producer.

-Look at the public opinion turning around now. It’s ridiculous. Netmate isn’t a pushover, they invested because it was worth it, you guys.

-I’m listening to the North Star music because the OST is so good.

-Han Sae-na, do more of the clique. Let’s go for season 2.

Netmate’s overall strategy was successful.

I clinked glasses with Min-hee and toasted.

“I wouldn’t have been able to start without . I’m grateful to Min-hee.”

I haven’t even made my official debut in the film industry, but I have a 7 million [moviegoers] cameo filmography.

But Min-hee, the lead actress of that 7 million movie, was waving her hand and giving credit to me.

“Sae-na, do you know that our movie title wasn’t originally Private Lives? While filming Sae-na, the amount of footage increased, and the content was revised, so the director suddenly changed it.”

Lee Seok-hyun made a fuss next to me.

“Our Sae-na is really going to become a great actress like this, right? Like a ten million actor. The number one guarantee in the industry!”

I pinched Lee Seok-hyun’s arm, telling him to stay still, but Seo Jae-yeon answered seriously.

“Why not? It’s about time someone like that came out among actresses.”

Min-hee also nodded.

“That’s right. Try to advance into the movie industry, Sae-na. It’s really hard to find a charming female lead.”

It seemed like the two actresses were seriously thinking about it.

I’m hearing these things from top actresses.

Suddenly, I felt like I was dreaming again.

I held the cold beer glass.

“Cheers, everyone. Let’s see each other often and for a long time.”

* * *

After the filming of ended, the drama as well as the documentary were released, but the schedule was still a long way off.

The topic of was increasing rather than decreasing.

As much as was receiving attention, it was being called here and there in unexpected places.

It was safe to say that it was just the beginning.

In particular, the first start began in a completely unexpected place.

It was UBN’s evening newsroom.

It seemed that Netmate’s entry into Korea was being covered in various current affairs programs and news, so a special was created.

I never imagined that a TV news interview would come in, even though it was a cable channel.

Moreover, UBN.

I felt strangely happy because it was the place where I filmed Flat Shoes.

In the early evening, after receiving calm makeup, I headed to the UBN building.

As soon as I arrived, an official came out and checked the route with an in-ear and took me to the waiting room.

“Han Sae-na is going up now.”

I was a little embarrassed by the somehow extreme treatment.

Inside the waiting room, a manager with a printed script and a drink was waiting.

“Aren’t you hot?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“We won’t ask any questions that aren’t written here. Don’t be too nervous.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As I answered and received the script, Chae-seong soon came in with guidance.

“Oh, you came?”

The newsroom corner was a two-person interview with Chae-seong.

“….”

But Chae-seong’s complexion was pale.

“Chae-seong?”

“Yes….”

I burst out laughing at Chae-seong’s nervous face.

“This is Chae-seong’s family home. Don’t be nervous!”

At my words, Chae-seong shook his head.

“That’s why I’m nervous. It feels like just yesterday that I was following the PDs here and working as the youngest member of the production team. Why am I in a place like this…?”

Then one of the managers standing next to him handed Chae-seong a tissue to wipe off his sweat.

“Yes, thank you….”

Chae-seong put the tissue on the back of his neck.

After a while, a staff member received a call with an in-ear.

“Would you two like to follow me?”

I closed the script and got up from my seat.

Chae-seong followed the staff with a frozen face.