In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 78

Inside the live news studio, an announcer greeted us with a gentle smile during a commercial break.

“Hello. Have you had dinner?”

Wow, I’m seeing Announcer Eom Hee-yeon in person.

I examined the announcer’s face with a slightly awestruck feeling.

She had been responsible for the 8 PM terrestrial broadcast for a long time.

Announcer Eom Hee-yeon was another founding member who came over with the opening of UBN [a fictional broadcasting station], and her move to the broadcasting station was quite a big deal.

And above all, she was my mom’s rival as my dad’s ideal type.

“We’ll get ready.”

I felt a bit nervous at the staff’s words.

After the staff counted down with their fingers, a red light turned on the camera.

Announcer Eom Hee-yeon naturally introduced the segment and then introduced Chaeseong and me.

The announcer asked me a question first.

“The syndrome is truly happening right now. Even the recently released documentary ranked first in the Korean documentary rankings for the first half of the year. There was some controversy over the production process for a while. How did you feel at the time?”

I carefully delivered the answers I had prepared.

“Actually, I was very surprised because it was unexpected. When we first uploaded it to ITube [likely a fictionalized version of YouTube], our concept was ‘a drama made by actors for actors.’ As such, when creating the initial characters, I wrote the script to suit the actors. The script wasn’t that great either. I just threw out situations and left it to the actors to improvise.”

Announcer Eom Hee-yeon nodded with interest at my words.

“Since it was important for the actors to move independently like this, no one thought about changing the cast even when it came to dramatization. The director also wanted to maintain the flow of the original.”

While listening to me, Chaeseong was still stiff, with his hands neatly gathered.

“From my point of view, rather than building friendships through the drama, I gathered people whose strengths, weaknesses, and acting styles were accurately identified to create the drama together… so it seems there was room for misunderstanding.”

“Yes, you must have had many concerns. On the other hand, this work was the debut piece for Jeong Chaeseong. How did you get involved?”

As everyone in the studio focused their attention, Chaeseong started hiccuping as if he was flustered.

Chaeseong took a sip of water.

Watching him made me feel like I was sweating too.

Chaeseong, hang in there….

“As you know, Saena recommended me. Although I received the recommendation, there were several candidates for director at the time. Later, when I asked the production company why they chose me, the person in charge said they were a fan of Flat Shoes.”

“…?”

The announcer looked embarrassed at Chaeseong’s answer.

“Ah, no, that’s not it….”

Then Chaeseong quickly waved his hands.

“They joked with me like that, and I almost fell for it, but they said they had seen my short films that I had made in the past. They were mainly thrillers, and they said they seemed the most suitable for this work.”

Whew….

It really felt like my heart was going up and down.

Listening to Chaeseong’s answer felt like riding a roller coaster.

“Yes, I heard that the director’s short films are receiving minor attention among Desert Island fans.”

After that, the announcer asked a few more questions.

“How do you predict Netmate’s [likely a fictionalized version of Netflix] localization strategy will unfold in the future?”

“If you were to pick one advantage and one disadvantage you felt while collaborating with the new OTT [Over-The-Top, referring to streaming services] platform production company, what would they be?”

“Interest in the OST [Original Soundtrack] album is also rapidly increasing. How was the OST production process?”

Since it was a short segment, time flew by quickly as I answered a few questions sincerely.

“Now, for the last question. It’s about Saena’s career path. Your debut work was our UBN general programming drama. You made a splendid debut by winning the Rookie of the Year award with record-breaking viewership ratings that had never been seen before on a general programming channel. This time, you’ve become a pioneer of a new OTT platform service. You don’t seem to hesitate in making these unusual choices. What kind of path will you show us next?”

My filmography, neatly summarized by someone else, felt unfamiliar.

It was a route I had never thought about either.

I just spent each day diligently and went with the flow in a big direction.

Everything wasn’t 100% calculated will.

“I’m thinking about it. Often, when I read the comments, I seem like someone who gets everything they want, whether it’s good or bad.”

The announcer laughed at my joke.

“That’s not true. I always do my best with the opportunities given, but the way the results come back is always beyond my expectations. Unexpected controversies, unexpected successes. So, for the next step… I can only say that I will do my best with the opportunities that come to me.”

“That’s a good point. If you knew everything in the future, who could enjoy life, right?”

“Yes. One more thing, there’s a question that many people are curious about. Do I have any intention of becoming a director? I can definitely say no to that. I will continue to be an actress.”

“Yes, thank you for your answers. We will conclude UBN Newsroom with the Desert Island Q&A segment. Thank you, viewers.”

Chaeseong sighed softly as if the tension had been relieved.

* * *

The day after appearing on Newsroom, the next place we headed to was a public service advertisement featuring the entire cast.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare selected the actors as ambassadors for the Suicide Prevention Center.

This news caused a stir on various internet sites.

People were already writing down the advertisement concepts they had come up with in the comments, saying it was innovative.

“Honestly, I think it’s a bit funny….”

Yoori said, looking at the camera, saying the suicide prevention center’s phone number and returning.

Senior Won Hyerim also chuckled at that.

“But it’s a good thing. Let’s all take it seriously.”

Everyone nodded at the senior’s words.

After finishing the group poster shoot, I put on a white coat and sat down at the table prepared in front of the camera.

I, who played the role of a psychologist, inadvertently became a counselor in the advertisement video.

Because the concept was that the characters came to receive counseling one by one, I had to endure the full shoot alone.

While facing each actor one by one all day, the actors who finished filming disappeared for their next schedules.

About six hours later.

The last actor left with me was Hyunsoo.

Hyunsoo walked over with his unique faint smile.

“We didn’t have any scenes to shoot alone in our drama, but we’re shooting like this.”

“Ah… come to think of it, that’s right?”

“I’m a little excited?”

Hyunsoo sat in the chair.

“Camera roll.”

With the director’s words, Hyunsoo made a serious expression.

Hyunsoo, wearing a semi-formal suit, was a character representing an ordinary office worker in his 30s.

The camera first captured Hyunsoo in the frame.

Hyunsoo took out a white envelope from inside his suit jacket.

“I’m going to quit.”

A white envelope that looked like a resignation letter.

A resignation letter that every office worker carries in their heart….

Hyunsoo slid the envelope towards me.

I took the envelope and turned it over.

The cover had the words ‘Last Will’ written on it instead of ‘Resignation Letter’.

The camera, which had only been showing the wrist, zoomed out and showed my upper body wearing a white coat.

“…Think again.”

I looked into Hyunsoo’s eyes.

I could feel the unstable emotions shaking within Hyunsoo’s determined expression.

This small twist was intended to break the prejudice of people who expected it to be an ordinary resignation envelope.

The mind that can think of suicide is so close to us, and always stays with us.

As such, it is not strange to think of suicide, so reach out for help at any time.

This was the purpose of this public service advertisement video.

I put the envelope down and took Hyunsoo’s hand on the table.

I made eye contact with Hyunsoo until I heard the ‘Okay’ sign.

* * *

And just two days later.

The second group schedule for the Desert Island team.

It was the first volunteer activity since my debut in this life.

Beach cleaning in Jeollanam-do [a province in South Korea], where the set was installed and filming was allowed.

The actors, equipped with equipment, gathered one by one in front of the mud flat.

Everyone had dark circles under their eyes from the past few days.

Considering the individual schedules excluding group schedules, everyone must be very tired.

“Why do you all look worse than when we were filming on the island?”

Jaehyung scanned the actors’ faces and smiled slyly.

“I’ve really done everything from smoking cessation campaigns to carrying briquettes [a common form of heating fuel in Korea]? But this is my first time experiencing mud flats.”

Jaehyung, who said that, also had a pale complexion.

“Jaehyung, I heard you got an IV the day before yesterday.”

“Oh, how did the rumor get there?”

“You’re secretly weak.”

“Weak? To a man who was probably a general in his past life….”

While exchanging such trivial conversations, Yooseok, Heechan, and Kkotbyeol were running around excitedly on the mud flat.

“You’re dead if I catch you!!”

“Ugh, my feet won’t come out. Save me!”

The three’s cheerful laughter filled the mud flat.

I put my hand to my forehead with Jaehyung, shielding the sunlight, and stared at them blankly.

“Young….”

Then Senior Jang Heeyoung approached me smoothly.

“Can’t you guys do that anymore?”

“Rather than that, I don’t have the courage to run….”

My feet were already sinking deep into the mud.

The boots were heavy.

Some of the reporters who ran to take pictures of our volunteer work were also forced to undergo extreme training.

“Oh, everyone is having a hard time. We have to show them that we’re working hard.”

Senior Jang Heeyoung deliberately made a fuss in front of them.

Meanwhile, Senior Won Hyerim shouted at the three who were running far away.

“Don’t go too far!! You guys! Something bad will happen!!”

Kim Eunseo was just picking up trash with a haggard face in the distance.

Kim Eunseo was also gaining attention as a rising star through this .

She’s probably dying from handling schedules here and there….

Kim Eunseo seemed to lose weight when she was stressed.

“She’s becoming more and more of a bone, tsk.”

“It must be nice. I’m dying of exhaustion, but why am I gaining weight?”

Yoori complained, gathering the scattered nets from the side.

“Yoori, quit drinking.”

“What am I supposed to live for!”

Like that, I spent the whole day pulling my sinking legs and circling the wide mud flat.

How much time had passed?

I could see the water rising in the distance.

“Okay, everyone, disband. Actors, you’ve worked hard!”

Chaeseong, who had been picking clams instead of picking up trash, clapped.

“Director! Why did you come if you were going to do this!”

“I came to see the next filming location.”

The actors’ eyes widened at Chaeseong’s words.

I was also surprised and asked back.

“Are you already going into the next project?”

“Yes, I have to row when the water comes in. By the way, I think I have a deep connection with the sea. I keep getting involved with places like this.”

Chaeseong said to himself.

“Were you a mermaid in your past life?”

“We’re finding a lot of past lives today. Hurry up and pick up one more piece of trash!”

Senior Won Hyerim gave a stern order from behind.

I Will Live as an Actress in This Life