In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 100

One month later.

I barely managed to erase the tan marks from my skin just in time for the Marden Film Festival schedule and completed the itinerary without incident.

This is the first time I’ve put in this much effort just to wear a dress.

On the flight back to Incheon, I checked the news articles.

[Exceptionally invited <Hometown> receives 3-minute standing ovation at Marden Film Festival]

[Han Sena’s <Hometown> advances to Marden Film Festival!]

[Han Sena recognized by the world!]

[<Hometown> achieves new record with steadily rising audience numbers through Week 7!]

Reading the articles put my mind at ease.

Of course, opinions expressing disappointment about my choice still lingered, but the overall public sentiment had shifted considerably.

Despite not being a blockbuster, <Hometown> had carved out a unique place in cinematic history.

Thanks to that, <Hometown> was scheduled for one more commemorative screening at art theaters nationwide.

Next, I typed ‘Be Actors’ into the search bar.

An article introducing the judges popped up.

The names of two senior actors in their 50s serving as head judges caught my eye.

Park Seokjin, Kim Heejoo.

These were senior actors who could rightfully be called part of Korean drama’s lineage.

I’d briefly worked with Senior Park Seokjin in my past life on the same drama.

Should I say he was someone with a bold acting tone and presence overall?

Seeing him looking young again brought an unexpectedly warm feeling.

Below them, young actors leading current trends had taken positions as judges and mentors.

Mentors who’d directly clash with aspiring actors on the front lines included Hwang Yuseon, Ha Seongjun, and idol-turned-actor Park Eunki.

Thinking of Hwang Yuseon naturally brings to mind a lovely and vibrant image…

It did feel balanced with me, having focused mainly on serious projects so far.

Ha Seongjun and Park Eunki were also pushing energetic youth images for now.

Honestly, I was curious about the aspiring actors’ fresh sensibilities and diverse personalities.

I chewed my innocent lip as I fell into thought.

Before I knew it, I found myself staring at the now-familiar airplane ceiling.

Alright, let’s just do it.

The comfortable path I could’ve taken already ended with Flat Shoes.

If I’m truly going to live a new life…

I opened my chat with Minyeong unnie.

-Unnie, I’m doing ‘Be Audition.’

* * *

The very next day, MTV broadcasting station.

A meeting with PD Lee Sangman, who’d planned ‘Be Audition.’

The moment I expressed my intention to join as a mentor, PD Lee Sangman summoned me separately.

But the PD’s opening line caught me off guard.

“We need a mentor without shadows, someone like Sena-ssi.”

For a moment I doubted my ears and stared at the PD.

The PD continued without concern.

“Someone who’s written only a history of success. Young, spirited, and fearless character. We already have mentors who’ll embrace mentees while recalling their own unknown days, or who’ll pass on distinct image-making.”

Park Eunki and Hwang Yuseon flashed through my mind in that order.

“What we want from Sena-ssi is an actor who ran without stopping and succeeded.”

I sighed inwardly watching the PD rattle this off without hesitation.

It wasn’t strange.

A person bearing the heavy responsibility of program success was simply expressing their expectations for a mentor.

The only problem was that it was judged purely on ‘surface image.’

But perhaps most people in South Korea who knew me thought of me this way.

I hid my true feelings and smiled brightly at the PD.

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

The moment I answered cheerfully, this thought occurred to me.

Perhaps this project’s mission would be…

Clashing with another frame created by the path I’d walked in this new life.

Or perhaps having to meet expectations that others think are natural for ‘Han Sena to obviously…’

As my thoughts reached this point, I felt a bit unsettled.

* * *

The audition preliminaries began quickly.

A week later, I headed to the preliminary audition site as the last judge to join.

The preliminary audition took place in a small room with a friendly atmosphere.

When I opened the door and entered, Ha Seongjun, who’d arrived first, greeted me.

“Hello. Nice to meet you!”

“Pleased to meet you.”

I smiled and returned the greeting.

Ha Seongjun felt familiar even on first meeting, probably from seeing and hearing about him so much in my past life.

His actual personality was also genuinely warm.

“I heard you came straight from the film festival? You must be tired. Would you like some coffee?”

“Ah, thank you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Yuseok. He says you take really good care of him.”

“Oh, not at all.”

Park Eunki and Hwang Yuseon, who’d been sitting nearby, also stood and offered handshakes.

An awkward atmosphere still flowed among the four of us including me.

Park Eunki seemed slightly shy, quite different from his days as an idol pushing intense choreography and sexy concepts.

And most surprising of all was Hwang Yuseon.

The adorably charming image that always overflowed on broadcasts had vanished somewhere, replaced by a serious and straightforward impression.

After exchanging greetings, Hwang Yuseon immediately sat down and earnestly reviewed the audition participants’ profiles.

I’d assumed she’d be bright since acting tends to have one’s personality bleed through.

Looks like I was mistaken.

Just as we finished greeting each other and sat down, the audition room door opened and the senior actors appeared.

Park Seokjin sunbaenim and Kim Heejoo sunbaenim.

All four of us juniors including me immediately jumped up and bowed.

“Sunbaenim, hello!”

“Everyone, good to see you. Let’s do well together!”

“Everyone sit down, sit. We have to see over fifty people today, so let’s conserve our energy.”

The seniors smiled and waved off the formal juniors.

Like the sunbaenim said, I’d come fully prepared too.

I even drank two red ginseng sticks this morning.

Reviewing them all individually won’t be easy.

That’s when a staff member opened the door and called out.

“Starting the audition!”

* * *

“Right, my name isn’t Yang Jangpi, it’s Yang Janghee!! I’m thirty-four. What’re you gonna do about it?!”

The audition began in earnest.

Participants of various ages opened the audition room door and appeared to perform.

The preliminaries would be inserted into the first broadcast with a vcr feel.

The focus would be on participants rather than judges.

So my side was also concentrating entirely on judging participants rather than building character.

“I’m Yang Janghee!! Fat and ugly but! …Ah, sorry. Let me try again.”

“It’s okay, please continue.”

Senior Kim Heejoo encouraged the participant with a patient expression.

Perhaps because it was preliminaries, many friends who hadn’t had their skills verified also participated in large numbers, so we saw a lot of acting that seemed entry-level or learned as a hobby.

Park Seokjin sunbaenim’s expression, always candidly honest, rapidly hardened.

My shoulders were also gradually tensing up.

Delivering serious evaluations to people without fundamentals was more grueling than expected.

I glanced at the sunbaenim and deliberately put strength in my eyes.

No matter how much energy it takes, preliminaries are where various gems will be discovered.

I even felt anticipation about potentially meeting talents like Kkotbyeol.

“Unfortunately, we’re giving you a fail.”

“Please send in participant number 34.”

While I was massaging my shoulder, the next participant opened the door and appeared.

“Hello, I’m participant number 34, Do Changhyeon.”

“Oh.”

The moment I saw the participant’s face, a sound escaped involuntarily.

Ha Seongjun looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Do you know him?”

At that question, I snapped back to attention and quickly shook my head.

He wasn’t someone I had a connection with, but he was someone I knew all too well.

How could I not know Do Changhyeon…

In my past life, Do Changhyeon had risen to top star status with popularity spreading across Asia before everything turned to foam and disappeared because of drugs.

And not as a first-time offender but a third-time drug offender heading to prison.

How many other celebrities got tangled up starting with that friend…

I looked at Do Changhyeon’s eyes as he fidgeted with his hands, seemingly slightly nervous.

Young Do Changhyeon’s delicate and clear eyes dreaming of his future unsettled me.

“Please begin.”

Park Seokjin sunbaenim spoke in a languid voice.

Do Changhyeon began acting in a bright, clear voice.

“I can’t buy you expensive bags! But I can buy you the alley tteokbokki and sundae you like every single day! Eel once a week!”

Laughter bloomed in the audition room for the first time at Do Changhyeon’s wit in bringing recent romcom drama dialogue.

Do Changhyeon’s nervous expression further amplified the moment of confessing to the woman he loves.

His diction, voice, and gestures were even good.

“Even if I don’t know women’s hearts like you say, the woman I know best in this world is you.”

Do Changhyeon’s expression gradually grew serious.

Watching him made me sigh inwardly.

Because he’s good.

Throughout his performance, the word ‘drugs’ spun round and round in my head.

In terms of acting ability alone, he was the most excellent participant so far.

A smile appeared on Senior Park Seokjin’s face for the first time.

That’s when Do Changhyeon boldly extended his finger toward Kim Heejoo sunbaenim.

“You!”

Senior Kim Heejoo looked at Do Changhyeon in surprise.

“From now on, you’re my woman.”

“Oh my, oh my.”

“Kyaa! What!”

“He came with determination.”

Laughter erupted from the judging panel and staff—everyone in the room.

He even knows how to lift the atmosphere…

That means his head works well too.

I sat there alone wearing a forced smile, feeling uncomfortable.

Hwang Yuseon, who calls herself the rom-com queen, spoke with a laugh.

“You’re good. You seem to know the one-shot home run method.”

Kim Heejoo sunbaenim, who’d been laughing bashfully, also nodded.

“You have good instincts. You’ll be fun to coach, very much so.”

“Hey, sunbaenim, aren’t you liking him a bit too much?”

Ha Seongjun teased Kim Heejoo sunbaenim playfully.

Do Changhyeon glanced at the bright atmosphere and relaxed his tension, smiling slightly.

Park Seokjin sunbaenim still gave off a somewhat contemplative atmosphere, but since there was nothing particular to point out, he nodded silently.

Having briefly worked with the senior in my past life, I already knew the expression he made when 100% satisfied.

Anyway, this made it a bit difficult to oppose alone.

His acting didn’t warrant opposition either.

“Do Changhyeon-ssi, you pass. See you in the main competition.”

In the end, Do Changhyeon received his passing judgment.

Ugh.

I wonder who’ll become Do Changhyeon’s mentor.

My mind grew complicated.