In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 109

That evening.

“I’m announcing today’s assignment. When I’m home alone, I’ll show you the version of myself that I hate the most.”

Do Changhyeon’s personal assignment presentation time—something we’d all grown used to by now.

After finishing the forced march of eight hours of individual practice each day, excluding meeting times, everyone huddled together in the practice room.

We’d briefly shared our thoughts on the meeting during the day, then implicitly avoided bringing it up again.

We were worried it might affect our practice momentum.

Everyone was throwing themselves into practice as if the meeting had never happened.

They all hid their exhaustion and sent warm encouragement through applause.

At that, Do Changhyeon smiled slightly, as if gathering courage.

His face looked more relaxed than it had a week ago.

Do Changhyeon hesitated for a moment, then plopped down on the spot.

He pulled his legs close with both arms and stared vacantly at one fixed point.

“What is it? A window?”

“Ah, watching TV?!”

Kim Yeongi and Lee Hyoseo called out one after another like they were playing a quiz game.

When TV came up, Do Changhyeon nodded as if to say that was the right answer.

Then he focused on his TV-watching acting again and let out a deep sigh.

“…I’m jealous.”

Seeing that performance, all the team members smiled slightly as if they couldn’t help it.

Min Sohyeon’s expression quickly turned bittersweet, as if she understood that feeling.

Still hugging his legs, Do Changhyeon flopped over sideways.

Then he shed a single tear.

It was tear-drop acting at a speed approaching divine levels.

Do Changhyeon just sniffled for a while without saying anything.

Watching that performance brought a flood of emotions—frustration, empathy, pity, absurdity—all rushing in like a tide.

When Do Changhyeon wiped his tears and stood up, the mentees threw out feedback one by one.

“This really feels like acting drawn from real life.”

“My heart ached just now…”

“Changhyeon-ssi, don’t you think you’d be surprisingly good at playing pathetic characters? Pathetic acting is actually incredibly difficult. If you bring it to life well, it’s a huge hit.”

Lee Hyoseo clapped her hands together and came up with a plausible idea.

When the team members agreed with “That’s true, yeah,” Do Changhyeon smiled shyly.

Watching that smile, I chuckled softly too.

I’d been assigning these personal tasks precisely for Do Changhyeon’s natural smile.

Taking those secretive aspects he hated so much about himself, putting them out into the world, and having him receive understanding and conversation in a comfortable atmosphere.

Do Changhyeon already had top-tier acting skills—the same acting training as everyone else wasn’t necessary for him.

What Do Changhyeon needed was mental training.

“Changhyeon-ssi, just get rid of your TV.”

I watched the mentees who’d become close enough to exchange jokes and laugh together.

Everyone was growing splendidly.

* * *

Another week later.

“The <Harmonica> team would like to cast Min Sohyeon-ssi as the lead.”

“The <Children Aging Out of Care> team would like to cast Do Changhyeon-ssi as the lead.”

Right after the first audition, the two people our team had expected received lead casting offers.

And Kim Yeongi as a supporting role, Lee Hyoseo as a bit part.

Lee Hyoseo’s result was a bit disappointing, but there were still opportunities.

All casting would be finalized after the second audition.

Which meant even the lead casting couldn’t be taken for granted.

The other teams would be sharpening their teeth.

After checking the judging results, I was walking down the hallway with a pleased expression when Ha Seongjun suddenly popped out.

“Is it even possible to sweep both?”

“What?”

“Out of four lead spots, Glory team and yours are already splitting them two each from the start. That’s too much.”

Ha Seongjun stuck out his lower lip in a place without cameras.

“It’s a competition, so we have to work hard.”

I tried to brush past him with a casual answer, but this time Park Eunki approached.

“I can’t keep up with Mentor Han.”

“Right? Basically Haneul-ssi was raised by Sena-ssi.”

I waved my hands slightly flustered.

“What are you talking about, no way.”

Ha Seongjun finally raised his voice as if throwing a tantrum.

“What’s with all of you! You’re ganging up without me! Sena-ssi, Yuseon-ssi are all sharpening your knives! Park Eunki, you already got company contacts for your team members!”

Wait, company contacts…?

Hearing Ha Seongjun’s words, Park Eunki grinned as if he’d been waiting for this.

I opened my eyes wide and asked Park Eunki.

“Who got contacts?”

“Go Seonho. His looks are so outstanding, after all. I heard Yuseon sunbaenim’s team member got contacts too.”

“Oh my, really…”

“Doesn’t Sena-ssi’s team have any? They’re all doing so well though.”

“Um… yeah. We haven’t heard anything yet.”

Right.

Don’t any of my kids have offers…?

My kids have good visuals too, and they act well.

Park Eunki and Ha Seongjun left only their concerning remarks behind and turned away.

* * *

A few days later, at the studio.

“<Harmonica>’s leads Hwang Minseok and Min Sohyeon! <Children Aging Out of Care>’s leads Do Changhyeon and Yoon Haneul confirmed!”

As the four leads everyone expected were confirmed, thunderous applause poured out.

Among the four leads, Min Sohyeon looked the most surprised, covering her mouth.

Having ranked eighth in Round 2—the lowest among the four—Min Sohyeon seemed overcome with emotion and burst into tears.

Watching Min Sohyeon like that made even my nose sting for no reason.

In the early audition rounds, Min Sohyeon had carried an ace image, but as her ranking gradually dropped, she’d solidified into a declining image on the broadcast.

Even so, Min Sohyeon never showed how hard things were, suffering alone inside while silently dedicating herself to practice.

Do Changhyeon smiled and took off his shirt to hand to Min Sohyeon, who couldn’t stop crying.

Watching that scene, people smiled warmly.

“Now then, we’ll announce the remaining supporting and bit part roles.”

The MC continued announcing the audition casting.

As a result, Kim Yeongi was confirmed for a substantial supporting role in <Children Aging Out of Care>, while Lee Hyoseo was confirmed for a bit part in the same work.

Lee Hyoseo’s casting was disappointing.

“Even if it’s a small role, I think it’s a character I can bring to life the best. I’ll work hard!”

Lee Hyoseo tackled the brief interview with spirit.

Watching her, I smiled.

Yeah, that’s my girl.

Well done.

“Now then, with the La Dolce Vita team placing two in lead roles, they’ve climbed to a tied first place in team scores! We can’t not hear from Mentor Han. So, Mentor Han?”

The MC threw the question at me.

I slowly picked up the microphone.

“I congratulate all the actors who’ve stepped onto this stage on their debut. However, there’s a saying that it’s not over until it’s over. That’s exactly how I feel right now. Let’s all keep our focus sharp until filming ends.”

“As expected, the mentor’s comment isn’t going easy on anyone! What do you think, Mentor Hwang?”

The MC naturally turned the question to Hwang Yuseon, the other tied-first-place mentor.

Hwang Yuseon answered as if she’d been waiting.

“I don’t know how hard they’re planning to work to answer like that. I’m scared, honestly.”

The studio erupted in laughter at Hwang Yuseon’s witty response.

“The glorious Glory, we’ll also push ahead until we shine in first place!”

* * *

After the studio recording ended.

– Oh my, already making your debut and everything. It’s so hard to even get you on the phone.

In a small break room corner without cameras, Do Changhyeon was sweating as he talked on the phone with someone.

– Other agencies are contacting you a lot too, right?

“Ah, well, that’s true but…”

– Still, you’ll keep your loyalty, right? Our Actor Do, let’s work together with AK going forward.

“Ahaha… I’ll contact you later.”

Do Changhyeon was trying to wrap up the call when the break room door creaked open and someone entered.

Hearing the door open, Do Changhyeon startled and hung up the phone.

Kim Yeongi gave Do Changhyeon a puzzled look.

“Don’t tell me.”

“…?!”

Do Changhyeon gulped as he looked at Kim Yeongi.

“You’re dating someone?”

At Kim Yeongi’s wild guess, Do Changhyeon let out a deep sigh.

“Dating? I haven’t even debuted yet.”

“The mentor wants you. Says we’re doing the filming rehearsal now.”

“Okay.”

Do Changhyeon hurriedly got up from his seat and followed Kim Yeongi out.

* * *

One week later.

The short-form drama filming began quickly.

I visited the filming location with <Be Actors> cameras and the other mentors.

“Two mentors will move together. Mentors Ha Seongjun and Park Eunki will go to the <Harmonica> set, while Mentors Hwang Yuseon and Han Sena will go to the <Children Aging Out of Care> set.”

And so I first visited the filming location for <Children Aging Out of Care>, where Do Changhyeon, Kim Yeongi, and Lee Hyoseo were appearing.

In both hands I carried several paper bags filled with cooling scarves, fans, arm sleeves, drinks, and hand fans.

Hwang Yuseon smoothly pulled out a hand fan from my paper bag and held it up to her own face.

“You should take care of sunbaenim first!”

Without backing down from that Hwang Yuseon, I shot back.

“Sunbaenim. I heard you buy the mentees meals all the time—why don’t you ever buy your hoobae a meal?”

“Oh my, oh my!”

Hwang Yuseon made an exaggerated fuss and widened her eyes.

The staff holding cameras chuckled.

“Let’s see which team does better, hmm?”

Hwang Yuseon made a cute huffing sound without being annoying, then tottered away.

Shortly after.

“Am I pitiful because I’m fun to you?”

“What if I said yes.”

“Cut! Okay.”

Do Changhyeon and Yoon Haneul delivered passionate performances and received an okay in just one take.

“Are they really rookies?”

The director smiled slightly as he praised the two of them.

Beside us, Hwang Yuseon had been quietly taking in the warm, harmonious set atmosphere the whole time.

“They’re good.”

“Even the supporting role—Mentor Hwang’s team’s Janghyeok-ssi is incredibly impressive.”

“Janghyeok is good. But anyway, your mentees are really something.”

“Really?”

“The director is also making their directorial debut, so the direction is a bit rough. But they understand right away when told.”

Hwang Yuseon had sharp observation skills as always.

Since the director was also a rookie, some inexperience showed in the directing.

I’d been watching while pretending not to notice.

But the two lead actors were holding the center and supporting the director, leading the set forward even without being taught.

“As expected, Haneul-ssi learned well.”

When Hwang Yuseon smiled and offered praise, I felt slightly embarrassed.

“It’s not just because they were my mentee. They became a lead after learning from sunbaenim.”

During that short break, I watched my mentees from a distance with a satisfied heart…

For some reason, Do Changhyeon, who usually had his face buried in the script, was staring intently at his phone.

“Changhyeon-ssi, let’s briefly rehearse the next filming.”

The assistant director called Do Changhyeon from behind.

Do Changhyeon just stood there looking at his phone, not even hearing that.

“Changhyeon-ssi!”

“…?”

The people around Do Changhyeon had been standing there staring at him for a while.

A few seconds must have passed.

I grew anxious too and approached Do Changhyeon directly.

“Is something wrong?”

I tapped his shoulder, and Do Changhyeon jumped and looked at my face.

“Oh, Mentor.”

“The staff are waiting.”

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

Do Changhyeon hurried over to the assistant director with a distracted expression, as if his focus had been stolen elsewhere.

What’s going on?

I tilted my head as I watched Do Changhyeon’s back.