In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 136

I grabbed the microphone and spoke.

“Yes, I’m confident.”

The venue instantly erupted into murmurs.

Both the director and Lee Seonho looked at me with slightly surprised expressions.

Normally I would’ve given the safest possible answer.

But the opponent is Seo Jaeyeon.

‘Still… I think we’re going to win?’

That had been Seo Jaeyeon’s shy comment at this morning’s <Powerful Woman> press conference.

‘But I’m Seo Jaeyeon, you know? I can be confident, right?’

Seo Jaeyeon had answered casually in front of countless cameras without backing down, adding fuel to the rivalry structure.

Reporters excitedly churned out articles by the dozen from just those two statements.

Before coming here, I’d seen those articles and smiled faintly while curling up my lips.

So this is how you’re playing it?

Then you must be expecting me to respond similarly.

With Seo Jaeyeon’s personality, she’d definitely hate anything boring.

Besides, since the structure had formed like this anyway, Seo Jaeyeon was probably thinking we should both use it for publicity—not just me.

I continued.

“And their side has 1:1 chemistry, while ours has 5:1.”

I said that and grinned.

“I’m confident ours will be five times more fun.”

The press section erupted once again.

“Whoa….”

“She’s got guts, real guts.”

“Is she allowed to say that?”

“This is huge.”

Various reactions could be heard.

Beside me, only Lee Seonho wore a satisfied smile, clearly pleased with my answer.

This time Lee Seonho picked up the microphone.

“I also really poured my heart into this.”

The MC’s eyes sparkled as they threw a question to Lee Seonho.

“Did our self-proclaimed and widely-acknowledged romcom king really put his all into this one?”

Lee Seonho smiled warmly and answered.

“Yes. I’d say I burned brightest out of all the projects I’ve done so far.”

“Wow! This is going to be absolutely explosive, isn’t it??”

Along with the MC’s excited reaction, another barrage of flashes poured out.

I was also smiling quietly, pleased with Lee Seonho’s answer.

Lee Seonho met my eyes and smiled affectionately.

A completely deliberate smile.

The reporters didn’t miss it and kept shooting us without pause.

Watching Lee Seonho like that, I thought internally, ‘Oh my.’

This guy’s dead serious, and pretty good at this too.

Beside us, the director sat there looking bewildered by himself.

His expression practically screamed ‘Is this even okay…?’

Lee Seonho and I both looked at the director and burst out laughing simultaneously.

The MC didn’t miss the opportunity and threw a question at the director.

“Our director seems a bit out of his element in this battlefield. What’s going on? Are you going to show us such a weak side??”

As the MC playfully pressed, the director finally snapped to attention and grabbed the microphone.

Then laughed sheepishly.

“This feels like the biggest battle of my life.”

People laughed at the director’s plain answer.

That’s when the MC poked at the director’s sore spot.

“Director Park Gu from the <Powerful Woman> team seemed fired up with fighting spirit, though?”

Smart MC.

The director’s expression immediately changed.

“If we’re talking director versus director, that’s a different story. I’m also filming this with my life on the line.”

The reporters cheered and set off their flashes.

The director didn’t seem adapted to this atmosphere, but at least he showed an attitude that he wouldn’t lose to the rival director.

The MC cackled.

“Wow, I’m so lucky to MC both teams’ press conferences. This is the most fun press conference I’ve done in recent memory.”

Laughter erupted in the venue at the MC’s banter.

“Alright then, the <Say Your Name> teaser released today! Let’s all watch it together at this perfect timing!”

* * *

That evening.

Named Han Sena fan ‘YooJianFloormat’ Park Dahye sat in front of her laptop, thoroughly examining people’s reactions.

First, the teaser reactions.

-The teaser is insane.

-Both teams went all out, they really did. But I’m voting for <Say Your Name>.

-Whoa, but I didn’t realize Han Sena and Lee Seonho’s faces looked so good together. Cold beauty and warm handsome guy vibes.

-Since Han Sena’s also an actress in real life, she really suits the top actress role.

-Yu Dayang lololol Is it Yu Dayang because she has a variety of personalities? They named her well.

-Baek Jangmi really has me so hyped. Please make it 19+ rated, I’m begging.

-Han Sena always looks good doing both sexy and cute stuff—it’s fascinating. I’m excited for Lee Eunje.

-What’s up with Yu Hayeong? Already looks intense.

-But seriously, if it wasn’t Lee Seonho, no other co-star could’ve handled someone this standout; Lee Seonho’s just that amazing to me

Park Dahye smiled slightly, looking satisfied.

Then she opened all the article links comparing the two teams with a somewhat worried expression.

Her dedication to reading comments was practically cyber investigation unit level.

-I’m making one prediction. First week ratings will definitely go to <Powerful Woman>, then after that <Say Your Name> will dominate.

Pilgrimage site.

⤷ Please let me do well on this college entrance exam.

⤷ Please let me succeed in changing jobs.

⤷ Who are you to make predictions lolol

-<Powerful Woman> definitely has that refreshing punch. No matter how much Han Sena blew up, she’s still not at Seo Jaeyeon and Sung Minhui’s level yet.

-But am I the only one who gets chills every time I watch Han Sena act? This time’s also giving me chills.

-K drama special: medical dramas have doctors fall in love, legal dramas have lawyers fall in love. Multiple personalities is probably just predictable romance x5.

⤷ Seriously lolol

⤷ Just watch the girl x girl chemistry, everyone.

⤷ Seo Jaeyeon is legit always trendy

-But seriously everyone acts so well. Even their competitive spirit is intense. I love this structure so much.

-Either way, won’t everyone watch both shows? It’s just about which one you’ll watch as a rerun.

-interesting!!

-อีซอนโฮหล่อจัง (Lee Seonho is handsome)

-J’espère que vous allez bien tous les deux ! (I hope both teams do well!)

-ドキドキ! (Heart pounding!)

-Even foreign fans are going crazy lolol. When famous actors clash, it expands into a global fight.

-I don’t usually watch Korean dramas but there’s so much buzz I’m planning to watch one of them.

⤷ Same lol

⤷ SCBS is predicting record-breaking live and rerun ratings for the first time in years. UBN goes without saying.

-Top actress killer Han Sena. After Lee Nara and Seo Jaeyeon, who’s next.

⤷ Stop making noise.

⤷ Right back at you.

Park Dahye made a subtle expression while reading the comments.

The atmosphere was definitely heating up more and more.

She clicked the report button on comments that crossed the line.

The Han Sena fan cafe was also in unprecedented chaos.

-Why’d you release the teaser one step late, you production team idiots ㅡㅡ ugh

⤷ Seriously, first episode ratings are so important.

⤷ Again, only our actress is serious, right?

⤷ I could tell when the director was being clueless.

-Wow, I’m too nervous to watch the premiere.

-Seriously the acting is insane, insane…. How does she keep improving?

⤷ Everyone stop just worrying about the rivalry and actually watch our actress’s acting

⤷ 222 Seriously amazing just from the teaser;

-At this level she could probably pick any script and it’d blow up, but choosing a multiple personality character is so Han Sena.

-At this point, wasn’t our unnie a general in her past life;; I get anxious every time she enters a new project

⤷ Lololololol Same….

⤷ Totally cracking up lol

⤷ Seriously probably not just any general

-But our unnie seems more comfortable with Lee Seonho than with Lee Seokhyun. Like she relies on him more?

⤷ Oh, I wasn’t the only one who felt that!

⤷ Omg yes yes

⤷ It’s not romantic feelings. More like deep comradeship? That kind of thing.

⤷ Probably comrades-in-arms lol

⤷ This is right….

-Everyone please actively report malicious comments about our actress. I’m worried she’ll get hurt.

-Looking for group purchase for posters.

Park Dahye’s heart kept pounding as she read the comments.

“Why am I the one getting nervous?”

The teaser was released one step late, but thanks to the flashy imagery and content, it seemed they’d successfully defended.

However, the outcome was still unpredictable.

Park Dahye’s fingers started flying across the keyboard.

It was time to accelerate the promotion.

Both drama production companies had overlooked one thing.

The power of netizens mixed into the crowd doing direct promotion.

Park Dahye intended to demonstrate it herself.

* * *

“Your teaser was fun, you know?”

The terrace on the second floor of a suburban cafe run by Seo Jaeyeon’s friend.

Seo Jaeyeon lay in a hammock, leisurely drinking coffee as she asked.

I also collapsed into the hammock beside her with my arms behind my head.

“Ah, the sunlight’s nice.”

“How could you say that at the press conference? If I’d known, I would’ve been more aggressive too.”

Seo Jaeyeon grumbled.

“Even Lee Seonho joined in, seriously.”

Had Seo Jaeyeon always been this talkative?

She seemed to find this whole situation fun.

“By the way, the Jung Sewoon character must be difficult to act. How did you approach it during filming?”

Seo Jaeyeon suddenly displayed her insight and changed the topic to acting.

As expected of someone with experience.

“She was definitely the most challenging.”

“Is Baek Jangmi too strong?”

Hearing Seo Jaeyeon’s words made me chuckle.

She gets it immediately.

“Yeah. So during filming, I put maximum emphasis on movements. Originally I was going to focus on differentiating through styling, but that felt stale.”

“Right. That’s not your style anyway.”

Seo Jaeyeon, who’d already figured me out completely, nodded.

“Now I’m even more excited.”

“By the way, your fan cafe is going crazy too, right?”

“Yeah. Our fans hate you.”

Seo Jaeyeon stated bluntly.

I burst out laughing at that.

Our fans were also grinding their teeth saying we absolutely had to beat <Powerful Woman>.

“Lee Nara wasn’t even my best friend. I don’t know why they keep linking us and saying I have to get revenge for her.”

Seo Jaeyeon sighed.

“Same. People still bring up how I beat Lee Nara.”

“Her movie’s opening soon too. I’m curious how it’ll do.”

“Right.”

We both enjoyed the rare day off with our eyes closed.

After humming a tune for a moment, Seo Jaeyeon spoke.

“There are pros and cons to all this chaos. Either way, the entire nation now knows we’re doing dramas, right?”

“Right. Let’s think about how to show we’re not actually enemies as we go.”

And that opportunity came sooner than expected.