In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 14

Beneath a cloudless, clear sky, the UBN broadcasting station building stood tall.

A massive banner with the printed Flat Shoes poster hung on the building’s exterior wall.

From inside the taxi passing through the heart of Seoul, I stared up at the broadcasting station building.

Emotion welled up naturally.

The reality of this world still didn’t feel real sometimes, so I’d occasionally wake up and slap my own cheek to check.

The few colleague actors who’d accidentally witnessed this had been shocked and horrified, though.

A pleased sigh escaped.

Even in my previous life, Flat Shoes had been a big sensation, but… not quite to this extent.

The radio in the taxi was broadcasting a program.

‘In a word, Korea is currently experiencing a Flat Shoes fever! Writer, you must be so proud.’

Huh?

My ears perked up instinctively.

It was an interview with Writer Lee Si-young as a guest.

‘Fever is a bit much. I’m just grateful to the director, staff, and actors who brought the work to life. At my age, I’m treated like an old woman relegated to the back room in this industry, yet they’re lifting me up like this.’

‘An old woman in the back room? That’s far too modest. By the way, these days Han Sena, who plays Yoo Ji-an—the driving force behind Flat Shoes’ success—is causing a stir with her fresh face and acting. What do you think?’

‘More than anything else, I’m grateful. She’s someone I’m truly thankful for.’

My heart swelled with emotion.

Listening to Writer Lee Si-young’s interview while watching the scenery outside felt oddly affecting.

The writer’s next words brought tears to my eyes.

‘This is the first time I’m revealing this, but the Yoo Ji-an character actually faced many obstacles. A vicious villainess, a person without compassion or mercy. She was a character not easily consumed. That’s why I revised the script extensively. But then Sena-ssi appeared.’

‘Oh my, was there such a behind-the-scenes story?’

‘Yes. That young actress completed the plausibility of Yoo Ji-an—a character many criticized as merely vicious. So in the end, we went with the previous version of the script. Sena-ssi is a great benefactor.’

‘Wow, this is going to make headlines, isn’t it?’

‘That young actress, that clever and talented young friend, contributed so much. Thanks to her, another one of my dramas has been completed like this.’

The taxi driver glanced at me as I discreetly wiped away tears.

Who am I to…

Am I really allowed to hold such a significant role in one production…?

My heart wouldn’t easily settle.

Then the driver spoke in a rough voice.

“Miss, you watch Flat Shoes too? Everyone’s going crazy over it, absolutely crazy.”

“Hm? Oh… I thought it was just okay. Do you watch it?”

I gathered myself and answered.

I was testing the waters a bit.

The only place around where I could gauge reactions to Flat Shoes was my own home.

‘Our Sena is the best!’

‘Sena’s acting is amazing’

…Mom and Dad’s words weren’t particularly helpful from an objective standpoint.

“Yeah. Thought it’d just be some trashy makjang, but I ended up watching it with the wife and now I’m tuning in for every episode.”

The driver burst into hearty laughter with a guffaw.

“That Yoo Ji-an girl’s acting is no joke. Man, that viciousness…”

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and continued.

“Miss, you look like her. Like Yoo Ji-an!”

“Ahaha…”

I pulled my cap down awkwardly and forced a smile.

Since I still didn’t have an agency or manager, every time I went to filming locations I either rode in Mom and Dad’s car or took taxis.

Should’ve gotten my license sooner.

Still, there was a certain fun in observing the reactions of drivers who watched the drama.

And lately, more and more drivers were recognizing me like this.

“I hear that a lot.”

“I wonder how the story’s gonna turn out from here… Miss, what do you think will happen?”

The driver kept testing me with a suspicious look.

Our eyes kept meeting in the rearview mirror, creating a strange standoff.

I was holding back laughter that threatened to burst out.

“Who knows…”

‘Yoo Ji-an is truly a painful character. Even when I was writing her, I felt sorry for her, and watching it on broadcast, sometimes I can’t even watch.’

As the radio program ended with the writer’s voice, the taxi stopped in front of the filming location.

When I handed cash to the driver, he fumbled around and pulled out paper and pen from somewhere.

“Excuse me. It is you, right? Han Sena. Here, could you give me an autograph?”

I received the paper from the driver.

We both burst out laughing in the end.

As I signed the autograph, the driver added another comment.

“I’m on Yoo Ji-an’s side! Sure she’s harsh, but at least she’s honest.”

“Thank you. I’ll work even harder.”

As I got out of the taxi, I could hear the driver on the phone behind me.

“Hey! Honey! I saw Yoo Ji-an! That girl from Flat Shoes! I got her autograph too.”

* * *

When I entered the set, the atmosphere felt somehow chaotic.

What’s going on, another accident?

Anxiety crept in.

As I approached the waiting room where noisy sounds were coming from, several staff members emerged carrying a two-tier cake.

A cake?

One of the staff members held up a small placard behind the cake with both hands.

<Congratulations. Flat Shoes Achieves 4% Viewership Rating>

Ah, so that’s what this was about.

I couldn’t help smiling.

Today’s shaping up to be a good day in many ways.

Just this morning before leaving home, I’d checked the ratings on my way out.

Plus, my phone was still filled with unread messages from various sources that had piled up.

After being voted number one villain of the year by viewers, lovely supporting role, and so on, interview requests from various magazines had come flooding in.

Lately I’d been feeling it more and more on every commute—I really needed an agency soon.

I really do feel like a rookie again…

My heart swelled once more.

“Director Moon’s coming!”

At someone’s voice, the staff all clapped in unison.

Director Moon walked over from a distance and, seeing the cake, broke into a huge grin that stretched from ear to ear.

“Hey, you all prepared something like this? You guys, should we have a big dinner tonight?”

Applause erupted from all around at Director Moon’s cheerful shout.

“Wow! Let’s eat beef! Buy us beef!”

“Awesome!”

Just then, one of the staff members pushed me by the back to stand next to the director.

The director suddenly handed me the cake.

“Here, Sena-ssi should hold this.”

“Director! How can you give this to me?”

I was so flustered I thought I might break into a cold sweat.

“Why not? You’re the number one contributor to our Flat Shoes, Sena-ssi.”

The staff all cheered and applauded in unison.

“Our Sena-ssi is a lucky charm, a real lucky charm.”

Park Hoon sunbaenim and several other seniors chimed in from the side.

Even I’ve never experienced an atmosphere like this before.

As the mood shifted so heavily toward making it all my achievement, I instinctively stepped back.

That’s when my eyes met Yu-ri-ssi’s.

Yu-ri-ssi was smiling and clapping among the staff.

When our eyes met, Yu-ri-ssi grinned brightly toward me.

My heart instantly grew uncomfortable.

Truthfully, because of reporters trying to boost views… the internet had been flooding with sensational articles.

[Supporting Role with More Presence Than the Lead]

[Bold Move: Yoo Ji-an Over Shin Sera!]

[Yoo Ji-an’s Flat Shoes, What’s Next?]

After that, every time we filmed I kept sneaking glances, and whenever that happened, Yu-ri-ssi would offer congratulations with a smile that was just slightly awkward enough to notice.

At those times, I truly had nothing to say.

‘The one thing I knew how to do—I wanted to excel at it, so I never rested and did at least one project a year.’

‘Today you’re acting for the first time, Sena-ssi, but you’re better than me with over ten years of experience. I was surprised. And envious.’

The first conversations I’d had with Yu-ri-ssi came to mind painfully.

That ambition and dream—I understood them better than anyone…

The consideration Yu-ri-ssi was showing me now with that smile hurt my heart.

I pushed the cake back to the director and opened my mouth.

“Director, you should give the congratulatory speech first.”

“Ah, should I?”

The director cleared his throat briefly, thinking of what to say.

“Well… our staff always work so hard, and our cast. Very reliable.”

Director Moon placed his hand firmly on Kim Jung-hoon’s shoulder, and Kim Jung-hoon smiled awkwardly.

“I’ll do better!”

Kim Jung-hoon answered with a voice full of energy.

Everyone watching chuckled at the sight.

Taking advantage of the moment, I quickly gestured for Yu-ri-ssi to come over.

Yu-ri-ssi pointed at herself with her finger and mouthed, ‘Me?’

I nodded.

The director handed me the cake again.

“Sena-ssi, you say something too. Let’s record all this. Fans will love it when we upload it.”

I took the cake and handed it to Yu-ri-ssi as she walked over.

One of the staff stood before us holding a camera.

I cleared my throat.

“Actually, I’m only saying this now, but. If it weren’t for Yu-ri-ssi, I wouldn’t have been able to act like this.”

Yu-ri-ssi looked at my face with a startled expression.

“Whenever Yu-ri-ssi and I matched scenes together, I could feel how much consideration she gave me. And Yu-ri-ssi’s acting is incredible. She responded so well in my anger scenes that it created even more synergy.”

Yu-ri-ssi stared at the side of my face.

When I was young too…

I really loved being in the spotlight.

Attention was something that made you crave more the more you received.

If it seemed to diminish even slightly, I’d feel anxious as if my position was disappearing.

But now, rather than somehow pulling the spotlight toward myself, forming intimacy with fellow actors felt better and more comfortable.

That was far more important too.

It would’ve been nice to know this sooner, but during those young days armed with spirit and impetuousness, understanding such things was impossible.

If I hadn’t refilmed Flat Shoes, this would be a realization I’d never have gained until death.

Tears slightly welled in Yu-ri-ssi’s eyes.

I met Yu-ri-ssi’s gaze.

“I mean it. Thank you, Yu-ri-ssi.”

Yu-ri-ssi nodded while looking into my eyes.

Only then did the smile on Yu-ri-ssi’s face no longer seem awkward.

“Thank you too for saying that, Sena-ssi.”

“All right, our leading ladies, blow out the candles together.”

“Okay, we’re taking the picture. I’ll count to three and you blow them out. One, two, three!”

“Okay, Flat Shoes!”

Whoosh—

Yu-ri-ssi and I blew out the candles simultaneously.

“Fighting!!”

The filming site rang with the voices of people shouting the cheer.

Flash!

The camera flashed.

After taking the photo, tears suddenly threatened to well in my eyes too.

“Ugh, I’m being ridiculous.”

It’s not even the series finale yet.

Yu-ri-ssi looked at me laughing and handed me a handkerchief.

As I dabbed my eyes with the handkerchief and glanced over, Yu-ri-ssi’s eyes were moist too.

Our eyes met and we both burst out laughing simultaneously.

“Yu-ri-ssi, why are you crying?”

“The tears just came. Sena-ssi, why are you crying?”

“Me too, just because.”

I finally realized.

Yoo Ji-an was a gift in my life.

Not the starting point that twisted my life, but a benefactor who gave me wings.

“You’re both being ridiculous! We’re only halfway through the drama!”

Jieun-ssi shouted in her clear voice from a little ways off.

The staff laughed at her words.

Jieun-ssi, who’d said that, also had tears brimming in her eyes.

Jieun-ssi pulled over Jung Chae-sung’s coat standing next to her and wiped away her tears.

“Ah, no, Jieun-ssi. Why here…”

“Be quiet.”

* * *

Some time after that.

Not long after those happy days, the expected happened earlier than I’d anticipated.

I was reviewing the script in front of the set when Yu-ri-ssi approached and quietly placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Sena-ssi, are you okay?”

“Hm?”

At Yu-ri-ssi’s words, all the staff on the filming site looked this way without saying anything.

Buzz—

Just then, my phone vibrated.

I fumbled to pull out my phone and checked—it was a text from Seon Yuseok.

‘Noona, are you okay? Call me when you have time.’

After closing the message and looking at my phone, I saw over twenty missed calls piled up.

Mom, Dad, the writer, my professor, Seon Yuseok, several unknown numbers…

Looking around the filming site, everyone watching me had worried looks.

“Sena-ssi… did you see the article?”