In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 143

Right after episode 6 aired.

<Say Your Name> finally caught up to <Powerful Woman>’s ratings.

[<Say Your Name> 17.2% vs <Powerful Woman> 16.0%]

[The predicted reversal! Han Sena defeats best friend Seo Jaeyeon!]

[Second battle—what will the rerun ratings be?]

Articles poured out once again, and the group chat exploded for another round.

I briefly checked the ratings, then moved on.

Even though filming had ended, the lingering emotions hadn’t faded yet, so I was slowly sorting through my feelings.

Rather than staying cooped up at home, I wandered around various places to clear my head.

Today, after a long while, I came to a theater alone and enjoyed watching several films.

As the ending credits rolled on the last movie I’d reserved, I shuffled out of the theater.

“Hmm…?”

I tilted my head as I stuffed the ticket into my bag.

Pulling my cap down low, I hurried toward the elevator.

The movie I’d just watched was <Fabulous>, which had achieved number one in advance ticket sales and finally opened today.

“Wow, the story this time is killer as always.”

“Ugh, seriously, why’d they kill them off again? Please stop killing people!”

“But… what was up with Lee Nara…?”

“For real. Felt like she was on screen for one second.”

People who’d watched <Fabulous> were chatting in front of the elevator, each sharing their thoughts.

I listened quietly to their conversations while lost in thought.

‘Everyone’s seeing the same thing.’

But how did it end up like that…?

As expected from Warners, they’d delivered another thrillingly entertaining blockbuster, but Lee Nara’s role had become significantly smaller than what I’d known.

Lee Nara’s character was definitely supposed to be a sage-like figure who centered the various heroes.

Now she’d been completely reduced to a minor supporting role.

It seemed like the script had undergone a massive rewrite.

“She’s basically a background character, isn’t she?”

“Even those brief moments were terrible overacting.”

“That’s probably why they cut her screen time.”

“Background character is insane. I’m embarrassed for her.”

Even inside the elevator, people kept talking excitedly without stopping.

But then.

“Han Sena should’ve done it instead.”

“Seriously. Why’d she steal it?”

“She didn’t steal it—Han Sena turned it down.”

“Then Han Sena was smart. I’d pick Hometown over this too.”

“Ah, Hometown was great, and Say Your Name is so good too.”

“Her acting is insane, for real.”

The topic suddenly shifted, and hearing my name made me tense up and lower my head.

The moment the elevator doors opened, I slipped out quickly.

I hurried out of the building, thinking as I walked.

What on earth happened here?

The character had enough potential to salvage if they’d wanted to.

I didn’t particularly feel satisfied or vindicated by Lee Nara’s troubles.

Just curious.

Lee Nara was greedy, sure, but she was an actress with fundamental skills…

This looks like it could turn into something bigger.

I left the building with a strange feeling.

* * *

Another week later.

I spent even more hectic days shooting various photoshoots and CFs—busier than during the drama filming itself.

Meanwhile, <Say Your Name> broke through 20% ratings starting from episode 8, leading to unexpected developments.

[BCC Chicken’s Rosé Olive Combo Sales Hit 300%! Han Sena X Seo Jaeyeon Effect]

[Seo Jaeyeon X Han Sena Combo Variety Shows, Interviews Hit #1 Ratings in Their Time Slots]

[2017, The Year of Han Sena! Han Sena’s ‘Barum Entertainment’ Flooded with Ads, Dramas, CFs…]

[Brand Reputation for Actresses: Han Sena Takes #1]

[Han Sena Claims #1 in BaeFin’s Selection for This Year’s Shining Women]

[Han Sena Rising to Top Star Ranks—What’s Her Next Move?]

Unimaginable attention flooded in.

I went around various shooting locations, sleeping less than two hours a day.

The company was just as frantically busy.

I consistently hit real-time search rankings two or three times a week, with dozens of articles pouring out daily.

The whole thing felt surreal.

‘What on earth is happening?’

Why am I being called a top star, or number one in this and that?

It felt like dreaming after so long, leaving me in a daze.

Am I still inside Yu Dayang’s body?

Posts analyzing my filmography and acting became hot topics too.

[Comprehensive Analysis of Han Sena’s Filmography]

[Similarities and Differences Between Yoo Ji-an and Yu Dayang]

[What Makes Han Sena’s Method Acting Different]

‘Actress Han Sena never acts according to the script alone. More precisely, she doesn’t act within just the script’s boundaries. She always creates something beyond the script.’

‘Her method acting always creates the illusion that she’s possessed by the character. Always detailed, with perfect harmony between emotion and reason.’

‘Even after debuting, Han Sena continued her passion for learning by secretly attending Hollywood actor workshops. That passion made her <Hometown> appearance possible and created her current standing.’

‘Her potential is limitless.’

Watching countless analyses and columns pour out made my chest swell.

People were researching my acting methods and pouring attention into them.

Things I’d never imagined in my past life.

Things I hadn’t dared hope for even after starting my second life.

My heart pounded.

What if this really is a dream?

While riding in the van on the way to a photoshoot with Lee Seonho, Seo Jaeyeon called.

The moment I answered, Jaeyeon asked straight out, as always.

-How’s it feel? Being a top star?

Hearing that, I responded blankly, “Uh…”

Jaeyeon laughed.

-Hey. Our team’s in mourning mode right now, you know? Because of you?

“Still not done filming?”

-Only action scenes left. I’m dying here. I can’t get motivated because of you!

Hearing that made me smile awkwardly, feeling apologetic.

But Seo Jaeyeon was half exaggerating.

The <Powerful Woman> team had overwhelming rerun ratings.

I’d heard they’d already recouped production costs and earned double that.

-Even my fandom is going crazy sharing your articles? I go into my fan cafe and can’t tell whose cafe it is.

Seo Jaeyeon grumbled.

“We should do a fan meeting together later.”

Seo Jaeyeon chuckled at that.

-Yeah. Super busy right now, huh?

“Yeah. I’m being careful to only select a few interviews right now since rushing into them during this season might lead to regrets. It’s not easy though.”

-Good thinking. Take health supplements. I’ll recommend the place I go to.

“Thanks. Don’t get hurt, and finish strong.”

-I will. Keep in touch.

Jinseok oppa, who’d been quietly listening to the call, glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“That charity work you’ve been doing at the orphanage made the news too. Did you see?”

“What!?”

“The orphanage kids are giving interviews about seeing you—it’s going viral right now.”

“Oh my. How embarrassing.”

I quickly grabbed my phone and searched for the article.

[Donation Fairy Han Sena! Secretly Continuing Orphanage Donations…]

[Han Sena Possesses Beauty, Acting Skills, AND Character—The Next Generation Queen]

[Video Interview with Kids from Han Sena’s Donation Orphanage]

‘Han Sena Unnie is super pretty. She read us storybooks. With grandpa and ahjussi…’

‘She told us poop stories! It was so funny. Poop poop!’

Hundreds of comments filled the space below the interview video.

-Han Sena is seriously amazing. This wasn’t something she started after getting famous.

-Total favorability. Thank you so much.

-Even with lots of money, consistently doing this isn’t easy. Beautiful inside and out.

-She didn’t just donate money—she personally volunteered reading stories. That’s genuine. I’m a fan from today.

-All of South Korea is Han Sena World. Everywhere you go it’s Han Sena talk. (in a good way)

I covered my mouth with my hand in shock, and Jinseok oppa laughed heartily.

“I’m dying too, seriously. Even working two-shift rotations isn’t easy.”

At some point, we’d added another road manager, with the two taking turns driving…

But Jinseok oppa’s dark circles had already reached his jaw.

Just then, a notification chimed on my social media.

Checking it, I saw Yuri-ssi had tagged me in a post.

‘Acting like you got a real best friend with someone else, huh? We’re gonna have fun too ^0^’

The post showed Jung Yuri and Kim Eunseo with their arms around each other’s shoulders in photos together.

They’d probably seen articles about my relationship with Jaeyeon and were joking around.

Looking at those photos left me bewildered.

When did those two get so close?

I thought their personalities wouldn’t mesh at all.

Looks like they hung out separately after <Desert Island> ended.

-Both so cute ♥

But then this social media post turned into its own incident.

* * *

Shortly after.

A late-night UBN variety show expressed great interest in this jealousy incident(?), shared the photo from the show’s official social media, and even requested our appearance.

It was a simple variety show called <Shock! Moment>, and the concept was a couple showdown: Han Sena & Seo Jaeyeon vs. Kim Eunseo & Jung Yuri.

I readily accepted to see familiar faces after so long and arrived at the studio…

But the atmosphere flowed in a direction I hadn’t expected.

Everyone’s eyes blazed with competitive fire over trivial prizes in couple games.

Including mine, of course.

“Kyaa!”

When a paint bomb flew at us as punishment, I quickly used Seo Jaeyeon as a human shield.

Thanks to that, yellow paint splattered all over Seo Jaeyeon’s body.

Seeing her ridiculous state made me burst out laughing, and Seo Jaeyeon ground her teeth.

“Just you wait.”

Jaeyeon flashed her signature eye-smile while grinning menacingly.

And so, as soon as the next corner’s touch quiz started…

“Kyaaaak.”

Something cold and slimy slapped onto my blindfolded face.

I startled violently like having a seizure, then ripped off the blindfold to reveal its identity.

A live octopus.

Jaeyeon was holding her sides laughing triumphantly.

“Um… this is a couple battle, right?”

The MC looked around nervously, thrown off by the actresses’ unexpectedly wild gameplay.

But Kim Eunseo and Yuri-ssi were also clutching their stomachs laughing.

“You’re dead. Put on the blindfold.”

I got heated too and made Seo Jaeyeon wear the blindfold.

“Um… Director? Is this okay?”

The MC’s question echoed through the air.