In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 16

Three days flew by in the blink of an eye.

On my first day off in a while, I sprawled out carelessly on the living room sofa.

Ha, how long has it even been since I last rested?

If I had my forty-something body right now, I would’ve passed out at least ten times already.

The filming schedule—broadcasting with only a 3-4 episode buffer, practically going live—was absolutely brutal.

Yu-ri-ssi and several other actors and staff members were already reduced to depending on IV drips.

Why did such a useless variable even have to happen in the first place?

As I lay there sprawled out, Mom fed me fruit as fast as she could peel it.

I’m about to burst from eating meat.

“How did my daughter end up nothing but skin and bones? Are you not even eating during filming?”

“I do eat.”

I answered vaguely while mumbling with my mouth full.

“What do you mean you eat? This won’t do. Give me the director’s number.”

Pfft, I laughed.

“What are you going to do, Mom?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Not sending my daughter home for days on end, with her face this sunken—am I supposed to just sit here?”

I quickly chewed and swallowed the apple.

“Mom. The director’s not my homeroom teacher.”

Mom let out a “Whew” and calmed herself down.

“At least those nasty comments about you have died down.”

My ears perked up at that.

“Really?”

Right, three days have passed since Yang Euichul made his big promises…

He must’ve pulled some strings.

“But Mom, do you even read all those hate comments? Don’t look at them.”

“I don’t look. It just gives me a headache.”

Says she doesn’t look, but how does she know they’re gone then?

“Your father hasn’t slept for days, clicking that report button on every single comment.”

At those words, my nose suddenly stung.

It was the same as before—in the past and now.

The image of Dad, who could barely use a computer, sitting there all day clicking the report button on comments—click, click, click.

Mom acted like she didn’t care, saying things like that, but she was probably suffering quite a bit behind the scenes too.

Unlike me, who was gradually getting used to this villain life, my parents always fretted over the hate comments more than I did.

In so many ways, having a daughter living a villain’s life was filial piety.

“Why go that far…”

This time Mom popped a strawberry into my mouth.

While dutifully eating it, I picked up my phone.

When I searched my name on a portal site, most of the negative news, comments, and posts that used to line up under Han Sena’s name had completely disappeared.

Yang Euichul must’ve flexed some muscle.

I also spotted posts here and there where people were analyzing and immersing themselves in the villainess Yoo Ji-an.

[A Woman Who Had No Choice But to Become a Villainess]

[Yoo Ji-an: Pain and Scars Hidden by a Venomous Facade]

[10 Reasons Why Yoo Ji-an Isn’t Your Typical Villain]

I nodded as I read through them one by one.

Pretty interesting.

Even in my previous life, Yoo Ji-an had been a sensational character who drew considerable attention, but she hadn’t achieved this level of ‘immersion.’

Yet now, people were rooting for Yoo Ji-an’s life.

My heart swelled with emotion.

Most of the comments were favorable too.

– I watch Flat Shoes just to see Yoo Ji-an.

– Is it weird that I relate to Yoo Ji-an?

– Please let Yoo Ji-an be happy, Writer…

And then there were the articles from reporters who’d swarmed the filming location but came up empty-handed, writing up random pieces without context.

[Shocking Reversal! The Villainess’s True Self Off-Camera]

Unlike the clickbait title, the actual content featured interviews where cast members and staff described me as ‘diligent’ and ‘passionate’—which was the real twist.

Either way… since the reporters who’d been after views still managed to draw attention, everyone came out with a peaceful ending.

I felt bad for my colleagues on set.

They must’ve been hassled by those reporters because of me.

I’ll have to thank them properly when I’m back on set.

And now…

Finally, I opened my piled-up message inbox.

Missed calls I hadn’t been able to check and various offers and contact messages from agencies were stacked up.

I started reading through them carefully, one by one.

While finding an appropriate excuse to quickly use Yang Euichul then turn him down, I also needed to find a real agency to sign with going forward.

– Hello, Actress Han Sena. This is Kim Yuna, management director at Renner Agency. Please contact us.

– Hello, Actress Han Sena. An ardent fan of Flat Shoes’ Yoo Ji-an here, from Miru Entertainment. Please give us a call when you have time ^^

– Hello, this is Ridere Entertainment. We would love to meet with Actress Han Sena. Please contact us.

Hmm… where should I start with meetings?

Just then, a call came in from Seon Yuseok.

– Sunbae! You’re alive? I was worried because I couldn’t reach you.

The moment I answered, Seon Yuseok greeted me with a bright voice.

At the sound of a male voice through the phone, Mom shot me a look.

No, it’s not like that.

I waved my hand at Mom.

“Were you worried about me, or worried I wouldn’t help with your acting?”

At my question, he laughed sheepishly through the phone—busted.

– Of course both. Noona, do you have time tomorrow? Want to grab dinner?

“Should we?”

Again, Mom’s eyes went wide as she stared blankly at me.

Geez, this is getting uncomfortable.

I got up from the sofa and went into my room, closing the door.

– I’ll treat you to something delicious. By the way, noona, did you find an agency?

“Not yet. I’m getting lots of contacts, but I’m still thinking about it.”

– Actually, people at my company are going crazy wanting to meet you. Oh man, especially the management director—she’s been going on and on.

“Oh, really?”

So this company’s approach is to make contact through someone they know.

If it’s Yuseok’s company…

True Actors.

– We have Management Director Kwon—she’s incredibly persistent.

“Management Director Kwon?”

– Yeah, Management Director Kwon Minyeong.

Kwon Minyeong?

The moment I heard that name, my head went blank in an instant.

Could it be the Kwon Minyeong from Force Entertainment…?

When you said Kwon Minyeong, she was someone who’d made quite a name for herself in the industry as both a stubborn maverick and a highly capable person.

Could it be the same person?

“How does she know about me? Did she watch the drama?”

I lost my composure for a moment and the words tumbled out in a rush.

– No, you came to the company that time to help me with my acting, remember? I kept praising you so much, and she kept grilling me about it, so I mentioned your name.

“Ah, I see.”

I sat on the edge of my bed, lost in thought.

If it really is that Kwon Minyeong…

My heart rate was gradually accelerating.

My instincts were gripping my reason, telling me to meet Kwon Minyeong right now.

“Then, want to bring the Management Director tomorrow evening?”

– Huh? Sure, let me ask her once.

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

I hung up like that.

Phew… I let out the breath I’d been holding.

If the company planned to bring me in, the Management Director would somehow clear her evening schedule and show up to the meeting.

I planned to go meet her directly and confirm whether this was the right Kwon Minyeong.

If she really was the Kwon Minyeong who would later establish Force Entertainment, this was an opportunity of a lifetime that couldn’t be better.

I recalled the stories I’d heard about Kwon Minyeong long ago.

Kwon Minyeong had been at a mid-sized agency where she’d constantly spoken only the truth, so she was always in management’s bad graces.

Whenever the company tried to cover up actors’ criminal scandals, corruption, or incidents, she’d been at the forefront opposing them.

Not only that, but she had a history of being the first to admit wrongdoing to the media when everyone else stayed silent.

However, her work performance was too good for the company to fire her, until at some point Kwon Minyeong stormed out on her own.

I didn’t know what that trigger was, but…

The famous Kwon Minyeong’s philosophy and management creed was just one thing.

‘Be human before being an actor.’

After that, she established her own company—Force Entertainment, a major agency specializing in actors.

“Wait… then could the company she stormed out of possibly be True Actors?”

What’s going on here?

Just then, Mom burst through the door and slinked over to ask.

“Is my daughter… seeing someone?”

“You scared me! Mom, seriously.”

“What if you get caught up in a scandal? This won’t do. Take me with you when you go out to eat.”

Phew, at my age right now…

Then I realized my current appearance and laughed at Mom, who was holding all her worries close.

“Don’t worry. I’m going to go get myself an agency.”

* * *

The next day, in front of UBN broadcasting station.

After finishing a simple meeting with the writer and director, I was walking out when I suddenly stopped.

From far away, I could hear a voice spreading unpleasantness like creeping fog.

“Well, well, who do we have here? If it isn’t our actress!”

It was Yang Euichul.

Ha, seriously…

I forced my furrowing brow back into place.

Yang Euichul waved his hand and walked toward me.

“Oh my, Director! What brings you to the broadcasting station?”

I greeted him with a forced smile.

“Ah, I came for a meeting about one of our agency’s actors joining a production. What about you, Sena-ssi? Work meeting?”

“Ah, yes.”

Before my words even finished, Yang Euichul jumped in.

“Sena-ssi, have you had lunch?”

“Ah, yes. I ate earlier.”

“It’s only noon though—already?”

Oops.

“I eat pretty quickly. And I need to diet too…”

“You’re this thin and still dieting! Celebrities really do impossible things…”

Yang Euichul subtly assessed my complexion.

“Speaking of which… did you notice how many of those hate comments disappeared? How is it?”

“The hate comments vanished in an instant, didn’t they? Director, how did you do it?”

I asked with wide, round eyes.

Yang Euichul smiled—this was it—at my words.

“This level is nothing for our company. At the end of the day, what matters most for actors is having a place that can protect them with power and capital like this.”

I nodded at Yang Euichul’s words.

“I guess all agencies are this amazing.”

“Not all of them. There’s a reason AK is at the top, you know? Do you like it?”

Yang Euichul whispered and winked.

Pretending not to hear that, I opened my mouth.

“Actually, this time when Park Hoon sunbaenim’s company sent that sashimi food truck, I almost passed out from shock.”

As I clapped my hands exaggeratedly with sparkling eyes, Yang Euichul’s expression turned flustered.

I kept talking.

“We had outdoor location shooting last week too, up in Gapyeong at that pension area. Eating raw fish there was absolutely amazing! Doesn’t that company have incredible sense?”

Listening to my words, Yang Euichul’s expression gradually hardened.

That expression… I was familiar with it.

It was the face Yang Euichul put on whenever things weren’t going his way.

Actually, in my previous life, my heart would turn ice-cold every time I saw that face.

Whenever that expression appeared, something bad always happened to me and those around me.

“Sena-ssi, I didn’t take you for that type.”

“Pardon?”

Yang Euichul smirked.

“You’re a newcomer, but you’re no rookie, huh?”

A moment of silence passed, filled with tension.

It felt like he’d seen through my probing intentions.

My mind raced quickly during that brief time.

“Huh…? Is that a compliment?”

I just laughed it off with a hehe.

Yang Euichul looked at my face and forced himself to laugh along, his expression like he was holding something back.

“You’re not trying to feel out our company, are you?”

Yang Euichul playfully tossed out a loaded question.

“Feel you out? How could I dare do that to Director Yang… I’m just a humble newcomer. Was I being rude?”

I instantly put on a worried expression.

When tears quickly welled up in my eyes, Yang Euichul showed an ‘oh crap’ expression.

“No, no. I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant…”

“I just… all agencies are fascinating to me, and impressive… I really just wanted to get close to you, that’s why I said it.”

I bowed my head deeply.

People passing by the broadcasting station glanced our way.

Conscious of the stares, Yang Euichul waved his hands.

“Sena-ssi, I was completely wrong. Ah man, rolling around in this industry makes your personality go sour.”

Yang Euichul smoothly handed over a handkerchief.

I accepted it and dabbed at my tears.

It reeked of thick perfume, enough to give me a headache.

“No, I’m sorry. If I looked like I was testing you, I’ll get out of your way right now.”

Yang Euichul spoke urgently at those words.

“No, no. I didn’t know our Sena-ssi liked sashimi. Since I was in the wrong too! Hey, I’ll treat you big time once! Where’s your next outdoor location shoot? I’ll send you sea bream, flatfish—oh? Screw it, I’ll throw in salmon too.”

I secretly chuckled inside at those words.

Something like a sashimi truck—even top actors barely got one sent once a month…

Yang Euichul was probably breaking into a cold sweat right now.

Because things kept getting tangled up differently from his plan.

“Director Yang, you’re the best! I love it!!”

I grabbed Yang Euichul’s arm with both hands and shook it exaggeratedly.

Yang Euichul forced his twisted mouth into a smile.

“Well then, let’s meet again next time?”

Yang Euichul left a brief goodbye and hurried into the broadcasting station.

I stared at Yang Euichul’s retreating back for a moment.

I need to shake him off quickly.

The thought that I needed to find an agency as soon as possible became even more desperate.

On my way out of the broadcasting station, I dropped the handkerchief into a trash can in front of me.

A refreshing hum escaped me naturally.

If I’d known it would be this fun, I should’ve tried playing the fox sooner.

Why am I only discovering how entertaining this is now?

I was moving along with energetic steps when another familiar voice called out from behind.

“Sena-ssi!”

It was Jieun-ssi.

Jieun-ssi and the staff members who’d been called to today’s meeting were gathered sitting on a bench.

The atmosphere somehow looked noisy.

What’s going on?

I waved my hand and approached the bench.

“Sena-ssi, did you see the breaking news?”

One of the staff members asked urgently.