In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 196

The next evening, right after filming wrapped.

I sat in a corner of the set, completely drained.

Is this what it feels like to run a marathon?

Compared to previous projects, we didn’t film that many scenes per day, but since they were all running sequences, the schedule was brutal for both actors and staff.

“Ugh, exhausted.”

Even my voice was hoarse.

Every time I spoke, it felt like I could taste blood in my throat.

For the first time in half a day, I picked up my phone and checked the time.

6:30 PM…

While waiting for Jinseok oppa to arrive, I checked out the articles that had been uploaded today.

[Networking Queen Han Sena! This Time, Kim Eunseo’s Friendship Cameo in <Tears>!]

[<Tears> Kim Eunseo Gets Suddenly Drenched on Set—The Reason?!]

[Kim Eunseo x Han Sena Friendship Display! Won’t Seo Jaeyeon Be Jealous…?]

-Han Sena, Kim Eunseo, Seo Jaeyeon… Ice Queen convention or what.

⤷ Han Sena seems like the ringleader.

⤷ Ah, was this a group project?

⤷ All three are so gorgeous, seriously…

-Wow, can’t wait to see it T_T Episodes 1 and 2 of <Tears> were so good!

-Han Sena’s loyalty is no joke, for real.

-Han Sena really is a chemistry machine. Sticks well with anyone.

⤷ For real

-Are they acting classmates at Seowon Arts University? Their professors must be so proud.

Reading the comments gave me a bit of energy.

Of course, it wasn’t from my own set…

But seeing my colleagues get mentioned together and cheered on felt like double the recharge.

As I turned off my phone and started rubbing my shoulders, I spotted Do Changhyeon heading toward his van in the distance.

Huh? Just leaving without even saying goodbye?

“Changhyeon.”

I waved from my seat.

Do Changhyeon looked startled for a moment, then smiled awkwardly and bowed his head.

Seeing that surprised me a bit.

What? Why’s he suddenly acting so awkward?

Or is he just… keeping his distance?

I got up and approached Do Changhyeon as he climbed into the van.

Do Changhyeon, who’d been about to close the door, looked flustered again.

He tried not to show it, but it was obvious.

“Not feeling well?”

“No.”

“Come on. Until the other day, you couldn’t stop calling me ‘Yeowon, Yeowon.’ Now you’re acting all distant?”

Come to think of it, even yesterday Do Changhyeon hadn’t initiated any personal conversations beyond what was filming-related.

From the point where the survivors split into Tak Yeowon and Jeong Haeseon’s groups, Do Changhyeon had been especially struggling even with individual scenes.

I smiled slightly and placed my hand on Do Changhyeon’s shoulder.

“Filming tough?”

“Ah, it’s fine…”

Do Changhyeon smiled awkwardly.

“Ah…”

I grew awkward too and pulled my hand away.

“I’m just really tired, Mentor. Sorry. Can I head out first?”

“Oh, sure?”

Without understanding what was going on, I stepped back.

The van’s engine started and slowly pulled away.

* * *

The next morning.

“Hey kid, you made it?”

Preparing for another day of intense running, I walked up and lightly tapped Do Changhyeon’s shoulder.

“Ah, Mentor.”

But once again, Do Changhyeon smiled awkwardly and pulled his body back.

“…?”

Looking at me oddly, Do Changhyeon quickly averted his eyes.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

Do Changhyeon flinched and looked at me.

“Did I… do something wrong…?”

“No?!”

Do Changhyeon waved his hands.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Mentor.”

I tilted my head, about to ask ‘then why are you like this?’ when a staff member in the distance called the actors together.

“Jeong Haeseon’s team, let’s go for rehearsal!”

Do Changhyeon quickly seized the opportunity and escaped.

“…?”

That little…?

* * *

“Ready, action!”

Inside the decrepit abandoned building set.

I carefully observed Do Changhyeon as he immersed himself in his acting.

Do Changhyeon sat motionless before the camera.

He’d positioned himself slightly apart from the other survivors.

Do Changhyeon wore no expression, only displaying complicated thoughts on his face.

That’s when someone in the survivor group broke the silence by tossing out a comment.

“You think that bitch is dead?”

They were talking about Tak Yeowon.

Another person scoffed.

“Someone that vicious? She’s not dead. She’s the type who’d kill everyone else and survive alone.”

“True. We’re so lucky to be separated from her.”

“I told you she’s scarier than the zombies.”

Listening to that conversation, Do Changhyeon’s expression grew even more troubled.

Do Changhyeon looked at them.

Then opened his mouth.

“Um, excuse me.”

The people stopped their conversation and looked at Do Changhyeon.

“Tak Yeowon saved all of us at least once.”

“…”

“So we shouldn’t badmouth her at least, right?”

The people clamped their mouths shut.

Among them, the person who’d brought up Tak Yeowon scoffed.

“Ah. Right, you’ve been friends with her since childhood?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Do Changhyeon furrowed his brow.

“Even if your arm bends inward, there’s a limit. Defending someone more monstrous than zombies?”

“…”

“You’re relieved she’s gone too. Or wait, are you upset that the person who’d kill annoying people for you disappeared?”

Do Changhyeon stood up.

For the first time, he wore a chilling expression.

“Don’t cross the line.”

“Am I wrong?”

“No. You’re not wrong.”

“…”

This time, the other person lost their words.

“That’s exactly why I’m telling you not to cross the line.”

Do Changhyeon turned his head away.

Then stared at the ground with a confused expression.

I watched Do Changhyeon’s face from my spot in a distant corner.

Do Changhyeon’s acting was deepening with each passing day.

Which meant he was becoming that immersed.

And in that moment, I realized.

Why Do Changhyeon had started avoiding me.

I watched Do Changhyeon’s hardened face and fell into thought.

* * *

Evening.

A catering truck arrived on set, and all the actors and staff gathered around it.

“Ugh, starving.”

“It’s cold.”

After another full day of running, I quickly grabbed a plate and sat down hungry.

Everyone on set wore exhausted faces, focusing only on eating.

Watching them made me smile slightly.

I was gradually getting used to eating at tables with zombie-makeup actors.

As the tables filled up…

Do Changhyeon, who’d come late after removing his blood makeup, was the last to join the line.

Looking around, our eyes met.

Among the tables with few seats left, ours had the most space.

The actors sitting at my table gestured for Do Changhyeon to come over…

But Do Changhyeon gave a light nod to me and the other actors, then headed to a different table.

The actors tilted their heads slightly.

“Huh? There’s lots of space here?”

That’s when a staff member who’d been practically face-planting into their plate while inhaling food spoke up.

“That table’s the Jeong Haeseon team.”

“What?”

Hearing that, the people around looked over at that table.

“Really? What, are they picking sides even during meals?”

People chuckled.

“That’s hilarious, right? Yeowon unnie?”

The actors teased me playfully.

I swallowed my food and smiled lightly.

“Come on, it’s not picking sides. They probably just have a lot to discuss since they’re filming those scenes together.”

“True, that makes sense.”

“Would’ve been offended otherwise.”

Only then did people turn back and continue eating.

I glanced at Do Changhyeon once more before finishing my meal.

After watching that filming scene earlier, I’d also planned to avoid forcing myself on Do Changhyeon and give him space for a while.

Jeong Haeseon, separated from Tak Yeowon, was currently…

Confused by Tak Yeowon’s absence and people’s selfish sides.

While also confronting the responsibility of leading people and his honest desire to abandon them all.

Jeong Haeseon had never once complained about his role and duties, but meeting Tak Yeowon had changed his life.

And with each filming session, Do Changhyeon was becoming more and more immersed in Jeong Haeseon.

The Do Changhyeon standing before the camera looked less like he was acting and more like he was showing emotions he genuinely felt.

Had he always been this method-oriented?

That part confused me a bit, but considering how he’d shown a particular desire to excel in this project, I understood.

Do Changhyeon, having absorbed Jeong Haeseon’s soul, must hate Tak Yeowon right now.

And on the other hand, miss her.

Which would make those feelings even more confusing.

After finishing my meal, I stood up.

* * *

However, my decision to leave Do Changhyeon alone might have been a bit too complacent.

The situation started flowing in an unexpected direction.

A few days later, on set.

“Ready, action!”

Inside the old hospital building.

I pressed my body against the corner and gasped for breath.

Leaning my head against the wall, I looked up at the ceiling.

I’d reached my limit.

From the distance, zombie sounds approached again.

I gripped the crowbar in my hand tightly.

The zombie sounds drew closer to the corner.

Raising the crowbar with all my strength, I stepped around the corner…

“Ahh!”

Do Changhyeon screamed while covering his head.

I frantically redirected the crowbar mid-swing.

We stared at each other with shocked eyes.

“You…”

Do Changhyeon’s eyes filled with confusion.

Before we could even exchange updates, a zombie horde started charging from the distance.

I immediately bolted in the opposite direction.

* * *

On the locked rooftop.

Finally alone, I caught my breath quietly.

“Where’s everyone else?”

“They’re gathering supplies in their positions.”

Do Changhyeon and I exchanged situation updates.

“Looks like you lost a lot of people too, judging by you being here.”

At my words, Do Changhyeon nodded slightly.

Then spoke in a self-deprecating voice.

“Four more people died.”

“Really? Not bad.”

“What about you guys?”

“Two for us.”

Hearing that was fewer than his team, Do Changhyeon bit his lip.

“One acted stupid and got taken by zombies. The other, I threatened to leave. They broke the rules.”

“What rules?”

“No hiding supplies.”

“Ah.”

“Well, I killed them again, basically.”

Do Changhyeon said nothing.

“Why are you making that face like you ate shit? Going to lecture me?”

“No… I just feel pathetic for being unable to do anything.”

Hearing that, I scoffed.

“That’s true. You’re weak.”

I pulled out a crumpled cigarette from my pocket and stuck it in my mouth.

Then lit it and took a drag.

“Ah… feels like I’ll survive.”

Do Changhyeon, who’d been standing still, spoke.

“I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

I looked at Do Changhyeon as if asking what he meant.

“I can’t keep doing this.”

“Then just die.”

Hearing my words, Do Changhyeon’s expression grew heavier.

I turned away with an uninterested look.

“Must be nice for you.”

Do Changhyeon muttered softly, almost to himself.

“Killing zombies, killing people. Deciding everything.”

I crushed the shrinking cigarette butt.

“It is easy. Way easier for me. Living here than in the world before zombies.”

“…”

“Think simply. Otherwise you’ll die. Looking at your face, you’re headed that way, kid.”

“Cut! Okay!”

* * *

Right after the okay sign.

I smiled slightly and looked at Do Changhyeon, as if checking if he was alright.

Do Changhyeon tried to smile back, but the tension beneath that small smile hadn’t released.

He seemed to be struggling to pull himself out of the immersion.

“Mentor, I’ll go prepare for the next scene.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I nodded readily, then also walked outside the camera’s range.

But then.

From behind the rooftop corner, I heard quiet murmuring voices.

“What’s up with them? Why are they being so cold?”

“Did they fight?”

“Come on, they’re mentor and mentee.”

“Don’t you know? Those two haven’t said a single word to each other for days. Don’t even acknowledge each other.”

“What, seriously? Whoa. What happened.”

Hearing that conversation, I stopped dead in my tracks.