In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 212

[Han Sena Fan Meeting ‘Sena World’ Sells Out All Seats 5 Minutes Before Event!]

[All Eyes on Han Sena Fan Meeting! After Fan Outcry, 300 Additional Obstructed-View Seats Released…]

[Han Sena Fan Meeting Surprise Guest News! Who Will Appear?]

-Please. It’s three whole days. Why isn’t there a seat for me?

-Can clumsy fingers only cry?

-Three days. Three days!!! Couldn’t get tickets!!!

-Wow, ticketing success. Barely got back-row seats with my boyfriend. So excited.

-It’s practically like waiting for my favorite singer’s concert.

-Every fan meeting review is always so overwhelming, already looking forward to it.

-Who’s the guest? Do Changhyeon? Lee Seonho? Choi Sunha?

⤷ Could be Polaris.

⤷ Han Sena has so many connections, really excited.

-Wondering what song Sena will perform this time. Obviously she’ll dance since she’s a dancing queen…

During the ride from the airport to the hotel, I briefly scrolled through articles and SNS comments.

On SNS, photos of me on ticketing day had been posted—staring blankly at a white screen, unable to even get a queue number.

Beside me, Do Changhyeon wore a neck pillow and bounced his leg nervously.

I glanced at the exotic scenery passing by the window and smiled slightly.

“I’m getting even more nervous because you’re so restless.”

“Huh, sorry.”

The director sitting in the front seat laughed heartily too.

He seemed to be in such high spirits that he hadn’t slept a wink on the plane, preparing for interviews the entire time.

I also felt excitement and nerves simultaneously, my heart swelling to the fullest.

Who could have known my life would flow all the way here?

The vehicle carrying us glided smoothly toward the hotel.

* * *

That afternoon, we immediately changed into our prepared dresses and suits and headed to the venue.

After stepping out of the limousine, I walked toward the photo wall while watching the waves of flashing cameras from the unfamiliar foreign press.

“Whoa, Raymin! Mandy!”

Do Changhyeon gaped at seeing Hollywood actors he’d only watched on TV.

Globally celebrated actors and directors were passing by all around.

The director also made an overwhelmed expression seeing figures he’d admired.

I also stepped onto the photo wall with a completely excited mood.

Flashes burst dozens of times toward the three of us.

English-speaking journalists approached requesting interviews.

“Congratulations on coming to the festival. I loved <Deadline>! Could we get a comment?”

I smiled and stepped back for the director.

The director grasped the microphone with a moved expression and shared his prepared comments.

“Really… I’m so nervous. This has always been a world I’ve admired. It’s a place all filmmakers dream of, isn’t it? I’m so honored and happy.”

Though his English was awkward, it was an answer filled with sincerity.

As we slowly passed through the photo wall and headed inside…

A familiar face appeared in the distance.

“Oh…?”

“Sena!!”

It was Peter, the director from Warner, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

The director also recognized Peter and widened his eyes.

“Ah.”

People’s gazes turned this way after hearing Director Peter’s voice.

I smiled calmly and greeted Director Peter.

“Peter! Long time no see. How have you been?”

“Yes. You might not know, but I was invited this time after filming an espionage thriller.”

“Of course I know.”

I’d come across the news through articles and briefly forgotten about it.

I’d wondered if we might run into each other, but I hadn’t expected to greet him this quickly.

People were snapping photos of us shaking hands from all directions.

I felt anxious, worried some strange article might come out, when the director asked with a smile.

“Sena, do you have any plans tomorrow evening?”

“Tomorrow evening? What’s going on?”

“There’s a yacht party Patterson is throwing. I wanted to invite you to come along.”

“Ah.”

Patterson was the lead actor from <Fabulous>, which Lee Nara had appeared in.

What to do.

If I got photographed at a party, all kinds of speculative articles were bound to fly.

“Thank you so much for the invitation, Director. But I have separate plans with our film team tomorrow evening. I’m sorry.”

At my answer, the director showed disappointment.

“It would’ve been great if Sena had attended. Others would definitely have been happy too. Can’t be helped though.”

The sound of cameras snapping continued from all directions.

I smiled and grasped the director’s hand again to quickly wrap things up.

“Let’s meet again next time. Thank you.”

“Sounds good. I’ll enjoy the film.”

“Me too, Director.”

* * *

The next day, I left the hotel for another schedule, still nursing the aftereffects of last night’s celebration party.

“Ugh, my stomach feels off.”

Do Changhyeon, who’d drunk champagne all night long and repeated the line “I’m so happy. Thank you” like a parrot, complained of a hangover.

“Do you remember yesterday…?”

“Mmm.”

Do Changhyeon made a stupid expression that clearly showed he’d blacked out.

“I thought that might happen so I recorded video. Want to see?”

“Ahhh, no. Please delete it, please.”

The director cackled with laughter.

As we joked around like that, we arrived at the film market.

The iTube Korea booth was packed with overseas buyers and various film industry people visiting.

“What are iTube’s plans for developing original content going forward?”

“Korea already integrated OTT categories into their film festivals—what’s the local reaction like?”

“Does actress Sena have any plans to enter Hollywood?”

I sincerely answered the flood of questions and received numerous business cards.

Particularly, many people approached me individually to ask about Hollywood plans.

“I heard you’re joining Director Jin Changju’s film. I’ve heard he’s a very famous film director in Korea. What are your plans after filming that project?”

I was surprised by people who even knew about my domestic activities.

Among them, the most uncomfortable question was…

“I heard you met with Director Peter yesterday. What did you talk about?”

It was a question with clear ulterior motives, probing about what Director Peter and I had discussed yesterday.

Several people whose identities I couldn’t determine approached, skipped introductions, and just asked point-blank.

I forced a smile while genuinely feeling uncomfortable and opened my mouth.

“It wasn’t anything significant. He invited me to a party, but I told him I had separate plans so I couldn’t go.”

“Ah, you mean the yacht party?”

Why do they know so much…

“Yes, that’s right. Please give <Deadline> lots of attention.”

I smiled while redirecting the conversation.

However, maybe I shouldn’t have even mentioned declining the yacht party invitation.

The very next day, I found myself regretting having opened up to people about my conversation with Director Peter.

* * *

[Han Sena Declines Party Proposal from Warner Director at Jannes Film Festival…]

[Han Sena, Turning Down Warner Again?]

[Han Sena Continues Avoiding Warner—What’s the Reason?]

[Director Jin Changju’s Leading Lady—Why Does She Only Insist on Korean Activities?]

[Domestically-Tailored Actress Han Sena Shows Notably Weak Hollywood Aspirations…]

The next morning, I sighed seeing the internet domain plastered with all kinds of speculative articles.

The famous domestic gossip outlet Brunch also posted speculative articles with photos of the director and me shaking hands.

Plus, paparazzi shots of me returning to the hotel when the yacht party was in full swing had been uploaded.

It emphasized that I could have easily attended the party but had declined using schedule as an excuse.

The comments heated up once again too.

-But declining even the party is kind of harsh, isn’t it? Rejecting casting, rejecting parties. The director must’ve been embarrassed lololol

⤷ Acting all high and mighty, seriously excessive.

⤷ At most she’s only known domestically. She’s a nobody actress overseas.

-Why won’t you do the hero film? Show us a Korean actress properly breaking into Hollywood. Get revenge for when Lee Nara failed.

⤷ Wonder how pissed Lee Nara is then.

⤷ Han Sena stepping on her sunbae.

-She’s filming Director Jin Changju’s project though. Can’t she just join after finishing that?

-As expected, issue maker Han Sena lololol never a quiet moment. Getting tired of this.

-Everyone stop already. Writing whole novels over one meeting, seriously.

-Han Sena must be exhausted. She’s an actress who always focuses on her projects and produces good results, but she constantly catches flak for weird stuff.

-Absolutely against Hollywood advancement. Better to build her career domestically than go to those films still rampant with racism and get humiliated again.

The director, who was eating breakfast with me at the hotel lounge, also frowned while reading articles.

“The life of a superstar isn’t easy, is it? Sena-ssi, you must be so exhausted.”

Unable to say anything, I silently lifted a spoonful of soup.

Do Changhyeon also shook his head while checking my complexion.

“Mentor, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. You two don’t worry about it.”

“Why can’t they leave people alone for even a moment?”

Watching the two of them make worried expressions on my behalf, I smiled.

“Today’s our last day, you know. Let’s not worry about this stuff and just enjoy ourselves to the fullest before we leave.”

“Right. Looking forward to tonight’s party. When else will we come to a place like this?”

“Here, juice toast!”

Do Changhyeon raised his glass of orange juice.

The director and I smiled while clinking our glasses together.

* * *

And that evening.

I walked in my dress, feeling the cool breeze, when…

Journalists lined up at the party venue entrance rushed over the moment they spotted me.

Do Changhyeon jumped in surprise and blocked my way.

“Aren’t you on bad terms with Director Peter? Are the discord rumors true?”

“There are discord rumors with actress Lee Nara. Is that true?”

“Why didn’t you attend the yacht party?”

Do Changhyeon furrowed his brow at the bizarre things these unfamiliar foreign journalists were spouting.

“What kind of bullshit is this?”

Do Changhyeon muttered quietly while gesturing for the journalists to move aside.

However, the journalists stood firm without budging, determined to get an answer.

Other Hollywood actors looked this way with puzzled faces from a distance.

Seriously, these stares were becoming embarrassing.

Why on earth should I have to endure these kinds of gossip?

I tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“I’ve never declined a script, and all discord rumors are false. For this film festival, please focus on <Deadline>.”

I finished my answer concisely and quickly moved forward.

As we finally entered the party venue, an unfamiliar actor standing nearby smirked and waved.

Patterson.

The actor who’d thrown yesterday’s yacht party.

Patterson, for some reason, strode over here.

Please, don’t come.

Don’t come to me!

Once again, people’s gazes focused on us.