In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 22

Countless… requests…?

Begging…

The words were perfectly selected to create maximum misunderstanding.

Anyone watching would think I was the one at fault.

“Ah, so that’s what it was? Our Sena-ssi’s just smart, that’s all.”

At Park Hoon sunbaenim’s sly remark, several people laughed.

“Well then, sounds like it’s time to talk contracts.”

Another sunbaenim who’d been quietly listening added their voice.

At those words, Yang Euichul stood with a triumphant expression and looked down at me.

“Right?”

So he wants to do this here…

I had no intention of backing down either.

However, I hadn’t anticipated he’d plan to throw me off balance like this after coming all this way.

Though I wasn’t particularly surprised.

I looked into Yang Euichul’s face.

Only one of his eyebrows was raised.

Seeing that expression suddenly brought back that day.

It had been a long time ago.

* * *

About ten years ago, maybe.

Back then it was a company dinner.

A good amount of time had passed since I’d blown up as a villainess, and by then landing lead-tier supporting roles had become difficult.

A time when my roles were becoming increasingly rigid.

I carefully broached the subject with Yang Euichul, who was fairly drunk.

“Director, I also need to try other acting now or I won’t last long…”

“Sena-ssi, this talk again?”

Another employee sitting next to Yang Euichul frowned.

Yang Euichul stopped the employee with a laugh.

“What’s wrong? Sena-ssi just doesn’t know yet.”

Then the employee frowned and left with a cigarette, heading outside with other people.

The table empty, Yang Euichul poured alcohol into my empty glass.

“I know Sena-ssi has a lot of ambition for acting. You’ve been good since you were young.”

“Director, I’m really confident.”

“Then you should’ve passed auditions at other companies and brought them to me.”

The moment I heard those words, my hand reaching for the glass stopped.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know you’ve been going around auditioning at other places? I know fewer people in this industry than I don’t.”

Yang Euichul took a sip of alcohol.

“Just don’t embarrass yourself by failing.”

The hand holding my glass began trembling.

Then Yang Euichul placed his hand on my shoulder.

And whispered in a low voice close to my ear.

“You think you’re something special?”

In that moment, my mind went blank.

“You’ve made a bit of money playing villains, got a bit of recognition, so you think you’re something? You think you can do other things? When all you do is scream your way through villain acting day after day.”

Hearing those words, my body trembled uncontrollably.

Seeing tears fill my eyes, Yang Euichul smirked.

“Just stick to what you’re doing. Don’t even think about anything else until the contract ends. Even when you want to leave for another agency, do that when the time comes, finish well here before you go.”

Yang Euichul downed his drink in one gulp.

“If you don’t want to end your life with hate comments at another place too.”

After finishing those words, people came flooding back and sat around the table.

Those who saw my face seemed to guess what had happened and ignored me while raising their glasses.

“Come on now, don’t bring down the mood. Let’s toast. Cheers!”

The sound of clinking glasses echoed through the restaurant.

* * *

I stood up with a light gesture.

But this life is different.

Because I know exactly who you are, what kind of person you are.

“Director, having this conversation at a wrap party is a bit uncomfortable, so shall we step outside and talk?”

I stood and grabbed Yang Euichul’s arm to pull him along.

Yang Euichul, reading the room, followed along pretending to give in.

While following, he didn’t forget to casually greet people at the wrap party.

“Director Moon, we should grab drinks sometime soon.”

“Ah, I know you’re just trying to pitch your actors! So annoying.”

“As expected, you see right through me!”

Hearty, jovial laughter filled the restaurant.

“Everyone, you all worked hard on the production. Flat Shoes team, let’s meet again for something good.”

With those final words, Yang Euichul left the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant’s dim parking lot.

I stood facing Yang Euichul in the darkness.

“Director, I think there’s some misunderstanding.”

“I’m sure there is?”

Yang Euichul crossed his arms as if daring me to try.

“About me joining another agency… there seems to be a misunderstanding. It’s not a rumor. It’s real.”

I gave Yang Euichul a bright smile.

“What?”

Yang Euichul spat out his words with sudden hostility.

“Could you not use informal speech?”

At my words, Yang Euichul looked at me with disbelief.

In a low voice.

“Do you know who I am? Can you handle this kind of bullshit right now?”

Hearing that, I also raised one corner of my mouth and crossed my arms.

Then I began.

“Seol Minji, Kim Jisoo, Baek Minhee.”

The moment Yang Euichul heard those words, his body froze completely.

“What…?”

“You know what I’m talking about without me spelling it out, right?”

The names I’d just mentioned were, in order, the actresses Yang Euichul had buried with hate comments to bring them into his company.

One of them had continued psychiatric treatment after the hate comment terror.

And the fourth one had been me.

“How do you know that…”

“How do I know this?”

Yang Euichul stared at me with a face drained of color.

It was an expression I’d never seen before.

Quite fascinating.

“Here’s the thing, Director. I’m not good at keeping my mouth shut. While we still can, let’s not expose each other’s dirty laundry and just part ways. That’s better, right?”

With that, I turned my back on Yang Euichul, who was frozen in place.

Just when I was doubting myself that it could be this easy, right on cue, a voice came from behind.

“Do you have proof?”

At those words, I stopped walking and let out a sigh.

Turning my head to look back, Yang Euichul was wearing a smile on his clearly rattled face.

Yang Euichul spoke again.

“Do you have proof? Evidence that even I don’t have—do you have it?”

Do I have it?

Of course not.

But in this moment, my mouth instinctively knew how to respond before my brain even processed it, taking the lead.

“Who knows. How could I know all this if I didn’t have any evidence?”

Yang Euichul swept his hair back and let out a bitter laugh.

“Are you being cocky right now?”

I could see him trying desperately to maintain a facade of composure.

But the moment I spoke the last name, even the final trace of his smile vanished from Yang Euichul’s face.

“Jeon Byeongjin.”

“…?”

Jeon Byeongjin was an actor who’d held a top position for years, someone Yang Euichul had scouted to AK when he was just a regular employee.

That feat had immediately earned Yang Euichul the title of director, and he’d become a legendary figure admired by his fellow employees.

However…

Jeon Byeongjin had one fatal secret people didn’t know about.

Drug addiction.

When Yang Euichul brought Jeon Byeongjin to AK, he’d made a deal to supply drugs through a secure connection.

Along with threats about the fallout if the deal was refused.

Yang Euichul stared at me with cold eyes.

“…How much do you know?”

“Who knows. I might know everything, or I might know nothing at all.”

I looked straight into Yang Euichul’s eyes.

“Depending on what you do going forward.”

Yang Euichul’s pupils wavered.

Finally, Yang Euichul opened his mouth.

“Interesting, very interesting… Let’s see how long you last?”

Without responding to Yang Euichul’s parting words, I walked straight out of the parking lot.

For the time being, Yang Euichul probably wouldn’t be able to move easily.

Yang Euichul must have been shocked like he’d seen a ghost, but I was equally drained as if a ghost had latched onto me because of him.

Evil spirit of a person…

When I entered the restaurant, worried looks from people immediately flooded my way.

I returned to my seat and bowed.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble.”

An awkward laugh escaped naturally.

Then people waved their hands saying it was fine.

Just then, another actress sunbaenim approached and asked warmly.

“Sena, is the new company you signed with a one-person agency?”

“Yes.”

Sunbaenim poured me fresh beer.

“Hmm… but why did you think of joining a one-person agency?”

Worry colored sunbaenim’s voice.

She probably meant—as a newcomer, would I be okay without agency support?

“Sunbaenim, do you happen to know Director Kwon Minyeong from True Actors?”

“Hm? That person, I know her. She’s pretty famous.”

“I joined the company Director Kwon is starting. I’m going to try starting there.”

Then Park Hoon sunbaenim also tuned into my story.

“Isn’t that where Teacher Yoon Youngjae joined?”

When I nodded yes, the sunbaenims chuckled.

“That’s so you, that’s totally you.”

“So me?”

“Yeah. Bold and fearless!”

Park Hoon sunbaenim answered.

Some of the actors and other staff who’d been quietly listening laughed at those words.

Just then, Jung Chaesung carefully joined the conversation.

“Um… Sena-ssi, you need to be careful with Yang Euichul. That person’s famous in this industry for holding grudges.”

Beside him, Jieun-ssi also nodded while chewing meat.

“If you get tangled up with him, it’s bad news. Be careful, seriously.”

I smiled and nodded at those words.

Other senior actors also chimed in to warn me to be careful.

Thank you all, but…

Among everyone here, I know Yang Euichul’s danger level the best.

“I’m fine! Thank you all for worrying about me.”

At my words, the director shouted bravo.

“Ah, seriously. Such spirit! Eh? You’re so tough. Sena-ssi, I’ll put in a good word for you later. Don’t worry! Someone give a toast!”

I carefully stood holding my glass.

Yang Euichul…

“May everyone on our Flat Shoes team… walk only flower paths! Fighting.”

As my words ended, everyone shouted fighting and raised their glasses high.

I know Yang Euichul’s methods and patterns inside out now.

I have twenty years of experience.

I was confident I could handle this well.

Wait.

Come to think of it…

Isn’t this almost the first time I’ve gotten angry at someone in my entire life?

No, more than getting angry—it was closer to threatening him.

To think I’d threaten someone.

It felt like I’d gained +1 experience points.

Being able to look at Yang Euichul directly and speak cruelly to him—it felt like the power came from all those villain roles I’d grown tired of in my past life.

It’s also know-how I learned from them, after all.

I felt suddenly grateful, and it was complicated.

Anyway, it feels unsettling yet somehow refreshing…

After I sat down, sunbaenim who’d poured my beer patted my head.

“So pretty. Do well, Sena-ssi.”

Haha, this feeling is also a first.

At those words, something in my heart melted like snow, and I felt good.

I leaned into sunbaenim’s embrace.

“Oh my, look at this. Sena-ssi’s drunk!”

“So cute! We need to get this on camera.”

Through my drowsy eyes, I could see people’s smiling faces.

Being able to act spoiled like this is nice. Being young is nice.

I should’ve lived like this from the start, why couldn’t I back then…

Is this what having breathing room feels like?

My eyes grew heavy and closed.