In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 221

-Im Hyangmin lololol ahjussi please throw away those shoes already T_T

-The two of them must be really close. Like an immature uncle and his niece lol

-I screamed along with Han Sena when I saw Im Hyangmin wiping his feet on his pants T_T

-Seriously, being Im Hyangmin’s stylist must be such a tough job ;; lololol

-Im Hyangmin lol showing the scene where he’s getting beat up by a group is hilarious. These days, Han Sena’s iTube is the funniest.

⤷ Among celebrities, she seems to have the highest iTube views and buzz. Born superstar.

⤷ Han Sena dressing Im Hyangmin vs. Im Hyangmin getting his head stomped by Han Sena. Who had it harder…

⤷ Han Sena probably had it harder…

-Wow, seeing this makes me so excited for <Blood Waltz>. T_T

⤷ Release it already!!

-Why is Director Jin Changju so funny too. The filming set atmosphere looks great.

-But even in this short clip, Han Sena and Im Hyangmin’s acting skills are insane.

⤷ Finally, the rich ice princess character I’ve been wanting!! It suits Han Sena so well;;

⤷ I want to get stomped by Han Sena once…

⤷ Wow, but how does she not get overshadowed by Im Hyangmin. If anything, it feels like Im Hyangmin comes alive thanks to Han Sena.

⤷ For real; Im Hyangmin’s acting has all been way too similar until now and I got sick of it. Thanks to Han Sena, he looks fresh for the first time in ages.

-Han Sena is seriously an acting genius;; A once-in-a-century actor… I think she should be designated as a national cultural heritage.

⤷ I agree.

On a rare day with no filming.

I camped out in Minyeong unnie’s office and read through the comments on the uploaded iTube video.

“Puhah.”

As expected, the comments mocking and teasing Im Hyangmin were the most abundant.

Just imagining Im Hyangmin reading these comments and throwing a fit made me laugh automatically.

I wonder if the stylist is feeling satisfied right about now, scratching at Im Hyangmin’s nerves.

While I was grinning like that, unnie opened the office door and came in.

“Did you get to work before me?”

“Unnie, the iTube editing turned out really entertaining.”

“Of course. The editing team’s super famous. They’ve got tons of variety show experience.”

“Huh, really?”

The videos that Jinseok oppa and I had filmed seemed to become three or four times more entertaining through editing, which had amazed me on my own.

Hearing this new information, I marveled once again at Minyeong unnie’s planning and networking abilities.

“How about you? Is iTube getting tough? You’re already so busy.”

Minyeong unnie examined my face closely from different angles as she asked.

“You’ve lost even more weight.”

“This role really likes working out, does drugs, and has a nasty personality. Can’t help but lose weight.”

“Harsh, so harsh.”

I smiled slightly at unnie’s words and answered her question.

“I love doing iTube. I get to experience all sorts of things this way. Most of all, the fans really love it.”

“Right. It’s almost unheard of for an actor, not an idol, to put out content like this.”

“Is it too much?”

I scratched my nose sheepishly with an embarrassed laugh.

Unnie crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

“Since we’re doing it anyway, we need to go all the way. That’s how both of us are.”

“All the way?”

I looked at Minyeong unnie with a confused expression, wondering what she meant.

“The ultimate fan service. How about a chatting app?”

“Huh?”

I flinched in surprise.

“The ones idols use?”

“Yeah, Pops.”

“Wow, interesting.”

Even in my past life, I’d been completely clueless about this kind of thing, so it felt unfamiliar.

“Sounds fun, I want to do it! I want to!”

“You want to?”

Minyeong unnie wore an expression that said she’d expected as much and grinned.

“Let’s pioneer the actor fan market together.”

Unnie rolled up her sleeves like she was getting serious.

My heart suddenly started racing.

Direct communication with fans.

It seemed like it would be new and fun.

Something I couldn’t have dreamed of in my past life.

I didn’t have much of a fandom to begin with, and even during my peak, this kind of culture hadn’t taken root.

“I can make it happen soon. I’ll schedule it according to what works for you.”

“Wow, as soon as possible, please! ASAP!”

I tapped my feet under the sofa and nagged at unnie.

Unnie laughed like she couldn’t handle me.

“Alright, got it. I’ll contact you soon.”

“I’m so excited!”

* * *

Several weeks later.

Time had been flying by as I focused on filming.

“Good work, everyone!”

“See you all tomorrow!”

“Get home safely.”

Right after filming ended, I dashed to the van and plopped down.

I opened the app with an excited heart.

Thanks to unnie, I’d been able to start the app earlier than planned.

The subscriber count was far higher than I’d expected.

-125,352 people

Over one hundred twenty-five thousand people had downloaded the app to chat with me.

I stared at the empty chat window, lost in deep thought.

How should I leave my first greeting?

That’s when Jinseok oppa, who’d been starting the engine, glanced at me through the rearview mirror and spoke.

“You look like you’re dating someone.”

“I kind of feel that way too? Aah, I’m nervous!”

After careful deliberation, I sent a message.

‘Hello, this is Han Sena! Everyone, nice to meet you! I’ve missed you so much ><♥’

The moment my finger left the send button, responses came flooding in.

-Kyaaah, unnie!!!

-Sena!! Love U!!!

-Noona, I love you♥

-Hello, I’m a fan living in the US. I’ve been getting through studying abroad by watching Sena-ssi’s dramas T_T

-Thank you for communicating with fans. I’m so touched.

-Let’s make <Blood Waltz> a huge hit!!!

-I love your fan service so much! My actress is the best.

-Great actress Han Sena! Dance god Han Sena!!!

-Sunim!!!!! I love you!!!

-I’m so excited for Han Jina! I’ll spin through the revolving door a hundred times!!

-Please do another fan meeting T_T Please.

-Send us a selfie! Just one selfie!!

-Take a selfie with Im Hyangmin please.

-Spill some behind-the-scenes stories from set.

I smiled and sent another message.

‘Everyone, are you all staying healthy and doing well?’

‘I was so excited and nervous about doing this…’

‘These days I’m filming my next project <Blood Waltz>! Please look forward to it♥♥♥’

‘What do I do during filming breaks? I don’t do much! Like in <Solo Life>, I work out, eat, sometimes drink, and meet friends.’

‘A fan meeting? I want to do that again too! Let’s meet soon haha’

As I looked through the fans’ responses pouring in like crazy, my heart warmed.

To think I’m someone who can be loved this much.

I used to think the thirst for people’s attention would never be satisfied.

But after getting my second life, my heart—which had always felt empty like a bottomless bucket—was gradually filling up.

It was amazing.

‘Everyone, thank you♥ I’ll come every day.’

* * *

Back at the filming set.

“So… you’re going to search our Hanyeong Group without evidence? Confident?”

Once again, I was facing off against Im Hyangmin in front of the camera.

As filming progressed, Im Hyangmin, now fully immersed in Lee Dongkyo, forced his mouth into a grin.

“One of your executives spilled everything. Pretty famous inside the company too, isn’t she? This trashy young lady.”

At those words, I lifted my back off the sofa and crossed my legs while staring intently at Im Hyangmin.

Trying to figure out whether what Im Hyangmin was saying was true or false.

Despite his smiling face, Im Hyangmin’s facial muscles were tense with effort.

I stared at that face for a moment, then smirked.

As if I’d immediately seen through the lie.

Im Hyangmin’s expression hardened slightly.

I leaned in closer to Im Hyangmin.

In my head, the day I first met Im Hyangmin at Director Jin’s office overlapped—the moment he’d tried to test me.

The time when Im Hyangmin had approached me threateningly to deliver his line.

‘Finally getting to see that disgustingly expensive face.’

That situation and now were completely reversed.

“Ahjussi, do you know how great our company is?”

“What?”

Im Hyangmin looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“Do you know how many rare disease treatments Hanyeong Bio produces? How many lives we’ve saved. Why are you arresting people who do good work? There are so many bad people in the world.”

Im Hyangmin immediately let out a scoff after hearing my words.

“Rare disease treatments are great. But treatments during the day, drugs at night? Studying by day, drugging by night? Such diligent bastards.”

My face hardened at Im Hyangmin’s response.

“So, do you have evidence? What about a warrant?”

“…”

“You know, I really like volunteering at orphanages, right?”

I changed the subject with a slight smile.

“On nights after I visit the orphanage, I always cry. Because I keep thinking about those kids. Because I want to do even more for them.”

“…”

“I… you probably won’t believe it. But I’m really a good person.”

“Hah.”

Im Hyangmin swept his hair back with an expression like he’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

Then burst out laughing incredulously.

I looked at Im Hyangmin with an innocent expression that didn’t care.

“My weakness isn’t… drugs or whatever. It’s my soft heart. That’s my weakness.”

I threw out the meaningful words.

“Someone who doesn’t really know me can never catch me. Like you.”

Im Hyangmin’s eyes trembled as he tried to grasp the meaning of my words.

“Cut! Okay!”

* * *

“Are you two having some kind of competition? An acting competition?”

The director clicked his tongue while watching the cut that had turned out slightly different from what he’d envisioned.

But his expression was clearly pleased.

Im Hyangmin rubbed the back of his neck with a face still not recovered from the excitement.

I watched Im Hyangmin and our eyes met.

Im Hyangmin frowned slightly and spoke.

“Aren’t you coming on too strong?”

His tone was slightly sulky.

Hearing that made me chuckle.

“Why? Worried Lee Dongkyo will get overshadowed?”

Before I knew it, I asked teasingly in the Han Jina tone I’d adopted.

Im Hyangmin immediately grabbed the back of his neck with a thud.

“Ah shit, getting so annoyed my neck’s tensing up.”

The director grinned while watching Im Hyangmin.

“First time you’ve met someone you can’t devour, huh?”

Im Hyangmin bit his lip briefly at those words.

I glanced at that expression before turning my head away as if I wasn’t interested.

I wanted to keep maintaining this tense tension.

A bit of competitive psychology seemed like it would help with filming too.

The director, who’d been watching the monitor, gestured for both of us to come look.

I quickly approached the monitor.

‘Do you know how many rare disease treatments Hanyeong Bio produces?’

‘Treatments during the day, drugs at night? Studying by day, drugging by night?’

Im Hyangmin and I both fell silent at the same time, concentrating with serious expressions on the filmed cut.

‘Wow, Jin Changju….’

While the two of us were engaged in both a character battle and subtle acting nerve war, the director had captured this entire phenomenon with the most tension on camera.

The high-level psychological warfare flowing between Han Jina and Lee Dongkyo was breathtaking.

Stressful enough that watching the filmed version felt worse than experiencing it in real time.

Lee Dongkyo and Han Jina, both fully immersed, and the director who took them both and colored them to his taste.

I dare say it—a perfect trio.