In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 40

Nam Jihye shot Kang Jeonghwan an incredulous look.

“Are you serious right now?”

Kang Jeonghwan stayed silent.

Of course he was serious.

To him, this was the right call, the obvious choice.

Word had already spread to the media that Seo Jaeyeon and Lee Nara were adjusting terms for the Palace Flower female lead position.

Soon enough, one way or another, the appearance fee negotiations with one of them would wrap up.

Which meant ratings were basically guaranteed already.

But then…

Out of nowhere, a newcomer gets cast in the middle of all this?

Kang Jeonghwan spoke up again.

“I get it—you’re all moved by the short film and Sena-ssi’s passion, energy, whatever. But let’s think rationally here.”

At those words, Nam Jihye’s eyes wavered.

“No matter how much we’re a broadcaster, what are we supposed to say to the powerhouse agencies managing top actresses? And we’re talking about two of them.”

No one could respond to Kang Jeonghwan’s words.

Moreover, the fact that actresses on the level of Seo Jaeyeon and Lee Nara would suddenly get pushed aside by a newcomer at the tail end of negotiations was something they wouldn’t tolerate.

This time, Kang Jeonghwan looked straight at Nam Jihye.

“If you need it, Writer, we’ll take the setup Sena-ssi brought in and offer her a significant supporting role.”

At that, Nam Jihye’s face flushed with displeasure.

The assistant director and assistant producer cautiously nodded.

“We agree with the director as well.”

Kang Jeonghwan added one final remark as he looked around at everyone’s faces.

“Since when has broadcasting run on passion? It runs on capital.”

Hearing that, Nam Jihye turned away from Kang Jeonghwan’s gaze and ran her hand through her hair.

Before long, the conference room atmosphere had tilted toward Kang Jeonghwan’s side.

That’s when Cheon Insu, who’d been listening quietly, snapped at Kang Jeonghwan.

“What kind of lowlife move is that? Taking everything good for yourself and then acting like it’s none of your business?”

Kang Jeonghwan responded with a flustered voice.

“What do you mean by that? It’s not acting like it’s none of my business—I’m saying let’s give her a role appropriate for the situation.”

“What’s the appropriate role?”

“We’ll figure that out as we go…”

Cheon Insu cut off Kang Jeonghwan’s words.

“Fine, let’s follow your logic. You bring in another actress, put her in the female lead position, and tell the supporting actress who came up with the idea to act it out that way—you’re saying that makes sense?”

Kang Jeonghwan ground his teeth.

“We’re NBS, a public broadcaster. Let’s handle this with the dignity befitting a public broadcaster, yeah?”

Cheon Insu loosened his necktie in frustration as he got up to leave, but Kang Jeonghwan followed suit and stood up.

“Then what about throwing out contracts that are almost done being coordinated?”

The conference room atmosphere turned icy in an instant.

“Is that dignified?”

At that, Cheon Insu slowly turned around to look at Kang Jeonghwan.

Kang Jeonghwan didn’t back down either.

The two stood there facing each other for a long moment.

* * *

Bang—the sound of the door closing echoed behind Cheon Insu as he strode through the corridor with heavy steps.

Taking the elevator up through the building, Cheon Insu headed straight for the vice president’s office.

He’d decided to use his final option.

At the door, Cheon Insu took a deep breath and straightened his necktie.

Opening the door, he saw the vice president enjoying tea time with the variety programming director.

Cheon Insu bowed his head.

The vice president greeted him with the same grinning face he’d been wearing.

“Oh, Division Chief Cheon. What brings you here? Did you see that Morning Dew commercial?”

“Pardon?”

What miraculous timing.

Cheon Insu answered quickly.

“Yes, I saw it. Vice President, actually that actress…”

“Seriously, isn’t that newcomer amazing? So we were just discussing which of our variety shows we could get her on.”

At those words, Cheon Insu responded with a smile.

“How about putting her on a variety show and a drama too?”

“Hm?”

“She actually came to audition for Palace Flower Beyond the Palace Walls. That’s the new one we’re launching.”

“Oh really? But didn’t that one already have its talks wrapped up?”

Cheon Insu’s face stiffened slightly as he spoke.

“Not at all. That actress did the best out of everyone who auditioned, but she didn’t make the cut because she wasn’t on the level of Seo Jaeyeon or Lee Nara.”

“Ah… But?”

“But she requested a re-audition herself. Even produced a short film to bring in.”

At that, the variety programming director sitting nearby laughed as if impressed.

“Wow, is this the spirit of a newcomer?”

The vice president also became half-interested, half-concerned as he took a sip of tea.

Cheon Insu’s heart grew impatient.

“She’s an actress too good to push aside just for lack of name recognition. But Director Kang’s stubbornness…”

“Yeah, he’s famous for that pig-headedness.”

“Haha, yes. Well… he’s not a bad guy.”

“Right. I can understand his position too, you know. Initial viewership is largely determined by the actors’ name value and advertising.”

“Those two actresses are banking on that name value and playing hardball with us right now. Have been for weeks.”

Cheon Insu’s voice grew slightly louder.

“The way those two actresses are playing hardball feels off to me. Vice President-nim.”

“Got proof?”

A brief silence settled over the office.

“…It’s a hunch.”

The vice president let out a knowing laugh and set down his teacup.

“Why is a division chief out here trying to develop actors instead of PDs?”

Though said with a laugh, it was a pointed jab, and Cheon Insu lowered his head slightly.

The variety programming director also chimed in with his own comment.

“For Division Chief Cheon to like an actress this much—now I’m curious.”

Cheon Insu continued speaking without shrinking back.

“It’s not simply because I like her. Didn’t you just mention Morning Dew yourselves? She’s plenty good enough to draw people’s attention even as Han Sena.”

At that, the variety programming director responded as if to discourage Cheon Insu’s aggressive approach on the vice president’s behalf.

“Division Chief Cheon, that kind of buzz only sparkles for a moment.”

The vice president nodded in agreement.

“We’ve both been in this industry for how many years? Why are you suddenly acting like an amateur?”

“It won’t die out quickly.”

Cheon Insu answered with conviction in his voice.

“How can Division Chief Cheon know that? What, did you get Han Sena’s fortune read or something?”

Unlike the variety programming director laughing at the vice president’s joke, Cheon Insu didn’t laugh.

“I don’t need to get her fortune read to know. Established or newcomer, you could search high and low and you won’t find someone with that much talent who works that hard.”

“So how does Division Chief Cheon know that?”

Irritation began seeping into the vice president’s voice.

“I saw it with my own eyes. I witnessed her audition twice, and I also saw her staying up all night at the late-night theater while preparing for the audition. And I saw for the first time someone who delivered 100% jump to 120% the next time around.”

Eventually, the vice president’s brow furrowed.

Cheon Insu deliberately ignored the vice president’s expression.

“This project will serve as Han Sena’s springboard to enter the ranks of established names. And Palace Flower will also use Han Sena’s established name as a springboard to rise together. What I’m proposing isn’t one-sided investment, but investment for mutual benefit.”

From Cheon Insu’s perspective, this was genuine.

Pushing Han Sena for Palace Flower wasn’t simply about being swept up by a young actress’s passion.

In the broadcasting world, people could count on one hand the moments when they felt certain about something.

Dramas were like that.

Well-made productions didn’t guarantee ratings, and even writers who’d been on a winning streak for over ten years could slip in an instant.

Certainty was practically superstition in broadcasting.

But right now, this was one of those countable moments of certainty for Cheon Insu—and it was Han Sena.

“Mmm…”

The vice president stroked his protruding mustache while looking at Cheon Insu with skeptical eyes.

Cheon Insu swallowed.

“Then let me at least see it.”

“…Pardon?”

Color returned to Cheon Insu’s face.

“Ah, should I call her to the vice president’s office right now?”

“Hey, why would you bring an actress into the vice president’s office? That’s asking for trouble… I mean the short film. The one you praised to the heavens just now.”

* * *

Two hours later, in the office.

Kang Jeonghwan sat at the table with his hand on his forehead.

“Ah, the stress…”

He’d just been summoned to the vice president’s office a moment ago.

‘This time I’ve decided to fully trust Division Chief Cheon’s judgment. Let’s go with Han Sena.’

The assistant producer kept stealing glances at Kang Jeonghwan.

An aura resembling killing intent emanated from Kang Jeonghwan’s body.

“Cheon Insu. Hah… I should’ve made a voodoo doll ages ago.”

“A voodoo… doll?”

The assistant producer looked at Kang Jeonghwan with a startled expression.

“Yeah. An expensive one.”

“But you two… didn’t you co-direct about three or four projects together back when Division Chief-nim was still a PD?”

“Yeah.”

The assistant producer tilted his head.

“If you stay stuck together bickering like this, that’s love…”

Kang Jeonghwan pulled his face away from his hand and glared at the innocent assistant producer.

“You think I’d be okay after falling in love twice?”

The assistant producer pressed his lips together and fell silent.

“In the end, he got the higher-ups involved to make it happen this way. How can a newcomer be this gutsy?”

“The Flat Shoes and soju commercial impact must’ve been really good. Earlier, the variety programming director was passing by wondering where to cast Sena-ssi too.”

“Seriously.”

Kang Jeonghwan leaned back hard in his chair.

“Fine, if she’s going to make it big, then make it really big. Get even bigger. Please.”

The assistant producer chuckled at those words.

“But CP-nim… your expression doesn’t actually look that bad?”

“Be quiet, man. Anyway, if she screws this up, just watch. I’ll make sure…”

Kang Jeonghwan let out a deep sigh.

Then he lifted his head and smoothed out his furrowed brow.

“Since we’re doing this, let’s go big.”

“Pardon?”

Kang Jeonghwan stood up from his seat.

“The script reading. Since we’ve stuck a newcomer in the lead role, there’ll be plenty of talk, right? Let’s just show them. Build up the anticipation.”

As Kang Jeonghwan exited the office, the assistant producer answered with a smile from behind.

“Yes! Understood. I’ll prepare it properly!”

Kang Jeonghwan waved his hand dismissively behind him.

* * *

Lee Seokhyun stared at his laptop with a blank expression.

“What the hell is this?”

Lee Seokhyun pressed the rewind button again.

This was already the third time.

Han Sena’s short film.

“That’s how Han Sena secured the female lead position.”

His manager pressed his temples.

“Didn’t they want Seo Jaeyeon or Lee Nara? This isn’t normal.”

Shock and concern mixed together in Lee Seokhyun’s eyes.

“Don’t even mention it. It’s such an unbelievable situation that rumors are already spreading everywhere. She’s really something else. What kind of guts does a newcomer have?”

“Wow…”

Lee Seokhyun muttered in shock as he leaned back in his chair.

His manager watched Lee Seokhyun’s expression carefully.

“Aren’t you upset?”

“Why?”

“Well, because she’s not at your level. How can someone who just blew up with one project and one commercial match up with you as your partner?”

From the manager’s perspective, Lee Seokhyun had just spectacularly bombed his previous project and had acting ability controversies flare up to boot, so lately had been on pins and needles.

This guy had always been like this.

Unlike his flawless, handsome appearance, his acting always had severe ups and downs.

Like his personality where you could never quite read what he was thinking—inconsistent.

Even so, still. This casting was basically devaluing Lee Seokhyun’s tier.

“How dare they even downgrade your co-star?”

Lee Seokhyun responded absently.

“I don’t mind.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t mind. This person…”

His manager looked at Lee Seokhyun with a puzzled expression.

“She’s impressive, isn’t she?”

Lee Seokhyun’s gaze returned to the monitor screen.