In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 47

The next day.

A car driven by my manager oppa pulled into the filming site.

Manager oppa opened the trunk, and together with the staff, started distributing cakes and rice cakes.

“Surprise! Happy New Year, everyone!”

It was rice cake cakes and glutinous rice cakes that I’d prepared with Minyeong unnie to commemorate the turn of the year.

I began handing out rice cakes to the staff members one by one.

“Wow, New Year’s on a filming site.”

“I’m used to it. This is my third year already.”

“Why does time fly by so fast…”

The staff each tossed out comments steeped in New Year’s sentiments.

I also handed rice cakes to Heo Sojin, who was busy with setup.

“Here, Sojin-ssi gets two.”

“What.”

Heo Sojin pushed away the rice cakes, looking flustered.

Without caring, I stuffed two rice cakes into Heo Sojin’s sleeves and whispered.

“Because I hate you!”

Leaving Heo Sojin behind like that, I approached the seniors and distributed rice cakes.

Won Hyerim sunbaenim, whom I was seeing after a while, tossed out kind words.

“Doing things like this too. You’re really something. Soar higher next year! Make lots of money too.”

“Thank you, sunbaenim!”

Just then, I spotted Director Kang passing by.

Director Kang waved his hands dismissively as if saying he didn’t need any.

Can’t let that slide.

I approached him and handed over the beautifully colored rice cakes and cake.

“I don’t eat rice cakes. Thanks though.”

At those words, I forced a bright smile.

Seriously, what a person who makes it hard to get attached to.

“It’s the thought that counts! Just accept it.”

At that, the director nodded perfunctorily.

Just then, a coffee truck rolled in from far away, following Teacher Yoon Youngjae’s car.

“What, Teacher’s bringing a coffee truck?”

Along with me, all the staff looked at Teacher’s car with surprised eyes.

Soon Teacher got out and the staff swarmed toward the coffee truck.

I approached with a surprised face, and Teacher laughed heartily while handing me warm coffee.

“Our boss is distributing rice cakes, so it wouldn’t do to have nothing to drink.”

“Oh, Teacher. What’s with calling me boss over and over.”

“You’re the person giving me work, so you’re the boss.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“But Teacher, did you prepare the coffee truck together with Minyeong unnie?”

At my question, Teacher shook his head.

“No, by myself.”

“My goodness, how did you figure it out?”

“One hundred fifty americanos for 450,000 won.”

At those words, I nearly spit out my coffee.

“What?”

“Don’t underestimate an old person. I know more than you think.”

The staff who’d heard Teacher’s words also burst into laughter.

“Teacher! When on earth did you research something like that?”

At that, Teacher also let out a laugh.

“Well, preparation is better the more thorough it is.”

While the atmosphere was warm like that…

Someone shouted.

“Oh my! Sena-ssi made the Rookie Award nominee list!”

In an instant, my head went blank.

What does that mean?

“An article came out! Hanho Arts Awards! Rookie Award! Nominated!”

“Flat Shoes’ Yoo Ji-an? Congratulations, Sena-ssi!”

Hanho Arts Awards?

Rookie Award?

Rookie Award…

It was such an unfamiliar term.

I quickly pulled out my phone and connected to the internet.

It was trending in real-time searches too.

With trembling hands, I clicked on the articles.

「Flat Shoes’ Yoo Ji-an, Strong Rookie Award Contender!」

Seeing the article title made reality hit me.

Teacher Yoon Youngjae smiled and patted my shoulder.

“Congratulations, Sena.”

Me, a Rookie Award.

In my previous life, it was an award I couldn’t even touch.

Plus, right now I was hearing the word rookie, but in my heart, my rookie days felt like a million years ago.

Even setting that aside, the year-end award ceremonies had already finished, and Flat Shoes was a cable drama production.

Just then, another staff member shouted again.

“Wow, Flat Shoes got nominated for Best Screenplay too. Cable’s making history, making history.”

At that, the staff buzzed among themselves, busy reading articles.

My feelings were dazed, then emotions suddenly welled up.

I tried hard to compose myself.

I’m nominated, but winning will be difficult.

That’s how this industry works.

The Hanho ceremony is in March, and Flat Shoes was a work that aired from February to April last year.

Other works that aired closer to the ceremony would obviously be much more competitive in terms of timeliness.

So realistically thinking, it wouldn’t be me.

‘Still.’

I smiled pleasantly.

I’m much more successful than before when I wasn’t even nominated.

Thanks to this, talk about my actor rank should decrease a bit.

I wouldn’t show my happiness obviously, nor would I be disappointed if I didn’t win the award.

I just needed to do my job.

Just like now.

Humbly, steadily.

Just then, I felt fierce eyes staring this way without mixing with other people.

Obviously Heo Sojin.

I deliberately ignored that gaze and finished reading through the articles.

After slowly closing the articles, I moved forward to the filming site again.

* * *

Continuing like that, acting, monitoring, and preparing for the next performance—the routine continued.

Then in the afternoon when my quota finished.

I quickly took off my costume and wig and hurried my steps to the next set.

Today was finally the momentous filming scene for Teacher Yoon Youngjae.

I absolutely had to watch and learn.

Until now, our schedules hadn’t matched so I’d had no chance to see, but this worked out well.

What made me even more excited was that today’s scenes were essentially Teacher’s solo stage.

Until now, Teacher was Sangseon but due to his special position as a eunuch, most scenes had been with other actors, especially Lee Seokhyun.

As I slipped stealthily into the filming site like that…

A nuisance tagged along.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

Startled, I turned around to find Lee Seokhyun standing there with a playful smile.

“Shh!”

I waved my hands telling him to go away, but Lee Seokhyun approached even more curiously.

“Watching filming? Ah, today is Teacher Yoon Youngjae’s filming.”

Unable to help it, I quietly dragged the clinging Lee Seokhyun to a corner.

After finishing filming preparation, I could see Teacher entering the frame.

Though his appearance differed from the script, the atmosphere he exuded was Sangseon itself.

“Sena-ssi, aren’t you tired?”

Director Kang looked this way and asked.

“Lessons you can’t get even with money.”

As I shrugged my shoulders, Director Kang nodded and drank his coffee.

Lee Seokhyun also soon began losing himself, focused on Teacher’s appearance in the monitor.

Just then, right before the director’s ready sign fell…

Teacher looked around his surroundings.

Once, no—as if searching for something, once more.

At that sight, my heart grew anxious.

What is he looking for?

Should I find it and bring it to him?

Just then, Teacher stopped looking around and closed his eyes.

Along with the ready call, Teacher opened his eyes and naturally began moving his body even before the action call came.

‘As expected.’

Teacher was that kind of actor.

An actor who wouldn’t use the cue sign as a switch, but would already be living as the role even before that.

“Action!”

Someone suddenly stepped in front of Teacher walking through the dark corridor.

It was Eunuch Seo from the Queen Dowager’s quarters.

“How about it, have you given it some thought?”

At that, Teacher tried to pass by without answering.

Eunuch Seo was currently demanding assassination from Sangseon.

It was his final method to catch the Queen Dowager’s eye.

Eunuch Seo grabbed Teacher.

“It would be a good opportunity to show your loyalty.”

At that, Teacher stopped his steps abruptly and answered in a low voice.

“Do not confuse loyalty with treason.”

Hearing that voice sent chills down my spine.

Teacher’s voice was small, but it traveled through the air to my ears distinctly.

It was a voice with different density.

While feeling the depth from theater stage experience…

How should I put it—it felt like he’d compressed it tightly to fit TV size.

In a word, I could feel a tremendous level difference from myself.

Lee Seokhyun’s expression watching Teacher’s performance directly also became quite serious.

The supporting actor playing the opposite role was also a supporting actor famous for solid acting ability as one of the Queen Dowager’s hands and feet.

Despite having strong lines, according to the writer’s intended design, Sangseon firmly took control.

“At what decibel does that pressure come from?”

Lee Seokhyun spoke.

I also chuckled and nodded my head.

The dialogue continued.

“Let’s find ahead of time something that would please her.”

At that, Teacher looked at the opposite eunuch quietly, then started walking again.

A gesture as if the other person wasn’t even worth dealing with anymore.

Just then, when Eunuch Seo behind him wore a sinister smile, Teacher swiftly pushed the eunuch against the wall and gripped his throat.

It was lightning-fast movement.

The monitor captured both actors perfectly up to their waists.

Usually actors only pay attention to the parts caught by camera…

Teacher’s movements were overall very crisp.

Director Kang also wore a smile as if impressed.

For an actor who mainly worked in theater to attempt blocking like that would normally look awkward on screen.

But Teacher’s depth was different, as expected.

He led the viewer’s gaze to naturally head toward Eunuch Seo’s throat.

“To whom do you pledge loyalty?”

Eunuch Seo looked up at Sangseon choking his throat with fearful eyes.

“To this nation’s royal house, or to the Queen Dowager’s quarters?”

“Th-that need not be separated…”

“Or to yourself?”

At those words, Eunuch Seo squeezed his eyes shut as if caught, unable to say anything.

A brief silence continued.

Then Teacher released the opposing actor, and patted down the stumbling actor’s collar, straightening it neatly.

“Cut! Okay! Teacher, you were excellent.”

Director Kang stood up and applauded.

“Wow.”

Lee Seokhyun looked toward me as if dumbfounded.

“Just now, that was ad-lib, right?”

I also nodded with a slightly dazed face.

The script hadn’t written any action of straightening clothes.

It just said something like the slow hand movements that weren’t kind held dignity the opposing actor couldn’t brush off and contained nuance warning him to behave properly.

“Master of blocking, master of ad-lib…”

Suddenly just watching Teacher’s performance directly made my heart swell.

When the director’s satisfying okay sign fell, the staff picked up equipment in unison and moved to the opposite side in a rush.

Bust shot filming with just the direction changed in the same scene continued.

As soon as that filming ended, I ran to Teacher.

“Teacher!”

Lee Seokhyun also followed and bowed in greeting.

“Oh my, did Seokhyun-ssi come together today?”

“Yes, Teacher. I followed Sena-ssi.”

“Goodness, I was so nervous because of Sena I thought I’d die. What if I couldn’t do it!”

“What are you saying, Teacher?”

The three of us laughed harmoniously at Teacher’s joke.

“Teacher, aren’t you really amazing?”

At my words, Teacher waved his hands.

“Amazing, what!”

“Even today, watching Teacher’s performance, I feel like I’m going home with tons of homework?”

At my words, Teacher chuckled.

“What homework?”

“Who knows! There is such a thing. You know everything already.”

At that, Teacher shook his head as if unable to handle me.

“Teacher.”

“Yes, boss.”

“If I try theater too, could I become like Teacher? But with this kind of mindset jumping into another genre, I felt sorry… so I was troubled.”

Just then, Lee Seokhyun, excluded from the conversation, quietly slipped away.

Teacher kept staring at me chattering away without answering.

“Um… why? Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Yes?”

“Seems like you haven’t caught foolish ideas.”

“Foolish ideas?”

At those words, a puhehe laugh escaped.

How much does he see me as a child?

But the feeling wasn’t particularly bad.

Since being reborn, I’d always felt this way—being treated like a kid somewhere was truly enjoyable.

Plus, having someone who watched over me to keep me from going down the wrong path was truly something to be grateful for.

“I don’t have time to catch foolish ideas if I want to become a great actor like Teacher!”

At that, Teacher shook his head firmly.

“What are you saying? You’ll become even greater than me.”

At those words, feeling good, I linked arms with Teacher.

“How disgusting, get away.”

“No way, Teacher! I’m cold.”

“I’m hot!”