In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 67

“Cheers!!”

“Our Kkotbyeol drinks cola!”

A small chicken restaurant. The first time we’d all gathered in weeks.

After spending several days together on the island, seeing their faces felt like reuniting with long-lost family.

Greetings barely finished before we all started sharing our impressions of the comments we’d seen on iTube.

“Hey, Sena. People are even saying you should switch careers to directing.”

“What, directing?! Our Kkotbyeol really made an impression, huh? Amazing, amazing.”

“It’s all thanks to you, unnie.”

Laughing together, I picked up my phone and sorted the comments by most recent.

That’s when a particular comment caught my eye.

– Netmate representative here. We’d like to make a proposal regarding this video. Since there’s no contact info, leaving this as a comment. Please email us at [email protected]

Kkotbyeol looked at the comment and tilted her head.

“Netmate? Isn’t that American?”

“Huh, now that you mention it…”

The actors all smiled, seemingly intrigued, as they sipped their beer.

Among them, only I couldn’t smile—staring at the comment with a serious expression.

Netmate?

I’m not reading this wrong, am I?

Netmate was an overseas OTT service that had modest success abroad before entering Korea and becoming a massive hit.

Not to mention, it was the platform that spread Korean Wave and K-content globally.

The sudden sense that this was getting way too big made my palms sweat.

That’s when Won Hyerim sunbaenim tilted her head.

“But with this platform… is there any guarantee it’ll do well when it comes to Korea?”

Ah, so they’re not servicing Korea yet.

Maybe that’s why Kim Eunseo took a somewhat skeptical stance.

“There are things that only work on this kind of scale, you know? The type that always flop once you throw money at them and expand. Couldn’t our video be one of those?”

Their words definitely had merit.

But I couldn’t nod in agreement.

Because it’s Netmate.

Whether it succeeded or failed, being aboard Netmate’s first Korean launch would definitely be recorded as something monumental.

“I don’t think that’ll happen.”

Everyone looked a bit surprised at my firm statement.

That’s when Jaehyung-ssi joked around.

“Sena-ssi, did you buy Netmate stock or something?”

“……”

At Jaehyung-ssi’s words, everyone else laughed.

“Right. Unless you bought stock, let’s not make rushed decisions.”

While everyone laughed it off, I broke into a cold sweat inside.

Netmate was actually in my stock watchlist that I hadn’t told anyone about.

Though that’s not why I’d want to produce with them.

“Let’s at least hear what they have to say.”

At my words, everyone nodded.

“Yeah, that sounds good. Send them an email.”

So I sent an email starting with “Hello, this is Han Sena.”

Less than a minute later, a reply flew back.

‘Thank you for your email. Netmate is currently developing Korean original content, and we’d like to collaborate on producing this work. Would you be interested?’

My jaw dropped reading the response.

“Oh my, what’s all this?”

Won Hyerim sunbaenim read through the attached detailed explanation.

“They’re recommending an 8-episode drama?!”

“Wow, amazing!”

Everyone excitedly raised their glasses again, but my head was spinning alone.

There was one tricky part.

While I’d written the script and filmed the video myself, the starting point was Director Hwangbo Jaejoon’s work-within-a-work.

“Tell the director about it.”

At Jaehyung-ssi’s words, I briefly looked at the actors before me.

“If this goes through, will you all appear in it?”

Everyone gave their individual answers.

“I’ll need to discuss with my company, but with this level of buzz, I don’t think they’ll stop me?”

“I’d love to!”

“I’m not doing it if you hog the spotlight again.”

Setting Kim Eunseo’s words aside, I called the director and quickly relayed this development.

The director jumped with excitement.

‘Where are you? I’ll be there right now.’

* * *

An hour later, with the director now present.

“Cutting to the chase. We’ll handle all the post-production work, so can we use the uploaded video as promotional material for our movie?”

The director looked at me while asking.

His eyes were full of anticipation.

“Of course. It was your idea from the start, Director. Then about the Netmate proposal, how should we….”

I trailed off as I asked.

I too had lost confidence facing the sudden scale of an 8-episode drama.

But the director exclaimed as if it were obvious.

“We should do that too!”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course, it’s a golden opportunity!”

The director was even more fired up than me.

“The movie hasn’t been released yet, but let them know in advance that it was a work-within-a-work. If they’re still okay with it, tell them we’ll start production immediately.”

I slowly nodded at the director’s words.

* * *

A few days later.

I sat facing Netmate representatives in an office.

First, an interview article from Director Hwangbo Jaejoon was mentioned.

‘There was a big buzz about Sena-ssi’s cameo performance in our movie <Private Life>. Sena-ssi created a video of the work-within-a-work, and an OTT service called Netmate reached out wanting to produce it as a drama.’

Additionally, the director had left promotional remarks saying they were discussing how to make it interesting with Netmate, so please look forward to it.

He really was fast.

Following the director’s strategy, as soon as the article and movie trailer dropped simultaneously, people’s attention surged.

The box office performance would probably rise quite a bit higher than what I remembered from my previous life.

Along with the trailer, my video was also re-uploaded with enhanced audio and post-processing.

Still on InTheBazookaFo’s channel, not the movie distributor’s.

“The response is incredible.”

One representative couldn’t hide their amazement.

“That makes sense. Netmate’s first Korean original being an issue, the connected worldview with the movie’s work-within-a-work being interesting, plus the currently rising actress Sena-ssi creating it, with the added spice of getting the idea from her cameo appearance. Everything stimulates curiosity.”

Another representative approached it analytically.

“Also, cleverly making the distributor’s trailer and our video drive traffic to each other.”

It was a prediction that people would move back and forth between the official trailer and InTheBazookaFo, watching both videos.

A promotional strategy where both sides win.

I nodded and smiled.

Partly to hide my slight nervousness.

“Well then, shall we get into serious production discussions?”

Everyone straightened up to focus.

That’s when one staff member raised their hand.

“But who left the money at the pension?”

I met eyes with the staff member who asked and smiled slightly.

I’d expected this question.

“I set it up so there’s another being watching what happens at this pension. Someone playing with human lives using money.”

“Ah, I sort of guessed… So you planned it out but didn’t include it in the video?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to see that story developed properly in the drama.”

Just as I was about to answer, another staff member beat me to it.

“I’m on the opposite side.”

Huh?

“I don’t feel the money’s origin is a necessary element for this drama’s progression. Rather, I think the essence of this drama is them rushing in blindly without even knowing the source.”

It was a persuasive point.

I’d thought the same, which is why I deliberately didn’t reveal the truth about the money in the video.

Just leaving it to the audience’s imagination.

“The moment we reveal the source by depicting the forces behind it, this story transforms into something else entirely.”

Another staff member added their thoughts.

“I agree. And if it transforms into that story, it’ll just become another cliché capitalism critique or disgusting playground of the rich. I don’t think that’s the essence of our story.”

“But won’t we need additional narrative to fill 8 episodes?”

With opinions divided, everyone spoke persuasively.

Eventually, shortly after the meeting started, people fell into thought.

The office grew quiet for a moment.

That’s when the office door opened and someone entered.

Jung Chaeseong.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Chaeseong-ssi hesitated before bowing to everyone.

The Netmate representatives looked at Chaeseong-ssi with searching eyes.

Chaeseong-ssi also smiled awkwardly at the unfamiliar atmosphere and took a seat.

I’d invited him, but his face showed he still couldn’t believe he’d become this drama’s main PD.

‘Then are you handing directing over to someone else this time?’

Everyone had asked me this when I recruited Jung Chaeseong.

It was natural that I wouldn’t take the main role.

As Netmate’s first Korean project, it couldn’t be amateur quality.

We needed a skilled main PD.

That’s when I thought of Jung Chaeseong.

* * *

“Sena-ssi, I don’t think I can do it. I’ll contact some established directors and bring someone good.”

A few days ago, at a small cafe.

Meeting after a long time, Chaeseong-ssi immediately responded to my directing offer.

I nodded as if I understood.

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking, huh?”

At my words, Chaeseong-ssi scratched his head.

“It’s too big a debut opportunity for me. I’m just not capable yet.”

“Why do you think you’re not capable? You’ve already spent years working as an assistant director.”

At my question, Chaeseong-ssi shook his head.

“You know your own abilities best. I’m not ready yet.”

Hearing that, I took a sip of coffee.

“That can be true. But thinking differently, you might know your abilities least of all.”

Chaeseong-ssi’s expression turned peculiar.

“I may have only watched briefly, but I know you, Chaeseong-ssi.”

At my confident words, Chaeseong-ssi stammered.

“Me…?”

“That you’ll do well. Even with Flat Shoes, you contributed greatly to that drama’s success. From my perspective, you’re already prepared.”

Chaeseong-ssi’s face still held doubt.

“Then how about this? If you can’t trust yourself, try trusting my judgment once. And if it fails, blame me then, Chaeseong-ssi.”

At my persistent persuasion, Chaeseong-ssi sighed deeply.

“You really don’t even let me run away.”

I grinned.

“Think it over carefully. I’m absolutely not forcing you.”

Chaeseong-ssi nodded.

* * *

Back in the office now.

I smiled looking at Chaeseong-ssi.

Even if he looks anxious now, when he actually starts working, his eyes will change.

I had a feeling.

Even if he seems a bit clumsy, Jung Chaeseong awakening as a director would show amazing results.

At my smile, Chaeseong-ssi seemed a bit reassured and relaxed his expression.

“What do you think about revealing the money’s origin at the pension, Chaeseong-ssi?”

One staff member casually threw the question at Chaeseong-ssi.

Then Chaeseong-ssi answered unexpectedly decisively.

“I don’t think we need to reveal it.”

The staff members nodded.

“What’s your reasoning?”

“Money talk is cliché. Filling the drama with stories of people who have no choice but to stake their lives on money would be more effective.”

“Good. I’ll follow the director’s opinion.”

The staff member who’d been on the opposite side conceded first.

Then other staff added their thoughts.

“Actually, 8 episodes isn’t that long anyway. Let’s start by getting the director’s scenario first.”

“This topic already had divided opinions in the comments. Shall we move to other topics?”

Then Chaeseong-ssi spoke up.

“Um, then. It’s a bit of a budget concern, but we need spatial expansion. Specifically, adding one more floor and expanding the basement, so characters can form separate factions like this….”

See, you’re doing fine.

I smiled inwardly.

The video uploaded to iTube had used a one-story pension as the backdrop with a theatrical format centered on the actors’ dialogue.

In contrast, the drama would properly select locations and show the characters’ intense psychological warfare and conflicts.

I nodded and responded to Chaeseong-ssi’s idea.

“I think we could add actor gags here.”

“I was thinking that too. But casting is still….”

Chaeseong-ssi trailed off.

“I’ll mobilize all my connections to make that happen somehow.”

At my reassuring words, Chaeseong-ssi nodded.