In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 78

Inside the live news studio we’d entered.

While commercials aired, the anchor greeted us with a gentle smile.

“Hello. Have you had dinner?”

Wow, seeing Anchor Eom Huiyeon in person.

I examined the anchor’s face with a slightly amazed feeling.

She was the anchor who’d been responsible for terrestrial 8 PM broadcasts for a long time.

Anchor Eom Huiyeon was also another founding contributor who’d transferred along with UBN’s launch, and her move to the network had been quite a big issue.

And most importantly, the ideal type my mom was wary of when it came to Dad.

“Getting ready.”

At the staff member’s words, even I felt a bit of tension.

After the staff’s finger countdown, the camera’s red light turned on.

Anchor Eom Huiyeon naturally introduced the segment, then continued with introductions of Chaeseong-ssi and me.

The anchor asked me a question first.

“There’s truly a <Desert Island> phenomenon happening right now. The recently released documentary even hit number one on the first-half documentary rankings. There was controversy surrounding the production process for a while—how were you feeling at the time?”

I carefully laid out my prepared answer.

“Honestly, it was something I hadn’t expected, so I was quite flustered. When we first uploaded to iTube, our concept was ‘actors creating a drama for actors.’ As such, when we first created the characters, I wrote the script to suit the actors. The script wasn’t even that great. I just threw situations at them and left it to the actors.”

Anchor Eom Huiyeon nodded with interest at my words.

“Since the actors moving independently was so important to this project, as it moved toward dramatization, no one considered changing the casting. The director also wanted to maintain the flow of the original.”

As I spoke, Chaeseong-ssi sat beside me with a still-rigid face, hands neatly folded.

“From my perspective, rather than building camaraderie through the drama, I was gathering people whose strengths, weaknesses, and styles as actors I understood precisely to build the drama together… so I suppose there was room for misunderstanding.”

“Yes, I’m sure you had a lot to think about. On another note, for Jung Chaeseong-ssi, this project was your directorial debut. How did you come to participate?”

As everyone’s eyes in the studio turned toward him, Chaeseong-ssi started hiccupping in apparent nervousness.

Chaeseong-ssi took a sip of water.

Watching him made me feel like I might break out in a sweat too.

Chaeseong-ssi, hang in there…

“As you know, Sena-ssi recommended me. I got the recommendation, but there were several candidates on the director shortlist at the time. When I asked the production company later why they picked me, the person in charge said they were a Flat Shoes fan.”

“…?”

The anchor’s face showed confusion at Chaeseong-ssi’s answer.

“Ah, no, that’s not it…”

Chaeseong-ssi quickly waved his hands.

“They threw that joke at me so I almost fell for it, but they said they’d watched my short films I’d made previously. They were thriller-focused projects, and said those seemed most suitable for this work.”

Phew…

My heart legitimately stopped for a moment there.

Listening to Chaeseong-ssi’s answer felt like riding a roller coaster.

“Yes, I heard that among Desert Island fans, the director’s short films are getting some modest attention.”

After that, the anchor threw a few more questions.

“How do you predict Netmate’s localization strategy will unfold going forward?”

“If you had to pick one advantage and one disadvantage you felt while collaborating with the new OTT platform production company, what would they be?”

“Interest in the OST album is also surging—how did the OST production process go?”

Since it was a brief segment, answering a few questions sincerely made the time fly by quickly.

“Then this is the last question. It’s about Sena-ssi’s career path. Your debut project was our UBN cable drama. You made a spectacular debut winning Best New Actress with record ratings that had never come from a general programming channel before. And now you’ve become a pioneer of another new OTT platform service. You seem to have no hesitation in these unconventional choices. What kind of path will you show us next?”

The way someone else concisely summarized my filmography felt strangely unfamiliar.

It was a route I’d never thought about even once myself.

I’d just lived each day faithfully and let the overall direction flow naturally wherever it went.

None of it was 100% calculated intent.

“I’m thinking about it. Looking at comments sometimes, whether good or bad, I seem like someone who gets everything they want.”

The anchor laughed at my joke.

“That’s not true. I always give my all to the opportunities I’m given, but the way those results come back is always beyond my expectations. Whether unexpected controversies or surprising successes. So for my next path… I can only say I’ll give my all to whatever opportunities come my way.”

“That’s a good answer. After all, if we knew everything about the future, who could enjoy life, right?”

“Yes. And to add one thing—there’s a question many people are curious about. Whether I’m thinking of moving toward directing. I can definitely say no to that. I’ll continue to be an actor going forward.”

“Yes, thank you for your answers. That concludes the Desert Island Q&A segment of UBN Newsroom. Thank you, viewers.”

Chaeseong-ssi let out a small sigh as if his tension had released.

* * *

Right after the newsroom appearance, the very next day we headed to our next destination—a public service announcement featuring all the actors.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare selected the <Desert Island> actors as ambassadors for the suicide prevention center.

This news had various internet sites buzzing.

People were already writing down their own imagined ad concepts in the comments, calling it innovative.

“Honestly, I think it’s a bit funny myself…”

Yuri-ssi said after finishing her turn speaking the suicide prevention center phone number to camera.

Won Hyerim sunbaenim chuckled at those words too.

“Still, it’s good work. Let’s all do it seriously.”

At sunbaenim’s words, everyone nodded.

After finishing the group poster shoot, I sat at the table prepared in front of the camera wearing a white coat.

The psychologist role I’d played in the drama had somehow become a counselor in the ad video.

Since the concept was characters coming to counseling one by one, I had to endure full shooting alone.

All day while facing each actor one-on-one, the actors who finished filming disappeared to their next schedules.

About six hours later.

The last actor remaining with me was Hyeonsu-ssi.

Hyeonsu-ssi walked over wearing his characteristic faint smile.

“We didn’t have a single scene together just the two of us in our drama, yet we’re filming like this.”

“Ah… now that you mention it, that’s true?”

“I’m a bit excited, you know?”

Hyeonsu-ssi sat in the chair.

“Camera roll.”

At the director’s words, Hyeonsu-ssi made a serious expression.

Hyeonsu-ssi in semi-formal wear represented an average thirty-something office worker character.

The camera first captured Hyeonsu-ssi within the frame.

Hyeonsu-ssi pulled out a white envelope from inside his formal jacket.

“I’m, quitting.”

A white envelope that appeared to be a resignation letter.

The resignation letter everyone who’s an office worker supposedly keeps tucked in their chest…

Hyeonsu-ssi slid the envelope toward me.

I took the envelope and flipped it over.

On the cover were written two characters: not resignation letter, but suicide note.

The camera, which had been showing only the wrist, zoomed out to show my upper body in the white coat.

“…Please reconsider.”

I looked into Hyeonsu-ssi’s eyes.

I could feel unstable, wavering emotions within Hyeonsu-ssi’s resolved expression.

This small twist was planned to shatter people’s prejudice of expecting it to be an ordinary resignation letter envelope.

Meaning that the thoughts that can lead to suicide are this close to us, always lingering.

As such, thoughts of suicide aren’t strange, so reach out for help anytime.

That was the purpose of this public service announcement video.

I put down the envelope and took Hyeonsu-ssi’s hand resting on the table.

I held Hyeonsu-ssi’s gaze until I heard the ‘okay’ sign.

* * *

And just two days later.

The Desert Island team’s second group schedule.

My first volunteer work since debuting in this life.

Coastal cleanup in Jeollanam-do, which had permitted our set installation and filming.

Actors dressed in gear gathered one by one in front of the tidal flats.

Everyone had dark circles and haggard faces after just a few days.

Considering individual schedules on top of group schedules, everyone must be exhausted.

“Why does everyone look worse than during the island filming?”

Jaehyung-ssi scanned the actors’ faces and smirked slightly.

“I’ve done everything from anti-smoking campaigns to hauling coal briquettes, you know? But experiencing tidal flats is a first for me.”

Even Jaehyung-ssi, saying that, had a pale complexion.

“Jaehyung-ssi, I heard you got an IV the day before yesterday.”

“Huh, when did that rumor spread there?”

“You’re secretly weak.”

“Weak? To a man who was probably a general in his past life…”

While we exchanged meaningless banter, Yuseok, Heechan, and Kkotbyeol were excitedly running around on the tidal flats.

“If you get caught, you die!!”

“Aah, my foot won’t come out. Save me!”

The three’s cheerful laughter filled the tidal flats.

Jaehyung-ssi and I both put hands to our foreheads, shading our eyes from the sun as we stared at the scene.

“So young…”

That’s when Jang Heeyeong sunbaenim smoothly approached from the side.

“Can’t you two do that kind of thing already?”

“More than that, I don’t have the energy to run…”

My feet were already sinking deep into the mud.

The rubber boots felt heavy.

Even the few reporters who’d rushed over to photograph our volunteer work were on a forced endurance training expedition.

“Ayy, everyone’s working so hard. We need to show we’re working hard too.”

Jang Heeyeong sunbaenim needlessly showed off in front of them.

Meanwhile, Won Hyerim sunbaenim shouted at the trio who’d run far into the distance.

“Don’t go far!! You brats! Something bad will happen!!”

Kim Eunseo was far away with a pale face, just picking up trash.

Kim Eunseo was also gradually drawing attention as a rising star through this <Desert Island>.

She’s probably dying from schedules here and there…

Kim Eunseo seemed to be the type who loses weight under stress.

“She’s becoming more skeletal by the day, tsk.”

“Lucky her, I’m dying from exhaustion but why am I gaining weight?”

Yuri-ssi lamented while gathering scattered nets beside me.

“Yuri-ssi, quit drinking.”

“Then what am I supposed to live for!”

Like that, we spent the whole day pulling our sinking legs out as we circled the vast tidal flats.

How much time had passed?

I could see water rising in the distance.

“Alright everyone, dismissed. Actors, great work!”

Chaeseong-ssi, who’d been wandering around digging for clams instead of picking up trash, clapped.

“Director! If you were going to do this, why’d you even come along!”

“I came to scout locations for the next filming, thank you very much.”

The actors’ eyes went wide at Chaeseong-ssi’s words.

I too asked in surprise.

“You’re starting the next project already?”

“Yes, you have to row when the tide comes in. By the way, I must have deep ties with the seaside. I keep getting connected to these kinds of places.”

Chaeseong-ssi muttered to himself.

“Maybe I was a mermaid in my past life.”

“Lots of people finding their past lives today. Hurry up and pick up at least one more piece of trash!”

Won Hyerim sunbaenim barked orders from behind.