This Life is Splendid

Episode 10

When Da-eun asked, Representative Bae glared at Do-yoon as if he had not explained it yet. Do-yoon, perhaps embarrassed, whispered to her while sweating profusely.

“This is CEO Hong Mu-seok, who will be supporting actor Da-eun.”

Then, in a smaller voice, he advised me to treat him kindly and with a smile, saying that if he looked good, he might be able to land a lead role on a terrestrial TV channel.

It was the same name as the sponsor Hye-young had mentioned in her previous life. It seemed like this was the first time they had met. As I searched my memory, I remembered that at first, I had only drank tea.

“Let’s meet up and have a meal together sometimes. There’s no need to make a fuss.”

When Da-eun did not answer, Representative Bae added as if scolding her.

The goal was to grow rapidly within three years, but this wasn’t the way to do it. Da-eun said, shaking her head.

“I don’t like this kind of place.”

Da-eun answered, remembering Director Moon’s message telling her not to get swept up in the atmosphere and to just say no if she didn’t like it. Then, Representative Bae coughed in vain and glared at Da-eun.

But she pretended not to know and turned her eyes away, getting up from her seat.

“I’ll just go ahead and do it.”

“Ms. Kang Da-eun.”

Even if you call her scary, she’s not the type of girl who’d just stand there and wait. If you stop when she calls, it’s obvious what they’re going to say. They’ll threaten you and make you sit back down.

“Let me make this clear on this occasion. I have no intention of taking on a leading role like this. Please don’t call me to such occasions in the future.”

It wasn’t all that scary, considering the status of Representative Bae and her sponsor, but it was a second life that she had worked hard to obtain. Da-eun didn’t want to ruin her precious dream like this.

Da-eun opened the sliding door and left without any hesitation. Fortunately, Representative Bae didn’t follow her out of shame.

The sponsor was neat and gentle, so it seemed that he could not possibly think of refusing.

As soon as she left the store, an unfamiliar car stopped in front of Da-eun. She flinched back, thinking it was Director Moon, but then the window rolled down and a familiar face appeared.

“What are you doing here, junior?”

“Ah…, senior?”

Embarrassingly, it was Yoon Joo-hyuk again.

“Just get on.”

I was a little worried after I got off. It was an unfamiliar neighborhood, and since it was slightly out of town, there seemed to be only a few buses and taxis.

Since Da-eun had already received help twice, she decided to receive it again, so she opened the passenger door and got in.

“What are you doing here?”

“I ate.”

Da-eun drank tea, but it was definitely a Korean restaurant. But why was he alone? He probably didn’t eat alone. Did he bring his own tea with the person he ate with?

Da-eun was curious, but they weren’t close enough to ask her about this and that, so she just nodded.

Then Joohyuk opened his mouth.

“Are you going home? The officetel with the cafe there last time.”

“yes.”

“I’ll take you there.”

“No. Please drop me off at a nearby bus stop or subway station… … .”

It was too kind of her. She waved it off.

“I have to stop by school anyway.”

He said he would take her there since she was on her way. It felt uncomfortable for some reason. Da-eun couldn’t figure out where this tension was coming from.

This was already the third time I had received help from him. Could this really be all a coincidence? If not, how should I explain it?

If he had come just a little bit earlier and prevented the explosion before the regression, would we have had as many coincidences as we do in this life?

“Thank you.”

It was strange for her to refuse an offer when she was on her way, so Da-eun accepted his offer.

Jiiing-.

At that moment, her bag vibrated. It was a phone that kept ringing. Da-eun quickly picked up the phone after seeing the name on the screen.

“Chief!”

-Yes, Da-eun. Where are you? I heard you went out.

“Ah… I met a senior I know by chance.”

It seemed like there was a disagreement with Director Moon. He just said he understood and then came all the way there. When I briefly explained the situation, Director Moon said,

-You did well today. Don’t worry, I’ll be dealing with the CEO. Just go home safely. For tomorrow’s schedule, take a taxi and come out to the office for a bit. Let’s reassign the manager.

“all right.”

Tomorrow was the pre-meeting for . Still, Da-eun’s face brightened a little when she heard that she would be reassigned a manager.

I was worried about how I should act when I met Manager Park Do-yoon again tomorrow.

“I overheard that. What’s your schedule for tomorrow? I’ll give you a ride.”

The phone call must have been loud. It was audible even though I wasn’t listening to music or playing the radio in the small car. But I couldn’t get any help.

“No, you can take a taxi. I’ve already helped you three times.”

“I see. Three times already.”

Joohyuk muttered as if he was guessing something. Da-eun, who was looking ahead, glanced back at him.

Something seemed to come to mind, but I couldn’t get a hold of it. It was as if someone had intentionally erased it.

So even the fact that she had any doubts quickly disappeared from her mind.

“The filming was good.”

“yes?”

When Da-eun asked again about the suddenly changed topic of conversation, he added with a frown.

“, that is. I edited out the part where you were in.”

“Are you a senior? Were you in the production department?”

Joohyuk nodded. I couldn’t figure out why his smile looked so lonely. Da-eun said with an excited face.

“Was it okay?”

He nodded.

Last year, I filmed a movie with Yoon Joo-hyuk as an assignment.

At that time, the evaluation was harsh. No, it was not just harsh. It was really harsh. Yoon Joo-hyuk was famous for his sharp remarks.

‘Just smile brightly in front of the camera. That’s your limit.’

It’s not like her acting skills improved in just one year. The experiences she had before returning must have helped her.

At Joohyuk’s one word of “well done”, Da-eun’s slightly nervous expression brightened.

I often heard throughout my school years that I was a good actor, but I never heard that from him.

I always wanted to be recognized someday.

She was excited and began to talk about what happened during the shoot, feeling a little more at ease.

How excited and nervous were you during your first shoot? What efforts did you make to do well?

A pleasant smile remained on Joo-hyuk’s face as he glanced at Da-eun who was chattering.

Perhaps because the conversation was enjoyable, time flew by. When we arrived at the officetel, she thanked me again and got out of the car.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

Da-eun nodded again to him, who nodded slightly, and disappeared into the building.

Joo-hyuk, who had been watching her until she was out of sight, whispered.

“I wanted to take you this time.”

In her second life, Moon Ki-jung said that he had brought her there. She remembered this day clearly because she couldn’t stand the jealousy that they were alone in a small space.

“Three times already.”

I told myself not to intervene in this life, but I have already intervened three times.

I have to help you just this once, just this once. Didn’t I end up ruining myself in my last life too?

Now it was time to let her go, to let her fly on her own.

Joo-hyuk clicked his tongue bitterly, shook off his foolish desire to not fall and stepped on the accelerator.

It was time to break away from Da-eun.

* * *

Da-eun stopped by the broadcasting station to meet the production crew of .

“Are you actress Kang Da-eun?”

When she went up to the drama department office on the 6th floor, someone guided her to a conference room, as if they were waiting for her. As soon as she sat down in the small space, writer Kim Hee-sook came in.

“Oh my, it looks better in person than in the picture? Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Hee-sook.”

“This is Kang Da-eun.”

Da-eun got up from her seat and lightly squeezed Hee-sook’s outstretched hand and then let go. At that moment, Director Shin Jeong-geun opened the door and strode in.

“Hello, this is Kang Da-eun.”

When Da-eun greeted him once more, Director Shin tapped her on the shoulder and greeted her.

“nice to meet you.”

One of the staff members who came in with the new director left the conference room with a carrier containing coffee. Writer Kim, who took a cup of coffee out of the carrier and handed it out, opened his mouth.

“With actor Kang as the last one, the casting board is full.”

The actors seemed ready and now all that was left was to start filming. Director Shin continued, sipping his iced coffee.

“The broadcast date was unexpectedly brought forward. We will start filming in four days.”

I had memorized the entire first half of the script, but Da-eun’s eyes widened at the fact that filming was done faster than she had expected. Then, Writer Kim added with a vague smile.

“The reading is the day after tomorrow.”

In fact, writer Kim Hee-sook did not welcome BM Company’s investment. Instead of receiving investment, she should have held an audition and chosen her. It was risky to hire a new actor without even holding an audition.

Author Kim Hee-sook, who has a great affection for her work, secretly sighed.

In fact, in this work, everyone was the main character.

The joys and sorrows felt by the lead and supporting actors in their respective lives were beautiful. But would the simple actors in front of me really be able to express such deep emotions?

Writer Kim took a sneak peek at Da-eun. Fortunately, her visuals were suitable for a female supporting character.

That was when.

“Director, writer. Just a moment.”

Author Kim Hee-sook, who was examining Da-eun’s clean-faced face, frowned at the rude sound of the door being opened.