If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 78

[SC#42] Sorrento Villa Affluent Neighborhood – Alley (Night)

Lemon staggered as he walked.

The owner of the bedroom he had just escaped from must have showered in Chanel No. 5, because even after just rolling around briefly, the scent wouldn’t leave his shirt collar.

The perfume mixed chaotically with alcohol and cigarette smoke, nauseating enough to give him a headache.

His steps toward his parked car suddenly came to a halt.

“…Treasure? My treasure. Is that you?”

A red Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Inside his beloved car that he had carelessly parked, a young girl in comfortable clothes was reading a comic book.

Unbelievably, it really was his daughter.

Lemon hurriedly got into the driver’s seat, stared in disbelief, then pulled his daughter into an embrace and rubbed his chin against her.

Sel laughed cheerfully.

The stubble that had grown as the sun set was prickly, but today’s dad was very praiseworthy.

The excited Lemon also chattered away in a drunken voice as if reporting his achievements.

“Daddy deliberately dropped that woman’s belongings one by one. Her shoes in front of the elevator, her bra in the middle of the hallway. Ha! Imagine that pathetic bastard walking around picking up his wife’s things one by one. Like Hansel and Gretel. Hahaha. If they can maintain their married life after hearing about this, I’ll respect that guy. How dare he lay a hand on my daughter? Don’t mess around. Our Seli has this daddy here. I’ll get revenge for you anytime…”

Sel closed her comic book and asked primly.

“So did you tell them you have a daughter?”

“No? I’m single. How could I have a daughter?”

Lemon asked back innocently and grinned foolishly.

“I’m an Asian tycoon with blood from a fallen French noble family. Those bored white folks go crazy when they see Orientals and nobility, their eyes roll back. Our daughter was right. When I spoke a few words of French and Chinese, they were dying to invite me to dinner. They probably didn’t expect me to roll around with his wife for dessert.”

Lemon, who had been chattering triumphantly, suddenly shut his mouth tight.

The car became quiet again.

Lemon rested his forehead on his daughter’s knees like a prisoner and muttered.

“I’m sorry I can only pay them back in this way…”

Today their father-daughter prey was the headmaster couple of the boarding school Sel attended.

Sel hadn’t forgotten the humiliation the couple had given her while making her stand there, and since their harmonious marriage was their pride, it was only right to destroy it.

Sel ruffled her weak father’s hair.

When she cupped both his cheeks with her small hands and lifted them up, Lemon looked at her with a stupid expression. Sel spoke gently.

“Don’t blame yourself, Papa. Do you have education, do you have skills? You’ve never even been near a university, and all you’ve learned in life is how to backstab people on the streets… All you have is this cheap body and shameless tongue, right? But you used everything daddy owns to get revenge for me. Where else can you find such paternal love?”

“Sel…”

“It’s the most touching love I’ve ever received.”

Mocking yet comforting. Fast yet slow.

Sel’s pure yet mad voice that crossed boundaries seemed to gnaw at the heart.

“Let the educated people do noble revenge. I like daddy’s inadequacy. Papa has me, doesn’t he.”

The affluent neighborhood perched like a castle on a cliff.

Deep orange lights seeping from the affluent area dance over the alley on the downhill road shrouded in darkness.

And that young yet transcendent face cast in contrasting light and shadow.

Like a poisoned chalice. Sacredly leading to damnation.

Lemon was mesmerized.

The staff were also dazed.

“…Cut! Okay! That was great! Perfect!”

It was an okay sign that came out in just the second take.

“She’s a monster. A monster has appeared.”

Haemun, completely overwhelmed, shook his head.

The set stirred with excitement.

Sorrento, Day 7.

After several filming sessions, rumors were already spreading among the staff that something special had emerged.

While receiving touch-ups to her makeup, Seosing-a thought.

As a child actor, her young appearance was an unavoidable weakness and limitation.

But ‘Munsul’ wasn’t just a simple child.

To express this character’s destructive power, she needed not only excellent acting skills but something like a magical seasoning.

And fortunately, Seosing-a had it too. That kind of magic.

Legend Recreation, Isabel Adjani’s [Caged Angel].

This greatest French actress, said to be like an angel God accidentally dropped, was skilled at expressing the most desperate madness with the most sacred face on earth.

Nothing could be more appropriate for displaying noble yet magical duality.

This was a fact evident just from looking at the expressions of the staff who still couldn’t escape from the lingering impression.

♧

Sorrento location, Day 7.

As we entered full-scale filming, I realized that [Hall of Persona] was truly an overpowered skill.

Basically, I was quite talented at acting and a diligent hard worker.

I felt shame and fear from other people’s gazes, but at the same time, I didn’t want to disappoint them, and I liked discovering praise and admiration in their eyes.

Talent, effort, motivation.

When these three elements aligned perfectly and skills were added on top, it was truly the icing on the cake.

As I stayed up every night, cutting into my sleep time for infinite rehearsals to prepare, even Haemun, who was rumored to be picky, couldn’t find fault.

Moreover, [Final Cut].

2003, wasn’t this still the era of film cameras?

It wasn’t like the future when actors would rush to monitors after each shot to check.

A request to replay what was just filmed?

Impossible.

In this era, even directors were just staring at actors’ faces instead of monitors.

There were monitors, but they were such low quality with static that you couldn’t even properly distinguish expressions.

Since real-time monitoring was impossible, knowing the finished product was an enormous advantage.

Thanks to this, NGs were rare, efficiency was up, and quality was up.

“Where on earth did this lucky charm come from?”

Every time Haemun muttered this, I couldn’t help but feel thrilled…

“But there are some ups and downs.”

“What? Ups and downs?”

“You do act well. I’m very satisfied. But sometimes you’re like those academic actors, you know. The ones who highlight their scripts with fluorescent markers and write this much character analysis, asking ‘Director, what side dishes did this character eat for breakfast today?’ Like those model students who act precisely, but then other times you really jump out like you’re possessed! That’s when you make people feel chills. I’d say you feel the presence of a veteran. Hmm… Maybe it’s because you’re young and haven’t established your style yet?”

“…”

‘How perceptive…’

I glanced at Haemun with a sour expression.

Being only 3-star level, my skill maintenance time was very short.

Since I only used it when really necessary in important scenes, it fluctuated, and Haemun seemed to perceive this as my ‘ups and downs.’

‘To perceptive people like Haemun, it must look like that.’

If I, as a 3-star, am a [Talented Actor], then the [Actors of the Century] recorded in Persona Hall would naturally be 5-star.

Since it means that I, who am only 3-star, appear to have 5-star talent, it’s not entirely a bad thing.

But to make this irregular cheat key truly mine, I need to reach 4-star as soon as possible.

【Seosing-a, 1991. 05. 25】

【Category: Culture·Arts (Actor)】

【Overall Level: ★★★☆☆ [62/60]】

[!] Some stats have reached their limit. Advance to a higher stage to expand the limits.

– Potential: 60 (MAX)

– Destiny Power: ?? [Singularity]

– Appearance: 60 (MAX)

– Technique: 60 (MAX)

– Artistry: 58

– Star Quality: 60 (MAX)

– Luck: 45

[!] To advance to the next grade (4-star), you must fulfill the conditions below. Upon advancement, all stat limits will expand to 80.

[Condition 1] Hidden Mission Achievement: Calling Awakening (Success!)

[Condition 2] Media Debut: Make your name known to everyone (Success!)

[Condition 3] Talent Proof: Gain recognition from a master (Not achieved)

After countless rehearsals, even my technique had now reached the max for 3-star.

Except for artistry and luck, everything was at the limit.

‘What the hell is “recognition from a master”…!’

The ‘master’ was obviously that homeless-looking guy, but even though I received praise almost daily, there was no sign of the condition being fulfilled.

“What? Why are you glaring? I’m telling you you’re good. This is praise. Can’t you even understand that? Do you think I praise just anyone like this?”

“It’s not even sincere…”

“What are you saying?”

“Everyone! Please try this quickly. It’s a local specialty cake and the taste is insane, wow~.”

The assistant director carrying dessert plates rushed to our table.

It was evening after filming ended, inside a restaurant the production team had rented entirely for a late dinner.

“I’ll pass. I don’t really like sweet things.”

Bae Seo-nyeok declined gently. The assistant director withdrew his hand without much concern, but Haemun glanced up.

“Eat it. I don’t like your face right now. Your jawline is too sharp.”

Bae Seo-nyeok’s brow furrowed slightly.

Haemun continued speaking without caring.

“Save that perfect, refined look for your fans back in Korea. Lemon is supposed to be a gentle and debauched handsome man. Where’s the elegance in how you look now?”

“I lost weight because of the heat.”

“I don’t care about that. Starting today, make sure to eat dessert. Gain at least 2kg. Tsk tsk. Learn from Ssing-ssing-i. That young girl is already avoiding flour. How professional is that?”

“…”

Next to Bae Seo-nyeok slowly eating the cake with its terrifying sugar content, I quietly picked at my salad.

Sigh… Really so stubborn, so stubborn…

‘How on earth am I supposed to win over such an eccentric person…?’

♧

However, I couldn’t continue pondering.

That evening when I returned to the dormitory later than usual.

Inside my room, on the table next to my bed, there was a single unfamiliar flower.

A deep, intense fragrance.

It was a lily.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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