If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 81

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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 81

I narrowed my eyes with suspicion.

The makeup team had dyed both mine and Bae Seo-nyeok’s hair a reddish milk coffee color to make us look like father and daughter, and while I was one thing, it really suited the sophisticated-looking Bae Seo-nyeok perfectly.

Perhaps because he was overshadowed by the debauched Casanova ‘Lemon’, these days this man was a walking homme fatale dynamite himself.

Even the usually intimate term ‘noona’ sounded terrifyingly seductive because of Lemon’s charm!

Look at him now. Even the foreigners are glancing over.

When handsomeness crosses a certain threshold, even racial boundaries become blurred.

“Don’t smile. You always try to brush things off with laughter. Where did you learn such a bad habit?”

That’s not it. I just smiled because you’re handsome~.

“Tell me. Is it Jeong Hyeon-gyo?”

“No! It’s nothing~ Why are you interrogating me like this!”

I brushed it off vaguely. For some reason, I was reluctant to mention my friendship with Rampa Lim anywhere.

Should I say I don’t want to connect the Rampa Lim I know with the Rampa Lim that people know? Some kind of childish possessiveness or something.

“Interrogating? I’m your father here. Did you forget?”

At those words, I reflexively looked toward Seo Shin-hyeon, who was currently busy taking photos while leaning his upper body out from the stern.

His eight-year-old son Seo Cheong-song was holding a camera with a face that looked like he’d had a reality check….

‘Hmm.’

A new father… might not be bad!

I turned my head back toward Bae Seo-nyeok and nodded enthusiastically.

“Father!”

“That’s right.”

When the cold handsome man smiled warmly, it was incredibly wonderful. As filming continued, Bae Seo-nyeok was becoming increasingly gentle with me.

Because I was mesmerized watching Bae Seo-nyeok’s (face), my reaction to certain words was a beat too late.

“What? What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”

“I said anyone else is fine, but not Jeong Hyeon-gyo.”

“…?”

I asked what that meant, but after that, Bae Seo-nyeok didn’t open his mouth again.

After pestering him for a while, I got up pretending to be sulky, but it was useless. Since my new father didn’t try to stop me at all, I had no choice but to go to my old father….

There were quite a few people gathered by the railing.

When I approached, my little brother, who had been looking around, brightened up and gestured for me to come look.

“Noona. I looked around and there’s no one at the far end.”

Seo Cheong-song (8 years old, Gaejong Elementary, future police officer) whispered resolutely.

“Let’s drop Dad.”

“….”

Just how much did he torment the kid that he’s already plotting murder…?

Seo Cheong-song, who had turned red like a boiled crab shell from taking Dad’s photos under the scorching sun, shook my forearm and whined.

“Noona~ Hurry! People are coming!”

“…Tsk! No way. You want to get rid of Dad just because it’s bothersome? Then who’s going to give you piggyback rides? I won’t.”

“Sigh… Then I’ll endure it….”

“Good boy~. Let’s watch Detective Conan in moderation.”

Let’s understand him. Dad has reason to be excited too.

Around this time in the original history, Mr. Seo Shin-hyeon had no choice but to divorce his wife due to enormous debt, then received ‘that phone call’ and left for the United States as if fleeing.

But now those are all things that won’t happen, right?

For the current Dad, who no longer had reason to go to America, this trip to Italy was his first time abroad.

After thinking for a moment, I walked toward where Director Haemun and Dad were standing. The atmosphere was harmonious.

“They say the first daughter is a carbon copy of her father, and it’s true. I wondered who Ssing-ssing-i resembled to be so pretty, and her father is quite the handsome man~!”

“Oh my~ You’re too kind. Our director also learned art… the artistic feeling just radiates from your whole body!”

Truth-telling Seo Shin-hyeon was demonstrating nimble drift techniques, unable to bring himself to call Haemun handsome.

‘Truly the speaking skills of a perpetual last-place sales team assistant manager!’

I looked wistfully at Dad, who seemed unreliable as always.

‘…Right. Why would I scold him? Let him be.’

Even if my parents act countrified on their first trip abroad, aren’t they still my parents? My embarrassment is temporary, but my parents’ memories are forever.

As long as Dad is happy.

In this life, how fortunate that he’s just scribbling novels pathetically in his room without causing any trouble. Look at his face light up, it’s his calling. His calling.

When I glanced at his novel before, even the cover looked weird, and it seemed like only strange people would read it. Obviously he has no readers either-

“But I heard from Seo-nyeok earlier that you’re the author of 《Demon Lord Under Heaven》.”

“Ah, yes. Yes. That’s me.”

“Gasp! Ma, mamma mia! I’m a huge fan! Author!!!”

“….”

As my gaze grew coldly distant, Haemun actually turned his body and pulled his chair closer to Dad.

“I was really moved by the latest volume! To think that the demon cult leader, who I thought was a woman disguised as a man, was actually a man who thinks he’s a woman because he was brainwashed by the blood cult’s sorcery?! And the martial alliance leader’s friendship and love that embraces even that! Isn’t that true chivalry? That’s what martial arts novels are about!”

“Hehe. Young hero, you understand….”

“Exactly!!!”

What are they saying, what are they talking about. You otakus….

‘Speak in Korean….’

“Is your father handling your manager duties?”

I was startled by the sudden voice beside me and stepped back.

A middle-aged woman with her hair neatly tied in a low bun style.

Geum Ju-ran.

She was the actress playing Woman #2 in 《Family History》.

In the Korean industry, actors are intuitively called Man #1, Woman #1 based on the importance of their roles.

In this movie, I was Woman #1 as the co-lead with Bae Seo-nyeok, and Geum Ju-ran, who played ‘Anna’, the father’s destined partner and source of conflict, was Woman #2.

This was the first time seeing Geum Ju-ran since the full script reading.

We had only exchanged brief greetings during the reading.

Geum Ju-ran, who could be considered part of the Haemun Team, was a veteran actress who delivered above-average performances in any work.

This middle-aged actress was close to forty, much older than Bae Seo-nyeok, and was cast because Haemun wanted the most extreme contrast with the young female protagonist.

“Not quite a manager. He just came as my guardian to watch over me.”

“No agency?”

“No… not yet….”

“Strange. There must be many places wanting to sign you? Those hyenas wouldn’t leave such a standout talent alone.”

Geum Ju-ran leaned against the railing and smiled at me.

While not a gasp-inducing beauty, she was a woman overflowing with mature intellectual charm worthy of being cast as the dignified professor ‘Anna’.

“There were some… but I want to think about it more.”

“If you’re having trouble deciding, should I recommend a few places?”

What’s this? I was surprised by the sudden kindness, but politely smiled and shook my head.

Most Korean entertainment companies were still stuck in 20th century customs.

Not only were their systems unestablished, but all the rumors I heard were… violence, forced entertainment, slave contracts, unclear settlements, etc.

Wasn’t this an era where managers and company presidents hit their celebrities under the pretext of maintaining discipline?

Many places came with contracts and large sums of money, but timid me didn’t sign with anywhere.

Even Bae Seo-nyeok didn’t recommend his own company. You could tell how messed up it was!

Moreover, due to the ‘exclusive rights’ clause in my current contract with Il-wol Film, I couldn’t make any appearances in commercials, TV programs, or any other exposure until 《Family History》 was released.

An agency contract was clearly premature.

“It’s really okay. My parents cherish me so much. They let me do whatever I want, so I think I can take my time finding a company!”

I looked up at Geum Ju-ran, who looked slightly tired with dark circles around her eyes, and spoke earnestly. I thought maybe Geum Ju-ran was worried that the child actress was being exploited by her parents.

“Really? You’re a good child. But you’ll need one.”

Geum Ju-ran’s finger brushed past my lips, wiping them. The juice stain I had just drunk came off.

‘Oh no. What do I do?’

Flustered, I looked around for tissues, but soon froze. Because Geum Ju-ran licked her index finger right in front of me.

“Right. What kind of juice?”

“Re, red orange…”

“I heard about it. That you act like a monster. Different yesterday and different again today, to the point where that Bae Seo-nyeok gets swept along. The rumors spread so much that they even reached me in Korea.”

“Ah…”

“You’re being shy. How cute.”

Geum Ju-ran, who had been quietly looking down at my face, asked slowly.

“You think this is a compliment?”

“…!”

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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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