In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 100

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

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This life, I choose The Oscars over a husband.
Chapter 100

“Ah, that’s not what I meant….”
“I know it wasn’t. *Cough*, *cough*.”
Park Seo-woo answered while coughing repeatedly.
I quickly handed him a napkin.
He wiped around his mouth with the napkin and spoke.
“That….”
Park Seo-woo seemed to be thinking about something for a moment before opening his mouth.
“At a 75-degree angle.”
There it was again.
That 75-degree angle.
“You look beautiful when looking up.”
Park Seo-woo continued speaking while avoiding my eyes, his face slightly flushed, whether from coughing or something else.
“Really beautiful.”
Then he glanced at my eyes for a moment.
Something felt strange.
At the same time, I recalled Park Seo-woo’s face as he looked down at me while holding the wire.
A face oddly familiar.
As if I’d seen it somewhere before….
Lost in such thoughts, I soon realized something.
Ah, I’d been staring at Park Seo-woo intently.
I quickly came to my senses and smiled gently.
“Thank you.”
Well, he must mean I look beautiful on camera.
Park Seo-woo stared blankly at my smile for a moment before speaking as if he’d remembered something.
“Ah, but have you heard from Director Je-gal Se-yeon?”
“Pardon? About what….”
“It hasn’t been made official yet, so I guess she hasn’t told you. Since it’ll be announced soon anyway, let me tell you.”
Is this about “Cohabiting with a Ghost”?
That’s what I was thinking.
“Cohabiting with a Ghost” has been invited to Cannes. Since it’s your first international film festival, it would be good to adjust your drama schedule and attend in person.”
My eyes widened at Park Seo-woo’s words.
Ah, that’s right.
“Cohabiting with a Ghost” is going to Cannes?!
Cannes.
In my previous life, it was a dream destination I’d never once visited.
If The Oscars was where one felt the world’s recognition of popularity, Cannes was where artistic merit was acknowledged.
The Oscars demanded global attention, so winning an award with a Korean film was genuinely difficult, but Cannes wasn’t quite the same.
Cannes favored diverse cinema, after all.
Even so, Cannes could only be a glorious place for an actor.
Even more so because it was a place where one’s work was recognized.
Yet why was the Director speaking about going to Cannes so casually?
“You’re quite composed about this, Director.”
As I expressed my amazement, Park Seo-woo replied.
“Oh, you mean the actress is going to Cannes?”
“No, rather our film is going to Cannes.”
“Ah, if it’s about the film, I already offered my congratulations to Director Je-gal Se-yeon.”
No, that’s not what I meant—
“But if you’re talking about the actress going to Cannes—”
Park Seo-woo held my gaze steadily for a moment.
“I don’t find it surprising.”
“Pardon?”
“You going to Cannes. I think it’s only natural.”
Park Seo-woo’s expression remained composed.
So much so that I found myself flustered instead.

* * *

Park Seo-woo paid for the meal.
When I asked why, he answered simply.
“If you were to pay, it might draw attention. There’s no benefit to rumors spreading about the two of us having a meal together.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong, so I couldn’t argue back.
“Next time, please treat me. Somewhere nice. Today, I’d like to treat you.”
I nodded.
Besides, this wouldn’t be our last meeting.
We’d be going to Los Angeles together for The Oscars, wouldn’t we?
With that thought, Park Seo-woo and I parted ways in the parking lot.
“Then I’ll see you in a month.”
The departure for Cannes was scheduled for a month later.
And Park Seo-woo had agreed to accompany me to Cannes as an interpreter and photographer. Je-gal Se-yeon had asked him to.
“Yes. I’ll see you then.”
After exchanging farewells with Park Seo-woo, I hailed a taxi.
The moment I got in, my phone rang.
It was Heo Kyung-hoe.
“Yes, Representative.”
– Eun-rae, you… don’t be shocked, just listen.
Hmm… Could it be…?
– You really need to not be shocked when you hear this.
“Yes, Representative.”
Something told me I knew what this was about.
– Actually, I don’t think you need to be shocked. You’re already a great actress. So don’t be nervous, Eun-rae!
Heo Kyung-hoe’s voice trembled as he spoke.
“Ha ha…”
Just tell me already.
– You’re going to Cannes!
…As I thought.
I paused for a moment, then put on my best performance.
“Wow! Really?!”
– Yes! Shocking, right? I was so shocked when I got the call. I need to tell Kyung-bin too, but what if he faints from the shock? Should I buy some heart medicine?
I smiled softly as I listened to Heo Kyung-hoe’s excited voice.
He was a bit loud, but…
Good news really does become twice—no, three times better when shared with Heo Representative.
Now I understood why people seek out family when something wonderful happens.
I grinned and spoke.
“Thank you, Representative.”
– Huh? For what?
“It’s all thanks to you, Representative.”
– No, but “Cohabiting with a Ghost” was filmed before you even joined our company, so what…
“Still, good things have only happened to me since coming to Naru Stage, haven’t they?”
At my words, Heo Kyung-hoe fell silent for a moment.
It was a rare occurrence.
That’s when I wondered if the call had disconnected.
– What… *sniff*… to say such things… *sniff*… about our company… *sniff*…
“Are you… crying?”
– No… *sniff*…
He was crying.
Heo Kyung-hoe sniffled for a while before finally composing himself and speaking.
– By the way, did Jong-ho tell you the shoot was moved up tomorrow?
“The shoot?”
Tomorrow would be the shoot at the rented concert venue.
Ia-an’s concert scene.
I was told to come late because the lighting and camera setup would take a long time.
– There’s something to check, so come early.
“Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
– Right, then… go inside… *sniff*… and rest…
I responded to Heo Kyung-hoe, who still seemed immersed in emotion.
“Yes. You rest too, Representative.”
Please.
Shortly after, I stepped out of the taxi.
Carrying a box as large as my torso.
It was something Park Seo-woo had given me.
Printed photographs, apparently.

“I thought you were bringing a car, so I brought it, but I’ll carry it for you. It must be heavy.”
“Are you trying to start a scandal with Ha-yeon?”

At my question, Park Seo-woo fell silent, closing his mouth.
‘It’s quite heavy.’
When I arrived home, I opened the rectangular, thin box.
Then a frame wrapped in bubble wrap was revealed.
As I peeled away the bubble wrap—
‘…!’
A photograph of a woman printed on Korean paper came into view.
I knew well the name of that technique—printing with deep blue ink.
Cyanotype printing.
This technique, also called blueprint, prints only with blue ink, and as the blue spreads, it creates a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere. The effect was mesmerizing.
Moreover, because this photograph was printed on Korean paper, it felt even more mysterious.
A woman gazing at something distant, wearing a faint smile.
That was….
Me.
The atmosphere was so mystical that it was hard to believe it was me.
Most of all, the photographer had given more space toward the subject’s shoulder rather than where the subject was looking, which made the gaze of a third party observing the subject feel far more intense.
What did the person who took this photograph want to say to that woman?
It was the kind of photograph that provoked such thoughts.
And attached to the photograph was a memo written in blue ink, bleeding across the Korean paper as if by hand.

[Happy birthday, Actress.
Park Seo-woo.]

The period at the end bled outward, creating the impression of a blue bruise.
Like a broken capillary that burst so long ago the wounded person themselves never knew—spreading silently beneath the skin.
This photograph and memo made me feel as though I were peering beneath someone’s skin, and I found myself overwhelmed without understanding why.
So he knew… my birthday.

“Today, I’d like to treat you.”

So that meal today was another gift from him.

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

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