In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 14

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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 14

When Kang Ye-ji glanced at Kim Byung-ho with a momentary look of confusion, he winked and gestured for her to answer casually.
“Oh… well… I suppose all this popularity is just too bothersome? I mean, I must have received so much love, right? Because I’m pretty and charming and intelligent. Of course, I work part-time now, but… I’ll do well in the future.”
Kang Ye-ji hesitated at first, but gradually her voice grew stronger.
She was speaking about herself, after all.
‘I’m pretty, charming, and intelligent.’
It wasn’t just that I was beautiful—I was a skilled actress too, and more importantly, I’d found a company willing to invest in developing me as a star.
I had the confidence not to be manipulated by Kim Byung-ho, the representative of that company.
‘Thinking about it this way, this role is absolutely perfect for me.’
That was what Kang Ye-ji was thinking.
“Really? That’s… rather boring.”
His fingers, adorned with glittering rings, rested on the table.
At Min Se-ye’s words, Kim Byung-ho, Kang Ye-ji, and the Manager all froze.
“Manager.”
“Yes? Yes…”
“I’ve made my casting decision.”
Min Se-ye spoke while looking directly at the Manager.
“Yes. Who will it be…”
“That girl I saw before. I told you I wanted her, but you insisted on seeing just one more candidate, so I did—”
Min Se-ye looked Kang Ye-ji up and down.
“Meh.”
At that single syllable, Kang Ye-ji’s face contorted.
“Um…”
It was the moment Kang Ye-ji was about to protest.
Kim Byung-ho quietly silenced her and spoke to Min Se-ye.
“Director, our Ye-ji is quite talented, you know.”
“Yes. That’s true. And…”
The Manager, as if reluctant to say more, approached Min Se-ye quietly.
“We’re quite fond of Kang Ye-ji’s face. You’re talking about Ha Eun-rae from before, right?”
“Yeah.”
Min Se-ye broke into a grin.
That smile was so innocent that for a moment the Manager was at a loss for words.
“Her face is a bit too distinctive, so it’s difficult for us to get approval. You understand, don’t you? The music video’s lead is ultimately MillionX. Our members need to shine more.”
“Oh… is that so?”
Min Se-ye responded with indifference.
It was nonsense.
No matter how unique a rookie actress’s face was, MillionX couldn’t possibly be overshadowed by a mere rookie actress.
Besides, if the rookie actress performed well, it would only make MillionX—whose acting skills were lacking—shine all the brighter.
‘Putting incompetent people together only backfires.’
Even as I thought this, I knew exactly why Manager could come on so strong.
‘A music video director can simply be replaced, that’s all.’
No matter how much my stock was rising lately as a music video director, someone of MillionX’s caliber could bring in a director at my level—or even better—to shoot with them.
That’s why I could see right through Manager’s attempt to push Kang Ye-ji from his position.
His expression had hardened the moment I mentioned casting Ha Eun-rae in the first place.
“Ah, I see. Then perhaps we should hear what the parties involved have to say?”
“Pardon? What do you mean by….”
But I knew this dirty industry better than anyone.
Maintaining one’s own distinctive color in a place like this wasn’t something that could be achieved through skill alone.
Just then, the Practice Room door opened and the members of MillionX entered.
“Director~ that scarf you bought us last time was really pretty.”
Han Yoo-yang, the group’s leader, grinned and handed me a coffee—a sweet macchiato.
I smiled and spoke.
“Ah, Yoo-yang really does know my taste best. How did you like that champagne I gave you before, Rowen?”
“That was wonderful too.”
“Yeah? Good to hear. Oh, but speaking of which….”
I gestured toward Manager with my chin as I spoke.
“Our Manager here doesn’t seem to like the actress I picked.”
“Huh? That actress you showed us before? We really liked her.”
Rowen, who handled the rap, furrowed his brow.
At the same time, the other members nodded in agreement.
“We want to work with that actress. Why can’t we, Manager?”
The moment Baek Tae-ho, the visual member with a face prettier than most women and serving as ambassador for countless brands, said this.
Manager squeezed his eyes shut.
I sipped my macchiato while watching him.
It was sweet.
The taste of having allies worth hundreds of billions of won on my side.

* * *

– Director Min Se-ye is asking if filming next Wednesday works for you. That’s fine, right?
The moment I heard Manager Jang’s words, my fists clenched.
In my past life, I never once worked on a Min Se-ye project. In this life, I finally would.
I hadn’t properly changed anything yet, and already this alone made me feel as though this entire life would unfold completely differently.
It was the third button, and it felt good.
– It won’t work? Did you sign a contract with another company?
As my answer faltered, Manager Jang hesitated and asked.
“What? No! No, it’s not that! I just… I’m so thrilled….”
At my response, Manager Jang exhaled in relief.
– I was worried our Representative might be playing it cool and lose a talented actress.
“A talented actress?”
I haven’t shown nearly enough to warrant such praise….
– Of course. Our Representative pretends otherwise, but he’s been absolutely coveting Ha Eun-rae. That’s why he’s offering such generous terms. I’m telling you this deliberately. I’m a fan of Ha Eun-rae.
…!
Managers at that level typically wouldn’t reveal such information.
If they let slip that the company representative desires you, it weakens your negotiating position.
– Don’t back down on your demands. Understood?
His tone suggested he was worried I might enter negotiations too timidly and concede too much.
‘Newcomers are so desperate they’ll dig themselves into the ground and sign slave contracts.’
I understood why Naru Stage had become such an exceptional company.
Not because of one representative’s eye for talent, but because of genuine care for their actors.
It was that care that carried them this far.
‘I made the right choice picking Naru Stage.’
And simultaneously, I found myself curious whether a company like this would accept the ‘conditions’ I was about to propose.
“Thank you, Manager. Actually, I wanted to discuss… my conditions.”

* * *

The contract terms were far more generous than I had anticipated.
Fifty-fifty.
Wait—you’re offering this kind of deal to a complete newcomer? How does that make business sense?
Of course, Heo Representative had his own reasoning.
“We don’t have the resources to provide separate acting lessons or anything like that. The company vehicle is only available when there’s a scheduled event. But we’re confident in bringing in auditions, so don’t worry.”
His explanation made sense, yet another thought crossed my mind simultaneously.
‘So that’s why Naru Stage struggled in the beginning.’
What kind of agency lays all its cards on the table from the start?
You’re supposed to boast a little to newcomers, tell them this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around for just anyone, and negotiate the terms accordingly.
Yet despite thinking this way, I felt satisfied with my choice of agency.
You could tell just by looking at Heo Representative’s office.
The Representative’s Office was plastered with countless film posters and actor profiles.
Heo Representative was someone who genuinely loved actors and their work.
He’d founded this company out of that passion.
‘With someone like this, at least nothing like my past life will happen again.’
With that thought, I spoke to Heo Representative.
“Forty-sixty.”
“…What?”
Heo Representative’s brow furrowed.
“You’re not asking for the sixty, are you…?”
No matter how small our agency is, a rookie actor is making demands like this?
Without even a single proper credit to her name?
Sure, she can act reasonably well.
Her face is… pretty decent.
Her styling is… quite good.
But still!
That’s when Heo Representative was about to bristle.
I continued speaking.
“No. I take the forty.”

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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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