In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 17

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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 17

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The first scene was Rowen’s solo shot.
I watched the filming from behind the camera.
A song drifted across the Film Set.

You always said it. This isn’t love.

Rowen’s signature alluring baritone.
Rowen in the camera frame scales the stone wall.
A close-up of Rowen’s face.
He smiles with a playful yet defiant expression.
‘It’s a scene that perfectly captures Rowen’s image.’
While actors strive to weave narrative into their performances, idols concentrate on displaying their character in each individual frame.
Infusing their identity as singers.
I gazed quietly at Rowen’s face.
Simultaneously, I focused on the lyrics reaching my ears.

You know it too. When our eyes met, you were drawn to me as well.

In this production, I’m merely a supporting actress bringing out the narrative of the MillionX members.
My performance must support them so they can shine.
To do that, I need to act with the feeling of this song.
I’d already listened to the track extensively before arriving at the Film Set, so I had the lyrics memorized perfectly.
“Cut!”
Min Se-ye’s approval came quickly.
“That’s our Rowen—he understands the vibe! Perfect, absolutely perfect! How did you even think to use your eyes like that?”
Even I could see Rowen had done well.
He’d captured exactly the atmosphere expected of him.
With that thought, I followed the staff’s guidance and stepped in front of the camera.
Min Se-ye directed us both—Rowen and me standing in position for the camera angle.
“Rowen’s going to fall from the Stone Wall toward this side. Then you just glance at him casually. Like, ‘What’s this guy?’ You know that feeling, right?”
When I nodded, Min Se-ye looked at me for a moment.
“But your makeup…”
“Yes?”
“Oh, never mind. You’ve probably thought it through already.”
Min Se-ye turned back toward the camera.
This was definitely a Music Video Set.
The directing focused more on physical actions than emotional nuance, and even that was incredibly brief.
‘I have to fill in the rest with my acting.’
I leaned against the wall.
Long, tousled hair, short shorts, an oversized sweatshirt, worn high-tops.
And contrary to the femme fatale image, I’d applied makeup very subtly.
Instead, I looked somewhat tired and indifferent to everything.
“Ready…!”
At the sound of Min Se-ye’s voice, I crouched down against the wall.
It was a long shot captured from a distance, so no camera adjustment was needed.
I heard a slight sound of confusion, but it was quickly drowned out by the slate clap.
Clap!
“Action!”
Crouched down, I spun a cigarette pack in my hands.
My face showed complete disinterest in everything.
This was my character.
Not simply a femme fatale, but someone with no capacity to be swayed by love.
And just as I was about to light a cigarette, there was a thud.
Someone fell from beside me.
I didn’t react immediately.
I deliberately looked down first at Rowen’s feet, then slowly swept my gaze upward.
Eyes that conveyed everything was tedious.
But then, my gaze meets Rowen’s.
Rowen’s mysterious blue eyes (contact lenses, of course) meet mine.

You know it too. When our eyes met, you felt it as well—that pull.

My pupils tremble ever so slightly.
‘Drawn in.’
That boy with those blue eyes shakes my entire world in an instant.
He brings color to my monochrome existence.

My color is blue. Your color is black. When we blend, we create the deep ocean.

A color as deep as the sea itself.
In that moment, Rowen’s pupils trembled too.
Wait?
That’s not the idol ‘Rowen’—it’s just ‘Rowen.’
I knew it instinctively.
The human Rowen was flustered.
What’s going on?
Moreover, he didn’t proceed with the next movement.
Naturally, Min Se-ye’s cut signal came immediately.
“…Cut! What’s Rowen doing?”
Min Se-ye’s voice sharpened.
No matter how many ten million followers an idol possessed, they were merely a subject before Min Se-ye’s camera.
“Huh? Oh, no….”
Rowen answered in a flustered voice.
“I missed the timing. I’m sorry! Should we, should we go again?”
As I listened to Rowen’s unusually flustered tone, Min Se-ye seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.
“No. Keep going. We’ll fix it in editing.”
I heard Min Se-ye murmur softly.
“The front part was too good.”
And with those words, a window materialized before my eyes.

[MillionX 【You Say It’s Not Love】 Wiki being updated….]
[Would you like to search the updated Wiki for MillionX 【You Say It’s Not Love】?]

The Wiki had been updated, and the search function was now active!
I immediately shouted ‘yes’ in my mind.

MillionX 【You Say It’s Not Love】 is the double title track from MillionX’s third full-length album, and the music video achieved 300 million views, creating a massive sensation….

…?
300 million views?
300 million views, really.
Of course, that’s what Wiki said.

The music video was a work by Director Min Se-ye, and it received considerable praise as a well-executed piece. Fans were also enthusiastic, calling Million X’s appearance the career high of the video.

In short, it was a music video where Million X shone brighter than I did.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The original view count for this music video was 100 million.
But a difference of this magnitude meant—
‘That means I was helpful in my own way.’
Here, I didn’t get hate from fans, and just getting my face known in the entertainment industry was a huge gain for me.
Besides, with 300 million views, international fans would recognize my face too….
‘From now on, overseas OTT platforms will shake up the Korean video market.’
The appearance fees actors receive now?
There will come a day when they become pocket change compared to the rates offered by overseas OTT markets.
Of course, the rising actor fees from these platforms make the domestic film and drama market difficult, but it’s an opportunity for Korean actors.
After all, Kang Ye-ji herself was able to aim for an Academy Award for Best Actress because she had a drama that blew up on an overseas OTT platform.
Regardless.
You can’t become a major actor by clinging only to the Korean market.
In that sense, this was an opportunity.
In the next shoot, I delivered the character I’d intended to show with even less restraint and greater refinement.
Rowen’s hand, which took the cigarette from me and unwrapped a candy to hand over.
I didn’t swat his hand away and simply took the candy in my mouth.
Then I gave Rowen a subtle smile.
Without a moment’s hesitation, and just a touch of wickedness.
Even Rowen, whose eyes had wavered before, didn’t back down this time.
Instead, he exposed his rebellious image mask as if refusing to lose.
Is this what they call synergy?
I felt as though I were filming a scene where Lucifer descended from heaven met a demon.
‘This scene turned out well.’
Definitely.
And as if to prove my thoughts, Min Se-ye’s clear “Okay!” rang out powerfully across the film set.
At the same time, applause erupted from the staff.
“Okay! See? I told you she was perfect for this, didn’t I?”
Min Se-ye said this while looking at the Manager from LP Entertainment.
For some reason, the Manager’s expression turned sour.

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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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