In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 18

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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 18

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I’m absolutely exhausted.
After thirty grueling hours of filming, I returned home as though my soul had been drained from my body.
Still, my body held up remarkably well.
‘The blessing of being in my twenties, I suppose.’
If I were thirty-three, I would have collapsed by now, but at least I have the energy to remove my makeup and apply a face mask.
‘I need to take care of my skin….’
Tomorrow I have the sixth day of filming for “Cohabitation with a Ghost.”
“Cohabitation with a Ghost” has a total of fifteen filming days.
‘In other words, I still have a long road ahead.’
If I show signs of exhaustion now, the twenty thousand viewers I’ve barely gathered will vanish in an instant.
“Ha Eun-rae, you look absolutely dead. Are you even alive?”
Kang Ye-reum, equally exhausted from preparing for her assignments, applied a cooling pack to my feet after I’d spent the entire day filming, speaking as she did.
She applied one to her own feet as well.
“I’m… alive.”
“Barely hanging on by a thread, it seems.”
Kang Ye-reum giggled and lay down beside me.
“Even if it costs me my lifespan, I have to give it my all. How often does an opportunity like this come around?”
“Oh. You’re quite passionate about this. I never realized you were this interested in acting.”
Kang Ye-reum spoke with genuine curiosity.
In truth, my transformation must have seemed strange to her.
‘I should explain this to her.’
I pondered for a moment before speaking.
“…Becoming someone else is fascinating. I’ve never been satisfied with my own life, but when I live as someone different, I discover something—their joys and their sorrows.”
“….”
A brief silence fell between us.
It was Kang Ye-reum who broke it.
“I hope acting changes your life too. I think it can.”
I smiled warmly at her words.
Kang Ye-reum.
You’ve always been this kind of person.
A friend too good for my life.
“But honestly, I like how you’re living your life. People are boring when they have it easy, you know?”
“Seriously, you.”
I let out a soft laugh and pressed Kang Ye-reum’s phone into her hands.
“Check it.”
“Check what?”
“Your… bank account.”
“…?”
“I deposited some money. Back rent and a bit toward the deposit.”
“What? Where did you even get money from…?”
Kang Ye-reum checked her phone and her eyes went wide.
“Ten million won?!”
“It’s not much…”
At my words, Kang Ye-reum jumped up and smacked my shoulder.
“Did you seriously go do some weird photoshoot?!”
“What?”
Why would her mind jump to that conclusion?
“Or where else would this huge amount of money suddenly come from!”
Geez.
I rubbed my shoulder where she’d hit me and spoke.
“Shouldn’t you be happy that your friend who’s been a burden finally has some money to give you?”
“Happy about what! If you signed some weird contract for this, take it back and cancel it! I mean it!”
“…”
Kang Ye-reum really is consistent.
I let out a hollow laugh and showed her my mobile banking.
“Look. Fifteen million won here. That came from Naru Stage. And five million won from the music video appearance fee.”
The music video appearance fee was quite generous.
Ten million won. Even as an advance payment.
Naru Stage took fifty percent of that ten million and deposited the rest.
‘Though there were several conditions attached.’
No spoilers, no uploading personal photos with members on social media, things like that.
And Naru Stage also gave me a signing bonus of fifteen million won.
Heo Kyung-hoe really does know how to make money.
Normally a rookie would be thrilled just to get a million won.
“Wow… you’re really becoming something, aren’t you?”
Kang Ye-reum looked at me with astonished eyes.
“I thought the music video shoot was just a minor role…”
“It’s not exactly a minor role.”
I’m the only female cast member, so I’d say I’m the female lead!
“I’m sorry. Honestly, I wanted to give you more, but you know I had that overdraft to pay off first. I cleared that. Once I get paid for the film I’m shooting now, I’ll deposit more.”
“But why are you giving me the deposit? Your parents were going to pay that anyway, right?”
“Come on, that’s nothing. I’ve been staying here for over a year without paying a single month’s rent. Besides….”
I cleared my throat and looked directly at Kang Ye-reum.
“I’m sorry, but…. Would it be okay if I kept living here for a while longer? It’s a bit difficult to find a new place right now….”
I stammered through my words.
No matter how old I was at thirty-three, making a request like this was genuinely difficult.
In my previous life, I hadn’t realized how remarkable Kang Ye-reum was for taking in a friend who showed up out of nowhere, but knowing it in this life made it even harder.
Watching me, Kang Ye-reum’s face twisted.
So living here any longer really was too much to ask.
But that was when it happened.
Kang Ye-reum’s face bloomed like a flower bursting open, and she broke into laughter.
“Hey, you call that a request? Then where else are you supposed to live?”
“…Huh?”
“Honestly, you’re so strange. I told you to come, so of course you live at our house. My parents keep sending packed side dishes, telling me to feed you well.”
All those side dishes were meant for me to eat with her?
I suddenly bit my lip hard.
The family I had wanted so desperately to have, even if it meant abandoning acting and choosing Kim Do-woon.
How could I not have realized that beings even more tightly bound to me were right beside me?
Foolish Ha Eun-rae.
It was just as my eyes began to glisten without my knowing.
My phone rang.
And on the screen—

Bastard

My brother’s number was displayed.

“You’re my sister—can’t you do this much for your brother?”
“I can’t. So this time, you take responsibility.”
“What?”

A large hand flying toward me brutally.
And my body trembling as if accustomed to violence.

“Damn it, this is ridiculous. When I ask nicely, you treat me like a joke, huh? Ugh, I can’t even hit you since you make a living with your face. That amount of money—you could just go somewhere and get sponsored once, and it’d come right out. An entertainer is just an entertainer, no matter what.”
“An entertainer? Brother, do you find what I do laughable?”
“What do you even do? Smile and cry in front of a camera? What’s so great about that? Can’t you do this much for your family?”

Family.
How long had I been dragged around in shackles by that word?
In my past life, I spent every penny paying off debts my family had created.
That’s why I was dragged around by the Talent Agency too.
I had to take on projects I didn’t want to do….
“Don’t answer it.”
That’s when Kang Ye-reum grabbed my hand.
“…?”
“That’s your brother.”
“Ah, yeah….”
But—
“Of course, I know you can’t just abandon your family—”
With my free hand, I pressed the reject button.
Lightly.
“…?”
“I wasn’t going to answer anyway?”
“Huh?”
“Why would I answer his call? I’m never answering again. I came here to sever ties, so what family are we talking about?”
Ha Kyung-soo.
This stupid bastard.
Laughing and crying in front of the camera?
See for yourself what an actress actually does.
“You… are you really Ha Eun-rae?”
Kang Ye-reum asked in a bewildered voice.
So I answered with a bright smile.
“That’s right. Your friend Ha Eun-rae. What were we talking about? Oh, that I can live here, right? Thank you. I’ll make sure I don’t fall behind on rent and living expenses from now on!”
Now my family is just me.
I’ll be the only one responsible for myself.

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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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