In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 19

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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 19

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I ignored Ha Kyung-soo’s call and blocked his number entirely.
While this meant I wouldn’t hear from him, the man was unpredictable enough that I couldn’t be sure when or how he might cause trouble, so I decided to give the agency a heads-up.
“What’s this about? Calling for a sudden meeting like this makes me a bit nervous.”
Heo Representative seemed quite anxious at my abrupt request for a meeting.
Was he worried I’d caused some kind of incident?
Come to think of it, the music video was supposed to drop in four weeks, wasn’t it?
If the cast member caused a scandal in that situation, it would be problematic. Especially for a rookie actress who’d just signed on.
The real issue was—
‘If this counts as an incident, then it certainly qualifies.’
I recalled what Kanna’s representative had said to me in my previous life.

“Eun-rae, managing these kinds of risks is what separates a good actress from the rest. Look at Kang Ye-ji. Her family background isn’t particularly impressive, but she maintains her image impeccably from head to toe, and it shows in everything she says—the polish is unmistakable. But you? Every time you appear on variety shows, you air family matters and make a scene. Honestly, it’s exhausting. And you need to keep your father in check. I’m already struggling to manage your image. Do you think my Marketing Team should be tied up with just you? I’m telling you this because I genuinely cared about working with you, so don’t twist my words.”
“I’m sorry.”
“And keep your father under control. Seriously, managing your image is already draining enough for me. Should my Marketing Team be entirely devoted to handling you alone? I’m saying this because I genuinely valued our time working together, so don’t misinterpret my words.”

Don’t twist my words.
Even taking it straight, it’s garbage coming out of your mouth, you bastard.
Still, family issues are indeed a risk for actors.
Aren’t the three major risks for actors academic fraud, debt issues, and school violence…?
Well, criminal records are just off the table anyway.
I pressed down on my racing heart and took a sip of the tea in front of me.
“Um… Representative.”
“No, wait!”
Heo Kyung-hoe shot up from his seat and waved his hand frantically.
“…?”
“Look, I know it’s weird to say this now, but….”
“Yes?”
“I actually liked you from the moment I first saw you?”
“You’re… a married man?”
“What are you talking about?”
What on earth are you saying, Representative?
“That whole audition thing was just me bluffing, but I’m completely smitten with you! I knew it right away! I’m confident I can nurture your talent! Where does your family live? How much are they asking?! I don’t have a house, but I can try selling my parents’ place!”
“…I’m not sure what you mean….”
He’s gotten the wrong idea entirely.
I continued before the misunderstanding could deepen further.
“I’ve severed ties with my family due to personal circumstances, and I was worried they might contact the agency, so I thought I should mention it beforehand. That’s why I came.”
At my words, the excited Heo Representative quietly returned to his seat.
“Oh?”
“…Of course, I’ll do my best to avoid any complications, but if you hear about it from my family members instead of from me, there could be misunderstandings.”
“Ah… is that what this was about?”
Heo Representative composed himself and began listening to my explanation.
It was a story that stretched back far, but I kept it as brief as possible.
My father’s business failures that began in my childhood.
And the violence that came with his descent into alcoholism.
My mother, who cursed such a father while endlessly borrowing money from relatives to indulge in luxury.
Even my older brother, who spoke of hating such parents while drowning himself in alcohol and gambling just the same.
‘Wow. Telling this story, I’ve never seen a mess this messy.’
And as I continued——
‘Sigh… I should have told him before signing the contract.’
I realized this might feel like a betrayal to Heo Representative.
“…I’m sorry. Now that I think about it, I should have told you beforehand, but I didn’t think it through either…. And it’s true I was desperate for money…. Most of all….”
I pressed my lips together and lowered my head.
“I wanted to act. I couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.”
“….”
Beyond my bowed head, there was no response from him.
A heavy silence settled over the Representative’s Office.
What should I do?
I was lost in thought when—
“What does that have to do with acting?”
A voice thick with displeasure cut through the air.
I lifted my head to look at Heo Kyung-hoe.
His face had hardened into an unyielding mask.
“I cast you based on your acting, not your background. Did I not?”
“I… what?”
“What’s the name of our agency?”
Heo Kyung-hoe, his expression darkening with evident anger, pointed to the nameplate hanging in the Representative’s Office.
“…Naru Stage?”
“Exactly. Naru Stage. A place where actors can set sail toward greater horizons, like a harbor. That’s our company’s motto.”
“…”
“I intended to be your harbor, Ha Eun-rae. But it seems you had no intention of settling with us?”
“…I’m sorry?”
Heo Kyung-hoe now openly twisted one side of his face as he spoke.
“There’s no need for you to entertain such useless thoughts.”
He even slid a piece of paper and a pen across the desk toward me.
“Write down your family’s names and contact information here. If anyone reaches out to us, we’ll handle it ourselves. And from now on, if anyone tries to contact you, tell them to go through the agency. I’ll inform Jong-ho separately—absolutely no private contact.”
“…!”
What is this?
I thought he was just a ruthless businessman, but he’s actually—
I found myself holding back tears without realizing it.
“…Thank you.”
He was a man who did business with integrity. Heo Kyung-hoe.
Perhaps sensing my voice tremble, Heo Kyung-hoe pulled a pink jelly candy from his pocket and offered it to me.
“I rarely give these out. My eldest daughter loves them dearly.”
Really…
…I knew I shouldn’t let myself do this.
“That bastard. How could he lay a hand on a girl? I don’t understand it. I really don’t.”
I couldn’t help but let the tears fall right there.
“Thank you…so much…”

* * *

“What did our representative say?”
As I exited the meeting with Heo Representative, I ran into Manager Jang.
She had an uncanny ability to sense that I’d been crying.
“Oh, no. I just had some things I wanted to discuss. Heo Representative seems like a good person.”
At my words, Manager Jang hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Right. He’s just a bit of a lightweight, that’s all.”
“Yes, well.”
That was certainly true.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something anyway, so this works out.”
“What is it?”
“You don’t have an SNS account yet, do you?”
“SNS? I have K-talk, but—”
At my response, Manager Jang tilted her head.
“So you’re the type who keeps their distance from SNS? Are you averse to it like Kyung-bin?”
I’d never created an SNS account since childhood, afraid that debt collectors might contact me through it.
How was I supposed to explain this?
After a moment’s hesitation, I gave Manager Jang a brief explanation of my family circumstances.
“I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it earlier—”
“Sorry? Why are you apologizing?”
Manager Jang had the exact same reaction as Heo Kyung-hoe.
This was what you’d call extreme rage.
‘Absolute fury.’
“Damn it, all those bastards should be stuffed in garbage bags and thrown away. Worthless human garbage that can’t even be recycled! Ah… not that I’m trying to insult your family or anything.”
Manager Jang glanced at me cautiously.
I shook my head.
“No, they really are worthless human garbage.”
Especially when I thought about how they’d held me back my entire life.
“Anyway, don’t worry about it. You haven’t done anything wrong. Once you become famous… well, I don’t know what you think, but we can set up an interview right away and announce that you’ve cut ties with your parents.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
The moment I became famous, my family would use my celebrity to borrow money from people left and right.
It would be better to make my family situation public quickly.
“Then I’ll go ahead and create an SNS account. Is that okay?”
“Uh, yes. Though—”
I tilted my head.
“Will people actually see it if I create an SNS account right now?”
Honestly, the only filmography I had to show people right now was photos from my shopping mall modeling work.
And SNS?
“Well, I think you’re already late as it is.”
Manager Jang’s lips curled upward.
It was a bit puzzling, but I had no reason to ignore the advice of Jang Hee-ja, who had once created career peaks for her affiliated actors.
And soon, I came to understand the meaning behind what Manager Jang had said.

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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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