In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 26

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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 26

The Team Leader stiffened slightly the moment he saw the model’s face.
“Welcome. This is the Marketing Team Lead from Gyodong Chicken.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ha Eun-rae.”
“Ah, hello. Thank you for being here today.”
He maintained his composure as best he could, but—
‘She’s beautiful.’
He couldn’t help but stiffen at the thought that crossed his mind unbidden.
He’d seen plenty of beautiful idols, but never one with such an ethereal presence.
“I should be thanking you. I’ll do my best. I even read through the storyboard—it was so entertaining.”
In the music video, she’d had a decadent expression, but now he could see a playful, adorable side to her face.
So this is what they mean when they say actors have a thousand faces….
It was precisely when the Team Leader was caught off guard.
Eun-rae nodded as she listened to the CF Director explain the shoot details.
Then she asked carefully.
“So the camera comes from this direction, right?”
“Yes.”
The CF Director looked slightly surprised as well.
A newcomer who checked camera movements down to the last detail.
Usually, when actors shoot their first commercial, staff members have to coddle them and ease their nerves before their faces finally relax.
The situation itself is so sudden that there’s no environment conducive to building emotion.
Yet here she was, checking the set with the seasoned composure of someone who’d shot a hundred commercials, showing no sign of tension whatsoever.
“Have you done commercials before?”
“Oh, me? Not exactly, but I’ve done a lot of modeling for Internet Shopping Malls.”
“Ah… that explains it….”
So she was accustomed to looking pretty in front of the camera.
‘But this shoot requires more than just looking pretty….’
Today was shaping up to be difficult.
…Or so he thought.
Until Ha Eun-rae began to act in front of the camera.

“Welcome to Gyodong Chicken.”
Ha Eun-rae, a part-time worker at Gyodong Chicken.
A customer asks the brightly smiling Eun-rae a question.
“What’s good here?”
At that, Eun-rae’s eyes widen in surprise, and she tilts her head with a bewildered expression.
That appearance—
‘So adorable.’
What is this?
There’s not a trace of the decadent charm she displayed in the music video.
Everyone on the Film Set thought the same thing.
“Ah…. Um….”
Eun-rae stammered through the moment.
“Gy.o.dong. Chick.en. Real.ly. Tasty.”
Awkward pronunciation, awkward expression.
And at the end, she even laughs awkwardly as if trying to smooth over everything.
An awkward thumbs-up offered as an ad-lib.
Then, after gauging the customer’s reaction, she subtly lowers her thumbs-up with her other hand.
At that point, the CF Director wearing headphones burst out laughing without restraint.
When the Director laughed, the staff members released their pent-up laughter.
“Snort….”
“Hahahaha!”
Ha Eun-rae smiled sheepishly at the staff’s laughter.
Then, with the somewhat nervous expression typical of a rookie actress, she asked.
“How was it?”
Watching her, the CF Director and everyone present realized something.
This wasn’t just a recreation of a reel.
She had come prepared with a fully developed character and was ‘acting’ out this scene.
She had pulled off the comedic performance flawlessly.
‘What is this….’
The Marketing Team Lead sitting in the back made eye contact with his team member.
This might not end up being just a one-off advertisement.

* * *

Commercial shoots typically wrap in a single day.
Which meant it was just as grueling as the music video shoot.
“You must be exhausted from all that waiting, oppa?”
When I asked Hong Jong-ho, he responded with an exasperated tone.
“Shouldn’t you be the one who’s tired… ?”
Hong Jong-ho, who lately mixed informal speech with formal speech when talking to me.
“Why? I’m practically bursting with energy right now.”
There was no reason for my energy to be depleted.
My first CF earned through my own abilities was for Gyodong Chicken and Roll the Tape.
That’s right.
The two commercials I chose were Gyodong Chicken and Roll the Tape.
I never had any intention of doing the sneaker commercial.
‘Before long, durability issues, color bleeding problems, and even customer service complaints will pile up, and the brand will plummet overnight.’
On the other hand, Gyodong Chicken was the chicken brand that would become the industry’s top player once the spicy corn chicken I filmed today became a hit.
And that wasn’t all—
‘Roll the Tape’.
It wasn’t just a fashion platform that would trend briefly among teenagers and fade away.
Eventually it would expand internationally, and by consistently casting hot actors as models, it would become a brand that made people curious about who the next model would be.
Moreover, its own brand ‘Cassette Tape’ would soon achieve the number one market share in the domestic fashion brand market.
In short—
‘These were commercials I had to do even without payment.’
Especially since the Gyodong Chicken shoot today would air on television, so my face would inevitably become known.
“You looked absolutely stunning today. I sent over the monitor shots. I thought you’d come without much makeup since you were playing a part-timer….”
“I only wore a little makeup.”
I answered Hong Jong-ho with a gentle smile.
Then I turned on my phone and looked at the monitor photos and videos he’d sent.
Even I had to admit I looked absolutely beautiful.
A little makeup, my foot. I’d gone to a salon.
‘It was smart to go to Hong Soo-ah, that Cheongdam-dong stylist, and get good results without spending a fortune.’
That’s when it happened.
A name I’d been waiting for appeared on my phone.
Park Seo-woo.

[A World Without Me_pdf]
[You can think of it as a short film for YouTube. It includes the synopsis, script, and storyboard. I’d appreciate it if you’d take a look.]

In that moment, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
Park Seo-woo, of all people, asking me to ‘take a look’.
I’m tempted to go back in time.

* * *

A few days ago.
I stopped myself from searching for “Park Seo-woo’s web film.”
If search rights only revealed what I personally searched for, why would I need to limit my search rights at all?

“Park Seo-woo” search.

I decided to search for Park Seo-woo directly.
But—

[Unable to view the entire ‘Park Seo-woo’ entry!]
[Reason: Entry currently under revision….]

Blocked.
If an entry was under revision, viewing was impossible, apparently.
But 【Cohabitation with a Ghost】 was similarly under revision, yet I could still view the audience numbers.
Which meant—
‘They only let me view entries under revision if they’re related to me.’
I had no choice but to change my approach.

“Park Seo-woo filmography” search.

Park Seo-woo’s filmography appeared.

Year
Title
Director
Screenplay
Box Office
Awards
20XX
Dear Kim Ji-hyun
○
○
Under revision
Under revision
Note: Short film directorial debut. Uploaded to YouTube Channel. (Among Park Seo-woo’s devoted fanbase, it’s considered a must-watch filmography entry.)

It appears at the very top of the list.
The work with the title Park Seo-woo mentioned.
Setting aside everything else, both the box office performance and awards are in a state of ‘pending revision’.
‘So the box office success and awards will be determined by what I do.’
Moreover, this work is already considered a must-see filmography among Park Seo-woo’s devoted fanbase in its current state.
I had already planned to do it, but now I absolutely must.
With my resolve firmly set, I examined the file Park Seo-woo had sent me.
And shortly after.

[I really want to do this.]

I could tell.
This is a work I absolutely must take on.
Because—
‘After reading it, I understand now. This is… the prequel to “Us, Kim Ji-hyun” that comes out later!’
This one right here.

Year
Title
Director
Screenplay
Box Office
Awards
20XX
Us, Kim Ji-hyun
○
○
10 million viewers
Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Picture,
Daejong Film Awards Director Award (see more…)
Note: The work that first established Park Seo-woo in the public consciousness. International recognition also increased significantly.

Insane.

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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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