In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 29

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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 29

I was quietly studying Kang Ye-reum’s phone when it suddenly dawned on me.
“Oh, right. That button you mentioned.”
I handed her the plastic bag containing the button.
“Yeah, you came here because of this, didn’t you? I almost forgot because of some actress who rode the bus with her face plastered all over it, shamelessly showing herself.”
“Hey… stop teasing me.”
Kang Ye-reum giggled and lifted her bag to put the button away.
That’s when her belongings tumbled out of the bag.
“Ugh….”
“You’re always so careless….”
Even forgetting to pick up the button.
I bent down and gathered her scattered items.
Among them were some sketches Kang Ye-reum had drawn.
I picked up one of her sketches and asked.
“What’s this?”
“That’s one of my five graduation pieces? But the concept doesn’t quite match, so I’m holding off on it.”
“What’s the concept?”
“Something with a grunge vibe, hip but also with a touch of femininity….”
Kang Ye-reum bit her lip as if struck by sudden despair.
“I don’t even know anymore. I’ve revised it so much that I can’t remember what my original concept was.”
I turned my attention back to Kang Ye-reum’s sketch.
Even in my past life, her eye for fashion was exceptional.
But the clothes she actually created were always too uniquely bold.
That’s why her brand failed back then.
Both then and now, I was convinced that if she had built her brand around basic items with just strategic accents, she would have succeeded.
Now that I think about it, this piece here.
It seems to align quite well with current trends.
‘Kang Ye-reum’s eye for detail never goes anywhere.’
The only thing is that her designs always run ahead of the times, so it might be good to pull it back slightly.
“From what I can see, I think it would be better to shift the concept entirely in this direction.”
“This direction?”
Kang Ye-reum tilted her head, looking at the sketch I was holding.
“See how this ribbon-like element wraps around the calf? Doesn’t it look just like a ballerina? I really like that feeling. Ballerinas are feminine, but they have strength in them too. So if the concept is ballerina, pairing it with a sporty shoe under a skirt wouldn’t look odd, and it wouldn’t clash with that hip jacket you mentioned either.”
This level of input should be fine.
I watched the wavering in Kang Ye-reum’s eyes as I drove the wedge deeper into her heart.
“I want to try wearing one of those outfits at your graduation fashion show.”
In that instant, Kang Ye-reum’s eyes widened.
“You? You’re going to wear my clothes?”
“Yeah. I already agreed to model for that fashion show anyway.”
“Well, I mean, I did plan for that, but… hasn’t the situation changed a bit now…?”
“Changed how? It’s my housemate’s graduation project—of course I should do it.”
At that, Kang Ye-reum’s face lit up.
“Really? Really really? Then I’ll make it in your size?”
“Obviously. Oh, right…”
Now that I thought about it, there was another reason I’d come to Kang Ye-reum’s school.
I held out an envelope to Kang Ye-reum.
Seeing the envelope I offered, Kang Ye-reum shook her head and spoke.
“Hey, is this more of that deposit and rent money again? I can’t accept this. You’ve been through so much—you should save up for a while and maybe get some skincare treatments or something…”
“It’s not money.”
“Huh?”
At my words, Kang Ye-reum took the envelope I offered with an embarrassed expression.
“Then what is it?”
“Open it.”
When Kang Ye-reum looked inside the envelope, her eyes widened even more than if she’d seen money.
“You…!”
As Kang Ye-reum’s hands loosened, fifty Gyodong Chicken coupons spilled out of the envelope.
“Ahhh! My precious chicken coupons…!”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course I like it! I’m a chicken connoisseur…!!”
Watching her, I burst out laughing.
Kang Ye-reum was truly a chicken killer.
I’d made the right call bringing her all the coupons from the commercial.
Of course, I’d already deposited part of the commercial fee into Kang Ye-reum’s account.
The advertising fee had come in quite generously, by the way.
‘Twenty million won.’
The cost of the hair and makeup was absolutely worth it.

* * *

Click.
Click.
Click.
I beamed at the camera and snapped a few shots.
“Is this enough?”
I took the photos Hong Jong-ho had taken.
Hmm. He wasn’t exactly a natural photographer, but still….
“I should practice a bit more.”
“…Yeah.”
“Still, thanks, oppa.”
“I’ll do my best!”
Hong Jong-ho still mixed casual and formal speech.
Today was the first day of shooting for “To My Beloved Kim Ji-hyun.”
Manager Jang had asked me to take a few photos from the film set.

Manager Jang,
Is it okay if I post three of these on StarGram?
Sure.

Manager Jang seemed eager to upload to SNS before people’s interest faded.
‘Well, we’re entering an era where actors communicate with fans through SNS now.’
Actors weren’t yet actively engaging on SNS, but soon they would be landing SNS endorsements, working as ambassadors for all sorts of brands, and building their market value.
In that sense, Manager Jang was quite visionary.
As I was thinking this and logging into my StarGram account,
an actress who had finished makeup approached me.
Maeng Hye-seung.
She was cast in this production, and both the Cinematographer and Park Seo-woo had even given me a heads-up about the casting beforehand.

“She’s a rising newcomer gaining traction on YouTube lately. But don’t worry too much. She’s got solid acting skills.”

The Cinematographer seemed bewildered that I—someone with international recognition from commercials and music videos—was taking on this project.
I could see the nervousness in his eyes, as if he was afraid I might back out.
‘This is my first time on a set like this.’
Back when I was a newcomer, I was the one who had to tread carefully, always watching everyone’s reactions.
But now, from the Cinematographer to the Director, everyone was watching my reactions regarding the other actress’s casting.
Even though it was a YouTube production, the feeling was decidedly strange.

“Don’t worry. I’ll work even harder.”

Of course, I wasn’t worried at all.
Why?
Because that woman was none other than Maeng Hye-seung.
Right now she only appeared sporadically on YouTube, but she would soon become a rising star in supporting roles.
She had played an alien in a sci-fi film and demonstrated such remarkable acting ability.
Of course, her limited screen time meant she was often cast in supporting roles, but her acting talent was never something to scoff at.
‘Once she built up her resume, she even landed leading roles in films.’
In other words, she was an actress I absolutely had to befriend—someone whose talent was undeniable.
Since she was three years older than me, I decided to approach her as warmly as possible—
“Hello, senior!”
…?
Before I could even arrange my face into a warm smile, Maeng Hye-seung approached me and executed a 170-degree bow.
Wait, that’s not what I expected.
“Senior…you?”
I stood up awkwardly and looked at Maeng Hye-seung with confusion.
Then Maeng Hye-seung grinned and spoke.
“You debuted recently, didn’t you? Through music videos and commercials. I haven’t debuted yet, so I’ll learn a lot from you today!”
But Maeng Hye-seung was an actress who had been steadily working through YouTube content all along.
…Of course, in acting, the standard is TV debut.
‘It would be strange to nitpick about that here.’
I smiled awkwardly and bowed in return.
“I’ll learn a lot too. But wouldn’t calling me senior be a bit much? I can’t really claim to have had a proper debut either.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Maeng Hye-seung’s eyes showed contemplation at my words.
So I made my move first.
“Instead, I’d like to call you Hye-seung unnie!”
Maeng Hye-seung’s eyes widened.
“Wow! I’m getting a younger sister?! I’ve always wanted a younger sister…!”
From that moment on, Maeng Hye-seung talked incessantly.
So much so that Hong Jong-ho rubbed his eyes beside her as if slightly exhausted.
That was it. Maeng Hye-seung was an extrovert with a capital E.

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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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