In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 55

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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 55

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“I really felt like I’d become a police officer. I thought, ‘So this is how actors must feel.'”
Kim Ran let out a hollow laugh as she looked at Ha Eun-rae.
Ha Eun-rae glanced toward Park Seo-woo before turning her head and smiling bashfully.
“When Eun-rae was flying around, I suddenly got completely immersed!”
At Kim Ran’s words, Do Eun-hee picked up her beer can and spoke.
“That’s why the person giving the action is so important for actors. When one person really commits to the action, the other can truly receive it. Even during Purgatory, Eun-rae gave me such strong action.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Don’t you remember our first shooting scene?”
Do Eun-hee set down her beer can with a laugh.
Ha Eun-rae answered shyly at those words.
“I remember. It was really good.”
“I enjoyed it even more, though.”
Do Eun-hee said this while stretching back in her camping chair.
As she did, she recalled the filming from before the actress had been replaced.

“Hey, Eup. It’s been a while since Team 1 called me out because they couldn’t handle the deceased. Was it eighty years ago?”

Kang Sol, who had originally taken on the role of Yoon, was honestly quite skilled.
A charismatic and sensual detective.
She had deliberately chosen bright lenses to accentuate the mysterious quality, and when her tongue traced her lips, there was something undeniably provocative about it.
In short, her preparation was evident.
But at this level of acting—
‘There’s definitely no sense of being overwhelmed.’
In this scene, Yoon should dominate Eop, but that dominance felt somewhat lacking.
Though originally, Yoon was a character destined to be destroyed by Eop.
Thinking about it that way, having Eop win the power struggle in this scene wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, or so I had reasoned.
But ultimately, Kang Sol was replaced.
School violence, of all things.
While it’s true that actors’ pasts are easily unearthed in this world, Kang Sol’s was particularly egregious.
‘This is exhausting.’
No matter how talented a person is, that talent only functions on a foundation of basic morality.
There were plenty of actors who were difficult with their staff, but even they maintained some minimum standard of decency.
That baseline moral awareness.
Kang Sol simply didn’t have it.
‘Still, Kang Sol’s acting was good, but this newcomer we scrambled to find…’
Do Eun-hee harbored lingering doubts even after recommending Ha Eun-rae.

“Is this your first time with CG filming?”
“Yes.”

The building interior was entirely draped in green for the CG work.
For a novice actor, it was an environment that made immersion in the performance nearly impossible.

“Don’t be too nervous, but are you really going to do that stunt?”
“Yes. I received approval from the Director.”

Hmm….
Twos Gem.
Isn’t that a bit much?
Before filming began, Do Eun-hee felt a slight worry.
That Ha Eun-rae’s performance might overflow.
When enthusiasm gets excessive, tension creeps into the body.
But….
From the moment Eun-rae first appeared, something was different.
‘Yoon’ walking through the Building Corridor.
That figure truly seemed like ‘Yoon’.
What I mean is, I couldn’t see Ha Eun-rae acting at all.
When Kang Sol did it, I could see Kang Sol acting as ‘Yoon’.
I saw the typical expressions and movements of a villain, and her eyes seemed to say ‘I’m the villain.’
But Ha Eun-rae’s ‘Yoon’ wasn’t like that.

“Hey there, Eop noona.”

In that grinning face, there wasn’t even a hint of self-awareness as a villain.
Only the joy of an entity that had, across countless ages and countless souls, cast the dead into Hell without a shred of guilt.

“It’s been a while since Team 1 couldn’t handle the dead processing and had to call us in. Was it 80 years ago?”

A subtle detail—the nose wrinkling with mild annoyance.
Yet in those eyes, a faint glimmer of excitement.
That… isn’t human.
In that moment, the actress Do Eun-hee realized it.
And goosebumps erupted across her entire body.
She was shocked beyond measure, but Do Eun-hee was a professional.
She instinctively responded with new reactions to the altered immersion, the transformed counterpart’s action.
Yoon and Eop were no longer characters bickering with each other.
Do Eun-hee’s ‘Eop’ looked at Yoon with contempt.

“You haven’t changed, not 80 years ago, not now.”

Anger toward that creature, devoid of even a shred of pity for the dead, surged from the depths of my chest.
At the same time, my acting tone shifted.
My expression changed.
The air on the Film Set transformed completely.
The green chroma key background behind us was no longer visible.

“Cut! Okay!”

The moment the director called out his approval, Ha Eun-rae’s eyes transformed.

“Thank you for your hard work, senior.”

As Ha Eun-rae extended her hand to help Do Eun-hee up from the ground, Do Eun-hee felt something shift within her.
“Even with the same lines, some actors become entirely different people. Those actors have complete freedom in character interpretation. Honestly, my acting changed because of Eun-rae. I would have done so much better if I’d worked alongside Eun-rae from the beginning.”
This actress will absolutely become a star.
Not just any star—she’ll become a truly magnificent actress.
And the one who will discover her first will likely be Seo Eun-sul.
Seo Eun-sul.
The writer of Purgatory, someone whose every work achieved commercial success.
But this Purgatory was elevating Seo Eun-sul into the ranks of a global writer.
After all, it was even dominating the number one spot in English-language rankings.
Because of that, Season 2 was already confirmed—though still confidential—and Do Eun-hee was naturally set to return.
Yet the next actress Seo Eun-sul sought after Do Eun-hee was Ha Eun-rae.
Seo Eun-sul had said as much when they met at her studio.

“I’m going to really flesh out the Ryun character. The production company is pushing for it too. So here’s the thing—can you arrange a meeting with actress Ha Eun-rae?”
“To offer her Season 2?”
“That too, but honestly, I’ve already written a terrestrial drama.”
“My goodness. Then you should have shown me first.”
“Sorry about that. There’s just no room for a superstar like you in that one.”

At that cheeky remark, Do Eun-hee broke into a grin.
Besides, even if the offer had been genuine, her schedule was impossibly packed.

“So you’re thinking not just about Season 2, but her next project as well?”
“Yeah. It’s a small role, but I think it’ll be perfect once Eun-rae takes it on.”
“A small role….”

I’m not sure.
Do Eun-hee felt an odd sensation.
She had a feeling that wouldn’t be enough to catch Ha Eun-rae.
Well, this time too, she’d have to wait and see how Ha Eun-rae digested this unexpected fortune that had fallen into her lap.
Do Eun-hee watched Eun-rae sipping chamomile tea as she thought this.
“I’m looking forward to Purgatory Part 2. Your impact is no joke.”
“Really?”
Kim Ran showed an excited reaction to Do Eun-hee’s words.
Eun-rae smiled faintly at that.
“I won’t have much screen time. It’s a special appearance.”
“But they said Season 2 is coming out too. You’re not appearing in that?”
“Well…”
Ha Eun-rae knew the answer, but deflected with an awkward laugh.
She couldn’t spoil that Ryun originally dies in Part 2, and Ryun’s appearance in Season 2 was something that would be confirmed in the future.
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that our film does well.”
Do Eun-hee suddenly held out her beer glass.
It was a gesture to make a toast.
Then Kim Ran and Ha Eun-rae lifted their glasses.
They clinked glasses and each took a drink, and Do Eun-hee asked.
“Oh, but what are you going to do with the prize money, Eun-rae? You worked so hard.”
“Oh, that… Well… I should buy something delicious to eat.”
“Sounds like you’re going to have a very expensive meal.”
Ha Eun-rae made a subtle expression at Do Eun-hee’s words.
‘It is an expensive meal, though…’
Ha Eun-rae thought this and looked at the message on her phone.

[Then I’ll see you on Wednesday.]

It was a message from Seo Kyung-bin.
She had agreed to go to the School for the Visually Impaired on Wednesday.
Seo A-reum’s favorite food was pizza, she had said.
Just wait. I’m going to absolutely spoil you with pizza, you little brat.
Ha Eun-rae thought this and grinned widely.

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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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