In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 58

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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 58

“Just read through it once. The script is all finished, and it’s a Wednesday-Thursday drama on Terrestrial Broadcasting.”
A Wednesday-Thursday drama.
Sure, that time slot has lost some prestige lately, but it’s still the main slot the Channel pushes.
So Loving was a Wednesday-Thursday drama.
I hadn’t checked the air date because of the shock from the triple disaster.
“Ah, your character is Seol Da-yu, and you’d be the second female lead.”
My eyes widened.
“Isn’t it a bit disappointing being second female lead?”
“Not at all! I’m actually incredibly grateful!”
Disappointing, my foot.
Even supporting roles in Seo Eun-sul dramas have enough impact to draw fan meetings overseas.
And the second female lead? Most stars would be desperate for a chance like this.
The only problem is—
‘The female lead is Shin Jung-ui, who caused a three-car pileup while driving under the influence. That’s the problem.’
Unless both lead roles were recast, I wouldn’t be able to fully reap the benefits of this drama.
“Actually, this is off the record, but… I wanted to give you the lead role in our drama. It’s Ian, the character on the first page.”
“Oh… really?”
I stared quietly at the name “Ian.”
A drama lead.
A role I truly didn’t want to miss.
‘It’s also an opportunity to bury one of this drama’s scandals!’
But I wondered if I could even dare to aim for it—
Seo Eun-sul pushed for me?
“But the Producer said the Ian character absolutely needs to be played by someone who sings well. So we’re considering actors with strong vocal abilities.”
The moment I heard that, I understood.
Why Shin Jung-ui became the female lead.
Shin Jung-ui always showcased her singing skills whenever she appeared on variety shows.
You know those actors who appear on variety shows and when the MCs say ‘Just sing one verse for us~’, they act shy but then sing beautifully?
‘Loving is about the female lead becoming South Korea’s representative singer.’
I could easily understand why the Producer wanted Shin Jung-ui during the casting process.
“The casting hasn’t been confirmed yet?”
I asked Seo Eun-sul carefully. She nodded in response.
“Why? Want to try convincing the Producer?”
As if she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Actually, when I was writing this piece, the Producer said they’d choose the female lead, so I was in quite a bind myself.”
That was unexpected.
Honestly, someone of Seo Eun-sul’s caliber could ignore such promises and act on a whim without anyone daring to complain, yet she was honoring her commitment to the Producer.
‘She’s quite a decent person, isn’t she?’
There are plenty of people who treat others well when they’re struggling.
But there are almost none who treat others well after becoming a star.
That’s just how this industry works—
‘So Seo Eun-sul is different.’
It made sense now why Seo Eun-sul had such good fortune with her works and the people around her.
But the only exception to that good fortune was this very project, which was the problem.
“Would you like me to arrange a meeting with the Producer?”
“I’d be so grateful if you did. But I’m curious—why are you helping me this much….”
Actually, doesn’t Shin Jung-ui have more buzz than I do? My buzz is concentrated among women in their teens and twenties, after all.
“I don’t think I could’ve written Purgatory Season 2 without Ryun?”
“Pardon?”
“Well, it’s natural to want to do Season 2 when a work does well—from the director and actors’ perspective, anyway. But from a writer’s perspective, it’s different. I poured everything into creating an ending, and now I have to start over? That’s like asking a writer to enlist in the military twice.”
True. Someone like Seo Eun-sul could write something else in the time it takes to do Season 2.
“But the moment I saw Eun-rae’s portrayal of Ryun, my imagination for Season 2 just overflowed. Ha Eun-rae’s Ryun awakened my creative drive. Do actors understand that thrill? That’s why I really want to work with Ha Eun-rae on this project too.”
“Thank you.”
I don’t fully understand what a writer’s creative drive is, but I recognize high praise when I hear it.
It means I helped with the story creation for Purgatory Season 2.
However—
“But even so, I can’t flip my promise with the Producer on its head like a pancake. So Eun-rae, you’ll have to persuade them well. And… by the way… do you sing at all?”
At what came next, I could only laugh awkwardly.
Sing?
I’d never heard anyone say I was particularly good at it.
But I couldn’t say that—
“I’ll do my very best!”
I answered exactly as I had before.
Seo Eun-sul looked at my determined expression as if it were endearing and said,
“Good. I’m looking forward to it. Oh, and let’s look forward to our Purgatory Part 2 as well?”
“Ah… yes.”
Right, Purgatory Part 2.
That exists.
It releases next week.

* * *

A few days later, at the School for the Visually Impaired.
“From the 6 o’clock position to 9 o’clock is potato bacon pizza, 9 to 12 o’clock is quattro cheese pizza, 12 to 3 o’clock is basil pizza, and 3 to 6 o’clock was Hawaiian pizza.”
I sat in the cafeteria, where the aroma of pizza drifted through the air.
With Seo A-reum.
As I explained the location and types of food, Seo A-reum furrowed her brow.
“What do you mean ‘was Hawaiian pizza’?”
Seo A-reum asked this while reaching her hand toward the 3 to 6 o’clock direction.
But there was nothing there.
“Someone at another table took it.”
“Ugh.”
At Seo A-reum’s words, I furrowed my brow.
“Why would anyone eat baked pineapple anyway?”
“Wow, respect people’s tastes, please.”
“…Fine.”
I said this while quietly glancing at the next table.
“Should I sneak one from over there?”
“Isn’t this all something you brought, teacher? Do I really need to sneak it?”
“I brought it, but the moment I set it down here, it’s yours.”
At my words, Seo A-reum’s expression became complicated.
Seo A-reum brought her hand toward the basil pizza and carefully picked up a slice.
It looked a bit precarious as another pizza started to come along with it, but I held back from helping.
My role was to watch and let her do things on her own.
Soon, Seo A-reum returned with the basil pizza and spoke with her mouth full.
“You’re really a strange person, teacher.”
“What do you mean?”
“They said you’re a famous actress, right? But here you are with free time, treating us to pizza?”
“You’re only just finding out I’m a famous actress?”
Though to be honest, I’m not exactly famous.
“Yes. I followed you on SNS.”
“SNS?”
Can someone who is visually impaired use SNS?
“How can someone who is visually impaired use SNS?”
“You… can you read minds too?”
That’s scary, really.
“Our phones read everything to us. When I just touch a button, it tells me what’s written on it.”
“Ah…”
I closed my mouth at those words, then carefully lifted my gaze. There was a part of me that felt a bit guilty.
“Actually, I took on a role as someone who is visually impaired this time. So I came here wondering if there might be something helpful. Here.”
“…”
Seo A-reum didn’t answer. Instead, she quietly chewed her basil pizza.
Are you angry?
But I couldn’t help revealing the truth. It was news Seo A-reum would eventually learn anyway.
“Well….”
“It’s Hawaiian pizza. I’ll steal one. I really can’t help it.”
“Huh? Um… Um….”
As I said this, I quietly snatched a Hawaiian pizza from the neighboring table.
Then Seo A-reum took a bite of the Hawaiian pizza and spoke.
“Okay. Forgiven.”
“…Huh?”
“There are lots of people who come to volunteer at our school with some hidden agenda, like you. There are politicians trying to look good, and lots of short-term volunteers just trying to rack up volunteer hours. Usually, you can tell with those people. The annoyed vibe, the way they gawk at us.”
“Gawk?”
I furrowed my brow.
“Non-disabled people think of people with disabilities as if we’re terribly pitiful. Like it’s something completely unrelated to their own lives. So they come to see how miserable disabled people are, and they enjoy it, you know?”
I understood the psychology behind it.
There are more people than you’d think who use others’ misfortune as their own comfort.
But you can’t let that show.
We’re human, but we’re not beasts.
“Damn it.”
Before I knew it, I’d cursed, and Seo A-reum giggled.
“Why are you angry, teacher?”
Ah. I’m really no different from those people who came here to “gawk” at the children.
I had nothing to say, so I closed my mouth.
Then Seo A-reum spoke.
“That’s why the opposite is also noticeable. No matter what the intention is, when someone comes here and tries to understand us and treats us as equals, it’s different. And that’s you, teacher.”
“…!”
“When the movie comes out later, watch it with me, okay?”
Watch it together?
I’m not sure what she means, but there’s definitely a way to make it work.
“Sure, let’s watch it together. The one I filmed with Kyung-bin this time too.”
I answered with a smirk.
“But no matter how much I think about it, pineapple pizza is still a bit much, don’t you think…?”
“Ah, teacher!”
I chuckled and munched on the potato bacon pizza.

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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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