In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 67

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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 67

【Am I allowed to keep living?】

As if that question had been the catalyst, Soo-in let out a sob, her voice breaking.

【Hic… hic…】

The sensation of being alive.
As if experiencing it for the first time in ages, Soo-in gazed beyond the window.
Watching the warm sunlight and the chirping birds, she closed her eyes.
With tears spilling forth, an indescribable emotion crossed her face.
For the first time since that accident, she was awakening to the world as a living, breathing human being.
That was when it began.
“Hic…”
“Hic…”
The audience began to weep alongside her.

【Mom, I’ll do it.】

After that counseling session, Soo-in began outpatient treatment and returned home.

【It’s fine. I’ll handle it.】
【Mom… don’t cry. Mom…】
【Because of me, you’re suffering like this, and now there’s even someone trying to exploit you…】
【…】
【Dad told me everything—that man was trying to throw you out of your own house.】
【Yeah… but Mom.】
【What?】
【… Never mind. It’s nothing.】

Soo-in’s mother, unwilling to acknowledge her daughter’s mental illness, carried herself like a criminal, as if she alone had caused her daughter’s condition to worsen. Soo-in, in turn, felt sorry for her mother and diligently took her medication.
Though it was difficult to even make a proper trip to the Convenience Store in front of the house, Soo-in still prepared her meals faithfully—

“So just eat. Let’s… live like human beings.”

At least once a day, she made sure to wash her hair—

“Ugh… filthy grime. How long has it been since you last washed?”
“Honey… we’re ghosts. There’s no need to—”
“Quiet. You’re getting shampoo in your mouth.”

She slept a solid eight hours every night without fail.

“Sleep on the Bed now, not the floor.”

As she tossed and turned on the Bed, Soo-in’s thoughts suddenly drifted to Hyun-woo.
Hyun-woo, who had deceived her.
Hyun-woo, who had tried to use her.
Hyun-woo, who had been paid off by the landlord.
The police had investigated, but found no evidence of what he’d actually exploited, so he was released… Hyun-woo.
Hyun-woo hadn’t actually used her for anything.
He hadn’t stolen money or touched any of the household belongings.
Then what… what had he wanted to do?
Suddenly remembering the moment when their lips had touched, Soo-in jolted upright on the Bed.
Her flushed face turned toward the window she’d opened, and she breathed out slowly like releasing steam, her gaze fixed on the distant glimmering Convenience Store sign in the darkness.
She had never once ventured that far.
Due to severe depression, anxiety, and social phobia, she had never stepped beyond the Front Gate.

“The fact that I could be there for every moment… that you left that place for me… I was so… grateful.”

Hyun-woo’s voice echoed in her ears.
Drawn to that strangely comforting voice, she caught her reflection in the mirror.
She pulled a hat down over her head.
With a mask covering her face as well, she made her way down to the First Floor where her parents were watching television.
Her father, who had been eating an apple, lifted his head.

“Daughter, why?”
“Um…”

Soo-in blinked her round eyes as she answered.

“I’m going to buy some cider.”
“What?”
“I’m going to buy cider… I’ll be right back.”

Her parents, witnessing the solemn determination in her eyes, let their forks clatter to the table.
As Soo-in opens the front gate, Eun-rae’s hand is captured in slow motion.
With each step she takes, urgent music swells—the kind that accompanies a marathon runner sprinting toward the finish line.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Footsteps like a heartbeat draw closer to the convenience store lights gleaming in the distance, luminous as Gatsby’s beacon.
She stops and removes her mask.
Then she looks up.

[GK 24]

…A convenience store.
The first one she’s visited since being discharged from the hospital.
She hesitates for a long moment, then squeezes her eyes shut and pushes open the door.
Bright fluorescent light floods in, revealing countless products and tables.
A male employee tidying a table looks up and greets her.

“Welcome…”

Her eyes widen.
His eyes widen simultaneously.
But soon, both their faces break into faint smiles.
The man laughs, observing Soo-in drenched in sweat.

“Welcome.”

At his words, Soo-in removes her hoodie and cap.
She brushes back her damp hair and smiles weakly.

“Hello… there.”

From her lips comes her first greeting to Hyun-woo—not to her dead lover, but to him.

* * *

After the film ended.
All of Eun-rae’s fans sitting in the movie theater had turned to stone in their seats.
It wasn’t simply because they were waiting for the guest visit!
They all shared the same thought.
‘Insane. This was so entertaining!’
All three of them had shed buckets of tears, their eyes now red and swollen.
“Tissues… would you like more?”
At Eun Goo-reum’s words—the only one who had brought tissues—Dok-sa nodded.
And as she did, she thought to herself.
‘If this gets a screening in Seoul, I’m absolutely watching it multiple times!’

* * *

“The guest visit will begin shortly. Please prepare yourselves.”
At those words, the “Cohabitation with a Ghost” team in the waiting room slowly rose from their seats.
I stood up as well and quickly checked my makeup and outfit before heading to the guest visit.
I felt both excited and nervous.
The guest visit starting meant the audience had finished watching “Cohabitation with a Ghost”—my first film.
‘What will people say?’
Half afraid and half trembling at such thoughts, that’s when it happened.
“We’re departing now.”
Along with the staff’s voice, something appeared before my eyes.

[Updating “Cohabitation with a Ghost” Wiki…]

“…?”

[Audience Count: 200,000]
->
[Audience Count: 2,000,000]

…???

[Congratulations! You have achieved ‘First Film Surpasses 2 Million Viewers’ and obtained ‘Wiki Editing Rights’!]
[Would you like to use ‘Wiki Editing Rights’?]

Wiki editing rights? What’s that?
No, that’s not the important part….
‘If an independent film hits two hundred thousand viewers, that’s practically surpassing ten million for a commercial release!’
How many viewers did this film originally have?
Was it even distributed in the first place?
I was momentarily overwhelmed by the figure of two hundred thousand before regaining my composure.
‘That’s not the issue right now.’
“Eun-rae….”
I laughed awkwardly as I watched Seo Kyung-bin trembling visibly.
“Are you alright?”
Here he was, shaking like a leaf, yet worrying about me!
It was truly humiliating!
“…I suppose I’m not alright?”
I had no confidence.
Ugh.
After botching the Red Carpet once, my confidence had plummeted to rock bottom.
“I, I’ll… take the lead for you! Any difficult questions, just toss them my way.”
No way. There’s no way I’d accept help from Seo Kyung-bin.
But my answer came out differently than my heart intended.
“Yes….”

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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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