In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 74

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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 74

“Today’s star is you, Director. You’re going to win an award.”
Ha Eun-rae looked at Je-gal Se-yeon as though it were obvious.
“What are you talking about… No, that doesn’t make sense.”
Ha Eun-rae shrugged her shoulders with a smile at those words.
Yet for some reason, Ha Eun-rae’s words felt like they might be true… an odd sensation washed over her.
She was brimming with such conviction.
Je-gal Se-yeon unconsciously fingered the acceptance speech note she had tucked away in her slacks.
“Director.”
“Hmm?”
“If you win, the production company will be flooded with calls, and if you make a film, you absolutely have to cast me, right?”
At Ha Eun-rae’s words, Je-gal Se-yeon let out a hollow laugh.
“Then I’d be the one coming to beg you, wouldn’t I? Pleading with you to take the role?”
Ha Eun-rae fixed Je-gal Se-yeon with a steady gaze.
“It’ll be the other way around.”
Hearing Ha Eun-rae’s enigmatic voice, Je-gal Se-yeon felt the fine hairs on her entire body stand on end.
She’d always thought her voice was beautiful, but—
‘Right now it’s like a siren’s song
(a sea nymph whose beautiful melody enchants sailors to their doom)
.’
Ha Eun-rae spoke with the certainty of one issuing a decree, affirming Je-gal Se-yeon’s success.
Her voice carried an enigmatic charm that drew people in.
And that voice gave Je-gal Se-yeon strength.
Then it happened.
“And the glorious winner of this year’s New Currents Award is…!”
The presenter opened the envelope and announced powerfully.
“Cohabitation with a Ghost! Congratulations, Director Je-gal Se-yeon!”
At those words, Je-gal Se-yeon’s heart pounded violently.
Ha Eun-rae, Seo Kyung-bin, and Lim Se-gu all stood up and applauded simultaneously.
Je-gal Se-yeon climbed onto the awards stage on trembling legs.
Her hands shook uncontrollably as she received the bouquet and the award.
She stood before the microphone without even thinking to retrieve the note from her slacks.
How on earth did actors manage to act under such blinding lights?
Je-gal Se-yeon’s mind went completely blank before the overwhelming glare.
That was when it happened.
Someone entered my narrowing field of vision.
Ha Eun-rae, Seo Kyung-bin, and Lim Se-gu—applauding her with the same expressions as before.
The moment I saw them, something hot surged up from deep within my chest.
Ha Eun-rae, lying on the floor acting with jjamppong broth splattered on her.
Seo Kyung-bin, struggling through emotional scenes on a chaotic film set.
Lim Se-gu, falling asleep beside me during editing.
She opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
“I’ve learned that films aren’t made alone…”
Je-gal Se-yeon gazed at her team with tears glistening in her eyes.
“When I was writing the screenplay and storyboarding alone, I didn’t understand what that meant. But after meeting such talented staff and wonderful actors, I finally understood. I’m so grateful to everyone who worked so hard. You all gave your best despite the difficult circumstances.”
Her eyes fell especially on Ha Eun-rae.
The actress who had forced her to completely revise a screenplay that was two percent—no, twenty percent—lacking.
The greatest contributor to standing on this stage.
“Without Ha Eun-rae, this film wouldn’t have even dreamed of a festival invitation, let alone a theatrical release. She filled in the gaps my screenplay couldn’t reach. I love you, Ha Eun-rae.”
Je-gal Se-yeon couldn’t contain her signature humor and cried out.
“Milky Ha Eun-rae! Let’s work together on the next project too! I love you, let’s do this for a long, long time, us!”
Laughter erupted among the attendees.
A face crying and laughing at once.
Watching that face full of emotion, Ha Eun-rae laughed along with her.
I already knew it, but—

[【Cohabitation with a Ghost】 Wiki being updated….]

【Cohabitation with a Ghost】
Awards: Busan International Film Festival New Currents Award

The sense of fulfillment didn’t diminish one bit.

[‘Search Right’ x1 has arrived!]

I’d even become wealthy in Search Rights.
Ha Eun-rae shouted loudly without caring that the camera was capturing her.
“I love you too! Milky Je-gal Se-yeon!”
Really. Truly. Let’s work together. Je-gal Se-yeon.
In this life, let’s ride the bus of the comedy king together.

* * *

After the spectacular festival concluded, I returned to Seoul.
It took forever just organizing all the luggage crammed into the van.
“This is absolutely relentless.”
“What is?”
“I just came up from Busan yesterday, and now there’s another schedule right away….”
“You were told to rest this week.”
“That’s not going to work!”
I was at a vocal practice room in Cheongdam-dong with Hong Jong-ho.
On my way up from Busan to Seoul, I received an offer through my agency for a singing variety show on BeepTV.

– Will you be okay with this?

I answered Heo Representative’s concerned question with confidence.

“I’ll give it a try.”

I deliberately omitted the word “well.”
I needed to keep expectations low.
With that thought, I asked Heo Representative to arrange vocal lessons for me.

“S&C said they were fine with it. Please register me there.”

And she specifically pointed out the Academy.
And that Academy was none other than….
“I heard you learn from the very basics. My rate is a bit steep for teaching beginners.”
Sung Chae-kyung.
She was merely a vocal trainer now, but she would later become a famous singer who ran her own Academy.
Eventually, she’d gather a million subscribers on her own YouTube channel.
Compared to Sung Chae-kyung’s value back then, her current rate?
Pocket change.
She seemed a bit arrogant, but—
“…Still, I’ll make sure you get your money’s worth.”
She had the skill to back it up.
Sung Chae-kyung’s precision coaching had even saved several trainees on idol survival shows.
I smiled at her sharp gaze, as if she were about to draw a blade.
“…?”
She looked flustered, as if she’d expected me to tremble.
“Sounds good. I’m ready to work hard, teacher!”
Seeing my eyes light up, Hong Jong-ho, who was preparing to film in the corner of the Practice Room, shook his head.
By the way, Hong Jong-ho had agreed to film my vocal practice.

“Oppa, while you’re here, could you film me?”
“Why?”
“So I can check how much I’ve improved later.”
“How much can singing improve in such a short time?”

I will improve.
Definitely.
Because—
‘The Wiki doesn’t lie.’
I grinned and began vocal training.
And from the very first phrase—
“…Your tone and technique are quite good….”
“Yes.”
“…But you have absolutely no ear for music?”
I heard a bone-crushing assessment.
As expected.
‘A specialist in vocal destruction,’ indeed.
It hurts.

* * *

Over the two weeks of vocal training with Ha Eun-rae, Sung Chae-kyung couldn’t hide her astonishment.
There were two reasons for it, and one was—
‘She’s pushing this hard?’
She claimed to be an actress, yet this schedule made no sense.
Ha Eun-rae received vocal training every single day.
Not once did she miss a session.
Throughout her career training idol trainees, aspiring singers, and even active performers, Sung Chae-kyung had never encountered anything like this.
She was always the one pushing her students, never the other way around!

“Teacher, I really couldn’t make time this week because of practice at the company. They had us doing dance drills….”
“Excuses.”

That’s how she’d earned the nickname ‘The Bone-Picker’—a specialist in dissecting flaws.
She possessed a talent for excavating every weakness in pitch, rhythm, and emotion.
In the practice room, she moved like a deity who could see through everything.

“You didn’t practice this section, did you?”
“Ah, yes….”

“Your basic vocal technique is nonexistent, so you’re trying to hide it by scratching your throat to sound good? Do you know what that’s called?”
“I, I don’t know.”
“Cheap technique.”

More than one trainee had left the vocal training sessions in tears.
Even among established singers, there were those who couldn’t endure her training and quit.

“You know your throat management is completely shot, right? Keep using your voice like that and you won’t last more than three years as a singer.”
“That’s it, I’m done! Manager!”

But Ha Eun-rae was the complete opposite.
…The situation had reversed itself, so to speak.

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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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