In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 85

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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 85

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A week prior.
A meeting with Lee Seop-jae, the PD.
I sat at a meat restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, observing the countless cameras positioned before me.
Given the nature of observational variety shows, the entertainment begins from the meeting itself.
This footage will be edited and included in the actual broadcast.
“….”
I felt somewhat nervous.
Perhaps variety shows truly weren’t my forte.
Yet no other program at present could elevate my market value quite like Lee Seop-jae’s variety show.
‘Fundamentally, I lack recognition among middle-aged and older audiences.’
It was inevitable, given my focus on OTT dramas, YouTube films, and independent films.
However, to participate in more diverse projects, I needed recognition spanning all age groups.
Which meant I absolutely had to secure this variety show—
“I heard you worked as an attendant at a meat restaurant?”
“Ah, yes.”
I nodded at Lee Seop-jae’s remark.
Then I quickly reached for the tongs.
“Let me grill this for you.”
“…Yes? No, that’s not what I meant….”
“Kekeke…!”
The main writer beside Lee Seop-jae giggled with amusement.
“Wow, it’s exactly like the vibe from that music video behind-the-scenes. The person?”
“Yes? Which part?”
I tilted my head curiously while placing the marinated short ribs over the flame.
What did they mean?
“Well, you’re so sincere and….”

Sizzle!

Even so, I flipped the marinated short ribs quickly.
“The marinade burns easily. That’s why you have to flip them fast.”
“Ah… Yes.”
I heard the writers laughing, but I kept my focus on the meat.
I had to show that I was good at something, didn’t I?
I wasn’t an entertaining person, after all!
One of the writers asked me.
“I really enjoyed your singing at the Celebrity Karaoke Competition. When did you become such a good singer?”

Sizzle!

I flipped the marinated short ribs again and looked at the writer.
“Well… I… just practiced a lot….”
“No, no. Cook, cook.”
“Pardon? No, that’s not it.”
Even as I said this, I couldn’t take my eyes off the marinated short ribs.
The marinade coating on the surface cooked quickly, and if you weren’t careful, it could burn or the inside wouldn’t cook through.
So the key was cooking it until the inside was moist and tender.
“Have you always been the type to work hard at everything?”
“I’ve been busy making a living since way back.”
“Oh….”
That’s when the writers let out small exclamations of admiration.
Lee Seop-jae, the PD, spoke up.
“Originally we had planned to invite singer Dam Ro-yeon and Jung Min-hyun as the first guests together, but Dam Ro-yeon canceled. There will be a time for singing at the Cafe anyway—is that okay?”
“Singing? Ah, yes, yes!”
To be honest, I wasn’t really listening to what he was saying.
All I could think was, ‘Marinated short ribs, cook well.’
After I finished grilling all the meat and cut it nicely onto each person’s plate, that’s when he spoke.
“But Eun-rae, we’re going to France this time. So I was wondering if you could somehow… do French? We could get by with English to some extent, but I heard French people don’t like it when you speak English.”
“Ah… French?”
I blinked and shook my head.
No, Eun-rae.
In moments like this, you need confidence.
“I’ll give it my best shot!”
“Ha ha, then….”
The PD carefully extended his hand.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I grasped his hand while opening my eyes wide.
Did I pass?
How?

* * *

And so, one week later.
Park Yoon-bae, Jung Ji-hwan, Jung Min-hyun, and Ha Eun-rae arrived at a French Rural Village with a view of the Alps Mountains.
“Wow, the scenery here is absolutely stunning.”
At Park Yoon-bae’s remark, Jung Min-hyun set down the guitar he’d been holding onto the terrace of the Accommodation and spoke.
“Really. It’s so beautiful.”
“Min-hyun, why don’t you try composing some songs in a place like this?”
“That would be amazing.”
Jung Ji-hwan, who had been carrying Ha Eun-rae’s trunk from behind, spoke up.
“Oh. So after we finish filming, we’ll listen to Min-hyun’s guitar at night?”
“Haha, maybe we will?”
Jung Min-hyun grinned and nodded.
His tone carried a hint of modesty, but his eyes gleamed with confidence.
After all, he was the man who once dominated the music industry with nothing but a guitar.
Or rather, you could say he’d been waiting for this.
Jung Min-hyun had come here to promote the album of Dam Ro-yeon, whom he produced.
The only problem was that Dam Ro-yeon couldn’t make it due to scheduling conflicts, leaving his role somewhat adrift.
Jung Min-hyun glanced at Ha Eun-rae and spoke.
“Miss Ha.”
“Oh, yes. Senior, you don’t need to be so formal.”
Ha Eun-rae, flustered at seeing Jung Ji-hwan carry her luggage, quickly responded.
Her nervous demeanor was quite endearing.
‘I think I’m starting to understand why Eun-rae is such a hot topic.’
She possessed a subtle charm that drew people’s affection without any deliberate effort.
“Why not? You sing well too, Eun-rae. How about you perform a few songs for us? I only have a guitar for accompaniment, though.”
Indeed, Ha Eun-rae’s vocal tone was exceptional, so she could easily produce memorable moments in a variety show like this.
‘If I compose songs with rhythm that isn’t too difficult, it should work out fine.’
“Me? Well….”
Ha Eun-rae pretended to think for a moment.
But she knew well enough.
‘They brought me here specifically for this.’
And besides—
“Yes, I’ll give it a try. But Senior, if you don’t mind….”
“Yes?”
“Could I learn guitar from you when I have free time?”
“Oh, of course. I have another guitar.”
Perfect.
In Loving, the character I played evolved from a folk-pop singer who played guitar to a top-tier solo artist, so I’d been wanting to learn guitar anyway.
And yet, of all people, Jung Min-hyun was going to teach her guitar.
‘I’ve hit the jackpot.’
“Wow, thank you so much!”
With those words, Eun-rae practically snatched the suitcase from Jung Ji-hwan and scurried toward her room.
As Jung Ji-hwan stood there bewildered, the writers chuckled and spoke up.
“That’s just how she is.”
“Hahahaha.”
Jung Ji-hwan, Park Yoon-bae, and Jung Min-hyun laughed.
Then Park Yoon-bae turned to the production crew with a worried expression.
“But… won’t the actress find it difficult being in a place like this? The room is cramped, and the cafe work won’t be easy either… And doing her makeup and hair styling will be hard.”
Park Yoon-bae was a veteran middle-aged actor.
So he knew this industry well.
He understood how harsh people could be toward actresses, and how that harshness created deeper insecurities in actresses than in male actors.
As a result, actresses had no choice but to obsess over every detail of their appearance.
‘She won’t be able to do any of that preparation here.’
Especially since this was physical variety work where makeup would easily smudge and run.
Of course, an actor with some experience could coordinate smoothly with the production crew and manage her appearance well, but Eun-rae was a complete newcomer.
For her to film overseas alone without staff support would be quite challenging.
And besides, everyone here was meeting Eun-rae for the first time.
“I wonder if she’ll adapt well…”
At Park Yoon-bae’s murmur, PD Lee Seop-jae’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“She’ll do great. Or maybe even better than you, senior.”
“Huh?”
As Park Yoon-bae furrowed his brow, PD Lee Seop-jae answered with a smile.
“The marinated short ribs were incredibly delicious.”

And the next day.
Once service began, Park Yoon-bae immediately understood what PD Lee Seop-jae had meant.
While everyone was busy, one customer’s order was running late.
Eun-rae approached the table with a warm smile.
Then she cut a small sample of the “Kimchi Cheese Focaccia” they were planning to launch tomorrow and offered it, saying:
[“Would you mind trying this and telling me what you think of the taste? This is called kimchi—it’s like Korean pickled cabbage.”]
Eun-rae spoke in fluent English mixed with somewhat clumsy French, her face nearly bare of makeup.
Yet despite that—
‘She glows.’
Thus began the birth of the light and salt of 【Cafe for the First Time】, the all-purpose server Eun-rae.

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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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