Translator: Nox

25 - The Second is Proficient

“What did you just say?”

Se-ah felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up at the mention of Geon-ha.

Considering the harm Ji-man had caused Geon-ha in her past life, she couldn't just let it pass. It was fortunate that there was no one in the lobby.

“I know Do Geon-ha came to see you at the end of your radio show.”

How does he know that? The moment she suspected that, she remembered that the day Geon-ha came to see her was the same day Ji-man came. What if Ji-man had come to the radio station first?

“So?”

But she hadn't been close to Geon-ha that day, nor had she laughed and talked with him.

She had deliberately kept her distance because she didn't want to be photographed. With a scandal already brewing, it would be troublesome if Ji-man's whims led to another one. If it became ingrained in people's minds, her image would definitely be tarnished.

“He came uninvited just like I did. I just noticed that your reaction to him was different from your reaction to me.”

“Of course, it’s different.”

If she hesitated even for a moment, it would give him room to doubt. Se-ah reacted quickly and crossed her arms. She acted as if she couldn't understand why it wouldn't be different.

“Why is it different?”

“I can't treat a senior actor the same way I treat you.”

A slight wrinkle appeared on Ji-man's forehead. It was a habit he had when things didn't go as he expected. She hated herself for knowing that.

“Just that?”

“What else should there be?”

She shrugged as if she didn't know and made it clear.

“I'm not interested in dating or love. I don't want to know men, and I'm not going to get married.”

She didn't avoid Ji-man's disapproving gaze.

“I hope I don't have to see you again.”

Please. Ji-man's face flashed with anger at her fed-up look, but she didn't care. It was actually a good thing if she moved past liking and curiosity to anger. If there were no scandals with other men and she continued to reject him, he would soon lose interest. Even if her father's business deal might fall through.

Se-ah didn't look back and got straight into Ye-won's car.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I'm okay.”

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have offered to bring the car.”

“It's not your fault, Unnie.”

That guy would have come and done whatever he wanted, no matter who was around. But she couldn't tell Ye-won that, so she just smiled. She had no answer if she were asked how she knew him so well.

Instead, she told her that Ji-man had come to her house after his schedule ended last time.

“That's quite the dedication. Really…”

Ye-won, having heard the whole story, clicked her tongue, seemingly stunned by Ji-man's incredible persistence.

“Let's go. I'll take you safely inside.”

Ye-won clenched her fist and affirmed her determination, saying that safety was the priority for her celebrity actress. Se-ah's tense heart seemed to relax at Ye-won's resolute attitude. Se-ah's lips softened comfortably.

\\

Se-ah took a bath with bath salts for the first time in a while.

“I've been busy, in my own way.”

Sometimes she couldn't believe she had regressed. Living each day in reality, it was hard to believe that she had been married and had completely given up on her dream of acting.

She could watch dramas and movies to her heart's content and study acting without having to worry about her mother-in-law and husband. And she could immerse herself in roles without restrictions, dedicating herself to them and acting to her heart's content.

As a result, she was able to fully live as Seo Ji-an in Elite High School Romance Records.

“I think I understand a little.”

She thought of her father's words that her mother couldn't distinguish between acting and reality. And her father's worried face.

She felt sorry, but her father wasn't worried about her.

She could only feel sorry that she only saw concern for money in her father's eyes. Thanks to her experiences in her past life, she knew a little more about her father's true colors.

“I should look for a house first.”

Se-ah dried her hair and opened her laptop. As long as she lived in this house, it would be difficult to completely escape her father's shadow. She was just thinking that she should look at some listings, even if it was just a monthly rental or a rooftop room.

“……”

The pouch and document envelope that caught her eye were from her father's study in the main house. Wouldn't it be safer to leave those with Secretary Song? As she thought about it, she opened the pouch, took out the USB, and plugged it into her laptop.

She had opened it in the past, but she thought it would be good to check it again, just in case.

Fortunately, all the evidence was there, just like in the past.

“A diary?”

Except for one thing.

No, should she say one thing had been added? She wondered if there had been such a file in the past. Or maybe she had dismissed it as nothing.

Click, click.

She slowly opened each one. It was her father's diary.

The most recent one was after her mother passed away. Se-ah's fingertips began to tremble slightly as she read each entry. It was her father's most honest inner thoughts, which he had never shared with anyone.

“Oh my god.”

As her father had said, her mother's death was not an accident. She had taken her own life, and she had even written a suicide note. Even under the name of her character.

“She was playing a role with depression.”

She became immersed in the character and couldn't distinguish between reality and acting. Her father couldn't allow the disgrace of suicide to be attached to his company. He believed that his mother's suicide would damage his and the company's image.

He poured a lot of money into covering up the fact and manipulated the information. He bought off all the witnesses and used money to prevent the reporters from getting a whiff of it.

Her father's diary always ended with, “It's a waste of money.” Sometimes it was mixed with complaints about how he wouldn't have any income from her mother in the future, so how would he raise his daughter?

In addition, he also said that if his daughter was to be of any use, it would be good if she could be used for a political marriage later.

“……”

The little guilt she had left completely disappeared because of this diary.

Even though she had conspired with Ji-man to embezzle funds, she was using her father's corruption as Ji-man's weakness. She was even at the point where she was resolving any lingering hesitation about whether she should do that as a daughter.

“I've been living without knowing all this time.”

After regressing, she thought she knew her father quite well. But looking at this diary, it seemed like it was just the tip of the iceberg.

She sighed deeply and rubbed her face with her hands in a complicated mood.

“Let's look for a house first.”

She wanted to move out right away if there was a house available. But she was so upset that she couldn't concentrate properly. She came out to the living room for a moment to catch her breath, and the script on the coffee table caught her eye.

She had been so distracted by running into Ji-man that she hadn't thought of it.

“Woo Ji-hye is the writer…”

Se-ah's eyes sparkled as she looked at the script titled Always on My Side. It was a daily evening drama that she had enjoyed very much, but unlike the writer's name value, the viewership ratings were low.

“I heard she got a lead role?”

She sat on the sofa and immediately opened the script. This drama was also famous for its last-minute scripts.

The script would come out in the early morning, be filmed in the morning, edited in the afternoon, and broadcast in the evening.

As a result, the quality was very low, and the acting of the second and third of the three Oh sisters, who could be said to be the main characters, did not meet the public's expectations.

Always on My Side began when the father, Oh Dae-han, ran a rice cake shop with his wife and raised three daughters before collapsing. Dae-han's younger brother, So-han, had no ability but got his girlfriend pregnant and lived in Dae-han's house.

After the father, Dae-han, collapsed, the eldest daughter, the main character, got a job at a large company through hard work and bought a decent house. It was the story of the eldest daughter of a large family who had to take responsibility for her uncle and his wife.

It was about a pretty, witty, smart, and charming woman who ended up with the son of the chairman of the large company where she worked.

“I'm more drawn to the youngest daughter than the eldest.”

The youngest was the apple of Oh Dae-han's parents' eye. The youngest daughter, who they couldn't take care of properly because they were busy with their daily lives and struggling with poverty. She was a character who lost her sight in an accident while alone at home.

She wanted to play this role.

This drama was the first thing that came to mind after learning about Dan's music video concept.

The heartbreaking and desperate emotions of a girl on the border between a girl and a woman who had lost her sight. It was a role with many shortcomings, and it was also the role that Se-ah had researched the most.

“I really wanted to do it.”

How would I have acted if I were her? It was a role that she had asked herself this question countless times. But the casting offer was for the eldest, not the third.

As she read the script again, she conveyed her opinion to Ye-won that she wanted to play the third daughter in Woo Ji-hye's work. Ye-won replied that she would ask Secretary Song for his opinion as well.

It seemed to be because of the difference between the lead role and the supporting role, even if it was a lead-level role. It seemed difficult to get an answer right away. Se-ah checked the time until her early morning radio schedule and decided to immerse herself in the script again.

\\

A few days ago, after informing Secretary Song of her casting in Director Kim Seong-cheol's Hide and confirming her appearance, she decided to have a preliminary meeting through Ye-won. That was today.

It was Director Kim Seong-cheol's opinion that he wanted to meet the actors who had been cast and get to know them a little better. She liked the scenario very much, so she was also very interested in the actors who would be appearing with her. Se-ah checked her neat and casual attire and entered the restaurant.

“Oh, Se-ah! We're sitting over there.”

Director Kim, who had appeared from behind as if he had gone to the bathroom, called her happily and pointed to the window with his finger.

“It's been a while. How have you been?”

“I'm fine. How about you, Director? You must be working hard editing the drama.”

Se-ah said that she was monitoring it regularly and asked how he was doing. Elite High School Romance Records, which was being streamed on the website, was soon scheduled to be broadcast on public television with regular programming. Because of that, it had to be edited one more time, so Director Kim would be very busy.

“Thank you for asking. Thanks to you, I'm enjoying the editing process.”

Director Kim Seong-cheol said cheerfully and led her to her seat. He joked that he was happy to work all night editing because the actors were doing such a good job.

“Okay. Teacher Cheon hasn't arrived yet, so you two can say hello first.”

Director Kim introduced the man who was already sitting there, saying that they might know each other.

“Our lead role, code name Jin.”

When she pushed open the translucent glass door of the private room by the window, she saw a familiar face. She hadn't expected to see him here, so her eyes widened.

“We meet again, Se-ah.”

“Oh… Hello, Senior.”

Do Geon-ha had definitely played the role of L17 in the past. So she thought he wouldn't be in Hide.

Se-ah blinked in embarrassment.