Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Geum Yuna
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The reading session wrapped up successfully.
Almost too successfully.
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A wave of burdensome attention came pouring my way.
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"Great work. Actress Jeong Gyeowol. We have high expectations."
"Thank you!"
"Man, these days' rookies act so well. Starting to feel like there's no room left for us."
"No way, I've learned so much from watching you seniors. I'll keep learning from you all."
"Haha, that's a relief then."
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Not just the mid-tier actors who'd been eyeing me with annoyance.
Even the production staff came over.
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"Unnie! You're so pretty!"
"...Unnie?"
"Pretty girls are all unnies. So call me unnie."
"...?"
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If it'd been a twenty-something staffer saying that, I'd shrug it off.
But the screenwriter... you're over forty.
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Anyway, everything I touched was going smoothly, which only made me anxious.
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It felt like all this luck would suddenly crash down on me in one big wave of misfortune.
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Still, I pushed down the unease, telling myself that Jeong Gyeowol's fortunes as a woman were just that good.
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Yoon Jong-pil PD was making the rounds greeting the actors one by one when—
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"What? Why's the CEO here...? Everyone, see you at the after-party later! Rest up for now! Don't forget, 7 PM sharp!"
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—he suddenly bolted like something urgent had come up.
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From what the assistant director said, some CEO had barged into the reading room without a clue.
An executive showing up while underlings were working?
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Wow... that's some boss... wait a sec.
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'...Is that Kim Seul-ong, our CEO?'
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An executive personally showing up to encourage the underlings? What a company.
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Wow! The perfect role model for all executives.
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Our CEO's style is insane.
Maybe we need a biography on him.
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I thought about going to thank him, but since he'd only called the PD aside, it didn't seem like my place.
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'He won't crash the after-party too, will he?'
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Not that I'm saying don't come.
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After going to all the trouble of coming here, expecting him to go that far would make me seem ungrateful.
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...Really.
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"Everyone, great work!"
"...Great... work... yeah."
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With Yoon Jong-pil PD gone too, the room started clearing out.
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A few actors looked like their batteries were drained, judging by their faces.
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Some seemed especially wiped out... How do they survive this cutthroat industry with that stamina?
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Geum Yuna, the skinniest actress here, looked the most energized.
And right after her, me.
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Are these twiggy girls somehow less fit than me?
They all need to work out.
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Maybe introduce them to Action Director Bae Gi-young or the FM coach from Seoul Action School.
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If any actor asks later why my stamina's so good, I'll be ready to hook them up with the action school right away.
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'...Not the time for that.'
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It was around 5:30 now.
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I needed to swing by home to change before the 7 PM after-party.
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This two-piece suit I'm wearing—if it picks up meat smells, it'd need pricey dry cleaning.
And as the newbie handling grunt work, this outfit was no help at all...
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'...Hold on.'
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Was I the only one in uncomfortable clothes?
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Was that why I felt subtly sidelined at first?
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An actress who can't dress for the occasion...
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No wonder everyone stared weirdly.
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My outfit was exactly the same as what I'd worn to the Atelier interview.
I'd put thought into it... but it was too much.
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Geum Yuna was dressed up a bit, but nothing like me.
She's the lead, so it fits her.
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I was the only one overdoing it. Just me.
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'...But why didn't anyone say anything?'
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I had plenty of time to change at home since I'd left leisurely.
Even in the suit, neither Manager Yoo Jun-seung nor Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin said a word.
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I thought this was standard...
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Like showing up to a college MT in a suit alone.
Or wearing one to a field trip.
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They must've thought I was desperate to stand out... or had issues.
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Suddenly, the seniors' reactions made sense.
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This time, comfy clothes for sure. TPO, you're going down.
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After staying till the end to bid everyone goodbye, I stopped home and changed into my Seoul Action School training set.
I wanted to tell them to relax with some tea at home while I showered and changed.
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But our place is a tiny basement studio.
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Not fit for guests anyway.
And thinking about it, it's a single woman's home.
Even weirder to invite guys in while I shower.
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The Carni in the parking lot was way nicer than my place, so keeping them out was my courtesy.
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I rushed out in my new clothes.
Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin eyed me with a sour look.
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"...You're really going like that?"
"...Why, should I wear the suit?"
"No... it's nothing. Let's go."
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He seemed like he had something to say but clammed up.
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Maybe he wanted to see me show up in the suit and fluster again.
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No-name or not, I have 12 years in the game.
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I know what to wear to after-parties.
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Maybe Kim Gyu-jin's got a mean streak.
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Jun-seung was keeping his 'I know nothing' face on.
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Why does that make him more hateable? Must be my imagination.
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After-party at 7.
Current time: 6:20.
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For meetings or shoots, early is polite.
But for restaurants, show up on time—that's manners.
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Arriving early just bothers the staff.
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With 40 minutes to kill, I treated my team to coffee.
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Poor as I am, I couldn't let Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin—who always looks out for us—or newbie-ish Jun-seung foot the bill.
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Actors treat in these cases.
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"What'll you have?"
"...The actress is paying?"
"Yeah, my treat."
"Sit tight. I'll use the company card."
"... "
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I'd pulled out my wallet to treat, and he tells me to sit?
Kim Gyu-jin, didn't peg you for this.
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'So kind and thoughtful. A real sweet guy.'
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We were killing time at a cafe near the after-party spot when...
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"Welco...me... ho...home?!"
"Hello."
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When I came in, it was "Welco...me... home!" too, all weird.
Guess this place has odd greetings for every customer.
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Probably one of those Instagram-famous spots.
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Cafes these days are all weird.
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Cafes should have big tables and comfy chairs, but now it's tiny low tables and bathhouse stools.
Industrial this, modern art that—excuses for half-built shells operating as cafes.
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Some even bow with hands together and tell you to check their Instagram or DM for menus and prices.
Trend's like that, so the loud greetings seem tame...
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'These days' cafes... can't adapt... back in my day... @@@'
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I was reminiscing about how Koreans who couldn't stomach Americano back then now flock to espresso bars when...
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Manager Yoo Jun-seung tapped the table.
Tap-tap—
It felt like he'd say "Alone?" so I beat him to it.
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"What?"
"That lady who just came in—looks like Actress Geum Yuna."
"...?"
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I'd been distracted by the staff's weird greeting, hadn't checked who entered.
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Not that I was too lazy to turn around. Never.
...Really.
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I was debating if I should go greet her first when...
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Geum Yuna, pager in hand, headed straight for our table.
Should've acted first, no thinking.
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"Actress Jeong Gyeowol?"
"Hello, Senior!"
"... "
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I shot up.
Scraaaape—
Chair screeched loud, but I faced Actress Geum Yuna and bowed first.
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A perfect 90-degree bow.
Polite enough to make me proud.
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This should wash away any 'rude junior sitting without greeting' image.
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But...
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...?
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No reaction from Geum Yuna.
Already blacklisted?
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Still bowed, I rolled my eyes to Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin beside me.
He was pinching his temple.
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'Hmm, something's off.'
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One more blunder and I'm done.
Sensing the issue, I straightened and offered a handshake.
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"Please take care of me going forward, Senior!"
"... "
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What now?
Junior offering hand first to senior?
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People live so complicated.
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As I naturally moved my hand to scratch my head like nothing happened, Actress Geum Yuna finally took it.
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"...Nice to meet you. We meet again."
"An honor!"
"But... could you lower your voice a bit? Feels like I'm the mean senior here to crack down..."
"Ah..."
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Too focused on the senior in front of me, I hadn't checked around.
A quick glance—everyone was staring at our table.
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Even the weird "Welco...me!" staff was watching us, eyes full of excitement.
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My face heated up, ears turning red, so I hurriedly sat Actress Geum Yuna in my spot.
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Now she and Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin sat side by side, weird setup.
I shoved him to the opposite seat and stole his.
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Now it looked like a 2-on-2 meeting or something even stranger.
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Was Jun-seung's table tap foreshadowing?
Grabbed a fellow actress and plopped her at my table like some hunt.