Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Geum Yuna (2)
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Strange person.
To Geum Yuna, Jeong Gyeowol was a strange person.
Her visuals could crush all the active actresses out there, but watching her felt incredibly sloppy somehow.
The way she just chugged water straight from the bottle.
The way she roughly handled her messy hair without a care.
And showing up to a reading where photos were bound to be taken, without stopping by a salon, bare-faced.
Her hearty laugh without a trace of pretense, her polite 90-degree bow—what about that?
It was like watching male actors.
She'd heard KS was pushing her hard as a parachute hire, but maybe she was actually out of their loop. That was the thought creeping in.
'If that were the case, having an executive trail her wouldn't make sense...'
According to Executive Joo Sangwook, she was a bitch with rotten personality who had something going on with the KS Entertainment CEO to snag a supporting role.
But meeting her face-to-face, she didn't seem the type to pull that off.
If anything, she looked like the kind who'd get taken advantage of.
Still, she was definitely a strange person.
No makeup, hair untouched, yet wearing a two-piece suit.
Impossible to pin down.
And amidst it all, she seemed like a massive hard worker—the script was falling apart.
It looked like her handwritten notes outnumbered the printed black text.
'The Helena role was fixed just a few days ago... She couldn't have had time for that much.'
Even if she gave a wooden performance, with visuals that could steal scenes, for her script to be in that state meant real effort.
Geum Yuna couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis.
Unknowingly, immense pressure built up, fueling her acting.
Even on set, her skill left rookies in the dust.
Most veteran actors buckled under her momentum.
And now, Geum Yuna was pouring everything into her performance.
Jeong Gyeowol didn't seem to care at all.
If anything...
'She looks like she's enjoying it... smiling...'
The moment her turn came, she transformed into Helena like a personality switch.
Once her lines ended, she snapped back to beaming Jeong Gyeowol.
Acting a dual-personality character like Dr. Helena—maybe she'd become one herself.
A chill ran down Geum Yuna's back.
'...That method acting style is dangerous. Even more than my old self.'
That kind of immersion brought huge merits to the role right away.
But the aftermath after the play ended hit the actor hard.
Geum Yuna had been through it, so she knew roughly the toll.
At that level, no ordinary rest would fix it.
She figured mental illness would come knocking soon.
Suddenly, Geum Yuna's vision went white, and she started seeing herself in her own eyes.
'Me' not existing as 'I', but like an observer.
Her soul separated from her body, staring at herself.
In moments like this, she always felt alienated from herself.
Her sense of reality was fading.
'Ha... Who's worrying about who.'
Geum Yuna had done method acting since her child actress days.
And suffered from derealization as a result.
After 20, she'd changed her approach, kept seeing doctors, taken meds—and thought she was fine.
But watching Jeong Gyeowol, who gave off a similar vibe to her past self, stirred the dormant illness.
This sensation would fade soon.
It felt weird now, but it'd be okay.
She'd had similar episodes before.
Focus on the other actors reading lines.
Focus on the next script and her character.
Slow deep breaths calmed her mind.
She barely finished the reading, exchanged greetings, and headed straight to the hospital.
Long time no see with her doctor, they talked.
"Maybe that person could help you overcome it perfectly."
"Pardon?"
"Derealization you thought was gone came back today, right? Triggered by actress Jeong Gyeowol... so the answer lies with her."
She nodded like she understood, but honestly, it didn't click.
Shouldn't you avoid the person triggering your illness? Yet it could help overcome it?
"...What about the meds then?"
"You calmed it down yourself without them now, so no more meds would be best."
"...Got it."
The doctor said that, but Geum Yuna didn't want to fake friendliness to use someone to cure her illness.
'...I've endured it before, overcome it once. It'll be fine.'
She was thinking if Jeong Gyeowol approached first or they naturally got close, maybe.
Then her manager's report changed everything—she'd have to avoid her now.
"Whoa... insane. Before reading, Executive Joo Sangwook badmouthed Jeong Gyeowol, got slapped, and KS Entertainment CEO Kim Seul-ong caught it. That's why he wanted Executive Kim Gyu-jin pulled in..."
"What?! Why that gorilla!"
The story had twisted: now it was Executive Joo Sangwook assaulting her.
Spread by staff eavesdropping from the upstairs stairs.
When she needed to cozy up to Jeong Gyeowol, hearing her own agency's executive slapped her—Geum Yuna sighed, pinching her temple.
"He was pushing a rookie he favored... apparently for Helena. Took money from actors before, so showboating..."
"What a psycho... Explains why he tagged along to reading."
Joo Sangwook, who hated work and going out, rushing after her was odd.
No one expected this madness.
'No wonder... cursing her from the car.'
After that ordeal, she still nailed the dual-personality acting, kept smiling the whole time?
Jeong Gyeowol's condition might be pretty serious already.
"Ah, we're here. Go in first."
"After party ends, just cab it."
"I'm good. Where's my manager going without his actor? We got time—cafe nearby?"
"...Yeah, eat whatever, sis got you."
"I'll park. Go ahead."
Jeong Gyeowol's condition was serious.
In a slightly different way.
The cafe was packed, barely any seats.
Jeong Gyeowol, with a face that screamed "slap me alternately left and right," entered in black tracksuit—eyes locked.
Then Geum Yuna walked in.
Exaggerating a bit, even the napkins focused on them.
"Hello, sunbaenim!"
"Please take care of me, sunbaenim!"
"It's an honor!"
Was she venting on Geum Yuna after Joo Sangwook's slap?
Or her FM personality amped by nerves?
Really, just late greetings recovery.
Geum Yuna couldn't fathom why she went this far.
'...Does she just hate me?'
Amidst it, Jeong Gyeowol's outfit caught her eye.
Suit at reading, now black tracksuit set for after-party.
Not some post-shoot wrap-up...
First casual get-together to bond.
Never imagined an actor in such comfy clothes.
Two outfits seen, both worst-dressed contenders.
Strange in every way.
'...Agency gives zero guidance? Why not stop her.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Silence. Only silence flowed.
The thought she sat Geum Yuna down for nothing dominated my mind.
Executive Kim Gyu-jin kept coming and going for calls, like company emergency.
Junseung alternated glances between her and me, sharing the awkward vibe.
Geiiiiing—
'...!'
Vibrator buzzed.
Chance to escape this hush, even briefly.
I shot up, but Junseung snatched it first and bolted.
'...Thought I was fastest.'
His reflexes like a cat facing a snake.
Left me alone with Geum Yuna.
I dragged her here, but she shone too bright to talk to.
Had to make her comfy since I forced her, but surprisingly, I was bold.
'...Can't talk to such a pretty person? Normal, not my fault.'
Her shy glances at people painted a picture, movie scene.
Didn't notice from seats apart at reading.
Up close... goddess descended.
Skin? What sorcery.
No moles, blemishes, freckles, acne—nothing.
Paler than if she'd never seen sun over 3 seconds.
Sandpaper face once over wouldn't get this smooth.
I kept stealing glances at alluring Geum Yuna's face.
Caught staring. Should've bought sunglasses.
"...What're you staring at?"
"Ah, no! If anything, it's beauty, right?!"
...
Crazy bastard... or bitch?
How does that line pop in this situation.
My brain cooked it, mouth spat it. Impressive.
'Junseung... hurry... save me...'