Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Reversal
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Now, a familiar ceiling came into view.
A white wallpaper and the familiar shape of the curtains.
The sofa where Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin sat dozing off.
This was the hospital where her mentor—no, Im Ha-young worked.
"Oh, you're awake, Gyeowol. How's your body feeling?"
"Yes, Executive Manager. What happened?"
His face looked worn out, his complexion pale as he asked about my condition.
He seemed more like the patient than I did.
"Seems like you went into shock from the Taser. They say it's not uncommon to pass out after getting hit with one."
Only then did the memories start flooding back.
Yoo Jun-seung... I must have misjudged him completely.
I'd thought he was just a dim-witted but kind friend... but inside, he was a devil bundled up in malice.
To think such a guy had been hiding right next to me, surrounded by only the most outstanding people.
I'd assumed all my past-life luck had dumped itself into this one... but apparently not.
Yoo Jun-seung had been subdued on the spot and taken straight to the police station.
Even as a first-time offender, with KS's legal team on the move, he wouldn't escape real jail time—that was some small comfort.
But if Yoo Jun-seung ever got out... who knew what might happen then...
"...I can guess what you're thinking from that look. Don't worry, Gyeowol. Even if that bastard survives and gets out, you'll never have to deal with him again."
"...Okay."
It wasn't just anyone—it was Kim Seul-ong himself who'd stepped in.
There was no point fretting over some hypothetical future that would never come.
After briefing me on the situation, Kim Gyu-jin went out to call the doctor.
In the meantime, I picked up my phone.
Just in case some article had leaked, or my acquaintances had heard and were worrying.
Fortunately, nothing like that had happened.
If this were the old me, I would've thought, Articles about me? What arrogance... but now I was treating myself like a celebrity.
Maybe it was thanks to Geum Yuna's repeated training.
Or the influence of those street fan signings.
Or perhaps...
'Because of the stalker.'
Yoo Jun-seung's stalking was a crime that couldn't be sugarcoated with words.
But what could I say? It had helped solidify my identity as the woman Jeong Gyeowol.
I'd directly experienced the ripple effect of my looks, which I'd only vaguely pondered before.
And... what actress has ever been hit with a Taser?
My thigh still tingled.
If the day ever came to act out electric torture, electrocution, or getting Tasered, I could pull it off more realistically than anyone.
I wasn't sure if I should be grateful for it... but finding some silver lining like that might be good for me.
Otherwise, this could turn into real trauma.
Soon, Kim Gyu-jin returned with the doctor.
A female doctor with looks that could land her in showbiz herself.
It was Im Ha-young.
"I missed you, but I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"...Yeah."
The atmosphere made me feel like I had to apologize, even though I hadn't done anything wrong.
Like how even innocent people flinch at the sight of a police car.
The aura of professionals was crushing.
"CBC is fine, vitals are good, everything's stable overall. You're taking the supplements well too. Keep this up, and you'll live a long life."
She nodded approvingly, adjusted the IV drip, and was gone in a flash.
At this point, she could've just messaged me on KakaoTalk instead of coming in person.
Im Ha-young must really like me.
"Executive Manager, you should head home now. It's late."
"I'm fine. Someone needs to look after you."
He chuckled it off, but guilt seeped through his expression and tone.
He seemed really sorry about the Yoo Jun-seung incident.
It wasn't his fault at all... I'd urged him to go home several times, but he stubbornly claimed the hospital was more comfortable than home and plopped back on the sofa.
'...Come to think of it, he's dropped the formal speech.'
This wasn't the first time Kim Gyu-jin had been stubborn.
Despite my repeated invitations to speak casually, he'd always stuck to polite language.
Maybe going through the Yoo Jun-seung ordeal had built some camaraderie.
With him speaking casually, I felt a bit closer to him too.
Truth be told, the shock hadn't fully worn off yet, so having him stay made me feel a little safer.
No need to push away someone who wanted to stick around.
It was late anyway—better for him to crash at the hospital and move in the morning.
"What time's my shoot tomorrow?"
"...You're going to a shoot in this condition? Take a few more days off."
What was this nonsense?
"It's not like I have some major illness or anything hurting. Work's work. I don't want to mess up schedules for dozens of staff because of me."
Thankfully, it wasn't packed with action scenes like the first day.
This shoot was about following Lee Jang-woo around to build social skills.
Just the other day, we'd been at each other's throats.
Tomorrow, we'd be shopping together for gifts for his daughter, Lee Ji-an.
-Jian's birthday's coming up soon, so I'm getting her a gift. What do you think of this?
-Are you serious? You think it's okay to ask me?
-Come on, just give me your take. You're not much older than her... same as a girl. Better than me.
-...If a fight breaks out while wearing that, she'd have to rip it or take it off. If I got this as a gift, I'd think you were trying to kill me.
-...Why would Jian be fighting, you idiot.
A top-tier killer and a legendary killer struggling to pick a birthday gift for his daughter.
No running, jumping, sprinting, or crashing.
Zero chance of injury.
"So why delay? No tough scenes."
"...Fine, do what you want. Who am I to stop your stubbornness?"
I felt a twinge of injustice.
This guy who'd just refused to go home...
How many actresses as compliant as me were out there...?
"Oh, time to watch Samek."
"...Huh?"
Psychometry Her airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 PM...
I checked my phone. Today was Tuesday.
"...You don't even know when your own drama airs?"
"...I didn't know what day it was."
Kim Gyu-jin gave me a pitiful look.
Don't pity me, jerk. I'm not pitiful at all.
Anyway, time to watch an episode and sleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I wouldn't get a wink of sleep.
As soon as I dozed off, I dreamed of Yoo Jun-seung strangling me, and every time I closed my eyes after, that twisted smile and eyes gleaming with desire haunted me.
Careful not to wake Kim Gyu-jin sleeping soundly on the sofa, I quietly slipped out of bed and left the room.
This was going to torment me for a while.
Maybe I should check into a mental hospital, but if word got out, it'd be disastrous.
The old mindset of powering through with effort was gone.
Now that depression was treated as an illness, not a willpower issue, visiting a psychiatrist wasn't a huge stigma.
But for celebrities, the standards were different.
Especially for actresses.
Getting sleeping pills didn't require a psychiatrist, so I'd tough it out with those for now.
I couldn't risk going outside where someone might recognize me.
I circled the ward once and sorted my thoughts. I felt somewhat calmer.
Back in bed trying to sleep... but it was the same as before.
Looks like I'd pull an all-nighter staring at the ceiling.
Good thing I had my time-killer, NewTube.
Watch NewTube, circle the ward when my body stiffened up.
Stretch to keep from getting stiff, then dive back into NewTube for a bit.
Before I knew it, the sun was up, and Kim Gyu-jin woke.
He headed straight for the bed, checking on me first thing.
For a split second, Yoo Jun-seung's face overlapped, and I shrank back.
'...Yoo Jun-seung's caught. I'll never see him again. He's locked in the police station—he can't come after me.'
I repeated it to myself a few times until my body relaxed.
Pretending nothing was wrong, I forced a smile.
"You're up early. Good morning."
"Ah, yeah, habit... You're up early too?"
"Yeah."
I didn't mention I hadn't slept.
Time would fix it.
Focus on work, immerse in acting, and it'd fade naturally like it never happened.
No need to burden Kim Gyu-jin with unnecessary talk.
Sharing sadness doesn't halve it.
Sharing pain just doubles the suffering.
After checking me over, Kim Gyu-jin returned to the sofa and checked his phone. His eyes widened.
"Gyeowol, you got an ad offer."
"...An ad? For real? From where?"
"Pocari Sweat."
Pocari Sweat.
The icon of innocence, the launchpad for rising stars.
No one who'd modeled for Pocari Sweat had failed to make it big.
The star gateway called Pocari Sweat... wanted me?
"...Isn't that a scam?"
"...It's from the company chat. What are you talking about?"
I knew I was pretty, but I was far from the innocent, pitiful, fresh, bubbly image they went for.
Even Helena was a professional career woman type... quite different from Pocari's vibe.
Them... for me? Really?
"...Don't want to do it? Dropping this would be..."
Kim Gyu-jin asked cautiously.
If I said no to this, I'd be a sea cucumber, abalone, and sea pineapple.
Refuse for real, and he'd think I and the company were idiots.
"No way! We have to do it!"
Was my face even more versatile than I thought?
Or was our agency great at sales?
Or had reform swept through Pocari's ad team?
Whatever it was.
We're doing it. Even if they asked me to pay for the ad, Pocari Sweat is worth filming.