Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Tranquility
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The Pocari Gun message was delivered through Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin.
It was an extreme way of saying I'd shoot the scene even if I were dying tomorrow, but Kim Gyu-jin must have packaged it nicely before sending it off.
After choking down the hospital's disgustingly bland breakfast,
Kim Gyu-jin prepared for discharge while I took a quick wash-up.
Not that it was that quick—long hair is hell for me.
Lately, I've been feeling like I'm using the hospital more like a hotel than anything else.
As I was drying my hair, the door opened.
I figured it was either Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin or Dr. Im, who has a crush on me.
But in walked Kim Gyu-jin with CEO Kim Seul-ong.
"...CEO?"
"How's your body feeling?"
"Thanks to you, I'm great. Thank you for yesterday."
CEO Kim Seul-ong shook his head at my greeting.
His expression carried the same guilt I'd seen on Kim Gyu-jin's face yesterday.
Honestly, I couldn't say the company bore no blame at all...
But pinning the entire responsibility on them felt a bit unfair.
How was the company supposed to know if Yoo Jun-seung was a psycho or a stalker and prevent it beforehand?
Even I, who'd spent months with him, never imagined he was such trash.
So, I didn't think CEO Kim Seul-ong needed to feel guilty either.
Of course, the company should still provide proper compensation and preventive measures.
"The moment the stalking situation arose, we should have responded immediately to avert the danger. Instead, we only moved once it had become dangerous—that's clearly on us."
...How do you respond to something when you don't even know who it is?
No one could have predicted this incident, and it only escalated this far because of Yoo Jun-seung's position. In other words, it was possible precisely because he was my manager.
We had two bodyguards protecting me during external schedules.
No outsiders could enter the dorm.
And Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin worked hard to ensure my safety even after hours.
"...This was just a stroke of terrible luck that no one can really blame on anyone. Just make sure it never happens again with better precautions, and that'll be enough."
"We're forming a dedicated team for actress Jeong Gyeowol at KS. Several people will rotate shifts to prevent repeats of this. Even if one person develops bad intentions, the others can step in. We should move your dorm soon and integrate the bodyguards directly into your team."
Kim Gyu-jin's role had mostly been coordinating with management and on-site adjustments, while Yoo Jun-seung handled far more of my day-to-day care.
It sounded grandiose—like establishing checks and balances, almost a separation of powers.
Personal bodyguards, even.
It felt burdensome, but after this incident, I had my own realizations, so I didn't refuse.
At this rate, I'll fill up every seat in a Canison High Limousine.
After CEO Kim Seul-ong explained everything and left for his next appointment,
I noticed his secretary fidgeting anxiously behind him. It must have been important—he was already late.
The personal bodyguard's name was Cha Serin.
She was the female guard assigned when the Yoo Jun-seung incident blew up.
At least she was someone I knew a bit, which was a relief.
She'd said she was on her way to the hospital, so once discharge was finalized, I could head out with her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Today's shoot was a scene of me—playing Kim Ha-yul—shopping for Lee Ji-an's birthday present with Lee Jang-woo.
It took place right after faking Kim Ha-yul's death to escape Babylon.
Kim Ha-yul was experiencing the feeling of being a girl for the first time in her life.
She could sense an indescribable emotion making her feel vulnerable.
But she didn't entirely hate it.
There was a reason Lee Jang-woo insisted on dragging Kim Ha-yul along to buy Lee Ji-an's gift.
He was trying to give a lifetime killer, who'd suppressed all emotions, a taste of normal life.
Maybe because today was all about happy, feel-good scenes,
my own mood lifted in tandem.
"Hello, everyone! Hope you've all been well!"
"Gyeowol~ You look great, right?~ You're so pretty today, girl!"
The makeup executive was the first to rush over and greet me warmly.
Kim Ha-yul needed clumsy makeup today.
It had to look like her first attempt—awkward enough to make others go, "Huh?" but not overly so.
"...That's what worries me. If it's too pretty, they'll complain it's too pretty. If it's blatantly weird, they'll call it weird... I have no confidence in that 'natural beginner' makeup."
It wasn't anything elaborate—just base makeup, tint, that sort of thing.
However,
it had to look like a beginner's sloppy attempt without ruining my face.
For a master at the peak of their craft, it might actually be harder.
Dancers can't convincingly fake being uncoordinated.
Singers can't pull off tone-deaf acting.
The makeup executive faking no experience... her fundamentals would give it away.
In that case...
"How about I do it?"
"...You?"
"I don't wear much makeup, so it's pretty sloppy... but not terribly bad."
In my past life, I'd done my own makeup and hair for auditions a lot.
I couldn't afford salon visits in those tough times.
But trying everything was good experience—and maybe I could ease the makeup executive's worries.
"We have time, so give it a shot?"
"Sure, I'll just do my hellos and come back."
I went around greeting the waiting actors and crew, then headed to the makeup team.
"Everything's prepped."
There were sponges, brushes,
foundations in various shades, makeup base, even BB and CC creams.
"What about this? No. 15—no yellow undertones. Should match your skin well."
"...No. 15? Isn't that super pale?"
Was she planning to turn me into Toshio?
The foundations I knew were No. 21 or 23.
The difference between 23 and 21 was huge—dropping to 15 would be like...
Exaggerating a bit, painting on white primer.
"...If you don't even know your tone, you really don't do makeup. Just try it. Wipe it off if it sucks."
"...Okay."
With over 15 years of experience, she knew better than me.
I stopped nitpicking and started applying.
"Whoa... For real? Amazing."
"Better than our executive?"
Huh? Me... better than that?
I'd done self-makeup as a guy back in the day and never got complaints about looking weird.
Did becoming a woman auto-boost my dexterity?
Nah, no way she was better than the executive.
The staff were exaggerating, obviously.
But I couldn't stop my lips from curling up in a grin.
"Seriously, it's sloppy like a guy did it, but not weird at all. So that's what the direction meant...
"Isn't it because the actress's face is OP? Honestly, it'd shine even smeared with mud."
"...True. Reality check. What did I do wrong in my past life?"
My grin vanished, replaced by a pout.
Right—actresses just need to act well.
No need to steal makeup gigs too.
Don't poach others' rice bowls; protect my own.
I finished the makeup amid applause from the team.
The sudden ovation drew surprised looks from the crew toward the makeup room.
The rumor had already spread across the set.
A clumsy, man-made-looking makeup job.
But since the completion of makeup is the face, it looked mysteriously perfect.
Staff paths were subtly rerouting to catch a glimpse of this legendary technique.
If the goal was to embarrass me to death, mission accomplished.
While I did my makeup (just base, but it took a full hour),
Geum Yu-na's coffee truck had arrived.
Apparently, five trucks were booked to match my schedule...
My acquaintances suspiciously love coffee trucks.
I handed out coffees amid the crew's thanks.
Then wrapped the shoot strolling the street with actor Shin Su-hyeok.
"Oh, you've been all over the articles lately, huh?"
"Me? My articles?"
"Guess you didn't know. Nothing bad, so don't worry. Check 'em out when you have time."
Come to think of it, I'd stopped ego-searching lately.
I had to wait for Kim Ye-rim anyway, so now was a good time to look up my articles.
Originally, I could've gone straight home after my scenes.
But the girl I'd thought was a Binggrae bitch turned out to have deep inner wounds—she, Kim Ye-rim, grabbed me.
Her shoot was ending soon, so dinner together.
I had no idea what a rose mala tang hulu abomination was,
but I trusted it was a joke. If the place actually served that, I'd bolt before dinner.
Anyway, while watching Kim Ye-rim's shoot, I searched my name on the green window.
[This Year's Top Rookie: Jeong Gyeowol]
[2024 Rookies with Star Quality: Color, Personality, Acting—Nothing Lacking in These Lead-Worthy Newcomers]
[Jeong Gyeowol: The Most Anticipated Rookie Actress]
[Psychometry Her Uncovers a Gem]
Hmph.
What do they know calling me the top rookie?
How much have they even seen to say 'most anticipated'?
Articles like this don't thrill me one bit.
I know it's all company PR.
"Gyeowol! Let's go eat!"
"...Huh? Already?"
"Already? Our scene got delayed with some NGs."
I checked the time— a whole hour had passed.
A few articles, and an hour flies?
Einstein... what are you?