Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Actress Jung Soyul (4)
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I glanced at her, taking in those hashtags that revealed her very specific tastes.
The moment I saw them, I thought her tastes were ridiculously picky.
Especially that #Man_Who_Qualifies one and #Younger_Guys_Acting_Older—they didn't strike me as easy to satisfy at all.
From our brief conversation, I could tell those hashtags weren't just about looks.
I could sort of understand why she'd never had any scandals up to now.
It probably meant no one had ever matched those demanding tastes of hers.
The old me would've tried to tackle those hashtags head-on.
"……."
But in this atmosphere, I wasn't really feeling it.
Id already nearly ended up in a police station after talking about jerking off to a stranger.
Unlike with Han Chae-ah, I wasn't some pervert.
Plus, Id used an item ability, so I had to play it safe.
"This is surprisingly good."
Jung Soyul spoke up after polishing off the entire cup ramen.
Her expression was brighter now, a far cry from when we'd been in the cafeteria—clearly satisfied with the meal.
"Never tried it before?"
"I have. But honestly, I never thought it tasted good. It's just emergency food for busy workdays. And when you're managing your figure, you have to be so careful about what you eat. Instant ramen like this is a luxury for an actress."
"To think you've lived without knowing this flavor. You've wasted half your life."
"It's not that bad."
"Next time, let's hit the cafeteria right before lunch rush ends. Their spicy pork stir-fry is killer. One bite and you'll swear you've been missing out on life."
"Can't do crowded spots with all the students. Who knows if something like today happens again."
She let out a heavy sigh, like even she was frustrated by it.
"Being a celebrity is more inconvenient than it seems."
She looked at me when I said that.
"It is. You have to watch your back even in the bathroom, eat pretty when you're eating, even breathing feels like an act."
"As a celebrity, you always have to be on guard. Show any weakness or let loose, and your image shatters instantly."
"And once it's broken, it's over. You can't rebuild it."
Jung Soyul leaned against the rooftop railing and sighed.
The perfect actress, Jung Soyul.
That was the image the public held of her.
Pure and beautiful, never a hair out of place.
A perfectionist.
Her haughty air made sense—her acting was flawless enough to justify it.
Smart enough to get into Yeonsung University's Theater Department, too.
That perfect image had shaped the current Jung Soyul.
The more perfect you are, the more a tiny flaw can wound you.
Just like she said, one crack in the image, and it'd be irreversible.
Even her outfit—expensive-looking clothes, handbag, pants—screamed full armor for a school like this.
How much stricter must her daily routine be?
It was no easy life.
The wind tousled her hair, but she didn't bother fixing it.
If anything, the disheveled look suited her more—natural, relaxed.
"But around you, I don't have to act. It's comfortable."
"Do I look like comfortable company?"
"No. You see me not as 'Jung Soyul' the actress, but just some annoying chick."
Jung Soyul chuckled.
"Cussing me out and convenience store ramen. My manager uncle would faint if he knew."
"What an honor."
I popped the last mandu into my mouth, observing her.
That hashtag, glowing an obnoxious yellow, kept nagging at me.
What the hell did "qualifies" even mean?
"Debt's paid. No more slip-ups on either side, so we're even. I'll overlook your sexual harassment, and you overlook my mistake."
"Heading out already?"
"Yeah. I never planned to eat lunch here anyway. Gotta get back and practice my lines."
Practice acting.
Somehow, she looked cornered, like she was up against a wall.
Not just my imagination.
Skipping rest at home for more practice?
She struck me as the type who whipped herself relentlessly to maintain perfection.
A narcissist grinding to perfect her narcissism.
Something told me I couldn't just send her off like this.
First impressions weren't great, but hey, free meal.
Had to pay up somehow.
"Got any worries?"
I called out as she pushed off the railing.
"What're you on about all of a sudden?"
"Come on, it's a rare chance. Chatting honestly with a guy who sees you as a regular unlucky girl, not the celeb Jung Soyul."
"You hitting on me?"
"Hitting on you? Nah. Nothing to do till afternoon class anyway. Just need someone to chat with."
"Seriously……."
But she didn't leave.
"Not going?"
"You said you'd hear me out. Not a pickup line, so... I'm staying. Feels like you won't pull anything weird."
Maybe because of the help earlier.
Her trust in me had shot up since we met.
Forgot about the jerk-off talk already?
"Smart choice. Hard to find someone as straight-up as me."
She laughed at that.
"So, what's the worry?"
Jung Soyul pursed her lips, lost in thought at my question.
"Acting. I'm shooting a movie, but the director keeps saying it's not 'real' enough. Says I can't immerse myself—I've gotten notes on it over and over. I've done plenty of projects, but I've never struggled to focus like this."
She bit her lip.
Looked like she had no clue what to do.
"No idea why?"
She sighed at my question.
"I know why. It's the co-star. I can't get into it at all because of him."
Can't immerse because of the actor?
I eyed her.
One post from her Sexgram feed came to mind.
—Can't focus at all because of Hwang Jun-ho.
Her inner gripe was plain as day.
Hwang Jun-ho.
Top-tier actor with killer looks and skills, right?
"Isn't your co-star Hwang Jun-ho?"
"You know him?"
"Kinda... Saw it in the news."
Couldn't exactly say Sexgram.
She sighed again.
"Yeah. Hottest actor, great performer. But he's got issues. Doesn't fit the role at all—not his image in the script, and his attempts to 'bring the character to life' just fall flat. Worst, he can't control his sleazy urges and ends up humping air. It's pathetic."
She unloaded like she'd been waiting for it.
"But he has no clue. Doesn't realize he's killing my immersion, just strutting around like hot shit. His acting's so forced it's laughable. Can't call him out on set either—atmosphere would tank."
Words she couldn't say on set came spilling out.
"And if I push hard, he'll lose focus even more."
"What kind of character?"
"In the film, he's supposed to overpower me, ravage me roughly. I need to nail the S vibes he's obsessed with, but he's so half-assed it breaks the scene."
Irritation laced her voice.
"Script calls for beastly eyes, but he looks like a chihuahua yapping to act tough. Kills my immersion. No room for the girl to... get wet."
Pretty bold word from an actress.
She clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing, but I didn't pretend not to hear.
"Get wet, huh."
"Pretend you didn't hear that."
"It's fine. I brought up jerking off earlier."
"...I-it's not about getting turned on during acting. I said it crudely to make it clear……."
Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Her mask had slipped without her noticing, revealing raw truth.
"Mood matters. Even outside acting."
"...You sound experienced."
Experience, huh.
"Not exactly lacking."
Still a virgin, though.
But I knew mood control.
Not just experience.
The hashtag floating on her body as she vented—her situational fetish, twinkling yellow.
Knowing what gets someone going makes it easy to hit the right notes.
And then, a new system window popped up in my view.
What the hell.
How was I, who knew jack about acting, supposed to help?
I didn't buy that I had whatever "elements" they mentioned.
Id just called her out hoping venting would lighten her load.
People feel better just spilling their guts.
Never crossed my mind Id actually help for real.
But then.
Method Acting
[Exclusive function for follower Jung Soyul] [Admin can perfectly embody the acting desired by the user.] [Admin heightens the user's immersion in the opposing role until the script ends.]
Additional: No NG
[Prevents the partner from breaking character midway.]
*Commemoration reward for following user '@soyul_official' (1M+ followers).
It unlocked a new ability like it was waiting for this.
Felt more geared toward her actress side than plain Sexgram stuff.
Made sense why it came as a follow reward message.
With power like this, doing nothing would make me less than a man.
I looked at Jung Soyul and said,
"Want me to help?"
"Huh?"
"With the acting. That immersion issue—I think I can fix it."
"You?"
"Yeah. Feels like I can solve Soyul's problem."
"D-don't call me by my name."
Her face reddened bashfully.
"So, you hate it? Staying like this won't solve anything anyway."
She hesitated, eyes darting.
"Not for free, though."
"Charging me now? Do you know how big a star I am? You saw earlier……."
I wrapped an arm around her waist as she started protesting.
"Eek!"
"Could Hwang Jun-ho pull this off? Dare to wrap his arm around Soyul's waist like this?"
"D-don't."
"Answer me. Could he?"
As I stared her down, the strength in her slaps against my hand weakened.
"Answer."
"...N-no, probably not……."
"Right? Only I can do this for you. So, payment's fair."
Jung Soyul bit her lip.
"You already covered the meal."
"Meal's not enough. My rates are high."
I lifted her chin.
"Every time I help, show me one real expression. Not the fake ones for everyone else."
"……."
"Deal? Cheap price, right?"
She swallowed hard.
"O-okay, fine……."
She grabbed my hand at her waist.
"Let go."
"Nah."
I tightened my grip instead.
Jung Soyul's perfume grew thicker.
Lilac scent.