Chapter 78

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 78

Chapter Title: Inner Beauty

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In one corner of the dining room at the Silla Hotel, English flowed out at nearly native-speaker level.

A blonde white woman stared intently at Han Woo-hee's face with evident interest as she spoke.

"Woo-hee, your face looks so much better. Looks like you snagged a good one, huh?"

Han Woo-hee smirked and replied with a haughty expression.

"Well, he's pretty good in bed. Quite to my liking."

That remark made both women burst into laughter simultaneously.

"As expected, you haven't changed a bit, Woo-hee. Good to see you. Really good."

"Cut it out. Rachel, what's blowing you all the way to Korea? My movie's about to hit theaters soon—come watch if you have time before you go."

The blonde white woman was Rachel Ziegler, a renowned casting director even in Hollywood.

She furrowed her brow slightly, as if struggling to recall the title of the movie Han Woo-hee had filmed.

"Ah! That one... what was it..."

"Inner Beauty."

"Right. Slipped my mind for a sec. I've been so busy hopping around lately. Anyway, I'm touring Asia right now. Hit Japan before coming to Korea."

"Since you texted me first, I'm guessing you're looking for a male actor? Someone with a decent mask?"

"Spot on. But I'm after actors who've proven themselves at least domestically."

"Hmm."

"The shortlist is Lee Jae-hoon, Woo Ho-min, and Hwang Jeong-su for now. Heard Lee Jae-hoon and Woo Ho-min are shooting, so if possible, I plan to swing by the set and check them out."

Lee Jae-hoon, Woo Ho-min, Hwang Jeong-su. Just hearing the names conjured images of Korea's top-tier handsome leading men.

"What, so it's really all about the face?"

And that explained why Rachel had texted Han Woo-hee the moment she arrived in Korea.

Rachel knew all about Han Woo-hee's "hobby"—seducing hot male actors and turning them into her trophies.

"That's the most important part, yeah. Come on, spill. You know all three, right? I think I heard about Lee Jae-hoon last time. What do you think?"

November 6th.

A day when the weather was starting to turn chilly.

It was the third day since the movie Inner Beauty had hit theaters.

And on the online communities...

Tales circulated in reviews about gasps erupting simultaneously in theaters or other eerie rumors surrounding Inner Beauty.

Having garnered massive buzz as a second-half-of-the-year must-see, it was now selling out on word-of-mouth alone.

In the midst of all that.

"Ugh, so jealous. I made plans with my boyfriend, but still can't get tickets."

"Min-ji, you already scored yours?"

"Heh, this is the power of skills honed by course registration wars."

Kim Min-ji, aka the course registration master, had snagged not just her own ticket but her college buddy's too, earning heaps of envy.

"Take me with you, you jerk."

"Min-ji-nim, loyalty! I'll fetch the premium popcorn and drinks!"

"Ahem."

Kim Min-ji puffed out her chest and strode into Wangsimni Enter Six.

A massive complex boasting a theater, barbershop, hospital, pool, gym, mall, Emart, and more—directly linked to the major transit hub Wangsimni Station.

Escalators rising from the subway were packed tight with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people.

Kim Min-ji and her friend claimed a step, chatting while people-watching.

"Is it always this crowded, or just moviegoers like us?"

"Probably both? Showtime's approaching too."

"Think we'll make it with popcorn in time?"

"Ditch the popcorn if we're late. No mercy."

They reached the theater atop the slow escalator. Despite recession talk, it buzzed with crowds.

Kim Min-ji split from her friend for mission mode: friend on popcorn duty, her queuing at the self-service kiosk to print tickets.

Luckily, they weren't late.

"Tickets, please~!"

At the entrance to the screening room, she flashed her ticket and entered.

Thump-thump.

Heart already racing, but leading the way like a triumphant general, Kim Min-ji pressed on.

"Let's go!"

Rear seats.

"Excuse me, coming through."

In the packed auditorium, she apologized to those already seated and slid into her spot.

"Whew..."

Just then, the emergency evacuation announcement played.

- In emergencies, Dumho Tires guides you to safety. For a secure viewing experience, please note your auditorium's exits and nearest emergency doors...

About five minutes till showtime.

As ads rolled, a tall man entered from the dark doorway. Puffy in his aviator jacket, but his massive build was obvious.

He took the seat in Kim Min-ji's lower right field of view.

'Who wears a cap pulled low to a movie?'

"Starting."

Her friend whispered just as curiosity peaked, so Kim Min-ji shrugged off the odd guy and fixed on the screen.

Dark screen brightening slowly. A somewhat ugly man rises from bed with a tousled face as narration begins.

- I've tried everything. Never went to a hospital out of fear, but I sought out famous shamans by region and even contacted so-called occult experts.

The man brushes his teeth before the bathroom mirror with hollow eyes. The narration drones on flatly.

- But I finally realized it. Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun. That I must live each day in a different form.

Scene shift: he pulls photos from a drawer and gazes at them.

- I barely remember my original face. Just a few photos prove I once lived like that. My true self is nowhere in the world. I don't know. Who I am. Which face is real.

Scenes change, but he's always home.

Same house interiors repeating.

Soon, he's at a desk, typing on a laptop.

- So I spend most of my time indoors. Alone. The silver lining... is having work I can do like this. I'm a writer. One who earns by writing, without needing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to meet anyone...

He holes up all day, then crashes back in bed.

The film kicks off proper, showcasing the protagonist's seven faces, one per day.

Monday: withered old man. Tuesday: hulking fighter. Wednesday: ugly guy. Thursday: sexy woman. Friday: crone. Saturday: high school girl.

And finally.

Sunday. The seventh face.

Jung Woo-jin appeared.

Unlike the homebound prior forms, this handsome one leaned against a strange bed's headboard.

Torso bare, Jung Woo-jin gazes down at a sleeping woman with empty eyes.

- Because we click so well? How'd you know I had worries? Ha...

Flat tone, yet thick loneliness and void seeped through the brief line.

- No big deal. Just asked the bartender to serve left-handed to troubled patrons. In the end, I don't know you, and you can't understand me.

Self-mocking voice.

Careful not to wake her, Jung Woo-jin rises and dresses without lingering, then leaves.

Kim Min-ji was confused.

It was breathtakingly beautiful, gasps echoing everywhere.

But no buildup, just the intro explaining the protagonist.

'This can't be the end... right?'

The movie was nearing its midpoint.

Ultimately, protagonist "Hyun-seong" confesses his secret to "Hye-ri," and they grow closer.

Date with high-school-girl Hyun-seong and Hye-ri. The diner lady's words.

- Oh my, you sisters look so close.

- Ahaha! Auntie, we look like sisters?

Unlike Hyun-seong, who imbued every word and gesture with caution, Hye-ri was raw emotion.

- Ugh, that cracked me up. No other meaning, promise. Just funny.

Yet her considerate words drew Hyun-seong deeper.

As feelings deepened.

Hye-ri's publishing house invites famous mystery writer "Hyun-seong" for a signing/party.

Dim lights in a small venue with 50 guests.

Women in party dresses sip cocktails, chatting.

Center stage: Hye-ri and a female PD converse.

- For real? Lee Hyun-seong's that handsome? From his writing, I'd peg him as creepy-looking...

- You'll see. Hyun-seong's seriously hot.

And then.

Clack-clack.

Chatter faded into the distance as crisp shoe steps echoed through the auditorium.

First-person view: leisurely crossing the party.

Cocktail sippers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spot him, mouths agape, conversations halting.

He drew in gazes and breaths like a black hole.

Finally, reaching the center—Hye-ri fills his warm view.

- Wha—what...?

The PD gasps in shock.

Hye-ri looks up, spotting the man greeting her with his eyes.

- I didn't keep you waiting, did I?

A pleasant baritone voice.

The two smile at each other.

His loving gaze felt so heart-wrenchingly tender.

"Hah..."

Kim Min-ji couldn't hold back a ragged breath.

And she wasn't alone.