Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Does This Even Work?
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Does this even work?
The 'angel' standing before her
Her lifesaver, and
The enigmatic woman presumed to have delivered that utterly unexpected performance.
"Hello. I'm Chae Soo-jeong, Seon-hwa's mom. It's truly an honor to meet you like this, Yu-ra."
"…"
She offered a picture-perfect smile and a light greeting.
Seeing the woman named Chae Soo-jeong, Ha Yu-ra found herself momentarily speechless.
Ha Yu-ra, who hadn't even thought to return the greeting, just stood there with her mouth slightly agape.
At that moment, watching Yu-ra like that, Chae Soo-jeong pulled something out from the plastic bag she was carrying and handed it over.
"Here, Yu-ra. Have one yourself. It's not much I can do right now while everyone's working so hard."
With those words, Soo-jeong handed Yu-ra one of the drinks from the bag.
At her gesture, Yu-ra snapped back to life as if a switch had finally flipped, hurriedly accepting it.
"Th-thank you."
Her throat had been parched from the tension, so Yu-ra immediately cracked it open and gulped it down.
A plain old vitamin drink, nothing special.
Yet somehow, in this moment, the familiar taste felt sweeter and more refreshing than ever.
With the sugar and hydration kicking in, Yu-ra regained a bit of her composure.
Right after, her gaze shifted to Soo-jeong, who was now handing out drinks to PD Lee Dong-cheol and the other staff nearby.
"Thank you."
"We'll enjoy it."
A sip of something cold during a hectic shoot was a huge morale boost in so many ways.
As the brief breather lingered, Yu-ra clutched the empty bag and cautiously approached Soo-jeong.
She had plenty she wanted to say.
Thanks for saving her.
How she managed to act so brilliantly.
And... though it was unlikely, who exactly was she?
The problem was, she couldn't sort out which to say first.
As the distance closed, Yu-ra stealthily gauged Soo-jeong's mood without daring to speak.
At that moment.
"Ahem. Ms. Chae Soo-jeong. It looks like Ms. Ha Yu-ra has something to say."
"Oh, yes."
"!"
A word from the youngest writer, who had been observing the situation.
It seemed like an attempt to smooth things over, but the sudden intervention left Yu-ra flustered in an instant.
And then.
"Is something the matter, Yu-ra?"
"Uh... I... um... that is..."
Soo-jeong's voice was calm beyond measure.
In response, Yu-ra stuttered like a buffering video before finally voicing the first thing that came to mind, softly.
"Th-that is... thank you. Back on the stairs... I almost had a really bad accident. I'd like to repay you somehow. If there's anything you need, please let me know."
"It was just the right thing to do. Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're not hurt."
"Ah..."
Soo-jeong brushed off the thanks lightly and expressed concern for her instead.
For Yu-ra, who had lived among people constantly vying for her favor, Soo-jeong's response stirred a deep emotion.
It wasn't something she could put into words exactly, but a poignant ache in a corner of her heart.
Steeling her wavering feelings once more,
Yu-ra composed herself as if acting, steadying her voice with gravity.
"Um... well then. If you ever need anything in the future, please tell me. I'll gladly help."
"Yes, got it."
Soo-jeong received the substantial offer as casually as a joke.
Feeling her face heat up more with each subtle reaction from her, Yu-ra brought up the next thing on her mind.
A matter of great importance and seriousness to her.
To that end, she handed Soo-jeong the phone she'd borrowed from the youngest writer.
"The Queen Consort in there... that's you, right, Ms. Soo-jeong?"
"Yes, that's from my daughter's audition. I played the Queen Consort role."
"As I thought..."
Chae Soo-jeong confirmed what Yu-ra had half-expected.
With an even more serious expression, Yu-ra asked cautiously.
"If it's not too rude... could you perform that acting one more time?"
"This acting?"
"Yes. It feels a bit different from mine... I'd like to reference it."
Of course, it was a white lie.
In truth, it wasn't just different in style—it was a clear difference in level.
She phrased it that way out of lingering pride and a trace of doubt.
And to Yu-ra's request,
"Sure, if that's what you want."
Soo-jeong replied with astonishing lightness.
No, with a voice that oddly carried a hint of delight.
And then.
"Then, I'll show you right now."
"Pardon? Ah... yes. If you can, right now. Please do."
Soo-jeong's declaration to perform right here on the spot.
Yu-ra nodded despite her renewed bewilderment, but inwardly, her doubts grew even larger.
'This fast? No way... Even I need at least a few minutes to get into the emotions. How could she...'
Harboring questions, suspicions, and a sliver of anticipation, Yu-ra watched as Soo-jeong settled with Chae Seon-hwa for the performance and closed her eyes.
But then.
"…!"
Less than ten seconds later, Soo-jeong slowly opened her eyes.
At the same time, the atmosphere around her shifted in an instant.
The vaguely mysterious Chae Soo-jeong from moments ago was gone.
A woman of elegance, dignity, laced with a thread of solitude.
Queen Consort Seo Yu-ha.
The very presence Ha Yu-ra had been envisioning all along.
The one she'd strived to emulate more perfectly was standing right there.
'Ah... no way... Does this even work?'
What followed was Chae Soo-jeong's...
No, Seo Yu-ha's movements.
Not on video, but right before her eyes—watching it live, Yu-ra could see it all the more clearly.
The intense sense of unity in the tiniest details she herself overlooked.
And above all.
From the moment the acting began, an overwhelming presence that swallowed everything around her like a black hole.
Watching from right in front, Yu-ra felt goosebumps rise all over her body.
This wasn't even a formal shoot—just casual dress rehearsal level.
Yet it devoured even her, an entertainer with her own standout aura, in one bite.
Wasn't this just like back in her child actress days, trembling before a great actor's sincere performance?
'She doesn't look much older than me...'
Her suspicions deepened further.
Who was this woman, and what had she been doing until now before popping up out of nowhere? Yu-ra genuinely wondered.
Ha Yu-ra couldn't help seriously considering whether to voice her final remaining question.
'Is this person really just some angel dropped from the sky?'
*
Ha Yu-ra's request to see my acting.
From the future award-winner I'd secretly admired a bit, no less—wanting to reference my acting. It put me in a great mood.
PD Lee Dong-cheol had praised me, but honestly, I still lacked full confidence in my skills.
The scars from twenty years of indifference ran deep.
So for a future top actress to make this request meant my acting was at least decent compared to my past life.
Maybe becoming a woman gave me a more striking presence,
Or perhaps the seven years of practice since reincarnation were finally paying off.
Either way, with a willing heart, I quickly got into the emotions alongside Seon-hwa.
Normally, getting into character takes quite some time.
Especially with method acting—entering the emotions is tough, but exiting them is just as hard.
Some actors even end up in therapy after going too deep into method acting.
Matching and immersing in a role is difficult and risky in many ways.
However.
In my case, I could enter emotions much faster than most.
One of the few perks of a lifelong supporting actor's life.
With limited screen time, I could appear in multiple dramas at once.
I'd even handled four roles in a single day at worst, so I was used to quick immersion.
And yet, with the pride of a professional actor,
And the long-held dream of becoming a lead someday, I poured my all into every performance.
Even so, whether due to the roles' lack of presence or my own limitations, I often got buried without notice—beyond good or bad.
These experiences made immersing in roles as natural as breathing for me.
The performance proceeded once more.
Following the inner image of the Queen Consort I'd built,
I naturally flowed into the lines and actions.
The image of a lonely woman standing alone on a hill of accumulated fatigue.
A bird with wings torn off, its pure past self irretrievably broken.
Regret over her ruined life,
Yet a single tear carrying an ugly obsession she couldn't let go—my acting ended there.
And then.
"Gulp..."
"…?"
With the sound of someone swallowing dryly, I belatedly realized.
Everyone around had their eyes fixed on me.
From Yu-ra, who'd requested it, most were breaking out in cold sweats with faces of shock.
Separate from the chatter, still holding my 'pro actor' mindset of 'this is just what you do,' I felt awkward once again.
At that moment.
"Soo... Soo-jeong!"
"?"
The next instant, Ha Yu-ra suddenly grabbed my hand.
Toward me, feeling a touch of bewilderment from her trembling grip,
The future great actress pleaded earnestly.
"Please. Teach me... teach me how to act!"
"…Pardon?"