Chapter 16: Past Promises

The term “We Got Married fanatic” generally refers to people who get satisfaction from pairing others up, but for Kim Jung-woo, it carried a different meaning.

Specifically.

Even in private settings, Kim Jung-woo would shamelessly imply during drama behind-the-scenes or interviews that he was dating his female co-stars.

This led to scandals every time he filmed a drama, earning him the nickname “We Got Married fanatic.”

And now, I was facing him.

‘The last person I wanted to meet…’

As I stood still, Ko Eun-hyuk stepped forward, bowing deeply and politely greeting Kim Jung-woo.

“Hello, Sunbae-nim… I’m rookie actor Ko Eun-hyuk!”

Kim Jung-woo ignored him, turning to look at me.

Ko Eun-hyuk, with his gentle heart, visibly darkened at the dismissal. Meanwhile, Kim Jung-woo greeted me warmly, as if we were old friends.

“Hey! Bada-ssi!”

“…Hello.”

‘How does Kim Jung-woo know my name? We haven’t crossed paths in this life.’

“How do you know my name?”

“I saw your acting in The Life of a Prosecutor!”

Kim Jung-woo kept bombarding me with questions, praising my acting while completely ignoring Ko Eun-hyuk.

“Man, your emotional acting in The Life of a Prosecutor! Wow! It was amazing. I fell for you watching that. And you’re so pretty…”

“Haha… Thank you.”

Every word he said was flirting, disguised as compliments.

‘Ugh.’

So I stayed as neutral as possible, responding curtly.

“What role are you here for today?”

“…I’m here for Ewha-won.”

At the mention of Ewha-won, Kim Jung-woo stepped closer with a sleazy smile.

“Is this fate? I’m here for Min Do-hyuk.”

“…I see.”

“Such a pity. Wouldn’t it have been great if we auditioned together? Right?”

His comment made me frown.

‘He’s completely dismissing Ko Eun-hyuk.’

Ko Eun-hyuk looked down, dejected, like a sad puppy, reminding me of myself in my past life.

‘I have to look out for my partner.’

Ko Eun-hyuk is a hundred times better than Kim Jung-woo.

“…Well.”

“Hm?”

“My partner, Ko Eun-hyuk-ssi, gave a great performance at the audition.”

“…What?”

“Of course, you’re a great actor too, Sunbae-nim.”

My words, balancing flattery and sharpness, made Kim Jung-woo’s expression shift like he was on a rollercoaster.

Honestly, it was kind of funny. I used to respect him as a sunbae, but now he seemed like a leech chasing rookie actresses.

Continuing with insincere words made my stomach churn.

“We’ll be going now.”

“…What, now?”

“Yep. Bye.”

I grabbed Ko Eun-hyuk and hurried to the elevator, practically fleeing.

Once out of Kim Jung-woo’s sight, I felt refreshed, the earlier nausea gone.

“Hey, Eun-hyuk-ssi, you okay?”

“…Uh, y-yeah?”

Just starting his acting career, he seemed shaken, stammering, likely never treated like this before.

“Some sunbaes ignore you like that. Don’t let it get to you.”

“…..”

“Those who dismiss juniors will regret it when I succeed.”

Ko Eun-hyuk looked at me quietly, catching my meaning.

“So, see you on the drama.”

“Yes! See you on the drama.”

The results were still pending, but whatever.

‘What about the lines?’

Ewha-won’s role had a ton of lines, I recalled.

★★★

The next day, as Save Me’s casting confirmation articles dropped, online communities buzzed.

[(Save Me) Casts a Slew of Rookie Actors.]

Female Lead: Yoon Hee-ae

Male Lead: Song Heo-jun

Supporting Female Lead: Im Bada

Supporting Male Lead: Ko Eun-hyuk

– They cast a ton of rookies for Save Me? Lee Mi-na’s bold, and Director Kang Jo-jo rarely uses rookies.

– Yoon Hee-ae as a chaebol third-gen? This drama’s gonna hit big now.

– Song Heo-jun? His acting’s solid, matches well with Yoon Hee-ae.

– Im Bada’s next role is a chaebol third-gen? Didn’t see that coming

– Doesn’t suit her?

– ? I think it suits her.

– Im Bada’s acting is great for a rookie, but with Yoon Hee-ae and Song Heo-jun, she’ll face comparisons.

– Ko Eun-hyuk is handsome.

– What? Are they shading Im Bada? Why are these comments like this lol

– Because she’s good haha

The community’s shade felt like proof of my acting skills as I read the script.

My phone buzzed repeatedly, showing “Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim” on the screen.

[Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim: Junior^]

[Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim: Do well, okay~?]

[Me: Yes, I’ll do my best, Sunbae-nim.]

[Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim: No prob~]

His message meant the articles were out.

[Actor Im Bada Signs Exclusive Contract with H Entertainment

– Rookie actor Im Bada has signed an exclusive contract with H Entertainment, set to continue her acting career in earnest.

– Her performances in The Life of a Prosecutor and Youth 2015 showcased her acting prowess.

– H Entertainment expressed a genuine desire to sign Im Bada for her ability to tackle diverse genres, pledging full support for her acting career.]

– LOL Knew she’d go to H Entertainment.

– Are they dating?

– Haha Cheon Ian posted on SNS calling her his “dear junior” to shut that down.

– What?

– Trying so hard to bash Im Bada lol

– Paranoid much.

– They’re brainwashing themselves that a female actor’s skills don’t matter and she got in through dating Cheon Ian haha

– Haha Im Bada’s dominating among rookie actresses rn.

– Our Bada’s the actor directors are dying to work with.

– Ugh.

– Good thing Cheon Ian clarified on SNS.

[Me: Thank you, Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim.]

[Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim: I got you~ Do well.]

[Me: Yep.]

After a quick thank-you, I grabbed the script and read it. This scene was tricky, so I reviewed it multiple times.

[#21. D’s House.

Ewha-won lies on the sofa, annoyed, staring at her phone screen. The screen shows a photo of Lee In-hwa and Seo Min-sung.

Ewha-won: (looking at the photo) “…Good thing unnie and I have different face types.”]

Her lines were mostly monologues like this.

Pausing, I propped my chin and muttered.

“…49 minutes per line. 49 minutes.”

It takes 49 minutes to memorize one line. My head spun. The script reading shoot was coming up…

Clutching my head, I heard the wall clock’s ticking.

Ding!

An alert sounded, and a pink, glowing system window appeared.

[Would you like to use a skill?]

As if entranced, I asked the window.

“…Skill?”

The window changed, responding.

[Skill: Time Travel]

[Effect: Memorize lines during time travel. [See More]]

The new skill’s effect was huge.

With fast-paced shoots or last-minute scripts, time was always tight—this skill meant everything.

‘This’ll make things way easier.’

I tapped [See More].

[Activates a buff that stops time upon use.

However, using the skill builds fatigue, triggering debuffs based on stopped time.]

‘Debuffs?’

[Example provided.]

“Ugh!”

A sudden headache and gut-wrenching pain hit. Blood trickled from my nose and mouth.

[This example reflects the effect of stopping time for 60 hours. Debuffs stack based on fatigue as follows:]

[20 hours: Headache

40 hours: Nosebleed

60 hours: Coughing blood

80 hours: Fainting]

I frantically grabbed tissues to wipe my mouth.

The system window reappeared, urging me.

[Would you like to use the skill?]

One line takes 49 minutes. A week to memorize and master episode 1’s script. I glared at the glowing window.

‘I have to.’

What other way is there? In this situation, I have to do something. Will divine intervention come if I sit still?

“I’ll do it.”

Practice is the only way.

[Activating skill ‘Time Travel.’]

The wall clock’s ticking slowed, then stopped.

A translucent barrier surrounded me.

I instinctively knew—this was a separate space where I couldn’t touch objects or affect the outside.

‘I feel like I can do this.’

With confidence, I opened the script as a clock floating in the air ticked up from [00:00:00].

I began reading.

One line for 49 minutes.

Then another for 49 minutes.

If it didn’t stick, I traced the words with my finger. Memorize, recite, memorize again.

“Goddamn idiots.”

Ewha-won’s tone was rubbing off on me. But with gains came consequences.

[Skill usage has exceeded 40 hours.]

Fatigue built, and a nosebleed started. I stuffed tissue in my nose and deactivated the skill.

[Skill deactivated.]

[Rest for 24 hours to reset fatigue.]

I couldn’t keep going.

The pain from coughing blood was unbearable.

★★★

The next day.

As the system advised, I slept deeply, ate well, and recovered.

Just as I was about to use Time Travel again, Yeom Hae-jin messaged me.

[Yeom Hae-jin: Bada, Kim Jin’s drama airing time might clash with ours? (shocked emoji)]

[Me: That drama?]

[Yeom Hae-jin: Yeah, the drama I’m doing.]

Hae-jin’s drama was set for next year. Clashing with Kim Jin’s?

Wait, my mind raced. I grabbed a calendar, estimating when The Tormented Him and the Happy Her aired.

July next year.

Hae-jin’s drama was delayed from its original early next-year slot in my past life.

[Me: No way, Hae-jin, July next year?]

[Yeom Hae-jin: Yup! Kim Jin said July.]

A bold idea hit me—one to crush Kim Jin.

[Me: Hae-jin, can you show me the drama script?]

Despite the penalty, with the Time Travel skill, I had time to review the drama, Young Young. I could jump to the next project without issue.

[Yeom Hae-jin: Anytime, girl! I’ll send the script to your agency!!!!!]

[Me: Thanks, Hae-jin.]

[Yeom Hae-jin: No prob. I’m grateful. I’m a rookie director, and the writer’s new too, so we’re struggling. You joining would be huge. (crying emoji)]

[Me: I’ll treat you to beef later. Thanks.]

Hae-jin was a blessing. Smiling at her message, I frowned at the next one.

[Yeom Hae-jin: Oh, the female lead’s probably Ryu Byul.]

Ryu Byul? My gaze froze on her name.

[Me: She’s doing it?]

My university classmate, a rising actress. Why a rookie director’s project?

[Yeom Hae-jin: The script went to her as soon as it was out, at the production’s request.]

[Me: And?]

[Yeom Hae-jin: She loved it and said she wants to do it. (sobbing emoji)]

[Me: Got it.]

[Yeom Hae-jin: So, it’ll be a reunion for you two, huh?]

She’s doing it…?

[Me: Yeah, guess so. Hae-jin, let’s talk later.]

[Yeom Hae-jin: Sure~ (goodnight emoji)]

After messaging Hae-jin, I set the script down and stared blankly at the white ceiling.

Meeting her might be awkward.

I shook my head, pushing Ryu Byul out of my mind.

“Let’s focus on the script.”

I didn’t want to embarrass myself at the script reading shoot.