Chapter 20: Defying Doubts

The situation was already a done deal.

Kim Jung-woo didn’t listen to the explanation, too busy staring at Im Bada’s face. But if it was a situation that could’ve caused an accident, that’d be different.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

Kim Jung-woo had decided to brazen it out.

‘Shameless.’

★★★

As I expected, Kim Jung-woo hadn’t listened to my conversation with Director Kang Jo-jo.

‘To think I was intimidated by a guy like that.’

To someone like me, with no recognition, he not only threw insults as a rookie but also criticized my acting.

Was that all?

Kim Jung-woo often organized Save Me cast dinners, excluding me. When I asked the staff, they said he claimed I was sick and couldn’t attend.

I mustered the courage to confront him once.

“Sunbae-nim, I could’ve joined the dinner.”

He scoffed, “You?”

That’s the kind of jerk he was.

Looking at a slightly calmer Kim Jung-woo, I asked, “Sunbae-nim, you didn’t hear my talk with the director?”

“…Oh, I heard, but I was nervous. Don’t remember it well.”

He was clearly set on being shameless.

“I might’ve been distracted. It’s an ad-lib scene with no script, so I could get flustered.”

“…Ha.”

Director Kang Jo-jo’s sigh prompted Kim Jung-woo to reflexively bow and apologize.

“Sorry, Director… My hearing’s not great.”

“I don’t think you owe me an apology.”

“Who—oh.”

Kim Jung-woo looked up, staring at me.

“……”

“……”

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“Sorry about that.”

It wasn’t a sincere apology. Not that I’d accept one even if it was. Placing the knife on the table, I smirked.

“People can have clogged ears sometimes. I get it, Kim Jung-woo Sunbae-nim.”

“Ears… clogged?”

His brow furrowed in anger.

“You raised your hand to hit me without prior consent, didn’t you?”

“…Huh?”

His scowl softened. The staff’s scattered gazes focused on me. Seizing the moment, I spoke firmly.

“When people feel threatened, they react. Everyone has a self-defense mechanism.”

That was my part done. No matter what excuses Kim Jung-woo made, I’d planted conviction in the staff’s minds.

“I thought you were just raising your hand, but to hit me…”

“Your temper really showed.”

With at least 20 people watching, who wouldn’t have seen?

‘Feels refreshing.’

It was like a weight lifted, my chest clear. This is why you speak your mind. Holding it in only causes mental strain.

Kim Jung-woo’s fierce glare softened, and he stepped back.

“Manager! Manager!”

“Hyung-nim!”

“Why’re you so late!”

His young, rookie manager rushed over, bowing deeply. Kim Jung-woo declared filming was done and headed to his car.

Left alone, Director Kang Jo-jo approached me.

“Thanks for doing it the way I wanted, Bada-ssi.”

“No problem. But is it okay to wrap the scene like this?”

“Yeah, the scene itself was fine. Your part was good, but there’s a bit to cut. You weren’t startled?”

“I’m fine.”

The part to cut was likely Kim Jung-woo’s actions—when he raised his hand at me.

As the chaotic atmosphere settled, Ko Eun-hyuk, in a gray three-piece suit, ran over, scanning me worriedly.

“…Bada-ya, you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”

In a tiny voice, he asked, “Was this part of your plan?”

“50%?”

Half yes, half no.

My plan was to crush Kim Jung-woo with my acting. But Director Kang Jo-jo’s involvement shifted things slightly.

Before shooting, Kang Jo-jo suggested a few setups, including one where Ewha-won’s sociopathy is revealed to her ex-boyfriend, leading to their breakup.

I liked it, so he added details: if the ex gets sleazy, grab his arm and pretend to kill him with a knife.

Since it wasn’t in the script, Kang Jo-jo explained it thoroughly to Kim Jung-woo, but he was too distracted by me to listen.

“Saw my acting?”

“It was great.”

“Really? How much?”

“Like an ad-lib genius…!”

“That’s too much praise.”

“No, really!”

Ko Eun-hyuk showered me with compliments like a praise machine. Hearing it so much made me feel a bit cocky.

“Hey, kids~!”

“Hello, Director.”

Yoon Hee-ae and Song Heo-jun arrived on set.

‘No filming for them today, right?’

No scenes either.

“Hee-ae unnie, Song Heo-jun sunbae-nim? Why’re you here?”

“Oh, over there.”

Following Yoon Hee-ae’s gaze, I saw a coffee truck sent by her fans.

[HeeHee Cheers for Hee-ae]

“My HeeHee fans sent a coffee truck today. Came to check it out. But saw something unpleasant?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Why’re you sorry?” Yoon Hee-ae’s refined voice sharpened.

“I really wanted to kill him. Right?”

“…Uh, unnie?”

“Kidding.”

Every time, I think Yoon Hee-ae would’ve been perfect for Ewha-won’s role.

“But I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

As she patted my back, Song Heo-jun whispered, “Why’d that happen? I heard bits of it~.”

I explained, and he scoffed, incredulous.

“He didn’t listen to the explanation and still got mad? Throwing tantrums like that?”

“Yeah…”

“What a coward.”

Song Heo-jun, who’d filmed with Kim Jung-woo before, said it happened multiple times.

“It was so tough every time. Tsk.”

“Others can hear.”

“Let them. Nothing bad for me~.”

Yoon Hee-ae tried to hush him, but Song Heo-jun wasn’t one to be silenced.

Min Seo-eun, back from her call with the CEO, rushed over, rubbing her hands apologetically.

“Bada, I’m so sorry…”

“It’s fine.”

“Really, really sorry.”

No matter how many times I said it was okay, she insisted she shouldn’t have left, hugging me tightly.

Her hug was so strong my lips puckered like a bird’s beak. I tried to break free, but she wasn’t letting go.

To change the subject, I asked, “By the way, wasn’t Cheon Ian supposed to do the cameo? What happened?”

“Kim Jung-woo’s agency is an investor in this drama. That’s why they could swap him in quickly.”

So that’s why he was here…

“Unnie, can I…”

“No, you’re not escaping.”

“Okay…”

Since it came to this, I stayed in Min Seo-eun’s warm embrace. Human warmth is so comforting.

Just then, a notification popped up during a quiet moment.

[Sub-Quest ‘Prove Yourself to Kim Jung-woo Through Acting’ Completed.]

[Reward Obtained.]

[Points: 2]

Got 2 points pretty easily. Felt satisfying too.

This drama taught me something. I knew which stats to boost.

<im bada>

Appearance: B+ ▲

Acting: A ▲

Immersion: C ▲

Vocalization: C ▲

Charisma: F ▲

Affinity: C ▲

I’d raise Acting and Appearance one level each.

<im bada>

Appearance: A

Acting: A+

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t survive in this drama.

Min Seo-eun, still holding me like a fish in a net, tilted her head.

“Something’s off?”

“Huh?”

She examined my face, making a curious sound.

“Something on my face?”

“No, it’s you, but…”

“It’s me.”

“Your features seem sharper somehow…”

I hadn’t checked a mirror, so I didn’t know how my face changed.

“Whatever, our Bada’s pretty anyway.”

“Ugh.”

So cheesy. I rubbed my arm, and she laughed loudly.

I was excited for tomorrow’s episode 3 filming and the press conference in two months.

My first press conference.

“Seo-eun unnie, I’m going to the press conference, right?”

“…Dreaming already?”

“Huh? I haven’t dreamed yet.”

“Of course you’re going. How could you not?”

So thrilling.

So thrilling!

★★★

[(Save Me) Press Conference: Im Bada and Ko Eun-hyuk in Gray Suits]

– Bada’s first press conference, trembling with Ko Eun-hyuk

– Ko Eun-hyuk’s first too haha

– Rookies

– Song Heo-jun and Yoon Hee-ae watching them like they’re adorable

[(Save Me) Yoon Hee-ae: “Happy to Meet a Lovable Sister”]

(Photo_Hugging_Bada)

– Bada’s face squished LOLOL

– HAHAHA

– Hee-ae unnie, me too ᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲ

– Hee-ae’s raising Bada

– They really look like sisters

– Learned something

[(Save Me) Im Bada: “The Press Conference Feels So New and Great”]

-LOLOL

-LOL

-HAHAHA

–So cute, what do we do?

–Look at that bright expression

-Wow…

-Gimme the drama already ;

–She’s too cute

-Only rookies give us this

[(Save Me) Song Heo-jun: “Look at Our Chemistry Too, Not Just Theirs”]

Yoon Hee-ae: “Here he goes again.” Savage LOL

– Save Me team’s so lovable and wholesome ᅲᅲᅲᅲ

– Lee Mi-na and Kang Jo-jo looked so pleased

– So excited for Save Me

[(Save Me) Ko Eun-hyuk: “I Don’t Die. People Misunderstood from Comments.”]

Im Bada: “I’m an emotionless sociopath, not a murderer!” Clearing up misconceptions, the press conference burst into laughter.

-Haha The second teaser made it look like Ko Eun-hyuk dies ᅲ

–Lol

ᄂHAHAHA

ᄂLOL

– A drama confirming the sub-male lead’s survival

Looking at the community captures Min Seo-eun showed me, I felt relieved. They were excited.

Thinking about the press conference still made me shiver. Nervous, yes, but the excitement lingered.

[Min Seo-eun Unnie: (TV_Photo) Proof]

[Cheon Ian Sunbae-nim: ^^ (Save Me_Ep1_Proof_Photo)]

[CEO Min Ja-young: Watching with Seo-hyun.]

That made sense.

[Im Hoon: Yo, I’ll watch it? I’m personally tuning in o]

Why him? He must be busy with Youth 2015’s final episode shoot.

I sent a quick thanks, and the Save Me group chat exploded.

[Hee-ae Unnie: Everyone watching episode 1?]

[Song Heo-jun Sunbae-nim: Me and noona are filming, can’t watch ᅲ_ᅲ Sad!]

[Ko Eun-hyuk: My parents and relatives are over, so I might reply late. Sorry. ᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲ]

[Me: I’m watching.]

Yoon Hee-ae and Song Heo-jun sent crying emojis, saying they wanted to watch too. I laughed, looked up, and—

“Wow…”

Finally, in this life, my first supporting role in Save Me episode 1 was airing on TV.