Chapter 22: New Beginnings

The finale of Save Me has aired, and I’m taking a short break.

A pile of scripts sits on the table.

Before my regression, Hae-jin left the industry after The Life of a Prosecutor. For some reason, the future has changed.

‘Your changed life, your drama—I’m looking forward to it.’

While slowly flipping through scripts, my phone buzzed.

[Min Seo-eun Manager: What’s with Director Kim Jin?]

[Me: He’s always like that.]

Min Seo-eun now cringed at the mere mention of Kim Jin. Despite refusing his offers for various reasons, he persistently called, and when she blocked his number, he showed up in person.

[Min Seo-eun Manager: He’s a total creep. So persistent. Look at this. (Article_Link)]

I clicked the article link she sent.

“What the…”

[Im Bada, Joining The Tormented Him and the Happy Her?]

The title implied I might join, but the content was just wishful thinking on their part.

Dumbfounded, I read on as my phone buzzed again.

[Min Seo-eun Manager: We’re putting out a rebuttal article, so don’t worry.]

[Min Seo-eun Manager: Here! Rebuttal article! Rest well, Bada-ya. (Article_Link)]

[H Entertainment: “Im Bada’s next project has not been decided.”]

While checking the rebuttal, I noticed related news titles mentioning both Kim Jin and Kim Jung-woo.

[Kim Jung-woo: “I’m sorry to fans who were disappointed, I’ll make up for it with good work…”]

[Kim Jung-woo Joins The Tormented Him and the Happy Her: “I’ll show a great performance.”]

Despite his drunk driving, public sentiment toward Kim Jung-woo wasn’t too harsh. His volunteering and donations made him seem genuinely repentant.

But soon after announcing his comeback, another scandal erupted.

Kim Jung-woo’s carefully rebuilt image, backed by his agency’s efforts, was shattered by his own actions.

[(HOT) Kim Jung-woo: “I almost raised my hand at an actress during a scene.”]

– Is this self-destruction?

– Over-immersed or not, how do you even think of raising a hand and spewing that nonsense?

– Where’s the respect and courtesy for the other actress? lol

– That Save Me staff post on the anonymous board was real.

– He really said that?

(Interview_Link)

– Damn? He was in Save Me recently, so the actress is Im Bada, right?

– Yup, looks like he tried to hit her during a scene.

– ? Lol Wow, anyone defending Kim Jung-woo seems brain-dead.

It was clear he’d chosen his own downfall.

As the interview spread like wildfire, Kim Jung-woo clarified in a fan live broadcast that it was a joke.

He should’ve just denied it. The “joke” excuse made fans colder, and public outrage grew, but no news of his removal came.

“They’re keeping Kim Jung-woo despite this…”

There must be a shortage of male actors wanting to join the drama. Maybe, unlike the past, casting the female lead was proving difficult.

[Min Seo-eun Manager: (Article_Link)]

[Min Seo-eun Manager: Isn’t Kim Jin a total nutcase? Calling like crazy, and now drama insiders say Jo Jang-hee’s casting is already widely rumored.]

Another message from Seo-eun. She seems to hate Kim Jin more than I do now.

[Jo Jang-hee, the Happy Lead in The Tormented Him and the Happy Her?]

[Jo Jang-hee: “Nothing decided for The Tormented Him and the Happy Her.”]

I clicked the Jo Jang-hee article and skimmed it.

[Jo Jang-hee said she received the script for The Tormented Him and the Happy Her, abbreviated as TornHappy, a year ago.]

A year ago…

‘…Of course. That consistent guy. He always had Jo Jang-hee in mind for the female lead.’

Except for Kim Jung-woo’s casting, it was the same as my past life.

No, even that might change slightly.

Without me as a bargaining chip for budget negotiations, Jo Jang-hee would likely be cast immediately.

[Me: Whatever, I wasn’t going to do it anyway. Don’t stress too much. (Smiling_Emoji)]

I replied to Seo-eun, brushing back bangs that poked my eyes.

[Min Seo-eun Manager: How’s the rookie director’s script?]

Among the pile of scripts, the only one by a rookie director was YoungYoung.

[Me: Just looking it over.]

[Min Seo-eun Manager: What do you think? Will it do well? (Question_Mark_Emoji)]

Honestly, I don’t know how this drama will fare. In my past life, it didn’t even get picked up.

Hae-jin’s drama, made by a rookie director and writer, was rejected by major networks and relegated to a cable channel.

At that time, cable dramas were often niche genres—mysteries, fantasies, or sitcoms with divisive appeal.

This drew in drama fans tired of mainstream networks’ repetitive structures.

Perhaps grasping this niche, Hae-jin’s revised script felt fresh even to me, with my future memories.

The title: YoungYoung.

Genre: Joseon-era time-travel mystery.

Kim So-hyun (female lead) reads a book about the missing Prince Yeong and wakes up about to be buried alive in the Joseon era.

There’s a Joseon Kim So-hyun who looks identical to her modern self. But why was Joseon Kim So-hyun buried, and why do her family and others act suspiciously?

Something seems hidden.

That’s the plot of episode 1 I’m reading.

Kim So-hyun plays Ryu Byeol, and I…

‘A role as Ryu Byeol’s childhood friend, secretly in love with Prince Yeong.’

Also, an ally to the time-traveling modern Kim So-hyun. A true sub-female lead who loves but fears losing friendship.

Hae-jin said the role has few lines and screen time—10 to 15 minutes per hour at most.

She apologized for it being closer to an extra than a supporting role, but I liked it. It’s mostly expression-based acting with minimal lines.

Two things bothered me: who’d play the male lead and the mother.

The most likely candidate for the mother was senior actress Tae Jin-hwa.

She’d been in seclusion, not filming dramas or movies, but recent rumors suggested a historical drama comeback.

Instead of agonizing, I called Hae-jin, who said nothing was confirmed.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

I could handle any actor normally, but Tae Jin-hwa was different.

‘What do I do!’

If asked who I admire most, it’s Tae Jin-hwa. Who I’d want to work with? Tae Jin-hwa.

My acting career would be a corpse without her. Just the chance to work with her made me want to do this drama.

In my past life, I met her once.

Before PTSD, while building my filmography as an extra.

A drama director took my lines and gave them to a supporting actor he was close to.

Without a word of warning.

Thirty minutes before shooting, my role vanished.

The staff who informed me said it was the director’s call and shook their head.

Frustrated, I confronted him, saying it wasn’t fair, but he muttered, “What’s one line…”

Looking back, I get his perspective. He didn’t want trouble with the director over something unrelated.

Everyone avoided my gaze, preparing for the shoot.

Feeling helpless and frustrated, I stood frozen when Tae Jin-hwa’s voice cut through.

“Weren’t those lines originally hers?”

She was referring to me. Suddenly, all eyes were on me.

Holding the script, she told the director, “She seemed to act better. Why take her lines?”

“Jin-hwa-ssi, those lines suit the supporting actor better, so we changed it.”

“Why suddenly? She wasn’t bad.”

“…Well.”

The director fumbled, brushing it off, but didn’t return my lines.

Even as filming started without me, I stayed, watching her act.

It felt like I had to.

Absorbing her performance—delicate expressions, vocalization, gestures, flawless acting—I was in awe.

I prayed for the day we’d act together.

After watching her scenes, I quietly left for home when her manager approached.

“Hey, noona told me to give you this.”

“…What?”

“For transportation.”

It was too much for transportation—500,000 won.

“She knew you were watching her act. Said she wants to meet you as a great actor.”

“Please tell her thank you.”

“Sure! Get home safe!”

I couldn’t spend that money. The amount wasn’t the point—it felt like comfort and recognition. Her kindness gave me courage.

That warmth pushed me to give my all, even as an extra or minor supporting role.

If Tae Jin-hwa is in YoungYoung, I’d work hard. This life, I want to show her my acting.

Burning with determination, a sub-quest window dinged and sparkled.

[Sub-Quest Activated.]

[Sub-Quest: Appear on Cheon Ian’s Variety Show.]

[Points: 0.5]

Cheon Ian? A variety show out of nowhere?

“Oh… was it this time?”

He usually avoided variety shows but hosted one.

A healing cooking show in a countryside house, inviting close friends to cook lavish meals.

A must-do for actors dipping into variety, called Kitchen Warrior.

A show about cooking, chatting, and fun in a cozy setting. Actors who rarely did variety appeared, delighting fans.

But why me? As questions swirled, Min Seo-eun called.

– Bada-ya, wanna do a variety show?

“What show?”

– Ian said he wants to do one with you.

“The healing variety show…?”

– How’d you know!

“…It’s been in articles lately.”

– Oh? The PD wants to meet you too.

“Me?”

What an odd PD.

Cheon Ian has connections with big-name actors—why me?

This is bad. I have zero variety sense.

– Wanna do it? No, you have to. Ian threatened to convince you if you don’t.

It’s great for viewership and building a rookie actor’s presence, but still.

“Unnie, I have no variety sense…”

– It’s a healing show, perfect to try. Don’t worry, Ian will guide you.

‘I’ve only watched variety shows…’

When I had no shoots or was bored, I watched actor variety shows.

That’s it.

“Unnie, I—”

I was about to say I can’t do variety when—

– Oh, right! News you’ll love.

“What?”

– Tae Jin-hwa’s joining too.

“Tae… Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim?”

– Yeah. Ian’s close to her, so she agreed.

‘Crazy.’

Variety sense? Who needs it.

“Unnie!”

– Geez, you scared me. What?

Gripping my phone, I shouted, “I’ll do it! I’ll do Kitchen Warrior! I really will! For real!”

– Really?

“Yup!”

I’d go even if it meant facing death.

★★★

Tae Jin-hwa. 23 years as the top actress. Star of a 10-million-ticket film, a 40% ratings drama.

Holding every title, she vanished for five years but agreed to a variety show due to her friendship with Cheon Ian.

Stepping out of the car, greeting staff, she turned her head.

A small, black cat-like girl was there.

“Hello, sunbae-nim!”

As the girl beamed, Tae Jin-hwa nearly patted her head.

Her manager, watching, shook their head, stopping her.

“No.”

There was a reason. The company’s image of Tae Jin-hwa differed from the real her.

“Sunbae-nim, my name is Im Bada…!”

“You.”

‘So cute.’

But she didn’t say it aloud. Staring silently, Im Bada glanced around nervously.

“Sunbae-nim?”

“……”

“Sunbae-nim?”

Even her voice was cute. Tae Jin-hwa frowned.

‘She’s adorable. What is this soft, cute kitty?’

Yes.

She was weak to cute things.