The consequences of regression seemed to have been quite significant. My overall sharp impression had returned.
When my stats were at ‘A,’ my face still felt a bit blurry. It didn’t have that distinct, striking quality to my eyes and nose.
I was satisfied to see the clear, vivid impression I remembered returning.
Now that my face was back to its best…
Feeling inexplicably good, I went to a portal site and searched for ‘Im Bada.’
But the articles that popped up were peculiar.
“Suppression…?”
It seemed that Director Kim Jin had given an interview related to Goegrehaenggeu.
[‘Goegrehaenggeu Director Kim Jin’ Aims to Show the Power of Network Television.]
[A Tormented Him and a Happy Her? Planning to Take the Top Spot in Ratings.]
Articles brimming with self-aggrandizement kept coming up.
“Hmm…”
The comments on the articles were no different.
-The plot already looks interesting lol
-There are a lot of similar concepts, but it feels different, so I’m looking forward to it.
-Jo Jang-hee is in it, so the drama’s guaranteed to be good. The male lead seems a bit boring, though.
It seemed the anticipation for the drama had risen due to Jo Jang-hee’s recent blockbuster movie that drew ten million viewers.
“Acting plays a big role…”
And as if to boost one side, a chain reaction of putting others down followed.
-I heard Tae Jinhwa is appearing on NTV’s cable drama this time lol, not expecting much.
└ She’s washed up, that’s why lol
└ Washed up?
└ Are you young? If Tae Jinhwa is washed up, then every actress is washed up lol
└ The era has come where Tae Jinhwa is called washed up~ lololol
└ Who didn’t do their history homework?
Comments sniping at Senior Tae Jinhwa appeared, almost like related search terms for Jo Jang-hee. It was a natural reaction since the public kept pitting the two against each other as rivals.
With similar debuts and similar careers, there were too many elements that made it easy to frame Jo Jang-hee and Senior Tae Jinhwa as rivals.
If the drama Senior Tae Jinhwa starred in aired, those blindly criticizing her would likely disappear.
But still, she’s not washed up.
“All downvoted.”
As I downvoted all the negative comments, a notification popped up saying I’d used up my daily voting limit.
“…Guess I’ll switch accounts.”
★★★
6 a.m.
I kept dozing off while getting my hair and makeup done. I’d accumulated so much fatigue from memorizing lines all night.
Since I was so tired, today’s shoot was especially important. It was a turning point for Yeonwoo.
There was a possibility that Yeonwoo’s mother was involved in the Kim Sohyun incident. Yeonwoo had secretly witnessed Lee Geum-jin going out and talking with an assassin.
Unfortunately, the assassin’s face was covered with a cloth marked with Lee Geum-jin’s emblem, a trumpet creeper.
The script was so thrilling that I couldn’t sleep.
“Miss Bada, keep your neck still.”
“…Ah, sorry.”
It’s sleep, that’s the problem. Even injecting a liter of Americano wouldn’t wake me up.
“Bada.”
It was Senior Tae Jinhwa.
“Oh, Senior Tae Jinhwa!”
“You came really early today, Bada.”
“I came early to snag the seat next to you, Senior.”
“You always know what to say.”
Then Yeom Haejin appeared in the makeup van.
“Makeup team? Please make it lighter, as I mentioned yesterday.”
“Yes.”
How much lighter are they going for?
“Director, lighter?”
“Yeah, Bada. I saw the rough cut, and the makeup was too heavy.”
True, in historical dramas, even makeup is a form of historical accuracy. Heavy makeup doesn’t bring out the period drama atmosphere well.
“But…”
“Yes?”
“Bada, I mean.”
Yeom Haejin looked at me intently with a puzzled expression.
“Your impression seems sharper. Did something change?”
“I lost some weight recently…”
I quickly clarified to avoid any misunderstanding.
“Oh, your baby fat’s gone!?”
“Well, something like that…”
“You look sharper now that you’ve lost weight.”
“You didn’t lose weight because you’re sick, right?”
Even the makeup staff looked at my face with concern.
“It’s not like that…”
I shook my head, and Yeom Haejin, looking relieved, patted my shoulder.
“Let’s talk after makeup’s done.”
As Yeom Haejin left the makeup van, Senior Tae Jinhwa quietly handed me a piece of chocolate.
“Bada, eat this if you’re low on energy.”
“Thank you, Senior.”
As I unwrapped the chocolate and put it in my mouth, savoring its sweet taste, I nearly got addicted.
“We’re acting together today.”
“…Cough. Yes?”
I almost choked on the chocolate at Senior’s words.
“How do you feel? It’s our first time acting together.”
“…Um, how I feel?”
The scene we were filming today was where Yeonwoo hears that her marriage to Lee Young has been postponed.
Still feeling guilty about Kim Sohyun, Yeonwoo inwardly feels relieved and expresses her true thoughts.
Her mother, frustrated by her kind and unambitious daughter, speaks on Yeonwoo’s behalf.
But here, for the first time, Yeonwoo gets angry and retorts to her mother’s words, making it a very important scene.
“I’m nervous.”
Senior being nervous…
‘…Somehow, that makes me even more nervous.’
“Let’s do our best for this scene.”
“…Yes.”
I swallowed hard without realizing it. My palms, resting on my thighs, were drenched in sweat.
“All done.”
I nodded while looking at the much lighter makeup.
“Senior, I’ll head down first.”
“Okay!”
I grabbed the script and stepped out of the makeup van. Taking a deep breath, I jogged around the set to shake off my nerves and overheard the staff’s conversations.
“…Today’s set.”
“The atmosphere.”
The main topic was that the set’s atmosphere was solemn.
‘…It’s almost time.’
Soon, with the airing of episode 4, there would be a production press conference.
At that press conference, the premiere of episode 1 of Yeongyeong would be held for reporters. The drama’s fate would hinge on the evaluations from those reporters.
“Filming starts in 30 minutes!”
The staff started shouting as they moved around. I was about to put my script in my bag and get ready, but…
Where’s my bag?
I looked around frantically and called for my manager, Min Seoeun.
“Unnie, where did I put my bag?”
“Here.”
“Huh?”
A pink rabbit bag.
I was at a loss for words, flustered, and before I could say anything, Unnie put the bag on me.
“You keep leaving your bag around, so I bought a new one.”
“…Uh, Unnie, thanks, but why a rabbit bag?”
“So you won’t lose it. What do you think? Isn’t it nice?”
All the bags at home were black, so I often lost them. She must have bought a bag that stands out.
I understood, but…
I looked down at the fluffy rabbit bag with a slightly embarrassed feeling.
It’s true, I probably won’t lose this one.
Min Seoeun Unnie untangled the bag’s straps and nodded with satisfaction.
“Hmm, it suits you well, as expected.”
“Thank you, Unnie. I really won’t lose my bag anymore.”
“But why did you need it? I already transferred everything from your old bag to this one.”
“Oh!”
I put the script in the rabbit bag and took out some mouthwash.
“I ate chocolate earlier, so I’m going to rinse.”
As I ran to the set’s bathroom and opened the mouthwash cap, I heard a strange conversation in the hallway.
“Hey, did you hear that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“About Ryu Byeol and Im Bada.”
I quickly grabbed the mouthwash and slipped into the last stall in the bathroom.
“What about Ryu Byeol and Im Bada? Another power abuse scandal?”
“No, not that. Celebrity power abuse isn’t new. Something else.”
“Something else? What?”
“It’s just a rumor I heard.”
‘A rumor?’
What kind of rumor? I pressed my ear against the bathroom door.
“They say they’re close friends, but apparently, they don’t get along.”
It wasn’t a rumor—it was true.
‘Well, we’re not exactly besties.’
My interest faded instantly.
“So, how don’t they get along?”
“They’re filming a drama together, and the atmosphere’s been bad the whole time, I heard.”
“…Really? Where’d you hear that rumor? From the set?”
“No, Kim Jungwoo told Director Kim Jin, and I overheard it.”
So, the source of the rumor was Kim Jungwoo.
Unless there was an audio recording or video, it was just his usual scheming, and it wasn’t interesting.
“They said at an awards ceremony that they’re close friends.”
“That’s why you can’t trust celebrities’ public images.”
Whatever. I put the mouthwash in my mouth and carefully gagged to avoid ruining my light makeup.
‘Hurry up and leave.’
“Hey, someone’s here.”
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I heard the sound of them scurrying out of the hallway, and only then did I open the door and step out.
“Phew.”
I carefully wiped the foam from my mouth with my finger.
‘So that’s their plan to attack us.’
If this incident became an issue and got reported later, I’d just need to post a photo on SNS of us getting along.
Not a group dinner photo, but one with just the two of us. I should probably contact Ryu Byeol in advance.
“Oh, wait, what time is it?”
I quickly returned to the set. As expected, 30 minutes had passed, and the filming staff were waiting for me.
“Sorry!”
I immediately placed the rabbit bag on my designated seat and checked my face in the mirror. The hair team came over and neatly fixed the stray hairs sticking out.
“Hello! Senior Im Bada!”
“Oh, Saebyeok-ssi! Where were you?”
Saebyeok bounced over to me with a smiling face.
“I just came from the makeup van.”
That’s why we didn’t run into each other.
“Finally meeting you, Saebyeok-ssi.”
“I know, right! I was so nervous.”
“Because you missed me?”
“Yes? Yes! Of course.”
There was a brief pause.
“That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“No, it’s true! I missed you, Senior!”
“Well, that’s a relief then.”
Is this what teasing a junior feels like? It’s a new kind of fun.
In my past life, some juniors openly looked down on me or ignored me. So, having a junior I can tease feels nice.
I should stop here, though. If I tease her any more, she might cry.
“I missed you too.”
“…Oh, Senior.”
“And I wanted to see your acting.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter watching her turn bright red in real-time. Teasing a junior is so much fun.
I wanted to tease her more, but…
“Hmm?”
I stopped when I noticed Senior Tae Jinhwa looking at me with a sharp gaze.
“Miss Tae Jinhwa! Miss Im Bada! Let’s do a rehearsal.”
A sudden yawn made Yeom Haejin shake her head side to side.
“Sorry. In this shoot, after Yeonwoo finishes talking with her mother, she’ll grab the arm of her maid, Chaehee, and pray.”
Originally, there was no scene where Yeonwoo prays after the conversation. It was an addition by writer Son Joo-ah.
After a few rehearsals, Yeom Haejin closed her eyes tightly and opened them again. I could feel her earnest desire in her piercing gaze.
“…Both of you, please do well in today’s shoot.”
I knelt on the floor and quietly closed my eyes.
“We’ll start filming! Let’s do our best today!”
Listening to Yeom Haejin’s voice like it was a radio, I prepared.
“Ready!”
I slightly bowed my head and opened my eyes.
“Action…!”
Then, I looked up at Senior Tae Jinhwa.
‘…From now on.’
I am Yeonwoo.
★★★
Rumors were circulating. They say the one who killed Kim Sohyun was my mother. But… last night, while playing with Chaehee at the garden, I witnessed my mother meeting a man who looked like an assassin.
It’s hard to dismiss it as a mere meeting.
There’s no way my mother could have killed her…
No way. But why does my heart feel so heavy? Is it because Sohyun returned, and everything came back?
Because there’s a rumor that someone from our family killed her? Or because I feel like I know who died?
It’s hard to face my mother.
“My daughter.”
“Yes, Mother…”
I wanted to hit my chest with my fist and ask her. But I couldn’t.
Because I’m a good daughter.
“Unfortunately, the marriage ceremony has been postponed.”
“…That’s a relief.”
It wasn’t my place to begin with. So, I just need to return it. I should, but…
“Didn’t you want it too?”
My mother sighed as if she were exasperated.
“Crown Prince Lee Young.”
“…”
“I, your mother, prepared a place for you. And now, the chance to marry!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, my mother paused for a moment, then spoke again as if she were gasping for air.
“Even though I gave you that…”
My mother was angry. Why? Why couldn’t she embrace her daughter?
“Mother, that place originally belonged to Sohyun. It’s not mine…”
At that moment, she cut me off harshly and continued.
“So what?”
Her sharp voice sliced through my words.
“Let’s assume something.”
“…Assume what?”
“If Sohyun dies again, will you say it’s your place?”
“Mother!”
Only then did I glare at her.
“Please refrain from saying such things…”
“…”
“She’s been coming to our house every day since we were young. So…”
“Stop it.”
The moment I tried to say that, my mother stood up from her seat.
“…?”
With light, graceful steps, my mother approached me and slowly bent down.
“Don’t lie.”
Her voice fell softly over my head. Under her gaze, which seemed to twist my neck with both hands, I gradually—
“When your friend died.”
“…”
“Didn’t you, my daughter, smile?”
My breath caught in my throat.