episode_0021

Seo Eisu opened her eyes to acting.

And Yu Haneul found herself unable to avoid a showdown with Seo Eisu.

Naturally, everyone on set poured all their attention on the confrontation between the two actresses.

“Is this for real? Is Yu Haneul going to steal the scene?”

“Normally, the director would step in and restrain the supporting actress’s acting, but…”

“It’s a bit special now. Well… Yu actress has said some things to Seo actress before. Even if we have to reshoot later, we’ll just leave this scene as it is for now.”

Yu Haneul had been criticizing Seo Eisu’s acting in various ways.

At first, she subtly added comments so it wasn’t noticeable.

But as time went on, Yu Haneul’s words became more blatant.

She had become impatient when she couldn’t achieve any results in her subtle attacks against Seo Eisu.

Thus, now everyone on set knew that Yu Haneul was targeting Seo Eisu.

In this situation, Seo Eisu’s acting potential exploded.

And now, Seo Eisu was filming a confrontation scene with Yu Haneul.

There was no reason to avoid the fight.

There was no corner to escape to.

Yu Haneul had to take responsibility for the words she had spoken.

Whether she won by fighting Seo Eisu with acting.

Or whether she miserably lost to a mere supporting actress.

“Whoever wins… honestly, it’s just fun to watch from the sidelines.”

“Well, even if Seo Eisu wins, we’ll probably end up reshooting anyway.”

Even if Seo Eisu won, the possibility of that footage airing was slim.

But it didn’t matter.

“So what? If it doesn’t air, rumors will spread throughout the industry.”

That was true.

Just a supporting role.

And losing to a rookie actress in terms of acting skills.

Such embarrassment would never be seen again.

“Hehe. If I had popcorn, I’d enjoy watching it crumble.”

Some watched just out of interest.

“I honestly hope Seo Eisu wins. Yu Haneul, she’s a bit unlucky.”

Some watched with malice.

“Haneul… it’s okay. Even if the result isn’t good, the company will take care of it and prevent rumors from spreading.”

“Oppa, please be quiet. Do you think the company will silence every staff member? Just be quiet instead of making a fuss.”

Some watched with desperation.

Each focused on their own thoughts and attitudes towards the outcome of the battle.

“Seo Eisu.”

“Why are you calling me?”

Shin Jihu was no different from the others.

“Everyone’s in chaos… aren’t you fazed at all? Aren’t you nervous?”

“Nervous?”

“You’re up against Yu Haneul. You have to win. Winning is like hitting the jackpot for a rookie actress.”

“Is there winning and losing in acting? I didn’t know that.”

“Hmm?”

Until Seo Eisu asked.

There was winning and losing in acting.

Shin Jihu was speechless at the unexpected question.

He was at a loss for words.

“Well, I don’t really understand that. I just want to act quickly now.”

Seo Eisu said, her eyes sparkling.

Like a child who had just discovered an exciting toy.

She was eagerly anticipating the moment when she would act innocently.

As an actress, Seo Eisu’s greatest strength was her clear emotional expression.

She could convey exactly how she was feeling at the moment to the viewer in the most intuitive way.

And she was doing that now.

‘Ah.’

Shin Jihu swallowed a breath.

He could feel Seo Eisu’s emotions so vividly.

She was just hoping now.

She wanted to act.

She was excited and thrilled about acting.

And then, she suddenly shrugged her shoulders.

“Um. By any chance.”

She asked cautiously.

“Did I say something strange again?”

“…No. Not at all.”

How many strange things had Seo Eisu done so far?

She wasn’t completely clueless either.

So she asked, worried that she might have said something silly again this time.

With that worry, Shin Ji-hoo nodded.

“It’s not strange at all. If anything…”

The real strange ones are probably the other people.

Whether it’s about winning or losing.

Or about losing face.

While everyone else was distracted by such trivial matters, only the acting novice Seo Yi-soo was focusing on the essence of acting itself.

Not the top stars, not anyone else, just my actor.

“Hmm. Is there something you need to win? If so, I’ll try harder.”

“No, not at all. Just enjoy it as you have been.”

Because it’s good.

Because this person is my actor.

Shin Ji-hoo decided not to think about anything else.

Just told them to enjoy it.

Actors just need to shine in their acting.

Winning or losing, fame.

Those trivial things are the manager’s responsibility.

***

Episode 6.

#New 51.

-Finale

While Cha Yeon-soo falls into scandal.

The drama starring Ye-na (Yoo Haneul) records nationwide success.

It was so successful that the broadcasting station reserved a large reception hall in a famous hotel for the finale.

It was a party.

Reporters filled the room.

The attending actors were dressed in elegant attire, enjoying the party.

In such a place, a woman appeared.

It was Cha Yeon-soo.

Originally, she couldn’t come here.

The party was strictly managed to allow only those who were formally invited.

To enter the party.

Cha Yeon-soo decided to seek help from an old acquaintance.

It wasn’t a good relationship.

She used to be an actress who served as her maid before her downfall.

“So, Cha Yeon-soo is asking for my help? You’re finished now.”

The actress who received Cha Yeon-soo’s call appeared, mocking Cha Yeon-soo’s situation where she couldn’t even attend a party without permission.

Before her downfall…

When she couldn’t even meet her eyes.

To hide that past, she mocked Cha Yeon-soo even more blatantly.

And while receiving such mockery, Cha Yeon-soo…

“Well, that’s how it is.”

Smiled brightly.

***

“…Smiling?”

The face of the woman who was mocking me stiffened.

In this situation, my laughter seemed incomprehensible to her.

“What else can I do but smile? More importantly, can you let me in?”

I casually asked about the matter.

The woman’s face relaxed.

Momentarily overwhelmed by my laughter.

But eventually, she realized that without her permission, I couldn’t enter the party.

“Heh.”

She made a smug expression.

Looking down on me, she said.

“Why are you asking for permission like that?”

“What do you want?”

“I’ve always disliked how you speak informally to me. I’m older than you. Just call me unni, why treat me like an unni?”

Politely.

With respect.

She asked me to speak politely.

Maybe she didn’t know that it might be a situation where she should feel humiliated.

But I just did as she wanted.

“Sure. If you want. If it’s a request, will you let me in, unni?”

“Haha. Are you really going to do that? Cha Yeon-soo, you’ve really hit rock bottom, haven’t you?”

The mockery deepened.

She seemed to want revenge.

It seemed like she wanted to repay all the hardships she had experienced while serving as my maid.

Every time she opened a door leading to the party.

She gave me all sorts of humiliating orders.

Orders that would hurt my pride.

I…

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

“Got it, unni.”

I complied with all of them.

Without changing my expression, I did everything she asked.

“…Huh.”

At this point, she couldn’t help but feel that something was off.

At first, she enjoyed my misfortunes with a smirk.

But as I followed each of her orders.

One by one.

As I willingly followed her orders and got closer to the hall where the finale was taking place.

Her face was gradually becoming weary.

Overwhelmed by nonchalantly enduring humiliation, I was engulfed.

I am Cha Yeon-soo.

Even though I have lost everything I had now.

That doesn’t mean I have changed as a person.

I was still the same woman who could make people happy with just one expression, and sometimes make them tired of fear.

“…….”

It seems like she has finally realized that fact now.

Trembling with a disheveled face.

I, who endured this humiliation with a smiling face.

Now seemed worried about what I would do when I meet Kang Ye-na (Yoo Ha-neul).

From now on, with everything that will happen, she will also bear a certain responsibility for letting me in.

She finally realized that.

Anyway.

Stupid.

No wonder I couldn’t even play the role of a maid properly.

“So, what should we do next, unnie?”

I deliberately addressed her as unnie at the end of each sentence.

I was appealing with my whole body that she was doing as she was told.

“Um, there.”

“Yes, unnie. Please tell me.”

“I, I was wrong. Let’s stop here.”

“…? What did unnie do wrong? Come on, let’s go.”

I forcibly dragged her, who had turned into ice, into the hall.

All eyes were on me.

Some were puzzled by my appearance.

Some mocked me.

Some frowned.

I walked into the hall as if nothing had happened.

Avoiding the waist, I headed to my destination without being servile.

“…Cha Yeon-soo sunbaenim.”

There, Kang Ye-na was present.

Manager Oh Han-sung sunbae was guarding her side.

“Hello?”

I smiled, revealing myself.

Kang Ye-na trembled.

Like a frightened puppy.

“…….”

“…….”

The party venue fell silent as if frozen.

Everyone was looking at us.

More specifically, at me.

I guess they were watching me with fear, worry, and annoyance, wondering what I would do here.

There was no need for that.

I just wanted to make a final appearance on this stage.

It’s not a lie.

I even rejected the manager’s hand that was extended to me.

There is no way to recover.

My fate ended here.

All that was left for me was to be driven out of this stage.

But, everything has an ending.

Even my exit was the same.

As a top star.

As a villain.

Wasn’t it me who tried to ruin Kang Ye-na’s future just because I didn’t like her for some reason?

As a consequence, wasn’t I the loser who lost everything by being defeated by Manager Oh Han-sung sunbae?

That’s who I was.

I had one last thing to do.

“Congratulations.”

I congratulated her, giving her the most splendid smile I could muster.

And that congratulatory remark marked the beginning.

I unraveled the last words I held in me one by one.

Each time, the faces of those who watched me turned pale.

“…….”

“…….”

Everyone watching.

They just looked at us, at me, in astonishment.

I revealed myself like that and adorned my end.

***

After the filming ended, no one spoke about the victory or defeat.

But anyone with eyes could tell who had won.

And a week after Seo Ee-soo returned to Seoul after finishing all the filming schedule, the video containing the results was broadcast.

That day, a brief article appeared on a portal site.

[My Manager Seo Ee-soo, an unprecedented villainess appears on a TV show.]