Chapter 4
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Translator: Diva
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: 이번 생엔 남편 말고 오스카상이요 4화
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Translator: Diva
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: In This Life, Oscar Over Husband
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* * *
“Thanks to you, Eun-rae, I think I can refine the work even better. Thinking back, the character I was really attached to was ‘Suin,’ but the problem was I got too fixated on how the male lead falls for the heroine from his perspective.”
I just wanted to add Jeon Se-yeon’s project to my early filmography, but she was talking about a complete overhaul?
And on top of that—
“I want to unfold the story from ‘Suin’s’ perspective all the way through. The dialogue might increase a bit, but is that okay with you?”
It felt like I was pushing aside the male lead to take center stage.
I hesitated for a moment, stunned by the reward far bigger than I’d expected.
But in moments like this, I needed to show some actress spirit.
I bowed at a full 120 degrees.
“ entrust it to me! I’ll do my absolute best!”
And it was right then, as I lifted my head after saying that.
Something rippled in front of my eyes.
At the same time, something strange popped up...
[<Living with a Ghost> Wiki editing in progress...]
[Would you like to search the updated Wiki for <Living with a Ghost>?]
What the hell is this?
I tilted my head in confusion and lost my balance. My steps got tangled in the sudden chaos.
Just as my body was about to clumsily topple over.
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
I looked up at them.
“...!”
It clicked.
“Ha Eun-rae does better shots below 75 degrees. That opening scene—the angle was a shame.”
75 degrees.
I remembered who’d said that.
Standing before me was a man who looked more like an actor than most actors.
Still gripping my shoulder, he leaned in close to my ear and murmured,
“...Great acting.”
In that instant, goosebumps erupted all over my body.
No way.
In my past life, Park Seo-woo had never once said that to me.
Park Seo-woo released my shoulder and extended his hand to me, who stood there dumbfounded, as if offering a handshake.
“I’m Park Seo-woo, from the shooting staff.”
Park Seo-woo.
The one and only Park Seo-woo, Oscar Award winner.
The monster director in this industry who’d never bombed a single film.
Every time he entered overseas festivals, he swept up awards, never missing out on box office success or artistic merit—a greedy beast of a man.
And with looks sharper than any actor’s, there were even testimonials from premieres where actor fans snapped pics of Park Seo-woo’s face instead of their own idols.
‘This guy was just shooting staff on a film academy graduation project twelve years ago...?’
As far as I knew, Park Seo-woo was from a top university, won an award at a festival with a short film from his campus club, then steadily climbed from indies to commercial films to reach his current... no, future position.
And back then, I used to call him this.
A total asshole.
“Great work. 39 minutes 25 seconds. Your eye acting was solid, but you nailed the dialogue starting tone wrong.”
The madman who’d critique my acting before even saying hello.
Whether it was my B-movie gigs or flop morning dramas tanking in ratings, he’d watch every single one and pick them apart down to the nanosecond.
How the hell did he memorize two-hour movies to the exact minute and second, or remember which episode of a 20-parter had what acting?
S-grad alum, my ass—did he have a camera in his head or something?
And what pissed me off even more? He was somewhat reserved with other actors, never dishing out critiques like that.
‘Why only me...!’
I went out of my way to avoid running into him.
Even so, at award shows or private gatherings, Park Seo-woo always approached first.
And then he’d critique my acting like it was small talk.
“Ha Eun-rae does better shots below 75 degrees. That opening scene—the angle was a shame.”
...Should I just kill him?
Still, when I got home, I’d practice the parts he mentioned.
The jerk had a filthy personality, but his talent was the real deal.
And I wasn’t the type of actress to ignore feedback from a talented director.
No matter how much it soured my mood.
Park Seo-woo handing me a script came at the most off-the-wall timing.
Four years ago.
Right after the family debt scandal blew up and I got dropped from the lead in a major film.
[Ha Eun-rae bows head in apology amid family debt scandal... <Minor> film lead recast]
I turned off my phone for days, holed up playing games at home.
I even cracked open cup ramen I’d never touch and chugged cola like water.
Then one day, realizing I’d gained 2kg, my senses snapped back.
I turned on my phone, and texts from the agency CEO came flooding in. A ton of them.
[Eun-rae-ya. I’ll line up something even better...]
[You resting at home, right?]
All useless crap.
One text caught my eye.
[Eun-rae-ya! I got you a Park Seo-woo project! He wrote the script thinking of you! The Park Seo-woo who won at Toronto! I read it first—perfect for you!]
Park Seo-woo?
And amid the CEO’s texts, one from an unknown number.
[Got your number from the CEO. Director Park Seo-woo here. Would love to work together on this.]
That was the one and only time Park Seo-woo was ever polite to me.
And I kicked that polite request to the curb.
‘A script that’d win an Oscar Award, no less.’
All because of trash like Kim Do-woon.
I scowled, chewing over that memory.
I thought that was the end of my connection with Park Seo-woo.
Until long after the marriage, when I ran into him again.
“How could Do-woon end up with something like that? Some in-law woman showed up not long ago yapping about money. I’ve got my eye on so many better girls for my Do-woon...”
Bee Enter’s founding anniversary.
At the hotel, my mother-in-law got drunk and ranted about me in the VIP lounge.
I stood there awkwardly, listening to it all, before slipping away.
That’s when.
I ran into Park Seo-woo in the hallway.
“That’s why you shouldn’t push mismatched marriages. Plenty of well-bred actresses out there, but that one? She just stands there while I badmouth her to her face. No pride, just reading the room.”
I heard it.
Realizing Park Seo-woo had overheard every vicious word spilling from the VIP lounge, my face burned red.
I wanted to bolt from the spot.
I didn’t want that obnoxious director—who always nitpicked my acting—to see my pathetic reality laid bare.
I tried to pass by pretending not to know him.
That’s when Park Seo-woo spoke.
“No regrets?”
Turning back, I saw his twisted expression.
His usually sharp-angled face bore a rare scar of emotion.
‘Why?’
“Never thought about turning back? Is your family... really that important?”
Was he asking if I regretted passing on his project?
Yeah, must feel good for him. The actress who dissed him, stuck in this dead-end marriage.
* * *
As I looked up at Park Seo-woo, lost in those past memories.
Something weird popped up in front of my eyes again.
[<Park Seo-woo> Wiki editing in progress...]
[Would you like to search the updated Wiki for <Park Seo-woo>?]
I’d seen enough fantasy movies.
They call stuff like this.
The mysterious power that appears after regression.
And powers are best when you use them.
‘Yes.’
With my answer, the wiki window opened.
Under Park Seo-woo’s handsome profile pic from twelve years later, standard wiki info like birthday and clan scrolled by fast.
<Interviews & Quotes>
Q. Any actor you remember fondly, or one you’d like to work with next?
A. I’ve worked with so many great actors, it’s hard to pick one. But there is someone I hope to collaborate with someday. Back in school, I got a chance to see an audition tape by coincidence, and those eyes stuck with me. I write thinking of her every time. Not sure if she knows. (NEW!)
The updated part shimmered with light.
And beyond the translucent window, Park Seo-woo was looking at me.
“Great acting. Especially your eyes—they were incredible.”
Praise I’d never heard from Park Seo-woo before.
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