This Life is Splendid

Chapter 6

Joohyuk shrugged and said.

“I was just passing by. I live nearby.”

“ah…….”

Yeah, maybe twice. It could have been a coincidence. Our paths could have coincidentally overlapped. Yoon Joo-hyuk and I hadn’t graduated yet.

Da-eun nodded in agreement and drank the beverage. She thought it was coffee, but it tasted sweet with a faint peach scent.

The thick paper bag from earlier was still on the table, indicating that he had also bought cookies.

“You always help me.”

Da-eun bit her lips and avoided eye contact. This is the second time she’s seen me lying around in such a pitiful state.

Her cheeks flushed with belated embarrassment.

Joo-hyuk, who was quietly looking at her, muttered.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you like this.”

“… … ?”

Da-eun, who was looking at the end of the table, turned her gaze to Joo-hyuk. A smile crossed his lips as he looked at her wide-open eyes.

When Da-eun looked at him blankly, Joo-hyuk’s playful smile turned bitter.

Something was strange.

To hide her thoughtful expression, Da-eun turned her head away, lowered her head, and put the straw in her mouth.

I couldn’t understand why I felt so awkward.

It was only the second time I had seen Yoon Joo-hyuk’s playful face. Once at the hospital, and once again now.

The person I knew wasn’t like this. I only saw him for three months, about three months before his return, while I was filming an independent film for a project, but I was able to figure out his personality to some extent.

He was a man of few words, and was only focused on directing and filming, not the type to joke around or talk softly to anyone.

But now I don’t know why his playful words feel so familiar.

While Da-eun was trying to remember her memories in confusion, she suddenly heard Joo-hyuk’s voice.

“let’s go.”

He was already up from his seat, holding a bag of cookies.

“I’ll take you there.”

Da-eun, who had been quietly looking up at Joo-hyuk, slowly got up and answered.

“Well, my house is right above here.”

I was going to say that you don’t need to take me.

“huh.”

As if he knew, he naturally headed towards the glass door leading into the building. Da-eun’s feet, which had been following him, moved as if possessed.

Joohyuk, who left the cafe, naturally headed to the elevator in the center of the building.

“Do you live here by any chance?”

When Da-eun asked, wondering why the path was so familiar, he opened his mouth and pressed the elevator button.

“no.”

Joohyuk’s finger, which was pressing the button, was still wrapped in a white bandage. But the hand quickly disappeared into his pocket.

Da-eun, who was staring blankly at his hand, shook her head as if trying to shake off her complicated thoughts.

I’ve only known him for 3 months, but I can’t help but wonder how well I know him. I guess he has that kind of side to him too. Someone I know might live here.

Thinking like that, she let it go and decided to worry about him who had helped her twice.

“It… , hurts a lot, because of me… .”

“are you okay.”

He cut off Da-eun from her words of apology, saying she was sorry, and lightly touched her shoulder. His strong hand and firm gaze seemed to be telling her that there was no need to worry.

“It was a first-degree burn, and the medicine worked well and it subsided quickly.”

Joohyuk reassured her by explaining in detail as if he understood her suffering.

“I’ll take the bandage off next week.”

Just then, the elevator arrived. Joo-hyuk handed her the bag of cookies he had been holding.

“You’ll be busy from now on, so forget about useless things.”

Da-eun, holding a drink and a cookie in both hands, was pushed into the elevator by him.

Why does telling someone to forget useless things sound like they’re saying there’s no need to think about Yoon Joo-hyuk anymore?

His smile flickered faintly through the crack of the closing door.

The elevator went straight up. It was because Joo-hyuk, who had pushed Da-eun inside, had pressed the floor number.

“what?”

It was exactly the floor that Da-eun’s house was on. How did she know which floor I lived on?

I was embarrassed, but rather than feeling offended… I felt like I had forgotten something important.

For some reason, the empty elevator felt empty.

* * *

A few days later, Da-eun received a call from her agency saying that she passed the audition for .

I was worried because the writer and director didn’t look bright that day, but fortunately, it seemed like the acting she intended was conveyed well.

What a relief and thrill it was at the same time!

I imagined Hye-young’s face, completely crumpled, as the ecstasy surged through her entire body. It was the first time in my life that I felt such intense relief.

Once the full schedule was set, a manager was assigned to me by my agency. Then, I filmed a simple introduction video along with my profile.

A few days passed like that.

Da-eun was lucky enough to film a commercial for a vitamin drink.

Funnily enough, it was the first CF that Hye-young filmed before returning. It seems like the news of her acceptance for had an effect on her.

As she had hoped, one by one, Hye-young’s place was taken, and Da-eun felt unbelievable but also amazed, and her stuffy feelings seemed to ease a little.

Da-eun thought about the works that Hye-young would appear in over the next three years.

If I were to take away all the opportunities Hye-young would have, I would have to look back at what kind of work she had done. It probably wouldn’t be the same as before.

Hye-young’s opportunity, which started with , was already hers. Because of that, Hye-young’s choices will be different.

When Da-eun went out in front of the house at the appointed time, the manager who had been waiting found her and spoke to her.

“Hello, actor. I greeted you via text message, but this is my first time meeting you in person. I’m Park Do-yoon.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Da-eun.”

Da-eun raised the corners of her lips as she shook the hand that Do-yoon extended.

It was fortunate that we were in the same agency as Noh Hye-young. In the past, we had to quit the company after the accident, but now that we are in the same position, it will not be difficult to keep up with Hye-young’s progress.

“Let’s go. The filming location is not far.”

The filming location that Do-yoon told us about was a stream in Gwanak-gu.

“It’s hot, but you always have to smile. You’re a newbie. And you have to say hello well. If you just say hello well, you’re halfway there.”

The advertisement for a refreshing vitamin drink in hot weather attracted a lot of attention. So, Do-yoon, who was asking for this and that out of concern, suddenly remembered something and spoke.

“Oh, you said you were friends with Noh Hye-young?”

I expected that it would not be difficult to find out Hye-young’s whereabouts, but I didn’t expect the words to come out so quickly. Da-eun answered calmly.

“yes.”

“I hope this advertisement goes to the actor who debuted first after being hesitant between the two of them, so I hope he does well.”

“I see. That’s how it happened.” Da-eun nodded and asked while controlling her expression.

“What is Hye-young doing these days?”

I was curious whether he would audition for other shows or whether he would appear somewhere after being introduced by his agency.

At Da-eun’s words, Do-yoon glanced at Da-eun through the rearview mirror.

“You two are friends. Don’t you talk to each other?”

“I’ve been a bit awkward since the audition for .”

“ah…….”

Do-yoon pretended to know, as if it were something that would happen even if they were close when they competed for the same work.

“Actually, Hye-young also asked when the actor would start filming.”

Since Hye-young hasn’t debuted yet, she’s called ‘Ms.’, and Da-eun, although she’s scheduled to debut, has a set debut date, so she’s called ‘actress.’

If I had called Hye-young that way when talking to her, her expression would have been worth seeing.

“You seem very jealous?”

I’m glad you were able to show it off in front of other people, Hye-young.

As Da-eun laughed dryly, Do-yoon, who had been watching her for no reason, told her the news about Hye-young.

“Hye-young, you’ve been scheduled to audition for Baek I-hyun’s music video.”

Baek Hyun-hyun was a first-tier idol who reached the peak of his popularity, then ended his contract with his current agency, moved to another agency, and began working as a solo artist.

Baek Hyun-hyun’s new nest was BM Company, where Da-eun and Hye-young were.

Even before his return, I remember BM Company not being satisfied with him as an actor and reaching out to him as a singer.

“That’s good.”

Da-eun smiled brightly and turned her gaze out the window.

They had already entered Gwanak-gu, where the filming location was. Da-eun wasn’t jealous of Hye-young. She just wanted to eliminate Hye-young’s chance to rise.

Yeah, even if there’s no problem with her looks, that won’t take all the opportunities away from Hye-young.

But Da-eun had the advantage of knowing three years into the future.

Which works were box office hits, which directors had regrets about their actors.

Da-eun will now stick to this place and not waste the information she knows.

Go up as far as you can, Noh Hye-young.

Because I will always be above you.

* * *

In Gwanak-gu, there was a walking path and park created along the stream for the convenience of residents.

They were planning to control one side of the park and film a commercial.

“hello!”

Director Cha Sung-tae, who was in charge of this CF, didn’t even glance at the new actor who arrived earlier than expected and gave instructions to a nearby staff member.

“Tell them to get ready quickly and come out.”

I didn’t want to see a rookie trying to please others while smiling when it was so hot out.

Because honestly, I didn’t like it.