I Returned as a High School Girl

Chapter 195: Ideal Woman (2)

Today was the official announcement date of the film Spokesperson. Kang Ra-Eun as well as the actors that played characters with high amounts of screen time, Ji Han-Seok, Min Se-Min and Hwang Je-Woong, climbed up on stage for the production press conference. Including Director Seo Yong-Mun, they were all men.

Ra-Eun couldn’t help but be reminded of the Shuttered?premiere now that she was the only member of the opposite gender.

‘The lineup is the complete opposite of back then.’

The film director had been the only man at the time, but Ra-Eun was now the only woman among the members of the production press conference.

‘But well, I’m a man on the inside.’

Everyone on stage was technically of the same gender, but there likely wasn’t anyone but Ra-Eun who knew this. A staff member ran up to the stage to give Ra-Eun a blanket to cover her legs before she sat down on the fairly tall chair.

“Here you go, Miss Kang.”

However, Ra-Eun respectfully declined the staff member’s consideration.

“It’s okay. It won’t be visible at this angle.”

It was a bit close for comfort, but it was fine as long as the inside of her skirt wasn't visible.

‘It’s pretty hot in here, so I don’t want to use a blanket.’

Not only that, the lights shining down on them would make the members on stage feel even hotter than it was. Ra-Eun did not want to sweat when her makeup had been done so well today.

Ra-Eun’s long legs were laid fully bare from the ends of her skirt down below. Any man wouldn’t be able to resist taking a glance at least once. Ra-Eun modestly laid her free hand between her thighs just in case.

The host requested the cast to introduce themselves before getting into the press conference.

“Let’s start with Miss Kang Ra-Eun.”

Ra-Eun was going to play the protagonist of Spokesperson, so it was a given that she would be going first.

“Hello. I am Kang Ra-Eun, and I will be playing the role of Na Ji-Yang in the film Spokesperson. I consider it an honor to be working on a production with a good synopsis and wonderful sunbaes. If possible, I would greatly appreciate it if you all could keep this film in your radar. Thank you very much.”

Ra-Eun had been on stage so many times that she no longer needed any practice to fire comments like this. Han-Seok also introduced himself with perfection as always. Min Se-Min’s turn arrived.

“I am Min Se-Min, and I will be playing the role of Oh Tae-Min. I’ve been going around saying that I want to work on a production with Miss Kang Ra-Eun, and I’m glad to see that my dream has come true. I still don’t know how this film will do, but I will face each and every day of production with joy. Thank you.”

Se-Min’s introduction was by no means strange since he had openly revealed that Ra-Eun was her ideal type of woman. Next up was Hwang Je-Woong, the actor playing the main villain of Spokesperson, Yang Han-Sik.

“I am Hwang Je-Woong. When I first said that I would be playing a villain role, my acquaintances told me that they couldn’t imagine me as a villain.”

The reporters chuckled. Je-Woong might have said that to lighten the mood of the press conference, but it had not been a lie. People around him really were having a hard time viewing him as a villain.

Je-Woong had never taken on the role of a villain in his entire acting career. Ninety percent of his roles had all been kind-hearted characters because of his gentle appearance. Because of this, people couldn’t help but be interested in this film since he would be playing a villain.

Even the reporters asked questions regarding this.

“How did you end up playing a villain, Mr. Hwang?”

Je-Woong simply answered, “I’m sure that members of the public have a kind, docile and good-natured image of me. Having a clear image also means that I also have my own unique individuality.”

However, this was not always an advantage; it sometimes acted as a detriment to an actor since they would never be able to escape from that image once it was set in stone.

“I believe an actor should be able to take on any role under any circumstances. That is why I’ve taken on this challenge to break free from the image that is associated with me.”

Je-Woong looked toward Ra-Eun.

“I will take from Ra-Eun’s example and not let the image that people have of me define my career.”

It was by no means simple for a senior actor with far more experience to remark that they would be taking an example from a junior. The comment showed just how sincere Je-Woong’s attitude was toward acting. Ra-Eun softly smiled to express how honored she was to hear it.

***

After the production press conference, the key members of the production decided to have dinner together before the production opened.

Han-Seok, who was sitting across from Ra-Eun, said to her, “It hasn’t even been that long since you’ve debuted, but I don’t sense a hint of rookie energy around you anymore. You’re a full-fledged veteran now.”

It was even more apparent to him since he had been watching over her ever since her debut. Ra-Eun giggled while covering her mouth.

“I’m still a ways away from being considered a veteran. A title like that can only go to people like Hwang Je-Woong sunbae.”

“He’s completely out of this world, so you can just consider him an exception.”

Including Je-Woong’s career as a child actor, he had over thirty years of acting experience. He had been acting for longer than Ra-Eun had been alive. Je-Woong pulled people toward him because he always cared for everyone regardless of whether they were his seniors or juniors.

Je-Woong approached the table where Ra-Eun and Han-Seok were seated.

“Can I join you guys?” he asked.

“Yes, of course, sunbae.”

Han-Seok offered him a seat next to his. Ra-Eun just so happened to have something she wanted to say to Je-Woong, so this was perfect.

“Thank you very much for taking the role of Yang Han-Sik, sunbae.”

It had likely been a very difficult decision for him. Like Je-Woong had mentioned during the production press conference, this character was of a completely different type from what he had played until now. Ra-Eun had shoved every single secret side of Kim Han-Gyo unknown to the public into this one character to the point that a comically evil villain had been born. It would be a very difficult role to play, but...

“I felt it as soon as I read through the script that I have to take on this role, so you don’t need to thank me.”

Je-Woong was very satisfied with his own decision. The actor that had played Yang Han-Sik in Spokesperson?in Ra-Eun’s knowledge of the future had not been Je-Woong but a different actor, and that had been one of the many reasons why the film had flopped.

An uncharismatic villain was bound to lower the entertainment of the film, so Ra-Eun and Director Seo had thought very long and hard about who to cast for the role. In the end, they decided to entrust the role to Hwang Je-Woong, and Je-Woong thankfully accepted right away.

Je-Woong took a drink from his glass and said to Ra-Eun and Han-Seok after getting up from his seat, “We’re on the same boat now, so I’ll be in your care.”

“We should be the ones saying that to you, sunbae.”

“We’ll see you on the set next time.”

Vrrr—!

The display of Han-Seok’s smartphone, which was on the table, flashed once Je-Woong left. Han-Seok unconsciously expressed his disappointment due to the loss of his opportunity to spend some quality time alone with Ra-Eun.

“I’m sorry, Ra-Eun. I’m gonna take a short call. I’ll be back in a flash, so stay right here.”

“Okay.”

Ra-Eun repeatedly clicked her tongue lightly while she watched Han-Seok reluctantly walk away.

‘He’s being obsessive.’

As for who he was being obsessive toward, it was obviously herself. Ra-Eun had noticed long ago that Han-Seok thought of Ra-Eun as a woman and not simply as a junior, since he was excessively kind and gentle to her compared to everyone else.

It would be a different story if they were still children, but men unconsciously showed affection toward someone that they liked, and women usually picked that up. Ra-Eun picked these things up much faster than most women because she had experience being both genders. However, there were exceptions.

‘I’d never expected Sang-Woon’s love confession.’

This had been because she had only considered Choi Sang-Woon a friend, but she more or less saw his second confession coming. Ra-Eun recalled what Lee Si-Ahn had said to her.

‘She said I’ve probably been confessed to a lot.’

Ra-Eun had actually not been directly confessed to many times, but she had been indirectly hit on countless times.

‘Being hit on by a fellow man...’

Ra-Eun had very mixed feelings about it. She had one occasional thought for a very long time.

‘Even if I have to live on as a woman, I don’t have to marry a man, do I?’

Ra-Eun had absolutely no intention to do so even now. However, her female ego would slowly but surely overpower her male one over time, because her body was already that of a woman. There was the proverb ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ which meant one soon forgot things that were no longer visible or present. Although her situation was not completely in line with that proverb, it explained how much influence the physical had over the mental.

Ra-Eun had even done many things today that proved that very statement. She had casually put her hands between her thighs so that the inside of her skirt wouldn’t show, and she even covered her mouth with her hand when laughing. Such acts had all become natural habits.

‘These are all things that women normally do.’

Ra-Eun had done them consciously in the past, but they had now practically become muscle memory.

‘How complicated.’

She sighed with her chin resting on her left hand. Just then, Se-Min occupied the vacant seat across from Ra-Eun.

“Is there something on your mind, Ra-Eun? Feel free to confide in me if you’d like.”

Ra-Eun had many times when she wanted nothing more than someone who she could lay everything bare to, but couldn’t because everything on her mind was too much of a fantasy for others to accept. She said that it was alright, and her gaze shifted to Se-Min’s smartphone display.

“I think you’ve gotten a text,” she remarked.

“Oh, it’s from Hyeong-Jun.”

“Who’s Hyeong-Jun?”

“Park Hyeong-Jun. He’s the main vocalist of Arkine.”

“Oh, him.”

Park Hyeong-Jun was the most popular member of the seven-member boy group Arkine.

‘Wait, Park Hyeong-Jun?’

Ra-Eun’s memories of the future suddenly flashed.

“Are you close with him, sunbae?” she asked.

“Yes, he’s a good friend of mine. He wants me to go to some sort of party tomorrow.”

Ra-Eun’s mouth moved before she had realized it.

“You shouldn’t go to that party.”