Life is Easier If You're Handsome-Chapter 263

“Tada~ The bride has arrived.”

Jaerin’s cheerful line caught me completely off guard.

Why was Jaerin here?

What connection could an idol possibly have with The Pianist?

While I was trying to piece things together,

the answer came quicker than expected.

“You’re the second-act female lead?”

“Did you figure it out that fast? We’ve said, like, two lines.”

That part of her was always so charming.

She said it with a smile, then threw herself into my arms.

“I missed you so, so, so much. Video calls and texts just weren’t enough.”

“You were on a world tour. You’ve been insanely busy. Are things settled now?”

“Completely. I’m finally on personal time.”

Snuggle, snuggle.

She nuzzled her face into my chest, and I ran my hand through her hair as we caught up.

“You used your personal time to come audition?”

“They said it didn’t matter who it was, as long as they could act and you were involved. So I applied right away.”

“Aren’t you tired? Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“This is my way of resting.”

Jaerin rubbed her face into me a few more times before stepping back, clearly satisfied.

“Everything besides the shoot is rest time, so, uh... come visit me at the hotel later.”

There was no mistaking what she meant by that.

I nodded and replied teasingly.

“Did you build up your stamina?”

“T-That’s... that’s a different kind of stamina, okay? Dancing’s not the same thing!”

While we were goofing around after reuniting—

“Excuse me. There’s still time before we start filming, but I wanted to explain something.”

The director approached cautiously with a script in hand.

Now that I thought about it, Evelyn still hadn’t shown up.

Could this be about that?

And sure enough—

“Because of that attacker last time, CAE decided to postpone filming until she stabilizes.”

The director informed me Evelyn wouldn’t be joining.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame her.

Actually, doing it this way was probably the right call.

Even I had a hard time convincing Seokho hyung to let me come back.

It was pure luck that nothing happened last time.

Just the fact that I’d faced an armed attacker made it an insanely dangerous situation.

Even if it was a shoot backed by Disney,

if they couldn’t guarantee 100% safety, it was only natural to be scared.

I really wanted to go. I’m so sorry.

The boss was furious...

But it’s not a contract breach or anything. It’ll just take a little time.

I’m really sorry. Really.

As soon as the director finished talking, Evelyn’s message came through.

She’d been quiet lately, and now I knew why.

<It’s okay.

<I’ll wait for you.

I miss you.

<Me too.

I replied quickly so she wouldn’t worry. freewebnσvel.cøm

Then turned to the director and gave the same reassurance.

“It was no ordinary incident. Honestly, I completely understand.”

“I’m sorry. It’s our fault for not preventing it.”

Technically speaking, it wasn’t even Disney’s fault.

It was mine.

If I’d kept taking those calm blessings,

it would’ve been like a gate opened—attackers would’ve kept showing ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) up on set.

This entire mess started because of me.

Which meant I felt even more sorry than anyone else.

To be precise, it was fate’s fault.

But that bastard didn’t seem interested in apologizing, so what could I do?

“Please don’t blame yourself. It’s like a natural disaster.”

How can anyone prepare for people who live beyond the bounds of common sense?

After saying that, I stepped away to get my makeup done.

Since we were starting with Act 2,

nothing was impacted.

Filming didn’t happen in order anyway.

My job hasn’t changed.

I was an actor.

Nothing more, nothing less.

***

After Kim Donghu left without a hint of complaint,

the set was swept with a strange wave of admiration.

“As expected... it’s Donghu Kim.”

“This is why people call him a leader.”

“I’m touched.”

“...Is the director crying?”

The director of The Pianist,

Bacon, quickly wiped his eyes.

“A-ah no, I’m not crying... it’s just sweat from the heart.”

After working with so many Hollywood stars,

after being hurt again and again by their hidden power trips—

To meet someone like Kim Donghu, who had none of that.

A star who never used his position to crush the people around him.

That kind of humility was anything but easy.

And it’s not like he doesn’t assert his own rights either.

He wasn’t some pushover who got walked on for being too nice.

He knew exactly where to draw the line.

Knowing how rare and difficult that was,

Director Bacon found Kim Donghu all the more impressive.

It was the kind of incident where most people would’ve flipped the table in fury and torn up the contract—

but he just quietly continued filming.

Dozens of people had been able to keep their jobs because of that decision.

And on top of that—

He has connections to the top idol in the world right now.

K-pop.

Once a genre people barely recognized—

now it ruled the global charts.

Billboard #1 hits weren’t rare anymore, and at the top of that mountain was Ryu Jaerin.

She had debuted with a “bride” concept,

but they’d decided it wasn’t suitable for global markets.

They shifted to a sleek fusion of hip-hop and pop,

switched entirely to English lyrics—

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

A bold strategy that went beyond success—it exploded.

Even here on set, there were core fans of Ryu Jaerin watching.

But she was always known to be calm and quiet in real life.

Yet the moment she saw Kim Donghu, she completely dropped her guard.

Clinging to him, looking like a true couple.

Wait, wasn’t Evelyn the same last time?

A diagram of Kim Donghu’s relationship network flashed through Bacon’s mind—

and vanished two seconds later.

Only fools dig into someone’s private life.

As he wrapped up that thought, he wondered how much longer makeup would take.

“Shall we begin right away?”

Kim Donghu’s makeup was done.

And filming began immediately.

***

To think the day would come when I’d be acting with Donghu.

And playing lovers, no less.

Even if her character was destined to be killed,

Ryu Jaerin was satisfied simply to share a moment with him.

Ah... Donghu, I really love you.

It was a deep, overwhelming feeling.

A sticky, raw desire that could never be conjured through acting alone.

A presence so obvious that even people around her could tell she was in love—

That was exactly why Ryu Jaerin had beaten out hundreds of competitors to be cast as the second-act heroine.

And because she harbored those real emotions,

ironically, she wasn’t overshadowed by Kim Donghu’s acting.

“They say you sell your voice in some worn-down bar, despite all that talent?”

“Putting it that way makes me sound like a whore.”

“Dragging yourself through the gutter isn’t all that different, is it?”

Because for Ryu Jaerin, this wasn’t acting.

The Pianist.

A gentleman who maintained pristine elegance—

while crushing people beneath his shoes with polite precision.

Why would a man like that spend money just to meet her?

Ryu Jaerin—no, Systina—wanted to know the answer to that for herself.

“Did you invite me just to humiliate me?”

“You expected as much when you came here, didn’t you? Wasn’t it about the money?”

A long table.

They sat across from each other, yet their eyes never met.

“When the meal begins, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak. I don’t enjoy conversation during dining.”

“Is that one of your rules?”

“It is.”

“Then why am I here? Just to be stepped on?”

As she spoke, Systina imagined dying right there at that table.

That man suddenly taking the steak knife and stabbing it into her throat.

A brutal image—but one that felt oddly appropriate.

“No. Tonight is simply about getting to know each other.”

Tonight.

That word stuck with her.

Like a tongue blister that wouldn’t go away,

the word embedded itself in her mind.

And at the same time—

Toward this man who provoked such dangerous emotions—

ironically—

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

She felt love.

The polar opposite of fear.

The suspension bridge effect? No... it’s something deeper.

A hope that he might fill what she was missing.

Why would she think that about a rich man she’d never even met before?

His looks? Demeanor? Personality? Posture? Conduct? Character?

No single word could explain it.

Even after exchanging just a few lines,

her heart was unmistakably drawn to him.

In that brief moment—

as soon as she came to that conclusion—

“How exactly are you planning to get to know me?”

Systina decided to cross the line. Boldly.

And that decision—

“...Are you curious about my method?”

—awakened the Pianist’s desire.

Hah.

And as the taut tension rippled through the scene,

Director Bacon watched the perfect rhythm of their performance in awe.

Had they acted together before?

How could the visual harmony be this flawless?

While muttering to himself, he received a message:

About The Pianist—what if we make Act 2 into Season 1, and shoot the rest as Season 2?

I think it’s going to be huge.

Just killing off new women in each act will get boring.

Better to space it out over time.

It was a message from Producer Verilad, lighting up Bacon’s phone.

***

At that very moment—

“A match is confirmed?”

“Yeah. If I win this, I’ll be a two-division champion.”

“Easy. Sounds easy. Maybe I should take the Donghu Kim route, too.”

Inside a certain gym—

Kim Donghu’s death was slowly beginning to stir.

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