This Life is Splendid

Chapter 1

“Da-eun would have been successful if it weren’t for the scar on her face.”

Director Hwang’s one word, along with the sound of “Cut,” stabbed Da-eun’s heart.

Director Hwang kept clapping his hands in front of the shooting monitor.

“Wow, even when I watch it again, the action is still killer.”

Da-eun wiped away the sweat and walked towards Director Hwang. However, Director Hwang did not show her the footage he had shot and instead turned the camera back into shooting mode.

This is too much handling.

Da-eun was the exclusive stuntwoman for actress Noh Hye-young.

Even though they have similar heights, bodies, and long hair, the aura they give off is probably similar because they have been together for over three years, excluding their school days with Hye-young.

“What a shame, what a shame. She’s just a stuntwoman. Her acting is way better than anyone else over there, huh?”

Director Hwang glanced at the car Hye-young was in and chuckled. It was a remark made without considering the listener. He probably didn’t mean it when he said it was a waste.

Da-eun let out a faint sigh and awkwardly raised the corners of her lips. If you really think so, then show me the scenes you filmed.

“Now all that’s left is the crash scene. Get ready, Da-eun. Hey! Are you done installing the wires?”

To set up the filming location, Director Hwang was busy running around, swinging his sword.

Da-eun let the wind dry her sweaty hair and looked at the car parked far away.

Hye-young, who couldn’t sleep until dawn due to other filming, will be sleeping soundly.

Noh Hye-young, the hottest rising star in South Korea right now, was Da-eun’s best friend.

Three years ago, when Da-eun’s face was burned due to a gas burner explosion, Hye-young cried as if it were her own and even cried for Da-eun.

Whenever Da-eun was about to give up on life after receiving notice of contract termination from her agency, he held on to her and asked her about various things even when he was busy.

‘Da-eun, do you want to try being a stuntwoman?’

It was also Hye-young who recommended Da-eun, who still had feelings for acting, to be a body double.

Da-eun accepted the offer.

Anyway, with my face like this, it would have been difficult to make a living as a full-time actor.

Still, I wanted to be an actor.

Double actor.

Stunt actors can do it because they are faceless actors. Of course, their roles are limited and they are always hidden behind someone’s name.

Still, the fact that she could act was very attractive to Da-eun.

After that, Da-eun’s empty eyes began to come alive. A pattern emerged in her life that she had been living without any particular reason, and she began to move her body diligently. Going to the action school that Hye-young introduced her to and training became her daily routine.

That’s how Da-eun started working as a body double. Because of her scar, she was ridiculed a lot on set and was treated so poorly that she reached her limit.

‘Oh, look at that scar. Make sure you don’t make any mistakes in post-processing so that it doesn’t show up on screen.’

‘Da-eun, could you please eat a little further away? The food won’t taste good.’

Every time, Hye-young was there for Da-eun.

‘Da-eun, don’t mind those words. Let’s just think about our work. Okay?’

To Da-eun, Hye-young was a benefactor.

Friends who are more like family than family far away overseas.

I hope Hye-young does well.

So, when Da-eun came to Hye-young to ask for advice and advice on roles and acting, I shared my thoughts with her without holding back.

With her acting skills and analysis, she was happy when Hye-young passed the audition and the work went well. Although she sometimes felt jealous, she hid those feelings thoroughly.

Da-eun was able to live again thanks to Hye-young, and she was able to achieve her dream.

Somehow, the pressed scar itched. I couldn’t be so jealous of my benefactor.

“after…….”

Da-eun sighed in the cool breeze and took in the scene.

At that moment, the sound of a microphone stimulated my ears, as if preparations for filming were complete.

“Okay! Let’s rehearse first!”

When I looked back, I saw Director Hwang holding a megaphone in front of the camera.

The movie was a crime action film starring the female lead.

Da-eun put on the safety equipment and connected the wires according to the staff’s instructions.

A strong gust of wind passed by, scattering Da-eun’s hair that was tied tightly together. It was unusually windy today. A slight sense of anxiety pounded her heart.

* * *

After the rehearsal, full-scale filming began.

“Hi, Q!”

Da-eun, who was running at the signal, stepped hard on the jump ramp. Whoosh- With a sound of cutting through the air, her body, which had risen high, was pulled by the wire.

The place Da-eun had to go up to today was a 10-story building. She had to step on the protruding parts of each floor and jump up while leaning on the wire.

Da-eun said that she filmed all the dangerous scenes and that she would later composite Hye-young’s face, filmed in the studio, into the video.

Although it wasn’t easy to maintain a pose in the air, her gestures as she stood with her feet against the building’s outer wall looked light.

Director Hwang clenched his fists at Da-eun’s excellent action scenes.

At the same time, Da-eun climbed up the building. She stepped on the protruding part on the second floor and jumped again.

Wheeing-.

At that moment, Da-eun’s hair, which had been tied up, came loose in the wind and flew wildly.

“… … .”

It was dangerous. I almost didn’t land properly. It seems like it’s been unusually windy lately. What should I do?

I waited for a while, but there was no specific signal from Director Hwang to stop.

Fortunately, the wind soon calmed down and Da-eun started moving again.

4th floor, 5th floor, 6th floor.

A drone flew up from below, making a whirring sound, and filmed her.

Then, the moment you step on the protruding wall that is 7th or 8th floor high.

Kiririririk-!

The strength holding the wires loosened and her body fell in an instant.

“Ugh!”

The tied-up hair fluttered and blurred my vision. The moment I endured the dizzying sensation, a strong wind blew.

Phew-.

Da-eun’s body, hanging from a single wire, swung around as if flying under the pressure of the huge wind.

“Whoa!”

It was a scream that wasn’t mine. Still, Da-eun tried to stay calm. She was connected to the wires, so even if she hit the outside wall, it would be okay.

The wire is thicker and stronger than you might think because it is made by twisting multiple strands of steel wire.

I certainly believed that, but something felt strange.

“… … !”

Stop.

The weak central point connected by a string has disappeared.

Da-eun, who had been blown by the wind in a circle the length of the loose wire, fell down.

* * *

I thought I smelled a faint hospital smell.

Da-eun looked down at her body, covered up to her face with a white sheet. Next to her, her benefactor and friend, Hye-young, was sitting blankly.

‘I… am dead. It’s so futile.’

So, you can probably observe me from one step to the side.

She checked my name and the date of death attached to my hospital bed and then looked blankly at Hye-young.

Hye-young’s complexion wasn’t good. But is it a good thing that I can see Hye-young?

After the explosion, I was able to live well thanks to Hye-young. I wish I could tell you one more time that I was truly grateful.

That was when.

“Ha. This is difficult.”

Hye-young scratched her forehead and clicked her tongue. Da-eun frowned at that sight.

I felt a sense of alienation. Wasn’t Hye-young’s reaction strange? The two had been through thick and thin together for a long time and were more like family than family.

It was Hye-young who cried so much when Da-eun’s face had a burn scar.

“What if I die now?”

Why do you say this?

Da-eun’s vision shook slightly.

I couldn’t really understand what I just heard. No, I couldn’t believe it. My eyes automatically tightened.

Regardless, Hye-young sighed in annoyance in front of the dead Da-eun.

“How hard is it to find a substitute?”

Hye-young’s words were not easily accepted.

Is that the Noh Hye-young I know now?