I Returned as a High School Girl

Chapter 138: Collaborator (2)

The people who had attended the Film Awards had gathered for the afterparty held late at night. Kang Ra-Eun had not been able to stay at the afterparty for long periods of time back when she was still a high schooler, but now that she could, she took her time to greet everyone there.

Ra-Eun was able to pick out only the individuals who would be beneficial to form a connection with since she knew the future. It was very simple; all she needed to do was to exchange contact information with them.

‘So this is why regression stories are so popular.’

She finally understood why so much literature included a regression trope. It was very easy to make connections if one knew what would happen in the future, regarding who would succeed and who would fail.

‘There’s a reason why the protagonists go on the up and up.’

Ra-Eun had never expected to become just like those protagonists in the novels. Although her gender had changed, the initial shock had considerably died down after time getting used to it. She had also gotten used to wearing heels.

As she carefully lifted the wine glass with non-alcoholic wine in it, a man approached her.

“What a shame. You were just one step away from getting the award.”

Ji Han-Seok in a tuxedo expressed his disappointment.

Ra-Eun lightly smiled. “It’s okay. At least I was nominated. I’ll win it next time.”

Han-Seok loved to see Ra-Eun’s confidence.

“Yeah, it’s not like that was your last chance. Will you work on a film next time as well?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to check the productions that are offered to me first. I haven’t found a single one that I like yet.”

There were as many people in the entertainment industry wanting to work with her as always, but Ra-Eun did not take the hand that was offered to her so easily. She was proud; she didn’t have to do anything that she didn’t like. There was no reason for Ra-Eun to rush in the slightest.

“What about you, sunbae? I don’t think you’d done anything special this year,” Ra-Eun asked.

“Me? Well, I guess so. I think it’s because I’ve been so focused on the company this year.”

Han-Seok had no intention of walking solely the path of an actor. His ultimate goal was to become both a successful actor and businessman. If it was anyone else, they would most likely have been told to focus on one thing, but Han-Seok was more than capable of doing both. He had been doing so until now, and from what Ra-Eun remembered of her past life’s future, he would continue to do so.

“Yoon Dae-Bin sunbae was saying he wanted to work on a production with you,” Han-Seok mentioned.

“He also told me that when I went up to the stage to congratulate him on his Grand Prize.”

“It sounded like he had a production in mind. He also said he wanted to show you the synopsis.”

“Is that so?”

This was the first time Ra-Eun had heard of it.

“You should talk it over with Dae-Bin sunbae later. It might be a good opportunity for you as well,” Han-Seok stated.

“What about you, sunbae?”

Ra-Eun was curious if Han-Seok also had the intention to work on that production.

He lightly shrugged and said, “I’m not sure. I’m still thinking about it, so we’ll have to see. But if you say you’ll do it... I will too.”

Han-Seok had mustered up a considerable amount of courage to say this, but Ra-Eun did not give his statement much thought. She simply interpreted it as that he would feel comfortable if he got to work with a junior whom he had worked with before.

Han-Seok’s manager came up to him as they were chatting.

“Hyung. Director Kim is looking for you.”

“Oh, really? I’m sorry, Ra-Eun. I’ve gotta go.”

Ra-Eun sent him off after saying it was okay. It was fine, since she had been bothered by something that she had noticed since a while back.

‘Why are Kim Chi-Yeol and Ji Kang-Hye together?’

Ra-Eun had remained at her current table for the past thirty minutes because of them. Even before Ra-Eun had come to this table, Chi-Yeol and Kang-Hye had been talking to each other.

‘Meaning, they’d been together for at least thirty minutes.’

Sticking together for that long simply for greetings was highly unlikely, so there was surely a different reason. Ra-Eun recalled the memories of the future regarding their relationship. It would have been great if she could just search up relevant memories like she could do with a computer.

‘Why was there no such category in the Return Application Form?’

It was a bit of a shame. Even if there had been, she had such little time that she was unsure if such a thing would have even caught her attention.

‘A love affair, maybe? No, that can’t be it.’

Chi-Yeol’s type in women was very clear; they needed to be younger than him. He didn’t even take an interest in women older than him. Even the woman that Chi-Yeol had been having an affair with in the scandal that Ra-Eun had spread, was five years younger than him. On the other hand, Kang-Hye was two years older than him.

‘From what I remember, that son of a bitch hasn’t ever had an affair with anyone older than him.’

Of course, events in time had not been flowing exactly as how Ra-Eun had remembered them. The future had been gradually changing based on her actions, but there was no way that Chi-Yeol’s tastes in women would change, no matter what she did. That was how stubborn Chi-Yeol was in that aspect.

‘He used to brag about his women to me all the time.’

She had let it go because Chi-Yeol had been her superior at the time. It was a crappy memory. A married man had been going around bragging about the women he was with.

‘I should’ve bashed his skull in back then.’

If she knew that she would meet such a pathetic end, she would have exposed everything that she had on Chi-Yeol. She still regretted it to this day.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

She could just satisfy any grudge that she had remaining during this life. She drank the non-alcoholic wine and went back to monitoring Chi-Yeol and Kang-Hye.

‘Could Chi-Yeol be the reason why Kang-Hye knew the winner of the Grand Prize beforehand?’

It was more than possible. Chi-Yeol had influence over about half of the entire entertainment industry, and if he had shared such information with Kang-Hye...

‘That would mean they’re very close with each other, wouldn’t it?’

Ra-Eun fell deep in thought about what possibly could have gotten them to get so close. Just then, someone else approached her.

“What are you doing all by yourself, Ra-Eun?”

It was the actress Yeo Song-Won, who she had worked with on the drama Waitress. Ra-Eun immediately switched off her serious expression and greeted her.

“Hello, sunbae.”

“Hi. What were you in such deep thought about? Is there something on your mind?”

Considering Ra-Eun’s personality, it wouldn’t be because she was sad about not winning the Grand Prize. Song-Won expected there to be a different reason.

Song-Won and Kang-Hye could be considered rivals, so they were hyper aware of any news of one another. Hence, Ra-Eun thought Song-Won might be able to give her some sort of hint.

‘Should I give it a shot?’

Ra-Eun concisely explained to Song-Won why she had been staying here all this time.

“I just thought that Minister Kim and Ji Kang-Hye sunbae had been talking to each other for quite a while. They must be very close, huh?”

“Oh... those two.”

Ra-Eun could tell as soon as Song-Won showed such a response.

‘She knows something.’

Song-Won looked in the same direction as Ra-Eun with a bitter smile. She told Ra-Eun what she knew.

“From what I’d heard, rumors have been going around that Kang-Hye had used Minister Kim to push for herself to become the winner of this year’s Grand Prize.”

Since Ra-Eun had never heard of such rumors, it likely had not been spread very far.

“Kang-Hye might actually have won the Grand Prize if such rumors hadn’t spread,” Song-Won mentioned.

They had failed to keep the information from leaking, so there was bound to be negative gossip spread around about Kang-Hye if she had won the Grand Prize with nothing much to show for it. Hence, they had likely yielded the award to Yoon Dae-Bin.

“Kang-Hye is probably highly dissatisfied with Minister Kim because of it. It might also be the reason why they’re together like that. But these are only rumors in the end; don’t take it as a fact,” Song-Won stated.

However, Ra-Eun thought otherwise.

“Rumors usually spread because there is at least some factual material to go off of, don’t they?”

Song-Won only smiled meaningfully in response, but just that was enough of an answer for Ra-Eun.

“Is there a reason why Minister Kim would support Kang-Hye sunbae?” Ra-Eun asked.

“I’m not sure. They might have some sort of partnership. Kang-Hye’s been saying that she would leave her agency and make one of her own. Their relationship might be related to that.”

“Do you know the agency name, by any chance?”

“From what I’ve heard... I think it was Isborn Entertainment.”

The puzzle pieces inside Ra-Eun’s head all came together once she heard that name.

‘Yes, I remember now.’

The Isborn incident that had almost flipped the entire entertainment industry on its head. Ra-Eun had never expected Chi-Yeol to have been involved in it.

‘I’d expect no less from that bastard.’

She shuddered at the thought of everything that he had done in the shadows of the entertainment world. However, she was rather relieved since having so many things to take advantage of had only given her another opportunity to attack Chi-Yeol.

‘I’ll also take this chance to put that woman Ji Kang-Hye in her place.’

.

Yet another name had been added to her list of people who needed a beating.

***

Ma Yeong-Jun, who was in charge of doing the dirty work, was an expert in investigations. After being summoned by Ra-Eun, he tilted his head in confusion as he looked at what she was wearing.

“What are you wearing?” he asked.

“What about it?”

Yeong-Jun couldn’t understand why she was wearing black leggings, an oversized sweater, and a beanie.

“You look like someone who just came back from working out,” Yeong-Jun said.

“Oh, is it because of these?” Ra-Eun asked as she slapped her thigh covered by leggings twice.

Yeong-Jun had thought Ra-Eun was wearing them even in daily life to advertise her company at first, but she had other intentions.

“These are gonna be a huge fad from now on.”

“Wearing sportswear as everyday wear will be a fad?”

“Yeah. These are a lot more comfortable than they look. The ones made for winter use are warm as well.”

“I don’t understand the world of fashion in the slightest.”

Ra-Eun had not summoned Yeong-Jun to discuss fashion in depth with him. She handed him a document related to a certain individual.

“Investigate this person for me,” Ra-Eun stated.

It was the actress Ji Kang-Hye.

“Did this woman harass you in some way?” Yeong-Jun asked.

“She’s about to.”

“I see,” Yeong-Jun nodded as he took the document.

“And one more thing.”

Ra-Eun still had one more thing to say to him. She warned while glaring at him, “You’d better prepare yourself if I ever catch you betting on anything regarding me again.”

“...”

Cold sweat trickled down Yeong-Jun’s forehead in the middle of winter.