I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

It was a post RT’d by a mutual who mainly stanned Taiwanese youth dramas.

Xia Yeyan @xiayeyan

A Korean oppa I met at the airport... my heart raced so hard that I started mistaking it for someone I dated in a past life

RT 35K Likes 51K

“Isn’t that Yun Hyeonjo?”

A clip from the airport showing Yun Hyeonjo, who had been there with Yeoreum, was making the rounds. They’d only made brief eye contact, but people jumped in on the over-the-top thirst treat that rewrote memories on the spot.

Jean Huang @kdramaloveu

Happy to meet you again in this life, my oppa

RT 17K Likes 22K

Just recently, Yeoreum’s interview at Ruel had shaken the hearts of Taiwanese viewers, and because of that, there were plenty of people watching Han Yeoreum with growing fondness. The RTs were piling up at a rapid pace.

Zheng Jiahui @deardarling

No matter how I think about it, he had to be on the right. He absolutely had to be.

RT 28K Likes 31K

Above all, what sparked the fast RTs on this “Letter Brother” video was also thanks to Kwak Cheolsik, who had perfectly blocked the camera meant to film Yeoreum.

Chen Yuechun0327 @asueq!2hs

I can’t see anything... it’s literally pitch-black...

In the video, the only thing captured was Kwak Cheolsik’s face, unmistakably that of a gangster. Aetami quickly assessed the situation and took a screenshot.

‘Then you spread it right away.’

Input: Current controversial Yun Hyeonjo situation in Taiwan.jpg

If you bait people with a title like that, the view count shoots up fast.

– One side feels like a legit secret romance, and the other feels like I seriously messed up and am being escorted away

ㄴ Holy shit LMAOOO TT_TT save a life

– LOL what even is this LOOOLLL

– The Kwak Cheolsik POV is completely blocked, it’s wall-to-wall Kwak Cheolsik

ㄴ Oh, congratulations on the wedding

ㄴ F***, that’s not what it means, are you insane

The more Yun Hyeonjo’s mentions increased in Korea and Taiwan, the more naturally it turned into film promotion.

‘Since it hit ten million in Korea, there’ll definitely be noticeable results in Taiwan too...!’

Yun Hyeonjo’s filmography leaned toward heavy social dramas and courtroom films rooted in Korean sentiment, so his overseas fanbase wasn’t particularly thick.

‘Even if his line-centered acting was good.’

He lacked what people commonly called “that one hit.” His acting was highly regarded, but there wasn’t a short, sharp image that made people lock onto Yun Hyeonjo instantly. He was an actor without a signature iconic scene.

‘But after , even his Korean fanbase changed.’

Thrown among actors with strong character identities, Yun Hyeonjo became a subdued, unassuming character type that any otaku would notice at least once. Fan-made content was already starting to appear.

‘At this rate, will hit ten million too!’

As the leads’ footing solidified, Aetami couldn’t help the corners of her mouth from lifting when she thought about the added boost being passed on to Yeoreum.

On Aetami’s monitor, the advertising list for this quarter was uploaded. As always, brands that cast Han Yeoreum saw their mentions spike along with sharp jumps in sales. Even ALAB, the newest brand, was casually burning through hundreds of millions in monthly ad fees.

‘At this rate, won’t ads start pouring in for our Yeoreum in Taiwan too?’

Aetami pictured it. A future where, no matter where you went, all you had to do was turn your head to see Han Yeoreum’s face.

“Hello, Professor. It’s been a while. I should’ve contacted you first—have you been well?”

At that same time, Yeoreum was receiving a call from Geum Bitgang inside a spacious hotel room.

– Are you busy?

“Since I’m always thinking about you, Professor, I don’t even realize when I’m busy. Waiting in breathless anticipation for the next work of Korea’s greatest master, the great actress Geum Bitgang—”

– Cut it out. Tell me your schedule.

Faced with the sudden call, Yeoreum launched into her full-powered flattery routine, but Geum Bitgang said only what she wanted to say. Reminded vaguely of Director Ja, Yeoreum obediently handed over her schedule.

“After the Taiwan GV ends and I go back to Korea, I have hosting duties on MusicN, then brand photo walls lined up with the spring season—”

– Again? What about actual projects.

“Of course I’m acting too. Haven’t you heard about ? Ji Haebeom sunbaenim even gave me a standing ovation—”

– [N O V E L I G H T] Is that all?

Geum Bitgang asked back in a tone that clearly signaled her displeasure. After a brief hesitation, Yeoreum mentioned her next schedule.

“Oh, right, Professor! I’ve been cast on a variety show. It’s MBS’s .”

– Variety?

“Yes. And I’m returning to school this year. Just like you taught me, I want to focus more on studying acting—”

That was when it happened.

– Why are you going back to school!!!

For a moment, Yeoreum felt as if she’d lost hearing in her right ear. She couldn’t believe a phone could produce that kind of volume.

Without realizing it, she pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at the screen.

– School!

Even though it wasn’t on speaker, a voice loud enough to rival it poured out.

– Who gave you permission to go back to school!

“Why are you talking like a patriarchal father from the 1960s....”

– If you go back to school, you won’t have time for acting practice! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Yeoreum stretched her arm as far away as she could, trying to escape Geum Bitgang. But the master on the other end of the line kept booming, her voice so loud it felt like she was right there in the hotel room.

– Don’t you want to practice all night? No—you have to. You should be reading scripts until they’re falling apart, over and over. Where do you get off going back to school?

“You tortured me so much back when I took a leave of absence too....”

Geum Bitgang erupted in inexplicable anger. Yeoreum got chewed out without understanding why.

– Theater. What do you think.

“What?”

– Among all that flattery you spewed, there had to be at least a grain of sincerity. I don’t believe all of it, of course, but was it all just empty words that passed you by?

The topic changed abruptly. Theater. Just hearing the word stirred a sharp, aching mix of love and resentment in one corner of her heart.

‘Theater....’

Yeoreum instinctively thought of Daehakro. Unlike standing at the center of the stage at the recent fan meeting, she remembered herself struggling desperately just to secure a corner spot back then.

“Theater....”

The word that left her mouth was sharp. It hurt like she’d cut her tongue. Yeoreum answered briefly.

“I like it. And it’s true that I was deeply moved by .”

How could she ever forget Geum Bitgang on that rain-soaked stage. She’d lost count of the days she’d scrubbed floors at the edge of small theaters while dreaming of grand ones.

– Then that’s enough.

With that, Geum Bitgang hung up. Tilting her head in confusion, Yeoreum immediately called Myeong Jeha.

* * *

Geum Bitgang met Jegal Rok privately. The master’s uniquely heavy presence pressed down on Jegal Rok’s shoulders.

“The tea’s decent.”

After taking a sip of the tea brought by Jegal Rok’s secretary, Geum Bitgang tossed out the comment casually. Jegal Rok gave a short bow instead of speaking.

“You know roughly why I’m here.”

“Yes. I do.”

Jegal Rok had already decided what answer he would give today, no matter what Geum Bitgang said.

‘Absolutely not.’

Geum Bitgang leaned back into the plush sofa and lightly furrowed her brows.

“You rejected it?”

She was referring to the script the theater company had sent to JC ENM not long ago.

They’d sent an email saying they wanted to cast Han Yeoreum as the protagonist, Jin Jinjoo, in .

“How should we handle it?”

A theater offer carried value in that the great actress Geum Bitgang had personally chosen Han Yeoreum. The problem was Yeoreum’s rate of growth.

There was no way she could waste time on small-theater plays.

“We’re still under internal review.”

“That’s rejecting it.”

Thank you very much for sending the script.

=Why did you send it.

The progression is interesting, and hearing that the great actress Geum Bitgang will be appearing has personally raised my expectations.

=You can tell just from how long that is, right?

We’ll get back to you after internal review :)

=We’re not doing it, so go away.

You drag it out for about a month under the excuse of internal review, fill that time with photo shoots, auditions, and schedules. Then, when the theater company internally realizes it’s a no-go and checks back in, you regretfully say that due to scheduling issues you’ll have to look to the future. That was the standard way to refuse.

“You didn’t tell the girl. That a script came in.”

“We don’t explain every discussion in progress to the artist.”

“I see. So that’s how it is.”

Geum Bitgang smiled faintly.