I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

‘Looks like they were talking about Han Yeoreum.’

Han Taeyang was quick on the uptake. The moment he sat down, obviously the trailer for and talk about Han Yeoreum would start—

“Hey, Han Taeyang! Did you watch the Spain match yesterday?”

“...Didn’t.”

“It was insane. Dude, the score was—”

But something was strange. Everyone just talked about soccer. As if it were any normal day. As if not a single one of them knew anything about .

Ding-dong-deng-dong.

The preliminary bell rang. Even until then, Han Yeoreum’s name hadn’t come up once. Feeling oddly unsettled, Han Taeyang pulled out his textbook and opened it.

“Hey! Morning, guys—. In this class, is there a Han—”

Right. Now it’s coming.

‘Maybe I should exclude teachers, even if it’s first come, first served.’

There were fewer teachers than students, after all. And if a Han Yeoreum autograph theft incident broke out in the faculty office, that would be... unfortunate.

Han Taeyang looked at the Korean language teacher who burst energetically through the door.

“Han— anyway. You’re keeping up with the pace, right? Yeah! That’s more like seniors! Open to page 27.”

The students sitting behind Han Taeyang only then grinned and nodded. They had already coordinated their story the day before—everyone except Han Taeyang.

“No wonder... he was such a hardcore fanboy....”

“So that’s why he was running the Pi Chaewon control squad.”

Right after filming , Han Taeyang had been nicknamed either Pi Chaewon fanboy or Pi Chaewon control squad. A few brave souls had tried to ask, “Hey, is your sister who’s preparing to become an actress actually Han Yeoreum? The last name’s the same—if not, sorry,” but they had vanished into the annals of history.

“Shut up! I’m not interrupting this guy!”

Despite it being a one-on-one conversation, victims were subjected to an intense, one-sided rapid-fire lecture.

Normally, Han Taeyang barely spoke. But when it came to his sister, he delivered with precise diction and relentless pacing. Casualties piled up.

“Don’t poke him. His speech gets long as hell.”

And it made sense. They were seniors. They wanted to survive this year peacefully.

After that, Class 3-3 would shake their heads fiercely anytime a teacher entered and even attempted to bring up during class.

The math teacher left the classroom after finishing the lesson, feeling warm inside.

“Being considerate because he’s a celebrity’s younger brother... how beautiful.... Our kids really do have warm hearts.”

He had no idea those “warm-hearted kids” had set up a rotation system, taking turns each break to intercept underclassmen who came to see Han Taeyang. A quiet purge was underway.

“Um, is this where Han—”

“Please leave.”

“Huh? We just wanted to say—”

“Just go. I’m listening to the college entrance lecture right now.”

By then, Han Taeyang’s friends in 3-3 had become honorary firefighters, extinguishing sparks before they could ignite.

Though Han Taeyang clearly felt people’s eyes on him, whenever he turned his head, they vanished. It was a bizarre day.

“Hey! How many autograph requests did you get?”

“None.”

“...What? Stop lying.”

“Seriously. None. You need to work harder.”

Having pre-signed a stack of autograph sheets in advance, Yeoreum collapsed in dismay.

* * *

[Teen Anonymous Board / Same school as EmBubu Han Yeoreum’s younger brother (proof)]

We were in the same class in first year and he barely talked... so at first I was like lol wow he really lives off that face. But if you press some kind of button he starts talking nonstop. Like nonstop nonstop. He’s handsome but I legit felt like punching him at some point. Still held it in though. Because he’s handsome.

Anyway, they filmed ParCheHi at our school, and back then nobody knew Han Yeoreum’s real name... she was a rookie. Every time I tried to post a sighting, Han Yeoreum’s brother would come over like some control squad and go “That photo’s bad, use this one instead” and hand me a different pic. Dude, do you think my phone storage is a joke?? Still held it in though. Because he’s handsome.

Then last year when Strange Tales blew up and Han Yeoreum’s name got known a bit, people started suspecting since the last name’s the same.... Now everyone knows he’s Han Yeoreum’s brother, so we finally get why he was so strict. Anyway how do I end this post lol. Sorry if this wasn’t funny.

– LOL that’s cute T_T so what’s his number?

ㄴ What are you doing? LOLOLOL

– At least put effort into your fake story. So boring.

ㄴ OP: It’s not fake lolol why would I fake this TT_TT

ㄴ So cringe.... People who romanticize brothers always do this. You don’t even have a younger brother do you lolololol idiot

ㄴ 222 Hey what are you even doing. Planning to be some prosecutor couple at twenty?

“Ah, but it’s real...!”

“You little brat, being noisy at dawn.... What are you doing right now? You’re a senior—why is there a phone in your hand?”

“Mom, don’t just open my door whenever you want! Get out!”

“Wow, good job!”

And that dawn, the post with six comments was deleted.

Han Yeoreum—who hadn’t received a single autograph request even after appearing on a major network variety show—fell asleep in tears.

“Wow—. It’s starting—.”

On Friday evening, an office worker sat in front of the TV with a can of beer. The opening of began.

The office worker, who had followed Han Yeoreum’s entire filmography, was genuinely thrilled to hear she would appear on a variety show she already watched.

‘That scene was so good back then!’

For the lantern scene in , one of the most iconic moments, the office worker’s contribution had not been small. Thanks to the two actors pulling off the carefully prepared hanbok so beautifully, the hanbok rental shops around Gyeongbok Palace had experienced a boom.

The office worker watched Yeoreum introduce herself during the opening with a proud expression.

“Hello. I’m rookie actress Han Yeoreum.”

As she greeted the audience, short clips flashed by. The fixed panelists nearby made a fuss, declaring themselves fans.

“Do you live with your parents?”

“No. I live with my younger brother. Both of us are still in school, so....”

“You live separately? If it’s not too rude, how old is your brother?”

“He’s a senior this year.”

At the words senior, the office worker sighed unconsciously.

“Oh dear....”

Such a sensitive time. The panelists encouraged Yeoreum.

“That’s when they need the most care.”

“But juggling your brother, acting, and your own studies? That’s not easy.”

The screen shifted. As always, Han Yeoreum introduced herself and spoke about the day she ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) would show.

“Don’t live with regrets! That’s my motto. As an actress, as a student, and as Han Yeoreum whom someone out there knows, I want to do my best. Twenty-four hours just isn’t enough.”

The episode began with her moving day. Amid stacks of boxes, Han Yeoreum appeared.

“Hello. Today’s the first day of my move. Since I’m returning to school this year while continuing acting, my company’s manager helped me move closer to campus.”

Yeoreum held up a self-cam. Then she beckoned someone.

“Taeyang, come here.”

“Why.”

“Just come.”

“Tell me why first.”

“Your sister started filming. Come here.”

The office worker, second of three sisters, felt a strange familiarity.

‘...Isn’t that exactly how my older sister calls me in front of guests...?’

Calling your name sweetly when she normally wouldn’t, coaxing gently, then letting her real personality slip out for a second.

“This is my younger brother. Taeyang, say hello.”

“Hello. I’m Han Taeyang.”

The screen switched to a confessional interview.

Caption: Please give a brief self-introduction.

– Yes. I’m Han Taeyang, younger brother of Han Yeoreum, who made her screen debut with , hit ten million viewers immediately, has 1.07 million Yousta followers, and is a rising actress of DaeYeJong’s golden class.

A toy-ball bouncing sound effect popped, and the panelists’ reaction faces filled the screen.

“What is this?”

“You paid him pocket money to say that!”

“No, I didn’t!”

The panelists laughed wickedly as they cornered Yeoreum, who waved her hands in denial. Seasoned broadcasters knew exactly where the edit point was.

“What do you even do to your brother off-camera...?”

“Is this why you brought him on?”

On-screen, Taeyang continued his interview while Yeoreum’s face turned red.

Caption: Are you usually close with your sister?

– We’re like any other siblings. She started working early, so she’s mature in a lot of ways. Since I’m still a minor, there are many things I lean on her for. Things to learn....

Yet the footage shown was the complete opposite.

“Where’s the album?”

“Third box. And don’t open it again—organize it properly.”

Taeyang worked like a well-trained moving company employee. He didn’t ask questions like Where should I put this?

“Are siblings usually this quiet?”

“Yes. There’s not much to talk about.”

“Mostly orders to cook ramen. That’s what I usually hear from her.”

The panelists attacked Han Yeoreum again.

“So that’s how the pocket money incident—”

“I didn’t think she was like that....”

“I really didn’t make him say that....”

Yeoreum, teased by her seniors, looked cute. The office worker smiled warmly, then thought of her own older sister.

“Hey, Han Taeyang!!! The delivery’s here!!!”

Every time Yeoreum’s authoritarian voice rang out, every time she instinctively shouted “Hey” instead of his name, the comment board filled with “lolololol.”