I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

* * *

When you stand on stage and look out at the audience, you can see every single face.

‘So this is what it feels like from the center.’

It was my first time seeing this view as the lead at Neulpureun Art Center, and I slowly turned my head, dazed.

From left to right. From the very back row to the very front.

Everyone seated there was looking at me.

‘So this is the view....’

There were unfamiliar faces. And familiar ones.

I had wanted to see this scene so badly.

‘It’s really real....’

There had been days when it scared me. It felt as though all the luck in the world had suddenly decided to pour into my hands — so much that it didn’t feel real at all.

‘All of this....’

Every time I held a trophy, its lightness crushed my heart. Whenever the cold metal touched my skin, it felt like I might wake up from a dream.

‘It’s not a dream....’

I was afraid that if I opened my eyes, I’d be back to being Han Yeoreum, the nameless actress gripping heavy tray handles at a warehouse part-time job.

Back to the time when I wasn’t given roles. When I couldn’t act no matter how badly I wanted to. When no one knew my name.

Going to filming sites. Seeing posters printed with my name. Wearing dresses I once wouldn’t have dared to dream of. Attending award ceremonies. Holding trophies. Giving acceptance speeches. Being swallowed by bursts of flash and endless shutter clicks.

All the days that had felt unreal — they ended here.

‘I’m the lead.’

Neulpureun Art Center.

Standing at the very center of the place I had longed for so desperately, it finally felt real.

It felt as though all the gravity in the world had gathered beneath my feet. As if the stage itself was telling me—

You’re allowed to be here.

You’re allowed to receive everyone’s applause.

The applause that filled the theater shook my body.

“How long are you going to stare straight ahead?”

I turned at the gruff voice beside me. Professor Geum Bitgang’s lips were curved faintly upward.

“The lead has to bow so the audience can leave. Hurry.”

Only then did I force myself to take half a step forward — though I never wanted to leave this stage.

The applause grew louder.

I bent at the waist.

Ding—!

A bright notification sound rang out, and as if to certify it, the status window appeared.

System

[100]% of the audience is focused on you!

Current audience: 197

The stage has concluded successfully.

Amid the thunderous applause, 〈Intern Academy of the Academy of the Academy〉 came to an end.

* * *

Myeong Jeha looked toward the dressing room, now crowded with people.

“Hey! Why’d you buy such a huge bouquet?!”

“Then should I have picked flowers from a park? You complain even when I buy them.”

Han Yeoreum bounced in place as she accepted the bouquet from her younger brother. Anyone could see how happy she looked. Flowers piled up around her.

“Hey! Han Yeoreum! You were pretty good?”

“Choo Gaeul, move. Han Yeoreum, when she went to set, you did a coffee truck with someone else instead of me. Are you dividing people by closeness again? Since we’re on the topic — you didn’t even ask me before going with Myeong Jeha... Yeah, I know you apologized last time, but I’m seriously just curious. Why did you? I’m not mad. Do I look mad right now?”

Choo Gaeul, newly brimming with confidence, and Joo Junseo, frowning deeply.

“Yeoreum! We came! Our 〈ParCheHi〉 team is family!”

“You did well.”

“It’s been a while—. Have you been well? Your acting’s been improving since 〈ParCheHi〉.”

Director Jang and Director Gong, who had somehow become close friends, arrived with flowers as well. Pi writer from 〈ParCheHi〉 hadn’t forgotten to attend either.

“...Director... what did you just say...? Only the 〈ParCheHi〉 team is family...?”

“No, Junhyeok, that’s not it. Our 〈Strange Tales〉 too.... Junhyeok? Don’t cry. You’re not crying, right?”

Kwon Junhyeok had come too, bringing Seo Eden and Shim Juhwan with him.

“Hi. First time meeting me, right? Thanks for doing such a great job as DJ for <2PM Nap>. I watched and thought it looked fun, so I paid for my own ticket.”

“Of course you did! It’s your first time meeting her. Even coworkers who see each other every week just buy tickets. Why are you acting like an old man about it.... Yeoreum, don’t give out invitation tickets next time. Old guys these days have no manners.”

“No! Give me invitation tickets! I’ll do a Shim Juhwan OST for you instead. Watching today, rom-com suits you. Call me when you get your next project. There’s the DJ thing too — let’s get close.”

“If it’s rom-com, Seo Eden should call you, right? Yeoreum, my solo charted well. My face alone screams romance.”

Shim Juhwan and Seo Eden bickered, each offering her OST privileges.

“It was really funnnn.”

“I didn’t want to just watch rehearsal, so I came.... The ending scene was the besttt.”

“I knowww. How did you not mess up those long lines even once? It was amazinggg.”

The MBS team, speaking in their usual Gam Dajeong tone, showed up too. Gam Dajeong shook Han Yeoreum’s hand and ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) made her promise — twice, three times — that she’d appear on again.

“You little foal—! Wow, you were good.”

“It was great.”

Even Yoon Hyeonjo and Kwak Cheolsik, busy filming 〈Faster Than the Law 2〉, made time to attend. Kwak Cheolsik had to sit in the very back because of his size.

“Yeoreum, you were way better than at school! It’s nothing big, just macarons. I thought you might need sugar.”

“I’m so busy I came empty-handed. Understand, right? I came straight here after landing today. Just fitting Daehakro into Ryu Risa’s schedule is already huge.”

So Dami and Ryu Risa also came to celebrate opening night.

And lastly—

“Isn’t mine obviously the prettiest bouquet? Dedicated to my muse—.”

“Yeoreum... congratulations....”

“What? Why is this person here again?! Shouldn’t you be at the station?!”

“I actually came to give you a script. This.”

Dok Gomin and So Yesol.

So Yesol held out a script. There was no title written on it.

“I was watching your variety appearance recently and got inspired. I’ve only finished episode one so far.... But I wanted you to read it.”

Their eyes met.

Not far away, holding a bouquet, Myeong Jeha greeted Geum Bitgang as she passed.

“I enjoyed it, Professor.”

“Yes. What did you think?”

She adjusted her clothes and looked at him. It wasn’t how one spoke to an undergraduate.

“Your performance was impressive, Professor. But since she’s my classmate, I found myself focusing more on Yeoreum.”

Geum Bitgang raised an eyebrow at his polite smile.

“Not the obvious answer.”

“That is my honest impression. Would you like a more detailed analysis?”

“With those eyes, as if you already know everything? I’ll change the question. What do you think will happen next?”

Myeong Jeha looked at Han Yeoreum again.

Her bright smile.

Han Yeoreum, unmistakably the protagonist of the stage.

“...I think she’ll cause an incident soon.”

And the actors around her, now pushed into perfect extra roles.

At his dry assessment, Geum Bitgang gave his shoulder a light tap — agreement.

The great actress left first.

There was a vigor in her steps that hadn’t been there before.

As if she had returned to her rookie days.

As if tomorrow held another stage.

Listening to her footsteps fade, Myeong Jeha approached Han Yeoreum, who was now flipping through the script from So Yesol.

“You did well, Yeoreum.”

As he handed her the bouquet, his mind moved quickly.

The new board forming because of Han Yeoreum.

Just thinking about how to handle the next fracture was already entertaining.

* * *

IP 85.152 thought back to the day of 〈Strange Tales〉.

“It was so good....”

The endless posts, the theories, the analysis threads — all gathering into a blazing summer.

It felt like those days again.

〈Intern Academy of the Academy of the Academy〉 had fully lived up to the surge of attention.

“No — it exceeded expectations.”

IP 85.152 scrolled through the trending posts.

Right now, without question, the hottest show in Daehakro was 〈Intern Academy of the Academy of the Academy〉.

No musical-theater fan saw it only once.

[Shining Yeoreum’s chemistry is on another level. Are we allowed to see a stage like this in Daehakro?]

Now I get why Geum Bitgang treats Rm like her favorite doll lolololol Whenever they’re together it stops being a small theater; it’s a freaking grand theater; thought Rm would get swallowed since she’s a rookie but her diction and acting are just natural. It’s comedy but there’s no forced tension. Casting was insane.

Anonym (223.35) I thought they overhyped her on but nope lolol she’s actually that good. I was wondering why the panelists were overreacting — plot twist lolol

Anonym (127.87) Finally a play worth watching. Rm’s been a rom-com genius since 〈ParCheHi〉. She drags solemn scenes by the collar and carries them. Basically the tow truck of rom-com.

ㄴAnonym (11.111) Tow truck makes it sound suspicious LOOOLL damn LOLOLOL

Anonym (118.236) When Geum Bitgang and Rm are together the quality jumps to grand-theater level.

It wasn’t just theater fans.

There were multiple posts claiming to have spotted Sunwoo Seonuk in the audience. Ji Haebeom and Noh Jeongyeon had been seen too.

Industry insiders were coming to watch Han Yeoreum act in person.

“That’s why it’s worth doing repeat rotations!”

It wasn’t just her acting.

The play felt new every time. The Jin Jinju Han Yeoreum portrayed changed slightly each day.

One day she was timid, low in self-esteem — not airheaded but genuinely flustered.

Another day she delayed her lines and gestures by a beat, acting as though she truly knew nothing.

“And every time, Geum Bitgang changed too.”

Geum Bitgang adjusted her style to support her. When Jin Jinju’s self-esteem was low, her hand gestures became sharper, her pointing more cutting — as if physically pushing Jinju around.

When Han Yeoreum slowed her timing, Geum Bitgang sped up, leaning into her space to make her appear even smaller.

[She’s a genius for real lolol]

Daehakro feels alive again. Even all-day repeat watchers are showing up. Feels like newbies are coming in from variety shows too.

Honestly wild that money-hungry companies like JC would let Rm loose in Daehakro... We’re grateful thoughㅠ

Anonym (211.111) 20s female actors are stacked. But male pool is wrecked f*ck

ㄴAnonym (118.235) Even film’s struggling to find 20s male actors; you expect Daehakro to?

ㄴAnonym (106.101) Come to think of it, the male actors Rm’s worked with — Myeong JH, Joo JS, Kwon JH — they’re all decent.

ㄴAnonym (223.38) You think they got shot in the head? Why would they come to Daehakro lololol Stop derailing female actor talk to male talk. Talk about women.

Anonym (39.6) You can tell she’s serious about character interpretation.

Because Jin Jinju’s interpretation changed each time, Neulpureun Art Center was always crowded.

People posed in front of the poster featuring Han Yeoreum in glasses. Watching newbies take 인증 shots with Jin Jinju’s face as backdrop, IP 85.152 descended the stairs toward the theater.

Ticketing was getting harder and harder.

“Ha.... That was brutal....”

Only the fastest musical-theater fans could secure shows with Han Yeoreum.

A true battle.

‘But I pulled it off.’

IP 85.152 felt proud of their ticketing skills. It absolutely wasn’t pride in Han Yeoreum’s popularity.

‘It’s starting...!’

The lights dimmed.

The mechanical voice began.

Jin Jinju appeared, lamenting.

‘What kind of Jin Jinju will we see today....’

IP 85.152 watched with a pounding heart.

Up until she entered the Intern Academy, nothing seemed different.

“Alright! Take out your textbooks—!”

At the assistant’s command, Jin Jinju reached into her bag.

But something was off.

IP 85.152 stared at Han Yeoreum on stage.

‘...Is this...?’

Jin Jinju seemed unable to pull out the textbook that was supposed to be inside.

She reached in again.

And again.

‘An accident?’

The feared stage accident had happened.