I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

‘I dedicate this honor... to the person who chose me as their model....’

Level up!

Your skill has leveled up. From now on, not only your counterpart but anything beside you will gain synergy.

Reward

Advertising Effect +120%

As soon as my part in 〈The Great Garland〉 ended, the status window began pouring out rewards without pause.

「Hidden Mission: Your name has been mentioned over 10,000 times within 60 minutes」

The foundation of a famous actor! Your name is spreading far and wide.

「Hidden Mission: Over 1,000 solo articles have been published within 60 minutes」

You have completed both hidden missions. Synergy increases.

[Skill has increased]

The One and Only Protagonist C >>> C+

I checked the status window constantly. Every time I entered the fan café, my eyes would habitually skim the status window as well.

[Name: Han Yeoreum]

Level: 1.41 million

Title: Dok Gomin’s Muse / So Yesol’s Muse / Iconic Rookie / Pi Chaewon / Acting Prodigy Rookie / Real-Life Beauty / Seoryeong / Nation’s First Love <<< NEW!!!

I had finally acquired the title “Nation’s First Love.”

At a time when no actor had claimed the word “Nation’s” because there hadn’t been a cross-generational mega-hit...

And of all things, I had secured “First Love.” That came with tremendous benefits.

Current

Immersion B+

Analysis A

Delivery B+

Agility C+

Concentration B+

Fame B+

Artistry D+

Skills

Beyond the Frame C

The One and Only Protagonist C+

“You really are the Nation’s First Love, Actress. You’re way prettier in person.”

“Oh my. Aren’t you praising me a bit too much?”

“I’m just stating facts! Everyone’s going to call you Nation’s First Love now, so you’d better get used to it.”

Right. I’ve officially earned the Nation’s First Love title....

I subtly tightened the corners of my lips at the now-natural honorific attached to my name.

Actress. That’s right, everyone! From here on out, I’m your Nation’s Actress Han Yeoreum, with nothing but greater success ahead....

“Yeoreum, I love that smile! Hold it! Just a little longer!”

Click—! Click—! Click—!

Under the bright lights, I held up the product and smiled.

“Wow, it suits you perfectly! Okay! More, more! Let’s see a big smile!”

Yeoreum will love this, right?

Because what I’m holding right now is the product that best matches the nickname my Yeoreum gave me—“Baby Melon Bread.”

“We’ll shoot a quick Yousta upload before you go! Yeoreum, tilt the label a bit more toward the camera!”

What I was holding was Smile Dairy's so-called masterpiece sequel to banana milk: Melon Milk.

* * *

—Director! You’re home today, right?

“Uh... who is this?”

The voice on the other end was unusually excited. The lighting director was caught off guard by the sudden call.

It wasn’t someone he was close enough to exchange personal calls with.

—It’s Yeoreum!

The lighting director was extremely shy by nature. The most he had managed during the final shoot of 〈Strange Tales〉 was a few words of encouragement.

“We had a bet among ourselves.”

“Excuse me? About what?”

“We were guessing which agency you’d end up signing with.”

He suddenly felt embarrassed for having said something so awkward. As he waited briefly outside his home, a familiar car pulled up in front of him.

“Director!”

Yeoreum stepped out of the car. Carrying two large boxes.

“Uh... Yeoreum. Long time no see.... What’s all this?”

“What do you mean what? I shot a commercial! This is Melon Milk—it’s a new product coming out next month. I brought it to you first. And this is just regular Melon. I bought that separately.”

Han Yeoreum handed him a box decorated with melons. The lighting director took it instinctively—and nearly staggered at the weight.

“This... for me?”

“I remembered you said you liked it.”

“Me?”

“At the 〈ParCheHi〉 wrap-up dinner.”

The lighting director searched his memory. The chaos when Han Yeoreum and Joo Junseo had brought ice cream, and something he had shouted in the middle of it all.

“Ah!!! My Melon!!!”

“I’m old—I need something soft to eat!”

“Chocolate flavor! Chocolate’s mine!”

“You remembered that all this time?”

His nose stung. Han Yeoreum simply smiled as if it were nothing.

“Please mention it someday as a Han Yeoreum good-deed story. At an awards ceremony or something.”

“Unbelievable.... Fine. Thank you.”

“Then I’ll head out!”

“Another schedule?”

“I have band practice. See you on the 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 set!”

As if that had been her only purpose, Han Yeoreum handed over the two boxes of ice cream and milk and quickly left.

Watching the disappearing car, the lighting director chuckled.

“She really is youth....”

He remembered Han Yeoreum standing by the golden river, her yellow skirt fluttering in the light.

How brightly would she shine this time?

For some reason, he was looking forward to it.

“Alright. Maybe I’ll win another lighting award myself....”

Above his head, a streetlamp flickered on. Brilliantly bright.

* * *

“Hey! Han Yeoreum!”

“Wait. I have something to say.”

“...What.”

“Stop calling me that.”

The moment I ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ stepped into the practice room, I spoke coldly to Choo Gaeul, who had jumped up.

“...Why? Because I’m adding your last name...?”

Her voice, which had seemed loud enough to pierce the soundproof walls, gradually shrank. I shook my head seriously.

“From now on, address me politely as Baby Melon Bread. I am nationally certified Baby Melon Bread.”

“Are you kidding me! Hey!”

“Dami—try this. It’s a new product. I’m giving it to you two first.”

“Wow... I’m touched....”

Strictly speaking, they weren’t first. But let’s just say they were. I inserted a straw into one carton for Dami, then quickly shoved another straw into Gaeul’s mouth.

“What time is it? You’re feeding me sugar at this hour! I’m restricting sugar right now—”

“Is it good?”

“...Yeah....”

Perfect. I’d expected at least an hour of scolding over the earlier spoiler incident, but this would wrap it up in fifteen minutes.

I watched the two of them holding their pale green milk, then slung my guitar over my shoulder.

“Ah, this reminds me of 〈ParCheHi〉. I did this in the auditorium with senior Joo Junseo.”

“Come to think of it, all three of us debuted in Writer Pi’s project.”

“Wow, that’s true! Once we master our song, let’s invite Writer Pi.”

As I loosened my fingers lightly, the conversation began drifting off-topic again.

“Come to think of it, senior Joo Junseo actually knows how to play drums.”

“...So? Don’t tell me you’re suggesting replacing me with him.”

“Gaeul, of course not. But maybe we could invite him briefly to give us some guidance.”

Dami looked at Gaeul with clear eyes.

“Honestly, if it’s just the three of us on screen the whole time, the vlog format might get boring. If a flower-like face appears briefly, the views would—”

Spending too much time with broadcast station staff really has broadened your thinking. Our Dami’s grown up. I nodded.

“If he appears for five minutes, we could easily gain 70,000 views.”

Even the 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 staff member in the distance was smiling widely, practically drawing circles above their head.

“Anyway! Let’s rehearse first! Han Yeoreum, you practiced properly, right?”

Choo Gaeul looked at me, her hands red from gripping drumsticks for so long. I smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

* * *

“Ughhh....”

“Ensemble practice is so hard....”

Watching the two collapsed on the practice room floor, So Dami helped them up one by one.

“Okay, again. I’ll keep the tempo. From here—tan-ta-da tan—.”

“Dami, wait, just a second....”

“Hey! So Dami! Aren’t you tired?”

Of the three of us, only So Dami had mastered the sheet music. It was a hit song she’d played before, and after warming up her hands a few times, she could perform it easily.

“Should we rest for five minutes?”

“Ten.... Let’s rest ten.”

“Okay. Then one minute.”

“Five-minute-break-thank-you-very-much.”

Yeoreum lay flat on the floor, Gaeul gulped down melon milk as if she had never mentioned sugar restriction, and Dami checked her phone.

“...Yeoreum.”

“Yeah?”

“The awards lineup just dropped...!”

Gaeul, still drinking milk, scooted closer instantly.

“SBC 〈The Fuse〉.... Rookie Award! Choo Gaeul, me, I’m on it! I am!”

Gaeul, who had been carefully preserving her styled hair, shook her head wildly as if reality refused to sink in.

“No, no, no. This isn’t a dream, right....”

“What about me?”

I moved closer too. Dami scrolled.

Han Yeoreum was nominated for the KBC Rookie Award, and for the Hong Sang Arts Festival Young Theater Actor Award.

“And... Best Couple.”

My face went pale.

“Hey, Han Yeoreum... what do we do....”

“Wow....”

Dami and Gaeul were speechless. There would never be a fiercer Best Couple lineup.

[Best Couple Award]

[Myeong Jeha Han Yeoreum 〈The Great Garland〉]

[Ji Haebeom Eun Baekhap 〈The Great Garland〉]

[Shin Seojin Eun Baekhap 〈The Great Garland〉]

“Good grief... what is this....”

There were five nominees total. Three were from 〈The Great Garland〉.

KBC had made a bold choice—milk the buzz from 〈The Great Garland〉, where fans were currently at war over who Huijae’s true love was, Taeseok or Taejin, in the heated “real love” debate.