I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

* * *

Why was a famous scene called a famous scene?

[〈The Great Garland〉 ratings soar, “This is the true value of the license fee” — viewers give a standing ovation]

[Why did Eun Baekhap visit Ji Haebeom’s house... Ji Haebeom’s insane face holding back tears ⎜〈The Great Garland〉]

[Ja Sokhwan’s hidden “ace”... 〈The Great Garland〉 momentary ratings make you gasp~]

A scene earned the title of “famous” because it carved itself deeply into the hearts of those who watched it.

The reason creators insert homages to masterpieces is not simply to achieve “stylish direction.” It is to give the audience once more that overwhelming resonance they felt back then.

In the original work, the famous scene carried a glamorous brilliance tinged with inevitable futility.

In 〈The Great Garland〉, that scene transformed into Yeon Huijae’s firm resolve and Gi Taeseok’s painful love.

-Fuck, I cried my eyes out watching this TT_TT Huijae TT_TT

-I was a bit sad because adult Huijae suddenly felt so grown up speaking Joseon language so well, but today’s scene felt like getting smacked in the head. Yeah... if she stayed Gi Taeseok’s Huijae forever she’d never grow ㅠ_ㅠ...

-I wish they’d make it paid content. I’d seriously pay to watch all the way to the finale. Waiting a week is fucking torture

In the original story, Huijae symbolized the illusion of success and the emptiness of the upper class. An ideal that had been chased for so long, only to vanish in the end.

She wasn’t simply a love interest. She was something a man was meant to strive toward.

Yet the Huijae revealed throughout the original work was nothing but an illusion.

Not something worthy of devoting one’s life to, but merely a cold, irresponsible woman who chose wealth.

Her husband cheats, an old love returns, and regardless of whatever she herself does—she ultimately enjoys the privilege of the upper class that allows her to turn her back on everything.

But Huijae in 〈The Great Garland〉 was different.

The moment that swelled with emotion while breaking the heart struck a chord not only with viewers of 〈The Great Garland〉 but also with the public who came to watch the clips through the Intube algorithm.

It was like pouring oil onto blazing firewood.

Everyone ignited.

INTUBE

[Haebeom throwing away all the gifts he meant to give Baekhapㅜ_ㅜ Tear warning 〈The Great Garland〉 Ep.12]

Views: 1,317,886

-Fitzgerald watching this? Now it’s our >>>Junmyeong Fitzgerald<<< era

-I wondered how far they’d go but Ja Sokhwan you... (n)

ㄴNationalProjectToTurnEveryoneInsane: Ja Sokhwan is basically doing everything possible with Taeseok and Huijae

ㄴWe can’t be the only ones suffering this. Everyone go watch Weurand TT_TT fuck!!!!

-I’m so happy Huijae grew up so well~ Seeing her firmly holding onto both her feelings for Taeseok and for Taejin as Joseon people... it was so touching...T_T

-Ji Haebeom and Eun Baekhap’s face chemistry is insane. Just putting them together instantly creates a story TT_TT

Director Ja specialized in grand historical dramas that carried long narratives.

Before the drama even began airing, he had to know that the explosive reaction of the early episodes could not continue forever.

Now that the story had entered its middle arc, the card meant to revive the audience’s concentration once again was none other than Huijae.

Director Ja was the kind of person capable of making viewers experience their first love twice.

The battle surrounding Yeon Huijae began now.

When people thought of Taeseok’s first love in 〈The Great Garland〉, would they picture Han Yeoreum’s face—

or Eun Baekhap’s?

The choice now belonged to the public.

* * *

To be blunt.

‘I can’t beat her.’

Right. I couldn’t beat her. No matter how impressive Huijae was up through Episode 4, it couldn’t compare to the Huijae that would appear later.

‘Why do you think both Do Gyeoul and Eun Baekhap ended up sharing the “Nation’s First Love” title before the regression?’

Even if Eun Baekhap and I ended up sharing that title in the future, it would already be more than enough success.

‘Just stealing the “Nation’s First Love” title that originally belonged to Do Gyeoul would be enough to be satisfied.’

Because this was Eun Baekhap’s defining work.

‘That’s why she tried so hard to push Gi Juye into the casting.’

Yeon Huijae had a distinct character identity. There was a story Huijae had to carry forward.

For the audience, Huijae was someone whose final meeting was more beautiful than the first.

‘After that episode aired, the number of people rewatching the show increased noticeably.’

INTUBE

[The beautiful wedding of Huijae and Taejin♥ Shall we go, my joy 〈The Great Garland〉 Ep.4]

Views: 1,876,114

[The most beautiful in the world? Seoul girl Huijae preparing to go out 〈The Great Garland〉 Ep.9]

Views: 1,237,881

[Subtle tension at the party, the start of a real love triangle?! 〈The Great Garland〉 Ep.12]

Views: 1,563,999

Even Eun Baekhap’s individual clips and her two-shot scenes with Taejin were now catching up to the views of the GiYeon couple.

That meant Eun Baekhap’s personal popularity was growing at an astonishing speed.

Now there were multiple videos surpassing one million views even when she wasn’t paired with Ji Haebeom.

‘Eun Baekhap was always an actress with strong public appeal anyway.’

From the moment she debuted, her face alone had been enough to steal attention.

‘Come to think of it, I’ll be meeting Eun Baekhap soon.’

From head to toe, from start to finish.

Just imagining being compared to one of Korea’s top stars made my heart pound.

The wall I had to overcome wasn’t only Do Gyeoul.

And the fact that I could stand beside that top star—the one I used to admire only through a screen.

“Rising.”

The word suddenly felt real.

But I had no intention of stopping there.

I wanted to climb higher. High enough to be truly unreachable.

I wanted to become the top.

* * *

“...It’s done....”

A quiet voice echoed inside the hotel room.

Eun Baekhap, a woman who rarely showed much emotion in daily life, wore a victorious smile at the corner of her lips.

“....”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

How long had she waited for this day?

She briefly looked back on the past.

[Eun Baekhap appearing as a lead for the first time in three years... complete image transformation with 〈Won, Han, Gok〉]

[Eun Baekhap receiving weekly lessons from a pansori master, “She performs the singing herself?”]

Eun Baekhap’s beginnings were always promising.

But—

[Will a refreshing home drama take over the living room... 〈Modern Woman Old Woman〉 achieves 32.7% ratings]

“I told you before. Cooking is about sincerity. When you make soybean soup, you must stir-fry the ingredients in sesame oil and use rice-washed water to get the real flavor. If you just throw in those modern women’s seasonings for fake taste, my Juwon will notice immediately. He grew up eating only his mother’s cooking.”

“Really?”

“No matter how much you hate housework, at least put sincerity into cooking. Haven’t you heard the saying? When the family is harmonious, everything prospers. If you’re part of this family, follow our traditions properly.”

“You keep saying modern women, modern women... so old women don’t know about family harmony?”

“What?”

“Old women can abandon their children after giving birth, then? Sure, family harmony sounds great! Though I doubt a harmonious family can come from a household run by those bean-powder-covered hands!”

“You... don’t tell me....”

“That’s right! I’m the daughter you abandoned! There’s a limit to shamelessness. Even animals don’t abandon their own children!”

[A fiery melodrama succeeds... viewers love the “no frustration” pacing]

[Slapping with dried radish leaves? Daughter-in-law vs mother-in-law soybean soup battle ⎜〈Modern Woman Old Woman〉]

“...Fuck.”

Eun Baekhap had an unusually terrible streak of competition.

No matter how well-made her work was, that didn’t guarantee success.

If even one overwhelmingly popular drama aired at the same time, everything else would naturally be swept away.

[Eun Baekhap abandons her beauty image with a bold short haircut... “Entering a new project”]

[Symbol of innocence Eun Baekhap takes a fierce acting challenge... youngest member of a loan shark group in 〈Noir〉]

Unfortunately, her bad luck didn’t end there.

[Real-life Tiger moms warfare... 〈Top Grade〉 shows explosive popularity from its first week]

“Mom told me. If you’re going to die, die at school.”

“Wait... wait, come down... let’s talk....”

“So I’ll grant your wish. I’ll die at school.”

“Lim Jihee!!!”

“‘Die at school’? Then I will.” Shocking ending pushes 〈Top Grade〉 ratings upward

[Prestige social drama 〈Top Grade〉 ends beautifully with 28.8% ratings]

“...What the fuck is this shit....”

Still, Eun Baekhap kept acting.

-Not sure Eun Baekhap is that good at acting... honestly didn’t she just become a celebrity because of her face

ㄴIf you have that face you SHOULD become a celebrity lol how could you live as a normal person with that face

-Heard from someone in the industry that Eun Baekhap’s modeling fee is insanely expensive but investors don’t really invest in projects just because of her name...T_T I personally like her though

ㄴInvestments mostly revolve around male actors anyway lol even if it wasn’t Eun Baekhap

-Among actresses her age Eun Baekhap’s acting is honestly solid LOOLL her face just overshadows her skill

-Her filmography is strong enough T_T ratings aren’t everything... people who value artistic quality feel secondhand pain when actresses get constantly criticized

Eun Baekhap’s choices had never been wrong.

Every project she selected had a clear narrative structure, strong characters, and years later they were still praised as well-made works.

But they never reached the result Eun Baekhap truly wanted.

[Eun Baekhap’s next project is romance... anticipation grows for a strategic marriage story of a cold chaebol daughter]

[Eun Baekhap’s new drama 〈Contract Divorce〉 premieres with 6.7% ratings]

[Crisis hits 〈Contract Divorce〉 as male lead replaced amid scandals—drunk driving, affairs, assault, illegal drugs]

[Even after replacement, ratings remain in the single digits... Eun Baekhap suffers humiliation]

“Fucking hell... did that crazy bastard lose his mind? If he was going to ruin everything he should’ve just died before filming started. Instead he crawls in here and destroys the entire project. Fucking hell... his ugly face is practically melting and yet he drags investors in so we had to work with him, and now he’s turning my entire filmography into shit...?”

Her debut had been successful. Her second project had done fine.

But after that came the problem.

Various obstacles—big and small—prevented her from truly taking off.

At the exact moment she needed a defining masterpiece, she was only gaining popularity for her face and name.

Her longing for a signature work kept growing.

And now—

she had finally reached it.

The place Eun Baekhap had always wanted.

“It’s mine....”

“I won’t give it to anyone.”

Eun Baekhap trembled at the realization that she could finally attach a proper title to her name.

“Now nobody can say I got here just because of my face....”

Until now, the title “Nation’s First Love” had only been used before Han Yeoreum’s name.

But after that long-awaited scene aired—

it would belong to Eun Baekhap.

Puppy love is short.

First love lasts long.

Trying to estimate just how much love her newly obtained masterpiece would receive, Eun Baekhap checked her schedule.

Even during her regional location shoot, there was an appointment she couldn’t miss.

[H Department Store Apgujeong Main Branch — Brand D Winter Season Pop-Up]

Countless camera lenses would turn toward her.

Shutters would flash.

Attention would freeze upon her.

And she would show all of it—

in front of Han Yeoreum.

* * *

This was H Department Store Apgujeong branch.

December, the month of Christmas, was the busiest season of the year.

It was the time when the entire interior was redecorated so beautifully that it made people’s hearts flutter.

At a time when resisting ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ opening one’s wallet felt impossible, one particular store stood out with exceptional glamour.

Pop-up stores showcasing a brand’s value and atmosphere were no longer simple events.

They had become major schedules where reporters gathered and fashion magazines even produced short videos.

“Just a moment—!”

“You’re blocking the camera here!”

Today’s Brand D pop-up event placed cameras and reporters at the entrance, allowing one celebrity to enter at a time according to a schedule.

The footage would later be uploaded separately to Brand D Korea and Ruel Korea’s social media accounts.

True to its high-end status, the invitations had been sent mainly to celebrities with considerable name value.

“Who’s coming today again?”

“Well, the opening guest is...”

In an era when luxury consumption was rapidly increasing, Brand D—fiercely chasing the “Big Three” luxury brands—had secured the Christmas pop-up space at H Department Store.

That meant an enormous amount of investment had gone into it.

Inside the department store, a Christmas carol blending gentle piano with sparkling bell sounds filled the air.

The place was crowded with people.

When reporters holding cameras and fans gathered, attention naturally followed.

“What’s going on? Is a celebrity coming?”

“If it’s Brand D, Eun Baekhap might show up. Let’s wait a bit before leaving.”

People waited for the first celebrity who would appear at the pop-up store, its entrance decorated with hanging star ornaments.

Soon someone appeared between two guards in black suits.

The moment the silhouette came into view, reporters’ cameras all moved at once.

Trying to capture today’s first star through their lenses.

“It’s Han Yeoreum!”