I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

* * *

Input: Our baby is way too cute, holy shit. I should just kiss her already.

Input: The pale yellow scarf, what do I do TT__TT

Input: The initial consonant of “chick” is Y.R.. The initial consonant of Yeoreum is Y.R. Could this really be a coincidence?

Right now, Aetami was swallowing her tears in frustration because she hadn’t been able to see Han Yeoreum in person at the airport.

The end of the year was approaching.

Advertising agencies were already preparing their presentations for the year-end season.

They analyzed which celebrities had dominated this year and tried to predict which celebrities would dominate next year.

Every time Han Yeoreum’s name came up in the discussions, Aetami had to press her lips together and keep her expression under control. It had been exhausting.

The moment the airport fashion photos were released, she shut her eyes and began typing.

After saving the candid shots the reporter had sent her, Aetami resentfully cursed herself for missing the pop-up event at Department Store D last time and began moving her fingers rapidly.

[Would you like to like this article?]

Click. Click. Click.

Aetami hit the like button on every single article featuring Yeoreum. Then she steadied her breathing, trying to calm her pounding heart.

Not long after, Yeoreum’s photos began appearing endlessly in the presentation that followed.

“If we look at the common traits among the advertisements consumers preferred most this year...”

On the screen were Do Gyeoul, Eun Baekhap, and Han Yeoreum.

The three actresses whose market value was currently rising the fastest.

“Although exports to China are currently [N O V E L I G H T] blocked, Do Gyeoul is still the most favored among loyal Japanese consumers. She successfully renewed her contract with ‘First Dew,’ and starting soon, exports to Japan will begin in Shin-Okubo...”

Looking closely, it felt like a battle between Do Gyeoul and Eun Baekhap.

After all, both of them were endorsing soju advertisements — something only top-tier celebrities were given.

“In response, ‘Just Like Now’ selected Eun Baekhap as its advertising model. With 〈The Great Garland〉 currently airing, Eun Baekhap’s buzz volume is...”

Even so, ‘Just Like Now’ could only remain in second place.

Its sales still lagged behind First Dew.

“And something interesting is that ‘Just Like Now’ has seen a slight increase in total revenue. However, this is not from soju sales but from the makgeolli product line...”

That was when a solo image of Yeoreum appeared on the screen.

“...the popularity of ‘Creamy Soda,’ which has become the most popular low-alcohol product since its release. The newly released Earl Grey flavor for winter is drawing attention, and likewise, due to the influence of Han Yeoreum, who also appeared in 〈The Great Garland〉...”

The makgeolli market was practically a concrete fortress.

The number-one brand, Jisan Makgeolli.

The instantly recognizable Kuksundang.

The tradition-focused Slow Village Makgeolli.

And Sunbokdoga, known for its champagne-like carbonation.

“Creamy Soda plans to place product placement in next year’s highly anticipated MBS project, 〈Youth Disqualified!〉.”

Aetami instinctively thought to herself that it made no sense.

Rationally speaking, breaking through that concrete wall seemed impossible.

But the moment Han Yeoreum’s face appeared on the screen, it made her dare to imagine the impossible.

The number-one position that seemed absolutely untouchable.

It might actually be taken.

* * *

For Do Gyeoul, red carpets and award ceremonies had always been unbearably boring.

They were no longer exciting or thrilling.

Just tiring events.

But today was different.

“Are you thirsty?”

“No... I’m fine.”

It was because Han Yeoreum was sitting across from her.

Yeoreum answered awkwardly. Perhaps conscious of the attention around them, she lifted the corners of her lips and showed a polite expression of greeting toward an old classmate she hadn’t seen in a while.

Do Gyeoul spoke to her as if lightly poking at an interesting toy.

Just to see how she would react.

“Alright. Tell me if you get thirsty.”

“...Okay. Thanks, Gyeoul.”

MusicN had arranged a particularly interesting table lineup. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

It was clearly calculated to provoke strong reactions every time the camera captured it.

Myeong Jeha.

Han Yeoreum.

Do Gyeoul.

The three people called the “generation of light” from DaeYeJong.

Along with them were Choo Gaeul, who had appeared in 〈The Fuse〉, and Joo Junseo, whose drama had recently finished airing to great popularity.

All seated at the same table.

[♨Let’s watch the MusicN Year-End Awards together♨]

– The power level of that table the camera just showed is insane lol

– Wow Joo Junseo doesn’t look small even next to Myeong Jeha T_T please just let those two dominate the live-action adaptation

ㄴHoly shit lol sudden live-action talk but you’re right

– Why are actors who barely clap forcing themselves into a singers’ festival... lol

ㄴWhen did they not clap? Why are you lumping them together and insulting them T_T

ㄴYour oppa is ugly so they probably brought actors for the general viewers

– The Han Yeoreum + Do Gyeoul combo is so good. Even their dresses are black and white.

Do Gyeoul was certain this table would become a topic of conversation every time the broadcast cut to it.

The station seemed to know it too.

Sometimes they captured the entire table.

Sometimes they zoomed in on Myeong Jeha or Joo Junseo.

Each time, murmurs rippled through the audience.

In a place where even a single second of footage could be twisted into endless speculation, every celebrity sitting there kept a constant smile on their face.

‘This is boring.’

Do Gyeoul smiled skillfully and clapped lightly.

A song she had heard before played.

Singers performed.

Trophies were handed out.

Acceptance speeches droned on.

Time passed meaninglessly until the first half of the ceremony finally ended.

“How is your acting practice going?”

As soon as the first part ended, Do Gyeoul threw the question toward Yeoreum, who was drinking water across from her.

For this single question, she had practically wasted the entire day.

“Uh... it’s going alright.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

No matter how carefully she analyzed Han Yeoreum right now, none of it would help with the role she had taken in 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉.

Even so, she wanted to observe her with her own eyes.

“Your acting, Yeoreum.”

Han Yeoreum’s greatest strengths were two things.

First, her voice.

Second, her tears.

But On Jihwa, the role she would play in 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉, had no use for either.

The character barely spoke.

And had almost no emotional fluctuations.

‘And above all... the screen time is small.’

〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉 had as many characters as its massive scale.

Unlike the leading roles Yeoreum had played so far, the audience’s attention and impact would be divided among many characters.

It was a completely different kind of role.

Yeoreum surely knew that too.

Do Gyeoul stared at her quietly.

And only then did she realize why she had forced herself to attend this event.

The words she had just said.

That she was looking forward to Yeoreum’s acting.

Anxiety.

Tension.

Nervousness.

Discomfort.

Stiffness.

Pressure.

Agitation.

Displeasure.

Shrinkage.

Melancholy.

Confusion.

Avoidance.

Irritation.

Discouragement.

Chaos.

Disgust.

At that single sentence, fragments of countless emotions had flickered across Han Yeoreum’s face for a brief instant.

Do Gyeoul couldn’t fully decipher them.

Which only made her unbearably curious.

‘Which one are you feeling most strongly right now?’

She wanted to jump to her feet and ask.

Why she felt that way.

What she did when she felt those emotions.

If it were Han Yeoreum — the one who had interpreted Sukbin Choi in 〈The Fuse〉 so brilliantly — she might give her the answer.

“...Thank you.”

Yeoreum answered as if making a quiet resolution.

“Of all people, you’re the one saying you’re looking forward to it, Gyeoul.”

A zombie story.

A genre Yeoreum had never attempted before.

And a role where she would have to portray fear — Do Gyeoul’s weakest point.

“In that case...”

Yeoreum smiled.

“I’ll have to work even harder.”

With her strengths completely tied down, what would Han Yeoreum show instead?

Do Gyeoul memorized every expression and gesture Yeoreum had shown just moments ago.

Not a single second felt worth wasting.

* * *

“Hey, Han Yeoreum! Let’s go eat now.”

The endlessly long MusicN awards ceremony had finally ended.

I even went up on stage as a winner.

I received the Trendy Award.

Because of Do Gyeoul, my nerves had been on edge the entire time. I barely remembered what I said in my acceptance speech.

The giant screen had shown our table right when I went up.

‘It felt like Do Gyeoul was staring straight at me...’

Her face was on the huge screen in front of me.

Smiling.

Clapping.

Looking down at me.

“What are you doing? I’m starving.”

“I’m not hungry...”

If I ate right now, I’d probably get indigestion.

Like a mouse placed in front of a snake.

No — since I’m cute, let’s say a guinea pig instead.

Either way, after spending hours feeling like I was at the very bottom of the food chain, I had no appetite.

“Hey, Han Yeoreum! Are you sick?”

“What happened? I told you to stop searching your name on the internet and sleep at night. You’re always like this. Never listen and always...”

“Seriously. How many times a day do you check your fan cafe? One thing is whatever, but capturing even the new member greeting posts...”

The familiar scolding began.

Only now did I start to feel a little better.

Earlier I had been forcing myself to smile so much that my face was about to cramp.

I just sat there listening with half my soul floating somewhere outside my body.

“Looks like her condition isn’t great. Haha. Gaeul, could you take Yeoreum to the waiting room? It’s crowded inside.”

Myeong Jeha calmly resolved the situation.

“And would you like to have dinner with me, sunbae?”

The two people instantly fell silent.

Choo Gaeul reacted to Jeha’s words about my condition like he had just declared, “Emergency! The patient must go straight into surgery!”

She immediately wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me up.

Joo Junseo quickly distanced himself from Myeong Jeha.

“...Now that I think about it, maybe eating dinner this late isn’t such a good idea.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

“Yeah. Right.”

The Joo Junseo who had been talking nonstop earlier had disappeared.

He had returned to being taciturn.

“I’ll just head out first...”

I sincerely hope every award ceremony in the future becomes a No-Do-Gyeoul Zone.

The moment I quickly left the table we had been sitting at, I felt someone’s gaze from somewhere.

I deliberately didn’t turn my head.

Only Myeong Jeha glanced in that direction and gave a light smile.

I was certain the person there was Do Gyeoul.

“Ahhhhh—”

The moment I entered the room, I collapsed onto the bed.

My whole body tingled.

“What is wrong with me...”

The tension engraved into my body wasn’t something that would disappear all at once.

Maybe it was because I had directly and indirectly seen how popular Do Gyeoul was in Japan.

I had run into multiple billboards with her face plastered on them.

“But still... who am I?”

Today at the MusicN awards, every time my face appeared on the big screen, the audience cheered.

I had even won the Trendy Award — something only celebrities who are cute, pretty, lovable, and widely liked could receive.

A rising star who now got to sit at tables close to the stage.

Han Yeoreum.

“Okay. Let’s take a deep breath...”

I had my own therapy method.

I picked up my phone and opened “Summer Days.”

Even today, I carefully read through every message that warmed my heart.

‘It’s okay.’

It’s really okay now.

I won’t lose to Do Gyeoul.

I’ll surpass Eun Baekhap.

I’ll stand at the very top.

I read the posts uploaded today.

Then the posts from yesterday.

Then I scrolled down.

And read more.

And more.

And more.

Now there were so many people who knew my name.

So it was okay.

Everything was really okay.

* * *

[HOT / The KBC Best Couple Award everyone in drama fandom is most curious about right now.jpg]

(The Great Garland voting screenshot.jpg)

Childhood GiYeon vs Adult GiYeon.

Right now the adult pair is winning the vote, but public opinion favors the child actors, so it’s an unprecedentedly close battle.

Anonymous 1: The moment the OST came out it was over lol

ㄴAnonymous 3: Yeah... sadly the result is obvious T_T

Anonymous 17: Then why even hold the vote? What happens to all the people who voted hard?

ㄴAnonymous 23: Exactly. They should give it fairly lol

Anonymous 59: What are these comments above... Sorry but internal judging is 60%. Anyone would think corruption already happened lol

Anonymous 81: For me and everyone around me, when we think of Huijae the first thing that comes to mind is short-hair Huijae. That’s undeniable, isn’t it?

IP 85.152 scrolled down with a cold gaze, a cool head, and a fair heart.

‘That’s right. The Best Couple Award should go to the child actors.’

After the OST “Huijae” from 〈The Great Garland〉 was released, votes for the child actors — who had briefly fallen to third place — suddenly began to surge.

It was the power of the general public.

Not actor fans.

Not drama enthusiasts.

Ordinary viewers who didn’t analyze dramas but never missed an episode.

People who didn’t watch the broadcast live but watched clips.

And even people who had fallen in love with the child actors simply from watching the music video.

Since its release, “Huijae” had never once lost the number-one spot on the music charts.

It had remained steadily at number one.

Meanwhile, Intube was overflowing with cover versions.

INTUBE

[Huijae Guitar Cover]

270K views

[First time singing a balladㅠ_ㅠ I tried Huijae too cover by MyutMyut]

480K views

〈The Great Garland〉 OST Huijae piano cover │ sheet music shared

110K views

‘When you think about it, Han Yeoreum’s influence is enormous every single time.’

IP 85.152, someone who didn’t blindly follow trends, was able to look at the situation calmly.

Since 〈ParCheHi〉, Han Yeoreum had been opening entirely new markets.

Almost as if she instinctively knew how to attract public attention.

‘And more importantly... Eun Baekhap has a fatal mistake.’

That was precisely why IP 85.152 was certain Han Yeoreum would win.