I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

[HOT / Actor script reading session that apparently spied on a real group project.jpg]

(Yeoreum and Dami suddenly having a serious conversation about personal color.jpg)

First thing you have to do when you meet is ask what makeup they used today.

(Dok Gomin sleeping in the corner.jpg)

There’s always one person lying around because of a hangover.

(Choo Gaeul getting angry after hearing about the fan club while trying to stay serious.jpg)

There’s always at least one person trying to keep things together.

(Everyone talking and suddenly ordering tteokbokki.jpg)

But then everyone gets swept up and the most serious moment is deciding what food to order.

(Lee Saerok being the drink shuttle.jpg)

Who is this uncle?

(Lee Saerok introduction.jpg)

Sorry for not recognizing you.

(Meeting conclusion: let’s form a band and release an OST.jpg)

But somehow things move forward anyway...

Anonymous 1: LMAO Ah fuck this is hilarious what is this?

ㄴ Anonymous 7: This is Han Yeoreum’s next project vlog! Official MBS lolol

Anonymous 31: Script reading... right...? They didn’t read a single line LOOLLLL

Anonymous 40: Even though they look playful they actually analyzed the characters pretty seriously LOLOLOL Looking forward to Go Yungyo

Anonymous 116: I wondered why the center director came but when I heard the reason I was honestly moved.. T_T

ㄴ Anonymous 120: Seriously the drama industry has been shaking a lot lately, so seeing the center director personally backing up rookie actors + a rookie director is insanely cool

ㄴ Anonymous 129: ? What does that mean

ㄴ Anonymous 142: The center director said if the vlog fails people might worry it’s because an old guy joined in so don’t worry about it... Saerok acting so mature

ㄴ Anonymous 152: Of course he has to be mature LOOOLLL

The Chinese cultural ban issue was widely known even among people who weren’t drama fans.

Even if they didn’t know the details, it was impossible not to know how much of a crisis the drama industry was currently in.

There were three dramas sitting around three percent ratings.

Two dramas had even ended early.

Scenes where the plot collapsed or ridiculous product placements appeared had been endlessly turned into joke posts in online communities.

Anonymous 194: MBS already had two early cancellations so investors must be in mother-in-law mode watching the studio right now. But since the center director is protecting them, they probably won’t force weird scenes in... thank god

ㄴ Anonymous 201: The center director definitely knows how risky it is to push a project led by three rookie actresses but he’s still backing it T_T

“There aren’t any dramas worth watching.”

That mood had become almost absolute.

But 〈The Great Garland〉 had brought energy back into the drama market, and the vlog-style content—different from the usual script reading—felt fresh.

More than anything, because the actress with the highest public favorability right now, Han Yeoreum, was appearing in it, attention naturally gathered toward 〈Youth Disqualified!〉.

Anonymous 208: This vlog will be uploaded again next week right? LOOOLLLL

* * *

“Hey! Han Yeoreum! Look at this!”

Choo Gaeul grabbed my shoulders with both hands and shook me.

Her fingertips trembled with excitement.

“My followers increased this much in just one day!”

“Me too! Yeoreum, me too!”

After the first video was uploaded, the reaction had been extremely good.

Both Gaeul and Dami looked unbelievably excited since their SNS followers had never increased this much in a single day before.

Among people who stan actors, there’s a saying that every fan’s biggest dream is to appear on .

‘That’s the biggest reason that program became successful.’

There aren’t many shows where actors can talk comfortably about their work.

And since it’s on Intube instead of public television, was the first of its kind.

But even then it only appears once as a short feature.

‘But we’re different.’

A drama that keeps releasing actor content until the first broadcast?

That had never happened before.

I could guarantee next week’s reaction would be even bigger.

More people would come after hearing about it through word of mouth.

‘And these two are cute.’

There wasn’t a single drama fan who disliked watching rookie actors working hard with youthful energy.

The two of them were still refreshing their pages over and over.

“Aaaah! My followers increased again. Hey, Han Yeoreum! They won’t cancel this later, right?”

“Aaah! I... I might hit 100,000 at this rate.... If followers increase too quickly, they sometimes think the account bought them and suspend it... what should I do, Yeoreum!”

And every time the number increased by one, they screamed. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

“Guys. Let’s not get this excited already....”

But who am I?

A rising popular actress who had already walked this path once.

I had to keep things grounded.

I continued my advice calmly.

“Once episode one of 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 is released... we’ll have popularity that can’t even be compared to now....”

“Aaaaaah!”

“Aaaaaah!”

Just imagining it made the two of /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ them lose their minds.

By the way, this isn’t bragging, just stating a simple fact! Honestly! Casually!

‘My followers are currently heading toward two million....’

Even when I passed one million I thought it was a dream, but now it had already reached 1.85 million.

New people were still flowing in.

I tightened the corner of my lips seriously.

I had to maintain dignity in front of the kids.

“Wait here. I’ll go buy drinks.”

I showed the calm composure of a senior rising popular actress to the two girls rolling around the practice room floor.

Then I took off my cap, walked leisurely, hugged my bag filled with important belongings, and headed to a café near the practice room.

“...Huh?”

Because I wasn’t covering my face, a few people immediately looked at me the moment I opened the door.

Whispers and sideways glances were clearly noticeable.

“Isn’t that...? Hey, behind you....”

“...I think so...?”

Earphones? I didn’t wear them.

Thanks to that, every word entered my ears clearly.

I looked at my autograph hanging prominently on the café wall.

Click.

I heard the quiet sound of someone taking a photo behind me.

‘This popularity....’

I really will have to earn a lot of money later and hand out new phones.

Everyone’s phone storage must already be full of Han Yeoreum photos.

Right then my phone vibrated.

Bzzz.

[Hey Han Yeoreum today don’t buy weird stuff just bring Americano]

A message from Gaeul arrived.

But absolutely not.

‘Americano is outdated now, Gaeul.’

And there are people in this world who find it hard to ask a rising popular actress for an autograph.

‘So I have to take the first step myself.’

That’s the virtue—and duty—of a popular actor.

“One melon soda, one unicorn frappuccino with lots of whipped cream, and one injeolmi gelato misutgaru. All takeout.”

When I ordered with the diction worthy of a rising popular actress, the people around me seemed to finally realize I was that ‘Nation’s First Love Yeon Huijae’.

‘So this is the power of 44.7% ratings.’

While waiting for the vibrating pager, I tidied my hair and slightly turned my head.

I greeted a shy-looking woman who had been staring at me.

“Excuse me... you’re her, right...?”

The reaction came instantly.

This was it.

This was exactly what I wanted.

“Yes... that’s me....”

As if I were shy about being recognized—but making sure my voice was clear enough for nearby tables to hear—I answered.

“Oh my god! I’m really a fan. I cried watching 〈The Great Garland〉. I’ve been following you since 〈ParCheHi〉!”

The woman suddenly stood up and shouted.

At some point every customer in the café was looking at me.

I think I heard another camera click just now...

“Really? Thank you....”

“If it’s okay... could I take one photo... maybe...?”

“Oh, of course. I’d be happy to.”

Once I signed for one person, customers around us slowly approached.

“I’m a fan too....”

“I loved the drama....”

Pretending to be slightly flustered but deeply grateful and happy, I shook hands with each person one by one.

That’s why I carried a hand warmer in my hand while coming here.

‘As expected, everyone secretly wanted my autograph.’

Good thing I ordered complicated drinks.

While the beverages were being prepared, I held a mini autograph session inside the café.

The name pen I always carried in my bag finally shined.

Just in case people didn’t have paper, I carried that too.

Ever since 〈The Great Garland〉 became a national drama, people everywhere began recognizing me like this.

“I’ll look forward to your next project!”

“I’ll keep supporting you....”

“I’ll definitely go see your movie too. Fighting!”

Whenever this happened, the world felt filled with love.

By the time I returned to the practice room, my followers had reached 1,851,301.

“Okay. Five more.”

I needed to become the number one female actress in Korea in follower count soon.

Then someday I could take everyone on a reward vacation myself.

With a drama where Han Yeoreum was the number one lead.

I already felt like I had boarded the plane to Taiwan.

My feet didn’t feel like they were touching the ground anymore.

* * *

“Baekhap, you’re really going?”

“...How many times are you going to ask... stop already....”

Eun Baekhap was a loner.

Unless it was an official schedule, she was famous for not spending time with people.

So her agency had deliberately tried to schedule a commercial shoot during the reward vacation.

“I have to go.”

But Eun Baekhap refused.

She insisted she absolutely had to attend the 〈The Great Garland〉 reward trip.

“It’ll probably be uncomfortable though... even if you don’t go we’ll release a nice article. Don’t worry and just focus on your condition, okay?”

After 〈The Great Garland〉 ended, advertising offers poured in endlessly for Eun Baekhap.

Personal schedules also flooded in.

So if she picked just a few of them, the narrative would naturally become that she regretfully couldn’t attend because of overlapping schedules.

Eun Baekhap understood that perfectly well.

“Forget it. You won’t be able to catch Writer Ahn next time.”

If Ji Haebeom and Eun Baekhap currently held the highest value among actors in Korea, then among writers the number one was Ahn Junmyeong.

Ordinarily people who weren’t hardcore drama fans didn’t memorize writers’ names.

Usually only the titles of their works were remembered.

But Ahn Junmyeong’s name had become as famous as his works.

‘And I’m not the only one targeting him anymore.’

Agencies and actors eager to impress him must already be lining up.

This was an industry where people spent absurd amounts of money just to imprint a name on the public’s mind.

“He definitely has a next project in mind.”

Eun Baekhap was certain the Yeon Huijae she had created was perfect.

She planned to push forward while Ahn Junmyeong was intoxicated by the success atmosphere in Taiwan.

‘His next project will definitely include me.’

If you take my hand, I’ll give you wings once again.

So trust me.

Eun Baekhap had no intention of remaining a one-hit wonder.

She had finally left behind a representative work—she refused to be satisfied with just that.

Checking the date on her calendar again, Eun Baekhap ran a nervous hand through her hair.

For some reason, she felt increasingly anxious.

* * *

“It’s really chaotic.”

Those were the first words Director Ja Sokhwan said when the 〈The Great Garland〉 team arrived at the airport for their flight to Taiwan.

But his voice was quickly drowned out.

Camera flashes exploded everywhere.

“Ji Haebeom! One wave please!”

“That’s Eun Baekhap! She’s insanely pretty!”

“Wait—what? That’s... Lee Taejin... no, Shin Seojin!”

“Ah, fuck!”

“Yeoreum! Heart pose! Cheek heart please—!”

It was complete chaos.

Ji Haebeom being photographed like crazy by reporters.

Eun Baekhap having her name shouted from every direction.

Shin Seojin remembered more by his character’s name.

Myeong Jeha so handsome that people cursed instead of complimenting him when they saw him in person.

And Han Yeoreum, who made everyone smile warmly.

The plane carrying the 〈The Great Garland〉 team soared into the blue sky.