I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

‘I guess you heard everything just now?’

I correct myself. She definitely heard it. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» One hundred percent. That look she’s giving me isn’t the look of someone who heard nothing. I smiled naturally.

“Just stepped out... for some fresh air...?”

Before I could finish saying right?, Eun Baekhap turned her back and started walking away with firm steps. Before I knew it, I followed after her.

True to her reputation as an actress praised for her action acting in , she walked fast. Not just fast—so fast that I practically had to jog to catch up.

“Excuse me, sunbae!”

I finally managed to catch up. The moment I carefully reached out and lightly grabbed her wrist so she wouldn’t feel offended—

“Let go.”

Eun Baekhap sharply knocked my hand away.

* * *

Eun Baekhap looked at Han Yeoreum, who was standing there with an awkward smile.

‘Fuck... what a ridiculous mess.’

Eun Baekhap knew how to judge things rationally.

The conversation earlier hadn’t really crossed the line. It was the kind of level of talk that could easily come up on a filming set.

And yet, despite that—

Right now Eun Baekhap couldn’t stay calm.

“I told you to let go.”

As if she had no pride, Han Yeoreum slowly crept forward again and lightly caught the hem of Eun Baekhap’s clothes.

“Hey. Acting cute doesn’t work on me, so just go—”

Extra. Mother.

Those kinds of roles had come out of Ahn Junmyeong’s mouth. By Writer Ahn’s standards, it meant Eun Baekhap was no longer lead-actress material.

Then who would be the protagonist of his next project?

The answer was obvious.

“I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable because of a misunderstanding when you came here to enjoy your vacation. We really didn’t talk about you before that, sunbae. I just got a little carried away because I was drinking, and the staff unnies were only saying those things to match my mood. Really. Earlier I was saying the drama did well thanks to you, sunbae...”

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Did Writer Ahn talk to you about his next project?”

Eun Baekhap glared at Han Yeoreum, who had been desperately explaining herself.

“Uh... yes...”

For some reason, Han Yeoreum suddenly looked embarrassed.

“I heard you were talking with Writer Ahn earlier too, sunbae... You were just getting some air after finishing your conversation, right...? That’s good. Tomorrow we could go together—”

At those words, the last thread of rationality remaining in Eun Baekhap’s head snapped.

So it was true.

The lead that Ahn Junmyeong had picked was really Han Yeoreum.

The wine Eun Baekhap had just drunk with him had a high alcohol content. The buzz hit her head sharply.

“You’re smiling?”

One person had dragged herself to this vacation she didn’t even want to attend just to grovel and get on the writer’s good side, while the other was wandering around like her head was full of flowers. The contrast drove Eun Baekhap insane.

“Hey. If you came here to have fun, then just enjoy your vacation. Don’t stick to me pretending we’re close.”

Eun Baekhap poked Han Yeoreum’s shoulder with her index finger. The way it sank softly under her fingertip irritated her even more.

Everything about this girl was irritating.

“You think you’re something now, don’t you? Just because you took my side earlier you thought I’d go—Wow. Thank you. I’m so touched you said that even when I wasn’t there. You thought I’d pamper you and coax you like everyone else, didn’t you? How ridiculous... fuck.”

Eun Baekhap poked her a few more times.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. You didn’t take my side—you just said the truth. Like you said, compared to me, you’re nothing.”

Han Yeoreum simply blinked calmly, which annoyed Eun Baekhap even more. She hated people like Han Yeoreum—people who were lucky. Just like an actress who hit jackpots with everything she chose, she didn’t even have a nasty personality. That made Eun Baekhap angrier.

“I know. I said it because it’s true that you’re good at acting, sunbae. I didn’t think I was taking your side.”

“What?”

“But I’m not exactly nothing... I get told I’m pretty good at acting too... and we’re appearing in the same project, so if you say something like that it hurts a little.... If it bothered you that I acted friendly, I’m sorry.... I just did it because I’ve always liked you....”

Han Yeoreum effortlessly looked pitiful. She brushed the spot Eun Baekhap had poked earlier and lowered her eyes.

She reminded Eun Baekhap of a dog that crawls back with its tail tucked after being kicked away.

Eun Baekhap sighed without thinking.

“...What the hell is this?”

Dumbfounded, she spun around again.

This time Han Yeoreum didn’t follow.

‘Fuck. That damn brat is irritating the hell out of me....’

The fact that a junior she barely knew had wrapped things up nicely for her in front of the staff scratched at her pride. Her anger surged dizzyingly.

‘Writer Ahn... that crazy bastard was talking nonsense. I’m the protagonist no matter what. I’m the protagonist.’

Bang!

Back in her hotel room, Eun Baekhap slammed the door and pulled out all the tissues in the box, tearing them to pieces. Even that didn’t calm her down.

She blasted classical music loudly, carefully exfoliated her skin, mixed body oil into lotion in the perfect ratio, drank a cup of warm tea, put on a heated eye mask, attached swelling patches to the soles of her feet, and repeated relaxation breathing until she finally fell asleep.

In her dream, a vast meadow stretched endlessly. As if Eun Baekhap alone were the protagonist, a white bridge had the words written on it, and lilies were blooming everywhere in the flower field.

Eun Baekhap slowly crossed the white bridge. It was the walk of a protagonist.

At least in her dream she would release all this stress....

Bang bang.

The tips of the wings of white birds flying across the blue sky....

Their feathers scattering like the torn pieces of white tissue she had ripped apart in frustration....

Bang bang bang....

Such a beautiful scene....

Bang...!

Wait—why is Han Yeoreum in the flower field...? Why is she picking lilies? Why is she staring like that? Get out already! Don’t laugh.... Sunbae—bang bang bang! Get out! Han Yeoreum get out! Sun—bae—nim—! Bang bang bang!

“Ah, fuck. What is it?”

Eun Baekhap ripped off the heated eye mask and frowned. The unwelcome guest outside the door was knocking insistently.

Still groggy from the nightmare, she staggered to the door.

“Oh? You’re awake?”

Han Yeoreum, who had been knocking, was grinning just like she had in the dream.

“Get lost....”

Without even asking permission, Han Yeoreum stepped right into the room. Individualist Eun Baekhap nearly had a heart attack.

“I heard Writer Ahn is going here and here today. This guidebook has the reservation times written down, in case you were curious, sunbae.”

“I’m not curious. Take it and get out.”

“Sunbae, earlier you asked if I came here just to have fun, right?”

Seeing the real Han Yeoreum appear just like the one in her dream—smiling while sticking lilies in her head—pushed Eun Baekhap’s stress past the limit.

“But I came here to get a role too.”

“...So what? Did anyone ask? I’m telling you to get out for the third time.”

“And if I were a writer, I probably wouldn’t give a script to an actor who turns their back immediately after being rejected once.”

Eun Baekhap stared at her in disbelief.

‘Yesterday she looked all beaten down pretending to be pitiful....’

But the Han Yeoreum who had apparently leveled up overnight was stronger now.

“I’m just saying this in case you regret it later when a junior who’s nothing takes the script from you. Nothing’s been decided yet, so it’d be a shame to give up already.”

“You really are as dumb as you look, huh? So what—are you suggesting we go beg Writer Ahn together for a script?”

“If the script’s good, why not? If it were me, I’d audition again even if I failed a hundred times. Anyway, I’m going to follow Writer Ahn. He’s going paddle boating at eleven thirty this morning.”

“You little—when did you start talking casually to me....”

“The last part was just my monologue. It’s a section where talking to myself is allowed.”

Han Yeoreum slowly backed toward the door, apparently not wanting to get scolded like yesterday.

“I just came to say it once. Because I know how much you care about acting, sunbae.”

As she closed the door she added,

“I read all your interviews.”

* * *

After Eun Baekhap had stormed off last night, I immediately went to find Writer Ahn.

“Writer, what did you talk about with Baekhap sunbae? Did your next project fall through or something?”

“Did Eun Baekhap come looking for you, Yeoreum?”

“No. We just happened to run into each other downstairs... It just felt like something was slightly off.”

I wanted to say I got put in my place by Eun Baekhap, but I restrained myself like a proper adult.

‘Honestly, the fact that Eun Baekhap is this wary of me is kind of flattering.’

That top actress getting this angry over a rookie like me...

Isn’t that basically the same as acknowledging me?

Right. Who am I?

Han Yeoreum—the terrifying rising popular actress who made Eun Baekhap angry out of nervousness.

“It’s nothing big. I didn’t show her the synopsis, just briefly explained Jeong Huiseon. Then she just left.”

“Wait—what?”

That’s the most important part. How could you not explain that? With provocative roles, the background is crucial....

What must Eun Baekhap have thought of me?

‘No wonder she reacted like that earlier....’

If I interpreted our earlier conversation from Eun Baekhap’s perspective, it would look something like this.

“Did Writer Ahn talk to you about his next project?”

= Hey... Junmyeong picked you, didn’t he?

“I heard you were talking with Writer Ahn earlier too, sunbae.”

= Yeah, unlike you lol

I was screwed. The reason the Let’s Become Friends With Eun Baekhap project collapsed before it even started became clear. Seeing me momentarily speechless, Writer Ahn patted my shoulder.

“You didn’t tell Eun Baekhap about the synopsis, right? I only showed that to you.”

“I didn’t even have time to. We just ran into each other briefly.”

“Good... Keep your mouth shut from now on.”

“Huh? Why...?”

Seeing my confusion, Ahn Junmyeong explained briefly.

If a script comes easily, it collapses easily.

If you were an investor, would you invest here? Or would you put money into a romantic comedy packed with PPL and capable of attracting overseas fans?

The answer was obvious.

Projects that are difficult from the production stage need everyone united.

“Sorry, but if Eun Baekhap doesn’t change her attitude, I have no intention of working with her.”

Writer Ahn’s conclusion was short and decisive.

‘There are countless actresses who want the lead role in this script.’

Every actress secretly carries a dream of playing a killer role at least once. No one wouldn’t want a powerful character.

‘And this isn’t an opportunity that comes easily.’

So unless Eun Baekhap came in with one hundred percent dedication, replacing her with another actress would be the better option.

‘Because if she enters like this....’

The balance will collapse.

There are three extremely strong female characters. All three are people outside social norms who hunt those who deserve to die.

The more famous the actor, the more the audience’s attention gets drawn to them. Even if they deliver the same lines with the same expressions, the level of recognition is completely different.

‘If Eun Baekhap insists she must be the protagonist, viewers will get tired.’

There would be no balance.

“I’m definitely not telling anyone until I write episode four.”

Writer Ahn hummed lightly, but for a moment the grudge from the Gi Juye audition incident flickered across his face.

“So this is a secret, right?”

I hooked my finger with his and promised.

But there’s nothing wrong with not keeping my desire to work with Eun Baekhap a secret.

‘Eun Baekhap... giving up immediately after being tricked once.’

Is that what it means to be a top actress raised in a greenhouse? Not even thinking of begging for another chance.

‘Well, she became a rising star right after debut.’

Memories of my desperate days as an extra flashed through my mind. The days when I struggled just to land a role with a single line. Taking the group bus to filming sites before dawn, dozing off in corners during endless waiting times.

Still, I need Eun Baekhap.

‘If I want synergy for my Justice role, Jeong Huiseon has to be played by Eun Baekhap.’

And honestly...

I want to see Eun Baekhap’s Jeong Huiseon.

The troublemaker instinct hidden inside me started bubbling up.

If she seems to hate me, I’ll just irritate her right in front of her.

‘As long as I don’t give her the certainty that I’ve already secured the role... she’ll probably join the script war.’

And just as expected, Eun Baekhap was walking toward us from afar, sunglasses hiding a face that clearly said she didn’t want to be here.

‘My morning provocation service wasn’t wasted.’

Writer Ahn nudged my shoulder, but I pretended not to notice.

If Eun Baekhap doesn’t change during this vacation, we won’t be able to do together.

So I decided to sacrifice myself and stir things up a little.