I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

* * *

Assistant Shin focused on monitoring with sharp intensity.

Ji Haebeom’s appearance, Han Yeoreum’s action, Shin Seojin’s absence.

Those three elements of 〈Unfair Trade〉 were creating explosive synergy.

[Unfair Trade⎢Ji Haebeom’s just a cameo and it’s already not enough, I need more TT_TT]

[Unfair Trade⎢Yesterday’s ending scene had me literally screaming out loud what do we do about Seohae]

[See You That Day⎢That drama seriously revives even dead romance cells LOLOL]

[Unfair Trade⎢Seonghwan hurry up Seohae’s down on the ground f*ck]

[Unfair Trade⎢Lee Seohae seriously feels like a character made by pouring in every desire Korean drama writers and directors ever had, the action sealed it LMAO]

Ji Haebeom raised the screen’s immersion in an instant, and Han Yeoreum immediately picked it up with a razor-edge action sequence. In the viewers’ minds, Shin Seojin—someone they believed would “handle it somehow”—became all the more desperately needed.

The greatest kind of dopamine a genre piece could deliver. Yesterday’s episode of 〈Unfair Trade〉 had pushed tension to its absolute peak.

“Ratings....”

Assistant Shin compared all three networks the moment the numbers came in.

〈See You That Day〉 18.2

〈Unfair Trade〉 17.9

〈As Expected, Happy Ending〉 5.3

The day Shin Seojin was injured, when Han Yeoreum’s 2002 World Cup nosebleed scene aired, the ratings had been 17.1% for 〈See You That Day〉, 14.8% for 〈Unfair Trade〉, and 8.1% for 〈As Expected, Happy Ending〉.

But now, two weeks later, in the final week of 〈See You That Day〉.

“〈Unfair Trade〉 is rising, but that one’s barely holding steady?”

Final episodes naturally rise above previous ones. That was common sense.

Even viewers who had dropped off early usually returned for the ending, pushing ratings up by at least 1%. Those invested in unresolved plot threads especially wanted to see how things concluded, and word-of-mouth momentum added fuel.

“On top of that, it’s Hong Suryeon.”

Seventeen percent was by no means low. But with Hong Suryeon, the story changed.

With Hong Suryeon, the expectation was that the final episode would easily surpass 20%. And yet that “common sense” was being broken.

Because of the romantic comedy genre, buzz spreads more easily across SNS, communities, and Intube toward the latter half. There was always a chance for a comeback.

“And even viewers from 〈As Expected, Happy Ending〉 probably drifted over, yet it’s still stuck at maintenance....”

Which meant the drop-off rate for 〈See You That Day〉 was higher than expected. Assistant Shin recalled when 〈The Cherry on the Parfait Belongs to the Heroine〉 had overturned the Intube market.

That moment when something old was destroyed and a new market opened.

“...Are we really... going to beat Hong Suryeon?”

Back when 〈Unfair Trade〉 had first begun, no one would have believed such a thing.

* * *

Episode 10 of 〈Unfair Trade〉 and the final episode of 〈See You That Day〉.

The screen opened on Lee Seohae’s face, just like the previous day’s ending. She had grabbed the attacker’s ankle and refused to let go.

“Why aren’t you answering your phone.”

Gam Seonghwan called her immediately—and suddenly felt that instinct every detective had.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz. Bzzzz.

Startled by the ringing phone, the attacker kicked her wrist with all his strength. Her arm twisted the opposite way, and Lee Seohae had no choice but to let go. The attacker immediately grabbed the knife that hadn’t fallen far.

“Investigator Lee! Where are you!”

At that moment, Gam Seonghwan’s voice rang out from afar.

Their eyes met.

“Over here!”

The moment Lee Seohae shouted, the attacker fled. Practically jumping down an entire flight of stairs, Gam Seonghwan rushed over in one burst—and his eyes widened at the sight of her.

“He’s left-handed.”

Still lying on the ground, Lee Seohae jerked her chin in the direction the attacker had run.

Instead of saying she was okay. Instead of telling him to be careful.

She simply relayed information.

Her expression held no hesitation.

As if that was what she existed to do.

— I love Lee Seohae so much...

— Is she seriously telling him how to fight efficiently right now LOOLL Seohae TT_TT

— I keep screaming while watching and my mom told me to shut up f*ck

— Their chemistry is insane. Usually when you pair a strength-type and a brain-type one side feels lacking, but this is perfect balance T_T

— fr they both use their bodies recklessly but well, it’s insanely satisfying to watch

Gam Seonghwan gave a short nod and ran down, immediately catching up to the attacker. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

— AH!!!!!! THIS IS CRAZY!!!!!!

— THIS IS SO GOOD THIS IS SO GOOD THIS IS SO GOOD

— Sir... I’m sorry but could you please get stabbed just once... sweat and blood have to come together

— you’re insane;

— please let Shin Seojin keep this hairstyle, he’s f*cking sexy

Acting purely on instinct, Gam Seonghwan grabbed the stair railing and launched himself forward. He put his full body weight into his leg and kicked the fleeing attacker square in the back.

[Unfair Trade Minor Gallery]

[SHOT LET’S GOOOOOOOO!!!]

[That’s it Seonghwan, beat him up and let’s take our stray cat to the animal hospital]

[Don’t lay the kid down on a dirty floor f*ck]

[Personally after Shin Seojin bulked up you can really feel that heavy strength-type weight in his action scenes, love it]

[Seonghwan you only have one pair of pants, don’t rip them]

[Seohae: this floor is f*cking filthy]

The knife flew out of the attacker’s hand once more and clattered to the ground. Gam Seonghwan kicked it away to create distance and engaged in a close, precarious fight. His scar-covered fist drove straight into the attacker’s face.

Even so, the attacker, eyes gone wild, kept lunging as if he felt no pain.

Gam Seonghwan raised his guard, dodging the barrage of punches again, again, and again—

“Ghk...!”

—and drove his fist into the man’s jaw, knocking him out cold.

He cuffed the attacker’s wrists.

Click.

“Ha, f*ck... junkie bastards. This is why I hate them.”

Just then, Lee Seohae came limping toward him from afar.

“Investigator Lee! How are you!”

“I lost my handkerchief.”

Instead of answering how she felt, she only cared that her body was dirty. Watching her wipe her dirt-covered palms on her pants, Gam Seonghwan let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Detective Gam, your head.”

“Seriously... took you long enough to ask. I’m fine. My job is using my body anyway.”

But blood was already running down his forehead.

Lee Seohae nodded.

“Is that so.”

“Yeah. Investigator Lee, let’s hand this guy over and then head to the hospital—huh?”

“Yes. I will go to the hospital.”

“Ah, damn, I split my head open again. That means stitches! Me! Because of these bastards I can’t even grow my hair! Even if I do, I have to shave it again for stitches, over and over!”

Gam Seonghwan kicked the unconscious attacker.

— why are they so cute LMAO

— my hands are sweating like crazy, I need to wipe them

— our stray cat only caring about herself is so good T_T

— Shin Seojin plays a low-IQ character so well, it could’ve turned into a total idiot but this is perfect

— fr this is the ideal himbo detective

But the light mood didn’t last.

Back at the station, Gam Seonghwan came face to face with that day from long ago.

Thud.

His ever-smiling expression froze.

Thud.

His past flickered by in black and white.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

All sound in the world disappeared, leaving only the pounding of his heart.

He knew.

That day had never left.

Realizing the case he had received was the same one, Gam Seonghwan headed for the archive of unsolved cases.

With trembling hands, he picked up the file of his mother and younger sister’s case—something he could barely bring himself to open. His head dropped, his breathing ragged. His thick neck trembled.

As he stepped out into the dark hallway, he felt a presence behind him.

“...Ah, you startled me.”

It was Lee Seohae.

“Why aren’t you leaving.”

Gam Seonghwan forced a smile, trying to act as usual, but it didn’t come easily. Only his lips moved.

“Did you reopen the 1996 case file?”

Despite his effort, Lee Seohae went straight to the point.

“It should be restricted without approval from another department. That constitutes grounds for inspection.”

When ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ he didn’t respond, she grew certain of her conclusion.

“The annual clearance rate for unsolved cases older than ten years is typically only 0.5 to 3%. There are 35,126 violent crimes per year, with a rate of 68.0 per 100,000 people. Homicides occur at a rate of 1.6 per 100,000—801 cases total.”

Her clear voice struck like a blade.

“A 7.4% increase from last year. A 19.9% increase over the past decade.”

The criminal who killed his mother and younger sister would never be caught.

The investigation would not be reopened.

“And the probability that a bereaved family member is assigned to such a case... 0%.”

That he would ever be put in charge of that case—

was impossible.

“....”

Gam Seonghwan said nothing.

He simply stood there, head bowed.

Lee Seohae stared at him.

A cold air, sharp enough to flay skin, filled the space between them.

She turned to pass him.

That was when—

Gam Seonghwan grabbed her wrist.

“I’m not smart like you. I don’t have anything in my head.”

— what is this

— it’s coming it’s coming Ja Sokhwan’s 101 shadows

— wasn’t it 40 shadows LOLOL why does he have so many

— are you friends with Director Ja? call him Ja God Father

— I’m dying LMAO

— this slow drip of clues is exactly what makes genre shows so addictive

— since I’ve been begging for adult Taejin x baby Huijae to interact and people called me insane, look I was right you tasteless fools

— every girl watching right now >>>all of them<<< blushing

— please. please let this turn into a kiss.

— kid...

“But... I still remember everything. Like it was yesterday... I can’t forget.”

His breath came out hot.

Gam Seonghwan gasped, as if something inside him was about to explode.

“Like you said, even if I reopen the case, the chance I get assigned to it is zero. I know. I know that, but....”

His grip tightened around her wrist. Veins bulged over the scarred back of his hand.

“I just can’t accept it.”

In the dim hallway, the two stood facing opposite directions. Lee Seohae looking forward, Gam Seonghwan looking like he had been left behind.

“...People like me... don’t have a choice....”

For the first time, he showed weakness.

“I really... don’t have a choice....”

His eyes reddened as he struggled to hold back tears. His jaw trembled painfully. The pain he had buried deep inside his always-bright self seeped through his entire body.

Lee Seohae twisted her wrist lightly, slipping free from his grasp.

Leaving Gam Seonghwan behind,

the sound of her heels echoed as she walked away.