I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

“What do you mean, did something for us?”

Without realizing it, IP 85.152 typed Shim Juhwan’s name into the search bar. A brand-new video had been uploaded less than an hour ago.

“What?”

Someone who knew better than anyone that talking or making calls in public spaces should be avoided, IP 85.152 still ended up muttering aloud.

“The thumbnail?”

In the thumbnail was Myeong Jeha, holding a camcorder.

The comment from earlier came back to mind.

Taeseok–Huijae.

If that was the case, it meant Han Yeoreum appeared in this music video. IP 85.152 immediately pressed down on the thumbnail.

INTUBE

[MV Sim Ju Hwan — How Teaser] 0:30

Views 89,114

-this is insane it’s been years since a new song

-the “release a new song” protest ends today after 1244 days

-how am I already tearing up from just one line LOLOL his emotional # Nоvеlight # delivery is unmatched

-the king has returned 😶😶😶

-I don’t even want to see Myeong Jeha

˪what did Myeong Jeha even do wrong

˪looking at a mirror makes me want to kill myself

˪ah... stay strong

- TT__TT Myeong Jeha is crazy

-I was getting sick of all these whiny ballads lately and now he comes in to restore order lol I’ve been waiting

It was an extremely short teaser. Myeong Jeha’s face staring into a camcorder in a dark room, and just a single line of song.

‘Why is this Taeseok–Huijae...? Han Yeoreum isn’t even here. If she’s not here, why Taeseok–Huijae? Wait... could it be Eun Baekhap?’

Still trying to process it blankly, IP 85.152 quickly opened social media. A strange sense of urgency took over.

@mailEyeoleum DailySummer

(two-shot of Jeha and Yeoreum uploaded on Shim Juhwan’s Yousta)

Ja Sokhwan: you’re all screwed now

Shim Juhwan: come here... it must’ve been hard, right...?

Retweets 8,875 Likes 27K

˪why do they feel like completely different people even though they’re both “Hwan”

And then—

An unbelievable photo appeared.

They were sitting on a sofa, wearing matching hoodies. The atmosphere was so convincingly intimate that anyone without refined insight and discernment would think they were actually dating.

‘Han Yeoreum really appears in Shim Juhwan’s MV?’

Ppongdang @pppongdang___e

(two-shot of Jeha and Yeoreum.jpg)

their visual vibe is disgustingly wholesome

Retweets 1,022 Likes 3,318

˪ #learningnewwordsmonster “disgustingly wholesome visual vibe”

˪so someone at Shim Juhwan’s level can just fangirl like this huh his power is insane

˪he stayed stubborn no matter how much we begged for a new song and then he kneels for Taeseok–Huijae LOOLL

˪this man is actually insane he’s way too proactive;

IP 85.152 didn’t usually listen to K-pop, but Shim Juhwan was a top-tier balladeer in Korea—a musician who demonstrated the power of music itself across generations. His ability to move people with pure soul made it obvious that any cultured individual had to listen to his new release.

‘When is the official release date... And even if it’s marketing, do you think they’ll include a Han Yeoreum photocard if you buy the album?’

IP 85.152 only realized they had missed their stop after five full stations had passed.

* * *

Ten days after the teaser release.

Assistant Shin found himself unexpectedly filled with excitement.

It was now early February. A time when there were no major hits on music charts—and when everyone was waiting for the return of the king, Shim Juhwan.

The release was finally tomorrow.

[Today’s Issue / Why Everyone Is Waiting for Friday 6 PM.jpg]

(capture of Shim Juhwan teaser.jpg)

THE JU HWAN

-I’m cleaning out my ears in preparation lol it’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of emotion

-he just keeps getting better with age

-why are people posting Myeong Jeha pics while calling it “The Ju Hwan”? LOLOL

˪we all know why do we really have to spell it out LMAO

˪but honestly isn’t Shim Juhwan lowkey the type women like too? some said Myeong Jeha is too overwhelming;

˪stop before you make yourself more miserable

˪stay calm squids let’s not do this~

-I only heard one line and it’s already insane what’s the full version gonna be like my heart’s racing 😶😶 as expected all-time legend

Even just the teaser had ignited massive reactions.

Ding—.

Assistant Shin checked the notification at the bottom of his monitor.

[https://Intube...]

‘It’s done!’

Shim Juhwan’s music video was finally complete. The finished version had been uploaded as an unlisted video on Intube first, so stakeholders could review it.

Assistant Shin moved faster than anyone, opening the shared link.

He needed to prepare the press release, organize keywords for headlines, and mentally check off the contacts he would send it to.

But despite it being work, it felt like he had become the very first listener to Shim Juhwan’s new song.

The music began.

Over a gentle melody, Shim Juhwan’s voice flowed—calm, as if reminiscing about the past. Over that, the faces of Han Yeoreum and Myeong Jeha were layered.

Clumsy, fresh twenty-somethings.

Two people who met at a time when everything was still awkward and thrilling.

Assistant Shin let out a quiet breath of admiration.

“Why does this MV look so insanely good....”

The color grading had been done with cinematic care. The quality perfectly satisfied both the eyes and ears.

The camera obsessively captured the two of them.

Especially the moments when their faces were shown in close-up—it felt real.

‘Wow....’

You could feel that swelling emotion—the way someone looks at the person they love.

The side profile of Han Yeoreum, filmed from above, looked achingly lovely.

Even the strand of hair tucked behind her ear, brushing against her cheek in the wind, felt special.

And then, midway through the second verse.

“....”

Right before the highlight, the music cut out.

The two who had run together through the rain, sharing a shirt, now stood facing each other with a distance of three steps between them.

Heavy rain pounded against the ground.

The silence—with no dialogue, no music—foreshadowed their separation.

Then—

Han Yeoreum opened her mouth.

“...Why?”

Just one word.

And yet, it hit hard.

It felt as if it wasn’t the two of them facing a breakup—but the person watching through the screen.

Assistant Shin knew Jeong Yeondu, who cried in the rain inside a dark pit. He knew Seoryeong, who wept soaked under the roots of an ancient tree. He knew Yeon Huijae, who made promises with her eyelashes drenched in rain.

And now, over those memories, someone new overlapped.

A nameless couple in their twenties.

A past that had once been unbearably precious.

A love where every moment shone brilliantly.

Han Yeoreum wore the face of a youth that would never return.

Unforgettable memories sometimes drag people back to that time—

as if they’re still living in that moment.

That single word, as if asking why the breakup had to happen, created an explosive synergy.

Then, after a brief pause, the instrumental surged back in, sweeping up every emotion as Shim Juhwan’s aching voice carried the final stretch.

I’m still living

in that time

It was a lyric that had already appeared in the first verse.

But now, with Han Yeoreum’s voice embedded deep in his chest, its weight had changed.

In a dim room, Myeong Jeha watched the camcorder playback. His face twisted in pain. A tear fell onto the screen.

With trembling hands, he frantically pressed rewind. And then rewind again.

As if his heart were being crushed by the desperate desire to return to that moment.

Before he realized it, the music video had ended.

[Would you like to replay?]

Without thinking, Assistant Shin clicked replay.

That’s when Manager Hong, who had come up behind him, caught him.

“Hey, you bastard. What are you watching again?”

“I just... without realizing.”

“Hurry up and send the materials.”

He needed to capture stills from the music video and distribute them to media outlets.

Assistant Shin rested his hands on the keyboard for a moment, then quickly drafted the press release.

Input: A record-breaking...