I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

‘Even when I first heard I’d become an ambassador, I was thrilled....’

But the moment I heard it would be a joint ambassadorship with Do Gyeoul, my mood plummeted.

Being in the same place meant becoming a direct comparison.

‘On top of that, I’ll have to see her even before 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉 starts filming....’

From now on, every event would mean running into Do Gyeoul again.

‘But.’

I can’t give this up over something like that! Do I even realize what kind of opportunity this is? I signed the contract immediately.

‘That checks off one item from Han Yeoreum’s delusional bucket list.’

My face displayed proudly at an airport.

Among the foreign tourists arriving in Korea, there must be people who glance up at a billboard and fall in love at first sight. They can’t take their eyes off it at the airport, then force themselves to move on toward Gyeongbok Palace—but wait... that girl... wasn’t she at the airport just now...? Then they spot my face again, wrapped around a bus, stop a passerby, and ask, who’s that beautiful woman? Ah, Han Yeoreum? The pride of Korea, considered one of the top actresses in her twenties, the standard-bearer of DaeYeJong. Do you know Han Yeoreum? I know...

‘Perfect.’

And that’s not all.

The biggest thing rising stars lack—credibility. This would boost it instantly.

‘A government-selected ambassador gives off the image of a clean, controversy-free actress.’

It was the same reason not just anyone could shoot financial commercials, no matter how popular they were.

Trust.

That image, which even veterans struggled to build, I could secure in one shot.

‘With this, more commercials will keep coming in!’

Just thinking about becoming the face of a company everyone wanted to work with made my chest swell.

And on top of that, I’d be attending government-sponsored overseas events—double the bonus.

‘It’s also a chance to properly make an impression on global K-drama fans.’

Thinking about it, becoming an ambassador alongside Do Gyeoul wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

Who’s that pretty girl next to Gyeoul-chan? Σ(•’╻’• ۶)۶ I don’t know how anyone could not like her (lol) a fluffy, soft healing-type beauty. Before I knew it, I had to learn her name... “Yeoreum—!!!”

“Yeoreum, you’re done.”

While I was lost in my future fantasies, it seemed the styling had finished. A pear-blossom hairpin was placed on either side, matching the pale hanbok jacket and soft pink skirt.

Knock knock.

A knock came at the waiting room door.

“You’ll be entering now. Are you ready?”

It was time to go in.

“Yes! I’m ready!”

Time to stand beside Do Gyeoul.

* * *

With every step, the blue skirt swayed. Dressed in a pure white hanbok jacket, Do Gyeoul fixed her gaze on someone she could recognize even from afar.

‘What’s so amusing....’

There was a reason she had insisted on taking on this tedious role.

Han Yeoreum was walking toward her, smiling brightly.

The opening declaration had ended. The announcer was now explaining the cultural value of hanbok.

Soon they would step on stage, receive the appointment certificate, deliver a prepared speech, take photos, and shake hands with a line of officials. That was the routine of these events.

Just the fact that Han Yeoreum was here—somewhere she had visited countless times—made Do Gyeoul’s expression soften.

“You seem happy.”

Backstage, Do Gyeoul looked Yeoreum up and down, then met her eyes again.

“Yeah. I am.”

“Is it fun?”

“Isn’t it for you?”

At the returned question, Do Gyeoul nodded.

“Then you shouldn’t have done it. Let me handle it alone.”

“Haha. I just wanted to see your face before filming starts.”

Since receiving the revised script, one question had lingered in her mind.

“Why didn’t you protest the reduced screen time?”

...

She wanted to see Yeoreum’s expression.

No matter how well-trained an actor was, it wasn’t easy to hide everything forever. The face she hadn’t properly seen that day—she wanted to see it now.

“With JC backing you, you could’ve at least made a request to the writer. But from what I hear, you didn’t even do that.”

...

Not this.

The emotion Han Yeoreum should naturally be feeling.

“Are you really fine with it?”

Humiliation.

A writer like Seomun Ihwa should fully utilize an actress of Yeoreum’s caliber. If Yeoreum wasn’t a fool, she had to feel it.

“Yeah.”

“...Why?”

“I didn’t get cut.”

It was too simple.

Han Yeoreum—the only actress JC had. The one who had swept all three major network rookie awards. The one who, in just two years, was being mentioned alongside Do Gyeoul as the “standard-bearer of DaeYeJong.”

“That’s it?”

An unreadable emotion. A face even Do Gyeoul couldn’t analyze.

“If I do well now, who knows what happens later.”

“Haha. So you’re fine even as a supporting role?”

...

“Don’t I bother you?”

It was their first time acting together since 〈Romeo and Juliet〉.

And yet—

“Ah, I get it. You don’t want to create friction with Seomun Ihwa right now, right? That’s why you said ‘who knows later’?”

No.

That couldn’t be it. Do Gyeoul came to her own conclusion. And realizing she hadn’t properly seen Yeoreum’s humiliation back then frustrated her.

What expression had she made when her role was reduced? What had she said? How had she moved?

Curious, Do Gyeoul stared at her.

But Yeoreum showed nothing.

Which only made her more curious.

What would it take?

She wanted to see something she hadn’t yet seen.

More vividly than on a screen—right in front of her. The raw, unfiltered Han Yeoreum.

“Next, we will proceed with the appointment ceremony...”

At the call, Do Gyeoul turned.

They stood together under the blazing stage lights.

Click! Click! Click-click-click-click!

Flashes burst nonstop, capturing them side by side.

“Please hold the certificate higher—and both of ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) you, smile brightly!”

〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉 would begin filming soon.

What would Han Yeoreum show there?

That anticipation alone made Do Gyeoul smile brightly, even while holding such a trivial certificate.

* * *

[Han Yeoreum and Do Gyeoul appointed as hanbok ambassadors... “Elegant presence” draws explosive reactions]

[“We will showcase the beauty of hanbok to the world” — Han Yeoreum’s refreshing smile]

[Star Cut★ Do Gyeoul, the aura of a former queen]

[Click in hanbok... “Do I look good?” — Han Yeoreum lights up the ceremony]

Ah...

“Who am I...?”

On this beautiful land, founded by our ancestor with the spirit of benefiting humanity, among the many distinguished figures passed down through generations—I am Han Yeoreum, the proud hanbok ambassador...

As soon as the ceremony ended, I monitored the rapidly uploaded articles—and didn’t forget to post a selfie.

‘Move aside, Do Gyeoul.’

Among the flood of articles, I claimed the solo photo coverage first.

—Who told our baby melon bread to be this pretty♥︎♥︎♥︎

—Yeoreum, please post selfies every day TT_TT

—Someday I really want to see you again! I’m studying Korean hard so I can greet you (●'▿'●) I love you

—Where is Taeseok? He is Huijae’s husband

—Naturally cute... outstanding without question

—Here’s a poem for Han Yeoreum

Han — Han Yeoreum

Yeo — only you

Reum — I love

˪That’s not even a proper acrostic

˪It is what it is

Watching the likes and comments surge, I looked up at the vibration on my wrist.

[Current heart rate ♥︎150 — Danger]

On my wrist was a Sansung smartwatch. It had been released nearly a year ago, but since the next model was approaching, promotions needed to start immediately—so I was still wearing the same one from 〈Unfair Trade〉.

But with a different strap, it looked completely new. It tracked heart rate, helped with daily health, had long battery life, and displayed notifications all at once—a must-have in everyday life.

Taking a deep breath, I mentally ran through the features of the Sansung GLX Watch. My heart rate gradually returned to normal.

‘Who am I?’

The face of Sansung Electronics—the flagship division of a major Korean corporation recognized worldwide, leading a new era, advancing globally alongside the nation.

Good. Fully stabilized.

Accepting the joint ambassadorship with Do Gyeoul had been the right choice.

Because of it, I wouldn’t be intimidated when facing her before 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉 began filming.

Confidence surged—enough to completely overwrite the tension of meeting her.

This feeling—only someone truly prepared could have it.

“Yeoreum—we’re here.”

“Is it my time to step out... I’m nervous...”

“You’ve always been stepping out, even before this. Don’t be nervous.”

She was right.

Actually, I wasn’t nervous at all.

I stepped out of the car—not as an ambassador, but as an official model—fully enjoying the atmosphere.

“Huh? Yeoreum!”

“Senior!”

At the familiar voice, I turned to see Shin Seojin stepping out of a car—apparently just arriving at the pop-up event.