I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

* * *

I made one main account and one private account.

My goal was to draw people in even before making an official debut.

That’s the only way to push my debut date even a little closer.

@midsummer

That’s the main account.

@seasaltsixscoop

That’s the private one.

“Good. The username looks classy.”

I typed a simple introduction on the main account.

Input: 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬

𝐡𝐚𝐧-𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐦

“Let’s keep it clean in cursive.”

Writing something long and messy looks lame.

“Now let’s seriously start gathering followers.”

If I complete the mission and boost visibility with this, I should be able to land at least a web drama or a small supporting role.

Intube

@RudassulTV — 420,000 subscribers

[We are holding the RudassulTV Audition] 03:28

Views 112,447

Eligibility: Aspiring actors aged 20–27

How to apply: Application form (free format) + photo (no Photoshop) + UStar account

We will schedule a date for the first audition via UStar video call, and those who pass will be invited to an in-person second audition! We look forward to many applications (๑¯∇¯๑)

—People really do auditions through DMs now lol

—They’re so obviously picking only U-Stars... Aren’t most of their cast already U-Stars? T_T Where are actual aspiring actors supposed to go

˪lol what do you expect from a web drama, follower count matters more than acting

˪fr if the thumbnail has a famous face, the views skyrocket, why would they pick an unknown

“In the past, when I was deep in my ‘real actor’ delusion, I didn’t understand how important followers were.”

Influencers one by one debuted as real entertainers—

Some on variety channels, some landing roles in dramas or films.

“So among aspiring actors, it became normal that those with high follower counts debuted first....”

And celebrities with lots of followers and aesthetic SNS feeds have what they call “good sales power.”

[Guys, which celebrities do you refer to for outfit inspo?]

Me: Eun Baekhap.. She’s my entire vibe, the ideal adult woman T_T I swear she smells like white tulips

—Do Gyeoul LOOOL Not for inspo but looking at her gives me vicarious satisfaction

˪ikr if you want to dress like Do Gyeoul you’re guaranteed to go broke

—So Dami’s vibe is sooo good she can be cute, pure, or hip—my girl

If your UStar reactions are good, advertisers start paying attention.

Even the SNS feed becomes part of the contract.

“And renewal becomes easier!”

Of course, I haven’t gotten a single ad yet,

but preparing early for contract renewals isn’t a bad thing.

Mm. Missing details like this is not the attitude of a real star.

Zzzing—. Zzzing—. Zzzing—.

“What now?”

I was thinking about what kind of ads I’d like to shoot when my phone buzzed loudly.

It was Dokgo Min.

“...Didn’t our conversation end earlier?”

[Dokgo Min: Hey your account popped up in ‘People You May Know’?]

[Dokgo Min: Which of your two accounts should I tag?]

[Dokgo Min: Hurry up and tell me, hurry hurry hurrry. And that’s all for your feedback? ‘Wow it came out great, thank you’? That’s really it? No way, right? Hmm?]

And as soon as the “1” disappeared, another wave of messages came in.

With a whole arsenal of emoticons.

[Dokgo Min: Which photo did you like best? Well obviously all of them are good but give me feedback! I’ll stay up all night listening if needed, I’m ready, hmm hmm aren’t you impressed by Dokgo Min?]

She just kept talking to herself without pause.

“Dokgo Min is definitely the clingy type.”

In my mind, the mercenary scale floated up.

On one side: “annoying.”

On the other side: whiny, clingy Dokgo Min.

“Annoying, yes, but... well.”

Calculation complete.

The scale slammed to one side.

Conclusion: Dokgo Min wins by landslide.

I should reply nicely. We need to stay friendly for a long time.

“That feeling from last night....”

Unforgettable.

Even thinking about it now, my body feels like it’s floating.

For so long, there had never been a camera meant for me.

“The camera was always pointed at someone else.”

Now I have a camera that shoots me.

The feeling of meeting a lens that looked only at me,

that focused solely on me—

It made my chest swell a little.

Input: I’ll use this for my main account. Thanks for the tag in advance (^ω^)

I sent a gentle reply and posted the photos Dokgo Min sent to my main account.

Right then—

Zzzing— Zzzing—.

“Why are followers coming this fast...?”

Maybe because she tagged me—suddenly strangers were finding my account.

“Nice.”

I decided to ride on Dokgo Min’s follower count for now.

—lol check your DMs UStar girl

—Yeoreum~~~ (﹡ˆ﹀ˆ﹡)♡ Omg did you debut already?

—Dokgo Min is famous for having a horrible personality, how did you get close with her as a freshman LOLOLOL

˪ikr rip T_T how did this happen... seriously how

˪mmm both of you shut up lol

The comments were already blowing up with friends and seniors.

A few even DM’d asking why I didn’t follow back, so I hurried to follow them with the private account....

“Huh?”

My private account had already gotten one follower.

No profile picture, no introduction, private account.

I tilted my head.

“Well, it’s obviously a senior or classmate. If they ask me to join a project, I’ll jump immediately.”

I accepted the follow request and followed back.

Ding—!

As if waiting, the other person accepted instantly.

Then I saw the only photo on the account.

“Myeong Je...ha?”

Myeong Jeha’s main account already had over one million followers, so this was definitely a private account.

Why would he follow me?

We’ve barely spoken before.

But this was not a bad start.

“Well... we’re classmates, at least.”

I finished managing the rest of the private account’s follow requests.

@midsummer

Followers 391 Following 0

@seasaltsixscoop

Followers 97 Following 97

* * *

Ding—!

「Mission: First Step of Self-PR」

Keyword: First Stage

A memorable profile photo! You have succeeded in a perfect shoot. Visibility has greatly increased.

Success Condition

[You were photographed by someone with Artistry Grade B or higher.]

Reward

Increase in [Visibility]

Increase in [Artistry]

Within a few days, my profile photo hit 500 likes.

And my follower count too.

@midsummer

Followers 1,008 Following 0

Is it okay for it to grow this fast?

Before regression, no matter how many likes I left everywhere, I could never collect numbers like this.

To gather a thousand people instantly with just one good photo....

A thrilling rush buzzed in my head.

“Yeoreum!”

“Huh?”

Dami beside me puffed her cheeks in a sulky pout.

“You weren’t listening to me!”

“No, no. I was listening.”

“Then what did I say?”

“....”

“See!!!”

Dami, I’m sorry.

I’m more ambitious than I look, and right now all I can think about is success.

I soothed the grumbling Dami by patting her.

“I’m excited for today’s play~!”

Ah. Today was the day we had an outside class.

The Great National University of Arts wasn’t far from the Theater District.

Occasionally, we would go watch a premiere as a group and write a reflection for class.

“Aren’t you excited too, Yeoreum?”

No.

“Yeah~ I’m really looking forward to it.”

No, not at all.

I’ve seen this more than a hundred times.

Because I used to sell the tickets for this show.

I could recite the script even without a scriptbook—just poke me.

I walked through the familiar Daehakro with Dami.

The trees were turning green with spring.

A familiar place—Hyehwa. I’m sick of it.

In front of the subway station were chicken skewer carts,

the theater troupe members selling tickets under tents,

and long banners flapping from the lampposts.

[Grandma Kim Chunja’s Odd-Job Agency]

[Rental War]

[Will the Wind Blow?]

The more I look now, the tackier it feels....

[A fiery romantic comedy of troublemaking playboys!

100% relatable rom-com]

Just reading the hot pink promotional blurb made my head hurt.

The third one.

That’s the rom-com we’re watching today.

It did well enough to later get a drama remake.

Guess I’ll just zone out and kill time.

* * *

“Hey!!! You’re done talking now?”

“No! I’m not done! I’m the idiot for liking someone like you even for a second!”

“...What? Y-you... liked...?”

“Yeah! You jerk!!!”

With one ear, I let the lines go in and out, while my hands wrote busily.

To-Do Today

– Politely decline sponsorship DMs (important!! good material for future feel-good stories)

– Among them, mark the clothing brands separately (skip the ones that want long explanations; tag lightly to avoid harming my image)

– Soon, casually ask if Dokgo Min wants another shoot or get introduced to one of her photographer friends. (someone I can ride for followers)

“Liar! Hey you said guys like me are totally not your type! Huh? You said you hated me so damn much!”

“Yeah! I hate you to death! But... I hate myself even more for getting bothered every time I see you!”

Even I had to admit—this was neat, efficient planning.

I closed my eyes, smiled with satisfaction, and nodded.

People should use their time like this.

Clap clap clap clap—!!!

The play must’ve ended; applause burst around me.

I also raised both hands and clapped.

Of course, not for the play—for me.

Someone who refuses to waste even a moment deserves praise.

As expected of Han Yeoreum.

* * *

“Do you like plays? We have a fun one—”

“No thank you.”

“Are you a student? Wow~ lucky! Guess how much this show costs with a student discount! If you guess right, it’s free!”

“No thank you.”

I hurried out of the theater, scared I might run into someone from school.

People kept trying to push tickets onto me, but I brushed them off skillfully.

Escaping fast is always the right move.

Getting chummy with theater actors, then getting pulled into group enthusiasm—

And eventually ending up at a pork belly place for round two, round three, overnight... That’s the routine ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) here.

I couldn’t waste a second.

I was about to escape Hyehwa when—

“Excuse me.”

Someone called from behind.

Nope. Decline.

“I’m busy.”

“Wait.”

But something was off.

This wasn’t the typical background-character voice.

Too clean, too refreshing....

Even the resonance was good.

The breeze brought with it a pleasant scent.

Who?

My head turned naturally.

Behind me stood a very tall man.

Simple hat, mask—

But his build alone showed he wasn’t a normal person.

This silhouette isn’t common.

Even the small glimpse of his knuckles wasn’t ordinary.

And everyone passing by is staring...?

His presence was explosive.

Even the ticket hawkers stared blankly, pamphlets in hand.

“Give me a moment.”

He lowered his mask with one finger and smiled.

“...Myeong Jeha?”

My classmate—and, before regression, the triple ten-million actor.

Myeong Jeha.