I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 116

* * *

Wi Jaehwi from Deodeok.B, who had inserted the camera memory card, rubbed and wiped the sweat flowing from his hands.

“This is going up against , right?”

“Yes. Their production budget is enormous, and since this one needs CG too, both will be no joke.”

This was the event hall on Teheran-ro where ‘s script reading would soon take place.

Most of the invited reporters had also attended ‘s script reading that had taken place recently.

‘ really lived up to its name…’

Thanks to casting veteran actors in large numbers, the intimidating presence was no joke. The atmosphere created by the weight of their reputation made even the air in the script reading hall feel different.

“Hello. Thank you for attending ‘s script reading. I’m Director Jang, who handled both the script and direction. Has anyone read the original web novel? Yes. A few of you are raising your hands. I’ll definitely remember that.”

The script reading began with Jjang Director’s good-natured greeting.

The reporters sitting in their seats continuously pressed their shutters, focusing on Han Yeoreum who was getting a rising reaction, Kwon Junhyeok who matched well with her decent visual chemistry, and most importantly.

“It’s been a while. I’m Geum Bitkang, playing the role of Yeomga.”

“Everyone worked hard to get here. I’m Noh Jeongyeon, playing the role of Jeongan.”

Two masters who were the twin peaks of the 70s generation that had captivated an entire era were in attendance.

Geum Bitkang and Noh Jeongyeon. Just their attendance alone carried weight comparable to ‘s formidable actors.

‘Please, do well. Yeoreum…!’

Reporter Wi looked at Yeoreum gripping her script tightly and shouted inwardly. And the script reading that began was.

‘What?’

‘…They got caught.’

‘The two newcomers will probably have a hard time.’

A complete disaster.

* * *

‘Where exactly did it go wrong?’

I had prepared as much as I could. But the problem was that my preparation was different from the other actors’ preparation.

‘First, Kwon Junhyeok…’

His voice projection itself wasn’t bad, but his pronunciation was somewhat unclear due to his low voice. And he showed too many signs of nervousness. Overall, lack of practice.

‘And next, me.’

I was completely led around by Professor Geum Bitkang. I couldn’t even count how many problems there were.

‘The early script reading had no problems.’

But from somewhere, Professor Geum Bitkang changed direction.

I don’t know what didn’t sit well with her. Since a veteran like Geum Bitkang wouldn’t make mistakes, this was intentional.

‘I thought I was using historical drama vocalization…’

It started from the moment Professor Geum Bitkang spoke her lines with a booming voice. My voice sounded small in comparison, so I immediately switched to the familiar theater vocalization.

‘The tempo completely changed.’

Instead of the relatively calm and composed historical drama vocalization with sentence endings that dropped, the moment I went with the slightly faster and higher theater vocalization.

‘Professor Geum Bitkang immediately returned to the original historical drama vocalization…’

Thanks to that, I ended up looking like I was doing the script reading in an overly emotional state by myself.

‘From then on, I was flustered and don’t remember well.’

I was led around by what Professor Geum Bitkang was doing, then rebelled against being led around, and eventually the script reading ended in a state that was neither here nor there.

‘Overall, I lacked capability in both historical drama and theater.’

The script reading venue had reporters and officials leaving, and what remained were me, Kwon Junhyeok, Geum Bitkang, and Noh Jeongyeon. Four people.

“Yeoreum! You did well, you did well! Even though you were nervous, you were excellent.”

There was one more person. Jjang Director patted my shoulder and encouraged me.

“No. I had many shortcomings in various ways today.”

Geum Bitkang, who was sitting across from me, tilted her head sideways.

“At least you know?”

“Mmm-. Bitkang! Shh!”

“I thought she was such an amazing student that she learned for just one year and was taking a break from school.”

“Don’t mind her. Our Bitkang seems embarrassed from being in the spotlight after so long.”

“What am I!”

Noh Jeongyeon smiled leisurely and stopped Geum Bitkang, but Geum Bitkang’s displeased gaze still directed toward me.

‘…What did I do?’

For a moment, my emotions sank coldly.

If I rest even a little, I won’t be able to catch up to Do Gyeoul. So should I attend school while managing my schedule?

‘I’m a newcomer, and I’m an actor with much less name value than Do Gyeoul.’

It was natural that the set couldn’t revolve around me.

‘No… and most importantly.’

I don’t want to grow slowly. I want to take on roles as they come.

“You can’t even hide what you’re thinking in your eyes, yet you’ll carry a 16-episode series?”

Geum Bitkang, who immediately read my mind, shook her head disapprovingly.

“…I’m sorry for showing you my shortcomings today. I’ll practice more and come prepared before the actual filming.”

“Yes! So as not to tarnish the teacher’s reputation, our Yeoreum-.”

“Anyone would think Director Jang was her teacher?”

Jjang Director, who had rubbed the master the wrong way, turned pale and earnestly defended me.

“No. I saw her acting in episode 16 recently, so I know her skills. She was just nervous today for a moment-.”

“She’s like this even with reporters gathered, but she’ll be different on set?”

That’s when it happened.

“Sniffle…”

I felt a weak vibration from the seat next to me.

“I’m sorry, hic… I’m sorry…”

Kwon Junhyeok was dropping tears.

‘Why… why are you?’

It seemed he had tried to endure it in his own way. His eyes were red.

“If this person doesn’t… hic. If I don’t meet your standards. Then how much more… hic…! I’m, I’m sorry…”

Well. If the master Geum Bitkang was openly picking on even a KNUA student, how much more would she dislike an idol whose lack of acting skills was visible?

If I had to compare Kwon Junhyeok and me on the same scale, my side would be overwhelming.

“I’ll take responsibility and resign, resign…”

“Are you a politician? What resignation?”

“Then, then I’ll drop out…”

“Do you think this is school!”

Kwon Junhyeok’s sobbing grew louder at Geum Bitkang’s scolding. Looking at the scars on his hands, it seemed he really worked hard on action practice.

“Mmm-. This is really something.”

This entire situation had no answer. Noh Jeongyeon smiled warmly and spoke kindly even in the midst of all this.

“Now, if actors bicker like this before filming, even what could work won’t work. Let’s eat and talk about this and that. Everyone’s free after this, right? Let’s take my car!”

“What damn meal-.”

“Come along, Bitkang~.”

“I’m not going!”

And then she grabbed Geum Bitkang’s shoulder and dragged her along. Despite her delicate face, her grip strength seemed tremendous.

Geum Bitkang couldn’t put up any real resistance and was dragged away by Noh Jeongyeon.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you all coming?”

Noh Jeongyeon, who looked back while speaking, smiled brightly. That’s why I got in Noh Jeongyeon’s van with Jjang Director and the crying Kwon Junhyeok.

“Professor, I…”

“Yes, my little chick?”

“The dining location is… quite far, isn’t it?”

“We’re almost there, almost there!”

Maybe it was because the van had curtains drawn. The outside wasn’t clearly visible.

Calculating by the speed of Kwon Junhyeok’s sniffling tears, we’d been in the car for at least an hour, but it still wasn’t stopping.

‘Just where are we going…?’

The moment I sensed something strange, the car finally stopped.

“Everyone out! Think of it as my home and make yourselves comfortable!”

When I opened the car door and stepped out, that place was.

“This is my villa! Who said you could act like it’s your home?”

“Right. Then think of it as Bitkang’s house and make yourselves comfortable!”

It was Geum Bitkang’s villa, completely surrounded by nature. Even the air reaching my nose was different.

The cold, fresh scent of grass indicated this was deep in the mountain valley.

“There’s lots of food in the refrigerator. Everyone likes beef, right? Right?”

“…What do you mean lots of food when you haven’t been here in ages! Hey! Where’s your manager going? Turn the car around right now!”

“I stocked everything up. Don’t feel burdened. Everyone come inside!”

Meanwhile, Noh Jeongyeon’s car was getting farther away. We were perfectly isolated in this place.

“Well then, since we’re all gathered together, let’s work hard together for a few days.”

Noh Jeongyeon smiled brightly. Geum Bitkang was holding her forehead with one hand as if everything was ruined. Kwon Junhyeok’s eyes became moist again. Jjang Director just stood there with his mouth open.

“…Isn’t this kidnapping…”

“Mmm-hmm. In modern terms, it’s called training camp, right?”

“That’s probably not very modern terminology… Professor? Excuse me, Professor!”

The figure of Noh Jeongyeon dragging Kwon Junhyeok with one hand and Jjang Director with the other grew more distant.

Geum Bitkang beside me muttered.

“…Give up.”

“Professor…”

“No one has ever beaten Noh Jeongyeon when she has that expression…”

And so the team’s training camp began.

* * *

“If everyone enjoyed their meal, let’s get to the main point.”

As soon as the meal ended, Noh Jeongyeon clapped her hands together and spoke cheerfully.

“Now! I’d like to see the acting for episode 16 here.”

The target was naturally Han Yeoreum.

Noh Jeongyeon made eye contact with Yeoreum, who seemed flustered by the sudden request. Sure enough, Geum Bitkang’s supporting fire came in.

“Can’t do it?”

Then Han Yeoreum took a deep breath and immediately answered.

“No. I’ll do it.”

Han Yeoreum closed her eyes briefly. Her eyelids slowly lifted, and eyes different from before turned toward Geum Bitkang.

“You bastard. Yeomga… you shameless thing that won’t exist twice under heaven.”

It showed she had practiced the dialogue extensively. She didn’t just stop at reciting memorized sentences.

The anger and love-hate toward Yeomga was deeply embedded in her first words.

“Your eyes shall never dry of bloody tears! Your hands shall fester with pus and blood!”

The thunderous voice that followed continuously echoed loudly inside. It was a skill level that couldn’t be seen as the chick who had been dragged around by veterans during the earlier script reading.

‘What comes next?’

Yeoreum’s acting continued smoothly without a single stumble. As if she had truly become the shaman Seoryeong.

“Wandering ghost spirits on the roads of distant lands—.”

Yeoreum, who collapsed in pain while chanting sutras, scattered her pronunciation as if coughing up blood intermittently.

Noh Jeongyeon was inwardly amazed by that appearance, which couldn’t be shown with a chick’s skill level.

‘…Still.’

When Yeoreum finally finished her acting, Noh Jeongyeon looked at Yeoreum’s eyes and thought.

‘It’s not a hundred points.’

Jjang Director, perhaps happy to see that acting again, jumped up from his seat and asked Geum Bitkang.

“How was it! Teacher, now you understand why I believe in her, right?”

“Roughly.”

“It’s a perfect hundred points, isn’t it! No, a thousand points! Ten thousand points!”

“No.”

Geum Bitkang looked at Yeoreum, who was crouched on the floor, and said.

“Ninety points.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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