I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 123

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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 123

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noh Jeongyeon’s acting possessed a stillness that dominated the space. The well-refined nun’s final moments had the power to make viewers solemn.

 

When actually aired, Noh Jeongyeon’s screen time would be less than 10 minutes.

 

Nevertheless, it was clear that Noh Jeongyeon would deliver a proper message to viewers who watched episode 1 of .

 

That they had made the right choice in selecting this drama.

 

Noh Jeongyeon’s gaze was not directed toward the camera lens. It wasn’t because she shouldn’t make eye contact with viewers beyond the screen.

 

It was because Jeongan worried about Seoryeong even before dying. Even as her head bent from excruciating pain, even as she doubled over from the agony of her insides turning.

 

She desperately raised her head as if thinking of someone.

 

Thud-.

 

Her body slowly collapsed, and when Jeongan finally lay on the ground and stopped breathing.

 

“….”

 

Jjang Director couldn’t dare call cut.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Noh Jeongyeon rinsed her mouth with water and smiled playfully. She didn’t look like someone who had just acted out such a tragic death as Jeongan.

 

The fake bloodstains still around her mouth were the only evidence that she was indeed Jeongan.

 

“Fledgling, did you watch carefully?”

 

“Yes, Professor. It was the finest acting.”

 

“Tell that exactly to Bitkang! She’ll be so frustrated she won’t be able to sleep.”

 

Noh Jeongyeon laughed while running one hand through her rough hair. She had shaved her head for just a small amount of screen time.

 

“It’s nice that she’s making a comeback after so long, but she’s taking all the attention I should be getting, ugh, how annoying. Why do I look so innocent that I can’t even play the Yeom Family role? Such a shame about the casting.”

 

Noh Jeongyeon grumbled playfully while thinking something else inside.

 

‘That’s not the only thing that’s a shame though.’

 

When you get old, you lose your early morning sleep. This applied not only to Geum Bitkang but also to Noh Jeongyeon.

 

In the early dawn, at Han Yeoreum’s stage meant only for Geum Bitkang, there was one more audience member.

 

‘To think my scenes with the fledgling are just one farewell and one corpse role…’

 

While Geum Bitkang only saw Han Yeoreum’s back as she walked away limping, Noh Jeongyeon, who was by the window, could see Han Yeoreum’s profile.

 

The sorrow of parents who could only pass poverty to their child, the shame of being forever stuck in place no matter how hard they worked until their hands cracked, the hatred toward a child who didn’t understand such a life.

 

All of this mixed together and filled that small face completely.

 

That’s why. Why Noh Jeongyeon had called Han Yeoreum early.

 

‘I’m just as much a great actor as Bitkang!’

 

She wanted to show the fledgling what kind of actor Noh Jeongyeon was. Sure enough, the way she looked at her had clearly changed.

 

Noh Jeongyeon moved her steps casually while hiding her secretly proud feelings.

 

Now it was Noh Jeongyeon’s turn to watch Yeoreum. The scene before discovering Jeongan’s corpse. The moment showing Seoryeong just returning home.

 

“Jeongan! Look what I brought.”

 

Seoryeong, who was panting from running excitedly, immediately started unpacking her bundle busily as soon as she slammed open the old wooden door.

 

And she held up the flower shoes high.

 

“Look at this! Please throw away those beggar-like shoes and wear these now. Pretty, right? Enough to forget about that damn non-possession?”

 

With a proud face, Seoryeong turned her head around while holding the shoes. Dissatisfaction filled Seoryeong’s face as she looked for Jeongan.

 

“Jeongan? Where are you?”

 

The camera slowly followed Seoryeong and adjusted focus to the corner.

 

A single white paper placed on a small folding table.

 

It was Jeongan’s last will.

 

“Jeongan-!”

 

Seoryeong called Jeongan’s name urgently, not having discovered the will yet.

 

The house was so small there was nowhere to hide. Seoryeong went back outside holding the flower shoes. After pacing around the doorway, she slowly walked toward the back of the house.

 

“Jeongan-. I’m back-.”

 

Now it was time for Seoryeong to discover Jeongan’s body.

 

Jeongan’s corpse wasn’t prepared on the set yet. With nothing in front of her, Yeoreum had to make an expression of witnessing death.

 

‘Let’s see how well she does-.’

 

Noh Jeongyeon raised the corners of her mouth toward Yeoreum visible beyond the monitor.

 

‘If she can’t do it well, I can go lie down early.’

 

Whether there’s someone to immerse with in front of an actor makes a big difference. Even veteran actors would have their scene partners stay with them off-camera when they had trouble grasping emotions.

 

Knowing this, Noh Jeongyeon deliberately watched Yeoreum from beside the director.

 

And what appeared on Seoryeong’s face upon witnessing Jeongan’s corpse was.

 

“Jeongan…?”

 

Bewilderment.

 

Like a young animal that couldn’t understand death, Seoryeong stared blankly at Jeongan.

 

As if this couldn’t be happening. As if she couldn’t understand.

 

‘What is this?’

 

Noh Jeongyeon was flustered. Because Yeoreum’s face filling the screen showed such an unknowing expression, Jeongan’s death felt even more enormous.

 

The scene continued, and this time it was a shot capturing both people together on screen.

 

Noh Jeongyeon lay down again in the place where Jeongan had met her death earlier, still harboring that small question inside.

 

Cold, dry earth touched her skin. Noh Jeongyeon acted as a corpse that couldn’t close its eyes.

 

With the cut sound, Seoryeong slowly crouched down toward Jeongan. Then she raised her free hand, the one not holding the flower shoes, and gently shook Jeongan.

 

“Jeongan.”

 

Her touch, trying hard to act nonchalant, seemed to be saying don’t do this.

 

“Jeongan.”

 

Please don’t die and leave me.

 

“I brought flower shoes….”

 

Even though it should have been disgusting with the blood and inability to close her eyes, Seoryeong brought her face close to Jeongan.

 

It was the gesture of a young animal that couldn’t accept Jeongan’s death to the very end.

 

“They’re really good ones. Really expensive ones.”

 

Seoryeong slowly settled down and sat beside Jeongan. She looked like she believed Jeongan would get up if she waited.

 

Noh Jeongyeon bit her tongue to keep from shedding tears from her open eyes.

 

How could she close her eyes leaving this young one behind. She thought she understood why people in the world said such things.

 

“Jeongan….”

 

She couldn’t close her eyes.

 

The fledgling before her eyes made even a veteran among veterans unable to do otherwise.

 

Noh Jeongyeon used all her desperate strength to not show the emotions raging inside her.

 

She couldn’t even gauge how much Han Yeoreum would grow while filming the remaining 15 episodes. The fact that she couldn’t watch that time up close was frustrating.

 

Something burned up inside Noh Jeongyeon’s heart.

 

This was clear jealousy.

 

She was convinced that Geum Bitkang had chosen her comeback project too well, way too well.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Today was the first scene between Han Yeoreum and Kwon Junhyeok. Because they needed to quickly finish filming at the old hut, Yeoreum’s schedule was placed first.

 

“Junhyeok! We’re here!”

 

“Yeah….”

 

“Are you crying?”

 

“I’m not crying….”

 

“…What’s wrong? Why aren’t you crying?”

 

The manager gripping the steering wheel quickly turned around to look at the back seats. He was so flustered that his upper body was almost completely out of his seat.

 

“Why aren’t you crying?”

 

That’s right.

 

Today, Kwon Junhyeok really didn’t cry.

 

“It’s your first shoot, aren’t you scared? Aren’t you nervous? Aren’t you anxious?”

 

“Hyung… I’m not someone who cries all the time.”

 

“What are you talking about! You are that kind of person!”

 

“I’m saving it up to let it all out at once now.”

 

Kwon Junhyeok said confidently while looking at his manager.

 

Time goes back a few days.

 

Han Yeoreum, who came to the Action Academy to learn running, greeted Gwak Cheolsik warmly.

 

“Hello! Senior, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you—.”

 

“Hey. Did our little foal come?”

 

“Our senior has a slight pronunciation problem. Puppy? Right.”

 

“I almost died from drinking the alcohol you gave me back then. Little foal.”

 

The two already seemed very close due to filming .

 

“Actor—! I’ve heard a lot about you. Should I really go Spartan today?”

 

“Of course. Don’t go easy on me and teach me thoroughly.”

 

And Yeoreum quickly became friends with Kang Hanseong, the martial arts director of . Watching Yeoreum through the gap in the 2nd Floor Martial Arts Practice Room door, Kwon Junhyeok was amazed.

 

‘She’s good…’

 

Getting close to people, blending into situations, using her body. Han Yeoreum was good at everything.

 

“The elbow angle needs to be alive! It shouldn’t shake!”

 

When the martial arts director said something once, Han Yeoreum understood immediately. She really knew how to use her body lightly.

 

‘Even a single step forward…’

 

She walked with her weight centered on her toes, and when running, she took wide strides and jumped high.

 

The Seoryeong that Han Yeoreum was creating really resembled a cat. Even when she must have been struggling to breathe in between, she even delivered her lines.

 

But Geum Bitkang and Noh Jeongyeon gave such a Han Yeoreum only 90 points.

 

‘Not a hundred points…’

 

But if it were Kwon Junhyeok, who hadn’t even found his Myeongdo yet, let alone proper acting, it seemed like even 9 points would be touch and go, never mind 90 points.

 

“What should I do…”

 

Kwon Junhyeok closed the slightly open door gap again and leaned against the wall. Once again, his eyes became moist.

 

Kwon Junhyeok’s hands, which habitually wiped away tears with the back of his hand, were all torn and scraped up in a mess. Tears seeped into the gaps between wounds, stinging.

 

Kwon Junhyeok’s vision blurred with tears.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

Then a clear voice was heard.

 

When you’re too surprised, words don’t come out. Kwon Junhyeok lost his words seeing Han Yeoreum, who was now sitting next to him.

 

“Uh… well… no… how did you know I was here?”

 

“Of course I’d know. You’ve been staring at me since earlier. I’m someone who doesn’t miss even a single gaze that recognizes me. I’m a perfectly prepared actor.”

 

Han Yeoreum wiped the sweat beaded on her forehead and grinned.

 

“Let me drink some water.”

 

Han Yeoreum took Kwon Junhyeok’s tumbler and gulped down water. It seemed like today’s training was almost over.

 

“But Kwon Junhyeok, you cry really well.”

 

“I’m sorry…”

 

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. That’s also a talent. The best crying acting. Five stars.”

 

It was the first time he’d heard that crying was a talent. Han Yeoreum sat next to Kwon Junhyeok and spoke seriously.

 

“There are many actors on set who can’t cry when they need to, so they bring sticks and whatnot to cry like crocodiles.”

 

“Really…?”

 

“Yeah. Really. But since Junhyeok cries well, I think crying scenes will turn out better. Well, we can work on the rest together!”

 

She said together.

 

“Who am I?”

 

“…Han Yeoreum…”

 

“No, not that. Add some modifiers.”

 

“A rookie actor?”

 

“That’s right. I received a special jury award at the Seoul International Drama Awards, achieved a whopping 247% Blu-ray sales rate with a web drama, and had a whole one fan attend the awards ceremony… Oh, I haven’t debuted long but my career is already this long. Let me skip briefly, so what about you?”

 

“I’m an idol… But I’ve also received many awards…, and I have self-composed songs… I’m a skilled idol in my own way…”

 

Han Yeoreum spoke to Kwon Junhyeok with an expression that was absolutely not joking.

 

“No. Now you’re also a rookie actor.”

 

The director’s voice calling for Han Yeoreum echoed from the 1st floor. It seemed break time was over.

 

“Let’s do well. Fellow rookies.”

 

Han Yeoreum stood up. And she brought her fist close to Kwon Junhyeok. Kwon Junhyeok unconsciously bumped fists with the small hand.

 

“See you on the filming set!”

 

Han Yeoreum disappeared with light steps. Kwon Junhyeok put strength into his wounded fist.

 

Fellow rookie actors.

 

Those words strangely gave him courage. Kwon Junhyeok gripped his wooden sword again.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Thus, the scene where the two leads filmed together for the first time was a meal scene at the tavern.

 

Since they weren’t close yet, their wariness toward each other looked natural.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Seoryeong had already finished her portion of rice soup but kept staring at Myeongdo’s food bowl. Sensing the gaze, Myeongdo pretended not to notice and continued eating.

 

With an annoyed expression, Seoryeong raised her hand and called the tavern keeper.

 

“Hey—. Tavern Keeper!”

 

“Yes. Is there something else you’d like to order?”

 

Seoryeong quickly put her hand into Myeongdo’s chest while he was eating. Then she arbitrarily took out money and paid the tavern keeper double the price of the rice soup.

 

“Shall I bring another bowl? Or alcohol?”

 

“What are you doing right now…”

 

Seoryeong spoke with gleaming eyes again this time.

 

“From what I see, this tavern doesn’t seem like it will last long. It looks like it will close soon, so my heart aches for it.”

 

It was an obvious provocation.

—————
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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