I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 181

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

Episode 181

* * *

“It’s been a while, Teacher.”

Seonwoo Seonuk looked at Geum Bitkang sitting across from him and bowed politely at the waist in greeting.

“Enough. You should save your back now. Don’t go around bowing like that everywhere.”

“I don’t bow this deeply just anywhere. Only in front of you, Teacher.”

Geum Bitkang lifted her teacup with one hand and drank the camellia tea that was at just the right temperature. The fragrant floral scent wrapped around the tip of her tongue.

“So. Why did you want to meet?”

“You’re still as impatient as ever.”

Geum Bitkang didn’t answer, only raised an eyebrow slightly. What Seonwoo Seonuk held out was a thick envelope.

‘I can guess the answer without even looking.’

Geum Bitkang expected that envelope to contain a script. Ever since Geum Bitkang emerged from her long hiatus, scripts had been pouring in non-stop.

“If it’s a script, take it back. I have a truckload I haven’t read yet.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what? A book?”

“That’s not it either.”

Seonwoo Seonuk smiled and gestured for her to open it quickly. Geum Bitkang shrugged once and opened the envelope.

“It’s a play script.”

At that moment, Geum Bitkang thought of Yeoreum standing on stage. She couldn’t even explain the reason herself. It was just that Juliet from that time was too vivid.

“You’re a drama critic, but a play…”

“Don’t be like this. You know better than anyone how much I love theater.”

Seonwoo Seonuk was a drama critic, but as he said, he loved theater. He maintained close relationships with directors and scriptwriters.

“What’s the scale?”

“Compared to the Grand Theater where your last play, , was performed, it’s pathetic, but it still has a romantic scale.”

“Just say Daehangno. Critics always have to add all these flowery descriptions.”

Geum Bitkang picked up the play script. The title page of the script had no title written on it. It was still untitled. That meant nothing had been decided yet.

‘If there isn’t even a working title, then the script was probably completed not too long ago.’

Geum Bitkang chuckled as she looked at the section with character introductions.

“You must have been quite impressed by last year’s final play.”

It seemed Geum Bitkang wasn’t the only one who wanted to put Han Yeoreum on the theater stage.

* * *

Reporter Wi fondled the hot pack in his padding pocket with his gloved hands. It was December now. Year-end award ceremonies were in full swing. A crowd of reporters had gathered to film the red carpet of the White Dragon Film Festival.

It wasn’t just reporters waiting outdoors. Fans, for whom each offline event was precious, were also standing in front of the red carpet.

“Kyaaaah!”

Every time a van stopped, screams erupted from here and there along with white breath. Reporter Wi also busily pressed his shutter.

“This year’s award ceremonies are pretty interesting, right?”

“Exactly. Who would have known the Yejong Awards would expand their categories like that.”

The Yejong Awards Film Festival had created a new category. The Series Award. Even works presented by cable broadcasters gained eligibility for the Yejong Awards.

“Do you think Netflix will come to Korea within a year?”

“That’s probably why Yejong expanded their categories. I think they’ll probably add cable broadcasters and OTT to the series category now.”

As Netflix gained strength in neighboring Japan, the Yejong Awards also made a new move. Reporters who thought the entertainment industry’s flow might change looked at the red carpet with interested eyes.

“Han Yeoreum!”

“Yeoreum!”

As soon as the van stopped and the door opened, the rookie actress with frightening momentum these days revealed herself.

“Oh my, the protagonist of the Best New Actress award has arrived.”

Someone muttered while watching Han Yeoreum smile brightly and make eye contact with fans. Reporter Wi raised the corners of his mouth at those words and frantically pressed his shutter.

‘Is it just my imagination?’

It seemed like Yeoreum was particularly staring straight at his lens and waving at him.

Even when Yeoreum left the photo wall and someone else’s van stopped in front of the red carpet again, people couldn’t take their eyes off Yeoreum’s retreating figure.

The rookie who would claim the Best New Actress award at the White Dragon Film Festival.

* * *

My fingertips were frozen due to the sub-zero temperature. As soon as I entered the building, Coordinator Hwang and Manager Choi, who had been waiting, rushed over.

“Warm up for a moment.”

“Yeoreum, are you very cold? Why are you shaking like this!”

A soft blanket and hot packs were pressed into my hands. Still, the shaking didn’t stop. The grand hall inside resembled a movie theater.

“Hey! Filly!”

“Hello, Yeoreum.”

I took a seat with the team at a table covered with a white tablecloth.

“You’ve prepared your acceptance speech well, right? It’s your first film festival award, so you need to leave a dignified impression.”

“Cry after saying everything like at the Seoul Drama Awards. The staff will cut you off in the middle saying there’s no time.”

Gwak Cheolsik and Yoon Hyeonjo made jokes to help me relax.

“Right, exactly… Yeoreum, since you’re going to win Best New Actress…”

Thanks to Director Gong shaking while holding his water bottle, all my tension was released. He was spilling more water than he was drinking. Having someone more nervous than me beside me made me laugh.

“Director, don’t be nervous.”

Finally, text appeared on the screen. It was time to receive our report card.

[44th White Dragon Film Festival]

“If we don’t win, who will?”

There was no upset. I won the Best New Actress award.

attracted the most audiences this year and also achieved good results at the following Baeksan Arts Awards. One work brought at least six awards with it. was an undeniable box office hit.

[Han Yeoreum wins Best New Actress with acting ability recognized by all…]

[Star Photo/ Best New Actress Han Yeoreum’s refreshing smile~]

[Will she sweep the Yejong Awards after White Dragon? Frightening rising star, Han Yeoreum]

“The 47th Yejong Awards. This year too has been a year with such wonderful works and such wonderful actors’ passionate performances that our hearts are full.”

Time passed very quickly. Following the White Dragon Film Festival and Baeksan Arts Awards, the day of the Yejong Awards Film Festival dawned.

The Yejong Awards Film Festival where was nominated for awards following . The sound of shutters aimed at me was so loud my ears felt muffled.

Flashes burst non-stop, leaving painful afterimages of light.

“Series Work of the Year Award.”

“The Series Director Award goes to…”

“This is a work I really enjoyed watching too. Series Art Direction Award.”

swept the Yejong Awards Film Festival. Work Award, Director Award, Art Direction Award, Sound Award.

“Congratulations! Series Best New Actor Award. The honorable winner is…”

And finally.

“Han Yeoreum for the role of Seoryeong.”

Even the Best New Actor Award.

With this, I became an actress who swept the Best New Actor awards at two film festivals. The trophy in my hands sparkled madly under the lights.

“…Thank you.”

My throat tightened. I hadn’t cried at the Baekryong Film Festival. Perhaps it was because receiving an award for , where I was the lead, carried a different weight.

“Standing in a place I’ve dreamed of since childhood doesn’t feel real.”

The moments I lived as Seoryeong flashed by. Sometimes with Jeongan, sometimes with Myeongdo, sometimes walking that path alone.

“Before, I wondered if anyone would recognize my name, if even one person would remember me…”

The final chapter of that Seoryeong faced came to mind. Clear letters had been carved on the screen. Chapter 16, The Final Destination.

“Thanks to a good work, a good director, and wonderful staff and colleagues who joined me, I was able to receive so much love as Seoryeong.”

But Seoryeong and Han Yeoreum are different. Seoryeong reached her destination of a happy ending, but for Han Yeoreum, this is just the beginning.

Suddenly, I remembered the time when no one remembered my name.

The audition date was moved up by a whole week, but I missed it because I didn’t receive the text message.

When I barely got the part, I was cut for being an actress who didn’t even know the script had changed.

Even the traffic accident I suffered on my first day of filming.

Endless past misfortunes flashed by quickly.

And over them, memories that were the complete opposite of my miserable acting career overlapped.

This time, not stolen by Do Gyeoul.

My life.

These were pieces of Han Yeoreum.

“I will continue to work hard to make my name known as an actress who can express good stories.”

Han Yeoreum, who received rave reviews from her debut web drama,

Han Yeoreum, who took on numerous interviews and CFs with a good image,

Han Yeoreum, who smiled brightly while receiving an award at South Korea’s top film awards ceremony,

What Do Gyeoul had, I now possess.

Because these were things I should have had.

“This was Han Yeoreum. Thank you.”

I bowed my head in greeting. I heard the sound of clapping hands. Thinking it was applause for me made my eyes feel warm.

What kind of names will I have in the future?

Pi Chaewon, who only focused on studying but eventually made friends,

Jeong Yeondu, who received attention instead of indifference,

Juliet, who fell in love with Romeo at first sight and promised love,

Influencer 1, who was scared but bravely caught drug criminals,

Seoryeong, who kept her promise to the very end.

I’m excited about the next name I’ll have.

Because there are still so many names yet to be given to Han Yeoreum.

The sound of my heartbeat rang in my ears at the same fast pace as people’s applause.

What I saw before my eyes as I raised my head with tears hanging from them was.

Ding-! Ding-! Ding-! Ding-!

They were status windows. I looked straight ahead and smiled brightly. No matter how many missions I was given, I wasn’t afraid.

‘Who am I?’

I performed an excellent supporting role in my first film appearance and even won the Best New Actress award at the Baekryong Film Festival, and with perfect acting ability, I helped recognize the artistic value of a fusion historical drama – the cable TV miracle, the original Seoryeong who made them hold a single-theater event for the final episode, and who also grabbed the Best New Actress award at the Yejong Film Festival,

‘Being watched by one familiar fan who attended this event.’

Because I’m Han Yeoreum.