I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 191

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

Episode 191

As soon as I got out of the car, reporters who had been waiting around pressed their shutters. I smiled naturally and waved my hand.

‘I really looked like a celebrity just now.’

Since when did I become so comfortable in front of cameras? My heart swelled with pride. When I turned my head toward the flashing lights and smiled, the shutter sounds grew louder.

‘Everyone… Please make the headline something like “Han Yeoreum from , was she always this pure? Bright white smile at the airport~”…’

Hoping we were on the same wavelength, I entered the gate. As soon as I sat down in the plush seat of the plane heading to Taiwan, the woman next to me who had been working on her laptop acknowledged me.

“Did the cutie arrive?”

The lady with a sharp black suit, long straight black hair, and sharp eyes… was someone I didn’t recognize.

‘So this is what happens when you become famous.’

I’d heard a lot about this. Elementary students speaking informally, being called by character names instead of real names. I’d heard that the public who build familiarity through screens approach you like this.

‘The fate of a star is unavoidable.’

But not being flustered in times like this is also the duty of a rising actor. I naturally provided fan service.

“Yes. I’m the cute Han Yeoreum. Should I give you an autograph?”

“Hahaha! Even joking!”

I wasn’t joking though. If not an autograph, then a selfie? Anyway, she’s a precious potential fan who acknowledged me, so I should treat her well. I leaned my body toward her.

“Please use a beauty filter app. Come on, don’t be shy. Hurry up.”

I hope this becomes a heartwarming Han Yeoreum story… But the lady who had been staring at me for a moment picked up something that had been under her laptop.

“A neck pillow?”

It was an old, soft neck pillow. The moment she put it around her neck, I couldn’t help but suspect who this person in front of me was.

“Could it be… Manager Ma…?”

“Not ‘could it be’ but ‘as expected,’ right?”

“No way… Where did the stretched-out t-shirt go? The roughly tied hair? What is this? Is this Manager Ma’s other personality?”

“I’ll take that as a compliment about being beautiful.”

Who would have thought it was Manager Ma. The excessively neat Manager Ma was hard to get used to.

“But why did you dress up so much… today?”

“Because the Taiwan side will pick us up directly from the airport.”

Manager Ma, who had been typing rapidly, turned her head to look at me.

“It’ll be bigger scale than you think. Don’t get nervous later.”

At those words, my heart was already racing. It was unbelievable to think that even in that distant country, they knew Han Yeoreum’s name.

“Hello.”

While I was looking at Manager Ma, I heard a voice calling me from directly to my right. This must be real fan service. I cleared my throat to greet them.

“Hello… It was Junhyeok…”

“…Why do you sound disappointed…?”

Well, because I wanted to hear stories from a fan sitting next to me on the plane, praising Han Yeoreum’s acting ability…

I tried to act nonchalant and welcomed Kwon Junhyeok. Kwon Junhyeok, with slightly hurt eyes, opened his mouth.

“Um, you said you wanted to do variety shows last time.”

“Yes. Do you have something good? Something that could build an image where people think ‘Han Yeoreum is really serious about acting. She’s truly a sincere actor of South Korea and will rise to the top while rising.'”

Thanks to saying I wanted variety shows everywhere to solve missions, it seemed Kwon Junhyeok was asking about something. At my words, the typing sound from Manager Ma on my left stopped for a moment. She said admiringly.

“The cutie has great ambitions? You think one variety show can achieve all that?”

“It’s not that amazing of a variety show though…”

Kwon Junhyeok, who had lost confidence, stammered as he spoke.

“Um, there’s this guy named Sim Juhwan… He does a radio show called ‘2 O’Clock Nap,’ and he needs a substitute for about a week due to overseas schedule… But he said he enjoyed watching and is a fan of Yeoreum…”

Kwon Junhyeok’s voice grew smaller and smaller.

“It’s not quite variety show level, but it’s still a different schedule from acting, and it’s only a week, and it probably won’t be able to build an image where people think ‘she’s truly a sincere actor of South Korea and will rise to the top while rising’… I’m sorry… I’ll decline for you…”

Kwon Junhyeok, who was withdrawing his proposal at the same time as making it, hurriedly tapped his cell phone.

“No! Wait!”

Manager Ma shouted urgently. Thanks to that, my left eardrum felt muffled. Manager Ma, who had moved close enough to stick to me, sent burning eyes toward Kwon Junhyeok.

“This is it… Variety show…!”

* * *

Most celebrities, especially actors, appeared on broadcasts for one of two reasons.

For a drama, or for a movie.

It was to inform the public of their current status, saying ‘This actor filmed this work, so please watch it a lot.’

‘There’s a reason why most actors don’t appear regularly on variety shows.’

Familiarity was a double-edged sword. If handled carelessly, they’d float away from their character. When a person becomes too familiar as themselves, the roles they can digest become limited.

‘That’s why variety show appearances need to be careful.’

Last time, So Yesol offered to give Yeoreum free access to MBS variety shows, but there were too many things to consider before calculating.

‘First, the next work won’t be airing on MBS either.’

Han Yeoreum had a record of making MBS suffer twice in a row. Not just a complete defeat, but she had stolen viewership ratings at a disastrous level.

‘So it’s better not to do variety shows there while promoting the next work. We shouldn’t create the risk of deepening emotional rifts.’

There was no need to use MBS’s goodwill to promote KBC’s 50th anniversary masterpiece.

‘At least not until after filming one work at MBS.’

However, the image needed to be changed before aired. After all, she was just a child actor. No matter how well Han Yeoreum acted, she was still behind Eun Baekhap.

‘It’s difficult to completely overturn the strongly recognized shaman image with just 4 episodes.’

Manager Ma’s job was to prepare so that not a single “this role was disappointing” would appear in Han Yeoreum’s filmography.

Formulas mixed chaotically in her head. Manager Ma, who had calculated several times which method would show the best results, grabbed Han Yeoreum and shook her.

“We can do MBS radio!”

Then appearing on MBS variety shows would be natural.

“Let’s go to M-bubu!”

Please Help M Headquarters. Shortened to M-bubu.

It was an observational variety show with quite good reactions at MBS. M-bubu’s popularity factor was that you could see both ordinary people’s daily lives and celebrities’ daily lives.

Intube

[Don’t do this kind of thing when entering broadcasting stations… Drama Department directing team youngest’s vlog] 14:11

480,000 views

-Wow I really had dreams about working at a broadcasting station ㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋ this is fucking exhausting

-I’ve seen PDs occasionally but haven’t seen other jobs much.. it’s interesting

-04:27 Are they crazy here, look at those coffee cups piled up

At this rate, we’re all going to die

From staff producing M Headquarters programs to filming staff, editing, makeup rooms, and even celebrities.

Due to the characteristic atmosphere of M-bubu programs where everyone works together with fighting spirit, they could show Han Yeoreum’s daily life while preventing excessive image consumption.

‘Plus Han Yeoreum’s greatest strength, her voice…!’

Precise pronunciation and delivery that even musical theater fans had to acknowledge.

If combined with the characteristics of radio as a medium that could properly utilize a voice that made you want to hear more the longer you listened.

‘I wonder what results will come out.’

Manager Ma’s heart raced.

“Hurry! Hurry up and say you’ll do it! Delete all that! What are you writing now? Tell me!”

At Manager Ma’s scolding, Kwon Junhyeok hurriedly deleted the sentence he was writing.

“Hel, lo hyung… I hope you’re doing well… It’s gotten quite cold, so always be careful of catching cold…”

“Skip the intro and just say Han Yeoreum will do it!”

“About the radio schedule you mentioned last time…”

Manager Ma immediately fixed the schedule before Sim Juhwan’s side could find a new substitute. Then she said to Yeoreum.

“You’re returning to school this semester. Cutie.”

Manager Ma decided in just a few seconds what kind of daily life Han Yeoreum would show on ‘M-bubu.’ The picture was complete.

She’s attending KNUA, diligently taking acting classes, and even filling in as a radio DJ on the side.

‘It flows so naturally… Rather than just filming her next project, this is actually even better.’

By showing in detail that she’s an acting student, she gains legitimacy in the acting world. Manager Ma was already clenching her fists at the public’s reaction she could envision.

The footage would capture actress Han Yeoreum attending acting classes, practicing lines in her spare time, and reading radio cue sheets on the school stairs. These were perfect scenes for image making.

‘But there’s just one thing, if we had just one more thing it would be perfect…’

Just showing acting classes felt lacking. One impactful moment. That’s what was needed. Another side of Han Yeoreum that wasn’t just her acting ability.

* * *

After about 2 hours and 30 minutes of flight, the plane finally landed. Beyond the window, a brilliant blue sky stretched out.

This was Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport.

As I got off the plane, the first thing that greeted me was Taiwan’s characteristic warm temperature. While Korea was in the depths of winter, Taiwan had mild air spreading around with daytime highs around 20 degrees.

I took a deep breath to truly feel that I was now in Taiwan.

“Ah… the air of a protagonist…”

Thinking this was the air that only actors who hold overseas fan meetings could breathe made it incredibly sweet. I walked out breathing in and out repeatedly – whoosh, hah.

“But isn’t it a bit noisy?”

“You’re right…”

It was strangely bustling over there. There must be a lot of people today. I thought this as I exited the gate. And what unfolded before my eyes was.

“Seoryeong-!!!”

Huh. What’s this?

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