I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 197
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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 197
* * *
Before they knew it, the fan meeting had reached its final stages. It was time for the special stage. Gentle purple lighting illuminated the hall. A dim path stretched out beyond the screen.
When familiar music began playing, the Taiwanese fans started murmuring. Blushes settled over their delighted faces.
‘Finally!’
It was a famous Taiwanese song that Yeoreum and Junhyeok had prepared for their Taiwanese fans.
A song so famous that everyone present could sing along. Aetami had also watched the music video clip several times to memorize the lyrics.
She reached into her bag to grab what she had prepared. The person next to her seemed to have already finished preparing. They quietly rolled up their sleeves.
“The whole world is dark”
It was gentle music with a historical drama feel. Yeoreum’s voice softly settled over the smooth piano melody. She seemed to have practiced for a long time, as her lyric delivery was perfect.
“Even the moonlight is dim on this dark night
The reason I’m not afraid
Is because of your hand holding mine”
A barely perceptible subtle synth pad was laid as the base. Sounds that expanded the sense of space flowed like wind.
That’s when it happened.
The sound system acted up again.
“….”
Even the music cut out completely. Just as Yeoreum was about to panic, the screen and lighting went out too. Everything was covered in complete darkness.
“Huh…?”
Yeoreum’s voice, which she had involuntarily let out due to the consecutive accidents, echoed through the hall. As if that voice was a signal flare, the screen lit up again.
Yeoreum turned around. The screen was displaying something different from what they had seen during rehearsal.
[Seoryeong Myeongdo
Thank you for coming to meet us]
The music that had cut out began flowing from the speakers again. And the song continued from the part Yeoreum hadn’t been able to sing.
“On this quiet night where only
The sound of insects can be heard”
People slowly moved their hands in time with the music. Something caught her eye.
“The reason I’m not afraid
Is because of your voice calling my name”
Familiar strings were tied around people’s wrists.
They were blessing strings.
The same strings that had been tied to Seoryeong’s hand in the final scene of were also on the audience members’ wrists.
Yeoreum momentarily forgot the lyrics. She couldn’t sing again anyway.
The strings tied to the audience’s wrists kept fluttering gently. When Kwon Junhyeok, who was supposed to sing the second verse, picked up the microphone, the interlude ended and the song continued.
“The longer the night becomes
The clearer you become to me”
The voice echoing through the hall wasn’t Kwon Junhyeok’s. It wasn’t Han Yeoreum’s either. It was impossible to pinpoint exactly whose it was.
“We don’t need many words”
It was the voices of countless fans. Among the audience singing as one, the blessing strings fluttered beautifully in time with the music.
The vast space filled with an indescribable kind of affection. The passionate love each person held came together to form something enormous.
It seemed like all 1,500 people were saying in unison.
That they loved her.
“Just being with you
My heart is fully conveyed”
Their singing voices gradually grew louder. It was a comforting song telling her not to cry.
Under the purple lighting, Yeoreum didn’t even blink, as if she would never forget this scene. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“The reason I’m not lonely
Is because you still remain by my side”
In the continuing second verse, Kwon Junhyeok sang harmoniously with the fans. The lyrics were delivered with a slightly more serious feeling than when Yeoreum had sung the first verse.
It was partly due to his much lower voice, but it also seemed like they were speaking to each other.
Kwon Junhyeok’s voice kept trembling as he too was crying, but the song was still wonderful.
It was thanks to the Taiwanese fans singing even louder with pride at having made both of them cry with their prepared surprise event.
“The reason I’m not lonely
Is because of your heart that embraced my name”
Their voices were several times louder than Kwon Junhyeok’s. As they reached the chorus, he was crying so hard he couldn’t continue singing, just like Yeoreum.
Throughout the end of the song, Yeoreum didn’t lower her head. Even as her vision kept blurring, she kept taking in the fans, again and again.
When the song ended, Yeoreum smiled brightly with teary eyes. Shutter sounds rang out chaotically.
As if proving that Yeoreum wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to forget this moment.
The fans wanted to preserve this moment, even if only in photographs.
Their cell phones captured Yeoreum, slightly pixelated from zooming in too much.
Even from a distance, it was a face radiating happiness.
* * *
“Cheers-!!!”
“Great work everyone!!!”
It was a boisterous night. Having rented out the entire lounge bar, no one bothered to keep their voice down.
The second night with Taiwan’s night view spread out beyond the large windows. With tension released and the day having been successful, everyone clinked glasses with one heart and mind.
“Ah… I think I’m getting drunk…”
Yeoreum gulped down her drink and muttered. She gazed beyond the window with a dreamy look.
“Yeoreum, that’s non-alcoholic.”
Manager Choi comforted Yeoreum. But Yeoreum answered without backing down.
“I think I’m getting drunk on the taste of being the protagonist, unnie.”
“That’s okay to get drunk on, cutie!”
Manager Ma, who had returned to her three-for-9,900-won t-shirts, was sprawled on the sofa with a neck pillow around her neck. She even had compression stockings on her legs, obtained from who knows where.
“You really did great today. When the sound system malfunctioned, you were absolutely amazing. By now it must have spread all over Korea! Ah, I’m so excited. This is so fun.”
Manager Ma chewed on dried mango while downing a beer can in one gulp.
“When the sound system malfunctioned.”
Kwon Junhyeok was drinking non-alcoholic drinks with me. Since we had a magazine photo shoot tomorrow, both of us still had to manage our diet.
“I was thinking of Han Yeoreum’s aegyo triple combo, like doing the ‘going to Canada’ ear thing.”
The staff members around couldn’t help but laugh at Junhyeok’s words, who said with a serious face that he had tried to handle the situation in his own way.
“I’m glad you didn’t pick up the microphone first back then…”
“What a shame. I should have done that. I’ll definitely do it at the next fan meeting.”
Having successfully completed the most important schedule, the atmosphere couldn’t help but heat up.
“Yeoreum really has a natural stage presence. She’s stronger on camera at the film set than during script reading, and stronger when it starts than during rehearsals.”
Manager Choi patted my shoulder while chewing on jipai.
‘Natural stage presence…’
It was the first time I’d heard such words. I hadn’t performed on stage enough to feel like it was natural to me.
‘Come to think of it, I did do theater for a long time.’
I just never got important roles. I was always on stage. Suddenly I missed the theater.
Not a grand theater like today’s, but just an ordinary small theater in Daehangno.
I found myself wanting to return to that shabby theater that always smelled of musty dust from somewhere, where people had to sit packed together.
I missed theater, where you couldn’t make even one mistake, where you had to somehow pull off real-time ad-libs.
‘But I shouldn’t bring up such things right now.’
Since I’m rising as a star, every schedule needs to be carefully decided.
Even though I understood this logically, the longing for small theater stages kept lingering in a corner of my heart.
* * *
Yeoreum kept smiling as if she had never cried. Watching such Yeoreum, Manager Ma looked at her watch.
‘Only two days left of schedules in Taiwan.’
Less than 48 hours remained. And Manager Ma was certain that Taiwan executives would schedule a meeting within those two days.
‘Once the news coverage is properly done, her popularity will soar even higher.’
Anyone would naturally feel patriotic pride when a foreign celebrity shows love for their country. A Hallyu star who had practiced singing a beloved Taiwanese youth drama OST at a fan meeting.
‘But she cries over fans’ small events?’
With being a hit, this was the perfect timing to row hard.
Now if , which Yeoreum appeared in, is released and she visits Taiwan again for GV schedules…
‘They have brains, so they’ll think.’
If they wanted to claim the title of being the Taiwan entertainment industry that helped create that Hallyu star, they too would have to move quickly.
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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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