I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 203

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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 203

Jegal Rok sipped his strong coffee while observing her.

If this was Geum Bitkang’s theatrical comeback work, the brand value was already beyond words. Not only would theater reservations become easier, but even the planning and marketing lines would change.

‘Not to mention the ticket power.’

Geum Bitkang. Just putting that name alone would elevate the performance to a different class entirely. Probably actors in the theater industry were fiercely competing to appear alongside Geum Bitkang.

‘Because Geum Bitkang is top-tier.’

She remarkably enhances the credibility of a work. However, this was a card that had already been played once.

<Strange Tales> was a fusion period drama based on a fictional country that could easily appear frivolous, but with Geum Bitkang at the helm, it carried weight comparable to authentic period dramas.

‘I can’t use the same card again.’

So the hand Geum Bitkang was offering wasn’t particularly appealing conditions for Jegal Rok. He couldn’t follow along based solely on Geum Bitkang’s presence.

“When you reach this age, you know. Whether you want it or not, many people tend to swarm around you.”

Geum Bitkang spoke in a languid tone. Even speaking without force, she had that unique atmosphere of a great actor. Each word she spoke had a clarity as if whispered directly into one’s ear.

“When Hong Kong movies were all the rage, those industry people at film festivals would pester me so persistently. Well, it was bothersome, but I still keep in touch with a few old folks who haven’t died yet.”

If they were industry figures from when Hong Kong cinema was dominant, they must be considerable big shots. By now, they would wield power capable of overturning the entire landscape with a single word or nod.

‘If it’s a personal relationship, the quality of information available differs from official relationships…’

It probably meant that precious information beyond what Jegal Rok could discover had flowed to Geum Bitkang.

Jegal Rok looked at her without saying anything. Geum Bitkang also met Jegal Rok’s eyes with an upright gaze.

“You said you wouldn’t accept Chinese investment, right?”

At that question, Jegal Rok was imperceptibly flustered. Geum Bitkang sipped her tea and spoke.

“Good thinking.”

Her sharp voice and gaze pierced into Jegal Rok like a dagger. Jegal Rok instinctively felt Geum Bitkang’s warning.

‘Is it about to begin now?’

All the world’s games revolve around politics. Interests become entangled, someone must untangle them, someone must be discarded, someone must be cut off entirely, and new connections must be made with the remaining fragments.

“This year is going to be quite chaotic anyway.”

And now was probably, by estimation, a moment of discarding with over 90% certainty.

“Don’t get clever thinking it’s a shame about the rising trend. You know well there’s no right answer in this game, don’t you?”

Once you climb this high, countless data inevitably accumulates.

Just as animals are the first to sense those subtle tremors and smells before an earthquake, what Jegal Rok had been subconsciously aware of must have begun to stir.

“It’ll be hard to do production work, so it would be good to dip your feet into the theater world.”

The worst-case scenario Jegal Rok had been considering must have materialized. Jegal Rok stood up from his seat and bowed.

“Thank you for your guidance.”

It was information of tremendous value. From this moment on, he would need to recalculate and restructure everything, including the drama and film industries that would soon collapse, and even the media export industry.

‘I can’t even estimate how much will be lost.’

However, one thing was certain: a situation that would drive South Korea’s entertainment industry into disaster was approaching. Everyone was facing a crisis of being screwed.

“I really like how your brain works so quickly, yes.”

Geum Bitkang exhaled deeply with satisfaction.

“What use could such a person be to me?”

The master commanded Jegal Rok, who was still bowing.

“Enough, bring Han Yeoreum to me right now.”

* * *

Suddenly to the division head’s office? Why me?

‘No, really…’

Why me? Of course I haven’t done anything wrong, but when someone tells you to come for no reason, it makes your heart race. I headed to the division head’s office where Jegal Rok was, doing some mind control.

‘The Taiwan GV also ended successfully…’

<Faster Than Law> had achieved meaningful results so far. It attracted as many as 60,000 viewers in its opening week.

‘That’s four times higher than regular Korean films.’

In the first four days of opening week, my fandom, the general public interested due to Yoon Hyeonjo’s ‘Letter Oppa’ appeal, and weekend audience influx drew nearly 200,000 in ticket power. It also helped that JC ENM uploaded short videos to Yoosta.

Youstagram

Past life? Present life? What are you talking about

Aren’t you going to see <Faster Than Law>?

88,123 likes

1,082 comments

-Mr. Kwak Cheol-sik, please don’t raise your fist ㅠㅠㅠㅠ It seems like you should be imprisoned in both your past and current life

We must punish severely

-Letter oppa, I love you with all my heart. Let’s not part in this lifetime (crying while smiling emoji)

-hahaha no but what’s up with how fast the person in charge is hahaha

They quickly used the meme about Yoon Hyeonjo and Gwak Cheolsik’s past-life connection. Just having each actor grab the microphone once and say a word recorded high likes.

‘Final audience prediction is 750,000.’

The audience had already reached 500,000. Given Taiwan’s population, this was a high market share, so internally it was already considered a great success.

‘But why…’

It feels like when a teacher tells you to come to the faculty office for no reason. I took a deep breath in front of the division head’s office.

‘There’s a high probability they called me because I did too well.’

Taiwan’s first love, the word ‘rising’ feels too small for JC ENM’s pride, actress Han Yeoreum, we wanted to call you to applaud you. Oh my, why make such a fuss over such an obvious achievement, what will you do if things get even better, truly befitting an actor chosen by JC, hahaha hahaha hahaha…

‘Okay. Good.’

I steeled myself and was about to open the division head’s office door.

Swoosh!

“Ah, Professor!”

But the door opened automatically like an automatic door system. There stood Jegal Rok in his usual razor-sharp three-piece suit, and Professor Geum Bitkang holding the door handle, looking at me.

“Why are you so late?”

“Professor, how are you… here?”

“Stop talking and sit down. I’ve been waiting quite a while.”

The one who called me wasn’t Mr. Jegal Rok but Professor Geum Bitkang? My head became complicated. I showed the appearance of an undergraduate who does what they’re told.

I sat on the sofa with a humble heart in the division head’s office, which I was entering for the first time since signing my contract.

“Read this and stamp it.”

“Geez, you’re giving too little explanation.”

“Do theater. With me.”

Theater? Hearing Geum Bitkang’s words, I noticed the script placed on the table.

<The Academy of the Academy of Intern Academy>

It was a title I’d never seen before. A play I’d never heard of even before my regression. I quietly picked up the script. The thick paper felt rough under my fingertips.

“…Where is the theater?”

“Hyehwa. It’s a small theater in Daehangno.”

“The theater’s name is…”

Surely not. Such fortune couldn’t possibly come to me. I half-hoped, half-doubted, while wishing in my heart for that stage I’d always cherished to appear.

“Neulpureun Art Center.”

When I heard Geum Bitkang’s words, strength naturally entered my hands.

The script I was holding crumpled.

“I’ll do it. I absolutely want to do it. Please let me do it.”

It was the place where I had so desperately wanted to exist before my regression.

Neulpureun Art Center.

With this unfamiliar play, I would finally stand there as the protagonist.

“Yes. This kind of answer should have come out right away.”

Geum Bitkang’s gaze toward me was filled with satisfaction.

* * *

“The Academy of the Academy of Intern Academy.”

Myeong Jeha picked up the script placed on the desk with somewhat irritated eyes.

‘It didn’t exist, not even once.’

It was unprecedented for Geum Bitkang to choose a Daehangno play for her stage comeback, but this play was a work he’d never heard of in his entire life.

Since he’d read countless scripts, he could say this with certainty.

“A variable.”

Whenever Han Yeoreum is involved, everything becomes different somehow. Myeong Jeha felt something unexpected intruding into familiar formulas, unable to explain what his emotions should be called.

The terrible boredom came from a sense of security.

No matter how far off track things went, no matter how twisted and broken and utterly beyond help they became, Myeong Jeha knew what came next.

‘Because I’ve experienced it all before.’

Like being able to solve simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division without much effort and derive answers like a machine.

For Myeong Jeha, this game was like that. It was a world he could toy with as much as he wanted.

‘But whenever Han Yeoreum gets involved…’

He became confused as if experiencing life for the first time. Organized matters became chaotic. Thinking he needed to act quickly somehow, Myeong Jeha flipped through the Theater Script in his hand.

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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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