I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 212

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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 212

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This was MBS’s radio station located in Sangam. It was a schedule to film special DJ Han Yeoreum’s day.

‘A cameraman assigned to me at the broadcasting station… I really feel like a celebrity…’

The air in the broadcasting station was always chaotic. Everyone moved busily. The chilly temperature characteristic of large buildings helped clear my mind. Just as I was crossing the gleaming gray marble toward the elevator, someone called out to me.

“Actress! This way!”

That’s right. I’m an actress. That rising star Han Yeoreum. When the radio writer called me, several people turned to look at my face.

“Hello.”

“Hello!”

I turned my head toward the direction of the greeting and bowed politely. To think the day would come when broadcasting station staff would greet me first. You’ve made it, Han Yeoreum.

‘This is… the taste of being a protagonist…?’

In the old days, even when I greeted first, I’d only get responses like “Oh yes yes” or “Ah yes.” But now they actually strike up conversations with me.

While waiting for the elevator, the TV studio and news department staff around me made small talk.

“I really enjoyed watching <Faster Than the Law>!”

“You should do a project with our broadcasting station too. We’re all waiting for it.”

So sweet… It’s so sweet I might cry. But I’m a pro. I managed my expression and replied.

“I’m currently filming an MBS variety show!”

“Oh really? What is it?”

“I’m filming <M Couple>. I came to do radio today.”

“She came to be our temporary DJ for 2 O’Clock Nap~.”

The cameraman attached to my right was filming the conversation between the MBS staff and me in one frame.

I showed off my baby squirrel Han Yeoreum persona, chatting freely even with people I’d never met before, and finished the small talk.

“Fighting for 2 O’Clock Nap!”

When the broadcasting station staff got off the elevator first, I was left alone with the writer. I pretended to be nervous and let out a long breath.

‘As expected of broadcasting station people.’

Their experience was no joke. They probably knew from the moment they saw the broadcasting station camera that something was being filmed, and naturally figured out it was for MBS.

‘That’s why they didn’t mention <Strange Tales>.’

If I had a representative work, it would definitely be <Strange Tales>. But the fact that they specifically brought up <Faster Than the Law> meant it was all planned commentary.

Realizing again that this was all a coordinated performance, my mind became calm.

‘Let’s think of this as a type of acting too.’

When it came to acting, I was confident I could grab ratings and keep pulling them up.

“6th floor now, we get off here.”

The writer guided me kindly. The radio station had small dedicated studios specialized for soundproofing gathered together. Tightly closed white doors lined up in a row along the hallway.

“Come in-.”

The writer who entered after scanning her ID card shouted to the staff.

“The actress is here!”

Then the 2 O’Clock Nap writers who were drinking coffee welcomed me warmly. I exchanged greetings with a smile, just like I had with the MBS staff earlier.

“Since it’s your first time, let me explain the basic structure first.”

The main writer said while shaking my hand. The structure was simple.

In front of the DJ seat where I would sit, equipment commonly called a radio microphone was fixed. It was a microphone attached to a huge boom arm that seemed to suck in voices.

“Here’s the monitor, on the left is the BGM cue sheet with track playback timing. On the right are real-time messages. The production monitoring messenger also appears here, so don’t be too nervous.”

The main writer smiled playfully.

“We just can’t go in with you. Think of us as being with you the whole time.”

A middle-aged man in the inner booth waved both hands. Despite his expressionless face, his hand gestures were lively. He was the technical director who adjusted the microphone in real-time.

‘Having a technical director really makes it feel real.’

At the radio station, the important things were first sound, second sound, and third sound. No matter how much they called it visual radio, the target audience was ‘listeners,’ not ‘viewers.’

“Actress, here’s today’s opening comment.”

The script appeared on the monitor. I sat in the DJ seat. I sat in the plush chair and held the headset in my hand. The cameraman was filming all of this.

‘Don’t make mistakes.’

Script reading was one of my specialties that I’d been doing alone for a very long time. I quickly skimmed through the opening comment.

“Then let’s start with a rehearsal. Just read through it comfortably once.”

I was left alone in the recording booth. For a moment, a vacuum state with no noise was maintained. I breathed in, feeling the stillness in my eardrums.

German headsets picked up high notes well while capturing voice tremors exactly as they were.

‘It’s the perfect environment to show voice projection directly.’

But it was actually better. This was the moment to properly show my fundamentals. I opened my mouth.

* * *

‘Hm?’

The main writer unconsciously expressed doubt inwardly.

People who have worked at radio stations for a long time don’t let out exclamations even when surprised. Even though they were beyond the soundproof booth, psychological pressure made them do that. The thought that even a little noise shouldn’t mix in pressed down on their vocal cords.

‘What?’

The main writer wasn’t the only one surprised. The technical director wearing headsets was also listening to Han Yeoreum’s voice with his hand supporting his chin.

“Everyone- hello. Let me introduce myself properly. I’m actress Han Yeoreum. I’ll be meeting with you for a week as the special DJ for 2 O’Clock Nap. I’ve only done script reading, so this is my first time doing radio and I’m very nervous.”

Early morning meant an energetic tone, complete dawn meant a comforting tone. It was like a formula. That’s what made 2 O’Clock Nap difficult. Too calm and it was sleepy, too excited and it was light.

‘It’s a time slot that’s neither here nor there.’

The existing DJ Sim Juhwan was a musician renowned as a vocalist. He knew how to balance on the edge.

‘His voice itself is content. Sim Juhwan.’

The listeners who had grown accustomed to Sim Juhwan’s voice would have high standards. They had no choice but to accept since the higher-ups wanted to push this, but they weren’t expecting much.

“I’ll play with you all comfortably, with the mindset of having fun conversations before your nap.”

The main writer watched Han Yeoreum speaking comfortably and realized anew. The standards that had been raised over years of working with Sim Juhwan. It was a voice that fit well with those standards.

‘But Han Yeoreum has a similar quality too? Is she not nervous?’

That’s what live broadcasting was like. It made people extremely nervous. You had to split time by the second. They thought it would be fortunate if the rookie actress didn’t cause any accidents.

“I’m waiting for those who will kindly speak to the new DJ first. Send me anything you’re curious about, things you wanted to say, and your stories. Text #0000. Short message 50 won, long message 100 won. Please remember that information usage fees apply.”

Unlike regular broadcasts, radio had no subtitles. In a situation where everything had to be conveyed with voice alone, Han Yeoreum showed ability as if subtitles were appearing before your eyes.

‘If you turned on auto-subtitles for this video, they’d run perfectly.’

It was a low voice that would suit public service announcements perfectly.

“Together with Korea Heritage Service, Future Construction, Gukhyeon Solution, and Dream Light Foundation. I’ll be back after the commercials.”

Han Yeoreum’s opening comment ended. The main writer recalled the Han Yeoreum clips they’d seen.

At some point, clicking on social media made it easy to see Han Yeoreum in thumbnails.

‘Her voice is different. Completely.’

It was different from Seo Ryeong in <Strange Tales> and from Influencer 1 in <Faster Than the Law>. It was even more different from Pi Chaewon in <Pacheh>.

‘So this is Han Yeoreum’s real voice…’

The main writer, encountering Han Yeoreum herself rather than a character for the first time, took in the rookie actress who was making eye contact through the booth.

Her youthful face wearing headsets, hoping for some evaluation of the comment she’d just made.

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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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