I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 229

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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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Chapter 229

* * *

This was Jinhae, reached after a five-hour journey from Seoul. It was the filming location for the child actor scenes in <The Great Garland>.

“Actress Han Yeoreum has arrived-!”

As soon as I got out of the car and saw the surrounding scenery, I couldn’t help but gape.

“Wow….”

<The Great Garland> was truly a masterpiece. Over 3 billion won had been spent just on building the set.

Even just the set where the child actors appeared, set right after the Japanese colonial period, covered an area of 1,500 pyeong. They had rented an entire abandoned railway line and even put up new signs.

Director Ja’s obsession with truly showing that era was evident.

“Hey! You’re here? Well, take a quick look around! I’ll be back after having some coffee!”

Thanks to Director Ja, who as usual said only what he wanted to say before disappearing, I was able to leisurely look around the set. They had even replaced all the street lights. The English-style lamps resembling lily of the valley represented the era.

“It’s like a movie set, with just a bit of exaggeration. Right, unnie?”

Just imagining the realism of the scenes was overwhelming. I could truly feel that I had entered a major production.

“Right. It’s like they transported that era exactly as it was.”

Manager Choi also gaped as she looked around. The set of <The Great Garland> was on a completely different level from previous filming locations.

The Chinese characters and Japanese writing scattered throughout naturally expressed the chaotic era, while the railway tracks and carts revealed class differences.

“Well, let’s go, we need to change into costume and wait!”

Even as I was led by Manager Choi’s hand, I couldn’t take my eyes off the set.

The time when Han Yeoreum could exist as Yeonhuijae. Thinking that this entire place was my stage made my heart burn hot.

* * *

The first shoot was at a Japanese-style photo studio. It was a scene of taking a photo to give to Gi Taeseok, showing how Huijae was being treated by her father Hanamura in episode 1.

“Setup complete-!”

It was also a scene that would later overlap with the successful Gi Taeseok impulsively capturing his own image in a photograph.

In that scene, Taeseok would enter a photo studio for the first time, as if tracing Huijae’s footsteps that he always kept in his necklace.

Today was not only the first shoot, but also the day when Han Yeoreum and Ji Haebeom’s filming schedules overlapped. All the staff members were filled with anticipation.

“Alright! Ready!”

A massive black American Ford sedan stopped in front of the building. A stern-looking nurse got out first and extended her hand.

The building had a large sign reading (Photo Studio). It was stylish, befitting a place frequented by the ladies and gentlemen of Kobe’s Sinsa district.

“Please go in, Miss.”

The nurse opened the door with restrained movements. Huijae followed with quick steps.

On the left, cameras from Bronica, a famous Japanese camera brand, were displayed, and on the right, curtains leading to the dark room were hung.

The eerily perfectly organized space was entirely dim. Huijae quietly turned her head to look at the photos hanging on the wall.

Like a product display, photos of beautiful women were hung. Women of marriageable age were preserved with flower-like smiles. In the center hung the Japanese flag along with the Emperor’s face.

“Welcome. Are you Mr. Hanamura who made the reservation?”

“Yes. This is our Miss.”

“She’s as beautiful as I heard.”

The photographer in a white shirt and beret warmly greeted the Japanese nurse.

“I hear Mr. Hanamura is going back to his hometown? What a shame.”

“What’s there to be sorry about?”

“Taking his daughter who brightened Kobe with her beauty, that’s why. The men of Naichi will have some heartache. Isn’t that right?”

In post-defeat Naichi, was there anyone better to hate than Koreans?

No matter that she was a powerful man’s daughter, the photographer looked her over with undisguisable mockery.

The rushed visit to a Kobe photo studio before going to Joseon said it all. She was of a certain age now, so they wanted to marry her off quickly once she became an adult.

“Though it may be an unfamiliar environment, I believe you will provide much guidance to the Korean people, Miss.”

The despicable Josenjing who fled Kobe without patriotism right after defeat would surely sell his daughter to Korean men. The photographer sneered dampily.

“I appreciate the encouragement. However, I’d like you to quickly do your job.”

Huijae spoke in a gentle voice, quietly.

“I’ve heard rumors, so you’d know, but my health isn’t very good.”

It was a tone that naturally looked down on the photographer. As if no matter how much he considered her a Josenjing, it wouldn’t affect her at all.

The photographer who watched Yeonhuijae dismiss his words imperceptibly bit his lower lip.

“Okay! Alright! Nurse, let’s do the door opening a bit slower one more time!”

Behind Han Yeoreum who was monitoring the scene just filmed, the staff quietly shared their impressions.

“She’s good, isn’t she?”

“Did she speak like that at the audition too?”

The staff members who heard Han Yeoreum’s fluent Japanese exchanged glances. The camera captured the same scene once more.

Han Yeoreum playing Yeonhuijae had an upright posture but showed the courtesy characteristic of a noble family’s daughter.

Her white nape, slightly bowed as if looking down, was thin. Her downcast eyes that deliberately avoided eye contact were modest.

“She seems to have lost weight. She looks sharper than when I saw her in person before.”

“But it suits her well. With Huijae.”

The tension of the first shoot was naturally given to the staff as well. They turned their tension into anticipation while watching the perfect Huijae.

They began to believe that the work would turn out better than expected.

The filming continued directly to the next scene. His mustache twitched. The photographer’s vile smile was captured as is.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

The photographer stuck his head under the black cloth. The sound of focus being adjusted could be heard from inside the lens. The faint shutter preparation sound clicked.

Huijae sat upright in her place without the slightest movement.

“One, two, three-.”

Click.

Bright lighting swept over Huijae’s small face like licking it, and at that moment Huijae raised the corners of her mouth in a smile. It was the first time the expressionless Huijae had shown a different expression.

Throughout the silence waiting for the long exposure to end, Huijae didn’t change her expression.

Because it had to sell well.

Yeonhuijae’s photo would be included in the product catalog that her father would distribute to make connections in Gaichi.

It was a beautiful and eerie smile. The corners of her mouth, as if someone had pulled up the skin of her face, were calm and modest.

The appearance of Huijae, an expensive and beautiful livestock, was captured as if trapped in the camera shutter.

The backdrop happened to be a hand-painted plum blossom garden scene. Against this, Huijae wore a kimono with pink flowers embroidered on a pale white background.

The photographer, who had been sticking his head inside the black cloth behind the main body connected to the long bellows, straightened his back and said.

“Yes, it came out well. I’ll develop it and send it to your home.”

“Good. You’ve worked hard.”

At those words, Huijae withdrew her smile. As if she had never smiled even once.

Huijae, who rose from her seat, walked a few steps in the same posture as before. Right next to the photographer who was standing beside the camera.

“From what I’ve heard.”

Looking toward the open door, Huijae stood tall. The nurse had already opened the door for her. Passersby could be seen.

“Your master taught photography techniques excellently, didn’t he? I’ve heard much about it.”

“Yes. That’s right. He’s considered the best in Kobe.”

The photographer answered arrogantly. Huijae nodded lightly.

“Like a true craftsman, he must have provided harsh teachings? Until your back became like that.”

As if returning the photographer’s earlier damp encouragement, Huijae asked quietly as if worried.

The photographer knew what Huijae was talking about. Because he hadn’t bowed to greet the customer on her way out.

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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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