I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 240

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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 240

Jin Jinjoo delivered her lines like a machine without a single stumble. Geum Bitkang, who had been watching her, grinned and nudged the Assistant Instructor.

“Now it’s time to register for the Assistant Instructor’s Academy’s Academy’s Academy.”

“No!”

“This girl…”

“No!”

“What would your role be in society! What’s society like right now?”

“Average retirement age 52.7 years. Life expectancy 83.6 years. Average assets 170 million. Most assets are tied up in housing.”

The previous acting showed Jin Jinjoo being frightened and anxious when intimidated by Geum Bitkang. But this time was different.

‘The reckless appearance from the beginning was cleanly erased by the latter half… and that actually created a contrast.’

The image of someone who had lost all their youthful vigor and liveliness after experiencing a ruthless and cold society.

That wasn’t the only surprising thing.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Han Yeoreum had taken over all of Geum Bitkang’s lines.

“What’s the economic growth rate?”

“7% twenty years ago, 1.4% now.”

Han Yeoreum reciting numbers like a machine was overwhelming to watch.

‘That’s supposed to be an ad-lib…?’

They had wanted to see her flustered by hiding the props. They wanted to prove that no matter how talented someone was, experience was more important. They wanted to recover their pride that way.

“Prices are rising but salaries stay the same. No capacity to save or opportunity to invest!”

But as the play progressed toward the latter half, they could only look at Han Yeoreum with new eyes. Han Yeoreum seemed to have completely swallowed the entire script.

Han Yeoreum alone had completely transformed the play.

The weight of 【Intern Academy’s Academy’s Academy】, which had focused on comedy, deepened.

-We are not grateful for your work so far. We are informing you of the results for permanent employee conversion. It is because you, the applicant, are lacking and insufficient. This is the company’s desire to welcome more useful people.

“Right-. I need to create a life where I can handle everything well on my own-.”

Perhaps because she had become machine-like. Even though she had failed once again, Jin Jinjoo preparing for the future while trying to do her part without any emotional fluctuation was somehow frightening.

“First, let’s go to the Academy- Academy-. Yawn-.”

The confusion of the ending scene was replaced with tedium.

-Work harder to grow into a human who can do their part and serve many people…

The following mechanical announcement message felt as if it was being spoken by a previous ‘Intern Academy’ graduate before Jin Jinjoo. It seemed to express people gradually becoming mechanized.

The regulars who had seen the play multiple times were thrilled by the fact that such a different atmosphere could be presented with the same actors and story.

Literally turning misfortune into fortune. They had skillfully handled a mistake that could have ruined the entire play, delivering another story and message to the audience.

Han Yeoreum’s talent seemed to grow every day. Now they didn’t even feel jealous. They could only bite their lips and admit defeat.

The curtain fell with much louder applause than usual.

* * *

“You guys! Are you out of your minds!”

Tak Jeongyun grabbed her juniors as soon as she came down from the stage. The ringleader was crying with her head hung low.

“Do you think the audience is a joke? If you don’t like something, you can ruin the stage?”

“…”

“What would have happened if we couldn’t get through today properly!”

She understood the feelings of the juniors who couldn’t even lift their heads while being scolded. Tak Jeongyun also knew how ugly jealousy could make a person.

“That’s exactly when you should have practiced more! What did you do well that you practice in your spare time after eating and sleeping! You should have practiced without eating or sleeping! Don’t act like this!”

That’s when it became noisy outside the storage room door.

“Don’t manage the props properly!”

Even without seeing, they could tell who the owner of the voice echoing loudly from the distant hallway was.

“I kept saying you were good, you were good since you were a rookie, and now you think theater is a joke! To the point where you don’t even check properly before going on stage!”

Geum Bitkang was scolding someone. The temperature in the dressing room instantly froze.

“Don’t want to go on stage? Fine. Then I’ll make sure you can never go on again.”

Soon, Geum Bitkang’s sharp reprimand would change direction.

Han Yeoreum always prepared thoroughly before going on stage, and she knew that someone had intentionally removed the props.

‘…If Han Yeoreum opens her mouth…’

Now everything would be over. Tak Jeongyun closed her eyes. For Geum Bitkang, preventing two or three extra actors from going on stage wouldn’t be difficult.

‘…Should I go out now and beg her…’

But Tak Jeongyun was also scared. She was afraid she might never be able to act again. She didn’t have the courage to go out.

Her body froze, unable to honestly ask for forgiveness.

“…I’m sorry.”

But then, she heard unexpected words.

“I should have come up properly prepared, it’s my fault. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Han Yeoreum didn’t blame anyone. Even knowing it wasn’t her fault, she took all the responsibility herself.

“Really? It’s all your fault?”

“Yes. It’s my fault.”

When Geum Bitkang asked again, Han Yeoreum answered quickly. Tak Jeongyun carefully opened the storage room door and looked out.

Han Yeoreum was bowing her head in front of Geum Bitkang with her hands behind her back. The two exchanged a few more words inaudibly.

‘…What are they saying…’

Half anxiety, half guilt made Tak Jeongyun sweat. Geum Bitkang turned and walked away with a shout to do things properly.

“Unnie, what did she say?”

“Can you hear…?”

“I couldn’t hear either. Don’t lean on it.”

While they were bickering, Han Yeoreum’s footsteps grew closer. That’s when it happened. The door they were leaning on was suddenly pulled.

Crash! All four of them fell to the floor instantly. Tak Jeongyun, who had fallen to the ground, made eye contact with Han Yeoreum looking down at her. Han Yeoreum was holding the door handle.

“Uh…”

She couldn’t say anything. She was mortally embarrassed. Han Yeoreum seemed to have known from the beginning that they were hiding here listening.

“I’m hungry.”

It was Han Yeoreum who broke the silence.

“Let’s go eat.”

* * *

“You went too crazy by yourself!”

“Hey! It’s fine if I don’t do it again!”

“Hey? You’re saying ‘hey’ to your senior?”

This was the Sloppy Frozen Pork Belly Restaurant in Daehangno. After quickly exchanging drinks, they had gotten quite drunk in just 30 minutes.

The extras who had complaints about me. From left: Kim Ilhui, Lee Yeongju, Park Seyoung.

“Enough. Everyone cheers.”

And lastly, Tak Jeongyun too.

“Anyway… the kids were definitely wrong this time. You must have had bad feelings too, but thank you for covering it up and letting it pass.”

By the way, Tak Jeongyun has a low alcohol tolerance. When drunk, she tends to see things in threes, so even now she was muttering while looking at the wall instead of me.

“It’s… because she was so envious of you… don’t take it too much to heart…”

Someone with a drinking capacity of two glasses of soju had finished a whole bottle alone, so I could tell her stomach was in bad shape.

‘Actually, my drinking capacity is five bottles of soju.’

I was deliberately pretending to be drunk to match them.

“You knew everything, didn’t you?”

“It really was my mistake.”

“You’re being ridiculous. Really.”

Earlier, Professor Geum Bitkang had whispered quietly.

“Right. Since you’ve suppressed them once with skill, it’s time to soothe them with kindness. But if something like this happens again, it really will be your fault.”

The Professor knew but played along.

How many memories had I built with these people in Daehangno. Even though only I can remember those times now. Still, our history was never short.

“Yeah… You! Hic. Honestly. Han Yeoreum you. I thought. you were. Hic. really bad. at acting.”

Kim Ilhui. When I knew she was three months behind on rent, I paid two months’ worth for her. She got angry saying it wasn’t a loan so don’t pay it back. If not for this unnie, I really would have had to eat and sleep at the theater.

“Ah… I’m so embarrassed I could die… Why are you. Huh. Like. That? You’re so! Young!”

Lee Yeongju. When I had no bus fare and walked an hour’s distance, she gave me bus fare so many times… I can’t count. I found out later that she gave me bus fare and walked herself.

“First eat. Eat and. Sniff. Eat and talk.”

Park Sehui. If it weren’t for this unnie, I would have suffered from malnutrition several times. Even if she went hungry herself, she couldn’t stand to see me starve.

‘I’m just repaying the debt I owe from back then.’

If I were to recall all the help I received, there would be no end to it. I can easily overlook and move past something like this.

‘Honestly, it wasn’t all beautiful memories though…’

Sitting together like this brings back the old days.

Acting like seniors and enforcing discipline, fighting over whose acting was bad, then not speaking a single word for months, and then pathetically filling our self-esteem by badmouthing successful actors.

‘Though it was the catalyst that made me vow never to catch actor’s disease again.’

Sometimes I missed it.

I didn’t know about others, but I wanted to see these people.

So honestly, when I returned to the theater group and saw their wary expressions, I was a bit hurt. Back then, wasn’t Han Yeoreum supposed to be a real actor? You all really can’t remember, can you.

“Anyway… Still, just because you’re the lead… *hic*. Don’t be so… We also, we also really work hard… Everyone only likes you, only you stand out… Don’t do that…”

I grabbed Tak Jeongyun’s shoulders as she still spoke facing the wall and turned her body around. I could see her trying hard to hold back tears with her face flushed red from alcohol. I deliberately slurred my words pretending to be drunk.

That way the unnies would feel less embarrassed.

“Do you think I did that for no reason? How much must you all have cursed me? That girl, that girl is just hanging around the theater scene for nothing. Let’s really embarrass her! Like this. Am I wrong? Huh?”

“….”

“I did it to look good first. When I put my mind to it, I can do this much, so what! Like this. Is that enough?”

Tak Jeongyun nodded.

“…But why did you do that?”

“Right… Why did you cover for us and let it slide?”

“You knew everything…”

“*Hic*…”

The four people asked me,

“Ah, why do you think? Because I wanted to keep performing on stage together.”

I answered.

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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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