I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 255

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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 255

A few days ago at Daily Media in Jongno-gu.

Reporter Wi, who had uploaded Han Yeoreum’s article, stretched his stiff hands.

“Jaehwi! Meeting room!”

Just as he was about to admire Yeoreum’s photo on the monitor again, a senior reporter called for Reporter Wi.

The reporters gathered in the meeting room did their usual second-half rankings check.

“Alright, let’s go around and name them one by one.”

“Myeong Jeha.”

“Ah, damn. Not the obvious ones.”

“Ji Haebeom.”

“This bastard’s even more obvious… Rejected!”

The year was coming to an end. Year-end award ceremony nominations weren’t far off.

They needed to properly analyze the entertainment industry trends.

“For women, first place is obviously Do Gyeoul, right?”

“Right. She became an ambassador for both C Company and T Company.”

“One is hard enough, but two at once…”

“But isn’t the jewelry side really tough? Man, that’s scary.”

“T Company has high demand from Japan. 【Beyond the Closed Door】 is still number one on Netflicks there.”

The reporters analyzed not only the currently popular celebrities but also those showing potential.

“Chu Gaeul, she’s pretty good too.”

“She has potential but hasn’t exploded yet? She acts well in 【Dohwasuhn】, but she doesn’t have individual advertisements.”

“I think So Dami is pretty good too.”

The rankings gradually solidified. Women’s first place Do Gyeoul, second place Eun Baekhap, third place Han Yeoreum.

“Such a shame. If 【The Great Garland】 had aired just a little earlier, it would’ve been different.”

“Hey. But she’s still a child actor there. If that gets good ratings, it’s Eun Baekhap who benefits.”

“Right. Even though Han Yeoreum acts well, she can’t create the same impact as 【Strange Tales】 in 【The Great Garland】.”

“It would’ve been good if she had taken on another project this year besides theater.”

That’s something you can say because you haven’t seen Han Yeoreum’s theater stage, what kind of nonsense is this… Reporter Wi swallowed these words and looked at the ranking table regretfully.

“But you never know.”

Reporter Wi’s senior, who had an uncanny ability to predict first episode ratings just by attending script readings, stretched and said.

“Things might change once the first episode airs?”

“Right now all the promotional content features Ji Haebeom and Eun Baekhap, what’s going to change? Han Yeoreum only showed her face during the press conference, didn’t she?”

“Hey, you idiots.”

The senior reporter spoke as if it was nothing.

“Didn’t you watch the trailer?”

“We did.”

“For entertainment reporters, you guys have no sense… They put all their power behind Han Yeoreum from the start.”

The rainy day scene, despite being only one second long, had quite a big impact.

“But this time senior is wrong.”

“Senior, you didn’t go to 【The Great Garland】’s script reading, did you? Ah, that’s why you couldn’t gauge the ratings.”

Could a child actor really take up such a big portion in a network’s special drama? The reporters burst into laughter at their senior’s prediction.

No matter how well Han Yeoreum acts, a child actor is still a child actor. The screen time itself is different.

But the senior reporter just shrugged his shoulders.

“Then let’s all watch the first episode together.”

* * *

【The Great Garland】 began the same way as the trailer. The end of World War II, followed by liberation.

In a bustling world where Koreans ran out cheering and holding Korean flags, Jinhae where Taeseok was located was no different.

“Liberation has come!”

“Oh my. It really happened. I thought I’d have to live like this forever, oh Lord. Thank you, Lord.”

People laughing brightly and rejoicing expressed their emotions differently.

The aunties selling fish with old cotton cloth covering their heads gave more extras than what was paid for, and the laborers who had been carrying loads with bent backs stood upright for a moment to cheer “Hurray” three times.

A boy on a bicycle passed by as if it had nothing to do with him. As if his only purpose was to quickly deliver the goods tied to the back.

Taeseok slowly slowed down his pedaling feet.

“Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Long live Korean independence!”

The street was still noisy with cheers of “Hurray.”

Before he knew it, he had reached his destination. One of the men who recognized Taeseok from afar raised his hand high.

Taeseok stopped his bicycle and silently handed over the load he had tied on. Running cigarette errands for the harbor workers was the youngest one’s job. Even during break time, Taeseok had to work.

Sweat was streaming down his neck from pedaling non-stop until just moments ago.

“Wow, damn, Myeong Jeha.”

Aetami unconsciously exclaimed in admiration.

‘I already saw it in the trailer, I saw it at the press conference too…’

It was a new face every time she saw it.

Myeong Jeha, who had cut his hair short like a boy who really worked at the harbor, seemed to want to show the public what a face without any hair advantage looked like.

The faded khaki shirt and white sleeveless outfit that could easily look shabby actually added to his boyish charm.

[♨️Let’s run together with The Great Garland♨️ Episode 1 Fire Board]

-Please, if you’re Korean, let’s go slow when Myeong Jeha appears

-Clone Myeong Jeha, clone Myeong Jeha

-Sweet…

The Fire Board was running at an unusual speed from episode 1. Comments were posted rapidly.

“Damn! Cigarettes after liberation taste different!”

Among the workers laughing heartily and sharing cigarettes, Taeseok just gulped down water. There was no change in his expression.

Clang-. Clang-. Clang-.

The bell rang. Break time was over.

Taeseok bowed his head slightly. It was time to go back to work.

“Why are you so unaffected? So calm and indifferent.”

“Hey, aren’t you happy that we don’t have to watch those Japanese bastards’ faces anymore?”

The workers asked Taeseok while taking deep drags of their cigarettes before moving loads again.

“Hey you bastards, are you just going to smoke cigarettes all day!”

“Yes! We’re coming! Let’s go!”

It seemed they weren’t really expecting an answer, and soon they ran toward the manager shouting from far away.

Taeseok stomped on a cigarette butt that still had embers with his foot. The boy in worn shoes muttered.

“I don’t think anything’s going to change anyway…”

Taeseok said in a small voice.

Even with liberation, Joseon was still Joseon. And Taeseok was still Taeseok. He would still be a poor boy from a poor country, so there was nothing to be happy or sad about.

Poverty eats away at people like this.

“Why aren’t you moving quickly!”

The manager barked at Taeseok. Beyond the side profile of the boy hurrying away, the sea sparkled.

The blue sea stretched out vastly today as well. So much so that the world beyond it seemed brilliant.

* * *

“Damn…! Of all times, at this moment!”

A house in Kobe, different from old Joseon.

In a study filled with books, Hanamura in a yukata sighed. On the desk in front of him lay news that the Emperor had surrendered.

He was outraged. Whether the country he had abandoned was liberated or not, Japan’s status was important to him now.

War was a gambling den. While some lost everything and became penniless, there were those like Hanamura who grasped things they couldn’t even dream of.

“Damn it!”

The whiskey glass on the desk flew toward the wall.

Crash!

A sharp noise rang out.

The screen switched to Hanamura’s daughter, Rio, who was listening to that noise. It was a silent room where everything was placed like decorations.

Rio, sitting on her knees, seemed to anticipate someone who would come soon.

Rio’s room was quiet as if time had stopped. Rio’s nape, which had seemed calm, was captured on screen.

Beads of sweat had formed beneath her short bob cut. It meant she was nervous.

Crash, clatter, bakayaro!

Her father’s rage continued to explode like signal flares. Rio quietly closed her eyes.

Thud thud thud thud.

Footsteps could be heard approaching. Hands covered in layers of anger yanked open the sliding door.

“Tomorrow!”

He looked down at his daughter’s face and commanded.

“Go straight to the Photo Studio.”

The dim interior of Rio’s room cast shadows thanks to the light coming through the open doorway. Rio’s shadow was faint.

“Yes, sir.”

“Wear the most luxurious kimono. And don’t forget the hair ornaments!”

Rio bowed her head deeply as if she understood. She submitted as if bowing. The sweat on her nape trickled down.

Thud-.

The door closed. Silence filled the room again. Rio didn’t lift her head until the footsteps grew distant again. She remained hunched forward, curled up.

Hanamura Rio. Also known by another name, Acting Ability.

She was making the gestures of someone who knew no one could protect her.

* * *

The JC ENM New Building was still lit up like midday. The PR team approached their work seriously as if they had been waiting for this day alone.

Manager Hong focused on monitoring. Episodes 1 through 4 of 【The Great Garland】 were the stage for child actors.

Since it had received expectations even before airing, the first episode’s ratings would certainly be somewhat stable.

“Are the articles on standby?”

“Yes! They’re scheduled to upload as soon as the broadcast ends.”

“Ask KBC again when the clips will be up. We need to capture screenshots!”

“What about the Photo Studio still cuts?”

“Upload those to the official account tomorrow morning!”

So they had to push Han Yeoreum along with the early buzz for the work. Han Yeoreum’s acting made people exclaim in admiration from all directions simultaneously.

-I couldn’t even sleep thinking about putting Myeong Jeha and Han Yeoreum together damn it please hurry up and go to Korean drama

-Wait, haven’t both of them never cut their hair this short before?ㅜㅜㅜ It looks so fucking good on them

Taeseok was Jinhae, Rio was Kobe. The two people who had never met face to face were already getting reactions for their chemistry. Manager Hong checked the rapidly moving comments.

‘As expected.’

It was as predicted. There wasn’t a single person admiring the filming set that looked like Kobe had been transplanted there. The focus was solely on Han Yeoreum.

She had a presence that made even the multi-billion won set invisible.

“Our kid’s posture is incredible. Wow, what kind of movie is this? This isn’t drama quality.”

Shin Rookie, who was checking reactions on a tablet and monitor nearby, was amazed by Han Yeoreum’s acting. Manager Hong chuckled at Shin Rookie.

“Shin Rookie.”

“But I’ve been here 3 years, why am I still called a rookie?”

“Be quiet.”

Manager Hong recalled the clip he had received from an acquaintance on 【The Great Garland】 filming team last time.

Though it wasn’t the file itself but a short video filmed with a cell phone of the screen, one thing was certain.

“It’s too early to be surprised.”

Han Yeoreum’s greatest strength, her voice. When that came out soon, the reaction would definitely get hotter.

* * *

At that time, at Daily Media located in Jongno-gu.

Reporter Wi was watching 【The Great Garland】 live with fellow reporters.

Han Yeoreum was Hanamura Rio herself. Her voice was cold as she drew a polite yet chilly line with the photographer. Someone spoke up at her attitude that seemed like she had truly become that character.

“…Senior Officer, what do you think the first episode ratings will be?”

Everyone waited for his prediction.

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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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