I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 280
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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 280
However, there was a major problem with Han Yeoreum taking on the role of hanbok promotional ambassador.
“That was fusion hanbok though.”
“That’s true…”
The fact that most of the costumes in 【Strange Tales】 were fusion hanbok, and that her overseas recognition was lower compared to Eun Baekhap.
The office worker who had been feeling disappointed suddenly thought of a possibility while focusing on work.
‘When Netflix enters Korea, won’t 【Strange Tales】 be viewable worldwide from then on…?’
The heavenly fortune strings and five fortune strings that Taiwan’s 【Strange Tales】 fans had made popular were still highly popular as souvenirs around Gyeongbokgung Palace.
* * *
“Damn, we’re screwed.”
“We’re screwed.”
At that moment, Manager Hong and Manager Ma were holding their heads and half-lying back in their chairs together.
“I heard Eun Baekhap had a temper, but… I didn’t know she was this much of a gambler.”
“I thought she’d naturally go with Company C! Why on earth! Company H sent love calls too, so I thought it was all set!”
There are famous luxury brands commonly called the major players in high-end brands. Commonly known as Erusha.
Company D, the brand Manager Ma wanted to push Han Yeoreum into as an ambassador, was certainly popular and matched well with Eun Baekhap’s image, but it wasn’t a brand worth rejecting top-tier companies C and H for.
Company C, which everyone would recognize just by its logo and had that haughty attitude, and Company H, which had the barrier of not selling to just anyone.
Whichever side she chose, just one article about being an ambassador would make her market value soar.
“If she becomes a hanbok promotional ambassador, it would be a bit awkward to be a top-tier luxury ambassador…”
“Right. Try wearing Company C logo earrings at official events. That’s immediate elimination.”
On the other hand, Company D currently had a less luxurious image compared to the other two brands. Manager Ma and Manager Hong immediately read the situation.
Eun Baekhap hadn’t chosen options that would be mutually detrimental.
Rather, she arranged the game to deal maximum damage to Han Yeoreum while benefiting herself.
Eun Baekhap was in a position where she had to defend the top spot, and Han Yeoreum was in a position where she had to steal that spot.
She neither expanded her own influence nor made it possible for Han Yeoreum to expand hers.
Like engaging in a tense tug-of-war.
“I thought Eun Baekhap would naturally strengthen her overseas position… Both Company C and H would do several pilot projects if they took Eun Baekhap…”
“Yeah, me too… Wasn’t her agency originally severely afflicted with overseas expansion fever…”
Eun Baekhap, who had been aggressively climbing upward, chose to strengthen her domestic foundation rather than establish overseas footing through luxury branding, now that the Chinese market was blocked.
“If she becomes Company D’s ambassador while taking the hanbok promotional ambassador role, and naturally takes on a more elegant image than now…”
“More proper CFs will come in. The big ones that senior actresses used to do. Like apartments.”
“The ones that pay a lot because trust is important. Financial ads, telecommunications… Oh, add foreign cars.”
“Right. In the long run, Eun Baekhap takes everything…”
Manager Ma stared blankly at the ceiling. Company D might not be a major luxury brand, but it was currently the most popular brand among young luxury consumers.
The reason for trying to insert Han Yeoreum was disappearing.
“So Ma Suyeon, you stirred things up for nothing!”
“Ah, what do you mean for nothing? Eun Baekhap also grew big by devouring all the seniors. It’s natural in this industry! Don’t you know, Manager Hong? Even before she had hit works, they kept pushing articles calling her the nation’s first love and whatnot?”
Manager Hong and Manager Ma bickered. If Eun Baekhap pushed forward with Company D, Han Yeoreum would naturally be pushed out.
They had to reorganize the game.
“Company A contacted us too, right? Right? The 【The Great Garland】 Yeonhuijae lip product sold out immediately.”
Manager Hong had finished thorough monitoring.
Company A, which caused a sellout with just a brief appearance in 【M Couple】, proceeded with a pilot project, and even took on additional PPL, was also a luxury brand.
“But that really doesn’t match our cutie’s overall image at alllll!”
Manager Ma spun around and around in her chair in anger. All the plans she had drawn were completely ruined.
The office interior caught in her vision kept changing rapidly as she spun the chair quickly.
Eun Baekhap, Han Yeoreum, nation’s first love, best couple award, hanbok promotional ambassador, Company D ambassador.
She repeatedly tore up and redrew the plans she had drawn several times. Manager Ma’s mind was working busily.
“No, but wait.”
Manager Ma, who had been frantically spinning in her chair, suddenly stood up.
“There’s not just one ambassador, right?”
Manager Ma, who realized something, grinned wickedly.
“Ah… Our cutie has no choice but to climb up from the bottom the orthodox way…”
Eun Baekhap’s agency chose to hold their ground, and JC ENM chose not to back down.
* * *
“The day has finally come…”
I picked up the pen with a serious expression. The product name that I usually passed by without thinking seemed beautiful today.
“Name… pen… Really… so romantic…”
It’s a pen born to write names, isn’t it? I’ll make sure you live up to your name tomorrow. I readjusted my grip on the name pen I was holding.
Then I dove into my usual routine of practicing signatures a hundred times a day.
“Fan signing event! Kyaaaaa!”
Tomorrow is finally the day of my fan signing event. The Taiwan fan meeting comes to mind. How many people’s gazes were focused on me, how loud the voices calling my name at the airport were.
I remember it as vividly as if it happened just yesterday. I absolutely cannot forget it.
“Many people will come tomorrow too, right?”
Of course. Who am I? I gathered attention immediately upon debut, opened a new market for web dramas, broke through to a whopping 1 million views, started the Pi Chaewon sneaker trend, became an icon for countless Twitter girls, made my first terrestrial debut with a single-episode drama and even won a newcomer award, received excellent reviews for a luxury healing drama, grabbed attention with just one ASMR script reading, became the protagonist of 【Strange Tales】, made my mark in the industry as an iconic newcomer, am talked about as an irreplaceable MC on Music N, appeared as an extra in a movie that hit ten million viewers, was ‘that red-haired girl’ worth saving photos of on phones when going to dye hair that summer, succeeded in the first Blu-ray funding for a web drama, even caused server crashes, was the first model for Creamy Soda which started the low-alcohol products in the liquor industry, broke through the cable miracle of 20% viewership, received the evaluation of being ‘worthy of becoming Geum Bitkang’s beloved doll’ among prominent theater actors in Daehangno small theaters, not only had overseas fan meetings but also received overseas investment, and now grabbed the nation’s first love position with just 4 episodes – Han Yeoreum.
“Many will come, right?”
Since it’s my first fan signing event, my heart is beating like there’s an earthquake in my chest area.
“Now, mind control…”
I did the familiar image training while practicing signatures daily.
A table placed under the banner reading ‘Han Yeoreum Fan Signing Event’, spare pens along with several water bottles on the side, my fans sitting one by one in chairs across from me. And the sounds of people calling my name and camera shutters clicking around me, wow what who is it did a celebrity come who is it they say Han Yeoreum oh that nation’s first love right I really like Yeonhuijae I watched the drama because of Han Yeoreum I’m such a fan wait let me just take a few photos wow her real appearance is insane next time I must come to a fan signing too me me Han Yeoreum’s autograph must absolutely be mine…
“Okay.”
Then next would be natural responses at the fan signing event.
“But I’m not worried.”
How many celebrity fan signing event videos have I watched?
I’ve run so many ‘if it were me’ simulations in my head that I know the answers to all conversations.
“What was most popular around this time…”
Did you get rice on you, handsome. But probably no one will say that to me, and I feel a wall, perfect. They’ll probably say things like this a lot, so let’s naturally show a surprised expression. The point here is to open your eyes wide as if you didn’t expect to hear such words, then laugh after hearing the answer… this part is important.
“Wow, so cute?”
I was startled seeing myself in the mirror. Even I thought what I just did was no joke.
“They would have been looking forward only to meeting me, so I can’t disappoint them even a little… I’m… an actress having a solo fan signing event…”
And that too, in Yeouido. Solo, fan signing event, doing. Even passersby have no choice but to look at least once. The nation’s first love.
Clatter-.
“Hey. Go to sleep now.”
“Hey? Are you calling me hey right now?”
I was in the middle of preparing for tomorrow’s fan signing event when the door burst open. Han Taeyang barged in holding his phone.
“It’s past 2 AM now.”
“I can’t sleep anyway.”
“You practice signatures every day, what more are you going to do by showing off. Just go to sleep.”
Han Taeyang snatched the name pen from my hand.
And he took the name pen set I had prepared on the desk, the name pen set in the storage cabinet, and finally even the name pen I kept in my bag to be ready to sign autographs anytime.
“Hey, pack up these signature practice sheets first.”
“There are still some left. I already distributed them all to the faculty office. It’s 3 Han Yeoreums per person.”
“Still, your classmates… don’t have any…?”
I handed the signature papers to Han Taeyang in perfect formation. Han Taeyang nodded.
“No one asked for autographs though.”
I cried a little alone in the room.
Come to think of it, I think I saw something strange on Han Taeyang’s phone wallpaper earlier.
[R=VD Han Yeoreum signing event finish well]
* * *
Dokgo Gyeol gently lowered the brush well-coated with concealer onto her cheek. Her moisturized skin sparkled like the surface of smooth porcelain.
“Stop smiling, honey.”
“I can’t stop laughing…”
“The fans will come close, and they’ll just love seeing your foundation all blotchy, right?”
At those words, surprisingly, Yeoreum, who had been smiling with raised cheeks, instantly turned serious.
Dokgo Gyeol sprayed mist on Yeoreum’s face as she pursed her lips. Yeoreum squeezed her eyes shut.
“Don’t tease our cutie, okay? She really needs to look good in photos today. Be professional. Professional.”
Manager Ma, who clearly showed signs of pulling an all-nighter, was lying on the sofa with her dedicated neck pillow. Her dark circles were as thick as if layered with shadow makeup.
“I’m Dokgo Gyeol. I know how much is riding on today, so would I really half-ass it?”
Dokgo Gyeol smiled as if the mere thought was blissful.
“Ah… Company D… I can hear the sound of my value rising… What unpopular sectors does Company D have… I need to find a niche to break into…”
“You’re secretly filling your own pockets again using our cutie.”
“I think I need to repay this level of favor. I still haven’t paid the price for them never calling my name at award ceremonies, have I?”
Even during their conversation, Yeoreum kept her eyes tightly shut. As if something came to mind, her cheeks rose again.
Her lips kept twitching as she seemed to be trying hard to suppress her laughter.
Coordinator Hwang and Manager Choi watched Yeoreum’s cheeks from behind and smiled softly.
“Could she really be that happy…?”
“This is the first time I’ve seen her this excited since the fan meeting.”
Today was Han Yeoreum’s first fan autograph session.
Yeoreum, who had practiced a hundred autographs a day just for this day, fidgeted with her hands even while getting her makeup done.
She was using the break to practice signing in the air.
“Director! Will this really work for me? Ah, it feels so insufficient? When they see me up close, I want them to think ‘it has to be this person,’ ‘I want to dedicate my whole life to her,’ ‘I think I’m in love,’ ‘I must come to the next fan signing too.’ No, whenever they see the name Han Yeoreum, whether it’s a preview, photo wall, or award ceremony, they should just unconditionally attend. Even if it’s a work where I appear as an extra for 15 seconds, they should definitely watch it. Even clips on Intube or Yoosta shouldn’t be passed by but clicked on. Can’t you make them think like that?”
“If I could do that, would I be a director or a cult leader?”
“Ahhhhh- Direc-torrrrr- Really, the moment our eyes meet, it should feel like their heart got punched hard, and suddenly their body floats like they got in a traffic accident, but in that split second, time goes into slow motion and they realize ‘this is… love…’ and when they come to their senses, make them want to go through my filmography one by one-.”
“Did you prepare this dialogue? You’re not even stumbling…”
“I often think about these things normally.”
“You’re lying! Not just often! Anyway, go now. You’re really perfect today.”
Director Dokgo Gyeol pushed Yeoreum’s back and shooed her out of the shop. In the car, Yeoreum looked out the window and murmured softly.
“Huh? That’s a Han Yeoreum padding jacket too… Unnie, do you think that person is coming to today’s fan signing? Huh? There too! A Han Yeoreum padding jacket! Unnie, do you think that person is also coming to today’s fan signing? No, maybe they didn’t win the lottery… What if they came to look at me from afar? Did they clear up their phone gallery storage? Their battery should have plenty left so they can take lots of pictures of me.”
Watching the excited Yeoreum, Coordinator Hwang reflected on the flow of events after episode 4 of 【The Great Garland】 ended.
‘It really was incredible…’
To put it simply, yes. The world was suffering from the Yeonhuijae epidemic. Even though only 2 weeks had passed.
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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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