I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 282

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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 282

I ran so many simulations in my head yesterday, but now that I’m actually sitting in the chair, my mind has gone completely blank.

‘Real situations are so different from what I imagined…’

During 【Faster Than Law】, I did stage greetings, and with 【Strange Tales】, I even held fan meetings in Taiwan. But this is my first time holding a fan signing event as Han Yeoreum alone.

There are no other actors. Only me.

I alone am the protagonist of this moment.

The clicking sounds go on endlessly. As I turn my head, the shutter sounds get louder as if someone turned up the volume.

I could feel gazes directed at me from the 1st floor railing too. When I looked up, someone who was taking pictures of me from the 1st floor railing waved their hand. I waved back.

‘This is amazing…’

All these people really stopped in their tracks just to see me?

“Then we’ll start with number 1.”

This isn’t the time to be spacing out. The fan signing event has begun.

I immediately recognized the fan who came up with their waiting number.

‘My very first fan!’

A fan I’ve seen since Music N days.

“Hello-.”

“Hello!”

I already have their name memorized. I quickly finished the autograph and wrote their name.

“You know… my name…?”

“Of course I do!”

Actually, I know your fan cafe nickname too. I saw the post you wrote this morning about coming to the fan signing event. I’ve already calculated statistics that you write posts about three times a week on average. All your posts are saved in my gallery. I’ve even bookmarked some to review whenever I’m tired. I’m already following your fan Twitter account with a secret account.

If I said all that, you might faint right here, so I gently held the fan’s hand.

“We’re close, aren’t we.”

It’s one-sided closeness on my part, but let’s go with that for now.

The fan’s expression across from me changed every second at my words.

“Yes… See you again next time…”

Wait, we still have time though? I watched the fan’s retreating figure disappearing quickly and wanted to call out their name loudly, but their steps were far too fast.

Usually they leave so many sweet comments on Twitter, but they didn’t do any of that when we met in person.

‘They should have seen how cute I am before leaving?’

I can feel the wall. Perfect. If they had said that, I had prepared a fluid facial expression acting sequence where I’d be flustered at first, slightly anxious wondering what I did wrong, but still listening carefully to the fan’s voice, waiting for the next words even knowing I might get hurt, then realizing this was all friendly teasing and opening my heart completely.

I practiced all night.

‘Still, it’s good.’

Since I already knew their name, I could write the P.S. properly too. It’s not like I’ve only been cute for a day or two, so I’ll definitely do it next time we meet.

“Hello! Oh my! I’m really a fan!”

The next numbered fan came up and I greeted them again.

I need to memorize all the names of people coming today.

I must never forget.

So every time we meet, I’ll make sure to give autographs without having to ask for their names.

* * *

IP 85.152’s turn was last. To be honest, the wait was really a waste of time.

Waiting to get an autograph from a celebrity I don’t even like that much made me feel foolish, but throwing away a lucky opportunity that came by chance would also be foolish, so I chose to just wait.

“Hello, you must have had such a hard time waiting.”

“Yes.”

“But I’ve been waiting a really long time too. Ever since I saw your face earlier, I’ve been wanting to have a conversation so badly. But I held back.”

Is this what fan service is supposed to be like? I could tell it meant saying sweet words regardless of who the other person was, so I wasn’t particularly moved.

“This is the first time we’re meeting since your birthday cafe last year, right? Have you been doing well?”

“What?”

Han Yeoreum quickly finished the autograph. IP 85.152’s name was written on the autograph paper.

Han Yeoreum had even skillfully added a P.S. in that short time.

P.S) Seeing you again makes me so so happy (〃´૩`〃)♥︎

She said… again…

“I saw you so briefly back then, I wanted to see your face again, so I’m really happy you came today! It would be even better if we could meet often… But since I remembered your face, if we run into each other by chance on the street later, I’ll greet you first! You have to turn around when I call your name, okay?”

She said… she’s happy…

“You were wearing white clothes back then too, and today you’re wearing the same white couple padding as me? You must like white. I guess it’s because it suits you so well. This outfit is warm, right? But make sure to zip it all the way up.”

Couple… padding… She said it suits me…

I think we had some more conversation after that, but when I came to my senses, the fan signing event was over and IP 85.152 was standing alone in the middle of IFV Mall.

“What?”

Was it a dream? Or not? What was that? It felt so unrealistic, like I’d been hit by a car and went into a coma before returning to reality.

IP 85.152 felt like being hit hard in the heart like a traffic accident, then suddenly floating up with everything in slow motion, repeating this cycle before finally coming to their senses.

Even with the autograph paper as evidence that the fan signing event happened here, I couldn’t believe it.

IP 85.152 searched Han Yeoreum’s name on a portal site just to confirm the facts.

[N Company, ‘Fan Signing Event’ with Han Yeoreum, the Nation’s First Love from 【The Great Garland】, Successfully Completed]

[Nation’s First Love Yeonhuijae Appears in Yeouido Wearing ‘Han Yeoreum Long Padding’… “There’s a Reason for Trends”]

After seeing the articles, IP 85.152 finally realized it wasn’t a dream.

While scrolling down with their finger, IP 85.152 recalled 【The Great Garland】, which had the biggest impact among Han Yeoreum’s filmography.

Even after the child actor period ended, the popularity continued.

Rather, thanks to the narrative that Han Yeoreum and Myeong Jeha created, it gained proper momentum.

Especially the moment when Huijae and Taeseok met again tore the Drama Fans’ hearts to shreds.

* * *

In the wooden office in Jongno with creaking old doors, the young man always stayed up all night.

It wasn’t difficult. Taeseok’s life was always a repetition of sleeping at dawn and waking at dawn.

Since diligence was ingrained in his body, he never neglected any work. Today too, Taeseok devoted himself to work, staying up all night. He briefly rolled his stiff neck and habitually touched his nape.

A familiar clinking sound occurred. He felt a faint weight at his fingertips.

The young man who preferred dreaming of the girl with his eyes open rather than closed forgot his fatigue.

He couldn’t look at the photo often because even looking felt precious. It was okay since he could draw her face even with his eyes closed.

“Taeseok, don’t you ever sleep? You’re such a tough bastard.”

At his Business Partner’s words as he entered rubbing his sleepy eyes, Taeseok tucked the necklace back inside.

“You have to be tough to make money, don’t you.”

“Right, you tough bastard. Go ahead and rake in all the money!”

In the office with one small yellow bulb hanging from the ceiling and a metal cabinet stuffed with overflowing documents, Taeseok disassembled and reassembled parts from radios and walkie-talkies left behind by the US military.

He bought old US military communication equipment cheaply and reassembled them into small radios and record players.

One thing Hanamura said was right. If you could speak languages, it was easier to seize opportunities.

“You speak English well.”

“Thank you for saying so. I only know a few words.”

“Normally this item would never go for this price, but since we’ll be seeing each other for a long time, I’m giving you a special price.”

Just as the girl from long ago had fumblingly learned Joseon language, Taeseok learned English.

Sometimes when he hit walls, he would think of Huijae beyond the wall.

Then everything became okay. Everything became manageable.

Behind the young man who roughly blocked his bleeding nose and turned the screwdriver, the sun rose brightly.

As time passed and passed again, the office where Taeseok worked gradually changed.

The crude posters that had been stuck all over the cracked and rusted walls were removed.

Now Taeseok worked in an office with smooth light brown walls, a dark wooden desk, and a metal lamp on top.

The people who could afford to buy record players now were high-ranking officials. Those who worked for the government.

Since imported goods required a discerning eye and couldn’t be brought in carelessly, they had to use domestic products at least for show.

Taeseok properly exploited this gap.

Once he climbed the ladder, the rest was easy. Taeseok bought coffee, canned goods, and cigarettes left by the US military for black market trading.

Unlike record players that took up a lot of space, coffee, canned goods, and cigarettes were perfect for hiding and enjoying.

Wealthy people sought out Taeseok without exception.

Whenever distinguished guests visited their homes, coffee that had passed through Taeseok’s hands was placed on the table.

They enjoyed cigarettes along with fragrant coffee served in fancy teacups decorated with flowers.

In the harmonious atmosphere that seemed to desperately announce they were a happy family, Taeseok was served several cups of coffee each day.

Drinking, drinking, and drinking more. Each time the bitter liquid went down his throat, Taeseok had to endure an inexplicable nausea.

In a space where not a trace of war’s scars could be found, Taeseok stirred his teaspoon over the calm coffee surface.

The wound on the back of his hand, injured while protecting the necklace with Huijae’s photo, remained unchanged.

While Taeseok was being served warm coffee by the wealthy, Taejin pushed a cold coffee with ice toward someone.

“You must have suffered a lot. I truly respect you.”

The man wearing a worn check shirt and denim suspenders was also from Joseon.

“Not at all. I’m just proud of my father. Living honorably according to his teachings has brought me such good opportunities, hasn’t it?”

The middle-aged man who drank the cold coffee laughed heartily. His face was dark, tanned by the sun.

The first-generation Koreans who immigrated to work at the Hawaiian Sugarcane Plantation were still living in harsh conditions.

The first-generation sugarcane workers labored for over sixteen hours. It was truly a slave-like environment.

But now a ray of light had entered their difficult lives.

Taejin had joined hands with the second-generation Korean Americans who worked at the Louisiana Sugarcane Plantation.

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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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