I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 309

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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 309

* * *

“We did it…. We did it…!”

This was KBC Drama Center. Despite all the staff working overtime, there wasn’t a trace of fatigue or displeasure to be seen.

“We made it happen!”

It was an unexpected success. The greatest victory achieved since the Korean Wave restrictions hit.

The KBC Center Director pounded his surging heart with his fist.

“This is… this is…!”

Words couldn’t express it all. All the hardships they’d endured flashed by like a revolving lantern.

“Seok-hwan! Let’s extend it by just 2 more episodes. Huh? No more, no less, just 2 episodes!”

“I told you we’re not extending it. Jun-myeong and I have it perfectly planned out. If we increase the episodes, it’ll drag.”

“Don’t be like that. You know the reaction we’re getting right now!”

“I turned off my phone, so I don’t know.”

Everyone wanted an extension due to the insane popularity. Because of the stubborn director who even turned off his phone and told them to talk to the production team, the Center Director took a plane to Jeju Island to beg.

But the response he got was like this.

“Please! Hey you bastard, the higher-ups said we need at least 4 more episodes, and I begged to reduce it to 2! That’s already something!”

“Oh. Then talk to the CG team.”

“Really? For real? Seok-hwan. Hey, you’re really the only one! I really believed in you!”

“I’m going to send everyone to heaven in the final episode. Let’s just add CG of three people in white clothes looking wistfully at Joseon land. That’s how I’ll end it.”

“Hey you son of a… Hey! Seok-hwan! Ahhh! Hey, catch that bastard! I knew that crazy bastard would do this!”

The Center Director was horrified by Ja Seokhwan who really intended to do a heaven ending.

When he said not to kill them off, then came the response that he’d end it with everything being poor Taeseok’s delusion, which made his mind go blank. He briefly buried his head on the floor and fainted.

When he opened his eyes with a start, the Center Director was lying on a bed.

“Phew…. It was a dream…. Thank goodness….”

“Are you awake? Patient. You have a mild concussion.”

“….”

Who knew he’d experience firsthand how shitty a “it was all a dream” ending could be. The Center Director struggled to sit up.

Despite the medical staff’s attempts to stop him, saying he needed to rest, he hurriedly went to meet the higher-ups. He couldn’t let Ja Seokhwan actually create such an ending.

He grabbed the KBC president by the collar and screamed to somehow make it work. His sanity returned while writing an incident report.

“Well, whatever happened…. The ending turned out well, so that’s what matters….”

Thanks to that bastard Director Ja, instead of increasing episodes, the broadcasting station focused desperately on selling broadcasting rights quickly.

The aftermath of the Korean Wave restrictions hadn’t subsided yet. They needed to show that external investment was flowing smoothly in the domestic market as much as possible.

Ji Haebeom, currently at the top position in Asia as a Hallyu actor.

Eun Baekhap, at the peak of popularity in Hong Kong.

Myeong Jeha, who recently completed a large-scale fan meeting in Singapore.

And lastly, Han Yeoreum, who properly made her face known in Taiwan.

With all four appearing in one work, and the title “national drama” being attached before it even finished airing in Korea, things progressed at an unbelievable speed.

【The Great Garland】 sold its broadcasting rights to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan before the series finale. It was unprecedented.

“This is crazy.”

The Center Director muttered quietly. Just thinking about it made his heart race with anticipation.

“This is insane….”

Especially Taiwan was currently experiencing a new Korean Wave boom. Following 【Strange Tales】 and 【Faster Than Law】, an atmosphere of binge-watching Korean works had been created.

“Soon Taiwan will really become Han Yeoreum’s world.”

【Faster Than Law 2】 will be released in Taiwan in summer. And 【The Great Garland】 will also air around the same time.

He couldn’t just sit here any longer. The KBC Center Director immediately grabbed his jacket.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yeah. I have to go.”

The corporate card sleeping in his wallet shone particularly bright.

* * *

A barbecue restaurant near KBC Drama Center. Everyone clapped with excited faces.

“So everyone! It’s been so damn tedious! Ahhhhh! It’s really over! Now finally we too! Can sleep at home!”

The Camera Director, holding a soda bottle with a spoon in it, shouted with laughter.

“Finally! For the wrap party commemoration! Let’s each say a word! First, our psychopath! Crazy bastard! The leader of Wirund!”

Laughter erupted from here and there. The staff who watched the final episode of 【Wirund】 together on the TV screen cheered.

Director Ja took the soda bottle and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well. You all really… suffered a lot getting cursed at because of me.”

The staff who remembered the brutal reactions from episode 1 booed. But despite those sounds, the excited atmosphere grew even more intense.

“Both the actors and staff. Thank you all for making a good work together.”

Director Ja pointed at the KBC Center Director who just opened the door and entered.

“We almost lost to the forces of evil in the middle…. But with this, I believe once again that absolute truth will never change.”

The KBC Center Director, who suddenly became the representative of evil forces, made an aggrieved expression. But Director Ja, paying no attention, raised his clenched left fist.

“Before drinking, everyone repeat after me! When I say ‘The director is’, you all say! ‘God!'”

The resentment from being made to hold auditions for the Yeonhuijae role due to looking out for investors still hadn’t melted away.

Director Ja, who had once again proven his choice wasn’t wrong, looked at Han Yeoreum with a maniacal smile.

And shouted.

“The director is!”

“God!”

The company dinner venue rang loudly. Director Ja giggled while looking at the KBC Center Director as if for him to hear.

Next was Writer An’s turn.

“At first, I started with the mindset of exceeding 20% viewership ratings, you know? But honestly, I didn’t expect it to do this well. I still can’t believe it. You know how it is. Whether the public would accept well the story of two men devoting their lives to one woman. I worried about that a lot….”

It was the dilemma of a love triangle. One woman between two men. Perfect for becoming a target of criticism. One of the three was bound to be easily ruined.

“Looking back now, it seems like unnecessary worry.”

Writer An smiled. Huijae really was a woman worth devoting one’s entire life to love. Because that’s how she was created.

Embracing Han Yeoreum’s shoulder who was standing next to her, Writer An concluded her remarks.

“Thank you all for creating such a beautiful ending together. Though someone who wasn’t on set shouldn’t say this…. If there were any hardships, let’s drink today and forget them all!”

Applause followed. Next was Myeong Jeha.

“Yes. Actually, compared to the seniors, I didn’t suffer much, so I’m really grateful just to be included in this gathering.”

At those humble words, someone shouted.

“Then suffer today!”

“Should I? Yes, I’ll really go until the end today.”

“Waaaah! Myeong Jeha! Myeong Jeha! Myeong Jeha!”

“Clone Myeong Jeha!”

The relaxed atmosphere unique to successful works. The moment when everyone was smiling brightly and excited. Now when laughter kept coming endlessly. I received the bottle.

The gazes of those who created success turned toward me, filled with joy.

Though fatigue was layered thick from outdoor filming in the dead of winter, the elation of having achieved their goal couldn’t be hidden.

“Yes, like Jeha, I too… am grateful just to be invited to this gathering.”

“Ooh-. Too much modesty-.”

“Acting even here-!”

Even though we hadn’t met many times, the psychological distance felt close. It was probably thanks to Yeonhuijae who existed in their hearts.

“Though it was a short time, thank you! I hope to see everyone often on sets in the future!”

“Let’s see each other for a long time at today’s dinner-!”

“Yes! I’ll stay until the end with Jeha too!”

The applause grew louder. Next was Eun Baekhap. True to her reputation for being so quiet, she took a small breath before opening her mouth.

“While living as Yeonhuijae….”

Her small, delicate voice clearly cut through the air.

“Really, thank you so much.”

It was a short and simple comment. But it was enough to move the staff.

The lovable second male lead, Shin Seojin, also took the bottle.

“Yes. This is Shin Seojin, who didn’t cheat until the very end.”

The staff’s laughter as they drummed on the table was boisterous. It was a greeting only Shin Seojin could give.

“Those who came to me and said ‘I was you until the very end,’ yes. I won’t forget any of you. Thank you for supporting Taejin.”

With that bittersweet farewell, it was finally time for the last person. Ji Haebeom.

“That’s right… Everyone worked hard caught between the forces of evil and psychopaths.”

The KBC Center Director, once again labeled as the villain, stood up shouting “Hey, you bastard!” but was quickly sat back down by hands reaching out from around him. Ji Haebeom raised his index finger to his lips. The red-faced Center Director closed his mouth.

“During the entire shoot, it was such a forced march that you couldn’t even properly check your phones, right?”

Everyone nodded frantically at his question that seemed to expect an answer.

“So you have tons of unread messages piled up?”

At Ji Haebeom’s words, the jeers toward Director Ja and the KBC Center Director grew louder. Ji Haebeom pointed behind him with a relaxed look in his eyes.

“For those backlogged messages.”

There were shopping bags piled up there.

“Reply to them all with new phones. End of speech.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rushed to the shopping bags in a fierce scramble. Inside were iPhones that had just been released. It was a farewell gift worthy of a top actor.

Joyful screams could be heard from among the staff.

“Now! Since the leader of the evil forces has also joined us, let’s hear a word from him! Everyone! Stop looking at your phones! Hey! Leave mine alone!”

The Camera Director giggled as he dragged over the seated Center Director. Perhaps because of his past attempts to force a 2-episode extension, he had somehow become the villain.

‘These bastards… They don’t even know how much I suffered…’

The Center Director, swallowing his tears, pulled out his wallet from inside his jacket.

“From this moment on.”

In his hand was a shining corporate card.

“There’s no pork on the menu!!!”

An ear-splitting cheer echoed through the air.

* * *

“I really can’t believe it’s actually over.”

“Me neither. I feel like I should be setting up again when dawn comes tomorrow.”

Even after Eun Baekhap left early, the conversation continued without end. The excitement wouldn’t easily subside.

“Yeoreum! Come here and take a picture with us!”

“Yes!”

I had countless photos taken at the dinner gathering. Everyone seemed to have missed me terribly during this time. My name kept being called from this table and that table.

The scene was broadcast live through the staff’s SNS stories.

‘They’ll probably take that to the communities in real time too.’

I’d bet everything that there were already over 100 articles about Ji Haebeom’s good deed. Taking the impact of the final episode like this again. Top actors really are different.

‘I too, later on… I must earn a lot of money…’

Like Ji Haebeom, I’ll pile up phones and give final gifts. Yeoreum, why did you do all this? Ah, it’s nothing compared to all your hard work, Yeoreum. I actually needed a new phone anyway. Why? I usually run out of memory storing your photos. Oh my… I’ll set today’s photos of you as my wallpaper and continue collecting Han Yeoreum photos organized by folders. Actually, knowing this would happen, I prepared 512GB. Will that be enough? I already paid for 10TB of X Cloud. Hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha…

“Yeoreum. Are you that happy?”

While I was quietly laughing to myself, I heard a whisper from the seat next to me. It was Myeong Jeha, who had poured cider into my glass.

“Of course I’m happy. You know what kind of work this is too.”

Just thinking about it makes my heart burn with excitement. Because I know.

That no drama will ever surpass 40% viewership ratings again.

Thinking that we had made a mark in the history of South Korean dramas, I felt dizzy with achievement.

“You worked hard. You got a lot of criticism after episode 1, but you’ve forgotten all that now, right?”

And the person who could completely smash Han Yeoreum’s materialistic calculator greeted me. I smiled brightly and shook my head.

“The criticism we got when viewers didn’t understand KBC’s grand vision doesn’t bother me at all… Rather, it’s something I should be too grateful for…”

Ah… To think I’d be eating at the same table as the Drama Center Director… It would have been unimaginable in the old days.

Of course, the MBS Drama Center Director was also there, but at some point he had become irrelevant to the materialistic calculator. He just became like a homeroom teacher.

“Did you pack everything?”

Director Ja, who pushed cold noodles toward me from across the table, asked.

“…What…? Pack…? What do you mean?”

Seeing my expression, the people around me instantly became quiet. All eyes suddenly focused this way. What’s going on?

“Hey, Ja Seokhwan! You didn’t tell her about that?”

“I naturally thought she would know.”

“No, the atmosphere is like that right now… Like Santa Claus comes at Christmas. Something so natural?”

At the incomprehensible words, I first added vinegar to my cold noodles.

“Reward vacation!”

Just as I was about to take a chopstick full, the heaven-like Center Director began explaining, so I put down what I was holding. But what did he just say? I didn’t mishear, did I?

“Of course! With this level of results, you get to go on a reward vacation!”

What…? I get to go on such a thing…? Me…? Han Yeoreum…?

“Kyaaaah!”

I covered my mouth with both hands. Isn’t that something only popular celebrities can go on?

Han Yeoreum really is a rising ‘popular’ actor. I felt like the broadcasting company had given me a certification mark. My chest burned as if hot coals had been poured over my heart.

“You really didn’t expect it at all?”

“No, we all checked our passports around episode 16.”

“Right. We were preparing to light soju bottles on fire and throw them at the center if they didn’t send us.”

“These bastards…”

I clutched my trembling heart and asked.

“What do you do… on a reward vacation? I’ve never, never thought about such things before.”

I was so happy I even stammered. Then Ji Haebeom, who was sitting next to Director Ja, spoke.

“You wake up in the morning and do roll call, then go to an amusement park together, shop, and rest. In the evening, you have a campfire and talk about grievances you’ve had. Sometimes fistfights break out here… That’s why we go abroad. Because you’d get caught domestically.”

“Huh, really?”

“No. It’s fake.”

Is he joking… I looked at Ji Haebeom with cold eyes for a moment. Hold back. He’s a top actor. I smiled brightly in 0.1 seconds. Good, that was natural.

“Ahahaha!”

He lightly shrugged his broad shoulders.

“You don’t have to laugh if it’s not funny.”

“It was so funny, senior. The best joke. Five thousand stars. I’ll remember it and use it later. Definitely!”

“…I didn’t know it would be that unfunny…”

As expected of a top actor. He immediately sees through social situations.

“Anyway. We’re going somewhere warm, so go and completely relieve all the fatigue you’ve built up.”

I carefully asked the brightly smiling KBC Center Director.

“Where is the vacation destination?”

The KBC Center Director answered contentedly.

“Taiwan!”

* * *

“Ugh…!”

This was the MBS Drama Center located in Sangam. The Center Director held his forehead and shed tears.

Right now, people in the same industry were feeling the popularity of 【The Great Garland】 more than anyone else.

They couldn’t help but know the weight that the resonance of ‘national drama’ carried.

“Don’t be discouraged… Honestly, we won’t become a national drama… Even the higher-ups don’t have high expectations for 40% viewership… Rather, they say that with the Han Yeoreum buff, we won’t hit rock bottom ratings no matter what… So don’t feel too pressured… Why are you crying at your age… This is why the kids are starting to avoid being with you, Center Director… Such over-immersion…”

“So Yesol, that’s your problem!”

The Center Director, who had been killed once by So Yesol, this era’s healing director who analyzed things coldly, struggled.

“Right. National drama. That should be taken by period dramas. But this side is MBS, which grabs trends and goes with them. So what should we take? 40% viewership? We don’t even dream of such an absurd direction. Instead, our goal is, So Yesol, you know too! Hey!”

At those words, Director So also nodded.

“…Life drama.”

Riding on the back of Han Yeoreum’s popularity that had reached its peak, 【Youth Disqualified!】 was scheduled to upload its first vlog episode tomorrow, disguised as a script reading session.

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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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