I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 334

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 334

Even after the <Youth Disqualified!> trailer ended, Aetami’s heart was still pounding.

Aetami added a new song to her playlist. It was February now. It was the most heart-fluttering time as spring approached.

[Secret Diary]

▶0:27/4:30

Aetami listened to the song while replaying the <Youth Disqualified!> trailer she had just watched.

“Wow… Yeoreum…”

It really felt like watching a trailer for youth itself. As if Yeoreum’s story was just beginning.

* * *

“Girls! Really just one more time!”

So Dami lifted up the two people sprawled on the floor.

“Hey, So Dami…”

“Dami, wait. I need to urgently check my phone for something. Just a moment.”

The two tried their best but couldn’t escape the grip strength perfected through years of piano lessons.

So Dami, who had lived locked up in rooms with pianos for ten hours at a time, was the member who used the practice room most like her own home.

“Hey, practicing really does work!”

“Right. But Gaeul! Your stick spinning is a bit lacking. You drop the sticks while spinning them on set, right? There’s no answer for that.”

“By the way, that’s advice from personal experience. Take it to heart.”

“Yes…”

MBS Drama Center Director Lee Saerok crossed his arms and watched the scene with satisfaction.

The people giving advice in the practice room weren’t <Youth Disqualified!> staff members. They were another card Lee Saerok had prepared.

“It’s really nice having money, Director So…”

“Right… At first, the budget was so tight I thought we couldn’t even afford tuna kimbap for meals and would just eat triangle kimbap… Instead of becoming a malnourished PD, I might become an over-nourished PD…”

After JC joined, <Youth Disqualified!>’s production budget doubled. That wasn’t the end. As <The Great Garland>’s ratings broke through the ceiling, investors flocked from everywhere upon hearing news that Huijae would appear.

The <Youth Disqualified!> team, who had planned their shooting schedule with a shoestring budget, deeply pondered where to spend the surplus money.

And they reached one conclusion.

The OST.

Because it was music that made viewers’ hearts race.

“Ah, I wish the script reading would come soon, really. My heart is pounding so much, Director So. I feel like I’ve returned to being twenty.”

“If it’s beating that much at your age… you should suspect arrhythmia… It’s not rejuvenation…”

That’s when Han Yeoreum suddenly stood up in the practice room. She burst out the door with a clattering sound. Even So Dami had let Han Yeoreum go.

“Why why why. What’s wrong, why?”

“Yeoreum… did something happen…?”

Han Yeoreum, holding her phone, shouted excitedly.

“<Law Fast> is about to hit ten million! I need to go film the promise video!”

That’s right. <Faster Than Law 2> had also reached ten million. Han Yeoreum became a double ten-million actress with both movies she appeared in setting ten-million records.

* * *

“Hey, filly!”

Gwak Cheolsik, holding a party hat for Han Yeoreum who was running over, waved his hand. The entire <Faster Than Law 2> team was already wearing cone-shaped party hats on their heads.

“Wow, look at that sweat. Did you keep running the whole way?”

Yoon Hyeonjo poured water from nearby and handed it over. Han Yohan was slowly rummaging through his bag looking for something.

“Are we really going to hit ten million in a few hours?”

“That’s right, Yeoreum. We’re at 9.8 million now!”

<Faster Than Law 2> succeeded at the box office again. Not only did it easily surpass the break-even point, but discussions about investing in the next series were already underway.

“Director, give it to her now? Let’s quickly give it to the busy kid, quickly film, and send her off!”

“It might be more efficient to give it later… She’s already soaked in sweat, and if she cries again…”

Han Yeoreum blinked at Gwak Cheolsik and Yoon Hyeonjo’s words as if asking what they meant. Director Gong smiled shyly.

“I was going to send it to Yeoreum’s agency. But still, what kind of relationship do we have. I wanted to see your face and deliver it personally. You can understand my feelings, right?”

Director Gong took out what he had prepared in advance.

<Faster Than Law 3>

Han Yeoreum, gripping the towel she was using to wipe sweat, read those letters clearly.

“Director…”

“Hahaha. How could our series work without Yeoreum now? You’re a star who’s been to America, so we have to hold onto you.”

Director Gong joked as he extended the hand holding the script toward Yeoreum. Han Yeoreum was about to tear up.

“I’m not usually the type to dwell on personal feelings… but seeing you plan the next one while leaving only me out is a bit disappointing…”

It was Han Yohan, who had found a handheld fan. He held the fan blowing a gentle breeze close to Han Yeoreum’s face while calmly expressing the sorrow of a villain who had to leave the series.

“I was about to cry just now, but thanks to you, senior, my tears completely dried up… Thank you…”

“It wasn’t me who stopped your tears, but your own mindset, Yeoreum… There’s no need to thank me…”

At Han Yohan’s solemn answer, a staff member behind them shouted.

“We’re at 9.87 million now! We need to upload the video soon!”

At those words, Gwak Cheolsik personally put the party hat on Han Yeoreum.

“Let’s film quickly! Come on, camera, come on.”

The <Faster Than Law 2> team stood in front of the camera. Behind them were number balloons spelling out 1000.

“Should I play the music?”

The promise video was to make finger hearts one by one from left to right to birthday celebration music.

“Faster than law! Ten million!”

The <Faster Than Law 2> team wearing 10 million t-shirts smiled brightly.

“Really! Thank you!”

* * *

That night, the live coverage of Faster Than Law 2’s ten million milestone spread through articles.

[Refreshing Korean-style action comedy works again… <Faster Than Law 2> achieves ten million]

[“Thank you ten million” <Faster Than Law 2> shares feelings through promise video]

[Will Korean cinema’s greatest series be born? <Faster Than Law 2> achieves second ten million following record break-even point]

Myeong Jeha skimmed through the articles. His finger scrolling across the tablet screen held leisure.

Even after returning from America, Han Yeoreum worked without rest. She appeared on portal sites so frequently you could see her face daily.

“She never rests…”

At this point, it was something beyond just liking acting. There was no moderation. Myeong Jeha smiled slightly as he gauged what was next.

‘Probably the next series will also hit ten million.’

<Faster Than Law 3> would also dominate screens at the same pace, perhaps even faster. All of Han Yeoreum’s upcoming projects were ones where success was already predicted.

‘I’m not sure exactly how this one will turn out…’

<Youth Disqualified!> was an unprecedented work. Its success rate wasn’t easily predictable.

Because of Han Yeoreum, <The Great Garland>’s content changed, and the director and writer’s intended direction shifted. As a result, they even won a Critics’ Choice trophy.

Since it was a collaboration between Director So and Han Yeoreum, it wouldn’t become a flop, but this industry had too many unexpected variables.

A <Youth Disqualified!> vlog had just been uploaded. Myeong Jeha, who clicked on the newly posted video, burst into a hollow laugh.

“Ah. To do this like this.”

His momentary worry that unforeseen adverse conditions might ruin the work was laughably unnecessary.

Indeed, Han Yeoreum was the biggest variable in Myeong Jeha’s life.

The <Youth Disqualified!> members had each practiced playing alone, and as a result, they spectacularly ruined their first ensemble.

To the despairing members, Lee Saerok and So Yesol brought someone directly.

“Hello…?”

The three blinked, not knowing who had entered the practice room door. They appeared to be people around the same age as Center Director Lee Saerok.

“Huh? You don’t know us?”

“What…”

“You don’t know even one of us?”

They asked as if bewildered by Chu Gaeul, Han Yeoreum, and So Dami’s reactions.

Looking at the three who were just giving awkward vibrating bell laughs in confusion, they contorted their expressions.

“…Pfft…”

“Puhehe…”

“Kahahaha!”

Soon they burst into loud laughter. To the three who still didn’t understand, they said as if it was nothing special.

“Ah, of course you wouldn’t know!”

“Right, right. It’d be stranger if you did know.”

“We’re teachers who came to help with the ensemble. And well, introducing ourselves like this feels awkward after such a long time.”

This time, Center Director Lee Saerok stepped forward. With a face that seemed somewhat overwhelmed and excited, he gave an explanation.

“These people are the silver medal winners of the 1993 University Song Festival.”

There are such things. The protagonist, the center, the gold medal. The spotlight that only first place can claim. And the second place that must play the role of shadow closest to them.

“Still, we’ve been practicing consistently, so don’t doubt our skills!”

“We do have a working adult band, you know.”

“I’m still active. I’ve taught many beginner classes, so I’ll probably be the most helpful among us.”

Lee Saerok had brought not the first place who remained as musicians, but the second place team forgotten by history.

Because everyone in the world has their own life story.

Someone failed at the university song festival, someone else failed university entrance exams. Another was dumped by their lover overnight, and someone else spends their life having unrequited love for parents, knowing they’ll never be first.

Even so.

We’re not always second place in life.

Everyone has their own highlights. There are moments when you thrillingly realize that you are the protagonist of your own life.

Learning such things through getting hurt and broken is what youth is about.

And the people Center Director Lee Saerok brought were those who would know those moments of youth better than anyone.

-Waaahhh ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m literally crying damn it..

-This is youth.. I must be crazy, Youth Disqualification is already my life’s work

-M company’s dramas have always been the trendiest among broadcast networks since way back.. ㅋ That pleasant shock you get when watching a fresh drama after a long time~ I would’ve been so disappointed if I had missed out on knowing about these production behind-the-scenes storiesㅡㅡ Thank you so much for showing us all of this..

-Damn, so this is what happens when all these crazy bastards join forces together ㄷㄷㄷ fucking gives me chills lololol

It really was enough to make everyone cheer.

Myeong Jeha picked up his cell phone and called Han Yeoreum. After quite a long ring tone, the voice he’d been waiting for was heard.

“Yeoreum.”

-Yes, elder.

“I saw what you posted today.”

-Ahhh. You said you’re sick…? And you don’t even have medicine, this is crazy. I’ll come right away! Hey, Dami. No, I’m not lying. You heard me say ‘elder’ when I answered the phone. Right. There’s someone living alone…

There was a buzz of voices behind Han Yeoreum. Judging by the familiar voices, it seemed they were still practicing the 【Youth Disqualification】 ensemble.

Han Yeoreum was shamelessly using Myeong Jeha to escape from So Dami. Myeong Jeha chuckled softly and spoke into the receiver.

“Dami. It’s me, Jeha.”

-Ah, you shouldn’t say that!

-Hey! Han Yeoreum! Do you want to die!

-Wow, Yeoreum’s acting was really no joke.

The other side of the receiver was noisy. They probably all knew about the internet reactions by now.

The anticipation and excitement unique to a work that’s going to succeed was evident from the actors. Myeong Jeha asked just one thing.

“It seems like there’s more to it. The project.”

-Oh…

“Right?”

-How did you know?

Myeong Jeha nodded as he heard Han Yeoreum’s answer that followed. As expected, this project wasn’t just any ordinary project.

After hanging up, Myeong Jeha suddenly thought of Ji Haebeom.

“He’s going to regret not being able to invest in this.”

The script reading for 【Youth Disqualification】 had departed from ordinary tracks. Following the bold move of filming and uploading practice scenes as vlogs, they were preparing another variation.

The goal for 【Youth Disqualification】’s OST wasn’t to record it in a practice room.

They planned to hold the production announcement at the Han River, gathering the public and journalists.

Performing live in front of them.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————