I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 72

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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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Episode 72

“After summer passes, the autumn we’ve been waiting for.”

This was Company N’s signature phrase for this season. The moment the Visual Director heard Han Yeoreum’s voice, he unconsciously muttered to himself.

“Since we’re making a contract anyway, we should have gone for 3 years instead of a short 1-year deal…”

Han Yeoreum standing in front of the camera and looking at the lens somehow drew attention. He had a feeling that all products sold by Company N would have the name ‘Pi Chaewon’ attached to them for the time being.

* * *

‘How many outfits is this now?’

I don’t wear and shoot all the new products myself. Just the main two or so per category, and the rest are uploaded as regular model cuts or product cutout shots. But even so, there are this many.

“Yeoreum! Look here and wink!”

“Oh, good job! So cute! So good! Let’s have a giggling laugh!”

“That’s right, that’s right! Spin your body around once – make the skirt spread!”

I thought it would be similar to the ALAB shoot, but I was mistaken. Every time I changed outfits, my hair had to be changed, and since the clothes couldn’t wrinkle, Coordinator Hwang would rush over after every shot to fix my appearance.

“Yeoreum, aren’t you tired?”

“Right. If you’re tired, you can tell us to take a little break.”

“Tired? The unnies and all the staff here are working much harder.”

I could feel the atmosphere on set warming up at my response. But it was true. I wasn’t tired at all.

‘I’m glad I used that item.’

Adding the points I got from breaking 10 million views on recently, it was exactly 1,500 points.

Thanks to that, I became 0p, but I got stamina that won’t get tired for a while.

‘This is my first photo shoot so I used it just in case, but I think I used it at the right time.’

Getting up from dawn to finish hair and makeup, then standing in front of the camera for hours – it would have been terrible if I lacked stamina.

I changed my hair again to match the outfit. Several thin pins were stuck in my hair, and my heart raced every time my makeup was touched up with a lip brush.

‘This is really something I only saw on TV!’

No matter how much we shot, I didn’t feel tired. I also loved having everyone on set looking only at me.

Every time a shot ended, the Manager and Coordinator immediately approached me.

‘Han Yeoreum has really become a celebrity. Really become a celebrity.’

“Yeoreum, are you okay?”

“Drink water. Water.”

Choi Seonhye’s water bottle with a straw and Hwang Jihye’s hand fan helped relieve my fatigue.

‘On the set, I was always alone.’

Having people take care of me was more reassuring than I expected. Actually, compared to warehouse part-time work, this wasn’t that hard, but they were treating me so well.

‘This is… the taste of being a celebrity…?’

I could feel the other staff members paying as much attention to me as possible too.

I sat next to the Photographer and focused on monitoring. The screen was filled with my photos.

‘They definitely came out better than the ALAB shoot last time.’

Among them, the full-body shot wearing sneakers was particularly eye-catching. The Photographer seemed to think the same and gave me directing for poses.

“Yeoreum, that movement is good – can you do it once more in the next outfit? Stretching your foot forward like that.”

“Yes. Got it!”

“Okay. Then I’ll check this separately – this is the last one so let’s fighting!”

With the Photographer’s short applause, all the staff responded together. The last outfit was comfortable training clothes.

“Now, lightly roll up the wrist part – oh – that’s right!”

As I changed my pose according to the Photographer’s directing, the sound of the shutter clicking got faster and faster.

How many people wearing these clothes will I see on the streets in the future? These sneakers? This bag? The moment when Han Yeoreum’s name is heard on the streets will come too.

Thinking about such things naturally made me smile more and more.

“Good expression! Keep smiling like that. Okay!”

Will I later appear in advertising videos on building exterior walls too? Just thinking about it makes me happy.

I smiled brightly following the Photographer’s gestures telling me to smile more.

“Perfect! Good! Now it’s really over! Thank you for your hard work!”

Finally, the Photographer who had been focusing on the lens put down the camera. I also got up from the chair I was sitting on and was about to clap together when.

“Happy birthday to you!”

“…Huh?”

Choi Seonhye came out from the space where the outfits were kept, holding a cake with candles. Coordinator Hwang, who had approached nearby, put a party hat on my head.

“Our beloved Yeoreum!”

Not only the staff but also the Photographer and Visual Director were clapping together.

“Now blow out the candles!”

“You have to make a wish! A wish!”

I blankly blew out the candles. Small fireworks went off beside me. Colorful paper scattered around.

“How did you know it was my birthday?”

“What kind of manager doesn’t know their celebrity’s profile!”

“Did you think we’d just let it pass?”

Manager Choi and Coordinator Hwang laughed playfully. The Visual Director handed me a large box and flowers.

“This is both a bribe and a birthday present. We’ll quick-deliver the other products to your residence. Just open this one here.”

Seeing staff members holding cell phones everywhere, it was obvious they wanted to use even this for marketing purposes. But it was still nice.

‘How long has it been since I spent my birthday like this?’

When I dropped out of school and was struggling doing odd jobs at the theater troupe, for the first year or so I met with Mom and Taeyang quite often. It’s embarrassing, but living alone in Seoul was hard to endure.

But as time went on, my nameless unknown life got longer.

‘So… I had no choice back then.’

So I practically abandoned both Mom and Taeyang.

Because I wanted to return successful. Because I didn’t want to show them my pathetic appearance. Because I couldn’t ask for encouragement from those two when I couldn’t even take care of myself.

‘So very occasionally, really just sending messages twice a year was the end of it.’

For a few years, I spent my birthday modestly with theater troupe people. But even that was only once or twice. Every birthday felt like facing reality, so later I just worked warehouse night shifts.

Remembering that past life, my nose started stinging for no reason.

“Hurry up and open it. Hurry!”

The Visual Director urged me. I took a deep breath for a moment and moved my hand holding the box. Then helium balloons floated up from inside.

“Wow…!”

[The summer we’ve been waiting for]

Company N’s campaign phrase that I had mentioned earlier was written in a modified form. Inside the box were Pi Chaewon Sneakers products in different colors.

Click! Click! Click!

Shutter sounds came from everywhere. It felt just like a real congratulatory greeting. The phrase written on the balloon particularly caught my eye.

* * *

“Hey. Noona’s here.”

Along with the sound of entering the door lock password, the door opened carelessly. I staggered into the house holding boxes full in both hands.

“What’s that?”

“These are sneakers, you wear them. Your feet are still size 275, right? If they don’t fit, put strength in your toes and wear them.”

What I handed over was the black color product of the model famous as Pi Chaewon Sneakers.

“What? Did you get a model discount?”

“How do you know I’m a model there? It hasn’t been posted anywhere yet.”

“Sis, just look at yourself right now.”

“So pretty. So cute.”

“…Stop talking nonsense.”

Come to think of it, I was wearing the same clothes from the Filming Set and received them as gifts, so from head to toe everything was N Company products.

“You left at dawn, came back carrying a box with the N logo, and all your clothes are new too. You’d have to be an idiot not to know.”

“As expected from this kid. So smart. The future of our family.”

“What the… Just eat.”

Han Taeyang went to the Kitchen and served the rice. This brat made seaweed soup again saying it’s his sister’s birthday.

Come to think of it, even when I wasn’t keeping in touch, he would leave a Thermos with seaweed soup at the front door on my birthday.

Guilt suddenly washed over me. Because I had essentially abandoned both my brother and Mom.

“Isn’t there one for Mom?”

“…There is.”

“Sis, you didn’t contact Mom today either, did you.”

So I couldn’t contact her. Even now after returning through regression, just seeing Mom’s number in my contacts made me want to run away again.

“Mom’s worried. I won’t ask why you’ve been like this for months, so just call her, okay?”

“I will…”

“When. Do it right now in front of me.”

“Why do you talk to your sister in such a commanding tone? You’re just a high school student.”

As I aged, Mom aged too. And I had temporarily erased that Mom from my life. Because I wanted to be an actor. Because I wanted to achieve my dreams.

Even now that I’d returned to twenty, the guilt I had buried was still there.

“I’m calling.”

“Ah! Don’t!”

Before I could stop him, Han Taeyang picked up his Cell Phone, and after just a few rings, Mom’s face appeared on the screen.

[Yeoreum!]

Seeing Mom’s face smiling happily, I froze for a moment. Because, well, I was seeing Mom’s face for the first time in years…

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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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