I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 80
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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 80
Myeong Jeha blinked for a moment. The change from bored eyes to admiring ones happened in an instant.
“Hello~, I’m Yoon Hyeonjo, who will be hosting the second part of the Seoul International Drama Awards.”
“I’m Hong Suryeon.”
With the attitude of a sincere newcomer, Myeong Jeha applauded the seniors. Gyeoul sitting next to him did the same. Both of them acted as if their previous conversation had never happened.
‘This seat must be frustrating since you can only look forward.’
Myeong Jeha had known from the start of Part 1 where Do Gyeoul’s gaze was directed. At some point, following Do Gyeoul’s eyes would always lead to Han Yeoreum.
If Do Gyeoul could only infer surface emotions, Myeong Jeha could read to the bottom of emotions.
‘I didn’t know Do Gyeoul had such feelings…’
Since Do Gyeoul’s position was significant before the regression, they had seen each other’s faces for a long time. They appeared in the same work at least once per season.
Do Gyeoul had never once lost her position at the top, and Myeong Jeha had accepted that fact as natural.
‘Hmm…’
Han Yeoreum, who had never been anything but unknown, and Do Gyeoul, who had never been anything but at the top.
He thought there might be some connection between these two people. Do Gyeoul’s gaze toward Han Yeoreum made him form such a hypothesis.
“Do you think Yeoreum can win an award?”
Myeong Jeha asked Do Gyeoul in a plain tone. It was a question that could sound impulsive, but it was quite intentional.
“…Why? Is Yeoreum expecting an award?”
After hearing the answer, Myeong Jeha looked at Do Gyeoul for a moment. Myeong Jeha knew.
Sometimes all the non-verbal evidence becomes the truth instead of the words that come out of people’s mouths.
“Yeah, it seemed like it.”
“That’s too bad… I’m worried. I think she’ll be very disappointed.”
So he could immediately notice it. Do Gyeoul’s strange behavior, things Myeong Jeha might have missed. Han Yeoreum’s strangely intense dislike of Do Gyeoul.
“Right. I’m worried too.”
He didn’t know the exact reason, but it probably started from Do Gyeoul’s inferiority complex toward Han Yeoreum. Whatever that incident was.
‘She must think she won’t win an award…’
Myeong Jeha looked toward the stage. A Taiwanese actor who had won the Asia Special Award was crying while giving his acceptance speech. Even to Myeong Jeha, it was an impressive lineup.
‘Well, anyone would think that way.’
Not just Do Gyeoul, but no one in this place would expect Han Yeoreum to win an award. It was a problem that could be solved with simple calculations.
The calculations Do Gyeoul would have made were also somewhat accurate.
To package the drama awards held in Korea a little more prettily, they give awards to works from various overseas countries, and to make their names more known, they hand trophies to slightly more famous actors among them, and put globally well-received dramas at the very top.
“Next is the Jury Special Award. The categories are divided into Best New Actor, Popularity Award, Best Script, and Best Direction, without distinction between short films and mini-series…”
But there were things that ordinary people couldn’t calculate.
‘Ten million views on Intube in this era means one thing.’
Global. That part was also a field Han Yeoreum could easily qualify for. Moreover, if the awards ceremony wanted to increase buzz, they couldn’t miss Han Yeoreum even more.
This broadcast would also be uploaded to Intube as recorded.
Han Yeoreum, who had appeared in trending videos four times in the first half of this year, was given at least a minimum justification for winning.
‘Because it was good for packaging.’
And one more thing here.
The probability of a newcomer who filmed just one single-episode drama winning based on justification alone is remarkably low. Then let’s turn our attention to another direction.
“Shall we meet the nominees for Best New Actor first?”
On average, critics have to watch hundreds of works per year. Whether they’re masterpieces or failures, when placed before their eyes, they inevitably have to sacrifice their time.
And statistically, drama critics faced more failures for longer periods.
‘PPL, cliff endings, unresolved foreshadowing, actors changing due to mid-production incidents, poor quality finished with same-day editing, and various other things…’
They were all people who jumped in because they loved art. But they were shoving finished products that even the public found ridiculous in front of sensitive critics’ eyes, so they couldn’t help but be disgusted.
‘So.’
How attracted would they be to a shining masterpiece among countless failures?
Sometimes emotion dominates reason. Whether critics or committee members, as long as they were in this industry, they were people who still had romance left.
‘It can’t be helped.’
So even if they had to create standards that didn’t exist before.
“The Jury Special Award for Best New Actor is…”
They had no choice but to hand the trophy to the one who made their hearts race.
“Han Yeoreum, who played Jeong Yeondu in .”
Applause poured throughout the venue. Myeong Jeha also sent applause with a neat posture. And as if he just remembered, he opened his mouth once more.
“Oh, right. Seonwoo Seonuk was on the jury.”
Do Gyeoul’s expression hardened for a moment.
* * *
Was my name really called just now? I stared blankly at the stage for a moment. Director So hugged me, and someone patted my back from around me.
Yoon Hyeonjo, who was the MC, made eye contact as if telling me to come up quickly. Only then did I head forward with trembling steps.
‘This is unbelievable…’
Really, I’m receiving an award? Even while climbing the stairs, it didn’t feel real. I felt like I was floating on the vast stage.
Only after receiving the trophy and holding the bouquet in my arms could I stand in front of the microphone.
I made eye contact with Director So from far away.
“First of all… for giving me such a big award…”
So Yesol, looking at me and nodding slightly, seemed to be telling me.
“Actually, I wondered if I might be able to receive an award, so I practiced my acceptance speech a lot by myself. But now that I’m up here, I’m so nervous that I’ve forgotten everything.”
That I did well.
“First, I really thank Director So Yesol for creating such a good work and good role for me. Thanks to all the staff who worked hard together, I was able to receive this good award.”
My mind went blank. So the things I wanted to say came out incoherently. It wasn’t difficult since I had seen so many of these. How many acting awards and film festivals had I watched? I had endured the long period of obscurity by picturing myself standing in this place.
“And my beloved mom… and younger sibling. Also…”
But perhaps because I was too flustered? My mouth, which had been moving unconsciously, gradually became slower. I couldn’t figure out what to say next.
I took a deep breath and raised my head to look toward the audience seats.
“Oh…”
I caught sight of a woman covering her mouth and being moved.
Where had I seen her? I definitely felt like I’d seen her. And recently too. It was while I was searching my memory.
‘Music N! Front row!’
She was the person I kept making eye contact with in the front row. I had only thought she was Seo Eden’s fan who was next to me.
‘Could she be… my fan?’
My mouth was faster than my judgment. I added a final comment to finish my acceptance speech.
“Lastly…”
Is she really my fan? Did she come to see me? Did she watch too? Or did she only watch ? Will she continue to like me? Will she watch whatever work I film? Is she happy together with me for winning this award?
“To all the viewers who showed great empathy and love for .”
I made eye contact with the camera lens again. Because maybe more fans besides that person had been created.
“I think everyone has times when they feel the impulse to run away to a place where no one knows them. Still, like Yeondu, I hope that moments will come when you too are very interested in each other.”
If more people like that were created, I felt like I could exist as an actor for much longer.
“I will show you even better sides of myself in the future. Thank you.”
I want to act. Longer, more. I want to live every minute and second as an actor.
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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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