I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 91
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 91
“Let’s go to the snowy Winter Sea.”
Gyeoul’s quiet voice echoed throughout the filming set. Now MBS had followed JC ENM’s lead in creating a Web Content Department. SBC and KBC’s establishment of web content departments was also not far off.
“When white snow piles high on the sea, let’s return then.”
Among the countless self-produced content that would pour out like a flood, what Jegal Rok chose and Han Yeoreum created would be carved up and taken by everyone.
“For the years growing cold.”
Jegal Rok’s name value plus Han Yeoreum’s face value. The synergy created by combining those two things.
People who noticed this wasn’t luck or coincidence wouldn’t leave it alone. Their attention would surely be entirely focused on JC ENM.
“Let’s not return until the snow piles up.”
Similar content would pour out endlessly, and the spotlight would be dispersed. The more solid the existing core fanbase, the more advantageous it would be. Algorithms work on simple principles after all.
‘What I usually watched.’
And currently, the core fanbase attached to Han Yeoreum personally was significantly inferior compared to those drooling to steal away her buzz.
“Even if it’s our last meeting.”
Right now she was maintaining an upward trend with Intube as her wings, but what if everyone jumped into the Intube market?
‘She’d grow much more slowly than now.’
Thinking about that, Gyeoul’s lips naturally curved upward.
Being an actor was a profession where it was difficult to show yourself to the public even once a year. And after all, being ‘first’ in this industry wasn’t valued very highly.
“It would be fine to call it an eternal farewell.”
In a field that only remembered ‘the best,’ Do Gyeoul wanted to step on Han Yeoreum and climb up.
Intube
@JC ENM 820,000 subscribers
[Let’s Read Books Together While Drinking Tea – Guesthouse Owner Yu Seol’s Tea Time ASMR]
210,000 views
Do Gyeoul’s ASMR video was uploaded the day after the trailer went up. Just having Do Gyeoul’s name on it, just having Do Gyeoul’s face in the thumbnail.
It wasn’t difficult to settle into the real-time popular videos in less than 24 hours.
* * *
The thumbnail with Do Gyeoul’s face prominently displayed caught the eye. Do Gyeoul’s first leading role , which would start airing in November, was already being counted as an anticipated work even though it was still October.
Intube
@MBS DRAMA DramMa Channel 270,000 subscribers
[Beyond the Closed Door Trailer] 1:02
67,000 views
-Dogyeol’s face, seriously what the hell… As soon as he turned 20, he’s crushing it ㄷㄷ No actress can match this guy
-Even though you took a break from acting, you’re so much more natural now and I feel like I can see what kind of person Do Gyeol really is, it’s so good..ㅠㅠ Supporting my actor who I’ve been watching since they were little♥︎
-After watching actors who really mumble, seeing Do Gyeol makes my ears feel refreshed ㅋㅋㅋ Please, if you’re going to act, practice your diction. How long do viewers have to work their asses off trying to figure out what the dialogue is saying
︎˪22 That’s why I don’t watch dramas where idol-turned-actors desperately claw their way in^^ㅋㅋ
Befitting a romantic comedy set in a Winter Pension, it was visually pleasing. Thanks to receiving support from the Gangwon Province Tourism Board, all the backgrounds captured in the frame were definitely beautiful.
“It really feels refreshing. The visuals are good for starters.”
Reporter Wi from Deudeok.B checked the entertainment news section. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Do Gyeoul had conquered everything from 1st to 10th place. The calculation immediately came to Reporter Wi’s mind.
“This drama will take all the buzz at the end of this year…”
He recalled what his senior had said. If the first episode’s viewership was in the 5% range, it wouldn’t take long for the portal site main pages to be completely covered with Do Gyeoul.
It was already a time when critics, industry insiders, and the public were all anticipating Do Gyeoul’s next work.
“There haven’t been any notable romance hits this year.”
MBS’s miniseries had just tasted the bitter failure of early termination. SBC and KBC’s romances also failed to exceed 10% viewership. Among drama fans, this year was being called a romance drama drought.
‘…It’s not like didn’t benefit from that too.’
While skimming through comment reactions, Reporter Wi recalled Gyeoul who had come for an interview recently.
Still exemplary and upright, Gyeoul who had grown up in a way that anyone would have to like.
If you had to describe Do Gyeoul in one word, that was it.
Answer sheet.
She seemed to live without a single wrong answer.
Gyeoul’s SNS was filled with comments from overseas fans as well. Currently, if you listed actresses’ SNS accounts by follower count, Do Gyeoul would be in the top ten.
-She doesn’t know how long we’ve been waiting Hahaha
Reactions were coming from both the domestic and overseas markets.
Reporter Wi recalled Gyeoul who had specifically chosen him for an interview last time. That day too, Do Gyeoul was the same as always. She answered questions smoothly with her well-refined voice.
“It’ll be your 15th debut anniversary soon. Please say a word to your fans about what mindset you have while acting.”
Do Gyeoul, who had been answering without hesitation as if she had prepared all her answers in advance, paused briefly at the last question.
“…I’ll show you a very different side, like a different person… I’ll show you growth. Please look forward to it.”
Though he felt something off about her momentarily cold gaze, she was still Do Gyeoul.
That interview, which had held 1st place in Daily Media’s interview section for two weeks, was getting more clicks again. It was thanks to the uploaded trailer.
Gradually, Do Gyeoul’s name was rising upward again.
* * *
Intube
@MBS DRAMA DramMa Channel 270,000 subscribers
[Making/ Wait, who put honey here? Sweet chemistry gone crazy script reading scene] 5:07
41,000 views
I looked at Do Gyeoul on my cell phone screen. Crazy algorithm. To show me Do Gyeoul on my screen.
‘…But seeing it like this, I feel it anew.’
We’re in different weight classes.
Do Gyeoul was already sweeping up all kinds of spotlights.
Trailers, script readings, still cuts released one by one. Even ASMR videos. Everything with Do Gyeoul’s face was at the center of attention.
‘Once this airs, it’ll be incomparable to this…’
How well would it do? Thinking about that made me feel increasingly anxious.
Actually, I had clicked on the ASMR video Do Gyeoul appeared in too. The number of comments was incomparably dense compared to my previously uploaded videos.
‘Since she’s been debuted for over 10 years. Her core fanbase is concrete…’
It’s different from Han Yeoreum, who gets clicks through SNS or communities, or gets discovered through algorithms. Do Gyeoul has a fanbase that searches for her on their own.
‘Maybe it’s because it’s time to prepare for the final play soon.’
My mind control isn’t working well. This is instinctive anxiety. Because I know exactly where my life started going wrong. It’s like a kind of trauma.
‘…Of course, even before I knew the reason, whenever the weather got chilly, I’d think of the first-year final play…’
Regretting this time period had become an ingrained habit too. I’d just think of this period whenever I felt depressed.
When I got cut from even minor roles, when I missed text notifications about audition date changes, when I got pushed out at auditions I barely got into, when only I didn’t receive the changed scenario, when Do Gyeoul appeared whenever I turned on the TV…
“Gyeoul!”
Just then, as if Do Gyeoul had arrived, Do Gyeoul’s name was called out again from the lecture hall.
Since 〈Beyond the Closed Door〉 is partially pre-produced, Do Gyeoul often has days off, but she’s still attending school anyway. The people surrounding Do Gyeoul in the front seats were being noisy.
“My nephew is a huge fan of yours, Gyeoul. Could you take just one photo with me?”
“Sure. If he’s a fan.”
“I’ve never seen this many comments on a script reading video before-. Look at this? I liked every single comment praising you, Gyeoul!”
The distance between Do Gyeoul and me felt impossibly far.
I felt like I had become that pathetic, unknown Han Yeoreum again, reminiscing about times like this.
Just like before my regression.
‘When will I ever get to stand beside Do Gyeoul?’
Gradually, the surrounding noise stopped reaching my ears properly. It only sounded like a buzzing tinnitus.
‘I thought I had managed to catch up to her a little bit…’
It was probably because I knew all too well how high Do Gyeoul had climbed before my regression. The awards Do Gyeoul had won alone were countless.
If she grows with even more acceleration than before, then I…
“Hi there, Yeoreum.”
“Wow, you startled me.”
The sensation of someone poking my cheek from behind pulled me out of my thoughts. Myeong Jeha was looking at me with an amused expression.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing…”
“It’s definitely not nothing-.”
Myeong Jeha deliberately drew out his words, his eyes filled with laughter as if he knew everything. I stared ahead with dead fish eyes.
“You’re anxious, aren’t you.”
“…Yeah.”
Even without mentioning the subject, he knows who I’m talking about.
I looked at Do Gyeoul once again. Even when I tried not to look, I couldn’t stop my gaze from turning in her direction.
“Afraid she’ll get too far ahead?”
“…Yeah.”
I could tell without looking. That high-level Analysis skill was probably floating above Myeong Jeha’s head.
I heard a quiet laugh from behind me.
“I like how honest you are.”
“What’s the point of hiding it? From you.”
“Good. Then I’ll be honest and tell you something too.”
I felt Myeong Jeha lean his upper body forward. The heavy scent of cologne that sharpened my sense of smell approached.
“Something good is going to happen soon.”
“What? This kind of fortune cookie hint?”
“Just wait and see.”
Just as I was about to turn my head back, the lecture hall door opened.
“Alright, everyone pay attention.”
Professor Geum Bitkang’s voice echoed through the lecture hall. And shortly after, I understood what Myeong Jeha had meant.
“I’m going to announce the public presentation for this semester’s final play, so listen carefully.”
The announcement about dividing into Team A and Team B with the same theme caused murmurs around us. This meant we were supposed to compete properly.
“Now then, the theme of the play, 〈Romeo and Juliet〉.”
My heart pounded loudly. My prediction had hit the mark exactly.
“Team A. Do Gyeoul.”
Along with Do Gyeoul’s name.
“Team B. Han Yeoreum.”
My name was called.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————