I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

Professor Noh Jeongyeon picked up one copy of the script.

“Mmm— no. If you give me only Episode 1, the impact’s weaker. Episode 16 too. I want both.”

There was no way he wouldn’t know who Jeha meant by Yeomga. It would be the same person already in Professor Noh’s mind.

The reason for that recent “just checking in” phone call was obvious now.

“Honestly... this is why teaching freshmen is so addictive....”

Smiling gently, Noh Jeongyeon immediately picked up his phone, intent on rekindling a flame in an old colleague.

“Bitgang, it’s me. How about we grab a meal sometime?”

* * *

The new year had dawned, but inside Geum Bitgang’s heart, not a single page of the calendar had turned. The calendar in her home had been gathering dust for who knew how long.

The life of an aging actress with no expectations for tomorrow was this unbearably bland.

“Seriously. Why’d you even come all the way to my place?”

“I’m old now. Being out too long is exhausting. Just listen to this!”

“You never listen, do you. And you came empty-handed, too.”

Noh Jeongyeon held out a gift wrapped in a golden cloth, smiling brightly. Grumbling, Geum Bitgang still let her inside.

After a meal filled with trivial pleasantries, it was only when they sat down for tea that Noh Jeongyeon finally said what she’d come to say.

“So. Are you really quitting your professorship this year?”

“Well....”

Geum Bitgang suddenly recalled the final-term play. Team B’s , dissected down to the bone.

‘To be able to act like that....’

There are things only those who’ve stood on stage for a long time can see.

Blocking that flowed like water, a voice that reached even the audience seated far away, leaving space for interpretation tailored to those present.

And all of that....

‘Why on earth....’

Had been the work of a single person.

Even out of sheer curiosity about Han Yeoreum, Geum Bitgang couldn’t bring herself to submit her resignation. She wanted to watch, up close, the growth of a rookie who might one day become a great actor representing the nation—someone who could follow in her footsteps.

“For the record, Han Yeoreum—that student is taking a leave of absence this year.”

“What?!”

At Noh Jeongyeon’s offhand remark, calmly delivered mid-sip, Geum Bitgang shot to her feet in a rage. As if she’d expected this reaction, Noh Jeongyeon snickered.

“Oh please. Acting like you don’t care.”

“Why would she take a leave? What has she even learned yet! She’s just a chick!”

At Geum Bitgang’s booming shout, Noh Jeongyeon shook her head.

“Once spring comes, it’ll be photo calls, premiere appearances, all that film promotion, right? Variety shows are a given, interviews too. Pictorial shoots... oh, and the drama’s doing regional locations as well.”

“Tsk... as long as the work turns out well. Why make such a fuss?”

“Bitgang. The world’s changed. You can’t think like we used to.”

As if Han Yeoreum were her own direct disciple, Noh Jeongyeon went on listing the schedule.

“Once the drama starts, she’ll have to do music shows too. And when the movie releases, she’ll be touring for stage greetings. She won’t even have time to sleep, let alone attend school.”

Geum Bitgang frowned. Across from her, Noh Jeongyeon teased,

“Oh, right. And I’m doing a project with Han Yeoreum too.”

“You? As what?”

“You know. That one Jegal Rok is doing.”

“...?”

Raising one eyebrow, Noh Jeongyeon prodded her.

“Hm? You knew right away? Acting uninterested, but you look things up on the sly.”

“I didn’t look anything up! I just hear things, that’s all.”

Noh Jeongyeon smiled at her still-not-honest friend.

“I’m so excited. Reading the script made my heart race. It was that good.”

Unlike Geum Bitgang, she still worked from time to time, and whenever acting came up, her eyes still shone—just like in her youth.

“My role’s short, though. It’s a shame I’m only in Episode 1....”

Geum Bitgang wanted to ask what that role was. Her lips parted several times, but she swallowed the words back down.

“Alright, I should get going. Thanks for the meal!”

“Yeah. Get out.”

“Oh, and make sure you open my gift. Don’t just shove it into a corner somewhere.”

“What is it this time? Probably something useless again.”

At the surly reply, Noh Jeongyeon covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“No. If you don’t open it soon, it’ll spoil. What will you do then? If you don’t listen to me, you’ll regret it later. You might even cry?”

After seeing off her annoying friend, Geum Bitgang sat down on the sofa, her movements sharp and irritable.

“...Han Yeoreum.”

Just a chick, with nothing learned, a green rookie—and already taking a leave of absence. Unacceptable.

Just imagining Han Yeoreum growing somewhere outside her sight made her insides feel twisted.

“Of course! I’m not acting anymore anyway...!”

Geum Bitgang was a veteran among veterans. She could even deceive herself with her acting.

“Who would cling to acting at a time like this.”

For a long while now, the only roles that came her way were someone’s mother or someone’s grandmother.

At some point, the lead roles had stopped being offered to Geum Bitgang.

Corrupt prosecutors, chaebol chairmen, retired war heroes, craven salarymen, killers, dealers, money-grubbing merchants.

None of those roles were ever granted to an elderly woman.

“Oh—look at me.”

Catching sight of the golden cloth Noh Jeongyeon had left behind, Geum Bitgang rose sluggishly and unwrapped it with careless hands.

Click—.

Inside the wooden box was a jar of pear-and-bellflower syrup.

“What’s this supposed to spoil.”

[An actor has to take care of their throat~^^]

A note Noh Jeongyeon had left with the syrup. But beneath the glass jar was something else—something that looked like a book.

[Strange Tales]

It was the script.

Without realizing it, Geum Bitgang picked it up. A card slipped out from inside.

[To Yeomga]

It was an invitation—meant for her.

“....”

With trembling hands, Geum Bitgang opened the script.

Rustle—.

And began reading the script of , the work that Han Yeoreum was starring in.

Rustle— rustle—.

Her page-turning grew faster.

After finishing Episode 1 in one go, Geum Bitgang immediately grabbed Episode 16.

Rustle— rustle— rustle— rustle—.

Her eyes darted. Her breathing quickened.

A sensation she’d forgotten for a very long time came back to life. Her heart thrashed violently.

Bzz— bzz—.

At that moment, her phone vibrated beside her. The caller was Noh Jeongyeon.

-So? How’s my gift? You like it?

“....”

-If you don’t eat that soon, it’ll spoil. What’ll you do then?

“Damn it....”

Geum Bitgang let out a hollow laugh. She vividly remembered the day she’d sworn to abandon an acting world that no longer needed her—and yet here she was again.

“Send the rest of the script. Quickly.”

Yes. This was just because she was worried a chick might tarnish DaeYeJong’s reputation.

The reason her heart was boiling over like this was purely—

“She hasn’t learned anything yet.”

That was all it was: the heart of a teacher who couldn’t stand by knowing her disciple would be floundering alone on set. Nothing more than that.

[Attention on ’ lavish casting... the beautiful reunion of Noh Jeongyeon and Geum Bitgang]

[The queen’s return? ‘Geum Bitgang in a fusion sageuk?’ Netizens abuzz]

[Queens of the ’70s living room dramas reunite—can become a ‘masterpiece drama’?]

It didn’t take long for news of ’ new casting to dominate the portal sites.

* * *

“Wow! This is insane! Did you see that article?”

This was the Ilsan production center, where MusicN’s live broadcast recording was taking place. Seo Eden, acting extra friendly since the Gi Juye incident, was making a huge fuss.

“How many years was Professor Geum Bitgang on hiatus? She must really cherish you as a disciple, right? Like, you went and knelt down, begged her, and she said, ‘Just this once,’ right?”

What is he even watching....

“Or maybe, ‘I want to know how to grow further.’ ‘Ah—so the answer was the set where I, Geum Bitgang, stand.’ Like that? Honestly, I’m getting emotional.”

The nation really needs to legislate reducing idol waiting times. Anyone who sees Seo Eden—more trapped by clichés than any character—would agree.

“Maybe it’s because you act so well. If you think about it, Professor Geum Bitgang is your senior, right? Seniors’ hearts just swell when they see juniors who are gods at their main job.”

Watching Seo Eden on set, I realized he had good sense. Good instincts, maybe. Being an idol, he knew what kind of styling ‘worked.’

“It’s about time we did something openly childish. Stickers on the face like an amusement park part-timer, headbands too. Just a gut feeling. Intuition.”

“And now the suit cycle is back. No—cycle spelling? You know, the one that starts with S. Anyway. Don’t bother with skirts over shirts—pants. I don’t know. It just gets better reactions that way. That’s Seo Eden’s cold analysis.”

Between that and dumping cute challenges on me almost nonstop, my buzz shot up a lot. I benefited quite a bit from Seo Eden.

‘Idol-style styling plus cute challenges. That’s a guaranteed win.’

CutieLadyArchive @archive_mygirl

(Yeoreum copying a cute point-choreo.mp4)

The bridal march will now begin... my one and only girl

Retweets 4,887 Likes 14K

˪Dengjji @clangzzi

Aaaaah Han Yeoreum must be loved.

˪L @lesekilllin

There’s something about Han Yeoreum... something... Han Yeoreum has something... how do I put it... she has that... Han Yeoreum has a bit of... that thing... Han Yeoreum has a little... you know... anyway, she has it... Han Yeoreum has a little... something....

‘Followers are up to 410,000 now!’

Anyway, he’s useful in a lot of ways. It’s definitely not because he compliments me so much.

Just as I was savoring the taste of being a rising actor beside praise-bomber Seo Eden—

Something I didn’t want to hear came up.

“DaeYeJong professors must be so happy. All their students are doing so well! Right, right! And that Do Gyeoul—she’s huge in Japan and China right now. It’s absolute chaos. Guess DaeYeJong really is only for geniuses? Maybe that’s why I never went to college....”

Yes. Do Gyeoul was doing so well in Japan it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a new syndrome.

Even without looking for it, portal site mains were full of Do Gyeoul.

‘Mind control....’

Don’t think about it. Overseas expansion. I can do that too.

I imagined future great actor Han Yeoreum making her name known in Japan.

-Korean actresses are insane level www(´>∀. At my question, Seo Eden paused his praise barrage and stared off into space.

“That hyung is... um... first of all, a good person....”

...Is he, though?

* * *

“What do I do....”

The man murmured quietly at his phone screen, pressing his lips tightly inward in anxiety.

This was the Academy in Jangchung-dong.

True to its name, it was a school that mainly taught martial arts and action.

“Geum Bitgang... and Professor Noh Jeongyeon too.... Ngh....”

On his phone screen was an article about . Clear tears welled in eyes that didn’t match his sharp monolid gaze.

“What do I do....”

Clenching his large hands, pressing at the corners of his eyes, this man’s name was Kwon Junhyeok—member of the idol group VYBE, and the actor cast as Myungdo in ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) .