I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

‘So she didn’t approach me because she liked me?’

To think she came all the way just to throw down a challenge. Despite her appearance, Hong Suryeon seemed even more aggressive than Eun Baekhap.

‘I thought she was warm.’

I misjudged her. If Eun Baekhap was an ice hell, this one was more like a fire hell.

“Right. I think the reason I lost this time was because the genres were different. There’s no way you could beat me in romance.”

“But my next project is an apocalypse drama. And it’s only airing on NetHolics. Plus, if you’re going to throw down a challenge like this, it makes doing romance a bit awkward.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? Just keep suffering from stress like this? No way. Stress is the biggest enemy of beauty. If it withers my beauty, that’s a huge loss to human history. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life being chased by UNESCO, do you?”

When exactly did Hong Suryeon’s beauty get registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Her worldview seemed far deeper and more expansive than I could ever imagine.

‘Let’s not try to understand it....’

Still praising her own beauty, Hong Suryeon shook the wrist she was holding.

“Anyway, remember this! The moment you choose romance, I’m jumping in right away. I might have to rush into the project, but I’m someone who can carry everything on my own no matter the director, the script, or the male lead.”

As if offering one last piece of fan service, Hong Suryeon leaned her face closer.

“I’ll remind you exactly who I am.”

That lovely face I had seen countless times through a screen.

The face that didn’t just convince viewers, but completely overwhelmed them, came closer. A sweet fragrance brushed against my nose.

Hong Suryeon stared straight at me, then curved her long eyes into a smile. Her trademark eye-smile.

The kind that makes both the audience and the male lead fall for her at the same time.

The face of a top actress.

“Romance versus romance with me, Hong Suryeon. There won’t be a greater honor in your acting career than this, baby. Kyah.”

A top actress standing at the peak of romantic comedies had just thrown me a challenge.

“Next time, this unni will win properly.”

No matter what, she was going to go head-to-head with me.

* * *

I finished recalling what had happened an hour ago. Then I lightly raised both hands and slapped my cheeks.

Smack.

“Good. That definitely wasn’t a dream.”

A top Korean actress who captivated the public with every project she appeared in.

Just the fact that Hong Suryeon had her eyes on me was enough to make my head spin.

“So I’ve finally reached the point where I can threaten the real top actresses!”

I could feel my growth. The corners of my mouth kept rising uncontrollably.

“Han Yeoreum... you’ve really made it this far....”

My shoulders trembled. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone held a vote among actresses later? I want first place for “most threatening junior.”

“Well, this time the genres were different, and I was the second lead, so it didn’t become a huge talking point.”

had drawn even more attention as Shin Seojin’s next project. Since I didn’t appear in the last four episodes, his dominance there was even stronger.

It was different from the raw power of Lee Seohae as a character.

“If you asked the public or the industry who the main character of is, the answer would obviously be Shin Seojin.”

But romance was a different story.

It wasn’t a supporting role like Lee Seohae in , nor was it one of multiple leads like in .

“An equal female lead.”

Romance is a story of two people.

The focus might shift slightly depending on the story, but when people think of the protagonist, they naturally name both.

That meant I could properly show it.

My acting.

“A terrestrial broadcast lead.”

I had finally reached this point.

“...Me, going up against Hong Suryeon.”

A distant, towering senior.

In the same genre. One day, I might even hold a Grand Prize trophy with a terrestrial network logo on it.

I could already see the future unfolding before my eyes.

[From action to rom-com... Han Yeoreum, a limitless actress, wins MBS Grand Prize]

[KBC’s Acting Grand Prize choice was Han Yeoreum (full acceptance speech)]

[StarCutCut★ Han Yeoreum holds the SBC Grand Prize trophy... “I’ll continue to work hard”]

[HOT / The only actor to win all three major network Grand Prizes.jpg]

INTUBE

[Han Yeoreum’s touching Grand Prize acceptance speech ⎢ Baekryong Film Awards year-end ceremony CUT] 04:27

Views: 238,117

-I knew she’d win someday ^^ I’ve been a fan since debut, I’m so proud lol please keep showing us great works and stay healthy...

-Baby Melon Bread I love you Baby Melon Bread I love you Baby Melon Bread I love you Baby Melon Bread I love you Baby Melon Bread I love you

-I came because the bread exploded.... T_T

-Damn, I was crying with her and then just lost it lol

-There’s no one among actresses of this generation who can match her. Her acting is truly top-tier. They say actors speak with their eyes~ the elegance of conveying any emotion without words. Truly a treasure of Chungmuro... cheering you on...

“Kyyaaaah!”

My heart rate shot up so high I felt like I might collapse. I took a deep breath.

“Calm down... Han Yeoreum....”

With my heart still pounding, I picked up the worn-out script of .

For now, it was time to become ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) On Jihwa.

* * *

After finishing her shower, Do Gyeoul tied the belt of her robe and sat down on the sofa. The whirlwind of year-end award ceremonies had finally come to an end.

“And now it begins for me and Yeoreum....”

NetHolics’ first Korean original production.

The script reading schedule for , which would soon shake up the industry, was approaching.

It was practically a declaration that the year’s first major issue would belong to .

Click.

Holding the remote, Do Gyeoul played again—a show she had watched so many times she had memorized even the timing of the breaths.

Han Yeoreum’s Na Yuna appeared on the beam projector—dry, worn, yet grounded in reality.

“...It’s due next week.”

A tired voice, as if mixed with a sigh, echoed out.

Do Gyeoul picked up the script.

‘Right here.’

She checked again the sections where she could carve out and layer Han Yeoreum’s acting into her own.

Her interpretation of Yoo Yeonji filled every corner of the script vividly.

The more Han Yeoreum’s filmography accumulated, the more diverse Do Gyeoul’s references became.

“Perfect.”

It couldn’t be more perfect.

Dry, exhausted, irritable—but still someone who ultimately tries to protect something until the very end.

The analysis of Yoo Yeonji, the human character Do Gyeoul had struggled to understand for so long, was already complete.

Even the difficult medical dialogue she would have to deliver had been fully memorized.

As if on cue, Han Yeoreum’s face froze on the projector. A prompt asking whether to continue to the next episode appeared.

When nothing was selected, the next episode began loading automatically. During those few seconds of waiting, Do Gyeoul thought of Han Yeoreum.

“...I wonder.”

Han Yeoreum’s On Jihwa wouldn’t sound like this. Her character was the complete opposite of Yoo Yeonji. Extremely refined lines, and on top of that...

‘Reduced screen time.’

Not long ago, Do Gyeoul had received the revised script—the final version before filming.

‘I wonder how Yeoreum reacted.’

In the final revision, On Jihwa’s screen time had been reduced.

* * *

“That’s massive.”

Someone let out a low exclamation.

This was Samseong-dong. COEX Convention Center, private hall.

A massive banner hung overhead, stamped with a striking red logo.

[Netholics]

NetHolics Korea.

A scale worthy of its title as the first original production.

Every monitor inside displayed the NetHolics logo. At a glance, it looked less like a simple script reading and more like a full-scale production launch event.

“They kept saying global, global... but this is really on another level.”

Reporter Wi from Daily Media shook his head while standing in line among the crowd.

A senior reporter beside him nodded in agreement.

“This isn’t just a script reading for . It’s basically the launch briefing for NetHolics’ production lineup.”