I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

The anchor tried hard not to pay attention to the staff bustling around beyond the cameras.

What happened?

He briefly ran through the kinds of disasters that could happen during a live broadcast. Years of experience in television had given him plenty of examples.

Myeong Jeha caught for drunk driving, Do Gyeoul exposed for real estate speculation, Han Yeoreum exposed for tax evasion, Seomun Ihwa exposed for plagiarism, O Seonyul exposed for illegal drug use...

Even the guests noticed the staff’s constantly changing expressions and couldn’t help glancing around.

The camera director, ever the professional, kept the shot fixed solely on the anchor, but they couldn’t continue the broadcast in this composition forever.

”All right. Then let’s move on to the next question.”

No matter what had happened, they had to finish the broadcast first. Just as he was trying to regain control of the situation—

[Live]

Words appeared on the teleprompter in front of him.

[Global No. 1]

[Sweeping 90 Countries]

Just those two lines were enough to make the guests lose control of their expressions. Only Myeong Jeha, who had been smiling composedly from the beginning, maintained his calm. Even the anchor couldn’t stop himself from breaking into a wide smile after reading it.

”Before we continue with the next question, I have some wonderful news to share. As of this moment, has become the first K-Drama on NetHolics to reach Global No. 1 while simultaneously sweeping all ninety countries. Congratulations to everyone.”

The anchor’s enthusiastic applause echoed throughout the studio.

The guests immediately joined him.

”I think I asked for your thoughts a little too early. If I’d known this was going to happen, I should’ve saved that question for the very end.”

Normally, averaged between two and three percent in ratings.

Today was different.

It had opened at six percent.

Now it had reached nine.

For a cable news broadcast, the numbers were absurdly high.

The staff knew exactly how extraordinary this was, which only made them more excited.

When people share the same space, emotions spread without words.

Everyone was genuinely happy.

”Who was the idiot saying earlier that it’d only hit No. 1 for a second before dropping, so why bother inviting them as guests...?”

”That was your senior.”

”...Really?”

Even the staff outside the studio, watching through the glass window, couldn’t hide their excitement.

If every unexpected incident turned out like this, they’d gladly welcome them anytime.

”It couldn’t have happened at a better moment! Seriously!”

The realization that they were broadcasting a historic moment live spread across every face.

The ratings graph continued climbing upward.

”If things continue like this, not only will future K-Dramas produced by NetHolics receive worldwide attention, but people around the world will also be watching for Writer Seomun Ihwa’s next project.”

”I’d be very happy if that happened.”

And then—

”I’ve actually been thinking it would be nice to make Season 2 of .”

...

”Ever since the beginning.”

Seomun Ihwa dropped a bombshell.

A consummate professional.

A writer who had never produced a single failure.

In an industry where nothing was absolute, Seomun Ihwa was as close to an absolute as one could get.

The bomb she dropped was enough to shake all of Korea.

[’s Seomun Ihwa Makes First-Ever Statement on JTBS ... ”I’d Like to Make Season 2” Shows Positive Attitude]

[Will K-Dramas Truly Conquer America? Public Goes Wild Over News of Season 2]

[Seomun Ihwa Appears on JTBS : ”I Want Season 2”]

[”After Reaching No. 1 in America...” Writer Seomun Ihwa Drops Bombshell on ]

[JTBS Peaks at 13% Viewership... All Because of This One Statement by Writer Seomun Ihwa]

News articles began flooding the internet every second.

Online communities exploded as well.

[DramaMovieActors TALK / Holy shit, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!]

[DramaMovieActors TALK / Crazy Ihwa’s got some nerve LMAOOOO (p)]

[DramaMovieActors TALK / Thank you so much PLEASE DO IT ONE MORE TIME]

[DramaMovieActors TALK / Who were the people saying Season 2 was real? You guys win.]

That was the beauty of live broadcasts.

Jegal Rok folded his arms as he looked at the phone that had begun vibrating nonstop.

Every second, a different name appeared on the screen.

”Hmm...”

Now that had reached an unprecedented peak, the original creator’s mention of Season 2 instantly thawed Korea’s frozen media investment industry.

Seomun Ihwa’s influence wasn’t merely sufficient.

It was overwhelming.

The investment market currently looked like this.

Before NetHolics completely took over the market, investors had made one last desperate push.

Every bit of investment capital had poured into 〈Code Name: Time Seven〉.

It was KBC’s production—the network that had created 〈The Great Garland〉, hailed as terrestrial television’s final blaze of glory.

And it carried Jegal Rok’s name.

As for films, everyone naturally expected another installment of the 〈Faster Than the Law〉 series.

They were simply waiting for the call to invest in Part 4.

Everything else?

”If it’s going to NetHolics, we’ll invest.”

”Just a regular broadcasting station? No thanks.”

”You think money grows out of the ground?”

Investors who had suffered devastating losses during the Korean content ban had become even more hostile toward outside competition.

The only ones capable of overcoming that were Jegal Rok and JC ENM.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

From December through January...

Jegal Rok hadn’t had a single proper night’s sleep.

The dark circles beneath his eyes were especially severe today.

Even so, he remained the consummate professional.

He never made careless decisions.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

He methodically ignored every call from eager investors.

It would be a problem if they only agreed to invest in projects entering NetHolics.

They would become dependent on the very company that was already destroying the ecosystem from the very beginning.

Ignoring the impatient investors desperate to throw money at him, Jegal Rok quietly listened as ’s closing music began to play.

The moment the broadcast ended, he immediately called Seomun Ihwa.

”I watched the broadcast. Well done.”

”So... does it begin now?”

”Yes.”

”Starting now.”

Jegal Rok knew exactly how to increase someone’s market value.

”Don’t answer any incoming calls. Calling your family every now and then is fine.”

The more excessive, the better.

There was no way NetHolics wouldn’t realize Disney+ would soon be approaching Seomun Ihwa.

As always, the side that needed something was the one that had to bow first.

Everything was proceeding exactly as expected.

The shell Seomun Ihwa had fired during the live broadcast would soon send shockwaves all the way to America.

* * *

”Ah... My heart’s racing... I’m not going to sleep at all tonight...”

”Yeoreum... You weren’t going to sleep anyway because of your schedule...”

”...That’s true.”

After ended, I greeted the anchor, the writer, and the director, desperately avoided Do Gyeoul’s unwavering gaze, took pictures with the staff, and still couldn’t calm my pounding heart.

Knock, knock.

A neat knock echoed through the waiting room.

I was certain it was Myeong Jeha.

The sound had come from rather high up.

”Can I come in?”

”You’re already inside.”

had been my final promotional schedule for .

I’m seriously going to miss this.

This is when we’re at our absolute peak...

Even if it only lasted briefly, Global No. 1 and sweeping ninety countries was an unbelievable achievement.

Every schedule from now on would mention those incredible results.

Ugh... Just imagining every article coming out without my face in it...

It genuinely hurt.

Apparently Myeong Jeha had sent both my coordinator and my manager outside.

Before I knew it, only the two of us remained.

”What?”

”Nothing. Since this was our last schedule together, I just wanted to say goodbye properly.”

With his hair neatly swept back and wearing a perfectly tailored suit for , Myeong Jeha looked every bit the classic gentleman.

With his forehead fully exposed, his eyes stood out even more than usual.

”I’m leaving for America at the end of next month.”

”Oh... Hollywood...”

So he’d be heading to America carrying the glory of becoming No. 1 worldwide across ninety countries?

Myeong Jeha was about to take everything.

”Wait. You have to come to the premiere of 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉.”

”Of course. You think I’d miss it?”

Thank goodness.

It would’ve been such a waste not to use that face while it was at its absolute peak.

Just hearing I’d be included in the schedule made me feel a little better.

”Can I ask you one favor?”

”Hm. Go ahead.”

”Please take good care of Unni Jeongyun...”

Just look at today on .

Tak Jeongyun had the strong projection expected of a theater actress, but that was all.

Anyone could tell she was nervous.

If a veteran like Myeong Jeha looked after her, it’d probably make a difference.

Just having someone dependable beside you gave peace of mind.

”Really?”

...

”That’s your only request?”

As expected.

Nothing got past Myeong Jeha.

I really didn’t want to ask something this pathetic.

It made me look so desperate.

But if the opportunity was right in front of me, when else would I ask?

”Please don’t look too close to Do Gyeoul in front of other people.”

I blurted it all out in one breath without stopping.

It was my pathetic attempt to reduce the embarrassment.

Myeong Jeha laughed wholeheartedly.

”Hahaha. Ah... Seriously.”

”Come on, you already knew anyway! I don’t want my buzz getting stolen! I don’t want to lose to Kangil-Yeonji! Back then you acted like you’d nobly sacrifice yourself, but when it comes to winning the Grand Prize it’s suddenly ’come here,’ and now you’re doing this...”

I rambled incoherently, but Myeong Jeha showed no signs of stopping.

had just reached an all-time ratings peak.

That inevitably attracted the kind of people obsessed with rankings and numbers.

Shipping fans plus ratings fanatics?

That combination produced firepower nobody could stop.

And since I’m out of the picture now, they must think things couldn’t have worked out better...

I had to stop that somehow.

Even I knew how pathetic my request sounded.

My face burned with embarrassment.

After laughing for quite a while, Myeong Jeha finally caught his breath.

”So you’re...”

”What?”

”Trying to keep me in line.”

He laughed again.

I clenched my teeth.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

”I’m coming in! I’m coming in!”

The door suddenly burst open.

Apparently he had run all the way here.

Myeong Jeha’s manager rushed inside, his face pale.

”What were you two talking about?”

”Hm. Just catching up.”

Myeong Jeha casually gave me a little wink.

So that meant he’d grant my request, right?

”Aren’t you going to tell me to have a safe trip?”

”Have a safe trip.”

”Mm. I will.”

That old man.

First he wanted a proper greeting, and now he wanted to be seen off too.

Age really was showing.

I watched Myeong Jeha walk away with Manager Na.

America...

I’m going too.

A few days earlier, after receiving the new title of ”Ten Million Followers,” I checked the points I’d accumulated along with it.

10,000,000p

Just as the title suggested.

Ten million.

And inside the Item Shop—

[Become Fluent in Foreign Languages with a Sip of Butter Beer]

▶ Description: If you want to deliver natural performances, shouldn’t you also be good at foreign languages? English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian! Why not try an item that lets you speak even languages you’ve never encountered before—completely fluently?

Duration: 00:05:00

10,000p

Could this really...

...be foreshadowing that I’ll be going to America soon?

* * *

Manager Na wondered whether he’d somehow been insufficiently sincere yesterday while praying with full-body bows that absolutely no dating scandal would break out.

No matter how much he thought about it, though, his desperation had been flawless.

”Manager.”

”Hm...?”

Myeong Jeha’s voice, carrying that unmistakable hint of amusement, immediately filled him with dread.

Manager Na tried to pretend nothing was wrong.

”I’m sick.”

”Where?!”

He failed instantly.

”I don’t know... Maybe I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately.”

With both hands tucked into his trouser pockets, Myeong Jeha spoke casually.

Feeling those eyes looking down at him, Manager Na instinctively lowered his gaze.

All he could see were polished dress shoes.

He doesn’t look sick at all.

Manager Na reached the only reasonable conclusion.

It was even harder to believe because the man had been laughing perfectly fine just moments ago.

”Please adjust my schedule.”

”...How?”

”When someone says they’re sick, aren’t you supposed to at least say you’ll cancel everything? Haha.”

”...Haha...”

You little brat.

Do you think broadcasting is a joke?

Do you think schedules are a game?

After rejecting script after script for years, you’ve finally reached the point where work is pouring in, and now...

”That might be a little...”

...Impossible.

Right?

”A little?”

Manager Na felt tears welling up.

There was so much he wanted to say.

But somehow, he felt like he shouldn’t.

Whether Myeong Jeha understood or not, he merely smiled calmly.

Almost as if he were suppressing a laugh.

”Then let’s do this.”

”...Do what?”

”Cancel every schedule currently booked.”

”What?!”

”And replace them with new ones three days from now.”

”I’ll work hard.”

What kind of logic was that?

If he only wanted three days off, couldn’t they simply postpone or cancel the schedules during those three days?

Faced with this miraculous reasoning, Manager Na was speechless.

”You keep staying silent. My feelings are getting hurt. I just told you I’m sick.”

Threatening him with emotional blackmail, Myeong Jeha watched calmly.

Manager Na finally looked up.

Their eyes met.

Even if it was Myeong Jeha—

Even if the guy always acted like he stood above everyone else—

”Three days... is enough, right?”

”Haha. Of course.”

Manager Na was simply too weak to stand up to Myeong Jeha.

He had no choice but to surrender.

It was completely different from the man who had just moments ago been throwing his head back laughing beside Han Yeoreum.

”Then shall we go? Thank you for looking out for me.”

An actor who always did whatever he pleased was on an entirely different level from ordinary scandal-prone celebrities.

He was far, far harder to manage.

Manager Na let out a deep sigh.

They’re really not dating... right?