NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

Hong Yuri is in the midst of a hectic freshman year after enrolling in the Korean Language and Literature department at Yeonha University. Her tolerance for alcohol has improved through year-level social events, and the cruel reality of group projects has toughened her up a bit.

“Ah, it’s so tough. Where did my campus romance go?”

Despite this, watching dramas and variety shows featuring Ryu Yeon-woo, her favorite celebrity and high school junior, serves as her solace and comfort.

“Jin-yook, could you please add some water to the pot…”

Today as well, she’s sitting at her dormitory desk, with her laptop displaying her assignment and her phone propped up beside it, playing a show she has watched multiple times.

These days, something has been bothering Hong Yuri: a mentee assigned to her by her former high school as part of a mentoring program to boost college entrance rates in the capital area.

– Ting. –

[Kim Junsoo: Did you have your meal, sis?]

Since being paired with Kim Junsoo as a mentor-mentee, he contacts her multiple times a day, which she finds somewhat bothersome.

Hong Yuri’s fingers move quickly across her smartphone.

[No, I’ve been busy with assignments. You should be studying too.]

Although she could ignore him, she finds herself replying because he looks up to her.

[Kim Junsoo: I’m nervous because the June mock test is just around the corner. I need to score well to aim for Yeonha University.]

Despite the multiple messages he sends every day asking about her well-being, Yuri is relieved when she sees texts like these, confirming her junior aiming for college.

[You should manage your time well. You hardly encounter problems you can’t solve anymore.]

As soon as she puts her phone down, a quick reply comes in.

[Kim Junsoo: Right, I should manage my time well. Anyway, it seems Yeon-woo will easily go to Korea University.]

Junsoo smoothly switches the topic to Yeon-woo while subtly using informal language.

“This guy is subtly being informal again.”

Yuri knows from her school days that Junsoo is a close friend of Yeon-woo.

[Why are you subtly using informal language?]

Yuri writes, but then deletes it.

[Fighting.]

Yuri was somewhat hesitant, worried about appearing like a condescending older person despite only being a year older.

“Why do I even care how I appear to this kid? Why am I hesitating? Geez!”

“Huh?”

Yuri’s roommate lifted her head, still hungover from last night, at the sound of Yuri talking to herself.

“No, sister, go back to sleep.”

“Huuuh.”

***

[Hong Yuri: Fighting.]

Kim Junsoo stared at the dry one-word reply and then went back to solving problems with a gloomy face.

‘If Yuri gets a boyfriend before I get into college, it’s going to be problematic.’

Ah, is that really the problem? Getting admitted is difficult enough.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Junsoo began solving problems he was stuck on earlier.

However, love-struck Junsoo couldn’t focus on his studies.

He looked over and saw his good-looking friend Yeon-woo effortlessly going through his workbook.

‘Ah, if only he could share some of his study skills with me. He’s got everything else.’

“Hm? Why?”

Yeon-woo sensed Junsoo’s gaze and turned to smile at him.

“No, don’t smile like that. It makes my heart race.”

Chuckle.

Yeon-woo laughed in disbelief at Junsoo’s sudden comment.

Regardless, Junsoo heaved a deep sigh, as if the ground should swallow him up.

‘Is he going through puberty like So-hyeon did?’

Yeon-woo tilted his head as he looked at Junsoo.

Time passed, and the June mock exam was near. The students, each receiving their scores, had mixed feelings.

“Ah, my scores have increased but it’s still uncertain.”

Junsoo was no exception.

His score had definitely improved since March, but it still was not good enough to consider him safe for university admission.

On the contrary, Seong-sik had even better scores than Junsoo.

Junsoo decided to resort to his last option.

“Um, Yeon-woo?”

“Yes?”

Yeon-woo put down the book he was reading and looked at Junsoo.

“Well, you see, I have a favor to ask.”

Yeon-woo, looking at the hesitating Junsoo, spoke first.

“How about we study together at your house until the college entrance exam?”

“What? Really?”

At Yeon-woo’s suggestion, Junsoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

Yeon-woo, sitting next to him, could not help but notice Junsoo’s sighs of worry.

“I don’t know if I’ll be of much help, but let’s study together.”

Moved by Yeon-woo’s words, Junsoo’s eyes softened.

“Thanks, buddy! I’ll prepare snacks for you every day!”

“Nah, no need for snacks. That would just be a burden for your mom. I need to watch my diet.”

“Our school’s top student is tutoring me, I need to do something in return. I swear my loyalty to you!”

Yeon-woo had once again ranked first in the school’s mock exams, and rumors were spreading around the school that he was an alien.

Good at both sports and studies, there were even rumors that he only couldn’t sing because he wasn’t used to Earth’s music.

So Yeon-woo started studying with Junsoo and Seong-sik for about two hours after school at Junsoo’s house.

Junsoo’s older sister, Kim Yeonji, was proud to see her younger brother finally taking studies seriously in his senior year after spending his time on PC games.

She had taken a leave of absence before her senior year in college to prepare for employment and was currently attending a TOEIC academy.

When she returned home today, she noticed several men’s shoes scattered at the entrance.

An inexplicable anger began to boil within her.

‘Is he playing games with his friends again?’

Thinking he had grown up, she was disappointed.

With determined steps, Yeonji flung open Junsoo’s bedroom door.

“Hey, Kim Junsoo!”

Junsoo, Seong-sik, and Yeon-woo, who were attentively listening to the lesson, looked towards the wide-open door.

“Sister?”

“Ah, hello. I’m Junsoo’s friend, Ryu Yeon-woo.”

Frozen at the door, Yeonji let out an involuntary, “Eeek?”

Taken aback by the unexpected situation and Yeon-woo’s looks, she couldn’t help but scream.

“What’s with that weird noise, sister?”

“Oh, nothing. Keep studying hard.”

– Slam! –

Closing the door, Yeonji cracked it open again.

“Kim Junsoo, come out for a second.”

Upon hearing his sister’s whispered call, Junsoo stepped into the living room.

Yeonji grabbed him and spoke in a hushed, rapid manner.

“Hey, what’s going on? You ignored me when I asked for an autograph.”

“Ah, he’s my closest friend. Why would I need his autograph? I can see him anytime.”

Junsoo’s shoulders suddenly seemed to rise with newfound confidence.

“Is there anything you want to eat? Want me to slice some fruits for you?”

“Suddenly?”

Junsoo, who would get scolded for even sneaking a snack, was surprised.

“What do you mean suddenly? It’s natural for an older sister to do such things for her senior year brother. Now go back and study. Hahaha.”

Yeonji briskly walked into the kitchen.

“What am I doing…? Yoj don’t even know how to slice fruits.”

Junsoo shook his head as he reentered his room.

– Knock, knock. –

After studying for a while, Yeonji came in with a knock sound that had never been heard in the house before.

“Guys, have some fruits while you study. Hehe.”

A large plate filled with sliced fruits.

Clumsy knife marks. The kids had never seen fruits sliced in such a manner.

“Thank you, Yeonji noona. We’ll eat well.”

Yeon-woo conveyed his thanks to Yeonji with a bright smile.

“Um, okay. If you want more, let me know. Haha.”

Yeonji left the room, her ears noticeably flushed.

“Sigh.”

Junsoo sighed and shook his head.

“Wow, she must have wasted more than half of it with that slicing?”

Junsoo’s sigh deepened as he looked at Seong-sik, who was tactlessly commenting.

***

Jeong Soo-Yeon, like Yeon-woo and his friends who were engrossed in studying, was also in her senior year. She had resumed studying as soon as the filming for her recent movie ended.

Raised under strict parents, Soo-Yeon never had a chance to deviate from the norm and had always led a virtuous life starting from her childhood acting days. Despite being in the entertainment industry, she studied hard and had the grades to aim for top-tier universities in Seoul.

The biggest act of rebellion in her life was asking a male actor she met for the first time on a recent film set for his phone number. Although they exchanged numbers, Soo-Yeon found herself debating a dozen times a day whether or not to contact Ryu Yeon-woo, who hadn’t reached out since.

To this day, she still doesn’t understand what had given her the courage to do such a thing. It wasn’t that she was particularly interested in him as a romantic partner; rather, she admired his aura on set despite being the same age and wanted to get to know him better as a fellow actor.

– Ding. –

She quickly checked her ringing phone, only to find it was an ad from ‘Kakao Games.’

“Sigh.”

Shaking her head at her uncharacteristic hesitancy, Soo-Yeon decided to take the initiative and contact him.

– Tap-tap-tap. –

She opened her phone and began typing.

***

At the end of the day, Yeon-woo, who was tutoring at Junsoo’s house and then returning to his own apartment right next door, felt his phone vibrate and opened it.

[Jeong Sooyeon: Hello!]

A cute rabbit emoticon accompanied the greeting.

‘Ah, right. We did exchange numbers.’

He had hoped to make a friend in the same industry and of the same age but had completely forgotten about Soo-Yeon’s existence until now.