The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter: 22

“What are you referring to?”

“At the end, you suddenly looked up. You had been looking down at Mrs. Lee the whole time.”

Oh, did I do that?

I couldn’t answer right away as I was reflecting on my acting, but no one urged me.

“It wasn’t intentional, but it wasn’t a mistake either.”

“Hmm, what do you mean?”

“I didn’t intend to change my gaze, but as I was acting as Yu-hyeon, it seemed to happen naturally.”

“Really? What kind of Yu-hyeon did you imagine?”

The calm answer drew curious looks.

Even though the conversation was only between me and the PD, I felt like I was giving a speech in front of a crowd because of all the eyes glued to my face.

Feeling a dry sensation in my mouth, I slowly began to speak.

“Yu-hyeon tries to act as ordinary as possible in front of Na-bi. As the crown prince, he had a significant burden, so he felt comfortable when he was with Na-bi, who didn’t know his identity. I thought this premise influenced his feelings of affection. He deliberately showed a weak and clumsy side to feel more at ease.”

The scene I had just acted out was a conversation between Yu-hyeon and Mrs. Lee, who was hiding him at the queen’s request.

Even though Mrs. Lee knew Yu-hyeon’s identity, he always spoke formally to Na-bi, so he maintained the formal tone.

However, he tried to express his power through non-verbal cues.

Yet, the stern demeanor that had been maintained throughout slightly faltered the moment he mentioned Na-bi.

Unconsciously, he lowered his chin and raised his eyes, adopting the appropriate behavior of a commoner looking at a noble, just as he did with Na-bi.

Although I hadn’t realized this flow while acting, upon reflection, it seemed reasonable, so I explained it without much thought.

After my explanation, the atmosphere became even quieter.

The only one smiling, the PD, briefly met my eyes before turning the page of his documents.

“Yes, thank you. Next, number 44, please come forward.”

After bowing, I returned to the chair where I had been waiting.

Looking back, I had neither made a mistake nor had any regrets.

From the beginning, I had nothing more to show at my level.

‘This is really the end…’

A long breath naturally escaped me.

As I slowly clenched and unclenched my hand, I felt a sense of liberation. Ah, it’s truly over.

Over the past two weeks, my body had been constantly tense, but it was now gradually relaxing.

Only then did I realize my hands were damp with sweat.

‘As soon as I get back to the orphanage, I need to sleep.’

If I fell asleep, Mist would approach with an excited face, as if he had been waiting for me.

I could easily imagine him jumping around energetically.

In fact, it was Mist who had given me the first clue to immerse myself in Yu-hyeon. Though it wasn’t intentional, it was purely by chance.

The problem was that afterward, he acted like my manager, eager to train me.

‘Yeon-jae, you struggled with historical speech, right? I looked it up, and doing it this way should be easier!’

‘Your head is a bit crooked! Try coming up a bit more slowly!’

‘Hmm, that expression looks awful… How many times do I have to tell you to completely forget your usual self?’

…He gave me tips that could have been insults, but some of his advice was helpful.

He even projected my acting like it was filmed with a camera, showing me my shortcomings.

Thanks to this, I could easily see where my acting lacked conviction and which words needed more emphasis.

‘Of course, practicing even in my dreams was exhausting…’

I wasn’t kidding; I spent the entire past two weeks fully immersed in Yu-hyeon.

Maybe that’s why the misfortune factor fell off on its own without me even noticing, and Mist was delighted, watching my energy like a child.

After all 45 performances ended, I returned to the waiting room.

Parents and a few managers, who had been waiting, patted the actors on the back, saying they did well.

I greeted a staff member in the corner, grabbed my bag, and left.

I hadn’t walked far from the building when my phone vibrated, showing a familiar name on the screen.

“Hello.”

—Hey, Yeon-jae, are you done with the audition?

“Yes, I just finished.”

—Really? Can you come to the parking lot? I’m on the second basement floor.

I stopped in my tracks.

Not understanding, I asked again, and with a low chuckle, he told me to take the elevator down.

Still in a daze, I re-entered the building and went down to the second basement floor, where actor Lee Jung-hyun was indeed standing in front of the elevator.

“Surprised? I didn’t expect you to be this startled. I thought you might have anticipated it.”

“How could I have guessed? Aren’t you busy?”

“I’ve told you several times, I’m free. Let’s get in the car first. Let’s go to a different rice cake shop this time. That place is really good too.”

Lee Jung-hyun, wearing a deeply pulled black cap, extended his hand.

I instinctively took his hand and moved to the car.

Having rested well, Lee Jung-hyun, with his high spirits, chatted non-stop.

“Was the timing okay? I tried so hard to time it right since I didn’t know when you’d finish.”

“You could have just left a message saying you were waiting downstairs.”

“Come on, then you would’ve been super nervous if I told you. I didn’t have any schedules today anyway… I wanted to go into the waiting room with you, but someone refused… I wanted to cheer you on.”

Of course, you would. It would have been a magnet for attention if you had come in with me.

I didn’t respond to his sullen voice.

Lee Jung-hyun then burst into laughter and patted my back.

“So, did you do it without any regrets?”

I looked up at the kind eyes peeking out from between his hat and mask.

He wasn’t asking about the result of the audition.

So, I answered without hesitation.

“Yes. I did it without any regrets.”

After saying that and closing my mouth, I felt something fill up between my ribs, making it slightly hard to breathe.

Uncontainable pride surged, and I couldn’t help but smile.

* * *

“Wow, do you do that even in front of your brother? I thought you only did that to me.”

“Haha, Yeon-jae is always kind, even if he pretends not to be.”

“Really? I thought the opposite. He speaks kindly, but his eyes are too cold….”

“Bi-hyuk, stop and eat some rice cakes.”

“Look at his eyes, brother!”

I gritted my teeth, thinking I’d like to shut Noh Bi-hyuk’s mouth as he pointed a finger at me.

“Haha! You two really get along well.”

This was the first time I saw Lee Jung-hyun laugh so openly.

I waited for Noh Bi-hyuk to stop talking about how I was doing at school, but he seemed never to stop, so I stuffed his mouth with rice cakes.

“Finish eating first.”

“Mmph.”

“Chew slowly.”

I stared at Noh Bi-hyuk as he nodded with his cheeks puffed out. I’d have to stuff his mouth again once he finished.

Later, when Noh Bi-hyuk raised his hands, showing his palms, signaling a truce, I ignored him.

Lee Jung-hyun, who had been watching us bicker with a smile, quietly ordered more rice cake cakes.

“Yeon-jae, eat a little more. You worked hard today.”

“Yes, I’m eating. You should eat too, hyung.”

Noh Bi-hyuk’s sudden appearance was due to a call in Lee Jung-hyun’s car.

I remembered the message telling me to contact him after the audition when I saw the stored name on the screen.

I excused myself to take the call, but the playful voice must have been heard next to me.

He said it was okay to bring a friend if I wanted, but I politely declined. However, Noh Bi-hyuk, overhearing, threw a fit about wanting to come.

The result of nodding with a sigh at his whining over the phone was this.

“Hyung, did you know he watches your dramas during every break?”

“Wow, really?”

I facepalmed as I watched Noh Bi-hyuk, who had finished eating and started talking again.

It was ridiculous how he casually called him brother after barely meeting him, but he was naturally sociable, so I let it slide.

It would be stranger if he were shy.

“Yes, I’ve fallen for it a couple of times. He acts so naturally as if nothing’s happening—”

“Noh Bi-hyuk. Stop talking about me. Hyung, please don’t encourage him.”

“Haha. Why? It’s fun.”

“See, he says it’s fun too. And Yeon-jae, didn’t I tell you not to call me with my last name?”

Although he was smiling, I could tell from his squinting eyes that he was genuinely annoyed.

He was so sensitive about titles. He usually acted like he had a few screws loose, but he could be prickly about things like this.

When Noh Bi-hyuk grumbled about not having anything else to talk about, I turned my head towards the still-smiling Lee Jung-hyun.

Then, I threw a curveball.

“Hyung. His dream is to become an idol.”

“…?”

“Really? I had a feeling.”

Lee Jung-hyun nodded as if he had genuinely anticipated it.

But the person involved seemed quite surprised.

“What the heck, suddenly?”

His voice revealed his bewilderment.

Even with a look asking for an explanation, I nonchalantly kept my eyes on Lee Jung-hyun.

“So, when he debuts, please slap his mouth whenever you see him. That way, he won’t make any mistakes.”

“Haha! Why? I think Bi-hyuk speaks well now.”

Lee Jung-hyun laughed heartily and agreed.

Then, he naturally began giving advice disguised as an explanation about the idol industry.

Noh Bi-hyuk, despite being dazed, focused on what he said.

Questions were exchanged intermittently, and I occasionally nodded while gradually emptying the plate in front of me.

I only stood up after finishing all seven plates of rice cakes that Lee Jung-hyun had ordered.

Even though Lee Jung-hyun offered to give me a ride home, I declined several times, saying it was just around the corner, and he sent Noh Bi-hyuk off first.

As I got into Lee Jung-hyun’s car, I yawned from the fatigue that washed over me after the audition, only to hurriedly cover my mouth.

‘Come to think of it, he didn’t ask much about the audition.’

Wasn’t that the reason he came?

Besides saying I worked hard, neither Lee Jung-hyun nor Noh Bi-hyuk brought it up further.

I must have been lost in thought for a moment because the car smoothly pulled up in front of the orphanage.

“Yeon-jae, you really did well today. Since the paperwork came from our side, they won’t contact you. I’ll let you know if they call. So don’t worry if you don’t hear from them.”

Lee Jung-hyun’s voice was even softer than before.

He spoke as if he was dealing with a child. I slightly regretted bickering with Noh Bi-hyuk earlier.

I answered that I understood and met his gaze.

“Brother, thank you so much.”

“Huh?”

“For waiting until my audition was over. And of course, thank you for the rice cakes. They were delicious. When I earn some money, I’ll definitely treat you.”

“Haha! Alright. Until then, I’ll keep treating you. I’ll make sure to eat a lot later.”

I stared at his gently folded eyes for a moment before speaking again, a bit more carefully this time.

“And thank you for talking to Bi-hyuk earlier.”

Noh Bi-hyuk wasn’t oblivious, so he must have had a reason to go out of his way to join us.

He’s usually not one to do things that don’t benefit him, so he must have put in some effort to come.

Although he’s aiming to be a singer, it’s still Lee Jung-hyun, an actor. For someone like Noh Bi-hyuk, who dreams of becoming a celebrity, it’s not bad to know him.

I thought that since we had come this far, I should at least set the stage, so I brought it up.

Regardless of the outcome, using Lee Jung-hyun for other purposes, I wanted to make sure I apologized for that.

Lee Jung-hyun’s expression turned subtle after hearing my words.

“Yeon-jae, aren’t you friends with Bi-hyuk?”