The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune — Episode 121
“Wh-why not?”
“…?”
Did I need a reason to dislike someone?
While I was hesitating over how to explain, Jinbae-hyung came hurrying over.
“Hyung, I'm fine. It was nothing. Did you run all the way here?”
He was sweating despite the freezing cold. I felt genuinely sorry.
“No, sir. Are you really all right?”
“Yes. The conversation went fine, too.”
Jinbae-hyung let out a short breath of relief, then pulled me behind his back. I'd been about to wipe the sweat off for him.
“Excuse me, but who might you be?”
“Ah, yes… I'm Jang, Jang Junseok. I work in… film.”
At Jinbae-hyung's wary question, the man stammered out his answer. Whether it was the look that said he was being mistaken for a kidnapper, or Jinbae-hyung's sheer size, his face was full of terror.
The sudden commotion drew the eyes of everyone in the café. I pulled my cap down deeper and spoke to the man.
“In any case, Director, as I said before—I'm not interested. I'll be going.”
“Wait, I'm sorry, but could I at least get your contact? Let me explain a little more—”
Desperation clung to the voice grabbing at me. Even so, it wasn't my problem.
“You don't need to explain anything more. I'm really not interested.”
“You seem interested in film—if you tried working on a screenplay, it'd definitely be fun! Talking with you was fun, wasn't it?”
I was interested in film. It was just that the object of that interest was acting, not screenwriting.
From the look in his eyes, he's not going to give up easily.
This had become a hassle. While I was wondering how to shake him off, more gazes turned our way. That was when Jinbae-hyung handed the man a business card.
“It seems difficult to continue our conversation here. Please leave a message at the number below. We'll be going now.”
Jinbae-hyung, who had pulled me along, left the café without so much as a backward glance.
Once I'd dazedly climbed into the car, I found the kids huddled together in the back seat.
“Who was that guy? What conversation? How do you talk that long with someone you've never met!”
Noh Bihyuk shoved his face right up to mine and exploded. Four pairs of eyes, demanding an explanation, turned toward me.
I swallowed a sigh and calmly explained the man's identity, what we'd talked about, and the offer I'd heard at the end.
“He says he's sorry for snapping at you earlier.”
“What kind of film director dresses like that? Is he even a real director?”
No idea. I hadn't cared. I'd assumed he was someone I'd only see once, today.
The problem was that Jinbae-hyung had given that man his business card.
“So he didn't even know who you were, sir. I'm sorry. You called him 'Director,' so I assumed you already knew him….”
“Don't worry about it. If he contacts you, just turn him down somehow.”
I covered his mouth with my hand as he tried to apologize again. Being apologized to over something this trivial made me feel guiltier.
“Sorry for calling you out of your rest.”
“Not at all. You did exactly the right thing. Please keep doing it this way.”
Smiling, Jinbae-hyung glanced back at us.
“So what's the schedule from here?”
“We're all done playing—we were just about to split up!”
“Then I'll drive everyone home.”
Park Haeun had taken the train just to see us, so she was dropped off at Seoul Station first. Only after he'd delivered Baek Seojin and Noh Bihyuk as well did Jinbae-hyung let the tension leave his body.
“This might just be my imagination… but wherever you go, sir, something seems to happen.”
“You'll get used to it. My life is just very dynamic.”
When I answered breezily, Jinbae-hyung laughed and turned the wheel.
The car glided along, warm from the heater that had been running for a while. The cozy heat made my whole body go limp.
……
It does bother me a little. Should I say it, or not?
I deliberated for a moment, then decided.
“Hyung. If that director contacts you, switch it to me just once.”
“So you can work on the screenplay?”
“No. I'm really not interested in that. There's something I want to say.”
I just had to tell him one thing: what did he think he was doing, wearing a coat that thin in weather this cold?
“Sir, is now a good time to talk?”
“Yes….”
“……I'll just tell you a little later. Rest for now.”
Too drained to answer the hand gently patting my back, I only blinked.
The magazine photoshoot had been exhausting to the point of losing my mind. The dazzling clothes I'd never imagined wearing in my lifetime tired me out before I even put them on.
Today's shoot concept was the Languid Emperor. The moment I heard it, I thought: what on earth is that supposed to be….
'You need to look relaxed and yet antique at the same time! A little more elegant! Wow! Beautiful! Now right there—seductive, excellent! Keep looking straight at the camera!'
The photographer's manic eyes are still burned into my memory. Everyone who works in this industry is somehow a little off their rocker.
'Well, at least the results turned out well.'
Various accessories had been used to match the concept—a necklace, rings, ear cuffs, and more. The problem was that every single one was a product from a luxury Italian brand.
With tens of millions of won draped over my body, I couldn't even move carelessly.
“Ah… I'm exhausted.”
“Are you very tired? Should I get you a vitamin drink?”
“Huh?”
Ah, so that's why Jinbae-hyung suddenly came over—I'd said that out loud. My mind was so foggy I couldn't even tell anymore.
The photoshoot was over, so I assumed we were heading home, but apparently there was a video to film as well.
“What… video?”
“The one introducing the collectibles I mentioned yesterday. It'll go up on the channel the magazine runs. Sir, you really do seem exhausted.”
Ah, right. That thing.
“Ha… I completely forgot. I stuffed it in my bag yesterday, roughly. Did I pack it this morning? I can't remember.”
“……I did pack it. I'll see if the shoot can be postponed. You don't seem to be in very good condition right now, sir.”
I was too tired to even argue with that. Jinbae-hyung told me to wait a moment and disappeared.
Was it body aches? I didn't have a fever. I was just tired—tired enough to fall asleep right there. And apparently, that's exactly what happened.
“Yeonjae!!”
“……Angae?”
Only when I saw Angae running toward me in the Dark Mind Space did I realize. I really had fallen asleep. And falling asleep outside the house was a first, too.
“Is something wrong with me? Did the Misfortune Factor attach itself again?”
“Huh? No! You just fell asleep because you were tired! Tiredness has nothing to do with misfortune.”
Telling me not to blame the innocent Misfortune Factor, Angae pouted his lips.
“I told you, didn't I! You're pushing yourself too hard lately! Why are you even more tired when you're not even acting?”
“I'll really rest from now on. There's no one left to meet anyway.”
I'd been overdoing it lately, cramming in all my remaining appointments. Running all over the place back to back had actually left me more exhausted than filming did.
“Still, it's nice to see you suddenly like this.”
Listening to Angae's round, soft way of speaking, my body relaxed on its own. When I smiled and held out my hand, Angae grumbled but took it.
“Why do you only look like Jinbae-hyung these days?”
Angae, who used to comfort me in the form of a four-year-old boy, had been appearing only as Jinbae-hyung for the past few days.
“Do you like how Jinbae-hyung looks?”
“No, it's just….”
I waited quietly through the fidgeting, and an answer came back, so faint I had to concentrate to hear it.
“It's because you seem to relax when you look at this person…. Like you feel safe with him….”
“So?”
“……I can feel safe too! I want you to make that same face when you look at me!”
What on earth fills this kid's head?
I smiled at Angae, who was having thoughts that didn't amount to much.
“Whatever form you take, I feel safe with you, and I like you.”
“……Then do you like me more than this person?”
Isn't this the classic 'do you like Mom or Dad' question?
The moment I heard it, I answered without hesitation. You, obviously.
'The correct answer is always to give the other person the answer they want to hear.'
Hearing my answer, Angae beamed, then—having apparently decided on some concept—put on a stern act and cleared his throat. It didn't suit him at all. Then he suddenly scooped me up in a princess carry.
“Angae. Are you bored a lot?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because you're doing something you never do. Put me down. This position is uncomfortable.”
I expected him to set me down right away, but Angae kept silently holding on. I was about to ask why when, for an instant, my voice wouldn't come.
My vision spun as if a film had snapped, then returned to normal.
“Angae. I said put me down….”
“……It's Angae, sir?”
The moment I noticed my throat felt oddly scratchy, a voice full of bewilderment settled at my ear. Same voice—but I knew from the tone of speech at once. It was Jinbae-hyung.
“Ah, I was dreaming. Hyung, put me down, please. I can walk now.”
“Of course. But you must walk carefully.”
Jinbae-hyung carefully lowered me to the ground, one foot at a time. I looked around—it was a parking lot. Unbelievable.
“Did I fall asleep just like that?”
“Yes. You wouldn't wake up no matter what I tried, so I just carried you out. Don't worry—we have to come back in two days for the video shoot anyway, so you can greet the staff then.”
As if he knew exactly what I'd be worried about, he continued calmly. Angae was right. He really is reassuring.
“Thank you. Then let's go home.”
Just that little nap had melted most of my fatigue away. Was it because I'd seen Angae?
Rubbing my stiff neck, I got into the car. The familiar seat met my back.
“Ah, hyung. That thing you were going to tell me earlier?”
“Yes. Director Jang Junseok, whom you met last week, called.”
Jang Junseok? I was about to ask who that was when I remembered. That strange man.
“Yes. What did he say?”
“First he asked whether the person he spoke with at the café was really the actor Lee Yeonjae. Since you're the only child actor at our agency. He seemed uncertain even as he asked.”
“How did you answer?”
“I was flustered for a moment, so… I told him it was classified information.”
Classified?
When I made an incredulous face, an embarrassed voice drifted over from the front seat.
“I thought you'd have caught on by then, but he sounded so uncertain that I hesitated. If I carelessly confirmed it, it could have caused you harm, sir….”
“No, you did well. I'm just laughing because it's funny.”
I kept snickering as I looked out the window. Anyone overhearing would think he worked for the National Intelligence Service.
“My name isn't such precious information. I'll call him myself and turn him down properly.”
“Then I'll leave a message asking you to call my number tomorrow afternoon. Please don't expose your own number, sir.”
“All right.”
The laughter wouldn't die down easily. When he told me I could stop laughing by now, I only laughed harder.
It was cold enough for frost to form on the windows, but the car was full of warmth.
Still, there was no need for human warmth to this extent.
“Director. Let go of that, please.”
“Never! If I let go, you'll leave right away!!”
I swallowed a sigh as I watched Director Jang shrieking, clutching my coat and refusing to let go.
Did he even realize he was merely clinging to my clothes and dangling there, barely holding himself back?
“Director. If you don't let go within five seconds, I'm calling the police.”
“…!”
Director Jang released my hand in horror. And he actually believes me.