The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 169

“Introduce yourselves. This is Sung Lee-jun hyung. And this is Seo Ji-oh.”

“Hello…!”

“Hello. Hyung, I’m the same age as Yeon-jae. Feel free to speak comfortably.”

Seo Ji-oh replied with a relaxed smile.

“Uh-huh. I heard from Yeon-jae that you’re an aspiring actor?”

“Yes. We became close because we’re in the same class. Hyung, this is the first time Yeon-jae introduced me to someone.”

“…! Really?”

Sung Lee-jun’s face brightened at Seo Ji-oh’s subtly thrown remark.

Sung Lee-jun’s previously stiff expression softened so easily.

‘The atmosphere is nice.’

Seo Ji-oh fundamentally had a knack for dealing with people.

Sung Lee-jun, who had been very cautious, relaxed almost instantly.

“I also like Director Baek’s movies…! I met him in person once, and he was so kind.”

“Really? Wow, I’d love to meet him someday too.”

I observed their conversation and occasionally chimed in.

In just an hour, Sung Lee-jun was completely at ease.

“Guys, I’m going to take a quick call…!”

“Okay.”

“Take your time.”

Sung Lee-jun got up with a genuinely happy face.

If he were a game character, there would probably be a ‘Friend +1’ above his head by now.

After confirming he was out of sight, I looked at Seo Ji-oh.

“Thanks for coming out today.”

“No, thank you for introducing me to a famous actor.”

Seo Ji-oh laughed slowly.

“But it’s surprising. I roughly understand the situation… I didn’t expect you to introduce me. Wouldn’t someone like Noh Bi-hyuk be better for that type?”

“He already knows Bi-hyuk.”

“Ah, I see.”

However, it was hard for them to meet separately because of their mismatched schedules.

Even I rarely saw Noh Bi-hyuk unless it was at school.

‘It’s already hard to see him now, and it’ll be even harder once he debuts.’

I felt a bitter taste. Maybe it was because of the green tea.

As I put down the teacup and picked up the water glass, a low voice came back.

“Still, it’s quite unexpected. What made you trust me to introduce him?”

“Of course, I’m worried. Lee-jun hyung is exactly the type of person you need to be careful with.”

Sung Lee-jun was the kind of person who could easily be manipulated by malicious people.

Seo Ji-oh could very well do the same if he wanted to.

“Haha, it’s true, but you’re too unfiltered.”

Seo Ji-oh, laughing lazily, didn’t seem to want to deny it.

But seeing that, I didn’t feel particularly uneasy.

“You’ll handle it well.”

“Huh?”

“If you get greedy, you could end up losing both Lee-jun hyung and me. I don’t think you’d do something that stupid.”

“…….”

Seo Ji-oh, staring at me quietly, smiled.

“Yeah. I won’t. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt him.”

“He’s a good hyung. Treat him well.”

In the entertainment industry, you inevitably meet various kinds of people.

Seo Ji-oh would encounter people much more cunning and evil.

It might be better to expose him little by little as a preventive measure.

Since I can control it, I’ll just keep a close watch.

“For now, don’t contact or meet him alone.”

“I’ll do that.”

Seo Ji-oh answered obediently, fiddling with his teacup.

“But why do you care so much about him?”

“Just because.”

I cared because I cared.

I answered nonchalantly, but he didn’t back down.

“I know you’re much kinder than I thought, but this seems a bit excessive. He’s even older than us.”

“What’s age got to do with it? I just want us to be good friends.”

“Of course, it doesn’t matter. But usually, that’s the kind of concern parents have.”

I swallowed a sigh at his immediate rebuttal.

Why was he being so persistent today?

“So what’s the problem? What are you trying to say?”

Annoyed, I blurted out a question mixed with irritation.

Seo Ji-oh looked at me for a moment before speaking.

“Yeon-jae. I was just curious why you care so much about him. I had no other intentions.”

“…Sorry, I was being sensitive.”

“Haha, it’s okay.”

Seo Ji-oh let out a hearty laugh.

It was an unusually refreshing laugh for the situation.

“I understand. We’re in the same line of work. Even a light comment makes you search for intentions.”

“…….”

“Even if I try not to, it doesn’t go as planned. It’s exhausting, but… there’s no other way.”

It was hard to tell if he was talking to me or to himself.

Listening to Seo Ji-oh’s mutterings, I thought quietly.

‘Let’s admit it.’

Seo Ji-oh was comfortable.

Talking with him made me feel like a weight had been lifted off my chest.

It was a completely different kind of comfort compared to being with Noh Bi-hyuk.

He was so kind, gentle, and pure.

‘He’s almost too good for me.’

Maybe that’s why I felt suffocated whenever I saw Noh Bi-hyuk, despite the comfort.

An unconscious compulsion to show only the best side of myself to him.

‘Noh Bi-hyuk has no ulterior motive in talking to Lee Yeon-jae.’

That’s what you said.

I really wanted to believe that.

I genuinely wanted to believe it more than anyone else.

But it wasn’t easy.

Even when talking and laughing with Noh Bi-hyuk, a sense of unease would wash over me as I lay in bed to sleep.

‘How long will you last by my side?’

That anxiety bubbled up to the tip of my nose.

Feeling my mood plummet, I shook my head vigorously.

“Yeon-jae. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just feeling a bit….”

It seemed the bitterness wasn’t just from the green tea.

Staring blankly at the empty water glass, Seo Ji-oh refilled it for me.

“When you’re upset, it’s okay to swear.”

“…….”

“Keeping it bottled up only leads to pent-up anger. Swearing doesn’t change anything, but it’s better than not doing it at all.”

“So, do you swear when you’re upset?”

“Yeah. But I only do it in my room. Where no one can hear.”

I chuckled at his secretive whisper.

“Thanks for the tip. Looks like my temper will worsen thanks to you.”

“Haha!”

Despite my potentially offensive remark, Seo Ji-oh laughed without hesitation.

“Isn’t your nickname Bambi?”

Why did he bring that up out of the blue?

I asked with my expression, and he continued with a smile.

“Why do deer have antlers? To attack. Since you have them, you should use them.”

“…….”

I stared at Seo Ji-oh quietly.

His tone was genuinely indifferent… how strange.

“You’re kinder than you look.”

“I’m glad you think so. But I think a cat suits you better than a deer.”

That cat nonsense again.

I turned my head with a bored expression, making him laugh even louder.

“Yeah, every time you turn your head like that, it feels more so. The cat I feed also turns away right after finishing the tuna.”

“If you stay quiet, it’ll stay put.”

“Wow, that’s right. How did you know?”

When he teased me about telepathically communicating with cats, I ended up giving him a light punch.

‘Enough already.’

Shaking my head, I drank my water.

The bitterness had disappeared, leaving only the bland taste of the water.

* * *

“Actor-nim. Are you ready?”

“Yes. How about Jung-hyun hyung?”

“He said he’ll come separately because of his schedule. Let’s go first.”

Following Jin-bae hyung’s guidance, I obediently got into the car.

The engine started smoothly, and the car moved.

“It seems summer is really here. It’s still bright at this hour.”

“Indeed.”

The bright sunlight felt through the heavily tinted windows.

The clear blue sky was refreshing to look at, but there was no time to appreciate it.

I immediately lowered my gaze to the script in my hand.

‘Let’s do well.’

Today was the script reading for ‘Killing Horn.’

With massive investment from ☓flix, a production crew with at least 10 years of experience, Lee Jung-hyun’s next project, and a lineup of famous actors.

And it was my first drama as the lead.

‘I am nervous.’

I had practiced until I was sick of it.

I was confident I wouldn’t make mistakes, but why was I so anxious?

I tried taking deep breaths, but my pounding heart wouldn’t calm down.

“Hyung, do you have any calming pills?”

“…? Ah! Yes, yes. I do!”

Jin-bae hyung looked momentarily dazed, like a robot misinterpreting a command.

I took the calming pill he hurriedly pulled from the console box.

“Thank you.”

“Actor-nim. Are you very nervous?”

“It seems so.”

Jin-bae hyung’s eyes shook in the rearview mirror.

It was understandable. Even when I had the lead role in Director Yoon Kang-yeon’s project, I wasn’t this nervous.

‘It feels different from then.’

Back then, I didn’t want to make mistakes.

I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone, so I was determined to do well. But now…

“……I really want to do well.”

“You will do well, actor-nim.”

The words came out like they were triggered by a spell, making me chuckle.

Thanking him, I closed my eyes.

‘I want to do well.’

It wasn’t for anyone else. I just…

wanted to do well.

A complex feeling washed over me, one that couldn’t be described in words.

Still, I managed to keep my composure and arrived at the reading venue.

‘There are so many people.’

The scale of the project was evident from the size of the reading room, which was almost as large as a gymnasium and filled with people.

‘I thought I came early… I should have come even earlier.’

I decided to start by greeting people.

But before I could take a few steps, I felt my body lift.

“…!”

I held my breath in surprise, then relaxed at the familiar scent.

Only then did the unfamiliar hands holding my waist feel familiar.

“Hyung, you really scared me….”

“Haha, sorry. I was just so happy to see you.”

With a low laugh, Jung-hyun hyung set me down and hugged me from behind.

He showed no intention of letting go, making me laugh.

“You’re looking sharp today, our Yeon-jae.”

“Yes. I stopped by the salon.”

I answered quickly, but Jung-hyun hyung laughed, saying that wasn’t what he meant. Then what did he mean?

The low laughter tickling my ears made them itch.

“Hyung, could you let me go now?”

I wasn’t uncomfortable, but I had to greet people.

Ever since Jung-hyun hyung lifted me, all eyes were on us, and it only intensified as we whispered.

But Jung-hyun hyung just kept laughing.

“Sure, once you completely relax.”

“…….”

As soon as I understood what Jung-hyun hyung meant, I turned my head.

When I made eye contact with Jin-bae hyung, I glared at him.

He awkwardly averted his gaze.

‘Seriously.’

Swallowing a sigh, I patted the hand on my stomach.

“Thanks to you, I’ve forgotten all about being nervous. Please let go now.”

“Oh, what a pity.”

Jung-hyun hyung clicked his tongue as he slowly let go.

Turning around, I finally saw his familiar face.

“Hyung, you look great today too.”

“Oh, our baby~.”

My straightforward compliment was met with his usual over-the-top reaction.

Accepting Jung-hyun hyung’s affection as he touched my cheek, I greeted the others.

After greeting the directors, actors, and staff, only one person remained.

“……Aren’t you nervous? How do you two act like lunatics every time?”

It was actor Kim Seok-jun with a weary expression.

He looked much more like a celebrity compared to when he was in ‘Butterfly on the Zelkova Tree.’

‘He seemed more playful back then.’

Though my memory from three years ago wasn’t crystal clear, I recalled that he wasn’t this serious during the Zelkova script reading.

Gone was the easygoing guy who moved casually; now he wore a much more serious expression.

“Everyone, we’ll start the reading soon. Please take your seats where your names are placed.”

At the staff’s call, people began to move.

I also headed to my seat, with actor Kim Seok-jun following me.

“Hey. Do you remember what I said before?”

“Yes?”

“I chose this because of you.”

I wondered what he meant, but Kim Seok-jun smiled.

It was the mischievous face I remembered.

“So let’s do well. Let’s make it fun.”

“…? Yes. I look forward to working with you.”

I didn’t know what he meant exactly, but I felt the same desire to do well.

After a brief exchange, I took my seat.

After everyone finished their greetings, the first reading session began.

Amidst the hushed silence, I quietly closed my eyes.

“Scene 1-1. The first appearance of ‘Horn’.”

And with the staff’s voice, I opened my eyes.