The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 186

‘Is this too arrogant of a thought?’

I wondered if I was failing at self-objectivity, but even after considering it calmly, it was a reasonable assumption.

I was not a deer; I was a human being who had shown various aspects to my fans until now.

I didn’t know which version of Lee Yeon-jae they liked, but…

‘They like me because I’m Lee Yeon-jae.’

From the current point of view, it was a sufficiently objective inference.

Suddenly, I felt as if my body was floating.

―I’m not ready for this, what should I do?

―Even at this moment, I can’t believe Bambi is about to sing.

―Is this a dream?

Comments were piling up quickly.

“…?”

And there was a microphone in my hand. What?

‘When did they hand it over?’

Looking ahead, I saw Jung-hyun hyung trying hard to suppress his laughter. What was so amusing?

―Hold on, this scene is too overwhelming.

―How about our Bambi debuting as an idol at this opportunity?

―But right now, both the outfit and the microphone are just too idol-like…

I smirked and held up the microphone.

“You’ve set the stage so nicely, it doesn’t seem right to back out, so I’ll sing one song and wrap up the broadcast today.”

It was my first time singing in front of so many people, but I didn’t feel particularly nervous.

I wasn’t a singer, so there was no reason to do well.

“I’ll sing Se-hyun hyung’s ‘Weather.’ I got to know the song because of Bi-hyuk, oh, Bi-hyuk is my closest friend.”

A staff member searched for the song on the karaoke machine.

I continued speaking while recalling the melody and lyrics in my head.

“Bi-hyuk told me it’s good for breathing practice. And it really helped a lot.”

‘Weather,’ the song Se-hyun hyung released as his first solo album, wasn’t a flashy song.

It didn’t have a series of high notes or require special techniques.

It was a song that emphasized the tone, so hitting the right pitch wasn’t difficult. The problem was the breathing.

‘It’s been a while.’

It was a song that required softly muttering and smoothly continuing the overall flow, making it not easy.

But since I had sung it countless times during practice, I wasn’t particularly concerned.

Fortunately, the three minutes passed without any issues, and after politely wrapping up the broadcast, I ended it.

‘It feels like a storm has passed.’

Even after the broadcast ended, I sat in a daze for a long time.

Someone crouched down in front of me, and when I looked up, it was Jung-hyun hyung, as expected.

“Did you keep the promise you made with me?”

“I think so.”

“Good boy, our Yeon-jae.”

“Hyung, can I ask you something?”

Whenever you want.

As soon as I heard the kind words, I asked.

“Do you like me that much?”

“……”

Jung-hyun hyung’s face turned dumbfounded for a moment, then he burst out laughing.

“Puhaha! I’m going crazy.”

He literally exploded with laughter.

I looked at him, unimpressed, as he laughed to the point of tears.

‘I wasn’t joking.’

I was genuinely curious.

Am I so likable that someone would go to this extent for me?

Why? What have I done?

Even though I knew why they liked me, I couldn’t understand it.

Despite my dissatisfaction, Jung-hyun hyung didn’t answer me straightforwardly.

“I’ll do better.”

“What?”

“So you won’t have to ask such questions.”

He only made these enigmatic comments.

I simply enjoyed the hand that patted my head, saying I did a good job today.

“Shall we go home now? Let’s wash up and sleep early.”

“Yes. Let’s go home.”

I grabbed the hand extended in front of me and stood up with a grunt.

“Hyung, how about we go over the next scene’s lines on the way home?”

“……Do you have infinite stamina?”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. But I left the script behind.”

“Don’t worry. I have about three copies in the car.”

“……Okay. Thanks.”

Jung-hyun hyung smiled with a complicated expression and muttered softly.

It was an incomprehensible self-talk about starting to take supplements from today.

* * *

**Yeon-jae singing Weather [1-hour loop / 1-hour loop]**

―I’m not even a fan, but I’m listening… (Likes: 1.3K)

└Agree. It’s incredibly addictive.

―I got embarrassed at the karaoke because of this video. I thought it was easy to sing and ended up publicly humiliated ㅠㅠ (Likes: 706)

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It’s actually known for being hard to sing ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└It’s consistently ranked among the top songs that trainees avoid for auditions.

―I always thought Yeon-jae would be good at singing when I watched his acting, but it’s even better than I imagined;;

└He’s a real scam character. Handsome, good at his main job, and even sings well. His dad is Lee Jung-hyun. He’s got it all.

└The rumor that he’s Lee Jung-hyun’s son is now official (Likes: 2.9K)

[Title: LOL Se-hyun’s story posted ☓ Star Story is up]

It seems he’s really close with Yeon-jae.

He even posted a certification that he watched the live broadcast in real-time.

Why does he look so mischievous with just his eyes peeking out in the selfie? So cute ㅠㅠ

―Se-hyun usually posts all the covers of his songs on his story.

└(Shush) I know^^ But it’s the first time he’s taken a selfie looking so excited.

―As a fifth-year ONCE, I get emotional whenever I discover Se-hyun’s mischievous moments. He’s been diligently living as a leader, but lately, he’s been acting so childishly ㅠㅠ I’m so glad the bullying controversy ended well.

└(Shush) Why bring up past issues? Delete it quickly;;

└Seems like a fifth-year anti-fan rather than a fifth-year ONCE.

―OP, ignore the comments aboveㅋㅋ Se-hyun just posted another story. It’s a screenshot of his text conversation with Yeon-jae, and it’s super cuteㅋㅋ Check it out.

└(Shush) Thanks ㅠㅠ It’s really cute…. Why does he look so adorable whining about going to karaoke with him?

└But Yeon-jae’s immediate shut-down is hilariousㅋㅋ

└Their chemistry is amazing. I hope they release a song together.

* * *

“You sing well.”

As soon as I arrived at the filming location, actor Kim Seok-jun greeted me.

He was dressed in the combat uniform that agent Jang Yo-seok always wore.

“Thank you. You’re already in costume.”

“Yes. There wasn’t much else to do.”

Couldn’t he have come out a bit later from home?

I usually arrived three hours before shooting, but actor Kim Seok-jun was always there before me.

The more I knew him, the more diligent he seemed.

“I watched your video from start to finish.”

“Really? It was two hours long.”

“I told you, there wasn’t much else to do.”

There would have been countless ways to kill time other than watching my live broadcast.

But I stayed quiet without refuting.

“That friend you mentioned, your closest friend.”

“…? Bi-hyuk?”

“Yes. Is he also an actor?”

“No. He’s an idol trainee. He’s with WB Entertainment.”

“Oh, really?”

I wondered why he was asking that out of the blue, but then actor Kim Seok-jun pointed behind me.

As I turned my head, Kim Seok-jun continued speaking.

“I thought he was your close friend, so I assumed his name was Bi-hyuk.”

Only then did I realize that I hadn’t even asked his name.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I turned my head and saw Seo Ji-oh standing there.

‘Why is he here?’

Seo Ji-oh was wearing casual clothes instead of the school uniform he always wore.

Noticing my gaze, he immediately looked my way.

“Hi, Yeon-jae.”

“…Why are you here?”

“You really don’t check your phone.”

Seo Ji-oh approached with a smile.

“You remember the audition for a minor role I mentioned last time? I didn’t tell you because I might not make it, but it was for Killing Horn.”

Ah, that audition with a 130-to-1 competition rate. He wasn’t sure if he’d make it or not.

“So you got the part. I didn’t know.”

“No, actually, I didn’t make it.”

Seo Ji-oh said, pretending to be embarrassed but not looking embarrassed at all.

“But something must have happened to the original person who got the role. They contacted me last week to see if I was available, so I came. I texted you right away, but you didn’t answer.”

I had been so busy with the live broadcast and other things this week that I was out of it.

“Anyway, congratulations. So your role is the nephew of agent Jang?”

“Yes. There are only a few lines, but it’s the first role with lines and even a name.”

“That’s great.”

I knew Seo Ji-oh had appeared in several works in minor roles.

‘This is the biggest role he’s had so far.’

Horn meets a boy his age, the nephew of agent Jang Yo-seok, for the

first time.

It was a scene where Horn’s emotional acting, which quickly switches from excited to serious, was central.

Although Horn was the main character, the nephew’s surprised reaction would also be captured a lot on camera.

‘For that, he doesn’t look nervous at all.’

Seo Ji-oh was indeed Seo Ji-oh.

Seeing him in his usual composed manner, I nodded.

Then, actor Kim Seok-jun spoke bluntly.

“You said you’re close friends.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Seo Ji-oh and I answered simultaneously, but actor Kim Seok-jun’s expression was peculiar.

“Really…? You don’t look close at all.”

I wondered why he was being so rude to someone he had just met, but I just shook my head.

“We’re quite close. Like the relationship between you and Jung-hyun hyung.”

“So, you’re not close.”

When I smiled silently at the quick rebuttal, he scratched his neck awkwardly.

“Right, well… It’s none of my business. Anyway, nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

“I’m Seo Ji-oh. Feel free to call me whatever you like.”

“Nice name. I have nothing to do, so why don’t we go over the lines together? Do you have time?”

“Yes. Sure.”

“Then let’s go greet the director and staff first.”

I stifled a laugh at actor Kim Seok-jun’s gruff voice.

‘He grumbles but does everything.’

I gave a half-hearted reply to Seo Ji-oh, who said see you later.

“Are you really close with Yeon-jae?”

“Yes. Like Yeon-jae said, it would be like the relationship between you and Lee Jung-hyun sunbae.”

“Oh, cheeky. And don’t call me sunbae when we just met. Just call me hyung.”

I watched them walk away, chatting.

‘…I guess he was more nervous than he seemed.’

Only when they were far away could I see it.

Seo Ji-oh’s face, which had been smiling, showed faint signs of nervousness.

That tension seemed to gradually fade each time actor Kim Seok-jun made a gruff joke.

‘He’s just a kid too.’

He always seemed mature beyond his years, but it felt strange.

I wondered if I looked like that to adults as well.

‘I should help him go over his lines before the shoot.’

And I need to practice too.

Creating a solid environment where the other person could show their skills was the priority.

After practicing alone for a while, I finally remembered my phone.

‘Right, he said he texted.’

I took out my phone, which I had forgotten in my pocket for a long time.

[2nd Year Acting Class A Seo Ji-oh: I have a shoot for Killing Horn today. See you at the set soon.]

And there was an unexpected message.

[Yeon-jae’s real best friend Bi-hyuk: Hey. Seo Ji-oh texted me that he’s shooting with you today. Is that true??]

[Yeon-jae’s real best friend Bi-hyuk: Why aren’t you answering again? I’m at the practice room, so I can’t call. ( ｰ̀εｰ́ )✧*⁎]

Why did Seo Ji-oh contact him too?

‘I’m really shooting with Seo Ji-oh, and I just found out,’ I texted, adding a good luck with your practice message.

As soon as I sent the message, the read mark disappeared, and a reply came.

[Yeon-jae’s real best friend Bi-hyuk: Don’t talk to him unless necessary. He’s really weird. It’s not jealousy, so don’t misunderstand.]

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue at the message.

‘Clearly jealous.’

Ridiculous. I read the message without replying and looked at the script again.

After running lines with actor Kim Seok-jun and Seo Ji-oh, I prepared for the shoot.

“Let’s start shooting!”

Standing in my place, I saw Seo Ji-oh slightly stiff.

I whistled softly.

“…?”

Seo Ji-oh looked at me curiously, and I gestured to relax his shoulders.

Then I mouthed the words.

‘Don’t be nervous. It doesn’t suit you.’

Seo Ji-oh stared at my lips and then burst out laughing. What’s with him?

“First take. Ready, one, two―.”

I closed my eyes at the director’s voice.

“Action!”

And then I opened my eyes.