The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 192

※ This chapter contains descriptions that may trigger trauma. Please be cautious while reading.

A strange noise echoed in my ears.

Crack, crack.

It sounded like something was breaking, or maybe it was straining.

“―Mr. Yeon-jae.”

“Yes?”

I forced a smile, trying to maintain a calm expression.

I thought it looked natural enough.

But the person opposite seemed intent on finding a flaw, staring straight into my eyes.

As our eyes met, the nausea worsened.

“It’s okay. Just keep looking at me.”

What’s okay?

‘Nothing is okay.’

I wanted to scream.

Everything felt pointless. Why was I here?

“Take a deep breath. It’s alright.”

Nothing is alright.

I wanted to snap. But he was wrong.

More than that, there were too many eyes watching.

‘…But why should I care?’

Why did I need to worry about other people’s gazes?

Every time I closed and opened my eyes, it felt like lightning struck. I was disoriented.

“Jin-bae, call the doctor―.”

“Hold on―.”

The people around me were talking.

Among them was Jung-hyun hyung.

He looked at me with worried eyes.

‘Jung-hyun hyung.’

What I just did was acting.

The one who died was Kang Seok, not Jung-hyun hyung. I wasn’t confused about that.

But… I couldn’t escape Horn’s emotions.

‘What’s the point of it all?’

It felt like sinking into a swamp.

Why should I live like this?

What’s the point of living each day avoiding the misfortune factor?

Will I have to live like this forever?

Even if I live like this, what about the people around me?

What did they do to deserve this?

What if someone else dies? Even before that, what if I―.

“Can you hear me?”

Someone stood in front of me.

I recognized the face; I’d seen them a few times.

‘The therapist.’

They were sent by the production company from the beginning of the shoot due to the violent content in the script to prevent controversy. I hadn’t spoken to them much until now.

The discomfort grew.

“I’m sorry, but could you leave me alone for a moment?”

I gritted my teeth to remain polite.

“Everyone, I’m sorry, but please go. I’m fine.”

I couldn’t hear anything properly.

Only faint noise buzzed in my ears.

‘What did I do wrong?’

It felt unfair.

I thought I shouldn’t whine like a child, but I felt resentful.

It was just too hard to think anymore.

“Actor, please―.”

Someone held me tightly.

The figure was large enough to envelop me.

I didn’t know who it was, but I wished they would let go.

‘What if the misfortune factor transfers?’

That couldn’t happen. I needed to tell them to let go.

I had to do it. I was the only one who knew.

They were innocent victims.

“Don’t push me away. Please.”

I struggled to escape the embrace.

The more I struggled, the tighter the grip became.

I felt like having a fit, hoping something would explode.

As my body trembled, the person holding me pleaded.

Gentle whispers continuously filled my ear, but I couldn’t understand them.

Then suddenly, one word pierced through my ears.

“What?”

I immediately looked up.

The person was still holding me tightly, so all I could see was their coat.

But I urgently asked again.

“Mist, Mist?”

“Yes, your friend Mist. Shh, it’s okay. Just think about Mist. Alright?”

Mist. Right.

I nodded vigorously. Just think about Mist.

‘I want to see him.’

Tears welled up.

A large hand patted my back.

“You’re doing great. Just think about Mist.”

The steady rhythm of the hand on my back calmed me.

Unintentionally, my eyes closed.

My blurry vision grew even more indistinct.

“…….”

And I lost consciousness.

* * *

An Jin-bae exhaled only after confirming that the actor was asleep.

“……Ha.”

It was a sigh filled with unexpressable emotions.

In that short time, he had been so startled that his back was soaked with sweat.

As he lifted the actor, Lee Jung-hyun approached.

“Jin-bae, we’ll take care of things here. Just go.”

Gone was his usual gentle smile, replaced with a somber expression.

An Jin-bae wanted to ask if he was alright, but he stopped himself.

He was probably making the same face.

“Thank you. I’ll leave it to you.”

“I’ll come home as soon as things are wrapped up here.”

It was a relief to have another actor from the same agency around.

While An Jin-bae carried the actor inside the tent, Lee Jung-hyun’s manager made sure to block any views.

Checking to see if anyone was taking pictures, he quickly instructed the crew to keep things under wraps.

With Wuyeon Entertainment’s extensive management, worrying about the press was unnecessary.

Lee Jung-hyun apologized to the bewildered production team on behalf of the actor.

Everyone waved it off as he sincerely apologized to each person.

Meanwhile, An Jin-bae called a doctor as soon as he returned home.

“Mr. Jin-bae, it’s been a while.”

“I’m sorry for contacting you so urgently. He’s in no condition to go to the hospital.”

“No problem. How long has he been unconscious?”

The doctor connected several IV lines, including a sedative, to the actor and then left.

Afterwards, An Jin-bae stared at the actor’s face for a long time.

With his usual sleeping habit of making no noise, the actor looked almost dead.

‘What should I do?’

An Jin-bae rubbed his face with his hands.

He hoped for answers, but all he got was the sound of his own sigh.

* * *

“It seems worse than I thought.”

Lee Jung-hyun, who had come back after wrapping things up, muttered.

Just from his voice, it was clear how shocked he was.

An Jin-bae responded absently.

“Yes. When he wakes up… we’ll need to start medication.”

“Right. If we explain it well, he’ll understand.”

Last year, for the *Twins* shoot, Lee Yeon-jae underwent several months of psychological counseling with a psychiatrist.

He was given preliminary diagnoses of ‘depression,’ ‘anxiety disorder,’ and ‘post-traumatic stress disorder.’

‘While it’s not a positive state, we need to observe the progress. Given his young age and personality, I can’t hastily recommend medication.’

The doctor handed over the test results that Lee Yeon-jae had personally checked.

‘He seemed particularly defensive on some questions. I contacted the orphanage, and they said he’s undergone multiple tests already. The initial results were similar to what I expected.’

‘…I see. Are you saying the actor intentionally skewed the test results?’

‘Yes. Based on our interviews, he seems to think it’s best for everyone if he does so.’

The doctor discussed other peculiarities observed during the interviews.

Severely low self-esteem, excessive self-loathing, intentional avoidance of discussing his experiences with abandonment, and intense self-pressure.

The doctor added that it was a relief he hadn’t resorted to self-harm.

The doctor’s offhand comment left An Jin-bae silent, knowing what the actor had been through.

His actor didn’t need to resort to self-harm.

He had lived such a terrible life that there was no need for it.

‘He probably didn’t feel the necessity.’

His mouth tasted so bitter he felt nauseous.

An Jin-bae repeatedly opened and closed his hands.

‘I should have found him sooner.’

He should have found him first and protected him from experiencing such things.

“Ha….”

An Jin-bae sighed endlessly.

Lee Jung-hyun, who had been watching Lee Yeon-jae, asked,

“What did you say to Yeon-jae earlier? Mist?”

“Yes. I was half out of my mind, but he reacted to that word.”

An Jin-bae repeated the word again.

“Mist.”

“…….”

“I thought something was off since the awards ceremony. We need to investigate further.”

“I’ll look into it too. If I find anything, I’ll share it.”

Lee Jung-hyun thought of his connections as he answered.

“How do you think he’ll react to taking medication? We need to explain it carefully to avoid shocking him.”

“He won’t have any aversion to medication. After all, it’s just medicine.”

Once, the actor had watched a movie about depression with An Jin-bae.

At that time, the actor had said,

‘Why is there such a strong aversion to taking psychiatric medication? It’s the same as putting on a bandage when you’re hurt.’

‘Exactly. It’s about getting the right treatment for the symptoms.’

‘It’s hard to say, but… I hope people struggling don’t miss the window for treatment. So it doesn’t get worse.’

If it wasn’t mild, it was wise to consult a specialist and receive appropriate medication.

The same went for mental illnesses.

But there was still a clear aversion to psychiatric treatment.

Fortunately, the actor didn’t have any aversion to medication.

He just didn’t realize how severe his condition was.

“If we calmly explain the medical report and diagnosis, I’m sure he’ll comply. He’s a wise person.”

There are areas that can’t be improved by willpower alone.

Despite that, the reason An Jin-bae hadn’t informed the actor about his condition was ‘greed.’

‘Guardian, lead the client to express their emotions actively.’

‘Yes, I understand.’

‘Right now, he has a strong tendency to suppress his emotions. He seems to think feeling emotions without a valid reason is wrong. We need to eliminate that aversion first.’

An Jin-bae diligently followed the doctor’s advice.

He did everything he could to help the actor.

It wasn’t useless; the actor gradually changed.

Thinking back to when the actor vomited alone for nearly two weeks because of Han Se-young’s perfume, it was an incredible improvement.

‘I… want to be with you longer. What should I do?’

The actor, who neither sought nor desired help, became greedy.

The first desire he showed was to stay with An Jin-bae longer.

At that time, An Jin-bae barely contained his affection and excitement, responding calmly and reassuringly.

‘Just keep doing what you’re doing.’

An Jin-bae’s own greed grew.

Would it be enough if I was just by his side?

Maybe everything could improve at once, he hoped.

But after seeing the actor panic today, he realized.

Everything was his arrogance and greed.

“Jin-bae, just so you know, it’s not your fault. Understand?”

Lee Jung-hyun glanced at An Jin-bae’s pale face.

An Jin-bae forced a smile.

“Yes. I know that.”

“If you hadn’t been there today, who knows what could have happened. Everyone knows how much you care for Yeon-jae. Yeon-jae knows too.”

“The actor knows. He always thanks me for taking care of him.”

As Lee Jung-hyun tried to offer comfort, An Jin-bae’s smile turned bitter.

“But he thinks it’s only because I’m his manager.”

“What?”

“He thinks we won’t meet anymore if I stop being his manager.”

“…….”

Lee Jung-hyun was speechless.

An Jin-bae muttered, unsure if he was speaking to someone else or himself.

“The actor doesn’t believe anyone would be kind to him without a reason.”

Whenever the actor encountered something new, he first searched for a reason.

Given that no one had approached him without a purpose, it was understandable, but it saddened An Jin-bae.

A long silence followed.

It was broken by a small voice.

“……Mist?”