The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter: 12

“Jung-hyun, what’s so funny?”

“Yeon-jae is just too cute~. Ah, Yeon-jae, want to say hello? We didn’t film the making last time, right?”

Actor Lee Jung-hyun was about to introduce me as a friend who helped with the shoot this time. I couldn’t decide whether to act like myself or pretend to be Kim Su-han.

I felt I should at least say hello, so I bowed my head. But still being in Lee Jung-hyun’s arms, my posture was awkward.

When I didn’t move away, actor Lee Jung-hyun glanced at me, laughed, and hugged me tighter.

“I knew it, I can’t. You’re too cute, I have to keep you to myself.”

After that, actor Lee Jung-hyun carried me around the filming site.

I had never been held by an adult man like this before, so the large frame and warmth behind me felt uncomfortably awkward.

Mist had said that there wouldn’t be any misfortune passing on to someone else today, but being this close to someone was still far from comfortable.

‘…It is soft, though.’

Funny thing is, I started to get used to it. I guess humans are creatures of adaptation.

Whenever I unconsciously relaxed my body, I heard a low chuckle from above, making me a bit embarrassed.

No matter how big actor Lee Jung-hyun was, it was too much to fit me completely in his arms.

I had no choice but to walk somewhat clumsily, and the staff watching burst into laughter, saying it looked like a mother duck holding a duckling.

Eventually, the shooting for my last scene finished.

I sighed in relief internally, glad that there hadn’t been a single NG.

“Yeon-jae! You’ve finished all your scenes, right?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t have much left either, can you wait a bit longer? I have something to give you.”

What could actor Lee Jung-hyun have for me?

Curious but obedient, I nodded, and he couldn’t resist pinching my cheek before being pulled away by his manager.

Teacher Lee Si-hyun, who had been watching with a smile, pointed to a chair in the corner, suggesting I sit there.

“Lee Jung-hyun seems to really like Yeon-jae.”

“…Seems so.”

I agreed, though reluctantly, as I had nothing else to say.

Why did he like me so much? It’s not like I’m small enough to be considered a child.

At first, I thought it was because I was imitating Kim Su-han, but he seemed to like me more when I was just quietly standing around.

The more he looked at me with eyes that seemed crazy about how cute I was, the more puzzled I felt.

‘Well, he must have some peculiar taste.’

Anyway, there was nothing I could do.

Imagining myself asking actor Lee Jung-hyun, ‘Why do you like me so much? Please stop thinking I’m cute,’ made me shiver.

I just wanted to go back to the orphanage quickly.

* * *

“Wow… Lee Jung-hyun is really good at acting. Right, Yeon-jae?”

“Yes, he’s really good.”

In front of us, actor Lee Jung-hyun was holding a picture of his younger sister and crying sorrowfully.

He was crawling on the ground, shedding tears and snot, yet he didn’t look ugly, which was quite amazing.

Even with a camera right in front of his face, it seemed as if he couldn’t think of anything but his sister’s death.

‘Is this really the same person who was joking around with me just a moment ago?’

I recalled how he was pinching my cheek, saying, “Yeon-jae, you feel like a sticky rice cake. Next time, do you want to go on a rice cake tour with me? I know a really good place on Garosu-gil where the owner gives me extra rice cakes when I go.”

The face that had been so excited like a child had now turned into a man in despair over losing his family.

It was fascinating how he could shed tears instantly like that, but strangely, it made me feel down.

“Ji-hye! I’m, I’m so, sob, sorry.”

The sound of a man’s wailing filled the surroundings.

The set, which had been filled with the staff’s laughter, was quickly swallowed by a gloomy atmosphere.

As I quietly watched the scene, the woman smiling brightly in the photo Lee Jung-hyun was holding caught my eye.

“Sigh… Joo-won, pull yourself together.”

“I’m sorry. Ji-hye, I’m sorry for everything.”

The actor playing Joo-won’s friend tried to calm down actor Lee Jung-hyun, but tears kept streaming down his already lost eyes.

‘Ji-hyeon… my baby… Mom is so sorry…’

I heard a voice I shouldn’t have remembered overlapping with the scene.

Startled, I quickly looked up to see the set still in the middle of shooting.

Seeing the lavishly decorated chrysanthemums made me have unnecessary thoughts.

“Wow, what’s with the acting…. How can he immerse himself like that?”

“Yes, he’s really amazing.”

I tried hard not to show my sinking feelings.

Teacher Lee Si-hyun, who had been occasionally talking to me, glanced at me and asked if I wanted to take a walk.

I immediately nodded.

As soon as I stepped out of the funeral hall, the air was so cool it felt cold against my face.

After taking several deep breaths through my nose, I started to feel a bit more clear-headed.

‘My head hurts.’

The headache that had been bothering me felt refreshing as I faced the cold wind.

My body was shivering, but the cold air cleared my foggy mind, making me feel alive.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

There was no reason not to be fine.

I shook my head vigorously to prevent my mind from wandering.

The walking path behind the funeral hall was deserted.

It was too cold to walk outside.

But neither I nor Teacher Lee Si-hyun suggested going back inside.

After walking quietly on the path for about five minutes, Teacher Lee Si-hyun called out to me softly.

“Yeon-jae.”

“Yes.”

“Four years ago…”

Without warning, the words made me stop in my tracks.

When I stopped, Teacher Lee Si-hyun also stopped, staring straight ahead as she spoke.

“That wasn’t your fault back then.”

“…”

“You were in the orphanage at that time. It was me who went out, it was me walking down the street… If anyone is to blame, it was the crane operator, not you.”

I stayed silent.

Teacher Lee Si-hyun, perhaps uncomfortable with the silence or unable to stand still, shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

That movement naturally drew my gaze to her leg.

She could now walk briskly without a limp.

But there was still a metal pin inside.

“I should have made it clear back then, not now… I’m sorry for speaking up so late.”

I could hear the sound of her swallowing repeatedly, as if her mouth was dry.

For some reason, I was breathing heavily.

“Last time, when the executive from Myungwoo Corporation visited, you said it would be better to use Sang-hoon.”

What did I say back then? I think I mentioned that choosing Choi Sang-hoon would reduce the risk of unexpected accidents.

Of course, Mist had already informed me of what would happen the day before, but I brought it up because there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

Especially since Teacher Lee Si-hyun was also present.

“After hearing what you said, I thought about it a lot. I discussed it with the director too.”

“…”

“I hurt you and didn’t apologize properly.”

Over the teacher’s quiet voice, I could hear the same screams from four years ago.

‘Director! Please, please get him out quickly. I’m so scared.’

Four years ago, a few months after I was returned to the orphanage.

At that time, I had refused everyone’s help, including the director’s, and spent my days locked in a room.

I insisted I didn’t even want to use the same things as the other kids, causing a lot of trouble for the teachers.

The director and Teacher Lee Si-hyun were the ones who helped me come back out.

Once, I had screamed at them to leave me alone, my face soaked with tears.

The director had hugged my struggling self tightly, and Teacher Lee Si-hyun had gently wiped away my tears.

‘Yeon-jae, it’s okay. Nothing happened. Don’t worry.’

I still vividly remember Teacher Lee Si-hyun’s kind whispers from that time.

And the moment that gentle voice turned into a scream completely overtaken by fear.

‘Ye-Yeon-jae. Si-hyun, Teacher Lee Si-hyun, got hurt.’

The call from the hospital came while the director and I were tending to the garden.

After receiving the call, I rushed to the hospital holding the panicked director’s hand.

As soon as we arrived at the emergency room, I saw Teacher Lee Si-hyun screaming in pain.

She had been walking down the street when concrete materials suddenly fell from the sky like rain.

It was material from a nearby construction site, and the cause was the crane operator’s mistake.

Fortunately, her injuries were not life-threatening, but her left leg was completely wrecked.

I couldn’t forget Teacher Lee Si-hyun’s screams during the reduction procedure to align the fractured parts before the main surgery.

Even in her exhausted state, she had glared at me with tear-filled eyes.

She had screamed for someone to get me out, and it was then that the director realized she had let go of my hand.

“You were so young then, I thought you didn’t remember.”

“…”

“It had nothing to do with you. I… wasn’t in my right mind back then.”

The director’s eyes were filled with numerous emotions.

I was used to that look from all the gazes I had received over the years, but it was unfamiliar coming from the director.

I had quietly left, pretending not to be affected.

I had walked on trembling legs until I collapsed at some point, feeling the cold asphalt under my hand and realizing my entire body was covered in goosebumps.

The leg that Teacher Lee Si-hyun had injured was the same one I had clung to before her outing that day.

“Though it’s late, I’m truly sorry—”

“Teacher.”

“…Yes?”

When I abruptly interrupted her, I heard the sound of her swallowing hard next to me.

I pretended not to notice and continued.

“You’re starting to sound more and more like the director.”

Teacher Lee Si-hyun’s face, which had been stiff the whole time, momentarily softened.

She slowly turned to look at me with a bewildered expression, and upon seeing the playful smile on my lips, she let out a small laugh.

“You… I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, but thank you.”

“Of course it’s a compliment.”

“Haha, I’ll have to tell the director when we get back.”

Teacher Lee Si-hyun laughed, though she seemed unsure if this was the right way to let it go.

To reassure her, I smiled and added,

“Don’t worry about it, teacher. It’s all in the past anyway.”

I could feel her gaze scanning my face.

After confirming my relaxed expression, Teacher Lee Si-hyun finally gave a more natural smile.

“Should we buy some chicken on the way back? Let’s eat with the kids.”

“Sounds good.”

My chest tightened.

I wished I could suffocate from the prickling pain in my chest.

‘You don’t need to apologize, teacher.’

Teacher Lee Si-hyun would never know.

I didn’t need to ask Mist.

That incident must have happened because the misfortune factor transferred to me.

Ultimately, it was my fault.

Teacher Lee Si-hyun’s leg, Ji-heon hyung’s death.

All of it was my fault.