The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter: 18

Lee Jung-hyun, the actor, was twenty-nine years old this year. There was a whopping 16-year age gap between us.

So, when I asked, “Are you perhaps interested in me?”, it was naturally a question about the age difference, not about gender.

I wasn’t curious if Lee Jung-hyun was attracted to the same sex, nor was it something I needed to concern myself with.

What I was curious about was whether he had the intention to provide financial help to a child while demanding inappropriate actions in return.

I already knew that there were more people like that than one might think.

And I also knew that they often approach you while hiding those intentions at first.

Just like Lee Jung-hyun was doing now.

‘At first, I wondered if I was overthinking it.’

There were often people who became excessively kind just because you were a kid.

More than anything, the thought of someone who had everything like Lee Jung-hyun thinking, ‘Why me?’, crossed my mind.

However, since mental disorders like pedophilia were difficult to identify by appearance alone, as noted in the books, I couldn’t let my guard down. I fervently hoped it wasn’t the case, but it was better to check than to assume and later face serious consequences.

And I knew that, from others’ perspectives, my appearance was relatively decent.

If there was someone who would demand unspeakable acts from a child, there was a high probability that I could be one of those targets.

Offering to pay for academy fees in addition to a cell phone? No matter how I looked at it, it was strange.

This wasn’t a suggestion that could be lightly dismissed as a ‘favor’.

Instead of bluntly asking, “Are you a pervert?” I had phrased it more politely, but seeing his widened eyes, it seemed my point had been conveyed sufficiently.

“…What?”

Lee Jung-hyun stared at me, completely dazed and bewildered.

“So, what you’re saying is…”

“I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“No… wow, yeah… I guess it could look that way.”

Lee Jung-hyun repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, unable to continue speaking for a while.

He probably wasn’t, right?

Given the alarming state of the world, it was a thought anyone might have, but if he had no such intentions, it was a misunderstanding that could certainly be offensive.

I straightened up as much as I could and immediately offered my apologies.

“I’m sorry. You were just being considerate, but I might have thought too negatively. I read in a book that children without guardians are more vulnerable to such dangers, so—”

“No, don’t apologize, Yeon-jae. You’re right. I acted in a way that could cause misunderstandings.”

As I slowly chose my words, wondering if I was using the right terms, Lee Jung-hyun hurriedly spoke up.

“I’m really glad you’re so smart. If I really had bad intentions… yeah, it’s something that could definitely happen. You did well to speak up.”

Then he added that he was sorry for causing the misunderstanding and reassured me that he had no such intentions.

Seeing the sudden sweat on his face, I realized he really wasn’t such a person, so I apologized again for the misunderstanding.

We kept volleying apologies back and forth like a ping-pong match until a brief silence fell.

Lee Jung-hyun let out a deep breath and spoke.

“To be honest, I was really shocked watching your acting. Of course, in a good way.”

“My acting?”

“Yeah. Every actor loves seeing good acting, but I particularly love seeing someone act well. I’ve never seen anyone your age act so well, so I might have gotten too attached without realizing it. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologize anymore.”

Seeing him ready to apologize again at my words, I quickly shook my head.

It took a few more minutes for Lee Jung-hyun to calm down.

After sipping the remaining coffee with a more relaxed expression, he smiled gently at me.

“But really, you did well to speak up, Yeon-jae. How did you come to think like that? Of course, it’s partly my fault for not being cautious, but at your age, it’s hard to think that way.”

“The Director gives us education on this topic every year. I also read about it in books.”

“The Director is really wise. I should take a lesson too.”

Lee Jung-hyun, claiming this was his last apology, ordered another blueberry rice cake, the same one I had earlier.

As I enjoyed its chewy texture again, I felt a cautious gaze from across the table.

“Yeon-jae, do you really have no interest in acting?”

“No. I haven’t really thought about it.”

“Isn’t it worth considering from now on? I think you’re really good at it.”

Sensing he was trying not to pressure me, I replied without feeling burdened.

“Thank you for the compliment. But I never considered what I did as acting.”

“Really? Then what was it?”

“More like… mimicking? I was just imitating other kids.”

“Yeon-jae, you haven’t seen the scene you were in, have you?”

When I nodded at his sudden question, Lee Jung-hyun moved closer, saying we should watch it now.

Ignoring my protests about the age restriction, he said it was fine with a guardian present and turned on the drama, leaving me no choice but to watch it on his phone.

Seeing myself on screen… to be honest, it was a bit strange.

It felt like someone else was acting with my face.

Huh? Did I really say those lines? It felt unfamiliar.

Anyway, it was easy to evaluate since it felt like watching a completely different person.

“How is it?”

“…Not bad, I guess.”

“Haha! Right? See, you’re good.”

Lee Jung-hyun burst into laughter and replayed the scene with me in it again.

At that moment, as he gave detailed feedback about things like the tremor in my eyes or the slurring of my pronunciation, I realized it was similar to what I had thought.

‘At least I’m not a nuisance.’

During the last winter break, I watched as many movies and dramas as I could to test myself.

It was a time when I thought, ‘There really are a lot of actors who are good at acting,’ and also, ‘Not all actors are good at acting.’

There were actors who blatantly showed they were overly conscious of the camera, and those who had a fixed expression no matter what character they played.

“Isn’t it really natural? It’s difficult to act naturally with the camera right in front of you.”

“Yes, it seems natural.”

Though I was embarrassed to praise myself, the truth was the truth.

Compared to the actors I mentioned, my performance was much more natural, and my pronunciation was clear.

From a purely viewer’s perspective, it was quite decent… but can this really be called acting?

“Hyung, still, this is just good mimicry, not necessarily good acting, right?”

“Really? Then what do you think is the difference between mimicry and acting?”

“Mimicry is just imitating something, and acting is… well, it seems more sophisticated than mimicry.”

I couldn’t define it clearly, so I ended up trailing off.

Lee Jung-hyun, who had been listening quietly, smiled.

“You really like acting, don’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“From the way you talk, it seems you think acting is something noble and great.”

“…Isn’t it?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lee Jung-hyun burst into laughter as if he had been waiting for it.

His hearty laughter was pleasant to hear, but… why was he laughing?

Feeling awkward, I watched him. After a while, he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and spoke.

“Yeon-jae, acting is nothing special.”

“…”

“Of course, it is something great. A movie can change someone’s life, and it’s not easy to make viewers enjoy a moment completely.”

That was true. That’s how Lee Jung-hyun’s acting was.

I had only seen a few of his works, but I understood why so many people liked Lee Jung-hyun.

The very actor who had shown such acting was now laughing in front of me like a child.

“But all those are results. They are the outcomes you can only see after the work is released.”

“…”

“Until then, what actors do is always the same. They immerse themselves in the character and read the black letters written in the script in front of the camera. How is it? Is there any difference from what you did this time?”

I opened my mouth to argue but couldn’t find the words, so I closed it again.

Seeing this, Lee Jung-hyun found it adorable and tried to touch my cheek but quickly stepped back with an “Oops!”

That was definitely on purpose.

Sighing, I told him he could act normally since I wasn’t misunderstanding him, and only then did he lightly tap my cheek with a smile.

“If you want to distinguish between mimicry and acting, shouldn’t you at least try it once more?”

Even though his smile looked like a sweet trap set by a cunning hunter, I was honestly tempted.

Anyway, I planned to learn how to immerse myself in a character because of the Misfortune Factor.

I didn’t know why Lee Jung-hyun was so earnest about it… but after pondering, I nodded obediently.

“Yes, I suppose so. I’ll give it a try.”

“Great!”

“I’m not sure about attending an academy, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to learn from you. Do you really have the time?”

“Of course. I’m done with all my busy work. Do you know PD Kim Min-seok? I heard he’s starting a historical drama and is looking for child actors. Let’s submit an audition application today.”

“What?”

What on earth was he talking about?

Thinking I might have misheard, I asked again, and Lee Jung-hyun grinned mischievously.

“You’re not disappointed, right? Even I can’t just tell them to pick you. But I can help you with the application.”

“No, it’s not that. I need to learn acting first.”

“Yeah. Usually, learning on the job is the most effective.”

I was so taken aback that I couldn’t find words.

Even though he clearly saw my reaction, Lee Jung-hyun stood up and said we should leave.

“Hyung, no matter what—”

“Yeon-jae, you know you need to pass the paperwork to get to the audition, right? You can worry about the rest later.”

…Well, that was true.

It felt like things were moving too fast, almost as if I was being swept along, but he wasn’t wrong.

Suppressing my uneasy feelings, I sighed and nodded.

“Hah… okay, I understand.”

“Great, let’s go submit the paperwork before the sun sets.”

With that, Lee Jung-hyun pushed me out of the café, a playful laugh ringing out behind me as the cheerful chime of the door echoed.

‘Somehow, it’ll work out,’ I thought.

Surely, I won’t pass, right?

* * *

“Sigh…”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Hearing my sigh, Noh Bi-hyuk, who was doing origami next to me, lifted his head.

He craned his neck over my shoulder, curious about the reason for my sigh.

I didn’t bother to avoid him, taking it as permission, he grinned and looked at my phone.

He quickly raised his head and exclaimed, looking as if he had been betrayed.

“You’re going for an audition?!”