The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter: 21

[Lee Jung-hyun Actor: Yeon-jae, good luck with your audition! I’m proud of you!]

“What the….”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity as I looked at my phone.

Anyone reading this would think I was about to take the college entrance exam.

I replied, ‘Yes. I’ll let you know once I’m back,’ and after staring at the message for a while, I left the room as I couldn’t delay any longer.

In the hallway, I unexpectedly encountered Choi Sang-hoon, who suddenly spoke to me.

“You’re going to your audition today, right? When are you leaving?”

“I’m about to go now.”

Though he asked as if he hadn’t asked me the same thing yesterday, I realized he must have more to say, and sure enough, he hesitated.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“No, I… uh, I’ll be at the PC room with the guys. If you have nothing to do after, you can join us.”

So that was the point. It was a light invitation, so I nodded without any reason to refuse.

“Sure. If I have time, I’ll go.”

“And hey… I didn’t tell anyone about your audition this time! So, don’t worry.”

He seemed oddly determined.

I wondered why he spoke with such resolve, but I thanked him with a smile, and he cheerfully returned to his room.

As I continued walking down the hallway, every kid I met wished me luck on my audition.

Without even needing to think, I knew the culprit was the homeroom teacher, Lee Si-hyun, who was leaning against the door with a smug smile.

It wasn’t something that needed to be kept a secret, but it wasn’t something to be widely announced either.

I had no choice but to thank each person and leave the orphanage.

Before long, I felt my pocket vibrate.

[6th grade, Class 3 Park Ha-eun: Good luck with your audition today! You’ll do great. If those people have any sense, they can’t not pick you. If it were me, I’d choose you the moment I saw your face!]

[Lee Yeon-jae’s best friend, adorable Bi-hyuk: Face genius Lee Yeon-jae, fighting (≧∇≦)/ Your face is your strongest point, so don’t be discouraged and call me after the audition.]

When I checked my phone, there were messages from Park Ha-eun and Noh Bi-hyuk.

I wondered when Noh Bi-hyuk had changed his saved name.

Shaking my head, I replied with thanks.

Their personalities were different, yet they had become friends. Reading their messages, I understood why.

The tone was different, but the content was the same.

I put my phone away and looked out the subway window at the rapidly changing scenery.

To calm the strangely floating feeling, I took a short, deep breath.

Then, I slowly clenched my fist, tightening my grip.

* * *

“Why is there not a single decent kid?”

“That’s what I’m saying….”

At the audition site for the child actors of ‘Butterflies Burning the Chinese Hackberry Tree’.

It was a rare fusion historical drama, so both the broadcasting station and the investors were putting a lot of effort into it.

Exchanging tired voices that didn’t fit the situation were director Kim Min-seok and writer Han Ji-hye.

The casting for the lead roles, ‘Hyo-yeon’ and ‘Na-bi’, had already been completed.

Now they just needed to cast the supporting role of ‘Yu-hyeon’. However, despite over two hours of auditions, they hadn’t found anyone suitable.

“What about number 23? At least the visual was okay.”

“His voice was too high-pitched and didn’t fit the character.”

“Then how about number 16? The one who appeared in M station’s drama.”

“He looks too young compared to the already cast child actors.”

“Sigh… We can’t cut any more of the child actor’s scenes.”

Writer Han sighed in agreement.

Yu-hyeon was essential to the story, even if he was just part of a one-sided love line.

They had already minimized his scenes as much as possible due to synchronization issues during initial planning, but they couldn’t cut any more.

“Director, writer. Can I call the next numbers?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Yes. I’ll bring in numbers 40 to 45.”

Writer Han, who was slumped over, straightened up and flipped through the documents upon hearing the staff’s words.

The casting manager next to her whispered quietly.

“Writer. Number 43 is the one I mentioned earlier.”

“Oh, the one with the yellow hat?”

Writer Han raised her eyebrows.

Seeing the casting manager nod, she hastily marked an asterisk on number 43’s document.

From the drama, the kid looked stunning, but you couldn’t be sure until you saw them in person.

She had seen enough instances of trickery with lighting and angles.

“Damn….”

In the midst of her rather cynical thoughts, she heard director Kim muttering softly.

Wondering what it was about, she looked up and barely stopped herself from uttering the same thing.

“Number 40, Lee Seong-min. Please introduce yourself.”

“Hello! I’m Lee Seong-min. I have appeared in ‘Please Love Me’ and ‘The Graceful House Guest.'”

Both tried to focus on the energetic number 40, but their attention was drawn to the person standing behind, number 43.

The air in the room seemed to flow towards number 43.

Even the actors waiting around were glancing at number 43, and the actor performing in front looked distracted.

“Yes, next up… actor number 43, Lee Yeon-jae?”

At the staff’s call, actor number 43, Lee Yeon-jae, stepped forward.

Just by getting a bit closer, I was certain.

It’s him. Without a doubt, it was him.

Kim PD gave a small nod, noticing the intense gaze from writer Han.

“Hello, I’m Lee Yeon-jae. I have experience appearing as an extra in ‘Tail: Tracking Traces.’ I’m auditioning for the role of ‘Yu-hyeon.’ Thank you.”

A brief and straightforward introduction without any embellishments.

Even with those few words, he captured everyone’s attention.

With that face, I thought he’d pass even if he just read from a textbook, but hearing his voice made me even more curious about his acting.

“Okay, let’s see the designated scene. Scene 8, the conversation between young Na-bi and young Yu-hyeon. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Lee Yeon-jae looked rather quiet for someone who gained attention for the ‘yellow hat’ incident.

His voice wasn’t very high, fitting well with Yu-hyeon, who was once a crown prince. However, I was slightly worried because he also needed to portray a childish side that clung to the female lead.

“Yu-hyeon, are you ready? You still haven’t prepared? We have to leave now.”

The staff member playing the role of Na-bi, now delivering the line for the 43rd time, read it out loud.

The voice was too rough to belong to a young girl, and with the repeated auditions, even the sincerity had faded, making it hard to immerse in the scene.

Writer Han, bowing her head, desperately looked at Lee Yeon-jae listening to the staff’s lines.

‘Please, just don’t read it like a textbook…!’

Lee Yeon-jae, who was mimicking clenching his fists, suddenly lifted his head.

His eyes curved playfully.

“Na-bi, why are you so late!”

Damn. Perfect!

Both writer Han and Kim PD nodded simultaneously.

They tried not to show it, but they were deeply moved.

“I was so sick I couldn’t even dress… I didn’t even have breakfast. I’m so sick. I’m so sad I could die.”

Lee Yeon-jae whined in an exaggerated voice.

His shoulders slumped completely, but his sparkling eyes looking at the staff showed how happy he was to see them.

“Did you catch a cold? And you should call me ‘Miss’! What would Mother say if she heard you?”

“We call each other ‘Miss’ outside. But it’s just the two of us now…. And I’m sick.”

Smiling and being cheeky, while sneaking glances and lowering his gaze, he looked like a puppy with its tail between its legs.

Yet, his eyes were so powerful that it was hard to say he was just weak.

His aggressive gaze pierced through the sad demeanor, clearly showing he was faking it.

“Where does it hurt? Are you really sick? I should get some medicine on the way.”

“No, we don’t have money. It’s fine about the medicine, but I don’t think I can go out today…. Can’t you not go too, Na-bi?”

“No, if I don’t go, Mother will have to go alone. You stay here. Can you be alone?”

“Yes…. I guess I have no choice. But you have to come back early. I’ll be waiting.”

Lee Yeon-jae’s eyelashes trembled pitifully. He moved his mouth diligently while fidgeting his hands.

Although his voice wasn’t very high, each word was roundly pronounced, making his tone sound higher.

‘Oh… he’s better at acting than I thought.’

Kim PD blankly stared at the shining Lee Yeon-jae.

The appearance in ‘Tail’ had been so sensational that Lee Yeon-jae’s bright smile was seen many times, even in meme form.

But the smile now was completely different from the innocent smile in ‘Tail.’

Back then, he was an ordinary boy who smiled out of habit. Now, he was a young tiger hiding his true intentions, lowering his tail.

The contrast between his seemingly floating voice and the intense power in his eyes was incredible.

Glancing sideways, writer Han also couldn’t take her eyes off Lee Yeon-jae.

Seeing her expression scrunched up, it was clear she was cursing violently inside.

“That’s all.”

“Good. Please prepare the next line as well. Scene 23, the conversation between young Yu-hyeon and Lady Lee.”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

With just a few blinks, Lee Yeon-jae had already shed the character of Yu-hyeon.

Though his speech wasn’t long, the tone itself was gentle, yet the contrast with his previous playful lines was so stark it felt jarring.

‘He… could play a psychopath well.’

Wait, a story about a handsome young psychopath…? This could work.

Writer Han restrained a sudden surge of inspiration and watched Lee Yeon-jae prepare for the next line.

This time, Yu-hyeon’s line came before the staff’s line.

In the brief silence, Lee Yeon-jae straightened his back and began to speak.

“I heard you met the Queen Mother.”

It was weighty. There was a gravity that didn’t exist in the previous line.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Did you deliver the message I asked you to convey?”

“Yes. However… I did not receive a reply.”

“I see. You may leave now.”

“Your Highness.”

The staff whispered according to the script.

The cold black eyes looked down, and involuntarily, the staff swallowed nervously and focused on the script.

“Pardon my intrusion… but it seems you have been maintaining a close relationship with my daughter. Is there any particular reason…?”

“Must I answer that question?”

Though his words were polite, his tone was rigid.

Even using honorifics, the power of authority was undeniable in his tone and expression.

The staff, enduring that gaze, spoke the remaining lines while sweating internally.

“I apologize. I was merely….”

“The tea is cold. Na-bi will return soon, so it would be best if you left.”

His voice, as cold as his gaze, lingered in the air.

The staff, feeling a slight chill, sighed in relief, thinking it was finally over.

“That’s all.”

Once again, with a few blinks, Lee Yeon-jae returned to his original state.

But the audition room remained filled with a cold atmosphere.

Everyone stayed silent while Lee Yeon-jae stood still, calmly enduring all the stares.

“Your voice is very nice. Your pronunciation is clear too.”

“Thank you.”

Kim PD was the first to speak.

He tried to avoid adding comments as other candidates were present, but he couldn’t resist asking.

“Was the eye contact at the end intentional?”