The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 223

“I’m really not a weird person.”

The woman’s face turned red as she trembled.

“This is the first time I’m asking something like this, but you’re just my ideal type… If you don’t mind, could I have your number?”

With my cap and mask on, she couldn’t even see my face.

‘Does she have a thing for masks?’

I wanted to point out the oddity in her request, but her voice was shaking so much that I held back.

‘She’s really nervous.’

She wasn’t even looking directly at me, her gaze wandering around the ground.

“Ahem, okay.”

I cleared my throat, feeling oddly nervous myself. My ears tingled.

I was about to politely decline when a thought suddenly struck me.

‘…Camera.’

I snapped back to reality.

If someone were to capture this moment, it could spell trouble.

‘I’m a celebrity.’

I had forgotten. This was no time to be nervous.

‘Let’s handle the situation first.’

I needed to wrap this up quickly, so I opened my mouth to speak.

But in my urgency, I jumped straight to the point.

“I’m a middle school student.”

“…”

“…”

“…What?”

Maybe I was too blunt.

The woman’s eyes went blank.

She stood there in shock, mouth agape, then started stuttering before bowing at a ninety-degree angle.

“I’m so sorry!!! I’m really sorry, oh my, I can’t believe this. Oh my gosh! I’m such trash, how could I do this?”

“No, it’s understandable…”

“I’m really sorry. I thought you were older. I go to a high school nearby. No, that’s not the point. I’m just really sorry. Please forgive me.”

“You don’t have to apologize so much…”

“I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry, but… can I leave now? No, I’m leaving!! I’m sorry!!”

With a tearful face, she took a few steps back before turning around and running away.

I watched her quickly disappear into the distance.

“Yeon-jae, sorry I took so long!”

Only after hearing Park Ha-eun’s cheerful voice did I let out the breath I had been holding.

“Yeon-jae?”

“……”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

No. I’m not okay.

I mumbled as I covered my face with my hands.

Park Ha-eun, clueless, asked what had happened with a bright smile.

“Why are your ears so red?”

“……Just, something happened.”

I awkwardly smiled when she asked if I had met a fan.

‘People are amazing.’

Their courage was impressive.

Just being asked a question was overwhelming, how did she even muster the courage to ask for my number?

“Did you contact Bi-hyuk?”

“He’s at the café I mentioned before. Let’s catch a taxi.”

“Okay! Let’s head to the main road.”

I followed Park Ha-eun as she led the way.

While we were in the taxi heading to the café, I thought quietly to myself.

‘I was wearing a mask.’

The woman said I was her ideal type, but she couldn’t have seen my face because of the mask.

Since she couldn’t see my face, it must have had nothing to do with it.

I never had such an experience when my face was visible.

‘So, it must be…’

There was only one explanation.

‘She must like masks.’

After finishing my logical deduction, I nodded to myself.

I needed to change my mask right away.

I should have known something was off when Jin-bae hyung said it was the most popular mask these days.

I clicked my tongue internally.

* * *

“What? Gross!”

“Funny, you’re even grosser!”

As soon as they met, Park Ha-eun and Noh Bi-hyuk made disgusted faces at each other.

“Are you trying to hit 2 meters or something?”

Park Ha-eun looked up at Noh Bi-hyuk with a frown.

“Why do you keep growing taller? Are you a water hyacinth?”

“Water hyacinth… Do you want to die?”

Noh Bi-hyuk yelled back, asking why she grew her hair out, which didn’t suit her.

“Why? I grew it out so I could tie it back when studying.”

“It doesn’t suit you. Just cut it short like before. It’s creepy.”

“You little…”

Park Ha-eun and Noh Bi-hyuk bickered loudly.

Watching them quietly, Lee Eun-taek, who was next to me, muttered.

“They really get along well.”

“Yeah.”

They kept grumbling, but never crossed the line, which was typical of them.

‘Renting the café was a good idea.’

Not only did they get along well, but they were also loud.

The decibels kept rising, and I felt relieved that it was just the four of us in the café.
### Chapter 223

The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune (223)

“Hey, kid. Those two—”

“I told you not to call me a kid.”

“It’s my choice. So, they’re not dating, right? They’re really just friends?”

Lee Eun-taek had a skeptical look on his face.

“It’d be troublesome if there were dating rumors right after debut.”

“They’re really just friends.”

“You said they’re childhood friends. That’s such a typical cliché.”

Oh, Lee Eun-taek knew words like that. I was impressed inwardly but answered calmly.

“Don’t worry. Bi-hyuk will handle it well.”

“That’s true, but… fans might see it differently.”

That was true.

I nodded quietly.

‘That’s why we rented this place.’

With Noh Bi-hyuk and Lee Eun-taek’s debuts imminent, meeting with a girl like Park Ha-eun was difficult.

Being an idol meant considering many factors.

Even just making eye contact with a girl for a few seconds could start rumors.

‘Restrictions will only increase from now on.’

Receiving fans’ love was wonderful, but it came with many responsibilities as a celebrity.

I felt sorry for Park Ha-eun, but I was relieved to be a guy.

At least, there were no restrictions on meeting with Lee Eun-taek and Noh Bi-hyuk.

“Hello! Sorry, I was so busy talking with him that I didn’t get to greet you!”

“Hey, where—”

“I’m Park Ha-eun. I’m a friend of Yeon-jae.”

Park Ha-eun ended her conversation with Noh Bi-hyuk and greeted brightly.

“Oh, hi.”

“Please speak comfortably! I’m the same age as Yeon-jae!”

Park Ha-eun responded cheerfully.

Being such an easygoing person, she didn’t seem intimidated by Lee Eun-taek’s sharp appearance.

Lee Eun-taek responded that he understood, but he didn’t drop his cautious gaze.

‘Like a cat…’

I could almost see what Lee Eun-taek was thinking, which made me smile.

“Ha-eun, you have to understand. This hyung has a bad personality.”

Lee Eun-taek’s sharp gaze landed on my face.

What can I do? Staring like that won’t penetrate me.

“He swore at me and caused a scene when we met after a long time. He’s acting like an angel to you now.”

At my words, Park Ha-eun laughed.

“I often talk with Yeon-jae on the phone, and he mentions you a lot.”

“He talks about me?”

“Of course! Last time, he mentioned eating takoyaki with his second brother—”

“Ha, Ha-eun.”

I interrupted quickly, surprised.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you want a drink? Aren’t you thirsty?”

“I do! Where’s the menu… Oh, there it is. Bi-hyuk, you want something too, right?”

Noh Bi-hyuk said he’d just have water since he was on a diet.

Park Ha-eun raised her voice, asking where he had fat to lose and telling him not to say gross things.

While watching the two bicker, Lee Eun-taek stared at me intensely.

“…What?”

When I responded curtly, Lee Eun-taek smirked and patted my back.

“Our little one is so shy.”

“Ah, that ‘little one’ again. Are you going to call me that outside too?”

Lee Eun-taek shrugged, saying why wouldn’t he.

I let out a helpless laugh.

As I watched Park Ha-eun and Noh Bi-hyuk argue, Lee Eun-taek whispered softly.

“Hey, kid, are you dating her then?”

“…Is that all you think about?”

When I gave him a genuinely disgusted look, Lee Eun-taek looked hurt.

“She just said you two often talk on the phone.”

“Yeah, we talk on the phone. What else?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Can’t friends talk on the phone? We live in different areas, so it’s natural.”

In fact, Park Ha-eun was as busy with her studies as I was, so we only managed to call once every month or two.

“I don’t have female friends.”

So what?

“You might have it easier because you’re an actor, but you know you’re still a celebrity, right? I mean, of course, you need real-life experience for acting… but hey, if you ever get a girlfriend, you have to introduce her to me first. Get my approval.”

“Hyung, stop talking and eat this.”

He was getting weirder the longer I let him talk.

I stuffed a croffle into Lee Eun-taek’s mouth, who was also supposedly on a diet.

He chewed with his cheeks puffed out and then spoke again.

“So, assuming she’s just a friend. Do you have a girlfriend?”

Geez.

He seemed determined to keep the topic going.

Lee Eun-taek’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Have you ever dated anyone?”

As if I have.

I shook my head lightly, and he asked if I had ever liked anyone.

“No. Why are you so curious about that?”

“Of course I’m curious. Do you know how long it’s been since we last talked? Don’t you think I want to know who you’ve been spending time with?”

His blunt tone left me with no choice but to sigh inwardly.

“I’ve never liked anyone. The only girl I regularly contact is Ha-eun.”

“Alright, got it.”

“…Hyung, Ha-eun is really a good person. She’s a kind friend.”

When rumors about me kept people away, it was Park Ha-eun who actively clarified things, and it was thanks to her that I met Noh Bi-hyuk.

Although we couldn’t meet often because of the distance, she always checked in on me during our phone calls. She was a kind and considerate friend.

“She’s one of the important people in my life. Just like you. That’s why I wanted you two to meet.”

“……”

“Ha-eun knows that she won’t be able to see Bi-hyuk as often after his debut, so she took a whole week off to come up here and properly congratulate him.”

She was just that kind and considerate.

I could see she was being cautious, worried about being misunderstood as Bi-hyuk or my secret girlfriend.

“I understand what you’re worried about and why you’re worried, but Ha-eun will handle it well, so don’t treat her harshly.”

“Did I treat her harshly? I was just a bit awkward.”

“You always have such a harsh expression.”

“……”

Well, the future is unpredictable, so maybe one day Park Ha-eun and Noh Bi-hyuk might date.

But both of them were smart enough to know what to be careful about now for their future.

‘I know it too.’

As an actor, my profession was relatively freer compared to idols.

I had seen many comments telling Han Se-young and me to date for real when we played a couple.

But right now, I wasn’t in a position to date anyone.

The love and support I received from fans were more than enough.

“Okay. I won’t bring up stuff like this with Bi-hyuk or you in the future. You both seem to handle things well without me saying anything.”

Lee Eun-taek grumbled that my seriousness made his joke awkward.

“But if you ever meet someone, make sure to introduce them to me.”

“Fine, I get it.”

“You promised.”

“Yeah, yeah, now eat more.”

I put another piece of croffle into Lee Eun-taek’s mouth.

While he grumbled about getting fat, I gently coaxed him, and then the four of us chatted together.

The time spent with important people was enjoyable.

After chatting for hours, Bi-hyuk and Lee Eun-taek got up first, saying they had practice.

“Hyung, can I ask you a favor?”

Lee Eun-taek, who was about to leave, turned and looked at me.

Seeing his raised eyebrows, I spoke slowly.

“Can we swap masks?”

“…?”

* * *

“Yeon-jae, you really don’t need to walk me home. My cousin is right at the door. You should head home first.”

I declined Park Ha-eun’s offer with a smile.

Considering the times we live in, it’s a risky suggestion.

As we entered the alley together, I saw someone standing in front of the villa.

Park Ha-eun called out loudly, “Unni!”

So that must be her cousin.

Watching Park Ha-eun waving excitedly, I thought it was time for me to head home too.

“……Ha-eun.”

That voice was overly familiar.

“Who’s that next to you?”

“Oh, he’s my friend!”

With Park Ha-eun’s cheerful voice between us, I briefly met the woman’s gaze.

Looking at her pale face, I realized she was the woman who had asked for my number this morning.

I thought to myself as I looked at her, “Swapping masks was a good idea….”