The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter: 6

They say the day I was born, the rain poured down so heavily that you couldn’t see ahead.

Before I was born, my parents lived a somewhat comfortable life. However, they faced a sudden business failure, and before I even turned two, we moved into a semi-basement apartment.

Even though the walls smelled musty, it was our only home until it burned down the following spring. They said it was a fire of unknown origin.

My father disappeared one morning without a trace, and my mother, who couldn’t even walk alone, carried me around while looking for a job.

We started living in the back room of the store where my mother worked.

Before my mother and I moved in, the store had decent business, but as days passed, fewer people came.

After experiencing the same situation three times, a sympathetic owner introduced my mother to a shaman.

The shaman started crying sorrowfully as soon as she saw my mother, and shouted that she had to abandon me immediately.

“That child is the seed of all misfortune.”

My mother said she couldn’t forget the shaman’s terrified face.

And because she loved me so much, she had no choice but to pretend she hadn’t heard and ran out, speaking in a calm voice that I remember well.

She loved me.

To be precise, she loved me for five years.

So, in the winter when I turned six, my mother left me in a park near an orphanage and disappeared.

The orphanage was a decent place, even for a six-year-old.

The director held my dirty hand without hesitation, cleaned me up, and gave me neatly ironed clothes.

And within a month, a couple appeared wanting to adopt me.

During the mandatory visitation period, the couple always visited me with bright smiles.

The day I left the orphanage holding their hands, I gained the new name ‘Lee Jae-hee’ and two brothers.

The following year, the funeral for the eldest child of that family was held, and six months later, after the second child was hospitalized, I returned to the orphanage the next day.

My name became Lee Yeon-jae again.

* * *

“Yeon-jae, have a good winter break!”

“Yeah. You too, Ha-eun.”

I smiled and replied to Park Ha-eun, who was wearing a red scarf, and the faces of the girls behind her turned red.

Ha-eun, whose face had become as red as her scarf, left the classroom whispering with her friends.

I tried desperately to pretend I hadn’t heard the small but clear remarks, “So handsome… the best!” and “His smile is crazy, it’s insane.”

A lot had changed over the past three months.

The biggest change was the attitude of the other kids towards me.

The kids who used to avoid making eye contact with me or treat me like unpleasant filth now greeted me brightly.

This change was largely due to Park Ha-eun, who had many friends, actively talking about me.

She had passionately explained the incident where I got hurt instead of her, with such vigor and enthusiasm that it almost reminded me of a presidential candidate’s speech.

After that, the girls started looking at me with curious eyes.

Some boys who were close to Park Ha-eun even awkwardly asked if I wanted to play soccer with them.

‘Ah… thanks for asking, but I’m not good at soccer.’

‘Really? It’s okay even if you’re not good. These guys are all terrible anyway.’

‘What the heck? Are you introducing yourself?’

The boys who teased each other and laughed in front of me were so awkward.

Of course, the one who helped me the most through these changes was the Mist.

The Mist still helped me avoid misfortune.

According to the Mist, humans couldn’t see or talk to it.

The black space was also an unknown realm that didn’t exist in the human world, and to sum it up, I could only meet the Mist when I crossed over in an unconscious state.

Since the last field trip, I hadn’t had any major accidents that drew blood.

I thought the kids’ rejection of me had lessened as they visually confirmed the reduced frequency of accidents.

However, it was still difficult to avoid misfortune in many cases.

Like with Park Ha-eun, where the misfortune transferred to others through contact.

Unlike the incidents that happened to me, it was hard to know the exact path, so it wasn’t easy to avoid.

I tried my best to prevent accidents, but if I couldn’t, I watched carefully and stepped in to get hurt instead.

After the recent performance evaluation, my desk mate, who had been a bit friendlier to me, approached.

While practicing in the same group, I got hit by a pile of falling balls instead of him, and since then, he often approached me first.

When he asked if I wanted to go to a PC room together and I told him I had plans, he couldn’t hide his disappointment as he stepped back.

‘I’ve never been to a PC room, so I am curious….’

But if the misfortune transferred through more contact, it would be a big problem.

More importantly, I really did have an appointment with the director.

I quickened my pace just in case.

* * *

“Director, you called me― oh, Teacher Lee Si-hyun, you’re here.”

“Hello, Yeon-jae? Did you finish the closing ceremony well?”

“Yes. Have you had lunch?”

“Of course, at this hour.”

As soon as I arrived at the orphanage, I headed to the director’s office.

I knocked and entered, but the director wasn’t there; only Teacher Lee Si-hyun was.

Although she tried not to show it, the awkwardness on her face as she avoided looking at me directly was palpable.

It was the typical smile one makes when they’re uncomfortable, with the corners of the mouth upturned but the cheeks not raised.

I could vividly feel the subtle trembling of her facial muscles, which made me a bit breathless.

“Yeon-jae, you’re here? Sorry for the delay, I was preparing drinks. You like warm tea, right?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Here’s your milk too, Teacher Lee. I warmed it up for you.”

“Director, I’m not a kid anymore….”

The director placed warm tea in front of me and a heated milk in front of Teacher Lee Si-hyun.

Teacher Lee Si-hyun grumbled about the swapped drinks, and the director’s warm gaze fell on her.

I had heard that when Teacher Lee Si-hyun was left as an infant at the orphanage’s doorstep, the director, who was then the youngest teacher, took care of her with utmost care.

That would explain the look in her eyes.

The mug of milk emitted a comforting scent. It was the smell of deep bonds.

I glanced at the tea in front of me and then looked at the director.

“You’re not drinking, Yeon-jae?”

“I’ll have it in a bit. Thank you for preparing it.”

According to the Mist, I would burn the back of my hand with hot water if I drank the tea today.

So I thought it would be best not to even attempt drinking it.

Seeing the director’s concerned expression, I reassured her again that I was fine.

I expected her to bring up the reason she called me right away, but she only engaged in light conversation for a few minutes.

It had been years since I had such a long chat with the director and Teacher Lee Si-hyun, so I felt a bit dazed.

“That sounds good. Thank you, Yeon-jae.”

“No problem.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Yeon-jae, actually… a guest is scheduled to visit next Monday.”

“A guest?”

Even at my question, the director hesitated to speak.

A guest? Who could make the director hesitate like this?

Negative thoughts grew bigger like a snowball.

At that moment, Teacher Lee Si-hyun, who had been watching the situation, interjected.

“There are people, a company, who have been sponsoring our orphanage for a long time. Among the employees, there are some who are quite old and high-ranking.”

“Executives?”

“…Yes! The executives said they wanted to visit our orphanage. They’ve been supporting us for a long time and seem to want to see the kids.”

It wasn’t as bad as I thought. It was rather a mundane story.

It’s not uncommon for sponsors to visit the orphanage, so why did they call me separately?

The question was answered when the director added with a frown.

“They said they’ll bring a reporter along since it’s been a while since their last visit.”

Ah, I see. I nodded.

“I’m fine with it.”

“What?”

“Isn’t this about taking pictures?”

“Oh… yes. How did you know?”

Hearing Teacher Lee Si-hyun say “Yeon-jae, you are really smart,” I tried to hide my discomfort.

I was no longer that young to be hearing such comments.

Of course, I wasn’t planning to make a rebellious adolescent remark, but it was still embarrassing.

Growing up in an orphanage, you develop some sense and learn to act accordingly as you get older.

You also naturally come to realize that running an orphanage costs a lot more money than you might think.

“I’m okay with it, Director. Are you sure you’re okay with me?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“There are other kids besides me. Sang-hoon is cheerful and cute… and there wouldn’t be any unexpected accidents.”

A moment of silence ensued.

“…Hey, you’re cheerful and incredibly cute too! Is there anyone as cute as Yeon-jae?”

Teacher Lee Si-hyun tried to break the silence with a bright voice.

I didn’t intend to make them feel uncomfortable. I smiled to show I meant no harm.

And so, amidst the silence and laughter, the protagonist for next week’s photo shoot was decided.

* * *

The following Monday, all the children stood in line in the playground.

I wore the cleanest and neatest white shirt and beige pants I had.

I considered wearing a sweatshirt to look more cheerful, but it seemed inappropriate, so I settled on the shirt.

“Wow, you look different. For a moment, I didn’t recognize you.”

Choi Sang-hoon, who was standing next to me, made a joke, and I smiled brightly, recalling the sentence I had been mulling over.

“Thanks!”

“…?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s just… never mind. Forget it.”

I looked at Choi Sang-hoon, who seemed puzzled, but turned my head forward at the teacher’s call, “Kids, get ready!”

A luxury sedan glided silently and elegantly into the playground.

People who seemed to be staff got out of the following van. Until then, the sedan remained still with its engine off.

Only after the noisy atmosphere calmed did the sedan’s door open.

Deliberately, as if to make a point, the occupant’s foot emerged slowly, wrapped in neatly pressed fabric even from a distance.

The person who got out had a face that looked surprisingly young for a company executive.

Seeing the director greeting him politely, I took a deep breath and approached.

“Director, you mentioned you wanted to meet one of our children. This is the friend who will guide you today.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

Standing next to the director introducing me, I tried my best to smile brightly, recalling the sentence I had been diligently memorizing.

‘I am Park Ha-eun. I am bright. I am bold. I am happy.’

With slightly relaxed and lowered eyebrows, clear and distinct eyes, raised cheekbones, and a naturally trembling upper lip.

I smiled brightly, imitating the muscle movements on Park Ha-eun’s face when she smiled.

“Hello! I’m Lee Yeon-jae!”