The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 213

“Yeon-jae!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the voice I heard before even opening my eyes.

Smiling, I opened my eyes.

“Mist.”

I saw the familiar black space that now felt like home.

Mist ran over with a grin.

“—Ugh.”

“I missed you so much!”

Mist clung to me like a cicada, which was cute but a bit heavy.

I lifted Mist easily but gave a playful scolding.

“You’re getting heavier. What are you eating when I’m not around?”

Mist crinkled his nose with a smile.

“Your love?”

“Yeah, right.”

“Hehe!”

Mist’s energy was high today.

It wasn’t hard to understand why.

He must have heard my conversation with Jang Joon-seok.

Sure enough, Mist rubbed his face against my cheek and asked.

“Do you like me that much, Yeon-jae?”

Oh, this one’s cheeky.

I playfully bumped my forehead against his, and he laughed.

I laughed back brightly. Wow, he really is heavy….

‘Why does he reflect the weight too?’

It felt like I was holding Han Ha-ram’s actual body weight.

‘I think he’ll be upset if I ask him to get down.’

As I hesitated, Mist thankfully changed his form.

Mist, now looking like Sung Lee-jun, took my hand and led me to the sofa.

“I loved what you talked about today! You were thinking of me when you wrote it, right? You’re a genius!”

“Thanks.”

“I wish we could talk like that script!”

Yeah, that would be nice.

I stroked Mist’s cheek, who looked wistful.

“But I like this too. I get to see you every day.”

It would be great if I could communicate directly with Mist like the script I wrote today.

But even just seeing Mist every night felt like a blessing.

‘At least there haven’t been any sudden disappearances since that time.’

The black stone was still embedded in my body, and Mist’s one hand remained black.

But as long as I didn’t wonder about it, as that mysterious figure had said, nothing happened.

‘I hope things stay this way.’

Meeting Mist every day, living with Jin-bae hyung, and having Lee Eun-taek and Noh Bi-hyuk visit.

A day full of joy. That was enough for me.

As if sensing my genuine feelings, Mist laughed.

“Me too! I love seeing you every day, Yeon-jae!”

His sparkling eyes resembled pebbles by a river.

Like glass beads that shine in the sunlight.

As I gently caressed Mist’s eye area, I felt curious.

“But why do you only take on Ha-ram and Lee-jun hyung’s forms these days?”

He used to take on Noh Bi-hyuk’s form more often.

At my question, Mist tilted his head and answered as if it was obvious.

“That’s because you like these faces more!”

“…Is it that obvious?”

“Yep!”

I felt embarrassed at his immediate response.

If Mist could tell, everyone else must have noticed too.

‘I hope Bi-hyuk isn’t feeling left out.’

He seemed to have a lot on his mind lately, probably because of Lee Eun-taek.

I told him again last week that he’s still my “closest friend,” but he didn’t seem convinced, pouting his lips.

‘He really is possessive in his own way.’

Noh Bi-hyuk might be tall, but he’s really like a kid.

He gets jealous easily and has a strong desire to monopolize.

Considering the thesis he showed during the sports festival, it’s not hard to understand, but lately, his actions seemed to go beyond just “fear of losing a friend.”

‘It’s like he wants to be closer than just “closest friends.” As if….’

‘Yeah, like siblings.’

Since my relationship with Lee Eun-taek had improved, Bi-hyuk’s behavior had become more pronounced.

He had even outright asked if we could hang out without Lee Eun-taek. That said it all.

I understood.

Noh Bi-hyuk had grown up as an only child, neglected by his parents.

Though he appeared outgoing, he was secretly defensive and set clear boundaries with people he was professionally connected to.

In other words, he still wasn’t comfortable with his debut group members.

The only friends he confided in were me and Park Ha-eun.

Since Park Ha-eun lived far away and we couldn’t meet often, he had no choice but to lean on me more.

‘It feels strange.’

I had only imagined being jealous of the members Bi-hyuk would debut with.

Who would have thought it would be the other way around?

Though it was troublesome, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

‘Is this what it feels like to raise a child?’

This was a common symptom described in parenting books.

Many children follow their parents around everywhere.

‘At least he doesn’t have separation anxiety.’

Whatever the case, it would improve with time.

Living with his group members in the dorm would eventually help him open up to them.

One day, he’d be so busy he wouldn’t even think of me.

When that time came, I’d be the one feeling left out.

‘Wow.’

Just the thought of it made me feel lonely.

I felt like a mother bird staring blankly at an empty nest.

‘…Let’s enjoy the present.’

Bi-hyuk will find other people later anyway.

Until then, I should enjoy this time.

Still, I should avoid showing too much preference for Ha-ram and Lee-jun hyung in front of Bi-hyuk.

“Yeon-jae! What are you thinking about?”

“I was just spacing out for a bit.”

Mist grumbled about why I would space out when he was with me.

As I naturally patted Mist’s back, I thought.

‘There are kids everywhere.’

There were so many people I needed to take care of.

I felt like a babysitter.

‘Well, still.’

The warmth of Mist touching me was comforting.

In my imaginary nest, it was full of baby birds.

The smallest and whitest of them wiggled closer.

“Yeon-jae. I really like you….”

I smiled at Mist’s muttering.

I whispered back in his ear that I felt the same.

‘It seems like this suits me.’

The thought that I had found another job besides being an actor made me chuckle.

* * *

“…Did you really write this?”

Team Leader Woo’s gaze fixed on me.

His eyes were intense with disbelief.

Sighing at the accusatory look, I responded.

“I didn’t write it alone; Writer Jang Joon-seok helped. You can tell by looking at it.”

“No, I mean, Writer Jang helped, but you’re saying you wrote it. When did you come up with this idea?”

Did you suddenly think of it during your meeting with Chief Choi Ji-min? Or had you always had this idea? Do you want to become a writer? Would you like to take screenplay lessons?

He fired off questions without giving me a chance to answer.

I calmed him down first.

It was unusual for Team Leader Woo to be so excited, which left me taken aback.

Wondering why he was acting this way, I focused on the more pressing question.

“So, do you think it’s unusable?”

I recalled Mist’s bright smile when he heard the script.

It would be a shame if it couldn’t be used. Maybe it could be revised?

At my question, Team Leader Woo looked at me as if I were something strange.

“…No.”

I breathed a sigh of relief at his response.

“Then we can use it.”

“….”

Thank goodness.

Then why did he make such a fuss?

For a moment, I thought it had to be scrapped.

I sighed inwardly and looked up to see Team Leader Woo looking puzzled.

“…? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You… never mind. Talking to you is exhausting.”

Team Leader Woo averted his eyes and shook his head.

It was a curious reaction, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it as the conversation quickly moved on to the drama.

“With your script, we can make five episodes, each about ten minutes long. The script seems sufficient for now, but I’ll discuss it with Writer Jang Joon-seok again to see if we need other writers’ input.”

“Got it.”

“We’ll assign the direction to one of our people. We’ll discuss the shooting schedule after your fan meeting. I also need to meet with Chief Choi Ji-min first.”

“Okay. Don’t overdo it.”

“I won’t. Is there anything else you need?”

“No—”

I habitually said no but then hesitated.

Team Leader Woo looked at me curiously.

“What is it?”

“It’s just an idea of mine. You can mention it to the PD if you want, but it’s not mandatory.”

“Alright. What’s the idea?”

Scratching the back of my neck, I spoke.

“I have a recommendation for an actor to play the ghost. He’s a friend of mine….”

“A friend? Who?”

It was hard to get the words out.

Even as I spoke, I wondered if this was the right thing to do.

‘He would do well, though.’

But coming in through a formal audition and getting in through my recommendation are two different things.

I had told him there was nothing to gain from being by my side, so was this really the right thing to do?

‘But he really does seem perfect for the role.’

Having seen his acting during the *Killing Horn* shoot made me want him even more.

If he weren’t my friend, I would have recommended him without hesitation.

As I hesitated, unable to speak, Team Leader Woo chuckled.

“Yeon-jae, I can pretty much guess what you’re worrying about… but even if he’s your friend, if the production team thinks he’s not good, he won’t be picked. Don’t worry.”

“But my words still have some influence, don’t they?”

“That’s true. But we didn’t plan to hold an official audition for this role anyway. That’s how this industry works. Many people get picked through connections. Most people come in through recommendations.”

It’s not like your friend became close to you just because of connections, right?

I felt awkward hearing Team Leader Woo’s words.

‘Actually, that’s exactly why.’

I thought of Seo Ji-oh, who approached me wanting to gain something by being near me.

How would he react if he heard that I had recommended him?

Would he be happy to finally benefit because of me?

‘This day has come.’

My pride was hurt by the fact that things turned out as Seo Ji-oh had predicted, but I didn’t want to give up an actor who fit the role perfectly because of it.

This wasn’t just any drama; it was one I had written.

Sighing, I told Team Leader Woo Seo Ji-oh’s name.

I emphasized that it was just a recommendation and that his skills should be verified before making any decisions.

Team Leader Woo nodded a few times, then shooed me away, saying he was busy when it seemed like I wouldn’t stop talking.

“Actor-nim, should we head straight home?”

“Yes.”

I got into the car with Jin-bae hyung and took out my phone.

While searching for Seo Ji-oh’s name, I realized something.

I had never contacted him first.

‘He’s really strange.’

Seo Ji-oh was truly an odd guy.

His lazy smile, pale eyes, and the underlying sensitivity that couldn’t be hidden.

From the first meeting where he openly approached me wanting to benefit from my presence, to the conversations where he casually talked about his mother who had abandoned him.

And the face he made during the *Killing Horn* shoot, staring at my acting with vacant eyes.

‘I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.’

I wasn’t sure, but it was too late to regret it.

A diligent person like Team Leader Woo would already be in action.

The game was already in motion, and you wanted a chance.

‘Now it’s up to you to take it.’

Let’s see if you’re ready.

I stared at the three characters spelling ‘Seo Ji-oh’ on my phone screen for a while before pressing the call button.