The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter: 39

“Hyung, your agency?”

“Yeah, Woo-yeon Entertainment. When you ask aspiring actors where they want to go, they all talk about our agency.”

“Actually, they provide pretty decent support―.” Jung-hyun hyung added with a smile.

“They say that, for an entertainment company, the treatment of managers is also quite good. How about you, Jin-bae?”

“It’s hard to compare precisely since this is my first company, but from what I’ve heard from other managers around, it’s definitely decent! Many managers want to join our company too.”

“That’s a relief. If Yeon-jae comes to Woo-yeon, you could keep working with Jin-bae, which would be nice.”

“Yes, that’s right….”

When I trailed off, Manager An Jin-bae, who seemed about to say something more, looked at me cautiously.

It was obvious what he was thinking just by looking at his drooping eyebrows, so I quickly said, “I haven’t even considered working with anyone else but Jin-bae hyung as my manager.”

Seeing his face brighten again made me sigh inwardly. I couldn’t let my guard down even for a moment.

Of course, the reason for my fluster wasn’t Manager An Jin-bae.

Just listening to what Jung-hyun hyung said, it seemed like it was a given that I’d continue acting from now on.

Although flustered, I lifted my head, trying to maintain a calm expression.

Jung-hyun hyung and I made eye contact, and he smiled slightly.

…He did it on purpose.

Realizing his intention, I furrowed my brows, and he laughed, placing a piece of yokan on my plate as if asking for forgiveness.

“Of course! Whether Yeon-jae wants to continue acting is what’s important. If you do decide to act, I was just wondering how you’d feel about my agency~.”

“Yeah, right. Sure.”

His words sounded grand. I snorted lightly and popped a small piece of yokan into my mouth.

It wasn’t too sweet and had a nice, crumbly texture. Well, the yokan wasn’t to blame, after all.

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll think about it.”

“Sure. If you have any concerns, feel free to contact me anytime.”

“Yes, I will.”

After finishing all the remaining yokan, it was already dark when we left the restaurant.

After parting ways with Jung-hyun hyung, the car ride to the orphanage, which took about twenty minutes, was quiet.

Both Manager An Jin-bae and I didn’t say a word.

‘We probably won’t see each other until the production announcement meeting.’

There was about a month left until the production announcement meeting.

Having seen each other every day for nearly two months, thinking we wouldn’t see each other for a month felt strange.

The car, smoothly pulling into the usual parking spot, came to a stop.

After pulling the gear, Manager An Jin-bae remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

“Get home safely, actor.”

“Yes. See you next time. I’ll be in touch.”

His gentle eyes that looked at me today stood out more than usual.

Feeling a strange sensation, I greeted him and slowly got out of the car.

Just before entering the orphanage, I hesitated and turned around.

Seeing that he was still looking at me, I raised my hand to wave.

Even from a distance, I could clearly see his thick eyebrows move as he hurriedly bowed his head.

The way he bowed his head distinctly conveyed a sense of distance, as if we hadn’t been together for two months.

It was so typical of Manager An Jin-bae that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Smiling, I waved again. See you in a month.

—

“Actor! Where should I put this?”

“…Just put it anywhere.”

A month later, as if.

Not even twelve hours had passed since we parted, and on Sunday morning, I responded roughly to the voice coming from behind me.

“Since the kids will take it out again in the afternoon anyway, you don’t need to organize it too neatly.”

I was cleaning the playroom with Manager An Jin-bae.

Why? Because Manager An Jin-bae had come for volunteer work. At Morin Orphanage.

I thought I was seeing things. I hadn’t slept much, so I thought I was hallucinating.

Having woken up early out of habit, I practiced acting since I was already awake.

Even though the filming was over, it wasn’t a significant activity. Well, it could at least reduce the misfortune factor.

After breakfast, feeling restless, I went to the playground and saw a familiar car in the parking lot.

I realized that the scene where movie protagonists rub their eyes wasn’t just a setup. It really happened because you couldn’t believe what you were seeing.

And when I saw Manager An Jin-bae sitting in the director’s office, I was speechless.

Although there was a big sofa, he was uncomfortably squished in a single chair.

As always, the director introduced him with a serene smile, saying he would be helping us today as a volunteer.

I couldn’t say anything with the director there, so I held back and asked what he was doing as soon as we stepped outside.

He mumbled and explained.

“After I dropped you off yesterday, I talked to actor Lee. He asked if I wanted to continue working with you.”

“Actor Lee? You mean Jung-hyun hyung?”

“Yes. He suggested volunteering at the orphanage, thinking you might like it…”

That guy, seriously.

I suppressed a rising sigh. Sighing here would definitely cause a misunderstanding.

I was about to tell him not to take Jung-hyun hyung’s words seriously from now on, as he was just teasing.

“I really want to keep working with you…”

“…”

“I’m sorry for coming without telling you. You must have been really surprised.”

Seeing his slightly dejected face, I found it hard to respond.

Feeling strange, I chose my words carefully and let out a short breath.

“I told you yesterday. If I continue acting, of course, I’ll work with you. The issue isn’t which manager I’ll work with but whether I’ll keep acting, so you don’t need to worry.”

His complexion brightened a little at that.

When I told him he should go home and rest, he insisted he couldn’t because he had already been assigned tasks for today.

Knowing the manager was cleaning in the next room made it awkward for me to lie in bed alone.

In the end, I gave up my day off and began tidying up the scattered toys.

“It’s a relief that today’s task is mostly cleaning. I was worried they might ask us to play with the kids.”

“Why? You seem like you’d be good at playing with them.”

“I can play well with them, but I’m worried the kids might not like it.”

His voice sounded so lonely that I almost laughed.

Indeed, just by his appearance, he could seem a bit scary.

He was tall, broad, and had a strong impression with thick eyebrows and a scar.

But once the kids talked to him a few times, they’d quickly realize he was a good person.

“They don’t usually leave the kids with someone new. They wait until the volunteer has been coming for at least three months.”

“I see. Volunteers who have been here a long time must be really good with the kids.”

“Well, it’s not exactly because of that.”

I picked up a duck plushie that was almost stripped of its clothes.

It didn’t seem like something that could be undressed, but it had been skillfully stripped.

“Once you play with the kids, they’ll keep talking about you until you come back. They’ll ask when you’re coming.”

“Oh…”

“We introduce the kids to volunteers only when we’re sure they’ll continue coming. It’s more comfortable for everyone that way.”

Comforting crying kids is the teachers’ job, after all. Nothing is easy.

After briefly looking around the now reasonably tidy playroom, I said that we should stop here and leave the room.

Manager An Jin-bae, who seemed lost in thought, looked flustered and followed me.

“Actor, then I―”

“It’s laundry day for Building A’s blankets. Let’s go help with that.”

“…! Yes! Sounds good.”

There was a hint of anticipation on Manager An Jin-bae’s face.

It seemed he was glad to have something he could genuinely help with.

Wondering what he was thinking, I let him prepare, rolling up his sleeves.

Thirty minutes later, a despondent voice came from Manager An Jin-bae.

“…So this is what you meant by blanket laundry.”

We were at a coin laundry near the orphanage.

It seemed like he had imagined stomping on blankets in a big basin. Sure, it’s often shown in dramas.

“It’s convenient and good, right? If we do it all at once, the cost isn’t too high either.”

“That’s true…”

It seemed he had high expectations.

Seeing him looking somewhat dejected, I patted him and said he could wash my blankets if he really wanted to.

He told me not to tease him. I was surprised he knew I was teasing.

We both sat in chairs, blankly staring at the rotating washing machines.

Since there was no one else around, we could only hear the sound of the washing machines.

As fatigue set in, I blinked my eyes slightly, and Manager An Jin-bae quietly spoke.

“Actor. About what you said to actor Kim Seok-jun yesterday. About how acting seemed enjoyable.”

“Yes.”

“…The same goes for you.”

I turned my head away from the washing machine.

With the sun setting, yellow sunlight filled the laundromat.

Because of that, I couldn’t see the eyes of the person next to me well.

“You seem really happy when you’re acting.”

However, I could clearly see his twitching eyebrows.

He seemed nervous. The thought made me want to laugh.

As I didn’t respond, his words grew longer, as if he were flustered.

“Of course, I didn’t say this with any particular intention. I just wanted to tell you since yesterday. I’m not trying to pressure you… but it must feel more burdensome. But I really didn’t mean to burden you―”

“I also enjoy acting.”

“…! Really?”

“Yes. But I don’t know if I should continue.”

His slightly tense jaw relaxed at my words.

“May I ask why you think that?”

“Because it feels like it’s only beneficial for me.”

Naturally, Manager An Jin-bae didn’t understand what I meant.

I knew my explanation was lacking, but I couldn’t add more. It involved the Mist.

It’s been a year since I first encountered the Mist, but it wouldn’t be strange if I couldn’t meet it starting tomorrow.

There are always variables, and it’s not something I can control.

I still hadn’t figured out anything about the black stone.

What if I couldn’t meet the Mist starting next week?

What if acting didn’t reduce the misfortune factor?

Jung-hyun hyung, Manager An Jin-bae, Kim Seok-jun actor, Han Se-young, Sung Lee-jun… The more I act, the more people I get to know.

What if they got hurt because of me? How could I face their families?

And could I handle that?

“Doing something just because I want to, that’s too selfish.”

No, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I wasn’t confident, and I wasn’t sure.

Manager An Jin-bae didn’t easily refute my words.

There was a silence, and only after the dryer beeped did he slowly speak.

“Actor. For now…”