The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 67

“I’m so happy to receive an award that I really wanted. And it’s even better to receive it with Yu-hyeon. Hyo-won, I’m sorry. Just for today, forgive me.”

As Han Se-young smiled and wrinkled her nose, Sung Lee-jun mimicked the expression perfectly in sync.

The two of them, alternating on the screen, were a fantastic pair.

I didn’t know what I was doing here.

When the camera caught me looking at the two of them awkwardly, the laughter around us grew louder.

“Lee Yeon-jae, can you say a few words as well?”

“Ah, yes.”

I snapped back to my senses at the host’s words and stood in front of the microphone.

“Thank you. It seems like I’m having a lot of experiences while playing Yu-hyeon. It’s surprising to receive an award, and I’m even happier to come up here with Na-bi.”

Not too light, but not too heavy either.

I remembered the instructor who taught me how to give a witty acceptance speech while sweating profusely.

I wondered if I could ever use what I learned, but I didn’t expect to use it so soon.

“…At least right now, Na-bi is with me.”

As I ended my speech and looked meaningfully, Sung Lee-jun, who caught my gaze, responded by hardening his expression.

The laughter continued, filling the hall with a relatively light atmosphere.

I hoped the instructor wouldn’t regret teaching me.

“Shall we take a look at the scene that made Lee Yeon-jae and Han Se-young the best couple?”

As soon as the host finished speaking, the large screen behind us changed.

[“Na-bi. I….”]

[“……”]

[“I’m really happy because you’re here.”]

“Ah, the iconic scene that started the ‘Yu-hyeon fever’ that swept through the second half of this year.”

“It went viral on social media! Everyone might not have seen it, but no one has seen it just once!”

‘Yu-hyeon fever’ and even the term written in the script seemed plausible.

But I couldn’t help but ask at the next words.

“Could we ask you to reenact the scene once more?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a good day, and the New Year is approaching! Just this once, please.”

Suddenly? I could feel my pupils shaking in bewilderment.

I couldn’t tell if they just wanted me to recite the lines or to act it out.

Before the MC’s words even settled, cheers followed, setting the mood.

What should I do? I looked to the side, trying to hide my confusion….

There was Na-bi.

Han Se-young, dressed in a fancy dress she wouldn’t normally wear, looking at me.

“……”

Ha, I couldn’t back out here. Time was ticking.

I swallowed a sigh and closed my eyes.

Then, I slowly clenched my fist.

* * *

As I opened my eyes, my cheeks naturally lifted.

“Na-bi. I….”

Na-bi stood before me.

Standing there with a face that seemed to know nothing.

I raised the remaining smile as I looked at her, feeling somehow unfamiliar.

“Because you’re here….”

I’m so happy. Na-bi, I like you.

I like how you don’t sit down in any situation and always find a way.

I like how you took care of me, who only knew your name, just because I was in pain.

Even the noisy, chaotic marketplace, the paper door letting in the cold wind, and the sound of the creek flowing hesitantly—all are perfect when I’m with you.

Even though you eventually abandoned me.

“Really….”

Na-bi stood before me.

Still standing there with a face that seemed to know nothing.

Why don’t you know yet?

“……”

I felt my lips harden.

Na-bi’ bright face hardened as well.

For some reason, I felt that they shouldn’t be stiff.

So I tried to smile again, but my useless lips betrayed me.

As I licked my lips in vain, Na-bi spoke.

“What’s wrong, Yu-hyeon?”

What’s wrong? How could you ask that?

“……You abandoned me.”

“Did I?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

My unsteady gaze wavered heavily.

Why do I feel like this? I didn’t know why I felt so sad.

“I would never abandon you. Don’t think like that.”

Na-bi’ words were as warm as ever.

That guy who took my dragon robe must have felt the same.

I remembered that day.

The last day I faced you, your face filled with fear.

Why did you look at me like that? Because I held a knife to that guy’s neck? Or did you think I was lying about being the crown prince?

If not, was it because I still liked you?

“Na-bi. I….”

I’m so happy because you’re here. I like you so much.

But you’ll eventually abandon me.

I’ll have to run away again.

There’s no place for me. So, I—.

“…I really hate you.”

As I whispered, her eyes widened.

Seeing her eyes frozen in shock, a thrill of joy surged through me.

So, I could still have this much impact on you.

I felt a sense of relief.

Before I knew it, I was smiling.

“Cut!”

Someone shouted from a distance.

The voice was small but familiar.

The familiar notification that the shoot had ended brought me back to my senses.

I quickly composed my face, but the tears that had welled up in my eyes fell without a chance to wipe them away.

“…Wow! I got chills.”

“Me too. Wow, I thought it was a drama shoot. As expected, actors are different!”

“Yeon-jae’s acting is really good. If he’s this good now, imagine how great he was on set.”

While I was turned around, organizing my face, Han Se-young naturally chimed in.

I cleared my throat and looked ahead again.

After exchanging greetings with Han Se-young, I descended, but my head was still in a daze.

As I walked back to my original spot, putting as much strength into my steps as possible, the PD, who had shouted ‘cut,’ approached.

“Yeon-jae. You’re really….”

The PD, with a dazed expression, kept patting my shoulder, muttering for me to appear in the next project as well.

Actor Kim Seok-jun beside him was even more moved.

His eyes were moist, seemingly on the verge of tears, but it was a funny sight, though I couldn’t laugh.

He seemed to have realized that the Yu-hyeon I just acted was the Yu-hyeon after the last scene of the drama.

Apparently, the final scene, which I only saw once, had left a stronger impression than I thought.

Throughout the performance, Kim Seok-jun’s face, who had always loved someone who feared him, lingered in my mind.

Pitying Kim Seok-jun, who must have felt such sorrowful emotions throughout the shoot, I hesitated and gently patted his back.

* * *

“I’m home.”

“You’re back? What’s with that face? You won so many awards.”

The main PD of ‘Butterfly Flying Over the Zelkova Tree,’ Kim Min-seok’s wife, asked with a puzzled look.

Kim Min-seok waved his hand roughly, too tired to respond, and went into the bathroom.

“Ha….”

The hot water made him even more emotional.

Kim Min-seok was still unable to shake off the scene he had seen a few hours ago.

‘…You abandoned me.’

As soon as he heard that line, Kim Min-seok sighed.

On stage, Lee Yeon-jae stood, biting his lip in sorrow.

His trembling eyes wandered and landed on Han Se-young.

‘I would never abandon you. Don’t think like that.’

Despite the impromptu line change, Han Se-young responded without any hesitation.

The director filming with the camera and the host standing idly by were all staring blankly at the two.

The presence of hundreds of people filling the hall blurred, and it seemed like the two were in a different space.

‘Na-bi. I….’

The tear-stained voice wavered aimlessly.

Yu-hyeon, staring at his opponent with dark eyes, whispered with a hoarse voice.

‘…I really hate you.’

The lines, the expressions, the gaze—nothing was the same as the original scene.

But anyone who had watched the drama until the end could instantly recognize it.

Yes. Lee Yeon-jae was acting as Yu-hyeon after the drama had ended.

The PD, the writer, the viewers—everyone had forgotten Yu-hyeon’s story after that.

His eyes, persistently chasing after every reaction from the other, slowly curved.

Despite his rising lips, his eyes were filled with tears.

Seeing him becoming more and more immersed in emotion, Kim Min-seok felt responsible and stood up.

‘Cut!’

It was a sudden, unexpected action, but no one criticized him for it.

Rather, Kim Min-seok’s shout snapped everyone out of their trance.

The stopped cameras started rolling again, and Lee Yeon-jae, as always after finishing his acting, blinked blankly and descended the stairs with Han Se-young’s support.

By the time Kim Min-seok ran to Lee Yeon-jae, his dazed look had mostly cleared.

Facing the boy with newly clear eyes, all he could do was pat his shoulder.

“How can you act like that….”

Leaving the water dripping from his head, Kim Min-seok sat in his study for a long time.

Although he had received some attention because of Lee Yeon-jae, Yu-hyeon was still a character far removed from the main storyline, excluding the romantic plot.

In the latter part, Yu-hyeon visited the palace and caused a commotion, but it was just an episode depicting the final fate of a character who ended up running away again.

Therefore, even though Yu-hyeon’s disappearance was not separately depicted, there were not many viewers who criticized it as implausible, even if it felt unsatisfactory.

Even Kim Min-seok had never asked Writer Han what would happen to Yu-hyeon next or felt curious about it.

As Yu-hyeon was literally just a ‘fugitive’ from beginning to end.

‘The filming ended a long time ago… Did he practice separately?’

Lee Yeon-jae turned into Yu-hyeon in the blink of an eye.

The boy, who had just stood with a sullen expression, disappeared, and Yu-hyeon stood there.

And it was Yu-hyeon from a time that he had never acted before.

“Ha…, I’m worried.”

“About what?”

Kim Min-seok’s wife casually replied, bringing a towel.

Enjoying her hand drying his hair, he continued.

“There’s an actor I want, but it’s hard to ask him to join my next project.”

“Why?”

“What he needs now is a deeply artistic film rather than a highly popular drama. But it’s a shame to let him go.”

Kim Min-seok sighed deeply, lost in thought.

His wife, sharing his worry, said, “Hmm…, but does that actor want to work with you?” though he naturally let it go unheard.

“Hey, your phone’s ringing.”

“Oh, right.”

At the buzzing sound of his phone, Kim Min-seok reluctantly got up.

Checking the trembling phone screen, a helpless laugh escaped his lips.

“Good grief.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just thought he wasn’t a gentleman.”

The name on the screen was ‘Director Yoon Kang-yeon.’

He was the first Korean director to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year.