The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 205

Jin-bae hyung probably knew that Lee Eun-taek was once my brother.

‘He must have found out during his investigation.’

Mist had once told me that Jin-bae hyung was looking into my past.

Sure enough, Jin-bae hyung nodded silently.

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be in my room, so you two can talk comfortably.”

Jin-bae hyung took a book and went into his room.

I gestured to the sofa for Lee Eun-taek.

“Have a seat wherever you’re comfortable.”

“Just get to the point.”

His voice was even colder than it had been over the phone.

Suppressing a sigh, I extended my hand.

“Alright. But first, give me your phone.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re recording right now.”

“……”

Lee Eun-taek’s expression turned hostile.

He clicked his tongue, glaring at me, and then pulled out his phone.

“How did you know I was recording?”

“Just a hunch.”

I had guessed.

‘I wasn’t sure since he hadn’t cursed yet.’

I hadn’t expected him to actually be recording. That was a bit unnerving.

Only after confirming that he had deleted the recording did I relax.

“Did you ask me to come to your house just to stop me from recording? Did you think I’d plant a recorder in a café or something?”

“You never know.”

I shrugged, and he gave me a disgusted look.

“So? What’s this profound conversation that needs to be off the record?”

It wasn’t that profound.

What I wanted to say was simple.

“Don’t hold a grudge against Bi-hyuk. He’s a really good kid.”

“You called me all the way here just to talk about Noh Bi-hyuk?”

Watching his deeply furrowed brow, I spoke calmly.

“You didn’t prepare to debut as an idol lightly. It’s better for you to get along with your teammates.”

“Didn’t know you had a son. Since when did you start playing mom? Playing family must be fun for you.”

“I’m not trying to meddle. I’m just asking you not to take it out on him because of me.”

“Well? Just being friends with you makes him unqualified. People of the same feather flock together.”

Sigh.

‘This conversation is going nowhere.’

Every comment he made was combative, and his sharp eyes pierced me more intensely than when we met at the practice room.

‘Should I just apologize?’

It wouldn’t be hard.

After all, everything regarding Ji-heon hyung’s death was my fault.

But an apology wouldn’t mean anything to Lee Eun-taek.

It would start with “What are you sorry for?” and end with “So killing someone can be settled with an apology?”

‘I also want to stop talking about Ji-heon hyung.’

I wanted to stop dragging out the unchangeable past.

I ran my hands over my face and spoke slowly.

“Hyung, just because you’re a good person doesn’t mean only good people will come into your life. Sometimes, bad people will too.”

“Are you lecturing me on life? I’m older than—”

“You already know this.”

I interrupted his naturally combative reply.

“Just like how a new family member might not be a good person.”

“……”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a good person.”

His eyes were filled with anger.

“It’s the same with friends. Just because Bi-hyuk is friends with me doesn’t mean he’s not a good person.”

Lee Eun-taek didn’t argue.

He couldn’t. This wasn’t just about Noh Bi-hyuk and Lee Eun-taek.

‘If he argued here, it’d be like cursing Ji-heon hyung too.’

There’s no way Lee Eun-taek, who liked Ji-heon hyung since childhood, would say such a thing.

“Bi-hyuk has nothing to do with me. Don’t take it out on him because of me.”

### Chapter 205

The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune (205)

“…What if I want to?”

His words were laced with stubbornness.

I looked at Lee Eun-taek for a moment before getting up from the sofa.

Approaching the still-standing Lee Eun-taek, I had to look up to meet his gaze.

‘He’s gotten taller.’

He had grown a lot since I last saw him.

He might even be as tall as Bi-hyuk now. He could get even taller.

“What?”

As I got closer, Lee Eun-taek frowned in displeasure.

I held my breath and looked him in the eye.

“Be smart about this, hyung.”

“What?”

“The one who should be worried right now isn’t me; it’s you.”

“What are you talking about—”

“If the fact that I was disowned comes out, who do you think will be in trouble?”

His pupils dilated at my softly spoken words.

I watched the change quietly.

“The fact that I was adopted and then disowned hasn’t come out yet. But do you think reporters don’t know about it?”

“…”

“They don’t write about it because there’s nothing to gain. It’s troublesome to mess with ordinary people.”

I deliberately spoke in a nonchalant tone.

When I flicked a button on Lee Eun-taek’s jacket, he flinched.

“When you debut, you won’t be an ordinary person anymore. If an article comes out, who do you think will be in more trouble? The award-winning actor or the newly debuted rookie idol?”

“You…”

I knew it. It wasn’t Lee Eun-taek’s or his parents’ fault that I was disowned.

I didn’t want to make trouble for a member of Bi-hyuk’s debut group.

‘Let’s end the threats here.’

After confirming that he understood, I smiled.

“So let’s get along, hyung.”

“…”

“And don’t take out your feelings on Bi-hyuk because of me. Got it?”

Lee Eun-taek gritted his teeth.

I heard a grinding sound, but he didn’t argue back.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

I hadn’t expected him to say it out loud, so I stepped back.

As soon as I moved away, Lee Eun-taek let out a breath he’d been holding.

“Ha… You’ve become a real psycho.”

I shrugged my shoulders as if to say thanks.

Ignoring the even more intense glare, I handed his phone back to him.

“Let’s have dinner with Bi-hyuk next week.”

“Do I look like someone who would have dinner with you?”

“I don’t want to either, so calm down.”

I’d rather starve than have a meal with Lee Eun-taek.

I looked at him as if he were being immature when he angrily said he didn’t want to waste his time on me.

“This is all because of you.”

“What? What did I do?”

“Did you only tell Lee Si-hyun about me?”

“…”

Lee Eun-taek, who had been about to throw another fit, clamped his mouth shut.

I knew it.

I tried hard not to look at him with pity.

“Everything you’ve said about me could become a news story. If you debut, it’s only a matter of time before it gets out.”

Through Mist, I found out that Lee Eun-taek had told our elementary school friends about me.

‘The secret’s already out.’

In the entertainment world, there are no permanent secrets.

If the news comes out the wrong way, it’ll be a big mess.

It’s not just about Lee Eun-taek, but also about Bi-hyuk’s group avoiding scandal.

“We need to take a photo before you debut.”

“…What kind of photo?”

“A photo proving that we’re close.”

If the fact that I was disowned becomes public, Lee Eun-taek and his family might face backlash.

Most people won’t care about the reasons behind it.

So it’s even more important to get ahead of it.

We need to show that despite the past, Lee Eun-taek and Lee Yeon-jae are currently very close.

That way, we can manage the fallout if it does make the news.

### Chapter 205

The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune (205)

“Let’s meet somewhere crowded. I’ll just wear a hat so people can take photos.”

“…”

“When we’re out, don’t ignore what I say. Curse at me if you want, but at least smile for the crowd.”

“…Fine.”

Lee Eun-taek answered irritably.

‘I wonder if he’ll act properly.’

Anyway, that was all I needed to say.

Confirming I had nothing more to add, Lee Eun-taek turned his back to leave.

With irritated movements, he roughly shoved his feet into his sneakers and hesitated for a moment.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“So… you really have nothing more to say? Did you call me just to talk about Noh Bi-hyuk?”

More to say?

I stared at Lee Eun-taek’s back for a moment before speaking plainly.

“I’m sorry.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lee Eun-taek spun around.

“For what? What are you sorry for?”

His eyes were boiling with anger, icy blue.

Just like when I said my last goodbye to him seven years ago.

I looked into his eyes, which seemed to hold a multitude of emotions.

“For killing Ji-heon hyung, for getting you hurt, for showing up and being a bother again. I’m sorry for all of it.”

“…Ha.”

The corners of Lee Eun-taek’s mouth twisted up.

If I hadn’t been looking into his eyes, I might have thought he was smiling.

“You really… you really are a piece of shit.”

Lee Eun-taek, who had been glaring at me as if he wanted to tear me apart, stormed out.

I stood there, staring at the empty doorway after the door clicked shut.

It’s strange.

Seeing Lee Eun-taek’s face, expressions, and hearing his voice after so long felt unfamiliar.

‘Anyone watching…’

would think he was the one who had been wronged.

The look he gave me was sharp, like a wounded animal’s, etched vividly in my mind.

I stared at the closed door and called out.

“Hyung, you can come out now.”

“…Was I too obvious?”

His embarrassed voice made me laugh.

“It’s amazing you thought you could hide that big body.”

I turned around to see Jin-bae hyung standing there, looking awkward.

When our eyes met, he opened his arms, making me laugh.

‘Good grief.’

Despite being a man capable of thorough background checks, he still seemed so gentle.

Shaking my head, I walked over and hugged him.

His large hands felt warm and comforting on my back.

“Actor.”

“Yes.”

“Should I get you some rice cake?”

There it is again, the rice cake.

‘Does he think it’s a cure-all?’

Did he think bringing me rice cake would always cheer me up?

“No, I prefer just being like this.”

Jin-bae hyung silently patted my back for a while.

As I quietly enjoyed his touch, words slipped out of my mouth.

“I think I’m a little depressed.”

“Are you?”

“Yes. Honestly, maybe more than a little.”

Saying it out loud made me feel even more down.

I worried I might be spreading my negative feelings to him.

But with his robot-like solid body holding me, I felt myself relax.

‘This is all Jin-bae hyung’s fault.’

Pouting, I buried my head in his chest.

Despite my little tantrum, Jin-bae hyung kept calmly patting my back.

“Can I ask why you’re feeling down?”

“I think it’s because of a sense of helplessness.”

“Helplessness?”

I nodded.

“I really like my life right now. It’s because I have things I can do. If I do well, everything will be okay. No one around me will get hurt anymore, and you’ll keep being by my side.”

Meeting Mist wasn’t just about discovering the cause of my misfortune.

It was also about learning how to resolve it.

A way to personally drive it away with my own hands.

‘I can prevent any new misfortunes now.’

But the past was different. There was nothing I could do about it.

Just like when Mist cried about wanting a body and I couldn’t help.

“I just want to put the past behind me since it’s all my fault anyway. There’s nothing to be gained from bringing it up again….”

Of all people, Eun-taek had to be in the same group as Bi-hyuk.

Whether I liked it or not, I would inevitably have to face him a few more times. What if I ran into Eun-taek’s parents?

Just the thought made my vision go dark.

As I held back a sigh, Jin-bae hyung spoke kindly.

“Hmm… I wish I could help, but I don’t know how to go back in time.”

His genuinely regretful tone made me smile.

I was about to joke that maybe he could find a way through his investigations.

“Then, actor, how about we do something fun to cheer you up?”

“Something fun?”

The unexpected suggestion made me look up. Jin-bae hyung was smiling at me.

His gentle eyes were filled with mischief.

“Let’s go….”

—

**[Title: Guys, check out the teaser for the show with Lee Yeon-jae and Sung Lee-jun!]**

The teaser is 10 minutes long, lol.

Everyone, go watch it.

―Honestly, I expected it to be boring, but what’s up with this teaser? Why is it so noisy? LOL.

└Lee Yeon-jae and Sung Lee-jun are quiet, but the production crew is super loud, lol. Yeon-jae’s expression looking at the crew is hilarious, LOL.

―Wait, since when did our Bambi have a son? At 04:32, is that really the look of a 15-year-old looking at a 17-year-old hyung?

└LOL, Yeon-jae’s dad moments that even fans didn’t know about.

└Dad, Lee Jung-hyun, first-born, Sung Lee-jun, second-born, Lee Yeon-jae… Whoever becomes the mom will have to pay double taxes.

└I’ll file for bankruptcy if I have to, but can I have that position just once?