The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 240

Seo Ji-oh looked at me silently for a long time.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because it’s fascinating.”

His eyes softened.

“I knew you were kind, but… it’s really surprising. Aren’t you tired of living like that?”

“Seo Ji-oh.”

He always does this when things are going well.

“If you don’t want to answer, just say so. Don’t be sarcastic.”

At my words, Seo Ji-oh let out a low sigh.

“Sorry. I don’t talk about my mom much.”

“No, I was being unnecessarily nosy.”

As I tried to get up from the sofa, Seo Ji-oh hurriedly grabbed my wrist.

“Sorry, I’m sorry, Yeon-jae. I made a mistake.”

He swallowed hard.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you, really. About my mom….”

“……”

“I haven’t heard from her.”

Seo Ji-oh smiled.

His usually relaxed eyes looked more sensitive than ever.

‘The cat seems to be Seo Ji-oh, not me.’

Seo Ji-oh was disguising his sensitivity with a calm smile.

Like a cat ready to pounce at any moment.

“I didn’t think you’d ask about that. I must have reacted sharply without realizing it. I’m really sorry.”

“I crossed the line, didn’t I? I won’t do it again.”

As I spoke casually, Seo Ji-oh hesitated.

“No.”

“What?”

“You can… cross the line. It’s okay.”

Even as he said it, his voice was uncertain.

Not wanting to torment him while he was confused, I waited quietly. After a while, he finally spoke.

“Thank you for asking first. No one knows that I’m waiting for my mom to contact me.”

“Not even your father?”

“He never brings up my mom. It might hurt my stepmom’s feelings.”

I didn’t want to hurt her because she’s a good person.

Seo Ji-oh, smiling like that, looked the youngest I’d ever seen him.

I looked at him for a moment before speaking.

“Then call me when you want to talk about your mom.”

“……Why go that far?”

I wondered if I was a fool.

It wasn’t like I had any special feelings for him.

What was so appealing about a kid who hissed whenever I reached out?

“I just care.”

“Because you pity me?”

I burst out laughing at his words.

“What’s pitiful about you? Are you joking?”

Seo Ji-oh seemed to remember that I was an orphan and awkwardly apologized.

I looked at him, somehow looking dazed.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“Uh?”

“You said you haven’t heard from your mom. How do you feel about that?”

When I asked nonchalantly, he seemed taken aback.

“Uh….”

“……”

“Honestly, I thought I’d be okay….”

“Yeah.”

Seo Ji-oh hesitated for a long time before mumbling, “I don’t feel great.”

As I remained silent, he continued to speak.

“Of course, I know I was just an extra, so it’s natural she didn’t notice me. But if she watched the drama, she wouldn’t have missed me, right?”

“Probably not.”

“I don’t know if she just didn’t watch the drama, if she watched it but doesn’t care about me anymore, or… I just don’t know.”

His words trailed off.

I didn’t offer any particular words of comfort.

Instead, I responded with an almost indifferent tone.

“I read an article yesterday that said there’s no Korean who doesn’t know Lee Yeon-jae. But I totally disagree.”

Because.

“If I just wear a mask, people don’t recognize me.”

“…?”

“A fame that can be hidden by just a mask, does that make sense? It just means I’m not that famous.”

Seo Ji-oh’s expression was odd.

“……What do you mean?”

“I still have a long way to go to become famous.”

Regardless, I continued speaking.

“Your goal is to become a famous actor, right? It’s too early to be disappointed. You need to work on a few more projects here.”

Only then can you decide whether to be disappointed or not.

Even I, who starred in several leading roles, didn’t feel much difference.

“So at least act for another 2-3 years before getting disappointed.”

“……”

Seo Ji-oh looked at me with a peculiar expression.

“Do you really think you’re not famous?”

“It’s just a fuss on the internet. In reality, people don’t care. As long as I wear a mask, no one recognizes me.”

“That makes no sense… sigh.”

Seo Ji-oh tried to say something but eventually closed his mouth.

“Anyway, I understand what you mean. I’ll do that.”

He replied, pressing his temples.

Seeing that he had somewhat pulled himself together, I brought up the real reason I came here.

“Then come to Wuyeon Entertainment at 2 PM this Saturday. Just tell them at the lobby that you’re there to meet Team Leader Woo Hyun-woo from Team 1.”

“What?”

“There’s no set script. Just prepare a performance that you’re confident in. He’s very punctual, so don’t be late.”

When I said it casually, he looked dumbfounded.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you want to audition? If you’re not interested, forget it.”

As I stood up from the sofa, Seo Ji-oh grabbed my wrist again, this time more quickly.

“Audition?”

“You said you wanted to become a famous actor.”

Then it’s logical to start by joining the most famous entertainment company.

“I recommended you to the CEO. He suggested you audition first.”

“……”

Seo Ji-oh made an even stranger face.

He opened and closed his mouth several times before finally speaking.

“Why?”

It was a question loaded with meaning.

I just shrugged. Why, indeed, was there anything special?

“Because I want to act with you.”

“……”

“If we’re in the same agency, it’ll be easier to get roles together.”

It didn’t seem like a bad deal for Seo Ji-oh either.

‘Why does he look like that?’

I was a bit let down by his lukewarm reaction.

After patting the cat sprawled next to me a few times, I stood up.

“I’m really leaving now. Don’t be late for the audition.”

Seo Ji-oh saw me off with a dazed expression.

“Goodbye, Yeon-jae….”

I waved my hand nonchalantly.

My wrist was covered in cat fur.

* * *

“You didn’t have to come pick me up.”

Jin-bae hyung was waiting in front of Seo Ji-oh’s house.

It wasn’t even dark yet, so it felt overly protective.

“Just do as you like, actor. I’ll do as I like too.”

As usual, he was incredibly stubborn.

I shook my head and fastened my seatbelt.

I pulled out my phone to contact Team Leader Woo, but I had messages.

[Lee Yeon-jae’s real best friend Bi-hyuk: Call me when you see this ʕ•̀ω•́ʔ✧]

[Eun-taek hyung: Call me when you see this]

“…?”

What’s this?

I stared blankly at the messages from Noh Bi-hyuk and Lee Eun-taek.

Seeing me silently glaring at my phone, Jin-bae hyung glanced at me.

“Is something wrong, actor?”

“No. I’ll just make a quick call.”

I alternated between the two messages before moving my fingers.

There was no need to think about whom to call first.

—Hello?

A flustered voice came from the other side of the phone.

“Hello, hyung.”

—Hi. Why are you calling all of a sudden?

Why would someone who knows ask that?

I chuckled at the words of Naid’s leader, Kang Yeon-bin.

“I have to choose between Bi-hyuk and Eun-taek hyung, but I like you the most.”

As soon as I finished speaking, loud voices erupted like thunder.

—Lee Yeon-jae, you traitor!!

—Wow, how much time have you spent with Yeon-bin hyung to like him so much? Are you crazy?!

It was Noh Bi-hyuk and Lee Eun-taek.

—Guys, calm down….

And their owner tried to calm the Beagles.

‘You have a lot of work today too.’

I wasn’t an idiot.

Of course, I knew the Naid members were filming their own content right now.

Noh Bi-hyuk had already shared their schedule for the week with me.

Getting the same message from both during the time they were filming their self-content, it had to be a mission.

Ignoring the barking Beagles, I spoke to the leader.

“Hyung, have you watched ‘Killing Horn’?”

Their comeback week had passed, so there should’ve been some time to rest. And Kang Yeon-bin was twenty years old, so there was no reason he couldn’t watch an adult drama.

—Of course I did. You were really good. I was going to contact you today anyway.

His calm voice was steady.

Maybe because he had a model student image, I felt a surge of mischief.

“I’m jealous. I haven’t been able to watch it.”

Jin-bae hyung, who was driving, flinched.

—Oh, because it’s rated for adults?

“Yes. My guardian is too strict. It’s tough. Can’t you secretly show it to me?”

—Me, me?

Even though it wasn’t a video call, I could vividly see the leader’s trembling eyes.

There were probably cameras all around him. He must be at a loss for what to say.

“Just once, secretly. Please?”

—That’s….

I said calmly, raising the corner of my mouth slightly.

At the same time, I met Jin-bae hyung’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

‘You’re annoying, actor.’

I suppressed a laugh at his mouthed words.

At that moment, the Beagles, trying to protect their flustered owner, started shouting.

“Why are you bothering our leader!”

Nice. Well done.

“I’m not bothering him. I really like Yeon-bin hyung the most.”

Even though I refuted them leisurely, the dogs barked, telling me not to bother their leader.

‘This is a good picture.’

Members who care about their leader. This will strengthen their bond.

I ended the call with a final remark, “Only sticking up for your member. How am I supposed to live with this unfairness?”

This created a better environment for Naid fans to enjoy their fandom.

And I did it!

My chest swelled with pride.

‘It was worth studying.’

At this rate, I should be able to get a meal from the Naid members.

It was with this sense of satisfaction that I arrived home.

The leader had sent a message, probably after their self-content filming had ended.

[Kang Yeon-bin (Naid Leader): Yeon-jae, we were actually filming earlier. I didn’t ignore your request because I didn’t want to show you. Also, I can show you the drama, but since I live in the dorm now, I can’t show it secretly. When I move out, I’ll show you then.]

“……”

I stared at the message in astonishment.

‘Did he think I didn’t know they were filming?’

It was astounding that there was another person as naive as Sung Lee-jun.

‘When exactly are you planning to move out?’

By then, I’d be an adult too. Is this a joke?

I looked at my phone for a while and then made a decision.

‘I shouldn’t joke around with the leader anymore.’

I had a feeling.

A sense that playing pranks on someone like him could end badly.

* * *

Less than a week later.

‘What is this? This overwhelming hotel.’

I couldn’t help but show my discomfort despite trying to manage my expression.

The light reflected off the hotel’s stained glass was dazzling.

“(All guests appearing on The Jim Fury Show stay at this hotel. The shoot is in two days, so please rest until then.)”

The man who had come to greet me at the airport spoke politely and then disappeared.

I looked again at the top-class hotel situated in the heart of Manhattan, New York.

‘Who would have thought I’d see a day like this.’

My team’s stylists were as amazed as I was.

They were busy looking around the huge hotel with wide eyes.

The only one who seemed unfazed was Jin-bae hyung.

‘The world of the rich must be different.’

I felt a sudden distance from Jin-bae hyung.

Trying to manage my expression so as not to show my intimidation, I entered the hotel.

* * *

[Title: Lee Yeon-jae just spotted in New York]

Looks like it’s true that he’s going to be on The Jim Fury Show

—The cheapest room in this hotel is over two hundred a night

└Crazy; the class

—Look at Lee Yeon-jae’s relaxed expression. It’s like he was born there

└As expected, Bambi born on Baengnokdam is different 🙂

└Stop being a fanatic