Top Star by Luck

Chapter 32

What should he say?

As people live their lives, they occasionally encounter unexpected events.

Like a natural disaster, something you simply can’t prepare for.

Right now, Lee Min Ki was experiencing just that.

“Me?”

He was just sitting quietly in a café when someone came up to talk to him.

Wondering what this could be about, she spoke up.

“Yes, you’re Actor Lee Min Ki, right?”

“My name is Lee Min Ki, but…”

At Min Ki’s words, the woman in front of him smiled so brightly that her eyes curved into crescent moons.

She looked like she could die from happiness.

“I told you it was him.”

She excitedly told the woman next to her and then turned her gaze back to Min Ki.

“You’re so handsome!”

“Haha… Thank you.”

“But, um, could I get your autograph, by any chance?”

“My… autograph?”

Min Ki coughed again.

It wasn’t just any random request; they were asking for his autograph.

She had come up to him first and asked for it.

‘Unbelievable.’

In his past life, he had also worked as an actor, but back then, there were almost no people who recognized him.

Mostly because he was cast in minor or supporting roles.

So if someone asked whether he could even give an autograph…

“Of course, I’ll do it.”

It was only natural for him to oblige.

Min Ki skillfully reached into his bag to take out a pen, but the woman handed him a notebook.

“Please sign here.”

“What should I write?”

“Please write: ‘To Hwang Ye Seo, with infinite love from Lee Min Ki.'”

At that, the tip of Min Ki’s pen glided smoothly across the paper.

Anyone could tell it wasn’t the first time he had done this—the graceful handwriting was proof enough.

Thanks to years of practice, his signature had become quite polished.

Is there any aspiring actor who hasn’t practiced their autograph?

Everyone, at the very least, creates their own unique signature.

Min Ki was no different.

“Your handwriting is so beautiful. And your hands too!”

“Can I get one as well?”

The woman who had come along also followed up.

There was no reason to refuse.

“Oh, of course. How would you like me to write it?”

“Please write, ‘Good luck with your entrance exam!'”

“Good… luck… with your… entrance exam.”

A moment later, another excited scream rang out.

It had only taken seconds to give them the autographs, but they looked like they were about to explode with joy.

However, the one who truly felt like he could explode from happiness was Min Ki.

‘This is why people become actors.’

He could even feel a sense of pride in his career choice.

A thrill that made him want to tremble.

In the end, Min Ki made a decision as he looked at the scene in front of him.

‘I can’t just send them off like this.’

An urge to do something more for them suddenly arose.

“Shall we take a picture together?”

“Really?! Wow, I’d love that!”

The woman shouted in an even more thrilled voice as she pulled out her phone.

Her movements were so fluid it was like she had been preparing for this all along.

Click!

The moment they took the picture.

‘Oh?’

Min Ki realized he had missed two things up until now.

The first was that this place, being a café near his home, was a public space.

And the other…

People, even those who don’t know someone, tend to show up when they hear there’s an autograph session, just to grab one for themselves.

“Hey, that guy’s an actor?”

“Who?”

“They say his name is Lee Min Ki.”

“Let me see… if I search for him… Oh? He recently appeared in a drama?”

“He’s a rookie. Wow, he looks pretty cool.”

“He signed with JC E&M.”

Some people there already knew who Min Ki was.

“It was the baseball stadium, right?”

“Yeah, that guy from the stadium.”

“If you get his autograph and post it, it’s worth a lot.”

“Yeah, instant likes!”

Other people had different reasons for wanting Min Ki’s autograph.

And then…

“An autograph might be valuable later, right?”

Yet another reason for wanting to grab a signature.

Soon enough, a line began to form in front of Min Ki.

There were only about twenty people in the café.

Among them, only one had been Min Ki’s fan.

But, like a spark igniting a fuse, more people gradually joined in, and the line grew past ten people.

‘How did it end up like this?’

It was overwhelming.

He was excited, but even more than that, he was confused.

Still, he was thrilled.

The autographs Min Ki thought he wouldn’t be signing for a while were coming out one after another, as smoothly as pulling out a long string of taffy.

Each time he signed, the not-quite-fans followed up with a compliment.

“You’re even more handsome in person.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be your fan from today!”

“Thank you.”

“Can you say, ‘Good luck, Strong Nockdae!’ for me?”

“Sorry?”

“Good luck, Strong Nockdae!”

“…Good luck, Strong Nockdae.”

“Thank you! Haha.”

Min Ki continued signing for a while.

Then, beyond the line of people, he noticed someone looking at him with a surprised expression.

And that someone was…

‘My sister?’

It was Lee Min Seo, Min Ki’s older sister.

From a distance, she was sitting with her legs crossed, watching him while constantly snapping pictures.

“…”

Whether this was good luck or bad luck, Min Ki couldn’t tell.

That’s what he thought as he moved his arm even faster to keep signing.

***

By the time the impromptu autograph session was over, Min Ki headed home with his sister Lee Min Seo.

It was cramped, but there was no other choice.

There was no way they could talk properly at the café.

Even after they got home, Min Seo couldn’t wipe the grin off her face.

“Wow, my little brother has become a star.”

“…”

“Good luck, Strong Nockdae~”

“Ah! I told you not to do that.”

“Ugh, strong luck-de luck-de~”

“Come on, sis…”

“Wow, you’re even better-looking in person. Way better than on screen.”

“…”

It was a losing battle.

It was just the two of them—an older sister having fun teasing her little brother and the little brother who had no choice but to endure it.

‘How did this happen?’

Min Ki felt utterly defeated.

He had gone out today, hoping to show off his cool side, or at least maintain some dignity.

He had even dressed up carefully to avoid giving his sister anything to tease him about.

But here they were.

Min Seo’s laughter filled the room.

When Min Ki looked more closely, he noticed she was even tearing up from how much she was laughing.

Eventually, Min Ki gave up trying to maintain his cool image and spoke.

“Is it really that funny?”

“Of course. My little brother’s a real celebrity now.”

“Ugh, come on.”

“Why are you getting mad at me? You’re the one who held an autograph session. Why are you taking it out on me?”

“…”

“I’m just kidding, sorry, sorry.”

Min Seo waved her hand dismissively, as if she had already laughed enough to last her for the rest of the year.

“I used to worry you’d just sit around all miserable and moldy, but you’ve really changed.”

“Come on…”

“I’m not teasing. I mean it.”

Min Seo’s eyes swept around Min Ki’s room.

The house itself hadn’t changed much.

Though he seemed to be finding some success in his career, that wasn’t what mattered.

To Min Seo, the real change was in Min Ki himself.

‘He’s become more mature. Brighter.’

The Min Ki she remembered had always been a gloomy, negative person.

But it wasn’t surprising.

‘Since he was young, he’s had worse luck than most. He used to joke that nothing ever worked out for him, no matter what he tried.’

When the soul grows bitter, it seeps into the way a person presents themselves.

Min Ki had always been that way.

His expressions never seemed confident, his posture was hunched, and his words were always mumbled.

It had always been hard to see any trace of confidence in him.

He was constantly anxious, as if he were being chased by loan sharks.

But the Min Ki that Min Seo saw now was completely different.

‘How long has it been? About half a year? A person can change this much in such a short time.’

As family, she could tell.

He still felt embarrassed, but he no longer seemed timid. His posture was upright, his voice clear.

And, subtly, he had become more mature.

He had fundamentally changed.

“You don’t even need to tell me.”

“About what?”

“That you’re doing well, Min Ki.”

“I have to do well. I told you I’d make it.”

“You know you were boasting, right?”

Min Seo laughed, then stood up.

“Well, I’m off now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

Min Ki asked in surprise at her unexpected words.

“We should at least have a meal together. I found a really good restaurant nearby.”

“I’d love to, but I have plans with friends later. I only stopped by to drop off some kimchi.”

“What a shame. I was going to treat you to a meal.”

“Please. If I let a newbie like you treat me, I’d be jinxed for three generations.”

“We’re family, though.”

“Are you cursing me?”

With that, Min Seo hurriedly stuffed her things into her bag and stood up.

“If you really want to treat me, make a lot of money and take our parents out for a nice meal later. Something like prime Korean beef steak.”

“That’s expensive.”

“Exactly. If it’s not that much, I won’t accept it.”

Her words were resolute, and Min Ki looked at her with disappointment.

But Min Seo, looking even more carefree, walked briskly to the door.

“Alright, I’m off.”

“Okay, make sure you say hi to Mom and Dad for me.”

“I will.”

And that was it.

Clunk!

Min Seo, after barely any conversation, left Min Ki’s apartment without hesitation.

‘She really left. How cold.’

He couldn’t believe how much he missed his annoying sister.

Seeing her again after so long felt surreal.

Had it really been five years?

Min Ki blinked for a moment, and his gaze fell on the kimchi container his sister had left behind.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t had kimchi in a while living alone.’

Kimchi could be surprisingly expensive.

For someone living alone in a modest apartment, it was practically a luxury.

‘It’s about time for dinner anyway. Let’s give it a try.’

With that, Min Ki served himself some rice from the cooker.

Brown rice, reheated smoked chicken breast, and seven almonds.

He added a piece of kimchi to his usual meal.

Picking out a large leaf of kimchi, he wrapped it around the rice and took a bite.

“…”

Min Ki sat there, forgetting to chew as he stared blankly ahead.

What could he say?

It was a feeling too difficult to put into words.

‘So this is what Mom’s kimchi tastes like.’

Kimchi was just kimchi, but it had been so long since he’d had any.

It was his parents’ kimchi, eaten for the first time in five years.

It had never tasted particularly special before, but now it hit him so deeply that he found it hard to swallow.

Gulp.

After chewing for a long time, he finally swallowed.

At that moment, Min Ki made up his mind.

‘I have to succeed.’

Success as an actor was important.

But in this life, he wasn’t going to let go of his relationships either.

To do that, he would need to start with his next project.

He would eat well and then go work out.

With that thought, Min Ki picked up his chopsticks again.

Clink, clink.

The quiet sound of dishes clinking filled the stillness of his small apartment for quite some time.