The Face Genius Actor

Episode 023

[Si-joon][10:11] I’m here for a print shoot

[Short Answer Man][10:12] Print shoot? An ad?

[Si-joon][10:12] Yeah, Sensus

[Short Answer Man][10:12] Sensus is good

[Mountain Man][10:12] Our little son! Finally doing an ad shoot!

[Si-joon][10:12] (Embarrassed emoji)

[Si-joon][10:12] Any tips for print shoots?

[Short Answer Man][10:13] There’s no such thing

[Si-joon][10:13] Come on, if you have any, share one. I’m nervous since it’s been a while

[Mountain Man][10:13] A while? Little son…. Did you do other ads without telling me?

[Si-joon][10:14] It’s a mistake lol I meant to say it’s been a while since I stood in front of a camera lol

[Mountain Man][10:14] Ah, I see^^ Make sure to tell me about good news! We should have a party!

[Si-joon][10:14] Yeah haha I will haha

[Si-joon][10:14] So, are you really not going to give me any tips?

[Short Answer Man][10:14] Just stand where they tell you to

[Si-joon][10:14] Oh good good, a top model’s tip!

[Short Answer Man][10:15] Look straight at the camera

[Si-joon][10:15] …and?

[Short Answer Man][10:15] That’s it

[Si-joon][10:15] That’s it? Is that really all?

[Short Answer Man][10:15] DNA is the best

* * *

“……”

Just before the print ad shoot.

I shared the news about becoming Sensus’s cosmetics model in the family group chat to calm my nerves.

I tend to initiate conversations like this whenever possible because the family group chat is too quiet if I don’t speak up.

‘I was also planning to get some tips for the print ad shoot.’

There was a moment of confusion due to a slip of the tongue, but I thought I led the conversation well enough.

But “DNA is the best”?

My brother’s answer was so unexpected.

I was about to ask if he was serious when someone else replied first.

[Mountain Man][10:17] Hahaha as expected our big son is so witty hahaha

It was my father’s reply, and now I couldn’t ask if he was serious.

I sighed and turned off my smartphone screen.

It was a mistake to expect anything from my brother in the first place.

“Actor? Is something wrong?”

Yeo Kyung-chan, who was waiting with me, spoke up, probably having heard my sigh.

As a manager, it was natural for him to be present at such occasions, so I answered without surprise.

“No. Just a typical conversation between siblings. I have an older brother.”

“Ah, I know what that feels like. I have an older brother too.”

“Must be tough.”

“It is. He has so many demands. How about you?”

“My problem is that he’s too blunt. I have to take care of him in many ways.”

“I see being blunt can be a problem too. By the way, I’m curious about your brother. Is he handsome?”

Hearing Yeo Kyung-chan’s question, the phrase “DNA is the best” came to mind again.

I must have frowned unconsciously because Yeo Kyung-chan apologized.

“I’m sorry if it felt like I was prying into your personal life unintentionally. I won’t ask anymore.”

Although Yeo Kyung-chan didn’t have much experience as a manager, he was quite perceptive.

This was a characteristic I had observed about Yeo Kyung-chan over the past few weeks.

I quickly answered to clear up the misunderstanding before Yeo Kyung-chan withdrew further.

“Ah, no. It’s not that. I frowned because an unpleasant face came to mind. My brother is… handsome.”

Certainly, my brother was growing steadily as a model.

He worked almost every day and had even set a departure date for participating in Paris Fashion Week.

Probably after participating in Paris Fashion Week, no one would be able to deny that he was a top model.

“I see. Well, I can’t imagine your brother being unattractive. By the way, have you read the script?”

While the Sensus ad contract was progressing,

“Arrest” was about to end its short journey.

Perhaps because of this, new scripts were already pouring in for the cast of “Arrest.”

Especially, many scripts were going to the actors who played high school students up to Part 3.

It wasn’t just because the high school student actors performed well.

Naturally, those who had finished filming had more time to review scripts.

“Since ‘Arrest’ is doing well, many good projects have come in. I’m carefully reviewing them one by one now.”

“It’s because you showed great acting. I’ve brought a new script, so please review that as well.”

I sought an agency to receive good scripts, but I didn’t expect this much.

An enormous number of scripts were coming in every day.

There were even places offering casting without auditions.

‘Of course, in such cases, the role is a bit weak. Or the project is weak.’

It was important to advance steadily, if not quickly.

In that sense, I was planning to carefully select projects and prepare for auditions.

Just as I was about to ask Yeo Kyung-chan to send me the script when I got home,

“Actor Lee Si-joon! You were here!”

I heard the voice of Kim Bo-mi, the Business Planning Team Leader.

When I turned my head, I saw an unfamiliar person standing next to Kim Bo-mi.

I immediately knew that this person was the photographer for this print shoot.

“Hello, Team Leader. I didn’t know you’d be on site. If I had known, I would have greeted you.”

“It’s fine, I came to find you first. Besides, you wouldn’t have been able to come even if you wanted to.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I was with the photographer here. Please greet him. This is Photographer An Se-mi.”

I bowed slightly towards An Se-mi, who seemed oddly stiff.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Si-joon. I look forward to working with you on today’s shoot.”

Even after I greeted him like this, there was no immediate response.

As I was feeling puzzled in the silence, An Se-mi mumbled.

“A perfect subject…”

Then, startled as if by himself, he belatedly returned my greeting.

“I apologize. I’m photographer An Se-mi. Nice to meet you.”

It was a situation that could become awkward.

Kim Bo-mi skillfully intervened.

“Photographer An Se-mi… You were surprised by how handsome our actor is, weren’t you?”

She spoke playfully, even winking one eye to lighten the mood.

An Se-mi strongly agreed with Kim Bo-mi, with whom he had already become acquainted.

“I thought he was handsome on TV, but in person, he’s truly amazing.”

“It doesn’t compare to the TV screen, right? I nearly fainted when I first saw our actor too.”

The two of them continued to praise my appearance for quite some time, even with me right there.

I thought I had built up quite a resistance to such reactions after experiencing various responses.

But their excessive fawning was so embarrassing that it was almost unbearable.

When I reached the point of wanting to commit suicide out of despair from being trapped in a prison of compliments,

I finally couldn’t stand it anymore and carefully spoke to the two of them.

“Um… When will the shoot start?”

Only then did An Se-mi shed his title of compliment prison warden and return to his main job.

“Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry. We’ll start right away.”

An Se-mi began to convey the concept as a photographer.

In the meantime, people introduced as Director Im and Team Leader Han from Sensus appeared, delaying the shoot once more.

But since the visit from the advertisers was natural, I didn’t mind much.

Finally, the main shoot began, and I took several photos using a bathtub, sofa, and bed as props.

For some reason, An Se-mi didn’t ask for any particular poses, even though I was just looking straight at the camera with the given props.

‘Was it really just about looking at the camera as my brother advised?’

I had done similar shoots before my regression, but it wasn’t like this.

There were many requests for various expressions and poses.

Because of this, I felt somewhat puzzled, but I focused on the shoot, thinking that An Se-mi, as a professional photographer, would handle it well.

* * *

While Si-joon was focusing on the shoot,

Yeo Kyung-chan approached Kim Bo-mi and complimented her.

“As expected, Team Leader. I learned a lot today too.”

Kim Bo-mi asked without taking her eyes off Si-joon.

“About what?”

“Earlier, during the first greeting with Photographer An Se-mi. I was surprised when there was suddenly an awkward silence. I didn’t know what to say.”

Understanding what Yeo Kyung-chan meant, Kim Bo-mi smiled slightly.

“Oh, that… It was nothing. I felt similar when I first saw the actor. So I just helped out.”

“What? Team Leader, you were also speechless when you first saw the actor?”

“Why? Am I not allowed to be?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that you’ve seen so many famous actors in person…”

“That’s right. I’ve seen them to the point of being sick of it. Not just their faces, but the dirty insides of this industry too. But you know…”

“Yes?”

“Actor Lee Si-joon is different from those people. When you see him in person, you just feel overwhelmed.”

Yeo Kyung-chan felt like he understood Kim Bo-mi’s words, but at the same time, he couldn’t.

When he first met Si-joon,

He had admired how incredibly handsome he was, but he hadn’t felt speechless.

In Yeo Kyung-chan’s eyes, there were other actors as handsome as Si-joon.

“Hmm…”

“What? My words don’t resonate with you?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“That’s possible. Then think about it this way. How often do you think Photographer An Se-mi has worked with famous actors?”

“I actually looked up Photographer An Se-mi, and he’s incredibly famous. It seems there are almost no top celebrities he hasn’t worked with?”

“Right? But this person was speechless when meeting Actor Lee Si-joon. Someone who has been dealing with celebrities in this industry for over 10 years.”

“Ah…”

“Moreover, Photographer An Se-mi is known for having many requests about expressions and poses even when working with top actors. But look at today’s work.”

“…It’s going smoothly?”

“Exactly. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Y-yes, it is amazing.”

After hearing Kim Bo-mi’s explanation, it really was amazing.

It was even more so because all of this seemed to be happening due to Si-joon’s exceptional appearance.

But Kim Bo-mi’s story didn’t end there.

“Good. Now, with that in mind, look at the expressions of Director Im and Team Leader Han from Sensus.”

“……”

“Do you now understand what Actor Lee Si-joon’s appearance means?”

“I completely understand.”

He was sincere.

Yeo Kyung-chan sincerely realized what Kim Bo-mi was saying.

What people who have been through the ups and downs of this industry discovered through Si-joon’s appearance.

It was something else that was creating synergy with Si-joon’s looks.

Si-joon’s passion for acting, his humble personality, and his brilliant mind.

It didn’t make sense for someone like Si-joon to have all of this.

It was only possible for protagonists in movies and dramas.

Yeo Kyung-chan felt his heart warming up unconsciously as he looked at Si-joon.

Kim Bo-mi smiled slightly as she observed Yeo Kyung-chan’s changing expressions.

“Remember that feeling well. It will be a great help in assisting Actor Lee Si-joon.”

The heliocentric theory that Copernicus was said to have discovered first.

Yeo Kyung-chan thought that even Copernicus wouldn’t have been able to claim the heliocentric theory if he had been at this studio.

‘Perhaps he would have named Actor Lee Si-joon as the sun…’

That’s how strangely smooth yet heated the atmosphere in the studio was that day.

It felt as if the world was revolving around Si-joon.