The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 69

[010-XXXX-XXXX]

The next day, as soon as it turned 5:30, my phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.

How predictable.

I almost laughed at how it matched my expectations perfectly. What if I started to get attached at this rate?

I slowly picked up the phone vibrating on the sofa.

“…? Aren’t you going to answer?”

“No. Please continue what you were saying.”

I switched my phone to silent mode and tossed it aside.

Manager An Jin-bae glanced at me curiously for a moment but then continued speaking.

“Anyway, it’s not an official meeting arranged through the company. He contacted me personally.”

“Does that mean Director Yoon Kang-yeon contacted you because he wants to be friends?”

“That’s a possibility, but usually, this is the method used when they’re unsure about offering a role.”

Ah, so it’s just a ‘trial balloon.’

Through Kim Min-seok PD of ‘Butterflies on the Zelkova Tree,’ Director Yoon Kang-yeon expressed his desire to meet me.

Yoon Kang-yeon, an iconic figure in Korean cinema.

But since I had been focusing on dramas, I had never seen any of his movies.

After all, the main audience for his films wasn’t exactly my age group.

I scheduled a meeting with Director Yoon for next weekend.

Not knowing what conversation would unfold, I decided to watch all his works beforehand.

Thus, I ignored seven calls from Oh Seung-hyun that day.

The next day, I ignored five calls, and the day after that, I finally answered after nine calls.

― …? What? Did it connect? Hey, you son of a…

“If you curse, I’ll hang up.”

As I stretched my stiff back muscles and interrupted him, I could hear him panting angrily.

― Why aren’t you answering? You told me to call you.

“I said I’d answer if I was bored. I wasn’t bored, so I didn’t answer.”

― Are you kidding… Hah, whatever. What’s your deal? What’s going on?

The voice coming through now was rough, as if he no longer cared about maintaining an image.

Though his tone was quite threatening, I casually said, “Tomorrow at 4:30, the lower back,” and hung up.

The phone continued to ring with angry calls, but in silent mode, it didn’t bother me much.

Actually, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to answer Oh Seung-hyun’s calls.

But it was tough to come up with misfortunes worth telling him about.

Although I shake off my misfortunes by acting every morning, considering that I usually face more than a dozen a day, it felt a bit unfair.

Anyway, the next day, he called after 4 PM, and this time, I answered on the first ring.

He must have realized that the repeated incidents were beyond my control.

As expected, the voice on the other end was calm.

― …Was it you? No… it couldn’t be…

Or maybe it was fearful.

Speaking calmly without any insults or mockery, he seemed very confused.

I only knew the rough time and details from Mist, so I wasn’t sure how exactly he experienced the misfortune, but it wasn’t something that could be faked.

Having experienced it multiple times, he must have been even more confused.

And that was exactly what I intended.

“I just gave you a hint because you didn’t believe me. That I’m more useful than you.”

― …

“Don’t be too disappointed. You’re leaving next week anyway. We won’t cross paths again, so what does it matter if you’re less useful than me?”

I deliberately chose my words carefully and let them spill out.

Guilt? Of course, I didn’t have any.

To remind myself, I almost died because of him.

Even if it was due to fate, that was an unchangeable fact.

― What if I tell others about this? I could spread rumors.

I found it hard to suppress my laughter at his words.

As I burst into laughter, there was only silence on the other end.

But I could clearly see him trembling with fear.

“Who are you going to tell? More importantly…”

― …

“What are you going to spread rumors about?”

I had already checked that Oh Seung-hyun’s phone couldn’t record when we met at the cafe.

Even if it could record, it didn’t matter.

It wasn’t something that could be explained with words anyway.

Oh Seung-hyun would leave Korea without ever understanding what happened.

All I wanted was one thing.

For Oh Seung-hyun to feel the following emotions:

The shame of discovering someone he thought was below him above his sightline.

The overwhelming helplessness when he couldn’t describe that position with realistic terms.

“Oh Seung-hyun, don’t bully others and live a good life. Be good to your parents too. It’s not their fault.”

There was no realistic way for me to block Oh Seung-hyun’s path.

I couldn’t threaten his parents’ jobs or force him to immigrate under various conditions like Manager An Jin-bae did.

I was just an ordinary kid who had just turned 14, without strong connections or money.

It wasn’t a grand concept like revenge, more like a conclusion.

The best conclusion I could manage.

“I won’t tell you how I knew. Well, you can keep wondering. It’s your choice to be annoyed.”

― …

“Anyway, since you’re going there, get your act together and live properly. Stop meddling in others’ lives.”

Isn’t it hard enough just taking care of yourself? There was no response to my trailing words.

I waited quietly in the silence, but he hung up without saying anything.

And the phone didn’t ring again.

* * *

A few days later, Manager An Jin-bae told me that Oh Seung-hyun had boarded the plane.

He also reassured me that he would be contacted through the airline immediately if Oh Seung-hyun booked a flight back to Korea.

“I’m telling you just in case you’re worried. You really don’t need to concern yourself with him anymore.”

His eyes seemed particularly gentle today as he said this.

But I knew the contents of his conversation with someone last night.

“As soon as he arrives, confiscate all passports and destroy them. Yes. Don’t worry about reissuing them. I have contacts at the embassy there.”

Although Mist showed me this scene, I wasn’t particularly surprised.

It was only curious because of the expression and tone he had never shown me before.

What was strange was that he gave such detailed instructions and didn’t explain them to me.

“Got it. I won’t worry about it. Thanks to you, I feel secure.”

“I didn’t do anything. Oh, and I also changed your phone number.”

“Thank you.”

I checked the new phone number and sent messages to the people who needed to know.

With this, the matter with Oh Seung-hyun was completely over.

Now I really didn’t need to worry about him.

“Actor, I need to stop by a store on the way. I have something to buy.”

“Okay.”

“Aren’t you nervous? It’s Director Yoon Kang-yeon after all.”

“You seem more nervous than I am.”

Manager An Jin-bae laughed lightly as if I had caught him.

Today was the day of the scheduled meeting with Director Yoon.

I had watched all of his films in the meantime.

Following the order suggested by Manager An Jin-bae, who claimed to be a fan of his, I watched ‘Cassette’ three times, which had won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

“I really like Director Yoon’s works. How about you, Actor? You seemed pretty focused while watching them.”

“Well, they were profound. I liked them.”

As if he read my true feelings in my words, a small chuckle escaped him.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I looked out the window.

The reason I watched ‘Cassette’ three times wasn’t because I liked it that much; I just didn’t understand it.

‘Why are award-winning films always so difficult?’

It wasn’t that it wasn’t fun, but it was ambiguous because I couldn’t grasp what it was trying to convey.

I didn’t think I was that lacking in understanding.

After watching the film, instead of a clear theme or message, only vague impressions floated around.

“Director Yoon’s style isn’t easy to understand. His works tend to be polarizing. But I like the seriousness and weight in his direction.”

“Yeah, it’s impressive how all his films feel like they were made by the same person.”

“Exactly! I’ve watched a lot of his interviews, and he seems quite serious. I’m nervous about meeting him in person for the first time.”

Looking at the rearview mirror, I saw his slightly flushed cheeks.

Seeing him so excited made me feel a bit excited too.

Although it wasn’t completely to my taste, the films were undoubtedly interesting.

I didn’t know what kind of conversation would unfold today, but meeting someone who had made such films several times was a rare opportunity.

For Manager An Jin-bae’s sake, I thought I should do my best today.

Since he made serious films, should I act as calm as possible?

* * *

“Wow, you look even better in person! Nice to meet you. I’m Yoon Kang-yeon.”

“Hello, Director. Feel free to speak casually.”

“Shall I? Sit wherever you like. Is this your manager? Oh, you look so dignified.”

“Thank you. I heard you like oranges, so I prepared some.”

“Oh, thank you!”

Director Yoon smiled broadly as he accepted the box of oranges.

He was surprisingly cheerful.

Though I heard he was in his forties, his well-groomed hair and neatly fitting clothes made him look younger.

“I should’ve come to see you, but I called you to my studio. Sorry, it’s been hectic.”

“It’s fine.”

His studio was quite messy.

I glanced at the box of oranges thrown onto the dusty floor.

Looking at me with such excitement, his face was like a child receiving a toy.

“I really wanted to see you. Wow, your award speech was amazing. I heard it was all ad-lib. I couldn’t believe it even after asking Min-seok.”

“You must be very close with PD Kim.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. We’ve had a few drinks together. Wow, you’re really mature. I heard about you, but… Are you starting middle school now?”

The conversation flowed, with topics changing like riding waves.

Director Yoon laughed heartily at my words, even though I didn’t say much.

His lighthearted demeanor, contrary to his reputation for seriousness, made Manager An Jin-bae’s pupils waver noticeably.

“Haha! That’s great. So, you’re not working on any projects right now?”

“No. Nothing decided yet.”

“Hmm… Would you consider appearing in my next film?”

Director Yoon, who was lounging on the sofa, asked playfully.

Anyone could see his lazy, arrogant posture.

I thought his behavior was odd, but I answered affirmatively anyway.

“Okay! Then, can I ask you a few things?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Is it true that you grew up in an orphanage from the age of six?”

The question hit me suddenly.

I slowly lifted my gaze to look at Director Yoon.

His eyes, glistening under the light, were full of amusement.