The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 70

“Yes. I first joined when I was six.”

As I answered calmly, the eyes that had been staring at me intently grew slightly wider.

However, they quickly shifted expressions and laughed again.

“Wow, really? That’s amazing~. Can I ask you a few more questions? Because of the movie.”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

“Didn’t you resent your parents? They abandoned you.”

“Um, Director—.”

I raised a hand to stop Manager An Jin-bae, who had urgently interjected.

Although he should have understood that I was fine, his tense eyes didn’t relax.

I signaled to the hesitating Manager An Jin-bae to stay put and looked back at Director Yun.

His slightly parted mouth revealed a childlike curiosity.

“Do I have a reason to resent my parents?”

“…? Huh? Because they abandoned you?”

“Well, I don’t really think much about it.”

The director frowned as if he couldn’t believe my words.

“Are you sure you’re not lying?”

“Yes.”

“How is that possible? Wasn’t living in an orphanage bad?”

“No. I never starved, and… I spent all four seasons warmly. The teachers were kind too.”

Despite my detailed answer, his frown showed no sign of easing.

“No…, that’s not all that’s important. What about your parents’ love and affection?”

By now, Director Yun was practically leaping off the sofa.

I was puzzled by his more passionate reaction than expected but still answered sincerely.

“When you watch movies or dramas, there are many different types of families. But there aren’t only parents who always have a positive influence on their children.”

“Well…, that’s true.”

“There are many parents who physically or mentally abuse their children, those who prevent them from doing what they want due to differences in values, or those who pressure their future. Or, due to poverty, they couldn’t even provide proper meals from a young age… Compared to that, isn’t it better to have been abandoned cleanly?”

“…….”

“Moreover, it wasn’t like they left me to die. They left me near an orphanage on purpose.”

Well, I don’t know if they considered the location of the orphanage or not.

I shrugged my shoulders, thinking inwardly.

Of course, I know it’s hard to say it was ‘the best life.’

But aren’t there many people who live such lives?

From an average perspective, my growing environment didn’t seem that bad.

However, the response was unexpectedly silent.

“Did I answer wrong?”

Not only the director but even Manager An Jin-bae was frozen and silent, so I touched my ear.

At that, the rigid Director Yun suddenly forced a smile.

The unnatural smile that appeared on his face intensified the sense of incongruity I’d felt earlier.

He’s acting.

“Haha! No, it was a great answer. It’s a new perspective. Thank you.”

“I’m glad it was helpful.”

“Ahem…, can I ask one last thing?”

I deliberately didn’t answer and just stared at him.

Reading my consent from my eyes, Director Yun lowered his voice significantly.

“…If your parents hadn’t abandoned you, would you still have acted like you do now?”

“Director!”

It wasn’t me who answered Director Yun’s question.

No, I should say it wasn’t an answer, but rather a shout.

In any case, Manager An Jin-bae, who had raised his voice, had a heavily distorted expression.

He seemed to have been holding it in the whole time, gritting his teeth so hard that it sounded like they might crack.

“Let’s end the meeting here. Actor, please get up.”

Even though he acknowledged the other party, he seemed to be trying his best to be polite, as evidenced by his tightly clenched fists.

His hands, bulging with veins, were quite intimidating.

However, Director Yun didn’t seem at all flustered.

He remained calm as if he had expected this reaction.

“Oh dear~. I know I was rude. I’m sorry. It was an important question.”

“No matter how important it was, you went too far.”

“I understand. I’m sorry. Yeon-jae, were you very upset? I’m sorry.”

A well-crafted mischievous smile appeared on Director Yun’s face.

I stared at him, looking like an innocent child.

“No. I wasn’t upset.”

I was a rookie.

And Director Yoon Kang-yeon was a world-renowned director.

Honestly, I didn’t really want to appear in his movie, but I couldn’t forget that I was an actor ‘belonging’ to an agency.

No matter how much the director crossed the line, I had to maintain my boundaries.

“That’s a relief~. Still, how you answer the questions can completely change the role you’ll play, so please understand a little.”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

“Really? You don’t mistrust me, right?”

“Of course I don’t trust you.”

“Thank you…, huh? What?”

The smile on his face froze.

Looking at his raised cheekbones and awkwardly bent mouth, I continued slowly.

“An actor’s role can change completely just by a few words…, well. It’s hard to trust someone who can’t make judgments on their own and is swayed by answers.”

“…….”

As soon as I finished speaking calmly, an eerie silence fell.

I looked at the man who had frozen completely.

‘Will I regret it?’

No. I had thought it through and made my decision. There were no regrets.

Honestly, I wasn’t even that angry.

The poking questions were actually rather boring.

It wasn’t hard to just sit quietly and say yes, but I changed my attitude because of Manager An Jin-bae.

He was more experienced in the entertainment industry than me and an adult. Above all, he was a company person.

If a manager, who could decide on my participation, stopped such an important conversation, then objectively, this conversation was abnormal.

So, I judged that saying this much was justified.

Regardless of my thought process, I thought the other party might get angry—but―

“…Wow. Whoa….”

“…?”

“You’re amazing…. You’re just like Lee Jin-woo. Wow, it’s like you jumped out of the script.”

Lee Jin-woo?

I was puzzled by the sudden name, but before I could ask, Director Yun changed his posture.

The attitude that had no semblance of courtesy was instantly tidied up.

“Sorry. Actually, it was a test.”

“A test?”

“Yeah. I have a character in mind, and I wanted to see if you could handle it…, I needed to see you get angry. Sorry for being rude and not telling you in advance. Manager, sorry to you too.”

He alternated between apologizing to Manager An Jin-bae and me, looking like a different person from earlier.

Even the exaggerated facial expressions that popped up disappeared into place.

Finally, the sense of incongruity was gone.

It seemed he had acted brighter than usual due to the test.

The sudden change startled Manager An Jin-bae, who was beside me.

I watched Director Yun bow deeply in apology and replied indifferently.

“I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t upset either.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But I’m annoyed that you placed the oranges over there.”

When I pointed to the box placed in the dust, Director Yun looked blank for a moment before jumping up.

I watched him hurriedly move the box to the kitchen, feeling a gaze from beside me.

“What?”

“…Nothing. Are you really okay, actor?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

His gentle eyes scanned me slowly before he nodded in understanding.

But then, I couldn’t tell if the test was successful or a failure. I was tired.

“Director, is the test over?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

“Then we’ll be going. Please contact us.”

As I got up and moved my feet, Manager An Jin-bae quietly followed behind me.

Director Yun, who had seemed distracted all along, hurriedly followed us.

“Thanks for coming today. And sorry again. You must have felt bad.”

I sensed a slightly different kind of innocence in his face than before.

It seemed his natural personality wasn’t that serious.

I wondered for a moment if the person Manager An Jin-bae saw in the interview was his real self or if this was, but I let it go.

What difference would it make if I knew?

“Yes. We’ll be going now.”

“…Take care. I’m really sorry.”

Seeing Director Yun hesitantly watching my reaction, I stopped walking.

I pondered for a few seconds before sighing.

Never mind. Saying a few more words wouldn’t change anything.

“Director. I’ll say this carefully.”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Just because you make good movies doesn’t mean you have the right to be rude.”

His fidgeting fingers froze.

“I watched all the movies you’ve made recently. So, I know how excellent a director you are. But just because you have great achievements doesn’t mean you can treat others poorly.”

“…….”

“Please don’t do that to others. Movies need directors…, but they also need actors. There are plenty of other ways.”

After staring at his stiff eyes, I bowed slightly and turned around.

I should call CEO Jang in advance.

The movie role was out of the question.

* * *

On the way home, the car was quiet.

Manager An Jin-bae confirmed that I had fastened my seatbelt and kept his eyes on the road, while I stared out the window the entire time.

Then suddenly, I spoke up.

“Do you think so too, hyung?”

“Pardon?”

“That I should resent my parents.”

“…….”

All I got back was silence.

I messed up. I shouldn’t have asked. It wasn’t even about work.

“If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer. I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t you really resent your parents? Honestly, it’s not an easy thing.”

I expected his usual clear-cut answers, but instead, he gave me another question.

Feeling frustrated, I rubbed my chest.

“Well. It wouldn’t change anything if I resented them.”

“If it could change something, would you think about resenting them?”

What?

His tone was as relaxed and gentle as usual, but… it was subtly annoying.

I almost frowned and quickly relaxed my face.

“There’s no way anything would change if I resented them. The premise itself is wrong.”

“So, you think there’s no need for emotions if they don’t help the outcome.”

“No. It’s not like that….”

“…….”

“Hmm, then do you think it’s natural for me to resent them?”

“Is that what my words sounded like?”

“Hyung, why do you keep…”

It felt like he was beating around the bush without giving a straight answer, and I almost snapped.

My voice rose for a split second, but I stopped myself, surprised by my own voice.

“Ah….”

“…….”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get… irritated.”

I realized only after speaking that I was irritated.

Irritated? Why was I irritated?

I was perplexed.

“It’s okay to be irritated, actor. It’s just the two of us.”

As I blinked, Manager An Jin-bae, reflected in the rearview mirror, looked as composed as ever.

He looked the same as usual, but somehow it felt unfamiliar.

I opened my mouth to respond but ended up biting my lip and looking back out the window.

For some reason, I really wanted to see the mist.