The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 71

“Actor-nim, are you all ready?”

“Yes, I’m coming out.”

The next day, I had to go to the company because of CEO Jang’s sudden call.

The car passing through familiar streets was quiet.

After hesitating for a moment, I clenched my fist and tried to say what I had prepared yesterday. No, I tried to.

“Hyung, about yesterday when I got annoyed. I’m really sor—.”

“If you’re going to apologize, I won’t listen.”

I hadn’t even said a quarter of what I had prepared, and I was cut off abruptly.

Feeling embarrassed, I looked ahead and saw the eyes in the rearview mirror gently smiling.

“There must be something else you need to say, right?”

…There wasn’t anything else.

The only thing I had prepared was an apology.

What else does a person who got annoyed need to do besides apologize?

“Uh…”

“……”

“Could you give me a hint…?”

The smile on his face deepened at my words.

He genuinely seemed amused.

Last night, I spent a long time contemplating while holding Mist in my arms.

I had prepared what I wanted to say neatly and had considered all possible reactions from Manager An Jin-bae.

But seeing him smile like that was unexpected.

“No hints. I’ll wait quietly, so tell me when you figure it out.”

“…Okay. But do you really not want to accept my apology?”

“Of course. Besides, I felt good about it. Please consider that too.”

Felt good? Why?

The more we talked, the more confused I became.

Before I could even process my bewildered expression, we arrived at the company.

Standing in front of the CEO’s office door, I looked at Manager An Jin-bae, who was still smiling.

I didn’t understand. I guess I’ll think about it more at home later.

“CEO, we’re here. Hello, Team Leader Woo.”

Inside the CEO’s office were CEO Jang and Team Leader Woo.

But both had strange expressions that were hard to explain.

Just as I wondered what was going on, an unexpected word came out of CEO Jang’s mouth.

“How did you do it?”

“Pardon?”

“Yoon Kang-yeon, that person is notorious for being difficult in this field. I can’t believe it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s a proposal with your name on it.”

CEO Jang handed me a document he was holding.

On the first page of the A4 bundle I received unexpectedly, it was written:

‘Twins (working title)’

Directed and written by Yoon Kang-yeon / Starring Lee Yeon-jae

“…Did he cast me?”

“If that was all, would I be so excited at night? Look closely. Is there anything strange?”

“Pardon?”

“There’s only your name on the cast list.”

I heard CEO Jang’s words but couldn’t understand them.

When I looked at him with a confused expression, Team Leader Woo, who had been sitting with a dazed look, spoke instead.

“He said he wants you as the lead for his next project.”

“……”

“Without any other actors.”

The room instantly filled with silence.

I was speechless.

* * *

Director Yoon’s proposal was shocking enough to stun everyone.

I stood still and slowly turned each page of the synopsis.

The director of my first lead role film was Yoon Kang-yeon, and I was the sole lead.

But what was more surprising was hidden in the synopsis.

The role I was given was that of twins.

In other words, I had to play two roles.

As I stood there frozen from the successive shocks, Manager An Jin-bae, who had regained his composure first, asked a question.

He inquired about the possibility of the offer being withdrawn or the role being replaced, to which Team Leader Woo, still dazed, firmly shook his head.

“Yoon Kang-yeon’s name itself is a brand. He’s not just anyone, he’s Yoon Kang-yeon. Who would dare oppose the director?”

“……”

“With someone like Director Yoon, even if he wanted to use a completely unknown actor, there would be plenty of investors willing to support.”

Movies are made by directors.

But it’s not the director who provides the necessary funds to make a movie.

Since a producer is essential to cover production costs, it’s natural for an actor’s casting to change at the investors’ word.

Especially in the case of commercial films, which have higher production costs than dramas, the constraints are even greater.

Because the production costs must be recovered through the number of viewers, they can’t afford even the slightest risk.

The reason why well-known actors’ faces and names are prominently displayed on movie posters in our country is the same.

By casting actors with so-called ‘ticket power’, they ease the anxiety.

I understood without further explanation how nonsensical it was for someone like me, with no proper film acting experience, to be the lead in a commercial film.

The value of the name ‘Yoon Kang-yeon’ was what made this nonsensical situation plausible.

His name, which is announced before any actor during the marketing process.

Furthermore, as the only Korean director to have won the Palme d’Or, the world was focusing on his next project.

Even if the production company wasn’t satisfied with me, they couldn’t easily oppose Director Yoon.

‘He must have really liked me.’

I didn’t expect such a groundbreaking opportunity to come from just one test.

As I perused the synopsis with a strange feeling, I heard CEO Jang’s characteristically low voice.

“Anyway, take it home and think about it before letting me know. Whether you’ll do it or not.”

“…? Do I have the authority to decide that?”

“What?”

When I looked up in confusion, I saw a face that seemed even more baffled than mine.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s the lead role in Director Yoon’s film. Isn’t it obvious I should do it, whether I like it or not…?”

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. What’s the big deal?”

He had shown such a contrary attitude during the mission clear filming, hadn’t he?

I didn’t say it out loud, but he seemed to remember it soon enough as he quickly opened his mouth.

“No, that was just to establish dominance. Since you had just signed the contract…”

He scratched his neck, looking quite embarrassed.

“There’s no point in trying to dominate a kid who brings in Director Yoon on his own.”

As I stared at him silently, his hand movements grew faster.

I found his genuinely embarrassed demeanor amusing.

I answered that I understood and went home.

Even as time passed, I felt strange.

“A movie with me in it…”

The films directed by Director Yoon all had a similar color scheme.

It felt like the fog had settled deep under the air at dawn, an opaque and chaotic sensation.

I recalled the protagonists wandering between the films.

And imagining myself standing there with the same expression… hmm, I couldn’t picture it.

It took me a while to fall asleep due to my complicated thoughts.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw a black space with fog rushing toward me.

“Yeon-jae!”

I lifted Mist, who was running into my arms in the form of a 4-year-old child, as I was used to.

Ugh, heavy.

I had done this several times, so lifting him wasn’t difficult anymore, but he was still heavy.

“Are you eating something secretly without telling me? You’re really heavy.”

“Huh? Am I heavy? Then I’ll get down!”

“No, it’s fine. Just make me a chair.”

As soon as I sat on the rocking chair made by Mist, a table and a stand were naturally created next to me.

On the table was the synopsis I had read before going to bed.

I found it admirable that he created it so accurately without me saying anything, so I patted the back I was holding.

The warmth touching my skin was comforting.

“Are you going to do this? I read it before you came, and it was interesting!”

“Well, I’m still thinking about it.”

“Why? Isn’t it fun?”

“No, it is fun. But it’s playing two roles. It seems difficult.”

The black letters were reflected on the white paper that had become wrinkled from being repeatedly clenched and released.

‘Twins (tentative title)’.

In “Twins”, I had to act out two characters in total.

Lee Jin-woo, who grew up in a wealthy family and received a quality education.

And Kang Tae-il, who grew up among gangsters and never properly attended school.

They lived completely opposite lives with the same face.

Since there were limits to styling, I had to change every part that could be changed: expressions, voices, intonations, habits, and even the way of walking.

Knowing that it wouldn’t be an easy task, I was deeply troubled.

“I can help you again this time! Don’t worry!”

“Okay. Thanks, even though you won’t be much help.”

“……Hmph.”

When I answered nonchalantly, Mist pursed his lips and bumped his head against my chest.

It was his way of showing displeasure, but it only made me laugh.

I pressed down my rising smile and stroked his fluffy hair.

It was a peaceful time that I wished would never end.

* * *

“Actor-nim, it’s time for breakfast.”

As soon as I finished today’s acting practice, I heard a timely knock.

Although it was midwinter, my body was covered in sweat from the practice.

After taking a refreshing shower and going out to the living room, I saw a breakfast table set more generously than usual.

I was slightly curious, but since this had happened occasionally, I sat down quietly.

“Thank you for the meal.”

I cut a well-cooked mackerel into thick slices and placed them on top of the rice.

When I took a big spoonful of perilla seed seaweed soup, the savory taste filled my mouth.

“Is the seasoning okay?”

“It’s very delicious. Thank you.”

It was really tasty. It was so good that I wondered if I should be enjoying such luxury in the morning.

It was delicious, but… why was he looking at me like that?

“Is there something on my face?”

“Actor-nim, don’t you have something you want to say?”

I thought he would lower his gaze awkwardly, but he asked back with bright, expectant eyes.

His voice was clearly excited.

I tried to recall what could make Manager An Jin-bae excited and suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right, I forgot to mention this.”

“Yes, please tell me!”

“I decided to do Director Yoon’s movie.”

After three days of contemplation, I made a decision.

I thought it would be a mess if I agreed without thinking and delivered an unsatisfactory performance due to my lack of capability.

I practiced for three days with the thought that I should at least not be a nuisance, and it seemed manageable to some extent.

Though he hadn’t urged me, he seemed to be expecting it, so I thought Manager An Jin-bae would naturally smile brightly at my words.

However, his reaction was rather underwhelming.

“Oh…”

“…?”

“Wow, that’s really great news. I’m so happy for you, Actor-nim. Um, so, no other news?”

His obvious disappointment made me rack my brain again.

“Are you talking about when I got annoyed the other day? I haven’t thought about that yet.”

“No, that’s not it…”

His face, trying hard to smile softly, looked awkward.

No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with a suitable answer.

As I rolled my eyes stupidly, Manager An Jin-bae urged me to eat before the soup got cold.

“Change your clothes and come out. We need to stop by the company.”

“Suddenly to the company? You didn’t mention anything yesterday.”

“…You need to tell the CEO that you decided to do Director Yoon’s movie.”

His response felt oddly delayed, but I nodded without much thought.

Noh Bi-hyuk had been messaging me nonstop, asking when I’d be free today, and it was getting annoying.

‘After going to the company and meeting Noh Bi-hyuk… I can still practice for another three hours.’

Since it was winter break and I had nothing special to do, I needed to practice as much as possible while I could.

Hiding my desire to practice all day at home, I quickly changed my clothes.