Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 121
“Why, why don’t you like it?”
“…?”
Did I need a reason to dislike something?
While I hesitated, unsure how to explain, Jin-bae hyung approached.
“Hyung, I’m okay. It was nothing serious. Did you run here?”
Despite the cold weather, he was sweating. I felt genuinely sorry.
“No, it’s fine. Are you really okay?”
“Yes. We finished talking well.”
Jin-bae hyung let out a short breath of relief.
Then, he pulled me behind his back. I was going to wipe his sweat off.
“Excuse me, who are you?”
“Ah, yes… I’m Jang, Joon-seok. I work in the film industry.”
In response to Jin-bae hyung’s cautious tone, the man stammered his words.
He looked frightened, probably due to Jin-bae hyung’s imposing presence or his scrutinizing gaze.
The sudden commotion attracted the attention of people in the café.
I pulled my hat down further and spoke to the man.
“Anyway, director, as I said before, I’m not interested. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Wait, I’m sorry, but at least give me your contact information. I need to explain more—.”
Desperation clung to his voice as he tried to hold me back.
Even so, it wasn’t something I needed to worry about.
“I don’t need to hear more explanations. I’m really not interested.”
“You seem really interested in movies. If you try working on a script, you’ll find it fun! We had a good conversation, didn’t we?”
I was indeed interested in movies, but not in scripts, only acting.
‘Judging by his eyes, he doesn’t seem like he’ll let go easily.’
Things got troublesome. While I pondered how to shake him off, more eyes turned toward us.
At that moment, Jin-bae hyung handed the man a business card.
“It seems difficult to continue this conversation here. Please leave your contact number at the below number. We’ll be leaving first.”
Jin-bae hyung grabbed me and left the café without looking back.
Before I knew it, I was in the car, and the kids were huddled together in the back seat.
“Who was that guy? What did you talk about? Why were you talking so long with someone you just met?”
Noh Bi-hyuk yelled, shoving his face close to mine.
Along with him, four pairs of eyes looking for an explanation stared at me.
Swallowing a sigh, I calmly explained the man’s identity, our conversation, and the proposal he made at the end.
“He asked me to tell you he was sorry for getting mad at you earlier.”
“What kind of movie director dresses like that? Is he really a director?”
How would I know? I wasn’t interested.
I thought he was someone I’d meet just once anyway.
The problem was that Jin-bae hyung had given him a business card.
“So that person didn’t know who you were, actor-nim. I’m sorry. When you called him ‘director,’ I thought you already knew.”
“Don’t worry about it. If he contacts you, just turn him down for me.”
I stopped his mouth with my hand before he could apologize again.
I felt more sorry for receiving an apology over something so trivial.
“Sorry for calling you out suddenly while you were resting.”
“No, you did well. Please continue to do so in the future.”
Jin-bae hyung smiled as he looked back.
“So, what’s your schedule like now?”
“We were about to split up after hanging out all day!”
“Then I’ll take you home.”
Since Park Ha-eun had taken a train to see us, we headed to Seoul Station first.
After dropping off Baek Seo-jin and Noh Bi-hyuk, I finally relaxed.
“It might just be my imagination, but it feels like something happens wherever you go, actor-nim.”
“Get used to it. My life is very dynamic.”
When I answered playfully, Jin-bae hyung laughed and turned the wheel.
The car moved smoothly, warmed by the heater turned on long ago.
The warmth made my whole body feel drowsy.
‘……’
I was a bit concerned. Should I say it or not?
After a moment of hesitation, I decided.
“Hyung. If that director contacts you again, please let me talk to him.”
“Are you going to work on the script?”
“No. I’m really not interested in that. I just have something to say.”
I just wanted to tell him not to wear such a thin coat in this cold weather.
* * *
“Actor-nim, is it okay to talk now?”
“Yes…”
“…I’ll tell you a bit later then. Please rest for now.”
Too tired to respond to the gentle pat on my back, I just blinked.
The magazine photoshoot had drained me completely.
The glamorous clothes, which I never imagined wearing, wore me out even before putting them on.
Today’s photoshoot concept was ‘languid emperor.’ As soon as I heard it, I thought, what is that…
“You need to give a relaxed yet regal vibe! More elegance! Wow! Perfect! Just like that, look seductively, excellent! Look straight ahead now!”
I couldn’t forget the photographer’s crazed eyes.
Everyone working in this industry seemed a bit off.
‘At least the results turned out well.’
Matching the concept, various accessories like necklaces, rings, and ear cuffs were used.
The problem was, all the accessories were from an Italian luxury brand.
With the thought that I had millions of won on me, I couldn’t move carelessly.
“Ah… I’m exhausted.”
“Are you very tired? Would you like a vitamin drink?”
“Pardon?”
Oh, I must have said it out loud. No wonder Jin-bae hyung approached suddenly.
I was so dazed I couldn’t distinguish my thoughts from my spoken words.
I thought the photoshoot was over, but they said I had to shoot a video too.
“What… video?”
“The one I mentioned yesterday, introducing your favorite items. It’s for the magazine’s channel. You must be really tired, actor-nim.”
Ah, right. That.
“I completely forgot about it. I stuffed my bag with things yesterday, but did I pack it this morning? I can’t remember.”
“…I did pack it, but I’ll see if we can postpone the shoot. You seem really unwell.”
I was too tired to argue.
Jin-bae hyung disappeared, saying to wait a moment.
Was it the flu? I had no fever, just exhaustion.
I felt I could fall asleep right there. And I really did.
“Yeon-jae!!”
“…Mist?”
I realized I was really asleep when I saw Mist running toward me in a dark space.
I had never fallen asleep outside my house before.
“Is something wrong with me? Did my misfortune factor act up again?”
“Huh? No! You’re just tired! Fatigue has nothing to do with misfortune.”
Mist pouted, telling me not to blame the misfortune factor for everything.
“I told you! You’ve been overworking lately! Even though you’re not acting, why are you more exhausted?”
“I’ll really rest now. I have no more people to meet anyway.”
I had been overexerting myself to finish my remaining engagements.
Going around everywhere back-to-back had left me more exhausted than when I was shooting.
“But it’s nice to meet you suddenly like this.”
Listening to Mist’s roundabout way of speaking, I automatically relaxed.
As I reached out with a smile, Mist grumbled but held my hand.
“Why have you been appearing only as Jin-bae hyung lately?”
Mist, who usually appeared as a 4-year-old boy and hugged me often, had been appearing only as Jin-bae hyung for a few days.
“Do you like Jin-bae hyung?”
“No, it’s just…”
Waiting quietly as Mist hesitated, the answer came back so softly I had to strain to hear.
“You seem reassured and comforted when you see him…”
“So?”
“…I want to be able to reassure you too! I want you to make that face when you look at me!”
What was going on in his head?
I laughed, watching Mist come up with such odd thoughts.
“I feel reassured and happy no matter what form you take.”
“…Then do you like me more than this guy?”
This was the classic ‘Mom or Dad’ question.
Without hesitation, I answered the way he wanted. You.
‘The right answer is always what the other person wants to hear.’
Hearing my answer, Mist smiled broadly, then coughed, trying to appear dignified. It didn’t suit him.
Then he suddenly lifted me in a princess carry.
“Mist. Are you very bored?”
“Huh? Why?”
“You’re doing something you don’t usually do. Put me down. This position is uncomfortable.”
I thought he’d put me down immediately, but Mist held on silently.
I was about to ask why when my voice suddenly failed me.
My vision blurred for a moment like a film cut and then returned to normal.
“Mist, I said put me down…”
“…Mist?”
The moment I felt a strange scratchiness in my throat, a familiar yet puzzled voice spoke close to my ear.
I knew immediately from the tone despite it being the same voice. It was Jin-bae hyung.
“Oh, I had a dream. Hyung, please put me down. I’ll walk now.”
“Understood. But walk carefully.”
Jin-bae hyung gently set me down, one foot at a time.
Looking around, I realized we were in a parking lot. This was crazy.
“Did I sleep straight through?”
“Yes. When you wouldn’t wake up, I just carried you out. Since we have to come back in two days for the video shoot, don’t worry. You can greet the staff then.”
Knowing exactly what I was worried about, he spoke calmly.
Mist was right. He really was reassuring.
“Thank you. Let’s go home now.”
A little nap had alleviated most of my fatigue. Maybe seeing Mist helped.
Rubbing my stiff neck, I got into the car. The familiar seat felt comforting against my back.
“Ah, hyung. Didn’t you have something to tell me earlier?”
“Yes. Director Jang Joon-seok from last week contacted me.”
Jang Joon-seok? I was about to ask who that was when I remembered. That odd person.
“Yes. What did he say?”
“First, he asked if the person he talked to at the café was really actor Lee Yeon-jae. Since you’re the only child actor at our agency, he seemed unsure.”
“How did you answer?”
“I was caught off guard, so… I said it was confidential.”
Confidential?
As I made a bewildered face, an embarrassed voice came from the front seat.
“I thought he had already figured it out, but his voice was so unsure. I didn’t want to cause you any trouble by confirming.”
“No, you did well. It’s just funny.”
I kept chuckling as I looked out the window. Anyone would think I was a secret agent.
“My name isn’t that precious of a secret anyway. I’ll handle the call and turn him down properly.”
“I’ll leave a message asking him to call my number tomorrow afternoon. Your number won’t be exposed.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.”
The laughter wouldn’t stop easily.
Even when I was told to stop laughing, I laughed even harder.
Despite the frosty weather, the warmth filled the air.
* * *
But I didn’t need human warmth to this extent.
“Director, please let go of this.”
“No! If I let go, you’ll leave immediately!!”
I sighed as I looked at Director Jang, who was desperately clinging to my coat.
Did he know that holding onto my clothes was the most I could endure?
“Director, if you don’t let go in five seconds, I’ll call the police.”
“…!”
Director Jang, startled, released his grip.
I couldn’t believe he bought that.