The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 144

‘Ha, it’s so hot I could die.’

Just yesterday, I thought it was too early for summer clothes, but I had to correct that.

This place was a steamer now.

As I sat slumped in the chair, barely breathing, someone opened the trailer door and came in.

It was the singer Kang Se-hyun.

“Yeon-jae, it’s really tough, isn’t it? Are you okay?”

“Yes. Um, could you help me take off this costume…?”

“Oh! Sorry!”

Kang Se-hyun hurried over and helped remove the mascot head covering mine.

A tremendous sense of liberation washed over me. Wow, this was no ordinary task.

‘We have to shoot our content tomorrow, and we desperately need your help.’

I had no idea this would happen when I received the call from Kang Se-hyun last night during a photo shoot.

Moreover, I didn’t even know what “content” meant, so I stupidly asked.

‘It’s short for our own content. We make a show like a variety program every week. Haven’t you heard of “Space On”?’

I had never heard of it.

After saying I’d get back to him in a dejected voice, I hung up.

After the shoot, I looked it up and found out it was a more famous program than I had thought.

‘It regularly gets over two million views.’

I couldn’t click on every video, but the production scale was comparable to a public broadcasting variety show.

Comments noted that Space members were quite eloquent, making it a show even enjoyed by other fans.

‘I wonder if Noh Bi-hyuk will do something like this if he debuts.’

If you’re going to be an idol, you’ll need to be in multiple places at once.

So, when I asked why they needed my help for the Space content shoot, Kang Se-hyun mumbled awkwardly.

It was suspicious, but since he had helped me before, I couldn’t refuse.

I didn’t have any schedule anyway, so I agreed and came to the place they told me about this morning.

And my face hardened the moment I saw the ‘thing’ on the chair.

‘Today’s shooting concept is ‘getting citizens to become Space fans.’ You just have to wear the mascot head, approach people, and promote us.’

‘If you don’t mind, could you explain why I have to wear the mascot head…?’

‘Two years ago, we did the same concept with us wearing the mascot heads. But the writers said they ran out of ideas, so this time, they decided to have our closest celebrity friends do it instead.’

‘…….’

There were so many things I didn’t understand, I didn’t know where to start.

It was surprising enough to be considered one of Kang Se-hyun’s ‘closest celebrity friends.’

But I didn’t understand why they specifically called me for a mission that involved talking to strangers.

‘Even if it’s our own content, it’s still a variety show. A variety show!’

I was not inherently fun. He knew that better than anyone.

When I asked what he was thinking when he called me, his answer was absurd.

‘Because the mascot head was a deer….’

‘…Are you serious?’

‘You went viral wearing a deer onesie at the athletic meet. Seeing that made me think of you and I called. Originally, someone else was supposed to do it, but they suddenly canceled last night. I’m really sorry.’

‘How do you know about that photo? It was posted on the fan cafe.’

‘Your fans are good at spreading the word. I see that photo everywhere.’

Sigh. If I had known this would happen, I would’ve said no when Jin-bae hyung asked if it was okay to post the picture on the fan cafe.

It was already posted, so I couldn’t take it down, and I couldn’t whine about not doing it.

Holding back a sigh, I put on the mascot costume and only said one thing.

Don’t blame me if hyung’s screen time gets edited out.

‘I didn’t expect it to be this brutal.’

Talking to strangers was harder than I thought.

Busy modern people passed me by without hesitation.

After wandering the streets for two hours without accomplishing much, I returned.

My hair was drenched in sweat even though I hadn’t done much.

“Sorry. It’s just….”

“No, it’s fine. Are the others doing okay?”

“Oh? Um, well.”

Kang Se-hyun rolled his eyes.

‘Damn, I must be the only one who didn’t get enough footage.’

See? Why did you call me?

I didn’t feel great about being on an unprepared stage.

It felt worse, like looking at empty seats instead of an audience.

‘Stop whining.’

I had to focus on the task at hand.

After taking a deep breath, I looked up.

‘I just need to do what I’m good at.’

For the record, there was only one thing I was good at.

“Hyung. I’m going back out. Please put the mascot head on again.”

“Oh, um. Sorry. Just one more interview! Just one more, and I’ll talk to the editing team.”

“Forget it. Just come out when I signal.”

“What?”

Ignoring his bewildered response, I braced myself with determination.

‘I am Kang Se-hyun from now on.’

* * *

Hong Ji-yeon was happy to take her first half-day off since joining the broadcasting company.

‘To be outside at this time!’

The refreshing sky! She couldn’t believe it even though she was seeing it with her own eyes.

‘Usually, I’d be holed up in the editing room.’

On such a sunny day, it would be nice to go on an outing, but a tired office worker needed rest.

Thinking only of showering and lying in bed as soon as she got home, she was power walking.

Suddenly, someone in a deer mascot head jumped out.

“Hello~! I’m really~ sorry, but could I ask you for a quick interview?”

“Ah….”

Hong Ji-yeon, who had coldly rejected numerous ‘Do you know about this?’ approaches, hesitated at the refreshing voice.

Even though it was slightly muffled by the mascot head, the voice itself was very bright.

As Hong Ji-yeon hesitated for a moment, the deer acted cute.

“I know. It’s troublesome, right? I’m sorry. Actually, I’m a celebrity!”

“What?”

“Do you see the camera over there? I’m on a mission right now.”

The deer pointed behind. There were multiple cameras and people.

‘They’re real cameras.’

As Hong Ji-yeon turned her head with a confused look, the deer quickly whispered.

“It’ll be aired with a mosaic, so you don’t have to worry.”

It was a small voice that wouldn’t be picked up by the microphone.

When Hong Ji-yeon nodded in confusion, the deer cheerfully exclaimed again.

“If you just guess who I am, I can leave immediately. Could you please help me just this once?”

“Ah, I’m not very familiar with celebrities.”

Even though she saw celebrity faces every day, she shamelessly lied.

‘Sorry, but it’s too bothersome.’

Every minute and second was precious.

She felt sorry for the hardworking person, but she was too exhausted.

Just as she was about to slide away with an awkward smile.

“Ugh. I’m a little hurt. We’ve met before….”

“What?”

“You work at the broadcasting company, right? I recognized you right away, but you don’t remember me…? Is our relationship… only this much?”

The previously refreshing voice turned into a dying twig in an instant.

How could I know when you’re wearing a mascot head?

Hong Ji-yeon, feeling a surge of emotion, lost her words. The deer acted cute again.

“I’m really sorry for taking your time. I also desperately want to go home. Ugh. You just need to guess my name. Please, I’m begging you.”

The deer rubbed its blunt mascot hands together, looking cute and pitiful.

Hong Ji-yeon thought, ‘Yes…. It’s better to just guess quickly.’

“Okay. I just need to guess your name, right? Is there a hint?”

“Of course. I’m a singer!”

The deer pretended to sing into a microphone.

Even with a short gesture, it was full of charm.

‘A singer? Judging by the age, probably an idol.’

Considering the not-so-large build, they were at most in their late teens.

‘Ah, if it’s a minor celebrity, I might not know. What if it becomes awkward…’

Worry flashed quickly across Hong Ji-yeon’s face, and the deer laughed brightly.

“And I’m very famous!”

“Famous? How famous?”

“I can assure you that you know me!”

The confident posture made her sigh in relief.

At the same time, she quickly ran through the names of male idol groups in her head.

“If I sing, it would be too easy, so I’ll show you a dance move!”

The deer made a gun shape with its hand and slowly swiped down its waist.

Hong Ji-yeon almost blurted out a word but held back.

‘No. It can’t be Space. Their voices are too young. They’re my age. But that’s definitely Space’s dance move.’

Seeing Hong Ji-yeon’s confusion, the deer laughed cheerfully.

“Remember, you only get one chance. You can only name one out of seven.”

“…….”

The voice, speaking meaningfully, gave her confidence.

Seven members, it had to be Space.

Who’s the youngest member of Space? Wasn’t it Choi In-joon?

‘The youngest ones usually have a lot of charm, so it should be right.’

If it wasn’t the correct answer… well, sorry, but it wasn’t her concern.

“Here’s the last hint! I also act.”

It was

obvious now. Choi In-joon was famous as an acting idol.

Feeling more relaxed, Hong Ji-yeon was about to shout Choi In-joon.

At that moment, the deer leaned in close.

The black plastic eyes approached without warning.

“And I just acted now.”

“…?”

“I was imitating one of our members. Since it’s very different from my real personality, it felt a bit awkward… Haha, but it was fun.”

Hong Ji-yeon’s eyes shook.

‘What’s this? The atmosphere suddenly….’

The lively voice became calm in an instant.

The exaggerated hand movements also became gentle, and the deer scratched its neck awkwardly.

It felt like a completely different person in a flash.

“The member I imitated is usually so energetic that just being near them can be energizing. I approached you because of the mission, but… you looked so tired, I wanted to cheer you up.”

“Ah, yes….”

An apology for being mischievous flowed out softly.

It was a reliable and somehow familiar tone. Who was this? Whose tone was this?

‘This tone is really familiar.’

As Hong Ji-yeon was racking her brain among the remaining six members, the deer quietly waited for the correct answer and wiped its nose.

Seeing that motion, Hong Ji-yeon shouted without thinking.

“Kang Se-hyun! You’re Kang Se-hyun, right?!”

She was sure. Hong Ji-yeon grinned.

‘I’ve seen that nose-wiping gesture countless times.’

The person who edited the final live broadcast of ‘Goodbye, My Summer’ was Hong Ji-yeon.

After watching the over an hour-long live broadcast dozens of times, she learned that Kang Se-hyun had a habit of wiping his nose.

‘If it’s Kang Se-hyun, it makes sense that he recognized me, and the acting too.’

Only Kang Se-hyun and Choi In-joon from Space act.

Even listening to his calm tone, he had the serious aura only a leader could possess.

Excited at getting it right, Hong Ji-yeon smiled brightly, and the deer laughed out loud.

It was a distinctive laugh, known even to non-fans, unique to Kang Se-hyun.

‘How did I not notice this?’

No wonder the tone felt familiar. It was just Kang Se-hyun himself.

Feeling proud, Hong Ji-yeon noticed the deer gesturing toward her shoulder.

‘…? Behind?’

Instinctively, Hong Ji-yeon turned around.

“Hello.”

There stood a neat-looking Kang Se-hyun.

“Ah!!”

Hong Ji-yeon freaked out, looking back and forth between Kang Se-hyun and the deer.

Seeing this, Kang Se-hyun laughed out loud, and so did the deer.

Shocked, Hong Ji-yeon was left with her mouth wide open.

Then, the deer slowly lifted its hand and removed the mascot head.

“…!!!!”

“Long time no see.”

There was my fairy, Lee Yeon-jae, smiling brightly at her.