The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 152

I spoke with a smile, suppressing my bitter feelings.

“I’m just grateful that the director was able to reflect the part I mentioned in the story so well. Whether it’s normal or abnormal… I wanted to convey through this movie that it doesn’t matter what environment you grew up in.”

“……”

“Me, Lee Jin-woo, and Kang Tae-il. Everyone can be happy someday.”

Kim Yeon-doo, the reporter who had been listening quietly, looked surprised.

“Do you think those two people were happy? The ending… well, there are various interpretations, but….”

Perhaps wary of spoilers, the reporter trailed off.

I smiled softly at the genuinely curious face.

“I think they were happy. At least it was their first ‘choice’.”

Originally, the ending of *Twins* was much darker and more definite than the final version.

It was supposed to end with two pairs of shoes abandoned on the riverbank, and something resembling a human figure floating in the river far away.

But I thought it was significant that they had made their own choice. Whether they were satisfied with the result or not.

Director Yoon listened to my story and immediately revised the script, thus completing a slightly more open-ended conclusion.

“Whether those two died or lived, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that it was their first choice, and I think that alone made them happy.”

“Do you consider the freedom to choose an important value in life?”

Well, what do I know about life after living just 15 years?

Instead, I’ve read in many books by philosophers and scientists that environments where choices are not guaranteed tend to lead to helplessness and eventually distance themselves from happiness.

For the last question, reporter Kim Yeon-doo asked me.

“Then, are you free now?”

“……”

I maintained a smiling face but held back my words.

What should I say? I hesitated for a long time, and as the staff signaled that it was time to wrap up, I managed to say just one thing.

“……I am happy.”

I had to act. I lived by imitating someone else.

It was only when I mimicked someone other than myself that I could breathe.

That fact also made me feel helpless.

The inability to ask anything about the Mist, the Misfortune Factor, or the Black Stone. Sometimes, I felt so frustrated that I wanted to scream.

‘But.’

In the end, it was just a complaint out of frustration.

‘Anyway, I’m alive.’

As long as I didn’t want to die right away, I had to keep acting to live with Jin-bae hyung, Jung-hyun hyung, and Bi-hyuk.

It wouldn’t be fair to say it was a choice I truly made, but it was okay.

“I’m happy to have been able to film such a wonderful movie, and I’m happy to be able to meet my fans. Right now, that seems to be enough for me.”

When I finished speaking, I could feel the surroundings fill with silence.

Normally, that would have been puzzling, but I had no room for such thoughts now.

The reporter in front of me said he hoped it would continue that way as I barely managed to breathe.

* * *

After reporter Kim Yeon-doo left, Jin-bae hyung approached me directly.

It seemed like he was about to say something, but the next team came in right away, so we couldn’t have a conversation.

Interviews continued endlessly for a long time after that.

It was quite fun in its own way, but I was very tired because I had to keep talking without rest.

“Now there’s only one team left.”

Finally. I exhaled the breath I had been holding and drank some water.

Because of a separate schedule, Director Yoon had been away from the venue for several hours.

I would have to conduct this last interview alone as well.

‘Let’s hang in there since it’s the last one.’

As I was slowly stretching, Jin-bae hyung approached me and whispered.

“Actor-nim, are you okay?”

“I’m a little tired, but I’m managing.”

“I’ll give you a massage when we get back to the accommodation. And the last team is the one I mentioned yesterday.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

Yesterday, Jin-bae hyung had shown me a video of the interview.

It was a web variety show where numerous celebrities had appeared, and it was famous for its in-depth preliminary research.

I remembered Jin-bae hyung explaining that they wouldn’t just talk about the work but could also ask personal questions.

‘Ha, I’m in trouble because I’m not good at variety shows.’

Of course, I knew I didn’t have to be funny since I wasn’t a comedian.

But since I was being paid for this job, I felt some sense of responsibility.

‘Let’s at least react well.’

However, that didn’t mean I could suddenly become funny.

The best I could do was to respond as enthusiastically as possible.

As I steeled my resolve, only the production crew, minus the MC, came in.

“…?”

Wasn’t I supposed to greet the MC before filming?

Even with the cue sign that filming had begun, the seat next to me was empty.

Barely managing to hold onto my wavering gaze, someone eventually entered.

“Hello! I’m MC Matdan. Nice to meet you~!”

“Ah…hello.”

“Haha, you look quite surprised.”

The MC, who was laughing heartily, was dressed in a way that naturally caused surprise.

I stared at the woman who appeared wearing a deer mascot head that was twice as large as her actual head.

‘It looks heavy.’

I knew the MC usually wore unique outfits, but I didn’t expect her to wear such attire even after coming all the way to France.

Suppressing my wavering gaze, I offered an awkward smile.

“The deer suit looks really good on you.”

“This is the outfit that caused a huge sensation during your sports day! You have no idea how hard it was to bring this on the plane.”

“Isn’t it heavy? Maybe you should take it off for a bit….”

“Oh, I can sleep like this because I’m a professional MC.”

Despite her words, her face looked extremely uncomfortable.

The production crew laughed heartily at the MC’s words.

If they laugh like that, won’t it get recorded? Does it not matter?

“Alright, let’s sit down for the interview—oops.”

“Please, please be careful.”

Feeling uneasy, I barely caught the MC as she almost fell while trying to sit down.

I didn’t take my eyes off her until she sat safely, laughing heartily.

“I was going to ask about the video of your recent departure as the first question, and it ties in perfectly like this. The video where you caught a reporter about to fall during your departure became a huge topic.”

Did it? I wasn’t aware of it, so I awkwardly smiled.

“It wasn’t me who caught her, it was my manager hyung. I didn’t do anything.”

“Oh~. While preparing for this interview, we kept hearing about your manager. Reporters even say that it’s impossible to shoot Lee Yeon-jae without your manager.”

“Oh, I see.”

Ah.

‘I’m doomed.’

I wasn’t even reacting well when I wasn’t being interesting.

I tried my best to answer sincerely, but I felt sorry for the MC who was trying hard to keep the tension up alone.

Noticing this, the MC looked puzzled.

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Ah, I’m just not very interesting… I’m worried it might be boring. I’m sorry.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the MC and staff waved their hands.

“Oh no, you don’t have to worry about that at all. Just answer comfortably.”

“Your face is entertaining enough, actor-nim!”

It was a much freer atmosphere than any interview I’d done before.

Even while the MC was talking, the staff would chat among themselves and laugh, to the point where the MC would tell them to maintain their image.

Watching them being so friendly, I smiled.

“I heard from Se-hyun hyung, but the atmosphere is much better than I expected.”

“Se-hyun? Are you talking about Space’s Kang Se-hyun?”

“Yes. He said he had been on this show before, so I called him yesterday to ask for some tips.”

“Oh my, you two must be close. What did Se-hyun say?”

“He just said to leave everything to Matdan-nim. And it turns out he was right.”

The MC exuded a vibe that put people at ease.

Amid her exaggerated actions, there was a careful consideration, and her soft eye smile made people relax.

‘I can see why she’s popular.’

When Kang Se-hyun told me there was no need to be nervous and that I just needed to answer, I thought it was no help at all, but he was right.

As I let go of the burden of reacting and trusted the MC, the conversation flowed smoothly.

“In a previous video, you mentioned that your most cherished item is a watch. I found out that it was a gift from your manager! Is there a backstory to it?”

The questions were so meticulously prepared that I was amazed at how much they had researched about me.

They even knew that I had recently moved to the same apartment as Sung Lee-jun.

“How do you remember all of that?”

When I asked seriously, the MC laughed heartily.

“That’s what I want to say to you! Considering the amount of lines you had to memorize for playing dual roles in *Twins*, it must have been a lot.”

Wow, she transitioned to *Twins* so naturally.

While answering the question quietly, I admired her smooth hosting skills.

‘That’s why she’s an MC.’

I heard she was a broadcast producer, but the aura she exuded was more like a celebrity than me.

“Oh no, we don’t have much time left. Then let’s wrap up with a short content.”

As soon as the MC finished speaking, a staff member threw something like a sign

towards her face.

Just before it hit her face, I instinctively stood up and caught it.

“Are you alright?”

“Wow, yes, yes.”

Even if it was just paper, how could they throw it at someone’s face?

For a moment, I felt a surge of anger, but I realized that facing the camera with this expression would only cause controversy, so I focused on the MC’s face instead.

“Fortunately, it seems like there are no injuries.”

“……Yes. But actor-nim, could you… step back a bit.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“You naturally attack people’s faces… It might have been better to get hit by the sign….”

I didn’t understand her muttered words, but at least no one was hurt.

The staff apologized, and amidst the chaotic atmosphere, the camera started rolling again.

“We prepared a segment called ‘Three Characters, Three Colors Q&A’! I’ll ask questions, and actor-nim will hold up a sign with your profile photo, Lee Jin-woo’s poster photo, or Kang Tae-il’s poster photo to answer.”

The signs had my profile photo, Lee Jin-woo’s poster photo, and Kang Tae-il’s poster photo.

The MC explained that when she asked a question, I should hold up a sign and answer in the personality of each character.

‘Smart.’

It allowed for light content that wouldn’t spoil the movie while highlighting acting points.

‘I need to ask who came up with this.’

There was definitely an ace on that team.

I wondered what good it would do to know who it was. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to know.

‘Maybe I can bring them to our company later.’

It’s only natural to covet talent.

While I was internally plotting, I smiled widely and answered.

“I’m ready.”