The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 256

Interpreter Kim Min doubted the situation he was in.

‘Am I really….’

Was he actually talking to Lee Yeon-jae?

Really? That Lee Yeon-jae?

‘Does this make sense?’

The top star Lee Yeon-jae, whom he never even dreamed of meeting, stood before him.

When Kim Min stared blankly at Lee Yeon-jae, he asked curiously.

“Min hyung, what’s wrong?”

Wow.

He even called him ‘Min hyung.’

‘Lee Yeon-jae is calling me hyung.’

When Kim Min’s expression became even more vacant, Lee Yeon-jae looked slightly puzzled.

“Hyung?”

“Oh, I zoned out for a moment. Sorry.”

“Are you very tired? Should we meet another time?”

“No, no. It’s okay. Is there something you’re curious about?”

At Kim Min’s question, Lee Yeon-jae, as if he had been waiting, took out a book.

“I read the book you recommended last time, but there were parts I didn’t understand.”

“Sure.”

As Kim Min quietly answered Lee Yeon-jae’s question, he still couldn’t believe the situation and had to recall the past once more.

It was last week when he was urgently called to interpret at his agency.

He was called because he was closest to the client, without any explanation of the situation.

He, who usually did simultaneous interpretation for businessmen, was surprised to see that the destination was ‘Wu Yeon Entertainment.’

Since he had no ties with the entertainment industry, it was intriguing.

But there was no time to be relaxed, so he rushed to the client’s location as soon as he got through the tight security.

And there stood Lee Yeon-jae.

‘…Thinking back, it’s still overwhelming.’

Kim Min shuddered as he recalled that moment.

His cold expression contrasted with his gentle facial features.

The atmosphere around him was so chilly it felt like it could freeze.

Even Kim Min, who usually dealt with influential businessmen, was momentarily taken aback by Lee Yeon-jae’s intense presence.

‘Hello, I’m here because you needed an interpreter….’

So, unconsciously, he greeted with a submissive posture.

Fortunately, Lee Yeon-jae was kind. At least to Kim Min.

Kim Min’s wonder at seeing a celebrity quickly faded as he focused on his work.

Listening to the client, he roughly understood the situation.

‘The client is in the wrong.’

Kim Min made a perplexed face and began interpreting.

What was odd was that Lee Yeon-jae, who had been looking bored, started staring intently at him.

As if analyzing something, Lee Yeon-jae’s eyes moved busily.

His expression, gaze, gestures, and even his tone of voice.

Kim Min felt like his performance, honed over years for interpretation, was being laid bare under those sharp eyes.

He realized it wasn’t just his imagination a moment later.

Meeting Lee Yeon-jae in another conference room, he politely asked if he could inquire about the interpretation.

When Kim Min nodded, a flood of questions came pouring out, as if he had been holding back.

The questions, asked with an innocent face, were surprisingly high-level.

Engaged in unexpectedly substantive conversation, Kim Min lost track of time and chatted for a long while.

If Lee Yeon-jae’s manager hadn’t interrupted, he was confident they could have talked for five more hours.

‘If the interpreter doesn’t mind, can we meet again next time?’

It seemed that Kim Min wasn’t the only one who felt regretful, as Lee Yeon-jae promised another meeting first.

Thus, their meetings had already reached the fourth one today.

But it still didn’t feel real.

‘To think I’m even speaking informally to Lee Yeon-jae.’

Due to the age difference, it naturally led to informal speech, but to Kim Min, Lee Yeon-jae remained an imposing figure.

It wasn’t just because he was a famous actor.

In fact, when they conversed, he often forgot that he was talking to a celebrity due to his down-to-earth demeanor.

The problem lay elsewhere.

“That part would be easier to understand if you approach it this way. Got it?”

“Yes. I understand now, thanks to you, hyung. Thank you.”

Lee Yeon-jae smiled gently.

He looked as harmless as a deer, but Kim Min couldn’t let his guard down.

He had no choice.

He still vividly remembered the first day he met him.

‘(Don’t waste my time any further.)’

Kim Min recalled how coldly he spoke to the client.

‘Are all actors like this?’

Lee Yeon-jae, who told the client never to come again with a frosty voice, approached him.

Asking if he had time after, a soft smile was on his face.

The sight of him smiling as if he were the most harmless creature in the world only sent chills down Kim Min’s spine.

‘It’s like Jekyll and Hyde….’

The way he changed his expression and tone in an instant made him seem like he had a dual personality.

Although, since the first meeting, he had never shown that side again.

‘Am I overthinking this?’

The current Lee Yeon-jae looked like a well-mannered boy to anyone.

Kim Min was thinking, ‘Could I be possessed by a ghost?’

“Min hyung.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Shall we stop here for today? You seem very tired.”

Noticing that Kim Min was unusually distracted today, Lee Yeon-jae smiled.

“Sorry for contacting you when you’re busy.”

“No, I’m not busy at all… Sorry. I wasn’t focused on the conversation.”

“It’s okay. After all, you’re helping me with my request.”

Kim Min looked quietly at Lee Yeon-jae, who was smiling serenely.

"Yeon-jae, I have a question."

"Yes."

"…Have you ever thought about becoming an interpreter? You seem more interested than I expected."

The meetings, which he thought would end after one or two times, had already continued to the fourth.

No matter how he looked at it, Lee Yeon-jae's interest in interpretation was not at a light level.

Lee Yeon-jae stared at Kim Min for a moment and then chuckled.

"No. I like my job. Acting is the most fun."

Of course, he added that being an interpreter was a wonderful job, too.

"I filmed a Korean Sign Language drama earlier this year."

"Oh, you mean ‘February 3rd’? I watched it. It was enjoyable."

Lee Yeon-jae's eyes widened slightly at Kim Min's words.

"Really? Thank you. You must have been busy."

"No, not really…."

Kim Min hid his awkward expression at the unexpected reaction.

‘It would be harder to find someone who didn’t watch that drama.’

At times like this, he really didn't seem like a celebrity.

"In the drama, it ends with the main character saying they want to become an interpreter."

Lee Yeon-jae said he bought and read several books to research the main character's interest in interpretation.

"As a result, my interest naturally deepened—."

"No, wait."

Kim Min opened his eyes wide.

"You read books because of that? Just for one line?"

All he had to do was say he wanted to become an interpreter.

Was it really necessary to buy and read several books just for one line?

When Kim Min asked, unable to understand, Lee Yeon-jae looked even more puzzled.

"It's not just one line. It's the scene where the main character, who was living as if dead after his brother's accident, starts dreaming of something. It's a scene that signifies him coming back to life."

He explained that it was about recreating the main character, whose eyes were filled with excitement and awkwardness, like a new sprout just starting to grow.

"For a character with that personality to tell the teacher, it must have been a problem he pondered for a long time, and he would have taken time to check if he was dreaming an absurd dream. Of course, he would have read books in that process. So, I just did the same."

"…."

Kim Min was stunned by his words, which were spoken as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

‘He really loves acting.’

He could feel Lee Yeon-jae’s affection for acting.

"You're amazing, really…."

Kim Min expressed his pure admiration.

Then Lee Yeon-jae chuckled.

"I think you're more amazing, hyung."

"Me? Why me?"

"You always answer my questions right away. I feel your knowledge and experience every time. It’s like you were born to be an interpreter, and that's cool."

Kim Min felt a bit embarrassed by the praise that flowed as naturally as breathing.

And like many Koreans, he denied it with a modest attitude.

"No. I have too many shortcomings for that. My voice is so deep, right? It's easy for it to sound rough, so I have to be extra careful when talking about sensitive topics."

He laughed lightly, saying that calling him a born interpreter was an exaggeration.

Lee Yeon-jae slowly tilted his head.

"I like it for that reason."

"What?"

"I can feel how you delicately adjust your voice. No matter what the conversation is about, I like that you always speak with care."

His black eyes shone brightly.

"If you make what’s usually considered a flaw feel like a strength, isn't that more amazing?"

"…."

Kim Min was speechless.

He felt he should say something, but all he could do was open his mouth slightly.

A tingling sensation rose slowly from his toes.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

In the end, Kim Min failed to manage his expression and lowered his head deeply.

"Why are you like that? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

"…No."

Seeing his innocent face, not knowing what he just said, made him feel emotional.

‘This kid is really dangerous.’

‘He really knows how to make people feel strange.’

Kim Min tried to regain his composure as he lifted his head.

He made eye contact with a big man at the next table.

Lee Yeon-jae’s manager gave him a look that said, ‘I understand how you feel.’

It made Kim Min feel even dizzier.

‘Is this his daily life?’

Suddenly, he started feeling envious of the people around Lee Yeon-jae.

*    *    *

"Take care, hyung. Thanks again for today."

As he lightly bowed, the interpreter hesitated.

"Yeon-jae, just so you know… you can contact me if you have any questions, even if it’s not about interpreting."

A promotional line followed, saying he could answer anything thanks to his social experience.

‘Why is he saying this all of a sudden?’

Though puzzled, he agreed.

Because of his job, Kim Min was a knowledgeable person, and thanks to him, his own knowledge spectrum seemed to be broadening.

"See you next time!"

The interpreter left with an even brighter face.

As he watched the departing figure for a moment, Jin-bae hyung approached.

"Actor, you’re really something."

"…What?"

What was he on about now?

Jin-bae hyung, who made the cryptic remark, laughed it off, saying it was nothing.

"Shall we go home now?"

"Yes. It's already dinner time."

It seemed Jin-bae hyung had turned on the air conditioning in advance, as the car interior was cool.