The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 257

‘One day, I woke up to find that we had switched bodies!’

The ‘body change’ trope, where characters switch bodies, has been a common theme in the film industry for a long time.

It has been used in various relationships: girl and boy, woman and man, mother and daughter, father and son, etc.

Numerous movies and dramas have been produced using this concept.

Usually, such cases follow a pattern like this:

1. It is generally classified as a comedy genre.

2. Comical background music is played.

3. The two people who switched bodies usually have deep conflicts with each other.

4. Towards the end, there is a high chance of a forced emotional scene.

The protagonists live in each other's bodies and gradually begin to understand each other.

Eventually, when they achieve ‘true love’ or ‘true family,’ their bodies return to normal at some point.

Why this happened and how they returned to their original bodies are not important.

It is simply explained as ‘hit by lightning’ or ‘caught in a strange oriental spell.’

In fact, since the audience does not expect much from these aspects, the logic is inevitably lacking.

And here, there was a writer.

A few days ago, he completed a script where a dog and a boy switch bodies.

The story, devoid of any logical coherence, was astonishing, but the most surprising fact was different.

The genre of this movie was not comedy but ‘healing.’

“Sigh.”

The writer, who had arrived at the meeting place thirty minutes earlier than the scheduled time, sighed.

“……What if Lee Yeon-jae says no? Then it's over.”

As the writer anxiously shook his leg, the director next to him grumbled.

“Stop shaking your leg. You're making me nervous too.”

“Aren't you nervous? If we can't get Lee Yeon-jae, we have to scrap this script.”

“Of course, we'll have to scrap it. Do you really think Lee Yeon-jae will actually shoot this?”

At the director’s words, the writer got angry.

“Why would he agree to a meeting if he wasn't going to shoot it?”

“That’s because you put my name as the director! There are so many actors who want to shoot a movie with me.”

The director, who had made two ten-million-viewer movies, shrugged his shoulders.

The writer scoffed.

“Oh, you're so great. Is that something you should say when you rushed out because you heard Lee Yeon-jae would be at the meeting?”

“Of course it is, you punk. Think of today as a light meeting to make an impression. Once the mood lightens up, ask him.”

“Ask him what?”

“What kind of movie Lee Yeon-jae wants to shoot.”

The writer was irritated at the director’s suggestion to craft an excellent script based on what Lee Yeon-jae wanted.

“Hey, I have pride too, you know? I’m a pretty famous writer myself, don’t belittle me.”

“Really? Are you more famous than Lee Yeon-jae?”

“…….”

The writer’s mouth clamped shut like a clam.

The director smirked and crossed his arms.

“Hey, I know you have talent. If it's you, me, and Lee Yeon-jae, the work will turn out great. But! Healing is not it.”

The director's tone was firm.

“Lee Yeon-jae would probably refuse to do healing movies too. How many healing movies have flopped? He's at a critical point in his career.”

The writer couldn't argue against the director's point that there was no reason for Lee Yeon-jae to do a movie where he switches bodies with a dog.

So the writer ignored the director and clasped his hands together in prayer.

“Please, let Lee Yeon-jae agree to this!”

He was a fairly successful established writer and had worked in the film industry for over ten years.

That’s why he knew even better.

If he couldn’t cast Lee Yeon-jae, this movie would never see the light of day.

‘If I miss this chance, I'll never write a healing movie.’

Having only written action and thriller scripts, the writer was even more desperate.

‘A serene healing movie.’

It was a term practically forbidden in the commercial film industry, where success was the primary goal.

Of course, there were successful healing movies.

But this was akin to saying there were real lottery winners.

In other words, the odds of his healing movie being a hit were the same as winning the lottery.

‘Why is it so hard for healing movies to succeed?’

The biggest reason would be that there’s no need to watch them in theaters.

Unlike action movies that require the theater’s powerful audio for true catharsis, healing movies were different.

In the era of OTT services becoming commonplace, this was even more true.

Investors in the film industry were well aware of this fact.

But if the main character was ‘Lee Yeon-jae’?

The situation would be completely different.

Regardless of the genre, investors would line up to pour money into the film.

Even if only Lee Yeon-jae’s fans came to watch, it was clear that the break-even point would be easily surpassed.

‘He’s truly an amazing actor.’

Lee Yeon-jae had such a strong fan base that it was hard to believe he started as a child actor.

His following was almost akin to an idol fandom, yet ironically, the works he appeared in and his performances were mainstream.

He wasn’t an actor who rose to fame solely on the power of fans, but one who was loved by fans.

If Lee Yeon-jae just agreed to appear, his first healing movie could come to life.

‘Please, please.’

While the writer was muttering to himself, the door opened with a knock.

“You’ve been waiting for us.”

Lee Yeon-jae greeted in a neat voice, bowing politely.

“This is Lee Yeon-jae. Sorry for making you wait.”

“No, we came early!”

The writer was about to introduce himself with a smile.

Behind Lee Yeon-jae stood... a thug.

As the writer and the director held their breath, Lee Yeon-jae quickly introduced him as his manager.

“This is my manager. No need to be scared.” The rapid introduction hinted that this wasn’t the first time such a misunderstanding had happened.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

He was taller than I expected.

In person, Lee Yeon-jae spoke little.

Feeling anxious, the writer forced a smile.

“Have you… seen the script?”

“I read it thoroughly. I also checked out all the other works you’ve written, and they were all very interesting.”

The writer covered his mouth in astonishment.

“Really?”

It was a success, a definite success.

The writer gave the director a look that said, ‘I told you so!!!’

The director, signaling for calm, tapped the writer’s foot before asking Lee Yeon-jae, “We want to cast you in the role of the protagonist ‘Do Yoo-young.’ Do you have any interest in appearing in this script?”

It was a straightforward question.

The writer couldn’t help but close his eyes tightly.

‘Please, please, please.’

In the very brief moment Lee Yeon-jae opened his mouth, a myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind.

And then, surprisingly simply, came an uncomplicated answer.

“Of course.”

His voice carried a hint of bewilderment, as if wondering why he’d be here otherwise.

‘Crazy. Is this for real?’

While the writer stood stiff, the director asked again.

“Really? There are no parts in the script you want to change? The genre, or any small details?”

“Shouldn't you be asking the writer about that…?”

Lee Yeon-jae's expression suggested he didn’t understand why such a question was directed at an actor like him.

Only then did the director realize that Lee Yeon-jae was indeed a rare gem. This guy is the real deal.

“Thanks to you, I’m relieved. Really, really! Thank you.”

As the writer expressed his joy, Lee Yeon-jae, still somewhat bewildered, asked, “Thank you as well. So, what are the audition details?”

“What audition?”

“The audition for the role of Do Yoo-young.”

“…?”

“…?”

An awkward silence filled the room.

Lee Yeon-jae, the writer, and the director all had puzzled expressions.

Only Lee Yeon-jae’s manager was smiling softly.

“Why would we hold an audition? We’re not considering any actor other than you, Yeon-jae.”

“What?”

Lee Yeon-jae looked very flustered.

“You’re casting for the lead role in a movie. At the very least, you should do a camera test. What will you do if you don't like my acting?”

The writer and the director were dumbfounded at his slightly admonishing tone.

‘But you’re Lee Yeon-jae.’

Yes, that Lee Yeon-jae.

The youngest winner of the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival and even mentioned as a candidate for an Emmy for his role in ‘Killing Horn.’

They were taken aback by the kind of words that would typically come from an unknown actor, but the manager intervened, wrapping up the conversation.

After officially signing Lee Yeon-jae, everything progressed smoothly.

Thus, the shooting schedule for Lee Yeon-jae’s second screen appearance in ‘Shin Yoo-young’ was set.

*    *    *

‘It’s already June.’

The scenery outside the car window was lush and green.

The sunlight made the trees sparkle, signaling that summer had arrived.

I quietly watched the scenery outside the window.

‘Will it be okay?’

I was on my way to meet the Golden Retriever, who would play the role of the dog switching bodies with the protagonist in the movie ‘Shin Yoo-young.’

The director had scheduled this meeting, thinking it would be good to get acquainted before the actual filming began.

The green landscape filled my view, but my mind was too preoccupied with worry to fully appreciate it.

‘What if the dog is scared of me?’

I had hardly ever encountered animals before, and in the few instances I did, the animals had always avoided me, as if I were something unclean.

I remembered how the children at the orphanage had been more scared of me because of how animals reacted to me.

‘When was the last time I saw an animal after meeting Mist?’

I could only recall Seo Ji-oh’s cat.

‘Fortunately, that cat liked me.’

I remembered the cat that had immediately laid down on my lap.

But I had never met a dog that liked me, so I was mentally prepared.

Even if the dog disliked me, I just had to make sure it didn’t show on camera.

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

I got out of the car, holding a bag full of treats.

‘Why am I so nervous about this?’

Although I had read every book available on the characteristics and care of Golden Retrievers, I was still anxious.

How do I communicate to the dog to not show that it dislikes me when we can’t even talk?

“Oh, I think it’s that house.”

Jin-bae hyung pointed to a country house with a very large yard.

I entered with a nervous heart.

“Happy!!!!”

And a few seconds later, I found myself looking up at the sky.

‘What just happened?’

What just happened to me?

“Are you okay, sir?!”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry. Happy, get up! Didn’t I tell you not to jump on people?!!”

From the shouts of Jin-bae hyung and the dog’s owner, as well as the panting sound above me, I understood the situation.

As I lay on the grass and rolled my eyes, I met eyes with the dog lying on top of me.

—Pant, pant.

“……Hello.”

—Woof!

The dog barked loudly.

I could feel the hot breath through its panting mouth.

“Happy, aren’t you getting up?!”

The dog’s owner pulled the dog off me, and Jin-bae hyung checked my condition.

“Are you dizzy? Should we go to the hospital?”

“Hyung, calm down. It’s just grass.”

“You fell without any protection. I’m sorry. I should have been right next to you.”

I blocked his suggestion to go to the hospital for a possible concussion with my hand. Seriously.

At that moment, the owner approached and apologized.

“I’m really sorry. This isn’t an excuse, but since being trained, he’s never done this. Oh dear, are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

While the owner repeatedly apologized, I glanced sideways.

The dog, standing at attention, was staring straight at me.

I carefully asked the owner, “How does he seem to you?”

“Pardon?”

“Does it look like he doesn’t dislike me?”

The owner’s face filled with confusion at my cautious tone.

“Dislike you?”

Then, with a voice full of incredulity, he pointed at something.

“Look at his tail... it’s about to fall off.”

The dog’s tail was wagging furiously, like a helicopter blade.

‘I read in the books that this is a sign of affection.’

I sighed inwardly.

Great. I can handle the filming.